Week 8 MTC

Mission times update:

 

Chase seems very upbeat this week and excited to get to Honduras.  It sounds like he will get to experience the "red eye" out of SLC to Atlanta.  Then he will be on his way to Honduras from there arriving next Tuesday some time.  That will be a very long day full of anticipation.  It is good to see that he will be traveling with a companion so that they can share their international travel experience.  He will surely be exhausted by the time he arrives in the country.  Mom and Dad will be very anxious to hear from him via phone because it seems as though he has been gone much longer than two months.  The upside is that once he arrives in Honduras he will shortly be calling for Mothers day.  Mom already told us that it is her phone call and her's alone.  We'll see about that.....

 

I am a bit surprised to hear him aplogize for how he treated his Dad.....as I reflect on Chase's life it seems to me he has always been a good and faithful son.  Surely he is having a lot of time for introspection and self evaluation.   Patience, long suffering can be hard teachers.   If he can harness all of this insight he will surely be a very strong and faithful missionary and servant.  "unless you become as a little child"  comes to mind.

 

Enjoy:

 

Mom,

Well I have one more day to write until I leave for the field I got my flight plans this past week. My flight leaves at 1:05am from SLC, but I leave the MTC on MOnday night at 8:30pm. I am flying to Atlanta, GA and will arrive there I think at like 6:33am. Not sure if they included the time zones or not but my layover is there and I will call around that time in the morning I think. Then my flight will leave from Atlanta at 10:00am again not sure what the time zones will be. Then I head to Honduras!!!! I am so excited!!!! It is just Elder Andrus and I going to Honduras so it will be interesting. But I am ready to go but my spanish is still iffy oh well I know the Lord will provide! Also I sent you the SD card in the mail last week!!?? I hope you  got it!!! Please let me know if you got it or not. Also sound like not to big of a change in the ward. I am sure it will be different when I come back. Also I am happy and sad to hear Navy walking everywhere:( but its okay she probably doesnt remember me at all. Thank you for the letters and food ha Way to much of it but its okay.

 

Now this week was a lot better!! We as a companionship have been doing well and getting along. Even though its toward the end of the MTC experience I feel like I have grown sooo much. The Lord is truly guiding me everyday to be a better tool in His hands. I have been tryingn to read up on the Atonement and what Christ has done for us. It is hard to understand the Atonement but I find something new everyday to apply to my investigators and my life. We had a mission conference this past Sunday and it was really good because President Brown talked about the last hours of the Saviors life and it shows how much he really loved us. Then it had me thinking about how the Savior did Heavenly Fathers will without question. Then I thought do I do that to my own personal dad. I thought of what my dad has asked me to do in the past and how sometimes I was being a stupid teenager and questioning everything he asked me to do. I feel bad and regret for doing that and it shows how much I have disrespected my dad in my life and I apologize and repent for it. Then I though in a sense how many times I have not done what the Father has commanded me to do in this life and how much I have disobeyed. I need to have more respect for my Father in Heaven and My father now because I love them both so much and they tell me and ask me to do things because they love me. ANd I want to show my love for them by doing what they ask.Yes it is hard sometimes, but I will be blessed for it. My testimony for the Savior and The Father has grown so much and how big of a role they play in my life. I know that through the Savior Jesus Christ I can do all things as long as I have faith and obey His command. My time here is running short and I have absolutely love the MTC. Then I remember the scripture that you gave me Mom, Moroni 8:16 with a perfect love we can be fearless and have nothing to fear. I know the Lord can support me and never ever will leave me in my life and in Honduras I just have to faith and go forward in Faith.

 

Well enough preaching and stuff ha well we got a new district in our Zone this week and they are really cool. Another District came decided to pull a prank on them by have one of the missionaries have no arms explain later in pictures, another that could not speak english, and another be mad all the time and yell at everyone. It was really funny and they believed them for a while but realized that we were just having fun. Well  I think that is about it I am not sure what my address will be for my mission field but I will find out and I am able to write one more time. Also General Conference is this week way exciting!!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Hall

Week 7 MTC

Chases latest letter attached:

He is doing well and learning that missions are full of great days and very learning, refining and long suffering days.  I am impressed that he can write in Spanish.... to some extent.  That puts him ahead of me already as I can make out what he says but would be unable to write.  His testimony is growing from what he expresses here.

We are anxiously waiting for his departure in a few weeks.   It will be the start of another adjustment for him and all prayers will be welcome.

Enjoy.

Hola Madre,

Buenos Tardes!! Como le van? Esta semana fue muy importante! Por que mis distritos fue enfermo. No bien. Yo se que El Senor es verderdera y se que Padre Celestial es mi Padre y nosostros somos Sus Hijos. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Redentor.

Haha hopefully you can get all that! well that is good Chelsey did well in her teams tournament. Denver sounds like it was a blast. Very interesting what is happening back in Arizona ha I predicted Stratland Estates to be a ward of their own but not moved into another oh well. I am sure it will be different when I come back. Also how is the Gilbert Temples progress going? I am excited to come back and see it.

Well I am doing pretty good little bit of a struggle this week. So that Elder that was in quarantine came out of it after a couple of days and is doing lots better. Then Elder Brixey one of my companions got sick and he has been out for like four days or so. Also I got to go off campus for a couple of hours because he need to go see the Doctor for pink eye so that was interesting lol. Entonces no good. Our district has been switching off companions since and it has affected our progress this week. I have been struggling because of this. I found myself lost and trying so hard to support my district with their needs and trying to help out my companionship. I have been praying everyday for help and guidance and some how we got through the week. I know for a fact that the Lord helped me or otherwise I would have not made it. The spanish has been super hard because we are teaching the 2nd lesson in spanish and its so hard. Our teacher has been a little hard on us, but I know I need to get through it and I just need to remain faithful and positive. I have realized how much the Lord helps and provides in His work and he only helps those who are willing to work and endure to the end. I am trying so hard to prepare myself for the field and I only have two weeks left!!! It is crazy to think how fast time flies. I should be getting my flight plans thhis week so that is something to look forward too. I am hoping this week will be better and more productive. Well I know and have learned to stay faithful and endure like Joseph Smith did in Liberty Jail D&C 121,122,123. Also 2 Nephi 4 I encourage you all to read and study. Well I am remaining positive and still faithful to the work and I am trusting in the Lord with all my Heart, Mind, and Strength. Well I appreciate all the prayers and love you have given me. thank  you so much.

Les quiero mucho,

Week 6 MTC

Week 6 has come and gone.  Chase continues to do well and he is busy as evidenced by the details he provides.  Interesting note regarding his current campanion's Brother who is serving in Japan.  The good news is that Elder Andrus' brother is safe and accounted for but I am sure as young missionaries in the MTC this creates reflection on what they may face when the arrive in Honduras.  Chases Mom was pretty upset when she heard about the lack of information that was available in Japan about some of the missionaries there.  It would be very hard to have to wait for several days to hear news about a son or daughter who was involed in such a large scale natural disaster while serving in a foreign land.  What we do know is that the Lord watches over them, goes before them, prepares a way for them and will carry them if needed.  (D & C 84:71-88)  God bless the missionaries.

Here is this weeks letter.

Hey Mom,

Yeah it was a suprise to see her at the MTC. I couldnt remember her name at all but I stopped her anyways and explained who I was lol. Luckily she remembered. Okay I will use the ATM Card ha my bad and I pretty sure I have 200 bucks in cash still, no worries. That is awesome that Emily and Kyle are in the same ward as Ashley's parents! That makes me laugh and I love her parents. Sound like everyone is doing well and settling in. Oh Chelsey is just as busy as ever nothing new there lol Tell her good luck! Yeah I heard about the Earthquake and Tsunami from my companion Elder Andrus. His brother is in the Japan mission right now where they got hit. His brother is fine and safe, but its crazy how it happens. Really good opportunity for missionaries to help them out.

Well this week was interesting because Trio companionship is struggling on teaching. We have started to teach in Spanish and its going okay, but its a lot better than I thought I would do. In our TRC task we taught in spanish and that was rough and hard. But we managed to do it. I am pretty sure they understood us and which is an accomplishment. Also when I teach other missionaries and stuff they said I do pretty good. Grandpa and Grandma Reid sent me a letter in the mail in Spanish mostly and I could understand it pretty well! I have been struggling though because I am so consumed with being district leader and trying to have companionship unity when we teach. The Lord is truly testing me and I am relying on him for help and guidance. Alsoo I feel like I have not gotten much done with the work and being prepared for the mission field! I only have three weeks left!!! It is so crazy! We have a District leaving for Chile this week and were getting a new one so our Zone is starting to get more new comers and our district and another are the senior ones. It is ssoooooo crazy to think about! Also I am over my sickness and we had another get sick, Elder Braegger, and he went to the doctor to get a check up because he has been in his bed for a couple of days. The clinic found out that he might have influenza so he is in quarintine for the next couple of days!! Then they had our whole district come in and they gave us anit virus pills so we dont get the sickness and spread it around.Crazy!!! But funny at the same time. That is pretty much to what has happened this week.

Spiritual thought is I had the opportunity to annoint oil on Elder Braeggers head and then we did a blessing it was so cool. The feeling of being able to help someone when theree sick is absolutely amazing in every way. The priesthood authority which we hold is so amazing. I have also been looking at Jesus the Christ stuff and the book is amazing and shows how mucht the Savior has blessed our lives.

Funny story, I think its funny how our whole district has to take a pill for not spreading the influenza. We are taking pictures of our pill that we have to take for ten days! Anyways thank you Grandpa and Grandma Hall for the treats. Thank you mom for the love and prayers. Also my companions like to eat Chips preferrably Lays BBQ and the other likes Sour Patches. I have a ton of treats ha but some Twizzlers wouldnt hurt!!

Con Amor,

Elder Hall

Week 5 MTC

Another week gone by.

We can sense that Chase is doing well on a daily basis and has become accustomed to the MTC schedule.   We continue to feel that he is struggling with fluency in the language and we continue to petition daily for the Lord to bless him in this area.  As you read below change is constant.  New language, new responsibility as a District leader and another new companion.  Sounds like life as we all know it.  We have no concern regarding his leadership ability.  As a Priest Chase did a great job as the Bishop's First Assistant.  I am sure as he applies the same principles he learned then he will do fine.

enjoy,

Mom,

Thank you for the prayers they help  a lot. I have been struggling the past couple of days because our companioship turned into a trio. Talk about complicated! I have been trying to teach with this but it is super hard and challenging. Also we have to teach in Spanish this week in the TRC, which is a opportunity to teach to live investigators. I am so stressed, but I know i will do fine with lots of faith and lots of prayer and lots of work. I hope  my insights helped because they have helped me a ton. Anyways the past couple of days have been challenging with tuning in with the spirit while we teach in a trio. It is way harder to feel the promptings of the spirit in between us. I have been trying so hard to teach to peoples needs and teach in spanish. It is so difficult. But I can get through it and I know the Lord is testing me all the way to helpe me become a better tool in the hands of the Lord. Also the MTC food is fine my weight keeps going everywhere but I am maintaing it. The only problem is your sending me all these treats that are tempting me to eat them. They are good especially the brownies! Ummm thats way exciting for the new house!!! Also for Navy to be walking all the time. Cannot wait till I get to see her! Thank you for the addresses and what is the full address of Ashley Lindbloms address. I am also sick and thank you Elder Andrus! Its all good I am maintaing it and I am stilll working hard. I also forgot that I have been made a District Leader of my District. Little interesting haha. Anyways im glad I can lead my district and help them in any way I can. Spanish is coming little by little. Still struggling here and there, but I think the main thing I struggle with is making myself speak and talk in Spanish. Also Steven has been writing me and giving me some tips before I come he is so awesome.

 

The biggest thing about missionary work is were here to teach people not lessons. Our teacher evaluated us on our teaching and said we need to teach to peoples needs. It is really hard, but I know its possible. It will take a lot of practice and diligence. I love to teach, but it is challenging because we are a trio now. So it is hard to take turns talking. Oh yeah the other companion we have is Elder Brixey and he is from Dallas, Texas. He is a very good man and is a little older than us. He has such a good spirit. So a spiritual thought I have is in our Testimony meeting on Fast Sunday. The spirit was so strong because the missionaries that learn and grow here, build a stronger testimony. While I was sitting and listening to other bear their testimony, my mind went to D&C 135 when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were about to get murdered. Before they were killed they were reading in the book of Ether 12:37. It made me realized what kind of testimony they have and they were willing to die than to deny the gospel of Jesus Christ. Absolutely amazing!! I need to be like them and fear nothing in this life and never deny what I know to be true.

 

I cannot think of anything really to say that was funny this week. oh well

 

Con Amor,

Elder Hall