Week 101 - My Heart is full

Mom,

I have mixed emotions and my heart is full as I sit here and read emails on my last p-day. I actually started to cry as I thought about all that has happened and all that will happen following this week and I'm so thankful for the many blessings I have received. I am so excited to see you and the rest of the fam this weekend, but at the same time I'm so sad to see this experience come to an end. 

We had a really good week. We have worked very hard and there are some good things happening in our area. We're teaching a couple in our area who is progressing really well! Their names are C.and M. They are really open to our message and C. loves the Book of Mormon. He always talks about how interesting it is and how powerful the words are. He told us he wants to take it slow and he doesn't want us to rush baptism, so it's a little hard. They haven't made it to church yet either, but that's because we've been having a hard time getting member involvement. Those are the struggles of being in a tiny branch. 

On Friday we got to go to the temple to do an endowment session!! We went with Pres. Carlson and all the other missionaries that are going home and it was a great experience. I loved it and received some personal guidance and revelation. 

 

Sunday was a great day!! I conducted sacrament meeting and I spoke and we had some non members at church too!! After I spoke, the Rasmussen's spoke. They're a young couple out here on an internship from BYU at Cummins and they both speak Spanish, so they have been a great help in the branch. They are both returning to Utah this week as well. 

I really don't know what else to say, other than thank you. Thank you so much Mom for you support and your love. I couldn't have done it without you letters and packages and prayers. You're my hero and a great example to me, and I owe you big time. I couldn't thank you enough and I am so excited to see you on Friday :) 

I love the Lord. I am so glad that I've had this opportunity to serve Him and I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me. He has been so good to me and I owe him everything. I will keep working and sprint through the finish line. I can't wait to see you and I love you very much.

Love,

Elder Thayne

Saying goodbye to the Rasmussens!

A picture with Ben, Norma, and Chris from the branch

Week 100 - seeing great miracles

Mom,

This week was great! We saw some great miracles! On Monday, we started teaching a lady from Veracruz, Mexico named C.. She is one of the nicest ladies ever!! She's really involved in her Catholic church and absolutely loves going to church, but she loves talking to us as well. She got a Book of Mormon from a few missionaries about a year ago, and 2 weeks ago on her way to Florida, she read the first few chapters and she says she loves it! She keeps telling us about how she just can't put it down sometimes because it interests her so much. She might progress a little slower than most because she loves Catholicism, but I'm sure she'll come around in the future as she continues to read the Book of Mormon.

On Tuesday, I had to go to a Dr. appointment in Indy, so we drove up there and after what seemed to be a waste of time at the appointment, we started heading back to Columbus. On our way back, I had the feeling to go and visit E., one of my old investigators in Indianapolis. I told myself that we were already on our way to our area and we needed to get back to work, but then the impression persisted. I decided to turn around and head back to the west side of the city to visit E. When she opened the door, she was so excited to see me. She thought she'd never see me again and she was really happy. She then told me something that explained why I had received the impression to visit her. She said that she had still been confused as to what to do in regards to the Church. She had been praying and asking God to help her know what she should do and she said that seeing me there was another sign to her that she needs to commit herself to the Church. She told me she was going to set a goal to be baptized when the missionaries came over. I was so glad that I was able to be guided by the Lord to know what to do.

On Thursday, we were tracting in a trailer park (that's all we do) and we found a young hispanic lady named I. She had 2 little girls and spoke perfect English. She told us she was Catholic, but she was very open and gave us some of her time. We shared a message with her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what Christ expects of us. We talked a lot about faith, repentance, and then baptism. When we started talking about baptism, she asked us what we thought about infant baptisms. We told her that it's great that parents want to do that service for their children, but since repentance is a pre-requisite to baptism, it doesn't make any sense to baptize babies. She said she felt the same way and that she had always had that question. She told us to come back this week and talk more! We just need to find those people who are prepared and asking the right questions!

On Saturday, we went to a sealing! There is a member named Angie who was baptized when I was in my first area, and she's Dominican, so I also taught her parents for a while. She attends the YSA branch in Indy and she invited me to come to her sealing! So we went and it was cool to see a sealing for the first time! It was a lot shorter than I expected... but I liked it! 

Conducting sacrament meeting went well yesterday. Luckily it was fast and testimony meeting, so it was pretty easy, but I'll be doing it again next week so we'll see how it goes. 

It's crazy to think that my mission is ending! It has been the best experience and I'm excited to keep up the pace for these next couple of weeks! I love you Mom and I'll see you soon!

Love,

Elder Thayne

Hermano Rene Rodriguez came down from Elkhart (4 hours away!) to visit us and take us to lunch. This man is one of my favorite guys in the world, and I'm so glad that the Lord led us to him

Week 99 - Biking it up!

Mom,

This week was a tough one, but it was great!! We worked really hard this week and I don't plan on slowing down in the slightest over the next few weeks. We have some solid people we're working with and good things are happening here in Columbus!! 

We're currently teaching a 15 year old girl named C. She is so solid! Her dad and step-mom are really catholic and her birth mother is Jehovah Witness, so she has been really confused about religion in her life. Her parents absolutely love the missionaries and every time we go visit them, we inevitably get stuffed full of food even though we tell her step-mom we're not hungry and that we already ate. Her dad and step-mom are really open to us teaching their kids. We left all the kids with a couple of pamphlets about the Restoration last week and invited them to read em. We went back this week and C told us she read the pamphlet, and then she answered all of the "Additional Study" questions in the back!! We were shocked! Hardly anyone answers those questions! She really wanted to come to church yesterday, but they went out of town, so she'll come this week. 

We had to bike a lot this week!!! We made an unexpected trip to Greenwood, IN for interviews with Pres. Carlson and burned about 100 miles that day, so we were really close to reaching our mile allotment for the month so we had to pull out the ol' bicycles and bike around our huge area! I'm sure it wouldn't have been that bad if I wasn't so spoiled and used to having a full time car for the past 7 1/2 months.

Yesterday we got a call from the missionaries that took the place in my last area and they told me that everyone up there is doing well. They had a baptism on Saturday and they have 2 more scheduled with Luis and Leandro, the two guys found during my last week up there. Then they told me that R. M. showed up to church!!! She was the one that was supposed to be baptized in May and then disappeared. She finally broke up with her boyfriend and now there is nothing that is kee

ping her from being baptized. I was so happy to hear that and I really hope she can do it this time. 

Being in the branch presidency isn't too strange, but I did feel kind of out of place as we counted and deposited tithing yesterday after church.... weird. I will be conducting sacrament mtg for my last two Sundays and I can't believe it's actually coming to an end. I have never felt a greater sense of urgency and we're going to work harder than ever!! I love you Mom! I'll see you soon!

Love,

Elder Thayne

Proof of how flat Indiana actually is

A picture of our trip to do baptisms at the temple! Jenica, a 12 year old in our branch went for her first time, so we got to go with her family. The sun was really bright, so that's why we looks so strange

Week 98 - First week in Columbus - in the right place at the right time and miracles are happening

Happy Pioneer day!! We had a slow, but great week! Like I said last week, I was pretty bummed to be sent to a new area, but I love it here! I know the Lord has something very important planned for me here and I'm excited to find exactly what it is. 

Things in Columbus are great!! We live with the Nehring family in their basement. It's the best!! These are easily the best living circumstances I've had my whole mission and I'm sad I'll only be here for a short amount of time! The Nehrings' son and grandkids are staying here for a while too, so it's fun to be able to see them every once in a while. Sometimes we'll be downstairs doing language study and 5 grandkids come down and ambush us with nerf guns! It keeps things fun and interesting :)

The work is hard here, but I love the branch. The members are so great and willing to work. We only have about 15-20 active members in the branch, so it's really small, but we're here to help it grow. The members have all already welcomed me so warmly and I look forward to working with them over the next few weeks. 

This week was full of a lot of tracting and meeting new people. It seems like for the longest time this area has struggled with finding investigators that will progress and be baptized. I know it's gotta be all in the mindset though. The Lord wouldn't send us here if there weren't any people prepared for his gospel. I have a lot of trust in the words in Alma 13:24 

For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

I have faith that the Lord has prepared somebody here in Columbus to accept the gospel and join the Columbust3rd branch. We just have to seek them out with the guidance of the Spirit. 

We found 2 really prepared people yesterday as we were knocking doors at a trailer park. We knocked on the door and when they opened it we saw 2 heavily tatTooed women who seemed a little stand-offish. One of the ladies, T, had a tattoo that said "Blessed" so I complimented her on it and we were able to start a gospel conversation. They stepped outside and we taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel and they were so prepared!! After we shared the message, we committed A, T, and her step-daughter to be baptized on Sep. 3. They only speak English, so we had to pass them on to the English Elders, but we're all on the same team, right? It was a great miracle. 

We saw another miracle yesterday! We both had to go to the bathroom really bad while we were tracting, so we got back in our car and drove to the closest gas station. As we were walking in, a lady walked out of the bathroom and said, "Missionaries!!" She explained to us that her grandmother was about to pass away and she was on her way to the hospital. She said it was really hard for her and that as she was in the bathroom, she was thinking that she really needed to say a prayer. When she saw us, she asked if we could go to the back corner of the gas station to pray with her and we said yes. She asked me to say the prayer and by the end, she was crying and was so grateful that we could be there. I'm sure she will always remember when the Lord placed the missionaries in the right place at the right time. 

Miracles are happening!! We seek for them every day. I hope you have a great week!! I love you Mom!!

Love,

Elder Thayne

I said goodbye to Catalina

Most of the Spanish missionaries

And  of course I had to take a picture with the Indy sign

 before I left Indianapolis again :) putting the I in Indy

Week 97 - Transferring to my last area!

I'm getting transferred! Pres. Carlson called me on Saturday and told me I'll be serving in the Spanish branch in Columbus, IN! It's a branch I've never served in before, so it'll be good to "branch" out (hehe). I will be a district leader in Columbus. Since there is a lack of leadership in that branch, I am also assigned to serve as 2nd counselor in the branch presidency!! It'll be a different experience.

This week was a great one! We had a ton of success this week! We committed 3 people to be baptized and I'm sure they're gonna make it! I'm really sad to leave this branch and this area. Things are really picking up lately and I really hope the next missionaries to come here keep on top of things. 

We also had a HUGE miracle this week while we were on exchanges with the Avon Elders. Do you remember R? She was supposed to be baptize on May 14th, but she disappeared and we never heard from her again. Since then, I have been praying almost every day for her to come back and to get baptized. On Thursday, the sister missionaries had an appointment with an investigator at the church. For some reason they felt impressed to show up about an hour early to their appointment. After they got there their investigator texted them and cancelled, so they went out to their car and said a prayer asking what they should do with their time. As they finished praying, R pulled up to the church and said, "Is Elder Thayne here? I need to talk to him." Since R doesn't have a phone, the sisters called and I got to talk to R! We were on bikes that day, so I told her to meet us at a grocery store in Avon, and we waited for her but she never showed up!! We haven't heard from her since, but it was a miracle that she contacted us! If the sisters hadn't showed up early to their appointment, there would have been nobody at the church! 

On Friday, we had Mission Leadership Council with Pres. Carlson, and it was really good! It was weird after going to so many MLC meetings with Pres. Cleveland and then seeing how different he is. He's such a calmer and gentler man than Pres. Cleveland was and it's a huge change of pace for us. But I have already seen that the Lord has called him and that he's here for a reason. At MLC, Pres. made a huge emphasis on studying Preach my Gospel and on teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a really good meeting about the basic and important things in missionary work

Besides that, there's not much more to say! We're seeing miracles out here and I'm so excited about the things that are happening in the mission. 

I love you Mom!!! Have a good week!! I'll talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Thayne 

I had to take a couple classic "corn field" pictures 

Here I am with the Lyons Family.  I love them!

Week 96 - "Christ would have heard what they are really saying. He would have heard their pain."

We had a good week!! It hasn't been that long since the last time I emailed, so not much has happened. 

We  are going to give G and A a break. We finally found her 2 good jobs that she would only have to work Monday-Friday and we basically just gave her everything on a silver platter and she still didn't take it. We've been fighting and struggling to get her to progress, but she just doesn't seem to want it bad enough. So we'll give them a break for a little bit and come back in a few weeks. 

J and E are still having a hard time too. It seems to us that they are only willing to come to church if there's absolutely nothing standing in their way. Obviously there will always be obstacles and challenges that they have to work through, but they aren't willing to do what it takes. We'll see if we can help them get there this week. 

This week we went on exchanges with the Elders in Greencastle. Greencastle is a pretty small city about an hour south of Indianapolis and we don't get to see the Elders serving down there very often, so it was good to spend a whole day with them in their area. We visited a member down there named Brother Jefferson who's wife passed away shortly before he joined the church. He has a great love for the gospel and he has a strong testimony. He's pretty old and loves to talk, so we got Hoosier'd pretty bad (in other words, he talked our ears off), but he actually taught me a very important lesson. As we go on exchanges with other Elders in their area, we usually take the back seat to see how they do and how they handle things. So I let Elder Hock start the message and he shared a scripture from Romans 5:3-5 and a great thought on patience. I added my two cents, and then Bro Jefferson taught me a profound lesson. He asked us, "What do you usually do when people persecute you while you're proselyting?" We both responded that we try to sit and listen patiently, but that sometimes it's difficult. He then said, "You have to listen to them. But not just to their words. Listen to what they're really saying." I asked him to explain further. He replied, "Christ would have heard what they are really saying. He would have heard their pain." That hit me pretty hard, and I realized that I could be a lot better at that. It's easy to take offense and talk back to people when they persecute you. It's even easy to patiently listen and just brush it off. But Christ would listen with the true intent to perfectly understand them and the real message their saying and then he would respond with words of love and of healing. I instantly thought of times when I could have listened more intently and been more understanding and I decided that I want to improve that in my life. 

uI love this quote by Pres. Spencer W Kimball: 

“My life is like my shoes—to be worn out in service

Things are going great here! We have transfers next week, so I'll be getting a new companion and possibly be moving areas. I'll know for sure by Saturday. We'll keep working hard and seeing miracles. I love you and I hope you have a great week!!!

Love,

Elder Thayne

Week 95 - Happy 4th of July!

Our week was pretty good!! Unfortunately a lot of our lessons fell through this week, but we had a lot of time to tract and we found some pretty cool people!! 

Our 4th of July was alright. We didn't do much. We had the day off, so we got with some other missionaries and played basketball at the church for a total of 6 hours. We also had a good branch activity with food and games! There were a lot of non-members there, so it was a really successful activity. Afterwards we went to Wendy and Audel's house (recent converts) to watch them light fireworks and then we went home and watched fireworks from the back deck at our apartment. 

We had a pretty cool miracle this week with a member of our branch. There's a 18 year old kid named C in the branch who was preparing for a mission the last time I was serving here, but since the time I left and came back, he had decided he didn't believe in God and that he didn't want to come to church anymore. We eat at his family's house every Monday night, and for the past few months, every time we would bring up the topic of God and church, he would completely close off. He LOVES basketball, so I thought that since he didn't want to talk about the Gospel, I'd talk to him about basketball and see if I can start a good friendship with him, and in the meanwhile, I decided I'd pray for him. For many weeks, there was no change, but one day when we went over to his house for dinner, his mom asked her 15 year old son to bless the food, and suddenly Christian said, "No, I'm gonna do it." He prayed, and after the prayer we were all shocked. He's been coming to church every Sunday since then and he has made a 180 degree turn in his life!! I'm so happy about it!

We had a lesson scheduled with J and E yesterday, but they weren't there, so we hope they're still doing ok. We found a couple of jobs for G that are only Mon-Fri, so hopefully she takes them so she can start coming to church on Sunday!! 

Yesterday, we had a meeting and we were able to meet President Carlson!! He is a lot different than Pres. Cleveland was! He's a lawyer from California and he's a lot more soft spoken and gentle than Pres. Cleveland. He talked to us a lot about the importance of focusing our studies on the scriptures and he also talked about chapter 9 in Preach my Gospel and the need to constantly find people  to teach. He quoted the same scripture I sent you last week in 3 Nephi and he said he wants us to internalize that scripture and always remember it.  He and his wife will be great leaders of this mission and I'm excited to work with them!

That's all I have for this week! I'm excited for another week here in Indy! I can't believe my time left is so short and I'm going to make the very best of it. I love being a missionary and I know I won't have another chance like this :) Love you mom!!! Have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Thayne