New Venue in Austin Zone

Good day to everyone, family, friends, and others,

Great News! I learned from other missionaries that Johnny and Vicky from Uvalde ward were baptized. Ed hasn't been baptized yet, but he is getting closer. If all goes well, Sister Rubio should also be baptized in late September. I have had the chance to see many familiar faces recently, and I will definitely meet new ones in my new area:

After a single transfer serving in Carrizo Springs, now I am covering Cedar Park/Carriage Hills wards, all the way over in the Austin Stake, near Round Rock. Because of the distance between the border zone and Austin, other missionaries from the zone and I drove up to San Antonio Wednesday night, and we went to transfer meeting the next morning. In the meeting I found out I would be serving in the Austin area, and I endured another long trip there. I've had my fill of long road trips recently.

In the San Antonio transfer meeting, I sat next to my good friend Elder Hart and his trainee. They will be together for another transfer in Las Palmas. In the Austin transfer meeting which happens in the afternoon, I sat with Elder Drennan. I saw other familiar faces like Elder Vergara and Elder Zelaya, and it was wonderful to get a hug from Elder Bertelsen.

My new companion is Elder Hovinghoff, a missionary originally from Mt. Pleasant, Utah. His service is a great example to his family, who aren't active in Church. Because the wards that we cover are English, we will need to treasure our opportunity to speak Spanish with one another, as he is Spanish called. Elder Hovinghoff has yet to serve in a Spanish area, and we are the only Spanish missionaries in our district.

On Sunday we attended both wards. In total, we attended about 5 hours of church. I loved being able to take the sacrament twice. With so many members of each ward to get to know, meet members for the first time every day.

To finish, I met a few missionaries new to the mission that I recognized. Elder Borren sang in choir with me, and it was exciting to see him.

Here's a fun picture with Elder Evans at the famous (for missionaries, anyway) Super Tacos Morales in Eagle Pass.

Questions and Answers

Those pictures from your zone conference.  Was that the entire zone?

It was the entire zone. Because of the distance from everyone else, it is hard to meet with other zones.

How often have you gotten to go to the temple?

I have been to the outside, but I haven't gone into the temple yet. It's been a while, I would love to go. The principle for temple attendance is we are allowed to attend the temple twice during our time serving. Visiting the temple with recent converts may cause us to go more than twice. We are counseled to remember our focus towards nonmember families.

Que` vas hablando espan~ol todo el tiempo con tus compan~eros?    

We study a little bit during language study every day. We also have the opportunity to speak it with each other during the day. I will miss the opportunity to speak it with people we meet during the day.

What experiences have brought you inner peace this week?

I was struggling to get adjusted to the area, so I asked my companion for a priesthood blessing. In it, I was reminded of the positive influence I've had on others, and the challenges that will come. The Lord truly loves us, and so he tests us, and allows trials to occur. I cannot foresee the coming weeks clearly. I do not know how things will turn out. But I do know that relying on the Lord will allow me to press through. He is there.

As always, how are your people?

We met with Gerardo another time before I left. I have no doubt that he will progress well. We're looking to find families to teach in this area. We're not working closely with anyone in the area yet, and it is hard.

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Wonderful Week, Wonderful People

Dear everyone, family, friends, and anyone.

First off, I've come to love Carrizo Springs more and more each day. The branch here is precious, and the people are sincere in their desires to lead good lives. Yesterday we had a new member move into the area, and he is the first member of his family to join the church. At first his parents were not happy about his decision, but after time they become more tolerant of, and eventually supporting in his desires to attend seminary and church meetings. I was happy to get to know him.

Elder Craner gave a talk in Sacrament meeting, and I enjoyed listening to it. He has gained additional confidence in this transfer, and I can tell his love for the people is growing. He will be able to continue to show is love for the people of Carrizo Springs, and I will meet new people and gain more friends in a new area. I'm getting transferred. I was surprised to learn I would be here for only a transfer, but I trust the Lord knows where I need to go to become more Christ-like.

This past week we met a man named Gerardo. He works as a handyman, and is a very endearing person. We were able to help him move, and he let us share a copy of the Book of Mormon and talk about it. We were also excited when he was able to attend church, and feel the spirit that is present there. I hope he continues to progress.

We had a lightning storm in the area earlier in the week, and we've also gotten a tiny bit of rain. Carrizo Springs can use the rain. The heat has consistently stayed over 100 degrees every day, but I feel more adjusted to the heat.

Sometimes I wish that I could write this weekly letter in Spanish. After a zone meeting earlier this week, I gained yet another reason to like the Spanish language:

The zone meeting was held almost completely in Spanish. I felt comfortable with my understanding of Spanish. Towards the end of the meeting, Elder Evans and Elder Christensen told us that we need to bury our weapons of war in order to be consecrated to the the Lord. All of a sudden Elder Christensen turned a chalk board around, with a weapon written in bold letters, "ENGLISH." From that point, they invited us to give up our English completely and to speak our mission language everyday, all day with our companions. I realized that I had been speaking far too much English with Elder Craner, and although I had made improvements, I giving my all.

Even though I am leaving Carrizo and the border zone, I will continue to speak Spanish with everyone who can speak Spanish. This will be hard, but I know that the Lord expects much of me. I will begin to speak Spanish as if it were my native language. Please follow up with me and ask how I have enjoyed speaking Spanish throughout the day.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Is it getting even hotter around where you working?

August is a hot month. It is getting hotter, but the recent rain has helped out.

It seems you have lots of changes often, does that help you focus on your work and service?

Changes help me to leave my comfort zone, which usually means I will have more opportunities to grow. I've notice that when I resist change, I don't adjust nearly as well as if I accept the changes. Working in a branch, using Ipads in our work efforts, a new companion, serving near the boarder, and many other new things have helped me to learn and grow this transfer.

I got excited to come to Carrizo as I first came here weeks ago. Changes do help me to get excited, and they remind me that the Lord trusts me enough to send those changes.

How are the people around you doing?   

The community is surviving the heat well. People seem to survive the week, and families are preparing to send their kids to school again. Has it really been an entire school year since I left for the Texas San Antonio Mission? Time goes too fast.

How does knowing that our prayers are with you and for you and your companion missionaries help you?

It reminds me of the support and love coming from home. Thank you all for your prayers. During this transfer, I felt buoyed up by the prayers of others.

What funny or happy thing came your way this week?

We met Gerardo about a week ago, but we visited him for the first time this week. It struck me hard that meeting Gerardo had less to with us, and more to do God's promise to put prepared people in our path. It also reminded me that this is God's work. We do our very best to find those prepared to learn about Jesus' restored Gospel, and our success is small. Then God puts someone like Gerardo in our path seeming to say, "thank you for your great effort. Talk to Gerardo, he is ready."

The more I strive to forget myself and do God's will, the more I realize that I am privileged to see the Savior gather His people. I am privileged to participate in His divine work!

How is the water tasting?

Great! We don't drink tap water down here. Every 5 days or so we refill our 5 gallon water cooler jug, and we also buy water bottles every week.

--

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Grateful that God is Greater than we are

Dear family, friends, and others,

The heat is consistent down here, and so is the work. I'm feel grateful to be a missionary right now, as I've come to notice that this is the Lord's work, and not ours. A moment that I realized this was as we talked with Gus.

Over the past few weeks we've met with Gus and Melisa. They have a wonderful big family, and they've been reading from the Book of Mormon. Gus is a humble man and a great example to his family. We were meeting with him the other day and we talked about his family, and desires he has for his family. As we read from the BoM with him, I had an opportunity to share a part of the introduction that has impacted me. It was the part where Joseph Smith declared that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book. After reading it, I could tell that Gus felt the Spirit testify of it, and of Jesus Christ. They way that I shared it was so simple, and I realized that it wasn't my eloquence that invited Spirit. I also realized how little I am in this process. God gave me an opportunity to give this time in service, and that I need to treasure every moment that I have.

This week I went on an exchange with Elder Tingey in Eagle Pass. Because their area is a bike area, we rode our bikes that day. I missed my bike quite a lot. It was a blessing to be able to get more exercise as we went from place to place, and there weren't very many hills to climb. Another great blessing was that my old bike was in working condition, and the chain only came off once. It was an easy fix, and we were back on the bikes again. In the afternoon we found a couple that Elder Jackson and Elder Tingey had served a few days earlier. The lady had many questions about missionaries, the Book of Mormon, and a few other things. She asked questions at several miles an hour. It helped raise my faith that the Lord prepares people to hear His Gospel.

We were glad to have our branch president back this past Sunday. A few people from the branch will be moving out in the next few weeks, so we'll likely have fewer people.

Some fun pics:

Me and Elder Christensen

In case we forget where we are, we can always look up!

 

The lizards on our apartment window.  Is there a Sac. Meeting talk in this somewhere?

Carizzo Springs Branch Chapel

Questions and Answers

When you as a missionary have a difficult week, what is helpful to you to encourage you to go forth again with love and determination?

To recognize that I am less than the dust of the earth, and that Jesus Christ lives. If this is His work, I do not need to worry. In fact, as I was writing this email, I began to worry that I wasn't writing eloquently enough or sharing enough of what happened this week. Focusing the Savior helps me to ignore worry and to share in the love He has for everyone we talk to -- his charity.

What did you learn last week from being in charge of Sacrament Meeting sort of on the spur of the moment? 

I learned that the Elder's quorum president needed to preside in that Sacrament Meeting instead of myself. It was a little embarrassing, but it isn't a lesson I will easily forget.

Did you and Elder Craner give the talks- if so what did you speak about?

It was Fast and Testimony meeting. I bore my testimony, and I did my best to focus it on the Savior.

    

Did you ask any one there to lead music or did you lead it?     

A member of the branch lead the music. I was grateful for her help. The funny thing is, we sang the exact same hymns as we did the week before, except a-Capella (no pianist).

Have you had any Texas watermelons? 

I ate more watermelon with Elder Scroggs than with any other of my companions, but we have eaten a little here. A member prepared us a meal to take home one evening and in it was watermelon slices. Fruit is great.

What's Elder Craner's favorite food?    

A korean dish called "poolikogi." That isn't spelled correctly, but that was my best guess. He also loves breakfast foods, but usually eats them at dinner time.

 How has the Spirit lead you this week?

The Spirit has reminded me to be more outwardly grateful for the things that I have been given. There was a time while we were home that I felt stressed, and I wanted to know what I could start doing to relieve stress and recognized the good that was happening. Just then, the thought popped into my head to share with my companion a goal to being more outwardly grateful.

I know that my Savior loves me. He expresses his love daily through small and simple things.

--

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Diligence Through Increasing Heat

Dear family, friends, others,

A little bit of a difficult week here in Carrizo Springs. The weather is getting hotter, luckily I am more accustomed to it after a having survived it once. Drinking plenty of water seems to do the best in helping me stay at a healthy temperature.

We're striving to continually find new people to share the gospel with, but sadly we haven't met a few of the people that we met with most consistently. We saw Brother Moreno a few times, but we only talked to him briefly. Janette was not interested in hearing more. As for Rose, we simply weren't able to find her at home.

So instead of focusing on the instances when people are not home or aren't interested, we're looking for other people who are ready to receive the gospel.

We have had the opportunity to get to know members of the branch who are new to the area. A few nights ago we had dinner with Cody and Chelsea, who moved here from Utah recently. We enjoyed the taco soup served in green peppers almost like chile relleno.

Yesterday, we had an interesting thing occur. Our branch president was out of town, which is something that he had warned us about before and we knew would happen. However, after we got to church, only two other priesthood holders showed up for priesthood hour. Then time for Sacrament Meeting came, and none of the members of the branch presidency were there. So with little warning, Elder Craner, the elder's quorum president and I prepared for sacrament meeting, and I directed it with little preparation except what I have seen during Sacrament Meetings of the past. We ended a little bit early, and I was reminded of how blessed we are to have an organized church.

I'm learning to manage stress in new ways. Since coming to Carrizo, I've learned that the miracles that God performs are sometimes subtle. We need to look for them and treasure them when we see them. Prayer has been a near constant source of comfort during the difficult moments of the day, and I know that God hears our prayers. His answers, when they come and they do indeed come, will help us to come closer to God.

Questions and Answers

Are you still always spending some time studying Español every working morning?  

Almost every day we have an hour to spend studying Spanish. On days that we have district meeting, and occasionally on Sundays or Mondays we won't have time set apart to study Spanish. We still have the opportunity to speak it throughout the day.

I would still like to know if you've seen any armadillos- if they happen by in your journeys as you work- so have you?  

Only ones that have fallen victim to moving vehicles. I haven't seen any live ones.

There are some lizards that climb up onto the outside of or bathroom window every evening. Because the light attracts the bugs, those lizards have a great opportunity to feast. It makes me smile to see at least one lizard every evening.

And how has the Spirit comforted you this week?

I sat down one day at lunchtime on our couch and few exhausted. As I sat there, the idea came into my head to take out "Adjusting to Missionary Life" and read from it. I didn't find anything that stood out at first, until I found a page that had a few scriptures listed that were shared to help us find peace. As I read through those scriptures, and used the footnotes to find more, I felt a renewed sense of hope. This is the Savior's work.

Keep going forward everyone. I love you all very much.

--

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission