Pictures from Elder Thompson

A classic Chilean dinner

A fruit that tastes like grapes...not sure what its called

Churrascos

Stick Bug

The missionaries in Lebu

New President

I only have like 10 minutes to write because I have to drive down to the south and back today. 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes/reminders! I almost forgot I have a birthday. I got to the office and the assistants, senior missionaries and president made a big breakfast with cake so I can say it was well celebrated.

Earlier this week we did a big travel through the whole mission fixing up the houses. I was very surprised how beautiful Chile is. I have always been in cities near the coast but we had to go up in the mountains and it was amazing.

After traveling we had to scramble to get everything ready for the new president. It was a sad moment but we said our goodbyes to President Martinez. I also got to be there when President Bluth and his wife arrived at the airport. I am really excited to work with them. And even more excited that his last name is Bluth.

Like Rachel said, South America is going crazy because of Mundial. For example, there are some people painting the kitchen in the office today and at the same time they are watching the Chile game on their phone. Good thing they aren't hourly.

This week our office trainers are going back to the field so we will be doing this alone. I imagine it will get pretty crazy.

Ok, we have to go. 

Love you guys!

Paul

The Office

Week one in the office.

I Said goodbye to my sector which was difficult but a lot easier considering I was only there for 4 weeks then started the 6 hour bus ride to Concepcion. When I got there, the office was crazy. There were so many people coming and going, a lot of stuff getting lost, a lot of people getting lost, and over all, lots of problems. Apparently transfer day is always like this. So we just barely got everyone to their sectors with there comps. For the rest of the day I did something on the computer, making a list or something. I´m not sure. That night we got to the house and it is amazing. It has carpet, painted walls, 2 bathrooms, enough beds, and a washing machine. It is for sure the nicest house in the mission. We also live in a rich part of town so the city keeps dogs out of the streets. That means we can finally go running without being eaten.

So far, I love being here but it can get pretty stressful. We are asked to do things by president a bunch so it is hard to strive for less than perfect. So while I am far from that, I have a lot of improving to do. I think the best part is the craziness of everything. Everyday is different and you never know what you are going to have to do. I think next week we get to road trip around the mission fixing the houses so I am more than excited for that.

Another advantage is being able to cook. I have come to realize this week that I can´t cook. But we made a plan to at least attempt and maybe we´ll get better. The other option is buying pizza, hamburgers, subway, or other things you find in a big city. 

I also have my own cubicle.

Right now there are 8 office missionaries. 4 assistants to the president, us, and our office trainers. But our trainers leave next Saturday and 2 of the assistants go home. So in a week it will just be my comp and I managing everything with the two assistants doing their stuff around the mission. It´s a lot of responsibility and a lot of learning opportunities.

All in all, this is going to be an adventure… An extremely hard but rewarding adventure… Like the mission.

Elder Thompson

heads up

Heads up, my p days are Saturdays so I’m on right now.

Mission Address

Elder Paul Thompson
Castellon 1063  Casilla 3560
Concepcion, Bio Bio, Chile

Or Email at paul.thompson@myldsmail.net

Me Voy?

Happy Fathers day!!!

Too much happened this week. So sorry if my thoughts are a little scattered.

First, I started to study some of the stuff that Rachel was studying and wow. The only thing I can say is how thankful I am to be here on earth. The more deeply I learn about god and my relationship with him, the more I realize how many things I have to be thankful about. 

This week we also continued with the constant struggle with Aurora and Samantha. But in the end they got baptized on Saturday! Woo! They were so incredibly happy, and so incredibly nervous. But they did it and it was worth every minute of studying, visiting, planning, and teaching. When we were filling up the font, we realized that there were thousands of ants on the walls and in the water. It was a very slow process to clean it all out but we did it in the end. Also, one of our investigator families came to the baptism and they loved it. They also asked a lot of questions about how Aurora came to this point of baptism. I´m pretty sure they are next.

On Friday we had a giant conference of all the 250 missionaries in this mission to say goodbye to president Martinez. It´s pretty sad to see him go but it will be interesting to see how things change. It was also really cool to see all of my friends that I haven't seen in a while So in the end, it was a good day. Also Chile won the soccer game against Australia in the Mundiál the same day!

This morning I was about to make pancakes to celebrate the week and the baptism but I got a call from the mission office. It looks like I was chosen a while ago to work in the mission office during the transfer of the new mission President. So basically my whole life has changed. I have to be in Concepción tomorrow at lunch time. From then on, If someone in the mission has a problem with their house, with legal stuff, with money, with visas, or other things, they call me or my companion and we have to fix it. I hear it is pretty stressful but I am super excited. I am going to have to learn how to do a ton of stuff and have to learn a ton of Spanish. I will also get to travel the mission. In a car!

So next week I imagine I´ll have some cool stories to tell.

Elder Thompson