Hope you like the pictures ha. T thanks for the masks they are so much
fun.....the one picture is me trying to get rid of my piojos ...lice ha
and the other is a picture of me and my companion Hermana Caal we have
so much fun together .....
Dear Family
Thank you Mom and Dad for writing me each week. You have no idea how much I look forward to
Mondays to hear from you all. Literally
there is a spiritual strength that comes to us missionaries when we hear that God
is blessing those that we love at home and in the field. Wow, is all I can say
about this week. God has truly blessed
me and my companion so very much it’s hard to believe. I have never been
happier. I got Maren’s letter and reading her letters reminds me of my
time in the MTC and the things I learned. And it’s so amazing because so often
in my life I have to learn the same thing two or three times before I
understand and start living what I learned. With reading Maren’s letters, I am
relearning things that are so important on the mission like the fact to open my
mouth more and share the gospel with everyone.....literally everyone. I need to
be better in opening my mouth and look for the people God is putting in my way
to learn about the gospel. So thanks Maren you’re helping me from where you are
and I hope my experiences will help and get you excited to serve with all your
heart and mind and strength. If you are not tired by the end of the day.... do
better the next. This is our time to give to the Lord. Let us give him our best and our all. I love
you and know you will bless so many people in New York.... wow, every time I
think you are there… I don’t know it just fits you hah.
So I need to catch you all up on what is happening in my area.....they are splitting it, and putting 2 Elders in our ward next change or Wednesday!!!. I found out that I will be staying for another change. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be blessed with the opportunity to be in the same place for a long time and this time my companion is staying the same. She and I are so excited. Words can’t express. With her it’s like I am with Maren or Tania. I love her so much and learn from her every day. She is the sister I have gotten along the best with and we get to be together for another 6 weeks!!!!! We have so many plans for this change. It will be different with two elders in our ward working with us. Our area just got a whole lot smaller but I am excited it will give us a good chance to work with menos activos and such which we need to do.
So this week lots happened. I wanted to send you the letter I sent my President to explain what happened.
Dear President Glazier
I can’t tell you thank you enough for not changing me ha or my companion ha I know it’s not your decision it’s the Lords but man we have so many plans for this next 6 weeks. We have never worked harder or seen bigger miracles in this area. I have seen a complete change in this area since I came here! We are finding people so ready for this gospel! So much so that it was a great blessing that we are splitting the area because we were having a hard time getting to all of the people This next 6 weeks we are going to have more time to work with non members and increase the people in church so watch our numbers in sacrament meeting because they will be going up from here on out !!!!
I love being a missionary. I woke up one day and realized I have the coolest and greatest and more rewarding job in the world. I cringe to think that this can’t last my whole life that one day I will have to go back to the real world. I have been reading a lot about conversion this cambio. There are so many conference talks that are on becoming converted to the Lord. It has made me stop and think if I am truly converted to the Lord and his gospel. One thing that I have learned is that a testimony is not the same as conversion. We can know something is true but until we act and become we are not converted. ....So my question is how do we know if we are converted? And what can we do to become more converted to the Lord? I have been finding my own answers such as true and lasting repentance, living the principles I have been taught, service to others ....to have a change of heart ...to literally change our nature and characteristics to become like the Lord. I want that change so bad but sometimes it seems so daunting a task that many times I don’t know where to start. ......Please send me your suggestions and thoughts. I know they will help me as I try to change my heart and get rid of the things that are keeping me form the Savior.
Wow, this week so many miracles. I don’t know where to start. One of our investigators got baptized his name is Antonio and he is 17. I am so amazed at the youth of the world today. There are so many that are searching, yearning for the truth and so many are stepping up and changing their lives to follow their Savior. They are willing to make these changes when it is hard for their parents to do so. They are the examples to their parents and leaders of the church. They are an example to me. After the baptism, we were talking to Antonio and his father and he was telling his father "Dad I am going on a mission in a year and I get to go to another country for two years to preach the gospel.” It was not a question it was a statement and it was incredible to see his faith and desire to serve a mission. It made me the happiest person alive.
Not just this but we saw miracle upon miracle this Sunday. First with Antonio receiving the spirit, but one of his friends a 40 year old man who is a son of a recent convert came to church to support him and learn more. I "oh me of little faith" never thought to see him in church. For the last 4 weeks, we have been inviting him and he would always say yeah I’ll come but then avoid us when we come to pick him up or he would have an excuse or he would be gone. BUT HE CAME and he liked it too !!! Miracle number two. But wow, miracle number three is what brought tears to my eyes and a joy indescribable. For the last 7 months, I have been teaching a family named, Orillana. The grandfather was baptized last year and we stated to teach the family the week I got here. We baptized the granddaughter and she has two children one of which will baptized in March and the other is thinking about baptism. This family, wow, is my family. I love them so much and will do anything for them. The grandfather is married and his wife in the first was very hard hearted would not even listen to us. She utterly refused to read the Book of Mormon and said she would never come to church. We have been working with this family for 7 months they have seen many Sisters coming and going. But I have seen them, how they were, and the changes that have happened ....God has worked a great work in this family.... and I have had the privileged of seeing it day to day, week for week. This woman Gregoria, the grandma, of the family, wow I never thought I would be around long enough to see her in chruch. We would joke, her and I. She said she would go to church if I would let her pierce my ears ha. . . . I will always remember the 17 of February when this woman, who has seen so much sorrow and tragedy in her life, the woman I have grown to love and want nothing else for her other than the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ, came to church. She was wearing her best clothes with makeup ....never seen her with makeup and with the biggest smile I have ever seen. As I watched her and her family walk into the chapel and sit down in time for the sacrament, I began to cry for the great and incredible tender mercies of the Lord, for the great miracle that he worked in the heart of this woman.
Wow so much to be thankful for this week and the great part of it is me and my companion, Hermana Caal, will have 6 more weeks to work and see miracle in this area. We have so many great goals and plans that we know God will help us achieve this change.
Thank you for all your help and for everything you do. Your job is hard and exhausting. I am realizing that at the end of the day I am not just physically tired but spiritually drained. This work is hard but nothing brings the soul more joy, true and lasting joy. Thank you and Hermana Glazier for everything. You are both such an example to me.
Hermana Hale
So this week and well this change, I have been thinking a lot about conversion. I was talking to President about this conference that happened in October. There were so many talks about this topic. I want to become more than I am. I want to become what God has in mind for me. I want to leave behind my sins and give all to him and trust in him more than I do. It sounds so easy on paper but to do it is ....well I have learned that’s why repenting is hard. It’s not easy we have to change our heart or change our very nature, we need to have a new heart. Such a drastic change that the prophets and the scriptures say that it is being spiritually reborn. This process is not easy to change us and put off the natural man but it is possible and the great part about it is that we never have to do it alone. Christ is there every step of this process and is there to increase and uplift and give strength and give us what we need to make these changes and become this new person that he has in mind. I need your prayers as I try and make these changes in my life in my character. I want to invite you all to find your weapons of rebellion that you are holding on to and invite to let them go and come enjoy the fruits of the gospel, the fruit of the tree lehi partook of, the fruit that is desirable to make one happy that brings joy to the soul. This gospel is wondrous incredible and eternal. I know it, I love it and we all need to strive to live it. Family, grandparents, sisters on missions, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends I want to thank all you for the help and support and example you have been placed and given in my life. I am the sum of all of you and I am so grateful and extremely blessed.....so blessed ( seeing people here that may only have one or two people left alive in their family’s or don’t know who their family is ... I am so extremely blessed ) thank you all for who you are and helping me become who I am I love you all.
God lives and love us. Christ is my savior and redeemer of my soul. he live and love me, he works though our faith to change us and give us blessings trust in him and everything will work out no matter what the circumstances’ don’t know what else to say but that I love you and miss you all so very much
love your missionary
Hermana Stephanie Hale.
Thank you Mom and Dad for writing me each week. You have no idea how much I look forward to
Mondays to hear from you all. Literally
there is a spiritual strength that comes to us missionaries when we hear that God
is blessing those that we love at home and in the field. Wow, is all I can say
about this week. God has truly blessed
me and my companion so very much it’s hard to believe. I have never been
happier. I got Maren’s letter and reading her letters reminds me of my
time in the MTC and the things I learned. And it’s so amazing because so often
in my life I have to learn the same thing two or three times before I
understand and start living what I learned. With reading Maren’s letters, I am
relearning things that are so important on the mission like the fact to open my
mouth more and share the gospel with everyone.....literally everyone. I need to
be better in opening my mouth and look for the people God is putting in my way
to learn about the gospel. So thanks Maren you’re helping me from where you are
and I hope my experiences will help and get you excited to serve with all your
heart and mind and strength. If you are not tired by the end of the day.... do
better the next. This is our time to give to the Lord. Let us give him our best and our all. I love
you and know you will bless so many people in New York.... wow, every time I
think you are there… I don’t know it just fits you hah. So I need to catch you all up on what is happening in my area.....they are splitting it, and putting 2 Elders in our ward next change or Wednesday!!!. I found out that I will be staying for another change. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be blessed with the opportunity to be in the same place for a long time and this time my companion is staying the same. She and I are so excited. Words can’t express. With her it’s like I am with Maren or Tania. I love her so much and learn from her every day. She is the sister I have gotten along the best with and we get to be together for another 6 weeks!!!!! We have so many plans for this change. It will be different with two elders in our ward working with us. Our area just got a whole lot smaller but I am excited it will give us a good chance to work with menos activos and such which we need to do.
So this week lots happened. I wanted to send you the letter I sent my President to explain what happened.
Dear President Glazier
I can’t tell you thank you enough for not changing me ha or my companion ha I know it’s not your decision it’s the Lords but man we have so many plans for this next 6 weeks. We have never worked harder or seen bigger miracles in this area. I have seen a complete change in this area since I came here! We are finding people so ready for this gospel! So much so that it was a great blessing that we are splitting the area because we were having a hard time getting to all of the people This next 6 weeks we are going to have more time to work with non members and increase the people in church so watch our numbers in sacrament meeting because they will be going up from here on out !!!!
I love being a missionary. I woke up one day and realized I have the coolest and greatest and more rewarding job in the world. I cringe to think that this can’t last my whole life that one day I will have to go back to the real world. I have been reading a lot about conversion this cambio. There are so many conference talks that are on becoming converted to the Lord. It has made me stop and think if I am truly converted to the Lord and his gospel. One thing that I have learned is that a testimony is not the same as conversion. We can know something is true but until we act and become we are not converted. ....So my question is how do we know if we are converted? And what can we do to become more converted to the Lord? I have been finding my own answers such as true and lasting repentance, living the principles I have been taught, service to others ....to have a change of heart ...to literally change our nature and characteristics to become like the Lord. I want that change so bad but sometimes it seems so daunting a task that many times I don’t know where to start. ......Please send me your suggestions and thoughts. I know they will help me as I try to change my heart and get rid of the things that are keeping me form the Savior.
Wow, this week so many miracles. I don’t know where to start. One of our investigators got baptized his name is Antonio and he is 17. I am so amazed at the youth of the world today. There are so many that are searching, yearning for the truth and so many are stepping up and changing their lives to follow their Savior. They are willing to make these changes when it is hard for their parents to do so. They are the examples to their parents and leaders of the church. They are an example to me. After the baptism, we were talking to Antonio and his father and he was telling his father "Dad I am going on a mission in a year and I get to go to another country for two years to preach the gospel.” It was not a question it was a statement and it was incredible to see his faith and desire to serve a mission. It made me the happiest person alive.
Not just this but we saw miracle upon miracle this Sunday. First with Antonio receiving the spirit, but one of his friends a 40 year old man who is a son of a recent convert came to church to support him and learn more. I "oh me of little faith" never thought to see him in church. For the last 4 weeks, we have been inviting him and he would always say yeah I’ll come but then avoid us when we come to pick him up or he would have an excuse or he would be gone. BUT HE CAME and he liked it too !!! Miracle number two. But wow, miracle number three is what brought tears to my eyes and a joy indescribable. For the last 7 months, I have been teaching a family named, Orillana. The grandfather was baptized last year and we stated to teach the family the week I got here. We baptized the granddaughter and she has two children one of which will baptized in March and the other is thinking about baptism. This family, wow, is my family. I love them so much and will do anything for them. The grandfather is married and his wife in the first was very hard hearted would not even listen to us. She utterly refused to read the Book of Mormon and said she would never come to church. We have been working with this family for 7 months they have seen many Sisters coming and going. But I have seen them, how they were, and the changes that have happened ....God has worked a great work in this family.... and I have had the privileged of seeing it day to day, week for week. This woman Gregoria, the grandma, of the family, wow I never thought I would be around long enough to see her in chruch. We would joke, her and I. She said she would go to church if I would let her pierce my ears ha. . . . I will always remember the 17 of February when this woman, who has seen so much sorrow and tragedy in her life, the woman I have grown to love and want nothing else for her other than the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ, came to church. She was wearing her best clothes with makeup ....never seen her with makeup and with the biggest smile I have ever seen. As I watched her and her family walk into the chapel and sit down in time for the sacrament, I began to cry for the great and incredible tender mercies of the Lord, for the great miracle that he worked in the heart of this woman.
Wow so much to be thankful for this week and the great part of it is me and my companion, Hermana Caal, will have 6 more weeks to work and see miracle in this area. We have so many great goals and plans that we know God will help us achieve this change.
Thank you for all your help and for everything you do. Your job is hard and exhausting. I am realizing that at the end of the day I am not just physically tired but spiritually drained. This work is hard but nothing brings the soul more joy, true and lasting joy. Thank you and Hermana Glazier for everything. You are both such an example to me.
Hermana Hale
So this week and well this change, I have been thinking a lot about conversion. I was talking to President about this conference that happened in October. There were so many talks about this topic. I want to become more than I am. I want to become what God has in mind for me. I want to leave behind my sins and give all to him and trust in him more than I do. It sounds so easy on paper but to do it is ....well I have learned that’s why repenting is hard. It’s not easy we have to change our heart or change our very nature, we need to have a new heart. Such a drastic change that the prophets and the scriptures say that it is being spiritually reborn. This process is not easy to change us and put off the natural man but it is possible and the great part about it is that we never have to do it alone. Christ is there every step of this process and is there to increase and uplift and give strength and give us what we need to make these changes and become this new person that he has in mind. I need your prayers as I try and make these changes in my life in my character. I want to invite you all to find your weapons of rebellion that you are holding on to and invite to let them go and come enjoy the fruits of the gospel, the fruit of the tree lehi partook of, the fruit that is desirable to make one happy that brings joy to the soul. This gospel is wondrous incredible and eternal. I know it, I love it and we all need to strive to live it. Family, grandparents, sisters on missions, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends I want to thank all you for the help and support and example you have been placed and given in my life. I am the sum of all of you and I am so grateful and extremely blessed.....so blessed ( seeing people here that may only have one or two people left alive in their family’s or don’t know who their family is ... I am so extremely blessed ) thank you all for who you are and helping me become who I am I love you all.
God lives and love us. Christ is my savior and redeemer of my soul. he live and love me, he works though our faith to change us and give us blessings trust in him and everything will work out no matter what the circumstances’ don’t know what else to say but that I love you and miss you all so very much
love your missionary
Hermana Stephanie Hale.
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