Year 2 Episode 2 Part 2 ~ September 17, 2016

Crazy week over! :D Yay! 

Wow, so this week was really crazy. Like I said last time, we had the arrival of 17 new missionaries, leaving missionaries, tons of changes with this transfer, and leaders' council. I will inform you all that everything went very well this week. After not having much sleep from late nights and early mornings preparing everything this week we were all satisfied with the results. All of our preparations were able to be shown in action and the presentations for all the meetings turned out superb! 

So here is how all the game plan went:

On Tuesday all the new missionaries arrived and went from the airport directly to the mission home. Elder Hansen and Elder Carreon went to pick up the missionaries to bring them in a bus. In the mission home President and Sister Gallego, the assistants, and I were all there to help the new missionaries learn a little about the Missionary Rules folder and stuff. President interviewed the missionaries, the assistants taught about the rules, and I talked to the missionaries about health stuff and had them sign a paper to give permission to President and Sister Gallego to all medical history and results and things. It all went smooth. While that was going on, Elder Pucha and Elder Salinas were at the stake center with all the missionaries getting ready to go home having their self sufficiency class. After the meeting in the mission home, all of the new missionaries, us secretaries, the assistants, and President's family went to Rodizios for lunch. That was delicious. :) I have been to Rodizios like 3 times more than I have before the mission! (Because I have gone 3 times here and 0 times before the mission haha). Then after that I helped all the new missionaries write an email to their families with the fotos we took in the mission home and Elder Hansen took all the Latins to migration to get their Colombian ID. That was practically Tuesday.

Wednesday. We got up early to go with President to the stake center to set up everything for more training with the new missionaries. In the training President and the assistants trained on a lot of things and we secretaries gave our presentation with some of the matters we cover in the mission. I talked about Health. :D That meeting went until the late afternoon. As well, all the zone leaders and sister leaders from the mission were there to see the training so that everyone would be on the "same page" with all the new changes in the mission. Oh yeah, side note, there are now 7 zones in all the mission when before there were 14. They are zones gigantes! It will be awesome. 

Thursday. Leaders' Council. Another late night and early morning preparing everything in the stake center. The Council was super powerful! We talked about leadering in the Savior's way and in how to help all missionaries reach their potential. President showed us a clip from the movie Facing the Giants when the football player Brock has to carry another kid on his back while crawling across the field. At first he thinks he can only make it to the 30 yard line but the coach says until the 50 and blindfolds Brock. Brock collapses after a lot of effort and with the coach encouraging him all the way saying "Only your best! Give it only your best!" At the end Brock sees that he made it to the other touch zone. It was very inspiring and I think all of us cried. ¡Fue tan poderoso! (It was so powerful!) At the end of the council we secretaries gave our announcements. After the conference we the secretaries came to the office and rested a couple hours by command of President because we were all super tired.

There you have it. The plan. Which probably didn't make ANY sense but oh well. It all makes sense in my head haha. ;) It was a crazy week, but we all lived! We are still a little tired but we're ready to begin yet another week! Not so crazy this time.

Well that is all. I will be going now. ¡Ciaoito!

Love,

~Élder Tyler Hales~

ÉLDER HALES

Secretario de Salud

Misión Colombia Barranquilla

Year 2 Episode 2 Part 1 ~ September 10, 2016

¡Buuuenas bueenas! ¡Elder Hales les saluda!

Wow, another week. So what happened this week? Let's begin...

17 new missionaries, 10 leaving, and well a conference full of new missionary leaders all in one week. Now actually the 17 new missionaries, 10 leaving, and the conference didn't all happen this week, but all I will say is that this week's work consisted 99% of preparation for all that in this coming week. Simply put, it's crazy. On my part, this week I have been preparing all the kits (including the missionary rules folder, the first 12 weeks training book, adapting to missionary life book, mosquito repellent, hand-sanitizer, and thermometers) for all the new missionaries. As well as preparing their pillows, bed sheets, bed covers, etc. For the leaving missionaries I don't have really a whole lot to do with them, but with the conference I have to prepare my list of needs concerning health in the mission and what things I need help with from the zone leaders etc. We are all excited and anticipating this big week. And well practically that is my week all wrapped up short. Since we have been preparing a lot of things this week we haven't been able to get out to teaching family history so I don't really have many stories about that. We did help a brother in the ward, less-active, fill out a lot in familysearch. We got to see a lot of the old name cards that they had back in the day and well it's a lot harder to search those people because they don't have a code like on the new ones to search, but oh well. It all works out in the end. :)

Now talking about today, pday, well I will say that I have never quite had a pday like this... well I should say my companions have never had a pday like this. Anyways, for our district pday activity today, President invited us to the mission home to spend pday. We went to partially celebrate the birthday of Elder Salinas, Historial Secretary, who completes 20 years on tuesday, and partially to relax ourselves before this next crazy week. Well first off this morning we played soccer with President and a lot of members of the stake, three teams of about 12 players.. a lot of people. And well we can say even though we didn't keep track, that we lost pretty bad.... :( Anyways, after the game President was driving me and my companions to the office and he asked us what we wanted to do in the mission house to relax. He mentioned a movie, have a roast,.... and then something that no one was expecting... to play Fifa 15 with his son Sebastian. We were all like: WAT... So when we arrived at the office President told us to think about what we wanted to do. All decided to go and watch a movie or play Fifa... except me. I was ok with the movie, but I felt really bad about playing a videogame and was determined to not play. We went to the mission house after cleaning our house and we first ate a lot of pizza with all the district, the sister missionaries were there too, and then President proposed the next things we were going to do. Well, to put an end to this long and practically pointless story, I didn't play FIFA, I honestly couldn't bring myself to do it, so I went and practiced piano. I played Master's Hand and played around arranging hymns. :) It made me happy. Later I did play a board game which is practically the same as Sorry!, with President and Sister Gallego, the sister missionaries, and the daughter of president. It was pretty fun. I enjoyed the piano more, but oh well haha. Then we had Oreo pie for Elder Salinas' birthday and it was delicious! And yup! That's all folks! A lot of explaining and talking, sorry. I'm just at peace with myself and a little shocked that I didn't want to play FIFA.... It's like how Matt said, that when I get home from my mission I won't even like videogames like him. It's probably true. Here in the mission I have just come to realize that there are so many better things to do like play the piano or a board game with the family, or draw and paint, or whatever.

Well, that's everything I believe. I will keep you guys updated on how everything goes with all the pandemonium this week. Love you all!
¡Ciaoitos!

Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~

Thanks mom for the thoughts. It is really true how we must always seek that healing so we may feel at peace in whatever circumstance we are in.
And mom, it's ok about everything that has ever happened or will ever happen. I love you so very much and I will never not love you. You are the absolute best mom ever. I am sorry for having caused you pain before the mission. As I look back now I can't believe some of the things I have done. Especially right before the mission such as not spending all the time with you guys. I shouldn't have left with my friends and girls so often before the mission. The family is the most important thing and the family is what will be with me for the eternities. I hope that I can continue learning here so that I may be a better son.

WOW!!!! That's fun! Say hi to everyone at the party haha.  (Ward Party)

Hey mommoo I actually have a question/concern. So lately, since I have been here in the office. I have lost weight. Really weird right? I believe I am the only one in all of history of EVER that has lost weight in the office! I am doing my exercises in the morning. Eating more than I ever have in the mission, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I'm losing weight. And I can't lose weight as you know. Are there like vitamins or something I need to be taking or eating because sometimes I feel very weak and just skinny, and it's odd. I don't think it's parasites because my stomach is fine and feels the same as normal, and I don't see anything when I go to the bathroom.... I don't know what to do! I need to be getting bigger not skinnier! So yup, that's my problem. :D

¡Paz fuera!



Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~

Year 2 Episode 2 ~ September 3, 2016

What defines a Successful Missionary?

That’s a good question, right? Oftimes we may put ourselves to think about how much success we are having. And in what things seem to not be successful. Honestly, here in the mission it is hard not to be self-critical. With tons of other missionaries around having tons of baptisms and rescuing less-actives one puts them self to think that other missionaries are just more successful or better than they are. But there is something that I love that is shared in Preach My Gospel. “Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.” If we feel the Spirit and are doing all we can to help the work go forth, we are being a successful missionary.

It has been hard since technically I have only had a few baptisms in all this first year of my mission. But something that has comforted me and helped me is in knowing that Heavenly Father knows our efforts, and that no one really knows how many seeds may have been planted. The mission definitely has been the hardest thing I have done, but I know that God blesses us according to our devotion in His work. I hope to be able to serve with all I have, even though it may be hard here. And I know that the Family History work for our dead is linked hand in hand with missionary work and that it blesses families and it truly unites them as they recall the sacrifices of their ancestors that were made to make it possible for them to be here today.

Well I love you all very much and pray you all success in all that you do. And as Elder Richard G. Scott said, “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed
gloriously.”

¡Ciaoitos!



Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~




ÉLDER HALES

Secretario de Salud

Misión Colombia Barranquilla

Ooooh Labor Day weekend!! That sounds fun!!! I wish I could be there to help with the fun projects. ;) I actually do miss them. This week we have moved sofas and big love seats down and up three different apartments. (Moving out sofas out of the old house of two of the secretaries, moving some chairs to the apartment of the sister missionaries in the district, and then moving a new sofa up to the office!) It was fun. And I sweated like 10 gallons of water every time!

That's funny about Eden, and not so funny about Matt and Karlie... They don't like to invite people to their activities? ;) haha just kidding. That's sad about the garden. :( It seems in these past couple of years the garden hasn't been doing very well. About the English classes that is really neat that you get to help the kids. Elder Hansen and I actually started to teach English on Saturdays after P-Day in the church to the members and the people they invite. It will be interesting to see how well it carries out. I will keep praying for you in your work and in helping the kids. I will keep praying as well that you can find those missionary opportunities. Yesterday we had District Meeting and we actually talked about the responsibilities of the members in the mission work. The members should be the ones helping the missionaries find people to teach and in not only praying for the missionaries but rather praying for themselves to find missionary opportunities like you are doing.

I do remember Evan and Asthon haha. That's fun that they get to go to our school now. And wow I can't believe Chandler is already so big! Everyone there is getting bigger and bigger! Looking at the picture of Gracie, Emma, and Eden, the girlies are getting TOO big! They just have to stop growing. Growing is not aloud for these two years. ;)

Well Mommoo, I love you so much! Thanks for all you do! You are the very bestest mommy ever! Keep up the great work at home and in the school!

From Mommoo
You must also remember that Elder Holland said that true success in a mission is the conversion of the missionary. So, if you are becoming truly converted, then you are finding true success. :) At least that is what President Searle stated in his talk at his Homecoming. :)

It's true. I sometimes have actually gotten myself wondering why I haven't been able to baptize more people. I have technically had 3 baptisms in this whole year... and almost all of them I came to the area right before they were to be baptized. I get frustrated with myself sometimes. But I know that God has a plan for me and for all the people I have contacted. In my Patriarchal Blessing it says that many I teach in the mission will listen and accept the gospel, but maybe that doesn't mean specifically right now, it could be in many years or even after this life as they remember the message.

OK Thanks! I think they will arrive. I actually think I may be here longer than I thought in the office. Yes that would be fine about the music. I can print it from there. Yeah you could send the recipe there too.

Well got to go! Love you so much! Say hi to Dad I didn't get to write him neither the girls. I love them Ciao!

…..One year later in a galaxy far, far away….~August 27, 2016

…..One year later in a galaxy far, far away….

The Elder-Jedi Haleswalker continues his quest, guided by the Great Spirit, in a distant planet inhabited by an extremely large Coastal tribe. His quest: to bring the Light Side to all potential fighters of evil. Many have accepted, and many have rejected; nevertheless, Haleswalker searches for greater enlightenment to guide his path in bringing the message of eternal value. Thus we shall see what awaits the young journeyman as he approaches the next challenges to his quest.

As they say, time flies on wings of angels… or is it eagles? Or birds? Or bats? Man-bear-pigs? Not sure. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that time flies. Here we are already at the end of August with lots of things waiting ahead. In a year a lot can happen, as I will testify of that, and many times we may not even realize. The Gospel changes lives literally and completely. Something I have really been meditating is how we, as children of God, are able to apply the things we learn in order to become more and more like a being who is Celestially Perfect. We can’t understand it now, but truly, Jesus Christ and His Father have made it possible for us, whom were once intelligences, then spirits, and now human beings, to be able to become exactly like Them, glorified and resurrected beings. That is the promise They have given us if we do all we can to achieve it. I know that God and Jesus Christ live. They love us. And for that reason have given us this plan, to help us keep going on and trying to become perfect as they are. And for that reason we must share this message with everyone, so they too can receive that opportunity.

Well not much has happened this week. We are still learning how to help the people more with Family History. I have been able to learn a lot by studying about Family History and by using more the system in Family Search. The Spirit of Elijah has touched my heart and we hope that it touches the hearts of these great people.

That is all for today. Not much I know, but I am ready to keep pressing forward and in bettering myself every day to become more like my Savior who loves us so very much.

I love you all! Remember who you are and who you may become!

Here is a drawing of Him I did in these past couple of days.
¡Paz fuera!

Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~

ÉLDER HALES

Secretario de Salud

Misión Colombia Barranquilla

Well to hurry and respond to some of your questions. :) Well now that I have completed a year.... I didn't do anything haha. Everyone asked me what I was going to do, but I don't see why it would be necessary to burn a shirt or tie. You know me. ;) I would never do that haha. It is super weird to think that I have a year now. It seems like I still only have like 9 months. But I had 9 months when I arrived at the office! Time is going so fast.

That's awesome about Matt and Bryce and their permit. That will be nice to have. My companions thought I was crazy when I told them about that. Cultures are really different from US.

Family History Frontier ~ August 20, 2016

Changes, changes, and... well more changes! :D

So this week has been pretty awesome. Not much work in the area, but we´ve gotten a lot of things done. 

To start off, there was an elder this week that got an appendicitis. We sent him to the clinic Tuesday and up to today he is still there recuperating. That was interesting trying to get all things worked out with the Area and the Medical Insurance and stuff to have the elder be able to have the surgery and be able to stay in the hospital for these days. But it all worked out! So it´s all good. :)

Nextly, as my title says, something big is coming. Or, has come I should say. That is, The Family History Frontier!! Yeahyah! That´s what I´m talking about! So in two zones of the mission, Paraíso and Recreo, President has assigned companionships of missionaries to dedicate on Family History work with the recent converts, less actives, and youth during the week instead of normal proselyting. President has assigned us five secretaries to do it in our ward while the sister missionaries focus on investigators and helping the members a little as well. So now from monday to friday we dedicate all our proselyting time to teaching how to do family history. It is so legit! When President shared that idea with us I felt a very strong impression that that is exactly what we need to do since the temple here is being constructed and we all need to be ready to carry out the work there. We are still organizing how we are going to do this in the most effective way, but nonetheless I am súper excited!

Third, I heard a little bit about Sabana Larga and how things are going there with the branch. And guess what?? The parents in the Jimenez family are going to be baptized in just a couple of weeks! The three sons I taught were all baptized a few months after I left and now the parents have just recently been married so they can be baptized. They all attend church and I am so very excited! It was a little tender mercy to be able to hear about that family this week.

Lastly, so as you will all note by the fotos, Us secretaries have some interesting red shirts and socks and stuff..... quien sabe? Yes, President made us an office soccer team! He got us the uniforms and everything! And the best part is that they all have our names on the backs and our numbers! I, of course, am number 2! The best of all time!.... And yes you may notice that my shirt doesn't have the team logo..... but oh well! We will get that fixed this week hopefully haha. Today we had a soccer game at 6:00 am in a field for 11 vs 11 again and this time with our jerseys. It was súper legit! ;) I scored a golazo! It was legit as well haha ;)

Well I think that is basically all this week! I started to draw Christ in my new sketch book. I love my new sketch book! Anyways, I am loving the mission. I love being able to work here with such great missionaries and to be able to see the daily blessings of the Lord in my life and in the lives of all those around me.

¡Paz fuera!

Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~

Well I love you all! Have to go now!
See you love you bye!!!! I'm going to teach an english class now with Elder Hansen! in the church!

So. Much. Poder! ~ August 13, 2016

What a fantastic week this week has been! Lots of things have happened and I hope I can remember them all…

First off, on Tuesday we did service at the LDS institute here in Barranquilla. It was so awesome! I will just mention too that the institute building here is probably the nicest church building they have here, even more than the chapels! It really surprised me! I felt like in Utah! Anyways, the service activity was really awesome. We basically just cleaned up around the building. Raking leaves (yes leaves fall in tropical areas too, not just in Utah), pulling weeds, and just cleaning up the yard. It really made me miss doing yard work at home. But oh well, hay que seguir! Haha. At the end I felt super accomplished and just happy. I hope to love yard work like that when I get home. J

Nextly, we had Leaders Conference with all the zone leaders and President and everyone. That went well. We were able to touch many points and needs of the mission.

Last, but not least, today we had a totally legit meeting with….. drum roll please….. ELDER RENLUND! Oh yeah! That´s right! All the zones from Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla came to the training and we all got to shake his hand and meet his wife as well. It was so cool. Then Elder Renlund shared with us 3 things that he wanted each of us to always remember: 1. That an Apostle of the Lord came to tell us “Thank You” for our service in this apostolic work. 2. That we have each been called to this mission Colombia Barranquilla by prophecy from God and that when we feel that revelation for our own selves that we write it down and never forget it. 3. That President and Sister Gallego have been called to serve here by prophecy and that they love us. – Then Elder Renlund went on to teach us from three talks by Elder Bednar. Ask in Faith, Converted Unto the Lord, and Seek Learning by Faith. Something really neat that I learned was that a testimony is not an ultimate destination, but rather a point of departure or beginning. The ultimate destination is our pure conversion unto the Lord, and testimony is what we need to keep strengthening to be able to strengthen our conversion. Testimony in itself will not be enough when the dark storms and trials of life come to destroy us.

It was an awesome meeting. The Spirit was very strong. Oh! And I have been forgetting to say, but I have been practically the pianist for our ward now and I played today for the meeting with Elder Renlund! Practically on the spot! I was super embarrassed because I totally flubbed up the first song Carry On (A Vencer in Epañol). I felt really bad… But oh well! You can’t change the past! Only the future! J Even if you flub a hymn in a special meeting with an Apostle. Everything turned out alright.

Well, I love you all. Keep on keeping on! And remember to keep putting all your effort in all things you do! The Lord will bless you for them.

¡Ciaoitos!


Love,
~Élder Tyler Hales~


P.S.

Question:
That is amazing! Don't ever wash that hand again because we want to touch the hand that shook an apostle's!
Did you get your package?

Hahaha ooops, I think I already did..... he actually mentioned to us as well that right before he came here to Barranquilla he shook hands with Pres. Monson and so we had shooken a hand that shook the hand of the Prophet! haha.

Yup! I got my package!!! It got here on Thursday. But I believe that everything arrived. Did you not see the fotos I sent with my weekly letter? They are linked with Drive and I think they should be connected to the email.... But yes! I got it! I am so excited about the shaver!!!!! It is so legit!!!!! Oh and the Zebra pens!!!!! I refilled my red one and am using one of the purple ones. I got the charger for my ipod as well and actually at the moment am listening to it! :) But just a quick question did you guys send the corban garments or the usbs? If so well they didn't arrive, but if not it's ok don't worry. ;) I am trying to consecrate myself more haha. If you still want to send them that's fine. ;)
Ooooh! And the oil vile is totally legit! All my companions here in the office want one haha. They want my new ties as well.... i still haven't gifted a single tie as of now. i am kind of attached as you know. ;) Oh and that white shirt is legit! Oh and the one from Charlie! Very stylish ;) and it shows my muscles very well hahaha.
Love you so much! I have to go now. Take care everyone and tell everyone thank you for all the fun stuff in the package! I hope I have room to carry it all in my mission haha. ;) See you love you bye!!!

Transfers, Transfers, Transfers, y Cambios! ;) ~ August 6, 2016

Buenas tardes!

Transfers week! Wow! Already? Again? So I think the days are only like 5 hours long now instead of 24. I’m not exactly sure how, but really that’s what it feels like.

So this week was transfers week, aka craziest and fastest week of the universe for the office, and well sadly to say, it made me a little sad. This week all the new missionaries arrived on Tuesday and we had the whole introduccion presentation that we do as the secretaries and all that fun stuff. But with every group of new missionaries coming, another one leaves, and this week the legendarios left the mission…. L Yes the legendaries…. That means Elder Selman (the first assistant that I met that went with me in my first taxi in Barranquilla from the airport, from Tremonton), Elder Muir (Idaho), Elder Frost (Arizona), Elder Kletzli (the tall red head that was my first zone leader, Kaysville), Elder Miller (Assistant, friend of Brent Ray and John, from Roy), etc…. All of the powerful leaders. And 90% of the gringos. Que tristeza… (what sadness) It was sad to say goodbye to them. I tried to take pictures with all of them as they were leaving in the van to the airport. But the bright side is that I will be able to see the majority of them when I get home because almost all of them live super close! :D

Apart from that, this week my companions and I also had transfers, más o menos. We were changed areas. Now there are two sisters in our old area and the old area of the assistants. Now we and Elder Hansen and Elder Salinas share the area Modelo. We are in one half and they in the other. Yesterday we had our first opportunity to get out and work and Elder Pucha and I went and we contacted the whole time. Our area is more than anything big apartment buildings and really big rich houses. The people as far as we have seen don’t like us. But that is no reason to give up hopes! Elder Pucha and I actually found a more humble place near the borders of our area and we were able to contact a few people there. No one accepted a visit in the moment, but a lot said we could pass another day. So we will be giving a good follow up in that part of the area.

What else happened this week?... I think that is about it. Not much else. J I’m happy. We’re all happy.

Here’s a quote I would like to share.

"As you continually seek opportunities for learning and growth, you will increase your knowledge and testimony of the gospel. You will be strengthened in your desire always to choose good over evil and to accept responsibility for your choices. You will learn to nurture others and play a major part in building the kingdom of God through your righteous service beginning within your own family."

—Ardeth G. Kapp, "Together in Righteousness"

May we all keep learning all we can. Especially about the gospel. It is through the gospel that we will find success in all other things. Siempre vale la pena de hacer lo bueno. (It is always worth it to do what is good).

Well, I love you all! Keep on doing what is right, even if you stand alone!

Hasta lueguito!​

ÉLDER HALES

Secretario de Salud

Misión Colombia Barranquilla

Here are the photos. The one of the Civil War is for Matt and Bryce ;)

The one of the baptism is an investigator called Sister Lauris Meza. She was baptized last Saturday and I confirmed her the next day, Sunday. Elder Carreon was going to baptize her but then decided that it would be a good experience for another young man in the ward to do it.​

Well, The time has arrived again. 

I love you all so much! Remember that it is always worth it to do what is right! Even when we stand alone. 

Be of good cheer against opposition. 

Wow I loved that awesome quote and picture of the family history! That is so awesome! I wish we could do more family history here. Actually as of now I haven't done any here in the mission.... Not very many people have computers and it's difficult to be able to bring the people to the family history center which is in the stake center here. 

But that makes me so happy about everything else! Emma Jemma will do just great in 7th grade. Gracie Goo Goo will do well too in 5th. :) They are smart whipper snappers ;) 

Oh quick question! Elder Jorgensen gave you guys the bag of stuff I sent with him? It has my sd card that needs to be fixed and amiibos for Matt and Bryce and some super old letters I wrote at the beginning of the mission. I don't think I will be sending letters home here in the mission. It costs a ton. Like 30 dollars just to send a letter... 

Well I love you so much Mommoo. Thank you for all your help. Let's hope the package gets here soon. Elder Salinas (over the pacakges) said it should get here Monday or Tuesday.

Take care of the fam! Tell Matt that he needs to talk to Bryce. Bryce is feeling a bit lonely. 

Hasta lueguito!

For the Matt and Bryce