To the Family...

October 20th, 2014 Quito, Ecuador

I want to share a brief experience about a little girl named Tiffany: 

Tiffany is a cute Ecuadorian girl of 9 years old. She will be baptized this Saturday along with her mom. Last Saturday she and her mother had their baptisimal interviews. The mom, Mayra, went first and I sat with Tiffany as we waited for her mom. While waiting, I pulled out the book of paintings that helps us with lessons and has pictures for the stories in the Bible and Book of Mormon. When I pulled it out and turned to the first one she asked what the story was about. I then turned to the part where it has the paintings of the stories of Jesus. She and I then began to tell those stories together. I really tried to hold back the tears but unfortunately I was unsuccessful and I felt this overwhelming feeling of joy. It was as if I had my future daughter sitting next to me and we were learning together, and trying to follow the example of Jesus Christ together.

I can't describe that experience exactly-- but I do know that Jesus is our example and that we can find real joy in telling the stories of Him.

I testify of Him. I testify that He is the Christ; that he suffered and died for us. I testify that He lives and loves us.

This I know with the surety of my heart and soul. 

Alma 26:12

Love your brother and son,

Elder Zachy Hall

"I Need Thee Every Hour"

October 20th, 2014    Quito, Ecuador

Dear Family and Friends,

How can we be worthy of His spirit every second of every day?

This question has penetrated my mind and soul this week. I have been striving with all my heart, might, mind, and strength to be worthy of the Holy guidance of the Spirit this week. I have been humbled over and over again --that I am nothing. Nor do I need praise, rewards, position, or applause for the work that I have done. 

I am a disciple of Christ and I have stepped over to His side of the line. I will not give up, shut up, or slow down until all have heard or Christ comes again.

I have been reading a talk this week called "The 4th Missionary" (thank you Elder Barton.) The quote I found that really called me to repentance was this: "Your world is in your head. Get your head right and your heart will follow, and you will be right."

This hit me so hard. Never have I thought about this nor have I applied it. Now, I am applying this and hoping (remember this word?) that the Lord will be able to use me better as His instrument.

This week we baptized the daughter of Blanca Nieves, Patricia Hormaza, and how beautiful was the baptism! We sang Nearer my God to Thee in Spanish as a special musical number. The Spirit testified that we can become closer to Him.

 It also rained a lot this week. I have learned some very important skills as far as jobs and cleanliness go.  We have to wash our clothes by hand every week and also I have learned that It is important to clean the bathroom often, and to take out the trash every day.

The Scripture I want to share is Helman 3:35. This has become one of very favorite scriptures.

Love you all,

Smile a mile,

Elder Hall

"Let Us All Press On"

October 13, 2014    Quito, Ecuador Hello Family and Friends, This week was a little long but really good. Being in Quito is very different than being in Santo Domingo. It's cold, rains almost every day all day long, and the food is very different. Who would have known huh? However, I love Quito. It reminds me of the movies in reality ---with a taste of France, London, and Italy all intertwined. I can't believe that I'm actually here.  There's a part in my sector that reminds me of "Mary Poppins" when the old lady is sitting on the stairs of the big cathedral across from the bank and sings,"Feed the birds tuppence a bag." In my sector there is a huge Catholic church that is just gorgeous and very old. However, there are always people about feeding the birds (doves). The mountain people of Quito who speak Quechua come down every morning and sell bird feed so that others can feed the birds "tuppence a bag." This week we had another baptism! We baptized a Colombian woman named Blanca Nieves (or in other words Snow White). She has dark black hair and looks very similar to the depiction of Snow White. She is doing well and has a strong testimony of this gospel. She shared it with everybody at her baptism and brought the Spirit to just abide with us. Her daughter will be baptized this Saturday :). The things I'm learning everyday here are just profoundly strong. I feel very close to my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I wish I had English or Spanish words to describe it, but alas I do not. This mission is hard. I walk in the rain everyday and this week we had 3 days where we only had 1 or 2 lessons. Some people are very friendly and open, and some are not. However the scripture in Ether 12:4 gives me hope. I love the word hope. It means that we have a sure determination and knowlege that Heavenly Father will bless us in our efforts to do the right thing. However, we MUST go forward with faith first. We MUST try on our own, and we MUST pray, read the scriptures, and go to church to partake of the sacrament. We have the wonderful opportunity to repent every week by remembering our covenants with our Heavenly Father, but sometimes --do we remember that gift? I pray that we may remember the gift our Father has given us. He gave us His Son-- even Jesus Christ --so that we may all live again and have eternal life. How great is my joy! And I only give praise unto my Father in Heaven for this wonderful message of glad tidings. May we share our testimonies with all men, and find the peace and joy that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings. Love you all,            Elder Hall

"All Is Well, All Is Well"

October 6, 2014   Quito, Ecuador

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you got the opportunity to listen to all of conference. If you haven't yet, go do it tomorrow. It will enlighten your mind and strengthen your faith. It will also answer your questions and give revelation to your personal and individual spirit.

This week we had 2 more baptisms. Unfortunately, I lost my camera last wednesday and I don't have one at the moment. (Sorry Mom...). It was a great baptismal service and how happy I felt baptizing them! It was a mother and a son of a part family who are now all members. They will go to the temple in a year.

 For this next month we have 8 people with a baptismal date set, and they will be baptized. Unfortunately, we also had changes and I have been transfered to Quito with a new companion. His name is Elder Arevena, and he is sooo awesome. He is on fire and I'm very excited to serve with him! I arrived in Quito this afternoon and already we are laughing and getting along. The other thing is that Elder Barton from Grandview, yes from Grandma and Papa's ward, is in my same district and we live in the same house! He's awesome and I can't wait to work with him :)

For just a moment I would like to talk about faith. Faith contains several parts: 1, Believing that something is true. 2, Having a desire to know that with the Lord all things are possible. 3, Acting in Faith. 

Family and friends, I have a strong testimony of this. These last 6 weeks were the hardest and loneliest weeks I have ever had. However, with much prayer and faith in Him, I saw miracles. I saw people get baptized and follow the example of our Savior. I saw the gift of tongues work through the power of the Holy Ghost as people began to understand what I was saying and teaching. I saw the miracle of love for a companion who I didn't get along really well with. Family and friends, all things are possible with a sure faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith we are nothing and will not receive the blessing that we would have received --had we had faith.

Please pray and work in Faith. Serve the poor and the elderly. Become as a little child; become submissive and humble --we all must be in order to return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. Read Ether 12:4.

I'm doing great and working hard. I love this work and the joy that it brings. My prayer is that we may come unto to Christ and rely upon his atoning sacrifice.

Love,

Elder HAll