Many of My Mission Friends are Going Home Today

This is Elder Kitchens.  He is my best friend from the Pre-Mortal Life

Elder Naulu from Spanish Fork

Hermana Morgan from Temecula, California

Elder Slavens from Blanding Utah

 Hermana Jones from Joplin Missouri =)

This is our Midwest Pride Picture

On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 8:34 AM, Amy wrote:

Dear Elder J Hackleman,

How are you doing today? We had a great weekend. We got a new stake presidency on Sunday. We had 2 members of the 70 here to make the changes. One of them was Joel's old stake president from Twin Falls. Our stake young men’s president was called as the new stake president. He is awesome and loved by all. It will be great. Nathan and I sang in the stake choir then we rushed out the door because Nathan was also singing with his school choir along with 6 other high schools from the area and the Omaha Symphony. They performed Andrew Loyd Webber's Requiem. It was so unbelievably good. The Maestro even talked about Nathan's choir teacher, and started to cry because he is so touched by her. She is retiring this year. Luckily you will be home in time to see the end of the year concert. I'm sure it will be spectacular!

Nathan started show choir practice the first of November. I am looking forward to his first performance for show choir. He is loving it. He and Grant are also excited to start practicing for church basketball. Tim Law is going to be their coach again this year. The games start in January but they will start practice any time now.

I sent you a little Christmas box in the mail on Friday. I sure hope it makes it to you. I packaged it with pictures of Virgin Mary and Crosses all over it and put tags saying it is full of toothbrushes and toothpaste for the Mission. Hopefully it will make it in one piece. There is also a little something for your companion in there too. If it arrives, do not open the box until Christmas morning. The items inside the box are not wrapped.

We are getting excited to go to Fort Collins for Thanksgiving. I think I told you before we are going to a CSU volleyball game as well as a CSU football game at the Air-force academy. We have snow now and the past couple of weeks have been record breaking cold so I'm not so sure the football game is going to be fun in such weather, but we will bundle up the best we can.

Your dad had a good interview on Friday with Midlands. He doesn't know for sure that he got that job, but the interview went well.

How is the missionary work going?

I love to hear your stories!

Guess who got home from their mission on Friday? Ryan Shields.

Love

Mom

Hey Mom! This week was a wild one. Today we have transfers. I am pretty sure my companion and I are staying but we will see in a few. This good thing about being zone leader is that we are the first ones to know transfers. Haha I am not sure I will be able to keep it closed until Christmas, we´ll see. Haha I miss the cold weather. Take advantage of it. haha That will be awesome to go to the CSU game though, apparently they are playing super well right now, according to grandma.

Here are some pics of some of my best friends from the mission that are all going home today. Elder Naulu from spanish fork, Elder Slavens from Blanding Utah, Elder Kitchens my best friend from the pre-earth life who´s from Ogden, Hermana Morgan from Temecula California and Hermana Jones from Joplin Missouri =) (on the next email).

My companion and I took baptismal dates out with familia __________! They are sooooo awesome. It has been such a spiritual experience teaching them. They are going to get baptized on the 20th of December. I sure love you!

Elder Hackleman

On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 9:26 AM, Tim wrote:

Dear Elder,

How was last week?? I have been praying for familia ________! I hope all is going well with them. We had a wonderful Stake conference. We had Elder Nielson of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy and Elder Payne, an Area Authority Seventy. Our new Stake President is Pres. Derrick. He was the Stake Young Men's President for the past few years. You're going to love him. Seth was one of his favorite young men in the entire Stake. Anyway, Stake Priesthood Leadership was awesome!! One of the best I have ever been to! One of the overall themes for the whole conference was "Hastening the Work".

Here's a couple of things that I think would be revelatory for you and your companion (and your Zone for that matter!) - Draw a comparison between "Hastening the Work" and the "Woman taken in Adultery"

Here's another one! This one is about wayward family members compared to lost quorum or ward members...

Study Luke 15:4-5 and 8-9, the "Lost Sheep" and the "Lost Piece of Silver" really think about verse 5. Then read the parable of the Prodigal Son in verses 11-end of Chapter 15.

What's the contrast between the first two parables and the prodigal son parable?

Anyway, I am so proud of you! Every time missionary work was spoken about, all my thoughts turned to my sons. Are you doing well? I have complete faith, and I am serious about "complete", that you are in the hands of the Lord. You have the ability to accomplish his work no matter what. Just remember when there's a challenge, He'll provide the right opportunity at the right time!

So, here's some more worldly news!

Utah beat Stanford in double overtime! We seriously need a QB. Utah is now ranked 20th. I think we could have seriously played in the PAC12 Championship if we had a decent QB. Papio South lost to Creighton Prep in the State semi-finals. But then get this!!! The coach for Creighton Prep resigned for personal reasons over the weekend and won't be on the sidelines for the State Championship!!! Who does that???? The online class that I'm teaching starts on the 24th! And I had a second interview with Midland University on Friday that went really well. I think I may have that one too! It was with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. When he found out that I was from Utah, he told me about an interview he had at Utah Valley University in Orem. He said that he interviewed with Matt Holland and Asked, "Do you know Matt? I guess his family is pretty big in Utah. His dad is Jeff Holland." I almost fell out of my seat. He didn't realize that he was talking about an Apostle of the Lord.

Anyway, Tell me all about your week and what's happening!!!!!

¡Ámele hijo!

Papá

Haha! Ok sorry that is so funny about your interview. I am laughing out loud right now. I wrote down all you said to check in the scriptures so I will read it later. =) Mom told me about stake conference. That is awesome. He will be the guy releasing me! Haha My trainer Elder Kitchens ends today. His parents came to pick him up. They are going to machu picchu and all that. I can’t believe he is done. He is my bro from since before I can remember. For real. haha I can’t believe Creighton Prep, Sounds like a Pete Caroll from USC to the Seahawlks type situation.... I sure love you dad. Keep praying for Familia _______, they are going to get baptized on the 20th of December.

Elder Hackleman

Letters to and from our Missionary 11/11/1914

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 10:26 AM, Tim wrote:

Dear Elder,

How was your week? Just as crazy as ever? Do you get a chance to go out teach much? One thing that I have been curious about, but have always forgotten to ask you is, how is your knee? Have you had any problems with it since you've been out

How is your companion doing? What adventures are you having?

We are all doing well up here! I have an appointment with a surgeon this week. I don't know if you remember when I had my belly-button hernia repaired back in Sidney? I think I am going to need it repaired again. Also, I will be teaching a "Fundamentals of Print Design" class for Bellevue University. It's an online course that starts November 24th! Because it's online that means I can set my own hours and do the work at night a couple times a week. I'm excited and a wee bit nervous too! Also, Midland University called and said that they have a class for me as well. That one probably won't start until after the first of the year. I'm really excited about that one because it's one that I will actually have to go into a classroom and teach.

We're all excited for Stake Conference next week. We're getting a new Stake President. I think I told you that. Your mom and Nathan are singing in the choir. They are having fun doing that. Speaking of music!!! Are you still playing the piano??? I always loved to hear you play the piano. Reason #738 why I can't wait for you to get home. :) Don't worry about what's going to happen as far as school goes. We'll research everything we can so that you have a lot of options to consider. Focus on saving just one more soul each month while you're there.

Anyway, I love you so much tiger! Please be safe and always heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

¡Ámele hijo!

Papá

Hey Dad! Yeah this week was pretty crazy. haha Wednesday, we had our monthly leadership meeting with all the zone leaders, the assistants, and President Archibald. I love those meetings. It is so awesome but they are physically draining. Haha Then this Saturday and Sunday, we had stake conference here in Ventanilla. It was awesome. President and Sister Archibald came, the temple president of Lima, and a member of the 70, Elder Costa. Wow. It was great.

Yeah my companion and I still teach, not as much but we still do. Yesterday we found a family of 4 that we are sure we are going to baptize so we are super excited about that. Familia _________. Keep them in your prayers please! =) My knees are just like they´ve been my whole life. I don’t pay attention to them. That stinks that you have to have surgery. I hope everything goes ok. That is awesome that you will be teaching those classes! Do you have any idea what exactly you are going to teach or not yet? Hey you can finish the basement with all that extra cash you will be making so that when I get home, we can have march madness parties in the man cave!!!:...haha just a thought =p Do you know if an apostle will go to stake conference to call the new stake president? That would be sweet.

I play piano every once in awhile. haha 738 reasons huh? I am excited too. It is helping me to work harder though because I know it’s my only chance to make a difference. I hit 19 months today!!!! Yikes. Haha Love you dad!

Elder Hackleman

On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 11:51 PM, Amy wrote:

Elder J. Hackleman,

How is my oldest doing today? We are doing good. I have been working doing Insurance audits all week and will be doing them again for a few more days so this past week was a little crazy, but things will get back to normal by Wed. or so.

The weather is supposed to really cool down this week. I guess I am not quite ready for winter yet, but it's coming whether I like it or not. There is a phrase from the movie, "Frozen" that goes, "The cold never bothered me anyway." I made a poster with those words, then at the end, I said, "Just kidding, I hate the cold" ha ha.

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway
Just Kidding
I Hate Winter

Tim Law just got back from China. We are going out to dinner with them on Friday so he can tell us all the crazy stories that happened to him while he was gone. I guess he has quite a few.

So we had ________ over for dinner today. They taught a lesson last week but Grant was gone to a meeting so he wasn't here. They asked Nathan if he would teach the same lesson this week only teach it to Grant so he could see if he learned from what they taught last week. This all sounds well and good, but while it was all going down, there was one thing I kept thinking about that I knew I wanted to write to you about when it comes to missionary work. This is something that has bothered me over the years about a lot of the people and sometimes even among the missionaries. I hope you can learn from it, as far as what not to do. Maybe even help other missionaries you are around to help them learn as well.

A lot of the time people will be joking around and having fun with the boys, and it gets a little bit out of hand. They can be rather rude and eventually take it too far. The theme tonight seemed to be, make fun of Grant night and make him feel dumb for not saying the right things, or in the right way. I finally put my foot down and stepped in. I think it is never appropriate to say comments about someone that are derogatory, even if you think you are doing it in fun. It was not fun for me to hear it and it certainly was not fun for Grant. He tried to laugh along and go along like it didn't bother him, but believe me, it did.

I think it is going to be a while before we have them over again. They are fun people, who just say enough rude things to rub me the wrong way.

I know you are never one to say rude things, but sometimes I think other missionaries need to be called out on it, or at least have the discussion brought up to them. Just a thought.

I sure love you! I would love some more pictures of your area. I know I am a broken record. I just don't have a visual of what your area is like. Besides you are so darn handsome, I love to see you as much as I can:)

Love mom

Hey mom!!!!

That is a bummer about your visitors. I think sometimes some people let their egos go to their heads, even if we don’t want it to or don’t even realize it. I have always tried to be conscious of how I treat people but I definitely see problems with it here as well with some of the missionaries. Grant is a tough kid though so that’s good. =)

I hit 19 months today! I can’t even believe it. My comp and I are teaching a fantastic family of four. We found them just yesterday but it was easily one of the most powerful first lessons I have been in. Keep them in your prayers please. Familia _______________.

I will take some pictures today.

Love,

Elder Hackleman

Letter's this week

Dear J Hackleman,

So things around here are good. I am working this week doing chart reviews. I did go to your doctors office and have my toe x-rayed. I was not surprised to find out it is broken. I also was not surprised to find out it broke all the way through. I have been saying that all along as well. Anyway, it is starting to heal itself back and it's healing straight so now I just have to let it have time to keep taking care of itself. The doctor said it is taking so long because it was completely broken off, but the good news is, it is on it's going in the right direction. She said it might still take 2 to 3 months before it is completely healed.

We are getting a new stake president at stake conference in 2 weeks. They announced it at church today. Nathan and I are singing in the stake choir.

I went with Becky trick or treating. The kids were so cute. I will send pictures when I can.

Nathan and Grant went to a Halloween party. They watched some scary movie.

Tim went to the Titan Football game.

Yesterday Nathan worked out at the fields. They had a softball tournament. He worked from 9 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. It was a long day and it was so cold outside. He went in shorts and a light jacket. I tried to talk him into wearing warmer clothes and taking a lunch but he wouldn't do either. About an hour after I dropped him off he texted and asked me to bring him a bunch of warm clothes because he was freezing. It was only 40 degrees. I went ahead and through in a lunch as well and headed back out to the field. After he got home he even admitted the lunch saved his bacon. Love that kid. Sometimes moms really do know best.

I'm still plugging along in school. It has really been a fun quarter.

I sure love you.

Love,
Mom

Hey mom! I just remembered that someones birthday is coming up????....Happy Early Birthday momma! What are you going to do? That is so funny. Nathan hasn´t changed a bit. Haha When you say Tim when to a Titan football game do you mean Tim law, or dad, or both? I know how you feel with the toe. those buggers are just a pain.....get it? PAIN? haha I haven't lost my sense of humor just so you know. Haha Love you mom!

Elder Hackleman