Week 67 - #LightTheWorld

Hey Everyone!!

This week's gone by pretty fast.

First off, good news! We have two new investigators!! Their names are Alex and Starr, and they are a young, unmarried couple. They have an 8 month old son. We've taught them a couple times this week, and they're doing well. They want to learn more about the gospel, and we're hoping they can make it to church this week. So we're pretty stoked about that!!

We've also been going caroling a bit this week to advertise #LightTheWorld. We've made sooo many old ladies cry haha. It's been awesome. 

Also, one of the LA (less active) families I've been working with since I got to Amherst came to church this week! It was so great to see them there. It made my week. Hopefully they keep on coming!!!! 

All in all, it was a good week. I hope everyone takes some time to ponder the true reason we celebrate Christmas. I've been pondering that a lot lately. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ. For his life, his death, and his resurrection. He loves us so much, and I hope that we all take some time each day to develop our love for him--not just this season, but during the rest of our lives.

Have a good week!

-- 

Elder Haslam

#LightTheWorld

Week 66 - Driving to America

Hi Everyone!! 

I don't have too much time this week, so I'll be fast!

We did a lot of finding this week, and we talked to a lot of really nice people so that was a blessing. Hopefully we can find someone new to teach this week. 

I got to drive to America on Friday!!! Elder Foy had a dentist appointment, so we drove 4.5 hours to Presque Isle, Maine and all the way back. That was a looonnng day though.

Thanks for all your support. I love you all.

Elder Haslam

Week 65 - The Moncton Christmas Parade

Hello Everyone!

This week was a good one! We weren't able to meet with our investigator Danielle, sadly. We'll get her this week though!

We went on exchanges with the Moncton Elders this week. That was fun! There's an Arby's in Moncton, so I got to have Arby's for the first time in over a year. It was really good.

Friday we helped one of our recent converts, Carol, set up her Christmas tree. She bought it for 9 dollars from this yard sale, and it was super sketchy. I thought a possum was going to fly out of it or something. 

Saturday we walked in the Moncton parade!! This parade was huge!!! There were so many people!! It was televised too. The Moncton elders got a media referral a couple days after it, and we think it was because of the advertising we did in the parade!

Sunday I gave my 3rd talk in the last 8 Sundays. We had like 20 minutes to fill, so they asked me to speak, and I talked for like 20 minutes about Light The World. I don't know how I did it but it happened. Miracles!!!!

Hope you all have a good week. The church is true!!!

Elder Haslam

Week 64 - Happy Thanksgiving

Hey Everybody!

This has been a fun week!

Friday we went to Halifax for a conference, and I got to see a bunch of missionary friends and buddies. Then, a few days later we had zone conference, so I got to see some more friends there too! The whole zone conference was about how hard things are good. When we struggle, we should be happy because we're fulfilling the purpose of coming to earth in the first place.

Saturday we walked in the Amherst Christmas parade. Why did they have it so early? I HAVE NO CLUE. But we built a nativity float and advertised the church's Christmas initiative. It went really well and hopefully it will soften some people's hearts. 

Sunday, we picked up a new investigator!! Her name is Danielle, and she is SO AWESOME. On the doorstep, we were teaching her about the priesthood and how it's been restored, and she was like, "Well, then what do I need to do to be baptized?" and I was like, "That's correct!! A+!!!" (not really...), but we told her how she can gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. She was asking how much they cost, and we told her they were free. She's soo awesome!!! I can't wait to teach her more. 

That's about all this week! Hope you all are well. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love,

Elder Haslam

Week 63 - Hospital Visit

Hey y'all!!

Hope you had a good week. 

This week was pretty good. One of our two investigators dropped us this week. We set up an appointment to come teach her and when we showed up we found the BoM we gave her and all the pamphlets sitting on her porch with a note saying that she didn't want us to come anymore. So that's unfortunate. 

So the bulk of this last week and this next week was and will be spent trying to find some more people to teach. We have a one really cool potential investigator named Star so hopefully we can teach her this week. 

Funny Story: For lunch I was trying to open a can of beans and our can opener really sucks. So I tried opening it with that can opener for like 15 MINUTES. Finally, I started using my hands and that was a dumb decision. I sliced my thumb open and had to go to the hospital and get 2 stitches. Good times....

That's about all for this week. Here's a good scripture  (Alma 7:23) to look up and ponderize this week. I ponderized it this past week and got a lot out of it.

Love you all have a good week.

-- Elder Haslam

Pics: My district last transfer         I cut my thumb (2)         Monthly Activity Calendar

Week 62 - Adios Elder Olsen

Hey Everyone!

Sad, sad day. My brother Elder Olsen is getting transferred! Bummer. My new companion's name is Elder Foy. He's from West Valley, and I'm excited to work with him!

Not too much happened this week. We're still teaching Jerome. We play basketball with him whenever the weather allows. Hopefully he can keep working toward baptism. We just got to get him to come to church.

Since Thanksgiving in the U.S. is approaching, I want you to know I'm grateful for all of you, and I'm super grateful that I get to be a missionary for the Lord's church. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true and through it we can find the fullness of the Gospel, which is there
to provide us with peace and joy throughout our lives. It's really a blessing to be able to share that with people each day.

Hope you all have a good week!

--
Elder Haslam

Week 61 - Winter Preparations

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! We've been helping a lot of people get ready for the winter by helping them stack wood. Many people here have wood burning stoves for heat, so they need to load up the wood before the snow comes. So, we've been doing quite a bit of that this week, aside from the usual stuff.

We did, however, get to go to the temple on Saturday with all of our 3 recent converts! They all loved it! It was so cool to watch them get baptized for their parents, siblings, and other relatives. We took some cool pictures at the temple, but I'll get them to you next week. We also went to a sketchy Chinese buffet after the temple to celebrate and that was a mistake. We didn't feel well after. Despite that, when we got back to Amherst, all of our converts were like, "When do we get to go again?" haha. Good times.

Jerome is doing well. We played ball with him twice this week and taught him about the Plan of Salvation. He's been reading his Book of Mormon, and he's progressing well. He should be good to go for his baptismal date.

That's about all I have time for. Love you guys. Have a good week!

-- Elder Haslam

District Outing to Chingecto Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sisters (l-r) Auvigne, Wood & Nowlon. Elders Haslam & Olsen

Cape Chignecto Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada

On the trail to Cape Chignecto, Nova Scotia, Canada

Trail to Cape Chignecto, Nova Scotia, Canada

Chill'n at Cape Chignecto Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
with Elder Olsen & Haslam