Staying in "Fort Laud"

Hey everyone!

How is everything going? Things over here in Fort Laud are going pretty good. We’re finding a lot of people, but it's hard to get them to keep commitments. But I LOVE this area a lot. There are some really really good people, which I'll talk about in a second.. But now for what you all want to hear... Elder “R”- transfers. Elder Thorne- stays. Which is a pretty big relief for me. I'm super happy I'm staying. This will be the longest I've been in an area. I was in Boynton for 3 transfers. But anyway. Life at home sounds good. Cold though. Man I am not excited to come home to that ha. It's pretty hot over here, especially on bike, but I hate being cold..

So investigator wise.. Sorry I haven't talked a lot about mission stuff. We're teaching a guy named “R.” He's a big big guy who likes a lot of the stuff we teach. About 11 years ago he was struggling, but he turned his life around and started going to church for 10 years straight. Then he fell away and he says he's been spiritually weak. Then we came knocking on his door. He wants to come visit, but he feels like he needs to go back to his church at least once before visiting someone else. That kind of scares me.. Ha jeez... But he's really cool. He has a 15 year old daughter who he's really worried for. So we say that him coming to church and getting baptized will be a huge example to her. 

Then we have “J.”. A cool younger guy who really wants a better life. We testify a lot about Jesus Christ and the atonement and baptism and he understands it, I just don't think it's really clicked, ya know? So I gotta figure out how to help him get to church and keep commitments to help him build his faith and repent.

We harvested into a super awesome couple like a week ago, “A” and “H.” They're way cool. We taught them once, and they're pretty open. They're super nice and friendly and love us a lot, so after our lesson (which included soda and cookies), they fed us fried chicken and coleslaw!! They have the cutest little boy ever, “Z.” Yesterday, they just had us over for dinner. We had a spiritual thought afterward, but it was just me and elder “R” at the table eating while they kind of did their own thing ha. We're going back on Thursday, I'm sure the new guy will love that.

Those are our cool investigators. We have a couple more “eh” ones. Like “A.”. He said he played football for the U of Missouri. He's a sweet guy. Totally closed to the BoM though.... 

Oh yeah so the conference with Elder Haleck. I guess you guys already heard about the promise and blessing.. Ha. But yeah it's super awesome. That was like the coolest experience ever. I'm so blessed and proud to have been able to sign my name on that paper to show that nothing else in this world matters right now than sharing the gospel (All the missionaries in the mission signed a paper which will be placed in the cornerstone of the FT Lauderdale Temple). Being there with Elder Haleck was cool. He talked a lot about the BoM and gathering of Israel. It was neat.

Other than that I think that's about it. I'm at the “P’s” typing on their iPad :) I like it a lot.

Ok, well, these next transfers will be very interesting... The end is coming up fast.. Ha it's crazy. We'll see how it goes. I miss you guys. I love you a ton!!

 

Elder J Thorne 

Baptism

Dear family,

This week was way good. First off, Ms “J” was baptized yesterday! It was awesome. We had a way good lesson on Wednesday, just testifying of faith in Jesus Christ and the blessings that will come because of baptism. We said that she could be baptized on Sunday, and she was like, "Yeah, I want to do it".  So we made all the necessary plans to have the service yesterday after church. It was awesome. She was also blessed with a car on Thursday, so she was able to drive herself to church. In the morning, we went over to see if she was still good, and she was getting ready. At the beginning of Sacrament Meeting, we hadn't seen her. We went and sat in the opposite foyer than we usually do. We never saw her walk in but I peeked in after the Sacrament and she was in there thankfully! But the service was good. She liked it a lot. 

Other than that, this week was boring haha. I told mom about my exchange with Elder “S,” he lives down the street from the “M's.” He got hit by a car on his bike! But nothing bad at all.
Sorry I didn't send the sim card last week, I wasn't able to back up my pics so I'm sending it today :)

Thanks for everything you guys do. You guys are my strength right now. I miss you guys a ton. I love you all so much!

Elder J Thorne

Freezing cold at 60 degrees!

Dear family,

This week was ok. Pretty rough work wise. It seems like all the people we knock into have desires to be baptized right at first, but then one by one seem to dwindle off. Ugh... Thanks for all the support from over there. It really really helps. So last night, I was FREEZING. We were walking back to our aptartment at about 10 (we were home way late because Elder “R” lost his wallet at an investigator's house and we went back to find it), and it was probably around 60 degrees, and I was shivering and dying!! haha My blood has thinned a ton. I have no idea what I'm going do when I get home. haha. I literally might die of coldness.
Man so craziest thing... So remember “J?” The great guy who loves talking to us and loves and respects us a ton. Well we tried to go see him on Saturday night with a member, and we pulled up and he was outside and came up to our car and was like, "I'm just leaving to see a show at the Hard Rock. Sorry" And we were like ok. And he's like "What time is service tomorrow?" "9" "Ok I should be able to find it. Call me at 8." "Alright we will “J.” Thanks!"  So... we give him a call at 8 on Sunday morning to make sure he's still good. Elder “R” was the one calling. And I guess he says something like he doesn't want us coming over so much anymore. He's creeped out and feels like he's being stalked........ Way weird. He did like a total 180 on us. And the thing is, we've stopped by like 3 times in the past two weeks. It blew my mind. Like I didn't believe Elder “R” for a minute. Ugh... Dang it. 
And “G” has like vanished off the face of the earth. Man.... Missionary work... haha. Very frustrating at times....
But we have some alright people we're teaching. Ms. “J” and “D” are still progressing. They weren't able to make it to church because they had a ton of family come in for a funeral. But we'll see them I think tomorrow. Hopefully be baptized this Sunday. Also, a guy we met this past week named “M.” He's pretty old but he wants the Spirit more in his life. He's really connected with his church, but he did come to ours yesterday! It was a total surprise. We were waiting by the door people usually come in and NO one showed (out of the like 10 people we had committed to come on Saturday), and Sacrament starts and we're still out there just talking to the other missionaries and I glance in to the chapel and I see “M” sitting in the back row! He smiled and gave me a thumbs up. haha. 

K sorry I don't have any more time. I love you all! Thanks for everything!

Elder J Thorne