Week 61

Hello,

This week was a pretty good week.  We are enjoying the work more and more every week and i have a really funny video to prove it but the computer is not working and wont let me download things so maybe next week i can get it. 

However this week we had a really col experience with a Less active. Because elder evenhuis and i know absolutely no one we have to go through the ward directory and are trying to find the part members. But the other day we tao po'd a door and a girl ran up to us and said "Hi elders what time is church on Sunday I want to come" so that caught us a little off guard and then the mother came to the door. We asked them if they were members and the daughter said yes and the mother denied it and said no. So i immediately thought okay less active that is probably offended. So we sat on the door step awhile and just tried to be their friend and get to know them a little and get them comfortable with us. Finally we got in the home and were able to sit down with them. We came to find out that they havent been to church in over 5 years and in the last 5 years have been baptized into a new church and just ONE week ago was excommunicated from that church. SO they took us arriving at their house as a sign and we were able to teach them a super bold but loving lesson. By the end of the lesson the mother was in tears she said she was feeling the spirit stronger then she had in years. As i look back i realize we went from a mother denying she was a member to her being in tears because she was feeling the spirit so strong and making plans to come to church that coming week. It is so amazing how powerful the spirit can be. To an investigator, less active or anyone. The spirit is such a powerful tool as a missionary and I am so very grateful to be able to have it with me so often. 

Also side note, Jonalyn is doing really well. she is super progressing and is super active in the lessons. The other issue is her husband is against us 110%. So we have been trying to teach him and get him comfortable with us but some extra prayers for her and her husband would be much appreciated. 

:Love you all lots!

Elder Sackley

Week 60

Hello,

Dont have lots to write so i apologize in advance for the lame letter but i will do my best. General conference this past week was a good ol time and was super exciting being able to listen to all the speakers and all the advice. It is truly a testimony to me that God continues to call prophets and reveal revelation to them. SO sweet. 

I had a really spiritual experience this week with a new investigators named Jonalyn. She is 22 and has one baby kid but lives with members. Well last weekend the member mentioned she was going to go and listen to the prophet speak and it caught jonalyns attention. So she tagged along to go see the prophet. Well she described to us that when she entered the church a feeling just over came her and she "felt something she had never felt before in her life" but it was a good feeling. I knew that it was the Holy Ghost. But she continued to share with us how as she listened ot all the speakers she continued to feel so at peace and just wanted to keep listening. So she went to all 5 sessions of general conference and now is probably our most progressing investigator. Super exciting. Besides that though we are just going through the entire area trying to find people to teach and figure out as well where our actual area is. 

Fun things that happened. We were walking in what turns out to be the most dangerous part of our area. we didnt know. No one told us and we are new to the area so had no idea. But its called "Muslim Village" so needless to say two tall Americans probably shouldn't be walking through there but we were and a bunch of teenagers called for us so we went over to them and it turns out they were playing volleyball. So we played a pick ip game with a bunch of Muslims which was quite fun and now we have friends there. Love it.

Love you all lots!

Elder gsack

 Teaching our little recent converts. They are so sweet

 These are all my little followers (our zone)

My children in the mission 

and some chicks

Week 59

Hello,

Well today is transfer day and it is looking like I got my plate full for the next transfer. I got a new companion! His name is Elder Evenhuis and he is from South Jordan Utah. He is fresh out of the MTC so it should be a good time. We are also opening a new area here in dasma. So we have lots of finding to do in the coming weeks hahaha. 

This past week has been pretty good. We have been having lots of fun as a trio. We refer to ourselves as "the three happy friends" Its just been lots of jokes and having a good time. I am thankful for the chance which i had to be with elder Uasike and Mendioro. 

This past sunday was a really good day. We had to go to church for 6 hours which was a little brutal but it all ended good. We had lots of investigators come to church and one in particular was Nanay Camacho. We have been teaching Nanay for a long time now and she never comes to church. Her grand daughter is 16 and a recent convert so we always try to get her to help us. But sunday morning we texted all our investigators like always inviting them to come to chruch later that afternoon except this time nanay camacho replied! She said "Okay elders I will try" So we were super excited with this little bit of hope she had given us. When we got to the church that afternoon and walked into the sacrament hall there was nanay with 4 of her grand children. She decided to come to church and bring all of her grand children with her. It was just an oh so happy moment for me. Trying the last 12 weeks to get her to come to church and now she finally came and had a really good experience. It was just a super satisfying feeling. 

I love this church. I love this gospel. Letters from anyone and everyone are much appreciated. Ill even write you back.

Love you all lots

Elder gsack

 Church with JJJ and Nanay Camacho!!

 It was so hot inside the house so Uasike took his mattress outside and we slept out there.

 Last district photos!

Elder Evenhuis!! Woohoo!

Week 58

Well Hello my people,

I have tons of pics to send this week so i am going to let that tell most of the stories but I would like to share an experience I had the other night. There is a family here in the ward I have grown close to. They are a less active family and are quite offended by members but they love the missionaries. So we have had dinner at their home in the past and have gotten close to them. However last may nanay got a sickness. It maybe started earlier then that but it really hit her hard in may. By the time i got here in the area she really wasnt doing well. I have given her countless blessings both in her home and in the hospital. However just last friday night we got a text from our bishop telling us nanay had just passed away. Well we were on the opposite side of the area so we couldnt go and see them that night but we went first thing saturday morning. When we got there tatay was just sitting in the living room. I went and sat by him and we didnt say anything for a good 20 minutes. just sat there and thought. Well it came to the point he turned to me and said "Elder Sackley do you have any advice for me?" and i thought oh crap. I am a 19 year old boy and this 60 year old man whose wife just died is asking me for advice. What the heck am i supposed to say. But I thought quickly back to Grandpa Brockbank. Some one i loved very much and of course it was an awful feeling when he passed away. I have a picture of him on my desk of him in a wheel chair and hes counting his money. He was oh so happy. I miss him very much. So i shared with him about my grandpa and what happened to him and how of course i was sad but they is something that God has blessed us with that is amazing. The Plan of Salvation. I was able to explain to tatay that nanay now was in a way better place. Where she is not sick anymore and does not feel any pain. I also was so happy to hear that they had been sealed in the temple. No i did not take the chance to chastise him and tell him to come back to church but i exampled to him as well that one day he can live with her again with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. There was a really strong feeling of peace that came over me and i could tell tatay could feel it too. I gave him a big ol hug and we were on our way. The funeral is tomorrow night and I got a call earlier today asking me to speak at the funeral so I gotta prepare something good and start practicing hahaha. 

Also Zyrold, Zedrec and Tatay Juanito got baptized on Sunday!! He is my oldest convert so far on the mission at a whopping 76 years old but still does construction everyday. Hes the man.It was a great service and lots came to watch.

Those 3 baptisms also put the zone "to the moon" we do a thing every month where we try to "hit the moon" which means as a zone you try to average 2 baptisms per companionship and i am pleased to say Dasma zone was the only zone to hit it this passed month so h yea.

Love you all lots!

Elder gsack

 Got a dope new elephant bag

 and this is an investigator named Cyrus!

District pics at the sisters baptism the other night

BAPTISM!!!!