Feb. 23, 2015 It was quite cold this week.... Only -30

Feb. 23, 2015 It was quite cold this week.... Only -30
Feliz Cumpleanos: Chad, and Bava!! Especially my Amazing G-ma Bebe.. 80th!!
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

Family

We had a good week!

I just have one experience I would like to share with you. Hermana
kohlhase and I were at this active members home, named Hermana
Delgado. We are teaching this Hermana how to read because she really
wants to learn and we have just seen so much progress with her. On
Tuesday when we went to go help her she fed us and then she starting
tell us her story. She has had a hard life, and has fought for every
single one of her kids and husband to be active in the church. So far
almost all but one is active now, and we are trying to work with her
husband.

On this particular day she tells us, "Hermanas, I really think you are
so special to me, and I am so grateful for you....  I trust you and
want you to read my patriarchal blessing to me, because I can't
read..." Hermana kohlhase and I were kinda shocked, but the Spirit was
telling us that it was okay for us to read her blessing to her,
because she can't read it by herself.  It was a powerful moment for
me. While I was reading her blessing to her, Hermana Delgado stops,
just looks over at Hermana Kohlhase (I was across the table witnessing
this moment), and lunges herself on Hna Kohlhase and just hugs and kisses
her. Then looks at me, with tears in her eyes says, "THE CHURCH IS
TRUE, LOOK AT THESE BLESSINGS!!" Haha, we laughed and she laughed and
cried, and it was just the best moment. First because, now I am all
for the hugs and besitos every 5 minutes, (love Latinos)  because
it shows her gratitude that she has for the gospel. She is promised
a lot of blessings, some of those blessings Hermana Kohlhase and I are
watching now in her life being prophesied. It made me think, how I am
living, will I receive those blessings I am promised by how I am
living? Am I living up to my heritage? Am I living in a way that I can
receive the blessings promised to me? My blessing to me is very
special and very sacred. At the end of our lives, I feel like there
will be few things that I actually truly want, and desire, these are
what I think I will want, one: submitting to the will of God (or
knowing that I have submitted to His will), the next one would be:
Saving His children, third: watch my blessings from my patriarchal
blessing be fulfilled. After those things, I know I will be able to
say.... Take me home. For now.... I have lots of work ahead.

Well, we have worked so hard this week. We are seeing little fruits,
but that's part of life. When I was set apart, I remember ONE thing
said, (you would think I would remember more... But in all honesty, I
don't..) I remember it said that in my mission I would be a seed
planter. I truly feel like that is my mission. I know one day Heavenly
Father isn't going to ask me how many baptisms "I got", or how many
people I helped reactivate, but rather he will judge me on how
obedient I was, how diligent I was, more than anything I know He will
give me chance to teach the people who rejected the gospel later. I
really have strong impressions that I came out here, not to see people
get baptized here on my mission particularly, but I will watch some people
from my mission be baptized on the other side of the veil. I will
hopefully get to teach them one day maybe in the far future, and they
will accept in the spirit world. I love Heavenly Father and that He
gives his children another chance to learn about the gospel even after
death! This church is true, and it truly brings the most happiness
ever.

Well, we are doing great!
Love you all!
All of me loves all of you all
Hermana Hammond

Ps: I am feeling way better! Thanks for all the prayers!
Pss: challenge for the week: write 5 ways you have seen the hand of
God in your life everyday

Feb. 16, 2015 Loving Life!

Feb. 16, 2015 Loving Life!!!
Feliz Cumpleanos: Gary Walker!!
Hello family!

Well, this week was a good one.

I went on exchanges with Hermana Pearson from the CCM, that was just so fun!

This week, I wanted to share a sweet experience that happened. We were
at the Martinez familia, they are less active and they are awesome.
They also like to feed us crazy foods, but we love them. This
particular day we went in the house and the Hermana told us to come
in, and watch her cook, so for about 20 minutes we watched her prepare
how she cooks fish. It was interesting, as we saw her slab mayonnaise
all over and inside the fish, put on some chile, tomato, and salsa,
wrapped it up in some tinfoil and threw it into the oven. Well, after
that, they fed us some pork, and rice, and salsa, and some tortillas.

After we had eaten we had a feeling we needed to show them a little
Mormon message called Moments that Matter Most. After the video the
Hermano started to cry. He explained to us and said, "this made me
reflect Hermanas. There have been times where I have been wrong as a
parent. There are times when I have felt like I have tried my best as
a parent, but their are times where I was wrong." He explained to us
that in Mexico it's very common to hit your children, he told us some
stories and just said, "I was wrong a lot of times..." Tears were just
streaming down his face, and we were able to tell him and testify to
him how we all make mistakes, and that's why we have a Savior. We also
explained and testified how we are all here on this path, trying to be
better together, trying to lift each other up. We told him that
anywhere in the world there are hypocrites, and liars, but as long as
we know we are doing our part, The Lord will help us. They loved it.
It was a little bold, but you can never be too bold if you show love
after.

This week we also have heart attacked a lot of our members. We couldn't
do them all, because we just didn't have time,   but we did a lot. They
were grateful and loved the surprise.

I am learning so much, about how this gospel helps people know who
they truly are. It helps them have self worth. Why? Why is that?
Because the gospel tells us WHO WE WERE before this life. It tells us
what kind of people we were before we were sent down here. We are down
here, because we were the generals, captains, and front lined soldiers
in the war before this life. Heavenly Father saved us at this time,
and put us in the families he did at this time, so we could do once
again what we did back then. So I ask you, are you being that person
you were? Even more, I hope your being even better.

It's been a good Semana. Sorry I would write more, but that's all that
time permits. I love you all!
Bullet points of the week
- NUNEZ FAMILY GOT SEALED! They were a less active family, and now so active
- Hermana kohlhase and I taught in zone meetings about diligence
- loving life!

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

 Look who I did exchanges with!!!!! Hna Pearson!! I just LOVE her!!!

Valentines Breakfast!!!

                               The Nunez family!

                               Some are active- some we are working with!

                                           I think this is so funny!!  This is how I feel right now!

Feb. 9, 2015 Finally: I teach a Diva

Feb. 9, 2015 Finally: I teach a Diva
Please tell uncle Den how sorry I am to hear of his sister!!

Familia!
It's so good to hear that you are all doing well!

On Thursday night Hermana Kohlhase and I were walking home, after MCM
(which is missionary correlation meeting) we live really close to the
church, perfect walking distance. That day, Hermana kohlhase and I had
talked to quite a few people and all the cards we had left, were two.
She had one and I had one. It was around 8:53 pm, and we had just
given Hermana Kohlhases card out to a lady that wasn't interested and
then I said, "Hermana, I have one more card..." In our minds we both
thought, we just have to give it out before the nights over. You have
to imagine, that both of our hoods were up, and we had scarves on, so
we not only looked like ninjas, but literally there was NO peripheral
vision. We then turned down the street where we live, started walking
hermana kohlhase in front and I in back, we have to walk single file
because there is so much ice and snow and they only shovel it for one
person to fit. Randomly Hermana Kohlhase looks, (meaning she had to
turn her entire body, looking like an owl, because no hay neck
movement) and because she looked, then I looked, and we saw a lady in
a black coat with a white scarf, and I ran to her (meaning I waddled
to her, because that's all the movement I can do in this mother coat)
and said, "Hi, can we give you a card!" Hesitantly, and with a Mexican
accent said, "yes." Then Hermana Kohlhase said, "habla espanol??" And,
this woman just lit up and said, "SI," well, this womans' name is
Leti. (Leticia for short) and she just opened up and started talking
to us. She told us she had had a beer before meeting us, and (we could
smell it pretty bad) and she said The Lord told her to leave the party
and walk outside. She said when Hermana Kohlhase asked her "habla
espanol?" She said she knew we were angels. We didn't even get the
chance to tell her who we were, she said, "I know who you are" we
didn't even ask her if we could visit her because she told us, "you
can come visit me, here is my address." More than anything, she is a
hoot. We can't get 4 words in without her talking about God.

   On Saturday we went to visit her because that's when she told us to
come, and right when we walked in we knew, THIS LADY IS A DIVA! I am
obsessed with her. Right in the door way, she had 20 paintings,
that she did, all modeled after the artist Frida or she calls her, my
friend Frida... Haha look her up, talk about unibrows. Anyways...  I
have realized that on my mission I have taught people who are addicted
to drugs, people who are so poor they hardly can get food on the
table, people who just LOVE to feed me, I have taught people from all
over South America, but I have yet to teach a Diva, and so here it
goes!

That first day she showed us her paintings, and then she showed us her
dog. Her name is Princess. She is a miniature poodle and she has a
purse that she sits while Leti carries her. Leti calls her, her
celestial dog because when she prays Princess closes her eyes, and
when she plays her Christian rock, Princess sings. She also fed us
some of Princess' chicken while we were there. I loved it. Actually, I
just loved that she cooks her dog chicken, it reminded me of Mousse.

Hermana Kohlhase and I just love her. We taught the first lesson to
her, well tried, we brought a cute Hermana with us, Hermana Liboria
and they got a long, and honestly Leti wouldn't even look at us
because we couldn't keep up with the speed they were talking, we got
through God is our Loving Heavenly Father and and Gospel Blesses
Families, we each probably said one sentence, and it was great!! She
loved it!

Mostly what this is teaching me is, that God prepares ALL people to
hear the gospel. On my mission I have mostly worked with people who
live in very humble circumstances, and it was a testimony that God
prepares people, no matter how rich or poor they are. Some times I
have felt like Alma and Amulek who went to the Zoramites to preach the
word, and this time I felt like Ammon who went straight to the King
Lamoni to preach the word of God. Truly God humbles us so that we
hear his word, and I love it! This is how I felt this week as Hermana
Kohlhase and I have prayed and prayed for someone prepared by The
Lord,

"And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face
immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld
that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a
preparation to hear the word."

Pray for Leti.

All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond

Cool fact that dad probably already knows: Islam means: to submit, or
submit your will to God.

Challenge for all: find the will of God and submit to it

                                                      Cute Hermana Delgado learning to read!!

                                             This is the Devils play- it is real popular

Feb. 3, 2015 Hola Familia Last transfer!

Feb. 3, 2015 Last transfer!
Bava, I am so sorry to hear about Juanita! I am praying for you all! When is the funeral?
Feliz Cumpleanos: Hayley, Korynn, Elaine, and Mckay!!!!!!!!!

Hola Familia!
I now start the first week of my last transfer as a missionary. I
promise to all of you that I will just work harder than ever! It will
be the best. We will find, rescue, teach, and baptize.

COOLEST MIRACLE EVER. Well, we have this super adorable member, Hermana
Delgado, she is a crack up. We have been visiting her and helping her
learn to read! Super humbling! Something I've learned on my mission is knowledge!
Hermana Delgado is so smart, yet never learned how to read... Well, she
had times in her life when she was trying to learn, but nothing ever
stuck because she never gave it enough effort, but now she wants to!
So, this was round two teaching with Hermana Hammond!
We go over and after the giant bowl of watery soup with 2 whole  chicken legs and a
full potato we get to eat!! The last time we taught her, I was going
over the alphabet and teaching her how to say them and the letters,
and how to say "la".. Then we go and teach her this past week and she
was able to read everything!!! Literally. For example "las familias, (the families) or
nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial." (Our loving Father in Heaven) Maybe not the craziest words, but.... huge improvement. FAMILY I WITNESSED HER READ. SHE HASN'T READ ALL HER LIFE, AND NOW CAN! She put her arms up and cried, literally, saying, "Padre, ayudame, Dios, ayudame, (Father help me!) SI ME PUEDO,"  The Hermana goes on to tell us that in her patricharal blessing, it says that she WILL learn English from angelic help, and she will see those fruits in her family
only IF she learns English. AMAZED. So special!  Such a testimony
builder! We can do hard things, and we will receive blessings, but
also how great it is to be a missionary!!!!! We have the sweetest
blessing to help others!!! MISSIONARY LIFE = SUPER FELICIDAD.

On Sunday, our church was only one hour because of the storm and for
the rest of the day we were pushing cars out of snow, and shoveling
cars out from being stuck. Right after church we were walking home and
we saw this guy who was stuck, so we ran up, and Hermana Kohlhase was
like, "come on Hermana we gotta help him!!" So we ran, and the guy
(whose car was so nice) said, "I can't believe two ladies are
gonna help me get out..." Then he finally let us, and we start
pushing, and it wasn't going anywhere when Hermana Kohlhase just says
loud enough for me to hear, "Heavenly Father PLEASE HELP US!" Right as
she said that, a sudden force came right next to me. I couldn't see his
face, but he had an 80's coat on, and the car moved immediately. We
pushed and pushed the car, and we couldn't believe it was MOVING! Then
when the car got unstuck we looked up and the man was gone. Both of us
saw  him there, he helped us, and left. It was a heavenly
messenger! It was literally an angel! Hermana Kohlhase and I looked at each
other and knew it was divine help. Angels are real.

So, ready for this crazy story? On Saturday night we got transfer
calls, and President told me I would be leaving Chicago 3 and going
to another place. When President called, I just started crying and so
did Hermana kohlhase. We were trying to talk to accept the change
happily when President told us, "I know you two are crying, but this
will be good for both of you." I was pretty sad about it because this
is my last transfer and I just feel like Chicago 3rd is my home. So on
Sunday I bore my testimony and then cried and took pictures with all
of the Hermanas and Hermanos.
 That night we were eating dinner with
the Rivera family and we were talking about me leaving when we heard
the phone ring, and it was President telling me that I was staying. He
felt impressed that I should stay with Hermana Kohlhase, I literally
burst into tears. I was so excited. Not only for this area, and all
the people in it, but to be with Hermana Kohlhase. It's really fun to
be with someone who really lifts and builds you. Then together with
the spirit, building the area, it's just the best thing in the world.
It was fun telling all of the members that I was staying, most of them
still don't know, but hey SOPRESA! (Surprise!)
Yesterday we got to pick up the new missionaries. It was so fun! It
made me think of my first day. We went contacting on the train, and
fear just struck into their eyes. It was fun talking to everyone on
the train, showing them how fun talking is! It was kind of weird because it
made me reflect on my mission, how much I have learned, how many
people I have met, how much I have struggled, how much I have grown.

Classic funny moment: the snow. End of story. Dead muscles from
shoveling so much snow, pushing cars out of stuck snow, and having
awesome red windburn skin. I love it. Praying constantly to Heavenly Father
to help us in our car, when we were stuck and helping us everytime.
Maybe not too funny. BUT FUNNY TO US. Slight truth- Hermana Kohlhase
and I think we are super funny, like drop on the floor laughing funny,
and we may be slightly prideful because of that. But.. We love it.

Love you family!
All of me loves all of you!
Hermana Hammond

Feb. 2, 2015 No letter today- hopefully tomorrow! Went to pick up the new missionaries!

Feb. 2, 2015 No letter today- hopefully tomorrow! She went to pick up the new missionaries from the MTC!! These pics are her legs after being in the cold yesterday!!!