Week 25 - Blizzard Aftermath

Hello Peeps!!!

This week flew by! It was kind of a let down though because all of our lessons fell through due to the bad snow storms. BUT THAT'S OKAY. We'll meet with them this week for sure.

Monday and Tuesday = A LOT OF SNOW = BARELY CAN LEAVE THE APARTMENT.

On Wednesday, we had district meeting, and we did a lot of finding!! We met this single mom named April who seemed pretty interested, so we're going to go visit her sometime this week.

It snowed again on Thursday, so we couldn't leave the apartment for most of the day. It did stop in time for us to go sing hymns at the old folks home, and that's always the best! I'll try to take pictures next time.

On Friday, I went on exchanges with Elder Madsen. He's such an awesome elder! We talked to people on the walking bridge for almost 4 hours. One lady yelled at us for 20 minutes, saying that we were sexist and stuff like that. Canada. 

Sunday, church.

Sorry this email was so brief. This past week was like a blur, and I can hardly remember any of it. But I'm still alive and doing well! I have a lot of pictures though.

Also, I encourage everyone go read Alma 36. It may be my favorite chapter int he BoM. I love it!

Have a great week! Thank you all for your support!

Elder Haslam

Snowed In, But I have These Provisions All to Myself!

Fredericton, NB, Canada

Snow mass accumulation after Blizzard

Dinner with Syrian Family - Teaching Them English

Week 24 - Snowed In

Hi Everyone!

This week was great!

On Tuesday we were able to have a lesson with one of our investigators named Mardith. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation! She seemed to take it well and feel the spirit! Her husband passed away in September. I testified to her that her husband was being taught the same Gospel in the spirit world, and she seemed blown away by it! It was an awesome lesson. Hopefully we can meet with her sometime this week!

On Wednesday we went with the sisters to dinner at the Albegs' (the Srian refugee family) ! Ahlam, the mom, is such an amazing cook. She made this chicken/pita/rice stuff for us. It was amazing! One of the sisters took pictures. I'll get them next week and send them. Then they came to church on Sunday! It was awesome! 

Yesterday was nuts. We had a massive blizzard. We drove to Walmart and Costco (normally about a 40-minute round trip), and it took us about 3 hours!!! We could only see about 20 feet in front of us because the snow was so thick. When we got to Costco, we were the ONLY customers there. It was soo weird. WE HAD COSTCO ALL TO OURSELVES. The Costco employees thought we were crazy. On our way back to the apartment, we had to get out 4 separate times and dig ourselves out so the car could move. It was a crazy day!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week! This Gospel is true!

Elder Haslam

All alone in Costco in Fredericton, NB Canada

The temperature outside during the storm.

Walking into Walmart - Nobody here but us!

Week 23 - Success & Zone Conference

Hi everyone!

This was a pretty good week!

On Monday we picked up 3 investigators!!!! It was amazing. We didn't have any investigators last transfer and then BAM!! We get 3 in one day!!!! We met two of them while knocking, and we have follow-up lessons with them tonight! Hopefully those go well and they can continue to progress in the Gospel! So that was a good day!

Tuesday we had zone conference, and I got see Elder Ipson again!!!!! It was a very spiritual zone conference and I learned so much. We talked about the doctrine of Christ and how it's there to help us progress and grow. Before my mission, I thought it was only there so we can obtain salvation, but it's not just that. It's also there for us to grow and become something better than we were the day before. In his talk, "The Challenge to Become" Elder Dalin H. Oaks says, "... the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become." The doctrine of Christ is there for us to progress, grow, and develop, and it's not just there for us to check off the requirements for salvation.

Then for the rest of the week we pretty much just went finding haha. :)

Well, I hope you all have an awesome week! I know this Gospel is true and that it is the key to happiness in this life and pure joy in the life to come.

Love,
Elder Haslam

Our Zone

Our Zone 

Seeing my High School Buddy Elder Grant Ipson once again!

Week 22 - Finding New Gators

Hello Everyone, 

This week was good! My new companion Elder Jenkins and I found a few potential investigators. We're going to follow-up with them sometime this week!!

On Friday, we taught English to a refugee family from Syria. It was really hard. They hardly speak any English, and we don't speak any Arabic, so we had to move really slowly with them. I'm just hoping they understood what was going on haha. The whole family came to church on Sunday though! So hopefully we can get them to understand our language, and THEN we'll start teaching them about the gospel :).

On Saturday, I tripped and fell while playing ball hockey and landed on the pointy end of another elder's stick. I have like a 4-inch gash on my hip and the biggest bruise I've ever seen. Now, whenever we go out finding, I look like an old grandpa (no offense, Grandpa) because I limp so much. 

On Sunday we went to a Pentecostal church after our church. We ran into a lady while we were knocking and she told us that we need to come to her church. So we did haha. They were all jamming out to gospel rock and stuff when we walked in. Everyone started speaking in "tongues" and stuff so that was, um, interesting. We left early hahaha!

That's about it for this week! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Thank you for the support!

Elder Haslam

Last Picture with Elder Hovey (taken last week)

Week 21 - New Companion

Parental Disclaimer:
When we asked Tyler to explain "Elder 'Have Some'" and the bizarre picture, he said
he didn't have time and had to go, ... so there's that.

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Hi Everyone!!

This week went by pretty fast!! 

I got a new companion this week! His name is Elder Jenkins, and he's from Oregon! He really likes Star Wars, so we've been talking about a bunch of deep Star Wars stuff. I feel like a 10 year old again!!! So that has been awesome!

Thursday I had to say goodbye to Elder Hovey. That was really hard since we've been together for what seems like forever! The first few days without him were sooo weird. So if any of you fellow Utahns meet or see a "Daniel" Hovey, be sure to give him a hug for me! 

That's about it! We're gonna be working and finding a ton this week. We've got to find someone to teach so your prayers on that front would be very helpful!

Thank you for your support. Love you all very much!! Stay classy. 

Elder "Have Some" 

Week 20 - Staying in Fredericton

Hi Friends!

This was a good week! Every morning this week all the missionaries here in Fredericton got up at 5:30 to play ball hockey in the church. It has been awesome! We are becoming pros at hockey. I'm like Wayne Gretzky out here. 

Also, this week we hit 35 hours of finding. That's a personal record haha! I'm not gonna lie I'm a little bit drained right now haha. We didn't get any potential investigators during all those hours, so that kind of stinks. But I know the Lord has someone prepared and waiting for us. We just have to keep working and they'll come. 

On Monday I got to take Elder Hovey out for his last full day of proselyting before he goes home. It sucks to see him go because he was such an awesome trainer. He's been with me for my whole mission, so it's gonna be weird without him. I love the guy!!

Well, that's about all! Hope y'all have a great week! Love you guys!

Elder Haslam

Massive Axe in Nackawic, New Brunswick

Church Hockey

Church Hockey 

My Harambe Sweatshirt

Week 19 - Saying Goodbyes

Hello Everyone, 

Elder Haslam apologizes for not writing his own email this week. He had a lot to do this P-day and just ran out of time. As his parents, we did have a little email back and forth today, so this week's email is from us. 

Here are some of the highlights from our short session with him today.

He said his week was "swell," and he was excited about a new pair of brown shoes he bought, since he was tired of wearing only black ones. Winter is well underway in New Brunswick, and it is starting to get a lot colder now. He's grateful for his puffy Eskimo parka and warm winter boots.  Most of his day is spent outside in downtown Fredericton street contacting anyone who is willing to stop and chat. A common practice is for them to set up free hot chocolate stands to entice passers by to stop for a hot drink, at which time they try to slip in a few quick words about the Gospel to warm hearts along with cold bodies.. 

Tyler was trained by two zone leaders in his first area of Newfoundland, and he refers to them as his mission dad and mom. Elder Larsen is his "dad" and Elder Hovey is his "mom." (We asked if Elder Hovey is cool with that label, and Ty said yes because he's such a thoughtful, loving guy.) Elder Hovey followed Elder Haslam last transfer to New Brunswick. Though they are in different companionships, they still share the same apartment with three other elders. Since both Elder Larsen and Elder Hovey are going home this month, I guess that means Elder Haslam is going to be a mission orphan? 
Below is a sweet picture of Tyler embracing Elder Hovey after the last district meeting of his mission. It's going to be difficult to say goodbye, but as his parents, we are so grateful for the faithful young men and women with whom Tyler gets to rub shoulders. 

That is about it. Thanks for your ongoing love and support for Elder Haslam! We are so blessed! 

Elder Haslam's Dad & Mom

Elder Haslam & Elder Hovey Saying Their Goodbyes!