Please do it NOW!! Time is running out!!!

I know that I am a week behind everyone here. So, I am sure that you have already had your fair share of conference updates. But, how 'bout another? Conference this year was seriously awesome. As missionaries, we were all pretty anxious about the "Big Announcement." We had heard all sorts of rumors. But, we came to find out that there wasn't really any huge announcement. But, all the talks did an awesome job at really focusing on the Savior and His church. It really is the last days and it is our job to prepare ourselves, our families and others for the day when Christ will return to the earth.

One the Sunday morning session, we had an investigator attend. It was awesome! I prayed harder than ever that he would receive an answer to any question that he had. The whole session was about preparing ourselves for the day when Christ comes through repentance. I know that was exactly what he needed to hear as he is preparing to get baptized so that he and his wife can go through the temple to be sealed. It was awesome!

Now I am just going to share a few of the quotes that I wrote down as I listened...

-The Lord will be with you as you summon your courage to be on His side

-Heavenly Father IS, without a doubt, preparing the minds and hearts of people everywhere

-See as He sees, be worthy of His authority, and when you teach, teach with Him

-try to imagine how you will answer to the Lord when one day he interview you

-make present sacrifice for important future goals

-We need to do better and be better because the battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts and arming his minions with potent weapons. 

-Casualness can lead us away from the covenant path

-We are a peculiar people... what a compliment!

we may not be perfect, but we can be worthy

-Sometimes we don't receive answers the way we want. But, the Lord has greater blessings in store. 

-Share the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words

-it is not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost

-rejoice as you share Christ's suffering

-do not ever lose faith in Jesus Christ

-we are MEANT to find JOY in this life

-it will be impossible in these last perilous days to avoid the temptations of the adversary without the companionship of the Holy Ghost

-focus not on what you don't have, but on what you do have, and what you can do to use what you do have to bless the lives of others. 

-the words of Christ will open the hearts of those who have not yet received Him

-Make a decision and move forward with trust. God will not let you go too far without a warning call if the decision is wrong.

-Christ died from a heart broken by shouldering completely alone the sins of all mankind

-such an event (sacrament) deserves our absolute and utmost respect. It is far and away the most sacred and important hour of our week

-The is no shortage of suffering in this world. So look in any direction and join the Great Healer in lifting the load of one who is downtrodden.

-blessings are never earned, but faith promoting actions are always required.

-if we do our part and repent, the Savior will unleash His protective powers on all of us

-the Atonement is infinite is scope and individual in reach

-Salvation is an individual matter. Exaltation is a family matter.

-True repentance is not an event. It is a never ending privilege

-Our Savior watches over the 99 AND goes to find the 1

-There is much more to come. Get your rest. Eat your vitamins. It is going to be exciting!

-even while we wait on the Lord, certain blessings come immediately

-the purposes of conference begin after the closing prayer

-our homes are only as strong as the strength of each of us inside

-we are at war with Satan for the souls of the children of God

-Be a disciple of the Lord. Stand up and speak for Him wherever you are

-rededicate your lives to serving His children on both sides of the veil

-Work... until the Great Jehovah says the work is done.

Well... the church is true. And it is led by a prophet who receives guidance from God. I love the short time that I have to be out here in this great work. I love you all and send lots of prayers back your way. 

Love Elder Thomas

 

The rain finally came

Well... we got a few little rain storms this. I have never been more excited to see the rain. It basically means that things start to cool off. It was kind of overcast and it felt awesome this week. One day, we didn't take umbrellas. We just got absolutely soaked. It kind of reminded me of my first few weeks in the field when we would come home every night and be soaked to the bone. It honestly feels soo good.

This week was kind of an off week. School just ended, so almost everyone from Baguio was like on vacation. It was almost impossible to make contact with any of our progressing investigators. So, we took the time to go and look through the area book. We found a ton of investigators from like a year ago. We made contact with a lot of them and have a lot of return appointments now. I am really excited for the upcoming week. 

I read a talk this week (I can't remember who it is by) about planting and harvesting as it relates to missionary work. Sometimes we are in an area where we plant and sometimes we are in an area where we nurture. And sometimes we are in an area where we harvest. Up here in Baguio, we have done a lot of planting and nourishing. I will likely leave here in a month without a baptism. But, I am more than happy about that because I know the work that we have done. No one can harvest if nothing is ever planted. I love this area and all the people that I have met. 

I am more than excited for General Conference this week. I know that all of you have already seen it. I love that the work is going forward at a pace that is always increasing. The second coming of our Savior is closer than ever and it is our job to prepare ourselves and others for when it does happen. 

I know that this gospel is true and I love it with all my heart. I love the Book of Mormon and the power that it has to change lives. That is about all for the week. Love you all!!

Love Elder Thomas

 

If it is important to us, its important to Him

Well, one of the coolest experiences was actually not with any of our investigators this week. It was on Friday. We had gotten punted at a few lessons and didn't really have anywhere to go until later in the evening. Out of nowhere (actually from the spirit) I got the thought that we should go visit a member real quick. We don't go to this family very often because they are kind of far away. But, we hiked this mountain and ended up at their house. We found them outside of their house. They had just put a new lock on their house and couldn't get in. It was one of the dial locks that you have to spin to the numbers. They told us that they had been trying for like 4 hours and had looked up all sorts of things on the internet to try to get into their house. They told me the code and within just a few seconds, the door was open. They were sooo grateful.

It seemed like just a little thing. But, it meant the world to them. They invited us to stay for dinner and we had an awesome mini lesson about following the promptings that we receive. This is one thing that I have been really working on. A lot of the time I have a hard time deciding if a thought is from the Holy Ghost or just me thinking. But, more and more, I have realized that they Holy Ghost is often the reason that we have different thoughts. So, why not follow them. The little things can make a world of difference in the life of someone else. If it invites to do good, it is of the spirit. 

Another cool experience that we had was when we were teaching the husband of a member. He just returned from working in Japan. We teach him twice a week. We taught the plan of salvation and it was awesome to just watch his face light up. We focused on how through the teachings of the gospel, we can return to live with our families in Heaven. He has the cutest little girl who is 8 months old. The message was awesome. 

But, the coolest part of the lesson, was at the end. We had kind of finished teaching and then one of the boys from the family came out to the living room. He is 16 years old and was baptized when he was 8. But, he is pretty inactive because he works on Sundays. He came out and bore the most incredible testimony to his Brother-in-law about how the gospel blesses families. I was honestly a little bit chocked up as he taught so simply that we really can, because of Jesus Christ and His gospel, return to live forever with out families in the presence of God. He then told us that he is trying to look for different work because he has seen us come to his house and he now wants to prepare to serve a mission. 

The mission is seriously AWESOME!! We are away from our families for 2 years (or 18 months) so that we can teach other families about a plan for them to live with their families for EVER. The gospel is amazing and it can and will bless anyone who will let it. I love this chance that I have to be out here. The church is true and it has blessed me in every aspect of my life. 

I love you all, think about you, and send prayers your way. 

Love Elder Thomas

1 More Transfer

Well... I am here in Baguio for at least another transfer. That made me really happy. I will be here until at least May. I will finish training my Trainee and then I will likely make my way down to the low lands and the real heat of the Philippines. I have it pretty nice up here in Baguio, because as it really starts to warm up in the Philippines, I was in about the coldest place in the whole country. Don't get me wrong. It is still wicked hot and I break a sweat every day as we walk up and around the mountain, but I had it pretty good this transfer.

This week, one of our most promising investigators showed up to Baguio. He is the husband of a family that we recently reactivated. He will be here for a month. We showed up to them last night and met him for the first time. He was super anxious to hear the lesson and seems to receive it well. We taught most of a L1 (Restoration) and then we really focused on families and how the gospel can allow his family to live happily not only in this life, but in the life to come. They have a little daughter who is almost 8 months old and is the cutest thing. So, the message on family really stuck with them pretty good. I am really excited for them.

We also contacted a lady really late last night. We were on our way home, but we had the feeling to stop at this lady's house real quick. She had punted us the last few times that we tried to go to her. We figured that we would get punted again because it was late. But, she actually let us in. She was basically in tears as she explained some of the hard things that she is going through in her life. We just talked with her and shared a quick scripture about faith. She said that she had been avoiding us because she didn't feel like she had anything that she could give us. She had hardly any food and lived in this little house with her daughter. We told her that we really didn't need anything and that all we wanted to do was share a message with her that we knew would bless her life. It was an awesome discussion. I know that the spirit guides us and helps us to find those who God has prepared to hear the gospel. 

God has a plan for all of us and he wants what is best for us. Sometimes it is just hard for us to see that. Often, our perspective last only until death. But, the perfect plan of God, goes well beyond life on earth. We really do have a Father in Heaven who loves us and wants nothing more than for us to return to live with Him. He loved us enough to send His Son to earth to atone for us each individually and then die on the cross. I love the gospel and the chance that I have to share it for a short time out here in the Philippines. I love you all and hope that all is well back home. 

Love 'Der Thomas

 

1 more week

Well... this week wasn't the most productive week as far "real missionary work" goes. But we got a lot done.

On Tuesday, we went to the sisters area for a while. We had a meeting with our ward mission leader. It was awesome. Hopefully we will have some members that will be able to work with us in the future. 

Wednesday, President came up and interviewed our whole zone. We also started watching the new safety videos that the church put out for all of the missionaries. They are pretty funny. 

Thursday, we worked with a missionary that just returned home from his mission in El Salvador. He is incredible. Then, that night we got onto a bus for the 3 hour bus ride down to the mission home. We spent the night in one house with like 20 other missionaries. It was actually pretty fun, but we didn't sleep for most of the night. 

Friday, we had a followup training for my companion. We were all kind of half asleep for it, but it was super good. President talked about how we can really apply the Book of Mormon to the conversion of all the people that we teach. He also talked about how we can all strengthen our faith by working to eliminate fear and also become more obedient. Then, we sat at the bus stop for like 6 hours. It was rough. It is super hot down in the low-lands. 

Saturday, the sisters in our ward had a baptism. It was awesome. 

Then earlier today, President and all of the office staff made their way up here to Baguio to have a sports day. We played frisbee, soccer, and basketball. It was super fun. Then we had what is called a "Butol fight." We laid these big banana (butol) leaves on the table and then just slapped food on top of it. Then everyone just digs into it with their hands. It was delicious. 

And this coming Saturday is transfer calls. I really hope that I don't get transferred. I hope that I will stay in my area for another transfer and just finish training my companion. But, we will see. I will let you all know what happens next week. 

Sorry it is kind of boring. It was kind of a crazy week. I hope all is well back home. I think about you all and send prayers your way. 

Love Elder Thomas

Panagbenga

The highlight this week was the Panagbenga festival. The whole session road (the main road in Baguio city) was shut off. It was crazy. The whole city was packed. The church put up a family search booth which was awesome. The missionaries were in charge of inviting people to enter the booth. It was awesome. More than 1,000 people came into the booth and created a family search account in the week. It was super fun. 

I have two people that we met this week that were pretty funny. There was one guy who had the sides of his head shaved and he had a bright red mohawk. Naturally, I wanted to stop him to talk to him for a second. I tried to stop him and tell him that we had a way to him to find his ancestors for free. He just looked at me for a second and then in straight English said "No thanks. I'm a Satanist." Pretty sad for him. But, I thought it was hilarious. Then the next day, this old grandma came walking by. She got really mad at us because we were not using our speaker that we had to play music. Then, she basically cussed me out in Ilicano. I knew that she was mad, but I don't speak Ilicano yet, so I actually did not know what she said. The other members told me that she is like famous in Baguio as the "baguio crazy." It was pretty funny. 

The week, I was really focused on seeing everyone's potential. My dad told me in his email last week that he sometimes stands in the cafeteria of the junior high and looks around and thinks "everyone in this room is a candidate for celestial glory. Kind of crazy." This week especially, because we saw thousands of people, it was easy to look at people and then judge them. But, everyone is a son or daughter of God and he wants nothing more than for all of us to return to Him. Missionary work is soo much easier when when we see people as what they can become. Our president told us that the first time we meet someone that we should picture them in white 3 times. Once at baptism, then at their endowment, then at their temple marriage. God has a plan for us and he wants all of us to be as happy as can be. I love you all and wish you all the best!

Love Elder Thomas

Find the Families

Kevin Thomas

Sun, Mar 3, 8:08 PM (4 days ago)

This week was awesome. I loved going out to find people. Usually it is not the most exciting thing. We get rejected a lot and we get lots of doors slammed on us. But, I honestly feel bad for those people. They really don't know what they are missing. This week, we didn't get rejected nearly as much. We started our contacts with people by introducing famiysearch. It was awesome. People naturally have a desire to know those that they are related to and where they come from. At the big festival this week in Baguio, the church is doing 2 booths where people can create a familysearch account. Contacting people this week was awesome and I am excited for the festival this upcoming week. 

One of my favorite lessons this week was with one of our investigators named Honeylitta. She has been taught by the missionaries now for a year. She knows all of the lessons, she reads the Book of Mormon, and she sometimes comes to church. We feel like she is finally ready for baptism, but for one reason or another, she doesn't. We decided that the best thing we could do at this point was have another lesson about the Book of Mormon and the power that it will have in really preparing her. We had an awesome lesson. She was in tears at the end of it and we decided to extend an baptismal date on the spot. She was really hesitant to accept it, but she did and said that she would work to be prepared for it. It was awesome. It is incredible to see what the Spirit and the Book of Mormon can do together to change lives. 

We had another kind of funny lesson with this dude. We were walking down the street to our next appointment and this guy stopped us in the street. He told us that he knew the "cook" from our church. We don't have a cook at our church, so I had not clue what he was talking about. But we went back this week to teach him. He let us in and the whole time that we were teaching, he would like pound his chest, kiss his fist, and then point to the sky and say something to the effect of "The big man upstairs is my best friend." This man is 65. Me and my companion were trying to keep from laughing. He told us at the end of the lesson that he believes that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. It will be interesting to teach him some more in the future. 

That will just about do it. This week, Addie leaves for her mission. And Caitlin has now been in the MTC for a couple of days. Missionary work is by far the most important work that we can be a part of in this mortal life. And I love the blessings that come from it. I love you all and send lots of prayers back your way. 

Love Elder Thomas