On tuesday we worked in little town about 10 miles out side of Arauco called Laraquete. I cant remember if I mentioned it yet but it has a ton of people and missionaries have never been there. It is a ton of fun working there because no one has seen us before. In cities where there have always been missionaries everyone already has a "no" locked and loaded when they see us. so, no matter what we say, or how they feel, most of them just say the first thing that comes to mind which is no. But in Laraquete almost everyone says yes. They realize that gambling a 20 minute sacrifice is worth the possibility of salvation. After introducing who we were and what we do, one woman was even surprised by the fact that we were willing to go by her house and take the time to help her personally.
Long story short, we are having a lot of success in Laraquete. Plus it's right on the beach and covered in rivers, so it's beautiful.
On saturday Chile and Argentina fought in the American Cup final. I say fought because the game was intense. What was supposed to have been an hour and a half turned into 3 hours of bonus time, injuries, and penalty kicks. In the last penalty kick that would decided the game every one in the room was on their feel. I'm pretty sure the whole country was. Sanchez kicked the ball, we all held our breath and Chile exploded. The first time in over 100 years of trying, Chile won the American cup! We all got into the car and drove around what was a tranquil little town but now the biggest Celebration I have ever seen. Everyone who had a car, filled it and joined the honking, yelling traffic jam. Everyone else ran around the streets screaming, hugging strangers and playing music. This continued until way too late.
That night I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep when I realized that my second to last week had come to an end. My heart dropped. I had totally forgotten that my mission was coming to a close. I would try to describe how I feel but it would just sound cheesy so I'll just say it feels weird. My feet hurt, my cloths are worn out, I still wake up more tired than when I went to bed, but it's still not enough. This is it. I have to use everything I have. This is my peak. I am the product of 2 years of intense molding and shaping and I still have the power and austerity to do the work. Chances are, I will never be able to do this again. There is not one person that I will pass by without inviting them to listen, not one person I teach that I won't invite to baptism, and not one less active who isn't committed to going to church. Sorry, I'm rambling. After two years of this, I've gotten really good at giving myself motivational speeches.
So, this is the last email. And to add to the cheese, I'm going to share my testimony because that's usually what you do at the end of things. If there were just a couple things I learned during these to years it is #1 that god exists. Not just as a power or influence but a personage. He is all powerful and perfect and we are his children and any child, if he chooses to, can become like their father. #2 that the book of mormon is the word of god. Not only is it his word, but for reasons that I don't completely understand, it also has his power. Anyone who reads it with intentions to know truth or to be better will feel it. Like really really feel it. And finally #3 that my greatest duty and my greatest joy will be that of finding, making, and raising an eternal family. Anything in this world that stands before me and that goal is not of god, rather of the devil, and is there to make me miserable. I know that this is the one and only true church on the face of this earth. I've had my doubts, more than anything on the mission, but I have been sufficiently patent and have postponed dramatic responses to my insecurity until I was absolutely sure either way.
I am absolutely sure that this is the truth.
With that I end this email and in a few days more, end my mission.
See you in a few days,
Elder Thompson
