Cat Contact

¡Hola po!

Oh, I always forget to tell you. I think grandpa asked this along time ago, but the word ´po´ has no significance, but the Chileans put it on whatever word they like. It's like an emphasis. There are so many Chileanismos it makes it that much more difficult to understand--and then my companion is from Colombia, but was living in Spain and so some of her words are different too.  But I love learning the different things. Well, Dad I have to say that I miss you guys but I don´t  miss hauling in food after a long night of helping mom. It makes me tired just thinking of it.


Right now it is starting to get cold here, in the mornings we can see our breath and at night we put so much clothing on it's like we are camping! I actually really enjoy it...for now! :) The only thing is I really hate getting out of bed in the mornings because the house is cold, but my bed is soo warm.  Once I´m out of bed I am totally awake. It rained pretty hard a few days ago, but today is really beautiful and now there is snow on the mountains and it looks a lot like home.  Leaves falling and brisk sunny days. I love it.

Wow, this week was another really good week. Busy like always and there are so many people to visit and teach. Sometimes I think that we might be missing somebody and I worry that we can´t do it all. We have this project to find young single adults because they are trying to start a singles ward program here in Chile.  Part of our weekly goals is to find and teach so many young single adults.


Yesterday we had lots of time to knock doors. But yesterday happened to be the Super Bowl of Soccer games in Chile. The two rival teams in Chile played and we knew that no one was going to want to talk to us for about a 2 hour period. So we decided to contact (chase down) any young person we saw. We would stand on the side walk and wait 'til we saw a group of young adults and then once we knew what direction they were going we would walk after them. How fun. Who else has tactics like this? haha Missionaries! LOVE IT! It was actually quite funny and awkward at the same time, but we talked to a bunch of people. The only thing was NONE of them lived in Graneros. It was like after a while the first question we would ask people is if they were from Graneros, and then if they lived in our sector. There were actually 5 that I think were really good kids and I really hope that they attended the activities in Rancagua and get exposed to the young single adults there.

So another really funny story about contacting, except this has nothing to do with people. Actually a cat. Well we knocked this house, well you don´t actually knock you yell. But the only person that came out was this cat that was desperate for attention. I don´t like to touch the animals here because they carry cualquere tick or fleas or whatever, but I was scratching the kitties head with my pen to give it some kind of loving. After about a minute of waiting for someone to come out of the house we decided to leave. Just as I turn and leave, the cat leaps into the air and digs its claws into my jacket like I am a tree. My hands were in my pockets so I couldn´t do much but scream because I was so shocked at what just happened. The cat let go and fell off of me. Oh my heck, my companion and I laughed for about the next hour about that cat. There also were people in the street that saw everything as well and were laughing. Wish I had that moment caught on camera.

There isn´t really anything major that happened this week. Our Cristina was confirmed yesterday and Miguel passed the sacrament for the first time! That was actually really cool to see. Also one of our investigators, who has been investigating the church for a long time came to church with his wife and kid who are members. We are trying to reactivate his wife, kid and then get him baptized. It was cool to see him there yesterday because this was the first time that I felt like the whole family came on there own, without the missionaries calling constantly or passing by there house multiple times in the week. I mean I don´t mind doing this, whatever it takes to get them to church, but then when they start doing it because they WANT to....this is the part about missionary work that I LOVE the most! When you watch your investigators or less actives gain a testimony for themselves and starting living the gospel. You know once this has taken place it doesn´t matter if the missionary leaves, the person is going to live the gospel because they have their own conviction of the truth. I love this part because I know that the Spirit is working inside of them and helping them to change and become better. This is conversion and it is truly amazing.


Actually here in Chile I can understand a little bit why it is difficult to go to church. For some going to church means a thirty minute walk. And if you have small children it makes it that much more difficult. But then when you see the family in church together and you know that getting there was difficult.....wow..how completely amazing the gospel is. Because I know that they are receiving so many blessings, and even more because they sacrifice a little bit more!

I love you guys and I can´t thank you enough for sending me on this mission! It makes me that much more happy when I hear all the blessings that you guys are receiving. Thanks for the pictures....I LOVE SEEING YOU GUYS TOO! No worries I´m going to buy a camera really soon. But first polar leggins and long sleeve shirts! It's getting cold!

All my love from Chile and back!!

(Received April 30, 2012)

Cristina's Baptism

¡Hola familia mia!

Sounds like life keeps moving on and you can´t find any free moments. How are grandma and grandpa? I received your letters last week and was really excited to read all of them. Mom, I didn´t know that you had a problem with your face that was so bad. I thought you had toothache problems and earaches and it is that you have some kind of nerve damage! I hope everything is better now. ¡Que loco! Anyways, I hope grandpa is working in the greenhous and grandma is still busy with the blankets. I bet everyone is going to love them. Well, I have yet to go and pick up my moneygram--we have been really busy and we haven´t made it to Rancagua in the last few weeks. By any chance is there a reference number that came with it. I was told that I need a number that you should have gotten after you sent the money. But if not I think that I can still get it. I hope that you used my full name though because I have to used my name from my passport and if you put it in as Cori I might not be able to get it. Anyways other than that Everything is fine.


So, yes, the word is out in Chile, at least with the members, that David Archuleta has arrived. He is being trained in the old area of my companion. She was excited to come to Graneros but disappointed that she missed out on the famous missionary. He is going to do a special musical number in Rancagua during a devotional, I think, of the area 70. This is actually really cool because the Chile Rancagua Mission is the only mission in South America with this special young adult program. I think Heavenly Father knew what he was doing sending a young famous singer to Chile Rancagua! Lets just say I won´t be surprised to see a lot of people wanting to attend special devotionals with an amazing musical number!! I have yet to meet him, but that doesn´t mean I won´t get to!


This week was absolutely amazing!!!! I LOVE MY COMPANION!!!!! AND..............WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!! Se bautizó la Cristina!!!! I have a feeling that this change we are going to see a lot of miracles. I feel like she is the companion I have been waiting to have. She has the same desires that I do about the work. I think both of us understand that we are willing to work together or change something in order to be a more unified companionship. She is so amazing and not just because she is helping me with my Spanish!! She is teaching me how to be a successful missionary and how to love the people with all you heart. And it helps that we both have really good senses of humor!


This week has just been so amazing and filled with lots of work! I have realized that when I work hard and feel good at the end of the day, this is what it means to have fun on the mission. It's not about getting the work done and moving on to other things. IT'S about dedicating my time and effort to everyone of our investigators. I am so excited that she is so amazing!  I have learned so much already from her.


This week was soo cool! We had so many tender mercies and opportunities to meet and help people. There are two people I want to tell you about. 1. Cristina, our baptism. 2. Paola, our investigator.


1. Cristina
She has a huge fear of water. And in the past this stopped her from being baptized. So we had to practice with her in the font a few days before hand so that we could figure out the best way for her. The night of the practice she was in the water for almost an hour with our ward mission leader trying to figure how she could be submerged under the water without having a major panic attack. Well, we got things figured out, and decided that we would need two priesthood holders in the water to get her under! The day of the baptism was a little crazy but with 2 men, 1 Cristina, 1 chair and a font FULL of water she was baptized. It was probably the coolest thing to watch how her faith carried through every moment of it.

In the begging when we first started to teach her I thought that she was only doing things because the missionaries told her to and not because she had a real conviction of it herself. Well, this week those feelings completely washed away! IT WAS SO COOL!!


2. Paola
Paola has been an investigator for a long time. She is not married to the man she is living with because they want to wait to receive her money from the government to receive a house. If she gets married she can't get her money.  In the beginning she was really difficult to teach because her kids are crazy and she didn´t really like us. But with lots of patience on both ends we really have a good relationship with her. One day she taught us the Word of Wisdom and told us that she lives it now because when she is baptized it will be easier to live it. WHOA!! Que bakan! On Sunday, in class, we were talking about prophets and the importance of prophets. The question was asked, "Why is it important to listen to prophets?" She answered in the class, "Because we want to have the Spirit with us always."  I started to cry because in that moment I knew that her conversion was in the Lord and not in the missionaries. I think this is the best part about the mission. We are a part of their conversion because we are the only ones who can invite them to be baptized.  But to watch them gain their own relationship with their Heavenly Father is amazing--and then to desire the Spirit. TOTALLY AMAZING!


This is all I have time for, but I love you guys and hopefully in the near future I will be sending more pictures since I had to take these with another Hermana's camera.


Oh funny story. This last Monday we had another little earthquake in the middle of the night. Well, long story short, my companion woke up in a panic and yelled at us all to go downstairs. The next morning she didn´t remember much about it!! haha!


Oh, to answer your question mom: I am living with one of the Hermanas that was in the house the last few changes. Hermana Hunsaker from Idaho. She is really cool and a lot like me! I love all the Hermanas in the house with me, they are all amazing!


Love you all!!!!


p.s for mothers day i get to Skype......so hopefully you will have a computer with you guys on this day!!


(Received Apr 23, 2012)

A New Companion: Hermana Hincapie

¡FAMILIA MIA!

¿Como estan? Wow 6 more weeks under my belt in the mission! Talk about crazy! So I have a new companion!!! Her name is Hermana Hincapié and she is from Colombia. She is super cute and super, how do you say in english, 'animated'? I think we will make a great team and she is going to really help me with my Spanish. She speaks a little English as well, so when I don´t know something she fills it in for me.


Before changes I was so nervous because I am left in the sector to be in charge, since my companion doesn´t know anyone and she doesn´t know our investigators either. Wow, I am really feeling the weight of my calling right now. It makes me nervous because; yes, I can understand better and talk a lot more, but I still can´t communicate like I would like.  Such is life and I will learn really quickly. I just have feelings of inadequacy, but I am trying to get rid of those as well since I truly am never alone and especially in this work. The Lord won´t leave me alone to do anything by myself. Its just a little intimidating--ya that's the word. Its really intimidating, but I do know that I am going to learn A WHOLE BUNCH!!


Ok, Mom, so don´t worry I am working on the recipes. I just have to go back to this one lady and she is going to give me all the recipes that I want. The thing is that the recipes will be in different measurements but I will leave that up to you to figure out!! :) It might be a grand adventure, but you have a while to practice up for me. Sounds like everyone is pretty busy once again. ¡QUE BAKAN! (it is like ´that's awesome´) And grandpa´s got his tomatoes a'growing! Well hopefully next year he will have some good ones too because right now I think I eat tomatoes everyday and mom you might die after reading this, but I might miss eating tomatoes sometime in the future or be soo sick of them I hate them worse!


Well, this last week was a pretty good one. Hermana Dutton has been in Graneros for the last 6 months so it was a shock for a lot of people that she was leaving and we had to visit lots of people this week. We did have a baptism planned for Sunday but it fell through. It was for Cristina, the one who is afraid of water. We had a practice all set up and everything for her but she was sick and then was afraid to be baptized without the practice. SO this week we have another practiced planned, and we are really going to work with her to get her baptized this next Sunday. We also have 3 other people with baptismal dates which is really cool and 3 more who are really close potentials. Unfortunately we only had one of our investigators with fecha in church yesterday.


10:00 a.m.church is really difficult for people in Chile. It's not like the states where everyone just jumps in their cars, people have to walk ways and I think this discourages them a lot!  One of our investigators actually told us that she knows she will receive blessings if she goes to church, but she is just lazy! Haha, Oh man I love these people so much and I get so frustrated with them at the same time.  Just come to church!! :D


We have soo many really good investigators right now I hope that I don´t leave anyone behind! This is what makes me the most nervous! That I will forget one of our investigators or that I won´t lead the sector like I should. I think my new companion is going to be really good for me. She only has a little bit of time in the mission too, like two more changes than me, but we both just want to work really hard and get things done.


Funny story: (mom you will enjoy this) yesterday was my companions last day and so everyone wanted to see her and say goodbye. Well, this means that they all made food for us. I just want to tell you what I consumed yesterday--For lunch at 2:00 we had pastel de choclo, soup, salad, and bread. Except I received like three people´s portions worth of pastel de choclo ( its like a corn hot dish). I ate so much at lunch I was in major pain! I was still in pain when we went into our sector at 4:30. Then like an hour later we ate completos, or hot dogs chilean style (super good, I'm never eating them like before ever again) and the people made us eat 2. You would think that I had a choice, but not here. After that we went to another house an hour and a half later and ate pasta with some weird sauce on top. I almost didn´t make it through without gagging. I was sooooooooooo FULL! Today I haven´t eaten like anything because I am still full! Chileans are a lot like you mom, they want to share there love with you through your stomach. Reminds me of home, but I can´t keep it up it is always going to be like this!!


Well, I love you all! I am soo glad that everything is going well for you guys. I haven´t gotten your packages yet, maybe next week. Oh, I forgot to tell Grandma Lois that my package was broken into and whatever she sent me that was from Spain or something wasn´t in the package. That kinda sucks, I hope it wasn´t something really special! Such is life, I guess!


¡Les amo mucho! Estoy animada a hablar con ustedes en el futuro. No sé que va a pasar, si yo puedo llamarles o si yo puedo usar el Skype. Pero bueno. Que le vaya bien siempre!


con mucho cariño,


La Hermana Thacker


(Received April 16, 2012)

Easter a Deeper Relationship with God

Wow sounds like life at home is pretty crazy right now. I´m glad you had a good Easter though. Sounds like the food was delicious, as always. Mom I was talking to this lady we had lunch with one day and I told her that you like to cook and want to have some recipes from Chile. I think that she is going to hook me up with the details, she seemed pretty excited about it! The only thing is that the measurements are totally different and I don´t really think that they use measurements anyways. Sound familiar? Ya well anyways, ¡voy a hacerlo y recibir recitas para ti!


Hey Grandma I have been thinking of you this week because we teach this older woman who loves to crochet things. She asked if we did things like that, and in that moment I wished I would have had you teach me. Well, there is still time left!!


The Chileans celebrate Easter a little differently. The different religions all celebrate in their own way but mostly everyone celebrates the life and resurrection of Christ for the whole week. On Friday they only eat fish and in the evening they don´t listen to any music. Which was really strange since there is music everywhere, in every street or block someone is blaring music. But for the missionaries Easter was just another day to go out and work! But today we had a fun activity with the whole mission playing, painting eggs, and eating chotipanes (it's like a short little sausage they grilled over a fire in the back of the church, haha, with fresh toasted bread and the Chilean mustard which is amazing!).


This last week was pretty good. We got to go to the mission home for an Hermanas reunion with all the hermanas in the mission. I just love going to the mission home because I just love my mission President. He is just so cool. He is literally the best mission President in the entire world and I am so excited that I get to keep him for my entire mission! But I got to learn a lot of really great things during the reunion and just get another boost to do the work.


There are some really great hermanas here in Rancagua. And next week I am going to have another one of them as my companion. I am pretty sure I will have a Latina but that is all I know. It is really funny some missionaries get really wrapped up in the changes and who is going where. I don´t really care, I am just a little nervous to be left behind to run my sector since I´m pretty sure I will be in Graneros for another change. I am ok with that because we have some really good investigators that show a lot of interest in the church. Sometimes they start out really strong and then ya they stop progressing, but I think that whatever happens is necessary for me to learn what I need to learn to help me be a better missionary.


This work is not easy. The challenges are so different from what you could ever expect. The one thing that I have come to completely understand with all my heart, is even if we can´t understand the reason behind our struggles we can know that in our struggles, if we turn to Heavenly Father, our relationship with Him becomes deeper, more personal. No longer is He someone that I talk to in the mornings and nights, but is someone I confide in, the person I can find relief and comfort. This is why I am a missionary. Because other people need this relationship. Being a member of the church and having a knowledge of the gospel doesn´t take away life's difficulties. It helps us to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ that with them all things become possible.


This week we taught this amazing little family. There is a mom and two daughters and they are super cute. Our second lesson the mom wanted to say the opening prayer, which we had just taught them the previous day. Then at the end the oldest daughter asked to say the closing prayer and if we had meetings that they could attend on Sunday. WOW! Who are these people and where did they come from? I am really excited to focus on them and get  them in the water. Unfortunately, they left on Sunday and didn´t come to church, but I have no doubt they will get there. They are just too curious about the gospel to not come! And there are many others like them here!!


Well sorry this is short and sweet, I´m running out of time and have to write Pres. still!


LOVE YOU ALL!!

(Received  April 9, 2012)

Being Sick on the Mission

¡Hola po mi familia!

Bueno, esta semana pasada yo estaba enferma también. ¿Que suerte, cierto? ¡¡Entonces, tuvimos un terremoto ayer!! Era super bakan.

Ok, I want you to understand so I´m not going to type in Spanish anymore, but maybe grandpa can look up some of those words and learn some more. 

 

 

Anyways, I was sick this last week. EWww. We had to be in the house for almost three days. Actually the first day we went to a few appointments and came in early, then the next day was worse. It almost felt like I had mono again, because I had a fever, my back kind of hurt when I was breathing and all I wanted to do was sleep. But today I feel so much better and only have a cough and the sniffles. I have even tried a few Chilean remedies because when you tell people you are sick here they want to help. I drank this drink thing with what looked like some tree bark and leaves, with some lemon and a little sugar for taste! Haha, I don´t know if it helped because I didn´t take it 'til the end, but ya it was fun to try.  

 

 

This week was super sucky. In my life I have never really had a purpose until now, and now I have a huge purpose and only a certain amount of time to do it.  I don´t want to be stuck inside--sleeping!!! But what do you do? 

 

Yesterday was my first official day back in the field for the whole day. We had planned to visit lots of people because we cancelled so many appointments this week. We were out for a few hours just stopping by and seeing how everyone was doing when we decided to go check on this young girl we used to teach who sort of disappeared. Well, just as we were knocking on her door the ground started to move. My comp and I looked at each other and we were like, "Is this a templor?" A templor is like a mini mini earthquake, one that just shutters. But then it started to get bigger! We looked up and saw all the power polls and line swaying back and forth and the trees were moving.  So, we decided to go into the street in  case the power lines fell. It was soooo cool to watch the street literally moving. 

 

 

It really is the strangest thing to experience. It was a pretty strong one and it lasted for about 45 seconds to a minute. When it was over we went back to the investigators house and her parents let us in and we talked with them for a good little while. It turned out that it cut out the electricity and cell phone towers; so once again we were forced to go back early to the house. That sucked. But almost all of our sector was completely dark and our cell phone didn´t work. It was big but not that big, I´m not exactly sure what caliber of earthquake it was, but it didn´t knock anything off our dressers or anything. Some people have told us that they are expecting a bigger one to come pretty soon. I wouldn´t be surprised because we had one in the middle of the night a few days ago too and it was at least big enough to wake us all up in the middle of the night.

This week just feels like a bust for me when I think back on what I can tell you. The little inactive lady didn´t come to church and we´ve gone back to her house, but she wasn´t there. But that doesn't mean we are going to stop. We are going to be more persistent than an avon lady! HAHA! 

 

 

The good that did come out of this week was in my studies. I learned a lot about repentance this week and it was totally awesome. I wish I could tell you everything, but I can´t because of the lack of time.  I just feel soo much more blessed to have the opportunity to repent and become better. It truly is an opportunity to apply the cleansing affect of the Atonement. It truly is a call of love, repentance! Without repenting we couldn´t stand in the presence of God because our own guilt won´t allow us. We are never going to be perfect in this life, for this reason it is soo tender that when we mess up we have the opportunity to change and then to feel the immense love of our Heavenly Father. The thing is the road of repentance is not easy, for this I am grateful as well. For if it were I think we would make the same mistakes more often. 

 

 

Hey how is the scripture reading coming? Where are you all at in the Book of Mormon?

 

 

Mom I don´t like making requests because I feel like you give me so much already I feel a little selfish when I ask for more. But there is a face wash that I have fallen in love with because my comp gave me some, but I can´t get it here. It is Neutragina brand and I think its just the original facewash. The bottle is kinda big and it is orange. If you can´t find it, don´t worry its not a big deal. But I was thinking about getting you some Chilean things to cook in but I´m not sure if you will like them. They are like clay bowls and pots that you can make things in. Tell me what you think because I know you like what you like. :) Oh and here's the thing about my camera, it's old and I have another card but the card doesn´t work because it is new or too big. What I might do is buy a cheap Chilean camera so I don´t have to keep buying batteries and then buy a small hard drive to put everything on there. Tell me what you think because I might not do it because I am cheap and I don´t like to spend my money. I have looked at some cameras and they seem to be about the same price as ones in the states. This is usually my thinking, just use what I have and deal with it. But I´m thinking that having a hard drive and a camera that takes better pictures will be better. Most of the pics I have sent have been from my comp´s camera. So ya. 

 

 

Anyways I think about you guys all the time and I miss you. Changes are coming up and I think I´m going to have a Latin comp!! I´m nervous and excited all at the same time! Tell Elder Moya, "Hola y ciao," from me. I thought he had been there for a while, but good things always come to an end, but I know that Heavenly Father always wants to give us something better.

That is crazy that Sandi is coming home already. I hate to think that that will be exactly what we will be saying this same time next year for me. Time just needs to slow down for like a year and half!! But I have to go and I have yet to receive any packages, but hopefully next week. I think Grandma Lois sent one a few weeks ago but it hasn´t gotten here yet!

LES AMO MUCHO MUCHO MUCHO

Cuidense también.

con cariño,

Hermanita Thacker

p.s. I´m attaching another pic of us and Miguel. I think it might be better. Oh and tell Brent i couldn´t email him this week but i will next week!! LOVE YOU ALL!!

(Received March 26, 2012) 

When You Ask for Help

¡Hola po!


Mi familia, como estan. It sounds like you guys are all trying to get sick or something!! I hope you guys are starting to feel better. And I´m also glad that the crazy week has ended for catering. Is this one going to be a little better? Well, I´m glad to hear that Brent is home, sounds like it was a pretty sweet trip for him. Can´t wait to get an email from him...cough cough!


I have some really good news.....we had a baptism yesterday for Miguel! ¡Por fin! This last week we had a really powerful lesson with him, and he really felt that he had received his answer. Yesterday was the baptism service and it was really neat. We tried to get his brothers to come and support him but his entire family is against him to being baptized. But there were lots of people from the ward that came and some other missionaries too. Hermana Dutton and I sang, but it was really pretty bad, but that's ok because it didn´t matter at all. Basically yesterday was just an all around amazing day.


Later that day we were supposed to have a lesson with Anjelica but she couldn´t come. So as we were leaving the church we felt that our back up plans weren´t what we needed to do. We said a prayer and afterwards we just kind of stood waiting to see what we were feeling. We decided to just start walking and knocking on doors. Well, turns out the second door we knocked on was this little old lady and right away she invited us in. This usually never happens, so Hermana and I looked at each other and gave each other the, this-is-cool-look, and followed her into her house. It turns out that this lady is a member and she has been inactive for many years and just before we came to her house she had been praying for someone to come to her. When you ask for help, chances are Heavenly Father is going to send the missionaries!! Haha. Well, it was so cool to talk to her and to re-invite her to church.


Later that same night we found like 7 more people that we really felt like we needed to find. All of them have citas (appointments) this next week!


There was another really big day this week that I have to tell you about. We went on divisions again this week, or "splits" I think is what they call them there. My companion is in charge of divisons among the sisters in my zone and on Tuesday she told me that I would be going with Hermana Johnson who is brand new to the mission. She has been here two weeks tomorrow! When my comp told me that I about had a panic attack. This meant that I was in charge of our sector, finding our appointments. . . oh ya and talking to everyone and leading all of the lessons. Did I mention that Hermana Johnson doesn´t speak a wink of Spanish. I was so scared I can just barely understand people and my speaking skills are way less perfect and then I had to be in charge of another missionary, who I was in her shoes no longer than a few weeks ago. 


I am here to tell you that I survived the day and we even had some really good lessons. I still couldn´t understand everything that the people said, but I think my companion was trying to show me that I know enough. I still have a ways to go, but I learned that I´m going to be ok.


The other day I was reading the Joseph Smith story. The part that stuck out to me this time was right before Joseph saw the light, he says that he was at the point of almost losing complete hope of being saved. Perhaps he felt like he was at that point right before the edge of the cliff and the next step was over the edge. Well, at that moment when we feel like we just can´t do anymore, and it might just be too diffcult, when we might sink into utter despair...´I saw a pillar of light´.....are his words. Sometimes we have to take steps into the darkness to receive the light. I know that no matter the trial or struggle the light always comes and Heavenly Father is always there to pick us up when we feel like we can´t do it anymore. The Light always comes, the blessings will always come when we are obedient.


These pictures are from the hike we went on last week. Isn´t is so pretty here!?! The town behind me is my sector. That's Graneros.

Then the baptism picture with Miguel and the Bishop who baptized him. Miguel is the shorter one! Ok, so I tried to send the better baptism pic, like the one where I was looking at the camera, but it wouldnt work sorry. Maybe next time I can get a better picture!

Well, LOVE YOU GUYS SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!! Have fun in Utah with the family!! I MISS YOU GUYS!!!

p.s. I got Grandpas letter and it was soo cool!! My companion thought it was the sweetest letter ever. OH and wow a meth lab in shelby huh? crazy!!

con cariño,

Hermana Thacker

(Received Monday, March 19, 2012)

Tender Mercy

Hola Familia

¿Como estan? Yo creo que todo esta bien. Yo espero que ustedes sea felizes siempre. ¡Hay mucha obra en Chile y en Graneros, pero vamos a cambiar las vidas de todas las personas aqui!

Ok, that's enough for the Spanish, but I figured I could give grandpa some words to work on! How is everybody? Mom I was super excited to get your email today because before we went and printed things off my comp and I used her recorder to record a little of my voice--there is about12 minutes worth, but at least you will get to hear my voice. I haven´t listened to it, so hopefully I don´t sound stupid. I hope it works too because I also want to send some pictures with this email as well. And there are even going to be some with me smiling. I really hate those ones though. There´re just not me. haha

That is super cool that there is a whole family in Shelby that the missionaries are teaching. Tell them congrats for me. They even have them coming to church. Mom and Dad, as a missionary I´m going to tell you to help the missionaries as much as possible and help to make those people feel comfortable and welcome in church. You really cannot imagine how much easier it is to have the help and support of the ward. Truly most of the members are amazing in Graneros and are so willing to help. Our ward mission leader is the BEST. Whenever we ask him to come with us to a lesson he never refuses. I just love him. He truly gets the meaning of missionary work. Its not just for those people with tags on. Anyways, I´m sure that the missionaries appreciate everything you do for them but just keep in mind their investigators as well!!


I am really bummed that I had to leave our internet place and you guys were both there waiting for me. I feel really bad. My comps trainer ended the mission today so we had to plan around going to the office when she was there to say good-bye and such. Actually, I´m really glad we did because her suitcases were too heavy and she left behind her fitted sheet which I took as a tender mercy because I was trying to find a fitted sheet the other day and they were kind of expensive; so, I thought I could just tough it out with a stupid flat sheet that I have to re-tuck in everyday. But no longer!!


This week was actually a tough one for me. It was the last week of the change (transfer) and I was thinking about all our investigators that we have. I was so excited to have baptisms in my first change but then they both fell through. Cristina, our other fecha, has difficulty with tea and she drank tea a week before her baptism. I was really bummed especially because she had been doing so good. This week it all just hit me. Like maybe I could have done something more to help them understand. I just felt down and couldn´t shake it--which is lame as well. One night Hermana and I came back for the day and just decided that we needed a pick me up. We read out loud Alma 26 which is one of my favorite missionary chapters. It actually helped a lot to remind me of my purpose. It also had many words of comfort for those trying times.


Everyone always said that the mission was going to be hard. I didn´t expect it to be like this though. I can handle the physical. If I have to walk up a mountain everyday to find people I could do it. But this is so different from what I imagined as difficult. It is a struggle to know if I am doing enough. Alma 42:27 has been another scripture that I have looked to a lot lately. It says something along the lines of those who will come, can come and those who choose not to come are not obligated. I can only do so much, but people still have their agency. Dang it! :) haha just kidding. But now I know how it feels to know the right answer and watch people walk away from it.


With that said I have so many goals for this next change. I am going to do everything, everything that I can possibly do to be obedient and  hopefully my obedience will bless my investigators. We have soo many investigators and we keep finding more. This is going to be a great change I can feel it!


I have to tell you about my week; it was a good one besides those few stupid moments of feeling down, but we had some good lessons and I have no doubt that our two fechas that fell through are going to be batpized in the near future. We had really good lessons with them this week and they both were in church on Sunday. That's the real test. If they come to church they are golden. We have another fecha with this young single mom but she has yet to attend church so we will have to work with her on that. 

I have to go! I love hearing from you guys and mom you don´t have to worry about sending packages to me all the time.  I know they are expensive and I´m well taken care of here. But since you are sending one could you throw in some fruit roll ups for my companion she loves them and they don't have them here!!

LOVE YOU GUYS SOO MUCH!! Thank you for your prayers I feel the effects of them everyday!!

con cariño, 

Hermana Thacker

(Received Monday, March 5, 2012)