Missionary Stuff!

Dear Family and friends,
Thank you all for writing me. I am actually really happy that you sent me all the pics of the derby. My companion Sister Goff hasn't ever heard of a demo derby and I was trying to describe it to her just this last week. Now I will have visual aids. She thinks it is sooo red-neck... probably because it is!

This week was a little sad. Melissa dropped her baptismal date. She will be getting baptized in August but not this month. She wants to feel a little more comfortable with the members and get a stronger testimony of the doctrine and Book of Mormon. I don't blame her. But she could have been baptized this month. She met all the qualifications.

I don't' know if I told yall about Donna and her children. She has 4 kids over the age of accountability. They are sweet. They are the family that has a son that looks like Addison. Well. We received a text message the other day from Jennifer the oldest daughter that said that she had been reading the Book of Mormon and she had prayed about it. She said that she received a witness from the Spirit that it is truth! We were so excited. Her mother isn't completely on board yet but she will get there. If you could pray for Donna that would be great! We need prayers right now.

Our goal as a mission is to get 100 people to make the baptismal covenant with God in August. As a mission we have 90 dates set for the month already! We just need all those to stick. If yall could fast for that when you are fasting for the missionary work this Sunday that would be great! Fasting works! I know it does.

That is so weird that Bill is back and that yall saw Nathan and Tyson. Memories. It is weird to think that they are all back from their missions and moving on with life. So many times when we were growing up, the mission or marriage were basically our goals and anything beyond that was never really thought about. Now that those mile stones have been hit I find myself thinking, "Now what?"

I am not going to lie. I am really scared to come home. I don't want to because there are lots of hard things awaiting me. The real world is a crazy place. I really thought I still had a long time. But I've seen multiple companions of mine at the stage that I am now in, and those last months fly. It really makes me sick to my stomach to think that I will have to leave all of this in 4.5 months.

I read a scripture in the Book of Mormon the other day when I was going through something hard. It is in Alma 33:11. It says, "And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son."

Really, this is true happiness. Regardless of our circumstances or our current trials. We have the right and the ability to have that joy. We are the Spirit children of a Loving God. He wants us to recognize His hand and the blessings that come from the sacrifice of His Beloved Son.

Love you!
Sister Thacker