Hermana Brittany Haven Hammond: Sep. 15, 2014 You had the faith to be here, but you do not have the FAITH to succeed.

Sep. 15, 2014 You had the faith to be here, but you do not have the FAITH to succeed.

First of all-- shout out to HAYLEE the most BEAUTIFUL girl in the history! Miss Junior Homecoming Queen! You looked BEAUTIFUL. Mom did your hair SO pretty! I just loved it. I MISSED you all!

Okay! It's been a crazy week! But I am just going to share a few
things from this week! But it really was great!

We have had 4 BIG meetings this week, on Tuesday, ALL day Friday,
Saturday and Sunday... So it was a crazy crazy week.

On Tuesday we had a training meeting and Hermana Izu and I taught. It
went great! We talked about talking with everyone! We did a roll play
where all of the new missionaries got in a circle and their
companions on the outside in a circle and we did a fun role play. It was
a hit!

On Wednesday we had an AWESOME lesson with Alquides. On my goodness he
is the cutest old man ever. We were a little nervous for this lesson
because we were going to teach the Word of Wisdom. Alquides-- here's
some background info-- Alquides is Cuban, and Cubans LOVE coffee, it's
like their water. He was so sweet and made us dinner and we had Hna
Ortiz with us, and Alquides made us the biggest meal ever because he just
loves us missionaries!, He said "HERMANAS COMAN, CON
CONFIANZA," (translation- Hermanas, EAT, with confidence...) when they
say that... You know you have to eat a lot, haha. But anyway, we
started with the lesson and we just started bold and said, "no Coffee,
tea, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs." And he just looks at us and was
like, "okay Hermanas I will do it." My heart just leaped because of
the faith of this man. He then literally just bore his testimony to us
about the prophet Joseph Smith and said, "I know that he's a prophet,
so I will give up coffee." I just wanted go over to him and give him a great big
hug. It truly humbles me when I see these wonderful prepared people
accept with so much faith these commandments. We hadn't even told
Alquides of the blessings that come for following this commandment,
or why we do it, he just accepted. They go in and want to be clean by
the waters of baptism and so they accept these hard things running on
pure faith. It was amazing! We came out of that lesson so edified!
Pray for Alquides!

This weekend- we had a mission conference! It was AWESOME, because the
whole mission got together. That is a very rare thing for a mission,
but it was awesome. Elder Hamula came from the 70 to help our mission
reach it's full potential- what we need to work on...etc. I just want
to give you all my notes, it was INCREDIBLE. As a mission we have
focused SO hard on members, the members in this mission are really
learning the concept of member missionary work. But Elder Hamula made
it SO clear on what we all need to do to improve. First he spoke about
receiving revelation, which was awesome, then he gets up and says, "I
am going to tell your mission what you need to work on, and I am gonna
get right to the bottom of it, You. All. Lack. Faith. You all had
faith to come here on a mission, you all had faith to come, but you
don't have faith to succeed." It was so true. It was just awesome, I
just loved it, there is SO much to say.

As a mission he told us some of the things we need to be working on.

Specifically four things.

1. TALK TO EVERYONE

2. Invite to baptism ON THE FIRST or SECOND lesson

3. Effective planning at night

4. BE obedient.

The first two was what he really hit hard on. It was AWESOME. I just loved it.

As a mission we have grown a lot and I am SO grateful for my mission president.

The more I get to work with him, I realize just HOW amazing he is! I haven't

really said too much in my letters to all of you, but I truly LOVE my mission

president. He is AMAZING, so full of the spirit and really loved God and his

missionaries.

Well- family this is super cool- Elder Hamula and President chose Hermana

Izu and I to have interviews with Elder Hamula. (he will be speaking in general conference

this october.. he's AWESOME) and it was the neatest experience. He asked me why I

came on my mission and how I have changed, (he also said he knew Grandpa Hammond

and also said that, "Hermana Hammond I can see your grandfather in you.. ) anyways

When he asked me about how I have changed I guess in ALL honesty the thing I have learned

most on my mission is that this life is ALL about making covenants. I have learned many a

things on my mission, but in truth one of the most profound truths I have learned is being

a more obedient, diligent, covenant keeper. That's what I told Elder Hamula... haha. He probably

was thinking, "Yeah hermana Hammond.. duh.." but I just feel like that has clicked with me

and stuck with me on my mission. I then had the opportunity to ask him a question.

I asked, "Elder Hamula, out of all the stuff that you and the brethren want US as missionaries to

learn while we are out here on our missions, if we learned ONE thing... what would you want

us to learn?" and he told me (this is a very short sum up of his answer), "Hermana Hammond... that's a great question, I would want them to know The Lord and Heavenly Father, better I would want them to know the nature of God." I thought that was very profound. So many people in this world get the nature of God confused, anyways I don't have time to tell you more, but it was an INCREDIBLE week!

I have no time-- but we ate dinner with our less-active family the Villanuevas.. I just adore them. They are all gorgeous and from Guatemala. Super models- and 2 of the sons came to church! It was great!

okay- I have to go-- but it's been a great week! I had exchanges with Hermana WOOLF, crazy right? We went and Wanda fed us, which that was interesting, she isn't doing too well. Could you all pray for her?

Okay- Love you all! Have a wonderful week! Happy be-lated birthday Mom ;)

All of me loves all of you all~

Hermana Hammond Elder Hamula!!!