Shanti's baptism

Awesome

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things have been awesome. This week we had to chop a few investigators who aren't progressing. I love being in this ward for a long time because I have gotten to know heaps of members well. Yesterday a kid from Huntington Beach was at church. He was on a surf trip visiting Australia and Bali. We tried to teach his non-member friends but no luck... but it was weird to hear a California accent.

After Sacrament Meeting we gave our investigator, Ben, a blessing because he hit his face and his cheek was swelled up to the size of a golf ball. He said it had been that way for 4 days! He went to the hospital and we will see him on Wednesday when we will set a baptism date with him. Please pray for him!

We have been busy teaching and finding and things are going awesome.
Love you all.
-Elder Hales

Dear Mom and Dad,

Sounds like things are going well! Tell Cheri I say get well soon!!!!

Things here have been awesome. Today is transfers and guess what..... I'M STAYING! Elder Willie and I are staying. I have been telling President about the improvements we have been having with the work so I am so glad. My district is changing quite a bit but change is always good.

My Bishop here in Tweeds is probably my favourite Bishop I've served for yet. He has a very different way of doing things but he is so spiritual and completely the man for the job. I was listening to a talk by Elder Eyring and he said the words: "the Lord would know who he has serving in EVERY position in his church." I know that is the case with our Bishop. On Sunday at the end of sacrament meeting he got up and asked everyone to fast and said we would have a fast break on Monday night at 6. He said: "I don't know the rules with using the chapel on Monday night but we will overlook that." Bishop Rapana is my hero.

Our most progressing investigator is Ben, who we talked about last
week. He is doing so great and Elder Willie and I just have a connection with him so please pray for him. We will be setting a baptism date with him tomorrow.

Things are going so awesome. The work is great. The more families' homes I go in, the more I realize how I'm going to raise my family. When the home revolves around Christ, the kids choose the right. I have learned a lot about priorities lately.
Love you all.
-Elder Hales

Rugby

Mom and Dad,

Today for P-day we are going to go play touch football (rugby version).... :)... all injuries happen in American football. In all the history of touch rugby no missionary has gotten hurt. More injuries in Basketball than touch Rugby.

Ever since I left the office I don't go to the temple with President anymore but with our Zone. And this transfer we had to skip out on interviews with President Langeland.

If you sent me money already for my birthday it's okay but if you haven't sent it yet then don't worry about it. In the Gold Coast I can't transfer it over to Australian money because all the banks require my Passport and it is too much of a hassle to get it from the Office. If you must do something then put it in my bank account.

I have not yet taken a picture and video yet. I will do that this week and send it through email next week. I think I'll be able to send a video through email.

This week has been superb! Last week I told you we were going to teach a lesson to my dream investigator. His name is Ben and the lesson was awesome. We have really been changing our teaching skills lately and I'll get into that later but everything went great. He felt the Spirit and he says that he knows he is in the right place when he comes to church. He is getting married to a YSA girl named Wendy. Her mother is the Relief Society President. Their wedding is in February of next year. He will be baptized. I just hope it's soon because transfers are next week and I have been here for 6 months. Ben came to church and he is enjoying it. When I first met him he was not interested. It was about 5 months ago when Ben viewed Wendy's family as "churchies." But they had Ben over for dinner the same day they had us over and I taught the Plan of Salvation in 5 minutes with cool visuals and Wendy has had him reading the Book of Mormon and 5 months later he is going to church.

As I said a few paragraphs before, we didn't have interviews but instead we had another Zone Conference. President Langeland is AWESOME! He was talking about disobedient missionaries and he said he would grip their upper lip and just rip if off. :) (He didn't say that in zone conf.) But President gave us an amazing training. This transfer we have been focusing on teaching a spirit dialogue at the beginning of the lesson. Just sharing some scriptures on the Holy Ghost and teaching them the feelings it will give them. And President Langeland in Zone Conf. taught about committing to baptism on the first lesson, which we already do, but also setting a baptism date at every 1st lesson. So we have 3 baptism dates right now and hopefully one more with Ben this week. This may sound confusing but just know it's training we received that is from the Lord and it is going to skyrocket baptisms.

Our mission had 222 Baptisms the first 6 months of this year. Our goal was 240 baptisms so we did really good. All we would have needed was 1 or 2 more weeks and we would've accomplished our goal...but our goal is 240 again for the last 6 months of this year so with the training we recieved from President Langeland which came from General Authorities, we will accomplish that goal. Mission of Miracles.

Well, I love being a Missionary. The Book of Mormon is true.
Love you guys.

-Elder Hales

Family letters

DEAR MOM AND DAD,

Pass along cards? Hales and Wirthlin's roll better than that... give her a Book of Mormon!!!! (hospital lady) (*a nurse that has noticed "something different" about our daughter and her family)

Haha - Elder Mitchell is such a crack-up. He has sent me letters over the last year and he is a champion. (*his best childhood friend; coming home from his mission next month!)

Birthday requests? Um- no toothbrushes or toothpaste... got heaps of that but if you want to send floss... its expensive here. :)

WOW!!! This week is awesome!!!! Shanti's baptism was probably one of the best I've ever been to. Josh, her husband now, has such a huge family so it was very crowded. The fellowship we used -- the Hall's -- have been awesome. We couldn't get warm water for the font so we had a Titanic replay, but Sister Hall was asked to bear her testimony and she thanked the missionaries for bringing the spirit in her home from the visits. That meant a lot to me.

We had the Temple this morning. Wow, I had a good experience today and now we're off to teach my dream investigator!!! A complete surfer, Aussie bloke. I have had a dream of baptizing one since I got in the area. Pray for us
Gotta go. Sorry this is short.
The Work is hard... but its SOO GOOD!
-Elder Hales

Brotherhood: (*that means his brother Michael)

I tell some of the dead-set surfers in our ward that you got married and were taken away from the waves and surf. They make fun of me and say that's going to happen to me too. Of course I say "no way" but when you tell me about your awesome family, it just makes me think...who is the one missing out? Home isn't where the waves are... it's where the Lord is.
Well, thanks for that email. Sounds like things are going awesome. Good luck with work.
Love ya
-Elder Hales

Wirthlins: (*expecting a baby boy next week!)
Ammon, Ezra, Helaman, or Ephriam. Awesome names. July 15th that's so soon!!!! That's awesome. Hope all is well and I keep you in my prayers.
Get Spencer on teaching that nurse the restored truth.
I would love that temperature. It is sooo cold here. I freeze every night.
-Elder Hales

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