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

April 21, 2014

I am out of time. This week I honestly and truly forgot about the family email. It was my fault. I love you guys and I am doing well. Keep being good boys and girls!!!! I am still in Itapuã!!!

Elder Hadley

April 14, 2014

Hey family,

This week was a good one and one that we super busy and super time pressed. 

So I learned a lot about missionary work and about doing what needs to be done even in moments when you dont want to do them. I want to share an experience with you guys that isnt a happy or exciting story. Unfortunately these are the ones that we usually learn the most from. 

We had met an older woman who we taught the restoration of the gospel to and everything was going great. She even read the pamphlet two times after we had left. On thursday before conference we had marked with her to go to conference with us on Sunday at one a clock. She really wanted to hear the Prophet of the world speak to us. She was super excited when we left. We came back friday she wasnt there. We passed by 5 times on friday and 6 times on saturday to cofrim coming to pick her up but she was not home. So sunday came. We took our recent converts to priesthood session. Then we ate lunch at noon but lunch took forever and we finally got to the chapel at 1:30. I thought....we could run and maybe she will be there at her house or we could stay here and enjoy conference.....Well....we decided to stay and enjoy conference. The whole time I was thinking about her and how I should go get her but she lived a long ways away and we probably wouldnt have gotten back in time to watch anything. But then we didnt pass by her house for the afternoon session because we searched for other people. But the whole time I was thinking about her but we didnt go....

We passed by her house on Tuesday and found her....She looked sad when she saw us and apologized for not being home friday and saturday. Then she told us she has left a catholic baptism of her nephew (which is a big deal) to come and wait for us. She waited until 3:30...which means it would have given us time to go and get her for the first session and the second session. We apologized. My heart was crushed. I had never felt so bad in my life. She is an elect!!! And I didnt follow the Spirit when He was telling me to GO!!

We taught her about the Book of Mormon and she then left on vacation and said she would read the book and pray about it. Then we wrote down and explained the website of the church so that she could go watch the conference talks. She will get back the first week of May. 

I sat down on the sidewalk when we left the house and cried.....I felt so bad. I know that one day she will be baptized. BUt to know that I could be delaying this baptism and that I didnt follow the Spirit when it was so clear left me very very sad. I have ALWAYS gone out of my way and ran and ran and ran to search for people to take them to church or to make sure we visit them everyday. But this one time I just decided not to because I didnt want to miss conference.  

I learned a valuable lesson. Family, please dont do what I did. Follow the Spirit always!! Even when its the hard thing to do. Even when we may have to sacrifice something extra. Just follow it and we will be blessed and we can bless the lives of others.

That was a big lesson I learned this week. The first time this has happened to me and it will be the last time. 

We had zone conference and President Andrezzo spat fire at us (in a good way). It was one of the most powerful talks or trainings that I have ever heard in me life. haha. I have ZERO doubt that he is inspired by God and that one day we will hear him giving a talk at General Conference. Zone conference was also great because I got to see lots of missionaries that I was wanting to see. 

The Church is true. Christ lives and loves us very much. Share your testimony wherever you go and please whatever you do...ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SPIRIT. Love you all and have a great week. 

Elder Hadley

March 24, 2014

Hey family,

This week was a great one!! We were able to see the Lord blessing us and it was something we wont forget. 

I talked a little to President Andrezzo in my weekly letter about how special last monday was for our family. He wrote a very nice response to me. Included in his response he added the scripture: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

I am really grateful for him and for the help that he brings to each of us missionaries. The missionaries in the mission are extremely blessed to have him as our leader. He is truly inspired by God. 

So this week was a good one. We worked really really really hard and it was really really really hot. haha. My poor comp was dying. His feet are all messed up but he kept going on and never wanted to stop. Maybe its because he knew that I wouldnt let him. haha. We were able to teach over 70 lessons this week and help lots of individuals come to know about the Gospel. For my comps second week on the field, he worked really hard to help us achieve our goal. We took a great family to church and they loved it. The mom and her 5 kids. Pray for them. They need it. We are preparing a group of teenage boys for baptism and things are looking excellent. I cant even explain to you all how much the Lord has been blessing us. If we work our hardest and work our smartest, the Lord will help us with this work. 

I am weighing about 183 pounds. I think the stress and walking really fast in the heat is getting to me. haha. But thats okay. I am not too worried about it. I know that I will be able to get it all back after the mission....at least I am hoping so..... haha. 

So this Sunday we found out something a little shaky about one of our investigators. We are unsure what we will do but we are confident that everything will work out the way it should. The Lord will watch over us and them. 

I did a split with the Zone Leaders for two days. That was a lot of fun. One of them is a good friend of mine and it was him that stayed with me in our area. We got a ton done and worked really hard. Its so easy to work when you have someone who is your friend. I am grateful that I have been blessed with good companions who love to work hard and are good kids. 

I have watched the videos that Amanda sent me of Spener at pro day like 5 million times. haha. Its so cool to see. I told everybody here on the mission that my bro will play in the NFL. Now my friends on the mission want to know Spencer Hadley and want nothing to do with Elder Hadley. haha. I guess I brought that one upon myself.

I interviewed two older ladies that the sisters are teaching to be baptized and they kept on asking if they could touch my hair and my arms because they both think I look like Joseph Smith and they love Joseph Smith. And I mean LOVE Joseph. I think I said NO about 500 times that night. haha. The sisters told them jokingly that I was a a grandson of the Prophet. haha. They didnt pick up the joke and took it seriously. I had to set that one straight real quick or the interview would have been impossible to have. haha. Once I set it straight they paid close attention and stopped asking to touch my hair. haha. They love the gospel and will be baptized this saturday.

This was a great week and I am happy for the success our District has been having and is continuing to have. Its a blessing to be a part of. 

I love you all and hope you all are well. Continue to do what you know you need to do and the Lord will bless you for it. 

Love you,

Elder Hadley   

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