October 30, 2012

Dear Family

I can’t hold it in!!! My joy is overflowing!!! Maren! You’re going on a mission!!! Wow, there is so much I want to tell you. All the great experiences you are going to have, the people that will change your life and the lives you will change. Maren there is nothing that can substitute the joy and happiness you will receive when serving the
Lord. I am so happy for you I am about to cry with all the elders watching and all ha! I am trying not to. Oh I am so happy for you and for Jacob!!! Jacob do everything you can to get out here too it is the most important work in the world and God is telling the world with this new announcement that he needs our help more than ever that people are ready. We are in the last hours and the people are tried and weary of being in the dark and the light that you bring to them is the greatest gift you can give to someone!!! Your joy will be so complete. OH I AM SO HAPPY !!!!!

WOW! 3 missionaries in one family!!! Watch out Hale family the blessings are going to be rolling in. Watch and see the hand of God in our lives!!! Maren when I was reading your letter and you said you knew it was what God wanted for you to do. It brought back memories and feelings of when I decided to serve and how I felt. It is the best feeling to know your doing what your father in heaven wants for you!!! Trust in those feelings you have because there will be times when you will doubt but trust in the answers God had given he has so many blessings for you so many people he is preparing to listen to your testimony. People that only you can touch, people only you can help.

Jake same goes for you. Start preparing now, get your scriptures ready find the scripture that will help you teach the gospel in a simple way. Its one thing I wish I could have done. And you both better tell me the week you get your calls about where you’re going. I heard that all the missions in Central America and South America are being raised to 250 missionaries!!! El Salvador has 175 right now so
maybe you’ll come here!!! I’ll be praying ha! The work is going to be moving so much faster with all these new missionaries!!! I am so exited to hear all of your stories Maren and yours Jake!!! Oh man I really can’t explain my happiness to be on this side (on a mission) and see what you will be seeing and feeling what you will be feeling and seeing the change you will make on the world I can’t explain enough my
excitement.

This week we had combios again I have had a different companion each combio I am learning so much form each one. My new companion is from St. George, Utah. She is 24 year old and she is very spunky, ha! she is a go-getter. Her name is Hermana Ray. She has only 2 months left on the mission. Oh Dad before I forget I found out where I live, Hah! I stayed in Cuidad Delgado and Hermana Sanchez left so it’s the same area
for me. But my address is El Salvador Cuidad Delgado Calle Final C Casa #3. I think, ha doing it from memory.

We are still teaching Carlos and I am not going to lie I am getting a little frustrated he has so many questions which is good but when we give him answers they aren’t satisfying and so we found out that his problem is that he doesn’t know if the Book of Mormon is true and so we are trying to help him understand that he has to get a
testimony of that first and them the answers we are giving him will make sense and he will be satisfied. But I am scared me is letting his head get in the way of his heart. Pray for him please I have seen him progress since the beginning and I want his salvation so bad I want him to have the joy of knowing the truth and being baptized he had been looking for so long I just hope he can put his knowledge aside to ask
God with real intent to get an answer.

We are also teaching Maria and she is the wife of Carlos (different Carlos) Merino and he is a resent convert and my hope is that she can get baptized this next month on the 10 but she didn’t come to church so that means we have to move it back ...really sad. She is now starting to think that it’s too fast and that she doesn’t want to
get baptized... I am scared I will lose her too. She has felt the spirit and she wanted to get baptized when she felt it so its our job to make sure she can feel that spirit more and have that desire to be baptized it is my hope to see her baptized one cause I love her and two for a selfish reason she and her husband would then be able to get
sealed in one year and I would be able to go. These people I am beginning to love so much I cant imagine when I leave this area it is going to be one of the hardest things I will ever have to do... yes harder than saying goodbye to any of my boyfriends. Ha I have truly felt God’s love for these people and you cant help but love them when you see them the way the lord sees them.

We are trying to find new people to teach too and I am realizing that nothing can get done on a mission with out people to teach and its kind of hard to find them. So please pray that god will lead us to where there is a family that is ready to receive this gospel. I do need your prayers and I have felt them all the way down here so thank you.

I am so glad to hear that grandpa’s surgery went well. And I am super happy to hear that he is reading my letters he is a big reason why I am out hear the way he talked about his mission made me want to serve one. He always talks about how important it is to serve and it is so true no matter where you are, on a mission or not but to serve our Lord and God with all our heart might mind and strength. It is hard but so rewarding. Ok so can you all believe it tomorrow I complete 5 months I am so scared at how fast time goes on the mission its crazy.

Oh Maren I have an idea and a favor to ask you. Hermana Sanchez had these really good things that she left for her investigators when she left the area it is kind of what you did for the graduation announcements but she had her picture with pictures of Christ and her address and number and email and the name of the mission and the time and year that she was there and I thought it was the coolest thing ever and I was hoping you could make me some... ha if you would or have time and send them to me so I can give them to my investigators to keep in contact with
them. And you should make some before you leave it makes it so easy because changes are so fast you don’t have time to do much else.

   Family I love you so much I am so excited to know we will have 3 missionaries serving our lord that is so cool. I know this is the work of the Lord he is in it. We are studying the atonement right now and also reading the Book of Mormon the focus of Christ his acts the blessing of what he did his names and titles and what he says and when someone is talking about him and I am growing in my testimony of that scared book that it truly testifies of Jesus who is the Christ our Savior. It tells of the atonement what we all need to do to return to live with him and receive all the joy in the life and the next. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Christ he was called as a prophet of the Lord to restore his power and authority and his church. This church is true it is the only church; it is Christ’s Church.

We have so much evidence that it is true but like Carlos none of it matters if we don’t get down on our knees and ask God and get an answer directly from him. I have done that many times and I can testify of Gods love for us I have felt it I know that his gospel is true, the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we will grow closer to God by reading this book. I love you all and I am so exited for Maren
and Jacob!!!!

Hermana Hale

p.s. oh I forgot to tell you the picture I sent with Hermana Sanchez is a picture  with Carlos and Maria Moreno they are the cutes old couple in the world I love them to death.

October 16, 2012

Family!!!!

First off Nate, I hope you had a great of day on your birthday as I did!!!! You’re 16!! I can’t believe it! I realized when I get back we will have less than a year before you can go on a mission that is crazy to me!!! Wow! You can date now!!! Remember that your first date was me, ha!! BUT TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOUR NEXT DATE WITH WHO AND ALL HA!

I want to tell you all that Saturday was amazing we had 2 baptism!!! Magdalena and Chepe both were baptized. It was so amazing family, the whole day I was remembering my baptism or at least what I could remember and I remember the feeling I had, knowing that what I was doing was what God wanted me to do at that time. We had a lesson with Magdalena about that the day before and she told us
a story that I wanted to share. We were talking about her faith and how much it had increased and how much she had changed. She said that the day before she went to work and a friend at work asked her what happened why are you so happy? Something in your face is different?

Magdalena said that she decided to get baptized into this church and that she knew she was doing the right thing.  When she told me that I remembered my experience when trying to decide which school to go to and when I decided to go to USU how amazing I felt how right it was and how I knew it was what God wanted for me and I remembered it was the best feeling and I knew that was what she was feeling I shared the experience and told her that the felling she was having was a witness that what she was doing was what God wanted for her and I told her there is no greater feeling to know that you are doing exactly what God wants you to do.  I want to testify to you family that I have seen the change in Magdalena; there is a real light that comes into the lives of those who have this gospel. The only place to find true and lasting happiness (JOY) is through Jesus Christ and obtaining and making the covenants to our God and living those covenants. We are so blessed to have a family with such an amazing legacy of faith, to have this gospel in our lives. We may not realize the happiness in your life because of the gospel because we grew up with it but I am begging you do not take it for granted there are to many so many people that are looking for this happiness and can’t find it or don’t want to change because it is too hard. I showed the video of John Tanner to Carlos yesterday and I gave my testimony in the end. There was a member with us and he said he met another descended of John Tanner and that he said the same thing that his family has been blessed because of the faith of that great man. It made me think of a time when me, Tania and Maren were talking to Dad and asking him why... why was our life so easy why are we so blessed? And I realized that it is because our family had the promise of the Lord. Never forget. The most repeated word in the Book of Mormon is “Remember”. Do we remember and are we thankful? Sorry just some things that are going through my head this morning with seeing 2 people completely change their lives and seeing the happiness they have found.

We also had a wedding on Saturday!!! Evelyn was married and she will get baptized next Saturday so pray of her if you will to help her get ready. And if you can Carlos is having a little bit of a hard time. He is not getting an answer and he wants a strict answer in the bible and he does not trust his feelings. Pray that he will understand the answers he is getting and that it will be enough for him and that his faith can be great and trust him these answers I have seen him change too but it will not help if he does not have this conversion. I am really worried about him. Please pray for him.

Thank you all for your letters, Maren thanks I love to  hear from everyone. I don’t have much time today so I have to go but know that your letters help me in so many ways so thank you. I love you all please pray for me I need all the help I can get and especially this week. We are stepping it up and it will take all my strength to keep up so please pray for me. I love you all I hope you feel it even hundreds of miles away. Love you.

Hermana Hale

October 8, 2012

Dear Family

First things First...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY  DEAR TANIA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

I wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Know that I am thinking of you on your birthday and that I hope you have a great party. I love you so much never forget. You may have to wait a little while to get your present because I haven’t bought it yet, waiting until I find the perfect thing. So don’t worry it is coming you and Nathan’s but it may be a little while, so sorry.

OK Second, I cant believe the announcement in conference, I was so excited! So my only question is Jacob, when will you join the army of God as one of the first of the prepared generation to stand and testify of your Lord and God at the age of 18?!?! I am so exited for you, and Nathan wow, just think you only have two more years!!!! And Maren, if you are thinking about it.... it is becoming the best decision I have ever made.

Family, I have so much to write you this week because it has been a week of miracles, I want to thank you all for the prayers you have offered for my investigators and me, I have felt them this week as I have seen the hand of god in my life and the lives of my investigators.

First off, on Tuesday we had an amazing lesson with Carlos and he is trying to give up coffee. He told us that he didn’t have a glass of coffee the whole
night last night... he works night sometimes. He was smiling while
telling us it was the most amazing demonstration of faith I have ever seen. He also made it to conference on Saturday and Sunday, we will see what
he thought about it this Wednesday, it was a miracle too because I woke
up the night before we taught him with a really high fever and I had a
cold and a head ache. I was praying so hard to be able to go and teach
him, we went and I was strengthened, we all felt the spirit and were
crying by the end. It was a 2 hour great lesson. After though, I got
so sick we went home. I tried to sleep the whole day and get better, which I did
the next day it was much better and we went out and began working again ...the nurse thought that I might have had Denge ( I don’t know how to spell it ) but you get it from the mosquitos here. There are 4 types but one of the symptoms is a high fever and it hits you fast and all of the sudden. But I am find now and all so don’t worry.

The next miracle happened Wednesday night we were teaching a young man, age 14, who hangs out with the young men in our ward we had taught him the first lesson and were about to teach him the second when one of his friends said look he his wanting to get the lessons for baptism he wants to get baptized.... we were so excited and were explaining to him that is want we were doing giving him those lessons to prepare him for baptism. You should have seen his face when we told him we could baptize him this next Saturday. He was so exited. So that was miracle number two.

Number three happened when we went on Thursday to go teach Magdalena, we hadn’t seen her in over a week, and I am not going to lie, I was not very optimistic because the last time we visited her she said very firmly she needed more time before she decided to get baptized. Me and Hermana Sanchez were praying and trying to find something that was going to help her see that she had already had her answer. We found two scriptures in D&C that were perfect when we read
them one is in D&C 6 and the other D&C 9 about how god is telling us how he answers our questions with our thoughts and feelings and if you have a stupor of thought then it is wrong. We had prepared these scriptures like a week before we were going to teach her and in all honesty when we were in the lesson I forgot why we chose these scriptures for her. And we read the first one and my companion looked at we with the look “you are going to talk about this scripture” I was like “Oh no!” Ha I said a little prayer and I opened my mouth and began to
talk about what the scripture was saying and the coolest thing happed, my mind was lead to experiences in my life when I received answers and how I needed to trust and have confidence in those answers and follow through with the answers even if I didn’t feel I was ready, or didn’t want to.... I finished with my testimony and looked at my companion, she read the second scripture in D&C 9 and gave her testimony really fast and it was powerful the spirit was there and we waited and Magdalena face changed and she said “Thank you, this in the answer that
I have been waiting for and you gave it to me here.” She raised the scriptures and said “Its so plain.” She told us that she had a friend at work, a really good friend but that didn’t like the Mormons who had been talking to her a lot about the church and how she had been thinking about everything we had been teaching her and when we read that scripture with her she said it was her answer. Me and Hermana Sanchez were so happy the spirit was so strong there and at the end Magdalena said she had something she wanted to tell us on Sunday at conference... we were like ok… we didn’t want to push too much so we just said we will see you Sunday.

Conference was so good, so many questions that I had were answered and Elder Holland’s talk was a chastisement for me and I need to be better and having my motivation for doing everything be that I love the Lord. But no worries, I am working on it and so. I didn’t get to watch it in English; everything was in Spanish except the music. During the sessions I would get small headaches because I was thinking so hard to understand what they were saying. Ha! But in the end I got the gist of it but I cant wait for the Ensign to come so I can study the talks. So many of our investigators were able to make it and it was so cool to listen and hear... oh this is for this person, I hope they are listening... I want to testify that god speaks through his prophets and that our questions can be answered though his servants. Oh! But Sunday was the best, after the first session we saw Magdalena and we went to go talk to her, we talked for a little and then she asked when do you guys have your next baptism service? We were like this Saturday... she said because I wanted to talk to you guys... I want to get baptized!!! Me and Hermana Sanchez were like “Really!?”... We were so happy; we both took her into our arms and hugged her. I started to cry, my joy was so great to know that she wanted to make this step in her life. We pulled away and were talking about how excited we were for her and we cried and what I remember most was her face. She couldn’t stop smiling!!! She was happy with her decision and we told her that God was too and that we were so happy. We hugged her like three more times and she asked what do I need to do? And I was like umm, I don’t know, this is my first person that wants to get baptized other than Chepe, the 14 yr. old. So I looked at my companion and she looked at me with the same look. Ha! It was so funny. I pulled out our planner and told her that we had taught her a lot but we still had to teach her something’s before so we were going to need to see her everyday this week to finish teaching her. She said that would be ok so we planned it all out and I told her now that she had made this decision Satan was going to work hard against her so she needed to have faith in the answer that she got, she said she would. So please keep her in your prayers along with Chepe so that they will be able to get baptized this weekend...

Oh so really cool every companionship in our Zone is going to baptized someone this Saturday so we are planning a night in white where everyone dresses in white and we all meet in the same chapel to hold the baptisms. We will be baptizing 13 people on the 13th of Oct!!! On your birthday Nate!! Know that I will be so happy on your Birthday and I hope you will be able to feel some of that to know that 13 people will be making this great decision to follow the Lord on your birthday. So pray that we will be able to make this event happen and that everything will go smoothly.

Family this week was amazing I have seen God change hearts and work miracles. He lives!!! He is in this work I am so grateful for this opportunity to be working with him in this cause. Jacob prepare yourself ... you have been prepared for this time in your life there is nothing greater than to see the change that happens to the people that you work so hard for them to come to the knowledge of this gospel and the knowledge of their Lord and Savoir. Be Excited!!! It is the greatest and you will be the happiest you have ever been, and the most tired, but it is worth it. Family, know that I love you, know that I love the Lord. I know this gospel is true.  I have to go... until next week love you.

Hermana Hale