information...

Interesting tidbit that you might want to know...It appears that I am flying to frankfort, then to Denver, and then to grand Junction...Or at least that is what I hear from one of the elders who is leaving at the same time...I guess his mom called the travel company and got his itenerary. Anyhow, I really don't know much about what is going on when and how..I'm the type that doesn't like to meddle too much or get too organized--It's bad for your heart. I like to take things as they come so then everything is a welcome surprise--Or something like that. Anyhow, I'm not sure if I'll be giving a homecoming talk or if I'll get to see any of my family, or what is going on...the best bet is to plan it all out with my Mommy. She knows what's best. Take care and love you all!

ellen

Re: Wednesday? Already!

Well family!!!
This was a great week in the life of sister missionary Irmã thompson. We had some really great teaching moments and the work is really going forward. We have been really working hard to help the members and everyone with whom we come in contact feel that we really love them and have prepared a message especially for them. Yesterday during my studies I studied the topical guide entry about families and it was really great. Then we were able to really have some great lessons with some people who are the only members in their family (which is about everyone) What I learned is that the gospel really does bless families and makes it able for them to really be eternal. The gospel is constructed in generations and each generation is so important. For example, even though Joseph Smith's great-great-grandfather did not have the fullness of the gospel, he made choices and tried to do what was right which helped his posteirity be prepared to make choices and with every successive generation the restoration was closer and more possible. Anyway, just that our choices really do influence those before and after us and that the Lord has prepared a perfect plan whereby all of our families really can be made eternal. THE PLAN IS PERFECT. Anyway, sorry to run, but we have to catch a train to Porto today...luncheon for the sisters :) I made ginger cookies last night too...Thanks Janie...they'll be so yummy.

Love you all and I promise that one of these days I'll write a nice long, thought out letter. I just know that the gospel of Jesus Christ really makes people happy (ie. me) and it brings so much hope, responsibility, but hope and joy. Take care and keep warm.!

ellen

Samuel....há uma carta a vir para ti...Sê amado! oro por ti sempre.

Fw:wednesday! Already!

Came in to send my weekly, Tuesday, email and found Samuel's email and then knew that I had missed Tuesday and today was Wednesday. Where do the days go?

So that week we were able to get the conduit into the shed floor on Thursday and then we found a new Cement guy to poor the floor on Friday. It started out cloudy even though it was supposed to be sunny but the pour was good. It did take 'til dark to get the back set up so they could finish it off. It looks great. We do have cement blankets on it so it won't get too cold before it cures. So we had a couple of sunny days--Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Tuesday was supposed to be cloudy but we had sun most of the day. Dad and I were able to set up four high of ice blocks in the cellar. Then we started putting up the braces. At dark we covered the top of the blocks so hopefully no moisture would get inside. Today, we bent rebar braces for the brick ledge. We hoped tomorrow would be sunny so Dad took me out to lunch for our anniversary and bought me a pair of insulated coveralls. It was sunny then but by the time we got home, the clouds had rolled in and now snow is pr!
edicted this evening--"the coldest front of this season" accordingto the weather man--one to three inches of snow predicted for the valley. So do we get to pour cement into the ice blocks on Monday? We'll have to see. So I hope all of you are keeping warm and dry and I hope we can continue building our house dispite the wet and cold weather. Love, MOM

Wet rats

Hello family dearest!
Well, the work goes ever forward! (usually with me, but sometimes despite me) It is such a blessing to have this look at eternity and the importance and vision that the gospel has. I am constantly amazed by how little I know and how much I have to learn. We are teaching a lot of great people and getting thoroughly wet. The fall rain is absolutly drenching because of the strong wind that accompanies it. I think we are also having an exceptionally rainy year also. We show up on people's doorsteps and I can understand why they let us in for a 'warm by the fire'. I'm sure we look like drownding rats at times...we left the house looking beautiful, it's not our fault that the wind took the umbrella away. Chuckle. Yeah, so we're keeping busy and out of trouble and dry when we can. Love you all!

ellen

Me here

Hello all my faithful e-mail watchers...Irmã thompson here giving you the down-low on the week that left as a thief in the night...

I AM THE SURVIVOR (A SOBREVIVENTE)
Our district for the last 6 weeks have been having an informal competition including scriptural knowledge and knowledge of useless facts and things. During this last district meeting I squared up against the district leader in the final episode. He was a worthy opponent which made the victory all the more sweet as I won the best of 3 questions (the quick-death tie breaker). All those scripture chases in seminary paid off.

I am staying in Braga until the end.
We waited and waited for transfer announcements with baited breath...not knowing what would happen, knowing that the sky was the limit, and then found out that nothing would happen. We get to stay together for the next six weeks until Thanksgiving. We're excited about that.

And the work goes on....
Other than those little news flashes, it's work as usual for your two favorite sisters Karren and thompson....the church is true and the book is blue!

Love you all, take care!

ellen

Great stuff!

So, conference was absolutely amazing!!! I really loved the Women's Conference and also really every single talk given in General Conference. It is awesome how they promised peace, happiness and security in this world by just doing what we already know we should do: study the scriptures daily, pray with heart, and increase daily in faith. The simple things are what bring happiness. I am so everlastingly grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a member of this church and to enjoy the blessings that that membership has to offer. Of course we want to baptize people... we want them to enjoy all the blessings that we enjoy: Visiting and home teachers weekly, friendships with the best of the best, general conferences and revelation from inspired leaders that we receive on a weekly and monthly basis. I was studying in Preach my Gospel this morning and I loved that in the section about how the Gospel blesses families it mentions so many blessings that we can and should be enjoying now there were about three paragraphs on it. Then in one sentence it talks about how our families can be together forever. I really love that we don't have to wait to be happy, we can and should be enjoying the many blessings that the knowledge of the fullness of the gospel has to offer.

Today we have the great opportunity to help a member of the ward here in Braga. She is the one that had a fire in her home a couple of weeks ago. We have been cleaning and scrubbing the walls and everything and getting it ready and today, because it is a holiday here, the ward has organized a big painting party. The bishop was already on his way there when we headed out to do e-mail, and there are a lot of other members that are also on the way. It is such a blessing to be part of this great organization that takes care of us in more ways that one.

The work is going well, Maria dos Remédios and her friend Albina came for the Women's Conference and absolutely loved it. We also had an amazing zone conference on tuesday and learned a bunch of great stuff to organize our work better. It is going to make a huge difference! We are really excited to make the changes we need to make to do the work how the Lord wants us to, because His is a house of order.

Anyway, time is ever so short....Hope your anniversary is great Mom and Dad. 33 years flew by just like a dream with all of us great kids didn't it. You never even had to work very hard....Just joking! Thanks for all the back-breaking work you have done! Coming up soon some old man will be turning 62 if I'm not mistaken... Happy Birthday to the old geezer! Good thing he still maintains the figure he had in high school, it helps him to look much younger..if only he had retained some of the hair...

As you can tell I'm in a bit of a funny mood today. I sure do love all of you and pray that you're doing well.

ellen

What a Time

Oí Família,
Conference was absolutely wonderful. It seemed as though there was a theme to this conference-using the atonement and keeping the commandments. Almost all of the talks called people to repentance and talked of the need to repent constantly. I really thougth that this was the best conference yet. I am sure that the next conference will be even better.
Missionary work is going great. We meet new people everyday and teach new investigators everyday. It is a pleasure and a blessing to be here. There is so much to do and say and I sometimes feel overwhelmed but I know that I can only do so much. Just do all that you can do and control and don´t worry about the things that you can´t control. It works like that. Go and do and learn and grow. This is the reason for us being here and we should use each day to its fullest. The one thing that I need to do is thank the Lord for all that I have and then smile to all the world. Be happy that another day has come that you can go and do and learn and grow or in other words become like our Heavenly Father. What a great time it is.

Love,
Elder THompson