Been Watchin You

So this past week has been really good. We have been teaching lot of people lately. We have several part member Families we are working with. We are trying to build our investigator pool through the ward. With the spare time we are having we are really working hard to find people by our own efforts.

Just to update you all about Jack, he is doing great. We were able to teach him quite a bit this last week. We taught him a little about the stop smoking program. He is willing to do it. We were talking to him about it with a member and getting him pumped and then Bobby Mckee just said, "Jack, you need to decide." right then Jack grabbed all of the tobacco that he had and shoved it into my hands. haha it was awesome. He is really trying to do good. He loved church again and got to talk to a lot of people. I think he is enjoying having friends that wont push him to do stupid things.

I haven't been able to be back to the Thanes this last week but I will be visiting them this week. I will let you know how that goes. 

This week I was asked to give a talk because someone wasn't going to be there. I prepared a talk and it was looking good. Then on Saturday I decided I don't want to do it anymore. Sunday Morning came and I decided what I was going to do. I wanted to talk a little bit about being a disciple of Christ. I was surprized how well it went. I guess the spirit was really helping me out on that one. But I have been thinking a lot about it lately. We really become more like him when he is our focus. When we ask ourselves WWJD we are trying to focus on christ. If you have ever heard the country song, "Been Watchin You" It is about a 4 year old boy watching his dad. He says: 

"Cause I've been watching you, dad, ain't that cool?

I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you

And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are

Then I'll be as strong as Superman

We'll be just alike, hey, won't we, dad?

When I can do everything you do

'Cause I've been watching you."

The way that we can become Disciples of Christ is through watching him and practicing. Then someday we will be like him. I know Jesus Christ loves us and his love is perfect just like our father in Heaven's love. I hope you all have a great. Keep up the good work.

Elder Thayne

This is the first real snow of the year. 

Me Elder Furko and Prince Tshabalala? (Not sure where this picture is!  Two pics of the snow.)

Elder Furko, Jack, Elder Thayne

Jack and the Beanstock

So this last week was pretty amazing. Monday had the whole day off because apparently there are too many drunks out and about and people are just partying. so we played ping pong and went over to the bishops house.

We were able to visit quite a bit of people this week. Really working with the members and trying to get referrals from them. We had several spontaneous visits with LA (less actives) that had been struggling with their testimonies. Those were spiritual lessons.

We found out while we were visiting with people that there were Thaynes in Hamilton. Except their name was spelt Thane. We went over and knocked on there door. I told them that I have never met Thanes in Scotland and I wanted to find out if we were related. They were in their 90's :] haha really old but sweet couple. When they were younger they were into Gardening and traditional Scottish country dancing. They said we can come back and visit again so we are excited about that. They told us about their church and their minister who is from Texas. They said that we sounds like the same person. I though "hmmm this guys must be pretty cool." I had heard about this guy from several people now so I was determined to meet him.

I went to the church of Scotland and found out where his lived and went over to his house. We didn't know what we were going to say at first. We wanted to get into his home without getting into a bible bash haha. So I just asked if he is doing any kind of service projects this year with his church. I told him I just wanted to bounce idea's off of each other. we had a really good chat and he told us we can come back again, so that went well.

It is so cool because there are so many ways to get yourself out there and find people. It doesn't have to be just Chapping or GQing.

now I want to talk about the purpose of my title, "Jack and the bean stock." So We have been teaching this guy named Jack for the past 3 weeks now. He was raised in a way that he is rough and tough. He gets into fights easily and use to get into a lot of trouble. But since we have been meeting he hasn't been in a single fight. He has almost completely stopped smoking.Over all he is more kind and patient with people. He is great. We were able to meet with him quite a bit this last week, Which was really good. His testimony is growing and his is having amazing experiences reading the book of Mormon and praying.  Sunday morning he asked me to call him.  His Friends daughter had just passed away and she was only 4. Jack was like a father to this little girls so he was feeling really bad about it. I told him it will be good for him to come to church and take his mind off it. So he came to church for the first time this past week. He immediately felt out of place. He was the only one wearing sweat pants and a hoody, because that is all he had. People were nice and they would come say hi, but out of not knowing what to talk about they would leave to talk to some of their friends. I could tell he was really anxious. We went into sacrament meeting and we sat on the front so he could see the sacrament. It was fast and testimony meeting for us and it seemed like everyone that stood up was saying what he needed to hear. The spirit was so strong. He kept looking at me during the meeting and I knew what he was thinking. at almost the end of the meeting he turned to me and said, "I want to get up and say my testimony but I am really scared." I smiled and told him to go for it. He jumped up at right before the meeting ended and bore such an honest and powerful testimony. He said, " I have a connection with Joseph Smith. He was looking for answers and he found them. I am looking for answers and it seems like I am finding them too. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and I know the Book of Mormon is true." it was amazing. After that everyone came up to him. The awkwardness was gone and joy took it's place. Jack acted on a spiritual impression and his testimony grew, just like a  BEAN STOCK.

Sorry for the long Story. I am just so happy for him right now. Life is good. I love the mission. Hope you all have a great week this week. keep it real.

Elder Thayne

Logan Mathews, Stacey Fogg, Bronwyn Fogg, Elder Thayne, Malcolm Fogg. 

the blurry dog is becka

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

So this last week has been really good. We were able to find quite a bit and teach some really good lessons. had some spontaneous exchanges and met with amazing members. 

We were teaching this guy named Jack. He is from England and has been in and out of trouble his entire life. we were going to Glasgow for a surprise exchange so we were going to miss our appointment with Jack. Out of the blue we saw him about an hour before we were suppose to go so we pulled him into the library :] we taught him about the Holy Ghost and the restoration. We invited him to baptism and he excepted. I have to say that this lesson was one of the smoothest lessons I have ever taught. It just felt so good. The spirit was definitely leading that discussion. 

     we met with him again on Sunday and we asked him about his reading. He started telling us about how he felt like he was Lehi going out to pray and asking what he needs to do with his life. It was pretty cool. We asked him if he prayed and he said he did. We then asked him how he felt. He said, "It felt weird. Interesting to say the least. It felt like something was trying to get inside of me." I asked him if it was a bad feeling. He said, "No not at all. It was really good. It felt as if this thing was saying let me in. Keep reading. You know what you are suppose to do Jack, please let me in." When he told us that I just looked at him for several seconds to see if he was being sincere about it. He was. He said he felt the spirit and he needs to change his life. I am so excited for him. I am so excited to see where this goes. We are seeing him again today, so we will see how it goes :]

I don't have much time this week. I am just happy to be here. I am seeing a lot of miracles in my mission and in my life. It is like a christmas present from God. It really is beginning to look a lot like christmas. Love you all. Hope you have a good one.

Elder Thayne

Strike three... you're still in!

So I am still in Motherwell. This will be my 4th transfer. I will probably finish off my mission here. I love it though. I have something more to do here I can just feel it. I am pretty sure it has something to do with Member missionary work. I will let you know though. I will be staying with Elder Furko for Christmas.

This week I don't have any time again haha. Sorry I am boring. But it was pretty good. We are working hard and seeing miracles. Love you all so much. Remember to be nice to people.

Elder Thayne

Found some william wallace beer haha

21!

So this last week was really good. We were able to find some new investigators and have some really good lessons. There was this one guys who was walking away after he said our religion was way to hard to believe and I said, "oh yeah? evolution is way harder to believe." It was one of my great 7th grader come backs. This guy came back and we started discussing it haha (bashing). He turned out to be such a cool guy and he said he wanted a book of Mormon. We met with him the next day and had a great lesson. He prayed and said that it felt really good. He came back where we were GQing an hour later. He pulled an old bible out of his pocket and gave it to me. This bible is from 1884, so super old. He said, "Merry Christmas! thanks for the book of Mormon." it was a great Christmas Present. We look forward to meeting with him again.

Last P-day we had planned to go out to this small town named Carluke to teach a women named Wilma. We found out we wrote down the number wrong so we couldn't get a hold of her to confirm the appointment. We decided to go anyway. We got there and she let us in! we taught her a good lesson then her husband came in the room at the end. We talked to him about his work and found out that he knows our ward mission leader. They work together often. So that was cool. We automatically have some good fellow-shippers.

Sunday rolled around (happens to be my birthday!!!!!!) and I woke up with swollen eyes and a stuffed nose...the dreaded cold. We got to church and saw our less active part member family there. We were so excited! He got up and bore a great testimony about how they were planning on going to church but that morning everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. They decided not to go. He went to the bathroom and saw on his window a mirror, some razors and makeup that looked like it spelled the word LOVE. The spirit touched him and he remembered one of his friends from church that passed away this week. His friend would always show so much love to him inviting him back. This friend would say, "I am never giving up on you." So when he saw this on his window he knew that his friend, even though on the other side of the veil, was not giving up on him. It was a powerful testimony.

I was in the foyer when I saw some people I recognized coming up to the building. It was the Oaks's from back home. They were in Scotland and just decided to come see me in the Motherwell ward. It was so much fun to catch up with them. they are such great friends.

Life is good on the mission. I love this gospel. I hope you are all so excited for Christmas. It is the best time of the year.

Elder Thayne

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

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.