What a blessed week it has been!

Hey Yall! 

The Decatur District.  This week has been crazy! None the less we have been able to have a lot of great experiences! We have been trying to help the Madison 3 Sisters find new investigators. We told them to pray about some street names and we would go tract those streets. One day right before we went to tract in their area, we did some tracting in our area. We knocked some doors and people were nice but nothing to good. Well we decided to knock one last door. The man opened up and we said, "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.." "Well come on in!" He replied quickly. Wow. We sat and talked for 15 minutes and got a return apt with him. He loves the church and kept telling us how proud he was of us doing what we do. Then we tracted in Madison 3. Well we tracted the entire street and the last door, we knock on, its pretty dark out by now, and a lady answers, we told her we were representatives of Jesus Christ and wanted to pray with her. She told us she would love to and went on to explain that her family went to the Mormon church in Utah. We prayed with her and asked if the sisters could come back and teach her, she said she would love that! Wow. Simple stories but what miracles and great last door experiences! Its not until AFTER the trial of our faith do we receive a witness!:) So cool how the Lord blesses us as missionaries. 

We have also been able to travel to baptisms and weddings. In Decatur, Nate and Angela were married and baptized and all went great! It was neat to see how they truely did want to repent and would do anything to feel the power of the Atonement. It made me think about what I would do, or give up just to come closer to Christ. We have also been traveling around the mission helping with spur of the moment emergencies. Those are always fun to do and keep you on your feet. 

A really sweet LA, Manny, and I, in a cardigan!:) I do have some exciting news though, I will be transferring out of Madison. I have loved it here. Its been different then all my other areas as its so big, so many people and lots of places to go. Im sad to go, but Ive learned now you cant think about that part to much and you have to continue forth with your new area! I am also being released as a Zone Leader. Pres Hanks doesnt like old missionaries going home as a leader. He puts it as this, every one of you will be back to Buck Private. Which is good! Im sad that I wont be a Zone Leader anymore. I have loved being a Zone Leader. I have loved the missionaries that I have had the great opportunity to be their leader, I learned so much more from them, then they learned from me. I have loved being able to feel Heavenly Fathers love for them as well. But on the other hand, Im excited to go back to regular missionary work! I will figure out on Wednesday where ill be, so ill email yall then! Im excited for new adventures!

Sorry this is short, but as always im still super busy and gotta keep going! I love yall so much! Till next week, remember to be happy and "If you look good, smell good, and feel good, its all good" :)

Love Elder Hall

Miracles abound!!

Hey Yall!

So yesterday we had a zone activity, and we had to set up. We have been super busy all week! So this is why the letter is kinda late... But this week has been so great! Here are some things that happened. This week we have gone to all of the different areas in our zone to help them with progressing investigators to get baptized and help others find investigators to teach. Ill mention that in a sec, but I want to tell yall about one of, if not the best day of my mission!  Me and my greenie/fist born son haha thats code for the 1st elder I trained back in Highland Home, Elder Hodge, we got matching breast cancer awareness ties:)

We were able to go on exchanges with the Madison 2 elders who are in a trio right now. It was a pretty awesome exchange! It started out kinda rough with Elder Barben's bike tire going flat right before we went out. So we tried to fix that but we needed a new tube. So then Elders Riding and Barben tried calling members to give us a ride and teach with us. We also needed to get Barben to the Library to email Prez Hanks, because of the Tornado warning the day before and we got kicked out of the library.The only problem was it was way across town. Well all the members either couldnt take us or was the wrong number. So time was getting late so we ended up going out anyway. We started out walking at 4:30. I told Elder Riding and Barben that we were taking a step of faith into the dark, and telling Heavenly Father to put rocks underneath our feet. We werent sure how we were gonna make it and get all we needed to done. Well we walked all the way to the library and made a couple contacts, nothing to solid. Well we got to the library around 7, and Barben emailed Prez Hanks. 

It was getting really dark outside, but we needed to go to a teaching apt. Well instead of walking to the teaching apt really quickly and not talking to anyone, we talked to everyone that came into our path. We talked to one lady and got a return apt, then I told Elder Barben to contact this gangster looking dude with headphones in. Well Elder Barben started talking to him and I picked up, by the end of the conversation, Elder Barben was talking to a 13 year old boy on his bike, and Elder Riding was talking to an older man. All 3 of us were talking to different people at once haha so cool:) The boy that Elder Barben was talking to ended up being the kid we needed to see and teach. Well none of his family was home and he told us to come back the next day to teach them all, one more apt added to tomorrow. Then we looked at our watches. They all said 8:30, and we still had about an hour and a half walk back to the apt. So we walk outta stake conference we had this weekend and the black guy in the middle is named Tiger. I was walking infront of the other 4 Elders, and I made a comment to him, o we are just the "Mormon Mafia" He said "O, i can see that." And without hesitation named us all, so we had to get a picture of it and put our titles up there;)

So we started to head back. As I realized that we had gotten 14 unplanned invites in 3 hours and got 3 return apts for tomorrow I was surprised. I thought to myself, "Wow! Heavenly Father really has blessed us and put rocks underneath us! What a blessing." I then remembered the scripture study I had earlier that morning in the BOM I read in the 24th and 25th chapters in Mosiah that talked about Christ 1st Strengthens them in afflictions then 2nd Helps them escape their afflictions then they immediately realize that God helped them and they 3rd gave thanks. I realized this is something Ive struggled with is 1st realizing the blessings, then giving thanks immediately not just at the end of the night. So we stepped onto a not so busy street and circled up to say a pray just of gratitude. You could feel the spirit so strongly. We looked at our clocks and it was still 8:30 somehow... 

Elder Riding really had to go to the bathroom, so we found a gas station. As he walked in Elder Barben and I just stood outside. This man made eye contact with me and walked all the way up to us. We could tell he was wasted. To make a long story short we talked with him for about 15 minutes and turns out he is a less active in the Madison 2nd ward. We got his info and planed to see him on the morrow. Turns out that the gas station didnt even have a bathroom anyways. Wow God knows we needed to see that man! Then we went up the street another 15 mins or so and got to another gas station. Here is the toast experience for the week. We all walked in single file line Elder Hall, then Elder Barben, then Elder Riding. As I walked in there was the worker of the gas station and a lady customer with purple hair and lots of ear rings. As I walked in I asked, "How yall doing?" Then I turned the corner to let the others in. Elder Barben came in then Elder Riding follows and says, "Im doing good. How are yall?" Haha he ran to the back of the store to the bathroom. I went to the back of the room and could not stop laughing but ended up talking to the both of them and they werent to interested. Funny moment though. I bought some drinks and chips for the 2 Elders on the walk home. We started walking back. It had to have been at least 45 mins to an hour after the last time we checked our watches. We looked again and to our complete suprise it was still 8:30! Yall, I swear that it was 8:30 3 different times that night and God turned back time so we could talk with all these people and also make it back home by 9:15! It was a complete miracle. This day is down in history as one of, well probably the best day of my mission with the most miracles that have happened in such a short period of time, in one of the hardest areas in the mission. Just like Prez Hanks says, "Its not about the area. There are a lot of hard areas, its all about your attitude!" 

We were able to take in our car this week to repair the side door that was dented. We had to leave it and so we were out on our bikes and on foot for some of the week! It was good hard work. We also had baptism in Cullman on Sunday. That went great. Thats 3 for the month. We still have 6 solid dates and 2 that could possibly happen. We as a zone each week pray specifically for those that are getting baptized at the end of the week in all our prayers. I know that is why all these are going through! So many miracles are happening in our zone right now! We, in reality, have the best zone with the best missionaries. Everyone is working so hard! I love it. I love the mission I love you! We are STEADFAST! Have a great week! Remember to be happy(Its all about your attitude!) :)

Love Elder Hall!

Barben Won at Soccer!

Hey Yall! 

This week has been great! It almost feels like fall, we will have a day of colder weather then back to the humidity and hott haha but its good. And actually we have had a few tornado warning go off, our tornado sirens were blaring and this is the first time ive heard them here in Madison even though they are right by our apts! haha but nothing big has happened. You never know with Alabama weather! haha in other news my title was from a missionary Elder Barben. He wanted me to tell yall he won at soccer today haha so be proud of him I guess:) haha

This week has been great. Busy just like always and full of good experiences. If yall haven't caught on since ive been in Madison most the time we find by tracting for store contacting and just try to get new investigators. Most the time we get referrals for all the surrounding areas. This week we helped some Sisters in the Madison 3rd ward. We went tracting with them. Now before yall freak out and think we went on a double date, we didnt all go up to the same doors. Elder Smith and I started on the one end of the street and knocked all the same side, Sisters Butterfield and Olsen tracted the other way. Now they are the only ward in our stake that hasnt had a baptism this year. They are one of if not the richest area in our mission, with Madison 1st ward, our ward, not to far behind. Well we got them one return apt and they were able to teach a mini restoration lesson and so in all 2 new investigators! 

We were able to have interviews with Prez Hanks. Those like always went so well. We were able to talk alot about what I have done on my mission, how i can continue to improve for these last few months. Haha funny moment was that Prez Hanks wanted to give me some advice about staying strong til the end of my mission. He said, "I have a solution." "Whats that?" I asked "You go home in March...." Pres Said. (Wow! In my mind for a few split seconds which felt like eternity I know think that Prez Hanks gave me an extension and im not leaving til March which freaked me out, but at the same time I was gonna accept it) I said, "Yes sir, ill stay out til then." Then he followed up his statement with, "If you think like that then one day in January youll wake up and be surprised that your going home so soon." Haha so needless to say im not getting an extension. But also we were able to watch the Meet the Mormons movie. Boy was that great! I loved it and can say that it was a lot better then i thought. If yall havent seen it i highly recommend it and take a friend! 

Just a couple neat experiences this past week. We were able to see Tiffany. She has a lot of different struggles and challenges. One of which is her husband. Well she kicked him outta the house and is now trying to cope with that. We were able to go over and comfort her and just let her be at peace. We also have helped her in other ways and you can tell she enjoys the spirit we bring and loves the gospel. She has been reading a little bit of out the BOM even though she doesnt understand to much. But she is progressing slowly. Also the other experience we had this week was that of our ward. Lately more than normal amount of members have been coming up to us sharing missionary moments they have throughout the week. This is great because when I first got here they werent the most missionary minded ward. I have seen as they have turned their desires over to the Lord, they have seen little miracles. Its funny because just like a Utah ward, most members here only associate with other members of the church, so they have really had to reach out and go beyond there comfort zone. The excitement of missionary work is catching on and spreading.  We pulled a little prank on the sisters and this is how they got us back. Right after we got done on pday playing frisby! And this is my reaction to it!

In our zone this month we have set a goal of 6 baptisms. This year in the Madison zone the most baptisms they have ever gotten in a month is 5. We have 9 dates right now and have already had 2 baptisms go through. We are working hard on keeping in contact with the baptism dates we have. We have set some Zone goals to 1. Be obedient 2. Have prayers of gratitude along with our attitude and 3. To go out and work, not expecting anything in return. This way we will improve and take our zone to the next level. We have so many good missionaries in our zone that are willing and wanting to work hard, and they do! Ive been very blessed as a leader to have great missionaries under me supporting me as I support them. 

I hope that yall have a great week. I love you so much and wish the best for yall! Remember to have an attitude of gratitude, this will help you be happy:) In Mosiah 23:10

10 Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers...

and also in verse 21-22:

21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up... 

Remember its not til after ALL we can do does the Lord bless us. Have patience, faith, pray often, and endure. The Lord is there to strength us, alot of times we dont realize it. In the end the trail will make us stronger and will do more good then harm, as we put our trust in Him, Jesus will lift us up!

Love Elder Hall:)

And Todays News Flash!

Hey Yall!

This week went somewhere.... Im still not sure where its gone but somehow im right in the the seat and emailing yall again. Wow. Time is flying by! First off I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves this weekend listening to the prophets voice! What a wonderful opportunity we as members of the Lords church have to be able to listen to the Lords servants! 

This week is really all a haze in my head... This letter is gonna be a shorter one today but hopefully yall enjoy it. We started out the week with MLC on Tuesday. I always love those meetings, but at the same time they are 8 hours of packed full, non stop revelation and information for us. Then on Wednesday we were going to go on an exchange, but we found out that one of the missionaries in our zone was gonna go home the next day. So that day we continued to work and check up on people, but at the same time we worked with the assistants to help make plans for this missionary, his companion and where he is going to stay and other things. Also along with that we had to plan with the sister training leaders to have a Zone Training on Friday, that a meeting where we take the 8 hour MLC and condense it to a 3 hour meeting for the rest of the missionaries. We were able to plan it out with them, then do a little bit of work in our own area. The next day Thursday we woke up at 5 AM again for the 3rd time and went to pick up the two missionaries, we took them down to Birmingham and dropped off one, the other one we took out to breakfast, then took him and picked up his stuff and dropped him off with another set of Elders here in Madison, so they are now a trio. We went and did some visits. Then for the rest of the night spent planning and preparing for Zone Training. Friday we had Zone Training, it was really stressful putting it together cuz everything wasnt working right, but we got er done and all went well. Then Saturday and Sunday were great but very busy with General Conference! Which made it 22 hours of meetings on the week!

Haha now let me fill ya in on the more spiritual part of things. One is a very cool experience that happened is that in the midst of all the chaos we went to follow up with a potential investigator. Well as we got outta our car and walked up to her door, there was a lady standing by her car and said, "She isnt there." So we ended up joking with her telling her that we had met her and she was the lady we were looking for. Well we got her to let us come back. Then we put into plan what our mission Pres has been asking us to do, ask for referrals from everyone. We asked if she had anyone she wanted to come to the lesson and she said her cousin would love to! Then we hear this voice come outta no where saying, "Hey thats me!" haha her cousin was sitting in the car. But she wanted to come! We tried going back and they asked if we could come by this week so we will see what will come from it. The Lesson I learned was even when your busy the Lord still puts people in our path, we need to talk to them! We need to Believe and let the Lord guide.

A couple conference clips...

• We need everyone to have spiritual strength- Prez Packer 
• God will not make us something, we do not want to become. We need to be willing and participate. Go to work, so He can help you with something, to become something.- Elder Christofferson

Thats all the time I got today, love yall so much!! Remember to be Happy:)

Love Elder Hall!