January 27, 2014

Thanks for keeping me going. The emails always give me another boost. This last week was a little bit hard but I did my very best to keep on keeping on so that we could finish strong.

There is a struggle that I think every missionary faces on their mission as far as realing understanding and fulfilling their purpose. It can be preached and lectured a million times that one should lose themselves in the work in order to find themselves in the mission, not just in the mission field but 100% focused in the mission. There are so many opportunities that await us here as we learn to dedicate our whole Heart, might, mind, and strength to the service of the Lord. As a friend told me one time when I was struggling, "these 2 years are the greatest and most important 2 years that you will ever have in your entire life to be in tune with the spirit and make the changes neccesary to fulfill your purpose" Our purpose is to prepare ouselves to meet God, and there is no other better way to do that than helping others make choices that effect their eternal salvation. 

I have been trying really hard to focus on that because my A.D.D. is pretty annoying at times and it is so hard to focus...but there is no greater motive to change than having the lives of so many people in your hands.

This last week we had the great priviledge of having a baptism and seeing a family Happier than ever because of the Decisions that they had made. I have grown to Love this family so much and knowing that I was the Intrument in the hands of God that was able to bring that Joy to a family that was in so much need of the Gospel is just incredible! 

I hope everyone is doing so well back home or wherever they are and that they are trying their hardest to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ and not just be a member. I know that as a person lives the teachings and acts according to those teachings, that is when they truly are entitled to the blessings that it holds.

"Hay que hacerlo no mas" 

With Love from Argentina,

Elder Hazlett

January 20, 2014

I love you. Just wanted to tell you that. It has been a little bit of a rough week because my comp Elder Berrett who I loved got transfered, I got a mini missionary because my Companion from Tonga wasn´t able to enter the country and so I am on permanent divisions with a 19 year old kid here from argentina that is leaving on his mission in April. It has been a little hard, but I am keeping on with my head up. 

Andrew Emailed me and asked about how he could get a kayak. I told him to talk to you about getting in contact with Darren smith. 

I told eli to ask you to help him leanr humility while he is younger because that is my bigges regret. Not being more humble when I was younger. I am starting now to learn and it has helped me in every aspect of my life!

Isn´t it ridiculous how fast time goes by? I alreadty have 6 months here in Argentina and a year in the mission. A year ago we had a party at our house and I spoke in church with nate and Libby. I listened to that talk the other day in memory and I sounded Ridiculous! haha I am going to be able to speak a lot better after the mission that is for sure. Libby´s talk was still pretty Baum like always. How is she doing? did you get to talk to Andrew about her at all? Every e-mail I get is great but she is always struggling a bit. I know that she is a lot stronger than I am that is for sure. I wouldn´t be able to do russia. 

The bonus about being with a mini missionary right now is that I also have Elder Slone in my District as the companion of one of the other ca}ompanionship´s in my district. He extended his mission 3 weeks and was a Zone Leader for his last 8 months so he is helping me a ton. I also have Elder Morgan in my District and tomorrow I am going to do divisions with him. Pretty fun. 

Our mission is reading the book of mormon together as a mission and I invited Lily to read it with us and I want to invite you and dad to read it as well. Eli too, but it might be a bit much for him. I am going to forward you the Reading schedule. 

How are shae and lex doing? Tell them to write me and that I at least want an invite! haha

Anyway, I don´t have a ton of time, but I lvoe you guys and I know that if there is anything true on this earth it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stick to it and You can do it. Love ya´ll!

Elder Hazlett

P.S...did you wrap it is brown paper and put virgin mary and christ stickers on it? That is the best way to do it. And I will for sure let you know when I get it. I traveled 4 hours today to the office and back to try and get it...but no luck. Hopefully soon. Anyway. Take care momma!

Oh, and the new office couple that is here are in the same ward as Art and Carol in Arizona. They live on McKellips like a few blocks away from Grandma and Grandpa. They have a super cool story about Gene Hatch our relative. She was the one who introduced the missionaries to him and taught him. Small world! Have grandma write me. I don´t have her e-mail.

January 13, 2014

I got on early today so we could give a blessing a little later so I missed ya :/ but that is ok. The weeks pass so fast that it is always time to write again before I even remember what I forget to tell you.

This week was a little harder than the last one. We struggled to keep appointments and we dida service project that sunburned my legs worse that I have ever been sunburned in my entirelife. I now understand how in pain those youth conference kids are when they don´t wear sunscreen the first day of a cisco...not fun! And to top it off, having to wear pants all day everyday doesn´t help. But yeah, the work still goes on. We have a few really great progressing investigators that are doing well right now, and Jonathan (my baptism in november) gave a talk in church today baout faith and it was AWESOME!

That helped me a ton to know that I really am helping people here, even when sometimes it doesn´t feel that way. 

This week we did a service project, and despite the sunburn it was well worth it. When my comp and I showed up at the house I looked at him and said, "we will work until 9:30 if we have to in order to help this family. They were a family of 5 that moved to our area but they literally were moving into a 10 foot by 10 foot plywood box with a tarp roof. No electricity or plumbing. No running water, and they have to go ask their neighbor for water. IT was the most humbling theing I had ever seen. I looked at Elder Berrett and I said, "I will never complain about anything ever again!" A truck came and dropped off what little stuff they had we did our best to build makeshift beds, ask neighbors for pallets to put mattresses on, andeven borrow a shovel to seal the outside of the house with dirt so that the water wouldn´t come rushing in. It was pretty sad. I was holding up pretty well until the mom (single with 4 kids) sat down on a pallet and put her hands on her forehead in distress. I thought to myself, "why does this happen to such good people? Why does good put already humble people in even more humbling circumstances?" It was something that I thought about for the rest of the day and as well a lot of the morning on sunday. I got my answer when I saw them and their entire family walking into church despite having nothing and living more than 5 miles from the church. "They have Faith" i thought to myself. "And their Faith is stronger than everyone elses so God knew that they would be able to overcome that Trial" It was both an image and an experience that I will never forget, and a learning opportunity of a lifetime. IT is so incredibly true how powerful Faith is in our lives and that when we have Faith, anything is possible that is aligned with the will of God.

I think of how frustrated I get when our appointments fall through or when we lose one of our investigators, and then I think about how frustrating it would be when the roof falls through, or when you lose one of your children....This work is hard. It was never meant to be easy, but it was meant to help those whose lives are harder than ours, and prepare us for the hard times that we are gonna have in our lives. 

I know this Gospel blesses the lives of those who Believe in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, and that all those who come unto him are entitled to his blessings. 

I love you Momma, Hope you are having a great day and that you arealways reaching out for those in Need. I have no doubt that you are :)

Your Son,

~Elder Hazlett

January 6, 2014

So many crazy things happening always. It is so weird to think how fast the time really does fly...I remember when I was passing the sacrament for the first time. Then Blessing it, then Going to College, then on a mission, and now I have a little more than a year left until I am home. The time has passed incredibly fast but the experiences that I have had and the things that I have learned have been innumerable. One thing that I have learned is how amazing our family really is. I took it a bit for granted but now I am so humbled and feel so lucky to have the family I do. We have just about every single member of a family active in the Chruch (cousins on both sides and grandparents) and so many great examples to look up to. I didn´t realize how great of an environment I had to grow up in until now. I talk to other missionaries and the tell me what their home life was like and the struggles they had and I just think to myself...Man, I had it good. When tell them that my mom is my best friend and that My dad is who I want to be when I grow up, they all kinda laugh at me and say how cliche it is, but I am 100 percent serious when I say that. My comp right now told me that I am gonna marry someone just like you and teach school and run the river company just like you guys. I think to myself, I wouldn´t be happier. haha I think the Love that I have learned on my mission and the importance of the family has been the biggest blessing. I am able to see people for you they really are and to love them despite their weaknesses. Just Like one does with family. 

This last week, well the first week of this new year has been one of the best weeks of my life. We had 7 investigators in Chruch, and one of them (sara) asked me to bless her baby for her. IT was an icredible testimony meeting and we broke the record of attendance because of all the less active families that we are helping out. We witnessed miracles as people chagned their lives, dropped habits and addictions, to finally come unto their Lord Jesus Christ and reap the blessings that had been awaiting them. 

I have been tired, kind of sick, with moments of every day where I feel like I can´t do it, but the Love that I have developed for the people here has kept me going. The motivation that I have because of that will never lose its power. And just as important, the Love that I have for my family back home, and the family that I will have after. Knowing that the experiences and trials that I face here are only preparing me for what I have coming. I love this Gospel, I love my Family both here in Argentina and Escpecially back home. And I love everything that I have learned over these passed 11 months!

In the words of a good friend mr Bigweld, "Keep moving Forward". This life is eternal progression not just eternal perfection. everyday changing something until one day we will finally be perfected!

Love you!

Elder Hazlett