Out of small things great things come to pass!!!

Written on April 15, 2013

Hey Mom and family!!!

I can hardly believe that time has gone by soo fast. Tomorrow I will complete 17 months on the mission. I feel like it is so unfair that it has just flown by. I still feel like there is so much more to do but so little time to do it all. I really like this idea of packs of awesome. I want to bring that up with the Relief Sociey President here so that they can do a service activity. I know that they were looking for one that they could be a good idea for them as well. The Chileans are really talented as far as crocheting and arts and crafts so I think that they could enjoy creating paquetes bakanes....or packs of awesome!! 

 

I got your package last week right before my birthday so it was perfect and I also got my package from Lois and Doyle!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH. My companions and I enjoyed it all. I loved the close, but I gave some of my gifts away to my companions and some friends in the ward. I figured that they would enjoy them for more time than I would. Sometimes my companions don't receive many things from home and I get so much that it almost makes me feel bad. But I can't just say don't send anything.

So this last week was really a pretty good week. We found lots of new people to teach and we even had a new investigator in church yesterday, well actually we had two new investigators in church..the other two didn't make it. But our new investigator is a named Molly and she is a hoot. She is widow and lives alone but is hysterical and has a really bright personality. She participated in the classes and loved everything. The first lesson we had with her we invited her to be baptized and she told us, with big eyes, that scares me. But she knows now the reason we come to her home, to help her find the truth, the restored gospel, and that this really is the only way to return back to our Heavenly Father. It was so cool on Sunday just about everyone of the testimonies given said that this is the correct path and the only true church. She told us after church that she loved it, but that she also had lots of meditating and praying to do. I love her and pray that she has the faith to receive an answer that this is the true church.

Well I have to go, time us up!! Thank you for everything tell everyone that I love them. And maybe next week I will get some pictures sent off!! Have a good week, read your scriptures and pray everyday!!! Out of small things great things come to pass!!!

Hermana Thacker

The Gospel is Personal

Written April 1, 2013

Hey there family,

Sorry I told dad too that I don't have much time today since I got a bunch of letters, but I am super grateful to get them and feel so loved! I got my package from Grandma lois and my companions and I were super grateful for the goodies. They were a little werided out about the chocolate with chilis. I told them that Mexico has a big influence on our food choices sometimes. Well at least im enjoying them!! Wow Dad told me that Connor is home now and I was thinking about who is next to go out into the mission field from Shelby? IS there anyone else preparing besides Brent?

Well this week was a good one and a difficult one as well since we didnt have too much success, but we did have some really good lessons. Wel are teaching one guy named Luis and he is amazing. He will be a amazing member of the church one day because He already has a love for Christ. I just love this man already and I hope and pray that his timing for his baptism is before the 16 of may. I want to see it! But we also had a totally amazing experience with a family this week. We have really tried to focus on teaching families these last few months but sometimes it is difficult tto find a complete family to teach. Well we had an Easter activity in one of the stakes in rancagua and as my companion and i entered the church builing a family was standing outsied and they asked us...hey we are new here and have never been in one of these churches..can we just go in? And my companio and I jumped all over that and invited them to sit with us and we showed them where they needed to go. Then we had a really neat experience giving them all Books of mormon and teaching them before the activity. I felt so strongly for this family that I still have such a desire to teach them and help them. But when we asked them were they lived....well it just so happens that they live completely out of the limits of our sector....we happily...looked for the other hermanas from this sector. In the end they asked us if we could go to their house too and teach them and I said...no only if you move into our sector. But I have no doubt that some time in the future this family will be baptized.

I realized from this experience that Heavenly Father gives us blesssings like this one everyday, how grateful I am to at least been a part of this conversion process in finding the truth. I have to say that my testimony of the Book of Mormon is what keeps me grounded in the gospel. I know that it teaches and testifies of Christ. I feel like this book is written personally for me, it teaches me how to come closer to Him and I know that every person that reads, studies, ponders, and prays will have the same feelings that I do. That the gospel is personal, my relationship with God and Jesus Christ is personal. I hope that you can have this too. But just know that I love you all! Sorry it isnt much. But until next week!!!!

Hermana Thacker

Searching for Christ

Written March 25, 2013

Hey there family!!!!

For some reason time just doesn't EVER slow down, but here we are again writing each other. I'm glad that the week was at least a little bit slower for you guys and that everyone is doing ok. I want to know all the changes too mom, but oh well we are both out of the loop with the Shelby branch. But hopefully there are good leaders willing to work. By the way how is the branch doing? Are there lots of people attending now-a-days. And who else will be going out on a mission?
 

This week was pretty good, we found some good people to teach and are excited about one of our investigators that is really eating up the Book of Mormon. Now all he needs to do is go to church and he won't be able to deny that this really is the true church of Jesus Christ. Sometime I think that people just complicate things too much, but I have realized that Satan is so good at what he does that is makes it just that much more difficult for some people to recognize the Spirit and recognize the truth. With our investigator I think that he is sincerely searching to find Christ, which really was one of the things that called my attention, but now we just need him to understand the process repentance and the importance of God's authority in the earth in order to be baptized by immersion.

I am super excited about conference and I hope that you all find the time to watch all of the sessions!! They are all important. I read a really good scripture in Mosiah 2:10 I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man." I think...when King Benjamin is talking about the importance of listening to the words of the prophets. They are literally the words of God...so why is it that sometimes we think that conference is a time to take a break from church? I hope that everyone is doing ok. Say hi to everyone for me!!! I love and miss you all!!

Love Hermana Thacker

Feeling So Blessed part 2

Written 18, 2013

Ok the first one is of my old district and my companion Hermana Adorno.
The second one is of my new comp and I on Sunday morning before going to church.

Ok this is my new companion!! Her name is Hermana Santucho....Santoochoh! She is from Uruguay and is so amazing. She came in pre-trained so I really don't have to do much. We work really pretty well together and I am just so happy that she is my companion. I was praying from the last change that my new companion would be exactly how she is. Fun, funny, nice, positive and a worker and I got everything that I wanted!

 Hey dad!!
 
It sounds like nothing ever slows down ever, but I think that you are all happy at least! This last week was really quite amazing since my new companion is so completely the best! I am so grateful that she is my companion because is the epitome of the word 'sweet'. She is a newbie and just got here last Tuesday but we have worked really hard in this week. I love that I have a real new companion because they come into the mission with excitement and just a pure desire to work. This will definitely help me not be trunky....thank goodness! Well, I am going to send some pictures this week so you know what that means...I won't write much. But tell everyone Hi and that I love them!!

Ok the first picture is of all the hermanas that trained in this changed. We had a huge group of people in the mission home since there were about 50 of us. 25 newbies and 25 trainers and there were 14 new sister missionaries which is the biggest group we have had in this mission.

The next picture is of my old companions. The one on the very left is Hermana Adorno, and the one in the middle is the other sister that I trained my first time...Hermana Neira.

I'm Training a Newbie

Written March 11, 2013

Hey family!!
 

I hope that Grandma is doing better and is at home right now and not in the hospital. But I know that my letters seem to be getting shorter and shorter but I can't help it, I feel like the time just keeps speeding up! But it sounds like the Easter concert was really neat. Did Grandma and Grandpa get to go too? 

 

This last week was the last of the change but I will not be leaving my sector, but I will be receiving a new companion. A really new companion who will come into the mission tomorrow. Well, actually in our mission there are 15 new sister missionaries that are coming in. That is the biggest group of missionaries that we have yet had and almost all of the sisters are going train newbies. But at least I know that I will be here for the next couple of changes. Today I got to see my old Companio Hermana Gallardo and she will be in Rancagua with me now too! I am super happy!! She told me that our investigators from my old sector are starting to progress more and more and I only pray that make the steps to baptism before may so that maybe I can be there. But if not that's ok...I KNOW that one day they will get baptized!!

Well this week was another good week. My sector is really amazing and is at that point that it is ready to explode with success. There will be 3 companionships now with 4 sisters and 2 Elders. So we will see what we can do with the army of missionaries that we now have. But we do have a baptism coming up, and other people that we have met that are really good, so I hope that we can help progress more and more. 

 

You know I don't have much time to write much. Just know that I am soooo happy and I am soo ready to go to work with a new companion. I think that it will only help me learn more having a newbie. Well mom I hope that the week goes well for you, keep reading your scriptures!!!!! Prioridies!!!! Know that I love you all and I try not to think about you too much, but I do pray for you all!!!

 
 OH...I don't have time to write Grandma Lois but I got her package!! Tell her that I loved the granola and all the goodies!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone loved the chocolates!!!  THANK YOU!!!

Until next week!!!

Hermana Thacker

Feeling So Blessed

Written March 4, 2013

Hey there family!!!!

Well I am glad that you got my travel plans because I didn't. But there is an Hermana here, a senior sister that will be going home with me in May and she has been asking if we have the same travel plans and I just say, I have no idea but I am sure everything will be taken care of. Wow, Brookie told me that Hermano Bridge is going go pick up Connor in Argentina, that is super cool, we will be pretty close together here in America Sur.
 

This week came and went and before you know it we have changes again!! Next we have changes but there are a BUNCH of new missionaries coming into the mission. Like the Elders there said that there are so many missionaries going out that the church almost doesn't know what to do with them. Here we have 15 new sister missionaries coming in!! That is crazy!! Almost all of the Hermanas in the mission will be training in the next couple of changes! President has already told us that my companion and I will be training here in our sector and so we will be dividing up our investigators and our sector so that we can start working with the newbies. I only pray that my companion is Latin!! The odds are on my side since only one is coming in from the states!! It just makes it a little bit more difficult when your companion doesn't understand what is going on, but not impossible. 

 

This last week was really a good week. I just feel like I am soooo happy right now in my mission. I really have learned so many things, and am just realizing them now. But I just feel super blessed to be in this sector with the investigators that we have and my old sectors are progressing like crazy...well maybe I was the problem...but I am just so happy with what is taking place right now. The blessings truly come after the trials, or maybe I just learned how to open my eyes and see the tender mercies of the Lord. I think sometimes the mission is like we are working with our head down and we can't see what is taking place around us, but then when we leave and look back we see all the beautiful things that happened as we worked.

I read an amazing part in Jacob 5 this week when I was learning about the Lord`s vineyard. Well lets just say that the work is not just for those who have name tags. We all have our part in the Lord`s vineyard.

Well I have to go I love you all!!!!!

Hermana Thacker

Trust in God

Written February 25, 2013

Hey FAMILY!!!!

Well we had an amazing week this week!! Really!!! Last night my companion and I were talking and I just said, "Wow I am just sooo happy with what we did this week." I felt the Spirit, we had some really amazing lessons, we found some good people and WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!! Well I wasn't a big part of her process in being baptized but I was there in the end and I knew 100% that this little woman had a huge desire to follow Christ. It was probably one of the specialist baptisms that I have ever seen. She was so anxious last week about getting baptized that she could hardly wait. During the meeting she was a little nervous but when she came out of the water, there was only pure joy in her eyes, and when she entered the bathroom she began to cry and only said..."gracias Señor, gracias." She was teary eyed for the whole rest of the meeting even when we the missionaries sang a song....oh it was so bad!!...we didn't practice beforehand because the Elders were late....but nothing could take away the feelings of a true remission of sins. She was truly filled with the Spirit. I was super excited for her to receive the gift of the Spirit on Sunday because if there is anyone who has a pure desire to follow Christ it is Estrella!

Lets just say that I am super super happy...and Mom you are right I don't like talking about the end. I have no idea what I will be doing after the mission, but I will get it figured out when I have time to get it figured out. 

This week  my companion and I had some difficulties with some things, but I think I know the reason why I am with Hermana Adorno. Sometimes the mission is emotionally difficult but I have come to realize that the Lord has taught me something really important in the mission that I didn't realize before. I realized that the Lord has taught me that the most important thing that we can understand is that we are not perfect. We will never be perfect in this life, and I have learned that that is ok if we are willing to repent and become better. I have learned that the Lord doesn't expect us to become perfect over night, but what He does expect is that we become better in and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I learned that the only expectations that we need to live up to are Heavenly Fathers, and He will let us know through the Spirit if we are living up to those expectations. There are a few scriptures that I like in Alma 36...actually I love this whole chapter because it talks about the conversion process of Alma but in the beginning he is giving counsel to his son Helaman and he says if you want to prosper in the land...keep the commandments of God and then a little later he says, and those who put their trust in God will find help in their afflictions and trials. The commandments do not restrict us, but free us from the bonds of Satan. 

I wish you all could have heard the testimony of Estrella, the little woman that got baptized. She is 64 years old and has so much faith in Christ. When we asked her if she was willing to keep the law of the tithe after her baptism she said, 'With great pleasure and faith in my Savior'. I love this woman. Even though I got here at the end, I feel so much love and respect for her, I think that she has taught me more that I have taught her. 

Hey Grandma and Grandpa, I have been thinking a lot about you guys lately because I have been eating lots of tomatoes. But the difference is that now I don't eat them because I have to now. But I eat them because I want to. I know I am a changed woman. I guess some things do change!! 

Well gotta go, time never lets us do everything...it always runs out!! I love you all!! Just know that I know nothing about coming home! Sorry. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

Hermana Thacker

Blessed More Abundantely

Written January 21, 2013 

Wow,

That is all I can say after this letter. There was lots of things to think about and lots of news that came out of this week. How are you doing mom? I am super happy for you that you are super excited about your calling. When we are willing to do the Lords will we are always blessed more abundantly than when we try to do things our way. It will be a challenge I think to figure out what to do but mom, I think that you will go crazy if you are not baking for someone. All I told my companion is that if you aren't doing it as a business everyone in the branch will always food and all the ladies from you calling as well. My only input is that you should consult with the Lord first and then pay attention to how you feel, then follow the answer that you receive and everything will be great. BUT WOW. No TLC. I worry more for the people of Shelby than for you!!!! hahaha I'm only thankful that you are my Mom and you will cook for me forever!!!! :D 

But this week. WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! Wow, it's been a long time since I was able to say that! It went really well and our little Susana was super ready to get her feet wet in the font and make a covenant with Heavenly Father. She really understands what it means and is already starting on her family to help them accept the gospel as well. We have started talking to her mom seriously about the church and we are hoping that little by little she too will feel in her heart that it is true. Her mom was super excited about the baptism and I think she truly felt the Spirit! 

 

Wow, I am just soo happy right now in my mission. We still have trials and challenges but we are seeing lots of the little miracles from Heavenly Father. It truly is amazing to see the fruits of your labors. I told Dad that people in my old sector are going to get baptized as well!! But with that we had some challenges this week as well with our other investigator. She has a baptismal date this Saturday but her parents won't give her permission to do it. They have good reasons for not signing but I think that they just lack hearing the testimony of their daughter. Oh well. It's not the Lords timing and we are still going to work with her. I'm not going to write much because I want to send pictures. But know that I love you and think about all of you!!!!! Let me know how this week goes with everything!

LOVE YOU ALLL SO MUCH!!!!!

Hermana Thacker

Truly Converting

Written January 7, 2013

Hey there again!!

Mom I completely understand about the whole time issue. I don't think it is quite fair that time has seemed to speed up since I have been in the mission. I feel like with so much to do, time just gets shorter! Like today I wanted to get so many things done, but walking just makes us lose so much time! Well the new year came and went and I am soooo glad that the holidays are over, but really you want to know what we did for news years. We had to stay in the house. At 6 we normally go to work on our P-days, but we just had to stay in the house since everyone would be partying. I think any normal person with a normal job would be super happy to just be in the house relaxing, but I have to say that the next day I completely felt like I had been robbed of an entire day of my mission. I thought...how great that we don't have anymore holidays coming up. I don't want to be in the house!

This week was truly amazing. We still have our challenges but we have seen so many miracles and tender mercies and are now seeing the fruits of our labors here in our sector. I just have to say that the blessings never come in our timing, and that we need to be patient and grateful for all the the things that we are given from the Lord. Even our challenges and trials. They make the tender mercies much more sweet!! 

 

Yesterday we had 4 investigators in church. It was a challenge of our mission President to have 4 investigators in church every Sunday this new year. We have barely kept our heads afloat with one...but yesterday thanks to the many prayers, fasts and sacrifices 4 our investigators were able to enjoy the Spirit and participate in the sacrament, at least to have an experience with the Spirit for one day in church. It was fast and testimony meeting and it was super good as well!! I have to say that I am the happiest that I have ever been in my mission because I know that the people I am teaching are truly converting to the gospel. Are reading their scriptures because they want to, are searching for answers and have desires to follow Christ. That is all I ask. I know they will all be baptized in the future whether I am here or not it doesn't not matter to me. All in the Lords timing. I just want to say that I have learned so much about so much. I wish I could write better and faster to tell you guys everything, but we have the eternities to talk. 

I am so excited still about Brent and I tell everyone that he is going to serve a mission. He will be so much better than I ever was!! Tell him that he should look at his email and write me!! I want talk to him!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! Tell everyone Hi that I love them and FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!

Hermana Thacker

I ask for Your Prayers

Written December 31, 2012

Hey there family!!
 

It was super fun to talk to you guys at Christmas, but the truth is that I really only had one hour to talk. Someone told the elders that we had two hours, but in reality we only had one. Oh well! One hour really is super short but we take what we get. Now we can only read emails until the next 5 months during mothers day. 

 

Mom I love the idea and the focus of the relief society. I hope that you can help the members get excited about the work and go find those people who have forgotten a little of the importance of the gospel. I'm super excited for you that you get to go out and work with the stake and help people come closer to Christ through the relief society. This really is our goal to come unto to Christ and then help others come unto him as well. In all of your work and service, this service will come to be of the most worth for you because it is an eternal work. I told Dad about Brent that he had told me before I left that he wanted to serve a mission but since so much time has passed since then I thought that he lost the fire and had moved onto other things. He is going to be amazing!! Way better than I ever could be since when he has a goal, he goes and gets it. This will be a huge blessing and trial in his mission!
 

This week had its up and its down and I'm ready for the holidays to be over. I really did enjoy talking with you guys at Christmas, but truly I feel like I don't want to be in the house passing time. I want to go to work. This week was kind of slow and we didn't find many new investigators since everyone told us that they were busy but we could come back later, but we did have some big successes as well.

One of our investigators who is 15 years old had a fight with their parents this week about the church and they told her that if she wanted to keep talking to us that they would call the police. She was super upset because she has come to church for the past 4 weeks now but her parents really don't support her in investigating another church. Well, we ended going and talking to her mom and getting everything figured out, but they still don't support her in getting baptized but at least they are letting us still talk to their daughter and letting her go to church. We have some plans that we are going to do this week to get to know her parents some more and we know the power of fasting and praying so we are also going to fast with Belén, our investgator, this week. 

 

We also had another strange, never saw it coming, thing happen to this week. The Elders in our sector have a golden investigator who has been super amazing. Hermana and I have taught her a few times as well since she wanted to get to know us as well, and since shes 20 years old it's a little easier for her to talk to us as Hermanas. But this week she told us that now she doesn't know if the church is true or that God really exists. We all thought that it was a joke. But in the end it wasn't. Hermana and I went to her house yesterday to see her and it was like night and day. 3 weeks ago she was super amazing, reading praying and going to church. Now she doesn't want anything! But at least today she called us and thanked us for our visit and that she still wants us to come by this week. Well, I only ask for your prayers for our investigators...Belén, Isabel and Gerardo, and Susanna.

Oh Mom you don't have to send bug spray...I'm totally fine! Don't waist money on that because they have it here! And I have some!! No worries. The bed bugs haven't bit in quiet some time. Well, know that I love every single one of you!!! Hope you start the year off BIG!


con mucho cariño!

Hermana Thaccker

FELIZ NAVIDAD: I want to live moments like this one over and over again

Written on December 24, 2012.

Hey there family,

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

I know that we will be talking tomorrow, but I just have to tell you the amazing things that happened this week! ONE: I got your packages! Ok, well I got two from Grandma Lois...THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! We are stinking loaded with chocolate in the house, but with four Hermanas I think it is necessary to have an overload of chocolate during Christmas! I also got my package from you Mom..well, one of them. I think you told me that you sent three. BUT: I loved it all! I was totally needing face wash and new makeup and the sunscreen is the best since the sun is super intense here! I have to be honest and tell you that my companion and I ate all of the thumb print cookies in two days! It felt like Christmas time for me. Sometimes it is really hard to not think about home and what you are doing and the time you guys get to be together and I'm not there, but then we go out to work and I think..well my family has the gospel and is working toward their eternal salvation and their are people here who don't understand what that means. But I hope that everyone is happy and excited to be together for the holidays!!!

Well, I have to tell you really quickly one of the biggest miracles that has happened in my mission!! Yesterday I received a stronger witness of the power of prayer, fasting and sacrifice. I think I have mentioned before that we have two investigators named Isabel and Gerardo a married couple. Well we have been teaching them for a long time, because we found them about 11 weeks ago when we first got here in San Fernando. These last few weeks my companion and I have prayed and debated a lot about them. They really are amazing and we love them sooo much, but sometimes people just get to a point when they don't want to progress anymore and there isn't anything that the missionaries can do. We invite, they commit, but if they don't do they can't receive a witness or a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. They both are reading the Book of Mormon and praying, but they have both said that they haven't received any answers to know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. 

 

Well for 11 weeks we have invited them to read, pray and attend church. For the last 11 weeks they have not come to church. So, I told you that the week before we had an amazing lesson in the church with them..it was a surprise for them but it really was a neat experience and for the first time we saw them both in the church. Even though it wasn't Sunday they could still feel the spirit that is there. This whole week we had talked to them about going to church, but it really is just difficult for them. They are both shy people, and they don't leave the house much, and they don't socialize much either. They have their family and work and that is enough for them. But this week we invited them to baptisms in the church so they could participate and also in church on Sunday so that they could be there for the confirmation. Well, we called them Saturday and it being Christmas and all they were busy with family and their two daughters and didn't commit to anything. We left it at that and thought well the next week isn't Christmas and maybe they will come next week. 

As we sat in church we were content with the one little investigator that has come to church 3 times in a row now and as we sat waiting to start singing the sacrament hymn one of the members told my companion that an investigator had just come in. I thought that it was one of the investigators of the Elders and as I turned to look I saw that it was Gerardo. Still today when I think about it my eyes fill with tears. But yesterday when I saw his face my heart about jumped out of my chest!! I couldn't believe it. I looked at my companion and her face looked exactly how I felt! In shock and complete amazement. As he came to sit with us I couldn't keep the tears back and we started to sing the song "I Stand All Amazed." 

 

After weeks of fasting, praying and sacrificing we saw the fruits of our labors. Our investigator, who almost never leaves the house, came to the church alone! In this moment the Spirit testified of the power of the Atonement in changing the hearts of our investigators. I have to say that a lot of the times I feel like I am doing all the actions of a missionary, I live like one, I have a plaque, but none of the fruits are quite as visible as this one was!  I thought that it does not matter how difficult the mission is, I want to live moments like this one over and over again. I love the difficult fights, because the victories are that much more sweet!!

Well family, I will talk to you tomorrow at 6:00 pm here in Chile. I think that means 4:00 there but I am not sure. Just to let you know I am writing right now and it is almost 6:00 here. So I don't know if you can see what time you received this email from me, but I think we will be ok. I will try my Skype a little before hand so that everything works out. Pray that we can have good internet because we will be in a members house. But I think it will all be ok. Say hi to everyone, that I love you all and I can wait to see you all tomorrow!!!!! Be prepared to talk to my companion...she is  awesome and I am prepping her with some English!! Get ready to practice your Spanish!!!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!! Les amo un monton

Su hijita, hermanita, nietita, y no se que mas

Hermana Thacker!!

Delivered Flowers

Written December 17, 2012.

Hey there family

Well, I can't believe that another week is done already. I feel like my companion and I just made plans for the last week and here we are making plans for a whole new week. I wish the time could just slow down a little bit. I feel like there isn't hardly enough time to do it all. It sounds like everyone will be home for Christmas again this year?! That would be cool to talk to everyone again at Christmas time. Oh about that we will be talking Christmas day I think early afternoon for you guys. I will get all the little details figured out this week and then next Monday I will let you know exactly what time and everything!! Mom I am super excited about you and your calling and that you are loving it! I have never heard you talk about you callings like this and it just makes me that much more excited!! I hope that everything is slowing down for you a little bit since its Christmas time and all. But tell everyone Feliz Navidad from me! 

This last week I just want to tell you really quick since I don't have much time that we had a really cool lesson with our investigators in the church. Since this couple has never gone to church we decided to do something different and surprising with them. We decided that we were going to take them to the church without telling them. We planned it out that our branch President would meet us in the church so that we could give them a tour and let them get to know the church on a normal day so that they didn't feel so uncomfortable in the church on Sundays. Well, before the lesson we called to see if leaving the house was even an option but we said nothing about going to the church. Isabel said that is would be totally fine and so we showed up to the house excited and almost giddy to take them. As we started to talk about leaving they understood us wrong and thought that maybe were kidding or  something or that we were going to have the lesson right outside their house. When we told them that we were going to leave the house and the area they kind of freaked out. Isabel and Gerardo grow and sell flowers and had to wait for a few clients that were coming to buy. We thought...'oh no..we have to get them to the church today.' Well something amazing happened and Gerardo...who normally is pretty closed about the church...jumped into high gear, found some scissors and went and picked the flowers so that we could deliver them and then go to the church. In the end we finally got there...on hour later...sorry President, but we walked them through the church and showed them everything!! Then we had a little lesson in the office of the branch president and everyone left with a smile on their faces. Isabel said that she felt really peaceful in the church which was amazing because there quite a few people there practing singing and doing lots of other things. 

When we left the church they asked us if we had ever done any thing like that before and honestly we hadn't. The left with big smiles on their faces in a taxi and we walked home super content. But the only thing is that they have major challenges getting to church on Sunday. Oh these people.....how I love them..and get frustrated over them! 

Well, I have to go!! See you all next week. Tell the Bridges thank you from me!! That is super nice of them!!!

Hermana Thacker

Prayer is Amazing

Written via email December 3, 2012.

A conversation between Cori and her Momma (Lori):

Lori: Hey Cor are you there?

Cori aka Hermana Thacker:  Yes i am.  How are you Mom?

Lori: I'm great now that I can talk to you. I did write you a little letter so try and read and answer my questions. 

Hermana Thacker: Hey, ya, I  just read it! Sounds great..I'm not sure how fast I can get my packages, but I know that I still have to go to Rancagua to get money gram (because they don't have it here). I don't know if you sent it yet or not but maybe just put it in my card and I can buy some things with that money! 

That's awesome about the presentations. Prayer is amazing and when we are serving and helping other people Heavenly Father is more willing to fill our mouths with His words. My companion and I had an experience like that this week when we got invited to speak in one of the Zone Leader meetings in the mission home. They get together every month and talk about dates, the mission and how they can help our zones overcome their weaknesses. We got the call Wednesday night and had to speak that Friday. We don't have time as missionaries to do any extra and so the first thought was, 'When are we going to plan this and what are we going to say?' Most of the zone leaders are really amazing missionaries and since we just feel like normal average missionaries we thought.....'WHAT!? Why us?.' But we went to the mission home with a few things prepared--really doubting ourselves that we could tell them something that they don't already know, or something that will help the mission. My companion and I prayed in the mission home about 20 times before we spoke...and it went really well. The Elders participated and talked and afterward President and the assistants were really happy with what we said...but of course it was completely the Spirit and I was grateful!! 

How was your week and how is your toe? 

Lori: So you talked about getting money can you spend American money? If so, let me know we'll put some in your next box. Did you get to see the Christmas Devotional w/ Pres Monson, he's so cute and has the best stories.  

Hermana Thacker: No, but you can just put the money in the bank so i can use my card. I think that will just be the fastest way to do it. No, we didn't watch the devotional at all..no one told us about it and i don't think that they broadcasted it here. We will have to look it up. Well, I don't have much time..sorry i didn't get a letter out. My computer was being kinda stubborn and pushing my patience. Hopefully next week I can write everything that I want to! Some more pictures...and a really cool flower that i have never seen before! 

I am Grateful for the Challenges

Written November 19, 2012

Hey there family!!

Well it sounds like things only keep getting busier for you guys and no one ever slows down. Don't worry about the letter last week, I knew that it was probably between the 50 RS meetings and luncheons and dinners and work and service that you got caught up in it all. So don't worry I am doing just fine. Marcela is really awesome. She still comes and helps me in my sector every once in a while. She lives roughly 1 &1/2 hours from my sector but still makes it down with us when there are holidays and doesn't have to work. I almost forgot that this week was thanksgiving. I knew it was coming up but here it is so different because it's hot and doesn't feel anything like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Tell Ariel and Jordan congrats on the baby. I didn't know she was having a girl. Maybe she didn't either? I like the name too. If you can you should send me some pictures. Thanks for the letter form Keely it made me feel really good and I haven't seen these pictures of us in a long time. I miss that girl too. How is Mel and Brookie doing with the wedding planning. Still coming along?

How are grandma and grandpa doing today? I hope that everyone is feeling good and getting ready for the holiday season. We are too here because we have lots of devotionals coming up...not like we have a famous missionary or something. The 1st of December we are going to have a devotional in San Fernando with Elder Archuleta and another Elder that plays the piano really well. We have special invitations to hand out and we always tell them that a famous person from the states is going to sing. Sometimes I feel bad telling them because I know that Elder Archuleta wants to be a normal missionary...but then I think...if we can get them in the church because they know he is famous....WHY NOT?! We tell everyone to look him up on youtube and then they get excited and really want to come, and I think...OH YA!!! Come to the church, there we can hit ya with the Spirit, teach you about who Christ really is and how you can find the eternal happiness that comes from the restored gospel. Really at this point I don't care what it is that I have to do to get people to come to church...I just want them there.

Retention in South America is a huge problem and we have to work lots with less actives in every sector, but in our sector right now our chapel is being redone, so we go to the stake building. It is kind of far away and so some of the members have inactivated. My companion and I had a little meeting with our Branch President this Sunday and it was another Sunday with some frustration since none of our investigators came, and none of the less actives came, that told us they would come. Well President tried to give us some words of encouragement and told us, "You know what when we go back to our chapel it will be easier because it is closer"......the first thing that came to my mind is...it shouldn't be easier, we shouldn't pick and choose when it is more convenient for us to live the gospel. Joseph Smith said this about sacrifices (sorry its in Spanish, your going to have to google translate..don't have my scriptures in English):

 

 "Una religiòn que no requiere el sacrificio de todas las cosas, nunca tiene el poder suficiente con el cual producir la fe necesaria para llevarnos a vida y salnaciòn´...Bible dictionary...`vièndolo desde una perspectiva eterna, las bendiciones que se obtienen por medio del sacrificion son mucho màs grandes que cualquier cosa a la que se renuncie.   

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary to bring us life and salvation"...Bible dictionary..."Looking at it from an eternal perspective, the blessings obtained through sacrifice are much more bigger than any thing else."

 

As members of the restored gospel of Christ, we should be willing to make whatever sacrifice that Heavenly Father wants us to make. If we truly understood the incredible blessing and saving powers of the Atonement, sacrifices wouldn't be quite as hard to make for the Lord. 

Even though Mom life is crazy, I know that Heavenly Father is blessing and watching over you. He is seeing the sacrifices that you and Dad are making and for this reason you are receiving so many more blessings. But the best part about this is...is that your reliance and confidence in the Lord is growing. You have to completely depend on Him in these moments because it is so obvious that you cannot do it yourself. I know I have said this and maybe I will regret it one day, but I truly am grateful for the challenges and difficulties that the Lord gives me. I know that only when it is difficult that I change and grow the most, I come to know my Savior more personally and I talk with my Heavenly Father as if I didn't have anyone else to talk to. I love this work because I can help people come to know their Savior. Who He truly is, and what the Atonement means personally for every single one of them. 

Keep reading your scriptures and praying daily. In the smallest things the greatest things come to pass and when we are constantly guided and directed by the Spirit we truly can do the Lords will. 

I love you family. I can't believe how blessed I am to have an amazing family. 

con mucho amor y todo de mi corazòn

Hermana Thacker

If Time Could Just Slow Down a Little

Monday, November 26, 2012 12:30 PM
Subject: Re:

Written Monday, November 26, 2012

 

HI FAMILY!!!!!

WOW! I loved all of the letters from the family!! Sounds like it was really fun in the house with the whole family. I feel bad about Ryan, and that no one can get a hold of him. I think that he must really need some help. I would think that it would be important in your next fast to think about him and praying for the opportunity to talk with him. 

 

I love the mission and really I haven't been home sick at any point of my mission, but this Monday I am feeling a little bit trunky reading everyones' letters and talking about the holidays. I can't believe that it has already been a year since I've been out, I hate it that time goes by so quickly..but truly I know that when we are all there in the Celestial Kingdom we will all think..."Wow, why did it take us so long to get here!?" But still...if time could just slow down a little.

Well, ok, so here is the deal about me going home. By the way I HATE this subject..I don't like talking about it and I don't tell very many people how much time I have in the mission, but I do want to be there for Brookies wedding. I have thought about it a lot..and at first I didn't want to come home. But I thought how selfish was I. But that was when I thought I could go home in the middle of the change..happens all the time..normally its not a problem. Now they just told me today that I can't come home in May...I can either go home the 22 of April or the 3 of June...........I am going to talk with my mission President and see what I can do...just to let you know Mom and Dad..I don't want to come home in April..almost a whole month before my actual release date...but I am going to ask President if he can make an exception for me.
 

This week was pretty normal. We talked with lots of people, we had some good lessons and we found some new people to teach. The only thing is..we still struggle getting people to church. I am not sure what it is..some times I just want to be like...'Hey you, know what, just go to churchh dang it'..and then I think...'ya that will help them understand the importance of it and how their eternal salvation relies on this day.' But it's true, but first they need to understand that this is THE true church, and that none other church brings salvation..why..it is the ONLY church with the restored keys of the gospel. What can we do with these keys..APPLY THE ATONEMENT! If there is one thing that I continue to learn and will continue to learn in my life is that this gospel is ALL about CHRIST. I know that our obedience to the gospel and to the commandments of God is a direct connection with our understanding and testimony of Jesus Christ. If someone doesn't want understand what the Atonement means personally, then they don't understand why it is important to keep the commandments, then obedience becomes an annoyance.

I just want to say how important it is for us to keep doing the small things consistently, we read the scriptures to understand more about Christ and how we can get our lives more aligned with...Christ. The invitation is personal to come to know Him. Mat. 11:28-30...3 Nephi 11:15...and billions more.

But sorry this is a short letter without pictures...but know that I love everyone of you so much!!!! Mom if there was something you could send me it would be makeup..that's really the only thing I can't buy here because they don't have what I usually use..and maybe sunscreen..it is soooo expensive here! I love you!! talk to you later!!

Hermana Thacker

PS Don't tell Brooke about my date mix-up...I'm going to get it taken care of!

Pictures

Written: Monday, November 12, 2012

We had a meeting in the mission home with just the Hermanas and we took lots of pictures. The Hermanas don't get to see each other very often because we are usually spread out!

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In front of our church building

My shoes!!!!!!!! Don't worry I love them still and I just keep gluing them together because they are the most amazing and comfortable shoes in teh world!!

 

 

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Hey mom I GOT MY PACKAGES!!!!! THANK YOU SOO MUCH. But I have to tell you that the shoes are too small......SAD! So if you want I can send them back to you! 

The pics before this email

1. My comp and I in the sector

2. My comp and the Elders that we share a sector with and in the middle is a recent convert named Carolina

These photos

One of my comp and the Elders in the office..we were all matching.

2. Of my companion, I and the mission flag!

 

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Hey there...things must be really busy I guess. But this week I wanted to send some more photos!! Hope you enjoy!

 

 

Keep Doing the Small Things

Written: Monday, November 5, 2012 
 

Hey there best family in the entire world!!!!

I have to say that this week was so much better as far as it goes with our investigators and our work here in our sector. Last week was a little rough for my companion and I because we have such big goals and want to do so much in our sector, but we just really aren't seeing much progression in our branch or in our investigators. Actually right now it has been really difficult in finding people who want us to come back and teach them. I swear I have had so many amazing contacts where the Spirit has been so strong and then the people don't want us to come back. But that's ok, we will just keep going back. My Mission President told me one time that we have to be  more persistent than the Avon Lady!! I cant believe that the asistence is  100 in Shelby that is amazing!!! I want to know what the missionaries there are doing and maybe they can give us some tips so we can have that kind of success. Our little branch consists of about 45-50 on a good day. But we are working with some less active families that have great potential to return, only that it is so much harder to return when you have left the church for a while. 

This week was really pretty good. Heavenly Father blessed us with the peace and comfort that we needed to just shake off the week before and keep working towards our goals. Right now in our mission we have a goal to have 100 baptisms in one month and we have had so many zone meetings and special meetings with President to talk about what we need to do to acheive this goal. 

Well, something surprising happened today. Our President told us that we no longer will be working toward this goal of 100 baptisms. I think the entire mission is in shock and really I am just a little sad. These past few months have not been a piece of cake and the work of the Lord never is. But I have about 4 changes under my belt where I really haven't seen any progression in my two areas. Sometimes it is hard to think that maybe the problem is me. Maybe I'm just not a good missionary or teacher, maybe I'm just not obedient enough. My companion and I have talked about this topic many times in the week because we have just felt the same. But truly we want to be obedient, diligent in the work. We truly do want to find those people who are prepared and help find their own testimonies of Jesus Christ. We want to see the branch progress and become a ward again. And I think wow, can we really be doing things that wrong not to be able to see the miracles of the Lord in our work. Well we have done lots of studying about patience and hope and faith. And it is an amazing study. I invite you all to read 2 Nephi 4, Enos, and Ether 12, and Hebrews 11. They are amazing!! And well this week we had a miracle, a huge tender mercy of the Lord. 

We have an investigator who wants to be baptized. She is 21 years old and has a little baby of 5 months and her younger sister is a member of the church. We have invited her to church every single week this change and so far she has not attended. This week we planned on doing a breakfast in their house so we could all walk to church together!! Sneaky! On Thursday we went past their house to see how their were doing and make sure that we could still make breakfast for them. We went and the mom of the two girls, who never really wanted anything to do with us before, told us that Camila (her daughter) had shared a little about the Book of Mormon. The mom started to talk to us a little about the Book of Mormon and how her daughter told her that she could open it and find a scripture that would help her in her day or in her doubts. We gave her her own Book of Mormon and invited her to church. She accepted the BoM but was a little iffy about giong to church. Sunday came and we had breakfast with them and invited the mom to go to church wiht us again. She told us that she could go with us at ten but could make it by 12 which is the Sacrament meeting. I just have to say that our investigator with a baptismal date came with her less active younger sister and her mom came later for the sacrament meeting by herself!!! It was amazing and my companion and I were so content with this tender mercy of the Lord. They all loved the meetings and were really happy after church. Now we just need to talk more with the dad and we can help this little family accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ and start working on being an eternal family. 

My area here in San Fernando is pretty big. We live pretty far from our sector and have to take colectivos everyday to our sector. It is about a 30 minute walk if we don't and that is a lot of time wasted just to make it to the sector. But I love it here. San Fernando isn't huge but is a whole lot bigger than my last sector. But it really isn't city either. My mission is pretty country as far as the missions in Chile go.

I hope everything is ok with Grandpa. How is Grandma doing? I am glad that things are slowing down a little bit for you guys too so you don't get too wiped out. It sounds like your new calling will take lots of your time Mom, but if there is one thing that I have learned in the mission is that if someone truly wants to know Jesus Christ the should serve other people. The gospel is not just something we read about, it is something we LIVE. In the scriptures Christ invites us to become like Him, well that means that we have to quit thinking about ourselves and start caring about other people. I am not saying that I am perfect, and only think about others. Consecration is something that is practiced not attained in one night.  I think that it will take me more that a life time to become like Christ, but I know that out of small things great things come to pass. Keep doing the small things, praying, reading your scriptures and conference talks, attending church and serving. One finds their testimony in the bearing of it. 

I love you all!! Tell everyone HOLA!! Don't worry about money I am good for now. I don't need anything immediately, but maybe you could send some sunscreen in my next package it is ridiculously expensive here and if I didn't absolutely need it I wouldn't have bought it. Almost $14 for sunscreen!! WHAT! 

LES AMO UN MONTON!!! Siga firme en la fe en Cristo. 

hasta la proximo samana

su hijita Hermanita Thacker

Blessings follow a Fast

Written: Monday, October 29, 2012 
 

Hey there family of mine!!!!

Well, I forgot that it should be snowing there. It doesn't seem like November here in Chile since I have to put sunscreen on everyday now so that I don't look like my Latin companion!! Haha. 

 

Mom it sounds like you have to take on even more with this calling but I know Heavenly Father gave this calling to someone who is totally capable of doing it. I was so happy when you told me that you are still reading you scriptures. I truly have come to  LOVE the scriptures and my time to read them everyday is sacred. I know that Heavenly Father can actually talk to me personally through the words of His prophets. I don't have much time to write and I am sorry but I am glad that everyone is doing good. I'm looking forward to the time that we can talk on Skype. I hope that Brent and Blake are there to talk as well. 

Well, I have to tell you all about the amazing experience that my companion and I had and the power of fasting. I really didn't truly understand the importance of fasting before the mission. But now I love fasting because I truly can feel the power of the Spirit more powerfully. Every time I fast I can see the Lord's hand in the lives of my investigators and my sector. 

First of all it started out yesterday morning. We didn't go to church until 12 because they had elections and we only had Sacrament meeting. So my companion and I had our studies like normal in the morning. But yesterday I woke up and just felt totally wiped and worthless. We work hard everyday to find new people to teach and to help our investigators but in 4 weeks we haven't seen a real big change. I was thinking about this and how in 4 changes I couldn't see many of the fruits of my labors in my mission. I couldn't help but think that the problem was me and that I am not obedient enough and not diligent enough to truly help someone come unto Christ and change their lives. I truly don't care about baptisms...I don't care if I am not in any more baptisms for the rest of the mission but I just want to know that someone has learned for themselves to find Christ and apply His Atonement so that they can be happy in this life and the next. Well, I was crying and praying most of the morning for guidance and for help to know what to do. I went to my companion and we started to talk and to cry about everything. After a while I started feeling the comfort of the Spirit and my energy and excitement about the work slowly came back. I told my companion, "You know what we are going to do is be happy and excited today and even if no one is in the church we are going to give our talks and then go work harder!" Well we called our investigator who has a baptism date and she wasn't going to go to church and none of our investigators went. But when we got to church we saw three less actives who haven't been in church for a long time, and one couple  we had never even expected to see there! We gave our talks with the Elders and Sacrament meeting was really pretty good! 

Then in the afternoon we went out to work after starting our fast. And truly we didn't have many good lessons with our appointments and we were searching for less actives but they didn't want to talk with us either. So we had planned to go look for one of our investigators that we haven't seen in a week. Well we went and met her husband who we had never met before, but she had told us about him and how he loves music from Mexico. Lucky me I have a Mexican companion. They started to talk about that, when our investigator showed up. They invited us in and we ended meeting their two kids, and one daughter in law and their grand kids. We sang a song and we were talking and the one son asked us so what is the difference between your church and the Catholic church. We taught them about prophets, the authority of God and the Restoration and they all were listening super intensely and asking questions and we were testifying and inviting them to read the pamphlets and the Book of Mormon. We have another appointment with this family this week and when we left this house we couldn't contain our joy. The Lord had blessed us for our work and our diligence and our fast. I know that fasting brings an added measure of the Spirit and it is a blessing that we have the opportunity to sacrifice a little bit more for Heavenly Father. He wants to bless us and He wants us to receive the all the happiness that He has. 

I love you all and am so grateful for everything that you have blessed me with!!!! KEEP READING IN YOUR SCRIPTURES!! 

Con cariño

Hermanita Thacker