---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Thatcher <elderjthatcher@myldsmail.net>
Date: Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Subject: Carta De Elder Thatcher 2-3-09
To: kni07001@byui.edu, wes07006@byui.edu, suzysumm@gmail.com, cliffhucker@gmail.com, dmhansen@ida.net, runmts@ida.net, gordon@beardstclair.com, summercofarms@gmail.com, annalisesummers@gmail.com, gramlaree@gmail.com, bethatch@gamil.com, isavethewhales@gmail.com, shaleesummers@hotmail.com, tannernelson@gmail.com, skylaw@ida.net, elderthatcher@gmail.com
Dear Family,
Well, the weeks are still sliding by, they aren't even thinking about slowing down. Time is always our enemy, if we want it to slow down it will speed up. If we want it to speed up it will slow down. I guess the only way we could possibly be friends with time is if we learned how to live with the speeding ways of life, while savoring every moment
My thoughts are now, PLEASE slow down time! I want to learn the language, the lessons, etc. then once I know everything I know how to be one heck of a missionary, then time can speed up.
It is interesting; from every single companion I learn a different attribute. My first companion, Elder Harding, was a slacker, but he was funny and charismatic. My second, elder abdo, was quite, patient, and had a loving heart—but a fiery temper and a little bit of a dry personality and lazy. Now, my third companion, elder simôes, is all my companions combined. I would say the attribute I will and am learning from him is courage, and conviction. He is so forward. I think even more of a type red personality then me. He will say exactly what he thinks, whether to our investigators, me or the members. I always liked someone that would speak their mind, but it is a little strange because I am not accustomed to it. For example, this morning. I left the light on in the bedroom. He promptly said---can you please turn off the light when you are not using the room? You might call it a lack of temperance—and sometimes…most the time it is… but I am stating to say freak! I will tell you what I think too! For example, please wash the dishes that have been in the sink for a week (no kidding) I will not wash everyone of your dishes.
He is also follows every single rule, and knows every single one. What a good match for me! He knows preach my gospel back and forth, and is helping me learn the lessons better. He also is helping my polish my sloppy language. Elder Abdo would just correct me if I didn't understand, elder simões will correct me with all of my grammar and word order—in which I am SO grateful, how am I supposed to learn if I don't know what I am doing wrong.
Yesterday we had family home evening with to less active sisters in our ward and their daughters. It is so sad, one Lucia, has SO much faith, but life is just out to get her. She is seriously reminding me of the Job in the bible. She has a million health problems---one surgery after another. Her husband comes home drunk and mean every night. Her daughter has health problems—in the mind, her son is addicted to crack, and her grand daughter with 14 anos is going to give birth any day now. Last night her boyfriend kicked her out of her house, so she was crying like crazy during Family home evening.
The other sister lives in the ghetto of the town; she came to Lucia's house. Her name is Shirley. She works basically 24/7 as a chef at a local restaurant
We taught about eternal life. What it is, what we must do to obtain it, and why we want it in this life.
Matthew 19: 16-26 (I think) about the rich young man, and how he wasn't willing to give up all he possessed to follow Christ and have eternal life.
Alma 22:15-16 how king lamoni was willing to give up his entire kingdom to have eternal life.
What are we willing to give up obtaining eternal life? Where are our priorities? Is it on loving our neighbor, being temperate and happy all the time? Or are they on gaining money, etc.
The reality is, Christ says that if we will but FOLLOW HIM, he will give us everything we need in this life, and we will have eternal life.
We then presented 2 boxes, one wrapped in wrapping paper, very pretty, with rocks inside, the other wrapped in the church news, with chocolates inside. We gave them the choice to choose what they wanted. Denier, the 14 year old pregnant girl chose the more decorated box, she opened it and was disappointed to find rocks. Then Irma Lucia opened the other present, which had more tape on it (representing this life, and how it is difficult to follow the commandments. She opened it and found chocolates. This analogy worked fantastic, illustrating how some times other things appear prettier, more appeasing, like gambling, drugs, sex, breaking the commandments of god. But in the long run, the more difficult way will pay—eternal life will be worth it. Mosiah 2:41 talks about how God gives us commandments to make us happy.
I have had a good lesson on pride this week. God continually humbles us. I read in Alma 32 (I think) when he is talking to the poor people that were casted out of their synogoes, but they were very HUMBLE. Almas is talking about those that are compelled to be humble and those that are humble on their own free will. And how god will humble us to teach us. The language is defiantly humbling, Just when I think I have got it, it will slap me in the face. Just today I read a whole phrase and didn't understand one word. Brother.
Life is good. This Chapter in Alma 32, talks about how Alma didn't preach to the rich anymore, when the poor started to listen he preached to them. I feel like this. We have been preaching to the rich for so long. Finally we went to the ghetto (if you can call it the ghetto of Torres) there we found 3 new families to teach Saturday what a blessing!
It has been hotter then every, I am getting more and more tan. I almost look like a Brazilian.
Today I got my haircut, the cabeleira (hair cut lady) tried to give me a kiss. I have already had to deny 10 or 12 here. What a bummer, why can't the girls in the United States come up and try to give guys kisses!
I LOVE YOU ALL! NOT MUCH MORE HAPPENED THIS WEEK,
BY THE WAY, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MAIL TO MY GMAIL ACCOUNT, I HAVE BLOCKED IT. JUST SEND IT TO THIS ACCOUNT, ELDERJTHATCHER@MYLDSMAIL.NET
Jacob
From: Jacob Thatcher <elderjthatcher@myldsmail.net>
Date: Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Subject: Carta De Elder Thatcher 2-3-09
To: kni07001@byui.edu, wes07006@byui.edu, suzysumm@gmail.com, cliffhucker@gmail.com, dmhansen@ida.net, runmts@ida.net, gordon@beardstclair.com, summercofarms@gmail.com, annalisesummers@gmail.com, gramlaree@gmail.com, bethatch@gamil.com, isavethewhales@gmail.com, shaleesummers@hotmail.com, tannernelson@gmail.com, skylaw@ida.net, elderthatcher@gmail.com
Dear Family,
Well, the weeks are still sliding by, they aren't even thinking about slowing down. Time is always our enemy, if we want it to slow down it will speed up. If we want it to speed up it will slow down. I guess the only way we could possibly be friends with time is if we learned how to live with the speeding ways of life, while savoring every moment
My thoughts are now, PLEASE slow down time! I want to learn the language, the lessons, etc. then once I know everything I know how to be one heck of a missionary, then time can speed up.
It is interesting; from every single companion I learn a different attribute. My first companion, Elder Harding, was a slacker, but he was funny and charismatic. My second, elder abdo, was quite, patient, and had a loving heart—but a fiery temper and a little bit of a dry personality and lazy. Now, my third companion, elder simôes, is all my companions combined. I would say the attribute I will and am learning from him is courage, and conviction. He is so forward. I think even more of a type red personality then me. He will say exactly what he thinks, whether to our investigators, me or the members. I always liked someone that would speak their mind, but it is a little strange because I am not accustomed to it. For example, this morning. I left the light on in the bedroom. He promptly said---can you please turn off the light when you are not using the room? You might call it a lack of temperance—and sometimes…most the time it is… but I am stating to say freak! I will tell you what I think too! For example, please wash the dishes that have been in the sink for a week (no kidding) I will not wash everyone of your dishes.
He is also follows every single rule, and knows every single one. What a good match for me! He knows preach my gospel back and forth, and is helping me learn the lessons better. He also is helping my polish my sloppy language. Elder Abdo would just correct me if I didn't understand, elder simões will correct me with all of my grammar and word order—in which I am SO grateful, how am I supposed to learn if I don't know what I am doing wrong.
Yesterday we had family home evening with to less active sisters in our ward and their daughters. It is so sad, one Lucia, has SO much faith, but life is just out to get her. She is seriously reminding me of the Job in the bible. She has a million health problems---one surgery after another. Her husband comes home drunk and mean every night. Her daughter has health problems—in the mind, her son is addicted to crack, and her grand daughter with 14 anos is going to give birth any day now. Last night her boyfriend kicked her out of her house, so she was crying like crazy during Family home evening.
The other sister lives in the ghetto of the town; she came to Lucia's house. Her name is Shirley. She works basically 24/7 as a chef at a local restaurant
We taught about eternal life. What it is, what we must do to obtain it, and why we want it in this life.
Matthew 19: 16-26 (I think) about the rich young man, and how he wasn't willing to give up all he possessed to follow Christ and have eternal life.
Alma 22:15-16 how king lamoni was willing to give up his entire kingdom to have eternal life.
What are we willing to give up obtaining eternal life? Where are our priorities? Is it on loving our neighbor, being temperate and happy all the time? Or are they on gaining money, etc.
The reality is, Christ says that if we will but FOLLOW HIM, he will give us everything we need in this life, and we will have eternal life.
We then presented 2 boxes, one wrapped in wrapping paper, very pretty, with rocks inside, the other wrapped in the church news, with chocolates inside. We gave them the choice to choose what they wanted. Denier, the 14 year old pregnant girl chose the more decorated box, she opened it and was disappointed to find rocks. Then Irma Lucia opened the other present, which had more tape on it (representing this life, and how it is difficult to follow the commandments. She opened it and found chocolates. This analogy worked fantastic, illustrating how some times other things appear prettier, more appeasing, like gambling, drugs, sex, breaking the commandments of god. But in the long run, the more difficult way will pay—eternal life will be worth it. Mosiah 2:41 talks about how God gives us commandments to make us happy.
I have had a good lesson on pride this week. God continually humbles us. I read in Alma 32 (I think) when he is talking to the poor people that were casted out of their synogoes, but they were very HUMBLE. Almas is talking about those that are compelled to be humble and those that are humble on their own free will. And how god will humble us to teach us. The language is defiantly humbling, Just when I think I have got it, it will slap me in the face. Just today I read a whole phrase and didn't understand one word. Brother.
Life is good. This Chapter in Alma 32, talks about how Alma didn't preach to the rich anymore, when the poor started to listen he preached to them. I feel like this. We have been preaching to the rich for so long. Finally we went to the ghetto (if you can call it the ghetto of Torres) there we found 3 new families to teach Saturday what a blessing!
It has been hotter then every, I am getting more and more tan. I almost look like a Brazilian.
Today I got my haircut, the cabeleira (hair cut lady) tried to give me a kiss. I have already had to deny 10 or 12 here. What a bummer, why can't the girls in the United States come up and try to give guys kisses!
I LOVE YOU ALL! NOT MUCH MORE HAPPENED THIS WEEK,
BY THE WAY, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MAIL TO MY GMAIL ACCOUNT, I HAVE BLOCKED IT. JUST SEND IT TO THIS ACCOUNT, ELDERJTHATCHER@MYLDSMAIL.NET
Jacob
