June 23, 2012

Hey family,

Okay, so much to say and no time to say it in.

I hope you got my email when I arrived if not I am here safe and sound.  Its crazy being in another country. 

So funny story about my first day, we got here early in the morning and we were bringing in our luggage and (all the floor here is tile) because it was morning and really humid the floor was wet and I totally fell hard in the front entrance in font of

everyone. It was so embarrassing, haha.

I really like it here, the people are so nice and friendly, and everything is in Spanish so I am hoping my Spanish will improve a lot. The food is soooo good, I hear that we get fed the best out of all the MTC’s; we literally have a gourmet chef that makes the

best food ever. So if I come back a few pounds heavier that is why. Haha. I was talking to the other sisters and they said that it takes about a week but everyone usually gets sick so I am just waiting for the inevitable.  Pray for me. We can´t drink the water here so they have filtered water everywhere. It’s supper different than the US but I got use to it fast. 

The schedule we have is pretty much the same as Provo but we have a little more freedom. We get to go out and talk to people around the temple and that is fun, and they have a casa de CRE that we get to go to  and answer peoples questions about the gospel... no pressure right? This week we are going just practice with another district but next week it will be real situations with real people. I am so excited. 

So another funny story; I was in class yesterday and our treacher asked us to

make a sentence with the present tense about how to prepare a person

for baptism. I said “Para almuertar nuesta fe nesecita leer el

libro the Mormon”.... direct translation… it means “to kill our faith we

need to read the Book of Mormon.” My teacher looked at me weird and when

he explained what I said the whole class laughed. It was super funny.

I meant to say “to increase our faith we need to.....” the word for

increase is aumentar so it was kind of close just completely different

meanings ha.

So my new Pdays are on Saturday so you can plan on hearing from me each Saturday. They tell me that if you want to send me a dearelder (which would be great...*hint* *hint*) you would need to send them before Tuesday. They print them out on Tuesday and give them to us on Thursday so make sure you write before Tuesday!!! Ha. When I write home or you write me it will take about 12 days to get to me or me to you so don’t try and sent me any letters or packages after the second week in July you will need to send them down to my mission.

It is so beautiful here, I love it! It is so green and there are tons of flowers I have never seen before. The weather is nice. It’s actually in the beginning of their winter so its overcast a lot of the time last night I fell asleep to a thunderstorm! I absolutely loved it! I am scared of how hot it will be in the summer if this is their winter. I feel sticky all the time because of the humidity; I don’t mind it now but I know I will when it gets hot

Know that I am doing ok and that I love being here. My Spanish has already improved. I feel like I can get my point across with the natives and in my class I am the one the teachers turns to to translate if the elders don’t know what he said. Ha!... no pressure…. I love my teachers though. It is so much fun. 

I told you I am in a threesome again with Hermana Massina and Hermana Perry... Tania might know Hermana Messina, she would hang out with people in our old ward, like with Rhett and everyone. She said she met you and hung out with you a couple of times I thought that was kind of cool. She is shorter that me and has reddish hair and really full lips. I´ll try and send pictures when I can but they took our cameras the first day we were here and we only get one day out of three weeks to take pictures. I get the feeling they have a problem with stealing here so that´s why they do it. 

Well I only have two more minuets. Know that I love you all and miss you tons.  I hope mom is doing well. Know that I love you!!! This work is so worth everything I have had to do to get here. This church is true!! I hope you all know that I know

that. 

Love you all! 

Till next week, your missionary 

Hermana Hale

Hermana Hale goes to Guatemala!

Hey family!

So I got to Guatemala okay!!! It is a really nice MTC. There are not very many missionaries’ here and the rules are so different. We can’t sit my any of the Elders and we get to cut line for food every time. It’s kind of nice. It is very humid here! Its rainy though so it’s not hot but oh I can only imagine how hot it will get.

Well the flight was fine. I got to sit near the emergency exit so l had lots of leg room, that was a blessing.  

Oh cool experience; I had a really bad headache and was sick to my stomach when I left the MTC but I knew I could not travel the way I was feeling so I prayed. I asked God to
help me through this because I wasn’t going to be able to do it on my own and I told him I had made it this far and I was willing to go the rest but I needed his help. It was amazing my headache went away and I was able to sleep on the plane and a really nice elder, Elder Anderson, helped me with my bags because I was struggling to carry my 100lbs bag and another 45lbs bag and my pillow. It was bad so God gave me all that I needed and more!!! So grateful.

It is so different here, so small and I feel so out of my element. I am in another 3 some which is
good and bad; the girls I am with have been companions for along time and are really tight and I am suppose to be the senior companion.... pray for me I have to go but my P-day is on Saturday, I’ll write then

Love You, Bye.

June 15, 2012

To preface this letter from Stephanie I have to share with you the circumstances surrounding our family right now. My Mom went in for surgery on Monday morning and has been pretty much bed-ridden for the week. On Tuesday morning we received the news that my Dad's Father, our jolly old Grandpa Glen, had passed away. One of the unique trials this presented was how to tell Stephanie in the MTC and hoping, after we did get word to her, that she was okay since we had no way to talk to her directly or hear back from her.

The family is doing really well and has felt the love of many of our friends, neighbors, and family as they have all helped us with meals, allowing boys to play at their houses, and many other small acts of service that have gotten us through the week. Thank you for all you do. As you can see Stephanie has been strengthened this week as well and felt the love of her family and particularly that of her Savior supporting her through this difficult time.

Hey Family,

I hope everyone is doing okay; I have to say this last week has been hard for me. With everything that has happened I just really want to be home with you guys to help out with the boys and help out with mom and be there for the funeral on Saturday. It has been really hard to study and concentrate. Know that I am thinking about and praying for you like I have never prayed before. You are all in my prayers. I love you guys so much, know that.

How is Mom doing how is Grandma doing? How are you Dad? Please write and let me know. Thank you Maren for keeping me informed and everyone else for writing me, I cant tell you how much your letters mean to me. Simeon to answer your questions, yes I am learning Spanish, not very well yet we just learned preterit and imperfect tenses...still dont get the difference. The MTC is a great place, I dont know why some people hate it so much... well the food gets old real fast but its okay. I am learning so much its insane.

I just wanted to tell you guys what has happened to me in the last week because I feel like the people in the Book of Mormon that were in bondage even when they were righteous. There is that scripture that says the Lord suffered them to go through these trials so that they could stand as a witness to the world that the Lord stands by and upholds, lifts up, and sustains those that believe in him. I feel every much like that. I want you to know family that I have felt the lord everyday this week helping me to do what I have needed to do; teach lessons with my companions when all I wanted to do was cry, to be friends and comfort a new girl that moved into our room when all I wanted was to be comforted and loved. God is and has stretched me so much this last week but he has been there to support and help me. I can now testify more than ever before that the lord is mindful of us in our trails and everyday lives. I can't wait to be in a lesson in El Salvador and be able to testify this is true and I know this is the reason I needed to go through this experience right now in my life.

Sorry I left all of your letters in my room so I am writing all from memory about questions so dont hate me if I forget anything. Maren thank you again for writing me and letting me know how everyone is doing, Tania you too. Thanks.

Well I am scared out of my mind to be leaving the country in less than a week!!! Crazy to think about. Especially when so much is happening a home. I at least still feel close to you all when I am in Provo. I have a lot of fears about going to Guatamala and then El Salvador but I know more than ever this is what I need to be doing and this message that I have brings such joy and peace to me that I cant help but put my fears aside and share what I have been given.

BOYS! Listen to me now please. I wish I would have prepared earlier for my mission. There is so much I could have done before coming here; years before. Everything you do in seminary, Sunday school, in your personal study prepares you for a mission. Memorize scriptures, study Preach My Gospel do what ever you can to try and talk to other people you dont know. It all will make it easier to contact people on the street and know and find scriptures when your in a lesson and investigators have a questions. You will be so ahead of the game if you do this. I know you're saying "yeah right!" but seriously, just a little will go a long way. Jake start studying now, you will wish you had and be glad you did. This work is such a great work. God is here helping me in everything I am doing.

I only have 5 more minutes left so if I start wrapping up you'll know why. I really do wish I could be there at the funeral and do all the flowers. Tell grandma how much I love her and hope she is doing okay. Give her the biggest hug for me. Dad I hope your doing okay, know that you are in my prayers and know how much I love you. I have been thinking a lot about Grandpa in the last few days and how much he loved those around him especially Grandma and how he gave all of himself to help and make your dreams come true. I will take that on my mission, that love to be able to give all of my self to the people I serve. I miss you all so very much, but I love you all infinatly more.

Mom I hope you are doing okay. I am praying for you as well, let me know how everything goes and know that I love you so much.

Keep me in your prayers this week as I prepare to leave to Guatemala. I will need all the prayers I can get.

I love you all.

Love your missionary Hermana Hale