Week 103 Mis Dos Años

Mis Dos Años

Think I am feeling a little of what John felt as he finished writing his accounts of the savior when he said:

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

The memories I have of these two years are one of the most valuable things I possess. This Friday I had the opportunity to visit Marcala. The joy I felt to see those people again is the greatest kind of joy one can feel. We visited this single mother who has four kids (two of which are twins). As I knocked on their gate I yelled the named of the smallest of the kids, Mauricio, who is only 4 years old. With out even being able to see me he came running yelling to the others" Es Elder Torn" (that's how everyone pronounces my name). 

Hermana Celemantina and the 4 year old.

The feeling that I had knowing that they remembered me is incomparable. After visiting almost all of the other people we had planned to visit I had become really worried that Freddy (the guy I baptized in the waterfall) would be working and I wouldn't be able to see him. Sure enough when we showed up at his house his truck wasn't there. My stomach just dropped and I thought to myself how rough it would be to leave without seeing him again. We visited another family that I really love and they happened to have Freddy's number. I called him, and before I could even say who I was he asked "where are you? You better not be in Marcala." He informed me that he was on his farm (about 30 from where I was ). I glanced at my watch and realized that it would be impossible to wait for him, seeing how the last bus left at 4 and it was 3:45. In a split second it crossed my mind that I could take the bus that left 5 minutes before 4 and have Freddy wait on the side of the road. Get off the bus, hug him, take a picture and get on the tiger bus that would be right behind ours. The plan worked perfectly. The two minutes I got to take to him again will be forever etched in my mind.

Freddy

 As I said at first, there simply is too much to write, I have felt more grateful in these last few moments of my mission then I have in all my life. Denis (who we baptized a few weeks ago) was ordained an Elder on Saturday and is the new secretary of the branch. Maybe the only thing that has been rough is that I won't be here for Estefannys baptism. She has been the most perfect investigator in history.

I tried my best to emulate the Savior in these two years. I now understand some what of what the Savior must have felt when he was in his personal ministry. The mission requires sacrifice, but it is a source of incomparable satisfaction. I know he lives. I feel it at the very center of who I am.

"There is none to equal him. There never has been. There never will be. Thanks be to God for the gift of his beloved son, who gave his life that we might live and who is chief , in moveable, cornerstone of our faith and his church"

Gordon B. Hinckley

Estefanny

Joel and familia

Alan and family

Mama Chu

After sacrament I made the whole branch take a picture jaja. classic.

Week 102 The People of Honduras

The People of Honduras

I think I could sit down and right for a solid three hours and still have stories to tell about this week. 

Estefanny (the girl who started investigating the church on her own) is probably the best investigator in the history of the mission. We went to go teach her this week and I was still a little nervous about her thoughts about the temple and baptisms for the dead. When we showed up she pulled out the Book of Mormon and showed us all these verses she had marked that she really liked. The spirit was so strong that I felt like she was teaching me about Christ. Honestly now that I really think about it she was indeed teaching me. I asked her if she believed in the Book of Mormon and in Joseph Smith's story. With a firm voice she said yes. I invited her to be baptized and she accepted saying that the night before she had been talking to her mom and told her that she was going to be baptized in the church. I can't even explain to you how amazing it is to find someone like this. She is a doctor, twenty seven years old and is going to be the best convert on the planet.

Sunday I showed up to church a little late and sat down in my sit. I realized that Denis (the kid we baptized two weeks ago) was sitting on the stand ready to bless the sacrament. As he read the sacrament prayer it was if every single word had importance. I got all teary eyed and felt something that has to be similar to what our Father in heaven feels for us. I thought to myself how strange that just over a month ago we were contacting him in the street just before going home and now here he was blessing the sacrament. The stake presidente was hyped out of his mind when I told him that he had been baptized just two weeks earlier. This truly is the Lord's work and to be apart of it has brought me a joy that I will remember for the eternities.

ELDER THORN 

 

 

Week 101 Every Single Door Will Be Opened

Every Single Door Will Be Opened

We have a solid two weeks with out a single person telling us no. Honestly not even sure how to put into words all that is happening here in Flores. It's as if the Savior himself is walking in front of us talking to the people before we get there. Maybe it's all the missionary´s prayers in Europe that are having a hard time. Just feeling so blessed and lucky to be here. The other Elders had a Baptism this week. The district, we are three companionship, has 7 weeks in a row with baptisms. Pretty awesome.

This week our new investigator came to church. Long story short after seeing a Mormon kid pray on his food she starting investigating the church and got in touch with this Elder that finished his mission here in Honduras a few months back. After about two weeks of doing her own research she agreed to meet with the missionaries. That's when we got a message with her number and her name. This doesn't happened that much in the mission so at first I was like uhhh Lord bless my Spanish so she will agree to let us visit her (almost anyone will hang up the phone when they hear an accent). The second after I introduced myself as the LDS missionaries she is like umm it would be awesome if you passed by Saturday at like 6. UNREAL. I was so hyped. The lesson Saturday was even better. She had read almost all of first Nephi and had watched the Joseph Smith movie. Sunday she showed up all by her self and I sat down to explain the hymns. As sacrament started I remembered that the branch had gone to the temple on Saturday and it was also testimony meeting. The first few people gave great powerful testimonies of how they felt closer to heaven in the temple. Then this little 12 year old girl gets up  "I went to the temple yesterday, it was amazing. I was baptized for 42 DEAD PEOPLE¨. I about fell out of my seat and our investigator just looks at me like ummmm waaaitttt. Later we passed by for her house and everything turned out good. life is good. the mission is the hardest greatest experience on the planet. lovee your guys.

Cant wait to hug my mom in two weeks. lol

ELDER THORN

cows

Jenga

guayaba (I really hope I can find fruits in Utah)

 

Week 100 Denis' Baptism

Denis´ Baptism

This week was one of those weeks in the mission that makes you forget about all the let downs you've had in months. I had the privilege to baptize Denis on Saturday. The other Elders here in Flores also had a baptism. A bunch of members showed up and the little bus we took to la villa (we have to do the baptisms in the other chapel because the chapel here in Flores doesn't have one) was packed full of all the youth of the branch. As we were taking pictures before the baptism Denis turns to me and is like I'm going to throw up some gang signs for the last time (picture included) I started laughing so hard and realized for a second how much I really care about him. Really has been the best investigator. He showed up on Sunday with a white shirt, tie, and a Book of Mormon in his hand. For those of you that haven't been to Honduras I doubt you will understand how brave you have to be to do that. 

There really are people out there that are just looking for the truth. WE have to find them. It honestly doesn't matter at all if you look all day and night for weeks, months, or years when you finally find someone and watch them gain a testimony, it's priceless.

¨Whatever our age, capacity, church calling or location, WE are as ONE called to the work to help (the Savior) in His harvest of souls until He comes again¨ Henry B. Erying

Elder Thorn 

Tag challenge photo

This week was the fair here in Flores which consisted of a parade, drinking, miss Flores, drinking, fried chicken, drinking, trampolines, drinking, hanging a wire off the road with a live duck hung by it's neck and racing on a horse to see who could rip it's head off, anddd more drinking. oh and fireworks.

Beef Soup

Here in Honduras they brake eggs on the heads of people when it's their birthday! It's awesome. Action foto

 

Week 99 Did You Hear the Good News?

Did You Hear the Good News?

Highlight of this week was reading "I am a child of God" by Donald L. Hallstrom from this past general conference. Really opened my eyes. Awhile back when I hadn't had a baptism for over 8 months I found myself really confused and began to question as to why I hadn't been able to baptize. I would always say a slight prayer thinking "hello I have been contracting like crazy, inviting everyone to be baptized, working with member, studying really well, whaaattttsss the problem here? Why can't you just let me find someone who is looking for the truth!" Month after month with each one getting more and more difficult. I honestly don't think I had fully understood why the Lord let me go so long without baptizing until this morning. Towards the end of the talk he sites a quote from Elder Holland " You can have what you want, or you can have something better". When I read this at first I started laughing and then tears filled my eyes as I began to think how much my testimony grew in those months I didn't baptize. The Savior knows us perfectly and gives us trials to help us learn eternal lessons. A life without opposition is a life with out progression.

This week I have been praying to try and find new fun ways to contact. I started asking people if they had heard the good news. Had way too many funny experiences with people telling me random news stories jaja Not what I had expected to happen. Then we shared with them that Christ had visited the Americas. It always takes people a few minutes to really grasp what we are saying. And when they finally get it the look on their face is too perfect. The work is progressing here in Flores and I really hope I can find all the people the Lord has prepared.  

ELDER GRANT MICHAEL THORN 

Week 98 Testimony Push Ups

Testimony Push Ups

Was about to log off and realized that I didn't write anything home for the blooggggg. 

Between us and the other Elders we have a baptism every week in July. The district is the best district in the mission right now. Honestly things are going too good it's almost weird. We finally had this bomb activity that we planned like a month ago. We took the projector, white board, and a bunch of seats to the park and set it all up to watch Meet the Mormons. The branch pres got a hold of giant speakers and about one hundred people showed up. We had a ton of contacts and it helped us change the idea of what people think of Mormons. Proud to be Mormon! No hay nada mejor. 

Denis, the kid who was going to get baptized this last week, is going to get baptized this week. He came to church Sunday and jaja he is the goofiest kid that honestly makes the funniest comments it's awesome. I feel really blessed to have found him and I really hope I can see him grow in the gospel. I also had interchanges with Elder Obando who is starting his mission here in the other area. SO stellar. Really love new missionaries soo much. Just so pure and full of light. 

ELDER THORN

Week 97 Last Six Weeks

Last Six Weeks

Got the news this morning (while fishing, si hombre) that I am going to be staying here in Flores for my last change. Honestly hyped. We had a surprise baptism this week. Long story but she ask me to baptize her and it made the hard week a lot better. Things have really changed here in Flores. The branch has grown so much and I feel like we are really progressing. I set some goals for my last six weeks and am really going to try to talk to every single person that lives here in Flores. I feel so different these days. Maybe I am just in love with being a missionary lol. For those that know me know that I have never been scared to talk to people or ask questions. And that's pretty much what the mission is. Talking to people you don't know and asking them to change. It's that simple. The best part is that the Lord does that hard part and is so willing to help us do ours. I love you guys. I hope that the Gospel is working for you, it's working for me. Here is a bunch of pictures. 

Elder Thorn 

4th of July dinner beans and hot-dogs

 

Week 96 Maria's Baptism

Maria´s Baptism

Saturday at around three I told my comp that we should pass by for Maria´s house just to remind her to bring a towel and extra clothes to change into after. We passed by a member's house first (where we have taught her all the lessons because she spends more time in their house than her´s) and they looked at us all worried. "We haven't seen Maria all day! She didn't even show up in the morning to drop off her daughter." Elder Molina and I went off running to her house only to find all the doors locked with padlocks and no lights. We spent the next 2 hours looking all over Flores, asking everyone if they had seen little Maria. At 4:45 I was feeling like we were going to get stood up and was about to call the guy with the bus and tell him not to come. When the other elders called us and said that they had found her sitting on the side of the church building with all her stuff. I laughed a little and asked Elder Molina where the ONLY place we hadn't searched, and he is like the church. We both laughed and everything turned out well. The baptism was so full that almost half of the people who came had to stand outside the room.

Last night I had one of the most precious moments of my mission. At about 7:45 last night we were feeling really tired and our last appointment had fallen through. My comp wanted to visit these less actives but I said no because it was too far away and we would waste the little time we had left. I could tell he was really bugged and so I knocked on the closest door I could. The family invited us in and just happened to be a nephew of one of the most active members in the branch. The lesson was horrible. But when I say horrible I mean horrible. I was so happy when we finally finished the prayer. I could tell my comp was frustrated with me and the choice I had made. We got back to the house and planned. After planning we talked for awhile and he expressed a lot of things he had wanted to say. I waited a second and asked him why he hasn't been studying (for this past month I have been studying alone and spend most mornings waiting around until he showers and gets ready). I expressed my concern about the people we were teaching and how our study as companion effects everything we do. After talking I felt better but found myself thinking this isn't how I want to finish my mission. After calling the district and noting some datas I walked into our little room to find my companion kneeling and crying in prayer. As I sat looking at him for a moment I saw things from a different perspective. My mind became full of all the times I had wanted to do better but felt inadequate. I knelt down and prayed with him. After quite sometime we finished and said our nightly prayer. I felt so different then earlier that night or really how I have felt this whole month. All of my frustration and bitterness changed to compassion and love. I really feel like we are going to have some amazing baptisms these coming weeks.

ELDER THORN 

 

This is our zone

 

Week 95 Christ Visited the Americas

Christ Visited the Americas

Sometimes I just smile when I realize that I am a missionary. Feeling really blessed this week to have a testimony that Christ lives and that this is His church. Feeling really grateful to have been born to such loving parents. Feeling really grateful to be able to communicate with my Heavenly Father when ever I feel a need or desire. Life truly is a blessing.

This week was stellar. Denis (the 18 year old kid that came to church last week) came to church again. We also took him to a baptism the Elders had in La Villa and he loved it. He has been the answer to months of earnest prayer. Since I started my mission I have asked the Lord to guide me to some kid that needs help and that I could share my testimony to help him get on a mission. To give him the same hope and joy that others helped me find. He is progressing so much and it's a miracle. His mom owns this bar place that is really famous here in Flores for being  the worst place in Flores as far as drinking and everything that has to do with maldad. We are going to take him and Maria (who is getting baptized this Saturday) to our branch presidente's house for a lil Home evening fire, the hype is real.

Totally cried the other night reading this in the Book of Mormon. Alma 5:16 

"I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?"

The Savor is real. He lives and to try to grasp what the day will be like when I get to see him again brings me so much joy and hope. Love all you guys and hope that you can find something to look forward to in life.

This morning we went hiking to this place where they think some natives over 1000 years ago lived. Took us 3 hours hiking and as we got close we got lost. After about 30 minutes we decided to bail and hike down. As we started down this old guy walks up and in English says HELLO ELDERS. I just started laughing and we asked him if he could help us. He started to tell us how he was the guide to the site but it was now abandoned because there wasn't any money to keep it going. Then I asked him if he could at least show us some stuff. He responds "your standing on it". I looked down and realized that I happened to be standing on some weird looking rocks. He showed me this rock that had a hole in it while he showed me how they use it to degrain corn and make flour.

We went around for awhile looking at the foundations to old houses. Really wasn't much. A few years back a bunch of people came and stole almost all the import objects and ruined all the standing homes. And even worse the plants had grown so tall that you couldn't see anything until you were standing on top of it. I started to talk about the Book of Mormon with him. When I told him that Christ had visited the Americas he just stopped me and was like No. Don't make things up that aren't true. I felt a little offended but didn't respond. As we walked over to a different wall he was staring at me but I didn't want to look at him. Then he asks me, "how do you know that Christ came here?" I told him let me visit you in your house and I will show you how you can know too. We will be passing by this week.

ELDER THORN

 

This is a less active family I first started teaching when got here to Flores. They invited us to eat on Sunday and we went to pluck bananas and take down coconuts.

Elder Carlos Jose Molina from Chiquimula Guatemala

 

Week 94 It's Not About You

It's Not About You 

My new favorite thing to do is hitch-hike. Today we are in La Paz and normally we have to take two buses. 10 limps each and at least an hour waiting in the hot sun. Today I thumbed a ride and the family was going to San Pedro and the brother of the guy driving is a bishop. In the ten minutes driving we were able to talk to him about eternal families and committed him to go to church on Sunday. The second guy who gave us a ride got his legs cut off by a train in Mexico trying to get into the states. He had this crazy metal thing he had welded together to help him drive. We taught him about the resurrection and he got all teary eyed with us and told us how scared he was that he never would have his legs again. In short, hitch hiking is the best, because someone that give you a ride is bound to have felt some kind of impression by the spirit and for that reason they picked you up.

This week this 18 year old kid came to church with us. We had a member that was going to pass by for him but at 8 the member called us and was like hey I'm sick I cant go to church. We left sprinting from the house to pass by for him, but when we got there his cousin told us he had left. I felt a little bummed out. Honestly nothing worse in the mission than when someone says YES I WILL GO TO CHURCH, and then Sunday morning they make up the lamest excuses. We passed by for the less active who lived near by and he decided to come with us. As we walked into the chapel the 18 year old kid was just sitting by himself. Legit jumped for joy. As I sat down by him he says, "duude you said that you were going to pass by at 8:30 and it was 8:32 so I went by myself". I laughed a little as he gave me a hard time about keeping commitments as we had taught him.  

This week I realized that very little has to do with me here in the mission, and everything has to do with this grand work the Savior has been doing since the time of Adam. Really felt the spirit this week and pondered about my purpose here in life. I invite you to take 10 minutes and just think about the plan of salvation. We all have an important part. 

 30 Y ocurrió que cuando oyeron esta voz, y percibieron que no era una voz de trueno, ni una voz de un gran ruido tumultuoso, mas he aquí, era una voz apacible de perfecta suavidad, cual si hubiese sido un susurro, y penetraba hasta el alma misma; 

(Helaman 5:30)

ELDER THORN

Thought I would send this home so everyone can see how almost everyone showers here in Honduras

just scoop water out of a 5 gallon bucket with a bowl

Week 93 My Shoes Have Been Wet Since Monday

My Shoes Have Been Wet Since Monday

The weather here has been crazy. We even had a little earthquake'. like 6.1 or something. Someone can check that because that's just what they told us. But legit the roads turned into rivers this week and me with my ¨holy¨ shoes wasn't the best combo. hahahah I can't stop laughing.

Weellll probably the hardest week of my mission this week. I think the hardest part of the mission for me is feeling like I am not really doing anything. Some of the people we are teaching really need help. We went to visit this lady and her eight kids this week and when we showed up I realized that they we eating corn husks. My heart just broke and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. As a missionary I can't give food or money to anyone, and sometimes it just really stresses me out. This week I got really caught up in that and started thinking it would be a lot better if I was here with a medical group or something. Even worse when Sunday rolled around and all the people that we called Saturday, that said they would come, didn't come. The mission is confusing sometimes. I guess I still have a lot to learn. We did a ton of service this week to not feel so trapped in the house. My comp is a stud. I guess at the end of the day everything works out. There is a lot of people here in Flores that I really love and care about. Sometimes I laugh because even after 21 months I still can't write a decent email. 

ELDER THORN

I put up my hammock today. Life with a hammock is less stressful.

Week 92 Maybe I Do Love Honduras

Maybe I Do Love Honduras

So the guy that is using the computer next to me is a white dude from New York that sells hangers and is a pastor. Only in Honduras.

This week was awesome. Honestly the families we are teaching are so sincere and I feel so much love for them. I feel like I was the most unloving person before my mission and now it's like I love people the first time I meet them. We have five families that are reading the Book of Mormon. But really struggle to come to church. The thing about Flores is that it's tiny and so the second you visit someone, everyone knows and gets on their backs about being Mormon and Joseph Smith.

This morning, as I was sitting down to study, I felt like I had forgot to do something. So I got up and brushed my teeth sat back down and still felt like I had forgot to do something. Then my Comp says, "hey there is some kid smoking weed on our back door". I starting laughing and was like bueno lets see what we can do. I opened the door and he almost took off running. I laughed and was like "hey chill sit down". We talked for a little and he told me he is just visiting some family but lives in Tegucigalpa. I told him a little about my life before the mission and he really warmed up and starting sharing some of his feelings. He told me how he had felt this empty space for almost all his life. How his parents haven't ever been around and how he had pretty much grown up in the street. I really felt the love for him and the need to explain how much our Father in Heaven loves him. I explained a little about the plan of salvation and where we come from. He stopped me mid sentence and was like "waaaiitt what? I was with God before I was born?" Totally in shock he says to me. "NO ONE has ever told me that". Then he says, " how do you know this. who told you. where does this information come from and where can I learn more?" I run up stairs and found a folleto de plan de salvation. As I run back down stairs he just starred at me and says "I really feel like you are someone important. Do you think you could come to my house and tell me more?" I got the chills and was like what is happening. After 21 months of knocking doors someone knocked MY DOOR. I wrote down his info and will give it to the other missionaries that live in his area. God knows us. HE really loves us and is trying to guide all of us back to his presence. I feel the spirit in my life and I feel happy.

ELDER THORN 

We went and got mangoes from this tree of an investigator this morning.

Two of the greatest families here in Honduras. Neither are members and they gave us SOOOO much food on Monday before the other Elders left the area.

I got to milk cows twice this week with a members son, and he came to church!

Hey look what I found