Missionary Life In Peru

My companion and I helped a lady in our branch milk her cow. 

Yes, I can milk a cow =)

This is my new companion. He is from Chili. He is the only member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in his family. One of the sister missionaries who taught him the lessons married someone from Omaha and now lives in Nebraska. Pretty Cool.

Peruvians tie the legs and the tail so they can milk on both sides without getting kicked or swatted by the tail. Not the way Granpa Howard milked a cow, but it seems to be effective.

Dear Elder J Hackleman,

How has your week been? Things have been good around here. Thursday Nathan tried out for the swing choir and he made it, so that will be a new adventure for him. Grant had a football game against a Bellevue School and they won by a long shot. I can't remember the score, but it was a lot to not a lot, ha ha. Grant played center and was in on every single snap and never had a bad snap so life is good. They practiced shotgun the night before the game and he wasn't getting the snap to the right place, so he needs more practice on that. Luckily the coach was smart enough to recognize he wasn't ready for that yet so they played under center except for when they needed him to long snap for punt returns.

So I officially start my online classes today. As soon as I get done emailing, I am going to get to work studying. Should be fun:)

We had a great Sunday. The meetings were so spiritually uplifting. I always feel replenished after a great Sunday. Now I just need to carry that spirit into the rest of the week.

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

I sure love you!

Love Mom

Hey momma!!! Good for Nathan! I hope he likes it. He better be the next hot thing after ¨one direction¨ if he is gonna give up football for it. haha No that is awesome though. You know that I always wanted to do swing choir. It looked fun and Mr. Mead wanted me in it really bad but it was during seminary and my teacher was kind of a nazi about those types of things.......=) (side note, Elder Hackleman's seminary teacher was his mother). Speaking of seminary, did seth tell you he saw Lance in the Provo Temple the other day? How cool is that? He says he is a twig now. Haha.

I hope you are icing your toe and putting on all of your witchcraft oils so that it heals quick. =) What are your classes like? You can tell me next week if you are studying right now. I know how school can be stressful =) Everything is going great around here! We have a baptism this week!

Elder J. Hackleman

I taught my branch presidency how to make pizza!
My ward mission leader had never eaten pizza in his life.......what!!!!!!!

Gringo teaching Peruvian's how to make American Pizza

City Street in Pueblo Supe, Peru

3 Wheel Vehicles

Houses on the Hill

Elder Hackleman Heading to a Teaching Appointment

Dear Elder,

How was your week? How did your teachings go? I think you getting someone ready for baptism, but I can't remember. How is your greenie companion doing? Things up here at home are great. Everyone is healthy and doing well. It's starting to cool off. I'm ready for that! But that means it's going to start heating up in Peru! You know, our lives are kinda boring when half our children are out serving the Lord! Your old man wouldn't have it any other way :)

Papio South won their game Friday night. They are 2-1. Sidney won theirs too. I think they are 2-0 so far. Utah had a bye week this week. They Michigan at the Big House on Saturday! Grant won his game. They are 2-0 so far too. Mom's toe is finally starting to heal. That's been a struggle for her to not move as quickly as she wants! So what cool spiritual things did you learn last week? I'm reading about the Savior's visit to the America's in my scripture study. I love those few chapters of 3 Nephi.

Seth is doing great. It sounds like he won't have any problems with his Visa. I think he flies out on September 29! I hope he's able to call from the airport like you did. That would be nice!!

Anyway, take care of yourself and your comp!!

¡Ámele hijo!

Papá

Hey dad! Teachings are going good! We do have a baptism coming up this saturday. My companion and I are doing good. My companion and I were studying a lot this week. Why it makes so much sense that God only has one true church and its the one we represent. I feel so strengthened by my scripture studies that I feel like I could take on the Pope himself on which church is true. I made sure to study a lot about humility afterwords to make sure I know where I stand and don´t cross any boundaries and that its not my place to prove people wrong, just to show them what is right. That is kinda what I have been focusing on this week.

So far it looks like all is well in the football relm!!! Who has sidney played so far? I am so stoked for seth. Thanks too for the money dad! Love you!

Elder J Hackleman

Ancient Incan Pottery - Huacos

These things are ancient pottery you can buy here in Peru called Huacos. The people here swear that it comes from the Incans. There was a time where the government just started selling them off to people for a 100 soles a piece or more. I am not convinced that they are really that old.....but they are cool!

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 8:32 AM, Amy wrote:

Elder Hackleman,

Grant had his first football game on Thursday. He did great. He is playing center. He takes after his older brothers. We beat a team who killed us last year so that was fun.

So what is new in Peru? What is the weather like now? Is it hot or cold? What is your ward like?

Did you know that Elder Anderson, from the quorum of the 12 apostles came to Peru recently? That is pretty neat.

Love you tons!

Mom

Hey mom! I did know Elder Anderson came, but I didn´t get the chance to go see him. I think it was a meeting just for bishops and branch presidents. The weather is nice right now. Every once in awhile we will have a day that is a little hot for my taste, but other than that, it stays pretty cool for right now. I am in a branch and it is pretty little so we are trying to grow it up some.

Elder J Hackleman

Letters this week 8/9/2014

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 8:36 AM, Tim wrote:

Good morning Elder!

First, yesterday was Grandpa Rog's birthday. Say Happy Birthday to him. :)

How was your week?? I heard Peru had a visit from an Apostle! I think it was Neil L. Anderson. Did he come visit your area? That would have been cool. How is Elder Cisternas adjusting to mission life? Gotta send a picture of him! We had a missionary return from her mission a couple weeks ago. It was a Sister in our ward who went to Toronto, Canada. Your mom and I started thinking, "Holy Cow!!!! Punkin's next!!!" It seems like the time is speeding up! That means that you are working hard and theres a lot to do! So Barranca is now officially the 2nd longest area that you've been in on your mission. Doesn't that seem crazy??

So everyone is doing great at home. Except for your mom. She broke her toe on the water slide when we went with Laws last weekend. It's in a weird spot so she's been using crutches. She talked to Kelsey Hadley about it and she said that they can't really do anything but tape it and stay off of it for as long as you can.

Have you heard from Seth? As you know first hand, he's loving it at the MTC. I think his departure date is set for September 29th, unless there's Visa problems. We haven't heard that there are so we're going on that. Well, tell us how the teaching is going! We love hearing about your week!!!

¡Ámele hijo!

Papá

Hey dad! Yeah Elder Anderson came but I didn´t get to hear him speak. President is going to come again and give us a training and I am sure he will talk about it then. Elder Cisternas is doing good. He is such a greenie.....=p I love him though. Crazy story, He is the only member in his family. One of the sister missionaries that taught him when he got baptized married a guy from Omaha and she lives there now!!!!!! How crazy is that. I looked at her adress because he sent her a letter. I didn't recognize the street but it was addressed to Omaha itself as opposed to Bellevue or Papillion or something.


It's crazy how fast my time has gone by in Barranca. Well, my whole mission really, it seems like weeks are flying by faster and faster. We have some baptismal dates set so I am excited for those. Other than that, just normal mission live! Lovin every minute of it!

Seth is so funny, I really have missed him. He didn´t write me much until now so its kinda like we´re finally back in touch. It sounds like he is loving the MTC though so that is great!

Elder Hackleman

Neil L Andersen Visits Peru

In Peru, about 70 percent of the missionaries are from Latin America, with 30 percent being from North America. These Latin American missionaries come from nearly every country in Latin America—from Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, the countries of Central America, and of course from Peru. It is a beautiful thing to see the national cultures mixed together but all yielding to the culture of the kingdom of God. We were very impressed with the missionaries and the mission presidents. This information was written in Neil L Andersen's Facebook post, September 4, 2014.

Letters This Week

On Mon, Sep 1, 2014 at 9:10 AM, Amy wrote:  

(side note: I added the photos after the fact)

Dear Elder J Hackleman,

How are you doing? We are sure having fun with Nathan, Grant and the Laws. We are looking forward to going to a pro baseball game today:)

Yesterday we went to church as usual.  Then we went to Seth's friend, "Dustin's" mission farewell.  After the farewell, we drove to Kansas City.  It took about 2 1/2 hours to get there.  We arrived around 7:00 p.m.  Our hotel is right next to the stadium.

I took this picture looking out our hotel window.  

This is the game on Sunday.  

We did not go to this game, but we could see it happening.  

It was crazy watching it on tv and seeing outside the window at the same time.

We had an adjoining room with the Laws.  They put their kids to bed and then Tim and Becky came into our room and we stayed up talking until midnight.

Here are some pictures of our fun Labor Day.

I was helping Reagan play a few arcade games.  We were basically the only families in the arcade on a Monday morning.  The guy running the arcade hit a button on one of the games and it started spitting out tickets.  Nathan collected them for us.  It was a jackpot!

We had enough tickets to get an entire princess package, complete with butterfly wings, tiaras and wands.  Now that is what I am talking about!

Then it was off to the water park!  All of this was in the hotel:)

There were tube slides and all kinds of fun things.  We loved the lazy river!

We spent hours riding along in the river.  Nathan played hide and seek.  He was the fastest swimmer so he would get way ahead and we would try to find him.  It was hilarious because other kids that we didn't even know started looking for him too.

Becky took the picture.

Then it was off to the ball game!

This was next to the ball park.

Nathan and Grant's 1st Professional Baseball Game

It was so fun watching Adam play!

The Texas Rangers ended up losing, but Adam had a great game!  

He played 1st base.

Adam hooked us up with tickets in the family section.

Just so you know, the hat Tim Law is wearing is all the rage right now!

After the game, we got special permission to go down to the area just outside the locker room so we could talk to Adam.  It's kind of cool, since Tim Law's brother's name is also Adam and he plays baseball too.  He is working his way up to the big leagues.  Not to mention, Tim Law's dad coaches for the White Socks.

Adam was so nice to us.  He asked all about Seth, since he and 

Seth really hit it off when he was here in Omaha.

Seth and Tim, as well as Tim Law met Adam at church.  At the time he was playing for the Ranger's farm team.  They were in town playing the Storm Chaser's and he came to our ward while he was here for the week.  They have kept in contact with him ever since.  Not long after he was here, he got called up to the big leagues.

The craziest part of the entire trip, is it was a school night, so we drove home after the game.  We got home around 2:00 a.m.  Luckily the boys slept on the drive home.

I ended up either spraining, or breaking my toe at the water park.  Believe me, that wasn't going to keep me from going to the game though.  I limped along:)

Now I am getting ready for my next adventure which is online schooling.

I have my first appointment this Thursday to talk with the couple in charge of the BYUI Pathway program. https://pathway.lds.org/   I am getting excited about finding out more information.

We got to see Abbie Porter play volleyball this weekend. She had a tournament Friday and Saturday playing 2 games each day. It was at the Lied Event center located just down the street from the Bellevue ward building. It was so fun talking with Dave and Carol. They sure miss you. Carol got tears in her eyes a couple of times while talking about you. She told me the best compliment she has ever received was when people would think you were their son when you worked at Radio Shack.

Abbi Porter plays Volleyball for Bellevue University

Nathan is considering trying out for the show choir. I hope he does, but he is so funny and might change his mind before the tryouts start next week, silly kid.

Well, I sure love you! How are you doing? What's happening with the good people of Peru?


Love always,

Mom

Hey mom! That is so funny because the other day, out of nowhere I started thinking about Dave and Carol. Just what they are up to and how the stores are going and their kids and everything. Abbi is playing in college or something or what? What are you guys going to do in KC all day until the game? Is it like a phone interview thing for BYUI or what? I still feel really stressed out for Nathan not playing football. I don`t know what to do with that kid! He might have fun in show choir though. Haha The mission is going great! I have a new companion. He`s name is Elder Cisternas from Chile. He has about 5 months in the mission. It makes me feel sooooo old haha Say hello to all the laws for me!!

Elder J Hackleman

Is there Football In Heaven?

Is There Football In Heaven?

On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 5:49 PM, Tim wrote:

Dear Elder J Hackleman,

Now that I got my daddy-has-crybabyitis email out of my system, I'm feeling much better! Seth got an email off to mom and he's doing great. I knew he would be. He's just like his big brother. He also got called to be District Leader too!

So how was your week??? We had a great one, despite being down another body in the house! What happened in Barranca? How was the teaching this week?

It's been really hot up here! You would not like it! 90's and humid!!! I hate it! So, Nathan has been doing great in school! He has two B's and three A+'s. He is doing much better in school this year. Grant may be playing Center on his team this year. There was no one that wanted to play it. We told him that you had played Center when you were in 9th Grade. He was so excited to hear that.

College football starts next weekend. I'll keep you posted on our Utes!!! You need to go check your blog. Mom posted a special "Happy Birthday" from someone you know that plays in the NFL!! :)

Better let you go and respond to all your other emails. I'm so proud of you!!!

¡Ámele hijo!

Papá

Hey Dad. I am sorry you had a rough time. I know it isn´t easy, I hear that it gets easier for the parents with every kid that goes on a mission but I am sure that is the opposite for how it felt with you guys. I hope the worst is past because it is exactly like you said, It is everything but a bad thing!

Seth is killing it at the MTC I know it. President Archibald came back this week again to teach our zone. We are doing some ground breaking things here in Barranca in terms of missionary work and he is taking notice. He taught us all about the Kingdoms’ of Glory and specifically the Celestial kingdom. What I learned is that to get to the Celestial Kingdom, we have to be sealed. Well that part we know, but what I learned is the sealing power is strongest between the husband and his wife, even if they are sealed to their children. It doesn´t mean the father-son sealing breaks when he gets married but when we make it to the Celestial Kingdom. When we say that our family can be together forever, it is completely true. What I am trying to say is, you and mom are sealed. You and mom will make it to the celestial kingdom where you will also be able to create worlds without number. I will as well with my wife. It will be like this life in the sense that we all are doing our own thing, but with the ability to visit and be with all of our loved ones whenever we want.

We will still celebrate Christmas together I am sure =) and having a mission president from Alabama. He is wonderful because I can ask him serious questions for instance, ¨President, Is there steak in heaven?¨ or even more importantly, ¨President, is their football in heaven?¨ He answered me but I am not going to write the answer. You will have to ask me when I get home. If we study the scriptures, there were many times when Nephi, Alma, Moroni, and others witnessed things so marvelous that they could not be penned to paper, his answers to those questions are one of those things =) I am going to leave you hanging on it for a few more months til I get home =) All I can say is, make sure you do everything you can to get you and mom to the Celestial Kingdom =)

Love you dad!

Elder J Hackleman

Letters This Week

There is one more Elder Hackleman in the mission field now

On Mon, Aug 25, 2014 at 7:22 AM, Amy wrote:

Elder J Hackleman,

I have to put the J in so I don't get confused at which son I am writing to:) It's a great problem to have. I couldn't be prouder to be the mother of two missionaries.

I forgot to tell you last week, that we got a renewal notice in the mail for your driver’s license. It had a code for an online renewal, so that is what we did. You are all set and legal for 4 more years. One less thing to worry about when you get home:)

Saturday I was on the computer updating Seth's mission blog. I was so emotional because I was feeling so blessed to have two boys on a mission at the same time, but missing you both dearly. During this emotional time I checked my email and low and behold, I had an email from Seth! I guess Saturday is his p-day and he had just enough time to send off a one paragraph letter to me. Yeah! I posted it on his blog, which you can get to from your blog. It has a link on the right side of the page. He has seen Lauren a couple of times, but hasn't had enough time to talk to her.

On another note, I don't know if you have heard about all the rage going on right now concerning the ALS Ice bucket challenge. Basically, people video themselves dumping ice-water on their head to bring awareness to Lou Gehrig's disease. Anyway, Grant just now dumped ice-water on your dad while he was in the shower as a prank and called it the ALS splash. Silly boy.

Ok, back to my letter to you, sorry, Grant side tracked me ha ha.

So Seth got off ok. He was one happy boy who couldn't wait to start his mission

We took pictures in the exact spot we did when you left. It felt very much like deja-vu.

I have all the pictures of his last week posted on his blog.

You need to go take a look at your blog today for one other reason. You had a late birthday wish from someone special that didn't make it on the blog last week. You are going to be amazed!

How are things going for you? What is new in your neck of the woods?

I sure love you!

Love,

Mom


Hey mom!!!! I gotta say, your letter was a little scatter-brained. Haha but thats ok. I followed. =) I can´t believe Seth is in the MTC!!!!!!! I am bummed his P day isn't monday because now we can´t chat for awhile, at least until he makes it to Mexico. Haha I hope you and dad are doing ok. I know it’s tough but hopefully the painful part is passing. I know I have said it before but I´ll say it again, he is more protected then ya´ll are....haha I am glad you got my drivers license. I had to use it the other day to take some documents out and remembered it was expired. I handed it to the chick and she accepted it anyway. Then I remembered that I am in Perú. They really don´t care, nor can they even understand what it says cuz it´s in english. haha but I am pretty sure I will need it before I get home, otherwise I will be stuck in immigrations in Texas or something and won´t be able to make it home! Haha I am not sure how but we need to figure out a way for you to send it to me. =) It sure looks like dejavu in the good ol´ omaha airport! Your eyes look pretty waterlogged momma!!!! haha What the heck is up with nathan and grant´s shoes and socks? Is that what´s cool with the kids these days or did they accidently put them in the washer with a rainbow on a hot cycle? They are more colorful than Grant´s favorite pack of skittles!!!!! What happened to classic black or grey? I am going to be lost when I get home.... haha

We are teaching the missionary lessons to this wonderful couple.

I have to admit, when you are a missionary the thought of marriage scares you to death.  

I have such a one track mind right now.

Ok, to explain the pictures. We got a couple married the other day. The girl is a less active member that we are reactivating and the guy is going to get baptized. Sound familiar? It is almost the exact same thing I was doing this time last year with my buddy the Uraguayan! We are happy for them. The other pictures, well, they speak for themselves. I got real riding a motorcycle.

Now that's my kind of bike!

On your mark, get set...

Go!!!!!
Ok, I didn't really ride it.  

If you look closely you can see the kickstand is still down:)

Love you mom!!!!

Elder J. Hackleman

Happy 21st Birthday from Stanley

Happy Birthday Elder Hackleman
From Stanley Havili
#39 FB, Indianapolis Colts

Thank You For The Birthday Wishes!

What a great surprise to see all the wonderful birthday wishes.  I feel very overwhelmed and loved.  It made my day!

Love

Elder J Hackleman

More Letters This Week

My younger brother Seth Hackleman has less than a week before he reports for his mission to Mexico

On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 7:50 AM, Amy wrote:

Dear Elder,

I can't believe you are 21! We have been missing you so much this week. The last week before Seth leaves has been particularly rough. Everything is so reminiscent of when you left. He even fly's out on the same flight.

Your dad had a little heart episode last night. He is taking the day off work today. It wasn't anything major, and luckily we know what it is and how to handle it when he has a heart block. He just has to take it easier for a while and quit getting so emotional. I will tell you what, he sure loves his sons! Seth gave him a blessing last night and after that he was able to sleep.

I sure hope you are able to see your blog today. You sure have a lot of birthday wishes on it. A lot of people really love you and miss you.

Seth spoke in church again yesterday. He spoke in the Papillion ward with a high councilman. Once again he did a stellar job. He is so mature for his age and he looked so sharp in his new missionary suit.

Today we are going to put his name on all his stuff and pack up the suit cases so he is ready to go. We had a pig roast on Saturday and it was sure fun. The Hadley's had a going away party for Seth. I will post pictures from it on Seth's mission blog if you want to see it. I won't get to it until next week however.

Seth and Mike and of course, dinner

The boys are in full swing back in school. Nathan started seminary again today. Grant has started football practice. He was pretty sore on Sunday. He asked me if he could stay home from church because he could barely walk he was so sore. I rubbed deep blue on him, gave him a Tylenol and said, get ready, ha ha. By the time we got to church the meds had kicked in and he was feeling a lot better:)

So how has your week been? What did you do for your birthday yesterday?

I love you!

Love Mom

Dang. Seth looks like a missionary. I can´t believe it is this week!!!!!!! I am freaking OUT! I am so proud of him. Dad is going to have a heart block if all his kids keep leaving for missions and some don´t start coming home soon. =) Seth will have a long letter waiting for him next Monday from his bro. I hope he understands spanish!!!!!!!!!!!!:......=) Tell him how much I love him and pray for him. I am excited for him to join me in the work.

My birthday was good. I was just a normal Sunday. =) A sister in our ward did have a cake waiting for me at her house when we went to a lesson with her though. That was sure nice. Thanks for the cash though!!!! I haven´t spent it yet but I will send pictures as soon as I do. =)

A sister in our ward had a cake waiting for me at her house when we went to a lesson with her.
That was sure nice!

Candles and Snacks As Well:)

You can't have birthday cake in Peru without the traditional face smearing:)

Is Nathan playing football? Mom if he isn´t, I will be super upset. Please tell me he is. It is good that he is working hard in seminary though of course =)

Tell Grant I know how he feels with soreness. It feels like yesterday when my body felt like a butchered cow must have felt in that freezer when rocky when to warm up his fists. Tell him to stick it out.

Tell Grant that the first week of football practice makes you feel like you are 

fresh meat that has been punched by Rocky.

Speaking of deep blue. My zone leader has a pack of the Doterra stuff and has saved the entire zone more than once from various illnesses thanks to that. I rest my case, It works. We do however call it our witchcraft oils because it heals and we don´t even have to bless it. Haha

I sure love you mom!

Elder J. Hackleman