Malo e Lelei Family!

Malo e Lelei Family!

Mission life is hard. Not going to lie. I fall asleep in my scriptures daily. Just kidding it happened one time haha but I think that the whol sleep deprivation thing will get better over time...? Probably not. But I love this work so I will suck it up. I now can say I run. My companion Sister Martinez (no she is not hispanic) has turned me into a runner. Okay I like walk/jog. haha It's nice to get up exercise and then get the day started though. Although it is SO hard and you dread it each morning, You feel so much better afterwards. And I am hoping that it becomes habit like it has for sister Martinez. She is a saint. I love her so much! She is so nice and super funny. I love her to death already. And I love these people to death already as well! They sure know how to talk your ear off. But they have some pretty amazing stories to tell, so I just let them talk my ear off! I love this work and I love that I can be a part of something so big! Bringing others unto Christ! 

I am in a town called Washington, Missouri. It is about half an hour south from St. Louis. Our area is pretty large, but the mission is HUGE! I didn't realize how big my mission actually was. We have a lot of area to cover. woooohooo small town rock! I am not in too small of a town right now. Actually its not that small at all. Its just all spread out instead of centralized like Orem. There are so many hills here to drive over! It makes me sick, but it is so beautiful! I can only imagine what it will look like in the Spring/Summer! The town is right on the Missouri River. I cannot wait to see a sunset on the river. Oh man. It just makes my spine tingle thinking about it. The sunset are already gorgeous without it being on the river! I am a little obsessed with the fact that the town lies on the river. Its been a dream of mine.

I need you guys to send me two letters (or a package) so that I have proof of residency for the Library because I need to get a Library card if I want to email here. Which is where we email. So I need that Pronto. I only have one more visit until I can use the computers any more.

Sister Martinez is seriously amazing. I look up to her loads. Her testimony could move mountains and her faith in our savior and his timing makes my own faith grow. She is funny, and kind, and outgoing. She is just a perfect missionary and I am so lucky to have a trainer like her! She is from Layton, Utah. There is an Elder Abad in our Area from the Philippines he is seriously a hoot.

Well something I have been really working on and learning more about from being here is the idea that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. No one wants to listen to your message unless they feel that real Christ-like love that you have for them, and that you are there to CHANGE their life, not to just preach. It's something that I have been coming to learn. Sister Martinez helped me realize that. 

We have had a lot of ward activities this past week so I have become really acquainted with the ward, who I love! They are all such amazing people who want to help in this work! They understand Member missionary work! And it is inspiring to see how much they want to help the missionaries out. We are definitely well fed. I was not aware when I accepted my call that homemade Mac & Cheese was a staple in a Missourians diet? I have had it at least 4 or 5 times. Good thing we have time to exercise...We met a new investigator this past week who wants to learn more about Jesus, which is good because our message is centered on Jesus Christ. So he is bound to learn about him. There is a Baptismal date set for an investigator on March 23rd. So It will be my first convert baptism I get to see! I am so happy. His name is Mark. I will send pictures next week! Life is so amazing. I love it. 

I am happy to hear our Ward has a new Bishop sounds like a jolly fellow. I know that he is called of God so he has got to be good! (:

Good luck with all the wedding planning! Wish I could be there. I would love to get pictures of the plans! I cannot believe the first wedding is only in 2 weeks! Where did time go?? SO insane! I love that our lives are happening. this is it. You raised some great kittens Mama D. Be proud. They will make a dent in this world so big it won't know what hit it! I love you guys so much. And I am proud to call you my family. And even more happy to say that we are forever. I literally will be eternally blessed because of you. Thanks for everything! Oh and I am making a picture wall in my apartment since I will be here for at least 3 months. So send some family pictures, old and new, of all sorts so that I can put them up on the wall! 

Ofa 'atu!

Leaving for the Airport 

Sis. Martinez & Sis. Haderlie

I'm here St. Louis!!

Sis. Haderlie with Pres. and Sis. Morgan

Last letter from MTC

Ohhh Mom you make me cry! You are a saint, and I miss you a lot. But know that this is where the Lord wants me to be. I have seen Shawn a lot, and I cried because I am a baby and I just cry a lot. I cried when I met Pua too because I love Tonga and she reminded me of Mama John and Ofa and Sister Niu. But I am getting better at this crying thing. Everyone will think I am crazy if I don't get a hold of it. I have learned to feel the spirit, and testify of Christ and his atonement without being a sobber. haha Did you think that was possible? Because I sure didn't. Miracles do happen. I am so excited for Kyle! He is an amazing kid, tell him I love him and congrats! He is just so cool. Tell him to write me too! That little bum. Well my experiences have been amazing. And I am learning each day that preaching the word is not about me, not about how much I know, but about how much faith I have that the Lord will carry me through this. He will put the thing I need to say in my mouth at the very moment I need it. He will reveal to me what his child (my investigator needs). 

This is my first true missionary experience. Mark this one in the Calendar as the day Izzy realized that missionary work is not about the missionary and what the missionary knows. So we were teaching our TRC investigator on Saturday. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and she LOVES it because she loves the story line, she prays and has come to know that God loves her and Jesus Christ atoned for her sins. She is a powerful investigator, and wants to know the truth, and she has found it! Well she was reading the first chapter of Nephi and said that she likens herself to Laman and Lemuel, because she would not want to go through all that they did, she would have complained and been angry with her parents, that is the natural thing we should do. And then she said that it is too difficult to be Nephi, that he is too righteous. Then in my mind the scripture popped in "for the natural man is an enemy to God..." But I could not remember where it was. Moroni? Mormon? I think its an M? So I turned to my comp who is a wiz when it comes to the scriptures, and said "you know the natural man is an enemy to God" and she just looked at me like a crazy person. I was so frightened I had just turned the lesson in to a flop by saying a scripture that we were not going to be able to find and share. But this is the miracle. Sister Richie and I start opening our scriptures and scrambling to find it. She is in the Nephi's and I am like blehhh??? I open my scriptures, and low and behold I was opened to Mosiah 3, and my eyes went directly to verse 19. It was a huge witness to me that God does have control, and he will bless us with the very thing we need to do at the very time we need it, if we are faithful, and obedient.

Well I met and Elder Faakhi who is from Tonga (like fresh from Tonga) and he is going to the Missouri, Independence mission haha we exchanged emails (yes that's a thing people still exchange emails) and we will hopefully keep in touch. He is and awesome guy! haha he likes that I have been to Tonga, and I like that he is from Tonga so its a win win situation I guess. 

Well I am off to St. Louis tomorrow! Wish me luck because I am going to need it. Just kidding the Lord trusts me so I trust me. Who better to have the trust of then God himself? He has work to be done. And it will go forth. To every nation, kindred, tongue, and people!

Love Sister Izzy Haderlie

MTC Pictures

My District with Sister Mills

My Zone

St. Louis!!!

 Sister Montgomery and I

Don't worry, I'm still insane!!

First Email From the MTC

What do I say about the life of a missionary? I feel like information is exploding out my brain from rules, to the gospel, to understanding the scriptures, to personal scripture study, and then companionship study. I was having a hard time constantly having someone follow me around (companion) I am still working on that. I like my personal space and then also not having that person be exactly you is soooooo difficult. But my companion is seriously a gem. She is so obedient, which is something I need to work on, she is so sweet and she loves the Savior. I am sure I drive her up the wall because I am just a noobie but that's fine right? That is what prayer and the atonement are for. To learn to love others through the Lord's help. At the MTC on Sunday's they allow  you to watch what they call movies (devotional talks and things). One of them is called the character of Christ. Wow. I highly recommend it. Maybe look for it on the internet, just look for "the character of Christ" by David A. Bednar at the MTC Christmas Devotional. It talks about how we need to study and learn OF not ABOUT the character of Christ, and then truly apply that in our lives. He talked about how Christ turned outward instead of turning inward like the Natural Man would want to do (aka me and you). He turns out in love, compassion and service, even when his disciples betrayed him, or fell asleep when he was suffering in the Garden. He never once asked for anyone to feel sorry for him, or never told anyone to try to feel the way he feels and do something for him. What an amazing man Christ truly was. I guess man is not the word because he is perfect and the Lord....But I would recommend watching it. I am not sure if Toddy saw it in the MTC.

Tori is going to do amazing because she is a Haderlie and she knows her Savior, its easy to talk about him when you truly know and love him. Tell her Good luck! Tell her to look in preach my gospel and start preparing now for her mission (haha). And she is growing up so quick......I feel like that is not the age she was when I left a week ago. Setting the table? And Toddy washing dishes? What has happened to my family? I joke. You guys are great I sure do love you...like I love you a whole lot! Thanks for writing me too. It means the world that you still remember me and I am not something of your past haha hopefully this can continue through the whole 18 months of my mission! And tell those people I call my siblings to write me. Tell Tori to write me letters! Just write me when your bored! Because its nice to get a little present called a letter at night or during the day. Its like Christmas on  your mission no joke. And then when you don't get one and others do its like your sibling got a shiny new bicycle, and you got a lump of coal. I want pictures to! ESPECIALLY of these weddings and just general life. And Dad I am calling you out. I expect to at least hear from  you once a month. And when all you old farts get married I want to here about your lives still! Marriage is no excuse to forget about your sister who is serving the Lord.

I love you guys. Who knew that not even a week away from  your family could make you miss and love them soooooo much more. I mean I have always loved you guys, especially you Mamma "D". You are such a good example to me when it comes to literally everything. And Todd wow its good to know you have been through this but like 60 times more because you were learning a whole new language. WOW!!! I think that would be just so hard. I have so much respect for the Elders and Sisters who are learning a language.  The MTC is fantastic. Its hard to be away from everything but so close at the same time. But I sure do love this work! I am growing so much! I am learning to rely on the Saviors atonement and the Holy Ghost when I speak! I don't know these investigators but God does! And he will guide me if I come unto him and submit my will to his. My district is made up of two sister companionships (this is including me and my comp) and a companionship of Elders. They are all in their 20's but its all good! There are other districts going to St. Louis too, I have met one of them. It is made up of three companionships of sisters and then some Elders out there somewhere in this MTC. I leave on March 11 at 4:25 am haha ya never been a morning person but I will learn to be one on my mission. Well this work is great, its stuff you know, but brought to a completely different light and it stretches you in ways you don't really want to because its tough, but you know  you need to and can with the lords help. Does that even make sense? Did you get my letter? Maybe it will come today or tomorrow...Well ya I like you sooo much. And am happy that we can be for eternity because you guys are seriously amazing.

P.S. Every Polynesian I see I ask if they are Tongan, well because you know I love Tonga. Some are from Samoa, and American Samoa, but you know thats okay, not everyone can be Tongan and make it into the celestial kingdom.....I am kidding!

You are amazing! And keep up the good work. And STUDY your scriptures. I am not a good example, but they seriously do hold so much truth direction, and can bring you SO much closer to the Savior. And make your prayers meaningful, I mean  you are talking to God, not everyone has that privledge (thats wrong) of knowing they can have someone who cares sincerely and is always there. 


Funny Story as well. I went to the temple today and as I was going through a Sister said oh are you related to the other Sister Haderlie I just sent up? I was scared you were there Mom. haha I mean I would have loved to see you but ya I would have balled. Because I love you that much. Don't miss me too much because know I am in the right place doing what I love. But think about me often. And its good to know I am in your prayers :) because I sure need those prayers....

Saying Goodbye February 26, 2014