Workin' Never Smirkin'

Dearest Family, Friends, etc. important people,

I learned from Elder Craner last week that Gerardo was baptized. I'm extremely excited for him, and the choice that he made. The Lord truly gathers his prepared people.

Elder Craner, his new companion and Gerardo.
Gerardo was baptized not last Saturday, but the one before. FANTASTIC!

Another fruitful week in Austin and things are looking up. I am beginning again to remember the dreams I have at night. While I had a few interesting ones this week, I probably won't share them.

We had a Spanish conference this week. I was able to see some great other missionaries that I've had the pleasure of serving with, and others as well. We did plenty of interpretation exercises. For example, we would listen to a paragraph of a conference talk in English, and then translate it to Spanish. We would translate an English speaker actively as they spoke, and plenty of other activities. I loved the motivating atmosphere that existed there. I am so close to passing the tier 3 test of Spanish, I can nearly taste it. Just 25% more until I ace it!

Last P-Day Activity as a zone

They also talked about using our Spanish hours to plan out what we are going to do to improve our Spanish throughout the day. I realized that there is more that I can be doing to make use of my Spanish during the day, even as we teach, preach, and communicate in English with most of the people here.

Tony, unfortunately missed church yet again. He's exerting himself a bunch to keep the commandments that we have taught him so far, but he barely missed the opportunity to attend. He accepted the message quite quickly; it makes sense for those we work with to have concerns in some areas while they are void of them in others. Ken did not make it either, which was sad, but livable.

These wards feed us too well. If they don't stop, I'm going to get fat. Almost every evening we eat with a new family and enjoy the spirit of their home. The tricky part is asking the right questions to help them to share the gospel with their family and friends. Full time missionary really is a fancy way to say missionary work assistant. I've grown to notice that this work isn't so much of getting the help of members, but helping them.

Could I give y'all a request? Think of the most odd-ball sentences you can, and send them to me. I can translate those, and hopefully learn some new words as I go along.

Some other pictures for you to enjoy:

I found my home street!

We love the members in our area, and not just because they feed us well.

Tony and Stanyelle and kids at their baptism.  How I would have liked to been there!

Questions and Answers

How are you and Elder Hovinghoff doing in your efforts with Ken and Tony and his family and Elliot?

As described above. Elliot actually lives outside of our area. As sad as that could be perceived as, it is great that other missionaries will have the opportunity to work with him.

How is your Spanish studying going?  

As well as it can, with improvements on the way. Elder Hovinghoff and I like to take about fifteen minutes each Spanish hour to study together. I'm working on boosting my vocabulary and my ability to translate hard things. The evidence of the gift of tongues in my mission is abundant. Never in my wildest dreams would I be able to grow so rapidly outside of a missionary environment, Spanish area or no.

Are there in your and Elder Hovinghoff's apartment with more than one companionship or just you two?  

We got the whole world (apartment), to ourselves . . .

What has the Spirit taught you this week? 

Mistakes and sin are a natural part of life. I've come to realize on my mission that people are imperfect and need repentance. Repentance is an immediate remedy that would act as a salve for all mistakes. And when I do make them, which surely will happen, I can trust in the undoing power of Christ.

Have you felt any hints of Autumn?   

Vaguely. The calendar is the biggest hint. The next biggest is the night falling earlier each evening. Coming up in third place is degrading heat. I've survived two Texas summers, woot!

I suppose the Halloween decorations are another example.

Have you has any animal companions around?

Compared to Tenth Ward and Carrizo, Carriage Park does not have as many companion sized animals. Although in Lago Vista, the deer pretty much roam free with little care about what surrounds them. It almost makes me angry how oblivious they are, but a then I remember that they are deer, and there really isn't a reason to be irritated. I suppose though, they might become a hindrance if we were to hit one with the car!

Does Elder Hovinghoff also like smoothies?

I believe so. He makes slightly different ones that I do.

--

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Steady as it Goes

Dearest family, friends and others,

Quite a hopping week this week. While this area moved slowly when I got here, it has managed to pick up. Tony, unfortunately, was unable to make it to church. He can still be on track to be baptized in October, and with God's will he could be baptized with his family as well. His parents haven't expressed great interest in the message, but with prayer, their attitude could likely change. Instead, a man that has met with missionaries for a while, Ken, made it to church for the first time in a while. We also met Elliot, someone who came to church because of the invitation of members from the Ward.

I've taken a liking to smoothies this week. I decided to blend what I usually mix in a bowl for breakfast every morning, and it tasted great. Peanut butter, granola, oats, frozen blueberries, chia seed and almond milk. If any of you have suggestion on smoothie recipes. Or for anything else for that manner. 

Exchanges with Elder Hopkins this week. He sounds a little like Elder Tews when he talks, which made me laugh a little. Working with him helped me to overcome my natural fears of talking with people. At the end of the evening he gave me a much needed hair cut. It's much cheaper to get the help of a missionary.

As missionaries, we make diligent notes about lessons we have, so that future missionaries can build off of he work we have already done. Nowadays we have been working to transfer our physical paper records into a digital format. Hopefully we'll be able to do it all before the transfer ends. A love the digital direction our work is going!

The weather has gotten a bunch tamer. We still drink plenty of water and the heat doesn't punish us to the same level as earlier in the summer.

I also apologize that this email is coming out so late. Today we had p-day activities at a members home in from another Ward. We had great food, played baseball, pool, and fishing. Swinging an aluminum bat, I missed all 25 or so pitches. The wooden bat was more successful.

Questions and Answers

How have your experiences with the Ward members been this week?    

Plenty of dinners. It's fun getting to know the missionaries that are about to leave. 

There are plenty of strong families in the area. Plenty of people preparing for missions.

How is Tony doing?         

Persevering and such. He's been reading and although He hasn't been to church yet, he should be able to make it this Sunday.

How is 'forget yourself and go to work' helping you this week?        

   

A lot less to worry about when you take yourself out of the equation. It requires a bunch of prayer.

How has the Lord helped you to know what is needed this week?      

He has helped me to raise my vision. We can find a family this month, I am sure of it. Working with families makes me extremely happy.

What has been funny, happy or a tender mercy this week for you and for your companion?

Ken made it to church even though Tony missed it. Elder Hopkins did a lot to encourage me and help me to recognized the growth that our area has seen. Patience in seeing growth.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

I love you all!

His Work of Salvation

Dear family, friends, and others,

Things are looking up, I'm beginning to adjust a little more to working in two wards, and the heat is down a few degrees. I am definitely sure that the Lord has an active role in these two wards. Serving somewhere in the Austin area was secret wish of mine at the beginning of my mission.

Last week a member pointed us to one of his friends in the area. We went by and met Tony, one of the first people I've met that has read from the apocrypha. Tony is extremely bright. We shared the restoration with him and talked about the blessing of baptism that is available as a result. Without hesitation, he accepted the invitation to be baptized. I was proud of Elder Hovinghoff who extended the invite. It was a promising first visit.

Later we visited a again with David, another member. He had been reading from the Book of Mormon, and knew that it was true. We were more excited, we reminded him of baptism, and he shared that he was still excited for his. We saw him again that weekend, things going as they should. When church came around, we found out he wasn't available for David to pick him up that morning. We were disappointed, but the experience with Tony reminded me of God's power to prepare his own people.

We had exchanges this week with Elder Shields and Elder White, our district leader. Serving with Elder Shields, a new missionary in his second transfer was a blast. New missionaries have an energy that is hard to imitate: excited, willing to learn, ready to preach. He shared a tender mercy he saw when he noted that he was disappointed to miss eating pizza with a family in his Ward. Instead the family we ate with also shared pizza with us. It was great to drive again for the day.

In Austin they do not use plastic bags at stores. I was surprised to learn this, but I've laughed as the past two p-days before this one, we forgot to bring our bags with us to go shopping. There seems to be less roadkill around as well. I almost miss the dogs that would stalk you in Carrizo Springs, as walking around in Cedar Park and Leander isn't challenging.

In our Zone Conference this week we received trainings on turning outward and avoiding contention. A sister missionary cited the famous counsel from President Hinckley's father, "Forget yourself and go to work." For some reason, that phrase didn't quite sink in until this recent meeting. I've found truth in that counsel and a hidden happiness. Then, after seeing examples given by our leaders, I found practical application of the principle of dissipating contention.

Enjoying a cool treat on the way back from Zone Conference 

We knocked the door of a pastor for another faith. We were looking for someone else, but we talked to him. He introduced himself, and we shared about temples, and the blessings of baptisms for the dead. While he didn't agree with the doctrine, the conversation ended well as we sincere asked about his beliefs and his faith in Christ. I felt a positive gift of persuasion as we talked. We might visit him again.

Questions and Answers

Does your tablet allow you to look back on the emails you have sent and see again the emails sent to you? 

Yes, I have access to all the messages I've received since I first received it. That being said, I only receive messages when we use the internet. It's almost like I still must check a mail box to get mail. Please feel free to send emails. This is still something special about a hand written letter. Both have their place.

How are you and Elder Hovinghoff doing getting to know and understand each other?

Working together has helped us to get to know one another. I've been doing much better. Your prayers are all felt. Even those of you that wonder if it does, I see the results of them. Elder Hovinghoff and I are getting better at dispelling contention from among us. He is one of the greatest examples I have seen of patience. Not a complaint, not a fidgety remark, not a selfish demand comes from him. He says he wants to have a big family one day. He would make a great father of many children.

He's likely learned that I sing to myself when I think no one is listening.

Is the weather still really hot in the Cedar Park and Carriage Hills area?     

Quite. I feel adjusted. Lots of water and patience act as magnificent remedies. For short, you might call it "Cedar Hills area" or "Carriage Park".

How is your heart this week?  

In a healthy condition physically and Spiritually. I definitely felt a burden lift from my shoulders as I recognized that Christ already lifted it for me. The Sacrament is a true ordinance!

How has the Spirit helped you this week?

The Spirit helped to guide my personal prayers. I felt like I've struggled for words to say in prayers before, but the Lord already knows what we need. Sometimes it helps to ask for help knowing what we need, and diligently follow promptings as you ask for it in prayer, and seek it throughout your day.

Thank you Mom and Dad for your letters of encouragement. Thank you Erin and Tracy for yours as well. Things have gotten better and will continue to get better as the Lord performs his work in Carriage Cedars. I love you all.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

The Work Endures in Cedar Carriage Park Hills

Hello everyone at home, or elsewhere,

(Apologies about the short email. I will definitely write more next week.)

Recently in the Cedar Park and Carriage Hills wards there was an emphasis on Sabbath Day observance. From what I've heard, this emphasis has been felt at home too. My favorite part of this week was indeed the Sabbath day.

Forgot to mention last week that we do drive a car. We cover plenty of area, and while I would sincerely enjoy riding a bike, it wouldn't be efficient to do so.

Fairly hard week this week. After getting adjusted to small-town Carrizo Springs, working in a highly populated area is different. We've been visiting Brian and his family from time to time. Brian and Shannon have met with missionaries for a few years. Their daughter Faith was baptized about a year ago. They've gotten to know quite a few missionaries.

This past week I learned that Elder Hovinghoff was an avid mountain climber before his mission.

Elders Hovinghoff and Hall Selfie

Questions and Answers

What have you and Elder Hovinghoff been doing this week?

We had a district meeting with the new district. There are only three companionships, one of them Sisters. All of the other missionaries in district have been out for a shorter time than I have.

Continuing to look for new people to teach, we've gone by members of both wards to introduce ourselves and get to know them. In between those visits, we've walked different neighborhoods looking for people outside to talk to.

Every other week, we switch off which ward we have dinners with. This week we met with those people of Carriage hills.

Will you please tell us some more about Cedar Park and Carriage Hill Wards and their people?

Carriage Hills has many missionaries in the field. Just this past Sunday, we listened to the farewell talks of two future missionaries: one from each ward.

Is it hilly there? 

There are some fantastic hills in the area. Going towards Lago Vista, we drive down an exhilarating decline

And, do you ride bikes there?

We could if we really wanted to, but no.

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

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