Tuesday, October 14, 2008

10/13/08

Yes, I got Malaria by a mosquito. Malaria was no fun. We stayed in for three days. We played a lot of cards. I taught the guys Kings Corner and Golf. THEY LOVE GOLF!! I KILL THEM AT IT!! hahaha. The last game we played I had 90 point (we played 18 holes) and they had 191 and 189. It was hilaraious. While we were in we made this awesome desert with ice cream and bananas. Don't worry, I am not eating bad. Everyone tells me I am getting skinny and I just laugh.

Transfers were this week and it was crazy. No one in our district moved any where. We have a new Zone Leader Elder Maricu and he is awesome. I love that guy and we just make fun of each other. While we were hanging out in the apartment playing cards Elder Morriss said we use him like a punching bag with all our jokes, so his new nickname is "Everlast". He didn't enjoy that but it is funny.

I AM PAST 2 MONTHS IN THE FIELD!! haha, man, that is weird. 1/12 of the way done with my mission. Gone by pretty fast. This is going to be over so soon. My 2 month celebration included listeing to music and finishing off my Beef Jerkey. You guys, you don't need to send that many packages. I just want a christmas package and that is cool. I will tell you now, that I want a "Perfect Pushup". I have been using it with Wood and it is awesome. I will have some sort of a chest when I get home! haha.

While I was hanging out I taught myself magic tricks and I did them for a family we were teaching. They FLIPPED OUT! It was so funny. They couldn't figure out how we did it. That same family had three of their kids being baptized the next day, so on Saturday we went and played football with them and chopped (ate)fufu. I took a video of that too. I will send home pictures in the next week or two. The baptism was awesome. So many people came! The people we baptism felt so welcomed! The parents of those baptized want to be baptized in a month.

I got the letter from Patrick and Stephanie sent me a package. I love her, she sent me a bunch of pictures. It was a suprise because I wasn't expecting one from her. Its all good.

Yesterday at church our ward mission leader was pulling people over to us in the halls and saying "book an apointment to see their friends". It was so funny and the members were laughing bunch we got a bunch of referalls. After church everything was going slow so me and Wood went to a bible study that these Nigerians hold near our house. It was funny cus they were discussing somthing and I used a scripture from the Book of Mormon. when I was done the guy in charge was like " ok, now lets turn our BIBLES to..." I just laughed. Other than that this week was slow. I hope I am writing in better detail. I got moms eletter that said I wasn't so I am trying harder.

Yea, the Sabeys called every every day to see how I was, then told me you emailed, I just laughed. I got one letter and the pictures of Kristin, maybe the others will come soon. It is hard to only have a few minutes to look at them cus I want to look all day.

Wow, no more coaching, that will be weird. Not normall at all. Guess I have to deal with it. I am happy for you. It is good that things are working out for her. I haven't seen the article, hopefully I will. That is cool about the family.

Malaria is a drag. you feel weak and powerless. You don't want to move at all but you have to cus you have to poop every 10 minutes. Then when it is all over you are constipated. haha. It was horrible.

I love you so much and hope everything continues to look up! Can't wait to hear from you next week!

Love you,Elder Halling

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

10/7/08

Well, it has taken me forever to respond because this internet connection is so slow. I am responding to both of you so I can write more. This week has been interesting. As my companion and I were walking on Tuesday we both just stopped all of the sudden and looked at this house that we always walk by. We went up and contacted it and the man was so ready to hear the message. He was asking questions that led us to the next part of the discussion. It was nice to see a Ghanian who realizes that all of these pastors are just taking money from people.

Wednesday I had my first Shocker moment. We were preparing to teach a man and we needed to know how to explain why we need the Book of Mormon. I came to the conclusion that we don't and I was really troubled. Everyone in the apartment got in on the discussion and it went until I decided to call President Sabey. We talked on the phone for an hour and he explained that what we need is a living prophet who holds the priesthood. The BofM is a way that we grow closer to God and it is proof that Joseph Smith is a prophet. It really hit me hard and I feel more determined to teach.

Right now I am waiting for a malaria test. Great, I know. It is really hard to teach right now because the 3 new investigators that we got who were all really progressing are moving away. We have a baptism this weekend. A girl and her 2 brothers. Soon we want her whole family. We gave a blessing to a two year old boy who is scared of white men. That was exciting. He screamed the whole time. I really wanted to laugh. We are teaching two Jehova Witnesses and I hate them both. Well, don't hate, but they are annoying. They know the scriptures like the back of their hand. I can go with them, but they are so stubborn that it doesn't do any good. I just need to be more patient.

Transfers are this week so I find out tomorrow night if I will be transferred. Hope not, I like being with big wood. We are hoping we'll be together for 3 transfers cus then we would get all the major holidays in that 3rd transfer. We don't get to see conference for another two weeks. Don't worry about sending me the ensign, I get one every month. I am really excited to see it. Our power went out the other day for the whole night so that was fun. Candle light is awesome. We got bored Saturday night after we ate so we got 30 bags of water and had a water fight in the apartment. It was awesome. Until I realized my stomach really hurt and I might have malaria. Tell Kristin good luck and keep up the good work. I hope she kicks the crap out of Highland.

That is cool that you had the missionaries over. It helps them out more than you think. I love getting F.M.'s (free meals). I am taking pictures of our apartment to send home. I want to ship it out in 2 or 3 weeks. Talk to Wood's mom if she gets pictures cus a lot of the time we just use his camera. I love the beef Jerky. Can't wait to get the next package. If anyone does right I won't get it for a month at least. I will right back as soon as I can though. I miss family guy.

Our water goes out every now and then but we have a pump when that happens. All our baptisms are at our chapel. I hear Isobelle has started cheer leading. That is scary. Oh, and when I get home, the 49ers are going to be the best team in the league. They just need to dump Alex Smith and get a good QB. Good to hear that Marc is doing well in classes.

Love to hear from you all. No Erin, it is not going by fast for me. It feels like 3 months and I am barely at 2. They say once you hit 3 it goes. I hope so. I just need to bury myself in the work. If you go to any NBA games that would be awesome.

I CAN COOK GHANIAN FOOD! We made garden egg stew, kontombre stew, fufu, banquo, man. We even made a killer tomato stew. I can't wait to cook for you all when I get home. YOu will probably hate the food but thats all good. I am hoping to get some more letters from friends at zone conference on Monday. That would be sweet. I am going to take a 1000 pictures and send them home soon.

Love to hear from you all! take care and I love you,
Elder Halling

p.s. hopefully I will be able to bear my testimony in fluent Twi when I call at
Christmas
. Muhahaha.
p.p.s. let everyone read this, I have a short time to go get my Malaria test.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

9/15/08














Well Family,

This way of sending mail is more expensive but I have money left over so whatever. I feel homesick less and less now that I am in the field. 3 or 4 more days and I will have been in the field as long as the MTC. Crazy huh?! I really need to take more pictures. Maybe I will send them home in a couple months when an American Elder goes home.

Like I said in my email, the weather isn't too bad. The Ramataau is coming. It is when the sands blow in and cover the sun causing a dry season. It will be hotter during the day and colder during the night.

So far, I think my favorite part of being a missionary is all the doctrinal discussions we have. We go pretty deep into some stuff I normally wouldn't think about. Don't worry, I am not going to start another church!!

Well, I do cook a lot. It sucks, but I feel cool. Last Sunday we made a big stew and mixed in with rice and noodles all week. The carbs seem to be everywhere! Ha ha. I ate fufu again. It is good if it doesn't have fish because the bones are annoying. They just cook the whole fish and throw it in. I refuse to eat the head.

It's funny, when missionaries get their call we are bummed to go state-side, but now that I am here, I long for many things they get: washing machine, oven, wal-mart, Taco Bell, regular mail service, water running everyday, ugh. Then again it is fun not knowing whether you will come home to electricity or a need to light candles!!

So being a missionary now, I find joy in really weird things. Elder Woodhouse, Morriss, and I wanted to know the verse at the very middle of the Book of Mormon. One night we counted all the verses inside then did the math... it took 1 1/2 hours. The number was the 3,236.5 verse. So we used two verses of Alma 36. It is really cool what they talk about. Really the purpose of the Book of Mormon. this is what we do for fun.

I have now read Our Search for Happiness, Our Heritage, True to the Faith, the first 5 chapters of Jesus the Christ, 3rd Nephi, and have started the Book of Mormon again to see ow long it takes. You could say that I have a new appreciation for reading.

Well, don't want to write all, have to save something for the email. Hope I hear back soon. Love you all so much.

Love Elder Halling

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

September 23, 2008

That is good that the stickers are adding up for you, time goes by pretty slow here. I need to hit that 3 month mark before I die.

Ghana is a trash can country. They don't have trash cans anywhere so people litter like crazy. It rains every day and it is nuts. Suame, where I am, is the largest car parts market in the world. You can buy anything to do with a car here. People only shake and do things with their right hand cus those who are too poor to buy t-roll (toilet paper) use their left hand.

We had a baptism this weekend. The man's name is Godfree. It was like everything was going wrong that day. The water to the baptismal font wasn'tworking so we carried buckets and used a hose. That was a blast, then Godfreedidn't mention he was afraid of water. It took 10 times before I got him allthe way under. I have his name and the baptismal prayer down by heart.

The currency exchange is really close to 1:1. 1 dollar for 1 cedi. Things are cheaper here but that still isn't a bunch of money. I manage to get by though. We learned how to make Garden Egg Stew last night so when I come home I am going to make you guys some true Ghanian dishes. I am eating really healthy. Every stew we make have tons of vegetables and I get a bunch of manderan oranges for 1 cedi at the market.

I still don't have the package. It should be here within the nextweek. Just don't worry about sending the package by 10 day delivery cus itdoesn't help. 5 months? That confused me a bit. I am trying to stay positive, it gets hard though. I am teaching in a District meeting this morning so I have to go to that.

I hope all is well andI will write next Monday. Elder Halling

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

3rd row? haha, at least it is flying for you! Nah, things are better out here in the field. Elder Woodhouse is me in a really skinny body. He went to BYU Idaho and has my sense of humor. We just laugh all day and sing music, when we aren't teaching of course. Malaria takes about 3 days. I got sick Tuesday but we still went proselyting. I've lost 2 belt sizes!

Ghanians are not like us. They are racist and everywhere I go they try to charge more because we are white. I have less of that because I am really big. They like me because I am fat and that means you have money here. I walk everywhere, and we are teaching a lot of people. The baptism is this Saturday then we have a family to baptize the 11th of October.

The time is starting to fly. I am learning so much. I have realized how much scriptures I know and the knowledge the Lord gives me. GIVES ME. I can feel the spirit so strong when i teach that every time I speak I feel like I want to cry. I am a baby I know. I can't wait to call on Christmas. I think that will come sooner than I think.

Love to hear from you! Talk to you soon! Elder Halling

September 1, 2008

I am settled into my apartment and have been working for the past 3 days. I realize now that two years isn't going to go fast, but looking back on it will be crazy. It hit me while I was walking around with my companion. This is the first tine I have felt home sick in a long time. The work is great though. We are teaching so many people. We taught a man name Godfree and he committed to be baptized. That a a trip because I asked him and we will be doing it in two weeks. Other than that we are hoping to find some new investigators.

One woman named Dorothy said she would come to our church if we went to hers so we called the mission president and he said ok. We went and it was a trip. They were going psycho and stated speaking in tongues. Not exactly what I am used to. Not many people do it so it was a good experience. My companion is awesome. Elder Woodhouse from Colorado. We talk mess about each others states. The bed is comfortable and I am used to getting 8 hours of sleep. All of the kids here chase us and call us Bruni's which means white person. A lot call us Bruni Tintin which is tall white person. So we call them bibini and they laugh. The language is hard but I am trying to learn. I want to have my testimony memorized within two weeks.

Getting used to spending almost no money is a trip. They don't give us much. We go shopping today so we had no food this weekend. I have two firsts. Lunch yesterday was rice with peanut butter and jelly, and dinner was rice with syrup. We didn't eat breakfast. I am going to get a bunch of eggs when we go to the market. The market is crazy, there are so many shops and people. I need to start taking more pictures. I will probably send pictures home in a month or two. We haven't had much of an opportunity to thus far.

Dad is right, I am getting soft. It is in the 80s but is humid. But remember, these are their 'winter' months. IT starts to heat up in the next couple of months. Like I said, I read true to the faith. I am now 3 chapters into Our Search for Happiness. Not too mention I am reading the Book of Mormon again. In two days worth of personal study I have gotten 1/3 of the way through 3rd Nephi. I know, I started in the middle, but I am focusing on what the Lord did in his visit to the Americas, since he didn't have much tine, and what he taught in the Bible after he said his time is near. It is amazing what he does and says then realizing how similar and important they are. I am learning so much and when I teach, I feel so good because the spirit helps me to remember every thing I study. It did take me a couple lessons to get into it, but now I am contributing about half the lesson, asking commitments, and using scriptures. It feels so good.

I had fufu again a few nights ago at an investigators house. They made us Jolof rice the night before. I can't eat that much but it is good. When they eat fish they eat the whole fist. Even the mouth and face. Ahhh yea. I had fried chicken and they chastised me since I didn't eat the bone, so I ate it! It's not bad. It won't take long till I am used to the food and all.

Tell everyone I love them and give the family my email address so I can write then and visa versa. Just know I love you all and keep thinking about you constantly. I know I am doing the Lords work but it is so hard to not think about the whole family. Please take a picture with everyone at Christmas and send them to me. I only have a picture of Cali which is funny to look at and think about what she is going to look like. I realize after I wrote my last email that I still have another week from today until I am one month. This seems to go so slow. It kills me not to talk to all of you everyday,. Just know I love you and I pray for all every night. I hope everything goes well for all of you.

Can't wait to here from all of you next Monday (seems so far away). Elder Halling

Letter August 28, 2008

Well, I have made it to the mission home in Cape Coast. My first area is in Kumasi. More specifically I am in a suburb called Suame. I leave to go there today and will be able to email again next week. My first companion is Elder Woodhouse from Colorado. It's almost been a month. 1/24 of the way like it was nothing

Elder Halling

Friday, August 22, 2008

First Letter from Elder Halling 8/10/08

Dear Family,

I'm afraid to tell you but I have not received any letters when I arrived except from Erin using dearelder.com which was good to hear. The food is good and there is plenty of it! For your information, I leave for the mission field on August 27th which is on a Wednesday. I will be sure to email at the first opportunity.


Since I have been here I noticed how much you all mean to me. Not that I am home sick, but I appreciate now what I don't have. My mission president's wife said "what" with an emphasis on the 'h' and I thought of dad and laughed!

The very first thing we did once we arrived at the MTC was to walk around Accra. What an experience!! The people here are so poor in money but rich in life and love. In Ghana, when someone runs out of money while constructing a building, they stop production until they have enough funds. While the building sits there, people make it their home. They have no beds, furniture, air conditioning, or any items normally found in a house, but they are still happy.

It amazes me how uplifting the people are. We began learning Twi which is nothing like English. Menim se asure no ye nokwarre (I know the church is true). My companion is from Cape Coast so he speaks Fante and English. His name is Elder Eshun. I love him already! He has a sweet spirit that you can't help but love. He taught me the Ghanian handshake that everyone does. We even have our own.

I am adjusting to the time zone. While I was able to take a nap, I think my fasting helped more. If you pray, pray that I can adjust. The days are long. Of the 16 hours that we are awake, 10 1/2 are spent in class! I am learning a lot. This Thursday we are going to the temple. It is not as close as I thought it would be. Still, everything here is going great. The first two days were slow, but this third went fast. I hope to hear from you again soon. I love to read the letters! Take care. I am thinking of you always!

Love, Elder Halling

PS It is really hot and humid.

PPPS. I'm serious. REALLY HOT AND HUMID!!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Elder Halling Arrived Thursday in Ghana!


Elder Halling has arrived safely in Ghana and we have heard from his Mission President, "They have played football, (known as soccer back home) and have been on a walk into the neighborhood. They are great young men." Presdient Harmon also told us that he will not be able to email us until after he gets out of the MTC which is in a couple of weeks and the mail will probably will not get here for at least 2 to 3 weeks.

President Harmon went on to say, "He is doing very well. He and his companion, Elder Eshun from Ghana are doing very well. They love and serve one another. They are a very impressive companionship.
We'll try to get a district photo to you by email during the next week. We are going to the Ghana Temple on Thursday and will be there from 2:30-6:30 a.m. your time."

If you would like to send him a letter, please send it to the following address:
Elder Halling
Ghana Cape Coast Mission
PO Box 30150
SLC, UT 84130-01510
(all you need is a .42 stamp. Make sure you write on one side of one page and fold it in three with two small pieces of tape (no enclosures).

If you want to send something enclosed, use US mail and send it to:
Ghana Accura Mission
PMB 1385
Cape Coast, Ghana
(a tip I received if you send anything small, put it in a sock)

Nathan at LAX just before he left us to get on the plane!

He looked and felt a little nervous!






See dad, this is how it is at the Temple!
Nathan and mom at the
Temple