October 16, 2024 Email

Email for October 16, 2024

Dear Friends and Family,

     A few weeks have gone by where I have not sent an email.  I find it hard to write.  Sometimes I can blame that on being very busy, while other times there are just so many experiences I wonder which ones are the best to share without this email being a book.  I have decided to spend some time on our blog to catch it up to date.  Feel free to view it and click the "follow" button at the top.  This will allow you an opportunity to find it better when you have moments you want to take a quick look.  It will also send you a notification that new posts have been made.  Also, I would love to hear from you if you want to comment.  Here is the link again if this is something that interests you.

     https://fredtracyhappyinlife.blogspot.com/

   Elder Thacker and I have had some great experiences in the last few weeks.  We both continue to be amazed at the guiding hand of Heavenly Father.  One particular morning we received a call from the Medical Missionary that serves over the two missions in Sierra Leone.  He let us know that one of our missionaries had a seizure and was unconscious.  We were away from our town, but could head that way.  There is a hospital in our District, but it is not even close to being equipped with the medical tests and CT scans this missionary would need. There is only 1 member of the church with a car in our district so we asked him to gather up the missionary and head out to meet us. 2 1/2 hours later we met along the road.  The sick missionary was completely unconscious, unaware really that he was being lifted by 3 men into the back seat of our truck.  Fred's job was to drive fast yet safely while I kept a hand on the young missionary making sure he was still breathing!. As we drove, I talked with him. Once as we began our drive, I took his hand and told him that I was Sister Thacker (who he knows), and that Elder Thacker and I were taking him to the hospital to get the help he needed.  A tear streamed down his cheek, and he grabbed my hand very tightly then relaxed.  He seemed to fall into a more peaceful sleep.  Fred was praying silently and I was constantly checking for breathing, but after 2 1/2 more hours we got him to the Freetown hospital.  It was faith promoting beyond words to recognize we are only instruments in God's hands and that God takes care of his missionaries.  The missionary is fine and is back to work as a missionary.

   Fred and I have settled into our permanent home in Kono.  We are enjoying having a permanent resident.  We are spoiled and it makes us feel very uncomfortable with our house.  Here is a brief explanation:  Kono is a providence that is very rich in diamonds and gold.  Stories of diamonds running down the road during the rainy season years ago are either truth or tales, yet this is what they all tell us. From 1991 to 1999 there was a civil war in the town we live in.  The war was over the DIAMONDS. The town was destroyed and many were killed or ran as refugees.  This is not a wise tale, but true history.  You can read about it and watch a fictional movie on it called "Blood Diamonds."  I tell you this because the people of Sierra Leone, or more closely the Kono people are still recovering from the damage of a war. Many lost family members.  It will forever be a part of their past.  Today, they live in bombed out homes, makeshift shelters, and are slowly growing the economy again.  So to live in a new home with a generator and running water I am grateful, yet uncomfortable.  There are so many things I once thought I NEEDED, and in truth, I DO NOT.

    Sunday's are a joy in Sierra Leone.  Elder Thacker and I attended a home group here in our area.  This home group is one that we helped pour a cement floor for a month ago.  At the time there were 25-30 members attending.  This past Sunday there were 60+ with 3 new baptisms. They have outgrown their new addition. The primary children have never been separated from their parents for a primary experience.  It was pure joy to teach Singing/sharing time and class time to these beautiful children.  I could see and feel the spirit as they felt important and loved while being taught gospel truths catered to their age of learning.  It was a sweet unforgetting experience.

    More and more I marvel at the call to serve. I am grateful that we made the choice to make this an important part of our lives.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

Attached are pictures of the home group attendance and the primary children. The next picture is Elder Thacker filling the pickup truck (a few times) with members coming from far to attend the General conference. 

Elder and Sister Thacker