Snow!

So this week was a whole lot better than last week in terms of work wise. We finally were able to pick up two people to teach that we have been working on for awhile and both are awesome and have so much potential! I also had one of the longest days since I've been out, I can only think of one that seemed longer, and it was pretty rough. But it was amazing how much faster the next day went as we changed some things up and taught a couple of people. It's great to see the work of the Lord in softening peoples hearts here in Beaumont and helping us find those that are ready to hear the message that we have to share.

It also snowed this week! It was only the second time it has really snowed this fall, so that was awesome! We got to go around to a lot of different people and help shovel their drive ways and side walks!

Quote of the week comes from a black guy from Jamaica that we tracted into. We were talking about the Plan of Salvation and he tells his friend that was in there with him "I am not a monkey, I am not a monkey man! I am a human being!" haha it was great especially with his Jamaican accent.

Scripture of the week is 2 Nephi 4:32-35

" 32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, becausethat my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thounot shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walkin the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

 33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thyrighteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escapebefore mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me!Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thouwouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, butthe ways of mine enemy.

 34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. Iwill not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed ishe that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he thatputteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea,my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up myvoice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of myrighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee,my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

​Keep it real,

​

Elder W.Chad Thompson

​

Sketchy Ladder

Snow removers

Snow removers

Posing with Frosty

Week 58: That Canadian Life

You know you're becoming a Canadian when you have to roll down the windows of the car at -10(about 14 degrees, 18 below freezing) in the morning. happened to us today and I'm not sure whether to laugh or to cry... but other than that our week was pretty interesting and somewhat uneventful. We saw the Northern lights again, although this time they were right above Edmonton from our angle so my camera couldn't pick them up. We also did service for this lady who had us build a shelf and a TV stand that took forever, but she wants to take the discussions and come to church once the new one in Beaumont opens up! So that was a positive experience! I was also challenged to a state/province-capital challenge from a member. so we had to name the provinces and capitals and they had to do the states( because they thought we didn't know anything) and we won! so now they are buying me an American flag for the apartment!

I also gained a lot of respect for seminary teachers this week, because we got to teach seminary for 3 days! First day was all right, second day was awful, everyone was dead and basically not paying attention(so probably a lot like me when I was in seminary) so the third and last day, we bought them timbits (basically donut holes) and we went in with fake mustaches and played Jeopardy. That turned out a lot better! But it was a lot of fun!

quote of the week is from Brigham Young "If you can find a truth in heaven, earth, or hell, it belongs to our doctrine. We believe it; it is ours; we claim it."

Scripture of the week comes from 2 Corinthians 13:11 

" 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

As we strive to be perfect and keep the commandments, be unified so that there is no contention among us, therefore living in peace, God will be with us always, as will the spirit as we go through this mortal journey.

Keep it real,

BNT

Elder W.Chad Thompson

Sunrise from our apartment

Week 57: The Streak is Over

Well, I made it about 4 days shy of 13 months not having a Utah companion, but that streak is now over. Elder Winnie is from Sandy Utah, so right in the heart of it! We came out together so it' s been pretty fun. He loves sports, so just from that you know that we get along really well. Hopefully we can get the work in Beaumont back on its feet now.

So it finally snowed more than a centimeter this week and winter hit just like that! It was +10 the day before, and when we woke up, it was -10 with a couple of inches of snow on the ground. So we have been able to do lots of snow removal service. I also got to drive in it for the first time (due to the fact that I was in a walking area for the entirety of last winter) and it was so fun! Kinda sketchy but fun. It's now been a couple of days and I haven't even crashed yet. And I won't, because that would really suck.

Transfer meeting was super funny and interesting. Of course Elder Leyerle was going home, so he got to give his departing testimony and it was everything I had hoped and dreamed for. It started with "sister .... you look fine!" The whole place erupted in laughter and he turned super red and explained thats not what he meant, but it was super funny. He then proceeded to give his testimony and threw in some hallelujahs and praise the Lord. I"m gonna miss his evangelical spirit!

Scripture of the week is 1 Nephi 17:13 " 13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

as well as 1 Cor. 15:55-58 "55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

As we keep the commandments of god, and follow the living day prophets, we will be led during our life on earth and we won't need to worry about death having sting, or grave getting the victory because we will know without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ and through him we have the victory.

Keep it real,

Elder W.Chad Thompson

Week 56 Transfers

Well, transfer calls were today and there is going to be a bit of a shake up in Beaumont. Obviously Elder Leyerle is going home, but Elder Majdali is leaving as well. I am staying and getting Elder Winnie who actually came out with me, so that should be fun. President Manion also asked me to serve as District Leader, so that's different too. I'm just happy I don't have to deal with sisters in my district!! As President Manion says, they are a gongshow!

Halloween was fun this week. We were only able to proselyte until 6 pm, so we went over to a members home for the rest of the night and helped them pass out candy and played Canadian Monopoly haha. its pretty weird, but its still pretty fun!

Fast sunday was good as well, as it always is. Filled with awkward pauses and some false doctrine, it was just a regular fast sunday! it is definitely my least favorite time to take inv. to church because you never know what is going to be said. But at the same time, it can also be super great, so you just have to take it as it is i guess.

Something we have been working on lately is making an extra effort to help members do missionary work and try and help them see what they can do. Hopefully it starts paying off soon, because that would be nice. But we are going to make a bunch of cookies (or at least attempt) and take them to the Ward Council and other members to try to increase the referalls they give. 

Quote of the week comes from Elder Pratt who is in the ward we are in right now and is serving with his wife in the mission office. At church he said "Chivalry is tricking women to be pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen. I can say that because my wife isn't here right now. But the next time you see me I

With the only Filipino family in our area

Last night of the tripanionship

Mounties still dress this way!

might have a lot of bruises!" haha it was great!

Scripture of the week is 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward allmen. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings.  21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Just a great set of scripts! But I like 21 where we need to prove all things, or in other words test all things and hold on to the things that are best for our eternal well being and abstain from all appearance of evil.

Keep it real,

Elder W.Chad Thompson

Week 55: Let it Snow

Let it snow, the phrase that every normal Canadian absolutely despises. But the white stuff started yesterday and will most likely be there for the rest of winter. Should be fun! Not much happened this week. We had all of our appointments cancel for various reasons, but we were able to do lots of service, so that was fun. We have been helping a non member build a pond in her front yard which has been great. She owns an ice cream shop so we have been getting free ice cream! And we met this absolutely off his rocker East Indian who talked to us for about 30 min as we were tracting. He said that he was going to give us the lesson, not the other way around. It took everything in us not to laugh the entire time. But as crazy as he was he called out Elder Leyerle and guessed his birthday, right on the dot, haha he was so shocked for the rest of the day. Fun stuff that we get to encounter here in Beaumont. 

I also gained an extreme dislike for a phrase that lots of people use to rationalize disobedience. "Oh I don't care, i go home in xx days. The planes not coming any faster!" i really hate it. its too bad to see missionaries who get super lazy and disobedient at the end of their missions. But I guess, these are the types of things to learn from and not the make the same mistakes. Every time I even think of rationalizing something, this past week especially, I get the thought, "Do you want your wife to be fat?" I thought it was pretty funny when I recognized it, and appropriate or not, it works! so I'll run with it.

Scripture of the week is Mormon 9:7-11,18-19,20. I won't put in all of it, but it's great stuff.

9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.

18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.

19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.

God is a God of Miracles and works according to our faith. As we are dilligent  in keeping the commandments of God and have the faith, we will see all the many miracles wrought by God, whether big or small.

Have a great week

Keep it real,

Elder W.Chad Thompson

The only thing good about this picture, is there is barely any snow on the ground. for now...​

I wonder which holiday is their favorite?