Aud Lang Sign

I have no idea what that means, but it seems like an appropriate title for a blog written in between Christmas and New Year.  I love this time of year, and I wouldn't be anywhere else.  I am unrepentant for having extended the mission.

Elder Lopez and I found a man with his little girl walking as we were on the way to the house to end the day.  we just talked to him quick and put a return visit.  On Sunday he said that he read the whole pamphlet of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and everything seemed really positive.  He doesn´t live with his wife, but with his mom, sister, and little girl.  We walked in and the first thing I saw was a giant Maria with a candle lit, with many other Catholic ornaments.  But we challenged him to be baptized anyway.  And he accepted.  and he accepted a date!  He seemed to really understand what we explained, and we´re excited to continue teaching him.

This week, we worked like normal on Christmas, and found a great bunch of investigators.  23 to be exact.  the spirit of the season is the Spirit of Salvation.  the Spirit of Christ.  I testify that He lives.  That means more to me than it sounds like, for we hear those words so often that at times they loose their meaning for us.  But in these last short weeks, I have tried to focus all of my study and attention to the direct teachings of Christ Himself.  I´m deeply impressed by my feelings as I contemplate His clear and simple declaration of divine Sonship.  So many accept that claim today, but so few are willing to follow His teachings, both modern and ancient.

I invite all to newly read, ponder and pray upon all of His teachings, determining to repent and live all of them.  That is the covenant that we make in baptism.  Many of us have made higher covenants.  Let us consecrate ourselves and our hearts and our whole will to Him.  I love Him, and I know that He is conscious of me, my actions, and my desires.  He is aware of my discipleship and is infinitely patient as I work my way closer to Him.

Please remember Him, His sacrifice, and His love this new year.  Forget all the extra stuff.

Love,

Elder Thalman

Just Beginning

This week I lost my son! Noooo!  But now he´s finishing the training of another elder.  He´s so great, and

 I´m going to miss Elder Limatu.   And... I´m finally a grandpa!!!  Elder Dean is training in the other mission.  so happy!

My new companion is my step son because I have to finish his training... and he has to finish mine.  get it?  He´s going to kill me.

The sister are in and settled.  I know that they´re going to do great.  One is a gringa who´s training he comp from the Dominican Republic.  They´re cool.

Our investigators are having plenty of problems, but We´ve got lots to do.  While we help the principle ones progress, we will be finding a lot of news this week.

I can´t go into too many details about the investigators, but hopefully there is good news next week...

I love the mission.  Things are hard, but I love the people here.  I love the members, and I truly just want to help these people.  My heart has never ached so much until now for someone else, but at least I know I´m not heartless.  Or maybe it´s the same heart.  God´s just changed it.  I testify that He can do just that.  Not just in me, but in every man and woman´s heart, He can change it.  We cannot afford to be so faithless in His ability to transform others.  If we don´t believe that someone can or will change, then we cannot say we have faith in Christ.  So let us love, and let us be kind.  Let us help someone, and may God help us do it.

Love,

Elder Thalman

Major Changes Ahead

This week we divide the area again to make room for the sister missionaries coming to Morazán.  My companion and I already set up a sweet set of investigators and families to teach when they get here on Wednesday.  So they basically aren't even opening area.  They're going to have progressing investigators and baptismal dates right off the bat, and the teaching records are all updated for them and everything.  Your welcome sisters.

 

Moraza'n

But this next one is ours!  haha.

Elmer is a young adult who has three girls with his girl friend, Mari. He was just a contact, but I consider investigators like this references of the Spirit. He met the missionaries in the states, but didn't seem to learn much. But he has good impression of the church. He missed to Sundays in church, but he's reading the Book of Mormon and seems really interested in progressing, so we didn't leave him. His wife is also really interested, but shy. She didn't come out to listen the first several visits, but later confessed that she's been listening from the widow to our conversations with her husband. Haha. She has a lot of Catholic family pressures, but doesn't attend a church herself. Elmer was dead asleep yesterday when we passed by, and we had to really push to get Mari to wake him up. Sleep is really sacred here... He said he would show up on his own, which is something I've heard a lot. But, this time it was true! He came with his two older daughters and stayed all three hours. Afterwards in his home he just kept saying how much he loves the church and how he's visited so many churches that he doesn't like. He apparently had already talked it up so much to his wife that she decided to come out and we had our first lesson with the both of them together. We already love them so much. I know that they're going to progress and get baptized. The Lord is merciful!

So the mission is the best.  There's a lot of work to get done here, and many changes that I want to see here in Morazán before I go.  I pray that the Lord in His mercy grants me to stay and to see these things happen.  But if not, then He's in charge, and I'll do what He wants me to do.  He'll take care of the rest.

Love you all.

Elder Thalman

Fight the Good Fight

This week I got sick, but now I am better and ready to work harder.  We got our couple, Juan and Bessy, over their little speed bumps, and it would appear that God has provided us with their partidas miraculously.  If all goes well, we are getting them on Saturday!  Thats a huge relief.

Our two young people, Carlos and Neydi, were looking bad because their mom was interfering.  We started reading the Book of Mormon with her, and God did a miracle.  She fell in love with the book!  We started teaching her the restoration and now she is a progressing investigator.  She even went on her own to her neighbors house (a member) and asked to read with her and help her understand.

Elmer and his family are progressing too.  That is a family of five.  Their oldest is 12 and she is also reading and praying!  He is reading and praying as well, and is pretty convinced already that the Book of Mormon is true.  The wife had never prayed vocally before, and we helped her do so in the first visit.  They all seem very humble, and God was truly merciful by leading us to them.  I am excited for their progress.

Sunday was fun.  We got up early and took one of our recently ordained elders to take us up to nowhere.  Got out of the car and found the house of Santos.  She is invalid and cant walk.  We took her down and rainy and muddy hill in a wheel chair, and it took all three of us.  Then we went back up that hill.  Got her in the car, and got her to church.  Afterwards, Ana Rosa gave her lunch and talked with her for a while after church.  We took her back the four of us, and it was just one of things that you cant walk away from without feeling good inside.  We blessed her a few weeks ago, and i felt impressed that she has the faith sufficient to be healed.  I blessed her to fully recover.  I think that God is letting us serve her before He gives her what He has promised her.  She is awesome.

I love you all, and love Gods children here in Honduras.

Elder Thalman