Week 101 (April 22, 2018)

FINAL WEEK

This is Jayden's final week in the mission field, he returns home on Thursday April 26th in the evening.  

Dale pues entonces esta es mi ultima semana y voy a escribir en español. Nada mas el día de hoy yo quiero compartir mi testimonio de este dos años. Ha sido un placer de estar aquí y tener la oportunidad de conocer toda esta gente aquí en Panamá. He tenido la oportunidad de aprender muchas cosas acerca de mi mismo durante el tiempo y tenido la oportunidad de fortalecer mi testimonio. Yo les testifico que la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días es la iglesia verdadera sobre la faz de la tierra. He visto que pocoton de milagros y he visto la mano del señor en esta obra. Yo estoy animado de regresar a casa aunque estoy nervioso y no se que voy a hacer. Yo se que el señor tiene mucho preparado para mi en gringolandia y que mi vida ha sido cambiado por mi servicio aquí. Yo testifico estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. 

Nos vemos el Jueves!!!! 

Elder Hamblin  

Given then, this is my last week and I will write in Spanish. Nothing else today I want to share my testimony of this two years. It has been a pleasure to be here and have the opportunity to meet all these people here in Panama. I had the opportunity to learn many things about myself during the time and had the opportunity to strengthen my testimony. I testify to you that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the face of the earth. I have seen tons of miracles and I have seen the hand of the Lord in this work. I am encouraged to return home although I am nervous and I do not know what I am going to do. I know that the Lord has much prepared for me in gringolandia and that my life has been changed by my service here. I testify these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. See you on Thursday!!!! Elder Hamblin

Week 100 (April 16, 2018)

So this week we were planning a baptism for Saturday. Then last minute the family went to the grandmas house so we weren't able to baptize him. We re-scheduled for this Saturday. 

This week I also had my last interview with the Mission President. We talked about a lot of good stuff and he told me his life story. He played baseball for the Dodgers. It was a great interview. I really learned a lot about how to use everything that I've learned here in panama and how to relate and utilize it back home. 

The pictures attached are from a district meeting we had. The photos really show how we are as companionship's. Me and my comp are definitely the most not serious. 

This will be my last week here in my area, then next Monday I'm in a hotel until Thursday. Wednesday we get to go to the temple and have lunch with president. Should be a great last week! 

Anyway i hope all is good at home!! Love and miss you all!! Ill write another email next week!! 

Elder Hamblin 

Week 99 (April 09, 2018)

This week was interesting and frustrating. We did a lot of work, and we didn't see whole lot of results. 

We spent most of the week preparing people to come to church. On Saturday night we had 9 people who were fijo to come to church. We were sure of it. We had plans to pick them up and everything. Sunday came and only 2 ended up coming. One of these 2 will be baptized this week however so I guess it worked out. 

Also this week on Saturday night my comp and I were walking to dinner and we found a man on a bridge who said a lot of words that didn't make sense and then said "call 911, I  need an ambulance." So we called the ambulance and it came. The man was having trouble breathing and just struggling to stay alive. We waited for the ambulance some 30 minutes and he kept losing consciousness. And then the ambulance showed up and took care of him. We learned while talking to him that he is homeless and that he smokes crack all day. That's all he does. We were pretty disappointed when what we saw as what could have been a good teaching situation after the fact really wasn't. But we did some good that day and helped the man get his ambulance. 

Also the picture I attached was a sweet blister that I had. I think I popped it every day for a week. It just never went away. But its doing better now. 

Anyway hope all is well at home! Love and miss you all!!

Elder Hamblin 

Week 98 (April 02, 2018)

Wow. I testify that the Prophet President Russel M. Nelson is a  prophet of god. He has received a lot of revelation in the last 2 months and has told us how to be better members and how to strengthen and care one member for another. Watching conference really just showed me that God really is at the head of this church and he will guide and care for us and reveal his secrets through his servants, the prophets. The change being made to combine the High Priests and the Elders Quorum will have a huge impact on the church here in panama. We have seen that the candidates for callings always have come form the high priests and that the quorum of elders just doesn't seem to progress or gain experience and that almost all of the less actives are from the elders and not the high priests. It will be great to combine them and get all of the added experience. Just last Sunday the bishop asked my companion and I if we could show more support to the elders quorum and not the young men, because we have been attending the young men and it works out perfect now because everyone will be supporting the elders. 

Also the change to the Home teachers and Visiting teachers will change the way we work here in panama. Usually there are only a few visits being made and the members always complain about having to fill out the information about the visit. So now it will be so much easier to do the visits. Also including the young women will help to have more people who will do the visits. Everyone knows the women always do their visits and the men are the ones who are slackers. 

I just want to end with my testimony that the changes that the church has made really do come from God. That he directs his church. He calls people to guide and council but he is the head of the church. I hope everyone was able to watch conference and hear the words of god. 

Elder Hamblin