Thought They Got Rid of Me

So this week is moves week. I am staying in Portadown for my 4 transfer, but I am totally ok with that because I love Portadown. Elder Fassold is leaving and I am getting a great companion. I forgot his name so I will just have to tell you next time.

This last week we have done a lot of finding. we have also done a lot of teaching but whenever we were teaching it seemed like none of the members could come with us so when we were teaching a Sister then we would have to teach them out in there front Garden. We were able to teach Lena again. Pedro came with us but he brought his Baby Girl, Petra. She is the cutest little baby but she was crying the whole time so we weren't really able to have the same caliber of lesson that we had the time before.

This last Saturday we had a Ward BBQ and Pedro had 6 of his non member friends there. Seriously Pedro is a brilliant member missionary. When Elder Fassold and I got there all of the nonmembers looked pretty stiff and uncomfortable because they didn't speak English so they couldn't talk to anyone. So I went up to them with a soccer ball and taught them the game of Kill. That is where you have to juggle the soccer ball in a big group of people till you have juggled it 5 times then you have to grab it and throw it at someone. These Portuguese guys loved. they started to feel more comfortable and we all just started talking. 3 of them are going to be coming to church this next Sunday so that is going to be cool.

On moves call day I was surprisingly not that nervous. I had a feeling I was going to be staying in Portadown. I got the call from Elder Neidich (AP) and he told me I will be staying. Elder Fassold is now going to Omagh and that is probably going to be his last area. One bummer about this call is they are taking away our car and giving it to someone else, who honestly don't need it, but it doesn't matter. We have investigators that are pretty far away but the Lord will provide. I have faith that this was suppose to happen and it will be really beneficial.

Our new Mission President has turned this mission upside down. He is changing everything with 16 area's getting white washed. Its sounds crazy but I know that he is inspired. He has a great vision for our mission. I love President Donaldson because he is passionate and bold and he will pump up even the trunkiest missionary.

Anyway, I love you all. I know that this church is true. I have found so much peace in reading the scriptures especially the book of Mormon every day. This is the greatest time of my life.

Elder Thayne

I went to New Castle for P-day with Bishop Phillip Moss and his wife Christine. it is beautiful. We went sight seeing and got the most amazing home made ice cream. 

The Lake, Lough Brikland, is where the first baptism in all of Ireland took place. 

Pretty cool.

Knocking on a cinderblock door.  This was a very dodgy area.

Field is White

I don't have much time but I do want to tell you all about an experience that I had.  Elder Fassold and I were out in Dunganon and started chapping (tracting) Black Lane. We ran into the Portuguese women named Lena. She was super nice and she accepted the Book of Mormon in Portuguese. We went back on Sunday and she said pleas come in. We brought Pedro for an interpreter and we started teaching about the Restoration. we really emphasized the Book of Mormon. She said she had a Baptist Preacher over and when he looked at the Book of Mormon he said that it was a good Book. We started to testify and before Pedro could even translate what we were saying she started crying. She said that she understood what we said and She couldn't stop crying for 5 minutes. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong I bet if we opened a window the passer by's would be able to feel the spirit. I am so excited to work with Lena, she is amazing and the Lord has been preparing her.

I hope you all have a great day that is filled with the spirit. We are entitled to it. Just live worthily and you will see it in your life all the time. They spirit can do so much for you. in John 14:26 it talks about how it will bring all things to your remembrance and how it will testify of truth. The next verse, 27, talks about how it will bring you peace. I know that the Lord has been blessing me with this spirit and I know that he will bless you with this spirit if you will seek for it. 

I hope y'all have a great day. live it to the fullest.

Elder Thayne

rain and miracles STORM‏

So this last week if you were to look at the numbers, we didn't do so well but if you were to have seen us you would say, "Wow the Lord is helping them out."

Most of our appointments fell through this week. But that made us work even harder on finding. We had so many experiences this week of the Lord leading us to where we can help someone. Quick story: One of our appointments fell through so we went finding. President Donaldson told everyone in the last Zone conference that we shouldn't always go to the same area's to find so me and my companion went to Dunganon to seek out Gods children. We both felt good about this one street so we started chapping (tracting). We ran into this Portuguese woman named Fernandez who is in her early 40's. She had Immigrated to Ireland 15 years ago, but while she was in Portugal 2 missionaries found her and gave her a book of Mormon. She started reading it and she couldn't stop. She love it so much but the missionaries never got to teach her because She immigrated over here. She says that  she loves the book of Mormon but she didn't think that there were missionaries over here. haha It was amazing so we are teaching her on Wednesday and I am pretty sure she has enough faith to follow Jesus Christ and be Baptized. 
Just yesterday we went chapping (tracting) and when we pulled into this street there was this lady up in the window to our right just staring at us. Elder fassold said, "That is awkward...lets chap the right side of the street." He looked back up and she motioned to him that she is coming down. Anna opened the door and told us that her brother was Mormon and he served a mission in Peru. Anna said, "I didn't think there were missionaries in Ireland, Do you have a church close by?" we talked to her for a while and she said she would come to church. Her 12 year old son, Christian, will probably come to because he is a champion. He reads the bible every night and he cleans the house without his mom asking! ha this guy is so cool. I wish I was more like this kid; helping my mom out around the house.
Just yesterday was Fast Sunday. It was one of the best Fast and testimony meetings I have ever been it. Toze (recent convert) stood up and bore his 1st testimony. He doesn't speak much English but it was powerful. He told us how he use to be addicted to Gambling but then he started investigating the church and he stopped. He said he now has more money  for his family and he know it is because he is living Gods commandments. He said that if he said this church wasn't true he would be lying because when he made baptismal covenants the spirit told him it was true. Wow I got to tell you it was powerful, Then Brother Donnelly Stood up and led Joyce by the hand to the stand to bear her testimony. I know this isn't manly to say, but this was probably the cutest thing I have ever seen. A 420 pound white man leading the cutest 4 year old black girl you've ever seen up to the stand. If Jesus was there that is what he would have done. 
This week was a week of Miracles and a week that just confirmed to me that the Lords hands are in the work. Just a wee thought before I end this Email.
Before we left Anna's house we asked her if she was ever baptized. She said she was Baptized when she was 10. She was a super good primary girl and she always participated. She then got sent into young womens when she turned 12. Her family was poor and they didn't have enough money so she only had one outfit that she could wear to church. One day this girl at church commented that she always wore the same clothes every Sunday. Just being a 12 year old girl she was embarrassed, She went home and told herself she is never going back to that church again. And so far she has kept that Promise. I would just like to encourage you all to watch what you say, especially to children. Elder Holland gave a great General Conference talk on this (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-tongue-of-angels?lang=eng). Just remember James said, "In many ways we offend all,(but) if any man offend not it word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
I love you all and wish the best for you. Have a great day.
Elder Thayne

Rain Rain go away‏

So it has been kind of rainy this week, but I kind of like it when rains on us because it makes me feel like a missionary. Not much has gone on this week. Just a lot of finding. On Wednesday we had Zone interview training where they talked a lot about the Holy Ghost.

The Assistance did some training on the Holy Ghost and how we need to help the investigators use it in our lessons to them. They taught us how we need to tell them what the holy Ghost's mission is and then tell them what he feels like. John 14:25-26 is really good to share with the investigators while explaining what the Holy Ghost is for. Then we test the promises of God. We tell them that they will feel the fruits of the spirit while we teach because we know that we have been called of God to teach this true message. That way there is no backing out of it and there is no denying if the Holy Ghost is there. The assistance taught that when you are sanctified and you tell them they will feel the spirit then the Lord will never let you down when you are teaching his truth.

When they gave this training I was super pumped and I wanted to use it on everyone that I taught. Sadly all we were able to do during the week was find. All of our appointments fell through. I guess everyone has weeks like that. But tonight we are teaching this family and I can't wait to use this principle in the beginning of the lesson.

Well I don't have much to say this week. But I hope that you all have a good day and I would like to challenge you all to look for a missionary opportunity this week. I would really appreciate it if when you have your missionary opportunity you email me about it. :]

Shout out to my Friend Taylor who just had his farewell talk. He is going to be a brilliant missionary.

Elder Thayne

Sorry didn't take very many pictures but we were able to go into this big cathedral.
It was pretty neat but you could tell that there was something missing.

Week of Miracles‏

This last week was great because I don't think I have ever been more in tune with the spirit. It was awesome because I understood what it was telling me and when I listened to it and worked hard I saw miracles happen.
I wen on exchanges on Wednesday with Elder Benton. He is English, but he can't help that. haha just kidding, English people are great. Our day was going to be a big day of finding. We first we setting off to GQ in a park when I had the impression to turn the car into the neighborhood to my left. I had to break pretty hard and I turned onto the street. We started knocking and the first door that opened was a less active member, He said he didn't want us to come back but i want to anyway. After that we met 2 other families who said they would like to have us back because they do have a lot of questions. It was great! Elder Benton and I were on cloud 9. Later that night we got let into someone's home and we taught the husband and wife and their 4 year old daughter.They both really wanted to read the book of Mormon and THEY ASKED US when we could come back. The next morning we were tracting this neighborhood and I had the Impression to go see Airisa. We went and saw her and she said she was sorry she hung up on us. She said That she wants to read the Book of Mormon and ask for herself. All of your prayers definitely helped Airisa, Thank you.Throughout the week We were having miracles like that. We were let in one more time this week. We also got to teach a lot of Pedro's friends and they all took copies Book of Mormon and accepted a return appointment.
One of Pedro's friends lives in London but she was over here for holiday. We taught her the Restoration and when we asked her to explain what Moroni 4-5 meant she gave the most perfect answer I have ever heard. She said "Jesus has suffered for my sins, and he love me so much. He wouldn't leave me alone without answers. He will answer my prayer if I ask...just like he answered Joseph Smith." Right then the spirit testified to her that what we were teaching her was true. She started to cry and she reached over and pulled her son onto her lap and just hugged him while she cried. It was so powerful. I know that the spirit was there and it confirmed to her and reconfirmed to me that what we were teaching is true. We will be sending her information to the missionaries in London, so whoever gets to teach her is pretty lucky because she is totally Golden.
Life is great here in Northern Ireland. There is so much work to do and I can feel the lord strengthening me. I know that he loves his children and he would never want to leave us in darkness. He has provided a way that everyone can live with him again. Jesus Christ is the center of that plan. I know that Jesus Christ lives and he loves us. God lives and he loves us. We have the most powerful people in the entire cosmos rooting for us and cheering us on. I hope that you all realize that.
I love you all hope you have a fantastic day. Just in case you want to write me my Email is:Elder Talmage Platt Thayne12 North StreetPortadownBT63-4BRUnited Kingdom
Elder Thayne

Sorry These are the only pictures That I took. But they are pretty cool wooden carvings.

Bonfire

So This last week has bee crazy...again, I feel like I say that every week but it is true. Elder Walters was able to say goodbye to most of the people in the ward, because he has been called to serve as the district leader in Sligo, Which is in the Republic of Ireland. He left on Wednesday and I just went on exchanges with Elder Blosil for the day in Belfast. That night we picked up our new companions at the bus station. I now have Elder Fassold as my new companion

He is from Heber city Utah and he is proud of it. He is a super funny redneck who was a huge wrestler, he was going all across the US wrestling for Utah and he ended up beating the number 1 wrestler, his weight, in the nation. So he is kind of a beast. He actually know some Thaynes in Altamont, Stacey Thayne. So I thought that was kind of cool. He has also gone on a date with Maddie Hyde so I was just laughing because it was such a small world.
We have been doing quite a bit of finding these last couple days because with the Baptisms we need to find new people to teach. We were suppose to teach Airisa yesterday but she called and said she didn't want to take the lessons anymore. she said that she had talked to some of her friends and they told her that we don't believe in Jesus. We were so crushed because she is such a good woman. I knew when we first taught her that she was special and that the Devil would try really hard to stop her from being Baptized. So I am not going to give up on her we are going to be going by her house and talking to her. I am sure that she will accept the Gospel but she just needs help. Just keep Airisa in your prayers because she really needs this right now. 
We had to stay in the flat all day on Monday. We couldn't leave because it was this huge holiday of independence here and everyone is drunk and crazy stuff like that. They had these giant bonfires that they lit on Friday. It was actually pretty cool to see how big they got. We had to go in early on Friday because we weren't allowed to be out while the bonfires were lit. 
It was a crazy week. ha, but we do have one constant, the gospel. I love the gospel because it provides security in an every changing world. It is truly an anchor for the soul (Ether 12). The Lords laws are clear and they are easy to understand. When we are 100% committed to living his law we will be confident and safe. It is easier to be 100% obedient than it is to be 99% obedient. I have noticed that this principle is true as I have been more and more obedient. I am still working on it, but I have seen an increase of blessings.
Anyway, I love you all and I hope that you all have a great day. Please pray for Airisa tonight. Talk to you all next week.
Elder Thayne

So this is me and Brother Donnelly outside of his farm. He has been taking a picture with everysingle missionary that has served there for the last 25 years in front of that sign.

That is me just sitting on a bear statue

giant bonfires

 My new companion Elder Fassold

New President

Well this last week has been crazy busy haha i don't even know where to start....I got to meet my new Mission President. His name is President Donaldson and he seems awesome. He is super passionate and I can tell he loves us so much. He talked a lot about how this mission is going to be governed by the spirit and how the spirit will be running the mission not the other way around. He told us that in order to have the spirit help us in our choices we need to be sanctified. He said that we need to give up any petty disobedience and set ourselves apart from the world.

Irina was able to go to girls camp and she made a lot of really good friends. She is already so fellow shipped into the ward I have no worries that she will feel like she doesn't have any friends. She is such a good girl and she has been keeping all of her commitments. she believes everything that we have taught her. We went over the interview questions with her and she said that she didn't feel like she knew if Joseph Smith was a prophet, So I asked her to say a prayer right there. She knelt down and said a prayer and she just sat quiet after the prayer for a minute and she got up and said she felt really good. I know that the spirit testified to her that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that what we have said is true. She had her interview and she passed with flying colors.

That night at 7 we were all at the church for Irina's Baptism. We had some great talks on Baptism and  the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then her big moment came. We got into the water and I had the privilege of preforming the Baptism. She lifted up her leg twice, and one of the times I started to go into the temple mode. I said, "I baptize you for and in behalf...wait" haha yeah I had to start over again but that is ok. Those small mistakes didn't take anything away from the experience. Just looking at her after I could tell she was completely clean, she was the most perfect person on earth at the moment. I know that her baptism was the best decision that she has ever made in her life.

After the Baptism I started to wonder what we were going to do now that we wont be teaching her anymore. I started to think of all of our investigators and I realized that they all have the same potential. Just because we wont be teaching Irina doesn't mean we wont have much to do. we have so much work! and I am looking forward to it so much.

Later on Saturday night Elder Walters and I went out to GQ (Golden question) some people. I then had the feeling that we should try by on of our potentials. Her name in Airisa and she is from Latvia. We got to her house and we talk to her for a bit and we invited her to church. The next morning we saw he show up in the back. We were so excited we went up and started to talk to her after the meeting. She went back home after sacrament but she came back 5 minutes later with her 4 year old daughter. They both went to nursery and I'm pretty sure they liked it. We taught he the Restoration on Sunday night and the spirit was so apparent. she was just sitting quietly and I could tell she was feeling it. She told us a lot about her life and what she was looking for. When we were teaching her she said that she feels really happy. We then extended the soft invitation to be baptized. She said she will be baptized if she came to know that it is true! Man it was one of the best experiences I have had on my mission. I know that the Lord put us in Airisa's path because he loves her and he know how she can be happy.

Later sunday night while we were doing our planning session we got a call from the mission president telling us what the moves will be like. Elder Walters will be the district Leader in Sligo and I will be staying here in Portadown with my new companion, Elder Fassled. From what I here, he is a super hard worker and he is good with people so I cant wait to meet him.

I love this Mission. I know that this church is true. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of God. I have read it more than I ever have in my life while I have been out here and I know that it has brought me closer to God than anything else. I love it and I read from it every day. I love you all, Hope you have a great week, keep it real.

Elder Thayne

Belfast Castle, it is amazing. We were able to go to belfast for one of our P-days so we went to the castle. 

That Is Elder Lorecella.

We saw this cool Bridge while on our way to Dublin to meet our new Mission President.

The other pictures are of the Stevensons, Chris and Christy. Christy is from Arizona and Chris is From Scotland. They helped us feel like we were back in America with a nice 4th of July Dinner and they showed us how to do a spinning wheel.

This is Irina at her Baptism, It was amazing. 

This is Elder Walters last dinner with the Keery's.