Don't Cry for me Argentina

Mom Note: Elder Hadley wrote two letters (The Fugitive & Don’t Cry for Me Argentina) shortly after he returned home from Argentina and shared with us the pictures from his quarantine and leaving Argentina. 

Being Mom of the Year, I am just now uploading these into his Blog which is why you have received these automated emails whenever a new post is made.

Parker has not been stuck in Argentina this whole time 😂, but we wanted to make sure these great letters and pictures completed his blog! Thank you all for the support and love you have shown Elder Hadley!

 

 

4-9-20

Don’t Cry for Me Argentina

 

iNo llores por mi Argentina!

The truth is I never left you!

 

!Hola! How we all doing? This last week has been a good week, keeping myself busy with whatever I can. I’m enjoying working out in the yard and cleaning a few things up around the house. 

 

So, I left you all off in last week’s letter on the fact that I needed to figure a few more things out. As you all have probably heard about the Church coming out with information with a couple of options for the missionaries during these tricky times 1- Wait to be re-assigned within the next few months or 2-Wait a year to 18 months and start up again. 

 

With these options I was troubled and felt very lost. Wondering do I unpack my bags or move things to another suitcase or what? I decided that I needed it make it a priority to put together a list of options of pros and cons. I later realized that helped but also made it very tricky and made me mentally tired whenever I thought of what to do. 

 

I felt like I was missing something, so I applied to myself what I taught in the mission. Praying and Studying the Scriptures (and Patriarchal blessing) to find the guidance needed to take the next step. 

 

I moved my Quarantine up to Logan, UT with McKay and Jarrett to get “New Scenery” and a breather from all the questions being asked about “Now what?”. Many missionaries probably feel this same stress during this period of time. With McKay and Jarrett living close to the Logan City Temple, I went for a walk and wanted to be closer to my Heavenly Father. During this time I was still wearing my name tag and had not been released yet. While still being a Missionary I wanted to have that special Spirit and the mindset of a Missionary to help with some decision making.     

 

On this walk I saw a service gate that was open to the Temple Grounds. I saw an opportunity and a sign from my Father in Heaven to enter. I went in with my scriptures, Patriarchal Blessing, and my mission bag. I tried to create an environment for some Personal Revelation. For those that have been to this temple you may remember some benches on the back side of the temple on the west side looking out over the Logan Valley. I knew that was where I was going to have that discussion with my Father in Heaven. 

 

As I walked back to the apartment I felt at peace; the weight was lifted off of my shoulders like when you repent through the Atonement of Christ. I knew that this was all necessary to figuring things out for me and my future. 

 

I called up my mama and told her I had received my answer and I’d be sharing with her and the family the following day in Kaysville the decision that both the Lord and I have made. My Mom said that she could hear and tell a difference in my voice when I shared the big news. 

 

The following day when I returned home to Kaysville and before I was to be released, I shared with my family the answer I received from my Heavenly Father. Through Prayer, Scripture Study, rereading my Patriarchal Blessing and thinking everything through. The Lord has told me he has accepted my offering of hard work and diligence. He and I are ready for me to move on with my life and begin another Chapter. 

 

I would like to share with you a scripture that has helped give me some understanding on why I was taken out of my mission in Argentina. 

D&C 124:49 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.” 

 

I’m proud and happy with what I was able to accomplish in the Mission Field and will never forget this last year. I have shared with my family that you cannot learn the things you do from the mission anywhere else. The Lord gives us challenging circumstances to shape and form us to be the man or woman he wants us to be. 

 

We all have been affected by this Corona Virus situation and yes it can be and probably is very frustrating for many. I want to share with you all my thoughts. It’s hard and I have accepted it. Moving on, what can I do to help this be more of a positive and testimony strengthening experience. I feel the Lord with me and my family, I know this is hard for Him, but all is necessary to continue on and prepare us more for when the time comes, when his Beloved Son will return and experience joy beyond anything, we all can imagine.

 

Push through, we will make it and we will be stronger for it. Keep reading the Book of Mormon and praying to seek personal revelation. Love you all tons and hope you all have a wonderful week and a bright future. Elder Hadley over and out! 

Nos Vemos Chao Chao 

 

Les amo mucho siempre,

 

Elder Hadley 

(Hang Loose!!!) 

In the airport parking garage standing on our running boards hoping to be able to see Elder Hadley. The airport would not let us leave our vehicle or stand outside of our car.

After 1 hour we saw someone walking towards us in a
goofy red hat!

Mom jumped from the car to hug her missionary!

Nothing like the first hug!

It was a huge relief to have Elder Hadley home

Dad handed Elder Hadley a Mountain Dew Code Red as we left the airport.

They would only let parents go to the airport so Elder Hadley's siblings greeted him on the driveway with Welcome Home Posters and huge hugs! 

Before Elder Hadley could even walk into the house the amazing Quail Crossing Ward organized a drive by parade to Welcome Elder Hadley Home!💗

                                                 

Many great family and friends also came to join the fun!

Elder Hadley had this tag made for his Dad. In Dominican Republic this is how Stanford would spell his name on his mission so the Dominicans would know how to pronounce his name. (Elder Jadli)

The much anticipated Cafe Rio meal right after the drive by parade.

Giving Soccer Jerseys to his family

Stanford gave each of his children a knife from his mission so Elder Hadley brought one back from Argentina for his Dad.

We were all amazed at the items Elder Hadley was able to bring back from his mission since they could not go buy anything during quarantine. Turns out early during his mission he had the prompting to buy items as he served in different areas and not wait until the end of his mission. 

We are still wondering how he got this machete home! 😁

And of course he would not forget his Mate and Mate Cup

The Quail Crossing Ward put flags and these signs in the front yard of all of our missionaries! 

Our ward also put flags out in front of our church to represent each missionary from our ward! 
This was a very impressive site to drive by! 

The Farmington West Stake made these incredible signs for each of our buildings with pictures of all of the missionaries from our Stake.

Elder Hadley's dear friend and Stake President Aaron Hogge. This picture was taken when President Hogge released Elder Parker Hadley as a full time missionary!
We done Elder Hadley!

Called to Know the Richness of His Blessings! 💗