June 30, 2014, Win the mastery of your souls

June 30, 2014 Win the mastery of your souls

Feliz Cumpleanos: Cortnee, Denny Jr., Jeanne, y Elder Ryan Porter!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Hola familia!

So, it was a very normal missionary week, and kinda bleh.... We tried
and we worked and at the end of the week, no mucho exito. In church
last Sunday in todo we had 19 people there, it was really low, and
sad. But right now we are exercising  our faith, and we know that
sometimes we just need to show The Lord that we are willing to work
our hardest, if the blessings don't come right away, so be it, but we
show we love Him by working, and we work our hardest! Let me tell you
about my week!

Lunes- We had service in the library, and I just love that. We also
had the Familia Gomez, they have an AMAZING story, I wish you could
all be here to hear it. While we were over there Hno Gomez just bore
us this powerful testimony on tithing. A lot of branch members are
really offended because they didn't pay their tithing and the
president wouldn't give them money for help, and then they leave. We
hear this story SO MUCH (like every other day). Hno Gomez (who is a
recent convert almost two years ago) told us this story, he said,
"Hermanas let me tell you, I pay my tithing every week, we are poor,
we hardly have enough to pay for the house, the water, the insurance,
the food, and the ropa, but I have a testimony of tithing. Ever since
I have been paying it over two years ago, whenever I don't have a
costumer, I pray, I pay, and I receive THE NEXT DAY, a costumer, every
time." Those were his exact words! I wrote them down right after the
cita, he also explained and said that this branch, he knew, had big
problems with this, but that he knew that this came from God. What
faith!! They are poor, yet they KNOW, as do I, that when we pay our
tithing, God gives us blessings. What a powerful testimony! When he
doesn't have a costumer, he prays, and pays his tithing, and receives
costumers, I love it. He is quite amazing, as is his wife. I love
their faith!

Martes- We had exchanges! I stayed here with Hna Russon and Hna Woolf
went to the city. We had a good day and we taught Gabriela, that went
really well. I love teaching. I love teaching people how to be happy,
it's the best thing ever. After that a member asked us to come help
serve her. This never happens, (Hispanic people have a hard time
asking for help, we force them to let is help with the dishes haha) so
we helped cleaned this ladies house. We DEEPED cleaned. Like every
room pulled out drawers, organized kitchen drawers, pulled out
refrigerator, like... Everything, it was crazy. We did some good
talking with this mother however. Her family is very interesting. I
have learned so much what I do not want my family to be like, and what
I do want them to be like from this branch. Well, we cleaned and we
cleaned and then we drove back to exchange back. It was good!

Miercoles- we had the Book of Mormon class, and it went well.the
elders taught this week, two people showed up, so it was kind of sad,
but still it's better than no one! Sorry, I didn't write anything in
my journal about this day. We did however go visit Hna Monge, and
she's so sweet. She needed a visit from us. Usually our citas with her
consists of us doing a mound of dishes and us watching her while she
cooks (it's pretty horrible) and then we eat (and pray really hard for
the food to be okay) and then we share a message. This lesson, it was
simple! We just shared a message! It was awesome. She's had one of the
hardest life's I have ever heard of. On my mission I have heard a lot
of sad life's, but hers tops them all. I want so badly to just give
her all my money and clothes and food. It was so cute, I was wearing
this skirt and she was like, "Hermana I just love your skirt, will you
give it to me when your done with it?" This skirt has a stretchy
elastic band, but it still wouldn't fit her, but No importa, I said,
"Hermana of course you can!" I will most definitely be giving that
skirt to her next week, I wish I could give her all my skirts!

Jueves- We planned, and then we tried to get a hold of Barbara and
Aaron. We tried everything to get a hold of them, Facebook, calls,
texts, until finally we just stopped by. They weren't home, and we
keep trying to get a hold of them. If they drop us, I would literally
cry. I came into the area teaching them, I love them. Right now we are
using our faith to say they aren't dropping us, and we will just keep
trying! I am learning a lot of patience with them right now.  I am
just learning a lot of patience in general, but lots of patience with
Barbara and Aaron. They have so much faith, and they don't do ANYTHING
about it. Uhhhhhh... But I have faith! One day they will come to
church, and one day they will be baptized. That was Thursday:) we also
went less- active hunting, and went to four familias but no one
answered us. I love those days!

Viernes- We had our usual Hna Alcantar at China buffet, the lady knows
us now, it's awesome, then we had Hna Jimenez. She is a very
interesting lady, but we love her. I definitely ate some bad bad meat
at her home, definitely raw, but that's okay! That's why we bless our
food right?:) but really... Hna Jimenez is struggling right now, and
is very confused. She is separated, but not divorced, from Hno
Jimenez but they hang out all the time... Yeah weird... And starting
to become less-active. A lot of members think they are "active" but
basically they are like investigators because they don't really even
know what the Atonement means, like the word..... It's really sad and
hard, but that's why we are here with them! I love it! I know that as
Hna Woolf and just try our best that God will do the rest!

Sabado--  we had to go all the way to Gurnee (which is waYyyyyyy east
of us) because we had to get a trailer hitch for our car for our
bikes... This area is becoming like, an official biking area! Haha...
We park the car, and ride the bikes. I love it! But it took literally
alllllll day:(.... But when the office missionaries tell us to do
something... We obey:)

Domingo-- Well we had church, and only 19 people came... It was hard
for Hna Woolf and I because we were like, "we have been working sooo
hard and hardly ANYONE showed up to church... Including our active
members!" But, that we where we just had to say, "okay, we are doing
our best, and God will do the rest."  and then we saw THE BERTRANDS!
Oh my goodness.. And they actually opened up to us ish! We shared a
video (the only literal thing we can do so they will listen, not talk,
and feel the spirit) and it really touched their hearts. If we try to
share a lesson, they dodge it, and start gossiping, and blah blah
blah, so we resort to videos, and they love us... How do we know
this.... They fed us! All we did was share a video and each of us said
probably one sentence, saying, "We are so grateful to this gospel that
brings us hope so we know we can live with our familia and friends
again." Then they stopped listening... I would call that HUGE
PROGRESS. Also, we watched the World Cup... It's huge here. Every
house we go in the World Cup is on.... Do I know that Mexico lost?..
Yes I do... I hear ALL the time... Do I know about the game of Costa
Rica vs. Greece yesterday... Yes I do. Basically I am turning Mexican,
that's it. And basically everyone we talk to, talks to us about the
World Cup, it's awesome!

We'll my thoughts today are these-- I am learning a lot here. It was
kind of a hard week, but I feel like God just fills me up with joy so
there isn't any sadness. A mission isn't just, "wow let's share the
gospel, and I happy all the time, and my companion and I are best
friends, and wow 17 people are getting baptized.. Haha.." No, it's, "I
am gonna work my tail off to show God I love him, and how I do it, is
by serving His children with all my heart, might, mind, and strength."
And what happens?.... You are filled with joy. I love this work. 4
months ago I decided to read the Book of Mormon backwards, verse by
verse, highlighting everything that has to do with Faith.-- in my next
letter I will describe some of the things I have learned... Stay
tuned... We have Zone activity and so I have to go..

But I know that when we act on our faith... God gives us light and
knowledge, so that our faith gets stronger. I love faith, it is what I
have been working this WHOLE TIME I have been here in Woodstock. I
know that faith is power! I love faith! Sorry I forgot to mention to
you all I have been doing this challenge for 4 months, but it really
is powerful.

I love you all, this week in particular I have had to learn patience,
with members, investigators, and my companion , but I love it! Here is
a quote that has helped me ALL week!
"Patience means active waiting and enduring...Patience is not simply
enduring; it is enduring well!...Patience is a process of perfection.
The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your
souls.Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your
patience you win mastery of your souls. ".. Continue in Patience by
president Uchdorf.
The whole talk is so very good, I love it! Okay tengo que ir.

I love you all!

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

June 23, 2014 The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up

June 23, 2014 

The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up

Feliz Cumpleanos: Haylee16!!!!!! And to Luke!

Mi familia!
Wow! Cambry is married (could you send me an invite)
Jacob is in el CCM! Oh my goodness! 

So Viernes (really fast I am looking at Facebook and Hno Castellanos Facebook messages me) (and he knows I can't respond) but he said, HE SAW JACOB AND THEY ALREADY MET! Me puse MUY FELIZ! Haha I was so happy! And he also laughed at Jacobs super red hair! I loved it! Couldn't respond, but it was the best thing ever!

Well it was a good week!

Lunes- we went to la Familia Gomez and I just love them to death, I
wish you could meet them. They are so strong, and they have only had a
year and a half in the church and are preparing for the temple, and
totally invited me to go, when they are sealed. I am so happy. Then we
had service in the library, and it is so much fun! We dance and read
stories in Spanish and it's adorable. I just want to be a librarian
now seriously. I love it. More than that, I love the familia Gomez.

Martes-- we went to Hermana Monge and it was okay. She was really
sick, like she needs to go to the hospital but can't. (Because she has
no money) It's not contagious, but we cooked for her and did the
dishes and called the Elders to give her a blessing. It just breaks my
heart. I love this woman so much and I wish I could just give her one
thousand dollars because she deserves it. I wish I could give everyone in
this branch a thousand dollars. Haha, but the elders came and we left
but my heart was just broken. I wish you could all meet this woman, she
is... One of the best people you will ever meet! I love her! Well
after that we went to a teenager in our branch who is really
struggling. She is addicted to drugs and she is only 13. I think I
have told you about her, but it's really sad. We honestly just go and
try to be her friend. It is very sad because she just doesn't feel bad
for doing it. And she hates church, and doesn't believe that God loves
her. It's just so sad. Then We had a lesson with Barbara and Aaron.
Which they are in a tough situation, where their faith doesn't match up
to their actions, they have so much faith but then they don't do
anything about it. I just want to link arms with them and yank them
out the door and off to church. Tell them, HURRY UP AND GET DIVORCED
IN PUERTO RICO AND THEN GET  MARRIED SO YOU CAN GET BAPTIZED, uhhhhhhh I
just want to shake it into them. Pero... No puedo, I have to love it
into them. It's great! Hah. And then I was praying for my brother
because he was getting set apart as a missionary. Holy cow, I am sad I
missed that, but I hope you all felt my spirit! I was there!... Oh
this day also, I totally got a happy meal at Mcdonalds...why?....
Because it was a How to Train your Dragon 2 happy meal and toy. Yeah,
awesome.

Miercoles-- my brother went to the CCM! Wahoo! Ah I was so jealous! So
was my companion, the CCM is the best place on earth. Anyway, we had
district meeting and it went really well. I love district meeting,
mainly because I just love missionaries. I never thought you'd make
such good friends, but I just love missionaries. Anyways, so after we
went to visit Berenice, and she is the lady we did the wedding for,
but lives in the Elders area. We thought she could use a visit from
las Hermanas! It was sweet and she is so cute. We shared a message and
we are going to do service for her on July 2! I love service! Her
daughter is handicapped and she is finally coming home and they want us
to come decorate for her coming home, how cute!, she is only like 5
years old and lives in a hospital, so this is exciting! We are
excited! Then we visited Hna Jimenez and she is an interesting woman.
Kinda a little crazy, but we ate with her and shared a message and
then we had to book it to the Book of Mormon class. It was awesome! We
had 4 people there (not including the Elders) ahh! Awesome! We all
felt the spirit. Right now we are in 1 Nefi 17 AWESOME chapter. It was
a great class.

Jueves-- it was a good day of planning! We had a cool story! We were
at McDonald's using Wifi to do some of the area book stuff. We rode
our bikes, and this man comes over to us and is like, "are you the
girls with the bikes?" And we said, "yeah.." And he was like, "There
is a huge storm coming, you gotta go now." And I was all prideful and
was like (in my head of course), I am from Idaho, I love the rain, we
are fine....my companion was thinking, yeah we are fine.. Boy aren't
we prideful? Well then 4 minutes later the man tapped on the window
and half the sky was totally black, and was pointing and said, "you
need to leave now!" We threw on our helmets and put our stuff in our
bags and headed out of McDonald's. As we were riding I witnessed the
sky turn from all light to all dark in the matter of 30 secs! (Just
like driving too Nauvoo...remember family?) we were riding so hard to
get home and the wind was strong, and it was pitch black, and right as
we pulled up to the apartment door and carried our bikes up 3 floors
high (yes we do that every time we ride) the rain and lightning came
down! We said a prayer of gratitude for the man who told us. It was a
man sent to help Gods missionaries! It was a powerful testimony that
God really does send people to help us, and especially His
missionaries. I also learned that I am prideful, because not only once
but twice the man had to tell us to leave! Wow how prideful and
horrible is that?  I had to repent and say a prayer of gratitude. Haha
but a super cool story. My companion and I walked in the apartment
humbled and changed from this experience!

Viernes-- well, our usual tradition today we went to China buffet with
Hermana Alcantar. It seriously is the best thing ever, not because of
the food, but just because we go every Friday at one and she just
loves it! I just love that woman so much. She has had a hard life and
yet is still so strong, it's amazing! I love it. Then we had another
eating cita in Wisconsin with a member la familia Resendiz. We only
have two members in our ward that live up there the Camachos and
Resendiz, and they live two apartments away from each other. I love
it. But this familia just recently started coming to church because
they are having problems with their 15 year old son. I am so happy
they are active now. They are the CUTEST couple ever. They are like
gorgeous, and I love them. They have so much faith and now they are
totally active and awesome. They really understand that because they
were inactive their son is struggling, and where did they come back
to? Yeah, church! I love it. It was a great cita!

Sabado- Well, it was a day full of service. A member in the English
ward asked us to come help her move. She is a single lady and is just
adorable. We helped pack boxes all day and then she took us out to
dinner. Funny story with this-- she has 9 cats... And I was definitely
on Benedryl and Allegra. I was totally out of it, but we from what I
remember it was a good packing day! I didn't write anything in my
journal and I don't remember this day after that-- but I am sure it
was great, baha.

Domingo-- we had church which went well, and then we stopped by the
Familia Bertrand, but no one was home sadly. So we went to another
less-active la familia Garcia. Hermana Garcia is a member, and an old
lady and she has a daughter Rosa. Well, we have been over there 2
times before so they let us right in and the two little daughters love
us and came and gave us a huge hug and we asked if we could do
anything for them, and Rosa was just like, "Can you guys clean?" And
we were like, "YEAH." (My favorite thing ever) so we vacuumed the
whole house and then we asked to share a message. So they all came out
and even the Hermana did and right off the bat she was like, " I don't
like your church!"...and we were like, whoa.... And then she went off
why.... She gossiped and said basically told us the same story
that 10 other less--actives familias have told us from our branch.
Honestly, this branch has had so many problems, and it has gone though
so much drama; I can't even believe all the stuff that's gone on. She
also told us she didn't like how much our church talks about The Book
of Mormon so much. My companion and I just had the feeling to share
the restoration and so we did. When we got to the part about Joseph
Smith, the spirit was there. The Hermana was like, "this is an amazing
experience." And we invited her to read from it and pray from the Book
of Mormon, and then she would know if it was true. It might take this
familia awhile because their are some deep scars that have to be
healed but really the gospel is true, so if she prays she will feel
it. Something that I am learning is that The Book of Mormon softens
hearts, if we can get people to read, their heart will be softened and
they will have stirring in their soul, and they will remember and know
that the book is true. I love it! After that we contacted some
referrals and ya! Good day!

It was a great week but I am out of time!
Here is a quote that I loves this week! It is from Mountains to climb
by Elder Eyring and it is powerful! He says, "We never need to feel
that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never
are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on
our left and our right to bear us up.And He always keeps His word." In
whatever we are going through, we have our Savior. Right now I am
reading Jesus The Christ (James E Talmage); I am only a little over a
hundred pages in, it's huge, but I love it! I have just grown a deep
love for my Savior. Especially as I teach and testify and learn of
Him. I love it! I hope all is well family!

It's crazy! My little sister can date in one day, I don't wanna think
about it. I want her first date to be with me! Whatever.... It's
fine.. I am over it.... ;) happy birthday Haylee Babe!
 I love you all! I love my brother who is out there in the CCM. Holy
cow it's the best place ever! I love you!

You're all the best ever! For another week in Woodstock!
Ps... Letters are welcome here ;)
That's it

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

                                             This note was from Hermana Alcantar

                                                   How to train your dragon 2!!!!

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June 16, 2014 A society of possible Gods and Goddesses

June 16, 2014  A society of possible Gods and Goddesses
Feliz Cumpleanos: Greg Williams

Mi familia hermosa,

Wow, I can't believe my brother leaves on his mission this week! This
very week! Oh how excited am I?! So excited! I am so proud of you! You
will love the CCM, I wish I could go back with you right now! It
really is heaven on earth. EVERYONE out here still talks about the
CCM, it's the best. I am so excited for you! Find Hno Castellanos.
Take a picture with him and send it to your sister. Thanks. He's the best.

Well, this week was a good one!

Lunes- we did service at the library doing Story time in Spanish! It's
so fun! I am seriously considering being a librarian now. The kids
were so cute, and for once Hispanics actually came to us!... Maybe not
for the gospel, but they still came to us! We are praying that just
one will maybe see our light and feel the spirit and come into our
church. It was so fun! We are becoming friends with the librarians,
they love us and we love them!

Martes- it was a crazy day! We always call Martes the, "a ver" day.
Which in English means, we'll see. Basically meaning that we plan and
do our best and sometimes The Lord just takes us where He needs us.
Today we went to Hebron to see Gabriela, and it went good. It's really
hard because she lives far away, and she is still skeptical of us, so we
are just trying to love her and be her friend, and teach her about the
Book of Mormon, she's really sweet! But please pray for her! She needs
this gospel. Then, we went to la familia Cooper! Okay, English
sounding, I know, but the dad is American and speaks Spanish, and they
are in our branch, the wife... Totally Mexican. They are a very
interesting family. Very stand-off-ish. But the cookies we had given
them made an affect (that we were finally able to witness) because SHE
INVITED US OVER FOR LUNCH! She hasn't had missionaries over for lunch
in years because of some really bad drama that happened in our branch,
and she LET US COME OVER! She told us that she just loved the cookies
we gave her, and not only once, but twice we gave her cookies. Anyway,
it was interesting going to her home, because I was nervous I would
offend her, but we didn't! We made sure to compliment her food a
lot;)... She told us the ENTIRE story of our sweet branch. It's had
it's problems, a lot of problems, and I am so grateful to be here
working with such humble people! I love this branch, I really do. I
wish you were all here to witness the things I have, to learn the
things I have, and meet the people I have, I love this branch. Each
and every person has just made such an imprint on my heart that will
never go away. I thought I went out on a mission to bless others, but
honestly my whole mission- The Lord is just blessing me with meeting
these wonderful incredible people. I thought I went on my mission to,
"pay The Lord" and go share what I have, but totally learned otherwise
and honestly I feel I am in even more debt to The Lord, because he 
just keeps blessing me. I don't know if I am helping anybody, but I
know that these people are surely blessing me.

Miercoles-- well, we had a lesson with cute little Arlene and it went
well. I love the faith of children. Her home and life hasn't been
easy, but I know she feels close to her Heavenly Father because she
told us, "I pray every single night, even when I can smell the smoke
from the cigarettes that my brother smokes." My heart sort of stung at
this comment. She knows that when she prays she will get help, that is
faith! She will receive comfort, even in the midst of her hard family
life. I love it! What faith is this? One day I want to have the faith
like Arlene, she's amazing! Then we had the Book of Mormon class,
and....... Well no one showed. But it's okay, next class people will
be there!

Jueves-- well actually we were sooo busy this day! But busy is good!
We had Hna Alcantar at our usual China Buffet, haha. I love Hna
Alcantar, she is an incredible lady. Then later that day we had a
lesson with Barbara and Aaron. We also have two incredible ward
mission leaders. The wife is from Mexico, (but she looks very very
white) and the Hermano spoke a Spanish speaking mission and they came
with us to the lesson. It went really well. It's just so hard because
they stopped coming to church. For a lot of reasons, and it's so hard
to see people who have SO much faith and to not put it to action. I
love the "Hispanic Faith". They all have this incredible amount of it,
but then they don't put it to action, it's really hard. But we just
keep going and keep teaching them! Siga adelante!

Viernes- we had Zone Conference. It was awesome! I love Zone
conference. We learned about the prophet Joseph Smith! I keep
forgetting that I really am only 5 hours away from Nauvoo. (I wish I
could go so bad) it was a really good conference, I love being around
missionaries. It's the best!

Sabado- We had our weekly planning this day and we taught a girl we
found riding bikes. Her name is Ana. She is AWESOME! She really is in
need of friends, and I was thinking, missionaries are the best kinds
of friends to make;).. But really. She also invites us to the movies,
and to a road trip, haha so we kinda had to explain what our purpose
is as missionaries. But still she is awesome! I am excited to teach
her more!

Domingo- after church we went to la Familia Bertrand again. I have
never met in my whole life, such an offended familia. Man, it's really
rough because we try to share a message but they are not respective,
and then we heard more gossip, more bad stuff, and well more gossip.
But, they really are an awesome family. They are SO funny, and they
fed us! They love that we came over. It's gonna take some time, but
the more we go over and the more we pray for them to have a change of
heart, or at least for them to have their hearts softened they will
come back.

Well that was my week! I have been thinking about this quote ALL week,
(what can I say, I am on a C.S. Lewis streak), “It is a serious thing
to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses..." Wow how
powerful! Whenever I have had a hard time and didn't want to get a
long with people I have thought of this quote. One day that person
could become a god, that is what our ultimate goal is! If we all
treated each other with this in mind think of how much nicer people
would be, how much drama would be ended, and the increase of love that
would happen. Wow! Incredible!

Well, my brother! You are amazing! Remember, when life gets hard for
whatever reason, I have one piece of advice for you, ask yourself,
"what can I do more." If companions get hard, ask yourself, "What more
can I do to serve him." (Cause guess what, he's not gonna change, only
you can.) :) When investigators aren't keeping commitments, ask
yourself, "what can I do more to better my teaching." When your
frustrated with Spanish ask yourself, "what can I do more to receive
the gift of tongues." And when members are frustrated, ask yourself,
"okay can I eat more food?" Haha ;) es broma. I love you my brother!
Everyone is so proud of you! Especially your Heavenly Father, so go
make Him proud. I love you!

Quote for the week, "It is a serious thing to live in a society of
possible gods and goddesses."

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

June 9, 2014 Christ says Give me all

June 9, 2014 Christ says give me all
Mi familia increíble
Feliz Cumpleanos: Beautiful Marlee and Elder Brandon!!

Dad! Happy Father's Day! And to my grandpas Green and Hammond! Oh
how I love each one of you so so dearly!
MOM JUMPING INTO THE POOL! Wow miracle in and of itself! Your amazing mom!

Well it's been a good week like always, Hermana Woolf and I are
exhausted! Hey... That is the mission though, it's awesome!

Lunes-- Hermana Monge wanted to do a Noche de Hogar, (family home
evening) and so we went over this day. When we got there she wasn't
feeling too good so we did her dishes and showed a Mormon message and
read some scriptures, of course she cooked for us as well. Then she
asked a surprising thing, she asks us to give her a massage.... Not
just any massage a foot massage. She has diabetes and so her feet are
always swollen and are just in pain, so when she asked of course we
said yes. Right as she got on the couch for us to start massaging I
was kind of reluctant to give this woman a foot massage. Right when I
started the massage the image came to my head of the Savior washing
his disciples feet. I then told myself, "Hermana Hammond you can massage
these feet that touch raw meat all day, Hermana Hammond you can
massage these feet that are so incredibly hairy, Hermana Hammond you
can massage these feet that have dead skin flaking off of them.." Then
I was so grateful to massage her feet because I realized how much I
love this lady, she has had such a hard life, and a simple foot
massage to make her feel better was hands down worth it.

Martes-- Well it was a big bike riding day, which I loved! We did some
finding in Harvard and then we had a cita with the Familia Camacho.
They live in Wisconsin, so when we go there they have to pick us up at
the boarder of Illinois and take us to their house. Well, confession,
last month we went over miles (we get a certain amount of miles each
month and we went over.., even with bikes, this area, is just huge...)
so we decided that we really needed to save miles and ride our bikes
ALL the way to the boarder of IL, baahaha... I don't know how many
miles but man it was a killer, because it was all up hill, and our
bikes aren't the greatest, but I personally loved it! I was so
grateful for exercise. Tambien, it's really beautiful out here. It's
sooo green now and we are just surrounded by farms, quite a difference
from -17 and snow but I love it. Our cita with the Camachos went well.
They are one of our strongest members on the branch, they just had
their son return home from a mission. He's one of the only
missionaries that's ever gone out of this branch ever! He's thinking
about going to BYU-I, and I told him, "If you go, my parents will feed
you!!..:)" sorry not sorry parents!

Miercoles-- we had district meeting and then we went to a members
house in Crystal Lake. (The elders in our branch cover Crystal Lake
and McHenry and we cover the rest of the branch) but this woman lives
alone, Hermana Barrios. She is the sweetest lady ever, I just adore
her. She has a hard life, her husband abused her and finally she
separated from him but now has to work a lot to pay the rent. She is a
less active because sometimes (lots of times) she has to work on
Sundays. Work I swear is the devils tool! It is the worst! I will say
that Hispanics are some of the hardest working people I know. They can
work, and they know how to work, they just don't know when to stop!
Like DON'T WORK ON SUNDAYS PEOPLE! It kills me, but I guess putting
food on the table is important or something... Haha. I also know, that
if you put church first, God first, he will help you find a job and
pay for everything. It is really hard to say that to the people here,
because it is incredibly hard for them to find a job in the first
place, but I know that if they were to put God first everything would
work, everything will work out! ..(sorry random rant of Hermana
Hammond)
We also had the Book of Mormon class! The elders taught and it went
good. More than one person showed up... Six people were there! Wahoo!
Miracles happen!

Jueves- I wrote nothing in my journal, but I know we did some planning
and finding, o algo así... No me acuerdo muy bien, pero estuvo un buen
día creo. Perdoname por favor:)

Viernes- we had a great day! It was quite busy actually. We had a
lesson with Gabriela! She isn't quite progressing but we are working
with her. It's hard because she's lives clear up in Hebron and only
has one day free that we can come see her, so pray for her! She is 20
years old with 2 kids, and NEEDS the gospel! Pray for Gabriela! Then
we went straight to a cita with Hermana Alcantar, she is one of our
other faithful members in the Rama. She is the only one that comes out
of her family, and is having big family issues right now and so she
can't take us into her house, but she LOVES taking us to this Chinese
buffet. It's so funny because my tummy doesn't really like Chinese
food anymore. Dad-- we are gonna have to ease my stomach into eating
Thai food slowly;) then we went straight to Hermana Monges home
BECAUSE IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY! Happy birthday Hermana Monge! For her
birthday we couldn't stay long, but we did her dishes and again she
asked for a foot massage...conquered that fear Monday so it was fine,
so totally fine;).. And then we had to leave. We left to go to
Woodstock to see Kelvin and Joshuel..porque.. Because they are going
(have already gone) to Puerto Rico for the WHOLE summer, because their
grandma lives there. It was sad to say goodbye to them, but we will
still be seeing Barbara and Aaron because they are here. It was a good
day. Lleno de mucho trabajo.

Sabado-- I can say that Hermana Woolf and I worked HARD HARD this day.
We rode bikes all day in Marengo trying to find people. Marengo has
kind of a lot of hills and we went to ALL of the potentials and
formers and everyone in the area book from Marengo. No one said yes to
us. But I realized and learned a profound truth this day. While we
were exercising our bodies I realized that God was helping us remember
that we obviously needed to exercise our faith. He was testing us
physically so we could remember, work on, and better our faith in Him.
We may have not found anybody, but if anything we were showing The
Lord that we are willing to work hard and we were willing to exercise
our faith in Him. We came home pretty exhausted, and I love coming
home exhausted because it means we worked hard!-- which is honestly
everyday.

Domingo-- we went a less- active hunting! We found a less- active La
familia Bertrand, they live in Harvard and are from Honduras. We try
to avoid people's story about why they are less-active because it
always includes some gossip from the branch, and there is sooo much
gossip in this branch, well sadly we just couldn't avoid it and they
told us their story-- which most people end up doing. We always just
testify that Jesus Christ's church is perfect, and sometimes people
are not, but if you love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father you'll go to
church. Then we have to show an increase of love, or they will get
offended. I love already the Bertrand's! They are awesome! The Hermana
and Hermano are hilarious. We asked them if they were reading the Book
of Mormon and the Hermano was like, "no." And we asked and invited
them to read for 5 minutes and the Hermano was straight up like, "no,"
and we were like.... Okay.... We got some work to do... But they are
awesome:)... And they fed us cake...not like we needed it, but it's
fine.

Well this week has been a good one! We worked really hard, we found,
we taught, and we testified! The best things ever! ..and gave two foot
massages... I love it! Never thought I'd do that on my mission. One
quote that I found this week that's really helped me is this one by
C.S. Lewis (who is seriously my hero!),
   "Christ says, ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and
so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not
come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures
are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch
there, I want to have the whole tree down. … Hand over the whole
natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the
ones you think wicked--the whole outfit. I will give you a new self
instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become
yours.”
    This quote really hit me this week, because not only as
missionaries but as members of the church we need to be willing to
sacrifice EVERYTHING to have an eye single to the glory of god. We
need to be willing to put our whole selves into the work of Salvation!
"Christ says, Give me all..." That's what I am trying to do on my
mission, give Christ all. I hope we are willing to do the same. I hope
one day I can say, Christ killed my natural-self, my natural man, all
of it!

I love you family! Jacob! I love you brother! A week and a little bit
more! Then you'll be out here with me! I'm so proud of you! I love
you!

Well for another week to give Christ all!
All of me loves all of you all
Con mucho amor
Hermana Hammond
                                                          Biking in Marengo!  Super pretty

                                         We had to say good bye to these boys- they are off to Puerto rico!