November 26
6 MONTHS down!
Hello family,
Another week has gone by. Time seems to be going faster and faster. I cannot believe I have been out for six months already. It just seems like yesterday I was getting ready to leave. Keeping busy makes the time go by even faster. Before we all know it I will be home! Its crazy to think that. I do love it out here, but I am excited to be able to see you all very soon. Justin, don't worry the time will go quickly. I will be home before your 14th birthday.
Thanksgiving was really good. We ate dinner with a family in one of our wards and had an investigator with us. I am so grateful for some many things in my life right now. I am so grateful for a wonderful family that loves me and supports me while I am here on a mission. I am so grateful for the kind words and advice that you all give to me to keep working hard. I am so grateful for this gospel and for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice for me. With out him I would be able to get through all of the trials that I am faced with in my life. It his through him that I am able to have joy in my life and to be able to be in such a wonderful family. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has trusted me so much to come out on a mission to find His lost sheep. This gospel brings me such great joy and happiness and that is why I am out here to be able to share that with families and those who are searching for more joy in their life. I am so grateful for the temple and for the covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father. I am grateful that in the temple we can be with our families forever. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and is proud of me for the decisions that I have made in my life. I love you all so much and grateful for all of you!
This week has been a good week. On Thanksgiving we were able to visit with the Gutierrez family and we shared a thanksgiving message. It was fun and we got to meet Erin's parents and some friends of their's. We shared with them a Mormon message on the spirit of Thanksgiving and the story of My New Life by Stephanie Neilson. She was the one who was in a plan crash and got burned and it is a miracle that she is alive today. We thought it was a good message to share because it show how much gratitude that she had and how we need to be grateful for the things that we have and to thank our Heavenly Father for them. You never know what will happen and one day all that we have could be gone. They all really liked it and appreciated that we shared this message with them. We also invited them to come to church and Hugo said that they might come. They, however, did not show up. It makes me sad when people don't come when they say they will. We are going to try and set up an appointment with them this week. They have been a little hard to get a hold of.
Yesterday we had two families come to church. Matt and Sarah came and the Erkenbrack's. Sister Davidson was playing the piano said Matt and Sarah came to support her and guess what Sarah ended up staying for Sunday school. She really liked it a lot. I think Sarah was touched by the Spirit that was at church and by the speakers. We asked Sarah if she wanted to stay for Relief Society, but she said no and that she might next time. She really is showing a little interest in learning more about the gospel. She is still in pain from losing her daughter, but I think that the more she is learning from us the softer her heart is. She is a sweet lady and I see great things for her and her family.
Saturday night we stopped by the Erkenbrack's to invite them to come to church . Sister Erkenbrack said that they were planning on coming already. That made me really happy to hear that they were coming. We talked a lot about what happens during the last two hours of church. She really wants to go to the whole three hours, but is a little nervous. She said that she kind of feels uncomfortable right now since she hasn't been back for such a long time. We told her to do what makes her feel comfortable. I told her that she should at least stay and see how she likes it. They, however, didn't stay for all three hours of church. Which is okay. Before she left she asked me if we would be by this week to see them. I said yes. It really meant a lot to me to hear her ask if we would be coming back. This to me means that she really wants this for her family. Brother Erkenbrack is still doing his own researching right now, but is leaning more towards the LDS church. This family is going to sealed together forever someday.
We were able to teach a 19 year kid the other day. His name is Daniel. He had taken the missionary lessons with the Sisters before we got to the area and he moved to Indiana for school. He told us that he had been going to church out there and have met with the missionaries there too. He came back for Thanksgiving and we met with him. He wants to get baptized when he comes back in December. When we met with him we talked about baptism and talked a lot about the scripture in D&C 20:37. We also went over the baptismal questions and he was able to answer them all. He actually knew a lot. We asked him why he decided to meet with the missionaries and he said that he feels like this is what he has been looking for and that he really wants this for his future family. He is such a sweet boy and has great potential. He is ready for this commitment and will be baptized in Dec.
Last Monday we were able to have a lesson with Matt and Sarah. Since it was Thanksgiving that week we shared with them a Thanksgiving message and shared to parable of the ten Leopards and when Jesus cured them, only one of them came back to say thank you. It goes to show that we have been given so much in our lives and we need to be the ones to thank our Heavenly Father for all that He has given us. Sarah and Matt were both touched with this thought and for the closing song we sang "Families can be together forever" I was watching them and I could tell that they were feeling the spirit. They are such a great family.
Being a missionary is hard, but I love being out here. I love the people that I am serving with and love those who I am teaching. Everyday I am seeing the miracles that I am blessed with because I am out here doing the Lord's work and putting my whole heart and soul into this work. I am striving to be the best missionary that I can. I can tell for myself that I am changing everyday and that I am always looking for ways that I can improve on. I hope that I can look back on my mission and know that I did everything that I could and that I never gave up. I am always working hard and I don't ever stop when I feel down. I truly feel like I am doing what Heavenly Father has planned for me to do.
I hope you all have a great week! Remember to always smile and to be HAPPY!! I love you!!
Sister Ackley
CHELSIE!!!!
So my mom told some exciting news that will be happening in JULY!!! Chelsie I am so excited for you. I am going to an "aunt" again! Keagan will be a good big brother. Aw, I am so excited and can't stop smiling. Congratulations
Have a great week!
I love how supportive Becca is! She is such a great example to me and I am soooo proud to call her my best friend and an "Aunt" to my kids! We LOVE you Becca!
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