As per usual, no time today. :/ Convenient though, because it wasn't a super eventful week! Still, I'll give you a brief summary, a few pictures, and a thought at the end (as per usual).

SUMMARY:

So unfortunately our investigator Heather (pictured below with me and Sister Chudleigh) has been taken off date because of some lasting psychological issues (that she needs to get cleared with the church/stake...? Still working through how that works), and because she is very reluctant to give up smoking. We're still working with her though. She enjoys our visits, is consistently reading her scriptures, and has started bringing her family to church, so that's all pretty awesome.

We also found a really cool guy named Jens this last week who we're going to start teaching. He grew up in the church, but in the last 4-5 years his life has taken a turn for the worse (drugs; I told you, drugs are everywhere) and he's just now started to get things cleaned up. As such, we're going to help him start re-investigating his faith and connecting him with the scriptures. I'm really excited.

Pictures!

*my sweet companion Sister Chudleigh who left me to go home today. :(

Thought:

This thought is from 2 Nephi 5:27, and it says (so simply)

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

Wow. How wonderful is that? If you read earlier in the chapter, it talks about how they were industrious, working with their hands, taking care of their needs, being faithful to God...and the list goes on. I know that in these times like in the times of the Book of Mormon, the church directs us to 'live after the manner of happiness.' Just look at the 13th article of faith: "And if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." The entire intent of the Gospel is to direct us to those things which are lovely and virtuous, which will uplift us and direct us towards that manner of happiness we all desire. And yeah, that means turning down some things that may be fun but ultimately restrict us (drugs, messing around, whatever), but I know that it's worth it.

I love you all! Stay strong, and let me know what's going down in your lives!

Love,

Sister Hale

Oh my, never enough time.

Hello! So...this will be a little more brief this week than last week. Still trying to juggle things during this two hours, and I think the simple truth is that it's not enough time to do everything I want (16 minutes anyone? *sigh*). But! Better stop whining and start summarizing.

This week was great! Really full of tender mercies and miracles at every turn. Yesterday was particularly amazing. Had a wonderful meeting with our investigator Heather, did some sweet service, and (miracle of miracles) found a new investigator! (Will) We found him playing his guitar in front of the co-op, with a sign in his case that said 'College Funds'. Honest kid. ;) We had a really cool discussion with him about how a belief in God did not have to be in conflict with an understanding of science. We believe in the truth we find in all sources, and it was really awesome to share that with him. We'll be meeting with him tomorrow :D

Had a great day in South Whidbey. I love my assignment to the YSA ward. SUPER blessing. I think Heavenly Father knew I would suffer couped up in a couple blocks in suburbia, so he's given me an assignment that covers 2 stakes and allows me to see EVERYTHING; the mountains, the ocean, the islands...Wow. I don't expect to be this spoiled my whole mission. The best part of the Island trip though was that we met some AWESOME members along the way who gave us bags of strawberries and info on a lot of the kids we were trying to find. We also met some volunteer firefighters (one a member and one not) and talked to them for like...an hour. Ended up giving the Catholic one a Book of Mormon, and felt like the missionary experience was really built on kinship and love rather than fulfilling some sort of assignment. That was awesome.

The ward we're working with is INCREDIBLE. I love them to death. These kids are so eager to help, to come with us to lessons, to include everyone who comes to meet with them. It's awesome. What I love is when the clock hits 8:30 and all the guys start playing basketball. It seems that almost half of them have tattoos or whatever, that they haven't been full members or fully faithful their whole lives perhaps...but they're here, and nobody (nobody) judges them for it. They're just glad they're here, which brings me so much joy, and is exactly as it should be. The spirit of fun, love and acceptance in this ward is palpable and inspiring. I'm humbled to be a part of them.

Scripture! Then a great picture, then I'mma gonna go nap. :)

Mosiah 2:36-37 (another slightly condemning one...but the description of how the spirit works is just so great)

"And now I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered and preserved--

I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge."

I know, not happy. But that description of the spirit--that it guides us in wisdom's paths that we may be blessed and preserved--is exactly how I feel it in my life. What a blessing. How we should all work to maximize that influence in each of our lives.

Alright family and friends, I love ya. Gotta go! Please write, I'm getting letters consistently now and would love to hear from you.

XOXO

Sister Hale

PS. And this is what Sister Chudleigh and I do when we're feeling spontaneous:

June 17, 2013

So! This is like...my second week. CRAZY. I'm just starting to get a taste of what missionary life is like, and it both scares and excited me. P-day is nice to sort of order things and wrap my head around everything that is happening. One thing is for sure; with the increase in scripture study and the increase of testifying, I've grown a lot in my testimony since coming out. The Book of Mormon is such a balm to my soul, and such a director, and prayer is essential in relieving my mind of the anxieties and frustrations that occasionally crop up as part of the work. There's nothing like honestly accounting with your Heavenly Father, feeling like there's someone who loves and knows you so perfectly, and can direct you in the right paths as you're honest about what you're doing and what you want. That is a great comfort to me. 

A couple stories from the week:

1) Taught our first lesson this week! It was with Evan, this 21 year old from China who is so excellent. He has a Christian background, but was interested when we told him that the Book of Mormon provides evidence that Christ is the Savior of the entire earth, and that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. I was nervous about it being my first lesson with a real person (you can't mess up that badly at the MTC, but the real world is a different matter...), but we prayed about it and prepared ourselves the best we could, and the lesson went wonderfully. We had another investigator (his friend Tim) who's about to be baptized, and his friend Josh sit in as well, with Jessie, a rock solid member from our ward there too as back up. The Spirit was definitely present, Evan took the commitment to read and pray that the Book of Mormon was true, and I felt very blessed that it went so smoothly and that I felt guided in what to say.

2) We had a miracle day this week, on Wednesday when we decided to drive out about an hour into Snohomish county to contact some less actives. Some of you have heard, I'm positioned in a YSA ward (really different experience from a family ward so I'm told), and since we're lacking a little in people to teach, a lot of what we do is contacting the Less Actives in the area. We have a list of (literally) 833 names to contact, so there's a lot to do. And a lot of the time we don't reach people or no one answers, and then it's frustrating because we don't have a conclusion on this person and can't invite them out to church. ANYWAY, there were all these members of the ward who lived forever away and apparently hadn't been talked to for ever...so we decided to take the whole day (and a lot of miles) to go and see them. Because of the expense of going out, it was going to be unfortunate if no one was home to see us...but no joke, everyone's door that we knocked on opened up, many invited us in, and everyone knew what was going on with the names we were trying to contact. Not to mention that the drive up was stunning (STUNNING) and that it felt so great to be out in nature after a good amount of time in the suburbs. We were so blessed that day, were able to invite a lot of members back to church and find some who were really interested in coming. We'll be doing our best to get them a ride down to the Stake Center so they'll be able to feel the peace of being at church.

3) We've got a place! Sorry about the confusion with letters last week; they WILL get to me, so please send whatever you have the time to write. The address is in my first blog post, but here it is again:

Sister Bronwen Emma Hale

Washington Everett Mission

PO Box 13390

Mill Creek, WA 98082

And just a note: We're going to the Seattle Temple next week (yeah!!) so I'll be emailing on TUESDAY instead of Monday. Hope that's alright. ;)

Okay. And I'm going to end with a spiritual thought so I can get something specific to my poor parents.

I've thought a lot about Alma 30:44 this past week, and here it is:

"But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote their is a God; yea, even the earth, and all the planets which move in their regular form to witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

And earlier he talks to Korihor in vs 40-41 and says,

"And now, what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. 

But behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true."

This is incredible to me. A lot of the opposition to a belief in God lies in a supposed lack of evidence. An 'argument from ignorance'. Am I right in that logical fallacy? That's just the thing: it is a fallacy to say 'I can't see him, therefore he doesn't exist.' All things denote there is a God. This planet, the creations, our existence are all evidence. Even further, the scriptures, which are rich with God's dealings with man, which can form as a pattern for our own dealings with this, evidence this truth. This truth is further evidenced in the lives of those who are close to God, their manner, the goodness that they've found and live--the fruits of their faith. And the evidence against God? "Your word only." Doubt and fear. But nothing sure.

Alright dear ones, I've gotta go. I love you all a bunch though (Mom, please post this and forward this on to the family), and look forward to hearing from you all this week or next.

LOVE

Sister Hale

Mission Field Week 1

HELLO! :D 

I'm so so happy to be emailing. The mission is really fun; more fun than I expected, and really cool...but it's also great to hear from those I love and get back in touch with my home base.

Alright, SO! Where to begin? Well...! So far, the mission is just great. Cool, scary...but I think I'll get over the fear component (especially in regards to contacting) as I just do it and continue in faith. I'll give you all the big updates:

1) Where am I?

So it was a little scary because our mission is being SPLIT on July 1st into Seattle and Everett, with Seattle taking the lower 4 stakes. I was sure I was going to get put there and was a little bit bummed (...the beauty of the northern country!)...but huzzah! I was not put there! I'm still in Everett, serving in Everett and Snohomish stakes with Sister Chudleigh. And...*drumroll*...we're serving in the YSA ward! AH! It's so cool. It's Silverlake, they've got probably 70-80 people coming...and like 833 on the less active list. YEAH. This is the time, right? That separates the active from the less active? Yes. So this is mostly what I'll be doing; contacting as many people on that list as possible, encouraging them to come back to church, and back into the light of the Gospel.

2) Who is my companion?

SISTER CHUDLEIGH! :D ...she's great. So great. Exactly what I needed on my first transfer. She's smart, chill, beautiful...but also a go getter, extremely faithful and obedient...such a blessing. We've been having a lot of fun together. This is also her last transfer; she's 24, and headed back to Utah (and BYU-I) in mid July to finish up her degree in Humanities. I'm attaching a picture hopefully. We work really really well together though; she's trained a bunch of missionaries and is very encouraging. Super great blessing, I love her a lot.

3) What is an awesome experience you've had in this past week?

Well we've really been blessed with a lot of great experienced. We're whitewashing into the ward, which means we didn't have an area book, didn't have any moving or former investigators...kind of scary. BUT! We've been blessed to find some really cool people in just the few days I've been out.

Coolest experience on the first day of real missionary work: We were street contacting on a college campus, adn we saw these ladies signing at this table--speaking ASL. I know a bit from the last two years of High School, but I hadn't contacted anyone yet and I was SCAREDDD...anyways, Sister Chudleigh brought me over, and we started talking to them. They were very friendly; doing this if you know ASL is a little more acceptable in their culture I believe...but anyway! We dove right into it! Both were deaf....bu tit was really cool. Though I haven't spoken any sign for the last...2 years or so, I was up to speed very quickly. I was understanding and communicating pretty smoothly, while Sister Chudleigh (who knows very little) was kind of 'uh-huh ing' in the background. We talked about grace, works, having Christ in your heart...it was really neat. We ended up exchanging information with them, and getting their referral to the ASL elders (who apparently have a pretty hard time finding people to teach). It was really a great experience, especially on my first day.

Well! Didn't mean to put that in the middle of the email, but hope it worked.

4) What is a wonderful spiritual thought you'd like to share with us?

Well! I'm so glad you asked. :)

I really have learned so so much in this last week, it seems impossible to share a specific insight with you...ARG. But I'm going to do my best.

Alright, here goes: Helaman 13:38

This is a little doleful, but just hear me out.

"...for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal head."

You cannot find happiness outside of God because God is happiness. Really. And instructions to obtain that happiness are found in personal revelation and in the standards/commandments we are given, as well as in the scriptures. Believe me, there are some rules on my mission I've been reluctant about, or thought are stupid...but as soon as I obey, bend myself to that instruction, my reluctance has disappeared, and I've begun to see the reasons for the rules. I promise that this is the experience all can have as they humble themselves and seek to follow after that happiness that is found in being close to God, rather than finding it in some other way. 

Also, Met Gabe at the MTC!

MTC Second Post

Alrrriiiiiiggghhhhttt...:D So my wonderful family (and friends, as appropriate). I love you! Thank you for sending me sweet emails and Dear Elders and whatever else, I've loved hearing from you. Unfortunately this week is going to be a little short, but I'm going to do the best I can with a RESPONSE and a SUMMARY and...a scripture or something at the end.

Summary! (brief) We've been teaching a couple of 'investigators' in preparation for the real thing. We've taught Claudia and Qian, one with a Christian background, and one without. It's been interesting...and maybe a little easy comparable to how it would be in the real world (Baptismal challenge on the second meeting? ACCEPTED.). But fun, and definitely instructive. I can see why they're giving us reasonable success; they want to prep us with some 'I'm a good missionary experiences' before the world tears you down (making way for Christ to build you back up). It's been fun.

The spirit is really wonderful here. My district (I'M SENDING PICTURES, watch for another email...) is really wonderful, we're getting tighter and laughing harder all the time. The food is great, I'm striving not to eat to much and occasionaly it works! My testimony is also growing by leaps and bounds. I love the Book of Mormon; it is so thick but clear.

Couple important things:

We fly out on TUESDAY (OHH my goodness), which means I won't have another Pday (likely) till next Monday (steel yourselves). Pray for me! ANNNNDDD...I'm almost 10 minutes over, so I'm going to end with a scripture:

D&C 97:8

"Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command--they are accepted of me."

Love that, especially the 'know their hearts are honest'. Alright, not obeying with exactness, gotta go.

LOVE YOU A MILLION (and probably won't get the pictures out. :( NEXT WEEK!

Bronwen (Sister Hale)

MTC 1st Post

Hey Parents/Family! :D

ALRIGHT. So. P-Day is Friday. Who knew? Bet you didn't think you would hear from me this early, huh? Well here I am. :P And trying to summarize two zany crazy days as quickly as possible, because my time to email is limited.

First off, MOM! Thanks for your letter! For anyone that wishes to contact me/uplift a poor lonely missionary's day with a little news from the outside world, DearElder is by far the best way to do it. They print it off day of, and I get it right away. It rocks. Cath, or anyone who doesn't know how to do it, it's free, just google 'DearElder' (there really should be a Dear Sister component ;) ), select Provo MTC and enter my information, which is below:

Sister Bronwen Hale

Provo MTC Mission MTC Box 263 (most important bit)

Washington Everett

2005 N 900E

Provo UT 94604

You shouldn't need all of that, just the Provo MTC and the PO Box (263), but I'd love to hear from any and all of you, along with an address (either email or snail mail) that I can reply to. I have time at night to write hand-written stuff, but only an hour a week to email...but whatever way I get back to you, I'll do my best to reply.

ALRIGHT! Brief summary of my experience thus far, a picture or two, and then (unfortunately) I'm off to send a few other things. Time thus far has been quite crazy. We've only been working a day and a half, and it feels like we've been here a week. P Day was MUCH needed, but has been lovely. Exercise, food, companionship (a given of the missionary thing)...and the temple! Everything necessary to make it a good day. Also some time and space to breathe, which I've loved. We hear the MTC gets a little easier (with the adjustment and such) a few more days down the road, so I'm looking forward to that. I've had some excellent study time thus far though, and some awesome manifestations of the spirit. Also, I have not slept 8 hours in a night since...middle school, maybe, so the fact that that's expected of everyone and strongly enforced...? Very lovely. I've got lots of energy (thanks to the sleep AND the abundant food) which is awesome. Both me and my companion (Sister Sinclair, who in my head I keep calling Sister Sirloin) are eager to get into the field and start implementing the things that we've learned.

One experience, then I'll share a quote and GO! (sorry for the limited time) My favorite experience of the week we the Teaching experience we did on the first night. A group of 50 elders and sisters (there are SO many sisters here. 375 to 350 entered on Wednesday! :D) went into a room with an investigator. And if these investigators were actors, they were GOOD. They were DANG good, they...freaked us out and put us in our place when we started using churchy language on them. It was something I was not prepared to see at the MTC: Investigators abusing missionaries (ever so slightly). This was most notable in our first investigator, a girl names Lawanna. She was a black girl with some 'tude, and she was not interested in what we had to say. All our missionary talk--whoosh, right past the head. This was in large part because we as a group were so eager to share, to convince in a way, that we hadn't gotten to really know her, to show her that we cared as a true diciple of Christ would. That's what I'm most pumped about; seeing these people as God sees them, loving them and showing them that we're really there to serve in uplift, in any capacity (including teaching the Gospel). That's what got me so pumped about this experience, the idea that I would be teaching real people, getting into their lives, and hopefully improving them by making them aware of God's hand and place in their lives.

Another fun thing: my companion, Sister Sinclair. She is wonderful. So down to earth, not high-strung...genuine and humble, honest and cool...we are having a great time. I'm so pleased that she puts up with me. I am currently senior companion (a stroke of 'alphabetical inspiration' from our Branch Presidency), but we'll be switching next week. The only threat is that I'm tempted to steamroll her sometimes (because she's quite gentle and I just love to get my thoughts out there), but as I grow in confidence of her spirit and teaching, we're able to balance things quite nicely.

Which brings me to a QUOTE I want to share, then a brief testimony and I'm off. ;) 

Dangit, it won't let me copy-paste. BASICALLY it's an excerpt from President Monson's most recent conference address about Obedience and Truth. He says: (and this is highly condensed and Bronwen-ized, as I can't copy it)

There is no need for us in this enlightened age to sail uncharted waters or walk in unmarked paths in search of truth. Our loving Heavenly Father has laid the path for us and provided an unfailing guide, even obedience. A knowledge of truth and answers to our greatest questions come as we are obedient to the commandments of God.

I testify that that is true, that God will not trust us with the true and full answers to our questions, seekings and longings unless we demonstrate that we are trustworthy--through obedience. Trust me, I've had to deal with the obedience a lot in the last few days, but I can feel that as I am humbling myself to strive to follow mission rules more closely, that I am enabling my mind to recieve the uplift and information I need to teach in full. I know that life in the Gospel brings us more peace, fulfillment and joy, a more active and open mind, and a more humble and servicable spirit to us than would otherwise be possible. I've got a lot to learn, but hopefully I'm on the way.

Love you guys! Sorry this was rushed. Again, I'd love to hear from you, even if it's just a few lines.

Sister Hale

Hey y'all :)

So this is my first post-type thing, and my mother will be posting periodically from here on out. Thanks for checking in and keeping in touch! I'm excited for this adventure, and only pray that I will be humble enough to really experience this to the fullest. If you want to write,

Send letters here:

Sister Bronwen Emma Hale

Washington Everett Mission

PO Box 13390

Mill Creek, WA 98082-1390

United States

Send packages here (Packages? Oh yes! Packages!):

Sister Bronwen Emma Hale

Washington Everett Mission

16124 35th Ave SE

Mill Creek, WA 98012

United States

Or email me here:

bronwen.hale@myldsmail.net

If you're writing/sending stuff while I'm in the MTC, this is the address:

Sister Bronwen Emma Hale
MTC Mailbox # 263
WA-EVR 0604
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

I feel very blessed to be serving, if a little scared. I feel better today than I did yesterday though, which is a great blessing! :) And to close (this first, unofficial-type blog post), I want to share with you the scripture that will be powering me on this first mission of mine:

Mosiah 27:25-26

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be ^aborn again; yea, ^bborn of God, ^cchanged from their carnal and^dfallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his ^esons and daughters;

 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in ^anowise inherit the kingdom of God.

This being 'born again' is your spiritual birth, or conversion from being a natural man into being "a saint," with no desire to do evil (Mosiah 3:19). This is the kind of change I hope to cement in myself through serving a mission, but more importantly it is the kind of change I hope to help facilitate amongst the people of Washington State. Being born of God means an entirely new quality of life, looking outward for how you can serve your fellow man, as well as inward to determine which parts of you need to go, and which parts need to be expanded and refined. It is my testimony that though Heavenly Father, in his mercy, has provided many avenues for this kind of change (art, music, service, and that ever present existential angst), that it is through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that we can find the fullest answers to these questions of the soul, turn ourselves most outward and discipline ourselves the most on the inside. I'm not going on a mission to sell anything. I'm not going to make anyone do anything they don't want to do. But I'm going to invite, entice and encourage, with hopefully the constant aid of the spirit, all individuals I can to come unto Christ and be healed. 

Wish me luck, and stay tuned. I love you guys.

Bronwen (soon to be Sister Hale)

PS: Some pics from my call and opening:

And my official missionary-type picture: