Monday, November 21, 2016

The Baptism of John



So this last week was really interesting, hard, fulfilling and insightful. It started out with all of our investigators dropping us. about 10 dropped us so we are down to one haha. I am laughing because it is funny. seriously what can be more funny than to look at yourself swinging away and nothing is happening. I think Humor is key to enduring to the end. I think we have all had these kind of weeks. I think that Winnie the pooh's friend, Eeyore, said it best, "It can only get worse." haha I am just messing. It will all pay off.

Elder Furko and I seemed to be running a lot of errands this week that we wont see the harvest of. (Which is fine, because I have seen the harvest of someone else's planting at times in my mission). We were going to a super old and beautiful town named New Lanark, to hunt down a referral. Sadly the guy wasn't interested, but he did take a Book of Mormon on CD because he is blind. We were helping some Romanions who were kicked out of their flat. We had to go to these social service agencies for them and kind of be their advocates. Haha they are good now though. 

Friday night came around after a long day and we got a phone call from the sisters in East Kilbride. Telling us that the guy that was going to be baptizing John, Through out his back and was unable to baptize him. John then asked if I could do the baptism! I was so excited. It is fun because I found him after he had stopped investigating the church several years ago and started teaching him. The sisters finished teaching him and I was able to Baptize him. It was a very special day. It seems like those downer weeks always lead up to something great.

I have been thinking a lot about mediocrity and Excellence. I don't hate too many things but I hate mediocrity in myself. I hate it because it is that vice that nobody will call you to repentance for. It is so subtle! It always says to you, "You have met the requirement, you don't need to do anything more." It is the worst. Mediocrity is just going through the motions to satisfy. It is just to survive - not to achieve. God has planned our potential long before we were even here on earth. We are eternal beings. We can someday become as like God. "Mediocrity is the enemy of excellence. God is Excellent," Therefore Mediocrity is the Enemy to God and to us. Mediocrity's highest aspirations is to have approval from man. The worldly standard is easy that is why we settle for it. But if we put off the natural man, dig down deep and look for what God has planned for us we can achieve Greatness.

 Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."                                                         - Winston Churchill



Ether 12:27 and if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto man weakness that he may be humble and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, for if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me I will make weak things become strong unto them.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Elder Thayne






Monday, November 7, 2016

From Ukraine to Hungary

So we had moves call this week. I am getting a new companion, Elder Furko! He is from Hungary and he has been out on the mission for a year. We will have fun time together :]

Elder Agafonov is leaving to the northern most point of the main land of Scotland, Thurso. It will be so cold up there and he is so scared of the cold so it is kind of funny :] He is a great missionary and he has taught me so much. I will miss him for sure :]

Halloween was fun. We were able to cook a full chicken with home made stuffing and potatoes :] We were all alone which was sad but that is ok :]

We have been working hard this week. a lot of appointments falling through which is sad, but that is ok because this week will be better. We some investigators we would like you to pray for. They are living together and thy have little baby girl named Maddison. Calum is taking care of Maddison while Chloe is in the hospital. There were some complications during the delivery. Calum also had his wallet stolen. They are having a hard time. Satan is really trying to keep them away from seeing us. Pray for them.

We had a great meeting with the Glasgow and the Paisley zones. President Donaldson came and spoke to us. It was an amazing spiritual experience. I swear that I have the best mission president in the World.

I love you all. Have a great one. Pray that we can find good people. Life is good, remember that. Life is good.

Elder Thayne


Some Portadown Missionaries: Me, Elder William, Elder Harker, and Elder Able


Chicken Dinner on Halloween Night


Our library at night.