Nae Time

So I got the call on Saturday morning. I was so disappointing to hear from president That I will be leaving Motherwell for my last transfer and heading to Falkirk. But as the day went on I got over myself and accepted the Lord's will. Now I am in Falkirk with Elder Elsmore. 

Elder Elsmore is a great guy from Mona Utah. I am looking forward to working here and with him. I want to promise you all I will not die haha. Dying means giving up before you are going home. I am going to see what great things the Lord can do here in Falkirk my last 6 weeks. 

I know that this work is true. I love the church and Jesus Christ. Life is good today. 

Elder Thayne

(PS... I was a bit confused as to who is who in these pictures... so I will just put it here and we can make note later.

William Balintyne and Me, Me and Karl, Me and the Mitchell's, Craig, Elle, Megan, Andrea and Holly.)

William Balintyne and Me

Me and Karl

Me and the Mitchells

Jackie and Ron Taylore and yours truly

It's a Trap!

So this last week has been good. We have had a lot of fun with a variety of ways to do missionary work. On Monday we went up to Glasgow for an exchange with the zone leaders. it was really good. we were able to teach quite a bit of lessons on the spot. We taught a lot of Chinese people who are going to University while over here in Scotland.

Wednesday came along and we had a presentation to do in from of a college class. Background: Elder Agafonov and I sent out an email about 3 months ago to about 6 colleges in the area offering our services as guest speakers. Finally we got a reply and we went. it was an evangelical college and they had learned about us previously. The teacher who was putting it together told us we had 30 minutes but ended up only giving us 20 to do our entire presentation. Then they asked pointed questions for the next 40.suddenly Admiral Ackbar yelled It's a trap!. like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego we answered, "We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand." haha it was awesome. We answered their questions straight. We bore our testimonies. At the end we had everyone watch "Testimony of the book of Mormon." by Jeffery R Holland. The spirit was definitely there. They shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Afterwords I think the teacher was upset because he kept taking jabs at us before we left, but we wouldn't retaliate. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about the spirit and about testimony. We took an investigator name William with us. Later on when we taught William in the week he told us he was having some spiritual lows but ever since we did our presentation he had been on a spiritual high. He has such a strong testimony. This experience just enhanced it. Sorry kind of a long story.

Later on in the week we got a referral. So now we have taught these new people. They use to be every religion under the sun and currently they are Muslim. They are some of the smartest people I know though. they are from Poland. They were watching YouTube and they saw the Adele song, "Hello". Then they saw the parody with the Mormon missionaries. They were laughing so hard they decided to learn more. So we are going back again this week haha.

This sunday was a delight. Jack came to church again. He loves church, which is great. He wants to change. It seems like everyone that speaks is talking right to him. This high council member told him after church that jack needs to set a date to be baptized and then invite him. Jack is pumped so that is good.

Life is good. I love the mission. Time is so precious out here. Have a great week.

Elder Thayne

Me and Elder Huang, one of my Chinese Buddy's

Elder Furko got some sick toy swards 

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