Feliz Cumpleanos: Sweet Brooke D. & Nathan my awesome cousin!
First- Let me say, that I have like zero time, then let me say... SO PUMPED THAT MICHELLE IS LEAVING FOR ECUADOR.... man I am un poco celosa... just because you and my brother are gonna go have missionary fiestas without me. But you will love it my cousin! It's not easy, but the people are the BEST. They truly become a part of your soul. You'll love it!
Second- I love dad "trato" (deal) when he said, "You pray for our investigator and we will pray for yours." ITS ON DAD!--family I am SO proud of you being missionaries! The BEST thing you can do for him right now, is BE an example and BE his friend.... shoot him a text a couple times a week. SUPER happy he ate 10 rolls and 4 plates of potatoes. that's just awesome. I could probably top him right now. but literally.
Father- about meeting Hermana Monge-- I have already put it in the plans :) you are ALL meeting her for sure!
Okay- my week. Lets whip this email out!-- ps we do SO much in a day, these are just parts of the day okay? :)
Lunes- We had dinner with a member, Hermana Bustos, she's great then we went to go do some EXCHANGES. I went to Gurnee and went on an exchange with an Hermana that is in her 2 transfer of training. So I had to do an hour of train (all missionaries "train" for 2 transfers and go through this AWESOME program, Jacob is doing it right now.) But I was thinking, "Well, I have never trained.... here we go!" It's really interesting going on exchanges because you get to learn a lot from the missionaries. Learn good things and some not so good things. Its really interesting. I have really learned this week that the gift of discernment CAN come when you ask for it. I was just praying so hard to know what this Hermana needed, and this one needed a lot of building, (honestly one of my favorite things to do is just make people feel better about themselves.) I have learned that ESPECIALLY as a leader that we have to be so close to the spirit because MOST times, missionaries (ANYONE) don't need to be corrected (unless it's major disobedience things). It's all about LOVING those you serve. Becoming their friend so they have someone to talk to, having someone they can trust. Anyway-- We had a great day!
MIercoles- We were back in the area and we had a few citas with some less-actives. They are so cute! But they think church is boring, any ideas family?? ... they have testimonies, they are spiritual, they all just think its boring. help!
Then we had a cita with Wanda. Oh my goodness family. When you meet Wanda you give her your whole heart, she is amazing, and doing so much better! (I will talk about her later)
Jueves- TENGO COOL HISTORIA:) ja ja.. So we were coming back from a cita and she wasn't very interested, but we were walking back and this man called us and was like, "Hey yer a Mormon (think Chicago accent)." and we were like "Yeah!" and he was like, "So you believe in someone named Smith and all yer folks went down to Arizona or something.." us -"YEAH Utah! wow how did you know?" him, " well, I am a history buff I love it. I just think it's so sad that you had to move away because of your religion.. it's not right." anyway long story short- His name is Steve, he loves history, he doesn't believe in God, but he likes the thought of God...We told him about the Book of Mormon and how it's about the ancient people here in America, we testified a little and he just went off on a long shpil how he doesn't think that God is real, he is a very firm kind of man, and pretty set in his ways... So basically he'd make an awesome member. Then the spirit started to whisper to me.. "Hermana Hammond..... get ready.." So I interrupted him, (and in my mind I am just saying.... what am I doing, why is my mouth starting to talk... stop stop stop... what are you doing Hermana Hammond??) I looked him straight in the eye and said these EXACT WORDS, "Steve, We are literal (I said this slow, but with power... so basically it wasn't me.. ) We are literal representatives of Jesus Christ, and as such we want to make you a promise (in my mind I was thinking.... uhhhhhh what promise??) We know that if you read the first verse of this book and if you pray, we promise you will KNOW there is a God and he will give you such a powerful feeling you will know that he is there and He wants you on HIS side. We know it's true Steve.. " Steve just looked at me and took the card and said, "okay" turned around and walked into his house and that was that. Steve will get baptized one day, I just know it. I had never been so bold with someone, but it's SO cool that as missionaries WE CAN GIVE promises to people, we can be literally the tool that the Lord used to help people come to Christ. I must say, it wasn't me speaking. The spirit makes you do scary stuff sometimes! ha ha:)
okay, because of lack of time I am just going to share a MIRACLE on sabado- We were on exchanges and I was staying in the area.. (yeah taking over the area in a week-- totally know the area... not) anyways, and we had a cita con Alquides and we needed a woman there, like always but at the church there was this BIG baby shower that was happening, so none of the women were able to come with us. So I am frantically calling and calling people and calling my poor companion Hermana Izu because she left the area and all of a sudden both of us had the idea that Wanda wasn't going to the baby shower. Wanda could come with us! Wanda had never been out with missionaries before, she was just baptized and right now really suffering from depression and really struggling. But we were on the phone and we were BEGGING her to come, and finally the Hermana that was with me was like, (she's awesome Hermana Kolhase companions with Hermana Felt 2 transfers ago) "Wanda I remember at your baptism you helped me so much, we had gotten transfer calls and I knew I was leaving Hermana Felt and I was crying and you told me, ' Hermana YOU CAN DO IT' So I just want to say thank you Wanda and I love you!" Wanda then just said. "Okay, I'll come with you." YEAH MIRACLE... not only that, the lesson WENT AWESOME. Wanda and Alquides got along AWESOME! HE is on date for Sep. 20th! He is such a cool person! Seriously the Lord really takes care of this area, he knows we are so busy really with exchanges and hermanas and we are so tired, but He makes EVERY thing happen. IT was AMAZING!
And like always- church was wonderful! Our Guatemalan family (they are gorgeous) CAME TO CHURCH! They are less-active, so we were SUPER happy!
I really gotta go! I love you all!! TANTISIMO!
All of me loves all of you all,
Hermana Hammond
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