O that I were an angel . . . .

Dear family,

I seriously feel like Ammon of old and how he kept passing out because of joy in his brothers in the Gospel. I love how his brother rebukes him for sounding prideful but Ammon continues on saying how much he is nothing and he rejoices in the strength of the Lord. How much has our family been blessed by the Lord? I'm actually shaking right now... whether because its sooo cold or because I am so excited to write about the blessings we have, I don't know. Carly going through the temple is such exciting news. Everyone in the family is endowed!!!

Thanks for asking about BYU-Idaho. Speaking of which . . .I'm so sorry about the way I was before the mission. There are a couple of young men here that are making their parents get gray hair and I can feel a portion of what it's like when investigators don't keep commitments. Sorry for even the tiny things like quitting piano! (* that's "tiny"???) ha ha

This week has been fantastic. The work is so amazing. The more Member Present Lessons- the more success... the more blessings... the more joy. If I have any advice for families... it would be to have the missionaries teach in your home. The blessings are so great- especially with children seeing what is going on. My companion is such a champion. We just got about 8-10 Ward Missionaries called so I am so excited. This work is amazing... there is nothing better. My favourite hymn is "Hark! All Ye Nations!" Searching in darkness, nations have wept and we are so blessed to be the ones chosen by God to serve him below. The more I listen to it the more I realize I will never be released from the calling.

The Work is true. Sounds like things are excellent at home but there is no other errand I would rather be on.

Love you family!

-Elder Hales

Michael:

Haha - thank you for the Honduran drinks. When I opened one up I put it to my nose for a smell and it smelled good...and I could tell it was made in Central America. They taste awesome.

Elder Willie and I

It was "one of those weeks"

G'Day Mom and Dad,

This week was such a hard week. Its been tough and I have felt down at times but then I can't feel down for 5 minutes because I remember the Lord and how much closer I am getting to him through the Atonement. President Richards told us that when people say if we sin, we hurt Jesus Christ just that much more- it is false doctrine!! I loved when President said, "People who say that don't understand the meaning of INFINITE".

It was sad this week because we lost another baptism date. That is 4 now that I have lost in the Tweed Heads area. I have been praying for humbling experiences. Just didn't think they would come this way. :) Shanti is still doing GREAT!! But ____ is not keeping commitments and even drank some coffee... he's 14!!! We have not chopped him yet. We're hoping we won't have to. Faith preceeds the miracle. Faith is action so keep him in your prayers. Action is obedience, so we are doing our best.

Elder Willie is such a good companion. We have had 2 trade-offs this week and Zone Conference so sometimes I feel the work goes over a speed bump with trade-offs but they are excellent learning opportunities. One of our zone leaders was trained in this area so he came here on one of those trade-offs with me. One of the members he used to teach with is less active now. That was one of those "the higher you are, the farther you fall" cases. But the member was so excited to see him and came to church yesterday.

One of the reasons I was transferred into Tweed Heads , (besides me picking it), was because of Alan King. He has been less active for 5 years and with our visits and the spirit touching him he has been coming back to church. Two Sundays ago he bore his testimony. It was awesome!!! This week in two lessons we had with him- the Spirit whipped him into shape. I have grown to be really good friends with Alan and during one of the lessons he told me that I am his mate. In American that means " you're like a brother to me." There are so many blessings that come from bringing people to Christ.

I have noticed that my mission has been preparing me to make it to the Celestial Kingdom more than anything. I become converted. I had a testimony before my mission but I wasn't converted. The worst was that I thought I didn't have a testimony because I never had a "one big moment" that converts usually have. My testimony came little by little my whole life and I was too focused on getting a testimony when I already had one. During that time, the adversary would tell lies like: "you don't have a testimony.. you can do this... " One memory I have was when I was 14 or 15 during high school. I wasn't going through good times and I remember kneeling down in Carly's room and praying that Heavenly Father would let me feel his love for me. And I did. I felt such comfort. Does God answer every child's prayer? Yes. Does he answer EVERYONE'S prayer? I know he does.

Dad, have the missionaries take you teaching. I would die to have a stake president in my ward!

Love you Mom and Dad

-ELDER HALES

The Spirit of Ammon

Dear Mom and Dad,

If Pete Giles is in the Bishopric, who will be the new Ward Mission Leader??? This is important!

Michael - -I'm not coming home. I could stay in Tweed Heads forever.
Well, this week has been awesome. Monday was a holiday so we had a ward activity and worked. It was a good day. Last night we had a lesson with a man named Alan King who has been reactivated. We have really grown to be good friends. We taught him the Law of Chastity and taught him the difference between Love and Lust. It finally clicked and I knew he was feeling the spirit so I pounced on it.

Then we had a Missionary Activity by our Ward Mission Leader. He is a big Tongan from Hawaii and he put a pig on a spit yesterday. It was way good and we had some non-members come. Shanti was there with Josh. Josh is almost a pro surfer so he brought some pictures of his surf trip to Bali and told me that when I come back he is going to take me surfing to all the best spots. :) I just told him I'm never leaving and want to be like Ammon and dwell among the people all my days to declare repentance :)

We taught a man named Peter yesterday. He is such a smart and good guy! In the lesson we read from 3 Nephi 11. As we were reading I knew he felt the spirit so I asked him and he said he did. He proceeded to say that he knows the Book of Mormon is true and described it as "when all your hairs stand up." He is excited to come to church on Sunday and is glad that " the communion cups are separate for everyone" so he doesn't get sick. :) He is in his 60's or 70's and an Australian. There are people prepared for the gospel!

Every Sunday I ask one of the YSA guys why he isn't on a mission yet. Every time he thinks of another excuse and I shoot it down. The church really is true! There is no proof against the church as Elder Holland said: "false theories have been born, parroted and died" and they are pathetic. The only concern with less actives is they don't read the Book of Mormon.

Sunday morning I was called and asked to teach Gospel Principles so I waited until Sacrament meeting to figure out what to teach. :) (Mom- because I felt I needed to). (Note to everyone: do as I say-not as I do). As soon as one of the High Council speakers asked: "are we doers of the word, or hearers only" I knew that was my topic.

Elder Willie is a champion beyond champs. It is so fun with him.

Well- I love you all, hope all is well and don't worry or think about me- I'm about my Father's work. :-)

-Elder Hales

P.S. Adam has reaffirmed his desire that this blog be private. You have a couple of days to "register." If you're not already invited, email me at: socalhales@dslextreme.com

Transfers!

Note from Mom:

First of all, it has come to my attention that there needs to be some educating about this blog. It is NOT done by Elder Hales. This blog belongs to me and I am the "editor." I edit Adam's letters and post them for the benefit of our family and a few friends. Adam is a very obedient missionary and would NEVER go online or get on the Internet in any capacity other than to email me. In fact, he is only allowed to email his parents. Not even his brother or sisters. When they want to email him, they have to send it to me first and then I can forward it from my account.
And now this week's letter:


Dear Mom and Dad

TRANSFERS!!!! Tweed Heads will be my first 6 month area outside of the office. Elder Tauiliili was transferred into the Sunshine Coast (north of Brisbane). He probably won't go back into the Chinese program. My new companion is Elder Willie. He is a champion. He is from Kiribati and is short and dark like Elder Tauiliili. :). I have heard nothing but the best about him so I am so excited. I was told I was training, but heaps of missionaries coming in got their visa's delayed. They said about half.

My trainer, Elder Nielsen, goes home tomorrow which is pretty weird. I'm going to miss having him here.

President Richards keeps talking about how when a Prophet dies, commandments don't change and how that applies to us and our new mission president. I am excited to meet him and I know he is the new Prophet of this mission but I sure will miss President Richards.

Things in the area are going so awesome! I really do love this area heaps. Looks like I will be here for Shanti and Cody's baptism!! I am so excited.
Things are going great on my end. There is nothing better than serving the Lord.
I love you mom and dad.
Thanks for being such good parents.
-Elder Hales

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Mom and Pop,

Shanti will be baptized on the 4th of July!!!!!!! She walked up to us at church yesterday and says..."Guess who is getting baptized on the 4th of July!?" She and Josh will be married that morning, go to church, and then be baptized after church. Shanti really wants to be baptized and I had a feeling she wasn't going to last until October.

We also set a baptism date with Cody. He is a champion 14 year old that already knows the Book of Mormon is true. His baptism is on June 26th so keep Shanti and Cody in your prayers. I ask because prayer really does work.

We have 2 baptisms next transfer and this transfer ends in one week.... ARG... but I'll go where he wants me to go... I'll be what he wants me to be and I'll do what he wants me to do.

I went on trade-offs this week with a new missionary. His name is Elder Lester and he is a champion and so funny. We saw a bunch of Aussie blokes having a party (not sober) so we went over to preach to them. They were not keen but they asked us to take a picture of them all so they give Elder Lester and I cameras and Elder Lester says " 1, 2, 3.... America Rocks" and all these pure Australians are smiling for the picture but give out a groaning "UGH". It was pretty funny.

Things are going so well. I love this ward and this area. Our goal is 2 baptisms a transfer and we have had 0 thus far but I knew this area would be hard coming into it. I have really grown to love hard things. That is one thing youth need and will get as they grow is the love to do hard things. Even the prophets tell us that reading the Book of Mormon can be hard at first and wow- it is... but they also promise that as you keep going insights will come, you will understand, and it will change you and I can add my promise to that. People do change- its called repentance. I love this gospel... it just makes so much
sense!

Love you all
Love you mom and dad,
-Elder Hales

P.S.
I am doing my best at working the hardest I can. There are some missionaries in my district that are giving me some gray hair. I started keeping track of Finding Hours as a part of key indicators because I could tell they don't do much finding. It was only around 3 hours for the whole week. They are doing great though- they have a baptism coming up.

Isn't being a missionary awesome? There is no better feeling than when you're about to go to sleep and you're writing in your journal but way too tired and you just collapse because of the hard day!

People say G'day so much. I've got pretty good at it. :)

A busy week (as usual)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Learning to Love Learning. There was an awesome talk on that by Elder Bednar in an Ensign not too long ago. I learned a lot from that. That is one thing I know I have sky-rocketed in- is wanting to learn. (*I told him about a RS function we had with that theme, based on Elder Bednar's talk.)

This week has been awesome. It always is. We had interviews with President Richards yesterday and Temple Day today. It's just two days of heaven. That was my last interview with President Richards which is sad. I am really trying to keep that attitude that I was also called to serve under President Langland just as much as President Richards.

I had trade-offs all day (after the interview) with an awesome missionary named Elder Schwendiman. He is from Idaho Falls and knows a few of the same people I do from BYUI. He is a fantastic missionary and completely "Worthy of and expecting Miracles." We go on trade-offs after interviews because he serves in Lismore which is a ways away and since he came up for interviews- that is one of the only times I can trade-off with them. We found one new investigator named Peter. He has so many copies of the Bible and even took a picture of every page because his eyesight is bad. He can zoom in on his computer and read it better. We have another appointment with him this week so we are excited and I'll tell you more later. Prepared for sure though.

The Work is progressing and going very well. I have to run but I love you all and hope things are going well.

God Speed the Right,

-Elder Hales

Working with the members

Dear Mom and Dad:

This week was awesome. The world's best miracle happened this week with an area in our district. I was on trade-offs with Elder Richins (I was companions with him for a few weeks when his comp. went home) on Tuesday. He had 2 lessons scheduled but both fell through. He called a potential that he had street contacted a few days before. He set up a lesson with her a few hours later and we met her at a University near by. She is from Brazil and is in Australia studying. We taught the Restoration, committed her to read and pray and she said yes. We committed her to baptism if she knew it to be true and she said yes. We committed her to come to church on Sunday and even better news - she said yes. We set up another lesson that week with a member that would give her a ride to church. Elder Richins told me that that went so great. That she had prayed to know and she got an answer that it is true. She is SO PREPARED and the only thing that is kind of sad is that she is moving to Hawaii this Thursday. We are going to give the missionaries over there the information and she will be baptized very quickly over there. This is the Lords work.

You probably remember me talking about Cody. He is so prepared as well. He is Bobby's grandson that just moved over from New Zealand. He is so awesome. He knows the Book of Mormon is true. He has such a good relationship with Heavenly Father - especially with all that he has been through for only being 14.

Our transfer theme is Working with the Members so I wanted to kindly ask for some advice again. More than just gaining members trust, we have been training on how to have more effective Member Present Lessons. We plan to accomplish this with 5 steps.
1- Preparing the Member DAYS before the lesson (Include the member in the lesson plan)
2- A clear goal (Let the member know the commitment you will leave)
3- Tell the member about the background of the investigator.
4- Teach the member before. (Perhaps give them a short example of what you will teach)
5- Evaluate with the member after the lesson.

I forgot to mention, the recent converts that we went out in the bush with last P-day were the first ones I conducted a baptism interview for. That was a great experience especially since they were so prepared. We drove to a place called the Natural Arch. Nothing compared to what Utah has but they have some glow worms there that were interesting to see.

Being a missionary is so awesome. I love you all.
God Speed the Right
-Elder Hales

(*I usually don't include his private messages to the family, but thought these would be good this time)


Michael & family:
I know how you feel. My very first transfer in the mission I ran out of the car to give some sister missionaries some daily planners and I didn't see the hitch at the back of the car as I was running around. Completely slammed my knee into the solid metal. I couldn't walk for a few hours and I wanted to throw up.
Things sound sweet with your new house and computer.

Carly:
FERRDINCUM!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm happy for you! Tell him I say, "What's going on bro! Literally- brother."
Read D&C 9: 7-9. You have made the right choice- now just continue to pray fervently.

Cheri:
I taught the Plan of Salvation in Gospel Principles class last Sunday. There recently have been a few deaths in the ward, one being a baby. I testified of my little niece and my eyes started to sweat. I always mention what Spencer said to me by the grave -- that that is the reason I am going on a mission. I can't ever forget that. Many tears were flying and then I mentioned how it's safe to say I am the favorite uncle and how I know that I will be able to play with Macie. One non-member who had never been to church before came to me saying she liked the lesson.
Haha- Yes, Magnum ice cream is pretty good. There are several missionaries addicted. I'll eat one for you. :) So expensive though.

Mother's Day phone call

Adam -- I mean Elder Hales -- called us yesterday. We had the phone on speaker, Cheri's family on the webcam, Carly was in town with us, and Michael's family on a cell phone so that all 11 of us could hear. He is doing great and LOVES being in Tweeds Head - his favorite place so far. He lives a half block from the beach, but he's not allowed to even touch the sand. But he can't help noticing the gnarly waves. (ha ha)

He is LOVIN' the success they are having. It's so nice to know that he is totally immersed in the work.

We asked about his release date and he said January 5th. Which means he gets home on January 4th. Gotta love those international date lines. He said no one is allowed to extend their mission in Australia because of the visa limits.

He loves how his ward is totally into member missionary work. It makes all the difference.

And he says to say thank you to everyone for the letters and the prayers. "I can feel the prayers."

I'm always fine during the phone calls and then cry when it's time to say goodbye. And the Christmas Day phone call will be exciting knowing that we'll see him very soon.

He said a member was taking him and his comp to the Outback for P-day yesterday. And another member owns a huge souvineer shop and let them go pick out what they wanted. Nice!

As his mom, I appreciate the support and love you give to him. (and us) Wow -- this is the last missionary Mother's Day call I'll ever get. (yay!)
Love to you all -
Melody

Short and sweet (again)

Dear Family:

BYUI President is an amazing speaker. I can't remember anything he spoke on when I was there... but I remember thinking it was so good. (*The pres. of BYU-Idaho spoke in Sacrament Mtg. in Cheri's ward last week in Fremont, CA and I wrote to tell him about it. It was awesome.)

P-day is always changing. Sometimes it's because of holidays so we can work on those holidays and sometimes because of Temple Day. Count on it being Monday anyway. (*It's like we never hear from him on a consistent day, so I asked.)

This week was really good. That was an understatement. THIS WEEK WAS SO FULL OF MIRACLES, IT WAS AMAZING!!! We had 4 investigators at church on Sunday. One of them is Kyran -- he is 11 years old. He doesn't like to come to church because he is so sick of Primary so yesterday I grabbed him, got one of his friends out of Primary and shoved them into Young Men's and he loved it.

Don't have time to say more. PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
Thanks.
Love you all
-Elder Hales