There are more pictures of Sister Alisa Hill on the mission blog, the address is:

http://belgiumbrusselsnetherlandsmission.blogspot.com/

I also have a link a little farther down on the right hand side of the blog.
We are so proud of our Missionary.

Merry Christmas.

Safe Arrival

Hello,

I just wanted to notify you of the safe arrival of Sister Hill in Brussels today. Though their flight was delayed, they arrived safe and were greeted by a excited welcome party. They had dinner and interviews with President Brubaker and opened up their call letters to see where their first area would be. Sister Hill will be serving in Den Haag with Sister Sharp. You can write to her at the following address:

Apeldoornselaan 105

2573 LD ‘S-Gravenhage

Nederland

I’ve also attached a picture of Sister Hill with President and Sister Brubaker. Please feel free to email me at this address with any further questions. I love to help.

Elder Marshall

Mission Secretary

87 Boulevard Brand Whitlock

1200 Brussels

BELGIUM

Letter #7

Hey, where to begin? I really don't know. Hm.. The lady from Peru (sat next to the airplane.), I gave her the Book of Mormon. She said she was really excited to read it and that she would. I didn't even have to ask her! IT was Awesome! I also marked 3rd Nephi 11 and Moroni's promise in there for her. The Mission home is beautiful. Yeah I definitely was tired that night.. I think I almost slept an hour on the plane. We got there, 6 hours later than we were originally supposed to so we didn't do any tracting in the central square, but we just got our calls, ate lunch and went to bed. We were supposed to go meet our trainers that night, but all of the trains closed because of some big terrorist bomb threat. But we everything was open and we went in the morning. My collega's name is Zuster Sharp. She's way cool. She's been really sick though, so I got here to ons apartment on Saturday, and this is the third time I've been outside. She's had the griep. (flu, stomach, hardly eaten or drank anything) she feels really bad, but its totally fine. I actually got a little nap in on Saturday to help recover. Saturday nocht there was a baptism, so she went over to a members house, and I went on splits with another lady in the ward. Luckily she spoke English too. :) The baptism went really well. The bishop had me get up and bear my testimony in dutch, and then I got to say the prayer too. Then Yesterday Two girls my age came over and we each split with one, and 1 went out with me and two elders and we went finding. We found this guy who seemed pretty interested. His name is "H", but he is Muslim and we need to ask permission from the pres if we can teach him and then find out if it is safe for him. But it was super exciting!

One of my teachers was talking about how Europe has a different sort of smell. I can definitely smell it, if it was smoke he was talking about. I'll probably consume more 2nd hand smoke here on my mission than ever in my life put together..

Um, the toilets are small and round and freezing. Oh wow, it is soo cold here! Our apartment is pretty good size I think, and we only keep one bedroom and room with the Christmas tree and desks heated. I went and took a shower and that room is freezing! But, the good thing, Nice Hot water! It was like taking a hot tub shower outside in the snow... weird sensation.

Ew. It stinks in here. like smoke. I'm in an internet cafe right now.. says no smoking, but it smells like a smoking room.

The ward members here in Den Haag are way Awesome too! They've brought us bread, and fruit. We have a ton of mandarin oranges. They've brought my collega med's and tea. (everyone drinks tea here, non caffeinated. I tried some this morning, and it was gross, just tasted like warm dirty water..) And they keep coming by. She's doing better today, still has hardly eaten or drinking anything. She's lost 10 lbs int he last 4 days. how many lbs are in a kilo? well anyways I need to finish up, but hopefully I'll get the language down quickly. Oh yeah, the members, again they are awesome, and super excited about missionary work and helping us. There are us, and 2 sets of Eders in the ward. Den Haag is called the promised land of the Netherlands, and has the biggest strongest ward.

Ik houdt van u meer, hope dad continues to get better, and excited to talk at Christmas!

Met geel Liefde, Alisa :D

Letter #6

Oh halo! Guess what?!?!

So remember all those days i counted down? All those times I went out with the Sisters, all those times I dreamed about my mission?! Yeah....So, I'm Pretty much Living my dream right now!!!! chunga-jonge (oh my goodness in dutch "chunga-young-uh") I leave tomorrow! I'm gonna be around real people! I'm gonna be able to talk to and share this with Real People! Can't tell i'm excited eh? I'm only a little nervous actually. I mean the language is hard, (Le Grand Richards went to the same mission, and struggled a looong time with it. one of our teachers said it was the 5th hardest language to learn. But that must mean with our English alphabet, because I'm super glad I'm not learning Chinese or Thai or any of those. ;) )

It snowed today!!!! I was becoming very sad that I was in Utah, and it had only snowed for real for once. But Just for my last day, as a beautiful send off we got snow! We went to the 630 am session at the temple today, and it was beautiful with the flakes falling down from the sky, the temple lite in the darkness and the nativity in front. :) Oh, and we all (my whole district) got breakfast there! And it tasted so GOOOD! Now, I'm not saying MTC food is terribly, but they had fluffy waffles, with strawberries and whipped cream, and omelets with real cheese. I've actually fallen in love with eggs, since not having much of a choice here. And when I say eggs, I really don't mind the yolk either, but I dunno how true of a statement that is. Lets just say I've usually gotten eggs, and lets just say they're kinda not even real, (someone told me they are powdered eggs, but hey, its better than bagels or cereal everyday, and the waffles and pancakes aren't great.)

Tell David that I've been learning a bit more Portuguese. There are two elders from Brazil in the other dutch group who'll leave after us. I sing the Happy birthday song with them. and say hi and ask how they are and stuff. They're from somewhere really south. We connected with Monica comics, and white chocolate candy bars. There's an elder Da Cruz, and Elder Peleqium. The latter of the two is Hilarious, I love their accents, and he says the most random things. Its funny because his humor is kinda like David's. :D

I've also learned basic Tongan conversation too, I made a few Tongan friends with some elders, they're really fun. There's a really interesting story about one of them I'll have to tell you later. "Fay Fay Hake" is how you say "how are you".

Don't worry I'm learning dutch too ;)

On Sunday in church I spoke on faith, and our district gave the musical number because we're leaving, we sang a dutch hymn, that's really fun to sing and gets stuck in our heads, its called Zullen Wij elkaar ontmoeten, It's a song that talks about how we'll be together again. Then Sister Rich and I taught Sunday school as well, and I gave the closing prayer in front of a billion people in the departure devotional. Sister Rich kinda volunteered me, but I don't mind. :)

Today I've just been packing. It takes a while...haha, as we can remember the pre mtc packing...don't worry, I'm almost finished.
I sent out a few Christmas cards, and hopefully people get them. I wish I had more time.

I really love to hear from everyone. I love to get pictures as a new years gift, pics of Makena and I before I left, and Aston and I. And then Halloween and Aston and the girls pics. I send my hugs.

I'm sending a few things home. I will try and get on a little later and send the flight numbers, and yes, I will def. hear your voice tomorrow! Love You more than you know! Tell the family MERRY CHRISTMAS for me, (you should be getting a card soon.)

Tot Later,

Ik houdt Van U Zuster Alisa Hill

Letter #5

Mom! Your Awesome I love you! Its good to hear from you, anything is always good to hear from you! Feel free to write me short emails anytime because I love them!

Wow. Its December First already! I have only 19 days until i head out. I know that you've been asking about my VISA stuff, I've gone in several times and asked about it, and they always so its gonna be ok. That its the french that get stuck on their visa's.

Elder Law and Zuster Rasmussen are supposed to come into today. I'm excited. James only left Friday, right after thanksgiving. He had to stay a little late because of VISA stuff, but I'm sure it will all be fine for me. Thanksgiving Was Great. Elder Holland came for Thanksgiving. He said that today (that day) his family is our family, he brought them all. His grandchildren even sang "I know that my Heavenly Father loves me" He spoke on The Savior and the Atonement. His wife spoke. They are so darn cute! He talked about his wife, and I wanna be married someday and be just like them. They love and care for each other so much. Ya know, sometimes I think marriage is scary because it's for forever, but when I see The Love that couples have for each other, like you and dad, and Elder Holland and his wife, It truly does seem like it'd all be very much worth it! (don't worry, I'm not thinking about boys..its nice to get a break from them.., well kinda)

There are people from everywhere here going everywhere. Its so awesome! sometimes I feel like its boring when I say I'm from Oregon, but i know its not because I love all of you guys, and I'd rather be boring and know and love you, than to be from somewhere else and not know and love you!

I'm so sorry about David and Patrice. That's hard. They've been in my prayers. Tell David I appreciate his weekly letters now. :)

I've written to a few people but dunno if they got them, because I don't hear back from a lot of people. even if they just send a "hi" in dearelder that would be enough.

We also had Julie Beck last night. That was good. She talked about how we won't enter or go anywhere as a missionary where the Lord hasn't gone before.

I've learned a lot about Charity lately. I made it a goal to study it and apply it. Because sometimes its really hard with a companion. And not getting breaks. And even though its really really hard sometimes, Its so worth it! To just forget about what makes you angry or annoys you or bothers you, to just dump it all out! Because Really, even if you feel totally justified, whats the point? Through experience of applying it, It being Charity, the Pure Love of Christ, it is so amazing how much more you can feel that Pure Love of His when you truly try to have that charity and forgiveness in your life. It has helped me get so much closer to my savior and Its amazing. I challenge any who read this, to try, even though it be hard, to not only try to have charity, but to actively strive to do it! I promise that it will make us all so much more happier!

My companion and I left campus the other day, she had to go to the BYU health center for an xray on her ankle she broke in Feb. It was so weird leaving the MTC and temple grounds. They had TV's and real people who have real lives. I dunno its so crazy because The MTC is somehow in the world, but it totally seems like it isn't. It's like we're in another place of sorts.. It was just weird. I dunno how to explain it! But The MTC is def. a different kind of place with a very different feel to it. I feel like I've forgotten a bunch of real life stuff to make room for all this learning that's taking place.

We taught the 1st lesson for the 2nd time in dutch on Monday. It was kinda really amazingly awesome because we forgot some words, but The spirit was so strong. I Love the Power of the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ. I LOVE it sooo much! Even though we didn't say much, but bore pure testimony and the spirit was so strong.

I love you guys! I'd really really like to please hear from Amy and Karen and Michael. And Mom, if you have time. Ik Houdt van mijn Familie en mijn vrienden!

Met heel Liefde Zuster Alisa Hill!!!!

letter #4

Halo Familie!

Hoe gaat het?! Meta Mij Moo en gellukig. My naam is Zuster Hill en dit is mijn Collega Zuster Rich. Wij zijn zendalingen van de Kerk Van Jesus Christus Van do heiligen Der Laaste Dagen. Wij hebben en boodschap over Jesus Christus, Families, en over profeten op de aarde vandag. Ik weet dat Hemelse Vader van U houdt. Ik weet dat Jesus Christus leiven. Ik weet dat Joseph Smith en profet waar is. En dat deze Kerk waar is. Ik weet dat dit is waar Ik zijn (supposed to). En Ik weet dat mijn Familie van mij houdt. Ik dankbaar voor alles U en zijn het zendalingen. Ik hoop alles U zijn heel preema en dat u will schriften mij brief. Dank U Wel. Aangenam! Met heel Liefde, Zuster Alisa Hill :D

Oh hi. how is everything? Above I just write to you about who I am, what I'm doing, My testimony, part of the first lesson, and thanked all of you. I definitely know a lot more than that, but for the sake of time, we'll save that for another time. ja?

We didn't have an apostle come last night, but we had an amazing Elder from the Quorum of the 70. It's one of the best talks I've heard in a while. He talked of Becoming a disciple of Christ. The process, the thoughts and Ideas, He talked about blessings that come from being a missionary, not only for ourselves and for those we invite to come unto Christ, but also how we have our future children praying mightily for our success. How much missions bless our future families. How the Lord doesn't send us out just to be average missionaries, He sends us out to succeed. How he doesn't send us out to TRY, but to do. There is no trying. He used an analogy, he had someone come up and try to pick up his scriptures, he picked them up. He said no, I don't want you to do, he said i want you to try. once he finally got it, he pretended to try. There is no try, there is only Doing and That we can when we put out Trust in the Lord. He knows we can't do this. But he's not just sending "us" out. He's sending us with his power. With his help we can do it. And when we feel discouraged or lacking in faith, we're not loosing faith in ourselves, we're loosing faith in Him.

The MTC is the most intense school, but the most powerful school. I'm not very smart, but I've learned so much by doing my best and then he takes me the rest of the way. I know that he's opened up my mind and my heart here. I know it. No way could I have studied and jammed pack my brain and my heart so full, 16 hours a day, nearly everyday without his help. I truly know that I am supposed to be here, and that this truly is His Work and His Glory. I'm so grateful for this opportunity and am so grateful for all of you and your Love and Support. I'm so excited to be sitting here where I am at the MTC at this time in my life. Even though its not always easy, because it definitely isn't, but It's definitely worth it!

I will write another letter today, snail mail and hope you get it soon. I sent my package last week so hopefully you should get that anytime. Let everyone know I always love letters. I have a few going out for people today! If they write me, I will make time to write them back.Love ya.

Its been 4 weeks already. The days go by so quickly, and yet it seems as if I've been here forever. Hurrah voor Israel!

Met heel Liefde (with much love),

Zuster Alisa Hill :D

letter #3

So guess what?! 4 weeks in a row is pretty much a record for apostles in a row here. Last night with Elder Bednar was absolutely Amazing! I've sang in the choir with my companion the last two weeks. You know I'm not a big singer, but It saves me a spot. :D You might be able to get online and watch the video from it. 11/9/10 MTC devotional with Elder Bednar. He's Awesome. His wife spoke to us for a few minutes as well in the beginning. She's hilariously sweet!. She only embarrassed Her husband enough so his face would turn bright red. He talked about the difference between Doctrines, somethings, and Applications. (mind blank.). But It was amazing. We learned a new approach to teaching and answering questions. The Spirit is always so strong when they come. (Well, you know what I mean, there is no absence of The spirit here, Just different degrees of it at different times.) The Language is still hard, but its improving. (I hope :P) I love my district. And my companion. We're able to work things out if there's ever anything wrong. I know that This is exactly where I'm supposed to be at this time in my life. Everyday as I study Preach my gospel and look up doctrines in my Scriptures to help teach and invite the spirit, I am learning so much and strengthening my own Testimony and increasing knowledge continually. At the beginning of every class we start out with a scripture thought, which helps invite the spirit to help us learn and understand. I'm super excited for when I finally have to be home, that I will be able to speak dutch. I likely won't know anyone else who speaks it, but Its different. That's good. :) Hmm. I always have a lot to say, but once I get here on the compute it all disappears. I'm sending a box with a few things i don't need, including Thank You cards, a much more detailed letter, (the one from last week as well.) Its just super hard to find time to do anything here. and there are also a few other letters you can hand out to people. I got the DE's from David and Patrice, and Family. Tell Patrice I can't look at the blog. Not allowed, and tell David He's awesome! I'm sorry I can't communicate more here in my email, or communicate faster, but It'll come. When I'm out in the field, I'll have an hour of email rather than just half hour. And hopefully breathing time to write an outline so I don't just ramble. Miss you all Love you Much! Give Astin and the girls hugs for me. And I wish I could give you hugs myself. Always love to hear from you. :D

Zuster Alisa Hill

Letter #2

Oh hello. I'm not going to write as much this time in email because last week was stressful trying to get everything I wanted to say and not put it in the letter. So throughout the past week I've been writing you a snailmail. So i'll get that sent out today. Guess what? two weeks in a row I get to see an apostle of the Lord! Last night we had Elder Ballard come to speak with us. He spoke to us about effective ways to teach as a missionary and being confidant. He reminded us to learn how to be a good communicator. Not to judge those we talk to and to Speak to EVERYONE! The MTC is still Fantastic! Getting more used to everything here. I really miss being able to walk around outside and see the sky though. Since we're usually in the classroom or in a meal or in a devotional or gym, we hardly have a chance to be outside, and even just walking place to place we're walking in covered areas. P-days, like today we get to go to the temple though. That's a much needed break. I love the Temple! We just officially taught the first lesson again in the TRC on Monday. We do language activities too where we practice our Dutch. Its coming slowly. But its coming. I automatically say things in dutch. Phrases like, "Dank U", "Dank U wel" "Angnaam" which means nice to meet you, "Chunga jonger", which means oh my goodness, "hallo", of course, and a few others. They just seem to roll off the toungue. Its amazing how quickly we're learning when you compare it to the real world. I say "real world" because this place doesn't even seem like its in the World. I dunno how to explain it. We're all here working for the same purpose, growing and strengthening each other. Everyone talks to everyone, everyone is interested in knowing everyone. You walk down the outside halls and you have people stopping you to bear you their testimonies, often in a language you don't know, but regardless you can feel the sincerity, you can feel the spirit as the bear witness of this truth! I'm getting better at my testimony in dutch, but there's so much i wanna say that i still can't. I think when we enter here in the MTC, the Lord blesses us to have our hearts softened, and our minds open so that we grow exponentially all the time. I think it's a place that builds great character. I have a few funny stories to tell but i will send that in the snail mail that I can hopefully get out today. Sorry, I know it won't be in order, but At least its still new to you. I still really aprreciate the dear elders. You can let others know about it too. :) I love you guys so much and hope and pray for all of you. I miss you too, but honestly I'm so busy learning and growing and have this great purpose as an instrument in the Lords hands, that Its all really alright. And I know everything's gonna be alright. :D I hope you understand what i mean :P haha. Thanks. Love you guys! Hurrah for Israel!

Always Alisa Hill

info for writing Alisa.

If you would like to write Sister Hill a letter she says is the easiest way she receives mail is through Dearelder.com.

- go to the web site www.dearelder.com and it will have directions on there. remember she is Sister Hill, not Elder so make sure to check the Sister box. and her Mail box # is 172.

She loves letters but doesn't have much time to read emails so this is the best way to write to her. They will print out letters and deliver them the same/ next day.

Letter from Alisa #1.

What I wrote on Sunday while watching the Joseph smith movie-Its only been a few days. But It seems like its been much longer than that. I've learned so much already. The spirit here is so strong and constant. I can pray in Dutch, greet you, and ask you a few questions. Sometimes its overwhelming, but I know the Lord is always there. I'm headed to the Battlefront, and he will be on my right side and on my left. The MTC is preema (great). I wish I could share so much more of it with you. That you could feel the spirit that is here. Its a very unique place of all the world, I'm sure. There are 11 in our district. 9 elders, and my companion and I. Her name is Abby Rich. (Zuster Rich). (She is the same sister I contacted on facebook, the one who knew Erin in Jerusalem. you can look her up if you'd like). She's Awesome. She from southern California, a place called Rancho Coo-cu-munga or something like that. I've been called as the Coordinating Sister in my Branch. (That's the only other calling sisters get her besides being a missionary.) Although there are only 5 sisters total right now, (all in our same room) and one, (sister Rondstrom) shes from Sweden going to Denmark. Shes hilarious! Sister Kramer from Hungaria (who has an English accent and sounds like sis maurer) is going to The Netherlands Wednesday 10/27. So then it'll only be my companion, and I, and a sister Lytle who is really little and is going to Ohio. She fell off the bed 4 weeks ago and broke both the bones in her arm. So she has to stay a while still. We'll get more sisters soon though. Our district is fairly large. Besides our district, there are only two other dutchies, sis Kramer whose leaving, and an Elder Mohrman (Mormon) He leaves in 2 weeks. Its weird to think most the Elders are all younger than me, but I mean they have their moments, but when the teach and bear their testimonies its amazing how much they seem to grow up. My teachers are great. Oh I finally saw James on Friday, He seems to be doing fantastic! Really!

I wish we had more time for personal study. We just go to class, class, eat, class, class, eat, class and class, basically. Its Sunday though and Sunday is no means a day of rest like i used to think it was, but its more of a day to rest your mind from secular learning and we have a bunch of good church meetings and such. My district is quite amazing. I'm very blessed. With my companion too. Although I'm a bit afraid i'll drive her nuts before she ever does me. Thanks again so much for all the dear elders. The definitely is the fastest way. I usually get them the same day or next day.

Intro

Hello my name is Patrice Hill. I am Alisa's sister-in-law! She was called to the Belgium Netherlands mission and asked if I could help her out with a blog so friends and family could see letters. I look forward to helping with this and hope you enjoy the blog.