Weekly Update~ "General Conference, Baking Cakes and 17 Investigators"

Mama Mafabi Wearing RJ's Sunglasses

RJ and Leslie

The Chapel

Baptism

Dear Friends and Family,

   I'd like to first start off by saying that I'm thankful for the Church of Jesus Christ being restored to the Earth and that I'm thankful that it is led by living prophets and apostles who receive revelation on behalf of the world. I was able to view conference this weekend and it was an amazing experience being able to watch it as one of the Lord's thousands of missionaries.  All our leaders are so inspired and I'm lucky to be able to bear witness that they truly are selected by the hand of Jesus Christ.   I'll share a few brief thoughts at the end of this email. 

   Elder Mair and I had another great week. One of the biggest things I've learned from him so far is that members are absolutely crucial and there's no better way to do this work than to work through them. Our biggest focus has been to build relationships with them so they begin to trust us. It doesn't matter how we do it, just as long as we make them comfortable around us and there are no efforts wasted. So with that being said, this week, Elder Mair and I taught Mama Mafabi and a few non-members how to make a cake in a plastic bag by boiling it in a pot of water. Elder Mair learned about it in the army. Basically you make a cake the same way with batter and everything then you stick it straight into a plastic bag then stick it in a big pot of boiling water and it takes about 45 minutes to cook. it doesn't come out the prettiest, but the flavor and the moisture is suuuuper nice!  I know it sounds weird, but we've applied the doctrine and it works:) we had so much fun with that and we've had great experiences with members throughout these past few weeks and our efforts are beginning to pay off because we ended the week with 17 investigators with baptism dates that have come through referrals from members.

   Midway through the week, Elder Mair and I got a call from Bishop telling us he needed some help at the church teaching a group of individuals from a bible study class who had contacted him because they were writing a paper on the church. So of course, we happily accepted to help him. When we got there, we sat them all in the primary room (there was a group of 5) and began to teach them the Restoration. We came to find out that most of them are basically studying to become pastors. After teaching them for about an hour and a half with Bishop, we finished the lesson, and they were obviously satisfied with what they learned. The Spirit was so strong in the room and we set a return appointment with them. 2 days later, we taught 3 of them again and after teaching them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we set baptism dates for all 3. I don't know what will come from it, but I do know that we planted some powerful seeds for them, and also that it is a miracle that two unlearned young men can be shipped to another part of the world and can teach in an unfamiliar nation and through them, people's lives can be changed. I'm so extremely grateful to be a missionary and I love this work so much and I'm doing my best to be faithful enough to allow our Heavenly Father mold me into what he wants me to be.

Okay, now I'd like to share a few thoughts from Conference:

• I can't remember who talked about it, but there was an individual who talked about Doing Your Part in the work. I believe it was during Priesthood session but I'm not completely sure (I forgot my conference notes, bear with me).  He talked about that if we do our part in the Lord's work, he will recognize your effort and add His blessings to our efforts. I've seen that more than ever in missionary work. Every day, Elder Mair and I walk to the very border of our area in Kisugu, and though it's difficult and tiring, I've seen so many blessings from it.
• It was a neat experience to be able to hear from Elder Haynie, who I grew up listening to in Stake Conferences and Firesides when I lived in San Diego. He talked about how people's burdens can be lifted through the Atonement. That is so true and my testimony of the Atonement has been strengthened so much in these few short months. It was cool to be able to watch Rogers, the investigator we baptized this week completely turn his life around in a few short weeks. We met two more of Charles' kids this weekend and are looking forward to teaching them as well.  
• I really enjoyed Elder Hales' talk and it contained some great advice for my life when I get off my mission. 
• The General Authorities always seem to focus on a few specific topics throughout the weekend. This weekend, they seemed to place an emphasis on improving our Sabbath day worship, improving our faith in the simple, pure gospel principles, doing the simple things like praying, reading, studying, and pondering (ponderizing) the scriptures.
• Lastly, I'd like to add my own gratitude to Elder Holland's when he spoke of Mothers. I'm so thankful for all the mothers in my life that have had a positive impact on me.  I'm honestly so extremely grateful for my own mother who raised me up on gospel principles, always encouraged me to do what is right, and for her being a potter in her own way helping mold me into the person I've become. Thanks for helping me get out on a mission, mom. I love you more than you can imagine. 

Thanks for the support, I love you all, and take what you learned from conference and apply it!

Love,

 Elder Hazen

Weekly Update~ "Interviews, Baptisms and Bananas"

District

Newest Member of the Ward~ Eunice

Elder Hazen's New Companion 

Hello from the UKM!
   This week was one of my favorite weeks on my mission so far! I'm seeing so many blessings from the Lord and it's been great. Elder Mair and I have really been focusing on seeing the small miracles throughout the day and it's crazy how blessed I am to be one of the Lord's servants. 
   First of all, I'd like to thank the YW from the Cedar Hills 14th ward because the package you guys sent with the notes and candy got here this week and Elder Mair and I greatly appreciated it:)
   This week on Tuesday, we were able to have interviews at the mission home with President Chatfield and it was great! He asked me about how my progress is and if I worry about teaching lessons anymore. I told him that I really don't because I feel like the spirit takes over in lessons and I'm just his mouthpiece. Also, we discussed about Ammon and how he was saved from an angry lamanite who tried to kill him while lamoni, him, etc, were over come with the spirit. he asked why that was, and I told him it was because of mosiah's prayers for his sons and the promise the Lord gave him. That his sons wouldn't be harmed on their missions. He told me that it's applicable to my mission because of your guys' prayers every day and I really appreciated that. Then he told me how pleased he is with me and how fast I'm growing and to continue learning all I can so I can lead one day. 
    We were also able to have trainings on Christlike Attributes from the AP's. The atonement really does play a role in everything we do, including developing Christlike Attributes. We are nothing without the Lord's help I can't stress that enough. It's part of the reason I chose Alma 26:12 as my missionary plaque scripture. 
   We baptized another investigator named Eunice, and it was a really nice baptism. We got a lot of support from the ward which was super nice because I think that's important for an investigator to remember their baptism!
   So this week, we were talking to Mama Mafabi, who's basically my mom away from my real mom. She's such an amazing lady. She feeds us like every day and is great with giving us referrals. We also have family home evening at her home every Sunday night which I'll talk more about later. Anyway, she was telling us about our RC, Charles, and how happy he is now that he's found the church and how much his life has changed since the first day we met him. I was able to give him a blessing and it was my first time giving a blessing on my mission so it meant a lot to me hearing about how much it impacted him. He's been working with us to help his son progress towards baptism too. His son's name is Rogers and has come so far and has been through a lot. When we met with him this Saturday, and saw how far he's progressed, we moved his baptism date to Saturday. I'm so happy for him because he's one of the coolest, most knowledgeable people I've met and it strengthened my testimony more on the power of the atonement. 
   Last night, we had a lesson on the atonement from Alma 34 and it connected to my personal study from 3 Nephi 18 on how Jesus commands us to be perfect even as he was perfect. I then wrote a James E Faust quote in my scriptures that says, "“I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” Perfection is an eternal goal. While we cannot be perfect in mortality, striving for it is a commandment, which ultimately, through the Atonement, we can keep." Basically, I'm just super grateful for the atonement and for what I've been able to learn on my mission so far! The Book of Mormon has become my best friend and I can't imagine my life without it.
   This week, Elder Mair and I made a slingshot and launched bananas off our balcony...that's for all you who think missionary life is boring;)

Love you all,

Elder Hazen

"Weekly Update~ Africa by TOTO"

Lily's Baptism

Candidate Campaining for the Election

Having a Little Fun at the Beauty Shop

"Teaching Everyone!"

Hey Everyone,

  This week was another great week! For P-day today, we got to go to a beach in Entebbe with a bunch of other zones which was super fun. About midway through the day Elder Mair and I had lunch at a member's house that he was tight with in a previous area he served in before Kololo. So, we got roasted with good food. On the taxi ride home "Africa" by Toto came on the radio which pumped me up. 

  Anyway, this week we had Zone Leader exchanges and Elder Mair and I had the opportunity to work with Elder Ruell from Manti, Utah. I love Elder Ruell because he's a fellow Bay Area sports fan. So I'm fortunate enough to have someone to talk about the Giants with.  We had a great day with him and he's a great guy.

  We also had another baptism this week for our investigator Lily! I was beginning to get nervous, because none of the members we invited to attend were showing up. We rounded up a few members who were around the church and started with the numbers we had. It was small and simple, but the spirit was so strong! I love how the Lord works for people. She's the first convert from her family and has a lot of relatives who live around. I was praying she'd have a good experience at her baptism, so she can be an example for others and lead them down the path she has begun.

  One cool thing I've noticed is that I don't even worry about what I say in the lessons nowadays. I know that if I prepare myself right in the morning, it will be easy for the spirit to work through me in my lessons and teach these people. Often times, I come out of lessons not remembering what I said.  But, I know the promise that the Lord has given us- what we say will be "given to us in the very hour we need it." 

I love you all!

Love, Elder Hazen

"Weekly Update~ 2 Months Down!"

Hey Everyone!

  This week wasn't too eventful with transfers but, it flew by! I have a new companion, Elder Mair, from Henderson, Las Vegas. He's a stud. We get along super well and are working hard. He's got a solid testimony and I've already learned so much from him. Missionary work is serious, we shouldn't waste time, but it's good to have fun and laugh a little.  I know the Lord doesn't want us to be unhappy or sad for two years when we as missionaries carry the greatest message in the world! 

  We have two more baptisms coming up next week. Their names are Lily and Jocelyn. Lily works with a local radio station and is super powerful.  She is already talking about her desire to serve a mission! Jocelyn is just as strong and has a niece we are trying to teach as well.

  This week during fast and testimony meeting, Charles, one of the members we baptized last week, got up and bore a powerful testimony about missionary work and how his life has changed. Elder Mair was asking me this week what my favorite part about being on my mission has been and I think the answer is seeing how far the people I've taught have progressed and seeing how the gospel has blessed their lives. I've literally seen people's countenances change over time and seen how the gospel has lifted their burdens. It makes me so happy and it just motivates me to do more. If any of you ever need help or are going through a trial, the answer to everything is our Savior and his atonement. That's one of the biggest things Elder Mair has taught me so far and I'm glad I've learned it early on mission. I love you all!

Love, 

Elder Hazen