July 14, 2014 Help Thou Mine Unbelief

July 14, 2014 Help Thou Mine Unbelief!
Feliz Cumpleanos: Stephanie & Juli
Familia Maravillosa!

Okay for this carta I am going to share miracles, to change it up a
little. I am getting bored of the day thing for this week, and
basically seeing miracles helps build faith! Who's faith? My faith in
this area! We have seen SOOO many miracles this week! It's been the
best!

Miracle 0.5~ I received ROLLS my favorite rolls from mom! It was the
BEST thing ever. It really lifted my spirits because my mom knew just
what to give me. Ah, thanks mom!

Miracle 1~ We rode bikes a lot, we were sweating a lot, which I love.
I love to exercise! We haven't crashed, and our bikes are still
functioning! That is a miracle I'd say.

Miracle 2 ~ We were riding bikes on wednesday for a long time and
this Mexican man, like, imagine- wife beater, cowboy hat, cowboy
boots, jeans, big belt buckle, and we can't forget the "mexi stash",
looks at us right when we were riding past and stops, turns to us, and
salutes us, and then disappears! We were riding kinda fast so we
stopped to talk to him but he was gone. Nonetheless, it's made my whole
day!

Miracle 3 ~ The Cooper familia signed our calendar again! They had us
a few weeks ago, and they hadn't had missionaries for 3 years before
that. They signed our calendar not only to 2 weeks ago but for next
week! Ah! Miracle!-- they also want us to help them weed their garden!
Yep, really excited.

Miracle 4 ~ We rode all day  wednesday and we got to this home, (which
these people had talked to missionaries before) and we knocked and the
lady let us right in! We shared a message and she wanted us to come
back! ANOTHER NEW INVESTIGATOR! It was a miracle!

Miracle 5 ~ I survived eating Chicharron... Which is Pig skin... Most
of the time la gente eat it like a chip because it's fried, but no....
We had it squishy, in salsa verde.... Squishy and really disgusting...
Did I eat it? Yep... Did I eat it with a lot of tortillas? Yep.. But I
am still alive!-- I ate a ton of it.

Miracle 6 ~ We went and visited the familia Calix in Crystal Lake. It
was truly a miracle because we talked to the Calix's son Howard, and
his mom was there. At first when we came to the door we were like,
"Hey, can we talk with you?" And he sighed really loud and
said,"yes,well I'm watching the World Cup, but sure..." And he
actually turned off the TV and listened to us. We showed Gracias A El,
(the because of him video) because the spirit told both of us that he
needed to watch it. He LOVED it. It also brought the spirit and he
told us he got divorced and started drinking and doing bad stuff,
but.... How do we know he liked our visit?.... He gave us COKE AND
CHIPS.. 8:30 at night... (It was exactly what I wanted ;). The
miracle is, is that the Elders went to see their family a couple days
later and they said that he wanted to meet and talk with the Elders
because that video touched his heart. WHAT A MIRACLE! Then he posted
on my Facebook wall saying, "thank you for coming and seeing
me...feeling blessed.." Yeah, MIRACLE!

Miracle 7 ~ On saturday we were starving and we went to this place
called Fast Tacos.. (Think we are sick of Mexican food?...nope) and
the owner was like, "HERMANAS, I have been waiting for you... Don't
worry your food is on the house!"... He told us that he has been
feeding missionaries for 7 years! All the Hermanas come to him and he
gives them food for free always! Apparently missionaries went and gave
him lessons, but he wasn't interested but he just LOVES missionaries,
(I wonder why?;)) I have never had that happen before, where
missionaries get food free. That's only a Utah, Idaho thing... And a
Woodstock thing at Fast Tacos! It was awesome!

Miracle 8 ~ 45 people were at church! Not only that... But it was the
World Cup final!... And people still came to church. It was amazing!
We were so proud of our members! ...ps... Germany won...

Miracle 9 ~ On Sunday we were walking out of church and who did we
see??... MIKE! Katie's husband from the EYE DOCTOR! (Mom, cute Katie!)
He came to church in the english ward! Katie didn't come, but we were
SO happy to see him!.... Sign to go see Katie at the eye doctor??... I
believe so... :)

Miracle 10 ~ I ate a plate of soooo much meat this week.... Let me
tell you, On Sunday (with the familia Gomez) they fed me, 4 HUGE slaps
of steak, 2 HUGE chicken breasts, and 1 chorizo (Mexican sausage...
Soo good). I ate it allllll and you know you are fat when they give
you ice cream and you are eating a whole bowl like it's nothing....
Yep familia I am bien gordita... Not my fault

Miracle 11 ~ the Gomez familia said they are GOING TO THE TEMPLE AT
THE END OF AUGUST. I saved the biggest miracle for last! On Sunday
after church they called us and were like, "Hermanas! We are having
hamburgers and Asada and everything, can you come?" And we were like,
"CAN WE COME, OF COURSE WE ARE COMING!"... The Gomez, seriously.... I
consider them family, the celestial kingdom won't be the celestial
kingdom without the Familia Gomez. They were like, Hermanas will you
come with us?... End of August?... And we died, of course we are
coming. (Familia pray I won't be transferred.)

Well, as you can see this was my week! I love the people here so much!
My companion and I took on the motto which is.. "Accentuate the
positive and eliminate the negative." This has helped us so much, when
we are sweaty, full, and tired, we focus on being positive, we work
hard, and we have faith, and it is power! We are seeing miracles! We
had a few weeks of hardly having success, and now this week we are
PACKED, we are so excited. We have citas with all of our new
investigators and we are so excited.

This week I have been thinking a lot about the story in the bible
where Jesus heals a mans son. The man asks, "If thou canst do any
thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Jesus then tells the man,
"If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth
(Mark  9:23)." And the man replies with tears in his eyes, "Lord, I
believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24)" Jesus then heals this
mans son.

 Lots of times on my mission I tell myself okay Lord please
help me through this day, help us find people that will listen to us,
help us work hard, help us reach our potential as missionaries, and
The Lord responds, "Okay, but you need to have faith, and have to
believe you can do it, you have to have Faith in Jesus Christ, that
all things are possible." And I just respond, "Okay, I have faith, I
believe, but please help the part of me that doesn't believe, please
help the doubt, my weaknesses and my lack of faith." Every time I ask
for help, The Lord grants me faith! He allows me to see miracles that
are happening so that my faith can grow. I know The Lord heals us and
grants us faith in Him.
   Elder Holland gave a talk about this very story, of it he said,
"God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our
belief...What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the
tree of life, so if your faith is a little tested in this or any
season, I invite you to lean on mine...Hope on. Journey on. Honestly
acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever
fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them
that believe." (“Lord, I Believe”).

I love it! Family, will you read this talk? It was from April 2013
called "Lord I Believe." Your all amazing! For a really busy week in
Woodstock, and a lot of eating citas.. I think 7 this week... Yay for
gaining weight;)

All of me loves all of you all.
Hermana Hammond