Email 11/25/12

Thanksgiving was amazing! We had planned to go to a member's home, but all their kids and the father got the stomach flu, so they set up another family for us. It turns out that the father of the family that we ate at (Hawks) grew up in Eagar from the first to fourth grade! That was fun as we talked with him for awhile and then we played a game of "Aggrivation." Dad and Brother Hawks will have to play a board-game sometime...just sayin'.

 

Well it is too bad that nobody wanted to stay for Thanksgiving, it always seems like we are the only ones ever to stay in beautiful Eagar. I'm glad to hear that you all were fed well...even if Aunt Blanche was not there... (hey, I thought it was funny). Thank you for the quotes. I write one every night in my journal at the bottom of the page, and now I have more of a selection to choose from. 

Other than Thanksgiving, the week was really slow. I guess everyone wanted to be with their families, which is the most important social unit whether or not they are members of the Church. People around here seem to be very closely associated with their families and they think that their religions are what binds them together. We have been trying hard to help people see that they could be with their families forever, but some people just do not seem to be THAT close with their families.

 

Last Sunday the High Councilman gave a wounderful talk about how the story of the Good Samaritan is related to the Plan of Salvation. That is an awesome scripture study (especially for you and Dad!)

 

Love,

Elder Hamblin

Letter 11/24/12

Dear Family,
As the week unfolded and the events played out, the craziness and confusion of the Holiday season began to become evident.  Service filled the past week - everything from moving people out of the ward to pruning bushes at the Senior Center filled many of the spare moments we had.   Exchanges, conferences, and training also made the week full of insanity.  I did have the opportunity to go on an exchange with an Elder from Australia who is 26 years old but came out at the same transfer as I did.

As the week progressed and came to an end, my testimony of the Lord's timing was strengthened. To begin, a month and a half ago Elder Olsen and I were tracking when we ran into lady who was weeding her garden. We stopped and asked if she needed any help. She declined but showed us the rest of her yard and garden. As we left her with a card with out number on it, we also left an invitation for service.  Fast-forward to two weeks ago.  All of our appointments fell through leaving Elder Olsen and I puzzled over what we should do.  He had a strong feeling that we should go and see her.  We acted upon the prompting and went to her house.  When she invited us in, she mentioned that she was just thinking of us and would take us upon the offer to do service for her, but she had lost her number!  "Coincidence...I think not!"  She said she is the president of the Senior Center her in Milton-Freewater, and needed to clean the grounds.  We were more than willing to help! As we labored along side her, she asked our plans for Thanksgiving, we told her that we were eating at a members home, so she invited us for the following Friday (also known as "Black Friday").  We accepted her gracious invitation and she told us that her daughter's family will be there with her.  She also said that her daughter is a member of the church and had a son preparing for a mission! I believe this will be a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel in an environment she will definitely feel comfortable with.

Another assurance to build my testimony of the Lord's timing was the elder Pieper conference.  This General Authority took time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions.  He taught us according to our needs. In preparation for this conference Elder Pieper had us read "Seek Learning By Faith" (Elder Bednar, 2007).  He then expanded on how we need  to become the future with our learning process by: 1. Looking into the future with the assurance of faith that God will be there; 2. Looking into the past to see the evidence God has given us because of our faith; 3. Taking action in the present to "step into the darkness.

As we take these steps in our learning process, we will grow so much more than if someone is teaching us.  Elder Pieper also said we must teach our investigators the same way.  We shout NOT teach them that much; we, instead, should find their questions and then give them the material to find their answers.  This is the way God wants us to teach.

This principle of learning could not have come at a better time for the people we are teaching.  They have many questions, but never seem very satisfied until THEY have found the answer for themselves.  We are only to be conducts through which the spirit flows and gives direction.  As we help realize this, God blesses them and us with an edification of his spirit.

Elder Pieper also said that we should never be down-trodden. God gave us our agency and the ability to change our mind.  If something is going ary in our lives, understand the doctrine behind our doubt, and change your mind.  This simple yet marvlous council reassured me that God cares for us enough to allow us to feel pain and sorrow, but wants us to have the ability to"...make the best out of the way things turn out." (John Wooden).

After the conference, I had the opportunity to learn personally from Elder Pieper in a personal interview.  Although it lasted about 10 minutes, I learned and grew so much from the instruction he gave me.  He told me not to worry (which, for a worry-wart, its hard).  He said that we do not need to know every answer to every question.  The first thing they teach General Authorities is to say, "I don't know...YET!" I am grateful for all of you guys have done for me.  I love you!

Elder Rex Hamblin

P.S. Mr. Tonle beat Chuck Norris in a game of chechers.  In retaliation, Chuck invented racism.

Email 11/19/12

hat must have been an amazing experience in the temple with everyone there for Graham and Hunter. I wish that I could have been there, but then I remember why I am here and what I am doing, and realize that I will get the chance to go through the temple with everyone sometime. I remember that I am called of God to serve the people here in Milton-Freewater. I remember that I accepted the call and everything is alright; I just think of why I am here and what I can do to help everyone come a little closer to Christ.

 

The Elder Pieper conference was amazing! We had a member of the 70 every week in the MTC, but this time it seemed more personal. He wanted to know what was on our minds and answer the questions that we had...any question. He taught us that we must become agents in our learning and not objects. We must act and not be acted upon. We must learn for ourselves before we can truely come to help others. Thank you so much for everything that you all did to be prepared for this mission and all you are doing to help me stay out here in the lovely state of Oregon. You guys are the best! I will go into more detail in my letter, but the whole conference was meant for me (or at least I feel like it).

After the conference, Elder Pieper interviewed ten missionaries, and I had the very humbling experience to be interviewed by him. Like I said, I will go into more detail in my letter, but that was one of the most amazing experiences that I have had.

 

Anyway, Thanksgiving has really snuck upon us this year. We completely forgot all about it until yesterday! We are eating with a family in the ward and are going to do our best to get some proslyting done, but people really love their holidays. We have a couple of investigators that we could see, but they said they would probably be with their families (which, in the long run, is better).

 

Love,

Elder Hamblin

Letter 11/12/12

Dear Family,

Although the Elections were not quite "up to par" (marijuana is legal in Washington, not just medical); the world still turns and the salvation of souls must take precedence over everything we must do.  This is our ONLY chance to learn right from wrong; in the next life we will only be able to choose whether or not to accept the Gospel.  When Alma and Amulek contend with Zeezrom, Amulek says that this is the only life we will see corruption, therefore, this is the only time we will be tested.  Only from the pain and suffering in this life (including elections), will we be able to KNOW Eternal happiness in the life to come.

Elder Pieper of the Presidency of the Seventy is coming to the Washington Kennewick Mission this week; and in preparation for this conference President Greer has asked us to read and study "Seek Learning By Faith" by Elder Bednar and Elder Pieper's recent October Ensign article (highly useful for Dad's talk).  This article teaches lessons from the 40 year period that is the Book of Alma.  The article is not just for a society as a whole, but for the individual.

In Elder Bednar's address (although I am only 1/4 of the way through it) has the three basic principles of Faith: Assurance, evidence and action.  As we rely on the evidence of our faith in the past to take action in the present, we gain assurance for the future.  The pattern he then further describes blew my mind to the point where I could see the pieces on the wall!

Anyway, this past week (other then the day the world got DARK...ER)was amazing.  The Bishop (who served in Pinetop) asked us to help with many of the less-actives.  We have been helping everyone come closer to Christ and repenting.  I am still learning and growing every week, and doing my best to help others do the same. 

Again, sorry this letter is so short, but at least it's a letter!  I love you all!

Love, Elder Rex Hamblin

Email 11/13/12

Can you imagine that, Graham in England! Dad must be completely prepping him for the island across the pond. I know that Graham's personality will contrast perfectly with those in England. I actually think I would want to see him out there baptizing all those Brits. Now if we could just get Devon and Brandon....

 

Anyway, how about that dark night last Tuesday? I heard there was some type of "blackout" across the country. Poor people... I am just glad the number of missionaries will sky-rocket over the next four years bringing light to "dark" times! I know that this is the time for more missionaries and the "nights" will only get darker before anything is to get better. There is a Mormon message from Elder Bednar (actually a three "part" series) about light and the Light of Christ. In one of them, he quotes President Packer and says that a true test of our faith is stepping into the darkness trusting that the light will follow. Once we have done so, we will find that the light has shown just a little bit further and we must take another step. "We walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7).

 

I would have given anything to hear Dad and Uncle Scott speak. This week we have Elder Pieper of the Presidency of the 70 speaking to us. I know that he is a Special Witness of Christ and it will be an honor to sit at his feet and listen to his testimony. Yet, there is nothing more powerful in the family than the strong testimony that is borne to one another. Unless the family knows, than it is fruitless to listen to anybody else.

 

Love,

Elder Hamblin

 

P.S. Mo. Tab. and anything that makes you think of Christ, brings the Spirit, and uplifts the soul.

 

P.P.S. I have not taken many pictures since the last time I sent you some, but they will come!

Letter 11/5/12

Dear Family,

Arizona has to be the smartest state in the union, not because the people are outright intelligent, (i.e. Hunter, Graham, etc.) but we were smart enough to not institute Daylight Savings. It is just a menace. Everyone up here agrees with me in that we should just rid ourselves of Day Light Savings. Although, in defence, the change in time did get two or three families to church an hour early. Maybe it's not THAT bad.

Well, I have some bad news, the people who committed to baptism have dropped off the map. We have been trying to get back to meet with them, but with no avail. We will continue to attempt to meet with them, but in the meantime I have learned some vital lessons in this whole scenario.

 Elder Holland once gave a talk entitled "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence" (Heb. 10:35). He proceeded to recount the "biblical" story of Moses being sanctified by the Holy Spirit in the procession to meeting God. then the Lord reveals to Moses every particle that has been and will be placed upon this earth and every world. Moses literally talked to God face to face. Moses KNEW God's plan and knew every person to walk this earth. Let's just say it was a supremely spiritual experience. Soon after God departed, Moses was left to ponder the magnitude of the vision of which he had just seen. In these quiet moments, the light was sucked away as Satan came and was loud and boisterous. Coveting further the Father's glory, Lucifer came demanding Moses to worship him. Without hesitation Moses asked "Where is thine glory that I should worship thee?" The earth quaked and moaned as the rocks split and the wind howled. Yet Moses was firm in his testimony, not because he had seen God, but rather the SANCTIFICATION of the SPIRIT. With every spiritual experience, opposition immediately follows.

Sorry this letter is so short. I love you all and hope you all have a great week.

 Love Elder Hamblin

 P.S. Thank you so much for the Halloween stuff. I know you sent it awhile ago, but I just got it today. We'll still use it though!

P.S.S. This really has been a good week, I just ran out of time to tell you it all. There was too much!

Letter 10/29/12

Dear Family,

Well here i am at the end of my first transfer.  Life as a missionary is pretty great (although I think that I have already said that).  The cold is starting to settle in and the rains have begun.  Everyone is pumping up for Halloween and Jack-o-Lanterns guard every entrance to every porch.  Ghost and goblins are beginning to creep in and out of the orchard trees.

This past week was pretty eventful.  It started with an exchange with one of the zone leaders, Elder Thomas.  In our discussions he brought up something that has completely changed my point of view:  "You are what you think you are, and God thinks you're the greatest.  Don't think you know better than Him."  This has changed the way I view others, this has changed the way I view myself; this has changed the way I view God.  God thinks everyone is the greatest and, ultimately, my goal is to help everyone i meet feel that way.  My discourse among the people of Milton-Freewater has become light hearted and my mind has completely expanded to include all walks of life.  I hope you can help this investigator to the Eagar III Ward feel this same way.

As I try to treat everyone this way, especially less-actives, miracles happen.  We are helping one less-active go to the temple, and helping him become involved in the ward is becoming easier now.  That my focus has changed.  Helping him is becoming better (trust me, he has A.D.O.S...Attention Deficit Oh Shiney!)

Later in the week was Elder Olsen's birthday.  I gave him the blond haired, blue eyed girl he is always talking about (Okay, it was Cinderella).  We ate dinner with a convert family he baptized before I got there, and they threw him a little party.  he is a pretty good kid, but I have to keep him out of trouble.

It seems that with every passing second that God gives us miracles.  Either we are the miracle or the miracle is disguised as a missed opportunity.  Elder Olsen and I were tracting down a street when he received a distinct impression to go see the recent convert mentioned above.  As we walked back to the car, a vehicle pulled into a house where we had previously knocked with hollow echos as our greeting.  In an attempt to "open our mouths" (Oyming) we began talking to a woman and her children.  As we kept talking, she said we could come back to share our message.  This happened two or three weeks ago, and when we tried back, no one was home.

Finally this week we got back in touch with her.  She said that she had been praying for help and guidance in her life and in the life of her friends.  She said that since we talked with her she had been reading the Bible and praying!  We are excited because SHE asked US if she could have friends at the next lesson! 

I hope all goes well with this investigator!  Do ALL you can to help him!

Love, Elder Rex Hamblin

P.S.  Tell everyone that I am sorry I can not write them.  There is SO much to do, and no time to do it in!

P.S.S.  I really did write this on P-Day (Monday) But accidentally left it in the notebook...now it is Thursday...and this won't be picked up till Friday...Sorry!

Email 11/5/12

HURRAY FOR HUNTER!!! To bad that he is not going to the best mission in the world, though. That is alright; I think that he will have more fun than a kite in a tornado (or hurricane... depending on the season). It is cool that Mandy and Hunter are in the MTC together. Did I ever tell you that I was in the same building and had a couple classes with McKenzie Shumway? I was also there with Jason Udall and Jordyn Wilkins. That was awesome! Now we just have to wait for Graham, Devon, and Brandon then we will all officially be "called to serve." That is also good news about Cade. Did he like the temple experience? I know he did. He could never stop talking about how much he wanted to go to the temple and go on his mission. They will all love it.

 

Halloween was pretty "sweet" this year. Elder Olsen and I had a party at the recent convert's home. They are the best! They bought us pumkins to carve, cookies to decorate, and a delicious dinner to eat. Then when we left, they made us go "trick-or-treating." People up here are jsut amazing! We had to be in our appartment by 6 o'clock, because being out and knocking on people's doors on Halloween really is not too effective. We bought a HUGE bag of candy to give to anyone that came by, but we only had one trick-or-treater all night. Guess who got most of the candy... I think that he was happy anyway. Now we have a ton of candy left over, and most of the people we teach do not have little children. I am pretty sure that will last me the rest of my mission.

 

Love,

Elder Hamblin

 

P.S. Christmas does not start until AFTER Thanksgiving... but I will take the Christmas music though. It really brings in the Spirit!