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

May 9, 2016 Machala

May 9, 2016 Machala

I CANT BELIEVE YOUR COMING TO MY COUNTRY!!!!! MY COUNTRY!!! MI PAIS!!!! ECUADOR!! MY FAMILY!!! It's going to be AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soo excited I can't even tell you!! It was so amazing to talk to my family! All of the missionaries that saw you yesterday told me that you could see and tell and feel the light of Christ in my family, and that's for sure!! Everyone here calls us the family colgate because all of our teeth are white and we all smile super big!! Super funny!! I love it!! haha

punto numero 2!!

I should have told you that I do eat!  BIG MISTAKE!! HAHA I do eat!! I just like eating the scriptures more!! haha but anwyays yeah.. big mistake!!

Punto numero 3!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM!! I know it is a big thing for missionaries to write a HUGE email about their Mothers and all... but EVERYBODY knows that I don't need to say much because my dear Mom shows her works and shows how she is through ACTION!! Everybody knows my Mom is amazing! They know she is just a worker bee and that she NEVER thinks about her self NEVER EVER would she do that NEVER!! She always thinks of others and not herself!! She loves more than any other Mom could!! She is SOO beautiful too!!  MOM!!! Your GORGEOUS!!! All of my sisters got that trait,  it skipped me!! haha but I love you soo much Mom!!

punto numero 4!!

We had another baptism!! Eso!! Antoni lainz!! He was awesome!  I got the privilege to baptize him!! It was super amazing!! I loved it!!  We will have 3 more on Saturday!!

 Love you!! I love you soo much all of you!! I love my family!! I love you all soo very much!! Thanks for all your support and all you do for me!! Until next week!! the gospel is true!!!

Elder Hammond

Antoni Laines was baptized

Mothers' Day Call 2016

May 8, 2016 Mothers Day Call

We had the sweetest call from Elder Hammond today!!!  We are all on cloud 9!! He bore testimony and just got all of us excited to do missionary work! He is working his head off!!! I am a little concerned  that he's working too hard!  He has so much faith!  His homecoming is either June 19th or June 26th!  I just had to show you all a picture! I can't tell you without crying how happy we are to have talked to him! His spirit is so amazing!  Love you all!!

May 2, 2016 Machala

May 2, 2016 Machala

This week has been AMAZING!! Like super super amazing!  We have been working super hard and we have seen and had some amazing experiences!!

On tuesday we had our district meeting! I am the district leader  (not a big deal) so  I shared a message about how we need to use our time wisely and the Lord will bless us if we are obedient! If we are obedient we will see and have miracles!! It went pretty good!! After that, we worked super hard! We invited alot of people to get baptized.  We are trying to get to know the area a little better!!

 We had the interview on tuesday for Maykol our investigator that was going to get baptized.   It went super good, he passed and everything ESO! 

On wednesday we went to a town called El Guabo its about 30 minutes away from Machala.  We had to go there because there was someone I had to interview for baptism.  They lived in the smallest home... I  just wanted to cry.  It was made of super wood and they have 11 people sleeping in the same home! Super super poor! But the gospel is for everyone!!! It does not matter rich or poor!! It was amazing and she was soo humble and listo para bautizarse!! (ready for baptism)

On wednesday and thursday we went and worked and worked.  We have been putting new baptism dates and just trying so hard to find people to get baptized so we can be baptizing every single week. That's my goal and I'm GOING to complete it!! So we had one this past week and we have 3 more this week and 3 more the next.  So we are working super hard and good!!

Super cool on sunday it was fast and testimony meeting, I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and the atonement of Jesus Christ! It felt good! After church the sisters in a different area wanted us to give a blessing to an investigador! So, of course we went and after the blessing he said I could feel your power and I could literally feel energy working through my body. Thanks soo much for the blessing it was just a testimony builder that the priesthood is real!! 

After that I met 2 people that might have known my Mom in the mission, they both served in Quito!!  She asked if I knew an Elder Hammond that was a General Authority and I said WITH HONOR! That's my Grandpa!! Then she looked down and I could tell she was crying.. she said... your Grandpa is one the the best men I know on this planet!  He will never remember me but I will forever remember him.. he gave me gum one time to me and my kids when they would not stop crying! And I finally get to meet his grandson!!  Then I started to cry because I knew my Grandpa is a MIGHTY servant of the Lord and is a disciple of Jesus Christ!!

I LOVE THIS WORK!! I got to go!!  I'm so excited to talk to you on Sunday!!  love you soo much!!! from Machala!!

 Maykols Baptism

 It rained super hard!

Look at our investigators that are coming with the Book of Mormon!!