Email 2/10/14

Well the snow keeps falling here in Portland, and so does everything else. Literally. These people have never seen snow before, and they FREAK out! It has been quite hysterical for a people watcher like myself to see the people around here go nuts over a few flakes of snow! Yesterday almost all the churches (including both wards that we cover) in Portland and Vancouver did not have services yesterday. All the bus systems were running way late and the MAX (the local light rail) completely shut down. The city never sees snow so they only have 5 snow trucks for the whole city. The good thing is that limited everyone to walking around or staying inside. People here in Portland are funny, though. Many people were fearful af walking in the snow and didn't want to fall, so they either strapped on their cross country skis or their snow shoes (I mean the ones that look like tennis rackets) and went cruising around town. The weather was perfect for missionaries! We are very blessed in our area to have many of the main roads and many, many businesses so there were more than plenty of people to talk to. We would leave in the morning and walk all day in the snow and just talk to people. Our area is quite large and so we weren't able to see many of the people we have been seeing, but we were able make up for that by just talking to the people we saw. I wish it would snow like that more, because it was WAY too much fun. Elder Ehrenzeller and I had walked and walked and walked all day everyday during the storm, but mostly because Pres. Taylor asked us to keep the cars parked. That may seem like a bad thing, but we got a work-out and a fun time all in one! There was one night when it started to "freeze rain" and we were coated in ice. My hair was a solid sheet of ice! It was awesome!

But in all seriousness this was an amazing time for all of us. I never realized how much that I was missing just talking to the regular people on the street. We have been making it a point to talk to as many people as we can a day, but not being in a car for four days straight has been more than a blessing. Many of the people that we would have normally passed by in a car we stopped and talked with. There were many people who just wanted someone to talk to. We even met Jesus (long story, someone that thought he was):) But walking around yesterday on the Sabbath made me realize just how much I love the gospel. We have met many, many, many people and they all have something that they love. I am grateful for the past few days because it has brought me back to focus. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Hamblin