Come Let Us Adore Him

Merry Christmas Everyone :)

 

You know this week leading up to Christmas has been so busy and eventful. I can't believe that it's time to email again. Weeks are seeming to get shorter and quicker, time speeds up this time of year. As I draw an end to this the year of 2014 I can't help but express my appreation for the Saviour and Messiah of the World.

 

Last week I was able to go to the Elder and Sister Cordon's home. For those that's don't know they are from my home stake and live just 3 miles from me. I am so thankful for their faithfulness to come and serve a mission. Listening to them share their stories about how they have touched a few families lives in this green and pleaseant land has inspired me. They are such a lovely couple and it was great to see a powerpoint about when Elder Cordon rode his bike all the way across America from one coast to another. They are great people and I made two new friends.

 

Tuesday was temple day :) We went with half of the mission to the temple in Chorley. Me and my companion were able to do endowments for 2 of my ancestors both from Germany. They were born in about 1760! So they had been waiting for us to help them out. I learned so much from the temple. Every time can be a revelatory time. I just love the feelings when I go inside and get to be in the house of the Lord.

 

As a district, about 10 of us missionaries, we went and carolling in a place called Romily on Saturday. I can't sing very good, but we had some amazing voices from the other missionaries help us out. We stood in town square for about half of an hour singing and talking to people about Christmas time and the true meaning. Then we started going door to door to different people. There were people so touched an in tears, and not because we sounded bad. You could see the spirit touch them. We went to a nursing home and sang as well. They are lovely people and were some of the kindest.

 

I gave a talk in sacrament meeting this week. You would think I would be more comfortable speaking in front of people, but I still had the butterflies and sweaty palms when I went up. I talked about the need of a Saviour and why it was so important that he came to earth. I could really feel my testimony increase as I prepared and got to study the scriptures about this sacred event.

 

I want you all to know that I have a testimony of God. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He cares and thinks about us every second of the day. We may not always see his hand in our lives, but he is there. We just have to open the door and let the holy ghost touch our hearts. I know he and his son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith on the spring morning of 1820. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. He came to fulfil his sacred duty. But none of this would be possible, and he would have had nothing to restore if it hadn't been for Jesus Christ coming to earth. He is the living Christ and I know that because of him I can be with my family forever. He suffered and bled for me and my sins. What a great time to come closer to him and partake of the salvation he has so willingly given to each of us. I bear you my witness in the name of our Lord and Saviour Amen.

 

Have a Happy Christmas Love Elder Hammond

Joy To the World

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

This week we had zone meeting. It seemed like half the zone was brand new. We have missionaries that speak 13 different languages! So I am very lucky to be serving the in Manchester stake as a native English speaking missionary. This stake is full of miracles and the explosion has taken root  here. We have the best senior couple in your ward the Hills. At your zone meeting, we planned out a skit we are going to be doing next week at your missionary Christmas party. We decided to do the 12 days of Christmas missionary addition. It is pretty funny. Hopefully someone records it and it makes it's way onto facebook or something. It will be a great sight to see.

 

The launch of He is the Gift has been amazing. I love Christmas time because through all the business of the time of year, people genially think more about the Saviour and think about others. Even if they don't catch the true meaning of Christmas, at least they are being more generous to others. We shared the special video with a member and her less active granddaughter. She was in tears by the end of it. It was amazing to see the spirit touch her heart. She came to the ward party of Saturday and agreed to have me and my companion over this week. I am super excited to use the Christmas season to bring everyone one step closer.

 

This week I was working on my family history and was able to print off 100 names for my family to do baptisms for. It is a family tradition to go to the temple during the Christmas break and do work for our ancestors. Since I am in England and it would be hard to participate in it, I decided to do family history work and that's my way of helping.

 

Saturday I woke up and looked out the window to see a bunch of white all over I thought it had snowed a bunch, It was really thick fog that had come durning the night. It lasted most of the day so it was kinda crazy. Saturday we were able to teach two new families on the bus. It was our concerated finding for the month were we specifically just go finding for new people to teach. It was great to see the Lord's hand in this.

 

My companion and I decided to drop the people we were teaching because they weren't really progressing. It was an act of faith because we felt that there were more people out there ready for the gospel. Sunday we went to church and a member brought two of  her friends to church. They were two of the people that we had dropped earlier. After the trial of your faith, you will be rewarded. I know that the Lord's way is the only way we will be able to be prepared to return back to God. I know that Christmas time is truly a time for all of us to give a bit more or ourselves and become more of what the Lord wants us to be. Have a safe and Happy Christmas

 

Love Elder Hammond

Spiritual Thanksgivi​ng!!

Hello Everyone,

 

The highlight of this week was going to the temple on Thursday with my friend Andrew. I haven't been to the temple in so long and it honestly felt like Christmas. I was counting down the days till I got to go. I woke up in the morning and said a prayer. I prayed that my ancestors would accept the work that I did in their behalf. I had a great feeling of love and warmth come over me. I know that my ancestors were there with me and they were even more anxious for me to go than me. We got to the temple early so my companion and I took some photos and looked around. Then we went in early so we could sit in the temple and just ponder. It is an amazing feeling to take all the worries of the world out of my mind and just be taught. I received some specific answers to my prayers and know that my family is being watched over. The best feeling is being in the Celestial room. I think because I did a family name I was able to get more out of the session. I felt of God's love for me, and for those that had passed on. I felt part of the bigger plan.

 

I was sad to leave the temple, but we will be back soon so I can't wait. Elder and Sister Hill took us out to eat for Thanksgiving meal. We had a carvery and it wasn't as good as my mum's pie, or grandma's food but it was really nice. And l ate way to much :) It was a great thanksgiving.

 

My mission president has a sense of humour! On Friday he called us to tell us that Elder Vaquera and I would be staying together another transfer. He told me it was a hard decision keeping me with him or putting me with a sister. I laughed pretty hard :) I am so thankful that I get the opportunity to be with Elder Vaquera another transfer. Me and him get along so well and the ward loves him. He is dead funny and you never know what is going to come out of his mouth.

 

I got this new talk called Life Is a Game of Football by Troy Dunn. It compares the plan of salvation to a football game. I love it, football has always been my favourite and the way it is done makes me want to go out and work harder. I am one of the recruiters scouting for the lord's team.

 

We had some amazing miracles happen this week. Last night we were street contacting at about 8. We met this man named James, he is in the army and wanted to know a bit about what we believe and why we left our families to come over here. He was very prepared and we shared about the Saviour's love for him. He agreed to have us come back another time and teach him. I know that the Lord directs our paths and we were put in his path at the right time.

 

We visited a woman that I taught in Wigan this week named Paula. She is right on the border of Wigan and Swinton and is actually part of Swinton boundaries. So we went and visited her. It was great to see how she has still embraced the gospel and is excited to get baptised next year. We had a lot of laughs and caught up. I am so blessed to be serving with a great companion, at the best time of the year! I love this work! I love you all,

 

Love Elder Hammond