Email 6/17/13

Dear Mother and Sister Hamblin (yes this is for both of you),

Thank you so much for the money for a new suit. You can take back anything that I didn't use because I found a very nice and comfortable suit for $8! Yes it was from a thrift store, but it looks good and fits just right, so I didn't have to spend too much money (thank goodness). We like to do a lot of thrift store shopping here in the beautiful Northwest!

 

It is official! I am staying here in Woodland this upcoming and final transfer for the WKM as we know it, and I will be reassigned to serve in the Washington Vancouver Mission. I really would not have cared either way, becasue I love each of everything about both sides of the mission. Now (well after July 1st) we have four stakes from Portland, so now our mission streches from The Dalles to the ocean on both sides of the Columbia. Right now in the WVM we have 130 missionaries; by the end of the year we will have 200! Some of the larger wards in Vancouver and in Portland will have more than one sets of missionaries in their ward! The growth here is incredible! I am so grateful to be serving here right now, it is simply the best.

 

This last week we saw President and Sister Greer for the last time. We had a Specialized Training so they could give their last advise and give their good-byes. We, as a mission, have beeen focusing every aspect of our teaching on what is most important, HIM! I do not think that I personally know two people who not only teach but live their lives to emulate as close as they can the countenance that the Savior has given each of us. They have taught me so much of what a Christ-like person should truly be like and they have definitely defined THE way (2 Nephi 31:21). Yes, it was against mission rules, but as we were all giving our last good-byes, Sister Greer gave us all hugs. I love the Greers so much and it will be sad to see them leave, but we have so much to look forward too! President and Sister Taylor will be coming soon and they seem to be outstanding people. I love them already.

 

We also have seen some pretty awesome miracles this last week, but I will tell you about those in my letter that I will send this week. Sorry about no pictures, but I left my camera in the car. I will do my best to take some this week and send them in the next! I love you all.