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!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
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 =)
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 =)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Fun New Pics
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| Dane Horrocks got baptized on Jan. 17th |
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| Xiana Lee's baptism |
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| Elder Figaroa, Xiana Lee, Elder Hale at her baptism |
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| Robert Short's baptism |
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| I'm sure there's a great caption for this, just not sure what it is... |
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| The end of a long, ruff day... |
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| Elder Hale with missionary snowmen |
Jan. 25th. Two Great Baptisms!!
Hey!! Great news!! On Saturday two people got baptized!!!!! One is Xiana, she called us and said she was ready to be baptized
so over the phone we gave her a baptism date for jan 22 which was two weeks away. Anyway, she was so excited but super super nervous, and when she came out after being baptized she was completely calm. It was great!
The other person is Robert Short who was being taught by the missionaries before we got here. He's way cool and just decided he wanted a better life with more peace of spirit and saw lots of great examples of that around him. It was super cool!
Sunday was really busy tho because we went to one ward for one confirmation then we spoke about personal study and prayer in another sacrament meeting and then went to another confirmation. By the end of that day we were dead tired.
It's really weird to think that I only have three weeks left. So much orginization to do, so much to accomplish, I'm not sure if there's enough time to get enough done. It's crazy.
This morning I looked out the window and what did I see? Lots of snow everywhere. It's been pretty warm lately but this morning we've gotten about 3 inches. fun fun...without a car, really messy. That's about it for this week. Love yall!
Elder Hale =)
so over the phone we gave her a baptism date for jan 22 which was two weeks away. Anyway, she was so excited but super super nervous, and when she came out after being baptized she was completely calm. It was great!
The other person is Robert Short who was being taught by the missionaries before we got here. He's way cool and just decided he wanted a better life with more peace of spirit and saw lots of great examples of that around him. It was super cool!
Sunday was really busy tho because we went to one ward for one confirmation then we spoke about personal study and prayer in another sacrament meeting and then went to another confirmation. By the end of that day we were dead tired.
It's really weird to think that I only have three weeks left. So much orginization to do, so much to accomplish, I'm not sure if there's enough time to get enough done. It's crazy.
This morning I looked out the window and what did I see? Lots of snow everywhere. It's been pretty warm lately but this morning we've gotten about 3 inches. fun fun...without a car, really messy. That's about it for this week. Love yall!
Elder Hale =)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Blessings of a Utah Mission...
Hey!
I don't know if you heard but we were supposed to get to see Elder Hales from the 12 Apostles last Sunday but it wasn't able to happen. But it should happen sometime this week. I've been trying to think of some cool questions to ask him. It's going to be super exciting! This last Sunday we spoke in a ward and it turned out really well. We are speaking again this week in a different ward and our topic is personal study and prayer. It will be good... I hope. Do I have a topic for when I speak when I get home? Me and elder Figueroa are doing great. A little bit about him: his favorite ice cream is rocky road, his favorite color is purple "because it's a happy and Celestial (??) color." Hes going to be a DJ someday and his dj name is going to be DJKRIBFO117!! don't ask what it means, it takes a really long time to explain, believe me, I asked. He wants to be a video game designer and he likes aerobics, body building, and volleyball, etc... and he's my second and last companion that I'm taller than!!!!
Things are way crazy trying to learn two new stakes but its going well, really frustrating without a car but its working out somehow..
Love ya'll lots thanks for the support. Ponder about and remember why you love your Savior Jesus Christ. and remember why He loves you and what His purpose is, Moses 1:39.
Bye!
Elder Hale =)
I don't know if you heard but we were supposed to get to see Elder Hales from the 12 Apostles last Sunday but it wasn't able to happen. But it should happen sometime this week. I've been trying to think of some cool questions to ask him. It's going to be super exciting! This last Sunday we spoke in a ward and it turned out really well. We are speaking again this week in a different ward and our topic is personal study and prayer. It will be good... I hope. Do I have a topic for when I speak when I get home? Me and elder Figueroa are doing great. A little bit about him: his favorite ice cream is rocky road, his favorite color is purple "because it's a happy and Celestial (??) color." Hes going to be a DJ someday and his dj name is going to be DJKRIBFO117!! don't ask what it means, it takes a really long time to explain, believe me, I asked. He wants to be a video game designer and he likes aerobics, body building, and volleyball, etc... and he's my second and last companion that I'm taller than!!!!
Things are way crazy trying to learn two new stakes but its going well, really frustrating without a car but its working out somehow..
Love ya'll lots thanks for the support. Ponder about and remember why you love your Savior Jesus Christ. and remember why He loves you and what His purpose is, Moses 1:39.
Bye!
Elder Hale =)
Jan. 11, 2011...New Assignment
Hi All,
So three stakes aren't so bad... I've done it before... but opening a new area is easier than inheriting an area I think. I've been working on my name memorizing skills and directional skills, not being lost skills, note taking skills, being enthusiastic skills, helping-people-see-that-they-want-to-be-baptized skills, and making sure I have energy skills, all of which have been tested recently. but all is well in... Syracuse. We inherited a couple investigators with baptism dates that we just barely met, and a girl called and wanted to be baptized as soon as possible so over the phone we asked her about the 22nd. We're teaching her tonight. She's so happy!
Anyway that's about all that's happenin' round here. Oh! We ate dinner with a family last night; the wife was from Alabama and has an amazing southern accent. I love it! I start talking like it too if I'm around it long enough. haha anyway gotta go
Love yall!!
Elder Hale =)
So three stakes aren't so bad... I've done it before... but opening a new area is easier than inheriting an area I think. I've been working on my name memorizing skills and directional skills, not being lost skills, note taking skills, being enthusiastic skills, helping-people-see-that-they-want-to-be-baptized skills, and making sure I have energy skills, all of which have been tested recently. but all is well in... Syracuse. We inherited a couple investigators with baptism dates that we just barely met, and a girl called and wanted to be baptized as soon as possible so over the phone we asked her about the 22nd. We're teaching her tonight. She's so happy!
Anyway that's about all that's happenin' round here. Oh! We ate dinner with a family last night; the wife was from Alabama and has an amazing southern accent. I love it! I start talking like it too if I'm around it long enough. haha anyway gotta go
Love yall!!
Elder Hale =)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Coming Down the Homestretch; Jan. 4th
And it came to pass in the mission of Elder Hale that the 16th transfer came to an end without a single soul brought to the waters of baptism, and thus creating the third dry transfer in his mission.
And thus began the 17th transfer, yea the last transfer of the misson of Elder Hale, yea and also the last six weeks of his life in the Great Utah Ogden Mission as a full time servant of the Lord. And thus it is, amen.
So here's what's happening... This area is being combined with the Syracuse Bluff area, which has two stakes. Elder Bohanan is being transfered to Clearfield, which is still in the same zone, and my new companion is Elder Figueroa-DaVila. He goes home a transfer after me but has never been a senior companion, so President wants me to help him to prepare him to be senior for his last transfer. I talked to president about it and I was actually signed up to train someone new for my last transfer but apparently inspiration took over. So on top of covering one stake and 11 wards to covering Three stakes and 29 wards, oh, to go along with that we don't get a car yet, (there have been lots of deer hit up north and a lot of cars out of commission), this will be a challenging experience.
So, Now more than ever do I need your prayers of support and encouragement to help me to finish strong but also take on this new assignment. I had a long conversation this morning with Elder Swisher (who by the way is the new Assistant to the president) who definitely had the spirit guiding him what to say. He's so amazing.
Anyway, sorry about being elder raincloud. I hope everybody's new year was great!
love you all!
Love Elder Hale =)
And thus began the 17th transfer, yea the last transfer of the misson of Elder Hale, yea and also the last six weeks of his life in the Great Utah Ogden Mission as a full time servant of the Lord. And thus it is, amen.
So here's what's happening... This area is being combined with the Syracuse Bluff area, which has two stakes. Elder Bohanan is being transfered to Clearfield, which is still in the same zone, and my new companion is Elder Figueroa-DaVila. He goes home a transfer after me but has never been a senior companion, so President wants me to help him to prepare him to be senior for his last transfer. I talked to president about it and I was actually signed up to train someone new for my last transfer but apparently inspiration took over. So on top of covering one stake and 11 wards to covering Three stakes and 29 wards, oh, to go along with that we don't get a car yet, (there have been lots of deer hit up north and a lot of cars out of commission), this will be a challenging experience.
So, Now more than ever do I need your prayers of support and encouragement to help me to finish strong but also take on this new assignment. I had a long conversation this morning with Elder Swisher (who by the way is the new Assistant to the president) who definitely had the spirit guiding him what to say. He's so amazing.
Anyway, sorry about being elder raincloud. I hope everybody's new year was great!
love you all!
Love Elder Hale =)
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