Fireflies and Missouri Summer Nights

Hello Friends and Family,

This week was amazing. And there are fireflies literally everywhere! I always am freaking out. I go dancing around the streets catching all of them I can! I don't think its something I am going to get used to because it is just so majestic. I am obsessed with them. My goal for this week is to catch them in a jar....just like the movies! Good goal eh? Well Sister Errington is probably sick of me freaking out about fireflies, but I can't help it. Its like a dream come true every night! Sister Sims is in Illinois now and she says that there are fields FULL of them. That's my dream now. I will serve in Illinois with the fields full of fireflies! I will.

I cannot believe that it is already July 4th almost. I am sooooo confused when I look back and think I have been out for 4 months. It feels like I just got in the field yesterday. I love these people so much, but I still feel so inadequate to be teaching people who are twice my age and have 10,000 times the experience I have with life. But that's what gets me so much about this church and the gospel. "Whom the Lord Calls He Qualifies" It does not matter your age or your background. It doesn't matter if you have more life experience than someone. The Lord still trusts you in whatever calling he calls you to. He will allow you to fulfill your calling as long as you trust in him, and lean not to your own understanding. I love Christ's church and His gospel.

Something I also have learned lately, and come to love about the church even more is the idea that "we do not own our calling". We are all comforted by the fact that "You are called of God,” The Lord knows you. He knows whom He would have serve in every position in His Church. He chose you.” {President Henry B. Eyring}. But we are constantly humbled when we serve with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. We learn new things, we grow, and we become more and more who God wants us to become. And when the time has come that God sees it fit to release you from your calling, he moves you somewhere else, whether it be a nursery teacher, to a stake leader. It does not matter where we serve, it only matters how we serve, and how much we allow it to change us and humble us. I love the organization that only exists is Christ's true church.

“Your power will be multiplied many times by the Lord. All He asks is that you give your best effort and your whole heart. Do it cheerfully and with the prayer of faith. The Father and His Beloved Son will send the Holy Ghost as your companion to guide you. Your efforts will be magnified in the lives of the people you serve.” {President Henry B. Eyring}

Well this past week has been incredible the Lord blessed us in so many ways, and to be honest we didn't even realize it until we sat down last night and looked at our numbers. I felt pretty bad about that. That I wasn't grateful until I saw in front of my face the blessings on paper. As ashamed as I am to admit it, it happened and it happens. Something that is a huge goal for me this week is to recognize the blessings throughout my days, not at the end of the week when I am looking at numbers. I going to try to be grateful for the days, and the opportunities I am given as a servant of the Lord. Not just be grateful because I see proof of the blessings. Its something that I realized this past week! And I think the Lord had a hand in that one. He is tricky...

Well I want to extend an invitation to you all this week. I really have noticed that when the members of a ward are more unified, when they all know each other, and love one another, it is so much easier for someone to feel welcomed when they come to visit. If we build those relationships within our ward family, the spirit of love and charity will abide with us when we meet each Sunday, or each activity! And that's what God NEEDS us to do. Some of these people need to feel like they have a place they belong, and we are required to build that place for them and for Him. So I invite you all to introduce yourself to someone you do not know or maybe you don't know that much in your ward this week! And continue to do it each Sunday for the rest of your life (haha). I promise you that it will make you a happier person as you reach out to others to just say hi, and it will bless the lives of the people you reach out to. It will allow the wards you are in to grow to become THAT church building that charity is felt in. It will become a building where Christ can dwell, and others can call home.

I love you all. I hope your weeks are amazing. Always remember who you are, and what you can become!

You are in my prayers always.

So much love I can't even contain it,

Sister Izzy Haderlie

Hello from Missouri (everyone keeps calling it Misery?)

Hello Family and Friends!

Another weeks has come and gone! So fast....It is HOT and it is HUMID here in Missouri, maybe that's why everyone keeps saying misery? I don't know, but really Missouri is like the armpit of the U.S. when it comes to weather, the winter is bitter cold, but the summers are so hot and its smack dab in the middle so it can't make up its mind because it is getting peer pressured from all the states around it. No wonder it needs missionaries! (That was extremely cheesy I know...please forgive me).

Well this past week went quite well. We went into some deep waters with our ward roster. We went as far as contacting some DO NOT CONTACTS. It was actually extremely fun because no missionaries have ever wrote down why they are do not contacts, it just says that. And Brother Wagemann (Ward mission leader) said he went to a meeting a few weeks back and a Stake leader told them there is not such thing as do not contacts. So we went ahead and contacted them. We got to meet with two them out of a couple of them that we have contacted! They honestly were the sweetest people ever. They let us in, talked with us, told us why they weren't coming and said we can come stop by anytime and share messages, one of them even told us that they want us over for dinner! You know what, don't mind if I do, thank you very much!

This week we didn't get to meet with any of our investigators so we focused on finding and Less actives (as you can tell). We have a couple return appointments this upcoming week! So stoked. Actually a HUGE miracle that just made me so happy this week.....well a lot of the miracles happened on Thursday. I just realized that. Hmm...Thursday was a day for miracles! Any ways we were tracting and it was HOT and we were very hungry and tired to say the least. We were having district meeting later that day at 3:30, and it was like 1:45. So we decided to tract because every other plan fell through for that time. We were walking down miracle st. (just kidding that wasn't the name of the Street, but it might as well have been).

Well the first few doors didn't answer and then we got someone who did answer! We bore witness to her and she seemed receptive, but she wasn't ready to change at this time, We bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and invited her to read it and she accepted a copy. So we keep going down the street, we are knocking with little success. We were going to try to go somewhere else and visit a potential, but we just decided to keep trying the street. We knock on the door and low and behold we know this lady! We do service with her twice a week at loving hearts, and better yet, I have been wanting to teach her for a while now I just didn't know how to go about asking her where she lives and if she wanted to take the lessons (its not as easy as it sounds). But God dropped her right into our path!

We talked and she asked us what we were doing, and we told her "well this is what we do all the time! We try to find people who we can teach about the restored gospel!" and we asked her if she would like to learn more, and she said of course! So we will be going back to visit her tomorrow! I am so excited for her! She is a God send literally. She is ready for the message we have to share. She is ready to become a member of Christ's church!

Well then we were off to District meeting. And It was president interviews so we got to have those! I just love that man. He is such a good solid Disciple of our Savior! He knows what is right, and he is led by the spirit constantly. I love him and Sister Morgan. The meeting went well. I always love district meeting because you get to hear all of the success stories that are going on in your district! Its incredible. People are really accepting the gospel into their lives! I promise you.

Okay so then on our way back from district meeting we were passing by a potential investigators home. And I was like hmmm....you need to go see them now. So I told Sister Errington. So she goes ahead and turns the car around and....BOOM. (Just kidding it wasn't that scary) but we hear a curplunk and next thing you know we are in a ditch....People are stopping and this lady is frantic trying to help us as we are just sitting there like....guys it really isn't that scary. Why is everyone freaking out? Anyways this lady is all like I am going to call someone, and we were like uhhh...? So she calls a towing truck company and tells them to come. Meanwhile we are on the phone with Elder Batchelor the vehicle coordinator and he is telling us that we just need someone to push us out. And Sister Errington turns to the lady and says "our boss says no to the towing truck". HAHA this lady grabs the phone and starts sass talking to Elder Batchelor (he is probably the most chill person ever) and so he just gives in, and tells us that we can call him when the tow guy gets there so he can pay for it.

Well the lady leaves and we are sitting there directing traffic, keep in mind the cars back wheels are like 12" off the ground and it looks like we got in a wreck. So people are asking us if we are okay, finally some guys come from a house us the hill and tell us they are going to try to push us out. So we let them, and the car comes out easy as pie. God was seriously watching over us. So we drive away and call Elder Bachelor and ask him what to do about the Tow truck and he says "GET OUT OF THERE! Don't let him see you!" I just had to laugh at that. Shawn you know Elder (or President) Batchelor.

Well then we had to decide if we were still going to try this Potential. Keep in mind we have still not eaten.....we were hungry shaken a little and pretty tired. But we did it! Seriously I think Satan was just holding us back. Because this family is never home, but they were ALL home when we went over and they got EVERYONE (six kids) to come listen to our message! So exciting! We taught the restoration and they were all receptive and they want us to come back we just have to wait because they will be on vacation for the next 4 weeks. BUT WE CAN WAIT! We left them with Books of Mormon to read. And it felt sooo good to just teach and testify! I loved it.

We went home and finally ate after that, but what a good day it was! One of the best so far on my mission. I loved it. I had a wonderful week. I hope you all did too! I love you so much. #missionlife is treating me well.

I want to invite you all to read "forget me not" by Elder Uchtdorf. Its a well known talk and you will probably just say, oh I have already read that before. But I want you to read it again. It really helps us know our divine role here on earth. It helps us see exactly what we need to improve on, and even what we may need to let go of! It brought so much peace to me. I read it along with Alma 56: 47-48 that I read in the Book of Mormon.

“When a parent’s teaching and helping job is done well and when there are receptive children to receive the message, then we encounter those marvelous situations such as the one involving young men in the Book of Mormon who had been taught so well by their mothers [Alma 56:47–48]. …

“The reliance, of course, by these young men on their mothers is touching and profound, but the mothers first had to know ‘it’ in such a way that the young men, observing them closely and hearing them (as is always the case with children observing parents), did ‘not doubt’ that their mothers knew that ‘it’ was true”

I felt a profound peace and love that my Heavenly Father allowed me to be a part of a family where my parent new "it" they understood it and taught me so that I could come out here and bear witness that I know it, the gospel of Jesus Christ is once again restored. It made me want to continue to learn and grow more and more! I learned that I am only able to convert others whether it be my investigators, or future children, as far as I have been converted. I can only give them what I myself have! So I need to keep getting a lot more!

Well I love you guys! Please read that talk.

Have a great week. Always remember who you are and what you can become!

Love, Sister Haderlie

I hope you all have a good week.

This ones a short one

Hello Family and Friends,

So this is going to be quick. I am very sorry, but I am heading into St. Louis right now to have some fun at the mission home! So please forgive me!

Everything is doing good here in Washington. Sister Errington is SUCH a hard worker. So it is so fun to work along side her and see so much work happen here in this area. I have met with almost all the Less actives here, and I feel like I truly know this area! She is a blessing. We had something called a Mini Missionary (a midget....haha jk), Sister Collier this past week. She came and just stayed with us for a week to get the mission experience and test out the waters of mission life. We sure showed her how fun it can be! Nah...She was so much fun to have around! It was exciting to be in a tri-panionship again for just a week. We had a blast and so many spiritual, and fun memories were made. A highlight of my mission experience for sure. I really feel that Sister Collier will make an amazing missionary some day! The Lord truly is hastening his work. The youth out there are so strong right now. Everything is so black and white. That applies to all my cousins, sibling, and friends out there! You guys are amazing. I love you.

As a mission we are reading the 4 gospels. Each morning and each night. It really is incredible to study the Saviors life and his teachings. Something I have wanted to do for a long time. I invite you all to do it! Its a spiritual experience for sure.

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as a little child, the same is greatest in
the kingdom of heaven"

-Matthew 18:3 & 4

I love you so much. And am thankful for you all!

Love, Sister Izzy Haderlie

Meet me in St. Louis.....Just kidding don't do it.

Hello my beloved family and Friends!

How is Utah, Washington, California, Idaho, (maybe even Tonga) or wherever you all are? How is it? I hope it is treating you well. I love you all so much, and want you to know I continually am blessed by your countless prayers and thoughts of not only me but all missionaries all over the world. We are grateful for your trust in us, and your faith that we can bring to pass miracles. I will always be grateful to those who give there full-hearted support of me and the missionary efforts of the church.

This week was so fun! For some reason I look to change as such a scary dreadful thing. When in fact it never is quite as scary as I think it will be. Well with that said transfers went great! Sister Martinez, Sims, and I all got matching skirts from Target and wore them to transfers, because I don't know if I ever told you but President used to call Sister Martinez and I the Twins, but then when Sister Sims came into the mix he started calling us the Triplets haha so he calls us up in front of all the missionaries for our last hooray at transfer meeting! Oh man what a good time. I will always remember those ladies. But the time came that we had to go our separate ways. But my new companion is Sister Errington! She is from Randolph, UT and she has been out 14 months so she is coming up to the final countdown here! She is the sweetest and is already putting up with my crazy ways. She told me today, "oh man I can't wait to see where you are going to be when you hit 14 months"......WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? haha she says I will change, but she said she meant that in the nicest way......She loves me.

Well a lot happened this week. We had to go up Tuesday night to drop Sister Sims off at the mission home because President Morgan wanted her to have that "new missionary" night where they all stay at the mission home the day before transfers. But we got to stay for dinner. I got to meet the new Sisters who were coming in. We got some good stuff coming up in the mission with those ladies! They are awesome. I seriously love President and Sister Morgan, there is just something about them that makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. And reassures you of your purpose here in the mission. And that is exactly why they are called here. They are perfect for what the mission needs! They are so fun to be around, but know how to work hard....and Sister Morgan cries a lot, so I like that about her. I have been getting better at crying though...I don't cry AS often. But don't worry I still cry....I hope it doesn't weird our investigators out. I just know its all so true so when I begin to testify its not enough just to come out my mouth it has to come out my eyes.

Well Sarah, our investigator with a baptismal date, said that she will still be baptized, but we are trying to get her to understand the importance of being baptized by that authority from God, and that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is essential. And we really need her to understand the message of the restoration.....and the Plan of Salvation.....haha she is great. Really she loves us and we love her so much! A member bought her the same CTR ring that Sister Martinez, Sims, and I had. The cursive typical Sister missionary one that is so hip and fresh right now you know. And so me and Sarah have matching CTR rings! She loves the message that it stands for. Choose The Right, It really is something unique and special that our church happily says. Because this gospel, if followed, makes it so easy to choose the right! When we understand who we are, our purpose here on earth, and what we can become, getting through the rough times isn't quite as hard!

Well something I have had the opportunity to study these past couple of weeks more is the Christlike attribute of Hope. It is really interesting, because I guess I never caught the full idea of what hope meant when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In True to the Faith is says:

The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active.

I never thought to separate the word hope pertaining to the world and hope pertaining to the gospel. It never occurred to me that they could be different. But I have come to realize that we have hope which adds to our faith that we will one day be with God again, that our families will be together forever. Our hopes don't just change from day to day, they remain constant throughout each day. Our hopes in this gospel provide us with a sure way to endure our trials with faith. Our hope gives us something that brings us happiness. "The principle of hope extends into the eternities, but it also can sustain us through the everyday challenges of life." It is really kind of exciting when you think about it! Other people don't have this sure hope. They understand the idea of hope, but don't fully comprehend what knowing about this gospel and the hope we gain from it can do for them. I know I never understood what hope really can mean to us when we apply it to everything else we know about this gospel!

"Hope is the confident expectation of and longing for the promised blessings of righteousness. The scriptures often speak of hope as anticipation of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ."

We gain hope just like most other Christlike attributes by constant study of the scriptures, powerful meaningful prayers to our Heavenly Father, and as you strive to live the gospel, you grow in your ability to “abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). Hope comes through true repentance as you seek to gain God's forgiveness. I love that this gospel gives us TRUE hope! As we gain this hope we can, like Captain Moroni in chapter 43 of the book of Alma, expect the blessings of the Lord, because we have given our BEST effort.

I love you all. I love this gospel more than anything. I know that it gives us the opportunity to become a better person than we were the day before! It is a gospel of change, progression, and molding. I learn something new everyday, I am constantly growing, learning, and becoming a better person because of this gospel.

I hope you all have a good week. And I want you to all do something for me, get a copy of Preach my Gospel and study in Chapter 6 a Christlike attribute you would like to more fully develop and work on it for a whole month! I promise that if you do, your relationship with the Savior will grow to become something you didn't know was even possible. You will become more substantive. It will be easier to ‘find’ yourselves because there is so much more of you to find! God will mold you into the person he wants you to be more and more each day as you strive to become more like our savior Jesus Christ.

Please do it! I love you all.

Thank you for everything you do for everyone. Keep serving God's children in all you do! Never forget who you are, and who you are destined to become. And with that knowledge get out there and let others know about the gospel!

-Sister Izzy Haderlie

Transfer week

Hello Family,

I sounds like you guys are having fun back home! Wow. Tell Kraig congrats, that's pretty sweet...Yes. This week is in fact transfer week. I will not be transferred out of Washington, MO. So feel free to keep those letters and packages flowing in....haha. No but really you can send a package or something to my address here. I will be here for most likely another 2 transfers. I am not sure how I feel about staying in an area for so long, but President says he likes to keep new missionaries in the same area for the first 6 months of their missions. So we will see. Sister Martinez and Sister Sims will be leaving for another assignment. So that is the end of the "triplets" as we are called by President Morgan and his wife. We have to much fun here. He knows us too well. My new comps name will be...drum roll please.....Sister Errington. I don't know much about her other than that she was an STL when Sister Martinez was training and she is a red-head. Hopefully she is crazy, or maybe its better if she was not like me at all so I can learn from her! I hope I can learn from her sooo much! She is about to go home in 2 transfers I think...I will let you know more.

This past week was pretty good. The Kyenzel's told us straight up that they don't feel or see the need to be "baptized mormon". Sometimes its so hard...because you really feel like your investigators get something, and you walk away from a lesson like "oh ya! We brought the spirit so hard core to that lesson. No one can deny this is the truth!" And then you ask them about it and how they felt and they are like man we felt so good. The spirit was so strong. And they just don't understand what that means, what they have to do after they have felt that. And as much as we keep explaining. It is just not their time yet. They are not ready at this very moment to receive this into their lives. So we just keep searching for those who are ready, and helping those that are willing to listen to the message we have to share.

Sarah is still thinking about her baptismal date, she says she does not want to make a mockery of God, because she has already been baptized once in the baptist church. We tried explaining priesthood authority again, and asked her to pray about it....She said she prayed about it and didn't get an answer. We explained the importance of saying specific prayers so we can receive specific answers, because she prayers like 24/7 this woman does. She is always praying to God, but we asked her to give a specific prayer. She said she doesn't really see the need to say specific prayers. We shared Alma 22:15-18 with her and asked her to look at the specific prayer King Lamoni gives to Heavenly Father, and the specific answer he receives. She said she really likes that and she likes reading from the Book of Mormon. We just need to keep working with her, she loves hearing about stories where this gospel has changed people, especially people who it has done a complete 180 for. She really loves that.

I sincerely hope that I can see her and Seth be baptized. If not me, someone will! I just know it. It just takes some people a little more time than others. But something I have had to learn here more than anything is the fact that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have mounds and mounds of patience for us. Especially me. I learn more and more everyday how stubborn I actually am, how prideful I am. And how I am exactly like these people I am trying to teach here. They don't see or feel a need to change sometimes. A lot of the times I have noticed that I think that same way about myself. I don't need to change in that area, or I am not as prideful as SOME people. Wow. I catch myself being a nincompoop all day everyday. And I just think will this ever end!? When will I just stop being so sassy, and so full of pride!?

It is something that HAS to be worked on every day. You do not just wake up one day after pouring your heart out to your Father in Heaven and have it all taken care of. You have to put in the effort, and you HAVE to try. And when you ask to be more humbled and be more patient, expect God to send you opportunities to learn to be. And more importantly, recognize those opportunities for what they are, and follow through with what you have committed you are going to do. I have let my pride get the best of me so many times out here, and I have passed up so many specific opportunities to learn and grow, opportunities that I have specifically prayed for. I have passed them by, and carried on being exactly who I was the day before. I am learning each day that I cannot commit these people to things and expect them to follow through, when I am not following through on my commitments to my Heavenly Father. I have to try to become a better person, take care of myself, try to learn and grow, if I expect these people to do the same. This past week has taught me that so much.

I hope that with my new Companion Sister Errington. I can truly work on becoming a better person, letting this mission change me, and no just trying to change other people. I get extremely frustrated at times. But then need to realize how patient the Lord really is with me. Just like in Jacob 5 when the Lord of the vineyard has done all he could to help the vineyard produce good fruit, and it just will not. That vineyard is me, I am beyond stubborn, and sometimes I just won't produce good fruit. But my favorite verse ever is verse 50

 50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer.

Jesus Christ "spares me a little longer" every day. Day after day, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, hour after hour. As much as I refuse to produce good fruits, he keeps trying and trying. He knows my potential, he knows who I am destined to become. Just like you said Mama D "he knows you and your trials and you can tell him everything". He loves us so much. He is willing to help us if we go to him HUMBLY. With sincere desire to change. With sincere desire to try.

I love this gospel. And I love that we are given the knowledge that we are destined to become like God. He does not just want him to get back to Him someday, but He wants us to BE like Him someday. How amazing is that!? He will help us become like him more and more everyday, as we come unto him. I love you all so much. I pray for you and hope you are all safe and having missionary experiences of your own.

Brother Griffith said to us the other day that if the church got rid of every program it had and just kept the missionary program it would be just fine. Because the most important thing we can do is proclaim the gospel. Let those who don't know about it, KNOW about it. Granted that DOES NOT mean everyone on earth will be baptized. They still had the opportunity to know.

Love everyone. And see in them what God sees in them. Let them know of their potential.

Love,
Sister Haderlie

Nephi party at a members home

It's getting hot and humid over here in Missouri!

May 27, 2014

Hello Family! I hope you all had a wonderful memorial day. Sorry I did not email yesterday. The library was closed for memorial day. But here I am now. So it's all chill. But not really because it is stinkin' hot here. I don't know if I can do this weather, these people say its only going to get worse! It's not too bad until you start walking or you do any form of physical....anything then your dead. But people keep saying that it will get to the point where you don't even want to step outside, because the moment you do, you are soaking wet. yikes. Not sure how I feel about that yet. But I did Tonga right? It can't be to much worse than slaving away in that hot heat. Although I don't remember ever feeling to hot, because I was having so much fun! Maybe that's what this experience will be like!!

Wow. This past week has been seriously incredible. Seriously the Lord works in such mysterious ways! This past Friday we had the most spiritual and amazing lessons I have had while I have been out. The Kyenzel family are amazing people. But they have been visiting with missionaries for a year, because they love us and love the spirit that we bring. But we just haven't been able to really get through to them. So we followed the counsel of our Zone Leaders and took members to their lesson. Duh. I don't know why that is so hard to do sometimes. But EVERY time we bring members to a lesson. We come out of the lesson knowing that it all went right! And that is exactly what happened with this family. 

We took the Griffith's to a lesson with us and we knew we needed to start being more bold in our declaration that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom established here on earth, and that the saving ordinances are found only through it, and the Griffiths are pretty bold. So we felt good about this. The lesson started off on a rough foot. We were talking and then we were getting off subject yatta yatta. Then it took a turn for the better. I brought up that in the past we had asked them to be baptized, they gave their reasons for saying no. Then I just started bearing testimony about how much we love them, and that we are not just wanting them to join our church so we can count them in our congregation. But we are asking them to make and keep these commitments and covenants because we love them, and we know that this is exactly what our Father in Heaven wants for them. Then Sister Sims gives a powerful testimony about how she loves them as well and her conversion story. Then Sister Martinez starts testifying that this church is true, and then she mimicked the words of Elder Holland in this past general conference. She didn't say exactly this but something along these lines:

"I am more certain that those keys have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference."

 The Spirit was so strong no one could deny that the Holy Ghost was flooding that room!! And then Bro. Griffith pointed out to them that what they are feeling right now is the Holy Ghost and said that they can always have that with them. And although they did not commit to be baptized. I know that gave them something to think long and hard about. And if they are not baptized now, they will be later. There was no denying that this is Jesus Christ's church established on the earth once more after that lesson. It was incredible! I hope when we meet with them tomorrow they will bring that up. And we can have another amazing lesson.

Well then two of our investigators Sarah and Seth told us that they have been wanting to come to church for the past like 4 weeks. So when they said they were coming this time, we were just like okay that's awesome we are so stoked....Not really expecting them to. BUT THEY DID!!! The spirit worked in her and got to to get up and go. She got over all of her fears and finally came, and she loved it so much, and her son Seth said he wanted to come back. He also said he really wants a suit because he likes how the young men look in our ward haha so we are on the hunt for a cheap suit at the moment :) This Sunday was amazing! The spirit was so strong the whole day.

Last night we had a lesson with Sarah. And She just had found out earlier that day that her Great Uncle started the LDS church in Belle, MO. And she told us that she sat on her couch and cried because she knew that she had found the church that she could call home now. She is so in tune with the spirit it amazes me. She is in all honesty one of the funniest most spiritual people I know. But I kept getting the impression that we needed to invite her to baptism again. But last time we did it blew up in our faces and she was like "my God is your God, I have already been baptized I am already saved". She was sweet about it, but she did not see the need to be baptized. So we were scared. Sister Martinez kinda looked at me and the spirit was all like "you are going to do this whether you like it or not". Sister Martinez asks her what she thinks the next step is after she has found out that this church is where she is supposed to be. And Sarah says "well to learn more I guess". And then we started talking about that and then her baptism into the baptist church, and then it just came out. That this church is where God's authority to baptize is found. And we invited her to be baptized, and to our surprise she said yes! And we set a date! She says she needs to keep learning and she will need to think about it and will have a definite answer the next time we meet. But her heart was softened and she realized we want this for her because we loved her! Getting your investigators to church and introducing them to other members so they can see we all care, and we all love one another and not in a fake way, but in a true Christ-like way. That's what she needed to see. And that's what softened her heart! 

I am so grateful to be a part of this work. And to have God grant just a portion of what he feels for these people unto me so that they can feel that it is true is seriously amazing. I am so blessed beyond belief. I am grateful to have the opportunity to sacrifice this time in my life, because I know how worth it it is to come out here and have those moments with people where they truly feel God loves them, and this church is the answer to whatever they were or were not looking for. It is an incredible experience. I am grateful to have know joined countless others who have for generations sacrificed so much to be true disciples of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

As members of the Lord’s Church we should be willing to sacrifice all things for the Lord. Joseph Smith said: 

“a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”  

In the eternal perspective, the blessings obtained by sacrifice are greater than ANYTHING that is given up here on earth. I know that to be true more than anything. 

I love you all so much! I am so proud of you all and the amazing decision you make each day to be disciples of Jesus Christ. To stand by what you believe and to treat everyone the way Jesus Christ would treat them if he was here on earth!

Keep up the good work. Stay strong. And always remember who you are, and who you are destined to become!

Love,

Sister Izzy Haderlie

May 19, 2014

I seriously cannot believe how quick this week came and went. So i feels like I talked to you all like 18 months ago. But then this week seems like it went by so fast. Mission life literally cannot be explained. Or maybe I just crazy....Its probably the later...oh dang.

Well this week has been pretty good! We just always have fun you know. Even on the slow weeks. We have been trying sooo hard to get our investigators to church so they can progress! We even gave a skirt to one of our investigators who always uses the excuse that she is to fat and can't find a skirt! She even said. ohhh that skirt is so pretty....But then she just came up with another excuse. I don't even know. haha they are all so funny. Like I say slow progression. She wants to come.

Honestly though, some weeks the people who keep me sane are my companions. I am going to miss them loads when transfers role around! its about 2 weeks out and I am somewhat dreading it. I am almost done with my training. I feel like I need about another 18 months of training then I will be ready to teach God's children the restored gospel! But I know he qualifies me for the work as I try my hardest to be obedient. I cannot answer every question or argument thrown at me. But I know without a shadow of a doubt that my Savior lives, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom once again established on the earth, that priesthood power is found in this church, that Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation and he restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ again to the earth, and what I am doing right now in my life, is the best thing I could do for my life, for my immediate families lives, and my future families lives. And with that knowledge and my testimony I can bring to pass miracles.

So we have an investigator family who referred themselves. But they are very interested in hearing about the church. Not really about the spiritual side of things. They pretty much told us that we are blindly following by faith in a religion that we know nothing about. Because they have a lot of deep doctrine questions about things that do not build a testimony so we always answer it all comes down to faith. In preach my gospel there is a quote that says “Our main task is to declarethe gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must makehis stand”. I live by this when I am in lessons with this investigator family. All questions cannot be answered there is a reason God does not always give exact proof and the exact coordinates on where to find a civilization from the Book of Mormon. We have to show him we are willing to take the time to know for ourselves through the holy spirit. There would be no point to this earthly life if he just showed it all to us from the beginning.

Earlier this week my companions and I were in New Haven and we all decide we need to visit a less active we've been thinking of for a long time. so we go out there to her house and when we get there, we find out that not only is she home, but a member her son and a recent convert are all there too! So we are all standing outside and we're sharing a message about how we feel the spirit. When out of no where, while the member was sharing her testimony, Sandy (the less active member) whacks the railing of the stairs she is sitting on with her water bottle as hard as she can I am just sitting there like what the...while her dog is howling in the background trying to pay attention the the sweet sisters testimony but then the woman just says, "that bee's gonna be PO'd when he wakes up!". After that everyone's in tears laughing from the ridiculous situation. Eventually we all stop laughing and I just say, "So the spirit..." we all start laughing again!

I am lucky to have spiritual experiences, but also I am lucky that I can just laugh! I love to laugh all of the time. Its so good that the people out here love to laugh to! It doesn't get much better than Washington, Missouri for sure! I am so blessed to be out here at this time!

I love you all so much! Always remember who you are and what you are destined to become as you remain true to the faith that so many before us have cherished!

I cannot thank you all enough for your love and prayers. They are much needed. I love you guys. Keep on keepin' on.

Love you to the moon and back,

Sister Izzy Haderlie

May 12, 2014

Wow. The wedding looked like it turned out perfect. I cannot wait to see more pictures for it! I am so excited. It seriously looks Pinterest perfect. Everything you ever dreamed of! I am so happy for all of my family and everything they have been going through lately! You are all such great examples to me.

It was SOOOOO good talking to you all yesterday. It just felt like I could sit there and hear you talk all day long! I didn't want to say much. You guys are all having some amazing experiences back in Utah. I just wanted to soak that all up!

Well this letter will be short. Just because we are going to the Zoo today! I am stoked it is supposed to be like in the top 10 of the world or something. But I don't know about that...these people will tell you all sorts of crazy things out hear. I don't know what to believe anymore. So I just go with the flow.

This past week has been good to us though. We found 8 new investigators! These people are just coming out of nowhere! God truly prepares all people. He brought them to us. Now what we need to do is help them feel and recognize the spirit telling them the message we are sharing is true!! Then they will want to be baptized. That is the plan at least. It's a slow progression for a lot of people out here. You always here convert stories where they say it took them one month, but then there are some that take up to 12 years! And you know at that point its not just the missionaries who aren't doing their job. Some people just take time to come to the knowledge that it is true!! It is different for everyone.

Well I hope that you get your card in the mail! It sounds like you are all doing very well. And if you could just forward the cards I sent to the grandmothers to them I would appreciate that. I don't have address for like anyone. AND could you send those pictures of me and Amanda to me too? And just family pictures from your phone or anything?

Well it was a Happy Mothers Day indeed! I got to speak with the best mother on earth. I count my lucky stars everyday that Heavenly Father loves me enough to send me to one of the most incredible families here on earth! I don't know who, or where I would be without all of you in my life. I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. And as we do what is right he will slowly reveal that plan to us. And then when we are in Heaven and look back we will say "well gosh dangit, that was one heck of a ride!" and we will see we became  pretty darn close to what our Heavenly parents would have us be.

Something Sister Sims said this week that struck me, was that when we get up to Heaven. We will be surprised at how much we know our Heavenly Father and Savior. We think we are so far away from them sometimes because we cannot hug them, we cannot sit next to them. But they are literally always there. Every step of the way. We know them, and as we continue to read the scriptures, pray, and go to the temple that relationship with them grows more and more. Then when we see them again, it will be like we were never really away from them!

Keep on Keepin' on family! Life is gonna slow down now for you all. Find time to do those things you know are right. Find time, or make time to read the scriptures, pray, seek guidance from our Father in Heaven, and truly grow each day to become what you and He know you can be!

One of my favorite quotes that I found is "If we want to speak to God we pray, If we want God to speak to us we read." We have to put in our part to obtain those answers that we desire! We have to try our hardest to grow closer to Him, and then he will reveal to you the answers! It could take days, but sometimes it could take years of slow progression!

I love you all so much.

Love,

Sister Haderlie

May 5, 2014

Hey Family,

Well it was nice hearing from you this week.....wait I didn't haha Now I expect to get like 6 letters in the mail to make up for that. Just kidding. I know it has to be CRAZY busy there with the wedding tomorrow. I tell everyone that my wonderful sister is getting married Tuesday. Everyone is just SO happy for you. Don't worry I got all of Missouri on board with this whole wedding thing. haha and everyone knows Annelise received her endowment on Friday too. I told everyone to think of you on Friday! I know I thought about you all day. And how amazing an experience it was for me when I went through. What a powerful experience it is to come into the celestial room and have your whole family waiting for you, and for you Shawn was there to!! I can't even imagine how spiritual that experience was for all of you. I was definitely there in spirit. And I will be thinking about you tomorrow a lot! I know that it is going to be an amazing day, that you will never forget! I just keep telling myself I will be there for EVERY kid that you have no matter how far apart we are to make up for not being there.

Well this week was pretty crazy. We have been trying a lot to share the missions goal for baptisms with the members of the ward, and letting them know that the missionaries in this mission are not the only ones who make it up. They are a part of this mission to! They are called to serve as well. It has been working really well we have had referrals and people telling us about those who they are fellow-shipping and trying to share the gospel with. These people are great! They understand what the prophet has called them to do. They just need to put it into action! Everyone out here is super enthused about missionary work.

Well then Friday rolled around, it was a good day, good things were happening. Then we went to have dinner and correlation meeting with Bro and Sister Wagemann. At like 8:45 we got a text from President saying "call me when you have a moment". Ya right you don't call president when you "have a moment" you do that right then and there. So Sister Martinez and I were like dangit, what did we do. And were thinking of everything that we had done in the past couple of weeks, nothing was coming up. We were trying to be good and faithful servants, I promise mom!

So we call and he asks us how we like surprises. Sister Martinez says well I think we handle them well, I mean Sister Haderlie just got a tick and that went over okay. Then he asks if it would be okay if we brought a new Sister into our companionship. So instead of a COmpanionship we have a TRIpanionship! So much fun. She is killer, he name is Sister Sims. She is incredible! She fits right in. She is so funny, kind, and thoughtful. She is going to make an amazing missionary in the Missouri St. Louis Mission. We got her all settled in to our apartment Saturday, and she has met with a few of our investigators! Its like we are having a slumber party every night with all these girls in our apartment! So much fun!

Well things are going well here in Washington. We are working hard to break some of our investigators of some bad habits that have been created with the missionaries. We really are trying to establish our purpose here, and what we wish for them to get out of what we are teaching. I know that as we continue to testify of the truthfulness of  the message we share, their hearts will be touched. We have tried being more bold this past week and I think that it has really helped. We had a part-member/Less active family come to church yesterday. His wife is not a member but says she has read the Book of Mormon and something just clicked. And she wants to convert. WHO JUST TELLS YOU THEY WANT TO CONVERT?! It feels like investigators are just falling into our laps. Its so insane what blessings come from just trying your hardest to be obedient. Miracles come from it. Sister Martinez (now Sister Sims) and I are witnesses!

Well keep up the good work family and dear friends. Don't ever forget who you are and what you are destined to become. And since you have that knowledge don't forget how vital it is that you share it with other. Members and non-members. Be an example of the believers!

Keep Hermana Whitehead in your prayers! I bet she is having and incredible experience in the Mexico MTC.

I expect loads of pictures and junk to come to me after this craziness is all done. Send me some pies and cakes. Just kidding haha Have fun at the wedding I am so stoked!!!

Love,

Sister Izzy

P.S. I love you to the moon and back and then back and forth 10000 times! Its hard to say if God loves you more than me. I am kidding I know he does which is crazy to think. Cause I love you toooo much!