Hola todos,
I am sitting at the computer thinking how grateful I am for all of the wonderful people that I love so much. This last week was absolutely wonderful and SO different than anything that I have yet experienced as a missionary. My companion and I work so well together. I feel like she is really helping me heal and let go of some pretty hard things that I delt with in the last area. We talk very openly and we are able to express our love and respect for one another and for the work. I think a big reason why our companionship is the way that it is is due to the fact that we both know why we are on our missions and we also have confidence in who we are. I find myself feeling so rejuvenated and really happy. We have had some great success even in the short time since I arrived here. We have four baptisms set for the month of December and three of them are people that we just met within the last week and a half. The most awesome part about this is that they are all progressing and all of them attended church this last Sunday. Everyday we have been working our very hardest to be exactly obedient and to be thinking about the people that we are teaching instead of being distracted. Man I am sleeping SO good these days. We usually get done planning late but we always feel like we are really prepared for the next day so it is so worth it.
Coming back to the Visitors' Center has really helped me to realize how much I have changed. I absolutely love to work hard. I love to work hard because I know that working hard in the end really is the easier way. When you give what you are doing all that you have you never have to feel regret or worries later on. When you work hard, playing hard is SO much more fun! I find myself having to continually evaluate why I am doing what I am doing. Why am I here? The number one reason has and I know always will be that I love God. I love God and I love His children who are my brothers and sisters. We have this presentation at the VC about God's plan for his families. If you have not seen it you really should visit your nearest church Visitors' Center and check it out. It goes through the life of a family and really plainly teaches the Plan of Salvation. I like to tell the visitors that it is the "why" of the gospel. Having the knowledge of this plan is so much a part of why we do the things that we do as a church. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the knowledge that I have. There is a part in the God's plan presentation where it shows the grandpa of this family passing away and the grandma talking about how she was not ready for him to go but that she is okay because she knows that she will see him again. Well due to the fact that my grandpa passed away over the summer and I was able to talk to my dear sweet grandma on the phone the day after it happened, I know that she is feeling very similar feelings. My first day back here I took some visitors through this presentation and I couldn't help but cry as I though of my grandpa and how because he made and kept promises with God we will see him again after this life. I am not thankful for the passing of my grandpa and for the heartache that it brings to our family, but I am thankful for the perspective that this experience has brought to my life. I have had the sacred opportunity to share this experience with some of the visitors that I have taken through the VC and I know that it has really touched them and helped them to open up and talk about areas in their own lives. I am so thankful for opportunities to grow and develop even when there is pain involved(and sometimes especially when there is pain involved) because I know my Savior Jesus Christ more than I ever have in my entire life. Because I have this relationship with Him the desire to share the knowledge that I have of the gospel has developed into a fire that I know will not die down if I keep feeding it with regular scripture study, heartfelt prayer, and pondering. I really do love the Lord.
I don't think that I had realized how much I was missing being around all of these amazing sister missionaries. I love living in a house full of sisters. I have the chance to get to know each one of them and to develop a friendship that I know will last forever. I love how each and everyone of the sisters brings something special to the VC and I love them all. I love that there are other Spanish speaking sisters here too because we can practice together. I must admit that sometimes I do enjoy confusing the other sisters who are called english by randomly speaking to the other spanish sisters in spanish. It's just funny. I have had the chance to take a few more families through the VC in Spanish. I am continually learning and I always need more practice but if anything my love for Spanish has only grown since being here. I miss getting to speak the the members in spanish yet it is nice to be in a culture more similar to what I have back home.
Wow! Time is running short! I must end this letter. I love you all very much and I pray that you are all doing well and staying close to Heavenly Father. I would love to hear from you!
con amor,
Hermana Thorne
Also i attached a pic of me and my cootie patootie companion, Sister Lettig
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