Week 99 - "Merry Christmas Elders!! She's not a member. Go for it."

So Christmas...is done. There's no snow anywhere here!! :D It's pretty rad. Most people don't like it, but it's legit. This week is going to be crazy with the things that are happening for New Year's and MLC. Last Christmas, I came down with a bug. The same thing happened to me this year...hmm.. I wonder what God is trying to teach me? What am I not thankful for??

At the Passey's on Christmas with the missionaries they had over for dinner.

Let's start with some sweet miracles!! 

Kelly is a referral, who is just amazing. Holy cow. Her father is a member with dementia and her mother is not a member...so Kelly wasn't sure if she was a member or not....we contacted our clerk who contacted some dude in SLC to find out if she was....while Elder Teichert and I were in a meeting with Pres., I looked down and read: "Merry Christmas Elders!! She's not a member. Go for it." SWEET!! Kelly was also excited knowing that she'll get to see her own baptism at 29 years old and remember it well. Kelly is one who read about the word of wisdom online at mormon.org and quit alcohol, caffeine (going the extra mile) and coffee. Holy cow. Who does that? People that have been prepared!! So far we've taught her the Restoration and Plan of Salvation and her understanding is mind-blowing. We teach each other! Last night in our lesson we all couldn't stop smiling because of how dedicated Kelly is. She is the most prepared investigator I've had my entire mission. It was crazy to say, "If you know these things are true, and turns out you're not a member, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized?" haha it was great. Oh man. Can't wait for January 24!! God has definitely blessed us. Looks like the mission fast is working miracles already.

Adrian is another investigator of ours we were able to work with during Christmas break! Very few YSA's remained in Tucson for the break. Adrian tore his ACL and is scared for a few things in the future. He found the church after a buddy of his invited him to come to a lesson, Adrian accepted to think it was a joke...until he felt something he hadn't felt before. We gave him a blessing to help him in his life and also his knee. Adrian is in the middle of fighting off some temptations that may be holding him back. Gah. Whenever we set a baptism date, we let them know to buckle down. Satan is about to go hard. You know that if Satan is working hard at something, that the pain is only temporary, and the blessings are way more valuable. 

#nofilter Welcome to AZ! 

 Christmas was this past week! Wooh!! We were on the road almost all of Thanksgiving, luckily Christmas wasn't!! We got to call home!! wooh!! It was great to hear my family and their voices! Whenever you don't hear from your family for a while (like 2 years) you begin to think about all the crazy change that has probably happened. Then you talk with them and realize that circumstances have changed, but they're still the awesome family you had before....they just keep growing in size each call home! :] 

Check out the sweet as Christmas tree :D Hint: it has 1000g of Sugar! :D

Something that I've been thinking about a lot lately while in the last chunk of my mish, is not becoming numb to miracles. I saw in myself that because we are always going around do so many different things, that it's easy to just take things as they are and not take time or effort to recognize the miracles around us. You can't become numb to the Atonement! Pretty crazy how important the little things are in life. I'm grateful for this chance to serve. Elder Simpson goes home this Saturday who has been an incredible example to me and has taught me some of the most valuable principles that I still stay close too, such as having confidence in your choices. 

Some crazy events this week are "M.U.D." and MLC. Mission Unity Day is Jan. 1 from 9-3 and is a MISSION-WIDE event. I have the layout right in front of me. Hours of sports, crafts, Sonoran dogs, talent show, and tons of fun with the entire mission. Today we only have a half p-day since Thursday will be most an all-day event. It's always fun to get missionaries the right housing for the night and to work with missionaries with travel arrangements. Friday is MLC. This one will be great!! Elder Teichert and I will be training on "Testifying and Promising Blessings." We're bringing back a basic principle since the mission is becoming young again. 

Meeting with Elders Obray and Gudmundson for a our transferly meeting. The ZL's out here are SO awesome and dedicated.

PMG: "When you testify, you help create an environment for investigators to feel the Holy Ghost confirming your witness of the truth. This prepares them to accept the commitments you will extend."

Not a whole lot else happened this past week. All I know is how grateful I am for this gospel. I learned that a priesthood blessing combined with a butt load of Vitamin C and a Sauna in the morning at the gym, is the best formula to get feeling better :] I'm grateful for the strength the Atonement gives us. I'm grateful for this chance I have been given to finish strong in this calling and ward! Our ward is so awesome and it looks like God will bless me with 1 or 2 more baptisms before I head home in Feb. I love you all and love hearing from you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR YO!! (feel free to go to my mom or dad's house to party)

-Elder Dallin. J. Hales

Week 98 - "Elders, you're up."

HO HO HO everybody!!! :D Mrry Christmas!

Let's begin with an eye opening miracle that I forgot to include last week.

Elder Dalling and I just got done with exchanges and had a lesson at the institute at 8:30 with Kayla, a recent-convert. When we got there, we were a few minutes late, there was a man laying on the ground with people standing around him...hmm...the man that was lying down was out cold. Apparently he had a seizure of some kind and fell and hit his head really hard. It's happened before, but this time was a little bit more serious. As we walked up, the group around them said, "Elders, you're up." Having no idea what happened, Elder Dalling annointed Todd and I gave the blessing. It was pretty intense giving a blessing to someone who was out cold. What will the blessing say? To be honest, I don't really remember, other than that he would arise "shortly." Almost instantly after we finished the blessing, he fluttered his eyes, and then rolled over. He gained consciousness and then shortly was able to walk to a car to go home, after the paramedics treated him. It was such a miracle! A minute after, we headed on our way to continue with what was planned. I love the priesthood.

This past week, Elder Teichert and I probably spend a solid 5 or so hours in our area. Probably the most tired week of mission (and it doesn't help I cut the pre-workout weeks ago). Waking up at 4 for days in a row has a toll on you! But the Atonement always pulls through. How cray? In those 5 hours of work we actually had, we were able to find 2 new investigators from referrals and also set a baptism date with Megan!! The Lord blessed us even though the whole week we were traveling around the entire mission, and working with transfer things. What a crazy and exhausting week. Holy cow. That's the effect of only a few companionships not getting changed. 

The Ott's!! Sierra Vista miracle couple. 

Adrian and Kelly were the new investigators in that slim amount of time. Adrian was taught up at EAC (woo!) and almost was baptized. He has a couple concerns to work with before he heads out to the military Jan. 20th. Here we go. Then we have Kelly, a referral from the Sisters. She is 28ish, and isn't sure if she was baptized. Her dad has dementia and can't remember either. She had no knowledge until recently finding mormon.org and studying it. We're trying to find if she's a member or not so we can move forward. She's so solid and has been through a lot lately, and just wants to get closer to God.

Megan is also doing great! Although, she wasn't at church -_- blah. We set a date with her and she accepted with no hesitation. Growing up JW, and not knowing who Christ is aloud us to set good expectations with her and really means she needs the Book of Mormon more than anything. She works 6 days a week from 8-8, so they'll be short lessons. But sometimes those are the best!!

Remember an old companion from Sierra Vista, Elder Simpson? Woot! He spends a coupe days out of the week with us while he's not on exchanges. He's getting us swole and we're having a good time with the work.

Our mission had a mission-wide fast yesterday where all the missionaries fasted to help progressing investigators towards baptism. President Killpack set a goal of 500 baptisms at the beginning of the year. A week or two ago, we were at 480....we might hit it!!! It's well over 100 more than last year's. Wow. So great to be apart of this work. I love being able to work with all the missionaries in the ATM. To see how they're growing and what can be done to help them all out. Next week we have MUD (mission unity day) where the whole mission will come together for sports and crafts, and then MLC the next day where Elder Teichert and I will train. I can't believe how much time isn't left. There isn't any slowing down in sight! There's an MLC the Friday before I leave. I'm excited to finish with all I have left. 

 Saying goodbye to Elder Netane, and Elder Dalling at the airport. This group was such a good group. I learned so much from these two companions, but we'll reunite in the future!

Thank you to all. The church is true and #Heisthegift!! Thank you for all the support from everyone this Christmas season. I love you all!!

Family? I'll talk to you on Thursday!! wootwoot!!

-Elder Dallin Hales 

[Transfers] Week 97 - I can't believe I already have a new companion

Constant phone calls/texts. Organizing. Teaching. Traveling. Meetings. Trainings. It's been another eventful week of the #missionlife! Elder Dalling is up in Gilbert at the temple with all the missionaries that are going home tomorrow morning. We'll be taking them to the airport. It's going to be very hard saying bye to this set. 26 of them are going home, including about 3 of them whom I've been companions with and have learned so much from. Oh boy.

Picture spot. Welcome to Tucson!!

Meanwhile, we're still teaching people! Last week we were able to finish transfer board with President. Wow. A huge transfer with movement and closing areas. A while back, we were at 286 missionaries, and we are projected to be at around 200 in the oncoming months Helloo! Amongst the choas, we received a referral from a recentish-convert who fell away from the church for a while...she called us and asked us to go see her roommate! We headed over there and found Megan. She has been going through a lot. Growing up JW and not reading many scriptures in her childhood meant for a good Book of Mormon lesson. She has recently tried to end her life, but now is the time to really begin it. We have had 2 lessons with her and will set a BD with her when we're able to teach her again. The peace that you could see came over her after the lesson was amazing. When we went back another day, she was much happier. Both of them will be coming to church this week and are excited to be back in gear.

 Kayla (left) and Kirsten (right) celebrating Elder Dalling's bday!

While in a lesson with Lindsey, a member, she said "Listen for understanding, not response." The power of listening has stood out so much recently!! Not too often to we realize how much we're listening to someone, when in reality we need to! Talking is nothing without listening :D

A cool testimony-building experience from transfer board happened. After one day, being almost done with the board, President prayed (like usual) on his knees asking about the transfer, if it was right and to help know who may not be in a good spot. I remember very well looking up at the board and seeing all the pictures of the missionaries, and seeing them with none of their problems coming to mind, no negative things being brought to my thoughts, only seeing them for who God sees the becoming. When you see missionaries with that look, you can know where they need to go to find God's elect. It went in my journal. :D

#Christmascard. We love the Passey's. They are incredible people. 

We average about 5 hours of sleep each night. Holy crap.

Two days ago, I sang in sacrament meeting in a trio! It was our first time singing it with one of the guys, but it went well! 

Man. This next week, it's time to travel around the mission once again! We'll be visiting with all the Zone Leaders going over a few things from last transfer and some more goals and other things. Gila Valley, Deming, Sierra Vista, and St. David here we come! Then next week is a little bit more less-traveling.

The work is progressing out here and I'm grateful for it. I can't believe I already have a new companion, Elder Teichert, and that Elder Dalling leaves tomorrow morning along with 25 others. I'm grateful to be able to work with God's children and to see them more and more as God does. No problems happen, when you see others as God does. Too bad I'm just a stubborn punk! I love the gospel and the chance to share our testimonies. I know that if we continue to always wake up at 6:30 no matter when we fell asleep, that God will give us the strength for that day. The new missionaries that have come in have so many things ahead of them. I sure am jealous. 

Right after running with the new missionaries up to the Mormon Battalion, straight from the airport! 

Thanks to all who have sent me Christmas cards and letters along with packages. My heart is full yo!!

Good luck to my friends who are going home already!

Love you all mucho mas. 

-Elder Hales

Week 96 - The power of fasting is real my friends.

"Holdin' on my mission.

All the people that I'll be missin'.

Brother Blake, Todd and Ashley were so sincere.

One day we'll have no more fear.

Eye to eye at the bar, we will stay.

And He will say....

My son, thank you for your service.

You left to find a purpose.

To come back with no regret."

Hello. :D There's a song I wrote a couple nights ago while waiting for calls. It was a great week! From MLC, New Missionary Trainer meeting, and Spanish conference, it went super well and the Lord blessed us in all trainings. The power of fasting is real my friends.

Our MLC group!! 

First off, our mission is having a mission unity day on Jan. 1, 2015, aka  "MUD" (guess who came up with that one :D) the whole mission will be coming together to have a fun day of sports and crafts and a brief training. Can't wait! Another mission-wide thing we're doing is a mission fast on Dec. 21 so we can reach 500 baptisms by the end of the year. We're suuper close!! At MLC we offered the idea to do a fast and they all liked it. wootwoot!!

MLC was great! The Lord led us in our discussion. President Passey had to leave for about half of it due to some emergency stuff, so we conducted a good portion of it and gave a couple trainings. We're excited to attend some zone meeting's this week and see how they are all able to take it back to their zones!

Leticia is a recent convert who has come SUCH a long way. The Law of Chastity was a big change for her and her conversion, but now she's that much more close to God and really does have a special spirit about her. 

The New Missionary Training meeting also went well. It was fun to hear all their comments after 3 weeks of their missions gone by. Man, at 3 weeks out, it was a different experience in Demnation! boo yeah!

Getting some training done Monday night!!

Then we had the Spanish conference for 5 hours on Wednesday. Our mission president is fluent in Spanish, and it ran smoothly. Although I was the only missionary there that didn't know how to speak spanish, I could understand roughly 30% or so. I was able to make a couple comments when the spirit was hitting me hard, and they said it fit in very well with what was being said. The spirit is so powerful, whether you understand the language or not.

All the spanish speaking missionaries in the ATM....and me.

"When we invite members to do missionary work, we invite them to do the same work that unifies God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost." - Elder Petrungaro - we went on an exchange and had a very cool experience while campus contacting. After being rejected super hard core, we kept walking and found a girl on the bench that was doing a final. She has been interested in learning more about religion and was very interested in the message of the Restoration. It was inspired that we walked campus. Throughout the week, there's a lot of....non-church approved things happening on campus, but that's why you keep your eye single to the glory of God! Or else nothing will get done. There's a reason that not every missionary will serve on campus. Some days, loads of guys and girls (not modestly dressed....at ALL) load up on buses and go down to Mexico to get wasted for the weekend. It's pretty crazy serving on a campus of one of the biggest party schools in the nation, but there's still lots of people that need the gospel. This past week we experienced a protest that happened....luckily it didn't delay anything :D

Elder Hall my son! And Elder Gosper on the right. 

Just over a year ago, Elder Hall and I did an appointment with the Lord in East Tucson, with a member. We felt prompted specifically to knock on a door at the end of the street, for some strange reason. Well. We did!! We taught him and passed him off to YSA....guess what?? He was BAPTIZED OVER THE SUMMER!! Heck yeah!!! Oh man, it was so good to see him and how the gospel's had an effect on his life. Not much has come from tracting, but most of it comes later on.

James!!! Who we tracted into a year ago, was later baptized by the YSA missionaries!!

One night, Elder Dalling and I basketball contacted a chinese person (my brother would be proud). The next time we headed over for our appointment, and he wasn't there....fail....but 3 other chinese dudes were! We played a couple rounds of basketball and taught them briefly about Christ!! It was super fun, but they really can't understand much English...men. Spanish? Chinese? Let's go!!!!

So I might be singing in sacrament meeting next week...hmmm..

Last night, President called the next assistant. His name is Elder Teichert!! He will be my last companion of my mission for the next 7 week transfer, starting next week. He's a 3 time state champ. wrestler and is from a very small town. This week he'll be with us as we tackle down the transfer board with President in preparation for transfers next week. Can't believe it's almost here. This transfer was only 5 weeks long. Taking over an area, and now training a new assistant seems like a good challenge, but I'm excited to finish strong and see what miracles God has in store for us with other missionaries, investigators, and of course our incredible mission President. I know this church is true and that fasting helps us access the Atonement by putting forth our spirit in front of our bodies. I'm grateful for Elder Dalling and the things he has taught about leadership and ministering unto others. I have learned so much the past month, and am excited to learn more. The church is so true, and God is always good.

Merry Christmas!! Best time of the year. 

Where we're emailing! Sister Burns, the office secretary, made us scarfs! wootwoot

 D&C84:61 For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you.

-Elder Hales 

Week 95 - happiness comes from living the gospel.

Something I've truly realized is that true happiness comes from living the gospel. Kayla (recent convert) made a huge scripture chain about happiness about one of our lessons with her and Leticia, another recent convert. The lesson went super well about the importance of journal writing along with a mormon message. They are both very happy and the gospel has healed them both physically and spiritually. Pretty remarkable. 

hahah they say that money doesn't buy happiness....but money does buy a wave runner.....have you ever seen anyone not happy on a wave runner?

haha. Rad.

This past week we headed up to the Gila Valley and Sierra Vista for Thanksgiving. Up there we did some service along with some blitzs! The day was super great. I went on an exchange with an Elder Price up in Safford and was able to find a new LA to teach along with a new investigator who we set a baptism date with in the 10 mins of talking with him! Elder Price was inspired where for us to go that day, and it paid off! Seeing people up in the Gila Valley was SO good to see. I have so much respect for the YSA's up there and miss them all hardcore. The next morning we did a blitz in Sierra Vista and found a bunch of potentials! On our way there, we randomly stopped by a member's home that used to feed us and help teach investigators all the time. Their testimonies were very strong and they were great missionaries. We went over there and apparently they haven't been active in the church and only consider themselves "friends" in the marriage....oh man. We were able to be straight forward with them along with baring our testimonies. The spirit was there. Man. It was sad to see people go through rough times...I know that they'll come back soon enough.

Another inspired move! One of Elder Simpson and I's recent convert's had some very rough times that day. The 3 of us showed up at her door randomly after not seeing her since last April when I left, and she started crying right when she opened the door. It was a blessing to see what the gospel has done in her life since she was baptized. She truly is a testimony builder for many. We were able to share a message and try to bring some comfort to her and her kids and we hope that things will be well with them.

Alma56:47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

With a new missionary, Elder Coesins!

This past week, Elder Dalling and I went on 10 exchanges in 4 days...holy shoz. It was crazy! We can be honest to say that it wasn't the best week for our area, but the YSA's were gone for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow we'll be training at MLC about "The Power of Listening" and will be hitting on many key points that we hope will help the mission, shortly after that, all the trainers and new missionaries will be coming in for their follow-up training, and then on Wednesday we have a 5 hour Spanish Conference for 60 or so missionaries...in case you didn't know, I barely speak English. So it'll be fun. Our training tomorrow will be based a lot on Mathew 14:25-31 and the power of listening. We're suuper stoked!! :D When they know you're listening, they will feel the spirit.

Hmm...contacting on UofA campus during the ASUvsUoA football game....man, this town was CRAZY after the game.

One thing we have talked about quite a bit is being positive....we are faced with a lot of mission problems and things that need to get fixed. It's crucial to stay focused on the positive things no matter what. It's time to have a meeting! I love you all so much and love hearing from the things that are (or aren't) going on wherever you are! 

-Elder Hales