July 7, 2014

Family,

So this week was a fantastic week for us!! We are teaching 3 legally married famalies and got them all to church for the second time yesterday!!!! I cant even tell you how thrilled we are. I love everyone that I teach and have the honor of helping be baptized. But teaching and helping famalies into the waters of Baptism is something....man I cant even fully explain it. This week was great.

I traveled a lot....I was going around doing interviews for baptisms for other missionaries in our zone. We have great missionaries that work very very hard and who have a huge desire to baptize! If you teach with the Spirit, you are obedient, and you have desire and faith....you will be able to help many gain a testimony of the gospel. I love this work.

Love you all,
elder Hadley

Brazil vs Chile

June 23, 2014

Family,

So these past have been really good ones. I have been really lazy with my journal writing the past 5 weeks....I am incredibly sad seeing that five weeks ago was literally the first day that I hadn't written in the entire mission....But I have been better these past couple of weeks. Its just when we do splits and things like that I never have time to write. But I will get it taken care of. I have repented and will be better.

We have a great area. I have already talked about it a little bit to you guys Its super close to the church which helps out a lot.

We are teaching a family. Well we actually have not been teaching them yet because they are always gone!!! But we will get in there on Tuesday and teach them. they have came twice by themselves!! Its a mother with two daughters and a son. Good people. We are looking forward to Tuesday. I have no doubt they will be baptized. The moms sister is a member of the church and lives in Utah. That helps.

We have been teaching great people and working a ton with the recent converts and with the less actives. In this area it is without a doubt the best way to work. But we also knock tons of doors. Because I am in love with knocking doors. I think its really exciting.

The world cup has been pretty crazy. But not too crazy. In my area anyways. I know in Salvador...its pretty nuts. We have to stay inside our house when Brazil plays because of the parties and stuff. But we always catch bits and pieces of other games because EVERYONE we teach is watching and will not turn off their tv. They pay attention to us but will not turn it off. They think its cool that we love to cheer with them and stuff.

We were teaching a married couple who was being kind of slow while they were progressing. We decided to bring the hammer down and the Spirit was incredibly strong. We taught the plan of salvation. They loved it and could feel the spirit and felt that they needed to repent. But Sunday came around....and they didn't go to church. that often happens. I think that's why I am so stressed. I care for these people and want to help them with conversion and baptism but many times....they deny the spirit. That makes me really sad for them. really sad....But we cant make their choices for them.

 I literally think my hair is falling out....but I think that is either a Clyde gene or my stress....Just pray that it stops cause I have literally cried at night about it. hahaha. Not really but almost. Its a crappy feeling....

But I am loving every second I have here. I miss you guys a ton. But I am not ready to get back yet. haha. I have learned so much since I have been here on the mission. I have studied and studied and studied some more. The doctrine of the gospel is addicting. I hope you all are also studying as well. The scriptures are incredible. Study the book of Mormon.

I love you all and hope you all have a great week. Pray for my baldness. haha

Elder Hadley

June 2, 2014

Hey family,

So this week was a good one and one that was also kind of sad....I had spent a year in the capital, Salvador. And I had to leave to a city called Ilheus. Its very beautiful. Its sad just cause I will miss Salvador but its also really good and I am really excited because of my new area and my new comp.

Like I said I am in Ilheus Its really awesome. We have a great ward and great recent converts! and great people. There was a terrible accident here in this little small area where a little ten year old boy was in an accident with his bike, him, and a semi....we found out the name of the boy and are searching for his family. We hope we can find them and teach them. Everybody pretty much knows everybody here so we will find the house.

My comp is Elder Gillenwater, he is from Indiana. He is so great. haha. It seems like we have been friends for longer than one week. We have a lot in common and this week was great while we were teaching. We really felt the Spirit and all of our lessons flowed really well. He makes me want to be better daily. So that is really good.

There isnt a whole lot to write this week. I am in a ward where Grant Gallinger served (from Richland, Tysons cousin if you guys dont remember) and he as some people here that he baptized that are amazing!!! They help us so much with the work. Elder Gallinger was a great missionary.

I will write more next week. Ask questions. I dont know what to say anymore. haha. Love you all and have a great week!!!

Elder Hadley  

May 26, 2014

So this week.....was a really good one.....and a really sad one.... Good because we saw tons of miracles and the end of the week ended exactly how every missionary wants it to. The Lord has really blessed me here in these three transfers I have in Itapuã. Its amazing to see the Lords hand in all that we do. If we allow His hand to be.... So this week was pretty tough. Yesterday I found out that a woman who I became really close to. She is a recent convert and she had about 68 years. Elder Ray my friend baptized her a year ago.... I became really close to her and helped her out a ton. She has not been well these past few months and things have just been getting worse. She would always tell me. ELder Hadley...I am not well. I am not well. We dedicated her new house I have given her a few blessings....but all of this only helped her for a short time. Anyway, she passed away Satudays such a blind side....She was doing so much better. She was at church last Sunday and we talked a ton and she was so much happier. It was really really tough to hear what had happened.... But I just found out that I will be transfered to a city called Illéus I love you all. Have a great week. The Gospel is true... Elder Hadley

May 19, 2014

Family, This week was a good one. We saw a lot of success in our area. Especially the four of us that are in this ward. It was really cool to be apart of. Transfers are this next week. Lets see what happens. It rained a ton this last week. It was nice to have it cooler but I also was literally completely soaked all day long for like three days. Better to be soaked from clean rain water than soaked from sweat. haha. I have tried ahrd to start working out hard again everyday.....thats not going so well. Seeing pics of spence and how big he is has given me some inpiration but....I am really tired...haha. This week was great. Yesterday we were invited to visit two other church meetings. These people went with us to church so we went with them as well. We went to a Jehovah Witness meeting. It was very interesting. The part I loved the most was when it ended. There were four missionaries. Me my comp and two other elders that went with us. Literally almost EVERYONE came up and talked to us and welcomed us and started teaching us and inviting us to come back. THe reception there was really good. We see the members of this church almost everyday in the streets teaching people and we dont get a whole lot of time to talk to them. But they were really kind. But I noticed they did that with the other visitors as well. Everybody would go talk to them. And they have lots of members. So it was a cool thing to see. I learned that when I get back from the mission I need to be better reaching out to those who visit or those who are new members. Members of the church have power to do what the we as missionaries do not have....Remember that. We taught some great lessons this week. I feel like I have really done better with trying my hardest to teach by the Spirit. It has been something that I have been working really hard to do these past couple of weeks. I have seen improvement in the lessons and the way people respond. I love you all. This next week will be even better than the last. Keep being good boys and girls. Elder Hadley

April 29, 2014

Hey family!!

This week I am pretty darn tired....haha. This was a week that we worked really hard trying to establish more of a group to work with. We finished up with our group from before and we need to find more people who are wanting the Restored Gospel. 

ITs a challenge but its worth it.

We had stake conference here this last week and that was awesome. President Andrezzo spoke and wow it was a power house talk. I only pray that the members listened and felt the same Spirit that we as missionaries felt. If they did for sure we will see a difference in the work. He also spoke to those who were visiting and if they felt the same Spirit that we felt. They will be baptized this next Saturday. haha. It was a really really good talk. Sister Andrezzo also brought the house down. 

So this week was super super hot until Sunday. Which left it difficult for us. Sunday is the day when we need everyone to go to church. Or a better way to say it is when THEY NEED to go to church for themselves. But this last Sunday came around and what happened....rain rain rain. And when it rains everyone does what? Sleeps and will not leave and walk in the rain. SO that made our Sunday a pretty sad one. haha. But Sunday night we went to a members house who has the cutest little girl named Nicole. (in English nicole). And I taught her to give the peace sign and say PEACE. haha. Just like Brooks always used to do and I feel like all of the babies that are around mom used to do or still do because if I remember correctly it is mom that teaches that to everyone....hippy....haha. No but it is really cute when she does it. We will use skype at there house so I will have her do it for you guys. Remind me! haha. 

SKype. O YA!! It will be really fun to be able to talk with you guys during Skype. I wish everyone could be there but if not thats okay. I understand. Maybe we can do what we did last time and have everyone on the phone or something. Its crazy to think that after this skype with you guys I only have one more. Time flies by. 

Hey mom my friend Elder Swift well now that he is back home its Stewart Swift would just like to know if Grandpa will be able to do their sealing or not. He would love to have Grandpa do it but understands if he cant. I think I have talked about this like fifty times and havent really gotten an answer yet so if you could get me a response on that question that would be great. haha. 

 This week we have interviews with President. It should be good. Sister Andrezzo will look at our area books. We keep it really nice and up to date BUT....she always knows how to find something wrong with it. haha. 

What else happened this week.....I cant remember. Nothing new. Just the same ol same ol missionary work. We had some great lessons where the Spirit was REALLY strong. I had a guy (this is normal) go to the window of his house and grab his bible and yell at me I ALREADY KNOW THE WORD!! DONT NEED YOU TRYING TO TEACH ME YOUR LIES!!! And in a quick reaction I gave a response that wasn't mean but wasn't nice either. haha. 

 Another man was harassing my comp when my comp was trying to teach him the Plan of Salvation and when I heard I went over there. Talked with the man kindly....haha....kind of...I just taught him sternly. And left him thinking about some things. haha. 

I really dont fight with people, honestly I dont, but sometimes there are moments where you need to teach more boldly and with more.....I dont know what the word is. haha. But I dont fight. So nobody dont send me an email saying that I shouldn't be fighting with people. haha. 

Anyway. I love you guys and I love this work. Much to learn and much to experience. Love you all and keep being good boys and girls. 

ELder Hadley