Snail Mail

Too Lazy to retype...

Set your face to Stunned! (love it)

My Dearest family-
Things are going so well here. I always love to hear the updates from everyone. I am most definately going to be stunned when I see little brother. Tell him to practice up on taking Dad down, I'm pretty sure I will be able to take him on when I get home. I am getting some muscle from all the army crawling thru caves that I have been doing. (Thackers are probably laughing). It is crazy how much everyone is growing up. Tell Holly not to get too serious... she is going on a mission right? I guess I have no room to talk, I got as serious as you can get in a relationship prior to coming on a mission. : )

This week has been a crazy roller coaster ride. Up and down... Up and down. Many good things came from this week. I know that Heavenly Father is blessing us for our hard work. I also know that it is important that I don't go down with the roller coaster... It kills me. Discouragement and Disappointment are two very different things. I have been trying to focus on only feeling the Latter.

We are working with a very promising investigator named Elissa. Pray for her. She is learning quickly and is understanding what is offered by our message. Oh, I hope she pulls through.

There is a new sister here from the Nauvoo Mission. She is actually cousins with Lindsey Chamberlain (Campbell). We went caving this morning and I was talking to her. Her name is Sister Patterson and she grew up in Park City. Small world eh? She seems pretty cool.

So, little miracle last week. We had a goal as a district to find 15 new investigators for each companionship last week. By Thursday night we had six and were feeling a little discouraged. We prayed really hard the next morning that the Lord would put people in our path (Since we cannot tract). Our day was cut short Friday because we had weekly planning so we had less time to work. We got out at about 2:00 and guess what happened... it started raining. And not just sprinkling, down pour (Tennessee Style). We said another prayer than pulled out our umbrellas and got to work. That evening, we had found 7 new investigators for the day, making a total of 13 for the week! Heavenly Father blessed us so much, my feet turned black again, but hey, sacrifice brings blessings. We had 15 new investigators on Sunday night!

I got to hear from not one, but TWO of my old missionary sisters from T-Nash this week! Emerald and Melissa I love you!

Mom and Dad, can I stay another couple of transfers? Ok, ok...Just Kidding. Wishful thinking. You can tell Bishop to go ahead and have the Christmas program on the 20th. It will give me a little time to prepare amidst the chaos of the holidays. Good luck momma with the Christmas program. You will be sensational! I am so excited for your new calling!

One scripture that really stuck out to me this week is Helaman 5:10. It talks about how Christ didn't come to earth to save us in our sins, but from them. I have been reminded by the subtle promptings of the Holy Ghost that repentance takes total action on my part. We are sure a lazy people. At least I am. I am so glad the Holy Ghost is such a Rock Star at teaching me at my level.

Well, until next time. I love yall. Keep writing!

Love,
Sister Thacker

Zinc Taken!

Dear Mom, Dad, Joni, Larry, Sisters, Brother, Brothers-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, Nephews, Niece, baby-in-oven, Future Missionary Toby, other Family and Friends-

Can I just say that I love General Conference! It was so wonderful this time. I know I say that every time. But, I don't know how anyone can hear the Apostles of the Lord and not KNOW that they truly are called of God. The Spirit was so strong as I listened to them and I know that it was a blessing from my Father in Heaven to be able to feel the peace of His love. We are so overly blessed from above. I often feel unworthy of such a Gift.

We are all back to health, well about 90%. Sister Nielsen was hit hard. She is such a sweet heart though. I know I am going to learn a lot from her. I have been taking some major zinc! I have a mother that taught me well.

My companions and I have decided to make an extra determined effort this month to do all we can to receive blessings and be qualified to see miracles by our faith this month. This calls for extra obedience, diligence and hard work. We decided to go see an investigator that has been off the radar for a couple of weeks today. She was home! We have a return appointment and will be helping her move into her house. As we drove up to the library just now, I had the feeling that I should talk to a lady sitting in her car. I followed it, a little grumpy at first since it is our Prep Day, but she is a new investigator! And not just any new investigator, she is an ELECT one! She has been to our church a couple times before with members and is currently working with one of the recent converts of the church at Wendy's! I am so excited to teach her! Oh my goodness, Heavenly Father is blessing us!

Anyway, I was really moved by a couple of talks at General Conference. LOVED Elder Holland's talk of course. I also really liked Elder Hale's talk. At first, I was really upset yesterday because none of our investigators came to church. Jessica can't get baptized this weekend now and we were really excited for it. I felt the Spirit testify to me through the words of the prophets that Heavenly Father was pleased with me in all that was happening and that I had done everything I could have done. Later on that evening, we learned that one of our investigators who is from Taiwan went to one of our member's house and watched the Sunday Afternoon session! Nice surprise. I cried again because I was so happy.

Apparently, my added stress lately is affecting my sleeping. Unbeknownst to myself, I have woken up both my companions now on two different occasions while talking in my sleep. I've never done that before! The first time, I woke up Sister Nielsen by teaching her all about covenants, baptism and ordinances. She said this went on for about 5 minutes. I even asked questions, waited a few seconds then answered them! My goodness. The other night I woke up Sister Yau by telling her "Its all good. Ok, now Sister Yau, its your turn." I hope this doesn't last for too long, for the sake of my companions. But it is kind of comforting to know that I can do missionary work in my sleep now. : )

Anyway that is all for this week. I am taking the council of Elder Bednar in saying that I LOVE YALL and am so happy that yall are in my life. I am so blessed to have every one of you. Stay strong, drink Stevens Hot Chocolate, Eat Cold Stone Ice Cream and go to the temple for me!

Love, Sister Thacker

New little Friend and Relief Society Meetings!

> TOBY is going to Guatemala!!!! My little brother is growing up so fast! I remember when he was 14-years-old... weird. I am so excited for him to serve a mission. Toby, you will be great. Guatemala doesn't know what is coming! Go on exchanges with the missionaries... that is the best way to prepare.

My new companion, Sister Nielsen is so cute! She is from Layton, UT. I already asked her if she knows Brian Shuppy, she went to Weber. She didn't know him. But anyway, she is 5'9" tall and super bubbly.

We have been a little under the weather this week. I have had a fever for 3 days. I think it is beginning to break though. I figured if I got a little more rest I would recover more quickly. I slept in this morning until 8:26... it was a very weird feeling. I didn't like it, but I do feel a little better.

The Relief Society General Broadcast was so great! I loved it. I don't know if you remember how I got so homesick at the one last year. Well, this time around, I was sitting in the chapel, with all the women from the Burgess Falls Ward and from the McMinnville Ward (They are in the same Stake)... my thoughts when I saw the conference center were the same, it reminded me of home. I missed it, but then I looked around me, at all the people I have grown to love as my family, and I felt at home. I know that sounds really mushy and corny. But I have gotten to that point I guess. I have really grown to love these people. They are my family too.

I really appreciated the advise you gave me Larry, I was getting down on myself yesterday again because none of our investigators came to church. : ( Jessica was sick. All that I really can controll is what I do... in the end it is up to people using their agency. Can't take that away.

So I attached a couple of random pictures. The black foot is actually mine. This is what happens when your shoes get really old and then get really wet. We walked all day a couple weeks ago and it was raining all day. I took this picture AFTER I had washed them. I ended up taking an old tooth brush and bleach to these sorry critters... they are nice and white now. The other picture is actually really funny... this was one of those "You know you are a missionary when" pictures. I have a little egg visual that we use to explain baptism to children. The egg needs to be hard boilded, so the other night when we were making our dinner, I threw the egg in with our noodles. So the title of this picture is, "You know you are a missionary when you make your dinner and visual aid in the same pot." Maybe this is only funny to me... but it was worth a shot.

But really, I am so excited for my new little friend. Sister Nielsen will be a fireball. Pray for us this week that we will be able to find the elect. Miracles are just around the corner!

Love,

Sister Thacker

Sorry...

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I forgot to post this, don't worry you'll get another on Tuesday.

Transfer calls came in! I am going to be staying here in
Burgess Falls with Sister Yau. Sister Winder is leaving and
will be the Senior Companion up in Clarksville. She and
another sister that came out with her are greenie-busting
each other. That should be interesting! My little girl is
growing up so fast... (Sniff Sniff). So uh, that leaves a
vacancy in the companionship... President Hutchings called
me on Saturday and told me that I would be training again!
That is right, I am Prego again. She is the only English
Sister coming out this transfer so it will be fun to train
her. I am excited. I will let you know more about her when I
meet her.

There was a sweet little family that was baptized
yesterday. The Spirit was so very strong this time!
Noticeably different. The Sisters have been teaching them.
The mother of the family is very scared of water. They
dunked her once and her bangs stayed above the water. She
was crying because she was so scared. The member who was
baptizing her was so sweet in telling her that she would
need to be baptized one more time. It was very intense
because she was SOOO scared of the water. It was silent
right before he was going to say the prayer... he raised his
arm to the square and then she stopped him and said, "let me
just wet it all down" in her cute little southern accent.
She scooped up some water and wet down her bangs. Everyone
started laughing. I suppose it was so different this time
because I am sure that every person in that room was praying
for her that she would be able to perform that necessary
ordinance. She went into the water the second time and came
up clean and pure. She said, "Thank you Lord" as she climbed
the stairs to her husband and son. It made me cry. God loves
us all so much. We all have different weaknesses, but He
will not leave us comfortless.

I love you and will talk to you next week.

Love,
Sister Thacker

Hi everyone,

Cassie didn't send anything to post but we recieved a couple of wonderful letters. One from the Bishop she is serving under and another from her mission president containing her tentative release date!

DECEMBER 16 2:10PM is when she will arrive!

Click on the following letter to read it:

You never know what curve ball you will get next...

Alright. There is more exciting news.

Sister Lugo went back to Temple Square : (. Sister Winder and I were feeling it the day after. We felt a huge whole in the companionship. I LOVE that girl. But anyway. At about 4:30 on Wednesday (a day after she left), I
got a call from President Hutchings. There was a new sister missionary coming in from Temple Square and guess where he decided to send her! That is right... HERE! We were so excited. Then he reminded me that she knows nothing about proselyting. She just talks to people, gets referrals, and gives tours. So basically, I have TWO greenies! I got really nervous. And the first two days she got here she really didn't talk all that much... so that made me even more nervous.

I got a Priesthood Blessing. Things are going so well now. Her name is Sister Yao. It is pronounced like the guy on 'Mulan'... (go grab Jane and Holly) At the pond scene where they are bathing and the guy says "I'm Yao: King of the Rock, and theres nothing you girls can do about it".

So anyway. We are teaching a man named Gary who is amazing. He has a lot of health problems; that will be his biggest challenge. We set a baptismal date with him on the first visit. He is now telling all of his friends about the Book of Mormon and asked us to bring a couple more copies for him to give to them! It is so amazing. Pray for him, that his health will permit him to come to church the next couple of Sundays because he is scheduled to be baptized the 26th.=20

We are also working with a woman named Nadine. She has been taught by mulitple other missionaries and knows the Bishop and other ward members very well. Her biggest hurdle is smoking. We found her in our former investigator's pool. The really neat thing is, I got another witness from the Spirit when we went to visit her that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be right now. Her husband passed away 11 years ago. Bishop gave her a ride home from Knoxville this last weekend and he said that all she could talk about the whole way home was us. : ) That made me happy. She didn't really
like sisters before.

Pray for me. I have to get these Sisters talking more. Other than that, they are Easy-Bake!

Emerald: You'd never believe it... but they can't get me to shut up! I am sure that many from Mt. Juliet wouldn't believe it either. I talk and teach all the time. Balance...one of the biggest hurdles of my mission.

I love yall. And appreciate all the fun letters.

Dad, your hair is rockin'.

Happy Birthday Amy! Love ya!

Love,
Sister Thacker