Fathers, Baptisms, and Faithful Children

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was very successful for the Kakata missionaries! The progression of this amazing city is just incredible! Here's my report for the week...

On Wednesday, we had our last interview with President Clark. I figured it would be the best time to answer the following 4 questions he had asked us to think about in his last weekly email the day after Father's Day. I was very happy to write down my feelings about each question and President was pleased with my answers. 

The first question was the easiest... "What are some important principles your mortal father has taught you?" Anyone who knows my dad also knows that he is a faithful man who loves God, his family, and his country. If I were to add another I'd say his favorite NBA team:) My father has taught me that God comes first which includes loving and serving family, friends, and even strangers. He has taught me to be positive when everything seems negative. He leads by example and kindness. I love my dad and these are only a small portion of the many great principles he continues to teach me as I try my best to follow his profound example.

The 2nd question was, "What's the most important lesson we are teaching to build stronger fathers in Liberia?" For me the answer is easy. What's the role of the Father? The father plays an important role in the Family unit which is God's favorite thing. The Family is crucial and central to God's plan. My answer is the Law of Chastity because it protects the Family and since the father has the responsibility of not only obeying the law but also to teach it to his children.... It's important and even compulsory that he understands and lives it. My answer is the exact same for mothers. The Law of Chastity is the most important lesson we are teaching future and current parents(The head of the family).

My answer to the 3rd question, "How are you preparing yourself to become a strong father?" is this.... I'm on a mission. I am learning and understanding truths that I don't think I would've learned back home. Truths that teach me to be more patient, humble, diligent, charitable, obedient, and kind which I'm sure is a great set of attributes to have as a father! I know that while I'm here, the Lord is shaping me to become what he needs me to become. I wish to become an actor, a talk show host, and a director but above all... My biggest dream is to become a father of a big happy and faithful family. There are many reasons why I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary but a massive one is because being on mission  prepares me for the rest of my life, especially to one day become a father. 

The 4th question... "What do you understand about the Father of your spirit?" There's a lot I know and there's a lot I don't yet know about this subject. I do however know what I need to know. The Father of my spirit is the Father of everyone's spirit which would make us all brothers and sisters. The Father of our spirit is our Heavenly Father and he loves us more than any mortal parent ever could. His love is perfect and too grand to fully comprehend. Because He loves us, He sent His only begotten Son to come down to earth and atone for the sins of all mankind. The Savior's infinite atonement ensures that through repentance...we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven. Because He loves us, He gave us a body, a Savior, and a path that'll lead to Eternal Life with Him, Jesus Christ, and our loved ones. The most important thing that I understand about the Father of our spirits is this... He loves us. This infinite truth when understood will cause us to more diligently follow Him and trust His Eternal plan of happiness.

Most of my answers to these questions couldn't have been answered prior to my mission experiences. When I think of all that I've learned in just one year... I'm amazed at how much knowledge can be gained when we chose to follow and serve the Lord. This is why I'll never stop encouraging my friends to go on missions:)

On the 22nd, we had a wonderful baptism service for Marie, Chris, and 2 of the zone leader's candidates. Something was wrong with the generator so the font was unable to pump a lot of water. Poor Elder Dube had to baptize in water that didn't even reach his knees!!! If there's a will.... There's a way:) Each candidate stood for the prayer and then sat in the water while Elder Dube laid them back to fully immerse them. It's honestly so special to see how the Church works it's way around the difficulties of Liberia. Unfortunately, one of our candidates was unable to be baptized because his mother last minute changed her mind and didn't approve. He was all dressed, excited and ready which made it very hard to tell him he'd need to wait. My heart ached for this faithful young man who desired to be baptized. I promised him that I would try my very hardest to teach his mother and change her mind about his baptism.

It's common for the children in Liberia to be more faithful than the parents. If you ask me.... In most cases, the children are the true pioneers here!! I know a small girl no older than 6 who enjoyed going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even though her mom had her own church she would attend each Sunday. After many failed attempts to convince her mom to come to church with her just once...this faithful and fearless little girl chose to not eat her food until her mom promised to go to church with her the following Sunday! This she did haha! What happened next? Well, after 1 month of missionary discussions and coming to know which church was true... The mom was baptized and is now one of the strongest sisters I've met here in Liberia. All this because a little girl wanted her loved ones to taste the sweetness of the fruits she loved. I absolutely love this story and it stands as a witness to me of the unique faithfulness of the children of Liberia. 

This is my report! I hope you enjoy! Love you all:)

A Big Report!

Dear family and friends,

I'm sorry it's been a while since my last report. Here is what has been happening....

It's truly amazing how much the Gospel has grown in Liberia! At zone conference, President Clark informed us that the number of bushinaries has nearly quadruped in just 1 year! As much as I miss my 1st two areas... I'm proud to be a bushinary:)

This was President and Sister Clark's last zone conference and the last time I'll see them will be for interviews on the 20th and then they will leave on the 28th and I will meet my new President on Sunday the 30th. I have a lot to say about this last zone conference but I'll try and simplify the best I can.... Before we got all spiritual, President Clark informed us that on the 7th of June, nobody was allowed to leave their apartments. Liberia's economy is very weak and protests were scheduled for the 7th. President wisely took precautions and gave us direct instruction on emergency situations including an immediate country evacuation plan. For many years, Liberia unfortunately has been a war zone and just 5 years ago, in our very mission, the Ebola virus caused all the missionaries to abort and be re-assigned. Could you imagine??? I would be so devastated if I had to immediately leave my people who I'll likely never see again. Not only that but all my mission buddies would be serving somewhere else and the mission we love so much would be dissolved:( I pray everyday that this will never happen again and that the Gospel I'm sharing will keep this country healthy and peaceful. Please pray for Liberia with me. It's an incredible country full of wonderful people.

President and Sister Clark gave us some great inspired instruction. Sister Clark stated that the best advice she could leave with us it to love God, the Lord, the inspiration of the Spirit, the prophets, and our family and friends. President Clark also gave us a lot of good advice and he really wanted us to know that he loves us. I am so grateful for their service and I feel very blessed to have had President Clark as my mission president. I'm really going to miss him but I also know that President Price was called of God to come replace him.

We treated the shelter-in-place day like a holiday!! The Monday before, we all paid a driver to take us in town so we could buy some ground beef and sliced cheese for burgers. I made sure to stop at ELWA in Paynesville and visit my dear beloved sisters, Pinky and Cherish. We ate casava leaf(my favorite soup), we took bluffing(beautiful) pictures), and had a flexing(great) time:)We were so happy to see each other and reunite after a long 7 weeks apart! I love an miss them everyday. Being and Paynesville made me all nostalgic. I also found something that is more precious and rare than a diamond.... Cherry Dr. Pepper! We flexed(enjoyed) on the 7th! No small thing:) We also made plans to make burgers and fried pickles on the 4th of July. (Just because we aren't in America... doesn't mean we can't celebrate the independence of the greatest country on Earth) #GodBlessAmerica

On Saturday and Sunday morning, we had district conference with President Clark and District President Harmon. Saturday's theme was education, a commandment God has given to His children who desire to become like Him. It was very good! We watched a video from the area presidency in Accra Ghana with the directors of BYU Pathway, an affordable online resource for those across the globe who can't go to school in Rexburg and Provo. One of them said something that really stood out to me. "I've been through many years of schooling but nothing has given me more knowledge than my 2 years of missionary service did when I was 19 years old." He then encouraged every worthy and able young men and women to serve a mission promising that it's the best way to start their education.

On Sunday, President Clark shared that almost 2 years ago, he and his wife spent their very first Sunday in Liberia..... In Kakata to open the Kakata District. He then shared his love for the people of Kakata. A large district baptism  will be held on the 22nd. All 8 Elders in Kakata have been preparing many people for that day so it should be a good one! Elder Eaton and I have 4 candidates ready to be baptized and we have been inviting many members to attend so they can welcome the new members warmly. I personally believe that there will be a Kakata stake within the next 2 years and within 10 years.... I pray the people of Liberia will be blessed with a temple so they can easily take part in the ordinances necessary for their Eternal Exaltation. I'll continue to do my part! I am so deeply honored and privileged to be here in Liberia helping the people come closer to the Savior and learn His Gospel. 

The work is sweet! This is my report! Love you all! 

Love, Elder Hallenberger

I Love Liberia!!

I Love Liberia!! I love these great people!! Had my final interview with Pres. Clark. He and Sis Clark are finishing their service in a couple of weeks. They have served faithfully and the missionaries have been blessed to have them lead the way. I will miss them.

Stay On The Path

Dear family and friends,

I'm sorry to say that our beloved 1st counselor in the branch presidency, Brother Cooper Washington passed away on Tuesday morning. The community has been bereaved but we are directing our thoughts to the Savior and his sacrifice which promises that death is never the end. We will soon see our friend, Brother Washington again. I recall that the night before he left for the hospital, President Amara, the branch president asked us to come with him to visit with Brother Washington. He asked me to give him a blessing. I don't remember what was said but I remember the strong sense of the Spirit in the room that evening as we prayed our hands on his head and gave him a blessing. It was the last time we saw him. Thank you Brother Washington for the profound example and the spiritual impact you made for the people of Kakata.

On Saturday morning, the district held a beautiful baptism service. Unfortunately because of cohabitation... our candidates had to wait for their baptism. It can be stressful when someone understands the Gospel and has a desire to be baptized yet... They're cohabitating and lack the money for a legal marriage certificate. This is the #1 road block for missionaries here in Liberia. Prayer and patience is all we can do. At least they are on a path and they understand what they need to do!

At the baptism, I was asked to give a short message about the ordinance. I decided to share a short story that Elder Tamfumo gave at my first baptism in LIberia. It's about a man who lived in a small village many years ago....

This man felt very incomplete and felt all he was working below what he was worth. He wanted to be more. Next to the village was a large mountain that reached high into the sky! Each day, the man would gaze at the mountain and dream of the beautiful view from above. 

Well, one day, he decided to sell everything he owned, say farewell to his friends, and begin the journey up the mountain. It wasn't easy. There were times when he wanted to give up but the passion to see the top drove him up the mountain. The top of the mountain was glorious and the view was breathtaking!!! He felt strong, important, alive, new, and free. "This is where belong" he stated. "This is where I will stay."

After a short time, a snake approached the man saying, "I want to go down the mountain but I lack the strength. Will you carry me down??" Knowing he shouldn't trust the snake, the man replied, "Sorry Mr snake... You are a snake. A liar since the beginning. You'll just bite me with your deadly fangs." The snake tried again saying, "Please I wont bite! I just need help getting down." The man decided to trust the snake and he carried him down the mountain.

Once they reached the bottom, the man placed the snake on the ground. Just before letting go, the snake bit the man. "You bit me!" The man cried. The snake smiled saying, "Of course. I'm a snake."

After sharing this story, I related it to our lives as Latter-Day Saints leaving the village of the world, climbing the mountain of discipleship, and enjoying the glorious blessings of the Gospel. I then obviously related the snake to Satan and his followers always trying to get us to leave what we love, bring us down, and bite us with the inevitable consequence of sin.... sorrow, guilt, despair. Through baptism, we enter a gate that allows us to return to our Heavenly home. After the gate however, comes a path. A covenant path that we must follow until the end. An iron rod is there to help secure us but if we chose to let go and wonder off the path... We are putting ourselves at spiritual risk. Thankfully, since Heavenly Father knows we aren't perfect, He has provided a Savior who lovingly gave us the gift of repentance. A gift we should exercise each day. A gift we should always be grateful for. A gift that will allow us to return home.

I then gave the same advice I give to anyone reading this letter.... Stay on the path. Baptism alone doesn't provide salvation. We must endure to the end. Don't go back to the old life that you already promised God you'd never relive. Stay on the path:)

We received transfer news! Elder Wolfe from Arizona has come to replace Elder Montenegro as my zone leader! Elder Fifita has been called to be AP and I will be with Elder Eaton for another transfer! Pretty exciting! 

Love you all!

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger

The Work of The Lord!!!!

Dear family and friends,

This week really did a number on our emotions. On Tuesday evening, after a long and busy day of missionary work, my companion received the call that his dear older sister had passed through the veil. As his companion, I did everything I knew hot to comfort his sorrows. With the aid of his companion, zone leaders, the local senior couple, President and Sister Clark, and loved ones back home, it didn't take long for Elder Eaton to feel better about the situation.

They broadcast the funeral service and my companion and I were able to view it live at the Baird's apartment on Saturday night. After the service, Elder Baird said something that I agreed with... "I have attended a lot of funerals for people I never met and I always just feel so cheated that I never got the opportunity to know them!" After hearing the many beautiful talks about her life, Emili Johnson's example of a loving Christ-like person is one I'm grateful for and I also wish I were able to have met her.

It was such a massive blessing that Elder Eaton was able to call his sister the day before she passed away. Its also a blessing that we were able to watch the funeral live... a thousand miles away. I am so grateful for all this but most of all, I am eternally grateful for the Savior's atoning sacrifice and the hope it provides that one day, we will see our loved ones again and that death is never the end. It's a new beginning. 

I recall that during the blessing I gave Elder Eaton on Tuesday night, the Spirit inspired me to promise my companion that his beloved sister was currently participating in the same missionary work that he is doing on the other side.

I love the message I am privileged to share everyday! God has a plan and He is mindful of all His children. His plan reveals that He loves us and that there is hope. 

"We can't fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life." -President Russell M Nelson

Id like to share two lesson experiences I had this week. We went to Sister Leamou's house to teach her about the law of chastity. Instead of presenting the popular list of do's and don'ts.... I felt impressed to read with her from Matthew 5 where the Savior gives the sermon on the mount and teaches us to not only keep our actions pure.... but also our thoughts. I told her that the law of chastity protects the family which is God's favorite thing! This being said, it's no surprise that God loves to be known as our Heavenly Father. President Russell M Nelson has taught that the family is the heart of God's plan! These truths and many more were taught and Sister Leamou was able to better understand why God gives us guidelines and laws concerning the sacred power of procreation. My companion and I agreed that we walked away from that lesson with a greater understanding of Heavenly Father's mind.

For the 2nd experience, we took a long journey deep into the bush to teach Jackson and his friend Steven. The sun wasn't too hot so by the time we arrived, we still had a good amount of energy to teach one of the best Book of Mormon lessons I've ever taught! Jackson wasn't there so we only taught Steven and a little girl who has the sweetest smile. My companion shared the truth about the book and I followed with a simple explanation on how the book got in our hands. After we testified of what we had discussed, I could see that his expression about the book clearly changed from "this could be true" to.... "this must be true."

I am so grateful for the experiences I have each day as a full time missionary. I recently reached my 10 month mark and I came to the realized that my mission is speedily coming to an end and I have a goal to try everything in my power to give the remaining 14 months my all! How great is the work and I feel so honored and grateful to be a part of the Lord's work! 

Love you all!

Sincerely, Elder Hallenberger

Mud Huts!!!

Dear family and friends,

I had a good week! Because I was pretty sick, I was only able to work on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'm much better now and I'm grateful I was able to heal quickly. 

On Saturday, our District leader, Elder Odoom and his companion invited us to a service opportunity in Morris Farm Kakata. When we showed up we were surprised to see what the job was! There was a bamboo framed hut that we were supposed to slop mud on until the bamboo was covered. My companion and I glady did what was asked of us with the 30 other guys working beside us! Wheelbarrows of thick mud was being dumped along the side of the house and our job was to take chuncks of it and mush it on the house. As people walked by, they couldn't help but watch for a minute and laugh at the white man getting his hands dirty and working hard. I guess I made quite the show because there were pictures being taken, videos being filmed. Lots of them kept yelling, "You are a real African now!" (I was getting very muddy) It was very fun and I'm glad I had that experience. When I come back to Liberia after my mission... Mud hut building is gonna be at the top of my bucket list:)

On our way to the service project, I saw the brothers from the Africa HeartWood Project again! They had gone home for a couple months but the returned and as luck would have it... I ran into them! They were with my old bishop from Paynesville. It was very nice to see them again:)

I don't have a whole lot to say about this week. We have a busy week ahead of us because we are preparing a few people for baptism on the 25th of May. It's going to be exciting and I'll keep you updated! Love you all! 

-Elder Hallenberger

Loving Kakata!!

Dear family and friends,

I know a lot of you hated my last email and I know a lot of you loved it but I still think I should apologize for sharing a story that could be sensitive to some readers. America and Liberia have a lot of cultural differences and I've been here for a while so I guess I've forgotten how extreme some are. I'm sorry again and I love you all:)

I had a very powerful week! I can't believe I'm already halfway through the transfer! Time is going so incredibly fast and I'm doing my best to make every moment count. 

To begin, I have a bit of a scary story to share. On Wednesday evening, my companion and I were walking through a busier part of town to return home. We began to be followed by a crazy man, which is common but this man very clearly wanted to harm us with a long piece of wood he was holding with nails in it. We kept our cool and didn't say anything. We were being respectful, obedient, and cautious so I knew the Lord wouldn't allow this man to hurt us. He then began to bang the board on a railing beside us making his intentions very clear. Knowing we couldn't let this man follow us to our home... We crossed a busy road and made our way through a small village with a good amount of corners to lose the man. Thinking we lost him, we started walking home using a less convenient but safer route. My heart skipped a beat when my companion said the words, "He's behind us again." I looked behind me and saw the man running towards us. Others tried to stop him but he threatened anyone who got in his way. While we ran, I called my President to receive instructions. He had the Bairds (Kakata senior couple) pick us up and carry us home safely. When my companion and I reflect on this memory, we can't help but notice God's hand protecting his servants.

On a more happy note, we had a successful baptism on Saturday! I was able to conduct the service and my companion was the baptist. it was a beautiful morning and the smiles on the 4 kid's faces as they came up from the water really touched my heart. The work is rewarding and I feel so blessed to be apart of it here in Liberia:)

Baptismal invited has been extended and accepted this past week! Sister Leamou is one of them and she is so excited to learn more about the Lord's Gospel. The other day we went to her house for a lesson and afterwards, she invited us into her home where all her college buddies were cooking food. They were hilarious and my companion and I surprised them with our Kalokwa! The people in Kakata aren't used to white people who know Kalokwa. They spend a lot of time with the peace corp who never make any attempts to learn the Liberian English. The other day we ran into two ladies from the peace corp and they couldn't understand us!!! When I get home I'm going to struggle speaking to people. 

Speaking of speaking to people.... On Sunday we made plans to travel deep into the bush and teach the bush people who live in huts and don't wear much clothing. The sight of two white men going to their home really shocked them. They are so far into the bush that they likely don't see anyone too often! They all speak an African dialect called Pela. I'm from the Kru tribe so I have no idea how to speak Pela. Luckily... The father knows English and Pela.  He would translate everything I said and it was so cool! The Lord cares about ALL his children... Even the ones deep in the bush. I'm excited to say that we plan on extending a baptismal invite this week!

On Sunday afternoon... President Harrmon (District President) and President Amara (Branch President) followed us to go see Brother Washington, the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. Brother Washington has a bad foot disease that causes his foot to look like its got 2 baseballs in it. I gave him a priesthood blessing and we visited with him for a few minutes. We will continue praying for this man and we hope he'll be back to his regular routine in no time.

The mission is great! I love it here and I feel so privileged to be doing what I'm doing. The things I experience and witness here will surely be what will cause me to continue strong in the Faith throughout my life. I love you all and I hope all is well! #TheChurchIsTrue #TheBookIsBlue

Sincerely, Elder Horace Hallenberger