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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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...."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
PROSPERO ANO NUEVO! (PART 2)
Alright, I have exactly very few minutes, as we are waiting for a ride that we did not schedule and so we are now infringing on people's hospitality.... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! Ours was kinda lame, tried teaching but most of the general population was drunk more or less, so we went to 15 minutes of the ward dance, but no one had really shown up, so we talked and left... apparently it lasted till 2 am though, Spanish wards know how to party!... I didn't get the Frank and Bob package yet for new years, and BACON??? Oh boy. Jefffrey, way to go to New York on the spur of the moment, sheesh...
It kinda been a rough week, we haven't had a lot of success. Funny, I gave a district meeting on developing Christlike attributes, and picked patience as one I am developing... and the Lord has been putting it to the test! People cancelling appointments, just little things, antagonism... grr, frustrating. We were ready to teach a lesson and saw the family piling in their van and peeling out before we arrived! Ridiculous. One of the few lessons we taught, we were trying very hard, but between their hyper dog and the 1 year girl, Abril, we couln't teach, as they were coming over, trying to tear the scriptures out of our hands (the dog), taking off our nametags (the kid), etc. Adorable, but interfering a LOT. We told Abril to go get something in the kitchen to distract her and she trotted off and came back with a loaf of bread... yup... VERY helpful, but very funny... anyhow, patience is being learned. Pray for our area to bounce back up and for the people to open their hearts some. Ha, all in a normal week.
Holly, good job! We'll pray for your friends. Way to be a missionary!
Heidi, great job with all the service. I'm so proud of you. You're an awesome sister, and I love you a ton.
Amy, you're awesome. Keep being awesome.
I love you all, and missed the festivities, but imagined you all enjoying them. We managed to find things to do here, and were fairly stuffed with food from going by member homes - they've invited us over a ton lately, lunches and dinners and after-dinners etc. Dad, we will stay away from freaks. There are a lot of them. Sheesh. I imagine its the same in all missions - we are blessed with a ton of members to make it better, they take good care of us.
I'm sorry, I really haven't related much good news here - how bout, a person I had been teaching in Kaysville (my area split and so now other missionaries are teaching him) quit smoking for the first time in 20 years and is getting baptized on Saturday! Sweet miracle, he's been taught for like 7 months now, and had a change of heart!
I know this work is true. I know the Spirit can guide us, and that Jesus is the Christ. He loves us, and is working actively in all our lives. Come unto Him is the invitation.
Love you all,
Elder Christopher Thelin
PS Jeff, sweet CTR ring, I like it - very slick : D Chubby Bunnies, oh yes...
PPs Luke Skywalker jumped on the sled. "Man, I can do better!" and, trying to make himself go faster with the force, slammed into a wall.... and BOOM, the ice there cracked and he flew through the wall and down... into a dark hole...
It kinda been a rough week, we haven't had a lot of success. Funny, I gave a district meeting on developing Christlike attributes, and picked patience as one I am developing... and the Lord has been putting it to the test! People cancelling appointments, just little things, antagonism... grr, frustrating. We were ready to teach a lesson and saw the family piling in their van and peeling out before we arrived! Ridiculous. One of the few lessons we taught, we were trying very hard, but between their hyper dog and the 1 year girl, Abril, we couln't teach, as they were coming over, trying to tear the scriptures out of our hands (the dog), taking off our nametags (the kid), etc. Adorable, but interfering a LOT. We told Abril to go get something in the kitchen to distract her and she trotted off and came back with a loaf of bread... yup... VERY helpful, but very funny... anyhow, patience is being learned. Pray for our area to bounce back up and for the people to open their hearts some. Ha, all in a normal week.
Holly, good job! We'll pray for your friends. Way to be a missionary!
Heidi, great job with all the service. I'm so proud of you. You're an awesome sister, and I love you a ton.
Amy, you're awesome. Keep being awesome.
I love you all, and missed the festivities, but imagined you all enjoying them. We managed to find things to do here, and were fairly stuffed with food from going by member homes - they've invited us over a ton lately, lunches and dinners and after-dinners etc. Dad, we will stay away from freaks. There are a lot of them. Sheesh. I imagine its the same in all missions - we are blessed with a ton of members to make it better, they take good care of us.
I'm sorry, I really haven't related much good news here - how bout, a person I had been teaching in Kaysville (my area split and so now other missionaries are teaching him) quit smoking for the first time in 20 years and is getting baptized on Saturday! Sweet miracle, he's been taught for like 7 months now, and had a change of heart!
I know this work is true. I know the Spirit can guide us, and that Jesus is the Christ. He loves us, and is working actively in all our lives. Come unto Him is the invitation.
Love you all,
Elder Christopher Thelin
PS Jeff, sweet CTR ring, I like it - very slick : D Chubby Bunnies, oh yes...
PPs Luke Skywalker jumped on the sled. "Man, I can do better!" and, trying to make himself go faster with the force, slammed into a wall.... and BOOM, the ice there cracked and he flew through the wall and down... into a dark hole...
Monday, January 4, 2010
PROSPERO ANO NUEVO!
Feliz Navidad, Thelin Clan, and Prospero Ano Nuevo as well! Ha, you're right, we need to figure out how to use these 40 minute phone calls talking about things other than cashing checks and such, ha, not fair, in the Provo mission they get an hour and a half--we ate dinner with a family waiting for a phone call! Ah well, such is life. Lets see, Christmas, we... left at 10 am with our zone leaders to North Salt Lake (last point in our mission, exits for the Salt Lake Airport..... point of temptation for all missionaries there) and all the Spanish missionaries in the south here ate breakfast with a former mission president from Honduras. Amazing mansion house, it was literally on top of the mountain, amazing how they stack houses up there. Beautiful. Good breakfast, then we all headed over to a stake center and played indoor soccer for a few hours, where I became awesome at soccer (not really - my 4th time) and then came back, stopped by and sang carols with people from the branch, convinced a family to let us over for dinner ( our planned families cancelled, lame!) and played Uno with the branch President - hard to explain Killer Uno in Spanish (tiene que pegar el frente con la mano y luego las tarjetas... btw, when someone calls "uno" and you are actually playing in Spanish, its a lot harder to recognize... just kinda sneaks in...) So yeah, good Christmas! Weird, tradition in the Spanish culture is to have all the family and such over on Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve, and all the parties, and then at midnight everyone opens presents and sits around talking till like 4 am. Christmas Day there aren't so much presents and stuff, just sleeping till 2 and leftovers... I like our tradition, the both days are sweet...
As for the rest of the week... well, Saturday's highlight was getting pulverized at a door. Looking for Spanish people, and we talked to these two American girls, and asked if they'd ever read the Book of Mormon... they came OUTSIDE in the 20 degree artic cold, cornered us on their porch, and began to battle, like in battle stance, for 45 minutes! We just stood there, them pushing their fingers in our faces, attacking - smiling, but creepy smiling - telling us this and that, ("LOOK at you, in your suits, your nice buildings - Jesus walked in rags!") Sheesh. We kept trying to bear testimony and they just kept laughing, saying "that's what all the missionaries say, you're all following a script." Duh, that's what we say, cause its TRUE. Probably the worst contact of my mission, we kept trying to leave, but man, they wouldn't let us. "Why aren't you looking happy? I'm happy. You just look cold and unhappy. That's cause you're telling lies." Ok. Done. Just wanted to vent. We were pretty frustrated after that. That night we went home and read Jeffrey R Holland's talk from conference. Felt the Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. The Spirit is sent of God - God wants us to trust Him and listen to that Spirit. By it we may be guided into all truth, and know the truth of all things. I know that it is true, because I've knelt down, and sincerely prayed about it. And in quiet moments, the Spirit of God has come and peacefully whispered it is true, filled me with comfort and guidance, helped me make the right choices and strengthen me from the wrong. I know it is true, and I'm not just saying it because I'm a missionary following some script! The Spirit of God testifies that Jesus Christ lives, that we must keep His commandments, that God is our Father, the Book of Mormon is in very fact the word of God together with the Holy Bible, that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, and this Church is the Kingdom of God on the earth with authority, power, and inspiration of God. I know that is true, and even if others can't grasp it, it is true.
Jeffrey, don't split your head open. Forgot to tell you that on the phone... I LOVE the electric blanket, Dad. That is amazing. Once again, Dad is right. Everyone loves the Kalimba! Culpeper ward is amazing, the box was awesome. Magura family, thanks for the Virginia calendar! I've been trying to help people understand what they are missing back east... and the cookies rock! Thank you Farrells! The tie, the cd's (perfect, Joey and Steven, they are both sweet), everything was awesome - thank you!! Thank you all who sent things, I felt the love, and wish you all a merry Christmas!! Well, family, merry Christmas to all! Thank you for everything. I've felt your love a ton - this Sunday in Elders Quorum we talked about our families, and how sadly many people don't tell them they love them often enough - one man broke down crying, his mother passed away recently and he never had told her that he loved her. So, I love you all! Mom and Dad, I'm so appreciative of everything you've done for me, for loving me and trying to guide me in my life, taking time for me and being so awesome. I love you both! Jeffrey, you're a browski. Love ya. Heidi and Holly and Amy, love you all! Ok thats enough. But seriously, we have such a great family, and I'm so glad. Thank you for everything. Happy New Years! Be safe and have fun!
Love, Elder Thelin
PS The gang was entering the iceberg when...
As for the rest of the week... well, Saturday's highlight was getting pulverized at a door. Looking for Spanish people, and we talked to these two American girls, and asked if they'd ever read the Book of Mormon... they came OUTSIDE in the 20 degree artic cold, cornered us on their porch, and began to battle, like in battle stance, for 45 minutes! We just stood there, them pushing their fingers in our faces, attacking - smiling, but creepy smiling - telling us this and that, ("LOOK at you, in your suits, your nice buildings - Jesus walked in rags!") Sheesh. We kept trying to bear testimony and they just kept laughing, saying "that's what all the missionaries say, you're all following a script." Duh, that's what we say, cause its TRUE. Probably the worst contact of my mission, we kept trying to leave, but man, they wouldn't let us. "Why aren't you looking happy? I'm happy. You just look cold and unhappy. That's cause you're telling lies." Ok. Done. Just wanted to vent. We were pretty frustrated after that. That night we went home and read Jeffrey R Holland's talk from conference. Felt the Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. The Spirit is sent of God - God wants us to trust Him and listen to that Spirit. By it we may be guided into all truth, and know the truth of all things. I know that it is true, because I've knelt down, and sincerely prayed about it. And in quiet moments, the Spirit of God has come and peacefully whispered it is true, filled me with comfort and guidance, helped me make the right choices and strengthen me from the wrong. I know it is true, and I'm not just saying it because I'm a missionary following some script! The Spirit of God testifies that Jesus Christ lives, that we must keep His commandments, that God is our Father, the Book of Mormon is in very fact the word of God together with the Holy Bible, that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, and this Church is the Kingdom of God on the earth with authority, power, and inspiration of God. I know that is true, and even if others can't grasp it, it is true.
Jeffrey, don't split your head open. Forgot to tell you that on the phone... I LOVE the electric blanket, Dad. That is amazing. Once again, Dad is right. Everyone loves the Kalimba! Culpeper ward is amazing, the box was awesome. Magura family, thanks for the Virginia calendar! I've been trying to help people understand what they are missing back east... and the cookies rock! Thank you Farrells! The tie, the cd's (perfect, Joey and Steven, they are both sweet), everything was awesome - thank you!! Thank you all who sent things, I felt the love, and wish you all a merry Christmas!! Well, family, merry Christmas to all! Thank you for everything. I've felt your love a ton - this Sunday in Elders Quorum we talked about our families, and how sadly many people don't tell them they love them often enough - one man broke down crying, his mother passed away recently and he never had told her that he loved her. So, I love you all! Mom and Dad, I'm so appreciative of everything you've done for me, for loving me and trying to guide me in my life, taking time for me and being so awesome. I love you both! Jeffrey, you're a browski. Love ya. Heidi and Holly and Amy, love you all! Ok thats enough. But seriously, we have such a great family, and I'm so glad. Thank you for everything. Happy New Years! Be safe and have fun!
Love, Elder Thelin
PS The gang was entering the iceberg when...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
JOY TO THE WORLD
Hm, ok, lame, so they told us p day was switched to monday just this once, so i have approx 30 minutes to squeeze out an email to you all! gr, crazy!
OK so MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Tis the season! This has been a crazy time for all of us, running everywhere, trying to get things set up for things, mission conference, etc etc. BUT its been a good week -we had a baptism on saturday! 10 year old Leonidas from El Salvador. smartest kid ever (well, besides our family of course) but yeah, sweet baptism, he actually wanted to get up and say a few words afterwards! Unfortunately we had to fill the font with buckets again... apparently that's "just how you do it" here. Excellent.
Well, I guess we'll start with transfer news - Elder Tetelpa is getting trasferred to STAR VALLEY Wyoming! aka the Death Star, its a whopping -30 degrees up there, and he's going to be in a zebra area (half spanish half english). Gonna miss him, he's one of my most imteresting companions. Gone through a lot of change in a short time, lived pretty wild before the mission. Hearing him turn everything into a rap song was interesting ... hilarious guy. But he needs to go up north! And I'm going to be staying here as a district leader with a new elder. Good kid, from Mexico, convert for a year or so. Speaks little English. He has had a rough mission so far, so I'm a little worried about how I can help him grow and feel comfortable and want to stay here. We shall see. I've felt the Lord's promises to strengthen me lately. I was thinking maybe I'd get a really strong companion and baptize 50 people, but He has different plans. There is a purpose in this, and we will have huge success in any case. It'll be interesting... no more rap or beatboxing though, heheh...
Hmm, well, THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGES!!! "Frank and Bob's Christmas in a Box" has definitely made the apartment festive!, Thanks frank and bob! I love it - I had made a tree of colored post it notes, but the one you sent is so much better and real! And thank you Royston family! We're anxious to wait till the 25th! Many Elders were jealous of me walking out with so many packages from Mission Conference. THAT was interesting - all 180 missionaries together in one place all day friday. We did a Christmas talent show - the Spanish Zone in the South did a really funny skit about the crazy antics we have to go through trying to get people legally married here so that they can be baptized (welcome to the Spanish program, nightmare... It goes something like this..."No, I'm not married to my girlfriend I've been living with for 12 years. Can't marry her because I'm married in Mexico. No, we can't call her. No phone. Oh, and my girlfriend needs a divorce too. Same deal. Me and my girlfriend have 5 kids." YIKES. The Law of Chastity is always fun to teach! And then we sang "La Bamba" and "Feliz Navidad" to the mission (fun, I know all the words now... "para bailar la bamba se necesita una poca de gracia"...) Other highlights included a movie we made on P day - an Elder Limon from Canada is basically my twin in everything, movie making is a favorite hobby, and he knew a professional movie editor with film equipment, so we made a mock-companionship inventory(where we as companionships evaluate ourselves at the end of the week) and did it kinda like the Office... fun) So yeah, good stuff, it was fun. Crazy to see all my former companions, find out about people we baptized in other areas... Poor Elder Minson got his Dear John, dated and baptized the girl before the mission for 7 years, all he talked about was future plans with her... has 5 months left and she revealed she'd been dating another guy for a year...rough. All who are waiting for a missionary, don't wait till the end to Dear John someone, ouch...
Well, family, I'm excited for Christmas - I have 40 minutes to talk, probably easiest to call in the morning hours, like maybe noon for you? If not, maybe a little later on - I can call at noon and then if its not good just tell me when to call and I'll hang up and try again... and I'll call the house? hmm. Dang. We haven't planned this well. Ok, well, if all is lost and you are somewhere else with a different phone, or soemthing, and we havent been in contact by noon on the 25th, my number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. But I'll try calling you first I guess. Heck, we'll figure it out. Ok, well, love you all! Focus on why we are here, why Christmas is special - remember the Savior! He is real, and he lives. That is the meaning of Chrismtas. Joy to the world!
Love, Elder Thelin
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
OK so MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Tis the season! This has been a crazy time for all of us, running everywhere, trying to get things set up for things, mission conference, etc etc. BUT its been a good week -we had a baptism on saturday! 10 year old Leonidas from El Salvador. smartest kid ever (well, besides our family of course) but yeah, sweet baptism, he actually wanted to get up and say a few words afterwards! Unfortunately we had to fill the font with buckets again... apparently that's "just how you do it" here. Excellent.
Well, I guess we'll start with transfer news - Elder Tetelpa is getting trasferred to STAR VALLEY Wyoming! aka the Death Star, its a whopping -30 degrees up there, and he's going to be in a zebra area (half spanish half english). Gonna miss him, he's one of my most imteresting companions. Gone through a lot of change in a short time, lived pretty wild before the mission. Hearing him turn everything into a rap song was interesting ... hilarious guy. But he needs to go up north! And I'm going to be staying here as a district leader with a new elder. Good kid, from Mexico, convert for a year or so. Speaks little English. He has had a rough mission so far, so I'm a little worried about how I can help him grow and feel comfortable and want to stay here. We shall see. I've felt the Lord's promises to strengthen me lately. I was thinking maybe I'd get a really strong companion and baptize 50 people, but He has different plans. There is a purpose in this, and we will have huge success in any case. It'll be interesting... no more rap or beatboxing though, heheh...
Hmm, well, THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGES!!! "Frank and Bob's Christmas in a Box" has definitely made the apartment festive!, Thanks frank and bob! I love it - I had made a tree of colored post it notes, but the one you sent is so much better and real! And thank you Royston family! We're anxious to wait till the 25th! Many Elders were jealous of me walking out with so many packages from Mission Conference. THAT was interesting - all 180 missionaries together in one place all day friday. We did a Christmas talent show - the Spanish Zone in the South did a really funny skit about the crazy antics we have to go through trying to get people legally married here so that they can be baptized (welcome to the Spanish program, nightmare... It goes something like this..."No, I'm not married to my girlfriend I've been living with for 12 years. Can't marry her because I'm married in Mexico. No, we can't call her. No phone. Oh, and my girlfriend needs a divorce too. Same deal. Me and my girlfriend have 5 kids." YIKES. The Law of Chastity is always fun to teach! And then we sang "La Bamba" and "Feliz Navidad" to the mission (fun, I know all the words now... "para bailar la bamba se necesita una poca de gracia"...) Other highlights included a movie we made on P day - an Elder Limon from Canada is basically my twin in everything, movie making is a favorite hobby, and he knew a professional movie editor with film equipment, so we made a mock-companionship inventory(where we as companionships evaluate ourselves at the end of the week) and did it kinda like the Office... fun) So yeah, good stuff, it was fun. Crazy to see all my former companions, find out about people we baptized in other areas... Poor Elder Minson got his Dear John, dated and baptized the girl before the mission for 7 years, all he talked about was future plans with her... has 5 months left and she revealed she'd been dating another guy for a year...rough. All who are waiting for a missionary, don't wait till the end to Dear John someone, ouch...
Well, family, I'm excited for Christmas - I have 40 minutes to talk, probably easiest to call in the morning hours, like maybe noon for you? If not, maybe a little later on - I can call at noon and then if its not good just tell me when to call and I'll hang up and try again... and I'll call the house? hmm. Dang. We haven't planned this well. Ok, well, if all is lost and you are somewhere else with a different phone, or soemthing, and we havent been in contact by noon on the 25th, my number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. But I'll try calling you first I guess. Heck, we'll figure it out. Ok, well, love you all! Focus on why we are here, why Christmas is special - remember the Savior! He is real, and he lives. That is the meaning of Chrismtas. Joy to the world!
Love, Elder Thelin
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
THE BAPTISM BUCKET BRIGADE
Feliz Navidad, mis amigos, mi familia, etc!
Haha, sounds like Christmas is pretty crazy at home, as usual, of course! It kinda feels weird without all the concerts and hooplah that you usually go through, but its still Christmas time! We've celebrated with extra activities, watching g rated movies ("Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy was pretty good), a Mission Conference on Friday (no singing Fireside for the public like in June, sad... President isn't very musically inclined...) and yeah, to top it off, transfers on Tuesday. Excellent. I'm very confident I will be staying, so yeah, I'm not worried about adjusting to a new place. But man, thats no fun for all the missionaries that will be transfered... And as for the cold, our zone leaders fixed our heat in our apartment now (ha, yeah, that was dumb, didnt realize it was broken..) so its warmer, and we're not outside tracting too much. It is cold, but not deadly freezing or anything. Thermals and sweaters will do the trick.
This has been a pretty crazy transfer, but fun. Layton is a great place, with great members. There are several families with sons on missions, so they call us frequently to ask if we want food, or this or that - we're cared for. The branch here has over 200 people too! Usually they have less than 80... And- OH yeah, I almost forgot - so the main event of this past week was Oscar - I think I mention him in the last email, he's a 19 year old, and he's living with some members of the branch for a few weeks. He has been to church a ton in other wards, and loves it. He decided he wanted to be baptized, and called us up. The catch is that he had to leave to LA again to his home on Monday. So, we taught him all he needed to know in 7 days! Sweet investigator, good guy. Weird that we taught in Spanglish, and got to know him pretty well. It felt weird talking to someone more our age, getting to know him a little better. Anyways, he always told us that he felt the Spirit when he prayed ("Hey, I felt it again last night!") and read a lot of the book of mormon. Talked a lot about going on a mission someday! Then on Saturday we had the baptism! CRAZY, beacuse when we got there, the font didn't work. Only a trickle of water. After 20 minutes and only an inch of water, we had to switch plans fast - the baptism was starting in like 1 hour, and usually it takes 2 hours to fill normally. So, we opened up all the bathrooms and changing rooms, and found the showers that actually worked... then found all the trash bins that looked cleaner, washed them out, and filled them up, running bucket after bucket to the font, like 10 gallons at a time, for 45 minutes. It was exhausting. Absolutely crazy. BUT it got filled, and was ready at 4:00! Sheesh. And the printer of a member didn't work, so we made a program handwritten, pasting picutres we cut out of a pamphlet to the front and photocopying it. All in all, 40 people showed, including non members, and Oscar was baptized. It was a powerful service, and a sweet experience. The next morning he was confirmed a member of the Church, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. And now he's gone! CRAZY. But it was sweet, how much the Lord worked through him, and let us work with him!
Haha, is the Hansen's van still in Grandma's yard?
and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jeffrey, good job getting to 17, and with the play and all. Sounds like the party was fun, stop losing phones...
Amy, get better! Hannakuh is definitely important! (THAT was funny).. as well as Continent Day! Can't have Christmas without em... glad to hear Reagan is still feeling optimisitc.
THANK YOU Magura family for the cookies! I think I didn't mention that last week - they were delicious. We loved them - and they helped keep some elders involved during a district meeting I was teaching, so many thanks! And Grandma Pat, the office called me and told me a christmas elf dropped off a package - and they hand delivered it to Layton - the christmas candy is excellent, it feels a lot more like Christmas with your window candy and almond roca and such, mmmm... thank you! And we're enjoying the extra lunches at McDonalds! Thank you so much! We're going to cash the check as soon as possible!
Well, family, the work is good here. A lot is changing, and things are always getting better. We're finding many people, and people really do want the gospel. We talked with a man who doesn't believe in God, or if He does exist, He surely doesn't love him. We felt inspired to share a scripture - 3 Nephi 9:13-15 - and as we explained that there is a Savior, and He can heal us, his eyes teared up, and he changed his manner of speaking and treating us. He felt it! I know this gospel is true. It is the plan. He IS the Savior, the Messiah, the Way. Heavenly Father lives and loves us, and if we exercise a little faith, the blessings flow.
Merry Christmas to all! Peace on earth, good will to men.
Love all,
Elder Chris
Ps No frank and bob package yet...
PPs The ship began to sink. "EVERYONE IN THE SUB!" cried the penguins. They all went below and zoomed off just as the ship sunk underwater. As they drifted past the ginormous iceburg, Heidi spied something on the bottom. It looked like a cave. "Lets check that out!" said Amy. "I dunno" said Holly. As the sub got closer, they saw...
Ppppps I'll figure out the contacts asap, but havent been able to get to Ogden..,
PPppppppps Elder T says he wants an alarm clock. So he can get up on time. A really loud one, that is difficult to shut off, and by the end, leaves one VERy awake. his exact words were "anything is good", but i think thats what he meant...
Haha, sounds like Christmas is pretty crazy at home, as usual, of course! It kinda feels weird without all the concerts and hooplah that you usually go through, but its still Christmas time! We've celebrated with extra activities, watching g rated movies ("Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy was pretty good), a Mission Conference on Friday (no singing Fireside for the public like in June, sad... President isn't very musically inclined...) and yeah, to top it off, transfers on Tuesday. Excellent. I'm very confident I will be staying, so yeah, I'm not worried about adjusting to a new place. But man, thats no fun for all the missionaries that will be transfered... And as for the cold, our zone leaders fixed our heat in our apartment now (ha, yeah, that was dumb, didnt realize it was broken..) so its warmer, and we're not outside tracting too much. It is cold, but not deadly freezing or anything. Thermals and sweaters will do the trick.
This has been a pretty crazy transfer, but fun. Layton is a great place, with great members. There are several families with sons on missions, so they call us frequently to ask if we want food, or this or that - we're cared for. The branch here has over 200 people too! Usually they have less than 80... And- OH yeah, I almost forgot - so the main event of this past week was Oscar - I think I mention him in the last email, he's a 19 year old, and he's living with some members of the branch for a few weeks. He has been to church a ton in other wards, and loves it. He decided he wanted to be baptized, and called us up. The catch is that he had to leave to LA again to his home on Monday. So, we taught him all he needed to know in 7 days! Sweet investigator, good guy. Weird that we taught in Spanglish, and got to know him pretty well. It felt weird talking to someone more our age, getting to know him a little better. Anyways, he always told us that he felt the Spirit when he prayed ("Hey, I felt it again last night!") and read a lot of the book of mormon. Talked a lot about going on a mission someday! Then on Saturday we had the baptism! CRAZY, beacuse when we got there, the font didn't work. Only a trickle of water. After 20 minutes and only an inch of water, we had to switch plans fast - the baptism was starting in like 1 hour, and usually it takes 2 hours to fill normally. So, we opened up all the bathrooms and changing rooms, and found the showers that actually worked... then found all the trash bins that looked cleaner, washed them out, and filled them up, running bucket after bucket to the font, like 10 gallons at a time, for 45 minutes. It was exhausting. Absolutely crazy. BUT it got filled, and was ready at 4:00! Sheesh. And the printer of a member didn't work, so we made a program handwritten, pasting picutres we cut out of a pamphlet to the front and photocopying it. All in all, 40 people showed, including non members, and Oscar was baptized. It was a powerful service, and a sweet experience. The next morning he was confirmed a member of the Church, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. And now he's gone! CRAZY. But it was sweet, how much the Lord worked through him, and let us work with him!
Haha, is the Hansen's van still in Grandma's yard?
and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jeffrey, good job getting to 17, and with the play and all. Sounds like the party was fun, stop losing phones...
Amy, get better! Hannakuh is definitely important! (THAT was funny).. as well as Continent Day! Can't have Christmas without em... glad to hear Reagan is still feeling optimisitc.
THANK YOU Magura family for the cookies! I think I didn't mention that last week - they were delicious. We loved them - and they helped keep some elders involved during a district meeting I was teaching, so many thanks! And Grandma Pat, the office called me and told me a christmas elf dropped off a package - and they hand delivered it to Layton - the christmas candy is excellent, it feels a lot more like Christmas with your window candy and almond roca and such, mmmm... thank you! And we're enjoying the extra lunches at McDonalds! Thank you so much! We're going to cash the check as soon as possible!
Well, family, the work is good here. A lot is changing, and things are always getting better. We're finding many people, and people really do want the gospel. We talked with a man who doesn't believe in God, or if He does exist, He surely doesn't love him. We felt inspired to share a scripture - 3 Nephi 9:13-15 - and as we explained that there is a Savior, and He can heal us, his eyes teared up, and he changed his manner of speaking and treating us. He felt it! I know this gospel is true. It is the plan. He IS the Savior, the Messiah, the Way. Heavenly Father lives and loves us, and if we exercise a little faith, the blessings flow.
Merry Christmas to all! Peace on earth, good will to men.
Love all,
Elder Chris
Ps No frank and bob package yet...
PPs The ship began to sink. "EVERYONE IN THE SUB!" cried the penguins. They all went below and zoomed off just as the ship sunk underwater. As they drifted past the ginormous iceburg, Heidi spied something on the bottom. It looked like a cave. "Lets check that out!" said Amy. "I dunno" said Holly. As the sub got closer, they saw...
Ppppps I'll figure out the contacts asap, but havent been able to get to Ogden..,
PPppppppps Elder T says he wants an alarm clock. So he can get up on time. A really loud one, that is difficult to shut off, and by the end, leaves one VERy awake. his exact words were "anything is good", but i think thats what he meant...
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