Past & Future

Dear All,

I forgot to mention about a month ago that we got new Visitors' Center directors! We will miss the Ferrin's SO much but already ADORE Elder and Sister Chappell! 

Elder and Sister Chappell are just about the HAPPIEST PEOPLE you could ever find upon the face of the earth. They are from Utah and this is their first mission together and they are absolutely thrilled about doing their very best. 

In a meeting we were in together, Elder Chappell asked the question, "Which do you spend more time thinking about: the past or the future?" As I sat and thought about it, I realized that the majority of my thoughts are often about anything but the present. Haha! After anything I do, I tend to ask myself what I could have done better, or if there was anything that I could have changed to get a different result. Then I start to set goals, make plans, and think about everything I am going to do to be better in the future, but soon after find myself overwhelmed and discouraged because I made the same mistake for the 100th time. Learning from our past is important; dwelling on the past is destructive. Looking forward to the future with faith is encouraging; worrying about the future is exhausting. Elder Chappell shared that, on average, those who focus their thoughts neither on the past nor the future are the happiest!

I read a comforting scripture in the Book of Mormon this week that has to do with this similar idea: "For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people" (Alma 7:7).

It struck me at that moment that no matter what we may be worried about, thinking of, going through, or about to go through... the most important thing is that Jesus Christ came--and He will come again. 

As we give ourselves credit for what we do well and ask God for help to overcome our weaknesses in humble prayer, He will strengthen us. 

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17).

Cheerfully do all you can, Brothers and Sisters!!! The Lord is pleased when you just have the faith to try.  

Love you!!! 

Hermana Hayes 

Please enjoy some pictures of our ward correlation, Marvin at church, a cute hermana in our ward that reminds me of my grandma and even has her same name (Teresa!), a tour at the Visitors' Center, and hot chocolate from Marvin. 

It's Getting Close...

Dearest Friends and Family,

That's right... It's getting close...

... to GENERAL CONFERENCE!

I am so excited. In just a few weeks, we will have the opportunity to listen to our dear prophet and others about what the Lord wants us each to know RIGHT NOW. I know that they receive revelation from God and relay that information to us.

A few weeks ago, the first presidency called President Johnson and told him that Sister Ranieri (one of the Sisters from the Washington DC Visitors Center) was being called to the ROME, ITALY Visitors' Center to train the new sisters and help as they prepare for the dedication of the new temple and Rome Visitors Center. She is originally from Italy and will most likely finish her mission there. What a DIVINE assignment!

We will miss her, but it's always so exciting to see this great work spread to every part of the world.

One of the highlights from this week was definitely visiting sweet Hermano Marco. He was baptized just a few months ago at the age of 79 and he is the CUTEST man ever. He is incredibly thankful for everything he has and never fails to give the credit to God for all of his blessings.

I honestly don't have words to express anything at this point, but really the only important thing I need to say is that God lives, He loves us, and He has shown us the way through prophets in every age for us to gain eternal happiness and know what we must do to return to live with Him! Hermano Marco is just one example of millions who have been transformed from a state of sin and sadness to happiness and light. :)

I love you all so much!!!! 

This Week's Tender Mercies

Dear Brothers and Sisters 

I have had another great week. SO MANY tender mercies that the Lord somehow sees fit to grant me. :') The snow is always a tender mercy for me because it feels like Idahome. I was SO happy because we were asked to help shovel the church side walks!! I loved it.

I also met the cutest Kenyan old man who requested a visit from the missionaries online and he was SO EXCITED to go to church this week. He works the night shift of every day of the week from 7 pm to 8 am, but that wouldn't stop him from doing to church :') oh my.

THEN I went on exchanges with Sister Chao in Chevy Chase again!! It felt like I had never left the area and that we had never stopped being companions. Sister Chao is the sweetest most amazing person ever. We were able to talk to everyone we saw and met a man who spoke English, Mandarin, Hebrew, Spanish, and Italian. So talented! We testified of the Book of Mormon and gave him a download that he could read it in any language he wanted. Although he wasn't interested in learning more, we testified with all our heart he was a son of God and that he would find answers to any question in the world in that sacred book. No effort is wasted! 

After exchanging back, Sister Martell and I had a lesson with Arnold. We shared the Restoration and finished with a 25-minute video in the Visitors' Center. The first thing he said when it finished was, "That was way too short." Haha!! He was so impressed by Joseph Smith's experience and without us even asking said, "I'm going to read the Book of Mormon every day. I promise that." ️️️ SO CUTE. 

Another day we were planning and for the third day in a row, we just kept feeling like we should go back to a particular road. We were able to find a few Spanish-speakers, but we weren't finding people to teach. We didn't know why, but we felt like we just had to keep going back. On the 3rd day, we knocked into a member whose records hadn't updated and so we didn't even know she lived there! THREE DAYS before we got there she had talked with the other missionaries in our ward to see who was assigned to her area so that they could visit her and her husband. I am SO GRATEFUL once again for the sweet guidance of the Spirit! At times we may not know why He is leading us in a certain direction, but we just have to trust the Lord's ways are higher than our own. 

Another tender mercy was when I had the prompting the message one of the people I worked with who was baptized in Perú. I hadn't spoken to her in about two months, but when I followed up with her she said, "Sofia! So good to hear from you. Everything is going great. I got my patriarchal blessing TODAY!" I couldn't believe it! She was so happy and can't wait to get it in physical form.

Last but not least, Nora (a recent convert from one year ago who is 79 who is the CUTEST thing) received her endowment last week :')))) We sat behind her at church and I congratulated her and gave her a big hug and she raised her trembling little arms to the sky and said, "Mi Padre Celestial está cerquita de mi!"

...That one destroyed me. ️️️ I just couldn't stop staring at her and thinking about how proud Heavenly Father must be of her. Heaven is hers as she just endures!

I love being a missionary for the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the greatest blessing and privilege.

Love you all! 

Have the greatest week!

Hermana Hayes