October 21, 2013 Maren

Hey Family,

First of all I am so sorry I cause you all so much worry. To be honest last week was just so crazy that there wasn't a lot of time to write. I could have made it work though so I am sorry. (Last week was a holiday so the library was closed, we were using a members laptop and she had to leave for work.)

So this week has been so busy and crazy. I can't believe that we are already in week 6 of this transfer! Here's what I wrote to president this week:

President,

This week has been crazy. 2 exchanges and 1 temple trip makes for an extremely short week.

On Tuesday we had exchanges with the traveling sisters. I got to go with Sister Chipman again which always makes me happy. I always learn so much. We talked a lot about finding and president, I really think she needs to be able to give a training about it to all the sisters. We talked about how when we think about +10's as a number it doesn't motivate us at all... but if we can think about it as 10 opportunities that God has put in our paths to share the gospel... I don't know... it just changes everything. At least for me. Still have a lot to learn but I think this will help.

Then on Thursday I went to the temple and Sister Jensen stayed back to work. Not going to lie they got to do some fun service that day and I was a little jealous I wasn't here to help. But I wouldn't give up being in the temple for anything. I'm not sure I really "get it" yet but I really enjoyed the new movie. Any thoughts about what I could study that might shed some more light on the lessons the temple has to teach us?

Friday we then went on exchanges with teh lynbrook sisters and I have to say that I was humbled. I had judged sister Runyan as a high maintance girly girl... and she's just not. I got a long with her really well and love her to death. She even saved me from getting his by a bus... haha. But really. I promise we weren't breaking any trafic rules, we had the right of way... i just don't think the bus saw us. But we are all alive so that is good.

We spent a lot of time this week working on cleaning out the ward list and were able to make some headway. In District Meeting on tuesday I gave a workshop about goals and about how we need to manage our time to be productive and not just busy. In the city its really easy to be busy with elliptical activities and all the other things going on but i'm not sure its always the most important. So we tried to follow that council and pound out the lookups since that is the branches focus right now. We had some cool experiences too. While on exchanges with Sister Runyan we did one lookup, there was no answer at the door so we knocked the neighbor to ask for information. We found out she moved but even cooler than that her neighbor told us that he "used to be a member" and his sister too. Well we think he might be gay BUT we found him... we added him on facebook and we'll stay in touch. Right after that we decided to stop by a LA's house in the area even though we had no way to ring their apartment and no phone number. But we went. And couldn't get in. But as we were walking away we were prompted to talk to this kid walking towards us, he looked vaguely familiar and its because it was the LA's grandson. We were then able to go back and get in and talk to Leonor and we found out that she had a stroke last week. We immediately told the RS president and got the priesthood in there. So yeah, exchange with sister Runyan summed up: 2 miracles and 1 near death experience. It was awesome!

Last night we sang at another churches worship service... and the priest gave a sermon on "lightening our load" with all of the things that we choose to carry so that we are only carrying what God has asked us to carry so that we can make it to the next level. It was a little weird that the spirit could talk to us through another religion's priest but we felt the spirit and were well taught.

-Sister Hale

Dad, Please find a way to let me know as soon as your cancer results are in. I don't even want to think about Chemo... Bro Blom can still get me a message if you let him know.

Mom, yeah facebook is still a little weird. I am trying to figure out how to use it to be the most effective and its a little hard. But we're getting there. Come November 11-13 each missionary will be issued a mini ipad and each companionship will get and iphone. Yeah... We're going to be spoiled. But things will really start taking off. I think my old companion sister peacock is having great success. She taught a friend in Germany last night on skype at the Blom's house. Basically the world is my area. I know some elders are trying to teach their girl friends back home and their immediate family members are their member presents. Its amazing. I encourage all of you to get involved and start sharing online. I am so grateful to be able to learn how to do this in the mission field so that i can be a forever missionary.

Boys! I am so proud of all of you! I am sorry I am missing these big moments in your life so Tania... keep taking lots of video. Also, Tania... did Sister Chipman convince you to move out here yet? Not going to lie it'd be pretty cool. Question... can i get pictures of all of you? I want to see how big everyone is and how everyone has changed. Caleb...I want to see how tall you are. :D

Isaac, way to go on piano. Develop that talent. I cannot stress enough how well that can serve you in the mission. Last night at that other church's service one of our elders, our piano player, (who i am going to have to send you some video's of so you can really grasp this,) totally had a jam session with their christian rock band after it was over. SO COOL! and now we're all best buds. Haha. Missionary work is really just using who you are to get out of your comfort zone and share the gospel. Keep it up!

Simeon, I am so proud of you. You should try to wrestle Cade at thanksgiving. I bet you can take him. ;)

Nathan. Even basketball is a way to share the gospel. So keep that up.

That is pretty much it for me. Just living the Jamaica dream! I love it here. Its definately a different experience but I have a lot of fun. New adventures every day. But i'll save some of those for when I get home. Or Christmas phone calls.  ;)

Family, be diligent in the small things. Lately I have taken to asking the Elders about their stories. Its amazing how different, and yet molding each experience is. We have some that are here and became converted through diligent personal daily study. We have some that battled it all, family, alternative life styles, to even just join the church and then decided to serve a mission as well. We have some who have rough family situations and some who have lost loved ones. We have some who only came to be good examples to their little siblings. Whatever the reason though we're all here now and I feel so blessed to be able to serve with each of them. I know though that this is a lot easier when we come prepared. So no matter what read your scriptures and say meaningful prayers. The Lord speaks to us through those things. Those things will keep us from being a part of the righteous who fall away in the last days. Scripture Study, Prayer, Church attendance, and FHE. I promise you its the building blocks to eternal life.  

I love you all.

-Sister Maren Hale