Week 80

Family,

I don't even know what to say. I have just read Log's last email home and my heart is full. I really can't believe I am sitting on this end of the experience. Just like Logan, this will be my last email home as I have trainings and exit interviews next week.

I can't say the smallest part of how I feel in this moment, but I have been thinking a lot about myself two years ago. When Logan left on his mission, I had made up my mind not to serve, but as I hugged him goodbye he said, "See you in the field," and it made me think again. Now, I can't even comprehend what life would be like if I hadn't met all these wonderful, incredible people in Florida. 

Just before I left, Mat Kearney's Oregon song came out and I remember Mom saying that I could sing it as I came home. Well, I literally haven't thought about that song in 18 months, and we were driving down the road this week and it popped into my mind, "I'm coming home to a place that I remember, back to the land that I first loved, would you spread wide your arms for this way-ward son? I left my heart in Oregon". Just as quickly as it came to my mind, I started to sing a hymn to kick it out and then I realized how false the last statement is. My heart is stuck in Florida and is refusing to leave.

These last six weeks have been rough, to say the least. Not what I expected or wanted for my last transfer, but this week I realized it's what I needed. In my last interview with President Cusick he said to me, "If you were to go home today, you should be satisfied with the work you have done. The Lord is so proud of you." I thought, "Ummm President, I STILL HAVE SEVEN WEEKS! I'm not done!" But like I said, a lot of unexpected things have happened, and it's been hard. I've realized the Lord knew I was going to have a really hard time leaving this place, and all these experiences I have had, so the end needed to remind me that the mission isn't meant to last forever. It's been humbling and eye opening.

This email could last forever and ever, but no one has time for that. It's not over, just merely beginning. I'm excited to use the skills I have acquired with what lays ahead... also terrified out of my mind. But I know one thing won't change...

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life".

The people might change, but I am still a servant of the Savior and if there is ANYTHING I have learned these last 18 months, it's how incredibly grateful I am for the Savior and his infinite sacrifice for me. I feel beyond blessed that I have been able to serve.

Love,

Sister Mallory Sackley

Peacocks!! look on top of the white van

They were shedding all their tails

The smiling lion. We taught the lady that lives here for a bit on the exchange.

Exchanging with Sister Martin 

and Felt! 

We went back with our old comps for the day.

Plenty of pizza and cookie dough was ate this week

more pizza ...

Doug. I love this man. Literally, he is one of my absolute favorite people.

HAHAHAHAHAH

This family. I really can't even begin to explain how incredible they are. This is the Henry's. He's the bishop of the LoL ward. They are going to be gone the next couple weeks, so I got a picture with them. They are amazing and basically perfect.

Florida grasshoppers!

Back to the very beginning... love this girl!

Saying goodbye to old comps!

Love them both!

It's getting really hot here. We have plastic melting in our car.

Sister Blanchard is done, but is happy about the tan lines.

Remember that one time we almost got struck by lightning?? Literally everyday it hits closer and closer to me. If I make it home alive, it will be a miracle.

Knocking on mansions!

Well we aren't Jehovahs!

Week 79

So Thursday I hit the 18 month mark and it just so happened to be the day that Sister Blanchard and I fasted for our ward's 40 day fast (it's where someone from the ward signs up everyday to fast for their own missionary opportunities and for missionary work in the ward). We had a couple BIG lessons planned for that day, so we were really excited to see certain miracles come. Well, this week's theme was humility... and that's just what happened on Thursday. Here's all the miracles that we saw that we weren't planning on, but were pumped to have!

1- We called a recent convert that dropped off the face of the earth 5 months ago, and he met with us that night. He realized he needs the gospel in his life again and is willing to start meeting with us. 

2- We taught another recent convert, and she said, "Sisters, I want you to know, I've decided to serve a mission!" once again- we were shocked and thrilled. 

3- We did family history with Doug and John again and a MASSIVE storm came in... and Sister Sackley does not do well in massive storms. In fact... lightning hit the church building 8 times, and I stayed completely calm. I've officially been in a building that has been struck by lightning. I'm thanking the Lord for lightning rods. 

4- We got a family to commit to coming to church every single week as an entire family, and were finally able to teach them all the restoration. Although they are not ready for baptism, they are willing to attend church. 

As I am typing these out, I realize they don't seem that significant, but I wish I could explain more of the back story with each of them. They were truly miracles. It was a great way to celebrate 18 months of being a missionary. I literally wouldn't trade the last 18 months for anything, as cheesy and ridiculous as that sounds. We still have two full weeks and plenty of more miracles to come!

love you all!
Sister Mal

Sometimes you just want to curl up into a ball and eat a treat...

Taco Tuesdays! I'm doing my best to train her right.

Treats seem to be a common theme here

Exchanges in Odessa

Two of our WML's daughters. They were Sister Sackley for a bit.

One day... ONE DAY she'll be a missionary!

Florida skies. I'll never get tired of them.

Week 78

July 18, 2016

Couple of updates over here... it's been a crazy week between interviews, urgent care, exchanges and a million other things. All is well, now. We received a call from President Cooper on Friday telling us that he felt VERY strongly that Sister Sutton needed to go open one of the closed areas in our stake. We took her to the mission office and she is now there with one of her old companions. She will serve her last couple of weeks out there.... We have been with each other since day 1 and I really thought we would finish together! Saturday was sad to say the least.

 

Other news: Log and my theme this week was, "I fear no man!" I could tell a couple different stories from the week, but here's one about a sister I worked with this week - since that seems to be the theme of my mission... other missionaries.

 

We have REALLY been struggling with a set of our sisters. There is a lot involved in the situation, and not a ton we can do to help them, but it's causing stress with all parties involved. We did an exchange this last week, and all week I felt the need to be extremely bold with this sister. So while on the exchange we talked about some of the difficulties and things. At one point, I straight up told her that she was the problem and she needed to get over herself and set her personal pride aside. I've worked with this sister for awhile, and not much clicks with her unless you are very bold... so I was. I think she was a little taken aback, but she knew it was all out of love.

 

Throughout the whole thing, I kept feeling prompted to bring up the Book of Mormon... so I finally did. Turns out she has never read the Book of Mormon all the way through and she's not even sure if it's true... RED FLAGS!!! So I told her she needs to read the Book of Mormon every single day for an hour and pray and ask God if it's true. She agreed to do so. She called me the next day and said she had already received an answer, but she will continue to read the Book of Mormon for all of personal study everyday.

 

Also, I have never felt more bipolar in my life. Having to say goodbye to Sister Sutton this week felt like a preview of what is ahead, and I am not looking forward to it at all. So we're working hard and trying to ignore the inevitable!

 

Love you all

Sister Mal

Say hello to our 5 dollar pineapple nightgowns from Walmart. 

This is how I will always remember Sister Sutton hahahahaha

The storms are coming Harry! We must prepare!

Sister Sutton found this Hello Kitty first aid kit in all of her stuff and wanted to get rid of it... so i put it to good use first! 

Two of my favorite people in the whole world - John and Doug 

John helped Doug this week get his family history going

The story of the gloves will be told another day

Tan lines!

The morning we dropped off Sister Sutton :-((

Week 77

Logan and I have started a bit of a challenge as to what our focus is these last couple of weeks. Like he mentioned, it was all about focusing on the one this week and I can think of multiple experiences I could share, but one has been MONTHS in the making. 

Doug was baptized almost a month ago and I could write a letter every single week about the Ward members lives he is touching. Literally every single person that comes to his lessons is so moved by his childlike innocence and desire to follow God. He's seriously uniting the ward, they can't get enough of him. We've really been working to get the youth involved, especially those that are thinking about missions. We've had the strangest groups of people join in the new member lessons, but they are so powerful and incredible every time. 

This week we brought one of the priests to his lesson. He had come once before and when we introduced him to Doug we explained that he was thinking about going on a mission. We decided to simply read the Book of Mormon with Doug this week. He was at Enos, so we read it all together, which was perfect. As I was testifying of the experience Enos had of praying in faith and acting in faith which led to miracles, I was really trying to focus it towards Doug, but the spirit kept prompting me to direct it to the priest more... So I went with it. I focused on the one the spirit wanted me to focus on! Near the end of the lesson Doug turned to the priest, quite randomly, and this is the conversation that followed:

Doug: So are you going to serve a mission??

Priest: ..... Yes. You know I once wanted to go really bad, but I had completely lost that desire and I had decided I wasn't going to serve, but I feel like the fire is back and I'm ready to go now.

(Picture three sisters mouths dropping to the ground)

Doug: You know who's been getting to you?! Satan!! You just need to kick him in the face!! Get him away from you.

Yvonne (Dougs daughter): yeah! Heavenly Father will help you!

The priest texted us later that night and said, "Thanks for letting me come. I really like Doug, he's an inspiring guy!" The next day, by divine intervention, we ran into his mom and she was THRILLED and praising the ground we walked on. He met with the Bishop yesterday, and the papers should be going in soon. All those months of teaching the priests and we got one. That's really what it's all about. Finding the one. Christ left the 99 to find the 1 and so should we. 

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Mal

 Fourth of July! This is our friend Miles. He's in pictures with Sister Huber and I from Easter too!

This has been a goal since I came to Florida...

Finally did it!

We left shortly after they started blowing everything up.

Metro eyebrow plucking.... Hahaha

Sister Durrant was my companion for the morning on campus.

Our sign for Doug... It's his favorite scripture.

a Jesus loving car

The metro group this time around (President and Sister Cooper joined us for the whole day)

Albino frogs