November 6, 2012

November 6

Hey Family!

Today is my P-day! Yesterday I had an amazing Zone Conference. President Becerra spoke to us and said that since the new age announcement we will be getting 50 more missionaries and that there will be lots of changes. We will be doing a lot of car sharing, sister will possible be back on bikes! :) I was pretty excited to hear that. I don't know why, but I really was wanting a bike mission and now I may get that. I will be mostly training the new sisters that come out and I am pretty excited to be have that opportunity. Someone said that they got there call and they said that they would be serving somewhere(cannot remember where) until China opens! Isn't that so cool?! China is going to open here pretty soon. I cannot believe all of the great changes that are happening and how many missionaries we are going to have out. We are going to have double the number of missionaries that we have out right now.  President also talked to us about how we need to step it up and keep working harder everyday. We need to be helping the Lord bind families together and to help the ward members with their missionary work. After this conference I have decided that I need to step it up and that I need to not worry about myself or what I am going to say. I need to put my whole trust in the Lord and have faith that as I open my mouth I will be filled with the words that I need to share with those who come into my paths. I know that if I have trust, I will be fulfilling my purpose as a missionary.

Also, I am serving in the ward that Sister Hogan's sister is in. Isn't that crazy. I don't know if I told you that before or not. It has been pretty cool to get to know Sister Owen. On Sunday they came up to me and gave me a check of $50.00. Brother Owen said that they tried to pay dad for doing some work for them, but dad wouldn't take it so they thought that they would just give me the money. I didn't know what to say because the check was already filled out. I thanked them and I am going to thank the Hogans for that as well. I will be depositing it my account sometime soon.

Mom, I am so glad that your lesson went well. I am sure that you touched many lives of the women there on Sunday. I wish I could have been there to hear and support you. I know that you are an amazing example to them and I want you know that I look up to you so much. I want to be just like you when I become a mother. I am glad that the box tops are helping you out. I want to do anything I can to help you all out, so please let me know what I can do from here. I have also been thinking you all this past week. I want you all to know how much I love you and appreciate all that you do for me and for all of the great letters and emails. I am glad Steven enjoyed my letter. I hope you had a great Birthday Steven. I was thinking about you lots that day!!

Alright so we had another miracle that happened to us this past week. We had just finished eating lunch and we had leftovers, so we were deciding if we should take them back home or if we should stop by the church to put it in the fridge. We had decided to head home, but then we had a strong feeling to go to the church. We thought that we would maybe see someone there. As we pulled up into the parking lot another car pulled up as well. We both got out of our cars and started walking toward each other. This sweet lady named Svetlana (sweet-lana) wanted to talk to someone about our church. She had just gotten back from Salt Lake City and toured Temple Square. She loved it there and loved the people there too. She said that everyone was so nice and made a huge impact on her. When she returned home she said I am going over to that church and talk to them. Sister Davidson and I happen to be in the right place at the right time. We offered to give her a tour and she was happy to see what the church looked like and what we do in the church. She is a concert violinist and wants to show her talents to us because she was really impressed with how she was treated in SLC. The tour went amazingly well and the spirit was there. She said that she would try and make it to church on Sunday. She however, didn't make it to Sacrament meeting, but came after the meeting. I was so amazing at how fast the members started fellowshipping her and making her feel so loved and welcomed. What a great experience that was for me to have. I was strengthen so much that day and was so grateful to the Lord that He had placed her into our paths. 

Oh another cool thing that happened to me. Sister Davidson and I had hit a rough spot and we just felt lost and didn't know where to go. She was getting tired and was loosing a little bit of focus. I then said a silent prayer asking for guidance to know where we needed to be and who needed to see us. Right after I had said the prayer our phone rang and one of the members called and asked if we would go and visited some people that had been on his mind. Wow, I thought to myself. The Lord really does hear and answers our prayers. My faith is being strengthen everyday that I see these small little miracles happening to me. We were able to visit with one of those names and the lady that we talked too needed our help and we were able to lift up her spirits and to let her know that the Lord is watching over her and that He hears her prayers. This made me feel so good to know that I am worthy to have the spirit with me.

We had an amazing lesson with the family the Erkenbrack  The lesson went so well. The kids really enjoyed it and the mom even bore strong testimony of the gospel. They have an eight year old boy and he was so active in the lesson. He was answering all of the questions that we asked and was really happy to learn what we taught. We taught about the Plan of Salvation and how to pray. This little boy knows a lot and I was so amazed at the answers that he gave. The spirit was so strong as we were teaching and I know that everyone was so touched by it. I felt so strongly to give the eight and the six year old a Book of Mormon and I have some from the Sanders in the ward and gave them to the little kids. It touched my heart to see how happy they were to get those Books of Mormon. They were so happy to read the testimonies and to see the pictures in them. I Prayed for a while to know who I should give these Books of Mormon to and I know that they were the ones to have them. The eight year old wanted to read one of the stories that they mentioned. Seeing them so happy brought a big smile to my face and I know that they will be an eternal family one day and that they are already becoming more happy because of the message that we shared. They were going to come to church on sunday, but their youngest son woke up sick, so they weren't able to come. The good news is that they said they are planning on coming for sure next Sunday. I love this family so much and I want to help them in the best way that I can. 

We haven't been able to teach Hugo and his family this week. They have had things come up and have cancelled on us. They did however come to church on Sunday. Well, it was just Hugo and Gavin who is six. Erin his wife was going to come, but she woke up sick and the girls were at their other parents house for the weekend. It was made me a little sad when they cancel lesson or don't come to church. I have grown to love this family so much and I want to be happy and to know that they can be an eternal family. We have had this really good lesson planned for them and the last time that we were there I had this strong impression that WE need to commit them to baptism. We had an appointment set up with them tonight, but they cancelled again. I just want to be able to help them. I want to them always have that spirit that is there when we come. I know that I cannot be discouraged or lose faith. I know that if I keep my faith strong then the Lord will help us and guide us in the right direction to help them. They are an amazing family and we have grown a great relationship with them especially with Erin. She is more and more interested everytime that we come over and teach their family. She tells us that she is sad that she hasn't been able to make it to church and that she really wants to come. I am so happy to hear that she is wanting to come to church. They said that they are all planning on coming again Sunday. I have faith that they will come. 

We have a baptism on Saturday. Angela Han is getting baptized. She is so excited and I am so happy for her. She has changed so much and she is willing to keep the commandments and to try her best to live like Christ did. Teaching her has also taught me a lot and I am grateful for her willingness to live the gospel and to be a great example to her family. She is an amazing girl.

We have been able to help many people here in this area and to bring so much light and joy. I know that I am suppose to be where I need to be right now. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and one of us and wants us all to be happy. I know the He wants all of us children to return to live with him again and that He is here to help us get through the trials that we face with great faith. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is the only true work of God. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and the President Monson has been called of God to give us guidance to help live our lives worthy. I am grateful for the plan of happiness and they we can learn and grow here on this earth and that we can also grown and learn from our families. I am so grateful for families and that we are families forever. I am so grateful for worthy parents who were able to make that sacred covenant in the temple and that I was raised in the church. I am so glad to be a missionary in this time of my life to be able to share this wonderful message to all those who are lost. 

I love you all so much. I hope you have a fantastic week! Hugs and Kisses!!! :)

Love Sister Ackley

Here are some more pictures from Halloween and our hike and of Sister Davidson and I and maybe Sister George and me.(cannot remember if I clicked her) A cartoonist drew Sister Davidson and me