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