Email for the week

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 Weekly email


Dear Friends and Family,

   Blog you can follow:  https://fredtracyhappyinlife.blogspot.com

    We love and appreciate each of you!  We appreciate your support and prayers.  Thank you for lifting where you stand.  With each passing week of our mission, my love for this country and the people deepen.  The country is absolutely beautiful with palm trees and lush green on every road and village, but the beauty comes from within the Sierra Leone people.  They are so kind and helpful.  They love talking about their religious beliefs.  They are Christians and Muslims that live in harmony respecting and caring for each other.  There is not a day that goes by that people share their love of their beliefs and they are eager to ask for a "Bible" and they ask more questions about what the "Latter Days." believe.  Of course we share that ours is another testament of Jesus Christ "The Book of Mormon." And while the nickname is "Latter Days" we share that we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have so much to learn about being a missionary, yet the people of Sierra Leone already know how to live as examples of Christ.

  Today, I wanted to share just a few experiences.  I find that there are so many, I have to write quick journal entries so that I can go back and journal more whenever the opportunity arises.  

    We have been able to move to our permanent home.  We have been assigned to an area in the north called Kono.  The gospel is growing quickly here.  There is works to open a District.  A new home group called MT Zion opened up 2 weeks ago and it is almost filled to capacity. I believe we will see a District and District building before our time expires.

   Sunday is Elder Thacker and I's favorite day of the week.  We visited an actual ward today in Freetown. These people are so faithful.  We got to the church 10 minutes early.  The Bishop and Counselors and the music chorister were all in their seats. Also, I would guess 80% of the congregation were in their seats as well. They did not have a piano/keyboard so the congregation was singing the prelude music led by the chorister.  At exactly 9:00 the Bishop began sacrament meeting.  We find this in every branch or ward we attend.  They are so committed.  This particular week there were 10 confirmations of new members.  It was a beautiful experience.

    I have talked about the poverty situations in Sierra Leone.  Many times we share our lunch or crackers, cookies, fruit, and water with those we pass along our travels. The recipients of these simple food items are grateful and begin eating as soon as it's in their hands.  Today at church, the children were given a fruit box drink and a small package of crackers.  This young boy came up to Elder Thacker and placed his crackers into Fred's hand. Talk about being an example of Christ.  Giving up all you have to someone else.  Tears came easily to our eyes as we were touched and learned a valuable lesson.    

   As we drive lots of distances in our calling we go through many check points.  These checkpoints are police checks.  I'm not sure what they are looking for, mostly money honestly (bribes).  As we go through they see our names tags and always welcome us.  A terminology they use differently than we do is "You're Welcome."  We say your welcome after someone says thank you.  When they say it means you are welcome in the country or town or home! 

   The tribe that is in our new home town is Kono.  In the Kono language they have specific names for each of the number of children in a family.  So if you are the second son, your name is "Tamba".  If you are a second daughter your name is "Kumba", so as Fred and I make friends going through the checkpoints we introduce ourselves as "Tamba" and "Kumba" from the Kono Tribe!  People laugh and laugh because with our white skin there is no way we are from the Kono tribe.  Now as we pull up at the checkpoints they have to come and talk with us.  It has been a fun way to talk about why we are in their country.

   Elder Thacker and I are very grateful that we decided to serve.  It has been a sweet experience that has stretched us in all good ways.

Here are a few pictures for the week of some of the new converts.


IMG_1122.HEICIMG_1113.HEICIMG_1112.HEICIMG_1115.HEIC


Love, Elder and Sister Thacker


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