SPRINGTIME!!! - September 12, 2011



Augustina




My Smily Pizza



Kids from the Primary Program



Fried Blood Sausage



Acting like Utah Girls



The girls here still love Justin Beiber


HOLA~!

Here we have another week that passed by very quickly. Always the end of the transfer goes by really fast. This week was CRAZY!!! Here is why...

1) I learned lesson about poverty. Our area is very mixed. We have people who drive Mercedes Benz and then some who cannot afford a bicycle. It keeps you on your toes, because each person has very different needs. One of the families we are teaching, the parents we not progressing much and looked always distracted and stressed. Then as we were leaving the lesson on Saturday, one of the daughters ran up to us and asked us if we had any food because they hadn't had any for a while and the dad wasn't getting paid for a few days. My heart broke. They have 5 kids under the age of 12. I had never seen them eating, and the time we brought them snacks they ate like there was no tomorrow, because there really wasn't. I wasn't paying good attention. We went to the grocery store and I used my money to buy the basics for them. They probably weren't progressing because they didnt have food in their stomachs and were so stressed financially, they couldn't think about anything else. I went to a member's house to eat "canalones" a lasagna crepe yummy dinner and my stomach felt sick. I felt so bad for these people I loved who had nothing when I was eating a king's dinner. Be grateful for the food you have, the spare change you have on your dresser, because many have none. Poverty is real. 

2) We found a GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR named Viviana. She has been through the ugliest and hardest situations I think this life can throw someone. I thought Law and Order SVU was complicated, just wait til you hear it real life. She came to church this week and knows it is true. It is amazing how prepared she is!! I have never know someone who lived all the commandments and knew certain principles were true before we even explained them to her. Please pray for her. She has lots of anti Mormon friends and got a little worried this weekend. We will work with her this week and hopefully get her baptized this weekend or next. 

3) The primary program was this week. I guess it has been a while since they had one because they never have enough kids. I was about as proud and happy as a missionary could be  this Sunday. Seven out of the nine kids in the primary programs were my recent converts and they sung and gave their talks beautifully!! I felt so much joy. It was such a strong testimony that God is sending down very strong spirits in these last days to prepare his way. They all wore missionary tags and committed to prepare for missions!! Yeah whooo!!! 

So it is finally warm here. My missionary tan has already begun and I love it. San Rafael is now my second home, I will have a hard time leaving. God loves me so much, every day I can barely believe it! Keep strong! Til next week!! 

Pics>
1) Agustina. Granddaughter of a menos activo. She is a love bug and reminds me a lot of Aubrey although she is 2 years younger.
2) We fasted and then made our personal pizzas. mine was happy >)
3) The kiddos in the primary program!!
4) This is or was the grossest thing so far I have eaten here. I shouldn't of asked why the sausage was black but out of curiosity I did. Fried pig blood covered in stomach to keep it all together. Yuck. 
5) Hermana Anderson, Wilde and I posing as Utah girls....just having fun
6) We did a family home evening last week and Nazalena and her friend had to show me their love for Justin Bieber. I guess he is even famous here haha


Love,
Hermana Thatcher

Septiembre en San Rafael - Sept.5, 2011

Well, sorry for not writing last week everyone. Our email time has been cut down and sometimes I run out of time. Hermana Dana and I are doing great! The weather is finally warming up and it makes things a lot better. I got 2 winters in a row (Utah, and then here since seasons are opposite) so I am SUPER happy to see some sun finally.

 

Our investigators are doing great. Last week we saw a lot of miracles. Here is one that happened with the Familia Gonzales (mother, father, 5 kiddos ages 12, 11, 9, 3, 2). They said that they were going to be out of town Sunday and we were very sad. They had been to church once but to get them more prepared for baptism, they really needed to assist again. We walked really far to pick up another investigator Natalia, but she said she was ¨¨leaving out of town¨ so we were really bummed. I had a very strong feeling to walk to Flia Gonzalez´s house and that they were there even though we would be late for church. We knocked, and THEY WERE THERE! They had gotten home at 2 in the morning. I pumped them up and told them to hurry and get dressed, they could obviously go back to sleep after church haha. So they all threw on some clothes and it was 5 minutes before sacrament meeting started and we were 45 minutes walking away. I had put cash in my pocket in the morning, not really sure why. Well it was exactly enough for us to call a taxi and arrive at church, only about 7 minutes late! Not sure why I had thought I needed cash, but the Holy Ghost made me think to bring it. So that is only one of the miracles of the mission this week. 

 

Romina, Joni, and Brisa could be entering the waters of baptism this week. The parents are not married (like about 75% of the people living together here) so we are going to get them married and baptized just like Flia Garrido. I feel I have been left here this transfer specifically for this family. It takes over a month to start the marriage process so I might not see the fruits of the labor, but I know I am here for a reason. Hermana Dana and I are growing a lot and she is already an amazing missionary,

 

Here is the news on our converts (which make up about half the congregation). Lucia and Agustina have read the Book of Mormon together out loud for over a month straight and love the primary songs. Their mom is following their example slowly. Marcelo Garrido passes the sacrament every week. Marcelo Jr, their olderst son turns 12 this month and is anxious to be a deacon. Their younger girls got a name and a blessing yesterday in sacrament meeting. Lautaro and Nazalena are amazing and helping their mom (who was less active) everyday and have become the strength of the ward. The mom just got called as young women´s president, but when we taught her kids she was smoking and hadn't been to Church. The gospel changes lives!

 

Well, that is all for this week. We did lots of family home evenings and had lots of fun playing ultimate frisbee with the Elders today. Keep strong, the church is true no matter how many miles you are from Utah haha! The Lord lives, He blesses us everyday- you just have to be grateful and find the tender mercies in the day!

 

Love,

Hermana Thatcher

 



Frizbee in the Park on P-Day




Posing during the game



Football with the Garridos

Family Home Evening with the Garridos



Hermana Football




Ping Pong




Me and Hermana Dana



Transfers...!!!!! - August 22, 2011

!Hola Familia Y Amigos! 22 Agosto 

DRUMMMM ROLLLL..............................................................................................................
AHAHAHAHHAHA..................

Ok just kidding. That is how I felt when we were all gathered together for tranfser calls. Well lets just say that this was a huge suprize but at the same time I felt informed before hand. The night before (Monday night) I had a dream that I was training again. I woke up and though it was something silly and there was no way I could train again right after training with Hna Zepeda.

Well, the Lord likes to push me a little and I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have here to grow. The Elders saved me for almost last in the zone. The announcements went like this:

¨Hermana Zepeda...... se va a Godoy Cruz¨( She is leaving for Mendoza)----------SURPRISE # 1
¨Hermana Thatcher......se queda (I stay).......Y.......... ESTA ENTRAÑANDO!!! (is training) ¨ --------------SURPRISE # 2 and 3

And o the whole zone started cheering. I thought for a second it was a joke but remembered my dream. I was to report the next day for Mendoza to do training in a new training program the Church just came out with this month. Wow, lets just say I didnt sleep much. No one usually trains this early, but I read D & C 31 and decided that experience isnt a prerequisite the Lord looks for when he calls you, just faith and a willing heart. 

So I went to Mendoza. I was expecting to find a scared looking American girl but I was very suprized to find an older beautiful Hermana who looks to be North American but clearly is native spanish. Hermana Dana from Florencia Valera Buenos Aires. Training a latin! No one told me that! I trust President Avila with everything, and as many suprises as had happened in the last 24hrs, I am very excited to being this transfer and we are going to kill it!

Hermana Dana is amazing. She, like Hna Zepeda has a very beautiful testimony but from a very hard situation. She is 32 years old and was married in the temple to her husband but 1 year ago he was hit by a car walking normal in the street and died on impact. I almost cried hearing her conversion story to serve a mission on our conversation on the bus back from Mendoza. Not sure why I have been blessed with such strong companions with such powerful stories but I am eternally grateful. We are going to have a great transfer!

The family Hna Zepeda and I found last week came to church this week! We went to walk with them (45min walk) and went 1 hr early to their house to make sure they got ready haha. You have to really help them or they dont make it, but they did! It is looking promising for baptism. I am stoked! I feel SOOOO blessed but yes everyday is a fight. I have 6 more weeks in San Rafael to baptize and help the people that maybe I should have earlier, what a blessing and motivation.

So, until next week. Pray for us, we are young on a journey and work very important. May the Lord bless you all with experiences to grow like he has for me!

Love,

Hna Thatcher

No News Yet! - August 15, 2011

Well, my third transfer is officially over. And yes, we have not received any news on transfers or what will happen until tomorrow, sorry. I am just as anxious as you all! But, I think I learned more this last 6 weeks than my whole mission until then. It pushed me, pushed my faith and made me a better missionary and person than I ever thought I could become. I thought I could not do it but we made it! I have been thinking about all the recent converts and investigators we have and all their trials. I wrote this one night after we got home. It is from the perspective of 3 of the people I love but are passing through trials I never could imagine.

The Healer

Lord, my family is sick, I am sick. Fourteen years of my short life have been painfully hard, I need Thee. My father has a fatal kidney disease and is in a wheelchair, my mother has no job and is losing faith. I sell necklaces on the street so that we can have food on the table but now have been diagnosed with a severe juvenile arthritis. My joints are swollen, frozen, and I cry myself to sleep with the pain. I cannot walk, use my hands or do much of anything.  Please help us Lord, we need thee. 

Daughter, ¨I have seen thy tears, behold I will heal thee¨ (2 Kings 20:5)


Father, the world around us seems like it is closing in. How can me and my 11 year old sister stand strong against friends that have left us, neighbors that mock us, and family that is falling apart. We read and pray together every night but are we strong enough to survive this all on our own? He hits Mom and Satan´s power has become a thick cloud in our humble home. Where do we go to escape? 

Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace.... be not afraid, only believe¨¨( Mark 5:35, 36)


Savior, is my husband with you? I feel so broken here alone with our baby boy. It has been four months since he left this earth, the hardest months on my life. Nineteen years does not prepare you for a heartache like this, where do I go from here? Can you heal my heart and show us the way because I do not have the strength to live and my future has changed forever. Will I see him again and what can I do with my broken life here so very alone?

Daughter, ¨if though believest in the redemption of Christ, thou canst be healed¨ (Alma 15:8).

And so He heals us; every heartache, every cry, every hopeless and sleepless night. He knows who we are, He knows where we need to go and He was walked and paid for the road ahead of us. For the times when there seems like all is lost, our faith will make us whole. The Healer and Savior of our lives, the Redeemer of us all, our Lord Jesus Christ. 





And that is what I want to leave with you. I have learned more about the Atonement recently through other people than through any other time. It breaks my heart to see people here with such stuggles but I know I can show them the way out. I hope you all are doing well and I pray things there are good.


Love,

Hermana THATCHER XOXOXOXOX

Pictures:
1 We made 4 dozen cinnamon rolls for my 6 months mark!
2) a normal day walking around w my AMAZING companion
3) 4)The city sign as you come into town
5) Hermana Angela. I taught her how to play ¨Come Come Ye Saints¨ on her old electronic organ. Took a few visits. She is 90 yrs old and is less active but I love her to pieces! 
6) /) We went to Valle Grande (Hna Wilde and I) with the elders today. He had a great time!!! (Sorry no group pics)

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