Monday, April 28, 2014

April 28th, 2014

Well this week was awesome. This week we had two more baptisms. One was Alexsis and the other was Kevin. They were super excited and I was so happy for them as well. We confirmed the four of our new converts to the church. I'm so happy they were all able to make the correct decsision. We´re planning on having a few more baptisms in May. We'll see how that goes. I'm trying to place baptism dates on my birthday because this year my birthday is on a Saturday.

We have been super busy this week with contacting all of the references we keep receiving. Some don't always accept but I guess it just wasn't their time. It's all good. We just recently got a reference from temple square in Utah, so that was really cool. They said her family left the church but she wants to go to ours. 

I'm really happy now that all of the vacations are over because that means everyone will be home and it will be a bit easier to find people to teach. My companion and I have been getting along really well and we actually are teaching really well together. He's probably one of my favorite companions that I have had during the mission.

Well I love you all and hope you have an awesome next few weeks of school.

Love, Elder Thorpe

For mothers day Im thinking I could Skype around



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

April 21st, 2014

Well this  was a long week of trainings. President came down and gave a 5 hour training to all the missionaries here in Casas Grandes. It was actually really helpful the only thing that stinks is that now my letters to him are larger than the ones to my family. It's a pain in the neck.

I really enjoyed myself this Easter Sunday. I thought church went well. No one really said anything though. I don't think Easter is too big here in Casas Grandes, kinda weird.

We are starting to have a ton of success in our area now and I am loving it. We have been contacting people like crazy and I have gotten to know a lot of really cool people. That is something that I absolutely love now! I love talking to people I think I might need to thank my younger self for talking so much in elementary school.

This week was also a good week because we had 2 baptisms. Rodolfo (the uncle) and Keylin. Her brother is going to get baptized next week because he drank a little bit of coffee. Oh and were also going to have another baptism this Saturday too. His name is Alexis and he is awesome!

I really don't know what else to write my mind is all twisted up from the letter to president. Oh I got my package by the way! Thanks for the camel. I wrote that wrong. Love you all

Love,
Elder Thorpe

Elder Thorpe and Roldolfo

Hump Day package



Keilyn and Elder Borgel

Elder Thorpe, Roldolfo, Keylin, Elder Elder Borgel

Sunday, April 20, 2014

April 14th, 2014

Hey fam!
 
So I'm glad to know all went well in Dislandia! haha I love the picture you sent me of Grandpa! Well I'm here in the Acadamy Juarez (the mormon school) and internet is extremely slow. I think it's because its 6 elders using the same internet. Love that we named the dog in spanish. LOBO! I would have liked the name stains (manches) as well but Lobo rocks. I like manches because I'm always saying no manches which means don't stain me basically. This last week was a busy one we keep finding new people to teach and we are super excited for our baptisms that we have prepared for this month. The training is going great and my companion loves me. He's teaching me every morning how to use my feet (soccer). But yeah!
 
We had a really cool training on the talk that Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave at the MTC of Mexico. He went down there to give a training to all the misionaries in the MTC and to all the missionaries of Mexico. It was really good. He talked a lot about placing intermidiate goals to help us achieve our bigger goals. He also talked about the importance of including the members in the Work of Salvation. Its funny because I was going to write use the members but thats not what it is its include the members. The members are an important part as well in hastening the Work! Also he talked about the importance of contacting people in public. We aren't allowed to door contact but we are allowed to contact in public.
 
Well I don't have a ton of time to write but I love you all and hope all is going good.
Say hi to the ward for me I pray for all of them and miss them!
 
Love,
 
Elder Thorpe

Friday, April 11, 2014

April 7th, 2014

Hey Fam!

So this week was a long one! I was in Juarez for almost the entire week, but I'm super grateful for the time that I had there because I learned so much! I first got to Juarez and they told me I wouldn't get my new companion until Wednesday. So for the first two days I was hanging out and working with the Secretaries. It was legit! WE GOT TO GO TO COSTCO! Imagine not going into a Costco for a year and then going into one, can you imagine my reaction (don't worry I took pictures haha) But I really learned how to contact people really well in Juarez. It was good practice because there are lots of people in Juarez to talk to! Wednesday I had my trainer training meeting and they basically told me things I aready know because I trained already. Then the Assistants said we were going to do splits and I went with Elder Ellis and my Comp with Elder Cruz. This is when I really learned how to talk to people. In three hours of working with Elder Ellis we contacted 30 people! It was such a great time and I learned so much.

I've actually started to get pretty good at contacting now. That is one of the things I wanted to do better in Casas because there really aren't a lot of people. You have to talk to everyone in your sight. It's like what Elder Ballard said, ¨Missionaries if you want more people to teach you need to talk to more people.¨ That is something that I put into practice this week well three days of working in our area. On Sunday is when we really had success, but This week from talking to people in the street we recieved 8 new people to teach. The key really is to smile and be positive, who can turn down two 18, 19, 20 year old kids with a big smile on their face in Juarez or Casas! I love talking to people now and getting to know new people. 

So my new Comp. his name is Elder Borgel, he's from the state of Mexico and he is the BEST! He didn't start out like Elder Hernandez, serious, doesn't talk a lot. He is super excited and we connect very well. He is going to teach me how to use my feet so I don't look like an idiot when I play soccer haha. I'm super excited that we are companions!

So I was super excited for General Confrence and then we got to the Stake Center and it started and then I remembered how much I hate listening In spanish. I loved it all though. I kind of wished Holland would have gone in the later sessions just because I love to build his talk up, but I loved it anyways. This was such an awesome General Conference. I learned so much and I loved the fact that so many talked specifically to the youth. As I was taking notes everytime someone said something about the youth at the end I wrote (Youth). In these later days it's important that the youth stay strong and be not moved. Like Lehi taught to his sons Lamen and Lemuel.

And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.
 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the afountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!
 10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, afirm and bsteadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!
1 Nephi 2:8-10
Well I love you all and pray for everyone of you every day!
Con mucho AMOR!
Elder Braiden Thorpe
Elder Thorpe and Elder Valesquez at Costco in Juarez, Mexico

Costco 


Elder Borgel and Elder Thorpe