Week 50!!!

Dear Family,

The start of this week was pretty sad because I had to say goodbye to
my favorite companion by far.  We enjoyed Wednesday together and I
spent all day packing pretty much.  I went with him to the trainer
meeting on Thursday and even though I wasn't meant to be there, I
learned much from my awesome mission president.  I always find
something inspiring from the things he says.  Well Elder Cottle got
his new trainee Elder Andrus.  He's pretty cool, so that's good.  We
drove to the transfer meeting and while I was getting my things all
situated they disappeared and left so I didn't get a final pic with
Elder Cottle 😢 oh well...I will see him again during the mission and
after the mission for sure.  This was sincerely the first time I got
teary-eyed at transfers as we went our ways.  We are brothers and such
good friends.

Now, I am with Elder Brunsdale in the Sudley Ward in Manassas.  Elder
Brunsdale is from Tooele and just finished being trained by Elder
Lucero.  I have gone from the eastern boundary of the mission to the
area that is the furthest west in the mission and so there's a lot
more open space and farmland out here.  I've already gotten a bit
familiar with this place called Georgetown South or GTS we call it.
It has a ton of townhouses with all Hispanics there.  We're for sure
going to be doing some branching out into other finding places though.
We've basically spent everyday there trying the same doors.  I'm still
seeing some of the ways Elder Brunsdale was trained so I'll help him
learn and try new things.

The Sudley Ward had their Valentine's Day dinner/party and so we went
for a bit so I could meet members quicker.  I like this Ward, the
bishop is super cool too.  On Saturday, I had a spiritual experience.
It was pretty simple but it was just one of those eye-openers.  We
were in GTS and there was this kid our age walking towards us on the
sidewalk and I had my natural hesitations to talk to him but I've
honestly found it easier to talk to people when my companion has less
confidence than I do. So, I stopped him and asked if he had met with
missionaries before and bla bla and he was willing to listen right
then and so we walked with him back to his house and had a lesson! It
was pretty neat. There was another lady we taught in there who had a
few doubts and as we were leaving the J-Dubs came in to do bible study
with her haha.  But I realized the importance of opening our mouths to
share the gospel.  If we don't open our mouths, we don't know who is
ready.  It reminded me of what Elder Ballard shared with us while he
was here: "You don't decide who is ready to receive the gospel.
Heaven decides that."

Sunday was pretty normal, this Ward doesn't ask new missionaries to
bear their testimonies their first Sunday like Old Town haha. Our
gospel principles teacher is amazing, he's like one of those CES
missionaries who has a plaque like us and he is such a good teacher it
was awesome.  Like...it was one of those days where I felt like zoning
out but I couldn't because he was a captive teacher! Safe to say I was
spiritually edified yesterday.

So I'll write a bit about my new district.  Our WML is SUPER cool, I
met him when I went with Elder Cottle to the baptism of an
investigator here. He drove us to that. His name is Angel Montanez and
he's really young like early 20s so he speaks perfect English.  He's a
graphic designer for the Pentagon, so he's military.  He's a super
cool guy.  He fed us pizza Friday night.  Our district leader is now
Elder Castillo.  I'm serving around him again.  He is companions with
Elder Hild.  They both have about 4 months left of their missions.
Elder Hild actually was in the English program until....like a few
months ago. He asked to join the Spanish program because he wanted to
and president felt inspired so here he is!  I'm also serving around
Hermana Rasmussen again, both her and Castillo I served with in Little
River in Annandale, ...and her comp is Hermana Miller.  I still don't
know her quite yet. That's our district.  So this area is weird....on
paper we are part of the Gainsville zone but since we're Spanish we
cover both the Gainsville and Centerville zones.

Well today we are going to play some more ball!!! Elder Brunsdale is a
baller he played in high school so I'm excited.  I need to write some
letters right now.  I will let you all know how my week went.  I have
a ton of pics again because we said goodbyes to a bunch of members.
Don't forget the importance of opening your mouth to share the gospel
or even being an example unto the believers!! Just like President
Uchtdorf said, "Preach the gospel at all times and, when you can, use
words."

❤️ Elder Thompson

The old ball crew...I miss them already haha
Evidence that it was 74 degrees this past Wednesday!!!
This is Nayda and Miguel Calderon he's so funny I'm gonna miss him
So this is Saul Osorio (best Futsol player I've seen)
And the next pic is the rest of the Osorio family. I love them he is
my mission dad!