Sister Christina Thacker: Week 28 Happy April

This week has been a crazy one, and I don't even know where to start.

I guess it began on Tuesday, we drove to Syracuse and I picked up my new companion, Sister Oleson! I am the driver, so that's interesting. This was my second time driving in 6 months

Harold and Melissa dropped us because of a busy schedule these next two months. We think they are avoiding talking about baptism. We had some powerful lessons about it the week before, but I guess they don't want to accept it. It's really sad! I absolutely love them and want them to have the same Joy I feel by making and keeping covenants with God. They said to contact them in June, so hopefully I am still here and I can knock on their door and see what's going on. It was really sad because they didn't even call us back to say goodbye to Sister Barrett. I know the Lord is aware of them.

Barbara is still progressing. We are going to have more lessons with her throughout the week and we know that she will feel the spirit more and understand that she is ready for baptism even if she feels she doesn't know enough. She only watched 1 session of conference, which was disappointing. It was the Saturday evening session, so she got a lot of information about the Priesthood. We are going to clarify that for her in our next lesson. When she understands the Priesthood was restored, she will understand that the authority to baptize is only found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

DQ watched almost all of the sessions except the last one! Which was crazy because that session would have had the most meaning to him when President Nelson announced the temples. He said he is going to watch it, so that's good.

We also found 10 people to teach this week! Not all of them have stayed in contact with us, but we taught and set up return appointments with 10 people!! My companion has never had that in her mission, and neither have I. It's so apparent that the Lord is hastening His work, even while we are in our apt.

Our miracle for the week....

The Carillos family! We called them on Wednesday night at 8:59, right before our night was done. We asked if we could pray with them. The mom was so happy to hear from us and said that she missed us so much! She gathered the family and we said a prayer with them. We set up an appointment to call on Saturday! It was amazing! We were able to do a video call and she said the morning of the day we called, her and her husband were thinking about calling us, but decided not to. It was so amazing to see the Lords hand! They are basically ready to be baptized, we are going to see what happens in their lessons this week and go from there.

This week I have seen so many blessings from being exactly obedient. We found 10 people, first of all. Our friends are progressing, the days have not seemed as long, and we have been able to accomplish everything we need to. I am so grateful for this opportunity God and President Vest have given me to learn from my companion/Sister Training Leader and become to best missionary I can be. I am learning so much about humility. I am learning to be humble enough to accept council, repent and be better each day. It's a work in progress, but I can already see the progress.

Okay, so sorry this is a longer email, but I have to talk about General Conference!!!!! Oh my goodness! It was amazing!! I am so grateful for a living Prophet on the earth. So looking over my notes, I think my favorite one was Elder Hollands about Hope. The main theme of his talk was that, yes these amazing events happened, but that doesn't diminish the future events that will come.

He put himself in the early 19th century and thought about what hopes he would have had regarding religion. He found that all of them were answered by the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then he went on to talk about what we hope for the future. To paraphrase, our righteous hopes can be fulfilled. Of course it is all in Gods timing and His will. But I know if our will is inline with Gods, our hopes will be fulfilled.

A quote I wrote down, "The future is going to be just as miracle filled as the past."

This includes the miracle that will come as we fast for the global relief of Covid-19. President Nelson issued a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for April 10th. On this day, we will go without food and drink for 2 meals to show our faith and desire for this relief to come. I know that God answers the prayers and pleas of His children and as we participate in this fast as well as invite others to participate, our worldwide faith will bring relief from Covid-19.

I invite you all to join me in this day of fasting and prayer, April 10th. I know miracles will come!

I love you all!

If you are bored, feel free to email me or write me a letter...

Love,

Sister Thacker

Address: 37 uptown rd apt 15B Ithaca, NY 14850

Pictures:

•Conference Crepes