Changes

 

So, lots of new and unexpected things.

We went running this morning a five AM with Gustavo. He's so cool. I'm so pathetically out of shape. haha.

We're moving today to a new place. That's been in the plan for a while now. We also have a new cook and laundry lady as of today. We are also just getting used to everything... Pretty much lots of ... different.

But the work continues. We lost our baptism this week because Josue moved out of nowhere. But luckily he's in the boundaries of my district. He's getting baptized this weekend. We are also going to have the baptism of Victor this weekend, who is young man (21) who is really smart. He came to church on his own because he has serious health problems. But he sacrifices always to make his way to church and is excited for baptism. A great guy.

Romulo finally got to church this week, and he's just killer. He loves telling about his change by leaving coffee. He wasn't even taught the word of wisdom. We just told him in advance that he'd have to stop if he wanted to get baptized. He later got very sick to his bed for two days. He couldn't even leave the house. He told us later that it was basically withdrawal from coffee. He then, about three days later, told that he was "cured" from coffee, and that he felt better. The pain he had in his knees is gone and he walks better than ever. He also says that he feels more energy and that he can pay attention to things better. AMAZING! What incredible faith to just do it. I have often thought that NIKE had a really great motto. Romulo caught the wave. haha.

I love this work, and the great experiences keep coming. Even though sometimes really hard things happen, it's all so worth it. I love this mission and I love the Lord.

Love,

Elder Kent Thalman

Drowning is an Effective way to Learn to Swim

So I forgot just how hopeless puppy-ish these new guys are... haha. Was I like that? I don´t think so. From what I remember, I´ve always been the fluent, confident, hansom guy that you all remember. Did I not speak Spanish before the mission. Could it be that I didn´t understand what was happening... ? I don´t remember not understanding... Oh yeah, I was ugly before the mission because of those $5 hair cuts I got a BYU... I guess I really have changed.

If you can´t tell, I´m training a gringo from la fabrica de los misioneros, UTAH baby! Brigham City, Elder BRIAN DEAN. My dad´s name followed by my brother´s middle name... weird. I was talking to my zone leader about how these new guys basically shine with testimony coming out of the MTC like Moses´ face coming down from the mountain. We decided that they should send us back there every 8months or so just for a spiritual boost. haha. I just try and help him participate, but he´s not super confident yet. Then I hand the lesson over when you get to the first vision and he´s got this, "I know this part!" look on his face. Then he opens his mouth and the whole room gets quiet and the Spirit just starts lighting the walls on fire. Like I said. They´ve got glowing faces coming out of that place. He´s basically going to be the best missionary in the mission after we´re through. Hopefully that luster lasts. I love this elder.

This week, we had no baptisms, but we have one coming up. I´m excited for Josué, a 19 year old who we´ve been teaching. He´s the neighbor of one of our branch presidency members, and considering the fact that we´re moving apartments finally, we will also be neighbors with him... Mormons are taking over the neighborhood! Sí hombre, jeee!

I´m a little loopy today if you can´t tell. Too much responsibility can do that. You can either crack under the pressure, or be happy... or both. Hmmm.... I might be crackin´.

Conference was cool I guess... I´ll have to download it and listen to it again because of all the tech problems we had. Oh well. Kinda like the last one. I know we´re not supposed to gossip about who´s going to climb the leadership scale in the mission... but can I throw my vote in that Tad Callister is for sure going to be the next in line for a position in the 12. That´s my personal revelation I got from conference this week.

Sorry if this hasn´t been the most Spiritual blog... honestly, I am feeling great, and the work is moving forward. This area is on fire! I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He has sustained, and continues to sustain me throughout every trial and challenge. I can tell how He´s helping me so much with these new responsibilities, and it is really exciting to see just how much I´m growing.

I love you all!

Elder Kent Thalman

Speedbumps are for Speeders

 

Well, I guess that tough things happen when you're driving this fast... The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Alright, enough of all that crypticness.

This week we lost time and didn't kill it like in weeks past, so our future prospects have fallen a bit. Consequences I suppose. One of our three baptisms this week fell, but I knew it was going to. She wasn't ready yet. But the good news... we had two baptisms!

Marco Tulio is pretty much awesome as usual. Isabel is cool too, but we are in the process of helping her understand the doctrine. It will come.

Last night we had a really cool experience with Juan Carlos while teaching him the restoration over again. Before, he never really understood the doctrine super well. That's why you have to review the lessons after they have the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was really amazing to see how he just had a light of understanding in his eyes. I love that guy. He is super funny.

We are teaching a family of four whose dads name is Victor, as well as the oldest son. We just refer to them as familia Victor... haha. They are all really sick and poor, but a good family. If we work hard, they, and other families are going to get baptized this April.

A really good friend of ours in the branch named Gustavo gave us another family as a reference yesterday. Carmen and Danilo. They lost three sons, all killed. Pretty crazy, but Gustavo said that he really felt that they needed the Gospel. In the end, they were totally ready. We got to know them for a few minutes, and then just promised her, that we were there so that in the next life she could have her three sons again together forever. She seems very very interested in that idea, and they both accepted marriage and baptism, and a date. In the first contact. That's whats up! haha. So cool.

Gustavo recently activated again in December after several years of inactivity. He is probably my best friend in the branch. He has an incredible testimony and just got the higher priesthood last week. Yesterday while visiting, Maria who just got baptized last week was in serious pain again. She asked Gustavo to give the blessing, and you could see shock on his face. He had never given one before. But he did a great job for a first blessing. He is really motivated to learn how to magnify his calling and his priesthood. If every man in the church had his attitude, I don't think that women would suffer so much heartache from irresponsible men in the church. He is the best.

I love you all! I'm doing great, so don't worry about me. Just write me!!!!

Love,

Elder Kent Thalman

It´s All About the Work

I´m dead. Soooo tired and over heated. This is the best time of my mission by far!

We had three baptisms this weekend!!!! Omar (14), Maria (100+), and Juan Carlos (100+ years of investigating). Maria is actually like sixty something, but looks older, and Juan Carlos has actually been married to a member for about ten or more years. They are all three, great baptisms! Incredible converts!

So, the Spirit has a way of touching peoples´ hearts in different ways. My comp thinks that I´m weird for wanting to get married after the mission before I hit two years home (max). He said that he would prefer to enjoy being single for just a while and study. I expressed my opinion that that is hypocritical to serve two years, constantly telling people to not procrastinate making covenants, and then putting the most important one off for no reason after the mission... you know me.

But then I got some pic of Raeanne´s wedding and that made him trunky I think. haha! And then we were listening to some good old MOTAB one morning while getting ready for the day, and my comp comes out of nowhere and says, "you know, I think it would actually be pretty cool to get married after the mission. I was just listening to the music and thinking of how cool it would be to have a family..." Yeah! hahahahaha. I thought it was really funny, but some of you single folks (young, RMs) may not. Oh well...

Another amazing spiritual experience that we had. We contacted several weeks ago a man named Romulo. He lives with his family, and I contacted him because he was playing guitar. I like the guitar (even though I only remember how to play John Mayer´s version of "Free Falling") so I started to talk to him. We lost track of him, but recently my comp felt like going back. I was on divisions yesterday when we taught him the Restoration. Let me tell you how that went.

"Have you been able to read the pamphlet we gave you?"

He responded affirmatively, and with little questions, I quickly could tell he had read the whole thing very well. We went on to clear up a couple of very small things (because he really understood it all already) and then talked about baptism. He quickly accepted, and I reminded him that marriage was necessary before baptism. He said that his wife would be totally willing. All he had to do was say so. I was pretty blown away. The problem is that this guy is way way way prepared, and his wife is way way way deep in apostasy. But we´re going to help him anyway.

At the end of the lesson, I asked him to pray. It went something like this.

"Father, thank you so much for this opportunity to visit with these missionaries. Thank you for helping me know the truth..." then it got a little quite. "...and for this moment of happiness and peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I looked up and saw in his eyes total joy mixed with what were almost tears. This guy was really prepared, and I´m so excited for him. It was very clear that he has been looking for the truth for a very long time. He just didn´t know where to find it.

This church is TRUE. This is Jesus Christ´s church. The message of the Restoration is real. It really happened, and has been predicted by prophets since forever.

I love you all.

Elder Kent Thalman

Can't Stop, The Ball is Rolling

The ball is the Gospel! Sorry to give away the metaphoric title.

We baptized two this week, and We're excited for them. They were going to be three baptisms... but one almost died. We sent her to the hospital, but she still wants to get baptized, so that will be this week.

Maria was suffering from really severe pain when we found her, on the way to the church minutes before the baptism. We gave her a blessing and she calmed down immediately. I have no doubt that God's hand helped her immediately in this moment because of this women's incredible faith.

 I remember when she first told us about how she prayed after church a few Sundays ago about whether or not the church was true. She said, "I just felt a joy, and I felt happy for hours. I was talking with my friends and laughing like I hadn't done for years. I know this church is the true one." She has also said that she's been feeling better ever since we came to start visiting her, and that she knows she has to get baptized. I love her so much, and know it will all work out in the end.

Julia and Zenia are the two that got baptized Saturday, and while it was the most stressful day of my life, I wouldn't trade it. They were both happy, and it was so awesome to see Zenia the very next day in the dedication of the temple, Tegucigalpa Honduras! Saturday we watched the cultural celebration, and it was so cool. I got to see all the old areas where I have been participating. I almost cried. haha.

It was also cool to explain temple work to Zenia yesterday, considering her father has died. She doesn't totally understand everything yet, but I know that she will have a powerful testimony of eternal families because of the temple that now exists here in this country. I'm so excited.

Last night, we went to teach Juan Carlos again, and he's been reading more in the Book of Mormon, which is good. But he still falls when he doesn't read, and we had to reemphasize it again. In the end, he accepted a baptismal date! We're pumped.

 I remember when I first showed up in the home, I was talking to the wife before I had even met the husband. She said that he had talked to tons of missionaries before. I asked her if he had ever read the Book of Mormon, and she said, "not really." I told her, "Hermana, I feel that your husband will be getting baptized much sooner than you think."

We didn't do anything. We just got to know him, taught the Restoration, and hit the Book of Mormon as hard as we could. He read, and was converted.

 

We are teaching another "eternal investigator" who is the mother of a member who married a return missionary. They all say that she is progressing more than ever now, and think that she'll actually get baptized. I've concluded that eternal investigators stay eternal because they don't read. If ANYONE reads the Book of Mormon, they will be converted. Some won't make the decision, but if they keep reading, baptism and eventual progression are inevitable.

 The book is THE KEY to our religion, and there is a reason that it had to be finished and printed before the Gospel was restored.

We got a call last night that some old lady just moved here and wants to get baptized... this place is crazy.

I love this mission! It's amazing! You should go on a mission too!

Love,

Elder Kent Thalman

MIRACLE

 

You won't believe what happened today...

... I found whole wheat in Honduras! hahahahaha. Sorry for the let down, but I am so excited. I also found the courage to tell my cook to not give us soda at lunch, and water instead. And we got a good workout this morning! Yay for fighting becoming fat! fight the good fight... even if you know you'll loose...

Okay, missionary work.

This week, Zenia is getting baptized, who is the niece of a member. She is really cool, and has been so easy to teach and prepare for baptism that she doesn't come up on the blog often. And she's at that age where if she chooses, she could go on the mission! That would be awesome! But we'll see. She's shy. Haha.

Marcotulio is progressing super well, but we are fighting to soften the heart of the wife still. She's too afraid of leaving her current church we think... but luckily they're married. He's been reading the Book of Mormon every day, and is overcoming all addictions in a miraculous way.

We have and investigator with a drinking problem. I was with our branch president on divisions, and we only had about ten minutes to teach. This guy is pretty good at not drinking, but he had a random relapse. I looked at him and asked, "how's your Book of Mormon reading going?"

"Good. I read almost every day this week."

"Congratulations," I said. "When was the last day that you drank?"

"It was Saturday."

"And what day of the week did you not read?"

"Yesterday... (which happened to be Saturday)." At this point it was sinking in.

"Brother, my companion and I promised you that you will have the power to quit drinking through reading the Book of Mormon every day. The promise is of God and is true. Will you read the Book of Mormon every day this week?"

"Yes, I'll read it every day." The response was emphatic. It was a pretty powerful and short little lesson. I really love this brother and his family. I know that he's going to progress, and I wasn't as mean as I made myself sound in that dialogue. He's really cool, but doesn't like to take stuff very seriously, which is causing his wife to suffer a bit. But he's going to get baptized for sure. He's a good husband and father, and he's progressing in the Gospel.

I love this area and this mission! I love my comp, even though I'm nuts. He's a good comp for me. I've noticed that if my comps are silly, I get really serious. If my comps are really serious, then I get nuts and weird. Why do you think that is?

LOVE!

Elder Kent Thalman

Wheat pancakes... or coffee cake... or German pancakes... endless possibilities!

A Whole New World

 

While you all may be thinking that I've been subjecting my missionary mind to Disney Musicals, I've actually just been experiencing some transitional difficulties from being warped to another planet. Any similarities to Alan Mencken music is purely coincidental.

Dos Caminos is nuts. I don't know what to do with myself. We had another person come up to us Sunday in church and ask what she needs to do to get baptized. Wow... I don't know what to do with myself. I could literally sleep all week and baptize one a week here I feel. Scary place. Haha.

We are working with a man named Juan Carlos who's wife is a member and son is leaving for the mission is like two weeks. They are pretty much my favorite family ever! He is really receptive and we always feel the Spirit working with and testifying to him as we teach. Sometimes we don't know what to ask him in lessons. We just ask, "do you have any questions?" and he says no. We actually know he's telling the truth because the Spirit is just so strong and you can see it in his eyes.

 He went to church yesterday and he's actually been investigating for a long time, but never taken the initiative. People always tell us not to visit "the eternals," but I like it. We find out that they never get baptized with any of the other missionaries because they never ever understood the Restoration through Joseph Smith, and they never got why they needed to read the Book of Mormon... so they never did. They're too educated to get baptized just by being told to do so. So we just go in and hit lesson one hard and focus heavy on reading and praying for an answer.

 We set a date with him last night, and I think he's gonna make it. It's a bummer though because he's gonna get baptized right after his son leaves. But hey, at least he's doing it! I will be really excited when he gets baptized. He's one that I know will never go inactive, and it would seriously change this whole family's life.

We visited two very different families last night. The first was a married couple that have been members for years and years, but inactive for about eight years. They were really surprising because I couldn't believe that they were inactive. They have had so much contact with missionaries for years. They served as leaders and everything.

The second family were members for more than ten or so years. They're super cool. We visited them last night and I felt the Spirit so strong just coming in the door.

 We got talking to them for a while and they told us that we were the first missionaries to even visit them in their home since they moved there six years ago. They haven't been visited by the missionaries for six years! I couldn't believe it. They are way cool, and I'm excited to work with them.

I love working with the members of the church, and I've been able to see how the Lord pours out His love in working along side them in the work.

 I love it.

I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!

Os Quiero Mucho,

Elder Kent Thalman