Country Road, Take Me Home

I had this title picked out for my final letter home before I even left on my mission. However I had no way to know or even anticipate the ways that it would ring true. This week the line "country road, take me home" applied not just to my personal homecoming at the end of this week but also related to the unique chance I had to return to a place I can call home, as well as the return of some people I have grown to love and their return to our heavenly home.

Let me explain. This past week I was able to return to Rockwood, truly a "place I belong." That is where my time in Tennessee began, that was a place of firsts and milestones. First area, first teaching experience, first Book of Mormon placement, first baptism, first Bible basher, first shaken testimony, first time cooking chicken, the list goes on and on. The milestones were that I overcame, conquered, and learned from the hard and eventually was grateful for it. Rockwood was also where I feel like I found Christ the most, in the scriptures, in experiences, and day to day life. I fell in love with the hills, and with the people that lived within and made so many memories and had so many laughs and good conversations with them. Rockwood truly stretched and changed me. And I was ecstatic to go back. As we exited off and passed good ol' Los Primos I was jumping up and down in my seat as memories were flooded into my mind. It was so good to be back and to work with the sisters serving there.

I got to get to know more and with with sweet Sister Halterman, I just love her! One of the first things she had planned to was to go and visit a family in the ward that Hermana Jacobson and I had worked with. When we first started visiting them they weren't coming to church and the daughter in particular didn't have any desire to change that. Well we started going over weekly and introduced Personal Progress to them and watched as the daughter got more and more excited and we became better and better friends. Now a year later she attends both mutual and Sunday meetings weekly, she is nearly finished with Personal Progress, and she and her brother received their patriarchal blessings! Later that evening we went to try to visit a less active woman that missionaries have had little to no contact with. I had met her briefly twice when I was there. During a longer interaction with her I remembered sharing a little video with her but even that whole experience was brief. So I was absolutely positively floored when we knocked on the door and she opened it and said "Hi stranger!!!!" She remembered me?! Yes! She welcomed us right in (which definitely didn't happen before) and we had an AMAZING lesson with her. I feel so blessed to have had the unique chance to see the influence we can have without realizing it and again how divinely the Lord organizes and orchestrates our paths to cross. Sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes several times.

Now, another incredible experience I had while serving in Rockwood was to witness the baptism of a non member man who: faithfully attended church for years as well as patiently sat for hours in the waiting room of the temple every month while his member wife went and did temple work. The whole story leading up to that day is one of trials and tears and testimonies of many but all became worth it as the ward gathered and we all watched him step into the waters of baptism and then be confirmed a member of the Church and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost the following day. A year later I was privileged to hear  what had happened in his life since then. He was ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood, received his endowment, and was sealed to his wife. Then two days after his sealing he was admitted into the hospital due to congestive heart failure. Both he and his wife fought to be able to have either  bypass surgery or heart transplant but unfortunately neither were possible. I received news this Friday that he had passed away. His road had taken him home, but not until he had finished his mission. He performed the work he was sent here to do... I also heard of the passing of another ward member from Rockwood that the elders had worked with who was rebaptized after walking a road of recovery and change. He performed the work he was sent here to do and his road took him home. And then yet again I also heard that a lady in Greeneville that we worked with started coming back to church passed away two weeks ago. She made the changes she needed to and performed the work she was sent here to do and her road took her home. Hearing the news of these passings has been bittersweet, bitter because loss is hard, but sweet seeing the way the Lord prepared and blessed them.

And I can see how it applies to me too, I have made changes, I have gotten my life in order, and I have performed the work I was sent here to do, and now my road is taking me home. It is bittersweet. But mostly sweet as I look back at the memories, the laughs, the tears, the trials, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the peaches, the pits, and the tender mercies in every day.

I am so grateful, so eternally grateful. I know that one day each of our roads will take us back to our heavenly homes, I find joy in thinking about the reunions that await us, as well as the reunion that awaits me in a few short days.

I love y'all!

See you SOON!

Love,
Hermana Hall

I Found My Shari (s)

Shari has always been a part of my life. She was there throughout my mom's pregnancy, at the hospital when I was born, took pictures of me as a toddler, lovingly told me not to pound on her coffee table when I was little, went on walks, zoo days, pool days, made dandelion wishes, had sleepovers, played with stuffed animals, sang me songs, played piano concerts, came running when I would call her, marched with me around the house with a baton, watched movies, came on shopping sprees, built forts, told me thunder were clouds giving fist bumps, played games, went to the park, came to my hula performances, soccer games, and graduations, took videos, and shared oh so many laughs.

The list could go on and on.

Because she so often was around I heard many stories from her and would try to visualize the many memories, laughs, and inside jokes she had with my mom. My absolute favorite were their experiences from their missions... that's how they met. They both served their missions in Los Angeles California Spanish speaking. They served majority in the visitors center and missionary housing was on temple grounds. They knew each other before they were companions and stayed close after. Heavenly Father allowed their paths to cross knowing they would be a blessing to each other and each other's families.

 As I listened to them talk and laugh about Eva and toilet paper, Coochie-coo guard dogs, Cupino in the Camino (to name a few), I would think to myself... I want to serve a mission. I want memories and experiences like they have, I want to find a Shari... a best friend that Heavenly Father gives you. That was what first piqued my interest towards serving a mission. As I grew up I recognized that the restored truths of the gospel that we have are life-changing and as I witnessed living the gospel bless me with happiness and hope I wanted others to have those blessings as well.

So here I am!

Throughout my journeyings as a missionary I have closely watched for Shari's as I have met and served with 9 different and unique companions. Each has left a mark on my life and their examples and testimonies have uplifted and strengthened me and helped me become who I am today. Often I find myself making a certain face or saying a certain phrase and then attributing it to one of them. I share their stories and experiences with investigators, members, my family and other missionaries...
Their influence continues because they have influenced me.

I want to share how they have each been Shari's in my life in their own individual ways.

So "let's hear it for the girls"

Hermana Olsen: The original. First whirlwind of a day in Mexico November 22, 2017. We walked into a building in the CCM and among other things received, a paper saying who our assigned companion was. After going to our house and dropping off our bags I still didn't know where my companion was, they said sometimes that happens but I would most likely find her after the devotional. Thankfully they were right, after a meeting I took my dear in the headlights self back to our house and there she sat in our room. From that day on there were many laughs, tears, good times, and hard times. But she always expressed confidence in me, and laughed at my jokes and stories. I think she might know every disney song known to man, we remembered daily to "Let It Go" (Idina Menzel) and she lives right off of the 18th hole at Glen Eagle golf course and so who knows how many times I have passed her house without realizing. So crazy. So many memories.

Hermana Muñoz: Awh, I'll never forget the day our little CCM companionship duo turned into a trio. She is a champ, she really pushed me to be better and reminded me to appreciate the blessings and goodness around me. She has an amazing perspective and an incredible conversion story. I remember when I met her on the first day thinking that I would probably have been her friend outside of the mission if we had gone to school together. I'll always think of her when I see mango nectar, bueno bars, and hear "I Need Thee Every Hour."

Hermana Yauney: Yauney!!!! I'll never forget the both lessons she taught me and those we learned together. We had the best and craziest of times together whitewashing into Rockwood. That first day in the field when we missed the exit on our way to the area she told me that I could only: "start from where I'm at..." that carried me through my mission. She was a trooper through my adjusting to missionary life when I had a whole heap of self doubt. She taught me how to effectively study and how to teach Southerners. I learned from her that this work  "It's Not About You" (Davis Handley:) We had so many adventures hiking in the woods, pulling blackberry bushes, face masks, frozen grapes, peppermint oil, and punching bags, to name a few;) so glad so many of those memories are caught on film and pictures.

Hermana Jacobson: I thought I was pretty organized and thoughtful until I met Jacobson. She taught me so much about how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, not just for 18 months but forever. She led by example, always had a plan, loved without holding back, and has such a deep love for the gospel and the cleansing effect of repentance. Together we learned what success really is and that adding light to people's days and lives is the essence of missionary work and discipleship. I loved the way she loved her family and the stories that she shared about them. I won't forget when our sewer exploded, when she lost a tooth, and when she pulled a tick off of me... comp unity at it's finest. Sweet "Go Down Moses" (Lower Lights) I love that girl.

Sister Allen: She came into my life and mission during a critical point where I needed to look outside of myself and be more concerned for my companion. I have many times referenced that transfer day when President Griffin announced we would be companions and whitewash together into Poplar Creek. I cannot deny the goodness of Heavenly Father and the reality of tender mercies. Being by her side as she learned southern, experienced humidity, fell in love with the Bible, and grew in confidence truly was an absolute highlight of my mission. Dancing in the kitchen, tracting in the pouring rain, laughing our guts out at least 3 times a day, were some of the biggest peaches. Pleading and fasting for people to teach, tracting Louisiana Ave in the blazing sun, food poisoning from hotdogs, and almost falling through an investigators door were some rough times but would have been a whole lot worse with anyone other than my girl Al. The fact that Heavenly Father allowed us to grow up through Junior High and High School together and then cross paths and be companions in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission is unreal. This past week I was privileged to go on powerups with her and see in person the growth and depth she has developed. She taught and better converted me during that day together. I'll always "Look Up" (Taylor Olson) when I'm around her, not just because of our height difference but really because of the memories laughs we have shared. She is a true Shari to me.

Hermana See: Wow, I felt like I was being trained all over again with this girl! She taught me so much about the Spirit, persistance, and that it was perfectly ok to eat broccoli for breakfast. We learned a lot about God's will for us in mission lives and personal lives. It was unreal the way we were so in sync in so many things, when people say "we can finish each other's sentences..." yeah we could say each other's entire sentence before the other one even opened their mouth. Giving trainings, helping other missionaries, and learning to love Greeneville were times I treasure. Her strength and determination to never stop sharing the gospel inspires me, it was a sad day sending her home to Portland but knowing that "Things Are Gonna Get Better" (David Archuleta) made it ok. 

Sister Beare: Sister Beare came with a wealth of knowledge about working  not only harder but smarter. We really cleaned house when she got there, she surprised me with her spitfire attitude and business woman aspirations. She always had so much confidence in me even and especially when I lacked it, specifically with Spanish. I still find an occasional stickie note that she hid all over and in my study books and journals. I really am grateful for the lessons I learned when we were working to be like "The Harvester" (don't remember who sings it) in the field.

Hermana McCune: Ohhhhkay she came into my life like a bright ray of sunshine, literally!!!! She helped me up my Spanish game, be more empathetic, and taught by example how to fearlessly be yourself. Boldness was not a problem for her, neither was making friends, I'm pretty sure that girl will as they say in the South "Never Know a Stranger." She was a trooper with all of my u-turns both in the car and out. Remembering how we got soaked in a monsoon, committed to Jillian Michael's one week shred, and jammed to "John's Song" (Nashville Tribute Band) will always bring a smile to my face. I love how much she loved her family and what an example she is to her younger siblings, I loved how prayer is her go to, and that she stepped up to the plate to be a leader and an example to all around her. 

Sister Horman: I feel beyond blessed to have my last companion be Sister Horman. I went on powerups with her when she was serving in Kingsport when I was in Greeneville. I remember being so tickled (wow that was such a TN thing to say) by her humor and saying "I wish we could be companions" 4 transfers later... wish granted!!!! Her depth of character and knowledge of the gospel and life in general inspires me every single day. We laugh hard every single day and have so much to be grateful for every single day. She is my hero for the work that she has done and the experiences she has been through. We have learned to "Lay it All Down" and laugh things off. Agency and improvement have been themes of our time together. And goodness gracious I am so excited to see her when she is a mom, she is going to be so much fun and teach her kids oh so much!

I'm so grateful to have met not just one Shari but many. These companions have blessed and changed me and helped me learn and grow. I'm so grateful for the many women and Sharis I have in my life: friends, village mothers, leaders, teachers, companions, aunts, grandmas, cousins...

And I'm oh so very grateful for my mom, and for the original Shari. She has written me faithfully throughout my mission, making copies of pages of her mission scrapbook and writing letters on the back. I love her and am forever grateful for the happy example and influence she has been in my life and my family's life.

I love her! And Love y'all!!!!

Happy Mother's Day again!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

Shari's Letters

Tennessee Strong

Look close, "Do You Follow Jesus This Close?"

Where Is Your Heart?

Once upon a time I was a missionary sitting in the car on the way back from a meeting in Knoxville... I was keeping it pretty quiet and had a lot on my mind, the Elder who was driving noticed and asked what I was thinking about. I remember sighing and saying I was just being too hard on myself and expressed a couple frustrations and then he said something that will forever haunt me... "Sister Hall, where is your heart?"

Where is your heart?

That question forced me to analyze my desires and the root of what I was feeling and what I was feeling was selfish. Worried about what I was and wasn't doing, worried about what other people thought. Ultimately I was giving into Satan's lies, I was letting him surround my heart with doubt and insecurties and it felt gloomy and dark. Sometimes getting lost in our thoughts can make us feel really lost. My heart was not with Christ in those moments.


The amount of times I have heard some of these sweet southerners say: "I gave my heart to Jesus on (insert date)" is unreal... It's great to recognize specific times when you let Christ into your heart and life and have faith in Him however one of my all time favorite verses in the Book of Mormon poses the question "if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, CAN YE FEEL SO NOW?" (Alma 5:26) That day in the car I "wasn't feeling so now."


But we know the first step to repentance is recognition. Recognizing that there is a problem. After recognizing and pondering, I committed to act and be better. And I asked for help. If my companion noticed I was retreating into myself I asked her to say to me "Hey, get over yourself., where is your heart?" Day after day we both found reference after reference to questions about the heart over and over in the scriptures, conference talks, lessons in church, things people we met would say. We would ask each other, "Where is your heart?"


I have found the word heart several times in my patriarchal blessing and countless times in the scriptures. Time after time I have learned that our heart is all we can give to Christ, that is what He ultimately asks for "a broken heart and contrite spirit" humility and willingness to take His counsel and obey HIs commandments. HOWEVER, I have also learned  that this isn't just a one and done deal, this is a daily deal. Every day, many times a day we would do well to ask ourselves where our heart is. What is our motivation for doing what we are doing, choosing what we are choosing, or saying what we are saying. If it is a good motivation our heart is with Him, if it is a bad motivation our heart is with him, with Satan.

I am happier when my heart, my mind, and my feet are all in the same place looking ahead and moving forward with hope.

I am happiest when I am helping others have a change of heart. I know where my heart is when I am helping and serving others. I experience the deepest most lasting change of heart while serving others. Here are some examples of heart changes from this past week:

We had an incredible lesson this past week where we were bold with love. Our investigator has a major word of wisdom concern and was worried about the pain and suffering of quitting it for good. She said she would get baptized tomorrow if she could quit. We asked her why she wanted to get baptized, essentially where her heart was, and what part Christ had to play in her life. She talked about the love and appreciation she had for Him and how she wondered how Christ could have suffered they way that He did, how He could He have thought it was worth it. We testified that He knew and knows that she was and is worth it and that there were blessings in store. We talked about the night leading up to His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane how He gathered with His apostles, His friends, how they sang hymns, partook of the sacrament, and learned from one another. We invited her to come to church this Sunday, to gather with the friends she has made in the ward, to sing hymns, and partake of the sacament, to remember Christ. And that through her suffering of quitting she would more than ever before be able to relate to Christ and His suffering. She agreed, she committed, she came, and she is quitting. She is learning where her heart is and giving it daily to Him, she feels so now.

My heart was overjoyed when we were able to go on power-ups with a companionship in a neighboring area and help them learn how to better utilitze their area books and go see people who have already had contact with missionaries. We basically invited them to go and examine people's hearts, if they were in the condition to accept their contact and learn more then great, if not then prayerfully drop or delete their records and allow time and the Lord to soften their hearts. The sisters called us the next day and told us that they had begun to make visits, calls and texts to some of these former investigators and they had a woman call them right back and say that she had investigated the church 20 years ago but her husband wouldn't allow her to be baptized, she said and I quote "I think his HEART IS SOFTENED now and he will let me" the sisters once took the opportunity to once again set her on date along with her grandson she is raising. Where was her heart? It was being prepared for those sisters, she is ready, she "feels so now." Sister Horman and I were over the moon excited for these sisters seriously jumping up and down screaming, because they had worked hard and our counsel had helped them have success. We experienced what Ammon meant when he said that his joy (and heart) was full when he thought of the success of his brethren (Alma 29).

I had a prompting to write a companion this week, my mom had sent me a coloring page that non-coincidentally said "Bless Your Heart" I wrote her a letter of encouragement and fun memories and sent it off. The very next day I receieved a letter from her in the mail and it nearly broke my heart, she had some big concerns and was going through some lonely trying times, all I could think of was how grateful I was that my heart was in the right place to receive a prompting and follow through and to help comfort and heal a broken and beaten heart.

Where is my heart?

My heart is right here in Maryville TN. I have heard people say "I gave them a piece of my heart" "they'lll always have a piece of my heart" or "I left a piece of my heart there." I always hated those sayings because I thought that makes it seem like your heart is broken with chunks missing. But the more I have thought about it I now picture it like a patchwork quilt you leave pieces of your heart around and people give you pieces of theirs and then... then, when you offer Christ your "broken heart" He pieces it all together and forms a better, stronger, happier heart; a better, stronger, happier you.

So yes, in a few short weeks as I head home I can safely say that pieces of my heart will stay, however, I feel like I have been given so many pieces of other's hearts and so much love that has been transformed into something so much better stronger and happier.

And so I ask all who read this...

Where is your heart?

Give it to Him, today, tomorrow, and forever.

I promise you will never regret it.

I love y'all with all of my heart!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

The Way Our Paths Cross

Anyone who knows me especially as a missionary can testify that I am always talking about the way our paths cross. I have a dream of getting to heaven and there being a giant roadmap of all of our paths crossing. It would be a jumbled mess full of intersections, u-turns, ups downs, zig-zags, and roundabouts... but I think it would be amazing and beautiful to see. The amount of "random" run-ins, and re-run-ins I have had with people is unrea. Just today there were three, I want to share about those as well as some other amazing path crossings this past week.

Ok so after zone conference in Chattanooga (cue the Chattanooga Shoe Shining Boy song my grandpa and brother LOVED to listen to:) we whipped into our parking spot at our apartment just in the nick of time to hop out of our car and into the car of a member of our ward who took us to a different members home out in the boonies where we experienced an "international dinner party." They have started this tradition where monthly ward members get together and have a potluck meal themed off of a different countries culture and tradition. This month was Japanese to commemorate the Japanese cherry blossom season. Either way I was so pumped, I love a good Japanese meal and they even taught us to make sushi which was so fun! Who knew in the hills of Tennessee I would learn some Asian culinary art? MMM it was so yummy! But even better was the fact that we got to know and fellowship one of the member's non member son and daughter and their girlfriend and boyfriend. They were really nice and one of them works at Target so we were able to bond over that, and the other one is planning her wedding this August and she showed us this really cool wedding cake trend that she found on pinterest where there is rock candy inside the cake and part is cut out so it looks like a geode... super cool actually I was really impressed. (And felt SO out of date on design trends, #missionveil) Anyway fastforward to today we are wandering through the mall debating if Sister Horman should get her ears pierced because she never has and up ahead I spotted the classic Claires jewelry store. Before I could even suggest we go there we heard "Sisters! Hello!!" and it was the non-member daughter that told us about her wedding cake! She works at Claire's and is there every Monday... coincidence? NO SUCH THING! We talked to her for a good little bit and I bought some super cute earrings that are peaches (peach and pit:) and we said we would come back next week and see if Sister Horman is ready then to get her ears pierced then. So long story short we met this girl at a house in the boonies and then found her again at work at a random store in the mall... So crazy how our paths cross... I just love it.

From the mall we went to Walmart to do our grocery shopping and as we were looking for water bottles because I lost mine (this is number 4 I have lost on my mission oops:) we peeked around the corner and saw a member and her nonmember mom walking up the main aisle. We were just with them all morning helping them move the daughter out of her apartment (moving on pday round 2) and it was so crazy to see them again at Walmart a few hours later in that certain aisle especially because it is a pretty good sized store (only a missionary would be able to distinguish and classify walmart sizes, this isn't your average neighborhood Wal-mart I need to wear my padded shoes to go there ;) but anyway normally we would have no reason to be on that side of the store in that aisle but there we were and there they were.. so crazy how our paths cross... I just love it.

As we made our way to the produce aisle I spotted our main man and Colombian hero I talked all about a couple of weeks ago up ahead and we sped up to talk to him.  He was so excited to see us and we chatted for a little bit and then continued on our merry way and went to go check out when he ran up behind us shoved his groceries on our load and bought them all for us. No amount of arguing or trying to get him to split the cost would change his mind. He reminded us that he loves the blessings and "every day is sunshine and I love to serve." I promised myself that I will not lose mynew water bottle that he paid for and know that every time I look at it I will think of him, and might just fill it with my tears, of gratitude and love and happiness... in a big huge walmart we found our little friend with a big big heart, so crazy how our paths cross... I just love it.

Yesterday we talked to a guy that was raised in a troubled home and those troubles weigh heavy on his heart. He has a lot of concerns about why God allows bad things to happen to good people and why good things happen to bad people. Bottom line is he wants proof and answers without prayer and faith. It was sad. But, partway through the conversation after he complained that God didn't answer his prayers or his questions Sister Horman boldly interjected and asked him if he thought it was possible that God had lead us to him to answer his questions. He thought about it for a minute and said well maybe, and you know just the other day "I saw you two across town," we testified that wasn't a coincidence and that our paths crossed for a reason... so crazy how our paths cross... I just love it.

We had stake conference this weekend and it is so exciting to be back in the stake where I was at the start of my mission. It was amazing to see some members from Rockwood, hear about how a recent convert got sealed to his long-time member wife, see a recent convert from back in Poplar Creek, as well as hear that a returned-less active is active and ordained to be an elder. So crazy how our paths cross... I just love it.

I feel so blessed to be finishing my mission closeby to where I started, I know that it is no coincidence and that there are many more people I am meant to cross paths with. If I have learned anything out here it is a reiteration of the scripture that I chose to be my mission scripture Alma 26:37 "Now my brethren we see that God is mindful of every people whatsoever land they may be in yea he numbereth his people and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth, this is my joy and my great thanksgiving yea and I will give thanks to my God forever amen."

I will forever be grateful to my Heavenly Father for the ways that my path has crossed with so many wonderful people. He is oh so very mindful, he is oh so very merciful this truly is my joy and my great thanksgiving.

Have a blessed week y'all!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

" I Might Have Put My Sickle Away"

Oh the response of a member as we talked about ministering and missionary work. We had a lovely dinner of quinoa, sweet potato, spinach salad with black bean soup at the house of this cute member family in our ward (whose house could be on a renovation show for HGTV), I was in heaven there. And I was so amazed that their 11 year old and 15 year old would eat the food that was served! Heaven knows the looks of disgust that would have been on my and Bridger's faces if my mom had served somethinng like that when we were those same ages. Funny how things change though because it was so delish! Anyway back to the conversation at hand, the mom of the family had made a comment about how she could see how going on missions before we made any other major life decisions would be an advantage and expressed that she wished she could have gone on one. She then looked at her husband and said "but there are always couple missions right?" Sister Horman piped up and quoted the verse "if ye have desires to serve God you are called to the work!" To which the husband responded, "hmm I might've put my sickle away I might have to go dig it out of the shed out back..." haha! It was so funny! But of course got me thinking... about how we do sometimes toss our sickle in the shed and go about our lives. I think that the emphasis on ministering that we are seeing in the church is an invitation to pull out our sickles and go to work. The fields are white all ready to harvest. What does that mean? There are people to be found and to bundle together to bring into the fold and the garners into the restored gospel. Whether it's a new convert, a wayward family member, a returning less active. There our people that need us to put in the work, to serve and thrust in our sickles.

This email is getting out late because our pday was a little thrown off because we were with a recent convert helping her non member next door neighbor move her furniture into a u haul. We had a good time getting to know her family members and after we were through we gave them each a Book of Mormon with verses marked that we felt like applied to them based on what we had learned about them. And they each accepted them. I know without a doubt in my mind that if we had knocked on their doors and offered them a book of Mormon they would have politely declined but because we had worked with them and served them they trusted us. They saw us as people not door to door salesmen and they were more receptive to what we had to say. It was service that softened their hearts. Think about Christ, think about how He taught, He served then taught. Ammon, one of the greatest missionaries of all time... wanted to be the kings servant before he tried to teach him he served him.

This past week we were able to give a training in a mission leadership meeting. It was on the value of power ups/exchanges and ministering to individual companionships. (As I give details think about the way it applies to ministering And your own ministries, whether in the church or in your family or friend group or mission or whatever) We lead a discussion and asked the missionaries why it was important that we spend time ministering to other missionaries by going on power ups and exchanges (review for those who don't have any idea what I'm talking about when I say power up... it's when both companionships go into another area and work with another set of missionaries and help them "power up" their area, and empower them as well, exchanges are where two companionships swap companions for the day:). Anyway... They came to the conclusion that the purpose is to help them and teach them. Empower them. We asked them to ponder a really good powerup or exchange they had had as well as a not so good one. One elder talked about how they only drove 5 miles in total because they talked for nearly 4 hours. The elder he was with was struggling and ready to go home... that same elder is still out. Another elder shared how he felt that power ups and exchanges allow you to become friends with them and "a friend is more likely to tell you what is wrong than an acquaintance." I loved that! One sister shared that she was horribly sick and felt like that experience that day was one of the worst on her mission. Non-coincidentally the sister she had gone on the exchange with was in the room and said "Can I tell my side of it? She never stopped and I so admire her for that, that was one of the best learning experiences for me."

We concluded that oftentimes the most powerful influence we can have is the one we don't realize.

Then Sister Horman the scriptorian (hehe that rhymes:) masterfully taught about a scene from Luke 24. The road to Emmaus. The story takes place on a dusty road in a desert land. Two disciples of Jesus Christ are trudging along downtrodden, confused, sad, and uncertain about what the future holds. They miss someone they love, they don't understand why this difficult thing happened to them- the death of their beloved master and teacher Jesus Christ. Suddenly someone, a "stranger", meets them. He asks them what is wrong, why they are sad, and then he walks threescore furlongs which is the equivalent of seven and a half miles, And he listens. From verse 18-24 they essentially rant to him all of their grief and what is going on. And Christ, He listens... and He walks, and then after they finish, He teaches. He continues to talk and teach them until they arrive at their destination and they ask Him to stay and eat with them and spend the night. He does tarry and share a meal with them and as He does so their eyes are open, they behold Him and then He leaves. He leaves them alone to ponder how their hearts "burned within them" as He taught them. As mission leaders that's what we try to do as we go and spend time with other missionaries. We come to them and walk with them, listen to them and then teach. We spend a day with them, share a meal and spend the night. Then we leave, and hopefully as we do so they are able to behold Christ, learn a little more about Him, come a little closer to Him and have their hearts be changed.

I was able to share an experience of one of the greatest power-ups I had ever been on. A sister was struggling, in a really dark place. She was fighting some serious battles. And I... well... I was nervous to go work with her because I didn't think that I had what it took to help her. Looking back I was was being selfish... more concerned about myself than her... however we had some really great experiences and conversations throughout the day, we walked some distance  together. Then later that night we found ourselves locked out of the house because the other sisters had the keys... In that hour of us sitting outside of their house talking she opened up to me, and I was able to listen, and listen and then share what I promise y'all were not my words. A specific talk came to mind that talked about prayer, and "creating your day" I shared that with her and something changed, something kind of clicked. We talked about enhancing our prayers and helping each other to both work on it. A few days later we called her and her companion on the phone and I could barely recognize the voice on the other side. I'm in no way trying to say that I was the reason why that happened. All I know is that when we put in an honest effort with a trust in God and a love of all men... well... it can help change a person's life.

So let's dust off those sickles and follow our Savior down the Road to Emmaus and wherever else He leads us. Serving and helping people all along the way.

That's what we are here to do anyway right?

Help each other home.

I love y'all and am grateful for the many ways that you love and sustain and support me. I wish you the happiest of weeks and hope you walk the distance!

Love,
Hermana Hall

Its True- DAZIT!!!!

One month, One week and One DAY!!!Holaaaaaaaa!!!!!! Reporting live from Marvyille TN! I am alive and well and SO very happy to be here! Greeneville will always have a special place in my heart and saying see you later to the people there and Hermana McCune gave me a nice big heartache and yet I absolutely love it here. It was so crazy to go back to the same apartment I slept over at on exchanges when I was first on my mission, now I live there. The ward, investigators, and of course my companion have all been more than I could ever ask for. And there are more Spanish opportunties here than there have been my entire mission, so that has been exciting and challenging... hmm... excitng and challenging? I must still be a missionary! The roller coaster ride continues. 

Sooo here's the breakdown,

WARD: Oh the ward, the biggest ward I've been in yet, and the most missionary minded and willing to help people I have seen and been inspired by... seriously, they are somethin else. There one member in particular here who is an absolute legend... He is from Colombia, (which sidenote is where one of my favorite neighbors with a mission call is going on his mission! Woohoo congrats Nate, you will love it Colombians are the best:). But this guy... good grief, talk about a fighter he grew up in Colombia in an LDS family and served a mission in his same country. He baptized 8 people a month his entire mission, you do the math... the last 6 months of his mission he would travel and help other missionaries in their areas, living in the chapels and showering in baptismal fonts. This man has stories! He was asked to extend his mission by four months but was unable to because he needed to travel with his family to go get sealed in the WASHINGTON DC temple at the time the nearest choice (now they have two temples in Colombia... so amazing). His family sold half their property to make the trip and he said it was worth every sacrifice. Eventually he came here to work, got married, divorced, went back to Colombia and was kidnapped for a time... I could go on and on and talk about the madness and hardship that has been his life but really his testimony is what has effected me the most. He gets it. He is bold, he is daring, he doesn't beat around the bush. We met an excommunicated member and he looked her straight in the eye and said "It's time you open your heart and forgive and come to church. You come there or I come here. Will you come yes or no?!" (In order to say it in his amazing accent that I love SOOO much read it like this... it es time chuu opeen chour har an forgeeve an come to chourch. Chuu come der or I come here. Veel chuu come yes or no?)
That got a nice long "uhh well I uhhh." He didn't miss a beat, "WILL YOU COME? YES OR NO?!" And guess what... she committed. After this lesson we were walking down the street and he taught us a lesson he said "Sisters (Seesters) at no other time are you going to be serving the Lord for 24 hours every day. Enjoy it. Life is beautiful. Have no fear of people. People talk and use excuses and we say awww, awww, awww, NO!!!!! Jose Smith saw the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! It's true! Datzit! (That's it) We have the truth! You no like? I no care!" Oh how I love him!!! He is so right, this is a beautiful life we have a beautiful knowledge and message and it simply is true. IT'S TRUE! DATZIT! 


INVESTIGATORS: The past sisters have found some really prepared people that I am excited to work with. One guy I still haven't been able to meet but he is getting baptized this upcoming Saturday, it's a little bit of a complicated family situation (strange, I've never heard of one of those...) but from what I understand he is so ready and I am grateful for the chance to be here and a part of his family and his exciting day. We also were able to have a lesson with an investigator that the sisters had been working with for a couple of months but have lost contact with the past few weeks. We stopped by with a member that Sister Horman had never met. Wait... crazy story there... try to keep up with this because it's a little bit confusing. We went to a member's house for dinner and Sister Horman was like "I don't even know who this family is so this will be new for both of us." Perfect, no biggie! Well as we knock on the door we about got knocked over by two huge German shepherds and as I regained my footing I looked up and saw this kid that I knew in Greeneville! It's a divorce situation and so his mom lives in Greeneville and his dad lives in Maryville... Can somebody say "SMALL WORLD?!" So that was way way cool!!!! Ok but back to the original story at hand, we took this kid's step mom with us out to a lesson to try to find this investigator and after knocking not once, not twice, but three times, and then waiting like three minutes, they answered! At first she said that her mom was really depressed and they weren't taking visitors but after chatting with her for a few minutes the door flung open and her mom was standing there and said, "Well are you going to invite them in or not?" We proceeded to go and have a lesson with them and found out some concerns we weren't previously aware of. Sometimes people don't read the Book of Mormon because they have cataracts and can't see the small print... this older lady was one of those people. Luckily we have a cure for that... a large print copy!!! It was amazing to sit there and contribute in the lesson and have the reassurance that I am where I need to be, to be here to listen and teach and minister to a bunch of "ones" in Marvyille. Heavenly Father is so aware, He has a plan, IT'S TRUE! DATZIT!!!!

COMP: Oh Sister Horman! I so love her!!! I am so grateful to have known her earlier in our missions and now to be companions. She is from Ammon, Idaho, is the youngest of five and just has it together. We see eye to eye at least figuratively, since she is 7 inches taller than me. She is so great, we have laughed so so hard and are making some long coming and neccessary changes and goals in this area and ward. I have no doubt this last transfer will be full of hard work and miracles. But I wouldn't have it any other way, it's how we learn and grow... IT'S TRUE! DATZIT!!!!

SPANISH: Oh boy. Wow. Spanish people are just so kind. We have a little dual level apartment complex here filled with people who speak Spanish. It's amazing! We went there by ourselves and because Sister Horman doesn't speak any Spanish it was back to it being all me. Wowwww so although it was a struggle I was able to see how being with Hermana McCune helped me, I have improved a lot. I have a long way to go but I understand 1,000x better than I did a few months ago. So grateful. By some miracle we talked to this investigator the sisters had met (with our Colombian hero) who speaks only Spanish... I muddled through a basic conversation and invited him to church and miracle of miracles HE CAME!!!!!!!! Praise the heavens we have translation equipment and several ward members who translated and spoke Spanish and welcomed him right in. We really think he had a great experience even if we cringed when a speaker got up and said "today I am going to talk about the blessings of the celestial kingdom" and when the gospel principles lesson turned into gospel deep doctrine complete with a conversation on washings and annointings. Ay ay ay. But hey, no matter what happens with him in the future, the welcome and fellowship he received at church was ablsolutely unreal. This ward is fabulous. And above all IT'S TRUE! DATZIT!!!!!

OTHER DETAILS: Well to sum it up there's a Target here so we are really living large. Walmart is no longer classified as a "department store" when you look up shopping centers on Google maps. There is a pretty good mix of rural and neighbnorhoods and there is the absolutely gorgeous Tennessee River snaking its way through the area. The Knoxville airport is also in our area and that was a strange thing to see... definitely brought back a whole lot of memories and a crazy reality check. But you know what, until I find myself at that place I am going to continue to work continue to testify, to laugh, to be bold, to love, and to remember that IT'S TRUE! DATZIT!

It really is so true!!!!! The Restoration, The Plan of Salvation, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Commandments, it's all true!!!! We are so blessed!

DATZIT!!!!


Love y'all have a fantastic week!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

"Farewell And Adieu To My Fair Spanish Greeneville"

Yep you read that right. (Hope my family caught the Jaws reference;) Since September 13 I have been living and loving little old Greeneville Tennessee, but transfers are this Wednesday and I am going to be spending my last transfer in another lovely "ville" called Maryville. It is just south of Knoxville and actually is where I would go on exchanges when I was first out on my mission serving in Rockwood. So I have been there a few times and am excited to serve there with my new companion Sister Horman. She served in an area nearby a couple of months ago and I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with her and just love her so I am really excited to be companions! Her parents are also friends with one of my high school friend's parents so small world there. 

All of that being said I do have mixed emotions about leaving, I will so miss the ward, our investigators and my dear sweet Hermana McCune, BUT she is going to be getting a brand new missionary to train and so that is so exciting!!! I am so proud of her and excited for the good they do here, I know they will have so much success together in both Spanish and English and feel confident about leaving the area to their care.





I had an interview with President Pickett this past week and he said that he hoped I saw why it was neccessary for me to stay another transfer. He said that part of it was for Hermana McCune. We have both really grown a lot and taught each other a lot. He talked about how when he receives inspiration he doesn't always understand why but trusts it and then after the fact can see how divinely orchestrated it all is. That's revelation, trusting a prompting even if we don't understand and then LATER finding out what the Lord had always had in mind. That is what President Nelson encouraged us to do in one of his addresses to us this past general conference is to increase our ability

"I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”

I am so grateful for President Pickett's inspiration and the revelation he received for me to stay here for a fifth transfer. There were times when I have wondered why I was still here, but I want to share an experience that testifies that I was kept here reasons beyond my ability to comprehend or understand until "after the trial of your faith".

About a month before I got here the sisters who were serving here before me went to try an elderly less active woman and instead found her daughter who told them that the lady that they were looking for lived next door. However she allowed them to come in and talk to her, something that she hadn't done in the 20 years that missionaries had come by. Something told her to let them in... that something was the Spirit. So a few weeks went by and I got there and we went and had some lessons with her and as the weeks passed we started going later in the evenings when her non-member husband was home. We would "sneak" in lessons. We taught almost all of the lessons with fun activities and object lessons. I'll never forget the day this woman's husband turned to her and said "When you are ready to go back to church I will go with you."

I was floored, FLOORED. And guess what, they came!!! On Christmas THEY CAME. Since then, she has continued to come sometimes off and on, but here recently she has come pretty much every week, her husband hasn't been back but he came this past Sunday, which was fast Sunday. He was there as his wife got up out of her seat and walked to the front and bore her testimony. She shared how she had fallen away for so long, but that when those two sisters had knocked on her door she knew she needed to let them in. She shared that she knew that it was time, that she was ready. She never doubted the Church she only doubted herself. And she said she knew I needed to be there to help her. The Spirit I felt as she said that was indescribable, I found a scripture this morning that is as close as I can describe to what I felt:

"When I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy;" (Alma 29:10).

JOY. That is the reward for service. That is what the world tries to mimic and offer. But true joy can only be found by receiving and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can definitely say I have found joy. And I have seen others find joy and it has increased my joy.

I am so grateful.

As I said "see you later" to my sweet Greeneville family this same lady said that she knew that there was someone else I needed to touch in my next area, I know that she is right there are people in Maryville that need a little more light a little more joy, and Sister Horman and I are going to find them. Like my aunt always tells me we are going to go "give em' heaven"

Love y'all as always thanks for the love, support, prayers, and encouragement. I need it and am grateful for it.

Have a great week!!!!

Love,
Hermana Hall

I Heart This Church

Wow. Where to even begin? General Conference was a fire hydrant of blessings, change, and inspired answers to questions.
This week was also a fire hydrant of experiences:
putting up electric fences, giving a Book of Mormon to a firefighter, hearing the full length story of a member who was falsely accused of murder, meeting a man that speaks 6 languages fluently, visiting a woman and seeing the diagram of her foot surgery as well as the pin they inserted into her toe, having a Spanish lesson on a rickety porch in the pouring rain, being warned for the second time while tracting that a bear was spotted in the area, going to see a less active and seeing a warrant taped to the door, doing a workout video we found in the apartment and falling out of bed the next morning because we were so sore, tearing up as we read the parable of the bicycle with a struggling ward member, having an investigator show up to conference, and of course hunting for eggs hidden by a color-blind man (long standing joke is he hides all the green ones in the bushes without realizing:).

 Needless to say it's been a jam packed but a very good week.

And to top if off there an absolutely legendary weekend of General Conference!!!!

One of my biggest takeaways from conference was the amount of times the word "disciple" was used, it seemed as though every speaker used it at least once. All offered different ways we can deepen our conversion, enhance our service, and reach out to others more fully, which are all important elements of true discipleship.

Overall my favorite talk was probably Elder Uchtdorf's, he truly NEVER disappoints. I can echo with a missionary I met in the Mexico CCM "I fangirl over Dieter F. Uchtdorf" However I was also inspired by Elder Godoy's "One More Day," Elder Robbins' reminder of how we have chance after chance made possible by Christ's Atonement, and of course was taken aback at the strength and zeal of our beloved Prophet Russell M. Nelson. It is so difficult for me to grasp that he is 93 years old! I look forward to continuing to sustain and follow him as his ministry of healing hearts continues.

That right there is what discipleship is all about: reaching out and healing hearts and striving to help our own hearts be softened and turned towards our Savior.

His heart was unlike any other... His capacity to love exceeds any measurement we can imagine, His love for the Father and us His brothers and sisters is what motivated and drove Him to the depths of sorrow and despair as well as what lifted and exalted Him. The miracle of His gospel is that our love for Him and our Father and our brothers and sisters around us is what will lift and exalt us and help us overcome the depths of sorrow and despair.

Which is why we must minister. To help lift others and at the same time ourselves out of the depths of sorrow and despair that surround us. Distractions of this life, trials, lonliness, hopelessness, grudges, weakness, sickness, pain, heartache, are apart of each of our lives at one time or another. Because the Savior isn't physically right here with us He depends on us to fill our hearts with His love and take it to our brothers and sisters.

In a parting letter that ripped my heart to shreds while I sat on the plane taking me from Utah to Mexico over 16 months ago my dad shared with me that on my mission I would "learn to love as you have never loved before." I have experienced Christlike love so often as a missionary, it has changed me, it has helped me become the disciple the Lord knows I can and wants me to be.

Let me reference back to the fire hydrant of experiences this week and elaborate of how my heart was filled with love for the people we met and talked with this week and the work we do on a day to day basis.

I love the sweet couple that needed help wiring their electric fence in their cow pasture.

I love meeting people in their front yards, learning about them and then sharing about how we share a message that can bless their lives more than they can imagine and handing them a Book of Mormon to prove it if they let it.

I love how the trials of people's lives can have profound stories and applications such as how a falsely accused woman has a unique understanding of our Savior who was the ultimate example of someone who was wrongly accused.

I love seeing the way Heavenly Father has blessed each of His children with spiritual gifts.

I love being able to brighten the day of someone in need and lending a listening ear, it is the most powerful pain reliever.

I love that the Lord is so merciful and has provided  opportunities for each one of us to hear the gospel in our own languages and how in His mercy He enhances our lack of language with the Spirit.

I love the absence of fear that comes from knowing that we are "on the Lord's errand and are entitled to the Lord's help" (Thomas S. Monson).

I love that repentance is real and available to each of us no matter the choices we have made, there is no such thing as "too far gone."

I love laughing and making memories with my girl Hermana McCune

I love feeling the Spirit testify of our self worth, and that our offerings are enough, and being able to share that with people who forget that sometimes. And share that I forget that sometimes.

I love the way my heart swelled when our investigator walked in late, but there to the Sunday morning session of conference.

And I LOVE the family I have found in Greeneville and the way so many of them reach out and welcome us missionaries into their homes and hearts and allow us to crash their holiday parties and hunt for easter eggs with their two year olds, it was a great Easter.

I will never forget the way my heart has been filled near to bursting over and over and over again, I truly have found a new way to love, it comes from serving every day. It doesn't have to be big things, most of these examples listed above are pretty small and pretty insignificant to the world... but I know from experience after experience that those very same little deeds make a world of a difference to the recipients.

I LOVE this gospel, I LOVE this Church, I LOVE my Savior, I LOVE my family, I LOVE my friends, I LOVE the blessing that is my life.

To close I don't know if y'all picked up on the amount of times hymns and songs were quoted in Conference but I want to share a favorite line from Come Thou Fount:

"Here's my heart Lord take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

Love and miss y'all with all my HEART!

Love,
Hermana Hall