One of my companions in the MTC is a very avid list maker. In every journal/notebook she had she had a running list in each end. I'm not to that point, but I am learning that putting your life in terms of lists can sometimes be helpful--to do lists, here's what I am going to do with my day lists, lists of blessings--you get the idea. Sorry for two weeks of lists in a row, but it's the easiest way to format and organize everything that I want to share...
This week: Tender Mercies/Things I'm Grateful For
--Mondays. It's our chance to de-stress and relax a little.
--My companion loves ice cream too.
--We have a nifty little booklet that is written specifically to help missionaries adapt to living like missionaries. It has fantastic suggestions and is very helpful. I feel like it will come in handy for much more than just the mission.
--We have really sweet investigators and members who are always looking out for us.
--Sister Training Leaders. They really can work miracles.
--Our lesson with Cristobal, Eblin, and Jonathan. Cristobal and Eblin are recent converts, Jonathan isn't a member. They are all pretty cool and make it on my list of favorite people here. We read a scripture about how to gain a testimony, and by the end we were all crying. It touched every one of us.
--A testimony of the Book of Mormon.
--Priesthood Power is real.
--We had a chance to serve una hermana that we've been teaching. We helped her make and fry over 100 little corn tortillas. Besides learning how to make corn tortillas, I learned that really everyone has talents and everyone has a place. I couldn't tell when the tortillas were sufficiently fried, but my companion could. She was having trouble forming the tortillas, but that I could do. Long story short, we make a good team. :)
--We got to run through the rain (actually we kind of skipped) during the Honduras vs. France match of the World Cup.
--The miracle of the loaves and fishes is just as real today as it was 2,000 years ago. It's just that we are always hearing miracles of how the Lord always provides. We ran into the problem that we ran out of money to buy more food Saturday to cover Saturday and Sunday. My companion was rather worried, but I prayed and we were blessed with ideas of how to use the food we did have and people showed up and gave us food. For example, one investigator gave us 16 guineo (green bananas) that we fried with the oil that we had. It wasn't a direct multiplying of the food that we had in the pot, but we were blessed with more than enough food.
--With all of the rain this week it cooled off enough last night that I got to use my sheet. Still not cold enough for a blanket, but I was very content.
--Being blessed with the words to say.
--The opportunity to serve in here with Hermana Morales.
It's been kind of a long week, and this isn't even the half of it. It's really been a rough roller coaster kind of week. My companion goes
from being so stressed out that she's made up her mind to call president
to arrange her flight, to a ''I think I can stay one more day or until
cambios, July 9.''
Friday was to the point that she had her bags packed before I even knew
what was going on and the Sister Training Leaders rescued us. Right now
I think she is doing much better with the news that she received from
her family, but we'll see. But I think I will leave it here.
Hasta la proxima!
Hna. Thacker
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Monday, June 9, 2014
Things I learned this week...
Things I learned this week...
--You know those big yellow school busses? They usually have a maximum capacity number painted up front. This week I learned that number is really a poor estimation... You can actually fit more than double that, plus everyone's stuff... We happened to be carrying a pizza box... I would liken it unto trying to squeeze two cans of sardines into an even smaller can than you started with.
--A whole bunch of little rules set up to protect the actual rules passed down from generation to generation creates an interesting problem. The little rules have surfaced in this area. Last Monday a member gave us a ride to go and pick up pizza. Halfway there his car broke down, and as he called help we jumped out and I got ready to help push. When my companion realized what I was doing she told me, ''I think theres a rule that we can't push cars!'' She was a little surprised when I told her that we got him into this mess, so we are going to help him out of it... She was afraid to act becuase of the little rules that have been passed down that don't actually exist. Most of the time the little extra rules that are not in the handbook turn out to be silly. Some even originally started because a senior companion or district leader didn't want to allow their companion do something....
--After months of practicing teaching people and praying in Spanish it is pretty awkward to try in English. English was a language study practice for the Latinos in our district.
--There are a whole bunch of houses here built up on cement pillars. I thought it was for flooding. This week I learned it is for earthquakes. We didn't have an earthquake, but I didn't realize that that was an issue here.
--Repentance requires a change of attitude and way of thinking.
--If you leave the water in your pila (cement sink/washboard combination that everyone has instead of a washing machine) more than 3 days you grow mosquitos in it.
--It is amazing how many second chances Heavenly Father is willing to give us.
--Honduran pigs in a blanket consist of a hot dog wrapped in a corn tortilla, fried, smothered in refried beans, and topped with creme (A reeeeaaaaallly mild form of sour cream. I think.)
--My companion has to avoid grease/oil/fat and flour if she wants to avoid a hospital stay... The problem is that here you can't say a meal was cooked unless it involves a good amount of shortening...
--I really am a nerd.
--Singing a solo in Sacrament Meeting isn't nearly as scary as I thought, but I don't plan on doing it again. I got asked to lead the music acapella. In front of everyone. That meant I had to give the tune before we started singing...
--Missions are about stepping out of your comfort zone. --If you can't cook a hamburger in Honduras that doesn't make you un-American.
--You can always find the bright side if you look for it. There are always beautiful parts of the day. It doesn't matter how small they are, they are always there.
--Hope is a whole lot more than a shallow wishing something would happen. It is trusting Heavenly Father and His promises. Trusting that you can truly repent and be forgiven through the Atonement. Having hope requires faith and diligence and is what allows us to have peace and joy in the midst of trial.
What did you guys learn this week?
--You know those big yellow school busses? They usually have a maximum capacity number painted up front. This week I learned that number is really a poor estimation... You can actually fit more than double that, plus everyone's stuff... We happened to be carrying a pizza box... I would liken it unto trying to squeeze two cans of sardines into an even smaller can than you started with.
--A whole bunch of little rules set up to protect the actual rules passed down from generation to generation creates an interesting problem. The little rules have surfaced in this area. Last Monday a member gave us a ride to go and pick up pizza. Halfway there his car broke down, and as he called help we jumped out and I got ready to help push. When my companion realized what I was doing she told me, ''I think theres a rule that we can't push cars!'' She was a little surprised when I told her that we got him into this mess, so we are going to help him out of it... She was afraid to act becuase of the little rules that have been passed down that don't actually exist. Most of the time the little extra rules that are not in the handbook turn out to be silly. Some even originally started because a senior companion or district leader didn't want to allow their companion do something....
--After months of practicing teaching people and praying in Spanish it is pretty awkward to try in English. English was a language study practice for the Latinos in our district.
--There are a whole bunch of houses here built up on cement pillars. I thought it was for flooding. This week I learned it is for earthquakes. We didn't have an earthquake, but I didn't realize that that was an issue here.
--Repentance requires a change of attitude and way of thinking.
--If you leave the water in your pila (cement sink/washboard combination that everyone has instead of a washing machine) more than 3 days you grow mosquitos in it.
--It is amazing how many second chances Heavenly Father is willing to give us.
--Honduran pigs in a blanket consist of a hot dog wrapped in a corn tortilla, fried, smothered in refried beans, and topped with creme (A reeeeaaaaallly mild form of sour cream. I think.)
--My companion has to avoid grease/oil/fat and flour if she wants to avoid a hospital stay... The problem is that here you can't say a meal was cooked unless it involves a good amount of shortening...
--I really am a nerd.
--Singing a solo in Sacrament Meeting isn't nearly as scary as I thought, but I don't plan on doing it again. I got asked to lead the music acapella. In front of everyone. That meant I had to give the tune before we started singing...
--Missions are about stepping out of your comfort zone. --If you can't cook a hamburger in Honduras that doesn't make you un-American.
--You can always find the bright side if you look for it. There are always beautiful parts of the day. It doesn't matter how small they are, they are always there.
--Hope is a whole lot more than a shallow wishing something would happen. It is trusting Heavenly Father and His promises. Trusting that you can truly repent and be forgiven through the Atonement. Having hope requires faith and diligence and is what allows us to have peace and joy in the midst of trial.
What did you guys learn this week?
Sunday, June 8, 2014
New Area, New Companion
It is always really hard to explain what it is really like here, so I think that I will send a lot of pictures...We live in a little yellow house that is about 50% bigger than the apartment in La Ceiba... It has pretty flowers in front and a nice covered patio in back. I like it. Even the color. ;)
This is the part of our area that is not in the gated, guarded neighborhood that we live in. In this area there is only one paved road that is the main road running through the residential. Here there are really deep gutters on both sides of the road. About half of the houses are made of wood and built on cement pillars. I think it rains a lot here during the rainy season... I guess we'll see because we are entering it now.
Hna. Morales is from Bolivia, is 22 years old, and has been a member of the church for 2 years. She was Catholic before becoming LDS, but unlike my two companions who were also Catholic before joining our church, she never had plans to be a nun.
It sounds like my companion and her previous companion usually just ate sandwiches. She was thrilled when I cooked this yesterday. It's really just scrambled eggs and french fries that Hna. Calpa taught me to put together, but Hna. Morales was excited :)
We also eat a TON of mangoes. Every time we visit someone they offer us two or four to take with us. This area is very different from La Ceiba, but I am excited for this opportunity to work here!
Hasta la proxima! Hna. Thacker
Thursday, June 5, 2014
New Opportunities
So... lots of different relatively random thoughts... I'm still trying to order them myself, so here it goes...
Well! I have a new area! Not exactly sure where it falls on your map of Honduras, but it is close to San Pedro I think.
My new companion is from Bolivia and has 3 months in the mission. It will be a new adventure. Monday I will send you pictures. We live in a little house in a little guarded neighborhood and I feel like our area is a bit smaller than my previous area.
My last weekend in la Ceiba our entire area was wrapped up in Carnival. Kind of a crazy going away party... ;) It just made it a little hard to find people... they were all at carnival. They say it is internationally famous and really it is the biggest party/festival that La Ceiba has in the year. Oh, and I kind of promised an Hermana here that next year I would come back for it so she could take us to see all of the fun stuff that we missed as missionaries.
It was really weird saying goodbye to everyone in my area. It didn't really truly sink in that I was actually leaving until after the change meeting when I hugged the hermana who is taking my place in el Iman. I started crying there in front of her, the president's wife, my new companion, and everyone. I hope that doesn't make them worry too much... that's always the biggest concern crying in front of people.
I think I will miss La Ceiba, but I am excited for this new opportunity to get to know another area full of wonderful people. It will be an adventure to say the least!
Hasta La Proxima!
Hna. Thacker
Well! I have a new area! Not exactly sure where it falls on your map of Honduras, but it is close to San Pedro I think.
My new companion is from Bolivia and has 3 months in the mission. It will be a new adventure. Monday I will send you pictures. We live in a little house in a little guarded neighborhood and I feel like our area is a bit smaller than my previous area.
My last weekend in la Ceiba our entire area was wrapped up in Carnival. Kind of a crazy going away party... ;) It just made it a little hard to find people... they were all at carnival. They say it is internationally famous and really it is the biggest party/festival that La Ceiba has in the year. Oh, and I kind of promised an Hermana here that next year I would come back for it so she could take us to see all of the fun stuff that we missed as missionaries.
It was really weird saying goodbye to everyone in my area. It didn't really truly sink in that I was actually leaving until after the change meeting when I hugged the hermana who is taking my place in el Iman. I started crying there in front of her, the president's wife, my new companion, and everyone. I hope that doesn't make them worry too much... that's always the biggest concern crying in front of people.
I think I will miss La Ceiba, but I am excited for this new opportunity to get to know another area full of wonderful people. It will be an adventure to say the least!
Hasta La Proxima!
Hna. Thacker
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Turn To Him
Well, since we talked there hasn't been anything super grande to share with you.... so.... I was reading the Book of Mormon in my personal study and I got to one of my favorite parts in Mosiah. Here it tells the story of the group that went off to try to take back the Land of Nephi. I love the contrast of the two groups, the people of king Limhi and the people of Alma, for what it teaches about the mercy and love of Heavenly Father and the consequences of being slow to seek Him.
Both groups suffered much and were in bondage that was greater than they thought they were able to bear. In the end both groups are delivered by the mercy and grace of God. He loves them and helps them through their suffering, but according to their obedience and quickness to turn to Him.
I realized that it is probable that their bondage was just about equal in severity. The key was in how they reacted. Limhi and his people were slow to turn to God to deliver them and suffered more. Alma and his people from the beginning ''hushed their fears and began to cry unto the Lord.'' They are strengthened and able to ''submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.'' They turned their lives over to Him and allowed Him to work in their lives. They were changed by grace.
Frequently I get caught in the ''Why do I have to deal with this weakness!? Why do I have to experience this?!'' And life remains just as hard as I think it is. I am like the people of Limhi and try to resolve it all on my own and I suffer for it. Reading here in Mosiah I am reminded to hush my fears and cry unto God. When I turn everything over to Him and let Him work in my life, I can be changed by grace. My ''weak things become strong unto [me]''. Heavenly Father can make a whole lot more of us than we can even imagine and He is waiting for us to turn to Him. It is so neat what you can learn reading the Book of Mormon!
Hna. Thacker
Learn Catracho:
Macizo-- literally means ''solid'' Here it means ''super cool'', ''really awesome'', etc. It's become part of my new favorite phrase ''¡Qué Macizo!
Pilas-- I am not sure what it literally translates to because it has a lot of possible meanings. Most common slang form means ''really smart.'' Can also mean batteries, be a plural number of wash basins, and many more...
Both groups suffered much and were in bondage that was greater than they thought they were able to bear. In the end both groups are delivered by the mercy and grace of God. He loves them and helps them through their suffering, but according to their obedience and quickness to turn to Him.
I realized that it is probable that their bondage was just about equal in severity. The key was in how they reacted. Limhi and his people were slow to turn to God to deliver them and suffered more. Alma and his people from the beginning ''hushed their fears and began to cry unto the Lord.'' They are strengthened and able to ''submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.'' They turned their lives over to Him and allowed Him to work in their lives. They were changed by grace.
Frequently I get caught in the ''Why do I have to deal with this weakness!? Why do I have to experience this?!'' And life remains just as hard as I think it is. I am like the people of Limhi and try to resolve it all on my own and I suffer for it. Reading here in Mosiah I am reminded to hush my fears and cry unto God. When I turn everything over to Him and let Him work in my life, I can be changed by grace. My ''weak things become strong unto [me]''. Heavenly Father can make a whole lot more of us than we can even imagine and He is waiting for us to turn to Him. It is so neat what you can learn reading the Book of Mormon!
Hna. Thacker
Learn Catracho:
Macizo-- literally means ''solid'' Here it means ''super cool'', ''really awesome'', etc. It's become part of my new favorite phrase ''¡Qué Macizo!
Pilas-- I am not sure what it literally translates to because it has a lot of possible meanings. Most common slang form means ''really smart.'' Can also mean batteries, be a plural number of wash basins, and many more...
Saturday, May 10, 2014
"My Trip to the Murder Capital of the World," "Lesson 2: Be Responsible," or "Winter Has Arrived."
Well, usually I don't fill the subject line on these things, but if I had to pick one it would be either "My Trip to the Murder Capital of the World," "Lesson 2: Be Responsible," or "Winter Has Arrived." I couldn't decide so I left it blank again...
Early in the week we went to San Pedro with another companionship of hermanas from our district. It was crazy. We found out Sunday morning that we needed to leave that afternoon. Without a chance to eat we took off on a 4 hour bus ride as soon as church was over to avoid traveling after dark. Monday was wild with appointments, and by the time appointments were over it was too late to return to La Ceiba that night. We took advantage of the last hour of sunlight to visit the Catholic Cathederal in the other mission and it was pretty cool. We got to climb to the very top towers. There I learned that the majority of the northern coast of Honduras was not settled by the Spanish, but rather Americans in search of cheeper fruit. But to make a long story short, by the time we left San Pedro and La Lima we were ready to be back in our own apartment.
Here the plot thickens and we get to "Lesson 2: Be Responsible." Remember this summer when the cornfield ate my glasses? That was Lesson 1: Be Obedient. Here is Lesson 2...
Be responsible and pay the electic bill because they are serious when they say they will cut it. We returned from San Pedro to find that they had cut our power because we had forgotten to pay. We had barely enough time to make it to the bank to get it paid, but still had to go to the electric company to ask them very nicely if they would come and reconnect it again. It was too late tuesday, so we spent the night without fans and writing in journals by candle light. Wednesday we set out early to figure out how to fix our predicament, and had to bring an hermana from the ward with us just in case they asked for identification (you see, we don't exactly have residency in Honduras yet). She was very helpful and managed to talk them into reconnecting the power lines that very afternoon instead of the usual three days later. She litterally saved us. Though once we got home the power went out for our sector of La Ceiba... It was a really crazy day. Crazier than San Pedro...
But hey, on the bright side, from Hna. Paola on this little trip, we learned that the tap water in La Ceiba has been drinkable since 1912. The Standard Fruit Company (now Dole) donated a potable water system to the city of La Ceiba many many years ago. Who knew!
Last but not least, they tell me that winter has arrived here. That means that it rains a lot.
One family gave us these trash bags to walk home with. They thoroughly enjoyed seeing all four missionaries from the ward looking like penguins, but it kept our stuff dry!
It has been the craziest week, but every part came with a lesson to learn! Well, that's all for this week....
Hasta la próxima!
Hna. Thacker
Learn Catracho:
Catracho--loving term referring to all Hondurans and everything Honduran. It is more likely that you will see 100% Catracho instead of Made in Honduras...
moy--literally means cow, but here they use it to say mi amor, as in love, dear, etc.
Early in the week we went to San Pedro with another companionship of hermanas from our district. It was crazy. We found out Sunday morning that we needed to leave that afternoon. Without a chance to eat we took off on a 4 hour bus ride as soon as church was over to avoid traveling after dark. Monday was wild with appointments, and by the time appointments were over it was too late to return to La Ceiba that night. We took advantage of the last hour of sunlight to visit the Catholic Cathederal in the other mission and it was pretty cool. We got to climb to the very top towers. There I learned that the majority of the northern coast of Honduras was not settled by the Spanish, but rather Americans in search of cheeper fruit. But to make a long story short, by the time we left San Pedro and La Lima we were ready to be back in our own apartment.
Here the plot thickens and we get to "Lesson 2: Be Responsible." Remember this summer when the cornfield ate my glasses? That was Lesson 1: Be Obedient. Here is Lesson 2...
Be responsible and pay the electic bill because they are serious when they say they will cut it. We returned from San Pedro to find that they had cut our power because we had forgotten to pay. We had barely enough time to make it to the bank to get it paid, but still had to go to the electric company to ask them very nicely if they would come and reconnect it again. It was too late tuesday, so we spent the night without fans and writing in journals by candle light. Wednesday we set out early to figure out how to fix our predicament, and had to bring an hermana from the ward with us just in case they asked for identification (you see, we don't exactly have residency in Honduras yet). She was very helpful and managed to talk them into reconnecting the power lines that very afternoon instead of the usual three days later. She litterally saved us. Though once we got home the power went out for our sector of La Ceiba... It was a really crazy day. Crazier than San Pedro...
But hey, on the bright side, from Hna. Paola on this little trip, we learned that the tap water in La Ceiba has been drinkable since 1912. The Standard Fruit Company (now Dole) donated a potable water system to the city of La Ceiba many many years ago. Who knew!
Last but not least, they tell me that winter has arrived here. That means that it rains a lot.
One family gave us these trash bags to walk home with. They thoroughly enjoyed seeing all four missionaries from the ward looking like penguins, but it kept our stuff dry!
It has been the craziest week, but every part came with a lesson to learn! Well, that's all for this week....
Hasta la próxima!
Hna. Thacker
Learn Catracho:
Catracho--loving term referring to all Hondurans and everything Honduran. It is more likely that you will see 100% Catracho instead of Made in Honduras...
moy--literally means cow, but here they use it to say mi amor, as in love, dear, etc.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Unexpected Trip
This will be a quick short one... I will probably write more tomorrow... because you see.... we happen to be chillin' in the other mission... San Pedro Sula West...
For the last 4 months of her mission, my companion has been dealing with feet that are super swollen and pain that started in her feet and has worked its way up to her back, too. Finally last week she included in her weekly letter to Pres. Klein that all of this was going on, and Sunday morning at 6:35 am the mission nurse called to say that we should leave here at 1:00 with another companionship from our district, stay the night with some hermanas, and report for doctors appointments the next morning in San Pedro. So here we are... The mission office and the specialists really are within the boundaries of the West mission (as far as I understand). It's been an adventure! The good news is that the doctor prescribed some medicine and some arch-insert things that should fix the problem. Tonight or tomorrow we return to our areas.
Other great news that I am so very excited to share is that Anita got baptized! (the picture is coming later) She has a lot more support than I imagined. Turns out it was only the one sister that she didn't want to know that she was getting baptized. The brother and sister-in-law that she lives with know and support her and her daughter was happy for her, too. The hermano who baptized her turns out to be a childhood friend of Anita's brother and was very excited to learn that she was going to get baptized. ¡Super Masizo! Well, I'll probably write more tomorrow... And the next time I write I have a few pictures to send. So... hasta la proxima!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
For the last 4 months of her mission, my companion has been dealing with feet that are super swollen and pain that started in her feet and has worked its way up to her back, too. Finally last week she included in her weekly letter to Pres. Klein that all of this was going on, and Sunday morning at 6:35 am the mission nurse called to say that we should leave here at 1:00 with another companionship from our district, stay the night with some hermanas, and report for doctors appointments the next morning in San Pedro. So here we are... The mission office and the specialists really are within the boundaries of the West mission (as far as I understand). It's been an adventure! The good news is that the doctor prescribed some medicine and some arch-insert things that should fix the problem. Tonight or tomorrow we return to our areas.
Other great news that I am so very excited to share is that Anita got baptized! (the picture is coming later) She has a lot more support than I imagined. Turns out it was only the one sister that she didn't want to know that she was getting baptized. The brother and sister-in-law that she lives with know and support her and her daughter was happy for her, too. The hermano who baptized her turns out to be a childhood friend of Anita's brother and was very excited to learn that she was going to get baptized. ¡Super Masizo! Well, I'll probably write more tomorrow... And the next time I write I have a few pictures to send. So... hasta la proxima!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
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