July 29, 2013

July 29

Dear Family and Friends, 

Wow, sounds like everyone had a great pioneer week. I am glad you boys and dad had fun up in Idaho. I am glad that you all enjoyed your time swimming and watching the rodeo. Mom, sounds like you are staying busy between your school stuff and cleaning the house. I hope you all have had a great summer so far. I know that this summer has gone by so fast. I can't believe that it is almost August in what.. 3 days. Crazy!

Well this has been another good week. Something that I have been doing this week is having a good attitude about everything and not letting any little thing get me down or bother me. By doing this I have been sooo happy and in a good mood. I love being happy. It helps me to have a better week and everyone else becomes happy as well. I have been able to go on exchanges again this past week. I went with a sister that I absolutely love and I hope that I can be companions with her before I go home. Her name is Sister Baum. She is a incredible missionary and I was surprised at how well we taught together. Usually teaching is little rough because you aren't use to one another, but we just so unified. It was awesome. 

We had a lesson with Sister Martinez. The lesson didn't go as we had planned. We had a great lesson planned and wanted to invite her to be baptized. We got there and her little girl was bouncing off the walls and being silly and the dog kept barking. We were so frustrated and we tried to bring the spirit in the room. We did have the spirit there after a few mins, but we don't feel that Sister Martinez was all there with us. It was so sad. We explained that her family means so much to us and that we want to see them get sealed together has a family. She just was not there with us and it was really sad. I felt like crying. We are trying so hard to help her understand what blessings she can have and also the blessings that her family can have as well. I keep praying for ways that we can help her and ways that we can bring the spirit in the home to testify to her. I know that no matter what happens, I know that I have done all that I can and that she now will have to choose for herself. I love this family and I want to see them so happy together. One day she will get baptized. We are not giving up on her.

Alex met with President last night. President is going to work with him and is planning on taking the Spanish sisters over to his house to start teaching his wife. We all feel that she needs to feel it in her heart. She will feel it so much more if it is her own language which is Spanish. She loves the way that she feels when we come over and teach her and when went to the Visitor Center at the LA temple. We feel that this will be a great opportunity for her and that it will help her understand more of the gospel. Alex and Jovita are two very special people and we want to help them in anyway that we can. I know that this is what will help them in their relationship and I think Alex is starting to realize that. We are going to continue to work with him and hope that he will be baptized here soon. 

I am sorry if this email is so short. These were the highlights of our week. I am still learning and growing everyday and I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be here on a mission. I have been blessed to find those that are prepared to hear the gospel. I know that I have been successful because of my obedience and faith. I have no regrets and I am going to stay strong til the very end. I know that I am a daughter of God and He loves me. I know that I have made him proud and that I have done my very best. I know that He has a plan for me and knows how to help me when I fall down. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that without him, nothing is possible. I know that He is the one person that knows exactly what I am going through and knows what I am feeling. He is there to lift me up in my times of need and to heal my aching heart. I love my Savior so much that I am happy to be out here on a mission to share this great blessing to others. I know that this is where I need to be right now in my life. 

I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Keep smiling and be safe!

Love Sister Ackley

Pictures: I got invited to a college party! Sister Lee and me and Sister Baum and me.