Week 36

Dear Mother, 
1.(How many times did the electricity go off this week?) I'm not too sure a few times. It has been off since morning time. It isn't fun but it's not too bad. 

2. (What was the worst thing you ate this week?) Oh I just remembered I got your package. Thank you so much. the candy was the best. But worst thing I can't really think of anything. We have an FHE tonight so we will see how that goes. 

3. (Have you been sick at all?) No not at all. Don't worry you son is healthy. A little fat but healthy. 

4. (What did you do for p-day?) We played some frisbee and we are going to meet the other elders after the cafe to play more. 

5. (What do you eat for breakfast?) oats I have had them every morning since being here. and yes they are getting a little old. 

6. (Best scripture this week?) Not really a scripture but something Elder Cook said to us Peace is the reward of righteousness. I really liked that. We got to see him on Saturday and had a little devotional so that was great. He is a powerful man. Also another great story on Wednesday he had a member fireside so we decided to take an investigator. She is great. She is very well educated and has a super nice car. So we took a member with us and she drove us to the temple site in her mini cooper and we had a great time. I really think she felt the spirit and hopefully she will continue to progress. It's a little harder just because she is more higher class but she is very interested.  

7. (Hardest lesson you taught this week?) Veronica! I don't even want to talk about it. It was so bad. it was just really hard and it took a lot out of me.  

8. (Did you see anything that made you say, " wow, people in the U.S. would never believe this") I can't really think of anything. I guess just cows random walking around. 

9. (Did you get your package?) Yes I got it thank you so much.  

10. (Did you go on splits with other missionaries?) We went on one a few weeks ago but no this week. 

I met Phil and Tricia Collins at the temple site on Wednesday. They are serving a mission here. They know our family. Grandma Nat use to pick her up for church. Small world. 
Love Elder Thornhill

Dad, 
First off thanks for the jokes. They are pretty sweet. Yes especially lately they have gone by so fast. It's so weird. I know we are getting 25 new missionaries in April so that is going to be really crazy. The work is hastening.  

I have never heard of that before. A ward reunion sounds really cool.  Yes and also the Spirit World although that will be a little different. No hugs or handshakes. Funny story an investigator tried to hug me this week. Super awkward but I was able to avoid it so that was good. Thanks dad I am glad you have some men around but let's be honest they all pale in comparison to this guy. Ha just kidding but I am getting a more rugged beard though. Thanks dad for everything. I know really how big an impact a dad can make. Thank you for being the best. 

Love Elder Thornhill

Week 35

Dear Mom,
1. (How is your companion is he getting use to being there?) Yes he is doing well. He is adjusting well.

2. (What do you feel like is the best thing you can teach him?) Teach him a love of the scriptures and of the people.

3. (When did you say transfers are going to be?) Next week the 20th. We are getting new missionaries in our apartment.

4.  (Did you get some new pants?) Da bee (no)

5. (How do you get investigators?) Finding. And contacting. Just walking up to people and talking to them.

6. (Craziest thing this week?) No power for a night that was crazy I guess. Nothing else really.

7. (Something different from the culture?) I really don't know what to say you need to be more specific. sorry.

Well have a great week everyone.

Love Elder Thornhill

Dear Father, 
My week was good. We had a baptism on Saturday so that was good. I have a nice rash all over my chest so that is great too. I think I have figured out where it came from so hopefully is goes away. I did leave just in time then. It is going well. Elder Nelson is doing great. That is sweet dad. I don't think I will be able to go golfing here though ha.  Ah the black stars didn't do so hot. They didn't win the cup but man everyone loves them so now I love them too.  
Ben my garments are getting a little yellow these days. Thanks Ben I hope your son is doing well. You better teach him to be a man just like you. Alright sweet packages are the best. Thanks Ben you're the greatest. Can't wait to give you a big hug when I get back 
Much love Elder Thornhill

Week 34

Dear Mother, 
Sounds like a long week. I miss cheer ha NOT. Jacob is really good. I have been starting to read the Book of Mormon again in my free time. So me and my companion are doing February/March madness to finish it by the end of march. We just have to read 9 pages a day. It has been going well and I have been learning a lot just by reading through. Man 15 that is crazy. I almost forgot thanks for reminding me.  
This week was good. We had 2 confirmations on Sunday and I was part of them and I really felt the Spirit. The 2 new recent converts are really strong and one of them Kwame I know will go on a mission in a few years. I also bore my testimony during sacrament. Our leaders have encouraged us to bear our testimonies every fast Sunday. I remember when I use to be scared to do that. It's kind of funny now because it is no big deal. I actually look forward to be able to bear my testimony to the ward. I have always just been nervous of scared or just not really good at speaking in public but here its easy. I felt very comfortable at the stand and I really felt the spirit while bearing my testimony so it was a good experience.   

1. (Tell me about your companion.) He is cool. Has had a hard past but is really cool. I don't really know what you want me to say.    
2. (What was something crazy you saw this week.) Oh quick story. We saw cows but that is not the story. We went to a members house for FHE. So they made us food after. They are from Nigeria so they made us an Nigerian dish. My companion is still not use to the food so he couldn't really eat that much. So I had to eat so much food. And the mom just kept giving us more. So I just tried to down it all. I finished it and started to feel sick. So I just walked away from their house small and threw up most of the food I just ate. I felt so much better after that. I was lucky it was at night so no one saw me. So that is the good story for the week.   
3. (How many lessons did you teach?) I think it was like 30 that's about average for a week. But I hate going by numbers because you can have lessons were there is really no point in going. We the investigator isn't really progressing so we had to drop a lot of people this week.   
4. (What was the hardest principle you had to teach?)That you have to be baptized again if it wasn't done by the proper authority. A lot of people don't understand that you can be baptized again and that it is necessary if you want to gain salvation. 
5. (Something you learned in the scriptures you did not already know.) Dispensations. I know crazy right. But I didn't really have a good knowledge and so I had a great P study about this and it was really good. Bible dictio0nary under dispensations is really good.   
6.(Some weird cultural trivia.) you can't use your left hand. You have to eat everything. I don't really know mom sorry. 
Mom you totally stole that from Elaine S Dalton! I read that talk its good. The church is true so true.  
Love Elder Thornhill

Dear Dad,   
I have time so don't worry. I am sure the super bowl was super lame without your only son there. I didn't even know it was this week. But when the Black Stars play Ghana is like a ghost town. There is the cup of nations for Africa so Ghana has been playing. You will be walking down the street and see 30 people around one little small TV watching the game it's pretty funny. They love their black stars here. thanks dad. Things are going well I hope you have a good week, 
Love Elder Thornhill

Week 33

Dear Mother, 
Yes It was a very exciting week.   

1. (Where is your companion from? What is his name?) His name is Elder Nelson. He is from Waddell. Apparently it is by Phoenix. I have never heard of it before but I am sure dad knows where it is.  

3. (How are you doing as a trainer?) That is an inspired question mom. I think it would be better to ask him, I feel like it is going well. We had a baptism yesterday but we didn't have enough people at sacrament. We need to extend more dates and find some new investigators but things are going well.  

4. (What was the hardest thing about the week?) Just having to lead in everything. And really do everything. Elder Thom liked to manage everything so sometimes it was hard and now it has just been a little hard adjusting from junior companion to trainer.  

5. (What was the most pleasant surprise ?) It rained! Elder Nelson is super cool and the baptism actually went really well.  

6. (Do you still just have the two of you in the apartment?) Yes just two but I'm sure we will get more very soon.   

7. (Did you have any amazing discussions this week?) We had some bad lessons. We had good lessons but not really any amazing lessons. 

8. (Are you writing down things that are bugging you?) Da bee. Sorry I need to do better at that but I'm doing ok not to many things are bugging me right now. 

9. (What was the coolest thing that happened this week?) I can't remember mom I'm sorry. We washed our clothes today that was kind of cool. 

This week was good. Kwame and Perfect were baptized yesterday and the baptism went very good. I was a little worried because I had to tell the bishop about it right before church but it went really well. Both these people are great and it was a great experience. Training is going ok. My companion was sick on Friday so I guess I failed in the aspect but things are going well. My mind is pretty blank right now. Oh I started watching the district DVD's. Those things are pretty entertaining. Favorite quote "if you don't use the area book.....you don't understand the atonement"  I understand where she is coming from but that is quite a big jump ha. That is about it for this week. I love you 

Elder Thornhill

Dear Father, 
Thank you dad. I am a proud father (trainer) of a bouncing baby boy (trainee). He is 21 and is from Waddell. Elder Nelson. Thank you for your confidence dad. It means a lot. I hope your week went well. Thanks for everything dad. I got some more dear elders today. Those are much appreciated.

Love Elder Thornhill

Week 32

Dear Mother, 
I am doing well. And drum roll please.......................................................................................................Yes I will be training. President called me at about 10 15 on Tuesday night. I thought I was home free. I was in bed almost asleep and bam called to be a trainer. I really hope that I can do a good job. I am scared but I think the Lord wants to push me and make me stretch. Standing in holy places will keep you safe that is something that I know. Ah no not Lance that is too bad. I think the truth you can learn is that the truth always comes out. When we stand before God we won't be able to hide anything.   

1.(Best thing that happened?) Investigator was confirmed. Edward went to priesthood and to church and looked sweet. Bishop gave me a hug. I think that means he is starting to like us more. 

2. (Hardest discussion to teach?) Ha well this week we had an interesting discussion with a man named E Prince. WE to make it short he is also a missionary and he thought that he knew so much more than us because he has gone to school for 5 years. Basically it was him preaching to us for about an hour. I didn't loss my cool but it was hard. But it's ok we don't have to teach him again. 

3. (Weirdest thing you ate?) I had sugar cane that made me sick other than that nothing too crazy.  

4. (Best scripture of the week?) Luke, I'm not sure where but where Jesus says "not my will but thine be done."

5. (Did you go on any splits this week?) Da bee. That is no in Twi.  

Well next week should be more exciting. I will have a son (trainee) and there will be a lot of firsts for him. I am scared and it like the blind leading the blind but I know that as I rely on the Lord and submit my will everything will go well.  

Love Elder Thornhill 

Week 31

Dear Mother, 

Yes we are on later today as well. We had a little nap in the afternoon, Elder Thom was really tired today so he slept. It was a good week. Busy and a lot of people. Sometimes I get stressed when I think of all the people we have and then I just realize that I need to relax and just take one step at a time. Yes we baptized Edward and Stella. It was a good baptism. Yes I do and now I know how you feel. Yesterday we had church and then Elder Thom had interviews and then we had some lessons so I didn't eat lunch. I have realized that I need to eat every meal or else I get hungry and then grouchy and that is not good. That is very good. I do remember that it was a long time ago. 

Oh I miss big Al. That is a great family. I'm sure it was great to see him. Sam is so funny. I love that guy.  

1. (What was your best thing that happened this week?) Probably the baptism. It was really good and it's great to see your labors pay off.  

2. (What was your worst thing that happened this week?) Stella didn't come to church and wasn't confirmed. and another lady Mabel said she wasn't ready so she wasn't baptized this week. It was really sad. I hope we can resolve her concern and I confident that she will be baptized very soon. 

3. (What was your hardest thing that happened?) Stressing out over the baptism and also church with the confirmations. Sometimes it is so stressful. 

4. (What made you the happiest this week?) We have a great investigator named Perfect. She is so awesome. She reads the commitments we give here and her understanding is great. She is going to be a solid member. She just needs a special interview with President and hopefully she will be baptized and also hymn number 307. In our lovely Deseret. It has some of the best lyrics. it is my hymn of the week.  

5. (What did you learn this week?) Always make sure investigators get to church early when they are being confirmed. Take the baptism records seriously and make sure they are filled out. Work with the ward mission leader to coordinate baptisms better. Also prepare with teaching Sunday school. I had to teach our investigators class yesterday but I didn't find out till Saturday and when I went to prepare we didn't have the gospel doctrines book so I had to wing the lesson. It actually went ok and we had a nice class discussion   

I don't need anything. But if you would like to send me a flat rate envelope full of starbursts that would be ok I guess. 

Oh and transfers have been moved up a week so they are next Thursday. Trainers are being called tomorrow so hope they don't call me. Elder Thom goes home in 15 days. This week was good.  

Love Elder Thornhill

Week 30

Dearest Mother, 
I got a lot of letters from other people this week. On Thursday we went to the mission home for a special interview for Edward. He is 68 has had 5 wives and 8 kids. He has a lot of crazy stories too. He is pretty awesome. But we went to the mission home so I got to pick up mail. The cub scout troop sent me a package so I want to thank them. I wrote letters back to everyone so I'll send those out soon. We had a crazy day yesterday. A lot of people at sacrament and we had some interviews to do but things are looking good for this month. We are going to have a baptism on Saturday which should be really good I am looking forward to it. Also I saw Elder Bradley at the special interview and he was telling me about a girl in Teshie who is getting baptized. I was teaching her when I first came on mission so it has been a long process but she is getting baptized and I am so happy for her. 

1. (What was the most exciting thing that happened this week?) Probably just seeing all the people at sacrament. We had like 10 investigators so it was great. Also the special interview was good and seeing Elder Bradley.   

2. (What was the best thing you learned in studying this week?) I have been studying in Helaman. And I just like the simplicity of the Book of Mormon. Hel 4:23 is pretty powerful. I have also been reading the Doctrine and Covenants. That is great as well. I need to do better to write down my impressions and things like that.  

3. (How do they celebrate the new year?) More fireworks and a lot of music and everyone goes to church. They call it watch night and people go to church all night. It pretty crazy so people weren't to interested. I went to bed early that night. we did have a ward party and they didn't understand why we couldn't stay till midnight. 

4. (How long before your companion goes home?) 3 weeks and he does not want to go home at all. If he could he would switch me places. 

5. (What discussion is your favorite?) I like lesson 3 and the book of Mormon. It is also fun to resolve concerns. Like speaking in tongues and baptism twice and other things like that. It feels good to be able to resolve concerns and be confident when doing so. 

I think that is it for now. 

Love Elder Thornhill

Dear Father, 
Chale Howfa? That means friend how are you. I love the way people speak here. It is very informal and chill but then at the same time formal .It's hard to explain but I love it. I do remember those days. Now if it is past 10 I need to get to bed ha. I am definitely lame in that aspect. Some missionaries like to stay up late but I can't do it. I love going to bed. I need my rest for sure.,  

Thanks dad I can't wait to read about your experiences. I need to do better at that. Well this week was good. Saw Elder Bradley at the mission home randomly. We are baptizing a 68  year old man that may have one of the craziest past I have ever heard. Think of something and her has done it. 5 wives 8 kids. Served in the Nigerian army. they thought he was a spy so he got thrown in jail. Was a professional driver. Went to Europe and the Bahamas. has a Swedish wife and 2 kids with her. Served on a ship. He has done everything. Oh yea trained professional boxers. HE may be as cool as Chuck Norris. Although I'm not sure how much of this stuff it true. He is the greatest. Thanks dad for writing this week is going to be great.  

Love Elder Thornhill