Hola Familia!

Wow! It sounds like you all had such a spiritually uplifting week! What a great experience it must have been to have been able to see the conversion process of Xinyuan. One thing I have definitely learned here is that the plan of our loving Father is so perfect. There are moments when the universe lines up so perfectly to be able to share the gospel knowledge. In Preach my Gospel it says ``have faith in the fact that Heavenly Father is preparing people specifically for you, and that these people will cross your path.´´ I think that is such a beautiful promise. The only thing we need to have is the courage to open our mouths with the people that cross our paths. =)

That`s also so great to hear about Katie`s farewell and Khale`s return report! I`m so proud of the geat missionary sevice in our ward. It sounds like Khale was a great missionary, and I know that Katie won't have problems sharing the gospel. 

Also, Mom and Jacob, congratulations on your duet! I`m glad that you got to play together, and I know that the music really blessed the members. Reading and studying about the sacrifices of the early saints has made me really grateful for all the sacrifices that they were willing to make so that we could be born in Zion. God really knows the best for us, and we are so blessed to know of his loving plan.

Here in Ventanas we had a really busy week. In our zone there is a small branch that is one hour away from Ventanas called Catarama.  I went there three times! We went once as a zone because the mission recently put two new sisters in the area, and they were feeling very overwhelmed because they did not have anyone to teach. All 12 of the missionaries went to go contact people for two hours. Then my companion and I went back a second time to do a baptismal interview for the other missionaries in Catarama, and the lady that got baptized asked if we could come to her service, so we also went Saturday. It was a lot of traveling, but it was so great to see the sacrifices that this sister is willing to take to be able to have the gospel in her life.

Then to top it all off, we had branch conference yesterday and President Riggins came to visit us. In the afternoon he gave a really powerfull meeting to all of the priesthood in the district. He had us read from D&C 20:45-55 and had us see all of the duties of the elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. Then he asked the branch presidents if they were willing to let the young men fullfill these roles. It was very powerful. President Riggins has a way of letting you know you`re doing something wrong, but you`re either laughing or feeling the love he has for the work so you don`t really feel bad. =)

I`m glad that everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer! (I can`t believe it`s almost August!) I hope that you are all safe and happy!

Lots of Love

Elder Hales =)

My Dear Family,

Wow! This first week in Ventanas has been very interesting, and has gone by super fast trying to learn everything, and everybody`s names! 

Ventanas reminds me a lot of Vinces. Here there are also tricimotos, many Catholics, and a type of unity that only exists in small towns. There is a lot of work here for us as missionaries which is always good. It`s a great feeling to be part of the branch in such a close way with the members. They were also all very excited to have a piano player in the branch. I had to smile when they told me it was the first time in ten years that there has been a pianist in Sibimbe. (Another example of the blessings that come when you listen to your parents. =) )

My companion is Elder Samán from Arequipa Perú (just like Elder Lizana) and is a real jokester. He keeps everyone in the house laughing which is usually a nice relief from some of the stresful times of missionary work. He has a really powerful testimony and loves the people here. He also finishes his mission in a month, so I won`t have as much time with him as with Elder Alucema.

A lot of the families from Babahoyo wrote to me this week and told me that the baptism of Yoko was really spiritual, and that she is excited to be a member of the ward. I wish I could have been there, but the timing didn`t allow for it. But I hope to be able to visit some day, because Ventanas is only 45 minutes away, and since it doesn`t have a post office, I need to go anyways when I want to send a letter. =)

I think it`s great the family could get back safely from California! I know the beach is always so relaxing. I can`t believe that the school season is almost starting again! I hope Jacob will enjoy his Junior year. Junior year is always the hardest, but I know he`s such a smart guy that he can do it! Also, is Isaac starting high school this year or next year? That`s so crazy that all my brothers are so big!

I liked your example of moral courage Dad, It really does take courage to stand strong, in all types of situations. Sometimes the best source of extra courage in hard times are quick prayers. That has been very true for me so far in my mission.

I hope that you all have a great week! Enjoy the fun summer things before the new school year starts! 

I love you all, and you are always in my prayers,

Elder Hales =) 

My Dear Family,

It sounds like everyone is doing well and having fun! Dad, I´m glad you´re keeping busy at home. It´s never fun to be cooped up with nothing to do. I think it´s great you´re taking advantage of this time to fix the house up a little bit.

Also I´m glad that the family could get to the beach safely! I think that is really such a fun family tradition. Are Lizzy and I the only missionaries in the family right now? The beach can be so relaxing. I hope you all enjoy the sun! (I will too haha ;) ) 

For me lots of things have happened here this week and I don´t really know where to start. We´ve been working really hard with the older sister of the new convert, Nahomi Chang. Her name is Yoko, and she has been passing through a couple of hard times recently. She is going to be baptized this Saturday! We´ve been working so hard with her family, and she had her interview Friday. Everything was perfect and she is so excited. 

We´ve also had a really spiritual experience teaching the brother of our first counselor in the bishopric. His name is Dario Fernandez. We met him last Tuesday and he told us that three weeks ago he stopped believing in God for some things that had happened in his life. We taught him a short lesson about how God loved him and invited him to pray. He said one of the most humble prayers I´ve heard in a long time and we all felt so strongly the spirit. We stood up and he told us that now he knew that he had a loving Father in Heaven. Experiences like these really make the sacrifices of serving seem so small.

Also, Saturday the assistants to the President came and did an exchange with us. I had no idea why they had decided to come work in our sector until Sunday night. It turns out that Elder Alucema and I both had transfers, and the assistants are going to be the new Elders that work in Babahoyo! I couldn´t believe that we were both going!

My new sector is called Simbibe, in the zone Ventanas. It´s a tiny branch that´s actually really close to Vinces (like 20 minutes away) so I might be able to visit in some future P-day =) It´ll be interesting working in a branch again, but I´m excited to be here and do my best to serve.

So that was my crazy week! I hope you are all safe and enjoying California! I hope you enjoy your class, Dad! 

Lots of Love,

Elder Hales =)

Jonathan and Elder Alucema getting ready to leave Babahoyo

Hola familia!

Sorry I´m writing so late. We had such a hard time finding a cyber shop open today! (It´s a national holiday to celebrate the Pope´s visit.) Ithought it was so funny that the Pope´s message was about feeding the poor, because everyone that has talked to us about the Pope´s visit has been outraged by how much money  the country has spent on his visit. It´s a very hard thing to balance, but I do think that they were spending a bit too much haha.

Things here have also been a bit crazy. My companion is doing much better now, but he´s still in a little pain if we walk too fast. I hope he can pass the kidney stone soon! We´re hoping to make up for lost time this week. 

I´m so happy that you´re going to Californina next week! That´s so awesome! The beach is so relaxing and fun for the family. I hope the weather and the roads are nice for you. 

I was so sad to hear that President Packard had passed away this last Friday. There are so many things that he has done for the whole world. I can´t imagine what it would be like to give an entire life in service. He had such a powerful testimony of the love of Christ.

I´m happy to hear that you´re also memorizing a scripture every week! I actually learned D&C 6:34 in Spanish as well.

Asi que no temais, haced lo bueno. y aunque si combine en contra de vosotros la tierra, y el infierno, pues si estais edificados sobre mi roca, no pueden prevalecer. =) I also think it´s great that Dad, Em, and Jacob had Spanish hour this week! Keep up the great work!

I hope that you all enjoyed your Fourth of July! Elder Rydalch and I sang The Star Spangled Banner from the English Hymn book, and I thought about Isaac.  I hope you have an even greater week!

Lots of Love,

Elder Hales =)

Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he rides aboard the Popemobile in streets of Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, July 5, 2015. Francis is making his first visit as pope to his Spanish-speaking neighborhood. He’ll travel to three South American nations, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, which are beset by problems that concern him deeply, income inequality and environmental degradation. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A visitor uses a mirror to take a closer look at the ornate architectural details of Quito's Iglesia de la Compania July 3. Pope Francis will visit the church in Ecuador on Tuesday. (CNS/Barbara Fraser)

Faithful waited for the arrival of Pope Francis to celebrate a Mass at the Samanes Park in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Monday, July 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)