Christmas in the Desert

Hey thanks for all the packages again! It was good to hear from everyone. I got some stuff to send out, some pictures and thank you cards and everything. Christmas was really good out here. it was fun, hope christmas and the holidays are going good for everyone where ever you are.

Shoot so i am not too sure what to say now. it feels like only yesterday since i talked with you, so i dont know whats new.. oh well this sunday we had like the christmas program for church and so all the missionaries got to sing in the choir. it felt like i was back home for a second singing like how we would in the stake choir at the tab, but something felt different.. then i realized that i didnt have dad right by me singing off key. haha nah i am just kidding. it was funny though cause someone didnt know bass really so he would just sing the melody way low. and that was pretty much how we sounded.at least all of us missionaries haha. i am pretty sure all the sisters sitting by us were getting headaches because of it or maybe they were just tired, because everytime i looked they had their foreheads in their hands haha. So thats what happened in church.

Um ... oh on monday we had a meeting with all the missionaries out here in the desert. it was way good. we talked about alot of stuff and we learned a ton. it was sweet! but we were talking about how we can share personal experience and stuff, so i got a story that happened in a lesson with someone we were teaching. i think i already told you Mom, but it was cool so I'll just tell it again. So you remember in the MTC when i used that story about the mokulua island? Yeah so the other day when we were teaching, it just popped in my mind again, kus i psh forgot that story. So i shared it again and just gave my little testimony. I mean it wasn't anything mindblowing or anything, but it just changed the whole setting. i mean it wasnt me but it was the testimonies of my companion and i. Simple but true testimony something based on experience, things that we actually knew to be true. Before that i have been thinking you know how can i help show the truth of the message or help them want to figure out the truth. Because I mean with each day that goes by, my testimony grows stronger. it seems like more and more i see that yeah you know what? God does love us and he knows us and is helping us in our lives every day and that he really did restore his church again to lead us, guide us and teach us . And i mean the best part of it all too, is that we know our families can be forever. So everyday i just want people to know what i know and feel what i do. it was pretty cool because that one time last week when we were giving our testimonies, for one second it looked like the person could feel that power of truth. it was a sweet experience because she was thinking really deeply and you could tell she understood. so anyways i just wanted to share that beucase i know we can make a difference in someone's life just by sharing our testimonies, not like we are better or anything. but just that we want to share with them something that has blessed us alot and has given us happiness. So pretty much everyday we could help by just sharing a few words of truth.

Oh cool thing that happened to us yesterday was that we had someone that we were trying to visit for weeks already, but she hasnt been home and just yesterday we were able to meet with her. she just got back from san diego because her son was in the hospital and they just got out and came back home. her name is monica. and the way we met her was through a member. and she is awesome. she is such a nice lady, and she was saying that she loves Jesus Christ and everything, you could tell she had a huge belief and so we are stoked to go by and talk with her some more and so that was a cool blessing we got yesterday. but anyways that's all that happened, plus i got to start with those thank you cards and stuff.

THANKS AGAIN for all the cards and gifts.

I love you and hope you guys have a good week

Elder Thomas

Feliz Navidad!

Hey Everybody!

Merry Christmas. shoot i still cant believe that its christmas in a few days. still trying to find a cactus that we could go get and decorate, no luck yet. it was pretty fun this past week because we had all the church parties celebrating christmas. it was sweet too becuase we got to go to two of um becuase we cover spanish and english. But i not gona lie, the Spanish party was way fun haha. i swear they know how to have the fiestas. in the party the branch president turned to us and was like haha could you imagine if they were drinking tequila. man i dont know, but it would be pretty intense if they were. Oh it was pretty cool too becuase his daughter just got back from BYUH. and so we were talking about food and the beach and everything, finally someone knew what i was talking about. someone finally knew what a musubi is. but its lame becuase out here in the desert theres no L&L. we would eat there sometimes back in my old areas. so no hawaiian food.. no wait i lied. there is this one lady in the english ward that is from hawaii haha oh man she is hilarious, she reminds me of grandma. Bishop introduced me to her and i saw her before and said hi and everything but didnt know she was the sister from hawaii. so i was just standing there and she comes behind me and wacks me in the back, then she was ike, eh you bettah watch out, i didnt know you were from hawaii. it was funny. so we talked a little bit, shes from mililani side. oh yeah there is actually a bunch of people out here who knew hawaii, becuase they have been there before. no matter what though, no body knows where hawaii kai is, jeez i mean we got to talk to these map people over here. tell um to put hawaii kai on the maps in big bold letters.

Oh man i dont know how i forgot this but last week we had a baptism. his name is Jesse. he's 10 years ols. i got some pictures no worries, il send them out as soon as i can. It was a nice baptism. it was funny though kus at first when we were filling up the font we turned all the valves to make it go faster and we head back in to check it after about 30 mintues and we walk in there and its a SUANA. is that how you spell it? im pretty sure thats wrong. SAUNA, i blame it on the spanish learning. but the font was steaming and we thought it was gonna be bad but nothinghappened.it turned out that the water was normal. dont ask me how but it was. so now we at least found out our new workout routine:

1. run around the block

2 Run to the church

3. sit in the font

4 soak up the steam

So next week ill let you know how its going. But good news too. Janelle, not sure if i told you guys about her. but its one of the people we are visiting and teaching. shes doing really good. she was able to come to the baptism. and so that was really good for her, she has her baptismal date for the 7th of january and so far so good. we are stoked! we hope everything goes well.

um lets see what else..

oh spiritual thought, something i was thinking about the other day.. We all know the Gospel changes lives for the better, i mean it helps us out so much, and like as missionaries we tell that to people while we are teaching and so of course they are like yeah i want that i want it. But many people think that it comes as long as we believe and go to church and pray and read scriptures. its true those things help. but i mean its not all. we obtain the blessings of the gospel, like peace and happiness from obeying the commandments becoming more like Christ and obtaining those attributes that he has, love patience and charity, selfless. and when we try to change ourselves to be more like him and when we really live the commandments thats how we experience the blessings. That was just something i was thinking about. but i better head out and play some sports before they head out without me. I love you all and miss you. hope everyone has a good christmas.

Elder Thomas

Sand, sand and more sand

Alright Some Really sweet news! (this will explain the subject)

So i got transferred out to the desert!! about 120 miles from San Diego haha. The town i am in is called Brawley. But yup so this is where i'll be for Christmas, decorating some cactus christmas trees out here. Its so different. it took about 2 hours to get out here in the car. It was a long, long, long drive (see the picture). it was funny becuase you get to the end of santee the last city and then you drive for about 1 hour and something more haha.. There is like nothing out here, it's a cool place. Funny thing though is that we cover a spanish branch and a English ward, but we are only on bikes so we can't go to the others places because there are outer towns, so the other elders cover it kus they got the car. And guess what... they drive a mini van. i was stoked, kus as everyone knows, i drove that beautiful red surfer mini van back home, but i dont get to drive it yet, maybe i'll get switched to that area one day, so i can teach um how to really drive a van. So anyways, right now i am pretty much an english elder, which is way fun. something different, i can actually talk without thinking first in my head.. .alright haha that didn't sound that good but yeah i like it. My new companion is from New Jersey. eastern states, another comapnion opposite coasts baby! His name is Elder Avalos. his parents i think are from Guatemala. but he doesn't know alot of spanish surprisingly, still more than me, but different from a full on native speaker. He is a pretty huge guy. He weighs more then you dad, he is about 250. he is super nice too. people told me before that he is a really quiet guy, but ever since i got here, its not that true. he is a little but not that much. but no complaints from me. So i am glad kus at first i was like shoot, i won't have anyone to talk to, l will have to make up some imaginary friends. but everything is good haha.

So lets see ... what else. We got a baptism coming up this next week, his name is Jesse. he is ten years old. and he's excited for his baptism. cool kid. his whole family are members and they just moved down here from washington. oh and then we are teaching this muchacha, her name is janelle. she loves the church, she was invited by her friend who is a member, and we are going to stop by her house tonight and teach her some more and hopefully set her up with a date pretty soon. She's awesome, she has been reading and praying and attending church activies and institute so she's going pretty quick, so we hope she gets baptized. lets see, oh i got my resource for the latest updates to the eagles. its this brother from the ward. we went to go visit them and i saw the little eagles license plate, BAM instant friend right there, really cool brother. we helped them put up some lights and we are going to go teach his friend hopefully this week.

Oh yeah another reason why Christmas is the best! People need help putting up lights. easy service opportunity. its so sweet. we can just help people and be able to get to know them and build some trust with them, so they know we aren't just robots or anything. this one lady, she is hilarious she is an investigator of the other elders. She goes all out. i got to send you picture of this stuff. super crazy. and she said her inspiration for putting up lights and decorations this year was from genesis 1:29. She puts trees up and everything. but we read the scripture thinking it would have something to do with light. but it wasnt. i read it like 10 times trying to figure out what it meant haha but still have no idea maybe you guys will know but anyways i got to head out. I love you all. hasta la vista!

Elder Thomas

The Restoration

Alright Hey everyone. ok so yes this is the Restoration of me writing emails again haha shoot i have been on a bad streak. But we always get busy on pday tryin to fit everything fun in and then kindof runs out da time. But yeah so More news i am still in linda vista with the same companion elder taylor. haha its crazy becuase he is the first companion that i actually stayed with. it was way funny too when we found out we werent getting transfered. kus we got the call and then we looked at each other from across the hall and then we started yelling haha and jumping up nd down kinda like we just won a lottery or a surf board or something. so we are pretty stoked that we can be with each other another transfer kus we like each other and we work good wit each other. we got way close to everyone in the branch and they helping us like crazy. its just that still the work is slow.. i dont know why, but we can seem to find people and the people we do talk to arent interested or they set another time for us to come back and they arent there. so its pretty tough, but we are trying to hang through and keep pushing trying to work hard. So not gonna lie too. it makes it pretty tough to write emails kus i feel like i am failing haha not i am mean i feel bad kus i dont really want to write and then it seems like i am not doing anything.. but i have realized that is pretty retarded so i am gona start writing anyways haha. oh so our weekly family home evenings in the church are going way good though! i mean its pretty legit. we have a ton of members show up and investigators. we have a lesson. then they have a ton of food too. leave it to those guys to bring all the goods for the party. and so i had to teach the lesson this past week and it was way good. not from anything i did but it was about charity and it was wierd kus plenty of people gave in their insights and it was a good discusion. and our ward mission leader shared this story that happened that exact day that really applied to him at that time. it was sweeet. 3 pointer swish by the spirit. oh what else has been happening. halloween was crazy. dang it was actually on saturday the night before, we were walking around and people were dressed up and there were tons of parties. we got so much shout outs, they werent sure if we were dressed up or not but some of the stuff they would say to us was pretty funny, except for the swear words. haha people would like, hey look the mormons, wheres your bikes, wheres your bible, and then we would get the occasional oh mormons ah i would never be one of those, but rock on. haha it was hilarious. ah man i forgot what i was talking about. oh so we were helping out this member move, his name is wilson. he is a cool guy, an RM and so he was renting to another apartment becuase the other place was a dumb right but when we got to the new house there was a miscommunication and actually he was going to be able to live there so he was homeless right then and we were freaking out because man he didnt have a place to say, doesnt have a car or nothing, or alot of money, but it all ended out good. he ended up renting at his parents house so that was a miracle right there. but that is really common with the members and investigators here. always moving because they no more money and so they live with barely anything and so we are always trying to help them see that all they need to do is put God first, and he will help you. and i mean at first i thought i dont know if i even really believe this, just giving all these members false hope and this encouragement when if someone gave it to me i wouldnt even believe it. if that makes any sense, but it really is true, and its crazy some of the stories we hear here. its ridiculous. families with no work no nothing, with a huge family to feed and somehhow they have the means of doing it. and then with members asking to have sundays off and just keep the sabbath day holy and then they miracally get it off and the boss repects them and they some how have enough money and they are happy, its pretty cool! but shoot we gotta go. but i miss you guys and hope everything is going way good!

Love

Elder Thomas

Karma...

Ok. Best story last week jeez, lets see. Oh okay i got one. but its not too good. so every week in the branch here we have a family home evening in the chapel and anyone is invited and we try to get the people we are teaching to come. and so everything was set. tons of people were going to come and we were stoked! like i mean alot! and so everything is going good. we talked to an awesome member named sister aquilar. she offered to teach the lesson and plan everything else. so we call her monday you know just to check see if she needs help with planning or teaching or anything we called her up and asked her and she was "like wait what do you mean.. wait i am teaching oh no no no no no i am not teaching i cant teach i didnt have any time." so me and my companion looked at each other and were like oh gosh you got to be got to be kidding. so she was like "no its you no its you its you." oh man so we hung up after yelling at her. nah just oh hermana come on.. so we had no idea what we were going to do/ teach and so we started thinking and came up with a decent lesson and then an activity. and it turned out way good. everyone showed up.. all our investigators and we taught about the book of mormon and then played a game called cat and mouse with ties. it was fun.

ramen, rice, spam and tuna. yummy!

Hey Everyone!

Well another month gone! Our whole apartment was stoked that it was a new month because we got paid, haha. We were all broke! But that's alright, I just ate all the snacks that you guys sent up. So here's my time to give my thanks because those snacks saved me. haha. So thanks for being so nice and helping me survive. It is definitely appreciated.

So this month, to try to save money, we went to WalMart and me and my bright ideas, I decided to get 30 ramen, hahaha, one for each day. I also got a huge bag of rice and then tuna and then some spam. So that's what my meals are like. Maybe I shoulda kept that one to myself, but I figured at least you Dad would get a kick out of that. Mom, don't worry, I work out every morning. So I hope that helps. haha.

Oh, ok, my companion is being a loser telling me that we have to go. Nah, it's all good. He said that we will come back later. Alright, so I will try to email later today. Well it was good talking to you a little!

Love yah!

Elder Sean "Santa Marina" Thomas

Hey - What's up everyone?!

Hope you guys are doing good and having some fun!

This week has been pretty slow, not a lot of things happened for us. It was pretty tough. We keep trying to visit all these people, but is has been hard because a lot of people are busy and so we have had days where everything fell through and then we are just like standing there wondering what to do. Oh, but it was way good because yesterday we had a meeting with President Donaldson and so he taught us a lot of stuff that I forgot already. Haha, good thing I wrote it down somewhere. But it was sweet because he talked a lot about the mormon.org website, because it is suppose to be way sweet. We are suppose to encourage the members to go and visit it and everything and then they picked a profile to show us. The profile was of Joy Monahan, and so we watched the video. I had already seen it before but this time with sound, so it was better, haha. This time I wasn't just watching the waves and the surfing part, haha. So we watched that and then President Donaldson told us that he wanted us to call ourselves Mormon missionaries, and so we were like, alright, you have the revelation to tell us what we should do. So after that we go and contact some people, and so the first person we see, we say, "Oh hey - what's up! We are Mormon missionaries." That was a rough sketch but right after we said that, he was like, "no, I am good, I am Catholic and yeah...bye." and then he just left. I was like, alright, have a good day and we kept trying and the same thing kept happening. Haha, it was pretty funny. But, ahhh, what can you do? So I think that we will just keep trying and get some more laughs in haha...jeez.

So earlier this week we had a dinner with a member at McDonalds, haha. We were just eating and talking and then somehow it turned into them giving all of us nicknames. It was pretty funny and so they called me Santamarina. At first I thought they called me Santa Maria, as in Mother Mary, that's the translation. So I was like, wait...what? That doesn't make any sense. But they said it again and they said it is an actor whose name is Eduardo Santa Marina or something like that and he acts in Spanish Novelas. Like the ones in Korean we used to watch (you remember that Mom? haha). They showed me a picture and I thought, that's weird, because I guess it kinda does look like me. I don't know, you should check it out (see picture at upper left). I thought it was way funny.

So there is one kinda funny story. Oh, but we learned something cool yesterday in John 21:15-17. When Jesus asks if Peter loves him three times. President Donaldson said that there are three different words for the word "love" in Hebrew that means some kind of love. The first is unselfish and consecrated love...

(email from Elder Sean "Santa Marina" Thomas unceremoniously and unexpectedly ended)

From Barrio to Bountiful

What's up!?

How's everyone doing?

So yup, now I am in Linda Vista, San Diego. It's up north from Barrio Logan and is pretty close to the Temple in La Jolla. It's also close to a place called Pacific Beach. It's really nice over there. Super nice area. It's a lot different from the Barrio. Jeez, there aren't any dark alleys or sketchy places, I felt weird at first but it's good. So yeah, well the thing about Linda Vista though is that there isn't a lot to do or that's what people say because they don't teach a lot and they haven't had any baptisms for awhile. Not saying that's all that matters, but yeah that's just how it is.

So the first couple of days we really didn't do anything or at least that's how it felt. So it was way boring, so shoot! But that all changed yesterday. So yesterday we planned for tracting for 2 hours! I was thinking - oh man, this is going to be a long day. But I tried to be positive and to make the most out of it. So we started knocking on doors and then the next thing we know, after like an hour we found 9 people with dates to come back and talk more. It was awesome! We talked to so many people it felt way good!

Later that night, we went to go visit a brother, his name is Eliseo, he is a nice guy. Eliseo isn't a member but his wife is a member and she was baptized in 2003, one year after us, so he has been exposed to the Church for 7 years. He still feels like he hasn't received an answer if these things are true and if whether getting baptized is what he needs to do. So I shared an experience with him that I had about reading the Book of Mormon. Because I felt the same way he did and I had doubts about things because I didn't understand it. I don't know if I ever talked about it before, probably not. But I remember just really wanting to know and so I grabbed my Book of Mormon and started reading and I couldn't stop. I remember reading every single second that I had and I read it and read it and it felt so good. After I finished I did the promise in Moroni and it just came to me then and I knew that it was true and I also felt it in my heart. So I just shared that with Eliseo and encouraged him to read Moroni in the Book of Mormon. So maybe that will help him find what he is looking for.

Oh, but let's see...funny story before I head out. Shoot not enough time left, but uhmmmm, ok I can't think of anything. I will tell you next week. How's that huh?! Okay, well, hope everthing is going well over there and that you guys are having a good time and everything. Miss you guys!

Love yah!! Elder Thomas

So are you sure you got the right guy?!?

Hey!

Okay, yeah I am sorry that I didn't get to write last week, but that's because Mom was at her computer, so I was able to exchange emails back and forth to kind of "talk" to her. I like it a lot better because then I am actually writing to someone and then they respond, haha. Especially because sometimes I don't know what to write. There tons of stuff hapenning but I always forget when it comes to write. I seriously don't even know what happened on Saturday, it's all just a huge blur.

So transfers are upon us again and I am getting out of the ghetto man!!! It's pretty funny though because, well...we had a meeting with President Donaldson this past week, just me and my companion. My companion, Elder Olberg, was feeling really down and out and he just has a hard time because he doesn't talk a lot and gets down on himself for that. What ends up happening pretty much throughout the whole day, is me just trying to cheer him up and help him feel better about himself and how he is doing. It is really hard and so I felt that it would be better if President Donaldson could talk to him and help him. We made an appointment to see President Donaldson and he was able to talk to Elder Olberg. Afterwards, President Donaldson wanted to talk to me alone and then he told me that I was getting transferred! I was kinda mad, ah man, I was actually pretty disappointed and angry, because everything is starting to come together in our Ward and was looking really good, the members are helping out a ton with the work after a lot of effort to motivate them and we had so many other ideas that we were planning to try out. Our investigators were progressing and we also found a lot of new investigators.

So, needless to say I wasn't happy and was actually kind of frustrated. I just sat there and asked President Donaldson why? haha. President Donaldson just laughed at me. He knew I was mad, and then on top of that he told me that there is a possibility that I am going to be a district leader...?!? Oh man, that's when I started freaking out. I came back to our home and I had to calm myself down by just thinking about surfing to relax me, haha. So I was kinda just in a daze. I don't even know, I was thinkin like shoots man, I have a hard time just trying to be a good missionary and now I gotta be an example for others? Me? Ahhh, but after awhile it became alright. I resigned meyself to put it in the Lord's hands and I know that He can and will help me. I figured that I just got to be myself and try my hardest, and so we will see what happens.

I believe that I am going to be transferred to Chula Vista. Apparently, the work is really slow there and there aren't a lot of members, nor are there a lot of Spanish speakers. So we shall see what happens over there. But hey, it's right next to the beach! haha...um nah, but we will live right across the street from the mission office, so that will be sweet. I can receive my letters on Tuesday morning for the first time on my mission. Here in the ghetto it's bad. They don't bring our letter until Wednesday sometimes. But actually for me it doesn't really bother me.

Oh shoot! Well, we have to get going already. We have two sweet appointments planned for tonight so I hope it all goes well. Last time here so we have to make it count.

I miss you all and I love you. Thanks for everything that you do. Thanks for the packages and the sweet hook ups and the letters and everything! Hope everyone has a good week!

Love, Elder Thomas

It is now Team Hawaii/Canada!

Buenas!

So another week has gone by. This week really went by so fast. It was the last week for Elder Morales' mission. We actually drove him to the Airport on Saturday morning. It was really wierd that whole Saturday, my companion, Elder Olberg, and I felt like it was a dream and that we were gonna wake up at any time and come to the realization that none of this really happened, I guess because Elder Morales was our Salvation. I know, that sounds quite drastic and dramatic, but it's true because he was a native speaker and our lifesaver. Whenever we didn't understand something that was being said in Spanish we turned to him. But now we have no one to turn to and ask "wait what did they just say?" haha. I have a couple of funny stories about that.

Oh, but jeez, i almost forgot. The night before Elder Morales left we had a baptism of an 8 year old boy from this family that we visit and talk to often. His name is Steve. It was pretty awesome. The baptism went alright. But just a little back ground, the mom of Steve is the only member of the Church out of her siblings. She has 5 sisters and they all came with their families to the baptism. Come to find out at the baptism, I was assigned to give my testimony and so when I found out about it, I was thinking, okay, I can do that. But when it came for me to give my talk, for some reason I just didnt know what to say and I found myself stumbling over my words and everything... oh, it was so bad. I don't know why I am talking about this, haha, I should be talking about all the good stuff we did so I look a little bit better as a missionary to all those who are reading this right now... ah, oh well. So it didn't go very well while I was up there and actually the Mom came up after me and saved me and gave her testimony and it was really nice. So good thing that happened. Ahh, I was way sad about how poorly I felt I did, I don't know why I let it bother me so much. I think it was just the fact that I tried so hard to do my best and then that happened. I think too that because I have to be senior companion after Elder Morales was leaving, I think it was just that I let the pressure of all of the responsibility get to me. But after Elder Morales left, I began to think that things are always going to come at us and hit us hard and try to knock us down so that we can't get back up again. All I kept thinking about was that although I felt I haven't become any better as a teacher and all that junk, I can't just give up. It means I gotta try even harder. I mean we will always come upon hard times. Always. Because of those hard times, we can go up easily and come back down even more easily just like a roller coaster. But whenever I have the tough times like that, I always think about Jesus Christ and how he has felt everything we have felt and has suffered all of that, and way more, not only for me, but for everybody, then now and in the future and overcome all of that. I always feel strong when I follow what our Savior asks of me because I know that He is helping me. It give me great comfort and is pretty sweet.

Well that's enough of all of that, I need to get something funny and a little sunshine in here. So this Sunday at Church we got a call from our investigators and when I answered it I thought they said that they were waiting outside of the church and asked if we could come to bring them in so we walked outside but there was nobody there. hahaha and I felt so embarassed because I knew I must have misunderstood them haha. So I called them back and asked where they were and it turned out they were at their house and that they needed a ride. Everyone got a good laugh in, especially them, so that was good, at least they weren't mad, haha. But yeah, a lot of people ask us whether we know Spanish and everything, so I tell them that I am from Hawaii and that no, I don't know Hawaiian but i can dance the hula. It's usually at that point when they all start to laugh. I guess people don't think I am a good hula dancer... I am not sure, but it's all good.

Well, shoot I need to leave already. The time flew by fast. I love you all and hope everything is going well and that everyone is happy and having fun.

Love,

Elder Thomas

The Last of the Three Mariachis

Hey Alright!

A ton of things are happening over here. This week is the last week for Elder Morales and then he goes home. He lives in Provo, so i kind of feel bad for him, leaving paradise to... um yeah... Provo. Nah! Provo is fun and nice too. He's leaving early in the transfer because he has to start up school. After this Saturday it will be only me and Elder Olberg haha back to the normal two companion thing. It will still be good fun. But because he is leaving, we were all going to go the temple today. It's gonna be my first time to go to the Temple in San Diego. Finally! After what, 5 months? haha, man i feel bad about that. Ahhh...i am just looking so forward to feeling that peace and serenity and to just sit down and relax and contemplate for a little bit. I love the Temple. It's different too kus before, in the MTC, we would go every week. It was way nice and now its been 5 months since we were able to go to the Temple, so it'll be so good. I will try take some pictures but i not gonna promise anything, haha.

Uhm lets see... what else do we got this week? Oh we have 3 baptisms! One is a 8 year old kid named Steven and the other two are this Husband and wife who are pretty old. We found them because a member invited them to church and well we got introduced to them and so we started talking with them and after the first lesson we gave them a chapter to read about baptism and they read it and couldnt stop reading. It was pretty much a miracle. It's awesome, we actually committed them to baptism and they didn't feel ready but after reading they called us and said they want to get baptized. Their names are Luisa and Gustino. So they are all getting Baptised this Friday. I will take pictures of that guarantee! We are way excited!

Other news about Pablo kus i gotta tell you guys what happened with him. So he has a ton of questions each time we come and it's so hard because he has never learned these things before and it just doesn't make sense to him, it's not because he is stupid or anything but it's just different for him. He is a really nice guy. Dad - it's hilarious how much he is like you. Every time we go to his house I observe how he teaches his kids and everything. It's the exact same way like you do it Dad, i swear it's pretty scary. We have been trying to find a friend, someone who can just be nice to him and show him around the church and fellowship with him. But it's hard because we know a lot of the members and they don't have the patience to work with him or know what to say to him. We just still don't know who would fit in that role. That's why i wish you were here dad. But anyways he came to church but I think that it was a bad experience for him. In sunday school they were talking about the Plan of Salvation. and they started going way too deep. They started talking about the War in Heaven and the third part of Heaven was sent down. AHHH me and my companions were just like - you got to be kidding. So I could see Pablo was just sitting there and he started to ask some questions because he didn't understand. There was this other lady there as well who started bashing and bashing, saying where is this in the bible? kus she wasn't a member either. What happened was people in the church started arguing and everything and so Pablo just felt way bad and didn't really like church at all. Then after that we had a Family Home Evening with the church and invited him and we told all the members just to be his friend and to be really careful. But the same thing happened. We got into the same dispute as in Sunday school. It was horrible. Pablo was really sad and FHE started at 5 until 8 and we were going to leave but we couldn't because he didn't feel good at all. But he likes us a lot and we are good friends. So after FHE we went out for pizza and went to go and talk in the park. We talked and talked and we told him why we were on our missions and we talked to him about all this stuff and the plan of salvation again. After we talked about all of that he turned to us and looked at each of us and said.. " you guys really believe this stuff." We told him yes we do, and then he said, "well you know what if you guys do i think i can too.'"

I know it's not good that he puts his faith in us. Because really he should know that its true from God and the Holy Spirit but we also know that this knowledge comes in steps. It was just a strong testimony to me that we are nothing, for real, we are nothing without charity without that pure love. I also believe that before anything, we need to show love and to be entirely sincere and try to be nice to others and everything else will fall together in it's place. we are grateful that Pablo is progressing and we gave him all the pamphlets and everything to read ,haha so it should be good and we shall see what happens next.

Miss you guys and I love you guys a lot!

Love, Elder Thomas

The Three Mariachis

Alright! Hows everyone doing? Things are going way good here. Today we had Zone Conference where all the missionaries in the Zone meet together and then the missionary president talks to us and teaches us a ton of stuff. It's always really good and way crazy because there is a bunch of stuff that we learn. All of it is focused on how we can become better missionaries and improve our talents or lack there of. haha just kidding.

So I don't know if i can write everything that has been happening to us because there has been a lot. I guess i will just explain the one big thought that is on my mind right now. I t's about Pablo. So we have been going over there alot lately, practically every day. He loves us for some reason, we don't really talk that much just cause we are all pretty shy, and yeah I don't know but he calls us everyday to see if we are coming over and actually he found out that we have our P days on tuesday, so he was like ok you guys are coming with me and we will just cruise all day haha, so we did and we played Frisbee golf with him and his two kids MIke and Nico. He has 3 other kids too, Amor, Dulce and Daniel, all really nice kids. It was really fun and that's the reason why we didn't email yesterday, sorry. Oh and another thing he feeds us every single time too. Oh man it's ridiculous. Some nights we have 2 huge meals, when i say huge its like bambucha! Becuase everyone just likes to feed us, so dad i think you gonna have some competition with whoever has the biggest keg when i come back home. So yeah that's Pablo. But teaching him is a whole different thing, it is hard. He goes all over the place, sometimes he will have questions and try to explain himself through giving examples and by the time he stops talking it has been 30 minutes and so it is hard to follow him, well that's what my companions say. It's different for me though, its kinda funny. I think at least my family and some know how i think, Dad you are probably laughing right now. But Pablo thinks the same way its weird. But basically with him he has his own views and he is really headstrong in his beliefs kind of like grandpa. He doesnt really believe in tithing or the word of wisdom and he has his doubts about the Book of Mormon at the same time. But one thing he has said is that he wants to follow Jesus Christ but he just hasn't made the decision and i really think he hasn't yet because he has fear that he will fall. I mean that's normal, heck i do that a lot. But everytime i hear that, bam a red flag comes in my head, saying no don't think like that. And i always remember what Dad said " you don't go into something thinking your going to lose, because if you do, you will." For some reason that hits me hard. Props to you dad ha. But it's true and it goes to the principles of Hope and Faith. You have a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ you can change, and you can be a disciple of Christ if you desire to be one but of course it's hard, there is going to be challenges but through the Help and power of Christ we have Faith that we can overcome this and that when we put ourselves to doing it and trying to change, we know not because we have seen the Lord help us, and we believe he will. That's what always comes to mind and we try to tell him that, but he's just having a difficult time. We have something planned tonight and we will see how it goes and i will write about it in the letters i send out kus i still havent written.

The thing with Pablo too he has told us that he was in bad shape, two weeks ago. Three weeks ago he didn't really do anything because his back causes him alot of pain, he hurt it a while ago and hasn't been to work in a year and he has been really depressed, But now he has been doing a lot better. Not trying to say that we did something or that it was us, but the Lord provides ways that our brothers and our sisters and our family can have the strentgh of the Gospel. I remember the talk by uncle Dayle, nothing is a coincidence and it is true.

Cool story about no coincidence. One day this week, we came out of this members house and we saw this guy and his family in the street and the man was looking at us and pointing at us, showing us to his family and he was like "oh look it's the Elders" and us we were like, what the... how do you know who we are? and he started asking all these questions, we didn't do anything he was just so curious and interested. One thing he asked was wait you have water as the sacrament instead of wine... we said "you bet we do mister" haha and he got so excited, everytime we said something new to him he was so surprised and excited it was fun. Heck i even got excited, i was like we even wear shirt and tie in the church. I just wanted to jump and cheer or something it was just way funny. So he is going to come to church this Sunday and he promised in the name of God that he would read the Book of Mormon. There has just been a lot of miracles happening its great.

Just one more thing. Being a missionary, we have been focusing a lot with members, because without members there isn't anything and it's not just people to come out with us and teach sometimes but to be a real friend because they really need it. Just the people we have taught i just wish i could be their friend and help them with anything but i can't all the time and i know whoever is reading this. That there are people that need your friendship but more importantly they need your friendship in the church, being with them in Church and helping them to make the changes and everything. If you could also please pray for our investigators, that they can have the hope and strength and faith to keep going. Thanks! and I pray for you guys too.

I hope everything is going well, I love yah all!

Thanks again,

Love Elder thomas

Ah...the good times

Hey! How's everyone doing?

Hope everything is going good, because it is way sweet here. So much good stuff has happened this past week. So Sunday was pretty much the best day so far during the whole mission. It was as if constant miracles were happening left and right and up and down and sideways. From everywhere as well, some from utah even. haha. I'll explain that one later. So, I will start off with Saturday. Heres the story....

So it all started on Saturday at approximately 8:01 in the evening time Saturday night. We had this one referral that some other missionaries gave to us. His name is Pablo and they contacted him on the street and they said he was interested about learning more, so we thought, what the heck, let's go and see if we can teach him some more. At first, we all thought - well whatever, this is probably gonna be bad, because a lot of the times the referrals aren't even that good. It usually turns out that the people aren't even interested. But this time it turned out to be different!

But before I say what happened I gotta explain some thing that we have been trained on and were taught out here in the field. President Donaldson has been stressing to us a lot about asking inspired questions and just teaching from that method. I don't know, I just doubted that technique sometimes especially for me, when it has something to do with teaching, I mean I guess my ability has gotten a lot better though, I don't get down on myself like I did before. But still I didn't think I could ever be like one of those amazing missionaries who just blow the people away. So there... that's the background for the story. Anyways, we were walking to the appointment and Elder Morales turns to me and says ok you got it, its all you, you can teach everything. And I was thinking, wow... I don't know... but I really didn't mind. I just felt a little pressure. Anyways, we met Pablo and I was thinking ok, what am I going to say? So I just asked him a question and he was just like, wow that's a good question and he thought for a while and he just started going off. He started talking about what he thought about religion and his experiences with his church and everything. Basically, he said he didn't like his church because he felt they were all hypocrites and that the pastors and all the teachers weren't humble and that they would just talk but didn't do, and so he was tired of all that junk and he just wanted to have a closer relationship with God. A personal one.

When he was talking, I was like are you kidding me, are you serious? I couldn't believe all the stuff that happened to him and how everything felt right at that moment in time to be sharing our message with him. Because it felt like he was ready to hear our message and he was somehow prepared for us to come and visit him at this very point in his life. It turned out to be a really good lesson. We listened to him and just started to get to know him as a person and we also talked to him about what we teach and what our message is and what we like to share. He liked it a lot, and he said he respected us a lot and what we did as well. We were just ashocked (yes Mom I know its not a word but it fits good in the sentence) and amazed. So we invited him to go to church the next day, it was a pretty soft invitation, plus he already knew that it was for 3 hours. Oh another thing too - his best friend, he calls him his Dad, Aristeo, is a less active member for years. Apparently, Aristeo has a lot of problems, at least that's what my companions told me. But Aristeo was there too throughout the entire lesson. Pablo told us that if Aristeo woke him up he would go to church. That didn't sound like a very definite response, so we thought that Pablo might end up not going. Oh and another issue, during the lesson Pablo smoked about 4 cigarettes. But that's ok, our next lesson will be the word of wisdom with him and I think it will go well.

Anyways, the next morning we went over to go see Aristeo and Pablo at their house before church to make sure Pablo was coming along with Aristeo. But he didn't answer the door and we were disappointed and just went to church. No one came to the Priesthood meeting either. Then we went to Sunday School. It was packed! So much people came, there wasn't enough seats and we needed to go grab more seats even.

Ok, quick break from the story. We just got mail. Thank you all for the boxes and food and letters! Thanks for the card Cait! Oh man it was funny, I was cracking up. Thank you too for your card Carly! It was way funny too! Hey please say a big Thank You to Sister and Brother Lui. Just tell them that I am really thankful for their support and everyone else in the ward too.
Oh cool thing... just now one of my friends Elder Heidbrink turned over to me and said, "Thomas check this out". When I looked over at his computer monitor I saw Joy Monahan surfing! It was crazy, he was watching it on Mormon.org. It was a pretty sweet page, and I liked the videos. There were some sick moves. Ah! that was probably not a good idea to watch that, makes me miss the water. But its okay... So thanks everyone for the mail and the packages!

So let's see back to the story. We were sitting in the Sunday school class and we saw Pablo and Aristeo come in and sit down! I just wanted to ... ok shoot! I need to get going already. ahhhhh!
I love everyone! Thanks again. I'll finish the story in the letters I send out later.

Love, Elder Thomas

Transfer? Transfer! Transfer...

Hey Everyone!

Hope everything is going good over there where ever you are. Here in San Diego things are going very well. Yesterday we actually moved apartments, it was tons of work. It practically took us all day! We woke up and started at 6:30 and then we didn't finish until around 5:00 pm, but we got everything settled. Our new apartment is way sweet, but the thing that's lame is I am getting transfered again!?! Right after I move into a sweet house. I will still be in the same area, but with the other set of missionaries. Elder Morales and Elder Olberg. Were going to be the three mariachis. Because Elder Morales leaves for his home in 4 weeks, and after he leaves it will be just Elder Olberg and myself. It should be pretty good, I am excited despite the fact that I can't work with the same members and same families as before, but that's how it goes i guess. It will be fun though because they are really good guys. The only thing is that Elder Morales doesn't like to do stuff sometimes, he gets lazy hahaa and just wants to go home. But he's a good missionary when he wants to be. So I'm gonna make him work hard, me and Elder Olberg. We are going to have some intense battles in the Barrio. So that's what is happening in the next 6 weeks. So we shall see what's going to happen. It's going to be weird to not speak Spanish all the time though. Well I don't know because Elder Morales is from South American tambien. But he was raised a little bit in Utah so he speaks English too. So with his companions he speaks English, but i bet we will probably just speak Spanish becuase Elder Olberg, who's from Canada, is still new and doesn't really know Spanish, or well I mean, shoot, all of us here don't know how to speak Spanish. People are always asking me to repeat myself haha. But my Spanish has gotten a lot better with Elder Peru over here. I am always asking him questions, and then practically every other minute he is on the floor rolling around in laughter because I said something retarded.

Oh that reminds me - so Elder Peru knows a ton of stuff, he is way smart. Then there's me...well I am good at eating, and more chill, so yeah pretty much we are like yin and yang. He makes up for my lack of smarts and I help him take it easy (tomalo facil) and chill out. We were talking this week while we were studying and he asked me how many times I have read the Bible. At first I laughed because yeah, excuse me, the Bible is huge, and i am not much of a reader. But he said he read the bible twice! Two times and he's going in for another round. Crazy. Sometimes I wish God blessed me with the divine gift of reading. Instead he gave me the gift of being nice. What's up with that? haha, nah i am just kidding. But anyways so yeah he challenged me to read it, and of course since i have Dads blood in me, I can't ever let a challenge or competition go by without doing it. So I started reading and right now I am in Exodus. It's going pretty good. I especially like the full on genealogy chapters, "and it came to pass that adam begat trow and trow begat ghuadfk and ghuadfk begat tyuuti and tyuuti begat tyuutis son and his son and his son." good fun haha. So yeah now I am reading the Bible, and I hope I can actually finish some day...

Oh another story from this week. Something that I learned from being on the mission. It seems like the same stuff keeps happening and I still keep facing the same challenges. It's like a roller coaster but more like a circle like the ride at the fair called the Ring of Fire. But so yeah, again this week my companion was mad, or so I thought, because sometimes he just will have this mad face on and I would try to talk to him but then he doesn't even say anything in response. Thats another thing, he gets in these moods, where he doesn't talk and I was joking with some other missionaries that during this transfer I have created 3 imaginary friends in my head just so i can talk to someone, haha. So this was happening - him not talking to me. At first I just let it go, I would tell myself to just keep trying my best, but then over time it got old and I just got mad and I was like get me out of here. I didn't want to talk in the lessons or anything and then I was like you know what I should be patient. So I put it to the side and just worked and tried to talk to people in the streets and our investigators and to try my best to teach and it went really well. Then just yesterday he started talking to me again. haha, finally. But it helped me to gain experience in real life to learn first hand what patience really is. In Preach My Gospel it talks about patience, and it says that patience is getting out and working on it. That is the same thing that Uncle Tim said at my farewell Sacrament Meeting. I know i probably have talked about this alot, I don't why, but maybe its kus someday I will have to know about patience and learning it now will help me in the future. I was thinking that maybe it's the same thing like Dad and Grandpa. I am going to have the opportunity (not have to) change Dad's diapers for Dad hahaha. But yeah so thats what's up this past week. I have to head out. Oh I sent you your letters Cait. Hey I sent two letters alright? Next time send me a happy letter ok? with pictures of flowers of something haha, just kidding.

I hope everything is good. I miss you guys and I am praying for you too.

Love,

Elder Thomas

This is the current location of Elder Thomas' Ward. They hold Sacrament Meeting at the school.

This is where Elder Thomas currently lives as of this date

6 MONTHS!!!

Hey!

So today it's been 6 months already! it's pretty crazy how it's already been 6 months. time flies! But ok first, before i forget, haha the address of the house i am living in, it's: 2862 Oceanview Blvd. Up on the top haha and then there is the school across from the house and thats where we have church. But right now we are going to move, agosto 2 to a different house in 3016 Franklin. it's still pretty close, about two blocks away. So yeah, you can check out the houses, but only those because the others are pretty sketchy haha. nah its not too bad.

Oh ok and about the tape repcorder, i will TRY and do it tonight haha we shall see.. nah i will and try send it out to you guys in the next couple days. and then what you can do is look for tapes for the recorder and bye those or something i dont know. up to you.

Next on the line of topics PICTURES. OK dad hah i know i havent taken pictures but i do have some pretty good excuses... ok number 1, my camera doesn't work. haha pretty good one right. the thing always says new batteries, needs new batteries, but i went and bought some and it still says the same thing so i dont know whats up with it..? so thats one reason. the second one is i am a guy, since when do guys stand in the pictures? that's what girls do, i don't know. haha i am just not a picture person. but i will try for you. hows that? pretty good right?

Oh, today in the morning we helped a family move to the ghetto about two blocks down from us and we were riding with them in their car and i looked in the back and i saw a mexican from tijuana. jk. no, i saw an L&L hat and so i got all excited! i asked if he worked there and he said yeah and some of his family too. so now i got hookups to L&L. huge blessing! see that's a testament right there in itself that if you give up your life, don't worry what to eat or where you sleep. the Lord will provide. He didn't provide something lame, like a salad store. But L&L, baby. Allelujiah! So that was the bright side today. Oh guess what too dad! the L&L in the ghetto here, they have Orange Bang but mexican style, sooo good...

So anyways this week has been pretty good again. Margarita is doing way good, she comes to church every sunday with out any if, ands, or buts. it's way sweet to see how much different she is, it's definitly worth it to be here. even though its nothing that i did to change her. because i hardly did anything. it was all the lord. but right now she reads every night the Book of Mormon and she reads the child Book of Mormon tambien con sus ninos, oh and before she didn't know how to pray in Spanish, but we taught her how finally, before she was like no it's ok, i am fine, i don't want to learn, haha. but so yeah she is doing awesome. her kids are still crazy though. we are waiting till they turn eight to clease them of the devil in them. they are just all over the place. it's hard too - the members are getting mad because the kids run all over the place in church. but we figured out how we can fix it. we are going to get some chains and a sound proof room and put them in there, problem solved. Just yesterday, oh the beeessst dinner i have ever had. oh Brokedamout! It was onions, zucchini, squash, tomato, chile, cheese. oh man i am going to try and learn how to cook it. so good, it's funny too because it was really spicy, but i can't even tell anymore, spicy is the bomb. i can't eat food, or its not the same, if there isn't chile on it. But my companion from peru cant handle it haha he's a bebecito, but it's funny to watch him when he starts tearing up. finally someone different than me who does the crying.

Last story. The past couple weeks there is this one senora that has had alot of stuff that happened to her. it's a pretty sad story. her husband was deported but first brought to prison for a month and there he was beaten up bad. he still isn't feeling the best and right now he is in tijuana and she is here in San diego and she can't go over to see him because she doesn't have papers. this past week too, her younger brother who was investigating the church for 8 years was killed and it wasn't an accidnet too. she doesn't know what happened becuase the police doesn't want to tell her, so it's that bad and she just doesn't understand why this is all happening to her. And we told her that there are times when things will happen to us and it will test our faith, we tell our investigators that when you are trying to do the good thing, that's when you will find the most opposition. BUT, no matter what you are facing, no matter what you are being challenged with - The Gospel of Jesus Christ can help you. it's as simple as that. we don't need to fear anything. not one thing. Following His Gospel will help you find peace in this life. So we have been talking with her trying to help her. Her name is Carmen. If there is one thing i have seen out here, it's how hard this life is. it is tough and a lot of times we take what we have for granted. well at least for me. But there are tons of sad stories here that i have heard. sad, sad stories. I am just glad i know what i know, because without it, i just don't know, i just dont get how people do it on their own. The teachings of Jesus Christ are the solution.

Ok but i got to go and get on with the rest of the day. Love you guys and hope everything is going good. Dad, Send pictures braddah! haha please...

Love Elder Thomas

The Mick D's big spender

Hey Everybody!

Hope everyone is doing good. this past week has been pretty good, slow sometimes but good. Just yesterday we had interviews with the mission President and then a meeting with all the spanish missionaries. It was a really good meeting, He talked about contacting people in the street and focusing more on the Book of Mormon, it was pretty funny because in the meeting he asked this one elder to come up and do a normal street contact. I woulda been pretty nervous haha in front of everybody. and so he started and then President stopped him 5 seconds in, so just after he introduced himself. I was like wow i am glad thats not me haha but then he showed how it was done. he nailed it. sometimes i wonder why the beloved are we here and not the older people, they know more then us and they are alot better. but i know why we are because we need to get to the point where we don't rely on ourselves but to rely on the Lord and He will bless us. that isn't to say that we dont need to do anything but yeah we still need to study and do our part. But anyways, so President acted out a contact and he was the missionary and he asked the person (missionary) if he had any famous ancestors? i mean what kind of question is this? haha. but the point was he did it to lead to the fact that the people of the Book of Mormon were the ancestors of the people in mexico and south america and that the Book of Mormon is specifically written for them and it is a story of their family two thousand years ago. and so after that he had all the spanish speakers stand up and go to the front and i was like oh shoot what about hagoth? and so he called up all the pacific islanders too. so yeah, dad and cait we are special. sorry mom that excludes you... haha, just kidding your important too mom. it was written for you too. okay? don't feel bad. jk

So that is how he wants us to share the book of mormon and contact. so we tried that yesterday. We actually went up to this one house that my companion supposedly had revelation about and we knocked on the door. and it's an english speaking person. and so that just threw me off. and i was like stuttering oh man it was embarassing. not good at all. but then for some reason i wanted to try again after the complete failure. So we saw this family and i was excited because our message blesses families tons - like ours. and so we asked him and he said sorry i really don't have time right now. sorry. so again another bust. but after that we saw this guy working on his car and we asked him the question and we started to talk about the Book of Mormon and how it was a record of his family two thousand years ago. and so he was interested and he had alot of questions, it was pretty sweet. and so we are going to go visit him later this week. oh the sweet thing is that his wife is a member too but less active. so we are going to try and teach them and help them too.

Ok, oh i dont know if i told you about my companion but he is like a library! He knows everything. and so a lot of our visits with members and investigators are spent like talking about doctine and answering questions they have. and me, i dont know any of this stuff, heck i hardly even read. all i was familiar with before the mission was surfboard+ the ocean= Fun. that's basically it. and so i have been learning a ton of stuff. this past Pday we went to DI and he bought all this doctrine books because he likes to read them so i have been reading them too. I have been doing the most reading in my life. So it's pretty interesting stuff. it's fun to learn and it just makes sense.

Oh, so funny story about doctine discusions, one morning we went to go study at the library for companion study and so while we were studying their these two ladies came up to us and asked a question about something. then we started talking about the Plan of Salvation. and they didnt understand how we could have lived with God before this life. and thats reasonable because for a lot of people that can be new. But they started arguing too about how God did not have a Plan before Adam and Eve, well he did have a plan but after they partook of the fruit, God Changed his plan. and me and my companion just looked at each other. we were like what. how can a Loving God who is just and all Knowing from the beginning and through eternity not know that was going to happen. And so just after that i was just thinking to myself how true the church is and in reality we have all of the Truth. not saying we are better than anybody and not trying to diminish the importance of other religions because other religions have helped the world so much and have helped spread the knowldege of God and Jesus Christ. But it's amazing and i am thankful to Heavenly Father and our Savior because in the scriptures it says all things will be restored. and all these things will be restored in Christ. and Because they love us so much they have brought everything back, which was lost. it's pretty sweet, pretty amazing work.
So yeah there are some things that happened this week. other than that it's pretty good.

Oh we are actually moving houses too agosto 1 into this nice house (well nice in the ghetto) but really it's pretty sweet and its a lot nicer then the attic we have now haha. Oh Carly the other day we got this hot chocolate bar they call Abuelita. Best hot chocolate! it's pretty good. that was kind of random but yeah only becuase the other day Margarita gave us a ton of food. and i dont know why too, she doesnt have alot of food to begin with, i wasn't complaining though, haha. it was nice of her and i needed it. because this month, like half way i saw i had a lot of money on my account and so i started to take it easy and buy mcdonalds and food for other people and then this past Pday i tried paying for some stuff and it didn't go through and so i checked my card and there is only $1.23 left, hahah. ay i tell you i am so dumb. but it's alright i can make it i still have alot of food. Shoot, i probably shouldn't have said that. but i thought it was pretty funny. anyways DONT SEND ME MONEY.

Love you,

Elder Thomas

The jumping flea allegory

Hey alright! thanks for all the letters and everything, it helps i appreciate it a lot.

So yeah things are going a little bit better. It's always like up and down, i swear some times that i am on a roller coaster, i don't know. I think i am finally getting used to it somewhat , haha. this past week my companion elder Cisneros told me a story from Elder Holland. It is a way good one. It's about Faith. The story talks about faith and relates it to an experiment a couple of scientists did. Oh, little brief explanation: this is a translation of the story because he told me it in spanish haha, so it might not totally be the same quality of story, but for me it was good. So there was this experiment and what they did was they had these flees in a bottle with a cap on the top and they wanted to see what would happen because usually flees jump super high, but they were confined in this small bottle so they wanted to see if they could break the cap. so they jumped regularly and nothing happened they couldn't get past the cap, so what the scientists actually found out was that the flees were smart, who would know. but what the flees did was they learned that there was something there that they kept hitting and it hurt and so they adjusted their jumping and only jumped right below the cap. so the scientists thought okay, let's take off the cap and see what happens. So they took off the cap and nothing changed, the flees kept jumping the same height even though the cap wasnt there. But then the scientists got a new flea, just one single flee that wasn't in the group with the cap and put it in the bottle, still with no cap and that little guy started flying and then what happened was the other flees when they saw that started doing the same thing. So basically what Elder Holland said was we have this great potential because we are sons and daughters of God not some human or just created from the earth, God created us and we have this great potential of trying to be like him. but Satan knows that, he knows how good we can be, so he puts a cap on us, we get put in hard spots and hard times because that's the only way we are going to grow, and then satan tells us we can't do it. But Faith isnt that, faith is not saying yeah i have faith but then when the hard times come you fall. we are suppose to have faith and follow Jesus Christ through the good and the bad. If not, we are just like the flees, every time satan tries to cap us and stop us, we just keep jumping up and down up and down at the same height. and then he doesn't even need to put the cap and we are still the same. I know i have done that a lot in my mission. during lessons when i can't understand becuase my head hurts and it's so hard to pay attention, i tell myself, "self, oh man i can't do this, i need to go home and study then i can do it." but then i end up just staying at the same place. But so now i tell myself that i can do it and i try so hard just to be able to understand them and at times i think shoot how do i even understand. And just all i can explain it is God because it's his work and he wants his children to be happy in this life and happy in the next life with him and our families. Which is the best thing we can ever have. One real quick thing too. Love is power it's so strong and God works by faith, but also by love. because i see like when i have love for the people we are teaching it is so much easier. and it helps. But shoot i have to go already my companion needs to use the computer really quick so yeah. I love you a lot and don't worry about me i am doing good in the ghetto, walking in the alleys at night with the gangstahs, its all good, haha.

well, this mexican cholo has to leave.

Love Elder Thomas

Life's lessons

Hey Everybody!

Ok so this week was pretty good, we did a lot of stuff this past week it was crazy and super hectic. It is hard to plan a baptism and make sure everything goes through. So we had the baptism of Margarita this past saturday and it was just crazy. that day like an hour before she was going to get picked up for the baptism, she called us and said she can't! she said her husband said no and that if she did do that he would divorce her...which doesn't really make a lot of sense, but yeah, and so when my companion told me that, i got way sad because that whole week i was just waiting and waiting and waiting for that baptism and then when that happened i just wanted to sit down and just give up. it was bad. but anyways, we went to her house and was talking to her and talking to her for an hour about what happened and everything and she just didn't care or wasn't listening and it was tough. it was different too becuase her faith was gone it wasn't even there, now when i look at it neither was mine just because i wasn't thinking clearly and i was just sad. So after an hour we ended up giving her a blessing and she got up and said ok we are going. and just a whole bunch of stuff just hit us because she had to get baptized early and everything so we ran to the church and did a quick baptism. and she left and that was it. and that was my first baptism. my very first one.. but rather than it feeling really special, it just felt like it was a number. it didn't feel right at all. but yeah, its pretty depressing but it's still good. like even though it wasn't perfect, it happened and she will be able to see the blessings and i hope she keeps it up because it will help her out so much. So yeah there are no pictures because everything was rushed. it's funny too because i didn't have an extra pair of clothes and stuff and so haha my shirt was half way wet and my pants got soaked too becuase my garments were wet it was a mess. but yup, so that was my first baptism. man that is kind of sad. ok, i hope this email isn't negative or sad or anything. but jeez things are just negative right now haha, it's bad. but it's tough this transfer again. my companion doesn't ever talk with me!! it's horrible! why cant people be happy? that's it, when i am going back home i am going to move to disneyland with you mom, because people can't be mad over there. its only 3 weeks in the transfer... ooooo braddah.

On the good side of things, one day this week, i went on exchanges with a brother in the ward all day!! it was nice haha. but yeah so i went with him and we taught this family of four. two kids - a boy and a girl. it made me think of our family so much and it was a lot easier to teach and to talk. they are a nice family and i hope we can keep meeting with them and help them to accept the gospel.

Love, Elder Thomas

Wow! Two letters in one Day! Cha Ching!

OK so anyways back to the story with margarita. so she came to the baptism and we were just talking and without saying anything about it she said she wanted to be baptized and that she has been thinking about it and believes that she needs to do it and that it is the best thing for her family and the last lesson we had with her convinced her. she said "well... i have the faith that if i get baptized then the rest of my family will too becuase they will see the blessings of it" and that was a total change because before she said that she will not get baptized unless her husband did. It's crazy and just amazing how much she has learned after all that hard work, haha. but it was worth it to see how much it has helped her so far. so i sent some pictures too, hahaa just in case you miss my zoo lander poses, haha, and every night we have like a jamming session too but the songs we make, are soo dumb but super funny. i'll send a recording for you guys like in a week. i'll start recording again. like some of the song names are VANS and Corner in the room. it's me and elder morales and our band name is the righteous apostates, haha. We figure we can make a CD and sell it after our missions, but we will see haha. oh ok as far as this week, we have done a ton with my new companion it has been way sweet!! we contact everybody on every street and sometimes we walk with them for like 3 blocks, haha, it's been fun and we have met a lot of new people, all of them are super nice too. But you shoulda seen this past week when mexico lost in the world cup, people were like crying in the streets and everyone was drunk. it was bad, like this one guy we contacted was so drunk, he was hiccuping every other word. it was pretty funny and messed up at the same time. He said that we were rich and he was poor and he made us compare our hands with his and his were all beat up from working so hard. i was about to tell him hey man you tell me what you need done around your house to fix it and i will be there and i will help you out but i just can't give you money kus i am poor too! but he got mad kus we wouldn't give him money. but what can you do? anyways, i have to go but i will talk to you more this week with the recorder thing tonight.

LOVE, Elder Thomas