Hola my Peeps

WHHHAATT UPPPPP GORDITAS!!!!  We just ate gorditas so I had to say that. 

Virgin Mary wall art

We are the hottest bikers out there

I have some crazy stories to share with y'all hoy.  And by stories I mean miracles of course. I always dislike writing them because I can't get in all the details I want because of time. Also I'm just a much better story teller in person; let's be honest.  Pretty much what I'm going to tell is just from one day. The rest of the week wasn't as cool.  On Tuesday we had our meetings and what not then we went over to a members house who was going to feed us lunch but she had to go to Mexico so she gave us a pan of rice and chicken with some tortillas to take.  We found a place to eat them; in a nice abandoned parking lot. It was so so hot! (this week was in the 100s the entire week no joke).  We also didn't have forks or spoons so we ate it with our hands; even the rice. I told my companion that we looked like well-dressed homeless people.  After we ate we had a bunch left over so we were like, "Hey, let's go give it to Norma and her family because they don't really have food. So we went up there and I handed her the pan and she was SO happy. She was telling us that her son literally was just complaining to her that he was hungry! My companion and I looked at each other like **dang not a coincidence (that look ya know?)** So we sit down on the porch as usual and we asked her how her day has been and how she has been since the baptism. She was telling us about her day and then she was like, "Yeah, I showered but I haven't washed my hair yet since the baptism because I wanted to let it(the water?) sit in (this is on Tuesday). It was the most adorable thing I had ever heard of. I  forgot to ask her how long she waited to wash her hair. I'll let you know next week. So we gave her props for that. I told her just to never wash it again.  Hopefully, she knew I was kidding;)

Norma and me. That's the chihuahua I kicked in the middle of the lesson like my first week here.  We finally
are friends although I'm pretty sure it still has pulga

I look nuts but Sister Thompson looks pretty cute

Norma tells us that after the baptism last week she was talking more with Sister Coronado about her husband and her daughter that have both passed away. She was asking her more about baptisms in the temple and things like that because we had just taught it to her. She told us that Miguel Coronado (the son of her member friend) wants to do the baptism for her husband.  Norma was like "Sisters, I don't know anybody who can do it for my daughter. Do you know anybody who can, on the same day or something?" We were kind of thinking and I realized that Miguel is up at BYUI right now!! So I told her that my mom would love to do the baptismal work for her daughter and that she could go meet up with Miguel and do the daughter and dad together!! So Mom, will you be a missionary for my converts daughter? ..... Okay thanks:) They will get in touch with you soon. The son of her best friend and the mom of her missionary! Just when I thought God's tender mercies were beaming on us, they were about to get better!

What we do

That sunset

We continued to talk and Norma tells us that the night of her baptism (Sunday night to Monday) her daughter had a dream. In her dream her dad (the man Miguel is going to be baptized for) appeared to her and said "Viridiana, I FINALLY found the light." Then he turned around and walked into a bright light and disappeared. We continued to talk to Norma and I had the thought, "Sing the song from the baptism." So I leaned over to my companion and I said, "Hey, let's sing for her".

**So a really quick back story before I finish that.  At the baptism the missionaries sang a song while Norma got dressed and ready.  When she came back in the conductor was kind of starting to close the meeting. My companion leaned over to me and says "We have to sing another song for Norma." I was like "Okay, which one?" She was like Divina Luz. And in my head I was thinking, "What the heck. That's random." We stopped who was conducting and told him we are singing again. So we sang that song for her "spontaneously"  **

We pull out our hymn books and open to the song that we sang at the baptism and it wasn't until that moment on the porch looking at the words to that song that it wasn't a coincidence that we sang it at the baptism and that we were about to sing it for her then. It's, "Lead kindly Light" in English. The words in Spanish are like talking about how the night is dark and how he didn't have faith for awhile but then he found the light and now he is going to have firm feet and make it back to his celestial home.  It was as if they were her husbands words to her in that moment after her baptism, the dream of him finding the light and again when we sang to her on the porch.

One side is America and the other is Mexico and in the middle is a giant Texas 

I don't think we realize how much help we are getting from the other side. especially from God. Each and every moment, good or bad has its purpose. It's up to us whether we recognize them, learn from them or just simply let them pass by. His hand is there. It's our choice whether we want to grab it or not. Whether we open the door to let Him in. It's simple things like listening to the spirit like in my story, just by singing a simple song or to recognize an answer from a dream. It's the primary answers and the little things that all add up to become a big miracle. You wont regret listening but you'll always regret not listening. Let him in and listen! He is there! He has been the whole time. HE LIVES! Look for him!!

I love you all. Have a good week. Don't forget to take a second and listen:)
Hermana Thompson

Our popsicles match our outfits

I caught a frog and brought him inside to study with me 

Our zone

HOLAAAAAA!

Hola todos!

I hope I have enough time to write what I want! This week was freakin' nuts! God gave me a big bite of humble pie.

It has starting to get super hot and extremely humid! My hair looks like a Jew fro sometimes.  I'll wake up in the middle of the night and I'm so sweaty. It's gross but it builds character.

Lately I've been praying to see a miracle and this is my little experience. We had a dinner appointment at a members' house, who I really enjoy. She made us Mole. If you don't know what mole is, I envy you. My companion asked her what was in it. It was fried animal crackers, hot chocolate, tomatoes, apple, peppers and a pear. They  put it in a blender and make it into a sauce and then put it over chicken. It looks the same coming in your body as it does coming out. My miracle was that I managed to eat an entire plate without throwing up. I think it's the only food here that I've managed to eat slowly. Luckily she didn't force me to eat seconds like everyone else does. The days we have two meal appointments in a row kill me. Yesterday we did and then after we went to a third house and they kept saying I was too skinny. (this was after I ate like 3 plates of food) needless to say I managed to eat literally half a watermelon because every time I finished a piece somehow there would be another on my plate. When we got in the car my companion just laughs and said "How do you feel?!" ... "Full. I feel full."

I was also bit by a pig this week! People have weird pets. I counted all of my tallies for how many dogs we have been chased by so far in my mission -- 222!! I hate them all.

The first lesson I learned this week is even though I'm a missionary I can't do stupid things. I have bugged my companion to go teach in this voodoo store that a member lives behind. Finally she let me but she waited at the door while I talked to the guy and taught him. After we left I told her that I felt creepy and she said she did too. She then asked if I knew what that place was. I was like, "No, not really, I just thought it would be cool to convert a voodoo man." (dumb idea) I guess it was a santa muerta store which in English means death saint. They worship death and have death shrines. She then told me that they worship it and have brought people back to life and a few other crazy stories. It's pretty much a Satan worshipping thing. I was like "WHAT?! Why did you let me go in there?!!??" and my companion said, " I thought you knew!!" We couldn't get back into the spirit of things the whole day and it sucked. I'm trying to remember that I'm not invincible. We also found a Buddhist temple that we thought was a house but it was cool. We talked to a Chinese man. He was nice.

We went by a recent converts' house this week who stopped coming to church. It's a family of 7. They have been trying to get help from the Bishop and having a hard time paying taxes. When we walked in I noticed they had a brand new TV that was like 60 in. and we got talking to them and she said she didn't like to go to church because she didn't like wearing a dress and that's why they don't go anymore and that they are trying to pay their bills and a few other excuses and that they were having a hard time. I was like just wear pants to church then! I asked her what the real reason was that she didn't want to come because that was a dumb reason not to go to church. She was saying they are having a hard time because they needed to buy a work visa or something. So we pointed at the TV and we were like then why did you buy a new TV?!  She told us she got it from a pawn shop for 200 dollars. Which is a lie. I was like well what else? She told us that her friend told her that we aren't Christians because we are called Mormons. I sat there thinking and my companion was like do you know how to answer that? ... I took off my name tag and I asked "What is the name of our church? she answered. I asked, "What's the biggest lettering on my tag?!" She was silent because she knew where I was going with it. I said, "JESUCRISTO! Do you still think we aren't Christian?" My companion loves that I'm so blunt when we doubt bust.

We went by another less active this week. We were sitting there talking with the mom and the kids. One of the little girls who was about 3 brought her chair by mine and was eye balling me for like five minutes. She then went in the other room and came out with a dress on and sat by me again. She stared some more. She kept looking at my shoes. She left the room again and came back out with her shoes and I helped her put them on. She had my companion braid her hair and she came and sat by me and crossed her legs like mine. It was adorable. It took me back a minute and made me realize that people are watching everything we do. I feel like a normal person but we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We are literally disciples of Christ. That's all we do 7 days a week is be the mouth piece that Christ wants us to be. It made me realize that little girl was watching me and wanted to be like me and that's how we need to look at Christ is to watch him and study him in the Bible, etc. and become more like him because he was the ultimate example.

We meet so many people and hear so many dark things in people's lives whether it's about people's children dying, people being burned in a fire, husbands in jail and not being able to provide for their kids, stories of abuse and peoples kids on drugs, we have heard it all. The other day we were in the car driving and my companion asked what I was thinking. I told her that I was frustrated because I want to help these people with all of their problems. I told her that when they tell me they become my problems and that I was a little overwhelmed because I have the problems of many now and not just mine! My companion then asked me "Do you know what that means?"  I said, "Yeah, a headache!" She said, "That means you love the people," Love is hard! It hurts so good. Although I can't give everyone their papers and bring their loved ones back to life or make drugs disappear I can give them the ultimate gift and bring them to Christ. Helping others remember that Christ died on the cross and the atonement has already been paid for; it's already been done! The biggest thing I ask people is if they are going to let his death be in vain or if they are going to accept him. This life is going to go on and we are going to have our trials either way. I tell people that and I ask them if they are going to go through this crazy adventure alone or if they want to go through it with Christ because I've done both and it's a lot easier with Christ! Christ chose us before we chose him. It's been a blessing to see people change and to help their souls.

It doesn't take a mission to be a missionary or to be an example. We are all on this earth to learn. Although we all have different trials and problems we all want to end up in the same place; on the right hand of God. Help those around you because I can literally tell you that you would be surprised at what people are going through whether you know it or not. Be kind. People won't remember the things you said or the clothes you wore but they will remember how you made them feel. Charity is the true love of Christ. I hope you all have a good week! Thank you for the love and support and prayers. Te Amo!!

Thompson Street! 

This is what our backyard looks like. right when you open the door there is like 5 feet of grass haha!

"nor responsible for accidents" outside our apartment haha  

Two Months in the FIELD

Hola y'all!!! Como esta?!!

This week flew by!! We have so many people that we have been teaching I wish that we had more time in the day!! I also wish that people weren't so flaky either! I've never been let down so many times in my life, let alone in one week! I've been hung up on and had the door closed in my face but we just keep going!
I had the lovely opportunity to try cow tongue and octopus. They were both gross and I'll just leave it at that. While contacting, some boy answered the door butt naked and I'm scarred for life. We also teach a lot of drunk people so that's been fun. They are really honest! One house we went to the lady told us that she wasn't religious and didn't believe in anything and that she didn't believe in God. I asked her if this was her house and she gave me a weird look and said, " Yes?"  So I pointed to the address plate that was right next to her door; it had Jesus' head on it with a thorn crown and it said "God bless this house". I said "So you believe in God then?" I had to call her out -- I couldn't help it. The look on her face made my day. We also got a letter in the mail that said we were called to be sister training leaders. We were freaking out because I had just got here! It was a mistake! Hallelujah! I can't even keep track of myself most days let alone be a STL.

The biggest thing I learned this week is the second you start to forget about yourself is when life starts to become great. When I first got out here my mind was preoccupied with home and friends and school, my stomach problems coming back and feeling so malnourished everyday. I was tired and I smelled like a sweaty taco. Then it hit me. I'm not here for myself. Right then I knew I needed to change my focus. Yeah, I'm still tired and sweaty and never feel good and I still smell like a taco but I know that if I eat the food the people give me that they are going to be blessed for taking care of us. I know that the harder I work the better results we will have. I've been to 30+ states and 9 countries and wasn't so sure about serving in south Texas but I have never experienced anything like this. It's so different to be immersed in another culture and going into the homes and trailers that they live in. I have heard so many life stories that have blown my mind. The people are amazing and they would give you the shirt off their back. They are so welcoming and warm. At first I thought it was crazy that people would just let two complete strangers in their house to talk about Jesus. We exchange stories and talents. We sing with people and we cry with people and we have made friendships with people. You don't need to have a name tag over your heart to serve people. It is sometimes as easy as smiling or opening your mouth. It's just a matter of painting a name tag on your heart. When things are hard be a creator of circumstances not a creature of circumstances and most of all forget about yourself. You will be taken care of if you're taking care of others. Your weaknesses will become strengths and your worries will disappear. but most of all you can help someone who can never repay you, just the way Christ has done for you and what a wonderful feeling.

The other week we were contacting houses and a few boys came up to talk to us. We found out later that they dared each other to come say hi. We gave one of the boys a Book of Mormon. His name is Marcos. He is 12. I asked if he would be baptized and he said yes. We came back about a week later to see how he was doing and he had read like 236 pages of the book of Mormon! He is in Mosiah. I was so happy and so impressed!! He is such a great kid. We have a hard time finding rides for people to church and so he wasn't able to come this week. I was super butt hurt.

The other day one of the members was supposed to feed us but she texted us to not come because she had got home from work late. I heard our phone beep but didn't check the text because we were helping someone put up a fence. I forgot about the text and we went over to her house. She asked if we had received her message and we said no. She made us food anyway and we taught her a lesson. She told us her husband didn't like to go to church anymore because he likes to watch football. She said she was going to leave him if he didn't come but it was just an empty threat. She said she told him that like a year ago and nothing has happened since and he still doesn't go. My companion said she should get a divorce!! and I hurried and said "NOooo don't do that" (I had a nice chat with my comp. after for saying that) I told her that he will come around and that the best thing she can do is just to love him back into the gospel. She just had a baby and so I said that she should continue to go to church and teach her girls to go and to love the Lord and that things will work out for her. I read her the footprints in the sand poem and we shared a few scriptures. Before we left I apologized for not getting her text and she told me, "There is a reason you didn't get that text, thank you for coming."

This week has been filled with miracles and trials and I wish that I could share them all and others I'll keep dear to my heart. Always remember that the Lord makes weak things become strong. Have a good week everybody and serve others! Thank you for the prayers and love and support! I love y'all!

-Hermana Thompson

this is us eating an octopus today! it was gross:

we caught a rabbit too