Week 104 The Last One...

Hello everyone! It’s my last email of my mission! It’s so crazy to already be at this point! It feels like yesterday I was going into the MTC..... JK, it felt like forever ago...Anyway, here is the week:

Monday 
We had our normal P-day. We emailed, shopped, and had lunch at Mod for my last time on the mission. That was exciting. After that, we went up to Everson and played sports with all of the district. It was pretty fun. We played indoor kick ball. We also had our last lesson with Kali. We taught her learning and serving in the church. 

Tuesday 
We did a lot of work. We also had lessons with Lindsey and Alyvia. We taught Lindsey about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Alyvia the restoration again. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting, and Elder Wingit talked about how to use the new chapter 8. Later in the day, we did some work in the area, had a meeting with bishop, and a lesson with the Clines. They’re a less active family in the ward and the father used to be a bishop in the Lumi Ward up here. We taught him the restoration. Later that night we had Kali's interview, and she passed. 

Thursday 
We served at the food bank. I did My Plan after, this one focused on dating.... Yuck... JK! I look forward to it. Later, we did some more work and had dinner with the Barrons. 

Friday 
We did weekly planning and a lot of work. Recently we have been meeting people that are open to talk to us when we see them. We also talked with our investigator, Mike. He has a lot of deaths going on in his family, and so we read a scripture to him and talked with him to help him feel better. 

Saturday 
We had Kali's baptism. It was great! After which, we did some more work, and we did some service for the Izners again. 

Kali's Baptism

Sunday 

My last fast Sunday on the mission. Bishop asked if I would give my testimony one last time before I left, and so I did. Church went really well. Kali got confirmed, and Nate, one of our investigators, was there. He’s the blind one. After church, we had comp study and then we went and did a little bit of work. I had my death dinner or my last supper as I've heard it was called. Then we saw a couple more people and then headed home. 

Enjoying my "death dinner" or "last supper" at the Rays

Man, what a mission! I've been so blessed with this choice that I've made in my life to come and serve God. I can’t believe it's almost over! One more week left! I want to bear my testimony that God loves each and every one of us. I bear witness of his son, Jesus Christ, that He is the literal son of God. He suffered the infinite atonement, that no other man could accomplish because of the Everest of pain he had to go through. I know this church is true because I pray about it continually and the Lord bears witness every time to me that it is! How grateful I am to continue to learn how true it is! I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me, even though I want to know where I am going or who I'm going to be with in the end so badly! He tells me to be patient, all will be right in the end. I have learned for myself what the gift of repentance is. He has shown me how to become better, and am I better than before, yes! But in many ways, I still falter. I am not perfect, but God does not expect me to be. I love you all, thank you for what you have done to help me get where I'm at today. I pray that we may come to this same truth and witness, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Elder Jordan Hammond 
Washington Everett missionary 
Farewell Everett Washington mission! 

Week 103 Alyvia's Baptism

 Elder Hammond from beginning to end:

At the MTC, about a year into the mission, on my last transfer

Hey everyone! Boy, it has been a rough week! We've biked most of the week just to get the miles back that we've lost. So that's been hard. Honestly, I like it. I think it is a great work out!  I've always liked riding bikes, however, after Sunday, Elder Leavitt gave up and didn't want to go biking again. I don't think he liked it. But we got our miles back, so we can go to places and such. So ya, we also got a new apartment. They moved us out of our old one, and this new one is really nice. It’s all refurbished and such. So ya. Anyway, here is the week. 

Monday 
We went shopping for a couple of items. Then we did some emailing and hung out with the zone at the stake center. Then we went with Spanish and stayed with them while they did some errands. After, we then went and played some ultimate Frisbee. It was great for the 30 minutes we had to play before we needed to be back in Everson. We had dinner with the Pasketts and a lesson with the Mergels. We taught Alyvia about the temples and eternal marriage. After, we had the same lesson with Kali, another investigator we have, and she accepted a baptism date of August 4th!! 

Tuesday 
We did a lot of work. We started biking in the afternoon in Sumas. We also had a lesson with the Mullers in the afternoon. We had a discussion about being in the world but not of the world. I feel like it helped them a lot. Sister Muller’s daughter, Heather, kind of has that personality. She's easing away from the gospel, little by little. So, I hope it worked. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget talked about helping the people we teach to understand the Book of Mormon more clearly. After that, we went and had our lesson/interview for baptism with Alyvia. We taught her about learning and serving in the church. After we came home, we did our studies, and then we went to work. Nothing else really happened that day. 

Thursday 
We had interviews in the morning. After, we picked up Sonic for lunch and went home to do comp study. Then we took the bikes and the car and drove up to Sumas again and did some work up there on the bikes. Later, we came home, had dinner, and worked on the bikes close by. I also did My Plan that day before we went to Sumas. 

Friday 
We did weekly planning. We did some work in the morning and evening and some service for a former investigator in the ward. She wanted some weeding done at her home. We had dinner with the Barrons that night. 

Saturday 
We had Alyvia's baptism, and it went really well. We also finished weekly planning, and we moved everything from our old apartment to the new one. 

Sunday 
Alyvia got confirmed, and we had a good time at church. Brother Boyd, from the Laurel Ward, spoke and so did Brother Mason. After church, we were able to do some work in Sumas in the car, no bikes. We had dinner with the St. Roses and the Schindlers. It was great. 

Well that's my week. I know what you’re thinking. All this work…any new investigators? Sadly no. We haven't had any this whole transfer. So, I would ask please pray for us that we find some. Love you all, and I'll see you real soon. 

Elder Hammond

Zone Conference last week

Week 102 Happy Birthday Week!

 Hey everyone. It's been a pretty great week, not to mention it was my birthday last Wednesday. So now I'm 21! That means I’m legal right?... Lol jk! Anyway, here is the week. 

Monday 
We did shopping and emailing. We were going to go on the hike with the district, but they didn't have time for it, so we went alone and got to see the other mine entrance. It was amazing! We didn't go inside because there were a lot of mosquitos in the entrance, and with all the stories about people getting stuck in caves we just didn't want to take the risk... I guess. But we had a good time. Getting to the entrance was really sketchy. We had to hold on to tree roots and stuff as we walked across some of the trail because if we didn't, we would fall off a 20-foot drop and hurt ourselves. So, that was fun, but ya. Later that night we had a lesson with Alyvia and got her date moved to the 28th of July, so we are having a baptism at the end of this week!!! 

Tuesday 
We had zone conference. It was okay, only because we were talking about goals and plans again, which is kind of boring. But we had a great time. I bore my testimony at the end with all the other missionaries that were there that are going home the same time I do. It was had to do it because you know that's one of the last testimonies you give at meetings like that... Well, that's what happens when you have 3 weeks left but who’s keeping track? Later, we came back from Anacortes, had dinner, and then had a lesson with the Sanchezes. We taught the about the law of chastity. 

Wednesday 
My birthday! We had district meeting in the morning. Elder Winget instructed on family history and being confident in our teaching. After, the district had cake and sang to me for my birthday. Later, we had a lesson with Alyvia, and taught her the rest of the commandments she needed to be taught. After, we went into Bellingham and had dinner with the Spanish elders at Buffalo Wild Wings!! By the way, thanks family for all the gifts and money you sent. I really like it all, and thanks for all the posts on Facebook. We had a great time at dinner. I had some good wings. After, I exchanged with Spanish and went with Elder Torp and Elder Malaski to their area. We did some work for the night and then ended it. 

Thursday 
We didn't do much. We helped someone in the Spanish branch with some weeding. After, I had to go and do My Plan. Then we went back to Everson and exchanged back. Elder Leavitt and I did some work, and then we ended the night. 

Friday 
We mostly weekly planned, and then we did some work out in Maple Falls. Nothing much happened there. We did, however, play softball later that night with the ward. That was fun. 

Saturday 
Long day of work. Saw tons of people, but not a whole lot happened. 

Sunday 
We had church. Then we did our studies. We had dinner, and then we went up to Sumas and biked to people because we are over on miles for a little bit. 

Well, that's our week. Things are going pretty great. I hope everyone has a good week, and I'll see you real soon. 

Elder Hammond  

Week 101 Appreciating Family

Hey everyone. It's another great week, and things have been going okay. Not a whole lot of success, but things are going great! Yeah, so let's get to the week, shall we? 

Monday 
We did not go on the hike, but we will be going today to see those entrances. Hopefully they’re great. We did shopping and emailing. Then later that day, we went out to a field in Laurel’s area and played some sports. We had a good time. After, we went home and did some work. 

Tuesday 
We did a lot of work and saw lots of people, although not much happened. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget talked about having virtue in our work. After, we had lunch as a district. Later, we visited with an older lady named Diana. She is a former investigator who likes to talk to the elders but really doesn't read or do other things. We visited with her and talked about what she's going through. She told us something is wrong with her, and the docs don't know what it is. She weighs 83 pounds and is in her 80's or so. It's really sad. She says she feels like she's being pushed around because they don't know what's wrong with her. It kind of seems like they’re trying to get their money's worth out of it. We also spent time seeing other people. We helped at the food bank garden and got to pick some really good raspberries. 

Thursday 
We helped at the food bank. Then we had lunch and did My Plan after. Thursday it asked me where I saw myself in a year.... Yikes! That was weird to think about. Later that day, we had a lesson with the Mullers. We talked about repentance with them. Later, we had correlation meeting. 

Friday 
We helped the Nelson's move to their new home in the morning. Later we then weekly planned for the week to come. And in evening after a lot of work, we visited with the Sanchez family. 

Saturday 
We went to Gene Gulbranson’s funeral. It was an amazing funeral. The spirit was definitely there, and there was an amazing feeling of peace and love in the room for Gene. I did not get to know Gene, but he seemed like an amazing man. That funeral hit me hard though. Recently I had my two grandfather's pass away. When I heard they had passed, it wasn't so hard on me those days. I felt fine and a good feeling knowing that they had left to a better life. But sitting in the chapel that day, I felt great love and happiness, and sadness too realizing they would not be there in my life anymore when I got home from my mission. I would always imagine before my Grandpa Hammond passed away that when he did, I would be so mad and sad that I would not work that day. Though the day I found out, I was mad at God and reconsidered my feelings. I know that He was there by my side comforting me, not just my grandfather, but my Savior also. Sitting in that chapel, I realized how much my family and friends meant to me, and how much I had grown an appreciation of them on my mission being away from them. It's been a blessing to have such a great family. After the funeral we had lunch and then went to go see people. Later that night, we helped Brother Cline get a motorcycle tire off. That was fun... Kinda, it took a while. 

Helping to fix the motorcycle tire

Sunday 
We had church. We did some work and had dinner with the O’Briens and the YSA sisters. Then we did more work and came home after to do accounting. 

Well, that's it for this week. I love you all, and I hope you have an amazing next week. 

Elder Hammond 

Week 100 Elder Leavitt--My Last Companion

Elder Leavitt & Elder Hammond

Hey everyone. It's been an amazing week, and life is getting better here with my new comp, Elder Leavitt. He is from Logan Utah. He's been out 18 months, and we've gotten to know each other pretty well from other areas. He's way fun, and I'm glad president sent him here because he is the elder that is needed here to bring this area back again on its feet. Anyway, here is our week. 

Monday 
We emailed and shopped in the morning. Then we went to Five Guys for lunch. After, we went back into Everson and saw some people for the day. They moved our P-day to Wednesday for the fourth, so we had to work for the rest of Monday. So, Elder Haseldon and I went and did work. We also helped the Hillmans put together a swing chair they just bought. After, we had dinner, and then Elder Haseldon packed his stuff. 

Tuesday 
We left for transfers at 9 in the morning. Once there, I got Elder Leavitt, and we made it back in time to shop for food before our lesson with the Gardners. We taught Lindsey about the plan of salvation. 

Wednesday 
We went on the gold mine hike again for the 4^th. We went in the morning and got a little farther to one of the entrances of the mine, but it was too small to go through, so we just took pics. We had a blast, and we're going again today, maybe to get to the other entrances. One of the people hiking the trail said that we missed the turn for the entrances, so we are going over today, maybe, to back track and go the right way this time. The way it was taking us was to a lake, but we know the way to them now. After our adventure, we then went to a BBQ at a member’s home in Laurels area. After we spent the rest of our time at the mall. That night we got our hammocks out and watched the fireworks our neighbors were shooting off. 

Thursday 
We went to the food bank in the morning. A few hours after that, I had to go to the library and start doing My Plan. My Plan is the exit program for missionaries going home. It involves goal setting and making plans for my future. After starting the six-week course, we then went and did some work. Later that night we had dinner with the Hillmans, gave a blessing to Sister Muller, and had my first Facebook lesson with the Gardners. We read the Book of Mormon with them, to help them understand it more. 

Friday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget talked about light and how it plays an effect in our missionary work (patterns of light videos, etc). Later that day, we had weekly planning. We did some work and had dinner with the Barrons. 

Saturday 
We went and saw tons of people Saturday, but not a whole lot happened. We did, however, give a blessing to someone and picked up some potential former investigators to start going by and maybe teach. 

Sunday 
Everyone got to know Elder Leavitt really well at church. We had Alyvia at church, but that was it. After we did our studies, we had dinner with the St. Roses and Schindlers. After that, we had a lesson on revelations with the Murgels and Alyvia. 

Well, that's it for this week. Hope you are all doing well. Until next week… I'll see you soon. 

Elder Hammond 

Week 99 Last Transfer--Staying in Everson

Well, another week gone in the Washington Everett Mission, and the odd thing is, the smell of death is in the air... Could be because Elder Duesenberry went home yesterday, and/or I have 6 weeks left until I go home!!!  But who's keeping track... (Remember death in the mission lingo means going home.) Sadly, yes, Elder Duzy went home. He is probably on his flight now, waiting to see his family. It’s so crazy to think six weeks ago I started this area with them, and now he's home, and Elder Haselton is getting transferred. Huh... Anyway, here is the week for everyone. 

Monday 
We shopped, emailed, and had fun at the McGirrs. You probably saw pics on Facebook. I know some of my family did. We had a really good time. We had a water balloon fight and cooked hotdogs over the fire pit. It was great! We got the sisters really soaked. 

Tuesday 
We had service with this guy named Alex. He works on a farm (more like huge garden), and he needed to cut down branches from a tree to allow the sun to come in more where the apple trees are. So, we helped him move the branches and pick apples. Then we also helped the Hillmans move some couches around. Later in the day, we had lessons with the Gardeners, Kali, and the Sanchezes. We just chatted with the Gardeners and the Sanchezes, but we taught Kali, our new investigator, about baptism. We have been teaching her for a while, but she had a birthday that we didn't know about, so she is now 9 and is technically an investigator. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget instructed on how to teach repentance effectively and how to know if investigators are following the commitments of praying about the things you teach. After, we took pics and funeral pics for Elder Duzy. Later that day, we had a lesson with Nate and a visit with the Mullers. With Nate, we taught him how he needs to pray and ask if these things are true and experiment upon the word like it says in Alma 32. He is one of those people that thinks he just has to say, "Lord, show me the way," and he'll find his answer that way, as well as just coming to church and listening. He's not fully wrong, but he could go about it the right way. The Lord asked us to be direct and personal, not broad and hopeful. If we aren't telling Him exactly what we want, then He can't give the exact answer we need. It's frustrating how people don't think that way. Oh well. I don't know how long he'll last. 

Thursday 

Elder Duzy went to the temple for his last time, and we stayed behind and did work. We went and saw lots of people, but not much got done. We did service at the food bank. Later that day, we visited with our investigator named Mike. He's cool but talks way too much before we can get a lesson in. Later that night, we had mission coordination, and then we went to Lynden to pick Elder Duesenberry up. 

Friday 
I weekly planned while Elder Duesenberry packed and cleaned things off his phone and Elder Haselton did some work on his phone too. Since they’re both going, I had to weekly plan on my own. After, we did some work and then had dinner with the Asencios. We taught Nisha the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Saturday 
Saturday was an open day of work. Nothing really exciting. 

Sunday 
We had church. Elder Duesenberry said his last testimony in sacrament meeting. Then we dipped half way through church to get him to the James Street building to get picked up by the assistants. We took pics with him and then said goodbye. After, we drove back and did our study. Later that night, we had dinner with the O'briens. Then we went to the St. Roses for Elder Haselton to say goodbye to them. 

Elder Hammond, Elder Haselton, & Elder Duesenberry

Well, that’s my week. I hope yours was amazing, I'll see you soon. Bye for now. 

Elder Hammond

P-Day pics from last week