July 2nd, 2019

(sorry my email is kinda long, but it's worth the read) 

It has been THE BEST week ever. Man, I love my new area, my new companion, my new mission president all of it!!!! The work is pretty slow here, I still am kinda unsure of who exactly we are teaching or if we are even teaching anyone specifically... Idk I'll keep y'all updated.

we do a tonnnn of tracting/contacting, but I love it!! We get to talk to so many people every day and so many people slam the doors in our faces but I don't even mind because I know that I'm doing the right thing and that I'm exactly where the Lord needs me right now! I read this talk by Elder Bednar called Come and See, from October 2014 conference, he says in it, "Sometimes we may be awkward or abrupt or even relentless in our attempts. Our simple desire is to share with you the truths that are of greatest worth to us." which is so true. Sharing the gospel isn't always the easiest thing to do, it's awkward and difficult to bring up sometimes because you don't always know what to say or how to say it. All that matters though is that you do share it, and that you have the desire to share it. Just this past Sunday we went to go contact this potential person we could possibly start teaching, we rang her doorbell and through the doorbell she told us she wasn't interested and my companion, sister perry, stood there and just very confused waved to the doorbell camera, I bursted out laughing it was so funny, but now that I'm typing it out it's kinda a had to be there moment, hahah oh well. Just know that it was so funny and who knows maybe one day she will be interested again, it was an awkward moment and interaction, but our intentions and our desire was there.

On Saturday we went out tracting, we had walked about 2 miles from our car so far and all the sudden it starts dumping rain. Like within a minute we were soaked. Everyone thought we were crazy, but it definitely made for some good memories.

On Thursday we had this "mission tour" where our new mission president was going around to 3 different stops meeting all of us and letting us get to know him and his wife a little better. Our area was supposed to meet at the Fort Worth building, so we had a member drive us so that we didn't waste too many of our miles for the month, well these members who drove us there (brother and sister ozuna) are just awesome. But while we were at their  house eating our lunch before we left, brother ozuna comes up to me and pushes my shoulders back, to fix my posture. Sister perry told me I looked petrified, I literally thought he was going to start massaging me. Apparently I slouch... So I told him by the time I leave this area I won't be doing it anymore, well we get in the car to leave and we get about 7 house down the street and he stops the car, mid street, puts it in park, opens the trunk and gets a cushion from the back and starts walking to the passenger side of the car. I'm there thinking "oh he's so nice, he's making sure his wife has a comfortable ride!" nope. He opens my door and tells me to put it behind me. He really wants me to fix the way I sit I guess. Hahah they're so fun, I already just love the ozunas so much. Even though he doesn't like the way I sit :') 

This week for the 4th we are helping with the Arlington parade! We are gonna be in the blazing hot sun alllll morning and afternoon haha I'm actually really excited for it, but I'm not excited about having to be there at 5:30 am, but we get a cool t-shirt out of it so I'm pumped about that. Hopefully we will get to see some fireworks before going in for the night, also if you made it this far, my pday got changed to Tuesday because we had interviews yesterday with President Chapman! I am actually really happy it got changed though because it made it possible for us to go to the temple this morning!! We got to do initiatories, sealings, and an endowment session, i was so happy to be able to go to the temple. You really don't realize how much you take something for granted until you never get to go. So if you are able to go to the temple, GO!!!  And if you aren't able to go, then prepare yourself, become worthy, take the steps you need to get a recommend, and go to the temple!!! It's the best place on this earth I can  promise you that 

I hope you all have a great rest of your week this week!!! Have a fun, safe, fourth of July and eat an extra burger for me because crazy enough I won't be going to a BBQ for dinner that night :/ I love you all and am so grateful for your support!!! 🇺🇲

Love, sister Thorpe♥️