Asphalt is Hard and Cars are Dangerous

Just so everyone knows, asphalt is hard. And cars are dangerous. Especially when you're on a bike...that's probably the most excitement I've had in a while out here. Getting thrown off your bike by a car isn't the most fun thing in the world, but its pretty high up there.

Other than that, this week was pretty standard. we are teaching a family where most of them are members, but the youngest two kids haven't been baptized. Keira and Dmitri are some pretty cool kids, and they have an awesome family. They are so fun to teach, even though 5 kids can get a little distracting. I'm sure you have no idea what that's like, Mom. We have also been trying to find some people that are members of the church but that no one really knows who they are. That has been interesting, and definitely leads to some interesting stories. But its cool seeing those that either are trying to come closer to God or who don't realize they are trying to come closer to God until we get there. That's definitely fun.
I hope no one is going too crazy back home!
Get that house all ready for the baby.

 I love and miss you all,

Elder Hiatt

Another New Area!

Well another new area and another new companion. I'm now in Phoenix, right on the edge of the mission boundaries. We share the ward with a companionship of sister missionaries so it's nice to not cover the whole ward. There is a lot of work to do here for sure, and things have been pretty busy. A lot of people here seem to want changes in their lives and are sincerely looking for something more. We have a couple people who are wanting to be baptized in mid February so it will be cool to see how they progress over the next few weeks.

Something I guess I've realized recently is just how much God is in the details of our lives. He truly does know us and knows what is best for us. Everything that I have learned and experienced over the last couple of months has kinda paved the way for what I'm doing right now: things that make me better able to help Him accomplish His purposes here and to help me serve those around me. It all comes from turning our will over to His. When we learn to see what He sees and to do what He wants us to do, I know we can feel His approval in our lives. We can know that we are on the right path and that He really does love each of us, individually. 

I want you all to know that I love each of you, individually. I know God loves each of you and knows what is best for you. I know He will tell you what is best for you, if you take the time to listen and find out what He wants for your life. 

I hope everything is going well for y'all. Take care and God bless, 

Elder Hiatt

Happy New Year!

Happy New Years! I hope everyone has had an amazing start to the new year! Its a great time to refocus anew and set some goals on what we want to accomplish this coming year. 365 days is a long time to get a lot of good done, and when we set goals we are able to focus on what we want to accomplish.

Something I've been thinking about quite a bit recently is why trials come into our life. That is something people ask us about the most it, seems like. Why do bad things happen? Or maybe not even bad things, but difficult things. I was thinking about that during church this Sunday and I guess   these were my thoughts: God won't allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. But that only happens if we are staying close to Him. When we break commandments and draw farther from Him, it's easier for us to make bigger mistakes. I think it goes the same way with trials. When we stay close to God and rely on Him, there is no trial that will come our way that we can't overcome. No matter what it is, He will make us able to bear it. But when we start trying to do things on our own and forget how we got through our other trials, we will eventually be confronted with something that we can't overcome on our own. God wants to help us and to support us through our trials, but its only when we stay close to Him that He is able to do that. Just some of the thoughts I had. I know our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to succeed. I know that when we rely on Him, He will help us overcome every trial we face. I hope everyone has a blessed New Years!

 Love you all and God bless, 

Elder Hiatt

Elder Wright's Visit

Well another week down in Chandler! This week we had the great opportunity to hear from Elder Wright of the 70. We were gathered with 2 other missions, the Phoenix mission and the Tuscon mission. We learned a lot about how when we really become converted, we are willing to make sacrifices in order to serve our Lord and Savior. When we really come to know God and develop that relationship with him, we want to help him by serving our brothers and sisters here. It can be a difficult thing sometimes, but we have faith that the blessings we receive will be greater than the sacrifices we make. We are promised this as well. God always gives us more than we can give to Him.

  I hope everyone has had a great week! I was thinking about you when I heard is got down under 10 degrees....thinking how nice it was to be in 70 degrees. I hope everyone survived all right. Take care and God bless you in all you do, 

Elder Hiatt