We've had a good week. We've had a couple of miracles, maciza lessons,
funny experiences, and I have a new favorite scripture.
First, one of the miracles. We stopped by to visit an investigator and
she starts telling us she has been praying for guidance. Weird things
have been happening in her house and her mom suggested she look for
someone who has been prepared to come and pray for them. She asked if
there was any way we could help her. We taught a little lesson about
the priesthood, and the next day a member of stake presidency who
lives close was able to come and bendecir la casa. Afterword we asked
her how she felt. A little teary eyed she told us that she felt so
much better.
It was neat that when she was praying for guidance we were able to
stop by and offer help.
Funny experience... one of many this week. My companion bought a coco
(coconut) at the local pulperia (kind of a little store ish.) They
offered to open it up for her so she could put her straw in the top
and drink the water. El hermano carefully placed the coconut, prepared
the machete, and brought it down cutting just a little bit off the top
to make a small hole. But as soon as he chopped the coco it began
spurting coconut water all over me. I have never seen that happen
before. We all busted up laughing and everyone who passed us in the
street gave us the weirdest looks. Now every time we walk past the
pulperia the hermano asks if we want to buy more cocos...
New favorite scripture... Alma 38:5. Everytime I've opened my
scriptures this week it always falls open to this verse. ''Ahora bien,
hija mia, (Hermana Thacker), quisiera que recordaras que en proporción
a tu confianza en Dios, serás liberada de tus tribulaciones, y tus
dificultades, y tus aflicciones, y serás enaltecida en el postrer
día.'' (English Translation). I love how it says that according to the degree of trust we
have in God we will be delivered from our challenges, trials,
difficulties, etc. I've been thinking about that a lot. If I put all of
my trust in Him, no matter what comes I will be able overcome it. But
if I am only willing to put a little bit of my trust in Him, it will
be a lot harder for me to accept the way He is offering to deliver me.
It's really easier and smarter to trust Him.
Well, I wanted to send pictures, but the internet is slow...I guess
you'll have to wait until next week...
But thank you for your love and support!
Hasta la próxima!
Hna. Thacker
Monday, September 22, 2014
The Gospel Had the Power to Change Lives
So I have to tell you more about Jonathan, our recent convert, and his family. It is amazing to see how much of an impact the gospel has made in their lives.
The Mom: Tuesday, at the end of the day we finished up an appointment and started heading back toward the church for the english class we have every week. We didn't make it more than ten feet in that direction when my companion and I stopped dead in our tracks, looked at each other, and said, ''We have to visit Jonathan.'' We didn't have an appointment with them and we were planning on seeing them in 20 minutes in the English class, but we both felt that we needed to go and visit them in their house. So we climbed the hill and as we aproached the gate Jonathan stepped out of the house looking very serious and sad. He was followed by his little brother who was crying. As they stepped aside we could see Jonathan's mom cradling the littlest brother in her arms and crying. In an accident on a bike the three year old had fallen and cut open his head and they couldn't get the bleeding to stop. Jonathan's mom didn't know what more to do, and we didn't either, but knew that he needed a blessing. We shared a scripture to explain about priesthood blessings and with the permission of the mom we called an hermano from the ward to come and give him a blessing. In the end he was able to receive a blessing and the whole atmosphere of the house changed completely. It was a night to day change. Luis started talking more and acting more like himself, the mom was able to calm down and think clearer. The best part was that they all were able to note the difference. I felt the difference, and that strengthened my testimony too. This experience with her youngest son, coupled with the baptism of her oldest son, has really helped the mom in her progress. She was receptive before, but now is even more so.
Jonathan: In only three weeks of being baptized he has already gone to the temple, wants to accompany us to make visits all day every day, and shared his testimony in sacrament meeting. There is nothing better than hearing a recent convert share their testimony.
The Dad: He's joined us for only one lesson, but he has always been supportive of Jonathan. He was able to come to the baptism, but we haven't really had much more contact with him because he is always at work when we visit. However, he came to church for the very first time Sunday and got to hear Jonathan bear his testimony.
It is incredible how they have all progressed. The gospel really has the power to change lives. I love being a missionary!
Love,
Hermana Thacker
The Mom: Tuesday, at the end of the day we finished up an appointment and started heading back toward the church for the english class we have every week. We didn't make it more than ten feet in that direction when my companion and I stopped dead in our tracks, looked at each other, and said, ''We have to visit Jonathan.'' We didn't have an appointment with them and we were planning on seeing them in 20 minutes in the English class, but we both felt that we needed to go and visit them in their house. So we climbed the hill and as we aproached the gate Jonathan stepped out of the house looking very serious and sad. He was followed by his little brother who was crying. As they stepped aside we could see Jonathan's mom cradling the littlest brother in her arms and crying. In an accident on a bike the three year old had fallen and cut open his head and they couldn't get the bleeding to stop. Jonathan's mom didn't know what more to do, and we didn't either, but knew that he needed a blessing. We shared a scripture to explain about priesthood blessings and with the permission of the mom we called an hermano from the ward to come and give him a blessing. In the end he was able to receive a blessing and the whole atmosphere of the house changed completely. It was a night to day change. Luis started talking more and acting more like himself, the mom was able to calm down and think clearer. The best part was that they all were able to note the difference. I felt the difference, and that strengthened my testimony too. This experience with her youngest son, coupled with the baptism of her oldest son, has really helped the mom in her progress. She was receptive before, but now is even more so.
Jonathan: In only three weeks of being baptized he has already gone to the temple, wants to accompany us to make visits all day every day, and shared his testimony in sacrament meeting. There is nothing better than hearing a recent convert share their testimony.
The Dad: He's joined us for only one lesson, but he has always been supportive of Jonathan. He was able to come to the baptism, but we haven't really had much more contact with him because he is always at work when we visit. However, he came to church for the very first time Sunday and got to hear Jonathan bear his testimony.
It is incredible how they have all progressed. The gospel really has the power to change lives. I love being a missionary!
Love,
Hermana Thacker
Monday, September 8, 2014
The Spirit Is The Most Powerful Teacher.
Highlights of the week....
-We had a neat multi-zone conference with President. The coolest thing I learned was that the Spirit is the most powerful teacher.
-Our recent convert that got baptised two weeks ago went to the temple to do baptisms this week. -Our recent convert came with us to make some visits. Even though almost all of the appointments fell through we were still able to have some neat lessons.
-We had an amazing lesson with our familia de oro. I don't think I've told you about them yet. It's a little family consisting of the mom, a son, his wife, and a little baby. The first time we met them was with Hna. Morales. We met the mom and she told us that a long time ago just after her mom died missionaries had taught her the Plan of Salvation. That helped her enormously then and later when her daughter died. However, the missionaries for whatever reason never returned to visit. With Hna. Morales we were never able to find them again and it took until right before this cambio started to be able to have a lesson with them. When we finally did it was powerful, and every lesson since the spirit has been there so strongly. The daughter-in-law has a million questions about how to know if there is only one true church, how to tell if someone is a true prophet or a false prophet, did Jesus Christ establish a church and what happened to it...All questions we happen to have an answers for.
Yesterday we were able to answer her questions and she had read her reading assignment from the Book of Mormon three times. Now she has questions that can be answered with the Plan of Salvation and anxiously invited us back to help her find answers to them all. We just have to help them with the legally married part of the law of chastity and they are good.
-I learned something neat reading a general conference talk, ''Drawing Closer to God.'' Elder Vinson explains that trials are not just for getting over, but are carefully designed opportunities to help us turn to God. He refers to the Brother of Jared building the barges and says, ''Pointedly, the Lord not only left temporarily unsolved the challenge of how to provide light, but He then made it clear that He, the Lord, would allow the buffetings and trials that necessitated its solving.'' This really struck me that Heavenly Father allows things to get difficult because He knows what valuable experiences they are.
That's the most exciting parts of the week. If I have the chance I am going to try to send pictures, if not, next week you'll see them.
Thank you for your love, support, and letters!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
-We had a neat multi-zone conference with President. The coolest thing I learned was that the Spirit is the most powerful teacher.
-Our recent convert that got baptised two weeks ago went to the temple to do baptisms this week. -Our recent convert came with us to make some visits. Even though almost all of the appointments fell through we were still able to have some neat lessons.
-We had an amazing lesson with our familia de oro. I don't think I've told you about them yet. It's a little family consisting of the mom, a son, his wife, and a little baby. The first time we met them was with Hna. Morales. We met the mom and she told us that a long time ago just after her mom died missionaries had taught her the Plan of Salvation. That helped her enormously then and later when her daughter died. However, the missionaries for whatever reason never returned to visit. With Hna. Morales we were never able to find them again and it took until right before this cambio started to be able to have a lesson with them. When we finally did it was powerful, and every lesson since the spirit has been there so strongly. The daughter-in-law has a million questions about how to know if there is only one true church, how to tell if someone is a true prophet or a false prophet, did Jesus Christ establish a church and what happened to it...All questions we happen to have an answers for.
Yesterday we were able to answer her questions and she had read her reading assignment from the Book of Mormon three times. Now she has questions that can be answered with the Plan of Salvation and anxiously invited us back to help her find answers to them all. We just have to help them with the legally married part of the law of chastity and they are good.
-I learned something neat reading a general conference talk, ''Drawing Closer to God.'' Elder Vinson explains that trials are not just for getting over, but are carefully designed opportunities to help us turn to God. He refers to the Brother of Jared building the barges and says, ''Pointedly, the Lord not only left temporarily unsolved the challenge of how to provide light, but He then made it clear that He, the Lord, would allow the buffetings and trials that necessitated its solving.'' This really struck me that Heavenly Father allows things to get difficult because He knows what valuable experiences they are.
That's the most exciting parts of the week. If I have the chance I am going to try to send pictures, if not, next week you'll see them.
Thank you for your love, support, and letters!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
Monday, September 1, 2014
Snow in Honduras?
It snowed in Honduras this week.
Just kidding. It's just flour. We celebrated the birthday of another hermana and the tradition here is to crack eggs filled with flour, glitter, and confetti on people's heads.
In the end it turned into a flour fight and everyone covered. It was a lot of fun and I learned how to make the eggs... :)
Today we took a jungle walk. Through banana trees and bamboo. In the end we avoided the corn, but I took advantage of the opportunity to stand in it for a minute. You know you're from Iowa when.... :)
In the end this week's been a good one. Definitely a large opportunity to learn and grow. I learned how important it is to trust that God loves us and that as His children we are of infinite worth. And that as long as you can learn from it, any experience can be for your good. It is amazing how God works.
Pues, Hasta la próxima!
Love,
Hermana Thacker
Just kidding. It's just flour. We celebrated the birthday of another hermana and the tradition here is to crack eggs filled with flour, glitter, and confetti on people's heads.
In the end it turned into a flour fight and everyone covered. It was a lot of fun and I learned how to make the eggs... :)
Today we took a jungle walk. Through banana trees and bamboo. In the end we avoided the corn, but I took advantage of the opportunity to stand in it for a minute. You know you're from Iowa when.... :)
In the end this week's been a good one. Definitely a large opportunity to learn and grow. I learned how important it is to trust that God loves us and that as His children we are of infinite worth. And that as long as you can learn from it, any experience can be for your good. It is amazing how God works.
Pues, Hasta la próxima!
Love,
Hermana Thacker
Friday, August 29, 2014
Miracles always abound
Miracles always abound. This week Jonathan got baptised! He has been so prepared and we can see that he already has a good testimony and showed us that he is going to make a strong member. From the beginning his struggle has been running errands with his family or attending church. The afternoon of his baptism he called us at about 5 pm asking if we could move his baptism to the next Saturday because he and his family were in Lima at a birthday party of his uncle that was supposed to go until really late. We explained how moving his baptism wasn't all that simple. He said he'd talk to his family and call us back. When he hung up my companion turned to me and said, ''If he shows up we will know that he will be a strong member and that no matter what obstacle he faces he will take his responsibilities seriously.''
And he made it! An hour and a half later he and all of his family showed up for the baptism! His mom who has been an investigator for a lot longer cried as she watched her son set the example. His little brothers both turned to their dad and said, ''Dad, I want you to baptise me next!'' Being present in the baptism really impacted the whole family. It was a little moment where I could see that they will all make it some day. I'm not sure when that will be exactly but it will pretty amazing when it comes!
The other neat parts of the baptism were that the program was mostly made up of recent converts. Despite her fears one of my favorite hermanas in the ward, Eblin, gave the opening prayer. Hno. Cristobal who got baptised about a month before I got to Porvenir gave his very first talk. And Jonathan and his friend Wilmer got to bear their testimonies afterward.
It was a pretty masiza week and would be impossible to share all of the miracles that happened. Just know that they did happen and that Heavenly Father's hand is in every part of this work. He is mindful of every one of His children and has the way prepared for those who are willing to seek Him.
Love,
Hna. Thacker
Monday, August 18, 2014
Valuable Life Skills
I learned another valuable life skill this week--mowing the lawn with a machete.
It was one of our service opportunities for the week. The best part was that our investigator who is going to get baptized this Saturday came to help us out. The whole week he has been asking when he can accompany us to a lesson or if there is another activity he can attend. He is 13 and so excited for his baptism and to be able to pass the Sacrament too.
Another valuable life lesson learned this week--keep focused on the main goal.
My companion loves playing chess. She's missed playing it, so we made a chess set and she taught me how to play. I won the first time, but since then I haven't been able to win again. I always find myself trapped in just trying to delay the inevitable and eat as many of her pieces as I can. As we finished up our last game I made a comment about how difficult it is for me to plan how I am going to trap her king if I am struggling to just keep my pieces from getting eaten.
''What is the purpose or main goal of the game?'' She asked.
I fumbled for a response because quite frankly I'd forgotten. ''It's not about eating pieces. Or focusing on protecting your own pieces either. The primary goal of chess is always to threaten the king. From your very first move that should be your goal.'' She then went on to explain that in the game we'd just finished I had let myself get distracted by her queen and the eminent destruction. But, if I had kept focused on the goal all of my other little problems and worries would have been resolved.
As I thought about what she said, it was brought to my attention how this applied in my life as a missionary. Just that morning I had had a difficult little moment of feeling very inadequate and was praying for help to change the situation. I realized that that moment and the majority of the difficult moments of my mission came because I momentarily lost focus of the main goal. I lost sight of my purpose and let the enemy distract me. I get too preoccupied with fixing all of my little problems when it would be much better to focus on the main goal. It's in focusing on that purpose with heart, might, mind, and strength that all of the little things are resolved, fears forgotten, and weaknesses overcome.
This cambio (transfer) has been pretty masizo. I have learned so much from my companion, the members, the investigators, and the experiences we've had. It has flown by and Wednesday we start a new one. I'm pretty sure I have cambios, so the next time I write It'll probably be from a new place. Or maybe an old place. We'll have to see!
Hasta la próxima!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
Another valuable life lesson learned this week--keep focused on the main goal.
My companion loves playing chess. She's missed playing it, so we made a chess set and she taught me how to play. I won the first time, but since then I haven't been able to win again. I always find myself trapped in just trying to delay the inevitable and eat as many of her pieces as I can. As we finished up our last game I made a comment about how difficult it is for me to plan how I am going to trap her king if I am struggling to just keep my pieces from getting eaten.
''What is the purpose or main goal of the game?'' She asked.
I fumbled for a response because quite frankly I'd forgotten. ''It's not about eating pieces. Or focusing on protecting your own pieces either. The primary goal of chess is always to threaten the king. From your very first move that should be your goal.'' She then went on to explain that in the game we'd just finished I had let myself get distracted by her queen and the eminent destruction. But, if I had kept focused on the goal all of my other little problems and worries would have been resolved.
As I thought about what she said, it was brought to my attention how this applied in my life as a missionary. Just that morning I had had a difficult little moment of feeling very inadequate and was praying for help to change the situation. I realized that that moment and the majority of the difficult moments of my mission came because I momentarily lost focus of the main goal. I lost sight of my purpose and let the enemy distract me. I get too preoccupied with fixing all of my little problems when it would be much better to focus on the main goal. It's in focusing on that purpose with heart, might, mind, and strength that all of the little things are resolved, fears forgotten, and weaknesses overcome.
This cambio (transfer) has been pretty masizo. I have learned so much from my companion, the members, the investigators, and the experiences we've had. It has flown by and Wednesday we start a new one. I'm pretty sure I have cambios, so the next time I write It'll probably be from a new place. Or maybe an old place. We'll have to see!
Hasta la próxima!
Love,
Hna. Thacker
Chess Set
Monday, August 11, 2014
Thoughts From The Week
So as I pondered what I could possibly write you all this week I came across all of the little quotes I have written in my agenda...
M and O: "We lived in such a dangerous part of San Pedro that the flies don't even go there!" (She said this grinning ear to ear and then proceeded to tell us how many times they got robbed just going to the corner to buy tortillas.)
In a talk in Sacrament meeting someone was telling about their great-grandfather.... "He always used to say, 'I swear by my mustache.' He had a really big mustache and loved it. He didn't want to lose it so he paid up."
Other from Sacrament meeting, "The Bible and Book of Mormon are our spiritual eyes. Together they broaden our vision and give us a clearer picture."
Me: You know, jokes don't really translate well, but I am going to try. There is one that is the staple that lots of other jokes are based on... Why did the chicken cross the road?.... To get to the other side!
My companion: ...Was I supposed to laugh there?
We also have had a couple about birthdays... Talking to a new family we found this week that are super pilas (really smart/progressing) we asked the 15 yr old when his birthday is. He stopped to think a minute and then told us, "This month." "What day?" "I don't know... Only my mom knows what day I was born." Then his dad cut in... "When I went to Guatemala I saw that they celebrate birthdays and stuff. Like a holiday! Here only the rich people celebrate birthdays..."
Another investigator summed the situation up like this, "We poor people don't celebrate birthdays. There is no reason to worry about doing something special if you don't have anything. It's just another day." That kind of shocked me.
The next two have pictures...
My companion: I have an idea. Let's catch a gecko.
So we did... Don't worry. In the end we let it go. We also found out that they are a little poisonous. Luckly we didn't actually touch it...
We went to help make tamales this morning. One hermana told me that I was going to have to write down the recipe so I can make them at home. A few minutes later this was my response... Me: I don't think I will be able to recreate this at my house...
They were also shocked to hear that banana trees don't just grow on the side of the road. Or in people's backyards.
The stuff in the pot is what eventually gets wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. It was crazy seeing what all went into that pot. My companion commented that it was a little like a witch's cauldron...
Tonight we are going to eat the tamales, so I'll let you know how they turned out.
But here is my favorite quote from the entire semana... "¿Seguirá el ejemplo de Jesucristo al ser bautizado por alguien que posea la autoridad del sacerdocio de Dios?" (Will he follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?)
And three times this week we got a very lovely, "¡Sí!"
Two from the familia super pilas that we met this week, and another from a joven (youth) that we have been working with for a couple of weeks. He is the most excited--telling everyone, wanting to go and visit other investigators with us, and is excited for the chance to pass the sacrament down the road.
It's been a pretty masiza semana and it's been amazing the miracles we've seen. But this is really long so I will have to cut it off here.
Love,
Hna. Thacker
M and O: "We lived in such a dangerous part of San Pedro that the flies don't even go there!" (She said this grinning ear to ear and then proceeded to tell us how many times they got robbed just going to the corner to buy tortillas.)
In a talk in Sacrament meeting someone was telling about their great-grandfather.... "He always used to say, 'I swear by my mustache.' He had a really big mustache and loved it. He didn't want to lose it so he paid up."
Other from Sacrament meeting, "The Bible and Book of Mormon are our spiritual eyes. Together they broaden our vision and give us a clearer picture."
Me: You know, jokes don't really translate well, but I am going to try. There is one that is the staple that lots of other jokes are based on... Why did the chicken cross the road?.... To get to the other side!
My companion: ...Was I supposed to laugh there?
We also have had a couple about birthdays... Talking to a new family we found this week that are super pilas (really smart/progressing) we asked the 15 yr old when his birthday is. He stopped to think a minute and then told us, "This month." "What day?" "I don't know... Only my mom knows what day I was born." Then his dad cut in... "When I went to Guatemala I saw that they celebrate birthdays and stuff. Like a holiday! Here only the rich people celebrate birthdays..."
Another investigator summed the situation up like this, "We poor people don't celebrate birthdays. There is no reason to worry about doing something special if you don't have anything. It's just another day." That kind of shocked me.
The next two have pictures...
My companion: I have an idea. Let's catch a gecko.
We went to help make tamales this morning. One hermana told me that I was going to have to write down the recipe so I can make them at home. A few minutes later this was my response... Me: I don't think I will be able to recreate this at my house...
But here is my favorite quote from the entire semana... "¿Seguirá el ejemplo de Jesucristo al ser bautizado por alguien que posea la autoridad del sacerdocio de Dios?" (Will he follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?)
And three times this week we got a very lovely, "¡Sí!"
Two from the familia super pilas that we met this week, and another from a joven (youth) that we have been working with for a couple of weeks. He is the most excited--telling everyone, wanting to go and visit other investigators with us, and is excited for the chance to pass the sacrament down the road.
It's been a pretty masiza semana and it's been amazing the miracles we've seen. But this is really long so I will have to cut it off here.
Love,
Hna. Thacker
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