Thank You for Being a Friend

My best friends! Bland and Keesler. 

Wow. This is it. My last letter home. 

Over two years ago I embarked on a journey to preach the gospel in the mythical land of Portland, Oregon. I thought I was going to meet people and change their lives forever. Little did I know that they would change mine too. I’ve spent two years trying to do as Jesus would do: loving, teaching, serving, inspiring, protecting His people. I didn’t expect that these people would return the favor and love, teach, serve, inspire, and protect me. 

There was an invisible bond holding us close together, as if we all had a common thread woven into our souls. And we did. We are family. Every person is a child of our Heavenly Father, therefore making us all brothers and sisters. Sometimes they grow up under the same roof with the same last name. Other times they are knit together in worship in a chapel. And sometimes they are connected in a quiet moment on the streets of Portland. With all of these circumstances the same can be concluded: we are a heavenly family.

I am grateful for my heavenly family. Im grateful for the ones anxiously awaiting me in Utah, for my dear friends I have served with, and for all the ones here in Portland. You all have a piece of my heart that I will forever cherish. 

I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the one and only true church on the earth. It was established by Him, the Man by whom this very church is named. It was once again reestablished by a prophet in these latter days, Joseph Smith. We are privileged to be called upon by our Master to gather His children this one last time before His coming, where He will rule and reign in glory and majesty. This is the greatest cause on earth. I am honored to have served my Savior this short period of time. I have truly come to know Him. He is my dearest friend, my closest confidant. I love Him. 

So to end this time in true Elder Hall fashion, let me finish with a favorite tune.

Thank you for being a friend,

Travel down the road and back again.

Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant!

And if you threw a party,

Invited everyone you knew.

You would see the biggest gift would be from me,

And the card attached would say:

Thank you for being a friend!

I love you all! 

Elder Hall 

Elder Bennett and I 

My district

Mine and Sister Acton’s “funeral”

Trying to be cool at the Woodside’s 

My best pal, Starlord! I’m gonna miss that ball of fur

Our 3 pounds of fresh blueberries we picked. 

4th on the Farm

Hey everybody! This last week was my absolute favorite holiday, the 4th of July! We had a pretty good time with tons of adventure this week! The email might be short, but I’ve got some good pictures!

Our ward had a 4th of July breakfast and it was pretty cool! We had a WWII vet tell war stories. I was the parking attendant. There’s a pic of that action below!

On the night of the 4th we didn’t get invited anywhere and Steve Waite wasn’t doing anything, so we wrangled up some guys and went and bucked hay to country music and fireworks! We ended the night with some good ol’ American milkshakes and of course some more fireworks! At the end of the day we moved just over 600 bales!

We helped my good friend Abraham clean out his pool the other day, I was designated tadpole catcher. It was a pretty good adventure!

We saw a mudding competition on Saturday and stopped to watch! It was pretty sweet. 

I can’t believe this is my last full week! Just 9 more days and I’ll be back in good old Pleasant Grove. Can’t wait! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Love,

Elder Hall

Hello Dolly!

Hello Dolly!

Hey everyone! I’m so sorry for not writing last week! Sometimes you just lose track of time and pday is over before you know it. We have had a really fun last two weeks! Lots of service and neat people.

We’ve been doing a ton of service for the Sherwood Center for the Arts! It’s been a party! We have helped set up for several parties, award ceremonies, and even the annual Sherwood Wine Festival. Man, that was a PARTY. 

This week was the theater’s run of Hello Dolly! Because it’s all volunteer and the chair of the theater is a Mormon in our ward, we got to help build, paint, and assemble the set for the show! Not only that, we got to be ushers/alcohol monitors. It was a ton of fun being with all the theater people, it reminded me of all my friends back home! We got to see the show and meet literally every person that attended. It was pretty neat!

We also did a lot of hauling hay for our little Ann and for the Waites in the ward! We moved roughly 300 bales over the week and let me tell you, that is exhausting work! It was a good time though.

Of course last Monday was my favorite holiday, Half Christmas!! We celebrated as a zone with a White elephant exchange, Christmas carols, sweaters, the whole nine yards! It was a memory that will last a lifetime!

On Thursday we had zone conference (my last one!) and it was pretty good. I got to see my dear friends from the Woodhaven ward! It was kind of weird bearing my departing testimony. This mission has changed me forever. I love it.

So last Sunday a member brought his roommate/best friend to church! His name is Winter and he was actually coming as a requirement for a religion class he’s taking. By the end of third hour he was actually interested in learning more about the gospel and ended up accepting a Book of Mormon! We have a meeting with him this week and hopefully he starts progressing!

Well, I hope you all have a great week! Enjoy my ALL TIME FAVORITE holiday, the 4th of July!! I love you all! 

Love,

Elder Hall 

Zone Conference

Half Christmas!

The hay rig