I really felt like we were teaching with such power

Friday was the most spiritual day this week. Weekly planning was a bit of a struggle as it usually is just to stay focused and in a good mood. The trio is really good to council and improve but at times its also easy to not do anything and let the other two do all the work sometimes it is frustrating. We had a great comp inventory where we talked very openly about many small things that each of us would like to implement and change although most was centered around being more positive and not negatively sarcastic to be funny. After this great inventory we went and taught two lessons in a row to two of our most solid investigators. First was Dominic, we taught he about the plan of salvation. He was confused about how God has a plan for us that we must follow but yet we always have free choice. We compared it to making a building, we are given a perfect plan and if we follow we receive a good reward after of having a good building (or life) but if we don’t follow through our choices we then will have a weak and less effective building (or life) we shared ether 12:27 and talked about how Christ is like the inspector of the building, he will come show us the weaknesses and help us to fix them. The Spirit was so strong and I really felt like we were teaching with such power and authority that he could not disbelieve our words. Elder Luetele committed him to do whatever it takes to go to the Celestial kingdom and he said yes. He is currently on date for March the 20th. Dominic was almost in tears most of the lesson. I know that it went so well because we were so unified after the companionship inventory that we had. After we taught Edgar he is really inspired and says many things that answer my questions and help me to learn.Talking about prayer he said it helps him to not be casual about life...there is no growth in casualness. I thought that was very insightful. His lesson as well was filled with the spirit mostly because he is so in tune and willing to learn from it. It is applying small things like waking up earlier and going to bed sooner. Exercising and planning his days...all of these things he is learning from prayer. 

Sister Bird is going to the temple in March.

Specialty Training with the Firle Zone.  Our Assistants to the President with the

District Leader of the new City District, the great Elder Hartley!!

Its' been a great week and many things have happened. We were able to have 2 people come to church again. Heavenly Father is always blessing us with miracles. We have many people to teach right now and they are all praying and many have come to church. We were thinking about why all our investigators seem to be stuck in the same place and then we realized they were missing the Book or Mormon.  We had taught it to all of them but only one was constantly reading from it. We are going to focus on helping them all read it this week. It's going to be great. I am in Either 12 and should finish it this week. I am excited to again pray about it and then be able to bear more powerful testimony that it is the key to learning more about Christ. I found out today that Sister Bird is going to the temple in March and she asked if I could go as well. Pres Parker told me today that I could! I am excited for that and already looking forward to it. My companions and I are doing great we get along good. It's crazy how different we all are and how we all have such different strengths but are unified in our work. Elder Escueta used to build rockets in the Philippines. He is a hard core chemist, it's pretty crazy...he's to smart for his own good! I love you all and am grateful for all that you do thanks for the support and love. 

D & C 11:20--Follow the commandments

Its’ been a good few days since Thursday. We had 3 people come to church again and everything is going really well with them all. I can’t believe how well everything seems to be going at home and I really know that it is because of Heavenly Father blessing all of us as we keep his commandments. DC 11:20 has become one of my favorite scriptures, it tells us all we need to do is follow the commandments, that’s it, I didn’t always follow them but I tell people all the time now that I am so much happier now that I do. Even when life does get harder we can be happier. I am excited for the rest of this transfer. We have many people that are really investigating Christ and how He can help them. It is really exciting.

Love you all hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Hartley 

So great to get to the temple this week.

 We have had a really busy 10 days and the time always goes so fast. Feels like yesterday that I was emailing you. The Temple was wonderful, the pictures I sent one is Cheng we went on a tour last week....he has moved to Melbourne now we taught him everything and is ready for his interview to be baptized. I look forward to his baptism pic to get emailed to me. We are really have good success in the city and are used to working as a trio now. Its quite nice there is and extra person with 24 hours to get stuff done! The weather has been great not hot at all, it is actually quite cool for summer. I just have to survive Feburary and I should be safe from the 40s. Glad everything is good at home love you all  Love Elder Hartley

We are headed to the temple

It has not been to hot here the last few days and it’s been really nice but I think its supposed to get really hot again this week. The January- Feburary transfer I just focus on serving this one. After that I know the worst weather will be behind us and all will be well. I have 2 new companions we are in a trio (seems like a have spent a lot of time in a trio these past 6 months) Elder Escueta and Elder Lautele from the Phillipens and New Zealand. They are both great and pretty happy to be in the city. President Parker wants to send even more missionaries to the city its pretty cool. Used to be just us that covered it now he is talking about a city zone next transfer. He really pushes us, it’s great. I am grateful for that. Both my companions have been out for less than 6 months but they are really good. I am excited we are headed to the temple next Thursday. I have not been since April and it will be great to go back. Elder Hartley

Elder Pitama goes home tomorrow

The week has been great. Cheng decided to wait for Melbourne to be baptized but we think that is best anyways. We do have a few others getting close for Feb 14 Shan is a Chinese man he is great and he is doing so good. He has been to 2 baptisms and church 3 times in a row. Believes in Joseph Smith its really great we are going to teach the Book of Mormon on Wednesday. Its transfers today and Elder Mikami is leaving so we are sad about that. He has been the easiest comp I have ever had to work hard stay clean and just do everything we are supposed to do. It has been really good and we were going well together. We find out tomorrow who our new comps will be. We already have 12 lessons setup for the coming week with many more people to see as well things are looking great. Elder Pitama goes home tomorrow. I saw him last night it feels like yesterday that it was my first transfer and his 4th things go by to fast. He is coming to visit Elder Pitcher and I in October, that will be fun. So glad everything is going so well at home.

Love Elder Hartley 

He is someone who I will be life long friends with

 We really have all been blessed these past few years and I will be really sad to see my mission end but luckly I still have many more months to go and enjoy it! We have been working with a great man named Cheng and he really wants to be baptized! We would do it but he is moving to Melbourne in a few weeks so he is praying about it to see if he should do it here or there. We have only been meeting with him for 5 weeks now but he never misses church and reads the Book of Mormon and takes the time to understand it!. He has learned faster than anyone I have ever taught. I will be really sad to see him go but he is someone who I will be life long friends with. I am so grateful for the chance to have spend time with him. And last week he brought his wife to church and we are going to start teaching her. 
Its been a great week and a great year. I love you both thanks so much for everything and all the support. I am always so grateful that you were my parents because you have taught me so well. 
Love Elder Hartley

The Firle Zone with a wonderful round of mission jeapardy!  

Absolutely hysterical!  Elder Anderson had the voice down!! 

Elder Hartley at the Chirstmas program.