week 74

bonsoir

some of the most difficult scriptures to apply are found in DC 121 34-46.  It might be why we are asked to memorize them as missionaires and repeat them fairly often.  In the words of Elder Cornish of the 70 "Elders unrighteous leadership is the fastest way to damn yourself"  and that was my challenge this week.

As i stated in a previous letter it wasnt much of a secret that there were issues on the island as far as obedience.  Its proven to be a real challenge trying to run around the island being the senior couple, blanking an area, and trying to keep these missionaries obedient.  So this past week Elder Moux, the other zone leader, came up to Lamentin for an exchange.  When we got to the apartment we sat down and started talking about the zone.  Very quickly we narrowed in on a companionship and felt like something was going on.

We sat there for a good while talking about their history and what we could do.  I had ideas but no real solid ones so we decided to get on our knees and pray.  I offered the prayer.  It started like a pretty normal prayer but the best way to describe it would be a preisthood blessing.  words just started to pour out i felt a lot of love for these elders and the words "help us find them so we may help them" came out.

After the prayer i looked at Elder Moux and said we need to go find them right now.  We got in the car and drove to their area on the other side of the island.  I parked the car and walked where i felt it they would be.  The cyber cafe.  We looked inside and sure enough there were two elders sitting on computers on a thursday.  

Panic set in mixed with anger so i grabbed my comp and we walked down the street and called president.  honestly we didnt get much advice he said just figure out why its going on. we said a prayer and walked in.

Too occupied with the internet we werent noticed.  we walked behind them and gently i put my hand on each shoulder.  the shock of their life i imagine i asked them to come outside to talk.

I think they were scared but so was I so four scared missionaries sat down for a talk.  I started just asking what was going on.  One elder just opened up on the spot spilling his guts on everything.  The whole conversation lasted 10 minutes maybe no arguing no yelling just talking.  I felt so much love for these two elders as they expressed concerns about their area and personal matters.  

It concluded with me saying "elders tomorrow is a new year and we all need to be better the lord needs better from us".  We said a prayer gave them hugs and went on our way.  The spirit was so thick in the midst of something ugly only good came.  It was one of the weirdest answers to a prayer and im so grateful for it.The best correction i have ever given was just love, encouragement, followed by an increase in love.

i love these elders alot and were all going to get better together

Elder Logan Robert Sackley

also add in the letter that elder wilson has returned to the misison and is serving on ST vincent

week 73

Bonjour

I guess if i had to sum up my 2016 new year resolution as a missionary id put it in one word "attack" 

On tuesday i went to a meeting with President Eclar, First counselor in the mission presidency, and the District Presidency.  It was really weird being in there with all the biggest leaders on French side but i held my own or at least i like to think i did.  But the meetings theme was essentially "we need to attack the year"

The District took a step back in 2015 assistance went down, baptisms, basically anything that was good went down.  And the leaders and missionaries were hurting ahah we wanted so much more than that for 2015 so were putting a foot down.  the falling of numbers stops now.  There is an overwhelmingly feeling of desire to grow here on Guadeloupe.  President Eclar put it best by saying "IM HUNGRY".  So were attacking the year starting saturday were having a fireside with all the missionaries, DMBS, and BPs to talk about how were going to increase efforts.  Followed by firesides in each branch to train members and than a big missionary activity at the end of the month.

I have never seen so much determination and action my whole mission.  Things are going insane here and im really bad explaining but trust me ahah.

We set a date with a guy named Yves Andre for Garretts birthday so pray i can get garrett a baptism for his birthday ahahha

and if youre wondering about my other resolutions for 2016 ill sum it up in one word "marriage"

.....kidding

Elder Logan Robert Sackley

teaching him how to drive stick

service!

week 72

i have so much to say

So will start with my companions.  First is Elder Fitzgerald hes my actual comp that works with me in my area Lamentin.  He has been out one transfer and boy he had it rough his first transfer he is a stud in all honesty but his trainer did nothing with him.  He said they taught one lesson the whole transfer so yeah.  He studied french an hour a day up until he came out so he speaks fairly well and has just the purest heart.  Elder Moux is my ZL comp.  He lives 45 minutes away and is a stud.  I went on exchange with him last friday.  Hes going to be sooooo good for the zone.  Since a lot of the elders are foreigners they dont take correction well from Americans so Elder Moux is taking the reins on that.  On the exchange he just said " i know this elder is being disobedient we have no time to wait lets go see him" he sat the elder down and laid down the law saying "we want you stay out here but we wont tolerate any of it this transfer" hes the honeybadger to put it simply

My area

Lamentin area is traditionally a difficult area.  im not saying that because im discouraged believe me when i say im fired up ready to destroy these transfers here.  But the area itself hasnt baptized in well over a year.  So our first day in the area we got a text from a long time investigator named Anita saying "i want to be baptized this saturday" she wasnt baptized this saturday we have some stuff to work out but i cant even describe how much the lord is doing to hasten the work here.  The area has a ton of members and RMs in it the branch has a 70 in it and a the first counselor in the mission presidency.

The members

so last night i went over to the first counselors house and talked battle plans.  he said " i have waited long enough and i need to progress and i can only progress in hastening the work Elder this is a time of action i need you with me" hes a very passionate man and im SOOOO excited to work with him were going to the District council tomorrow night and presenting mission plans to them but i have never seen a member so convicted to hasten the work.  When i left his house his wife stopped me and said "Elder Sackley we had 4 baptisms for the year in the year 2015 fix it" 

I havent completely been drowned by all these responsabilities but im SO pumped i want to stay here for the rest of my mission.

I just want to leave this letter with my testimony of Jesus Christ.  Mom told me to try to imagine Jesus as a child and honestly everytime i do my heart melts.  I know he is our savior and redeemer i know he is the christ but above all i know he is my old brother and friend.  I bear witness that truely the greatest act of love the world has ever seen was the gift of the son of God.  how loved are we?  how great is it to be here?  i love you all and invite you to share a piece of what God shared with us so long ago.

Happy christmas harry

elder logan robert sackley

Elder Moux this is the other ZL and my home boy

me and my new comp Elder fitzgerald!

tchye  my boys Elder Manasanga from Vanauata Elder Sejournet and pollock from tahiti 

week 71

follow up on last week this will be a long letter

Elder Wilsons letter to me

How the freak is Martinique man!? I sent you an email with my updates and stuff on it so hopefully you got that. I just want to thank you so much for giving me the blessing that night. That meant so much to me and it really helped to comfort me and know that everything would be okay. One thing that really stood out to me was when you said that my mission wasn't over. That gave me so much peace knowing that whether I go back to Barbados or not, I will still be able finish my mission. 

I just want to thank you for being such a great zone leader. You were a huge example to me of a great missionary! You helped me to know that you can still have lots of fun but also work hard. You have a fun personality and you are also very spiritual! Those are two things I am working on balancing haha. I hope I can come back out there and have more good times with all of you!

Thank you so much for everything and for being a good example to me! 

Je vous aime bebe,

Elder Justin Jay Wilson

Pierre Joesph

I went and saw him on Wednesday.  He was chilling in a netted tank top smiling like always.  The cancer is actually in his pancreas and he underwent surgery this past Friday and will get it removed this January.  his eyes were a sick yellow from his pancreas not functioning properly.  It was really hard to just be cheerful and talk like it was all normal.  Im going to go see him Tuesday before I go

so that's the news

All my transfers have been done by telephone but since president was on the island this time around I figured id get it in person.  But not the way it happened.  

So we had to meet President and the Assistants at the hotel when we got there president rolled out in a white Mercedes and said "Elder Sackley hop in Elder cox, the other assistant, will ride with Elder Okano we need to debrief you on your assignment"  So I hop into the back of this white Mercedes President and Sister Herrington were in the front and Elder Broadbent the other assistant was in the back with me.  They had a stack of white papers and I fully expected to be given a couple black and white photos of my targets with a brief case containing a pistol and a silencer.

So once Elder 007 Sackley came back to earth President said "were sending you to Guadeloupe Elder Broadbent tell him his assignment" So Elder Broadbent starts telling me all about the island itself and what not and president cuts him off saying "no Elder Broadbent cut the clouds out tell him why hes going there" Elder Broadbent looks at me and says " well Elder Sackley Guadeloupe is struggling" president cuts off again "and youre going to fix this"

So for the next 30 minutes they spelled out the problems.  both previous zone leaders left the island and me and my old buddy Elder Moux are taking it over.  Im going to be blanking an area called Lamentin with a half trained elder who got separated from his companion beacause of... well issues between the two of them.  My area hasn't baptized in over a year and there are a couple elders that "you have to exchange with weekly"  im also the senior couple.  And my debuty Elder Moux is 45 minutes away from the rest of the zone in basse terre so im on my own in that sense.  apparently there is some beef and dis obedience because of it between the Tahitian elders on the island and American elders.  Elder Moux is Tahitian and just a baller so I guess were the boom squad in that regard.

Closing thoughts to all of this.

President came to inspect our apartment and he called me into our study room.  He was staring at my picture of Grandpa and said "how are you related to Elder Sackley" we talked for a while about him and when I dropped him off at the airport he gave me a tight reassuring hug and said "you can do this... live up to your name"

Guadeloupe on Wednesday.  Training, zone leader, white washing, some problems to fix, and an island to baptize

hurrah

Elder Logan Robert Sackley

week 70

Bonsoir

I'm really bad with words and if you read my blog i guess you already know that so ill just fire straight:  This week was hard.  It was hard for two stories and because of lack of time and creativity ill just lay them out simple.

Saturday morning i got a call from Elder Wilson.  He's in his first 6 weeks in the field and he says "elder sackley i need the mission doctors number i had a mini stroke"  hes a goofball so it took about 10 minutes for him to convince me he was being serious.  Later that night i get a call and he says "Elder sackley I'm going home monday morning they want to run tests on me".  I'd say im afraid of three things in life: tsunamis, scary movies, and going home early because of medical reasons.  We talked for a while on the phone.  He's a really funny guy and he was taking it better than i ever could.  That night we went over to his appartment to see how he was doing.  Even with his Utah utes snapback on and the hang loose sign he threw up to me i could tell he was hurting.  We sat him down and he asked for me to give him a blessing.  All of my mission i have been super engaged with blessings when an investigator says " i dont care you choose" 

I'm quick to volunteer.  i love being a part of them there is nothing else like it.

But this time i was uneasy.  I didnt know what to say.  I started the blessing and i had nothing i took a good 15 second pause and just thought to myself "heavenly father i cant give this blessing" and thats why i love blessings because in that moment i didnt give the blessing.  I opened my mouth and the words came out.  There was no way i could have conjured up this blessing with my own thoughts or feelings.  

Saturday was rough, i got a call from Frere Noel asking if i could meet him to go see Pierre Joesph.  Pierre Joesph got baptized back in july.  He has been not doing super well as of late he complains a lot about stomache pain but i was shell shocked and blown away when he said " i have liver cancer".  Writing this now i still dont really know how to put my feelings other than please pray for pierre joesph.  I love this man a lot.  

Elder Logan Robert Sackley

Elder Wilson looking sharp

week 69

Barbados trip was just too much

ok we got to go fast

Barbados was sweet.  we got there really early on Wednesday so we got paired up with some English elders and did splits all day.  no offense everyone else but English preaching is really easy. aahahah I only had a couple stumble ups with French words and spoke a tiny bit of franglish but English side has got it smooth.

MLC was super cool.  Elder Martinez from the 70 was there and it was tiring it was just non stop talking the spirit was thick.  I learned so much but just a brief over riding theme was focused on the Apostle Peter.  and ill just butcher and uchtdorf quote but Peter was always willinging to take risks and even though it lead to blunders he learned so much more and so much faster than his colleagues.

To change gears these past couple of weeks I have been having a hard time.  Just not happy with the zone area comp whatever its just been hard and so I needed just a moment to think last Monday.  So I just started spilling my guts into my journal and I couldn't figure it out.  

Tuesday morning I woke up and prayed for a long time kind of calling out a little bit What lack I yet.  And my answer was Virtue.  And im not talking about immoral thougts virtue im saying that is garnishing my thoughts uncessingly virtue that wont even allow one thought enter my mind unless it uplifts.  So I decided I was going to allow virtue garnish my thoughts for the day.  It was really hard I had to stay focused all day long on it but something amazing happened.

We met this man named Raymond.  He walked up to us and said who are you?  we started talking and he let us into his house.  his wife sat down and we started explaining why we were there.  Raymond stopped us and looked at us and said there is no way you are not God sent.  And the spirit just about knocked us all out of our chairs.  

That night I was reflecting on it and I have no doubt in my mind that it came because of the refined mindset.  so I allowed it to continue all week and I feel so good.  so much more happy for lack of a better word.

Back to the MLC we didn't have any thanksgiving meal or anything so that was sad but we did have pizza that tasted like real American food so that was special.  

lots of random thoughts take it how you see it

Elder Logan Robert Sackley

President

week 68

Bonsoir mes amis

Ok in honor of grandpa im going to share a couple thought about my mission.

Madison asked me for a grandpa memory and this is what came to mind.  When i was about 11 i was at the cabin and we were eating lasagna for dinner.  There was a lot of meat and cheese still on my plate and i didnt want to finish it so grandpa Grabbed me by the shirt pulled me in nose to nose and said Logan if you ever want to have chest hair like this, he proceeded to pull his neck line down and show me his chest hair, you got to eat your lasagna.

And id say that about sums up my mission. Especially this last week we had some real uncomfortbale moments spent filing old apartment reports or dealing with silly missionaries and somedays i just wanted to push the plate away and say no more i didnt ask for all this left over cheese and mystery meat to eat.  And the lord has yanked me by the collar and said Elder Sackley if you ever want to be a man you got to do this you got to finish your plate.

I think this has been the biggest growing period of my life these past couple of months.  I have had to eat a lot of cheese and meat and in honor of Thanksgiving ill express an open gratitude for that.  We all want to acheieve big goals in life but we hate the paths we have to take to get there.  Elder Susi or i guess hes still Immanuel asked me to say a trial that im thankful for and how right is he?  Happy Thanksgiving everyone im thankful for you and pray for you.

Ill be in barbados for Thanksgiving for a MLC with Elder Martinez of the 70 should be good

thanks for the advice grandpa love you lots

Elder Logan robert Sackley

hatian bokit ou pataés