Week 22 (Oct. 17, 2016)

This week went pretty great. We got a call on Tuesday that we need to move, I'm not too mad about that, the only problem is that the owner of our little room we live in is a 75 year old lady that loves having the missionaries and she has done nothing but cry this whole week, its super hard because she lives totally alone. We should be moving sometime this week however. We already have a couple options for houses that are much better than the little room we live in now. 

As for the mission work we have lots of progressing investigators. We have a few baptismal dates coming up that we should baptize soon. We found a new investigator this week named Hna. Digna. She is super cool. shes like 40 years old and we went to dominoes the other day and got pizza. This was before we had even taught her. Then we taught her the restoration and gave her 3 book of Mormons. One in English because she wants to learn in. And two in Spanish because she can give one to her mom. She was raised Catholic but she doesn't believe it because the Catholics worship idols like the Virgin Mary and so she doesn't want to be a part of it. She seemed super open to the gospel of Jesus Christ and hopefully we should put a baptismal date with her sometime this week.

This week we also had a huge service project. The whole branch got together along with all the missionaries in the zone and we went out and just picked up garbage. It was super cool. The members picked up the garbage and the missionaries just talked to all the people who were staring and looking at us. Just me and my companion talked and gave a card to 70 different people. Hopefully some of them will call us or come to church or something sometime too. As for the city it is already a mess again. The people here are so dirty its disgusting. There is garbage everywhere!! 

This week in church I had to give a talk on missionary work and how the members can help us. It was like 10 minutes long, and I was asked to give it the day before. Its all in Spanish so I will try to translate it. 

Good morning brothers and sisters. I am Elder Hamblin, I am from the United States and I am a gringo. I have 3 months here in Panama. Before my mission my dad told me that I need to start every talk with a joke or a lie, so brothers and sisters I am grateful for this opportunity to address you.  Well President Pinzon asked me to talk about the mission work and and the need for member missionary work. I want to share a couple scripture with you the first being D&C 4, verses 3 and 4.  

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo,he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; This Scripture says, if you want to serve, you are called, and you will receive blessings for your service. The second scripture is in the bible in the book of mark. Chapter 16 verse 15 says  15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  This verse is very simple. it says we need to preach. I am here in the mission. I am working. I am preaching. What are you doing? Now this is kinda harsh. I am a full time missionary, this is my calling. But all of you have a calling to teach as well. Your calling is a bit different though. 

I then told the story of how Alma had to find Amulek to teach and that the members need to be like Amulek, help the missionaries in their work. Together with missionaries to visit less actives and new members and give references to the missionaries. It was super cool! There were also a bunch of jokes in it but they aren't as funny in English. We got 2 references that same day. It was sweet!! the story of Alma is Alma chapter 8. 

  

Okay as for the photos. I officially have 5 months in the mission so my comp bought me a candle to put on my dinner. Also I got your letter like 2 weeks ago and I totally forgot to let you know. but I have it and I loved it!! And yeah that was my week. pretty good if you ask me, and this next week should be even better!! I'm excited for what this area has to bring! Love and miss you all! 

Elder Hamblin