"It's the Final Countdown!"

Hey everyone!!!!! I have news... as always... drum roll please...

Hna. Dunn and I are going to stay in Reseda, finish our missions together, and travel home together!!!!!!! She was my very first companion, we were travel companions to Mexico City, and companions in the MTC.  Reseda was my first area in the mission field, so this transfer is very sentimental. The ward was very, very excited to hear the news! This is the first of many lasts...it is kind of bitter sweet as I am now officially starting my last transfer as a full-time missionary! Some days it is so weird because it feels like it has only been a few months, and other days it feels like I have been a missionary for about 5 years! I am really trying to sprint to the finish!!! 

Now on to what has happened this last week. It has been a little nuts, the last few weeks we have not been able to find anyone to teach. It has been so hard and the investigators that we had were too busy to meet with us. We have been working so, so hard trying to find people to teach. Every day we prayed to be able to find someone new, but we weren't finding anyone. Wednesday, we went out and we were knocking doors and guess how many new investigators we found.... 6!!!!!!!!! We found 6 new investigators! We were so happy that we finally found more people to teach!

Thursday of this week, we were able to go to the LA Temple for Christmas! Our mission attends the temple twice a year, once at Christmas and once during the Summer. It was so special and something I was really looking forward too! I was able to see Hna. Starke!!!!! We were so happy to see each other, I miss that girl a ton! The temple was so beautiful and amazing.

The LA Temple is one of the biggest temples and can fit a lot of people. I have never seen it more than half way full, but on Thursday it was AMAZING!!!!! We had half of our mission and also half of the Bakersfield Mission there, and we FILLED almost every seat! Hna. Starke and I looked around the room at how many missionaries were there in the session, and we got a little emotional as we looked at each other and said, "Look, we are a part of God’s Army!" It was a very tender moment I will always remember!

Yesterday, I was able to play a musical number in church, I played “Silent Night” and the song really touched me while I was playing it. I have been playing the piano for 16 years and I have never gotten emotional while performing, but this one hit me a little differently than normal.

My mission has taught me to have a greater love for my Savior. As I teach other people about Him and about His Atonement, I feel so happy and blessed. I felt joy as I was thinking of the words to “Silent Night” and how special that night truly was. 

I won’t be emailing next week because Christmas is on a Monday, so I will email again after the New Year! But I would still love to hear from all of you, and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember our Savior during this special time of year. #LighttheWorld

-Hermana Hadley 

Merry Christmas from Cali!

We are Dreaming of a White Christmas?

Last Monday we all had lunch with Hna. Mexicano at Salsa and Beer!!!

My Favorite People!!! <3

(Hermana Hadley, Hermana Starke and Hermana Dunn)

Mom Note: These three cute Hermanas were in a Trio companionship together in the Mexico City MTC and all go home on the same day! I LOVE this picture and the memories it represents!

Hermana Dunn and I at the LA Temple

Elder Blanchard trying to be a photographer. :)

Elder Stoltz, Hna. Starke and me just having fun, haha! I miss them, they are my buddies!

I had to say a very hard goodbye yesterday! Hna. Johnson is going home! She has been with me since the beginning and I always knew I was going home right after her!  So sad to see her go, but I will see her in 6 weeks!!!

Our Christmas Tree we made....we are very proud! :)

Our Christmas Decorations!!!