Mixed Feelings

What happened Monday to Friday was not near as interesting as what
happened from Saturday to this afternoon.
Friday we went on exchanges with Elder T. He is a great elder
and has lot of fun doing the right things. It was a great exchange
highlighted by teaching R T and his two friends, who both
want to be baptized. We also taught our Jewish investigator how Christ
cleanses us from sin, which was thrilling. Saturday morning  we woke
to 15 missed calls from who? The mission president. He called us 15
times between 2 am to 2:15 am and we slept through all of them.
In case you didn't realize, that's one of the scariest things that
could ever happen to you as a missionary. Our mission president would
not call us more than twice for something unless it was urgent. We
gave him a text and a call and he didn't reply, which made us even
sicker. To be honest, the Elder S, T, and I were expecting
one of our family members to be dead. Finally, we decided to call
Elder C and W to see what was up.
Thank goodness, no one was dead. But my trainee was in the hospital.
He got in a bike crash on exchanges and had some major injuries. The
mission president called us so many times because he was with Elder
W, knocking on our door at 2 in the morning to try and get
inside. Call me a heavy sleeper.
A few hours later we got Elder W back. He obtained a concussion
the moment the face hit the pavement and he can't remember anything.
He has a broken wrist, a fracture in his cheek bone, two in the eye
socket, and one in the nose. His right eye was in bad shape. He
couldn't move most of his mouth. This was the third time he's crashed
in the 9 weeks he's been on a mission. Bless his heart. This one was
pretty major. Elder S and I were more than ready to take care of
him for the rest of the day, but we had 8 lessons set up for that day.
Instead of missing out on a milestone day, Elder C went with
some other missionaries, and the four  of us  covered our area. We
took turns. Two would go out, and one would stay with the injured
W. It was chaos. We ended up bagging five of the eight, and
rescheduled the other three. In fact, throughout all of this, I broke
my personal record of lessons taught in a week. We had more member
present lessons than all other lessons combined.
Also, my companion Elder S finished his two years today, so he's gone.
He was in some bad shape, but things were looking up. The three of us
were contemplating how to make it work. We have so many people
investigating in both wards, there's just no way we could do the work
without some serious planning. It took a bit of brainpower, but with
the help of our Ward mission leaders we created a plan for Elder
W to be watched over as we did the work.
Can I just say, the Old Settlers and Stony Point wards have been
phenomenal in helping us out. We have received many phone calls and
texts from the wards, member after member has brought over ice cream,
applesauce, mashed potatoes, and just about anything you can eat
without chewing. It was heart softening to see people walk up during
church and ask to help him out in some way. And of course, this was
the same week that they asked me to sing a special musical number
during sacrament. Here I was, singing "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"
solo while my companion is laying on the couch in the apartment with
Elder T. Goodness.
Things were looking up until we got a call today at 10:00. President
called and said he wanted Elder W to recover in his home. He was
sending him home. Oh man. He hasn't even been out for three months. It
was tough. At that point you almost want to say that you 
should have gone home. Like if you were the one that should have got
their face smashed on the sidewalk. You've been a missionary for
eleven months. He needs to be out here! But it is all part of God's
plan. If it was supposed to go down another way, it would have gone
down another way. But it didn't. Friday night I had two companions,
now I'm on an extended exchange with Elder T. Crazy. Don't know
where I'll be or who I'll be with for another couple of days. Rumor
has it we might get a car. With my luck, probably not. The relief
society president felt bad, so she got us In-N-Out. Bless her heart.
I've been stretched for sure. It's a wild, wild life. I'm just glad
that there are absolutes. The mission will continue to go forth. Souls
will be saved. Friends are made, hearts are touched. Having a perfect
brightness of hope is more soothing than a perfect shadow of doubt.
This is an amazing area. This is the most successful I've felt as a
missionary in the past eleven months. I love to obey rules. I love to
serve. I think it's time for me to take a much needed nap. We cannot
stop the work. It will not be stopped.

Elder Richard Hall

1. This was taken before his ride to San Antonio. My first trainee.

Not Quite Finished

Wowee Zowee what a week. Ever since we combined areas with Stony Point
Ward we've had more work than you can shake a stick at. And it looks
like we're just going to get more! This week we used our trio of
missionaries to full effect, going on splits almost every night.
That's one luxury to having three missionaries in a companionship, one
goes with a member with all the set appointments, and the other two
find for the rest of the night. It's a beautiful thing.
Speaking of beautiful things, we have had much success with the T
family lately. They are such a crazy family. I can't decide how to
explain the situation without throwing in too much information, so I
must going to throw up everything about them and see if it gets you
sufficiently updated on the situation.
The husband and wife, R and T, have three kids, E, S,
and R. But, they have guardianship over Seven other kids: T,
B, H, J, and D. J and H are unaccountable,
T and B recently were baptized, R was a member already,
T was recently baptized as well. That leaves five others (D,
As, R E, and S) unbaptized. This week though, we've
made amazing progress. Steven, who almost always leaves the room when
we come, joined in on a lesson with us this week and had a lot of
questions about being a missionary. R has openly expressed that he
wants to be baptized and we are trying to set him with a date as soon
as possible. DJ has decided to be baptized by Elder S. That
creates a few problems, however, because Elder S is going home on
the 27th of May. So what are we going to do? Baptize him on the 26th!
It quite honestly is the soonest we could baptize him, so I hope that
it all works out. His intent is real and he is keeping all the
commitments. We need to get past a few concerns and it'll all work
out. A Wants to be baptized, but is afraid to commit to a date.
She has made so much progress with her in the past week, we are amazed
by her faith. We hope that we can commit her tonight. Wish us luck.
R is going through some major health problems and has has a hard
time coming to church these last few weeks. He just had a spinal tap
and liver biopsy, so we'll get to see what is going on. Our prayers go
to him as well as the whole family.
So that's the T's in a nutshell. A very large nutshell. But hey,
it is great. They love missionaries so much. They are such a great
family. Every time we go there it is a spiritual experience.
This Friday I had an excellent Chance to go on exchanges with Elder
C. He is an amazing missionary, filled with the spirit. We
have served around each other for the last seven months, and during
that time he has made s great impression on me. He knows what is right
and he works hard. We had an amazing lesson with one of their most
promising family, the D. I think it's important to note that is
one of the coolest names for a family ever.
I wanted to take a moment to share a thought I've been having
repeatedly. In cross country, my coach would always run us to death
for 60 minutes, give us a drink of water, and have us run for 30 more
minutes. It was, character building, we could say. I remember that at
the end of every practice, he would say, "remember, champions are made
when no one is looking."
I liked that quote back then, but I love that quote now. I don't think
I understood at the time that a champion wasn't the person who got
first place. Champions were the people who conquered themselves, and
because they could conquer themselves they were able to conquer
everyone else.
As a missionary, we have this idea of success. Getting trust with the
Ward members, baptizing and retaining converts, putting in an all in
effort. This is a successful missionary. This is a champion of
spreading the gospel, as it looks on the outside. But how did that
champion come to be?
I like to think that sometimes, not always, but sometimes, the Lord
cares just as much as the progress you made in who you are just as
much as what you are doing. Actually, Preach my Gospel says, "just as
important as what you are doing, is who you are." Who are we when no
one is looking? That is how you can determine whether or not you are a
real champion. A champion is someone who volunteers to put down chairs
after church, even when there are nonmembers there. A champion shakes
at the appearance at sin, but doesn't let sinners shake him. A
champion doesn't get angry, only motivated. Champions don't get
offended, instead they learn. A champion does the dishes for everyone
in the apartment and doesn't say a word, but not because there is a
rule in the missionary handbook. What we do when no one is looking is
still something we do, so it should be just as important as when
everyone is looking.

Elder Richard Hall

Two Turntables and a Microphone

Wow, what a week. Covering two wards now (Stony Point and Old Settlers) is just insane. We have been doing everything we can to go out and to serve the lord. And my goodness is there work to do.
The T family is progressing really well. They are a family of 10 that are taking lessons from the missionaries. The dad is a member, and the mom and two kids were baptized just a few weeks ago, and the whole family is on fire. Well, most of them. There are two that can't be baptized, and another not interested, but the other four are all progressing amazingly! This week there was seven of them at church- all the members. And three of the investigating children. Holy frijoles! It's a great family to walk into.
We are also teaching a few other families, including the B. I've talked about them in the past. Brother B is a recent convert, and his wife is a Jew. For the past four mons we've been meeting with them, she hasn't been too interested in finding out for herself is Jesus Christ is the messiah. But for these last two weeks she's been seriously praying and studying to see what is true. The big difference has been Brother L, a member of our Ward that has started to tag along. He has done a great job helping us teach. Now she wants to come to church whether or not her husband comes. It's crazy! And she loves missionaries. Every time I go there she welcomes us in and gives me a soda. I can't complain with that.
I was sitting in the sacrament meeting of Stony Point Ward, with the whole chapel filled in front of me, and the first thing that came to mind was, "what a small ward!" It is true that there is 250+ people attending Stony Point Ward, and it is also true that I haven't covered a Ward this small since the very beginning of my mission. In Old Settlers sacrament, all the kids and youth went to the front to sing a special Mother's Day song, and I lost count of how many there were after 120. It just showed me how I haven't really covered an area that wasn't a suburb for a long, long time. I thought to myself, "why are there so many old people in this Ward?" There was maybe 20 people over sixty there, t compared to the 7 in Old Settlers, and a collective 9 in my last area, that's a ton of fogies! It'll be exciting to cover a new area, I'm very glad that I get some more diversity in my missionary work.
Yesterday I and 75000 missionaries around the world got to call or Skype with their families, and even more so, their mothers.
I love my mom! When I was in high school, my works most likely did not show the true feelings of my heart, but I promise you mom, I love you! And I fell like I cleaned up my act in college some.
Anyways, one of my favorite traditions that our family has is to write a poem for mom on Mother's Day. I took some time this sabbath day to write one for her. Last night I shared it over Skype. But I'd  like to share it with others. I feel like it describes my family all too well for others not to see it.
To my Mom, by R. Wesley Hall
Dear Mom,
How are you? I am well. I'm an Elder, can't you tell?
Here I am on a screen looking at the family scene
One in Georgia, another in Canada, two have been living in su casa!
Another in Texas, the Lone Star State. 13 months till his homecoming date!
All these kids with hectic lives plus the old man and his awkward jives
But here's a day devoted to you- I hope your kids have all pulled through
I know you know we're friends- friends forever
This is a tie that will never, never sever
Thorough life you've smacked me like a ball on a tether
Put me in my place, made me tough as leather
Gave me punishment for my disobedience,
Helped me put my crap together.
You're the one that helped me learn myself
That there is a way to arrange CDs on the shelf
I love you mom, cause you're the best I've had
You make good balance with your eternal companion, my dad
The lesson taught by you have been invaluable.
"Eat chocolate, do your best, shut up
Go to school, you're an idiot, buck up,
Save a mission, help others, lighten up"
These are the things I remember most today
To be straight, I wouldn't want it another way
Kind words are heard when through gritted teeth you plea
"I love my family, I love my family, I love my family"
Together we are called to serve, and thank the lord for it
Thank you mom, for what you do
And for raising 5 little Gits.

I would also like to add that the family that offered their home for the three of us (I'm in a trio, in case you didn't know) to Skype together was super cool. The Richmond family is one of the coolest families ever. I found out they go to ACL and SXSW every year. What do you know, to of the most amazing live music festivals in the US! And they said they already have plans to watch Spoon and Radiohead in Austin this year. Lord, please transfer me to San Antonio before the temptation becomes too much. We got to exchange music tastes. I introduced them to Future Islands, they played some Joy Division in return. We then had to stop the music party before it got too wild. But I felt like that was noteworthy to mention that nugget of worldliness.

Man, I love being a missionary. We are going to be so busy, and time isn't getting any longer. Next week is right around the corner and this week hasn't started yet. Who knows what'll be the next big ting around the corner for next week.

Elder Richard Hall

1. This beauty I found while street contacting. I love boat cars so much
2. A recent addition to my collection. An investigator gave Elder W and I four unused tickets to Nolan Ryan's sixth no hitter. Next step- get them signed.

Busy Day

I apologize right now, I do not have time to write a weekly letter, we
have been trying to do so much today. But I'll give you some
highlights.

Transfers happened. I will be covering an additional area with Elder
Whiteley and Elder S. I am the most senior companion. Elder S
is going home in three weeks. He trained Elder H, who partly
trained me, and Elder S and I are currently training Elder
W. It is crazy. Luckily, we will not be changing addresses and
consequently apartments.
This will be my fourth transfer in the area. That's a long time. I
really liked it when I was moving around a lot.

Yesterday we had the same gospel principles lesson that I started with
way back on July 11, 2015. I'm starting to feel very, very old.
I'll send the district photo. Four out of the eleven people in this
photo will be home in 2-42 days. There are a lot of young guns in this
picture though.