December 1, 2014

This weekl was UNREAL!!!! We had probably the best weekend ever but also one of the craziest. 

Throughout the week we were busy working and getting everything ready for the Baptism and wedding of Jessica and MAtias. THEY DID IT!!!!!! MAn was it such an amazing feeling. The week was one of the hardest for them. Everything from having to go directly to the doctors house to get a signature that he forgot to sign in the hospital...to having everyone say a ton of terrible things about the church to put doubts into their heads. But they stayed strong. 

Friday was the wedding and then saturday was the Baptism. Saturday night however was the craziest rain storm that we have had yet. The whole city flooded and nobody could leave their houses.....the bad part is that 1) we were in the church already filling up the baptismal font, and 2) no one was there to be baptized... So we kept our faith alive. Little by little, a few people started trickling in, but Jessica and Matias live in the part that flooded the worst. Taxi`s and busses werent even going close because they were afraid. So I called them and we said, "Don`t worry, the bishop is going to go get you guys." (The only problem is that the bishop didn`t know that he was going to go in his little car to pick them up...) But we knew that he would do it! So we asked him as he arrived at the church and he said,"well...we`ll see what happens" and we left into the flooded streets. 

A we got going towards their house, the water got deeper and deeper. By the time we got there, water had come into the doors a little bit. But we were more than halfway, there was no turning back. 

We showed up at their door and called them. IT was pouring rain and just from their door to the car (20 feet) got them soaked. We headed off towards the church again and we realized that it was even deeper then before. Morena (6 years old) was sitting in the middle back seat and said, "I feel rain". There was water spraying up from where the E-break was.Everyone started laughing and I loked at them and said, "Man your conversion story is so Awesome" We all laughed together and kept going. They said that they were excited to look back in a few years and not only see all the changes, but also how crazy it was! 

We kept moving forward and then a bus passed and the wave actually pushed the car and we moved a little bit. I felt like I was river rafting again! IT was awesome! haha 

Anyways, they were baptized and then they were confirmed the next day. 

I know that got tested their faith to make them stronger and to help them have an even more spiritual experience because the opposition made it even clearer how much they have really changed.

I lvoe this gospel and this family! I hope everyone has their goal on the eternal family so that when the hail and rainstorms and floods that come into our lives have no power over us! 

Con amor! 

~Elder Hazlett

They still throw rice!

                                                                        A beautiful little family :)

November 24, 2014

This was a week of Faith. I have never seen more Faith in action in my whole life than what I saw this last week.

We got out of our stake conference and Matias and Jessica had their interviews. They are super excited for their wedding and baptism and the whole Ward is getting excited. Anyway, Elder Paredes (the elder that did the interview for Matias) came out and talked to me and said that of all the interviews he had done in his life, he never had felt the spirit like that one. HE said, "that kid is gonna be a general authority one day" 

I lvoe that family so much and I know that they are going to be examples in the church.

Jessica has been struggling a little bit however with the small things. Sometimes she felt tired and had no desire to read. The whole morning as we traveled to conference we talked about how faith is Acting even when you don`t see the "Why" as clearly as you would like. She said that it was just hard because she wanted to have a direct pay off. She wanted to see the chagne and blessings immediately. Basically her Faith was a little bit weaker than she wanted it to be and she went to stake conference with the question of, "how can I strengthen my Faith?"

During the conference they didn`t talk a whole lot about faith but they did talk about Missionary work and how each family and each missionary were pre-destined to find eachother and to succeed together. That helped strengthen her faith a little more. 

Then the miracle happened. We got on the train to head back to our city and as we were getting on, a blind man got on the train. I looked at her and said just imagine if you were blind...she said it is true. But then, the blind mans wife and kids got on the train as well. She was also blind. They had a 12 year old son who was literally their eyes. I told her. That, is Faith. She started to tear up when she saw the youngest kid smile and see that netiher the mother or father were able to see the precious smile of their children. 

I know that the things in life are hard, but we need to sometimes take a step back and look at how blessed we really are and let THAT be what strengthens our faith. 

I love you all and hope you are always looking for the good in life because that is what will make us stronger. 

Elder Hazlett

-- 

~Elder Hazlett

November 10, 2014

Elder Collins Left me this week as we had transfers. IT was probably the best 6 weeks I have had so far on my misison and I know that he helped me and taught me a ton! We didn`t ahve a single day that ended with a frown. OR a single day without Miracles. He was called to be Assistent to the president so I am still able to talk to him sometimes, and he will be doing divisions with the Zone leaders, so he`ll be coming back for a day or two :)

Howver, my new companion is Elder Dahl from Dallas Texas. HE is also a champ and has a great spirit of service. We are just getting down to work and he is helping me a lot with my disabilities. He is a great planner, which is my weekness, so he is helping me a ton. I am super good as soon as we go out in the street to work, but the planning is where I strugglee. He said, " Elder, you just gotta find a wife that is a better planner than you and you will be Set for life." haha I am not a terrible planner, I would just rather be with the people and let someone else plan.

Anyway, we had 6 new investigators in Church yesterday!!! WOOT WOOT! Lets just say that God is SOOO MErciful. We have been praying and working so hard with a few families and Finally we are seeing the fruits of our labors. Jessica and Matias are doing great. in a few weeks they get married and then they will be baptized and they already have their goal on the Temple :) 

Betty is a mother of 4 that is struggling with her rebbelious kids but has one that is 13 still who is awesome. Her husband just works non-stop so they don`t have a olot of help in the house. She LOVES church and wants to be baptized with Thiago her son so that he doesn`t follow the same path as the others. 

PAblo and Ezekiel are brothers from a family that we are working with that are progressing as well. They are studs and we are tryingour best to help them to be baptized. 

This weekend we will be having a conference with ElderChristofferson andall the misisoneries and weare super excited. IT will be great to get more advice for the Missionary work for this exact Day and age. They always bring a message of urgency and power to help remind us of what our purpose is! 

This week in Church, they gave us time to talk. I used an example of when we went on the road trip in the motorhome and how if we werent paying attention to the map, we would miss the exit and not arrive. And when we lost the map completely, our pride and personal knowledge made us think that we knew the correct way. I compared it to a living prophet and the time without a map as the Apostasy. We always had the vision of were we wanted to go in mind, but without haveing the constant guide of a prophet to lead us, the people hardened their hearts and started to follow thier own wisdom and ideas. IT was one of the talks that I felt like I was able to express myself exactly how I wanted and I know it is because the spirit was there speaking through me to testify to the hearts of those that were in church. 

I know that we HAVE to follow the prophet and apostles or else we are literally like a car without direction.

I hope you all have a great week and that you do the best you canto help others to find their "map" and follow the prophet!

Elder Hazlett 

November 3, 2014

This week was pretty great. I faith tester as well as a testimony builder. 

The rain couldn`t stop us. Even though for like 5 days straight it was raining, we kept on going! As I got to talking to my companion about it, we started to think about what we are doing and what the world sees in us...We leave our houses and families, work, studies, and everything that we love...to go to a foreign country where we can`t even communicate with the people. We wake up at 6:30 (sometimes earlier) every morning. We follow with exactness a morning schedule that amost no other 18 or 19 year old in the world would ever think of following, we exercise, study the scriptures, we plan and practice teaching lessons, all without having anyone watching over us, telling us what to do other than God through his Prophets and Apostles.  We leave at 10:30 and walk the streets of that foreign land talking to people that we have never ever met before, under the rain; snow; sun; hail;and wind. We get rejected by some, ridiculed by others, accepted by few, but we do it all with a smile on our faces and a testimony in our hearts. We teach simple truths to blinded eyes, hoping and praying with all our heart that God just softens their hearts and opens their eyes just enough to see what we have seen and feel what we have felt. We gain no temporal reward. We have no salary, nor do we get any kind of points for what we do, but we gain the blessings of eternal life and exaltation. We feel the love of Christ more strongly than ever before as we help those who don`t know him...come unto him.

Last night at 8 P.M. as we were completely soaked and walking to our next appointment, I couldn`t help but to crack a smile and laugh a little bit as I saw people inside their warm houses looking out their windows at us and thinking everything possible about how crazy we are, when really, I consider myself one of the happiest people on this planet. Some people might find it hard to believe how being soking wet, freezing, away from home, talking to strangers can bring so much joy, but there is a promise that is taught in Preach My Gospel pg 75 that says, " God wants all His children to know the truth. Therefore, He reveals the truths necessary for salvation through prophets and apostles." To have the truth brings a certain amount of Joy, but to have the truth and live it brings more joy than can be found anywhere else or in any other way.

If I have learned one thing on my mission, it is that Obedience to the Truths and commandments that have been revealed in this dispensation is the ONLY way to find true Joy. And it is also the only way to assure that in the future we will gain even more Joy! 

Like I said in the beginning, it was a faith testing week because a lot of things didn`t work out as we had planned or wanted, but my testimony was strengthened so much as those trials made me reflect and think about many different things. All of them being directed to the fact that we have a Prophet today that guides us and Apostles aswell. That with them we have a sacred promise, "Those who listen to and follow the counsel of living prophets and apostles will not go astray." PMG pg 75.

We have families that are still struggling to soften their hearts and their eyes are not quite opened yet, but that are following the steps that we are giving them and are putting forth their efforts to get to where we are.  

One family said, " Elders, Why are you all so happy?" I would die if I did what you do. We couldn`t help but smile and say. One day when you go through the temple with your family, you will understand :) They just smiled and said that they aren`t stopping til they make it there! We said that we are like their team. A team works together and when one is doing well, the others do better. When one isn`t doing well, the others slow down. But the best part about the team that we are on is that no matter how down we are, we can go forward with Faith knowing that our team Never is going to lose :)

Baby blessing of one of our counselors. I just thought that it was perfect. That is the attitude necesary! Gotta have the Vision.

Family that is getting married and baptized this month :) They are awesome! 

--

~Elder Hazlett

October 27, 2014

This week was incredible!!! We started out the incredibleness with all the miracles that we saw with all our investigators. Just little miracles that they had read the scriptures and had good experiences with that, or that they had found out that they had family that was a member and they had recently invited them to church. Just a bunch of little things that helped keep us excited. 

Thursday was a little bit of a rough day because we woke up in the morning and finished with our divisions with the assistents and came back to plan. We left to work and EVERYTHING fell through....we were a little bit exhausted and didn´t know what to do, but we didn´t lose our faith and we kept on going! We went to visit a few more people  and they weren´t there either...so we decided to head to an area where we had one more  contact.  As we walked, we walked passed a house and kept walking....but then we felt as if we should go back. So we followed that feeling and it ended up being a family that had always wanted to know what we did and was very excited to read the book of mormon. She already had other plans for sunday but she said she is now waiting anxiously for us to pass by this tuesday. 

After her, we found another miracle guy. In the morning I was really struggling thinking that it was going to be a LONG day, but I had faith that we were gonna find someone and we did! 

LAter on in the week. Friday, we woke up and studied and then got excited to go to the wedding of Rodrigo and Betty. They got married on friday morning and it was soooo great, but the best part was friday night. We had planned a few weeks erlier to go to the temple with them and another family, but we thought it all wasnpt going to work out. S owe had kind of thrown that idea out...but then, as we were planning that night, we called the member who had a car to go to the temple and he said "lets go!!!" so he talked to his brother (rodrigo who was getting baptized that night) and he took his car and we were able to go with not only rodrigo and his dad who then were getting baptized, but with Jessica and Matias as well who are getting married now in November so that they can get baptized, so that they can enter the temple. They understand PERFECTLY the goal. Not just baptism, but the eternal family. They got some books and stuff at the temple, a picture of the Salt Lake Temple, and Joseph Smith because they have a huge testimony of Joseph Smith. 

Then we went back to our area and prepped for the baptism. IT was AMAZING! Three generations of the family got baptized at the same time. 

Sunday morning, they all were there and were confirmed and Jessica and Matias said, "we are next." Families are what makes the church go round. I am so glad that we have been blessed with so many families here to teach and help. This morning, Jessica and Matias sent us a message that just thanked us for how much we have helped and changed their lives. They said that we are their Angels here on earth. I consider them some of my best friends because they are pretty young still. They are already planning with the other 3 families of recent converts to all get sealed to gether so that Elder Collins and I can plan a trip to come back here to be there. I love it when familes put their Goal as the temple because that is when they really have success and conversion. But for reals, my companion and I were talking about that. IF a family has their goal of being temple worthy and /or getting to the temple to be sealed, they will progress soooo much more in life.

I lvoe these families and I know that this is the true church and that when applied in the lives of anyone, the lives of Everyone will change!

--

~Elder Hazlett

October 20, 2014

There were so many miracle this week and as I was trying to write them, the internet cut out...so I wasn`t able to include them all, but we areworking with some great families and the best is that the Melgarejo family. Augustin and Susanah (grandparents) Rodrigo and Betty (son and daughter in law who get married on friday, and Franco (son of Betty andRodrigo) are getting baptized!!! A Whole family with 3 generations! IT is gonna be so awesome!

This week we were able to find a new family almost everyday! We have been praying like crazy for families and looking everywhere to find them. We were walking the other day and literally talking about how we wanted to find a family when Elder Collins looked at me after looking at a house and said, "lets go knock on the door." We went and knocked onthe door and Luis answered us and let us in and we then talked with him and his wife and 2 kids. After explaining the restoration, She said, "it makes sense," and was super excited to read. They got married a few months ago and didn`t know why...but now they do! They weren`t able to attend church this weekend because they traveled for mothers Day here in Argentina, but they are excited to go next week. 

We also were able to teach half the family of one of the young men we are helping. He is recently wanting to leave his worldy ways and clean up his act so he can have a good life and not be like the rest. So he started, and his mom saw a difference and then they all came to church on sunday. They LOVED church. IT was mothers day and they gave little gifts to all the moms, and Elder Collins and I were asked to talk about how big of an example our moms have been to us and how they have taught us the gospel. It was really good. At the end, Betty (Nocolas`s mom) shook my hand and said, " You made me cry." And nicolas said to his mom that it wasn`t me, but it was the Spirit. Earlier that week we had taught them the plan of salvation but we weren`t planning on teaching that but we felt the prompting to teach it. So we did and at the end of the lesson, Betty said to us, "you answered all my questions." And then Nicolas said, "and mom, you didn`t even ask them those questions." We explained how the spirit works and she was so happy. 

Also in Church we had Matias and Jessica with their two kids and their Cousin. Their little daughter Morena sang in the choir with the primary her first day in the primary and at church. IT was AMAZING because that family is so important to me and to see all the little miracles taking place was just amazing.

There were so many miracles and cool things that happened this week. To top it all off, we visited Maxi (recent Convert) sunday night to help his family (less-active) get back to church, and we found a friend of the family (new investigator) and we taught them all at once and she accepted to be baptized. Maxi bore his testimony of the gospel and how it changes lives. The less active sister said that she would help her read and they could go to church together. And never before in my mission had I felt like I was fulfilling every single part of the work of salvation. Baptize, Reactivate, and Retain. As we left that house, Elder Collins looked at me and said. "We are so blessed Elder." 

IF there is one way to describe what we get in return for working hard in this work, it is Blessings. Blessings of every type. 

I am excited to keep finding more families and helping them recieve blessings!

MAtias, Jessica and morena and their family at a familoy home everning! 

The family that worked with us this week as the ward missionary family

and elder Rojas from Spain. He has less than a month in the mission and I was able to spend a day with him here in our area. HE is great! And LOVES Tennis. ( marshall, he lives next to a country club in spain...road trip to the clay courts after???)

--

~Elder Hazlett

October 13, 2014

I Love Argentina. This week we not only had great lunches but great lessons! haha we have been crazy blessed with a ton of people to teach and the opportunity to share something that no one else has! 

    This week, every single lesson we taught had to do with the restoration and the importance of having a living prophet. IT was pretty amazing seeing how our teaching improved in 1 week as we taught basically the same thing the whole time. The most incredible part was the power of the spirit that we felt during those lessons (some better than others). We had quite a few miracles because of it.

    One miracle was a family that we found because one of the sisters saw us walk passed and yelled "hello" in english. At first I thought they were just mocking us, but then wefelt as if we should have goneback. So we turned around and went back to talk to them and the girl that yelled ran and hid. We gained the confidence a little bit and then were able to figure out a little more about their lives. We shared the message that we had, and then at the end we asked them what they thought when we first got there compared to when we left. We sang "ama el pastor sus ovejas" and they were in tears at the end. They went from laughing at us to crying because of us. They have brothers that are younger and aren`t doing the best things and they felt as if we were literally sent from God to help them.
    Another miracle is Matias. I LOVE THAT FAMILY. We passed by to teach him a little bit more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and instead of us teaching him, he took the pamphlet and taught his 6 year old daughter. IT was so precious!!! I was so happy to see that not only did he understand it, but he had the desire to teach it to his family.

    Another was a less active family that had not gone to church for years. We passed by and taught them....guess which lesson.....the Restoration. They said that they never really understood the importance of the book of mormon, and didn`t really have a lot of faith in Joseph smith. So we invited them to read and then to "come and see" as elder bednar said in the conference.

    I have been spending all this last week just looking for all of the little evidences of why this is the true church, and besides just the obvious Scriptural evidences, I also was able to find so many more!. One young man asked us, Why is your church so rich? If they want to, they buy land and they build a church. We responded, "do you think if God had his church on earth today, then he would have power enough to build his kingdom?" EVIDENCE. Another person was talking about how everyone has the right to worship God where and How they want to. Which is very true, but Worshipping and making sacred covenants with God through Saving Ordenanzes are different things. In a classroom environment the students can all give their opinions, but when it is time to be taught...Who is it that teaches....? The teacher. In a house, who is it that leads...? The parents. For anyone that believes in God, they then also believe that he created all things. And in the creation of all things he established an order. And that order is and will be in all things. Especially in His Church!

    What I learned is that if we have a disire to gain a testimony, we have to look for evidences of truth and not excuses or reasons why not. Jesus never looked for the bad in things, so why should we? 

    Sorry for maybe ranting a little bit...I just took Elder Bednar`s invitation to "come and See" and went crazy with it. If any of you ever find yourselving doubting the church, than follow the advice given by an apostle. And Look for the Good that comes from it. I love this Gospel. And I know it is True.

I don`t have pictures this week, but next week i`ll get some. Love you guys!!

~Elder Hazlett

October 6, 2014

Elder Collins and I have been working hard in our area and have been putting into practice all the things that we learned in conference. Elder Bednars talk was INCREDIBLE. We watdched it with members and at the end we paused it and watched the part about how we aren`t trying to obligate anyway but invite them to simply "come and See" We are going to get that link and give it to our investigators because it literally was the answer that we were looking for. The members said that they were gonna post a link on facebook so that their friends could hear it for themselves from an Apostle exactly why we are so giddy about sharing the gospel. Hearing that talk just made me even more anxious to share the gospel. We have a great teaching pool of families right now that are on the brink of gaining a testimony and what they lack is the little pull away from the traditions of their families. So we have been studying a ton in the Book of mormon about how important it is to search and find God ourselves and not get comfortable with what we already have. There is so much to gain, why settle for less?? I loved the story in Alma 24 about how some of the greatest missionaries had a hard time teaching but that they were able to show them by their example and with a lot of patience that this gospel really is the gospel of Jesus Christ and they were sent by him. I recognized how important it is to be a good example ALWAYS and to have patience with the people we are teaching. They have their agency, but if we do our part then the spirit will work and help them to make the right decision. 

I think if we could sum up the confernce in 2 things it would be "Study the Scriptures and get to know the Gospel" Then "LIVE IT" but live it like Jesus would. IF we do that, then every single one of the people that Come and See what we have, will then Come and Stay. I love this gospel and it makes me so happy to know that everyone can have it for free and that I might not gain "points" for being a missionary, but the blessings come like crazy! 

Love you guys! 

September 29, 2014

My new Companion is elder Collins from wyoming. He is a stud and the most Humble Kid ever. WE are so stoked to work together. I am in an area called Villa Tesei in the stake of Caseros. (which is the same stake in which I started my misison). More than a year ago I was here for a couple days visiting and there was a family that recently was baptized and now they are sealed and have callings. IT is incredible to see the difference. This area is a lot different than my last area but it is awesome. WE have some awesome families that we have foundand are working with and we are excited to build up the ward. 

Yesterday the bishop asked me if I could introduce myself and I said sure thing. Then he said "and if you want, you can take a few more minutes because we are short 1 speaker." and then he said "or 15 minutes if you want?" and you can sing a special musical number" So my companion and I sang Press forward saints and I gave a 15 minute improv talk on missionary work. I don`t know how great it was but it was fun and I think I gained the confidence of the bishop haha. Anyway, Here are a few miracles that happened in our first few days, Enjoy :)

Wednesday after the transfer meeting we got backto the area and went straight to work. We blessed the Pension and asked that the Spirit could always be with us and then headed out. WE went and visited a couple people that we had planned to visit, but we wanted to find new people as well. We were walking when the phone rangand we stopped to answer it. As Elder Collins was talking I was looking at the house in front of where we were standing and I felt that we should knock on the door. After Elder Collins finished talking he had the same feeling. We ended up finding a young father named Matias and we taught him the Restoration. He commited to come to church and came on Sunday with his daughter and apologized that his wife and little son couldn`t come but that next time he will bring them all. He is excited to now watch Conference and I know that the Spirit was 100 the reason for that miracle.

The next miracle was right as we left Matias`s house. We were walking away and there was a young women sitting on the sidewalk. We passed her just saying hello, but we felt that we should go backand talk to her. At first I thought "no, just because she is a girl and I wanted to stay focused..." but then I felt it again, so we went back andtalked to her. We set a return appointment and passed by thursday, but it was raining and they were all sleeping....so we came back again on friday. The family let us right in, and the Dad started to cry. We were both a little confused because First, they let us right in without even knowing us, and second because they were just crying. So we started to ask a couple questions to figure out what was going on...The girl is 16 and tried to explain but she just started crying. So her dad started to explain it and was pretty upset. She had been going a little bit down the wrong path with some decisions that she had taken and the friends she was with and it that day that we talked to her was the day that her parents found out about it all and didn`t know what to do. That is why they invited us in, because they knew that we were sent to answer their prayers. We focused our lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how there is a way to be freed from all of those things. We were able to apply what we learned in some special trainings about what we should teach and every lesson was based on the Restoration. 

There were many more miracles that happened this week, but really I am just so grateful for everything that happened. We were also able to have a baptism this week. Victoria was baptized and it was one of the most special baptisms that I have ever been a part of because she is in a wheel chair and can`t walk hardly at all. So Elder Collins and were asked if we could do the baptism. As we carried her into the water and had her in our arms, the spirit was so strong. We were the only ones that she trusted to carry her. Then when we were about to baptize her I was just thinking in my head that we literally are the only way that she is able to be cleansed from her sins and receive this saving ordinance. After the baptism I carried her up the stairs and into her wheelchair and she just smiled up at me and said "Thank you, Thank you so much." It was a very joyful moment for me.

Fotos. Birthday breakfast in memory of Holly we ate Grits, bacon, and eggs :) SO GOOD! 

and the picture of our baptism :)

--

~Elder Hazlett

September 22, 2014

I had the priveledge of going back to my last area after almost 5 months to be a part of the baptism of the rest of the family that I found and taught almost 9 months ago. there is a picture of all that were baptized on saturday, and another picture of the rest of the family. Also, the one with me and the girl is Crease Frattoni. She is the wife of a family that we found and is now the counselor of the young women!!! I was sooo happy to see everyone there. 

It was such an amazing feeling going back and seeing the progress that they have all made. We had a zone conference this last week with President Robertson and he mentioned a ton about how the progress and success that we have in the mission, will not necessarrily be seen right now, or even weeks from now, but 10, 15, 30 years from now. I just imagine the few people that I have been able to help and how they now are strong in the gospel and helping other people to know the gospel. That is Success! 

Gonzalo who was baptized a few weeks ago was able to come with us to get to know some of my other converts. He is 22 and now getting ready for the misison. Eva. Who is my favorite miracle that we found in my last area trying to find out where to buy fruit and she happened to be working....the rest is history and she is now a ward missionary and secretary of the young women :) She is also getting ready for the mission.

It was a fun week to be able to look back and realize (even though these last couple weeks have been hard) that I have been able to help a lot of people and that anytime you ever get down...you just gotta focus on what you HAVE been able to do, and not so much what you AREN`T able to do. 

In Church on Sunday, our stake president and bishop both spoke and they gave great talks. One about not fearing the changes and having a positive attitude towards living the gospel. And the other about how the most important thing that we can do is develop a testimony. And that testiomy comes throught 4 constant things. Prayer, Scripture STUDY (not just reading but study), Attending church meetings (all 3 hours), and serving (magnifying your calling). It was a great talk and it helped me a lot.

Anyway, I hope that you all are doing just great in your different parts of the world. I want to invite you all like my Stake president here in Argentina to do those 4 things and both feel and see the difference that it makes in your lives. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!! 

September 15, 2014

This week was great because we had a lot of cool new experiences. Okmar had his 18th brithday party and all he wanted was a new Suit for his misison and a party with his family and his new ward family. He was baptized just a month and a half ago and we have seen so many changes in him and his family. In the beginning, his parents didn`t even want ot go to church, but little by little we were able to halp omar chagne and his parents have changed a TON. Now Soledad (mom) is one of the best misisonaries that we have. She has a store on the main street here and she invites EVERYONE. They need to get married to be baptized and we are working on that.....but they are progressing a ton. 

We also had a little service project for the Helping hands worldwide service project thing. We cleaned the streets in front of the church and cleaned the church.

Then, the next day at church we had an assistence of 80 which is about the record. WE have our ward conference next week and we are going for a goal of 130! I hope we can get it! We have a huge group of investigators and less active families that we are working with and we are seeing a lot of miracles becaiuse of them. Like always I struggle with the organization a little bit and with a lot of people...it is a scramble sometimnes, but I am happy because I know that God will help us! 

Anyway, I hope you all had a great week and I look forward to talking to ya next week!

--

~Elder Hazlett

September 8, 2014

WE had a lot of cool experiences this weeka as we were able to listen to Elder Gonzalez of the area 70 as he talked to us a little bit about the importance of the Book of Mormon in what we do and letting the people have their own agency! We have to invite to committ, but we can`t do everything for them. Also he talked about how we will be able to baptize without using the book of mormon to teach, but if we want our converts to stay...then we need them to be reading and fulfing their commitments. 

This week we saw a lot of miracles as we found 17 new people to teach. We were able to bring 9 of those 17 to church which is more than half. I have been praying and focusing on the Elegidos and how I can better find them and have more faith that I will be able to find those that are wating and not just find those that are there. I think that has been the hardest thing for me during my mission is focusing on those that are ready to hear the gospel. I tend to get distracted in thinking that they are all just awesome and they are all ready to change...but that isn`t exactly true. As we started applying the book of mormon more in our teaching and contacts and just in every aspect of what we are doing, that is when we started to see a huge difference. I felt a little bit like Dan Jones on page 1 of PMG where he is standing on a crate preaching about the book of mormon. 

We had a leadership meeting and talked a lot about the importance of inviting everyone in order to find the elect. That has been the struggle in our Zone and we are doing everything we can to help them realize the importance of talking to everyone. Some of them feel down because they don`t have a lot of investigators to teach, so they don`t teach a lot, so they feel like bad teachers. Now, the only way that they can improve...is do! You have to find to teach, and teach to improve, so we are hoping that with the special trainings and the new attitude to find, we will be able to help them. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is the key to everything we have and do. I know that we have to read it and want to beleive it in order to gain a testimony of it. And I know that the Application of what we learn in and of the church is the only way that we can gain a testimony.

I hope everything is great back home and just know that I am praying for you! :) 

Love,

~Elder Hazlett

September 1, 2014

This last week was my birthday week. I won`t say it was the best week I have ever had, but I will say that I learned a LOT. 

We had some bad weather, fallen appointments, lost investigators, and not a lot of people came to church on sunday...but what we did have was one of the best Baptisms I have ever been a part of. Gonzalo was baptized!!!! He is the Boyfriend of Mirtha who is a recent convert as well, and the friend of Elvis who got baptized 2 months ago. Now here comes the miracle. Remember how Elvis was basically an alcoholic when we found him 3 months ago...? Well, his conversion is unreal. He literally has trusted 100 percent in the lord. He doesn`t make a good living, but he makes enough to live, and enough to get to church on sunday, and do visits on the weekend. Anyway, to make a long story short...Elvis 3 months ago was a 20 year old who was lost in the world. And this weekend he was able to Baptize Gonzalo. Gonzalo now has the goal of going on a mission in a year when he completes a year (he is 22) and Mirtha is also with her goal set on the misison! IT was a great baptism. Also, Omar (16 who is a recent convert as well) was able to be a witness at the baptism and almost every single person involved was doing something for the first time. It was a rewarding feeling knowing that I was able to be a part of all of that. 

the crazy thing that happened was when they threw Eggs on me...9 eggs and like 5 lbs of sugar! IT was pretty crazy. They came up from behind my and smashed the eggs on my head and then put the flour on top without me knowing. The birthday traditions are pretty crazy here but it was fun. I have the same birthday of the mom of one of our recent converts and so they invited us over for a barbecue. They smashed my face in the cake and then they did the whole egg thing. it was pretty funny.

This week, we started a purification process as a Zone (all the missionaries in the stake). We are focusing right now on purifying ourselves first, in order to be able to help others. in Alma 13:12 it talks a little bit about the purifying process. The only way to make changes in life, is by starting the process of chagne. "la mejor manera para empezar es comenzar" or "the best way to start is to begin". Change is a process, life is a process, and eternal life is the reward. As we use the atonement in our lives, as we learn to nderstand it and apply it, we begin to grow stronger because we are literally "coming unto Christ". 

I knwo that it is hard, but like elder Holland always says, "Salvation isn`t a cheap experience!" IT takes sacrifice, a little pain and suffering, endurance, and a whole lot of Faith. But if Faith can move Mountains, than you better beleive that faith can change us if we allow it. 

I know the Church  is true and restored on earth. I know that Christ lives and that his Atonement is a Gift and  a Privelidge for each of us to be able to use. I know that this work is amazing and it is the best thing that any youth can do. I hope you all have a desire to serve and the Faith to DO it!

Have a great Week! 

Egg in the eye.

They egged me and floured me on my birthday.....

That one was my companion.

August 25, 2014

I sent a voice recording, so that has the majority. But I wanted to at least write something for tçeveryone else to read. I am doing great. Just keepin on keepin on and finding more people to help. We have abaptism this next weekend for my friend Gonzalo. he is 22 and we are best friends. He left all his other friends because they were bad iunfluences. He is a champ. 

I was also able to teach the Gospel Principals class about misison work. IT was an awesome class and we had 15 people that were all eaither investigators or recent converts. The spirit was so strong and the best part is that everyone left the class, not so much with a great knowledge of missionary work, but a grand testimony of the importance of it. 

WE were able to see a couple of miracles this week that really helped us to keep the faith alive. There was a baptism and the man who baptized the investigator was a recent convert that I was able to interview for his baptism. AS everyone was waiting for us to get the baptismal font door open, they were inside already in the water. The key we had was a copy and didn`t work very well...we were trying for about 3 minutes straight to get the door open and we didn`t really see a lot of progress. WE were afraid that it wasn`t goping to open. Fianlly we were able to open it and Matias then continued with the ordinance and as he left the font his eyes were full of tears. I asked him what happened and he told me what they were doing to get the door open on the other side. That whole time on the other side of the door Matias (the one baptizing) and Pablo (an Investigator) were saying a prayer. As they finished their prayer and said AMEN, there was a click....the door opened. He said that it was one of the most amazing miracles that he had ever witnessed. It was the first person he had ever baptized and I know it will be something that he will remember forever. I gave him a big hug and he just hugged me and thanked me for being a part of the biggest change he has made in his life.

I love the mission! IT is so dang hard sometimes, and sometimes I feel like I am not able to do a whole lot, but when I think back on the things that I have been able to do and the change I have been able to make...that is when I rememebr that it is all worth it."The Church is True, The sky is Blue, and Complaiining...we ain`t got no time for that!! Go forward with faith and leave the complaining to those who don`t beleive in the Atonement.

I lvoe you and hope you have an amazing week! KEep me updated with more pics. They are almsot even better than words :)

~Elder Hazlett

Our Zone Activity and the giant pan of Arroz Chaufa that we made. (fried Rice)

August 18, 2014

This week was exhausting and auxhilerating at the same time. We had changes nad got a bunch of new misisonaries in the Zone, and I got  new Companion. His name is Elder Conrad and he is from Logan, UT. He is a stud and is really similar to Marshall (my uncle) so it is fun. We both love to cook, sing, and smile...so we are using those talents to help the people here. it has been really fun and I am looking forward to the time we have together.

It has been exhusting because it got SUPER hot this week and it hs drained our energy. However, we have had a ton of awesome things  happen that have helped us to be super excited about the new changesw as well. We have 4 new missionaries straight from the MTC in our zone, and changes in almost all the companionships which means a LOT of energy and excitement, and a lot of opportunities to learn.

We had  couple of miracles happen this week. One of them being a visit that we did with the young mens president and 3 of the deacons. We went to vsit a couple familes and we ended up finding a few new investigators. We were able to teach a great lesson and use the deacons to do examples and have them help us to teach. it was great because we were planning on just visiting less actives but we ended up ahving the  opportunity to teach a lesson to new investigtors from the beginning to the end nad the deacons got to see a little bit what missionary work is. IT was great.

Another miracle was that we werewalking in the street heading to our next lesson was that we had set a goal to talk to everyone! We headed towards a lady with a stroller to contact her and as we were about to open our mouths...she said"Hola Elder!" WE were so surprised and we got to talking. she said that she was goig to the church in Bolivia and she just moved here but she was never baptized. IT was a miracle because we were looking for new people to teach that had a desire to learn, not just to talk to two americans.

And the miracle that helped me to stay strong the most is when Gonzalo (22 years olds) who gets baptized on the 30th, called me last night just to see how our day went and to let me know that he isn`t gonna let his friends get him down anymore and that he considers us his best friends. He isn`t even a member yet and he already goes out on visits with us and is bringing his friends to church. I know that people chagne their lives when they come to know and feel the truth of what we have. I know that I am not wasting my time, no matter what anyone says. And i Know that this is the best thing and the only thing that I should be doing right now.

I hope that everyone is doing great and that you are all accepting the changes in your lives and taking advantage of them to help change you. I lvoe you and hope you have a good week! 

Elder Hazlett

P.s...if anyone wants to send pictures, they are just as good as words if not better (time is short) haha

Our Zone, MY new companion, and us at the Mtc in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A nice pic of the temple, Ausberto our 22 year old stud who is getting baptized in a couple weeks, and a crazy wolf looking thaçing that was dancing in the street saturday night! They ahve the best dances!

We made pork chops with veggies and mashed potatoes and gravy. IT was soo good and the first time that they had eaten anything like that.

August 11,2014

This week was pretty crazy!

It was the last week before transfers. We are receiving a ton of new misisonaries in the mission this wednesday and it is gonna be awesome. 

Miracle of the Week.

We were looking for a guy named "jesus" which is a typical spanish name and we ended up finding a lady near his house and we asked her if she knew him. She said no...but that she knew someone that was looking for us. She said she just moved here from Peru and her daighters were baptized there and were looking for the church. We talked to them and arranged plans so that they could get there. 

As we left, another older lady called our name and asked if we knew someone who was looking to rent an apartment. we said no, but that we would be looking. We then started talking and figured out that she was baptized almost 40 years ago in Paraguay. WE are going to visit her this nect week. 

We were able to find a bunch of less actives and help them come back to church after a long time!

Crazy thing.

Yesterday after church, we went out to visit people and literally 90 percent of the people were drunk and falling over....it was super sad. One guy that was in the church 2 weeks ago was in the street with a giant cut on his head....he didn`t even recopgnice us because he was so drunk. I think it was some kind of party or something but even the women were all drunk. (it is hard to understand or imagine that happening where we livem but here in this part of argentina they are all bolivians and it is tradition to drink)

Amazing Experience

The Temple!!!!!!! We took a family and 4 recent converts to the temple, saw a family that got baptized a year ago get sealed in the temple, and I got to see Eva and some of the other converts that i had in General Rodriguez (my last area). IT was so awesome and such a blessing.

What I learned;

That revelation and Discernment are very interesting study topics and neccesary in personal conversion! I suggest that everyone studies then both in true to the faith and applies the steps given. Personal Revelation is necessary for conversion and vital for salvation. 

I am loving it here even though it is the Hardest thing I have ever done. I love helping people and seeing them change their lives. I love seeing miracles and knowing that I was in the right place at the right time to be able to witness them. I know this church is true!

--

~Elder Hazlett

  Don`t know if you recognize them but they are some of my converts from my last area that I ran into in the temple!!!! Such a great feeling! :D

 The family that got baptized a little while ago, and elvis, and silvia.

A pretty picture of the temple

 I was able to jump on the bus and take a picture of eva, malena, and dalia (converts) from my lasty area as they left the temple.

us 4 elders celebrating the end of a good week saturday after a baptism

August 4, 2014

This week was pretty crazy...My letter to president basically summed it up, but to tell you a little bit about what is new here:

We eat every day with members and it is a ton. I am not losing weight...but not gaining either because luckily I can run with elder lindquist in the morning. My ward is 100 bolivians and they eat a ton so we aren`t lacking in that area. 

We had an open church activity last night and we had about 300 people who came and visited in the space of 3 hours. The people who came from the office of the church said it was one of the best turnouts that they had seen. We had some new families that came and we were able to teach them about what we do in the church. 

I printed off your recipe for coklkies today because everyone wants to try them haha. It has been a while since I made them last.

My comp is still elder santizo from guatemala. I think we are going to have transfers this next week but if not than I am fine with that because he is great.

WE go to the temple a couple times a week because it is closer to me than back home haha. who would have thought right?? It is a blessing. We donpt get to go in, but we get to visit at least.

Look up Cochabamba Bolivia on google maps and that is what it looks like where I am at. They build giant buildings and there they live 20 families. But each family only has a room and they share a couple kitchens and bathrooms. it is realyl hard...and sad...but it is culture.

We are teaching right now a few families but mostly a lot of YSA. They are all YSA age here and a lot of them come to work from bolivia because bolivia has no work right now. Elvis and Omar were two that got baptized this last month and they both blessed the sacrament alone yesterday. it was the first time for omar and second for Elvis. IT was a great sacrament meeting. 

Luckily the weather is a little warmer now. My clothes actually dry in a day. We have the choice to send the clothes in to get washed but it costs money and I prefer washing it and eating something more delicious haha. We have a little fridge and a stove but that is it in our apartment. no microwaves or washing machines. those are luxuries.

We travel by bus EVERYWHERE and it is pretty fun. Sometimes there are a billion people and we are all smashed together.

Anyway, If you have more questions, let me know! I hope you are all doing well and if you get the chance to read: The best is yet to come by Elder Holland. It is a great talk.

Love you!!

baby of a family in our ward and our friends that we found from colombia

 At the Temple :)

 Lunch with a recent convert family.

Another Temple pic

Presidents letter

I hope you are having a good week and are feeling more and more comfortable here. I know that you are used to living in other countries so that is a plus. This last week was a little bit hard for my companion and I. We had set goals that we thought were achievable and we worked hard to achieve them...but we came up really short. As we reflected back on what happened and what we can change, we came to the conclusion that it wasn`t necessarily the goals that were off track, but our spiritual discernment in working to achieve those goals. All of the things we did were with good intentions, but we didn`t allow the spirit to help us discern whether it is what we should have done or not. 
In the SOL this week you hit the nail on the head (for me at least). WE need to focues mentally, spiritually, and physically to be able to be in tune with the spirit. As far as the obedience and diligence, I don`t have a problem...but letting the spirit guide my every action has been the hardest part for me. A lot of times I am quicker to act than I am to observe...and my actions result in something ineffective. We had a lot of great lessons this week with a lot of great people, and we found a lot of new investigators that don`t live in our area, but at the end of the week I felt as if my decisions had been taken without meditating and consulting it with the man upstairs. 
I am now putting my focus in getting in tune with the spirit because I know that I cannot be an effective leader without letting the spirit lead me. 
I think the hardest thing for me so far has been that I have had to fall to learn and that is what happened in our area. We had 3 families that were all progressing and we focused on them with pure excitement that they wanted to be baptized and we got to the end of the week and they didn`t come to church and we were at a complete loss...we have a few people that still made it, but we hadn`t even visited them the whole week to help teach them because our vision was focused on the other families that didn`t really have a lot of interest. IT was hard for me to knwo that, yes we did work hard, but, no we didn`t work with the spirit. 
We were analyzing a few of the companionships and the difference of how they are doing now and we decided that they as well have the same struggle with accepting and working WITH the spirit in everything they do.
I know that we are going to move forward and that this is just a moment of learning. My focus and purpose has not changed and I will continue to help everyone receive the ordinance of Baptism and Confirmation. Thanks for everything you do and always being an example in having and working with the spirit.
Elder Hazlett