Halloo!
Ok, so first off, yes! We had our Quadruple Baptism! Best baptism of the mission by far. Jesus Lagunas was really nervous, but did well. We rushed interviews and last minute lessons to teach everyone and get em ready. Over and over we've heard Carla say "This is the right thing... I know this is right." Amazing lady. From the first time we knocked her door to now, huge changes.
We were so nervous Sunday. Dropping everything, running around like crazy, calling people, inviting everyone we met to come to the baptism. But it worked out - almost blew up the gas heater filling the font, smelled a lot of gas, but we grabbed a bishop and he banged on it some till the pilot light lit again... anyways, sweet baptism, Spirit was strong there. Almost the whole branch showed up. A brother from the branch baptized Jesus, Elder Preciado baptized Carla and Bryan, and I baptized 8 year old Aalyah (a-lee-ah) - great family (Aaylah told me not to say the word sweet anymore - "its weird" - apparently I say it a ton). They looked amazing all in white, and their smallest sister, who is 3 - so funny, cute Spanglish - was also in a white dress, the pictures look great. Afterwards we presented Jesus and Carla with their own scriptures with their names embossed and our testimonies written in them- good day.
We've been quite quite busy, and its not over - the Lord is pouring people into our path. A guy we contacted drunk a month ago finally opened the door again - never has gone to a church, or anything. Taught him for 20 minutes. After our testimonies, we asked how he felt. Fun question, every lesson. He said "Peaceful. I don't know why, but I just feel really really good and peaceful." Accepted a baptisimal date for march 20th - I think he surprised himself. The Lord works miracles.
Grandma and Grandpa studied the church for 6 months? That gives hope - there are some people here who have heard off and on their whole lives. We'll keep up hope for the 6 month ones. Actually, you are definitely right mom, I have learned that about 4-5 of the people I've taught have been baptized later on. Samuel from Riverdale was basically an achololic, 20 years old, but he's changed 100% now - I taught him for 4 1/2 months, but he is baptized now. Its cool.
Ha, though you would like the phone call - the Dazza family are super - give us seafood once a week - Shrimp of the Devil (don't ask), fish, etc. Fun family, they took pictures because the missionary that actually baptized Elder Preciado came for dinner, so yeah. I think all that was within the rules. Whatever. The kids speak english, so feel free to write in ingles.
Sounds like the Magura wedding was perfect. A samurai sword to cut the cake? Sounds like Katherine found the perfect match. Amazing.
Congrats on States Jeffrey, what the heck, way to underestimate yourself! Btw I found a kid - one of the familia Dazza actually - who is your Hispanic twin, looks like you just brown...
Good job Heidi! That's so cool about getting the part of the magic carpet in Aladdin- can you fly?
The familia Bucaro still wants to know if Holly wants their crazy dog Rocky.
Amy -keep being cool.
I"M TRYING TO SEND PICTURES BUT NEVER CAN GET TO THE POST OFFICE.
I love you all a lot, and am always thinking of you all. Keep being good, and following the gospel. I know it is true. The Spirit is a real gift that we have - I know it will guide us and comfort us.
LOVE
Elder Thelin
PS. the giant paper crane swooped down...and picked up Holly, taking her to the island of Hawaii...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER CARRY KOOL AID IN A CAR
Hey family, wassup? Man, sounds like a blast there, Snowmaggedon, the Snowpocalypse, crazy. Yikes. Well have fun going to school in August. Haha. Everyone figures when I come back I'll bring the dry spell with me and Utah will return to its snowy self. Here there is actually no snow on the ground right now for the first time since like Novemeber. Crazy.
Haha...ummm, we kinda ruined our car. Driving home for dinner with a full gallon of red kool aid, touched the brakes too hard, kool aid everywhere. So funny. There scooping it out like an inchof kool aid below the seats, on the side of the road, everything smells like cherry, we had to put the floor pads - saturated - on the trunk (not in, on, because we cant stain anything - and drive slowly to a nearby chapel so they dont fly off (they did.) Oh man, Elder Preciado's life hasnt typically included these types of experiences and he was going crazy. Haha. Then a man called him about a bunch of expired fish. Ridculous series of events. Thank you for preparing me for the rigors of real life.
Well, interesting week, been running like crazy everywhere trying to do a million and one things. I believe I mentioned that Carla and her two kids are being baptized this coming Sunday. Please pray for them - its been hard to teach them, but they are so strong. They want to be baptized. Also, last week we taught a man that we've been teaching him for like 3 weeks now. Not sure if I've mentioned him, but about a month ago, we knocked his door and he scowled and left us at the door, sending his wife - a less active woman - to talk to us. we heard he slammed the door in missionaries' faces once. Well, a week later he came to church - he lost his job, and then his wife - actually girlfriend - left him. Just up and left. He remembered we'd invited them to church. We taught him - very humble now, and open. Invited him to be baptized the 20th, of course, but he didn't accept - said not to rush him, maybe in June. WELL this Wednesday we stopped by and talked to him, and he said that well, he'd been thinking a lot about what we'd said, and asked if he could be baptized the 20th. Told him he needed to read in the Book of Mormon - he showed us he'd already read 138 pages. Reads it to find comfort - and he feels amazing when he does. SO Sunday is a quadruple baptism. Sweetness.
YES I got the mail, a V-day pack and a pack of pictures and such I think - good stuff, liked a lot. Thanks! I enjoyed the letters, sounds like everyone is doing well, having fun with life. Good luck Holly *wink wink* :) Have fun with your new Culpeper missionaries. I love the new missionaries, because they always have a little more innocent strength - not really sure whats going on, and rely more on the Lord. Thanks for feeding them. Do the missionaries stop by there often?
Ha, speaking of warthogs and Pumbaa from your hospital waiting room experience.... yesterday at Zone Conference we were discussing helping our investigators progess - not by lessons, but by commitments they keep. Cool because its true, it doesnt matter how much knowledge they have; if we dont obey the commandments we cant keep covenants. They will never be ready by knowing Church is necessary unless they act on it and GO. Point: we watched the beginnign of Lion King and sang along with the Circle of Life - it tied in, but was cool. Actually a pretty cool song, kinda deep. Something like we move through our despair and trials by faith and hope, till we find our place on the path unwinding in the Circle of Life. We need to help people overcome by faith and hope, and find that place on the path to eternal life by ENTERING the path through baptism. It was kinda neat. More actually fun to watch 60 Elders trying to sing "Maaaaaaaaaa Saminiawaaaaaaaa Manannishwanana" at the beginning. But still, good message. This isnt a gospel of just knowing, its acting on the knowledge. There are millions of lessactives here or even non members who know a LOT, and dont do ANYTHING. Doesnt help them at all. Live like you believe, apply what you learn. As missionaries, we never teach or learn anything without giving a commitment to act on it in some way - to pray, to act this way, to go to church, to read, to stop smoking by the 10th, etc. Makes a difference.
Oh man, other cool things: not sure if I wrote this, but the man I baptized last April, Edson Torres? Got a letter - he's planning on going to the temple with his family this year! Hopefully he will and I'll be able to go!
I know the Church is true. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know God lives. I know the Spirit guides. We had some good experiences this week where we went down roads we've never tried, and found a door where someone told us they'd been watching and hoping we'd come over to their house, and needing something specific. The Lord knows our hearts, and loves us very much.
Love, Elder Thelin
Ps Hank? Tell Henry to write me, I dont know his address or anything
Psh My watch is restored, it will survive. No, I fixed it nicely for real.
Ps34 ...and the girls decided it was time to act. Holly called the bear (in bear language of course) and it dodged the blast. The three girls then drew out their magic staffs and, as they had done to the Sun Dragon in the Forest of Elders, they revealed their nature as princesses and sent a blast towards Godzilla...
Haha...ummm, we kinda ruined our car. Driving home for dinner with a full gallon of red kool aid, touched the brakes too hard, kool aid everywhere. So funny. There scooping it out like an inchof kool aid below the seats, on the side of the road, everything smells like cherry, we had to put the floor pads - saturated - on the trunk (not in, on, because we cant stain anything - and drive slowly to a nearby chapel so they dont fly off (they did.) Oh man, Elder Preciado's life hasnt typically included these types of experiences and he was going crazy. Haha. Then a man called him about a bunch of expired fish. Ridculous series of events. Thank you for preparing me for the rigors of real life.
Well, interesting week, been running like crazy everywhere trying to do a million and one things. I believe I mentioned that Carla and her two kids are being baptized this coming Sunday. Please pray for them - its been hard to teach them, but they are so strong. They want to be baptized. Also, last week we taught a man that we've been teaching him for like 3 weeks now. Not sure if I've mentioned him, but about a month ago, we knocked his door and he scowled and left us at the door, sending his wife - a less active woman - to talk to us. we heard he slammed the door in missionaries' faces once. Well, a week later he came to church - he lost his job, and then his wife - actually girlfriend - left him. Just up and left. He remembered we'd invited them to church. We taught him - very humble now, and open. Invited him to be baptized the 20th, of course, but he didn't accept - said not to rush him, maybe in June. WELL this Wednesday we stopped by and talked to him, and he said that well, he'd been thinking a lot about what we'd said, and asked if he could be baptized the 20th. Told him he needed to read in the Book of Mormon - he showed us he'd already read 138 pages. Reads it to find comfort - and he feels amazing when he does. SO Sunday is a quadruple baptism. Sweetness.
YES I got the mail, a V-day pack and a pack of pictures and such I think - good stuff, liked a lot. Thanks! I enjoyed the letters, sounds like everyone is doing well, having fun with life. Good luck Holly *wink wink* :) Have fun with your new Culpeper missionaries. I love the new missionaries, because they always have a little more innocent strength - not really sure whats going on, and rely more on the Lord. Thanks for feeding them. Do the missionaries stop by there often?
Ha, speaking of warthogs and Pumbaa from your hospital waiting room experience.... yesterday at Zone Conference we were discussing helping our investigators progess - not by lessons, but by commitments they keep. Cool because its true, it doesnt matter how much knowledge they have; if we dont obey the commandments we cant keep covenants. They will never be ready by knowing Church is necessary unless they act on it and GO. Point: we watched the beginnign of Lion King and sang along with the Circle of Life - it tied in, but was cool. Actually a pretty cool song, kinda deep. Something like we move through our despair and trials by faith and hope, till we find our place on the path unwinding in the Circle of Life. We need to help people overcome by faith and hope, and find that place on the path to eternal life by ENTERING the path through baptism. It was kinda neat. More actually fun to watch 60 Elders trying to sing "Maaaaaaaaaa Saminiawaaaaaaaa Manannishwanana" at the beginning. But still, good message. This isnt a gospel of just knowing, its acting on the knowledge. There are millions of lessactives here or even non members who know a LOT, and dont do ANYTHING. Doesnt help them at all. Live like you believe, apply what you learn. As missionaries, we never teach or learn anything without giving a commitment to act on it in some way - to pray, to act this way, to go to church, to read, to stop smoking by the 10th, etc. Makes a difference.
Oh man, other cool things: not sure if I wrote this, but the man I baptized last April, Edson Torres? Got a letter - he's planning on going to the temple with his family this year! Hopefully he will and I'll be able to go!
I know the Church is true. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know God lives. I know the Spirit guides. We had some good experiences this week where we went down roads we've never tried, and found a door where someone told us they'd been watching and hoping we'd come over to their house, and needing something specific. The Lord knows our hearts, and loves us very much.
Love, Elder Thelin
Ps Hank? Tell Henry to write me, I dont know his address or anything
Psh My watch is restored, it will survive. No, I fixed it nicely for real.
Ps34 ...and the girls decided it was time to act. Holly called the bear (in bear language of course) and it dodged the blast. The three girls then drew out their magic staffs and, as they had done to the Sun Dragon in the Forest of Elders, they revealed their nature as princesses and sent a blast towards Godzilla...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
FELIZ VALETINOS DIA!
Happy Valentine's Day!,
Hah, well for all the stuff I've heard about Obama from people on my mission, he certainly gets 10 coolness points in my book for being a world leader and using the word "Snowmageddon". Ha. Here in Utah the snow seems to have stopped in a record timing, and the snow that has been around since Novemeber is actually melting a bit... weird. Everyone's telling me that Virginia is permanently an arctic zone, and it seems like that's true, wow. Glad everyone is surviving and enjoying the snow, good luck! Bacon and sticks were my first concern as well Amy. I was immediately thinking when I heard about it all, that you guys sent me possibly the world's best bacon at Christmas, and would thusly now be baconless to face the elements. (btw, was that really safe to eat? I got scared from the reviews...)
Speaking of pork products, I tried one of the first things I couldn't eat on my mission. After Church on Sunday, we went over to a sweet family's house and had a meal, and after some spicy meat stuff, the mom got a crazy look and started making something. "Tostilocos." Crazy toasts? doesn't make sense, but she poured out a bag of chips, cucumbers, sevreral cans of tomato juice and salsa, and then "cuerditos." Yes, I asked what that was and no one could answer me. I found the can and its... pickled pieces of pork skin? I think maybe people eat something like that in the States, but this was too much. I coud not eat it. They were little white strips, you could see the pores and yeah... very chewy, pig skin... about a 1/4 inch thick. We just had to go right home afterward. Ugh.
Hmm, other news... my watch broke, and I held it together ingeniously with dental floss for a week, but have now repaired it after an hour of work on P-day...
There is a family - the Bucaro family, and they have a crazy dog. Like Beethoven crazy, running all over a small aprtment, ate stuff off my plate at dinner yesterday, etc. I mentioned that Holly likes all animals, and they are making plans to ship it to our home. They beg you to take it Holly, and love it. It slobbered all over my pants too. Yup. Named Rocky.
I have been thinking about Grandma and Grandpa's baptism. I do actually talk about it every once in a while. People ask "You were just born into this, etc etc" and I can say yes I was, but my granparents weren't and this is what happened... powerful story. I'm curious to know more, actually, about when they knew the book of mormon was true, or how it was going to Church for the first time, or if it was hard to accept new ideas and such. What their friends thought, and how they changed from before and after... would be interesting. Might help some.
Carla didn't get baptized yet- she got a double job and is working like mad, BUT she declared firmly she wouldn't work on Sundays, and isn't now! In two jobs! And I'm not sure if we mentioned, but we taught a FHE there with her kids, and they said they want to be baptized too!! All of them will be baptized together on the 20th as a family. Sweet family, happy, they help each other out, and every commandment, Carla accepts it firmly. We taught tithing, and she told US "I want to do that, that would be right. We could help other people with it." Yes exactly!
We also found a 20 year old from El Salvador that will be baptized the 27th - also named Carla. And many more people on the verge. Exciting, just need to make it happen now...
Well, certainly glad to hear that all the medical situations are improving, and Colton and Robert are doing better. Superbowl? hah. No one in the Spanish world watches that, World Cup is where its at.
Thursday I hit one year! I honestly cannot believe that. It feels like a week or two, and yet I remember things from last summer that seem like an eternity ago. Crazy. I realized I've probably shaken hands with several thousand people by now from all over the world. And I still am relatively healthy. Cool.
I hope the snow stops at some point and you can go skiing for real before the spring, and that someone makes some good Calvin and Hobbes snowmen. I love you all, and think about you often. The Church is true. I've exmined a lot lately about how Christ is the fruit in Lehi's vision, He is the end of the seed of faith we plant that Alma talks about, and He is real. Coming to Him is the goal - coming to know Him, be healed and rescued by Him, walk with Him, be like Him. I feel like I'm at the very start, but it comes. He lives. Crazy that some people think we aren't Christians.
Take care!
Elder Thelin
Ps yes I laughed mom.
PPs Someone nabbed the packet of pics and stuff and hasn't been able to deliver it to me yet. Soon.
Ppppps I'm in process of sending pics too
Pppsneijhgosihsssss ...pulled to safety just as a terrible roar shook Tokyo. What could it be? asked Amy. Heidi cried "LOOK!" as a ginormous monster rose up over the skyscrapers breathing fire down on the city. "GODZILLA!!!!!"
Hah, well for all the stuff I've heard about Obama from people on my mission, he certainly gets 10 coolness points in my book for being a world leader and using the word "Snowmageddon". Ha. Here in Utah the snow seems to have stopped in a record timing, and the snow that has been around since Novemeber is actually melting a bit... weird. Everyone's telling me that Virginia is permanently an arctic zone, and it seems like that's true, wow. Glad everyone is surviving and enjoying the snow, good luck! Bacon and sticks were my first concern as well Amy. I was immediately thinking when I heard about it all, that you guys sent me possibly the world's best bacon at Christmas, and would thusly now be baconless to face the elements. (btw, was that really safe to eat? I got scared from the reviews...)
Speaking of pork products, I tried one of the first things I couldn't eat on my mission. After Church on Sunday, we went over to a sweet family's house and had a meal, and after some spicy meat stuff, the mom got a crazy look and started making something. "Tostilocos." Crazy toasts? doesn't make sense, but she poured out a bag of chips, cucumbers, sevreral cans of tomato juice and salsa, and then "cuerditos." Yes, I asked what that was and no one could answer me. I found the can and its... pickled pieces of pork skin? I think maybe people eat something like that in the States, but this was too much. I coud not eat it. They were little white strips, you could see the pores and yeah... very chewy, pig skin... about a 1/4 inch thick. We just had to go right home afterward. Ugh.
Hmm, other news... my watch broke, and I held it together ingeniously with dental floss for a week, but have now repaired it after an hour of work on P-day...
There is a family - the Bucaro family, and they have a crazy dog. Like Beethoven crazy, running all over a small aprtment, ate stuff off my plate at dinner yesterday, etc. I mentioned that Holly likes all animals, and they are making plans to ship it to our home. They beg you to take it Holly, and love it. It slobbered all over my pants too. Yup. Named Rocky.
I have been thinking about Grandma and Grandpa's baptism. I do actually talk about it every once in a while. People ask "You were just born into this, etc etc" and I can say yes I was, but my granparents weren't and this is what happened... powerful story. I'm curious to know more, actually, about when they knew the book of mormon was true, or how it was going to Church for the first time, or if it was hard to accept new ideas and such. What their friends thought, and how they changed from before and after... would be interesting. Might help some.
Carla didn't get baptized yet- she got a double job and is working like mad, BUT she declared firmly she wouldn't work on Sundays, and isn't now! In two jobs! And I'm not sure if we mentioned, but we taught a FHE there with her kids, and they said they want to be baptized too!! All of them will be baptized together on the 20th as a family. Sweet family, happy, they help each other out, and every commandment, Carla accepts it firmly. We taught tithing, and she told US "I want to do that, that would be right. We could help other people with it." Yes exactly!
We also found a 20 year old from El Salvador that will be baptized the 27th - also named Carla. And many more people on the verge. Exciting, just need to make it happen now...
Well, certainly glad to hear that all the medical situations are improving, and Colton and Robert are doing better. Superbowl? hah. No one in the Spanish world watches that, World Cup is where its at.
Thursday I hit one year! I honestly cannot believe that. It feels like a week or two, and yet I remember things from last summer that seem like an eternity ago. Crazy. I realized I've probably shaken hands with several thousand people by now from all over the world. And I still am relatively healthy. Cool.
I hope the snow stops at some point and you can go skiing for real before the spring, and that someone makes some good Calvin and Hobbes snowmen. I love you all, and think about you often. The Church is true. I've exmined a lot lately about how Christ is the fruit in Lehi's vision, He is the end of the seed of faith we plant that Alma talks about, and He is real. Coming to Him is the goal - coming to know Him, be healed and rescued by Him, walk with Him, be like Him. I feel like I'm at the very start, but it comes. He lives. Crazy that some people think we aren't Christians.
Take care!
Elder Thelin
Ps yes I laughed mom.
PPs Someone nabbed the packet of pics and stuff and hasn't been able to deliver it to me yet. Soon.
Ppppps I'm in process of sending pics too
Pppsneijhgosihsssss ...pulled to safety just as a terrible roar shook Tokyo. What could it be? asked Amy. Heidi cried "LOOK!" as a ginormous monster rose up over the skyscrapers breathing fire down on the city. "GODZILLA!!!!!"
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
TRANSFERRED TO CHINA
Well, Family, I'm being transferred to China. With Tai Shan! Ok, not. I'm staying here! (NOTE: for those of you living outside of the Washington DC area, Tai Shan is our beloved panda at the National Zoo, that has to go back to China this week) Hilarious, after 3 weeks of Elder Preciado telling the entire branch he is leaving, we are staying together! First time I've stayed with a companion since my second transfer - 7 companions so far. I'm so glad to stay in Layton. I love Layton. It's an amazing place. We've been kicked out of a few apartments and trailers while knocking doors, but whatever, the members are incredible, and our investigators are so solid right now. Carla is the coolest lady ever, we found her tracting. She is the one that said, "So many people knock this door - how do I know which is right?" Working two jobs all week, but is firm in going to Church, getting baptized, living every commandment we teach her about, and her children just told us that they too want to be baptized. Sweet. Met another girl yesterday de El Salvador, and she said she listened in her home country, and felt the same feeling. Never had had it before. We have set a date for her baptism for the 27th. Amazing.
BUT with transfers comes craziness. I've been a District Leader for 3 transfers now. Still am, but now... in the past there have been 2 separate programs, the Spanish and English programs. There are no separate programs strarting tomorrow. I will be teaching in Spanish, but will be over about 10 English Elders in my district, and doing some English exchanges. WEIRD. Our Zone Leaders are now English, whereas before all our leaders were Spanish speaking too. Sorry, no relevance to all of you, but weird for us. Some Spanish elders now are speaking in bilingual areas. It's the Lord's will. I think there was sometimes a little tension between the two camps before, Spanish speaking elders trying to outdo the English, etc. This will help unify us as a mission. Hopefully Elder Preciado won't kill me. Hehehehe. No, we've done well this transfer. Best transfer of my mission, even though its the first I didn't see anyone baptized. We've grown a lot. Jeffrey, about smacking you for chewing gum weird while we were growing up, pardon. That was stupid. I'm a LOT more patient now. Still working on it. And Elder Preciado this transfer has said the same, best transfer, we've come closer to the Lord, overcome differences and seen miracles. Another transfer will just be better...
Did you all watch the church Be Strong thing for the Youth for New Years? Watched it in Church, interesting, a call for the youth to overcome the adversary and be firm in choosing the right all across the world... and yes, Mom, we can read magazines de la Church, but I get em in Spanish, and they cut out some articles (New Era and "Amigos" are included in the same magazine, called the Liahona) So feel free to send that article you mentioned.
Aren't the snowflakes cool? We've seen that a few times here, when you can see the individual flakes with the designs. I love it. Whats with the snow in Virginia? Here its not AS snowy... strange...
Sorry about Ramone.
JEFFREY, DONT BE STUPID, CHANGE YOUR CONTACT SOLUTION, SHEESH, ITS FOR CLEANING.
Heidi, amazing.
We will pray for all, The Lord will watch over everyone. There are hard things fora reason. Rose and Cardon families in the prayers for sure.
I shall send pictures bien pronto (soon). I'm trying to narrate em. But I gotta practice kalimba too ya know (I can play a number of hymns and "I like to look for rainbows" (with chords!) Fun stuff.)
Well, family, I love you all. Lately I have found myself thinking more about family and things, and miss you all, but not in a distracting way. I've really come to learn many things this transfer and past year. I've learned the meaning of faith, then put it in action. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God lives. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That faith is necessary before miracles, healing, forgiveness, blessings. That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is rejected by many, but the Holy Ghost, the Spirit, testifies of Joseph Smith as a profeta, of the Church's authority, and of this missionary work. All must come unto Christ by faith, repentance and baptism. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know this because i have lived it. I've felt increasing love for others, and for the Lord, and for this message. It's the most important thing. All can know that. Its so sweet to see someone open their heart and feel it. Carla Garcia's face has literally changed in the past 3 weeks - more happy, more faith filled, she is living the things we teach and seeing blessings. We all can. Always read the scriptures and pray, and always always go to church (Dad, how have you ever managed to avoid working on Sunday? I'm understanding how significant it is that so many men show up every week and have been firm in job choices and explaining to others that they need to go to church. It's not necessarily an option in every job.)
Love you all, be safe, and be good,
Elder Chris Thelin
Ps. Congrats and luck to Katharine!
PPs. If you happen to ever run into Kimmy again, tell her I wrote in Dec but dont know if she got the letter... I'm getting better, trying to write 2-3 people a week, including converts, family, friends, etc...working on it.
PPS. 2000 converts in the Utah Ogden mission in 2009 (record here!) and 218 in January!! (109 of which occurred in this past weekend!!!!) This is a baptizing mission! And people say Utah is already full of Mormons! Hah!
BUT with transfers comes craziness. I've been a District Leader for 3 transfers now. Still am, but now... in the past there have been 2 separate programs, the Spanish and English programs. There are no separate programs strarting tomorrow. I will be teaching in Spanish, but will be over about 10 English Elders in my district, and doing some English exchanges. WEIRD. Our Zone Leaders are now English, whereas before all our leaders were Spanish speaking too. Sorry, no relevance to all of you, but weird for us. Some Spanish elders now are speaking in bilingual areas. It's the Lord's will. I think there was sometimes a little tension between the two camps before, Spanish speaking elders trying to outdo the English, etc. This will help unify us as a mission. Hopefully Elder Preciado won't kill me. Hehehehe. No, we've done well this transfer. Best transfer of my mission, even though its the first I didn't see anyone baptized. We've grown a lot. Jeffrey, about smacking you for chewing gum weird while we were growing up, pardon. That was stupid. I'm a LOT more patient now. Still working on it. And Elder Preciado this transfer has said the same, best transfer, we've come closer to the Lord, overcome differences and seen miracles. Another transfer will just be better...
Did you all watch the church Be Strong thing for the Youth for New Years? Watched it in Church, interesting, a call for the youth to overcome the adversary and be firm in choosing the right all across the world... and yes, Mom, we can read magazines de la Church, but I get em in Spanish, and they cut out some articles (New Era and "Amigos" are included in the same magazine, called the Liahona) So feel free to send that article you mentioned.
Aren't the snowflakes cool? We've seen that a few times here, when you can see the individual flakes with the designs. I love it. Whats with the snow in Virginia? Here its not AS snowy... strange...
Sorry about Ramone.
JEFFREY, DONT BE STUPID, CHANGE YOUR CONTACT SOLUTION, SHEESH, ITS FOR CLEANING.
Heidi, amazing.
We will pray for all, The Lord will watch over everyone. There are hard things fora reason. Rose and Cardon families in the prayers for sure.
I shall send pictures bien pronto (soon). I'm trying to narrate em. But I gotta practice kalimba too ya know (I can play a number of hymns and "I like to look for rainbows" (with chords!) Fun stuff.)
Well, family, I love you all. Lately I have found myself thinking more about family and things, and miss you all, but not in a distracting way. I've really come to learn many things this transfer and past year. I've learned the meaning of faith, then put it in action. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God lives. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That faith is necessary before miracles, healing, forgiveness, blessings. That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is rejected by many, but the Holy Ghost, the Spirit, testifies of Joseph Smith as a profeta, of the Church's authority, and of this missionary work. All must come unto Christ by faith, repentance and baptism. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know this because i have lived it. I've felt increasing love for others, and for the Lord, and for this message. It's the most important thing. All can know that. Its so sweet to see someone open their heart and feel it. Carla Garcia's face has literally changed in the past 3 weeks - more happy, more faith filled, she is living the things we teach and seeing blessings. We all can. Always read the scriptures and pray, and always always go to church (Dad, how have you ever managed to avoid working on Sunday? I'm understanding how significant it is that so many men show up every week and have been firm in job choices and explaining to others that they need to go to church. It's not necessarily an option in every job.)
Love you all, be safe, and be good,
Elder Chris Thelin
Ps. Congrats and luck to Katharine!
PPs. If you happen to ever run into Kimmy again, tell her I wrote in Dec but dont know if she got the letter... I'm getting better, trying to write 2-3 people a week, including converts, family, friends, etc...working on it.
PPS. 2000 converts in the Utah Ogden mission in 2009 (record here!) and 218 in January!! (109 of which occurred in this past weekend!!!!) This is a baptizing mission! And people say Utah is already full of Mormons! Hah!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
KNOCKING, TALKING, TEACHING
AND THERE THEY WERE, battling through snow, knocking doors, speaking to strangers, driving a red Toyota Corrola around Layton, preaching the gospel, teaching sons and daughters of God, keeping them from the evils of Babylon..... more or less, that's how it is. Pretty epic, eh?
Hello family! How are you all? Glad the ski trip went well, and no one died. I'd love to ski...... I have learned that skiing should only be done when one has skiis - using dress shoes with little to no traction left on the bottom works, but usually lands you the ice...anyhow....
Football time, neat... haha. I think I will get into FUTbol after the mission (soccer), that's more exciting than American football. I'm basically pro now, we've played soccer once a week for 2 months now, and in Central and South America, its basically a religion. The Catholic Church actually sainted a player in Argentina... Its intense though. A ver.
We will pray for Colton - amazing for Reagan! That's so awesome!
Funny story about your meeting, Mom. Don't worry, we are good at tracking people down. We leave Ward council meeting on Sunday early to not just call, but go knock on the doors of our investigators and get them to church. Usually works. This week we invited a lady Saturday night, and then Sunday morning we were going to lead a lady to church, and passed by. Turns out the lady was ready, wanted to go! We drove to church with a train of 2 cars and kids follwing us to the chapel, kinda cool... tell our Elders to be smart and get 'em there. The thing that works best is if members get to know them, then call them before Sunday. usually come... so ask the missionaries if you can help with that...
This week has gone well, we did a lot - knocking, talking, teaching. We've had some sweet lessons and experiences, people coming to church and loving it. Hmm. We are commenting here that we really do have good weeks, we just can't remember what happened THIS week... well.... guy stopped smoking... Carla Garcia is getting baptized the 6th... two days after transfers. We'll see if we stay or not. Elder Preciado thinks he's leaving. Who knows. He's cool, but it's hard to understand each other because he talks fast, and never in english. But he's got the desire. He only has 2 years in the church since he was baptized. Amazing. I don't want to leave Layton, I like it here, feels like home, a lot of work here, nice people. I know almost all the members here now, and they are awesome. Very funny people, but great. We're working hard and finding many (I have purposefully avoiding finding out the exact definition of "soliciting" my whole mission. Supposedly a police officer said missionaries aren't involved in that, though I have been accused of it a lot..haha.) Well, we must be go now, but I love you all and think of you often. I miss Saturday night movies in the basement and apple cider and such, but I know we'll have all our lives to do that. Make each day count. An investigator's brother died this weekend, just fell dead while on the phone. We never know how much time we have left. Make it count, and appreciate everything we have. I know after my mission I will appreciate my opportunities for education, family, the Gospel, a home, etc a lot more. He lives and He loves us. He knows our thoughts and prayers, and is so patient with us. Trust Jesus Christ, make Him the center of our lives.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I love you a ton! Thank you so much for everything, for loving me and helping me through my life, for your patience and constancy, for everything - you are amazing. I used to think all mom's and dad's were like mine. I know now that you have worked so hard for us, and how amazingly blessed I have been. Thank you mom. Have a wonderful birthday - forget the age and enjoy it!
Love to all,
Elder Chris
PS Culpeper rules.
Hello family! How are you all? Glad the ski trip went well, and no one died. I'd love to ski...... I have learned that skiing should only be done when one has skiis - using dress shoes with little to no traction left on the bottom works, but usually lands you the ice...anyhow....
Football time, neat... haha. I think I will get into FUTbol after the mission (soccer), that's more exciting than American football. I'm basically pro now, we've played soccer once a week for 2 months now, and in Central and South America, its basically a religion. The Catholic Church actually sainted a player in Argentina... Its intense though. A ver.
We will pray for Colton - amazing for Reagan! That's so awesome!
Funny story about your meeting, Mom. Don't worry, we are good at tracking people down. We leave Ward council meeting on Sunday early to not just call, but go knock on the doors of our investigators and get them to church. Usually works. This week we invited a lady Saturday night, and then Sunday morning we were going to lead a lady to church, and passed by. Turns out the lady was ready, wanted to go! We drove to church with a train of 2 cars and kids follwing us to the chapel, kinda cool... tell our Elders to be smart and get 'em there. The thing that works best is if members get to know them, then call them before Sunday. usually come... so ask the missionaries if you can help with that...
This week has gone well, we did a lot - knocking, talking, teaching. We've had some sweet lessons and experiences, people coming to church and loving it. Hmm. We are commenting here that we really do have good weeks, we just can't remember what happened THIS week... well.... guy stopped smoking... Carla Garcia is getting baptized the 6th... two days after transfers. We'll see if we stay or not. Elder Preciado thinks he's leaving. Who knows. He's cool, but it's hard to understand each other because he talks fast, and never in english. But he's got the desire. He only has 2 years in the church since he was baptized. Amazing. I don't want to leave Layton, I like it here, feels like home, a lot of work here, nice people. I know almost all the members here now, and they are awesome. Very funny people, but great. We're working hard and finding many (I have purposefully avoiding finding out the exact definition of "soliciting" my whole mission. Supposedly a police officer said missionaries aren't involved in that, though I have been accused of it a lot..haha.) Well, we must be go now, but I love you all and think of you often. I miss Saturday night movies in the basement and apple cider and such, but I know we'll have all our lives to do that. Make each day count. An investigator's brother died this weekend, just fell dead while on the phone. We never know how much time we have left. Make it count, and appreciate everything we have. I know after my mission I will appreciate my opportunities for education, family, the Gospel, a home, etc a lot more. He lives and He loves us. He knows our thoughts and prayers, and is so patient with us. Trust Jesus Christ, make Him the center of our lives.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I love you a ton! Thank you so much for everything, for loving me and helping me through my life, for your patience and constancy, for everything - you are amazing. I used to think all mom's and dad's were like mine. I know now that you have worked so hard for us, and how amazingly blessed I have been. Thank you mom. Have a wonderful birthday - forget the age and enjoy it!
Love to all,
Elder Chris
PS Culpeper rules.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I HAVE A DREAM
Halloo, howdy! Wow, busy busy busy...
Happy Martin Luther King day to you too! Haha, Amy is hilarious. I forgot to celebrate because we don't have like a day off or anything to identify one day from the next, its all just one big day... interspersed with dark times in which we close our eyes for a few seconds and wake up again... sounds like you all celebrated appropriately. Ha. I have a dream...
Good luck with the fridge situation. Amazing.
Glad there was snow for Spencer, sounds like a blast. That sounds pretty impressive. Our snow here doesn't melt either... especially by our apartment - I carry the curse from our house or something, because snow falls off our parking covering's roof, and makes a mound behind the car... which is almost insurmountable, and we have no ice melt or shovel. Neither do the less active neighbors. We attempted destroying it with kitchen knives... We'll just wait till spring...
This week was pretty good, we have been seeing improvement in the work - we picked up another investigator preparing for baptism on the 6th of February - powerful lesson, he felt the Spirit very strongly.
Man, and Sunday, for the first time in a while, THREE people came to church. Sweet. We've been teaching a 20 year old who lives in the US alone, family in Mexico still, but he's hilarious. He always says we're lying. No idea why. Fun to teach him. He said he was burning me a cd of Mexican music - Jeffrey, look up Camila, said it was good. But yeah, we taught him again and he's always said he has work on Sunday and can't come to church. This week we dug a bit and he admitted he CAN come to sacrament meeting. Big progress. And we got him to pray out loud for the second time in two months! I prayed once for his parents, and told him he had to return the favor. He specifically prayed for both of you, Mom and Dad, and ALSO that we wouldnt be liars. Hilarous. He walked two miles to Church in 20 degree weather Sunday. Sweet.
Also we had a sweet lesson yesterday - taught about the Book of Mormon to a family, and the father was a little reluctant at first, but we taught that God spoke to the people here in the Americas. His face changed and said "Wow, I've had that question my ENTIRE life. That's amazing. I've always wondered why Christ didn't come here or something-" and we turned the page to the painting depicting Christ visiting the ancient Americas... sweet.
So yeah, the work is going well, the companion is good - I just misunderstand a lot, and don't identify with a lot of the culture differences, in humor or ways of doing things. Interesting. Learning...
Well, we have to get back down to the train, we're going bowling today as a zone... Good luck on the SATs Jeffrey, the carnival on Wednesday, Senora Johnson (she did the same thing to me, just dont even worry about it) Yes, we heard about Haiti, sounds horrible. Keep praying for them. Sorry about the uke, haha, I just loved the soft island sounds when I heard them... sorry...
I love you all! You're all awesome. Thank you for being a sweet family, and doing so much. I constantly am reminded of how much I owe to all of you for who I am and all I have. Thank you! The Gospel is true. Be firm and faithful in the cause of Christ!
L;ove, Elder Thelin
PS Mom, I think your birthday is next week. If I'm wrong, sorry, I will write next week. If I'm right, ignore this.
PPPs Hmmm... the little wonder pets boat was attached to a slab of ice, and they began to tow the gang in a northern direction...
Happy Martin Luther King day to you too! Haha, Amy is hilarious. I forgot to celebrate because we don't have like a day off or anything to identify one day from the next, its all just one big day... interspersed with dark times in which we close our eyes for a few seconds and wake up again... sounds like you all celebrated appropriately. Ha. I have a dream...
Good luck with the fridge situation. Amazing.
Glad there was snow for Spencer, sounds like a blast. That sounds pretty impressive. Our snow here doesn't melt either... especially by our apartment - I carry the curse from our house or something, because snow falls off our parking covering's roof, and makes a mound behind the car... which is almost insurmountable, and we have no ice melt or shovel. Neither do the less active neighbors. We attempted destroying it with kitchen knives... We'll just wait till spring...
This week was pretty good, we have been seeing improvement in the work - we picked up another investigator preparing for baptism on the 6th of February - powerful lesson, he felt the Spirit very strongly.
Man, and Sunday, for the first time in a while, THREE people came to church. Sweet. We've been teaching a 20 year old who lives in the US alone, family in Mexico still, but he's hilarious. He always says we're lying. No idea why. Fun to teach him. He said he was burning me a cd of Mexican music - Jeffrey, look up Camila, said it was good. But yeah, we taught him again and he's always said he has work on Sunday and can't come to church. This week we dug a bit and he admitted he CAN come to sacrament meeting. Big progress. And we got him to pray out loud for the second time in two months! I prayed once for his parents, and told him he had to return the favor. He specifically prayed for both of you, Mom and Dad, and ALSO that we wouldnt be liars. Hilarous. He walked two miles to Church in 20 degree weather Sunday. Sweet.
Also we had a sweet lesson yesterday - taught about the Book of Mormon to a family, and the father was a little reluctant at first, but we taught that God spoke to the people here in the Americas. His face changed and said "Wow, I've had that question my ENTIRE life. That's amazing. I've always wondered why Christ didn't come here or something-" and we turned the page to the painting depicting Christ visiting the ancient Americas... sweet.
So yeah, the work is going well, the companion is good - I just misunderstand a lot, and don't identify with a lot of the culture differences, in humor or ways of doing things. Interesting. Learning...
Well, we have to get back down to the train, we're going bowling today as a zone... Good luck on the SATs Jeffrey, the carnival on Wednesday, Senora Johnson (she did the same thing to me, just dont even worry about it) Yes, we heard about Haiti, sounds horrible. Keep praying for them. Sorry about the uke, haha, I just loved the soft island sounds when I heard them... sorry...
I love you all! You're all awesome. Thank you for being a sweet family, and doing so much. I constantly am reminded of how much I owe to all of you for who I am and all I have. Thank you! The Gospel is true. Be firm and faithful in the cause of Christ!
L;ove, Elder Thelin
PS Mom, I think your birthday is next week. If I'm wrong, sorry, I will write next week. If I'm right, ignore this.
PPPs Hmmm... the little wonder pets boat was attached to a slab of ice, and they began to tow the gang in a northern direction...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A GOOD WEEK
Helo - wow, I just typed that and almost didn't recognize that it was wrong...
WOW lots of news from the outside today! Baby boom! Congratulations to the Follmers! I think Michael's response was very appropriate. Haha. New babies always need plants watered. Congratulations to all the Thelin cousin babies as well! Makayla is a cool name. So is Kakeo. I wanna go to Hawaii - there are several Elders from there here and are always singing the coolest chillaxed songs with their ukeleles (sp?) - Jeffrey, learn to play the Uke. Congrats to all!
That's hilarious, Mom, the tile home improvement project - so typical. Funny, we went to an appointment last week and they opened the door... and there was no furniture. This family has the strangest ways of not being able to have us teach there, they said people were coming to clean the carpets and were late. The whole family was sprawled out on the floor eating food - which was hard to get, because all their furniture was stuffed in the bathroom and apartment kitchen. A smaller child had to crawl in and fetch the food and an older sister could just reach the cups and plates. I assured them that this really actually made me feel more at home, but they wanted us to come back another day when the couch wasnt blocking the fridge. Ridiculous. I tried hard to explain about boxes and truckloads of stuff always being shipped to our house and putting us in similar situations and such, harder to explain in Spanish..
Heidi good luck with the play!
Sounds like Sacrament Meeting was good there! I recently found a scripture I liked in John I think where Jesus says something like "Fear not, for I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not." Humbling thought, yes, to think He has taken time to pray for each of us, to make it through, to pray for our weaknesses.
Hm, so this week was a LOT better than the previous ones. Started out slow - I've never felt quite so much outside opposition from people before, but we began to try to be more positive and faithful, and the Lord blessed us. We were blessed to find a woman who said at the door "So many of you knock my door - from many churches. How can I know which one is right?"... She is getting baptized the 6th of February.
Then we had a day of absolute miracles on Thursday. One of the best days of my mission. Something just clicked in the companionship, in the attitudes, and things flowed. At dinner, we shared a scripture. I was thinking of one in my mind, and my companion pulled out the same one, without consulting me. It was the right one, because we asked the family to think of someone the Spirit would indicate who needs the gospel. There is a sister of the family in Honduras who will be receiving a knock on her door any day now. Then we taught a man later - he came to the US a year ago and felt down and lonely. Two missionaries ran into him and talked for a few minutes. I guess it changed his life - he began to see things differently and happily, and listened, but lost contact. When we asked him how he felt as we taught, he told us we wouldn't believe him. He is also being baptized the 6th of Febraury. And finally that night we went to another appointment but they werent home. We decided to go to another house - and found another guy, who just came from Vera Cruz Mexico. Walked to the nearest church last sunday, in Ingles, and didn't understand ANYTHING because of the language barrier, but FELT amazing. He is ALSO preparing to be baptized. He told us as we left that he had prayed that morning, because he felt lonely, with his wife and kids still in Mexico; he asked God to send an angel or messenger to him. He told us that we were the answer, and he would do what we taught. Amazing! Miracles are being poured out here. I've felt the Spirit stronger, guiding us to say things, or supporting our invitations. Very sweet. The trick is keeping it rolling. The Lord provides the miracles, and we need to do our part now, ...
Pray for these people to follow through. We baptized over 2000 people in this mission in 2009. It is a record! We need to be faithful and trust in miracles, and follow the Savior. I know He lives. I have felt His peace. I have seen miracles. I know He is the Savior, He is the light, and He is the way. If we only look to Him and follow His example, we wont go astray. If we focus on the Savior and His role in our lives, we will never go astray. And I know simply because I've prayed and asked and felt it! A man tried to tell us this week "you don't KNOW, you just 'believe' young man." I am grateful we were able to say "I'm sorry, but we do KNOW." Follow the Savior!
Take care everyone, be good, and try not to destroy the house, and I love you all!
-Elder Thelin
PS (what does chuttering mean? I like it) Hundreds of little guinea pigs surrounded him. "What the...?" They began to chutter to themselves - something about their leader - then lifted him on all their backs and began to carry him further down the tunnels. From above, the group began to follow him further into the caves. "What's happening?" asked Amy as they carefully moved down the slope. "Wait, I hear something!" cried Holly. They all paused and listened carefully... and heard a faint song... "Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets...."
WOW lots of news from the outside today! Baby boom! Congratulations to the Follmers! I think Michael's response was very appropriate. Haha. New babies always need plants watered. Congratulations to all the Thelin cousin babies as well! Makayla is a cool name. So is Kakeo. I wanna go to Hawaii - there are several Elders from there here and are always singing the coolest chillaxed songs with their ukeleles (sp?) - Jeffrey, learn to play the Uke. Congrats to all!
That's hilarious, Mom, the tile home improvement project - so typical. Funny, we went to an appointment last week and they opened the door... and there was no furniture. This family has the strangest ways of not being able to have us teach there, they said people were coming to clean the carpets and were late. The whole family was sprawled out on the floor eating food - which was hard to get, because all their furniture was stuffed in the bathroom and apartment kitchen. A smaller child had to crawl in and fetch the food and an older sister could just reach the cups and plates. I assured them that this really actually made me feel more at home, but they wanted us to come back another day when the couch wasnt blocking the fridge. Ridiculous. I tried hard to explain about boxes and truckloads of stuff always being shipped to our house and putting us in similar situations and such, harder to explain in Spanish..
Heidi good luck with the play!
Sounds like Sacrament Meeting was good there! I recently found a scripture I liked in John I think where Jesus says something like "Fear not, for I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not." Humbling thought, yes, to think He has taken time to pray for each of us, to make it through, to pray for our weaknesses.
Hm, so this week was a LOT better than the previous ones. Started out slow - I've never felt quite so much outside opposition from people before, but we began to try to be more positive and faithful, and the Lord blessed us. We were blessed to find a woman who said at the door "So many of you knock my door - from many churches. How can I know which one is right?"... She is getting baptized the 6th of February.
Then we had a day of absolute miracles on Thursday. One of the best days of my mission. Something just clicked in the companionship, in the attitudes, and things flowed. At dinner, we shared a scripture. I was thinking of one in my mind, and my companion pulled out the same one, without consulting me. It was the right one, because we asked the family to think of someone the Spirit would indicate who needs the gospel. There is a sister of the family in Honduras who will be receiving a knock on her door any day now. Then we taught a man later - he came to the US a year ago and felt down and lonely. Two missionaries ran into him and talked for a few minutes. I guess it changed his life - he began to see things differently and happily, and listened, but lost contact. When we asked him how he felt as we taught, he told us we wouldn't believe him. He is also being baptized the 6th of Febraury. And finally that night we went to another appointment but they werent home. We decided to go to another house - and found another guy, who just came from Vera Cruz Mexico. Walked to the nearest church last sunday, in Ingles, and didn't understand ANYTHING because of the language barrier, but FELT amazing. He is ALSO preparing to be baptized. He told us as we left that he had prayed that morning, because he felt lonely, with his wife and kids still in Mexico; he asked God to send an angel or messenger to him. He told us that we were the answer, and he would do what we taught. Amazing! Miracles are being poured out here. I've felt the Spirit stronger, guiding us to say things, or supporting our invitations. Very sweet. The trick is keeping it rolling. The Lord provides the miracles, and we need to do our part now, ...
Pray for these people to follow through. We baptized over 2000 people in this mission in 2009. It is a record! We need to be faithful and trust in miracles, and follow the Savior. I know He lives. I have felt His peace. I have seen miracles. I know He is the Savior, He is the light, and He is the way. If we only look to Him and follow His example, we wont go astray. If we focus on the Savior and His role in our lives, we will never go astray. And I know simply because I've prayed and asked and felt it! A man tried to tell us this week "you don't KNOW, you just 'believe' young man." I am grateful we were able to say "I'm sorry, but we do KNOW." Follow the Savior!
Take care everyone, be good, and try not to destroy the house, and I love you all!
-Elder Thelin
PS (what does chuttering mean? I like it) Hundreds of little guinea pigs surrounded him. "What the...?" They began to chutter to themselves - something about their leader - then lifted him on all their backs and began to carry him further down the tunnels. From above, the group began to follow him further into the caves. "What's happening?" asked Amy as they carefully moved down the slope. "Wait, I hear something!" cried Holly. They all paused and listened carefully... and heard a faint song... "Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets...."
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