Highland Homes

Hey Yall,

All the way from down south in Highland Homes! Haha wow again I have had the longest week of my life! I dont know why, maybe just a lot of change but this week has drug on for so long! The days seem to go by fast but the week not so much! Haha but yall are probably wondering what it is like down here.

So first this is the most southern part of the mission. Its the closest area to Auburn where I told my old comp I would never go haha boy was I wrong. Luckily I see and talk to more Alabama fans than Auburn fans:) haha unlike my last area that covered 7 counties, this area only covers 1. But it is the most country part of the mission ill be in! All the towns are so tiny! Our whole area doesn't even have a Walmart in it! Thats when you know that it is a small country place! Most the people here are white. Highland Homes is a really small town. Only has a post office, the school, subway, and a gas station. Thats downtown haha. We live in a town called Honoraville. So that kind of shows you how small towns are here. The biggest town in our area is probably Luverne. Even that town has a very little downtown. We only shop when we go out of our area to district or zone meetings. But unlike small towns in Utah where its just the town then long fields and plains, here it is town then trees and trees and more trees hahah I was so shocked! That basically describes the geographics of the area.

My comp is Elder Jensen. He is a very outgoing, spastic, Landon type person:) haha He loves people and is very funny! Haha one thing is that most my comps remind me of Landon. Its kinda weird haha but he is from Oregon. He only has 3 months left of his mission and is very trunky! Which im trying to work with him on that haha but he is a very hard worker and we get along very well:)

Now about the people. We have a branch. There are usually between 70-80 people that come each week so its a bigger branch. We are trying to get the numbers up because there are so many less actives. That is alot of the work that goes on down in this area is less active work. Our building is so so so small! Haha everyone laughed at me when my jaw hit the ground as I looked at the building! You will see pics of it but our chapel is basically the size of the building haha im so not used to that but hopefully Ill change. They also have a trailer beside it that we have sunday school and priesthood meetings in. We teach the gospel principles class so that will be a fun new experience:) But I love the people. They are the most down to earth country old folk people. The kind of people you would think lived back in the 70's haha. One thing thats pretty crazy is everyone here is so dang old! One day we didn't talk to one person under the age of 80! Haha that day went by super slow;) But there are also younger people. We are trying to get a family with a few girls one is 16 one is 14 and one is 13. We are trying to get them back into church. So its nice to talk to younger people every now and then.

So now a little about our apt. My space haha my bed and closet. Like I said it is a pool house. Its all one big room with a bathroom and a closet. Thats it. Our kitchen consists of a microwave, toaster, and a mini fridge. Haha after trying so hard to learn how to cook now Im back on the frozen food plan:( hahah But ill have to get used to it. Im adapting pretty well:). The members we live with are the Mcgouhs. I think thats how you spell it haha but they are an older couple in there 60's. They are nice.

Well this is turning out to be super long but a few last thoughts. So first is that I was so excited to leave Corinth and to experience a new city and try new things. 

Well in transfer meeting once I realized what was going on and I wasnt going back I kinda freaked out. The whole ride to Highland Homes I was freaking out inside. I wasnt going to show it at all but I started to feel homesick. Ha I felt like I was leaving my home in Corinth and going somewhere else. I was only there for 2 months and I missed it. It was the weirdest experience. I wanted to go back and see all the people. But as time has come here and I have been able to meet new people and serve others here I have grown to love it here. I have learned that my life has been so easy. I have been so blessed and I have had no real hard times. So yesterday I thought and pondered on this and am now so grateful to the Lord for protecting me. To be by my side and make my life so much easiser then most people. When I think about the pioneers or prophets that had to drop everything to leave on a mission, I cant complain. So kinda a random thought but I have learned to be grateful for the easy life that I have:) haha.  Our kitchen/ Elder Jensens space.

Our bathroom/ sink and dishwasher...... If you dont see one thats the point. We do our dishes in the bathroom sink:) haha.  

Well Im excited to tell you that work here is progressing. I dont know if I have told yall this or not but I have made a personal goal to myself and the Lord. I tell people this goal so I can be held accountable for it and so others can remind me of it. But it is to have a baptism every transfer. Now its a small goal but that is what I want to accomplish every transfer on my mission. When my new comp Elder Jensen was talking about the area he said that we have very little investigators here. We mainly work with less actives. Which got me discouraged thinking well I guess I wont count this transfer. But the next day before we started working I told him my goal and said flat out, " We are getting a baptism this month!" The only way I can accomplish this is to have faith and to work! Work harder then ever! This past sunday a man named Wayne came to church and was excited to be there. He seemed very friendly and loved us. I later figured out he was a non member and that he usually doesn't act like that. That got my spirits up as he told us to come over on thursday and teach him! And there are other investigators that I have talked with that seem so golden! Now hopefully yall dont think im a crazy missionary that only cares about non members and numbers. Cuz im not. But when I heard that all we do is teach less active i thought about what president Holtzapfel told us. Our purpose is to help OTHERS. That means everyone! Not just non members, or less actives but everyone! That includes members too! Its just a cool thought to know how to spend your time. Spend it with everyone, Investigators, Less Active, and Active members too. We all need to come closer to Christ.

Well this is a really long letter sorry:/ haha a lot of rambling! But I know the church is true! Thank yall for the Birthday Wishes! Love Yall!

Love Elder Hall