November 12, 2012

November 12

HELLO FAMILY, 

How are you all doing? I hope you have had a wonderful week and ready for another great one. This morning we were able to go on a hike with all of the Sister Missionaries here in the field. It was so much fun. I really like doing things with the sisters here. Everyone is so nice and friendly. I will send some pictures of the hike as well. I love Sister Becerra. She is an amazing person. 

Don't worry about the sending me clothes. I can wait patiently and you can send them with my package. I know that I ask a lot and I am so grateful for your help in buying me things and sending me things. I know that it isn't always easy and it takes time, but know how much I love and appreciate everything that you all do for me. 

The Baptism with Angela went so well. We were so blessed to have such great Elders who were able to help us fill the font for us. We had been so busy that day and didn't know how we would be able to be there to fill the font. The Lord is always one step a head of us and we were able to get everything done in time. The baptism service was so good and the spirit was so strong. Angie looked so happy and was super excited to be able to be baptized. It was such a special day for her and she lots of support from her family. More than half of the people there were Korean  It was cool. It was nice to see so many people there to show their love for Angie. I love Angie and know that she did the right thing. Sunday when she came to church, she was a whole knew person. She was glowing and looked so happy. I am so glad that I had the chance to teach her and help her progress to this point in her life.

We did lots of service this week. I love doing service. Every Wednesday we help a community center for the seniors. They are so sweet and really enjoy us coming and helping them. We were able to teach some of them about faith. It was neat to be able to teach them and to share our testimonies on faith. Every time that I teach, my testimony gets strengthened and again I know why I am out here on a mission. Helping people is the best thing that I could ever do. We also helped a former investigator clean. Her name is Robin. She has been taught by the missionaries before and she said that she would be interested in hearing the lessons again. She is a very neat lady and is so sweet. She is all about giving and is fun to talk with. She has a lot of heath issues, but is so positive about everything. I admire her for that. It makes me really appreciated what I have and that I shouldn't be complaining about my life. I have learned so much from her already and have a greater appreciation for what I have in my life.  We should never take things for granted. 

Some things that I have learned while being out here on a mission is having a vision for yourself of who you want to become. You can become whoever you want to be. You have to always strive to be the person and never let the world get in the way and make you afraid of who you want to be. I have seen this in myself. I have a vision of who I want to become, but I get scared because I am so worried about what others think and I have a fear of being who I am. Being out here on a mission has really helped me find who I really want to become and I have stopped worrying about what the world thinks of me and have become the person that Heavenly Father was planned for me to be. I recently read the story "You Are Special To Me." I love this book and it has really comforted me. I know that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me for the way that I am and that I am a great missionary and shouldn't be to hard on myself or compare myself with other missionaries. I know that I have been put here for being me and that I can reach out to all of those who God has sent into my path. I am special to Him because He made me.

We had a chance to have a young women spend a day with us. Her name is Ellen and she is from Monrovia. Her stake was doing a mini mission and we were asked to help out. This is my first mini mission. This is when the youth of the church spend a day with the missionaries to see what missionary life is. It was a really neat experience to have. Ellen had a great time and we were able to talk to a lot of people that we felt like talking too. It was a great day and she really enjoyed spending the day with us. Ellen told us that she really wants to go on a mission and that we helped her out a lot that day. Hearing that made me feel so good inside. I love hearing when I have been able to help people and to make them happy. She will be a great a missionary.

We actually had a great day on Thursday. We were able to talk to a lot of people and to teach a lot of people. We went through some former investigators that we felt prompted to go and see. We met with a lady named Carol. The missionaries have taught her and helped her out when she was going through a rough time in her life and she felt to alone. We were able to talk to her about that and about faith, family and trials in our lives. She is a sweet lady, but she that she is happy where she is right now in her life and the previous missionaries were able to help her regain her faith. It made her day to see us and to know that we had been thinking of her. We also tracked into this man who we talked to about almost everything. He wasn't very open with us and doesn't believe in any religion or God and wants everything to be proven to him. He was also so sad and deep down inside I think he has been hurt. He had so much darkness around him. After talking with him I felt so sad for him. I wish that he would have been more interested in finding out how he can be happy. I think the hardest thing for me is that I can't make anyone do anything or listen to us. They have there own agency. After talking to him, I thought about my life and if I am happy. I am happy and I am happy to have this gospel in my life and to know that I have a Heavenly Father and A loving Savior who died for me so that I could be happy and enjoy my life. I am so grateful for such a wonderful family and the love and support that they show me. I am so glad that I am out here doing what makes me happy and to know that I have serving the Lord.

Another great thing that happened was that the Erkenbrack's came to church with us on Sunday. We were so happy to see them and they had a good time. Julie said that she loved being back at church and loved feeling that peace of comfort in the chapel. They didn't stay for the rest of the two hours, but said that they might next week. The ward members were so nice to them and made them feel so welcomed. I love the ward members here. They are all so friendly and make everyone feel so loved. This little family is awesome and we are hopefully going to start teaching them. I know that what the Lord has to offer them is so much greater than what they have right now. I know that they are being prepared for the great things that the Lord has planned for them.

I love being a part of this gospel and to be out here finding God's lost sheep and to being them back. Nothing makes me more happier right now then doing what I am doing. I know that with out Joesph Smith this church would not have been restored and that we wouldn't have the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the answers that I get from reading. I am so grateful for prayer and I know that the Lord hears and answers prayers. My prayers are getting answered everyday. I know that we are all here for a reason and that Heavenly Father has a great plan for each and one of us. I love my family and my friends and so grateful for the love and support that I get. I am so grateful for wonderful parents and for their diligence in living the commandments and teaching me everything that has gotten me to this point in my life. I love being a missionary and seeing smiles to those who I touch. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!!! Remember to smile.

Love Sister Ackley