Week 66 - It continues!!!

Wow....sleep never felt so good.

HAPPY MOM'S DAY! It was so dang awesome to skype home and talk to everyone. I can't believe there's only one more on the mission until I'll be home. This past week was hectic with a lot of things, so it was sweet to finish it off with talking to the fam. I hear about all the change that goes on back home, but then I realize that my fam. doesn't change, just their situations...which are changing like crazy with everyone of them. wootwoot!!

Skyping home to everyone! haha my mom looked like a ghost the entire time. 

Last PDAY, right after signing off from emailing home, we got a call from a member that gave us a referral for the next day! It was a great way to start off because little did we know, we had a hecktic week. dun dun dun! 

Saturday morning we got a taste of being a rancher! We altogether moved 28,000 lbs of hay. Holy crap.

President Killpack called us during PDAY sports last week and said, "Elders! We'd like to complicate your day tomorrow?" Well sweet! He asked us to train all the senior missionaries in the mission to fill in for the assistants. We also had Zone Meeting on Wednesday, so it was back-to-back different trainings. We filled the little free time that we had and prepped for it. It went well and had some good feedback. The training was on "How Senior missionaries can help the younger missionaries." The next day we had a well needed Zone Meeting for our Gila Valley Zone. A big topic was 'finding' something our zone has been struggling with lately. It reminds of being in Sierra Vista...where at first, there was not much going on....but in a couple months, this place will be doing great. There's tons of work here...we just have to find it :D

Our talks in church yesterday also went well. I ended speaking for just under 25 mins (felt like 10) and talked about testimonies and families for Mother's Day :D My comp. Elder Netane talked about the Book of Mormon in missionary work. It's sweet as to be involved to try and gain member trust...which is something that is very CRUCIAL for Thatcher. Throughout the week, it was a testimony builder of relying upon the spirit, and not relying upon your self...

Saying bye to some members and invests. after a couple lessons....there's a creepy owl in the corner...

With everyone leaving EAC for the summer, literally, EVERYone, things are getting switched up all up in herr. All the YSA's have combined to ONE WARD instead of 4. There is still work, but the ward (Bishop Bluth's ward) with the most missionary work going on, is...gone. Luckily we're picking up a family ward, so there will always be work to do. It's weird to think of getting a new mission President in July means the mission is starting fresh. I could be here the rest of my mission....or I could be here for 2 more weeks. It's crazy. BRING IT

Saying bye to Kenna, along with many members. She finished in the top 10 for tennis players nationwide. SICK!

Satan sucks.

This past week we worked with Christian and Kobie, two very solid investigators with baptism dates...well...not so much anymore. Christian has had some doubts, which is completely normal for someone in his situation. A couple hours before he left, we got the impression to offer a blessing to him and he accepted with no hesitation. The blessing from Elder Netane was very inspired as there were some tears shed. Christian felt better. He was lined up to do an online chat with Elder Baxter of the 70 tomorrow, but a few days ago, he said we should hold off because he doesn't feel to join the church and says he is at peace. He's in our prayers, and hopefully whatever missionaries are here next semester, will be able to relate to him. Polygamist families are quite interesting. Christian is strong in the gospel, in time he'll be ready :D

Kobie (left) and Christian (right) two very solid investigators we have been teaching. Man. We hope the best for these two. #studstatus

Chillin' on a dirt road.

We got a text from Kobie this morning that said "I won't be joining afterall" which doesn't really sound like him....hmm.. We've talked with his gf who said his family threatened to kick him out and they took away all his stuff if he continues in the church. He's planning on living up here in Thatcher if he can find a job, so we'll have to go from there. Man. He's one of the most solid investigators in the church we've come across. We can only hope help comes, and comes quick.

This week we'll be focusing mostly on other areas to try and help get some work going. We're also praying to have opportunities to give blessings to those that need them. It's been working. It's like God answer prayers or something.

Jacob Yazzi! A member and awesome fellowshipper. He's a stud and will be serving later this year...hmmm.. we used to be able to relate to music...hahah

IT CONTINUES!!! One day while walking to the institute, a lady waves us over....and takes a picture of us! It was Becky Buhr, my BIL's family. haha small town. Ben's brother drove by later that day while contacting people on the street. It's so funny to serve where people know you....it's definitely never been like that anywhere else I've served!!

Walking past dem houses that fam. use to live in! *Ben pose*

This freaky owl followed us. Cool pic. though!

Remember Damian from Sierra Vista? The muslim free mason? Apparently he got baptized last Saturday! SWEET! He's a stud.

ZM IN THE GV, AZ!

Well, the week is over, and there's only 2 more left in the transfer before some changes could be coming. Man. I love to serve the mission! It's weird to be having friends already coming back from their missions. I love you all and love your faces.

Oompah. Loompah. Doompady. Dosom. 

1Nephi11:13-23 - the scriptures that our RC in SV got her testimony of the BOM.

DBAT

-Elder Hales