Baptism!

Hello,

This was a really great week for us in Rajahmundry. Our investigator Veerraju was baptized yesterday after church. He asked me to perform his baptism and it went well. He's a really good person and should be a strong church member.

Lately we have been going from home to home to make sure that Elder Sundas knows everybody for when I leave. He's learning the houses really well but is having a bit of trouble remembering everybody's names. I remember when I first came here and had the exact same problem names in this area are pretty confusing. He's really doing a lot to make sure that he is ready to take over. I'm proud of this guy! It's sad that we only have one more week together. Elder Sundas and I are best friends! Time has really been flying by lately. 

I took Elder Dharavath on exchange this week. He's going home after this transfer so it was good to talk with him and see how he feels and how the work is going in his area. He's training an Elder from New Delhi so it was nice to follow up on the training.

I have a bunch of pictures to send this week but unfortunately I can't send them from this computer. Hopefully next week I can get them all sent. 

Love, Elder Thompson

Nice Week

Hello,

This was a good week for Elder Sundas and I. We're really having a great time and working well together. It rained three or four times this week, but that can't stop a couple of zealous missionaries! We spent plenty of time riding our cycles through pouring rain and ankle deep puddles and rivers. Sometimes it will rain really hard and all the roads will turn into niagra falls! It's pretty exciting.

This week is Ganesh festival which means some crazy parties out on the streets. We've had lock down at 6:00 pm every other day. It kinda hurts our work but it's nice to have a little bit of time to get some extra studies in and relax a bit.

We've been teaching an investigator named Veerraju and he's just about ready to be baptized. He's scheduled to be baptized next Sunday. We're pretty excited about that. He's been so golden with learning the lessons, keeping commitments and living the commandments. All he needs now is the interview and he's ready! 

I also received word that I will be leaving to the Philippines on October 5th and I will be serving in the Manila mission while I get my Indian visa renewed. I'm excited to serve in this mission because the temple should be nearby to where I serve. It will be a wonderful opportunity to attend the temple after such a long time.

Pictures: 

1. This is what we eat during lock down when I actually have some time to cook. (American mashed potatoes and gravy with fruits and veggies.)

2. One of our investigators, Sister Vijaya at her birthday party. Her father is a pastor but asked me to say a prayer at the party. While I was praying, he started saying some pastor phrases  like "ohhh thank you!" and "amen!" I had to hold back my laughter.

3. I had a baptism interview for this young man on the right. His name is Acharya. He has a difficult family situation, but is completely ready to take baptism. I think it will help him and his family a lot. 

That's all for now! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Thompson

Beautiful Rajahmundry

Hello,

This week was really great and productive for Elder Sundas and I. We've really been working with a few less actives that haven't come to church in months and months, and they finally came today. We were pretty excited for that. We also had some good investigators come to church. We were really happy with our week. We just got a new Senior Missionary Couple assigned to serve in Rajahmundry. Their names are Elder and Sister Newton. They arrived this week and enjoyed attending church with each branch on Sunday. Word is we are about to get a bunch of new missionaries coming to our mission as well as a bunch of new missionaries coming to Rajahmundry. This zone is about to explode! 

One of our current AP's, Elder Gottipati came on exchange with Elder Sundas and I this week. It was really nice because he served here about a year ago so he was able to show us some new homes that we have never visited before. We were able to get some new investigators and less active families to work with. It was so cool to see him go and see all of his old friends. He'll be going home pretty soon which is crazy and sad considering he was my first zone leader when I came to my mission. Time really flies by. 

This morning, we all went to visit a really nice waterfall a few hours outside of Rajahmundry. It was very beautiful and it felt so refreshing to spend some time in nature again. I don't get much of that since I'm usually in a city or village. Our zone had such a great time. 

Love you all! Have a great week. 

Elder Thompson

In my pictures: 

1. Here's a guy that hiked up with us. He threw a worm in there to catch some fish. I was really curious to see what was in there, but he didn't catch any.

2. Here we are at the top: (L to R) Elder Patten, Elder Thompson, Elder Sundas, Elder Dharavath

With Liberty and Justice For All....

Hello,

This week I had the opportunity to take a visit to the U.S. consulate in Hyderabad and I can genuinely say that I had a great time! I had to go to apply for a second passport so that I can go apply for a new Visa. Previously when I had to do work that involved my passport and visa, it was extremely painful because I was going to the FRO (Foreigners Registration Office.) At the US consulate, I was no longer a foreigner. The security let me cut to the front of very long lines of Indians waiting to go inside for American visas or other matters. Aside from that, there were Americans working inside and they had the most incredible English. I discovered that I am completely clueless when it comes to speaking with American people. The guy at the counter held up my application and asked me for my oath that everything on there was true and correct.  As I raised my right hand and said "yes", I caught myself doing the Indian head bobble thing. It seems like I am no longer an American! On my way out, I saw the American flag handing high and proud. I stopped, placed my hand over my heart, said The Pledge of Allegiance, and shed a few tears. (Not really, but I was tempted to!)

Aside from that, Rajahmundry has been treating Elder Sundas and I very well. We are having tons of fun together and laugh over just about everything. We started teaching a new guy named Veerraju and he seems to be really solid. We met with him and planned to set him on date for September 20th. As we invited him to be baptized, he accepted and said that he wanted to be baptized on the exact date that we were planning on. So exciting! Also, Sister Sagarika was confirmed yesterday. She has been so solid and is flying through the Book of Mormon. 

This morning, a bunch of us elders and a few members played some basketball and ultimate Frisbee together. We played hard and had a fun time. I'm actually feeling really sore right now which is probably a bad sign meaning that I haven't done much exercising except for cycling in almost a year. In Bangalore, I used to do P90X with Tony Horton, so maybe I should get back into that. 

Here's a few pictures.

The sunset as I landed in Hyderabad

The mission office sent me REAL U.S. CURRENCY to pay the fee at the consulate.

Tiny Rajahmundry airport

Our new investigator, Veeraju

I saw this snack at the store the other day.  I think Laman and Lemuel must have eaten this as they were walking through the wilderness.

This is Domino's attempt at spelling my name.  I said it to them on the phone, and this is what they understood.

A cow hanging out in the front entrance to Dominos,

A second attempt at spelling my name.  This time, I held my name tag up in front of the cashier.  So close sister!!

Love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Kent R. Thompson

Baptism

Hello! 

This was a really great week. Elder Sundas and I are having such a good time. He's a really hard working missionary and a fun person to be around. His family is actually from a state in India called Manipur and it sounds like it's a really cool place. He stayed in New Delhi for quite a while and that's where he was introduced to the church. After he was baptized, his family moved back to Manipur and he used to travel to New Delhi to attend church every single week. If you look at a map of India, you see that Manipur is not close to New Delhi AT ALL! It takes two hours to get there BY PLANE or if you take a train it will take THREE DAYS! This guy is a saint! He also casually told me that his dad has climbed MT. EVEREST! He said it so simply like it's no big deal. I was seriously shocked to hear all these things. My companion is such a cool person.

Yesterday, Sister Sagarika was baptized by her future husband, Naveen. They looked so good together and so happy to have this experience. The baptism went really really well. Right as we went outside to have the baptism, it started to rain pretty hard. I guess it wasn't a big deal for them because they were already wet! Sister Sunitha from our branch gave a really nice talk about baptism and Naveen said some really nice things as well. It was a great experience.

Yesterday we also had the chance to visit one of my favorite families, the Podi family. I haven't had the chance to see them since I was with Elder Willis, so it was so good to say hello. Last time we were there, sister was having some health problems and was expecting to go have an operation. We gave her a blessing that everything would be OK. When she went to the hospital, the doctors determined that she wouldn't need to have an operation because she would be able to heal just from taking a few medications. Now, her health is back to normal and she told us how happy she was that this miracle happened. God really blessed this family and helped them to stay healthy and strong.  

We also gave talks in sacrament meeting yesterday. Elder Sundas spoke about prayer and I spoke about the Holy Ghost. Our talks linked together really well. A few people told us that our talks were inspiring and just what they needed to hear at that time. I'm sure the Spirit helped us to say things that would be inspiring for our members and investigators. 

That's all for now, I'll reply with a bunch of pictures so stay posted! 

I know that I'm here doing the right thing! The Gospel is true!

Love, Elder Thompson

Elder Sundas, Sagarika, Naveen, Elder Thompson, Kishore Kandukuri (the branch Mission leader)

Into the water

Members watching from the church

Having some fun last P-day at the Godavari River

Fun with Ajay, Tejia, and Abhi Ram (got the idea for this picture from my friend Hyrum.  Thanks, bro!)

This is Elder Rajendran, Kandukuri, and me on our way back from Sister Sagarika's home.  We had the baptism interview and needed a ride back to the bus stand.  We decided to save a little money and hitch hike on a tractor.  It was a fun time.  I'm sitting in the trailer.  Also, I've never seen anybody wear a helmet while driving a tractor.  Props to this guy for thinking "safety first!"

Here we are making kitchati rice with tomato chutney.  I made the rice and Elder Sundas made the chutney.  It was quite delicious.

Kitchati rice with tomato chutney

Branch members waiting for Sister Suryakantham's baptism

Carrying Sister Suryakantham into the font

Changes

Hello,

This week brought us some unexpected changes. Elder Bunga had a transfer call last Tuesday to go to Visak. I will be staying here for one more transfer before I head to the Philippines. It seems crazy that I have had so many companions in such a short time. I've had the chance to work with some really great elders. My new companion's name is Elder Sundas. He's from New Delhi and just finished his training in my wonderful native place of Bangalore Convent Road. He spent all of yesterday travelling, so today is our preparation day. It's so nice to talk with someone that knows Convent Road so well. We also will be able to talk with each other in sign language. I'm really excited! 

On Sunday, we had a baptism for sister Suryakantham. She's the mother of one of our members, Dr. Babu. It was a very humbling experience. She's very old and can't walk or sit in a chair, but she really wanted to take baptism in her "last days." We've taught and interviewed her and found her worthy and ready to take baptism. The baptism service was very nice. Dr. Babu drove her right to the font in his car, and we all gathered around and had the opening exercises. Then, a few brothers carried her into the font, baptized her, and confirmed her a member right there. A few sisters helped her change, she got back in the car, and drove home. It was a very spiritual experience and we could tell that she was very happy. Because of her disability, she isn't able to come to church so the branch will have some brothers bring the sacrament to her each week. We are all very happy.

This coming Sunday, sister Sagarika is on date to be baptized and she is totally ready! We'll have her interview this week and enjoy the service. As for the Torlapati family,we're still working with some concerns that they have but hopefully they will let us come over today. They have been very busy recently. 

Elder Sundas and I are very excited to be a part in the Lord's work! We will do so much good in this short time that we have together. Because Elder Bunga is gone, we'll have to hold on with a few of our Telugu speaking investigators, but I'm excited to be more involved while teaching lessons. We'll pray like anything for English speakers! 

I hope you all have a great week!! Have fun and live righteously!

Love,

Elder Thompson

Elder Sundas and Elder Thompson

How Great Is My Calling

Note from mom:  I have mentioned to a few of you that Kent will be going to the Philippines to renew his visa soon.  He told me last week that he would be going on August 5th.  I assumed he meant September 5th since August 5th had already passed.  I asked for clarification this morning while we were emailing and he said he actually meant to say October 5th.

Hello,

We had some really good times this week and got a lot done. I enjoy being here to serve the people of Rajahmundry. Sister Bodupalli just returned from her mission in the Philippines and has been going crazy with the missionary work in Rajahmundry. She's been referring many of her family members and friends to us so we have been very busy with them. They are great people and anxious to follow Christ and stop bad habits. It's so great to see recently returned missionaries come and continue the missionary work in their home branch. 

On Tuesday, I took Elder Burnett on exchange. He has recently come back to the India Bangalore Mission after waiting for his visa in the Philippines for a very long time. It was interesting for me because that was the first time I have been on exchange as the district leader. I'm supposed to be the one to give instruction and guidance, but in reality he is the more experience missionary. We had a great time and enjoyed learning from each other. 

We've been getting the members so involved in the missionary work recently. We've been having a member come with us on exchange every day and even went on splits last week. Going on splits was such a fun experience. Elder Bunga went with a returned missionary named Kishore Kandukuri and I took a future missionary named Chandra Shekar. It was so good to spend some time with someone who has given a lot of time and sacrifice to prepare for his mission. He will be a great missionary. Hopefully we can do splits more in the future. Twice as much missionary work goes on and we really connect with the members. 

Yesterday morning we had an insane rain storm. For that reason, many of our investigators and even members didn't come to church. We had a fun time going to our area in an auto to pick up an investigator. We were pretty wet by the time we got to church. Autos aren't exactly water proof.

Today for our preparation day, we visited a Hindu temple that is high on a hill. We climbed about 600 very steep steps to get to the top. It reminded me of the hill workouts that I used to do in cross country. It felt good to get some real cardio in. We saw tons of monkeys and had a great view at the top. 

Visiting a Hindu temple

Monkey Family

David's 13th birthday party.  (He's the one next to Elder Bunga in
the red shirt).  The entire neighborhood fit into this small house.
It was great!

These are two of my favorite kids.  Every time we walk by
(which is at least a few times every day), they freak
out and come to shake our hands.  So fun.

I hope you all have a great week.  I love hearing from you all.  The gospel is true!

Love,

Elder Thompson