September 30th 2013 Maren

Hey Family!

First of all, Tania and Nathan. I was totally freaking out last week when I knew you were here. Haha. I am glad you both liked New York. Tania, its a great place! Sister Chipman still wants you to come live in the YSA branch she's working with right now to be in their relief society presidency... they need some strong young singles. All the wards and branches here do.

Did you spend any time on Jamaica ave? or did you just drive through? Nathan.... you gained 13 POUNDS?!? how is that possible?! Haha. There are a few of those street carts I want to try but everyone says you get super sick after. We'll see.

Tania, we will definately have to come back and visit a lot. Pat sounds like a fun guy to be around. Where does he live? I'll send some missionaries, haha. You have way more power than we do in getting him back. Keep working with him. Who knows, maybe this is part of your mission. :D

Daddy, I am glad things are moving forward and that you may not have to get more surgery. Is there any danger that the ultrasound wont be able to detect the cancer if it is there? It was weird to hear to talking to steph about watching stars in november... that is so soon! I can't believe its been a year and a half! I can't believe i've been out 9 months! I get to go to the temple next month for my 1/2 way! I am so excited to see the new video!

Jamaica is so much fun. Each day new adventure. We are still trying to make sure we just dont get lost some days. I have panic attacks when I get on the busses sometimes that we are headed in the wrong direction but so far so good. We took a map of our area and mapped out where all our members, less actives, and other people live so that its easier to plan it out and see who's in the same area. Its been super helpful. Here's some cool stories from this week (taken from my president's letter):

Hey President!

Man, life in the city is so different! But I love it! I still have a ton to learn but we're getting there. Me and Sister Jensen and good friends. I love her and her desire to work hard. She makes big sacrafices and I can tell when she's hurting but I've prayed that the spirit will tell me when it's bad enough to stop and trust that he will guide us.
We had two really cool experiences this week. One actually happened to the English Sisters but if effected us. While they were on the street this woman just came up to them, gave them her information, told them she is a member and that its time for her to come back to church. This was all in broken English. They made an appointments for us to go see her that night and we went on splits to make it happen since we were also supposed to be teaching English. Sister Jensen went and came back and said it was amazing. They (Dafne, her two sons, and her Mom Leonor) said they would be at church and they were! Super exciting. Temple is the goal with them. I think our hardest battle is keeping the 13 year old engaged. He seemed a little miffed to be dragged out of the house on a sunday afternoon.
We spent all of Saturday doing Lookups from our branch list, people that the branch have lost tabs on. We met a few really cool people and were able to at least confirm that many of them still live there but the coolest thing was meeting Ruth. Ruth has two kids who are also members and we talked to her about why they weren't coming to church. Basically she said the time just didn't work for her... well we were talking to her in English and had Sister Nestor with us on exchanges again and were like, well you can always go to the English ward. To our joy she did! I don't think she's decided if she wants to switch yet though. I think it'd be better for her kids but not necessarily for her.
I know that I need to work a lot on my fearlessing. We've been so focused on trying to figure out where we're going to how to get there and we haven't been too good at making sure all those we are passing who are "perishing in unbelief" are invited to learn more. My big goal is to begin testifying as soon as I open my mouth.
Talk to you next week!

-Sister Hale

Mom, one of those really cool people we met on saturday is a woman I've decieded to call Abuelita. She is the sweetest old lady I've ever met and reminds me so much of Grandma Dalton. She has a aid that comes every day to help her out but she was still the one fussing in the kitchen making sure we had something to eat before we left. She says she comes to church as often as possible but i got the feeling that she has trouble with her memory. We will have to make sure we get visiting teachers in there regularly. Biggest difference between her and grandma? This abuelita has 2 parakeets....

Family, thanks for taking care of the missionaries. I'm trying to think what coat I left at home that you could have given away but I am glad they are being put to use. My comp doesn't have a coat either and there have been some cold days.... We'll figure it out.

We are still in the process of turning our elders pad into one fit for sisters. Haha Sisters are spoiled. We're getting curtains and 2 rugs this week for our hardwood floors. Then it'll really start feeling like home.

This week I spent some time studying Humility. Always a humbling experience. Preach my Gospel has an awesome section all about it and then I read the scriptures that just backed it all up. After I read through all of them I got to the last one... Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and ^aprayed, saying, O my ^bFather, if it be possible, let this ^ccup pass from me: nevertheless not as I ^dwill, but as ^ethou ^fwilt.

I've read that scripture before... I even think I've read that scripture while studying humility before but wow... this time it really hit me. My brother, my savior, he didn't want to do what he had to do... It was painful and awful. But he had nothing but humility in submitting his will to the Fathers. How many times a day do we not do the will of the Father simply because we don't want to? because we say its too hard? because...? because...? because...? fill in the blank. Just look at all our Redeemer went through to do the will of the Father. If anyone ever had any excuse it was him. We are asked to do so much less than he was and yet our excuses have no end. My excuses certainly don't. Obedience is better than sacrafice. All the Father asks is that we obey him.

Funily enough we ended up at a prayer service for a different church this week and the preacher was talking about the story of the 10 lepers. There was a lot I didn't agree with but he broke the story down into three things it taught us. I'm just gonna touch on 1 and 3. 1st When we are having a hard time we must call our to Christ. He is the only one who can help us and the only source we need to look to for redemption. 3rd. Calling out isn't enough, We must act and obey.  So often people tell us, "God loves me, that is all I need. He will be merciful." That is only half true! Just because a couple may love an orphan child doesn't mean they automatically become theirs. They have to go through the paper work and the process requisit to make that child a part of their Family. Just as it is with God. His love will always be there for us. But to become a part of his family for eternity we have to go through the right process. We have to be humble and do his will.

I learn a lot out here... the trick is applying it to my own life and effecting the necessary changes. That part I am not so good at. But I need to work harder at it.

I love you all! I miss you and want to bear you my solemn witness as a special witness and representative of Jesus Christ. He lives! and through him we too may live forever. Not just live but be exalted with him and gain all that he has. Whatever brother it was who couldn't say they know yet, I echo the words of Elder Holland, in fact I am going to quote him

"A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe,”¹² a phrase which, by the way, carried young Gordon B. Hinckley into the mission field.¹³ I told this boy that belief was always the first step toward conviction and that the definitive articles of our collective faith forcefully reiterate the phrase “We believe.”¹⁴ And I told him how very proud I was of him for the honesty of his quest."

Its okay not to know and only be able to believe. Belief is a powerful thing. Make it your quest to stregnthen that belief until you too can say that you know. "Live like you believe, Live like you know, Its one sure way your faith will grow."

I love you and I want you to know that I know. I know. I'm still figuring out so many things and there are weak chinks in my testimony. But I know that this church has the fullness of the gospel of christ. I know that there is no where else to go,  This church has "the words of eternal life."

-Maren

September 30, 2013 Jacob

So guys I am officially leaving Hawyards Heath..... to move to Uckfield. Haha! The AP's have officially moved out and Uckfield has taken off. We got 23 Total Teaches last week! 14 of those were Lessons on the street that have turned into potentials and 5 of them were teaches where we have members there. It was brilliant. We worked our buts off. Haha! It must have been funny to watch us last night because we were only 3 teaches short of our goal.... but we had faith and the lord delivered. But seriously we were litterally running from less active, to investigators, to Dinner apointment. Haha! It was great to see how the lord blessed us. The only bummer? I left my scriptures at the train station in Burgiss Hill. :( NO BUENO.

Story time. When the Aps left, they took their ironing board and Iron with them. So we havent had those things for the past 5 days. We have been using the dryer to iron them the best it can. ;) So when we got to church yesterday, the Aps played this funny joke on us and gave us a whole new Iron and Ironing board (a mini one). So they drop us off at the train station and here we are boarding this train with an Ironing board. I had taken out my scriptures to make room for them and I was just carrying them. So we went to see a less active in Burgess Hill and on our way back we to Haywards Heath. I left them on the station platform. So we got off at the next station and then went back to Burgess Hill.... and they were gone. We approuched a worker on the platform and he took one look at us and said. "you guys lost a bible huh?" I sheeply replied yes. He then proceeded to tell us that he put them in the ticket office and that it closed..... one minute ago. Haha! That was a bummer.

So ya I am moving I actually got a call from president while Emailing. And Guess what? Im training! In a relitively new area! Im kinda freaking out. Haha! This area has taken off and we actually have some one with a baptisimal date. The 25th of Oct. His name is Michael and he has been through heck. Just recently seperated from his wife and is really humble. We challenged him to read the BOM and he read almost the entire first book of Nephi the next night! This guy is awesome. But... I had a more experienced companion. Now im training and these peoples salvation is on my shoulders. Its a real sobering experience.

Dad, you never really told me much about your mission. Where did you serve? Did you have any leadership callings? District Leader? Zone Leader? Trainer? Ill drop a hint to president to let me serve in one of your areas. ;) Its good to hear that you have an 80% chance of it never coming back. It was a shock at first to hear the C word. But I think all of us have been blessed to receive the peace that only Heavenly father can give to us.

Nate, I sent you an email with all of Beths Details in there to contact her. I dont know your number by heart. Her number is +447960996292. Be a man and call her. Shes in Utah right now so dont worry about the time. Have fun!

Caleb.....LEARN HOW TO DO A BACK FLIP, LEARN HOW TO DO A BACK FLIP! Haha. That kind of knowledge can help you through out all of your stage career. Its a talent the Director can use. Its makes you Valuable.

Mom. If you dont want Issac getting hurt... put him in Rugby. Haha! They do things properaly and dont spear people with their heads. :) Issac and Simeon do south like they are having a lot of fun though.

Tania and Nate. Im so happy that you guys got to go to new york. Nate, that knowledge of how to use the public transportation system will help you so much on your mission. Thats all you will ever use.... probably. Unless you get a car. Haha!

Well family thats all I think I have to report to you guys. I hit my sixth month mark on oct 4th. So its pretty soon. Its weird to think that so much time has past. And they say that it only speeds up after 6 month. Pray for me... and my poor trainie. Haha! I love you all so much! You guys sound like you are all having fun. Keep smiling. The gospel is what brings us joy. This Gospel is what brings us peace. We have it in our lives. So smile. We have a lot to smile for.

Elder Hale

September 22, 2013 Stephanie

                                                                   September 24, 2013

Dear family,

   I was so happy to hear the great news this week. I was on divisions in Apopa and the President called me and I was crying by the end of the phone call. I have been praying so hard for you all. I hope you know I love you so much. So what is it that they need to do still.... they need to kill the cancer cells and it sounds like there are two choices you can get them removed or go in for a test trial and see if they can kill them with radiation..... just a question with the trials test what happens if the radiation does not kill the cancer? Are they doing anything so that it doesn’t spread? If you could let us know these details that would be great.

   Oh, one other thing. I am not getting the letters from Maren at all. I have no idea where or what she is up to. I did get Jacobs letter and I too got a good laugh and it was at a time where I needed a good laugh. So thanks Jake. This week I have learned lots of the reasons I am here. I know right, a little late, but I am realizing more and more in small ways that everything that I do, everything that I think and pray for, is not for myself but for others.  It takes an effort but nothing brings more joy.  I put on my daily planner 3 sayings.  First "I am here for them !" Second  "this is their SALVATION" and Third  " It’s worth any sacrifice".  I am growing more and more in the love I have for this country and these people. There is so much to do here and I feel blessed to be a part of this great work.

   This week we are trying to baptize 2 people. Pray that all wi11 go well. We have a couple fechas for this next month as well. My goal is to find a family and baptized them before I have to leave. And guess what? We found two families this week and one of them is our next door neighbor!!!  A woman that I have had contact with for almost all my mission.  We went and taught the first lesion with her and wow she had never hear the name of Joseph Smith before.  She had been friends with the sister missionaries for years!!! I was surprised. I thought she had heard our messages many times but as we were sharing with her she turned to her husband and said “this sis pretty no” ? Hah, sounds better in Spanish but she really liked what she was hearing and I was so happy to see a little light enter into her eyes and life. We are going back tonight and we are going to teach them the Book of Mormon. We found a sweet little family yesterday. They have two little children and they really liked the message too and told us we could go back. I am seeing that Satan is working really hard against us but its because we are doing great things in this area. We are already seeing a huge change in the bishop and leaders and we are excited because it means that our working is changing things!!! woot. 

    What is this about Nate and Tania in new York!!! Wow that is so cool. I want to do road trips with my brothers one day. That would be so much fun!!! Wow well I want pictures they are the second best thing. hah

    Family this gospel is the single greatest gift I have in my life. We had a meeting with the President this week and he asked us to take a moment and ask ourselves what this gospel means to us. As I thought about it I thought about many summer days after church on Sunday reading outside as a family. Laughing, reading and spending time together ....perfect days that I have had and the joy and peace in those days I was so grateful. Then I was starting to think about dad and all the things that were happening and then thinking of the greater picture more beyond this world. I just started to cry as I realized the great promises that we as a family have being born in the covenant and what Christ has done for us ... for me personally. Family this gospel is everything for me. I know it is true. I owe everything I have, that I am, to my God and Savoir. I love them so much. As I realized that this week I think it helped me understand and work even harder to help others, more of Gods children, to understand the great blessings the Lord has waiting for them. I never want to stop helping in this work. It is the most important work to bring salvation to others. 

   My faith and testimony has grown this week and I thank my God for that. I still feel like there is so much to learn on my mission. I like pray every day that I will take every opportunity that the Lord gives me to grow and learn what he needs me to learn so I will be able to become closer to him. 

 I love you. Until next week.

Hermana Hale 

Hermana Hale, Hermama Merrell, Hermana Dumay

September 22, 2013 Maren

Hello Family!

 

First of all... No... my mission president didn't tell me anything... Lame. I think after the initial contact he just wanted me to stay focused and figured i'd hear about it in my weekly email. So I am very happy to hear that everything is okay. Everything is okay right? So it's not anywhere else in your body? but you still have to get it off your face/head? Is it life threatening at all? I am glad you are okay. To be honest I either felt the peace before I heard the news or I really have just been way too busy to think about it...

 

Secondly... Tania and Nathan were here!!!! What ward did you go to?!? Dang I wish I had known. Especially today. We were all over the city today so it would have been fun to keep an eye out. I want to hear all about your trip!!!! What sights did you see? Anything I should make sure I see too?

 

I am in Jamaica! No... not the tropical island. Jamaica, Queens! And its awesome. Lets see if I can get this all down in an hour.

 

Monday night I stayed up til 1am packing... we didn't have any time all day because there were a lot of people I wanted to see. It was hard to say goodbye. Although ever since I got my call I haven't really been able to cry when saying goodbye. I think knowing we will be getting facebook soon helps. I'll be able to keep tabs on people.

 

I think the hardest part was leaving the other missionaries behind. That probably sounds weird but we (my district) got really close. We were "the most united district" in the mission according to president. We were one big happy family. So on tuesday morning we got up bright and early and went to breakfast. Then it was off to transfer meeting and finally the nerves hit. O man! I was freaking out inside. Our district leader (Elder Nelson) actually almost started crying. He had been in his area for almost a year and leaving was hard... Super hard. And then on top of that was the uncertainty of where I was headed next. City? Back out to the island? and then on top of that who was going to be my companion!? O man. Lots of questions.

 

They started with zone 6. And the first district they called was their spanish district... the first name...? Elder Nelson as district leader. He was shocked! He has served in Mineola before so he was sure that was where he was going but no... Jamaica, Queens. The next name they called? Mine! I wish I had a picture of my face at that moment because I am pretty sure it was priceless. I was shocked. I have heard about Jamaica since the beginning of my mission. I've had several zone leaders that have served there before. They tell stories of 14+ baptisms and no white people... haha. And that in the past its been a man area... meaning no sisters allowed. A few transfers ago they put in English sisters so I guess it was time for spanish. Which brings me to my companion. Her name is sister Jensen, she has been out for 7 months and was serving in Staten Island. Blinded in Round 2! Yup! but this time we opened a brand new pool. Last time we had an elders pool to work off of... this time nothing but us and the hard work we put in to building ourselves a pool. I am so excited though. I love being blinded in. Granted I don't know anything else but O well. besides that I am super excited to still be in the same district as Elder Nelson.

 

So after a long day of transfers we headed to our pad led by the elders since we had no idea where we were going or what we were doing. Luckily we were able to load most of our stuff into the car of the Senior Couple who live in the same building as us. As soon as we got on our floor we were attacked by the Enlish sisters who had been waiting for us and had dinner ready. They have been amazing in taking care of us and making sure we dont starve before we could get some food. One of them used to be in my zone, Sister Millett. She is awesome and I am glad she is so close by.

 

So yeah..

 

The next few days we spent just trying to survive really. We spent the bulk of our time cleaning to be honest. Our pad used to be an Elders pad and besides that the church has had it for years and it shows. It took us four days to tackle the kitchen and it was sparkling. And when we got home that night... it was to about 15 cockroaches all over my beautiful kitchen! AHH!!!! now it is covered in Raid again. I am guessing all our cleaning distirbed them. We'll get them taken care of no worries... Haven't seen any today yet so.... yeah... haha the joy of living in the city.

 

In other news. Church was crazy yesterday. I left with a headache from all the spanish. I miss my dual-language branch. Haha. But my spanish is going to take off. :D And hopefully I loose some weight too.

 

Okay.  Dad... I dont know where that list of questions is so i'll just do my best.

 

Companion: Sister Chelsea Jensen

(Age: 22, Hometown: Woodland Hills (?) Close to spanish fork, Sister Jensen has flat feet so she was shocked to be in a walking area. President says we have a car the moment she asks for it but so far she's been a trooper. Besides that I really don't want to drive in the city... freeway is one thing... navigating the roads is completely different.)

 

Unit: Jamiaca 2nd Branch (spanish)

 

Address: 88-20 Parsons blvd. Jamaica, NY 11432 #6C

 

.... What else?

 

O! You should see if you can google our church building! Its so COOL! Its 6 stories tall! The chapel is on the 2nd floor, the kitchen and gym are on the 4th(?) The set up is so cool I love it. And this branch is a lot bigger than my last one, the auxilary heads go out each week to try and find the less actives and a ton of people were at church. I'm super excited to be here.

 

Today we had an adventure. We went into the city to get groceries (Jamaica is renouned for cheap shopping but not when it come to groceries) and that was super fun. We went to costco and Aldi's and had to carry all our stuff back on the train. Doesn't it look like we were having fun?

 

Other pictures in this batch:

 

Last breakfast with the Riverbays district

 

My new Companion Sister Jensen

 

Me, Sister Jensen, and Sister Millett

 

My new view out our window

 

This is such a great adventure. Its so different but so beautiful. I love you all so much! I wish I had a little more time. Oh! and Daddy, I am so proud of you for figuring out the pictures! Did you put my hard drive back? Haha... but really... I am glad you found them okay.

 

 

Sister Hale, companion Sister Jensen, Sister Millett

View outside my apartment window

Companion Sister Jensen

Saying good-bye to  my old district

 

September 23, 2013

So Im really kind of jealous right now. Haha! Everyone in my family is going to New York but me! Haha. And you saw Wicked! Ok. ya Envy. Haha! So I hope everything is going ok with Steph and Maren. I havent gotten any of there Emails recently and Im wondering why. I do apologize about not sending pictures..... but I am a guy. ;) Haha thats not always the first thing thats on my mind. But if Nate will get on his EMail  then you guys might be able to see some people I work with more through there Facebook Profiles. Its weird to serve in a First world Contry. All of the people around you can actually find you on Facebook and stalk you. Kinda wierd. Haha!

 

So ya, Im not dead. The berry thing was just ok. But, ahh man am I getting the Mick taken out of me... MY MISSION PRESIDENT KNOWS!!!! Haha! The AP's told him and apparently he was laughing really hard. Haha! The Aps are actually with the Mission president today setting up transfers so We will see if I get moved. Its been about three months that I've been in Haywards Heath and I was only in my Last are for 3 months so we will see what happeneds.

 

This past week has been a little harder then usual. We have been spending more and more time in Uckfield then in Haywards Heath and there is no teaching pool so we are usually finding all day long. We havent really found any one yet and that can be a little bit dissapointing. But, the work here is special and I have had some really cool experiences this week. We had a DA in Haywards Heath on Thursday and it was later so by the time they dropped us back to Uckfield it was 20 to 9 and it was a long day. So I was thinking they were going to drop us off at the Flat. But my companion asked them to drop us off at the end of the High street. So they did. We started walking up and there wasnt really anyone out, but we were stopping the odd person and trying to get them interested. But no luck. We got half way up the high street and we saw a man sitting at the bus stop. He was really bandaged up and I remember seeing him that morning. So we stopped and introduced ourselves and did the opened of we are hear to teach people about god and his love for us.... This man looks up and goes, Paraphrasing, "Why did you stop?" We were kind of shocked. And he said. "Why are you here right now. At one of the lowest points in my life and you just show up?" He was really looking sincere so we kept talking to him and we get a load out of this guy. He is an Alcoholic. That night his wife and him decided to seperate. So we was waiting to get a bus to Devon. He has been going to AA meeting to try and help him but he said that he could never get past the first step. Which is believe that you are powerless to solve this yourself. And find faith in God. And have Faith that he can help you. Well he was thinking about that and how he didnt feel like he could... When we showed up. Ooh, just getting goose bumps while talking about it. How cool is that? We randomly decided to walk up the High street and we find this amazing guy who is ready and willing to listen. We talked to him and he was so skeptic. But we were able to convice him to give us his contact info so that the Missionaries in Devon could get in contact with him there. We ended up talking to him for 45 min to an hour. Way longer then we thought we would be out for. Hopefully this man will seek the faith that he is looking for. We probably wont find out what happened to him. Buts its cool to know that we were part of his story, if even for a little while. Haha! But unfortunaly he is moving so we cant teach him! Haha! ;)

 

We are going to have to be working our tells off this week. We are mainly going to be in uckfield and we have a goal of teaching 2 other lessons a day. So about a total of 14 other lessons in the whole week. Total teaches for about 24. Thats a lot. We set our goals high. but we feel that if the lord is with us. Then we can acomplish them. So pray that we will have to strength this week to keep going. Finding for 7 days straight is a killer. :) Pray that we can stay optomistic and Enthusiastic.

 

Dad, Im so glad to hear that you are doing better. Its been a strange blessing in a way to hear that you were sick. I've learned so much and me and my companion have really seen each other grow. I hope that by the time I come home that you guys wont even recognize me. Both spiritually, mentally, and physically. People say that I still look little. And Im hoping in about 18 months I'll look like a man. Haha!

 

Nate, you got to get in contact with Beth on facebook some how. She is leaving next week. Mom, if you could be great and lean on him a little bit. Haha!

 

Maren sent me a picture of The three older boys. Me, nate, and caleb. And I have it sitting right in front of me on my desk. Its really tender to look at that picture and realize that my brothers are growing up. They are not the little boys they used to be. I look at them and hope they will become great men and it makes me think of the Kind of example I want to be for them. Hopefully I've been a satifactory one.

 

I love you guys so much. This work is amazing and opens up your mind in so many ways. I hope Tania and Nate had fun. :) Caleb hows your play going? Issac, any cool sports your playing? Simeon, are you taking care of our wonderful mother and father?

 

Elder Hale

September 9th 2013 Stephanie

                                                          September 9^th 2013

Hey family,

So I have had an interesting week.  First off though I am super grateful with the news you gave us about dad. I am glad the surgery went well. I can’t believe he is on a business trip right now after the surgery. My prayers are with you all. I have felt a great pez ... sorry peace this week. I have been able to focus on the work more than I have ever been able to before and I don't know if that is because I am in my first area again and I am also training a new sister training leader and also a new missionary that my time is just so pack full that there is absolutely no time to think about anything else. 

My new companions are great Hermana Dumay wow so much faith and energy and animo (it’s like a combination of energy and excitement to do the work.) She is from the Dominican Republic ...I know exotic right ha ha. She is so much fun to be around. We sing hymns at the top of our lungs in the streets diva style hah. It’s fun to be with her. Our new daughter is Hermana Merrell. She is from Idaho and wow can’t speak Spanish very well ...but I am not going to lie she has improved a lot in the last few days. I was really scared at the first because well she cried the first two days and I hah didn't know what to do. But in these last days I have seen a change and she is less afraid to talk to people in the streets. I think I under the principle that God finds joy in seeing us succeed and progress. I was sitting back watching her do one of her first contacts in the bus and I was smiling from ear to ear. I truly find joy in watching her grow.

   Well I am back in Cuidad Delgado and it’s been interesting. I love these people so much and I want to help them so much. Hermana Dumay says that this ward makes her sad because it’s like it has an open wound and everyone is hurting. Pray for us. We need some serious revelation to help this area. I feel blessed to be able to give my all and put my heart and soul into helping the ward become more than it is where I know and love the people so much. I figured it out. If I stay here until the end of my mission, I will have spent a year in this ward. Wow, that is a long time and I wow truly love these people here. 

 Here is what I wrote to my President

   Dear President, 

    This week has been good. I am happy to be back in Cuidad Delgado ...but I am not going to lie things have changed. This ward is hurting. The members are struggling. I feel so blessed to spend this part of my mission serving these people I have learned to love and care so much for. I have made a covenant with God that I will be his tool here now to do whatever he needs me to be or do to help these people become come converted to the Lord and to find the blessing of the atonement in their lives. I want nothing else than to see these people and this area happy and well before I leave. I made the commitment to do all in my power to do so. 

   My dad is doing great. He is on a business trip believe it or not after his surgery. Thank you so much for keeping me posted. It means a lot to me to know what is going on.

    Thank you for the conference of leaders. I learned lots and I am excited to go back to my area and put all of it in to practice. We are going to change this area with the help and the direction of the Lord. I have never felt so full of faith before and I know that miracles can happen and I know the power of the atonement and how it can heal any wound and any scar no matter how deep. 

   So that is this week in a nutshell. Oh CALEB!!!! Sorry man FELICIDADES dud that is so awesome that you got in to the play and that they were considering you for the lead man. I can’t wait to come back and see and hear you perform!!! I know you will do great. I love you so much. Thanks for keeping us posted. 

    Family I feel like this area will change me a lot. I feel like God is teaching me so much and I feel so blessed to just suck it all in. I love my mission so much and I hate time ha. I have never been more stressed and more at peace in the same moment. I am truly feeling the saying that says that God uplifts and enables those who he calls.  I know this Gospel is true. I have felt the spirit testify of it too many times to question and to doubt. I love my Savoir so much and am grateful for his atoning sacrifice.  I had a thought this week. We as members of the church are so blessed to know and experience the love of the Savoir in our lives. We literally are the only people on the earth that can truly testify of the atonement because we are the only ones to have felt it in its fullness. Wow think of that for a moment and then think of the importance to make these things known unto the world. This is the work of the Lord and the most important work we will ever do.

I love you family. You are all in my prayers (daddy) 

Love your sister, daughter 

Hermana Hale  

September 9th, 2013 Maren

Hey Family!

Dad, I am so glad to hear everything is okay. I'll be waiting to hear more tomorrow but I am relieved its been an easy fix. Thanks for listening to Mom when she says to take care of your body.

Caleb, I am sorry that pictures are being so difficult. Did you guys check my tera-bite? I thought I told you they were on there and how to find them. (not the family t-drive, MY tera-bite). And CONGRATS! on the part in the musical! I wish mom and dad could take video of it cuz that would be awesome to see. Keep it up! One of my biggest regrets in Junior High and High School was that I didn't try new things like Drama or Choir. I was always to scared. So don't be like me. All of you boys. Try as many good things as you can, discover your talents (temporal and spiritual  and develop them!

So guess what!!!! In just under month your sister will be taking her mandate to share the gospel to new frontiers... namely FACEBOOK! That's right! the digital wave has finally hit New York! Right now the Zone Leaders and Sister Training leaders are testing things out so that by the time we all get access we will know how. We will be using our home accounts so don't be surprised come October 1st to see my online! We are pretty psyched. Its going to be super weird. Our ZL's have taken the first 2 weeks to just clean theirs up and make sure that they are good representatives of Christ. It'll be an adventure.

In other news. We had a baptism this week! It happened on Friday night in Flanders Bay and it couldn't have been more perfect. Pictures included.

Yesterday we had Branch Conference and we were well taught by our Stake President. He answered many of my prayers directly but the thing that stood out the most to me was his focus on using the manuals of the church. He said that the spirit and power of God is everywhere in the universe and the way we tap into that is by priesthood processes, or in other words by obeying our priesthood leaders and keeping our covenants. He really stressed that if we have manuals written by the leaders of the church and fail to use them and abide by their principles then we are in essence creating our own church, because that is not the way our Father has told us to do things. It was an eye opener to me and increased a greater desire to understand and live by the principle of PMG even more. He also touched on the sermon on the mount and what it means to really be a peacemaker... I have some repenting to do. That part was the answer to my prayer. 

Transfer calls come at the end of this week and everyone seems to think that I will be leaving Riverhead. Our District has basically been the same for a good 5 months so we're expecting a big upheaval. I don't know if it will be me but either way change is coming. I am looking forward to whatever that change is to push me to the next level and learn even more. I will be very sad to leave though and I would be very sad to leave sister peacock or have her leave me. Sigh... but hey! We'll have facebook to stay in touch soon! Haha. Still not sure how that is going to work... 

I love you all! I am so glad that everything is okay over there. Daddy. I love you. I love all of you. I am so grateful for the family I have and the peace that the gospel brings even in the face of hard trials. Our mission President always says that if we are living the gospel right then the mountains become mole hill and the mole hills of life we just glide right over. I felt that this week. At first this seemed like a mountain, but then through the spirit it became a mole hill and peace came. 

Learn, Live, Love. Know, Do, BECOME.

-Sister Maren Hale.

September 9th, 2013 Jacob

FAMILY!!!! What up this is Elder Hale writing from you in Uckfield, East Sussex. Sorry, Im kinda tired. Haha! I think I have moms tired jeans. I just laugh when I get tired. ;)

So this week has been interesting, hard, and amazing. We moved this week so that took up all of Wednesday, my Companion was out for the count on friday because he has a blocked saliva glad that became septic. Hospital anyone? And we are still trying to figure out this area and how to get to Haywards Heath. So we didnt feel like we got a lot done but, we checked out numbers at the end of the week and wow. We actually kept up pretty good. Mostly out of the grace of Gods hand. Haha! It seemed like so many things just fell into place this week.

Miricle number 1.

It was saturday and we had everything planned out perfectly. Get to the bus at this time and we will be able to get to Hawyards Heath on time to go to a DA with a non-member being there (A miricle in itself). Well we are at the bus station and the bus doesnt come... and still doesnt come... and 20 min later we are thinking oh no. What happened to the bus. Well this young lady calls the bus company and we find out that the bus has broken down and probably wont get fixed for a while. Dang! So we called every member we could think of... but no one was able. So we were about to call a taxi, that would have gotten us there late and 22 pounds lighter (money here is called pounds). ;) Well I was  calling the taxi company when all the sudden a member who is moving into Uckfield pulls up and offers us a ride to Haywards Heath... Miricle!  Super small but being in a new place with no Idea where you are, well it ment the world to me and my companion. We went to the DA. Had a wonderful lesson and went on our way.

Miricle number 2.

On sunday, we were kinda feeling a little down. Something about living with the AP's is really humbling and we had a lesson that didnt go as planned. We were trying to figure out how to get the Uckfield when there were no buses and I was stressing. We went to go talk to the bishop and he said he would give us one. But then he told us something else that was amazing. So a women in brighton ward, the ward right below mine, found out she had cancer in may... and they gave her 3 months to live. So she came up into our ward to go to a hospice. Well me and my companion were able to give her several blessing and get to know her and her family quite well. She is an active mormon but her husband and daughter is inactive, and her yougest daughter is not a  member. Well I found out that on wednesday she died. On monday I was able to give her a blessing and it was the most surreal experience. Giving a blessing of comfort to someone you know is going to die... and they know they are going to die... and everyone listening for that matter. Not a very normal everyday thing to do. But on Sunday, the Bishop pulled us aside and said that the daughter that was unbaptized called him after she died and started asking all of these questiongs. Where is she? Is she still in pain? Will I ever see her again? So many questions. She went right back down to brighton ward and told the bishop that she wanted to be baptized! We asked the bishop what happened. He had texted us a few days before asking for a scripture on death and resurection in the book of mormon for the daughter to read to her mother. We gave her alma 32. Didnt think anything of it.Bishop thinks that while she was reading it to her mother, she started to feel something. And then when she died she remembered the scripture and that made her think about all of those questions and she went to the right source to have them answered. Wow. I never felt more humbled in my life. A women, who in life could never get her daughter baptized, in death was able to get her baptized. And me and my companion and the bishop were able to be a part of that. The lord works through mysterious ways family. He really does. He uses his children to answer prayers and we need to make sure to be ready to always receive them.

A lot of other miricles happened this week family. Just the peace that came about Dad, was a miricle in itself. There are miricles happening everyday and they are sometimes so small to see. But if you look closely, you see the lords hand in your life. You have to look though. So family I challenge you this week to look for miricles in your life. Find ways that the lord has made something happen to help you. It may be anything the lord is not limited. But look. Look and you will see how much the lord loves you.

I love you family so much. Dad I'm glad everything is ok. But I guess we kind of knew that it was going to be ok anyways. Caleb... my little brother. I'm so proud of you kid. Your following your weird older brothers footsteps. ;) Haha! Be better then me. Put time and work into this talent that you have and you will go far. I know you will. Your going to be amazing. I wish I could be there to see you perform. But Im give peace by knowing that I'm going to be able to see you in your Highschool shows. :)

Nate... I have a big favor to ask. Well its not really a favor for me to ask... Im giving you a gift. There is a cute girl from my current ward that is going to Utah around Conference time. She has not had good experience with dating in the UK. So the mom and me have come up with a plan. Bishop approved of course. :) I need you to take her out on a date. Shes 17 and turned earlier this year I think. Her name is Beth and she is pretty awesome. Can you take her on a date? Thanks. Its going to be fun.

Love ya guys!

-Elder Hale