July 18th, 2011 Liberty Jail

Hi everyone!

Hands down the hardest, most challenging week of my mission.

We went and saw our investigator Art on Tuesday, whom I was meeting for the first time. I loved him from minute one. He is just a super sweet old man. After talking for a minute Sis. Fie'eiki asked if he was coming to church on Sunday, but he hesitated. I could tell something wasn't right. He then proceeded to tell us that he decided to stay with the Restoration Church. He couldn't get past the LDS Church’s line of authority and how he was never able to hear a sermon on Sunday.

The worst part of it was that he was so sweet about it. I couldn't hold back for some reason and started to cry. He kept apologizing and telling us that he had fasted and prayed about it and it just wasn't right. How do you argue with that? You don't. Instead, we both bore testimony and told him how much love our Heavenly Father has for him. The spirit was beautiful. Sis. Fe gave a closing prayer and we continued to cry. We gave him a parting (illegal) hug, and that was it. It broke our hearts. (Sis Fe and I both broke down in the car for almost an hour-we are such girls...) I knew the man for 20 minutes max, but I have not felt that devastated in a long time. It was so sad, but at the same time it was beautiful. Art has now at least had that contact. He has felt the Spirit and I know at some point he will come around.

The entire experience reminded me how much love my Heavenly Father has for me. This Gospel is the most peaceful thing on the earth. Having that understanding really helped us through this week.

As the week continued, more drama and trials continued to unfold. I think at some point we all hit a breaking point, and I hit mine. The things Sis. Fe and I went through made us stronger individually and as a companionship.

While serving in the jail 6 hours a day, I am able to hear the narration over and over again. This week it had a new meaning. "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”

We are given trials in our lives to make us better. They are to test us, and help us become whom our Heavenly Father intends us to be. We will get through them; they will make us stronger and help us prepare for future things to come.

Even though we had a difficult week there were a few highlights:

We met with a former investigator named La Retta. She is 70 and just precious. She basically told us her entire life story. She also had something to show us. She led us into a back room where there was a GIANT painting of a clown on the door. Stepping into the room, I realized we were in some sort of clown sanctuary. Paintings, figurines, outfits, dolls, magic boxes, and makeup covered the room. Turns out La Retta was a professional clown for 20 some odd years. CREEPY! I'm not necessarily afraid of clowns but I don't really enjoy them either. It’s just kind of weird. I was happy to get out of that room! There are all sorts of people in the world....

I was able to see the progress of the temple being built! It’s small but beautiful! It’s the one and only building you can see for miles as it towers above the trees. Pretty cool :)

We also went to the Independence MO. Visitors Center. Visiting with the Sister Missionaries there was really fun. The presentation of "God's Plan for His Family" was recently remodeled. I hadn't seen the original tour but this one is amazing. I am so grateful for my own family whom I love more than anything, and am able to live with for eternity.

We had a dinner appointment with an older, single lady on Saturday. She's a "special spirit" 1. She has a cat. Cats and I don’t get along very well. 2. Sis. Fe got stuck in the bathroom! It's an older apartment, and the door just wouldn't open. She almost had a heart attack...

Shoot, my time is running out. I've got to run.

I love you all.

Talk to you next week.

Sister Hall