November 18th, 2013

Well this was the best week of my mission so far! It was incredible to see the Lords hand in our work that we did and in my life. Everyone here is getting all excited for Christmas and its been super awesome. This week we were teaching a family who are less active and their son isn't a member of the Church (he's 10). But they are such a super awesome family and they are progressing so much. We taught them about the Doctrine of Christ found in 2 Nephi 31. It was awesome to see their understanding of the gospel expand in their minds. I wasn't completely sure but I kept getting strong promptings from the Holy Ghost to commit Gael (the 10 year old) to baptism. After that he said yes and that he would pray to know if this is the true church. Then we felt prompted to commit his dad to prepare to baptize his son if it was him who his son chooses for his baptism, and he said yes as well. That was such a huge blessing for us this week. We want to have him baptized on December 22.

Also this week we decided to look for many new investigators through the area book. If you don't know what it is, it's a book with all of the names and addresses of people that we have taught or contacted. And let me tell you there are a ton of names. But we decided to contact about 8 families. Out of the 8 we recieved 4 new investigators this week and that has been our goal as a zone to receive 4 new investigators every week. That was such a blessing for us this week.

Also this week we had the opportunity to work a lot with FamilySearch and look for names for the members in the work to bring to the temple to do baptisms. It was super awesome seeing the members get excited over their own family history work. On Saturday we got to go to the temple, we were originally told that we would be baptizing members. But the temple president told us that they already had someone and didn't need our help. Then we were told that they needed help with witnesses in the sealings. But they didn't need help with that either. So all of us 8 Elders were standing in the dressing room trying to think of what to do....Then the Temple president came to us and said there was only one person in the next session and they needed help in the session. Now our Mission President was very strict about us not entering into a session. But the Temple President said he would call and ask if we could. Later on we were told that we could enter into a session and we all got super excited.

It was my first time in Spanish I really wasn't that nervous at all because I can understand/speak spanish just fine now. But as I sat there and learned more about Gods plan for us, I couldn't help but have tears. I know that God loves me and that he made this beautiful incredible world for us. I know that He loves each and everyone of his children and so he sent his Son to suffer and die for us, so that we can once again return to live in his presence. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that this is the true church and that in this church is where the Priesthood of God is found.

I love you all and miss you all!!!

Love,

Elder (Braiden) Thorpe

November 11th, 2013

Well this week was some what a struggle we were running all over visiting the members trying to get their Family History work. In the end we didn't get very many names. So they canceled the Temple trip and it's going to be this Saturday. As the missionaries we are going to baptize and confirm all of the people we are hoping for about 100 names, who knows. But this week we are going to be working really hard with all of the members.

I spoke in Church as well this Sunday. I spoke on.....Family History (what do you know haha) I spoke on how the Savior loves all and wants all of us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. I also spoke on how there are two parts to the work of Family History, there is the part of those who have passed on, and the work that we as members need to do. And without both parts they can't return to live with us as a family in Gods presence. After we spoke in church many people came asking what they needed to do to find their Family History Work. It was super suave!

We are quickly approaching transfers and I believe that I will get changed to a new area and my companion will start to train a new Elder (an American). Everyone is super anxious for the new missionaries because there will be American Sisters, and it has been a long time since there were American Sisters in Mexico. The mission continues to grow and progress every week and it's pretty crazy the changes that continue to take place.

In December we are going to have a music and the spoken word. I'm super excited for it. We are going to perform in all of the Stakes which is 5 and in some malls around Juarez. I think it will be a neat experience and we will find many new investigators. This is always my favorite time of the year. I love to feel the spirt as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I'm so glad that I am a missionary and I feel so blessed to be serving here in the Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Mission. I love the Savior and his teachings. I Know that Families can be Forever.

Love,

Elder (Braiden) Thorpe

November 4th, 2013

Nov.4, 2013

Well this week was one of my hardest weeks in the mission and why is that, because of stinking Halloween. It was super hard to find people in the house because all were either at parties or out doing something for the holiday. And yes they actually do celebrate Halloween here because it’s a border city. But I will have to say its worse in the USA. But as well this week was somewhat a good week we had success finding a new investigator through a less active family, which is super awesome. It’s a young boy with the age of 9 years. He seems pretty excited to be listening to us and hopefully we can reactivate his family so his dad can receive the Priesthood and baptize him. That is our goal. As well with that we have an investigator who is super awesome her daughter is the only member of the church in their family, and this last Sunday she accepted baptism. She will be baptized Dec.17. I don’t think that I will still be here but I hope she stays strong and continues onto baptism.

I believe that it is the season of giving blessings, because in this last week we gave about 4 or 5 blessings. I finally have it all memorized in Spanish so I can give the blessing without reading cards or the white bible. I’m so glad and blessed to have the Priesthood in my life. (When you get the chance I need my line of authority its now a requirement in the mission) But I am super excited with the progress that I have made over these almost 8 months.

I’m super excited for this weekend because this Saturday we are going to the TEMPLE!!! It has been so long and I am super excited. We are going as a Stake and it’s going to be my first time in Spanish I'll let you know how it goes.

I love you all and miss you all and am so excited to feel the Spirit of Christ this Christmas. Love you.

Elder (Braiden) Thorpe