E-Mail 3-22-10

So this week has been kind of hard. You know that crazy trucker I told you about? He was not progressing, so we told him he had to stop smoking or we have to stop seeing him he freaked out and started to cry then walked off. I felt so bad!

Second we went to this door and this lady came out and started to yell at us. We asked if everyone there had the chance to hear the gospel and be baptized and she told us two of her sons were not. They had disability so I told her about myself and how blessed I was. Now we get to see her tonight. That is cool! So I have to go, sorry so short.

Love Ya Elder Fackler

Pictures from Elder Fackler 3-15-10

E-Mail 3-1-10

This week has been really hard. We have not found any new investigators. It is hard because we are running out of people to teach. We are looking and praying so hard but we just can’t find people. But we are still looking.

Right now we have this guy we go over and read the Book of Mormon with every day. He is a crazy trucker that always tells us he is going to hang himself in his garage! We tell him “Shut-up, no you won’t!” We have some way shady investigators. One guy is good though, at the first of last week he was drinking and smoking and said he wanted to quit. But he seemed like he kind of did not wont to and he said when he prayed he felt silly. When we went back he said he wanted to give his money for cigarettes and beer to the church and we could just tell he was more sincere about it, it was a cool thing to see.

We had a meeting with Pres. Laney and dang is he awesome. He always lifts us up. He has this cool saying, it is “YOUR TO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED!!!” I really like that and try to think about it all the time. I can tell I am learning so much and am growing a lot too. I am so grateful for this chance to serve and am trying to make every day count.

Love you all,
Elder Fackler

E-mail 2-22-10

How are you today? I am good. Every day I am trying so hard and it is paying off. I know this is the right place for me to be at this time in my life. Tell Austin I love him and am glad he is such an example to me. I feel like the Lord is so proud of me and called me to the right mission.


Yesterday we had 5 out of 7 investigators at church when I spoke. I have to speak again next Sunday. (Oh fun!!! Not really!)

So Friday we went to this house to see a less active boy. He was not there so we started to talk with the dad and found out he did not have a job and was having a hard time keeping one because he had some learning disabilities. He was feeling really down on himself and had started to turn to drinking for comfort. I told him about my disabilities and what I had to go through to serve a mission. I really tried to testify to him that if he would truly turned to the Lord that the Lord would take his weakness and make them strengths. I could tell him that because I know he did that for me. I gave him a challenge to go to church on Sunday and guess what, HE DID!!! I know because I spoke in that ward and it was way cool.

I love you guys and I love this mission and know I was called by the Lord. I also know this is his plan just for me.

I love you all,
Elder Fackler

E-Mail 2-5-10

Hi Family, I am doing good and taking my mission one day at a time. I have grown in so many ways. I know it is wrong but I think I really came out here to prove to the people that told me I might not be able to handle a mission that I could. Well I have gained some humility out here in the last few weeks and I see now that a mission is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. But I have also seen the Lords hand in my life and I know that this is my mission.

I know I was sent to the Salt Lake City South Mission for a reason and that reason is Pres. Laney! He is an amazing man of God and because of his love for me I know I can do this. If I had not graduated early and left when I did I would have missed him because he only has 6 months left. I know I was meant to be in his mission and I am so grateful for his love and compassion for me. I know Heavenly Father loves me and planned it this way just for me!!!

It has been so cool as a missionary to see the change in people. The spirit can do amazing things in people’s lives. I have already had two baptisms. The first one was a kid with disabilities and it was cool to understand how he felt and be able to help him.

I am doing so good, I love it! I love you guys and I am doing better every day. OH and Madi’s car does not look too totaled! I love the spirit out here it feels like it is always around me!

Love you all

Elder Fackler

Elder Fackler & Elder Shellman

Letter From The Mission Pres.

THE CHURCH OF

JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Utah Salt Lake City South Mission
8060 South 615 East
Sandy, Utah 84070

Dear Brother and Sister Fackler                                                                                 January 28, 2010

What a pleasure it was for Sister Laney and me to welcome your son, Elder Bridger Fackler, into the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. His first day with us included breakfast and orientation at the mission office, testimony meeting, a brief interview with me, a training session, lunch, and of course, meeting his first companion.

I am impressed by his desire to serve. He is well and in high spirits as he anticipates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Please be assured that Sister Laney and I will be watching over him while he is here. I'm enclosing a photograph of the three of us taken as we welcomed him at the mission office.

After prayerful consideration, Elder Eric Schellman has been assigned to be your son’s trainer and first missionary companion. To help you support your son as a full-time missionary, I am enclosing some suggestions you will find helpful. We have learned from experience the importance of family and friends following these guidelines. Please share the suggestions with those who may write to him. Your compliance of these guidelines can reinforce your son’s willingness to follow the guidelines in the Missionary Handbook.

All letters and packages should be sent to the mission, addressed to your son at the address listed above. You might be interested to know that mission has a blog at - utahslcsouthmission.blogspot.com – which we update frequently. We hope you will find the pictures and information contained there interesting and informative.

Thank you for raising such an outstanding son, worthy and willing to serve the Lord full time in our mission. I know you will be blessed for the sacrifices that make his service possible. May the Lord's choicest blessings be yours.

Sincerely,
G. Steven Laney
Mission President