Week 98 Saying Goodbye to Elder Duesenberry

Hey everyone. This has been a pretty good week. Let's get to it. 

Monday 
We played volleyball and basketball at the stake center. We also did emailing. We had dinner with the O’Briens at a Mexican place. After, he showed us his long board collection. That was cool to see. 

Tuesday 
We just went and saw people that day. Nothing big to report on. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget instructed on teaching our investigators how to find their faith. Later that night we went to the food bank garden and helped there. That took the rest of the night. 

Thursday 
We had the food bank. Then we went to the stake center for interviews. I had a good meeting with President, and he helped straighten out some things with my comps. It's been a little better, but that's fine. I only have a week left with them. After that, we did some work and then had correlation meeting. 

Friday 
We weekly planned. We also helped move a piano and played softball with the ward. That was fun. 

Saturday 
We went to the temple for one of Elder Duesenberry's recent converts. He received his endowment. We also kind of took a detour into Seattle before it became a part of our mission..... Sorry we had to for the place we were going to for lunch. We had a good time. I took pics from the car. That took all day, and we were on an exchange. 

Sunday 
We had church and Elder Duesenberry's “dying dinner” with the Ray's. If you look on Facebook under the Mission Mom’s page, you'll find some pics there too. 

They dyed the hamburger buns black for the "dying dinner"

Well, that's it for this week. Love you all, and I'll see you soon. Bye!

Elder Hammond

Mount Baker (2 years ago)

With the St. Rose family from a couple weeks ago

Week 97 Stake Conference Lessons Learned

Hey everyone. This week has kind of been hard just because I'm sick, and not much has been getting done up here. I'm literally going to have to start over with this area next transfer because of all the time that is wasted by me being sick, having a bad knee, and my comps not really caring about the work sometimes. But it's fine. Here is the week! 

Monday 
We emailed, shopped, and played sports at the civic center. Then we spent the rest of the time emailing in Everson. 

Tuesday 
We went on an exchange with Elder Winget, our district leader. That was actually a pretty good day. We worked and tried to work hard. Elder Duesenberry did My Plan, and we also had lunch at Little Caesars. We had dinner with the Rapers and had a lesson with their grandkids, the Larranagas. We taught them the law of chastity. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. Elder Winget talked about how the Book of Mormon has the power to change people's lives. After that, we took the car in for an oil change. We also had lessons with the Mulers and the Asencio's. I don't remember what we taught the Mulers only because I was having an allergic reaction to their cat. But at the Asencio's, we taught them the plan of salvation for Nesha, their daughter, who we are teaching. 

Thursday 
We had our half mission zone conference with Elder Erich W. Kopischke of the seventy, and he instructed how the Book of Mormon and family history are the two main tools to conversion. He also taught that salvation and the spirit are personal things and exaltation can only happen by the family. That was interesting to think of. We also learned one more thing. Preach My Gospel states that we as missionaries should talk to everyone. Elder Kopischke emphasized something that we had never considered but yet I follow all the time because it's logical to do so and here is why. He said teach those that will receive you. The point is to talk to every person that will receive you. So, I follow that. It's great to talk to everyone, but not everyone is wanting to talk to you. You have to find the ones that are ready, and if a person is not interested just by looking at you, then you do not receive them because they are not the elect. It's complete logic. That was great to hear from him. 

Friday 
That was a rough day. My cold was getting worse from before, and we just did weekly planning and nothing else really big.

Saturday 
We helped Sister Fox in the ward move her boxes around again in her garage. We also had the adult session of stake conference. Elder Kopischke spoke at that. Once again, he blew our minds and taught us the only true way to minister to everyone was through the pure love of God. Once we understand Him, then we can minister better. He told us to follow the greatest command of all--1 to love God with all your heart and all your might, and the second is like unto it, love thy neighbor like thy self like the scripture says. After reading it, he explained that is how we should minister. If we love God with all our heart and might, then we will already be turning outward to our neighbors. That was interesting to learn. 

Sunday 
We had a great stake conference. Elder Kopischke spoke and so did President Wilding and Sister Wilding as well as the Canadian temple president and his wife and President Pringle. They all did a great job, and I learned a lot from them. I learned an interesting. statistic too--93% of investigators from last year did not get past the 3rd lesson or and got dropped. Elder Kopischke asked why is this? His answer was because people do not read the Book of Mormon. That is the ultimate source to conversion. That number scares me, but yet it's so true.... 

Well that's my week. I hope you all have a good one, and I'll see you soon. Bye! 

Elder Hammond 

Week 96 Keeping It Real and Trying to Work Hard

Hey everyone, another week here in Everson, and things are going okay. It's kind of hard being here now. Something has changed. Elder Duesenberry is really trunky now, so he just doesn't care that much for some of the work anymore, and what makes it harder is Elder Haselton is just following him because he kind of adapts to what his comps do. When it comes to me, I don't care how comps act or what they do, as long as we are working hard, finding people to teach, and are striving to be obedient. Since halfway through last week and this week, my comps have not been doing those things. It's really hard when I feel like I care more about the area then the other two, and I want to end my mission well, meaning working hard. I've told my leaders about this, and I pray every day for it. I just ask for all of those at home, please pray that things will change and that their hearts will soften more, because Elder Duesenberry has made it pretty clear to me that he does not want to change. We still get along and have a great time as a companionship, but I feel like we aren't as unified because of the attitude we all have for the work. Elder Duesenberry is going home soon, and he started his mission here, so he already has good relationships with people, so he sees no need to build new ones because he leaves in less than 3 weeks. I understand his point, but still that's not right. I just hope things change because it's not helping me. If it keeps going it will make me more trunky then I already am, and I can't give up on my Heavenly Father, not when I've already come this far. I guess you can say I'm back in the same state I was with Elder Addington. Both he and Elder Duesenberry are great people, and were/are great missionaries, but they just gave up so quickly. I hope that doesn't happen to me. Anyway, sorry about my complaining. It's just been a hard few couple of days when it comes to the work, but I'm still having fun out here. Anyways here are the highlights of the week.

Monday
We emailed and went shopping. We spent some time in the mall, but l never get anything when I go because I always waste too much money I don't have.  Later, we went back to our area to go on a hike with some of the zone. There is a mountain in our area that people came and shot gold into it and dug it out, took pictures, and then told people to come invest in their "gold mine". Once people payed them, they took the money and ran for it. However, all the caves and mines are still there. So, we went and hiked up to it, but didn't get to the cave because we got to a point, did a challenge of all of us running up this steep hill and then sliding down it. No one wanted to keep going, so we all just went back to the car. All we found was some old rusted mine carts at a small tunnel that was sealed off. That kind of made me sad that we stopped because we still had a lot of time left for P-day. We were almost to the cave, but the sisters got too tired, and one of the zone leaders wanted to go back... So, since my comps wanted to follow the crowd, we went back too. Idk, maybe we'll go again another day. Later that night, we had a lesson with Alyvia on tithing and fast offerings.

Elder Duesenberry, Elder Hammond, Elder Haselton

Hiking on P-Day

Tuesday

We didn't have much happen. We did a lot of visiting people and had a couple lessons. But nothing big. We had a lesson with the Larranaga family. We just reviewed the 10 Commandments with them.

Wednesday
We had district meeting, and Elder Winget did not instruct this week. Instead we had a discussion on how to help the members in our wards and about the hard times on our missions. It was really good, and I haven't had a distinct meeting like that in a while. President is kind of doing away with that. That's another thing I'm mad about for another time to complain about. Later that day, we did some service for Char, a member in the ward. That was hard because I was filling dirt into a wheelbarrow, and I miss stepped and made my knee pop out and back in again. I had to use my brace and my cane for the rest of the week because my knee was swollen and sore. I wish I could replace it. It's gone out on me so many times on my mission. We had a lesson with the Mullers, the family we helped move in last week. We just got to know them more. We did more service later, but I just sat on a bucket while my comps did the work.

Thursday
We went and helped at the food bank. We also had a visit with Nate, our blind investigator. We just got to know him more. He's a funny guy. We also had a lesson with the gardeners. We taught them why it's important to do service.

Friday
Nothing really happened. We just did weekly planning and tried to make visits.

Saturday
We did a lot of visits. It was kind of a slow day

Sunday
I gave a talk on how to get the best things from stake conference. It went well. I shared like 5 scriptures, and I was the last speaker, so I had plenty of time. We also went out to Sumas and saw some people later in the day. So that was all fun.

Well that's the week. I hope everyone has had a good one, and I'll see you soon. 

Elder Hammond

Week 95 Happy Memorial Day!

Hey everyone. It's been a pretty good week. Not a lot has happened. This week I'll give the highlights of the days. I may just do that from now on because it's kind of hard to write mass emails anymore. So, these will be big emails, just smaller in size. Anyway, here is my week. 

Monday 
We did shopping at a place called Deals Only. I didn't shop, but Elder Haseldon did. It's a pretty cool place. It's got cheap stuff. We did emailing after that. Then we went to a home up in the Laural area for a BBQ and sports. I got to play soccer. We also went next door to the cemetery and looked at all the flags. Later that night, we came back into Everson and did work and dinner. 

Our Zone on P-Day

Tuesday 
Elder Duesenberry did My Plan in the morning... That's what I will do next transfer....  We did some service for some members like digging holes and putting flowers in them. We also helped a new family move in. That was fun. They came from Ferndale, and their names are the Muelers. We also had a lesson with the Gardener kids. They are investigators we're teaching, and we just helped them understand the Book of Mormon better. 

Wednesday 
We had district meeting. It was pretty good but kind of tiring, I've been having a hard time going to sleep recently, and then there's days where I'm just out like a light. It's kind of weird. We had district lunch at Subway. Later that night, we helped lay sod at a member’s home. We also had dinner with the Barron's. Nice old family. Then we had a lesson with Tammy and Tiffiny, investigators. They had some questions that we answered.

Laying sod

 Thursday 

We helped at the food bank. The one up here is kind of better. However, it's run by a church, so they do it in their basement. We went and tried to see people throughout the day. Later that night we went to the Gambles’ home and addressed some concerns they had about the church. 

Friday 
We mostly weekly planned and saw people. We had no lessons, really. 

Saturday 
We did some service for Brother Hillman and put some rocks down on the ground to make an area for his car to drive through. Later that day, we had a lesson with a new investigator. His name is Billy, and he is a retired red neck that believes in God, doesn't go to church, but reads the Bible. He is really open to learn what we teach. Later that night, we had a lesson with Tammy and Tiffany. We taught them the plan of salvation, focusing on the spirit world. 

Sunday 
We had church. That's kind of it for Sunday. 

Well that's my week. I hope everyone like it better that way. Anyway, love you all, and see you soon #2monthsbaby! 

Elder Hammond 

Pics of the zone on P-day and us laying sod. 

Week 94 A New Area in Everson

Hey everyone! I'm in a new place! It's great, and not a lot has changed. Although it feels like things have. It may be the sun is always out now and the wind is blowing. The sun shining on us makes my hair look really dark, or maybe it's just the fact that I never left Bellingham and I’m in Everson. It could be that we had now 1400 miles instead of 850 a month, and we get to use 50 a day. I don't know. There's a lot to take in, and what doesn't help is I'm in a 3 pack again. I'm with Elder Duesenberry and Elder Haselton. It's great. Elder Euesenberry goes home this transfer, so I'm sending another home before I go home. Elder Duesenberry is from Nevada, Carson City, and Elder Haselton is from Virginia. Well, let's get to the week, shall we? 

Monday 
I was with Elder Rich, and we had a great P-day. We started with going shopping. I only got a couple things. Then we went to the church and emailed. After, we then went to the mall and got some things. I bought a gift for my investigator, Orion, who is getting baptized in Lakewood on June 30th. After that, we then went and hung out with Bellingham Bay. Then later we went with them and played sports with the zone leaders at the civic center. After, we ran by the Jones’s home and said goodbye to them for me before I got transferred. After that, we went home, got changed, and met up with Brother Schenck at a Mexican restaurant. We had a good time there, I got carne asada. After dinner, we went to the church and did area book work until it was time to end the night. 

Saying Goodbye to the Joneses

Tuesday 
Tuesday was a long day. All we did was go see people in the morning, and in the afternoon, no one was really interested or home. It was kind of sad. Later that night, we went over to Justin Best's. I got to say goodbye to him and take pics with him. I said goodbye to his family too. 

Saying Goodbye to Justin 

Wednesday 
We had transfers. We got picked up at 9 and drove down. Then I made the long drive back to Everson. We unpacked a little, and then we planned. After, we then went and saw some people. After driving around, we came back home, had dinner, and then drove out to Maple Falls to see the Asencio's. They are a family we a teaching. Their daughter is an investigator. Elder Duesenberry started his mission here so he wanted to go see this family because he was teaching them too. After, we came back to Everson and ended the night 

Thursday 
We had district meeting. Our district is okay. It is not as great as my last one. I only say that because we have lots of missionaries who just act like nothing is wrong in their lives, everything is just roses and ice cream. It's kind of hard to see their real personalities because it feels like they are just putting on a show. Anyway, Elder Winget instructed on repentance. Then we had lunch at Little Caesars. Then we came home and had comp study. Then we went to the church and did area book planning. After, we went and saw some people in Maple Falls. After, we then came back and had dinner. Then we went back out to Maple Falls and had a lesson with the Asencio's. We taught Nesha about the restoration and why it's important. We also pushed her date back. Then we came home and ended the day. 

Friday 
We started the day with weekly planning. After, we then went home and had lunch and did comp study. Then we went and did service for Sister Fox. Her garage got flooded so we had to move everything out. She's also a hoarder too, so it took us some time. Then we went and saw people for the day. There was a lot of traveling with seeing these people. After a while, we had dinner with the Hays. They’re members in the ward. Then we saw more people and then drove back home to end the day. 

Saturday 
We started the day with seeing some people. Then we went into comp study. After that, we went to the church and got the tiwi on our car replaced. It wasn't working properly, I guess. After, we then went in and helped put things away for an activity they had at the church. We got lunch out of it. Then we went and saw some people. After, we came back and had dinner at 8. Then we ended the day. 

Sunday 
We had church at 11. It was okay. Not what I expected. I don't know why, it just felt different. After, we then came home, did studies, and then had dinner at home. Then we went out and saw a few people before the day was over. 

Well that it. Sorry, it's not much, but I'm in a new area, so I don't know how much to expect really and not much has happened yet. I hope everyone has a great week. 

Elder Hammond 

Pics from the Joneses and Justin