Dec. 29, 2014 BORN THAT MAN NO MORE MAY DIE!

Dec. 29, 2014  BORN THAT MAN NO MORE MAY DIE!

Feliz CUMPLEANOS JARED! Tienes 11 anos! WOW, que buenisimo! Te amo mucho. Y Brett and Danielle!

Well, family it was so good seeing you all! I propose a challenge, you can choose the challenge. We will start from this day until I get home.

Do whatever is easiest for you!

-Read the Book of Mormon in Spanish for 5 min during family scripture and prayer

&/or

-Read from Preach my Gospel in Spanish for 5 min during family scripture and prayer.

Sound like a deal?

Well, this week was great! I just love being a missionary during Christmas! It really is the best thing ever. There was so much to do, we didn't know how to get it all done! So I will point out some things that went on this week!

- We ate 3 elephants, literally from Christmas eve to Christmas day we ate 7 big meal citas. It was so great! Hermana Kohlhase and I were basically dying, but after a few stool softeners, some fiber one bars, and lots of spinach we are doing great! I honestly just love going into a home, knowing I will be fed, but hearing the words, "Hermanas we cooked all day, we hope you like it.." it just melts my heart, and yes we eat every bite! After eating on Christmas Eve, we had a jam session, a Puerto Rican jam session, which included maraca's and a guitar and a tambourine! It was seriously so fun!  

- Family, thank you for the presents for Rosa, dropping them off was The funnest/scariest thing ever, but it was also so fun! On Friday they were playing with their new toys and seriously so so happy.  

- On Christmas day Hermana Kohlhase had the idea, that with a few Elders, we go down town give out socks and pan to all of the homeless people. It was a sweet time. We walked around the desolate streets of down town Chicago and found those who had no home or family on Christmas. At one point we all had a feeling to go to this one place by the lake in down town and there we found 7 or 8 tents with people in them, people who were homeless and had no food for Christmas. We went and gave all of our socks and bread to these people and it was a sweet time for me. It helped me remember all of the blessings that I have in my life, and just how grateful I am for my family.

We also handed out cards to He is the Gift while we were down there to the few people who were on the streets on Chicago. We got a lot of rejection, some spit beer in our faces (don't worry it didn't touch us) and some laughed at us, and some accepted the card with gratitude. While we were doing this my thoughts turned to the Savior, and I just remember saying a little prayer while we were getting rejected that- one day, those people would find THEIR Savior and Brother.

It was a sweet time for me, and one Christmas that I will never forget. I love you family! I miss you!

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Hark,The Harold Angels Sing. In the version that the Mormon Tab Choir with Alfie Boe, he sings a verse that is so powerful.... in the middle of the verse it says

"Born that man no more may die

born to raise the sons of earth

born to give them second birth

Hark the Harold angles sing

glory to the new born king! " 

How powerful is it that all of us have a chance to start over, because of Jesus Christ we can literally have a new birth, through baptism and through repentance.

PRAISE BE TO HIM WHO GIVES US A SECOND BIRTH! I love it!

This week we are going to kill it! I love it, and I really do love being a missionary. The more I am out here, the better it gets. What else in life is better than saving souls of my brothers and sisters? Nada

All of me loves all of you all!

Hermana Hammond

Dec. 22,2014 He is the reason I am here!

Dec. 22, 2014 He is the reason I am here!
Feliz Cumpleanos: Amazing Kristin!!
Well family...
Happy Christmas Harry! (As it says in Harry potter)

Family! I don't have much time, but I will see-talk to you this week! I am so happy!
This week we went down town in the middle of Chicago, right there and
did a HUGE He is the Gift contacting activity! We talked to literally
1000s of people! It was awesome!

I love you family! Jesus Christ really is why I am out here! He really
is what I love to share about! Here's a story! Hope you like it!

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

I love to contemplate what it costs our Father in Heaven to give us the
gift of His Beloved Son, that worthy Son of our Father, who so loved
the world that He laid His life down to redeem the world, to save us
and to feed us spiritually while we walk in this life, and prepare us
to go and dwell with Him in the eternal worlds. …
                       I recall an experience which I had … , bearing witness to my soul
of the reality of [the Savior’s] death, of His Crucifixion, and His
Resurrection, that I shall never forget. …
                        … I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night in that
sacred building, the temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing I
was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of
those rooms, to meet a glorious personage, and, as I entered the door,
I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being my eyes
have ever beheld or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal
worlds
                        As I approached to be introduced, He arose and stepped towards me
with extended arms, and He smiled as He softly spoke my name. If I
shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile.
He took me into His arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom, and
blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When He had
finished, I fell at His feet, and, as I bathed them with my tears and
kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of
the world. The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all
things in His hands, to have His love, His affection, and His blessing
was such that if I can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I
would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I
then felt!
                        … I see Jesus not now upon the cross. I do not see His brow pierced
with thorns nor His hands torn with the nails, but I see Him smiling,
with extended arms, saying to us all: “Come unto me!”
I Know That He Lives!

                                         I LOVE LOVE my new Companion!!!Kohlhase

                                        Idaho !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec. 15, 2014 GODS COMMANDMENTS TRULY MAKE US FREE!!

 Dec. 15, 2014 GODS COMMANDMENTS TRULY MAKE US FREE!!

Feliz Cumpleanos: Kyson K, McKenzie, Shawn, Melanie, and MY AMAZING Grandpa Hammond!!!!

FAMILIA! 

I am so excited for Rosa to get all of the presents! I know she will be 

so grateful! I am so grateful for you family! 

I don't have much time, we have a lot we have to do, BUT my 

new companion will be HERMANA KOHLHASE.

Actually, I have been on 2 exchanges with her, and Hermana

Izu trained her. She is AWESOME. I love her to death! 

I am so excited! Sad as well because Hermana Izu will be missed.

I will only share 2 stories from this week, but it truly has been a

great week! 

This past Friday Hermana Izu and I had a very interesting day, but it
was a great day. In the morning we had Hermana Milagros, and she is
one of my favorite people in the world. She takes very good care of us
missionaries. She loves to feed us, and every time we go over there
she serves us A TON, (like more than you would eat on thanksgiving,
and add an elephant on top of it) so after we ate there we went over
to this other members house, (double eating cita... Always a killer)
Hermana Calderon, and she just is the cutest thing ever. Before I got
here she didn't really like the Hermana missionaries, but she is the
one who gave us Rafael, (our awesome investigator) and after working
with him a little and showing her love she just loves having us over.
She cooked us some Pozole, (which is usually really good) but Hermana
Izu and I both got sick from it, (it could have been the meat and/or
we just ate too much..) but in the bathroom Hermana Izu threw it up,
Then after leaving her house I ran to the back of her house into the
alley (while running I was throwing up) and threw up there, but right while I was
throwing up (and running into the alley) Rafael and his mom came out
of their car (they are neighbors to Hermana Calderon) and started
talking to Hermana Izu. They invited us in. So I quickly threw up, and

 my companion was in Rafael's yard looking at 

me throwing up in the alley, and yelling, "YOU CAN DO IT HERMANA, WE HAVE TO GO!!!"

So I quickly threw up a little bit more, cried a little bit, my companion yelling at me, 

"COME ON, I AM GONNA THROW UP TOO!!!" I whipped off the throw up into my 

hands, cried a little bit more, (I am such a baby) (I am not a good thrower upper) and walked into their home smiling. While we were teaching the spirit was so strong. We showed them He is the Gift, and we reminded Rafael and said, "Rafael, do you remember when you had

that feeling, burning in your heart you told us about??" And he smiled
so big and was like, "yeah..." And we said, "Rafael we have SO much we
want to teach you, like where you came from, and why you are here, and
where you are going.." And he was like, "You have all of those
answers?" "Yes, Rafael, if you want to learn, then you just tell us, we
are here for you." And he said, "can you come back next Friday?" ....
Family, Rafael avoided us for almost a whole month! It killed me that
he didn't want to see us and dropped us because we taught him the
Sabbath day and he wanted to okay soccer on Sunday. (He still does,
but we are going to work with him) we just had to remind him of his
testimony! It just took a little break and a miracle for us to talk to
him. God made it possible and put Rafael and his mom back in our path
and they want to be taught again! After the cita both Hermana Izu and I 

hurt from the eating and waddled home, then took some ex-lax, but it was truly a miracle! 

Next, I would like to share what happened with Rosa. She is doing so great.

She didn't come to church because she was sick, so we went and visited her. 

We shared a video with her and just listened to her. She is changing. From the first

time I got there, and she truly wants to change. Baptism might be in the far future because 

she has to face some hard addictions, but I know God works miracles! At the end of our visit 

she said the closing prayer, and prayed for all of my family, and was so grateful that we were put into her life. She also prayed for unity in her family and just started crying saying, "my only wish is to live in the place of the SUN (the celestial kingdom) and be with my family forever." She has changed my life. If it be 5 years until she gets baptized, that's okay, I will be there. The medication she is on is waning her off of what she is addicted to, and it make take years, but she can do it! 

I love you family! I know that God gives us commandments not to encage us, but to FREE us! 

I have seen what happens to families lives when there is Word of Wisdom problems, or when the law of chastity is broken. It is nothing but sad, and it takes a long time of repairment, but that is why we have the Savior! He helps us! I just love the thought that  we the missionaries, and the ward, and our friends are here on the side rooting, cheering on those who are coming, BUT I know its the Savior who is pulling with them, who is there every step of the way. I love Him. 

All of me loves all of you all! 

Hermana Hammond 

Miracles: GIOVANNI CAME TO CHURCH AGAIN

VILLANUEVA FAMILIA CAME TO CHURCH

MERCY CAME TO CHURCH

WANDA LET US HIDE HER COFFEE MAKER SO SHE WONT DRINK COFFEE!!! 

                                                         El es la Dadiva!!! It was awesome!!!!!!!!

One Direction and Wanda!!

Dec. 8, 2014 "DO DINOSAURS NEED TO GET BAPTIZED??"

Dec. 8, 2014 "DO DINOSAURS NEED TO GET BAPTIZED??"

Dearest Hammond family, and who ever else reads these emails :)

First I just want to say that I am praying for Ryan! The Lord protects His missionaries!

Feliz Cumpleanos: Aspen & Ty Ty! OOOOOH I cannot believe that you are getting baptized!!! Soo Awesome!! 

It has been an incredible week, it just keeps getting better and better. I LOVE being a missionary at Christmas time.

 have one favoIr to ask all of you, as much as I would love Christmas presents, please don't send me any. Instead of my present could you all pitch in money and whatever you have and send presents to me for my investigator Rosa? She has four boys, ages 6, 8, 11, and 14, and she is a single mother. They don't have heat in their home, and they are so poor. Presents could include hats, gloves, toothbrushes, extra hand-me-down clothes, and maybe homemade sock/rice warmers. This is all I ask of you. This would be the greatest Christmas present you could all ever give me. Thank you :)

This week was a great week! I just want to share a few things that happened.

This week we have been sharing a video called He is the Gift, in Spanish its called, El es la Dadiva. Dadiva means a really really special gift. I love Spanish.

Anyways, the church is really putting a lot of effort into this video, and it really is so inspired because we are already seeing miracles from it! With members, less-actives, and investigators. I challenge you all to put this video on your face book page, and also to share and post it on 2 other peoples pages. Its a powerful video! Just this week on Friday we had a lesson with a less-active family. La familia Martinez.

       background on the familia Martinez, last week when we went to visit them they had a birthday party for their son and we had a cita with them, so we came and then the party started, and the whole family came in with the beers, and well, we knew we should probably hurry up and share our message. I was hurrying and trying to get the whole family together, whether they had a beer in hand or not, and I reached down to grab my bag and BAM..... I hit the beer and it spilt all over my hand and all over the floor. I was like, HERMANO!! PERDON.... (but really not perdon.. I didn't feel that bad) Mostly I felt bad because there was beer all over my hand. ANYWAYS.... this is the Martinez.

 We read in the book of Mormon, in 3 Nefi 1, and we read this story and ask Hermano and Hermana to act as if they were some of these Nefitas who were going to be killed if the sign didn't come. The hermano got so into it. He was like, "Hermana, a prophet told of these things, obviously they are going to come to pass, Hermana, this is crazy I would be like, YOU CRAZY'S WHO DON'T LISTEN TO THE PROPHET!!!".. haha he just went off, and we applied this story to them, how they weren't listening to a prophet that we have today. We were really bold in calling them to repentance. We even told them, "Hermanos, the reason we are being so firm with you, is because we love you, and we know that God loves you and He is WAITING to give you blessings, if you just would go to church.." and he answered us saying, "yeah Hermanas, you're being pretty bold..". If there is anything I have learned on my mission, it's that you can NEVER be too bold if you do it with love.

They didn't come to church this week, but they are well on their way back.

Next, we had an incredible lesson with ROSA!

But before I tell you what happened I will give you context.

The day before Hermana Izu and I had so many appointments we had to call President Woodbury to get permission if we could go on splits with people in our ward, so I would go with someone and Hermana Izu would go with someone. SO many miracles happened, we got 4 members present in 2 hours because we were at different places. (it was incredibly weird without my companion, but completely awesome because I went with Hermana Ortiz, and she is amazing) Hermana Izu went to Rosa with la familia Delgado. They visited Rosa and taught her the Word of Wisdom. Rosa has some really hard addiction that she is fighting, and so teaching this lesson was pretty crucial, and had to be done by the Spirit. The lesson went GREAT (I wasn't there, but so they told me everything...). She accepted EVERYTHING, and just said with full faith, it will take a little bit of time, but here we go! She is amazing.

The next day, Hermana Izu and I went over to go watch Finding Faith in Christ with her and her sons. THEY LOVED IT. They would pause the video and ask questions. Nicholas (her 6 year old) has the cutest questions! He asked us, "How did Jesus know he was Jesus? How do we build our faith in Christ? WE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED LIKE JESUS!"

 The best question.... "DO DINOSAURS NEED TO GET BAPTIZED?? BECAUSE THEY ARE MEAN AND THEY NEED TO GET BAPTIZED" ha ha Hermana Izu and I died of cuteness.

Also, one more miracle... GIOVANNI CAME TO CHURCH and his familia! They haven't been for more than at least 8 years. They had their baby blessed. THE WORK IS GOING FORWARD. and I love it.

Also one more miracle, on Saturday I was on exchanges, but Hermana Izu and the other missionary that was here had a miracle day!! They found a WHOLE FAMILY THAT IS SO PREPARED TO MEET THE GOSPEL!!! This family, actually started because of a really cool lesson at Giovanni's home, and he invited one of his friends into our lesson and the friend listened and Hermana Izu and other missionary went back for them! From this one day we have 8 new investigators!!! I am dying over here!!!

This week is Hermana Izu's last week in the mission, so we have citas like crazy, (lots of eating citas... its how they show their love... yay for having Thanksgiving everyday this week!) The theme of this week for us is HIT IT HARD. We are going with all our heart, might, mind, and strength!!

LETS HIT IT HARD!!! I love you family!

All of me loves all of you all!

Hermana Hammond

Nicholas's questions

Do dinosaurs need to be baptized? Because they are mean they need to be baptized

Do animals go to the celestial kingdom?

How did Jesus know he was Jesus?

Why did Jesus have to get baptized?

 What do Gods shoes look like?  

 This is me and a new Hna, Hna Shipp! She has the coolest camera!

Dec. 1, 2014 Thanks to Him

Dec. 1, 2014  Thanks to Him 
Feliz Cumpleanos: Queen Esther, and Theresa and Sarah Schmidt

My heart has been really softened and touched this week.

We have seen so many miracles, I don't know where to begin. I think I will do a thank you email this week, because I have so much to be grateful for. (I am following the example of Haylee.. thanks babe) 

1. First- I am grateful that I got really sick this week. WHY? because one, it made it really easy to say no to the 15+ dinners we got invited to from the ward, and we didn't have to pick and choose which one we should go to because we couldn't go to any of them! We felt so much love as I was sick in bed. Hermana Izu sent out a text to all of our members and investigators saying that we just love them and we got so many responses of pure love and gratitude. Really I was so filled with Gods love and His gratitude just thinking about all of these convert members, who just love missionaries because missionaries changed their lives. It was truly humbling. and it saved our lives--- aka we didn't get diabetes-- that's always good!

2. Because I was sick we had to say no to a family (LA FAMILIA VILLANUEVA)-- (less active we work with, one of my favorites I have met on my mission)  and coming over to dinner, right once they heard I was sick the Hermana (who I just adore) went and made me soup and brought it to me!! It was the sweetest thing in the entire world. Hermana Izu and I were so grateful, (well at the time I was dying in the bed, and hermana Izu met the Hermana outside and died a little bit over there). Anyway, it just showed me so much love. I was so grateful! I am not used to being helped!  Because on the mission, you are out here for everyone else, and to get all of this love from other people, I almost felt guilty. It was so life-changing. 

3. I am grateful for my companion who took care of me, she even gave me a back massage while I was sick... now that is a true Idahoan! (actually shes from California.. but shes worthy to be from Idaho...) (I thought that was pretty funny) 

4. I am grateful for Rosa (our investigator) who came to church, and even WALKED in the cold to get there with her 2 sons. She is amazing, she said she LOVED church! The ward fellow shipped her like you've never seen. I was dying! 

5. I am grateful that I get to go on exchanges with Hermanas who just come out, THEY HAVE SO MUCH FAITH! 

6. I am grateful for la Familia Villanueva who invited us over for dinner on Saturday (when I was kinda better) who after our powerful message committed to prepare to enter the temple as a family. We love this family so much! We have seen so much growth in them. They have 5 kids, all teenagers, who don't come to church who have been here a year in America, who are ready to change! At church on  Sunday 5 of them were there and they talked to the bishop about going to the temple!.. Hermana Izu and i frankly about cried. We have seen so much growth in this family! We still have a little bit to go, but its an amazing journey that we have been blessed to see! I love them. 

    I also invited them to come visit us in Idaho, also offered them our home to stay in while they are there, and promised them river rafting hiking and fishing.... sorry not sorry Dad! :) family learn your Spanish! (they espeak no Ingles) 

7. I am grateful for the new video He is the Gift.. and I challenge you all to post this video on your face book walls and also on your friends walls specifically. do it. 

8. I am grateful most of all for the Savior. I have learned so much about the atonement while I have been out here on my mission. I know that He really does heal ALL pain. He heals us when we are tired, when we don't feel good enough, He heals us when we feel regret, when we have hit our low, when we have fallen off of the path, when we feel like we can't go on, when we feel like we don't know what to do or what to say, and when we feel empty, He can heal us. I have felt and seen his Healing power in my own life and in the lives of many many people. His power is real, and I love sharing the news that He Heals. 

I love you family! I am grateful for you and for your prayers! I want to be with you all forever and ever! 

All of me loves all of you all

Hermana Hammond                       La Familia Villanueva

Nov. 24, 2014....Welcome to the apostolic work

Nov. 24, 2014.....Welcome to the Apostolic work
Happy Anniversario: Aunt Teri  y Uncle Den, Uncle Ronnie y Aunt Melinda,
Feliz Cumpleanos: Jordan Haven

Well, can I just say that it brought tears to my eyes to see Meg and my mother in the same room! I just love both of you so much! and I absolutely loved seeing the fish that Dad and Brooke and Brielle caught! Man you are all awesome! (I'm coming with you all next time)

Well this week-- was one of the craziest weeks of my missions.

We had one funeral, one primary program, one ward cena for thanksgiving, 2 zone conferences that we had to teach at, and then 3 exchanges! Our area suffered a little bit, but the Lord really took care of this area as we were called to do some other things this week!

I am just going to share a bit about Zone conference this week. Our APs (who are awesome) presented an awesome lesson to everyone! We studied Alma 24. This story is about the people of Ammon the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. It is the story when these people bury their weapons of war. It was powerful. The assistants made us all put our heads down and made us imagine that we were about to die, and so were our families, they then asked us, "Would you look up and await your death?" "Would you go down praising God?" "Would you die praying that your family might live" I invite you, family to read this chapter in the Book of Mormon and to think about who the sons were of these families, The Sons of Helaman! I felt great power making covenants of my own with God. Things that I buried, symbolically to submit my will to Heavenly Fathers. It was awesome!

Hermana Izu and I also taught a little. Our theme that president wanted us to speak about was letting Christ's atonement fill the fear we have and replace it with faith. We shared the story in the bible in Mark Chp. 9. It is about the man that begs the Savior to heal his child and Christ asks if he has faith enough to heal his son, and dad responded, "Help, thou mine unbelief." It was powerful. There have been so many times on my mission, where I just think, "Do I even have faith? Well, I think I have faith, Lord please help me, please help thou mine unbelief." It is something very dear to my heart to ask the lord for help when you only have a particle of Faith. He fills the faith you don't have. There have been times where I only have a twig of faith, where I know I have family back home rooting for me, who are pulling for me, but I know that it is Christ pulling with me. It was powerful.

We also had Rafael drop us. I was on an exchange, but Hermana Izu said she cried right then and there. He choose Soccer over the Sabbath day, but no worries family, we aren't going to give up on him quite yet.

I went on exchanges this week family... TO WOODSTOCK, and guess who I got to see? HERMANA MONGE and HERMANA ALCANTAR! Oh my goodness, it was so cool to see them! I was on exchanges with Hermana Warnock and it was one of the best exchanges I have ever been on! Hermana Warnock is an awesome new missionary, who is literally incredible! Her trainer is.. Hermana WOOLF! super cool!

We had a great lesson with Rosa this week! She told us some hard things she is going through, stuff with the word of wisdom, only pretty serious, BUT she just kept saying, "Hermanas you are my motivators!! I love you!" After she told us what things she was addicted to, we told her about priesthood blessings and she wanted one right then and there. It was awesome, we got the Elders to come and they gave her a great blessing! She still didn't come to church but I know she will one day! She is amazing! When she gets baptized that will be quite the incredible day.

Well family I love you all so much! The work is good, my theme ".. I can rest in Gods kingdom, But let me build it first..." really applied this week, because we are pretty tired, but NO IMPORTA!

Also, its pretty cold here, like freezing. I love it.

Here is a quote from Hermana Warnock (who seriously is like the coolest person on the planet)

"Don't think you are just minding the shop waiting for the Saviour to come...the spirit of this work is urgency, and we must imbue our missionaries with the spirit of now. N-O-W. We are not just waiting for natural slow growth. We must move more rapidly. We must take things up a notch. If we have to call down miracles or angels, then
call them down. The drama is unfolding and we must do whatever it takes to ratchet up the work...I feel an incredible sense of urgency. I feel such a sense of urgency in my chest that I can hardly breathe. Every dispensation begins with a vision. We must have a vision. We are the church that dreams dreams. We are the church that has visions. We must believe in miracles. We are going to putter along, be average-until we wind up to the level when our heart is up in our throat and if we opened our eyes, we would expect to see angels...if this is God's work, and if He still lives, then miracles and angels are still there. We must live up to our potential. God will bless us with whatever we need. God wants us to see just what He sees and know what He knows. He wants us to ratchet up the vision. God is easy to please and hard to satisfy... This is not convenient, easy work. We have got to take things to the edge. We have to move into the realm of the miraculous. We have to live in such a way that we cannot do it alone anymore-where we will resort to the Lord-where we will cry, "without thy help, I will fall," "help me fly." Go to the edge where miracles happen. Move in to the realm of the miraculous. Have full faith. Believe in angels. With the power of the priesthood, push the envelope. Welcome to the apostolic work." -Elder Holland

All of me loves all of you all

Hermana Hammond                       Yay for the Woodstock Hermanas!!

                                                      Hna Monge!! Love these people!!!

                                                        Hna Alcantar!!

Nov. 17, 2014".. I can rest in Gods Kingdom, but let me build it first.."

Nov. 17, 2014

".. I can rest in Gods Kingdom, but let me build it first.."

So if I were to try and tell you what happened this week, it would take all week. But I will say that it has truly been one of the best weeks in my entire mission. LITERALLY

 

E v e r y   s i n g l e  d a y  w a s   i n  s a n e !

Lunes- Our lesson with Marisol and Vanessa was the craziest thing of my whole life. Because I can't put it into words, and there isn't enough time, I will tell you how it went in bullet points. (hah)

- Chemo came in (He is the dad... half jokingly a Santa Muerte worshipper.. has a shrine and all)

Chemo has a fiery personality .. loves to argue!

- We showed the Mormon message Earthly Father Heavenly Father and Chemo's words were

... "nos toco este tema esta semana.. " (we talked about this topic this week)

- Hermana Barrera (member there) starts crying and shares her whole conversion story

-Chemo yells at us and asks why bad things happen to good people

and complains that the girls mom hasn't even gave them a plate of food in their lives

-Vanessa (daughter) who is a cold person starts crying

-Chemo yells at his daughters to answer our questions

-bold Hermana Hammond yells and is bold with chemo yelling, "DEJALES HABLAR!!!!"

also yells at him yelling him, " HERMANO TIENE QUE HACER SU PARTE"

we were talking about the Book of Mormon

-Marisol and Vanessa committed to coming to church saying, "We aren't going to try ... we WILL"

-Chemo said a kneeling closing prayer

Yeah...... That's just the bullet point version.. but it was crazy awesome, the spirit was soo powerful!

 

Martes- Also going to do a bullet point version because it was CRAZY

- We had a lesson with a member Olivia Delgado

-We had a lesson with an investigator family Vanessa and her kids

pray for them! They are amazing. Her kids are so smart and we talked about prophets

-We had Mercy Artunduaga (Less-Active from last week) Who cried again to us, saying how she is in the church now y adelante! For all her life!

- We then went to a new investigators home Rosa.

stopping bullet points for a minute... because I have to tell you all about her.

Rosa is probably one of the most special people I have met on my mission. She is right on up there with Hermana Monge :)

We found Rosa street contacting. Last week we stopped by and just showed her the "Because of Him" video and she loved it, she then invited us (it was Tuesday) and she asked if we could just come listen to the things she had on her mind.

Let me tell you about Rosas home.

She lives in an apartment and it is so small. It is totally concrete and has NO heat. We are all sitting in her home with our winter coats (mother coat we call it) in her living room. She has 2 sons and to get to their room, you go through a closet looking like a door that has a huge gaping whole in the middle of it, and really it's closet size. It reeks!! The smell of urine and pot.

The minute we walked in and sat on the couch she started crying, telling us all of the problems in her life. She has gone through so much. She has been molested, and other things that I won't mention. She would have accepted any religion to come to her home to give her hope, to help her, but God made it possible that we show up and give her the most happiness she could receive. God made it possible that His messengers came to rescue her. We taught her a little about the Plan of Salvation. More than anything we just testified to her of God. That we all have a loving Heavenly Father. It was so powerful to watch her. Rosa then texted us that night saying, "Hermanas thank you for listening, I really felt your kindness and love with all sincerity, you have a lot of love and it shows..." She then ASKED us what chapters in the Book of Mormon should she read first. She was like, give me a topic on forgiveness and change...... CAN YOU ALL PLEASE PRAY FOR ROSA ENRIQUE AND NICOLAS!?!?

Citas like that, change my life. Shows me that God is real. He watches out for us. He sends us help when we desperately need it. More than anything, He shows us that He is our father, and that He loves us.

After Rosa (I am going to seguir with the bullet points)

- We had a less-active lesson with the NUNEZ FAMILY

-She gave us SUPER FRIED FISH.... #dadcatchmesomerealfish

-We shared a great message

-my companion may or may not have had a tooth or a finger nail in her food

-we also had chicken feet in our soup ...literally

-Then we had a great lesson with GIOVANNI!! (less-active) It was great!

-He had 5 friends over

-invited them all to listen to us

-testified of the book of Mormon

(7 months ago GIOVANNI DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GOD!)

-We taught the Plan of Salvation

-awesome lesson

don't ask how we got all of that in in one day..... we aren't sure :)

Now I will skip to Domingo because so much happened during that week but Tuesday was just an amazing day!

Who came to church?

CHEMO and MARISOL

VANESSA AND HER DAUGHTER

EMANUEL

VILLANUEVA FAMILIA!!!!!!!

Family, Hermana Izu and I were dying! Literally every single day. We have had days that have been just SO packed with miracles, we don't really know how to handle ourselves.

This church is true!

Pray for Rosa. She is going to go have to give up a lot, she is going to have a sacrifice a lot this next month, but she is going to transform her life. Its not going to caterpillar to butterfly. Its going from caterpillar to LION! It's the best work in the world. I am loving every second of it. There isn't enough time in the day! There isn't enough time period! But I love it!

 

We are also exhausted.... so the theme of the week (can you guess it family)

" I can rest in Gods kingdom, but let me build it first!"

All of me loves all of you all

Hermana Hammond

                                              Yes! These are chicken feet!!!

                                          We cried when we got this message!!

                                             A finger nail? Tooth? In the soup!

 

Nov. 10, 2014 Rafael :) The man!

Nov. 10, 2014  Rafael ;) The man!
Feliz Cumpleanos: Tirzah and Cambry!!!

Familia!

So sorry I don't have much time, but I just wanted to share our
experience we are having with the MAN Rafael!!

On Monday we had a lesson in the Rivera home with PRESIDENT AND SISTER
WOODBURY! I thought I was going wet my pants in front of them (seeing
as I have wet my pants 3 times on the mission.....) (if you are
embarrassed by this part in my letter mother, you can take it out)
 but it went AWESOME. We taught about Joseph Smith, the
restoration of the gospel. It was powerful too!

We started out the lesson and the whole time you could just feel the
love everyone had for Rafael! President then gave an awesome
testimony, but the coolest part was when Hermana Rivera (she speaks
English so this particular lesson was in English) just started sharing
her conversion story, she shared the scripture in Doctrine and
Covenants 8 about feeling a burning in your heart, and Rafael had to
stop her and say...."WAIT WAIT WAIT so the answer is like a burning in
your heart? This is what I felt when I read your pamphlet you gave
me!".... Then we all died. It was awesome! We all shared powerful
testimonies after, and it was really awesome. I love working with
members because the whole ward is on Rafael's team! The youth all love
him, and so do the adults! It's awesome!

Then on Friday we had another lesson with him, and we felt like we
needed to share a commandment lesson, on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.
It was the hardest commandment lesson Hermana Izu and I have EVER had
on our missions, it was crazy! He told us that he plays soccer every Sunday
 and when we asked him if he would keep this commandment he didn't say yes,
 or no... But we decided that right then and there we would say a tiny prayer to
 help him, his prayer was so sincere, it went something like, "God, please help
 me to know if I should quit soccer, please help me to get an answer..." We
 promised blessings, and shared experiences, and he looked like he was going
 to cry. More than anything we knew he could feel what we were saying was true, and
that Sunday is the Lords day. The member, Mario who was with us also
shared a powerful testimony. Since that day we haven't been able to
contact him :( BUT he lives right next door to 4 members, and they ALL
told us, "don't worry Hermanas, we can't , and we won't lose him!" So
if you could all say a prayer for Rafael, it is much needed. He is so
prepared for baptism! He really is, President just loved him, and more
than anything, God loves him and needs him fighting on his side.
Please pray for Rafael!

Other miracle was with our less-active we have been working with Mercy
Artunduaga, de Colombia! She's great! She hasn't come to church in a
long time and didn't let the missionaries come for years, until Hermana Izu
and I got together, and this week we had a powerful lesson with her.
In my mission I have had lessons like these where the person has come
to a hault, to where they just hit rock bottom, and who does The Lord
send? He sends his servants, I feel so honored that The Lord would
allow me, to be in this persons home. He allowed us to help her, which
in turn helped us, the gospel is so true. By allowing us to lift the
hands and heads that hang low, The Lord really lifts us missionaries.
It's incredible. Mercy came to church this Sunday. Taking the
sacrament has a whole new meaning it has a whole new meaning to me now,

Other news is that we are staying together! One last one here in
Chicago 3rd! Hermana Izu and I for 3 transfers, she's actually going
home next transfer, so if you could keep her in your prayers that
would be great. Anyways, we are great here! I love and miss you all!
This is going to be one crazy transfer!
Quote from Hermana Izu, "Hermana Hammond, why am I excited for this transfer??
1. We get  to break out our mother coats together!
2. We get to have A PUERTO RICAN THANKSGIVING, which literally sounds
like diabetes... (Which I started crying/laughing at that... Es
verdad)
3. We get to sing Christmas songs!
5. (The best) WE ARE GOING TO BAPTIZE RAFAEL AND MARISOL AND VANESSA"!!

These things are all verdad. Ha ha I am champion at Spanglish.

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond                              Darlene es la mejor!!!