Riding on the Wings of Angels

Good Morning everyone,

I am very excited for Thanksgiving this week. It is a great time to reflect upon the blessing in my life and be truly greatful for all that the Lord has done for me. This week I am greatful for my good health and strength. We wished one of my good friends Elder Dudely off on Friday. He had been in his mission for about 3 months and jacked up his back really bad. So had to head back home. It made me realise that you never know when your time is up.

Mario made his way back from Spain! He brought us back some Spanish food, mostly salami and jamon jerky. It was very tasty and my companion was in love with it. Mario is amazing. We scheduled his baptism for the 20th of December. He is progressing really well. Elder Vaquera had this amazing idea to give Mario a shirt and tie that way when he comes to church he can look really nice. On Sunday morning we picked him up with Elder and Sister Hill. He had on the white shirt and tie, and a blue suit! He looked so good. And conference was great as well. The speakers were so well prepared and I was able to receive much needed revelation. Mario is a blessing to my life and I am so thankful that I get to teach him. He teaches me a bit of Spanish and I teach him a bit of English.

Saturday night we were at conference as well. We stood and sung How Firm a Foundation. I felt something very strong and powerful as we sang. Then the next speaker got up and commented on how much he felt the spirit whilst we sang. He felt as if there were angles there utmost us singing with us. I really thing they were.

I went on exchanges with an Elder Kissell this week. He is from Ohio and is a powerhouse convert. We visited a man called Mike. He has been taught my missionaries before and we thought it would be good to stop in. Mike has a great faith in Jesus Christ, he just expresses it a bit different. We sat down and Elder Kissell started asking inspired questions, it was great to see the way Mike reacted to each of them. They were heaven sent questions. At the end we invited him to be baptised so he prayed about it, then we sat in silence for a few minutes while Mike thought. Then he said come back next week and I will read from the Book of Mormon and give you my answer. Exchange miracles :)

I am so excited to go to the temple with my good friend Andrew this week!! It will be a spiritual feast on Thanksgiving!!

Love Elder Hammond

Moments of Greatness

This week on the wild life and adventures of Elder Hammond. It has been an adventure filled week. Last Monday I got to meet Debora for the first time. She actually starting speaking to Elder Vaquera on the bus about 2 months ago. She was taught my missionaries in Italy and in London and started taking lessons here. Three is the lucky number :) We sat and talked with her and got to know her. Then on Wednesday we went and taught her at her home with her mum and brother. The mum knows Spanish better than English so Elder Vaquera led out the lesson and talked about the Book of Mormon. The whole time even though I didn't know exactly what was going on, I could mostly understand. You could feel the spirit so strongly. And Debora even bore her testimony to her mum which was pretty powerful as well.

We had a bittersweet moment with Mario this week. On Tuesday we helped him buy his tickets so he could go back to Spain. He was leaving the next day. So we ate lunch with him and that was the last time I saw him... He will be back this week :) he just had to go back over and sort out some things with his house. He knows the church is true and loves the feels he has, we are hoping that in December he will be baptised.

I got a text this week from one of the men in the ward. He was baptised about a year ago and is getting ready to go through the temple for his own endowments. He is super solid and is going to be a great example to many here. He asked if me and my companion could come with him on his big day :)) So on Thanksgiving I will be at the temple with him! I am so excited I love the temple. And am thankful that we only live 25 minutes away. It's a great honour to be part of people progression in the gospel. To see first hand how much lifes can change through living the commandments.

It's hard to believe that Beau left on his mission 3 years ago yesterday... It's been 3 years since I have seen him. I would imagine both him and I have changed a lot in those 3 years. I did a bit of reflecting yesterday and how much I have seen my life change in those 3 years. It was such a blessing to have Beau got in the mission field. He set the example for me and I hope that I am setting that example for my little brothers to follow as well. I know that the Lord lives and loves each of us. That is why he put us in the families we are in. We all have different trials and hardships, but everything that isn't fair about life can be made right with the Atonement. I know that God does hear and answer my prayers. Not only for me, but for all of you as well. I am thankful for everyone that has prayed for me personally or the missionaires throughout the world. The Lord is Hastening his work. I have a strong testimony of this. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen.

I hope you each have a spiritually uplifting week,

Love Elder Hammond

11/10/14

Hey Everyone,

 

Mario is so golden!! :) Our good friend Mario has been progessing so well. We were able to meet with him twice this week. We watched the Restoration DVD in Spanish with him. I think it really helped out. Elder Vaquera bore his testimony in Spanish and the spirit was so evident. I loved it. Earlier in the week we taught him as well. We had planned on teaching him the commandments, but went into the lesson and the ball curved the other way. So Elder Vaquera ended up teaching about faith and the Book of Mormon. I was able to follow the whole lesson it was a miracle. Because I felt like it was the gift of tongues. even though I don't know exactly what was being said I could feel the spirit so it was all worth it. Mario also came to church yesterday and was fellowshipped by two men in the ward. They are the only ones that speak Spanish. He is such a blessing to be teaching :) and it's a blessing to have a Spanish companion.

 

It was Guy Fawks Night this week. It is a national holiday celebrating a man that tried to blow up parliament. He didn't succeed so that is why it is celebrated. It is a night were there are lots of fireworks and a big bonfire. It was a lot of fun. Also it's rememberance day tomorrow and I just want to thank all the people that have helped protect freedom throughout the world. It is great getting to be over here and see more of the bigger picture. I am in some of the places that were bombed during the war. So it is a great honour to walk the streets here.

 

Can I tell you just how much love and respect I have for my companion. He is amazing! He has been fighting off pneumonia for a few weeks now. He doesnt' complain at all just does his work and gets the job done. He is a blessing to me. and he loves to cook, so I can't complain about that. So if I gain a stone between now and Christmas that is why.

 

One more huge miracle that happen this week. We have been trying to get hold of this girl name Debora. She is from Brazil and was taught by missionaries in London. Then Elder Vaquera and his last companion met her on the bus. She was dated for baptism then something came up. We have been trying to get hold of her but she hadn't been answering our calls of texts. On Wednesday she randomly text us and we chatted for awhile then set up an appointment for today! It was such a miracle and tender mercy :) I am excited to meet and teach her!

 

The Lord is the master of the vineyard and what a great privalage I get to be part of his harvesting :) I know that the church is true and God does answer prayers. He will prepare the way for us all to return back to him and that is through his son and our elder brother Jesus Christ.

 

Have a great week I love you,

 

 

Love Elder Hammond

The Opportunit​y of a Lifetime

Hello Everyone,

 

This week was crazy with Halloween! You would never guess what I dressed up as, a missionary :) We had a ward activity; trunk or treat which was a lot of fun. We bought loads of candy for the kids, and ended up taking most of it home with us. We had our Spanish friend Mario come with us. He doesn't really know English but he is trying to learn and is doing really well. Even though there was a language barrier and he couldn't understand English, he had a smile on his face the whole night :) So I think he had a really good time.

 

We also had a returning less active family come to church. They got baptised in  February and haven't been out for awhile. but we visit them this week and introduced myself and invited them to the party and they came. They are an amazing family :) I love them already. They came to church this Sunday and the ward welcomed them in so well. They are happy to be back and they are having us over each week now. They want to have the missioanries in their home!

 

We had an opportunity to do a bit of finding on Oxford Road the busiest road for university students in all of Manchester. It is were the new YSA building is and WOW it is so busy! You have like 20 people tell you no before someone listens to you. And that is in a matter of a minute. So many people! And because I know so much Chinese, not really, I tried to say a few Chinese phrases. they laughed and started talking to us. Even though I can't speak it, it doesn't matter as long as the spirit is there.

 

I did have one crazy experience happen this week! Elder Vaquera has been telling me about this super start named Mike. He told me we needed to stop by. So on Saturday night we did. And boy was it mental. He answered the door without a shirt on and he is like 300 lbs. Warmly welcomed us in and then I started to gag. A very strong smell hit me! He breeds ferrets and there is 18 in his home right now. He sat down and started talking to us. He said that he has the gift of tongues and started to speak in some crazy language then I said the closing prayer and he kissed my companion hand. I laughed pretty hard. We left the house and I told Elder Vaquera we needed to burn our coats ;) it was an experience for sure!

 

I hope your experiences weren't as crazy as mine. Have a great week I love you all,

 

Elder Hammond