Week 58 (June 26th, 2017)

So this week my companion and I came up with a terribly brilliant idea. We both decided because we were both in the same place in the Book of Mormon, that we would race to finish it. We added a few extra rules and a point system and basically we have been reading non-stop. We started Tuesday night in Alma 14, page 243 and I am currently on Ether 2, page 491. I will more than likely finish tomorrow, and the winner gets a pizza. We both have been reading and studying and discussing so much its incredible the things we have both learned. 

This week we had a baptism. Joel got baptized and confirmed this week. He was supposed to be baptized last week but we had to wait one week. No big deal. Pictures attached. 

We also saw a monkey, it was way awesome. He was trying to eat my pen and search our pockets for money. 

Anyway I think that's it. I've got to get back to reading the Book of Mormon! Love you all!! 

Elder Hamblin 

Week 57 (June 19th, 2017)

Well happy fathers day! Out here in the mission I have my 3 sons (the three elders I have trained). Its tough being a parent, but I have learned a lot and become a better person because of it. Currently training has also made me reflect a lot on how I have progressed as a missionary and the things that I still need to work on. 

When I was first starting in the mission field I always thought that if I could just speak the language I would be able to teach and baptize anybody. I have now learned the language and another part I must also learn many things that aren't just how to teach and speak. I have learned what it means to be a representative of Jesus Christ, and to wear his sacred name on my shirt. I have learned that I must act as he would act and be as he would be out here. Always focusing on the attributes of Jesus Christ and always having an eye single to the glory of God. I have seen this with each person I have trained, and in my time here as a missionary, we must always be working on being better people, and as we read about the life of the savior and study his teachings we will be more apt to follow his council, as well as teach others how to do so. I love in the introduction of the Book of Mormon where it says that whoever reads the Book of Mormon will grow closer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other book. I whole heartily believe that. I love then to apply Alma 12:24 that this life is a probationary state and a time to prepare to meet God. We must always be developing our Christlike attributes if we want to prepare to meet God. That's the big message that I learned this week. Focus on that and we will be great missionaries as well as people. 

Well I love and miss all of you!! Happy Fathers Day dad! Thanks for being the best dad and example ever!! 

Elder Hamblin 

Week 56 (June 12th 2017)

Wow what a week we had. I would like to start by saying thank you for the package. I got one of the three. The halfway one, and I got word last night that the secretaries have the other two and I hopefully will get them tomorrow. I will hopefully make some brownies tomorrow as well!! 

On Wednesday we had a half mission conference. We talked about how to baptize more people and I am a living witness that everything that they are teaching in those conferences works. Every time the Mission President said to do something and I had already done it I could already see the blessings that had come from it. (for example, finding a new investigator every day) It was a great teaching experience and I learned ways that I could better my teaching and have more people prepared for baptism. 

Then Thursday we made a visit to a lady who is very prepared for baptism, she just has a crazy work schedule. She wasn't even home when we got there but we talked to her husband and he told us that she might have Friday free to be taught. So that Friday morning I called and asked if she was free. She was, and then by a miracle the zone leaders showed up to our house to see if we were waking up on time, but it turns out that we needed them there to do a baptismal interview. So we showed up and did the interview and baptized her the same day!! It was like an emergency baptisms haha!! But it was a great baptismal service and the whole family was very happy!! 

And then today my companion and I decided that we needed to work harder in our area so in the morning rather than just starting our P-day we went out and did some finding. We found one way awesome family that is totally ready to hear and accept the gospel and then we found another family that the mom was ready to reject us but I invited everyone in the house to listen to us and it turns out her daughter wanted to hear us and was super excited to put a return appointment. The work out here is prospering!!! 

Also one night my companion and I didn't have a dinner appointment so we made some fajitas in our apartment! I told my comp if he buys the ingredients I can cook anything. Well they were delicious! It took forever though. Pictures attached. 

Anyway, I think that's it for the week! Love and miss you all!! 

Elder Hamblin ​

Week 55 (June 5th 2017)

So this week was a great week. We did tons of finding and teaching. Both my companion and I were dead by Saturday. But it was fine because Sunday was an easy one. 

Sunday after church we had 2 baptisms. Vanessa and Maritza. Their brother got baptized a few weeks back so we are just working on completing the family. All we need now is the mom, but she is tough. 

Working with my companion has been going great. We teach really well together and he has that newbie fire to always try to keep working harder. Its great! It makes working out here even easier. 

One of the weird things about my companion though is that now i have the opportunity to speak in English with him, which is something that I haven't had yet in my mission. Its really funny because I'll start a sentence in English but it always turns into Spanish about halfway through. My brain is just wired to be in Spanish now. 

Anyway that's about it for the week. Today we played soccer, pictures attached! We got a little dirty though haha!! 

Love you all!! 

Elder Hamblin