Elder Nathan Hales

Daniela's Baptism - Nathan's Letter from 2-6-12

2012-02-09T17:47:00.003-05:00

Hey guys!!

So this week we had an awesome baptism. Daniela is sixteen years old, and she followed the example of her mom and got baptized. Thanks to her example, her brothers will get baptized this Saturday. Also, we have an AWESOME hermana that will get baptized this Saturday. Her name is Patricia and is about 40 years old. She is seriously super, super awesome!!

Well, I want to share a good experience with you guys this week. We are working with a forty-year old man named Rodrigo. He has dreadlocks and is a strong believer in God. He has some problems in his life, but the most obvious was that he smoked, and he smoked A LOT!! So we started to teach him the truths about God and His son, Jesus Christ. We helped him see who he really was, a child of God. The first lesson he smoked the entire time. The second lesson he smoked half the time. By the third lesson, he had stopped smoking during the lessons, and we hadn´t even taught him that this was bad! He naturally began to keep God´s commandments as he learned more about God´s love for him. Rodrigo now has a goal to get baptized in March. He wants to become a missionary and go out with us to teach others. It is AMAZING the change that he has had in the few visits with him.

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people. Preach my Gospel says that, "the study of the gospel will improve behavior faster than the study of behavior will improve behavior" (or something like that). I know that this is a true promise. It will be true in my life, your life, and the life or your family. Study the gospel. It is the source of eternal life, and the ONLY way that we can maintain ourselves on the path. Remember, a man cannot be saved in ignorance. (D&C 131:6)

I love you guys, and I am grateful for your help and prayers. Keep the Faith,

Elder Hales

Daniela's Baptism

Nathan riding in a colectivo (taxi) on the way to play soccer

Opening his birthday package!

A birthday party at a member's house

Another birthday party! This time at the branch mission leader's house.

According to Nathan this is "some corn thingy."

Nathan's Letter Jan 29, 2012

2012-02-01T17:21:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,

Thanks for the happy birthday wishes! It was an awesome week, and an awesome birthday. I received lots of cake and presents from home and here in Chile. It really was strange to turn twenty! But I am super excited to be where I am, and be doing what I am doing. Everyday is a new challenge!

My birthday was great. I was on an exchange in a different part of Ovalle, but I ate some oatmeal that my parents sent me (by the way mom I have a Walmart here and can pretty much buy everything I could need there. It is called Lider if ya wanna look it up) and opened up a few presents from home. I went out and worked for a few hours and then ate lunch with a family who had tried to make chocolate chip cookies. The only problem was they tried to make them like a cake. Haha they turned out very burnt, my mom would have loved them :D. Then, I had a family home evening with an awesome family from the ward where I enjoyed cake and chorrascos (Chilean hamburgers). Then we taught a few lessons and had ANOTHER family home evening with investigators who provided cake and food. Whoo, I was full! It was a great day full of memories and fun experiences.

We are going to have another baptism this week and the following two weeks. We are really finding and helping some amazing people here in Ovalle. I hope that I will be able to stay here another transfer. We only have two more weeks in this one.

Thank you for all of the support and prayers that you have given in my behalf. I really can feel their power. I feel every single day that what I am doing here is right. There is not a better feeling than knowing that God is pleased with you. I invite every single person who reads this to do a little self-evaluation and see if there is something that you should change in your life. Then, repent! You will feel better if you do. God has sent His Son, who has paid for your sins. All you need to do is accept that sacrifice in your life. I know that this will make you happy. I know that this is true.

Elder Hales

Keep the Faith

2012-01-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

Heyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!

So I just want to give a shout-out to all my blog fans out there. I know there are at least three. My mom, and my two grandma´s. Whooooo!!! And probably Bryan and Chase too! Hey, by the way, thank you Grandma (yes you) for the email, and letter, and package.

So I am just rocking it here in Ovalle, Chile with my companion Elder Pintos. We are very excited for the baptisms that we have planned these next three weeks in a row. We are really hoping that our people will follow through with their promises to God.

It is really hot here.

This last weekend we had two conferences. The first was with all the missionaries in the Northern end of the mission. I led the music! We had an awesome day full of learning. Then, on Sunday we had another conference with the mission president and his wife for Ovalle. They re-organized the district presidency. President and Hermana Gillespie both gave inspiring talks. Overall, awesome!

Today we played some soccer as a zone, and I am planning on going home to cook some lunch and clean up the apartment. Life here on the mission is normal. Everyday is a miracle!!

Read the Book of Mormon and keep the faith.

Elder Hales

Elder Hales and Elder Pintos

Nathan's Letter 1-16-12

2012-01-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

Hey guys!

So I want to start off with a funny story. So my comp and I were walking home after a long day this week. We were almost at our pension when we passed by three girls our age all huddled together in a plaza. We were walking on by when one of them yelled out to us, ¨HI!!¨ So I said hi back and kept walking (I hear hello´s and hi´s and one two three´s all day long, so this came as no surprise). Then, they all started yelling everything they had learned in 8 years of English classes: "I love you, pretty, beautiful, and come back"! My companion couldn´t stop laughing all the way home.

So, the work here is amazing. We should be having quite a few people getting baptized in the next month or two. I am hoping with all my heart that I get another change (transfer) here in Ovalle. It is really hot here. But, we are loving every second of it.

So, I have something very important to say to someone special. THANK YOU GRANDMA! Grandma Lockhart writes me letters weekly, and I don´t have very many ways to communicate with her, so THANK YOU. I love your stories, they make us all laugh!

Well, I am about to finish the Book of Mormon again on the mission, and I want to remind ALL of you to get out your copies and start reading. These words and stories and examples will change your life! I love this book.

Something I have been feeling a lot lately is the love that God has for each of His children. He will give us anything we could need, and he will forgive us every single time we make a mistake, even if we can´t forgive ourselves. He loves us. He loves you!

Elder Hales

Nathan's First Week as Senior Companion (Letter 1-9-12)

2012-01-13T21:14:00.001-05:00

Hey guys!

So I have like no time today. But I will give you a quick run down of everything that has happened.

1) Elder Pintos is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He lives in the south mission there and knows some of Justin´s areas. He is teaching me all sorts of awesome words.

2) Elder Pintos only has 3 months in the mission but is super fired up to work. We are really having a lot of success and being blessed a lot! We have another four baptisms planned on the 28th of January. One day after my birthday!

3) We live with two other missionaries and for the first time since I left home I live with other people who like to have a clean pension (apartment). Amazing!!!

4) We did a LOT of service on Saturday. We cleaned up a backyard for a family so they could put in their swimming pool. It was a lot of shoveling and digging. It felt great! Then we went to a lady´s house where there was a HUGE olive tree that was growing all over the place. Four members and I with my companion got to work. We started cutting branches off the tree from the bottom to the top. Then using a 20 foot-ish ladder, I climbed up to the top of the roof with two other men to start chopping down the tree in parts. It was SO fun. I almost died. Hahaha just kidding Mom... But we did have some close-ish calls. Well, it all went well and we were able to help this member out. It is so fun to serve!

5) I love you guys!

Elder Hales

2012-01-13T21:10:00.001-05:00

Erika's Baptism

Yeime's Baptism (Elder Hales, Yeime, and President Varela)

Yeime's family at her baptism

The Ovalle Elders

Yeime's Baptism (Nathan's letter 1-2-12)

2012-01-13T20:59:00.001-05:00

HEYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

So this has been the craziest week of my life! We got my companion, Elder Hyer off to his house on Monday afternoon. I spent most of the week working with the elders of Canihuante, and I even got to go to their baptism. I have a picture of it here. The lady, Erika, is the most loving person on this side of the world! (I didn´t forget you mom ;D) So the baptism went really well, and right after we had the marriage ceremony of Yeime and Nino!!!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome!!!! We had the ceremony in the chapel and then had a party in the cultural hall. Here in Chile it is a little different from the United States because we had to have a representative of the registro civil come to do the ceremony instead of a bishop. So the marriage went super well, and then on Saturday we had the baptism of YEIME!!! WHoooooo!!! It was so awesome!

Yeime got baptized by the district president, President Varela. The service went really well, and it really, really, really pumped up our little branch. The next day after the confirmation the branch president came up and bore a POWERFUL testimony of missionary work and then he was followed by all sorts of other members bearing testimony. I was seriously so pumped! We are going to convert the entire city!!!!!!!!

So, today we had a meeting where we found out all of our changes (this happens every six weeks). I was not surprised to find out that I was staying here in Limari. However, I was super surprised about who my new companion is. Elder Pinto!!!!!! He is from Argentina and is coming down from La Sarena. He is super young in the mission, in fact, he is younger than me! He just finished getting trained, and will be starting his third change in the mission. Crazy huh? So we will have some very young missionaries taking care of this awesome branch.

I really am so pumped to start this change and this new year. I have a lot of goals, but the biggest one is to become a more dedicated servant of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know it. You can know it too! Grab a Book of Mormon and read it. Then, pay attention to how you feel. Then, kneel down before your Maker and ask Him if it be true. I know He will answer you.

Un besito,

Elder Hales

Merry Christmas from Chile! Nathan's letter dated 12-26-12

2011-12-31T23:20:00.001-05:00

Nathan got his package by Christmas! Yeah!

Elder Hyer on Christmas

Missionaries in Ovalle

Elder Hyer and Elder Hales

I had an awesome Christmas! It would have been very easy to pout and to miss the cool presents that I knew the family was enjoying, but instead I took a lot of satisfaction in seeing the humble gifts given to the Chilean kids here. There is this little girl who is the daughter of our mamita. She received a few plastic toys (cups, bowls, and a hot dog) to play with for Christmas. I remember the HUGE plastic kitchen that the girls got a few years ago. How incredible would it have been for her to receive that? She already was super content and playing happily with her few plastic toys that her parents could afford. The dad walks around and sells sweets to provide for his family. I really have learned some amazing lessons here. The Lord is teaching me some amazing lessons.

So right now I am without a companion. He left this morning. It will be a little weird this week, and I will have to be in charge for a while of the work in Limari. However, I am super stoked for my new comp (he wont come until next Tuesday) and to get the work moving here!! I will do my best to send y’all some pictures of the baptisms this weekend.

December 19th, 2011

2011-12-31T19:08:00.003-05:00

Hola!!

Que tal amigos? (What's up friends?) Les quiero muchisimo, y les agradezco por las oraciones que han hecho para mi (I love you guys and I'm so thankful for your prayers).

Christmas time!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!!!

So we had an awesome activity last Saturday in the capilla (chapel). We told everybody that we were going to start at seven, Chilean time. So, of course, we started the activity right at eight. Haha but that´s fine because we had a decent turnout. I told an awesome Christmas story that we always read in the family before Christmas. It is called a brother like that. It was kinda tricky translating it into Spanish, and then into Chilean, but it all worked out! Haha and then I drugged (drug, dragged?) my companion up and we sang a song. We took turns directing the activity (that was interesting in Spanish) and we had each auxiliary do a skit or song. The relief society did a great job on the song. The Elder´s quorum did a great song and cuento. The primary put on the pesebre.. the word in English is... manger? Well, that went well and the young men and women sang a song. Then, we passed out dulces de la navidad (Christmas candy). It was a very fun night, and worked out really well.

Our investigator family is still progressing. Yeime and Nino will hopefully get married the 23rd, but there might be complications. If so, then we will see the baptism of yeime just a little later on. But, we are going to get this family sealed for time and all eternity.

Christmas will be super fun. Here in Chile we eat a big dinner on Christmas eve (until like 12 at night) and then we go to bed to wait for Santa Claus!

I am so excited to be serving the Lord during this Christmas time. We have been focusing a lot on Jesus Christ and His role in our lives. We are so blessed.

Love ya

Elder Hales

December 12th, 2011

2011-12-31T19:02:00.000-05:00

Hola!
Merry Christmas from CHILE!!! There is, unfortunately, no chance of snow for me this Christmas. But, we are planning an awesome ward activity for next Saturday, and we are going to get every single less-active member to come to the activity! Chile is awesome, but there are a TON of less-active members.
So just a quick update on the people that we are working with:
Yeime (pronounced like Jaime) will be baptized one day after her marriage on the 24th of December!!! WHOOO!
The rest of the family are working hard on their baptisimal date as well. We are going to get that family sealed for time and all eternity!!!
We are also working with a fun lady called Patricia. She speaks fluent Hebrew, and she lived in Israel for several years. She is way cool, and we are looking towards January for a baptism.
We are doing a lot of searching!

So I received a few packages and letters last week, and I wanted to give a shout out to a couple of people.
Thank you Mom, Dad, Erika, Lauren, and Justin!
Thank you Grandma Lockhart for the letters! Keep up all the awesome stories, and don´t worry, I am NOT homesick :D
Thank you Grandma Hales for the letter! I hope you all have a blast in the birthplace of our Lord!
Thank you Hansen Family!! I just received your halloween package, and it was awesome!!!!
Thank you Harper and Hunt family for the letters!!!
Thank you Hope Mills 1st ward for the letters from the primary kids.

I am super excited for Christmas here in Limari. My companion travels to Viña on Christmas day, or before, so I will be companion-less for Christmas. However, I think I will still be able to talk to my family via skype! I am happy to be sharing this precious time with my fellow Chileans. I love this work. I love the Lord. Read the Book of Mormon please. Open your heart!!!

Oh, I forgot to tell you guys that we are also working with an awesome family from Peru. There is a huge house full, and a husband and wife who live there are about to get sealed in the temple. The other family members aren´t baptized.... yet!

Love you all!!
Elder Hales

December 5, 2011

2011-12-09T21:50:00.000-05:00

Holaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

So here we are, another week closer to Christmas! My companion and I are planning an actividad for the branch here in Limari. We are super excited to get everybody involved. We are making it an activity of reactivation. We are putting every family in charge of bringing another family that is less-active to the activity. Every auxiliary is going to do some sort of a skit, song, or talent. The primary is in charge of the reinactment of the birth of Jesus Christ. If you guys have any ideas of fun skits or uplifting stories about Christmas, they would be greatly appreciated!

We are working hard with our family here. The marriage will be in about two weeks, and we are hopefully going to have some baptisms the next week or two after. There always is opposition in the life, but through the gospel of Christ, we can make it through okay!!!

So my companion, Elder Hyer, is getting ready to go home right around Christmas time. He is an awesome elder, and I am learning so much from him!

Just so you guys can kinda get an idea of what my area is like here, we have a TINY area. We work a lot with members who have become less-active, and try to work with the friends of members. Listen, the work of a missionary is NOT to walk around all day knocking on doors. When members exercise their faith, and invite their friends, miracles happen! I have seen both ways, and trust me, I KNOW!!!

Haha so go find your missionaries and tell them about every friend that needs the gospel in their lives (hint: that means everybody).

I am learning so much here on my mission. Being with an elder who already has 23 months under his belt has really helped me recognize the things I have already learned. The biggest thing, however, is this:
The church and gospel of Jesus Christ are not just good things in our life. They aren´t even the most important things we have in our lives. The church and gospel of Jesus Christ are my life. There is nothing in this life that brings greater happiness. I have never felt anything more rewarding than seeing somebody pray for the first time in their life.

I love this work. And it is work!

Elder Hales

2011-11-29T19:36:00.000-05:00

Hola!!!

So I am now in Ovalle, Chile. It is very famous for one thing: It is the HOTTEST part of Chile. I am here during the.. summer! Whoo!!

Haha but its all good because this place is awesome. The branch is fairly small (60 people going to church), but they are all just the kindest people ever! I came into an area where the work is a little slow, but we are working hard to pick it up again. However, we are working with an awesome family right now that are going to get baptized. The wife and husband are planning on getting married on the 16th, and then the wife is going to get baptized the next day. She is a ball of fire, but she also has a great testimony and really wants to get baptized. There are four others in the family who can get baptized, and we are working with them right now. They will probably be ready a week or two later. It really is exciting for me to help these people, because they are super prepared. I hope to be here long enough to help them get a fixed goal for the temple as a family. The Restored Gospel really blesses lives. I can see it!!!

I have already had a week full of amazing experiences here in Limari. It has been amazing to look back at this week and see how the Lord works with two clueless young men in white shirts and ties, and somehow works miracles in the lives of others. There have been countless times when we have gone to the right person at the right time with the right message to bless their lives, and we had no idea at the time! I can just see SO many blessings right now. The promise in 3 Nefi 27 is true. The Lord completes with ALL of His promises. Of this I know with certainty!

Elder Hales

P.S. Rincones are bad. Don´t let them bite you! (I think the word in English is brown recluse)

P.P.S. I had a fun visit with some Jehovah´s witnesses today outside our pension.

P.P.S.S. I love you guys (read the Book of Mormon)

KEEP THE FAITH

Adios Coquimbo

2011-11-21T21:30:00.001-05:00

Hey guys!

So we found out that I am the one leaving, not my companion. Crazy huh? He is going to have at least six months in Coquimbo! Apparently there still is a work for him to do here. However, I am going to OVALLE!!! My companion will be Elder Hyer!!! I have no idea who he is, but from what I have heard, he is just about to die. I think he has two transfers left, so I will probably end up killing him (this means he will end the mission while he is my companion). Anyway, it was super sad to leave all of my friends here in Coquimbo, but I was able to get a couple of photos, and I will also get a few more tonight at a family home evening. I am so excited for the change. I know that there are people just waiting for me in OVALLE and I am going to find them all!!!!!

I am sorry there aren´t a whole lot of details about my new area, but I will have to let you know more next week. I will still be here in the ¨North¨ zone. So every month when we have conference I will be coming up to Coquimbo or la Serena for our conference. It is about an hour south of Coquimbo, and it is FULL of unbaptized gente (people).

I really am amazed that I have already been here in Chile for three months. I have learned SO much. But, one thing I still know for certain is that this is the work of God. There is no doubt in my mind because I see miracles everyday.

Send me your questions and know that I love you all!

Elder Hales

KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!!!

The Coquimbo Elders - November 2011

Nathan and the branch mission leader, Francisco

Nathan and one of his investigators, Matias

Another investigator, Ursula

Nathan and two members from the Coquimbo branch

Meeting an Apostle / Touring Fort Coquimbo

2011-11-16T22:09:00.002-05:00

HOLA!!!

Hey so this week was amazing. On Thursday night at 12 we left on a bus to Viña del Mar (after a full day of working). We got to Viña at 6 in the morning and we walked over to the chapel there. At 8:30 Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to our mission!! The entire mission was there in one chapel. It was incredible. Every single missionary got to go shake Elder Cook´s hand. I loved how he interviewed every missionary as he MADE SURE to look everybody in the eye. It was intense!!! I loved it!!! Also, Bishop McMullan of the Presiding Bishopric came with his wife. It was incredible!

Elder Cook´s wife gave a great talk about hymns of the church and connecting those to Christ-like attributes. Bishop McMullan bore a powerful testimony of the first vision and Joseph Smith. Finally, Elder Cook gave a short thirty minute talk about edifying the church. I learned SO much. Hardly any of what he said made much a difference because I was being taught by the Spirit. I heard exactly what I needed. Anyways, they were only there for two hours, and then we heard the finally testimonies of everybody who was about to die (finish their mission). That was really great. Then President Gillespie got up and gave us an amazing training on what we had just heard Elder Cook say. Seriously, I have one of the best mission presidents in the world right now. That is the truth.

We finished all of that up around 4:00 and then at 6 we got back on the bus and got home at 1 in the morning. We were up and at ‘em again the next morning. Not much sleep, but who needs it??!!!

Today we had a great activity as a zone. We went to the fort of Coquimbo, which has been around since the days when the Chileans had to fight off pirates. There is even a functional cannon!! We also had a fun time cooking up some chorripan (a chilean style hot dog, but not completo-style) for the zone. It was super fun! And I am super sun-burnt. Oops!!

Well, it has been awhile since I have reminded you all of why I am here. After four and a half months of being a missionary, my testimony has really been strengthened. My faith has been tried. I have talked to every type of person imaginable here. I am so firmly convinced that this is the work of the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that ANYONE can be forgiven for their mistakes. The church of Jesus Christ is here for us, to help is in our eternal quest to be like Him. I have never been happier than now, and it is because I am serving Him. Once again, please go and read the Book of Mormon. It has the power to change our hearts, if we let it. Speak with God in prayer. Ask Him if this book is not true. He WILL manifest the truth of it, if you let Him.

I love you guys,

Elder Hales

Nathan gets to see his MTC companion, Elder Kirkpatrick at a mission-wide conference

Nathan and his current companion, Elder Yorgason

Fort Coquimbo

A view from Fort Coquimbo, looking at Nathan's teaching area across the bay.

Fort Coquimbo

2011-11-08T21:21:00.001-05:00

HOLA!!!!
So this week the entire mission is going to congregate in vina!!! Sweet huh? We are going to travel there on friday morning (1 oclock) and then have a conference all day long and then travel back on friday night. Whoo!!! What a long day it will be, but what an amazing day. Hopefully I will be able to see some of my friends from the MTC, maybe my companion! We are going to be trained all day by a general authority. It might even be a member from the quorum of the 12 apostles. Wow. There will be around 200 missionaries there. Anyway, I am just super excited to travel down to vina, and also to listen to an apostle. I will for sure update you guys next week! (with pictures)

So we had another great week this week. We had an activity as a ward on Saturday night. We watched the movie Legacy, and we had a few investigators there. It was pretty awesome how the movie was in spanish, yet I understood pretty much the entire movie, everything that was said. Cool huh?

Okay so this might be a short letter, but next week will be a lot better okay? Love you all!!
Elder Hales

PULGAS!

2011-11-03T22:13:00.005-04:00

Hola!!!

Pulga (flea) season!!! Haha so just last week the pulgas came out of hiding for the summer. I am looking forward to several months with my tiny friends. Currently, my pulga pet enjoys finding me at night and biting me around 50 times. Sometimes it makes me wonder how it is that he manages to bite me so many times... maybe he brings his friends. Haha but no worries, I am taking the precautions to avoid them as much as possible, and I have gotten my shots, so I should manage to live through the next few months. It is starting to get hotter and hotter every day. De hecho (in fact), I was on intercambios (exchanges) with Tongoy (a town about an hour south of Coquimbo), and I think I got a little bit of a heat fever. I was pretty sick for about 24 hours, and then I was totally fine again! Tongoy is a pretty cool place, the pension (apartment) for the missionaries is literally ON the beach. Lets hope that a tsunami doesn`t hit while I am there! I am going back on Wednesday for another intercambio.

So I am going to update you all on the people we are currently teaching right now in LLANO!

Victor y Marìa- We found them and put (set) baptismal dates with them a couple of days ago. They are both super awesome, and are planning on getting baptized on the 27th of this month. We are planning on doing EVERYTHING we possibly can to help them to that date.

Ursula- She is the best. Ursula is about 50 years old and came to church during the stake conference. She has been asking Sundays off, and she should be good to go from now on. She is a little timid about getting baptized, but this week we are planning on working with her a lot to commit to a date.

Matias- Stud. We are basically waiting for him to finish up all of his school work until tomorrow. He is neck deep in the end of his major, and he finishes everything today. After, we are going to start meeting again regularly and helping him get back to church, and we should be putting a date to get baptized this week as well.

We also have a BUNCH of really great people that we are working with. The plan is to keep our focus on the few people who we know will get baptized, and then help others get into that group of focus.

Well, it was really interesting last night during halloween because this was the first year that halloween has happened here in Coquimbo. Everybody was running around getting candy and dressed up in their disfraces (costumes) and just having a ball. I loved it! We even got some candy from this lady that we taught with her daughter (even though they didn`t say yes to a baptisimal date), which was very nice of them.

Also, I had an interview with President Gillespie yesterday and a chat with his wife. The interview was AWESOME! President knows so much, and he knows what I need. His wife is just simply the best ever. We talked about the three principles of wealth. Really really really cool. I have made a plan to start these three principles in my life now, and make them a habit for when I (hopefully) find somebody who will agree to marry me. I realized how everything that I am learning right now in the mission is just preparing me for the real life afterwards. It really is amazing how the Lord has blessed me with this opportunity. I am grateful every single day to wake up here in Chile, and have the opportunity to learn. I have never made a better decision in my life. I got a sheet from the president yesterday that gave me my numbers for the mission so far. I have already taught more than 130 lessons and have found 60 people to teach the gospel. I have barely begun! What an amazing thing it is to be in the service of the Master.

Love you guys!!

Elder Hales

October 24th, 2011

2011-11-03T22:11:00.003-04:00

Hola!
Wow another amazing week! We got Hector and Ursula to church on Sunday, but Matias couldn`t come again! Grrr...
But we are just meeting the most amazing people, and especially.... FAMILIES!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a miracle day, maybe one of the best in my mission. Last week we had a goal of finding 12 new investigators, and as of Saturday we had only found 2! Mal!

So we set a goal of finding six new people on Sunday. Pretty big goal right? Well we worked after lunch and church until like 7 without any success. We found a couple of people and set up appointments for the next week, but nobody that we could teach right then and there (this makes them count as a new investigators). So we had like two hours, and ten people to find. Well, we found an awesome little family of two and taught them. Then we found a family of 12!!! And we taught five of them. Seven news! And then it was time to head home, and we were very content because we had surpassed our goal of six news. As we were walking up the hill both my companion and I had a distinct impression to knock just one more door. So we knocked on the closest door and a little girl answered. We asked to talk to her parents and her dad came out. We explained that we wanted to sing a song to his family. He let us in to his home and gathered his two kids and wife to him while we sang them a song about families. We taught them that families really can be together forever. The spirit was so strong in the room. We ended with a prayer and asked when we could return. We had filled our entire week up with other people except for Thursday. The only day that they could meet with us was... Thursday. It was a miracle. They are a prepared family of four to recieve the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amazing!

We found 11 new investigators in one day. We passed our weekly goal by one. It wasnt, however, until we knocked on the last door of the week that we found our investigators. It was a miracle.

Awesome! Hey we also visited the cross of the third milinium today. There were some amazing views.

I know that this is the work of God. People need this gospel, because it will change their lives. I know it!

Love you all,

Elder Hales

October 17th, 2011

2011-11-03T22:08:00.001-04:00

Hola!

Wow what an amazing week. I had two different divisiones (exchanges) this week. I went out with the zone leader and worked with him on last Monday. We found some awesome people. Also, I went out for a whole day with a missionary who finished his mission last week, but stayed a week extra to go to the celebration of the 50 years of the church in Chile. Elder Case went out with me, and Elder Hughs with my comp. Wow, these are some missionaries! Haha I learned so much from Elder Case. He taught me so many things about how to be an effective missionary. I have to have three things to baptize. Ready?

1. The vision of baptism. When I come to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ on a deep enough level, and when I come to love the people of Chile enough, I will do everything to help them get baptized. Without that they cannot be saved. Here´s a great quote: ¨Those who give a little ask a little; those who give a lot ask a lot; those who give everything can ask for ANYTHING.¨

2. Work with the members. The members are KEY! We cannot do this work without you.

3. Become an effective teacher. I need to study everyday and work my tail off so that I become an effective teacher. My job is to teach so effectively that people are faced with a choice to follow the truth or not. I need to teach with power and authority.

Haha, so anyway that is what I am working on right now. I think its working, because we WORKED IT this week. We found 19 new investigatores this week alone.

Hey great story, ready?

We went to the house of this really old guy that we had talked to once or twice. We taught him (Hector) about his purpose on earth and about baptism. My companion asked him to be baptized. We waited.. and waited.. and waited. Probably a whole minute of silence. And the spirit was so strong, and I knew that Hector needed to be baptized so that he could be with his wife again after this life. He felt it too and said yes. I asked him to get ready for the 13th of November. He said yes. He is 88 years old!!!!!! WHOOO!!!!

Haha wow so now we have him and his son (ojalá) preparing to get baptized, and also Karen andddddddd Matias!

Matias is doing really great. Hopefully this week we can finish up the teachings and he can have his interview on the 23rd. And then baptism on the 30th!

Okay so on Saturday we had the celebration of the 50th year of the church in Chile. In Santiago, in this HUGE soccer stadium, there was this celebration. The presidency over Chile all gave short talks and then there was a three hour presentation. Now, I know what your thinking. Missionaries watching a three hour presentation? Can they do that? I had the same question. Haha we watched from 7 to 9:30, and it was sweet! There were different dances from all sorts of South American countries, and, of course, the cueca. The cueca is the dance of Chile, and its pretty fun to watch. All of the sudden, though, there was a HUGE temblor. An earthquake! WHOOO!!! It was super loud and the whole chapel started shaking. It lasted for like ten seconds and then it was over. It was AWESOME! It felt like a huge train went underneath us and on its way. My comp told me that it was the biggest one he´s felt so far.

Well, I gotta run. Hope your all doing great!!

Elder Hales

2011-10-14T08:47:00.000-04:00

This picture is for Nathan's mom. Clean laundry AND a made bed (kinda)

2011-10-14T08:41:00.000-04:00

Hola!
Como estai?? So we had transfers this week, and I am staying here in Coquimbo with elder Yorgason. Whooo!
Okay so I am dying to tell you guys all about Matias. We found his brother while knocking doors two weeks ago, and we found Matias when we came back. He has come to church twice already, and he has been reading from the book of Mormon and praying every day. The best part is that he has become pretty intrenched in the ward already. He had one return missionary as a friend, and he has also become great friends with the members with whom we have brought to teach him. He came to play soccer last Thursday without us, and he had a blast. Every lesson pretty much goes pretty much like this:
Okay Matias, teach us about what you read the past two days... 20 minutes later.. Wow okay thanks for that lesson Matias, we are going to leave you with Alma 32 and the pamphlet about the plan of salvation and we will come back in two days so you can teach us about that too. Can we end with a prayer?
Hahaha wow what a stud!!!! This is a guy who was`t sure if he believed in God when we first met him like two weeks ago. Now he is so full of faith, and his prayers are so sincere. I learn more from him that he could ever learn from me. Wow, the Lord prepares his people for the Gospel, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that!
We also have a baptismal date with a lady named Karen. She is super cool, but she is also really hard to meet with, so we are working on that this week.
We are also working with a lady named Ursula and her daughter, Katerine, and they are both super great. I am sure they will continue to progress.
So in the zone of Coquimbo there are 7 companionships, 14 missionaries. There are two zone leaders, and 3 district leaders. One of our zone leaders, Elder Furiman (the zone leaders live with us and work in Parte Alta), died this morning at one o`clock. We went with his comp to the terminal to see him off, and then we went and slept for a few hours before we started the day. We are losing four more missionaries to different areas in the mission today. We are getting two nuevitos in Coquimbo, and so we will have four trainers and trainees here in Coquimbo. Our new zone leader is a pretty cool guy, I guess, and he gets here tonight. Elder Silva, the other zone leader will die in 6 weeks, at the end of this next transfer. So I will witness two deaths in two changes. Wow I am so glad that I am not even close to that point!
Well, I know that no matter where I am, no matter who it is that I am with, I will be a representative of Jesus Christ. This isn`t some two year project that I have that will end when I get home. I am here learning how to be a father, a husband, and a witness of God. Just like it says in Mosiah 18, we are commited to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in all things, in all times, and in all places. This is going to remain true for me for the rest of my life. I am committed.

Elder Hales

General Conference, Soccer, and Service

2011-10-06T21:10:00.001-04:00

Holaaaa!!

Nathan doing service

What’s up? Okay so another awesome week here in Coquimbo! Two amazing days of General Conference in English! Haha. We had eight elders who crammed in a tiny room and watched general conference online in English. It was by far the most uncomfortable ten hours, but the best ten hours of my life!!! Wow, the spirit was amazingly strong, and every single talk had personal significance to me. I can´t wait to go watch them and listen to them all again. WHoo!

A clean back yard

So in answer to many of the questions that I have received this week:

Yes there are lots of hills. Most of our area is fairly flat; however, we have some of Parte Alta as well, which is all one big hill. We live at the very top of the hill and so every night we make that walk if we don´t take a colectivo (taxi). I am probably walking hills about two or three hours every day. So, not as bad as some, and not as great as others.

A meal at a member's house

So on Friday we did service for a nice family in our branch. We spent a couple of hours cleaning out a part of their back yard. It was overgrown with vines and these nasty little shrubs that poked and stung really bad. And.... I wore shorts. Haha oops. But I have a couple of pictures of the area, and of me, and of the food afterwards.

This week has been pretty awesome. We had a night de jugar la pelota (playing soccer). We invited a bunch of jovenes (youth) to come and play soccer with us. I even invited this random guy on the street, and he came! Haha it was sweet. We had 11 investigators there, and five of them came up to us and asked to do a tour of the church. Hopefully we can start teaching their families soon!

The president of the branch took six of us missionaries to a restaurant in between the sessions on Saturday. It was a Chinese restaurant in Chile. Weird. I had to order Chinese food in Spanish. Haha that was fun, and I ended up eating some pretty good food!

This is the last week of the transfer and I am praying that Elder Yorgason stays here in Llano because I know that the work is going to explode here very very soon. I can´t waittt!!

Elder Hales

Nathan's Letter 9-26-11

2011-10-01T09:41:00.000-04:00

Dearest blog readers,

Whats up? I hope that you are all just doing great! Also, I hope that you are reading in the Book of Mormon and talking with YOUR Father in Heaven. (Also, go to church) Wow okay so another fantastic week. We are starting to see the work pick up here, although it certainly is not skyrocketing (that´s a word right?). We had an awesome guy come to with us to church yesterday. Matias is an awesome guy that we found on Saturday while looking for his brother. We taught a 20 minute lesson. At the beginning he didn´t know if he even believed in God. By the end he accepted to get baptized, and came to church with us the next day. Stud!

Raul is another younger guy that we have been teaching. He has so many questions! Because his life was changed by an amazing experience with prayer, he is very cautious with accepting another religion. However, the last time we taught him he felt something pretty amazing, and he was pretty emotional. The spirit is amazing! We also have two families that we are teaching right now that are reading and praying. Hopefully we can continue to help them progress. Whooo!

Okay here is my miracle of the week:

We were walking up the street when we passed a guy cleaning his car. My companion asked him if we could help him clean the car. He just kinda ignored us. We kept walking, but for some reason I decided to talk to him. I asked him a question and he was really gruff and didn´t really answer me. So I started explaining who we were. It was strange because normally I wouldn´t bother someone like that anymore. Finally he stopped cleaning and told me that I could teach him right then and there in the street (with tons of cars and noise). So I started teaching him about God´s love for him, how God always calls prophets to guide the world and how they have the authority to baptize, and about Jesus Christ. My companion jumped in and shared the Restoration of the Gospel through José Smith, and I explained the Book of Mormon. We challenged him to read it. He said no. So then I felt very, very inspired to start sharing the ´Most important Thing´. The MIT is that only through utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives by being baptized by somebody holding the priesthood authority of God can we become clean in this life and prepare for the life to come. I told him that without this he couldn´t be saved in the kingdom of God. Then, something amazing happened. His countenance totally changed. He was astonished by what I had told him. He suddenly had desires to read the book. He told us that he was sure to read it. He asked how much it cost. He told us that he was going to pray, no doubt. He thanked us fervently. Unfortunately, he lived in the North and was only there for the fiestas. However, I know that the Spirit of God worked through my companion and I to change his heart.
AMAZING!!!

There is no question in my mind that this is the work of God. What a blessing that I am engaged in it!!

Love you all!
Elder Hales

Capacitacion (training meeting) with the La Serena and Coquimbo zones. Nathan is standing in the back left.

The Coquimbo Zone

2011-09-21T08:02:00.002-04:00

Nathan and his companion, Elder Yorguson

Qué tal??

Okay so I have so many cool stories that I want to tell you all about, but I will have to settle for just a few. This has been a crazy week here in Coquimbo because it is the week of fiestas for the indepence day here in Chile. The 18th was independence day, but today is that peak of the parties. This started a full ten days ago! People from all over Chile are here visiting Coquimbo becuase we have the Pamilla. The pampilla is basically a huge cerro (hill) near the ocean where people go to party. There are tons of negocios (businesses) that have things that are dirt cheap. So naturally there are thousands of people at this place. There are concerts and cerveza barrato (cheap beer), and for that there are so many borrachos (drunks)! Whoo its a mess. We have some awesome investigators near the pampilla, but we can´t go over there past 7, because we stick out like sore thumbs to the eyes of every borracho. De hecho (in fact), we got chased up a hill by this borracho (quite a feat on his part) and he kept telling me how God is in his heart and trying to get out. Hahaha super funny.

So basically every person that we have contacted ( a bunch!) have been from somewhere else. We have been having a little bit of a tough time here in llano with the work. We have some decent people, but they just aren´t progressing. We have had to really go through and start cleaning out every person who isn´t progressing. So lots of finding and leaving. We are pretty much on our feet all day. Yeah!

But the amazing thing is that I see miracles on a daily basis. Every single day I am blessed. Okay so we had two different trainings this week. We had president Corbridge come and give us a four hour talk. It changed my mission. Changed my life! He went through and answered just about every question that I had about how I can be an effective missionary. It was AMAZING! He taught us the Most Important Thing. Basically it comes down to this. Out of everything that we teach someone, how much can they repeat back in a week? Almost nothing! So what is it that we can teach them that would be the most important thing to know? Basically, the MIT is this: We have a vision of our destination, the route to get there, and what we need to do to follow it. The greatest gift of God in this life is the gift of the Holy Ghost. We have the constant companionship of a Diety. Through following Jesus Christ, and ONLY through His atoning sacrifice, can we prepare ourselves for the life after this. If we do this we can, with our families, gain eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God (DyC 14:7). Cool huh? We also had an awesome capacitación (training) with President Gillespie yesterday. Super powerful!

I love you guys! Qué les vaya bien!!

Elder Hales

Nathan's Letter 9-12-11

2011-09-14T21:06:00.001-04:00

Elder Hales in Coquimbo, Chile

View of the Ocean (possibly from Nathan's apartment)

Elders off to work

Hola!!

So how´s it going? I am writing from COQUIMBO, CHILE!!! This is honestly the best area in the best country in the world!! There are so many people that are prepared and just waiting for us to find them. So far, we haven´t found them. Hahaha but that doesn´t mean that they´re not there, because I know they are! So a quick update on who we are teaching and working with, and then some cool things about Chile.

Paola got confirmed on Sunday. It is very apparent to me that there is opposition in all things, but its okay because it all worked out in the end, and Paola is doing so great! Berta is struggling a little bit, but we are still going to try to get her cheered up and into the waters of baptism! We have a lot of people who are a little wishy washy right now, and so this will be another week of cleansing and finding. But, I know that this is just a trial of faith, and that with diligence and the Lord we will be able to find those who are prepared. Whoo!

Something that the Lord taught me this week was about this. How will I be able to appreciate the success that I am going to have, without seeing what its like not to have it? I know that this is an eternal principle. We have to appreciate what its like not to have a good grade on a test in order to appreciate the good grades that we work hard for. Likewise, we must know what its like not to have the companionship of the Lord in order to realize and appreciate what its like to have Him with us always. Indeed, even our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, had to suffer the awful pain and terrible loneliness of losing the companionship of God. But all these things are for our benefit and our good. Because now we know!! That´s why it is so important to find the people who are ready, and they too can feel the joy that Alma the younger felt (Alma 36) as they repent and enter into baptism!!

So, Chile is not like most coicos from the states think it is. Although there are definitely some poor areas here in Coquimbo, there are also some nice houses and educated people. All of the streets here have random names like las torres, alessandria, or cauquan. And getting directions (I forgot how to say that in english) is almost impossible! Haha when I got here a couple of weeks ago it was SO HARD to understand the people. They speak very quickly here, and they have so many different dichos (sayings) that its almost impossible to put it all together. But, I am learning quickly, and I don´t think the language will be much of a problem. It is definitely still pretty tough to communicate, but with practice that will come too. To get around to places far away we use colectivos. These are tiny little black cars that pack in like 5 people and drive around like crazy following their routes. They are so much fun!!

Okay so the meals here are wayyyy different. This is a typical Chilean day for food:

Desayuno (breakfast): some pan (bread) with a little bit of milk.

Almuerzo (lunch): Start off with a huge bowl of soup, then the HUGE entree (this is where I feel like I might start throwing up), then sometimes a salad of tomatoes and a little bit of lettuce, and then a huge slice of postre (dessert). This meal takes about one and a half hours. Soda or juice is almost always served.

Once (pronounced "own-say," as in the number eleven): At random times throughout the day (mainly when the missionaries knock on your door) people decide to have once. It is just a small little supper that consists of some pan and maybe leftovers and milk. I personally have never had once, so I don´t know! As a missionary I only eat breakfast and lunch. And then a small something before bed.

Crazy huh? Tomatoes are huge here, as well as mashed potatoes and rice. Olives too!

Well, this is an amazing experience, and I learn something new almost every hour! I haven´t been here long, but I have seen this gospel change people´s lives. It’s changed mine. Love you all!

Elder Hales
KTF

Nathan's Letter 9-5-11

2011-09-05T20:17:00.004-04:00

Hola!

So I don´t have a whole lot of time, but here is a quick run down of what’s going on with me. Don´t worry about me, I’m doing super great. I am adjusting well, and it really isn´t that hard. I had a crazy trip, I didn’t sleep for like 44 hours. I had two plane rides, two bus rides (9 hours total), and a lot of waiting around. But I eventually made it here at three in the morning on Wednesday.

My trainer is Elder Yorgason, from Provo, Utah. I think I am probably the first person he has ever trained, but he is awesome. We are learning so much together. We are here in Coquimbo, Chile. We live in a place called Parte Alta. It is right underneath the hugest building that looks like a cross. I think it’s a church!

Cruz del Tercer Milenio (See google map link below to zoom in on its location)

We are working in a place called Llano. We had a confirmation yesterday which was awesome! It almost didn´t go through, because she had some doubts after the baptism, but we got her there, and now she is doing so great! Last night she gave us a reference and we went with her to go talk to this lady called Berta. Berta is an older lady who is really, really struggling. She has a lot of problems. However, we shared a great lesson, and I think she is really going to progress. The amazing thing, however, was that she definitely wouldn’t have listened to us without our friend Paola (the one who just got confirmed). Berta had seen some crazy anti-mormon stuff and she was a little spooked, but we worked through it. We also have a mother and a daughter that we have been teaching who just need to go to church before they get baptized. When I got here, there was a lot of confusion, and we spent a lot of time just weeding out people who were not receptive, but were still on our list. So it was kind of a cleansing week. But it’s all good, because this next week is going to be awesome!!

So Chile is pretty different from the United States. The people are wayyyy different. More friendly, but also willing to say what’s on their mind. Elder Yorgason is a big fan of knocking on doors, so we have been using that a lot in our effort to find people to teach. Some of the people have been SO funny. It’s obvious that they don´t want to listen to us, and they are too nice to slam the door. Haha so sometimes we take advantage of that to try and teach them the amazing message that we have.

Nathan's Apartment

My pension (apartment) is pretty small. My companion has 1 year (translation: he’s been out one year), and he said it’s the smallest he has had by far. Also, he said that he is in the poorest part of Chile that he has ever been in. But, there are so many people that are ready! We just need to find em, and then teach em, and then baptize em. Well, I have to go, but remember that what I am doing is right. It helps people like nothing else can, when nobody else can.

Ciao,

Elder Hales

View of Vina Del Mar the day Nathan arrived

View of Vina Del Mar

Nathan Arrives in Chile Aug 30, 2011.

2011-09-05T19:20:00.002-04:00

Elder Hales with Pres. & Sis. Gillespie in front of the famous flower clock in Vina Del Mar.

The new missionaries and their trainers. (Nathan is in the back row).

All the new missionaries with Pres. & Sis. Gillespie in front of the clock.

New missionaries getting picked up at the airport. (Nathan is behind Pres. & Sis. Gillespie).

Thanks to the Chile Vina Del Mar Mission for the great pictures!

Nathan's Letter 8-25-11

2011-08-27T21:28:00.001-04:00

Hola!

Comó estan? So this is it! The last week here at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. In four days I will be in the best country in the world: CHILE! Okay, so I just wanted to give a shout out to all my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandmas and everybody who took part in sending me that awesome package a couple of weeks ago. I was reading over all of the awesome cards and gifts, and I was just SO grateful for the amazing support of an amazing family. So... Thank you!

So to all of those people out there who are thinking about (and should be ;D) sending me amazing packages and/or letters, my new address is going to be this:

Elder Nathan Hales

La Mision de Chile Vina del Mar
4 Norte 1112
Vina Del Mar
CHILE

So I am flying to Atlanta on Monday afternoon and then I will be traveling to Santiago all through Monday night and I will arrive there at 8:30 in the morning on Tuesday. I will then take a 1 1/2 hour ride to Vina del Mar!!!! Then I will be traveling to who knows where to my new companion in one of the areas of my mission. So, a LOT of traveling! Haha, but don't worry, I know it will be an amazing opportunity to spread this amazing message that I have.

So just a quick follow-up on my good friend, Jorge. (hey I think I shared this story with everybody right?) If you remember, Jorge was having a tough time with some of the things that we were teaching him. We had a some really great visits in the past week or two, and we have been encouraging him to pray and read the Book of Mormon. We knew that if he prayed to his Father in Heaven that he would get an answer about everything that we have been teaching him. So our very last visit, I think about two days ago, he told us that he had recieved a confirmation. He felt an amazing peace inside, and he knew that all of his doubts didn't stop him from knowing what was true. It was really a great experience for him, and for us. I know that what I am sharing with the world is true. No doubt!

Les Extraño mucho (I miss you so much)

Elder Hales
KTF

Nathan's Letter 8-19-11

2011-08-24T21:59:00.001-04:00

Hola!

So this week has been awesome for a couple of reasons. I learned a LOT. I am getting my travel plans to CHILE today!!! I only have 11 more days here!

So I would encourage you to read Alma 12-26 when you have a chance and make sure you pay attention to the missionary work. Alma and Amuleck are a great companionship, look to how they work well together. Also, look at how Ammon converts King Lamoni. Pay attention to the first question that Lamoni asks, what does that mean about him? Pay attention to what Ammon does to teach truth to a person who doesn't have a Christian background. Those few verses of his teaching are probably one of the best in the Book of Mormon. He answers the question while teaching truth. It really is incredible. Also, the definition of success can easily be seen. It depends on who you teach!

So everyday we have an hour of language study. I have been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I am currently reading in Alma 21 ( I started in chapter 12) and I am writing down every word that I don't know that I think I might be able to use. I review the cards when I have a chance throughout the day. It is helping to improve my vocab!

So I want to share just a quick experience that I had this week. Here at the Missionary Training Center, I am teaching several people about Jesus Christ and about our church. These people are either volunteers or our teachers. One of my teachers plays the role of a person he taught in the Dominican Republic, named Jorge. Jorge has been a golden person to teach (or investigator), because he has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon, and pretty much doing everything right in order to find out for himself if the things we teach him are true. Well, he has a baptism scheduled for the 28th of August, and he was progressing really well until Tuesday. We had met with him on Monday night and he seemed a little tired, but he was doing great. We swung by (we teach him in the middle of our class time) on Tuesday morning and he told us that he didn't want to meet with us anymore and that he was done investigating. This was pretty hard for me and my companions, because we had really come to care about Jorge (even though he wasn't real). We planned and studied everyday so we could teach him more about Jesus Christ. We have been teaching him for over a month, and it was really hard to hear that. Well, being the stubborn and persistent person that I am, I decided to give it one push right then and there to see if he would listen to us. I told him about how my membership in the church had blessed my life immensely. I told him about what I knew. I told him about Jesus Christ, and how He suffered for us so that we could overcome any trial, any pain, anything in our life. He has gone through it all. For us. I told him about the Book of Mormon, and how it contains everything that we need to be successful in this life.

Well, he told us that he would pray more about it and that we could come check back in a day or two. We haven't had a chance to meet with him yet, but I know that if he really prays to know, that he will know. Because of Father in Heaven loves us, and wants us to know what is true, what is right.

I can't wait to go to Chile and start teaching the people there about how they can be happy. I just hope that I might be the means of bringing a few people to know their Savior, and to feel His love. This work is true!

Elder Hales

Nathan's Letter 8-11-11

2011-08-13T19:03:00.000-04:00

Hola!

So I think that I have 18 more days until I fly to CHILE! Not that I'm counting or anything... This has really been an amazing experience here at the MTC. It has been the most amazing when I am simply in my own little world immersed in the word of God. The scriptures are real, and they are powerful. When we dedicate our time to them, we will be happy. No question about it! I also am the happiest when I am in the middle of teaching somebody, and I can feel the Holy Ghost bear testimony to me and to the person that I am teaching that what I am saying is true. This almost always happens when I express the love that our Father in Heaven has for that person that I am teaching. This work that I am engaged in is a work of love. I feel that I am going to love the people of Chile, I mean really love them, as I feel the love that our God, our Father in Heaven, has for them. Then, I will do everything I possibly can to help them come unto our Savior. There they will find the answers to their questions, there they will find the ability to mend torn relationships, there they will be able to feel the peace of God in a world so full of hate.

Haha, wow I guess I might be a little passionate about this.

I want to let you know that missionary work is so important. It is so important. In Preach My Gospel, a prophet of God said something to the effect of: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can unite this world. It is the only thing that bring peace to a world so full of war. It is the only thing that will thing that will save this world from a certain destruction.

Once again, if there is anybody reading this blog who hasn't read the Book of Mormon today, please stop reading right now and go read that book. I know it will change your life. It has changed mine. I know that this book is true. It was brought forth by the power of God through a prophet. Joesph Smith is the man! If you don't know who he is, ask someone who does. See how their face lights up. There is a reason! Joesph Smith was just a simple man, yet he has done more for you than you know. The Book of Mormon alone would be an amazing miracle. Jesus Christ restored His church through this simple man so that we can have the truths taught there. La iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias es verdadero. The teachings will bring you closer to the head of the church, Jesus Christ, and therein will you find happiness. I love you all, and I know that God loves you too.

Un abrazo,

Elder Hales

KTF

Nathan at the Missionary Training Center (MTC)

2011-08-13T18:46:00.002-04:00

Nathan even studies while he does his laundry?

Nathan and his companions - Elders Kirkpatrick and Ritchie

What? Is the MTC now teaching a new ninja sneak attack proselyting method? HA HA HA.

Top Bunk

Nathan's district in the classic pose - everyone pointing to their mission.

Personal study time.

In the classroom.

Elder Hales and Elder Brown.

Nathan's room is "commendable!" (That's a first!, ha ha)

2011-08-07T17:53:00.001-04:00

Hola!

Another amazing week at the MTC. I don't have a lot of time today, so I am going to give you a brief synopsis of whats been going on in the life of Elder Hales. We have decided to speak solomente in espanol from the beginning of this week until we leave the MTC. This is a great goal, and a hard one to live. More importantly, however, is that we are all growing so much. I have had the privilege every day this week to study the gospel of Jesus Christ all day long (pretty much). The things that I am learning now are not for two years, they are for a lifetime. I am learning how to teach the people of Chile, and, more importantly, I am learning how I will teach my children. I am learning how to work hard, and I am learning how to work hard to provide for my family. I am learning how to deal with two companions, likewise I am learning how tough the early saints had it. One is hard enough ;) Hahaha Seriously, dealing with two companions, even though I was blessed with two wonderful missionaries (who are looking over my shoulder), it is really tough to be with them all day EVERY day. I am learning how to get along with people. I am learning to compromise and how to humble myself. Well, just know that I am learning how to be a husband, father, and employee. Its great!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Only a few more weeks! I know that I am doing God's work. I know that He lives. And if your reading this blog, I love you!

Elder Hales

2011-07-28T19:21:00.004-04:00

Hola!

So I heard that my blog is now up and running! I guess that gives me some motivation to make these letters good! Haha

Okay so this week has been hard. My teacher made us write "dear john" letters (From Nathan's mom: dear John letters are what every missionary dreads! It's when his girlfriend back home writes to tell him that she has found someone else and its over with him!) to ENGLISH! So now every second of every day is filled with Spanish (mostly haha). This has helped me so much. The whole idea is this: I am going to have many investigators in Chile who are addicted to things. In order to better understand them I am going to have to overcome my addiction-- English. It is a little silly, but I think it will help me gain a better perspective on these people who I am going to help. It certainly is helping my Spanish, I am starting to speak without having to think much about it. My retention level is out of the roof! And after conjugating over 160 verbs in 6 tenses, I am getting pretty good at that too! The language is pretty difficult, but it certainly is coming along!

So during this week I have been working with two different investigators, Megan and Jorge. They are both old investigators that my teachers (who play the investigators) had in their missions and they have real needs and concerns that we have to find out. It was a challenge last week to teach in Spanish, but this week has been SO much easier.

So Sunday I was able to go watch a broadcast of a talk given by Elder Holland. He came to the MTC about five years ago to give this talk and it is AMAZING. He talked about how our missions will effect us for the rest of our lives. The choices we make in the next two years will determine the rest of our lives. He testified to us in a way that only he can do, and only he can do in the MTC. You don't get to hear talks like that in General Conference. He seriously got me so pumped. I want to be as obedient as is humanly possible. I want to spend every minute of every day for the next two years in the service of the Lord, not myself. This isn't my time. This is the Lord's time. When I give myself over to Him, He will make me greater than I could every imagine. So amazing.

I am officially Half Way Done!!

I am doing my best to make this experience a good one and to learn as much as I can, but it certainly isn't easy because I want to get to CHILE so bad! I know that I have a lot to learn, however, so I am going to definitely make the best of it. Tambien, my cousin Elizabeth John came in to the MTC yesterday, Whoo WHoo!

So one of my teachers, Hermana Peñalillo, is muy embarazada. She is due in two weeks! So she is leaving this Saturday. Tambien, my other teacher Hermano Blazzard is graduating from BYU and is leaving his job at the MTC. My third teacher Hermano Noltenmyer, however, is staying with us. So we will get a brand new teacher to replace the two leaving. So I am excited to find out who that will be! Hermano Noltenmyer served his mission in the Dominican Republic and got back only about two months ago. He is an awesome teacher.

So this will most likely be my last week as district leader, and I am kinda excited to be able to study more and worry only about myself! Haha but I have enjoyed serving the other missionaries in my district.

I feel as though this mission has changed who I am, and I have only been here for a month. I haven't left this tiny little compound and I can feel the Lord changing me. I am so blessed to be here. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends. This is where I am supposed to be!

Un abrazo,

Elder Hales

KTF

2011-07-27T21:51:00.002-04:00

7-21-11

Como está??

So another week here at the MTC. This is kinda the week when you start really finding out things you like and dislike about your companions. You enjoy the things that they do well, and you get over everything else! Haha

Okay so this week has been full of some amazing experiences, but the one I am going to share was definitely my favorite. Every Tuesday night here at the Missionary Training Center we have a speaker and his wife come and address us. So far they have been good speakers that have great advice. Last Tuesday we had brother and sister Hammond come and speak to us. Brother Hammond is an emeritus general authority. Sister Hammond is one of the most loving people I have ever seen. Seriously, she was incredible. She talked all about their three years in Bolivia serving as the companion to a mission president. She had such an amazing love for the people there. I can't wait to have that love for the people of Chile!!! Brother Hammond bore a powerful witness of the power of the Book of Mormon. He loves that book more than anything in this world (except for Sister Hammond of course). Wow, I was ready to go that night to Chile for the rest of my life. Nothing else has ever made me this happy.

Well, another cool experience that has started this week is something called a progressing investigator. My companionship is starting to teach our teachers (who take on the role of a previous investigator with real doubts and concerns), every single time we have class. This is going fairly well, my Spanish is certainly holding me back, but I am getting better!

I have decided that in order to speak the language of Spanish I am going to have to work hard at it. Therefore, I bought a 301 verb book at the book store and I have started to conjugate every single verb in the six tenses that I will be using them in (for the most part). Present, preterit, imperfect, future, conditional, subjunctive. And I guess I also conjugate it into a gerund and past participle. Well, its hard work, but I am already in the C's! Whoo Whoo!! Also, we had a day of only Spanish that went pretty well. But wow it makes me TIRED!

So I just want to share what I know about the Book of Mormon. It is the word of God. It has a power in it that is very palpable. As soon as you start a serious study of it, you will begin to feel that power flow into your life. I love it. I wish I could just sit in my classroom all day and read from it. Unfortunately, I have other things to work on (Spanish). I know that it has the power to change lives. If you are reading this, and you haven't read the Book of Mormon, stop reading this and go read the Book of Mormon!! My entire purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ, not persuade them with pretty words. The only way that people can come unto Christ is through reading this book and praying to our Father in Heaven if it is true. So, read it and pray about it. I know that if you do that, the Lord will let you know whether or not it is true. You will know. So just give it a try!!!

I love this work, it makes me happy because it has blessed my life. I cannot wait to see it bless the lives of the people of Chile.

Un abrazo,
Elder Hales
KTF

2011-07-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

7-14-11

To all my blog readers!

Hmm. That intro made me wonder if there are any blog readers besides my mom? Haha oh well, I have always liked talking to myself.

So this week was really awesome. Tuesday we spoke solomente en espanol. It was hard!! But oh wow it helped. My Spanish is getting way better! (not like it was any good to start out with) haha. Also, we finally have three consistent teachers. They are all awesome and I am learning so much from all of them. They all have some pretty awesome stories too! I think next week we are going to try two days only Spanish. This place is seriously amazing. I feel so good everyday because I am doing the Lord's work. Awesome!! Well, I think that these updates are going to be a whole lot more interesting once I actually get out of Provo, but thanks for reading them now! I'll make sure to tell you some awesome stories in the future okay? Sweet.

Elder Hales

KTF

2011-07-27T21:33:00.001-04:00

7-7-11

Hola!

So this was my first full week here at the Missionary Training Center. This week has been full of amazing experiences, and lots of learning. However, for time's sake I think I will tell you guys just a few of the highlights.

So on Saturday night we had a big celebration for the fourth of July, which was interesting because we have so many people here from all around the world. It would certainly seem strange to me if I were from South Africa! Well, after that meeting we got to go outside and watch the fireworks from the Stadium of Fire. It was awesome!

Sunday night was even better! We had a meeting with all the missionaries, and the key speaker/performer was Jenny Oaks Baker. Don't worry, I didn't know about her either! Haha But apparently she is one of the most accomplished violinists in the world. Her father is Elder Oaks! Well she would tell us stories about her life as a performer, and then she would play the most beautiful pieces. Having played the violin some myself, I could recognize how amazing she was. The definite highlight of the night, however, was when she had her four-year old, six-year old, and eight- year old perform. The 8 year old played the piano really well, I was really amazed! The other girls played the violin and cello. The did a really really good job, and afterwards everybody couldn't help but giving them a standing ovation. It was sweet!

Tuesday night we had an emeritus General Authority come talk to us. Brother Kofford did an extraordinary job. He gave us very usable and simple advice that has already helped me become a better missionary. Sweet!

Another highlight was on Monday morning. Every week we will be going to a place here called the Training Resource Center, or TRC. We went on Monday morning to teach volunteers the lesson that we are learning for the week. Monday we were scheduled to teach the very first lesson in English. This was going to be great, because I felt very comfortable in my ability to teach. Well, it turned out that we were teaching other missionaries who had been here for 8 weeks, and they told us, in Spanish, that they wanted us to teach solomente en espanol. Oh no! Haha I had no idea what I was going to say. I could barely ask where the bathroom was let alone teach a forty minute lesson to missionaries who had already been teaching the lesson for two months! Well, it went fairly well with the help of my companions and another, more experienced, missionary. So we decided then and there that we were going to teach the rest of the lessons in Spanish even though we weren't supposed to start that for another month. We have been practicing this week and it has gone really well! My Spanish is constantly improving, and I am feeling a lot more comfortable every day!

So it also turns out that I don't need a visa to go to Chile after all. I got a letter from the travel office that told me that all I needed to do was show them my passport, and I was good to go. I cannot wait to get out there! I don't know if there are any young men or women reading this, but if you have any doubts on whether to go on a mission or not, let me tell you something. You will not regret the choice to go. I have only been here a week and I have had some problems and I can see some potential problems, but seriously I feel so good to wake up everyday knowing that I am serving my God. Yo se qué este evangelio de Jesucristo es verdadero. Y Mediante la expiación de Jesucristo seremos feliz y vivimos con nuestros familias por eternidad.

Un abrazo,

Elder Nathan Hales

KTF

2011-07-26T09:41:00.002-04:00

7-2-11

Hola!

So I am at the MTC!! The missionary training center is an amazing place that is filled with young men and women full of burning testimonies. I get to learn a foreign language with thousands of other men and women my age. I am in the intermediate class, and I am doing my best to learn Spanish. Okay, here is what I got: Yo soy un missionero del iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias. Pretty awesome huh? Okay so I have two companions here at the MTC. Elder Richie, Elder Kirkpatrick, and I are in a trio. These elders are awesome. Elder Richie is a very robust guy from Denton, Texas. He is going to the California, Roseville mission. My other companion, Elder Kirk, is a fairly quiet guy from Colorado Springs and he is going to the Chile, Vina del Mar mission! There are seven elders in my district, and four hermanas. Two days ago I was called to be the district leader. Basically, I go to extra meetings and pick up the mail... Haha but I am definitely grateful for the opportunity to serve my district. Everybody except for me and Kirk are going stateside. New York, Texas, and California are just a few of the missions.

The elders and hermanas in my district are way smart and I feel like they are all way better at speaking Spanish than me. However, I had the benefit of an awesome senor companion before I came out here, and there are a lot of things that I know about that these other missionaries have no idea about. In our class we have been speaking mainly in Spanish, but sometimes we speak in English to make sure that we understand. I have two different teachers, Hermano Lewis y Hermana Lopez. They are both awesome, but they definitely do not go easy on us!

So these first few days have way different than the rest of my time here at the MTC. All the new missionaries have been going through a bunch of orientation meetings and teaching lessons in groups. After the first week, however, I will be on a pretty regular schedule. We have been practicing the first lesson as a companionship, and on Monday we get to teach real investigators! Well... volunteers pretending to be investigators haha.

Okay so when I first got here they sent me immediately to my classroom because I was late. But the problem was I didn't have my luggage! I had left it in the front of the MTC because they told me, and I thought they were going to put it up for me. Well, they didn't. haha and my first night was spent trying to find my luggage with my Zone Leaders. Haha I was a little worried because it had been sitting out for about 6 hours, but every thing was still there! Whew...

So I have realized in just the few days that I have been here that I am not really very useful if I don't have the spirit with me. It is all about the investigators and their relationship with God. All I do is invite them and help them to get there. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Awesome! Well, let's see what else I can learn this week! Until then,

Hasta luego,

Elder Nathan Hales

KTF (keep the faith)

Nathan's Mission - How It All Started

2011-07-24T17:36:00.002-04:00

On March 22, 2011 Nathan opened his mailbox in Provo, Utah, and found a large white envelope addressed to Elder Nathan Robert Hales. He dialed up his parents on Skype so his family back in North Carolina could watch him open the letter. When he read aloud the words “you are hereby called to serve in the Chile Viña del Mar mission,” his family went crazy, cheering, crying, and quickly googling everything they could find about the place. Nathan just grinned. Viña del Mar, Chile. Yeah. It just felt right!

Nathan, Mom, Dad, and Justin at the temple together

Two brothers, two missionaries

On June 29 Nathan said goodbye to his family, boarded a plane, and flew to Utah where began his mission at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). Thirteen days earlier, his older brother, Justin, completed his two-year mission in Argentina. (See earlier blog entries for details on Justin’s mission). For those thirteen days the two brothers were inseparable—Justin teaching Nathan about mission life, and Nathan reintroducing Justin to “civilian” life.

On Sunday, June 26^th, both spoke in church. Later that day friends and family came to their home to wish them both well. A “bienvenidos” for Justin. A “despedida” for Nathan.

Friends and family gather to wish Nathan well

Then later that night, Nathan met with President Catlett and was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mission had begun.

Elder Hales and Stake President Joseph Catlett

Early on the morning of June 29, 2011, Nathan and his family drove to the Fayetteville airport. Saying goodbye for two years was rough, but Nathan never wavered in his purpose. Later that day he entered the MTC where he will study and prepare for two months. Then, off to Chile!

Saying goodbye at the airport

At the MTC

Sigue fuerte, Elder Hales!

JUSTIN IS HOME!!!

2011-07-02T23:30:00.004-04:00

Bienvenidos Elder Hales!

2011-07-02T23:13:00.000-04:00

28 switchbacks...without railings!

The Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile

The Santiago, Chile Temple

2011-07-02T23:07:00.000-04:00

Crossing the Andes Mountains

2011-07-02T22:56:00.002-04:00

Last day with President and Sister Gulbrandsen

2011-07-02T22:46:00.002-04:00

The Yovera family, I love these guys!

2011-07-02T22:39:00.002-04:00

Awesome members from La Boca

2011-07-02T22:26:00.002-04:00

Members from Parque Chacabuco that came to say goodbye in the missionary farewell!

The Journey Home

2011-07-02T22:16:00.001-04:00

I’m home! After two years of serving in Argentina, it finally came to an end. It was an insane trip back home, so I’ll try to sum it up for you.

We were supposed to leave Buenos Aires late at night on the 13^th of June, arriving in the states the next day. However, the week before we left, a volcano erupted in southern Chile. Although it was far away, the ash cloud settled over Buenos Aires, canceling all flights in and out of the country! There was a light dusting of ash all over the city and the sun was actually fogged over a little bit with the ash. But, we were out of luck. So, after waiting about a day for the airport to open, we were told that we were going to go to Santiago, Chile…BY BUS! So we loaded up and drove 22 hours across the country and the andes mountains, in the middle of winter, to Chile. We only stopped once to eat. They gave us half of a cook chicken and a chopped potato. It was pretty typical of Argentina haha. But, at least I wasn’t in a chicken bus like a lot of people thought!

Then, in Santiago, we hooked up with a missionary’s parents (who tried flying into Buenos Aires but were diverted at the last minute because of the ash) who took us to a super nice hotel to take showers, eat, and rest. Then, from there, I flew to Miami and then to North Carolina. Our story even made Church News! Check it out: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/61074/Home-at-last-2-Volcano-delays-return-of-missionaries.html#

It honestly was a way sweet trip and I actually prefer it to just going straight home! Hopefully one day I can go back and visit those awesome countries again, but meanwhile, Nathan will be doing work in Chile, right where I left off!

I also just wanted to thank you guys so much for checking out this blog, for your prayers, for your letters, especially for your packages with candy and maple syrup, and for your support. It made all the difference! My mission was life-changing, and it was possible because of you guys!

Also, before you delete this site from your favorites list, keep tuned! Nathan is going to write on this same blog, and his mission is going to be AWESOME!

The Last P-Day

2011-06-06T22:07:00.000-04:00

Justin and his companions eating asado

ASADO!!!

The famous Puente De La Mujer (Bridge of the Woman)

The Last Letter From Argentina

2011-06-06T21:45:00.000-04:00

Hey,

Well, this is it! This is my last p-day. This is the last time I will sit in a "ciber" internet cafe and write to you guys. I still remember the first thing I wrote when I got to Argentina: "Hi, I made it! I think I live in the most ghetto part of town! See ya later, Justin." HAHA!! That was in Parque Chacubuco, which is actually a pretty part of town! Man, I had major culture shock. But, listen, I`m not really sure who read this blog, or if anybody even did read it, but thanks for supporting me, especially with your prayers. They got all the way down here, and they worked! In spite of the fact that I was preaching the gospel in the slums of Buenos Aires, I was protected by angels, thanks to your prayers.

As I was studying this morning, I was trying to think of how I could sum up what this experience has been...and I couldn`t really do it! Haha, I guess you just have to serve a mission to know what I mean. But among the things I learned were how to receive revelation, how to exercise an active faith, what it means to really have charity for somebody, and, most importantly, that I honestly don`t know very much about missionary work. When I started the mission I thought that I was John the Baptist jr. HA! Man, now I feel like I need the MTC more than anything else!

The fact is that I`m addicted to Argentine ice cream and alfahores, that I speak spanish, and that I have recently eaten-Argentine asado running through my veins. This land and the people here are literally a part of me, a part of my soul. I understand them, I`ve seen the very worst and the very best of them. And, I`ve served them with all my heart for two years. I love them so much. It still hasn`t hit me that I`m not going to be with them for a while, but when it does there will for sure be tears.

Now, the most important thing that has happened on my mission, apart from what I was able to give to these people, my converts, etc. is what has happened to me. I knew that the gospel was true before the mission, and because of that I was able to preach it with confidence. But, now, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the rock solid, absolute core of my life. Its everything. And, I`ve dedicated myself to it for the eternities. In every ward I`m in, I`m going to visit the less actives, help the missionaries to baptize more people, and inspire the youth to go on missions. I`m going to marry the best wife in the whole world, have an awesome family who is solid in the gospel, and be the best father I can possibly be. Every part of my life will be centered in helping me, my family, and others make it to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. I hope that that will be a start for what the Lord expects of me.

Gente, THIS IS THE TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. HE LIVES! He has an organized and restored church upon the earth. There are living prophets and apostles today. The Book of Mormon is true. If you are reading this and don`t know that these things are real, that they are true, stop reading the computer screen right now, get on your knees, and ask God if they are! And you will get your answer. The Holy Ghost will whisper peace, joy, and assurance to your heart. You might think it is lame, or weird, or whatever, but you`ll never know that its true until you try. And that knowledge has literally changed lives in front of my eyes. I`ve seen family after family, person after person, change and become better. This is the secret to happiness.

So, anyway, just so you know, this week is going to be SAWEEEEET. We are planning on having 2 baptisms here in La Boca. And, this weekend is stake conference, with a special transmission from the first presidency. And, to top it off, we are going to combine all the baptismal services in the zone into one, right after stake conference. Waters of Mormon style! We are expecting 10+ baptisms in the zone. Then, on Sunday, I`ll get to see my converts and members in a farewell for all the missionaries that are going home, held in San Fernando. Then, next Monday I fly out of Buenos Aires and land in the humidity of NC on Tuesday, June 14th.

Well, I don`t have much more to say. I got a lot of stories to tell, but we`ll just have to chat when I get back. I love you guys a ton. Have a great week.

With love,

Elder Justin Robert Hales
Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission
June 10, 2009 - June 14, 2011

KTF (keep the faith)

2011-05-31T15:12:00.000-04:00

Elder Hales with Diego Maradona (an Argentine soccer player and superhero)

A Family Picture on Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

Hola,

Bueno, this week was awesome! We worked a ton and, even though Ana Maria didn`t make it to her baptism, we are going to do everything possible so that she makes it. We also had a cool experience with a young man named Yefri (Jeffrey in gringo talk). Yefri is an old investigator who is sixteen and has a bunch of friends in the church. He had stopped going to church for a year, but has come back. And, he saw a baptism on sunday of another ward and LOVED it. After the baptism, he commited to be baptized this saturday, yeah baby. Yefri and his family have a tourist store on caminito and Yefri knows like all the gangsters in La Boca. We`re going to help him invite all of èm to the baptism!

We are also teaching a man named Pablo, who is the future wife of a member. (note from Elder Hales' mom - I think he means "husband") Pablo never had any kind of religious belief, but he`s been reading the book of mormon, praying, and he`s receiving his testimony. He`s commited to be baptized the 11th of June. That same day a reference from a recent convert named Laura and her daughter victoria will also be baptized.

Ok so the funniest thing happend today. We went to Florida street so that Elder Tapia could buy a new suit and, on the way, we took a bus. As soon as I got on the bus, I heard a shout, "Hey Elders, how are you!" I turned around and there were two blonds sitting on the bus, talking to us in English! They were from Salt Lake and they were here in Buenos Aires for the weekend touring! Haha, we talked for like 10 minutes in english (that was weird) and I felt really akward because the whole bus was watching! But, their names are Bryn Arnell and something else Arnell, in case somebody who reads this knows them. Anyway, it was kinda nice to talk to some gringos.

Well, I`ve got 2 weeks left, but they are going to be two of the hardest working weeks I`m gonna have on the mission! There are still a lot of people to save and families to baptize! VAMOS! I love you guys a ton and can`t wait to see ya.

Un abrazo fuerte,

Elder Justin Hales

2011-05-18T10:43:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,

Well, JANO GOT BAPTIZED!  Wahoo baby!  He was very prepared and it was
an awesome baptism.  We combined with another ward, constituciòn, so
there were a lot of people there to support him.  Ana Maria wasn`t
baptized because she wasn`t able to quit smoking yet.  She`ll get
there!  But, her son Claudio, who never had an interest in the church,
is starting to come to church and we have hope that Claudio can get
baptized with her mom!

Ok, so the training conference in San Fernando this week was AWESOME!!
 President Gulbrandsen taught some pretty deep doctrine about
"knowing" christ.  And, he really emphasized the work with the recent
converts.  Right now in the mission, we are focusing on finding new
investigators through, teaching with, and teaching the recent
converts.  ITS THE KEY!  Even in our area, we are finding and teaching
a ton of people because of it, too many to name!

This sunday, early before church, we are going to have a meeting with
all the missionaries, all the bishops, all the ward mission leaders,
and the stake presidency in the stake.  And....Yao Shau Lin is coming!
 We are going to make plans to teach and baptize a ton of the chinese
immigrants here in Buenos Aires.  And Lin is the pioneer!  It`s gonna
be great.

Well, I thought I`d share with you guys some quotes that my mission
president sent me this week:


Elder Neil L. Andersen


Have you ever thought about why you were sent to earth at this
specific time? You were not born during the time of Adam and Eve or
while pharaohs ruled Egypt or during the Ming dynasty. You have come
to earth at this time, 20 centuries after the first coming of Christ.
The priesthood of God has been restored to the earth, and the Lord has
set His hand to prepare the world for His glorious return. These are
days of great opportunity and important responsibilities. These are
your days.


The Lord declared in this dispensation, “Ye are called to bring to
pass the gathering of mine elect.”  My young brethren, your mission is
a great opportunity and responsibility, important to this promised
gathering and linked to your eternal destiny.


You and I will . . . thank the Lord that He sent us to earth at this
time to fulfill our sacred duty of helping prepare the world for His
return.


Elder Russell M. Nelson

You have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to
be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people.
As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed
to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His
people.



The First Presidency


“You are [a] choice [spirit] who [has] come forth in this day when the
responsibilities and opportunities . . . are the greatest. …



“We pray for each of you … [that] you can do the great work that lies
before you … of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world
for the Second Coming of the Savior.”



Love you guys,

Elder Justin Hales

2011-05-13T18:21:00.000-04:00

What up guys,

Hey, so this week was great! I talked with my family on skype for mother`s day! It was great, I finally got to see how my new house looks, I got to talk to nathan for the first time in a year, and we even took a family picture together on skype! haha! So, apart from that, we are finding a lot of new investigators through the recent converts and the part member families. And, some old investigators, Benjamin and Deisy, showed up to church and they want to get married and get baptized! Also, while we were teaching Benjamin and Deisy in their house, their nephew showed up with his mom and we found out that they were also a part member family. Alexis, the 11 year old nephew, was never baptized but his mom is a less active. He accepted a baptismal date for the 21st of May. Yeah baby! The Lord is blessing us! The part member families and the recent converts is where its at.
The Parada family is on fire man. Juana did some visits with us this week (Daiana, the 8 year old girl, even came to one with us to one visit). And, Carla, the 15 year old girl, brought her boyfriend to church!

This week in San Fernando, we have another training meeting. As always, it should be awesome.

So, I thought I`d give you an update on our buddy Moises. He`s doing great, except that his situation was a little bit stickier than we thought. He`s going to have to get a divorce from a previous wife to be able to get married....sigh...that usually takes a while. But we are still teaching him on a regular basis and he gives us asado once a week! Haha, but that`s not why we are still teaching him on a regular basis! He`s progressing a lot.

Ana Maria Chamorro, who is going to get baptized this saturday, has to quit smoking this week. Pray for her, she`s gonna do it! And, her son, Claudio, is most likely going to make it to the waters of baptism as well.

Alicia is another investigator who is the sister of the relief society president. She just moved here from Paraguay. She has a lot of doubts, but is still progessing. She`s agreed to read and pray about the book of mormon, which she never wanted to do before.

Okay, I have a funny story. Yesterday we ran into a drunk guy named Juan. He was on the chubbier side and had long hair. When he saw us in his conventillo knocking on his neighbor`s door he came out to talk to us (like many drunk people like to do). But, he starting telling us that he had seen Henry Eyring and that he just tells lies to everybody! Haha! I have no idea where he saw or heard him before, he was too drunk to explain it. But, I guess more people have heard of the gospel than we think.

Well, I love you guys I hope you are doing great! I know that this work is true. The spirit has testified to me very clearly and distinctly, every day of my mission, that it is true. It is more engrained in me know than anything else I`ll ever learn or see or know. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day saints is the true church, with a perfect organization, upon the earth today.

And, I testify that Argentina is the coolest country in the world. HAHA! Nah, just kidding, that`s not really part of my testimony. But, it is probably up there with the coolest.

Un abrazo para todos,

Elder Justin Hales

2011-05-02T17:06:00.000-04:00

Hey!

Well, today we had transfers. And, I stayed in La Boca! Yeah baby! I`ll be finishing my mission here. Elder Southern left for home today, so I`m now with Elder Tapia, Elder Di Fini, and Diego (a mini missionary that is here for some paperwork. He`s still not a missionary yet.) WE ARE GOING TO TEAR IT UP HERE!!! We already have 2 baptisms planned for this weekend and we are going to find a ton of families through the recent converts. I`m super stoked!

Last week, Milagros Ramirez was baptized. She`s the friend of the Stigliano family who has been going to seminary every day for a month! And, she came to us and asked to be baptized! Her family isn`t a member yet, but they support her decision. The Stigliano family is on fire, they`ve baptized three of their neighbors already! They all live in the same conventillo (courtyard thing with a bunch of rickety houses around it. There are a ton here in the boca).

I know I didn`t write much this week, but I`m doing great and having a blast. I love you guys, thanks for your prayers!

Elder Hales

2011-04-30T19:31:00.001-04:00

Carla Parada's Baptims

The Baptism of the Parada Family

Lucas Diarte (in the middle) is finally able to get baptized!

2011-04-26T15:51:00.000-04:00

Dear fans,

This week we had the baptism of the Parada family and a young man named Lucas. Lucas had been going to church for 2.5 years, but his parents finally let him get baptized, which was a miracle! Juana Parada, Daiana Parada, and Lucas Diarte were baptized on saturday, and then Carla Parada was baptized on Sunday.

The Parada family was a reference from Formosa. Honestly, we saw the amazing influence members can have in a key lesson with them on monday. We "coordinated" a lesson with the Parada family and a member family who we had felt would make a difference in the lesson (after praying with the members`s list at hand). The lesson was spectacular. After asking some inspired questions, the members bore their testimonies and the spirit was very strong. There were even tears as the Parada family accepted a baptismal date.

After we left the lesson, the member family, without any kind of commitment by us, told us that they wanted to help this family, not only make it to baptism and the temple, but for their rest of their lives. In that moment, they took charge of the complete friendshipping of the Parada family.

Well, with the help of the Arias family (the members), the Parada family made it to baptism. Brother Arias was able to baptize Juana Parada and sister Arias helped her change her clothes. The 8 year old Arias girl helped Daiana, the 8 year old investigator, read the hymn in her baptism. The young women all came and supported Carla, the 15-year old investigator and made instant friends. I honestly have never felt so much joy from being excluded so much! When the members take the investigators under their wings like that, the missionary work is so much more fulfilling and meaningful! And, it is so much easier! I love it! Tonight we have a family home evening with the same member family and the Parada family, all organized by them.

On sunday, I was able to confirm Juana, which was way cool. And, Lucas received the priesthood.

Apart from that miracle, we still have several people to baptize in the weeks that are coming. I feel like La Boca is exploding, and its just the beginning! Vamos!

After the baptism on Sunday, we went and ate dinner with one of the coolest families I`ve ever met on my mission: The Centurion family. They are new to the ward, but excellent members. Bro centurion is a newspaper reporter for La Boca soccer team. They have two twins serving the mission right now and they come home the same time I do. Haha it was so funny because they told me that they give the missionaries food because they hope that somebody does the same for their sons. And, i was thinking, haha my family does the same thing! Anyway, it was a great weekend for sure.

Honestly, I`m finally working with the members the way I`ve always wanted to my whole mission. It`s the best formula for success! And, if we keep it up, I know we`ll be blessed.

Well, love you guys! Share the gospel!

Con mucho amor desde lo profundo de mi corazon,

Justin

2011-04-26T15:48:00.002-04:00

¿Y, que te pasa, eh?

How`s it going? Man, this week has been crazy. But, yesterday we saw an answer to our prayers! Every day, in every prayer, we ask God to help us find men who can go on missions and complete families to be able to teach, baptize, and send to the temple. Its something that Elder Arnold has been asking of all the missionaries. Well, on sunday we got to church and a 16 year old boy named Lucas Diarte came up and told us he can finally get baptized!!!! YEAH BABY!!! He`s been going to church for 2.5 years, but his parents never gave him permission (his situation was pretty similar to Kevin`s in Parque Chacabuco). And, now, after bearing his testimony to his parents, they`ve let him get baptized! He`ll get baptized on saturday at 7:00 pm.

The parada family is progressing, but the dad Nestor works so much that its been hard to teach them. But, we had a great lesson with them in the church and Juana, the mom, already told us she wants to continue going to church for the rest of her life and that she wants us to pass by even more than we are! She`s super excited. And, one of Juana`s daughters, Carla, moved here from Formosa, making them a family of 4! Man, when we teach them, I realize how much we are blessed. I can already see the changes starting to happen in their lives. It`s tangible! I have a feeling that I have no idea of the eternal impact that is occuring in their lives. All I know is that I have to do everything in my power to help them get baptized and continue strong in the straight and narrow path. And, I love em so much and man, this mission makes me so happy!

Anyway, Moises had some complications with his baptism...he`s not married. Here in argentina, its pretty common for people to just form a family without making it official. Even after we had asked him if he was married and where he got married, we didn`t understand that he hadn`t made it official. So, that`ll push the baptism back about a month until they can get hitched.

Tomorrow we have a zone conference planned. Elder Southern and I were assigned to teach about Hope and "No effort is wasted." So, we`re going to do a sweet object lesson with the trust fall! Haha, I`ve never tried something like this while teaching, so we`ll see how it goes. But, it won`t top the time President made us play hide and seek throughout the whole church building to teach us about finding investigators! HAHA! Bye the way, president and sister gulbrandsen are way, way cool. Man, I`ve learned soooooo much from them, its insane.

Well, today we`re going to kick around the soccer ball and eat some mickey d`s. Its right around the corner from our apartment. Well, I hope you guys have a great week. Have fun picking up all the debris from the tornados! Man, that`s a bummer, seriously.

Love,

Elder Justin Hales

2011-04-11T21:35:00.001-04:00

The lightning over Argentina puts on a show!

Inside the famous Boca Stadium in Buenos Aires

These pictures were taken a couple of months ago when Justin was in Rio Gallegos near the southern tip of Argentina, but he just sent them today.

Ten O'Clock AT NIGHT! Still light outside!!

The Rio Gallegos River in the Morning

It's always cloudy over Rio Gallegos

Eternal Impact of a Mission

2011-04-11T21:24:00.000-04:00

HEEEEEEEY!,

Well, this week the Parada family (I thought it was paredes in the last letter, but its actually parada. Gringo mistake.) is doing awesome! They worked a lot this week, so we weren`t able to teach them like we wanted, but today we have a lesson planned with them with the relief society president, which should be great. Really, the participation of the members is key. If they can meet, be friends with, and trust in the members, the whole conversion process is way, way easier. So, that`s what we`re going to do! Plus, we have yet to find and teach all their family members that live in the same conventillo.

Moises (that's Moses in Spanish) is still being his stubborn self, but he`s progressing towards a baptism pronto. We`re planning on having helping his son (who could baptize him) express his feeling for his dad and help him just take that last step of faith. Moses may have parted the red sea, but Moises is scared of the water! HAHA!! (Man, my jokes are getting L-AAAAME)

Well, today we played some good old argentine soccer in the church with some of the other elders, then had some delicious empanadas. The weather is starting to cool off and pretty soon we`ll be pretty chilly here in Buenos Aires.

This week we had to also go pay all the rents in the zone and it took forever! But, we actually found a Subway on the way and stopped in for lunch! Man, it has been almost two years since I`ve tasted a Subway Club! It was actually pretty legit!

The Mansilla family has also been really busy, but we`ve just got to get the members involved more. Agustin, the dad, is starting to soften up and now the next step will be marriage! I love teaching that lesson! Their two girls, celeste and Shirly, are like the coolest, sweetest girls ever! I can already see them in white!

Ok, so, I`ve really been reflecting on the eternal nature of my calling. What I do here means so much more than the planning, the training, the learning, the fun I have, etc. These families are going to forever be changed, their eternal destinies are on the line! Man, when I think about it like that, it makes everything worthwhile. The extra push I may have to make, the extra phone call, the extra member to help out a family, all the extra stuff has eternal significance. If I don`t help these people get baptized and make it to the temple to be sealed as an eternal family, nobody will! Gulp...haha just kidding. I don`t put a lot of pressure on myself. All I do is work hard with the Lord and love every single minute of it.

I love you guys, and I`m loving my mission. I hope it never ends! Share the gospel!

Love,

Elder Hales

2011-04-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

Hey!

Ok guys, we saw a huge miracle this week. I was on divisions with my buddy Elder Vitullo from Mar Del Plata Argentina, and we got a phone call from the mission offices with an urgent reference. We passed by and found a complete family ready to be baptized! They went to their parent´s wedding and baptism in Formosa, Argentina and LOVED IT! then, while they were there for a whole month, went to church and already have a testimony of the book of mormon. They are already married (which is pretty rare here), and they came to general conference! And, they live in a passageway with a bunch of other houses all around and almost everybody who lives next to them are family members! VAMOS! We´ve been praying for men and big families these past weeks in every prayer and the Lord literally handed us one wrapped in gold paper! They accepted a baptismal date for this weekend. Pray for the Paredes family!

Moises also came to general conference. He loved it! He´s progressing very, very well and we hope to see him get baptized this saturday as well. Prayers on his behalf would be awesome. He´s still very hesitant seeing that he just starting coming back to church, but with inspired questions + the spirit we´re going to see a miracle. I know his heart will change.

General Conference was way, way sweet. We got to watch it in english and live, which was a blessing. Man, I´m glad I´m still on my mission or those marriage talks would have been a direct hit at me! This conference I did something different. Instead of taking notes on every talk, I just took my Preach my Gospel and wrote down quotes in the different chapters, depending on what it talked about. I noticed that a lot of my notes were written in the chapter on listening to and following the spirit. I guess I need to do that better!

Today we went to eat at California Burrito (a south american copy of Chipotle) and we totally met the owner. I don´t think he´s that famous, but he gave us each a free extreme nacho, which was pretty cool.

Anyway, I love you guys and hope you are doing great!

Elder Hales

P.S. Last night Boca had a home game and everybody came out of the stadium like right as we were walking by and we almost died! Haha, well it wasn´t that bad, but just imagine a ton of fired up, drunk, south americans leaving a soccer stadium. HA!

2011-03-28T12:34:00.000-04:00

HEY!

Well, first off, I`ve got an announcement to make...Nathan got his mission call!! YEAH BABY! He`s going to Viña del Mar, Chile! I was way stoked when I found out. In fact, when Sister Gulbrandsen called me to tell me, I was in a lesson with one of our investigators, Moises. Moises Medina is the father of a family who are all members except for him. He feels really bad for some things he`s done in the past and can`t forgive himself. In fact, he feels like he should suffer for what he`s done. So, he just consumes himself in his work (he`s a way famous carpenter here in Buenos Aires) and distances himself from God. Well, we`ve been having some charlas (lessons) with him and miracles are happening! He had always taken his family to church in his car on sunday, but had never gone in. So, we waited at the door until he pulled up and gave him a little push, and, after 30 years, he came inside the church! And, he loved it! He said afterward that he had never been in such a peaceful place. His family couldn`t believe it!

Then, later on that week, we ate dinner with them and had another lesson. While we were teaching repentence, Moises just couldn`t accept the fact that God will forgive him. So, out of the blue, I felt prompted to open up a pamphlet that talks about the gospel of jesus christ and have him read a paragraph. Honestly, I haven`t read that pamphlet in like 6 months at least. As he read, it was literally exactly what he needed to hear. He was blown away. He read it and re read it in silence, thinking very deeply. Then he told us that he had never understood repentance like that. He never understood that Christ suffered so that we don`t have to suffer and that to repent doesn`t require huge changes, just a change of heart. It was awesome. Right at that moment, actually, Sister Gulbrandsen tried calling us to tell us about Nathan`s call! But, we ignored it and then put the baptismal date for this weekend! And, for the first time in 30 years, he kneeled down and prayed!

Yesterday Moises came to church, but still has some doubts about his baptism this weekend. But, his son, who is about to go on the mission, stopped us in the hall at church and thanked us for all we are doing with his dad, he was pretty emotional. I love this work! God is leading it!

We also are teaching a couple in which the boyfriend is a member and the girlfriend isn`t. And, they aren`t married. But, they`ve agreed to be married as soon as possible and finally get baptized (she`s been investigating for a long time). Their names are Maria Laura and Nicolas.

The Mansilla family is doing good, they all came to church except the dad. We`re going to have some FHE`s with them this week to help them get married and get baptized!

Last night we taught a less active family, actually the bishop`s daughter. They had gotten offended by somebody at church and hadn`t gone in a couple of months. THe bishop asked us to visit them. So, using inspired questions (something we`re really focused on in the mission right now) we were able to find out their doubt and help them resolve it themselves using the Book of Mormon. The spirit was way strong and through tears they commited to come to church this sunday! Man, the Lord seriously blesses us with the spirit as we teach. We honestly just did almost all questions the whole time and the spirit taught them what they needed to hear.

Wilson is another investigator that is super ready to be baptized, but wants to wait for his family who is supposed to move her from Peru. There are 5 in his family, and when they arrive, they are all going to be baptized together! Pray that they will be able to move here quickly!

Azul`s parents are progressing well, but they still need to get married. We`re going to go with them to help them take out a turn to get married as soon as possilbe (like a month) and then get baptized!

We`re having a lot of success right now with incomplete families. There are a lot here and they are progressing pretty well. I feel like the Lord is blessing us with a lot of success right now and I`m going to work as hard as I can to bring souls to Him. I know that this work is true and that lives change in the Gospel of Christ. I invite you guys to live it.

Love,

Elder J. Hales

Another Missionary in the Family!

2011-03-24T16:36:00.000-04:00

We have another Elder Hales in the family! Nathan got his mission call on Wednesday, March 23, 2011. He has been called to the Chile Vina del mar mission, reporting to the MTC on June 29th. Elder Justin Hales will return home from the Buenos Aires Norte Argentina mission on June 16th!

2011-03-21T17:11:00.001-04:00

Baptism of Mathias

Baptism of Azul

Helping Sand a cement wall

Elder Hales and Elder Davis

2011-03-21T16:50:00.000-04:00

Eh, ¿que hacès pa?

Well, this past week was AWESOME. I did another week of divisions with my buddy Elder Davis and we had two baptisms. The first was Azul (yes, her name is Blue), who is the younger sister of a recent convert. She`s 8 years old, but she looks like she`s 6! Anyway, her parents have to get married to be baptized, but azul didn`t want to wait! She`s been coming to church for a couple months with her brother and an active family right next door (the stigliano family), so she was baptized!

Also, Mathias was baptized as well. Mathias has been going to church for a couple of years now with his family. His mom has been inactive and his dad hasn`t seen him in like 6 months. At first, his dad was opposed to his baptism, but then, miraculously, the missionaries found him where he was living far from here and taught him. So, he said Mathias could be baptized! So, he finally got baptized this saturday! His uncle Nestor baptized him and it was way cool. Mathias shared his testimony about how he had waited for almost 4 years for this day and even got emotional.

Then, yesterday the two of them were confirmed. Mathias asked me to confirm him and, I was super nervous, but it was way cool. He turns twelve this wednesday and will be confirmed a deacon on sunday.

Argentina is really starting to rub off on me. I really feel at home here. We did some service sanding a cement wall on saturday with mathias`s family before the baptism and I realized that I would never sand a cement wall with sandpaper in the states like I did here. But, I loved it! Then, we had giant milanesa sandwhiches. It was great.

Well, we`re teaching a lot of people right now. The Lord is blessing us with families and men, which will help establish the church here. One family we are teaching is an incomplete family called the mansilla family. I don`t know if i already told you about them but Charo is a member from Peru who has been inactive for 20 years. One day we entered into her conventillo and helped a super old lady down the stairs. Afterward, we asked her if there was anyone she knew we could teach. She told us her daughter. So, we visited her daughter and found out she lived right next door to an old investigator`s house and she had never talked to the missionaries when they would walk by because she was too embarassed! We met her whole family and she has a husband and three girls: Shirly, Celeste, and one more that I don`t remember her name. Her husband`s name is Agustìn. Anyway, they are an awesome, awesome family. We`re going to do some big time teaching and fellowshipping this week to get em all converted and baptized. I love it!

So, this week was transfers. Every single area had transfers! I stayed in La Boca and am now in a trio. I`m with Elder Tapia, who is still in the offices resting his injured foot, and Elder Southern, who is with me working. We give Elder Tapia things to do by phone and then he usually emails us lists, etc. by email. It actually works out pretty good!

Well, i love you guys a ton and hope byu is dominating in the NCAA tournament. I can`t watch it, but I`m sure we`re gonna win hahaha! Keep the faith.

Elder J. Hales

2011-03-14T17:27:00.003-04:00

Hey, that picture looks familiar

Florida Street

Elder Davis and Elder Hales on P-day

HEY!

So this week was awesome! I came back to La Boca, but Elder Tapia got plantar fascitis and has to rest in the offices! So we did a switch! The sweet part was, however, that I got to do divisions with Elder Davis, a buddy of mine who is the assistant. We`ve had a ton of success this week. We found a bunch of incomplete families and we actually have 3 baptisms planned for this week.

First of all, Matias is a 11 year old kid that is way, way smart and way ready to get baptized. He hasn`t been able to get baptized before because his dad wanted to be in the baptism, but he hasn`t seen his dad for like 6 months. So, we talked to the mom and she decided that since the dad doesn`t want to be a huge part of his life, that Matias could just get baptized right now! So, he`ll be baptized this saturday.

Then, just last week, bishop Quispe told us about an incomplete family in the which the parents just got married. So we passed by and met the whole Carrillo family. Angelica, the mom, and carolina, the daughter were both inactive members. Carlos, the dad, is super catholic and, for now, isn`t interested in being baptized...for now...but their son Lucas is 10 and is way excited about being baptized. So, we`re planning his baptism for this saturday as well. I love this family to death, they are all so, so awesome!

And, finally, our last baptism for this weekend is Azul, the sister of a recent convert. She`s only 8, but he family is neighbors with a really active family who takes her and her brother to church every sunday. We`re also teaching her parents, who are going to get married soon and be baptized.

We have other investigators, but I don`t have time to write about all of them. I`ll fill ya in next week.

Today Elder Davis and I went to Caminito and Florida street to see some sights and buy some souvenirs. It was way fun. We ate in California Burrito, and it was pretty legit. We`re having a blast working together and, honestly, we`re having a lot of success too. We don`t know how long we`ll be comps, but probably this week at least.

Well, I love you guys, have a great week! The church is true!

Love,

Elder Hales

Summer 2011 in Buenos Aires

2011-03-09T09:28:00.003-05:00

The room in the mission home where I recovered from my surgery.


My retirement home on the tigre canal.


The "capos" of the mission...haha

¡Viva Argentina!

P-day

People here say that there is a ghost in the tower part of this building!

2011-03-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

Howdy,

Well, I`m back in La Boca!  I`m feeling a lot better and ready to
work!  I love the mission because you can get pumped up like all the
time because there are always new circumstances, people, areas,
companions, etc.  I`ve already had some great experiences this week,
here`s one that happened yesterday.  I`ll just copy it from my letter
I sent to my mission president:




Dear President,

I feel so blessed to have recovered quickly from my surgery.  I`m sure
that all the prayers offered in my behalf were the main reason that I
healed so quickly.  I hope to be at full force before long!

My first few days back in La Boca have been a success!  The highlight
so far has been a family home evening we had with a great family in
the ward.  We arrived at their home, got to know them, and then
started off talking about Jesus Christ.  Afterward, we shared a
scripture about how we come to christ (Doctrine of Christ).  Then, we
showed the last scene in The Testaments.  After the movie, the love of
Jesus Christ felt in that room was almost tangible.  It was hard not
to cry.  Then, we let the family take two minutes to write down how
they felt.  We had the family close their eyes and imagine a nonmember
friend.  For the first time, this friend prays and receives and answer
from God.  Then, he reads the Book of Mormon and goes to church.
After, this friend starts learning from the missionaries.  Finally,
the members imagined and pictured in their minds that this friend is
dressed in white and descends into the waters of baptism.  They are
able to witness their friend get baptized and feel Christ`s love in
the moment of their friend`s baptism (the same feelings we were
feeling in the FHE as we described the scene).  As we asked how the
baptisms of their friends went in their minds, the members were so
emotional they could hardly describe how they felt.

  Then came the commitment.  The members wrote down who they saw in
their minds and what they were going to do that week to share the
gospel with them.  The crazy thing is that there were no doubts, not
even hesitations, on who they were going to share with and what they
were going to do.  It just flowed naturally.  We are going to verify
in one week their invitations.

Cool huh?  I love getting the members excited, its the best way to go.

So i actually have 3 companions with me right now.  Elder Tapia, Elder
Cranford, and Elder Palma.  I`m not exactly sure if we`re going to
stay this way for long (probably not), but three of the four can`t
work 100 percent so we kind of tag team throughout the day.

OK, this doesn`t really have anything to do with the missionary work,
but yesterday I ate an asado that changed my life.  We ate with the
ward mission leader Sergio and he cooked a slice of meat "barbaro".

It was heaven on earth!

Well, I gotta get going.  Have a great week.

Chaocito,

Elder Hales

Touring the Canals

2011-03-03T21:33:00.001-05:00

2011-03-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

SOBREVIVÎ

Heeeey what`s up friends?! I survived! Man, so in case you didn`t hear, I almost died this week. Haha just playin, it wasn`t that bad. I had a bacterial infection in my intestines (yeah...I won`t describe what that was like), which lead into appendicitis. So, last Monday I went to the doctor with a little pain and he sent me in for urgent surgery. I guess if the appendix explodes, you can like die and stuff. But, luckily mine didn`t. The hospital I went to was one of the most advanced hospitals in Argentina, so they did the surgery "LAPROSCOPICALLY." They made little cuts and used cameras and probes and stuff to take out my appendix. All in all in was pretty laid back and I wasn`t nervous nor in pain like the entire time, including up to now. The Lord works miracles. Somebody had to be praying for me, because the whole experience was abnormally like peaceful.

Also, to top off the miracle, I was in the north and wasn`t in Rio Gallegos! That would have been a little messy down there. President Gulbrandsen told me that he had a small, subtle impression to bring me back up to the north 3 weeks ago, even though i had only been in the south one transfer. Following that prompting probably saved me a few organs. Who knows what the doctors down south would have taken out of me haha! But, I`ve been spending this week recovering in the mission home, which has been really, really weird. I`m here with another missionary who actually got sick the same time as me and had to rest in the mission home with me. But, to be honest, I did a lot of thinking and studying and praying. I was able to set some good goals and priorities for the last stretch of my mission, which I wouldn`t have otherwise been able to do if I was super busy working. That was for sure a blessing.

Elder Tapia has been with another missionary in La Boca, holding down the fort by himself. But, the doctor told me that I`ve been recovering very well and that I`ll be able to do "half-work" this week. That probably means I`ll be in the office for another week. Somehow I always end up in this office.

So, I know I haven`t sent many pictures lately. Sorry bout that. This week was kinda tough as far as pics go. I could, however, send you a picture of my scars. Actually, I`ll just send you a pic of something we did on Saturday. We went with president and a few other missionaries on a sweet boat tour of the canals in Tigre. I couldn`t believe that this thing was even in my mission, but it was way sweet. It was like canals and rivers and there were docks with houses and people skiing and stuff like that. I guess it`s like a famous thing in Buenos Aires. In fact, when Elder Anderson from the 12 came, he took all the mission presidents on that same tour. President liked it so much he wanted to take us. I just happened to be hanging out in the mission home, so I got to go too. It was pretty cool.

Well, I`m not exactly sure what`s going on in the Boca, but from what I`ve heard, Elder Tapia is doing some great work. We should have a complete family getting baptized this week or the next. And, there are several incomplete families we are working with. I`m itching to get back out there!

I feel more than any other time on my mission Christ`s love and my desire for other`s to feel that same love. This gospel is true. I know it. I have to give everything I have so that people can feel the same love of God that I do. I challenge you to kneel down and ask Heavenly Father to feel that love if you haven`t yet. I promise you it will come. Then, talk to the missionaries about how you can feel that love continually! They`ll probably mention baptism!

I love you guys, thanks so much for your prayers! I`m feeling great because of them.

Have a great week.

Elder Hales

2011-02-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

Elder Hales did not send an email this week because he was in the hospital getting his appendix out! He had been feeling sick for 4 or 5 days and finally went to the mission doctor. He diagnosed it as appendicitis and sent him to the Austral Hospital in Buenos Aires.
We got to talk to Elder Hales on Tuesday night and he was doing very well! He was going to the mission home to recuperate for a few days.
Hopefully we'll get an email on Monday with a full report!

2011-02-15T07:26:00.000-05:00

Hola from la boca,

By the way, if you don`t speak spanish, la boca means "the mouth" in spanish. Its a great name for an area right? Haha its called the boca because its at the mouth of a port here in Buenos Aires. All the buildings are really old and fancy looking, and there are even like old warehouses or houses that have been taken over by people and there are tiny rooms all inside. These are called conventillos. Its kind of like miny villas all over the place, but they aren`t dangerous. Most of the members here live in conventillos and we`ve been having a lot of success teaching this week.

I did divisions this week with Elder Bruce, who is from San Clamente, California. He`s actually from the same ward as Trevor Ellsworth, a friend of mine from BYU who`s serving in Germany right now. He`s the man. We found a bunch of new investigators, including a reference from a member that is showing a lot of potential. His name is Lucas.

We`re also teaching the mother of a member. Her name is sister Chamorro (I don`t know her first name haha). The crazy thing is she`s super excited about the church and wants to get baptized, but she has to get married first, and her husband isn`t too stoked about it yet. But, she`s been bringing friends to church like every week and we`re teaching some of her friends as well! I love it!

We also have an investigator who could be baptized in any moment. His name is Matias and he just needs permission from his dad, who doesn`t live with him. We`ve been praying for him a lot and we`re hoping to be able to see his baptism this weekend.

Ok so the investigator from Haiti, Junior, didn`t come to church. But, we`re still working with him, especially so that he can have some friends to support him in the church. He knows its true, he just has social pressure to not join!

Haha we had a funny experience yesterday. We were walking in the street headed to an appointment and a man stopped us by saying, "Hola Elderes." We stopped and he said, "So, are we going to go visit some people?" Haha he was a member visiting the boca for his work and decided to go with us for 3 hours and visit people! And, not only was he a member, he was a well-studied institute professor. His name is Marcelo. Afterward, we said goodbye and he just left into the crowd. I was like wow, man, i`ll probably never see him again, but he just helped us bigtime on my mission. Which, reminds me of a few verses in the book of Mormon that I read over and over this week: Moroni 7:29-39

29And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have ^aangels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

30For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of ^agodliness.

31And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the ^achosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

32And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the^aresidue of men may have ^bfaith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.

33And Christ hath said: ^aIf ye will have ^bfaith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is ^cexpedient in me.

34And he hath said: ^aRepent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.

35And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with ^apower and great glory at the last ^bday, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?

36Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he ^awithheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

37Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that ^amiracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of ^bunbelief, and all is vain.

38For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.

39But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not ^afit to be numbered among the people of his church.

Good stuff!

Also, yesterday Boca Juniors played a soccer game in our area. They lost, so afterwards, all of the fans stormed the streets all heated and drunk. Luckily, we were finishing up. But, Elder Tapia is a huge boca fan and it just so happened he came to this area! At one point we walked by the stadium and you could hear the chants of the fans. He was going crazy! haha I just laughed.

Today we went to Florida street and I ran into Tomàs Yovera! He was selling flowers for valentine`s day and I was super excited to see him. It was awesome. He called his family immediately and I talked to them on the phone. I`m way blessed to be in the same zone so many times!

Well, I love you guys and hope you are all doing great. The Lord is working a marvelous work and a wonder here in Buenos Aires.

Con amor,

Elder J Hales

KTF

Transfers!

2011-02-07T18:56:00.000-05:00

Hola,
Well, guys, I`m writing you right now from the area "La Boca", from Buenos Aires!!! HAHAHAA!! Can you believe it?!! I got transfered...again...haha. But, I`m in a great area! I`m back in the congreso zone,in the same zone as Parque Chacabuco! We found out the transfers late last night and I had just time to pack up my bags before I caught a red eye back to buenos aires this morning with an Elder and sister from my zone (without sleeping...). And, today I met up with my new companion, Elder Tapia. He was actually my zone leader when I was in Parque Chacabuco last time. Anyway, we`ll be the two ZL in congreso.

So yeah, it was really, really hard leaving Rio Gallegos. I thought I was for sure going to finish my mission there. And, I haven`t said anything to president about wanting to be in a certain area or anything. I just guess the Lord has other plans for me! I was meant to be in the downtown! But, I honestly love it. The Boca is an awesome area, one of the coveted areas of the mission. And, my companion is great. He`s from Bariloche, Argentina, a famous tourist city in the southern part of Argentina. He`s almost got a year and a half in the mission and is a great worker and teacher. So yeah, even though I left one of the most awesome cities in the world (without getting to see the penguins!), I`ve just got to roll with the flow and continue here.

Well, in Rio Gallegos, we saw some miracles. Several members just came up and told us that they had a lot of trust in us and that they were going to start talking a lot more about the gospel with their friends. We also put two baptismal dates for this saturday with Miguel and Nicolas, the two friends from Bahìa Blanca. They are very prepared and will for sure have a great baptism. Carlos Peralta continues to grow very rapidly in the gospel and has rooted very deeply in the reading of the Book of Mormon. His testimony is very powerful.

In our weekly planning, Elder Wright and I made a giant chart with all the days of the week and all the part-member families in the branch and other investigators. We then kneeled down and asked for specific direction for each family. Then, we put plans for a member to call, visit, sit with in church, teach with us, etc. for every day of the week, for every investigator. Then, we distributed the "calender", commiting the members to do their part. With the flood of attention the investigators are going to get, we are sure that they will all get to the church.

Well, I`ve got some cool stuff to tell ya. First of all, the husband of the president of Argentina (who just died reciently) grew up in Rio Gallegos, smack dab in the middle of our area. And, he went to church once with some of the members here. Pretty cool, eh? I would have liked to have a lesson with him haha.

Also, here in the Boca, we can see the Boca stadium as we walk out of our apartment. I`ll also be working in Caminito, another famous place here in Buenos Aires. And, the ward mission leader here is the brother of the ward mission leader in Parque Chacabuco, Brother Navarro haha.

Anyway, apart from all the details and travels that I write about, honestly, if I could just tell you guys one thing, I`d tell you this. That Jesus Christ lives. He has a resored gospel to share, and somebody`s gotta do it! And, that`s why I`m here. I`m not here really to sight see, or see the world. I`m here to help people go back home to live with their loving Father.

So, anyway, I love you guys and hope you enjoy that nice cool weather because "me metieron de vuelta en el horno de Buenos Aires!"

Cuidense,

Elder Justin Hales

2011-02-01T18:46:00.000-05:00

We saw wild lamas (in the pic, you`ll have to zoom in), wild ostrich, wild sheep, and wild flamingos on the trip! I had no idea that Argentina had lamas. Honestly, we were out in the middle of NOWHERE! It was worse than wyoming!

Laguna Azul

2011-01-31T16:46:00.000-05:00

2011-01-31T16:40:00.002-05:00

HEY!

Well, today we went in a minibus to an old vocano about an hour out of Rio Gallegos. Haha, its so old that its hardly even a mountain, its more like a crater now. But, it`s filled with really green-blue water. Anyway, we went as a zone and it was way fun. We took some members with us who cooked us hamburgers and chorizo. Good, good stuff. Anyway, they say that this lake doesn`t have a bottom. Elder Lane, an elder in my zone, said that it probably has a bottom, but the Argentines just haven`t found a long enough stick haha! We make fun of argentine technology sometimes. But I sent some pics so hopefully you can see how it is.

Also, this week we saw a miracle! As my companion and I were watching some training videos in the church one morning, two young guys knocked on the church door, wanting to know when the meetings were. They told us that they were members from Bahìa Blanca. Well, they made it on sunday and, come to find out, they haven`t been baptized yet! And, they are super excited about joining the church and getting baptized. We`re planning their baptism for this saturday.

Well, I didn`t have much time today, so I`ll just send pics instead of writing. I love you guys, thanks for your prayers!

Elder Hales

Zone Conference in Rio Gallegos

2011-01-25T19:32:00.003-05:00

Hola,

Well, this week was sweeeeett here in Rio Gallegos. We had zone conference, and it was amazing. President Gulbrandsen and his wife taught about the Doctrine of Christ, but it was way, way good. I came to understand even more the pain that Christ felt when he paid the price for our sins. I`ll just share a little tidbit. How do you feel when you lose a loved one, or are away from a loved one for a long time? When we sin, we aren`t able to enter into God`s presence at the last day. Not being able to be with him is the punishment for our sins. So, just imagine that pain of losing a loved one, multiplied by the close relationship between God and his children, multiplied by eternity. That was a drop in the sea of punishments Christ had to pay for every human being who ever walked or walks or will walk the earth. That is why I`m here. I know for a fact that the message we share allows people to accept Christ`s sacrifice, saving them from that pain one day. Man, I had no idea my mission was that intense! Haha, but I love it, I love understanding even more why I`m here.

Elder Wright and I also taught in the zone conference. I shared the vision that Elder Wright and I have and basically how we want to achieve it. I stole the example of Vince Lombardi from Elder Uchtdorf`s talk in the last general conference and talked about how he always used the basics as the core of his teaching football. We want to use the very basics of missionary work to see an explosion here in Rio Gallegos, leading to forming a stake here one day. I know we can do it!

Also, President Gulbrandsen did some visits with us. We went and saw some investigators and even gave a blessing to the son of a part-member couple. After the blessing, president whipped out his i-pad and showed a movie of Jesus! They were blown away! haha! We also were walking in the street and president saw a man hacking away at the ground with a pickaxe. He said, "hey, that guy needs help"! So, we walked over there and president demanded the pick-axe, telling the man that we were younger than him and that we could do it in half the time! So, we started pick-axin and shoveling and president worked faster than anybody! I couldn`t believe it, but president was hacking away with all his might, laughing, and teaching at the same time! Haha, it was great, we talked to the man and ended up teaching him.

We also did divisions and Elder Labra, one of the assistants, was with us for 2 days. He taught us a lot and we were able to find some great investigators, a lot of which came from part-member families. The ward directory is a great tool for missionaries. One of those investigators was a man named Josè who is the father of a really inactive member. He accepted the baptismal date con gusto and is super excited. But...he left on vacations! Which is the story of almost everybody here in Gallegos right now.

Elder Wright and I also had a way cool experience with the spirit. The other day, we were walking and for no reason felt we should help a little girl we saw who was carrying a bucket of water behind her house. So, we walked behind the house, but she had disappeared. So, we knocked on a door, and it turned out to be a member who has been inactive his whole life. That experience was so real, so tangible, that I have no doubt that God will respond to our prayers through revelation.

So yeah, I`m pretty sure Rio Gallegos is ready to explode. We`ve been in close contact with the district presidency (the same as a stake presidency) to work on helping each branch have a branch missionary coordination meeting. As zone leaders we`ve also recieved instruction to, not only use the videos that the apostles gave us (one of which is the robles family), but to study them every day in our companionship study! Haha so we`re going to be in the church every day watching the videos, studying them, and finding parts to use to teach.

Well, the weather here continues to be warm (except for the random rain showeres that come out of nowhere and are FREEZING!), and I`m loving it while it lasts! Have a great week, pray for Rio Gallegos!!!!

I know that Christ is your Savior. I know he loves you. I know that if you will read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true, you will recieve an answer. I know that this gospel will bless your family.

Finally, I have to send a big.......... MUCHÌSIMAS GRACIAS to my Grandma Lockhart for helping me out with my mission! And for sending so many letters! She`s been a great, great support for me on my mission. I love her and appreciate all she does for me! I also appreciate ALL of you who support me on my mission in any way!

Con amor,

Elder J. Hales