Letter 7/22/13

Dear Family,
Just as lightening precedes an Arizona rain or the song of birds is a harbinger of Spring, so is "change" the loud and physical representation of the many blessings that are soon to follow.  The Arizona rain comes hard and fast but always leaves in its stead a rejuvenation of earth life;  robins and sparrows call in the new season, where in the rebirth of the earthly cycle begins.  We, as missionaries, have the opportunity to see this "cycle" happen daily in the lives of those we serve and within our very self.

We see these cycles often, some slow and some quick, as we help people understand who they really are.  This hastening of the work is not only manifest by the droves of new missionaries or the procedure updates by the church.  Rather, this hastening is very much professed in the knocking on doors and finding more people susceptible to hearing the message of the Restoration.  Literal changes manifested as miracles are pure evidence of this marvellous work.

So far this transfer we have seen miracle after miracle pile up.  Not just us but all the missionaries around us are seeing miracles which increase our faith and our desire to join in the work.

just the other day Elder Taft and I were walking down the street to an apartment complex we had tracted.  As we were walking we passed by a garage sale.  As we strolled by, the girl at the sale called out, "Hey, aren't you going to buy something?"  "Well, do you have any ties?"  I responded, figuring this would be a good opportunity to share the Gospel.  "We are always looking for ties".

"No, but we do have a suit and other church stuff."  We looked at the suit (which was made for an over sized cow) and the other items not really interested.  We picked a conversation with the girl and her brother, both of whom seem as uninterested as we were.  We gave them a card and turned to leave when we heard a crashing noise from the garage.

We turned about just in time to see a lady hurdle over the items of the sale.  "Wait!!!"  she called out, "I want a pamphlet or book or something!"

Bewildered, we took a minute before we realized she was talking to us.  She has always been religious and loves to learn about the different religions, hence the call for a pamphlet.  we talked with her for a bit, gave her a Book of Mormon, and got her address and number!  When we gave her the Book of Mormon it finally clicked with her who we were.

"Oh!  My best friend is a Mormon.  She lives in Utah now, but she really is great!  I have always wanted to be like her."  She became very interested the more we talked and gave us her life-story.  We set a time to meet.  She ended up living out of our area, but it was still a miracle to see.  We had something similar happen like that to us.  

A woman was found and taught in Woodland, but actually lives in our ward in Longview.  We met her in church on Sunday and she is very prepared to hear the Gospel.  It has been amazing to see all the work that is happening.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Rex Hamblin