Email 12/03/13

Thanksgiving is always a special time of year. I think Sister Amanda Hamblin put it best when she stated that many of the people in the wards where she is serving are converts, and they love the missionaries! This love and gratitude was felt throughout this past week as we gathered together and remembered where we receive our blessings from. The members here are the best, and they show it! To be a member, especially here in Portland, you must be firmly grounded in what you truly know and allow that to literally dictate every decision that you make. The members here in the northeast section of Portland are some of the best people that I know. How grateful I am to have been able to spend such a wonderful holiday with these fine folks and friends.

This past week as we ate like kings, we still knew that we had a work to do. The missionaries in our zone are the best in the entire mission, and I am thoroughly convinced of that. We have been working hard to invite others to come unto Christ, and the missionaries are doing a fantastic job at doing so. They have been inviting many to come unto Christ a by being baptized and helping them receive the restored gospel through making commitments and covenants. I was particularly surprised to see how many people our zone has invited to be baptized and come into the gospel. This is the time of year when people are most focused on Christ, so why not invite them to come closer to Him?

Well, some missionaries MAY have found my camera, so I MAY send pictures next week. Don't be surprised if I don't, but I am just saying that it MAY happen. We will have to see if it really is my camera or not. It is great to hear from you every week and I love to hear all the festivities. I know that I could be better at describing what goes on up here, and it is guaranteed that as soon as I get off the computer that I will remember more to write. Writers block. Love you all!

Love,

Elder Rex Hamblin