December 17th, 2012

December 17

Hello Family,

It was so good to hear from you all. I love when I get emails from you. They always make my day so much better. Thank you so much for sending me Christmas packages. It really does mean a lot to me. I love you all so much and I am so excited to be able to talk with you all as well next week. When is a good time for you? When do you have church? Hopefully I can check my Email next Monday to see what your answer is. I am thinking it will probably be in the late afternoon/evening sometime after 3. Does that work okay with you? Also we might be able to Skype so you might have to set up an account. let me know that what is as well and I will be able to do the same. 

This week has been good. We are seeing some great things happening. Last night we had dinner and a lesson with the Erkenbrack's. They insisted that we come over for dinner and that we do a lesson afterward. We were so excited. Last week when we talked with them and set up this appointment, they were wanting to talk about the Plan of Salvation, but after much prayer and studying we felt that they needed to hear the Restoration before we taught the Plan of Salvation. We kept thinking that Bryan needed to know how the church was brought back before anything else and so that he would understand more of the gospel. The spirit helped us make a great decision on that and the lesson went so well and the spirit was so strong. Bryan asked a lot of good questions and everything that he had asked lead the Restoration of the gospel. We were able to teach him and he understood why their are different church's and how Joesph Smith was called of God. He has already told us that he believes that Joesph Smith is a prophet. We invited and committed him to read the Book of Mormon and to Pray to know if these things are true and he said that he would. We bore strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and Bryan was really touched. We will be teaching them again this week. It is so amazing to see the great things that come as we teach with the spirit. I know that with out the spirit we would not be able to teach or to even help those that we are teaching progress. They need to have that spiritual witness for themselves and Bryan is getting that.

We met with Robin again this week. We were able to show her a Mormon Message on forgiveness. We picked up where we left last week talking about forgiveness and how hard some things are to forgive, but we really have a strong relationship with the Lord and to give Him all of our burdens all things are possible and it is so much easier to forgive ourselves and other people who have hurt us. This also reminded me of the tragedy that just happened this week with the shooting and how the father of the child who died was able to have a soft heart to forgive that person who shot his daughter. (I don't know if I got that right, this is just what I have heard) It probably wasn't easy for that father, but because we have the Atonement we are able to get through those hard times and to be able to have the strength to forgive. I have often thought about the time where something happened to me and I needed to forgive that person. It wasn't easy at first, but when I finally realized the role of the Atonement I was able to get down on my knees, asking for help to forgive that person who had hurt me. After, I felt love for that person and knew that I had done the right thing. We need to remember to forgive ourselves and others for the little and big things. I am so grateful for this and for the ability to have forgiveness in my life.

Kelsey, our twenty year old investigator came to church with us yesterday. She called us up the other day and asked if that was okay. We said yes and said that we would love if she came with us. We were also able to give her a tour before church started. She really enjoyed that. The ward was so warm and welcoming. She has been telling us and some of the members that she is enjoying learning about our church and is thinking about getting baptized. She is really understanding and is reading from the Book of Mormon. She was able to see an old friend at church that has been a great example to her. She wants to meet with us this week and we are planning on teaching her as well. She really enjoyed church and wants to come with us again next week. Seeing her face light up is the greatest thing for a missionary and to know that what she is feeling is the spirit testifying to her that these things are true.

We were also able to reach out to someone that we help on Wednesday's. We volunteer at a senior center and last week when we entered in, one of the workers came up to us and said that he needed a miracle and wanted to pray with us. We have been sharing little thoughts about what we believe every time that we are there and this kid as been touched by the spirit. He told us that whenever we come, we bring such joy and happiness. He had just recently lost his uncle and needed some comfort. We were able to say a prayer with him. I said it and it was an amazing blessing. I cannot remember what exactly what I said, but I do know that the spirit was helping me. It was a prayer that I never had said before. It was a neat experience for me and I knew that he was touched and that he would be comforted from the sorrow that he was feeling. It really meant a lot to him and he did say that he felt some peace after we said Amen. What an amazing experience and it made me happy to be there for him and to help him get through this tough time.

These are the highlights of my week. We have been out everyday talking to new people. We do teach a lot when we are out walking and talking. My testimony gets stronger every time that I share it with people. I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time in my life. I am forever grateful for wonderful parents who taught me the gospel when I was younger and taught me all that I needed to know. I am grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ and for the God sending His only begotten son to show us how to be kind and to be Christ like. He is the greatest example to me and I am striving everyday to be just like him. I know that through the Atonement we can have the strength to overcome the trials and hardships that we go through life. I know that all things are possible if we have faith and fully trust in the Lord with all of our heart. I am glad that we have this time on earth to test of faith and to become more Christ like. I love helping others find that joy that we have as members and helping them realized what Christ really did for us. I know that Joesph Smith was called of God and with out him none of this would be here today. I am so grateful to have the scriptures and to be able to read from the and learn from the past prophets and how they lived and overcame their trails. The scriptures are so amazing and can answer any question that we have. I love this gospel with all of my heart and I know that it is true.

Thank you all so much for you love and support. I love you and miss you lots. I hope that this Christmas season you will be able to remember the true meaning and thank Heavenly Father for the many blessing that He has given you. Remember to smile and to stay warm, safe, and HAPPY!! 

Love Sister Ackley