May
6th, 2013
Dear Family!!!
Wow, it seems weird to be
writing to you all when I know I will be calling you this next Sunday. I am so
excited. But, I was reading real fast dads letter and it didn’t say anything
about when I needed to call or anything so, I will just have to do my best. I
think I will try and call your time around 5 or 6. I hope that is ok hah. If
not, too bad. Hah.
We had an amazing
experience this week!!! When we got to the area, we were using the ward list,
the simi is what it is called here, to find the members and meet them all. We
were trying to find this one members house. We were asking around and no one
knew who they were. We finally found a family that knew they were members but
they had been inactive for years. They told us that no one has entered that
house for so many years. They found the address for us and we went one day and
knocked. They were not home so we left.......One day all of our appointments
were falling through and we were getting really discouraged...We had a district
meeting on humility and how we need to be dependent on the Lord and if we don’t
know what to do, we should ask. So me and my companion asked after we tried
everything we could think of. After we prayed, we both had a feeling to go to San
Rafale. We hadn’t gone there for a while so we decided to go visit a member
there. When we got there, no one was there but it was really close to this
inactive member’s house. We decide to go see if they were there. We knocked and
it was a long time before someone came to the door. They didn’t open the door. They just asked who
it was. We told them we were missionaries and were looking for the Hasdun
family..... There was a long pause. I remember I was praying so hard that they
would let us in. The voice came back and said “permitame un secundo”.
Translation "wait give me a minute." We waited hoping that they
would let us in. Like 2 minutes passed and the door finally opened. The father of the house opened the door and
said sorry for the wait. Please come in. Me and my companion looked at each
other and smiled and walked in. We had an amazing leccion with them and it was
one we did not plan. The spirit was leading 100 %. It was crazy. The woman, Annabelle,
has been a member all her life and well we were talking and teaching and the
spirit was so strong. We asked a question and she answered it...her testimony
is so strong ..... She began to cry as we talked of the love of God and
....well at this point I have the chills. The spirit is so strong. And then
Annabelle goes on to tell us that our visit was like the cape stone to finish
the day and that she knew God was talking to her. We walked out of that house
truly amazed at the love of God for this family and for the ability the Lord
has to guide and direct us to the people that need us.
We went back to
their house later that week and had another great lesson. They opened up a
little more and we learned that she lost her job a month ago. Ever since then she has had a thought that
keeps coming to her that says Annabelle leave everything and climb to the
mount. She doesn’t know what it means, but we were like ....oh we do. God wants
you to come back and to be able to go to the temple. Hahah....we didn’t say
that of course, but we are working with her and her husband. They are super
nice and amazing people…..and to finish off this great story guess what? Hah
SHE CAME TO CHURCH THIS WEEK!!!! We were so happy. Family God lives. He loves
each and every one of us and is in our lives every day. I know because in the
mission I have seen it. He is so worried about each and every one of us. He
cries when we are sad and lost, and is happy when we choose to repent and come
unto him. Each and every day is a new beginning and we have the opportunity to
live better than the day before. The only way we have this opportunity is
through our Savoir Jesus Christ. It is only through him that we find the
strength and the power to change and make each day better. I love my Savoir and
the opportunities and blessings. Wow, literally, he is promising me everything,
if we use our agency to try and become better each and everyday. This is the
process of conversion, leaving behind the things that are keeping us from God. One
thing one day at a time.
I am learning to love prayer. Oh
sweet hour of prayer. What a great opportunity we have to speak directly to our
Father in Heaven, the most powerful and loving being. We can ask him anything
and the promise is, if it is for our good, we will receive it. Prayer is the
door which we open to use the atonement. How often are we using the
atonement in our lives? When Christ suffered for everything ... how often was
he hoping that we would use this gift he has given us? How can we invite
the Lord and his atonement in to our lives? I loved the talk of Elder Eyring
this last conference about the two apostles that after the death of Christ were
walking to a city talking about what happened. Christ himself came and talked with them. They
did not recognize him but they talked with him and he taught them about himself.
At the end of the walk, they asked him to stay with them.....literally they
pleaded him to stay with them. How fervent are our prayers? How important to us
is it to invite him into our lives? Again, how are we inviting him to stay with
us? Things to think about.....things I am thinking a lot about this last week.
Thoughts? Please I would love to hear what you all think. I miss our gospel
talks. Hah the ones where we stay up to 1:00 a.m. talking as a family about
gospel principles. Oh family know how much I love you.....man I don’t know why
but I am a little more tender today. I have to hide my tears from the elders
sitting next to me. I miss you all but my hope is in Christ and one day super
soon (no offence but its way to soon. I don’t what to leave the mission.
I love you all so much but I love this work. I feel like I am just
beginning to understand my purpose as a missionary and my time is almost up), I
will be with you all again. But I rejoice in the knowledge that there is
nothing that can separate me from the love of my family or the love of my God.....not
even death. I am so happy to know that I will have each and every one of you
with me for all eternity!!! What an extremely amazing blessing. I love you all
and because God loves us that love will last forever and grow and expand...
there is no limit. There is so much packed into those 3 words and I hope you
can feel my love all the way from El Salvador.
Simeon.....man I am scared to see how much you’ve grown when I get back
hah....remember that you have a sister in El Salvador that is praying for you.
I hope you are liking school and still having fun with all your friends...man
summer is almost here I keep forgetting because well its winter here we will be
getting lots of rain this next 6 months. What are your plans for the summer?
Isaac- man I miss your smile. Hah
you were always smiling, joking, and messing around. How is life? I hear you
have lots going on in school, state report and all. I remember that it was so
much fun to present it at the end. Ha. Do you like going on the campouts with
the older boys that sounds like a lot of fun.
Caleb.... I think I am scared most
about you that I won’t recognize you. Your voice your height everything will be
different. I hear you got into the top choir!!!!!! WOOT this is me super
excited on paper. Wow dude that is so cool. You have an amazing voice!!!!
Improve your talents. There is so many ways you can use them on the mission. You
will bless so many people. AND you got in the school play and have a solo
Right? Am I remembering right? Man that is so cool. I can’t wait to get back
and see you in all the school plays.
Nate ....hey how are things going in
high school? That time of life. I feel like was a rollercoaster of feelings and
experiences. Some days are like wow I am on the top of the world and others you
feel like no one would notice if you were there or not. It’s a time of a lot of
learning. ....much of lives lessons that sometimes are not very fun to learn.
Have faith and stay close to the Lord his opinion of you is what really matters
and he will never leave you or make fun of you like so many other people in the
world will do. We all must learn to find our self esteem in God because he is
the one who can truly see our potential and help us achieve it. (More happiness
is found when we look to God first) I love you. High school is a fun time. Enjoy,
live it up, be yourself, and don’t worry what others think. Keep your standards
and you will be happy. I promise.....and I am a missionary. Hah my promises
....God has to keep them hah cool?
T--- man this last week I was
missing you and Maren a bunch hah ....I know it sounds silly but I was looking
at a shirt with the princesses on it ....everything down here has the Disney
princesses... and it had three princesses Cinderella, Bell and Sleeping Beauty.
Man I missed being three. Right now there is one other. I miss my sisters, hah.
Know I am praying for you and am super jealous of your house. This new ward
sounds like it will be really fun!!! Let me know if there are any dark dashing
men that catch your eye. And tell me all about your trip to Florida. Man I am
jealous you are getting to travel all the time.
Mom and Dad thank you, thank you,
thank you, for the way you have raised me and our family. I see the blessings
for your patients, love and work. I
don’t know if I will ever be able to repay you for what you have given me. Thank
you. I love you all. Hah. Daddy I had a moment the other day that man I missed
you lots. Hah. I was sitting in church in sacrament meeting and a daughter was
sitting on the stand waiting to give her testimony. Her dad can up on the stand and sat by her. They
linked arms and she put her head on his shoulder. I had father envy. Hah. I
miss yours and mom’s hugs... I love you both so much. Thank you for your
letters and everything.
Until Sunday night!!!!!!
Hermana Stephanie Hale
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