August 6th - Home for 6 months (Mission Video)

I can't believe it's been 6 months.

There have been days that have tested me, and days that I have been so busy I had no time to stress about myself. Throughout it all, I'm forever grateful for my mission. It proved to me that the gospel cannot only change people that have not found the gospel, but can change those who have been members for their whole life. My mission shaped me through the gospel that changed me.

Here's a video that I compiled of the song I wrote on the mission with some pictures I felt to include. There's SO many pictures I tried to put in it, but couldn't :[ The church is true, and always will be. I love my Father and Savior with my whole heart.

Week 104 - Mission Complete

Hola!
Aaaaand here's the last blog post. It feels like yesterday that this blog was started. I'm grateful to come back and say that I have more knowledge that our Father wants to support us, how to go to work, and how I've been able to become closer to my Savior and know who He is and why He died for us.

Below are some pictures of the last week of my two-year service in the Arizona Tucson Mission as a full-time missionary. The experiences continue to bless my life more than anything.

For another recap, go to my Sister's blog!

One last MLC

President Larsen! An incredible and eye opening Mission Presidency 1st Counselor. Also, a hardcore ASU fan!!

The Passey's made a bday cake!! I miss them so much.

Efe! - such an awesome recent convert

Bringing in new missionaries straight from the airport to the Mormon Battalion!

"Everything good that has happened to me since then I can trace back to the decision I made at that time."

           - President Hinckley

Being home from the mission:

Finally meeting Bentley for first time!

President and Sister Killpack had a huge influence me. So grateful for them and all the missionaries that helped me!

I'm grateful for the gospel that changed me, and for the mission which shaped me.

Week 103 - My family has never felt closer than they have in the past two years.

I'm multitasking in the mission office, talking to the senior missionaries, and writing home. Hope this makes sense!

Well the day has come where it's my last email home on the mission. I can't believe it. Next week we'll be bringing in new missionaries and will be at the Gilbert Temple a week from tomorrow. This week is transfer board week and MLC, you bet we'll be busy! President called a new assistant this week whom we're picking him up in a few hours to be with us this week. Along with those, we're eating with the Passey's on Wednesday with Kayla and Kelly!! Holy incredible. The Passey's invited us over to their house on Wednesday to eat with them. We're so excited, and so are Kelly and Kayla. MLC we're training on "Diligent Finding" which will be a great topic for the mission and all the new ZL's and STL's!!

Preparing for MLC. My companion is jacked.

Kelly's baptism went SO good. The program was smooth and our talks went great. Kelly has been smiling for two weeks straight. After I was able to confirm her yesterday in church, she walked down the aisle with a HUGE ol smile on her face. Oh man. I love the gospel. And will miss so many people. The joys of being oblivious to when you're going home...

Kelly's baptism!!!

One of the most prepared people ever!!

An awesome member Ali is always so supportive of anything we do. Our ward is awesome!

"Knock knock." -Elder Teichert

"Yes." - Me

"Kelly's awesome." - Elder Teichert hahah

I don't have a whole lot to write home about other than trying to recap an entire mission.... uhhh... This week will be my last time doing a lot of different things. Interview, MLC, transfer board and calls, emails, teaching lessons as a missionary, the list just goes on. I wish I could stay longer. Things I have been able to learn on my mission have been things that I will never forget in my entire life. I have come to know my Savior more. Why he suffered for us, and the blessings that He brings. I'm sitting here in the office, with many memories running through my head of how God consistently put me on the path of those who were prepared. An Elder earlier today asked, "How do you find all these investigators that are solid?" God has been put me on the path of so many people that not only have they needed to hear the gospel, but us needing to listen to them. I have truly come to know that Joseph Smith truly saw, a pillar of light. I've come to realize how we can share that with anyone we meet. My relationship with God has become so much closer and clear. He really does want to help us in EVERY aspect of our lives. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I would not be here, nor alive, without Him. The chance I've been able to serve has blessed my life. The gospel has strengthened my testimony, and the mission has shaped me. The people to meet on missions, are people that I believe you may have met before. Multiple people have come across us, with that feeling that you know them already. My testimony has grown to know that no matter what people are going through, trials, assault, sin, that the gospel helps them. This gospel truly blesses any family, and I've seen that so far. My family has never felt closer than they have in the past two years. I'm not sure what I did to have an incredible mission, but I've done my best to work hard. I'm grateful to look back (aaand the week that's left :]) and feel comfort that I tried my best. The gospel is true everyone. Shoot. It's true.

Thank you family, friends, random people. You all rock face.

See y'all next week!! :D

-Elder Dallin Jospeh Hales

D&C6:11 And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.

 Alma29:10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

Week 102 - we're so stoked for Kelly's baptism this Sat..!!

Hello there dear world. 

Ether3:26 For he had said unto him in times before, that if he would believe in him that he could show unto him all things—it should be shown unto him; therefore the Lord could not withhold anything from him, for he knew that the Lord could show him all things.

First things first, we're so stoked for Kelly's baptism this Sat at 2!! She came to another baptism along with passing her baptism interview with no problem. We'll finish up her lessons this week and she'll be all ready to be baptized! Kelly asked me to confirm her next Sunday which I 'm honored to do. Kelly has had a crazy past....you would never guess it by meeting her today. The Atonement is true, especially when someone reads the BOM 1.5 times before her baptism. 

Last Tuesday we had a lesson with a registered sex offender....kind of sketch...he did make some strange comments to the Elders, but the Elders did a great job of staying to the point and teaching by the spirit. We talked about it afterwards. The gentleman will have a ways to go, but the Atonement is possible for everyone. 

Another trip we did was up to the Gila Valley to go to district meetings along with see some potential leaders for next transfer! It was a great day up there ad felt good about what happened. I was able to teach a lesson, sort of since it was in spanish, to a guy named Angel who was baptized shortly after I left that area. He's doing great!! Stud.

Angel!

Kayla H is another one of our investigators who is progressing! Although she has a bit of autism, she continues to say that the gospel makes her happy. You can tell when it makes someone happy. She has a difficult time retaining a lot of the information, but we're hoping with time that she can get baptized too.

Eating with the Stevens!! Dallin Stevens will be going to ASU

Friday was our temple trip! Oh how great that was. Holy crap I love the temple. Something I studied was faith and trust. The longer you are on a mission, sometimes missionaries may become a bit "numb" to the miracles that happen around. I learned that when you pray, you are using your faith. When you receive answers, you must trust that those answers will lead you towards good. It has helped me not become numb to God's hand.

Well, this is a bit of a shorter email, and next week will be my last email home. This week we'll begin transfer board and prep for MLC next week. I love this gospel with my whole heart. It has changed me for the better....while still being my tard self.

I love you all! Thank you for everything.

=Elder Hales

Week 101 - The "K" names are doing us great!!

Well, let's start off with the hot topic of the week. Kelly is still awesome!!! She came to church yesterday and loved it! Her baptism is set for the 24th of Jan. at 2pm. She's stoked as. In our couple lessons we had with her this past week, after she got home, she told us about her visit to a nice family ward in Houston while on her "vacay." She and her brother (non-member) went to church on fast Sunday....but didn't know what fast offerings was, nor why people were walking up to the pulpit (our bad). She went up to the Bishop afterwards where he explained it all...and she paid a large amount in fast offerings and then fasted her next two meals right then!!! hahah Elder Teichert and I couldn't help but laugh a little because of how willing Kelly is. She wants to do only what's best for her in the gospel. Kelly researches everything and already wants to go through the temple to take our her own endowments. We had some great lessons with her. She's one of the most sincere and giving people I've met on my mission, it's been a blessing to work with so many incredible people. The "K" names are doing us great!! 

Kelly, Kayla Ham (invest), and Jose (new invest) all came to church yesterday!! They loved it too! Classes at the UoA start this Wednesday, so the YSA's are coming back!! 

Kayla Beattie, incredible RC, finished Jesus the Christ in a week and half! She had some very deep questions that were great for testing our knowledge :] We might be going to do baptisms for the dead with Kayla this Friday since we'll be at the Gila Valley Temple at that time. Kayla is getting her P-blessing tomorrow!!!!

After a lesson with Kayla Beattie!

On Tuesday, we had a meeting with all of the new missionaries and their trainers. It went super well. Good feedback from the Passey's which we were grateful for. We trained on the Restoration and 1st vision. I've noticed my confidence grow in trainings and lessons. It's huge blessing. 

After an exchange with Elder Jacobs - the only Layton Lancer left! We found two new investigators who are SOLID. Our message of the Restoration went great. We biked in the rain for miles and miles in Tucson. Oh man, I miss biking. Elder Jacobs is a stud.

D&C88:124

Yesterday we sat down with our mission President and did a conference call with all the ZL's about meetings with Stake Presidencies! It went great, President definitely knows how to work well with church leaders.

Elder Teichert was sick this past week, and I was sick the week before. It didn't stop any of the work, but man, it kicked our butt!! 

Something I am grateful for is the power of families and the 1st vision. Two of my favorite principles to teach. This past week, a recent convert came up to us and said "Guys, I'm quitting the church. Help me!!" We sat down, bore testimony again and again about God blessing our families when we put it in his hands. The blessings I have been fortunate to see on my mission from the 1st vision, and families (espeically for YSA's) has grown my testimony. I'm so grateful for the my Savior, the Prophet Joseph, and for our families. A good solid combination for happiness. 2Nephi5:28 

We always try to avoid making your companion having to get out and back haha

*45 minutes later after talking with Sister Passey! :]*

Well, it's about time to go. At Zone Meeting this past Wednesday we went to Sahuarita with Elders Obray & Gumundson. Their zone meeting was great! Elder Teichert and I did a brief training on dress and grooming. It was a fun one to train on haha. At the end of the zone meeting, they have "departing testimonies" for those that go home this transfer. I gave mine, which didn't feel real. But I truly know that Joseph saw a pillar of light that led to the Restoration. I'm grateful for my family. The support and love they always have. I love this gospel. 

This week we'll be in Sahuarita tomorrow to go to a lesson with a registered sex offender and see what we think, Wednesday we'll be in the Gila Valley, and Friday is our temple trip. Good week ahead of us. Baptisms on the 24th and 31st! 

Love you all.

Peace.

-Elder Hales