The Waiting Game

Elder Sheffield and I are way close. He slept above me and sat next to me in class for 9 weeks. How was the Cabin? Its so fun up there. 

So im still here! Havent heard anything about my visa for a long time. Pretty frustrating still being here while everyone else that i came in with is gone. I just want to get out of here and really have an impact on peoples lives. This week has been really hard. We got put into a younger district with new teachers and our classroom is PACKED. But everything happens for a reason. I still get to study Chinese all day everyday here which is a blessing because I need all the preparation that I can get before I go into the field. I should at least be getting reassigned this week. They're are just so many missionaries getting reassigned that they ran out of spots to reassign people to. 

This week Elder Anderson came and spoke to us at the Marriott Center. I really loved the talk he gave. One of the things that he said really stuck out to me. He said "Take the word 'I' and put it away for a while". And it was at that moment that i realized how selfish i was being. I'd been complaining about my visa and still being stuck here, when this whole experience isnt for me. Im doing this to help other people, and I'm probably still here because I need some extra preparation to effectively teach. Afterwards we were all thinking about what would happen if we were to be reassigned, and the thought was brought up that 'what if someone somewhere else needs to here this message from me and me only'. I've just been thinking a lot this week, and I know that this trial will help me in the long run, not matter the outcome. Anyway, I'm doing alright here. Just taking whatever's thrown at me. Hopefully we will receive some more news as to my situation is this week. 

When are you leaving back to China? Just wondering for which number I should call when I reach you. Ill email you when I get more information. 

Love, 

Elder Hall

Still at the MTC!

Elder Hall and his friend Nick

Elder Hall and his friend Emily

Congrats on the Marathon! I bet it was really tough. So where are you staying right now? Only two Chinese missionaries going to Australia got their visas in time. There's 7 of us that are visa-less and stuck at the MTC for a little while longer. I should be going to the airport right now! Sad but its alright. I was really looking forward to the Panda Express at LAX though. My visa could come anyday. And when it does come, I should be leaving the next day. But if it doesn't come this week, my name will be put in for reassignment. So if i do get reassigned I would leave 2 weeks from tomorrow. REALLY hoping that it doesn't come down to that. Its just sad because like half of my friends here have left. Its so different being at the MTC without having the people I've spent the last 9 weeks with. Didnt realize how close we would all become. 

So three people in my district are on their way to Hong Kong Chinese speaking. They left at 3:30 this morning, so they are taking the same flight we always take back to Hong Kong through LAX with that long layover. You'll have to look out for them in Hong Kong. I told them I wanted them to send me a picture of them and you. There names are Elder Sheffield, Elder Beavens, and Sister Garlitz. Literally spent all day for the last 9 weeks with them. I also had to friends leave this morning to New Zeland chinese speaking, we were supposed to be on their flight. Not sure what we do for class the next few days, because all of our teachers are on vacation now because we're supposed to be gone. Two sisters in my district got reassigned to Georgia and Indiana. So when they do reassignments they clearly dont pay attention to the language you speak. All the Brazilian missionaries are getting reassigned as well. So many visa issues everywhere! 

Love the shoulder bag! Its so nice. Also really like the sweater. It'll be nice for when its cold. Its not too bad here though. I still have a lot of friends in my district who didnt get their visa yet. A couple of them are going to Brisbane and a couple to Melbourne. Hopefully I'll be able to really improve my Chinese this week. If i get my visa I'll get on my email and send to a quick email with my flight plans so that way youll know when i call. 

Love,

Elder Hall

Counting down the MTC Time

Hey! So one week form today i leave. Pretty excited but also pretty nervous. Trying to make these last few days with a real Chinese teacher count. These last week went by so quickly. We got our new Chinese name tags and travel plans. My name is officially He Zhanglao. Last night we had a devotional by Vai Sikahema, played for the BYU national championship team, two time pro bowler in the NFL. It was a super awesome devotional. He just talked about his mission and the impact that it had on his life, really great devotional. Then last Tuesday, we got to hear Elder Scott talk to us at the Marriott center. It was so awesome to listen to him and feel the Spirit that he brought into the room. Also been making a lot of progress on my Chinese this week. Got to spend some one on one time with a teacher so I could get a lot of things that confused my down. I always carry my planner with me and when I hear a word that I don't know, I write it down and look it up. My speaking is getting better and better. Still havent learned any characters but luckily they gave us some triple column Book of Mormons (pinyin, character, english) so that way we can at least read the Book of Mormon. The other day I got to leave the MTC for the first time because my companions glasses broke. We were at Lunds Optical (RIGHT in downtown Provo). It was so weird. It wasn't until I left the MTC until i could realize how strong I can feel the Spirit here. Today I went to the Temple as well. Really awesome. We were at the 9 oclock session so it looks like i just missed you. I had some friends that went to an earlier session though, so you might have seen some of then. THis last week is so weird. Getting ready to leave the MTC is a weird thing to think about. Ive been with my district and zone all day everyday for the last 2 months. We've all become super close. But I'm really excited to get out there in Sydney. Anyway, thats all I got for now!

Love,

He Zhanglao

Sixth Week in MTC!

Good to hear that Arizona was good. I went to the Provo Temple today for the first time! They played the new movie. I thought it was really good, very different though. Also very jealous that you went to Buffalo Wild Wings. Definitely one of my favorite places.

Nothing much new has happened this week. Only two more weeks until we are out of here though (maybe). Haven't heard much about our visas, nobody really knows what will happen with them, this week we recieve our travel plans, so if I'm reassigned I will find out this week. The Provo Temple is really beautiful though, it was nice to take a break and be able to go relax there. This week I hosted new missionaries as well. I hosted two going to Japan, one to Florida, and one straight out of Korea. Also saw Brigham Tenney yesterday, crazy seeing him. Right now were teaching 3 investigators, Chinese is getting better and better, I can give any lesson in Chinese, but my listening isnt to great. We think a general authority is coming to speak to us on tuesday. Its being broadcasted to all MTC's, so if you watch, Ill be in the choir and sometimes you can see me. Should also get my Chinese name tag this week which will be cool. But the MTC is great, definitely ready to go though, if I dont have my visa I may be in here an extra week. We also got to watch the Testaments in Chinese.

 

 Don't really have any specific treats that I want, but boxes are nice. Ive been checking the weather in Sydney (through my missionary portal) and it looks cold. Anyway i hear at Mr Mac they sell sweaters and cardigans for missionaries and stuff. Anyway if you ever go past and find something nice i give you permission to purchase.

 

Love,

Elder Hall

 

Fifth Week in the MTC!

Crazy that Dave and Hailey are in Arizona now! It must be so hot down there. Mac looks so cute. I think golden retriever puppies are always the best. Dad sent me picture of the house. so crazy! looks completely different. Not sure how i feel about it but it definitely looks different. Thats crazy that Thomas Monson was at Fiddler on the Roof. Why wasnt he at the MTC?! We havent had any apostles come yet. People are saying one might come tomorrow though.

This week has been really good. I flew by so fast. Nothing really changes here though. We now where our name tags on the right side, so thats been the craziest thing thats happened. Just learning a lot of Chinese. I made it my goal to memorize every word in our Chinese textbook, theres a couple thousand words. I've already memorized from A to E. We teach a lesson everyday, and I'm also a pretend investigator for other Chinese missionaries. We have big group of new missionaries coming in on Wednesday. A few of them will be coming to Sydney Chinese speaking and they'll be living next door to us, so it'll be fun to get to know them. We are hosting new missionaries this Wednesday as well, so I'm sure that'll be fun, and a nice change. All of my good friends from BYU are here now, so it's nice to be able to talk to them. Really nothing new is happening. Not much to tell about. We're getting close to the end though. 3 weeks left, get travel plans next week. Some people arent getting visas though, you dont find out until the week before you leave. A girl who was suppossed to go to Melbourne Chinese speaking got reassigned to Pittsburgh. So you never know. For Book of Mormon class we did a project on Book of Mormon geography in Saudi Arabia. SO cool. They found the exact site where Bountiful would probably be. Not a doubt in my mind that its true. Yesterday was fast Sunday, so I was able to stand up and share my testimony in Chinese. SO grateful to be on a mission, where I can prepare to bring blessings into peoples lives. Wo zhidao Yesu Jidu de fuyin keyi bangzhu mei yi ge ren. And Im so excited to get to Australia and share it.

Love,
Elder Hall 

Fourth Week in the MTC!

Still doing fine. Sounds like you guys are having a good time. I saw my old roommate Tanner. He just got in on Wednesday. Thats cool that Ashley and Justin are getting a dog!  Looks like Davids happy to be graduated and move off. Not sure what the visa situation is. But most of the people in my district are going to Australia so everyones freaking out a little bit. Most of the people going to Sydney (english, spanish, korean speaking) that we've heard of have gotten out on time. So we're just hoping that we get ours in time! If not, hopefully I'll get reassigned to somewhere Chinese speaking.

Nothing new is happening lately. Just going through the same routine week by week. Chinese is definitely getting better. I try to memorize around a 100 new vocab a day. I go through so many flashcards. I also try to get down a couple grammar principles each day. The more you study the more you learn, and I'm studying Chinese maybe 10 hours a day. So eventually hopefully I'll get it. I think listening to the Chinese is the hardest for me. Natives speak so fast and its so hard to keep up with whats being said. Needless to say we are all counting down the days until we leave. Just want to get into the field and teach real people. This week week at TRC we taught a father and son, they were in a Chinese immersion program somewhere in Utah. The son was like 6 years old and could speak Chinese really well, so crazy. My companion and I got called as the Online Coordinators for our branch. Still not exactly sure what it means, but I know im just supposed to talk to new missionaries and talk to them about how to get to the missionary online resources. One month in and one month to go. We're starting the downhill. We should get our travel plans and new name tags in the next two weeks. The time really is flying by here. If you really work hard the time goes by really fast, and when youre slacking off it goes by slow. So you just gotta work hard!

Love,

He Zhang Lao

Third Week in the MTC!

Hey,

The MTC is still going well. I think that we host new missionaries our last two weeks. Glad to hear that dad was able to make it. Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun with each other. I heard Grandma Hall is having a big Pioneer Day party. Maybe we'll have a big Pioneer Day devotional but I haven't heard anything. In the next package if you could send one or two more t-shirts that'd be great. We have gym like 5 times a week and i have 3 shirts. But before i leave i need you to send me some sweaters and a shoulder bag. Backpacks arent allowed in the field anymore. With all the new changes you can wear so much more stuff, its crazy how much is changing. I have some pictures that I'll send a little later today.

This week was pretty crazy. One of the Elders in my district went to the doctor and found out that he had a problem in his back, and that it would require surgery to fix. So he had to go home, but he'll be back in 12 weeks and he will still be going to Sydney, so I'll see him again. Another Elder in our zone had to go home as well, so now we have a new Elder in our district, Elder Lecates. So there's been a lot of change in our district. Right now we're teaching 3 investigators. Our Chinese is getting better and better so we dont even need a script or plan to go off of. We try to make all of our lessons more of a conversation. I feel like the first 2 weeks I learned so much and now i feel like im hitting a plateau, so Ive been working a lot on grammar. We've committed 1 of our investigators to baptism and are working on the other two. We have so many learning resources. Anytime you want 1 on 1 help theres a RM from Taiwan that'll come and meet with you. The days go by slowly but the weeks just fly by. Crazy that as of this week I'll have been here a month. Its really great that I have such a good district and zone. We've all become really good friends. Elder Sheffield just got put in as our new district leader yesterday. Im so happy to be out here, its so great to be surrounded by so many other missionaries and have tons of great speakers speak to us twice a week. The MTC is a great place to be, but Sydney will be a better place to be. I see so many friends from BYU around and i recognize so many people. At the pace that I'm going at right now the rest of the MTC will just fly by and I'll be in Australia (If i ever get my visa)

A lot of people in my zone are going to Hong Kong Chinese speaking, so I'll have you look out for some of them once you get back to China.

Love,
Elder Hall