Monday, September 30, 2013

September 30, 2013 Finalmente hace mas fresco afuera :)‏

Quierdo Familia!!
 
Como estan ustedes?!? Espero que todo esta bien. Pensaba que estaria divertido para escribir un poco en espanol hoy. Yo se, mi espanol no esta perfecto. Pero cada dia trato para mejorar lo. Entonces, nadie puede reir cuando leen este si hablan espanol ;)
 
You can put this in google translator and see if it works! Quien sabe? Who Knows? Hahaha. Things are great here in TEXAS!! I think (okay, lets be honest. I know...) I am starting to develope a little Texas pride myself! I couldn't love my area where I am serving anymore than I do. My companion is great. The Whitley's that we live with are amazing. Our investigators are incredible. Just like my President Durrant (mission president) says, we are in the TEXAS DALLAS HEAVEN. We are TEXAS DALLAS HEAVENARIES :) Not just missionaries. Haha :) But President Durrant also said in our specialized training this last week, "There will always be opposition." I loved when he said this to us. We had a specialized training this week that was so good. He was talking about the work and how great it was. He was talking about all the miracles. He was also talking about how we can ALWAYS always work harder and become better. Then he said that nevertheless, there will always be opposition. I thought to myself, "How true is that?" Sometimes, as a missionary I find myself looking at other areas, missionaries, investigators, and think wow, if only I could speak spanish like them, if only I could be teaching that person, if only our area had as many hispanics as them... then I find myself realizing... Wait, you have everything :) I couldn't be more happy where I am. Yes, there are some days when I get upset when we are wandering around lost, late for appointments, the people are hiding behind the door and won't answer... but I also see that I have a companion who is willing to give her time to serve the Lord. The weather is cooling down. The fact that even one person is willing to listen to us and let us in their house :) Because lets be honest, two young girls, sweating, and speaking funny spanish has got to be pretty funny to the people we talk with. I know I've rambled on but I just want to say that yes life is hard... but we can turn it into what we want no matter the conditions :) It's something I am learning over and over again here in the mission. One of my favorite quotes lately... " You don't find the happy life, you make it." This morning while we were running I was thinking... people don't just wake up one day as one of the great and noble. Ordinary people do simple good deeds everyday... and over time it is realized that one good deed every day has developed into something extraordinary :) Enough of all my thinking and into what happened this week! :) For those of you who read Sister Whitley's blog...moronitenfour.blogspot.com y'all already know about this. But I think it was Tuesday morning when I was upstairs studying and I hear Sister W. squeeling and then the door shuts hard and I was like what in the world is going on??? We had a BIRDIE in our house!!! I decided it was an emergency and put studies on hold for a moment :) Hahah. After many attempts, we saved the little birdie and set it free in a tree of paradise away from Bell our cat :) This week we also had 2 hilarious days! It seemed like every little thing that could go wrong was... but we could either laugh or cry so we just laughed! Tuesday after the training our ride was late and so we were in a rush. When we got to the house the little girl that was the niece of the member that was giving us a ride said she had to go to the bathroom... so we said she could come in and use our bathroom. When mi compa looked at me and said you have the keys? I was like no, do you have them?? We realized we had forgotten the keys!! This poor little 2 almost 3 year old had to go to the bathroom... so we ran around back to check if the door was unlocked. Nope. We were locked out. This also meant that we were locked out of our car and couldn't go to any of our appointments. We came back around front and I saw that the drive way was wet. It was right under the front of the car so I figured it was water from the AC or something. Then right when the member is about to leave she says sorry... she couldn't hold it anymore. I realized what the wet spot was!!! Hahah, so there we sat on the porch locked out and dying laughing. While we were waiting for someone to come home we washed it off with the hose :) Of course the Whitley's noticed the drive way was wet so we told them what happened and we all laughed! When we finally got back in our car we headed for our appointments. We have a really cool lesson we do with a hard boiled egg and a glass jar. The glass jar is from Starbucks and so they are rare here in the mission but work PERFECTLY for the lesson. I'll take pictures when we do it this week and show you why :) Anyways, we were out in the street and I opened up my back pack forgetting the jar was in the pocket... and SHATTER!!!!! All over in the street. It was like a half hour before the lesson we had that we had planned to use it. I couldn't belive it!!!!! So then we were frantically calling the other missionaries to see if they were close and happened to have theirs. They didn't :( But one elder told us we could buy them at QT (a gas station here). So that's what we did!!! We ran in and bought one and I was talking loud about where we were going to DUMP IT OUT and we were dying laughing the whole time. The lesson went well and they loved it :) But there's a part where you have a bowl of water and of course... the WHOLE BOWL dumped in my lap and it looked like I peed my pants!! Too stinkin' funny :) Heidi y Angel were dying laughing. Lili y David are doing great!! :) Honestly, every time we talk with them I am amazed! They are studying to take their engineering test here on Oct. 25. They were already engineers in Mexico but moved here to take the test so that they could work! Their faces have so much light in them. Lili has read like 140 pages of the BOM and David is reading The Principles of the Gospel book like crazy too. We had a fun lesson with Lili y David! We taught them tithing and then used coke and mentos. We gave them 10 mentos and said here is your money. Then we told them to "pay" one and drop it in the coke! We all know what happened :) It turned into an exploding coke fountain! We said it's the exact same when we pay tithing! When we do, the blessings of heaven pour out!!! :) Haha. It was really fun and they liked it! That same morning I had gotten woke up at like 5 because I rolled over and hit my eye on the door knob again :) I am the only sister that has done it and it's because I am so weird in my sleep! I have a tiny black eye :) I'll send pictures. It's too funny :)  On Saturday we had TONS of rain again! I'll send you pictures. We were teaching Ruben outside and then all of the sudden it started POURING!!! That night we got to go to the Relief Society Broadcast because Lili came with us :) It was so good and it was so cute... when they said the prophet would be speaking she turned to me with this huge excited grin like really?!? It reminded of what a huge blessing it really is that we have a modern Moses or Abraham in our day :) Saturday... Lili y David AND HEIDI y ANGEL came to church!!! We haven't been able to get Heidi y Angel to church in forever and were thinking about dropping them because they haven't been keeping any committments. They promised us they would come to church and when they didn't answer that morning we were really nervous so we drove to their house and started knocking to wake them up... Angel answered the door and I was like WHY DIDNT YOU ANSWER? :D He started laughing and said, "We were going to surprise you!!!" :) WE WERE SSSOOO EXCITED!! We have to get them married but honestly they are SO close to being ready! They know it's good and I believe they know it's true they just have to really take it in. they said they are just scared of having to change everything. So keep them in your prayers :) The work here is going great. I still absolutely love when people think I am from Mexico!!! hahah. It happens when I get really tan. Sometimes it's hard... pero todo esta vale la pena :) aka It's all worth it. You're all in my prayers and I love Y'ALL EEESSSSSTTTTTTEEE GGGRRRRAAAANNNDDDDEE! :D (THIS BIG!!) Oh, also!! Yesterday was testimony meeting. I decided with all of our investigators there it was the prime opportunity to bear my testimony. There were SO MANY people there!! I was shaking like crazy but I did it :) I know that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only church with the fullness and authority of God. Joseph Smith was a prophet. President Monson is a prophet of God. We have the opportunity to listen to them this week :) SSSOOO EXCITED!!! Enjoy Conference! Soak it up!!
 
Les Quiero MUCHISIMO!!! Hasta Luego :) I hope that some of my stories made you laugh. Keep doing the little things. Read your scriptures. Pray. Remember, little things when done consistently.. become extraordinary :)
Never doubt the effect of living the Gospel and loving people can have on others lives.
 
Con Gusto- Hermana Jennay Hadlock!!! :)






President Durrant's daughter... Dianna Durrant :)






Our recent converts Megan, Helma, and Roger are fans of Duck Dynasty :) They knew I was too so they bought me this shirt!!! :D SO SWEET!!


 I also bought this calendar :) Haha, too funny!!




Monday, September 23, 2013

September 23, 2013 65 Degrees... I could live with that :)‏

Quierdo Familia!!!!

How in the world are you doing??? I might as well get it out of the way first thing in the e-mail... this last week was the Holy War. I couldn't take it anymore and so when we were eating with some members yesterday I asked them if they had heard the score or seen the game. The son looked up the score on his phone and they were all dying laughing at my reaction when I found out that my team lost!!!!! :( Ah man, God does always answer prayers. I guess sometimes the answer is just NO ;) Nevertheless, I still wore my team's colors proudly on Saturday. I'll send some pictures :) I also stood in a good 'ole Y stance for my COUGARS!  So last Monday after I e-mailed was funny. Remember the crazy tall Hispanics that I talked about?? We're talking around 6 5" or taller? We played 4-square with them on Monday night. We have been teaching the wife but we wanted to see if there was some way we could get them more involved and so when we walked up they were playing and we played for a bit!! It was really fun :) Hermana LeBaron and I won ;) Not! They were going easy on us. But hopefully they'll be a little more open to our message now. Then on Tuesday we got to teach the engineers Lili y David :) They are SSOO awesome! I honestly can't even begin to say how much I love them. When we went over there they had us try a cactus fruit and also fed us homemade orange marmalade they had made. It was DELICIOUS :) They are progressing so much and got to see 3 baptisms yesterday! I think they really liked it. I sure love their dog. I'll send a picture home of him :) Then we got to teach Aydee that night as well. She is a part-member family but her husband works all the time and so he never can come to church. She has been investigating for about 10 years and wants to get baptized but wants her husband to be able to do that so we are working on getting him re-activated. They are so cute! Mom, remember that S'mores stuff you sent me? First, it was delish. Second, we made some with them and their 3 daughters and had a lesson about how sometimes it's hard work to do what's right but it's all worth it in the end and they got to eat it! The little girls loved it :)  Then on Wednesday we had a really neat experience. We took Heidi y Angel to the temple. We had a lesson with them and walked around the outside and talked about how the temple is a place where we can be sealed for time and for all eternity. They have been struggling to keep the committments like reading, praying, and coming to church but I think they really liked the lesson at the temple :) I hope it motivates them! We have to get them married first and then maybe they will get baptized! I pray so :) But the lesson at the temple really was incredible.  Well for all of you that read Sister Whitley's blog (moronitenfour.blogspot.com) and have read about Hermana Pineapple.. she died. So mi compa and I went and bought another one and tried to re- plant one with David y Lili who told us about it in the first place. We had a lesson on faith. They are now taking care of Hermana pineapple for a bit ;) Hahah. It was great!! This last Thursday or something like that it PPPOOOUUURREEEDDD!! I don't know that I have ever seen rain like that in my life. I was driving home and I won't lie it was actually a little scary but don't worry, all is well :) Sister Whitley was waiting with umbrellas and towels when we got home. I sure love her :) Brother and Sister Whitley are the best! I will be so sad when I have to move out from their house.  For the first time on my mission this last Saturday we had 6 lessons in one day!!!! It was so awesome :) If only we had that every day ;) Nah, sometimes we have to struggle to really appreciatte things :)  RUBEN came to CHURCH!!! We have been teaching Ruben since I got here. He is the one who I passes out during the lesson with. Super embarrassing and funny. He finally came to the church for the 1st time yesterday!! He liked it :) He is still a bit uncomfortable but he came in his nice clothes and tie yesterday and I couldn't have been more happy. Apparentlly he used to have piercings all over and long hair but you would never know it now. It shocked my compa and I when he told us last night because he loooks so clean now. He said he wants to change and really does have a lot of faith. The elders in our ward had baptisms last night :) There were 3 total. Right now there are 4 companionships in my ward. 2 sets of Elders and 2 sets of sisters. They were incredible and Lili y David came!!!! :) Maybe I already said that?? I think they really liked it. I sure love them!! Well... I sure love you!!!!!! Tomorrow marks 3 months for me here in Texas. Can you believe it? Pretty soon here, I am 1/3 of the way down with my mission. OH! and the other thing, the other morning when we got up to run it was 65 degrees! I about had a heart attack. I am SSOOO grateful the weather is starting to cool down. Love you all!!!!!! :) Have a fantastic week!!
-Hermana Jenny Hadlock :)

 Heidi y Angel and their little girl :)


Lili y David


Choco :) Lili y David's doggy!!







Monday, September 16, 2013

September 16, 2013 So uh... it's still hot in good 'ole Texas :)‏

Howdy there!!
I am so glad to hear that it is starting to cool off back home in good 'ole UTAH :) I'll be honest... it still has not cooled off here! Everyone says that around October it will start cooling down. I am so excited for it to cool down! Don't get me wrong... I enjoy being wet all the time but it will sure be a nice change to have it be a bit cooler ;) I don't even know where to start from this past week... So last Monday we got a text from a random number that said something about I talked with y'all a few weeks ago. I've been going through a really hard time and would like to learn more. His name was Cesar. It turns out that Hermana Ostler and I had talked to him in ACE (a trailer park where Los Juanitos live) and we had given him a pass along card. He said that he wanted to come to church that day but we never heard from him again after that. Well, he finally texted us! I guess he got put in jail for a few days and it really changed his perspective on things. He is only about 21 and he was praying in jail and saying if there is a God, please help me to get out of here. His story was actually really funny... I guess when he got out he was just like skipping and dancing and some people on the road driving by yelled at him to stop and he was like are you kidding?? I'm FREE!! Don't worry, we bring a member with us to teach him so we're not in danger or anything but it was just awesome to see him have the desire to change. He didn't make it to church yesterday... so we are going to keep working with him and see if he can turn around his life. WEDNESDAY... wow. I don't even know what to say. Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder Tad R. Callister visited us. When he walked into the room it reminded me of the World wide Broadcast that I got to be a part of my last night in the MTC. The Spirit that floods the room is incredible. Before everyone started to talk... Elder Andersen told us that he was going to shake every one of our hands :) So we all lined up and for the first time in my life I got to shake the hand of an Apostle of the Lord. It sure was incredible :) Of course I can't include everything that  I learned from that meeting... it would take hours or days to do so... but some of the most important things that I got out of the meeting were how important the Atonement of Jesus Christ is in our lives. When I was set apart as a missionary it said that I would meet people that felt like they were beyond fixing... but there's a quote that may be from Elder Holland that says no matter where you are, you can get there from here. You can't go beyond the reach of the Atonement. It's something that I don't believe we can fully comprehend in this life but I enjoy learning more about it everyday. The other thing was to be patient with ourselves. He said to keep trying and working hard and doing your best but to also be patient with ourselves and that over time progress will be seen :) The most important thing that he said to me was something like this... From the First Presidency and the Quorom of the Twelve... yes we want you to become Preach My Gospel missionaries, yes we want you to be exactly obedient, yes we want you to have success... but above all, we want you to have a firm and deep and unshakable testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It wasn't exact.. so don't quote me on it but it was something very similar to that. I have better notes in my journal. I watched a video this week by Elder Holland that says as representatives of Jesus Christ, we have to expect to walk some of the path that he walked and feel a sliver of what he felt. That's why we have such hard days... that's why people yell at us sometimes... but it's all worth it in the end. Because when we are on the Savior's side, we'll win :) Let's face it.... we all know how competitive I am and how much I like to win. So, I KNOW which side I want to be on!!! After that meeting, we stopped by Krispy Kreme. We had seen it on our way driving and I was SO excited because I had no idea they were here so we stopped on our way back! It started to rain, I was eating a Krispy Kreme dounut, and I had just heard from an Apostle. Heaven? Pretty close I'd say :) That night when we were going to some of our appointments we heard a little mowing from a kitten... we couldn't figure out where it was at first. Eventually we found them. There were 5 little kitties that were down in a little ditch with beer bottles and all sorts of garbage. We looked around for a mama but couldn't find one anywhere. We left them during our appointment to see if when we came back out the mom would be there but there was nothing. So that night, one of our recent converts (Helma, Roger, and Meagan) came and got them :) They called the emergency number from the animal shelter and I guess someone came and picked them up that night. So they were saved! :) Good thing, because they were so cute and it about broke my heart. But Hakunah Matata, they are safe :) Thursday and Friday were pretty funny as well. On Thursday I got a package from Jackson with a hoodie from Mexico in it!!!! :D It's pretty much the coolest thing ever. I also got your package mama :) Thank you!!!! I loved it  :D Our 2 investigators that are the engineers are doing really well! They fed us and a couple from our ward dinner. It was so good! They came to church this last Sunday as well :) They haven't committed to a baptismal date but they are doing so great!!!! Thanks for praying for them :) Then, right after that appointment we had another appointment with Heidi y Angel. They fed us too! It was papusas. They are so stinkin' good. I guess they're a food from El Salvador? YUMMY. Friday, we ended up having 2 dinner appointments again! It was the craziest thing because that hardly ever happens and we had 3 inv. feed us within 2 days!!! I was SSSSSOOOOO full I could barely move. It was pretty intense. But all is well and you have the assurance I am definitely not going to go hungry on my mission. :) Saturday we found some new appartments to visit way out in the corner of our area! They're in the middle of no where. It's all these factories and then boom... an apartment complex. So we hope that we'll find some new inv. there :) We had transfer calls on Saturday and I am staying with HERMANA LeBaron and the WHITLEY's for at least 6 more weeks :D YAYE! Thank you for all your support and love. Can't begin to explain how much it means to me :) I heard that the Holy War of BYU and UTAH is this Saturday... so can I just add a..... GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOO CCCCCOOOOUUUUGGGGAAARRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
 I am sad to be missing the game but it will just make me that much better of fan when I get to see it again :)
LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Thank you so much for all you do for me. You're always in my prayers. P.s. Never doubt the power you have as a member of the church. MEMBER missionary work is SOOO important!! Keep it up :)
-Hermana Jenny Hadlock  

After we had a really good day, 
when we were planning at night 


On our way to hear Elder Andersen :)






First time I have seen a lake since I've been out!!! :) It made me want to go boatin' and fishin :) :) 
Also, I hit my 4 month mark yesterday!! Crazy aye??




I totally forgot to write about William!!!!!! This man in this picture is William :) Yestrerday, we met him outside just leaning against his truck. We started to talk with him and teach him. He told us that just a little bit ago his sister had passed away from cancer. We started to talk to him and I actually had the opportunity to show him a picture of Michael. (The one of him dunking of course :) ) and I bore my testimony that we can live with our family after this life. He was grateful to hear it and said that he knew his sister was happy and in a better place. While we were teaching him a random car drives up and someone gets out and just brings him over a pizza. They give it to him and then just leave. I guess it was his friends or family or something like that... but we tell him he can eat it and he says to my compa and I no WE can eat it. He refused to eat it until we ate some first. He was so nice. I am so grateful for these people I get to serve. They are so humble and so willing to help others even when they are in hard times. We are going to try and go back and teach him again. He is from El Salvador. He could barely understand our spanish because they have such a different accent but all is well :) I know that my experiences with Michael were able to help him even if it was just a little bit. So here he is... our good friend William and his pizza :)



Monday, September 9, 2013

September 9, 2013 Lookin' forward to a great week (:‏

How are you doing?? :)
 
Well this week is going to be very exciting!!! I will tell you why in a minute. First of all, this last week was a great week. I honestly wish I could explain all the lessons that I learn every day, really every moment, and include everything everytime I write... but it's just not possible :) I am learning SO much! Sometimes I wonder if this mission is really for me to go and teach people what I know or if it is really for God to shape me into the person he really wants me to be. Yesterday was kind of sad. We had so many of our investigators that said they would come to church and then none of them came :( But I guess it is what it is and everyone has their agency right? We will just have to try that much harder to get them there next week or find some who are willing to come. It always amazes me the people we find that are so willing to give up the life they have known and follow Christ. They are few and far between but when you find them it truly is a miracle and so worth it. We have a few people who are getting close to where they could be baptized. Hermana LeBaron haven't had any baptisms together so we have been praying that we can get someone ready to enter the waters :) If you could, keep Lili y David (the engineers) in your prayers. They are so great and I want them to be baptized so bad!! Really and truly... all of our investigators. They're the nicest people. There really is some sweet Southern hospitality down here in Texas :) So I don't think I have talked about Angelica. We met her outside one night in the parking lot. She actually lives right next to where Helma, Roger, and Meagan live.(The ones who were just baptized about a month ago.) It's the funniest thing because I am pretty sure she is my height or taller than me... (Usually I am a giant here. I am taller than 95% of the men we teach.) Then her husband and his brothers are all far above 6 ft!!! It's the weirdest thing ever :) I've never seen a 6 5" Hispanic. The guys haven't been too interested in the message when we have gone over there but she seems to be really sweet and willing to listen. So we are going to keep working with her... I think we actually have an appointment tonight :) and then hopefullly we can get the rest of her family more involved. One night we stopped by and all of the brothers were outside playing four-square. I developed a love for 4 square in the MTC. We always played at gym time and it was such a blast!! But they were so intense... but I think if I practiced a little I'd be able to play with them ;) Nah, they're pretty good! It was too funny to watch though. This last week I went on an exchange with Hermana Ostler! She's my old companion. It was really fun :) We talked all about baseball and she caught me up on everything, haha. She and I both love it so much! I got to go to her area and work and we ate at In-N-Out! That was my first time eating there for a while. It was sure good :) Most of the time, I eat Hispanic food with all of the people here. We met the most incredible lady while we were on exchanges as well. Her name was Maria I think :) Just like everyone here... hahaha. Most of the women are Maria and most of the guys are Juan ;) No seriously though. We are teaching multiple Maria Hernandez's. Anyways... she was a referral from the English Elders I think. We knocked 3 times and she didn't answer. Then as we were about to write a note to leave on her door and leave she opened the door! We went in and started to teach her and she said that the light of God was in our faces. When we told her that we were going to invite her to be baptized she said she wanted to be :) And she meant it!!! She asked how  she could be baptized... she was even willing to take public transportation to church!!!! and she wanted to bring her friend too! I wish I could keep teaching her :) But Hermana Ostler will love it none the less. We seriously left that lesson just skipping... we were waiting for the angels to descend from the ceilings. I guess she had just gotten out of a really bad relationship. We meet a whole ton of people with some pretty crazy stories to go behind it. A lot of the time it breaks my heart to see what the people have gone through... I can't begin to express how blessed I am to have what I have. But God brings the poor and the meek and the lowly of heart unto Him. When we are humble, we are willing to accept and make the changes that we need to. We always fight it... but we always end up happier in the end when we do what's right :) Then on Wednesday this last week we had Sister's Conference. It was so good! I think it's something we have like twice a year when a lot of the sisters get together and we have a speaker and just a little meeting together. It was awesome :) We had Sister Brown, one of the older senior couple missionaries talk to us. She was a GORGEOUS model back in her day. She gave it all up and decided to be a mom and have a family instead. She said that years later she was talking with one of her directors who had won some award of the year and was doing really well in the business. She had her baby with her and looked really frumpy... then they were talking about all of their dreams from back when she was a model. The director started to cry and said she would give it all up for what she had as a mom and a wife. She said that getting to the top wasn't all that itw as cracked up to be. That taught me a lot :) I know it sounds really cheesy but sometimes I look out in the world and for a split second catch myself thinking what it would be like to be with all of my friends swimming and doing whatever I wanted... Then I realize that I am on the greener side of the grass :) That I truly am EXACTLY where I need to be. God is shaping me into the person he wants me to be and what I do now will affect my own future family and the family and friends I already have! David and Lili are still doing great! They couldn't come to church this week because they had to help their dad fix a car or something like that but they said they will be there next week! They always fix us the best food when we go over. It was too funny... they have a big brown lab that I LOVE and play with him whenever we go. His name is Choco and during the lesson last time we heard some noise and realized that he was eating the rug under the table :) Hahaha! David got mad at him and he got the saddest puppy eyes and just like ok, I'm sorry :( All David had to do was barely raise his voice and tell him to lay down in another spot. It was too funny :) Well.... ready for the exciting news?!?!? We have a family of 13 and they're all getting baptized next week!!!!!!! NAH!!! Just kidding :) Estoy bromeando. Pero, this Wednesday Elder Neil A. Andersen is coming to our mission and Elder Tad R. Callister!!!! Isn't that so exciting!!!!!!!????? So in the little time I have been on my mission I will have the opportunity to see all of the 12 apostles. He was the only one that was missing during the world wide broadcast. I am the luckiest sister in the world :) Well my dearest family and friends.... there are truly miracles to be seen every day :) Look for them. I know life is hard... pero, podemos hacerlo! (We can do it!) I mean come on... I have just about made it through a summer in Texas ;) That is a miracle in itself. It's still in the 100's just about every day with humidity. But they say by October it should start to cool down. I love you all more than I can say and hope all is well!!!
 
I sure love ya!!- Hermana Jenny Hadlock














Monday, September 2, 2013

September 2, 2013 A rainy day in TEXAS!‏

Hola!!
So guess what... last night when I was falling asleep the rain and storms were going like crazy! They lit up our whole room. If you know me at all... you know that I LOVE the rain so stinkin' much!! Then when we woke up to go running this morning it was still pouring rain and continued on for a good chunk of the day!!! I loved it so much!!! It has been SO HOT here! Every day I am so sweaty and gross. I think it is to my benefit though... loads of people give us water and I think they let us in their houses because they feel bad for us :) So I am totally okay with it. I think I am going to put a sticker on my future car one day that says... " I SURVIVED A SUMMER IN TEXAS" Haha, only joking. From everyone I have been hearing that it has been especially hot back home this summer as well. But I guess by the time of October it will start to cool down here :) This last week was such a good week! We taught this couple who are actually both engineers. I don't remember if I talked about them before. Their names are Adrian & Lili. They came to church on Sunday! I was SO happy when they walked in. They looked so nice too and participated in the classes! People thought they were members. I was thinkin.. no, but I sure hope they are soon :) The fact that they are both engineers reminded me of Heather and Erget and it made me laugh :) I will keep you updated on what happens with them! We also visited "Los Juanitos" again this week! They are the ones that had the Bible study class. Did I write home about that? I'm pretty sure I did :) If not, let me know... because it was truly hilarious! Anyways, they invited us to this festival that they were putting on called the "Festival of smiles" It's the banner that I will send home but it's in spanish so I figured that I would translate. The language is still coming along! The picture of the puppy that I am sending home is the dog of Los Juanitos. It was being so weird and I thought it was hilarious! I still find animals here almost every day. You know I love animals so I guess that's not expected to change on my mission right? Oh, the other day... we got in our car and the thermometer said 118!! Isn't that nuts?!?! Granted it had been sittin in the sun but that's the highest  I've ever seen it. Compared to the -18 degrees that I saw on the thermometer in the car last winter in Rexburg. Well I don't have any time left but I just wanted to say how happy I have been this week :) There's a scripture that has been on my mind a lot. D&C 84:88 It talks about those that receive us... Christ is truly right there with us :) I know that this is true. I know that this is His work and if we give it our best, that is enough :) I love you all!!!!
-Hermana Hadlock 





This was the same day I ran my marathon a year ago! :) 











Heather, this picture has your birthday on my milk jug!!! 












September 2, 2013 Hi there :)‏

Howdy there!
I just wanted to let everyone know that I may or may not get a long e-mail out today. The libraries are closed and so I will either write home today or maybe tomorrow. But you'll get one on one of those days :) So if it doesn't come today... no worries. I just had a few minutes on the Whitley's computer. Love you all!!!!!!! :)