Happy Birthday to Elder Thomas!!! ~He titled this weeks letter ~ "Your dog is dead"

It's Ian's (Elder Thomas') Birthday this week!  19 years ago we were blessed to have Ian join our family.  He definitely keeps us smiling and always inspires us to be better. We love you Ian!

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Yesterday, we went and spoke with a member. she cant read or write but listens to el Libro de Mormon en Espanol on discs. She has been relatively quiet most of the time but last night she opened up. She talked in Spanish about her dog and asked my companion if he had any waiting for him back at home. He said yes and was excited to see them in a couple of weeks. She looked up and said , "Your dogs are dead," her morbid sense of humorous conversing threw us completely off. I thought I misunderstood her, but when she began to laugh after I knew I understood her. Oh, and she is also the woman who introduced me to menudo. But we were laughing and continued our conversation about other stuff. The members here are sweet.  

There is a Spanish group at the English speaking ward.  They have their own meetings but we have to translate the Sacrament Meeting. We talk to all the members just about every day. There are only about eight or so of them but they all work in the Tyson chicken factory and can't come to church all the time. They hate the chicken factory because they just hang up the limp things by the legs on a conveyor belt for 14 hours. They are super nice.

    

     We are teaching a guy named Tony. He is really nice hispanic guy about our age, speaks English and is fairly busy so it is difficult to get in contact with him. This week as we were teaching him I said to prepare him for how he could find out for himself, "Now, we could just be make this all up, right?" Which he responded with, "But you're not." He told us he knew the Book of Mormon was true and his mom told us it was changing his life. He reads it whenever he feels down and says he can find something to help him out when he is down. This guy who has never been to church never fully read the Book of Mormon, never been baptized, told us he felt the spirit as he smiled during the whole lesson. I have seen so many people out here who are touched by the Spirit as they hear about Christ's church. This is a testimony to me that it is true. When the Spirit testifies its truthfulness to the people we teach it also testifies to me and is so strong. The spirit is always with us, is what one of my MTC teachers said, 24/7, even when you sleep. That is so true, the blessings of being out on my mission for just two months are incredible I cant even imagine what they will be in a year or at the end of my mission. 

Hey I love all of you and just have faith. Have faith in Him that knows you better than yourself.

Elder Thomas

Menudo, Red Hot Peppers and a Homeless's Home

This week has been a bit of a learning week. First, I learned to stay away from menudo. Menudo is a soup common in Hispanic culture. It presented itself to us while at a member's home. The bowl harnessed the wrath of something so vile and hideous that some of you with weak stomachs or small children may want to avoid reading this. I looked down to behold a honeycomb covered sheet of flesh that was littered with pink and gray spots of acidic burns. The rubbery mix also contained a couple of vegetables but the encompassing substance that laid in the bowl was the lining of cow stomach. Now it may not sound all that grotesque upon first glance but once you try to chew it you realize its true devilish nature. I have never gagged so much in my life. But luckily the heavens smiled down upon me as a watermelon was brought to the table; so with much agitated gagging I would take a bite, or attempted bite of the living stretch cords of acidic fury, and then I would immediately take a bite of watermelon. The nearly instantaneous relief of the watermelon was overwhelming, nearly bringing me to tears in some places, but I survived. This same member thought we would enjoy some habaneros.  I ate one of those as well in an attempt to prove my manliness and ended up sticking my head in the faucet and wept as my tongue, nasal cavity and very soul was engulfed in the flames of yet another Hispanic favorite. The missionaries teach quite a few in our area. We just got up to 22 this past week. Our area is rather large it covers the whole stake but because we have limited miles we cant reach some places.

  

This week I went on an exchange with Elder Holyoak. He is the red headed man from Sandy. He took me around town and we talked with many peoples in my native tongue which was almost as relieving as the watermelon. But we stopped by a house across the street from one of our Spanish investigators and went inside. The house is huge in comparison to the surrounding homes and so I assumed it must house a large wealthy family, but it was just the opposite. It was the home to many people who cannot afford normal housing or those that were homeless. Elder Holyoak and Elder Powers had talked to a teenage girl and she had shown interest, so they had come by this location many times. But when we went in only her parents were home. We walked into the apartment like building and knocked on a old door. When they opened the door I saw a couch, piles of boxes, a man with no shirt rolling a cigarette and a thin old woman wearing rags. She said her daughter wasn't home but she could talk. We spoke to her about her life and beliefs. She told us her story of how her sister had taken all of her mom's money and left them both homeless. They wandered around until she was hit by a car and couldn't remember anything. She lost 25 years of her memory and told us she traveled around the United States to find out who she was, talking to family friends and old neighbors. She said, "It wasn't my time... The Lord still has something for me to do here." She was very energetic and happy considering her conditions. She was a panhandler as was her husband. These were the people who stand out on street corners and ask for money. She said, "Most people just don't listen to the circumstances you are in," she went on to talk about how people just drive past her with their noses up in the air. I felt bad, remembering all the people I had drove past back at home, making false accusations in my mind, and I never took the time to her their incredible stories. Later on when we were walking around, a youth minister told us that all people are saved under the blanket of Jesus, all those that believe and serve will be saved. He was doing service when we met him and told us he had to leave to go do some more. He was following Christ, I think he would go talk to the panhandlers, I think he is better example of Christ than most others.

This week I have seen a lot of different people in different situations much worse than mine. Some didn't have food, homes or cars. And even though they didn't have all these things, they still were happy. It is inspiring. I hope that you all had a good week and I look forward to writing to y'all next week.

 

Elder Thomas            

"What am I doing?!" yelled the Samoan man

World's Largest Praying Hands ~Entrance to Oral Roberts University ~ 

Tulsa, OK

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Another week in some place very different. We are teaching and searching for those interested in the gospel with my Spanish, or lack thereof.

We did something called Zebra tracking which is English and Spanish speakers together, which gave me a great opportunity to showcase my immense knowledge of Latin American culture and language. Upon finding the first house with Christmas lights, Elder Powers and I went up to the door. A mustached short Mexican stood there staring blankly at me. It was then that I realized I had to say something, so in my broken Spanish said, "We are missionaries with a message, have interest?" He looked at me and said, "No." But we didn't give up. So after a couple of English questions, blank stares and awkward silences, I just said, "Sorry, I have only spoke Spanish for a couple of weeks." So after he laughed he just said, "Otro dia." Hispanics are too nice and never just say beat it or get out, they say other day. So we failed, but now I have a story right? Hahaha, Elder Powers and I laughed and moved on. We gave a Book of Mormon to someone we know. He is Catholic and reads it when he feels down.  We told him to read it some more and he read all the way to Omni.  Wow, it was cool!  The Book of Mormon has a lot of power to it.

Today we went to Bass Pro. It is the headquarters of the institution and was larger than the city of Draper. It was huge, go look it up. they had everything there, guns, fishing stuff, camo everything, more guns, hats, shirts, more guns, more hats, more camo. they have more camo than I have ever seen in my life. But the nice guy that drove us into Springfield is a Samoan fellow with a heart bigger than Texas. He bought us breakfast and pie! He always laughs and is very very happy, always smiling and wanting to help out the missionaries and fill our stomachs. But as we left the area a travesty occurred. As we backed up, an elderly gent's car was in the way and we backed right into him. Expecting this joyful, always laughing and having a good time, Samoan to give the elderly man a pie or something I awaited his response. But as the elderly man exited his car, the Samoan exploded. He yelled out the window, "Are you gonna move or what?!" this joyful fellow had changed, but as he drove off he went back to being happy and bought us the best ice cream in the world, called Andy's.

Yesterday we read a version of the fourth missionary. It's called Consecrated Missionary or something similar to that by a man with the last name of McAlister. It is almost better than the fourth missionary and I cried while we read it.  These guys I'm with are great out here but I believe that we can be better and after reading that talk I decided that I will be a consecrated missionary no matter what. No matter what. And I am trying to do this, by trying to focus all my thoughts actions and words into something the Savior would think, do or say. And I know that He is willing to help me. I felt that as I read in that talk the words, (which I have read, heard and said many times.) 

"You are a representative of Jesus Christ." If we represent Him I believe that He will bless us and us that follow Him, He will bless them as well. I am sure it's different for you all, forgive me sometimes if I get too preachy at the end of these emails, but I will just end with this. I know it is true, and Christ lives and is willing to help us if we ask and are obedient. And if you don't know that or are questioning it, go ask. This life is short, so go ask! 

I love you all and love your prayers of support!

Gabe, Gavin, Isaac I love you guys!

Dad, I love you 

I love you Mom

Elder Thomas     

The Turtle in the Shower and the Way to Distinguish a Mexican Home

My first full week in the field and many tales to tell. First off, there has been a war between the English Elders and us for the past few days. It started with a spider in the toilet and has reached points of insane attempts to scare the others. We put a turtle in their shower and are planning to find an armadillo and put that to use. These guys are really fun to talk to and have many tales of previous Elders in this mission that makes me excited to serve more and be with this mission.  The way to find Mexican homes in a sea of Americans is Christmas lights on the houses. Christmas lights, dead plants outside the house and upside down mops next to a sign that says, "este hogar es catolico."

 

I had a great experience this week with my knowledge of Spanish. A man told us a story of how he was converted and how he also got a scar on his head within the same story. I took them as the same story and ended up with the most incredible conversion story ever, but it was entirely untrue. I thought he got a TV thrown at him, he was on drugs and many other things. But what actually happened was quite different. So as I marveled at the faith of this brother and asked my companion questions about the story, my companion began to laugh and he told me what actually happened. So my Spanish is not that good but I still have a while to learn. But, I did get the TV part right!

 

It is very strange being in an environment like this. The area has four or five Spanish members and we are working to find others to teach. I am very bad at teaching, bad at Spanish and bad at working effectively. I don't really feel super productive here because we don't have a lot of people to teach. But none of us are good at everything. We are put in situations where our weaknesses are showcased so that we may be humble and learn to rely on Our Savior. We were talking to a Hispanic man who also spoke English and I felt like I should talk. I can't remember what I said but I said something and cried. Right there on the side of the road in front of this young Hispanic guy sitting on the hood of his car. He looked at me muy raro y dijo 'esta bien'. I know I have weaknesses; but I know that through the Atonement, through Christ those weaknesses can become strengths. Even though i probably only told this man two or three broken sentences, I hope that the spirit told him more. I have faith this is true and I have faith that someday I will be a better teacher, speaker, worker and representative of Christ.  

 

Thank you all for the prayers and support. I can feel the prayers you have said in my behalf and I can feel the strength of those that came before me on their missions as well. I love you all and until next week,

Elder Thomas

Okla..Wait, this is Missouri, I think...

Hello, I am now in my mission. During last week's episode I was writing just before I left. Now I'm here. It is very different but very fun.

We got off the plane, and found our mission president and his wife, they are very friendly and very nice. They took us along with the Assistants to the President back to the Mission home where we ate brisket and rolls, like the kind you can get at Dickies. Very good food here. I was able to talk with the Assistants to the President for some time, they are the kind of missionary I want to be. Very obedient, very spiritually, but still funny. While explaining some of the rules specific to Oklahoma, one of them said, "Now this rule is in a quote, 'where ere thou art set well thy part'". I knew he read the quote wrong because Mom had that quote at our house and Isaac and I defaced it, but when he finished reading it, both of them turned their heads. They both had a part in their hair. that is the rule here, every elder has to part their hair on the side of their head or the like. So Gavin, don't say that I look like a dweeb or something, because it is a rule. However this rule showcases my receding hairline quite well.

That night we were told our area and companion. I got Elder Vest in Aurora, MO. While we drove out to the middle of nowhere, I noticed the missionaries we bumped into with parts in their hair, it is a bit strange but you can tell who is obedient. So, Elder Vest is older than me and only has one transfer left. He is from the North West as well, but in Oregon and not Washington.  We get along really well. We live next to the english Elders, Elder Holyoak from Sandy, UT and Elder Powers from Maine, in a little duplex thing and Elder Vest and I go and prank them all the time. (We put hub caps on their bike, we have a car by the way.) Our apartment is nearly empty, when we got there, there was only a couple of fold up chairs from the church and a blowup mattress and a normal mattress. (The english Elders have tempurpedic beds, sorry for the awful spelling but what up with that?!) But after some service we did at The Harvest Church, a non denominational christian church, they gave us enough food to last for a really long time! The people that I have met so far are very nice. they don't care if you're Mormon, Baptist, Jew or Gentile, these guys at this church were helping out everyone and we were helping them help out people. They were giving food to people and we would help them carry it out to their cars. This also gave us a chance to meet some Spanish speakers in the area. We are opening the area so this helped us a lot.

The latinos here are very nice and easy to talk to; most of them don't have a super strong knowledge church because they are mostly catholic by tradition not religion. But the spanish members, there are a group of about seven of them here, are very strong. One woman who has been a member for a year can't read or write in ingles or espanol. Her testimony is based off what she has felt and heard. That is a true testimony and it is inspiring to me how much faith this elderly woman has. 

There is a different spirit here. The spirit in the CCM (Mexico MTC) was super strong all the time, guiding you every which way. Here, as I have heard before, the spiritual training wheels have come off. Its my turn now. Which is a little inconvenient, because this is a new area, a new companion and new environment, a new everything! You may be asking yourself hey how do I get back on the right track! well, let me tell you. Faith and obedience. I have no idea what I'm doing here, but its all just about faith and obedience and holding on to those promptings you feel. We have to be left in the dark long enough to learn how to find the light. If we have lived in the light all the time then we would be spiritually ignorant in those brief moments of darkness. So, I feel a little in the dark. But I am so glad I am in the dark. I was getting too comfortable with my environment at the CCM, and maybe I wasn't grateful enough for the spirit that I had there. And now that things are different I have the chance to earn that back, and study more and learn more about how I can keep it in my life. Although these guys I'm with might do things or say things that I think aren't for missionaries, I can still work with myself to be better. One of the Assistants to the President said, "I have learned a lot about agency out here," he talked about how it's not just right or wrong it's about, better and best, worse and worst. These decisions will make us better. I hope that I can use my agency the way that Heavenly Father wants me to and I know that he will guide me in the direction that I should go. I have been blessed with a lot out here and I have already seen incredible things out here. But you don't have to be on a mission to see stuff like this, you just need to look for them. Keep reading scriptures and praying. And thank you for praying for me, those prayers help me each and every day. 

Elder Thomas

My address:

Colonial Village 19

Aurora, MO 65605

My email address:

ian.thomas@myldsmail.net