Last Blog

This is Cassie's last mission blog entry before she comes home on Wednesday. This is all she sent this week:

3 John 1:13-14

Here is a letter we received today from Cassie's Mission President:

My last Week

Dear Family-

This last week as a bitter-sweet one. On Wednesday morning at 1:30 am, we got a call from Chris, Henry's grandson. Henry was rushed to the emergency room because his blood pressure dropped. We had to go to Franklin the next day so we couldn't get to the hospital. One of our members went to the ICU to see him that morning. Henry kept asking for the "church people." There was a shift change that night from 5:30-8:30 so we couldn't get in to see Henry until 8:30 the night. When we walked into the ICU they made us dress up in robes and gloves. Henry was in a lot of pain. We sang him a hymn and said prayers. It was a very somber experience and brought back a lot of bad memories. I wanted to cry but knew that I needed to be strong for the family and for Henry. He began calling for his wife Beverly. We had to leave because it was 9:20. We found out the next morning that 15 minutes after we left, Henry passed away.

After I received the news of Henry's death, I cried. I said a prayer and the overwhelming comfort of the Spirit came. I knew that I had done everything I needed to, to help Henry prepare for his passing. What a way to go. He was so clean a pure. I know that his wife has accepted the gospel on the other side. I know that they will have the opportunity to be reunited and sealed for all eternity. What peace our message brings.

I am very sad that I wont get to see Henry again in this life. In the short time-frame of two months, I grew to love that man to the extent that I never could have imagined. I can't wait to see him again with his strong legs, good eyes, and healthy heart.

I love yall. Please pray for me. There are a lot of different angles that Satan is coming at me right now. He doesn't want me to endure.

Love,
Sister Thacker

Candied Yams

AHHH!!!

What a great week this was! I have so much to be Thankful for.

Well, I will start with the sad news... Sister Yau went back to temple square. We were so sad to see her go.

HENRY GOT BAPTIZED! It was so wonderful. The baptismal service was packed all of his family came and we packed the Relief Society Room Full. We had a nurse come and wrap his legs in garbage bags and seran wrap. It was great. We tried it out on my leg that morning for our "exercise" and made the adjustments we needed to. His legs didn't get one drop on them! He was confirmed yesterday and ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. Come to think of it, I think this is the first time that I have seen an ordination. It was a really special experience.

Well, President Hutchings and I had an interview on Friday and he issued a new challenge for our companionship. He really likes to use me as the ginny pig... so what, I don't know how to spell. Anyway, he challenged me to invite 200 people to join the church before I go home. AHHH! I usually average about 15 a week. So this is a big stretch. I need yall's prayers. I am going into this with only 3 commits so far... only 197 to go. : )

I love yall and hope that you will continue to endure. Thanks for going to the temple for me. I am excited to go with yall when I return. Toby, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I have been the biggest punk with B-day cards lately. I will make it up to you with a BIG old Hug when I get home. And maybe some Goo Goo Clusters or somethings. Casandra, I promise I didn't forget about your b-day either.

Alright Mom, I am doing this for you... : I will be speaking in the Francis 2nd Ward on Dec. 27th. I dont know the time... you may need to fill them in Mom. Anyone, and everyone is invited to attend. Especially Non-Members!

I love yall. I promise I am enduring. Hugs and Kisses... to the females of course. : )

Love,
Sister Thacker

P.S. Here is Elder Beck's new hand. He likes to pretend that his finger is stuck up his nose. We joke about his finger all the time, this is my favorite one though. : )

*I did NOT post the photo she sent last week of his mangled finger. Sorry, I couldn't get it out of my head for days... (Sue)

** Cassie comes home on Dec. 16 at 4:10pm. Her homecoming is on the 27th at 10:50 (you should be there early since there will also be a missionary farewell at the same meeting) Please join us afterward for a light lunch! We have a new church building just East of our home. You can see it easily from the highway.

Thanksgiving

Dear Family-

Yes, I have been getting your e-mails. I can sing on the 20th. I can't promise that I will have the music memorized or that I will have a chance to look at it before I am home, but I would love to do it.

This week was really sad. Henry woke up on the morning of his baptism with his legs bleeding. He has diabetes and his legs have horrible circulation. We all cried. We are finally getting it worked out with his nurses to let him get baptized this weekend. He are going to have to double bag his legs to make sure that they don't get wet at all. Pray for him, we need prayers.

We are going to a member's house on Thursday. The Hulse family. I'm excited. I love Thanksgiving, but I will be needing some candied yams in December. : )

We are loosing Sister Yau tomorrow. She is going back to Temple Square. : ( We are really sad. It is going to be weird to go back to having just two of us. I've been in a trio since August.

Alright. Well, I love yall. Stay safe this week. Be good. Go to the temple for me.

Love,
Sister Thacker

Loosing Fingers

Ok, So I am going to just have to get over the fact that you didn't tell me what Amy in having.

This was a crazy week. Last monday, my District Leader lost his right hand ring finger. He was playing basketball with his CTR ring (TOBY don't ever do this!) and it got caught on the backboard. They had to air-lift him to Chattanooga to have some major sugery. He now doesn't have a finger. I will bring pictures home, I am sure you will be interested, Amy. They are pretty gross.

Henry will get baptized this tuesday, continure to pray for him. I don't think I am going to write anymore, I have had a major head cold and don't feel too good.

I love yall. Keep sending me letters. I'm not home yet. :)

Love,
Sister Thacker

Henry on the 17th!

Newsflash:Cassie will be reporting on the 27th of December at 10:50

Hey-

We had three people at church yesterday! Yay. It was fun. Pray for us tonight, we are going to visit one of our investigators that cannot be baptized when she thinks she is going to... she isn't keeping a couple big commandments. I am not too excited to tell her.

Henry is coming along nicely. He is the older gentleman that we are working with. Bishop Day has arranged a Sacrament Meeting to be held just for Henry at the nursing home while he is there so he can still be baptized on the 17th. So funny story about that. Back when we went in to see Henry to set the date, I was planning on telling him he could be baptized on the 14th. We usually hold those services on Saturdays so they don't have to wait so long to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Well, when it came time to tell him when he could be baptized I had a really hard time spittin the words out... and when I finally did, I didn't say Nov. 14th, I said the 17th. Well, this week, while we were visiting Henry, my companions were looking at the activites calendar on the wall in his room. Guess who's birthday is on the 17th of November!?! That is right, Henry's is! I couldn't believe it (a) and (b) HE NEVER TOLD US! He was so cute when we realized it was his birthday. He just laughed at us and said, yep. I love that guy.

Elder Arnold is touring our mission this week. The whole mission is in an uproar. Elder Arnold came to the MTC while I was there last year. It was funny then because my MTC teacher had had Elder Arnold tour his mission when he was in the Sao Paulo Brazil mission. My MTC teacher was very affraid of Elder Arnold. So it will be interesting to see what he does. He is pretty intense from what I can remember. Goodness it has been so long.

Well, that is all for now. Good luck this week. Look for tiny miracles in your lives. They are there.

Love
Sister Thacker

re: Happy Halloween

Mom and Dad, (screen for bloggers)

Wow! All of the pictures were so fun! Thank you for those. Everyone is growing up so much. I will not even recognize Addis. And Holly was wearing the Indian Dress we made! : )

Well, transfers are tomorrow. Looks like I'm dying in Burgess Falls! I am happy. It is a great place to end the mission. I get to keep both of my wonderful companions as well. Guess what, I'm going to be a GRANDMA! I never thought I would live to see the day! Sister Winder is going to train this next transfer. Just call her Sister Smith: training after two transfers. My word! I am so excited for her. Emerald, that makes you a Great-Grandma!

This week was fun in the mission world. We set two baptismal dates with a girl named Shayna and Keith. They have been in Cookeville for 3 months. They came from Maine and were being taught by Mormon Missionaries there. The Lord has His ways of making sure the elect are found! Shayna came to church yesterday and had a really great time. Pray for Henry. I don't know if I have told yall about him yet. He is scheduled to be baptized on the 17. He went to the hospital with Pneumonia last week and is now in rehab. He is a 70-year-old black man, just as sweet as could be. It is crazy how quickly you can learn to love people when you are in this work!

We had a crazy Halloween that I will have to tell you about later. Lets just say I think I have seen more naked people here in Tennessee than I have seen in the rest of my lifetime. Yuck!

Yall are the best!



Love ya!
Sister Thacker