Hello my dear family!
Daddy! I am so glad you are OKAY! Family, it has been a testimony builder to be that we have been able to handle this trial the way we have... meaning by turning to the Lord and his gospel instead of away from it. That is a mark of conversion. I always wondered if I was really converted... I felt like I'd never really been tried in my life... I always wondered how I would react if something were to happen. And then some hard stuff happened and I realized, like Tania said a little while ago, it doesn't matter what happens, its true, that all that matters.
This week has felt like a time warp for me. Actually this whoel transfer has. Its gone by SO fast and yet it feels like forever since I was in Riverhead at the same time. But its been an amazing transfer and this week was a great way to end it.
We had some really cool things happen this week. We went to visit one of our Less Active's Leonor just to make sure she was doing well. We had had such a hard time planning for it and weren't 100% sure what we were going to talk about when we got there. We tried so hard to get a member there to help get her more fellowshipped but it just wasn't working. But God is in all things. When we got there she had a friend over, Nicholas, He is the godfather of her children. Well before we could even sit down with Leonor he started peppering us with questions and pretty soon Leonor came over and helped us answer them. She was amazing. I always feel so blessed to find those LA's that are really just waiting for an invitation to come back. I feel like Leonor is that way. Nicholas lives in the Bronx, when I originally heard that I was like "Dang it! Not in our area let alone our mission." and then I was like "But hey, now we have facebook, the world is my area!" Haha. This work is changing in so many amazing ways.
The other cool thing that happened was a similar experience the second time we went to see Anabel. Her brother Gorge was there. He is catholic and our plan was to watch the Joseph Smith Movie with Anabel. So as we watched we gave her the controler to pause anytime she had a question. The one time she used that power led to a long conversation about baptism and just about every other gospel topic you can think of. More than anything we just tried to bear testimony though... that is where the power is. We commited both of them to read the Book or Mormon and to pray before and after they read each day. He lives in Carona so we'll see what happens. We still need to get him a book!Besides that our week has been full of Look-ups, Dance practice (see facebook... haha), street sweeps, and learning experiences. This week while talking to my District Leader he pointed out that I have changed a lot since I first came out. Believe it or not this statement bothered me... and I am still not entirely sure why. Forever changed is the goal right? Haha. As near as I can figure I had a lot more pride when I came. I had a heavy attitude (which isn't all the way gone...) and I think I felt like I had to prove something. You may remember that I didn't get along with my first district leader. Since then I think (I hope) I have learned to trust the Lord a little more and in those he has called. Sister Peacock pointed out a similar change before I left Riverhead and I told her she was crazy. I think I have just enough pride left that I don't like the idea that I had so much to change when I came. But Humility has been a goal. Mostly now I am just grateful that it is happening. I recognize how much my mission is preparing me for my future life.
What a blessing it is to be here.
Also this week we were blessed to particiapte in an event in the Far Rockaways to celebrate 1 year since huricane sandy and all the rebuilding that has happened since. I got to drive down with Sister Chipman... did you know she only has 1 transfer left?! And she just got released as an Sister Training Leader... which means yesterday was possibly the last time I see her before she goes home. Ah! I don't like that. Its always been such a strength to have her near.
O! Yeah! Other cool tidbit... Anabel's brother Gorget told me I speak 95% perfect spanish. Which I probably shouldn't tell you because then at Christmas when Stephanie asks me to speak to her in spanish I am going to freeze up and not be able to talk at all! But I was pretty excited about that. I still think its an opptomistic estimate and probably only valid when the gift of tongues is in full effect to help us get through lessons.
By the way... if you didn't pick up on it. I am staying in Jamaica and me and Sister Jensen are staying together! YAY! I actually kinda forgot all about transfer calls this time around. I knew president would move me after just one.
Jake. I don't know if you have time to read all this but I really really like what you said about accountability this week. That is something that has started clicking with me too after way too much time. I am so proud of you. I can't believe how much you are growing out there, all I know is I am proud of you.
Tania (and Angie!) coming just for fun this time huh?... dang I am so tempted! But no! Wont do it.
Nathan, sorry you have to get your teeth out. I have a feeling you are/were super funny on the meds. Haha. Mom I hope you videod it. Don't pass out like I did.
I love you all so much!
-Sister Maren Hale
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Monday, October 28, 2013
October 28th 2013 Jacob
Dear Family,
I love this gospel! Haha. This past week has been awesome. I want to share with you guys my letter I sent to president because it was a really cool experience, but I dont want to right it again. Haha!
Dear President,
This past week has been amazing. I have felt and seen God help us in so many ways to help this work carry onward, as well as helping me progress. Monday and tuesday were ok. I had fallen into a state of hopeless I would say. It just didnt seem like anyone would talk to us or want to learn more. Wednesday was the worst day of all. It just wasn't productive it felt like. That night we had two families in our area that we were going to visit. The first family was amazing. We had a great lesson and we challenged them to move forward with us with their less active children. They were excited as well as us. The next family though only gave us a half an hour and they just moved into their ward. They dont really trust us yet and so when we came in talking about missionary work and referrals the whole family, especially the parents, just seemed to shut down, be cynical, and stop paying attention. We left that evening feeling very dejected. And I felt pretty alone. It seemed like the stress was finally getting to me. I'm training, Im opening up a relatively knew area while training, its a small town with smaller towns around it, I've never worked in an area like this before and don't really know how to. Everything just seemed to come to a head. I was talking to Elder Mortensen about all of this. Talking about how I felt "where is God?!" "Isn't this his work." I was quite overwhelmed and feeling utterly alone and inadequate. At the peak of these feelings and with my emotions struggling to break free... I received a call from you. Telling me, that you wanted to give me the good news about my father before I went to bed. 37 Lymphnodes removed... and not a single cancer cell. You could have waiting until the next day to call me. But God saw that I needed that. That news, and the experience DID make my emotions flow over. I felt so much love and peace come from my Heavenly Father. He knew I needed that news. Almost as if to tell me. "What are you talking about?" " Of course I'm still here." "Dont you remember?" Never have I felt so much gratitude to my Heavenly Father. That has been the most concrete witness to me that he is there. That he does love me. That this is his work. And that he will never leave me alone. We got 14 other lessons this week. We reaches the goal. According to the statistics you gave us in Zone Conference. If we are able to keep this up, we will get a baptism per month. I felt God continually in the few days [since]. We had 2 hours on Sunday to get 3 other lessons. Thats a pretty bold goal. But, with faith, God was able to help us. We got those 3 other lessons. Resulting in the total 14 teaches and a new investigator. I have never felt so good. This work is amazing. This gospel is amazing. I absolutely LOVE it. And I aboslutly love Him.
Elder Hale
This is only one experience that I had the past couple of days. But it was the Catalyst experience. It was what gave me the Faith to continue on and to see the work progress in the area. The best part is, just like Dad said in his letter, sometimes you dont make much progress. But you move a little, day by day. We didnt baptize anyone this week. We didnt meet a golden investigator, although we did get a pretty cool one. But the thing that changes was me. Having the Faith to find and the faith to go out. It changed every single day. I was happy and excited to go out. On Sunday, when we needed to get the 3 other lessons in 2 hours. We got two of them. But it was time to get going home because of accounting, and that meant contacting on the way home. Which I'm totally ok with.... but it was pouring with torrential rain. :) People dont usually like stopping in weather like that. Haha! For about 1 second I felt "Well, you tried. But your not going to meet anyone tonight, and if you do, they probably wont stop and have a small lesson with you"..... But then, I kind of punched Satan in the face, and just said "What, you talking about? This is God who is helping us! He can do anything. If I have the Faith that he will help, listen so carefully to the spirit, and then act on those promptings it will happen." We could have taken the short way home, but I felt impressed to go the long way.... and we found betty. We stopped her, covered her in our little canopy of our umbrellas and had a great lesson with her. The spirit told me to talk about direction in your life, and how our relationship with heavenly father could get us that. It was so amazing to see this puzzled expression grow across her face and see her eyes just kind of clock what we were saying. "I could really use some direction right now in my life" She said. WOW! Ok. We gave her our card and hopefully she will be calling us back. This is a tiny miracle. Just 1 lesson. But, it means the world to a missionary. It showed to me how God can do anything if we have faith, listen, and act. Acting is one of the hardest parts. Which was another principle I was blessed to learn this week.
Another cool experience that I had this week was right after Wednesday. We had just gotten done with contacting and had come home from lunch. But it was talking way longer for the dish to cook then we thought and it was either, eat or catch the bus that we needed to get. We prayed about it, got done, looked up and just took off. Haha! We grabbed our stuff, turned off the over, leaving the dish in, and ran to the bus stop. We were planning on going to see a LA, but she is in the middle of nowhere. We went to see her, and she wasn't it. The bus only comes around every hour. So we went to knock a small neighbor hood of about 4 houses. The 3rd door we knocked, we were welcomed by a very, VERY, strict atheist. He basically told us that we were waisting our time. That religion is a hoax, and we were better off to stop what we were doing. When we dug a little bit deeper, and said, that there was no evidence for anything. NO evidence for God. He said to give us one concrete physical peace of evidence. We started talking about the bible and he shredded that. We left feeling pretty dejected. We knocked the rest of the houses and by the time that we were done, we had 20 min til the bus came. So we went on a little cool nature walk. We had walked for 5 min and the whole time I was rolling over in my mind what we could have done differently with this man "mike". I started talking about it with my companion and I started "soap boxing" ,as an elder calls it, about how their is evidence. THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!! It provides an actual experiment about how we can find out if God is there, if he loves us, if he has a plan for us. A little bit more ranty then that, but you get the picture. ;) I was walking for 20 ft before I realized my companion had stopped walking. I looked back and he looked and me and just said "why dont you go tell him this?" Answer: Because he is a mean atheist man, who we will be disturbing for the second time, and didnt want us to disturb him the first time! Haha! But we went went back. We said that if was out in his yard, we will take it as a sign and talk with him. Well he wasn't. But the spirit prompted us, and we felt like there was something we still needed to do. So we prayed. And sure enough, the answer came to go Knock on his door again. Oh man. Scary. So, we went back and we knocked. And when that man came back out. I held out a copy of the Book of Mormon and testified that this was the evidence he was looking for and of its truthfulness... We placed a copy of the Book of Mormon. Haha! He might never be taught. But, it was cool. Acting can sometimes be very scary. It can be very scary sometimes. But there is a principle that I know have a very firm testimony on. And that is the Fear of God VS the Fear of Men.
Are we so afraid of men that we are actually afraid to act in the Name of God? Are we afraid of what man is going to say so we let a moment to help push this work forward, pass by? How do we react to situations where is Mans disapproval, or Gods? I dont know if I have already told you guys this, but I asked one of my old companions once, whats wrong with being a molly Mormon? Whats wrong with that? He couldn't answer. Gods standards, and Gods expectations should be our standards and our expectations. The reason why most people aren't molly Mormons is because they don't want people seeing them living their religion. Or people making fun of them. So what if they do? Do you fear men? Or God? You are living a standard that has been decreed from the very creator of the universe. By living his principles you obtain for your self blessing that have been predicated in the very heavens about us. And what are these people, pointing from that great and spacious building getting? A need to buy some new furniture. They receive nothing. We receive Eternal life. And the praise and gratitude of our father who is in heaven. Desperately wanting us to come back to him. I have often feared the scorn of men. And have to often, not feared enough, the disappointment and consequences of God. But, hopefully this experience, and this lesson, and this mission will change me enough to become 100% fearful of God and not of Man. Like Poochenello let us let the dots and marks of the world TRY to mar us. But in the end. Let the maker of our souls, and carver of our bodies, tell us what we ARE. What we can BE. And let those Eternal truths stick and transform us.
Wow, I need to stop. Haha That is a long letter. I love you guys. Sorry if thats a little bit ranty. I once heard from a missionary, that letters home often become your second journal. I will try to do better in the future. ;) I love you guys so much. Dad, Im so grateful that you are doing well. Thank you family for being supportive and loving. I often pray for you guys. I love you very much. Stephanie, I hope you will get back to the work you love as soon as possible. By the time you get this, I know a week has past and your proably fine now. But your work is always a marvelous example to me and I thank you. Maren. The same goes for you as well. I always feel more inspired from reading your letters. :)
YA!! Send some pictures. I want to see Giant Caleb and sampson simeon. :)
Elder Hale
Thursday, October 24, 2013
October 21, 2013 Stephanie
October
21, 2013
Hey Family,
Dad I am so glad to
hear that the operation went well!! Take it easy for the next couple of days
please. I have been praying for you and the fam lots this week. Wow, I was
reading the letter mom sent. Wow, things have changed so much at home. Everyone is getting big it sounds like. I have
mixed emotions about that. I still don’t know how that happened and Simeon wrestling
wow, hah, I can’t wait to see you in action bud!!! I can’t wait to go to
all your concerts, games, tryouts, primary programs and ordinations.
I wish I had
more stories to tell this week. I had a boring week, mostly because I was stuck
in the house on Tuesday. I had a 103 fever .......it was not fun. We thought it
was dengue (what they get from the mosquitoes here) but I went to the doctor
and found out that I have a bacteria in my stomach. I was shocked that bacteria
would give me a fever so high; but I got medication and I am on the mend. I am
on a strict diet. I can’t eat anything other than apples bananas potatoes and
carrots and yogurt. Hah, not much but I am also suppose to drink tons of water
and juices.
Oh I do
have a great story what I am I saying. We had a baptism this Saturday!! Herbert
was baptized and oh it was a great baptism. He has so many friends in the ward
and there were lots at his baptism. Denny, a returned missionary baptized him
and wow family it was so great to see him come up out of the water. This young
man has been through a lot and needed the forgiveness of God. As he came up out
of the water, he stood in the water and paused for a second and then smiled and
a small laugh of joy and surprise as he evaluated the way he felt. His smile
was so big!!! I love baptisms. The spirit that is there is so strong. I love to
see the atonement in action and the forgiveness of God. Oh and then yesterday
it was so cool. Denny, the same person, put his hands on Herbert’s head and
gave his a beautiful blessing and told him that he would serve a full time
mission to serve the Lord. I didn’t even know that was something that he wanted
to do but talking to him after, he was talking about how much he wants to. I
feel so blessed to be a part of seeing these miracles day after day.
Family, I love
you tons and pray for you all. This gospel is true; my testimony has grown so
much. Things have happened this week that I have realized the change of heart
that I have had. The atonement is real and has the power to change our lives if
we will let it. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it.
Love you,
Hermana Hale
Hermana Hale
Monday, October 14, 2013
October 14th, 2013 Jacob
Hey, family so this week has been pretty awesome. The apex kind of happened last night, but still, the rest of the week was still pretty good. We had the wonderful opportunity of having a PEC meeting for Uckfield. Basically, we got all the priesthood together and talked about what we want it to become. It was amazing to hear some of the ideas and the support that we got from the members.
We are going to working in a lot of small villages. The plan? Do what they did in times of old. We are going to rent out the town hall and set up a "Mee the Mormons" Night. We are going to get a lot of Members there and hopefully a few people who just want to know what the Heck a mormon is. Missionaries havent been in this area for 40 years. Jehoviah witnesses have, but not us! Haha! So we will see what we can make this place turn into.
The Bishop asked us during that meeting to go and be with the youth every thursday night. He wants them to get more involved in the missionary work, and I plan on doing a missionary half month for the ward. Help them learn the first lesson the first week, and then have them study it out as companions during the week. On the next Thursday we would get a lot of members involved and have them be behind the doors in the church and have them invite the "missionaries" in. Haha, Im really excited to get this going.
We were also asked by the members to bear our testimonies in church... Now this is a little bit of a touchy subject because president has come out and said that Fast Sunday is really for the members, not the missionaries. So I havent born my testimony since the day I got to Haywards Heath (in church, I bear it all the time when teaching). But the mission president also said that we are to do what ever the bishop wants us to do.... so I guess we are doing it. Haha, but I was able to get up and bear my testimony with my boy. It was an amazing feeling. I still get super nervous. But you always feel the best afterwards.
So this past week we have gone through investigators like water. We were reading the Book of Mormon in all of our free time, but with exchanges, conference, appointments, DA's. Its just been really hard to read. But, we had time to go out and work. Which is good, because I don't want my Boy to think that missionary work is just sitting in a flat reading. But I digress. We had several appointments, meets, and teaches with a couple of investigators. We were dropped by 3 I think. Haha! Depressing a little bit. But its also good because it means that we dont have to waste our time playing ring around the rosey with them. We can go out and find people who really want to know the Gospel... Like Stephanie. We contacted into stephanie about 2 weeks ago. We tried to contact her several times, but we got no response. This morning, we randomlly got a text from her at 6:40 in the morning, saying that she wants to meet and learn more.... .uh OK! Haha! The lord is blessing the work here, and there are some great people that we are meeting who are ready to receive this.
Dad, I have to thank you in a weird way for the cancer experience. I dont know if I told you guys, but remember that Women in Hospice, the one who died of cancer? Well last monday we had a family home evening with the husband and daughter of Sister Yarrow. The member (Sister Pelham) felt impressed to show president monsons talk about his wife and her death... obviously a very touchy subject for a man who just lost his wife and a daughter who just lost her mother. But we felt impressed. We shared the talk, and it was dead quite afterwards. You could tell that they knew we picked it out just for them. I had no idea what they were thinking..... and then I remebered my experience with you Dad. I was able to take the brunt of the evening off of them and share how that talk applied to me and to you. And to our entire family. How we have seen, through this trial, our family get closer together. How we have seen so many blessings come from this experience. They sympathized. They knew, what it was like. They know what its like to have someone they love get the C word. We then launched into a wonderful conversation in which they shared how the trial of their wife, and mom. Really has brought the family closer together. We got to meet them! Haha, they laughed at that. But, I could never had shared that experience if I it didnt happen. We are seeing them again soon. The daughter is not a member. Hopefully she will be very soon. ;)
So as I said we finished the BOM last night. We needed to finish it fast so we elected me to read because I was the fastest and most fluent reader (something I get from mom). ;) But basically I read from the middle of Helaman to the end. But, something really cool happened near the end of the BOM. I was reading the very last column written by Moroni, when my eyes started to water. Dont worry I didnt cry. But I felt some power in those words that Moroni wrote. We then had the opportunity to do the challenge that Moroni presents to the entire world. We got to kneal down and pray. MAN! Family. This Book is soooo true. I cannot deny that it is true. In fact, Im trying to tell people that it is. ;) How great of an opportunity to be able to share that beautiful message with the world. Its beautiful. Its wonderful. And to be able to have my Boy get the same answer. DANG! Dad and mom, is this how you feel when you see your children make a right choice, or find out something that will help them for Eternity? Cause it feels good. I also over hear my boy complimenting me to the District leader during accounting. AMAZING! I cant wait to be a dad. And I really love being a trainer. For some reason the entire mission has just become that much more amazing. Its cool to be able to see someone grow right before your eyes.
I love you family. You guys are great. Thank you for supporting me. Nate, I'm sorry about Beth, I gave her a peice of my mind and called her to repentence. Caleb, I'm so jealous that you can do a back flip, or will be able to do one. Mom, are you ok? I didnt get your letter. I hope your feeling ok. I love you guys. I hope Maren is ok as well. Stephanie. Thank you for that beautiful testimony. You have changed into a beautiful daughter of God. Well you were always one.. but.. you know what I mean. Lets just say your awesome and leave it at that.
Love ya guys. - Elder Hale
Oct 9th, 2013 Maren
Hey family....
So guess what.... today I have been a missionary for 9 months :O!!!! How did that happen?
Sorry I forgot to tell you guys last week that P-day was going to be a little different. We had Presidents Interviews on Monday so we had P-day today instead. Little weird having it in the middle of the week.
So real quick... man my mind is everywhere. sorry.
Okay. We were blessed this week with some new investigators. You know those stories about people just walking into the church and being amazing prepared and ready to hear the gospel. Well those stories are the exception usually not the rule... but this week that happened to us.
She walked into the church on Friday night and talked with one of the Elders. She basically just said she wanted to talk to someone and so he set up an appointment for us. We Met with her the next day, twice actually. Once and the church and just listened to her story (her name is Anabel by the way) and then we were able to go over that night and teach her and her sister the message of the restoration. They have both studied a lot of religions searching for something that felt right and I know that they were able to feel the spirit on Saturday night. They both have their challenges but nothing that a knowledge of the truth cant overcome. Family, I feel so amazing blessed to be right where I am. I feel so trusted of the Lord to be blinded in a second time and so grateful that there are prepared people here. In my interview with President this week he said "when we are prepared and worthy the prepared ones seem to find us." Wow. I am humbled at the trust the Lord has shown in us. I hope we can help this beautiful family accept this wonderful gospel.
... As a side note. We also had the opportunity to talk with a guy who the Zone leaders were working with while they were running around trying to get conference set up. We gave him a soft commit to baptism while we were talking and the Zone Leaders followed up later by setting a date. Its super cool to work in an Elliptical where we just work together and help each other. We have a lot of fun doing it too. I think on friday we're going to do our first flash mob of the season! Nice! I am excited. Singing on the train. So much fun!
Other big news of the week..... drum roll please.... WE ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK!!!! yeah some of you may have seen me online last night.. super weird. We were trained yesterday and logged on last night for the first time. Honestly... kinda felt like we were sinning. Haha. It was super easy to get distracted and want to go look at what you are all up to and at all my friends wedding pictures... but thats just not what I am here for. It amazing though.... I have already seen how it is going to be an amazing missionary tool. The work is going to explode here. Just you wait!
Sorry I dont have much time today. I loved conference. We got to watch it at our building here.
I love you all!
-Sister Maren Hale
Monday, October 7, 2013
October 7th, 2013 Jacob
So fam this week has been an interesting one. And so fatiguing. Not in the physical sense but in the mental sense. My trainee and I were just about to study for the day, when I asked him if he has ever read the Book of Mormon all the way through. He said No. Elder Linden's trainee has also never read the Book of Mormon all the way through. Now, as missionaries, our whole teaching and testifying... usually comes down to the Book of Mormon. If you know the BOM is true then you know that this church is true.. you know that Joseph smith was a prophet of god... yada yada yada. So it is imperetive, that you yourself can say that you have read the book all the way through, have prayed about it, and received the answer that it is true. You can receive a witness with out reading it all the way through. But as a missinoary that is a necessity. So, with permission, we are reading the book of mormon all the way through from Title page, to back cover. Its sevel hours reading at a time... and mix that in with conferece. Oh man, my head feels like jello. Im just gonna get a rugby ball today and just do something that doesnt require brain cells. Haha!
It has been exausting, but this week has also been spiritually powerful. Reading the Book of Mormon so often and Conference have filled me with the spirit to the spilling point. Conference is so amazing. The MTC, I was still making that transition to being a missionary. So this Conference was my first one as a MISSIONARY. You never have a better conference then when you are on your mission. Because you study to often, and teach so often, and talk about the doctrine... so often. You get a lot of questions. All of which I wrote down. All of which are answered. Some still require the study of the conference talks. But some, I got answered when I was watching the broadcast. There is nothing like writing some notes and then snapping your head up because an Apostle of the Lord just answered a question that you had. BEAUTIFUL! I have a whole list of things that are my Goals, Things to remember, and things to do with members from conference. I loved Elder Hales talk because it seemed to tell us of the importance of General Conferece. He told us how we can receive strength and protections, feel the spirits, and receive questions answered just by listening to General Conference. Not to mention the most important thing he said. I paraphrase. " Go home, prepare, and apply what you have learned in conference." We are being taught by the apostles, prophets, and teachers of the Lord. What are we doing with those teachings? Are we applying them into our lives and becoming better. Or are we leaving the teachings on the way side with our spiritual cup half full. Content with the little we got, or chose to take away. These teachings have been send to strengthen us! Every single talk has commitments for us to do, promises to principles we live, and reminders of convenants we are not living up to. All of these things which we should gladly look for. Strive to put into our lives and then go back and look for more.
Me and my companion already have a whole list of things to talk to members about that we heard in General Conference. Missionary work is not the Missionaries sole responsibility. Never was. But we need to be reminded of that. Hold a Family Missionary Council. Find people that you reach out to, Become their friends, and strengthen. Pray for missionary experiences, then look for them. When found, do not doubt the Lord! Go forth positively. He will give you the words to say. He will help you. D & C 84:88 "And whoso areceiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine dangelsround about you, to bear you up."
I can't wait to see how this conference is going to change me. Being a trainer has opened up my eyes as well. Its kind of like being a parent. You cook for them and clean until they learn how to. You show them how to wash their clothes, how to shop, etc. You even help them get dressed. I mean that you tell them what is appropiet to wear and what is not. But, most importantly. They watch your every step. You are their supreme example. YOU, instill in them the mission values that guide them for the rest of their 2 years. Thats a pretty sobering notion. I find my self double checking everything I do now. Is this music really mission worthy? Is this tie? Does my language match a representative of Jesus Christ? Am I working my hardest? I want my boy to have every advantage that he can. And in a way, its given me a good opportunity as well to look at myself. See what I have grown laps in. See what I can do to become better. Its been great! From conference I have taken the motto Be 100% humble ,to be 100% obedience, to have the spirit 100%.
Im sorry if this letter is kind of ranty. Im still not recovered from my really focuses week end. ;) Haha. But these are some things that have been on my soul and that give me joy to share with my family and friends. I love this Church family. I love the Doctrine of Christ. For in it we receive eternal happiness. I'm grateful for a family who is strong in the faith. For goodly parents who have taught me well. Im grateful for my Church leaders who have followed the spirit and have instructed me and made me stronger. This church isnt perfect. Its full of Imperfect people. But the awesome thing, is seeing this church turn those imperfect people, INTO perfect people. Or as close as we can get. Haha!
I love you guys all so much. Thank you for the prayers. Oh by the way my companions name is Elder Mortensen. He is a convert from Utah.... Didnt know it was possible. Haha! He is 20 years old. So that makes it a little interesting. My son is older then me. :) He is from South Jordan, and lives in the shadow of the Oquer mountain temple. He is a good artist and is pretty awesome. Ill try to send some pictures.
Love yall.
Elder Hale
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
September 30th, 2013 Stephanie
September
30th, 2013
Hale family,
To start off, yes I am coming home
actually Thanksgiving Day. We have change meeting on Wednesday and I think I
leave the next day which is Thursday. Wow, really comet? Yes I want to see the
stars again. I can’t see them here. I miss them so much. I am looking forward
to spending that time with you again dad.
This week was really good. We had
high goals and we reached a lot of them. We planned to have two baptisms and we
only had one. What am I saying? I am super excited that we had one. I just hope
that this next month we can baptize Manuel. He is 24 and lives with his aunts. He
is super prepared but something happened this last week. He was so ready for
baptism and was looking forward to Saturday. This week we went to his house
every night to try and find him. He was never there. We went one night while it
was raining and his aunt came out really mad. (she doesn’t like us. She has
slammed doors and played music really loud while we have taught her nephew) But
this day she was really mad and said that he was eating and couldn’t talk to us.
We just asked to see him for 2 second to ask a question to see if he wanted to
get baptized. She said again that he was
eating and couldn’t see us. So we told her we would wait.....in the rain until
he was done. We waited 20 minutes and no one came out. So, we were either
thinking that he doesn’t want to get baptized, his family doesn’t want him too
or he was scared to do it. Please be praying for him that we can find him this
week.
Man, I am really enjoying being back
here. Many people think it’s a curse to spend so much time in one area in the
mission. I find it a great blessing. I am teaching people I taught before and I
have seen the hand of the Lord in preparing them while I was gone to help them
accept it now. Many are progressing and
it’s amazing to see. We are teaching 2 families and I really hope they will
start to progress. They are so great both of them and they both need the gospel
so much.
I love the mission more than ever. I
don’t think I have ever been happier. I love my companions. We laugh all the
time in the middle of the street. It’s great fun. We are planning the activity
for the soc soc and Hermana Dumay is going to teach us how to make comida
Dominicana. We are gaining the confidence of the members and they are starting
to work with us and give us references. This last baptism was one of the best I
have had on my mission. The spirit was so strong. During the time Jessica was
changing, I and my companions shared our testimonies. It was so great my mission
daughter bore testimony in public in Spanish for the first time. She did such a
great job. It was so great to watch her succeed. We had 3 investigators at the
baptism and after the fact one of them said to me that when I was saying my
testimony, they felt something different. In that moment, we taught about the
spirit it was a really cool experience.
Family, thank you all for your
letters and testimonies and words of faith; they help us missionaries so much
on the mission. Thank you for your prayers and love they are felt. If you could
keep us in your prayers for protection, that would be great. Some of the gangs
are starting to be more active where we live. It’s nothing to get scared about
Mom and Dad. We are trying to move soon anyway so, no worries hah.
I know this gospel is true. My
testimony has grown so much and my conversion has deepened as I have tried to
live my testimony. I am so excited for this weekend to hear the voice of the Lord
through his prophet today. Pay close attention and I promise you that you will
receive answers to your questions.
Love you family more than you
know.
Hermana Hale
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