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