Feb 17, 2014

Family,

So this week was a really really hot week. I mean really hot. I have never felt this type of heat before. haha. And it was also a pretty stressful week. 

We were able to meet some great people but when Sunday came. Instead of the 20 people we had planned to go with us to church. Only 5 went with us. We are really happy with the 5 that went but we really thought that we would be able to get a lot more. But thats normal. 

Anna is having some troubles. She started out really great but is having some difficulties with a desire to follow Christ. She is also studying with other churches. She went to church with us yesterday. I dont know how much she liked it but we will talk to here today. Its really heart breaking when you see peole who you come to really care about slip away and lose a desire to follow Christ. 

Missionary work is a great work to be apart of. But one that is not the easiest. And I think thats part of the reason why it makes it so great. I think that is why this life and this plan that our Father in Heaven has created for us is so great. Think of how little we would learn and how unexciting life would be if it were easy. 

I did a division with one of the LZs this week. We had a good time and were able to work really hard. He was my LZ in the other zone and he moved when I moved. It was good to work with him again. 

We were able to teach a woman this week who is planning a wedding with her husband. She and her husband the entire lesson were saying how much light that we Elders had and how much they loved just being around us. We had a powerful and very spiritual lesson about the restoration of the gospel. They want us to help them with their wedding. We are praying really hard that everything will go well and they will end up being baptized and then off to the temple. Thats the goal we as missionaries should have. 

I love you all. Sorry this letter is short but I dont have a whole lot to say. haha. Keep being good boys and girls. Love you all!

Elder Hadley

Feb 10, 2014

Hey family!! HOw are you all doing!! I am doing great. Its super hot here so enjoy the cold. My skin will never be white again and the mosquitos and the heat make it almost impossible to sleep at night. haha. But that cant even stop the missionaries here in this mission stop from loving it. This mission has great missionaries and they work really hard. I am grateful to be a part of it all.

Just a side note, mom take some sweet pictures of the farm and send them to me if you could? LIke of the horses and the sheep and when the lambs start to come and also the cows. For sure. Everyone here is wanting to see pictures of our farm. They like the idea that we are farmers. I am not sure why? haha. Just kidding. Farming is the way to go. It really is. That would be great if you coudl do that. Thank you mother. 

So this week was great. We were able to get a good amount of people to church this sunday. It felt good to have people walking with us to church. It always does but this sunday it felt really good. Maybe because it was raining and it was a little bit cooler. That may have something do to with it. Church went great. Until the very end.....Our investigator Anna....55. We found her last wednesday and she LOVED church. There are some steps that are really steep and pretty high right in front of our beautiful chapel. And she fell from the stop step and touched nothing until her face smaced on the ground at the very bottom of the steps. I thought for sure she got knocked out. Me and my comp ran over and picked her up both of us expecting to see a destroyed cheek bone and teeth that had falling out. BUt she jumped right up totally fine and yelled JESUS IS MY SAVIOR!!!! haha. It was super sweet!! She had a little blood in her mouth and a scraped up arm and leg and for sure she will be sore the next few days. But she is okay. I seriously thought that she might have been knocked out or dead. She fell face first and I mean fell hard. I dont know how she was okay like she was. We went inside cleaned her up and gave her some water. Then we walked her home. But she was fine the whole time. After lunch we passed by and she wasnt home. That left us a little nervous but we will go by there tonight to talk to her. She is alright. She said she has strong african ancestors. haha. And she has more muscle than I did when I was in great shape. haha. Well....good shape...haha. I have always been kind of fat and soft. 

But the week was really good. We are working in a different area. We first tried close to the church with all of the really big rich person houses. And we left and went back to the more humble area. This ward is a great one. I love the people here. We taught this Anna lady how to pray. She said all 55 years of her life nobody cared to teach her and she said she hasnt said a real prayer. Not even one time in her life. So I told her she was going to pray. It was on Thrusday. She was super embarrassed and said that she wouldnt. So we taught her how to do it. Then I said she needed to pray or nobody will talk to God after our lesson. hahaha. Just a little loving pressure.... Anyway then I folded my arms and bowed my head. Then my comp did. And she sat there for a while laughing saying that she wouldnt. But we didnt move a muscle. We just sat there. haha. Finally after 5 minutes she started to pray. Then she got quite and was crying and crying. Then finished. Then told us how amazing she felt and how she will start to pray every day. It was a blessing to see and The Spirit was very strong. 

The power of prayer is very real and very important. That is exactly why Cali and Utah are haveing the fasts and PRAYERS. It is very powerful and Our Heavenly Father WANTS to hear from us whenever He can. Dont forget to pray, family! The Savior Himslef prayed, If He needed it you better believe that we need it. 

Love you all and have a great week!!

3 Nephi 18:19-21

Elder Hadley

Feb 3, 2014

Hey family!

So its a little bit weird that now the entire world knows about what happened with me last monday.....mom, amanda.....Big mouths....haha. 

Sophia was born!!! Wow!! What a way to make a missionary want to go home!! haha. She is adorable and I am so glad that you all are okay! What a blessing to have in our lives. So she was born groundhogs day right? She looks like a little chunky groundhog. Probably because she looks like G....

So I am so glad to hear all is well with you guys and others back home. It brings a lot of comfort to know that you are all doing okay. I miss you all and think of you often. 

So this new area is a great one. Its a little more calm so dont worry mom. haha. I will be okay. We have a beautiful chapel here. Thats always nice. A chapel with AC because I cant even explain how hot it has been this last week...wow it was killer temp. Straight sun sun sun sun. Its something that you cant explain. haha. I have lost quite a bit of weight. I dont eat a whole lot becuase I dont find myself with a whole lot of time. Its like I would rather be doing other things. I dont workout everyday like I should because I am so dang tired. I wake up at 6;30 and drink a glass of chocolate milk to wake me up then take a shower to cool off. Then start reading. I should start to wrokout again....

So this week was a good one. There are some great people in this area. There have been some missionaries that have just been baptizing children when they passed by here in this area so we have a really high number of members but not a high numbers of active members. I have been thinking about some ideas that I think will help. We will have a meeting with the ward mission leader this week. Its a great ward that has lots of potential to grow. They will help us if we ask. My district is us. The zone leaders and two sets of sisters. haha. The sisters work super hard and are super obedient and the zone leaders work hard as well. Its a cool district to be in. I miss the missionaries from my other house. I hope they are all doing well. I am sure they are. 

So this week we were blessed to meet some great people and teach some great people. We were also blessed to help a little family enter into the waters of baptism. I dont mention my baptisms very much but I just want to talk about them. The 8 year old son holds onto my arm and never lets it go when I am around. haha. I have one week here and I am not sure why this kid loves me so much but he does. haha. During his confirmation I felt the Spirit so strong as I was giving him the blessing I almost started to cry. He will one day serve a mission. I have no doubt about that. I have never met an 8 year old boy who didnt grow up in the church have such a desire to learn about Christ. He knows the bible better than I do. It was a great weekend. 

We are going to continue to work hard and do what we need to do to help ALL come unto Christ. I invite you all to do the same. Love you all!! Be safe!

Elder Hadley