9/29/14

This week we met a man from San Diego. We were helping a member move some furniture to another house. We got back to their house before them. While we were waiting a cab drove up and dropped off a man. I noticed that he had on a BYU hoodie. I called across the street and said I liked his jacket. He looked a bit confused so we went and talked to him. He explained that he was from San Diego he was over here watching his daughter play basketball from BYU! They did a game somewhere over here. He carried on explaining that he wasn't a member but has had missionaires at his home for years. He cracked a few jokes about the church and invited us to have lunch with him the next day. Really nice man, boy its a small world!

We have been teaching Glenda so much! This week we taught her about the Word of Wisdom. She thought it was a really good idea to live if she wants to take care of her body. She carried on to explain how fizzy pop and other things were bad for our health as well. Then the members went and saw her Friday without us. It is amazing to see the friendship built there already.

Because it is refreshers week here in Bangor, a lot of companies are adverticing like crazy. One of them being Dominos. They had people all over town handing out vouchers for free pizza I thought it was a joke or some hidden catch. But there wasn't literally all the people in Bangor had pizza from Dominos! It tasted well nice I think it was because it was free.

We had tea at a members house this week. She invited our friend Christy to come as well. It was such a tender mercy to have Christy there, we taught her about he Plan of Salvation and she committed herself to church without us even asking! She thought church was really nice yesterday. The testimonies were very good, it was funny at the end of relief society we asked how she felt, she said brain washed,.. then she laughed. She has a good sense of humor.

Snowden was amazing last week the view was breathe taking!

Love you all,

092214

Hey Everyone,

So I am sorry I don't have much time this week to email. I climbed the tallest mountain in Whales, Mount Snowden today so I sacfriced some time so I could do that. It was a beautiful climb we went as a district so there was 8 of us missionaires there. It was a blast I got to climb with my good buddy Elder Elison. There were some gorgeous lakes and snecory all around. Also there is a train that runs up to the top of the hill, an apitamee of laziness if you as me :)

This week we had a special all elders training for all the elders in the mission. It was great to catch up with previous companions and get pictures with some that are about to go home. It is probably the last time I will see Elder Maljanen my Finnish companion. So it was pretty good. We also played sports so I was able to catch up on my American football and enjoy the time there.

Last Monday night a member through me a birthday party! They are a young couple with a few kids so they baked a cake and gave me a card and sang to me. It was very kind of them and it made me feel a bit at home :) then later that night the mission president and his wife called and sang me happy birthday as well! It was soo  good I love my mission president.

Hope you all are having a great September I love you,

Love Elder Hammond

91514

Hello Everyone,

This week one of our friends Hanna got baptised! It was someone that the other elders had been teaching. She is amazing and progressed really well. Her baptism was fabulous. The mission president came as well. We also had one of our friends Glenda there. This is the first time she had been in the church. She came early and we gave her a tour. Then helped her start on her family history. She was very impressed on how we ran the baptism. Then at the end of it the mission president asked when she was getting baptised. She told him she would let him know! It was powerful and she gave me a birthday gift as well. How kind is that. I hardly know her. She said my grandparents would do the same thing if her grandkids were in America.

We taught a lady named Christy this week. She looks up to us so very much. She said she wished that her grandson would marry a Mormon girl and settle down a bit. She wants to take things slow for now, but is willing read and pray. So it is a start. We also took a blind member with us to teach another woman we were teaching. It is amazing to see how people don't let their challenges get in the way of allowing them to share the gospel.

Glenda's lesson this week was spot on. Elder Rolfson led  out and invited her to be baptised.She said when she knows it is true she will be. She is already progressing so well :) I look forward to conitue to working with everyone in Gaer wen

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes! :) YOu all are the best I love you,

Elder Hammond

Destined for Greatness

Dear people that are about to read this,

Wow this week has been brilliant! Elder Rolfson had his first 5 weeks training on Tuesday and it was great to be with all the other trainers and hear about how things are going with training. I honestly think I was blessed to train one of the best missionaries. He is so willing to work hard and sacrifice in order for us to succedd as missionairs. He really is a blessing to me. Going to first 5 weeks brought back a lot of memories of when I went. It was last August but it seems not that long ago. I remember thinking, I have been out in the field for 5 weeks! And all the excitement of everything being new and so much to learn. I have learned a lot and like to think I have grown into a better more developed servant of the Lord.

After first 5 weeks we went to a carvery. The closet one just happen to be in Stockport! Which was like a flashback as well the last time I was in that carvery I was serving with Elder Sargent. It also brought back many great memories and people that we taught there.

I decided to have a bit of fun this week as well. I have been talking up this spread for sandwiches called Marmite. It is a yeast extract that honestly is horrible. We bought some this week and I told Elder Rolfson how good it was, him being all trusting in me spread it on his pancake then when he ate it he almost threw up. I was laughing so hard I couldn't help but feel bad for him. So I decided to try it as well. I made a cheese toasty then put the marmite in it. The first few bites were alright, then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I started to gag and almost threw up myself. I guess what comes around goes around :P

We met a lady last week with her grandson on the street she gave us her address and we decided to try by this week. She wasn't in, but then we ran into her on the street she invited us in straight away and we began talking with her. She was such a nice lady, first thing she did was pour me a glass of Schloer,... :) I love me some Schloer! And we got talking with her, she lost her husband about 7 years ago and is still pretty bitter about it. She use to believe in God but doesn't right now. She wants to renew her faith and know that she will see her husband again. We are teaching her tonight with a member. This should go really well.

Oh and one more person. We met a man named Jamal the first or second week we arrived in Bangor. We got his number and decided to text him and set up a  time to meet. He took us to a coffee café and we talked and drank hot chocolate with him. He is was very genion and wanted to learn about the Book of Mormon. He wants to come to conference this next month and see what the living day prophet has to say! He was a diamond in the rought. So goldern :)

I love my missionary and love the people I am able to serve with. It truly has been the best time for me to find myself as I focus on other people. I thank the Lord every night for this privelage and know he will bless each of you. I love you all have a great week

Elder Hammond

This is my trainer Elder Kunzler and the Elder he is training Elder Lybertt and me and Elder Rolfson. A desendency photo

Forever Strong

Hello everyone!

This week I was on the train talking to this Bahi lady. Bahi is another faith, she was very nice and had met missionaries before where she lives. Then a police man came up behind me and asked if I was a Mormon missionary trying to convert people. I answered him straightley and said yes. He told me that I need to respect peoples space and if they didn't want to talk then don't force them. I said okay then the Bahi lady asked me what it was all about. I just laughed and said sometimes people get scared around people in suits. Then we talked the rest of the train ride.

We taught Glynda again this week. It went really well. We watched the Restoration DVD with her. She thought it was pretty amazing how he had the vision and because of it we know that God and Jesus Christ are separate beings. We will be teaching her tonight with a member.

We were tractin on this street that a member gave us and we ran into a recent convert family from Warrington. I knew them because Wigan and Warrington are right next to each other. they were on holiday and thought it was pretty remarkable to run into us. Just shows the Lord is always directing us.

I love you,

Love Elder Hammond