Homecoming

Homecoming !!!
Some of the decorations!!  We're so excited!!!

 This is an amazing feeling!

Getting released was a really special experience for all of us.

Having a fun family day!!

Grandma's incredible trifle and oreo balls!

We are so pleased with the amazing mission you have served! You have helped hundreds of our Heavenly Father's children to find the truth and come to Christ. Your mission will forever be a turning point in your life.  Our Heavenly Father is pleased with you, and we are so proud of you our amazing son! What joy you have brought to your whole family on both sides of the veil!!   Hurrah for Israel!!                                                                             

Love forever,  Mom and Dad

June 13, 2016 Last letter

I Cannot believe that I am writing the last email to my family, friends and best friends! I am not going to tell you what has happened this week because I will tell you soon! What I wanted to write to each and every one of you is my My own Testimony of what I know!  What I have experienced in my Amazing Mission!

I can't say this without tears falling down my eyes! Wow, I can't even write this it's so hard...... looking at this computer.

I love my Mission. I Love Ecuador! I Love so much the people here. They are my family! I love every single one of them with the love of Christ! The lord has been so merciful to me and He has blessed me so much throughout my entire mission!

I know God loves all of his children! He wants ALL of his children to come back to His presence to His home!

I KNOW God lives!!  Jesus IS THE CHRIST!! HE LIVES!! He has a body tangible like you and me!

I Know Jesus came down in the most humble of situations possible to show us to be humble! I know Jesus Christ reigned with power on earth! I know He built HIS church with prophets and apostoles!!! He is the chief corner stone!!

I know Jesus Christ died.. he died de puro amor por cada uno de nosotros! I know He had to suffer and he had to suffer ALL of our pains and afflictions! I know he was dead for 3 days and then on the 3rd day he was resurrected!! AND TODAY HE LIVES!!!  Because he lives all of us will live once again!! I am so grateful for him!

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know he lived and died for the truth!! He sealed the truth with his death!! I know that everything dear I hold in my life is thanks to that prophet!

I know Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon! Because of that book I am still here on the mission! THAT BOOK HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!! I KNOW IT IS TRUE!! It's the keystone to our religion! I know it will change not only our lives but our converts FOREVER!!

I know Thomas S Monson is the prophet of God on the earth today!! I know he talks with God face to face! I know he directs the church and that he is the living guide for us! I know he has called 12 apostles here on the earth! I am so thankful for prophets seers and revelators!!

I know God answers our prayers!! I know he loves us and He wants us to be happy! The key to happiness is obedience!! I have no doubt about that!! I know that God blesses us through our obedience!!

I love this church, I know it's true with all my heart!!

I want to thank each and every one of you!! Your letters and your inspiration is what helped (a lot) keep me here on the mission. I am so grateful to each and every one of you! Sorry if I didn't write english to well but I promise you that I have tried!! I Know that I have given EVERYTHING to the Lord these past 2 years! I know He is happy with my efforts! I love each and every one of you! Thanks for everything and I'll see you on friday!

Elder Hammond

June 6, 2016 Guabo

June 6, 2016 Guabo 

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN CRAZY!!!! So we will just start off NOW!!

Monday I had changes!!  I went ALONE!! Can you believe that! I traveled alone from Machala to Guayaquil  Now you are allowed to do that! I was praying that I didn't have to sit by a girl! And I didn"t!! ESO!! haha I sat by a huge black man! The ENTIRE bus ride we talked and talked and talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and what we do as missionaries!! He committed to listen to the missionaries because he has A LOT of problems!! One of them is that he has more than 6 wives.. haha and so he can't get baptized quite yet but I know that he felt the spirit in my testimony that I shared to him!  After we got off the bus he bought me a coca cola!! How did he know I wanted one!! ESO!! He's a good man!! Then I went to the temple to sleep!! 

Tuesday we had the great opportunity to do a session in the temple! It was amazing once again to be able to go through and do a session and truly feel the presence of the Lord!! I love the temple and I know for a fact that that will be a life long love for me! Then we went straight to the chapel where we would have the training meeting with the new missionaries!  There were 14 new missionaries 12 elders and 2 sisters! SOO many of my good friends were training and it was so good to see Elder Soto he was one of them! how fun!! hah  I got my son! His name is Elder Recalde and he is from Quito! He has 19 years old and he's a good missionary! We have done some good changes to his hair!! Hes' got the line in it and I'm making sure he knows that I have made promises with God to be obedient. The first question I asked him was... do you like being obedient and he said.... yes! So I said GREAT!! Then we will get along just fine! I think he was scared out of his mind!! hahaha

Wednesday! We stayed in Guayaquil Tuesday night so that the new people could have their interviews so we stayed and left on Wednesday!  On the bus to Machala I brought pamphlets to give out to the people! I said, You ready Elder Recalde and he said  for what I said we preach everywhere I said and that means buses! The fear in his eyes was hilarious.But I said let's go! So first we sang a song and we both testified of Jesus Christ that he lives and loves us! And then handed out pamphlets to EVERYONE on the Bus! It's a daily thing! haha Then we slept in Machala!

On thursday we got to Guabo in the noche (night)!  We had no place to stay! But thankfully there are 2 elders here so we put all of our stuff in their house and just went out blind and started WORKING!! I had NO idea where I was going but I know that the Lord would bless us!! 

Saturday!!  Was one of my last meetings I would have with missionaries because this Saturday Elder Rasband is coming to the mission!! So the zone leaders wanted me to bear my testimony and I did! I  ALWAYS love bearing my testimony! It's the best!!  I went to Machala that night because 3 people wanted me to baptize them!! so YEAH! 

At night time we headed back to Machala and I baptized 3 people!!! It went great!! 

Sunday went great!! We have 2 people progressing and we will have a baptism this thursday!! WHAT A MIRACLE!!! Every week!! We will be baptizing POR FAVOR! 

 I love you soo much!!! This week has been amazing! I love this work more than anyone can imagine!! I know God lives and that He is watching over every single one of us!!! Love you soo much my wonderful family!!! Thanks for all your support!! Until next week!!!

Elder Hammond

May 30, 2016 Machala

May 30, 2016  Machala ---to ?? Happy Birthday to my amazing Dad!

This week has been amazing, it has gone by WAYY too fast.  I can't even believe it!   Literally can't even believe it! I love this work soo much!! Right now I have to write fast because I have changes,.. the zone leaders just told me. I will be training another new missionary   So,  I'll  have 2 sons now in the mission and a new area.  I will be opening another new area! So going in blind as well!  Also there's not a house to where I'm going. So I'm pretty stoked for that as well! No beds again!! ahah sweet!! 

This week has been full of miracles and blessings like more than I can imagine! We have been working hard and trying our hardest to baptize and just baptize! haha We have 3 baptisms this week in this area but I won't be here.. so sad.. what a bummer! Maybe I can get permiso to come! 

I love this church and I know it is true! The gospel is true and I know families can be together forever! I will keep being obedient with exactness in everything. I love you soo much family!! Have an amazing week!!!!

Elder Hammond

May 23, 2016 Machala

May 23, 2016 Machala

I think something happened to his letter to us because this is just a side note.

Also Mom, one of my best friends here in Ecuador wants to come to the United States to study at BYUI! He needs a place to stay for a while!! I told him he could stay with us.  His dad is President Torres's  counselor! AMAZING dude.  He's  coming in a month!  So,  just to let you know! You are the BEST ever!! Tell Dad I love him and thanks for the example he sets for me! 

Love you!! Elder Hammond

May 16, 2016 Machala

May 16, 2016 Machala

I can't believe it's been a week since writing my amazing family!!! This week has been amazing and it has gone by super fast!! We have seen and experienced alot of miracles!!  Let me remember some of the stuff that has happened!!

 It's been pretty good!!

On Tuesday we had our reunion of district! I taught what it means to solve your own problems! Also to always have the spirit. Then we did alot of practicing to be better teachers!! I LOOVE practicing!! haha but then that day went really good!!

On Wednesday!!  We did exchanges for a day with the zone leaders! I went with them! We went to Machala Central my old ward where I was last year exactly! Can you believe it!! I saw SOO many people that I knew and they said, OHH my gosh!! How are you!! I haven't seen you in forever!!  It was soo amazing to see all the people I loved and still love because of this amazing gospel!

On Thursday! I can't remember what happened....NOO I do!! So what had happened was we did a HUGE service project just my companion and I!  It had rained super hard here in Ecuador, it flooded a house. So this guy wanted to fill his house with dirt and put cement over it so it doesn't fllood!! So... oh my gosh I have never sweated so much in my WHOLE MISSION!! That's saying a lot!! We worked really hard, but we couldn't finish it. I hope that people saw us working and serving so that one day when people see missionaries they can think hey, they help people, they do good things!! 

Saturday was amazing this week! We got to baptize the family Awanchu!! A good but super super poor family!! They were listo (ready) to get baptized! ! I loved it!! There names were Maycol, Sady, and Irene! They were super happy and A LOT of people came to the baptism!! Which is good!!

Then Sunday was good!! I had to give an improvised talk!! The bishop in the middle of the sacrament meeting said and now we will listen to a missionary.. Elder Hammond. I was like..... uhhh... okay!! So I went up with a smile!! I asked the bishop what he wanted me to talk about and he said unity! So I talked about unity in the family!  I told them that MY family hasn't missed a day in 18 years without praying and reading the scriptures as a family!  EVERYONE'S face was like are you serious!!  It went well!!  I got to go!! I love you soo much!!!!!!!

Elder Hammond