Email 12/31/12

Dear Family,

What an amazing week we had here at the MTC! We are learning so much and I am loving my district and my investigators and everyone I meet! I can't wait until Hunter gets here on Wednesday though! I have been telling everyone about it! My poor district is getting so annoyed but, they'll be fine :). We are having quite a great experience getting ready for all the new missionaries who are to arrive within the next four months! I really don't know where they are going to keep all of them or how they are going to feed all of them or anything like that, but every devotional or fireside we have they give us numbers and I am so astonished at how many kids are willing to set aside their lives to serve the Lord! We are so blessed!!

 

We have been reminded that we are on the Lord's time here and we should be doing all we can to improve ourselves to become the best missionaries that we can be. The teachers and leaders here are so inspired and I am so blessed to be here!!! We have one teacher, Brother Starkie, whose biggest "thing" is obedience. He said "If you are not obedient, you don't love the Lord." Of course he was being a little dramatic, but what he was trying to say is that when we know a commandment and we willfully and intentionally go against that commandment, we are showing a great amount of disrespect for the one who loves us unconditionally. What a humbling thought. I hope to better apply this principle as a missionary.

 

Anyways, I better go. I got an email from Elder Rex Hamblin!!!! YAYAY

I love you all!

 

Love,

Sister Hamblin :)

Letter 12/20/12

Dear Family,
Well, we made it to Phoenix just fine.  We waited for what felt like 12 hours but was only like 6.  We sat and explored, and ate food, and sat some more.  The Robberts were asked several times if they were missionaries and Cody introduced himself as such several times.  We have been so board all day.

I have been very calm all day which is a huge blessing.  I have been writing this note all day so it may seem a little weird.  Anyways, it is hot in Phoenix and I almost regretted wearing my boots.

We finally made it to SLC!  We almost missed our flight after waiting in the airport forever.  They switched gates at the last minute on us so we had to go all the way to the other side of the airport.

We are finally in the MTC now.  My companion, Sister Clemmens, is sick, so I haven't met her yet.  (She was asleep when I got here).  but my roommates, I forgot their names, are really nice.

Well, "day 2" at the MTC has been just as crazyily weird as  "day 1".  My companion is still sick so I have been with her all day.  I went to a planning meeting early this morning but did a little orientation instead.  After planning we went to breakfast and then to see the doctor.  I saw the Elder Robberts' there with their companions so I guess they are having just as weird of a day as me.

I am now studying in the hall so my companion can get some sleep.  I forgot envelops so this might be the longest letter spread over a week you have received.  We are in the same hall as sisters going to Taiwan.  They are speaking a strange language to me and I really don't know what they re saying but it sounds cool!  They are all so adorable!

There is such a wonderful spirit here at the MTC, as you can imagine.  Everyone calling everyone else Elder and Sister, people singing and whistling hymns all day, it is really fun to be here.

Sister Clemmons started to feel better so we were able to go to our study times together, however, after gym she started to feel sick again and after dinner she needed to go back to our room again and sleep.  We have not been able to attend any of our classes but I was able to meet Brother Martin, a recently returned missionary, who is our teacher.  He knew me already and was very nice.  The other elders in my district are sweet and one of them is waiting for letters from his girlfriend.  The other elders tease him relentlessly for it.  They have a hard time studying for long periods of time and start to get goofy after a few minutes. 

Mom, you wanted to know what our days are like here at the MTC.  Well, here was the schedule for today (keep in mind I didn't follow this because my companion is sick, poor girl!).
6:00 wake up and prepare for the day
7:00-7:30 daily planning session with district in separate building
7:30-8:00 additional study time
8:00 breakfast
8:30-11:30 classroom instruction
11:35-12:05 Training Resource Center orientation
12:05-12:35 Zone teaching
12:35 Lunch
1:20-3:00 Personal and additional study time
3:10-4:00 Gym time
4:00-4:30 Prepare for next activity
4:30-5:35 Doctrinal study time
5:35 Dinner
6:20-9:20 Classroom instruction
9:25-10:00 Personal time and companionship prayer
10:15 Quiet time

All of the study times and classes are in the same room, well I think that is what Sister Pulsly and Sister Grimis (our roommates) said. 

I am learning a lot from all of my personal study time.  I ran across 2 Thes. 1:11-12 today and was comforted and reassured that I am doing the right thing.

I am sorry I don't write  as eloquently as Elder Hamblin, but I'm sure you all will get over it. :)

Sister Clemmens got better on Friday and Saturday.  We were able to go to our classes and were able to do mock investigations.  Our first one was shaky and I couldn't think straight.  Our second lesson went a lot better.  Sister Clemmens is so personable and knows how to relate to everyone!  She can strike up a conversation about fake people with our investigators.  She is so awesome!  She is 25, from Oregon and she has travelled everywhere!  Just before she entered the MTC she went to Belize.

I can't wait till Christmas!  We had a devotional last night that was so good!  The speaker said that our Christmas activity was going to be awesome and that it might even make Church News.  So look for something about the MTC!  We get to watch "A Christmas Carol" tonight and "It's A Wonderful Life" tomorrow night.  We will have a General Authority speak to us tomorrow night and that's all they have really told us about what we are doing tomorrow.

We have met so many Elders from many different countries and from all over!  It is so awesome to meet them.  I met an Elder from Sweden going to Germany!  He knows 3 languages.  Also, the girls living next door to us are from the Philippines and are going to China, and they know 5 languages!  People are so cool!

Well, I'd better stop writing this letter.  I'm sorry it's so unorganised and weird.  I've had the weirdest 1st week in the MTC ever!  I love you all!  Feel free to correct any spelling errors!


Love,
Sister Hamblin
P.S. Please send my addresses from the yellow notebook
Thanks!  You're the best!

Email 12/25/12

Ha ha sorry! I am retarded at using computers!

 

Anyways, our Christmas present from President Brown (The Mission President here at the MTC) is that we get to email on Christmas!!! We didn't know about it until today so I am sorry I didn't mention it in my last email. We had a wonderful devotional by Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife! I was sitting so close to the front that if I were to stand in the kitchen he would have been in the dining room!!! The Elders in our District were the ushers and they saved us some pretty awesome seats up front! They are so great! Elder Nelson talked about our mission, on our mission. He said that it is our duty to be obedient to our mission president here and in the field. He said that obedience is a form of safety and protection. We will be serving in "enemy territory" and we need to listen to our leaders who can see over the evil that prevails. He told us who our new "best friends" should be in the mission. He said that because tracking is dangerous and not very effective we need to work closely with our ward mission leaders to find out who needs help within the  wards and branches we are serving in. He said that they will know who needs the most help in the ward (besides the bishop who we should also be working very closely with). He said that we should be working closely with the ward family historian. I found that very interesting! Because our gospel is centered around family and the temple it would make sense for us to work closely with these wonderful people. They will help us help the people in our wards and branches find their ancestors.

 

Elder Nelson told us that we need to  "fortify our minds against rumors." He said they are very damaging to missionary work and they can cause contention.  Elder Nelson said that when we hear rumors that are not true, we should do everything in our power to dispel and correct it. So here is one for correction. He said there were many rumors about Elders and Sisters getting their mission calls to one place for one year and then being sent to a mission that hasn't been opened yet. He said that was absolutely not true! He said "We, as a church, would never enter a country through the back door or ally way. We will always wait to be invited into a country."

Sister Nelson talked about gifts of the spirit. She gave a marvelous talk that really inspired me. She said that when we have short comings or sins that are hard for us to overcome we should pray for gifts of the spirit that help to correct those sins and short comings. She said that the gift to dispel fear was peace, the gift of selflessness, positive countenance. I am sorry to end this all of the sudden but I just realized that my time is almost up. Please remember that I love you and miss you all! "God Bless Us, Every One!"

 

Love,

Sister Hamblin :)

 

P.S.

Any news on my drivers licence?

Email 12/24/12

Dear Family,

 What a wonderful time of year to be here at the MTC!!! I LOVE it! I have to warn you here that my letter is a little crazy but my time here has been a little different than most missionaries. As you know the Robberts and I didn't get here until Thursday night around 10. Meeting my coordinating sister I was taken to my room where I met my roommates. They are sooooo great!!! We all get along so well! I didn't get to meet my companion that night because she was sick and already asleep. Her name is Sister Clemens, she is 25 and from Oregon. She is sooo awesome. She is seriously the greatest. She talks to everyone and knows how to relate to them perfectly. She is sooo talented. She sings, plays all sports, is super spiritual, and loves EVERYONE! Anyways, we are getting along great! So, because my companion was sick we didn't attend classes until Saturday. I met my district there and they are all amazing! Two of them are pretty shy but Sister Clemens and Sister Pulsen (one of my roommates) are really helping them to come out of their shells.

 The other Elders are amazing and I am learning so much from them. Elder Morse asks the deepest questions that really make the rest of us think! We all get a little tired of the time that we have in the classroom though. We stay in the same one from about seven in the morning until 9:20 in the evening. We did however get to walk to the Temple yesterday. We took lots of pictures... well they did, my batteries were dead :) Sorry! Anyways all of the Elders were very enthusiastic once they were out of the classroom and it was fun to see that different side of them and the sisters. Sister Grimnes (my other roommate) built a snowman and was having a lot of fun in the snow! The temple is BEAUTIFUL!

Church was awesome! We really only had sacrament meeting and then the sisters went to watch Music and the Spoken Word. We then had Relief Society where we had an awesome guest speaker who spoke on the atonement taking away our fears! I loved that thought! The more I study the Atonement the more Love it!

We also had a Fireside with the director of all things Missionary in the church, Elder Allen (Not John :)) He told us to expect a Christmas like we have never experienced before and he said it might even make church news... We will have to see.

There are sooo many neat people here! They come from everywhere and speak so many different languages, I am amazed at the talent of God's Children! We are So cool! All of us! We are so blessed to be on this earth together! I encourage all of you to meet someone new and sincerely learn about them! They are awesome!

 I have received so much mail! My first day here the Elders in my District were already mad at me because I had so much! I can't thank you enough for all the letters and support that is given to me! I even got a package from the youth in the ward!! Hot Chocolate and and Merry Christmas card with all of their signatures! How Blessed am I to have such a strong support group backing me up! I would be lost without the youth of the Eagar Arizona Stake! They are truly AMAZING!!!

Well I'd better go, I love you all and wish you the very Merriest of Christmases!

 Love, Sister Hamblin :)

P.S.S. Please send: A blanket, it's really cold!
A second SD card for my camera, I will send one back and we can switch... do you know what I mean? :)

 I think that's all! Thanks!!

12/20/12

Just a few days before Christmas and we get to send our beautiful girl off on her mission.  I can't think of a better place for her to be at Christmas than in the MTC.  Can't wait to hear of the wonderful things that they have in store for their missionaries.
Her Farewell was last Sunday 12/16/12 and she did wonderful.  The Robberts' Twins had their farewell the same day, and then they were able to travel together to the MTC.  So glad that she won't be alone while traveling.

We got to the airport on 12/19/12 in Show Low, it had been storming all night and the roads were horrible.  Before we left we learned that their original flight at 6:15 AM had been delayed until 9:00 AM.  When we got to the airport we found out that they had run out of de-icer for the plane and they were contemplating whether it would warm up through out the day or not.  They then delayed the flight until 10:30, 11:00 and finally 3:00.  At 3:00 they finally decided to cancel the flight altogether and try again today.

This morning we were able to sleep in for a while and leave for the airport at about 10:00 AM, her flight was scheduled to leave at 11:50.  We got to the airport and it was a go today.  The kids get into SLC at 7:00 tonight and they should get to the MTC tonight at about 8:00.  Chubzz Lazoya is picking them up and taking them down to the MTC.  Good people are everywhere and we are grateful for them! I'm so glad they got to go today because  I don't think nerves could have handled another day!  Thank you Robberts and thank you Mandy! You are a wonderful girl. New York is waiting! 

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