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!

Week 18 - Happy New Year 2017!

Hi everyone!!!

Happy 2017 to everyone!!

This week was pretty normal! Wednesday, we went to Houlton, Maine, for District meeting!!! It was very refreshing to go back to the States for a little bit. All the speed limits are ridiculously slow in Canada, so when we crossed the border we got to speed up like 30 mph, and it felt like we were going SO FAST!!! I also bought some Star Wars bedding while I was in Maine. It may have been the best purchase I've ever made.

On New Years eve, we made Cafe Rio pork, and Elder Breinholt and I got up at 12 to watch the fireworks. So that was pretty great!!!

Other than that, it was pretty much work as usual. We did a lot of finding this week, so hopefully we'll find someone to teach eventually. 

Thank you all for your love and support! It means the world to me.

Elder Haslam

Week 17 - Christmas in Canada

​​This week was great!!! I don't have too much time to email today because we're gonna go play hockey later!!!!

We performed in the choir for the Christmas program. I didn't really like that, but the choir would be too small if the missionaries weren't in it haha. So, I endured that well!!!

Also, on Christmas we went to a member's house and watched Elf (with permission) and ate dinner!! We did a white elephant exchange at the end, and I brought a Justin Bieber poster. One of the elders in my apartment actually ended up with the poster in the end, so we'll have to find a way we can use that haha.

Well, I hope you all had an awesome Christmas! It truly is a wonderful time to honor and remember the Savior. Let's all just try and keep that attitude throughout the year, and we'll be golden.

Have a good week!

Elder Haslam

Profile Picture for Skype

Week 16 - Zone Conference

Hi everyone! This has been an awesome week!

I'm going to start off by saying that it has gotten really cold. On Wednesday, it got to -38 degrees (Celsius) with the wind chill. But my puffy coat kept me warm!!

Tuesday we had our Christmas zone conference! I got to see Elder Ipson again because our zones combined for the conference. The conference was sooo fun! We played a lot of Christmas games and had a talent show. It was also a wonderful reminder that we truly celebrate Christmas to remember the wonderful and glorious gift of Jesus Christ's Atonement.

The past few days we've gone caroling a lot! We went through a bunch of neighborhoods and old folks' homes. It's awesome to see how happy it makes people. We were handing out candy canes with mormon.org cards as well so hopefully that pays off.

Friday we went and volunteered at a soup kitchen and helped feed some of the homeless people in Fredericton. We get to go there almost every week, and it's super rewarding! 

On Sunday we had freezing rain, so they had to cancel church. We got permission from the bishop to have our own mini sacrament meeting with the 7 missionaries in Fredericton. So we made the dangerous trek up to the church and had our own testimony meeting with just missionaries. It was a cool experience. 

This week during personal studies I read a talk by Elder Wirthlin titled "The Great Commandment" There was an awesome quote in there that I'd like to share with you all. It says:

 "Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming." 

No matter what our circumstances are, we must always remember our divine heritage as sons and daughters of God and our potential to become just like him. We are able to do this when we access the power of the Atonement and God's grace everyday in our lives. I hope we all take advantage and remember, especially during this time of year, of what an amazing gift the Savior gave us when he atoned for our personal sins. I hope we all can use this remembrance to become better people in all aspects of our lives. 

Love you all! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!!