Another great week!

Hey Yall!

So this week was another great week in Highland Home! Im feeling more and more like a missionary every day. And not just a regular missionary but I feel like im becoming better and better at missionary work each day. Its a lot of hard work, but at the same time I realize what we really do. We sit and talk to people all day.... That should not be tiring at all right? I think it shouldnt, but im the most tired ive been all my life haha Its a good kind of tired:) haha just a random little thought.

My district haha So this week was just like the other weeks. It seems like there is not much to my week and I dont have any cool experiences at first, but then I look back on each day and I can see all the things that really happened. Sometimes we all feel like our days are all alike, but when we look back, and we are trying to make each day great and serve then we will see the little blessings of each day! It started off with Zone Conference on Tuesday. There were 2 zones there. Man that conference was so amazing! It was the last zone conference Prez. Holtzapfel will do down in the Montgomery Stake. And he did amazing! It really got me thinking on my mission so far and the things Ive been good at and the things ive slacked on and need to work on. Which is great! Because thats how you become a better person and missionary is working on your weaknesses. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." -Ether 12:27. We always need to be humble and improve ourselves to become more like Christ. And he also talked alot about our purpose as a missionary. You can find a missionary's purpose in preach my gospel, but there are 2 important words in it. Invite and Help. As a missionary we dont just go and give a spiritual lesson. That is good but the best thing to do is to give a lesson or share a scripture and invite people to act to improve there lives. Every time we see someone we need to always invite them to be better. With that invitation we can ask them if we can do anything to help them improve or to help them in there every day lives. We need to look for service opportunities! Those 2 things are what missionaries need to be doing:) That is the main lesson I learned from the conference but it was just so amazing!

If any of yall ever get a chance to learn from or hear from President Holtzapfel take advantage of that opportunity! He is such an inspired man and gives such great talks! I love him so much and will miss him! He goes home this June. He is going back to Utah to teach at BYU again.

After the conference we were going to do an exchange. So me and Elder Kelley came back to Highland Home. We worked here on the exchange for 2 days! It was so great! Not only was I able to learn from him, since he is going home this transfer, but me and him were able to get along so well! He is from Detroit and is black and man I swear him and Isaiah are twins! They just look so similar haha jk not because they are both black but they both talk alike and they both have the exact same personalities! Its so dang crazy! It felt like I was back with Isaiah for a moment haha but yes Isaiah is better cuz he's my bro haha. But those 2 days I had to plan out myself and I was basically the Sr. Comp. It was fun and weird at the same time cuz ive never had that chance before. We were able to follow the spirit as well and because of that we were able to give a man a blessing that he really needed. I love following little promptings and being able to have a great outcome:)

Our B-day party decorating. Everyone said that we should start a business cuz of how good we made the whole party turn out haha. We were able to help a man named James build an add on to his house! That was really fun! We were just helping him frame the walls but it was a learning experience! And on Saturday we got to go to a little girls, Olivia, birthday! I dont know if I told you about Diana, she is the one that cut my hair, but its her daughter. Diana is a recent convert and is so amazing! She is the convert that every missionary wants! Haha we were able to help her set everything up and decorate then play with the kids as well as talk to Dianas sisters, mom, aunt and uncle who are all non members. It was the funnest missionary work ive done haha.

One really cool experience was Sunday. So not yesterday but the Sunday before that a man in the Elder Quorum came up and asked if I would give the lesson in priesthood next week. I told him yes like always. Then I realized that next week it was my turn to give the lesson for Gospel Principles! Haha so throughout the week I actually only read each lesson once. Like all of yall know im horrible at preparing lessons and talks. I was going to read them both again Sunday morning but didnt get the chance. So Sunday came and the amazing thing was that not only was I able to teach both classes, but they had to tell me it was time to go in each of them. I was able to teach the full time and for me that was amazing because I usually end my lesson and we have like 15-20 minutes left haha. But not only that, I felt like I am learning and growing as a teacher as well. I was able to involve and ask questions to get other involved in the lesson. I was able to relate everything to them and I thought that both classes went well. I know that is an answer to my prayers! I couldnt have done that without the Holy Ghost being with me to put thoughts into my head. I had read the lessons and thought about them all week and because of that the Spirit was able to tell me what to say! It was pretty cool to see that little miracle!

But I just love my mission! Every day I get to go out and help people and bring a smile to their face! Its the most spiritual and fun thing ive ever been apart of! I know that this gospel is true! I know that Christ is our savior! And I want to invite all of you to do something this week. I want yall to pray and look for an opportunity to help someone. To make thier day better. You can talk to them, give them a hug, take out the trash, pull weeds, anything to help someone else be happy and to see them smile. I know that if you do this you will have more peace in your life. That you will be able not only to help someone else but you will be able to help yourself through what ever you may be going through. I love yall so so much! I hope you have a great week! I hope yall are happy this week!! Keep being the great Latter Day SAINTS that you are!

Love Elder Hall

The Joys of Missionary Life

Hey Yall!

So this week we had an amazing week! We were able to see and teach and fellowship a lot of people! I dont have any really smack ya in the face spiritual experiences this week, so sorry about that:/ but I do have some funny things that happened this week.

Us and Jade at her 6th grade graduation:) I love there family! Hopefully I can get a pic of all of them to send to y'all! Well first we had a great P-Day up in Montgomery. We did a zone activity and got to wax our cars then go to the park and play kickball! That was super fun! After we were able to go to the baptist hospital there and give a couple people blessings. One man was the uncle of a recent convert Diana Rogers. She is the one that cut my hair. She is the only member in her family and when she said that her uncle was in the ICU we told her we would love to give him a blessing. So we went and people kinda gave us funny looks or they wouldnt look at us at all haha but we met her Aunt, the mans wife, and cousins, his daughters, that were meeting us at the hospital. They took us to his room in the ICU. He was in a medically Induced Coma. So we gave him the blessing. Afterwards the wife of the man was just sobbing in tears. She was so grateful that we would take time and come give him a blessing and she said that she just felt so good inside and knew that he would be alright. Well later this week we figured out that he was out of the coma and was in a regular room. He was up and happy and talking with everyone. So well you can say that that was a smack ya in the face spiritual moment haha I actually wasnt gonna share that but I guess I needed too:) haha I just love knowing and seeing over and over again miracles that come through the priesthood. It just adds to my testimony that it is a very real power and that it can change lives!

So next was on Tuesday we had a district meeting. There are 4 people in my district. Me, my comp(Elder Jensen) who is the district leader, Elder Kelly, and Elder Hatch who are the Zone Leaders. It didnt hit me until we got to district meeting and my comp says, " Welcome to district meeting where we have the zone leaders, district leaders and..... Elder Hall. Haha Im the only one that doesnt have anything special haha Im actually the only one that will be out on my mission past july! The other 3 will all be home haha But hey that just means im in the best district ever!:) haha Also something else that is really funny that happened on monday and tuesday is that for one of our companionship studies we spent the whole time talking about how mormon I am. Haha then after district meeting my comp made me tell the zone leaders how mormon I am haha Everybody now wants to come to Alpine and experience the total mormon experience haha Its hilarious to think of how mormon Alpine really is haha I always tell people that there is Utah, Then Happy Valley or Utah county, then provo, then alpine haha. Everyone gets so surprised when I tell them. But I have come to love and appreciate how much of the gospel has really been in my life! Its been a tremendous blessing!

The next funny experience was on Wednesday night. We had just left a members house that had us over for dinner. Then we fixed to go to a part member family. And they were making tacos so they insisted that we had some. So we both fixed a plate of them and my comp went to the living room. As I was headed that way Katrina, the mom, said, "Hey have some kool-aid its in the fridge just get it out and grab some." So I opened the fridge and saw 2 pitchers one was red and the other one was what I thought was purple.... The "Purple" was a little less than half full. The red one was all the way full. So I thought well instead of grabbing the full one ill just help finish off the one thats almost gone so I poured me a glass. When I was pouring it, it didnt look purple. It looked more of a brown color which I thought was weird. As I was walking from the kitchen to the living room I decided to taste the drink I had just gotten. And yup, it defiantly was not purple kool-aid! Haha I had just poured me a glass of tea!!! I couldnt believe it! Haha so I sat down on the couch and put the drink in the corner behind the couch hoping that no one would see it haha then I ate my taco. When I finished the little boy they have thats 5 said can I take your plate...... I thought that would be a perfect time to get up and sneak my plate and the drink away to go put it in the sink. Haha so I did just that and no one knew a thing. Haha afterwards I told my comp and he busted up laughing and is going to tell the family next time we go over there haha but it was an intense moment that ended up fine:) haha

Another long dirt road! There growing on me:) There are pond/ Swamp things as we walk down the roads that we throw boulders into.  But the work here is progressing! We were able to teach wayne again and he had tears in his eyes as we both bore testimony at the end of the lesson. We asked him about June 1st as a baptism date. He said that he doesnt see himself getting baptized that date but than said you never know I could change my mind! Haha he is a funny man but hey he is in the conflict zone which is really really good! He still reads the BOM and tells us what he learns! So he is doing great! We were able to see 4 less actives come back to church on Sunday! We were so proud of all of them! One is named Tiffany. I dont know if I told yall but everyone here is related. EVERYONE. haha and tiffany is married to a man named joe. His mom is named Earline. She has a huge clan haha but Tiffany and her girls are a family we are working hard on trying to get back to church. She has 3 girls and a boy. Karah is 15. Jodi is 14 and Jade is 12. Jade and Earline are both active. Colt is 4. So we are trying to get the rest active. One way is by going to softball games. We were able to go to one of Jades last softball games this past week and invited Tiffany to come to church and were so so surprised and happy she came!:)

And that brings us to why this email is late because Jade had a 6th grade graduation that she invited us to go to so we went and saw the whole clan again and had a good time!:)

That is one thing that I have learned on my mission. You have to be a friend and you have to be a spiritual guide. Being a friend is talking to people about there lives, going to things they have, supporting them, and loving them. Being a spiritual guide is teaching them and inviting them to keep commandments and make covenants. You need both and that makes.... A Missionary! I love being peoples friends but not only that seeing them grow spiritually! That is why your out on a mission. At first it was really awkward to always be talking about the gospel and spiritual things with people. But now I love sharing and talking about the gospel! Its amazing to see people change. This area has really helped me be able to be a friend more. At first I thought that all missionaries do was talk and preach and invite. That is a really big thing we do. But unless we are there true friend they wont trust us and wont listen. I have learned how to relate what people love to the gospel. So they can truley understand. I have loved being in this area. Its the most country area youll ever see. But with that brings great down to earth people, that love everyone. Everyone here is family and I now feel a part of that family. We all need to make people feel apart of our gospel family! I heard a saying this week. Its "The church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints." We all need to realize non of us are perfect. We all need to help each other through this life and make everyone feel like family. That is truly missionary work.

I love yall! I hope yall are doing well. I pray for each and every one of you every day! I love being a missionary! Its so awesome to be out each day walking in the long dirt roads, sweating my butt off as it gets hotter and hotter each day. I love it. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else right now. I hope yall are just as happy as I am! We all need to be happy each day! Find the blessing that Heavenly Father has given you and be thankful:) Hope yall have a great and happy week!:)

Love Elder Hall

Happy Mothers Day!

Hey Yall!

So first off I wanna wish all the mothers a happy mothers day yesterday!:) As yall know I got to skype my family. It was awesome to see them and to talk with them! They can now tell yall all about my southern slang haha but it was a great time.

Long dirt road that we walked on for hours! So this week we did the usual of trying to see less actives and finding people on the roster that we have never met as well as trying to teach lessons to investigators. We were able to teach Wayne. He is a good guy. He has done some wrong things in his life, and his brother just helped him get out of jail. He lives with his brother now and because of that feels like his bro is making him come to church and making him do all these things. We talked with him and I was trying so hard not to be mad at my comp. First off we didn't start off with a prayer, which is so essential! Then wayne, his brother, and Elder Jensen started going back and forth with each other basically fighting over baptists and mormons. Then I my comp and wayne basically just went back and forth for about an hour without me even saying one word. I literally didn't have a chance to even pop into the conversation. And I noticed during the whole discussion that he was going over everything in the first lesson, but it was all over the place. Then I didn't feel like we should have invited him to be baptized, but my comp kept insisting that I do it so I finally asked him and he kinda was shocked and put back. Told us that June 1st was to soon, but my comp kept pushing it and pushing it. Well I was able to say a little bit at the end of the "lesson" and then just bore my testimony. After he said he would think about it and tell us when we came back on Tuesday so we will see what happens ha. And lets just say me and my comp had a good talk afterwards haha

The Happy birthday mom sent me:) and if you look in the corner you can see my new Alabama flag i bought!  But this week I've learned that here in Highland Home we walk a lot! There are the random dirt roads in Utah that usual lead to no where but here about half the county is long dirt roads. Ive spent hours walking on them! haha ill send pics of one of the sections of the dirt road we walked on! But its good for me to get out and walk!  Me celebrating my birthday with the little tiny cake:)

The one other experience I had this week was crazy. We had gotten a referral of a man who lived at the bottom of our area which is the bottom of the mission boundaries. We went down to go see him and we were trying to find his house as we were driving we noticed a big sign and wondered what it was. As we got closer to it we realized it was the next county! We couldn't stop suddenly so we ended up going out of our mission boundaries or a minute haha it was crazy! Kinda funny but we hurried and got back in. We ended up going to the mans house. His name is Andrei. He wasn't there but we called him the next day and talked with him. It kinda seems like he just wants someone to talk to but you never know. He could be ready to hear and accept the gospel.

Well this is a short letter just because nothing really new or exciting happened. haha im trying hard not to gain weight with my new microwave food diet haha But ill survive:) I wish yall the best of luck this next week! Remember to stay happy! Love Yall!

Love Elder Hall

I don't know if you can see but we tried to shave a fohawk into my head haha:)

Me being attacked by Diana who is a recent convert and she cut my hair and her daughter Olivia who became my new best buddy haha she reminds me of all my nieces!:)

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

New Area

Hey Yall!

So today was transfers. Im now in the most southern part of my mission. Highland Homes haha. I went from the most northern part of the mission to the most southern part! Pretty crazy! But here is my new address that yall can send stuff too. 4470 Honorville Rd, Honorville, Alabama 36042.

We got here and im unpacked now. Our apt is even smaller then the apt in Corinth!! If you go out to look at it you will see a big house. Then a pool. Then there is a little blue house right behind the pool. That is where we stay haha its a pool house! Ill send pics of it on Monday:) But from what it sounds like Highland Homes is a tiny village thing! It doesnt even have a Walmart in it! So that tells you how small it is.

But anyway I dont have too much time now. My new comp is Elder Jensen. He is a cool funny guy. He is from Portland, Oregon and only has 3 months left of his mission. But there is some details so far that I have gathered. Ill tell yall more on Monday. Have a great rest of the week!

Love Yall!

Love Elder Hall