Elder Jantsen Thorpe August 2017-2019: 2018 is a good one for Missionary work!

Hey Gang,

This week on #whatsmysnack we have a meal we had with some members after we did service for them. The food was super good, BBQ pork ribs, Shrimp Alfredo, Veggies, and cobbler. It tasted really good, but was quite an experience. We ate the meal together with their cats and there were mice everywhere. While we were eating there was a mouse crawling on the table next to us! Great experience!

The zone leaders, north elders and us watched the special announcement of President Nelson, which was awesome! It definitely strengthened my testimony that Jesus Christ truly is the head of this church! We had 2 exchanges this week, first with my Zone leader, Elder Cook, then with Elder Hollist. Elder Hollist and I tore it up, we found 7 new investigators in one day! While knocking on doors we heard gun shots off in the distance, it was sick. It's Always a good time with my man Elder Hollist! We had zone conference on Thursday which is always awesome. We, as a mission, set baptismal goals for the year 2018 and as a mission we have a goal of 579 baptisms!! Last year we had 149. So we are very optimistic and President Griffin talked a lot about letting our goals drive us rather than letting them define us. We are really trying to focus on part member families and less actives because thats where we have had the most success in the past. I'm super pumped for this year, its gonna be a good one for missionary work!

I had kind of a cool experience last night. Elder Bagley and I were walking out of an apartment complex and there was a guy sitting outside the door smoking, elder Bagley must not have seen him because he just kept walking to the car. At first I just walked down the stairs following Elder Bagley, but I had a feeling that I should go back and talk to this guy, so I did. I asked him how he was doing and kind of about his life. We talked for about 5 minutes and he told me how he went to our church for a little bit but then stopped because he had some family members pass away and it was really hard on him. I told him that something that brought me happiness and peace when things were tough was the Book of Mormon and I told him that I wanted to give him one. He instantly lit up! As I handed it to him he said, "wow thank you so much! I haven't had one of these in 30 years!" It was so cool to see his countenance change in just those short 5 minutes. I love this gospel and the joy it brings to me and, even more so, I love sharing it with others and seeing the joy it brings to them!

Elder Thorpe