August 26, 2013

Hey Thorne Fam!

Another week has flown by! I can't believe that this transfer is already nearly over! They just keep coming and going like leaves in the wind. And fall is already upon us. I am eager to see what the future will hold for me and how the Master will continue to shape and mold my life.

Things this week are going increasingly better. My health has improved. No headaches! And we have found a couple really solid new investigators. We are really excited for them. We have also had a lot of fun contacting college students. They are so much fun to talk to and much more open minded than the older folks in town. We are excited to see what this week holds!

Investigators are getting there, baby step by baby step. Currently progressing are Abdullah, Sandy, Kat and Erin. Abdullah and Erin are also new. They are absolutely amazing. Abdullah is Muslim from Saudi Arabia. He loves the Book of Mormon and loves learning about Christianity. He prays sincerely and has a very pure heart. He is honestly seeking. Erin is our new neighbor downstairs. She is a freshman at the college and really needed some good moral support. We started sharing the Book of Mormon with her and she has grown to love it. She is reading every day and is already planning on coming to church next Sunday. She has had a rough past, but has a very steady faith in Christ now and has a beautiful future ahead of her.

Sandy is reading and praying and opening up to us but it doesn't seem to be sinking in like we'd like it to. We will continue to pray about what to do with him.

Kat is amazing as always. She is counting down to her baptism in December (hopefully in October if her parents will let her). She wasn't able to come to church because Sunday was sorority rush and she had meetings all day. :/ But she's coming next week!

Tung is coming along. He's not progressing as he hasn't read or come to church but we got him a Vietnamese book of Mormon and will be giving that to him this week. We can only meet with him once a week on Saturday's because his school schedule is so busy. He also is going to Cross Point Christian church with a friend Kye and really likes it. He doesn't understand why he has to come to our church on Sundays when it is so far away. We are going to pray about how to teach him the importance of church.

As for your email: First and foremost! Thank you for the pics! I thoroughly enjoyed them! The house is looking beautiful! Are my walls painted purple??? *squee!!!!!!* :D :D :D And the France pics in a heart are so perfect! I love it!

Sounds like the fam is doing great! So many new things starting! But aren't beginnings just the best? I am reminded of so many beginnings in the Book of Mormon: "I, Nephi having been born of goodly parents." "And now it came to pass that Lehi spake many things unto them about how great things the Lord had done for them." "Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment to write that which I consider to be most precious." "Behold, I, Enos will tell you of the wriestle which I had before God." "And now I, Mormon, grant that Moroni may write somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps someday it may profit them." "And now there was no more contention in all the land." "Now it came to pass that king Mosiah having warred a good warfare and walked uprightly before God..." "And now behold, it came to pass that there began to be a serious difficult amon the people of the Nephites." "And it came to pass that the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled for there began to be greater signs and miracles wrought among the people." "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name- hear ye him!" "And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus." "And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard and call it the Book of Mormon." "And I, Moroni, will not deny Christ." And of course the 7 words that changed the course of history: "This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him!" There is so much to be learned in beginnings. For each of you, I challenge that you will look for the lesson to be learned, on how you can improve from each of these new beginnings. I love you each very much. Never forget that. And I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love eternally,

Sister Thorne

This is how we make the cute covers to our planners. After we've glued on and laminated the pictures onto the front and back of the planners. We take a fork, bend one piece of it back, heat it up with a lighter until it's fiery hot and then we poke it through the tape! It burns through, makes a nice hole for your spiral bound to go through, and you get to play with fire! Basically, this is the way the Elders taught us. Make sense now? haha oh Elders. :)

I got to play mechanic this week. The vacuum was full of glass after the mirror broke and we didn't want to use it on the new carpet until it was all cleaned out. So we got to take it apart, clean everything out and then try to remember how to put it all back together. It still works! I also broke the door knob this week.... she pulled too hard. Darn muscles. But we got to play with that and put that back together too! It also still works! So I now know how to put together a door knob and a vacuum. Maybe we'll find a new investigator because we know these important truths. :P because we know these important truths. :P

Some crazy beautiful Kentucky weather. :)



August 19, 2013

Hey Thorne Fam,

This week has been a rough week! My health hasn't been all that great. On Friday, I got a migraine. Luckily, Sister Saunders did weekly planning while I went into the room to try and sleep it off. Then, my eye started swelling up and we had no idea why. Also luckily (though we all know it's not luck), there is a doctor in the ward so he looked at it on church on Sunday and said that it was a Sty (spelling?) and to just wait and it would go away. But for now it's very painful. But at least the effects of the migraine have finally worn off. So I've been kind of out of it for the latter part of this week and we have been kind of frustrated with the goings on here in Morehead. It seems that everything we organize falls through.

Claudia has dropped us and apparently Tung has changed his number and we have no way to get a hold of him! I know that there is something we are meant to do here in Morehead right now, we just have to figure out what it is. I think we are going to start working more with Less Active's. I think I say that every week. :P But seriously. Oh! Also, we attended ward council this week and LOVED IT! It's amazing to see the goings on of the behind the scenes. It's very fun to continue to get more involved.

As for investigators: currently progressing are Kat, Sandy and Tung. We weren't able to get anyone to church. So many crazy things came up this weekend and there were a lot of people who were either out of town (to get last minute vacation in before school starts) or were really busy (getting ready for school to start). We were able to meet with Kat briefly yesterday and gave her some cookies to try and start off the year right. She is still solidly set on getting baptized this October. We are so excited for her. :) Sandy wasn't able to come to church because it started pouring and his car doesn't have working windshield wipers. But when we called him that morning, he was up and getting ready to go. And he was going to come to the last 2 hours, instead of just the last. We are getting through to him, baby step by baby step. Finally, we haven't seen Tung at all since last Tuesday. We have an appointment to meet with him on Saturday but we can't confirm because his number has suddenly become disconnected. He didn't come to church this past week because he was going to another church with his friend and he's been busy taking care of the Vietnamese Freshman. So we will be praying for him.

As for Jeannie, we haven't been able to meet with her: school. Dennis canceled our appointment and hasn't been answering our calls.

Michael and Becca: still haven't been able to find their address. But we've talked to Michael outside of the comic book store and he is still super excited and wants us to come over some time.

Ryan: is very iffy. He's super baptist and loves to party. We're meeting with him this week (he canceled last time) and we'll see how that goes.

As for your email:

Yes, we have been trying to meet with every member in our area of the ward. The only problem is that that includes 121 different families all over Rowan County and we don't have the miles to visit any of them and we can't exactly bike 12 miles out to where they are. :P But we have been trying our best. Those that we have met have all reacted well. It seems that everyone has been expecting us for quite some time and it is a great blessing to be here. :) We haven't had any problems because of the Elders. Those Elders were here last November and we have had AMAZING Elders since then that have completely turned the reputation around. Elder Carly, Denton, Arnold and Gaither. Amazing, hard working missionaries who have set an incredible foundation for us to continue to build.

I used to coupons for the make up (I was almost out! Thanks!), the deodorant and the cereal. I felt so awesome. haha :)

That is so cool that our ward is doing that! I actually got some adorable pics from the Primary this week. :D And they assigned me a Visiting Teacher? Wow! We are completely spoiled! I'm excited to meet Sister Anderton.

We are absolutely loving our bikes! I've ridden a total of 30 miles so far! It's pretty exausting but I sleep well! haha :)

I'm glad Brit is finally all moved in. I've been thinking of her all week. All the Freshman moved in to Morehead last Friday, the 15th. We also got a new neighbor! Her name is Erin and she's adorable. :) So Brit has been very prominent in my mind.

I'm so proud of Josh and Mandy! Manda-loo, congrats on the recital! You look absolutely stunning. You seem to grow up every picture I get of you. Stop it silly! You're making me feel old! I love you so much and am so proud of the Young Woman you are. Josh: Woot woot! That's my mather! 100%?!?! That's absolutely amazing! Keep it up bro. :) You're awesome.

I did indeed get Brandon's letter. It was a bit hard to read, but I got it interpreted by the power of the spirit. ;) Thanks so much buddy! I loved it and I loved hearing from you. It made me so happy to open the mailbox and see your handwriting on the envelope. Good job!

I also got letters from Kendall Spackman, Becky Mugleston, Brit and the Duffins. I feel completely spoiled! It was really nice to get to hear from everyone. :)

The work is moving onward and upward! I have learned so much this week and I continue to learn more every single day. I think today I am going to end with a quote from Elder Holland. Well, probably 2. :P These have become my 2 favorites out here.

"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?

I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.
If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions."
"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so."

I just love Elder Holland so much. Thank you all for everything you have done to support me out here. There have been so many sacrifices made to bring me to this point in my life. I love you all very much. Keep on keepin on!

Love eternally,
Sister Thorne

 This is what is called Ale81 aka A Late One. It's Ginger Ale made pretty much only in Kentucky. Super delish!

Us and the little Golden Doodles. They are golden retreiever poodles. SO cute!!!!

August 13, 2013

Hey Thorne Fam! 

Could you just ask time to stop moving so quickly?? It seems that every single time I write you the week has gone by faster. It definitely needs to slow down.

As for me, I am doing so fabulously! I can't even describe to you the change I have seen in my own life since I made that promise to stop counting and not open letters until Monday. I have held true to it all and I have noticed so much joy in my life. So many blessings have come to me, I often fall to my knees each night overwhelmed with gratitude for the miracles I have gotten to witness that day. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true! Miracles happen! The Priesthood has been restored! I am so grateful for that witness.

As for investigators: we only have 2 really progressing. That's Kat and Tung.

First, Tung came to church!!!! We got him a ride and he was there and he really loved it! We are meeting with him tomorrow to discuss it more and to talk about the Plan of Salvation a little bit. He is really moving forward and has so much potential!

Next, Kat is a college student. She was supposed to get baptized last year but her parents were going to disown her. They said that if she stuck with it for a year, they would let her get baptized and not say anything more on it. So she has been patiently waiting. She was home for the summer and came back to school this past week. She came to church and has such a powerful testimony. She will be getting baptized in late October and is counting down. I'm really glad she is waiting because this time has just cemented everything she knows to be true.

Sadly, we'll probably be dropping Claudia this week. We have called multiple times and can never get a hold of her.... :( We will keep trying, but I'm not really sure...

We were able to get back into contact with Michael and Becca though! And finally find their address! We are teaching them for the first time tomorrow and we are both very excited for them. They have a lot of potential.

Finally, Sandy isn't progressing because he didn't come to church this past week. We are still meeting with him. He just takes everything so lightly. We have to get past his walls and find out why HE needs the gospel. That personal application. Only then will he start taking things more seriously.

Our new investigators that I will be talking more about next week as we will be meeting with them more this coming week are: Jeannie, Ryan and Dennis.

As for your letter:

I did get your package! There was only one problem.... one of the cake in a bottles had shattered by the time it got to me.... But we still have one! And we have been enjoying it. It's pretty interesting actually because it all tastes like tic tacs! Those things are so strong and Tic Tac cake tastes very.... interesting. :P I gave the CD to Bro Curry and he says Thanks. :) I really enjoyed the coupons. I will be using 3 today! There was only 1 question I had, was I supposed to get a USB returned? I didn't get one in the package... and I need to get that one and send the one I have off soon. Also, is there any way I could get like 1 or 2 more of the bubble/stamped envelopes you gave me to send back to you? I also have another request, do you think you could print off some pics from fb of adventures from high school (pics from cali and seattle choir tours, adventures with Keilee, Hill and Sar, Miss Syracuse Pageant, Tifenn, Kadi, Marsh, etc.) I have pics of the immediate family but I tell stories about my friends and other family members all the time but Sister Saunders doesn't even know what Hill, Sar, Kei, Cam, Ryan, James, Goertzen, Ian, Petey, Steven, Theron, Grandma and Grandpa's and others look like! If I could just get some random pics of all my friends from both college, high school and maybe even junior high if you can find one along with extended family, then I can have pics to go with the names of everyone I talk about. That would be awesome. :D

Another note from today, Thanks for making me cry Kristie!!!! Gosh. I got a little package with a bunch of letters from the Heritage Ward Youth. Let me preface this. From the time I came out on my mission, I told myself that I would never get letters from my ward because my family had moved and no one in the new ward really knew me at all. I just kind of told myself that and then said to get over it and move on because there are things that are more important. Then I got this package and immediately I was overwhelmed. I never ever expected to get one of these and it was the answer to a secret prayer. As I read through the letters of Madi Brophy, Kenzie Butler, Paige Sanders, Paige Whitman, Shae and Kaylee Taylor, Hannah Krauss, Leizel Cordero, Maddie Duncan, Jake Lamb, Lyndsey Brophy, Emalee Whitman, Savannah Tanner and my dear Manda-loo (along with a purple one that didn't have a name. Thanks to whoever that was too!). I sat on the floor of our living room and just started crying. These young men and women had no idea how much their words would help and uplift me though many of them had no idea who I was. Please thank them for me. It meant so much to me to get their letters. :')

I also got a letter from Grandma Great. :) Sounds like things are going great! You'll have to tell Grandpa Great happy birthday for me! 94?! Wow! That's so crazy! Please thank her for that and tell her that I will buy myself a treat. :) LOVE YOU!

It sounds like y'all have had a pretty crazy fun filled week! First, MOM!!!! Did you seriously walk into a mailbox?.... Wow... good job ma. haha I love you too. Do you think you can afford to lose anymore brain cells? ;) Love you! Second, PLEASE tell Chris and Bri hi for me! Porter and Luke are getting so very big! I can't even believe it. My little nephews. :) Third, I'm so glad you got to see Sister Earl!!! Isn't Chels just amazing. :D She still emails me every week and she will always always be my big sister. I love and respect her so much and will look up to her for the rest of my life. I hope to be half the missionary she was. She's my Chels. And if she doesn't like it, she will just have to deal with it. I'm just glad you all now know what I have been talking about. Isn't she amazing. :) And she sent me the pic of y'all making funny faces. It looks like she fits right in to the family! Fourth, it's so good to see Jordie and Markie! Man I miss my girls! I'm glad they are doing well. I knew they would. They are very very strong women. Do you know Jordie's email?  

I think that's it this week. I love you all so much! I can't wait to hear how y'all are next week! 

Love forever,

Sister Thorne

P.S. We got to meet Elder Nash (of the 70) yesterday. He and his wife are SO sweet! They came and did a mission tour and he talked with us for about 4 hours in Lexington yesterday. I learned so much and I have much to work on! The Priesthood is real!

 Decking Laney out. She's pretty much the coolest bike ever!

 Being dorks. Doncha love us!

 Sister Thorne was feeling a little too powerful holding the keys to the bathroom at the gas station.... luckily the man who was working there is Dennis! A new investigator!



August 5, 2013

Hey Thorne Fam!

This week contained a roller coaster of emotions. It was both incredibly long and very very short. Time on the mission is not normal. We had an awesome thought given to us by our BFF (aka Ward Mission Leader) and he was telling us about priesthood keys. President Woodbury has been given keys over this mission. He has a very special responsibility to recieve revelation for this mission. Brother Curry then tied that in to the Mission Standards that have been set for us. He said that those standards have been set by one who has the keys and revelation to know that we can accomplish that. Including baptizing monthly. As long as we have the faith, those standards can all be accomplished. We just have to hold our part up and the Lord will take care of the rest. So we have gone into this week with that new perspective and we have seen miracles! We have hit the pavement and gone to work! We have striven to achieve 14 contacts each day and at least an hour of tracting each day with an emphasis on talking to everyone so that we can find the people the Lord has prepared for us! It has been amazing! We found 3 super solid new investigators on Friday: Tung and Michael & Becca. We are meeting with them for the first time this week. I am very excited for them and to watch them come closer to Christ. There are great things happening!

As for investigators: Claudia is our only current progressing. But our other future progressors are Tung, Michael & Becca, and Sandy.

Claudia is a woman we met contacting at the park. She is hispanic but speak really Really good English. She has a little 4 yr old son-Gael. She is looking for a religion right now and slowly but surely opening up to us. She said she still wants to look into the Catholic religion more because when she makes her choice she wants to know it's the right one. We taught her the first lesson and she is taking Moroni's challenge this week.

Tung is a vietnamese exchange student we met at the IGA parking lot. He is staying at MSU for one more semester and then heading back to Vietnam but he was very excited to get a Book of Mormon and basically asked us when he could meet with us again to learn more about it. We are meeting with him on Wednesday. I'm very excited. :D

Michael and Becca are a young couple we met on Main Street. They have a little 1 1/2 yr old named Alexi. We've kind of lost contact with them... they gave us an address and it was wrong... and neither of them have phones... but we know where he works so we will be checking back there today to see where he actually lives. They are good friends with some members and were both very interested in learning more. I love them already. They are super sweet. :) More on them next week.

Sandy is the husband of a member. He's been looking into the church for years and comes to Sacrament Meeting nearly every Sunday but isn't baptized! He is very logical and I think he's looking for proof. But we are getting him in to the Book of Mormon and he will have the spirit witness to him that it is true. I know it.

In other news: Sister Thorne hit her 1/4 done mark on Thursday. I didn't even realize it until the evening when I went and looked at Mom's Calendar she sent me. I had written it on there back in Evansville and just now looked at it. I kind of just stared at the number for a while. Kind of like Wha?.......... Then it comprehended in my mind and I wanted to cry!!! I already feel the urgency! I can't be at 1/4 yet! I am bound and determined to not believe it. I will be stubborn. Silly Elders get a full 2 years... not fair! Sigh... I had better start working harder! haha :D

Also, I am buying my bike today!!!!!!!! :D :D :D They didn't have it at walmart last week but they ordered it in and everything should be set up to get it today! Woot! I am super excited. :)

Lastly, this week I received letters from Sister Braedon (my Jasper Grandma), Grandma Kathy (thanks Grandma! I loved all your thoughts!!!) and Manda-loo. I will try and write you a handwritten letter today!

I think that's all for this week. I love you all muchly! The Gospel is True! God loves you! And Satan hates your face! I'll talk to y'all next week! 

Love eternally,

Sister Thorne