Aug. 27, 2018

Well hello my dear friends and family! I have been gone for almost 7 weeks! And it has been marvelous! I do apologize that I didn't email last week, I just didn't want to. 

This week has been a week of miracles, excitment, and business! So I really only remember the last two days, but let me tell you about them and them people that made them spectacular!

But first, some of you are concerned that I am not sharing any negative experiences and am sugar coating my life. I have not had even one bad experience so far. I don't know how or why, but it might be because the Lord knows that if I did then I might want to come home?!? The strangest thing I have seen is when an 8 year old girl screamed at me to let me know she was lesbian?¿?¿? And I tried duck. Like the bird. I recommend it! Lol

So this week.. 

Yesterday 7 of the people we are teaching were baptized, and confirmed today as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! It was a beautiful opportunity. 

The Huber Family. Mark (Dad), Sheila (Mom), Tiffany (34), Travis (24), Rebecca (20), and Keenan (15). I met this amazing family on my first night in Las Vegas. They were they first people I met, and it was their first lesson with missionaries. In Mark's words "it was destined for us to meet!" I knew the night we met that they were 6 of the people I was supposed to meet on my mission! That first night we taught them about the Book of Mormon, and read Alma 32 with them and the spirit felt there changed their lives! Alma 32 teaches about humility and faith. The next night we taught the restoration of the gospel and invited them to prepare for baptism. They quickly became a part of the ward family! Hanging out with members for fun, cleaning the Church, participating in a ward spaghetti party, and loving church all in the first week! They changed so much to align themselves with God's plan and will for them. Their baptism was truly amazing, and I am so grateful for the way they have touched my heart and changed my life. I love this family and I keep getting excited about when I grow up, and I get to bring my family here to meet them. I had the privilege of baptizing Sheila and Rebecca!

Olabodè! What a great guy! I met him on my first Sunday here, and it was also very clear to my heart that Olabodè and I needed each other! We're going to be good friends for the rest of our lives! He finds the gospel so obvious. After his baptism he bore his testimony and shared that he "knew Joseph Smith was called as a prophet to restore the gospel, not only for the whites, but also the blacks"! (That might just be funny to us though..inside joke...you'd have to be there..LOL) He has plans to prepare himself to go on a mission next year after he goes to the temple! I love Olabodè and am so excited to see the blessings that will pour into his life as he lives the gospel!

Planning and participating in 7 ordinances, for people I love so much has been amazing. You better believe sacrament meeting was long with 7 people reciving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we only went 20 minutes over time! Lol. We have one baptism every Saturday for the next three weeks, also for people we met in the last few weeks! Nick, Tracy, and Robert! So we are always busy! 

I love this work and I love this gospel! I saw it change my life and I am watching it change the life of the people of Las Vegas! Soon it will not be called Sin City! 

So much more happened this week, but I haven't written in my journal since day 1, so who knows what I am doing here, I need to be better at that!

Thank you all for the love and support! I love you! 

Until Next week,(maybe two)

Elder Hall 

Picture Guide

1. Olabodė's baptism

2. Olabodė taking my phone to take selfies

3. Elder Chadwick, Mark, Sheila, Rebecca, Travis, Tiffany, Keenan, ME, Kegan (a priest in the ward), Brother Martin

4. Brother Moffat and I talking about mutual friends back home!

5. My area from on high

6. Brother Carlson and us judging a Spaghettisauce contest

7. City view from #8

8. Workout time we hike!

9. Sometimes they sky is blue!

10. But usually not! Smog covers this place!

11. Usually a good view!

Aug. 26, 2018

An excerpt from an email sent from a member,

"I met him within his first few days of getting here and he had the biggest smile and bright eyes."

August 13, 2018

Hello All of you,

We have seen so many miracles this week! The Lord has prepared so many people to hear and accept His words and gospel. Since I got here on the first of August we have met hand fulls of people ready and willing to heed our words and feel the Holy Ghost testifying truth to their hearts. 10 of these people have committed to baptism with in the next few weeks. I love the people here; they are all so kind and willing to give water bottles! I know that I have been called to this wonderful place by a prophet of God, and I know that my Heavenly Father knows all things. This is where I am supposed to be. I need these people and I hope they need me also.  

So much has happened this week, we never have a spare moment! The Lord's work is full! I have learned that God is truly perfect and He does know all things! His hand is in every aspect of my life! By truly submitting myself to His will I have lost interest in the things of this world! 

And as hard as we work comes just as much fun and happiness! Our Heavenly Father has truly made the work of gathering His children FUN! We laugh so much and we love so much! The members here are so strong and willing to serve beside us! 

I don't know what to share about what we are doing, we are sharing and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel is so simple and plain, but it is true and it will take us back to our Heavenly home!  I implore you to come to know who you Heavenly Father is! He knows you and loves you unconditionally! Through His Son Jesus Christ we can find exaltation! He does live and He is our Savior! I know that through faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance (a change we make in our lives to better align ourselves with His teachings, and a fresh outlook on God, yourself, and the world), baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by ENDURING TO THE END; we can have all the blessings our Heavenly Father Has to offer! I have seen this in my life, the life of those I love, and the lives of the people we are teaching!

Life in the mission could not be more great then it is now at this moment Elder Chadwick and myself have 10 people on baptismal date, what's great is that all of them are solid and that they are all progressing to their dates. 

The first six on date is the Huber family all of their names are Mark, Sheila, Tiffany, Travis, Rebecca, and Keenan. They are all from Edmonton Alberta, Canada. They have become what Alma 32 teaches; Humble! They used to live in the Huntington Cove ward and they moved to the Coronado ward so we got lucky to be able to cover both of those wards. Each of them have such amazing attributes and are doing so well. On Saturday they helped us clean the church and on Friday we taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ and the word of wisdom and they committed to live the word of wisdom. They are all set to be baptized on August 25 so on August 25th 2018, 6 of God's children will be baptized.

Another person on date we were working with is a man named Olabodė he is from Grenada, Canada and now lives here in Las Vegas he used to go to Harvard but he can't afford to do that anymore. Olabodė has desired also to be baptized and he will be baptized on August 25 also so August 25 will be a good day for us. Olabadé is very smart and loves to read the book of Mormon. 

Another person we are teaching who is on date is a man named Robert Lennox he was going to the Jehovah's witness church for a while and they denied him baptism because he had a beard so he said the only church that had ever helped him and always been there for him was the Mormon church. So on Wednesday he contacted us and we went right over as soon as he called and he set a baptismal date for September 1st. His wife is not super interested now but I think she will be soon.

The last person we are teaching who is on date is a guy named Nick O'niel. Nick lives in a half way house/group home and his two roommates are members of the church and have been a great example to him, so they invited him to come to church and he agreed. He explained that he had never been baptized and that he desired to be baptized. Nick is a good man and the gospel will bless his life. 

Another lady we are teaching is Evelyn Knight on Monday night we taught Evelyn and her less active husband and after so many lessons with this family something changed the husband opened up with us and we were able to really move forward more with this family, truly it was all because of the Lord. 

Another person we are teaching is a man named Gary Fuller his wife is a member named Sister Patton she makes world famous food; she grew up in Louisiana and moved to California to open a couple restaurants and in California she became famous for it. So on Friday she made us homemade gumbo and it was so good. I am so glad I didn't serve in the south because I would have gained so much weight haha. Well Gary knows the church is true and that he can feel the spirit when he goes to church. So we are just trying to find a way to get Gary to commit. 

I love being a missionary! Honestly, before I left I wasn't excited to share the gospel, but I love it! Sometimes I miss my life back home, and worry about what I am missing out on, but the opportunity I have now will only last two years, and I have the rest of my life to do whatever I want, and use the things I am learning now! What I learned before I left are truly impacting me now, and what I am learning now will impact my future forever. So while I miss chiropractic, Netflix, driving, mimi' s, or all of you; I am working in the Lord's vineyard! I love each of you, and think of you often (only at night when I'm falling asleep)

I know Christ lives and we can turn to him for all things!

Love forever, Elder Hall

August 9, 2018

Hello Family and friends,

It's been a very busy week! Leaving the MTC was really hard for me! I left on Wednesday, and we had a 6 hour drive to Las Vegas! As hard as leaving was Las Vegas is amazing!

I am serving in two wards with my new companion Elder Chadwick, we get along very well and we laugh a lot! 

We have spent most of the week trying to get to know the members in our area. Everyone is extremely nice, and members love missionary work!

We are teaching a family of 6 and the are all getting baptized on the 19th, we have our second lesson with them tonight and we are very excited!

Last Wednesday, I ate a RARE New York stake, and I must apologize to everyone! I lived my life only eating well done meat, but that was the best stake I have ever had!!

This Friday we will be going over to a members house for dinner and she is going to make us gumbo! We'll see how that goes. 

I bought a bike this week, even though we have a car right now.  

I SEE the Lord's hand in all we do! I pray for each of you everyday! I love you and I miss you!

I would love to hear from you, even if I am really bad at responding! Emailing all the people in my life is HARD, but I love you all!

Until Next week

ELDER HALL