week 21

update on John: first of all. I have had a fear all week that we are going to meet with John and he is going to say, "HAHA! I've been a member the whole time!" He knows so much. He's going to be baptized on June 27th. We are BEYOND thrilled. Sister Olson and I screamed and danced and we've been on cloud 9 all week. The things that he says are a clear testament to me that there is no possible way man could have prepared his heart. God prepared him and he is so ready, and we are so grateful. 

 

This week we tried doing some contacting at the local mall. We saw a man on a bench and we began talking to him. 

 

He said, "LDS? Every time i talk to an LDS person I get nervous!!" 

 

We began talking and he couldn't really come to a conclusion as to why Mormons freak him out, but we do. We talked a lot about Christ being the Savior of the world and he expressed interest in knowing what we believe. We began talking about the Book of Mormon and how we believe in the Bible too.

 

At one point in the conversation he states that he was in the bookstore with his wife and he told her, "I'm going outside to talk with someone" then he met us. I had a lot of faith in that moment. He seemed stubborn, but open and curious.

 

But as we continued talking, things changed VERY quickly. I had just offered the Book of Mormon to him and he began to tell me that I was going to hell for preaching of this book. It hurt, but not because he told me I was going to hell, but rather because I had the clear thought, "This is how Christ felt. He just wanted to help, and people persecuted him". So I let him say what he desired for a minute.

 

I realized in that moment that my hands were still extended with the Book of Mormon in them. I had again, a very clear thought, "Mallory. He won't love it". I pulled the book back and said, "I'm sorry, but if you don't want this, that's ok. Because I know there is someone else out there who is desperately searching for it. I know it's true and I left home and family for 18 months to share my love of it with others. If you're interested you can give us a call, but we have to leave". 

 

Maybe a little too bold? But after we left I thought of Christ again. I have a whole new appreciation for his life since being on a mission. People told me I would, but I don't think I really believe it. Now I understand, and I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity to serve. This is the work of God and I am so blessed to be a part of it. But more importantly, I am grateful for my Savior and everything He experienced. He lives.

 

Love you all!

Sister Mal

that one time i prayed for a hair tie because i forgot one, and one LITERALLY fell from the sky. i almost cried i was so happy. GOD LIVES.

florida has the weidest bugs. hands down.

biking into the storm... with an umbrella. we get creative.

that one time the random person felt so bad for us they gave us popsicles.... did we really look that pathetic?! haha we'll take it!

our favorite walk way to walk through the neighborhood. we live in the jungle!

grasshoppers get bigger by the second. this one hopped a foot in the air after i took the picture.

week 20

three things:

1- TRANSFERS:

Sackley, Mallory...............Stay.

wahoooooo. Things are starting to look normal, but maybe I'm speaking too soon!

2- Update on John:

John is INCREDIBLE. Clearly prayers are reaching him. This week we went to his lesson and he tells us he got a little distracted one day as he was reading the Book of Mormon and started researching the church. RED FLAG. But then he proceeds to tell us that over the course of three days he watched: Ephraims Rescue, 17 Miracles, and all of the Work and the Glory. And he's been trying to watch the Restoration, but hasn't been able to get it. He's prepared and we are beyond excited for him. Thank you for the prayers!!

3- The Miracle of Isela:

At the start of my mission, I would hear the sisters that served in this area talk about a woman named Isela at district meetings. About two months in, she finally had a solid date set and was ready to be baptized. Just before her baptism, she found out she would be moving to Orlando for work, so the sisters arranged for missionaries to baptize her there. To make a long story short-- she didn't end up moving. But got super busy with work and didn't have time to meet with the sisters.

When we arrived in the area we had a note on her teaching record that said, "Keep trying with her, she is prepared, life is just really busy right now". 

So we've tried. For 6 weeks, every now and again. But nothing.

The sisters didn't have her address since they never taught her in her home. We got a self media referal (a referal from Mormon.org where someone refers themself or a friend), for ISELA this week. With an address. We were on cloud 9. 

We go to find her.... of course, the house doesn't exist, but the street does. So we knock every door on the street looking for her. And let me tell you.... that street is LONG. We've gone back on three different occassions to be able to complete the whole thing. Well last night we had two doors left, and we were frustrated. We knock on the door and low and behold, Isela's sister answers the door. Turns out she's out of town for a couple weeks, but she's interested still. God works in mysterious ways, but it is only through diligence that we see the miracles come.

Love you all!

Sister Mal

mission christmas party on the beach... my two children (Sister Olson and Judkins)

fast sundays and dehydration are a real thing. NOTE: she is totally fine, just didn't drink enough water and was being a bit dramatic for the camera. DONT WORRY GRANDMA. 

Mary Poppins!

sister tawzer. after a full year of serving in the tampa 2 ward (the whole time she has been on her mission) she found out yesterday that she will be staying for at least another transfer. i'm happy about it. no changes around here!

week 19

This week we found ourselves knocking doors... for hours.... and NO ONE would answer. It was primetime on a Sunday night.... it was strange.

 

But then we get to this house and a man opens up and knows EXACTLY who we are and has been dying to learn more about the church. His name is John. We were pumped.

 

He then proceeded to tell us all about how he has been to Salt Lake to the family history center and how grateful he is for everything the church has for free, that he can use to locate his family. The building we attend has a family history center in it, and he has been many times to work on his family tree. We have a lovely conversation and set up a return appointment.

 

We go back and have the most amazing lesson of our lives. I can't even explain it. We had planned to teach him the restoration, but he knows so much about the church already that we spent the majority of the time talking about the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon only. He is beyond prepared. The following are quotes from him during the lesson, I kid you not:

 

"I've watched a lot of BYU devotionals, and I've never been so touched in my life. I mean I've heard a lot of preachers and pastors, but there is just something special about those people. They make me cry every time!"

 

"Mormons are just so happpy! And I can't figure out why. But I want to be like that! I want to be just as forgiving as they are"

"Is the Holy Ghost that little voice I hear in my head, guiding me?"

as he's explaining how he got a Book of Mormon, "I just saw a pile of them at your building when I went to do family history work, and I took it as my invitation to take it and read it!"

 

"I know what you're getting at! You want me to read the Book of Mormon and listen to the Holy Ghost! Hmmm I can do that!"

 

He is incredible. But has been out of town for a couple days now. We are so excited to teach him again this week.The Lord truly does prepared hearts, and John is a perfect example of just that. Pray for him?

 

Love you all!

Sister Mal

I had to ride my bike for a solid 2-3 miles like this for exchanges. 

the CUTEST kids in the ward that took us around to all their neighbors... they literally went tracting with us for an hour. so we let them wear our badges for a minute. they both said, "we want to serve missions, but only for 3 years"

cheers to forever 21 cheap jewelry... i sweat so much that my neck turns green. youre welcome for that visual.

hurricane money party.... you get REALLY weird looks when you ask for 80 bucks in 5s and 1s.... ooops. 

memorial day lasagna and watermelon with the other sisters (also no other apartment in the mission looks like this-- a member gave them old furniture and so their apartment is SUPER nice)

i've never looked so attractive in my life.... we get caught in storms almost daily. thanks florida.

That time we accidentally got stuck on either side of the gate. 

week 18

hi! 

for like two seconds! we had 10 minutes to get on today and print off emails. I wrote you a letter yesterday so you should get it later this week. It explains more about the call yesterday. 

 

all is well, life is good! 

 

I'll talk to you all next week! 

 

Love you!

Sister Mal

go big at President's house for dessert!

don't worry- sister olson cut it yesterday :)

week 17

the bridge we walk on most days to get out of our neighborhood... isn't it lovely?! the green here is like a brighter version of home

honks.

 

whistles.

 

"do you need a ride?" 

 

*wink*

 

seriously. people are frightening somedays. 

 

My point in all of this is not to say we have creepy men hitting on us all day (although we sometimes do), but rather to say that whoever says Satan disappears for missionaries, is wrong. Very very wrong. 

 

There are times in our life when a choice is placed before us and the line is clear. Good and bad. The decision is made easy and you don't even think twice about it.

 

But more often than not, that's not how Satan works. He's clever and he knows our weak points. He knows how to make us feel discouaged or how to make the sun feel ten times hotter than it actually is (or so I like to think). This week Sister Olson and I discovered that we had let the advesary get to us. One day during studies we found ourselves both in a funk and frustrated with a lot of things. We felt like we had lost the spirit and we couldn't figue out what we were doing wrong. It was a relief to discover we were on the same page, but also scary becase we didn't know what to change.

 

We knelt and prayed. And prayed. And prayed. HARD.

 

It became very clear that the spirit had not left, it was there, but we had let other things get in the way. We weren't being disobedient, but we were forgetting to look to God. 

 

We made a game plan, took it to the Lord, and put it into action. And then begged for miracles.

 

They came. They always do. We felt engulfed with the spirit the second we knelt down and asked God for help. It's been a miracle filled weekend and I am getting really excited for these next couple weeks as we continue to look to God and live. Try it! It's amazing what the Lord can do in our lives.

 

Love you!

Sister Mal

 

P.S. Dianne and Josie need your prayers :)

Fam--

 

Here's an extra little tidbit of craziness for your week:

 

Yesterday we get a call from President inviting us over for dinner.... yes. Sunday dinner at the Cusicks. We were freaking out thinking that we were being trapped or maybe there would be a nonmember there, and so we were trying to prepare ourselves the best we could! 

 

We show up. The APs show up. The four of us and the Cusicks sat and ate the most delicious meal ever. They just wanted to have us over for dinner. We sat and talked about the real world. I know I sound like an idiot... but it was CRAZY. And then President had us and the APs organize this new planning format for the whole mission. Living two miles from President definitely has it's advantages.... but it's SO crazy at the same time. We don't even know what normal life is like anymore.

 

Love ya lots!

Sister Mal

hand painting bought to you by the yw at the ward party this week... all the siser's hand

tampa 2 sisters!

the ward had a carnival auction party this week and a photo booth was a part of the fun

week 16

greetings fam and friends

all I can say is- amen logan. Skyping is weird. It's good, but weird.

anyways. here's just a random tidbit for your week.

Revelation 3: 15-16

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

We've been talking about this scripture around here a lot lately. 

Make a decision, whether it is good or bad. Work hard, or don't. Be exactly obedient, or forget it. Do it or don't. Leave the gray area behind. Stop sitting on the fence. You're not doing any good when you're sitting on the fence. Satan owns the fence, and he wants us to sit on it all day.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am the most lukewarm person, ever. I can't make a decision, ever. I often think of dad saying to me, "Just make a decision and live with the consequences whatever they may be". But I've always thought that sitting on the fence is safer than picking on side. 

WRONG SISTER SACKLEY.

So each day, as I write in my journal at night, I think about when I was hot, and then also the times where I was lukewarm, and I find ways to do better the next day. I'm working hard to stay off the fence, but it's a constant effort. Pick a side and learn from it each day with each decision you're given.

I'm getting better dad, but I think you would still have to say to me "Just decide!" One day, ONE DAY, I'll be able to decide before you can say it! I'm choosing to be hot. That sounds weird, but you understand :)

love you!

sister mal

Gator sighting!

We bought camping chairs-basically the only furniture we are allowed to have in the apartments. 

i spill everything all the time.

sister tawzer and i on exchanges in tampa 1 this week. we made crack muffins :) (ask sphen)

gator #3 sighting.

snappy the snaping turtle we met one day while biking.

these frogs are EVERYWHERE at night. they cover the sidewalks... they are HUGE.