Letter 10/21/13

Dear Family, I think that I should start by apologizing to mom. Sorry I forgot your birthday. Happy late birthday! I guess I just wasn't paying attention to the dates and I just got all caught up in the time. I hope you had a good one. This past week was busy, but productive. We had interviews with President Taylor, a treat to rare to pass up. This is always such an opportune time to ask questions about anything and everything about life and the work. IN a leadership position President Taylor asks you about the people you are over. Although you are talking about other people, we learn much about your self. What you need to change and how you can help is wrought upon you as focus on others. This, I believe, derives from the economy of Heaven. As you focus on others, you learn more about yourself. Once again this doctrine affirms true, as I, for myself, learned about what I can do better. God has set up the organization of the church for several reasons. one of them being for the men and women of the church to learn HOW to learn about themselves through other people. That doesn't make much sense, but it all makes sense in my head. I have learned leadership skills as I have dealt with those in my zone. I have seen how I gain revelation as I have sought help for the problems we are asked to help in. I have learned how to see spiritual wounds as I go on exchanges. How grateful I am for this divine help! Well, I have run out of words in my pen...and my head. Sorry mom, but I just can't think anymore! Love you, Love Elder Hamblin

Email 10/21/13

Well hello there! The great Portlandia is just getting better and better! Don't get me wrong, the town is still very weird, but I think everyday that I am here I love this place more and more; granted I probably still wouldn't raise a family here or live here, but when I know that I am protected by the Lord, it is not too bad. I am continually amazed about the strength of the members here. The families here know the very definition of "living in the world but not being of the world." Not only that, but they are coming alive with their missionary work! They keep us very busy and give us much work to do.

We have been teaching Jaclyn (the woman whom we found between the sessions of conference) and we put her on-date for November 9th, the weekend before Elder Olsen goes home. She is the very essence of what the Lord is talking about when he says that we are to gather the elect. She is currently studying Chinese Medicine and is super busy in college. When we asked her on Friday how here reading of the Book of Mormon has been going, she said something like this: 

"I had a mid-term in one of my classes and a major quiz in the other one. I had been really busy in study groups and I have had to use every chance that I get to study for my classes. Every time that I sit down to study I think to myself 'I could study or I could read the Book of Mormon...I think I will read the Book of Mormon.' Then I end up reading it for hours on end and don't really study for my classes....I got a 98% on my mid-term though!"

She is already at 2 Nephi 16, well that was on Friday. She is loving everything that the Spirit is teaching her and I am so humbled and grateful to be a part of it! We hope that she will still be doing good here soon!

I found my camera, it was down at the mission office. I just got it back so I haven't taken any new pictures, sorry. I will be more diligent this next week! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Hamblin

Letters 10/07/13, 10/14/13

Dear Family,
As we walk around downtown Portland, I see bumper stickers, signs, and even Bill-boards proclaiming "Keep Portland Weird".  It is soon evident to what is being stated as we look at the "modern" styles of the times.  We see bare feet, bongo drums, colored hair, and an interesting style of clothing.  This bike-friendly town has many worldly things and acts, and so it is no wonder why many people are attracted to the Gospel. 

There are many dark acts and places.  So when the light of the Gospel comes, "The darkness comprehendeth it not."  Some people give the "Typical" response, but most show some spark of interest.  We are seeing those who are prepared for the gospel come and invite themselves to learn more.  With this hastening begins a hastening for preparation.  we must do more to prepare ourselves to find "Those who will receive us."

Friday, Elder Olsen and I received a referral for a woman within our area.  She referred herself online on Mormon.org.  Saturday after the second session of General Conference, we were determined to contact her as well as follow Elder Perry's council to talk to more people.  We arrived at her home, but could not find any parking.  We parked down the block and proceeded to her home.

We passed by a few people and talked to every, single, one.  No one was interested, so we continued to this woman's house.  We knock on her door.  We asked for Jaclyn, and she called for her.  A few moments later Jaclyn came to the door.  We began to ask why she referred  herself.  Immediately she told us everything that was keeping her from joining the church, and she was no more than "Curious" to relearn our beliefs.

Years ago a friend had introduced her to the Gospel.  She took the discussions and became upset at the church's policy on various subjects.  Anger and frustration became her companion as she decided to turn her back on the church.  Years of this over-whelming darkness filled her life, as became apparent in her story-telling.  An "Awakening" has recently occurred within her as memories of this friend flooded back to her. A need for religion  was founded in her life.

Who knows where she will go or how much she will accept.  God is working miracles everywhere we look.  The hastening is truly happening and we can only "look up".

I love you all,
Elder Rex Hamblin

10/14/13
Dear Family,

Man this week has been crazy, busy and exhausting.  We made Stake Correlation Reports, ran a Zone meeting, went on several exchanges, and ran a red light.  All in a weeks work!  As we kept busy we also were able to serve several people and help people move.  It is a preparation day like today that helps me focus on for the rest of the week.

Here in Alameda Ward boundaries there is a prison.  A small LDS group gathers on Wednesday nights to read from the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles manual.  The missionaries have been invited to help teach these men the Gospel.  This last week I had the opportunity to teach in the prison.  I saw these men have a sincere desire to drink deep the words of life, but because of their current situation, the Spirit is hard to tap into.  They have no quiet moments to ponder these things.  But they don't let that get to them!

I thought to myself of this sincere desire and why it took so long to obtain.  I thought about a man in there who is a RM, a former Assistant to the President.  We currently live in a world where the hastening is strong and our testimonies shine bright, yet there will come a day in our personal future where we too will be tested of our conversion.

If my understanding of the recent conference is correct, this is a time in which we can have hope in!  In 2 Nephi 31:19-21 we are promised eternal life as long as we endure with hope!  This is able to keep the Holy Ghost in our lives, and therefore eternal life.

So as these men continue to seek the peace in their lives, we too must look up and be joyful in the future!  I love you all!  Hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Rex Hamblin

Email 10/14/13

Well hello there! This past week has worn me to exhaustion, so today will be a nice relaxing day...I hope! I have just been soooo tired lately that I have not been able to think straight! I didn't think that I would tell you all, but I guess I will. The other night Elder Olsen and I were on exchanges with some missionaries in our zone, and had just got back together for the night. I had been driving the van (yes, I get another van!!) and he asked if I was going to kill us. (FYI, I have changed so much on my mission. Unfortunately my driving skills have not improved.) Anyway, I told him that I would get him home safe and sound and that he didn't need to worry, even though I too was feeling that he should drive. Well I let pride wear and I was so tired and burnt out that I ran right through a red light. Luckily no one was in the intersection, but it was one of those with a camera on it! It is amazing how I find those! I don't really know what will happen now but it was a good lesson to always listen to the Spirit and never ignore a prompting! After I ran the light I pulled over and let Elder Olsen drive home. I think we were laughing so hard that I woke the next morning with sore abs. Although life gets you right in the gut and exhausts you, I think that the only thing that we can do is look up and smile at all the Lord has given us.

Well now that you know that I am still a terrible driver I think that I will tell you about the rest of my week. Despite how tired I am things are going great! The Bishop got up in Sacrament meeting yesterday and challenged the whole ward to step up in their personal ministry efforts and then had everyone in the congregation sustain his motions! I really have a good feeling about the missionary work here in Portland because there are so many people here that need it. We run into people everyday who just need a smile or a brief conversation to lighten their load. Many of the people here are accepting to the message, but right now they have a hard time of following through. It is sad to see, but I love to work with them. They give me hope that everyone truly is a child of our Heavenly Father and I get to take the pride in helping them become. What they become ultimately is up to them, but I am grateful to be in the process!

Sorry I can't send pictures right now, because I can't take any. I can't take any because my camera is still in Longview...I think. Hopefully I can get it back to soon and send you some pictures. Or maybe not...;) I love you all and hope that you ahve a wonderful week!

Elder Hamblin

Another surprise

Dear Sister Hamblin:

We have had the distinct pleasure of having your son serve in our ward (Longview 3rd) for the past few months. As he is being transferred tomorrow, he stopped by my office to bid farewell.

One of the pictures needs some explanation. My office (I serve as a Superior Court Judge) is very close to where the jail officers are often positioned. We were speaking to one of the jailers when he pulled out what is called a spit hood, which is frequently used in correctional facilities. Once it was out, we might as well put it on and take a picture. :)

As the ward mission leader, I want you to know that I have observed your son to be a dedicated, loving, and kind young man and missionary. Each and every time he has been in our home or when I have observed him interacting with others, he has always been courteous, respectful, polite, and generous toward others.  He is a strong leader in whom I have seen significant growth toward his substantial leadership potential.

He performed a great work here in Longview. As a ward and as a community we have been lifted and enriched by his righteous influence.  Thank you for teaching and instilling within him a strong faith and a deep love of God and his fellowman.  We are grateful you shared him with us.

Michael Evans

Email 10/07/13

Well Hello there!

As I told you all last week, I was transferred to Portland. All I can say is that it is the biggest place that I have yet served, but I have seen some interesting things! At first I was a little overwhelmed, but being with a missionary that I know well and also with another missionary that I trained (he is in my zone), PLUS conference this past weekend made the transitions easier. We are all still trying to learn our areas though.... I think that the biggest thing in Longview was the love that I need to look at strangers and see them as "fellow-citizens with the saints, of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19). I know that if I had not gone to Longview first, this transfer would have been much harder! As we drive the streets of the Alameda ward, I can feel the love that God has for each and every person that I see. Some are in different positions than others, but all have the right to accept eternal exaltation!

We had a training from Pres. Taylor on this subject this last week. I can tell you that I have received a testimony that God does not do random. Pres. Taylor has devoted almost his entire life to knowing the Pre-Excistence. This testimony that he bears now helps all of us to really know who we are and why we are here. I think with that preparation conference took on a whole new meaning. Not only was I able to really hearken unto the words of the prophets as a mortal here on this Earth, but as a child of God, candidate for the Celestial Kingdom! How great were the insights I was able to receive!

Well, I think that is it for know. My brain is not fully functioning... if you know what I mean! Love you all!

Love,

Letter 9/30/13

Dear Family,
Sorry my last few letters have not quite been up to par, but we have been pretty busy.  I wrote Grandpa Bill a few weeks ago, and so that letter was very short because I wrote him a fairly long letter.  I am very slow at writing, so I am sorry that I have not been writing long letters.  I just can never think of anything new to write, so that may seem like the same letters.  Hey, All I can say is that President Hunt just said one hand-written letter a week.  He never said how long it needs to be! But, alas, I will admit that I have not been as diligent as I should have been in writing to you, so I end where I begin, I am sorry.

Now that the important stuff is taken care of, I will proceed to...well...something else :).  As I have written before, our Zone has made the goal to find 160 new investigators.  We have been praying and searching diligently for these elect (John 10:14-16).  This last week we had the end in mind as the transfer came to a close.  WE only had 35 people left to find, but we knew we could achieve our goal.  We (Elder Ewell and myself) looked everywhere to find them who would receive us.  We did our best and found three people who accepted what we said, and asked that we come back.  WE as a Zone found 25 people!  This was 10 short of our goal, but we still found 150 people in 6 weeks!  In the previous transfer we only found 90, so we are very excited to see the improvement and the hastening!

Well, I have been here in Longview for 3 short months, and I must bid it farewell.  I have come to love this complex city, but I must move on to bigger places, downtown Portland!  I have always wondered what that side of the river is like.  And in a few short days I will found out.  I think it might be something like Sodom and Gamorah, but hey, everyone changes.  I have only heard GREAT things about the ward I am now called to labor in.  Not only that, but I have the opportunity to serve with Elder Olsen again!  I am very excited because he is one of my very best friends!

This past week I had the opportunity to study the 3-5 minute lesson plans in "Preach My Gospel".  How simple is it to share the Gospel.  It is literally part of our everyday life.  If we have the spiritual calisthenics to recognize the opportunities to spread the Gospel.  I know just learning short statements of truth will resonate with those who are all around us!

I love you all and hope this will suffice!
Love,
Elder Hamblin

A little surprise

Brother Swink from the Vancouver area posted this today on the mission Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Washington.Vancouver.Mission/permalink/667130293311936/

Just makes a mom kind of happy!