December 27, 2010

MOM and DAD,
It was good to hear from you guys. You all look very different.
Elder Curtis and I had a great Christmas. I didn't take any pictures, I'm bad at that. You will have to tell everyone thank you for me. The ward and family and friends were very nice to me.
Church was nice. Due to all of the zone stuff that had to be dealt with it was only the second time that I had been to the ward here in Ankeny, and the first time that I had been at Elders Quorum. I still struggle with learning everyone's names. There is only a couple weeks left of the transfer and I feel a little under pressure to get to know everyone if Elder Curtis does leave the area.
The other day Elder Curtis and I tracted into a less active member's home who had just moved into the area. She is a single mother with 4 daughters. Her daughters are not members so we have been teaching them for the last week or so. Two of them are interested in listening and possibly baptism, but we are not sure yet. I think that is the latest and greatest that has happened to us. This week has been really slow with Christmas and the mission wide bi-transfer interviews with President. With the new year approaching Elder Curtis and I are going to start a new diet as of Jan. 1. During the last couple of weeks every one has given us so many holiday favorites, so we are going to purge our systems with a good old magnesium flush to get us started, its a popular missionary diet starter.
Well I did want to thank you guys for all of the awesome presents that you sent me. Elder Curtis and I had a sweet Bop-It battle last night. He won. He holds the new high score. I've already dived into a couple of the books that you have sent me. Thank you. I LOVE YOU ALL -Elder Hale

December 22, 2010

Hey Family,
Sorry about Monday, there have been some big things going on in the zone that Elder Curtis and I needed to take care of, so I didn't get a p-day until today. This last week has been really crazy. We had to take care of some emergency exchanges last Wednesday with two companionships in the Ames area. The last week we have been back and forth between Ankeny and Ames to cover both areas and to get everything straightened out and packed up. It's been very stressful.
This last week I have discovered a grey patch of hair that just showed up, so don't make fun of me when you see me on Skype. We haven't had much time to work in our area. Everything either got canceled or rescheduled until after Christmas. I did get your Christmas packages yesterday. Elder Curtis wanted to open a gift last night so we both opened one. I opened the new family picture. Everyone looks like they have lost weight. Melanie you look so grown up, I can't believe how much you all have changed.
No worries family, Christmas is going to be awesome! President has given everyone the option to sleep in until 8:00!! I didn't see that coming. So we are going to have a great morning. Then the Cox family invited us to come over and have homemade waffles and open our presents with them, which will be fun. They are a huge, energetic family. President has also allowed the missionaries to watch a movie, "Its a Wonderful Life", so we are going to watch that with them as well. I don't think that I have seen it so that will be cool. Then after all that is done we are going to go over to the Price's house and skype so I think that it will be around 12 maybe 1 o'clock? around then some time. So sleep in, enjoy the morning, get a cardboard cut-out of me and put it on the couch.
I've received some awesome packages and cards from a lot of people in the ward and friends, so I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!! It's great to have so much love and support from everyone.
LOVE YOU ALL -Elder Hale
p.s. Sister Jergensen said thanks for the Christmas card. She loved it.

December 13, 2010

MOM AND DAD,
I have no idea when I will be making "THE CALL", but I'll let you know when I do. We have found a member's home that has Skype, but we have yet to get all the details worked out. Elder Curtis and I have been so busy the last couple of weeks planning exchanges, zone conference, training meeting, interviews and a zone emphasis. We aren't going to have a regular week until after Christmas, but I'll put it on my to-do list this week.
I received a package from the Wagners this week. I already opened the presents that were in it. I'm glad I did, it was some winter gear. Thank you so much Wagner family!!
This week was a busy one, we had zone leader council on Tuesday, and leadership training meeting Wednesday through Friday. Then we went on exchanges with the Ames district leader. We haven't had a lot of time to focus on our area, but when we were here the weather was awful. Saturday night there was a huge blizzard and all the cars were grounded, but we did get to go see a less active member within walking distance, along with a little tracting. Sunday morning church was canceled, and our only appointment for the day rescheduled, so we tracted for the day. I recorded the weather man onto a tape for you guys, so you could know how cold it was..."5 degrees, brisk wind" and took a picture of ourselves in out winter gear and I looked like the kid from off the "Christmas Story", I wore every layer I could.
We do have a baptism date though, his name is J. He a golden investigator who is about to get married to a member. His fiancee was less active, but she is now coming back to church. His date is for the 15th of Jan. Every thing has been going great for J and the baptism until this week, his fiancee showed some concerns. She said that she is not sure this was the path that she wanted for them, (regarding being active in the church). She feels like she doesn't have a testimony and is not sure if this is right for the two of them. So now we have some things to work on.
Family, I have a list of some stuff I was thinking about for Christmas that you asked me last week about:
-Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage
-Answer to Gospel Questions by Joseph F. Smith
-The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
-A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
-A Bop-it? that would be cool...

I LOVE YOU ALL -Elder Hale

December 6, 2010

MOM AND DAD,
Well, here I am again, just been transferred and had a baptism on Saturday. It went real smooth. His name is J and he is a 18 year old guy who was introduced to the church by a member. His family are not members but are very supportive and were touched at his baptism. We are going to try to start teaching his parents this week.
Ankeny is so different from the rest of the mission. This town reminds me of Anthem / Scottsdale mixed together. Its a very new and fast growing town with very wealthy, established people living here. I'm still in culture shock.
My companion is Elder Curtis. He's way solid and is really showing me the ropes of the Zone Leader thing. There is so much more to plan for. We planned for almost 2 days last week to get every thing set up for the transfer and to get out goals established for the zone. Yesterday we had to give a presentation the the Stake Presidency at a missionary coordination meeting. I now have a greater appreciation for Stake Presidents and Bishops. There is so much that goes on behind the curtains to run the church.
All and all every thing is good. The ward is HUGE! and they are very very helpful and engaged in the work. It reminds me of a ward at home or a ward in Salt Lake. The members are awesome, and actually played a prank on me last night for being the new guy, I'll have to tell you another time.
I didn't get your letter last week. Elder Noel should forward it to me soon. I have some things that I was thinking about for Christmas, mainly books. Ill get it to you next week.
I LOVE YOU ALL -Elder Hale
P.S. I can Skype for Christmas, so you will have to get that connected and up and running!!!!!

December 1, 2010

MOM AND DAD,
So I hope you got my Christmas card, it should be there by now. I also sent off a package of some books, letters from home, and some old movies from around the apartment that we don't use any more, just hang onto the books. I want to read them when I get home. The reason I am sending you a box is because I am getting transferred. Tomorrow morning I have to be in Iowa City. I don't know where, or who my companion is, but I did get released from being a District Leader and called to be a Zone Leader. I'm a little nervous. Being a district leader almost wore me out, but we will see how this new calling goes. All the elders in the district are mad that I am leaving. Elder Franz, in particular, is upset because we have become good friends and I will miss Elder Noel and Elder Wilson. So no worries on packages and letters, just hold off until Monday until I can get you my new address.
This week has been sooooo cold. Last night we were tracting and I just don't remember last year being so cold. I put on all my layers and the wind was still getting through.
So I now get to miss out on D's baptism, I'm a little sad about that. This letter was probably all over the place but my mind is a little boggled at the moment.
Hope all is well I LOVE YOU ALL -Elder Hale

p.s. I'm going to try and sent those pictures you wanted in this e-mail. Hope you can work with that. Yea, I cut my own hair, and its short!