Nov 11th 2013 Jacob

Hey Family!   Sorry, if this letter has spelling and grammar errors in it. My fingers are about to fall off. Haha! Its getting really cold here. Im starting to look at scarfs for the first time. Its just so humid that its a different kind of cold. It gets into your bones. Its damp. And as all scouts know, its better to be dry. Dry is good. Damp. NO! Haha! But luckily, I found a warm winter coat as a flat find, and its nice! And I have the one I got from the MTC but that makes me look like a marshmellow and people dont like talking to giant Marshmellows. Maybe, if it gets colder. Dad, I was joking. Haha! Im not going to come back swearing. Hopefully. 2 years is a long time. Haha! The Kababs here are HUGE! They are so good though..... Im actually craving one right now. I like the Chicken Kababs better then the Lamb ones though. I find the Lamb way to salty. But seriously, it just kind of pours out of the peta bread. I've talked to some missionaries from Europe and they say Euroes are similar but different. Euroes are closed? Anyways. The Fish and Chips here are so good. But, still HUGE! I cant eat all of the stuff they get me. Im not a big Fish person either I've discovered. The fish here is still really good, but I'd rather get a leg of Lamb or something. They need more lamb in America. The Chocolate here is so good though. If you were to try it, side by side with a American one. It doesnt even compare. ITS SO GOOD! Oh, and the Currey! Indian food here is big. Its the number one food in England. Which is kinda ironic. But, I love the curreys and can actually make a pretty decent one myself. :) I've really taken to cooking. So, ya. 20 pounds to send a package or about 30-35 Us dollars. Its cheaper to ship things to America then to ship it from America to here. I'll get you guys a christmas package. :) Dad, you talking about your kids moving away.... it would take me 15 years to get my med degree in America.... It would only take me 7 here. And they are better schools... and they love life experience so a mission would get me into a good school. So, im actually debating comeing over here for my schooling. Mom, Sister Pelham understands. Haha, she just likes to get in contact with other moms and swap stories. :) Oh, and my wrist. Its actually been complaining me for a while, even back home it was a little bit. It just hurt to do Push-ups and stuff. But, I was at mutual over here one night, and we were playing a rough house game where you had to grap wrists and then kinda throw each other around trying to hit a bucket..... boys. Anyways It was me and the Young Mens leader last, and he threw me hard. I got out, looked at my wrist and it hurt so bad. It was red, and when I got home I noticed I had devoloped a bump on my wrist that portrudes about 3 cm out of the skin. Not puctured, just swelling. So i got a brace on it. The gas thing was fine. Just a routinely check up. Mom, if you are going to send a package for christmas, could you possibly get a jumper in there? They really help. Apparently you can get some for 10$ at a Banana Republic outlet store in provo and they are really nice. All of that is according to my recently left utah companion. :)   Ok, that stuff is now out of the way.  Not a lot of super amazing things have happened this week. I guess the best thing is that we are actually teaching more and more. We had three member present teaches on Saturday and it was crazy running around trying to get everything done. Haha! Its great to move out of the Finding part of being a missionary and move into the teaching part of it. Hopefully baptizing part of it. :) We still have to find more people, but Uckfield is really small. Haha, we have had problems Contacting the same people 2 to 3 times now on the high st. We didnt like knocking before, because it just wasnt effective, but I think that we are going to have to move into that area now. The lord will lead us to the right people though. :)   All of the investigators that came to church last week came again to church this week. :) That was the best part as well as seeing the one of them(Natalie) Had an obsticle in the way of her coming. But she was able to overcome it and came to Sacrement Meeting anyways! :) Its always amazing to watch people grow.   We had a great experience last night being able to see an ex-communicated member, get re-baptized. She asked to have her name removed from the church, realized the mistake she made a few years later, and decided to come back. She has had to wait for 3 years to be re-baptized as her case has to go all the way up to the first presidency. But, it was amazing to see how happy she was when she came up out of the water. Joy, just doesnt seem to express her emotion. It made me think of a Cliche. You dont realize what you have until its gone? She realized what she missed. And then I thought about my mission. The best part about my mission is that I dont have to loose it. I apply the principles more in depth in my life, see the difference in me,  and then go out and I see people who dont have the Gospel in their lives. What a contrast between us and them. We stopped a Man once on the street, and we said we were sharing a message of happiness. He swore at us, said "oh, and you guys look so happy." Very sarcasticly.... while me and my companion smiled. Haha! He was right. We are SOOOOOO Happy. We are Joyful. We have something that really has changed our lives. And I dont have to loose it to find out.   I got to teach the lesson in Gospel principles yesterday and it was all about our relationship with God. One of the sections was how to get closer to him. 4 things. 1. Beleive that he is there and he loves us. 2. Pray. 3. read your scriptures, and I cant remember the 4th one.... Im terrible. Haha! But I have been able to see myself get closer to God through those 4 things. Not only me, but my boy! He is a recent convert and I have seen him grow. Its amazing. It was so cool to get the pictures with simeon and issac and dad and Uncle Glen. In one of simeons pictures Tania was in the Background..... Reading her Scriptures... I hope. Other wise this points void. But it made me smile so much to see her reading! My family. I love you guys so much. I can not tell you how much I want you guys to get closer to God. Feel that change. As Maren said. As we get closer to Christ or God, we change as a direct result. How beautiful. I love you family. I have 1 min left so I have to go. Love you all so much.     Elder Hale   p.s. Caleb, Ill be praying for you and your play. You will do great.

Nov 4th 2013 Stephanie

                                                          Nov. 4^th 2013

Dear family 

   

   So I attached my letter to President. Sorry they took away a lot of our time to write so we can’t write as much now. But to answer some of your questions. I would love to see the extended family but if it is Thanksgiving or another day it’s ok with me. Surprise me hah I am game for anything. 

    Mom thank you so much for taking care of everything for school ......so I have been thinking about housing I think if you could go up and see what is there and see what is cheap and close to campus that would be great.

   I have so much to tell you all and now I don’t have time. You’ll all just have to wait hah. These stories are just the beginning of what happened this week. 

This week has been really crazy with everything going on after the meeting. We are super excited to help the sisters’ plan and then commit to their goals. We are making plans on how to help them more and how to follow up. This week we have had some interesting experiences we are seeing God in this work more than ever. We are seeing miracles. We put 4 fechas in one day!!! There are so many people trying to do the right thing in their lives. Last Sunday we had an entire family just show up at church and we have been visiting them now for the entire week.  The husband and two of the children have fechas!!! They are so great. You feel the spirit with them so much. It was amazing this last lession. We taught the Book of Mormon and we talked about how we can know if it is true. I was on divisions with a member and it was so great to have her there.  Roberto, the father, asked the perfect questions.... ¿  “How did you know it was true? What did it feel like for you?” I bore my testimony and I felt the spirit so strong and then I was able to say that it is different for each person and turned to the member and asked, “How was it for you?”  The member bore a beautiful testimony and the spirit was so strong and then after his wife (member) bore her testimony. I love working with members!!!!!! They are so great and bring the spirit. They truly speak what is in their hearts and we bare our testimonies so often I think we forget to do that sometimes, not all the time but sometimes. They bring a spirit that is so strong. We are trying never to have a lession without a member. 

     Oh other cool story, we went to go to a lession with an investigator (Friend of MA) and we went with the Mission leader. It was so cool. This family that is MA, the father had never even talked to us before but at the end of the lession our ward mission leader went and found the husband. They were friends when he was active and they talked hugged and had a good time. Now we have a Family night with them planned. I think this is the answer to the wife’s prayers to finally wake up her husband and have him come back so they can get married. And she ( non member) can get baptized!!!! This is the time for members and missionaries to work together. We are seeing miracles when we do!!! 

     We are also seeing Satan hard at work with all the success we are having. He is always there trying to destroy ours and others happiness. (Man I hate that) I got really mad at Satan the other day. We have a golden investigator who asked God if this church is true after the first visit. We came back and he said he felt a tickling in his heart and he thinks it’s true. Hey so a miracle there and  wow this young man has such a connection with the spirit. It’s amazing. His grandparents are members and they have been praying hard to have their family come to the knowledge. But his mom was really mad when she found out we were teaching her son. She had given her warning to him as to what she will do if he continues listening to us. It breaks my heart to see him close to tears as he has to make the choice of family or God. We are praying so hard for him. 

I love you family. Dad I am praying for you and I hope you feel better.

Brothers I can’t wait to see you all!! Know that I love you. 

Mom thanks for all you are doing to help me. 

Love you all 

Hermana Hale 

Nov. 4th 2013 Maren

Hi!.... Okay so this is going to have to be SUPER fast... which is lame because there is so much I want to share with you... but there is only an hour left in P-day and my comp still needs to email her family on this computer. AHHHH!!!! Stressful life.

 

So to speed things up here is my presidents letter.

 

Hey President,

First of all. This week was a little hard. Anabel got a job and told us she doesn't have time for us anymore... we're going to try and be really annoying until she lets us meet with her on her day off but we'll see what happens... It broke my heart. Really cool thing though is that we picked up an investigator of about 8 years and have started working with her. Her family is her priority and so she cant get baptized because her "husband" wont marry her and she wont leave him. But she is so faithful. She had a goal to finish reading the book of Mormon by the end of the year. She was only in Jacob. So we figured it out and together we are ready 12 pages a day (in SPANISH!) to accomplish that goal. I've seen the book of Mormon work miracles and that is what we are praying for. either way, we'll both have finished reading the book of Mormon in Spanish by the end of the year.

Something I learned this week: So I started messaging a friend I've had FOREVER back home who is completely less active. I found out this week that in reality she is atheist... but by what she said I think she believes in God, she just doesn't understand him so she says she doesn't... I am still trying to figure out how to respond without going all missionary on her... but! While I was studying for her I read this quote... okay... so I can't find it... but basically It says that as we grow closer to Christ Change is the natural consequence and blessing. Man was I slapped in the face. I told you last week that the whole idea that I had changed kinda bothered me... I have always been an independent person and that only increased when I moved away from home. But as I read this quote I realized that in my ignorance when I wasn't appreciative and grateful for the change that I have achieved I was basically slapping Christ in the face and saying no thanks... In effect, moving further away from him than closer. I have made a resolution and commitment to rely more on Christ. A thought hit me this week that we either have to let Christ pay for our sins or we have to... either way the price has to be paid... and yet the only way we are saved is if we allow Christ to do it. We can't do this alone. I can't be independent in my salvation. I need Christ. I don't want to try to do it alone anymore. He can change me all he wants... and he's already letting me know exactly what he needs me to change next.

-Sister Hale

 

So... this may have been one of the longest weeks in my mission with how much the Lord is pushing me and trying to teach me. Our President has asked us to remain focused as we get ipads this transfer and everything and so I have thought about some areas that I need to be more focused in. The first is my studies. So this week I have really tried to go in with purpose and an open heart. and he's taught me so much. What I wrote to president is such a small part of it.

 

The second thing is the members. We need to be focusing on building relationships with them. We kind of let that lag a little as soon as we got an investigator... maybe that's why the Lord took her away... I don't know... but we need to make sure we are working well with the members to make this a strong pool.

 

Accountability is next. What Jacob wrote really taught me a lot about that principle and about wanting to be proactive in being excited and proud in reporting our efforts to the Lord and to our leaders.

 

and Finally, Work. I just want to work. Its been a little difficult adjusting to city life as a missionary. We're with other missionaries so much that its hard not to socialize and get caught up in that. But I just want to work and focus on that. Its interesting because the new English sister across the hall shared with me some experiences with just working hard on her mission and I had to think, I am not sure I've ever worked as hard as I could. So I focused on it for just 24 hours... and miracles happened.... and I really don't have time to tll you about them all! I am sorry. I have to go. I have to be nice to my comp. What did you guys decide about the christmas tradition?

 

Sorry!

 

I love you all!

 

-Sister Maren Hale

 

P.S. Dad... no the marathon didn't go through my area.

November 4th 2013 Jacob

Hey Family,

 

So first I have to ask and answer some questions. Caleb. A week before a show we felt completely unprepared. We realized that we could have been working harder the entire time and we never felt ready. But also take courage. The one week became hell week. Thats actually a good thing. Everyone realizes that they need to get down and put some real work into things. The tech, gets everything done. Most of the kinks worked out on the lighting as well as the sound systems. The director usually gets a final image of what she or he wants the show to be like. and you yourself put a lot more work in a get prepared. Do your best, be the best you can be, and you will have the best experience ever. If the rest of the show sucks, then be the best part of the show. ;) Haha!

Mom, Sister Pelham in my ward sent you an email. She has been wondering for the past 2 weeks if you have gotten it. Have you? You might want to check your junk folder of just really clean out your email. ;) I also heard of this great website called globalmissionshipping.com which is supposed to ship missionaries packages cheaply and swiftly. Guaranteeing it in 2 days. Its kinda of like costco but for shipping. :)

And do you guys think it is wise for me to send a package home? I really want to, but its about 20 quid to send. Let me know what you guys think so I can start preparing..... the chocolate here is 5x's better then anything america has... just saying. ;)

Oh ya.... would you guys get mad at me if I came home with a swearing problem? The D word and H word here are not swear words and they kinda get ingrained in your vocabulary when the ward mission leader says "lets get that D*** baptism!" Seriously. Its super funny sometimes. I've fought for 6 months but I'm finding it getting harder and harder now. I may have shocked my trainee once or twice.....IM RIGHTEOUS!! I promise.

 

So this week has been a good one. We have had really good days... and really sucky days. But, good days first. We have had amazing miricles. Sunday was probably the best day ever. On saturday we got a member to come with us on a teach to a former investigator named Natalie. She has three little kids and a really sad back story. She is from france, and is one of the nicest people you have ever met. But she used to be involved in Scientology and that really sucked life out of her spritual side. We invited her to church.... and she said yes! Thats my first investigator ever to come to church. Mine! Found, taught, Invited! WOOHOO! Ok, ok. Lets be real hear. God, did all of it. Everything just fell into place. Not only that, but when we got her to church she was having a great time in sacrement meeting and then thats when things got a little bit sticky. Her oldest son wanted to go home and was really sad. I had to teach gospel principles as we ANOTHER investigator as well. Ill tell you that later. So i left my Companion and Elder Linden my ex companion to go out and talk to her and just invite her in, if she wants or maybe even give a thought out there. I didnt know. But they went out and they had her fellowshipper come out as well and she just let loose. Her husband just got up and left the family one day. The kids have really been missing him and they tried to get in contact with him, just so the kids could talk to him. But it was 3 days later, after they left a voicemail, that he called and it wasnt a very long or good call. The oldest son is really missing his dad and wants to be with him. Natalie is having a hard time to try and deal with him. She doesnt know if she wants to move back to East Grinstead or not and is just at a loss as for what to do. The fellowshipper, Kursteen Graabek, was amazing. She told her that she was her friend now. That this ward is just a big family and they just talked. She really needed it. Elder M ( my companion) and Elder Linden went out and talked to the oldest son Ewin. They had a good talk and eventually he went to primary and she went to releif society. We set up a return apointment and are going to be seeing them again. I think we broke the ice with Ewin as well. The kids are 10, 7, and 3. Sweetest family ever. Can you guys pray for them that she will receive guidence as what to do, as well as realize that this is the church that she needs. That this gospel can help her.

 

Alright, that was the first one. Second Miricle. We were on our way to church, Natalie following behind us in her car. When Kursteen got a text from Joanna, A former, that she had helped fellowship. Joanna was asking if she could come to church. :) What?! Haha! So we got her a ride and she came. A lot of the youth got up and gave their testimony and she was so touched by the power and sincerity of it all. We have a great youth group in Haywards Heath Ward. She then went to Gospel Principles where for some reason the Ward Mission leader asked me to give a lesson on faith. Thats not what usually we would have given the lesson on. But we did it gladly. We had an amazing lesson about faith in the savior and acting upon that faith. Apparently I said something right, in reality i think the spirit used the gift of tongues to turn what I was saying into something good. HAHA! Because she got up in Releif society next hour and bore her testimony. I had so many people come up to me after wards saying how beautiful it was. She came up to me after church and told me how what was said in Gospel Principles really touched her and gave her the courage to bear her testimony..... I didnt know what to say. That was amazing. We have an apointment with her this wednesday and we are going to invite her to be taught again. :)

 

Missionary work is amazing. You can see so much good come out of it. Me and companion had a day this week where everything we had was canceled. We litterly turned 4 good hours of teaching into finding. Thats enough to melt anyones brain. Haha! It was misserable as well. But I look at that now, and it only makes moments like this get so much better. This week, for some reason, I completely destroyed Either 12:27. I read it, but I wanted to know everything about this scripture and HOW god makes us stronger. HOW, he turns our weekness into strength. I learned a lot but the one thing I really want to share is my new favorite bible story. Its a parrible that I have never hear of before in Luke chapter 18, verses 10 through 14.

 

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

Maybe its the drama kid in me. But I can just see this publican. Standing behind this Pharisee and thinking about how he has so much to improve. He walks up, cant even lift his eyes to heaven, doesnt feel like he can look up to God. He hits his chest. A sign of his repentence and sorrow for the things that he has done, or for the weaknesses he has. He hits his chest. Tears streaming down his face. And says in basically 7 words this. God... be.. merciful to me.... a sinner. He humbled himself before God. He was humbled and because of that he became exalted. Its not the biggest parable or maybe one of the most powerful. But, when I read that it hit me so hard. I can see me and in that man. Sometimes standing as a missionary, not even looking up to god and saying. God! Please. Forgive me. Forgive my weekness. Forgive my sins. And help me. Help me become better. Mold me with your hands. Make me the son of God that I can become. Mom, I aboslutly love the scripture in Mosiah that you shared. King Benjamin was right. We are absolutly nothing to God. But.... we are also everything. We are his Children. We are litterally his offspring. He wants us to become like him. We are not even as the dust of the earth by ourselves. BUT! With GOD! We can become even as he is. Because of the Sacrifice of his Holy Son, we can become even as our father in heaven is. How amazing is that? That mans as fallen and weak and fragile as we are... can become like GOD? All because of love. But he cant force us to be like him. We have to choose! That is why we must be humble. Because that is admiting that the only way to exaultation is through the holy messiah. Jesus Christ. ACTS 4:12. Neither is there ^asalvation in any other: for there is none other ^bname under heaven given among men, whereby we must be ^csaved. WOW! And then we read in Alma chapter 7:11-13 all that christ did for us. Pains, suffering, afflictions, our sins. Everything. Christ has been through that... Why? We are as the dust of the earth. Why? Because we are God Children. You are special. That book is a childrens book that describes the one principle that if we never forget, can help us get through anything. Remeber God loves you more than anything. I love how we are all so week. Yet can be made so powerful through him and his love. Because thats what Christs atonement really is. The highest form of love that became an action. And that thought alone, humbles me. And makes me beleive that he CAN make me better. I love you all so much. This principle is one that I hope I can always remember and that I wish the world would know. I hope that, that actually made any sense. Haha! If not... well I apologize. ;)

 

Its getting cold here. Its as cold as utah is in winter and its autumn still. Haha! Its also really dark. Its getting dark here at 5. Thats to soon. Im out at 7 feeling apostate because I feel like its 9 and I should be home. Haha!

 

Halloween was great. We were going to go knocking in a small town and we met a man who was selling poppies, a war memorial thing, door to door. We asked how it was going and he said "Either people are out, or their hiding because they think Im a trick or treater!" Haha! Brits hate halloween..... wait... we cant go knocking. No one will open their door! The one time we decide knocking would be a good idea and we do it on the one day of the year the knocking is probably the least effective thing to do! Haha! But its ok because we went to the hospital and got my wrist checked out, and then went and taught a wonderful lesson to an investigator and LA family. WOOHOO! Haha! Halloween was good this year.

 

Well I got to go guys. I have a gas guy showing up at our flat for an inspectian. yay. Haha! ;) Love you guys all so much. Talk to you guys later. Bye!!!

 

Elder Hale