Week 78 A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love 

Another interesting week here in Taulabé. I feel like there is just soooo many people it's a struggle to remember everyone that we are teaching and keeping everything in order. I spent most of Sunday with the branch pres. from El Carmen (the branch in Siguatepeque) and they are in plans to make a district here in Siguatepeque. The plan is to spilt the branch in two and do the same with the ward and then officially open up Taulabé as a branch. Really exciting and just makes me smile to see the church growing. 

Had a special moment this week with a sister from the ward. One of her sons who was serving in the air force was shot and killed. He was inside the base and supposedly was joking around with a few others and in the end he lost his life. He was the second oldest of her children and only was 20 years old. The family is really special to  me because I knew them when I was serving in Santa Fe. I think I explained this story before but in short they moved here to Taulabé a little bit before Elder Co and I arrived. The sister gives us lunch and dinner almost every day. They have helped us so much and really show us so much love. I had really come close to them and truly felt the Savior´s love in their home. All that being said it was a bit of a surprise when she called us to tell us her son had passed away. She invited us to come to the house where they had the casket and to attend the funeral services. We called a few members from Siguatepeque and organized a little message. We sang I know my Savior Lives and pres. Zungia dedicated the grave. It was a special moment to see her looking over her son's grave with a big smile, while everyone else that surrounded her was in tears. The knowledge we have concerning the plan of salvation is worth so much. Share it. There are so many people who need the comfort that comes in knowing we will see our loved ones again. 

ELDER THORN

Week 77 Does The Lord Know You Love Him

Does the Lord Know You Love Him 

Totally got sunburned today and stuggling to keep my lil eyes open. Not sure if I ever wrote about this but the weather here in Taulabé was colder than it had been in the last ten years. When we first got here it was sooo hot I couldn't ever focus when we got back to the house to plan. Then out of no where it was rainy and I was sleeping with a hoodie on. The Lord anwsers prayers FACT. 

This week was steller. We brought 5 people to church and a new family. We found these kids that are super crazy but are totally willing to listen to us. They have a pretty disorganized life (not sure if that makes sense in english) and their parents don't really care what they do and almost are never at home. They first day we found them there were like 10 of them. I laughed a little to myself and thought about if some missionaries showed up when I was hanging out in a house with all my friends. But we laughed a little with them and the next thing we knew half of them were like si hombre voy a ir a la iglesia con ustedes! (Yes man we will go to church with you) None of them have been baptized before so stay tuned.

This new family we brought to church are some of my favorite people we have found. They are super young, he is 24 and she is 18. They have a little boy that has 8 months and is chubbier than cannon was. They don't really go to any church and he is totally hyped on reading the Book of Mormon.

For those that are wondering what ever happened with Eduardo and Freddy. Freddy had to talk to the misson pres and it went super well. We teach him about 3 times a week and he is still super hyped to get baptized. Eduardo struggles with Sundays. He likes to go out and ride motor cycles with his buddies and when we explained that you can't do that on Sunday he got super bummed out and hasn't come to church sense but still listens to us when we pass by. 

ELDER THORN

Week 76 The Book of Mormon is True

The Book of Mormon is True

Sometime I just sit down and think to myself how can I possible write about this week. The mission is just so full of experiences it's IMPOSSIBLE to write even a hundredth of what happens in the week. I am keeping a really good journal though which I am super proud of. 

This week one fo the families we are teaching went through some really hard problems. One thing that is weird here in the mission is that
I totally have the right to be all up in people business, its awesome haha. No broma but people really open up to us and let us know all about what is going on. This family we are teaching have a super hard life. Each one of them has two kids outside of their current marrige and they have one kid together. But they never stop fighting. We have taught them to pray together as a family and to read the Book of Mormon together. They have read a solid 10 pages of the book of mormon (that's a miracle in itself here in Honduras ). They also came to church with us last week. As we were walking to their house the other day this quiet little voice called out to us from the side of the road and both Elder Co and I where like uhhhh weird who was that. As I kept searching for where they voice has come from I finally saw that the wife of this family was sitting on this little cement bench. It was super late to be out and of all places she was on this little cement bench. We sat down and she started talking to us. She told us how she was going to leave her husband and how things just weren't working out. She told us how alone she felt and wasnt sure what or where to go. They had gotten in a big fight and he had left with their little boy. As she stuggled to catch her breath from crying she told us how she just wanted to be a good mother. My eyes started to water and I thought, what can I possible say to help comfort her. My companion and I started to share our testimonies about the love our Father in heaven has for us. How he loves us in the same way he loved his only begotten son Jesus Christ. We asked her if she could remember the things we taught her about how difficult Jesus´s life was. She smiled and said "yo se que el me ama y que envio ustedes". (I know He loves me and sent you both) One of the strongest moments of my mission, where I knew without a doubt that we are truly representatives of Jesus Christ. Later that week we went to visit them and they told us of the things they had been reading in the Book of Mormon about Jesus coming to the Americas. 

I had interchanges with Elder Reyes this week. He started his mission just a month ago. Really is a trip to be with new missionaries and realize that I am not one of them anymore. Had a great lesson with him. The whole day was really rough and we had walk allll over the place and no one was home. At about 8:30 we finally found an less active family. We sat down with the couple (the dad had been baptized at 8 and the mom was baptized just 4 years ago) the mom, the husband, and their three boys. We started off a little rough but soon the spirit filled the room and we testified of the temple and of eternal families. I had the impression to sit next to their three boys that at this point were distracted. I put the three of them at my side and started to explain how the Lord needed them to serve missions (8 years old, 9 years old, and 11 years old, not one had been baptized). I explained that if they didn't go on a mission how many people wouldn't hear the Gospel. That when they choose not to go to church it affects a lot more than just their family. The wife started to cry and told us how greatful she was that we had been insiped to visit them.They attended church this Sunday with their three boys. 

ELDER THORN

Week 75 Six Elders...Three Mattresses

Six Elders...Three Mattresses

Spent almost the whole week in Siguatepeque for a number of reasons. First off we had interviews with Pres, stellar as always. It's amazing the energy the guy has with all he does. A true example of someone who loves the work. Then Thursday we went to the Temple. They had us help with confirmations which was really neat. Was awesome to see all the youth that had sacrificed so much to come and take part in the work. They also loved me because there was a big batch of names in english and no one else could pronounce them. That same night we got back suuuper late and ended up having the sleep in the zone leaders house again. But this time with six of us. Didn't sleep at all. Friday I stayed in sigua so Elder Small could go to Taulabé and do the interview of Freddy. In the end we are going to do the baptism in a few weeks.

ELDER THORN

Week 74 Honduras Update #stayturnt

Honduras Update #stayturnt

The first line of these letters is always a struggle. This week was a little slow if I am honest. We had a big multi zone meeting on Tuesday. Elder Meads basically ran up to me and told me that the family we were teaching was finally getting baptized!! They are selling food with the ward to help pay for the wedding. Then he told me about this other girl, we took to the temple one time to teach, was also getting baptized. Which I legit was confused, because haha when we took her to the temple she just lost her mind about baptisms for the dead. But she started to read the Book for Mormon after I left the area and a grand change took place. I will get the pictures from Elder Meads one day and put them here on the blog. 

Then the Elders in Marcala were like heyy Elder Thorn EVERYONE talks about you and loves you. They want to hear where you are and what you are doing. They also told me that Freddy is super active in the Church and will be receiving the Melchizedek priesthood this month! Almost cried. I was really feeling a little unloved and hearing all these stories just made me want to thank the Savior so much for letting me have a part in this grand work.

Taulabé, is chugging a long. We are really trying to help the branch pres and the other leaders get involved in the work. Brother Avila helped us bring these two kids we found that got baptized in other towns but now live in Taulabé. One was about to go on a mission but had some crazy family problems and for that reason never went. It was really awesome to see them there. Reminded me a lot of when I was inactive for a little awhile. 

Eduardo and Freddy are going to get baptized this week! Honestly have been some of the most perfect investigators ever. They have come to church every week since we met them. Eduardo is alll set up to go to the institute classes! We had a really special lesson with them this week about the mom of Eduardo. She left the family for some young kid and spent all this money. Then started buying drugs for the younger brother of Eduardo (who later would end up getting shot and killed for the same problems) and it really took a toll on the family. My companion shared his own testimony about his own difficult family life and how his mom had also rejected him. The spirit filled the room. We helped them realize the healing power of the atonement. My comp finished by showing them the picture of his moms baptism. 

ELDER THORN