Week 79 - Everyone is moving back!

Hello everyone!! What's happening? :D

I've learned that I'm horrible at updating the world on how our investigators and members are progressing. So, there's a great place to start.

Monsoon!!

Remember Jesus? He was a referral given to us and we can tell he has a pure heart. We've only been able to teach him once, but he took the Book of Mormon well. He was recently locked up, which is often the best time for change to happen. We're hoping and praying for the best!

Last week a non-member stud named Zane came to our church. He knows Bishop Bluth! We gave him a BOM a while back and then referred him to Safford YSA, and he's getting baptized this Saturday!! YES! It's before transfers, so at least we'll for sure be here for then. So cool!

Yesterday, Wesley came to church! Wesley is one of the kids of 'The Family' and he loved church and might go to camp this weekend with the YM! It was a surprise having him come, but man, all your problems go away when even 1 person comes to church. In our YSA ward we had a member named Isaac come to church who hasn't been in a while. It was so great to see them! Then in Elder Quorum in our family ward, a Brother taught an awesome lesson where he talked about his coming back to church in just the past couple months because of the "example of good friends, family, and missionaries I've been around the past couple months." We've been over to his house a few times, and it was SO awesome to hear him teach. The lesson went great and he seemed happy afterwards. Ah man. The church is true!

Before our zone meeting, we had all the Elders polish their shoes! President encouraged us to keep them lookin' good! 

Last P-DAY, at Walmart we ran into a member we worked with in East Tucson, back in September of last year! He moved up here! He said "Hales!" and gave me a hug. Tanner!! He's doing a lot better which is so great to see after seeing him go through a lot of crap. Man. So cool.

There's a family we've been trying to work with that has un-baptized kids. A couple times this past week we went over and had a couple great lessons with them! Missionaries have taught them in the past but for some reason stopped going over. So, we're picking up where they left off. YES!!

Only half our zone came to do our weekly run to the temple! Honestly. What morning exercise is better?

This past week we had zone meeting where we completely focused on how to work with members. The almost 3 hour training went great, especially for the Gila Valley where we work with members most! "When members feel accountable..that's where we start to build trust."

One day while walking outside after lunch, there was a YSA girl on the sidewalk with her bike on the ground. We had the prompting to talk to her and ask if she was okay, and she was just hit by a truck!! The truck didn't stop either. Luckily just a couple scraps and bruises happened, along with a busted bike. Man. We felt so bad!

Helping out our friend who had a hit and run! She was fine at least!

This upcoming week is when everyone is moving back!! I am SO stoked!! Things will get busy again! This next Sunday is when every YSA up here joins together and they determine who is in which ward, and then there's a huge YSA FHE Monday night. We are stoked, it's going to be rad-chaos to talk to as many people as possible. Not many people have the chance to serve in end of a semester, stay through the whole summer, and then see the beginning of the next semester. I took it to the Lord one night to see if it was a good idea to split the area, and there's no doubt after praying, that there's enough work to be done. The Lord is hastening His work!!

For PDAY, Elder Lowe taught us all how to make his DELICIOUS muffins! Best. Pday. Ever.

We had a couple cool miracles happen. One of them being a run-in with a member in our family ward after her work. We were walking and came across her and started talking. She's had some really bad experiences with members unfortunately, but we talked with her and assured her that there was a reason her family is still going strong.

Almost out of time! Gah!

The best snack when you are sick and it's time for weekly planning.

A couple analogies were made this past week which are always fun to think of. One of them was while teaching a Quintana a recent convert from the res. who works at Sonic and often can't go to church because of it. Well, the thought came and we taught how when you go through the drivethru (where she works) you talk with someone you can't see, and you can't always hear them because of the awful speakers, but the closer you get to the window, the more assurance that you have. Just like life! We are all in a drive thru of some kind.

My time here in the zone has been incredible. I've had a feeling I'm getting transferred for a while, but you never really can tell until transfer calls come. I've made a list of things I've learned in the Gila Valley I'll email home next Tuesday. The change that has overcome the Gila Valley zone has been incredible. It's a completely changed zone and the mindset of the members in continually changing towards missionary work. All I can say is how grateful I am to help this work push forth. I know that this gospel is true and that Christ was foreordained to suffer for our sins, and that we were all foreordained for our purpose in this life. 2nephi26:24. I love this gospel with my whole heart!!

1John5:14-15

D&C71:4
Love y'all!! Have a rad week!



-Elder Hales

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

Week 77 - God has the best sense of humor.

God has the best sense of humor. I shouldn't expect any week to be normal haha. Lots of things happened this past week, it wasn't a 'normal proselyting' week for us. BUT, it was a good one overall! :D

Anyways, the first day last week we had to do an emergency exchange with some missionaries due to some events that happened. In the end, one of the missionaries was sent home we believe for medical reasons, so after the 24 hour sudden exchange and much interaction with our Mission President, things are good now!

There's bound to be a lot of change happening in 3 weeks for the next transfer, but the work continues!

Gabriel was a guy Elder Netane and I contacted a few weeks ago while he was working construction. The missionaries are teaching him and he and his wife went to church yesterday! #talkwitheveryone SO AWESEOME!

Some Elders asked us to cover for them and go to one of their appointments. So of course, we did! His name is Leon and turns out he is a YSA! SAWEET! He's a native, which we're a little more used to teaching since our YSA has 2 recent convert natives. Leon is down to earth and super rad. It started to monsoon like no bodies business, so we taught him on his porch! We taught about the BOM and compared it to his heritage and some analogies that he came up with. At the end, Leon said he liked it! He wasn't able to come to church yesterday, but he's coming to FHE tonight!

Right before teaching Leon!

There's a YSA named Max we've been working with who's a member and has a desire to serve, but has had some crazy things happen in the mean time. He told us he's moving back to Mexico to continue his life. Gah! We'll miss him like a brother.

Elder Hughes and I received a text yesterday from a priest in our family ward asking us to come over so he can tell us something...of course, your mind starts racing when someone says that....he sat us down, and said...."I'm decided...I'm going on a mission." YESSS!! We have been working with him for a few weeks now. He's had a pretty crazy childhood and I commend him for pushing through it all. Ah man, there's nothing a whole lot better to hear than someone saying that they are going to serve a mission :D

The Family that is in our family ward has been doing pretty good. We've been praying hard for them. Wesley the 13 year old had a dream he went to church with us and was all dressed up in a "pink bow tie" haha. We know that this family will enter the gospel, it's only a matter of when.

We've received a couple YSA referrals from missionaries this past week! YES!! The Lord is rewarding us no doubt. One of them, his name is Jesus and just got out of jail, but the Elders were able to set a BD with him! We haven't been able to make contact with him, but we went over to his house and knocked on his door and this is the conversation we had:

*knock knock knock*

"Hey! Is Jesus here?" - us

"....has anyone told you that you look like Eminem?" - Jesus' little brother

hahaha. Uhhhh...so Jesus was not there. I got the Eminem comment 4 or 5 times this past week by random people. haha.

Yesterday while at dinner with Daniel, we had a cool message talking about our Privileges and Potential, based on a talk by President Ucktdorf. It always opens my eyes to think how each of us are given privileges that help us reach and even exceed our potential. At the end of the lesson he asked me to say the closing prayer, and in the prayer when asking for the spirit to be present in the room, we felt something literally come into the room, a sense of peace. It was eye-opening. There's no doubt that angels are around all of us!

Here's a sweet mormon message about where we are serving right now.
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/same-jersey?lang=eng

Go Thatcher!

ZECH 13:6
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

Congratulations to my sister Jolie and (now) BIL Spencer on getting married!!!! It's crazy how when you're focused on the work, you often forget about what's going on back home. I'm grateful to be able to serve and I'll NEVER forget the time when we had the chance to go to the Provo temple while in the MTC. I remember being with my MTC district, and receiving an answer that my family would experience a lot of change by the time I would finish my mission. At first, while serving in Deming (Demnation), it was hard to realize what kind of help this mission could offer to my family and I thought by being home, I could help more....but now I know with a full surety that serving this mission will bless my family more than anything my 'tard' self could do back home. It feels like the Lord has been planning on all of this change to happen, while serving Him on His mission. 

D&C31:
" 3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."

5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.
 6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little time, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.
 7 Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;
8 And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered."

I know this church is true!

Next transfer will be interesting...a bomb is about to go off, with missionary work. YES!

Love y'all!

Elder Hales

Week 76 - Reactivation is equal of importance.

This past week? NUTS.

Our zone was involved with so many different things throughout the week, it called for chaos. But nonetheless, our zone had a great week! Our zone should be having a few baptisms this week and the following weeks too!

Throughout the time we did have to do proselyting work, Elder Hughes and I did an 'appointment with the Lord' which is one of my favorite finding ideas. We set a place and a time with the good man above, and when we went there, there was people that walked inside after seeing us, along with this one guy who looked about 20, walked inside after seeing us walk over. Meh. We knocked anyways. He came out and we had a good talk with him and have taught him about the Book of Mormon and prayer since we met him! His roommate sat in on one of the lessons and was really receptive too! We'll have to pass him off since he has a kid, but that is aaaaokay with God. A couple days later, someone was shot and raped in the same apt. complex....yikes. We're watched over though, no doubt.

We've also been trying to work around a recent convert's schedule, Quintana, to teach her the new member discussions. Quintana rocks. Suuuuper sarcastic, so she's hard to read sometimes haha. You're very gullible as a missionary...you sort of have to be. One night we went over there with John and taught about the Book of Mormon. The spirit was definitely there and they committed to read everyday for 10 minutes, and she came to church!! It was so awesome. It was a good day for returning members coming to church yesterday. Their reactivation is equal of importance as a non-member entering the waters of baptism.

We've done other lessons of course, and was able to give a couple referrals out, but we're excited for this week, because it's, for the most part, a normal missionary proselyting week which we haven't seen in over a month. That's why this scripture came to mind:

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

Although people aren't lining up at the font, I know and have no doubt in my mind that what we're doing is preparing blessings for when students start coming back. I'm not focused that that is when the only time work will happen, because we're still finding people, but it's just a prompting I've had for a while. Can't wait to see what happens to this area in the future.

Onto the chaos:

Monday was pday where an Elder had to get stitches from playing glow in the dark dodgeball...it was fun while it lasted. 

Tuesday was Zone Meeting and went very well! Great feedback from what we've heard. The spirit was there during the near 3 hour zone meeting. President Passey spent the night with us Tuesday night which was a neat experience. We had some really good talks. He arrived at night, and left before studies, but it was fun to have him for the brief time.

Wednesday was interviews with President Passey - they were great. It's great to feel trust from you mission President from the feedback from the zone.

Thursday we had a practice for the Variety show.

Friday we weekly planned *shutter* and sang in the variety show. The last musical number, we walked down the aisles with all the missionaries and sang the last verse of "They, the Builders of the Nation." 

Waiting for our time to go up and sing away

Saturday we helped set up for pancakes at 5:30am, we moved tables and chairs around, then later we were all in the Gila Valley parade and then went to the event afterwards since the entire Valley was there. So fun! 

Up and at it for the pancake breakfast the YSA's were in charge of. 

You may have seen us in the Gila Valley Pioneer parade..it reminded me when I was growing up, always doing something in the parade.

Sunday was another 6 hours of church! :D woohoo! I was asked a few days earlier to speak in the YSA wards, so I talked on "Preparing for a Mission" where I focused on 1) Importance of Preparation and 2) Charity - it naturally leads us to do missionary work. The sacrament meeting was great and Kari and Ethan both gave awesome talks.

And here we are today! :D

You take a break, any second you have.

We can finally take a breathe for a little while before they start picking up again.

D&c138:58-->2Nephi17:11

"We need charity more than anything else in our mission."

Some missionaries in our zone after doing our morning Crossfit WOD, and doing service for Aaron our coach. The missionaries in the other zone all asked if they could come too... it helps us! Plus, it's place for missionary opportunities.

It was a great week up here in the Gila Valley, and our zone continues to see miracles even though a lot of them are out in the boonies. The church is true and God is good. I'm grateful to serve our God who gave us everything. I know we are led by a Prophet for Christ's church. I know that charity helps us see why and how people act the way they do so we can understand them more and want to help them. I'll never forget the time a couple months ago when someone paid for my contacts....it stuck in me and I'll never forget it. Just like when we're charitable towards other people :D

I love this gospel.

Love all y'all!!

-Elder Hales

Week 75 - Sahuarita Youth Conference

Companion #9
Transfer #13 

Begin.

There's been a ton of things that have been happening. Those times when there's things that keep you busy most hours of the day, and then you do proselyting work whenever you have spare time..it's crazy. But awesome :D

RECAP:

The first thing I have written on my list of things to write home about, it says:

"No time to breathe! Never stopping." haha I guess that sums it up. But seriously.

My new companion and I are doing great! Elder Hughes is from near Sacramento and is a Spanish missionary, so I get to brush off the dust on my already dusted un pocito habla espanolo. Word. He's great and we've been busy! He's one of the most humble missionaries I've met so far no doubt. I also think he's one of the first companions that's shorter than I am. haha. 

Like I said, there were quite a few things that happened that besides your usual 'proselyting' missionary work. On Wednesday, we started off the transfer by being commodities for a couple hours before district meetings. Thursday, we were involved with the Sahuarita Youth Conference! Holy awesome. Our entire zone was involved. 8 of us (including 2 missionaries that had been out for 2 days) taught 2 classes on 1)OYM and 2)Gospel Basics. It was awesome. I love to train. Our class on OYM (Open Your Mouth) went great and it was fun training the youth how to bring up the gospel in such random times. After the classes, we held a 'Mini MTC Experience' where they had a TRC which in the MTC, was when you would knock on a door, and treat the whole experience like knocking on a house door. We had people inside the classrooms that acted like investigators (there was actually an investigator there too!) It was fun and brought back a lot of memories from the MTC. We helped the youth not be nervous and how they could approach it. Four missionaries from our zone acted like investigators for them. The feedback was great, and we're glad it went well for them!

Waiting for the 'investigators' to answer their door so they can go in and teach. #TRC

Undercover missionaries acting like investigators in the TRC - Elder Harris and Gilson

Oh look! Undercover Sisters!

Friday we had our first MLC with President Passey which took up most of the day. Zone Meeting is tomorrow and we're STOKED to train on the things we went over.

Nonetheless, we had about 1 full day of normal proselyting in the past week. So the people we were still able to work with was "The Family" which are coming along, but weren't able to make it to church :[ gah! So close! They are awesome, we know that they will progress within the gospel here soon.

We're also working with a member named Austin who's a stud. Star pitcher, football receiver, and champion wrestler. He has gone through some crazy times in High School (surprise) and is headed back to the point where he would like to serve a mission. He's awesome and will hopefully be able to get a picture with him soon.

Prepping to train the youth!

The finding continue!!....for other areas! haha. This past week we were led to 2 investigators we referred over to Elders Lowe/Curtis. One of them we found last Monday while he was working. He expressed interest and has a family and kids and some of the best morals I've seen for a non-member. Excited to see what happens with him after we've taught him most of the Restoration.

Another referral was a guy named Troy! We found him yard-saling where you go to yard sales, look at the stuff, and talk to the people there and try to make trades with a Book of Mormon. He also expressed interest! He wasn't able to make it to church, but hopefully something comes of it!

We learned a few things at MLC! President Passey will be spending the night in our apartment with us tomorrow night! WOO! I've never heard of a mission President doing that before, but since he's doing interviews this week, he decided to stay with us! Having talked with President Passey, we are suuper stoked to get to know him more - he's inspired, as all mission presidents are.

Quinntana! A recent convert who is awesome

He also let us know we'll be getting ipads before the end of the year, but we'll have to pay for them...and apparently the Tucson Temple should have a ground break next spring!

"Some people never end up in this life where other people start." - President Passey

Tomorrow for our zone meeting, part of our training is on 'Teach to Understand' and to start off that part of the training, we're doing a role play...where I'm going to load Elder Hughes with lots of information about BMW's trying to sell him one while using the same methods we use in teaching, and then talk about how to teach according to where they are at haha. Hopefully I can video it.

Ether 12:28 I read while in church, and it made me think that God doesn't just show us our weaknesses:
"28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness."

Charity has been brought up multiple times in our mission lately, and I've learned much about. It's one of my new year's resolution to develop more charity by acting on promptings to help people and to continually pray for it. I know that this gospel is Christ's and not man's. I know that the Lord blesses us in all good that we do. The church is true and God is good and families are ordained of God - not randomly either.

Love you all! Everyone is getting married. In the YSA down here, and back home haha.

I love hearing from all of you!

-Elder Hales

[Transfers] Week 74 - I love this Gospel!

Another week, transfer, companion, and Mission President. Lots of change is headed our way. Change is always exhausting getting used to the new swing of things. But hey, it's pretty much (totally is) inspired by God. So it's cool.

Saying bye to Elder Netane a couple hours ago. Going to miss him hardcore.

Gettin' to it.

My new companion is Elder Hugh's!! He's a total boss. One of the nicest Elders out there. He has 2 transfers left so looks like he'll finish up here. He's from good ol' California (not Utah), and loves the gospel. He went to Crossfit in his last area too! Things are great!!

My new companion Elder Hugh's! He is a total stud. STOKED to work with him!

Saying bye to Elder Wardell! 

Saying bye to Sister Fuller!

Although this week is going to be insane, let's talk about this past week :D

We were asked to teach at Stake Correlation where a member from the Stake Presidency and High Council were there along with WML's from the Stake. It went well! The lesson was on "Investigators and keeping the sabbath day holy." I always love to train, as long as we're prepared. Afterwards, they came up to us and said they had some new things to bring back to the wards. One of our WML's came up and said he'd email the Bishop to try and get members to fast for the family we're working with. That is literally one of the best things a ward can do for non-members working with missionaries: Fast and pray for them. YES!! Please include them in your prayers! I love this service.

Right after a lesson. Institute style

All in all, this past week was a little disappointing, which happens in missionary work. So many people flat out rejected the gospel, even when we really felt we approached it the best way we could have. A recent convert transferred over to the YSA, also told us he never wants to meet with us, believes the BOM is not true, and never wants to meet with anyone from our church again. All in all, we kept working all the time, but it happens. Luckily it was a test of humillity, because this week is looking like an incredible week. So many things are happening!! It becomes our duty sometimes, if we're given the opportunity.

One of the most annoying dogs ever. 

WE also had Zone Conferences this past week with our new Mission President and his family! They are so awesome. President Passey is inspired to lead this mission. Although change will come, I KNOW it's of God. The Zone Conferences were great, and I was asked to conduct it. Can't wait to get to know the Passey's more! 

 Eating with the Buhr's!!

While on exchanges, we had a prompting to go knock a few houses out in this one neighborhood. After a few houses, we found Adam! A former investigator (no records) who had a baptism date once! He's moving to another ward's boundaries, but we'll see what happens with him!

Out biking! I love monsoons.

It's saddening how many people preach against another religion. While talking to some people, we brought up the BOM, and she said she had heard of it! Then she said her pastor gave her some DVD's about it....and that she wasn't interested in it at all...man. Christ himself was rejected, so not everyone will accept His gospel unfortunately.

Service for Brian and Maddi!

One of the finding activities we did was "Orange shirt contacting" which is where we pray for a certain color, and both Elder Netane and I got green and orange....while driving around, a dude outside in an orange shirt said we could come by after he asked us some questions! I drove past and then turned around right away and went and talked to him. God leads us even through times that seem disappointing. NO doubt.

Our awesome zone!

There was a sister in our zone who had to go to the hospital on the night of July 4th because she was sick. She's seems to be doing better and hopefully she does better in her next area!

This came right to us...we were out biking... oh yeah!!

You can't forget "The Family"!! Our ward is fasting and praying for them. They'll be at church this next Sunday. This family needs the gospel, as does everyone. Sister Matlock told us that Whitney (18 years old) had been praying for someone to come help them before we first went over. They said they have felt the spirit and imagined us as the Lord's servants. We are so excited for this family. They make us happy every time we go over as we share a message. They've become our friends, but they know we don't go over there to mess around, but to have fun with the gospel! WE have such "high hopes" for them!!

The Family! Sister Matlock, Whitney, William, Winter, and Wesley!

Our zone has 3 brand new missionaries being trained here! We also had two missionaries finish their missions. The zone had a huge change up, but man, we're so stoked to be working. Tomorrow is commodities and district meetings, Thursday is the Sahuarita Stake Youth Conference where we're training a bunch of youth in the afternoon and helping them have an MTC experience, Friday is MLC in Tucson with President Passey, and then next week is craziness as well! Things are crazy! But if you're doing what's right, the Lord will guide us.

2Nephi14:5-6

I also heard the very sad news of a member passing away in Sierra Vista...that shot himself. Oh man. I have had 7 investigators/members pass away that I've worked with while on the mish. It takes a tole on you. But I know that they are happy in heaven, and are doing the same things as us :]

I know this church is true. I know that President Passey leads this mission, regardless of the change. I know that God still lives and that Christ does too. I realized this past week, that Christ was sent to the most wicked world, and the most wicked spot, but it was so He could fulfill his purpose as an entirety. Being rejected was part of God's plan. I know that despite the rejections and things people say, that God has our back 100% of the time, and is constantly sending his angels to help with His work. I love this gospel with my whole heart!

These next few weeks shall be faster than ever! Elder Hugh's will baptize many many people here, and there's a chance I'll be leaving the 2nd day of the semester. Whatever happens happens for a reason.

Love y'all! :D

-Elder Dallin Hales