February 4
Hello Family,
Update on the BED BUGS!! Well, we washed everything and I even got a new mattress. However, I am still getting bit and I have found three more bugs that I have saved in a bag. I went and saw a dermatologist last week and they weren't much help. I told Sister Becerra and she wants me to go see another dermatologist this week and figure out the problem because the bites are starting to look rashy and infected. This hasn't not been fun and I am super nervous to be around people because the other day I was kicked out someones house. It was so hard. It has been a challenging thing, but I have been given another priesthood blessing and it has helped with how I am feeling. Later today we will be having an exterminator come. I hope that after this that everything will be back to normal. This is not fun at all.
Well on a higher and more positive note. This week has been so great. Sister Davidson and I are still seeing the many miracles that are happening to us. One night when we were planning Sister Davidson had a word come into her mind. MELBOURNE. When she said that name we thought it was a little weird because we didn't know anyone with that name. Well we wrote the name in our planners and the next day we had a thought to go and look in the ward directory and we turned right to the page that the name MELBOURNE (less active lady) was there. It was the craziest thing. We decided that we needed to go there. When we arrived we told the lady who answered the door what happened and that she had been on our minds. She was really grateful for us coming by and said how she was just looking through some old ppamphlets that missionaries in the past have given her and she just threw them away. The other cool thing is that she had the phone in her hand and was just about to call the lady who we live with. Sister Broberg is her visiting teacher. It was so neat to have been able to follow the spirit and be at the right place and the right time. We are planning on going back over there sometime this week and help her out. She is getting ready for surgery at the end of the month.
The family night with the Korean girls was a huge impact on them. Yesterday in Fast and Testimony meeting, Sister Frandsen (who is hosting them) got up and bore her testimony about the wonderful family night that we did on faith and that we had all of the girls plant seeds so that they can see the plant go as their faith grows. We also taught them about prayer and that every time that they pray they can water their plant because their faith inside of them is growing as well. Sister Frandsen shared a story that this past week her foot has been hurting her and she has not been able to walk on it. One night they knelt down to say a family prayer and one of the little girls said the prayer. She asked Heavenly Father to help Sis. Frandsens foot to feel better. She said that after that simple and powerful prayer that her foot within mins stopped hurting. It was so amazing to see that what we had taught them meant a lot to them and that they were willing to have faith and ask for healing. This made me feel good to hear that their faith is growing and that they are starting to realize what faith and prayers really mean.
The Erckenbrack's came to church yesterday. It was so good to have them their. Testimony meeting was so good and perfect for them to come. The spirit was so strong there and a lot of people said perfect things for them to hear. I hope that they will remember the feeling that they have and want this for their family. Sometimes it makes me so sad to hear that they are going to another church because it is much easier and you don't really have to do anything. I want this family to know that they can be so much happier knowing the fullness of the truth and that they can be a family forever. We have a lesson with them next Sunday and I hope that we will be able to teach with the spirit and that the spirit will touch them. I pray for them all the time and that their hearts will be open and that they will feel the happiness that this gospel brings to them. I know that I am doing all that I can to help this family and that it is their choice to accept it or not.
We were able to teach Robin a little bit this week. I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but we have come to the conclusion that she doesn't have any faith at all. This week she started asking us questions about if a 10 year old came up to us and wanted to talk to us about their faith and what would we do and how would we feel? She turned that to us and said that it is hard for someone that is much older and has been through a lot more to listen because we don't have as much experience has her. For some reason after she said that we had this thought to ask her what her childhood was like at 10 years old. She then told us her life long story and I guess that she was neglected and was the black sheep of the family. It was really sad to hear. Sister Davidson and I talked about her story after and we thought no wonder she feels like there is no God. She has brought up before about if there really was a God how could he let this terrible thing happen to me or to anyone else. I have found that I know now why she has a hard time believing in God. She opened up a lot with us that night and we are finally seeing some progression with her and know how to help her. That night the spirit was so strong and I know that the Lord was there to help us and to know what exactly to say to her. I know that with much prayer and patience that we will be able to help her gain faith and that she will be able to know and recognize the Holy Spirit.
This is cool the other day we stopped and talked to a guy and started asking him how his day was and he said that it was good and that everyday is a good day and that he is a very happy person. He told us that he is religious and that he has been a pastor for the baptist church for 21 years. He was funny because he wanted to find the difference in our two religions, but every time he asked us a question we pretty much believed the same thing that he did. It was so cool to stand their and testify to him what we believe and the whole time we were talking the spirit was there and it was a positive conversation. I was a little worried at first and thought that it would turn bad, but we didn't let it get to that point. It is amazing how much the spirit really does help us when we need it the most.
It was been a great week and I am looking forward for another great one. To close I just want to bear my testimony that I know this is the one and only true gospel and that Joesph Smith was called of God to restore all of the truths and to translate the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for our living prophet today and for the guidness that he gives us. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for his sacrifice for us so that we can overcome all the challenges that I face in my life. I honestly don't know what I would do with out it and with out knowing about the Atonement. I know that I am in the right place in my life right now and that I am bringing the joy of the Atonement to all those that I am teaching. My love for the people here have grown so much and I know that they are all sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and that I am here to gather the lost sheep and to help the to return to their Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the spirit and the experiences that I have been able to have to be the person that I am. I look forward to what lies ahead for me and to continue to grow in faith.
I love you all and hope you have a great week. Good luck with all of your activees and boys good luck with you matches. Chelle, I can't wait to hear where you are going. Mom have a great week at school, Dad and Jeremy have a great week with work and Justin have a great week with school. Love you all.
Chelsie I love you and thank you for your email last week. Have a great week and can't wait to hear what you are having!!
Love Sister Ackley
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