Dear Family,
Super wonderful week! From a wonderful missionary
training day to seeing Elder L. Tom Perry we have been spiritually
stuffed this week!
Last week was so so great! We had a great Family
Home Evening at the Schoenbecks home on Monday, A productive correlation
on Tuesday, A great District meeting on Wednesday, the missionary
training on Friday. Saturday we had the opportunity to go to the
TEMPLE!! with Clarissa who took the names of her mom, grandma, brother,
uncle and grandfather to be baptized! It was such a wonderful experience
and is tied for first as my favorite event of the week. Also in first
place was the opportunity to participate in a special stake conference
with Elder L. Tom Perry!
At that meeting the stake president spoke, President Calderwood spoke,
along with Elder Olsen and Elder Perry. Elder Olsen is the Area 70. All
did a wonderful job but because I don't have very much more time for
email I will just tell about Elder Perry here in this email. He walked
in taller than everyone and shook hands with many. As he got to the
stand he asked the choir which of us was the director. When he
identified her he said "The whole meeting depends on you." We all
laughed and the poor sister when completely white. When it was his turn
to speak he literally jumped out of his chair! He then told us that he
is 90 years old! Every jaw hit the floor! He is such a great speaker and
he truly loves the youth of the church. At the end of the meeting he
asked to shake the hands of all the young people. the little kids were
so excited! It was truly a touching scene. He talked about being
prepared, making our wards and stakes places of refuge, being the first
to lift those who are downtrodden, thinking about our futures today. It
was really great... I don't know if I've said that yet :)
I promised to tel more about Roberto, we haven't been able to see him :(
all of our appointments with him had to be changed but we haven't given
up yet so I will try to keep you informed. I love you all! Thanks for
everything!!
Sister Mandy Hamblin :)
Monday, 25 March 2013
Letter 3/18/13
Dear Family,
Like I said in the email, its been a great week! There were times that we seriously regretted fasting, but the blessings for outweigh the regrets and hunger pains.
Let me tell you more about Roberto. When we met him he was drunk and crying over the loss of his parents. He is from Spain and his accent was really strong, so we weren't sure when they passed but he is an older man so we suspect he has been suffering from their loss for a long time. Poor guy! He was very respectful to us and kept calling us his angels. We helped him find his home and when we got there Norman, his land lord was there. Norman is also an older man who is very nice. We suspect they take very good care of each other. Roberto invited us back tonight to teach him about the Plan of Salvation. Norman is from France and said he was very Catholic but agreed to sit through a "session" with us. I can't wait to see how it goes!
We had a wonderful Zone Conference! President Calderwood is so inspired and we are so blessed to have him as our president He talked about the Plan of Salvation and how when we understand it we understand the Gospel and everything it entails. He did say however that "we know just enough about it to walk back into the presence of God". He said after that we have to rely on faith and know that our Heavenly Father wants it that way for a reason. It was really great. His Assistance talked about being bold, and helping the members feel comfortable in lessons. Elder Munday said that our boldness is an expression of our faith. He said that we are just too "sweet" and we beat around the bush but we need to realize that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is bold, it is the only way to salvation and we need to help people see that! as you know, that is something I really need to work on. Elder Ferry talked about helping members feel comfortable in helping to teach the lessons. We as missionaries need to inform them on what is going on in the lesson, what the investigator is like, and what part of the lesson we would like them to teach. It was a wonderful conference and we are so blessed!
Well, I have many more letters to write, but I hope you know how much I love you!
Love, Sister Mandy Hamblin
PS Kale sent me the sweetest letters last week. You should ask her about them. of course I cried!
Like I said in the email, its been a great week! There were times that we seriously regretted fasting, but the blessings for outweigh the regrets and hunger pains.
Let me tell you more about Roberto. When we met him he was drunk and crying over the loss of his parents. He is from Spain and his accent was really strong, so we weren't sure when they passed but he is an older man so we suspect he has been suffering from their loss for a long time. Poor guy! He was very respectful to us and kept calling us his angels. We helped him find his home and when we got there Norman, his land lord was there. Norman is also an older man who is very nice. We suspect they take very good care of each other. Roberto invited us back tonight to teach him about the Plan of Salvation. Norman is from France and said he was very Catholic but agreed to sit through a "session" with us. I can't wait to see how it goes!
We had a wonderful Zone Conference! President Calderwood is so inspired and we are so blessed to have him as our president He talked about the Plan of Salvation and how when we understand it we understand the Gospel and everything it entails. He did say however that "we know just enough about it to walk back into the presence of God". He said after that we have to rely on faith and know that our Heavenly Father wants it that way for a reason. It was really great. His Assistance talked about being bold, and helping the members feel comfortable in lessons. Elder Munday said that our boldness is an expression of our faith. He said that we are just too "sweet" and we beat around the bush but we need to realize that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is bold, it is the only way to salvation and we need to help people see that! as you know, that is something I really need to work on. Elder Ferry talked about helping members feel comfortable in helping to teach the lessons. We as missionaries need to inform them on what is going on in the lesson, what the investigator is like, and what part of the lesson we would like them to teach. It was a wonderful conference and we are so blessed!
Well, I have many more letters to write, but I hope you know how much I love you!
Love, Sister Mandy Hamblin
PS Kale sent me the sweetest letters last week. You should ask her about them. of course I cried!
Monday, 18 March 2013
Email 3/18/13
Dear Family,
Things here in New York could not be more exciting. While our mission is not splitting we are getting many more missionaries and the number of sisters is going to double in the next transfer. Every Sister who is not being trained next transfer will be training. We almost have too many new sisters coming out to find trainers. We are so blessed! Also, the parade that we participated in a couple of weeks ago will be on the front page of the Church News, so look for that. We have two of the best missionary trainers in the world coming to speak to our mission this Thursday and Friday and on Sunday Elder L. Tom Perry will be here visiting the Plainview Stake (the one I am currently serving in)! Also, on Saturday of next week our recent convert, Clarissa (the amazing one!) will be going to the Temple for the first time to do baptisms for her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother! We have the opportunity to go with her... you know what that means Rainn, MANHATTAN (no worries I will send pictures)!! We are EXTREMELY blessed!
Last week... was interesting... Ha ha just kidding. It was really great! We had a really weird Sunday but we saw many blessings and miracles. Last week Sister Moreno Diaz and I decided that we really need more investigators and that we really would like to find those people through the members. So, we decided to start a 21 day fast with the members. Ok don't freak out! We are eating every day and we are drinking lots of water but we are only eating one meal a day in order to fulfill this fast. It, like I said, has been interesting. We decided to try it for a week to see how it went and then decide from there how we would do it. We have, like I said seen many miracles! We had four new investigators at church and we met so many more people who will be so blessed to hear this message!
We also decided to walk to church and invite everyone we saw to come with us! While no one agreed to come with us many of them gave us their information and said that we could come back another day and teach them. We have an appointment with Roberto tonight. He is a man who was lost and drunk needing a friend. We took him home and found his sweet land lord there who is also going to sit in on the lesson. We are so blessed! I will keep you posted on how it goes!
We also had Zone Conference last week (I tell ya last week was sooo wonderful). President Calderwood and his Assistance talked to us about being bold, helping members feel comfortable in lessons, and understanding the Plan of Salvation. I cannot express enough in words how much I learned and felt there! President Calderwood and those who serve with him are truly inspired and have a great love for the people her in New York.
Sister Moreno Diaz only has 16 more days left on her mission! She is so excited, sad, nervous, happy, etc. to go home. Her family needs her badly there but she is really having a hard time wanting to leave the mission. She misses her family and loves them so much but she says "I just want to go home and sleep for a week and then come back and do more missionary work." She is so awesome! I am truly grateful to have her as my companion and trainer!
Ok now I really don't know what I am going to write in my letter but I'll find something I'm sure! I love you all soo much! Thank you so much for the love and support through letters and prayers! I am so blessed to have such amazing family and friends!
All my love,
Sister Hamblin :)
I am going to have to start signing my first name here pretty soon with Blake going out soon! I am so excited for her and Graham, and Hunter! If I could get their addresses that would be super great! Thank you!
Also,
Could you please send me my USB/ thumb drive (whatever it is) that is in my backpack? I need to be able to save area organization and baptismal programs on there so I know how to do them in the future. Thank you so much!
Things here in New York could not be more exciting. While our mission is not splitting we are getting many more missionaries and the number of sisters is going to double in the next transfer. Every Sister who is not being trained next transfer will be training. We almost have too many new sisters coming out to find trainers. We are so blessed! Also, the parade that we participated in a couple of weeks ago will be on the front page of the Church News, so look for that. We have two of the best missionary trainers in the world coming to speak to our mission this Thursday and Friday and on Sunday Elder L. Tom Perry will be here visiting the Plainview Stake (the one I am currently serving in)! Also, on Saturday of next week our recent convert, Clarissa (the amazing one!) will be going to the Temple for the first time to do baptisms for her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother! We have the opportunity to go with her... you know what that means Rainn, MANHATTAN (no worries I will send pictures)!! We are EXTREMELY blessed!
Last week... was interesting... Ha ha just kidding. It was really great! We had a really weird Sunday but we saw many blessings and miracles. Last week Sister Moreno Diaz and I decided that we really need more investigators and that we really would like to find those people through the members. So, we decided to start a 21 day fast with the members. Ok don't freak out! We are eating every day and we are drinking lots of water but we are only eating one meal a day in order to fulfill this fast. It, like I said, has been interesting. We decided to try it for a week to see how it went and then decide from there how we would do it. We have, like I said seen many miracles! We had four new investigators at church and we met so many more people who will be so blessed to hear this message!
We also decided to walk to church and invite everyone we saw to come with us! While no one agreed to come with us many of them gave us their information and said that we could come back another day and teach them. We have an appointment with Roberto tonight. He is a man who was lost and drunk needing a friend. We took him home and found his sweet land lord there who is also going to sit in on the lesson. We are so blessed! I will keep you posted on how it goes!
We also had Zone Conference last week (I tell ya last week was sooo wonderful). President Calderwood and his Assistance talked to us about being bold, helping members feel comfortable in lessons, and understanding the Plan of Salvation. I cannot express enough in words how much I learned and felt there! President Calderwood and those who serve with him are truly inspired and have a great love for the people her in New York.
Sister Moreno Diaz only has 16 more days left on her mission! She is so excited, sad, nervous, happy, etc. to go home. Her family needs her badly there but she is really having a hard time wanting to leave the mission. She misses her family and loves them so much but she says "I just want to go home and sleep for a week and then come back and do more missionary work." She is so awesome! I am truly grateful to have her as my companion and trainer!
Ok now I really don't know what I am going to write in my letter but I'll find something I'm sure! I love you all soo much! Thank you so much for the love and support through letters and prayers! I am so blessed to have such amazing family and friends!
All my love,
Sister Hamblin :)
I am going to have to start signing my first name here pretty soon with Blake going out soon! I am so excited for her and Graham, and Hunter! If I could get their addresses that would be super great! Thank you!
Also,
Could you please send me my USB/ thumb drive (whatever it is) that is in my backpack? I need to be able to save area organization and baptismal programs on there so I know how to do them in the future. Thank you so much!
Friday, 15 March 2013
Letter 3/11/13
Dear family,
Hello! We have had a really crazy day today! Sorry if this is short and a little messy. As I mentioned in my email, we have spent the day with the Mercado family. They are like Aunt Blanche's family x's 10! I love them so much. They feed us all the time and let us wash our clothes here and do whatever we need to do on p-day. We LOVE them!
Our week has been really great. We found two people to teach and one of them is talking to her friend about us, so hopefully we will be able to teach her as well!
We have Zone Conference this week in which Sister Moreno Diaz volunteered me for a special number on the piano with two other sisters singing. PLEASE pray for me! I have never played this song before. Also, the primary has me playing special numbers for them on Easter Sunday and later this month or early next month. I am so nervous but I am so grateful to be able to help serve these wonderful members who have served us so much!
We are focusing on new members and less active members as a district and we had 4 less actives come to church yesterday! We are soooo blessed. 3 of those members came last week as well so that is excellent news! We love them and know the ward is showing their love for them as well!
Well, I've got to go. I love you!
Love, Sister Hamblin
P.S. spring is just around the corner. It is beautiful here!!
Hello! We have had a really crazy day today! Sorry if this is short and a little messy. As I mentioned in my email, we have spent the day with the Mercado family. They are like Aunt Blanche's family x's 10! I love them so much. They feed us all the time and let us wash our clothes here and do whatever we need to do on p-day. We LOVE them!
Our week has been really great. We found two people to teach and one of them is talking to her friend about us, so hopefully we will be able to teach her as well!
We have Zone Conference this week in which Sister Moreno Diaz volunteered me for a special number on the piano with two other sisters singing. PLEASE pray for me! I have never played this song before. Also, the primary has me playing special numbers for them on Easter Sunday and later this month or early next month. I am so nervous but I am so grateful to be able to help serve these wonderful members who have served us so much!
We are focusing on new members and less active members as a district and we had 4 less actives come to church yesterday! We are soooo blessed. 3 of those members came last week as well so that is excellent news! We love them and know the ward is showing their love for them as well!
Well, I've got to go. I love you!
Love, Sister Hamblin
P.S. spring is just around the corner. It is beautiful here!!
Monday, 11 March 2013
Email 3/11/13
Dear Family,
I hope that everything is ok. I didn't get an email from you so I really hope everything is great! Everything here in Bay Shore is so great! We have spent most of our day at the Mercado's home. They are so great! Sister Mercado took us to a great thrift store were we found some really great deals and then she allowed us to do our laundry at her home! We are seriously soooooo blessed to be here amazing such amazing members!
Our week was great as well. We found some amazing investigators whom we hope will progress and come unto Christ. One is Buddhist and the other is atheist so we really are being challenged and hope to effectively "invite (them) to come unto Christ." I don't have any time left I am so sorry!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin :)
I hope that everything is ok. I didn't get an email from you so I really hope everything is great! Everything here in Bay Shore is so great! We have spent most of our day at the Mercado's home. They are so great! Sister Mercado took us to a great thrift store were we found some really great deals and then she allowed us to do our laundry at her home! We are seriously soooooo blessed to be here amazing such amazing members!
Our week was great as well. We found some amazing investigators whom we hope will progress and come unto Christ. One is Buddhist and the other is atheist so we really are being challenged and hope to effectively "invite (them) to come unto Christ." I don't have any time left I am so sorry!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin :)
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Letter 3/04/13
Dear family,
Well, once again we had a great week. We have been doing lots of service for the members. They have been so kind to us and we wanted to help give back. There are so many amazing people in the ward with awesome stories! We have learned so much from them.
We are still trying to find people to teach but all of our efforts are in vain. Because my trainer and wonderful companion Sister Moreno Diaz loves me we aren't knocking on as many doors, we are trying to organize classes and activities at the church so that the community can get involved. Part of President Calderwood's goal is to strengthen the memos and community around the church so that the church can become a community church. We ( the missionaries and President Calderwood) feel that "real growth" will happen if we do this. We want people to come and stay, not come and become inactive two months later.
Please help the missionaries in your area. We need all the member support we can get. Thank you for doing so much for me. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin. :)
Well, once again we had a great week. We have been doing lots of service for the members. They have been so kind to us and we wanted to help give back. There are so many amazing people in the ward with awesome stories! We have learned so much from them.
We are still trying to find people to teach but all of our efforts are in vain. Because my trainer and wonderful companion Sister Moreno Diaz loves me we aren't knocking on as many doors, we are trying to organize classes and activities at the church so that the community can get involved. Part of President Calderwood's goal is to strengthen the memos and community around the church so that the church can become a community church. We ( the missionaries and President Calderwood) feel that "real growth" will happen if we do this. We want people to come and stay, not come and become inactive two months later.
Please help the missionaries in your area. We need all the member support we can get. Thank you for doing so much for me. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin. :)
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Email 03/05/13
Dear Family,
Oh what great experiences I am having here in Bay Shore, New York! The people here are so wonderful and like I always say so are the members! We have been so blessed to be here! On Saturday we go to travel to the Rockaways to participate in a St. Patrick's Day parade. The town wanted to thank the missionaries and all those who helped in the clean up after the hurricane. It was soo cool! I felt a little guilty to be receiving so much thanks from these sweet people when I haven't done anything to help, but it was really neat to see so many people being so kind to the "Mormons." We would walk by and people would be crying and thanking us for all the hard work that the missionaries did while they were there. They were clapping and shouting "We love the Mormons!" It was weird for us to be thanked and told that we could come back to their homes anytime, cried over, and hugged because of who we are and who we represent. I think we are the only missionaries in the world who have been treated so kindly by so many people. We are truly blessed.
This experience made me think about our reception into heaven if our works are good, our thoughts clean, and our hearts pure. I imagine that there will be people there reacting the same way. Thanking us for being good examples, for helping them to overcome their hard times because of our willingness to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" these people will truly be happy to see us there, being who we are and representing Christ. It is hard, hard to be so kind, so loving, so friendly when the world has so many things they want to throw our way to drag us down. Thank heaven we have the Atonement to help us overcome those challenges. Thank heavens we have someone who " is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:(Isiah 53:3)." He has felt that, suffered that, grieved that. He knows how it feels to be where we are and feel what we are feeling. "Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me" to be able to KNOW that and FEEL that so that I may help TEACH that to those who need that comfort and peace! I am so blessed!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, letters, and encouragement! I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin :)
P.S.
Mom- Thank you for the face wash! I love it!
Riann- Why didn't you go to MORP? Will you get to go see Dixie before you go? When do you go? Is Kale going with you? DETAILS WOMAN!!!
Raddon- How was your Birthday? You didn't tell me...
Dad- Thank you for your insights!
Oh what great experiences I am having here in Bay Shore, New York! The people here are so wonderful and like I always say so are the members! We have been so blessed to be here! On Saturday we go to travel to the Rockaways to participate in a St. Patrick's Day parade. The town wanted to thank the missionaries and all those who helped in the clean up after the hurricane. It was soo cool! I felt a little guilty to be receiving so much thanks from these sweet people when I haven't done anything to help, but it was really neat to see so many people being so kind to the "Mormons." We would walk by and people would be crying and thanking us for all the hard work that the missionaries did while they were there. They were clapping and shouting "We love the Mormons!" It was weird for us to be thanked and told that we could come back to their homes anytime, cried over, and hugged because of who we are and who we represent. I think we are the only missionaries in the world who have been treated so kindly by so many people. We are truly blessed.
This experience made me think about our reception into heaven if our works are good, our thoughts clean, and our hearts pure. I imagine that there will be people there reacting the same way. Thanking us for being good examples, for helping them to overcome their hard times because of our willingness to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" these people will truly be happy to see us there, being who we are and representing Christ. It is hard, hard to be so kind, so loving, so friendly when the world has so many things they want to throw our way to drag us down. Thank heaven we have the Atonement to help us overcome those challenges. Thank heavens we have someone who " is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:(Isiah 53:3)." He has felt that, suffered that, grieved that. He knows how it feels to be where we are and feel what we are feeling. "Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me" to be able to KNOW that and FEEL that so that I may help TEACH that to those who need that comfort and peace! I am so blessed!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, letters, and encouragement! I love you all!
Love,
Sister Hamblin :)
P.S.
Mom- Thank you for the face wash! I love it!
Riann- Why didn't you go to MORP? Will you get to go see Dixie before you go? When do you go? Is Kale going with you? DETAILS WOMAN!!!
Raddon- How was your Birthday? You didn't tell me...
Dad- Thank you for your insights!
Friday, 1 March 2013
2/25/13. Letter
Dear family,
As expressed in my email, it was another GREAT week here on Bay Shore! We are so loved by the members here! They are seriously so wonderful! I am impressed everyday with Sister Moreno Diaz and her knowledge of the Gospel, her questions and her amazing testimony! I am blessed to have her as a trainer. I am really sad that she will be leaving the mission in just over a month :( .
Great news. Bermuda is how a district where sisters can go! My MTC companion Sister Clemens and her current companion, Sister Faiva are the two very first sisters to serve there. I am so excited for them. I haven't had a chance to talk to either of them but I can't wait to hear what they will say about it. It sure is exciting to see the work moving so fast here in New York and with Rex in Washington. I am so proud of him for training. It is a stressful responsibility that I don't soon or ever wish to have.
I have been asked to play the piano a lot while I've been here. I'm not sure if I should thank you or curse you for ever making me learn to play. :). Haha just kidding. I really enjoy playing and am so grateful for all the lessons And practice that I went through. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to give me this talent. I'm so blessed.
Well, I've got to go. I hope you all have a great week.
Love Sister Hamblin
As expressed in my email, it was another GREAT week here on Bay Shore! We are so loved by the members here! They are seriously so wonderful! I am impressed everyday with Sister Moreno Diaz and her knowledge of the Gospel, her questions and her amazing testimony! I am blessed to have her as a trainer. I am really sad that she will be leaving the mission in just over a month :( .
Great news. Bermuda is how a district where sisters can go! My MTC companion Sister Clemens and her current companion, Sister Faiva are the two very first sisters to serve there. I am so excited for them. I haven't had a chance to talk to either of them but I can't wait to hear what they will say about it. It sure is exciting to see the work moving so fast here in New York and with Rex in Washington. I am so proud of him for training. It is a stressful responsibility that I don't soon or ever wish to have.
I have been asked to play the piano a lot while I've been here. I'm not sure if I should thank you or curse you for ever making me learn to play. :). Haha just kidding. I really enjoy playing and am so grateful for all the lessons And practice that I went through. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to give me this talent. I'm so blessed.
Well, I've got to go. I hope you all have a great week.
Love Sister Hamblin
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