The Pastor: Round 2 and the Miraculous 25 Pounds

Racing the Amish

So to begin, as some may recall, last week we had a run in with a
Pastor. Well, this week we went to talk religion with him. I mentally
prepared myself like I would for a swim meet, by singing the Rocky
theme song... in my head because I don't think it is approved, maybe
the theme song is but "Eye of the Tiger" is a little bit more
questionable. Anyway we went into his home and it was set up
perfectly. Not a strand of carpet was out of place. The man was either
a perfectionist or trying to impress/intimidate us. He had on his
coffee table three pictures of his family facing us. So we kind of had
to talk through these pictures, because he was sitting just beyond
them, it was really strange and I could tell something was up. We
asked if we could start with a prayer and after we said amen, he
began. The Pastor explained the origins of his religion as we tried to
bring the conversation back to the Restoration. It wasn't working. As
things came to a close, my humble companion made a Hail Mary with the
hopes to invite the Spirit and turn the Pastor's thoughts to our
message, Elder P said, "will you be baptized?" and the Pastor
chuckled, he said, "that is funny you ask, because I was wondering the
same thing, would you be baptized?" So as we left, feeling a little
bit like Rocky after he fights Hulk Hogan in Rocky IV, (I think) and
there was only one thing we could say "Well that didn't pan out."

As I have mentioned before I gained some weight in the CCM in Mexico,
but this past week I weighed myself again. I have some great news,
since I left home I have gained 25 pounds. Yes, my pants still all
fit, but I have noticed a slight difference. So, that's all there is
to say about that.

We stumbled into a kind woman this past week named N. She asked us
how old we were, we responded with 19 and 20. She sadly looked at us
and said we were way to young to be away from our mothers. Her husband
asked us a question that kind of struck me. He said "Do you think God
doesn't want you to talk with your families?" Oh man, Satan IS a
crafty one. I didn't know what to say, so I played the "I can't speak
Spanish very well" card, that always works well. Haha, but Elder
P said we just devote all our time to the Lord. N wasn't
having any of that, she was just shocked. I gave her Mom's number and
said that she could talk to Mom about it. She called and it sounded
like it went well.

We had taught this kid named J once. When we came back we asked if
he prayed, he said he had and knew there was only one true church.  I
asked which one and he just pointed at my badge and said "that one". I
was overwhelmed. But not five seconds later his dad came out and told
us he couldn't be baptized. It was so sad. We went back to teach J
again and apparently we had misunderstood his dad, his dad told us
never to come back. I was so sad. I had this feeling that he would
remember the truth and find it again someday. I am glad we had the
chance to know him and plant the seeds of truth in his mind.

I heard an interesting view of the Atonement this week. A woman said
this upon looking at a painting of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane;
"He prayed for all of us." I have never really thought about it like
that, but He did.

I love you all.
Elder Thomas

Blood splattered door

Lookin' stylin'

Elder Thomas vs. The Spanish 7th Day Adventist Pastor for all of Southern Missouri

A Cold War Dog House

So while on an exchange went to see a potential investigator. She wasn't
home but right before we left a car pulled up. It wasn't our
investigator but her Pastor and his wife and daughter. He introduced
himself and told us he was the Spanish 7th Day Adventist Pastor for
all of Southern Missouri and he wanted to talk. Presumably, I was
fairly nervous and worried but, I prayed pretty hard that I could
speak with him correctly and with the Spirit and not accidentally tell
him that we believe in something crazy. Our investigator arrived just
seconds later and we all went inside. I stood in front of the small
congregation and explained to them the Restoration and occasionally
translated for my companion for the day. I felt like Samuel the
Lamanite or something. It was just me and the Spirit. Whoa.

Don't have a lot of time this week but I love this mission, I love the
people and will record some stories and send them back next week.

Take care y'all
I love y'all
Elder Thomas

Wild Elder Thomas laying in the snow. 

Lessons Learned

Right before the incident...a couch and some Christmas lights.

We started the week off with high hopes of moving a couch that has
been sitting in our yard for the past month, but didn't end up moving it 
it until Thursday.   We have been quite busy. So while on an exchange
with my good friend Elder Powers we decided to move the couch that
helps us assimilate into the culture. Upon moving it into the truck,
we remembered that we needed rope. We searched high and low to no
avail. But we did find an adequate substitute. Christmas lights. Yes,
we had seen someone use it before we thought so we tied it down with
those. As anyone can probably imagine, this was a very stupid idea. We
drove down the road a ways and took a turn onto a farm road, Elder
Powers also wanted to test the Christmas lights so he gave a little
extra gas. There was a loud noise of metal against metal and a
noticeable movement in the back of the truck. We directed our view to
the stage of this travesty. The couch had flipped out of the side of
the truck and the remains of the incident were only a couple shabby
broken Christmas lights with an array of colorful glass sitting in the
back of the truck. No one was injured and it was on a farm road, so,
don't worry Mom, everything is ok. Elder Powers and I just laughed for
a while, while we analyzed the damage

Also, I got nearly chased by a dog so that was cool, luckily my tiger
like reflexes were firing on all cylinders and we were able to escape.
And we rode our bikes in a down pour, just like Sandon, er, Elder
Sperry. It was awesome, the only downside is now my suit smells like a
biking jersey, thank goodness for dry cleaning.

We never go anywhere without us finding someone to teach. It is so
weird, just about every place we go someone is interested in the
Gospel or there will be a Hispanic person there. Just about all
Hispanics are interested in religion so it is fairly easy. But at a
stake conference we went to Elder Bednar said, "the keys don't go
anywhere by coincidence," it is really true. He spoke of the Apostles,
but you can easily replace keys with missionaries. We are on the front
lines of a war with Satan, which is pretty nuts, and Heavenly Father
is putting us in places to fight Satan everyday, it is hard work but
at the end of the day it is the most fun thing I have ever done. It is
awesome!


Thanks for the prayers, Halloween gifts and candy and everything else
you all do for me and my family, Love you all...  Elder Thomas

A barber shop in the "city".

Other info he sent: 

The ward is awesome, transfer calls are next Saturday and I am praying really hard that I stay here for Christmas and Thanksgiving, but whatever happens happens. We eat with the ward members often and they cook great home style stuff. A boy in the wardhad his farewell, he is headed for the Mexico CCM, he will love it, it was cool to talk with him a little bit and explain how much fun it is. Isaac's hair is too long, please cut it all off creatively and film it so I can watch it, haha!

About the people, they are really nice. the Mexicans give us water whenever we go in their house and the other folk always say, "well, I respect what y'all are doing, there are a lot of people who need to hear your message, is your first name Elder?"

He asked what is going on with Ebola?  I keep hearing just little things and when I hear about it I say with Elder P in one accord, " I have ebola... ebola ice cream! (say it out loud it will make more sense.)

My companion and the candy carnage on my desk.

Dollar General, or in other words, Walmart in its Paradisiacal Glory

"Guatamalan Village" ~ They love visiting the people who live here.  They are very friendly.

Yes, it may seem hard to believe but Dollar General is incredible. I
went there last week on Preparation day and found a plethora of
discounted goods. So, naturally I had to buy them all. I bought a new
pair of camo shoes, $8, a card for Gavin $.50, and a bunch of other
useless stuff. I do slightly regret spending so much there but its
incredible. Utah should highly consider investing in one.

We had a Zone Meeting this week and Elder Packer came. Not President
Packer but his son, Elder Packer. And he had some inspiring words. But
as he introduced himself he showed us a picture of his family. He
introduced them all and then pointed to one in the back of the crowded
picture. "This guy is in Singapore," he said. It was my good friend
from Alta, Paul Gilman! (please excuse the spelling error.) He is
related to an Apostle and to Elder Packer, whoa. That was pretty cool.

We have been continuing to teach an investigator who has had trouble
with smoking named Tony. He is a good friend to me and you could say
we are pretty tight. He always is super motivated to overcoming
smoking and drinking when we are there but then falls back into it
when he is feeling sad, but I know he can make it. Yesterday, we went
with a member, he said, "I don't know all of what you're going through,
but I do know that these (my companion and I) guys are
representatives of the Lord and have been called by Jesus Christ to
help you." I don't know the effect it had on him but it hit me. I didn't
really ever think about it before like that, but it is true.

One of Tony's friends wanted to talk with us so we went to his house,
but when we go there he was just in his car. He told us to get in and
we could have the lesson in his car. It was a bit strange but we did.
He began to cry and said in Spanish that he felt alone. His whole
family lives in Mexico and his daughters and wife live there too. His
kids are very small and he was just sad. I felt really bad for him. We
told him about how this message could help him and at the end I asked
him if he would be baptized, it went something like this, in English:
"If you come to know it is true would you be baptized?" and then he
looked at me pushed his eyebrows up and opened up his eyes really wide
kind like when people get confused and just said, "What?" Shocked and
confused we explained a little bit more due to my premature
invitation. He said yes eventually. Never in my whole life did I think
that I would be sitting in a beat up Pontiac with a crying Hispanic
man while discussing baptism. The Lord puts us in places we never
thought we could go occasionally.

Here is a quote from my Mission President. He was saying that we can
all chose to be heroes or join Satan, happiness or misery, but those
battles between us and Satan aren't usually seen. He said, "Some of
the greatest battles will be fought in the chambers of our souls." Not
only is that good writing, it is also some great advice.

Thank you all for your prayers continue to send them my way and to all
the other missionaries as well, I love you all.

Elder Thomas

Missouri Sunset

Looks like the hare won the race!  Poor turtle....