Tappity Tappity

How's it?

Pretty good week this week. It didn't rain nearly as much as I thought it would. It was funny, we got internet connection this one time and my weather app said it had a 95% chance of raining on us in the next ten minutes. Nothing at all happened. The anticlimax was so thick you could cut it with a knife and spread it on toast.

At dinner we got some time-turners from members. Finally, now I can squeeze three years of work into the two years I'm called to serve. I also am waiting on a member to make me a few tie-dye shirts. I'm pretty excited for this, especially since the person who makes them is really good at what she does. Oddly enough, you pick up more trinkets than you think you will on a mission. No wonder it becomes so difficult to fit everything at the end of the two years.

So this last Sunday we had something called a regional conference. I had never heard of one before, and I don’t remember attending one. Perhaps my parents can fill in where I can't.  Elder Robbins, Sister Reeves, Elder Corbridge, and Elder Oaks spoke to us along with our stake president. Elder Robbins added to the insights given by President Uchtdorf in the latest conference about simplicity. His words were too complicated to understand. Just kidding. With that, we had a few hours extra to proselyte, with our regular 5+ hours toppling only into the 2 required for the conference. Definitely less church stress as a result.

I've begun to realize that the sister missionaries that came out with me are now beginning to enter the last months of their mission life. Dad gum, I'm old! Not just old, but more like ye-olde. And when I finish my service, President and Sister Slaughter will be on the ending cusp of theirs. Ouch, time goes by too quickly.

None of our investigators made it to church however. I was sad, but I'll get over it eventually.

Questions and Answers

How is your heart?

Pumping, healthy, likely isn't gunked with too much cholesterol.

And how do you observe your good companion's, Elder Brough's, heart to be doing?

Similar? He's pretty good. He, like Elder Black, is not prone to show too much emotion on the surface, even when he is happy.

 Has your test shirt been useful?

FANCYTASTIC  (For those who don’t know, my Mom sent me a new shirt and asked if it was the right size.)

Could you still use a more tailored at the waist fit?     (From Mom again.)

Nar. (No)

How are the people you serve doing?  

K's fine. He's had some concerns about recent church doctrine that we will likely have to overcome. T is progressing slowly, and we have been advice to take it slow with him. T2 keeps missing church. It's a little frustrating. Praying for a miracle on his behalf. And D is fine, but we didn't see her last week. I wonder if I will see them all again, or be transferred. ????

How is the Lord helping weakness to become strengths in you because of your obedient service as a missionary?

I'm a spoiled missionary. My energy tank is frequently full though I probably wouldn't have in in the same circumstances otherwise.  I'll fill in more next week.

Do you know how much you are loved?

Yes. Ja vohl. Sí.

What tender mercies has the Lord sent you this week?

Seeing D and K progress more than they have in a long while was nice. I don't know, the biggest tender mercy has simply been staying here on a mission. These two years are the longest short time I've ever had.

Pictures!

Elder Garver caked the Sisters. The sisters had made the cake for my birthday. How nice!  (The baking of the cake, not the caking of the bakers.)

The district in normal.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Some Measure of Success

Hello my friends,

We are enjoying some fun bowling right now. I haven't bowled for quite a long time. We'll see how well I do.

So, it looks like this week we enjoyed some measure of success. Some of the people that we've been working that have met with missionaries for a long time are progressing now. Ken has met with missionaries for going on three years. He wasn't able to make it to church yesterday but he has accepted the message a little more than he has before.

We've met with him fairly consistently since I got into the area.

Then there is Dani. She has met with missionaries for even longer. I just can't remember how long. Her struggle is that those of her family aren't very religious. She fears that they will distance themselves from her if she were to be baptized. I don't really think she has anything to worry about. But of course, those we teach have largely different perspectives on the process than we do.

Then last week we had a zone meeting. It went all right. I needed to have more focus than I did. The fun thing was that I was able to direct President's interviews.  This is something that I really hadn't done before.  My interviews were so short, I felt like I could have been better prepared for it. Well, short doesn't mean bad I suppose.

Trunk or treating was fun to watch. We had a lesson with Tyler during the event, and a member from the ward was kind enough to give us candy for our birthdays. We didn't eat any of the chili because we had already eaten. I never have gone to a trunk or treat before. MOM! DAD!  Why have I been so deprived? Just kidding. I haven't missed anything.

I also enjoyed exchanging with Elder Shields in his area. Because members in their ward love them, they have Tempurpedic beds. Quite comfortable, but short lasted. We enjoyed knocking some doors in a complex. I've never met so many people who came from India. They are courteous, but uninterested.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Eight Lives Left

Dear Loved Ones,

Time moves faster than I really would like it to. It seems just yesterday that I received Elder Tews as a companion, and just that same afternoon that I arrived in Uvalde, or that night that I went to sleep in the little house of Carrizo. I will not mention anything about my age, which I was thinking about because it was my birthday this week.

This weekend the community got some much anticipated rain upon itself. I cracked out the umbrella and coat for the first time in a while. Last winter we rode on bikes as cavalry. Maybe this year we will roll out in heavy artillery. A lady that we serve on occasion was very happy to have the rain. She had been hoping and praying for it at least since I got here.

I got a much needed haircut. Last week we had exchanges with Elder Garver and Elder Shields and Elder Clawson and Elder Hill. It was enjoyable to take Elder Hill's place because only a letter would change -- and a height change, voice change, and well, more than enough things got switched up.

Elder Garver taught me the blessings of having a good attitude. I've decided that I need to use the Book of Mormon more often since the exchange with Elder Clawson. Besides the flood of rain, we talked to many who are amiable.

Because the member feeding us this said it was a highlight to our missions, I thought I'd bring light to it -- we ate spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti squash is this really weird squash that forms into little strands reminiscent of spaghetti. Supposedly healthier, clearly crunchier.

Elder Scroggs and I wanted to make the same dish a long time ago, but the price of the food didn't agree with our budget. Speaking of Elder Scroggs, I haven't heard from him in the longest time.  Some companionships simply do not stay in touch!

Questions and Answers

*Are y'all having 80's weather or still 90's? *

um, probably the 80's, but I'm not sure. It was quite cold as it rained, and it rained pretty much non-stop Friday to Saturday. Fall is finally setting in. The seasons don't really change all that much down here.

*If your blender is broken, how can you blend a smoothie- just really fast stirring for good exercise?   *

No, but we can order a new one. That'll happen as soon as I stop being lazy and place the call.

*As with other good people you have taught and served on your mission so far, Tony seems to be progressing at his own speed. It was good of him to babysit for the little ones, though- how are things with him?*

Well, we didn't see him whatsoever this past week. He's become increasingly difficult to get ahold of him. Maybe God is trying to teach me to be more earnest in my prayers for those we teach, and place more emphasis on them in my thought process.

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

During the exchange in the Spanish area, it helped my Spanish to be understandable, and of a good help to my companion. Much of the preparation happens during our planning where we set alongside the help of the Spirit a plan of what we are going to teach. When we come to a decision in righteousness, we can have the promised guidance needed, whether the plan goes through or not.

*How are your Espanol studies going?   *

Fine enough I would imagine. I'm glad for the opportunity to study every day.

*A joke:*

Why did the Lamanites go hungry?  Because Moroni had all the plates.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Elder Brough

Dear Family and Friends,

 Elder Brough was queezing and feeling awful last p-day, and took about until last Wednesday to recover. He said that was the first time he got sick on his mission. It’s a pretty good track record if you've gone 14 months and then you get sick for the first time. He was pretty tough about it. No real complaint, only a few favors asked.

A ward member that we visited people with a fair amount of times brought Elder Brough gatorade when he was sick.

 Tony has been pretty hard to catch as of late. We visited him, set up an appointment for the next day, and he wasn't there. We met him Saturday night to help him prepare for church, and the kids that he was babysitting decided to stay the night with him, impeding him from coming to church. During a phone call I was half inclined to tell him, "take the ankle biters with you!" but I held my tongue. He'll be baptized, but at this rate I likely will not be there for the baptism. Haber (we'll see).

So Teagan and the rest of their family moved -- just outside of the ward boundaries. I was so mad. Well, not really, just a little frustrated that they couldn't move just a few streets towards the ward and stay. If anything, we successfully handed the torch off to others, and we can focus our efforts on others.

We went to the aquarium today! Lot's of fun. I was mean to the stingrays and pinned them to the wall a few times. One of them had enough of me and flipped to the side, spraying me with several paddles of water. I got some fun pictures. They let us in for free because we are missionaries.

Questions and Answers

How was Elder Brough's birthday celebration? 

Somber. He was sick.

Also, where is Elder Brough's home?

Ye 'olde city of St. George. He experiences the same general weather of Texas minus the wicked moisture.

And what are some things about his family?

Girl. Boy, Girl, Him, Girl. His uncle got him interested in rock climbing and in a dinner with members last night, they got into a conversation that I wouldn't be able to follow.        

How are Leah, Tony, Cliff and Eric doing? And Teagan and Katherine and Ken?      

Haven't seen Leah in a while, see above for Tony, Eric falls into category with Leah. Then Teagan and their family moved.

Ken seems to oscillate between progressing and stagnation. We'll continue to work with him, but such is the life at times.

Are you still interested in smoothie recipes?

Our blender broke, but sure.    

Do you still want us to send you weird phrases for you to translate?

Think of the important words that you would need to say, but probably wouldn't think of at first. Translation helps the most when it challenges me.  

And how has the Spirit guided you this week?

In subtle ways during lessons. Of comfort when things aren't going perfect. I'll get more specific next week.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

October is like a second Spring!

Merry October y'all.

It's been a fairly normal week after the massive spiritual high of conference.

Tomorrow we will celebrate Elder Brough's birthday. It would seem that his is a few weeks before mine. Very interesting. The bad news is that Elder Brough came down with some stomach distress this morning and has been feeling horrible ever since. I'm struggling to find words to share with him to help him feel better.  But, I pray that he gets better before the birthday celebration!

Let's see, as far as our missionary work goes, we met a man named Tyler this week. Tyler's neighbors are members of the ward and introduced him to us and we got to know him a little bit. He's been going through some rough times and has felt that even his family has lent him little support. Luckily we have more family than what we have here on this earth. We taught him a little bit about the Restoration, and we're set to visit him again this week. It can be difficult at times to catch people more than once a week.

We had our first district meeting as a new district. Elder Garver is our new district leader, and he is about to finish up with his mission. It seems that as of late I've been put in the district of plenty of people who are about to finish.

It's not too often that someone you refer to other missionaries progresses well. I was happy to learn that Justin is making a big effort to meet with his missionaries and to get baptized. It was an over-joying thing to learn. It makes me wonder about the other areas I've served in and how they are progressing lately.

Elder Brough is gradually warming up to the area and we are picking up speed. We're trying to get to know all of the members of both wards to work more closely with them -- after all, they are the ones that know where those prepared are. And as we do that, we're working to talk to everyone that we can on the way. I don't have a whole lot on my mind to say this week, but I'm glad that a feeble man like me can be employed in such a great cause. I can only imagine what it will be like to fulfill this same role again when I've finished, laboring among those that are being lead to the truth.

Questions and Answers

Have you been able to communicate with Elder Matt Whetten?

I send him my weekly emails, but I really haven't gotten much from him. I'm sure he's doing well there in Oklahoma, and he was so close to being called to the greatest mission on earth (not even a gram of bias). Hopefully he's doing well, will read this email, and write me back or something. No pressure of course.

Did you get the package?

Yes. Most graciously yes!

If so, is it proving useful to you?

I'm putting the GPS to good use. Elder Hovinghoff left me with one of his to borrow until I got the one you sent me. Interestingly enough, it's a larger version of the same GPS I was using of Elder H's.

Do you think that you could use them if you received some more choir CD's?

Likely. I've forgotten how many I had left, but I could definitely use some more.

So Elder Brough and I found these Star Wars ice molds in the apartment and decided to have fun with drink mix.

Purdy happy to be hur. Lave y'all.

Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Imbued with Testimony

Greetings to all,

Great week with changes. Elder Hovinghoff went elsewhere, and I stay here in Carriage Park. My new companion is the devilishly spiritual (albeit a really neat oxymoron here) Elder Brough. *grand applause*. Elder Brough was trained by Elder Hutchings (you don't know him) and Elder Hernandez (you do know him). I remember when Elder Brough and his companion stayed at our apartment in Windcrest for the night before we saw Elder Hamula. He's fairly quiet. He has a knack for cleaning things (the apartment is so clean you can see your reflection off of most surfaces), and he's patient with me. We'll have the opportunity to continue to learn Spanish together. I also took the Spanish tier test, and I'm hoping that I passed finally. I did forget how to say tire, and I was a little bit embarrassed because that was a word that I had found and learned on my own. Alas, it cannot be helped. Elder Hart left his area for the first time. He had been in Las Palmas for a long time. Elder Vergara became a zone leader, and I believe that Elder Bertelsen did as well.

Elder Brough and Me

I'm serving as the junior companion this time. Not really a worry. If anything, I can rest a little and drop some of the burden at my companion's feet. I'm hoping continually that one day I get to train another missionary and that I will serve in Spanish ward. For those missionaries that are currently serving Spanish Speaking and have been struggling with English areas, there is hope. It is heresy to believe that you cannot learn Spanish outside of a Spanish area. I am proof of that. If anything, the English area invites me to push myself to learn grammar that I usually wouldn't seek.

WE HAVE NEW APOSTLES. GOOD GRAVY COATS OF GLORY! Did anyone guess correctly who they would be? I had no idea. I loved the overall theme of faith and building faith during the sessions. Do any of you plan on ponderizing for the rest of this month?  Ponderizing is going to become the next new thing -- just watch. I'll have to do my best to follow with the trend and see if I can make it for a month, then the rest of the year, and then maybe the rest of my mission. If you haven't seen conference yet, I would greatly encourage, no, exhort you to watch it. There is a reason that the temple is closed on the Saturday of conference and that we don't have sacrament meeting on the Sunday of conference. It is because the even it so important.

I bought a "Bahama Buck's t-shirt. It was going to happen eventually. Discovering that I might get transferred was motivation enough to get me to do it. I really do like shaved ice and smoothies.

Elder Brough went to get a haircut today, and I saw an old lady with a Mohawk. I guess I can now die in peace knowing that I've finally seen an old lady with a Mohawk.

Things are going smoothly. I'm hoping to find that one family that is waiting for us in the area. That is my dream -- to find an entire family prepared for the gospel. Twenty kids in the family is preferable, but at least 2 is ok.

Questions and Answers

How did you watch General Conference sessions?

Most at the church, one at the ward mission leader's home. It was interesting taking notes on my tablet. It was very efficient, except for the time I accidently erased a good chunk of my notes. That was sad, and to replicate on pen and paper.

Were you able to have any investigators watch any sessions?

Four investigators made it. Leah, Tony, Cliff, and Eric. Eric is Leah's cousin. He watched a session, but we're hoping he progresses. He apparently listened to the Book of Mormon "cover to cover" and is listening to it again.

How have things progressed with Teagan ,Cliff and Katherine?

They made it to a session of conference. If they can continue to come each week and to read from the Book of Mormon, I have no worries for them.

How are Tony and Ken doing?   

Tony progresses gradually. Ken does as Ken does. Ken has met with missionaries for a long time. We need to help him change his expectations about things. We don't want him to go another ten years before baptism. We might have to stop going by him if he isn't willing to act on the smaller invitations we give him.

Are your prayers en Español more reverent because you have to think carefully about what you are saying?    

I'm getting to the point that I can pray in Spanish about as well as I do in English. It helps a little, I suppose. There is still more I can do to increase my vocabulary and such.

Are you staying where you are with Elder Hovinghoff or are you getting a change?    

He left. BYE ELDER.

Have you had any interesting food experiences this week?   

I'm too far away from the border to eat anything out of the ordinary.

How have you been blessed with tender mercies from the Lord's Spirit this week?

I'm glad to have a companion that is easy to get along with. I don't see too many bumps in the road planned with Elder Brough. A big tender mercy, though it may seem irrelevant is the good nights of sleep I've gotten in the last few weeks.

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission

Siguen Adelante (keep going (talking to a group))

Dear dearest family, friends, and other acquaintances and such,

There's always the chance that life will throw me another curveball and everything will change with the coming transfer, and there is the chance that things will maintain the same general pace. Dunno. Here's to hoping that your futures are illuminated by Christ's redeeming light.

This week we were able to get to know a new family that moved in. Teagan, Cliff, and Katherine are somewhat new to the area, and we got to know them. Cliff isn't a member, and Teagan hasn't been super active, but Katherine was baptized about a year ago and we're hoping to keep things going strong with them. They get comfortable talking with some of the members of the ward at church yesterday. It was funny how Cliff accepted the invitation to come to church.

We came by and Cliff gave us a quick tour. Afterwards, he explained that he'd never met a missionary that he didn't arm wrestle. He arm-wrestled Elder Hovinghoff, and the Elder won. He told us that he had injured his wrist recently, and that was the reason he wasn't up to full strength. He insisted that I wrestle him, but I joked and said that I wanted to break his chain. Finally, Elder Hovinghoff wagered that I wrestle him, and if I won, he would come to church. He agreed, and even allowed me to use both arms. Katherine weakened me by wrestling first. Oddly enough, by using both of her arms, jumping, and using her weight to pull by hanging on, if felt pretty tired after the wrestle was over. I then wrestled Cliff. His wrist injury proved to be too much, and I barely won. I don't think arm wrestling would work under normal circumstances to invite someone to church, but if someone allows you to do it, why not?

Exchanges with Elder White were fun. It took me a while, but I realized that he has been serving his mission for shorter than I. It made me feel a little old. Otherwise, we did some measure of driving, did a little bit of service, and enjoyed the time. It was weird when I caught myself praying in Spanish, and realized he didn't speak it, and switching back to English. Spanish is such a natural prayer language, it simply works. A member family took us to the Bahama Bucks in the area, and I downed a 32 oz snow cone. Maybe not the best idea in hindsight, but it was worth it. Turns out that key lime pie, coconut cream pie, blueberry cheese cake and strawberry cheese cake go well together. Or somehow I enjoy that much flavoring.

Elder Hovinghoff and I are speaking a little more Spanish together. He's still learning, and at times he seems to portray that he doesn't feel confident about his ability to learn the language. At any rate, I've been doing my best to speak it 100% that we are together. I need to pray harder and commit more completely that I will speak all of the time possible. English in many ways is like a weapon of rebellion. Burying it might manage difficult when the ground is the consistency of clay, but will bury much more securely.

Last night we met an awesome father Justin. We taught him the Restoration, and he loved it. When we discovered his address we were a slight bit saddened. Though he accepted a date for baptism on the 24th of October, he lives barely outside of our area. We'll have to pass him along to Sister Missionaries. Same team, but sometimes you want to experience the teaching first hand.

Questions and Answers

What sort of ways do you help the members to share the gospel?

Lately we've been inviting members to do service. Preach My Gospel suggests that we do that, and I've begun to notice just a tiny bit as to why. By serving, they touch hearts. Then softened hearts ask questions. In not, blessings come in anyway.

Are you watching out for deer in the road?

Weren't as many abounding this week. For sure, however. For sure.    

In that picture of your bedroom is the really tall bed Elder Hovinghoff's- since he is the climber?      

Nope, I was sleeping on that behemoth. Since then however, I took off one of the mattresses and Elder Hovinghoff added it to his stack. I was grateful, however, as I was too close for comfort from the ceiling fan beforehand.

How have you been directed or helped by the Spirit in your work this week?   

During the lessons we've had, I've definitely felt the guidance of the Spirit in knowing what to say. At the beginning of my mission, and at times even now, I would focus strongly on what I would say next. Doing so would cut out the influence of the Spirit, and generally I wouldn't hear what my companion or those we taught would say. By focusing on listening, and truly, truly, listening, it is easier to distinguish the needs of those we teach and to invite them to come to Christ.

I'm still doing my best to put Christ back into the planning process. This is His work, His glory, and these are His children. I definitely have noticed that no one progress that the Lord does not prepare beforehand, and we do not find anyone that the Lord hasn't decided that we should meet. Maybe I've lost my opportunity to teach some that were prepared for me to teach because of lack of faith or ignoring a prompting. I would certainly hope not. I would also hope that we all have the courage to talk to who the Lord asks us to talk to, and do what he would have us to do. In the eternal scheme of things, it is the only intelligent thing to do.

Do you think that Tony and Ken might be able to see part of General Conference this week? 

    

Likely. We will definitely invite them, and hope that they attend. You can put your money on the prophet and his apostles. They are mean of sound minds that you can definitely trust. As to how much conference, we'll have to see.

What would you like for us to pray for on your and your people's behalf this week?

Pray that I overcome excuses and speaks Spanish purely. Pray that our eyes will be open to those prepare to hear the gospel. Pray that I will adjust to whatever changes the Lord gives me.

Until next week!

--

-Elder Hall

Texas San Antonio Mission