Elder Carter (our friends son from Vernal, UT) got to pick Elder Thacker up at the airport when he arrived in Seattle back in November.

(forgot I had this picture)

Decorating for Christmas

Our Christmas gift from the mission presidency. Its a really nice tie 

with the Washington Seattle Mission logo and our slogan, "High Expectations".

Beneroya Hall

Seattle Week 7

What a week it has been! This week has been weird though because it has seemed like the longest and shortest week of my entire mission!

I'll start with what happened after P-day.

Wednesday we had Zone Meeting and I exchanged with Elder Smith while Elder Bennett exchanged with Elder Hillman. Elder Smith and Elder Bennett are the Zone Leaders (and I'm not sure I mentioned this but my companion is a district leader). I went to Elliot Bay area with Elder Smith and had a blast. Elliot bay encompasses more of the main city attractions such as the Space Needle, CenturyLink Field, Safeco Field, and Pike's Place Market. This exchange was much needed for me! Elder Smith really helped me realize my potential and helped me see how my love of people and my ability to bring people up can help me on my mission. Elder Smith is going to be and Assistant before he leaves.... At least, I think he will be:)

Thursdays are, of course, weekly planning and this week we had to do some serious planning. We have officially baptized, dropped, or referred every solid investigator that we had. We are in finding mode right now! Even more so because Sister Choi received revelation (three separate times) that the mission would baptize 100 people in the month of December! Our area already baptized one and our goal is to baptize another!

Friday and Saturday were spent finding and contacting without much success.

Sunday was spent at church and helping our bishop. Bishop Every is fantastic and he took us around while he delivered Christmas Help baskets to part member/non-active/struggling families. It was a great opportunity for us to get to know these families, see what their needs are, and it also put us in a position to start teaching them! Then we had a fantastic member dinner. I love going to eat at member's houses. They love the missionaries and want to help! Members make aHUGE difference!

Monday was a lot of things: slow, exciting, fun, and transfers! Not much contacting and finding. Once again, Mondays are hard because it always seems like nobody is home! We also had the opportunity to go to Seattle to Beneroya Hall and see the Ensign Symphony and Chorus perform. They were amazing and it really helped the investigator we brought feel the Christmas spirit and of Christ's love for her. Transfer calls came, or didn't come, after the symphony. We got a phone call from the zone leaders (mostly to scare us and Elder Hillman may have jumped a little bit when the phone rang) but neither one of us got transferred. Elder Hillman and I are staying in Ravenna Park for another six weeks! But he did get released as a district leader. (I didn't realize last week that transfers were this week or I would have mentioned it)

What a week! The work keeps progressing! 

Love always,

Elder Thacker

This is what my name tag regularly looks like. Wet!

Nam's Baptism 

View from Pike's Place Market

Seatlle Week 6

Hello again!

This week seemed to drag on but also go by very quickly!

After we spoke last Tuesday we have done a lot of tracting and finding with little to no success. Other than what I mention, that's all we have done this past week!

Wednesday we had district meeting and then met with Nam and his family in preparation for his baptism that happened on Saturday!

Thursday was weekly planning and my usual training that always takes up all of our morning. That night, we had a very special meeting with a recent convert who is very solid. To him, if it says it in the scriptures, it is law! I love his faith!

Friday we met with Nam and his family once more in preparation for his baptism and then tracted! 

Then came the weekend! Two very busy and very crazy days. 

On Saturday I got to do service all morning which meant that I could wear normal clothing! It was fantastic to put on a pair of jeans. We helped bishop string Christmas lights at his house and then went to the church to start filling the font. The cold water still hasn't been fixed so it takes about 3 hours to fill. While we were waiting and supervising the filling font, we helped set up for the ward Christmas party which was happening later that night.

The baptism went off without a hitch (other than it started about 15 minutes late due to mormon standard time and I had to play the piano because, well, I'm honestly not sure what happened to the other accompanist). I taught the restoration during the intermission with Elder Ford and it went fantastically!

Then we finished setting up for the Christmas party and after it was over, we helped take it down as well! We were two very tired elders when we arrived home that night.

Sunday was spent finding rides for convert children because their parents were all sick or working. I also had the privelage to confirm Nam a member of the church and give him the Holy Ghost. A first for me and a very tender experience. 

I also really enjoyed the Christmas Devotional! I thought the talks were excellent and, as always, I LOVED the music.

Monday was useless. I hate to say that, but truly it was. There is a reason P-Day is usually on Mondays. No one is home! Like, no one! We had no success. 

But to make it all worth it I was able to attend the Seattle Temple today! It is a gorgeous temple both inside and out (for you Makelle). After a wonderful session at the temple we went to Pike's Place market with the Washington Park Elders [Wooley (MTC District) and Hansen]. That was also fun. What a view!

The work keeps progressing! Carry on and share the gospel!

Love always,

Elder Thacker

3D Hot Air Balloon

Snow in Seattle

Seattle Week 5

What a week!

After P-Day on Monday we had a busy week ahead!

Tuesday we had a Zone Conference with Elder Falabella of the Quorum of the 70 in Seattle. That was really good and I got to see my old district members from the MTC. Elder Falabella had a lot of great insights for us.

On Wednesday we had a "normal day" full of appointments and tracting. 

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving! We went over to the Furness families house. They are very cool people. They also had their family over. Everyone was super nice and friendly. The food  was great, just not quite as good as back home ;) We did a lot while we were at their house. We ate a lot, played with virtual reality (unknown if that is actually allowed or not.....) and even colored (but that requires a back story)! 

Brother Furness is an electrical engineer and a professor. Back in the day he worked as a civilian for the military. He was the head of the team that created information/visor displays for fighter jet pilots. He is really big into virtual reality. Since he doesn't work for the military now and just teaches, he has a team that creates applications. One of the applications his team created is called "colAR". Very cool, and free! Look it up. 

What is does is this: The app gives you pictures to print out and color the way you want. The app then sees that picture and turns it into a 3D image that moves and dances to music etc. For example, I colored a hot air balloon. It turned my 2D image into a 3D image, with the colors I put on it, floating above various landscapes. Way cool!

Friday was weekly planning! I just love weekly planning. After planning we went and taught Nam (the investigator that is getting baptized Saturday) and then went tracting.

Saturday was slow. And COLD!! We woke up to SNOW! Snow in Seattle was supposed to be rare but it is still on the ground!. A lot of tracting. A lot of walking. But it is also the day we meet with the Teeples family every week. They are a very cool, insightful, and spiritual couple. They take us to lunch every week. I love meeting with them.

Sunday, of course, was church and the works! Still cold, and still snow on the ground! We had our member dinner that night, and then went tracting. The work never stops!

As for not emailing yesterday I apologize. I found out after last P-Day that for the next three weeks, P-Day would beon Tuesday. Next week on Tuesday I get to go to the temple! I'm very excited to be back in the temple! That is my favorite place and I am continually learning more about it. Emailing is required so you will hear from me next week. Just not sure as to when.

Love always, 

Elder Thacker