Monday, August 4, 2014

Week 78 - We will always find joy.

1CHRON 19:13
"13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight."

Hello erryone!


We gave up. Normal weeks don't exist in missionary work. But hey, that means there's always work to do! "It is what it is."


Saying bye to Elder Bleyl who leaves in a couple weeks. He's been one of the assistants and he's headed back to BYU!


This past week was pretty good. Numbers wise it wasn't the best for the zone, but we've found that there's one or two of those in a transfer usually. But we had some really neat miracles happen!


Doing service after sharing a lesson for "the Family" - Sister Matlock, and her 4 grandkids whom we're teaching!


Last Tuesday, Elder Hughes and I were saying our prayer before heading out, and we prayed for someone to be put on our "path." Well, after we prayed, we walked outside, took a right, and two people were on the sidewalk...on the same "path" as us. Well then! We got talking with them and one of them is an RM, and his non-member girlfriend wants to take the lessons! She is 22 so we were excited since she's YSA, but they are going to get married, so we passed them off to the right Elders. They set a baptism date, and gave a blessing to them the first lesson, and they went to church yesterday! Man. SO cool. I've really learned that referring people over to other missionaries couldn't be done if we only would talk to people WE could teach. I love helping other areas out with missionary work, and feel the 2nd half of my mission God really wants me to talk with everyone, regardless of where they are living. We've seen so many miracles for people we don't teach. It's been very humbling! Selfishness and missionary work are horrible companions.


FHE last week. We always are inviting people to FHE. It's seriously the best way to fellowship investigators.



Every single Elder, except Elder Hughes and myself (maybe), have ADD or ADHD hahaha. It makes things entertaining. Our zone is full of the best missionaries.


Jason! He's a direct descendant of Joseph Smith! woo!


Last Monday night, President Passey asked us to do a brief training at the upcoming Mission Leader Council. Sweet! Last Friday, Elder Hughes and I gave a training on "The Importance of Our Integrity to the Members We Work With." The training went well with the leadership!


President Passey gave Elder Lowe a shoutout last MLC for being the "muffin man." That he is!


Devin Nez! One of the most solid members out there. He's headed up to NAU today. He was the one that taught me how to put my contacts on haha. His uncle is the only native American temple sealer. 

I've learned that sometimes miracles disguise themselves so we can learn how to recognize them. One day we went up to a inactive member's home whom we contacted on the street one day. The husband walked up shortly after we arrived there, and first things he said, with a beer in hand, "I don't ever want to see you here again! Is that okay?"....well, I then asked him how he was doing, and started talking to him. He threw out a bunch of stuff against Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom, but...I just listened....after talking with him for a while, he then said, "Please help me. Please come over. I want to change for my family." God changes hearts instantly when it's His will! We will go over tomorrow night and hope things go well.



This next transfer in 2 weeks, a lot of change could happening up here in the Gila Valley. Elder Hughes and I (if I'm still here) will most likely cover only MG 1st ward, and we'll be splitting the area with probably a set of Sisters. The area has never been split before, but while praying a few nights ago, I really feel there will be enough work for two sets of missionaries. Unfortunately, we will be passing off every single one of our investigators, because MG 1st ward covers campus, and no one lives on campus in the summer. Yet still it feels right. We're excited to see what happens! Things are already starting to pick up with people moving back. Next week is when everyone moves back, and then it will be awesomely chaotic. Boo yeah. SO EXCITED!


"We may not always feel accountable, but we are responsible." - President Passey


Yesterday at our YSA wards, 2 non-members came to church! One of them was Zane, someone that knows Bishop from 1st ward. The day we were able to skype home back in May, Zane was at Bishop's house, so I was talking to him a couple minutes while skyping home. We gave him a Book of Mormon back then, and then he showed up at church! YES! He wants to take the lessons asap, but lives in Safford, so we passed him to the YSA Elders over there. So cool! Zane is a stud and has a bright future.

Elder Harris running away from Elder Hughes last pday sports!

Bishop and Sister Bluth - two of the most incredible people! There's always a few people in each area you really feel you were sent there to meet.



I've been thinking a lot about finding joy in every situation. And, as a missionary, it's much much easier. But I first thought of how Christ volunteered to suffer for our sins...and when someone volunteers for something, it's because they will know at some point, the joy that it will bring. Even though He suffered the unimaginable, I know He found joy in helping God's children. Whenever we try to help someone, we will always find joy.



It made me think of all of the Mormon Messages that are coming out lately, that we can't see. But, what would YOUR Mormon Message be about if God created it? :D Something fun to think about.



Well the church is true, and I know that if we recognize the privileges that each of us have, we will be able to reach our potential. And this gospel in this church gives us so many more privileges!



Love you all!! Receiving letters is always awesome...ahem....


-Elder Dallin Hales

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