July 22, 2013 Jacob

Hey Family!!!!!

 

First Off. Yes mother I did get your package. And it was lovely! My new challenge is now trying to ration the rest of the goodies(The Reese's Puffs are already gone........But you knew that would happen.) :) Haha!!!! Second off, I need to thank all of you for your letters. Every single one had something in it that I needed to hear.

 

This past week has been an interesting one. Getting use to a new area and trying to remember an old area with out dwelling on it has been hard. Monday to Wednesday were great challenges. I would basically get up and just be deppressed in the morning remembering where I am, who I was with, the people that I know have limited contact with. It was hard. My poor companion, Bless him, did  a lot to help me. He cheered me and helped me work. And that was the key.

 

Thursday morning I got up and just said "I hate feeling this way! Im sick of it!" And something just snapped. I made a commitment that morning to work harder then I ever had before. I walked out that door and talked to everyone who was in my path. I knocked a ton of doors. I put my whole hear into the work for that day and the results where amazing. We were busy as heck. We were running around and as the day passed I found us having less time to talk to everyone on the street and we completely had to take out knocking. Its like the lord saw we were willing to do all of that hard stuff, and then said " Alright, way to go. I see that you are willing to work, well here is some real work." And then we started teaching people. We got 2 potentials that day and are looking forward to contact them this week. The apointments we had were amazing. The spirit was there and it used us for the teaching. It was amazing. The best part??? I collapsed on my bed that night, just feeling awesome. I woke up the next morning, and.... I wasnt sad. I wasnt depressed.

 

But the thing I learned? Friday morning I got up, and I had to make the exact same commitment. I had to tell God, "Alright, Im going to do litteraly everything I can for you today." And that was a scary prospect. EVERTHING I could? Thats a lot. But I made it, and then all of the sudden, I was excited to see what was going to happen. I knew God was going to bless me for that, and Friday was just as amazing as Thursday. It was really amazing FAMILY!!!!!!

 

Now the thing that I want to share though is that, Im still having to make that commitment every day. It was a LIFE changing discovery, that I have to apply everyday. I need to wake up every morning and say. "Heavinly Father, what do you have planned for me today?" And then get up and do it. Knowing that I would try and Do everything I could.

 

Now this morning I was able to study the Principle of Trusting God. It was funny I was studying this because this principle is what God was teaching me the past couple of Days. It was like he was just reaffirming, what he had taught me. And it told the story of Alma and his people when they were put into bondage to the Lamanites. They prayed to be delivered, but God did not immediatly deliver them. He INSTEAD, strengthened them so that they could bear their burdens and they would seem easy. He did eventually deliver them but it took time. And it made me think of what kind of Humililty that must have took. To trust god and his timing and just know that eventually, it will happen. You just have to be patient.

 

Family, I know that there are going to be days out in the field that are still gonna be hard. But I know that if I give everything over to him, that he will strengthen me and I will be able to endure. And not endure but, be cheerful about it. Just as Almas people were. We saw 2 investigators come to church this week that have been taught for 9 months and have come once before. WOW. Thats amazing.

 

I wish I could write more. Im sorry that this letter was more just spiritual and not telling about the area, my flat, or funny stories. I will send pictures next week I swear. And with some funny stories as well.

 

I love you guys!!!!!!!!!

 

Til Next Week - Elder Hale

July 8th 2013 Jacob

Well Hale family, I must have done what I was supposed to do in Weston, because Im being moved to Haywards Heath in the Crawly Zone on the other side of the Mission. But Dad, its close to london so we will have to see if you served there. Haha its really cool because Im litterally 20 min away from the temple. I can take investigators there and maybe do a few sessions for P-Day.

 

I'm not to lie family, I feel so strentched right now. Haha, I feel nervouse, excited, hyper, sad, hot. Haha I will explain that last one later. I found out on sunday night that I was moving so basically I have two days of just waiting and saying goodbye to people. TWO DAYS!!!!!! Thats 48 hours of saying goodbye to memeber, less actives, and my companion. Sad Day. But like I said earlier I fell a kind of peace with leaving Weston because it means that I have done what I need to do. I have strengthened who ever needed stregthening or have planted the seed for someone who will one day want to be baptized. I honestly dont know. But I Know that I'm supposed to be in Hawards Heath at this time. Im actually kinda excited too because it means that there is someone that I need to find, teach, or uplift in the Haywards Heath Area. I will be able to write you guys on thursday, give you my address and be able to tell you about my new area and companion.

 

You guys want to hear something funny? My new companion is going to be Elder Lindon....... Right? Haha, I told president that that was the name of my home town and he just started laughing. Haha!

 

I feel impressed to share with you guys something that I was able to study this morning and that has been able to give me great strength. The term "Grace" in the bible dictionary gives a definition or part of a definition that says Grace is the help or strength we receive from Christ, when we have done everything we can and just can't go on with out additional strength. I feel as if these next two days are going to be entirely hanging on the grace of the savior. But, I did think that it was interesting that it did say, that we needed to do everything we could do also. He cant just give it to us. We need to have done EVERYTHING we could before we receive his grace. I was thinking upon that and wondering if I was doing everything I could. As a missionary, I should be basically running off of christs grace everyday. I dont know why, but it connected perfectly with a scripture that I read last night when I couldnt sleep. Its in Mosiah 4 and its after the people of King Benjamin have had an amazing spriritual experience. They fall to the ground and cry unto to God to forgive them throught the cleansing power of christ and they are all forgiven. But in chapter 4, it talks about how they become the Children of Christ. Having been reborn through him. King Benjamin warns them though that they cant just forget what has happened. He tell them that they need to engrave Christs name on our hearts. Isnt that what we do, every sunday when we partake of the sacrement? We take upon us the name of christ? To stand in holy places, and that when people look at us they see a diciple of christ. King benjamin continues in this chapter by saying that to have christs name on our hearts we need to work. We need to be out doing the work of christ. Well, it makes sense! How can we know the master, if we(his servants) Dont go out working for him (another quote from chapter 4)? To know christ we need to work for him. But, yet it also is meat that a man runs faster then he has strength. Which is where we loop around back to the topic of Grace. Having the strength, from christ!!! To be able to work for him. To be able to know him, so that we can truly become his spirit children and be forgiven. This is the process of being one of Gods children. So family I am giving you a challenge to go out this week, and work for christ!!! Chapters 1 to 4 give many example on how to serve him. One of the main ones being, when you are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of you god. Mosiah 2:7... i think.

 

I have no idea if that made any sense family. It made sense in my head but then again im tired and a contradiction of emotions.

 

This last week was fun and for the fourth we did get to have a barbeque.... although I got sick right afterwards and was still stick the next day. Ugh that was the worst bus ride EVER. Haha!!!

Dont worry about me family. Im mostly just concereced about not knowing whats going to happen. All this uncertenty makes me nervouse. But as it was said in the missionary leader broadcast by Elder Perry that wise apostle " We can not see the end from the beginning" NO WE CAN NOT. But we can do as alma sugests in chapeter 32: 21 and have faith. Its not a perfect knowledge. But I am walking into something that is "true". Im going some where where God needs me and wants to me be.

 

Dad, you want something to do for the summer? To be able to do as the broadcast directed and be a missionary? Well I have a challenge for you then, not just you but everyone in the family who wants to be.

 

Brad Palmer has been waying on my thoughts this week. Him and his father and parts of his family. Take them under your wing. Try to find ways to invite them back into the fold. If they already are, then fantastic. But, if not. I feel like the Alma, and feel as if I should try and to something to help them, less their sins be layed upon my soul at that great and final judgement day.

 

I love you family.

 

Til next week - Elder Hale

July 8th 2013 Maren

Hi!

First of all thank you for all your support today. Believe it or not (so far) last Monday was harder than today. Thank you Mom and Tania for taking care of the flowers. It means more than you will ever know. 

This week. O man... what happened this week. SO MUCH! The weeks fly by so fast and yet when I get to the computer it feels so long ago.

Things are getting better. Bit by bit, we were out trying to look up some former's one night and were having no luck. Finally we decided to knock on just one door and then head home. So we knocked... and this really awesome lady came to the door. Her name is Cindy. We were able to talk to her for a good 15 minutes and touch on topics ranging from the restoration and prophets to the plan of salvation. The spirit was very strong. We said a prayer with her and made a return appointment for yesterday. Unfortunately she wasn't there when we went but I am inclined to believe that she forgot and didn't do it intentionally. 

We also did a street sweep with our district this week. Basically we set up a table and held up signs along one of our busy streets. We talked to a lot of awesome people and gave out some Book of Mormons. No investigators out of it yet but we planted a lot of seeds. If nothings else we sure made a lot of people smile as we waved at them on their way home from work. A few people even stopped by to take their picture with the Elders. They had seen the musical on Broadway and thought it was so cool to see 2 "real" Mormon missionaries.

 Last night we had a genealogy class for the Spanish in the branch just to help them get started. (Dad, you work for familysearch right? good work! I like the new look and interface) There is a lot more available online than I thought. We only had one sister show up though... Mirna, man she is our continual ray of light. She has changed so much since the first time we talked to her and she came back to church and she is moving forward without a glance backward. She was the one we went to the temple with a few weeks ago. Even though we didn't find anything she said "Now I have a place to start though, and I will find them." Wow. It was really cool for me too because since our family history is mostly completed back who knows how far, it was cool to see someone starting from scratch. Family History always confused me because I never knew where to start, I might have to pick up a new hobby when I get home.

We stopped by to see Elizabeth this week, she hadn't been at church in a while and even though we aren't teaching her anymore we wanted to make sure she was okay. We stopped by and her and her two kids were playing in the yard and her father in law was sitting enjoying the nice weather (it cools off at night and actually becomes quite pleasant, during the day the humidity is killer). We went to talk to her and the first thing she said was "I am coming to church tomorrow!" We laughed and just asked her how she'd been. She said her Father-in-law had had a stroke and he just barely got out of the hospital. We talked to her a little more and then I walked over to talk to him. It was cool to talk to him. He's been a little confrontational before but that night we just talked. I even asked him to tell me a little more about what they believed and how he arranged Elizabeth's marriage to his son. While I was talking to him my companions were sitting on the front steps teaching Elizabeth. They told me later that she said she wanted to come back because she was happier when she was at church. *DING* *DING* *DING* *DING* Finally!!!! She hasn't hardly ever told us that she has feelings. My companions were able to testify to her that that was the Holy Ghost. She laughed because that is the one thing she never understood, what it would feel like, how to recognize it. They challenged her to pay attention to how she felt while she was there and before and after. I don't know if we'll start teaching her again, but we're just tending the seedling a little. Someday she will make it. I've still never had anyone else read and understand as much as she does.

Hmmm.. what else? We are going to the beach in a little bit, that is where sister Chipman is meeting us. Not really sure what we're gonna do but I am excited to go. My companions were really good yesterday, I haven't been to vocal about all the emotion I feel everyday as I remember what happened a year ago. Sister Peacock just kinda knew though. They started asking questions yesterday while we were eating dinner and they just let me talk. That is the best therapy out there. Just talk. Remember. Tell someone how amazing he is, all the miracles we/I experienced. All about it. It just helps to talk about it, about him. 

More than anything I keep feeling that I don't need to be sad. its so similar to how I felt a year ago. I wanted to be sad (angry even), but I was okay. I knew that everything was okay. I keep feeling that its okay. Its time to be happy. Its time to move forward. Its okay to move forward. 

Whenever I hear this song I think of David. We would blast the vocal point version in his car as we drove around the city doing the most random things. I've come to love the 2nd and last verses.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

 

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

 

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

 

Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise, 

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

 

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Family. I need you to know, to really know that there is a plan. It was created by our loving father in heaven because he knew the pain that this life would bring. He knew the pain that I would feel, the sorrow, he knew, and he prepared a way so that I wouldn't have to do it alone. I have never been alone. He knew that I would feel this pain but he still sent David to me to be the friend that I needed. He taught me so much, I gained so much from his friendship, He knew that I would gain so much more than I have lost. I haven't lost anything. I have gained an eternal perspective, the knowledge that my Father in Heaven is in control, that there is a life after this one and its much closer than we could ever imagine. I learned that I am in charge of my mood and to choose to be happier, it makes life so much easier. "Let yourself be happy" are the words that have been echoing through my head all week. I am still learning from him as I begin to understand more and more why he was the way that he was. He could see the big picture. he knew that at the end of the day the only thing that matters is the lives we touch. He touched so many I am just so grateful that I got to be one of them. I know that I will see him again and I can't wait to be swept up into that hug. I have been so blessed. 

As I talked to my companions about it yesterday they said that I have been through so much. It doesn't feel that way. There is a quote by one of the apostles that says somthing like "moments are the molecules that make up eternity." There are so many more moments than events in our lives. This was just a collection of moments... a part of my story, and I am grateful for those chapters. 

I love you family! 

-Sister Maren Hale