In Between the Lines

I've discovered I thought I read my call letter through and knew what I was in for but I didn't know exactly what was contained in between the lines. I didn't realize that the repeated phrase "laboring in the field" doesn't just mean knocking on doors, making visits, and teaching people. It also means: canning honey, making pizza and having nerf wars, weeding gardens, shoveling insulation, painting and hanging signs, gathering eggs and feeding cows and I cannot forget... it also means literaly laboring in the field baling and throwing hay. This week we have done SO much service, oh my goodness! We have spent a lot of time with the members of our ward, but you know what? As a result we have also had more team-ups (member present lessons) than I have had so far on my mission and we have more lined up. I thought I learned it before but I am learning it again...  God truly cares about His children more than He cares about any number labeled or statistic recorded. He cares about everyone I see just as much as He cares about me, and He wants to use me to answer prayers and He loves to guide others to me to answer my prayers as well.
So let's hear it for these crazy experiences this week WOOOOO I really am excited to share all about them!

CANNING HONEY: we spent time last Monday helping a lady out in her farm can honey and meet her husband who is a non member. Quick step by step is we washed and dried jars using a sink, dishwasher, towel, hairdryer, and oven. Then they have these nifty five gallon buckets with spickets on them that you use to fill the jars with honey. Then you wipe the inside throat of the bottle with a towel and put a cork in it then slap a label on it and shrink wrap the lid with a plastic cylinder and hairdryer. Pretty cool, she gave us each a bottle to take home, it was awesome.



MAKING PIZZA AND NERF WAR: we went over to a family in the ward to make homemade pizzas with them. We tried to make it gospel related and said that the English muffin base was a testimony of Christ and we need prayer as sauce and scriptures as cheese etc... but all that really ended up happening is fighting over cheese sauce flying around and kids laughing and screaming. We went outside and divided into trams and had a long promised nerf war, once again we tried to share a thought that we were like the 2,000 stripping warriors and that "we are young but our minds are firm and we do put our trust in God continually" what we should have talked about instead was Samuel the lamanite because we were getting shot at as we preached!!! It was so fun though! Did I mention it is a family of 6 boys? Pure chaos, but so fun.



WEEDING GARDENS: a lady in the ward is in the process of moving but she called us up to go and help her weed the garden of a couple in need. This is the same garden we helped plant two months ago and let me tell you there were more than just a couple of weeds growing! It was great though there were a lot of conversations going on and the couple was so appreciative of our help.

SHOVELING INSULATION: our favorite relief society president asked us if we could come help them with their house renovations when we were in the area. We had planned a day to be up by their house anyway so we headed over and found ourselves wearing masks and hats and shoveling insulation from piles on the ground and passing it up to the person on the ladder who would toss it in a hole in the upper portion of the wall/ceiling. It was funny because the shape and angle of my nose didn't work well with the mask that they first gave us so I had to wear this heavy duty gas mask looking one. They were all teasing me that "my nose was too high in the air to do this kind of work"



PAINTING AND HANGING SIGNS: in preparation for the upcoming Rockwood "Polk Salad Festival" (pronounced poke salat festival) we painted signs and hung them up around town. When I say hung I mean we took those metal poles with the tamp cylinder thing and pounded them into the ground and then ziptied wood planks with holes drilled through them to them. For all y'all who are like me and didn't have a clue what Polk is... it's basically a weed that grows really tall and you cut it down and boil it three times with bacon grease and serve it with eggs... um... ew... but it's huge here, so much in fact that there is a festival for it. So this upcoming Saturday Jacobson and I will be serving at it and meeting lots of new people and trying it so stay tuned for that!



GATHERING EGGS AND FEEDING COWS: our ward mission leader's farm is so fun, they have around 100 chickens and 5 cows. We went there for ward correlation and had dinner and then helped them gather eggs. Their chickens are free range and so you have to look everywhere for eggs, in tires, under tables, in buckets, high and low looking for eggs. Then you put them in a 5 gallon bucket and "water test 'em" if they are had eggs they shoot to the top and float, if they are good eggs they stay at the bottom of the bucket. Then we fed the leftover corn and crescent rolls from dinner to the cows. They have a mama cow named Mama Cow and a calf named Butch because when he grows up he's "gonna go to the butcher!" (Read that in your best southern accent) We also took a group photo holding the chicks that hatched around Easter... they are growing up so fast!!!

BALING AND THROWING HAY: alright so first off, forget trashbagging while working out... if you wanna sweat big time wear garments and it's the same effect if not worse. We spent a few hours with the elders and our farm family that we are always working with (pulling out blackberry bushes, gardening, banding goats, you remember) they had their hay baled by some neighbors with their tractors and then it was up to the elders to load the bales from the field to the trailer (pulled by a mini van) and bring it to us in the barn to unload and stack it repeated about 8 times averaging about 26 bales a load. I found muscles I didn't know even existed.

So that concludes all of the service experiences we had now let me share the effects of helping out.

RESULTING EFFECTS

CANNING HONEY = CHURCH ATTENDANCE: as a result of helping out our sweet Relief society sister we were able to meet her nonmember husband and chat with him and she was able to have time and prepare for a neighborhood cookout (theyn aren't called barbeques around here that's a type of food and they look at you weird if you say it's an event) anyway she was able to work on that and it went smoothly and she sold a bunch of honey there and was able to come to church the next day without being too worn out from all the events. She hasn't been in a while so it really was exciting to have her back.

PIZZA AND NERF = APPRECIATIVE MOM: it really meant the world to that mother of 6 boys to have a meal provided and time for her kids to run around and play and for us to be good sports and be willing to be attacked and attack.

WEEDING GARDEN = LESS STRESSED COUPLE, WARD INFO, AND NEEDS: we helped relieve a burden and listened to both lighthearted as well as serious conversations and received a lot of info and heard a lot of stories about the ward. One of the things that I have continually learned and seen in this area is the effect of gossip and judgmental words. Many try to justify harsh comments by saying "I'm just being honest." I HATE THAT... more often than not the word "honest" should be substituted for the word "rude" because telling a woman that she made a bad relief society president, suggesting that a young boy might be gay, telling a woman not to come back to church because her house is a health hazard, saying that people aren't worth the ward's time, and sharing information that is confidential and only meant for the bishop is rude and destructive! It is judgmental, it is ugly, and it is of the devil. Satan is the father of contention and he THRIVES off gossip. I understand it is a two way street... there is one person who chooses to "speak their mind" and another person who decides how to react to it. We all have agency. But my goodness no one likes to be talked about negatively and cutting words are unfortunately the easiest to remember and hardest to repair. There are many less active members and wayward children in this area because of the lack of holding tongues. Lack of loving the neighbor as thyself. I know I always need to be better and watchful of things I say, we all do. One of my favorite favorite quotes is: "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." How different the world and the church would be if we remember that truth in every social interaction we have... Woof, ok let me take a breath and step off my soapbox for a minute, I would apologize for that rant but I'm not going to because it's a lesson I think we all would do well pondering about.

INSULATION = FEEDBACK AND TEAM UP: while cleaning up insulation and helping prepare dinner and wash dishes we asked the relief society president and her husband the first counselor in the bishopric input and advice at what we could do to be better missionaries. Their response was interesting. They said they didn't know what to suggest as far as improvement... they were very impressed by our work ethic and desire to serve. They complimented us for being willing to work with the ward members and said that that was what would be of most value to us as missionaries: to continue to build good trusting relationships with the ward and be inclusive, helpful, and spend time with them. Then she came with us to a follow-up appointment to a bible referral we had received last week. When we arrived the husband of the lady who had requested a free bible came out of the house and began talking with us and gave the famous line "We already go to church, we're Baptist" oh if I had a nickel for every time I've heard that one! However our sweet Relief society president kept the faith and kept the conversation going by asking some inspired questions. It's so powerful having a local member along with you, they are able to relate on a different level by knowing the area and having more life experience. We ended up sharing the parable of the prodigal son and though by the end he still wasn't interested we were able to leave knowing a seed had been planted and he had a good experience meeting members of the church.

PAINTING SIGNS =  APPRECIATION DINNER APPT AND FUTURE TEAM UP AND TRANSFER RIDE: the people heading up the Polk Salad Festival invited us to a dinner at their house and also said as "payment" They will drive us to appointments and/or wherever we need to go. We are going to take them up on thst for sure! Probably next Wednesday on TRANSFER day, more info to come on that next week ;) ;)

GATHERING EGGS AND FEEDING COWS = CATCH UP, CHORES, SMILES, STEPKIDS: our ward mission leader and his wife are always so happy to have us up at their house. His wife is the cutest southern belle lady and told us thst she thinks of us as her daughters. They are older and have been married just over a year and never went on a honeymoon because they have the farm, we told them in a year we'll come back and watch the farm and they can take an overdue vacation. I just love them

BALING HAY = TWO DINNER APPTS TWO TEAM UP VISITS: we went with our farm family second mom to take dinner to a less active she visit teaches and to find another lady that doesn't come any longer because she was told not to because her house was a health hazard... I already ranted about that so I'm not going to again, we were able to find her. She is living in a shed on her son's property, this woman is like skin and bones, just broke my heart. But she is extremely spiritual and said she missed church and would like to come back next week. So the lady that drove with us said she would pick her up next week. They are both amazing, I am awestruck at their examples of faith and endurance.


I have learned this week that service opens doors. Think about how many times Christ first served than taught. He healed, He fed, He raised the dead, caused the blind to see, strengthened the feeble knees, lifted up heads that hung down. Over and over again He served, if I'm trying to become a disciple of His then I need to do the same. First serve than teach. These are lessons that weren't listed in my call to serve, they are lessons I am learning as I commit each day to do this work. I love it. I have a lot to do a lot to improve on but I am not alone.
And neither are you. Please look around and serve there are opportunities all around us. God's children surround us and He needs us to help them.
They are more important than numbers, more important than time.
See a need, fill a need.
Have a blessed week!!!
Love,
Hermana Hall

Take a Lesson From a Lightnin' Bug

Last week I briefly mentioned the fact that I saw lightning bugs, this week I want to expound on that and of course tie it into the gospel. But y'all oh my gosh!!! I get two-year-old-giddy even thinking about it!!! THEY ARE SO MAGICAL!!!! We were coming out of a members house and chatting with them as the sun was setting and behind the sister speaking I saw a  few little flashes of light and freaked out "OH MY GOODNESS ARE THOSE FIREFLIES?!" EEEEEEE!!!! They were and I was just so excited!!!! Her husband took us out into the field by their house and caught us one! It lit up and then flew away, it was so cool!!! Since then we've been looking for them and seeing them every night and even caught some ourselves and tried to put them in a jar, unfortunately they stopped lighting up after that... I was so disappointed and asked a different lady in the ward about it and she just looked at me and said "Well wouldn't you too? If you were captured and put in a jar I don't think your butt would light up!" Oh my heavens, I love these Tennessean people, they just keep me on my toes, and humbled, and most of the time laughing. But once again I've talked about before that the thing I love most about being on a mission is the fact that you get the chance to spread "a little more light" into people's lives that wouldn't otherwise have been there. Oftentimes I've said to Hermana Jacobson when someone is not interested or slams the door, or laughs at us, or films us (yep definitely had that happen a few months ago, a girl was talking to us in her driveway and her friend was filming us out the front door, sneaky... real sneaky...) but in response to any of those or some other less than ideal response, I'll say to her that "maybe that was the only time they heard Christ's name today" And at least they thought about Him for a few moments. Just like lightning bugs we are a light in a darkening world. Our message is one of light. The greatest thing about light is it's power, darkness cannot overpower it, light dispels it. Light is comforting, it helps us see, it catches attention, and helps you feel safe. A friend sent some quotes from the talk "Brighter and Brighter Until the Perfect Day" by Elder Mark A. Bragg in his email this week and I'm bumming it off of him because it ties in so perfectly with the way I'm running with this topic. I love when  says:

“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”
We are children of God. Receiving light, continuing in God, and receiving more light are what we are created to do. From the very beginning, we followed the light; we followed our Heavenly Father and His plan. Seeking the light is in our spiritual DNA.


We are here to seek light, Jesus Christ is known as "The Light of the World" He gives us what light gives us: comfort, ability to see, safety. And when we allow Him and His light into our life we can share it with others and they can have it too. We taught Gospel Doctrine this Sunday and showed the classic picture of the Second Coming and talked about the light that is in around and all throughout it, we discussed the importance of adding light into our lives daily through the little habits of prayer, scripture study, keeping the commandments, being kind to others, offering service, thinking of others, sending a note or text to someone you care about and/or are thinking about, posting an uplifting thought or message, listening to good music, all of these things add light and others can see that. We inherently want to be around positivity and light and goodness. But Satan does not. Elder Bragg says puts it this way:

Even in the most difficult and darkest of times, there is light and goodness all around us. Last October, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminded us, “We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have.”
However, the adversary would rather have us focus on “mists of darkness … which blindeth the eyes, … hardeneth … hearts … , and … leadeth … away.”


He does not want us to add light, spread light, or help others to see the light. When you catch a firefly you wait to see it's light and then as soon as it dims you reach out and snatch it. Did you catch that? Once the light goes out, it's caught. Some could argue "Well that means the light makes it vulnerable and able to be captured" That is partially true, the light is what makes the firefly stand out. Likewise the light of the gospel makes us stand out, and there are those who want to capture it and "stifle it in a jar" so to speak. They know where we are when they see our light. But another thing I've noticed about fireflies is they group together, once you notice one you begin to notice others, they group together as more sparks of light. That's what happens as we share light it gathers, and it becomes something beautiful and it can be mesmerizing just like fireflies...

So I feel bad because there were a bunch of experiences I wanted to share and I had drafted this much but then we went and helped a lady can her farm fresh pure honey which was super cool so I'm low on time and missionary experiences will have to wait until next week. But please know I love y'all and hope you take a lesson from a firefly and keep glowing and gathering light! Love y'all!
Love,
Hermana Hall

Bear Bait

I love reading other missionary's group emails. I am so grateful for so many of my friends who are out laboring in the field, the same field I, at times, have to remind myself that I am working in. This past week a scripture from one of my friend's group emails struck me. I read and it unknowingly memorized the reference and then during personal study was led back to it randomly and ended up having a sweet experience with it. The scripture is Jeremiah 16:16:
Many if not most know that the Hall fam is a family of hunters. Because of this I have spent time growing up partially in the woods, marsh, field, and lake and pond. I have learned a lot by spending time in God's creations and am amazed at the parallels you can draw in nature. Last year one of the latest hunts my family has gone on and gained an interest in is bear hunting. That season has rolled around once more and as such my dad has begun sending me pictures of the bait site, trail cams pics, and updates. In fact I am 99% sure that as of right now they are in the woods sitting at a bait site up in a tree stand waiting and wishing and probably praying for a big ol' bear to show up. Ah it makes me smile thinking about it! BUT I have been thinking a lot about hunting... bear hunting specifically... and how it relates to missionary work, because it does... and drawing on my limited knowledge and experience I want to try to explain how.
To start you have to understand bear bait, from what I understand in Tennessee the rules for Bear hunting are different from Utah or I guess I should say Idaho because that is where they go and where I've gone (an entire one time, but as you'll hopefully see that one time made an impact) but anyway you can't sit on baits here in Tennessee for this analogy I am going to use Idaho's regulations, and still apply them to my experiences in Tennessee.

Ok so from what I understand my neighbor (that got my dad into bear hunting) prepares for this hunt for MONTHS. He gathers supplies, scouts out areas, designates spots for the bait, and counts down days until the hunt is on! Then a couple weeks before the season starts he loads in his trailer hundreds of pounds of extra baked goods from his work. We're talking doughnuts, gallon buckets of frosting, cookies, cake, lard, rolls, muffins, cupcakes, turnovers, you name it... trash bags full of this stuff!!! They haul it up the mountain to the designated spot and there they build a bear bait. They heap this stuff into a massive pile, and camouflage it behind branches. They pour molasses, honey, and sugary scents all over it, because that is the most critical part. The scent is what brings the bears in. When that sweet scent catches the wind, they will come, they will follow, they will eat. But it has to catch the wind. Sometimes he will even hang a "stink bag" in the trees which is basically disgusting rotten guts and fish and horrid smelling stuff in a bag that when it catches the wind will get the attention of the bears and they will come. When bears catch that scent they will walk from miles to come to find and eat whatever it is. When that scent catches the air... they will come. So hunters set up baits, oh and when they do so they have to have a tag designating that it is lawful to be there and it is offical. So yeah they set up baits and trail cameras and head for home to wait in anticipation. During the time they are away the bait remains the scent travels bears come and the motion sensor trail cams capture pictures of activity at the bait. Often times bears will come in, eat a little, and then leave, sometimes they continue to come back. Some they only see one time. But the fact of the matter is they all know where the bait pile is, and anytime they want to come back they can catch that scent and follow it back. Then after the weeks go by the hunters gear up, they wake up dark and early in the morning, they go to the designated spot, that they've prepared, they know where the bait is and they know there are bears in those woods around. Is it scary at times to be walking in the dark woods knowing you are in bear country? Oh yes! But they've got protection, adrenaline, and excitement for the hunt. And yes their gun is a comfort as well. But they're willing to hike, to proceed slowly at times to not scare anything away, to be aware of their surroundings, and to climb the tree and be patient. Ahh that patience part is hard! They can sit in a tree stand for hours and hours day after day and never see a bear. Yet they look at the trail cams and know bears have been ther. They look at the bait pile and can see they have been there, they can see their tracks in the surrounding area... the bears know where the bait is. But the timing isn't quite right yet, they've tasted the sweetness of the pile of bait they know it's there but hunters have to be patient. They have to keep tracking and trying back. I would say there are three absolutely key parts to eventual success in bear hunting: preparation, wind, and patience. And yes a gun of course but those three things: preparation, wind, and patience are critical. Preparation and work to build the bait, designate the spot, put forth the effort, create an appeal, bring in what is sweet. The wind is what carries scent, it is necessary to get attention and to bring them in. Patience is required throughout but especially after the work has been done and the time is to wait, wait and see what happens. Because they are in bear country, they are there, and they will come, eventually. Do all the bears in the area come, nope! But some do, and the ones that continue to  back are the most promising...

Alright after all that you're probably like where in the heck is she going with this?! This is outrageous! Maybe it is, but this hit me hard and I love it, I shared it with Hermana Jacobson and I was so pumped up about it. Phewf ok gospel application time:

Missionaries prepare for their missions for MONTHS! They gather supplies and submit papers, prophets and apostles scout out areas and designate where the missionary goes. When the missionary arrives in the field their mission president designates specifically where he/she will serve. The missionary counts down days until their mission begins. A couple weeks beforre they arrive in the field they prepare and gather skills and supplies in the MTC. They get out to the field and the work begins. They have tasted the sweetness of the gospel and want to share it with others. They work to build the sweet kingdom and to bring others to it. At times the sweetness is camouflaged by things of the world but that doesn't change that it is there. Their job is to share that sweetness with others. They strive to build the kingdom but also pour sweetness around them and into their lives so that the spirit can touch them and be carried to others. Because the spirit is the most critical part of the work. Russell M. Nelson once said that being open to missionary work and feeling that spirit is like "catching a wave" you might also say it's like catching a scent. When people catch the scent, when they feel that spirit and experience a small part of the sweetness, they have a desire to come, they will follow, and they will eat. But they have to feel the spirit. Sometimes people are led to the sweetness of the kingdom because something really gross, and yucky happens in their life, it causes them to be humble but also puts them on a search for something sweet. For some the journey into the kingdom is long, they come long distances, geographically but also spiritually. But when they feel that spirit or catch that scent they come. So the missionaries are working hard to build this kingdom, oh and while they are doing so they wear a tag showing that it is lawful for them to be there and offical. So yes each day they strive to build up the kingdom then they return home, they have records which shows the progress of the kingdom. Some people come and partake of some of the sweetness of the gospel, they listen and participate in a few lessons, attend church, start reading the Book of Mormon, and praying. Then sometimes they leave. Some keep coming back for more. Some, missionaries only see one time. But the fact of the matter is, that they all know where the kingdom is, and anytime they want to come back they just need to catch that scent and follow that spirit, because God will provide a way for them to come back. So after time passes missionaries are continually preparing and gearing up, they wake up dark and early and head out to their designated areas that have been both prepared for them and they have helped prepare by their work and efforts. They know where the kingdom is and they know there are people around that want to come be apart and taste of the sweetness. Is it scary at times, does it feel they feel they are walking in the dark in a country or area different from anything they've ever known? Oh yes! But they've got protection, adrenaline and excitement for the work. And they've got prayer as a comfort as well. But they're willing to work, to walk, hike, bike, to proceed slowly at times to not scare anyone away, and to be aware of their areas and the world around them. They are willing to climb up hills and mountains and go through hard things and be patient. Ahh that patience is hard!!! They can work for hours and hours day after day and never have lessons with people. Yet they look at the record books and they know there are people there. They can look at the kingdom and see that people have been to it they can examine the area see the tracks and hear stories about people. They know people know about the church. But the timing isn't quite right yet. The people have partaken of the sweetness, they know it's there, the missionaries just need to be patient. They have to keep tracting and trying back. I would say there are absolutely three key parts to missionary work: preparation, the spirit, and patience. And yes prayer of course but those three things: preparation, the spirit, and patience are critical. Preparation in building the kingdom, and building themselves, designating areas, putting forth effort, creating an appeal, bringing what is sweet. The spirit is what carries the message of sweetness it gets attention and brings people in. Patience is required throughout, but especially after the work is done, when the time is to wait and see what happens. Because they are in fields that are white ready to harvest, there are people out there and they will come, eventually. Will all the people in the area come? Nope! But some do, and the ones that continue to come back are the most promising...


Isn't this cool?!?! I hope y'all are as pumped reading this as I am writing it!!!!
This has been something that has been on my mind all week long. I have been thinking it over again and again and bouncing ideas back and forth with Hermana Jacobson, it's hit me so hard. I'm out here building the bait, trying to live so that people can catch the wind feel the spirit and want to come. But I've got to work, I've got to build, I've got a want it, and I've got to BEAR it!!!! This week has been difficult to bear at times but there have also been some sweet moments. As if this letter isn't long enough I want to share two experiences real quick with y'all. I've realized that I don't really send group emails home... I send home TALKS. Of the many things the South and Tennessee has taught me I guess it has taught me how to preach, so thanks for letting me run my mouth and type up these novels, and thanks for reading them, even if no one ever did I would still send them because they help me. They help me evaluate my week and seek to do better. So thanks be to y'all again for tolerating great lengths, love y'all.


But ok like I said this week was a bit of a rough one. We had a less active text us and essentially say we are wasting our time reaching out to them, we also had an investigator drop us over text. Once again nearly everything in our plans and schedules fell through, there was this one day, ah man... I was just DONE. I'll admit I said one of those angry prayers one of  whiney prayers: "Heavenly Father I'm still in Rockwood and I'm frustrated with myself because I'm starting to count down the days until transfers until I can leave it and go somewhere new. Heavenly Father why did you leave me in this area? I'm sick of it. I realize others have been in areas longer, I realize others have been in Rockwood longer, but I don't want to be here, I'm not going to go sit home and mope I'm going to keep working but I want you to know I am not loving it right now..." ugh rereading that makes me sound so whiney, but Heavenly Father puts up with me, thank goodness. So after that (that was a car prayer while driving by the way) after that not even two minutes probably my comp is looking out the window and says see that lady right there setting up a yardsale? Let's go talk to her. So I made a u-turn kept my prayer promise and kept working. Did my attitude change and I was back to loving Rockwood and wanting to stay there the rest of my mission??? HECK NO! I stood for 40 minutes listening to an elderly woman talk about her health problems, family hardship, and all the "pedophiles in town..." However... was my heart a bit softened at the fact that she trusted two random 19 year old girls in skirts with tags on to share her life story with? HEAVENS YES! She caught the scent, she felt some of the spirit, enough to trust us, enough to want to talk to us. Who knows? She might even come back to taste the sweetness!

 Speaking of sweet the other experience I want to share is with the Sister in the ward who I've been to her house several times, spoken with her several times, but always through the wall... remember her? Well two weeks ago it occurred to me during weekly planning that she has a phone number, and that we should call it. We did and talked to her for over 20 minutes. Her mother and nephew passed away about a month ago. Within the same week. We were able to share scriptures with her and pray with her over the phone. She mentioned she wanted to meet with us in person some time... This past week we stopped by, instead of  normal conversation "who is it?!" "Sister missionaries" "WHO?!" "SISTER MISSIONARIES" she remembered our phone call, she apologized because she was just getting out of the shower so she couldn't meet with us then, but wanted to, and she asked us to pray with her, through the wall. So we did, Jacobson offered the sweetest half yelling prayer I've ever heard. We stuck our card in the door and she said she wanted to call and set up a time for us to come back, and meet with her in person. It's moments like that, experiences like that where I realize I'm still here for specific reasons, to have specific experiences. I'm sitting at this bait site learning patience. And having sweet experiences all the time.


Sometimes it is easy to get frustrated at never having a bear come in, especially when you know they're around. Sometimes I need to be more content and more accepting that I'm adding to the bait pile, tossing in some doughnuts, spreading some frosting, and adding " a little more light" to people's day. In preach my gospel there is no standard for a successful mission, there instead is a standard for a successful missionary, and it is measured by commitment. Some days I'm more committed than others but I'm still heading out still working on patience still seeking to prepare and have the spirit with and around me.
My grandma once told me: "A mission is for the missonary"
I didn’t like that, I thought it sounded selfish, I'm learning daily that it's not selfish and that it's actually very true. No matter what happens as a result of my mission it will be worth it. That's what happens at the end of every hunting season, whatever the end result may be I never regret it. I won't regret my mission either. I won't regret the lessons of learned, people I've met, I won't regret wearing my tag  (even if I forget to wear it to church... rookie mistake) I won't regret the relationship I've developed with my Older Brother Jesus Christ and the one I've strengthened with my Heavenly Father. I won't regret the hardship I've had to bear and the sweetness I've experienced.
We met a guy yesterday that said he wouldn't trade one bad time for another  good one because you gotta have the bad to understand the good.
Opposition in all things right?
I hope y'all know I love you and am so grateful for you! I hope you've been pricked in your hearts and that this has made sense. There are so many connections to be made and parallels to be drawn with this, when you see more email me and tell me about them, I promise I'd love to hear from yooouroou!
Love you and have a blessed week!
Love,
Hermana Hall
PS I FINALLY SAW LIGHTNING BUGS EEEEEE!!!! IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!!
PPS DID Y'ALL KNOW DAVID ARCHULETA IS ENGAGED?! AND I'M NOT WEARING A RING! HAHA! BUT SERIOUSLY SOMEBODY PLEASE SEND ME A PIC OF THE FIANCEE!!!

"Sister" Sandra Dee???

6 Months, and 16 Stones

Today is the day! The very day of my 6 month mark!!!! 6 months ago on November 22 I hugged my family and hopped on an airplane and my life hasn't been the same since. It has been full of crazy, outrageous, faith-shaking and faith-building experiences, that have changed me... For the better... I owe a lot to my support group and cheer squad back home. Y'all have helped me stay motivated and keep working hard through your love, support, and encouraging words, as well as prayers. I cannot say thank you enough, I cannot imagine doing this without home and heaven cheering me on.
I also am grateful for this area I'm serving in. These people... my goodness... they are truly one of a kind and I love them for it. So what if Sunday meetings have me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next tangent (this week it was "getting hit upside the head with a skillet by your wife" and Einstein)? So what if we get fed rabbit at dinner... (not horrible but not great either)?  So what if we sweep up piles of dead termites at the local American Legion Hall (sure hope they were dead)? I love Rockwood. I love the people here. I love my mission. I love my Savior. I'm happy to have spent 6 months trying each day to become a better disciple of His. I told President in my last interview with him, after being asked what I want to become by end of next May when I head for home, I told him I don't want my mission to end. I've heard many times you have an eternity to prepare, 18 months to live it and an eternity to look back on it. It's true that I'll only have 18 months to be a set apart missionary but that doesn't mean it ends after that, (I know there are some reading this who might shake their heads or roll their eyes at my "missionary fire" desire and I realize life comes up and things change) maybe I won't be out knocking on doors but I want to keep studying everyday... keep praying everyday... keep striving for the temple... keep visiting those in need... keep standing up for what I believe... keep waking up early... keep working hard and enduring to the end... keep learning about and trusting my Savior... keep studying conference talks and words of modern day prophets... Ultimately I want to be able to implement my mission into my life so that my life becomes my mission. I want to continue increasing my knowledge of the gospel and then share that knowledge with others. Because the gospel is so good and so true and there is SO much to learn and SO much to share. So I would love to take a minute and share with y'all something I've learned and then some experiences of sharing light and knowledge with others this week.
I was working on some Personal Progress (we've started working on it with a less active young woman in the ward who is super sweet... more to come on her later) anyway it took me in the scriptures to Ether 2 and 3. Which is all about the Brother of Jared. Now... there are SO many lessons to be learned from his story SO many... but what pricked my heart and opened my eyes were his efforts and the way they were multiplied. When asked how they were going to have light in the barges the Lord didn't say "Oh leave it to me I'll take care of it." Because He would, and He did. No he asked the Brother of Jared, "What wilt ye that I should do?" He asked him to come up with a proposal to bring to the table. He asked him to go find, bring, and give Him something to work with. And what did he bring? Rocks. 16 of them to be exact. Sure they were clear and smooth and "molten out of the mountain" but they were rocks... yet he brought them anyway and recognizing their nothingness and his own nothingness the Brother of Jared  cried unto the Lord in humility saying,

O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.



He then recognized the Lord's hand in preserving his people and said:

Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.

Finally he acted in faith and told Him his plan.

And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.
Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.


And the rest of the story goes something like this: the Lord put forth his finger and touched the stones one by one. The Brother of Jared not only saw the Lord's finger but because of his immense faith he saw the Lord and spoke with him face to face. The Lord blessed him with light, with more comfort, more knowledge, more vision, more understanding, more trust, more than he could have ever imagined. And at no point did the Lord ever look at him and say "Really? Rocks? That's all that you could come up with?" No He took those 16 stones and He turned them into a source of light. That's what Christ does, He takes whatever we have to offer and He multiplies it into more than we ever thought possible  (same goes for the 5 loaves and 2 fishes parable). So let's apply the Brother of Jared to ourselves. When we approach the Lord in humility, when we recognize His hand in making our lives possible, and when we set forth our faith and show Him our plan, or give Him our will... He takes it and makes it a source of light. He gives us more comfort, knowledge, vision, understanding, trust, more than we can ever imagine. He never looks at us and says "that's all you can come up with?" Never. He takes whatever we've got and one by one touches and molds it with His hands making it more than we thought it could be. I hope and I pray that as I am humbled and grateful and planning with faith He will take my 18 months and make me a source of light.
Ah you guys I just love the scriptures! I just adore them! They are so true! How else could a 19 year old girl relate to an ancient man building barges and carrying stones?!?!

Ok onto sharing time!
So we were in the southern part of our area and stopped in the local "Piggly Wiggly" grocery store (straight up that is its name) because an investigator works there. While there we saw a couple Latinos and we walked past two of them, my mind haunting me saying "there's a reason your call says Spanish..." We pass one more and I was like alright that's enough! Made a walking u-turn and we went around and started talking to a guy in total broken Spanish and gave him a pass-along card. Fast forward a few days and we were sitting planning at the kitchen table and a  call comes in and it's the guy from the Pig! He was super hard to understand but we scheduled a time to meet at the Piggly Wiggly again the next day. What ended up happening is he wasn't there, but we kept waiting and a different Latino came by and we talked to him and gave him a Book of Mormon and will talk to him more this next week. We don't know what will result, apparently there are a lot of men that come and work on the farms for anywhere from 3-6 months and then go back to their homes and families... but at the very least we can use our Spanish and testify of Christ. Doesn't get much better than that!

Oof, taught the law of chastity to our investigator on date for baptism. She was actually scheduled to be baptized this past Saturday but it didn't happen for several reasons. They (her and her fiancee who is a member) are currently praying for a new date that they feel they can work towards. We too are praying like crazy for them. Agency always plays a critical role though, we chose to have it and no amount of faith or prayer can take away that from someone. We do love her though and want what is best for her and hope and pray that she will realize the forever best thing for their family is this gospel. Also shout out to role playing during companionship study, even though it is beyond awkward to pretend to teach you are able to get a really bad lesson out of the way without other people there and then you can go into the actual lesson more prepared and confident than you otherwise might've been. Definitely recommend. And it works for all aspects of life I had Hermana Jacobson role play a phone call with me she needed to make and sometimes I'll have her read my drafts of some emails and we role play/ talk about possible scenarios and responses. I've always hated acting but Iquite like role playing... It's all about enhancing communication and increasing charity, which everyone could use a little more of both, charity and communication. But enough of that, apologies for going all preachy missionary on y'all.

SPEAKING OF PREACHY the last story I'll share from the week happened on Sunday after church we went to the long-term care facility across from the  church. We  had visited two less actives there two weeks before... One of which was asleep the other was very deteriorated and otherwise incoherent. We decided to return back this week to see if we could visit them again and maybe sing some hymns to them. (I love that missionary work involves things like this showing up to an old folks home to sing to them, it reminds me of my CNA job back home, aw, I just have such a special place in my heart for the elderly and the seemingly neglected) but anyway it turns out that the sweet deteriorated sister we had visited passed away within days after we had met her. The other sister that had been asleep was attending the church services they hold there. We decided we'd go say hello to her before they began services. We did so but ended up getting caught and welcomed by the preacher who then began his sermon. So we had no choice but to sit and listen in. Not that I was complaining though... my curiosity was piqued. But oh my heavens above I was not expecting what we experienced. He first began by asking for an opening prayer, one man began giving it and the preacher joined in with his own prayer talking on top of the other guy. That was a new one, apparently it happens a lot though... then the preacher opens his hymnal and starts singing Amazing Grace. I know some of those words but not all 4 verses, and since we were with a bunch of elderly people he was essentially the only one singing and continued to sing and sing and sing. Four hymns and 20 minutes later he opens his Bible and begins reading and shouting his sermon. It was almost like something you'd see in a movie. The only catch was every third or fourth word he would say some weird word/sound that I can only try to spell like this:  "hubm" for example he would say "Dear Lord I am grateful hubm for the life you gave hubm, for the sacrifice hubm you made hubm and the blood hubm you shed hubm for a sinner hubm like me hubm" it was quite interesting. It felt so impersonal and so flashy. I'll admit I am becoming converted to praise I think it has its place and I will definitely be listening to some gospel music when I get home (watch out fam;) but at the same time there is nothing like the sweet spirit that I feel during those 15 minutes of prayerful pondering when I am contemplating the Savior as I take
the sacrament. Each church has its truths, how blessed we are though to attend one that has all truth, perfect truth.
"Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me."
I hope y'all have a wonderful week and give your stones to the Lord and see Him and His hand in your life. He can and will show you sources of light and knowledge and help you become a source of that for others.
I know this to be true and Thank you again for all you do for me.
Love y'all!
Love,
Hermana Hall

                                   
                                                            (0r 182 days................)

                 
                                                      Six month celebration dinner!!!

They've been found.... in Tennessee!!!!


Must still have some cold mornings, layer up!!!                 Thinking of the dad and bro this weekend.....

I LOVE My M.o.M.

I have a song by Nashville Tribute Band on my iPod that is called "M.o.M" which stands for: Mothers of Missionaries. My favorite part is the chorus: "Mothers around the world, raising our boys and girls, teaching them wrong from right, tucking them in every night, forever cheering them on, making them strong, we want to thank you M.o.M's" This letter I want to express my gratitude for the motherly figures in my life as well as share some experiences from the missionary work this week.

MOTHERS
I am so grateful for my mom year round but love that there has been a day dedicated to remembering her (this year probably will go down as the best Mother's Day ever because I got to Skype and talk to her and the rest of my family, from way down South in Rockwood, Tennessee) and I hope that all you women out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. I have been blessed by so many of you in my life. Sheri S. Dew once said, "every one of us can mother someone- beginning, of course, with the children in our own families but extending far beyond." I have been blessed by so many mother figures in my life both in Utah and now in Tennessee. So thank y'all!!!
 I'm so grateful for my mom's example and influence in my life. Watching her eyes light up and hearing her laugh as I listened to her stories from her own mission in L.A. is what first sparked the fire of my own desire to serve a mission. I remember watching her and one of her best friends (who was her missionary companion, and another huge influence and mother figure in my life) laugh, shop, clean, and work together. I wanted to have a friendship like that one day. As I grew up that desire deepened from a social motivation to a spiritual motivation, I am here to help people around me come closer to Christ and receive the blessings of the restored gospel. I am here because this Gospel has so blessed my life and my family's life. I know it will continue to bless my current family as well as my future family. But I, like the stripling warriors am out here in large part because of my mom, I have been "taught by [my] mother that if [I] did not doubt [I] would be delivered by God" (Alma 56:47)
By word and example my mom has taught me so much . She has taught me that every story has multiple characters and points of view, I'm not just talking stories in books either... stories and experiences of people, each one has multiple sides. She helps me be more emphatic, trusting, and Christlike. She has taught me to laugh things off, life is more joyful and less embarrassing when you just laugh it off. She has shown me how to love and care for those who are more elderly, and for those in need. And oh my gosh she can throw parties like no other!!! Lunches in high school were always over the top as well as every other holiday and birthday celebration that she decorated for. We've always teased her that Christmas/Easter/Birthday/Halloween/etc "throws up in our house" each time it comes around. And I can't neglect to mention the fact that every month since I've been on my mission she has sent me packages to decorate our house for the corresponding holiday, including but not limited to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, and Easter. She has taught me that relationships should be trusting and communication is important. She is quoteable has been known to say: "less is more" and "we've beat Satan once, we can do it again!" I'm grateful for my mom, we're always told we are twins and sometimes I feel like we are sisters, because we really are best friends. I tell her everything, vent everything, spill news, tell secrets, and share inside jokes. Oh my goodness if mom and I didn't laugh together I don't know what I would do.  She values education she didn't want us to miss school hardly ever when we were little. She loves this gospel, the temples, and being a mother in this time, she always said, that she was growing up right along with us and that she "hasn't ever been a mom before" but I think she has done a pretty amazing job with me and Bridger and we've grown up a lot together.
Another thing she always says is "it takes a village to raise a child" I am so grateful for all of my "village mothers" There are many of you: young women's leaders, friends' moms, neighbors, trek mas, aunts, grandmas, cousins, friends of friends, primary teachers, relief society sisters, missionaries, cousins twice removed, teachers... moms. I thank you for your righteous influences and outpouring of love in my life. I'm so blessed.

MISSIONARY
I'll try to keep this brief because I've already gushed enough, maybe I'll make it "kindly like" a bulleted list... yeah that'll work.
• Had a lady during the most powerful and spiritual part of the restoration lesson when shown the painting of Joseph Smith with the pillar of light and Heavenly Father and Christ above said, "Oh I'd just poop my britches if I saw that!!!" I've never bit my tongue harder to keep in the laughter, it worked... for a minute.
• We ate alligator at a recent convert's house, they wouldn't let us know what it was until we started eating it, it was pretty dang good though, but the birch beer (don't worry its not against the word of wisdom or the missonary handbook) to wash it down was not my favorite.
•Also ate gumbo at a different house, they are from Louisiana and apparently made it the "real deal" you cook it two days in advance and then refrigerate it to let the spices mix well. Other than the huge sausage chunks it was way yum!
•We delivered over 20 mothers day cookie and note gifts to mothers around the ward. I love my mission "village moms" out here!
•We had Bible study with a less active and he shared a thought about Matthew 19:24 that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Apparentkly back in those days there were entrances into city walls only big enough for a person to enter, they were called the eye of a needle. If you were to get a camel through it you would need to take off all the carpets, trunks, and cargo. In other words: riches, and have it crawl through the door and tunnel. So it is with our journey home "straight is the gate and narrow is the way" we have to strip ourselves of riches, desires, and baggage and crawl at times, in order to get through tough times and stay on the path home. I had heard the explanation of that before but the crawling part struck me, sometimes we crawl on our journey... humbly... on bended knee. I honestly love the Bible so much. During comp study when we share what we study I blab on and on because I'm learning so much and it is so dang amazing!!!!
•Pretty much every day we would daily plan and it would be a solidly booked day and then as we'd go about it we would reschedule everything about four times because people would cancel and it at times I was really frustrated. Hermana Munoz my CCM comp would always say "the easiest way to make God laugh is to make plans..." He was laughing a lot this week. But we continued to make plans and He continued to always provide a way. Even if it felt like we were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, it worked out. We visited the people we needed to, the children He needed us to help
•We moved furniture onto a lady in the ward's front porch so she could get her carpets cleaned. She turned to us and said "my porch looks like a redneck's!" She is the same woman that said she wasn't going to do temple work for her family just yet because they were such hoodlums they need to "sit there and stew about it!" Oh my goodness we were rolling, I just adore her!!! And her house is so clean and well kept and elegant it's so refreshing!
•Our primary president duct taped three of the boys to their chairs and when a mom scolded her about it she said "well I'm not even going to repent because I would do it again!!!!"
•Emergency WalMart trip for calamine lotion because somewhere I came into contact with either posion sumac or posion ivy
•Found three different ticks crawling on me on the way to, and during a lesson
•One lady we took a mother's day gift to is taking care of her neighbors goat named Peanut that honestly thinks she is his mom, he will only take a bottle if it's from her and follows her around everywhere. It was so cute!!!
•Another elderly lady we talked to could not hear jack squat so I would write notes on my tablet and hand it to her to read and she would read and it was always something like "you inspire us" "thank you for sharing that" "you're a good example" and she would gasp and then say well Thank you honey! " and ramble on again, so cute!!!

Well, it's been a great week, and Sunday was the cherry on top talking to my sweet family, I just love and appreciate them so much and am again grateful for my sweet M.o.M.
Have a great week and keep on celebrating mothers day!!!
Love,
Hermana Hall

Not Numbers But Children

I had an experience this week that if you can even believe it, humbled me! How crazy is that?! Another opportunity to be humbled? I must be on a mission!!!! K but really joking aside this really was a cool experience. For those of you who have been counting up the days since I've been out (Mom) you may have noticed that I'm about to hit six months (ahhhhh!!!) and not only that but I've had a new companion for six weeks which means another transfer has gone by. Which means transfer calls happened... which means, drumroll please.... I'm staying in Rockwood!!!! They just can't get rid of me! I told a guy at church that he isn't praying hard enough to send me away, he in his infinite sarcasm said that he hasn't been praying at all but he figures he better start now see if his luck changes next time. Ha ha very funny. So yeah I'm sticking around this area, I've got a great comp I'm not one bit sad to be comps with her for another transfer but if I'm being honest part of me was a little bit like, "You know Heavenly Father I've been here for over 4 months are you sure I'm needed here? Am I really making that big of a difference that you want me here longer???" Now, I have learned enough out here to realize that we should be like the stalwart examples of my absolute favorites: the Anti-Nephi-Lehis who knew that trials should be faced on their knees...(side note I love the Anti-Nephi-Lehis SO much I've learned more from them than I ever thought possible. I could write a whole email just about them and things I learn from their story, maybe I will one of these days, but back to the point) I took this need and concern to Heavenly Father in prayer, I told him of my willingness to serve Him and that I truly do love this area but I was confused at why I'm still here... I'm willing to be here but would like some reassurance that He really does want me to spend a third of my mission in this area (note that I have thought and divided my mission up into all of these numbers and time increments) as I was having one of these borderline selfish prayers the thought came to my mind "I don't care about numbers, I care about my children." .... whoa. Humbled to the dust... He doesn't care that 6 months, 1/3 of my time, 24+ weeks, will be spent in Rockwood. He doesn't care how many hours of tracting Jacobson and I do, how many people we contact, how many less actives we visit, how many people come to church, how many members we take on team ups, how many miles we drive. He is a God of order yes we need numbers for things to be organized, BUT more than that He is our loving Father. He has a plan for each and every one of us, a plan that is not bound nor measured by numbers. He cares about His children.
He cares about the man at the flea market that sings to us a song he wrote about Christ, He cares about the less active that smokes while you read the book of Mormon, He cares about the investigator that has never heard of the plan of salvation or that there isn't just death or hell there are more chances for every one of us, He cares about the woman that has taken like 16 religions and made them her belief (the same woman that thinks that Christ didn't really actually die, He hid for 3 days and then escaped to France... THAT was a new one), He cares about the sweet old woman that is no longer responsive and is ridden with dementia and alone in a care center He cares about the guy that chats your ear off about Mardi Gras and 89 cent eggs. He cares about the Elders that gave me and Jacobson the "hottest pepper available in legal American markets" that made us cry and our noses run and entire bodies sweat. He cares about the young mother who has been drug free for four months, about the man that laughs at us at the door and shuts it. He cares about the single mom that is living off 70 dollar house cleaning jobs and just lost her car and is near to losing her house. He cares about the old man whose heart is failing, the old woman who is 100 years old. He cares about each and every one of them... He cares about each one of you and He cares about me.
Right after this prayer I went to my scriptures, I'm reading in Luke in my Bible study and Alma in my Book of Mormon right now and happened to open to Alma 26, which is an absolutely classic missionary chapter, it is also where my mission scripture is found: Alma 26:37 "And thus we see that God is mindful of his people in whatsoever land they may be in"
It struck me that He is mindful of me, not only in Tennessee but in Rockwood Tennessee, in Rockwood Tennessee on South Kingston Ave, in the back right room sitting at the study desk on the left. He knows me and He cares about me, He knows where I am and what I can be. He cares about His children more than He does about our numbers.
So let's think about that each day... that we have a loving Heavenly Father whose love is immeasurable. You can't put a number on it because it's infinite.
Love y'all and to go along with that there is the classic mission line: don't count the days make the days count! If you've got to number something than make it count!
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Hermana Hall

 Apparently it is still very cold!!!!

Corn???? Candy corn???  Mother Goose Pink Popcorn???

Add caption

Homemade Scotcharoos!!!

THEY WILL KNOW THAT YOU KNEW

I found this quote during personal study this week and it hit me like a ton of bricks. So powerful, I absolutely adore it!!!
“At some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And THEY WILL KNOW THAT YOU KNEW. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you” -President Henry B. Eyring

 There is a less active in Spring City, (the city in the lower part of our area) that we have been unable to contact. Hermana Yauney and I had stopped by one day a few weeks ago, we could hear the tv blaring, knocked twice, rang the doorbell twice, left a note, and left. Hermana Jacobson and I decided to return this past week. The situation was much of the same, there was no tv sound but there were two cars in the driveway and a lamp on in the home. After knocking twice, ringing the doorbell twice, the two of us turned to head on our way, as we left I noticed a side door with a doorbell and I was like "score!" Jacobson was a little hesitant but I said let's go for it we knocked and rang and we met the sweet old man that lived there! He was welcoming and didn't even know there was a ward in Rockwood. We chatted for a minute he told us we were "cute little buggers" and that he was getting ready to head out of town to take care of his son who has cancer. It was a really powerful experience though of not giving up and knowing that we did our absolute best to seek people out and invite them to Christ. One day he'll know, and we'll know too.

We talked to a homeless man in a church parking lot, he had some interesting views on the church and also had been drinking quite a lot, we gave a diligent effort in giving him a Book of Mormon but he tried to tell us he had one at home, yet he wasn't home... but one day he'll know, and we'll know.

I was privileged to be a part of an incredible lesson during exchanges in Maryville which is west of Farragut, the girl in this lesson was so prepared, she didn't need any convincing, she wanted to know the gospel, she has seen the way it has changed her sister and wants that change too, I was beginning to think that the only people that were like that were in South America, so humble and ready for the gospel in their lives.  One day she'll know and we will too.

We spent a large amount of a night sorting through six boy's worth of socks with a lady in the ward, she is an amazing example of strength and has been going through some very tough things in her life. It was an experience where I learned that the importance of service even if it's sorting socks, should never be underestimated. One day she'll know and we will too.

 The scripture that talks about how "Adam tilled the earth by the sweat of his brow has never been more true" this past week we planted two gardens at that farm we are always working on. I had the opportunity to use a tiller which was a little scary but also way cool, the next day Jacobson and I were so sore! But our service again was so appreciated, and we were happy to help, even though we may or may not have both gotten ticks from the experience. But not to worry we are fine! Vaseline and tweezers does the trick of removing them! We love working on that farm and even better we love the people that live there. One day they'll know and we will too.

Hermana Jacobson felt impressed to go visit a member in an assisted living facility before we went in for the night, I'll admit I drug my feet a little bit but obliged and we went and even though I had to sit in a wheel chair that had recently had an accident on it it was a good lesson and we talked to him about eternal families. He gave us some info about his family and we are going to work on his family tree on family search for him, though he doesn't remember us from week to week we know the importance of this gospel and the comfort of knowledge of the life to come knowing we can and will live forever with our families. One day he'll know and we will too.

As always there is so much more that happened I could go on and on, most of the time I do, but my time is short and it's been a lovely pday of shopping til we drop, but please know that I love y'all and we can each live like missionaries and like Christ each day.
Live in such a way that in the next life no one will come up to you and say "Why didn't you tell me?"
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Hermana Hall

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