Week 16 in Brooksville

This week was fantastic just as they always are. The Kimmel family

that referred themselves online came to church again. Sister Kimmel

the non member accepted a baptismal date for the end of February.

She's been highlight her scriptures as she's been reading and writing

down all her questions as well. It's been a huge miracle to see the

fire they both have to be at church. The Johnsons were also there. We

had a POWERFUL lesson on the Restoration with Sister Johnson. She's

gone to church of and on for almost a year and has never heard of the

first vision. The spirit was very strong and she asked for a

Priesthood blessing afterwards. Brother Johnson seems timid about

sharing his testimony when we are gone, we are hoping he can help her.

She does seem sincere and the spirit was definitely felt by everyone.

We are praying she can make that step as well as the kids soon! We met

several other awesome families, one is another part member family not

on record who just moved here and have been looking for the church

here. She is the only member. They all are awesome! We know these

people and families are coming because of the Ward. They are taking a

lead in this work and are recognizing we are here to help them with

their missionary work. I've loved the shift especially just in Ward

Council where they have been talking about the people they have been

working with and how they can fellowship the people we have found.

Also, invite a friend to seminary was this week. That was a blast!

There was a lot of non members who came at 5:40am...crazy! Finally to

wrap everything up the week was great. We had another MLC focused on

our great commission which is to baptize. There has been a drop in

baptisms as a mission. Satan has been working extra hard and we have

some repenting we need to do. Thankfully we know before the brightest

dawn is the darkest night. Good things are coming very soon. We are so

close to helping so many make that sacred covenant! I love this

work!!!

I'm so glad to hear the papers arrived. I loved the gift cards! Maybe

some pants? I'm still size 34 waist and probably 30 length. I'm not

sure haha. Honestly I have plenty of pants. Sorry I wish I could think

of something specific. Anyways I hope you have a great week! Love

you!!!

Elder Hale

Week 15 in Brooksville

Pictures from Sister Krause

Things have been great!!! There have been so many miracles this past week. One of those miracles was a referral we received from a less active member who requested missionaries. Him and his non member wife are at rock bottom and haven't been to church since they moved from Pennsylvania. They were at church this week and loved it! The Ward ate them up. They live on the other side of the county but we've been able to teach them every day over messenger. Also the Johnson family was at church!! And we had an awesome lesson with Nick and Elesha! In the words of Brother Inman, we have a lot of individuals who are so close! And once one of them gets there we are going to see a rapid increase of Converts. That's how we have been feeling too. We are staying patient and the Ward is doing awesome! 

Well I hope you get that mail soon!! I love you so much!!!!!

I will attach the photos Sister Krause took for sure in a separate email! Love you!!!

Elder Hale

Week 14 in Brooksville

 Broken iPad....

A member named Joseph visiting from Malaysha. We met his daughter who is a non-member a couple months ago and she said he would be coming. We met with him and are planning on teaching his daughters family hopefully this week. He didn't know there was a church here so he was very excited! He especially loved the Broadcast!

Things have been great despite all the extra stuff that's been going on. One example would be when we were sitting in the car after a meal at a members home. We weren't sure what to do so we said a prayer, and felt like we should make some calls. After a couple minutes we had Elder Leja, one of the assistants call us to talk about Zone Conference. While we were talking on the phone a man came with a flashlight up to our car. We rolled down the window and they were surprised to see us. The man said "Honey its okay! It's just the Elders!". They are non members who thought we were just random creepers. They were excited to see us because they met with missionaries up in Chicago. They invited us over to dinner and gave us all their information. We had that dinner and lesson with them later that week. It was especially awesome because we were able to take a Priest with us. They accepted a Book of Mormon and we will be meeting again soon! Sometimes the Lord will literally place you in the path of those hes prepared. I've only had a couple times where people have walked up to the car and never to that extent. It was a huge blessing and miracle! Also, we finally got back in contact with the Brown family. They're struggling but the Lords hand is most definitely in their life. We are hoping they are ready now. There's several others who are so close to making that final step! The ward is a huge help and they're doing their own missionary work too which is a huge blessing! Things are going very well in Brooksville!

Also, we had a regional broadcast for the southeastern united states at church yesterday. It was awesome because there were several general authorities and Elder Bednar who spake! There wasn't anything special announced but the spirit was most definitely there. It was a perfect environment for non-members. We also had our Zone Conference this week which was a blast! Sadly I did not get the Zone picture but I think they posted some photos  online. So agian, lots of good things are happening!

I hope you have a fantastic day! Love you!!!

Week 13 in Brooksville

Odessa Zone Activity Day!

Yes, I saw that and had them send you my license information. I have

no idea where it could be. We were in a different area. We are

thinking it feel out of the car when we went to an appointment. Those

Elders have torn their apartment apart and asking around but no

luck... I know I will need I.D. for the doctors so I don't know how

that will work. Also my screen broke on that exchange too...lots of

craziness in Hudson haha. But can you ask what they recommend doing?

Because if I need to get a license here then I guess that's what I'll

have to do.

That sounds great as far as the debit card. We again are hoping it

will show up at their apartment or something but no luck yet. I had

gotten a bigger wallet too so it shouldn't be hard to miss...

That's good to hear. Hope everyone's first week of school goes well!!

I'm sure Gavin will destroy it in Basketball. Yes Elder Cox is still

my companion. He's destroying it of course. I can talk to her about

the appointment. I will be seeing her this week at Zone Conference.

Hopefully those people will start showing up. I know it's hard with

everything going on in that area.

Besides losing the wallet and everything else it was a really good

week. We had some miracles of finding some new families. One of these

families we just had a brief contact with, but this single mother

texted us afterwards. In it she explained how recently she's been

wanting God in her life and feels it's time for her and her kids to

her baptized! Crazy miracle! Also we had a dinner at a member's home

last night and they invited their neighbors over. There was a really

powerful lesson where the spirit was definitely present. We will be

having a family home evening with them soon in that members home.

There's been a lot of good things happening. It seems when crazy

things happen that can distract you from the work, that's when the

greatest miracles come. We have a couple baptisms lined up for

February. We are also praying for a miracle this month. In the words

of our ward mission leader, we just have a lot of pending baptisms.

But please email me about the license and what I can do. Of course I'm

pretty limited on what I can search but I will give Elder Culbertson

what you know and then we can go from there. Thank you so much. Sorry

for this extra stress. Maybe it will just randomly show up like the

last one...haha. Well love you. Have a great week!!!

Week 12 in Brooksville

Hello!! I love the pictures! I can't believe it was his birthday!! He

looks so tall! Please tell him happy birthday for me!!! That sounds

like a blast with all that family! Fern sent some pictures that's

she's drawn. I love them haha. 

Transfers actually happened before Christmas. It was a five week

transfer. So I am here until the beginning of February and then

transfers again. So where works. I'm up in Spring Hill. We might be

able to do the same doctors as last time. I'm not sure. I'll have to

talk to the mission nurse. Or are you able to? I can't remember haha.

Things are going very well though. Those three meals on Christmas

filled us up! We've honestly had to throw away a lot of food and we

still have a large excess. Oh well...haha. I don't have any more

pictures. 

We are having a Zone Activity Day today so I may send some

pictures later today. We will keep you updated on the progression of

the families we are working with. I feel the longer I'm out the harder

it is to get people to the waters of baptism. I'm just grateful

success is measured by the people you affect. Not the numbers. Who

knows what will come down the line.

I love you so much! Happy new year!!!!

Elder Hale