Week 64 - Mini-Provo!

There's nothing like AZ sunsets.

Another week gone in mini-provo!

Although a lot of things fell through this past week, we're looking at a solid week now. It just sucks when you have multiple appointments with potentials and they all fall through haha. GAH! Satan's working hard in the mormon town! We contacted a lot of people and set appointments, but they never went through. Gah. Just have to keep working! Our Zone did slightly better at least as we've started to do some blitzing to other areas and have found some new investigators that way. Gila Valley is in a position where it's ready to be picked up in preparation for some more missionaries in the zone to come in. There's been an area or two that have closed the past few months since some things have happened, IDK, but we're ready to work hard and get as much work as possible! :D

A quick shot at some of EAC's campus. EAC is one of the few jr. college's that have dorms, so there's always people out doing something....so there's always people to talk to! :D

A good buddy of mine Elder Wolfley was called as an office missionary. He is probably the sickest office missionary out there!! wootwoot!

Part of my 40 Day fast, I'm praying for a few things on a daily basis. Both of us are doing things to try and do whatever it takes to get things going.

There's still a lot of sketch houses. Got to knock them all! 

....I walked around.

It started out with dinner last Monday night before FHE with some YSA's. Shawn, Bryce, Payge, Lydia, Ashely, and two non-members Taylor and Miranda. It was awesome and Taylor and Miranda both said they had a lot of questions for us. PERRFECT!! We introduced the BOM and got an appointment for the next day...it seemed like they were going to throw a lot of questions at us...we were excited to rely on the spirit...but they didn't show up, and apparently were at a photo-shoot or something. Hmmm...still trying to contact them..TBA!

Our quarterly temple trip was this past Tuesday! I always took advantage of living close to temples....like 12 of them. Looks like I'll be applying to ASU!

This is our Gila Valley Zone, aka, the priesthood zone haha. Missionaries back, ALRIGHT! 

There's a few missionaries in our zone that we love to death, but aren't always in their areas and some other things....handling disobedience can show quite a bit about someone, there's many different ways to do it. But all's good now!!

Just out blitzin'!

Our recent convert "Tracie" is doing great!! We're going through the new member discussions and have a couple weeks to finish, since EVERYONE is leaving for the summer :( crap. Tracie is very sincere and has quite a trip coming her way this summer as she'll go back to live on the reservation....where there's been witchcraft and who knows what going on there. It came to mind about a patriarchal blessing...she met with the Bishop yesterday and should be getting her Patriachal blessing soon! Within a month of her baptism! Inspiration. BOOM! Gah, it so cool to see this happen to people. 

 After Tracie's confirmation! MG YSA 1st ward is incredible. The best ward co

One of Tracie's friends "Liz" haha she rocks. She likes to get baptized in a lot of churches. She'll be staying for the summer, so we hope to work with her more and more.

From our apartment, there's "Radioactive Crossfit" about a 1 minute walk from our place. We go up there and start talking to the coach and his gf....haha. Small world. They both know Christy and Ben!! They said that Christy's having a boy which I didn't even know! CONGRATS!! We now have hookups to Crossfit a couple times each week in the early mornings :D

Zone Trainings were this past week in which we didn't train, but President and Sister Killpack and the assistant's did...Sister Killpack said, "We don't always know what to expect when we go to the Gila Valley." hahah. The training was very spirit-driven. Wow. It was focused a lot on Charity and teaching as Christ would. The spirit was there and the comments that were made were...somewhat surprising, but too awesome. It brought our zone closer and is a big step in getting the Zone where we can and will be.

We contacted and had appointments with 5 or 6 potentials, but they all fell through. This week should be a better week! There's always missionary work going on daily though. Christian Jessop is our investigator where we're just waiting on the 1st Presidency's approval and then he'll be baptized! He's one of the most solid out there. He goes home (along with 3 YSA wards..) for the summer, but we have members praying for him along with fasts and prayers, so we HOPE that he'll be baptized before then....my guess is that he'll get baptized the week that he leaves. We've also been working with Jacob who was baptized 10 years ago and is preparing to go on a mission. I've always wanted to teach someone to the point of a mission. He starting his papers and we've seen a change already as he prepares himself for the priesthood. We also contacted a member at a park, who went through a lot of poor things growing up. The gospel, is for everyone!

My awesome companion Elder Netane and I

While in a dinner message, the phrase popped into my head (possibly a future rap :D) 

"Quit looking back on the sin committed.

Start reflecting on the repentance submitted."

Last night for dinner, we ate at the house across the street from where my Sister and bro-in-law used to live. There was like 4 girls (one whom is sitting by us in the comp. lab) and a dude. It was probably the funniest dinner of my life. We couldn't stop laughing. The meal was great along with the dinner message. What a small funny town.

Congrats to my trainer who is ENGAGED!! Whaa?

There's so much potential up here. Thank you for all of your prayers and the support! It's a missionary's invitation to find out who he is....and where to draw the line with being a 'formal missionary' and being your complete self......meh. Just follow the spirit. That's always a pretty solid (and sort of lazy, but effective) answer :D

Things are good out here, and next week there will be more update on investigators and such!! I love you all and LOVE pics. and letters. Every letter a miracle.

Don't be stupid.

The church is true and has saved countless lives. As brother Ott would say, "God said do it. Jesus loves you. The end." ...basically sums it up!

Alma 36:27

-Elder Hales