Week 44

"Pre-Mental Flashbacks"

So, there's a long story behind the title of this email. To make the long story short, about 8 months ago we were teaching this boy named Cian Breen in Pioneer Valley. He's 10 and both of his parents are less active but coming back to church. They wanted us to teach Cian so that he could be baptized. Well, Cian is a VERY energetic little boy. Also, he had this crazy idea that being baptized would give him "pre-mental flashbacks". He kind of explained it as having De-Javu or your life before being baptized. (He had been baptized in the Catholic church as a baby and swore that he had flashbacks from before his baptism.)

ANYWAYS, we get a text from our sister training leaders and they said, "Sister Hammond, Cian is getting baptized tomorrow (Saturday) as 6:30. So obviously we dropped everything and went :) good thing that we didn't have any set plans to drop anyways. haha. When we got to the baptism Cian had grown like a foot in only 7 months. So basically he was taller than me. It was a lot of fun to be able to see all of my old friends from Puyallup again!

we're both standing on our tippy-toes to see who is taller...he won...

We've had some great lessons this week with our investigator Andrew. He's been praying and repenting and changing his life. Also, he's only 14 so that's amazing in itself. He's getting baptized on Oct. 15th. Keep him in your prayers!!

Transfers are next week...We find out Sunday whether or not we're staying or leaving. I've been here for a little over 6 months. I guess we'll see what happens... Love you all! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

 

#ILoveHer.♥

Sister Hammond ♥♥♥

Week 43

"do I know anybody who's unchurched around here?"

When we go tracting we always ask if they know of anybody who we should go see or share a message with. So this was Ed's response, "hmmm..do I know anybody who is unchurched around here? can't say that I do!" Little does Ed know that we actually have the fullness of the Gospel. The complete truth that Christ had when He was on the earth. So our message is for all people. Churched and Unchurched alike ;)

Being a missionary is so cool. I hit 10 months on the 28th...It's scary how little time I have left.. I got my half way letter from my mission president this week. I get to go and pray by a lake and ask God what I can do to reach new heights for the rest of my mission. We have some members who live on a BEAUTIFUL lake so we're going to set aside some time to go and do that. It's crazy how fast time goes. In my letter President quoted Elder Hales in talking about how we can reach new heights. I'm excited to see the peaks that the Lord will help me to reach over the next 8.7 months ☼ I know that as I refocus and keep my eye single to God's glory that He'll be able to help me reach heights that I'd never be able to accomplish on my own.

I had the opportunity to bear my testimony at our mission devotional last night. My topic was "We can know the truth of these things for ourselves by the power of the Holy Ghost" It's incredible because our message is either true or it is not. The Book of Mormon prophet Moroni exhorts us to read the Book of Mormon and then to pray and ask God if it is true. He promises that all those who have sincere desires to do so will come to know for themselves, through the Holy Ghost that it is true. I have done this for myself many times. And I do know. This knowledge brings me so much comfort, because I know the Book of Mormon is true I also know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for me. I know that He sent His Son to help me through my weaknesses and mistakes. All things can be healed through Jesus Christ. I know that as I keep His commandments and choose every day to follow Him that I will have the opportunity to live with God forever. I do know for myself that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that through him the fullness of the Gospel was restored to the earth. I know all of these things because I know the Book of Mormon is true!

Hope you all have an incredible week ♥ Read the Book of Mormon, you'll see so many miracles as you choose to act on Moroni's message.

our investigator's daughter and the neighbor's kids painted their faces with eyeshadow.

hottest week of the summer plus no AC.

lol, mom...I broke the apple slicer...Sorry Sister Skousen!

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Sister Hammond ♥♥

Week 42

"If you wanna be my friend I'll trip you first so you land in the font"

Sister Hanson is our sassy Relief Society president as well as mission office secretary and sometimes she gives us a ride to church. Yesterday we asked her if she knew anyone that she could invite to our mission devotional and her response was that she didn't have any non member friends because, "If you wanna be [her] friend [she'll] trip you first so you land in the water". She's our favorite :)

This week was full of so many miracles! Sister Roberts and I are hitting the pavement and striving to be exactly obedient. We were blessed to have lessons and also to get referrals from our amazing members. This ward is literally on fire. 

We went on exchanges as well and Sister Erickson came to Lake Holm. We started off our exchange at a member's house, her backyard is the secret garden. She said that anyone could come over and pick flowers on Wednesday and then another member would arrange them, because she arranges flowers for weddings. So we walked through this HUGE garden and made two really pretty bouquets.

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We also had zone conference on Faith in Jesus Christ. I can't think of a time when I've felt the spirit so strongly as I did then. I know that Jesus Christ truly is the Savior of the world. It is only through Him that we can be cleansed of sin and return to the presence of Heavenly Father. This Gospel brings so much light into our lives. I've seen a difference in the people we meet who strive daily to keep God's commandments and those who seem to think that He's not a priority. Being a missionary has been such a blessing as I get to add my witness that He lives, that He loves us, and that this is the only church that has the fullness of His gospel.

I love you all!! See you in 9 months <3

Sister Hammond 

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Week 41

We had the opportunity to go to a broadcast from the 1st counselors in the Relief Society, Young Woman's and Primary General Presidency's. They had amazing talks about putting your whole self in, reaching our full potential as daughters of God, remembering that our baptismal covenants mean reaching out to others, and to prepare our selves against opposition.

We also had the opportunity to teach Young Woman's on Sunday. We had the topic of families. Easy peesy lemon squeezy. Especially being a missionary and talking about families all day every day. Families are literally ordained of God. How great is it that His plan is all about helping our families to return to live with Him again? I especially love that our Heavenly Father has given us temples so that marriage doesn't have to be "till death do you part." I know for myself that marriage is meant to last beyond the grave and into the eternities. I am so thankful that I will be able to be sealed in the temple and to have my own eternal family. ☼

I love this gospel so much and I love being a missionary.

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Sister Hammond 

Week 40

9 months...It's like a bitter sweet moment. I've loved loved loved my mission. There are so many experiences that I've had that are shaping the person I'm becoming. Being able to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ work miracles in people's lives is a testimony builder to me of the power of the Atonement. Today I was reading about Alma the younger's story. In Alma 36:17-21 he describes the relief that comes as we learn to turn to and rely on our Savior. He says, "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!" Living the Gospel, keeping the commandments, and studying and prayer will help us to gain experiences that will help us to see that greater Light that fills our lives with Joy. I am so blessed to be able to be serving the Lord and to still have 9 precious months to do so.

Sister Roberts is my new companion! She's a rockstar! Training is the funnest thing, and I'm learning so much more now that I get to go over the very fundamentals of missionary work so thoroughly. Thursday we had a Missionary Training for all of the new missionaries. We got to see President and Sister Rasmussen. They are doing so good! They've officially been here for a month, which is weird. President said that he takes great consideration on who he calls to be trainers, so this is a really great opportunity that the Lord has given me to be able to train.

Yesterday we biked to church again with Sis. Brundage's son James. He's 10. We had a lesson with his mom on Sat and he said that he wanted to come to church with us. So he did. That was cool :)

Sister Hammond 

PICS - Saying goodbye to Hermana Zavala!

-Sis Roberts + Sis Hammond = taking over Lake Holm

-slumber party in the living room and waiting on a new bed for Sis Roberts