Hi Mom :)

It's crazy to hear about what everyone is doing.  It feels like everyone I know is making big changes and adjustments in their lives.  It's crazy.  I can't believe Chase Noble Randall is a missionary now.  He's always been like other little brother that sat on our couch and I had to kick off so I could watch American Idol.  Now he will be preaching the gospel.  I love it.

Justin Brown and Alexis Valdez.  I would have never guessed that in high school for sure.  I wonder who else from my high school class has gotten married.  It's so strange to think about.

I love that you found the pictures from Sam and Beryl.  Did you see the one where my head is squished against Beryl's walker?  I thought that one was so funny, I just have this huge smile on my face and my head is smashed against her walker :)  They are great. 

I'm so excited Shanna is going on a mission.  So so excited.  I'll miss her being at Utah State when I get home, though.  You'll have to send me her address when you find it out :)

This week was so busy.  Liverpool is actually insane and so many miracles happened, I'm so grateful.

We had a Zone Conference this week and our Zone Leaders gave an amazing training (did I tell you that Elder Reynolds- one of my favorite district leaders- is now my Zone Leader, he is in that picture you sent with Elder Fawcett...).  It was about how we need to give God a sacrifice of  broken heart.  They pointed out to us that it means we need to choose to break our hearts so Christ can take away the bad bits and replace them with good bits.  It was really really good, I really liked the concept of it.  I've been reminded this week of the need to sacrifice- it is so important.  Very very important.  But God doesn't really ask us to sacrifice the good things, only the bad ones that He then replaces with good ones.

We also had a Sisters Meeting which was nice.  It was a lot better for me than the last one.  Like loads better.  We learned from the Assistants about Grace.  Grace is so important.  I would highly suggest anyone reading this email do a personal study on the grace of Jesus Christ starting from the Bible Dictionary.  That would be good.

Will is receiving more answers to his prayers since we taught him how to pray properly.  He is really good and things and understands that he will be converting to the Mormon religion.  He said he would live the Word of Wisdom which was really good, usually Chinese have some concerns with tea, but he just said it would be mind over matter.

Vincent is so good.  He really is able to receive answers to his prayers.  His progression has been so amazing since Sister Gong and I came.  As he has prayed diligently he has been able to receive answers, I really love it.  He came from not knowing like anything about God when the Elders started teaching him, to telling us that he really can't deny that there is a God.  I can't believe it.

It just really strengthens my testimony to see these Chinese people progress. They seriously go from having no belief or knowledge about God (some just know Jesus Christ because they have heard it in movies) to receiving direct revelation in their prayers.  It is so amazing.  God is answering these people- and my job is to help them recognize the answers they are receiving.  I love being able to tell them that what they are feeling is the Holy Ghost, it really is amazing.  They are so good.  Heavenly Father has blessed me so much to serve in Liverpool and to teach these people, and also to hear first hand experiences from my 2 native chinese companions.  Their example really helped me know how to help these investigators and how to love them.  I really really love the Chinese culture.  It is different, but it is good, and it shows me that the gospel really can fit in with any culture :)  I love it.

My companions are quite funny, to be honest.  It is definitely a different experience being in a trio.  There is always something crazy going on, but it is generally good, or at least not bad.

I love you all so much.  I want you to be happy.  I can't believe Jaden is growing up.  Tell him to stop.  He still needs to be a little kid when I get home.  For that matter, so does Jenika.  Only me and Jordan can grow up, and then when we get home then they can grow up.  Good idea.

I love you :)

Loves

Sister Hull

PS  Thanks for the update about everyone.  I think the reason I haven't heard from Katie is because the letter was sent back to me.  It said return to sender on it, which was weird. 

Sisters Meeting/Training

Being a missionary is totally the best

Dear Mom,

 

I have tried diligently to send you pictures of myself and Sister Gong for like an entire transfer.  The computers here don't all read my card reader all the time.  So I've tried.  I will continue to try, but I might not be able to for a while.

 

Before I forget, some amazing members from Liverpool ward are coming to America for 5 weeks.  Their names are Sam and her mother Beryl.  They'll be visiting a lot of missionaries and things, but they'll be in Cache Valley from 9 Aug- 13 Aug, and they want to meet you and the family :)  I gave Sam your details yesterday so she'll probably contact you sometime in the near future.  It's a blessing to have them in the ward, they make all the missionaries feel like they are at home.  I'll miss them while they are in Utah.

 

That is exciting that you were able to serve food at Zone Conference.  That is exactly what it is like for me, except I'm usually at bit louder and run a bit awkwarder when I see my old friends and companions and things.  I pretty much attack some of them.  It's so weird, though, because except for Sister Beaty all my previous companions are home, and additionally a lot of my Elder friends are home as well.  I'm starting to feel a bit old in the mission, which is weird because I still feel brand new.  But, yes, Zone Conferences are lovely.

 

The newspaper article will run sometime in August.  President will probably get me a copy, I assume.  He'll probably show everyone at Zone Conference- we were able to see a clip of 'The One' show when some of the Elders were on it.  They were famous.  But not too many people read the paper anymore so I probably won't be famous.  Okay, they were actually that noticable, but they were famous amoung us missionaries.

 

Wait.  Were you in charge of the entire parade?  This whole time I thought you were just in charge of the Primary float.  My bad.  That is really cool that you did that, I'm very proud of you :)  That would be stressful, but I'm glad it didn't stress you out too much.

 

There is an Elder here named Elder Christensen and he is brand new and at the concert on Saturday he was looking for a sister from Logan Utah.  I was like, 'I'm from Logan Utah...'  He said, 'Do you know Jessica Christensen?'  and I said, 'Yes, she is my best friend!'  And then he said my Christen name in front of everybody!  I couldn't believe it :)  Luckily it was mostly Sisters and Elder Sutton who were standing around so most of them already knew my Christen name.  Weird.  The world of the church is so small. Another Elder in the last group was like, 'Are you Jordan Hull's sister...'  and I told him that I was.  He went to SV with Jordy.  Isn't that weird?  So strange.  The Elders are Jordan's age.

 

Sister Gong went home yesterday!  Oh my goodness, I was so heartbroken.  So heartbroken.  When she left I like went in the bathroom and bawled.  The other sisters didn't know what to do with me.  I was crying for so long.  We have a lot of plans, I'm going to go to China and she is going to come to America (after my wedding... I told her to not come for my wedding, because I'll be really busy) and we are going to come back to UK and then go to Italy and stay with Elder Perego's family (I don't really know him, but she does, so we'll stay there.)  These plans are good.  I hope they happen.  I'll need to get a good job someday.  Like in 13 years.  I'm on a Sons of Mosiah mission in length.  Anyway.
 

That is cool you met Derek Hough.  I wish you could have met Mark Ballas as well, but at least you got to see him.  He was performing for Pioneer Day... is he a member?  I don't think so.  Hmmm... It's weird, I think I haven't thought about him for months.  My life has changed.

 

Cam Clark is married, right?  I can't remember.

 

My life is so crazy.  I love it soooo much, though.  Being a missionary is totally the best, it isn't just cliche, like it is soooo good.  I'm so grateful that so many people I know are deciding to serve, because I know that they'll love it so much.  And I pray that Jenika will prepare herself to serve if that is the right choice, and that Jaden's excitement will stay strong.  Because a mission has completely changed me.  Sometimes I just realize I have a smile on my face, and I'm not sure why.  I never just smiled naturally before in my life- my natural face looked like I was going to cry, as evidenced by all the YSA men that asked me if I was okay on campus.  But now I'm more inclined to smile, and it feels soooooo good.  Missions are the best.  Even the hardest times are like sacred to me now, because they are the times I learned the most.  I love it.  I love England, I love Liverpool. Ah.  I wish I could take how I feel and transplant it into all of your hearts at home, because it feels so good and I don't know how to describe it.

 

I love being a missionary.

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull

I love being a missionary. So much.

Dear Mom,

 

Thanks for your email.  I appreciate it.

 

My life is absolutely insane, if I'm honest. 

 

I was interviewed, along with Sister Gong, Elders Francis and Webb and President and Sister Walker of the MTC by a national newspaper called the Independent.  The feature will run in a Sunday newspaper in August.  We went to the MTC to receive training from the Public Affairs manager of half of Europe, and stayed the night there and then were interviewed the next day.  Crazy.

 

I went on exchange to Wales with Sister Hoffman.  The most exciting part was that the flat there is on Anglesey Island.  I've heard about that Island for a lot of my life.  I was very excited about it, when I found out where I was, and I couldn't wait to tell Laura Lee.

 

Transfers happened.  I'm still in Liverpool with Sister Horne now, and we will be serving together until in 3 weeks when we will both receive Chinese trainees.  So it will be a 4 sister flat, and we'll divide our investigators and things at that point.  There is plenty of Chinese work to do here in Liverpool, so we will all be busy, I think.  Sister Horne is very great, I'm excited to be companions with her.

 

Sister Gong doesn't go home until Sunday because she has to be released by the Area Authority in China because they don't have Stake Presidents.  He is a very busy man, so she is staying a bit longer.  I'm grateful I haven't had to say goodbye yet.

 

We found out at transfers that we are going to be in a trio for the next three weeks.  A sister going to the London South Mission got to the MTC and found out that her MTC companion got jury duty instead of a visa.  So she couldn't stay without a companion.  So she came to us completely untrained for the next 3 weeks until there are sisters in the MTC.  Her name is Sister Adam.

 

I'm seriously not making any of this up.  And I'm teaching Chinese people, some of which are preparing for baptism.  Ask me if I have enough time... I don't :) 

 

But I know that the Lord loves me, and for some reason has asked me to do all these things.  I love Him so much.  He is my everything. 

 

I love being a missionary.  So much. 

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull

This Week

 

 

 

Hello Family! :)

 

Oh my goodness.  What a crazy week.

 

I remembered I wanted to say this to you, so I'm going to say it at the beginning, even it is sounds like a weird start.  Before I marry my husband, I need to look at his Preach My Gospel.  Not because I need to look at how many baptisms he has had, that is completely irrelevant.  I need to look at what he has learned from his mission.  PMG is very very good, and can be regarded as scripture, so I need to see his PMG before I'll marry him.  Also, dad needs to talk to his mission president.  I'll give you a list of questions, dad :)  Grill his mission president.  Also, congrats on your second role in a church film.  Has the first one been published online?  You should send me a link :)

 

Okay, that has been really important to me for a while, so I'm glad I just told you.

 

This week has been fantastic.  I love my mission so much.  My mission has changed my life, and I dare say saved my life.  It is soooooo important to me.  I'm so excited for Katie, Jenny, and Carrie and that they get to start this process so soon.  They are so blessed to be able to serve, and to still have 18 months ahead of them.  I wish I had 18 months ahead of me... but already knew what I now know :)  If you are reading this and have any opportunity or inclination to go on a mission... GO ON A MISSION.  I'm not being a cliche missionary.  It will change you, and you will love the you it is changing you into.  Seriously- go on a mission.  I have no idea who I'm telling this to, but I just feel so strongly about it. 

 

It was the baptisms of Wini and Leah this Saturday.  It was the most smoothly ran baptism I think I have been in charge of.  Actually, Tong's was quite smooth as well.  The only thing that wasn't that great at the baptism was the pianist.   Because guess who it was.  Yup.  Me.  I played the piano for a baptismal service.  If you would have told me that a year ago I probably would have laughed in your face.  It wasn't too bad, but I don't think I had ever played a grand piano before. I would like to have a baby grand someday, I'm not sure why, but I think it would be lovely.  Also, I am going to learn the guitar when I get home.  That is like my only definite secular plan is to learn the guitar. 

 

I asked Leah how she felt after the baptism and she said it felt like there had been a rock on her [chest] and it was gone.  I thought that was a perfect description of what the Atonement feels like.  It is like you have this thing in your heart and it doesn't belong there, and you want to get rid of it, but it is like those annoying weeds that you just can't pull out.  But Christ can.  And when He does your heart like feels with light.  I love it, it is amazing.

 

We also had the opportunity to go to a concert at Avenham park.  It was at this park in Preston that the first baptisms in the UK took place 175 years ago, so they had a special celebration for it.  It was great, I saw so many members and missionaries that I loved there.  I saw some members from Swinton and it felt like home.  Sister Reamon told me to come back and stay with them someday and she'll make me Philippine food again :)  I saw the Swinton Elders and the Elder that replaced E. Ashcraft was like, 'Sister Hull, you are legend...'   I was like, 'What?'  He said, 'You are legend in the Swinton ward.  Everyone talks about you and misses you.'  That meant so much to me.  I love that ward so much... and I would still love them so much even if it wasn't reciprocal... but it feels nice that it is reciprocal and that I'm not the only one missing them.  Swinton Ward is like my home.

 

But I feel like Liverpool ward definitely has the potential to be my home as well.  I am so blessed to serve in this ward, I can't even tell you.  Every missionary in the mission wants to serve in Liverpool, and I feel so blessed that I am serving here with Sister Gong.  Heavenly Father really is looking out for me and I know that He loves me.  I know that He loves all of His missionaries and gives them just the right circumstances that they need to learn and to grow.  Hallowed be His name.

 

I love you.  Thank you so much for your support.  This mission is so important to me.

 

Loves,

 

Sister Hull

 

PS  The family pictures are great :)

I Love You

Hello Mom!

Yes.  Sister Smith will be arriving on August 8, I think.  Elder Cai told me that her first name was 'Jasmine' though... IDK.  I know the approximate arrival of all the Chinese sisters- and I can guess where they are going.  She will be coming with one other Mandarin trained sister, and will probably either be trained by me in Liverpool, or serving with my companion of 3 weeks in Liverpool.  How do I know this?  Well, I don't for sure, but the Lord knows.  And He has already started telling President.  And President told me in interviews.  We have 4 Chinese speaking sisters coming in the next 2-3 transfers, and I know I'll be training at least one of them.  This part I don't know, but I have a feeling I might be serving with Chinese speakers for the rest of my mission.  Which I would love.  Because I love Chinese people so much... like so much.  So that is cool.  You can tell Jeff that I will know her soon.

I didn't actually vote... I'm embarrassed.  I know, my first time since becoming 18 that I didn't participate in the political process.  I even vote for silly things.  But I didn't have enough stamps, and by the time the next P-day came and things.... I didn't vote.  Don't tell my future, politically informed, children :)

We had another very busy week.  It was crazy, as always.  Liverpool is really so blessed.  I didn't really believe it when everyone told me, I was like, 'Yeah, yeah, Liverpool...'  but it really is.  Why is it blessed?  I'm not exactly sure, but I think that it is probably because the members are so involved in missionary work.  They bare testimony about missionary work and rebuke those who don't do it, and pray to have their own missionary opportunities, and sometimes feel guilty when they can't help us.  I've never seen anything like it before.  It's really good.

Our investigators are really progressing.  It is such a blessing.  The Elders that whitewashed out left the area is in such a good place and the investigators they were teaching are really sincere and want to learn.  It has been such a blessing to step in and be able to watch the work move forward. I know it is definitely not about me... I understand that more than ever before.  The work is about the people and how the Lord wants to help them progress.

One of our investigators is named Vincent.  He wants to study Law here and is preparing to take the English test.  His mind is so analytical, he reminds me of many people I know back home.  But I see His sincere desire to know if God is there, and because of that sincerity he is receiving really obvious, really specific answers to his prayers.  He is really good and seems to trust me more since he found out that I studied the same course.

The area is so blessed.  I'm so thankful for it.  I know that the gospel is real, and that the church is true.

I love you so much.

Loves,

Sister Hull

What a week

Hello!

This week has been so busy.  Seriously, I can't remember the start of the week.  The end was the most exciting part, that is for sure :)  I got to do something that most other missionaries don't get to do.  In fact, there was only three other missionaries in the UK that got to participate.  It is so funny, actually.  Sister Gong and I, and the Chinese speaking Elders went to the YSA Convention.

Isn't that funny?  Most of the YSA thought it was funny.  They were looking at us like, 'What are you doing here?  You aren't single and/or available....'  Elder Cai said, 'It really is just mote and beam anyway... we could look at them and be like, 'What are you doing here... you've had like 7 chances at these things before to get married...?''  Anyway, the reason why we were there is because the Chinese people were the majority minority group (the biggest non-English group).  Over the course of the three days we had something like 25 Chinese people participating from all over the UK.  Most of them were from Liverpool, but they Preston Chinese came down, and some from Newcastle-upon-tyne, and one from Hull (I think...) and one from London.  It was great. Loads of fun.  The reason why we were there as missionaries was to help them to be able to integrate and to mingle.  To be honest, Chinese people are very shy, particularly when they are not talking to people who speak Chinese.  And so a lot of times their friends in whatever ward they are in are the other Chinese people and the missionaries.  So it was our job to help them mingle and make English friends.  And it was really fun.  We had some really good times, and were able to do a lot of good, I think.  They all felt really good, and I think will be more open to reaching out- because that is one of the most difficult parts of helping the Chinese in the gospel.  It was a good week.

Random.  Before I forget.  There is an Elder in my district named Elder Bahr from Cedar City.  I didn't think anything about it, but when he learned that I lived in Logan he told me he lived in Tremonton until he was 6.  I asked what Stake he was in trying to find out if it was anywhere near our grandparents.  Then for some reason he was just like, 'My dad is Michael Bahr.'  I was like, 'Your father is Michael Bahr?... are you serious?'  I told him, 'I know your father, and your father knows me and my family...'  And went on and on.  Yeah.  So Michael Bahr's youngest son is in my district.  Also.  There is a Chinese recent convert in Liverpool ward that was baptised in Melbourne Austrialia.  I asked him if he knew Elder Blake... he was like, 'Adam Blake? ... He was the missionary who baptised me!'  What? I told him that Elder Blake went to my school and that when his foot was hurt we went to a party together.  Anyway.  The world is very very
small in the church.  You are always meeting someone that knows someone that you know.  So strange.

Anyway, our investigators are really good.  We have two dated for baptism, Wini and Leah.  Wini has been taught for months, and was taught with her boyfriend for a while, but now he is back in China and
she is getting baptised.  She isn't super confident about everything, and Sister Gong is sure that Satan is working very hard on her because her and her boyfriend could be an eternal family.  We are going
tonight to resolve her concerns and help her feel more comfortable about being baptised.

Leah is really good.  She hadn't been taught very much by the Elders but she quickly gained a testimony of God.  She is very confident and excited about being baptised.  She feels so good about her baptismal
date and gets very very involved in things and really reaches out and makes new friends and things.  She took the Word of Wisdom surprisingly well (tough commandment for Chinese... tea...) and
everything is falling into place for her to be baptised on the 7th of July.

We have quite a few other investigators... Vincent, Van (a girl), and Will are the most progressing.  Will is very awkward, but came to like the entire YSA conference.  We couldn't tell if he was having any fun, but he really seemed to enjoy it and make new friends and things, which was good.  He is great.

We also have some really good recent converts that are great and love to help and things.  It really is a blessing.

We had one investigator drop us last week. She couldn't take the Law of Chastity, which is really weird for a Chinese girl.  She thought pornography was healthy for marriage.  Plus someone led her to a bunch of anti stuff.  So that is really sad, but it must not be her time.

I have to tell you.  I was waiting at the YSA conference, and I knew that WeiDi and Shen Chen were coming, so I was watching for them for quite a while.  When I finally saw them, I ran to them with this like
huge smile on my face.  I wanted to hug them so bad, I was so excited to see them, my friends.  I just felt so much joy at seeing them again.  I really feel like it was a small part of how we will feel when we see everyone we love in the Celestial Kingdom again.  I'm very grateful for that feel, and for Charity which the Lord teaches me daily.

I really enjoyed both of your emails this week.  I want so much to be an Eternal Family.  I'll never, no never forsake :)  I love you.

Have a beautiful week!

Loves,

Sister Hull

I love who I'm becoming.

Hello!

I didn't know about Katie's mission call!!!!  She didn't tell me???  Goodness, that is strange.  But LUBBOCK TEXAS!!!!  That is so perfect for her, in all honestly.  I really thought she was going to Georgia, so a Southern mission feels really good for me for her.  I think it will be so perfect, she'll love the people so much.  I know that mission calls are 100% inspired by the Lord and that she will love the
people she serves.  I love everyone here in England so much... well, maybe not *everyone* but give me a break.  Some of them were a bit creepy via text.  Katie will be great missionary.  And one of my
friends here in the mission is from Texas... maybe he can go fellowshipping with her!  When does she report?

In other news IT IS YOUR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!  FYI, world, my mother and father have been married for 24 YEARS.  Okay, that is so cool.  You know how many people can say that there parents are still married, yet alone say that they have been married for 24 YEARS.  Probably like 3%
of the Western culture countries (we have to recognize that Chinese culture is different... but it is becoming more westernized, which isn't that postive for families.)  But I just can't believe how blessed I am that you are married and have been married for so long, and will continue to be married forever.  I was so excited about it that I studied D&C 132 this morning (I think that is the one I studied... the one that is all about eternal marriage...).

Anyway, I'm very excited.  I'm excited because I was so blessed to be Born in the Covenant.  Not very many people can say that when they look at the world.  I'm blessed because I was already sealed to you
when I was born.  I'm blessed because I still have all of my grandparents, and they are all still married and they are all sealed and we are bound to them forever.  Can you believe it?  I'm so blessed.  There are so many people who can't look back on their family and say that they are sealed to everyone as far as family history can go by the Priesthood.  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, and I love it.

I'm grateful that you made it a priority to get married in the Temple. I'm grateful that you honor your covenants, and that you began to have children.  I'm grateful that I was born first.  I'm grateful that
you were young (and I'm going to say... both of you couldn't have really known what you were getting yourself into...) but you still choose to follow the Lord and begin your family- even though you were
in school- and even though we didn't have loads of money- and even though there are so many excuses that YSA and Married Students are making today.  Because, guess what.  18 June 1988 was one of the most
important days of my life- even though I wasn't born for 2 more years.  It was important because it meant that I would be coming to an eternal family in the making- and that if I followed your example, and
we worked together we would be a Celestial Family.  And that is still our goal.

I've been thinking about it a lot, particularly because all the conference talks seems to be talking about protecting the family, and I want to give my children the exact same thing you gave me, Jordan, Jenika and Jaden.  I want to give them parents, sealed in the Temple.  I want them to be BIC as well.  I want to give them a mother anddfather that Love the Lord, Love each other and love them.  I want to give them covenant keeping parents.  And that is one reason I'm so grateful for my mission, it is teaching me to be a covenant keeper.

Anyway, this week was good.  I cried at Zone Conference... again.  Sister Preston came up to me and was like, 'are you okay?' and I said 'no' and just burst out in tears.  President came up and was like, 'Sister Hull, you still have a long time left.' (This was right after the departing missionary testimonies.)  I said, 'but  everyone is leaving me!'  But also I don't feel like I have a long time left.  I'm really starting to feel the urgency of the mission and that my time really is finite.  Our time to serve is so limited.

I love this area.  It is difficult, but in a good way.  It is the right kind of pressure.  We are teaching a ton, and have to run home nearly every night to be on time.  But we need to take all the time we have to help these people progress and understand the gospel, because they have never had the chance before, and probably won't ever have the chance again.

Random thought.  Jordan said he was teaching the Duran family.  One of the Elders in the 'Best District Ever'  (did I tell you about the 'Best District Ever'?) was named Elder Duran.  We said he was Mexican,
but I can't remember if he actually was.  Maybe he is part Bolivian.

I really love who I'm becoming. I love the Lord.  I love you.

Loves,

Sister Hull