May 26, 2014

I got transferred after more than half my time in argentina in one arae. I am now in a place called villa Celina and it is great. IT is 100 percent Bolivians that live here and none of them are legally here. They are all super humble and don`t have anything. 

MY new companion is from guatemala and is super awesome. He is teaching me a lot and we are trying to help our zone get going. They are not doing very well so we have set somegoals and are going to work as hard as we can to get our zone back going. 

we have the blessing to have the only temple in argentina in our zone and we go there all the time.

We eat all sortys of stuff that doesn`t really have a name...i am pretty sure most of it is cat. or dog. I am not sure. haha but it is food. I am loving the opportunities that I have been given to work and grow. We had a baptism this last weekend, we have one more this coming weeking, and then in 2 weeks we have 2 families that are getting baptized. I have learned that the most important thing that I can do in this time that I have here is focus as much as I can on helping everyone else and spend little time focused on what I need. 

I don`t have a lot of time, but I lvoe you and I love what I am doping" I will tañl to you next week and send picutres of the baptism, temple, and my companion!

Have agreat week!!!

--

~Elder Hazlett

May 19, 2014

What a WEEK! 

MAn, this week was crazy. Monday flew by super fast. I don´t even remember what happened...Then tuesday we had a district meeting and I went on divisions with one of the Elders in my district and it was interesting. Seeing a different style of working was good. I can always learn a lotl While on divisions, we found a new family. They are a young couple who live very humbly and don´t have anything. IT was kind of an eye opener to how much of a difference we can make in someones life just by taking some time to listen. That is my topic of todays email. How important it is to just listen in this life.

I think back to when I was in school and the amount of times that I missed out on due dates or test answers simply because I wan´t listening as well as I should have been. Later on in life, the smae situations happen except for in work or the mission. I saw in that family as we listened, a complete change in her attitude because for the first time in who knows how long...someone really listened to her. 

That doesn´t mean that we should remain silent at all times but that we should listen withour hearts and respond with that same love a care. No one wants a friend that just always talks and talks and talks. They want a friend that listens and than says what they need to hear.

To those of you who are misisonaries. if you are struggling to know what your investigators need, focus this week on really listening with your heart. You will find it as long as you are worthy of the spirit.

I have been here in this are more than half of my mission (9 months) and I feel as if I just just move my records here. I have more time in this area than I have put together in my other 2 areas and also more than I have left in the mission. Time flies and it is so hard to watch it go. I lvoe this branch and I have been here through the ups and downs and have seen it grow! I love the church and know that even though it may not have a parking lot or an indoor gym..it carries the name "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días" It is the same church with the same goal and the same doctrine. The same blessings to those who live it, and the same consequences for those who don´t accept it. If there is one thing that I am certain about in my life, it is that I know that this gospel blesses the familes and that it is the only way that a family can have the Peace that they are looking for and that their family can be eternal.

I love you!

~Elder Hazlett

Mom, if you can think of anyone that might be struggling right now, please can you give me their emails. I might be far, but a testimony of a friend from far away is felt even stronger than close-by. :) 

Lunch

Little girls playing "Beach" because it is a dream to go to the beach.

May 12, 2014

These are my converts  

and our trip to the temple :)

The books are Triple combinations that I bought for each of them and signed them. The scriptures are super hard to find outside of the mission so they are like gold!

The Utah elders. We were all friends before the mission and we found ourselves here.

 and the Pink tie sunday!

Our Lunch of Tomales and me :) that is what you would have seen on skype haha

Hey President,
Thanks for the Sol message. I wasn`t able to talk to my family because there were a couple of familys from General rodriguez that were scheduled to talk earlier but their Elder or Hermana wasn`t on in time so I just gave them my skype and helped them figure out how to do it. Besides that, it was Alina Poma and her family is struggling a lot and for 2 hours earlier they were trying to get a hold of her but they couldn`t and she fnally logged on when it was my turn to skype. 
Her mom is realyl sick and struggled to get there and I thought to myself..."my family is doing well, I am doing well, I am not gonna lose anything if I don`t get to talk to my Mom but it is gonna make an incredible difference in their lives." I explained what happened this morning to my mom and she said that I made a good choice. 
I really like thinking about your message in the Sol. I have found myself in different times with different answers to why I am here. I KNOW that I am here for several reasons and one of them is inviting others to come unto Christ. I know that I am here top make personal changes as well and I have changed a lot. I have become more bold in inviting people to come unto christ and repent but I think the biggest change was inmy Love for the people. Also my patience. There are times where I just want to blow up on the people when they don`t follow through with commitments but i know that I can`t do that. Instead I have helped them to recognize that they did something bad and be able to repent for that thing. 
We were able to go to the temple this weekend and all 5 of those recent converts were able to go :) it was SOOO great. Thank you for letting us go. IT was an exxperience that helped to solidfy their testimonys. I know that the church is true and that sometimes it is difficult to see because there are days like yesterday where it rained for like the whole day and only 30 people came to the branch....I was upset, but it made me realize that this work is not a baptizm and done thing but a constant battle against the adversary to make and keep covenants with God. The converts were among those that came even though it was raining and muddy, and they came with their own willingness. 
The branch is kind of struggling right now and I don`t know what else to do other than help those that are firm to stay strong. 30 people in church is a disaster...but I was able to see who are the members that are truly converted. 
Elder Martinez is doing well. He keeps telling me that e is happy that he is ending his mission well. We have a couple that is getting married next month and getting baptized and that is what is keeping us going. We had a decent ppol of investigators this week (all juntados that we found so we couldn`t sack fechas) but the rain killed all of them. We went to their houses and they literally refused to come even after promising to us and to god in front of us that they would go. It was so hard for me because I was positive that they were all going to go.I had the hope at least :/ we have a solid week ahead of us and we are going to sacar turno with a couple more to get married so that we can help them progress. Elder Martinez is a little bit really trunky but he just coninues to do what I ask him. As long as he has a good comp he is willing to do whatever. it is just when he has a bad comp...it is terribkle.
Elder Morgan and Nacimento are struggling. Mostly just with dumb little stuff. Sickness, and stuff like that. I feel as if Elder Nacimento is a little bit like Elder Martinez in the fact that he just follows what the others do. He has no real desire lead but only to follow. I hope that they can figure something out because I have done what I can.
Elder Woods and Escobar are doing well but they struggle with the people. Elder Escobar honestly doesn`t do well with the people and he knows that. But it tests the patience of elder Woods. Elder woods told me that he feels as if every single person they visit just ends up being annoyed with them or mad at them. That is the reason they don`t really have anyone progressing. I think that Elder Woods is now knowing his area a ittle better, he is just always a little lost because Elder Escobar never really tells him what is going on and they don`t have the best communication. I am trying my best to help them to overcome their trials and help Elder Woods to know that this is going to help him and that he needs to be humble and learn from it.
I am trying my best to be the best Leader I can be. I am not perfect and I still have my weaknesses but I have been able to make a lot of changes as I have been able to learn from all the experiences that come in the mission. I look forward to more changing experiences. Thanks for everyting President, Love ya!
Elder Hazlett

Year mark wrioting in my journal

 turtle we found

digging a 12 foot sewage hole

 and my first companion elder ticino right before he went home.

DAvid who spoke to emily

temple we made out of cards and a cracker to make the angel moroni 

 eva the 20 year old that I was talking about. she is awesome!!!

missionaries that are here with me :)

May 5, 2014

So I sent you my letter to president, I hope you get something out of that :) haha

I am super Excited to talk to you guys! The time goes by so fast though! I am still in the same area as the last time and I am gonna be talking to you from the same place. I am gonna try and find a better microphone this time so that you can hear better. 

I am glad to hear that the new guides are great. I am sure you did well like always. Are ther any that I know?? This next summer that is coming there are a few of my mission buddies that want to work as well, so keep a few spots open this next november. 

As far as with Eli, HE needs to get focused on a sport or something because that is where his weirdness will be forgotten. I was pretty dang weird until I picked up a basketball (and stayed away from football) haha. He´ll get there. I am excited to coach him in something when I get back. I feel like what I have learned as a missionary would make me such a good coach haha. Just enough fun to keep the discipline from killing the team. Discipline is so important and I never really recognized that....and I am paying for it. That is why I probably won´t be able to play a sport in college. But I now know that I can help other people learn that when they are young. 

IT is so true about the sisters and elders. The difference in the mission is incredible as well. Rarely are there Elders that come into the mission and they are just Studs! IT takes them a while to get going. However, the sisters come in and just kill it. I know that I am a changed person for sure. Just the other day I listened to my farewell talk and to nate and libby´s aswell and I realized that nate and I right now are about equal to where Libby started haha. I can only imagine how much Libs has changed. IT is a pretty cool thought. 

I am trying so hard to help the youth here get out on missions because I know it is what they need. I have seen a couple go out and then come home early and they aren´t even going to church anymore because it is hard and they are busy with other things....It is so frustrating because they don´t understand. Some less active parents that say "I am gonna just let them choose which religion they would like because they are their own person..." They don´t even understand wht their role as parents is. I always try and share the King Benjamin speech with them, because i know that he was inspired when he was very direct with what the parents need to do. 

I think that is the hardest thing for me...I am so excited to raise kids in the gospel and apply what I am learning in the misison with them. I have seen the difference and it is incredible and I know that it is what the world needs. I wish that I could just adopt all the little kids that are lost and don´t know what to do in life and give them the hope that comes in living the gospel.

It just makes me think about how important hte FAMILY is in this plan. IF the family doesn´t function, basically nothing functions. IF the parents aren´t doing what they need to do to live the gospel, then the kids sure as heck aren´t going to do it. There is a perfect example of that here that happened to a family that is so awesome. The parents got offended a couple times and ended up leaving the church after years of being leaders. They are sealed in the temple and everything. Their boys had goals of serving missions and marrying in the temple. However, as their parents stopped going (because of a legitimate trial, but a terrible excuse) the kids eventually stopped going as well. They are now struggling in the family. The one son is Atheist. The other believes a tiny bit, but because of what has happened to their parents, they don´t want anything to do with the church. All they want to do is hang out with their friends and do nothing. They have no desires to work or do anything except ride their skateboards. 

We don´t know for sure whether that would have happened to that family whether or not they went inactive, but what I do know is that they lost their promise of prosperity when they stopped obeying the commandments of God. I know it is so hard, and that situations and trials happen that just downright Stink, but I also know that The Atonement is Infinite, The love of Christ is the most Powerful thing there is, and that the Miracle of Forgiveness is what Changes our lives and the lives of others. 

I know this Church is true because I have Lived it. I have seen it be lived by Others and I know without a doubt that there is a difference. I know that If we live the gospel with 100% obedience then we will have the promise. There is no such thing as a less important Commandment. I know that life is hard sometimes and that sometimes we have our doubts, but that Our Faith should never be doubted. "Doubt your Doubts before you Doubt your Faith" I know that our family is blessed because we keep the commandments and that anyone who might be jealous of the blessings that we have, has the same exact opportunity to receive them. 

I am so excited to talk with you all this weekend. I hope we can have a good talk and that you don´t miss me too much ;) haha Love ya! Have a good week!

Baptism

President,
It kind of blows my mind knowing that you are leaving in like 6 weeks....I am stressing out a little bit because you have helped me so much. I have learned obedience from you and the importance of giving it your all at all times. I know that you have had the success in your life because of that discipline, ande that I am seeing more of that success in my mission because I am applying what you have taught me.
This last week was One of the best weeks of my life. Some of the best Converts that I have ever had, and some of the greatest families that I know. I understand completely why we must work as hard as we can, because the joy that comes from that work is SOOOO worth it! 
Unfortunately, Satan is also working very hard in the moments when we have success. We had 2 other families that were progressing that possibly would have been baptized this month if not for sure the next month...the morning of the confirmation on sunday, those families completely rejected us and refused any type of help that we were giving. They weren´t able to make it to the baptism and that was so frustrating! We have a few other people that we are working with and I am going to get things back on top. I know that 100 percent is more than a number. IT is Success!
I have learned so much in these last few months and I am looking forward to all the learning experiences that are to come. I always think to myself "adversity and change aren´t necessarily what I want, but they are what we NEED" I am grateful for the many companions and changes that I have had to learn from.
In our companionship right now it is a little bit rough just because Elder Martinez is struggling. He isn´t really homesick, he just doesn´t help a whole lot. I have learned a lot of patience and how to just get things done even if my comp isn´t doing a whole lot. We had one of the best baptismal services that I have ever had and it went off without a hitch becuase I told myself "I will NOT let this fail!" IT also helped that those converts are so awesome. They are all ready to go with the branch to the temple this weekend :) This Church is so true President! I Just love it!
Our branch struggles, but this last week we had a lot of less actives that are comeing back to church and all of my converts over the last 7 months are still going strong. I feel like I have definitely made a difference in the branch here even though sometimes it is hard to see it :/
Elder Woods and Escobar are doing better. They have trouble keeping investigators though...I am going on divisions with Elder Woods this week and we are gonna go find some good people. The only family that they have right now is one that Elder Paredes and Escobar found while in divisions. I am gonna see what I can do to get Elder Woods ready to lead the Area if that is what he is to do. He really only lacks the authority. Elder Escobar doesn´t give him any power or reasoning. I think that a day of divisions will help elder woods to boost his self confidence a little bit. I am convinced that Pride is the biggest problem that they have, which hurts every other aspect of the work, so I am gonna see if I can help them with that.
Elder Morgan and Elder Nacimento are doing better. Elder Paredes is going with them this week to do divisions for basically the whole week so we will get it figured out! 
Your message in the Sol really helped me to realize a couple of things. First, that I need to be more humble. Not neccessarily in listening to the leaders because I try to do everything they tell me, but trusting more in God. I need to stop thinking that I can do things myself and trust more in the one who can do things himself. And Second, that I have come a LONG way from where I started. I was really prideful and have been able to change that luckily. I have seen and felt the difference and it has really helped me to gain a testimony in the Atonement. 
Once again, I hope that the mission stays obedient like it is now and that they can continue to apply the things that you have taught us. Thank you for everything! Have a great day, Love ya!
Elder Hazlett