Carroll woman returns from 18-month Mormon mission
Haley Hoffman in front of the Star Valley Temple
Haley Hoffman, center, is shown on her first day as a missionary with her mission president, President Hancock, and her first companion, Sister Kolbo.
Haley Hoffman and her companion, Sister Clark, perform service work by building a fence.
Haley Hoffman, right, and her companion, Sister Williams, pose for a photo with three children from Poland who were baptized.
Haley Hoffman, right, and her companion, Sister Williams, offer someone the Book of Mormon.
Heidi Jackson Hoffman of Carroll Township received a special gift on Valentine’s Day when her daughter, Haley, returned home after 18 months of Mormon mission work.
Nearly two years ago, while many of her high school classmates were looking forward to college, adventure and newfound independence, Haley Hoffman was setting out on a different adventure. During her senior year at Ringgold High School, she wasn’t thinking about her future, but the future of others and how she could play a part. Hoffman decided she would embark on a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Young men in the church are encouraged to go on a mission for two years, but young women can choose if they want to go. Hoffman chose to do a mission.
The mission lasted 18 months, with the only family contact by email once a week and two phone calls during that time: one on Mother’s Day and one on Christmas. The young missionaries are assigned to a small area for about six weeks, and after that six weeks, they may be moved to another area within the district.
For Hoffman’s mother, the separation was difficult.
“Some days were harder than others,” she said. “Mondays were often my favorite days because those were the days I kept checking my emails for pictures from her.
“The hardest days were when we got emails saying she was sick or had a cold. Not being there to help her was really tough, but I think it made her stronger to have to depend on herself.”
Haley Hoffman said the experience was something she will never forget. What she thought the experience would be in the beginning wasn’t what it turned out to be at all.
“I thought that I would be teaching people about Jesus Christ. It was a stark difference. I was the one learning and growing,” she said.
She said she met amazing people who will be lifelong friends, and saw amazing scenic areas. One of her favorite memories was visiting the church’s new Star Valley Temple in Wyoming. The closest temple to her home is in Washington, D.C. Temples are different from church meetinghouses, in that they are open only to baptized members of the church and are reserved for special forms of worship.
Hoffman’s mission took her to Pocatello, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana and the surrounding areas. Hoffman said her mission was quite an adventure and very different from home. “They have real mountains,” she said.
She also said she was nervous about how she would be perceived in her work. “There were many places that we had the door shut in our faces and were even cursed at, but then there were times we were welcomed in homes,” she said.
Hoffman, a musician, said she used her talents to help with her mission. She plays several instruments, including guitar, harp and ukulele, and envisions studying music education.
“One day we had so many doors slammed in our faces, and we just weren’t getting anywhere. I decided to walk around with my guitar and sing. It opened some doors for us, and we were invited in. Some people said they liked the music,” she said.
Even though there were days that she felt as if no doors were opening, other days made the experience worth it.
“I met some amazing people,” she said. It was evident when her phone rang and a little voice bubbling over with giggles said hello to Haley, bringing a smile that lit up her eyes. The call was from one of three children she met who were baptized in the church.
“We knocked on this family’s door; they were members of the church. They had just recently adopted three children, ages, 12, 10 and 8 from Poland. It was like we were meant to be there,” Hoffman said. “Everything that happened seemed to fall into place. The adoption, which should have taken months, took only one month. Everything seemed to fall into place for this family. We even happened to knock on their door at the right time.”
Another person who touched her was a small boy who had some learning development issues; she helped to teach him through her music.
Hoffman said that while on her mission, she prayed for guidance about her future endeavors and feels that God definitely wants her to pursue music. Hoffman will be studying music education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Her mother is happy to have her daughter back home, if only temporarily.
“It has been wonderful since she has been back,” she said. “I could tell that the first few days were rough for her, but day by day, I see glimpses of the girl who left, but more importantly, the kind and caring woman she has become.”
Hoffman said she would encourage any young person who is thinking about a mission trip to do it.
“It was one of the hardest things I ever did, but also one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced,” she said.
Hoffman said part of her is still there.
“It feels almost as if my spirit has changed and become stronger,” she said, adding that she will be looking to do more outreach work.