Friday, January 20, 2012

About to Lose Myself in the Lord's Work: Rancagua, Chile Here I Come


Hey Familia,

Sorry that this email is so late again, I couldn't get a letter out last week because I had problems with my emial. Well, today again I had some problems and had to go and get my email unlocked. Don't ask me why it was locked, I have no idea. But, I was upset for a little while today because of it.

Anyways, it has been kind of crazy around here for a while. Since we got our travel plans it seems like time has sped up even more than usual. I can't believe that it is finally here, but I am so ready to get out into the field and do some real work. I won't be able to understand a single thing they are saying but I don't care. It will be scary for a second, but I'm really trying to tell myself "to get lost in the work and have fun with it along the way".  My companions and I are just ready to go. I will definitely miss them though.

I'm glad you got my letter, I was wondering if it was going to make it to you since I got your DearElder letters twice and you said you hadn't heard anything from me. I sent it out on Friday, I guess you got it today. So, I'm wondering too if my package will get to me before I leave. Hopefully tomorrow! That will have given it four days.

Today was just such a good day. We started out by going to the Temple this morning as a District and then we ate in the Temple. Which was awesome since it's just something different from the same old same old. And then when we came back.  (I swear we haven't stopped going.) We packed some today and we are all wondering if we are going to make the weight limit or not. I'm sending a box home with some things in it. For sure, I am sending home my blow dryer and a book for Ariel. Tell her sorry that is has taken me so long, but since I have to send that home I might as well send the things I know are not going to make the packing cut. But other than that, my time is dwindling and I have so much to do. I just keep thinking that by next Tuesday I will be out in the real world, walking the dusty roads of Rancagua and hoping that someone will be willing to listen to my incredibly horrendous Spanish! :D

I'm excited! My goal is to talk to everyone and then when I can't understand what they are saying I will turn to my companion and make her answer whatever question they might have. I figure the best thing to do is try and smile and someone is bound to stop and listen to what we have to say. Today we talked a lot about the Spirit. It was really good for me more as learning why it is so important to have the Spirit and the blessings that come from the Spirit. This experience in the MTC has been difficult, and everytime I try to be more obedient I feel like I continually fall short. But, with the comfort of the Holy Ghost I know that my effort is worth something. And hopefully someone will be blessed for my efforts.
As I was laying in bed talking to my companions this week I just had the thought that being missionary is coolest job I could ever have for the next 16 months. What is better than meeting new people and teaching them how they can have eternal joy!?!

My favorite scripture of the week is in Alma 27:17, I think, where it is talking about Ammon and his exceeding joy.

"Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth." Alma 28:17 (It's really good).

The best part of this scripture is knowing Ammon's struggles before he could ever get to this point of life. IF anything I have learned that the struggles in life can bring about our greatest joy, if we heed the commandments and continually put our trust in God. I know I can do nothing without Him. A small town girl from Montana with little experience in life, not much to work with, but I know that if I'm obedient and willing, God will work mighty miracles through me. My struggle in the MTC, and probably the whole of my mission, will be losing myself. I constantly have to fight with the selfishness inside and focus on others. But this is also something I cannot learn overnight, and it's going to be a long hard process. But I say, " Bring it on! It will be more beneficial to me and others!!"

Well, I have to get going! I am so excited to call you when I am the airport! Hopefully we will get a good amount of time! I love you all sooooooo MUCH! And all those who are reading this! You mean the world to me and I know without a shadow of a doubt that Heavenly Father loves me because He has sent me to you guys!!!!!!!

Hasta Lunes!!

ALL MY LOVE AND SO MUCH MORE!!

Hermana Thacker

(Received January 19, 2012)

No comments:

Post a Comment