Yerba Buena

Whelp, here I am in a new area all the way...across the street. However, I have a Latina companion now so my Spanish is going to snap into gear really quickly. I needed it. I feel like I've spoken more Spanish this past week than I have my entire mission combined so this is going to be a great change for me. A nice big kick in the pants. Also my new apartment has it's own washer/dryer so my prayers were all answered.

 

My birthday was rather uneventful, but I still made sure to demand attention wherever I was. I certainly missed my Austin celebrations though. Thanks to all my friends that remembered me and sent a little note. The rest of you are in big trouble, I have a list for when I return. I spent most of the day running around and packing way past the time that I was supposed to be in bed...don't tell President. Transfer meeting was super crazy the next morning, but we had an awesome week. I've met about a billion new people, taught a ton of great lessons and we are getting ready for a baptism on Friday. I get to teach an English class twice a week now. I love it when I get to do things in English for a bit, it makes me feel like I actually do know something.

 

The Yerba Buena ward is much bigger than my last ward and they feel like a nice, big happy family. I can just feel the love oozing from the pews - that's a warm fuzzy feeling for sure. Of course all the rather personal questions have returned once again. Everyone wants to know how old the redhead is. Then they want to comment on my weight and the other day I had a new one...if I liked my mustache. Yikes. Are they kidding? No, no they are not. The answer is that I do not like my mustache and next preparation day I will be taking care of that.

 

I had my first experience with the famous pulga (flea market) down here. It's great for talking to a ton of people, but they are not exactly super excited to talk to us so that's a little rough. However, I found ways to trick, I mean pleasantly persuade, people over to our booth for some free 'reading' materials. I'm sure we'll be getting followups on that soon. Afterward we walked around a bit. It reminded me of the markets in Morocco...aww Morocco, so this one time when I was in Morocco...haha Man, that never gets old. Anyway, they have fruits and veggies here I've never heard of in my life. Some are disgusting and I would like to never hear of them ever again in my life but there are some tasty tasty treats. The only problem is I only know the Spanish name and I can't really even say that right so I'll probably be searching for them the rest of my life now.

 

This week was awesome and exhausting. Switching areas, even just up the street, has messed up my system and I'm trying to adjust all over again. I also get fed way more here so that's really throwing everything off. However, it's a fresh start and I've been trying to be as bold as I can, just open my mouth even with my broken Spanish and do the best I can to help others learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's super easy to be selfish out here, more than I thought it would, and focus on what I'm getting out of this or the sacrifices I've made for this. So I have to remind myself every 5 seconds that this really isn't about me, it's about these people. When I am finally able to do that, the Lord not only blesses the people we find and teach but He blesses us too. Serving others is really just a gift that blesses us all. Thank heavens.

 

xoxo,

Hermana Hall

BIRTHDAY

Most important things first, it's my birthday! I'm also getting transferred out of my first area tomorrow so today is going to be a whirlwind and will consist of one of my favorite things to do in the world...pack! Hooray for birthday packing!

 

We had a baptism this weekend and despite all things pointing to complete and utter disaster it went very well. It was one of the shortest baptisms I have ever been to which was a relief for all involved. Here are some highlights: our speaker didn't show up until after the actual baptism so one of the Elders filled in, our convert shouted praises during the hymns, burst into loud tears during the Elder's testimony and my personal favorite, she just floated there in the baptismal font for a bit. I guess she was really trying to take it all in. Cool. After she got out I had to help her dump all the water that has accumulated in the bottom of her jumpsuit from her little float about and I couldn't help by laugh out loud as she slipped down the stairs leaving me to awkwardly pick her up - I'm pretty sure everyone heard that. But hey, what's a baptism without a little drama, right?

 

The next day was even more drama filled as she refused to come and get confirmed. After much 'persuasion' by my soothing Spanish on the phone she finally agreed to come if a specific Elder (in another area) would drive all the way down and do it. After calling the Bishop down from the stand during the first talk and a few phone calls to President to get the ok, she and the Elder finally made it during the intermediate hymn. She was then so overtaken by the spirit that she stood up, turned around and knelt down right there on the pew. I just smiled as everyone glanced over at us in sheer horror as if looking for permission to run out of the room - or laugh. That was a cute little surprise. Well, I just brought this ward a fun new member...and I'm outta here - you're welcome! haha!

 

Last night was the devotional for all the missionaries that are leaving this transfer. We had an investigator come and she started clapping during some of the testimonies. My comp and I just sat there pretending we weren't sitting next to the clapper...but we were those missionaries - we brought the clapper. I probably should have started clapping too...I mean once things start going that direction you really should just get the heck out of there or jump on board.

 

Anyway...I've really enjoyed my first area here on the mission. I've learned a lot, I've seen a lot and I've spoken a lot of really terrible Spanish. I'm super sad to leave my amazing redhead companion - we were such a stellar team for a glorious 6 weeks. But alas I'm off to other places that are clearly in need of my 'sweet spirit'. Lucky ducks. Stay tuned to all the mission goodness that awaits!

 

Also I had to eat menudo this week. That was not enjoyable. I do not want to talk about it. There was hair. Enough said.

 

xoxo,

Hermana Hall

Monterey

So yesterday our district went to Monterey to play on the beaches. Don't freak out, we are California missionaries and we totally have permission to go to the beach...we just can't touch the water. We had a super great time eating clam chowder on the wharf, seeing an extremely unimpressive lighthouse and walking along the rocky coastline. As usual I managed to embarrass myself in a variety of ways throughout the day bringing laughter and enjoyment to all in my presence. I'm so selfless.

I accidentally pushed my companion down in the sand...ok not accidentally, it was totes on purpose and it was hilarious. Right after, with good reason, she wanted to get me back so I ran for my life...but like a penguin would run because she's really tall, Canadian and basically stands no chance of keeping up with me so I didn't want her to feel like a total failure. So here I was running around the beach like a penguin, everyone giggling because I looked supes adorbs and then bam...a rock comes from out of nowhere and attacks my foot so I go flying face first into the sand right in front of ALL the missionaries. I think everyone peed their pants, except me, I just had sand everywhere including places that are not appropriate to mention. Ah memories.

 

This past Sunday was the Mexican Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings) so they brought out a huge, multicolored ring of bread and proceeded to explain that there were babies inside. What?! Turns out, it's just like a Mardi Gras King Cake. Phew. There are little plastic babies inside and if you get the baby Jesus you have to cook for everyone which doesn't really sound like winning, but I guess it comes also with gracious gifts from above. So as I cut into the baby Jesus cake, I managed to cut right on top of baby Jesus but not actually getting it. Phew. I did however get a standing toddler holding a heart...not sure exactly what that means...I heard something about being the next to get married. Ahh!!!!!!!! Anyway, it was super fun and delish.

 

We invited everyone we could this week to be baptized and they all said yes. I love the Spanish program. Of course we have to get them to actually do it, but I'll take a yes for now. Our President has been encouraging us to invite more quickly, boldly and frequently so we decided to step things up a notch. It's not even scary! I think I've been surprised at how easy it is to do and it's all about confidence in what you are doing. Thank heavens I'm doing a good thing and can put all my confidence in God otherwise I'd be up a creek. We know the things we are inviting people to do will bless their lives and that takes a lot of pressure off the actual question, the invitation to do it. Just a year ago I remember how scary it was to talk to anyone about this gospel. I always felt uncomfortable sharing pretty much anything and would avoid it whenever possible. I never hid my religion, but I certainly would have liked to keep it out of the conversation as much as possible. Although these fears are understandable, they are really not as serious as I had once believed. People are almost always interested in making their lives better and this Gospel is the way to do it so why not share it! We just need to have confidence that we are on the right team...and we are. So, come help share the gospel with me. Let's get some more Mormons, we are pretty sweet.

 

xoxo,

Hermana Hall

2013 and I'm going grey

It wasn't a white Christmas here in San Jose but I did find several white hairs on my head. GASPS of horror! Turns out the mission ages people...I thought maybe I'd reverse age, but no. The mission does crazy things to our bodies...I get it now, but we get tons of blessings so we are clueless to the toll taken out on our faces and figures. I will take it. I should also probably cut back on the cheese fries...but they are just so dang good! And it's my break from rice and beans. New Year's resolution - no cheese fries in 2013...wait, I just had some an hour ago - dang it! No new cheese fries in 2013!

 

So, let's see. For Christmas I ate a ton of tamales and I helped make some. It was super fun, but I never want to do that again. I prefer just eating them. One of the Elders tricked me into eating a jalapeno one...I almost passed out, but hilarity ensued for everyone else. Ahhh Christmas cheer to all brought to you by Hermana Hall's weaksauce mouth. The missionaries put on a sweet pachanga (kick-a party) for our ward for Christmas. Good thing I've put on a dance or two in my day...everyone loved it and they ate and danced into the wee hours of the morn...well until we had to leave at 9:30 pm. Ha. I am pretty sure I have a Latin heart because we sure party the same.

 

My companion is still Canadian. The jokes never seem to get old, at least for me. The other day while we were in line at the grocery store she asked something about how to use the card machine, me, being me, piped up and apologized to the cashier for her being foreign and this being her first trip to America. That got some good belly laughs. And that is what I do to her every day. I am pretty sure she loves it. Yup, pretty sure. We have a blast together though and we are working hard to get our 15 investigators to actually show up to their baptism dates. Yeah, I just dropped a number there - that's what we do in the San Jose Spanish program...we bring in numbers...I mean we bring people to Christ. Oooh how the Zone Leaders would kill me right now.

 

In other interesting missionary news...we feasted at a Biblical miracle dinner the other day. The poor lady forgot she had signed up to feed all four of us, but with her golden faith she prayed that she'd have enough food. We started eating and my plate would not cease to have mounds of food upon it. I was sitting there for 20 minutes trying to eat it all and was baffled at how it appeared I ate nothing. Later one of the Elders mentioned that he peaked on the stove when he got there and he was like yeah, this isn't going to feed us...we all ooohed and awwed together afterward when we realized that her faith alone created rice, beans and carne to feed the masses. Woah. Go faith!

 

Also, news flash - some people have changed the Bible. We were teaching an investigator the other day and were talking about the Commandments. She didn't remember them all, but who does anyway? Well, I do because I have to now...but we pulled out our Bibles and she pulled out hers. As she started reading them out loud my companion and I glanced at each other as she seemed to skip commandment #2 then when #5 and #7 were basically the same. I had heard of this occurring, but this was the first time I experienced it myself in real life. We pointed out to her the actual commandments and with our missionary confidence explained they had been changed by someone. Anyway she is supposed to pray about that and get back to us. She said she would pray to the Virgin Mary...dang it.

 

Well that's about it for the holiday edition of this post...oh we had a sweet sleepover with the English sisters for Christmas and New Year's Eve. We might have broken a few rules but I'm admitting it and that is the first step of repentance. We failed to go to bed at 10:30 because I wanted to open presents at midnight like all the Latins do. I call it language study. Then it was NYE and we had to get up at midnight to throw our hands up in the air...it's like a rule, the world rule not a mission rule. Anyway...sister missionaries talk a lot when we get together and it felt like home. What a nice holiday treat. But we are back on the mission train and putting the feet to the pavement. There are lots of people that need the gospel this year and we are going to find them.

 

Goals...if you have made some for this year, they better include at least one about the gospel. Whether it is be personal, spiritual or missionary I hope you strive to grow, strengthen and share your testimony of the gospel this year. I've seen it now a million times, as we turn our focus towards Christ we are blessed in all other aspects of our life. Embrace the promise in the Book of Mormon and keep those commandments (the real ones not the Virgin Mary ones) and prosper in the land this year. God bless. Amen.

 

xoxo,

Hermana Hall