Dawn of the 5th Day Carnival ~ February 8, 2016

It´s in preparation for Holy Week. It´s super crazy...

Tell Elder Scott I say Hi as well. He is a stud and that he will be super de duper awesome in his mission.

Well things here in Sabana Larga are going well. We have transfers this Thursday so we´ll see if I stay here or not. Some believe that I will get transferred because I have 4 months here but we´ll see. Elder Cruz will probably for sure get transferred. He has like 7 months here. If I get transferred though I will miss this people. I have really grown to love the people here. This Zone of the mission is considered the humble part because the people don´t have very much. In our area there are some rich houses but there are a lot that don´t have a whole lot. A lot of missionaries have told me to be grateful to be born into such an area (start the mission=born) as humble and receptive. Things here are actually very tranquillo compared to all other places during the Carnavales and in any other time as well. I am truly grateful to be here.

Oh my goodness when Emma sent me those fotos I about died laughing hahaha! That looks just like Emma when she was little! Oh dear, the other elders didn´t understand why I was laughing so hard.

I have been reading in the Book of Mormon and have noticed so much more this time than any time before! It seems like that happens every time. Anyways, I have really been learning about the doctrine of Christ, or the first 5 principles of the Gospel, faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I have been marking up my Spanish scriptures pretty good. Something that as a mission and as the missionaries of the world are focusing on is teaching repentance and baptizing converts. To really emphasize repentance before the baptism and to really help the people understand the importance of the baptism in the repentance process and in the conversion.
Umm... I don´t know what else to write.

Anyways, Love you soooo much! Thank you for todo!


¡Paz fuera!



Love,
~Elder Tyler Hales~

A Chat with the President ~ February 2, 2016

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

Wow it seems a lot has happened in the past few weeks. I have felt kind of out of the loop because these past few weeks have been weird with writing on p-days because there have been problems with the internet and such. Anyways, so with the old lady, we haven´t been able to find where she lives... :( The direction she gave us is to a different house and no one in that area knows her. But we will keep looking!  

I´ll have to tell Christian about the Elder Griffith. (Missionary serving in Uncle Bill's ward in Hollywood, California.  He is from Plain City- his parents are currently serving as the Mission President and wife of the Tennessee Mission.)

Thank you so much mommoo for everything you do. I really love you so much! And Dad too! We are the greatest family ever!! De todas familias, somos la mejor! ;) Thank you for your prayers. I will keep praying for you guys as well. Well, gotta go read Matt´s and Bry´s letters.

Love ya!

Love,
Elder Hales

Skillet or Spatula ~ January 26, 2016

Hi Mommoo how are you? Things here are going pretty well. I am learning more and more every day. I am starting to love this work. But really honestly, I am not just saying that as every missionary does. I really am starting to love it. I love being out talking with the people and teaching what I know to be true. I am really trying to prepare myself for the future so I can be the best missionary I can be to help this people, other missionaries, and then after my mission, my family, ward, and the people there. In the things I write I am being honest. It might sound superficial or not real because always I am trying to find the good things in everything. My area, my companion, the mission, and everything. I am really trying not to think anything bad about anyone or anything, because as missionaries we are only supposed to talk about the good spiritual experiences and things that happen to us. I might start writing a little more open about my struggles and things but always in a positive way.

Yesterday it was pretty cool and pretty funny. We went to visit a recent convert, Filiberto, but then decided to visit him later. Just as we were about to leave a lady walked up to us and asked us from what religion we were from. We told her and she asked if it was Catholic or Jehovah's Witness or some other group. We explained to her about the church a little and then she continued to tell us that she had talked with some missionaries before and that they invited her to church and then that she couldn't go that Sunday they invited her because she was sick and so she felt really bad. So when she saw us it reminded her about that visit and she told us that she will attend church this week and that nothing will stop her from going this time! Then we asked her when we could visit her and she told us that whenever we want to visit her she will move everything out of her schedule in that time when we visit her. Haha it was pretty great! She kept telling us about some stories and things in her life and I didn't understand everything she said but it was funny. She has a sort of spunky attitude like... I don't know, I can´t remember right now. But an older lady with a spunky attitude let´s just say that. We are going to visit her this Thursday at 4 and she told us that she will prepare a special juice for us too haha! I am excited to teach her. I really think that we are starting to find those people that have been prepared to receive this gospel. Actually, she told us directly that she was prepared to receive our visits and learn about the gospel. it was pretty cool.

Well Mommoo, thank you so much for everything that you have done, do, and will do for me. You are the absolute bestest mommoo ever! And yes I am going to try to just write to the family and then if I have extra time to my friends that are really close like Christian. Thank you so much. If you have more questions, well I´ll be here to answer them.

Love You So much!!!
Elder Tyguy Hales

Obedience with Exactness ~ January 18, 2016

How to Prepare for a Mission ~ January 12, 2016

Hi Mommoo I am here. We didn´t get to write yesterday because the other elders were writing in the internet we normally use and the other was closed

Questions:

Can you think of any neat stories to share?
What advice do you have for the young men and women in the ward regarding missionary work.
What struggles have you had to face?
What blessings do you see?
What has helped your testimony grow the most?
What has helped you stay focused on the work?
What struggles do you see that people are dealing with?
What is keeping the people away from the gospel?

Well something that has really stood out to me is the importance of the message of the Restoration of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon. There is nothing more important to share than those two things because they contain all the things that are true in this Gospel and it says in Preach My Gospel. The Spirit and the Book of Mormon combined are the most powerful tools in conversion. In the members and in investigators. For the young men preparing for missions: study Preach my gospel NOW. Don´t just read it though. Take time to study it and put thought into it in how you can share it with others (family friends nonmembers etc) Study it at least 15 minutes a day. if not more. PMG contains so many amazing inspired words and thoughts. I wish I would have taken that time to study it more seriously because it is so important to learn the principles and doctrines of our Gospel. For the young men and women. always live virtuously. Always follow the standards in Strength for Youth. Read their patriarchal blessings often too because we receive strength spiritually and revelation every time we read it. Don´t take any thing about this Gospel for granted or as something non important. Attend church EVERY Sunday no matter what comes. Show your faith and desire to follow God and Christ through these actions.

If every member and investigator read the BoM every day, well we would see a different world. A world full of light, a world full of hope, a world full of love, and simply a world full of the desire to follow their Celestial Father.

I have grown this testimony only through the experiences that I have had for myself. No one can pray in the place of another. No one can read the Book of Mormon for another to receive testimony of it. 

We must each take the initiative in these actions ourselves, to learn for ourselves as did the Prophet Joseph Smith.


Well, that is what I would like to share right now. I will keep thinking of more things to share in the coming week.


I have a couple of things written down this week that I want to ask you :)
1. Maybe also in the USB you could send a couple of the Prince of Egypt songs like Deliver Us and some other good inspiring ones :)
2. How much do I have in my checking account with America First? I still haven´t used my debit card yet.
3. send the nice stretchy Bandaid brand bandaids with the package maybe. (not too necessary)
4. Maybe one pair of Corban garments, but this time with a small size shirt because the medium is super loose haha. I like it but I think a little tighter would be better. I actually really like the corban. They don´t sell them here in Colombia

Well, if you see my email before I leave that would be awesome in case you have more questions you can ask me.
Love you so much and thank you for everything you do!!!

¡Paz fuera!

Love,
~Elder Tyler Hales~



These two quotes are from President Howard W. Hunter: 2016 Priesthood/Relief Society Manual


"My message to you today is to "fear not, little flock." It is to encourage you to rejoice in the great blessings of life. It is to invite you to feel the great thrill of gospel living and our Father in Heaven's love. Life is wonderful, even in the hard times, and there is happiness, joy, and peace at stops all along the way, and endless portions of them at the end of the road."


"Please remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel,nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right..."

New Beginnings for 2016 ~ January 4, 2016

Mommoo!

Well, things are going pretty well right now. We had transfers, but I´m still here in Sabana Larga with a new comp. Elder Aguirre from Lima Peru. It has been a little tough just because I don´t know him very well still... But we are still working hard here. As I said in my weekly letter, we found this new family that is pretty awesome! I am praying so hard that they will keep with it and attending church and progressing. We haven´t really had too much success here in Sabana Larga still. But we are still working our very hardest. 

I have a couple questions. Well, I think I lost my oil vile... I don´t know where it is and I don´t know where I can buy a new one... So I don´t know if you've already sent the package or not, but if you could send one that would be great. Also, do you have Sunni Bunni´s email? 

Well, that´s all my questions/statements haha. Umm... I don´t know what to say actually now. Things are great. I have really been trying to forget myself in this work. I am trying to put myself in the mode that, well, I am really just an instrument in the Lord´s hands right now. Other things shouldn´t matter to me right now in my service here. Even when I am tired, I am here to help others whom are more tired than me. 

Well, I love you so much! Thank you for everything! 

Love,
Elder Tyguy

Merry Christmas in Sabana Larga ~ December 28, 2015

   

Mommoo!!


Haha yeah that did actually make me a little sick... (Regarding Gracie getting her tonsils out and having a bit of difficulty in her recovery.) But I will keep praying for little Toots to get better real quick. Those pictures are so funny though! Baby Jacob is sooo big now! that´s so crazy! And J being a goof ball as normal. Hey you should tell him to email me because I miss hearing his jokes and insights.

Sorry I might be rambling a bit today because I have a lot to say. Anyways, yeah in the skype call we didn´t really talk about much. Sorry. Maybe we should write down questions and such to know what to talk about so we can talk about more. It was so good to see you guys though! And oh do I miss the snow!! I miss the cold! But oh well. in a little less than two years. Thank you so much for the Colombian Jersey and that totally legit Link statue!!! You will have to send me pictures of them so I can see them better. About the Jersey, I don´t think you need to send it. I can wait until I get home. I think it will be better too so it doesn´t get lost or ruined here in Colombia. 

About the package: I will be expecting it around Easter then. And if you haven´t sent it, could you put my other Called to Serve Journal in there? and Maybe an extra one or two? Because I am already more than half way through the one I have now and I only have 4 months out here. Concerning shirts and garments, I don´t need any right now. And I think I will be fine for a long while. My pants still fit fine. I have noticed that my light gray pants are longer than my other ones but they still work fine. It doesn´t matter too much. Socks I´m still ok as well. I don´t think any are close to having holes yet. The closest distribution center is in Bogotá so I don´t know. But like I said I don´t need any garments right now. 

Oh I forgot to tell you guys in the skype! The Barranquilla Temple ground breaking is February 20 next year!! And it will be finished in 2 years! So I´ll miss it by about 6 months... :( But that was some great news we got recently!

My favorite talk from conference.... hmm... that´s a hard one. I actually really liked Elder Holland´s talk. That was amazing! I will have to go through the Liahona and my conference notes and such to find which one. 

Yeah so here in Sabana Larga I´ve already given two talks in this branch. The first they told me right in the moment and it was like my third week in the field so it was a bit scary but it turned out fine. Then I had my other talk the Sunday before Christmas. It´s pretty easy actually to give a talk. Because I speak slow and the time keeps going haha. ;) No I don´t speak that slow. My Spanish has actually improved so much! I still have a lot to learn, but it is going great!

Time will sure go by so fast until our next call! Like you said, time has gone so fast. Yet things still seem so far away. Anyways, today I was going to do a little vlog thingie to send to you guys but I didn´t have time. So next week I will send a little video diary thing. If you guys want to send me a little short video that would be awesome too! That way I can hear your guyses voices. ;)

Well, I think that is it. I can´t remember anything else right now... Ah, yeah, I was wondering if you could send me the Live Like you Believe from Trek by Shaundra. I got the two other songs. And then also the temple celebration songs, and yeah. Oh and the Emma song about Emma Smith! ;)
Sorry I keep asking for music. I don´t want to keep asking.  Just when I think of an awesome song I ask you.

 
Love you tons! Thank you again for everything you do for me Mommoo!

Love,
Elder Tyguy Hales