April 29th, 2013

Family,

First off, this is the easiest way to write me. It is faster and I can print off your letters and read them. We do thirty min in the morning for my friends and I print your letters. Then 30 min in the afternoon to answer my family.

Alright, I am going to get a bit mushy. I was brought to tears because of the detailed letters you all send. I know it may not seem like a big deal but I really cannot understand why I was so lucky to be placed in the family I was placed in. I love you all very much. Thank you for your examples to me.

Okay now about the week. First off, early in the week i came to know I dont know the language as well as I thought. haha. We were teaching and it was my turn to teach the first vision and I completely forgot what I was going to say. Like I forgot every portuguese word I have ever learned. haha. And we sat there for like 5 minutes in silence. Literally almost 5 minutes. Ya that was humbling to me. Hoenstly I speak to everyone. I dont even care if I speak wrong, they can always understand me because they have to pay more attention. Members in teh branch tease me because I conjugate things wrong or stuff. But I try anyway. The youth tease me alot. But i have the attitude that it really doesnt bother me at all. Although they do say my accent is really good. But some say I sound Italian because I fluctuate my voice too much. haha. O well.

Okay so we were tracting into the ghetto area. And all of a sudden this guy comes out with a giant faka or sword. I think there is another word for it i cant remember. It is used to cut grass. anyway, He comes out of  his house going to kill someone. haha. Comes to find out the guy he went after and was running away from him kicked a ball and hit his 3 year old son. This dude was crazy. But we wanted to teach him anyway. So the next day we went to go teach him and he loves the bible and wants to hear lots more. He wants to read the book of Mormon. haha. Crazy! This guy had a sword and was ready to kill someone.

Next day we are teaching a young man who has a problem with drugs and really wants out. So he asked to meet with us. Right before we were about to teach him this old lady comes in and starts talking to him and from what I could tell that she said, she said God is not happy with you win you sin and doesnt love you and he wants this nasty demon inside of you out and so she put her hand on his head and one in the air (this is all right in fron of us). haha. And just starts creaming and yelling trying to cast this Devil out of him? haha. She was saying things like, Come out of him, The Lord wants you back, I have the gift of tounges and I can save you and then she would go off in some other language. Freakin weird. Anyway we taught him after and he loved it and he came to church with us yesterday. He is a really good kid and wants out of drugs.

Okay so the thing here is family fotos, they all want to see my fotos. So as they look through them the same thing happens. They say, What happened to these two? (pointing to Garlan and Nate). Then I always reple, Yes the are unattractive, infact quite frightening. But we love them anyway because we try to follow Christs example to love one another. Then we lead into Christs Ministry. And the first lesson. The Spirit is so strong. So nate and G thank you for looking the way you do. You invite the Holy Ghost to every first lesson.

Also, everyone asks your names. And they all are in love witht the name SPENCER. When they hear me say it they all just say, wow that is so beautiful, wow I love that name. Then they repeat it like 10 times.....I know Rich, I am just as confused as you are. haha.

So we taught lots of lessons and were able to contact many news. I love inviting people to come to church or asking if we can come teach them. They always accept. And they always accept baptism. haha. The people here are great.

With the language, it is difficult. But the solution is to just SPEAK, they will understand you because of the Spirit and they love to hear the American talk to them. It means a lot to them.

Okay I love you all very much. Remember who you are. In Romans 8 we can read Pauls testimony about us being Children of God and He will never abbandoned us. We have experienced, we are experiencing, and we will experience hard  times. We go through hard times because the Savior went through the hardest of times. I have been thinking about the Atonement A LOT lately. Christ felt the pains of every person who has walked the earth. He knows how to succor us. IF we let Him. He can and He will heal us. Read Romans 8. Great Ch. and I am out of time. I love you all very much. And love hearing from you.

Elder Hadley

Monday, April 22nd

Family,
So I had my letter all typed out and the computer failed and erased it all.....Wow I am pissed. So I will try to remember what I said.
First, Mom i was looking at who you forwarded my last letter to. And that profile picture doesnt look like our April. haha.
Okay lets talk about this place. Very Poverty stricken but the people are great. We have 8 solid investigators that I think will get baptized next Satuday. We will see how it goes. I am really praying for them hard.
Okay so the other night I got bit by a Bug and woke up in the middle of the night because it was itching so badly. I went to the bathroom to look at it and I had a bite on my neck a little bit bigger than a golf ball bulging out of my neck. it freaked me out a little. So I put some itch stuff on it and said a prayer asking to get rid of it. I feel asleep and woke up the next morning and it was completely gone. Bigger than a gold ball to literally nothing there. Crazy. So we had lunch at a members house the other day and she made this vegatable mush type stuff and she told us to get a big plate full of it. It didnt look too bad so I did. I tasted it and it tasted like she took one of those beef cow salt tablet bricks and she cooked the entire thing with the vegtables. It litterally was like I was scraping mush off of the bottom of the Dead Sea or the Great Salt Lake, whichever is saltier, and putting that bite into my mouth. Wow...The Lord helped me eat all of it. So I taught my first lesson the other day when I was on a aplit with one of our Zone Leaders. Elder Smith. I committed the man to baptism. Elder Smith said he thinks tha man will go through with it. I hope he is right. Elder Silva and I taught a group of girls and they really wanted to hear me teach in english. So I did and elder Silva translated. It went really well and the Spirit was very strong. When I was with Elder Smith we had lunch at a members house and she had a friend come over to her house to eat with us. This firend was freakin crazy. She kept grabbing my hands and putting her hands on my back and shoulders and I told her she couldnt do that. But she kust kept saying how beautiful I was and how I looked like a German God?!? haha. She was nuts. Then I was giving the lunch message and she was like repeating everything I said...haha. Wow...
So we had church yesterday and let me tell you we have the most gorgeous primary kids on the planet. There is a young girl who has light brown skin, blonde hair, and like white sky blue eyes. So pretty. And Moroni is already my little homie, he followed me everywhere. haha. The youth are great. A girl gave a talk and it was really good. She is the leader of all the youth. You can tell she knows the scriptures. She was quoting left and right. Nobody can say my name, they say (Ardlee, Aidlee) other weird stuff. haha. So The theacher called on me to read in class and i was like, ya i will try. and they all started to laugh and I was thinking o great, this is going to be rough. haha. But I actually read really well and when I was finished they were all saying, Congrats, Great job Elder, Really good job. They cheered for me like I was baby taking his first steps. haha. Our house is not so nice. It is a home for a family of Lizards. Maybe that is what bit me. The food is so good here but I need a cheeseburger haha. tell Nate and Ariana i have a bakery like 10 steps from me and they sell pão de queso there and they are HUGE and only for 40 centavos. I live off those, pasta, and chocolate milk.
Hey my camera doesnt work too well I might have to buy cheap ones down here. For some reason it only stays on for like 5 seconds. But then randomly it will work. I dont know it will be fine. Okay I am out of time. I love you all. remember what Lehi counciled his sons and What King Benjamin counciled his people. When He said, inasmuch as ye keep the commandments, you WILL prosper. I love you all. Be good and be safe.

Elder Hadley

Mission Field

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
My Family!!! How is everyone?
So I am in my area. Baianão a little area, it is next to Porto Seguro which is the big city. That is where the chapel is. A lot of good people and very poor area. It really makes me think of my problems in a whole different way. I miss everyone very much. This is harder than I thought. Just because of the language barrier. I can understand a lot of what they say and can speak back fairly correctly. The AP said he thinks I should have the language down in no more than two months. He says he was blown away with how well I could speak. Surprised me to be honest. Ha. It gave me a lot of confidence.
So I woke up and left the CTM in Sao Paulo at 4 am. Then We got tot the airport and they made me check a third bag. I was told I would have to pay a huge expense. With the help of an Elder traveling with me who speaks Portguese and English and of course, a miracle from the Lord, I could check all 3 and no fee. I was praying so hard. The lady just let me check them. Crazy stuff. So I arrived in Salvador. SO HOT!!!!!! I cant even explain to you how hot it is. And we are starting to come into winter. Stupid.... Anyway crazy stuff. So I was taken with four other elders to the Presidents house where we ate and we were trained and we were assigned our trainers. I am with Elder R. Silva. This guy is the man. A good looking tall buff Brazillian. haha. He has helped me a ton already and it is only our first day in the area. Our PDay is Monday but he said he wants me to write my family because he knows it would be really hard for me and he feels bad for me. But he wants to work work work work work. And so do I. The President put the right two guys together.
So we left Salvador last night at 8 and got on a bus. 13 hour long bus ride. haha. Shoot me in the face. It was not fun. We arrived in our area. We were taken to our apartment. I have pictures and a video I will send Monday. And I will tell you more about the area on Monday. All I can say is The houses are stacked on top of each other. Mom and Amanda. Imagine HAiti. That is exactly what it is like. Minus, the streets are a tad bit cleaner here and the shops are cleaner. But the houses. The exact same. A member fed us food. AWESOME food!! Loved it. Cutest little family. We are now out contacting and inviting people to come to church. They all say they will come and be baptized. haha. We have stopped three guys and they agreed. Crazy stuff. So ya, all around the houses it is straight jungle with obnoxious monkeys but cute little things. A great area. Google map it if you want.
That is great to hear everyone is safe. I feel safer here in Brasil. Our Country is not doing so well. SO GOOD to read about Nicole and little Codster. I need pics of the little man sent my way. I love you all so very much and everything is going very well here.
It is hard, a lot harder than I thought. I was sent to the poorest area in the mission with the most work to do. I know I can do it. I just NEED the Language so I can teach!! I can teach what I need to teach but sometimes when I ask questions and they dont give me a simple answer...that is when it is tough. But Elder Silva is helping me and we are going to get a lot of work done.
Again I love you all and pray for each of you everyday. Again, my PDAY is Monday. We have one hour and we can write whoever we want. Mom if you can, get me Tysons, Kades, Chandlers, and Austins email. Okay Love you all very much. be good and please be safe.
PS I should have brought less stuff. haha.
Love Elder Hadley

Brazil!!!!!

April 10, 2013

Dear Family,

So let me break it down for you quickly. We are givin like no time on these things in this MTC. I love you all very much.

Brazil is an amazing country but people are nuts. The driving is crazy and people do not care about their lives. The language is coming a long well but I still feel as if i am nervous about it. I get out there next week. I will have more time to write more then.

We are heading into winter now and the weather is gorgeous. It is really humid but bearable. I love the saints here, all very happy and willing to work with us missionaries. They come in as volantarios to teach all of the time. It is an amazing thing to see. The city is pretty poverty stricken. The People don't have much but you can tell are very happy. They are always willing to talk to you and get to know you. Me and my companions, (both american) went out last thursday for an hour and placed 6 book of mormons. The Lord was with us and helped us speak with the people. He wants His work to move forward, so if we are willing to try, He will help us. I love you all very much and will fill you in more next week when I get out in the field. As I said, we have no time to email here. haha. frustrating but its all good.

I went to the sao paulo temple today. Ama\ing experience. I put mom dad tom glenda nicole and boyds name in the temple. I felt like i really needed to. I hope everyone is doing well. We talked to some poeple out on the street the other day and life is not easy for them. Infact it is very very hard. But they love God and want to know how He can help them. And He can help them. I will write more next week. My time is up. i love you all and pray for you all.

God bless.

Love

Elder hadley