Week 24 All Moved In

Hey everyone. This week has been really crazy, but let's get right to it.

Monday

We settled into our new apartment. Then we went to Target and did some shopping and ate at Costco. Elder Soelberg has a card. Then we went and played basketball and had a fun time. It was a good p-day. Then after, we had dinner with the Hoovers, members in our ward. After dinner we tried to have a lesson with a new investigator named Cody, and he bailed on us... It made me sad. Then we visited some people and went home to unpack.

Tuesday

We had mormon.org time, did some service, emailed you guys, visited some people, and tried to get lessons, but no luck.....We'll see what happens with that.

Wednesday

We had a lesson with Kelly, and we taught her the 10 commandments. The sad part is Sunday we found out she has some problems, and I cant talk about them because it involves one of the commandments, and I'm not allowed to talk about these problems because of my rules and calling as a missionary. We are hoping we can help her in every way we can. We also got a return appointment with someone, and we are seeing this person tomorrow! Hopefully it all works out.

Thursday

We went to Darrington and had lessons with Jason Henry and the Powell's investigators we just picked up Thursday and the week before. They are great people, and we want to teach them more, but we only go to Darrington once a week... It's sad, but we had a good day and a lot of success. 

Friday

We went to the food bank, had lunch, weekly planned, and that's it.

Saturday 

I went on exchange with Elder Wake from Arlington Ward. We had a lesson with Lydia, and we showed her that God still loves her and is looking out for her. We also went and visited a lot of people and had dinner with the Dicksons, a family that remind me of Aunt Barbara and Uncle Klar. Then I exchanged Elder Wake back for the night.

Sunday

We had church and ward council, etc. We planned, studied, and then visited some people. It was a pretty good day. We had dinner with the elder's quorum president's family and had a good time. Then we visited people and had a good night accounting.

Well, that's my week. I'll send a spiritual thought next week. I don't have too much time. Love you all! Have a good week. Bye.

Elder Hammond

Week 23 A New Missionary Schedule

Hey everyone. This week has been really short and really crazy, so let's get to it.

Monday

It was a normal p-day. We had FHE. We went to the new ward mission leader's house to see how he was doing. His wife was in the hospital, and we were able to help her and visit her. It was good to see she was doing well.

Dinner and "Noches de Papas" FHE

Tuesday

We went and visited a lot of people, did some service, painting for someone in our ward, visited some more people, had dinner, got some referrals, stuff like that.

Wednesday

We had district meeting and Elder Soelberg instructed on baptism goals and committing people on date. It was a good meeting. I learned so much, and it helped me to understand why we ask an investigator if they want to be baptized after the first lesson. After, we did some more service and went and visited some people. Then we had dinner and had a new member lesson with the Kurtzers. They really liked it. We talked about following the prophet and the word of wisdom. Then we helped with the mini missions the youth did, and then the night was over, and we went home.

Thursday

We had zone conference, and it was a very spiritual meeting. We talked about having love for your investigators before you meet them just like Ammon did in the book of Mormon. We also talked about how we can have love for our companions and others, and how to teach people that are not interested. It blew me away from what I learned, and I can't wait to continue to apply it to my mission. Our schedule has changed, and you can read about it on my letter to my dad. I sent him the email for mission prep.

Dear Family, friends, and the mission prep classes

(please read this to the mission prep class leaders, and teach it to the youth.)

The church has now changed some things in the missionary's schedule. It is no longer this:

6:30 Am arise, pray,exercise, and prepare for the day

7:30 breakfest

8:00 personal study

9:00 companion study

10:00 proselyting 

9:00 pm plan

10:30 bed

Now it is this:

We now have more agency to do what we want at what time but from 6:30 to 10 and from 10 to 9 we do all our planning in the morning and do everything else as follows, this is all brand new and you can put all these thing in the order you want, but they have to fit in those time frames, missonarys will be getting new hand books new PMG, new alot of things, weekly planning will be changed but we dont know when or how, and there is more to change i just dont know what yet. so please infrom everyone about this. thank you

Elder Hammond

Friday

We did service at the food bank, had a lesson with a former and gave her a blessing to give up smoking, did some weekly planning, and had a lesson with a new investigator. It was great until that night we found out that we had to move from our apartment with the other elders....😢😢😢😢

Saturday

I went on an exchange with the zone leaders and was companions again with Elder Kirk for the day!!!!! It was so much fun. He's changed quite a bit. He's a lot more fun to be around, and I think his last companion helped him out with that, but it's way cool because he teaches me so much! There's something I always have to write down about his teaching that I could use or something he tells me that I have to write it down so I don't forget it. We went and visited a lot of ysa's and bowled with the old folks. Then I exchanged back. 

Sunday

We had church, and during church we had a lesson with Kelly. We taught the law of chastity... following the prophet, priesthood, and blessings........ ya, that was an interesting lesson. I don't want to talk about it, but we learned something about her that we didn't expect to come from her, and it was really crazy. She felt she couldn't follow it fully because of reasons, but we gave her a blessing. It was really spiritual experience for her and me because I gave it, and I have never spoken ever in my life so powerful words like I did in that blessing. It comes to show that my patriarchal blessing is coming true. "You will exercise your priesthood in behalf of many. As you lay your hands upon their heads, you will feel the spirit of revelation come to you regarding the things you should say."

After that, we studied, had dinner, and then weekly planned. It was a fun Sunday

I will tell you all about yesterday next Monday.

My spiritual thought this week comes from Elder Holland, and I can't say it better than him, so I'm going to let him say it. Look it up!

http://laytreasuresinheaven.com/feed-my-sheep-elder-holland/

Elder Hammond

Week 22 Kurtzer Family Baptism

Well, what a week this has been! People left. I got a new companion, and we had 3 baptisms this week. It was awesome!!! So let's get to it.

Monday

We did normal p-day stuff like email, shopping, basketball, and packing Elder Stoddard's bags... 😢😢

Tuesday

Elder Stoddard said goodbye to a lot of members, and we went off to transfers. I picked up my new companion, Elder Soelberg, who was with Elder Lindsey in Port Gardener. It's funny though because Elder Lindsey was Elder Poulsen's companion 2 transfers ago. Elder Soelburg is way fun and way cool. The Lord has blessed me with really cool companions, and guess what? Elder Kirk is my zone leader again!! He was one of my companions in Bellingham. It's so cool! After getting him, I took him to a burger joint in our area for his first dinner, and he loved it. Then we went and introduced him to members, and they really liked it.

Wednesday

We had district meeting, visited members, went to find people, tried to have lessons, but we only had one lesson that day with Kelly. We taught her the law of tithing and tried to get her back on date with the 21st. She said she will pray about it. We haven't heard from her since, so I don't know what's going on with her. We gave Lydia a blessing and taught her about it We had the Kurtzer's baptism interviews which went way longer then needed... We were late getting home that night. but that's ok.

Thursday 

We went on an exchange with Elder Jensen. It was a lot of fun to 3 pack again. We went and got a lot of member referrals, and we went to talk to a lot of people to try to have lessons. We had a fun day. Elder Jensen is a super fun elder.

Friday

We went and helped at the food bank. Then we dropped wood off for Lydia. We tried to have a lesson with someone, but when we got there, no one was home... it made us mad because she said she would be there, and the situation could have been handled better when we talked to her on Thursday, but oh well. We had a lesson with the Kurtzer's to finish all the lessons off with them, and then we sized them for their jumpers for their baptism!!!!

Saturday

We dunked the Kurtzer family, and I baptized them with Elder Stoddard. We helped at the old folks place, went to Darrington, and had a lesson with Alex Deval, an old former that we picked up again for an investigator. Then we went to visit some people, got referrals from the Mauldins, and went home so we could study and end the day.

Sunday

We confirmed the Kurtzers. I was able to do that. We went to church, did weekly planning, and that was it for the rest of the day. 

Sorry it's a little short, but I hope everyone is doing well at home. Tell Elder Stoddard's family that their son was an awesome missionary, and I miss him dearly. Love you all, and have a good day!

Elder Hammond

Week 21 Staying in Stillaguamish

Well everyone, I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that I'm staying in Stillaguamish. The bad news is Elder Stoddard is not.... I am losing a best friend. Am I happy about it? No, but the Lord wants him to do some work somewhere else now, and he wants me to help finish everything here. Since I am behind telling you about a last week, I'm going to tell you! 

Monday

So since we went to the temple Thursday, Monday was just a regular day of work. We visited a lot of people, and that was pretty much it. Not much happened.

Tuesday

We had a lesson with the Kurtzers, and we watched The Restoration with them. They liked it, but what we really want them to do is get a testimony of Joseph Smith. We still don't know if they have one, but we are going to try our best to help them before Saturday because they get baptized that day. 😊😊😊 It makes me so happy. We visited a lot of people that day too.

Wednesday

We had 3 lessons. One of them was with Lydia, and we talked about the atonement with her and helped her see that God really loves her. As I bore testimony to everything that had been said, the spirit was so strong in the room that she started to cry. As I gave my testimony, she said she didn't know why she was crying, but Elder Stoddard and I knew, and we put her back on date for the 21st of January. She is doing so well, and I can't wait for her to be baptized. Then we had a lesson with Kelly, and it worked out pretty well. We talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then at the end, we gave her a word of wisdom pamphlet because she said she had some problems she needed to work out with that. She is now off date because of reasons...😑 but we are going to put her back on date for the 21st because I feel that she can be baptized on that day. I don't just feel, I know. The spirit has made it known unto me and Elder Stoddard that there is no other day. Therefore, I know it, and I know God knows it. Therefore I cannot change her date, for that reason. Then we had a lesson with the Kurtzers again and helped them progress.

Thursday

We went to the temple, an awesome experience. Then we had the rest of the day to have fun and email you guys and shop.

Friday

I went on an exchange with the zone leaders, had a good time, tried to teach some people, but not a whole lot of luck... 😑 That's ok. I have faith in them.

Saturday

New Year's Eve was great! We had a lesson with Kelly about the word of wisdom and found out she has a coffee problem too. Why do we have a lot of investigators that have problems with coffee? All of them do, even Lydia... but anyway, she said she can try. We will help her when needed. Then we taught the rest of the plan of salvation to Lydia and helped her out there. Then we had to come in at 5 and do weekly planning.

Sunday

We had no investigators at our sacrament meeting, but Granite Falls had the Kurtzers at theirs. They switch off every week with our ward and theirs. We hit our standards this week, and it made me really happy!!!! That's it for Sunday.

So that's it for this week. I've got to go, but I hope everyone is having a good week. Love you all!!

Elder Hammond

Week 20 Merry Christmas

So I messed up on the weeks. Last week was suppose to be week 10, not week 9, but oh well. It's said and done. I'm going to do it a little differently today. So since it's a Thursday, and I didn't get to send an email on Monday, I'm going to send this email and talk about last week. Then this coming Monday, I'll talk about what happened this week. 

so last week

Monday, December 19th, 2016

So we had p-day and did some emailing and shopping, you know, the normal stuff. We also cleaned up the apartment and got it ready for inspections. Then we went and played wallyball with the Spanish elders and had a blast! After p-day, we had dinner and visited some people. We didn't see too many people, but we had a pretty good day.

Tuesday, December 20th, 2016

We went on an exchange with the Spanish elders, and it's crazy how many investigators they have. They have 9, and I thought I was doing good with my 5, but I guess I was wrong. The problem is they don't come at set times. They just go by and see if they can meet with them that day. It is crazy and unheard of, but that's ok. They are getting the work done. We visited a lot of people out there, went to the food bank, had mormon.org time, and then exchanged back. It was a fun exchange. I got pics from it, but I lost my SD card at the other library :( That's ok. I'll get a new one. 

Wednesday, December 21st, 2016

We were all over the place, like all over the place. We went from one person to the other trying to find people to teach. We met some people, taught some things, left Christmas messages with members, and then had a lesson with the Kurtzers and reviewed the baptismal questions which was good because it was able to help us help them to understand what we needed to teach them and what they still needed to learn. We learned they have a hard time with the word of wisdom with coffee, keeping the Sabbath day holy, tithing, and knowing if Joseph Smith is a true prophet...  That's a lot, but we were able to work a lot of it out to help them to become more converted to it, and they are on date for the 7th of January. We have 5 investigators and the the others, Kelly and Lydia, are on date for the 21st of January which will be good if it all works out. I have no doubts.

Thursday, December 22nd, 2016

We had the half mission conference, and that was so cool. President Wilding talked to us and many other missionaries as well. Several musical numbers were played, and I got to play the violin for one of them. It was a lot of fun. I used one of our member's violins, and it worked out great. I played O Little Town of Bethlehem, and everyone liked it. We also watched 17 Miracles. That was President's Christmas present to us. That was great to see again. I got your presents and the cards from the primary, and thank you so much, guys, for all those gifts and card! It made my day!! After, we went and visited some people and talked about Christmas with them. It was a good day.

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 Christmas Adam

See what I did there?... Eve, Adam, hahaha! Anyway, I got sick with the flu!! But I'm doing better now. I figured out that I'm actually having heart burn, but I'm taking some medication to get rid of it. We tried to have a lesson with the Kurtzers, but they canceled on us, and we had one with them this last Tuesday which I'll talk about it in my next email. That was it for that day. It also snowed that day.

Saturday, December 24th, 2016 Christmas Eve

we shared Chistmas messages with lots of members and then had to by in by 7 but as well we did some caraling with the other elders, it was way fun. then we weekly planned and played games for the rest of the day the snow was still on the ground

Sunday, Christmas Day

We had an hour of church, and then we went to the Simbecks home for the rest of the day. I got to call home and talk with you guys!! Then we did some acts of kindness and had tacos for dinner. We opened the presents at 6:30 in the morning and loved all of them. Later in the day, we had to be in by 7, and we played games and had fun. I got Justin and Eric's present. By the way, thank you. I love Snoopy so much!! 

Today, going to the temple put me really into a spiritual mood, and I'm feeling good for the rest of the day. I wanted to send a spiritual message to every one of you at home. If you haven't been to the temple in a long time, please GO!! If you say, "Oh, I don't have time to," that probably means it's been too long, and you need to go. The temple will open your eyes to some thing new you never knew before. I received revelation and comfort for my area and my family today as I sat in the celestial room today, which was the first time in a while I had felt really close to my Heavenly Father. The temple shows us more then life long questions and answers. It can answer questions of the soul. If you haven't gone in a while, please go. Our spirits need that regaining strength that the temple offers. Don't forget that. I know these things are true, and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 Elder Hammond

 

Week 19 Almost Christmas!

What a week this has been! Honestly, I wasn't expecting any of what happened this week to happen. Let me answer some questions first. Then I will get to the week.

Have you worn your boots? 

No... because I have to get them approved by president, and that's harder then it seems. I'll do it when the snow stays more on the ground then just 2 days so far. Although I could use them for Darrington. We'll see.

Do you have enough warm gear?

Yes, with a capital Y! I am so warm when I walk outside. It's so great!!! I don't need anything else.

Now for the week.

Monday

We had a good p-day. We went shopping, emailed, and played wallyball at the sac. It was a lot of fun! Then we had dinner and visited some people. Not to much that happened.

Tuesday

Tuesday was really sad. I went on an exchange with Elder Jensen, Elder Butler's companion, who is the ZL. I woke up at 2:00 in the morning and found him throwing up in the bathroom. I had to call Sister Grizeny who is the health missionary for the mission and had to stay up with him until everyone else was awake. It was so bad!! Once everyone else was awake, the other missionaries ran over, and we exchanged back for the rest of the day while Elder Jensen had the flu!! It flu me off guard!! Hahah... See  what I did there!!? ;) Anyway, I went back with Elder Stoddard, and we went to Darrington for the day. We had a good time with that, and we went and shoveled a lot of drive ways, bought some gifts for Tyler, and then went home to see how Elder Jensen was doing. When we got back, he was still way sick and had been sick all day... not fun. Then we had dinner and visited some people in Arlington. Then we came home to plan.

Wednesday 

We had zone meeting, which was weird because we aren't suppose to have them any more, but since the snow canceled interviews last week, we had to have it. It was great! Elder Butler talked about obedience and being dignified. It was a great meeting, and it really opened my eyes to some things, so much that I actually needed to go on an emergency exchange with Elder Butler because I was felling really stressed about something that I was struggling with and some things that were bugging me about Elder Stoddard. During this exchange, Elder Butler taught me a lot about confidence and how I can gain more of it. He gave me some things to study and gave me a blessing of comfort. After that, Elder Stoddard and I got back together and planned for the next day.

Thursday

Thursday we went to the other side of our area, not Darrington, but close by...Standwood. We visited a lot of people. It was a pretty good day. Not too much happened. Oh, oops! We had 5 lessons this week with our investigators, and they are getting ready for baptism. We have a baptism coming up on New Year's Day. I hope it works out!!!

Friday 

We helped at the food bank, weekly planned, and then visited some people and did some service for a family. It was a pretty good day.

Saturday

Saturday was exchange part 2 with Elder Jensen. I got to work in a YSA ward again!!! Oh my gosh, I love YSA wards! They are so much fun!!! Anyway, we had 3 lessons with investigators there, had interviews with president, and then later in the day, I put one of their investigators on date for the 21st of January. It was great, if I do say so myself. Then I exchanged back with Elder Stoddard, and we had a lesson with the kurtzer family and talked about tithing!!

Sunday

Sunday it snowed all day until like the end of the day. Church went for 2 hours, and then Elder Stoddard and I went home and did what felt like a whole lot of nothing. Then we had dinner... haha jk. We had personal study, comp study, and weekly planning. Then we slid on ice in the jeep, almost died... That's ok. My defensive driving class taught me how to work with that. So we were good. No one died. 

So my spiritual thought today comes from Mosiah 16:9, and it says: 

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea a light that is endless that can never be darkened; yea and also a life which is endless that there can be no more death." 

This year, Christmas is really focused on how He is the light of the world. As we continue to follow Him, I want you to really notice how He is that light in this world. He stands supreme with glory. Love you all and see you soon.

1. 1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
   With all my heart to him I'll sing;
   I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
   In grand amens my tongue employ.
   I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
   On earth to dwell his soul did come.
   He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
   Good works were his; his name be praised.
2. 2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
   As Mary's Son he came to reign
   'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
   To save them from the woes of sin.
   I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
   Who did gain all his Father hath,
   Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
   That ye, my friends, with God may be."
3. 3. I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!
   My feet he plants on gospel sod.
   I'll worship him with all my might;
   He is the source of truth and light.
   I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
   From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
   And I shall live with joy and love
   In his eternal courts above.
4. 4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
   From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
   And while I strive through grief and pain,
   His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
   I believe in Christ; so come what may,
   With him I'll stand in that great day
   When on this earth he comes again
   To rule among the sons of men.

 

Week 18 Family Search, Mini MTC, and Elder Mason

Hello, everyone!!! It has been a crazy week, so let's get right to it!!

Monday

So Monday was great! We had a fun time emailing, shopping, and playing basketball because the SAC was closed. Then after that, we had dinner, and Elder Stoddard and I tried to go see some people before the donut party that the Arlington Ward puts on. Then we went on splits with the Arlington elders and did some street contacting. It was a good day. Not a whole lot happened, but we had a good day.

Tuesday

Tuesday we visited a lot of people and went to Brother Brown's for breakfast. We talked a lot about family search. The best part about that is now I know how to do it a little more. Before, I knew Aunt Alisha did a lot of it, and I didn't know where to start, but thanks to Brother Brown, one of the family history consultants, I was able to understand how to work it. It's really cool what you can do with family search. We also did some service for a sister in our ward, which was the first time I had ever done service in regular clothes. It felt so weird, but we did it. 

Wednesday

We had district meeting, and Elder Stoddard instructed us on diligence and being dignified in our calling to God. It's always a good pep talk from a district leader, right!? Then after that, we did some service and had some dinner. Then Elder Stoddard and I went on splits, and I went and was in charge of the mini MTC night we had with the youth. It went really well. I will have to tell you about it later because I'm running out of time. Elder Stoddard had lessons with investigators, and he did a good job with that.

Thursday 

We went to Darrington and visited a lot of people, got two return appointments for Tuesday, and went to seminary. We had a good time there.

Friday

Friday we got snowed in, so we got grounded from our cars. We had to walk around and do weekly planning all day. It made me so mad because we live 5 miles out of the area, but that's ok. Later that night we were able to drive the car again and I went on exchanges with Arlington.

Saturday

I was on an exchange with Elder Poulsen. He's been out almost as long as Elder Stoddard. We drove to Comano Island for a breakfast with President Flake, one of the stake president's counselors. We had a good time. Then we went back to Arlington and visited a lot of people, had a lesson fall through, did some service at the old folks place, tried to get some lessons in before dinner, had dinner, and then visited some more people. It was a pretty good day.

Sunday

When I was at church, I saw Elder Mason, a missionary that served in my home mission in West Jordan a couple of years ago!!! He lives in Marysville. He's so cool, and he's in the YSA ward, so it's even better!! Then we had lunch with our new ward mission leader, did our studies, had dinner, and then went to the nativity festival the stake put on. It was so cool. There was a Jesus picture room, lots of nativities and a choir singing for us. It was great!

the former Elder Mason and Elder Hammond

Well, that's it for this week. I'll see you next week.

Elder Hammond