Ringing in the NEW YEAR!

this week was awesome!!!

we were able to accomplish lots and i still love working in the city. i feel it was made for me!!! especially this ward. i spoke in church yesterday and apparently i met miss america from 1985, her name is sharlene wells.

in zone conference we had a PINE WOOOD DERBY!! it was so fun!!!!!! i was definitely the most competitive missionary there. i took 4th place, but i won in my heart.

we have investigators SO CLOSE TO BAPTISM!! satan is just getting in the way like always. but with prayer and fast, and continued patience i know it will come. they are all growing and changing so much!!!

we are still trying medications to control all my health stuff better, and its trying my patience. i want to be healthy because i want to serve better!! and help others. but its okay. i can be patient. and god, and all of your prayers and fasts, are giving me sufficient strengths to keep going. my healing is slow but sure, and i know hope never dies, even when i cant feel it.

i have support on both sides of the world and on both sides of the veil. i am full of hope and love for all of you. thank you!!!

hermana thomas

Today is Christmas

My whole family on my dads side should understand the subject line.

No pictures so sorry!! i am the worst at christmas presents cant even send you all a picture.

running low on time, but there were miracles as always.

illuminar tu fe en cristo!!! (Keep the faith in Christ) everyone read a little more scripture, say a little more prayer, and remember the true spirit of Christmas

i am eternally grateful for all the hard things. a wise hermana said to me yesterday, try not to understand why you are going through something while you are in the middle of it, but rather when you look back at it, because when you look back it will all be clear. I KNOW THATS TRUE !

FELIZ NAVIDAD !
hermana thomas

PS from Janice- Some kind members sent me a few pictures this week, so I'm including those here. We also got to talk to Mallory and she looks great and seems to be improving! Thanks for the prayers.

God is Pulling Me Through- 6 months!

oh my gosh you guys.

this week. ROCKED.

i am sorry you didnt hear from me last week. but mejor asi les prometo jaja [it's better that way I promise). It wasnt a good week.

i want to expain all the beautiful miracles that have happened this week. first off i will just say i went 3 days without a panic attack, and i have never felt happier and with more energy. grateful for mission president, companion, doctor, family, EVERYTHING!!!

i got to perform savior of the world twice this weekend and it was amazing!!!!

so changes!!!! i will be going to the ward moroni, center of asuncion, with lots of americans and the nicest house in the mission. they treat you good when you have to go to the doctor every week!!! lol. i will be good.

in my last interview with president, i asked him what to do when i cant find faith. when things are just so hard that the hope dies, and faith seems so far. and he said, "first, surround yourself with strong people." i luckily spent this week with an amazing hermana leader who helped me beyond belief!!!! definition of a strong person. then he said, "second, as soon as you get to your good times, drop to your knees and beg God to help you remember to stay strong in the hard times." i am now entering a good time, and i have never spent more time on my knees. so however your situation may be at this time, i invite you to prepare. i invite you to strengthen your faith NOW. like our prophet has declared, the times are hastening, and it will require the constant companionship of the holy ghost to stay strong and not fall. so prepare now, and DONT FALL!!! and if you have fallen, find someone, preferably Jesus Christ, to help you back up.

dont give up on a friday. because sunday will come.

hermana thomas

i got to despidir [say goodbye] to my old area a little bit and friday night was SO FUN there was a giant zone activity in mariona and we got to talk about iluminar su fe [lighting your faith]!!!! it was so awesome!!!! enjoy pictures for once lol. ALSO 6 MONTHS DOWN

Letter to Family

hey everyone,

very first, i want to apologize for my email last week. mom said something like, "i couldnt believe that was my daughter on the other end." but guess what, it wasnt really. i had had probably the worst week of my mission up to that point, and my inbox was full of several people telling me to just lose myself in the work, and they have no idea how badly i wanted to do that and how much my body couldnt. i was at a very emotional high point when i wrote that email. i want you to know my mission has been a good experience so far, even tho it hasnt been easy. i am sorry for only seeing the negative in this time and on this day, i feel really bad to have given you guys a glimpse into the worst of me. but luckily i have a very loving family who understands.

hermana evans told me she called you guys haha. i am grateful, because that wretched email had been on my mind the whole week. so im glad you guys know i was doing okay.

something happened monday. i had a panic attack during cyber, and had another one that morning, and then, i just felt my tears stop, and my companion asked me "are you okay, what happened" and i just said, "you know, i could cry, i could explain to you how i feel, but thats not how i want to use my time right now." and my tears just... dried. and ever since that day, i have felt incredible. my counselor told me it would take 20 days for my medication to start working, its now been 26, and i feel amazing. this was the BEST week of my entire mission. i dont know if i say that just because the last change has been the worst 6 weeks like of my life, or because it was really an incredible week, but you guys, heavenly father SAVED ME. i had only asked mom about signing me up for classes and considered coming home because i literally couldnt take care of myself anymore. i didnt want to eat, stand, smile, read my scriptures, pray, all i could do was lay there. and thats not fair to my companions or my mission president. so thats why i was gonna come home. but you guys, heavenly father is SAVING ME. slash drugs too. this week, i worked all day every day!!!!!!! and i LIKED IT!!!!!! i didnt talk at all the first two days to anyone, but i did a contact completely by myself on sunday!!!! i felt your prayers, your fasts, the fasts of my zone and of my companion, and i could literally feel angels lifting me. we call december the month of miracles here in the mission, because we want to find 100 converts, but i prayed that i could be a part of the month of miracles. and you guys its happening!!!! i think im really going to get to stay!!! and i think im going to love it!!! i know it wont be the best week every week, or the best day every day, but i think its going to be possible now.

i have no idea why everything flipped, but i have never felt more grateful. EVER. this hermana leader saved my life. her name is hermana moya. mom will you send her an email thanking her for helping me!!! catalina.moya also jane.bulaqui my old companion. shes really sensitive and i think shes sad i couldnt be with her the last week of the change, but it was for the best. you should just thank them for everything they did for me. i thank them to obviously but an email from you will make it more special. but im serious hermana moya saved me. the first night in presidents house, i woke up that morning and launched into a panic attack. i told her how i didnt think i belonged here and how this is so hard. she simply said. "que te hizo pensar que la mision es dificil. la mision es lindo." and then... she showed me it is. she showed me how to learn to follow rules, but to not feel shame when i dont. she showed me how to talk to people, and to not feel bad when they dont accept me. this hermana saved me. she is my favorite companion. even tho i only get her a week!! she is also a blunt latina which i needed. "claro que si no vas a sentir despierta durante el dia so no hagas tu ejercicios en las mananas." "por que no hablas en las lecciones. se que sabes ensenar, hay que abrir to boca hermana, es tu llamamiento." but also, "por que te sientes mal, usted es muy buena misionera." "si te vas a tu casa, tu familia va a amarte todavia." "dios te entiende, y nadie mas. hay que hacer caso a el no mas."

she. saved. me.

dad, you are right. i can do this. mom, you are right, i can do this. you are all right, and THANK YOU. i hope that gradually each email will become less about my health and more about the work. GUESS WHAT!! i didnt have a panic attack for three days in a row. and when i had them, i talked myself down, and went back to work. I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also. CHANGES!!! i am going to the most rich area in the mission. and seriously... EVERYONE talks about this area. a million americans, and the hermanas house is apparently HUGE!! everyone talks about it. ahahahaha. i am going to be with hermana allegre from peru. it should be a good change and my spanish should improve more !!!

i am gonna talk more about my awesome week in my group email. love you all!!!! HURRAH POR ISRAEL!!!!!!