Week 16

Being a missionary is one of the greatest things, I can never ever say enough about how much of a blessing it is.

We had a zone conference on Tuesday and we talked about how to teach people and not lessons, focusing on how to ask inspired questions. It was actually something that I was trying to improve so it was awesome to have a training on that. Our mission president does an incredible job of this when he teaches us because he asks questions that get us seriously thinking. Sister Linker and I have been discussing teaching styles and how we can help other people exercise faith for themselves. 

As Sister Linker and I have been working on this we've been asking each other questions to get to know each other. We try to find ways to word questions in a way that is simple and easy to understand. We were doing this on Wednesday as we were tracting and we saw a woman sitting outside smoking. So we go up to her and Sister Linker asks a really good question to her about prayer. We have a really great conversation and we teach the restoration, give her a Book of Mormon, and set up a time to come back. It was really cool to see that when we are focused on the Lord's work then He will give us opportunities and will bless our efforts.

Her name is Sandra and she's doing really good. We have a lesson with her tomorrow at the church, we're super excited about it :)

I've learned a lot about how the spirit works and how we can come closer to our Father in Heaven. He really is mindful of all of His children, never lose hope because His plan is perfect and He's got a perfect plan for each of us if we will ​exercise faith in Him.

Week 15

Sister Linker is a boss. Literally. She's so hard working and she knows SO much about Isaiah and the Abrahamic Covenant. We've focused a lot of our conversations on these two topics ;) 

There is so much potential in our area, but it's been hard to see the success that we've been having because we don't have a lot of set appointments and things keep falling through. Yesterday we were walking to church and we were talking about how we could improve our teaching. There was a missionary training broadcast a few weeks ago and they focused on teaching repentance and baptizing converts. We were talking about how we could change the focus of our teaching to get people to repent. As we talked about these ideas it hit me how important the work that I'm doing is. We are literally calling people to repent; to change their lives so they can have lasting happiness. It's funny, people are so focused on the temporary happiness that worldly things can bring them. But what happens when those things aren't there any more. Where do you turn? Heavenly Father promises us the greatest joy of all, eternal life. This gift is literally free to us because of Jesus Christ. All that He asks is that we have faith, REPENT, are baptized so we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. What an incredible promise.

Remember that we can find lasting happiness as we turn to God and leave behind the things of the world. I love you all!!

Sister Hammond ♥

Week 14

So, for the past week we've been wondering what's going to happen with our wards. We guessed that me and Sister Heiner would stay together and cover Pioneer Valley and Sister Zavala would get a new comp and cover Silver Creek.... Sunday night the Zone leader called. He had us try and guess what would happen, but we were 100% wrong. Sister Zavala is getting out of zone transferred. I'm staying in PV and getting a new comp (Sister Linker) and Sister Heiner is training a new missionary in SC. The funny thing is though...Sister Dodson and Sister Linker were companions when Sister D left me. Sister Linker is now coming to me and Sister Zavala is going to Sister Dodson!!! We're basically just switching companions ;) 

Being in a trio was really tough, we had to figure out how to work with two wards and how to teach in unity. But it's incredible to see how Heavenly Father has a plan for everything. For example, Sister Heiner and Sister Zavala touched Sister Gillespie in ways that neither Sister D or I could. She probably wouldn't be where she is now if it wasn't for those two. God is so good and I hope you all know how much He loves every one of us. It doesn't matter what we do in this life because we can never stray so far that the Atonement doesn't reach us. HE literally provided a way for us to overcome EVERYTHING. A scripture that has helped us out a lot is Alma 26:27. Never turn back, let up, or slow down. He knows us perfectly and knows perfectly what we need. Trust Him.

I'm going to miss these two!

Week 13

Sister Gillespie + Baptism = newest member in the church!! 

It was such a miracle that she was baptized. When we met her almost 2 months ago she was at the point where she didn't even want to live any more. As we've taught her there was a light in her eyes that got brighter and brighter with every lesson. Even when her husband passed away she still looked to God. She has strengthened my testimony of God's unconditional love for us, the Atonement, Missionary work, etc.. Everything just fell into place with her. We didn't do anything. It was literally 100% God. It reminds me of Alma 26:37. I know that God lives and loves us so much that He sent His son to Atone for each and every one of us. As we truly repent and look to God He takes away those feelings of guilt and unworthiness because of our Savior's Atonement. I saw that so much in Sister Gillespie.

Since we are in a trio and we're covering 2 wards we have no idea what is going to happen next week at transfers. We're thinking that the wards are going to be split again and one of us is going to get a new companion. But we have no idea! haha! 

Week 12

Temples+companions+President Eaton = #blessed 

We've had a really great week; the monthly mission devotional was on Sunday and Sister Zavala and I were in the choir. It was a really great time to see some of the recent converts and to hear their testimonies. It makes me so much more excited for the work that we are doing. 

Update on Sister Gillespie, She's getting baptized this Saturday and she is beyond excited. We had a lesson yesterday and we asked her why she thought this baptism was different from the other churches she's been baptized in. (she's been baptized into 6 different churches) She said that this is the one church where things actually make sense. Where she's found a family who loves her despite the mistakes that she's made. Being able to see the changes that she's made over these past couple of months has been the biggest blessing. It doesn't matter about the number of people you baptize or even who accepts your message. My job as a missionary is to act how Jesus would act if He were here and to invite others to "come unto [him]".

The temple today was the icing on top of the cake. We were blessed to have our mission president, President Eaton, drive us there. Long story short, we had an amazing conversation about the temple and the Atonement and we were so blessed with the spirit to testify of those things. Being inside the temple was just another testimony that Heavenly Father knows me and my needs. He loves His children so much and being able to go to a place where heaven and earth meet is one of His many gifts to us. Go to the temple often, I testify that the Son of Man does reveal Himself to those who are seeking Him.

To end the temple trip, President Eaton took us to Pizza Hut and we got cookie pizzas :) But the best part was, we got to see Pres. in action! We started talking to a guy who was in there and we had an incredible conversation and taught the restoration. Pres. even invited him to be baptized!! (the guy said yes ;) It was so so so cool to watch my misison president teaching the gospel and it's motivated me to teach on the spot and to FEAR NO MAN! Trust God ;)

Sorry this email is so long!! I love you all!!

Week 11

I should start off by saying that our trio is going super good :) The Silver Creek sisters were on bikes half of the time because the area is super small, and guess what? We had an extra bike! So we get to bike in some parts of our area. I didn't think that I would like biking very much, but it's actually really fun. And there are a lot of great opportunities for us to talk to people who are outside. (which isn't quite as possible in a car).

On Monday we had a pretty awesome miracle. We aren't supposed to be home until 9 pm, well it was 8:40 and we had absolutely nothing to do. So we prayed. As we were walking back to our car this guy came walking down the street with his dog. Literally out of the middle of no where. It was crazy. God answers prayers.

We also had interviews with our mission president this week. He only asks us like 2 questions, then the rest of the interview is up to us. So I came prepared with a bunch of questions. Since I've been studying humility lately I asked him how to balance confidence and humility. I loved his answer on that. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was that humility isn't comparative. A humble missionary doesn't compare herself to the the success of other missionaries, but instead throws herself into the work and seeks God's guidance as to how to improve. 

Make Christ the center of your life and you'll be amazed at the love that He has for you and everything that you can learn.

BTW: the next 3 weeks I will be emailing on tuesday. Just a heads up :) why? because next week we are going to the Seattle temple!!!

Love you all!!!!!!!

Week 10

Hey everyone! Hope your new years was great :) 

It's definitely been a blast being with Sister Heiner and Sister Zavala. We are all stressed and have no idea what is going on half of the time, but it's tons of fun!! Plus, since we are covering two wards we get to go to TWO sacrament meetings, two ward councils, and two of the other things as well. You know what that means? it means over 7 hours of church :) But testimony meeting was so powerful yesterday, it's so incredible to listen to people's testimonies and how much they truly love the gospel. I know this church is true!

New Year's was great. We stayed up till the early hours of the night. (aka 10:30). But I'm so excited for what 2016 holds. Especially for the fact that this is the only year in which I will 100% be dedicated to the work. "Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him" (Moroni 10:32) I know that as we all strive to come more fully unto Christ that we will see miracles and blessings. Look for those tender mercies that God loves to send us! I know that they are there and I know that He loves each of us so deeply. This year I plan on coming unto Christ by studying chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. I know that as we gain those Christlike attributes that we'll have more love, more faith, more charity, humility, diligence, and we'll be able to walk side by side with our Savior as we each seek to build the Kingdom of God.

I know that He lives.