July 23, 2012

July 23

Hey thanks for your little email. I loved it. I am always so happy to hear from you. I am in the process of getting out a letter with more pictures for you all. Here is my update on the week. I love you so much and miss you lots and hope you have a wonderful week.

 

The work has been so busy and it has been really good to stay busy. The days go by so fast when the days stay busy. I have finally felt like I have settled done and know what I am doing as a missionary. I am enjoying the work so much and have been really happy. The beginning of this past week has been a little rough. We have had a sister who came home for a medical release and stayed with us for awhile. We were a trio for about two weeks and that is hard. Her name is Sister Blunk. Anyways it was hard having a third person with us and her and Sister Fleming have been out about the same time and I just thought that I knew nothing and that I was kind of being left out from a lot of stuff because they are so much alike. I knew that the way I was feeling was Satan getting to me and he was working on me so hard. I was also stressed about the mission work, worried about all you and the fires, and my mind was filled with so many more things that I was starting to not focus. I was getting to the point where I wasn't able to sleep at night and that my stomach was hurting. The days became really exhausting. I asked my zone leaders for a blessing and they so willingly gave me one. The blessing helped me so much and I was able to sleep that night and I was able to clear my mind and I was able to be patient with the other sister that was with us. My testimony grew so much that day and I realized that my Heavenly Father was with me and that he knew exactly what I needed and He was there helping me with my feelings and comforted me. I am so grateful for priesthood blessings and for the young men here that are Worthy of holding it. I am so grateful for dad and for all the many blessings that he has given me and for him staying worthy to keep the priesthood. After the blessing the week became so much better. I need to work on not letting Satan getting to me and I have been praying everyday to overcome the adversary and the Lord has really been there for me. I love this GOSPEL!

 

Yesterday I had my first baptism. It was the little girl Miranda that I have been telling you about. The baptism was so amazing and the spirit that was there was so strong. We had great support from the ward and she had lots of family there as well. She was so happy and felt like a new person. She told us that when she was dunked, she felt like she was drowning, but the Lord was there and saved her. I really was touched by this comment that she said to us because it is true. The Lord has put missionaries here on this earth so that we can help them and so that the Lord can save his children by baptism. Miranda is such a bright young girl and has the biggest testimony that I have seen. When Elder Pollister our district leader was done interviewing her he came out and she that she was the most ready person ever that he has interviewed for baptism and that she gave the most simple, but most spiritual answers to his questions. I am so proud of her and her decision to be baptized. I am so glad that I was her missionary and that the Lord put her into my hands at the time that he did. I am so excited to continue to bless the lives of many others.

 

I have another family that is in the same situation where they family has been inactive and has two little boys who have not yet been baptized and they are Stephen and Jacob Alvarez. They are going to be getting baptized on Aug 4. I am so excited. I have been enjoying finding families and helping the kids grow closer to their Heavenly father. I know that the Lord put this sweet family in my hands as well. They are a great family and I have see the hand of the Lord in their lives and they are progressing in the gospel and coming to church with us every Sunday. They are a happy family and it makes me happy to see them as happy as they are.

 

These two families are the only ones that are progressing right now. We have a lot of potentials and have been working with less actives in the wards. We have been working with a less active and her name is Sister Thomas. Every time we go over there we read the Book of Mormon with her. The spirit has been so strong with her that she said she knew that she needed to continue to read it on her own and that she needed to come out to church. She still hasn't made it out to church, but we keep inviting her and keep reading with her. I know that really soon she will come and that the Lord will soften her heart and that she will be comforted in any needs that she may need. I have grown to love this sweet lady so much and enjoy the many visits that we have with her and to see the blessings that come from her and from the Lord.

 

This work isn't easy and it was never meant to be easy, but I know that I am able to do this hard work and that the Lord is always at my side strengthening me and picking me up when I fall. Without the Lord and without Jesus Christ there is no way that I would be able to do all that I am doing here. I have seen so many blessings in my life already from serving the Lord and I trust in Him that he will always be my friend and that he knows exactly what I need in that exact moment. I love this gospel, I love the scriptures and I love being a servant of the Lord. I have lost myself in the work and I have been blessed with so many successful days and for the people the Lord has prepared for me. I know that this is the place that I am suppose to me right now and I am loving it here and loving the work.

 

I hope you enjoy this!

 

Much LOVE

~Sister Ackley