We'll Harvest this Field from Sunrise to Sunset!

Monday, March 21, 2016

Happy Days :)

Dear Family and Friends,

Our miles have been cut down quite a bit because the winter is coming
to an end. Because of this we've had to stretch our miles as far as
they could go. We've been walking a lot and the weather has been
alright, but this last week we got pounded with snow randomly. Montana
weather is really weird. The next day it was warm and sunshiny again.

We had some super cool experiences this week! When we had dinner with
the Young's last week, Sister Young told us that she would like us to
come and share the new #Hallelujah video with her coworker, Patty. The
next day, Monday, we had the opportunity to visit their work and show
her the video. We have met Patty before and we love her! She is so
cool and kind, not to mention her curiosity about the church. We ended
up showing her about seven videos. At that point she began to ask
about the church. She had many questions, so we got to teach her the
restoration! She was so cool about it. We told her about the Book of
Mormon and she said she would love one. She wanted to give one to her
daughter so we told her we'd bring her another one. As we left she
told us that she would, "put it on her nightstand so she remembers to
read it every night!

We had exchanges with the the District Leader this week! I went to
Laurel with Elder Smith and his companion, Elder Baumer, came down
here. Elder Smith and I had a lot of fun together. He has only been
out a month longer than me, like Elder Ross. We were able to teach a
few lessons, one of my favorites being with a young 7 year old boy.
There are two boys in this family, the older one is 11 new the younger
one is 7. Their parents have decided they want to get back in the
church so the missionaries are teaching the boys. They tried teaching
them together but they fought to much. So they ended up teaching them
separate. We taught about choosing the right and even gave him a CTR
ring. For the lesson, we did different role play situations and asked
how we could choose the right in that situation. We all had a lot of
fun and he got really into it. It was a very good time. Elder Baumer
and Elder Ross had a really good exchange, including finding a new
investigator! Elder Baumer and Elder Ross were also able to visit
Patty and give her another Book of Mormon! We'll be going back 
tomorrow to see how things have been going with her.

The tourists were everywhere in Red Lodge this week. The tourists
aren't quite as kind as the locals. This week as we were walking Main
Street in Red Lodge a man from the other side of the street said
loudly, " oh no, are you Mormons??" We were both smiled at him and
almost in unison said, "yes!" Rather enthusiastically! That disarmed
him.

Adam & Christina just got back from a trip but now they're headed out
again!! They're on their way to Utah. They will be there for two
weeks, so if you meet a man with a southern accent and a woman with a
Hispanic accent, it might just be my investigators! We stopped by and
were only able to visit on the porch for a minute because Adam was at
work, but Christina seemed really happy to see us and told us she was
very sorry they were traveling so much. We also found out that they
are getting married on April 6th!!! That will be happening in Oregon,
sounds like another trip haha. We are so excited for these amazing
people.

We met with the Pratts again but only Kevin and Brother Pratt were
there again. We read the Book of Mormon again because not everyone was
there. It was a good lesson but the Pratts are struggling with some
very hard things right now. We love them very much and it is hard to
see them go through these hard things. Please pray for them.

Probably the craziest thing that happened this week was getting to SEE
FAMILY!!!!!! Last week when I got on my email I saw one from my dear
sister Jenni, letting me know that she had called my mission president
and received permission to COME VISIT ME! The idea was that we could
meet before church and talk for a little bit, then they could sit with
me during sacrament. Oh my goodness! As I'm sure all of you can
imagine, I was so totally stoked on our way to the church building in
Absarokee Sunday morning! As we drove, we ended up being behind a line
of cars, three trucks and a minivan. Now, a minivan is not a common
sighting in Montana, it's usually a truck or a Subaru. We both had the
same thought, "it's probably them!" We got close enough to the van to
see the NORTH DAKOTA license plates! This only made me more excited.
We followed them for about 14 miles till we got to the church
building, and pulled up right next to them! It was so surreal! It was
so cool to see such familiar faces. I wish I could describe every
second and how much fun it was. It was amazing just to hold my cute
nephews and to see my sister and brother-in-law when I'd look over. It
was fun to watch Jenni and Burkley with their kids and with each other
and to be reminded that this is the goal. The goal is that those we
teach will go through the temple. That those we teach will have that
amazing opportunity to be sealed to their family for time and
eternity! The goal that they will live the gospel in their families
and experience that love and joy! Families are forever. That's the way
it started with our father in heaven and that's the way it will always
be. I'm out here so others can find that joy as well.

I love each of you very much.

Love,
Elder Thomas

Exchanges!
Healthy lunch in front of the Red Lodge Pizza fireplace. Jk, it's ice cream.
The MINIVAN.
FAMILY. Wow, I love them.
The first part of my birthday package :) Thanks Mom!
Lookin' like a fancy cowboy on an old tractor.
It's a beautiful preparation day :)
Looks like spring to me! 


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