Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Elder Hale's Final Epistle From His Mission

Oh ye that can hear my words, hearken unto this my last epistle and give heed, for these are they: I'm coming home to the land of my family, for behold, the time of my full-time ministry has ended. Yea, the 24 months I have been given to minister and bring souls unto Christ in this land has come to a conclusion. Yea, hearken unto my words and rejoice in the love of Christ, for He truly loveth His children and bringeth them unto Him through his servants!


It is weird to think that these two years are over, that I'm done being a full-time missionary, and have to start thinking about life ahead of me. This realization I knew was going to hit me, but when?? It hit me this last Sunday when we went over to Jordon Westbroek's homecoming, and seeing everybody there so happy to see him, it hit me that I was next...

I am very excited to see family, to hug people, to take a nap, to start college and be out on my own, but the thought that i will no longer be a full-time missionary spreading the gosple of Jesus Christ like warm butter on dry toast is not the most satisfying of thoughts to say the least.

These last two years have been amazing. The joy that comes from sharing this gospel with our spirit siblings is a joy that has to be experienced by actually doing it. The prophets are so right when they say if you bring one soul unto me how great shall be your joy. There are learning experiences that you can learn on a mission that otherwise would take a lifetime. Elder Robbins explained it that we are taking classes right now such as Humility 505, Charity 505, Love 505, Patience 505, Diligence 505, and the list goes on and on. These classes are intertwined with the joy of bringing souls to the joy of the gospel by leading them to the gate of baptism and showing them the pathway home to our Father. There are too many experiences to even start talking about them specifically in an email, or even in a week or two. These experiences will most likely trickle out over the rest of my life as things in life trigger memories and lessons learned. I've loved my mission. I can't say I've loved every minute of it because there were rough times. But "all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things" (2nephi 2:24), and all these experiences have been for my good. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon and what I've learned from both the Bible and Book of Mormon. They are really written for us today. I love this gospel.

Thank you all sooooo much for your love and encouragement and support for me while I've been here. I have greatly appreciated it. Remember the blessings in your lives and where they come from. Remember to look for those blessing all the time.

Thus ends the writings of Elder Hale on his mission in this the great Utah Ogden Mission. And thus it is, amen.

Love, Elder Kendric Hale =)
Lots and lots of love!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Elder Hale Meets Elder Hales

Hey!!

If you haven't heard yet, We got to go visit Elder Hales!! How this came about: Sister Hill (that we live with) got an oportunity to talk to him and when he found out that the missionaries lived at her house he said he wanted to meet us! So on Sunday the Hills drove us to SLC (out of the mission, but dont worry, we got permission =) and we talked to him. It's cool he just looked like a happy grandpa. I told him that one of the most common questions that I get asked is if I'm related to Robert D. Hales. Then I have to point out that he has an "S" and I don't. I also told him that he ordained Grandpa Hale to be a Sealer in the Seattle Temple and he remembered going to Seattle for that.

He asked us first about what was the best part about our mission, then what we would take home from a mission, how faith has played a part of our mission, and how obedience and blessings coincide. Then he asked Zac (Hill) what a mission is and what it means and what someone needs to have to go on a mission; Zac answered amazingly! Then he asked how the new Preach my Gospel training has helped our missionary work, which it's changed how I look at missionary work and work with people and teach. One thing he said was that some of the greatest missionary work that will be done on our missions is writing letters back home. Then I asked what advice he has for us going home and his response was "remember what you did on your mission," that it would be a standard for the rest of my life. He said that the principles of obedience, love, patience, humility, that are learned on a mission are some of the most important things we can learn and that if "those are forgotten at any time after your mission then your mission was in vain." He then explained that we progress so much on a mission and people back home progressed, but not nearly as much, and that when we get home we need to continue to progress, not to go down but lift them up.

Before we left he asked that we have a prayer and asked if I would say it. An apostle asked me to pray!! I was a little nervous as can be expected, but it was such a great feeling of the spirit in the room that my nervousness was gone as soon as it came. We said goodbye and shook his hand and left. It was awesome! I thot it felt like 15-20 mins but Chuck (Hill) says we talked to him for about 30-40. Time flies when you're having fun huh?!!

Other things that happened this week - we are teaching a girl that we invited to get baptized on the 26th of February!! Then after we left I realized I wouldn't be here, it's really weird. Also I found the family of an elder that was in my zone at the mtc two years ago. They are super super excited for him to come home. He gets home on the 9th so I'll get to say hi to him... haha its pretty cool.

Anyway, remember the blessings in your lives, remember the love that your Saviour has for you and remember that His church is forever true. Love you lots!!

Elder Hale =)