Monday, September 11, 2017

"Lose Yourself and You Will Find Yourself"

Hello everyone, I hope all of you had an awesome week! This week we have been hearing a lot about the natural disasters that have been going on. We had an amazing opportunity, as a mission to go and help out with Operation Gratitude this week. We have helped them a lot in the past with sending packages to the troops in the military, but because of all the disasters, they have turned their whole warehouse into a place where we sort and package donations to send to Texas. They are also going to start to send donations to Florida soon. It was great to see all the missionaries go through so many items that have been donated, and know that we were able to help out where we could. 

Also, this week we had a lot of success in the work! My Mission President always tells us that our success as a missionary depends on our commitment to the work, and man have we been committed! This week Hna Starke and I were out the door at 10:00 am and we didn't get home until 9:30 pm. We had lessons back to back, we packed a lunch and did Language Study and Companion Study in the car! We came home with feet that were covered in dirt and service! :) Our daily average currently, for new investigators, is about 3 which is CRAZY, especially for YSA!!!

Yesterday was one of the most amazing days in my mission!!! When we woke up we received a text from a member in our Branch telling us that she had a new investigator for us and he was coming to Church and he wants to be baptized!!! WHAT THE WHAT??? This investigator is cousins with the member and we were really excited to meet him!

When we pulled up to the church we witnessed another miracle, one of our investigators who had been MIA was walking into church! We were so excited to see him. Then we walked into the church and there was Raul our investigator who shared his testimony last week. Next, we met Christian, the cousin of our member! Christian has a ton of tattoos and gages the size of a golf ball, he loved Church and wanted to have a lesson with us after Church!

After church, we also had a lesson with Raul, so Hna Starke and I went on splits. I went with a member and taught Raul, and she went with a member and taught Christian! Within a half an hour we had two amazing lessons where they both accepted a date for Baptism for the first week in October! They are two very special and important people who really are prepared for the Gospel! I love love love being a missionary!

Later that night, we were talking with our Mission President about a YSA Devotional Broadcast with Elder Bednar that our investigators went to last night. We were expressing to President Henrie about how lucky we were to be serving in YSA during this time. He asked us what we have been doing and we simply said, we have completely lost ourselves in the work! It is so true when you dedicate your life to God, everything falls into place! Go have an amazing week!

Love,
Hermana Hadley 





Hermana Starke and Hadley :)



We took Hyrum, our Ward Mission Leader, and his friends out to dinner for his birthday!



Yep, that is Chocolate Dipped Strawberries on a stick!



The Branch at the Birthday Party



We also shoved Hyrum's face in a cake :)



Hermanas serving at Operation Gratitude <3



More Operation Gratitude



We Love You Texas!




Mom Note: This is a picture of the fire in San Fernando Valley last week looking towards Hermana Hadley's area. It was the largest fire in LA history and we are so thankful that it is contained and the temperature in now below 122 Degrees :)!