Chica in Chile

Monday, July 7, 2014

the Lord has a plan

This week literally flew by! I literally can not believe how fast the time is going by. So, it is really cold here lol but the sun is shining today! Mom and Dad I don't appreciate the trunkie pics of the beach haha. I am doing well chugging along in this sector. There is a lot of work to do here and we are working hard.

We had a miracle yesterday! There is an abuelita (grandma) (Estelita) in our sector, she probably has 86 years. She has a dificult time walking and so her son's ex-wife (Maria) lives with her and takes care of her. IT just so happens that Maria is not a member :) entonces of course we are teaching her and they both were at church yesterday! Maria is so prepared it is amazing. She has such a desire to learn, but it is a little difficult to focus on her because Estelita loves attention. haha But yesterday was the first time Estelita has been to church in a long time. Maria has a baptism date for the 20 of July. Amazing!

We are seeing some fruits from our labor. We have an investigadora se llama (investigator named) Susana. Her husband left her about a year ago and she has 4 kids. The youngest is like 2 and a half. So she is always super busy but she knows that the church is good for her family. She is inteerested in the programs for the youth because oh man does that help during high school haha. We are helping them get involved in activities and yeah, she is really prepared. She has the perfect questions and such faith in God. She knows God sent us to her home to help her find peace.

We got a call Saturday from one of menos activas (less actives) and she was bawling. Her little dog passed away and literally this dog was like her baby. We went to visit with her and comfot her. It was interesting because just the day before we were talking about animals with a different member during our lunch. All animals were created by God. They are also special spirits. Obviously not to the same extent as human beings but if they are spirits before this life isn't there a place for them after? it's an interesting concept... all things were created by God and so all things have life..

Our members were telling us how a second branch was just opened in Cuba. Wow. The second coming is near haha, prepare yourselves now. I have been reading in Doctrine and Covenants every day and so many times it says 'The field is while all ready to harvest'. The work is moving forward so quickly and as missionaries we need the help from members like YOU. Literally, there is NO missionary work without the members. Invite the missionaries over for family home evening; don't be afraid to talk about the gospel with your friends.

I read the '4 minutes talk' in this last general conference and wow I seriously love it. Our life here on Earth is like the 4 minutes of an olympic run. We spent so much time before this life preparing for this, right now, and we will spend an eternity reflecting and how we performed. Your 4 minutes is NOW and the clock is ticking... How are you spending your 4 minutes?

We taught the principios del evangelio (Gospel Principles) class yesterday. Capitulo (chapter) 4 about the organization of the priesthood. Seriously the church is so organized, it's amazing. Look in the scriptures. Everything we have in the goepsl is to help us progress. There are so many stepping stones to help us along the way. If you have some down time, read this book (Preach My Gospel), it is seriously so simple that our investiagtors can understand the basics but there is so much great information for members too. I love it. I love the 1 hour I have everyday to study the gospel. seriously it is my precious cherised time. I often spend nights reading and studying hasta (until) I need to turn the lights off at 10:30 lol

We have Zone conference every change and we talked a lot about How we can become more converted? Conversion is not something we can accomplish. It is something we have to continually work on. We can't get to a point and say 'okay, I am converted'. There is no point, it is progression and we can always be more converted unto the lord. I want to ask you a question: How can we become more converted unto the Gospel and unto Christ?

Mom and Dad I think I will be coming home the 21 of July as well... hahaha. I am not exactly sure, but how cool would that be for both Cole and I to come the SAME DAY!!!!

Much love, enjoy the summer weather

I know that our savior LIVES!

Hermana Thompson

Hermana Dominguez

I can just imagine Christ come through these clouds. I have been studying a lot about the second coming and i just fell in love with this image I had to take a picture. Isn't it just beautiful. There is so much beauty in this earth. wow. I am in awe.

Monday, June 30, 2014

We are working really hard in this sector. This is my companion's 3 cambio aqui (change here). She has pretty much contacted all of our sector lol. Actually, we have contacted the same people. oops haha. One night we tried handing out a pass along to a couple that we had apparently talked to the night before.. haha what do you do when you have contacted the whole sector? nah we have a lot of work still to do.

We had a cool experience with a menos activo (less active) 3 nights ago. We were talking to people in the streets and we happened to begin contacting this guy and my comp asked if he has heard about the book of mormon and he was like 'yeah actually i am mormon'. whatttt? His name is Fabio and we have passed by his house so many times but he is never in his house. he is 20 years old and has a kid, so he works day and night, but he said we could pass by today! miracle. We have actually found quite a few menos activos (less actives) who don't fall in our registros (records). We have this book "El Rescate" (The Rescue) the assistants made and every barrio (ward) has one...each companionship, bishop, sumosacerdote (high priest), lider misional (mission leader), and relief society. It has the direction and name of every member in the ward boundaries, future elders, men who haven't served missions, members who haven't been baptized. this book is our life, it is seriously such an awesome tool that our mission has to help with the plan piloto (pilot plan).

Oh mom, Mason Porter's comp right now is my friend from the CCM!! crazy. he is a great guy!

There is a lady in our ward named Gloria. She is from another religion, but has a super strong testimony of this church. It is a little odd, but some habits are hard to get rid of. I said the closing prayer and she was repeating everything I said hahaha and then at the end she said 'Amen Amen Amen AMEN'.

We are working hard here in Los Cerrillos, searching for the people who are ready to accept the truth. There is a lot of work to do but, as we say here, we are here "sacar la mugre" (get rid of the grime)

In church yesterday we talked about how we as members are examples. People watch us and our actions represent the church. On the mission you learn a whole lot of obedience. We have many rules for our protection. We work closely with many different people and when one person or a missionary is not completely obedient it effects others and the outcome. Your obedience will always effect other people. Obedience with exactness!

¡Chi Chi Chi Le LeLe VIVA CHILE!

Sorry I don't really have much to tell, all the days are smushed togther..

tomorrow I will have completed 6 months in the mission!! time is flying... holycow! I love my mission and I love this gospel!

Hermana T

dad, how do you like this mercedes dealership?!

los perros

I workout AND preach the gospel

Bienvenidos

Chilean Night Sky

Monday, June 23, 2014

week 2 in Los Cerrillos

Hola!

Well this last wek went by so fast. especially since I wrote last Tuesday. So I am in the zone Los Cerrillos, barrio (ward) Primo de Rivera. there are 8 missionaries here. our ward is crazy big! We had an assistencia (attendance) of 142 yestday! and the relief society is huge. unbelievable. The ward is super great and super loving. I dont feel like such a greenie anymore. I feel so much better with my spanish. yeah i still sttruggle... a lot actually haha but i can have conversations no problem. It helps that my companion is Chileana.

We have a lot of work to do here. Our sector is pretty rough. There isnt a whole lot happening. But we did find 5 nuevos this week! That was such a miracle. We didnt have a whole lot of lessons this week. We spent a lot of our time contacting and I am getting to know the area. Our sector is super long. and we dont live in our sector so there is a lot of walking. but its good because we pass a lot of people in the streets. We are going to change this sector around. I know this sector has so much potential. It is going to be hard but i know with faith we can accomplish anything. I am an instrument in the Lord´s work.

I dont have a whole lot of time today... Usually during the partido of Chile (World Cup Chile was playing as this email was writen) we are in the house but since today is pday we can be out because we arent in investigators houses when they are watching it. But we are in the plaza de maipu and it is crazy! haha. I love being here. no time for pictures. Sorry

Oh I got max and Tates school pictures. They are hanging up on my wall :) Thank you TT!!!

There are miracles in every day. reflect each day in all of the blessings in your life. I gurantee as you reflect each day you will find the Lords hand in your life.

Con Amor

XOXOXOXOXO
Hermana Thompson

Hermana Dominguez

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Cambios!

Well, I had cambios! I am now in Los Cerrillos, Primo de Rivera con Hermana Dominguez; she is Chilena. It was really rough to leave El Manzano...but I know I have a lot of work to do here. We do not really have much to go off of right now, so we are pretty much starting fresh. Everyone says this sector is really hard, but I am ready to take it on. We are going to work!!

Sunday was a rough day saying goodbye to everyone. Really rough, but I was able to bear my testimony and it was cool to see how different I am from when I first arrived. The bishop also spoke and he talked about how he understands it is not easy to be a member of Christ's Church. It is can be difficult sometimes. Our mission has been having issues with getting active members to assist consistently. Now is our time to be strong members, to stand up for what we believe, to strengthen our testimony of the book of mormon, to have more faith, and to follow Christ. We need to keep fighting to be active every day. Alma 26:27

I know I am a little late, but Happy Fathers Day daddy!! Thanks for being the best; always so supportive and loving. And Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad, and Grandma and Big Papa. And Happy Birthday Cole!! You're such a stud.

so yeah, a lot of changes this week, but last week...

We had a lesson with Monica y Hellen (I think last monday) and wow it was powerful. We talked about the importance of praying ALWAYS. Monica got really serious and told us how bad her week was, everything just went wrong. By the end of the week, she said she was reflecting back and realized she hadn't prayed. She bore her testimony to us about how she knows when she prays she has the help of the Lord in her life. When she prays she feels lighter and she doesn't have such a heavy cargo (load). It was a really cool experience to have her realize that. I know prayer is a literal communcation with our Father in Heaven. I know when we tell him the things of our heart, he will bless us and life is a little bit easier. I'm not saying that bad things won't occur but you will feel happier because you can feel the spirit mas stronger.

We ended up having the opportunity to go to the temple today and participate in sealings. So cool! I am so so so grateful for the temple. I love it. Seriously the House of the Lord.

Be patient in thy afflictions. I know that only through the tests of life can we progress.

I love you.

have a fantastic week! Enjoy the summer heat

Hermana T