Week 92 Palmira

This week was more about home and he actually has his flight itinerary in hand (see pic).  We can't believe it is almost over for him......yet from the same vantage point it has been a very long time.  We are pleased that he is racing to the end with the family Irias.  I don't think he will leave anything undone when he comes in a week and a half.  What a great blessing and tender mercy for our family each week as we get to see these letters and hear his feelings.

enjoy

Dear Family,

Thanks for the input on staying or not and I had a interview with president and talked to him about it. I decided to go home on the 7th because we are coming back anyways, and also I know mom will want me home as soon as possible since I have 18 days left in my mission lol. Also I finally got my flight plans!!! I fly out February 7th at 1 pm and I fly to Houston, Texas and I get there about 4:08 pm. I have a layover of a hour and a half. I leave from Houston, Texas at 5:31pm and arrive in Seattle, Washington at 8:27pm. So what do you think?! I would say its a great flight and great time for me to come home haha!! I am not sure if I will call in Texas or not but maybe i should so that you guys know when I am leaving from Texas to Washington. I feel like my time is coming to an end and that its time for me to come home. Also my boots are destroyed and I took a ton of pictures of them. Then I threw them away haha. So yeah I am just wearing my ecco shoes. They will last me till the end for sure and afterwards too. Then shopping and iPhone that would be cool and thank you soooo much!! What about the car situation?? Does dad want me to get a new car or keep the jeep?? I am fine with whatever or maybe we will talk about it after I get home ha. Yes I am still writing the Delta girl she is very funny and cool. I will have to give her a call and take her on that date that we promised each other. What about the Bishops daughter of the Washington ward haha?? Or Shelby lol?? Who knows I am just want to date around for a bit. 

Well as the work its going very well with the Family Irias they came to church again and they have to decided to get married!!! Also baptized and we put the fecha for the 2nd of February. That is my last Saturday in the mission and I hoping that they can get married and baptized that day or weekend and then I will be done for sure in the mission. This family seriously is so special and are ready to hear the gospel and follow Jesus Christ. The ward is helping a ton with greeting them and making them feel welcome. They are really smart and have super good questions everytime we show up to their house!! Also we are going to have another baptism this Saturday of a little girl whose family are members. Just left her and she is ready for her baptism also. I love this work soo much and right now I am trying to find new investigators for my companion to work with before I leave. So he can have something and not nothing.Lately its been really good with the mission I feel weirder everday because my time is short but I keep going till the end but I do feel like my time in the mission is coming to an end. Its okay though I will keep going strong. I had my second to last interviews with President and those were really and good and he gave me really good advice to keep going. I am definitely going to miss the mission a ton and all of my friends here. But they come home soon also so I am not to worried. Well that is all for this week and my last two emails of the mission are coming up haha. Crazy to think I have soo little time left!! Thanks for everything I love  you all soo much. Cuidanse mucho.

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall

P.S.- I really want to talk to mom and dad after I am home because I have some questions and I want some counsel also. Thanks anyways.

Week 91 Palmira

Well......a bit of a surprise this week!  He is thinking about staying a few extra days to go through the temple open house.  If he stays until Saturday then he will get to walk through.  We have thought about going back with him in a few months to the Temple but nothing is final so we would hate for him to miss the opportunity.  We will leave that up to him in our letters this week.......what's a few days more after two years right!

Dear Family,

Well mom I know that my days are short but I am still trying to work everyday even though its hard at times. Thanks for the topic on my homecoming talk haha it just feels weird that i am actually going home soon. Also I have a question are we for sure coming back to Honduras to see the temple??? I ask because the open house here starts on the 9th of February and I leave on the 7th. I was maybe thinking on waiting two days to see the open house and then go home that afternoon after I see it and everything in the morning. What do you guys think?? But if we are for sure coming back to Honduras to see the temple then I will come home on the 7th for sure!! But that all depends on you guys. I know mom and the family want me home as soon as possible and I have been praying about to see if its worth it and I dont feel like it is. Even President Hernandez told me that if we are coming back for sure that I should go home at my time. So let me know what you think? No pressure on what you guys feel speak honestly. Good job for Josey to make those right decisions early because they will make the difference in the future. Even God gives us trials on what is most important to us and thats where we all sometimes fall. But we learn from it and move on from it. Thats what I have learned here on the mission and before too. Also I would love to help out with some vball as a job if I had a chance too. I would absolutely love to play again haha. Maybe Anthony and I will go play with Coach Lujan when we are in Arizona because the vball season coming up soon. 

Well this week we have had some pretty awesome success. We first had some rough days but they turned into good days for us. On Thursday we found these hidden apartments that had some people sitting outside of there apartments and we contacted them. We started to talk to them and they seemed pretty positive and we found out thats its one big family that live next to each other, family Espinal. There are like 16 people in totall haha. That was super cool to find and we will see if we can teach all of them. Then we had a miracle family come to church on their own!!! Family Irias, from this family we first contacted the wife Jaime and she was super interested and wanted to learn more. She also told us that her and her husband have been looking for a church to go to!! Crazy miracle huh!? So they showed up Sunday and absolutely loved church!!! They are already planning to have us visit them and also come next Sunday!! Their names are Jaime and Alan!! I am hoping to baptize them my last Saturday of the mission but it depends on them and on how they progress. So we are going to work super hard for them and hopefully get them ready to be baptized!! I love this work. At times I dont want to leave but I times I do. I know its a weird feeling but its all good though. Thats all I have for this week and let me know if you need anything. I love you guys soo much and enjoy the pictures haha!! Dont forget to respond to my questions because I need to know as soon as possible. 

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall 

Week 90 Palmira

First letter of the new year.  He sounds good but he keeps mentioning how tired he is:)  I am sure he is after two years and realizing that he is approaching the end of his mission

Dear Family Hall,

Well another week passed by way to fast and thanks for the help and not telling me how many days that I have left. WOW I am shocked that Cassie is pregnant!!! They just got married haha. I do know for sure that Cassie´s children will become like here lol jk!! With the colds that makes us feel the same I have a cold right now but I am getting out of it right now. I cant be sick before I get home right lol!! The plans for everyone coming and visiting sounds awesome to me!! I am excited to see everyone especially the family and at the airport that is going to be super weird to feel!! I still dont feel like my time is coming quite yet but I do feel exhausted at times. Which is weird but probably means that i am ending my mission soon.  I am super excited now to go hunting and fishing!! It should be a blast!! Also play around in Seattle with the Lawrences and Dicksons lol. They are soo awesome!!

Well this week we enjoyed working hard and finding some positive investigators. We found a positive family named Callejas Marquez and they are receptive but they go to another church but we are going to work super hard  with them to be baptized!! Then we received a family reference from the Bishop to go visit this week and they are a younger couple but we are going to find out who they are. The Bishopric really wants to help us out with the work and so I hoping to leave some solid baptisms here for my comp because the ward really needs it. I feel like the Lord really blesses us with baptisms because we have to fechas fijos for this month of a little girl and a older guy and so we are going to see how they progress. The little girl is a reference from her mom because she hasnt been baptized yet but she wants to now!! Then the older guy was a contact when my companion was on divisions and the guy received missionaries like 8 years ago and wanted a book of mormon to read so he will be a good convert!! We had some depressing moments yesterday because two investigators that we had that were progressing pretty well now dont want to go to church or be baptized. One lady we contacted named Melva who goes to another church but loves to hear the word of God. On one occasion with her we talked to her about baptism and the Holy Ghost. She said that she was already baptized which is a big doubt here haha. Well we explained the authority and the second part of baptism which is recieving the Holy Ghost. Well I pulled out a scripture in Corithians about being baptized for both and i asked her is she has received the Holy Ghost. She said no and then we felt the spirit and explained to her what is was and what we needed to do receive and she sat there for second and pondered and felt that it was true!!!!! That she needed this other part of baptism. We invited to church for this Sunday and she said that she was going to come with us!! Awesome huh!!! So then we passed by again yesterday to see how she was doing and she came to the door and said that she couldnt go to our church!!! We asked why and her son, who is a pastor, started telling her stuff and we tried so hard to talk to her about it and she knew it was true because she said that if she knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints first she would have  been baptized with us and thats what got me the most. Such disappoint and sadness. We stood their trying to help her understand that this is the truth and that she can have unsurmountable amount of blessings but she said she couldnt!! She was sooo ffeeling the spirit and the hard part is she made her decision which is the sadest part too!! I was heart broken!! Then the other lady she doesnt want to get baptized because she doesnt want to leave her work for the things of God. Which just topped it kind off for the day lol. AWWW!! Its so hard to have these people feel the truth and then use their agency because no one can take that away!!! Anyways thatts what has been happening in our area. Well I love you guys sooo much and I hope all of you are safe and sound. Evertime I read your letters they make me want to cry because we love each other soo much!! Love you all.

Con Amor,

Elder Hall 

Week 89 Palmira

Even though he only has a month and half left, he was transferred the week before Christmas.  He was moved into an area called Colonia Palmira back in the Metro area of Tegucigalpa.  He has a new companion (green missionary) from Guatemala who he will be training.  The area was closed for a while, but once again he will be asked to start a new area over.  He was very excited to do this.  The very best news was that we were able to Skype with him on Christmas day.  What a blessing and privilege for us to see him face to face with our entire family after so long.  He looks great, happy and healthy.  It was a great day and a Christmas to remember for the ages for our family.

Here is the latest.

Dear Family,

Yeah I cant believe how much fun Skype was and soo much easier to talk to everyone at the same time. Be honest mom did you cry when I got off?? lol Also I talked to the office guy about my flight plans and its been ordered so it should come this week or next week. No worries it should be coming soon. He also said that he booked the flight on the 7th so thats the day after changes!! My homecoming talk what am I going to talk about?? Anyways yes my days are numbered little by little and at times its hard to focus but as long as I am working and not thinking to much about my house I am fine. I want to finish strong and I will. Also a new ping pong table on top of the pool table thats pretty awesome!! You guys brought the pool table still from Arizona is it flat or does it have a little bump in it?? I am excited to see all of you  guys soo much and it will come soon no worries mom!!! 

Well this week we are still getting to know the area little by little. The members are nice and enjjoy the presence of Elders in the ward. I almost feel like we are a huge strength to them because they need motivation and love to do Gods work. This ward has suffered a little in the past few years and most recently because of some bad Elders in the area. So we are trying to change the mentality of the work here because its a really hard area and we really need help from the members. We found a few new people to teach and they seem positive its just that they go to a different church but they like hearing our message. We did find a little girl to baptize whose whole family are members so that will be a little easier to baptize. Then we found a young man named Julio who has a wife the age of 19 and a little girl that is one year old. He seems really positive and wants to learn more about our church and who we are. He knows a couple of members from the ward so it will be a little easier to talk to him. I am praying and hoping that we can baptized them and help them progress really well!! I love this work even though its hard at times to be here in a difficult area. But I am going to keep going because I need to leave something for the new missionary that I am training. Its crazy how every week goes by faster and faster. My main focus right now for my last few weeks is keep focus and enjoy every minute that I have left in the mission. I am not going to lie I feel pretty tired everyday I dont know if its just because of the mission or I am just physically and mentally tired you know?! But I need to keep going no matter what happens!! I am seriously going to miss the mission sooo much!! I never thought my mission would end but its coming little by little. I just want to share that I can testify that this is the Lords work and not of mans. I know that He guides me, comforts me, and leads me to His children and I love Him soo much. These two years I have gotten to know the Savior and that He does live and I cannot deny it!!! I will be forever grateful for this decision that I made. I love being here and I will miss it a ton. thanks for everything and I love you all so much. Enjoy your New Years tonight and please be safe!! 

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall

Week 88 Colonia Palmira (last transfer)

Great News this Week.......he let us know what time he would call.

Hey Family 

I will talk to you all tomorrow in between the hours of 3 to 9 and you guys are like 2 hours behind us. So No worries just wait!!! I am so excited to talk to you all tomorrow!!! wooohooo!!! I will give you guys more details tomorrow on what has been going on!! I love you all so much and thank you for the Merry Christmas!! 

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall

Week 87 Danli

Another week in Danli.  It is very close to Christmas now and he is not expecting to be transferred but you never know in the mission field.

Hello Family,

How are the carmeled apples that I love so much!! Also the packages did show up and thank you so much for them!!! Everything was amazing and the photos also!! I am sorry I opened everything and the pajamas work super awesome! Elder Jensen loved them soo much!! That was a really good last package and I will live off of it till I come home haha. As for the flight plans I know they should be coming soon because I am the only one going home so they shouldnt take to long to take it out. Plus I have 7 weeks left in my mission and the weeks just keep flying by!! I still dont feel like I am going home at all and I probably wont feel that until I am actually on the plane home and seeing you guys in Washington. Oh well the time will come and I will finish strong. I am wanting to go to the temple for sure because its been a long time since I have done a session. 

As for the class for people going to the temple for the first time.. I would say dont freak out in the temple and relax. The first time you kind of have an overboard of learning new things but it will become normal as you keep going to the temple. Then really explain what covenants are to make sure he knows what he is getting into. Because once you go in you cannot go back on what you have made with the Lord. But its a super spiritual experience. It changed my mind set on how I think eternally!! Also the mission will help him out on what his duty is as a missionary and member. Well this week we had the mission christmas party and that was super fun. We had mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, salad, rolls, and apple pie with ice cream. Then we went to the temple to take pictures and its a really pretty temple and I cant wait to see inside. Then we came back and played soccer and basketball always my favorite part of the party. Then Thursday until today we have been getting ready for our party with the poor people and its super cool. The zone decorated the cultural hall really well. I will take tons of pics of it for next week. Then our investigators are progressing well and we hope for them to be baptized this saturday. We just need to visit them a little more and they should be ready. Also this week there is changes so we will see if my companion leave or not I am pretty sure that I am going to stay in Danli. Like I said 7 weeks left haha. Crazy to think and then next week I am calling you guys for the last time!! January is just around the corner and my mission come to an end you know. Oh well I dont want to talk about it to much and next week do you want me to write you or do you just want to wait till the call?? thanks again for everything and I hope all goes well with you guys this week and dont be to excited when I call lol. Well I got to go and Love you all so much. I hope everything is safe with you all. Enjoy your Christmas holiday!! 

Tu Hijo,

Elder Hall