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.