Elder Thorpe Working Hard!!
Dear family and Friends!
Finally got my bike fixed!!! Elder Matua and I are now doing some real
missionary work. Walking takes too much time. Few, thank goodness for bikes! The
weather was CRAZY! The winds were blowing hard. While it was raining and the
sidewalks were covered with water so bd that we couldn't see them, plus there
was thunder and lightning. Talk about a rough week to do some missionary
work...too much fun!!! Good old rain!
This week, my companion and I, while in the horrible, slash, amazing,
slash, scream like a little girl storm were able to finally find one of our
potential investigators at home! We had to bike up the great north road in the
stormy weather (yes, we were singing hyms on the way up), no worries, we had our
spiritual armor on that day. We showed up to Mefi, an investigators of ours that
we found (which was a miracle). Mefi has some friends that he grew up with that
had some Mormon buddy's go on missions. It took us until the next transfer to
finally get in contact with Mefi. We had a lesson with him outside in his
garage while the storm was still going on. It was coming down hard, and we could
all hear the thunder and lightning. We then decided to go inside the house
because Mefi's father in law, who isn't a member, kicked us out of his garage to
drink with his buddies. Mefi is really kean about looking into the church!! We
showed him a scripture in Alma 32:21. When he read that he asked us, "How did
you two know that is what i was thinking?" Alma chapter 32:21 talks about faith
and how we don't need to have a perfect knowledge of things but to have that
faith for things that aren't seen that are true. He couldn't stop thinking about
how we found that scripture talking about everything he told us. About how he
wanted to believe and also to stand up to his friends about God and the
missionaries. Mefi has a partner and a daughter. They are not members but the
daughter has been praying at night with Mefi. When we were ready and about to
leave, Mefi told us that he would feel more comfortable about taking the lessons
we share when he isn't in his parent in law's house because they don't like us.
We told him that we would be more than happy to teach him at the chapel and he
agreed. Again, he was still shocked about the scripture and couldn't stop
talking about it (which is good). We told him that it wasn't us telling him, it
was from the spirit. Everything we do is from the spirit. He was happy and plus
some of his friends are returned missionaries. We have a good hold of him to
progressing, hopefully towards baptism with his family, if not my time while in
Henderson then it will be the next elder. Either way, I will be happy if he
decides to get baptized with his family.
On Saturday aftertnoon Elder Matua and I had a prompting to go down an
unknown street. We had no clue why we needed to ride our bikes down there but we
decided to go down and find out. We then decided without any hesitation that we
should both go to one of our less actives house that was near that neighborhood.
We went up and knocked on the door. Charlie, the little boy opened the door and
didn't say much but ran back inside to get his mom. Marlyn came out and greeted
us at the door, we talked to her but she didn't say much, she just looked at her
other son Josh, who is 24 years of age, just lying on the couch. I noticed that
she was giving us a look like something wrong just happened. Marlyn left the
room and went back to her own business, and we were left on the porch just
poking our heads in the door. We started talking to Josh and at first he said,
"Is there anyway I can get out of the church? Because I don't want to join
anymore." Hearing those words shocked Elder Matua and I, we both just stood
there in silence not knowing what to say, then Josh said, "Right now I don't
want anything to do with the church because I want to just think about myself."
Josh's background is that he lives in a house that is not very nice like other
homes, he just lives with his mom and brother and has had some bad history with
drugs, drinkings, and so on. He started talking to us and told us everything
that was going on in his mind saying that at times he felt like he wanted to
kill himself and just leave this whole world. Josh doesn't have a job, he
doesn't know what his family is or who his dad really is. A 24 four year old
man, who feels all alone and doesn't think he can be forgiven for anything he
has done in the past and really was struggling in life. I looked at my companion
and saw him starting to tear up. The rain started coming down harder and we
went right inside the house. Without an hesitation, Elder Matua asked Josh
before we left if we could say a prayer with him. As soon as we said that prayer
with him, we could see Josh starting to cry. His whole attitude changed, he had
a smile on his face. We gave him a hug and as we left we saw him giving his
little brother a hug.
People at times judged Josh as being someone who CAN'T be helped, but how
wrong were they? All Josh needs is someone to listen to him about his problems
in life, he needs a friend, someone who can listen to him and try feel what he
feels. He needs a father figure and really needs some help. I can admit that
when I first met Josh with my other companion, I was judging him wrongly! It was
when he was smoking weed, but this time, this was a different, Josh I was
seeing. Afterwards I felt so bad, so guilty for doing something like that, that
I couldn't forgive myself. Elder Matua and I stopped at a corner and said a
prayer, I could hear my companion crying, he could feel the same way Josh was
feeling because he has felt like that in his life before. That day changed my
view on people like Josh. I thought i had that Christlike love for everyone but
that was a life check up on me. I need not to judge people for their experience
but what is really inside of them.
The next day Elder Matua and I fasted. Bishop, during the week, asked Elder
Matua and I to sing, (for all those who know me, I do not sing very well). Well
Sunday showed up and the time was at hand when Elder Matua and I were getting
ready to sing. During the testimony of one of the members, my companion and I
could seriously feel the spirit in the room. I have never felt the spirit so
strong before in the sacrament meeting! This was the very first time in my life
that I have felt the peaceful feeling so strong! it was a feeling that i wish I
could explain to you all! When the member got done, we then got up to go sing
"Love at home". Elder Matua and I had a different song picked out to sing but
when we got to the church we had the impression to change the song on the spot.
We only practiced going over the song once, my nerves were, you might say,
CRAZY!!! I HAVE NEVER EVER sang in sacrament before. It was a good thing that
the spirit was there to help us sing, because in the middle of our song, Elder
Matua and I heard the congregation start singing the last versus with us! What a
neat experience that was. Our bishop was also singing along with us and the
other bishopric member too. Afterwards people said we were great! Which is a
good sign, because now the members like us even more, (getting the trust of the
members...check that off the to do list).
Our week was a hard, fun, sad, and all thumps up and smiles week. Elder
Matua and I have unity that is strong, we both agree that unity in a
companionship is beyond important in missionary work, without it we would not
have the spirit with us. We also have to be obedient with the mission rules but
if we are exactly obedient then we will see miracles. I know this to be true.
Ever since my brother in law's parents sent me the card saying "obedience brings
blessings, exact obedience brings miracles" when they were mission presidents
in Guatemala, I have seen miracles happen when we are striving to be exactly
obedient. Rules never were something easy for me to keep but since I have been
out I have seen the the rules are what gives us happiness.
There is a quote that i want to end with "Heavenly Father gives us
commandments to give us freedom, Satan gives us freedom to rule us" That is so
true, I know it to be true!!! I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Elder Thorpe
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