The Truth In Every Way

Saw Elder Holland. He waved to us as he left the temple :)

 

I love getting to learn from President Orgill. I think he is the most inspired man I've ever met. he bore a VERY powerful testimony of Jesus Christ that touched me deeply. "He really lives! And He's coming!" Both Elder and Sister Anderson echoed that thought. He IS coming. Soon. We don't know when, but these are the last last days. I'm so grateful that I have a testimony of this for myself.

 I'm so grateful for the temple! I always come away from it more sure of our Heavenly Father's love for me and with a greater strength to go out into the world :) I can almost feel the angels surrounding us when we walk out. It's the best place on Earth.

 

Be A Missionary In Your Everyday Life

Such a cool thought that the Lord's army is getting younger and younger and that means there's more of us to fight against the Adversary.  

If you don't have a testimony now, get one.

The blessings of safety,  peace, and no confusion :) are indescribable. 

Members don't know how much the missionaries need them! If you DO know, then you should do something about it.

We want to get to know them and have them trust us, and we want to just share scriptures for like 15 mins when we stop by, and we want to follow up for a sec the next week....it's really not THAT much! Oh, we also want you to have a missionary experience like some of the following: (ideas if you have none or are scared to do it)

-Say hello to your neighbors. If you do that already, go a step further and strike up a conversation. Or further, and invite them over.

-Give the grocery lady a pass along card

-Share an inspiring thought/pic on Facebook (it reaches millions)

-Go to the temple!

etc.

Well now, isn't that easy!?

I wish it was that easy for full time missionaries :)

I know you all are doing your best, but who can't be a better missionary?! I CAN! :)

A Chance To Do His Will

This week, I can really say I gave my BEST! And so the blessings came! 

 Heavenly Father could do this work by Himself. He is not limited in anyway. But He LETS US help him so that WE can learn and grow.

 

"What motivates you?" Honestly, I can say, I want to please Heavenly Father. Sometimes fear of man stops me, but that is definitely the underlying reason of everything I do!

 

There Is Always More Work to Do

What a week it has been! For our zone, we did a service week and they planned ten hours of service for us to do and then on top of that we did six more. It was a crazy amount and it was totally exhausting. We worked at a food bank and we watered plants at a nature reserve and helped a widow clean out her garage. And we helped a family in our ward move. IT was so much fun to serve and to build trust with these people, and to get more unified as a zone too J

This week has been a lesson in trusting the Lord…well, it’s always like that J Same with the lesson that Heavenly Father is so aware of us and loves ALL His children.

A Chance To Share the Truth

We gave a mormon.org card to this guy, Isaiah, and he freaked out. “I have this exact card! I got one awhile ago when I was at the bus stop! My friend’s friend is a Mormon and I was going to look at it…it must be a sign!” Sister park was like “Yeah it is…God wants you to look at that website.” He totally is going to. J We kept talking to him and she was like “Oh and do you read?” “No, never.” “I don’t believe you. It’s the best book ever.” “What’s it called?” “The Book of Mormon.” “DUDE!!! My friends friend has that EXACT book!” “Well that’s great! It has the answers to all the questions you want to ask—we all have questions that we want to know, and it helps us find peace. You should read it.” “Okay I will, just because you said too.”

We watched “Missionary Work and the Atonement” ---it’s on You Tube if you want to watch it, future missionaries! It changes the lives of every missionary who watches it.

“Nothing was too much for HIM, let it be so with us.” (President Orgill)

The Lords Way

It's hard to believe I've already been on a mission for 2 whole months!! 

 We have been working really hard to eliminate certain things from our life and add better things in that will help us be better. And, boy have the miracles been coming!

"The Lord hastening his work. This is HIS work, and HE hastens it, not us. So. ARE YOU KEEPING PACE with Him? And changing the way you do missionary work? Because He is changing the way He does it."

                                                                                                         -Mission President

                                                                                                                                           

                        

Living with the Holy Ghost's Protection

Well, I think that most amazing that happened this week is that we survived it :)

The whole transfer sped by and then this last week was so SLOW. Our investigators aren't progressing and we haven't found new ones yet. But we had a good week at the same time.

We focused as a zone on Family History--and contacting was so much easier. People are much more friendly when you say you're sharing a message about family history than Jesus Christ. We still got some mean people, but that's the way it is.

The church is true and the book of Mormon is the BEST!! I LOVE having the Gift of the Holy Ghost too! Yesterday Sister Park and I were talking about our baptismal covenants, and that's why missionaries can feel the spirit so well, is because we are LIVING the baptismal covenant, we just have to figure out a way to do it in the real world and balance everything else...still working on that :)

Loving The Work

We got the new Ensign this week. There is an article in it about readjusting to home life after the mission. I started reading it and looked down at the picture of the missionary flying home. My stomach sunk and I kind of shuddered as I started to think about that flight. I can't even think about it without feeling sick! I NEVER want this to be over!

I gave two pass along cards out this week through car windows! It was actually so much easier...they can't move away from you!! The first one was to a girl in the in n out parking lot, at 9 pm (dark) I walked up from the back so I think I scared her, but then I told her that I am a missionary and I handed her a picture of Jesus and told her I thought she'd like it, and that I wanted her to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus love her. I hope it helped her!

The Big Miracle

 (that I have been praying for!!!!!!!) came this week (Week 4 of 6 of the transfer! FINALLY!) We were doing our Weekly Planning session and wanted to have inspired goals so we were praying about each one. We needed to adjust our goal for new investigators from 3 to something more achievable...So I knelt and we each said our own prayers.

 

I have such a hard time knowing what they should be, so I told Heavenly Father that. Basically, I have no idea what I'm doing and so if you don't tell me, I'll guess and be wrong, our goals won't be inspired and there won't be miracles. I need a miracle. 
The thought came that when I want to speak to God I pray, and when I want Him to speak to me I read the scriptures.

So I told Heavenly Father I was going to open my scriptures and if He could give me the answer in there Id really appreciate it. I sort of thought that I'd look for a number and that would be how many investigators we could find in two and a half days, but then was like "No...there's too many numbers in there" but at the same time I was hoping to see a number, and that would be my answer.

I flip open to Alma 37:9 and start reading, it makes me think "1000!? No." Verse 11 makes me think this mystery won't be revealed to me. Then I read 12. My eyes jump to "one"---I read the whole thing, how God counsels in wisdom over all His works (me)...And so, we decided that ONE was the right answer. And we got one the next day!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

Heavenly Father loves all His children and wants them all to know it and share it!

The Church is true.

Love,

Sister Hall

 

 

All that I have...

This week has been full of hard work---I'm beginning to understand what all those people meant that told me before I left that this would be the hardest thing I ever loved doing :)

We spend so much time at the temple, and it is SOOO amazing. I love the Spirit that is there, just on the temple grounds. We gave a tour to one of the districts of missionaries, as practice and to help them know what it would be like when they bring their investigators. I love testifying that the sealing power is on the earth, that families can be together forever, and that, because families are so important, they must be "organized" in the temple for eternity, rather than in a church where other groups are organized for "time".

We go to the members' homes and teach them the lessons. Last night we went to a sister's house and taught the Restoration. I love saying the First Vision in Joseph's words. EVERY TIME the Spirit is there and testifies to me and us all that Joseph is a prophet. He saw God and Jesus Christ. It's wonderful to feel my testimony growing more rapidly than it ever did at home. 

Plus, I just feel the Spirit more clearly. I think it was yesterday, I was reading an Ensign article about the Atonement (https://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/03/the-atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng). I felt the tingling and I thought "goosebumps?" but I looked down at my arms that the hair wasn't sticking up :) and I thought, the spirit is inside. I don't know how to explain that stream of consciousness, but, yeah. The Holy Ghost speaks to our spirits. Which is just so cool :)

A consecrated missionary gives her ALL on the table of sacrifice. At the end of the day there is nothing left to give. That is my goal everyday.

I pray everyday to be exhausted. Which might have been a bad idea, but He's answering it :) 

I invite you all to give your ALL to Him. I know it's harder in the real world where there are less than spiritual things to worry about, but I know that we can consecrate our every moment to Him (see 2 Ne 32:9). And He will gives us His ALL in return.

Focus

Did I tell you we are doing temple grounds tours? We spend a lot of time at the temple, which is so great. every time we get to the Celestial room windows I get to say that "This place is representative of being in our Heavenly Father's presence, and is the closest place on earth that we can ever get to Him" ---every time I do, the spirit rushes through me and I get excited to go in, and also to see Heavenly Father one day.

A lot of our goals focus on becoming consecrated missionaries (giving all that we have) and on developing a celestial culture. As I have thought about what that means, I have come to the conclusion that it means: to be progressively obedient, not perfectly obedient. To be a little better now, than I was a moment ago. My goal today is to go home so tired that I can barely keep my eyes open. I want to give my ALL to Him.

California Irvine Mission aka...CIM

 When we first got to California we each had an interview with Pres Orgill and that was sooooo wonderful. I think (KNOW) he's going to be a great mission president. We talked and laughed a lot. Afterward, I took a nap with Sister Fetui and some of our elders in the chapel (they brought pillows for us :)) And then had to walk into a chapel fullllllllllll of Called-to-Serve-Him...singing missionaries. THAT was overwhelming!

 

Off to Serve !!

If there is one thing I have learned the past 12 days, it is that the Lord is aware and in the details of our lives. He has sustained me when the thought crossed my mind to "just give up, this is too hard" but I can't! you know? A mission will be the best thing that ever happens to me and I love all that I have learned, esp about the spirit and about talking to people-- I have taught more lessons and talked to more strangers than ever before in my life and am so ready to go talk to Californian's!!

The reason we teach the doctrine of Christ (the missionary purpose) is so that we can "help others come unto Christ which means helping them access the Atonement. That really struck me and has stayed with me these last couple of days. I know that that is the greatest gift I can give anyone, and is what Ibhave strived to learn here at the MTC and what I am going to strive to do in the field.

Irvine CA

8-5-14

With Pres. & Sister Orgill

The MTC is amazing!

Dear Family and Friends!

I love it so much. I am learning so much about the gospel and about my purpose as a missionary to invite and help!

Thank you for your emails, family and Sister Selfridge and Christy Sauffley! :)

The Holy ghost is so strong here and I feel everyday that this is where i am supposed to be and that God is so aware of my needs--aware of ME. 

Sister Fetui and I were called to be Sister Training Leaders, did i tell you that? We are getting 4 new sisters this week and the 

"old" sisters are staying for an extra week for visitor center training---They are going to Winter Quarters!! (Sisters durrant and brower)

I have been doing great--I think we all struggle adjusting, yesterday was particularly hard because our new invetigator  Sarah . She talked the whole lesson and we didn't get a chance to teach her, but we were able to discuss it afterward (as a companionoship) and we decided that we are going to Be A Little "Boulder" (Our teacher Bro Kezele gave us rocks and told us to always remember that ---We know that is what she needs. Loving Sarah is my goal. Loving her the way her Heavenly Father loves her---not gettting frustrated when the lesson doesn't go the way we hope. And I do love her--she is SOOO sweet and SOOOO ready for the gospel, but we just need to be a little 'boulder' and tell it to her straight :) She is going to be a great Latterday Saint when she finally gets baptized----so faithful and dedicated to the Lord

Al is our other investigator--we started teaching him on our second day!!! He knows so much already about Jesus and is looking for how to come closer to Christ. He is so ready, and now is reading the book of mormon we gave him (prayed about it!!) and is committed to baptism for sept 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We asked and he just said, yeah, sure...if we keep come teaching him :) SUCH A SPIRITUAL LESSON!!! We taught him to pray and how to feel the spirit---to know when he's feeling it, yesterday we taught the whole plan of salvation (should have broken it up, but we didn't know we could :)) I love his yearning to learn---he's a sponge and I feel so blessed to be able to help him come closer to Christ.

My favorite time of the day is when we are reading the Book of Mormon together as a district or companionship. We start with a question and read slowly, stopping any time anyone wants to share some insight or some answers we get from the spirit --- you should try it! the spirit answers my questions no matter where we read, no matter the content of the chapter--- it's AMAZING. I have been asking the Lord a lot, how to be better, and his answer is always "Have Charity" and some reassurance that He loves me. 

I got a blessing this morning from the elders our second day and this morning. the priesthood is real. They said things that I needed to hear so badly--especially about Heavenly Father's love for me, it's more than we can understand!

We got to listen to a talk on sunday that elder bednar gave on christmas at the MTC called the Character of Christ--that He turns outward in love when we (the natural man) would turn inward. If we can learn to serve others when we have hard time, that is true charity. My goal this week is to "murder my district with service" :)   That is my other goal--to quit thinking about what I need/want. Elder Bednar said, 'Who cares about you? This is the Lord's work and the Lord's time--what you want doesn't matter" . I forgot, but remembered last night one of the answers i got about serving a mission-- I was sitting in the Rexburg Temple, telling the Lord all the very good reasons that I did not want to serve a mission. I opened the scriptures and it said "Lose your life for my sake, and ye shall find it."  

I love Heavenly Father. I love the gospel--His plan for our return to Him. I love Jesus Christ, and the Atonement. I know the Church is true.

Love,

Sister Hall

SHARE THE GOSPEL, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO MEET THE MISSIONARIES :)

My first day at the MTC was...

...not what I expected, but totally great. The day was a little overwhelming, but I love my companion and district. We are the only sisters in it, but share a room with sisters in our zone. Sister Fetui is AMAZING! I love her already--and have decided we are like Moses & Aaron :)....I will explain later.

Got to go...but I'll write again on Tuesday
(P-day)

While I am at the MTC I can get mail faster if you write at
dearelder.com
They will print it and give the me.
Love you all!
Sister Hall!!!

Off to the MTC

Wednesday July 23, 2014 at 5:00 a.m. Sister Kaeley Hall began the next chapter of her life story with these words.
"I hope that the next 18 months will be the best for all of us!"

D&C 18:15-16

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Write to me, please!!!

Oh my goodness! The day is here!!! Well...tomorrow it is :) But I'm getting set apart tonight.

Even just a couple of days ago, when I spoke in church, this still didn't feel real. Every hour of today I am feeling it a little more, but it STILL doesn't feel real. I feel calm and...ready. Which I guess is a good sign :)  I am just looking forward to being able to work and serve--to forget myself--"lose my life".

If you want updates on my progress as a missionary, they will be posted here by my family, but if you want to write to me here are the addresses: (I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!)

(MTC):
Sister Kaeley Rose Hall
AUG05  CA-IRV
2009 N 900 E Unit 143
Provo UT 84602

(FIELD):
Sister Kaeley Rose Hall
California Irvine Mission
23 Lake Rd
Irvine CA 92604-4579
USA

(EMAIL):
kaeley.hall@myldsmail.net

Trial Run

This is just a test post to see if I know what I'm doing :) And also so y'all can see that this is my blog! 
Here's me: (to see if I know how to add pics)

oh look...it worked! ;) 

I'll be leaving on July 23rd to start my 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Irvine California! I'm am so excited for the opportunity to serve and to share my testimony with the good people who live there.

As I was titling my post, I was struck by the metaphor there. Trial Run. When I think about what the mission field will be like, those two words sum up my feelings. Embarking on this next step in my life, I find that the fear and anticipation are growing each day my MTC date gets closer. This is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done -- and it doesn't help that almost everyone I've told tells me the same thing :) That makes it really real.

But. You know how after you finish a run you are so satisfied and proud of what you accomplished? That is my hope for my time as a missionary; that it will be the hardest, most rewarding and satisfying trial I have yet faced in my twenty years of life.

You may be wondering -- like I did, at first :) -- why I want to give a year and a half of my life to serve a mission. It's true that, when the prompting from the Holy Ghost first came, I did not want to serve a mission. I knew how hard it would be for me to go out and talk to complete strangers, shy as I am. 

When I met with my stake president he asked me this same question, "Why do you want to be a missionary?" Thoughts raced through my mind. Things like, 'it's what the Lord has asked of me' or 'I want to share my testimony.'  

But when I opened my mouth, I said, "I want all of God's children to know that He loves them. I want them to feel the joy and hope I feel because of the Gospel." 

As soon as I said it, I knew for sure that this is why I want to serve -- not only for me, not only for God, but for those many people with whom I can  share the message of God's love. For much of the twenty years of my life, I have taken for granted the knowledge I possess of God, of His love, that I am His daughter, that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through priesthood power, and that we can return to God's presence with our families if we live the way He has asked.


Check out my mormon.org profile to know more: http://www.mormon.org/me/F8VY/Kaeley