Miracles do Exist!!!!

Hey Yall!

So this week was so dang good!! It was so busy and I feel like I have ran around all week! Haha ever since I have become a trainer and District Leader I have not been able to stop thinking a running around haha but its been really good to stay busy!

This week I have been trying to get my Elder, that's what I tell everyone he is haha, out walking and biking! Haha so we have done a ton of that lately especially biking! Which is funny how much I have changed. I remember being in his shoes and having my trainer just leave me in the dust. Well I have done that sometimes then I have to stop and wait for him to catch up. But he will get better at it as we keep biking! Haha but this week weather wise has only rained one day which I thought I was gonna die! It felt like a hurricane! We had just gotten under a porch and the family wasn't there. So we were gonna head back out until it started down pouring and flashes of lightning, then not even a sec later huge BOOMS of thunder!! And the wind picked up! So we just sat under the porch for like 15-20 minutes waiting for it to pass.

Here is the frog that Karah and Winston shot. Winston shot 4-5 frogs then we cut up the legs and I had fried frog legs! They were super good!:)

But this week I was planning to have district meeting on Friday. I had prayed and thought about what to train on. I didn't feel to certain but at the same time the thought just kept coming to train on finding people. So this whole week I have been reading out of preach my gospel and just getting it all ready. Well about 2 days before our meeting the zone leaders texted everyone saying zone training will be on that day. So I had to reschedule our district meeting. Then at zone training all they talked about was finding people and how pres Hanks is stressing that for this month! Well they took everything that I was gonna train on haha it was funny, cuz I just sat there and couldn't believe it! They were stealing everything from me! Haha but at the same time is was good cuz now I know that im supposed to train my district on finding people:) But at zone training I also felt that the whole thing was for me and it basically rebuked me and told me to be a better missionary and trainer and district leader! We learned a lot about not being afraid but having faith! And I have struggled with that the beginning of this week. It has been so hard to try and do things by myself. To plan every day who to see and make sure that we are busy every moment seeing people and making sure my trainer is doing well and just all that. But now I know that miracles do exist!! Every day we have been able to see people and stay busy! We have walked and biked and on Saturday we even did a little bit of tracting! That's something ive never done before! And the miracle is that most of our goals that we made for this week we not only made them but exceeded them! And we had more lessons this week then I have ever had on my mission! I was so excited and my testimony grew to know that Heavenly Father watches out for each one of us and helps us through any little thing we are having trouble with!

My frog legs on my dinner plate!:) So I mentioned that we did a little bit of tracting on Saturday. Well we went down to a little town that's about 18 miles south of our apt. Its called Luverne. Missionaries has tracted that town over and over since its the only place to tract here. Well I figured even though people have tracted in the past we are new so we can start over. I had no idea where to go, so we prayed and I just let the spirit guide me. Now I don't know if yall remember my past tracting events. Well im not very good at it. Usually when I tract doors don't even open. Well we went out with faith. The first couple of doors didn't open and I thought, "Man this is gonna be a long day, its gonna be just like the past." Then the 3rd house we knocked on they opened up and they weren't interested but they were super nice and we talked for a little bit then gave them a Mormon.org card. Well I decided to go to a different area just because I felt like that was the person we needed to see on that road. We we biked a little further and I saw an apt complex so we stopped there. Well we were able to see so many different people there and talk and give blessings on homes and we actually gave a blessing to a lady who was going to have surgery. Haha and just like a typical southern black lady while we were giving her the blessing she would mumble, "Thank you Lord Jesus! O yes Jesus!" And things like that haha it kinda freaked Edler Hodge out but it was funny haha:) Well Elder Hodge actually said yesterday that he cant wait to go back and see those people again and check up on them! I know that Heavenly Father let us see those people to teach Elder Hodge that tracting is a good way to find people and get him excited to find!

But ya I have just been so happy ever since the zone training. That really got me refocused on missionary work and the missionary I should be. I feel like this transfer will be really good! Elder Hodge is doing great! He has a lot of good experiences. And I feel like he is starting to fit in! But I want to share one more quick experience that happened yesterday. So our branch has been working really hard on trying to get an addition to our building. And they had 2 options. A smaller one and a bigger one with a multi purpose room and things like that. Well everyone was scared we were gonna get a smaller addition that wouldn't really help to much. But yesterday they finally got the final ok to get the big addition. It is a huge historic moment in this branch!! They were all so happy! We had a special fast and testimony meeting. And to add on top of it a man that has influenced to many different people by being the district president and branch president was able to come to church with his wife. It was the first time in almost a year. He was able to bear such a strong testimony and that will probably be his last. He is going to be turning 89 and his health is really decreasing.

The whole meeting was just so spiritual! I got up to bear my testimony and want to share a couple of things. One is that im so grateful to be here on a mission. What a great blessing that is! And I love it down here! I love the people here so much! They really feel like my family!! I will be sad when I have to leave this area. But I also know that Families are forever! That miracles to happen now in this day just as much as the bible days! I know that Joseph Smith through Christ restored the church back on the earth. He didn't do it to tear down other churches, but he did it to help families come together and to help every find true happiness and peace! That's what this gospel does, It helps people find happiness and peace. I know Heavenly Father is our literal Father! He loves us and knows each one of us personally! Even though we go through trials doesn't mean he leaves us. He trusts in us that we can make it through and learn and grow into the great Children he thinks we are! I want all yall to remember who you really are! I Am A Child Of God! What a great statement! I know and testify of all these things to be true! In the name of my Savior Jesus Christ Amen.

I love yall! Stay happy each day!! Remember who yall are! Have a great week!

Love Elder Hall