Meetings, Cookies and a Baptism

Elder Thomas and his companion Elder Millett ~ Photo credit  Becky Nield

I had some things I was going to write however the wind had another idea. While we were typing about 5 hours ago it was really windy and suddenly the electricity went out, then it came back on then went out again and then repeated this process for just long enough to make us just frustrated enough to leave and go buy some apple fritters at the local Save-a-Lot. However, we still have time. 

This week we had a world wide broadcast for missionary work, we walked up to a house in the dark and were about 4 feet away from meeting a possum disturbed from its sleep on someones door step , and we had a baptism of a lady which provided all of us to feel the peace that the Gospel brings. Another week in the life.

I saw an answer to a prayer as well. I was assigned to give not one, not two, but three talks in the space of 48 hours and two meetings. And due to the recent increase in meetings this week I had about 15 minutes here and 10 minutes there to prepare all of them. I prayed that I could do it. We got a call later on and one of the talks was covered! Two to go. After a brief prayer for help, and with the minutes I had, I threw something together and had two talks ready to go. Then came another call. "Hey Elders, can you teach 2nd hour today?" This one had no preparation and we were just given the manual. I prayed that we could help the Spanish group feel the Spirit and that they would participate. Moments after the prayer, one of the ladies spoke up and asked a stream of questions that eventually became a large portion of the lesson and helped get everyone involved.

Sometimes when I read my friend's emails I think I don't see miracles, but when we pray specifically, we get specific blessings. It is a small miracle but evidence that God loves us nonetheless. 

Thank you for your support and love!

Adios

Elder Thomas

The possum waiting for their arrival.... 

Loved seeing the Nield family again! Thanks for the photos Becky!!

Baptism in Monett

Back Home (In the sense that I am familiar with this place.)

Hats that cute Lupita made for them before they left Carthage.

Yesterday I was sitting in church and a ward member was helping the Spanish group with a lesson. I was listening and trying to understand the Spanish. It had been about a year since I was in the same spot and now I understood a lot more. I felt like I was back at home. The member asked the most recent convert, who was baptized a year ago, how her faith had grown. She said how much it had changed and the rest of the members said something similar. It is really cool to see that all around me. Excluding the spiritual growth in the Spanish members, nothing has changed other than the Arby's that was built near the highway. I have missed this place and now I feel like I'm back at home. Most of the members of the group planning to go to the temple later on in the year for their endowments. They have grown a lot and I think I have too. We are doing Spanish and English work and there is a lot to be done. We have a lot of support from the ward and the Bishop. Everyone is cheering us on and we couldn't feel more blessed or happy. It is such a blessing to be back in this place and work with my friend again.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Adios,

Elder Thomas

Saying good-bye to companions in Carthage!  

 

Adios Carthage ~ ¡Hola! Monett ~ Zone Leader

I went on an exchange this week to Cassville. It is a small town just south of us. It has a restaurant called the Rowdy Beaver. The young recent convert told us that the sanitation inspections of the Rowdy Beaver were somehow made available to the general public and the results were not good. It had a 'Critical' rating in both kitchen and food quality. We went anyway. We expected stomach flu but the only thing questionable about the entire experience was the water which tasted like Dimple Dell. It was all in all a fine experience and hopefully I will return there to get a shirt to always remember the strange place.

We received the news that both of us will be leaving here and two new Elders will come in. We were pretty shocked. I will be going to Monett, in the same zone, and Elder Marques is going to Rogers Arkansas. I will be returning to the same Spanish group I worked with in Aurora! (They relocated the group to Monett while I was away.) We broke the news to the group yesterday and they were all quiet sad. But to lift our Spirits one of the sisters invited us and everyone else who was there to come to hear house today to eat. We are excited for that. 

Last night, we went and ate with a family. The wife's mother had passed away two weeks ago. We showed a Mormon message about a man who's life was changed due to the Book of Mormon. He said specifically that the words in it about the afterlife brought him peace. I felt quiet a bit of peace as we testified about it and imagine they did as well. Recently, I have noticed the Spirit as more of a comforter than anything else. I have felt the peace that comes from reading the scriptures and praying. I am so grateful that I can find peace in a world that is really chaotic.

Thank you for your prayers!

Elder Thomas    

New Year

Elder Marques baptized the sisters and Elder Thomas confirmed them.

A recent convert in our Spanish group is part of a Catholic family. They were against everything she had to do with the church. The missionaries would pass by and talk with her and her family would run away into their rooms or the kitchen. Last week, however, something different occurred. We knocked on the door to find the uninterested sister of the woman we were looking for, but surprisingly she invited us in. We began talking with her and then somehow ended up discussing religion. She told us she wasn't sure if she'd believe in the Book of Mormon but after a little explanation she said she would. Then her sister arrived and the now interested sister took off. This week we passed by again. The recent convert wasn't home but the sister was and again she let us in and she told us she had been reading in the Book of Mormon! Then she asked if we could explain more! We taught the whole Restoration and are planning to teach her again. The recent convert also told us that nearly her whole family has shown some interest in the Book of Mormon and has read a little of it! We hope one day we can explain the whole story to them.

     E, the woman that was baptized a month ago, has two nieces that were baptized. If anyone needs evidence that there is an opposing force in this world, go plan and have a baptism. If anyone needs evidence that there is a loving Father in Heaven, also, go plan and have a baptism. It was 6:15 and the baptism started at 6:00, and there was no sign of the girls. We had called twenty minute prior and they said they were on their way. We attempted to call again. The phone was off. We could do nothing but wait. Elder Marques asked if we should pray. We went into a side room and knelt down. The girls arrived shortly after we ended the prayer. The baptism was really peaceful and our good friend who we have been working with for a while came as well.

     The following day something similar happened. Sacrament meeting started and the opening prayer was said. One of the counselor stood and said that the confirmation would now take place at the front of the chapel. But there was one major issue. They weren't there. We were running around in the back of the room looking at every entrance we could for those two little girls and we couldn't find them. Their aunt's phone was off but we had stopped by their house that morning and they said they were coming. I signaled to the counselor that they weren't here and they proceeded with the Sacrament. Among the running and searching and calling, I heard the Spirit tell me, don't worry they will be here. We sat down for the Sacrament and I started thinking who we needed to send to go see if they needed a ride, but I heard the same voice, don't worry they will be here. A recent convert sat behind us and asked if she needed to go, and I thought about it and heard the Spirit again say, don't worry they will be here. I told my companion and the recent convert something similar to what I had heard and tried to focus on the Sacrament. As I thought about the prayers and the words I felt peace. It was like when you put a really hot pan in water. The energy leaves and the steaming pan cools off. I felt that as well. I had faith they would arrived and focused on the Sacrament. In the middle of the sacrament, a door opened up in the front and here came E, M, and J. E was again noticeably winded and they came and sat down behind us. They were confirmed and the Spirit was felt by a lot of us who were a part of it.

     It is such a blessing to see miracles everyday in my mission. I think sometimes I take it for granted but I try to try my best and I see amazing things everyday.

I love you all and thank you!

Adios

Elder Thomas