Just a note from Mom: Can tell he will be home in 4.5 months!! His letters are shorter!!
Hey everyone,
  Kumusta po ba kayo??However you please Ayos lang ba kayo??
Are you ok?How is everybody?? So what we are looking at here is the case we can do is for the scripture case we are looking at maybe 1,000 pesos, for the Preach My Gospel about 1,500 i think, for the caribao belt it would be about 800 pesos so thats what we are looking at just tell me what you think and we will go from there, but after that I think that is about all I want to get since everything else here really I wont use, seen a lot of missionaries get new suits, but really not feeling that, since they are very expensive!!! Anyways we had a great week me and Elder Sabawil, we were able to continue on with the great things we do daily as missionaries!! Anyways got to talk with Elder McDonald and the funny thing is that he actually also told me about that and I just laugh since we had such a good time with each other in the MTC, really going to be cool to see him a lot  as well as see everyone that I want too!! Send them my love them all a ton they are really awesome and miss them all tons!! Anyways still working on what is going to happen, but more than likely August 15 is when I will be going so yea count on that for sure, really don't know if it would be a good idea, but going to continue to pray to really know!!! Anyways have a new kabahay or housemate Elder Gillette, Elder Galingana was emergency transferred, he is from St. David, Arizona yep a fellow Arizoninan love it he is really close to Tuscon!! Anyways we had a great week and a lot of great things happen got a letter from Elsa the 19 year old girl from my last area Quezon City 1st and told me how much she was thankful I was able to find her and bring her into this church!! She is already preparing herself to go on a mission it is so awesome, I love that even though I don't have a ton of baptisms the ones I have baptized are really progressing and preparing themselves to do the things they need too!! That MISSIONARY WORK WHAT GREAT JOY IT IS!!!  I love you all and miss you all tons love you all!!!
Mahal kita LOVE, Elder Thompson

 Hey everybody!!

This was an amazing week, me and Elder Sabawil are defintily what we call a DYNAMIC DUO!! We had another great week in finding in our area we defintily need to do this a lot more since it is such an important thing that we do as missionaries, finding those that have been lost from his fold and need to come back to him!! I love finding its so great to just go out and talk with everyone!! No I haven't gotten any taller mom sorry, but i'm still a shorty missionary!! I love being taller than my companions cause the comps of mine that are shorter than me really are tiny!! Yea will be sending you some great pictures later since we had our zone conference this week and it was so amazing!! Yep this week was amazing got to work with Elder Robison this week it was a very great day we were able to find 5 new investigators that day!! He's a great missionary!! It was weird having an American companion, for a day I kept talking to him in Tagalog and then he said Elder "Im English speaking". Today we were able to go to the temple and have our temple day it was so enjoyable like always!! Really enjoy having a temple in my mission that is such a blessing!! Anyways today since our session was at 8 and we got to the temple around 6:30 we had a bunch of time to walk around, we went to a room and started talking to these 2 people who I thought were Filipino, turns out they were from Indonesia and yea had to speak in English.. Its like whenever I see someone that looks Filipino I speak Tagalog to them, but maybe I should be careful with that when I get home!!! Just to be sure you said that there is a family in the stake that is from the Philippines right?? Want to know so that I may still be able to practice my Tagalog for when I get home, have a big urge to keep the language I learned!!

ANYWAYS ANO BA IYAN(What is that??)!! You guys would totally go to Six Flags unplanned?? Way to go it better upgrade to Disneyland when I get home HANE?? Anyways I love you guys still even though you would do that hahaha!! Anyways I'm really loving my companion, he really likes to play basketball so yea i'm actually starting to actually know how to dribble the ball yes SUCCESS!!! Anyways he's awesome lots of good things I have learned from him, I keep learning a lot from reading the scriptures, as well as Preach My Gospel, question with that what do guys think about me getting a leather case done for my scriptures as well as my Preach My Gospel they do that here and just wondering what you think about that as well as getting here what is called a carabiao belt or water buffalo horn belt here, I really want to get one here they are so called but I haven't bought them here since we can't use them proselyting, but we can buy them for when we go home!! Just wondering?? If you need price checks I'll get you them, but need to do them as soon as possible since they usually take a transfer or a transfer and a half to do them just wondering. Anyways I love you all so much I'm really doing my best, to be an example to everyone sa paligit ko(around me)!! Anyways love you all!!!

Mahal kita,

Elder Thompson

With old comp Elder A

 

New Comp

Zone conference

All these missionaries were trained by Elder Burgan

The district

 

March 11th letter:

Hey everybody!!!

Kumusta po ba kayo??(How do you please) Ayos lang ba?(Is OK) Ayos lang ako!!!(I'm Okay)How is everybody doing this week looks like I was really part of the party but not really me, just a picture of me hahahaha!!! Anyways this was another amazing week, my new companion, is so amazing, we do so well together in teaching and definitely in finding this week we did nothing, but tracting and just talking to people on the street!! One of the new focuses in our mission is that they really want us to really find what we call potential priesthood holders, or potential priesthood leaders!! What they really want us to be doing is really trying to find people that can really get this work moving forward, especially with the work moving forward!!! Me and Elder Sabawil had such a successful week we found 10 new investigators this week and alot of them are UMC or Upper Middle Class, not the shantys we call squatters were talking nice houses!! We had great success, and have really gotten my fear of talking to people to kind of shiver away, sometimes I do it, but I still kind of do that that's one thing I want to lose before this transfer is over, its a pretty good goal I think!!

Anyways I could talk a million years about things, but for right now Mom the baptisms are going to be put on hold again, since the investigator that we really want to come to church didn't come for the last 2 weeks!! Yep so we have to redo the 4 consecutive week count again, so I don't know whats going to happen, but I'm hoping to at least have someone baptized in this area before leaving!! Also yes I'm still the District leader, I love my district there is 7 of us now that the sisters in the zone are now a three-some!! Yea its amazing we have an amazing district its really awesome. Have this week Zone Conference this Wednesday will tell you how that goes, also will be going on exchanges with the elders in my house, I'm going with Elder Robison, who is a very new missionary its only his 2nd week in the field, I'll be working with him, and the other 2 will be together!! So yea gonna take a new missionary out for a day pretty exciting stuff here!! You guys have any pics of the Aloha Festival really miss that stuff. Also yes I received the letter from the Cartwrights also I have been getting the letters from the Nansels, but haven't gotten any recent ones, today we had mail run and I didn't get any mail!! AHH that's what I get for not writing!! GOOD NEWS though I am able to email family and friends from home, they just announced this morning that missionaries are able to email friends and other missionaries in other missions so that means Hermana Lund, Elder Nansel, Elder Atwood they will be able to email me and I will be able to reply to them. WAHOOO SWEETNES!!! The three from the ward: Elder Reidhead, Elder Schmid and Elder Pereiera, I'll just wait a couple of months!! Anyways yea so i'm able to do that and any other family members!! So instead of writing me just email me, our hours for email got extended for another hour so yea 2 hours I'm able to email!! So yea anyone is game for that send me an EMAIL!! Anyways love you all so much and miss you all tons the work is amazing and I know that what I'm doing is the best work ever its the work of the Lord!! MAHAL KITA!!!

Nagamamahal,

Elder Thompson

LAME MOM Award again: This was sent on MARCH 4TH
 Hey everybody,

Hey another week gone and down!! Yea I'm sorry, its been very hard for the fact that so many things happened, our house is so horrible here in this area, we got a bill of 1,427 pesos and electricity 1,277. Yea and funny thing is that we lose our water a lot in this house we had 3 days without water in this house once, all of our neighbors have already moved, but we are going to talk about moving don't worry it will not happen again!! We will see how things go here!! Anyways you guys are probably wondering who is my new companion, my new companion, is Elder Sabawil from Nueva, Viscayas so he is another Filipino companion, so happy about this I've been getting sick of American companions. Another great transfer is about to start, I know it its going to be so amazing!! My companion is awesome, obedient and ready to go out everyday, and do his best, really excited for us to do this. Whatever happens I know that the Lord's hand is in it!!! All those discouragements all those problems will be nothing when, we turn to the Lord, he will guide us to where we need to go and do, and that through much "tribulation then come the blessings" (D&C 58:4) One of my favorite scriptures that has helped me throughout my mission, with so much trials that we have and receive, we need to rely on him and through his atoning sacrifice we can be saved and redeemed by his redeeming blood!! Guys this is an important step that we need to take to continue on in this life no matter what the devil throws at us (Helaman 5:12) always remember what Christ said "Come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Lots of stuff I have learned from my mission that I want to keep when I come home!! So many things and little things that we do everyday, helps us come closer to him!! Guys by what you are doing right now, like going to Randolph Center, are such great experiences that are so amazing and that I miss dearly!! Remember "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17) Noah and Ed that is why you guys felt something so differently at the Randolph Center its such a great experience, that you should not forget!! Always remember those times they are amazing!! Love all of you and miss you all dearly!! The work is amazing and continues to be amazing!! Love you all!!

Nagmamahal,
Elder Thompson

Hey everybody,

 This has been a very extraordinary week we had a lot of good success this week in all that we do as missionaries. Lots of great things were learned this week, and throughout this transfer. Really sad about what is going to happen these next couple of days. First things first is yes that would be about enough for a new pair of shoes mom, that is perfect and will probably pull that out on Thursday!! Thanks for your  support this has been the hardest transfer of my whole mission, lots of challenges, and lots of weaknesses that I have had to overcome this last transfer. So glad I got to spend it with Elder Bagonbon, bad news is is that Elder Bagonbon will be transferring so yep I'm going to get another companion. I'm going to go on number 13 for my amount of companions!! Yep that is really something!! Yea we also were able to find out about those things happening around the Philippines!! Really excited to hear that the Lord's work is progressing like the stone cut out of the mountain (Daniel 2:44-45) Really loving this area, we had another amazing turnout at church, we had 5 investigators come to church, which is a very big amount especially with the fact that the church is over 40 minutes away and our area is a very poor area, but we have very strong investigators with very strong faith!! We will be able to have baptisms this coming transfer, I know it these people we are teaching have been prepared by the Lord for us to bring to them this everlasting gospel!! I'm loving my life as a missionary and wouldn't trade anything for it!! Miss you all tons too, but I love being a missionary and I know its been through obedience I have been able to overcome my weaknesses this transfer and made them my strengths!! I loved this transfer hardest, but most rewarding so glad to have spent it with Elder Bagonbon really going to miss him!! Love you all and till next week!!

Mahal kita,
  Elder Thompson

Hey everybody Kumusta po ba kayo??(how ever you please) 

 Ayos naman ang buhay ni Elder Thompson ngayon, at syempre makakapagtuloy naman na magiging mas masaya!!(Everything is Elder Thompson's life now, and of course continue also be more fun!) Basta masaya ang buhay ng misyonero!! (Just enjoyed the life of a missionary!)Hey everybody this has been an interesting week indeed, we had a lot of special things happen this week and lets just say that a lot of learning still, you would think since i'm an old fart in the mission now you would think I would know what to do in all situations, but guess what HINDI!!!(NO!!!) Still learning naman!!!(turn) We had an amazing week none the less we had our temple day last Tuesday and that's always an enjoyable thing to experience!!! I love being able to go through the temple a least once a transfer, I'm so blessed for that. It's defenitly a very special place and i'm always so happy to be able to go!! The district leader stuff is going good I have an amazing district, the problem is 2 of the missionaries in my district are going home this transfer, one of the elders and one of the sisters, the funny thing is the sister going home is one of the only 2 sisters that came with me here to the Philippines and now she's going home!! HOLY COW TIME FLIES!! I'm honestly still feel like that I'm so young in the mission, but your guy's skype call home made me realize it!!

  Anyways Ed sounds like that he is still Ed still trying his best to be the tough guy!! Hhahah sounds like Addy's is loving life as well as NG haahah NG im going to be more tan than you are when I come home, except its going to be a farmer's tan hahaah PATAY!!!(Dead) Anyways we had a very big jump in our area yesterday we had 6 of our investigators come to church yesterday WAHOO!! All 3 of our investigators with baptismal dates came which is amazing!! It was such a happy day today!! I love washing clothes for 3 hours yes 3 HOURS!!! We don't have washing machines like everyone else, I'll show you guys how to wash clothes by hand when I get home(might save us alot of electricity) hahaha joke I'll just show you guys!! Anyways our area is progressing a ton, still on that thinking/waiting part on the school topic, so we will see. Um question what do you guys think about me getting a new pair of shoes?? The Rockports that I have the bottom of the sole is now opened up wide, what I can do is get that repaired for only 200 pesos and get a rubber sole installed, the only problem is I only have these rubber shoes and well they are very uncomfortable, I have seen a couple of good deals here, but maybe I'll just use the rubbers until I get my other shoes repaired, but what do you guys think?? Just want to know!! This transfer has been a 8 week transfer and its coming to a close, next week we will know if i am transferring or staying hopefully staying, but you never know, this is the Lord's will, anyways you guys will know that next week!! An amazing week for sure and miss you guys all tons and don't worry I will not get trunky its not something I want to receive!! Anyways love you all!!!

Mahal na mahal kita(I Love you),
  Elder Thompson

Love the pics but no captions!!!

Special Note: this email was actually sent out on February 12, 2013: Bad Mom didn't post it til now!!! We even received a ton of pics too!!! But no captions:(

Hey everybody!!!

  So everyone this has been an amazing week or sure, lots of learning on how to be a better missionary!!! We had an amazing zone training kahapon, we learned what, why and how to receive a true testimony of this gospel, we each used a different scripture, it really opened my eyes on what really is a testimony, not a storymony!! We have found ourselves sometimes having a storymony, but where is our real testimony. It was an amazing district meeting, we also, followed that up with an amazing testimony meeting. This was an amazing week of learning really I cannot express what I felt this week, it really helped with what I have been focusing on since, I know now this is the time for me to shine and I want to let you know all of you is do not hide your testimony, it can do a lot of things that we didn't think it could do!! OPEN YOUR MOUTHS!!!

   Mom those are amazing scriptures, the same chapter of the scripture in Proverbs is one of my personal favorite, it is Proverbs 3:10-11 it is an amazing chapter. Also the one from Philippians is also an amazing scripture, you never know what you will find in the scriptures, anywhere there is a scripture that is prepared for you. It is so amazing, another thing that I have loved about the mission, is dati,(previously) I had no desire to read and kinda just let it go by, but now whenever, I have time other than personal study, I read in the scriptures talk about a real turn around!!! I will be writing an email, either this email time or the next one!! First business is HAPPY BIRTHDAY NG!!! You are now a teenager, hahaha Mom and Dad how does that make you feel  hahaha jokelang!!(just joke) Sounds like you guys are really having a great time with everything we had a great week indeed, Ed has to get surgery, which is really cruddy, geez, that really stinks Ed and Addy still sounds like that nursery is a whole new things for ya!! Anyways sounds like you guys are enjoying life and really trying to be your best here! Me i'm trying my best to be a great, and obedient missionary!!, I still mess up every now and again, but i'm trying my best!! Anyways we are really making progression with everything, in the branch, we are still having a very hard time getting the investigators, to church it really is hard for our area, we are so far away, but we are still trying our best, the work other than that is going great we are finding new people to teach, still trying our best to really have them feel the spirit, and to be touched by that power. Love you all so much, really miss each and every one of you. Mahal kita(LOVE),

Elder Thompson