Bishop, Thatcher PT

Hello Everyone! We had another great week this week! We had a bunch of lessons and walked with a few members, and we've had 2 baptisms this week again! There's been a big focus lately on getting members ready for missions, so we also have the pleasure of helping all these prospective missionaries prepare for their own missions! We got to explore the area around Huambo a bit more for P-day today, and some of the natural beauty of Angola is just incredible! We had a picnic with a member and hung around a rock formation for a bit. This week I was reading in 3 Nephi and I came across the scripture 3 Nephi 9:13, and it hit me a little differently this time. As missionaries, we share from 3 Nephi a lot, but chapter 9 usually gets overlooked because it's mostly about the destruction of the cities. However, verse 13 is actually really amazing. The part I really like says, "...Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" ...

Hello Everyone! We had some more baptisms this week! Unfortunately, not all 7 could be baptized. A few had to be moved to later dates, but we had 2 of our friends get baptized and confirmed! Funny story about that, after the confirmations, the Branch President asked us to welcome the new members by raising the right hand. Most of the congregation did so, but the Branch President (on the pulpit!) pointed at one person in the middle and told him to put his hand up. It wasn't until he was 100% sure everyone's hand was up that he told us we could put them down. He must've really wanted these new members to feel welcome. The Branch here can be a little funny sometimes because all the members are such close friends. Their excitement and happiness is almost palpable! Other than that, we had Zone Conference where I got to give a training for everyone! In Portuguese! After being on the mission for a little more than 6 months, I got to give a training to all the missionaries and a bu...

Hello Everyone! This week was pretty interesting. We had a few more of our big group lessons! By now, we're preparing 7 of our friends for baptism this Saturday! It's great seeing how fast the gospel spreads among such tight-knit friends! It's really inspiring seeing people bring all their friends to church, lessons, or activities to have them be involved. The people here have absolutely no problem or reservations about bringing their friends to have some fun and learn more about Christ. We had another baptism yesterday! Our good friend Rodriguez was helping us out and having his own missionary moments weeks before his own baptism! It's awesome to see such a firm faith in God progress through covenants they have a testimony of. Slightly less spiritual, but I cannot stress the disappointment I have in American soda companies for not releasing a lime/lemon ginger flavor (for some reason, lime and lemon have a shared common name. I think. However, they do have two differen...

Hello Everyone! Last Tuesday, I got my new companion, Elder Roque! He's from Mozambique and just arrived in Angola for his last 6 months. You would not believe how excited he is to be here after waiting so long. We had a really productive week, at points having groups of people follow us to hear us teach. It was amazing! We would just pass someone while walking to a lesson and tell them to follow us, and they did! We had a group of 6 people at one point following us to one lesson. It felt like a proper Biblical ministry! We had another baptism this week! Our friend Manuel was able to get baptized and join his aunt as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve, and I have definitely felt God supporting me as I push to do my best here in Angola! Hope everyone is doing well! Have a good week! Elder Thatcher Bishop