Letter #71

Sent:

Mon 7/21/14 1:22 PM

Hello!

So this past week was jam packed with miracles and very much needed tender mercies. We finally had a sit down lesson with a lady that we've been trying to contact for the past 8 weeks.  The discussion went really well and she expressed to us that she would like to have a similar foundation and closeness with her family as she has seen in her friend's family (who are members.) She also said that she loves how sacred we keep our temples... That statement right there already tells you just how prepared she is. We will be meeting with her again on Friday! Hopefully her family will sit in :) So one thing that happened his past week that seems to never happen, is that we received three referrals! Two of them were from church headquarters and the other from a member! One referral was for two brothers. They are 13 and 17 years old and from the looks of it, they've grown up in a pretty sad home life. They told us that they don't live here but were just staying with their dad and his girlfriend and would only be in town for a few weeks so it's interesting that we received a referral
to go see them. The referral that we received from a member was pretty neat too. One of the guys that just returned from his mission, invited one of his friends over while we were having dinner at their home and we were able to teach the first lesson to everyone that was there but focusing on his friend. It was super cool because everyone was participating in the discussion! We then had a lesson with a man named Reuben. He is going to get baptized one day. Probably not while I'm here but he most definitely will be a member of the church at some point. He is sincerely seeking for the truth and has a really good heart. You can tell from the expression on his face that he is just so confused and that a majority of his time is filled with study and prayer about his salvation. In the lesson that we had with him, he would ask one question and before we could answer he would ask another. He is such a good guy and just wants to know what's right. He will be out of town for a little while so we won't be able to meet with him but he promised that he would be reading from The Book of Mormon. On Saturday, we went to a Relief Society activity called Super Saturday! It was great fun! They taught how to make homemade pies in 17 minutes! Crazy, huh? We then took one of our investigators to a baptism and the Spirit was so strong. During the middle of the program she wrote down on a piece of paper, "I have beautiful thoughts and peaceful feelings." The Spirit was totally testifying to her that all the things she's been learning are true! We just hope that she recognized it. We have another lesson with her tomorrow so we will see. OH! So the other day ALL of our appointments fell through and so we decided to go tracting in 97 degree humid weather...... Good choice, right? Right. Because Heavenly Father is just so so good to us. We were knocking doors and nobody was home and then 3 people, one right after another, let us in!! They each asked us if we wanted water. Which we did the first time because we were DYING but then after the first lady that kept refilling my cup to the brim, I was done. I tried drinking it slowly but she insisted to make sure it was full even after I took a sip.... It may sound humorous but after that happened 3 times, I was done. I had to go to the bathroom so bad it wasn't even funny. It's really amazing how the Spirit can touch someones heart so quickly. Each one of those doors that we knocked on, said that they weren't interested but after saying a prayer on their doorstep, they let us come in and even gave us  a tour of their house and the other played amazing grace on the harp. It was quite the experience and they told us to come back again! Another time when we were tracting in the heat on Ridge street, we knocked every door and either nobody answered or people were just rude. Then, like always, the last door opens up and they are golden! We met Donna, a survivor of 2 near death experiences and owner of 8 dogs!  3 Chihuahua's, 1 pug, 2 pitbulls, and 2 labs. People in Oregon LOVE their animals :D Anyway, she is so elect! I have a very strong feeling that she will be baptized within the next few weeks! Well, i've got to go but know that I love you oh so much and that i'm excited to see you someday..... soon. I cannot even believe how fast time is flying. I've probably said that a million times within the past few weeks but it's just so nuts! I love you!
Love,

Sister Hall

P.S. I will write out a list of people that I would like to be at the airport. And yes, I come home on the 26th of August!