Want to go to youth group...?

Oh my it's Monday again and I cannot believe a week has gone by. And can I just say that the claim that p-day is relaxing is a MYTH!!! LIES I tell you! They are all LIES!!!! hahaha!

I got the letters from the family this week and I just want to thank you all for the kind words! It made my heart melt and made my day that much better! I just about died at Christinas letter "Jesus is her boyfriend...." bahahahaha! 

So this week was sister Williams birthday and we got to go out and celebrate it at Coras. It was a wonderful event full of breakfast foods and my very first taste of Home Sick. While sitting there talking about home it just felt so normal and then there was that peskie apostate radio playing ALL my favorite songs from home! (I kid you not every single song that I have fallen in love with over the fast few months played in the time span of 1 hour -_-) What kind of sick joke is this! haha but dont worry I'm over it ;) The home sickness lasted for about half an hour and then we were out doing what I do best.... making people feel AWKWARD. lol oh my goodness, my approach to people on the street is just BAD. For some reason this name tag makes me awkward, like I cannot approach someone and just talk with them like any normal human being. Let me give you an example:

There is a girl about 17 or 19 sitting at a bus stop, Sister Williams and I go up and introduce ourselves, we start talking to her. 

Me: "What brings you the most happiness in life." 

Girl: "Probably my friends." 

-> in my head "really, seriously hanging out with your friends, you couldn't have given me something like my family or knowing that God loves me or HEY I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED!" 

Me: "thats awesome, I know that for me my friends have had a huge impact on me and the choices I make. Thats why its important to hang out with good people." 

->side note, I still have no idea where I am headed with this.

She agrees

awkwardly long pause

Me: "soooooo..... we have a pretty sweet youth group.... would you want to go to that..."

She looks at me and laughs awkwardly and then says "no thanks" 

BAHAHAHAHA looking back on this, I cannot help but laugh! This poor girl! I never thought I would struggle with relating to people on my mission cause I have always been good at that. Looks like Im already one of those socially awkward missionaries! 

This week has been tough on sister Williams and I. We have not had much luck finding new investigators, I mean we talk to a LOT of people, but its not effective. The members here haven't been able to give us any referrals either -_- I totally get what Justin said about coming home and wanting to be the best member missionary. Member work is SO important and is SO helpful to the missionaries! We had to drop a couple people as well who just weren't ready to commit to anything we asked them. We have a lesson with Lesli tonight and depending on how that goes we may need to drop him as well. Needless to say it's been tough, BUT there is a bright side to everything and my bright side is I got to go on my first Exchange. What What!!! 

I went to this small town called Simco with Sister Wester and I LOVED it! Oh my gosh this is the cutest little town with SO many Jahova Witnesses bahahahaha!! They have been having a lot of success out in this town and Sister Wester and I got to teach their new investigator Nikki, who I absolutely adore! Oh my, she is so open minded and willing to try the things we ask of her. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel and used janga as an object lesson. (Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles are the foundation and the rest are the principles he teaches. As you play janga, and take away aspects of Christ's church, it no longer looks like it did when he established it and eventually it collapses. But people still loved what Jesus taught so they ran to the pieces and tried to rebuild His church, thats why when you go to other churches it still feels good, because they are teaching some truths. However no church is exactly the way Jesus had established it. Cue Joseph Smith!) It was supper sweet and we asked her what her thoughts were on what we taught and she said it makes sense. We committed her to CPR (church, prayer read) *thanks for that one dad!* and she agreed. We also committed her to baptizm and she said that if she felt like the Book of Mormon was true and such that she would be baptized. We have high hopes for Nikki! I also got to actually do some teaching! (which could use some work as well hahaha!)  Sister Wester is good at letting me take over and explain concepts and then fix anything I may have done wrong lol. Sister Wester also helped me in my contacting skills, personally I thought my way of awkwardly approaching people was flawless.... NAT! She is super natural with people and is straight forward. Doesn't care if people say no just keeps on smiling. I like that about her, it makes contacting on the street so much more fun.

Cool experience this week with Sister Williams; so it is an ugly day in Hamilton, its windy and grey and a little rainy. We are looking up past investigators to see if any of them are interested in learning more about the church, and we are on our way to John the barber! We drive up to what we think is John the barbers house only to find out the address we have is for the actual barber shop. Sister Williams and I look awkwardly at each other both of us are thinking the same thing. "I do not want to go in there!" However The Lord had other plans because at that very moment, there is a break in the clouds and the sun comes shinning down on us.... We get the point Heavenly Father haha. We go into the barber shop and ask for John. He looks at us very confused like, and says he is John. Then he clues in and gets this big smile "OH are you the Mormons?!" We laugh and say yes. He gets all happy and takes a picture from his mirror and says "These are my Elders!" (The Elders had sent him a Christmas card) We talk a little with him and ask if we could come back to see him and talk with him and he says yes. 

->Cue the sign of relief!

Sister Williams and I are also doing something called The 40 Day Purification Challenge. Basically you fast for a day and pray to know what are some of the things you are doing that prevent the spirit from being your constant companion. Then for 40 days you fast from the things on the list. It is an awesome idea and I'm excited for the end result. Lately I've been wondering why on earth Heavenly Father would ever want ME to be a missionary for Him! I am so far from being an effective teacher and I'm pretty sure I'm scaring all of Toronto away from the church haha. I want nothing more than to be the missionary God envisions me as and I know that I have a lot of work to do to get there. These are some things that I am going to work on

1. using more scriptures (ps Please send me your favorite scriptures!)

2. teaching with the spirit..... for some reason this has been hard for me and if you could see the expression on my face right now it would look something like this -----______------- what missionary has trouble teaching with the spirit?! 

3. being able to discern the needs of the people I teach

4. teaching simply

These are only a few things that I am working on, there is still so much more that I need to improve and at times it seems like I will never get there but I have faith!

Also I have officially locked my heart and will be sending the key home in a letter ;) (Uncle Jay Dee will understand this)

And Dad I saw a robin like 3 weeks ago so I WINNNNNN!!!!!  mwahahahahhaha!!!

Anyways, I am starting to ramble so I will stop!

Line of the Week:

So sister Williams and I are looking for Volunteer opportunities, we are at church talking to a brother, who happens to be Native and also works with Natives and are asking him about possible volunteer opportunities. He is describing Natives to us and this is what he says,

"There are two kinds of Natives, Bush Natives and Concrete Natives and you can tell a Bush Native cause you look at them and you think 'Dannnngggg you need to wash your cloths brother!'"

OMPH! I just about died laughing!

Scripture of the Week

2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Peace and Blessings,

Sister Hall 

I Didn't Come To See A Grown Man Cry!

"I Didn't Come To See A Grown Man Cry!" 

Hey there everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I have written but I will do my best to redeem myself by filling you all in!

So my last week at the MTC was AWESOME! I absolutely LOVE my district, although we had a habit of getting distracted during independent study and someone would start quoting Nacho Libre "That woman is a nuuuuun!" (said in a very Mexican Jack Black voice) and then inevitably we would start talking about food.....

Elder Kunz is probably my favorite Elder, mostly because he is so ADD that I can't help but laugh at him.

Elder Wilson is SO enthusiastic about the gospel that he scares off and confuses his investigators. For example one of our investigators likes to skateboard so to explain how we have the proper authority to baptize, he goes on this metaphor about him being a pro skateboarding and showing him tricks but not being able to because the pro skateboarder has never skateboarded so he doesnt have the authority....... hahaha! Needless to say we would always DIE laughing when the Elders would came back from a lesson and Elder Wilson would have his head down and his face all red; we would know that he said something stupid and we'd all laugh at him. He's a good sport though, takes it like a man and laughs with us.

I'm pretty sure sister Ormond and I are the worst coordinating sisters ever hahaha! But what is there for us to really do in 9 days?! Nothing but sing apostate music apparently because that seems to happen way to often. But dont worry, we are working on fixing that!

From left to right: Elder Kunz, Elder Aretie, Elder Willson, Brother Lyman ( teacher) Sister Laing, Sister Rohas, Sister Hall, Sister Ormond

Our district!

General Conference was INCREDIBLE! I LOVED Pres. Monsons talk on Obedience! He is such a funny man! When Elder Holland got up to speak every single missionary in the auditorium sat forward in their seat, got out a pen and paper and started taking notes. It was SO funny! After his talk our elders went back to studying Lehi's dream -_- I think they are experts on that now haha! Jokes they really aren't that bad, they are so spiritual and will make amazing missionaries! Guess who I saw at conference???!!! Elder Roberts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH it was too sweet seeing him in the MTC! I ran over to him and ALMOST gave him a hug, but dont worry, I was able to stop myself! haha :) He is doing fantastic in the MTC and I know he will be an amazing missionary and I am excited to hear about his adventures in Paris too!

Me and Elder Roberts!

Me and Elder Roberts, what a guy!

 ----> move forward to Monday

So we had to get up at 2 in the morning to get ready for our plane and be at the bus for 3 so we could catch our plane.... Its 3:10 and our elders are no where to be found!! All us sisters are freaking out cause we think they are going to miss their plane, but dont worry they FINALLY come some time later... We get to the Salt Lake airport and go through customs and such, wait in line for security and finally get to the boarding place just in time. We get on the plane and I'm all ready to share the gospel with my seat mate only to find I'm sitting between 2 missionaries -_- So instead I sleep haha! Our lay-over is in Texas (Texas forever, Clear Eyes Full Hearts CANT LOSE!!) oh how I love Friday night Lights! I actually found out Elder Kunz and Wilson also love Friday night lights and that Elder Kunz has a man crush on Tim as well ahaha!
Anyways, we barley make it to our connecting flight, but we all do and I get to sit next to someone who is not a Mormon!! YES! My chance to share the gospel has arrived! This lady is super nice and we talk for nearly the WHOLE 4 hours! I got to share a little about what I believe and she found it interesting so I told her I would email her while I am on my mission! She is the person in charge of the Maple Leafs press stuff or something like that. She told me all about the players, what they are like, the stories she has with them... they all seem like really cool guys and we both decided she would have to hook me up with one of the players named Tyler...... in other words I'm sorry Uncle James but GO LEAFS!!! hahaha! She said that she would tell the boys a mormon missionary told them good luck and is praying for them so I'm pretty sure they are all going to be converted, NBD.

Our super attractive Elders at the airport -_-

Me and my comp!

So we get to the mission home and President Scott is AWESOME!!!! He has such a presence and way about him, I would NEVER want to get on his bad side! At the mission home we had dinner, had personal interviews, and shared our testimonies. In my interview with him he asked me about my family and I couldn't stop talking about how wonderful my mother is, how she is such an amazing example to me and how strong she is in the church :) The testimonies were sweet and the spirit was SO strong! After that though we all went back to the hotel and stayed the night.

Next morning we go back to the mission home and have breakfast, learn some stuff, do some more stuff, and then get our companions! AHHHHHHHHHH! I was the second person and first sister to get a companion and I got SISTER WILLIAMS!!! This is Alex's sister!!! She is awesome and is teaching me SO much! If I could describe her as an apostle she would be Elder Holland. VERY obedient, very black and white, OCD about how she wants lessons to go, and has control issues haha but we get along great! She is an amazing teacher and SO powerful in her conviction and I feel so blessed to have her as a companion. 

---> since then

Missions are HARD. Everyone kept telling me that, but now I actually get it! However, I am loving what I am doing! Sister Williams and I do a lot of OYMing (open your mouth). We go out on the street and talk with anyone who comes across us, we have even followed people to the other side of the street after they try to avoid us MWAHAHAHAHA! It's pretty funny! We actually met our investigator doing that. His name is Lesli and he agreed to meet with us to learn more about the church and find out if there really is a God. We met him on I believe it was a Wednesday and then we taught him on Friday and committed him to read the Book of Mormon, Pray, Come to Church and be baptized on May 5th. He agreed to all of them, but if we are going to get him ready to be baptized by May 5th, we have some work cut out for us. He hasn't really been reading his Book of Mormon, but he did come to church with us! Unfortunately it was fast and testimony meeting..... One man broke down crying, one guy talked about his time in jail and how he got raizered 3 times, and women just rambled. Thankfully Sister William's saved the day and bore a GREAT testimony and thankfully Lesli wasn't really listening to the others. The ward has done a great job of fellowship him. Lots of people came up and introduced themselves to him and asked him questions and such. We have a few other investigators but I'm running out of time so I will have to tell you about them at a later date. 

I LOVE the ward! They are awesome! I'm really loving the Hillman's; they have feed us twice AND they are sarcastic just like the Roberts :) its almost like being home! P.S. Thank you SO much Chris and Kerry for the cookies! They were SOOOOO good! I am also loving the Gallacher's. They are really fun and easy going. People are feeding us lots and the weather has been rainy, but not too bad. 

Line Of The Week:

After sacrament meeting a man comes up to sister Willson and I and gives us a piece of advice:

"Never bring investigators to fast and testimony meeting! Quite frankly I hate this meeting, it's stupid. I didn't come to church to see a grown man cry! I don't know why they let these loonies get up there!" 

Another Member describes it as "Mormon version of an open mike night" That was Brother Hillman and we had a real good laugh over that one

I've realized that I haven't included many spiritual experiences in this letter and I'll be sure to correct that for the future, but I love you all!

Anyways, the Lord loves you all, be humble and pray often!

Love Sister Hall

Julie!!!!

 

These are elders from our Zone who are going to Cali, they quite enjoyed our canadian humor and good looks so they wanted a picture with us..... hence the moose ears mwahahahaah

All the sisters going to toronto from our zone are pointing to Toronto, but sister Ormond and I are pointing else where ahaha we didnt even plan that one, just being a couple goofs. We are too much alike :D

Me and Ang!

Helloooooo Toronto!

In Toronto!

Sister Hall made it to Toronto on Monday this week! And in full missionary fashion...she ended up needing to borrow money from other missionaries for her luggage and a calling card to phone home. Whoops!  It appears that she took the scripture about traveling without purse or script too literally:). She and 9 other sisters and 8 other elders all flew on the same flight to the Toronto, Canada Mission where they were greeted by their mission president. Sister Hall was able to phone home while in the Toronto airport and got to talk to mom! Dad and I were at work. She said she is doing great and talked about the gospel the whole plane ride with the lady sitting next to her (who happened to be in management for the Toronto Maple Leafs!...she offered to set Lauren up with some cute, young 20yr olds! Hahaha)

We received a letter from Sister Hall's mission president today, President Scott. He said that Lauren is full of enthusiasm (surprise!) and her testimony is evident. Her trainer is Sister Williams, and it looks like they've already hit it off! Her first area is in Hamilton, which happens to be the stake that one of mom's best friends lives in! So Sister Hall will be seeing a familiar face in her first area, which will be comforting I'm sure. She also has a new current address.

You can all mail her at:

11 Kendale Court #504
Hamilton, ON
L9C 2T7
Canada

Or email at:  lauren.hall@myldsmail.net

We are so proud Sister Hall!! We look forward to her email about her first week in the field! Promise to keep you posted:)

Sister Hall and her trainer, Sister Williams!

Sister Hall and President and Sister Scott

All the new missionaries that flew in with Sister Hall and their trainers. Whoa!!

Going, going, GONE!

Sister Hall is GONE!! I (her beautiful sister) will be updating you on her life and experiences! 

So the parents decided to drive Sister Hall down to the MTC a week before she reported to spend some time with family down there. I flew down for the weekend, seeing as I couldn't get time off work. We had a very hard time keeping Lauren in sight (aka with a "companion"). We would often turn our heads for a moment and Sister Hall would be gone! Off running to see someone or do something. Hopefully she's having an easier time sticking with her companion in the MTC :). While down in Utah, we all went to the Salt Lake Temple where Sister Hall and my mom did a session and my dad and I did baptisms. It was a cool experience being in the SLC temple- it is very old and original, just such a neat temple! Loved it!

Aaaanyways- Sister Hall's best friend Sister Nelson is serving on Temple Square, so my dad and I spent a couple hours trying to track her down while the other 2 were finishing up their session. We had no luck. One of the other Sisters that we were talking to wished us luck and advised us that we would find her if it be the Lord's will. Well that was that for me, I was convinced that we didn't need to do any more running around- the Lord would bring her to us if it was meant to be. So when Sister Hall and mom came out of the temple we starting taking our last family photos...and then Lauren turned her head and spotted Vickie!!! She again took off without a companion and started booking it across Temple Square! By the time any of us caught up with her there were lot's of tears!

Sister, Hall, Sister Nelson and the companion (forgot her name!!!)

Last family photo for a while!!!

Alas, the day arrived for Sister Hall to report. My parents dropped her off at the MTC on Wednesday and could barely squeeze in a hug goodbye before she was off! And she never looked back. Here is her first letter home!!

No turning back...she was so ready to go! Mom wasn't as ready...

Holy Spirit Batman!

Family I am alive and oh so very very well! I am absolutly loving it here at the MTC it's a spiritual over drive and I am ALLLLL over it! I love my district, we have 4 elders (Elder Skyes, Elder Kunz, Elder Willson, and Elder Eretie) and we have 4 sisters (Sister Ormond aka my companion, Sister Rohas, and Sister Lang) AND we are all serving in Toronto. I love them all dearly and we all get along so well, it truly is a blessing. They are all so strong in the gospel and it is wondreful to hear their tesimonies and their insights into the gospel. Let me tell you about my companion sister Ormond, she is AMAZING! She is from utah, she does musical theater, she is so kind and selfless, she is funny and we work oh really well together. Sorry I havent been able to write at all, we only get to write emails on P Days which is Monday for me. Also I leave the MTC April 8th! Thats in a week O o! (that was suposed to be a oh my goodness face)

Anyways let me tell you what I have been up to.

I have been up to a LOT of love. I cannot describe how much I love everyone here at the MTC. It's like all my shallow juding has been tossed out the window. I see people for who they really are, children of a loving Heavenly Father and I admire and respect them for their commitment to serve! In one of the classes I was in we watched some clips from this web site called 1 In 8 Million. It's out of New York City and they interview random everyday people and find out about their life. Nearly every girl in the room was balling by the end! Oh my goodness people have such amazing out looks on life! There was a Grandpa who loves to spend time with his grandchildren and just wants to be in their life, so they go on walks to appreciate the beauty of the parks, the smell of the crisp air in the fall. He said how he doesn't like to tell his grandchildren information, but let them ask questions and then he helps them find the answers. There is so much more about this man I would love to tell you about, but I just don't have time but I strongly advise looking it up! Maybe put a link up on the blog Jill! (http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html -here's the link1!)

I have also done a TON of learning. I'll share two of my favorite things I have learned so far.

1. "The joy of soaring begins with the fear of falling." 

Look up D&C 124: 18 as a missionary, I am the eagle, I carry people on my wings to God their father. What a wonderful thought!

Now look up Alma 13: 3-4. Have you done it? ok good! I was preordained a missionary before I came to earth. In the pre-earth life I was called as a missionary; I taught and developed the skills necessary to be a good missionary. I was pre-ordained to be a missionary because I had great faith, good works, and made good choices. The Lord doesn't just send anyone to bring His children unto him, these are valient young men and women who he trusts! What a blessing it is for me to know that! I got shivers when I realized this.

2. Read D&C 138 and Abraham 3 and ask Heavenly Father in your prayers tonight what he thinks about you. If you have never done this, I challenge you, especially my family and friends, to do this. Why do we never ask our Heavenly Father what He thinks of us? I am positive He would love to share his thoughts to His children! Also if anyone is having trouble knowing how to discern the spirt, ask the Lord to teach you what it feels like for you to hear and know how the spirit speaks to you. It is so important to develope this attribute and I am more than positive that the Lord would help you to develop it.

3. I had the oportunity to listen to a devotional titled "The Character of Christ" by David A Bednar and holy cow! Dash 1 much?! By far one of the best things I have EVER heard! He talks about how were we all have the tendency to turn in or feed in to the natural man- Jesus Turned Out. Let me give you an example. The Natural Man is compairable to The Cookie Monster.... "I Want Cookie NOW" (Bendar says this in a cookie monster voice and slams the pulpit, I almost die). After suffering for the sins of all the earth, Jesus comes to find that His 3 right hand men, Peter, James, and John have fallen asleep on Him. In his time of deepest humilation, He asks his disciples to stay awake and look out for Him, and they cant do that little thing for Him. On top of this His other disciple betrayed Him, and they are coming to arrest Jesus. He has been betrayed by 4 of His closest friends... fast forward to where Peter cuts off the ear of the guard. Lets take a minute and consider what Jesus has just been through. He has atoned for our sins, has gone through pain that NO human can handle, has bleed from EVERY pore, has been let down by His closest friends and what does He do? Get mad? Ask people to be sorry for him? NO! He heals the ear of the guard that is about to take Him! When He is nailed to the cross is He mad at the people? NO! He asks the Father to forgive them cause they don't understand. When He is hanging on the cross is He complaining about how much pain He is in? NO! He makes sure someone can look after His mother and then does some missionary work! When we turn in, Christ turns out.... We Must All strive to develope this Charater of Christ. Put off the Natural Man people and come unto Christ!  Can I get an AMEN?!

Also sister Ormond and I have been called as Coordinating Sisters, which is like Zone Leaders but for girls..... which means sundays are FULL of meetings -_- I understand what Ben means about loving that God trusts him but hoping that trust never grows haha!

haha well my time is running short and I still have SO much I want to tell you all... I love you guys SO much, I'm sorry to say that I don't miss you though, I know that I am suposed to be here, it is so clear to me that the Lord wants me here. For the next 18 months I will be giving service and helping bring people closer to Jesus Christ their saviour. I am SO lucky to have this opportinity! 

Line Of The Week

Keep in mind, We had been in this class room for a total of 7ish hours, we were up at 6:30, we have been studying the gospel all day, it is now 9:00 pm and we are all EXHAUSTED!

Sister Ormond: Can I help you because She (our teacher) gave us some great advice... she proceeds to give the advice.

Brother Kunz: Wow That is really good!

Sister Ormond ( with a Big Smile on her face): Thats what She Said!!!

wait 10 seconds...... Every Single person is busting a gut just dieing laughing!

After being so serious for so long we just couldn't take it anymore

Anyways I love you all and the Lord does too! AND Jill I am NOT impressed that I had to hear about your engagement from Travis Johnson.... -_-

PS Please send me mails! Everyone is always getting mail here and it makes ya feel GREEEAAAT to know people are thinking of ya :D you can send me FREE mail via Dear Elder and my box number is 55!

 Thanks Mom for the package too!!! It is AMAZING and I have shared a lot of the candy with my district :) which they say thank you too

Sister Hall