This Weather is Kind of Weird

Dear Everyone,

We are enjoying some degree of success out here in Texas. And I wouldn't have it in any other mission. This is not pride or bias; the Texas San Antonio Mission is simple the best mission on earth. I'm sure Enoch felt similar about his city until it was translated. No, I'm not suggesting our mission will be translated, I just love it inside and out.

Shout out to my sister for her birthday. I won't say her age -- I can't remember. To my knowledge, children make a person young and youthful. Happy Birthday! And thank you for the valentine Lindour truffles. There are some flavors that I hadn't even been made aware that they exist.

The weather here is very, very mild. I felt fine walking to the car to do shopping this morning in a short sleeve shirt. Makes me wonder how hot it'll get this summer. I'm afraid . . . but HAH. I won't be in Texas for the worst of it. Actually, I kind of say that bitter sweetly.

We tried to meet with T's family yesterday, but unfortunately, family from out of town in Waco took them away. I still think their family will be fantastic. Or they are just bordering fantastic and will become fantastic later. Good news though, we went on exchanges with the member that fellowships her, and circumstances were made so that we could share a spiritual thought with his family, while she was there. She doesn't seem to hate us as I had thought. Instead, her stress and the amount of things she has to do did take a toll on her. She's very vulnerable to stress, it would seem. So we probably won't be teaching her any time soon. But she seems like she will be ready when she moves. Hope and prayers for her.

V missed church again. I pray that God gives me patience. When I think, "when will he (or she, or whoever) learn," God probably thinks the same thing about me. She was getting over a sickness, and that is why we missed her the week before. This time some family came into town all of a sudden. Next week, next week for sure!

And R is doing fine. He listens to the Book of Mormon on his way to and from work, he helped his wife prepare for a lesson that she gave in church yesterday, and he has a sound knowledge of the doctrine for someone unbaptized. We're hoping he has the chance to do it soon. This week we are going to their house for dinner. His wife, Tina, makes wicked Thai food. I'm excited.

It's kind of interesting though. In Windcrest, our relationship with Spanish speakers was that if you could speak to them, you could teach and baptize them. Unfortunately, here when we find them, we have to pass them on to the Spanish ward. So lamentably, someone that we started working with, H, won't be ours for long. Elder Hansen and his last companion started working with him before I got there. He has shown a lot of real intent to come to church and read. His difficulty is that he works for someone else, and they make him work on Sunday. So no he is looking for the supplies he needs to work on his own, so that he can attend. It's pretty exciting.

Someone else that we met this week is D. He has an interesting connection with his beliefs, and thinks good of the Book of Mormon. He calls it the "third testament." Wait a second, are you suggesting something, D? More news on him later. Not sure if he will progress or not.

How are you and Elder Hansen and Elder Aguila and Elder Smith doing?

We're doing pretty well. I'm finally getting over my sickness. Now I think the cedar fever has replace the cause of symptoms. Or at least I hope. Elder Aguila has been pranking us a fair amount since he got his new companion. The night we took Elder Smith to our home they put flour on our fan in our room and then set it to turn on when we flipped the light. And a fair amount of other things. I'm collecting bottle caps to put on their fan, something harmless that will show them that we can prank them back just as well. He has also pranked his trainee a little bit too. Fake scorpions, fake cockroaches, the works.

Questions and Answers

Have you had any more fish eating experiences?

Nope.

How is your new car working for you? 

Good question. So remember that Tiwi device that tracks our driving that I told y'all about a while ago? The new car doesn't have it. So the vehicle coordinator in the mission wants us to drive the old car until it gets one. The appointment is still in about two weeks. It'll be a while. We've had a few opportunities to drive the new car, like when we took the old car in for repair and they had it for a couple days. We'll take it in again for some other things. Some missionaries don't take the car in when scratches and stuff happen, so we're cleaning up the neglect of others. Happens. I'm just glad we have vehicles in the first place. This week we ate dinner with a brother and his family, and he served in Houston. He biked his whole entire mission, and because he kept it inside, he used it for 10 or more years after he got home. He biked a lot more than I have. Good advice about the bike, though.

How has the Spirit helped you in your teaching this week?

It's one thing to teach someone. It's a completely different matter when you can connect with them, connect the Spirit as a result and help them change. I'm glad that the Spirit makes me a little more relatable with those that we teach. Especially those who come from a very different background. Like H. I don't exactly understand what he has been through, but I hope he can be touched somehow.

This email brought to you by General Conference. "Come listen to a prophet's voice."

No new pictures this week. I will repent.

Loves,

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Reminded of the Greater Things

Hello all of you who have a place in my heart,

Well, Elder Blackhurst left and we got a new missionary with us. Elder Smith, from Idaho, can beat Elder Aguila in an arm wrestle. And that is about as much as I can pull out of his personality for now. I've come to realize that I lost my greenie fire some time ago. I just wasn't excited as I could be about the work that I've been doing for 19 months+. But that should change in the next few weeks. I aim to make a difference in this area like a sparkler. If that analogy makes any sense at all.

So this past week we received a new car! Pretty cool. The Chevy Cruze went over 50,000 mile some time ago. That is the point when the mission sells the car. We received a new 2016 Toyota Corolla. I've never been in a car that new. But the only down side is it isn't hooked up with a Tiwi just quite yet. The Tiwi system is a computer that uses GPS technology to let parents (or Mission Presidents) monitor their children's (or missionaries’) driving behavior.  So, we have to wait 3 weeks before it is. And until that time happens, we will be with the old Chevy Cruze. I thought we were going to put it down much earlier, but I was incorrect. Once missionaries start driving Honda's maybe I will buy and old missionary car after the mission. Not until I drive every mile available in my ol' Honda Civic. Drive it to the ground, essentially.

With the new car I finally got my journal and pictures of Christ back. So officially, I was away from my journal for a whole transfer. Remember when I lost my scriptures way back when? It is kind of like that. I've been writing in my iPad to replace the lost journal since then, well, off and on. Not as consistently as I ought to, I suppose.

Before we got Elder Smith,  Elder Aguila, Elder Hansen, and I were in a little oddball trio. We taught a little bit here and there, and a dinner we had together in our area was salmon. Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't do well with fish. My brother was always making fun of me before I got my mission call that I would be sent to the coast of Italy or some Asian country where they eat nothing but rice and fish. Well HA! I didn't go there. But I did sort of panic when I found out what they were feeding us. As a missionary, you never want to be disrespectful of the host and not eat what they give you. Even if it were ok to go hungry. When I was with Elder Lawrence and Elder Bartier one Sunday we were invited to a Puerto Rican’s home, where she fed us "asopao." A really good gourmet shrimp soup. I did my best to eat it, but my face gave away that I wasn't enjoying it too much. It didn't help either that my companions loved the food and were chowing down, so a considerable difference in the amount of food left gave me away as well. Our host wasn't too offended and made me a nice grilled sandwich instead. It still made me feel bad.

But anyway, before we sat down to eat, I found myself offering a prayer in my head. "Please allow me to stomach the food, so that I don't appear disrespectful." Then I put my face to the test and ate as fast as I could. Luckily the other missionaries weren't eating quite as fast as my past two companions, and I finished the meal. Strangely enough, towards the end I began to like the food a fair amount. I don't know if the anti-fish taste buds just gave up or if God answered my silly prayer with a little more than simple baring power. Tender mercies come in different forms and shapes and sizes.

While a member was exchanging with us, we almost got into a serious car accident. My Mom will likely remember the day that I rear-ended her with my car. Hopefully her face doesn't get to red at the thought. It seemed that an almost duplicate situation occurred while a priest was driving us. We came to a stop, and it seemed he didn't stop enough.

*TWACK*. We both pulled off to a neighboring gas station and examined the damage. A teen girl that couldn't have been any older than the priest driving popped out, examined the damage on the back of her car (little to nothing, if not undamaged completely). She said that it was ok if he was ok with it, which seemed appropriate seeing as the car he drove was also unharmed. He learned a lesson and we gave her a pass-along card. It made me giggle.

Last night had a few mini miracles. We managed to share the survey with an older teen that was moving out. He wasn't interested, but directed us to a house that he said the owner had just moved in. Later we went to that house and knocked, and out came a man with a fully developed and wicked red-beard. He said that he had been there for two years. Oops. Well, we shared the survey with him, and he accepted a Book of Mormon after deep explanation about some things he had concerns about. Later we went to a dinner where the family there cooked corned-beef and some other good food. The day before the wife asked us what we wanted. I had no idea what, and I asked her to make her favorite dish. She didn't believe that we had no idea, so I blurted out "corned-beef!  My dad loves to cook that." So we received just that. I wouldn't mind at all if my Sunday dinner coming home was that.

Later we taught a non-member father who has strong ties to another church that he was raised in. He knows the Book of Mormon is true, and the Joseph Smith was a prophet, but he doesn't want to sever his ties with is family based church. We exhorted him to read with real intent, saying that he can read and pray, and still not get an answer if he doesn't want to act on the answer.

Best of all we met Theodore and his family. We had tried by their house SEVERAL times in the past and we finally set up an appointment with them for yesterday. When we came in (when the super bowl was playing (I wonder who won?)) they insisted that we speak Spanish. We taught the restoration. Theodore had a lot of questions. Their son chipped in from time to time, but the daughter was very quiet. They accepted the invitation to read the Book of Mormon, but we found out that they prefer to read in English. And after all that happened, we also found out that they prefer to speak English too! Good news is we can continue to teach them. Bad news is, well, not really bad, their daughter might not have understood well. Apparently, and according to them, we spoke better Spanish than she knows. A good compliment, but a slight let down.

Questions and Answers

How are the SMART goals working for you and Elder Hansen in your work this week?

Pretty well. We had to drive to the Austin stake center twice to drop off Elder Blackhurst and then pick up Elder Smith.  The other elders borrowed our car when their car was in the shop for a couple of things. As a result, we have a significant amount of less miles to work with than normal, and we will still have the Chevy Cruze. I felt like the other Elders just assumed our car had unlimited mileage because we would be taking it in, and I feel a bit spiteful for that, but I need to forgive. They probably didn't mean for it to come off that way. We have to use goals to save miles.

Smart invitations? Well, we had to cater a non-member husband's need with an invitation to what he could do. Baptism wasn't an option for the time being, he has been asked plenty. So we asked him to read daily from the book of Mormon.

How are V and R doing this week?

V got really sick and missed church. R attended and seems to be going on strong.

How's your 'repaired' IPad doing?  

Fine enough. I need to take it in so that a few minor things can get fixed. The warrantee can't be ignored.

How much do you get to see the beautiful Lake Travis as you go about?

From time to time. Some places we go to have stunning views of the lake. Others have stunning views of the houses that have stunning views of the lake. A few people we have in the records live in house boats. I have no idea how missionaries ever managed to visit them in the first place!

Have you seen any Bluebonnets or Indian Paint Brush flowers yet?

Nope.  Sorry Mom.  I know those are a favorite from your childhood in Texas.

How has the Lord's Spirit helped and blessed you this week?

Glad to still be in the area. Plenty of work to do here. I've felt that my teaching has become better at receiving the Spirit. As missionaries, we don't really teach anyone a thing. The Spirit does that. Instead, we work as hard as we can to be a conduit to it so people can be taught at a higher level. Thanks to this calling for that.

 Pictures!

When we picked up Elder Smith, I also got the tie dye shirts that Sister De La Vega from Carriage Hills ward made for me. They look sweet.

Found this in the house of someone we talk. She runs a daycare from home.

LOVES,

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Swimming Through Lake Travis

Dear everyone,

Blessings and miracles abound. So for those of you unaware of this recent change (should be most of you), this week our transfer set up has changed. From now on, we receive our transfer information on Monday morning, and then on Tuesday and Wednesday people will drive to wherever they need to in order to make the change. No more transfer meetings. But on the bright side, they tell us the area and the companion we will be with in this Monday call, and we are more informed that normal. The news: Elder Hansen will be . . . . . . staying. Me too. But Elder Blackhurst will be leaving and Elder Aguila will be training a new missionary, Elder Smith (yes, that is a very unique last name, I know.)  I was kind of expecting a change in our companionship, not because I hate the area or my companion, but because I've never been with a single companion for 13 weeks before. Essentially he breaks the record of Elder Drennan for longest service time with a companion.

We met with V again this week. She has been reading a little, but she didn't make it to church. On the bright side however, she will be able to come to church next week, and she gave us a firm commitment.

R has re-entered the radar. He made it to church this last week, and we should be able to meet with him once more. He will need some time before he is baptized, but it should happen eventually. He is definitely on the right track.

Now we are working on doing a few things. 1). Create more trust in the ward so that they feed us more often J but even better, provide referrals. 2). Increase the amount of people that we are teaching. We still have a great amount of people, but we need more. We want to teach repentance and baptize nations, well, in scale with our area's population, of course.

Last night I was pillow-talking (a missionary term for having a conversation with your companion[s] while in bed before falling asleep) with Elder Hansen. My IPad was open but locked, and I must of caught it's attention. Suddenly a bright light emitted, and I hear "Siri is not available. Connect to the internet." SIRI. WHAT IN THE WORLD. WE'RE HAVING A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AND YOU JUST BLINDED ME. It was funny eventually, but it really hurt my eyes.

On Wednesday I gave a training on the importance and the method of giving invitations. I applied SMART goals to SMART invitations. We have to extend the invitation, ask direct questions, promise blessings, testify, and follow up with them. Each fits to its particular letter of SMART. I hope everyone liked the training. It has been a while since I have given one.

My repaired IPad has been having some struggles. My case no longer can turn it off and on as I open and close the case, and there seems to be a tiny blotch in the screen. And during the last little while, the IPad’s sound system has decide to go static bad every once in a while. So I will take advantage of the warrantee on the repair and get it taken in.

 Smile, life is great.

Questions and Answers

Did you already have transfers and your new companion is Elder Aguila?

No. I am not sure what I said to confuse anyone, but Elder Hansen is still my companion.

How has your weather been?

Weather typical of Texas. The day feels like summer, and the night only vaguely bites of autumn cold. Essentially the weather is mild, and Utah is probably getting more snow that this part of town has seen in a life-time.

Have you been able to use and study your Español with your companion?

We speak it amongst ourselves every day. I'm still hoping to pass the tier 3 test, and with the recent transfer change, I'm not sure when I will take it. Pray that I study well, take it well, and that all will be well!

How has the Spirit guided you this week?  

We visited with a less active family the other day that we've been trying to invite to church for time. The mom has been working two jobs to help pay of their home, and she works on Sundays as a result. They finally paid it off, and we visited with a ward missionary and found out about it. We shared the restoration with them, and the ward missionary shared an experience where he quit his job so that he could find another one and get his Sundays back. It was a powerful testimony.

Afterwards, I felt prompted to promise them a blessing that knew was not in me to promise. I told them that as they sacrificed whatever was necessary to make it to church on Sundays, that their income would grow according to their needs, and that their family would come back together, eventually allowing them to have an eternal family. I felt winded after sharing this. I knew it touched their hearts, and they committed to come.

In what ways have you felt the Lord's love for you this week?

Well, He hasn't gotten rid of me yet. But truly, He still allows me to do His work in the area. I'm kind of glad He hasn't decided to send me home with an injury or something of the like. I see His love for me in all the people that we teach. I am allowed to act as a medium through which He communicates to his children. At times I offer bad reception value, and He has to use my companion, but at times I can be a tool in His hands. That is enough for me at the moment.

Pictures!!

A little bit of catch up since I forgot to send pictures last week:

Elder Mackay and I on the exchange. We found a beautiful view of a nearby lake, and took pictures of it.

Here's a wider view of Lake Travis

A pancake-turkey sandwich with some tortilla chip salad.

And this has got to be one of the most wonderful things. A turtle with cactus in it. Anyone who knows my infatuation with turtles and cactuses knows my happiness.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission