Changes!

Hey Yall!

So this week has been full of changes!! It was one of the fastest and slowest weeks of my life!! Haha again it has rained almost every day here! We actually got told that its rained 26 out of the 29 days in this month! Im pretty sick of it but o well life goes on! Im getting used to the rain and the humidity!

But to start it off the first part of the week was getting Elder Jensen ready to go home. Packing and seeing everyone for the last time for him. Then we headed up to transfers haha it was funny because as we drove up to Birmingham we both saw the exit that we should've taken and both had good and bad thoughts about taking it. Well we past it. Keep in mind that both of us don't have a GPS. Most missionaries do but we just had a map of our area and our experience to lead the way:) So with both of our experiences we went through the middle of Birmingham and made our way and found the stake center. Then I picked up my new companion. My greenie.... I call him that but I guess we aren't supposed to haha the mission presidents have tried for years to get rid of it but its to big of a tradition haha but ill call him my trainee for now;) and we headed back to Highland home.

That brings us to the next part of the week. Trying to get Elder Hodge settled into the mission field and mission life. He is from Lehi Utah. He went to Lehi High school and is 18. He just graduated. Haha he actually told me when he first saw me that I looked familiar well he said that he had seen pics of me on facebook! Haha so hopefully they were good ones:) He is not used to all the trees down here, and says he misses the Mtns haha and he is defiantly not used to the humidity! Which has been funny haha every time we walk outside he hits the moist air and just keeps saying he is not used to this:) Haha but Im so glad to have him here! Im gonna try my very best to shape in into a good missionary hah we will see how that works! I have made sure to work him hard. The definition of southern is an RC Cola and Moon pie! Haha I have tried yet another southern tradition:) And this week we actually had a ton of service to do! I told yall about the member we moved last week. Her name is Katrina. Well 3 days after she moved out decided she wanted to move back to her old house. So on Saturday that's what we did! We helped move her back. Then her sister wanted to move to that trailer so on Sunday we helped move her, her boyfriend and her dad! Haha we have moved a ton the past few weeks!!

Everything has been going well though. I also want to inform yall that I am now a District Leader as well as a Trainer. My district is a smaller one with me and my comp, and 2 sister missionaries in the area right next to us. Which both of them are brand new as well haha but its been fun to be able to help a lot of new missionaries!:) My mind has been going a million miles an hour this week. Haha I have kinda had to switch mindsets from a missionary going home to a brand new missionary. I have to do all the planning by myself and know where everything is because he doesn't. Which has been good not to have a GPS because now I do know where everything is. I kinda feel like a parent, which is weird but fun at the same time haha. I just cant wait for this new transfer and to see how it all plays out!

This week has been kinda strange with teaching as well because of certain people Elder Jensen wanted to go see, and as its the end of the month and we are out of miles we are trying not to use the car at all which is terribly hard in this area!! I don't know how im doing it but the Lord is blessing me so much! We weren't able to see Jerry or Audrey this past week. We have seen a lot of less actives and members trying to get my greenie introduced to everyone! Haha but I do love the members and people down here! They are making things good for me!

One last thing. This email is kinda long. So yesterday our branch celebrated pioneer day! They do this every year and they dress up like pioneers. It was so much fun to see. After church we had a huge lunch! Tables just lined with food! It took me 3 trips to get down all the tables! And that was only taking small portions of everything! The food was amazing and everything tasted really good! And yall will see in the pics a wagon! Well that is a members and we helped him get it from his house to the church! That was another service activity we did! Haha But it was a great Sunday! Most of our branch, some people left before we could take the picture, but a lot of people dressed up! It was a ton of fun!:)

I want to share a quick scripture that I taught about in Gospel Principles yesterday. Its Alma 37:6-7. It talks about how small and simple things can bring to pass great things! I talked about agency in our class. And how all the little choices in our lives add up to large choices. As we use one of the greatest gifts that God has given us and choose righteously with it we can be free and happy in our lives. I want to encourage yall to keep making the right small decisions. Those will influence your life and help you be able to make the big decisions in life. Whether its spiritually decisions like reading scriptures and praying, or life decisions like work and school. Agency is the best gift we could ever be given! Remember not to be like Satan and take away others agency! Be loving and serve!

I love yall! hope yall have a great week! Stay busy! Im going to try and be busy this week! Enjoy ever moment! Time goes by fast! Be Happy!!:)

Love Elder Hall