Hey why not wear long sleeves here in the Philippines its freaking beautiful here so why not. Anyways WOW!!! I guess I did leave a big impact in our area more than I thought.  Yes I wear long sleeves it really isn't much of a difference cause honestly its just way nicer when I wear them. It is very humid yes, but it honestly feels nicer when I wear them. So with the many questions I'm fine with the financial stuff cause I have not spent any money since I have talked to you guys except for grocery and transportation honestly. We cook a lot at the house, but in my area we have a occasional dinner appointment which is always nice. The members in my area make the best food ever you ever had liver before? Well I have it almost every time I eat at members house other than the dried fish that is also very freaking delicious.Its weird but some of the weirdest stuff here is probably the best food I have ever tasted. Most P-Day's we don't have anything cool in my area except to go to a big mall called SM North, but the ZL's in my zone got special permission to go to the Memorial Circle so we are going to that along with a wildlife reserve right next to it. So yea ill be sending you some pics of that next time I email you guys. Sorry I haven't written to guys a long letter, but last week there wasn't much that happened last other than the stuff I talked about, but alot happened this week so I have alot to talk about.

  So anyways you asked about the 5 baptisms that I was supposed to have last week. Only 3 of them were actually baptized we had to move some of them back because of the stinking WORD OF WISDOM!!!! Uhhh, but we still go to them and still teach them its just back to the basics with them honestly. Other than that I have had 6 baptisms so far in my mission, but like it says in D&C 18:10,15-16, "How great should your joy if you bring but one soul, if so great your joy if you bring one soul unto me, how great should be your joy if bring but many souls unto me. I always remember that scripture and always remember its not about the number, but about the impact you leave on the people and on thew area that you work in. The 3 that were baptized last week were Kim Clemente, RecAnn Gopo, and Mimi Calamba. Kim is the 15 year old son of the Clemente family that I have been working on getting baptized since I first got into the area. His dad will be baptized on the 4th of February, but the problem with that is that transfer day is on Feb 2 and more than likely I will get out of my original area, but if I don't that's OK too cause I would like to be able to see him baptized. RecAnn is the 11 year old girl who I also have been working on since I first got into the area. Shes the one whose dad wouldn't let her be baptized, but just one day he let her and this time we were smart and got it in writing so that he cant change his mind this time. HAHAAH it sound bad but it works supposedly. Finally, Mimi is a maid that I was able to find when I went to visit a member family in the ward they said the know someone who might be interested in our message and she came in and we taught her and now tapos na!! Shes way cool and actually said that she want to serve a mission for the church later in her life cause she said me and Elder Hopkins are her heroes. That felt so nice when that was said, its always nice to get compliments especially with the language when you know your not actually galing at the language. Tagalog is tough, but honestly if you study hard and pray hard it will come, I have seen that alot on my mission already. I understand at least 70% of what people say to me, but sometimes you wish you couldn't cause of what they say especially kids who haven't been disciplined by their parents, but other than that its so freaking awesome here in my area. I love you guys and I will have those pics for you next week.

Salamat po,
Jordan Thompson

Hey everybody everything in the world of the Philippines is going so stinkin awesome. So this week has been a stinkin blast we had so much awesome things happen to us this week I could talk about them for a long time so anyways that's so stinking awesome that the people from the ward actually do remember me. I'm surprised that I'm still remembered because usually what happens to missionaries is they're forgotten for the time they're gone but then are remembered for when they're only a week from coming home . How do I remember this cause I didn't know any of the missionaries were coming home until literally a week until they came. Its funny but so stinkin true I feel very special to be remembered.

    So anyways what happened this week probably some of the coolest things ever. First you remember RecAnn Gopo?? The 11 year old girl that was not able to be baptized because her dad would not let her be baptized because he just wanted her to be baptized in the Catholic church. Well this week her dad decided to let it happen and we got his written permission this time so that he cannot change his mind this time. So she is being baptized this Saturday. Its so awesome to see the Lord work in little ways that he makes even the smallest things happen. So I'm really excited to see this because I have been working with her on being baptized since I first arrived into this area. Its So stinking awesome to be able to be able to see this. Shes so excited and we are going to have her grandpa baptize her so its going to be awesome. Also we have one of the Clemente family being baptized. Kim the 15 year old son of the Clemente family is also being baptized this Saturday its so awesome to be able to also be able to see this happen. Also we are having one more of our investigators being baptized this week on Saturday as well. Mimi is a 19 year old girl that we found living with members. They all have very firm testimonies in Christ and are all really excited to be baptized on Sat. So this week has been busy and tomorrow I'm going on exchanges with my district leader to go do the baptismal interviews tomorrow. Also we have been really busy with finding less actives in our area. We have had a family be our first returning members. The thing is with this the less actives have to attend church for 4 weeks consecutively and then they become returning members. So they will be able to enjoy that and we keep finding new less actives in our area its awesome. I love the progressing work in my area it feels so good to be able to do the Lord's work in this part of the vineyard. I love it here and wouldn't change it for anything. I miss you guys and wish you all the best.

  MAHAL KITA!!!

Elder Thompson 

Jordan and comp E Hopkins on temple excursion

Jordan and comp!!

Jordan and E McDonald (MTC comp) saw him at Manilla Temple

Another MTC comp E Stallings!!

  

Hey it does sound like the Lord jus keeps on blessing you guys as it goes. Well HALLELUJAH!!!! Dad passed his NCLEX WAHOOO!!! We got a nurse in the house now. Hey maybe they'll start a Scrubs season at your hospital. HAHAHA anyways Its good to know that they accept us the Stradlings. AHAHA I love your story Mom of the kindergartners I actually jus imagined that because I know that you would do something like that. Holy cow good luck in finding a job ill be especially put that in my prayers.
  How are the Stradlings doing all of them. I hope they're all doing well, especially the fact that one of them is only a month older than I am, and shes getting married holy crap. You saw Mrs. Godfrey wow hows she doing I'm probably alot different from the last time that she saw me. I will be praying alot for Addy as well that really stinks to have to go and do that. ETHAN WON WAHOOOOOO!!!! I knew that he could dope it he jus needs to be mean like I never was. I haven't had anything really crazy happen this week except for the change of focus in the mission instead of focusing on investigators they want us to focus on the less actives in the ward/area. I get along well with my companion hes way good I've learned alot from him, I honestly could say i can understand what people say, but I jus have trouble saying stuff back. Other than that Ive jus had another day in the Philippines. I love it here and know that I have been called here for a reason. I love the people here they are the greatest people that I have every met. My ward rocks they are so supportive of us and always help us in everything. Its awesome here and like Brigham Young said when he went on a mission "I wouldn't trade this experience for all the wealth in this world" I love you guys and miss you dearly.. MAHAL KITA!!!
   Elder Thompson

 Hey family so the New Years here in the Philippines is so stinking ridiculous you try to go to sleep at 10:30 but you absolutely cannot because literally every 5 seconds there is a firework or a bomb going off. The fireworks here aren't just little kiddy ones either these things sound like they're right next you. Funny experience is that when these things go off it hurts if your nearby i got to learn that personally. Especially here kids love to throw these things at the white people so yea got to experience that first hand. I had one explode next to me and I swear like it felt like everything in my head was ringing it totally felt like shellshock. So yea word of caution don't be out past 6:00 on New Years Eve or that will happen to you.
    So all from that I had Christmas with the members it was really awesome. We got fed by at least 4 families that day and the days following that every person gave us a marienda (snacks) after each lesson this week it was so fun. I do need to write back Andrew cause I'm pretty sure he wants to kill me right now. I'm glad the boys were able to go with him to New Years Eve. I'm glad hes still over there I'm pretty sure its cause Ed looks exactly like me but is more guwapo (handsome). I will be sending you those thank yous soon . Also Andrew will be hearing from me soon. I love you mother and it was so awesome to talk to every each one of you. You guys are all in my prayers and I love you guys and MALIGAYANG BAGONG TAON
  
  Mahal kita

 Elder Thompson

December 24th and 25th ,2011 This is Jordan's mom just giving an update for Christmas because we got to talk to him on the phone. Our 1st call was at 7:00am in the morning on Christmas Eve and we were all still asleep before we realized it could be Jordan. By the time our home phone stopped ringing our cell phone started and I had to run to catch that but then we missed that one too. We waited for his dads cell phone to ring and finally got to speak to him. He could hear us but we couldn't hear him. so we told him to call our home #. We still couldn't hear him we could hear bits and pieces of words. He could hear us but we couldn't hear him. We told him to call back. So i worried all day he would call while his dad was working but he heard what we said and called Christmas morning at 6:30 am right as we were opening presents. The problem he had only less than 20 minutes left on his phone from all the call ins he made from the day before. they take a huge chunk of 20 minutes off his card for calling in 5 times. Now we know and he knows for our next call. I talked to him for a little bit and Addy. It was really nice to talk to him. He had called from their apartment and was like 900 pm their time and there was fireworks going off as we talked. They have huge celebrations for Christmas. He loves it there and is so positive about all his experiences good and bad. Same old Jordan!! Love that kid!!! Noah looked devastated that his call was disconnected but we had talked about him calling back to finish our call. We heard from him right as were headed to Aunt Tammy and Uncle LaMonts. We called to tell them we would be a little late and then got to really talk to him . The call was a lot clearer because he called from the church land line (which we suggested 2X before this call). He proceeded to tell us about his delicious meals for Christmas of chicken intestines and chicken feet. Which he seemed to really enjoy!! Noah was very happy to actually talk to him and the kids shared what they had gotten for Christmas. He sounded well other than he has lost about 20lbs. He has 5 baptisms scheduled for January and 1 in February. They are really working on reactivating members too!! He will probably be there for the Jan. baptisms but he has already made through 3 transfers without leaving and so he thinks he will leave before the baptism in Feb. He was very grateful to letters and packages he received for Christmas. Especially his ASU hat from Nana and Papa. We are so proud of his testimony and his willingness to serve the lord in this capacity!! We sure love and miss him.