There are never a shortage of miracles here in the great NW, and even
more especially here in Portland! We were able to see the work really
hasten and pick-up throughout these last few weeks. At the beginning
of the transfer we got together with the District Leaders in our zone
and set very specific goals for each week of the transfer. Every week
thus far we have been super close to all of our goals as we have seen
the areas that are most needed to be worked on improve. That has been
the miracle of these last few weeks. Months ago, Elder Ballard
presided over a mission presidents seminar with Pres. Taylor in
attendance. Elder Ballard had mentioned that if we were to talk to 10
people every day, we would see the number of baptisms in our area
double. We have been trying and have been very diligent in doing so,
but there hasn't been a myriad of new investigators or many people
accepting the invite to baptism. What I have seen, though, was the
boldness and the love that has been shaping in each missionary as they
seek to be obedient. The willingness to testify wherever they find
themselves has been astounding to me. The miracle here is the becoming
sharper and wiser tools in The Lord's hand. That has been what has
really been the miracle as we have been focusing on our goals.
Yesterday we went to go and contact a referral our area book. We had
previously attempted to contact him, but we had just caught him in his
underwear and he had just woke up. We tried him again yesterday and he
said that he had only 30 minutes or so to talk. As we went in, he
tried to tell us that the world would be better without God. He
reminded me of the apostate Nephites and Zoramites in the Book of
Mormon who make things way too complicated by trying to ignore the
small and simple things. It was very interesting because earlier at
church we had been talking about how God is our loving Father in
Heaven. Just goes to show that when we are edified by the good word of
God, Satan will always be there to attempt to tear us down. I know
that May not have been the experience that you were looking for Mom,
but it had a great impact on me and my teaching pattern. Small.
Simple.
I love you all!!
Elder Hamblin
The Best Two Years
Monday, 21 April 2014
Monday, 7 April 2014
Email 4/07/14
What a wonderful weekend this has been! I don't think that I have ever
as spiritually uplifted as I was during this conference. Every talk
was spot on to many of the world challenges today, and for many
problems in personal lives. Many of our investigators were able to
catch at least one session of this inspired conference, and each
reported to feel a greater sense of peace and direction in their
lives. What a miracle it is to have modern day prophets and apostles
to guide us in these latter days! Personally I loved Elder Bednar's
talk, not only did it deliver an inspiring message of the loads that
we carry in our lives, but it also reminded me of the hard work that I
was taught in a small mountain town in Arizona. What wonderful
memories have been made at that time and throughout a few years until
the present day.
The Sunday sessions were particularly special because we had a few of
our investigators come to our church building to watch conference. We
have 4 sets of missionaries in or ward, a set of English Sisters, two
sets of Spanish Elders, and us. We all gathered tiger with our
investigators and others that we have been working with and watched
the morning session followed by a lunch at the church. After the
afternoon session we were able to go to the Portland Temples's
Visitors Center. What a wonderful experience that was!! As the Sister
missionaries at the Visitors Center took us on a tour of the Temple,
they stopped at some doors and explained that they were linked to the
sealing room. After talking to us about the eternal natures of
families, one of our investigators looked at the sealing room doors
and said, "In a year from when I am baptized I will be walking out of
those doors." That was the highlight of my conference weekend. As much
as I love the words from our church leaders, the words from those that
we know best are always that most comforting! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Hamblin
as spiritually uplifted as I was during this conference. Every talk
was spot on to many of the world challenges today, and for many
problems in personal lives. Many of our investigators were able to
catch at least one session of this inspired conference, and each
reported to feel a greater sense of peace and direction in their
lives. What a miracle it is to have modern day prophets and apostles
to guide us in these latter days! Personally I loved Elder Bednar's
talk, not only did it deliver an inspiring message of the loads that
we carry in our lives, but it also reminded me of the hard work that I
was taught in a small mountain town in Arizona. What wonderful
memories have been made at that time and throughout a few years until
the present day.
The Sunday sessions were particularly special because we had a few of
our investigators come to our church building to watch conference. We
have 4 sets of missionaries in or ward, a set of English Sisters, two
sets of Spanish Elders, and us. We all gathered tiger with our
investigators and others that we have been working with and watched
the morning session followed by a lunch at the church. After the
afternoon session we were able to go to the Portland Temples's
Visitors Center. What a wonderful experience that was!! As the Sister
missionaries at the Visitors Center took us on a tour of the Temple,
they stopped at some doors and explained that they were linked to the
sealing room. After talking to us about the eternal natures of
families, one of our investigators looked at the sealing room doors
and said, "In a year from when I am baptized I will be walking out of
those doors." That was the highlight of my conference weekend. As much
as I love the words from our church leaders, the words from those that
we know best are always that most comforting! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Hamblin
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Email 3/31/14
Life is good here in the great PDX! I love it here! I thought it was
going to be a little harder focusing on a smaller area, but The Lord
has truly blessed us. We have been working with some pretty amazing
people as of late, and they all seem to be progressing very well.
Before this last week we were thinking about dropping many of them,
but they have all made significant progress and we are doing our best
to help them out anyway that we can.
We have been working with a part member family where the husband is
not yet a member. He has had many questions about the church and
religion in general. We have met with them a few times and each time
things seem to go from bad to worse. There was one week when we were
on exchanges and I had left the area. Elder Ehrenzeller and the
missionary he was with went to their house for the lesson. That whole
day Elder EZ had a headache, and at dinner our members had given him
some medicine for the headache. Well they turned out to be high doses
of sleeping pills and Elder EZ fell asleep! Poor guy, he always tried
so hard to present himself in a way that is acceptable! Anyway, this
family was beginning to wonder if we really knew what we're doing.
Yesterday was the husband's birthday and so Elder Aragon had suggested
that we "build him a cake or something." So we baked him a cake and
took it over to him. He was more than a little shocked when we showed
up to his door with cake and sang him Happy Birthday. His wife was not
home, but he let us in anyway. We started talking about the church and
what made it different from the other religions. Up to this point he
was not too interested about the church and really didn't care, so we
told him of the Book of Mormon and why it was so important. After some
time had passed he became faceted to every word that we were saying.
We invited him to pray and he turned us down. I told him that I would
pray simply first and he could just follow my pray. When I finished
praying he tried to skirt the situation and change the subject.
Finally he agreed to say the prayer. There is nothing more powerful
than hearing a child of our Heavenly Father pray for the first time.
The peace and comfort that filled my soul could only be a fraction of
what our Heavenly Father feels for us. Afterwards he didn't want us to
leave and followed us all the way put to our car. I love this place!
Sorry I haven't written in forever!! I am the worst missionary in the
world! I will try and do better! I love you all!! You are the best!
Elder Hamblin
going to be a little harder focusing on a smaller area, but The Lord
has truly blessed us. We have been working with some pretty amazing
people as of late, and they all seem to be progressing very well.
Before this last week we were thinking about dropping many of them,
but they have all made significant progress and we are doing our best
to help them out anyway that we can.
We have been working with a part member family where the husband is
not yet a member. He has had many questions about the church and
religion in general. We have met with them a few times and each time
things seem to go from bad to worse. There was one week when we were
on exchanges and I had left the area. Elder Ehrenzeller and the
missionary he was with went to their house for the lesson. That whole
day Elder EZ had a headache, and at dinner our members had given him
some medicine for the headache. Well they turned out to be high doses
of sleeping pills and Elder EZ fell asleep! Poor guy, he always tried
so hard to present himself in a way that is acceptable! Anyway, this
family was beginning to wonder if we really knew what we're doing.
Yesterday was the husband's birthday and so Elder Aragon had suggested
that we "build him a cake or something." So we baked him a cake and
took it over to him. He was more than a little shocked when we showed
up to his door with cake and sang him Happy Birthday. His wife was not
home, but he let us in anyway. We started talking about the church and
what made it different from the other religions. Up to this point he
was not too interested about the church and really didn't care, so we
told him of the Book of Mormon and why it was so important. After some
time had passed he became faceted to every word that we were saying.
We invited him to pray and he turned us down. I told him that I would
pray simply first and he could just follow my pray. When I finished
praying he tried to skirt the situation and change the subject.
Finally he agreed to say the prayer. There is nothing more powerful
than hearing a child of our Heavenly Father pray for the first time.
The peace and comfort that filled my soul could only be a fraction of
what our Heavenly Father feels for us. Afterwards he didn't want us to
leave and followed us all the way put to our car. I love this place!
Sorry I haven't written in forever!! I am the worst missionary in the
world! I will try and do better! I love you all!! You are the best!
Elder Hamblin
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
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!
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!
Monday, 17 March 2014
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
Monday, 10 March 2014
Monday, 3 March 2014
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
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!
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