Bishop, Thatcher PT

Hello everyone! This week has been pretty fun being in 3. Lessons were a bit of a struggle the first day because we weren't used to teaching and splitting the lesson three ways, but we're pretty solid now. I've only got one more week with Elder Gois, my original companion, before he goes to another area, but he'll still be in my zone, so I'll see him around. Because we're showing the area to Elder Lamoreaux, we visited a bunch of members this week. It's nice to meet with the members here and talk with them. They're super animated and fun! We also showed him the usual "taxi" stops. Taxis here are very different from other places I've been to. No matter where you're going, they tend to all cost the same, and they follow set routes, more like a bus than a taxi. But the funniest part is that any car could be a taxi if they pull over for you. Yesterday, Jacinta was confirmed in Sacrament following her baptism the previous Sunday. We've b...

Hi Everybody! I really enjoyed this week in Angola. I've been having some stomach issues, but it's normal for new people here; the food is just a little bit different. I'm getting more used to it though, so things are definitely going well. We had another baptism this week! It's amazing to see people taking the first step on the covenant path. On that note, the Angola Luanda Mission had 50 baptisms on Saturday. In one day, we doubled the baptisms from this transfer! So amazing! On Sunday, my companion and I received a new comp that made us a trio! I now have two trainers for the next couple of weeks so that my new companion can get the chance to learn the area. He seems really awesome, and I'm excited to get to know him better as we teach. I hope everyone is doing well, and thank you for all your support. Elder Thatcher Bishop

Hello Everyone! Things have been pretty great this week in Angola. We've got another baptism scheduled this Sunday, and people really seem to want to hear from us. I've been reading more on church history, and it has really inspired me. There were so many miracles around those early saints and missionaries, brought by their strong faith and hard work. They were tried again and again, but they held true to their faith and were blessed so much for it. Because of their example, I'm trying to be more hardworking and diligent in my faith. I've also decided to notice more of the miracles I see all around me. Earlier this week, I had a miracle experience! We were giving a lesson, and I was supposed to teach about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The person we were teaching seemed really interested, so it was important that I taught the subject well. The only problem is, I can't say much, and I can only teach really simply. But as I started to teach, I didn't have to struggl...

Hi Everybody! With a second week under my belt, I can confidently say that I'm improving. I've seen levels of improvement in all areas that would be impossible for me to achieve on my own. I am so thankful for how God has blessed me as I try to improve. The language is coming, but with how fast I'm learning, I can definitely say that the gift of tongues is real. After 2 months, I can talk and teach with my companion. I'm still working on deciphering the Angolan accent, but I know that it'll come. I have had the fun opportunity to try a drink that is only made in Brazil. It was really weird at first, but it's definitely amazing. Apparently, it's in the States too, but I've never seen it before. If any of y'all want to try it, it's called Guarana (I have no idea if that's the correct spelling; I've only ever heard it). Still getting used to some cultural things here. It's apparently a social misstep to use the wrong greeting at differen...

Hey Everybody! This week has been pretty wild and honestly kind of hard. The initial culture shock on the first day was crazy. I've adjusted more since, but I'm still new. However, I am slowly getting used to how things are done in Angola. Regarding the language, I still don't know a lot. I can speak a little and understand even less, but I can teach, and that's really all I need for right now. I'm still working on building my language skills and understanding the Angolan accent, but I'm getting somewhere, even in just one short week. This week has been super eventful. We've taught a whole bunch of lessons, had a baptism and confirmation, a service activity, and an activity to build relationships in the community. It's incredible, all the things we can do and the people we can teach. The food here is actually pretty good, contrary to what my MTC district said. We eat lots of chicken; that seems to be the meat of choice here, but it is great because my co...