I have definitely neglected sending a thorough email home for the past two weeks, so I will try to make up for it today!

Things have been pretty steady out here, getting busier every day. Missions are great, they push a person beyond what you think you can do, and then push you even further haha. I'll admit, there have been some hard days these past couple of weeks, but I'm grateful for those days, because they showed me a lot. Sunday, July 21, really taught me a great lesson. There was a talk given by Elder Bednar I believe, sorry if I'm wrong, called "that we might not shrink." Man that is a good talk. It hit me for the first time that its not enough to simply survive a difficult time, yes its a good thing to step back and say, well I did it, it wasn't pretty but I'm alive. We need to step back during the trial, and ask, What can I do, so that I don't shrink during this trial, and so I can see what it is I can learn from it. That has changed my perspective entirely. I've thought a lot about the difficulties that have come in my life, and I see that when I turned my sights towards God and my Family, that the challenges were easier to bear. When I depended on my own strenght...I failed miserably lol. Life is to find joy, and not to dwell on the negative, and that is what I want to do better at!

Like I said, this week was tough, but when I applied this to myself, things got a ton better! We've had many miracles come our way here in Clovis, and I'm incredibly grateful for them! we've met two incredible young single parents this week, who have a strong desire to learn more about Christ. They are awesome parents and are some of the most genuine people I have ever met. I love meeting new people, I use to be really intimidated to walk up to total strangers and introduce myself, but now, I LOVE IT! People for the most part are extremely nice out here, and usually have really cool histories, all you have to do is ask, and you can find out a lot about a person. One of the greatest miracles I got to see this week was the return of our dear friend DANNY! Two weeks ago he want AWOL and we couldn't find him anywhere. He moved out of the house he was living at, and we couldn't find him anywhere. We were so worried that we would drive by the places we usually saw him 2 times a day : ( Then Yesterday we were welcoming people to church, and he walks right through the doors! I've never seen such an awesome sight!!! We gave him the biggest smiles we had and shook his hand! Turns out he took a job that made him be gone for 10 days in a row, and he didn't have a way to communicate with us. What a relief!

Some other great moments this week include us getting to make homemade jam with a recent convert in the ward! Jan Finch is the sweetest lady ever! We made homemade strawberry and strawberry kiwi jam and it was to die for! I think when I get home I might try canning, it was a ton of fun! We also were contacting one day and walking up someones driveway by the grass when all of a sudden the sprinklers shot out of the ground and drenched us! It was a Hot day so it felt great, but it was soo funny because it scared the daylight out of us and sister soules screamed and jumped 3 feet in the air! things are really looking up now, and I owe it to Heavenly Father watching out for us, and helping me have a more positive outlook. I still feel like there is so much more I can do, but I am not burdened or worried, because I know as long as I make myself available, and do my very best, all will be well. Sometimes missionary work is like a toddler trying to paint a wall, The father lets them help the best they can, but ultimately we'll just make a big mess, however, he see's us doing our best, and that is all that He asks. So thats what I'm doin, making a mess, trying my hardest, and hoping that the God will help me do all He needs me to do.

I hope you all know how much I love you! 

Sister Amy Hall

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

I can't help but think about home today, since I can picture in my mind exactly what everyone is going to be doing today back home! Pancake breakfast, parade, Aunt Kristies family setting up by the arena under the tree's, Mom and Dad staying in the trailer park, and people wandering all over Rosemary watching tractor pulls and enjoying the warm weather! Oh I miss it! : ) people here are super patriotic which is extremely refreshing. Because the church that I am serving in is predominantly a military ward, they had all the military members stand up at the front to sing the American Anthem. It was quite touching. I will admit tho, I secretly wanted to sing Oh Canada really bad : ) So my companions will have to deal with my unrelenting love for my Home and Native Land! I think this time of year is awesome tho because we get to really think of all that God has given us, and be grateful for the freedom that we have. There are so many around the world who do not have what we have, and I am thankful that we can believe what we want to believe.

This week has been a great one! I'm sure your all wondering how I am fairing with being a new

'mother' of two! But its been fantastic! Honestly, we are all pretty new, so when the going gets tough and I'm not sure where to go or what to do, we simply put it into God's hand and he leads the way. Its been a big learning experience for me and my faith has really been both tested, and strengthened. Saturday was long and HOT! Everyone we had planned to go and see fell through and we ended up feeling pretty discouraged by the time 6:30 rolled around. Then One of my companions felt like we should go to this park right by our apartments. So we went walking, honestly my heart wasn't in it, I felt pretty tired and just frustrated. So I said a small prayer to myself, asking that if there is anyone that we need to find today, that we can find them and help them. Well we found him. Just Like Johnny, we almost walked right by him, but instead walked up and got his attention. This man's name is Danny, and He is 50 or so, and it turns out he's a completely normal guy, retired police officer, had tons of experience in his life, and has recently had many hard things happen to him. The past 3 years everything in his life flipped upside down. His mom, dad and sister passed away, He lost his house, truck and has hardly any family to help him out. Its a heartbreaking story, because despite all of this He's stayed sober, no drinking or smoking for 11 years. And as of right now he sleeps in his storage unit. His story is so humbling, and the more we talked to him the more we knew we had to help him. So we asked him to come to church with us the next day. We met him at the park at 9:15am to bike with us to church. He was there! So Yesterday He met the bishop, who has given him many places to find work, and we found him a place to sleep until He can get on his feet.

 

He asked us to right our names down yesterday on a paper. We asked him why, and he said it was so he could pray for us at night and thank heavenly Father that He found us. Apparently, just hours before we met him, he asked Heavenly Father to help him, that he didn't know what to do or where to go anymore. He said that He promised God that if He would show him where to go, He would follow, but that He just needed to know the path to follow.

I'm constantly amazed by the experiences that God blesses us with out here. There is a scripture that I am always reminded of, "He that loses His life for my sake shall find it." -Matt 16:21-28 My sister Trisha told me before I left on my mission that she's never been happier than helping people around her, and its never been more true for me.

On the other side of things...my companions and I got a bit goofy and possibly sun happy and ended up having little side adventures while working this week. I'll send pictures but some include, hunting toads, racing bicycles through speed zones to see how fast we can go, making delicious Smorito's...(smores in a tortilla), and spontaneously breaking out into song while in the apartment... : ) The life of a missionary is never a dull moment.

Missing everyone back home, I love you all! Hope you are well and enjoy this wonderful day to celebrate our Country!

Your all in my heart!

Sister Amy Hall