Transfers to Wigan

Hey everyone!

So last Monday I went to what is called the Trafford Centre it is a massive indoor shopping mall. It literally blew my mind away it was pretty sweet. They had one part that was suppose to look like the streets of New Orleans. Also another part in the food court that looked like you were on a giant cruise ship. It was petty amazing.

We had a Family Home Evening with Jason last week. It went really well. Him and his daughter Milly were present for the lesson. We were chatting and Jason was like okay can be get the books out now. It was pretty remarkable. Jason said he has really seen the hand of God lately. He knows that his business wouldn't have been such a success if he hadn't of started to listen to us. Also his work schedule is starting to tune down a bit so he has more time to meet up with us again! So elder Sargent and Maughn will have to hit it hard with him.

We finally got to see Kyle and Cara again on Tuesday. We were in the area so popped in and Kyle was home. he had been working crazy hours before, but now it has started to slow down so he has more time for us. He really does have a solid foundation. I hope I get to be here when he gets married and baptised.

We continue to work with Phebe. She is progressing really well and has been going to YSA, so she has turned her life back around and has been going to church. I watched the new Mormon Message called Bullying this week. It was super good. You all will have to check it out. It really hit home to me, and I felt bad. So if there is anyone on here that I have bullied of affended in anyway, I am sorry. I didn't do it to be mean, I thought it was funny. and now I realize what that can do to people.

We met this man on the streets by the name of David. He is homeless and was telling us how to get into charity work. He said he was always curious about what mormons believe, so now he can find out. Also we visited Ray Jones again this week. He let us try out his headphones from the 80's ha they were super big but did the job. Ray is a character. He really is a nice bloke.

We walked this less active lady's dog on Thursday. That was an adventure. But I thing it helped her. She suffers from bad athritious so anything to help her we try to do. I don't know if any of yous have heard about green bowling? So it is kinda like olympic curling, only it's not on ice, its on a bowling green. one of the members is really into it and when we went to his home, he was showing us how you do it. It was really fasinationg.

On Saturday we had tea with our Bishop. He is really funny. And into missionary work. He has a plan to get all of the members to commit to going and teaching one hour in the month of April with the missionaries. Hopefully he can get all the members behind his plan.

So I got the transfer call on Saturday. I will be going to Wigan. It is in the Manchester stake. I told Chris and Kim about it, so on Saturday, we played a match of football with Jayden and some of his mates in the street. Wow I have not the first clue what to do when it comes to football. the little like 6 year olds were just a schooling me. We had alot of fun and built up a close relationship with Jayden. Then on Sunday, Chris and Kim threw me a going away party! They told me they were sad to see me go, that they had see me grow a lot and we had become really good pals. I agree with them I have grown to love the Martin family. I have seen the gosple change their lifes and know that they will continue to be great members of the church. Seriously they are like my second family.

This week has been full of good things, and good things happening. I look forward to see what Wigan has in store for me!

Love 

Elder Hammond

3/24/14

Hello Everyone,

This week of mine has been really great. Last Monday for P-day we went to the middle of Manchester and went shopping. It was pretty crazy to see all the new stuff coming out at Nike. And there was a Taco Bell there as well. I didn't eat there though.

I was on exchange this week with an elder from Singapore called Elder Chong. He is really good missionary. He plays the ukelalie so on the bus, some people asked him to play and everyone was on the bus listening to him play I am a child of God. and some people were even recording it. After that we went to one of our investigators, Jayden Martin's, football match. He is 9 and plays defender. I think he really liked having us there, and we were able to meet some of Kim's friends as well. Olivia the little daughter sang families can be together forever at the match while Elder Chong played the uke.

We had a knock on our door Wednesday night, it was a former missioary called Elder Tate Webster. He came back for a week with his dad and was showing him where he served. His dad grew up in Rexburg and now lives in Mesa.

After our exchanges we were on our way to the YSA building. On the bus Elder chong spoke to this chinese girl and set up an appointment for Saturday. On Saturday, Vicky and her friend came and toured the YSA building and came to church the next day :) people are so prepared.

We had Sports Day on Thursday. I spent 3 hours of non stop American football it felt sooo good to play agian:) that was until I woke up Friday morning, I felt l had been ran over by a truck I was so sore and stiff. But oh well it was worth it.

We have been working with the Martin's alot lately. We taught Chris his last lesson before he receives the Melcedizek Priesthood. About how to be a better husband and father. Fancy that a 19 and 20 year old teaching a 28 year old how to be a parent when he has 2 kids haha. But it went relly well. Then yesterday we were at their house for Sunday dinner. We really do have a strong connection with this family:)

So many amazing things have happened this week. I can't explain how excited I am that I am able to serve a mission that i have been blessed with good health. I am so very fortuante that I am servign in a place with many people prepared:)

Love Elder Hammond

3/17/14

So let me tell you a little bit about my week. Last Monday we had Family Home Evening at the chapel with a few familes from the ward. The other elders were in charge of the lesson, so we were in charge of the activity and treats. So we had a lesson about coming unto Christ, then it was our turn to share the spotlight. So we got a bunch of skittles and each person had a minute to get stuck the skittle out of the cup and get them into another cup. It was a fun game for the kids and I think it went really well. Hopefully the parents forgave us for giving their kids sweet at night time.. :)

We had alot of service this week to do. We helped this lady in our ward that is deaf. She needed her old stairs ripped out since she is getting new ones. And we have done alot of work for her. So we went there with a hammer and a screw  driver and got the job done! It was great getting to get out some anger on the stairs ;) jk we had to be really carefully so we didn't damage anything. It was fun. But now she wants us to knock down a wall and fit her door. We told her no, we can't do that for you.

I have been studying in Alma this past week. I am in the part where it is talking about the Sons of Mosiah. They go separate ways to teach to the Lamanites. In Alma 17, Ammon is a servant to king lamoni. Some men try to scatter the flocks, so Ammon goes to stop them. He has the protection of God and cuts off their arms! How crazy is that:) Ammon is one of my heroes. He isn't afraid to stand up for whats right. In the next chapter, he has the king's trust and the king wants to know more. So he is put into a coma for 3 days then wakes up and has a change of heart. It amazing how powerful the Lord is. He will protect us if we are doing what's right. and if we do get hurt, it is for the benefit of the church or God's sake.

We also helped Kim and Chris in their garden this week. The Martin family is the best! I could spend all day around them. They are so funny and down to earth. Also they have been working really hard with their friends and families. Our goal is to help in their garden, then in the summer have bbq's there and have them invite nonmembers so it is a nice way to introduce them to missionaries:)

On Saturday we have cordination meetin with our Ward Mission leader Moroni. He is the boss. He has a son called Hugo and him and his wife are super nice. We have breakfast at their home very Saturday morning. Then have our meeting to discuss misisonary work. On Saturday we found 3 people that are willing to meet up with us again. One had just quit her job and was really shooken up. The other had missionaries around when her kids were young. And the last had just moved from another area where he was taught by missionaries. It shows that the Lord is preparing people and directing us into their paths! I know that people's hearts are being prepared everyday:)

So yesterday was a pretty crazy day. We didn't have any sacrament cups. So we had to postpone sacrament meeting while someone went and got some. So we had the sacrament talks before the actual sacrament. It was bizzare. But hey the sacrament, the most important meeting in the church, was performed.

I hope you all enjoy your week!

Love Elder Hammond

Week of Adventures​!

Hello Everyone,

 

So this past week has been pretty amazing. The new, and the only YSA building in all of Europe, YSA building is done. It is right next to the busiest street in Manchester called Oxford Road. There are always college students on this road. I had the chance to go there 3 times this week. What an amazing building. It is so modern and slick. The church has put down some serious money on it. It is 6 stories with a glass elevator in the middle. The baptismal font is amazing it is in the bottom floor and is the center of attention in the room. The building will serve as Elder Donaldson's office, an area authority, and also a chapel, institure center, and activity center. What we did was about 6 missionaries were on the street inviting people in, and 6 were in the building some doing family history, other taking people on the tours. Finding was my favourite I have never seen so many college students in my life. We were able to get loads of people in. President Preston wanted the building and grounds to be like temple square. And I would say it was most defiantly a special spirit there.

 

Today we went on a hike around a canal. It is up in the mountains in a placed called Marple. It was great to get away form the city for awhile and just enjoy being in the quiet peaceful ceroundings. We are so blessed here, we went out in a t shirt and shorts :) The weather here is pretty darn nice.

 

My companion Elder Sargent and I have been seeing so many miracles. So a member in our ward asked us to visit her mom. So we decided we would Wednesday morning. We were on a road we had never been on before. And this man stopped us and started chatting with us. He said he had been looking for us. His wife was a member in Birghmingham. She passed away about 5 months ago. And he was really going through a hard time in his life not knowing if he would see her again. He walked 8 days to get to Manchester! He told us he would come to church with us. This man's name is Roy! And what a miracle he was. I know the Lord is directing all of our paths.

 

I have been studying the story about Jonah and the whale the past few days. What an interesting story. It's crazy how Jonah was a prophet the Lord asked him to preach to a wicked people he said no. and tried to escape so the Lord made a terrible storm. The people on the ship throw him overboard and the sea calms down and Jonah is in the whale for 3 days and 3 nights. Which is in simlitue to the Saviour and him raising after 3 days. Then Jonah still has to do the same task the Lord had asked him before. Sometimes that happens in missionary work, we get prompting, and if we don't listen we have to learn the hard way. Then we are still called to do the same work as before. It made me thing about my attitude.

 

I hope you all are getting as much sun shine and warmth as me :)

 

Love Elder Hammond

3/3/14