Dec 16, 2013

Hey family!

So this week was such a great week. 

But to start it off. I need to know how I skype you guys. LIke to what account I will call. And I need to know what time. It will probably be better for April to call first. Or we call together? I dont know. You guyd figure it out and let me know. 

So.....I did not get transferred. I cant believe it. I am really excited to finish the 12 weeks of training with my comp but this is my fifth transfer in this area....I know this are better than people who have lived here for years.... 7 months in the most difficult area on the mission. President Andrezzo told us that Bandeirantes is the hardest on the body in the entire mission. And he never ever leaves someone in an area longer than 4 transfers....haha Beleza. haha. No honestly I am excited because we are working with a really solid group. I am excited to get back working with them. Obviously there is something that I am not getting right here cause the Lord is asking me to stay another 6 weeks. Maybe this time I will be able to get it right. haha. 

So this week was pretty sweet. We had a good time. I forgot to tell you but two weeks ago I think I might have broken my big toe playing some soccer in the street against some kids. If we won, they had to go to church. If not, we had to buy them a coke....haha. Ya my toe got destroyed because the street is so uneven. haha. But it doesnt matter because we won 7-6 and they all went to church that next Sunday. And two of them will be baptized. haha. That was in the area when I went with the Assistents. It was sweet. 

This week was good. Like I already said. Nothing too crazy has been going on. We are working really hard with our group. We have an investigator that is progressing in everything. And I mean everything. Expect....she doesnt go to church...Well at least she hasnt gone yet....Man its hard. I dont know what to do with her. I dont want to let her go becuase of all of the things she is doing. But three weeks and she hasnt gone to church yet. Its tough. I might shoot her. But we will pray about it tomorrow in weekly planning. I think we will keep her. 

That sweet little family is now down to just the teenage girl. The Mom went freaking crazy! And said that we cant teach anyone anymore. But we still go over there and teach them. haha. Shhhh. But honestly, they dont want anything anymore. Only the teenage girl. Maybe one day when they all grow up. I hope that we were able to plant some kind of seed inside of them. 

We had Stake Conference this weekend. It was sweet. M. Russell Ballard spoke. But he spoke in English and they didnt have the translation for him. SO me and another American missionary took turns translating for the entire stake. It was....pretty nerve racking. haha. It was tough. But we were able to do it. 

Lets see what else....It is really hot. Thats normal....

You all know everything about my area. Well at least you should. ALmost 7 months here. I know it better than Provo. 

O I had the chance to ordain Gabriel, my first baptism in this area, as an Elder. It was a special and emotional experience. The way the gospel has transformed this young man is unbelievable. 

Something we need to work on is trying to contact more men. Then problem is there are so many men that wont even talk to us and when they do they act like punks. But we still got to do it. 

I cut Elder Browns hair today. It turned out really good. Mom and Nicole would be proud. I used scissors and all. He liked it a lot so that was sweet. 

Alright. So that was how my week was. There are probably more things I am just not able to remember them. haha. I love you all. I hope all is well. I am excited to see you all next week. Give me the details about what time and to who I will call. Love you all and be safe. 

Elder Hadley

Dec, 9 2013

Mom,

So ya my hives have gotten pretty bad....haha. on my arms, shoulders, neck, and even on my back. They are starting to look like when I first got them way back in the day. haha. I will talk to Sister Andrezzo to see what we can do. 

How was your week? 

Mine was a good week. Pat I loved the email my bro. Send a pic. I wanna see how big you have grown. haha. My little stud. Keep working hard my man. Sharia, thank for the letter a couple of weeks ago. Love you both. 

So this week I did a division with the assistants in an area that we just opened. Its a city that has never seen missionaries. The assistants have been working there for three weeks and I dont know why I was invited to go with them? haha. Maybe I will be transferred there and start working in Valença? I am not sure. Whatever the reason. It was a blast. It was cool because I have always had a good relationship with these two Elders. Elder Warner from Roseville. (He is in the Citrus Heights ward, Spence) And Elder Rodrigues who is from São Paulo but lived in Utah for almost 9 years. We have always been good friends during the mission and this three weeks made it even better. It was a blast to learn from them. This area is sweet. We have an old market place that is our church building and the missionaries that will be living there will live in the apt above the church. haha. Its a small town really close to the beach. Our baptisms there take place on the beach. So that is pretty cool. Its a great area with amazing people. I am excited to see whatever missionaries go there and hear about how they are doing. 

I will tell you all more about it during our christmas call. I am so excited for our chance to talk and see each other. Let me know what will be the best time for you guys. Mom, I am sorry this letter is short. haha. I am already out of time on here. I will send a longer one next week. I love you all and have a great week. 

ELder hadley

Dec 2, 2013

Dear Family,

Loves the letter! Sounds like everything is doing really well!! Mom, you dont need to send anymore things for my heat rash. haha. I have too much!! I am survivng and thats all that is important. During the day I dont even think about it. ALso, I really hope you guys sent a new camera.....haha. 

So like normal, this week was full of ups and downs. But we were still able to get a really good amount of people at church with us. That was cool. We met a couple this week and taught them. They came to church with us. I told them I wont baptize them because they are living together and aren't married (the most common thing here). So we are planning on a wedding here in a couple of weeks. haha. It should be sweet. I dont know though. They dont have a testimony about things yet so we need to focus on both marriage and a testimony. Because how can they recieve a testimony if they are not willing to repent? The blessings come as a consequence of our repentance and obedience. I beleive that marriage is a consequence of repentance. Or splitting up....But I am leaning more towards putting the ring on it. So lets see how this all works out. We are super excited about all of this. 

My family is....progressing. Slowly but surely. Continue to pray for them. We went to church with one of the members of the family last night.....it was...haha very very interesting. Gloria!! Gloria!!! haha. It was such a testimony buider of how the Spirit works...I did not one time feel the Spirit. And its not because they are bad people or anything like that. Its because the Spirit works as a still small voice. For sure. There are times where He will yell at us. But that wont happen very often. The only thing I felt there was the desire to dance. haha. They were rocking out on the drums and guitar. The guys playing were legit. The lady pastor was teaching....lots of false doctrine. It was so sad to see these people who are seeking for the truth and who want to become closer to God...are not finding it. The pastor said that --- The blood of the Lord will bring Justice--- I sat thinking....I wonder if these people understand in the Atonement...I wonder if they know that they can repent. How miserable that would be...thinking that we have to live and die in our sins... The blood of the Lord brought mercy and grace in the great plan of our Heavenly Father. Justice already existed. Thats why laws and commandments exist. If it werent for the perfect blood of the Perfect Son of God...The demands of justice wouldnt have been satisfied. And there would have been no way mercy could have existed. No way to repent. No way to return to love with our Father in Heaven again. This doctrine is so much deeper but lets just stop at the surface. haha. You all already know this but I just sat thinking how sad it must be....My dear family, help those who are around us. Help them know that because of the suffering of our Savior they can repent. And they must repent. Obviously, dont go teaching your friends that they need to repent or they are going to hell. Thats the missionaries jobs. haha. But teach them that they can repent. Give them hope in something bigger that can nurture their faith. Share the Gospel. I am so dissapointed with myself that I didnt try to do this more often before the mission. I could have made a difference in the lives of some of my friends. Well I couldnt have but at least I could have brought something that would have made that difference. Be better that fatty matty. Do work. 

So this week was super hot. Excpet one day it rained like its never rained before. Rivers covered the city. It was  crazy. haha. I mean...rivers. People in litts boats were traveling on the streets. haha. Cars were almost completely covered by water. It was crazy!!

I love you all family. I hopw you have a great week!! Continue to do your best!! Be safe!!

Elder Hadley