Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Service Project Cleaning Beaches in Peru

We did a huge service project as a stake on Saturday, December 14, 2013. We bused in to one of the beaches here and picked up trash. A Lot of the trash turned out to be stuff that construction companies would leave behind. It was stuff like pallets, giant barrels, huge blocks of cement, rusted nails, pvc pipe. Things like that. There were mountains of it too. Needless to say, most of the people who came to help couldn´t lift that stuff so it was pretty interesting for the few there who were big enough, myself included. It was so cool though. All of the stake centers in PerĂº organized this project so the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints literally cleaned every beach touching the country of perĂº by the time the service project was complete.


Elder Hackleman worked so hard he slept the bus ride back home.

Another Photo Posted On Facebook

I had no idea what great friends I would make with my Missionary Companions!  I have been blessed with the Best of the Best!


Kristen's Wedding Announcement

My Cousin Got Married While I Was Gone.

Elder Cook Visits Peru

Venezuelan, Peruvian Saints Are “Outstanding,” Says Elder Cook

By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News assistant editor
11 SEPTEMBER 2013



Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, sister Mary Cook, speak to members in Venezuela. Photo by Curtis Anderson.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve and ElderTad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy traveled to Venezuela and Peru Aug. 16 to 26, meeting with members and missionaries and conducting an area review and priesthood leadership training meetings.

The Brethren were accompanied on the trip by their wives, Sister Mary Cook and Sister Kathryn Callister. They were also accompanied on portions of the trip by members of the Church’s South America Northwest Area presidency: Elder Juan A. Uceda and his wife, Sister Maria Uceda; Elder W. Christopher Waddell and his wife, Sister Carol Waddell; and Elder C. Scott Grow and his wife, Sister Rhonda Grow.

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In each country Elder Cook and Elder Callister said they met local members and leaders who were “outstanding and spiritually strong” and who “focused on their temple covenants.”

Venezuela

Elder Cook and Elder Callister visited Venezuela, located on the northern coast of South America, on Aug. 16-18. During an adult devotional to a large congregation that was broadcast throughout the country, Elder Cook left an apostolic blessing on the people and country that face many challenges. He also bore witness of the Savior and the Atonement.

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“I know that there’s been hardship in their lives that are beyond what most of the Saints across the world face,” he said in a discussion with the Church News. “And I felt inspired to talk to them about how the Savior’s Atonement overcomes not only sin and death, not only allows us to have exaltation and salvation, but that it does cover all of the heartache, all of the heartbreak, all of the evils, all of the seeming unfairness of life.”

The Church has a strong and growing membership in Venezuela. The first branch of the Church was organized in the country in 1966 and the Venezuela Mission was created in July 1971. Today the country has some 150,000 members, four missions and a temple, dedicated in 2000 by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Elder Cook’s assignment in Venezuela was the first time in many years an apostle could meet with members and conduct large-scale priesthood leadership meetings in the country.

He said “the kindness and the sweet approach” of the Latter-day Saints in Venezuela and their “obvious love of the Savior” was remarkable. Being with them was “a very tender, sweet experience.”

Elder Callister said the Venezuelan Latter-day Saints were “hungry to hear the words of an apostle.”

“They love the gospel and want to be in touch with some of the leaders.”

He added that although many in the country struggle economically “they are happy. They are positive. They are very receptive to all the messages. They had a spiritual hunger in their eyes and their hearts to be fed.”

Because of the political climate in Venezuela, North American missionaries were removed from the country in 2005.

Elder Cook—then executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department—said because native Venezuelan missionaries made up only about 50 percent of the missionary force in the country at the time, the Church looked at consolidating the four missions.

“The leadership in Venezuela said, ‘We know that the Venezuelan missionaries left could only fill two normal-size missions, but please don’t do that. We will rise up, and we will call additional young people and we will fill those missions.’ And they’ve done it.”

Elder Cook said during his recent trip he looked at the missionaries with tender feelings.

“They were spiritually strong and you could just tell that they were fabulous. And the success they’ve been having is rather remarkable,” he said, noting that Venezuela is one of the higher baptizing missions in the Church. “The members support them in a wonderful way.”

He noted that almost every young Latter-day Saint in Venezuela, who serves a mission, does so in Venezuela. “They need the missionaries here and they serve here.”

Many of those young people become leaders in the country when they complete their missions.

Elder Cook called the local leaders “strong.”

In addition, the Caracas Venezuela Temple has been a great blessing, Elder Cook said, noting that he and Elder Callister met one group of local members that had traveled eight hours to get to the temple. “They looked wonderful and they were so excited,” he said. “They are focusing on the covenants they’ve made and they’re renewing those in their sacrament meetings. … They are going forward in a wonderful fashion there.”

Peru

In Peru, a country rich with history, Elder Cook and Elder Callister held numerous member and priesthood leadership meetings and visited seven of the 12 missions in the country during their travels Aug. 19-26.

Peru, located in western South America, was once home to many ancient cultures, including the Norte Chico civilization (one of the oldest in the world) and the Inca Empire. The Spanish came to the area in the 16th century. “The unique thing about Peru is that they have a history that they understand,” said Elder Cook, noting that Church members honor their rich history.

That history also makes local Latter-day Saints more aware of the Book of Mormon. Peruvian Church members “relate to the principles in the Book of Mormon because those teachings could also be found, in many respects, in their own history,” he explained.

Elder Cook’s visit to Peru came shortly after Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve organized the 100th stake in Peru, which took place on June 30.

Peru has more than a half-million members, 12 missions, a temple in the capital city, and plans to build two more — one in Trujillo and one in Arequipa. Only three other nations — the United States, Mexico and Brazil — have reached the 100-stake milestone.

Elder Callister said one of the highlights of the visit to Peru was participating in an area review with the Area Presidency and Area Seventies in the country. “They each made a report on what they are doing in their areas,” he said. “They are men who are articulate and devoted. It was pleasing to see how seasoned the leaders are for the time the gospel has been in Peru.”

During member meetings, Elder Cook told the Peruvian Latter-day Saints that there “needs to be cohesion and love and unity in the family” and that the family needs to sacrifice to help the rising generation.

In addition, he said, the local members not only need to prepare missionaries to enter the mission field, but they also need to help the missionaries assigned to serve in their own areas find teaching opportunities.

“I thought the response was remarkable,” he said.

He taught members that the cooperation between missionaries and Church members is one way the Lord is hastening the work, noting that there will probably be 85,000 missionaries in the field by the end of the year.

“There has never been, in this dispensation or any other dispensation, anything like that,” Elder Cook said.

Elder Cook noted that despite recent economic success in Peru, there are still large numbers of Latter-day Saints who are very poor. “They recognize that what is really important is to have the gospel and to have the blessings of the temple and to know that you can be reunited with your family, with God the Father and Jesus Christ,” he said. “They have that. They know that.”

Photos From Our Missionary

Christmas Box From the Laws!



From the Hadleys!


This week from Peru Dec 31 2013

Elder Hackleman

On Mon, Dec 30, 2013 at 10:37 AM,


Elder Hackleman,

It was so awesome to be able to talk to you on Christmas eve. It was the highlight of the entire month! There have been a lot of pictures posted of you recently on Facebook so I will get those added to your blog sometime today:)

We have been having a wonderful Christmas break. The boys go to the church every chance they get to play a little basketball.

Grandma and Grandpa stayed until Saturday. We had a lot of nice dinners. We had steak on Christmas which made Nathan one happy camper and of course Pretzel Jello salad.

Kristen got married on Friday. I guess it was nice. I have only seen one picture so far. Tayson is getting married in February.

We sure love you!

Love

Mom


Hey mom! It was so wonderful to see you as well! Nathan needs to keep his shot up. That kid still has a chance to be a serious basketball player. =) My pensionist did the most wonderful thing for me yesterday. You´ll never guess what she made me for breakfast..............BACON!!!!!!!!! She didn´t know how much I loved it but she found it in a market super far away from the house one time and she knew that Americans love it. I didn´t realize until I ate it that I haven´t had it since the MTC. I was so happy. Haha I can´t believe that Kristen got married. I did here about Tayson though. That’s good for him.

So I have been talking to an elder in my district named elder Gubler. We figured it out that the way transfers fall, we might be going home the same time and his parents want to come out to get him to. His name is Troy Gubler. Hes from vegas. Something to think about if you wanna get in touch with his mom or something. =) I love you mamma! 

And I got the package from the Laws. Oh my word. They definitely made me the most sought after and popular missionary in my zone. It was so awesome. 

And I got Christmas letters from the Hadley family! Please tell them all thank you so much for me and how much I appreciate it. 

Oh and I got letters from the Achievement day girls in the ward. That was so sweet of them. I have them all saved in my mission stuff that I am going to keep forever. Tell them all thank you so much!

Missionary Photos 2013






Tuckered Out.  Elder Hackleman was so excited to skype his family he couldn't sleep the night before, so he slept through the Christmas dinner.



Until the Turkey Arrived!







LDS Church Service Project.  Bused in Missionaries to clean the beaches.



My Companion and Best Bud!



Elder Hackleman's Companion







Christmas Eve Skype.  Best Day of the Year!


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Elder Hackleman's Baptisms this Week



The girl´s name is Antuanet. The boy´s name is Alain Poul. They are both awesome! Alain Poul is 20 and we are already talking to him about serving a mission!!!

December 9th From our Missionary

We as a companionship, elder ramos and I, are working way hard to baptize every week. We are on our third week and have a fecha for this Saturday as well. His name is xxxxx. We are very excited. We get along great as a companionship which helps us out a lot in our teaching. We teach with the ping pong technique very well because neither one of us wants to dominate the other in lessons, the way it should be.

Oh my that sounded like a fun ride to church. I will have to try the laugh techniques. I can totally visualize pops talking about his crescendos forte position in the choir. That guy. Hey crazy fact, I heard Paul walker, The actor from fast and furious that is a less active member of the churched died last week. Is that true? crazy! I have no idea about transfers. We have them next week but I don´t know if I am going or not. Hey, we get to skype in a couple weeks!!!!!!!! Our mission is going to do it on Christmas eve. I don´t know what time yet but I will let you know. You all better be ready! I am so excited. My pensionist wants to know if you have any codes or anything for the package you sent so that she can track it to see if and when it makes it here ok. You can send it to her facebook in english and I´ll translate what you say if you get the chance. I love you mommy!!!

Elder Hackleman