Week 101: La Ultima...

Well...I can't believe it is over! This week has been really crazy and full of feelings. I'm pretty stoked to see the fam and friends and all! But I'm really gonna miss Peru. Last night we were up in the hills visiting a member and looking over Lima and I almost choked up thinkin of how much I'm gonna miss this place. I've loved my mission soooooo much. I really would be a lost soul if it wasn't for this experience. The mission has saved me and given me the chance to help save others. I know that this is the work of God and I've seen his hand so many times in these past 2 years. I can't really put my thoughts into words right now and I'm just speaking nonsense but I KNOW that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ and I KNOW this is the only path to happiness. I know it and I love it!! I feel as Paul said: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

I sure love you guys and will see you soon.

–Elder Hale

Week 100: Hi!

Hey Everyone! 

Sorry for not being too detailed today! This week was crazy because my kid went home. :( His surgery was pretty hardcore so they sent him home to rest for a few months until he can come back to the mission. It was sad to see him go, he was a really good guy and a good, obedient missionary. 

This week I had my last zone conference and my final interview with President. It was a sentimental experience. President Godfrey really is a swell man and so wise! I'm glad that I got to have a close relationship with him. This is my last week and it feels weird!!! Bittersweet would be the word id use to describe it. 

I'm sooo grateful for my mission! I've LOVED it!

– Elder Hale

4th of July

Ceviche de pota!! Only 3 soles. (80 cents)

Choco pancakes

More 4th celebrations

Gotta love 'Merica shirts!

Week 99: Happy 4th of July!!

Hey everyone! 

This week was crazy. We were in the hospital on Wednesday, all day Thursday and all day Saturday because that's when my kid got surgery! They operated on his both legs and he will be in the offices recuperating for a week! So since Saturday, I've been in a tri-companionship with the other Elders in our ward. It's been fun being in a trio! We are all gringos so that's a riot. It's been nuts trying to cover the whole ward though cuz it's huge!

On Saturday, I was alone in the hospital the whole day and so I had a lot of time to think/read/sleep and I had a lot of time to look back on these past 2 years. I had a really peaceful, happy feeling and just felt really grateful for my mission and all the people I've met and helped and all the experiences that I've had. I am sure grateful for my mission. It has changed my life!! 

Well, another cool experience this week was with an investigator named Nicholas that's 18 years old. He is studying to becoming a Catholic Priest/Deacon kinda thing so he wasn't too open to the book of Mormon or restoration at first but we told him to just open his heart enough to ask God if it's true and that God will make him know that this is the only true church. I honestly doubted a little that he was going to humble himself enough to read and pray but we came back and he said "I did it" and he received an answer to his prayers and has a baptismal date for the 14th!! woohoo!

Well, till next week, have a good one! And HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

—Elder Hale

Funny pics of us with my comps glasses.

Last time wearing my "fast and testimony meeting tie."

Week 97: One Month Left!

Hey my friends and fam!!

Man, life keeps on chuggin!! I'm super happy and just trying to enjoy the last few weeks. Sometimes Satan tries to convince me that I'm tired or that I need a break or that I'm justified to wind down a little bit, but the key has just been to kick those thoughts out right when they get in!! Also, I think that I am gonna miss my mission a ton and so I better not waste a moment of these last few weeks! Gotta soak it all up and leave it all out on the field.

This week's highlights....

• Went to the hospital like 3 times for my kid's leg problems, he's hurtin a lot and might have to go home, :/ I really hope not. We are praying for him and hes been a trooper! 
• I fell from a staircase and got scraped up, haha super clutzy.
• I held a parrot and watched it drink oatmeal, haha.

Right now we have 3 progressing investigators that could be baptized in the first week of July. We are praying and working extra hard for them so that they can be saved!!! 

This week I read a lot of the Liahona with the October 2016 conference talks and WOW that was a KILLER conference! I FULLY recommend it, especially these talks:

• Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It? - Cornish
• Abide in my Love - Christofferson
• To Whom Shall We Go? - Ballard
• Joy and Spiritual Survival - Nelson

Also... here is one of my fav vids for all of you fathers out there! Happy late Father's Day!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?lang=eng

— Elder Hale

P.S. Sorry for not sending pics this week, we got hardcore robbed so I don't have my camera anymore but don't worry cuz it was super old and almost broken anyways.

Week 95: Last Transfer

Hey Folks!!! I hope life is good for you guys and you're enjoying summer! It's super cold around these parts right now, I don't appreciate it too much but oh well.

This week had some highlights!! We had a leaders mtng with the Area President (Elder Godoy). It was awesome! He's gonna be one of the presidents of the 70 in a few weeks. The meeting was really spiritual and he talked about receiving revelation for our districts and zones. It was really neat. Also, we had zone conference this week and district meeting on Friday so it was a really busy week going here and there. We didn't have too much time in our area and our numbers this week showed it. :/ We didn't have ANY investigators in church ysterday. It was a heartbreaker. But gotta remember that WE CAN'T GET DISCOURAGED cuz thats EXACTLY what Satan wants to happen, so we gotta put it in gear this week and find solutions and work even harder! We're wroking right now with 2 investigators named Jair and Marvin that should get baptized this month....praying for miracles! 

Well, today we have transfers. I don't think they'll change me cuz this is my last transfer! Crazy stuff. Gotta stay strong till the end!

Love you all, have a great week.

Random selfie with elder BANKS.
(He's 6 foot 8, but looks 8 foot when around Peruvians.)

ZONA COMAS! 

Elder Powell and I just being goons.

About to go contacting with a Chewbacca mask!

Random selfie with my kid as we were waiting for our investigator.

Week 94: Just Pics

Cool Peru hat I bought on p-day.

More pizza.

My poor kid isn't used to hiking up and down hills all day, he gets tired real quick.

Week 93: A Week in Pictures

This is a Jello birthday cake that the mission bought for me! 

It looked super cool! But it wasn't tasty at all, haha! 

But hey beggars can't be choosers, right?

More birthday cake

While cleaning the font for our baptism, we decided we 

needed an ice cream break and they were on sale! YEET!

Elder Powell baptized his phone, haha! 

(It fell in while cleaning the font.) #holyphone

Jimena's baptism!!! I was honestly super nervous that day because she has a deathly fear of water and she's been postponing her baptismal date for more than a month because of it. So, I was nervous that she wouldn't get in the water or that something would go wrong but she showed up, and even though the water was super cold and she was super scared, she cowboyed up and got in! It was honestly a miracle that everything went so smooth! 

The view over Comas (Lima Valley) from our area. 

Glamour shot

My ward! (You can see the huuuugeee cemetary at the end.)

My convert from 1.5 years ago came to our ward to visit me yesterday!! 

His name is Luis and he was an Escogido (chosen one). 

Man, I sure love that guy, he's super strong these days.