July 9th, 2012

July 9th

Chelsie, it is always so good to hear from you even if it is a short email. Sounds like you all are having a fun summer. I love hearing about everything. I am so excited about your garden. That is so amazing. Keagan sounds like he is growing up so fast. I can't believe it either. I love how he is saying "hi daddy" That is so cure. He will say mommy soon enough don't you worry. I love you so much and do appreciate your letters and emails. I look forward for the letter and pictures coming.

 

Alright so this past week has been pretty good and I am finally starting to settle in and know how to be a missionary. Things have been great and the days are staying pretty busy which is always good. The days are starting to go by fast and they all seem to run together as well. That is what happens when you are dedicating all of your time to the Lord and I absolutely love it so so much. Well this we taught Diane and her family. We did commit Maranda to be baptized and we have set a date for July 22, 2012. She is very excited and so am I. I loved seeing her get all excited when we asked her and Diane seemed happy as well. It is amazing to be to see little kids testimonies grow so fast. They learn so fast and understand a lot more than we think they do. They are a fun family and I really enjoy going over there and teaching the about Jesus Christ and how families can be together forever. They have been coming out to church and the kids are liking primary which is super good. I am so excited to see Maranda get baptized and cannot wait for the day to come. It brings so much joy to me and to them feel that same joy and happiness has well. I am so glad that Diane decided to come back to church and to have her children grow up in this great environment.

 

This cool thing happened to us this past week. Our former investigator that we met with last week named Gus, well we were going to go visit him later in the evening on Wednesday. We had set up a church booth with some of out Elders in our zone and guess who showed up? Yes, Gus and his family did. We were able to talk with them for a little bit and to see how they were all doing. The whole park was filled with almost just their kids. They look like that they are a happy family. We also got to stop by and visit with them for a min Saturday night. The wife is really starting to open up to us. She told us that their oldest son just got engaged and she asked us to pray for him. We said that we would and she really liked hearing that I think. I hope that If we keep showing them that we care about them and befriend them that they will want to learn more about our church. Things are going great with them other wards. :)

 

Saturday we also went and visited a lady named Alisha. She is a third grade school teacher. I told her mom that you were a kindergartner teacher and how much you love being a teacher. Sister Flemming has been seeing her for awhile and they keep inviting her to church, but she just doesn't want to come right now. We had the opportunity to do some service work with her. I loved that. We helped her clean her pool and clean up her back yard. She has a zoo in her house. She has 2 cats, 2 dogs, 8 bunnies, 3 far ates, and 5 chinchillas. It was crazy to see all of those animals in her house. One of her dogs is about as big has me. She kept jumping on me and I was scared that she would push me right into the pool. It was a HUGE dog. It was so much fun to get to know her and to be able to serve her. I love doing service. It brings me such happiness and love for the person that I am helping. I loose myself in the work and I am a lot happier to. When I serve people I pay attention to them and to their needs and not mine.

 

That is what service is all about. Jesus Christ came to this earth and established the church, but he also helped the people around him. He taught them to do good and was a great example to them and to us. He spent his whole life here on the earth to serve each of the people and to heal the sick, the blinded, etc...We need to always remember what Christ did for his people and we need to try and to be just like him a serve the people that are around us. When we serve, we are in the service of the Lord. (that is in the scriptures) Doing service is a great way to show others that we care for them and that we are following the example of the Jesus Christ. I have a strong testimony that if we do, do service we will be much happier in our lives and we will become focused on others than ourselves. I have seen this has I am out serving the Lord. I am more focused on helping people to come unto Christ and I am much happier than I ever was. I challenge you all to choose someone that you know and do a little service for them and see how it makes you feel. You can even make cookies and bring to people and talk with them, or just saying hi to people. I know if you do this you will feel a greater love for people and for yourself. I love this gospel so much and I am very proud to call myself a member and a representative of Jesus Christ. I leave my testimony with all of you in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 

I love you all and I am grateful for all of your letters and emails. I hope that you will continue to write and to email. You all are the best things that have happen to me and I am so glad to share with you my experiences and my testimony. Love you and hope you all being safe. I hope you are all reading a praying as a family and that your testimonies have been growing as well. Lots of love from me to you. Keep smiling!!!

 

Love Sister Ackley