October 19 in ISLA

Well, I'm going to have to be short again this week because I've got lots of things to do! My new companion is Elder Ortiz, and we're here in Isla working our butts off! It's rained literally alll week here, so I'm not hot for a change. But I am now accustomed to being soaked to the bones of my toes. They say the rainy season here is from October to December so I'll get used to it. Good thing my backpack is waterproof. 

This house has hot water. I took my first hot water shower in over a year, and my first shower with water coming out of a faucet head for 6 months. It was glorious. I feel like a king. 

I would appreciate your prayers for our work here in Isla. It's a small branch with not as many people attending church as there could be. You can be sure that we're going to work super hard. There's nothing more important than saving these souls, and nothing more rewarding, but I would really appreciate your prayers. 

I don't know if all of you are accostomed to praying often, but it's easy to say a prayer. You can go to a private place where you'll be alone, or you can just say one in your heart and mind in public, so nobody notices. Just start the prayer by addressing yourself to Heavenly Father (as if you were writing a letter, like " Dear Heavenly Father"). Then express your thoughts and feelings to Him, also as if you were writing a letter. Then, when youre ready to end, say "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." This is the way we are instructed to pray in the scriptures. So I'd apprieciate it if you could all say a prayer in your heads for Elder Thompson who's in Isla, so that we can have the Spirit of God with us and help His children. 

This is the picture from B's baptism back in Aeropeurto. He was baptized this Friday. President Cordova (far right) did the honors. I was already here in Isla at that time, but I'm super happy for him. We worked for six long months so that he would accept the gospel, along with his wife and son. I'm glad we never gave up. I may not have been there to see it, but words cannot express the happiness that I feel to see him deciding to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

On the far left is my friend Elder Smith. He replaced me in Aeroceurto. Then it's Elder Stanfield, who was my companion there. Then M, whom I got to baptize. Then C, a family friend of theirs, and a very dear friend of mine now. Then B. She's like my second mom and one of my favorite people ever. I feel so privileged to have taught her and been an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring her to conversion. Then C. Then it's B., one of the most wonderful people ever, and last is President Cordova. 

I absolutely love this family. I love them like I love my own family, and I'm so glad that I came out here on the mission. Had I never come, I never would have met them. It is such a blessing to serve a mission, for "the Lord doth grant me considerable joy in the fruits of my labors."

Anyways, that's all for this week. 

Elder Thompson

October 12 in ISLA

Well, sorry that I'm writing so late! It's because...today there were changes! And I'm no longer in Aeroceurto:( I'm very sad. I feel like that's my own home ward now, and when I left it really did feel like I was leaving home again. I miss everyone a ton. I grew to love those people so much. I will DEFINITELY be going back to visit there. Anyways, let's leave what's past in the past. I was moved to a place called Isla today. Isla is a large town in the middle of nowhere (from Aeroceurto in Veracruz city to wilderness). I believe it's the area farthest away from everything else in the mission. I think. (South and west.) They grow pineapple here. It's EVERYWHERE. Fresh pineapple. I would imagine it's one of the biggest places in Mexico for this. Anyways it's kinda close to Carlos A. Carrillo, one of my old areas, and when we were headed to Tuxtapec to get there by bus, the bus stopped at a station and said that there's a gang on the road to Tuxtapec that's stopping buses and robbing the luggage, so we didn't go through Tuxtapec. Instead we went to Cosamaloapan, which is super close to Carlos A. Carrillo! Made me nostagic. But that's okay. So we got here around 6. Which was fun. 

I really don't have more time right now but I'll tell you more next week! 

I posted final pictures from Veracruz (city) with Elder Stanfield.

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October 5 in Aeropeurto, Veracruz City

Well this week was really awesome! We had some great news with (B). We had to postpone his baptismal date for a little bit, but now we have it solidly set for the 16th. Also (K) will be getting baptized on the 18th, and (C) and (F) on the 25th. There are loads of other people that will be getting baptized soon too! I'm a little sad because I probably won't be here to see it. (Changes are next week and my time in Aeropuerto is probably over. I have 6 months here.) The important thing for me is that people are coming closer to Christ, just like I am. 

Elder Stanfield was lots better this week! We don't know what it was, but I think he's getting better on his own! We were able to work, but not as much as I would've liked because we had lots of meetings.

General Conference was this weekend! For those of you who don't know, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church (the church in the New Testament). Namely, apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. What this wants to say, is that we believe that the church should be very well organized for the perfecting of the body of the saints (us). It also means that we believe that a person must be called of God, by the laying on of hands by one having authority from God, in order to serve Him in His church. This is the way it was done in the primitive church. We believe that these things have been restored in our day by Christ, through Joseph Smith. So, to help us in "the perfecting of the saints," every six months there's a General Conference. This is when the apostles and the prophet and all the general authorites of the church congregate and address us. They give us the word of God, and counsel us in what God says we need to do right now to come closer to Him. 

My favorite talk this General Conference was from one of the twelve apostles, Jeffery R. Holland. He talked about the Atonement and how it was brought about by and because of charity, which is the pure love of Christ. He also pointed out that the common words used in the scriptures to describe that sacrifice (bourne, carried, delivered, suffered, etc.) are also commonly used to decribe childbirth. I wouldn't know, I'm not a mom, but it does sound pretty painful. He went on to testify of the divine role of mothers in the family. They are the closest thing that comes to comparing with Christ and His love and suffering for us, even though it is still not an apt comparison. I really like what he said because I was able to think about the impact of my mom in my own life. It also helped me comprehend better the divine role that mothers play in the great plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. 

Anyways, that's all for this week, talk to you next week!

-Elder Thompson

We went to the aquarium. This toucan is crazy.
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