MTC Week #5!

"What do you do on Preparation Day?

YOU PREPARATE! YOU PREPARATE!"

-<rapped>Elder Clement

Hello family and friends,

Yes, you heard that right, "preparate." Hahaha he is hilarious. That is his P-Day song that he revealed to us last week. It's quite the tune. It's basically our favorite song. I wish you could hear him sing it, SO FUNNY. I will sing it for mom and dad on the phone in 2 weeks haha. Be excited.

This week flew by! I cannot believe I am emailing again, and I can't believe I have less that 2 1/2 weeks left. AHH. I cannot wait!

This week we started our English teaching class/thing. We just take an online class and next week we will practice by teaching the ESL missionaries. It's fun to do something different, but kind of yateragaate-you-ma (annoying), beacuse we can't get our Visas until we finish it.

So, we had a great lesson with Ganzorick Ax this week. (By the way Ax=Brother, and is pronounced "aukh.") At the end Wilson Ax was pumped! He told us that that was our best lesson yet, and that he didn't even notice our language (which is an awesome thing). He never gets excited after lessons, so this was a big deal. He was just telling us that he was really proud and that our language is doing awesome! I was so happy I could have cried. It's nice to hear that fromy our teacher, because it's hard to notice growth when you are in the situation. I love Mongolian though, even though it's way hard. I really cannot remember to knowing it. It's weird. I feel like when I speak everyone should understand, because to me it feels normal that those words mean what they do. I know, wierd. Also, I feel like since I have been here I have found a missing part of me. That missing part is Mongolia. I feel like the people, the language, and the culture are part of who I am now, even though I have never met them. I'm sure Sam and Layton can relate to that. It's amazing what this call has done for me, I KNOW that Mongolia is where I am supposed to go, and that my call is inspired.

It's funny, ever since I have gotten here I suddenly love singing. I love singing in Mongolian especially! So dad, I finally did the chior on Tuesday! It was awesome! And GUESS WHAT!? Elder Neilson came when we sang!! YAHOO! It was so awesome to be in the chior when there was a General Authority speaking. We sang, "Come Thou Fount," which is the song that every missionary wants to sing here. We came to chior practice on the right week haha. So, Elder Neilon. He is so funny, and so full of life! He litterally hopped up the stairs to get on the podium. He has so much energy. Some of the funny things he said was, "Twitter those tweets!", "We have 18 MTC, right? -No, 15- Well, get on that! His job is to run MTC, mine is to be a prophet." Hahaha! He also said, while doing an air hand shake, "Please accept my virtual hand shake!" What and awesome man. I loved his talk! That night was awesome, we also had a older Sister missionary (couple missionary) sing at the beginning. She has sung in the Metropolitan (if that's what it's called), and she was amazing. She sang, "Be  Still My Soul," it was beautiful. So, Elder Neilson talked about a variety of things. One thing he focused on was Family History. We have heard a lot about that lately. One thing that I loved that him and his wife brought up was that the people that we are going to teach have ancestors on the other side that are praying for us to teach their postarity. And that we have their help when we teach. When we convert people, their ancestors then have the opportunity for their ordinaces to finally be done. She said, "The gates litterally open on the other side when ordinances are preformed." That made it very real, and was awesome to think that when we are converting on this side we are also serving those on the other side. So cool. He also talked a lot about being happy while we serve. He said, "Goodness, men are that they may have joy. Look like it!" Haha. (: Anyways, it was a fantastic day! I wish I could write more about it.

We had Brother Standly Littlefield speak to us on Sunday. He talked about establishing a mission culture. I loved it. He said that we should establish a culture for our mission that we want the mission to have. Be an example of obidience. He said to be a succeful missionary we must believe, testify, obey with EXACTNESS, have firm minds, wear your life out in service, teach effectively, pray continually, be bold, and not bare for a soul to be lost. What good council, right? Ohh how I will miss these devotionals.

I can't wait to go to the temple in a few hours! Thank you for all the thoughts, support, and prayers. I know I say that every email, but I truly am so grateful for it. Continue to pray for my Visa. I pray for every one daily. I love you all! (:

A parting thought: Mongolian is exactly like Hermione's comment on the first Harry Potter. "It's Leviosa, not Leviosaaaa." (I'm sure Jess can correct that spelling.) {{She got it right by the way, haha. :) We know our harry Potter!}} But seriously, if you say one vowel too long, it is a different word. So, funny analogy when we figured it out a few days ago. (:

Well, know I am doing great and loving it out here. I hope every one is enjoying life! Like said in Alma 26, "we have great reason to rejoice," we have the Gospel! So have a happy week, and enjoy life! (:

I love you mom and dad!!

Love,

Sister Ackley (Egtch)

MTC Week #4!

San Bano! (I wish I could type in Mongolian better... Here is the English writing of it haha.)

I hope everything is going well for everyone! I love getting grandma's mail from Clark and news that is going on with everyone else. Congrats Natalie, on the new job and graduation! GO UTES! (; Hahaha. BEFORE I FORGET (again)- A big shout out to the Vance and Page family for the awesome Birthday package they sent me. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU! I was going to write you all a lettter, but I had no idea what you address was. I loved all the notes though, and the awesome lantern thingy. (: It is hanging up over my bed haha. I also LOVED those cupcakes! So goood! It was nice to have some healtier tasting treats for my birthday, I knew you would do me proud with the healt. (: Haha.

A shout out to Jessica, I saw Clyde Ribaldi and Meagan Parr (she gave me the hug for you). I miss you, and I hope everything is going well with moving and such!

So, we are almost all the way off notes in our lesson. Pretty cool, it has helped the Spirit A LOT. Most languages get off notes within a week or two, but... We are slow. Dang Mongolian. Mom, that means that we don't use notes in our lesson. We used to write out everything we wanted to say and read (I hated it, but we had to at the beginning). But now we finally know enough to just form sentences in our heads. This language is insanity. I really do know a lot more than I think, my problem is when people start talking it recognize A TON but understand nothing. So, I am working on trying to understand at the moment, due to the fact that I will be there in three weeks. AHH! Cool thing, I forgot the words "sister" and "thank you" the other day. I could only think of them in Mongolian. That is a good day when that happens. Also, in one of my lessons I was thinking in Mongolian for a few minutes, and the words were just coming, I didn't have to translate them in my brain (if that makes sense). It was nice to have a taste of that in the MTC, because I know it won't be happening often right now haha. I am so excited to get out there though! But it kind of makes me giggle because I know that when I get there I'm just going to be like, "Uh-oh." Hahaha. But I mean, every missionary experiences that. Every time I have heard a Mongolian speak (at the TRC and at the temple when we met them), it is definitely VERY different! Thank you, gift of tongues. It is surely a real gift. I could not be learning all of this without His help.

We have one of our investigators committed to baptism, woot. We should be getting another commitment tomorrow as well. Hopefull that all works out. It is really interesting because the majority of Mongolians do not know who God or Jesus Christ are. So, I will be doing a lot of what Layton did, explaining a lot of the basics. So lessons take a lot longer with us, since we have to explain that a little more.

So there is this really funny Brother in Mongolian that we have heard about names Bat Boltht (Jodie would know him I'm sure). I guess that he just knows everything. He is an old guy and he has access to everything in Mongolia. It is hilarious. He works with the President, and has for forever. So on culture day Margetts Ax (Brother Magretts) told us about this one time they were driving to Khovt and they stopped and saw this 7-8 feet tall bird. (Literally! There is a picture!) And Bat Boltht says, "I've heard of that bird..." I don't know why, but it was just hilarious. I guess you would have to know more about Bat Boltht. He will also, when you are driving in the middle of the baren countryside, tell you to stop and turn, and say, "there is an animal that needs our help." He will drive to some random place and there will be a lone sheep or something! He is all knowing, it is hilarious!

We had Mission Conference on Sunday, it was awesome. I also got to bare my testimony in sacrement meeting, which is always fun. You wouldn't believe it, but I cried. I know, crazy right? Haha I'm a baby. We also had the NFL player Chad Lewis and his wife come talk to us on Sunday at our devotional. That was really awesome. He talked a lot about his mission and told a few cool stories about his life. He was awesome, and totally talked like a football player. It was a really entertaining devotional for sure.

I have been getting better at volleyball at gym! It has been fun. We play a lot with our District. I have the huges bruses on my arm from the first day they taught me how to play better. My arms are just too weak, or I was hitting too hard haha. It is kind of funny, they are huge.

One of my teachers brought us note from his primary class this week. That was super cute!

On Tuessday we had Elder Gavarette from the Seventy and his wife speak to us. That was really cool. She bore her testimony in four languages: Spanish, Portugese, French, and English. He talked a lot about being a succesful missionary and about our Savior. It was awesome. One thing I loved that his wife said was to don't worry, just believe. He talked about how we need to find our missionary purpose in the scriptures and find miracles. I liked that a lot.

There is a word in Mongolian that is pronounces "Beibeeer" with a rolled R. It cracks me up every time haha. Justin Beibeeerrrr. We read it in the scrptures outloud and all giggled. Hahahaha. We find entertainment in pathetic things here.

CODY- IF YOU ARE READING THIS... WRITE ME!!!!! (I heard an Imagine Dragons song outside from a car and it made me miss you. Write me! I don't know your address or I would write you!)

So, We learned the Mongolian national anthem this week... SO AWESOME. It is stuck in my head 24/7 and we all are obsessed with it. It is the best song ever. Look it up on YouTube, but watch the second video down, the one with the little kids singing. It is so cute and so good! Our teachers showed it to us, that is how I know haha. SO COOL! I know I will cry when I hear it when I get home. Just such a spiritual song, and such an original anthem.

Grandpa, I will totally get you one of those hats haha. I LOVE THEM! Aren't they awesome?? Haha. It makes me happy to think of you wearing one haha. You will have to send a picture once you recieve it, of you and grandma wearing it.

Mom: Just in case my letter gets there late- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! I love you, and I couldn't ask for a better best friend and mom. Thank you for all you do, especially as I am out serving. You're Super Woman. I love you lots! Have a great Sunday! (Dad, give her a hug and kiss for me!)

Well, I'm out of time. I hope that everything is going great for everyone! Thank you for all the love, prayers, and support. If you have any extra prayers hanging around send them my way, for my Visa, and the language to come. Thank you! (:

Love,

Sister Ackley

MTC Week #3!

Hey everyone!

 

Holy mackamoly. I cannot believe I have already been here three weeks, and going on to my fourth on Wednesday! So weird. I have a ton of emails from my Birthday, so thank you all for the nice words! I love you guys! (:

 

So, guess what? Elder Richard G. Scott came to speak to us on Tuesday! I cannot express how amazing it was. The spirit was so strong when he walked into the room and everyone stood up. He said after the chior sang the hymn, "I think I just dies and came to Heaven." That was incredible. I was in awe that he was honored to be in OUR presence when he is a General Authority. It was seriously amazing. He is such a sweet man. Did I mention we were in the third row away from him? AWESOMENESS! The most powerful parts for me was when he gave us an Apostolic blessing and when he ran back up after the closing song becuase he felt like he needed to say a few more things. When an apostle does either of those things, wow. He spoke on the importance of prayer. It was amazing to have an apostle there to speak to only us. We knew that everything he was saying was just for missionaries, and that we needed to hear every word. It was so amazing. He talked a lot about missionaries learning languages, which I needed to hear that week. He said that when we do something that we have never done before (learning a language), we have to do things we have never done to learn it. Good advice. I have been trying to take it to heart. He said when we serve our missions we will "discover things we never knew about ourselfs and discover a greater capacity to love." My favorite part of the whole thing was his testimony. It was so powerful. I know that he is an apostle of God, I have no doubt. He said at the end, "I know Jesus Christ lives, because I know Him." I wish I could write every thought I had, but all I can say is that I am so gratful to have been there while he spoke. I get emotional just hinking about it, it was such an amazing blessing and the spirit was so strong. I'm grateful for how my testimony grew that day.

 

Sister Mary Edmunds spoke to us last Sunday in R.S., she is hilarious! One of the things she said was, "Maybe you are thinking, 'What if my District Leader is 18 going on 12?'" Hahahaha! I was dying! So true! The Elders here are so young haha. She also said, "Don't touch the Elders! But, keep track of the ones you want to touch, and when you get home, touch 'em!" Hahaha what a lady.

 

Sister Esplin from the General Primary Presidency spoke to us this Sunday, it was awesome. She is such a sweet lady. The new General Young Womans Presidency was there that day too, very cool. I cannot wait for tonight's devotional! It will be great, as always.

 

One funny thing about the MTC is that everyone is always singing church hyms, especially "Come Thou Fount!" You will always hear at least on person humming it throughout the day. Ohh, the MTC. We also find entertainment it very odd things. Such as telling Elder Hayter to eat a bowl of cereal for no reason, and everyone in the cafeteria joining in yelling "EAT IT EAT IT!" Also, having conversations with each other via banana. The things that you do to have fun at the MTC... Haha. I love it.

 

I saw Olivia! That was such a great surprise! We were on our Sunday temple walk (I'm sure this was the day Layton gave his talk), and some just came up and hugged me. I have never been so happy to see someone! Haha it was so great! We reunited, I met her man, and we chatted a little bit. I will send the photo we took. (: It was so great to see some family accidentally. So great. I hope you are all doing well. How was Layton's talk? I'm sure it was awesome! I'm sad I missed it.

 

I have been chosing a Christlike attribute to study each week. Last week I studied patience. This week I am studying charity and love. I love doing this, I got the idea from Elder Huckvale. It has really been helping me be patient and focus on things that will make me a better missionary. Preach My Gospel has a great section on those attributes too! READ IT! Haha I love Preach My Gospel.

 

We have ice cream twice a week here, and I eat like 3 scoops every meal. It's a problem. Good thing I will not have stuff like that in Mongolia haha. I have to enjoy it now, right? (;

 

One funny thing I forgot to say last week was that in General Confreence, when they announced that Elder Holland would be speaking next that whole gym was like "Ahh, ohhh, whisper whipser, yay" hahaha. It was so funny. Everyone loved Elder Holland here.

 

One interesting thing about learning this language is that I already feel like I have learned it before. Sister Magleby feels that way too. We feel like we are just re-learning it or something. Like when we learn a new word, it feels like we always knew that word meant that. I can't really explain it. I feel like it is probably part of the gift of tongues and also just a comfermation that Mongolia is where I am supposed to teach. We did an English lesson the other day, not good. It did not feel right to teach in English haha. I know I am supposed to be going to Mongolia. I am so blessed!

 

We teach two investigators a day now, in Mongolian. We have been getting much better at planning, and so it has been much less stressful. We sang to two of our investigators yesterday. Our teacher said that in "I Am a Child of God" our Mongolian was perfect and we sounded great. That was a compliment! We sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" to our other investigator. That made me think of you, mom and dad. When we all were touched at Sam's homecoming when we sang it. I love that song so much, and the Spirit is always so strong when I sing it. Especially in Mongolian. The scriptures sound so beautiful in Mongolian too. Ahh. I am so grateful to be learning this language. I think it is finally starting to come a little better this week. My mind has been really clear as I study hard and have faith. I am so grateful for the gift of the Spirit and the comfort and guidance it give me. I couldn't do any of this work without the Lord. I love this Gospel, and I love my Savior. I hope you all know that.

 

Well, after moving buildings twice for class, life is pretty crazy. But so amazing! I hope all is well, I love you all! (: Have a great week. I keep you all in my prayers! Pray for me to continue to learn the language well. Thank you. (:

 

Love,

Sister Ackley