Feliz Navidad!!!

Feliz Navidad!!! Merry Christmas!! Oh jeez, I’m going to be honest, it does not feel ANYTHING like Christmas, but I’m kind of really grateful for that. It will keep me from being completely trunky and a little more focused in this crazy time. But, this week was super great with lots of super great experiences. So let’s jump into it, because I don’t have very much time to write and want to get this thing done. Sooooo….

Tuesday we went to Santa Fe and had a super great Christmas Party Meeting Conference kind of thing with Presidente and Hermana Westover and all the missionaries in the Zone. It was kind of small, but it was actually super great. For most of the time, we were doing a program with lots of hymns and scriptures and everything. The program followed the story of Christ’s birth. We would read a few scriptures and then sing the song that went with the scripture that we read. It was super great and I felt the Spirit so strongly. I loved it so much. Then, after that, we had lunch, which was super great. The cakes afterward were to die for. Literally. I couldn’t finish one piece of each without almost passing out from being so stuffed. It was delicious so I didn’t mind too much. After that, we had a gift exchange. Elder Overall, the husband in our Elder Missionary Couple, was Santa Claus and Elder Sanchez and Elder Ocampo were his little Elves. It was super fun. We had to bring a small gift that didn’t cost too much, but it had to be able to be a gift for a guy or a girl. Elder Moore got one of the electronic Lucky Cat doll things and I bought a cool, light up, pistol lighter. But the gift exchanging was pretty fun. I got a nice picture frame. After that, if any of the missionaries wanted to, they could share one of their talents or skills. One of the newest missionaries played the piano super well. He even laid down on his back, with the piano at his head, and he played the Charlie Brown Christmas Song. It was great. Another sister missionary played her violin, and the assistants sang a super great and Spiritually Powerful song. It was a great time. I loved it even more cause I got to see my guy, Elder Robinson and catch up with him a little. It was a great conference. 

On Wednesday we went to Mari’s house in the morning and visited her. It was a good time. We didn’t really teach anything, we just took the time to visit and chat with her and get to know her even more. It was a great time, and Elder Moore could practice his Spanish a little bit. I think she really needed it because in her house she is being a little pressured about her membership in the church, but she is staying strong and firm in her beliefs. I’m proud of her. I gave her the necklace you sent for Christmas.  It made her very happy.

On Thursday, in the afternoon, it started to rain super, super, duper hard. But we figured "Eh. We can still leave." So we left. But it turns out that we were a little mistaken. We got to visit a few people before getting completely drenched, but after about an hour or so of walking around in the crazy storm, we had to surrender and had back to the pench. But don’t underestimate the rain that was going down. Because it was freaking killer. I’ll send the pictures. One road was completely flooded. Just absolutely FULL of water. And by the time we figured we would go back to the pench, we were already completely soaked, even with our rain jackets on and everything. So we were crossing that street that was flooded, and we figured it would have been about ankle deep. But when Elder Moore crossed first, it turned out to be about KNEE DEEP! It was so funny to watch him freak out and let out a little scream. I was dying laughing. We were both laughing. The storm was so loud that houses couldn’t hear us clapping by their gates. Oh the memories. On the way back, we figured that if we were going to have to be in the pench, we were going to do it right. So we bought two fish on the way back and ended up having a pretty nice fish dinner that night. Not as good as fresh caught trout back home, but it works. 

On Friday, we had a lesson with Paola. It turned out to be super good! Since the last time that we visited her, she had read a little bit of the Book of Mormon, and she was a little confused on all the details. So we reread with her. It was 1 Nephi 3 and 4. Super great chapters. She really liked them too, but of course had a few questions. I was able to help her understand just about everything. I am grateful for the Spirit that was present, because I was able to answer all of her questions and she absolutely felt of the Spirit. Strongly too! In the end, we invited her to come to church, but of course she was a little timid and shy about committing. Actually she said very directly, "I’m not promising anything" but we gave her the best invitation and promise of blessings that she could have received. So we left pretty content with what we had shared. 

Saturday was a pretty good day too. We visited a few people in Las Vegas and contacted a lot too. They are all pretty good and have potencial. The only problem with Las Vegas is finding them at home and helping them get to the church building on Sundays. But it was a good morning. We were able to share with a lot of people Light The World cards and share with them a few ways that they could light the world of someone else. In the afternoon we visited a few less active members to get the last invitations in for the following day. It was super great. Of course they all said that they would "try their hardest" to go to the church, but we just tried our hardest to make them feel welcome and want to come to the church. We found one less active member family that the mom actually isn’t a member, but the kids are super awesome and seem like they would actually want to come to church. So we are going to be visiting them more and hopefully start teaching the mom again. Other than that, we had made plans to have a kind of "fiestita" (small fiesta) with a guy that we had met earlier in the week. The guy’s name is Paulo and he has a few problems that could make anyone feel super sad. First of all, he has a kind of bone disease that has affected his feet and legs, so he can barely walk, even with a walker. He also seems to have some kind of mild mental trouble, but that doesn’t keep him from cracking a few jokes every now and then. But when we met him, we obviously talked about Christmas plans and what he was going to do for Christmas. He told us that he didn’t have any plans, but that he was going to stay at home all alone. You see, about 3 or 4 months ago, both his mom and dad died. First his dad, and then a month or so following that, his mom. He lives at home, alone, about 35 years old or so, and just seems to have a tough time feeling happy. So we wanted to help him have a good Christmas season. We planned to come by, the 4 missionaries, to visit him and have a small party on Saturday. The day before, on Friday, we had passed by to make sure that we could still go by on Saturday. So Saturday came around, we still had plans to go by, and we bought Soda and cakes and stuff like that to have a really good time with him. But when the four of us missionaries showed up, he couldn’t because he had some company over, unexpectedly, and had to visit with them. So we took the rest of the food and drinks and passed by a few other people to try and spread some of the Christmas Cheer, but no one was home. So, a little bummed out, we went to the pench and celebrated the fact that at least we tried. 

Sunday was super great. In the morning, we didn’t start church until about 10:30, so we got up and took our time a little to get ready and showed up to wait for everyone at the church, all the less active members that we had invited, and especially the investigadores that we had invited. Sadly, no one came. But hey, I didn’t let that ruin my Sunday. So we had just Sacrament Meeting and the Spirit that was present during that meeting was amazing. The Bishopric spoke, and all the talks were great, but Bishop’s was amazing. His testimony is so great. I don’t know if I’ve shared this before or not, but our Bishop is a convert of about 5 years. Crazy! He does a great job and the entire ward loves and appreciates him. After the siesta, we went to visit a few people and then afterward to a rest home with a few of the other ward members to sing a few Christmas Carols for the elderly people there. It was great time and the faces of the people living there were amazing. They really seemed to brighten a little by the end of the time we had with them. But after that, we went to visit Amelia and spent the rest of the night there visit and having fun, chatting and sharing stories with her and her family. It was a great time.

Then for Christmas Eve we were able to pass the night with the Familia Amarilla, legit one of my favorite families. They invited us to eat and spend the evening with them. We had bought the ingredients to make the Cinnamon Rolls and the Hermana was able to make them and teach us a little about how to do it. It was great. Not quite like home, but good enough to make my night. They even shared a few gifts with us. I really love them a lot. In the end, when we were about to take a picture and then leave, the Hermana went into a back room and said that she was going to "get ready" for the picture. So we waited, but then there was a knock at the door. Not going to lie, Elder Moore and I were a little scared because it was a bit late and no one would be knocking on the door. But when we opened it, IT WAS SANTA!! The Hermana Amarilla had changed into a crazy Santa costume and sneaked around, from the back door, to knock on the front door. It was so funny and great! They are so fantastic and funny and I love them sooooo much. So they gave us a small gift each, and then we were able to watch as the 3 daughters opened their gifts. So amazing. I love them. 

But yeah! That was the week. A few great Light the World opportunities and lots of great memories. I am so grateful that I had this chance to spend this Christmas here with so many great people and see the Light of the Gospel shine the lives of others. I can’t say that it’s better than Christmas at home, but I can say that I love it just as much. I hope to never forget the memories that I have collected in all of my mission, especially the ones in the times of Christmas. I love this Gospel, and I love Jesus Christ. 

Thank you all for reading.

Until next week

Chau

Elder Haley

Our Christmas lights in the pench

Elder Robinson, mi amigo

Christmas party

The sunsets are amazing

The flooded streets

fish dinner

Rest home singing Christmas carols

Gifts from home and my special stocking

Mom sent this tree that we hung up and decorated.  I also hung my personal ornaments that have been given to me. 

short email....sorry

Ohhhhhh baby, this week has been super fun and super cool. We didn’t really have too many lessons, but a few really super cool things have been going down and I’m about to tell you guys all about that. So this email is actually going to be kind of short because, we didn’t really have too much happen for us this week. But, I’ll fill you guys in on all the important stuff. 

So first of all, I finally got to pick up my Son!! It was super great. After spending a day or two with Elder Seelos and Elder Cua, we went to the Mission Offices on Wednesday to pick up our newbies. The meeting was pretty good. As the new trainers, we were able to spend a little bit of time with Presidente to have a short training with him to talk about the expectations that he has of us, as trainers, and the great responsibility that we hold. So that was super good to see just how much Presidente loves and trusts us to be the first impression of the Mission Life for the new missionaries. Then, we were able to participate in the meeting when we finally got to meet our newbies. I, of course, had to wait until the very end and be the last to meet my new comp, but it was completely worth the wait! My new companion and newbie, my son, mi hijo, is Elder Moore! From California. He is a complete stud and we hit it off from the start. He and the rest of his group of new missionaries, were in the Mexico MTC, so his Spanish is a LOT better than mine was when I got to the mission. He loves sports, is super funny, and came to the mission ready to work hard and teach a lot of people. So after the meeting and lunch, we went back to Santo Tome and dropped off his bags and suitcases and things and he got all unpacked. Then, in the little time we had before our meeting with the Ward Mission Leader, we talked to a few people in the streets and knocked a few houses. Right now, and for the next few weeks, we are going to be using literally all of our free time in between lessons and plans to be contacting a whole lot to give Elder Moore every opportunity to talk to other people and learn by experience. It was a great first day. We are going to have a lot of fun together and get a bunch of work done. 

In the rest of the time that we had this week, like I said before, we have been contacting a lot and talking to just about everyone we come across in the streets. We didn’t have too many lessons this week because every time we would pass by for our investigadores, they weren’t home, and we couldn’t get in contact with them through the phone either. So we had lots of time to get to know new people and set up a few citas for the coming days. 

On Saturday, we had an activity in the church for the afternoon to celebrate Christmas a little bit and have a big party for the Ward as a "Good Bye 2018". As part of the activity, we were going to have a small Nativity Scene done by the Primary Kids and some of the Youth. But, because the activity started super late, Elder Moore and I weren’t able to watch any of it because we had a cita just as the activity was starting. So, sadly we didn’t get to see any of that, but the other missionaries were able to get a few pictures. Also, at the activity, Luis, the husband of Maria Elena, came with her to participate. It was super great for him to be there because he actually was super against anything that had to do with the church for a long time. But, he is finally starting to open up a little more and be more willing to listen to what we have to say. Hopefully we can find him at home one of these days and finally sit down to teach him and let him know that we aren’t as completely crazy as he thinks we are. 

Other than that, this week has been super fun and interesting to watch Elder Moore and remember what it was like for me to come to the mission and have close to no idea what I was doing. It makes me realize just how much I have learned in the mission and how different I’ve become. And I’m not only talking about being a little fatter now that when I was when I got here. Just how much I have learned about the Gospel and how to love and care for other people, even if you barely know them. I love the mission so much and would never give anything up for the time that I have had here. I know I say it a lot, but I’m so grateful that I still have so much time left to find people that need the truth and help bless their lives through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that what I am doing right now is exactly what God wants me to be doing and that, even if it hard and tiring at times, the mission has come to be one of the greatest blessings and gifts in my life. 

It also blows my mind that we are so close to Christmas and how it is super crazy hot and humid here  Even after all of my prayers for a white Christmas, and not only for more Baptisms. But, even though its not a typical Christmas season, it doesn’t change the fact the this time is one, if not THE best time to share the Gospel with other people. So be sure to get out there and serve a few people and be the kind of person that Jesus would have us be. 

Thanks for the time and for reading. Love you all! 

Feliz Navidad!

Chau

Elder Haley

Drum roll please....

Oh my good golly, my people. This last week has been super-duper nuts and all over the place. It was the last week of the transfer and we have all sorts of bigs. We got big news, little news, old news, crazy news, breaking news, and all the other kinds of news that you can think of. Soooooooooo, not going to lie, I can’t remember too much of what we did, and I don’t have my planner from last transfer with me to get all the details into what we did. BUT! I’m going to cover all of the big things that we did and fill you guys in on what is going down in my life. 

First of all...... transfers. Drum roll please... I’m staying! Yep, that’s right, I’m staying yet another transfer here in Santo Tome. However, my companion, or now former companion, Elder Gonzales, is leaving. I know right? If you guys follow these emails and updates at all, you will notice that I have now had 3 companions in a row that I have only been with for one transfer. So that’s a bit nuts. And sad, because Elder Gonzales and I were starting to get along really well. I mean, we have always gotten along but he was finally starting to open up and not be so quiet. Oh well, what can you say, only that that’s how life is at times.... BUT! Super big news! My new companion. So, can I get another drum roll......... I’M TRAINING!! It’s a Christmas Miracle!!! After waiting for forever to get my son (what a trainer calls a brand new missionary they are training), I’m finally going to train, and just in time for Christmas. As of right now, I have no idea where my “son” is from, if he speaks Spanish, what he looks like, nothing. I’ve heard rumors that he is going to be Yankee, but I’m going to find out tomorrow. So, if all goes well, we are going to having all sorts of crazy fun in Santoto and we are going to be working super-duper hard and getting a bunch of people taught and converted to the Gospel. So yeah, that’s the biggest news I have. But, like I said, it’s pretty lame that I only got to have 6 weeks with Elder Gonzales, but I feel like we came to be really good friends and that we are going to stay in contact the rest of our lives. He is such a good guy and a really dang good missionary. I only wish that we could have stayed together a little bit longer, but hopefully we can be in the same district again in the future. I can’t wait to tell you all about my new companion next week!

Other than that, we did a few other super cool things. On Sunday, after the siesta, we went to Santa Fe for a huge activity for the church and the 3 stakes that there are here in Santa Fe. We went to the Costanera, which is the beachy area near the big, famous bridge in Santa Fe. The activity was part of the Light the World campaign that is happening now in December. At the activity, the Stake Choir and other people sang hymns and Christmas Carols. While they were doing that, the rest of us, especially the missionaries, were all trying to talk to the other people that were in the area, passing by, or sitting with their friends and families drinking mate. The activity was super cool, but the only problem was that all the people in this area are super against the missionaries and never, ever, ever want to talk to us. So we weren’t able to share too much with them or get to receive too many references for the missionaries in that area, but hey, that’s how it is some times. At least we tried. But, I did get to see a bunch of the other missionaries and catch up with all of them and share a bunch of laughs and good times and memories. It was actually a pretty good afternoon. Of course it was great to see Papa Noel also!

We didn’t have too many lessons this week. On Wednesday, we went on divisions with the other Elders and I went with Elder Cortes. It was a really good time and we had lots of fun walking around in his area, teaching one lesson to a really cool guy, and talking to as many people as we could. It was nice to get out of my area for a little bit. Elder Cortes is a super great guy and I hope we get to see each other more in the mission, because he is now leaving the District too. He is going to train also, but in a different area. Elder Sandler is coming in to replace him. This next transfer is going to be so much fun! While I was in Rafaela, Elder Sandler was one of the Zone Leaders for one transfer. He is super funny, super nuts, and a great missionary. He and Elder Carter are going to get a lot of good done. Also, now that I’m on the subject, Hermana Rosas is leaving and Hermana Galbraith is staying. She is also going to train, so we are going to have two new missionaries in the district.

Oh, and that reminds me too! On Saturday, the Hermanas had three baptisms! They were the baptisms of a kid of 13 years named Bryan and a couple named Luis and Melani. I was able to do their interviews for the baptisms, so it was great to see them set into the waters of baptism and the smiles on their faces as they felt the Spirit so strongly. I was happy to be able to attend their Baptismal Service and feel of the Spirit. I love baptisms!!!

Oh, and because I have to pick up my new missionary tomorrow and don’t have a companion right now, I am currently in a different area and in a trio with two other missionaries that are going to be training and picking up their new comps this transfer too. So we are having a bunch of fun together running around all of Santa Fe and soaking up the last bit of freedom before we have to pick up our “sons”... (winky face) But yeah, it’s pretty sick. 

That’s basically all that I’ve been doing this last week. Not too much crazy cool stuff, but I am having a bunch of fun and I’m super excited for this next transfer. I know it’s going to be a really great learning process and I can’t wait to get started. 

Another super cool thing that happen is that the FML Penno went to the Temple!!!!! YEAH BABY!! They went to the Buenos Aires Temple on Saturday and had a great time. Jose, Noe, and Ari had a great experience in the Temple doing baptisms for the dead. (see the link on the sidebar for description) Noe was able to do a few of the ordinances for her family members, including her mother who passed away a few years ago, and Jose was able to do the same, but for his father. They came back, having felt the Spirit very strongly and in great abundance in the Temple and are really looking forward to going back. Especially in a year from now, when they hope and plan to be sealed together as an Eternal Family for the rest of forever. I am so grateful for their love for the Gospel and testimonies that they have obtained and developed. I took a picture on top of their car while they were at the temple.  It was pretty awesome.

Thank you all for the love and support and the prayers that you offer for this lame, old missionary. It really means a lot and I can truly testify that the power of your prayers really does make a difference. 

I want to just leave you all with my testimony that I know that this church is true, that I have seen the difference in my life since I have been in the mission, and that I know, without a doubt, that I am exactly where I need to be at this time in my life. I am so thankful for the experiences that I have had the privilege of having and that I still have a long time in the mission to get some work done and save some souls. 

My Christmas package is here in the mission office too!  So excited! Thank you!!! Also, it is 100 degrees today with A LOT of humidity.  Enjoy your winter temps back home!

Love you all! Don’t forget to Light the World!

Chau

Elder Haley

Just a house we were walking by with a message about Jesus on it

The scorpion that came out of the faucet

Hanging out with the scorpion playing chess while waiting for the baptism

Penno's Car

Dead scorpion

The cake for the baptisms

Last picture with my District before new missionaries arrive

Elder Gonzales and I with Papa Noel

The Beach area

SANTA FE

Saying goodbye, for now, to Elder Gonzales

Service with a Smile

Welcome, welcome ladies and gentlemen to this week’s review of my life. I’m glad you are taking the time to read this. It really means a lot. Well, this week has been a pretty good one. We had a few really good lessons and we were able to do divisions with the Zone Leaders. Oh wait there was one more thing... oh yeah. I PASSED ONE YEAR BABY! So yeah. Pretty nuts. Buuuuuut let’s get to it.

Tuesday. So, Tuesday morning was one of those mornings. It was raining pretty heavily when we left to visit a few people that we had made citas with. After walking super far, most of it through mud, the citas fell through. Usually the Argentine people completely shut down when it is raining, so we weren’t too surprised when the people were "busy" and couldn’t talk to us. But, because we were without plans, we took the time to do some contacting and try to find more people to teach. Almost all the people didn’t answer their doors. But hey, that’s how it is sometimes. We were actually so far away from the pench that we decided to contact the house that was the absolutely farthest away from the pench. Why not, no? The lady that answered was actually super nice and said that she would invite us to come back some other time, but that she doesn’t really have a work schedule and that she was afraid that if we set up a cita, she would been gone. But, we wrote down her name and we will probably go back some other time and hopefully find her there. Then we went all the way back to the pench, cooked, then went to District Meeting. By the time we got to the church, we were pretty well soaked, even with my rain jacket and Elder Gonzales with an umbrella. However, District Meeting was super good! This week we talked about using the scriptures more in lessons and how we can study more effectively to help us prepare to use the scriptures in lessons. As part of the meeting, I had prepared a few slips of paper with a "Questions of the Soul" on the slip. Then, each person took one paper and tried to find a few scriptures to answer the question. For example, my question was "Why is the family so important to the Plan of God?" Then, with about 10 to 15 minutes, we would take the time to seek and find a few scriptures that we could use to answer the question. It turned out to be really good! After everyone was done, we shared together what we had found and how we could use the scriptures. As we shared the answers we had found, the other missionaries would write down our question and the scriptures that we found. That way, they could use the scriptures everyone had found too. Then, after the meeting, we started divisions. Like I said last week, I was stayed here with Elder Loveridge. We had set up stuff with his two coverts here in Santo Tome so he could visit them, but neither of them could do it. So by the time that we had walked all over Santoto to visit them and then find out that they couldn’t meet with us, it was already time to go to FML Pennos house. This last Tuesday was the birthday of Ari, she turned 14 years old. So we showed up and had a good time with her and the rest of the FML Penno and a few other members and friends. It was a lot of fun and a night I’ll never forget. 

Wednesday. In the morning we went to visit Gianfranco, one of Elder Loveridge’s converts. We weren’t able to meet with him the night before, but we were able to set something up with him for the following morning. So we went there and had a good time with him. We talked about life and how he had been doing and everything. I had heard from the Hermanas that Gian was having trouble with some of his friends making fun of him for being a member of the church and everything, so we helped him with that. He also told us that we had been reading the Book of Mormon every day and was just about to finish Alma. So that was pretty cool to hear. Then we talked to him a little bit more about Patriarchal Blessings. He told us that he had already set up his appointment to get his blessing sometime in December. Then he showed us a board game that he was developing that was actually super cool and then we had to leave. He is a great guy and it makes me happy to see how converted to the Gospel he is. Then we went to Las Vegas to visit a few people that we had citas with, but they weren’t home either. So that was pretty disappointing. Divisions with Loveridge was pretty great. A good time with him having a bunch of fun. Then, that afternoon after we ended divisions, we had a service project with HNO Amarilla. We helped him lay a bit of concrete in front of his house to level out some of the rough stuff he had. It was super fun to see how Argentines do their thing. The HNO Amarilla had made his own concrete mixer using a drill and a few pieces of welded metal. But the service was pretty good because HNO Amarilla could do just about everything that he needed to, so it was nice to see how he is really progressing and healing after his accident. He even let us write our names in the concrete, which was a complete honor. And, after we were done doing the work, which took almost the entire night, we were invited to have dinner with them also. And of course it was super good, like it always is in that house. 

Thursday. In the morning we had set up a few citas in Las Vegas. So we went to visit Celeste first. When we got there, she told us that she had been pretty busy and the week had been crazy because she had been running to the hospital in Santa Fe for her little baby of 9 months that was super sick. So we offered a to give a blessing to her baby and she accepted. So we did that and the baby seemed to start feeling better almost immediately. He was super calm and at peace. Then we taught Celeste about the Plan of Salvation and how she actually does have a purpose in this life and how she can come to have more happiness and peace in this life, and the life to come, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and especially through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was a pretty good lesson and we committed her to read and pray again. Then we went to visit a few other people to teach them, but they weren’t home. So we took the free time we had to visit Liliana, the lady who calls us “spies” who just had open heart surgery. We visited her and offered her a blessing also, to help her feel better and recover a bit faster of what she was going through. After the blessing she described to us how her surgery was. So, it turns out that Open Heart Surgery means that they literally rip open your chest and then cut your heart out, clean it up a little bit then put it back where its meant to be, and then flick the heart to get it going. They literally flick the heart. But if that doesn’t work they have to use drugs. Pretty crazy. So there’s a reason she wasn’t feeling too bright and happy after something like that. We know the blessing will help. After lunch and the siesta, we went to the House of our Ward Mission Leader to talk to him about a service project that we had set up with Celeste. We went to him because he has a weed wacker, and the service was to cut the grass in front of Celeste’s house. But, because the weed wacker wasn’t working, we decided we would go to the house of HNO Amarilla to ask him for his machete and then use that. Yes, a machete. Then, after visiting with them for a little bit, we went to look for our clothes from the HNA Maciel. Then, after that, we dropped the clothes off at the pench and headed to the house of FML Penno. This time the brother of Jose and his wife were there. So we were able to talk to them and get to know them a little better and share a good night with them. Then, toward the end of the night, we were able to share a little bit of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the wife and we left her with a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet of lesson one. She was pretty interested and told us that she would read both of them. But, she sadly lives all the way out in a small town called Kima, which is about 40 or so km from here. So the only way we would be able to teach them is if they are by some luck in the house of FML Penno. But, we were happy to at least share the message with her. Then, after we got back to the pench, I celebrated ONE YEAR IN THE MISSION by burning a shirt. It’s pretty nuts to think that it’s been so long already, but it’s more of a kick in the butt than anything else to realize that I really have so little time left in the mission. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The mission is by far the best thing that has ever happened in my life and I want to take advantage of this time the best that I can. I love the mission so much and I don’t want it to end. But, when it does, I’m going to make sure that I feel at peace with the knowledge that I tried my hardest and use the time I had the best I could. 

Friday. Friday morning we had to go to Santa Fe so I could have a small meeting with the Zone Leaders and the other District Leaders in the Zone. In the meeting we talked once again about what we had learned as part of the conference with Elder Villar. It was a pretty good meeting. We studied the scriptures and talked about how we could become better missionaries and better leaders. It was also pretty cool because I got to see Elder Robinson and Elder McCown, two of my former comps, and also a few other guys from my group. So we took a few pictures because we all had just passed a year. Then we went back to our area and in the afternoon we went to visit a few people. First we went to see Estela, the lady that we are teaching in Las Vegas. We got to her house and she was sitting outside with her husband, so we talked with them, sat down, and reviewed what we had taught in the first lesson about the Restoration. Estela had read a little bit of the Book of Mormon. So we tried to talk to her about that and what she remembered or what she had learned. But, she told us that she couldn’t remember too much because she has a bit of a problem with learning and remembering everything. So, we reviewed the lesson and this time we tried teaching more to her husband because the time before, he didn’t get to listened to much of it. It was a good time and they said they would try to go to church on Sunday. Then we went to the house of FML Amarilla again to ask permission to use the machete for the following morning. Then, after that, we went to the house of Poula to talk to her and teach her a little more. When we got there, she told us that she hadn’t read anything, so we decided to read with her. So we read 1 Nephi 1 with her and then explained what was happening and all of that. It was a good time. And then, afterwards, we somehow got on the subject of Abril, the daughter of Poula, being bullied in school. So we talked about how we have to treat well to the people who treat us bad. We talked about the Atonement also and how Jesus knows how we feel in all times. It was super good and spiritual and Abril was there and she even started crying. It was a good lesson and a super good way to end the day. We were really looking for a way for Poula to open up to us more, and I think that through this lesson and the way the Spirit was working I know we had the lesson that she needed. 

Saturday. In the morning we went to look for the machete from HNO Amarilla. Then we went to Las Vegas and spent the rest of the morning cutting the grass for Celeste. She was happy that we did it, especially because she thought it was some kind of joke that we were going to cut the grass. She didn’t think that we were actually going to do it. But, we showed up, cut the grass, and left. It was fun. Then, after the siesta, we went to visit a few people and contact a little bit. Then we went to the house of Ricardo and gave his wife a blessing because she was feeling sick and wanted to go to church the next day. So we did that and then set up another time when we were going to past by and talk to Ricardo more about the lessons and the Book of Mormon and all of that.  Then, after him, we went to visit the FML Varino to just talk with them and have a good time. We spent the rest of the night there because I really wanted to talk to them about the upcoming temple trip because they were planning to go, but I just wanted to make sure that they were going to do it. But, we never got to the subject, so sadly that was something that I didn’t get to do. 

Sunday. Sunday was super chill and great. The highlight was that at church, one sister attended at our ward that I had met. Her name is Hermana Fernandez, and I met her outside of the mission. The night before I entered the MTC, my family and I went to Temple Square. There, we met a sister missionary that was from Santa Fe! So we took a picture and we were able to say, hope to see  you soon. Then, just yesterday I say her in the church. So, I went up to her and introduced myself, and she didn’t have a single clue who I was, but after I showed her the picture, she was super happy to see that we had actually met! SO that was super cool. Sunday is always a great day!

That’s how the week went down. right now I don’t have too much time to write more I can’t wait for this week to go down. We are ending the transfer this week, so well get to see if I stay here another 6 weeks or not. 

Love ya all!      

Elder Haley

Chau

Caught in the rain and soaked even when we were prepared. 

Elder Loveridge during divisions

Ari's birthday

Working on the cement. All day!

One year! Tradition is to burn a shirt. ha ha

Elder Robinson

Elder Loveridge

MTC buddies who hit their year mark this week with me!

Forever remembered in the cement

Hermana Fernandez who I met the day before I entered the MTC on Temple Square while she was serving her mission.