Week 104

No Email from Patrick this week.  He is flying home tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18th.  Can't wait to welcome him Home.  He served an unbelievable and amazing mission in North Carolina.  I hope you enjoyed following him during these past two years.

Week 103

My Dear Family

Monday June 9, 2014 at 12:12 PM

Hola family,

This week has been really good.  Elder Graham is a machine!  He's such a good missionary.  We have really stepped up our game, especially in terms of asking referrals from everyone, and we received about 18 referrals last week, many of which came from members.  It was great.  We also found 5 new investigators, including a Colombian lady who wants to recruit us onto her life insurance company team.  Nice lady though :)

We taught this one family this week, and it was great!  The 4 kids actually sat on the couch with the mom for most of the lesson, quietly.  The 2 younger ones got up part way through, but it was great none the less :)  It is always amazing to be able to teach a family.  We are really hoping and praying that everything continues to go well and that they will be able to attend church this next Sunday.  Oh, as a side note, just in case you aren't going to recognize me enough as it is . .. .Y'all might want to sit down for this one.  Elder Graham and I, at the prompting of myself, volunteered to sing an A Capella Duet this next Sunday in Sacrament Meeting... Okay has everyone started breathing again.  I know, I even astounded myself.  :)  

Everything still hasn't sunk in yet.  Let me paint you a picture of my mind.  I feel like I'm standing in front of a dam that is holding back all the water.  The dam is slowly disintegrating, and I'm doing everything I can to plug the holes until next Wednesday, when the rushing waves will surely overtake me.  Or another example...I am standing there, in the middle of the Sahara desert, doing everything I possibly can to keep a pool of water from evaporating by covering it with my hands...

I don't know if that correctly elucidates the state of my mind, but in other words, I know that there is a looming upheaval that is about to occur, and all I'm trying to do right now, is simply push off addressing it until addressing it won't cause the rest of my work that I need to do to become disastrous.  AKA, I can't address it now, so I simply keep pushing it off, but eventually, my brain will explode :)  Happy thoughts ;)

So, on another note, I received 1 from grams and #102.   Also, congrats on your new calling.  :)  You're the man...well...sorta :)

I don't think I really have much else to say this week.  We have 2 exchanges with other missionaries on Tuesday and Wednesday; President is coming proselyting with us Thursday evening, and Elder Corbridge addresses us Friday (and Interviews Elder Graham and me.  This week is going to be a whirlwind week.  

We had our 1st transfer training meeting this past week as well.  It went really well.  That's a really fun meeting, getting to be with all the missionaries that we picked up a month prior and their trainers.  That transfer 7 sisters and 2 elders came in. so we had 15 sisters (one trio) and 4 elders.  Then on Wednesday we had our zone training meeting where the zone leaders asked Elder Graham and myself to give our instruction that we gave at the mission leadership council meeting last Friday.  It went really well, I would say even better than the first time :)  Good stuff.  Also, as a side note, you sure do bear your testimony a lot in this period of life :)  

We have found a lot of great potential investigators also.  One great experience we had this last week was when after dinner with one of my favorite families in the ward, we asked for referrals and they had one neighbor that had moved in recently, so we were going to go by and visit them.  Well, as we left their home, and the family walked out with us because the little daughter wanted to show us how she could ride a bike without training wheels, the neighbor walked by with her mail.  The wife of the family we were with began a conversation and we stood there all talking together for about 10-15 minutes.  It was a great experience that could have gone on the Hastening the Work website.  Members, Missionaries and Non-Members all together in the same place...that's what this work is all about.  We told the lady about what we do and then the father in the family, who is awesome, invited them to come over to dinner sometime when we come.  Because of these amazing experiences...all future invitations from this family to this neighbor will be infinitely easier. why? because they have already been naturally introduced to missionaries and know that we don't bite too hard nor do we stink too much :)  Then, to make a great story fantasticer...another 2 kids were playing outside a couple doors over, so we all went over and started talking with them, and then the mom came outside, and we started talking with her, us and the members, and now we have 2 families that are so much more prepared to accept invitations into their member friend's home to hear a message from set apart representatives of Christ.  Good stuff :) 

I got to be with Elder Bagley, my companion from Fayetteville, from Saturday to Sunday.  I love Elder Bagley.  He is such a good missionary and was such a good companion.  

Well, that's a wrap, my brothers and my sisters.

If you would like to email next week, I might probably have the chance to look at them, but if you don't email, that's okay too; it won't hurt my feelings...too bad ;)

Love y'all so much

Elder Thornton #1

Week 102

All is well in Zion...

Jun 4, 2014 at 3:23 PM

for some reason I feel that we are encouraged not to use that phrase...I think Nephi has a little something something to say about that :)  makes me wonder how it got put in Come Come Ye Saints.  Seems suspicious ;)

Anyways...

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and for you Spanish folk, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for the update on me, I'm fine.  Everything is healing up just peachy.  Thanks for the concern :)  Tis much appreciated.  

So on Sunday, we had an incognito stake priesthood meeting that nobody knew about until they announced at church, and then even then, no one still knew what was going on.  We asked a high councilor about it on Monday, and he only found out about it that Monday.  Crazy stuff, so we almost went, but then didn't, but during the time it was going on, we saw some great miracles.  We saw this miraculous change occur in someone.  Elder Graham with his ever vigilant senses, saw this lady on a porch as we were trying to knock on a neighbor’s door, so we went over to talk with her as we left the neighbor and she was semi-frustratedly stuffing stuff (ooooh, good diction, Elder Thornton) into a backpack.  We started talking with her and she quickly expressed to us that she was very busy and had to go in and cook dinner (it being about 7:30).  Needless to say, we kept talking with her.  She told us that she was going through a hard time as her husband had informed her a week ago that he wanted a divorce and apparently the laws in North Carolina stink for getting a divorce.  Elder Graham, being the ridiculously good missionary that he is, opened up to Helaman 5:12, and asked if we could share a scripture with her that he thought she would like and appreciate.  We asked if she would read it.  She consented, and proceeded to read it in her head, (not exactly what we were going for, but better than nothing) and then walked over to her backpack where she started pulling out her phone to take a picture of that verse.  We told her, obviously, that she could keep the book, and she was super excited and grateful.  She said she really liked that scripture.  After sharing that scripture and allowing the Book of Mormon to be the ultimate teacher along with the spirit, the entire tone of the conversation changed.  We had her smiling and laughing, which was a huge change from the despondent aura she carried at the beginning.  By the end of this 30-40 minute conversation, she was telling us that she would love for us to come back and share more about the Book of Mormon and she would love to have us for dinner! :)  Such an incredible change of heart we witnessed through the power of the Book of Mormon...NEVER ever ever underestimate the power and impact of the Book of Mormon.  It can and will change people's lives.  :)  Fact.  She even called down her 20 year old son from the house to come and meet us.  He said he was busy making a bowl of cereal but eventually he consented to come meet his mom's new found Mormon friends :)  Good stuff for sure :)

Here's a super hilarious definition for you that Elder Graham accidentally humorously paraphrased from our neighbor with whom he was talking. 

Affluent:  When people are comfortable even though their lives are terrible :)  hahahahaha.  I thinks this is so funnies.

I bore my testimony on Sunday.  People said it was good; although honestly, I can't really remember much of what I said, but I do know that it was centered on Christ.  BTW, we had a good testimony meeting on Sunday...too bad we didn't have any investigators there, but there was a part member family.  

We instructed last Friday in our Mission Leadership Council and that went well.  Then on Tuesday, we had our first transfer training meeting for the newest missionaries and their trainers and that went really well.  And then today, our Zone Leaders asked us to give our instruction from Friday again, but this time to the Raleigh Zone, and that went well as well.  Side note: you sure give a lot of testimonies at the conclusion of a mission.  

Over the next couple weeks, we have about 5 exchanges or so, a mission tour with Elder Corbridge, and also, exciting news, Sister Edwards, the convert from Southport, will be going to the temple to make special covenants with Father next week as well!  I am so glad that it is before I leave.  I love that lady :)

I received a letter from Grams and also 101 from mom; however, I have not yet read 101.  I will have to wait until next week :)  

We are seeing some good excitement with our ward members for missionary work.  Hopefully, it continues to grow.  Oh, and I also received DJ's email letter.  Seriously though, missionary work aka helping my brothers and sisters experience the blessings of Christ's complete Gospel, runs in my blood now.  I love it.

And I love y'all too :)

Love,

Elder Thornton

Week 101

May 27, 2014 at 1:17 PM

Amigos!!!

So, no one at church for us today, dad, but we keep hoping and working.  Congrats to Juston on all the hurrah for Israel going on.  I didn't know y'all were going camping.  Good stuff.  

Life's good.  as always.  

We had a beautiful memorial day yesterday, and we had a crazy adventure.  So, we went mountain biking with President again.  Another 8 elders joined us.  So, another Elder and myself were the sweepers, so we followed in back to make sure no one got left behind.  There was one Elder who was struggling a little bit, so we got separated from the main group.  When we got to this fork in the road, we asked these other bikers who were fixing a flat at the fork, which way the big group had gone.  They said left, so left we went.  Too make what could be a very long story shorter, left was not the correct direction.  So instead of just heading back out for a few miles they way we had come in, we took this crazy 8.2 mile loop.  We were already out of water, and our struggling Elder had even less energy than before; however, we didn't know that we had gone the long and wrong way until after this was all over.  But seriously, it was one of the craziest adventures I have ever been on.  I'll just tell you a few highlights, but this was an amazing and intense experience, but also spiritual in some ways.  We had some moments where I felt like an early pioneer.  My saliva got thicker and thicker; I started getting a head ache.  My lips got really dry, and I felt drained and exhausted, and there was no end in sight.  Finally, we had another pioneer experience where 2 elders came back on the trail and found us, exhausted and low on hope.  They stayed behind with the struggling Elder and sent us along so we could just power through to the end.  The Elder told us that we had like 40 minutes left though when we met and my heart sunk.  But we started going.  Eventually, the other elder with me passed on ahead and I was alone, biking in the woods, dehydrating.  Several times, I just couldn't go any further, and I had to stop and I just draped myself over my bike.  At one point, I tried to swing my leg off my bike, and both legs seized up and cramped and I couldn't do anything about it.  I just fell into the side on some pine straw and rotten wood, hoping that the ticks wouldn't crawl  in me.  I just had to lay there, and eventually, I crawled to the trail and laid all the way down.  I just couldn't go anymore.  I probably laid there for like 15-20 minutes.  I think I fell asleep for part of it.  I was having periodic conversations with Heavenly Father, and I had a bunch of random weird thoughts going through my head, like "what would I do if my family needed me?"  I had Romans 8:31 float through my head.  And somehow, I was granted the strength to count to 3, stand up and keep moving.  I felt some heavenly mental encouragement as I went, especially in a few cases where I just wanted to get off my bike again.  I felt so dehydrated and drained.  All I had for lunch was a powerbar at 12:30.  We started biking at 1:30, and because of our detour, we didn't get out of the forest until 7:00 at night.  President had gone down to the convenience store at bought Gatorades, waters, and candy bars, so when I came out, I just sat down and started drinking water.  I might have been semi-delirious.  It was hard in the forest because I didn't have an end in sight, nor did I know how much longer I had, but I knew that I didn't have any water or food, and I wasn't sure if my body would have the capability of continuing.   It had nothing left to burn.  I probably burned well over 2000-2500 calories... and the longer I was in there, the less energy I would have.  Hope was hard to come by, but I asked Heavenly Father to give me strength.  I told Him I couldn't do this by myself.  It was a crazy experience, but an incredible and memorable one.  We definitely bonded as missionaries.  Oh, and as a side note, I probably went over my handlebars 4 or 5 times.  I ran straight into a tree and twisted my ankle on it before sliding down the slope in a clump.  I wish I had some of these on video.  For example, one of them, which has left a huge bruise on my hip, I was going down this slope; I picked up a lot of speed, and then my feet lost the pedals; I was semi-flailing, managed to snake between 2 large trees before losing my balance at the same time of hitting my brakes and I superman-ed at a significant speed.  I landed straight on my hip and then proceeded to plummet forward several more feet before I came to a complete stop by kicking a tree stump with my ankle.  Groaning, I stood up and walked it off . . . for we had a long way to go :)  Now mom, don't freak out too much; I'm still alive, so all is well as manifested by me typing this email. ;)

So, we're teaching this ex-Baptist preacher, who basically forsook Christianity as a whole, and I have an analogy to describe the difficulty of helping someone who once professed such great faith and then forsook it, to regain faith.  It's a lot more difficult than helping someone grow in faith or build from scratch.  It would be as if I asked you to eat this chocolate chip cookie I had made, but I had poisoned it, so it made you sick for the next month.  At the end of the month of sickness, I came back to you with another Chocolate cookie, professing that this one was better and wouldn't make you sick.  What is the likelihood of you taking that cookie, slim to none.  Why? Because of your life-shattering negative experience in the past.  He's super nice though, and he said the prayer at the end, which was a shock to his girlfriend, but he said the Mormons asked him to :)  But in his prayer, he said ," Dear God, the elders are cool."  That's how he started it :)  It was great.  We left him with a ton of chapters to read in the Book of Mormon, so hopefully he'll read them.  We're going back over there this Wednesday evening.  Life's good.

Not much else to say.  We're striving to find new investigators, ones that are willing to progress/have more than 1 lesson before dropping us like a stuck pig.

Thanks for being the best family, ever :) Love,

Elder Thornton

Week 100

May 20, 2014 at 9:52 AM

Hey family!!,

Soooooo, I received 99 from mom, one from Katherine Gibson, and 1 from Rachel.  Thanks a bunch!!  

So what first, So, last week, I think it was last week, we were...actually, I think it was before last email but I didn't tell you...anyways, we were teaching that lesson after the catholic lady and I was unfairly bombarded by a bajillion mosquitoes that had strategically targeted an un-defendable location on my body...my ankles.  We were sitting at this table next to a swamp and as they say, sacrifice brings forth the blessings, well, my ankles were sure as bedrock sacrificing themselves.  I got bit so many times that the little buggers were biting bites.  I must have had like 40 mosquito bites in a 2 inch diameter circle and it was through my socks to boot!  Seriously, I should have taken pictures.  By the time we got home, you couldn't even see any distinguishable bites; my ankles were sooo swollen, especially my left one.  And the thing was, they destroyed my ankle so bad that we surpassed the itchy stage and went straight to the painful stage.  No joke, it felt like I had sprained my ankle or at least twisted it.  It actually was painful to stand on it and put weight on it for like 2 days!  I was getting a little worried for awhile on the 2nd night because it was still swollen and I felt occasional shooting pains up my lower calf and then I felt some weird pains in my quad.  I thought I was getting some sort of infection and I was going to call the mission nurse the following day, but it felt a lot better. Weird, right.  Now that the swelling is down I can see several of the remaining bites.  Crazy stuff.  

Also mom, you are exactly right on the cleanliness invites the spirit principle.  That's doctrine, more than just a thought :)  

What else, well,

Elder Graham and I have had some great lesson with our members here.  Really inspiring and productive.  We are excited to see some good things come from it.  

The Lord blessed us with some miracles on Saturday.  We were able to find 2 new investigators.  1 came after trying to visit a former investigator on this country road.  She was busy and "unable" to talk with us.  We only had a few minutes before we had to leave for dinner, but we decided to go across the street to this pretty red log cabin style home.  We were just going to knock on the door, but it turns out she was on her porch.  Her dog was on the porch too, and she started barking at us (the dog, not the lady this time ;) ) and then the lady put the dog inside.  We started talking with her and she asked us if we would like to sit down.  Of course!  We had a great conversation and mini-lesson, introducing her to the Book of Mormon.  It was a great.  She is from Texas and seemed to be open to learning more.   Okay, so that incredible experience took us to 5:25, and dinner was at 5:15....we were going to be grossly late. :( except that during the lesson, I got a text in my pocket.  It was our dinner saying the wife was running a little behind so we could come at 5:30 if we hadn't already left yet.  We arrived at dinner at 5:30.  Ah yeah, Double miracle status.  I love it :)  

The other gentlemen we started teaching has several younger children and he used to play semi-pro football, he's on a biking club, and is awesome :)  We're excited to teach his family and help them see how beneficial the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His restored church will be for his family.  

Church was good too.  President and Sister Bernhisel spoke and then they did the 3rd hour combined with the youth.  It was great.  2 funny stories about this are 1, President asked us to come up and do a role play with him, so we did and in the midst of the role play, I was saying something where I wanted to say this character's name who was laying his mulch, and I almost called him Bro. Bernhisel, but then last second I switched it and I called him Marc.  Everyone started laughing but we managed to keep the role play going.  Even President and I chuckled a little.  Not often do I call my mission president by his first name :)  The second thing was Sister Bernhisel asked us a ridiculously vague Guess-what-I'm-thinking" question that was going to make Elder Graham and myself look like fools, so I told her.  "Sister Bernhisel, I'm not going to lie...that is a ridiculously vague question."  haha :)  Tis funnies. 

Well, that's a well unorganized wrap of this week.  I hope you enjoyed another episode of "What goes on behind Elder Thornton's Blue Eyes."  Please join us again for another new episode featuring The Ragin' Random Rhinoceros once more next week.  

Signing off now, 

Elder Thornton

ps. I love y'all

pps. Any update on work opportunities?

Week 99

Okay, book it.

May 14, 2014 at 2:10 PM

So, family, twas good to talk with y'all this weekend.  

Y'all look good, though.  Which is always good.  

I received letter 98, one from grams, and I'm not sure if I ever said, but I recently received one from Kayla Nelson O'Dwyer; if she happens to see this, I also sent her a letter that I wrote about 3 months ago, but in the transfer, I forgot to send it and didn't find it until a couple weeks ago.  I hope it got there.

What to tell you.  

Okay, the Lord is seriously the best.  My new companion is Elder Graham as I have told you, and he is seriously the best.   We get along SOOOO well and we are completely on the same page in our desires to serve the Lord and be exactly obedient.  We help each other reach higher instead of one of us having to drag the other one along.  We laugh all the time and have so much fun, but we also work so hard, and we are excited to see really good things happen here.  He is such a loving person; I don't think there can be a single missionary that doesn't like him.  It's such a tender mercy of the Lord to finish my final 6 weeks with a companion like him.  I can't thank the Lord enough.  We work in great unity together, and we both can be completely open with each other.  We learn and grow and become better.  It's incredible.  

Last night, we had 2 wonderful opportunities to teach lessons on the spot to people we met in this apartment complex.  One lady was on her porch, sweeping.  She is from Newark, NJ.  She has 5 sons, and it was incredible talking with her.  She is Catholic and she is very devout, but we were able to share with her some scriptures from the Book of Mormon and then we were able to give her a copy.  She said she definitely would read it and we are welcome to come back and talk with her more.  We plan on going by later this week.  Another man we met, we talked with for a very long time.  He has had a powerful conversion experience where he has come to learn His Savior and he strives to "witness" to others and help them feel how he did.  He would seriously be a great member.  Sometimes, I wish that our membership as a whole viewed their relationship with Christ with the same love and gratitude, so much so that sharing it with others becomes a part of who they are.  We had an incredible conversation with him and taught him about the restoration.  It didn't end up as great as we would have hoped, but and nevertheless, we still have hope.  He doesn't really see the need for more "bible," and the whole concept that the bible is missing things and/or has been corrupted in part over time is heresy in his eyes as the bible is the "infallible word of God."  But we tried to encourage him with all our soul and energies that he would just give it a chance and keep his heart open.  I hope he really does.  I really do.  We'll see...

Elder Graham and I have been talking a lot about hope recently because sometimes it's hard to view every situation as an isolated event and not allow past and recent experiences to taint our expectations for the results of the next individual's response.  We experience a lot of straight up rejection in the Falls Lake area.  The demographics here are very comfortable.  Very few people immediately see 2 20 year old "kids" and think, man, I wonder if they could teach me something about Jesus.  We have to be able to meet people in a setting where their hearts are softened and prepared to hear the word.  There are some people out there that when we speak with them on the street or at their door, they will be ready (and we're doing everything we can to find them too), but we are really trying to work with our members and help them see the irreplaceable role they play in this work.  It's a combination of always staying optimistic and hopeful with the members, enthusiastic and excited, without sugarcoating everything so much that they think they are unneeded.  Sometimes it doesn't hurt to say that we are struggling to find investigators. :)

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to pick up a Visa-Waiter missionary who has been serving in our mission for 9 months and take him to the airport to fly to Sao Paulo for 2 weeks of intensive language immersion before he heads off to Cuiaba Brazil to complete the remainder of his mission.  It was a fun experience, but it's sad to see people go.  He is a missionary that I served around when I was in Fayetteville, and if we gave awards out as missionaries, he would receive the most improved award.  It is incredible to see how much he grew over the course of a few months.   You could tell he didn't really want to be here just by briefly interacting with him.  Then, a few months later, I went on exchange with him, and I was astounded.  He had changed so much!!!  He said that he finally had accepted the Lord's will, and though he still wanted to go to Brazil, he served his heart out while the Lord gave him time here in North Carolina.  He grew up so much and is such a changed man; I know the Lord knew what He was doing.  His time here will dictate the direction of the rest of his life, and we (Elder Graham and I) know that he is going to be able to do even greater things for that mission as well.  

I don't know exactly why I told you that story, but maybe it will help someone out there that reads this :)

I think that is all.  Mother, I did regain possession of my retainer, so you may once more rest at ease :)  Thanks for being such a ridiculously good mother...seriously though!  Y'all are the best parents ever.  Enjoy life.  As always.  

Love,

Elder Patty

Week 98

buen hecho, amigos!

May 7, 2014 at 2:22 PM

Good afternoon, family.

My brain is so fried right now.  We got up at like 4:45 this morning to take the departing missionaries to the airport.  Then we traveled to Durham for a Zone Training Meeting.  I feel exhausted.  My new companion is Elder Graham.  He's from Atlanta, GA.  He's awesome.  Decidedly, we are going to be best friends.  Enough Said.  We get along super well so far.

So, exciting news for the week.  1st) we found 4 new investigators last week!  Hizzah :) 

Now for the less than exciting news for the week.  3 of those investigators semi/straight-up hot-potatoed us :( aka, they dropped us.  And the sad thing is, or I should say, 1 sad thing is that it was a ridiculously good lesson.  They were loving what we shared, and the mom even started answering some of the son's questions and 2 of the 3 committed to coming to hear Elder Andersen speak (I'll tell you that story later).  On Sunday, we received a text saying they weren't interested anymore.  :( :(  We're in the process of trying to recover the situation, so hopefully, things work out...

So, now, back to the exciting news for the week.  Elder Neil L. Andersen came to Raleigh for Stake Conference.  Originally, it was supposed to be Elder Perry, but he had come down with a persistent cough after a long 10 day trip around the United States, so Elder Andersen took his place.  But because Elder Andersen didn't just have a 10 day trip and he's not 91, he wanted to have a meeting with the missionaries if we could.  So, President Bernhisel found out at about 11:00 Thursday night from Elder Piper of the Seventy, and we found out Friday, and in 1 day, we coordinated everything to get 230 missionaries to Raleigh on Saturday at 2.  There we were blessed and privileged to learn from an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as Elder Piper, Elder Martinez, and Elder Parker of the Seventy.  It was great. (That's an understatement)  Elder Andersen was so humble and real.  It was awesome.  He was also super funny.  One of my favorite things he said was at the very beginning.  It was when he was explaining to us how he ended up being the one to come to our mission.  He was in an elevator on Thursday with Elder Perry and Elder Ballard, and Elder Ballard said that he probably shouldn't go to Raleigh because of his cough, and Elder Perry asked out loud, rhetorically, who could take my spot.  This was Elder Andersen's weekend off, and Elder Andersen said that he has learned to listen and follow when the spirit speaks to him, and the spirit spoke to him that he needed to take Elder Perry's spot.  But my favorite part of this is that the alternate activity that Elder Andersen was going to do this weekend wasn't hit up the rich snooty people parties, or go on some extravagant vacation and spend a ton of money, he was hoping to have some time to mow his lawn and get the mulch ready.  It's absolutely incredible how humble these men are and how normal they are.  The Mormon "culture" tries to put them on pedestals, but they don't want to be there.  They are also ridiculously busy.  

He really emphasized building people's faith and not focusing so much on the differences in religious beliefs but in the similarities, and if we do that, the differences will be addressed in a spiritual manner in the right timing and manner.  Here in the South, as we focus on our similarities of faith in Christ, we can then teach them more about their Savior through the Book of Mormon.

He then spoke in our special stake conference on Sunday.  

I also had an incredible experience with exercising faith.  I was here in Falls Lake with a different missionary, on exchange.  We were unable to set any appointments up for that night, but I was fired up from our Leadership Council meeting we had and also I was with another really good missionary, and we made a goal and committed it to the Lord, that we would teach a lesson that night.  As we got in the car to go to a Less-active member we have been trying to contact, I had the impression to go somewhere else first.  We did.  We talked to the man, but he was sick, but he gave us his phone number, but there were these 3 girls next door.  2 were like 8 and 10, and one was older.  She was the baby-sitter, and it turns out, she was really open and interested, and we were able to teach her a lesson right there on the spot, and it was amazing!  Wow, testimony/conversion builder for sure.

Thanks for all you do, family.

Love you tons,

Elder Thornton

Week 97

Apr 28, 2014 at 3:48 PM

Hey family, 

So, to start, I got 96 from mom and one from grandma and the card from dad.  Life was pretty good this past week. I went on a couple exchanges with other missionaries. It was really good. I'm not going to lie, I just feel really drained sometimes; being tired has gone to a new level.  

I don't really have much to say this time. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you fast enough before Michael signed a lease. We'll get something worked out. Robert, my past roommate, might be an option.  

The only thing I really have to talk about is the Gladys Knight SUV fireside. It was SOOOOOOOO good. Seriously, I absolutely loved it. We were a part of the 12 special witnesses of Gladys Knight. Okay, that wasn't the official title for us, but we were joking around because they kept calling us "the 12". The official title I guess was the assisting 12.  Because we were assisting with things, we were able to watch all 4 sessions. We also were the front runners on getting energy and excitement into the fireside. Seriously, the music and testimonies were powerful and awesome. Incredible, simply incredible. I dead serious wish we had more of that kind of music in the church, like in firesides every so often or something; I'm not saying in sacrament meeting since that is centered around the ordinance, but it was awesome to break all the "Mormon culture." The missionaries, at personal request from the choir, sparked the crowd. I was a whoopin and a hollerin' and a'clappin' away. Finally, by the last fireside, we got tons of people standing up and clapping and swaying and singing along. I think one of the songs was called, Smile, or something, you might be able to look it up or something, but the talent was absolutely incredible. Gladys obviously was amazing, but some of the soloists were astounding. I wish I could accurately describe to you just how memorable of an experience this was. The testimonies were also super powerful. Bro. McDowell, Gladys' husband, bore his testimony of the church and how it is Christ's church and I can't explain to you in words how amazingly perfect and powerful it was. I think it may be experiences similar to this one and probably greater that the prophets are referring to when they say tongue cannot speak, neither can it be written what occurred at 'x' event or that so-en-so said. Bro. McDowell was raised in western North Carolina by strong Baptist grand parents so he was able to relate to the people at the fireside so well. Everything was the perfect combination of energy, humor, boldness, love, and the spirit. We received upwards 300 request cards from people for the missionaries to come by and deliver a sampler CD, a restoration DVD, and a Book of Mormon.  So many people absolutely loved it; I hope they sincerely look into the veracity of this church because I know that anyone and everyone who does so with sincerity and true, pure intentions will know that this church is nothing more than fulfillment of true biblical prophecies, nothing more than Christ not lying and him doing what he said he would do, simply a place for all seekers of truth and lovers of God and Christ to unite. They also emphasized that as they do so, they bring with them their unique and enriching-to-everyone culture.  It was incredible.  And we should all embrace it.  Even though I saw it 4 times, it never got old, and Gladys and everyone said everything from the heart.  It wasn't just a memorized speech that they give because someone told them to.  They do it all because they love love LOVE their Savior so much.  Gladys loves the Lord.  No doubt about that.  At times, it even felt like a pep rally :)  Hoorah for Jesus! :)

Other than that, I really don't have anything else to say.  Seriously, I'm boring.  

Oh, the other part of our assisting responsibilities was while everyone was waiting in line, we just walked around talking with people, helping them feel welcome.  We connected with people, helped them have good, positive experiences with missionaries, handed out the brochures that had the request cards in the back.  I got people water since it was hot standing in the sun.  It was a blast.  I absolutely loved it.  I love people.  Have I ever told you that?  I absolutely love people.  I love culture (real culture, not Mormon culture).  I talked for about 15 or so minutes with this one African American lady and she was the best.  She has had so many incredible experiences.  She works in a prison for women, and I guarantee you that she has such a powerful impact on them because of how loving and sincere of a person she is.  I just love the culture of the south in so many ways.  So many good people, and I'll tell you what, if it weren't for the fact that this is Christ's restored original church, I would be a member at some down-to-earth, African American spirituals church.  I want to build friendships with people of all cultures, races, religions, everything.  PEOPLE.......ARE.....AWESOME!!!!! Seriously, God's best creation ever :)

I love y'all tons.  Nothing new there...

Love,

Elder Thornton #1 

Week 96

Mi Familia

April 23, 2014 at 2:38 PM

Hey family, 

Life's good, as usual.  I'm growing a lot, which is always good.  I'm glad that you'll be able to go to DJ's graduation and that they didn't end up selecting you for the jury, Dad.  For the record, we did have a dinner.  It was deliciously delicious.  Easter was good overall.  I love that Because of Him video.  So good.  I thought the roach story was funny, by the way.  One of these days when there is actually a real threat, everyone is going to think a cockroach is the source of the scream. :)  

So, what else. oh yeah, I haven't really told you anything yet...so what else = everything else.

Well...I seemingly have forgotten everything that happened last week.  What a shame.

So, last week, I went back down to Hope Mills on exchange and was able to see some of the people we had found/were teaching before I left.  It was good :) We had one lesson where we had 9 investigators/non-members and 1 less-active member there.  It was a part of the Helgenberger family, the Micronesian family.  I seriously love the Micronesian people.  Someday I'd like to visit, Pohnpei, that's the specific island all these families here are from.  On exchange as well, one of our appointments fell through and we saw these 3 guys playing basketball in their driveway, so we went over and asked if we could play with them.  We played a little 21 with them, and asked them about Easter, religion, their lives, etc.  It was really fun, and we showed them some of our secret proselyting close basketball moves on the court ;) they were semi impressed in our white shirts and ties and dress shoes, but afterwards, we were able to share a message with them from the Book of Mormon.  At the end, the mother/wife brought us out some ice water.  We were able to give about 5 copies of the Book of Mormon away to this family and set up a return appointment with them to come by and share our message.  

I've really been learning a lot about validating people and relating to them these past couple of transfers.  It's been good.  

We had a miracle happen on Saturday.  I wrote in a letter to my mission president, so I'll just copy and paste it for time's sake.  

This week has been a really great week. I love teaching with you and Sister Bernhisel at the First Transfer Training Meetings. They were really good as usual. Additionally, we saw some great miracles this week. For one, we have been really striving to find some less actives that are receptive to us in our area, and it has been a struggle. After about 2 months, we still hadn't really had any success in meeting a less active on the roster that was willing to even talk with us and let us in. However, this week, we went by one of the final few less actives in our area that we haven't already met and at first, she conveyed the attitude of "oh, y'all found me again. How did you get my information?" We asked if we could share an Easter message with their family, it being the day before Easter. We wanted to share with them the Because of Him video, but she adamantly refused saying that she didn't want any videos. She had no desire to return to the church. However, my companion was amazingly bold with her and lovingly and enthusiastically told her that it would be the best 3 minutes in front of a screen she would ever spend . . . and we persisted. Finally, she decided to go in and ask her non-member husband, and amazingly, they consented. We were able to go in and share the Because of Him video with this member, her non-member husband, and her non-member daughter. The spirit was definitely present, and we had a beautiful discussion about Easter and our Savior. The Spirit led her to open up her heart some, and she explained some of why she is Less-Active and he asked some questions about Joseph Smith. So, what started as a "no way, I don't want you coming in and sharing a message" ended with them saying that we are always welcome to stop by. It was a powerful testimony and witness of what demonstrating Christ-like Love to everyone.

I've been learning a ton about what it truly means to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I have seriously learned so much here in Falls Lake.  It definitely hasn't been easy, but my accountability to the Lord and my dedication prevents me from ever giving up or throwing in the towel, and it's after these moments/hours/days/weeks that we see the miracles and evidences of our faith.  By the way, if you want an amazing talk to read, read "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Gene R. Cook.  Sooo good.  I read it again this morning and I absolutely love love love that talk.  

So, Sunday was also Elder Curtis's last Sunday in our ward because we have the Gladys Knight fireside this weekend on Saturday and Sunday and then next weekend is a special stake conference with Elder L. Tom Perry coming :)  That's exciting :)  

So, do I have a miracle story for you.  And this goes along with our exercising faith discussion. Sometimes, on our way home at the end of the night, Elder Curtis likes to get a Coke from McDonald's.  When we go through the drive thru, we always talk with the people there and try to at least give them cards and invite them to go to the website.  Well, with this young man when we saw him at the drive thru, we asked him if he had visited the website on the card, and he had.  He said he really liked it and that it is a better place than where he is right now.  He then proceeded to point out through the drive thru window and said something like "you know that Starbucks down there, I would like to meet y'all there sometime."  Nothing short of a miracle...seriously.  So, to continue the story, we met with him Monday night.  I already love this young man so much.  I can see so much eternal potential in him, it's amazing.  The lesson was definitely one of the best lessons that either Elder Curtis or I have had our entire missions.  I would say it was in my top 3 best lessons for sure, especially for first lessons.  We asked inspired questions, used the Book of Mormon, followed the spirit, and invited him to be baptized and prepare for the 27 of May.  He wholeheartedly accepted.  We listened to his needs and concerns and taught him accordingly.  We showed him genuine Christlike love.  It was powerful.  After about 10 minutes of conversation, he really opened up to us even though in a worldly sense, he really didn't know us that well, but he said he trusted us and shared with us some personal things.  Why? It's not because of us, but because of the spirit we are sent with and the One we represent -- Jesus Christ.  I love this work, His work.  Nothing is better than this. and it's nights like this one that remind me why I absolutely love being a full time representative of Jesus Christ, and it reminds me of why I endure the trials and the difficulties...because in the end, it will all be worth it :)  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it truly changes lives, and it is the only thing that provides lasting and encompassing peace and happiness.  Please include him in your prayers, that he may know that this is all true, what we share, and that he will be protected from the influence of those that would do him ill.  

Well, I think that about sums it up for this past week.  Things are going well and fast.  but what else is new.

Love,

Elder Thornton #1

Week 95

tornados EVERYWHERE!!!

Apr 16, 2014 at 11:54 AM

So, that's a lie, but there were some green clouds yesterday.  I thought we were gonna see some tornadoes for sure, but alas...there were none as far as I know.  

So, before I forget...I did get the postcard from Todd.  I also got a letter from Grandma and 94 from mom.

I hope Jury duty goes well for you, Dad.  Should be fun ;)  

For my mother's sake, the cut on my leg is good now.  It had looked a little inflamed at first so I put some neosporin on it, and Viola!  magic. :)  

Oh also, definitely push this Easter "Because of Him" thing...we've only got a week to do it, so Hizzah!!!

Still working on the sealing date.  I heard back from him and he said that they're going to try and pick a day and let me know asap.  

Now, what to tell you.  Let's see...So have I ever mentioned that I don't know what I've told you and when things happen.  So, here goes.  We went to the temple last week.  That was really good.  as usual.  I think it'd be intense to have church next to the temple.  That would be a different experience bringing investigators to church.  "So, yeah, here's our church building and, oh yeah, that's the house of the Lord...isn't it beautiful.  Now, would you like to join our church?"  I could imagine a conversation going down like that...

We also had the activity day zone conferences.  Those were really good.  We got to watch a clip of Miracle on Ice during President's instruction.  Hey, here's a random thought, have I ever told you how ridiculously tired I am.  I know I've been perpetually tired my entire-d (did you see what I did there??) mission, but recently, I just feel even more exhausted.  Who Knows...Okay, back to the story, we also sung the Preacher and the Bear with our Mission President afterwards...that was fun.  I'll tell you something else, the zone conferences are a lot different when you're the one that has to make sure that everything runs smoothly...it's different when all you do is show up, enjoy a ton of delicious instruction that you didn't have to prepare for, minus spiritually, run around playing for 3 hours until people blow the whistle and tell you to rotate, and then go home calling it a good day.  That versus, having to be there early, set things up, make sure all the technology runs right, give demonstrations, ensure that everyone's having fun, be the one to run the activities and tell people to rotate.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this in an effort to complain at all.   I love being on the leadership and administrative ends of things, but it just gave me a different perspective.  It helped me appreciate others more when I am the one that just has to show up :)  I went on exchange to the Spanish ward again on Friday.  That was fun.  Practiced my Spanish a little bit.  

Yesterday, we had a 1st transfer missionary and their trainers training meeting.  That was really good.  

Well, I want to get y'all some pics, so that's all you get.

Love yous a ton.

Elder Patty

Week 94

Monday April 7, 2014

Hey family,

Life has been good overall.  Chris's ankle looks Nasty.  True story. 

So, last Thursday, we had the amazing opportunity to go mountain biking with President Bernhisel.  Just Elder Curtis and myself.  It was awesome.  President is in ridiculously good shape.  I did pretty well and only crashed a couple of times.  Seriously though, some of these drops where like 8 feet straight down almost . . . in other words if you weren't on a bike, you wouldn't be walking up this path, you'd be climbing . . . like up a wall.  I thought I was about to die (not really, but close) a couple of times, but somehow my bike tires managed to stay on the trail just when I thought I was about to go careening into a ton of trees.  At the very beginning, (remember, this is my first time mountain biking) I did what they call an Endo.  Yeah, I hit the brakes too hard on a hill and I went supermanning into the dirt.  Not too bad of a crash though, but I do have a nice 6 inch cut on my calf that I took a picture of and will get to you sometime.  It was super fun though.  I also got to borrow President's bike since mine is a disaster.  

That night, we had dinner at President and Sister Bernhisel's home, and then President came out proselyting with us.  We had a lesson with our Relief Society President and her husband first, which went really well.  It was definitely a good lesson plan.  Then, afterwards, she directed us to 2 of her neighbors that we went and talked to with President.  Neither was interested, but it was really good.  I love President Bernhisel.  I will definitely be visiting him in Florida someday.  He and Sister Bernhisel are the best.  Sis. Bernhisel is just so full of love for everyone.  Even when she's upset with someone or slightly rebuking someone, she is so amazingly loving; it's actually kind of funny sometimes.  

This week, I also went on exchange down to the Raleigh YSA ward in Apex.  It was great.  I never served in a YSA ward so it was a good experience.  The missionary I was with is a really good, hard-working missionary.  They are the zone leaders in Apex.  That night, we went to the YSA's capture the flag bonfire activity where we gave a devotional about spiritual fire and how we can keep our fires burning bright.  One of their investigators also came and had a good time.  It was great.  

Conference was great as usual.  I love President Monson's talk on love.  I thought Love was a heavy theme this conference, and his talk is something that I would like to study more in depth because I think I will really benefit from doing so.  Elder Nelson and Elder Scott were also very good.   I really liked the Bishop's talk about the Olympic medalists that were LDS.  That was really good.  Quick story: we missed most of Elder Holland's and all of President Rasband's talk because as were sitting in the chapel, I heard this faint voice calling out Hello or something, and I thought that someone was locked out and trying to get in.  This was when I was in Cary still, which is near Apex.  We go out into the hall to investigate and we see this older lady who is slightly frantic and desperate.  Apparently, she was trying to get up into Wake Forest to go to her daughter's house but got lost and couldn't find the beltway, and she happened to turn down the church's road and saw cars outside, so she turned in hoping to find someone that could help her.  She wasn't LDS.  Anyways, we got our GPS and helped her find where she needed to go, giving her turn by turn directions on a piece of paper with our number and such.  She said that she is the believer in her family and that she tries to help her family out faith-wise.  I asked her if we could share our message with her, but she said that she would have to think about it, but I hope that she gives us a call.  She was so thankful and appreciative of us "fine young gentlemen."  I love serving others.  and I figure that the Lord would probably have had us in the hallway of the church ministering to one of God's daughters in need over sitting in the pews listening to the apostles speak of ministering to others, so I think we we're justified in missing part of conference.  (I'll catch it later :) )

So, this week is going to be crazy busy, but great!  We have activity zone conferences in Wilmington and Chapel Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We are heading down to Wilmington tonight, and we are going to go proselyting with a couple sets of Elders this evening.  Then on Friday, we get to go to the temple!! :)  I love the temple.  and something that I've found is that our temple trips always come up right when I need that direction and peace the most.  Ah, the temple.  One of my favorite lines that the spirit really brought to my heart with great power was when President Monson said that we are a temple-building and temple-attending people.  I think that that was a surreptitious rebuke/command from the Lord's prophet to us that we need to be attending the temple more regularly.  Right now, I'm kind of limited on that, but I promise to myself with y'all as witnesses that I will make temple attendance and worship a regular and frequent occurrence when the opportunity arises :)

Well, I think that is it.  I can't think of anything else to say.  I did get a letter from grams.  

Thanks for being the best family in the world!! Seriously though, I'm not kidding.

Love,

Elder Thornton #1

Week 93

 I'm finally Trunkie!!!! :)

Apr 1, 2014 at 12:28 PM

Hey family,

Just in case you were wondering, that subject line was totally an APRIL FOOLS JOKE!!! hahahahahahahahahaha. Gotcha!  Who do you think I am?? 

Anyways, life's good.  

First off, I want to mention and make serious note of the fact of how grateful I am to you, mother, for getting all my class stuff figured out.  Thanks so much, mom!!!! I love you so much, and I am so grateful for everything you do and every effort you make to help me stay dedicated and focused.  Everything's all good on this end.  (Honestly, too, I can't even remember what parameters I had left you...too long ago, sorry ;) )

So, last week, on Friday, which was part of the reason we didn't wait till Friday to email, we had our monthly Leadership Council.  It went really well.  Elder Curtis and I instructed on the principle of one by one and treating everyone like an individual, making them feel like they truly matter and that they are important; this also went along with achieving our baptism goal for the year.  We watched this clip by Elder Bednar, which was absolutely fantastic, (which is obvious since it was Elder Bednar).  Good stuff.  The Role Play we did was super powerful as well.  The spirit was definitely there.  We had the missionaries role play with their companions and one of them was the missionary while the other one role played as the other missionary's friend or family member that is either not a member or less active.  This was the missionary's last opportunity to speak with the family member or friend, and they needed to help that individual feel loved as an individual as well as to understand the vitality of the message of Christ's restored gospel.  Then afterwards, we related that experience to how the conversations we have with people here in North Carolina need to take on a more individualistic personality.  The people that we talk with are our brothers and sisters who are without the Gospel.  Oftentimes we treat the situations here too complacently; every individual matters to God, and thus, they should to us as well. The Mission goal is to have 894 conversions take place this year, but that's not going to happen because we walk outside our apartment one day and meet a crazy prepared throng of 894 people...it's going to happen how?? One by one. 

Sounds like things are going great in the 5th ward. I would expect nothing less with such a great bishop leading out :)  and such great ward members.

No, we didn't have any investigators at church on Sunday.  Sadly.  Hopefully, next week though, we should have at least 2...we'll see though.  

Played some basketball yesterday.  That felt good.  I love basketball.  

Still busy.  Still working on finding some prepared people to teach.  Hard to believe it's April.  I would really like to see a baptism take place here in Falls Lake before I leave.  I know it can happen.  The Lord can do amazing things.  I just strive to continue exercising my faith in talking with everyone and knocking one more door, going one more step, traveling the extra mile even when it's hard.  Amidst it all, I just hope that I change for the better and become more of the person Father needs me to be, that in turn, I desire to be since ultimately, the goal is for His will to be my will.  That's all I really have that I can give; and that's all He really wants for once our wills are aligned, we will be like Him.  

Not much else to say . . . Thanks for all you do.  I love y'all so much.  You have got to be seriously the best family in the world.  I received, btw, 92 and one from grams.  Until next week, 

Love,

Elder Thornton

ps. next week, emailing may not be until Thusday since we have activity zone conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Should be a blast though :)

Week 92

A late letter is better than no letter..

Thursday March 27, 2014 at 6:44 PM

Hey Family,

So, yeah, about the voice class...forget that for fall.  I just pray the Lord, because of my diligence and obedience, brings back to remembrance all the many things I have forgotten so that I don't drive the fall semester into the ground.  Sheesh, but enough about that.  

Life is good.  I got a letter from Grams, number 91 from mom with the ton of stuff in it.  Yeah, I'll have to get back to you on that stuff soon.  I just haven't had time.  We really didn't get a preparation day this week...

I'm glad that Velvet is doing well.  I love that girl and miss her.  

I had a question...have y'all done any missionary work with our new neighbors yet? Just curious :)

I hope y'all have fun at the vernal temple too!  That should be a great experience.  In a couple of weeks, we'll get to go to the temple again :)  

So, last week, we went on two exchanges.  1 we went to Wilmington which is about 2 hours away.  That was good, and then we also went on exchange with the Durham elders and I got to be with my first boy again!  Elder Moses.  It was like the good ol' days.  He's a really good missionary.  

Funny story time, we went over to teach a lesson to a family in the ward on Sunday whose son is preparing to serve a mission and it turns out that I have completed the circuit.  Allow me to explain.  In my first area, I met this lady.  She was nice but less active.  In my 2nd area, I met another nice, but less active lady who turns out to be the 1st area's lady's sister.  Crazy coincidence right?? It gets better.  This lady who is active that we went to on Sunday is the 3 and final sister that lives in North Carolina.  I have now successfully served in all 3 wards of that North Carolina family.  Morehead, Southport, and Falls Lake.  Who would have thought? :)  

Another good story.  Last Thursday, we had the incredible opportunity, through invitation, to go into one of the local high schools hear and teach 2 periods of a world religions course.  The class was an elective class for seniors, and we basically taught a brief restoration/background of our church, and then opened it up for questions.  It was really great experience.  And the teacher, who’s not even Christian, said that he learned a lot.  One thing in particular that I was pretty bold about was when we were explaining our views on the trinity.  I told the class that my belief that they were 3 separate personages, but one in every other aspect helped me to understand whom I was truly worshiping.  Additionally, and here was the pretty bold part, I told them that that belief also enabled the New Testament to make a ton more sense.  Without that belief, we learn that Jesus Christ sure liked to talk to himself a lot (and I said that), but I was serious, and I brought up the experience in the garden when he pleads with his Father to take the cup from Him.  It means so much because it's His Father, and He's begging Him, but is completely willing to do the Father's will.  It was powerful.  And this made a large impact on the teacher who mentioned to me afterwards that that explanation made a ton of sense to him.  Why would Jesus need to be asking himself for permission?  If He was also His own Father, then He could have done whatever he wanted to; He could grant Himself His own permission.  Overall, an awesome experience.  And the students took about 35 copies of the Book of Mormon and 20 some pamphlets (mostly Plan of Salvation) and some cards.  I would say a good morning indeed.  That was all before Lunch :)  

We have some really good members in this ward, and hopefully, we will begin seeing some more fruit come from their efforts to share the gospel.  Many of them are really looking for opportunities and praying for them.  One thing I've realized is that when I go and have dinner with a member that sincerely wants to do missionary work, but obviously doesn't fully understand how or exactly what missionary work is, all I really want to do is help them understand.  It makes me realize that I have truly been so blessed by Father and have learned so much about the Hastening of the Work of Salvation.  I hope that I can help others to grow in their understanding as well.  This mission (these 6 stakes) has such potential to take off in the Lord's work.  If we all can all just truly come to understand and then internalize the doctrine, miracles will occur.  I know they will.

Well, I don't have much time before we turn into pumpkins, but know that I love y'all so much.  I love our Savior.  I absolutely cherish His Atonement.  I have truly come to understand in such a greater degree the reality of that gift made free and available to all who are willing to accept the conditions of repentance.  And I know He enables.  We are nothing on our own.  Nothing, but with God, all things are possible.  The Atonement has definitely become one of my closest friends.

Love,

Elder Patty

Week 91

Mar 18, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Family!!!

Well, well, well, Word has reached mine ear by an unknown tongue that thou didst receive such communication of vocal performance from kindred here yonder in North Carolina, brothers and sisters of the Thornton bloodline, ah, such a choice bloodline indeed.  

Okay...did y'all really think I was going to be writing the letter like that again?? Sheesh, ..., rookie mistake. ;)

So, anyways, yeah, apparently that is a tradition that they do when a new Elder comes to their home.  I think it's the first time I've ever sung a solo to a group of people.  But I think it went alright.  Speaking of which, and this is ridiculously coincidental, since I've been planning on telling you this for a while....anyways, mom, I know you pick classes soon (or possible recently) and I was wondering if you could see if there is a voice lesson class or something (I have absolutely no idea what it would be called).  Ask DJ if you need help navigating the BYU system.  And then book what appears to be the best for my schedule etc. If I end up not liking it, I'll just drop it later, but I think I want to take a sort of class such as that, to refine myself :)  Muchas gracias.  I hope that all makes sense.  I forgot to mention it last week.

We had a regional stake conference last week, and that was great!  EVERYTHING was geared toward Hastening the Work...I LOVE THE WORK!!!! Missionary work is seriously the best thing ever.  We also were able to attend the adult session (and youth session) Saturday night.  Super good.  Elder Perry spoke on Sunday and gave a personal shout out to our Stake President here in Raleigh, saying that he'll see him in a couple weeks when he comes for the regional priesthood leadership such-an-such meeting.  Good stuff again.

So, like I mentioned last week.  We continue to work with Jay.  We saw some definite growth this last week.  Turns out, he really does believe sort of in God.  I don't think Jesus Christ though, but at the end of the lesson, we invited him to pray and he did so, but he wouldn't pray in Christ's name.  It was a nice prayer nonetheless.  One thing he did though, was he thanked us for coming over because we have caused him/helped him to once again think of religion on a spiritual basis.  It was really nice.  He is a great kid.  Next week, I hope he can come to church.  

Oh, by the way, my instruction on Thursday that I asked you to pray would be better than the instruction on Tuesday went much much better.  I definitely felt that I at least taught more by the spirit and in a manner that was much more conducive for the spirit to testify to the hearts of those I was teaching and ultimately be the true teacher.  I, at least in part, felt that I lived up to the standard that I would expect from those that taught me when I was in the youngins' position.  

Our Bishop's family, the Thornton family, is awesome :)  They invited about 5 families over for dinner on Sunday.  They were shooting the odds.  1 family, a part member family, did come, and we had a wonderful lesson afterwards on the reality of Jesus Christ and His love and Atonement.  Then, our amazing Bishop bore powerful testimony and extended ever-so-loving invitations for the part member husband to read and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and to search these things out for himself.  It was great.  Can't go wrong with Thornton as a last name, I guess ;)  

Also, yesterday, I talked with the Thorntons we live with and we compared some genealogy.  We couldn't find a connection as of yet with the data I received from mom, but we know somewhere back there, we have got to be connected.  Ah, family history work, why are you so exciting??? :) :)

Okay, here's a question...mom or dad, do you know any Rodeback's (that may be speeled wrong) HAHAHA (did you see what I did there...I knew there were 2 p's) :) anyways, a lady in the ward here knows some or is related to some in Grand Junction.  Just thought I'd ask.  BTW, y'all are doing great with the lack of trunkiness.  I'm grateful and impressed.  I'll tell you that most other moms and families cannot say the same thing.  Also, funny story.  I just happened to be here when the letter from mom to the office came in with some itinerary data...yep...that's awkward ;)  I believe, Mom, that you are the first one in for my group...you even got it in before my companion's parents and he leaves a transfer before I do.  I told the office secretary that my mom is super efficient.  I think she agrees :)  Mom, you're the best!  But that's quite obvious, wouldn't everyone agree??

Well, needless to say, I really don't know of anything else to write except a stankin' hilarious story about Facebook.  Here goes...

Once upon a time, there was a diligent little missionary who ever so much desired to use Facebook to track down elusive less actives members in the wards where he served.  Well, thus he did.  Friend request after friend request...message after message, but some small successes came, which fueled his desire.  However, after many a days in such a quest, he received a notice from Facebook that informed him that he was blocked from sending friend requests and messages for 7 days because he was sending too many requests to people he didn't know.  Frustrated, but undeterred, at the conclusion of 7 days, he continued his efforts, however, maybe not so robustly as before.  However, in just a few days after being unblocked, this poor young missionary was again informed by Facebook that he was blocked for 14 days.  Slightly hurt and confused, this little missionary wondered what he had ever done to deserve such treatment.  Is not the furthering of the Lord's work a good enough reason for Facebook??  Apparently not.  Nevertheless, it was shortly after this 2nd block that this dedicated missionary was transferred to a new area. This prevented problems in using Facebook for said missionary as he was unable to friend any of the members or missionaries in his new area.  Finally, the ban was lifted, and he was at it again...off finding those lost sheep in cyber space.  Only in the deepest depths of his mind did he fear that he would be blocked once more, but he took the chance and send many friend requests.  Well, this story doesn't end here.  One morning this young happy missionary logged on to Facebook to reveal that he had once again been blocked from sending friend requests and messages to others that aren't friends.  Shattered, he noticed the time span.  30 days.  This young missionary's companion will practically be home before he can once again send a measly friend request.  This block this time, though, came with a warning, if it happens again..he may be blocked PERMANENTLY!!!! Gees, all for trying to labor in the vineyard of the Lord.  

Moral of the story: It's hard to help lost sheep that tell Facebook that you should be blocked.  

The End.

Well, I hope you liked my, uh, I mean, the story of the young missionary.  Poor chap, I hope he's alright ;)

Thanks for all you do; I love y'all so much!

Love,

Elder Patty