Awesome Week!

Hey Yall!

So this week was filled with so many cool experiences as well as spiritual! This week was a week of travel as well. On Wednesday I spent most all day up in Montgomery working with the elder there. On Thursday and Friday I was in a city called Greenville on exchanges with one of the zone leaders and worked there. It was really fun to be able to work in other areas and meet new people. And see how other missionaries work.  Latter Day lane is pretty cool:) 

So on Tuesday we went and saw a sweet lady named Elaine. She is what the missionaries call an eternal investigator. She has been taught for I think 2 years and is still pretty much in the same spot. She has a few things that is keeping her back in her mind. They are very little things that don't even matter when it comes to being baptized. We have been trying so hard this last month to try and get her over those little things. For example that we practiced polygamy, or that we call Sunday the Sabbath day. Just things like that that we explain to her then tell her she doesn't need to worry about those things. Haha but this past time we went over and taught her about the Book of Mormon helping the Bible. She thought that Mormons hated the bible but we explained that we love both the Book of Mormon and the bible. We told her that she needs to really get down on her knees and pray about the Book of Mormon and ask if it is true. If she receives and answer that its true then she knows she needs to get baptized, is what we explained to her. So we will see. After last nights leadership training both me and Elder Jensen really had a strong impression that we could get her baptized this transfer.

This was our fathers day celebration!:)  So I had a really neat experience when I was on exchanges with Elder Gale, the zone leader in Greenville, we had gone out and seen a couple people. Then we had an apt to go see a certain family. In the family was a single mom, Anetta, her daughter who just graduated highschool, Dri, and her son who is 8 KeShawn. Well they have been teaching KeShawn the lessons and have asked him if he wanted to get baptized. He told them that he felt it was the right thing to do. The only problem is that his mom didn't think that he understood what he was getting into. Now his sister got baptized and is less active, and his mom isn't a member. So when we went over there our main goal was to try and get his mom to let us set up a baptismal date. Also they were going to go down to Florida on vacation and they would leave next week and not come back til the end of August. So they wanted to try and get him baptized before they left. So we went over and had a fun time with them. She gave us some watermelon, which by the way is 10x's better down in the south!!! Its so full of flavor and o man its just so dang good:) haha but after we finally settled down and had a chance to talk with her. As Elder Gale asked her about it she still kept saying that he didn't know everything and he wasn't old enough to know what he was really doing. Well out of no where the spirit just told me to explain to her about baptismal interviews. So I told her that we don't want to trick anyone, or force them into baptism. We want to make sure that they know what they are doing and why. I explained that we have my companion interview people and ask them questions to make sure they are ready to be baptized. Then I asked if we would do that with KeShawn. She said yes we could do that.

So the next day after we had district meeting we all went over to her house. My comp interviewed KeShawn and he passed. His mom was a lot more open to letting him get baptized but another thing popped up out of no where. Anetta's brother called and said that he was coming to pick them up tomorrow. She was so dang mad at him. She wasn't planning on leaving for a week. So we said that maybe we could baptize him in the morning which she said she will think about. Well we left to go eat. As we were sitting in the China Buffet we thought hey why don't we just baptize him tonight?? Now Greenville's church building was once a Baptist or Methodist or another kind of church that we bought out. So they don't have a font. They also only have like 5-10 active members. The missionaries are the branch presidents councilors. So we told them we would fill our font up and they would go get the family. So they went over and talked to Anetta and she said that would be fine. So as the helped her at her house with some stuff we went and filled up the font. Then a couple hours later after waiting for it to fill and waiting for the family and the zone leaders to show up we started the meeting. All that was there was KeShawn, his mom, his sister, and us 4 missionaries. Ha I gave a talk on how all we need to do is believe to be baptized then after baptism we have our whole lives to learn. He was baptized, and then they asked me to confirm him! It was my first confirmation! I was so excited to do it and everything went so well! That was a huge miracle!

We went to the Rodeo on Saturday. It was probably the smallest rodeo Ive ever been too! I thought it was gonna be awesome. It was ok haha Utah rodeos are a ton better though but it was fun to be there! :) So one more story I wanna share real quick and that happened yesterday after church. So Elder Jensen had to go up to a training meeting. President gave him a tape recorder that was Elder Christofferson's Wifes's. She had recorded her testimony in Korean and put it on there for a Korean family in our branch. He told Elder Jensen to go to there house, push play, let them listen then wrap it back up and give it back to me. So we got there. Now I told you about this family last time the Kims. There daughter wasn't there so it was hard to communicate. But I had the recorder. I unwrapped it then tried looking for the play button haha I could not find out how to play the dang thing. There was a switch on the side that we pushed up and it made the tap spin but nothing was coming out. Then brother Kim took it from us and was messing with it. Well long story short I figured out that we had to push that switch down. We had already recorded over the entire thing. Holy Cow!!!!! I couldn't believe it! An apostles wife tired to do such a kind thing and we messed the whole thing up! Both of us were freaking out and could not believe what just happened. So we called president and explained what happened and he said just to give it back to him. Ugh I feel so dang bad!! So that was kinda a crappy moment haha

But last thing I wanna share. I don't know how many of yall watched the World Wide Leadership Training. O man it was so dang good! I loved it so much! I hope if you did see it that you learned something from it! That you were able to thing of something to change in your life to help you become a better missionary! I loved how they talked about how the missionaries should be there just to help the members do missionary work! I thought that was great! Also just as Elder Parry said about the stone rolling forth in King Nebecanezar's dream, I can see the stone becoming bigger and bigger and rolling faster and faster. It is our choice to hop on and join in this great time of missionary work. I truly believe that we are in the last stages of the Lords work. In Jacob chapter 5 it talks about how the lord sends his servants one more time to prune his vineyard. That is our day! We are the servants! I would put in the specific scripture that I was thinking aobut but its kinda long haha so if yall want you can look it up. Its Jacob Chapter 5 verses 70-77. It talks about how this last time we will labor in the vineyard and he will labor with us. If we are diligent and obedient then we will reap our reward and have joy! I really hope you read it because it is talking about our day! This is the time when we need to love all our bothers and sisters and serve eachother! Keep doing all you can to be examples and to love everyone!

I love yall so very much! I hope yall have a great excitement about missionary work like I do after that meeting! I hope that yall remember your Savior and Lord and rely on him. He is laboring with us in this great cause! I hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Hall

Daddys Day!

Hey Yall!

I just wanna wish all the Dads out there happy fathers day!:) I hope yall had a great Sunday, and got to reflect on your dads or grandpas or father figure. And most of all I hope yall took time to remember your Father in Heaven. What a wonderful thing that we know that we have a Father in Heaven that loves us, watches out for us, protects us and is perfect! In Moses 1:39 is says, "This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man." We all want to live after this life, that is immortality. But not only do all of us want that, we all want to live with our families, with Heavenly Father, and we want to become like him. That's why we are on this earth to grow and become like our Heavenly Father. Now this may just be me, but I love doing something and seeing my dad be proud of me or of what I did. Well as we pray, read scriptures, go to church, and serve and be examples to others, that makes our Heavenly Father so proud of us! It puts a big smile on his face! So this week try to do something that you may be struggling in. Something spiritual that will make your Father in Heaven smile because he is proud of his son or daughter!:)

So this week we worked so dang hard all week! We were able to a lot and see so many people! It was such a great week! It was also the first week of a new transfer. I think I forgot to tell yall last week, but transfers were on Wednesday. Im stayin in Highland Home:) And this is my comps last transfer then he goes home! So I will be in this area for a while, which is really good cuz I love this area and the people here so dang much!!! Earlier this week I decided that I was gonna make this transfer my comps best transfer ever! Im not gonna let him slack off and get trunky at all! I decided that we are gonna work our butts off! Work even harder then we did last transfer! I cant wait!

So each week just gets hotter and hotter and more humid. One morning, after we had been outside all the day before and came home that night drenched in sweat, I found myself back in my apt drenched in sweat again after my morning run. Then the thought came into my head, is it sad that so used to always being soaking wet and now that is just a normal feeling? Haha I have just learned to be happy with it:) And its made the days so much better!

This week we have just tried to be out walking, instead of driving, and seeing a ton of people. We have been able to teach, serve, watch softball games, play board games, and make people smile. This is what I love about missionary work. I have noticed a lot of the time people get really bored if your just lecturing them about the gospel. So you have to think outside of the box in missionary work. I have loved trying to figure out how to teach kids so that they are first entertained, 2nd the kids learn something, and 3rd the parents learn something from what we teach the kids. I have learned different object lessons to use haha.

There weren't to many exciting stories to tell this week. It was kinda just another normal, hot, walk-ful, week. People down here always tell us to watch out for snakes. When we walk down the dirt road we are always trying to find some haha. Well we have found 2 while we have been here. Both of the ones we have found have already been dead. I don't know why, haha but ill have to send yall pics of it next week because my comp took pics of it so I gotta get them from him. 

Now Fathers Day. Yesterday went really well! Church was great and we saw a couple people after. One was Dyana. She is the one with the cute little girl. Well her dad and mom and one of her sisters were coming over to have dinner and she invited us. It was great! We had hamburger, biscuits, mashed taters;), and peas. And afterwards we played a game. I guess there family is huge into this game and Dyana's parents play it every day haha but it was Yatzee! I love this game. Well as we started playing, I kept getting yatzee after yatzee. The first 3 games I had 2 yatzee's in each game. They were all getting so mad at me haha and I ended up winning barley because the last few games I only got one yatzee;) haha It was a fun time, we were also able to talk with her parents about the church because they aren't members and said they had looked up some stuff.

But last thing I wanna say. I know this email stinks but hope this will help make it better. So in my personal study I found this out. I was reading in John chapter 20. This is talking about when Mary comes to visit Christ's Tomb. She sees its empty and runs to tell the apostles. In verse 6-7 it says, " Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself." Now when you watch the videos about Christ's resurrection they usually will show inside the tomb, and you will see all the clothes neatly folded and put in its place. Well when I read that I thought about "Holy Habits". We are taught to keep holy habits and develop them on our mission. They are brushing your teeth, doing dishes, taking out the trash, cleaning up your room, things like that. Well one that I have tried to do this transfer is make my bed every morning. And when I read those verses I realized that Christ made his bed. So just remember when you are making your bed your following Christ example:) ha but not only that, when you develop holy habits you are allowing the spirit to be in your home, and in your life, because your making a clean home. So that's just something that I thought was a cool little insight:) All the missionaries loved it haha so I thought I would tell yall!

Well keep being the great sons and daughters that yall are! I know that everyone of you are an example to others. I hope yall have a great week, and remember like always to be happy!

Love Elder Hall:)

Loving Alabama!

Hey Yall!

This week again went by so fast! But it was so great!

This was a couple weeks ago but its me and Olivia. She is the cutest little girl! She paints my nails every time I go over and this time she did my eyes too haha but she reminds me of all my little nieces!!:) 

So on Monday we had a Softball game like usual and I always love going to those haha the best and most fun missionary work ever! Then on Wednesday something kinda cool happened. There is a family in our branch that are Koreans. They don't really speak English at all and cant really understand you. There is a lot of cool stories for a later time. But we have been over to the Kims house at least once a week for the past couple of weeks. Their daughter is living with them and she knows both English and Korean, so we usually talk with her and she translates. Well one night about a week ago I had the thought to write down a really simple prayer and have the Kims daughter translate it for me. So this week we went over to their house and she was able to translate it and help me enunciate the Korean words. I have been able to practice at night when I pray and other times during the day. I cant wait to go back and say the prayer for them so that Brother and Sister Kim will be able to understand at least one thing that we say. Im so excited to kinda show off haha I know that I don't sound Korean at all, but I try my best haha kinda crazy being down in the heart of the south and learning Korean:)

This is called sand art I think haha its was pretty fun! On Thursday the Zone Leaders were coming down and we were going to do another exchange. This time I was with Elder Hatch. Well this day I planned out myself and it actually turned out to be great! We were able to see a lot of people. To teach and to serve. Something that I was able to learn from Elder Hatch was that missionary work isn't just sitting down teaching a lesson to an investigator. Missionary work is helping people in their trials and bringing smiles to their faces! Its doing what Christ would do if he were on the earth. And when Christ did live on the earth he taught multitudes lessons, he gave parable. Not only did he do just that, but he healed the sick and afflicted, he comforted those who were lonely and in need of comfort, he served and he was a missionary by example. That's all missionary work is. Yes sometimes missionary work is teaching lessons, but its also serving, and being an example to others!

Another great thing that happened this week is that we were able to go to the temple again!! I was so excited cuz I love the temple! I forgot to bring my camera once again so I don't have any pictures of it, but it was such a cool experience! Once I got to the Celestial Room, I felt so good. I sat there and just felt so at peace. I felt at home. I felt the closest Ive ever felt on my mission to my family. Not only my immediate family but everyone. All the members I know. All the investigators I taught. I felt so close to everyone and had a little glimpse of what Heaven would be like. To have our whole family there. I did not want to leave that room! I stayed in there for a really long time. But then I realized that if I stayed there I could not help others come and live with me haha so I knew I had to get back out and be a missionary.

The last experience I had was yesterday. We were able to help serve a family that was moving. They had a porch on their trailer that needed to be taken down. So we helped them with that in the pouring rain and we got a lot taken down. They were so grateful for us coming to help them. I know that helping serve one another and seeing the smile on their face is the best missionary work you can do! I had the Gospel Principles lesson yesterday. I really feel like I have grown so much and been able to teach that class and make it so they learn things. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me with that.

I hope yall are having a great time. Have a great week! If you don't feel like you have yet I encourage all yall to "Catch the Wave":) Even by doing small and simple things! I love yall!

Love Elder Hall

Where did this week go?

Hey Yall!

So I just want yall to know that this has been one of the fastest weeks of my entire life! I don't even know where it has gone! It feels like just yesterday I was sitting here writing to yall haha but that is really good because I have been trying to not think about myself. These first few months I have been trying to get the hang of missionary work and I have been kinda selfish. I have not put all my thoughts on the work. I would think a lot about home. Ive been trying so hard to become the best missionary and learn so much and just know everything right now. Well I have learned that its not going to happen like that haha that it takes time. But something Ive been working on lately is to just forget myself and go to work. That should sound familiar. Its a note written to President Hinkley from his father. This transfer especially I have tried to reinforce that in my life! And I can see how it has helped me! The month of May just flew by and this past week went by like it was nothing. I know that is because Im forgetting myself and focusing all my efforts on others! Its the best feeling!

So this week we really wanted to save on miles because we had gone over. Which technically is a bad thing but a lot of our miles were used to go back and forth with meetings. And also I wanted to walk further then Elder Jensen had ever walked before, not only here in Highland Home, but his whole mission. So on Wednesday we did just that! Wednesday was a super hot day as well, but it was so much fun! We started the day out at 1:00 and started walking. A lot of people we wanted to see weren't home but a few of them were. We walked between 9 and 11 miles that day to get to the last house. We got there around 5 or 5:30 which isn't too bad haha but it was exhausting! Then the next day we walked a little less but it was still super fun! From those walks I got some pictures of the beautiful city that we live in so be excited to see those;) haha

There is a family that I have talked about a little bit, that we are trying to get to come back to church. Its the Lowe clan. The grandma and her granddaughter Jade both are active, but the parents and Jades other siblings haven't come in years. They are the coolest, down to earth family you'll meet! So yesterday after church we went to visit them. One thing that if funny about this family is that the missionary that I took his place was here for 7 months. Never once did he see the entire family, parents and kids, together. But one time in 7 months he saw all the kids together. There are 3 girls Karah, Jodi, and Jade and the youngest is a boy Colt. Well 2 weeks after I come here we see all 3 girls together. On Monday we saw the whole family together and yesterday they were all there again and we were able to talk and play with them. So a little more info before I tell yall the story. Karah is 15, Jodi is 14, Jade is 12 and Colt is 5. All 3 of the girls are all on Softball teams. And softball down in Alabama is huge!! Karah is batting, Jodi is pitching, and Jade is in the back, back up catcher:) 

Alabama loves football and softball! Karah and Jodi are playing on the same team right now. Karah is the pitcher and she is one of the best pitchers around here! Some of the college pitcher pitch between 60-70 miles an hour. Karah pitches around 55 mph. Well yesterday as we were talking she wanted to go pitch. So I told her I would catch for her haha so as she was warming up she was pitching kinda slower and she would back up a little. Then she started really pitching. Well one of her pitches was a little high, but I stuck my glove up and I thought that I had caught the ball. The only weird thing that I thought was strange was that I heard a really loud bang!! Well as I look up I didn't have the ball in my glove and everyone was pointing laughing at me and all in shock at the same time! Then it hit me..... I just got hit in the head with a soft ball!!!! Haha coming at me at 55 mph haha well I just laughed and was trying to find the ball while everyone else was seriously concerned for me and thought I had a concussion haha I kept saying I was fine. The top of my head felt like it was 10x's bigger then it was but it didn't really hurt until we got home that night haha after I made Karah throw me more pitches just as hard to show everyone I wasn't an Idiot haha:) Its kinda hard to see but that's my little bump I now get to live with for a couple days:)

But the work here is going great! We have gotten a lot of less actives to come to church. We are teaching 2 investigators, Wayne and Elaine. Both of them are so ready for baptism but are scared and hung up on the little things and other things that don't matter. We are still teaching them and loving them and being patient. They are growing little by little. We are still walking on the lovely dirt roads. I just love the people here! Me catching the ball with a helmet after my head injury haha and yes my face is epic! 

I hope that yall were able to help someone this past week! I know that if you did that not only are you blessing there life but your blessing yourself as well! 

Me and my comp playing softball! Ill share another quick scripture. Its in 3 Nephi when Christ visit the Nephites. He comes and visits them, gives them the sacrament and teaches them. Then He tells them He needs to go back to His Father. Well they have been waiting all there lives to see Him. They are so sad to hear that He has to leave. Well Christ shows compassion on them. He shows patience and He stays with them. He tells them to bring all the sick and afflicted, the blind, lame, deaf. So they bring them all to Him. Well something that's interesting is that they are helping serve there friends and family. They are bring others to Christ. Well the only way that they were able to bring others to Christ is if they went to him as well. So everybody was able to come to Christ. That's how it is with service. Not only are you helping someone else out in there life and bringing them closer to Christ but your bringing yourself closer to Him as well. Just a cool little thought about service:)

I hope that yall have a great week! Keep reading praying and doing the little things that will bring eternal happiness. "By small and simple things, can great things be brought to pass."- Alma 37:6. I love all of you! I pray for all of you! Im grateful for all of you that you have helped me become the person I am! I have learned so many things from each and every one of you. So I say thank you!:)

Love Elder Hall