June 23, 2012

Hey family,

Okay, so much to say and no time to say it in.

I hope you got my email when I arrived if not I am here safe and sound.  Its crazy being in another country. 

So funny story about my first day, we got here early in the morning and we were bringing in our luggage and (all the floor here is tile) because it was morning and really humid the floor was wet and I totally fell hard in the front entrance in font of

everyone. It was so embarrassing, haha.

I really like it here, the people are so nice and friendly, and everything is in Spanish so I am hoping my Spanish will improve a lot. The food is soooo good, I hear that we get fed the best out of all the MTC’s; we literally have a gourmet chef that makes the

best food ever. So if I come back a few pounds heavier that is why. Haha. I was talking to the other sisters and they said that it takes about a week but everyone usually gets sick so I am just waiting for the inevitable.  Pray for me. We can´t drink the water here so they have filtered water everywhere. It’s supper different than the US but I got use to it fast. 

The schedule we have is pretty much the same as Provo but we have a little more freedom. We get to go out and talk to people around the temple and that is fun, and they have a casa de CRE that we get to go to  and answer peoples questions about the gospel... no pressure right? This week we are going just practice with another district but next week it will be real situations with real people. I am so excited. 

So another funny story; I was in class yesterday and our treacher asked us to

make a sentence with the present tense about how to prepare a person

for baptism. I said “Para almuertar nuesta fe nesecita leer el

libro the Mormon”.... direct translation… it means “to kill our faith we

need to read the Book of Mormon.” My teacher looked at me weird and when

he explained what I said the whole class laughed. It was super funny.

I meant to say “to increase our faith we need to.....” the word for

increase is aumentar so it was kind of close just completely different

meanings ha.

So my new Pdays are on Saturday so you can plan on hearing from me each Saturday. They tell me that if you want to send me a dearelder (which would be great...*hint* *hint*) you would need to send them before Tuesday. They print them out on Tuesday and give them to us on Thursday so make sure you write before Tuesday!!! Ha. When I write home or you write me it will take about 12 days to get to me or me to you so don’t try and sent me any letters or packages after the second week in July you will need to send them down to my mission.

It is so beautiful here, I love it! It is so green and there are tons of flowers I have never seen before. The weather is nice. It’s actually in the beginning of their winter so its overcast a lot of the time last night I fell asleep to a thunderstorm! I absolutely loved it! I am scared of how hot it will be in the summer if this is their winter. I feel sticky all the time because of the humidity; I don’t mind it now but I know I will when it gets hot

Know that I am doing ok and that I love being here. My Spanish has already improved. I feel like I can get my point across with the natives and in my class I am the one the teachers turns to to translate if the elders don’t know what he said. Ha!... no pressure…. I love my teachers though. It is so much fun. 

I told you I am in a threesome again with Hermana Massina and Hermana Perry... Tania might know Hermana Messina, she would hang out with people in our old ward, like with Rhett and everyone. She said she met you and hung out with you a couple of times I thought that was kind of cool. She is shorter that me and has reddish hair and really full lips. I´ll try and send pictures when I can but they took our cameras the first day we were here and we only get one day out of three weeks to take pictures. I get the feeling they have a problem with stealing here so that´s why they do it. 

Well I only have two more minuets. Know that I love you all and miss you tons.  I hope mom is doing well. Know that I love you!!! This work is so worth everything I have had to do to get here. This church is true!! I hope you all know that I know

that. 

Love you all! 

Till next week, your missionary 

Hermana Hale

Hermana Hale goes to Guatemala!

Hey family!

So I got to Guatemala okay!!! It is a really nice MTC. There are not very many missionaries’ here and the rules are so different. We can’t sit my any of the Elders and we get to cut line for food every time. It’s kind of nice. It is very humid here! Its rainy though so it’s not hot but oh I can only imagine how hot it will get.

Well the flight was fine. I got to sit near the emergency exit so l had lots of leg room, that was a blessing.  

Oh cool experience; I had a really bad headache and was sick to my stomach when I left the MTC but I knew I could not travel the way I was feeling so I prayed. I asked God to
help me through this because I wasn’t going to be able to do it on my own and I told him I had made it this far and I was willing to go the rest but I needed his help. It was amazing my headache went away and I was able to sleep on the plane and a really nice elder, Elder Anderson, helped me with my bags because I was struggling to carry my 100lbs bag and another 45lbs bag and my pillow. It was bad so God gave me all that I needed and more!!! So grateful.

It is so different here, so small and I feel so out of my element. I am in another 3 some which is
good and bad; the girls I am with have been companions for along time and are really tight and I am suppose to be the senior companion.... pray for me I have to go but my P-day is on Saturday, I’ll write then

Love You, Bye.

June 15, 2012

To preface this letter from Stephanie I have to share with you the circumstances surrounding our family right now. My Mom went in for surgery on Monday morning and has been pretty much bed-ridden for the week. On Tuesday morning we received the news that my Dad's Father, our jolly old Grandpa Glen, had passed away. One of the unique trials this presented was how to tell Stephanie in the MTC and hoping, after we did get word to her, that she was okay since we had no way to talk to her directly or hear back from her.

The family is doing really well and has felt the love of many of our friends, neighbors, and family as they have all helped us with meals, allowing boys to play at their houses, and many other small acts of service that have gotten us through the week. Thank you for all you do. As you can see Stephanie has been strengthened this week as well and felt the love of her family and particularly that of her Savior supporting her through this difficult time.

Hey Family,

I hope everyone is doing okay; I have to say this last week has been hard for me. With everything that has happened I just really want to be home with you guys to help out with the boys and help out with mom and be there for the funeral on Saturday. It has been really hard to study and concentrate. Know that I am thinking about and praying for you like I have never prayed before. You are all in my prayers. I love you guys so much, know that.

How is Mom doing how is Grandma doing? How are you Dad? Please write and let me know. Thank you Maren for keeping me informed and everyone else for writing me, I cant tell you how much your letters mean to me. Simeon to answer your questions, yes I am learning Spanish, not very well yet we just learned preterit and imperfect tenses...still dont get the difference. The MTC is a great place, I dont know why some people hate it so much... well the food gets old real fast but its okay. I am learning so much its insane.

I just wanted to tell you guys what has happened to me in the last week because I feel like the people in the Book of Mormon that were in bondage even when they were righteous. There is that scripture that says the Lord suffered them to go through these trials so that they could stand as a witness to the world that the Lord stands by and upholds, lifts up, and sustains those that believe in him. I feel every much like that. I want you to know family that I have felt the lord everyday this week helping me to do what I have needed to do; teach lessons with my companions when all I wanted to do was cry, to be friends and comfort a new girl that moved into our room when all I wanted was to be comforted and loved. God is and has stretched me so much this last week but he has been there to support and help me. I can now testify more than ever before that the lord is mindful of us in our trails and everyday lives. I can't wait to be in a lesson in El Salvador and be able to testify this is true and I know this is the reason I needed to go through this experience right now in my life.

Sorry I left all of your letters in my room so I am writing all from memory about questions so dont hate me if I forget anything. Maren thank you again for writing me and letting me know how everyone is doing, Tania you too. Thanks.

Well I am scared out of my mind to be leaving the country in less than a week!!! Crazy to think about. Especially when so much is happening a home. I at least still feel close to you all when I am in Provo. I have a lot of fears about going to Guatamala and then El Salvador but I know more than ever this is what I need to be doing and this message that I have brings such joy and peace to me that I cant help but put my fears aside and share what I have been given.

BOYS! Listen to me now please. I wish I would have prepared earlier for my mission. There is so much I could have done before coming here; years before. Everything you do in seminary, Sunday school, in your personal study prepares you for a mission. Memorize scriptures, study Preach My Gospel do what ever you can to try and talk to other people you dont know. It all will make it easier to contact people on the street and know and find scriptures when your in a lesson and investigators have a questions. You will be so ahead of the game if you do this. I know you're saying "yeah right!" but seriously, just a little will go a long way. Jake start studying now, you will wish you had and be glad you did. This work is such a great work. God is here helping me in everything I am doing.

I only have 5 more minutes left so if I start wrapping up you'll know why. I really do wish I could be there at the funeral and do all the flowers. Tell grandma how much I love her and hope she is doing okay. Give her the biggest hug for me. Dad I hope your doing okay, know that you are in my prayers and know how much I love you. I have been thinking a lot about Grandpa in the last few days and how much he loved those around him especially Grandma and how he gave all of himself to help and make your dreams come true. I will take that on my mission, that love to be able to give all of my self to the people I serve. I miss you all so very much, but I love you all infinatly more.

Mom I hope you are doing okay. I am praying for you as well, let me know how everything goes and know that I love you so much.

Keep me in your prayers this week as I prepare to leave to Guatemala. I will need all the prayers I can get.

I love you all.

Love your missionary Hermana Hale 

June 13, 2012

Mom and Dad,


First off :) I love you both so much! Thanks for all the letters and pictures, thanks Dad. :) So this is because I didn't have enough time to write you when I emailed you guys.  Its crazy how fast 30 minutes goes.

So I think I was telling you I went to go get a FBI Background check, you can tell Simeon and Isaac that, they may get a kick out of it. :), But I had to be cause apparently they Police background check was going to be expired in 2 months. So I got to take a field trip from the MTC so that was fun!

So I kind of don't know what else to say other than I am doing great and loving the work even though it is hard, there is nothing I would want to be doing more. Ha, I had a Branch President Interview and he just wanted to know how I was doing, if I was missing home or if I left a boyfriend and as he asked me it almost scared me how much I have not been thinking about home or the world in general. You feel so secluded here in a good way. But don't take this the wrong way, I still miss you all and think of you lots but its amazing how you can lose yourself in the work and have that be your focus. Its great.

Well times up again, have to go do laundry :( Hah, Love you both.

Love,

Hermana Hale

June 8, 2012

Hey Family it is P-day!!! Im so exited!

First off i want to thank you guys for my letters I get from you. I dont think I realized how much missionaries love letters till I became one. It is what everyone looks forward to each night at 9 for when our district leader gives out letters and you're just hoping that you get one. So thanks so much!

Ok and tell Sara and Cory Congratulations!!! They're going to get a Boy !!! I bet Cory is super exited!! Tell them thanks for the package!! Oh man! and tell Sister Palmer, I think, thank you for her package. There was a note in it but it was in cursive and I cant read cersive well she works down at BYU campus and she gave me this huge package of candy and snacks its what I have been living off so plase tell her thanks.

Tania and Maren and Caleb thank you all for your letters. Caleb thanks for sharing your experience with me, you wont ever know how much that meant to me. Well I am praying for you all... in very broken Spanish but dont worry, God speaks all languages so I think you're covered ha.

Daddy thank you for your letter, it made my day when I got it I am so blessed to have a loving family that is supporting me. Many of the girls in my district are the only active members in there families so I feel very blessed. Thank you Mom and Dad for your support and love.

Ok so time to tell you all about the CCM it is crazy they have everything down to a "T" here, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner all at the same time everyday, classroom and work out time, I get so much done in a day is crazy. I am loving the experience though, the spirit is in such abundance here, its great. We have had some conferences and devotionals here and they are all so good, I am learning so much. I just got put into a threesum with Hermana Hanson and Hermana Ellsworth, they are so great, I love them both. 

For the first week we have been here we have been teaching an investigator whose name is Edwin (in spanish ) it has been such an amazing experience. I remeber the second time we taught him I was so suprised to see how much I could explain in Spanish and how the spirit is the same no matter what language you speak. I remember I began to testify to him about if you read the Book of Mormon and pray about it you will get an answer, I got half-way through and the spirit in the room was the same spirit that I always feel but it was different because it was coming because I was testifying. It was an amazing experience. I wish I could finish my sentences, I was crying so bad I just looked at my companion and she took over, she was great but I will never forget that feeling. I knew that Edwin was feeling the spirit because I felt it. MAN IT WAS THE COOLEST FEELING EVER! 

I am learning so much about how I need to be coming closer to God in order to bring others to him. I love this work already. I lay down at night and even though I am really tired from all I have done that day my heart is full and I am filled with the spirit and I know that the things I am doing now is what I am suppose to be doing. 

So many people have asked me alot of questions about the MTC so here are the answers. I have the bottom bunk in our room!!! Yeah it is so nice and the food here is... not good. I am getting so sick of it! Ha! But I have heard the food at the MTC in Guatamala is so good, only two more weeks!! Oh Yesterday I took a field trip to the Police Station in Provo, I had to get a FBI Clearance thing in order to go to El Salvador. It was fun to meet all the other missionaries going to that mission.

Sorry I am running out of time, I hate time so much. I have so much more to say. I'll write some other experiences down and send them. Thanks for your prayers and love it is felt!!  

Love you guys so much . Know that I know this gosple is true. Through our Savior we can be saved I am so greatful to him for all he has done for me.

Love Hermana Hale

First Contact!

June 1

Dear Family,

Well I made it, I am alive and well. Ha! Unpacked and ready to go. The first Day went by so fast but we got so much done!

Oh what was really cool was when I was taken to drop off my luggage to my new room my hostess was Sister Paula Koeven, you guys don’t know her but she was in my ward up in Logan and we were friends. She has been here for two weeks and will leave on Wednesday. But she told me she was waiting for me and watching for me so she could be my hostess. I was so grateful to see a familiar face! The Lord is looking out of rme.

Anyway I feel like I am official now, I have already lost my name tag once and got lost multiple time, and started speaking Spanish (not very well… Ha!) So I am definitely a newbie but the spirit is so strong in the MTC. There are so many missionaries here its amazing to think of the army we will create throughout the world.

Last night, our first night, they started us straight into teaching, 3 investigators were here (some were members and some were not) and we were suppose to teach them what the spirit told us to. We were in a room with maybe 30 to 35 missionaries and if we had anything to add we raised our hands. It was a good experience, one that opened my eyes to see how much missionary work is based solely on the person, whats going on in their life, how we can apply that to the gospel, etc. I learned a lot that there is so much I need to learn, it was humbling…. Very much so.

My companion is Awesome! I don’t think I could think of a better match up. The Lord is truly looking out for me in all aspects. Her name is Hermana Milliron. She is form Portland, Oregon and she is going to Chicago on her mission.

Man so much to tell you but just ran out of time, have to go to class. I’ll write later tonight, and hopefully send this to you soon cause I cant email until next Friday, sorry.

Oh, just so you know they did put me into the Spanish Intermediate class :s Ha! Excited and scared all at the same time, I didn’t even find that out til halfway through the first day.

June 2

So today is my 3 day and I get a half P-day so I get to finish writing you J Hope everything is going well at home, I miss you all lots. But not too much, don’t worry. I just found out that I will be loosing my companion on Monday K. Hermana Milliron is going to the advanced Spanish class and leaving me in intermediate. I am going to miss her lots. She is just what I needed here… we taught our first lesson yesterday, it went really well we thought so I am really sad to see her go. I don’t know if I’ll get a new companion or if I’ll just become a threesome with Hermana Hanson and Hermana Ellsworth.

Oh, I found out I knew Hermana Hanson before the mission, she roomed with Rachel and Brittany in collage at BYU. I met her a couple of times, it was so cool to know that J It was bugging us where we had met before because we knew we had.

So I bet you’re wondering how life in the MTC is. Well its nuts! There is always something your suppose to be doing or going to. They keep you busy. But it is truly amazing how much you can learn in one day! The food is… well let’s just say I got really sick the first night here from the food, it was not fun. But the Hermanas are amazing; everyone is trying to do their best. The Elders are kind of crazy at times but they are trying to do what the Lord needs them to do. There is someone in my zone that is from Lindon. His name is Elder Stallings I think but he knows the Schades really well.

Spanish is coming okay I guess but I have forgotten all verb conjugations so its really broken Spanish.

I know this is what I need to be doing at this time this is such a great work the spirit is strong here. We pray ALL the time, its great.

Well I need to bear my testimony in Spanish for an assignment. Its so cool that I can right?!

Yo Querro Compartir mi testimonio que yo se este evanglio esta verdadera que Jesu Cristo es el Salvador. Que su expricacion es una fuertodece a todos. Estoy agradecido para esto. Inglesia da mas paz y gozo mas que todo! Yo se que este es la verdar. En el nombre de Jesu Cristo Amen.

I love you all, I’ll email you next week.

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Hale

Maren & Tania!

Thank you both for writing me, I love you guys so much man I miss you. This place is amazing in so many different ways, we get so much done in one day its crazy. I am learning so much and getting so sore. We go do core workouts during out gym time and I am so sore from it all its crazy. But its so great to feel the spirit help you remember all you need to do.

They put me in the intermediate Spanish class and its just where I need to be. They talk all the time in Spanish we learn new words and we are going to learn all the verb tenses again, which is what I need. So I feel blessed in where I am and with who, I love my companion but I am sad she will leave me to go to the advanced class on Monday. I don’t know what will happen when she leaves, we will have to see.

Sorry I have to go, just ran out of time, sorry. I hope life is good and things are going well. Love you both so much

Con Amor

Hermana Hale




*Letters were transcribed from a handwritten letter, may not be 100% accurate*