spiritually edified

Amazing week, I feel so spiritually uplifted. Even though I am not traveling to different countries like Cole, haha, I feel so blessed to be here serving in Chile. This country is filled with so many beautiful people and so many beautiful places with a beauitful language. 

I finished the Book of Mormon again last week and I have gained so so so much love for this libro...it is much easier to understand in spanish. Literally, el Libro de Mormón is a doctor, a friend, a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, a psychologist, a companion, cupid, medicine. This book is so powerful, it literally heals spiritual wounds. 

Yes Dad, on saturday we had a conference with Mision Sur en San Bernardo. We had the opportunity to meet and listen to Elder Russell M. Nelson. We all got to shake his hand and he said my name #fangirl. Just like what Cole said last week about Elder Kearon, you can feel he is a man of God. Our lifer de zone said 'looking in his eyes was like looking into the eyes of a baby,' and it's true...so pure and close to God. 

Hermana Nelson also talked and gave awesome advice regarding some of our worst and best days. She said there are 2 things she hopes we will remember when we have days like this. 1. We try to see our "potential" self. She talked about how we should pray to remember our life before we came to earth. We made many promises of things we were going to do here, but now that we are here we have forgotten and get caught up in other things. We learned the gospel before, we socialized together, we walked with Christ, we made covenants. How terrible will it be to return 'home' and have that list of things we did not complete? If we remember those things, all of our trials will fall away. In a moment, the holy ghost can bear witness of our purpose. During trials, try to remember your pre-mortal self and those promises you made, and then the trial won't seem as big to overcome. 2. Remember all of the people on the other side of the veil who are with us are rooting for us and cheering us on. They are our family members who have passed away. Pray to have eyes to see and hearts to feel.

Elder Nelson talked about the abrahamic covenant. He spoke a lot of doctrine, it was so cool. I learned so much. 1 nephi 15:18. We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have the responsibility to share the gospel; help our brothers and sisters come to know the hope of the atonement of Christ that they may know of true forgiveness. It is our mission to gather so that people may be blessed. We receive these blessings in the temple. The temple should be a goal for every single person.  Right now, we are not on the bench, we are in the infield (and outfield) playing the game...with each passing day there are more steps taken toward the end zone. You do not pay for dinner and only eat the salad right? We need to wait and partake of dessert as well as the main course. It's the same with the gospel, we can't just be baptized, we need to endure to the end in order to enjoy the dessert or the vida eternal (life eternal). Elder Nelson then bore this testimony in spanish; he is a man of God. 

Alma 7:22-23

Well, that was pretty much the highlight of my week, so awesome. 

I love God. I love my brother, Jesus Christ, I love my family, and I love the gospel

I love you guys too. :)

Hermana T

Love the Lord first above everything.

lo que es chileno es bueno :)

Hello Hello Hello

me encanta (I love) CHILE. Chile Cantiago Oeste is the best mission on the west. Yeah, Cole you can have the east ;) Well, I want to give a shout out to my baby Rae (Carsyn) and Trey bug! I can't believe you two are 12!! WOW...Trey gets the Aaronic priesthood so he can pass the sacrament and Carsyn is in YW. I feel old!!!

so, Saturday we went over to check with Javiera to see if she was going attend church with us and we passed by while Cesar's mom was there (Cesar's the boyfriend/partner of Javiera's mom). AND it just so happens that his mom is listening to missionaries in Rancagua. whatttt?! Neither one knew the other was investigating the church. What are the odds? God works in so many ways. It turns out they both started meeting with missionaries at the SAME TIME, such a testimony builder for me. We really do not know what the lord is doing with others that may cross our path. Agh, I love it! I know it reassured Javiera and her mom, Carla, that what they are doing is good. They all testified of what they know and it was so awesome!!! God is awesome

Then, just before we were about to start sacrament meeting, in walked Ana, José and Fernando...my mouth about dropped to the floor. *a family we contacted into and they let us in. They really enjoyed testimony meeting. Pancho even got up and bore his testimony that he knows this church is true and families can be eternal. Power. We stopped by last night to see how they were doing and José shared his experience of the morning where he felt the holy ghost within his chest telling him to go to church and he acted, so awesome. Testimony. Yesterday was so great, our asistencia (attendance) en church was greater then ever before! la capilla estaba LLENA!!! (the chapel was filled) tan bakán

Chris and Carsyn, I have a challenge for you... ready? I want you both to read the book of mormon before Cole and I get home. Don´t worry, you still have a solid 8 months so let's get going! :)

alma 31:34-35

This work is so urgent, there are brothers and sisters lost, we must bring them to christ

Alma 6:6

be at church EVERY sunday! pray and fast for those people who are lost and need to find the way

We are the Lord´s soldiers fighting the battle between good and evil...we MUST win. 

this is something i learned this week:

some of satan's angels were discussing how to destroy the people on earth and they were thinking of all of the ways to tell us the gospel is not true and lead us away...then one spoke up and said "wait let's teach them that it IS true but to do something about it tomorrow.... we cannot put off our repentance, we need to keep the commandments and live the gospel RIGHT NOW!

Hermana T :)

god is good

Week 1 of this cambio. My memory is so shot, it's a joke. 

I think I am going to get skin cancer, there is a hole in the ozone layer here and the sun is so strong...I got sun burned. I put sunscreen on my neck and face but forgot my arms and feet. mom, if you could send some suncreen in that next package that be great :) 

Javiera asistió ayer (attended yesterday)!! She is so adorable, she asked 'so when is my baptism fecha (date) again?' She is so awesome...progressing a whole ton. 

Hna Salazar and I are working hard together, she is so awesome! We have a lot of fun together, we laugh a ton. This week, we were getting into the groove and we hit the ground running. Seriously, we teach really well together. The spirit has been so strong in our lessons, it's awesome!

I am so grateful for the holy ghost. I am grateful for this time I have to really focus and to feel. This world is crazy and it is easy to get caught up in other things, even as a missionary, but it is so important to 'stop' and 'listen' and 'feel'. 

I just want to say how important a parent's example is in a child's life...seriously! I am oh so so grateful for my parents who raised me and taught me. Although, yeah, I made a lot of mistakes (sorry mom and dad :)) I always had my parents to show me the way back if I strayed a little off track. Parents, you are a HUGE part of your kids destiny, do all you can to show them the way to follow christ. It is the ONLY way that will bring salvation. We watched the 'Prodigal Son' last night for a fhe and it was so powerful. We all sin differently but every single one of us, no importa our temptations (does not matter our temptations) or errors...we ALL need to repent. 

"God knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart." Always try to have your mind clear, it is something I have really been focusing on. In D&C 4, it talks about serving god with all thy heart, might, mind and strength. Strength, I have got down with time in the mission field. Physically, I can do day to day. Pero me cuesta (but more difficult) the mind...my mind wanders a lot. I am trying really hard to keep my mind on the work and praying everyday for the strength to always stay focused. 

I know this church is true. God is the Father. We must be born as spiritual children through baptism...God is great. 

Mormon 9:18-21

xoxo

hermana T

Samian y emilia 

Danai, Ailene, Ghiselyn...3 adoarble little girls

time passes...enjoy the journey

This week flew by! along with this transfer and this year!! It is almost baby Rae´s (Carsyn) birthday... ah. I need more pics of my little girl. I wanted to thank San Ramon 1st ward for the card. Seriously the BEST ward ever! Thank you for all of the love and support! 

Really, I don't remember all that happened this week. But yesterday, Javiera (Investiagdora tiene 14 años (14 years old investigator)) asistió la iglesia con nosotras (attended church with us)!! It was so amazing to see the ward interact with her, especially the youth. They were awesome! It is so important that the ward members are aware when people enter the chapel that they are not familiar with. That first step into the chapel for an investigator is their first impression and many times will determine their progress and desire to learn more about the gospel and come to church. They need to feel  part of a family and that is how it was with Javiera. So awesome! She went off  with a group of young women and the yw leaders invited her to go to the cine (movies) with them this week. 

And... we had cambios today! big surprise, hermana Carretero left and I stayed! I am extremely happy to still be here!! :) Seriously, I love this sector and I love the people. I am hoping to be here for christmas! My new companion is Hermana Salazar from Utah. We have had almost all the same companions and served in the exact same sectors haha. AND we go home together! I am real excited to work with her. We are going to see even more miracles happen here in El Conquistador!!

Spiritual thoughts today: 

1. Pray to God. We all need to know for ourselves if this is His Gospel and His Church. We need to build upon our testimonies every single day.

2. We focused on 1 Nephi 16 this week...Nephi breaks his bow and though his brothers and his father Lehi murmur, Nephi does not. Why do you think Nephi didn't complain? He has a vision higher than the others. He trusted in God and he came up with a solution: fix it. He did not wait for God to fix it for him, he did what he could with what he had to obtain food for his family.

3. Think about Lehi's Dream...Why do you think Satan covered the path with vapor? Why vapor?   Satan tries to blur our view of the blessings from God and the path of our own potential. Satan tricks our mind and makes things unclear. He is the father of confusion.

I love this gospel. I am happy because I have the gospel OF Jesus Christ in my life...how blessed am I.

chao 

Hermana Thompson

the night before transfers...

Cartoon Selfies...what I do when I am anxious:P

miracles exist.

Seriously, i about died seeing those cutouts DAD!! good work! my comp thinks we gringos are crazy;) A big ole' Congrats to aunt Kristen on your marriage!! You look beautiful and oh so happy! 

Happy Birthday shout out to Hud!, TT and Paige, and Poppy!! Wish I could celebrate with you!

Okay, well this week was crazy to say the least... tuesday we went to Plaza de Armas to renew my comps visa, wednesday we had divisiones with hna bustamante. thursday we had a mega zone conference. friday we had planificacion (planning). saturday we had planned to go to the temple with Pancho so he could do baptisms for his brothers, but let's just say I caught a virus and was throwing up. I was feeling a little better later in the day, so we went to lunch with family Pereira, I had just a little bit of rice and yeah the virus struck again. I knew there would be opposition surrounding this special day, I just didn't know it would be ME! fome...Hno. Pereira gave me a priesthood blessing and it gave me comfort and helped me have the strength to overcome the bug. We ended up going to the temple, it was so beasutiful. Pancho was so nervous and so was Virginia tambien. The spirit of Elijah was so strong. My comp and I have had so many spiritual experiences with Tomas and Jesus (Pancho's deceased brothers). We could feel their presence and their anxiety (anticipation) for the work to be done...we could feel them present at the temple. Such peace and happiness. Virginia said she felt like she could feel them go to paradise, it was so impressing. They died in water and then they were baptized in water to be brought back to life and save for time and all eternity. Such a great moment. 

We also had a nuevo (new investigator) Gabriela (21 años) and she is so awesome!!!! We contacted her about a week ago and we could just tell she was golden. Altito, we put a fecha for next sunday...she is going to be baptized. She is one of those investigatores that says sí, sí sí.... I love this work.

Really, the temple was the highlight of my week. cualquier opposicion (whatever the opposition), but that doesn't stop us! We just have to keep moving forward, always looking towards Christ. 

I love this gospel and all that comes with it. My life has been blessed tremendously and I have seen the gospel change and bless the lives of so many. I have a personal testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know it and I love it.

xoxox

Hermana Thompson

Special day at the temple for Pancho and his family

Who said you can't be in two places at once...

Oh, how I have missed being home...

time flies when you are having fun!

WOW...this is how I feel just about every week, seriously the work is so great and with general conference this past weekend, it was even better!! I took so many notes and literally, the spirit spoke to me. I know there are so many things that all of us can improve on. The talks were the same in every country and every language, but the difference in conference for everyone is 'what' the Spirit spoke to each of us individually. 

I seriously loved and was so indulged in every talk. I enjoyed their speaking in their native language. The Spirit does not have language barriers, something I have greatly learned while on my mission. Although I still do not speak the language perfectly, I really just need to follow the spirit. 

Well, Monday night we visited with a contact right before curfew. Ana was home as was her paraje and 3 kids and so we taught the whole family... and we put a baptismal date :) yay!!!! That's what I am talking about. They are so prepared, just need to pray to receive an answer.

I loved Elder Ballard's talk about 'staying in the boat'. We find safety in the gospel, safety from the big old ocean that can swallow us up. Stick to the gospel. Be dedicated in learning the basics (prayer, scripture study, fhe, attending the temple), there is where you will always find the answers of how we can strengthen our faith and be more converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seriously every talk was awesome. Like you said dad, they talked a lot about the prophet during sunday morning conference. As missionaries, we felt like most of the talks were puros palos . hahaha. Oh, we watched conference at the stake center in the high counsel room as gringos to enjoy English for just a little bit. I took so many notes I don't even know what to share haha. Sorry, every monday I feel my mind is racing I have so much to share... but then my mind goes blank when I am in front of the computer. 

I seriously love the mission. I love living the gospel so fully, it is such a blessing to be a member of the Church of JESUS CHRIST. I know it and I love it.

I love being a Mormon :)

Hermana T

the internet cafe I email from every monday! Gotta love Google Earth;)

the elders burn a white shirt at their halfway mark, AND the hermanas...

WE are ready for General Conference, ARE YOU?!