week 62

I feel like every week I have no idea to say, but this week especially, I seem to be drawing a blank.

To start: Sister Huber was sick from Thursday to Sunday. So we were inside a lot. Let's just say there was a lot of cleaning and a lot of reading Jesus the Christ. I love that book! I learned a lot and I especially learned, that I am NOT an inside body. 

We spoke in church on Easter Sunday, which actually went super well. I talked about the atonement and the story of Easter. I can't even explain how much I learned this week. Every single day I was saying to Sister Huber, "Did you know this........?" I have been amazed as to how little I knew regarding those three days in the Savior's life.

One of the days while I was cleaning, I relistened to the most recent Face to Face event for YSAs. If you haven't seen it, you should go watch it! But there is a quote from Sister Carole M. Stephens that says, "Study the life of the Savior long enough to love Him". As I listened to this devotional again, it struck me, as all week long I had been seriously studying the last moments of his life. I was able to recognize that my own testimony of the resurrection has grown and of the reality of His life. I'm not sure if there will ever come a time where I love the Savior "enough" to stop studying his teachings and his life. There is so much to be learned.

While we were sitting on the stand yesterday, two of our investigators, who are sisters, ran up to us to give us Easter cards. I don't think I have talked about them very much. Their names are Priscilla and Mariah and they are super good friends with some girls in the ward. They have come to church and activities for over a year. They attended a baptism last Sunday and at our lesson this last week Priscilla said, "I just want to be baptized already!" Their mom wants them to be able to fully understand and know for themselves before they make the decision. We are hoping that she will give consent sooner, rather then later. They are amazing little girls. I'll send pictures next week.

Anyways- back to these easter cards. They were literally the sweetest things I have ever received. It was basically them bearing their testimony to us about how grateful they were that we have been able to help them learn about God and prophets and the Book of Mormon. One of them talked about how grateful she is that we taught her how to repent and helped her to truly be able to feel of God's love. Sister Huber and I both teared up. It was the perfect little card to get on Easter and helped me to better understand MY purpose as a missionary. Christ lived and died and was resurrected for each one of us, but unless we know how to access the atonement, we aren't taking full advantage of it. The restored gospel is people's access to the atonement. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I am especially looking forward to conference next weekend and I hope you are too!

Love 

Sister Mal

p.s. sending extra prayers to mom this week! LOVE YOU!

week 61

I held a gator and I ate a gator this week. I feel like I have officially truly experienced Florida now!

Now on a completely unrelated note... here's my little spiritual insight for the week that is going to be all over the place.

It's March. A year ago, I had the privilege of going to the temple, just 5 weeks into my misison. Most missionaries at the time, didn't get to go until their last transfer. I felt like the luckiest lucky duck around. Well, they've changed things around and now missionaries go at their half way point, but you only get to go once, and since I went at 5 weeks, I don't get to go until I'm back home. 

Over the past couple weeks I have REALLY wished that I could just go to the temple. It's been a full year since I got to feel the peace that comes upon walking in those doors. So I've been praying lately that either a miracle could happen and President would let me go again :) OR I would find that peace in another way.

As a missionary, you feel the spirit, A LOT. It comes in a lot of different forms and manifests itself at different times of the day all day long. It's wonderful, but honestly in the past year I have not had the joy of feeling the spirit through that overwhelming peace that normally comes with a temple. We were in a woman's home this week and we shared the new easter video with her. I can't even tell you how many times I've watched that video this past week. We have been sharing with members, investigators and people on the street- anyone and everyone.

But something was different this time. We sat in her family room and the spirit came in SO strong. I literally looked around the room, because for a second I thought I was in the temple. The peace that I have been searching for, for the last year, came. It came at the most unexpected time and not in the way that I thought it would. From that moment on, every time we have shared the video since then, I feel that same sense of peace come over me. 

If you haven't seen it, you need to go watch it right now! (www.mormon.org/easter). I feel like one of the biggest reasons that I feel the spirit so strongly through this little 2 minute clip is because it reminds me of where my testimony all began. I just read Log's blog letter and it made me think of when I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

When I was 14, I read this scripture. Alma 24:14, "And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as well as unto future generations. Oh, how merciful is our God!"

I have NEVER felt greater peace in my life then when I read that scripture. I think it was in that moment that I knew this book had to be from God. God loves every single one of us and didn't want to leave us alone, so he gave us the Plan of Happiness. He helped us to see that this life really isn't the end but there is just so much more to come. This is truly only a blink of an eye. He will never leave us comfortless. I love this Easter season because it helps me to remember where my testimony all began and it reminds me that what brings me the most joy is knowing that we can be with our loved ones forever. It's not too good to be true. It's true, and I know it with all my heart. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

love you

sister mal

p.s. prayers for mariah and priscilla- that their mom will let them be baptized! 

week 60

So two little miracles for this week: notice they are not coincidences. These are miracles straight from the Lord. There are no such things as coincidences, God doesn't work like that!

Miracle #1: Sister Huber and I were out working in a neighborhood and decided to go and contact some of the formers that neither of us have ever even heard of before. We found this one lady in the area that was a Headquarter referral (meaning she requested something from mormon.org), but she had never been contacted. It was from back in 2010 and we had no clue what she requested.

We knock on her door and she tells us that she requested a Book of Mormon 6 years ago and it never came!! We aren't sure what happened, but she was super curious about it and has wanted to know for the last six years, more about the church. She's also super big into family history and was amazed when we told her about everything the church has access to. It was a little miracle straight from heaven. We are going to meet with her next week.

Miracle #2:Back in October, they took the missionaries out of the area that we now cover. We were given instructions to cover any solid work that the elders left behind. They told us of a Samoan man named Peter who had a date set for baptism, but moved to Alaska a week before his baptism. Well the week the elders moved, Peter moved back to Florida. We tried getting in contact with him, but had no address and no such luck. It was sad, but we prayed that missionaries would find him one day. 

Flashforward to last night: We were in a neighborhood knocking on doors around a less active and about three doors down, this woman answers the door and starts talking to us all about the church. Turns out her dad was a bishop in Samoa and she was raised in the church. Since she was married, her husband often reminds her that she "is no longer mormon" but she loves the church and still has faith. It was really sad. We continued talking with her and she told us that the elders use to come by all the time. We were confused because we had no record of any members living at this house.  We keep talking to her and she tells us that her cousin use to meet with the elders. We ask for her cousins name and she says, "Peter". I felt like everything flashed before my eyes. We compared notes and turns out it was the same Peter. You better believe we're going back this week to get him back on board. We aren't sure what happened, but we're going to find out. And hopefully get the husband of the Samoan lady as well :)

Don't let a miracle pass you by and just think it was a coincidence. God is working wonders in each of our lives, make sure you thank Him for all that He is doing for you. 

Love you!

Sister Mal

week 59

Well family. Things changed... A LOT this week. I am blaming Dad because he told me that I needed to be transferred. Well dad, your wish was granted (kind of).

Sister Huber and I were on an exchange out in Clearwater on Tuesday this week when we got a call from the assistants. We are now companions. I am sad to leave Sister Felt, but the whole situation is better for all involved. She's off to great things and I am so proud of her.

But wait, the excitement doesn't stop there! We've known for weeks, but on Sunday our ward officially split. I really can't even begin to explain the roller coaster of emotions that I have felt over the last week. Sister Huber and I have officially been "transferred" to the Land O Lakes ward, a brand new ward that is completely starting from scratch. The only people that have callings are the bishopric. We have a meeting with the bishop tonight, and I am actually really excited about it.

Monday marked 10 months since I have been in the Tampa 2nd ward. It's one ward, but there are kind of two sides to the ward because of how it is geographically laid out. For the last 10 months I have lived in Wesley Chapel and that place has literally become home. Anytime we leave area, I always feel a sense of relief when we get off the freeway and drive back to our little apartment. I am so sad to leave that area, the people, the members, and everything else that is so wonderful over there. I feel very blessed to be keeping a portion of the ward the same, but I don't think I'll ever be able to fully describe how much I love that ward. 

A lot of things have changed since I got here 10 months ago and I think a little bit of my heart will always be there. I can't decide if this is better than or worse than an actual transfer. This is honestly the first time I've actually thought about it. This ward is home. I will miss it so much.

For happy things-- we are pumped to start working in the Land O Lakes ward. The Bishop and his family are incredible and we are expecting big things to come over the next couple weeks. The Lord has a plan, like always, and I know it's time for a bit of a change. 

This quote has been the back screen on my ipad for the last week and I am really believing that it's true. It's from President Gordon B. Hinckley,  "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people... Stand higher, lift those with feeble kneeds, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Sending love from the land with lots of lakes,

Sister Mal

P.S. A ward member told us that Land O Lakes is the nudest capital of the world. Cheers!

P.P.S. My new address is 23410 White Magnolia Place #104 Lutz, FL 33549

week 59 my pillow is my only constant in my life

the subject line basically sums this transfer up completely. I have no idea who my companion is or where my area is anymore. Insanity at it's finest.

Here's my story for the week, but lets start with the moral: Sister Training Leaders need Sister Training Leaders.

At MLC this week Sister Huber and I were approached by another set of sisters about having us do an exchange with them. President told us after the meeting that it would probably be a good idea if we did so since they are both newer to the mission. Luckily, we are always packed up ready to go because we basically live out of our car from Tuesday to Saturday. Have no fear! 

It was actually pretty crazy because we were planning on an exchange with some of our other sisters but it didn't feel right. The second we decided to go down, I felt like it was EXACTLY what we needed to do. We got down there late in the afternoon and answered some questions about being an STL, before we split and headed out to work.

When I got in the car with this sister, I had the DISTINCT impression to "listen to her". So I did. As we drove to the area we were going to be working in, I had another thought come to mind to forget the plans that we had for the night and help this sister. She expressed to me a lot of things that she had been faced with lately and just how much she had been bottling up.

It was a humbling experience as I talked with her. Every time I tried to think logically, I failed in trying to help her. Whenever it was Sister Sackley talking, we ended up running around in circles. But when I listened to the spirit, everything became very clear. What it came down to was she felt worthless, absolutely worthless and wanted to go home. In fact, she had been wanting to go home for a couple months.

Once again, another impression came to have her pray and seek her potential from the Lord. At this point we had ended up in Burger King parking lot. So I told her that she was going to stay in the car and pray and write down EVERYTHING that came to mind. The spirit was thick in the car and I knew this is what the Lord needed her to do. She looked at me and said, "Would if he doesn't answer?" For a second I doubted. I had the thought come, "Well would if he doesn't? Then what?"

Almost immediately the spirit overwhelmed me I knew that the Lord wouldn't have been prompting me if he wasn't going to answer her. I reassured her and told her that I had received multiple promptings to have her do this. It seemed to up her faith a bit. I stepped outside of the car and sat on the curb for a good 40 minutes.

When I got back in she said, "I've received multiple blessings on my mission, but as I just prayed, I felt that He was talking to me more than He ever has before". Tears came to my eyes, as I knew this sisters prayers had been answered. As we drove home that night she said, "I'm not the same person I was when I got into this car tonight". I was so touched. 

Sometimes I dream of being a normal missionary again, where I am in my area 7 days a week. But I am finding the joy in these incredibly unique experiences that I am having with these sisters. I love the sisters I get to work with. It's still the Lord's work, just a little different than normal. 

Love you!

Sister Mal

Marlitza 

week 58

Dear family,

I really have no idea where to even begin. This week was without a doubt the craziest week of my life and I wish I could explain it all... But I know I can't. So instead here's like twenty different short stories that sum up the week.

1. There are 168 hours in a week. This week I spent 100 of them with Sister Huber and 68 with Sister Felt. I'm not sure who my companion is anymore.

2. We went a deep cleaned a sisters apartment as they had failed a cleaning inspection. Five trash bags, one dried up dead frog, one live albino frog, and five hours later... Their apartment was looking pretty decent. It was intense. Thank you mom for not only making us clean, but teaching us how to clean the right way. I'm spending my days now trying to teach others do the same :)

3. Sister Huber and I are over 22 sisters out of the 49 in the mission. We're running around like chickens with our heads cut off. It's a blast. 

4. It's a seven week transfer. It's going to be a long one. Sister Huber and I work with the assistants to do a 24 hour training for missionaries every Tuesday to Wednesday. So sigh that and exchanges.... I'm only in area for half the week. I'm starting to feel like Mad at the end of her mission. 

5. There are now three sets of sisters in the Tampa 2nd Ward. The last time this happened, sister Huber ended up in the hospital. Prayers for sanity? So far, all is well. However we are expecting big changes in the coming week.

6. Let's not count how many frostys we ate this week. Wendys seems to be our stress reliever. 

7. Book of Mormon the musical: this was our life this week. Hundreds of pamphlets, cards, and copies of the Book of Mormon later... We are all sleep deprived and have the stinking songs stuck in our head (the music played outside the theater). We proselyted outside of it almost every single night this week. The show didn't get out until 10:30, so sleep just hasn't been happening around here. It was such a cool experience though and so interesting to see the type of people that were going. After asking one woman if she wanted to take a picture with us she yelled, "No! I'm an ungodly heathen!!!" And went into the show. Well right after the show, she came out and apologized to us. She was so fascinated with what we do as she could tell the musical exaggerated quite a bit. As we talked with her she said, "I apologize. Can I get a picture with you now?" As we went to take a picture her husband said, "you're a heathen, there is no hope for you!!" She barked back, "These girls have hope for me!" She took a Book of Mormon and told us she would read it.  

I think that is one of the greatest things that we get to give to people... Hope. We talked with so many people these last couple days that all have ties to the church in one way or another. Everything that we have to offer weighs solely upon the Book of Mormon which is where our hope comes from. We gave the book to members of the cast that have been doing it for over a year and have never read the book. They all accepted the challenge to read it. The key is reading it, really wanting to know if it's true. It solely matters where your heart is. 

I read Grandpa Sackley's talk this morning and I thought this quote was perfect for everything that I've seen over the last week:

I also want you to know that my life was changed more than forty years ago as I read the Book of Mormon. There is nothing on earth that has influenced me more profoundly than my testimony of this sacred record and the work to which it belongs. It has burned within my soul over the years with ever-increasing brightness, and I find great joy and satisfaction in walking in “newness of life” in my search for the “more excellent way.”

Love you!

Sister Mal

week 57

On Tuesday, I got the call from President Cusick telling me the news
about grandpa. I had a feeling all morning and I was just waiting for
the call, so when it came, I wasn't too surprised. It made me so happy
and sad all at the same time. However, it was one of those moments
where I was so comforted by this gospel and the knowledge we have of
the plan of salvation.

I immediately went and prayed for two things. The first was that all
the Brockbank family would be comforted and given strength over the
coming week. The second was that the Lord would help me refocus by
reminding me why I'm still serving a mission.

The day was odd, and I just felt a little off. Around dinner time, I
started examining our plans for the evening and something didn't feel
right. We prayed, but nothing was coming and I didn't want to waste
any more time. We set off to do our plans that we had arranged. On the
way there, I had a less active family (the Smith family) come to mind
that was on the opposite side of town. I pushed the thought aside and
we continued to work.

Our plans finished early and we decided to start heading towards the
church to meet up with one of our investigators. However, I noticed
that we still had a good half hour and this less active family was on
the way... So I told Sister Felt we were going to give it a try.

I think I talked a little bit about this family last week, "the Smith
family". Nine and a half months ago, I arrived in this area and
learned their story. Baptized in October of 2014 and they were on
fire. Mom, dad and two little girls. Within a couple weeks of their
baptism, the mother found anti information and was furious. She wanted
nothing to do with the church and the whole family disappeared. For 15
months, ward members and missionaries have called, texted, left notes,
stopped by... Anything to try and talk to them, but they wanted
NOTHING to do with the church and no one has talked with them.

When I learned their story, a little fire burned within me to find a
way in and reactivate this family. Every time I have thought about
them over the past nine plus months, I have felt the distinct
impression to wait. I wasn't sure if it was my own fear or truly the
spirit telling me, but for nine months I have been told to wait. Their
names have been brought up in ward council too many times to even
count. The other sisters just tried them again about a month ago, but
no such luck.

So here we are, Tuesday evening and the spirit said, "Go ahead Sister
Sackley. It's time". We prayed right before we walked in and the words
came out of my mouth, "help us to speak only by thy spirit, to say the
things thou needs us to say".

We knocked and I could see someone look through the peep hole. I gave
my best, "YOU NEED US!!!" face.... And the door opened.

I almost cried. For 15 months, NO ONE has talked to them, and now the
mom and oldest daughter are standing right in front of me. I had no
idea what to do. We asked if they were the Smith family and they
welcomed us right in. Now I'm really freaking out. Not only have we
made contact, she is inviting us in to talk with her.

Over the next 30 minutes the spirit talked to her. I don't remember a
lot of what was said. I do remember her telling us that for over a
year people have been reaching out to her like crazy and she didn't
want to hear any of it. We asked her why she thought people were
reaching out and she said, "I don't know... Everyone wanted to tell me
the truth but I didn't want to hear it". In response we said, "No. No
one has been reaching out to correct you, rather they all love you and
care about you and want to help you". She broke down in tears.

The spirit was unreal in their home. I'm not sure why she opened the
door that night, but I can't even begin to express how grateful I am
that she did. She agreed to start coming to church again and she told
us we could teach her everything again from the beginning. We will be
going back on Wednesday. I love this family so much already.

As we got in the car, I realized that it was a direct answer to my
pray from earlier that day. I am here to be an instrument in the Lords
hands, and there is nothing that feels better than that. The Lord
showed me what He needs me to do. All week long I have felt a feeling
of peace as I have thought of Grandpa. I keep thinking of him the
morning I went to the MTC when I told him that I was going on a
mission. It seemed that he had a moment of clarity and understood
exactly what I said, to which he responded, "That's all I've ever
wanted for my grandchildren". I knew that not only was the Lord proud
of me, but Grandpa was too that night. The church is true and the
spirit is the only source of true peace and happiness.

Love you!
Sister Mal