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*