Email 3/24/14

Well hello there you all! This week has been crazy but very, VERY
blessed. I won't go into to too much detail, but I think that the
pictures should say it all. Let's just say that we won't be in the van
for quite some time...that is all we will say on that subject:) Also,
all is well and we are all ok!

I received my new companion this past week, Elder Aragon. He is the
man! I love that guy! We have been having way too much fun this past
week, but we have been getting much work done. It was nice to be
covering the YSA and the Alameda ward, but it feels good to really
focus on just one ward. Everything is much smoother, we only have to
focus on one ward, one stake, one (smaller) zone. This last weekend
wee got together with all of our District Leaders and planned out this
upcoming transfer for the newest zone in the mission.  One of our new
District Leaders has been in my zone for all of his mission except for
one transfer. It is a little like watching one of your kids grow up. I
have been able to see all the progress he has made thus far for the 9
months that he has been out, and he is really becoming a missionary
and a person that everyone is looking up to. We have planned out many
new and exciting things for this transfer so the mission is looking up
us!

The man from San Francisco is doing great! He didn't come to church
yesterday, but I think that he was picking up his fiancé at the
airport, so we will be seeing him soon! I love you all!

3/17/14

Whew! This week has blown by! We have transfers coming up this week, and usually that means that the week previous is down on most of our numbers. This past week has been the best week thus far since I have been here in Portlandia! We found the most new investigators and taught the highest number of lessons since I have been here. Many people think that we are just focused on the numbers, but that has been the highest number of people that we have helped come unto Christ since I have been here. That has been that highest number of people that have accepted an invitation to learn more about the restored gospel since I have been here. Many miracles has been brought into the lives of those whom we come in contact with since I have been here in Portland. Unfortunately Elder Ehrenzeller and I will be split this transfer, he will take the YSA ward and I will stay in Alameda for another transfer and receive Elder Aragon. Since we moved apartments, we had a much larger apartment. Elder Ehernzeller and his new companion will be living with us! They will be the zone leaders over the Portland Zone, and we will be over the new split PDX East Zone. It should be very competitive between the zones!! :)

This last week we had the opportunity to see a fellow who referred himself onMormon.org. He has recently moved here from San Francisco and is engaged to a member who lives down there. He came to church a few weeks ago and loved it. Then he went back to California to purpose to his soon to be fiancé. We  met back up with him this last week where we were able to go into his life story and how he decided to join the crochet. He told us he could see his life going out of control and needed some change. When he prayed to "a god [he] did not believe was there" and felt as if God was standing next to him. It was not too long after that when he began to date the member who is soon going to become his wife. What miracles we have been able to see!!

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

Love,

Elder Hamblin

Sent from my iPad

Email 3/10/14

Dang, I have no idea where the time has gone. It literally feels like yesterday I was just e-mailing you all. I just don't know where the week went! I really did write part of my letter to you last week, but I left it in my and forgot. You would think that I don't want to write (ok that is kinda true) but I really want to get better at writing a hard copy letter every week, just like you all are so diligent at doing.

It is good to hear that you MTC experience was good, I know that you and Dad did a wonderful job! Sister Hamblin, thank you for the Facebook advice. It is always good to hear other perspectives other than the one's in my mission. Hermana Hamblin.... Ship, I always love to read your e-mails. I know of the pressure that it is to serve a mission, but what I have learned is two things from being close in your shoes. 1) The more afraid you are of something, the more important it is to do it. 2) The more pressure you feel, the more qualified you are. You have way too much talent and skill, and the Lord would just like to refine the wonderful person you already are. I just know how much the Lord has changed me, and how much He desires to help you, no matter what you are going through.

Elder Ehrenzeller and I had some amazing experiences this last week, hopefully I will get to expound upon them in my letter home.... Hopefully that will give me motivation to actually sit down and write that letter this week! All I know is that "God doesn't do random". It's kinda like our mission quote. I love you all and hope the best for you this week!

Love,

Elder Hamblin

Email 3/03/13

Hello from Portland! This week has been absolutely nuts!  I just can not believe where the
time is going. Anyway, I know that I always promise this, but I will
try and be better about writing you!

Much of the mission has been in mourning with the loss of Sister
Parrish's family. She took a flight home on Tuesday and we got word
last night that she has decided not to come back out. Can't really
blame her, her and her brother have way too much on their plate right
now. Quit is interesting though how much The Lord cares for each one
of us. He knew what was going to happen and he knew why they needed to
go. He knew that Elder and Sister Parrish would be suffering more than
most people can imagine and would need the prayers of 200 of the
finest missionaries in they church, the best members in e NW, and many
of thousands of other prayers from around the world to help them
through the grieving process. She is a strong missionary and I know
that her ASL testimony has been felt throughout the Zone and mission.
Thank you for all the support that you have given her. I know that she
would really be grateful for the prayers and thoughts that has been
directed her way.

The rest of the week has been a little hectic. We just received our
I-pads, and I am lost. I really hate technology! But it is kinda
sweet....I am just lost though with all the changes and what not. I
hope that I can just keep up with the hastening of the work!

Love,
Elder Hamblin

Sent from my iPad

From Sister Hamblin:

So I posted on my missions wall that Sister Parrish needed prayers and I can't tell you the response that I got from them! There is one missionary whose family lives in that mission and he said that if she needs anything to just let him know and he will let his family know! I have been getting calls all week from missionaries asking about her and how she is doing and if I know her personally... It is just really great! Missionaries are just the coolest people on the planet besides the HAMBLIN family! Ha ha But seriously. They are so great! Elder Hamblin if she needs anything PLEASE let us know! She has the Whole of NY NYS praying for her and her brother!