Conferencia de Zona‏ - August 8, 2011

Our Zone Conference



Playing Football w/Elders on P-Day (my 2nd favorite sport now!)




P-Day playing in a huge old park




How excited I was to open my birthday package!




We made a cake for these college aged members we always eat Lunch with on Sunday. Melani y Yessica! 

 Family and Friends!

The weather is finally normal! It took about the whole week for the snow to melt but now we have relatively warm weather.  We had a great week. Presidente Avila traveled down to have Zone Conference with us on Friday and what a spiritual day!! Wow! We did a ton of practices and learned a ton about how to love the people and work with their necesisties. I learned a ton and we are putting the lessons to practice everyday.

This week we found an awesome family! The are very humble and have 5 children. They told us they had lost a 2 yr old child recently who fell into a ditch and drowned, a very sad story. We taught them about the hope in the plan of salvation and how they could all live together again someday. It was very powerful. The mom wants them all to be baptized and all the kids love the lessons. I am super excited for them! Familia Gonzalez! The only thing is we have transfers next week ugh! I think it is my turn to leave beautiful San Rafael, but who knows. I have been here a little over 4 months, and complete SIX MONTHS this week!!! WOWOOWW!! I´m getting old!! Anyways, really the Lord guided us perfectly to this family and I cannot wait to see them progress and learn to love and live the gospel.

Well, short message this week. All is well here and I am anxious for next week to see what happens with transfers. I will have a hard time leaving the families and investigators here but it is all in the Lord´s hands. I will go where You want me to go.......

Love you all,
Hna Thatcher

ALL IS WELL IN SNOWY SAN RAFAEL - August 1, 2011

Family and Friends,


MARCELO and KARINA are MARRIED, BAPTIZED, and we are planning the temple sealing date for the following year! I really couldn't be happier! But wow, it was the hardest and best week of the mission. EVERYTHING went wrong the whole week but when it came down to all the ceremonies and baptism, all was perfect. I took an authorized 3 hr nap this morning because I really didn't sleep much this week for all the craziness! Exhaustion but great great week! 

We went to Mendoza which was a fun change you could say. Hermana Zepeda´s visa is all ok now but not the funnest day running all over town doing paperwork but oh well, it happens. I did get to talk to our new president and see my trainer Hna Richins who is there right now which was the highlight of the trip. He is such a great president, and lots of things are going to change here soon for the good. 

Well Friday was the civil part of the wedding which was very awesome! It rained all day which made things hard but we still worked and started decorating in the night with the help of all the stuff we gathered to decorate from the members. Then Saturday morning we woke up and there was 1 ft of SNNNOOOWW!!! Gosh it was beautiful but wow I wanted to cry. We had already had tons of problems getting everything ready up until that point and snow just was the cherry on top haha. Usually we can walk to the chapel in 5-7 minutes but it took us 20 minutes because my beautiful companion is short and the snow was almost to her knees in places. But, everywhere we walked we sung ¨Come Come Ye Saints¨and other pioneer songs. We both came to the conclusion that we wouldn't have been very good pioneers haha.  

We started filling the font and then we realized the heater was broken. It was shooting out water colder than the snow outside. We prayed, yes we prayed to try to fix it for then. All the phone lines where down because so many trees with snow had fallen on the cables. I looked at it, thought the power source was bad so went walking in the snowstorm for 30 min to the nearest store that was open during the siesta (the whole town closes from 1-4pm). We returned and put in the cable and battery and it worked beautifully!!! I almost cried! We blasted to warm water in the fount and I got in to un-freeze by legs and toes which I swore had hypothermia. We failed to take a picture of all of this! Anyways, we had hot water, the decorations where done, the music was set up and at 5:30 we changed into nicer clothes and everyone got there (the Bishop and the other family in the ward who has a car took turns driving around and picking everyone up because it was dangerous to walk in the weather). The ring ceremony was beautiful, the baptism even more beautiful. I had to give the Holy Ghost talk, and Hna Wilde sung ¨I Know That My Redeemer Lives¨. There were about 60- 70 people there and about 30 family of theirs who I really know felt the spirit. Afterwards we ate and they danced and everyone was comfortable and had a great time. I was about the most grateful and happy and relieved that I think I ever have been! Everyone loved every part, especially Karina and Marcello. They cried and were SO happy!!

So, with every one of Satan´s problems he threw at us to make this not happen, with tons of help that God sent us with inspiration and the help of the members, all went well. Not just well but a very memorable night for everyone who attended. I wouldnt recommend doing a wedding ceremony, baptism, dinner and dance all in one night but wow it was fun when we were done! Haha! I will never forget what I learned about faith, prayer, and enduring to the end this week. Changed my life.


Thank you for all your prayers!

Pictures
1) We walked out of the apartment into a lovely snowstorm!
2) The Garridos only have a fireplace for their house and they had tons of family staying there from Buenos Aires so we went to check on them ( and then it turned into a small snowball fight with them) * Notice the clothes still hanging up in front of the house, my favorite part of this pic
3) The BAPTISM
4) Our Zone Leaders,  Hna Diaz and Wilde came to support us! They are the best!
5) Karina marcello and I
6) Maybe you can kind of see how we decorated the cultural hall
7) The registry civil the day before
(8) They love each other like they still are 16 yr old lovebirds!


LOVE,
HNA THATCHER

WEDDING WEEK!! - July 25, 2011

HOLA ALL!!

San Rafael is as good as ever. The weather has been great this week and we met lots of great people. Hermana Zepeda got bronchitis and has been very sick the last 3 days. She is doing better now. It gave me a chance to finish doing some wedding decorations since I obviously had to stay inside too. I feel great amazingly, not even a sniffle. Miracle really!

Well this week is going to be a blast. Stressful but beautiful! Hermana Zepedas Visa got rejected and we have to go to the mission offices in Mendoza (3.5hr bus ride) Tuesday-Wednesday. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday doing ¨trametes¨ (errands, business) but it should be fun. The bus rides are always a fun and exciting experience. You meet ALL sorts of crazy interesting people. Plus I should be able to see Presidente Avila and Hna Richins and all the other people that work in Mendoza I never see because we are in the outer darkness of the mission haha.

Friday we are going to the civil part of the Garrido´s marriage. Saturday we have the wedding/ring ceremony at 5pm, baptism at 6, and celebration of both at 7. Should be CRAZY fun and amazing. I hope everything works out the way we planned. We are trying to make it a very spiritual and memorable experience for all, since lots of non members will be coming. PLEASE pray that all goes well. I think I will cry when the whole thing is over. Or maybe throughout because I have been waiting for this for so long than Karina and Marcelo (the parents) are so excited to finally be married and receive the Holy Ghost. Nothing more beautiful in the mission!!

Agustina and Lucia (the girls that were baptized last week) are reading outloud and praying with their family everyday. I am amazed everyday with their progress and love of the Gospel! I feel so blessed! They are planning their missions for 2020 haha!

Love you all! Shout out to Mark and Olivia Guthrie, Kristin McComas- your letters should be mailed this week! Expect 3-4 weeks.

Pics
1) One park we walk through to get to this neighborhood. I love it!
2) The Bishop made us a expensive Argentine BBQ or asado. YUUUMMYYY



CHAO FROM SAN RAFAEL;

HNA THATCHER

AMAZING week, baptisms - July 18, 2011

 Our beautiful baptism on Saturday

All the posters all around town for the futbol tourney

 I was hungry one day, I wanted to catch this chicken and eat it!

Hna Zepeda and I eating and watching the game

 I made the Elders help cut.

My second family, the Garridos

The Garrido youngest girls come run and attack me with hugs

All my tights look like this. I love the signs of hard work!

We made 12 or so pizzas in the stake center for the Zone

Power nap in San Rafael!

At the end of transfer, some of the Zone eating at a super yummy pizza place

Hola Friends and Family! 
July 18

Wow I had about the hardest week last week and this week was about the best! How about that? We have been teaching two girls named Agustina and Lucia and they were baptized this Saturday. I was soooo proud of them! They are super strong and their mom is close behind them to get baptized. There is nothing better than watching the people you spend so much time teaching and praying for enter the waters of baptism. Better than winning a big basketball game. This was Hna Zepeda´s first two this transfer and with the way the Lord is blessing us, we should have some more if we work really hard. They got confirmed yesterday and I almost cried. They are about Aubrey´s age and wrote me the sweetest note yesterday, it made me think a lot about how much I love these girls but love and miss my own little sister. Interesting how that happens huh? Tuesday we also found an awesome family who has five kids. The parents are the perfect example of how the Lord prepares people´s hearts before we arrive. They are wanting to be baptized but are on vacation right now so when they get back we are going to work our butt´s off and teach them with all we´ve got! Familia Araniz. Muy buenos! So so so grateful for this week! 

The leaders we have right now are amazing. The zone leaders are like our big brothers. Elder Smith from Mesa, AZ and Elder Gonzales from Buenos Aires. They know we are new and like to work hard so they always pump us full of advice and ¨amino¨or go get em attitude and are helping us a ton. I am very grateful to have good leaders when we sometimes don't know what to do, but we are definitely getting more and more confidence and used to the mission situations now. The best part was they came to our baptism Saturday and said we did such a good job this week that they gave us permission to go out and get pizza and watch the COPA Argentine Soccer game! So we went and sat with all the crazy fanatic Argentines and had a great time watching the game even though we sadly lost.

So it is snowing right now. Bummer I know. My poor Honduranean companion has never seen snow and thinks she might literally die of cold haha poor girl. Weather has a ton to do with how the mission goes so this week we are going to have to be creative to keep our motivation up. We are still planning the wedding for the Familia Garrido and things are looking amazing. We are passing by them every day to read scriptures with them and doing other little acts of service which seems to really help them. July 30. What a birthday present?! We finally got the relief society to help but everyone is so short on money we are getting creative. The picture attached is one we used on the invitations. 

So long time without pictures so I sent a lot.
1) At the end of transfer, some of the Zone eating at a super yummy pizza place
2) When we come down the street, the Garrido youngest girls come run and attack me with hugs. I love them! Crazy dirty girls!
3) My second family
4) All the posters all around town for the futbol tourney
5) Sometimes there are random animals in the streets so I was hungry one day and wanted to catch this chicken and eat it
6) I was EXHAUSTED this day and since our lunch was a 45 min walk from the apartment we took a nap in a field instead of going home and then went back to work. Power nap in San Rafael! And of course I loved the Hip Hop background
7) Last pday we made 12 or so pizzas in the stake center for the Zone
8) I made the Elders help cut. Amazing the things they don't know how to do haha but their future wives will thank us
9) Our beautiful baptism on Saturday
10) Hna Zepeda and I eating and watching the game
11) All my tights look like this. Disgusting. I wear socks over them but from all the walking they are all ripped like this and my ugly heels are destroyed. Love the signs of hard work! 

July 11, 2011 - Miracle of a Mission

Hello family and friends. We had a great but hard week this week .We worked through sinus infection and all sorts of crazy problems with the investigators. I am a stronger person coming out of this week and thought about writing this. I am soooo happy for everything we learned this week. Please pray for the Familia Garrido. Their landlord is kicking them out, we have 2 weeks to find a new house for them and plan their wedding. We have our hands full and I will cry like a baby when I see them get married and get baptized but there really isnt anything more beautiful in this world. July 30 is the date, what a birthday present?! But today we got to rest though and Hna Zepeda and I made 12 pizzas for the whole zone. The Elders loved it and it was a blast! But hope you enjoy this little food for thought! 


The Miracle of a Mission

Christ said "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19). And so we follow. We turn our lives over to him. We leave who we have been all our lives and turn to what we believe in and Who we believe in to guide us. At first is a scary decision, but one that changes us forever. 

You pack your bags thinking and realizing the adventure you are about to take, the leap of faith. But once you begin, you realize that the adventure is also a journey. Nineteen and twenty one year old young men and women leaving there lives and loved ones behind to bless the lives and loved ones of others, thousands of miles away.You arrive and realize your whole life you were waiting for this moment, but yet you feel completely unprepared for the task ahead of you. You drop to your knees and plead with the Father above. And thus the transformation begins, the miracle of a mission. 

It continues. Every day a battle to be better and do better, a challenge of diligence, will and heart. You wake up in the morning exhausted but begin with a simple plea, a prayer for help and strength to how what to do today and how to do it. Who will you find at the other side of that door? Will anyone let you in? Will you be able to help them and share with them your testimony in another language? Will you feet stand another full day of walking with all your blisters? The only option is to be obedient, pray for guidance, forget who you are, and listen to your guide. Doubt not, fear not: you are now a servant of the Lord and an instrument in sharing the life changing message of the Restoration. He will get you through, just go. The miracle of a mission.

The miracle occurs in the transformation. The fight to get out of bed early at 6:25am everyday. The quiet dedication in the early morning hours of study time to diligently search His word. Fasting and walking all day with an empty stomach for the ones you now love. After being yelled at, mocked, and turned away hundreds of times, you press on waiting to find that individual or family who needs the light of the Gospel. The miracle is that person who you came as is starting to change. The punk college aged kid no longer exists because now there is something bigger to be, to work to become to be an instrument in His hands. You leave who you were as you put on your plaque every morning and enter into the apostolic work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Your relationship with our Heavenly Father is strengthened, your testimony of the Atonement deepened, the tears and heartaches of the people you teach now become yours as well. Even though you are farther from you family than you ever have been, you love them and are more grateful for them than every.

A mission is a journey, a transformation. When you send in your papers in you never realize the struggles you will have and the situations you will have to help your investigators overcome. You don't know who your companion will be or where you will be sent to work. But there is Someone who does, and has walked that path before you. You change your fears to faith, pride to humility, doubt to courage, frustration to love, and discouragement to determination. Not only do you learn to become fishers of men, but you learn to follow him and walk on water. The miracle of a mission, and what a beautiful miracle it is.


(PS, my camera card had a virus so you will get pictures as soon as it is finished getting cleaned!)


Love you all,

Hermana Thatcher

July 4, 2011 - Cold but happy

Hello ALL!!

This will be short because I made some Cd's for my investigators of Spanish church music. But this week was hard but I learned some unforgettable lessons. We taught a lady 3 lessons and committed her to baptism and then found out she had already been baptized and has some major mental problems. I felt that when we were teaching but wasn't sure what I was feeling so we kept going. It was a hard lesson but a good one. Also, it has been around 20 degrees this week. I wasn't prepared that it was going to be that cold here. My poor beautiful companion from the warm country of Honduras from wanted to die. Our water heater also broke so I am professional at bathing with a pot of hot water. Our wedding we were planning got postponed and one of our investigators is moving out of the providence.

Well, sounds like a lot is going on no? Let me just say I am as happy as ever. It was hard, but I felt it just brought me that much closer to Christ. We had an amazing testimony meeting and brought lots of people to church and also we have been pumping up the members to work with us and they are on fire helping us with the work. I am SOOO grateful. When things are hard there are only two ways you can look at it. You can ask why things are happening and feel ungrateful or you can ask the Lord how you can get through them and fast and pray. He will give you a way and a spirit to do it I can promise. Training in my second transfer hasnt been a piece of cake, but it was been a blast. Learning opportunity of a lifetime here. We got transfer calls and I get to stay here with Hna Zepeda another transfer. I love her to death and we work awesome together. We both dont really know what we are doing so rely a ton on the spirit and have had some life changing lessons. I cant wait for this transfer and all we have planned. 

The Lord is always there for us. No matter if it is 9pm and 10 degrees and knocking on doors with angry people or in a home made of bricks with no heating and 15 people or in a warm house with lonely and sad people. I feel so grateful for what I have and I hope you do too. Love you all and thanks for your prayers. Please pray for the Familia Garrido if you can. They are being hit with about every trial while we are preparing their wedding. This family is special and Satan knows it. But we are going to fight even harder. 


Love,

Hermana Thatcher

June 27, 2011 Miracles, Extra Strength...Wow week!

Hello All! 

Well, where should I begin? This week has been a complete whirlwind. Let me explain. 

Tuesday. We had interviews with President Lindahl. Wow mission presidents are amazing. Probably the best interview I have ever had in my life. He gave me great mission advice and advice for after the mission. Very inspired man. So at the end of the interview he asked me if I could switch to be companions with Hermana Zepeda. Hermana Zepeda is the beautiful hermana from Honduras who barely got here and her father passed away. He felt I was the one to do it and I could do it. She has been really struggling with keeping going and Hna Diaz doesn't want the responsibility of training and feels is having a hard time helping and keeping herself going too. I was really shocked that he trusted me with the big job to train and help someone who just had her father pass away but I gladly accepted the change. Needless to say I didn't sleep that night. Did President Lindahl forget I am still in my second transfer? How was I ready to lead another person through the area to meet every member and investigator again and lead the new lessons? How was I to give advice and teach when I have still so much to learn? Well, good thing this isn't Emily Thatcher's mission, but the Lord's. No doubt in my mind he WILL help me and HAS helped me prepare for this moment. 

But here I am today, feeling amazing and blessed more than I can imagine. I have fasted and prayed for strength and guidance and felt that I have been given so much. It was a very quick switch from being the trainee and the younger companion to trainer and senior companion but what a better way to learn, literally baptism by fire I felt. I have been more obedient that I think I was capable of and we have been trying to listen to every whisper of the spirit. And no it has not been easy, but we found 14 new people this week (only working 4 days) which is pure testimony that missionaries are not here because of their capabilities and teaching skills, but to be used as instruments of the spirit- something we put exactly in practice this week. Each day I try to make it fun for Hna Zepeda, because I know she is still hurting so bad inside. I know I cant rush the healing, but I am trying to make the freezing cold hard days as fun as I can think of. She is AMAZING. She has only been baptized for 3 years and has such a deep understanding of the gospel and the Atonement of Christ, I love every second with her. Plus speaking Spanish all day is helping me tremendously! Well half of the day we play charades trying to explain something (because she doesn't know any English) but it is so fun!

So another week begins. We have transfers next week but I have a feeling we will stay together. But we also get our new mission president President Sergio Avila next week which should be awesome. We have heard all sorts of rumours from the members so we will see. I'm sure he will be amazing!

Please pray for Hermana Zepeda and I. We have less than 6 months experience combined and leave each day with the hope that whatever we encounter, the Lord will guide us through. Isnt the mission amazing?!

Love,

Hermana Emily Thatcher