Dec. 10, 2018

Hey Fam!
So it's P-day. This week has flown by so quick. Yesterday morning at 4:30am Elder Romney sat up and said, "Hey Elder, are you awake" NO! "We only have 5 weeks left this transfer, we have to make the most of it!" OK! -- I am so glad that my companion is my best friend, it makes this all so much more fun!
Wednesday I had a  leadership training to be a district leader. One of my responsiblites is to hold a weekly training to help other missionaries. As I have prepared for our first district council I have felt impressed to focus it on being christlike. Teaching as Christ taught.
Friday we had dinner with the Miller's. They are originally from Hawaii and made us authentic Hawaiian food! They gave us Christmas presents!
Later we went to one of our ward Christmas Parties. It was super fun! We finally got our picture with Santa!!!
On Saturday I gave a talk on baptism at a baptism for a lady named Shay some other missionaries taught! I will send my talk for those of you who might want to read it.
On Sunday day we enjoyed our 6 hours in church! We had the oppurtunity to meet with our stake president, we talked about the work and he told us how he wants to focus on getting members to send referrals and to use social media.
Later that night we knocked on the Alexander's door, and it made our day when they called up the stairs that "the boys are here". Lol
The members here are amazing! We are really close to them. We have been encouraged by our Mission president to spend the evenening hours with members because they are the only people that will open their doors after sundown (5pm)
We have been getting alot of referrals, which is amazing because it's really hard to find people to teach here.

I love you  all!


This is our picture with Santa!

Dec. 4, 2018

Hello People!
It has been an amazing week again! So transfers are today and I can't even begin to tell you how many fasting prayers were answered when we found out that Elder Romney and I were going to stay together in North Las Vegas! We are so relieved! I have been called to be the District Leader of our district, which Im a bit nervous about, but it will be good!
We met Joanna and Diego this week, they asked us to teach them and so we are. They are so excited about the Book of Mormon, they love it! They were both raised in Catholic families, but have been searching out truth for years! We taught them about the Restoration of the gospel and they were so intreiged to know that Chirsts original church is on the earth again!
Today is a busy day for us so I will leave at this...
I love this area and am so excited to continue serving here with an awesome companion! As a mission we are focusing on becoming effective in our teaching, and as a district we want to focus on teaching as Christ taught! I love my Savior and Redeemer! I am trying to be like Him. I have experienced the power of His Atonement, his mercy, and his divine love for myself! And you can too☺

P.s. I got an advent calender in the mail last week, and I haven't missed a day yet so it looks like Christmas is coming up real quick...20 days left!

Love, Elder Hall

Nov. 26, 2018

I hope you all had a fantastic week and Thanksgiving! I sure did!
On Pday I was able to talk to the stylist at GreatClips who gave me a haircut about the gospel. After I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon she told me that she had joined the church and was baptized just a few weeks ago. She told me of her love for missionaries and the impact they have had on her since sharing the message of Jesus Christ. She was introduced to the church by a previous missionary while she cut his hair.
Afterwards we went and got a car wash on the Zone Leaders van, because it's one of the most fun things that we can do. So we ate frozen yogurt while someone washed the car. (I had pumpkin and egg nog obviously)
I was so happy when I received an envelope full of letters from my ward!
That night we went over to a few members homes, they all had children of their own serving missions. We were able to talk about our expeiences, stuggles, lifes, and especially why we came on missions. There are many members in our area that I have come to love so much!
On Wednesday we had our transfer interviews with President Walker. We talked about how I've grown and changed in the short time I've been out.
Thursday we went to Tony Aguayos home for Thanksgiving dinner. We gave him a gift we have had ready for weeks. A HUGE Bible because we make a little fun of him for being older and seeing nor hearing well. He laughed with graditude. Inside the book we had written him a letter and our testimonies and we highlighted our favorite scriptures.
We went to a few others home that night and were offered loads of food!
Friday we were able to teach a less active couple, and meet their active children. They dont know why their parents dont come to church anymore, but they begged us to keep helping them.
On Saturday I went on exchanges with my district leader Elder Benson. We were able to teach and serve a lot of people together.
Thats what I did this week. Teach, serve, study, and work!

I am so beyond greatful for this time I have to here! In preparing me to serve, the Lord put people and opportunities in my path. I look at the last year of my life and am mesmerized by who I have become. From someone totally defiant of the Lord and His will to His loyal servant! This thanksgiving I rejoice in what we all should! A Father in Heaven who knows and loves us and His Son! I think of His greatest gifts and His infinant love!
The word "love will always distill fear" have rung through my heart this week! So I dont think it is a coincidence that in this past general conference the word love was used about 126 time and the word fear only 21 times! As I consider the love my Father must have for me and each of us, when I compare that to the love I have for these people! My heart aches with them in their challenges and cheers for them in their accomplishments. I have felt my Father do the same in my life in an infinant and endless way!

Next week Pday will be on Tuesday, because of transfers! Transfer #4!
Pray for Elder Romney and I that the Lord will need us to be companions next transfer too!

I love you all so much!
Elder Hall

Pictures
1. A temple trip a few weeks ago
2. Zone Conference last week
3 & 4. Brother Aguayo
5 & 6. A real life pirate at CVS! *note* the birds are real and this man was crazy!!

                                     

Nov. 19, 2018

Well Hello! 

I talk about time a lot in my emails, because it is so strange how time works! Time. Slow days, fast weeks, and even faster transfers! In my head it feels like I left home a week ago, but in reality this transfer on has 2 weeks left! Elder Romney and I are praying that we will get at least one more transfer together in this area. 🤞

Friday we had an amazing zone conference! It was totally directed to motivate us to work harder and be more effective in our teaching! While it is always hard to sit for 8 hours, the spirit inspired us to see ways we could improve. 

We were sitting in the chapel listening to President Walker when I heard him say, "Elder Hall, do you sing?" I quickly replied "no, sir" and one of the APs and Elder Romney protetested saying that I did. He asked me to come up and sing. I stood up at the stand next to him as he told a story, then he opened a hymn book and said, "Now Elder Hall will fill this spirit filled room with an even greater spirit." I thought he was joking until he hummed the first note and we began to sing Be Still, My Soul together. It was the longest three minutes of my life! When we finnished he told me that they needed to hear my testimony too. As I did it was once again confirmed to me that this is Christs church and His work!

We taught a older man, Brother Aguayo how to use word docs. He was amazed by the ability to change the font size and to make new paragraphs!

We met with the Gierheart family, and had a wonderful discussion about how the Lord calls all of us to His work to bless the lives of the people around us. Even if we never know the influence we have on others. 

Love you lots

Elder Hall

Nov. 12, 2018

It has been a wonderful week! So many miracles, so much joy! As I contemplated this weeks events I realized that I have learned something powerful and beautiful... to love the way our Savior loves. There are not words that can descride the love that I have for these people! I look at at them and I see what their Father sees, their eternal potential. LOVE is a consept that has been difficult for me to feel throughout my life, and I have learned that charitable love is an action much more than a feeling.

This week we met Jesus, we met him while we were contacting some former people being taught. As we talked he shared that moments before we knocked on his door he had prayed and asked God to send someone to him that could help him solve some of the difficulties of life. He is a younger man who has a natural understanding of the gospel, but has been looking for a church that confirmed his beliefs his whole life.. he found it! I have seen so many miracles throughout my service, but this one is so amazing! Jesus is very excited to get baptized in December. 

I could tell you a lot of stories, but I dont want to bore you. Elder Romney and I are working hard use the trust members have in us to its fullest advantage. We are working with Less active and Part member families quite a bit. 

So I was informed this week that people are really rude to us... and that Im too optimistic and I dont reconize it. Ill work on it so I can have fun stories to tell about people being mean!

Now some crazy stuff happened on Friday. Elder Romney threw an orange totsie pop at me and missed, and it shattered the glass oven door. Later that day he crashed into me, while we were riding up the street. I broke my wrist and my chin is pretry scratched up. 

We had the opportunty to share some thoughts with ward members during church and I reflected on two of my favorite scriptures! Helaman 5:12 and Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8.

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

I have seen an amazing change in my life as I rely on my Savoir and his atonement. He has all power, wisdom, and love.

Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Hall

Nov. 5, 2018

Hello Family and friends! I only have 87 weeks left, but who's counting! I dont know about y'all, but this is flying by too quick.
This week has been another good one! People keep asking me if I'm actually doing as well as I say I am. YES, yes I am. I dont know why I have been blessed so much, but I have. I just love these people and this place so much. I love this work!
On Tuesday this week we had a great district council, and we talked about ways to improve the way we serve and help others.
We taught a family about the Atonment, and it was amazing to see a light come into their eyes as they learned the fundamental truth of our Saviors love and sacrifice.
On Wednesday we had a great time spending our evening in the temple. It was an amazing experience to be in the House of the Lord filled with His servants. We get to go again next Wednesday!
On Thursaday we had the amazing privledge to go back to my last area to participate in Gary Fullers baptism. It was awesome! His wife, Monique spoke and told him that he had to keep his covenants, so that he could take her to the temple to be sealed! His grandson, Ramon who is 10, in tears expressed how glad he was that his father figure decided to be baptized. Elder Chadwick (my first companion) and I got to share our experience teaching him before we got transferred. *I miss my last wards and Elder Chadwick a lot! But it was good to see him before he goes home in 4 weeks!*
On Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Brown,  my MTC companion. We had a good time reminiscing and working in my area.
For fast Sunday,  the Area Seventy asked all of the members and missionaries to fast for missionaries.  So all of fast and testimony meeting turned into a complementing us sesh. It was awesome! The members know us pretty well and they have been so influential in the work (like they should be, its great!)
I have been pondering my own testimony today because we went to a youth Sunday School class yesterday and the teacher talked about how sometimes we must rely on the testimonies of others for a time. I look back and see how I held onto and trusted the testimonies of others for quite awhile, until it wasn't enough and I lost it. I lost it because I did not put effort into strengthening it. But the time came when I knew I needed to rekindle a lost flame, and I did all I could to build a faithful testimony! With the help of strong friends, leaders, each of you, and the power of the Holy Ghost; I have come to know the truthfullness of the Gospel. My testimony is pure and simple, but it is undeniable and true. God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us unmeasuablly. Jesus is the Christ. He did suffer and die for us. He rose and lives again. His gospel is retored in its fullness in our day. The Book of Mormon is true. It contains the fullness of his work. Heavenly Father prepared and saved us for this day and age. This world is dark and wicked, but He saved us to stand against evil and to defend His truth. We came to this earth with an eternal purpose, to BECOME AS HE IS!

I love you all and I am so greatful for the support and emails I get!

Love, Elder Hall

Oct. 29, 2018- Pictures

Oct. 29, 2018

Hey Kids! It has been an amazing week! With transfers we have been crazy busy trying to get work started in this area. I'm learning how to have fun. Fun is a hard concept for me, because I take work so seriously. Before I left a wise man told me to have fun! I'm leaning how to work hard and play hard! Last Tuesday we went over to the Keeles home; they are members, but they asked us to teach their nephew Logan who recently moved in with them. He loved learning about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We also taught a part member family, the Brileys. A single mom with 2 teenage daughter. We read 2 Nephi 11 with them and discussed the power of Jesus Christ Atonement. On Wednesday we started trying to contact a few less active and part member families. Most of the areas here are gated communities so sometimes it's really hard to get in, but we do our best. But that's what what we are doing when we don't have appointments. Thursday night we were on our way to our next appointment when both of our bike tires went flat, so we had a choice to make. We decided to walk an hour to the very top of our area.. When we got home that night we carved little pumpkins. We are super excited for the holidays so we are decorating! Friday, while we out contacting we met Tony and Jill an old couple who need help with there yard work. When we asked of they needed help and they told us they knew we were Mormon and they weren't interested. We told them we were going to help them whether or not they wanted to hear our message, they were very greatful and invited us to come back next week. On Saturday morning we went over and helped a lady move. She had 20 100 year old display cases filled with cobalt blue vases. I got a really deep sliver and this guy pulled out his pocket knife and slit my finger open to take it out.. it was basically surgery. On Sunday we enjoyed 6 hours of Church, we spoke in both sacrament meetings and it was great to share my testimony in my new wards. We went over to a members house to get to know them and their 5 year old grandson drew a picture of us. He told us how excited he is to serve a mission. We gave him a missionary handbook and a pamphlet, he lit up with joy! As we were getting ready for bed we heard a weird noise outside out room so we made our bed into bunk beds so we could protect ourselves against ghosts. The people here are amazing, I love the testimony of the people I meet and hearing about how the gospel has I fluenced their lives. I love this work. I love my Savior and I am here to serve him, my King! I love you all! P.s. next week is going to be amazing! On Halloween we are going to the temple and Wednesday we get to go back to my old area for Gary's baptism! Elder Hall