Monday, September 29, 2014

Doctrine and Covenants 4

Hey Yall!

This week has been crazy a lot of running around and exchanges. Elder Smith and I had spent 4 days away from each other just on exchanges with other missionaries. haha this week the weather has been turning into a fall weather, its still a little humid, but its cooling down. It wont start feeling like Utah until late Oct early Nov. But we are seeing positive signs. This week just as my title says I have been having a lot of cool D&C 4 moments. One is because im a missionary and quote it every day. Two is the pictures that I sent. There are cotton fields everywhere this time of year that are white as ever and its so cool to see them and think of "the field is white already to harvest!" haha thats the south:) the third reason is in honor of BYU's good football season they are having this year. Elder Savage, a missionary in this mission and really big Cougs fan, and found a JST for D&C 4. (Now just so I dont get anyone writing back telling me im going apostate, JST stands for Jansen and Savage Translation haha) It goes as follows: 
D&C 4 (JST- Jansen Savage Translation):
1 Now behold, a marvelous season is about to come forth among the people of Provo.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the playing for Bronco, see that ye play with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before him at the last game.
3 Therefore, if ye have desires to go undefeated, ye are called to BYU;
4 For behold the field is green already to score touchdowns; and lo, he that throweth the football with his might, the same layeth up in store that he throweth interceptions not, but scoreth touchdowns for his teammates;
5 And Taysom, Apo, Jamal and Kafusi, with an eye single to the glory of Bronco, qualify him for BYU.
6 Remember LaVell, Steve, Beck, Harline, Lewis, Hall, Pitta, Payne, Collie, and Detmer.
7 Pass, and ye shall receive; tackle, and it shall be fumbled unto you. GO COUGS!! 

Haha just something kinda funny that I thought yall would like! But the rest of this week has been great! We have been able to serve a lot, with moving new families into our ward. Also we got to teach Rachael about the BOM. Last week we taught her the restoration and she wasnt to down with being baptized. Well this week we went over, and used the pictures in the front of the BOM to teach her. Then we actually read scriptures in the Book of Mormon. Thats what brings the real spirit into things. Prez Hanks has talked alot about how we always tell where the BOM came from and what its about, but we miss the actually reading with investigators from it! So as we did that I could feel the spirit very strongly. We read 2 Nephi 25:26, 2 Nephi 31: 2-8, the Intro, and Moroni 10:3-4. As Elder Smith talked and read to Rachael about the Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31 I could feel the spirit so strongly. So as he read and explained and asked questions, I could tell she could understand. Then I asked how she felt at that very moment. She said good. I pointed out to her she felt peaceful, happy, calm, and relaxed, she agreed. Then I told her that was the spirit, and that the spirit testifies of truth and how we need to follow true things we hear. She has a very sweet laugh and smile and as I said that she kept laughing and smiling. Then we invited her again to be baptized. She said that she would think and pray about it! Wow. How cool! The blessings of the spirit can soften the blows that Satan tries to use against our sweet souls we are trying to save! 

We were able to teach another lady named Sharon the first lesson. She didnt want to accept the invite to be baptized just yet, so we are going back this week to teach her more and try to get her to come to church. We went over to Roosevelt and Carines house last night and they were happy and inviting as always. I had the thought in my head that they probably werent interested in us teaching them any more. So i told them we dont want to waste their time and asked if they wanted us to come back and teach them any more. They said they dont want to learn anything else. So the great thing is that we can still continue the friendship, but now we know that we wont be going over every week, and we can continue to look for the elect that want to accept our message:) 

One funny moment of the week. We were on exchanges, I was with a missionary from Athens, Elder Hixson. We had just started to tract and the phone rang. It was 2 sisters in our zone. I answer, "Hello, this is Elder Hall." "Elder Hall, this is the sisters, we havent been having the best day and did something we have never done before. We didnt do this back home and have never done it on our missions, but we just did something very bad...." Hahah "Wow way to beat around the bush to make me think of everything bad that could be going on and freak out!" I said in my head. "We locked our keys inside our car and are stuck at the Target parking lot. We need to go to an apt. Can yall help??" The sisters asked. Haha well we went to where they were and let them have our car. We found out that the church has hooked up with Chevy for roadside assistance. So we had to go into Wal-Mart and all the workers kept asking if we needed help. The one time they actually talk to us. We told them we were just looking around, but instead we were using the new iPhone 6 to look up a number for the nearest Chevy dealership. Well all was well as we found the number and got them to come. 2 Hours later we got the sisters back in there car and off to go! haha 

Well thats been our week another week of exchanges, finding, teaching, dropping, rejection. What a wonderful life to live for the Lord. I only get to do this once so may as well live it up! I love yall so much! Hope you have a great week! Remember to be happy in everything you do. Smile, laugh, it will get you through the hard times and you will look back with no regrets. I wish you the the bless-est week! 

Love Elder Hall

Monday, September 22, 2014

New Everything!

Hey Yall!

So this week has been crazy, fun, exciting, sad and all the other emotions that missionaries feel each and every day haha. Its been hotter then Hattie! haha My new companion is Elder Smith. He is from good old Provo, the motherboard of the ship of Mormons, and he has been out over a year. He is really nice and we are getting along quite well. It sad to see Elder Johnson go but we just keep moving forward.

This week we have had a few cool experiences. The first one was with Armando, the Texas fan. We were able to go over to his house for dinner and eat with him and his wife. We had regular conversation, but they asked a lot about what missionaries do and how we get called to Alabama. We talked alot about some of his Mormon friends that served missions and we shared a short message with them. They told us that they want to feed us again so we will be going back hopefully this week! What a cool family:)

There have been some weird, out of the usual things that have happened. Usually when we go to Wal-Mart, no one talks to us, when we try to talk with others they wont really talk back. Well the night of transfers I took Elder Smith to get some groceries. One guy was looking at food. Well we joked around with him and got a conversation started. Then we talked for a while, he had said he talked with Mormons and heard it all. He told us how we was a preacher, well we asked if he had a Book of Mormon. We briefly explained about how it was just other people in another part of the world that testify of Christ. He seemed interested and wanted to read it. He also told us that he was gonna start using that when he preached! Kinda cool. Then there was another man that right after we walked down the isle asked us if we were Mormons. We said yes. Then he went on to explain how his father in law was Mormon and how 2 guys would come by the hospital and sing and pray with his father in law cuz he was very sick. He then went on to thank us for all we do, we asked if we could come by and teach him, he said no, but just kept thanking us! Then on Saturday night we went back to Wal-Mart to pick up somethings and a Chinese dude stopped us and asked if we were Mormon. We told him yes and he went on to tell us how he told us stories about how he would always see missionaries in Hong Kong when he would be going to work and they would ride there bikes. And how he worked with a Mormon that served his mission in Japan, but he was flying some plane and the US military's computers thought it was a missile and shot it down. That was back in 2003 I think, but he went on to say how good the church was and how he loved Mormons! Like I said last time I know that members make a difference! Especially now days, when yall can “Sweep the earth as with a Flood” with technology! Yall are a huge effort, the biggest effort in hastening of the work!

This week we have done a lot of tracting, store contacting, and finding. We have been able to follow up with some potential investigators, but this week has been a mix of 2 things, 1. Finding 2. Planning for our area and for the Zone. As zone leaders we do a lot of planning for every area in our zone and make sure they are doing good for this next transfer. Probably the biggest Emmaus Experience Ive had this week came on Saturday. We spent the day helping some missionaries, then we went and contacted at Wal Mart, then we tried following up with potential investigators. We were able to teach a normal restoration lesson to a lady named Rachael. Then we had dinner with some members. The entire time I was thinking about a less active member that Elder Johnson and I had found, Manny. Well we had forgotten to stop by his house earlier so I decided after our dinner with the members that we would go strait there. Side story: There was an investigator that Elder Johnson and I had found, her name is Tiffany, and she was going strong, we had taught her the Restoration, the BOM, P of S and had done a church tour with her, then outta no where just stopped answering our phone calls and texts and was never home or never answered the door. So Elder Johnson and I decided to drop her. Well we go over to Mannys house and he is a cop, so if he is home, his cops car is there along with his regular car. Well I didn't see either of them. I thought to myself, I know he isn't here so we shouldn't even bother knocking on his door, but I decided we would anyways. So we knocked and no one answered. I thought I was right. Well as we were leaving I looked at Tiffanys door. Again I thought, there is no way she is home, we should just keep going and not waste our time. But I figured we were 2 feet from the door, lets just knock on it. So we did and after a few long secs of silence, the door answered and she opened it up! Wow! I was shocked. She was also doing something she knows she shouldn't that we talked to her about to stop doing it. She was shocked to see us, but we were able to read some scriptures with her and and help her in her problems. It was such an amazing experience! I felt the Spirit there so strongly. Turns out that she has been working 5-6 days a week, for almost 12 hours a day and has been super busy. She is going to come to church with us this next weekend! God is a God of miracles, they have not ceased! (Mormon 9:19)

That has been our week. We are going to conintue to find the elect. Yesterday we were tracting and saw some little black kids playing football, so we went over for 30 mins and played with them haha they were all shocked that I was so good haha. They thought I was a quarter back ;) haha but Im doing so well and am happy, because Im loosing myself in the work. I know as we try, act, do that we will see blessing and be happy. We can talk all day but talk doesnt do anything. When we act, that brings happiness:) We need to be comfortable with uncomfortable things!

Well I love yall and hope you have a great week. Today has been cooler and feeling like a nice fall day. All the cotton fields all are “white already to harvest”. You know what that means? The world is ready to harvest now!! (John 4:35) Keep being the great Sons and Daughters of God that yall are! I tell everyone how amazing my family and friends are back home! Yall are exmaples even to Mormons out side of Utah.

Remember to be happy while you work:)

Love Elder Hall:)

Monday, September 15, 2014

You gotta love meetings!

Hey Yall!

So this week has been great! Im just gonna get strait into it. O but first a couple things... We got transfer instructions and I will be staying in Madison and getting a new companion. Im sad to have Elder Johnson leave, but change is necessary and we get alot of it on the mission. And the 2nd thing is that I heard that a winter front came through Utah and cooled it down a ton! Well it hit Alabama a couple days later and boy can i tell you how amazing that felt! It finally felt like fall for just a couple days, with cool winds and temps! haha i enjoyed it while it lasted cuz today was probably around 200% humidity haha. 
  • But the main and most exciting thing that happened this week was the arrival of Elder Zwick! On Tue we had an 8 hour meeting with just the missionaries, then we drove back some elders in our zone which they lived an hour away, one way, so when we got back 2 hours later we had a member missionary fireside with Elder Zwick that was also great. That was that day, then the next day we had another 8 hour meeting with him for just the leadership of the mission. That went great as well! A lot of spiritual edification went on in those 2 days. Just a couple things I learned. 
  • He told us that he was in the temple with President Monson, and Prez Monson told him to tell our mission 2 things. 1. "To be safe." In everything we do. 2. "They are the strongest missionary force we have ever had." Wow what amazing things for our prophet to say that the missionaries now are the strongest force we have ever had. We have been prepared by "stripling warrior" parents, we have had fantastic examples of missionaries in the older generations that have showed us the way. Now we need to prove ourselves while we are here and live up to what President Monson has said! Its our time!:) 
  • Sister Hanks: Other words for Bama, A word to put southerns down, used by yankees to degrade those who didnt fit in. Its the official state soil. We have in Alabama the humblest of people. We also need to realize how rich the soil is of the field we are in. There are people ready now! 
  • Pres Hanks: We need to progress. Luke 2:52, "Jesus increased in wisdom and understanding, in his position with God and Fellow man." We need to follow the perfect example of the Savior and progress each and every day. We either progress or digress, no middle ground. To me, Elder Hall, another word for progression is consistency. Being consistent is one of the best ways to progress. 
  • Sister Zwick talked alot about writing things on our hearts. Having a positive attitude, to recognize and follow the spirit, and to learn to be steadfast! 
  • Elder Zwick talked about progression by faith. We need to become what Heavenly Father needs us to become. We only have the power to become by progression. The Savior made the command, "Be ye therefore perfect." We can only do that one step at a time. As we repent and progress forward thats when we become perfect! 
  • There was a ton of other things that were said, but those things are the things that the spirit taught me personally! And boy did it after 18 hours of meetings haha you gotta love it:) 
Our Zone. This week we were able to see Carine and Roosevelt, the family we are teaching. We took them through a church tour and all went great. Carine wants living proof of everything so thats kinda hard but its all good haha one step at a time. The last thing I want to say before I gotta go is a cool experience we had. Well actually this past week I have met 2 or 3 people that lived in Salt Lake either right behind the conference center or a couple blocks away. Its been crazy, but one night after the meeting with Elder Zwick we went tracting. It was around dinner time and it was a Wed so everyone was going to church. But we went none the less. Not a whole lot of people answered and it was a regular day of tracting. We prayed with a few people. As we were walking up to one house, my companion being a Texas Longhorn fan pointed out to me that this man had a Texas sticker on his car and he may get offended as 2 Mormon missionaries knock on his door right after they got destroyed by BYU... haha but we did anyway. Turns out this man lived in Salt Lake and knew a ton of Mormons. Even out here in Alabama. He had worked with a ton and talked with many about the church and missionaries. Well he told us he didnt want to learn more but respected us for what we did. So off we went on our way. We got to the last house, and everyone has sweet, amazing stories about the last house, but not for us today, we got nothing. So we started to walk to our meal apt and as we started walking away we hear, "Hey Stop! Mormons come back!" We looked back and there was Armondo the Texas fan. He told us that he talked with his wife and wanted us to come over for dinner. Well we are going back right now, tonight to do that! It strengthened my testimony of the power of memebers and how non members will treat missionaries based on if they have a good relationship with members! Yall make a difference weather you know it or not! Keep going, keep helping the Lord hasten his work! You can work miracles:)

I love yall so much! Hope ya have a great week! Remember to be happy:)

Love Elder Hall!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Elder Zwick!

Hey Yall!

So this past week has been a good week. Really busy again and just kinda a normal missionary life week. But some exciting news is that Elder Zwick from the 70 is here in our mission. We will get a multi zone conference with him tomorrow for 8 hours and then a member missionary fireside right after for another 2. Then on Wednesday we will get another mission leadership meeting with him for 8 hours! So a lot of meetings but so so worth it to be with and hear from a servant of the Lord!!:) 

But this week one of the cool experiences I had was actually on an exchange. It was Tuesday and we exchanged with the Madison 2 Elders. I was with Elder Savage. For most of the day we helped his ward mission leader move. Then we biked into Huntsville and tried to see some potential investigators. Well they both werent there, so we biked across town to see a recent convert. Ya they werent there either. We both really didnt wanna tract. It was 7:30 at night and it was getting dark.
But we both knew it would be the best thing to do. So forward we went with it. We knocked and knocked and most doors people werent even home. One lady sat there and yelled at us through the door without even opening it haha. Still we talked and laughed and had a good time with it cuz thats what your supposed to do when you do things you dont want to right? haha well we came up on a house that as we were walking up, the mother was in the kitchen window doing the dishes. She looks up, we wave, she looks back down as fast as she can. We waved about 5 more times as she kept looking up really awkwardly and we just laughed as we knocked on the door. Then she answered and Elder Savage said, "Hi mam, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Can we help you with your dishes?" She laughed and said No, but she let us in anyways and we got to talking and we left a blessing on her home and they are going back this week to teach her the Restoration. Do yall remember TOAST? Thrive On Awkward Situations and the last T is just awkward. I love these moments:) haha. These are just some funny pics with a members dog….

Other than that its been a normal week of service, tracting, store contacting and what not. We were able to have 2 baptisms in our zone this weekend. One other baptism got re-scheduled for hopefully this next weekend. O also the family that almost fell apart on us, we have been going back and doing "counseling" with and its been working. The Dad no longer wants to leave, but wants to build his family in love and unity. Now we just need them to go a swimming haha we are working on that part. But I still love the mission. Im learning and growing every day from it! I love it more than anything else ive ever done. God will change you for the better IF you let him. We need to turn our desires over to him. I know this Church is Jesus Christ church restored again in these Latter Days. I know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us so very much! I know He wants and is waiting to bless us. Sometimes He blesses us with trials. But we will give us even more blessings with strength to endure those trials to make us better! I know Christ is the Savior of the World. We have been blessed with this knowledge, now let us share it, so we can in turn be happier than ever before! 

I love yall! Continue to be happy! Continue to be the best Latter Day Saint Ever! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love yall!

Love Elder Hall:)

Monday, September 1, 2014

Short and Sweet

Hey Yall!

This week was the normal in the grind kinda week. Probably the highlight of the week came with one of the families we are teaching. It was my toast experience for last week with the husband yelling at his wife, well we went back and taught him a little about why people do things and its because of their personalities, well we ended up getting him settled down, he wanted to leave his wife and kids and after we got done talking with him he didnt want to leave anymore. We talked with him and his wife the next day. They were both grateful for us coming over and helping them. Then we told them that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can help them more then anything else right now. And that they can be together for ever, but the first step is to be baptized. We asked them to think about being baptized and we are going back this week to set a date with them! Im so grateful for the spirit that not only helped us know what to say in such a time of crisis, but also to help them feel the love they have for each other again and to not end that.

We have been trying to find more and more investigators, one of the families we had a baptism date with we havent been able to get back , we are still trying, but we know that if they really wanted to listen we would be in teaching them, so we dont waste to much time their, instead we find. This week we went on some exchanges. One exchange was with Elder Posadas. He and I were in Decatur together and we had a good day. We tried following up with investigators they found and we did some tracting. It was good cuz we biked and worked hard that day.

Other than that we have been finding by tracting and store contacting. Thats the missionary life right there:) haha the weeks go by to fast! The weather here is still hot and rainny. Itll be hot until mid to late Oct. But everythin is good.and its a very short and sweet letter. One last thing has to deal with grace. In 2 nephi 25 most of yall have probably heard of vs 26, it talks about "We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ." but if we look in the vs before that, vs 25, it tells us how we are "Saved" It says, "For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments." Now everyone in the south will say, "we are only saved by grace!" And, "You Mormons think you can work and earn your way to Heaven." Well we all know about Justice and Mercy. Justice is "The Law" and mercy is "Christ", so when we have faith in Christ, aka believe and accept him as our Savior, and also keep the commandments, aka works, then we are saved be the grace of the Savior. We need to keep the Law that Christ has set forth for us. He wants us to do things to better ourselves and become like Heavenly Father. Just a cool little thought. 

I hope yall have a great week. I love yall so much! Remember to be happy:)

Love Elder Hall:)

Changed, Stunned, A New Man

Hey Yall! So this week has been so good, and bad at the same time! It was defiantly the fastest week ive ever had in my life! The weath...