We’ve measured her mission in chunks of time – months, transfers and holidays missed. And now we’re counting in days.
Seven.
When she left, I couldn’t imagine what our family life would be like without her light and energy around. And before long, her absence became our normal and we learned a new rhythm of family life.
And that rhythm is about to change again. I’m sure it will feel similar in some ways and different in others. She’ll return to her room. But she’ll share a car. She’ll walk in the door with her tennis racket. But all of her friends are still gone on missions. She’ll take her seat at the dinner table. But the conversations will be new.
She’s the same but different. She’s grown in ways a picture can’t capture. And she’s coming home with all her experiences.
We’ve started talking about what her first day home looks like. What are we going to eat? What does she want to do? When is she going to catch up on some much needed sleep?
They’re all trivial details. The truth is, I just want to hug her and hold her close. And then spend the next week with her by my side doing all the normal life things she used to do with me. And go shopping.
This week Hallie starts her last transfer (6 weeks) of her mission so I thought it only seemed appropriate to do her last “Missionary Monday” (although I’ll have her give an update when she returns!
When Hallie was deciding to put in her mission papers, she debated when she put her availability. With an 18 month mission, you likely miss two Christmases, or two summers (which for Hallie is Lake Powell). She made a very conscious decision that she would rather miss two Christmases. She had no idea she would be serving in upstate New York – where winter is a cold long season with lots of snow.
This winter has been a doozie. Miserably cold. Long season. Ice storms. I love when in desparation one phone call she said, “I need to marry someone from Arizona because I don’t want to live in the snow.” I think that’s a great plan. 🙂
I did remind her that most people hibernate in the winter and they hunker down at some level. But not as a missionary – they are out and about rain (snow) or shine. Glad to see she’s getting good use out of that winter gear we sent with her.
As a missionary, she has a mission leader who periodically moves her around to different areas of the mission. After being in a busy and thriving area, she was sent to a slow paced area and it was hard for her. She had to work hard to stay motivated and not compare her experience to the other areas she had served in. She had already trained a new missionary in a previous area and she was asked to train another new missionary – which was a challenge in this slower area. She was trying to instill excitement for the work they were doing but it was hard at times. I think some of that was related to the short winter days and excessive cold temperatures.
She learned a lot. She learned how to drive in the snow, which is saying something for an Arizona girl. She learned to appreciate the beauty of newly fallen snow – and then how to shovel it. She learned that things left in the car freeze. She learned the art of layering clothes. And she learned she doesn’t love the snow enough to live there if given the choice.
Despite the weather, she loved the girls she got to serve with and train.
Her appreciation and love for her mission leaders grew and their love and trust in her increased. They knew the smaller town would be hard for her but they also knew she could do it and then rewarded her with a more lively area to finish off her mission. They have a great relationship and I’m grateful for their leadership.
While Hallie was freezing in New York, Steve and I were freezing, sitting in the stands at high school soccer games all winter. Freezing is a loose term for us – it was in the 50s but you would have thought it was below zero. I’m amazed I made it living in Wisconsin all those years.
Hallie’s calls would often catch us at the tail end of Hunter’s soccer games, and she got to enjoy watching her parents fully invested in them. What she doesn’t realize is that we did the same thing when we watched her tennis matches.
Just when she was confident spring had arrived, the next day it would snow and she would pull out the winter coat again!
She loves the work and loves the relationships she’s building both with fellow missionaries and the people of New York. She underestimated just how close she would feel to the people she has served and taught.
She was really sick recently and I was happy to send a little “Get Well Soon” care package from Walmart (one of the many perks to serving in the United States) and I couldn’t not throw in some Italian Ice which is a family favorite and a reminder of summer!
And I sent a lot of chicken noodle soup!
She has a study area and every time she moves to a new area she has to take it all down and put it back up again and it’s a little different every time. I love when I see glimpses of the space she lives in.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that she’s almost home. Partly, because we’re living in her room while we remodel so we’re now on a time crunch. But partly because it’s gone so fast. Do I miss her – absolutely! But the sting is a little less when I know she’s doing so well and loving her time out there. 6 more weeks – she’s not slowing down!
It’s been a few months since I’ve done a missionary Monday and Hallie deserves and update!
At the beginning of October, she was transferred to a small town and it’s been a serious adjustment from her time in the larger cities.
It was hard to say goodbye to friends and members she had grown close to and they were so sweet in their thoughtful and generous going-away gifts. One lady made her a blanket and another sent a cute purse which will be far more useful when she returns home.
Although the work has been slow in her smaller area – it has plenty of charm and it was a beautiful backdrop for her only fall in upstate New York.
She celebrated her 20th birthday – our girl is no longer a teenager! Her companion and ward members treated her well.
She keeps a log in her scriptures of the church sites she’s visited. And she was happy to fill her page the day after her birthday with a trip to the Sacred Grove.
She loved her companion! (Despite her dedication to running, even in less-than-ideal conditions.) Hallie has never been a runner and her willingness to participate has surprised all of us.
What hasn’t been surprising is her ability to beat everyone in pickleball – all those years of tennis lessons have obviously contributed. She has enjoyed p-days at the church, taking on hopeful elders in some friendly competition.
She really was hoping for two transfers with her companion but they made the most out of the one they had together. Some transfers just aren’t quite long enough but she made a beautiful friend.
She’s been hopeful her entire mission to be companions with her friend and I just don’t think it’s a possibility at this point so it’s been fun for them to be in the same district and go on exchanges together.
Twinning is winning.
Towards the end of November Hallie received a brand new sister and started training her.
She has had a lot of fun and she’s had her fair share of disappointment. She’s serving in leadership and spends many of her evenings on phone calls with other missionaries. She’s learning and growing in ways only a mission can provide and we love hearing how she’s being challenged.
She has really disliked the winter that arrived much sooner than she wanted. (Insurance she’ll make her way back to Arizona eventually). She is an Arizona girl at heart and has never in her life had to drive on snow until now. The snow. The cold. The dark. It can be rough.
I wasn’t entirely surprised to wake up one morning and see this photo in her Google photos. This is a sealed letter that was given to her before she left by a friend’s mom. She was supposed to open it on a “rainy” day. A day she was homesick. A day her appointments fell through. A day she was physically sick. A day she got yelled at. Anything that may have made her discouraged.
Just a month before this, I had asked if she still had the letter and whether or not she had opened it. Over a year into her mission and she hadn’t felt the need. Until now. And it broke my mom heart to know her day was that rough. And she’s had a decent amount of tough days but this day took the cake. She got to read a beautiful letter of encouragement. It also included money to go buy a treat for her and her companion. And money to go serve someone else. What a thoughtful idea!
And then she got back to work…and fell down the stairs because she’s walked in snow about as much as she’s driven in snow! And people don’t shovel much out there.
She’s a cute snow bunny.
And she’s still learning about freezing temperatures when items are left in the car.
She had a place to go for Thanksgiving which made me happy.
She was able to go back to the temple and it filled her soul. She used to work in the temple before her mission and she has missed its influence in her life.
She spent her second Christmas away from home and we’re all excited to have her back with us next year. She got to call on Christmas morning and that was the highlight of the day. We are grateful for the members and senior couples who have been so generous to take her in and feed her and love her when we can’t fill the role for her.
“I’m so grateful that I was able to have another Christmas on my mission bringing people to Jesus Christ, and sharing His light! The first thing I did on Christmas morning was read every account of Christ’s birth and it was so special! I love this work and I love my Savior Jesus Christ!”
She got transfer news on New Year’s eve and as expected, she’ll complete another transfer in this area and finish her companions’ training. 6 more weeks and then she’ll find out where she’ll be spending the last two transfers of her mission!
I loved these two thoughts from her letters recently:
“During sacrament meeting this week, one of the speakers said something I loved! He said “our conduct on our journey may be more important than the destination”. Life can be hard and stressful, and there are always going to be excuses as to why we can’t love and serve. But as we take time on our journey to care for others and improve our character, that is more important than our destination!”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the quote, “they won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”. My personal vision this transfer is to have an increase of love. I want my why behind everything I do, be my love for my Savior! I’m hoping to be more engaged in my conversations and reflecting more of the Savior’s love!”
Exactly one year ago, Hallie was set apart as a missionary and I’m still trying to wrap my head around how fast that happened. Twelve months. It feels like we were just weighing her luggage and now here we are—only 6 months left.
People ask me all the time how she’s doing. My answer hasn’t changed: she’s thriving. She was built for this work. Not in a “she’s perfect” kind of way, but in a “she leans into growth with her whole heart” kind of way – even when the growth has been painful. She loves her companions, loves the people, loves learning, and most of all, loves her Savior Jesus Christ.
This past year has stretched her in ways that are hard to describe. She’s learned the art of adapting—new companions, new areas and new challenges. She’s learned to put her trust in God; knock on doors she never imagined she’d knock, teach people she never thought she’d teach. And she’s witnessed miracles big and small.
One of my favorite things is how she talks about the Sacred Grove – it is her special place. She’s visited it in every season—quiet and barren branches in the winter, fresh and hopeful buds in the spring, mosquito filled in the summer, and vibrant colors in the fall. It’s become a sweet reminder for her – a place that brings her back to the “why” behind it all.
This year has been a mix of missing her and watching her fly. We feel her absence in big family moments and in the smallest daily routines. But we also see the blessings that come from having a missionary in the field – peace, perspective, and a little extra spiritual grounding in our home. I’m excited to see what the next 6 months has in store for her and I am patiently waiting to wrap my arms around her and hold her close.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a missionary Monday so today is the day!
As of Wednesday of this week, she only has 9 months left and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone.
After 6 months, she was finally transferred out of her original area. She loved it, but was also ready to move on. She said goodbye to the quad she lived with and the missionary she trained. The area will always hold a special place in her heart.
She even enjoyed her weekly river dancing lessons from some friends not of our faith.
She was excited to learn her new area was only a half hour from the Sacred Grove and Palmyra, New York and her companion was just the friendship she needed.
Its been an adjustment to live in a gloomy/rainy area. The last couple weeks of summer have been so awesome and sunny and she’s dreading heading back into the gloomy/wet season. She’s also realizing her hair doesn’t cooperate very well in the humidity and she’s learning new hairstyles for her wavy hair.
They soon learned they both played tennis in high school and were happy to borrow racquets from members in the ward so they could spend their exercise time on the court. When Hallie sent us a video of her playing with her companion, I watched it over and over again. Tennis was such a passion of hers for so many years, she had expressed multiple times just how much she missed it. The simple act of watching her play again made me a little emotional. There was a spark in her I hadn’t seen in a while and I was so happy for her.
When the Stake President found out they both played tennis, he invited them to the courts several times to play with them. Later that morning, Steve received an email, “Just sending a note to say how grateful we are to have your daughter serving as a missionary in our ward and stake. She is an excellent missionary, a great person, and a skilled tennis player! We have a history of tennis in our stake and Sister Pothier fits in very well.”
Animals are drawn to her. Unfortunately, the feeling isn’t reciprocated and yet she always finds herself surrounded.
The’ve won the cleanest car award more than once and were happy to accept their gift cards.
They’re learning life skills, such as how to get rid of weevles and dealing with fly infestations. She can laugh about it now but waking up to hundreds of flies in their apartment wasn’t very funny.
P-day fun. Hallie is on a pickleball winning streak and I’m not sure the elders appreciate her skills. But they know she comes to compete.
The had a busy fourth of July and dressed the part. They were lucky enough to join the stake president and his family to a baseball game that evening, complete with baseball caps full of ice cream and fireworks.
She is taking advantage of her proximity to Palmyra – knowing she could be one transfer away from the other side of the state. She’s gone to the temple with new members and she’s taken plenty of friends to visit the Sacred Grove.
She’s even had a few visitors from home – and a familiar face is one of the greatest gifts.
The Alstons visit their grandparents in Palmyra every summer and they were in town when Hallie was in Palmyra for a zone conference and were happy to meet up and even grab lunch together.
Even more special was Steve’s sister and brother-in-law who made a huge effort to see Hallie. This area gets so many visitors for obvious reasons and her mission leaders are so great to allow missionaries to see friends and family when they’re in town. Hallie was beaming on our call the next day after their visit. We asked if it made her homesick and she said not at all. And I believe her. She did follow that up with letting us know she didn’t want to see us – that would be too hard, but everyone else is great!
She’s doing so well. This has been a season of growth and discovery and it’s been so good for her. I love her closing message of her letter this week:
I heard a statement this week and loved it! It says, “Don’t do missionary things, do Christlike things”. I think sometimes we get caught up in the things we’re asked to do as missionaries and forget the why behind it. If we do Christlike things instead, that will be something we carry on beyond the mission!!
