Week 65 Choluteca

Another week past and I am playing some catch up on his blog postings.  We did have a nice trip to Powell but the conversations about his return for the next trip were happening often.  I feel like we are more anxious for him to return than he is to return.  


My only complaint to him would be that he continues to write shorter and shorter letters as he becomes more senior in his mission.  I guess that is a sign of his growth and less reliance on Mom and Dad.  Enjoy.


Dear Family,

I am glad that Lake Powell was a success and that all of you had an amazing time. The classic teenage pic of the trip is always a fun one. It seems like there isnt that many kids anymore to be honest. I remember one year we had loads of us teenagers and kids go! But everyone looks sooo grown up and I cant recognize hardly anyone. Wow Taylor has grown up a bit and wow BYU is her goal I will be up in Utah studying  Also the move will be great and it will just be like moving to Arizona. Also that would be sweet if Mark and Melinda came to Washington to visit!! I would definitely love to see them. I miss Mark a ton!! For sure next year I will hit it up. 

Well changes already passed and I stayed which I am pretty happy about and our zone is working really hard. We should have a big weekend of baptisms this week coming up. I love helping others and seeing missionaries have success in their areas. There is this book we are reading as a zone called the Drawing the Powers of Heaven by Grant Von Harrison. This book is sooo good and really has changed my way of thinking in the mission and after the mission. I encourage you guys to read this book. Also we are starting to see some good support from the ward now and they are helping us out with an activity that we want to plan out. What else happened this past week..... There is missionary going home this week that is from Arizona. His name is Joseph Chapman from Queen Creek, Arizona. He knows the Arnett twins and he is a funny kid. Its sad seeing old missionaries going home and now I am feeling old in the mission. I feel like I have an infinite amount of things to do here in the mission. I just cant believe how fast the weeks past by. I am scared to come home to be honest. But anyways I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week. Also the package oreos are really good, caffeine free dr. pepper, and bag of chocolate treats. And anything else you want to send to me. Well talk to you later.

With Love,

Elder Hall

Week 64 Choluteca

Vacation time and he will surely be somewhat homesick.  But he says he will just work harder this week.


Dear Family,

Dang!! I am jealous that you are going to Lake Powell tomorrow and yes send me photos and a bunch of treats to eat!! What?!! how can you cut short on Lake Powell and i am going to miss all of them soo much. But no worries I will  focus this week and work super hard. We have changes this week and I feel like I could leave but I dont know anything. But I would figure I would be with Elder Flores another change. Also with the new temple being built in Honduras it should be done by December and our mission president told us that we will be able to go to the open house. I am worried because it will be done toward the end of my mission and by that time I will have very little time left. Also Dad I forgot to mention that I know an Elder Meyer that is from Dallas, Texas  a small town called Carollton he is an awesome kid and we are really good friends. I am not sure if you ever served near there. Let me know if you know that place. 

Well this week we didnt work to much because we had to go to Tegucigalpa twice because we had to drop off a missionary that was going home early and also we had our counsel of zone leaders. But we have been trying hard to work in the area but its hard and I feel like we havent done anything but I understand that I cant do anything about it if its our of my hands. I do feel like I do serve others and help in a different way but this week and next change I am going to change how we work. But we do have some baptisms coming up next week and the week after also. Oscar we didnt get a chance to talk to him because we were busy with zone stuff and I am a little upset about it but you know we will find another way to talk to him. I am not giving up on him and we are going to find him and see what he says. He actually invited us to lunch one day but we had to cancel because we were coming back from Tegus a little late. Then for the other families we are trying really hard but when we are not in our area that much it makes it difficult. We are going to try and be more effective now because we have a little competicion with other zones. The AP`s made a game for us to defeat our weaknesses in our individual zones and they called them Horcruxes like from Harry Potter. Its really cool so we have to get a certain goal in order to move on to the next week. I like the idea a lot and I am pretty sure it will push the mission to be better in the work. Well changes are this week and we will see what happens. I really dont know what is going to happen but its going to be sweet either way. Well have fun in Powell and tear it up for me love you all to death and be safe please. Take care!! 

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall 

Week 63 Choluteca

Another July 4th without him.....Perhaps we shouldn't share the fun times we have since he can't participate but he sure doesn't seem to be too bothered by it.  I am sure we will have plenty of fun times when he returns.  I don't know why he keeps talking about a new boat???? Unless he knows something I don't it isn't in the near future.:)

Dear Family,

I am jealous that kyle is passing me up now!! I need to land my backflip when I come home haha. Also dad send me your ideas for the new boat I dont know what is going on in the States. As for technology and whats the cool stuff to get I have no clue just fill me in I will help you out with the designing of the boat. I am glad Chelsey is hanging out with friends and is she getting married yet?? How are the weather conditions there because its crazy hot here too. Its not raining to much here. I heard there are wildfires in Utah which is not good. I am fine with the renting out movies especially Harry Potter!! I have been dying to see that movie!! What about pictures of the new house in Washington??

Well this week was a little crazy I have to tell you haha. Monday and Tuesday were chill days and we worked and did the normal. Wednesday we received a mini transfer with a missionary in our zone and I had to take him up and bring back another missionary. I was so exhausted that day. We now have a missionary in our zone from Layton, Utah, Elder Hernandez. He is a super chill guy and makes me laught all of the time haha. Then on Thursday I had to go to Agua Caliente with a missionary that is leaving this Saturday. He is not the most obedient missionary but I had to go with him and made sure he wasnt going to do anything dumb. Yeah it was lame but he is a chill missionary though. I was there in Agua Caliente all day and I came back on Friday to my area. Even then we had to go get marriage papers in other places and then do an interview for some Elders in another area. We spent most of the night trying to find their investigator to interview. We finally found him at the church of their area. The ward of this area was having an activity to play volleyball. Well we were invited to play and we stayed and it was sooo much fun haha. I miss vball so much. Then Saturday we did some errands for other Elders and then Sunday we had some investigators go to church. We received a reference from a member in church. We met a guy who is named Oscar. He is super awesome was totally participating in the class of Priesthood. He was divorced a year ago and has two kids. He seems really interested to hear from us and go to church!! We are going to try and meet him this week. He is soo cool. I love this work and finding people who want to hear the gospel. I was thinking today I complete 17 months today and have 7 to go. I am shocked on how fast time flies here in the mission. Jeff and Steven are almost done and after them is me. I still feel new in the mission and I have a lot more to learn. Well thank you for everything and I love you all so much. Have an awesome 4th of July and please be safe!! Also I didnt know Chelsey got into a car accident!!!??? Well until next week.

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall

Week 62 Choluteca

Another week of progress on our home search in Washington.  All paths lead there for us today and we are sure that we will understand.  Chase has been very supportive and willing to accept whatever happens.  If you can translate his message you can see that he has learned that the Family will remain no matter what else changes.  We pray that our family will be close.....now and forever.

He had a great week as you can see by the amount of new investigators that he has been led to.  It is humbling to see how the Lord works in spite of our mortal shortcomings.  He is doing great.

Dear Family,

Hey how is it going?? I am so glad that you found a house in Washington!! Do you have a picture of it?? Also I bought the exact same camera that got stolen haha. So its pretty much the same. I like your story about the girl and its a tender mercy of the Lord for that little girl to be with Josey. That house by the harbor would have been sweet to look at but if the spirit says otherwise thats fine. My feelings about the move, I am not sure and its the same thing with Arizona you know?? I am out of the house and if I study in Utah that wouldnt be to bad of a drive to go up. I have only been to Washington once and it was pretty to see another part of the states. If the spirit confirms that you need to go out there thats fine and yeah I am sad because Arizona totally helped me out in my life and maybe its a new mission for Josey to find and grow up in something new. I do remember that Josey had a hardtime in AZ with the whole friends thing and Chelsey and I made some sweet friends in AZ and I will never forget that. I had a blast growing up there!! I would love to visit AZ though and thats if I have time too. Who knows about my future wife?? I do kind of feel that I need to find her but I am not entirely sure where. We will see after 7 months. Crazy to think I have little time left but at the same time a lot of time to work for the Lord. I sense that you guys are starting to get anxious for me to come home or should I say dad haha. I do you miss you dad and I am sure we will make some fun adventures after this. I will have more time to work with my own schedule. Yeah mom it will be hard to move away from two of your daughters and only son but you know we will be fine and we wont do dumb things, I hope we dont lol. I cant promise anything hahah. No worries mis queridos padres siempre vamos a estar juntos y nadie puede quitar nuestro familia. El evangelio es magnifico y maravilloso. Y claramente vamos a visitar los mejores padres en el mundo en Washington. 

 

Well the work this week was awesome because we found 12 new investigators and 3 new families!! We were working hard to find new investigators for next month. The family Lopez is doing okay we have not see them for a week and the husbands mom is really sick. So the family Lopez went to a city called Monjaras where she lives to see her. So that has been a challenge on teaching the family. The other 3 new families are the Family Reyes, Family Mondragon, and Family Quevedo. We had the Family Quevedo in church and it was awesome that they were there. This family is super young. The husband is 21 years old and the girl is 16 and pregnant!! Crazy huh!? But that happens here in Honduras. They husband is a member but less active and the wife is not a member. So we are working hard with them to get married and baptized and the other families we will see what happens with them. Its so hard to baptize families but its sooo worth it!! My companion Elder Flores is super funny and we get along really well. He understands english but needs to practice speaking. So we had a language study with an Ensign. We read a talk together, he would read aloud in English and I would read aloud in Spanish. Its a cool excercise to help each other learn a language.But we are doing well. I do love this work so so much and I wish for it to never end. I am so happy that you found a house and feel right about it and I know its going to be hard mom, but it will all be worth it in the end!! Enos 1:27

With Love,

Elder Hall

Week 61 Choluteca

He seems to be getting his routine and responsibility worked out.  It is amazing what growth comes for him and at what pace.  He is a great missionary and obedient servant.

Querido Familia,

Well I knew dad would not like the idea of U OF U lol. I know Bishop Faux would for sure. I am glad to hear you keep looking for houses in Washington!! Are you guys going to buy a big one or what?? How about the Utah house?? Also I love sea food and i miss it so much. Actually in Choluteca they do have shrimp farms and export shrimp to the states. Its pretty good and the sea food down here is cheap because they produce the product. I forgot about Fathers day sorry!! Thats cool that he got three new suits and an iPod what kind of iPod did he get?? Also with the camera should I buy a nice one or something just simple. Because I figure I will use it after my mission. But I dont know really maybe I will just buy something simple that will last me a long time. Also I dont know I feel right about but also I do want to apply everywhere just to see what they say. Also look at the transfer student stuff and see what they say. I looked and Utah University says to be a transfer student you have to have 30 credits or more to transfer there?? Not sure haha. 

Well this week was good and busy like always with marriage papers and a capacitation with the AP´s. We had to get some of our zones families ready to be married with their papers and everything. Then on Thursday and Friday we had the AP´s come and talk with us and do divisiones in our zone. We had Elder Casey with us and I love him so much. He ends his mission in August also with Steven and Jeff. He plans to go to Utah for studying and we have  plans to hang out and golf. He is a really good kid from California. He was my ZL in one zone and then he eventually became AP. Really good missionary. Also as for our area we are trying to find new people and its hard at times because we dont have much time to work in our area so we have to be effective and find investigators. We did find some potencial families that we can teach and baptized for next month. They seem positive and love to hear the gospel. The Family Lopez that we have been teaching is doing okay because they were at first really positive then one of their family members is really sick and they are worried about it. So they havent been at their house to much and yes we have talked to them and they still want to be members and get married but its hard that they are having health problems in their family. So we are doing everything that we can to help them and find new investigators. We have some potentials but we will see in the week how they are and everything. Well I am doing well and stressed. Its hard taking care of missionaries sometimes and makes me stressed. I like it a lot but its stressful but I pray and ask for help and I know that I am not alone because I have a companion there. But I am fine I will figure it out. I just have to keep going forward. But thank you for you love and support. I love the mission and time flies here. Thanks for everything and hope you all have a good week. 

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Hall

Week 60 Choluteca

Short Letter this week.  Our lives are changing and it has been hard to share with Chase that we will be moving to Washington.  Our acceptance and understanding of the plans and trials we face are not clear but in the end we know that our Heavenly Father is in control and is teaching us through experiences like this. What we are to learn is yet to be seen. Chase is a very obedient son and willing to accept whatever comes.


Dear Family,

Sounds like Washington is coming up soon and I hope that you guys can feel comfortable like you did in Arizona. Of course the first year was the hardest for us all but we can always get threw it. But when we have kids and everything do we have to come visit you in Washington??? lol jk. Then I glad that the wards are nice and friendly and there are returning missionaries. Are there any cute girls?? hahah jk. Also I am not freaking out about it and we all know that we will still be in communication some how and we will make triips to visit the great state of Washington. We will have to do a hike and search for Edward and Jacob lol. 

Well this week was busy with ZL things like papers for marriage and baptismal records. We had to collect all of the baptismal records to count them for the month of May because we baptized 209 people in total. Which is pretty big for us. Then also we worked and tried to find new investigators but we dont have luck sometimes. Its been hard and my companion is great. He has more time than I do and is very humble. He is from El Salvador. We didnt have anything crazy happen with us but we are trying super hard to find new investigators. Sorry not an exciting week and I couldnt find my camera so sorry again for the whole thing. I will be more careful now. Also yes I am eating and doing fine. Also what do you think about Utah University??? There is an Elder here that wants me to room with him so we will see what happens!! Well Love you all and thanks for the journals and the book. I hope all is well with you all. I love this work. Until next week.

With Love,

Elder Hall 

Week 59 Choluteca

We recieved a call from a missionary in Chases mission telling us that he was made a Senior Zone Leader and is now training a new ZL.  He has been feeling very challenged and humble based on what we read in his letters.  He continues to share that he knows it will all work out but he has been stressed.

 

Dear Family,

Well yeah I know you guys received a call and yes I am training a new ZL. Its because 7 zone leaders left with Elder Moffett. Anyways its a little weird that he did that though. I will explain why he did that later. Crazy missionary. Well I am jealous about the Roosevelt trip and the glassy water!!! Makes me miss wakeboarding so much. But I am sure we will go boating when I come home;)  Yeah have fun in Washington let me know how it goes and you guys know that everything will be fine. Just look at Chelsey and I like you said we had a blast!! Also with the painting do you want a family painting of us from a photo or what?? Also the Hammock where would you use it in Washington because its cold there right?? There are two types of hammocks one that has no wooden things to keep it flat which is pretty cool and the one hammock with the wooden things. Also I know a guy that makes belts, wallets, and scripture covers out of Crocodile, Iguana, and Boa Constricter skins. They are pretty cool and i bought a crocodile wallet its pretty cool. haha. Anyways I was talking to a missionary Taylor Adams and he is from Pleasant Grove we went to the same high school and we know he each other pretty well because he is friends with Austin Ellis. We were talking and he asked me if I wanted to room with him at Utah University. What do you think about that and they have a really good medical program there and his dad works there. Its an option haha. He would be awesome to room with. What do you think? 

Well as you know now I am training a new ZL named Elder Flores from El Salvador. He is cool and is old. He is 25 years old!! He knows a lot of english and we get along pretty well. I miss Elder Moffett but it was his time to go home and I am sure he is happy. We will see how the change goes and almost all of our zone is new now and i love the changes for it to. We have some really good missionaries in the zone and they all are dedicated to work really hard. We also had another meeting with President Hernandez and the other zone leaders which is really good. As a zone we reached 209 baptisms with 27 families which is really good for us!! We are happy with the results and there are so many new zone leaders now because there were so many that left. But we will see how everything goes with these changes. I love the mission though. We worked a couple days for Elder Flores to get to know the area and get to know some of our investigators. I like Flores though he is a good missionary. He has more time than I do on the mission. Well we talked to the family Lopez Herrera and they seem good but are hesistant to be married but we are going to work that out with them. Ummm also something happened today while we were playing soccer at the church. I was with the gringo missionaries talking in the sacrament room and as soon as the latins and us were done to leave I was checking my backpack to get dressed and ready. I was looking through stuff in my backpack and someone took money out of my wallet and my camera. Yes I know I bought that camera like 2 months ago and I am sorry. I left my backpack in the back of the sacrament room with everyone elses but someone took my stuff and of others too. So we only saw three people come in  which are a missionary, a guy that sells scripture covers, and a member from another ward. I was in the room the whole time with the other missionaries and we came to the conclusion that the missionary took the stuff but we are not for sure though. Makes me frustrated because a lot of the missionaries in the zone think its that missionary too. Soo I am going to try and talk to him to see if he coughs it up or not. I hope he does though!!! I will let you know how it goes if I can get it back or not. but thanks for the love and help and the advice. Its interesting that you guys say all that stuff because I am a little stressed with the responsibility and everything that we have to do for the zone. But its getting better little by little. I was stressed when Moffett left because he knew how to do everything and now I have to teach and do everything. Interesting how family members just know or feel that something is going on lol. Well I will write you guys next week. I pray for you guys everday and I am glad Emily enjoyed the letter. Love you all!! 

Elder Hall