June 8th, 2015

Dear Family,

First I want to say thanks for all of the Birthday Wishes! It made me feel really good to see how loved I am! My week and birthday was so great! Just like every other week!

This week in the area was really good. We had a lot of success working with the members this week and with the consejo de barrio. Every week I am able to see how much people want to help serve and work with the missionaries, and it is such a huge blessing being a missionary. Once again the church attendance went up once again to 330 in sacrament meeting, which was really good. 

Elder Salinas and I are doing great and continue to grow as a companionship. We are always looking for what we can do better as missionaries, and so we were really pleased to do and intercambio with Elder Brown this last week. We were able to learn a lot and were able to apply things that we learned from him the next day. 

The area is doing great. Our only challenge is getting investigators and less actives to come to church. We are working really hard so that we can help them all come to church. 

Once again, thank you for the birthday wishes! I love you all and hope you have amazing weeks! 

Love,

Elder Thorpe

June 1st, 2015

Dear Family,

Happy June first! Each month that goes by seems to go by faster and faster!

This week was the last week for the open house of the Trujillo Temple, which will be dedicated on the 21st of June! I am so excited!

The last week of the open house for the Temple was such a good week. My companion and I were able to bring many of our investigators that we have to the Temple and were able to explain the reasons why we are here in Trujillo preaching the gospel. There was such a great spirit that could be felt this last week as we took advantage of the time that we had to bring Heavenly Father's children to his Holy house. We look forward to helping all of these people learn more about the great plan of salvation that our Father in Heaven has as well as visiting the referrals that we received from the Temple.

We didn't have as much time as normal to teach this week since we went to the Temple 4 times, but I know that is what Heavenly Father wanted us to do. The work in the Robles ward continues to go forth. Last Sunday we had a total of 308 in sacrament meeting and yesterday there were 337 in sacrament meeting. The ward is strong, but something that us missionaries here in the ward have talked about is strengthening the consejo de barrio (ward council). We struggle a little with the consejo, but we are hoping that we can work more with the leaders so that the consejo can be stronger and in strengthening the consejo the ward will be strengthened. 

Yesterday I heard about the death of Elder L. Tom. Perry. It was bittersweet. He was such a great apostle but I know now that he is on the other side of the veil doing the work of the Lord for those that haven't been able to accept the gospel here on the Earth.

Elder Salinas and I are doing great. We love the area that we are serving in and are grateful for this time that we have to serve in this part of the vineyard.

Love,

Elder Thorpe

May 25th, 2015

Dear Family,

This week was such a great week for Elder Salinas and I. Today during companionship study this morning Elder Salinas and I were talking about goals and why we set goals and how we can achieve the goals that we have set. As well as last night Elder Garcia (ZL) and I were talking about how we are able to have success in our areas. I feel like it truly depends on our faith and our confidence that we have in our Father in Heaven. It doesn't matter what area we are in, if we have the confidence and faith, we are able to see miracles.

This last week we also had the opportunity to bring a lot of our investigators and less actives to the temple, which was such a great experience for them. Each and every one of them said that they felt something different that they had never felt before. We were able to testify that what they felt was the spirit of the Lord. What a great blessing it is for the people here in Trujillo to have this Temple, to be able to draw closer to the Lord. We look forward to this next week and in bringing as many investigators and less actives to the temple so that they are able to feel the spirit that is found inside it's doors. My companion and I went to the Temple on the right day because we were able to see President Marler there as well as Elder Uceda (member of the 70) and the Temple president! It was good to converse with them for a little bit.

The work is hastening as the Prophets have testified. I am able to see the fruits of the work every week. Just a week ago we had 284 members come to church and this last Sunday we had 308. The Lord is hastening his work, and I feel blessed to be part of the work that he has.

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Thorpe

Trujillo Temple with Elder Salinas

May 18th, 2015

May 18th, 2015

Dear Family,

This last week has been such a great week. These last few weeks have been full of finding new investigators and helping others progress in the Gospel. This last Saturday we had a baptism for the Hermana Clementina, which was really good. For the two weeks that I have known her, I have seen such great growth with her. We were able to bring her to the Temple which was really good for her. She felt the need for temples and has committed to enter in the temple one year from now. 

This last week we recieved 21 new referrals and the week before we had 26, so in total we had 47 referrals these last two weeks. I don't boast of myself and the work that Elder Salinas and I have done, but I boast of my Father in Heaven, just as the sons of Mosiah did. Becuase I know without him, I am nothing. I constantly see his hand in his work on a daily basis. I am in awe in what he does and how involved he is in every aspect of this great work. 

This next week, Elder Salinas and I want to focus on finding the investigators that can progress and want to accept the gospel. We have made plans with members of the ward to help us in accomplishing our plans and goals that we have set. After the training that we had this last Sunday, as a ward council we set goals in how us missionaries of the ward and the members work together in this great work of Salvation. I am excited to work more with the members on a daily basis and look forward to continue serving here in such a great area.

I love you all so much! I hope that you are all doing great and that you have an amazing week. I pray for you all daily and thank my Father in Heaven that you are all in my life!

Love,

Elder Thorpe

May 11th, 2015

Dear Family,

This first week here in Esperanza has been such a great week. When I first got here, planning was a little difficult because there weren't a ton of names to put down in the agenda, and I felt bad because I didn't know just about anyone in the area. We made a goal as a companionship to search for new investigators to visit. The last few days we have been focusing on asking everyone for referrals and for people that are ready to accept the gospel. I have no doubt that new areas and new companionships bring miracles becuase within the last 4 days, Elder Salinas and I were able to receive 26 referrals and 19 of the being from members. We were also able to contact 15 of them and have set up appointments to visit them. We have set some pretty strong goals in the last few days to be able to help this area out. Also we look forward to bringing investigators to the temple and in helping them understand the true reason why we are here on the earth.

As a district we have set a few goals to focus on our planning sessions, lessons with members, and baptismal invitations on the first visit. I look forward in working hard with the Elders here in this part of the vineyard and in helping the Lord in his great work. 

When I first came here to this zone and district I was really nervous and didn't know what to expect. I feel like the nerves have gone and that all I can do is serve with all of my heart. I know that if I do that and search for my Saviors hand in my life, I will be blessed and will be able to do all that my Father in Heaven needs me to do. I know that through revelation and diligence I will be able to understand my reasons for being here and will be able to do all that is asked of me.

Love,

Elder Thorpe

May 4th, 2015

Dear Family,

Well another 6 weeks have passed so that means... Cambios!

Last night I received a call from one of the AP's and received the assignment of being a district leader in one of the biggest zones in our mission. It is known as the power house of our mission, so I am a little nervous, but super excited!

This last week of the change has been a good one. The work continues to go forth here in Chao as can be seen by the growth of the church here. I have seen a branch transform from the time that I got here until now and I look forward to hearing about the progress it will have in the future.

It has been such a great time serving here in Chao. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to spend a good part of my mission here and in getting to know such great people. I truly love the people here in Chao, but as Nephi says, I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded me. I know that the work in Chao will continue to go forth and that many more people in this area will be blessed. I look forward to serving the people as well as the missionaries in Esperanza.

I gratefully accept the assignment and opportunity to serve as a district leader in the zone of Esperanza and I look forward to seeing great growth in that area.

Saying goodbye is going to be a little hard because I have grown to love the people here in Chao, but I am super excited for the opportunities that await me in Esperanza!

Love,

Elder Thorpe