Pictures From Peru - Jan 12, 2015

My companion and I exploring a cave on P-Day.

We were on a bus and thought it would be funny to take a picture with a dog that was riding along.  Just before my companion could snap the picture the dog jumped off the bus.  I guess he didn't want his picture taken with me today.  I think he must be shy.

Oh, well, maybe next time.

Note from mom: (The funny thing about this, is in America this week it was all over the news that there was a dog who rode the bus by himself.  It was such a huge story.  I guess in Peru dogs riding the bus isn't a big deal).

On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 9:47 AM, Amy wrote:

Dear Elder J. Hackleman,

Good morning. I watched the Law kids Friday and Saturday so Becky and Tim could go to Arkansas to find a house. They found a real nice place and will be moving on Saturday :(

School is going good I guess. Math is a hard class for me. This past week our assignment was to learn our times tables by heart up to 15. That is harder than it sounds. I made flash cards and Nathan and Grant helped me. I don't know what has happened to me, but even the basic times tables have slipped my mind over the years. 8's especially went to Mars for a vacation from my brain. I have been playing a game online that helps bring them back into my memory. I still don't have them all 100% but I have come a long way in one short week.

My Book of Mormon class is still my favorite class. I love studying that book. At times I will start studying and then time goes by and I look at the clock and realize 6 hours has passed. Time flies when you are having fun.

I shared some of your ward council ideas with our ward council yesterday. Everyone was very receptive. Unfortunately it does put a lot of extra work on the Elders Quorum and High Priests. I was talking about how I had been encouraging the women to increase their temple attendance this year, but then was taught by you that this goal was not enough. The goal should be for the couple not just the women. After we discussed all the benefits of the men leading the temple attendance, it was decided that one of our ward mission goals for the year was to encourage the men to lead out in home teaching and leading their families to the temple. It really changed the course of our goals for the year as a ward. Thank you for sharing the wonderful things you are learning on your mission. I just wanted you to know that the trickle down effects are circulating throughout our ward now as well.

The bishop told a story about a similar thing that happened on his mission. The result was the same but the reason was different. He served in Australia. Most of his contacts were by walking up to people on the street. The wards he served in were struggling immensely for priesthood leadership. They had plenty of women and children, so they focused in on men only. They would walk right past women and children on the street and only talk to the men. The result was amazing. They found that when they taught the men, they would teach the entire family and when the men came into the church, entire families came into the church.

I was thinking about the counsel the mission president gave over a year ago for the Omaha area. He said that every less active family in the ward has a baptism. When you combine all these things, you end up with the outcome of what is now our ward mission plan. That is, if every home teacher in the ward took on the families they visited and helped encourage them to temple attendance with the father leading out, huge progress could be made. As a Relief Society, it will be very easy to make goals to align with the ward mission goals. We can help encourage our husbands to lead out in the gospel in our homes.

I am excited for the coming year.

Ok, let's talk about you. Last week the boys had a day out of school because the weather was so cold. While they were home, I was working on a project, but decided I would enlist Nathan and his computer skills to help me do some college applications for you. We did one for the University of Utah. We will do a few other schools as well, just so you will have options when you get home.

I attached a couple of pictures to show you some of my DIY projects I have been working on. Our kitchen table has been needing a make-over for quite some time. Also, the paper blinds I had on the upper windows in the living room had to go. I changed them out with vinyl stained glass on the side windows and reflective vinyl on the large middle window. I also made knew curtains. I love how it all is turning out. (Note to family and friends. There is a link on the right side of the page to my blog if you would like to see pictures). I have also been re-staining all the woodwork to a darker color. This house is going to be in top shape by the time you get home!

I sure love you!

Keep up the good work.

Love Mom

Hey Momma!!!!! That is so awesome to hear about ward council! It’s true, it’s not that women aren’t important in the church, but it is true that it is a package deal when you strike the men first. =) If every priesthood holder only focused in their family, and then the families that they are assigned to as home teachers, the ward would be unstoppable. Home teaching is so key. If I am a father, my family is active. Simple as that, and my home teaching families are active as well. No question.....when every priesthood holder thinks that way, the ward suddenly doesn’t have any less active members. =)

Wow!!! That table looks brand new! Haha I like it!!! I gotta tell ya. I can’t wait to get home and see you guys. I want you to know that I am working harder than ever. I am going out baptizing if it’s the last thing I do. I sure am excited for the next part of my life though. =)

Pic explanation... the first one is of my companion and I in a cave. The other one is of a dog that got on a bus that we were on and was freaking out because it wanted to get off but didn’t know how. I tried to get my companion to get a picture of me with it but right when he went to take it, the bus stopped and the door opened so the dog jumped out, but he got the tail and my foot. Haha I love you mom!

Elder Hackleman

On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 9:40 AM, Tim wrote:

Dear Elder,

You hit the 20 month mark! Or is it 21? That's getting crazy. Your mom and I think about you all the time. We are so happy for you! Anyway, you need to send us pictures! I don't think you told us about your new companion! We need info!! I know you are super busy, and it's getting close to the end, but you gotta keep us up to date :)

So, we sprung a leak in the Cottonwood ward. The Hadley's left a couple weeks ago for Enid, Oklahoma. I can't remember if you knew the McKee's? They were with us in the Bellevue 2nd Ward. They leave today for Germany. The Law's are leaving on Saturday!!! It will seem like a completely different ward when you get home.

Elder Kitchens posted that he is starting school today. I'm assuming he's going to the U, but he didn't say. Tonight is the National Championship game between Oregon and Ohio State. I have to admit, I'm kinda rooting for Urban Meyer!

So I had a cool revelation yesterday in Ward Council. We were discussing faith and someone mentioned the Brother of Jared. Well it came to me that Ether Chapter 2 and 3 can be applied to missionary work. In Chpt. 2 we have to exercise faith that there is a way to bring our neighbors/friends to the gospel. In Chpt. 3, the Savior is the only one that can put the "light" into them through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Anyway, I sure do love you. Continue to be careful, obedient and listen to the Holy Ghost.

¡Te amo tanto, hijo!

Papá

Hey dad! I hit 21! Can you believe it? I sure can’t. I sent a few pics to mom. Sorry. Dang, the very few number of families that I did know before going on my mission are leaving. I am going to give a homecoming talk to a bunch of strangers....oh well. What do ya do. Haha Oh ya, I am a true ohio state fan right now! Elder Kitchens is going to Weber state....just for this semester til I get home. Haha