Week 25 in Sarastoa

Justin and Heidi!

Hello!!! I did get the

ecolipse pictures! They look amazing! Some members of the YSA went to

Kentucky to see it and they said it was one of the most amazing things

they've seen. They said during it the crickets chirped and then

suddenly stopped when the moon moved away from the sun. Crazy! I can't

believe it was your 22nd anniversary! What a blessing I'm sure to be

at the temple too! Thank you for your example of what it means to

endure, and have a true loving eternal relationship. There are so many

who don't know what miraculous blessings are in store from our Father

in Heaven. This week Justin Jacques who was baptized in March was just

married to Heidi. She was the one who actually introduced him to the

church. She moved with her kids down here from Wyoming. It amazing to

see how the Lord lined everything up for them to be together. Now

they're working on being ready for the temple! One year to go! This

week was rough when it comes to the actual work. We had really good

lessons but when we had time to go find it would be pouring and there

would be giant lighting strikes. There was a tropical wave over us all

week...there's A LOT of flooding so I'm not sure if we'll be asked to

go help those people. There was one night when we were driving back

from a baptismal Interview and a storm hit. We only had a mile and a

quarter of visibility so we went from going 55mph to 25mph. There was

at least an inch of rain on the road in a matter of minutes. Crazy!

This week the weather should be back to normal and the flooding should

slowly go away. Sounds like Texas got hit pretty bad too. That storm

is supposed to head east later this week so hopefully it doesn't grow

again and decide to go for Florida. Besides the weather though things

are going well and there's a lot of good individuals we're working

with. I'm excited for the miracles to come! I love you so much! I hope

you have a great week!!

Week 24 in Sarasota

Last District Meeting of the transfer

We had transfer calls today. Our Zone is getting smaller.

We only have 5 sisters now. We started out with 8 when I first got

here. We will have a lot more Elders. We also don't have STLs so it

will just be Elder Farr and I now. We're excited! We are staying if

that wasn't clear. We will still be serving in those three areas so we

are excited! The individuals who were progressing to baptism at the

end of this month just fell off. Gratefully though there's been others

who we met this past week. One was a woman named Carolyn in the

southern part of Venice. She requested a Bible online. Our ward

mission leader Brother Pandl took us there. We taught her the

Restoration and then Brother Pandl asked if she would like a blessing.

She accepted it and she recognized the spirit. There are many good

things to come. We are very excited to see what this transfer will

bring. We also have a new Ward mission leader in Sarasota named

Brother Thompson. They just moved from Washington. They're awesome!

Well I am loving the work. Definitely send those senior photos and

photos of the eclipse. I hope all goes well. The garments are perfect.

Thank you so much!!! I love you and hope you have a great week!!!

Week 23 Sarasota

Baptism of Patrick Xibos, that's Brother and Sister Sines. Brother

Sines served his mission in Peru and is on fire!!

Yeah there's tons of people in Florida headed up to

Kentucky for the solar eclipse. That's crazy about the weather haha.

It's been in the 90s with a UV index of 100-107 every day. It is hot!!

Plus it will still be in the 90s at 9pm. It's crazy! Things are going

really well! There was a baptism in Venice this past week for Patrick

Xibos. He's about Grandpa Hales age haha. Brother Sines a member of

the Ward baptized him. Him and his wife are expecting their first baby

in three months! He also got the priesthood this past Sunday so the

ward is hoping to get him to the temple soon!! It's amazing what

happens when members take control of the work. We have a couple others

we are working with to be baptized at the end of the month. One of

them just texted us this morning saying he wasn't sure if he still

wants to come to church. We are praying we can meet with him and

answer his concerns. Things are going great though! This is the last

full week of the transfer so who knows what this next transfer will

bring. Hopefully just as many miracles as this one!! I'm glad to hear

all is going so well. I'm sorry about the package. Hopefully it will

show up at a random post office. Again if you can stop by or call them

that would be amazing! Let me know what they say. We will have to try

for new garments next Transfer I guess haha. Well I hope you have a

great week!! Love you so much!!!

Week 22 in Sarasota

This week was especially busy just like every other week. Patrick, 

the man lined up to be baptized this Saturday is doing great! 

The Ward Mission Leader, Brother Pandl is amazing! He's been 

staying on top of things. It's amazing to see what happens when the

members take control of the work. Also we had a man named Bob 

attend church. He's doing awesome! He alsohas a baptismal date for 

this month. He loved church and afterwardstexted us saying he was 

going downtown to read the Book of Mormon. This is truly the Lords 

work! There's another man who just moved intoour boundaries and 

should start going to the YSA. He's already read toAlma 50 and he's 

been investigating for only two months. It's amazingto see how the 

Lord works! It also shows there's true power in the Book of Mormon 

that leads to true conversion. Today we are going to President Dukes 

of the temple Presidency. He invited us over since it's our preparation 

day and him and his wife will be moving out of our boundaries to live 

closer to the Orlando temple. They offered us some 3lb mangos if we 

come so I'm excited!Things are going great and the heat is definitely here!

 I hope all is going well!! Have a great week! Love you!!!!

Elder Hale