First Week Was Successful!!

Dear family and friends,

I've had a great week with my new companion, Elder Dabi! Each morning for an hour, I teach him how to speak English. Throughout the day, he will ask me how to say certain words and how to correctly construct a sentence. We are living with Elder Andriamisa who can speak French so it has been helpful having him around when I can't understand my companion. For the most part, if I speak slowly, Elder Dabi has no problem understanding me which is a blessing because I'm the teacher..

"Elder Hallenberger, me not get no money for buy food."

"No, it's I dont have any money for food."

"Me hungry."

"...Yeah me too."

Haha it's not easy but we're making progress. I taught him the word bro so now every time he talks to people he calls them bro:) That's my boy! Elder Dabi, President, and the Lord trusts me and I dont want to let them down. Before his training is finished, I will have Elder Dabi speaking English because I know that miracles come from obedience, diligence, and faith. My priority is to 1st, train Elder Dabi to be a great missionary and 2nd, to help him learn the language. If I do the 1st, then the 2nd will be much easier. "Obedience is the key to knowledge." -Bruce R Mcconkie

I have exciting news! Elder Hugo E Martinez of the Seventy is coming to speak to the mission on Wednesday at Zone conference! He desires to proselyte with a companionship afterwards and he chose me and Elder Dabi!!! I'm so nervous and excited! It's such a great opportunity and privilege to be able to say I proselyted with a general authority! I will surely have a report on this experience next week.

Just this morning, we had a great district activity in our apartment! I had asked president if as a district, we could watch Coco on P-day. Because President Price is a true bro... he allowed it and I am now a legend among my brothers! (This is the 2nd time I've convinced President to let me watch a movie on a Pday) Elder Pluim and I cooked a good amount of rice and chicken and Elder and Sister Baird brought their movie and projector! We had soft drink, brownies, and good food! Elder Pluim and I were worried that it wouldn't turn out well but I think it's by far the best activity ever put together. During the movie I turned to Elder Pluim and gave him a fist bump. We did it. #Legendsonmission. Coco is a dope movie I hadn't seen before. Super fun and creative:)

I love you all! Thanks for all your prayers and kind words! 

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger

I have a son! I'm also an English teacher...

Dear family and friends,

Words cannot describe how crazy this past week has been!

Lets start with the killing of my good friend and companion, Elder Nick Stitcher. This man is no small man. He pushed me so hard and it was always a great time working with him. We baptized 3 people on Sunday during his final hours of being a missionary. Just as the service concluded, President Price came to pick up Elder Stitcher. Before they left, Stitcher extended his hand to shake mine. I rejected it and pretended as though I was stabbing him. He accepted his fate and fell into my arms. Rest in peace Elder Stitcher. Your positive impact on the mission will continue to ripple for a long time. Thanks brother man.

The baptism was amazing!!! We told the congregation that after church, a baptism will take place outside for Annie, Patrick, and Maxwell. Everyone was there to witness the service and it was a great day in Kakata! I'm so excited for these 3 children who have decided to join their families and be baptized. I'm also excited about 2 of my long time investigators who recently got married and are now ready to be baptized! 

On Wednesday, Elder Pollmann invited me to train a new missionary! I gladly accepted the call. After Stitcher left on Sunday, I was in a threesome with Elder Pluim and Elder Andriamisa (Madagascar) and we moved into our brand new apartment closer to our area. On Tuesday afternoon, I received a text from President saying, "You will love your new companion. He is so humble. He is just learning English so be patient with him. I gave him to you because you will not only help him be a great English speaker, but also a great missionary! He said he desires to be completely obedient. You are the guy for him." Knowing such a task would be difficult and not at all what I expected, I asked the elders in my apartment to give me a blessing. A few hours later, Elder Dabi from Brazzaville Congo arrived and it was so great to finally meet my (long awaited) son. It's very true that he can't speak a lot of English but it's also true that the gift of tongues is real and that the Lord will bless us as we stay obedient, diligent, and faithful. 

I have already asked myself why President felt that I, Elder Hallenberger, a complete clown should be the one to train the only French man who came this transfer (there was 10). Nevertheless, I trust President and the Lord and I am honored to be trusted with such an opportunity and responsibility. I pray I wont get sick again because I desire to give this task my full undivided attention. These experienced will surely help me later in life when I become a real father. Hopefully none of my babies come out speaking French though....  

I love you all! 

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger

SERVE!

Dear family and friends,

This week was a powerful one and the days will surely be remembered! I am very grateful for my hard working companion who has a strong desire to progress the area for me and my next companion (hopefully a trainee). We've set goals and conquered them! We've worked hard and stayed obedient and as a result... The Lord has surely blessed our area and companionship. I love this work and I'm forever grateful for Elder Stitcher and his profound example. I report that this week was successful and that Kakata is doing great!

Every other day this week we proselyted with Brother George Sumo, an Elder preparing for his mission. He has been very helpful to have around because his testimony is strong and he knows the area better than we do. We also had Sister Joyce ZayZay help us a few times which has also been helpful. She's also preparing for mission and I have no doubt that they'll both do great:)

President Price announced his desires to make us more productive in the work. For example, even though missionaries need to be inside before dark, 7:30, President asks that we continue doing missionary work till 9 (Like most missions). Things like planning, calling investigators, studying, and updating the area book. I love this new change and I know it'll cause improvement in our areas. President Price is a great leader and I am excited to continue serving with him.

After church service, I taught an investigator some things I have been studying in the Book of Mormon. She asked me to teach her so I figured the words of King Benjamin would be a good one! This king was a righteous man who served his people just as the Savior did. He also encouraged his people to follow his example. 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) 

When King Benjamin handed the throne to Mosiah, his son, Mosiah wisely followed his fathers example and worked hard along side his fellow men and served them. Because of this, there was no contention in the land. Everyone served one another and the Lord blessed them because of it! I then told her that when we serve others, we will see happiness within our own lives.

On Saturday we had a large service project at the branch building and seeing my Branch President working hard with the members reminded me of King Benjamin and his son. This is how it it inside Christ's true church! Jesus Christ himself spent all His days serving others and all He asks of us is to do the same and love those we serve. When we do this, we show our love to Heavenly Father and we will see blessings even miracles in our lives. 

As I study about leaders serving their fellow men, I am reminded of my time in the mission home last week with President and his wife. Everyday, they left early, got home late, and answered phone calls all night. Missionaries often assume our President is relaxing all day in his homer but I witnessed first hand that he works harder than any missionary here. It's comforting to know I've got a leader who is so engaged and dedicated. I love and sustain President Price.

This is my report for this last week. This next week has been titled, "The power week" because Elder Stitcher wants to end stronger than ever! I'm happy to do that with him. We'll have 4 baptisms this Sunday after service and President Price said he will try and attend so that should be a great day for Kakata:)

Love you all!

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger

The Show Must Go On!

Dear family and friends,

I love you all and I'm so grateful for your prayers during such trialing times. I'm sorry I've stopped writing. When I get sick I get discouraged because I don't feel like I'm fulfilling my calling.

I've had a lot of time to study the Savior's life and his divine mission. My mission is to testify of Him and bring others closer to Him. I always pray my family and friends will receive the experiences they need to come closer to Him and feel His love. I know that He lives and that He is leading this wonderful work! Being a missionary is such an opportunity to learn more about Jesus Christ.

Georgie and Lydia were baptized!!! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go because doctors demanded that I stayed down. I have been working with these 2 siblings for the past 3 months and I am so happy for them and their decision to follow the Savior and be baptized! I pray their faith will only grow as they continue to share the message to their family.

The work is divine and amazing! I am excited for all my friends who are leaving on missions soon to join me on this journey. Getting sick isn't fun but its rewarding being here regardless of the trials that follow.

Love you all!

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger