January 28, 2013

January 28

Dear Family

I am so glad to hear you are all doing well and staying warm. I have heard a little about the the whether in Utah. I think I would die if I was there right now. It has been cold her, but it is already starting to warm up. I always think of you all and hope that you are staying mighty warm. 

Well, to start off the news from California we have BED BUGS!!! I have been getting bitten. Sister Davidson has not been bite at all. This has been going on for the past two and a half weeks. At first we just thought that I was getting bit by a spider than just a few days again I found bugs and caught them and showed them to someone and the are bed bugs. I have had about thirty plus bites. They are no fun and itch like crazy! Sister Becerra wants me to go and see a dermatologist tomorrow to get the bites looked at. I think I might be allergic to the bed bugs. Today has already been busy. We had to wash everything that is in our house. It has taken a long time, but I am glad to know that I have clean clothes and sheets. What an adventure it has been. 

Sister Davidson and I have had many miracles this week. The first one was on Thursday. We both were having a bad day and the adversary was working really hard on us and the weather was rainy as well. We got to a point in our day where we didn't know where to be and didn't know what to do. As we drove we rode with silence. I had said a silent prayer asking Heavenly Father where He wanted us to be. I had this thought come into my mind to go and see Lindy. When I thought about that I started to argue with myself and I didn't want to go because we haven't been able to reach her and I didn't want to waste time when she wasn't going to be there. Well, the feeling got stronger and something told me that We needed to go see her. I then knew at this point that it was the spirit and that we needed to go see her. When we got to her house we saw her car in the drive way. "No way" I thought. We went up to the door and knocked. No one answered. Sister Davidson called Lindy, she didn't answer the phone either. I knew we were suppose to be there so we didn't give up and I had this strong feeling to knock again, so I did. After a few mins Lindy came and opened up the door. She was so excited to see us and said that she had been thinking about us. She has been going through a rough time and has not been doing well. We were able to help her and comfort her. The loss of her son has been really hard on her and we had this impression to read with her Alma chapter 40. It talks about the after life and the Resurrection. She really liked that and seemed really interested in learning more. We also gave her a Book of Mormon and she accepted it with such joy. She said that she would read it that night. Lindy is so amazing and I truly believe that she has been touched by the spirit and will feel the comfort and peace from reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the spirit and for following the prompting that I got. We were in the right place at the right time.

On Wednesday we went to the stake center and talked to all of the parents who were waiting to pick up their kids from school. There were a handful of cars there and we talked to them all. We offered tours and taught the Restoration to a few of the parents that seemed opened. I enjoyed talking to them and we had some that were interested and we have followed up, but the ones we thought we interested aren't so much anymore. That is a bummer, but it is okay and we will keep trying our hardest to find those who are ready.

We have been teaching some Korean girls who are here for the English Immersion program. They have been staying with members of our ward here and have been coming to church. We have been doing family nights with them and have been teaching them about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. We also gave them a tour last night and gave them all English Books of Mormon. The have been reading with the families that they are staying with as well. We are going to do another family night with them tonight and we are going to teach them what faith is and about prayers. The girls seem to enjoy it very much. There is one of the girls that has been touched by the spirit. She says that every time she reads and prays that she feels something and actually knows a lot. She is an amazing girl. We have been having the Korean sister, Sister Yoon come with us. She actually leaves just ten mins from their home town. Isn't that so cool. When the girls go back, Sister Yoon's dad who is the Bishop is going to contact them. I think that is pretty cool and I hope that the girls are having a great time here in La Canada and enjoying their experience at church.

On Sunday we had a wonderful lesson the the Erckenbrack's.  We had dinner with them and then a lesson afterwards. Sister Davidson and I have been really concerned about them lately and have been thinking of how we can help them progress. For the past three weeks they have been going to another church and they have been liking it there. We are afraid that we are loosing them. Last night we had a member from the ward come with us. Brother Gooch is a convert and has the same story as Bryan. The lesson didn't go as planned, but it was a perfect lesson. I know that having Brother Gooch there was so good for them and they were touched by his story. I could tell that Bryan was doing a lot of thinking and the spirit was so strong there. Julie was touched and started to cry. She said that she had felt the spirit and she really wanted this for her family. We asked Bryan if he has been reading the Book of Mormon. He said that he has stopped because they have been going to another church. Sister Davidson then opens her mouth and was BOLD with him and said "You need to read it!" Those words were so powerful and he said that he would. I hope that he really does. I have been praying for them every night hoping that his heart will be open and that he will have the desire to do this and to help his own testimony grow. It was an amazing experience last night and kind of hard to explain. I wish you could have been there. We plan on doing a weekly lesson with them and are going to try really hard not to let me cancel on us. They are so close and We told them how much they meant to us and how much this gospel with bless their family.

My testimony has grown so much this week. I have been able to feel my faith grow everyday that I am out talking to people and helping my investigators progress. This week has been a rough week for me, but I know that every time that I have prayed to my Heavenly Father that he has heard and answered my prayers. I have felt His loving arms around me and He has given me the strength to keep moving forward. On Sunday I asked President Becerra for a blessing. He willingly gave me one and it was a well needed one. The blessing that he gave me was powerful and it was exactly what I needed to hear. Some things from the blessing that stuck out to me were that the challenges and sufferings that I am going though and will go through is because Heavenly Father is developing me for my future and is helping me to become the person that I need to become to help Him do the work that He has already planned for me. This really hit me hard and I felt His love for me. Another thing that stuck out to me was that Heavenly Father looks down at me with a smile on His face and that He is proud of the work that I am doing. This blessing helped me a lot and has strengthened my testimony. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of my needs and knows how to help me in the best way that I need. I am so grateful for all the many blessings that He has given me and I know that I am being molded into the person that He needs me to become. I love this gospel with all my heart. I have faith that the Lord will lead us to those who are ready for me to teach this week and that we will continue to see the miracles from following the spirit.

I love you all and hope that you have a great week. It sounds like you boys and dad are having fun with wrestling. Chelle, good luck with getting your call. I am excited to hear where you are going.

Love Sister Ackley

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD ON THURSDAY!!