Dear Mom,
That is such a great picture :) The Elders delivered my letter to he quite quick- I made a big deal of it. Elders are known to let things like that sit in their flat until the Chinese recent converts have like gone back to China. I almost made the Elder I gave it to like blood swear that he would deliver the letter to Van... so I'm glad she got it :) I can't believe she posted it on facebook, though. That is so crazy. She is so great. You can tell her that potentially (not for certain, but maybe) Sister Embley and I might come back to Liverpool on 10 November for Wang Yu's baptism. So she better be there :) She knows him, she taught him with us before we left.
Yeah, I heard that the missionary department went from like 700 applications a week to 7000 applications a week. That is so crazy. My friend Elder Woodworth is postulating that I will train again, but I'm not sure that they will get here in time for me to have another trainee. I would love to have another daughter in the mission :) My trainees are very good missionaries, but it is because they are pure in heart and have a really strong desire to serve the Lord- that makes training fine. I know that Sister Embley will train soon enough,
hopefully a Chinese, but maybe an English speaker. I suppose I would love to train again, although to be honest training a 19 year old girl sounds kind of more intimidating. I just know myself at that age, and I wasn't ready for it yet. The Lord's timing is perfect, and His work is going to rush forth. There are people that need to be baptised.
That is nice that Taylor came over again. I can't believe it is Halloween time again. The year has gone by so
fast. Sleepy Hallow sounds quite good, but maybe a bit scary. I remember reading that book my Junior year of college, and the reason I remember the girls last name is because it is also Naomi's last name and she met Mr. Van Tassel during that same time period. I connected a lot of dots.
This week I was actually really sick. Like really sick. Sister Embley was like begging me to stay in on Wednesday and I was like, 'no way, I'm not wasting my mission away inside the flat.' So we went out and taught. I knew that the grace of Jesus Christ could help me, we taught this girl named Taryn, and was just so alive and so in it and really aware and felt led. Then we taught a boy named Sam, who was a Chinese, so Heavenly Father knew I didn't need the help that time as much. Usually during a Chinese lesson I participate quite a lot, but I just sat there dying as Sister Embley taught in Chinese. I was so groggy. Then, after that we were out contacting and the Assistants rang us and said they were in the area and asked if we wanted to go with them and the Zone Leaders to break our fast at a Chinese buffet... uh, yeah :) (I forgot, I was sick and I was also fasting, which probably wasn't very smart). Anyway, I got food and after that I felt really a lot more energized for that night and so we just continued to work.
The next day was Multi-Zone Conference, and Elder Kearon of the 70 came (that is why we were fasting). Sister Embley and I missed our train, which meant we had time to buy cold medicine for me, and we got
there late and our district leader was sitting on the front row. Which meant we were at the front were everyone could see me being sick. My body just could not behave. President Kearon showed this video about missionaries, that was touching but not like over the top, and I was like bawling. My nose was running and I was coughing and I felt so sick. I remember the training was good, but I don't remember
all of it. I felt prompted that I needed to get a blessing, which a blessing for the sick and afflicted is not something I usually like to admit that I need. At home I just deal with it and go to class and work and stay sick forever. But I knew I needed a blessing. Elder Sutton was there, because Ashton Zone was combined with ours and some other Zones, so I had him and Elder Miranda (my District Leader) give me a blessing. I felt so much better after, I was like, 'I can do anything!' I still felt tired, but healed.
Which is why I was confused why I was the most sick when I woke up the next day. I was like really sick. But I was like, 'Whatever, I'm going to push through it, I'm not spending my mission inside the flat.' Well, it was weekly planning so we spend most of the day inside the flat anyway, but Sister Embley said I was going delirious. I was talking about Elder Woodworth (who I had seen the day before and is a great friend of mine) and how funny he was. He isn't particularly that 'haha' funny, and now I can't actually remember what
I was saying about him, but Sister Embley thought I was going crazy. I was like, 'maybe I need to lie down.' I kept day dreaming about weird things like 'SuperDry' coats (of which I really want one). She convinced me that we shouldn't go to our next appointment, it was a less active that had little kids and so we didn't go. In the evening, though, we still went out and taught two lessons, one was Sam and he was really good so we didn't want to miss it.
I was like, fine I stayed in for an hour and a half of my mission, that isn't that much, it is okay. But then the next day I woke up and felt like I was going to die. I tried to make it, but I couldn't even make it through companionship study before I had to go lie down. We finally got a hold of Sister Preston (we had been trying to do so the day before to get permission to stay in) and she told us to stay in and that it was freezing that pretty much that it was crazy for me to go outside (she had seen me at Zone Conference, I think I might have cried to her as well). Well, that took a lot of humility. Heavenly Father really had to prompt me to stay inside the flat and take care of myself. I did convince Sister Embley to go with me to street contact and get our bus passes so we were talking to people for like 1 1/2 hours is all. It hurt to stay in. I wanted to go work. But Heavenly Father reminded me of Sisters that just 'pushed through it' and they made themselves so sick.
I went into my room one of the days and cried and cried and cried. I sobbed and sobbed, because I didn't want to be sick and I didn't want to stop doing the Lord's work. I'm not one to miss school or work to be sick, and so to miss doing the Lord's work (which I really only have a finite time to participate in) was killing me. It hurt so bad. But I needed to be humbled and realise that I have limitations, and that it is only through Jesus Christ that I can be saved from spiritual death of sin, but also the only way I can be saved from physical death. I think I have realised for a while that I rely on Him spiritually- no unclean thing can dwell with God- but this made me realise that I rely on Him physically. He can, according to my faith, completely heal me. The Priesthood can do that- through that blessing I could have completely been healed. But what would I have learned from that? Would I have learned that the Fall was real? No. Would I have learned that we all experience weakness and trials and that Adam and Eve are our first parents and introduced opposition in the world, not to ruin our lives, but to make us stronger? No. Would I have thought, after being completely healed, that every time I say 'Jesus, Jesus!' I would be magically healed and wouldn't have to worry or experience any of the suffering He felt? Maybe. Would I have ever realised that missionary isn't about me, but about the Lord? Maybe not. It also might have taken me longer to realise there is more I
need to change about myself.
So yeah, I've been ill this whole week. I still am pretty sick. But the Lord helps me through the tough times, and He will help His work roll forth.
I love you. Loves,
Sister Hull
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
hellow :)
Dear Family,
I have to say that I think that Elder Hull is probably one of the best missionaries I've ever met. I miss him sooooo much, to be honest. I can't imagine what it is like in Bolivia. It must be so difficult to be a missionary there. I love how much he is learning. Ugh. He's the best.
I still can't believe about the new age announcement for missionaries. I've told everyone it is going to effect sisters more than Elders. A lot of sisters will go now, I think so. I think there are a lot of Elders who are encouraging their 'best friends' (aka girlfriends) to go on missions. A member last night fed all 6 of us missionaries, which was fun, but he said that all the Elders are going to get home and their would only be older returned sisters, so then they would marry them. I turned to Sister Embley and was like, 'It looks like the Lord is helping us out...' It was funny. But I do like what dad said about it, that it will really help in raising future Zion. I know being on a mission will help me and my future family sooo much. My husband and children should probably thank the Lord every night of their lives that I served a mission :)
Uhhh.... Christmas. I have no idea. One thing I don't need is new clothes. I have collected so many clothes on my mission from other sisters and things that I'm going to have to get rid of most of them over time. Umm... I think it would be good if you just put money into my account and then I could either use it here or elsewhere. As for something to open on Christmas morning... you could send me some crunchy Cheetos. Not the baked ones. Also, you don't have to send any easy mac... I have some still left from last year :) Also lifesaver gummies. But also not too much foodstuff, because sometimes I don't eat it all. I honestly can't think of much more that I would want.
We had a really good week. We had so many miracles. Most of them came in the form of teaching lessons on the spot. It is scary for a missionary (especially a new missionary, like Sister Embley) to ask, 'Do you have some time now?' and teach someone right then. But we have had some really great successes, new investigators and things (one of which seems like he will progress :) His name is Allwell, like 'All is well'). It is always inspiring when the Lord puts one of his prepared children right in your path and you are able to see them change even a little bit during the few minutes you talk to them.
This is the work of SALVATION!
So many people are prepared to hear the gospel. I have testimony of that. We just need to find them, and that comes by diligently searching. I know that members are very key to that as well, to have members find or help teach is so important. That means each of you are very important to this great work. I think Elder Nelson's talk will ring in everyones ears for a while, 'Ask the missionaries! They can help you!' Love it.
We had an experience this week with a man named Barry. He wouldn't let us teach him on the spot, and he wouldn't let us pray for him. He wouldn't let us do much of anything to be honest. He said that he would never change and he would never believe. Sister Embley and I both felt so strongly that we wanted to help him so we just kept talking to him. By the end, he still wouldn't pray, but he changed. He told us that he would go home that night and try to pray. I hope that he did. Those kinds of things mean a lot to a missionary.
I love you.
Loves, Sister Hull
I have to say that I think that Elder Hull is probably one of the best missionaries I've ever met. I miss him sooooo much, to be honest. I can't imagine what it is like in Bolivia. It must be so difficult to be a missionary there. I love how much he is learning. Ugh. He's the best.
I still can't believe about the new age announcement for missionaries. I've told everyone it is going to effect sisters more than Elders. A lot of sisters will go now, I think so. I think there are a lot of Elders who are encouraging their 'best friends' (aka girlfriends) to go on missions. A member last night fed all 6 of us missionaries, which was fun, but he said that all the Elders are going to get home and their would only be older returned sisters, so then they would marry them. I turned to Sister Embley and was like, 'It looks like the Lord is helping us out...' It was funny. But I do like what dad said about it, that it will really help in raising future Zion. I know being on a mission will help me and my future family sooo much. My husband and children should probably thank the Lord every night of their lives that I served a mission :)
Uhhh.... Christmas. I have no idea. One thing I don't need is new clothes. I have collected so many clothes on my mission from other sisters and things that I'm going to have to get rid of most of them over time. Umm... I think it would be good if you just put money into my account and then I could either use it here or elsewhere. As for something to open on Christmas morning... you could send me some crunchy Cheetos. Not the baked ones. Also, you don't have to send any easy mac... I have some still left from last year :) Also lifesaver gummies. But also not too much foodstuff, because sometimes I don't eat it all. I honestly can't think of much more that I would want.
We had a really good week. We had so many miracles. Most of them came in the form of teaching lessons on the spot. It is scary for a missionary (especially a new missionary, like Sister Embley) to ask, 'Do you have some time now?' and teach someone right then. But we have had some really great successes, new investigators and things (one of which seems like he will progress :) His name is Allwell, like 'All is well'). It is always inspiring when the Lord puts one of his prepared children right in your path and you are able to see them change even a little bit during the few minutes you talk to them.
This is the work of SALVATION!
So many people are prepared to hear the gospel. I have testimony of that. We just need to find them, and that comes by diligently searching. I know that members are very key to that as well, to have members find or help teach is so important. That means each of you are very important to this great work. I think Elder Nelson's talk will ring in everyones ears for a while, 'Ask the missionaries! They can help you!' Love it.
We had an experience this week with a man named Barry. He wouldn't let us teach him on the spot, and he wouldn't let us pray for him. He wouldn't let us do much of anything to be honest. He said that he would never change and he would never believe. Sister Embley and I both felt so strongly that we wanted to help him so we just kept talking to him. By the end, he still wouldn't pray, but he changed. He told us that he would go home that night and try to pray. I hope that he did. Those kinds of things mean a lot to a missionary.
I love you.
Loves, Sister Hull
Monday, October 15, 2012
England feels like home
Dear Everyone :)
First off... I can't believe Van- giving away my secrets about transfers! She told you before I did!? That is so great :) She is seriously one of my best friends in life, I love her so much. It was so nice to have such close friends when I was in Liverpool, I always knew I could rely on them. And seeing their change and progression made me realize more of how I could change. Van is a lot like me, sometimes stubburn and doesn't want to change, but when she realizes that something is good and right she will do it. I miss her and
Vincent loads... but someday in the far off future I'll be able to talk to her on skype so that will be okay :) I have times when I miss them a lot, and it just isn't fun. The other day I saw this boy that looked like a mixture of Vincent and another friend named Owen, and it was great and really sad at the same time. Ugh. My recent converts mean the world to me. Seriously.
This week has been good. Opening a new area is crazy. I thought only the 'greats' did things like this, you know what I mean? When I saw other missionaries going into an area with nothing I just like wanted to give them a standing ovation... okay, maybe not, but still it is pretty crazy. We are blessed that I have at least some knowledge of the area and the members so that is nice. It is really helpful. And here, unlike Liverpool, we will be teaching both Chinese and English-speaking people so that is great. We have a lot of potentials and I really think that we are going to be able to see a lot of success.
FYI. The Zone Leaders are contacting a man right now. They just set an appointment to play basketball with him sometime. One time Sister Embley and I kebab contacted someone. It was great. We were eating a kebab and he just gave us his details pretty much.
The ward here in Preston was really open to me and Sister Embley yesterday. I was really surprised. I wasn't here very long before and they didn't seem extremely open then, but they had very open arms to have us back. They feel blessed to have Sisters and so I think they will really take care of us. It might be a lot easier transition than I thought it would be. I'm grateful to be a missionary at this time, and I know that the Lord will bless and protect His missionaries from everything. I know that it was an inspired call for me to come to the England Manchester mission and I'm so grateful to be serving here at this time.
We have been able to teach a few lessons, most of them on the spot. I thought that on the spot lessons were so secretive and difficult to do when I was a young missionary, and it is difficult, but there are a lot of people that are ready to hear the gospel right then. Hopefully we'll have some success from that.
I love my mission so much. I want to stay for a long time. Forever, maybe. England is much more real to me right now than Utah is. You are real, it is important that I have a family, but England feels like home.
Loves, Sister Hull
 |
| Vincent, Sister Embley, Sister Hull and Van |
First off... I can't believe Van- giving away my secrets about transfers! She told you before I did!? That is so great :) She is seriously one of my best friends in life, I love her so much. It was so nice to have such close friends when I was in Liverpool, I always knew I could rely on them. And seeing their change and progression made me realize more of how I could change. Van is a lot like me, sometimes stubburn and doesn't want to change, but when she realizes that something is good and right she will do it. I miss her and
Vincent loads... but someday in the far off future I'll be able to talk to her on skype so that will be okay :) I have times when I miss them a lot, and it just isn't fun. The other day I saw this boy that looked like a mixture of Vincent and another friend named Owen, and it was great and really sad at the same time. Ugh. My recent converts mean the world to me. Seriously.
This week has been good. Opening a new area is crazy. I thought only the 'greats' did things like this, you know what I mean? When I saw other missionaries going into an area with nothing I just like wanted to give them a standing ovation... okay, maybe not, but still it is pretty crazy. We are blessed that I have at least some knowledge of the area and the members so that is nice. It is really helpful. And here, unlike Liverpool, we will be teaching both Chinese and English-speaking people so that is great. We have a lot of potentials and I really think that we are going to be able to see a lot of success.
FYI. The Zone Leaders are contacting a man right now. They just set an appointment to play basketball with him sometime. One time Sister Embley and I kebab contacted someone. It was great. We were eating a kebab and he just gave us his details pretty much.
The ward here in Preston was really open to me and Sister Embley yesterday. I was really surprised. I wasn't here very long before and they didn't seem extremely open then, but they had very open arms to have us back. They feel blessed to have Sisters and so I think they will really take care of us. It might be a lot easier transition than I thought it would be. I'm grateful to be a missionary at this time, and I know that the Lord will bless and protect His missionaries from everything. I know that it was an inspired call for me to come to the England Manchester mission and I'm so grateful to be serving here at this time.
We have been able to teach a few lessons, most of them on the spot. I thought that on the spot lessons were so secretive and difficult to do when I was a young missionary, and it is difficult, but there are a lot of people that are ready to hear the gospel right then. Hopefully we'll have some success from that.
I love my mission so much. I want to stay for a long time. Forever, maybe. England is much more real to me right now than Utah is. You are real, it is important that I have a family, but England feels like home.
Loves, Sister Hull
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Back in Preston
Hi Mom,
Yup, there have been changes this week. Significant changes, to be fair. Sister Embley and I whitewashed out of Liverpool and into Preston. Yup, back in Preston. This whitewash is different then when I and Sister Gong went to Liverpool, though. At that point we were moving in and taking on the Elders investigators and things, but Sister Embley and I are technically opening a new area. That means that we have no investigators and no potentials- we pretty much don't have anything except my 5 week knowledge of the Preston area. So not much. But I have felt a confirmation from the Spirit that I'm supposed to be here again, so here we go. It will be exciting, I'm sure.
I hated leaving Liverpool. Mostly I hated leaving Vincent and Van. I love the two of them so much, and it was so hard leaving them. They are wonderful. We ate a meal together the night before we left and that was really nice. Sometimes I feel like my heart is breaking thinking that they are still in Liverpool and I am not. Ah. I miss them already. They took such good care of me.
I love you all. Thank you for your strength. I'll try to write more next time.
Loves, Sister Hull
Sorry, I guess I have a bit more time.
I want all of you to know that I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. I'm so grateful for the steps that lead us back to our Father in Heaven. Many times we are looking for the big secret to life, but there isn't one. It is all about faith and repentance, faith and repentance. When we have those two key steps they lead us to act, to be baptised, receive the Holy Ghost and to attend the Temple and do all the things that we need to be eternal. I know that the grace of Jesus Christ is real. Grace isn't only the cleansing agent. I mean, it does cleanse, and that is vital to our salvation-we cannot be with God unless we are perfect, but grace also allows us to be stronger and to do things that are beyond our own capacity. There are so many things I can't do by myself, to be honest I am very weak and if left to my own strength I would probably crawl into bed, hide from the world, cry and wish my life away. I know that I am that weak because I have done that before. I did that a lot pre-mission. I was not using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to even near it's fullest extent before my mission- I'm not even sure I was using it at all. Missions are so hard. It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It seems like every day we have things thrown at us that could batter and bruise us- that do batter and bruise us. My feet hurt, my heart breaks, my head throbs and my gut drops. But somewhere inside I have this warm glow. This feeling that I am not alone in this, that I can take one step more, that I can take one more rejection, that I can eat one more piece of dry bread. I can do it. I can do it because of Jesus Christ. He is literally my Saviour, He came to earth to save me. To save my soul. He sacrificed for my sake- little me walking around the streets of Preston, or Liverpool, or Salford or Stafford. But He also sacrificed for you. Sitting at home, standing at work, driving around. And He sacrificed for the world- the person from Slavakia who doesn't understand me, the man from the UK who doesn't care, those students from China who don't comprehend Him- he suffered for them. So it doesn't help us if we just go on day after day and don't use the Atonement. If we don't have faith and repent we are nothing. If we do we are still weak, but we can do it. We can follow the commandments, and we can find joy in this journey. I know that the gospel is real. My personal relationship is the most important thing I have in this life. I love Him, and I desperately need to get to know Him better.
Loves.
Yup, there have been changes this week. Significant changes, to be fair. Sister Embley and I whitewashed out of Liverpool and into Preston. Yup, back in Preston. This whitewash is different then when I and Sister Gong went to Liverpool, though. At that point we were moving in and taking on the Elders investigators and things, but Sister Embley and I are technically opening a new area. That means that we have no investigators and no potentials- we pretty much don't have anything except my 5 week knowledge of the Preston area. So not much. But I have felt a confirmation from the Spirit that I'm supposed to be here again, so here we go. It will be exciting, I'm sure.
I hated leaving Liverpool. Mostly I hated leaving Vincent and Van. I love the two of them so much, and it was so hard leaving them. They are wonderful. We ate a meal together the night before we left and that was really nice. Sometimes I feel like my heart is breaking thinking that they are still in Liverpool and I am not. Ah. I miss them already. They took such good care of me.
I love you all. Thank you for your strength. I'll try to write more next time.
Loves, Sister Hull
Sorry, I guess I have a bit more time.
I want all of you to know that I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. I'm so grateful for the steps that lead us back to our Father in Heaven. Many times we are looking for the big secret to life, but there isn't one. It is all about faith and repentance, faith and repentance. When we have those two key steps they lead us to act, to be baptised, receive the Holy Ghost and to attend the Temple and do all the things that we need to be eternal. I know that the grace of Jesus Christ is real. Grace isn't only the cleansing agent. I mean, it does cleanse, and that is vital to our salvation-we cannot be with God unless we are perfect, but grace also allows us to be stronger and to do things that are beyond our own capacity. There are so many things I can't do by myself, to be honest I am very weak and if left to my own strength I would probably crawl into bed, hide from the world, cry and wish my life away. I know that I am that weak because I have done that before. I did that a lot pre-mission. I was not using the Atonement of Jesus Christ to even near it's fullest extent before my mission- I'm not even sure I was using it at all. Missions are so hard. It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It seems like every day we have things thrown at us that could batter and bruise us- that do batter and bruise us. My feet hurt, my heart breaks, my head throbs and my gut drops. But somewhere inside I have this warm glow. This feeling that I am not alone in this, that I can take one step more, that I can take one more rejection, that I can eat one more piece of dry bread. I can do it. I can do it because of Jesus Christ. He is literally my Saviour, He came to earth to save me. To save my soul. He sacrificed for my sake- little me walking around the streets of Preston, or Liverpool, or Salford or Stafford. But He also sacrificed for you. Sitting at home, standing at work, driving around. And He sacrificed for the world- the person from Slavakia who doesn't understand me, the man from the UK who doesn't care, those students from China who don't comprehend Him- he suffered for them. So it doesn't help us if we just go on day after day and don't use the Atonement. If we don't have faith and repent we are nothing. If we do we are still weak, but we can do it. We can follow the commandments, and we can find joy in this journey. I know that the gospel is real. My personal relationship is the most important thing I have in this life. I love Him, and I desperately need to get to know Him better.
Loves.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
HELLLLLLLLOOOOOO
Dear Family,
I think that the weeks seem to go faster and faster. I feel like last Monday was forever ago, but at the same time only yesterday. I have a hard time remembering all the things that happen to me in the week to be honest. It is very difficult to remember. Ugh. I'm trying to write in my journal, because I hate my memories being so finite, but I never seem to have time, and when I do I just have to scribble a few lines down. I hope that someday we have a bright recollection of everything, not just our guilt, so I can remember everything that happened to me on my mission, because I know I have already forgotten things :/ So difficult.
We have a rough week. Quite a few investigators dropped us this week. None of them were super progressing, but we seem to have a lot more investigators dropping us than not dropping us. Yeah, that would put us at about negative investigators. Okay, not really, but it is being difficult at this point in time. I'm not sure it if is our lack of faith, or just their agency, but it is really difficult for me to swallow either way. Poor Sister Embley is having to take all the drop phone calls, and I don't want to take the phone from her, because she needs to learn somehow, but it is really difficult for her as well. I wish it was different, but I don't know what else to do, to be honest.
I went on exchange this week to Gaewen with Sister Orr. It was my 3rd time to go to Gaerwen, and my 2nd time to be there with Sister Orr. It was fun. Things seem quite different in their area- they have a car (which I hate... it kills any sense of urgency you had before... bus contacting is the most intimidating but most rewarding thing you can do!) and the people in Wales seem quite friendly, but not as open to talk as the people in Liverpool. To be honest, the people here in Liverpool are so open and so friendly and so willing to set an appointment with you. I really like them. The exchange was nice, I got to go to another districts district meeting, which was weird, but they took a picture of it, so I'll send it to you. It is a picture of me with a district that isn't mine, zone leaders that aren't mine, and a companion that isn't mine. The Assistants are mine, but they are everybodys. We did get to teach a 91 year old man that I contacted last time I was in Gaerwen and who was recontacted by a miracle on the consecrated finding day. That was pretty great :) His name is Richard. He can't remember pretty much anything.
We steam cleaned a members floor. That was great.
Our investigator got super excited about a prophet prophesying of the credit crisis. That was great.
An African member fed us so much food Sister Embley was sick for like a day. It was normal food, she just ate too much. That was great.
I met three Americans. 2 of them were nice. One was a Jew. One was a Yoga Hindu person. One was a feminist. You are right, the feminist was not the nice one. She thinks we should have the Priesthood. That was great.
I ate Portuguese food. It was boiled fish and boiled eggs. That was great.
An investigator dropped us by using similar lines that you would with someone you were breaking up with. That was after he was rebuked by Sam and Beryl. That was great.
When you think about it, even the bad things are great when you are on a mission. I'm so grateful that the Saviour can turn it around and make it that way. I love you. Transfers are next week. I feel a bit of a change coming... Enjoy Conference :) Love you.
Loves, Sister Hull
