Mexico City Temple

¡Hola! This last week has been awesome! Today (Thursday) is district 5A's turn to go to the Mexico City Temple!!! It was a phenomenal experience! I was able to do the whole session in Spanish! I really have felt the Spirit and can tell Heavenly Father is personally letting me know he is with me and is giving me more hope and comfort! In the temple they said a prayer for the missionaries, this touched me because I was now one of those missionaries! The trip to the temple was an experience. It was raining and the ride was worse than airplane turbulence! It took us about an hour to go 10 miles. 

Now I know you all want an update on my friend Jason. Well he is doing great! He is cooking me great meals while I'm here and giving me extra to get me through class:). For dinner one day I asked him if he had any more Chocolate (Mexican brand) Swiss rolls that are amazing and was placed out for the missionaries during lunch. They said only take one, so I took two and it still didn't satisfy me enough! Jason looked at me and said, "Follow me" we both went to the back and I waited by the kitchen door. About 30 seconds later he came back out with 4 packs of these rolls and said, "Put these in your pockets and don't tell anyone they came from me." Jaja 

I love that dude and he has no problem telling me I'm a bigger fellow for my height! Jaja and yes, I've put on a few pounds just cause when I start cooking for myself in Argentina, I'll probably end up losing it! 

I made some more friends this week too! In the Comador (where we eat every meal) there are 6 workers and they all love giving me a hard time. Their names are Marco, Alejandro, Evan (2 of them), Dimonte, and Juan. I love checking in with them every day; but Elder Fuge is sick of me talking with everyone in the Comador!
   

Elder Fuge and I sang in the Choir for the Tuesday Night Devotional where the Mexico City Temple President and his wife spoke at. Such a great experience and was nice to feel the Spirit.

So, District 5A had their first missionary speak in Sacrament Meeting this last Sunday. This missionary made the mistake of shaking all of the Branch Presidencies hands before Sacrament Meeting. I was blessed with the opportunity to speak on the Restoration of the Gospel all in Spanish. The Sacrament Meeting was 5 Latino Missionaries from Mexico and Elder Hadley. My District was so happy when they called my name and not theirs. I was not given any time to prepare. It was great and happy all went well.
   

This last Sunday I had a once in a life time opportunity to watch Elder Jeffery R. Hollands, "Feed My Sheep" talk that is only shown at the MTC. The Holy Spirit testified that I needed to be right where I was and to keep pushing forward and to look at the mission in a different prospective. I ask if you guys have time, read St Luke 24 in The New Testament of when Christ, our Savior, is speaking with Peter, James, and John after he is resurrected and when they are out fishing. I ask you to pray and ponder on it because it was an eye opener for me for sure.

Everyday I'm trying to get better with the language with correct conjugations and expanding my vocabulary. Keep praying and reading your scriptures! I want all of you to know how excited I am to get down to my Argentina peeps and share with them El Evangelio de Jesucristo!

Con Amor, Elder Hadley

Elder Parker Hadley and the Mexico City Temple

In the Visitor's Center of the Temple

Holiness to the Lord
The House of the Lord

My District 5A on our way to the Temple
All of the Elders are going to Buenos Aires South Mission

Later in the day we received a surprise video call from Elder Hadley! We were able to meet his companion Elder Fuge and shared stories of how we both try to wake up Parker in the mornings, Bless Elder Fuge!

We also met Elder Crane in his District who said that all the Elders are going to be Financial Advisors thanks to Elder Hadley! The best part of our conversation was when we discussed the blessings we have received by having a missionary!

We Love the new way of communication with our missionary!!!

If you would like to communicate with Elder Hadley his email is:   phadley@missionary.org

First Letter from Elder Hadley

Hola my family and friends! Boy, this last week was extremely different and has pushed me to study and memorize so much but has all been for the good. My Compañero in the CCM is Elder Fuge from Phoenix, Arizona and he is awesome! We both have no idea what we are doing in the middle of Mexico City but hey, it's una adventura, Jaja! The flight over to Mexico was 75% full of missionaries and the last 3 rows were Argentina Missionaries. On our drive to the CCM we sat in traffic for an hour and a half! I (along with all the missionaries) was lost and didn't know what we all were getting into at the CCM and most of the boys in my District were home sick. 

I hadn't even unpacked my suit cases and one of the Elders, that hasn't left home before, called upon me to give him a blessing. Right then I realized I am taking part in the Lord's work already with helping other missionaries :).  I've been pretty good with the Spanish but it is starting to get tricky. Figuring out correct conjugations and also listening is pretty tricky, but possible. 

I really am loving the workers here at the CCM. There is this one worker who truly is my homie! His name is Jason! He works in the CCM Comador and is short. First time we met, I was asking him for the Talín which is heaven and supposed to be on all fruit! He held up his fingers into my side and said, "Do you have any money?" Like I was being held up or something Jaja! Later in the week I asked what was in one of the produce bags and he said, "Shhhh don't tell anyone, there drugs Jaja"! I thought it was so funny that a 5 foot Mexican from Mexico City was joking around with this kinda stuff! I've been able to talk with him during most meals and practice my Spanish and he has no problem correcting me. Jason loves his job and considers it a blessing to serve the missionaries here. I appreciate having a friend I can joke around with when not in class!

This past week I've been able to memorize the Missionary Purpose, Joseph Smith First Vision, Moroni 10:5, and the first lesson in Chapter 3 of Preach my Gospel all en Español. It is not the walk in the park I thought the CCM would be.

I have an Elder in my district named Elder Mesake. This Elder and I are tight! He is this big Tongan from Colorado and plays Rugby. We both struggle with memorizing and he has no experience with Spanish. Elder Mesake really struggles with pronunciation because at home he speaks English or Tongan; the past week every night during our free time to get ready for bed Elder Mesake and I, for an hour, study the things we need to memorize and I help him with Spanish. Elder Mesake and I have grown close and have used the Gift of Tongues through the Holy Ghost.

I'd like to close with sharing how the power of the Holy Ghost is truly real and has blessed me with learning the language, studying, and preparation for lessons and/or role plays. I want to challenge all of you to utilize the Holy Spirit in your lives and see the blessings that follow. I hope you all have a wonderful week and see the fantastic Gospel in your lives! 

Te amo, Elder Hadley
(Hang Loose!!!)

The Official Tag Picture

I am on the bottom bunk

Elder Hadley and his companion Elder Fuge from Phoenix, Arizona 

Mi Casa #41

New Missionaries that arrived at the Mexico City CMM on July 9th, 2019
Elder Hadley is on the top row, right side, third one in from center
with his head peaking around to be seen ;)

My Mama Delivered!

That is where I am going!
Parker's amazing tie was given to him by our great friends Eddy and Kenzy Hogan before he left. This was a tie that Eddy wore on his mission years ago and he signed the back of the tie with the name of his mission and wanted to pass it on to Parker!
Love that he chose to wear this tie on his first P-Day!

The Mexico City CCM

My Amazing District!

Had to get a picture in front of the Thomas S. Monson Building 💙

The flags of the countries represented at the CCM

Water jug stands to fill our water bottles in the hallway of one of our classrooms

Mi Amigo Jason who works in the Comador and takes care of me 

My lunch in the Comador

My Tongan friend Elder Mesake.
We help each other every night during free time with our Spanish and memorization.

Mom Note: We asked Parker before he left when he was going to tell the other missionaries that he has studied Spanish since Kindergarten.  He joked and said that he would just start speaking and say it was the Gift of Tongues since he arrived in Mexico! 😂 His District found out Day #1 when they called on him to say a prayer and he gave it in Spanish!

The CCM asked Parker if he wanted to do a 3 week program at the CCM rather than the 6 week program. He told them that he loved his District already, that he needs to learn gospel terms in Spanish and he wanted the whole MTC experience.  
Parker told us that his teachers expect more out of him and hold him at a different standard. He really enjoys giving this type of service to the other missionaries.