10/22/12 Letter

Dear Family,
This week has been very good here in the WKM/Milton-Freewater.  We didn't really have a lot of work this last week, but we did just about all we could to be as productive as we have been.  The smell of Fall and the sounds of Football fill the air as we walk and knock here in Milton-Freewater.

Yesterday (Sunday) Elder Olsen and I had almost all of our appointments cancel on us and the decision was made to go tracting.  This was the last resort finding activity, mainly because many people were still in their church  or just getting home from their Sunday worship.  But alas, we decided that we were out of options.  (Fair warning, nothing productive happened.)  As we attempted one of the last houses, all we heard was "come in".  Confused at what to do, we just stood there kicking the dirt.  Finally the door opened just a crack, slammed shut, then opened completely.  The man was disabled and confined to a wheel-chair.  As we stepped into his humble home, two elements over-took me.  1. The size of his television in an otherwise small house.  2.  The over-powering, over-bearning stench of onions.  As we stood there and talked to this man, I believe that the "Spirit" was so strong, I was literally bawling.  It felt as if I could bite into the air and have a mouthful of "The Spirit".  Unfortunately  this man could not feel the power of the real Spirit and we fortunately made it out of the house with our tear-ducts in place!

Anyway, I do not think I have ever cried as hard as I did that day.  It was powerful.

Elder Olsen and I have also been teaching a couple who have also been investigating the 7th Day Adventist Church.  We had been attempting to go and see them, but it seemed as if they wanted to go with the Adventists.  Then one day, Elder Olsen and I were sitting in our car and discussing our plans, when here comes the man and waves us to him.  We went over and began to talk with them.  We found out that they had moved (they were in a bad situation before) and the Adventists had offended them.  They wanted to join our Church! Then the first lesson we officially had with them went so well we invited them to be baptized...and they ACCEPTED!  At the beginning of the lesson they just wanted a church; by the end of the lesson we knew that they wanted THE Church.  their eyes were telling the story their mouths never could.

I have been studying the beginning of Alma this week.  Two points stood out to me as my studies progressed throughout the week.  1.  Our gratitude solely  affect our attitude toward the world.  The more grateful we are, the more we are blessed.  2.  Closely related, as we are gracious for the blessings of God, He doesn't often change our circumstances, but rather He forms our hearts.  Because he transforms our hearts, we are able to find the ways He has provided for us to change our circumstances.  Gratitude=Obedience.  It is really that simple.

Love,
Elder Hamblin