February 29th, 2016

Happy Leap Year! Well I'm not sure what we even do on a leap year but I guess it's good to say since it only happens once every 4 years! So Happy Leap Year!

This week has been a week of such great experiences. It has been a week that has helped me grow in my faith and trust in the Lord. As we trust in our Savior and the spiritual promptings that we receive we will always be led to do what the Savior would have us do. I love that part of my missionary commission. I am here to do and say what the Savior himself would do and say if we were here in my very position. I have no doubt that as we trust in the Lord and in the Holy Ghost we are able to understand the will that our Father in Heaven has for us. At times it is hard to do it. It was even hard for the Savior, but he continually said through the pain, trials, and anguish that he experienced, that he didn't come into the world to do his will nor the worlds will. Rather he came to the world to do the will of his Father. Oh how grateful I am for a Savior that was so strong in following what his Father would have him do.

On Wednesday night we were out trying to contact a less active from our ward directory. When we arrived to the house, no one was there so we started to leave but as we were leaving we saw a couple walking towards the house and so we decided to go up to talk to them. They then told us that this less active had moved which we ended up going to try and find this house after receiving directions from Peruvians. Something you need to understand is that Peruvians don't really give that great of directions but we headed off and ended up in this ally. We decided to knock on the last door but the person that answered didn't want anything to do with us. We decided to knock one more door and 2 minutes later a man came out from the 3rd floor. We decided to contact him and ended up sharing the whole message of the restoration of the gospel. (All in English) He then asked how it could all be true and how he could know in which we shared the Book of Mormon with him and told him through the spirit he would be able to know if it was true. He then promised that he would read the entire Book of Mormon and asked if we could come back on Monday (Today). And so today we will go back to share a more amplified message of the restoration. 

I have no doubt that we were led by God to find this Man and I look forward to visiting with him in just a little bit. 

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ direct this work and that as servants of them we must always be willing and ready to do what they want us to do so that we are able to truly bring fruits unto him. I love the gospel and I love my mission!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Thorpe

February 22nd, 2016

Well this week has been a great week. I say this because it has been a week of learning. I know that I have mentioned this before, but Huaraz at times is super hard. Especially when it comes down to finding new investigators and getting into their houses. This week my comp and I have been focussing a lot on how to enter into houses and how we can invite the spirit more into our contacts that we do. What we have tried to do this last week is start off by testifying of a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for them and that we are here as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ to share this plan and to help people understand the importance of the Savior in their lives. As we have focussed on teaching right out of a contact instead of saying "We would like to share a message with you about Jesus Christ" we have noticed that more people have desires to learn. My companion and I were talking and we feel like many people are tired of hearing from people that are from different churches. So instead of saying we are from a different church we try to look for what they need and share solutions to their needs. It has helped us out a lot and we plan on continuing teaching in this way.

This week we had a lot of success with less actives and we are excited to see about 4 of them take the next steps and become full time active members. It has been so good to get to know each and every one of them and to share with them my testimony of the gospel. They are such great people and have such great spirits. One of them the other day mentioned how strong she could feel the spirit as we shared with her our testimonies and just the presence of us being in their house. I know that the Lord works through his spirit to be able to testify and confirm the messages of his restored gospel.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is perfect. As we strive to apply it in our lives we can truly be changed. I love what PMG says. As we learn about the atonement we are able to apply it in our lives and see the miracles that come only from the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ.

I want you all to know that I love you so much and I am thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Elder Thorpe

February 15th, 2016

Well this week has been a really interesting week. Nothing out of the usual really happened. My new companion, Elder Andia, arrived Wednesday morning. He is adapting to the way things are here in Huaraz since the work here is a little different. This week we actually had a lot of success with less actives that are really close to being considered active members again. It has been good to be able to work with them and to help them recognize the principles of the gospel and the importance they have in our lives. It has been good to be able to work with Elder Andia this last week and to find a unity between the two of us. I know that there is still a lot of work to do with our companionship but we have for sure got off to a good start. 

This last week we ended up having our monthy leadership council. Luckily it was a lot better then last leadership council. I'm looking forward to sharing with the zone what I was able to learn but as well as what I was able to feel. I'm excited for this change and for all of the 8 new missionaries that arrived on Wednesday. 

As far as the work here in Huaraz, I won't say that we are having all of the success in the world because we aren't. But we are sure getting better and we are excited to continue imporving every single week. Many missionaries want to come to the zone because it is such a cool place but once they are here they want to leave because it is super hard, but I see it as a blessing for me to learn more about patience and learn to love the people more even if at times they don't love me back.

I want to leave you with my testimony that although we may face trials and although we might fall, our savior is here to pick us up and to come along with us all of the way if we allow him to. His gospel is perfect. At times we might not be perfect and we might not follow his gospel perfectly but as we strive to live it the best that we can and rely on the Lord and his Holy Spirit we can truly reach exaltation.

I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Thorpe

February 9th, 2016

Well another 6 weeks has come and gone and that means that once again there have been a few changes here in the zone! One of these changes is my companion and I. My companion has been changed to a zone in Trujillo and I will stay here with a new Latin companion that is from Argentina. His name is Elder Andia and from what I know about him and what I have been able to see is that he is a really great missionary.

These changes actually came to a surprise to me because just about everyone in the zone was transferred and our mission president sent a bunch of brand new missionaries to our zone. If I were to average out the amount of time that our whole zone has it would probably be around 6 or 7 months in the mission and so yes you could say that the zone is super young. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to be able to help a lot of missionaries understand their purpose here in the mission as well as help them to truly become converted missionaries. I have no doubt that the purpose of my mission president was this because he has said time and time again that he trusts me and has confidence in me. I look forward to being able to train and help all of these new missionaries.

This week for me was pretty good. As a zone we weren't able to reach our goal to have 100 lessons with members like we had set, but we have seen changes here in the zone and they are all for the better. I hope that as this new cycle starts that we can keep the vision of the zone as well as do the things that our Father in Heaven desires that we do.

For P-day today we went up to a lagoon as Elders in the ward. It is the biggest lagoon that is up here and is called Paron. It was a good experience to be with 2 missionaries that have become great friends of mine one last time.

I think I have finally come to full circle in realizing that I have served my mission for 14 cycles and I only have 3 left. I know that this time will go by super fast but I don't want to leave anything undone before I leave this great place, so even though I only have a little time left as a missionary I will continue to serve just as explained in D&C 4. With everything I've got.

I love you all so much!

Love,
Elder Thorpe

February 1st, 2016

I'm going to apologize before I start writing this letter because it might be a little short. I caught myself short on time today and so I'm going to try to keep this brief. 
This last week was absolutely amazing! It truly was incredible. As a zone we decided to focus a lot on what we can achieve rather than on the trials that we have and it resulted in having 98 lessons with member. We set the goal for 100 lessons with member but with 98 I am happy. This next week or rather this week we should have 100 because we understand our potential as missionaries. My comp and I had a really good week this last week and we were able to help a lot of people progress. I am constantly amazed by the power of the spirit when it comes to receiving promptings as to where and what we should do. It truly has been incredible this last week to be guided by the spirit. Not only in our teaching hours but as well as in our studies and our meetings that we have with the missionaries. I feel blessed to have been baptized over 11 years now and to have the constant companionship of the spirit. 

Anyways, sorry again for being short but I want you to know that I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Thorpe