Week 43 - Cape Breton

Hi Everyone!

This week we got to go to Cape Breton (5.5 hour drive) for a  mini-zone conference. We were allowed to do 4 hours of sight seeing afterwards, which was awesome! We visited this old French fortress that's right on the ocean called Louisbourg. It was so cool. There was this really old church in the building that the general lived in, and there was this huge picture of King Louis in the church rather than Jesus, which affirmed my testimony about the apostasy. haha 

This week we taught Suzanne 3 times again. We made her a study program so she can start getting things out of her studies. Hopefully that'll increase her testimony. She's says that if God wants her to quit smoking, she'll "feel his presence." We're going to share the scripture about procrastinating repentance with her next time. 

Yesterday in studies I read in Ether, chapter 6. It talks about how the Lord caused that there should be fierce winds blown upon the Brother of Jared and his group while they were in the barges. The winds caused them to be swallowed up in the sea, and it actually made there journey seem really miserable. I was asking myself while reading, "Why did God do that to them?" Then I read in verse 8 where it says: 

"And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind."

I realized that although the Lord may have made the journey more difficult for them, the purpose of the fierce winds was to blow them toward the Promised Land. The Lord never ceased to blow the winds because he knew it would allow the group to progress to their final destination. Sometimes we might feel that the Lord gives us unnecessary trials, but the only reason why he gives them to us is so we can be pushed closer to Him. I'm grateful for my trials, and I know everything happens for a reason.

Hope you all have a great week! Love you!

Elder Haslam

Week 42 - Special Olympics

Hey Everyone!

Happy Father's Day to my dad and to all the fathers!

This week has been pretty good. We did lots of volunteering!!

First off, I went to New Glasgow to go on exchanges with Elder Fairbanks and Elder Hoole. Elder Hoole and I went street contacting near a Catholic college, and we saw a bunch of people wearing these weird yellow shirts. We asked if there was an event going on or something and they said it was the Special Olympics for all of the Maritimes!! We asked if they needed any volunteers, and they were like, "YES!!!" and then we were like, "YESSSS!" So we went in, got some yellow shirts on, and volunteered for several hours helping them set up for the opening ceremony. I had to go back to Cole Harbour, but the New Glascow elders went back and volunteered for another 5 hours the next day. It was pretty awesome!

As far as investigators go, Suzanne is still doing the same. We're starting to make a mini study program for her with videos on lds.org and things like that because she's not very literate. We think that will help her build the faith that she needs to quit smoking. Please, still, pray for her. 

Saturday all the missionaries in the metro and surrounding areas got to volunteer at a street hockey tournament in Halifax. It's the largest street hockey tournament in Canada and, man, some of these Canadians are insanely good at hockey. It was pouring rain though, so our job was to take squeegees and scrape the water off of the courts during timeouts. We did that from 8:30 am - 7:00 pm with 20 min breaks for lunch and dinner. It was pretty brutal but also a ton of fun. I got to hang out with Elder Ipson again because he came up to volunteer too!

This Thursday, we're going up to Cape Breton Island for a mini zone conference! President Pratt gave us permission to do 3 hours of sight seeing after the meeting!! So I'll try and take some pretty good pictures. We have to drive almost 5 hours to get there though, so that's a bummer. 

That's about it for this week. Love you all!! 

Elder Haslam

Finding Investigators at St. Francis Xavier University

On a Split in New Glasgow at St. Francis Xavier University

Volunteering at the Maritime Special Olympics

Glasgow

Week 41 - It's Getting Hot!

Hey Everyone!

This week has been pretty good!

We had district meeting this week with President Pratt, and it was awesome.! He gave us a training about hope and how we can use hope to contact people and teach people more effectively. It was a great district meeting, and I'm glad he came!

Suzanne is still the same. She wants to get baptized, but she keeps on saying that she'll quit smoking but that it will be on her own time. She doesn't want us to pressure her. We hope that if we keep meeting with her, she'll have courage to finally quit smoking. It's a work in progress, but I know she can do it eventually. Again, please pray for her.

Yesterday, we picked up the Grand Falls elders from the airport, and we got to go on a mini exchange with them. It was so fun because Elder Warner and I both served there, so we were just talking to them about what's going on in the area and how the members were doing.

It's starting to get hot!! Today it hit 34°C (93°F), but with the humidity it feels like 40°C (104° F). Elder Warner and I have had to take some breaks at times because we've been so sweaty. It doesn't feel like Utah at all!


Well, things are going great. I love my mission. I love being able to serve the Savior full-time. I'm grateful that I'm able to share the gospel with others. I know it's true, and I know that it's the key to happiness on Earth and joy in heaven. 

Thank you for your support!

Love you!

Elder Haslam

P.S. I didn't take any pictures this week. Sorry.

Week 40 - Almost Summer in Halifax

Hi People!

This week we had zone conference, and I got to see Elder Ipson again! I love zone conferences. I always learn so much at them. For this one, we talked a lot about how we can give our investigators more real intent. It was great.

We taught Suzanne four times this week. She was supposed to start the stop smoking program today, but she just texted us and told us that she's already relapsed and that she just went out and bought two packs.  We're going to keep meeting with her and hopefully her faith can build so she can have the courage to finally quit smoking. Please pray for her.

We got news yesterday that on June 17th all the metro missionaries will be doing service at this hockey event in Halifax. There will be almost 25,000 people in attendance! We'll be able to watch a bunch of hockey, so that's going to be awesome!

This Wednesday I get to interview an investigator of one of the Dartmouth sisters for baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her name is Alex, and she's going to be baptized this Saturday, so we're super excited for her.

Well that's about it for this week. Happy summer everyone! Love you all.

Elder Haslam

Elder Ipson in Nova Scotia

Me and Elder Warner

The Bay

Me by the Bay

Wooden Name Tag