3/02/15

Ok so the first two pics are of beautiful Northern California. I love this place! It has stolen my heart :)

The second two are of us going to Stake Conference a couple weeks back..actually last week :) and Heidi came with us! She is one of our investigators :)and the last two are of the baptism. Bishop baptized Kevin :)

Hello Family!!

 Oh my goodness! I can't believe Rad is dating. What the heck!?! Oh my gosh. Seriously my mind is blown. He is so grown up!! Ahh! Ok I'm done with my little rant. That is just so crazy! Ok anyways thanks for the pictures! They are so cute. I seriously wished that I could have been there for his very first date! But that is ok because guess what happened that same night! Kevin got baptized!!!! It was one of the best baptisms I had even been to. The spirit was so strong and our little ward supported him that night. There were 40 people who came to that baptism. It was so special. We seriously have the best ward mission leader. He made the baptism program (he supposed to..but they never do!) and he called everyone last week and the day of inviting people. It was awesome. I was stressing out a little bit that night because one of the members likes to take us to this fancy Steakhouse for dinners and he signed up the night of the baptism so I asked if he could move dinner to 4:30 so that we would have enough time to prepare for the baptism afterwards, and everything worked out just fine. We pulled back into the church parking lot and Bro. Abono (WML) was already there, he had set everything up and all we had to do was fill the font. I just love this ward! Kevin didnt show up until 6:45...but other then that it was the perfect baptism. Yesterday he was confirmed and he bore his testimony during sacrament meeting :) I can't wait for him to get the priesthood and baptize his wife and then they are going to get sealed in the temple and it is going to be beautiful. I love being a missionary. Rob Copeland, another one of our faithful, solid, golden investigators was the first one to get up yesterday in Sacrament meeting to bear his testimony. My investigators teach me WAY more than I teach them. I love it.

 Ok we also had a temple trip this week! Got up at 4:30 am (reminisced my life before the mission) and got there and found that Napa zone was there too! It was so fun! We had MLC on Friday which was alllllll about technology. Our whole mission is getting new Ipads..I just wish I could keep the one I have had for my whole mission, but I learned that I came to this mission to enjoy technology rather than to hate it and get annoyed by it. Anyways, new Ipads will be good I guess.This week was super fun and super tiring all at the same time. We had 2 early mornings right in a row! And this Sunday is daylight savings. I really miss Arizona around this time of year :)  

 Yesterday in Relief Society we talked about fear. The teacher asked us what our biggest fear was, one ladies said Mondays :) haha, but anyways Sis. Pollock said Fear is: False Evidence Appearing Real. I loved that! Sis. McFadden was talking about when Nephi was on the ship and his brothers tied him up and his loved ones were begging Lamen and Lemuel to release Nephi and Nephi's response was, "According to MY faith, Lord, release me". I love that. We have to have faith in the Lord and we have to always trust the promptings of the spirit to "go and do" because if we dont, we will let fear cripple us. 

  I love you all so much! Have a great week!! Love, Hermana Hamblin

2 attachments

Email 02/16/15

 This week was good! Very busy and very uplifting. I have learned a lot. I am just falling in love with this area. I say that every week, but seriously. I have been given the best areas, best companions and best ward members. Every area that I am in gets better and better :) On Saturday, Valentines Day :) we served some of our ward members and it was SO fun! I love the Willits ward! We spent a good 3 hours serving two different members. Oh it was so great! Kevin, our investigator, is still progressing and doing great! He comes to church every Sunday faithfully. He is So ready for baptism! I am just so happy for him. We even announced his baptism in sacrament meeting yesterday! Yay!

  Really, other than that nothing happened. It was just a good week :) Oh and yes mom this Saturday we are singing. Hahahaha wish us luck!!!

 I hope that you all enjoy this next week! Love you all!   Love, Hermana Hamblin

Home!

Well done Sister Hamblin!

Email 5/26/14

Hi Mom,

I had to turn in my iPad on Tuesday but I just wanted to let you know that i love you and I am so grateful for all the support you have given me over the past year and a half. I am the luckiest girl ever! Also I was wondering if we could go to the Temple on the way home on Wednesday as a family. That is what I would like to do most. Thanks!!! See you Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so so so much!!!

Love,

Sister Hamblin 😊 

P.S.

The Book of Mormon is true!!! I love it!

Email 5/19/14

Dear Family,

I am continually astounded at the blessings our Father is pouring out
upon us. We have again had a miraculous week in the Midwood area and
we know this week will be filled with more.

We have seen many great miracles this week. I wish I had time to write
them all down!!! The ward fasted for missionary work at the beginning
of the week and this upcoming Sunday there will be three baptisms and
two the following week!! This ward is so amazing! We love them and are
so grateful for their examples to us!

This next week is going to be an amazing week. We have many service,
teaching and learning opportunities planned. I believe this will be
among the busiest weeks of my mission, for which I am eternally
grateful!

Sister Hamblin :)

Email 5/05/14

Email 4/21/14

Photos
1) Beautiful flowers from Grandma
2) Brooklyn in the fall...
3) Brooklyn buildings! They are so cool!
4) We taught Elders Ashby and Thelemaque how to make Chicken today.
They don't know how to cook so we thought we'd help them out.
5) Sister Hodgson and I in the hospital... I told you it wasn't that bad :)

This is the church building that our ward meets in each week. Isn't it
beautiful? It used to be a Catholic Church I believe.

Dear Family,

Another wonderful and miraculous week here in Midwood.

Monday was a lot of fun. This ward does a ward FHE that is always fun
and exciting! This past week one of the Soleta girls was in charge and
we did a charades Book of Mormon style. It was really fun because we
had a recent convert and two investigators there who are in the
process of reading the Book of Mormon. They all said that they are
excited to get to the different stories in the Book of Mormon that we
acted out. It was fun and a good way to encourage them to keep reading
;)

Tuesday started out as most Tuesdays do. Exercise, get ready,
breakfast and studies. During our companionship study however we
received a call from some missionaries telling us that we were
supposed to be t transfer meet starting 2 hours. We rushed to finish
daily preparations, grabbed the Creole Elders and made our way through
the pouring rain to Queens (an hour and a half train ride). We made it
just as they were singing the opening hymn, Called To Serve).

This meeting was historic because the Sunday before a new stake was
organized in our mission boundaries. This means that there are now 4
stakes in our mission and president Calderwood doesn't have to preside
over a district! Because this happened two new zones were added to our
mission and we are spreading abroad the good news! We also, for the
first time ever have two new ASL sisters!! We are so grateful to
that've them with is here! Also two of the existing Chinese elders
were asked to serve Korean speaking. The Lord is hastening His work
here. He is laboring with us. "This is our hour" - President
Calderwood referring to D&C 88:51-64

There were so many other things that were amazing in that meeting but
I'll move on.

Wednesday was service in Prospect Park. We woke up to snow and were
nervous that we would be super cold so we bundled up and went. It
actually turned out to be pretty nice. We were still in need of our
coats but the work kept sis warm and the conversation kept our
thoughts off of the cold. I love Wednesday service.

Later that evening we met with an amazing 22 year old widow. She lost
her husband about a year ago to a car accident and is struggling to
keep her mind off of her sorrow. She goes to school full time to be a
nurse and helps her mom around the house. She is doing quite well in
school and is thinking about coming back to church. It was amazing to
b able to testify to her that this is where true happiness is found.
We love her so much and are so excited to be able to meet with her
again.

Thursday was the usual planning day which usually means miracles. We
have such a great time planning for the week and getting the
opportunity to think about how the gospel principles can and do apply
to all the people that we are meeting with. Dispute the differences in
situations and challenges, every problem is fixed by the Atonement of
Jesus Christ. Oh I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

Friday we had a Zone Training Meeting. We have a new zone leader who
is filled with missionary fire. Both of our Zone leaders are great
guys with a love for the gospel. Our Meeting was about repentance,
shutting out the noise, and focusing on the needs of our companions.
It was a really good meeting. I love Zone Two!!

Saturday we had 4 scheduled appointments and only one of them worked
out. It was good though because the lady we met with is an amazing
lady who is struggling to over come a coffee addiction. She comes to
church every Sunday and loves the activities and programs of the
church we are just helping her to gain a testimony of the Restoration.
As I was thinking about her I, in my pride, thought, "it should be so
easy. If you have a testimony of the restoration and the Atonement it
should be easy to overcome any addiction." I became frustrated within
myself and then quickly humbled. I myself have many little addictions
that I am trying to overcome. Things that are "not terrible" but do
present stumbling blocks on my road to progression. I know that I have
a testimony of the restoration and a deep love for the Atonement and I
am still not perfect. Patience in trials and addictions is something
that I am again learning the value of. How grateful I am for our
Saviors perfect love for us, and for those that we are working with.
Even more, how grateful I am that he allows us to feel if that love
for others.

Easter Sunday beamed bright and beautiful! The sunshine felt good as
we walked to church and were greeted by people from all walks of life
and every different religion with a "Happy Easter!" I love the people
of New York! They are truly amazing! They have a bad reputation but I
truly don't understand why. They are good people trying to do their
best which what they know. Isn't that just what we are trying to do?
Do the best with what we know?  How I love the Gospel and the guidance
it gives us in our lives. I pray that none of us stray from what we
know. We can be so blessed if we just follow the guidance given by the
prophets, who get it from Jesus Christ.

We spent the rest of the day making visits to those who have wandered.
I love each if them so much! They have great challenges and deep
hardships. The hardest part is trying to convince them that their
lives would be so much better if they came to church and partook if
the sacrament each week. Renewing   those covenants is so so important
and necessary. Mosiah 18

Easter Miracle? A less-Active Part Member family came to church. How,
you may ask, will this change my life forever? I am not sure. We have
an appointment with them on Friday... They don't usually come to
church because our service cues are too boring for the non members.
But they came yesterday and were treated warmly by the ward! You know
what that is what changed my life. A warm welcome from the ward. That
really makes all the difference to those who are trying to come back
or who are investigating. Honestly. It does. Let's just all be friends
ok?

Ok friends I need to go but I love you all so much!

Mom- you are amazing. Thank you for showing me what a covenant keeper
looks like.
Dad- thanks for always looking out for me :)
Raddon- thank you for your good example to your friends at school.
Keep doing the hard things, they are the ones that are the most
meaningful.
Riann!!! Feel better my friend!! I love you so much!! Are reading
Preach My Gospel?
Hermana Hamblin- you are beautiful! I hope you love your area... Did I
tell you that is only two homers from where my companion is from? She
is from Rocklin... Have you heard of it?
Elder Hamblin- keep up the great work my friend! It all goes way to fast!


Sister Hamblin :)