Mom Notes for the WIN

Hola Friends and Family of Elder Parker Hadley! We are able to video call with Elder Hadley once a month and because Monday was his brother’s 16th birthday and we were having such a great time talking, we stayed on a little too long and he was not able to write a letter but did send some pictures! 

Parker asked if I would post the pictures and write about a few of his experiences we talked about! Parker you owe me one, but I am mostly doing this because I have a feeling your missionary journal is going to come home with blank pages but good news, we can hand it down to Logan. 👍

Elder Hadley wishing Logan a Happy 16th Birthday!
His church has computers so he does not have to go to the internet cafe!

Elder Hadley really loves his new area in Ciudad Evita. It is named after Eva Peron the wife of the Former President of Argentina. Remember the movie “Evita” with Madonna, I made the whole family watch this movie before he left on his mission. I give the movie 2 stars because Madonna did an amazing job singing “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” and Antonio Banderas does NOT know how to sing. 

The city boundaries are shaped like the profile of Evita! The Argentina Buenos Aires Temple is also in Cuidad Evita but Parker is not able to go to the temple until the last week of his mission. He said only the Hermanas are able to go and serve at the temple grounds. 

These are pictures of the Argentina Buenos Aires Temple that he took from the car window while a member was driving him and two other missionaries to their new areas.

 Elder Hadley really likes his new companion Elder Marino from Ecuador. They both arrived at the same time in the mission, so they are helping each other. 

Parker also told us that they do not have hot water and their apartment does not have A/C or fans so it is hard to sleep when it is 93 degrees at night.

Elder Hadley’s area is mostly people from Paraguay. He said the people are amazing and the ward members are very faithful and strong. He also loves Paraguayan food and thinks a lot about his cousins Shawn and Kyle Condie who both served in Paraguay for their missions. 

This week Elder Hadley built a house! Parker said you can build a house for about $250. The house that he helped build was for a counselor in the Bishopric, Brother Willie. Everyone calls him Brother Willie because they cannot pronounce his last name. 

Brother Willie has only been home from his mission for one year and is married. His job is mowing the lawn at the temple which is a very coveted job to have. Brother Willie’s new house is going to be an addition and the second floor to his parent’s house. This is how families live in Argentina. 

The parents are on the first floor and his brother built his house to the side of the parents. Elder Hadley and Elder Marino helped with the cement floor of the second floor.  

Parker said a cement truck did not pull up with all of the cement already mixed. Instead of gravel Parker had to break up old used bricks with a hammer for the base. Then he packed up 60 lb. bags of cement and 5-gallon buckets of sand and water up the stairs to the second floor. 

They did this all day on Saturday and it was 100 degrees in the house and very dusty. He said his back was sore but good thing he has titanium rods in his back. 😂

Brother Willie, Elder Hadley, Elder Marino and Brother Willie's Nephew standing on some of the bricks they broke up for the cement floor they just poured. 

Parker said that for work many ride around on bikes with weed eaters and clap in front of houses and ask if they can cut their grass. They get paid 60 pesos which is about a $1 and people do not have lawns it is just a yard full of weeds. 

Parker walks through this field everyday and through the weeds in back to get to his area 

Elder Hadley said his area is very humble but also dangerous.  There are robbers that hide in the weeds and they are usually drunk. They come out of the weeds and ask them for their money. 

Parker said they tell them, “Look at us, we are dirty and sweaty and ugly. We don’t have any money, all we have are these cards with Jesus on them. Do you want a card with Jesus?” Then the robbers go away. 

He said they have made friends with some of the robbers and they are actually teaching them.  We asked he if he felt safer with having a Latino Companion and he said ABSOLUTELY and even better if they know how to play soccer!

Elder Hadley always ends his letter with a Spiritual Thought. Well, I will share this Spiritual Miracle with you. 

Elder Hadley told us that when he was at home in Kaysville it was difficult to read his scriptures because he would fall asleep within a couple minutes of reading. On his mission after a long hot day of walking you would think he would still fall asleep, but he has been able to stay awake and comprehend what is happening in the scriptures! 

This is a huge miracle for Parker and it is very exciting for him. He knows that Heavenly Father is helping him as a missionary read and understand the scriptures! 

Parker told us that he is enjoying his mission and it is starting to go by fast. We asked him if he wanted to see our countdown app because February 3, 2020 was a pretty cool day on the countdown, and this is what we showed him! He reached Angel Moroni! 

We are recognizing so many blessings in Elder Hadley’s life and thankful for the opportunity to pray for the wonderful people of Argentina! Thank you all for supporting him and he feels all the prayers and love from you!

Les amo,

Elder Hadley’s Mama

Hang Loose!!! 😂

Sunset from his apartment in Ciudad Evita

Elder Hadley's first and last trip to Burger King, because his meal was $4 which is expensive for Argentina! Since they just got their allotment of money for the  month he is hoping to get a haircut, but worried because his long hair helps so his forehead does not get sunburned! 😂