Ties!

A group a girls Jaxon has been hanging out with this summer gave all these chaps these ties for their missions.  The plan is to take the same pic when they all return...probably will have added a few pounds and a few might even lose some hairs ;)

MTC Bound...

For Jaxon's "last supper" with the family, he decided he wanted Chipotle.  Although he didn't eat much, it was good to have one last meal together as a fam.  Tucker lightened the mood by announcing that it was a happy and a sad day...because Jaxon was leaving (sad) and the Smurfs 2 was coming out!  After that, he was off with the parents and Courtni to start the mission off!

Ready to puke...getting his book full of encouraging messages from the fam.

Called To Serve...

April 24, 2013

You have been called to serve in the 

CALIFORNIA FRESNO~ENGLISH SPEAKING MISSION

Setting Apart as Elder Hall

July 30, 2013

Set apart by Stake President Beech

Jax's first companion...brother D!

Jaxon's Endowment Day...

The big endowment day...June 21, 2013 @ the Bountiful Utah Temple

Week 2 E-Mail

This week has flown by!  I can't believe I get to leave tomorrow...CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH?  The MTC is a great place to learn (I can say that I have learned so much that I will need), but there is no doubt that the field is the place where everything good happens.

This week has been pretty great.  Today we went to the temple and you all need to go, they changed the video and it is really good.  I had my last day of class yesterday and I can not express the joy that fills my soul in knowing that I don't have to sit through two 3 hour classes everyday.  I saw Cam on Thursday and barely saw him again today so we could snap a quick photo,  Jesse and all the guys in my zone left for Australia yesterday so it has just been us four elders and two sisters hanging around.  In-field orientation took all day on Thursday and it was a pretty scary experience, seeing all these returned missionaries with all these baptisms every week, it was very discouraging thinking I may not have as many as them; but then I remembered that it didn't matter, as long as I am trying my best it won't matter whether I baptize 100 or 1.  I will not be sad to see this MTC food go away, little does Cam know that it destroys your bowels (Too much info?)

I hope Grayson had a great birthday.  Let him know that Uncle Jaxon sang happy birthday for him and that he loves him a lot.

Sorry I haven't been able to send any letters, every last second of your life is controlled at the MTC, hopefully my letter writing will become more frequent once I am in the field.

I left basically all of your letters in my room so don't think I forgot to email you, I will be sure to write them down and email you all my next p-day.

There have been some questions regarding my movies, so here is the policy:

A single movie may be checked out for a period of 24 hours (48 for those who do not live in the househould)  Once you are done with it, return it to it's place in the ever so nicely alphabetized collection.  Should I find a movie missing or a movie that no longer works upon my arrival, disciplinary action will be put in place.  Thank you.

Tucker and Grayson: Howdy partners, I hope you are enjoying my singing game.  I am glad I am your favorite uncle Tucker.  I love you both a bunch and can't wait to give you guys big hugs.

Meili:  Derek told me that you make sure you guys are always praying for me, I hope you know that I really appreciate that; no prayer means more to me than the ones you guys give.  I hope everything is going well with getting ready for school, 9th grade is going to be a blast!

Jenna:  How does one simply confuse Taco Bell with Taco Maker???  Go ye and repent!  But I hope you are enjoying your time with Tucker and Grayson, it seems Glee will never leave that household, I have forever left my mark.  Grayson isn't completely wrong, the girl who plays Tina is named Jenna.  I am so proud of that scamp for knowing that.

Courtni:  Oh dearest sister, you and Justin's postcards were just magical.  and your letter with the Lani-ism made my day.  I am heartbroken I missed it.  I look forward to receiving many more and be sure to include the Jenna-isms and Courtni-isms, cause that is some funny crap.  Hopefully I get to partake of Taco Bell this week and feel all the blessings that come with it.

Derek: check your email, your message there.

Britni:  How goes it prego?   I hope my Glee game doesn't cause you migranes, your son was obviously born to be a star.  Thank you for not sending anymore sweets, cause those donuts cost me a belt loop.  But again, they were greatly appreciated.  You rock my socks off.

Mom:  Thank you for your continual letter, I will sad to see this Dear Elder go, it has been great.  I am still healthy and everything is fine.  I hope you are keeping your cool with having work, Jenna, the boys, Jenna, cleaning, Jenna, and my handsome face not there.  I hope all goes well with Lord of the Rings.

Dad:  Thanks for your letter, I hope work has been better.  I am glad to have a hard-working dad who is supporting me, I have seen a lot of guys worry about money and I am glad I don't have to have that worry.  It is a great blessing.

Well that is all for this week, talk to you all tomorrow!  (from 9-10:30, not sure on the time yet)

Week 1 E-Mail

Holy Crap! I do not think I have experienced such a long, emotional, and overwhelming week in my life.  I have been scared out of my mind and have had doubts every single day.  It has definitely not been an easy week.

Wednesday was just a whirlwind and I am not sure what happened.  I was so scatter brained and so out of it I was not sure what was going on.  I met my district and my companion.  My companion's name is Elder Hill and he is not that bad of a guy; but oh my land he does not understand the meaning of sarcasm, he is a complete stickler to every single rule, he does not believe in naps, and he has not seen any classic movie (Tommy Boy, Billy Madison, Sandlot, Superstar, etc.)... PROBLEM!  Needless to say me and him have some differences.

 My district is 10 guys: 6 going to Austrailia (5 to Melbourne, 1 to Adalaide) and the other 4 (myself and my companion included) are going to Fresno.  My district has mostly people going to Melbourne and 1 sister going to Fresno.

My district is full of awesome guys, we get along great and we laugh uncontrollably every night.  We all are great friends and plan on staying in touch after these 2 years.

I have had to teach 2 "invetigators" this past week.  One being a character that one of our teachers portrays; his name is Fernando and he is a tough sell (Alcoholic wife and 3 kids).  But we have got him to commit to prayer, reading, and church.  Our second investigator we met last night is Justin Long (a character played by anyone (member or non-member).  It was exciting because he was a scary looking dude, but he definitely was searching for the truth.

I have learned so much this week about being a better teacher, I had so many places to improve I didn't know where to start.  But I am learning and sure enough my testimony and my conversion is being greatly strengthend.

It has definitley been hard to live like this; I have absolutley no free time, my time to play piano is very limited and most of all, I miss having alone time.  I am definitely learning to appreciate all the alone time I had, because I am going insane always having someone watching my every little action.

The hardest part has been being away from you guys.  Every time I have considered going home it has been only because I have been so family sick.  I know I wasn't always around you guys and I never expressed itr enough, but I love you guys with all my heart.  I know I am in the right place and I am doing the right thing, but how I long for the day that I can see you guys again.  I promise I will spend more time with you guys when I get home, because I get sick to my stomach thinking about how many years I wasted in my bedroom all alone.  I am crying just typing this because it hurts so much thinking about you guys.  I just want to let you guys know that I love you so much and that I will never take you for granted again, because you guys are all the world to me now.

Meili: I am sorry I did not express my love when you left.  I hope you know that I really was sad to see you leave, I just still could not believe I was leaving yet.  I love you and I hope you had a great time at Girls Camp, I have no doubt that you should have been there.

Jenna: I really appreciated your letter, although you are a fool for using Taco Maker instead of Taco Bell, I found it rather insulting.  I hope you are enjoying brainwashing Grayson to love you the most again.

Courtni: Gosh, Could you have made me anymore of a wreck?  Your letter just reminded me of all the times we had and how I miss them so much.  I hope you know that I was beyond words happy that you came to the MTC, you helped me keep my mind off of things and really comforted me, because I was scared out of my mind. Thank you and I can't wait to see you again.

Derek:  Thank you so much for your help these past few weeks, all your suggestions were really helpful.  But most of all, thank you for the love you showed me.  I know our relationship was never really tight, but it has been one that has slowly progressed, and I am grateful for having such a great example like you to look up to.  Your letter is one of the reasons I stay here, it gives me such strength to continue on.

Britni:  Thank you so much for your package, it was a great surprise and it was very enjoyable.  I know that we have never really known each other all that well. our age difference is to thank for that.  But I hope you know I have always looked up to, you are the oldest and you have always been the one I wanted to be.  You are such a great sister and parent and I hope I can be that to mu kids.

Mom: I am going to struggle writing this.  Mom, I am doing fine, I have been better since Thursday.  I recieved that bag yesterday and it is great.  I have made friends and life is splendid.  Although I am not happy about that binder, I was bawling like a baby that night reading it, but thank you, I read through it a lot.  Mom, I hope you know that I love you so so much.  You are constantly on mind and it sucks because it hurts so bad.  I hope you know I am very grateful for everything you did for me and continue to do.  I love you with all my heart and you are the greatest.  I can't wait for the day when you run past security to give me a hug that I will never get tired of.  I do need your help though and I need: Dad and Courtni's email. I never got them.

Dad: Thank you for all the support you showed me.  You also helped keep my mind off things while we drove to your office.  I am so proud and happy to have a father who cares for me so much and who taught me the importance of work, I do not think I could have survived this week without that knowledge.  You are such a great example to me and you are the greatest guy I know.

Well I basically used all my time to make it through this letter since I was an emotional wreck though the whole thing.  But once again, I love you all and can never stop thinking about the day at the airport when I get to see you all again.  And look on the brightside, 1 week down, 103 to go.

Love you guys

Elder Jaxon Cade Hall