Crawfish boil or bust

Luling is soooo beautifu

Weekly sidewalk inspiration

Pray more, worry less

Cute Hermana McCombs and I in Chalmette

Exchanges in Luling with sweet Sister Paulo

Y'all this week was on for the books!! So many happy moments and so many good changes. Something I love about serving in a small branch is we get to see real change. We see the members grow and change, less active members come unto Christ and change, and new members change and embrace the gospel. This happens in every area but I find it especially true in lil old Chalmette. There are always disappointments but there is no need to let them get us down because this is His work and it will continue to move forward. That's pretty cool!

On Friday Sister Pedro and I experienced our first crawfish boil! (pronounced bowl). We had a branch activity in President Farrell's backyard and it was a blast. Sis and I were exhausted from back to back exchanges this week (I went to Luling, she went to Westbank) but we were lifted by this activity. It was beautiful to see everyone making lasting memories and friendships. And hey, the food was really good too! 

I hope y'all have a rad week! Keep on doing those little big things. Whatever our circumstances we really can find joy as we live the gospel and keep up on the "little" things that matter. I've met some of the happiest people out here living in the saddest situations. The gospel is the good news and I am sure blessed to be sharing it. 

Love,

Sister Thomas

CRAWFISH (you boil 'em alive)

Sacred Music Festival

Sister Hansen bought me this cool head wrap from Haiti (ft. Elder Stewart and the festival)

We had a rad opportunity this week to perform at the annual New Orleans Sacred Music Festival. It's basically a festival where people from all over the world come to share their culture, vision, and beliefs. 

The crazy thing about the festival is we found out about it only a few days before it happened. Our mission president's wife, Sister Hansen, called us and asked us to take charge. We figured we'd just be singing a few hymns. But when we called the lady in charge of the festival she told us we had a 45 minute set to put together in a couple days. So we ended up putting our appointments and plans on hold and focused on creating a musical fireside to perform as a zone. Heavenly Father 100% carried us through all of this. Me and my small/weak self could not possibly pull together something like this unless I was on the Lord's errand. But because it was His will and because we have some talented missionaries in the zone we arranged 12 musical numbers (group numbers, solos, duets, and quartets) with testimonies and spiritual thoughts in between. The spirit was powerful as these missionaries sang. I know there were angels lifting us through it all. 

We practiced patience this week and learned to work hard and do our best and then place our worries into His hands. On Saturday we were two minutes away from where we were supposed to meet for a "peace march" that was part of the festival. We left super early so we weren't worried when the bridge went up. But then the bridge broke. We could do literally nothing about the situation so we prayed hard and laughed and took some selfies. When we do our best we don't need to worry about what we didn't accomplish. If things aren't going according to our best plans, we need to remember that it's not about us. It will go according to His plan.

I love y'all! Have a bless'd week <3

Love,

Sister Thomas

The lovely broken bridge (RIP)

Backing down the bridge

Sis and I laughing at the whole situation

Schedule for the festival

"Because God is great"

Such a happy day with this gentleman

"This suit makes be look fat" - Leonard

I am beyond stoked to be with Sister Pedro for another 6 weeks!

 Sister Amezcua has changed my life. She will be the best member missionary California has ever seen.

9 y/o Abbie taught us how to play baseball (I obviously had no idea what I was doing)

Who knew?

Quote of the week:

We were visiting Leonard a couple days before his baptism and he was practically glowing. He was grinning and laughing for no reason. I was pretty sure I already knew the answer but I asked him why he was so happy. Leonard said, "I can tell you exactly why I'm happy. I'm doing the right thing. I've been praying and reading the scriptures every day and God is blessing me." 

His baptism was beautiful. Leonard is such a brave soul to be embracing the gospel at 72 years old. He is humble and willing to endure to the end following Jesus Christ. The spirit was strong as this sweet man covenanted with Heavenly Father. I feel so blessed to know Mr. Leonard.

.

This week flew by and was packed full of happy moments. Mardi Gras was craaaazy fun! It was a wild and wonderful once in a lifetime kind of thing. We were happy and laughing and jumping to catch beads from the beautiful/weird floats in the parade. We saw a lot of drinking, crazy costumes, and wild lifestyles. It makes me appreciate the perspective the gospel gives us about what brings genuine happiness and joy. It was such a good day.

Sister Pedro and I got a call from president this morning. He told us that we are going to be the new sister training leaders for the zone! I feel very weak and inadequate but at the same time there is an overriding feeling of peace. Sister Pedro is such a boss! I'll still be training her but we will be STLs together at the same time. It's her second transfer and she's already going STL? I am lucky to be serving with such a spiritual giant. 

"None of us are called because we are great, we are called to lead because God is great" - Sister Amezcua. I am thankful for Jesus Christ and trust that through Him we can do all things. I seem to learn that again and again each day. Tomorrow I hit 9 months as a missionary and I've been thinking a lot about where I am at and where I would like to be. I set some goals for myself to reach higher and become the servant the Lord needs me to be. With the help of the atonement I hope to grow a little each day. 

I love y'all! Thanks for the love and support. Y'all are always in my prayers. Have a bless'd week!

Sister Thomas

Our pre-parade show featured a group on a megaphone telling New Orleans to repent

MARDI GRAS (they even decorated the porta potty)

Happy Mardi Gras!

I don't know, these murals are just really cool

Sis kissing her favorite mural

Combined ward and branch potluck in New Orleans! Sister Oates brought us beads so we wouldn't feel left out as they all watched the night parade

Happy Mardi Gras, friends and fam! Tomorrow is Louisiana's favorite holiday and we are celebrating by going to the biggest parade of the season. We'll be right there in New Orleans catching beads and coconuts and watching a lot of crazy people run around. (No worries mom, we're going with the branch president's family) This month long holiday is finally at its peak and we could not be more excited to experience our first Mardi Gras! 

It was a typical week on the mission: a roller coast of ups and downs; hard moments and miracles. All of it was beautiful because through it all we relied on Jesus Christ as He moves His work forward. We are just so lucky to be allowed to join in and share His message. 

A unique perspective I've gained on my mission is I've met so many people with crazy lives and real life problems. These people are tough and they go through some hard things. Sometimes I wish I could just fix everything for them. But I'm not a doctor - I can't heal people physically. I'm not a therapist - I can't work them through family problems. BUT Jesus is the perfect healer, therapist, and friend. As we invite others to come unto Him they can find peace and solace. Sharing the gospel is truly the greatest gift we can give others. I am so happy to share what I know to be true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and He knows every pain and sadness we feel. He is there for us through it all and His gospel has been restored on the earth. 

I love y'all. Enjoy Mardi Gras! I'll eat some king cake for y'all ;) Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Thomas

Tackled the Pepper Palace challenge again (4th times the charm)

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde

Happy Abbie

"I feel like a happy puffy marshmallow" - Abbie

The district fambam

 Mr. Charles from the New Orleans ward who kept jumping in all of Abbie's pictures. We've never met him but hey, the more the merrier!

This gospel is so happy, y'all. One of my favorite parts about being a missionary is seeing the change and the glow in people as they follow Jesus Christ. Sweet Miss Abbie got baptized this weekend and the joy of seeing this little girl happy is indescribable. Abbie has had a tough childhood but Jesus Christ has brought out her beautiful smile :) 

Funnies:

- "How do we know men belong in the kitchen? The bible says Hebrews, not she brews" - John Johnson (such a cool guy - former black panther, now on the stake high council)

- We've been bringing Yolanda, a member, to all of Abbie's lesson so she and Abbie have gotten close. Yolanda wanted to buy her something for her baptism so she gave her a cute little bible case....and a new world translation bible, kids edition. Haha we're going to have to explain some things to Abbie!

I learned a lot about conversion this week. I am so lucky to be a missionary right now because I can focus 100% on the work. But when we are truly converted we will always be looking for opportunities to share this happy message with others. We won't share the gospel or magnify our callings because it is "our job"; we'll love and serve and share because it has become who we are. 

Thank you for the love and prayers! Keep on smiling, loving, and sharing. I love y'all!

Sister Thomas

 Yolanda (in pink) bought us these matching necklaces to wear to the baptism because "they make me think of the celestial kingdom"

Not your traditional LDS baptism cake haha

Happy happy Abbie on the way to her baptism <3

Peace, Be Still - tornadoes and blessings

Reunited for 24 hours with my best friend Sister Amezcua. She is a light and exudes happiness and love <3

Our new investigator Dorrish on date to be baptized! She came to church and felt right at home in this lil' branch

NOLA sisters at ZTM

I feel like a months worth of miracles were packed into this short lil' week. So many happy tears and smiles and prayers of gratitude. Heavenly Father has been so so good to us.

On Tuesday the strongest tornado to ever hit New Orleans hit part of our area pretty hard. We were on lock-down but felt strongly that we needed to be with a certain sister in the branch. We got permission to leave our apartment and go a few blocks down to her home where she was alone with her five year old daughter. She has severe anxiety and was just trying to hold on when we showed up. I was blessed with the gift of peace and didn't have a doubt in my mind that we would be okay. As the storm came through the area we sang hymns and read scriptures to maintain the spirit and bring peace in a time of distress. It was a beautiful experience and I felt much like the apostles on the sea with Jesus when He told the storm "Peace, be still". Amidst the waves and strong winds of the world it is only Jesus Christ that can bring peace and joy to our souls. We felt that power quite literally in these moments <3

Three of our good friends who are learning about the gospel are going to be baptized in the coming weeks. I am amazed at how Heavenly Father has prepared His children to take these steps to follow Him. We are witnesses to miracles happening in this area. This little branch is growing and I have faith that we will see it continue to grow! 

I hope y'all are finding that same peace by inviting the spirit into y'alls lives. The gospel truly is the "good news" and as we draw nearer to God He will draw us nearer to peace and joy. Happy Valentines day! Lots of love and prayers coming y'alls way <3

Love,

Sister Thomas

"I'm feeling a lot of feelings about my baptism. Especially happy and excited" - Abbie's words and drawing of baptism

"I'm not old, I'm vintage" Happy 70th birthday Mama Caswell!!

This girl his 18 months on our exchange!! So of course we celebrated with Reese's hearts <3

"I'm going to keep learning and worshiping Jesus"

Happy moment teaching these rad kids how to pray

St. Louis Cathedral <3

Exploring downtown New Orleans is one of my favorite things

Sweet Miss Sophie retiring from the baptist food pantry

Y'all, what a week! Keeping it short and simple today :)

We relied on our Savior this week a ton as we learned patience, love, and diligence. The work was a bit slow but Sunday was our sunshine peeking through the clouds! Heavenly Father blessed us with some incredible new investigators and our good friend Leonard who is learning about and embracing the gospel bore his testimony in sacrament meeting. It was humble, simple, and powerful. Leonard is excited for baptism! We are trying to plan his baptism around Mardi Gras parades. (the baptism font is in downtown New Orleans so this month-long holiday is posing a bit of a problem lol). Leonard is a true follower of Jesus Christ. In his own words, "I don't have much of a testimony yet but I'm going to keep learning and worshiping Jesus". What more can we ask?

Heavenly Father is so mindful of us. One of my favorite parts about missionary work is seeing people truly change through the atonement as they invite the Savior more and more into their lives. Heavenly Father loves us enough to let us struggle and learn but He always has something greater waiting for us. 

I love y'all and I am always praying for you. Have a great week! Keep learning, sharing, and loving. I am so thankful for y'all <3

Love,

Sister Thomas

Feeling a little short here

Blessed transportation

My new friend who sings like Louis Armstrong

Cajun Ratatouille. Y'all need to try this stuff.