Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone
This week was really good. I had a great Christmas and Absolutely loved talking to mom and dad and seeing the larson family. For christmas eve. I had the traditional homemade pizza and we opened one present. Thanks for the pjs. On christmas we opened our stockings and other presents that we had received from the ward members. It was really good. We both have a lot of chocolate right now haha. Enough to last for like two months. Christmas eve we had a fun family night with a recient convert. On christmas we had a district meeting that we have every week. But it was a little christmasy. It was so great to talk to you guys and to hear your voices. 40 minutes was really short but I know that the next 5 months will go by really fast so it will be good for mothers day. 
A lot of people were busy but we were still able to teach our investigadors and other people. This week is the new year. Feliz Año Nuevo!! This holiday is actually bigger than christmas here. Viña del mar is famous for their fireworks for the new year. It is 30 minutes straight of fireworks that is along the ocean from concon, viña, valparaiso, and another city too. It is a lot of beach with fireworks. But from here in Quilpue we cant see the beach so we will only hear the fireworks. I dont really know what we are doing for the new year. We have permision to be outside with a family til 11:30 or 12 so we probably will just see if we can find a family to do stuff with. 
I really had a good week. I have learned a lot about the pioneers in my mission. I know it is a little random. But I have studied different liahonas and stories about the pioneers and I have such a stong love for their story and their faith and testimonys. They really did so much. Especially to leave their houses and land to move west. Many people here that are less active in my ward are less active because they closed the chuch building and united two wards. They always say that the new ward just wasnt the same. We often speak about the pioneers and how they too had to move to something new but they did it because it was what the lord had in store for them. It is really interesting because mom always says the church is true in all of the world. I have really felt more of that than ever. The church really is the same, ok not exactly, but the messages and beliefs are the same everywhere. 
I love it because it always makes me feel like im not so far from everyone. I still have members that are great here. 
I am doing good and hope you all are well. Have a great new year. I am excited to spend all of 2014 here in chile. I love you so much
Les amo mucho
Elder Hamilton.




Monday, December 23, 2013

Hello Friends and Family and Merry Christmas!
I am sorry that last weeks letter and pictures did not get put up- I had foot surgery last Monday. So here is your Christmas gift of 2 letters. We are so excited to talk to Tynan on Wednesday.  Thanks to you all for your love and support to him.
Cheryl

Sent Dec. 16
Hola Mi familia
This week was really great. We had a zone conference. We didnt get packages but thats fine. It was great because Elder Svec of the seventy was there. It was a really great conference and was good. I am really looking forward to this next year. As a mission we are going to read the book of mormon 4 times. I am really looking forward to doing this because my testamony of the book of mormon has grown so much in my mission and I want to see it grow more. It really is great that we know of all of these things. 
We are getting ready for christmas it sort of feels like it is going to just be another day but thats fine. There are a lot of christmas lights and decorations up here which is a little surprising to be honest. Not as much as at home but still it is great to see everything because I love that stuff. We know that we get to talk for 30-40 minutes on christmas. We are going to do it in the evening at like 8 here so like 4 there. 
I cant believe that you guys got tickets for the christmas concert for the mormon tabernacle choir. And you guys were so close!!
This week I had a great experience with our recent convert carmen. She has such a strong testamony and every time She shares it I feel like I am learning something new. Her son is a member and has mental problems and she has such a loving attitude to help him always. They had a big problem this week and her patience and love was something that I want to have for my family someday. She relys so much in Christ and that is why she has so much trust and love for him and his church. I am so happy to have know her and been a part of her process of conversion. 
We have changes this wednesday. We dont know what is going to happen but we think that we will stay here because I only have one change here in this area and my companion only has two. We are hopping that we dont have to move to a new area right before christmas but we will see. 
Time always is going so fast and every week I cant believe that It is time for p day again. But I love what I am doing and am excited for another transfer. this will be my 4th in chile. I cant believe I have been here for so long. I love you all so much and hope that you guys are having a good christmas. 
Te amo
Elder Hamilton

Sent Dec 23
Hi Family
I am glad to hear that everything is going good. I have an anouncement to make....


Im a father. Yes I have a son and he is 23, from columbia, and is the only member of his family. I am a trainer this transfer. It is a little crazy to think about this but it has been good these few days. We had changes on wednesday and we have been working in our area. It is going really well. I am realizing that I am able to do much much more than I though before. It is still great to have a latino companion to practice my spanish more. I have felt really comfortable with my spanish for a while now but I still need to practice and learn more. I am excited to see him progress and learn more and more. He came pretty well trained, I think his age helps a little too. He has been a member for 4 years and is the only member of his family. He said that he believes that when he returns from his mission his family will listen to the missionaries. 
Our area is really great I like it a lot. We have one investigador with a date for baptism. His name is elias and his date is for January 12. He is progressing a lot and has asisted two times. It is really good because he has a lot of friends in the church. He has such a great story with the holy ghost. I dont remember if i told you guys this or not but I will tell it again. He always has had questions about the holy ghost and what is the holy ghost. He has visited other churches before and they always say that the holy ghost is like dancing and yelling  "Amen." He said that he never felt like that was the holy ghost. Because how could something so crazy almost like a fiesta invite the holy ghost. I really is so true. It made me think about the temples and how we go their and find peace and tranquility. It is something that cant be faked. The spirit is pure joy and peace in our lives. I love the temples so much and really cant wait until I can go back and visit the temple, ok thats a lie, I really can wait. It really is such a special place where we can feel the spirit so strong. It is the same with the church. Every week we can go to take the sacrament and feel this peace and comfort from the spirit. I am so grateful for this blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and that I have this opportunity to share it with other people. 
I am really excited for christmas! It doesnt feel like a normal christmas of course but still I get the feeling of christmas and I am excited. 
I love you so much and hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Feliz Navidad 

Elder Hamilton


Made pouch with member

Snowing in Chile


Yea! It's Christmas

Monday, December 9, 2013

There are cows, horses, donkeys and lots of random animals on the side of the road. Very Strange

Food With Relief Society

His awesome tree

Hola
Things are going really good here in chile. This week was so fast, like most of them. I did get my package for christmas with my stocking in it. I loved your little decorations mom and I made myself a little tree with my lights. I dont know if there is a pension in the world that is as ready as I am for christmas. A lot of people are doing there lights and trees right now which is great. It still is really wierd because it is so warm, yes I am using sunscreen. It is really interesting how late they are to start christmas here. You would think that because they dont have thanksgiving they would start earlier, the united states has thanksgiving and they still start early, but no they dont do anything until like the end of november until now. I prefere starting the bigging of november, If I can even wait that long. 
Right now we are teaching two people that are progressing and others too. We had a lession with an investigator named Elias and he had a question about the holy ghost and how we could feel and recognize the holy ghost. He has asisted many other churches and said that He doesnt understand because in almost every church they say that the holy ghost is felt through dancing and singing loud songs and a bunch of amens and stuff like that. We taught about the holy ghost and how we can feel his influence in our lives. He said after that he felt a lot of peace and tranquility when we are there with him and he can tell that that is the holy ghost. In our next lession he told us that the other day his friend offered him a cigaret and for the first time he was able to say no, because he is trying to stop smoking. he said that he had prayed to feel the spirit and to have the power to stop smoking and say no. It was a really spiritual experience. I have learned so much about the spirt in my mission and how we can have the spirit and learn from the spirit. I have never had a time in my life when I have felt the spirit in all of my life. Everyday and all the time. I love it. It is a feeling that I can only get from serving the lord like I am right now. I am so grateful for the spirit in my life and what I am learning right now. I cant believe I have almost been in chile for 4 months and I have 5 months in my mission. It has gone by so fast for me and I have learned so much. I am excited for the next 1.5 years to learn and grow more. 
Thank you for all of your support in the experience that I am having I cant express enough my gratitude for your prayers and help in this time of my life. I know it may just seem like something small, a prayer for the missionaries or... I dont know, something else but I really do see every little thing that my family is doing right now and has always done for me in my life. It is wierd because I actually feel like I have grown closer to all of you, friends, family, or posibly a stranger that is just reading this. I love you all and am praying for you all. 
Te amo
Elder Hamilton

Monday, December 2, 2013

A week of being thankful



Hola Familia

I am doing really good this week. It was such a fast week. I did what you told me mom and really tried to focus on the things that I am thankful for. It was such a great week and such a great idea to do. When you think about one thing it generally leads you to think about another thing and before you realize it you have so many things that you are thankful for. It really is a blessing. We have so many amazing things in our lives. This was the only thing I did for thanksgiving. Wasnt super great. But I loved your thanksgiving meal on the plane mom. 
I got my package on tuesday which was awesome. So now my pension is all decked out with christmas lights. I love it. It was fun because last night we went to the house of the sister that does our laundry and we helped them set up their christmas tree. So I got to do a little bit of decorating this year which was really fun. There are some houses here that have lights set up for christmas and more and more everyday. Not as much as home but still it is fun to see them. There is light here until like 9 so it isnt very dark for very long. 
The work is doing good. We are teaching a few different people and just looking around to find more people to teach. I am liking this area a lot. We have changes in 2 weeks, time is going so fast, so we will see what happens. I think we will both stay here because what I have heard is that the changes before christmas generally arent really that big. But there is still a posibility. I really like my companion he is really nice. I am glad that you guys are doing good and are able to be with nathan. Tell him hi and that I love him. 
It is so wierd that it is almost christmas. The weather here makes it feel like it is like may or june. I am really excited to talk to you guys in a few weeks we dont know anything about when or anything. We do have a zone conference next week so I think we will get mail but I dont know. It is a zone conference with the president and I dont remember if in the last one we got mail when in this conference so we will see. I would think that they would try to give us mail before christmas but really I dont know. If not. thats fine I will have a great christmas present after. 
Like I said the best thing for me this week was thinking about all the things I am thankful for. We really are so blessed in our lives and when we realize that and give thanks for that we show our love for the lord and our heavenly father. I am so happy I have this knowledge about the truth. I am so happy I have all of you guys for your support and your love. I hope you are all doing good and are safe and health. I love you so much.
Te amo
Elder Hamilton

Monday, November 25, 2013




Hi mom 
I am doing really good this week. I think this has been one of my favorite weeks in my mission. It wasnt all easy but it was great. I have learned a lot about my self and about the gospel and I love it. I really feel like I am growing everyday. I love being able to focus so much on the gospel of Jesus Christ and have that be such a center of my life. 
This week I learned a lot about patience. I definately havent perfected this attribute of christ yet but I have gotten a lot better in my mission at being patient. Some times it is hard to communicate things with you guys that we need to communicate but I am learning to be more patient and just do what I can do. Then I just focus on what I need to focus on. It doesnt mean that it fixes the problem but sometimes I cant do anything about that right. 
This week we had the baptism of carmen. She is really great and was so happy and ready to be baptised. We went in the morning to fill up the font and we didnt have hot water so we were trying to fix it and ultimatly we just used the chapel that is in the area next to ours. It was really great and the spirit was so strong. Now we are going to work with her to get her to the temple. We have some other people that we are working with and some are progressing. So we are going to keep going with them. We are working to find new people to teach. It has been really hard. here is really different because there arent a lot of people that are in the street. We have to knock doors. which isnt always as productive and efective. 
I am really liking my area, district and companion. There are 6 ´people in my district 2 hermanas y 4 elderes. One of the elders actually served in esperanza where I served so thats fun to talk about the people there. We had a district activity today which was really fun. We played soccer (like every activity haha) and had sushi!! it was great. My companion is really great. He is working on learning english so it is fun to help him with that. He has progressed a lot in the three weeks we have been together. His dream is to go to utah to live and study languages. He has a lot of determination and is a really hard worker so it has been a lot of fun to work with him. 
Really everthing is going good here. I am excited to talk to you guys in one month! I love you so so much
Te amo
Elder Hamilton




Monday, November 18, 2013

Waffle Luv from Chile

Hi mom 
This week was good. I am doing good and learning more about the area which is a really big blessing. We had a baptism yesterday which was really great. Her name is Paulina. I told you guys about her a little last week. I had the oportunity to baptise her which also was a really great experience for me. She was so happy and said she felt so aliviated of all of her heartaches and sorrows. It was a really great day. I really felt the spirit so strong in the baptism and I have gained a bigger understanding of the importance of the baptism. Many times we talk about baptism when someone reaches 8 years old and I dont think to much of it. But seeing the whole process of teaching and getting people really ready for baptism, what the primary does for all the kids, It is such a bigger thing now. 
This next saturday too we have a baptism for our other investigator, carmen. So that will be something to look forward to also. We are trying to find more people to teach. That is something that we need always. There are some other people that we are working with that are great and we will continue to work with them and hopefully they will progress more and more. 
I absolutely love my waffle maker it works really great. I had waffles a few times this week for breakfast which was really nice.
The bad news for this week is about mail. We had our zone meeting this week so I got letters no packages. I know that I have a package in the office, at least based on what you said the tracker says, but posibly I didnt get it because I had changed areas. So now we just have to be patient and wait for the next oportunity to get it which probably isnt for another month. I did get some letters though which was really great.
The area that I am in there are a lot of fires right now. Not in my actually area but in the surrounding hills. It is really different than my first area in that it is just hills all around but I really like it. I like being able to see different parts of the country. I cant believe I have almost been here for two weeks. The time really does go by so fast it is crazy. But I am doing good. I love you all and hope that things are going good in your lives too. 
Te amo
Elder Hamilton


My Bed

Even though I am not home I still have lights!


Waffle luv Chile

Sunday, November 17, 2013

I am doing great here in QUILPUE!!

Sorry to take so long in posting this. CH

Hola Familia 
I am doing great here in QUILPUE!! Yes I changed areas and companions! It was wierd because the biggining of the week me and my companion thought that we would both stay in our area and then I woke up the morning of changes and I just knew that I was changing. I dont know why but I really thought that I was changing. Then when the zone leaders called it was true. So I am in a city called quilpue the ward it paso hondo. It is close to vina del mar and my other area, like 30 or 45 minutes away but I cant see the ocean. I am on the other side of the hills surrounding viña del mar. I really like the area a lot it is way bigger than my old area. There are actually 4 missionaries in my ward two elders and two sisters. It used to be two wards with two buildings but they closed the building in my area and combined the wards together so now we have a closed chapel in my area. The ward is also bigger with around 150 people asisting instead of 90. My companion is Elder Cañar from ecuador!! Dad I need to know what mission you served in in ecuador. He is from quito ecuador and has been here in the mission for almost 8 months. He is great and obedient. I am really excited to work with him. The area is so huge I am a little worried about becoming familiar with the area but I know it will come with time. I dont have the ocean to look at anymore but I love it here. The night skies are great because It is easier to see the stars here. And there arent as many hills here. It is still very hilly but not as many or as steep. So that is a great thing too. 
We have three investigators that have dates for baptisms this month. Paulina, Carmen, and juaqin. Paulina has her date for next sunday so we will see what happens with that. She is 22 and has cousins and family in the church. She is really great and has had many spiritual experiences to strengthen her faith. Juaquin is 10 and all of his family are members. I dont really know much about him because I havent taugh him. Carmen is like 75 and her son is a member. She is aweseom. She definately has seen a great change in her life. Before she didnt want to have anything to do with the church. The missionaries would visit her son but she wouldnt participate. She said, though, that she would sit in her room and listen. her son has different medical problems and at one point things were really bad. She had a dream the Jesus Christ knocked on her door and told her that everything would be alright and that she would be given everything that she needed. She started listening to the missionaries and her testimony continued to grow. She has such a strong testimony and wants to do what is right. When so shares her testimony I can see how strong her faith is and how much this baptism means to her. She is so nice to us. She calls us her grandchildren and says that she always wants to make her house feel a little bit like our home. She is getting baptised the 23 of november. I am really excited to be a part of these peoples lives leading up to their baptisms and then when we start helping them continue their conversion to go to the temple. 
My apartment is great. It really is not that bad at all. I really have been blessing with where I live. haha. It is clean, or at least I will make it clean, and we have an oven and microwave which is great and our beds are pretty new. Also I have been blessed with two latino companions who want to work hard and be obedient. I have talked to other greengos and many other people only had like 2 latino companions their whole mission. So learning the language has been super great. I really dont have to much problems with the language. I still have a lot to learn but I am able to express myself really well with what I know and I can understand almost everything. Sometimes I cant understand specifics but I am able to understand in general. My companion doesnt speak very much english and so I am helping him learn. He said his dream is to go to the united states and be able to comunicate with the people. 
My old ward was about to have their primary program in a few weeks and my new ward hasnt had theirs yet so It should be in a few weeks. I am looking forward to that. I always love those weeks!! I should have zone conference in the next week or two so I will be getting my mail. I cant believe that november is already 1/3 over and I have now been in chile for 3 months. It is going so fast it is hard to believe. But everything is going good. I did get bit by a dog yesterday luckly just my pants and not my flesh but still a little hole in one of the pairs of pants for my suits. I am going to stich it up because it is just a straight rip that is only like 1 inch. Haha but I have heard a lot of stories of other missionaries that got bitten. I will try to be more aware of my surroundings but he just came up from behind me for nothing. I am a little convinced that the devil can control dogs but I know that is not doctrine and I am not teaching that to people. 
I am great and love you all so much.
Te amo
Elder Hamilton

Monday, November 4, 2013

He got his package!

I have to start by saying how spoiled I was to have to sons go in the states and how easy it was to get them things. So far all of our mail has been received by Tynan no problem, but he only gets it at zone conferences- every 6 weeks- which is a bit frustrating. His birthday package has been at the office since Oct 7- but missed his conference and he wasn't going to receive it until mid Nov. So I was really happy to read he asked for it. Cheryl


Hola Familia
I am doing great and had a really good week. First, congrats to chris and makayla in your wedding! We had a really good week this week. We found more people to teach which is so great and I have a lot of hope in a few of them. We are actually teaching 2 families who are really great. The both have a lot of faith in God and Christ and really love listening to our messages. I love it when we get to teach. Imediately all of the walking and hard work disapears and all you focus on are the people and how you can help them in this moment. The hardest thing is to find time that they can be taught. A lot of people say that they are only available one day in the week. A lot of times we pass by and talk to them other days too. We are so happy to be seeing so much progress and change in the area and the ward. We are a little nervious about changes this wednesday because we dont want to leave. But what ever happens will be the right thing. It is so wierd that it has been another 6 weeks here in esperanza. Time flys by so fast it is crazy. All of the progress that I have seen has really strengthened my testamony that when we feel like we have done all we can do or walk as far as we can go, if we go a little farther we are going to see miracles. There was one day this week that I was just exausted, physically and mentally. I prayed to find the strength to keep going and keep walking. After that it wasnt like my burdens and challenges were just taken away from me and I didnt feel them anymore but I was able to push through it, with the help of god, I know it. I think this goes for anything in life. When we have challenges or trials in life and we feel like we cant go any farther. I know that if we can push a little more and pray for help from god, we will receive that help and we will be able to do everything we need to do. It wont be easy, its life. Sometimes it may be harder after. But I know that we can get through any trial or challenge that we have in our lives if we turn to god. One of the things I have learned about the atonement and I love it that the atonement not only paid for our sins but Christ felt everything. All the trials, pains, challenges, everything. So when we think that no one know how we are feeling in this moment remember Christ does know and he is here to help us if we ask. So JUST KEEP SWIMMING! or walking. 
It has been getting warmer here which is great. But still not too warm so that is really great. There is always a little wind to cool us down and people always give us water or juice. Halloween was good. Nothing to exciting. It is definately not as big as in the united states but still there were a lot of little kids that were dressed up and walking around for candy. We wanted to change our nametags and be the other person for the day and knock on doors and say "message or treat." We actually did get some treats from people which was nice. Their candy for halloween isnt very great it is just like tiny candys that are general. I missed the reeses and kitkats haha. We had three people in our companionship forsunday and this morning until we droped him off at the offices. That was fun to have someone else with us for a day. When we were at the offices I saw the mail room and my package so I asked if I could have it and I got it. I didnt get any letters or anything so I dont know what else I have there but I was happy to get my package. When I opened it I kept saying, my mom knows me so well. haha. 
Things are going great here. I am happy and excited for this week, a little nervous waiting for wednesday but we will just have to wait and see what happens. I will let you all know this next week. 
I love you all
Les Amo
élder Hamilton 




Monday, October 28, 2013


Hola Familia 
¡Una semana muy buena! (A week very good)
I am doing good here in chile! Thank you for all of the birthday emails. I had a great birthday different but great. It isn´t like I ever did anything really huge for my birthday anyway. I will let you know what I did in a minute. About mail... I just sent out some letters to some people. And receiving... Nothing I dont have another zone conference for I think 2 weeks so I will get other mail then. I think your other box should get here by then mom. 
For my birthday my companion woke me up at 3:30 in the morning singing happy birthday with a little cake (a cake that is in a wraper and you can by in the stores here, But dont get me wrong they are actually really good and only like 50 cents) and a candle. In the morning nothing to exciting we had church and then lunch. We picked up the lunch from the sister and took it to the apartment because they had to leave for family stuff but I actually liked that better haha. We bought icecream and had that with more mini cakes. We had study time like always and then got out to work. It was going good a little frustrating because no one was home. My companion always asks why the missionary manuel (little white book with all the rules) says that saturdays and sundays are the best days to find people in there houses because they never are. But it was good. We had just watched a video called the district for our studies, they actually showed it on byu tv one time, and it showed a bunch of missionaries bearing their testimonies and giving words of encouragement so I was like "ok Lets go!" and then we had appointments fall through and no one was home but something that one of the elders said stuck with me. He said when you feel like you cant go any farther and you keep going a little father that is when the miracles and blessings come. Well thats how I was feeling, no not really that bad, but then we had two great lessions with investagators that are progressing. In both lessions I could feel the spirit so strong and I know that they could too! One is named jonathon, he is like 22 and living with his girlfriend he has a lot of interest and expecially after this last lession I felt like he is understanding more of the gospel and the importance of it in his life. After we had a lession with Jose, he is 34 and MARRIED (YAY!!). His brother died a little bit ago and actually his friend died this last week so he has a lot of interest in the plan of salvation. He too is starting to recognize the spirit in his life. He said that Everytime we visit he feels different and there is a feeling of peace and joy in his house. And at the end of the lession my companion said that It was my birthday and he gave me a jar of nutella. haha It was so nice.
I think this week I realized most the importance of reading and praying about the book of mormon. When we come in contact with people in the street and they say that they have a copy of the book of mormon of have heard about the church we always ask If they have read and prayed about the book of mormon. I have yet to hear someone say yes. We give people this ability to know and if people wont do it they will not know. It is amazing. We have this great promise for us in the book of mormon that when we will pray about the book we will recieve an answer. I know that if we pray we will get an answer. Sometimes it wont be the answer we may expect or want but we will get an answer. That is why I can have such confidence in telling people that they can read and know.
I love you all so much. Thanks for your prayers and support. 
Te amo 
Elder Hamilton

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Patriotic Elder


His District

Things here are going good. This week has been better than last week which was great. I just decided that I need to be patient with myself. And try to do all that I can do without getting overwhelmed like I was close to being last sunday. But Things are good. It was great because throughout the week I saw so many answers to my prayers. Just little things but when you look for them they are there. 
We are working with some investagators right now and they are progressing some more then others and all of them a little slowly. One of them is eliza. She is older and has a daughter that is inactive in the church. Her husband died 3 years ago I think so we have been talking a lot about the plan of salvation with her. This last week we talked to her about after this life and the temple. It was so great because we were able to explain to her where her husband is and how she can see him again and be with him forever. I have such a strong testamony of the temple from when I would try and go each week with olivia to do baptisms and when I got to go through the temple and did that each week leading up to my mission. It was great to be able to help another person with my testamony. That is really a lot of missionary teaching, is bearing testamony of what I know to be true. I know that we are able to receive so many blessings from the temple in our lives and we are able to help other people in their lives too. Go to the temple even if it is just to walk around or sit outside, that is one of my favorite things to do on sunday (shout out for olivia). There is a peace that is all around and in the temple that cant be found anywhere else in the world. It truly is the most peaceful and yes "the happiest place on earth." 
Since I got that little disney plug in my letter I will answer the question that I have been asked by some people. No I am not dying because I haven´t been able to go to disneyland. I still love it and each time the truck with the gas (remember that there are gas trucks that drive arround and play childrens music like ice cream trucks in the us) drives by and plays its a small world I always smile. Haha. 
There really isn´t too much to say this week. We had a training meeting in my ward that me and my companion did on wednesday that went really well. There werent too many people there, like 20, but we got 8 references from it so that is great. We also had stake conference yesterday which was really great, including hearing from the president and his wife. And today we had a district activity where we played basketball and through a football around and had pizza. It was nice to take a break from futbol, soccer, because we do play that a lot down here. 
There is a talk from general conference that I would encourage everyone to read because It is fantastic. It is called "choose eternal life" and it is in the sunday afternoon session in october 2011 and it is by Randall Bennett. It is a really great talk that I read this morning in my study. 
I love you all so much and hope things are going good for everyone in your lives. 
Have a great week. 
Te amo
Elder Hamilton

Photos of his area




Monday, October 14, 2013


I finally found some pictures of Tynan from a zone conference so there are a lot this week.
Also I was online today when I got his mail and was able to respond to his frustration of church attendance and have put that response below.  Our family feels very strongly that it is not about the numbers, but about truly converting the person and bringing them to Christ forever.  Cheryl

Hola Madre

This week was ok. Im not going to lie it was dificult but who is supprised that I said a mission was hard. It really was yesterday that was the hardest. I was frustrated because no investigators came to church which means that the people were were hoping to baptise this month cant be baptised this month, people never want to talk to us (ok never is to strong of a word), and more things were frustrating me. So then I started thinking about maybe I am not doing something right maybe I dont know the language well enough, maybe I am not trying hard enough. I was getting really down on myself and worried that I wasnt doing a good job. I prayed a ton for help, the spirit, peace, and knowledge that I can do this and I am doing a good job. We dont like to and are not supposed to count success by numbers of baptisms but the number is still there and in reality that is part of inviting others to come unto christ. During this time we were walking around from house to house contacting different people. Every time I talked to someone and started to compartir my testimony I got a strong feeling of the spirit. Then we actually got into someones house. YAY!! We started to teach this couple about the restauracion. They are evangelical and dont really want a change. The sister started talking about these things that she "knew" about the church which of course were not correct like jose smith wrote the book of mormon and the book of mormon is about jose smith. We just told them that we want to explain the truth and answer their questions. It was really great because they actually listened. You always have the people that say all this things against you but dont listen or let you give a response so it was nice to have people that listened. After this lesson I realized that while yes baptism is part of inviting others to come unto christ there are 5 things in this process to come unto christ. Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. So when I am bearing testamony or talking about the church of jesus christ I am trying to build their faith then that will lead them to do other things. If they chose not to have an open heart to listen to the message I cant do anything about that but I can do my job which starts with building other peoples faith. Of course I want to baptise because that is part of the goal of bringing others to christ but I know that I will have that oportunity. 
Now for the answers to your questions.
Sundays we have a meeting at 8:30 with the priesthood leaders. and church is from 10-1 Yes we study the same things everyone else does. After church we go to lunch and have studies for 3 hours and then we go out and find and teach. 
ANd yes the time finally came when I got my package and letters. We had zone meeting which this was my second and we got them their. I have also had one meeting with the president. I am in the zone vina west.  I got dear elders from the following people, denise, carlene, val, and ryan and megan. And I got a letter from erin. So now you know that I got your letter. We only get mail one time every month. 
Oh I am back to just me and my companion and just one area Elder gutierez who is from argentina has a new companion in his area. 
I love you all so much 
Te amo 
Elder Hamilton

My response, which he was able to read- The other thing you need to remember Tynan is that baptism is a covenant which should be kept and not broken. You want people to be ready and committed to be baptized, not just someone who is interested. Them not coming to church is a sign they are not ready. They are better off not making that covenant until they are truly ready. Then they will stay active members of the church. I know it is hard, and you probably get a lot of pressure from the mission about your numbers, but just love the people and be patient with them and that is how they will be ready. Hopefully your ward will friend these people too.





His Zone

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Here are a few pictures that Tynan sent.
This was his pre conference feast
And with his 2 companions


Monday, October 7, 2013

Hola Familia 
Conference was AMAZING. I loved every minute of it. This was my favorite conference ever. Posible because I am already on such a spiritual high, being on a mission, so having a whole weekend to hear the words of the prophets was awesome. I watched it at our stake center. I got to watch the whole thing in english which was a huge help. I think I would have understood it generally in spanish but not enough to take notes and really apprieciate it in total. I would love a copy of the ensign next month though to go through and mark and reread. I absolutly loved the talk by Elder Monson. Im not sure exactly why I think a lot of it was his emotion and sincerity. But all of the talks were so good and there were so many talks that were, as we call them, "cutting talks" because they cut down on obedience and working hard. It was awesome. I was blessed and so happy to be able to watch music and the spoken word. I loved seeing the choir again!. The pictures of Utah only made me happy not sad at all. I really loved the pictures of temple square and the conference center. I love going up and walking around there. Something else I realized with conference is how it really is world wide. I really realized how far I am from conference. I always was just an hour away but now I see that we really are one world wide church that has the oportunity to unite every 6 months. And Almost all of the prayers in conference prayed for the missionaries and I realized something that you always say mom, There are so many people praying for the missionaries. ANd I promise you I have never felt the power of prayers, mine and others, in my life before. Prayer works and we all receive the blessings from prayer. Thanks for your prayers for me. I am praying for you everyday. 
Today we have a activity de zona and the zone leaders said that we are getting mail today. YAY!!!! finally and they said that there is a lot so I believe I am getting my mail today so I will let you all know how that goes next week and what I get. I am not really near the mountains I cant see them. I am really close to vina del mar central. Like a 10 minute drive. I have felt 3 or 4 earthquakes. Not big and always while I am sleeping in the morning I will wake up to the world shaking. 
As for the work. I have two comps right now. My companion elder abarca and my district leader elder gutierez. My district leader is with us because his companion went home and so until he gets another companion, if he does before the next change in 4 weeks, he is with us. We know he is going to be with us for at least one week other than that we dont know anything. We are working in both of our areas because his is right next door. So our investagator pool just doubled which is nice. We were hoping on having people at conference but we dont think that happened unfortunately. We had two baptismal dates for the 26th of october but they didnt asist so we have to move them back. They are both from menos active families and both have like 17 years. We are finding more people to teach. Sometimes it is hard becuase they say they can only be taught one day a week so they cant progress very fast. WE are praying and fasting and hoping for 2 baptisms in esperanza, my area and the word for HOPE in spanish. I am loving being able to talk to the people here more. It is great to get to know the members more and talk to them during lunch. And when we are on the bus I am about to turn to the person sitting next to me and talk to them for a little bit. The people here are great. It is really different, just the customes and the situations and other things, but I like it a lot. 
I am learning more every day about my self, the work, the church, and my life. This is such an awesome experience that I am having and I am so blessed to be able to have it. I hope you all were able to watch conference. Expecially sunday morning. I thought it was so interesting how all of the talks had something in common an idea or a scripture or something. Go and reread them I am so excited to do that too.
It was interesting because of the time change it felt wierd because I am used to waking up and watching the first session. But the times were 1-3 5-7 and 9-11. Late night out on saturday night!!! As close as we missionaries can get to a late night out, going to conference. But I wouldnt change anything because I loved it. 
I love you all so much.
Te amo 
Elder Hamilton

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Blessed to see Ocean

HI Family
This week was really great. The time flew by, like every week I guess. I am still in esperanza with my same companion which I am really happy about. It has been fun to get to know him more and we are working together really well so it will be good to have another transfer with him. And I am really happy to still have my views of the ocean and the city. especially at night when the sun goes down. It is so beautiful. And we are actually teaching people now so that would have been hard to leave right when we are really starting to teach people. No I havent gotten any other mail yet. Ari´s was normal mail not dear elder. I am sure that they have everything at the office but I just havent gotten it yet. I think because it was transfers they waited a week or two because people were going to be moving areas. I have an interview with the president tomorrow so maybe then. I cant believe tomorrowis October. September was gone before it started I feel like and now I have been in chile longer than in mexico which is a huge thing that I am so happy about. 
You asked about blessings from obedience and I definately have felt the blessings. Nothing huge but even just the oportunity to feel the spirit and feel so close to our savior all day is a blessing I love so much. I wrote in my journal the other day, yes I am writing, that I never want to get used to the feeling of having the spirit with me all the time on my mission because that is one of the greatest parts. Also I feel the blessing of spanish in my life a lot. I am doing much better with the language still have a lot to learn especially vocab wise but even the people who have been here for 1 year have to look things up sometimes. But I am able to talk a lot more without thinking to much about it and I understand even more. I am working on talking more to members people in the street and my companion for practice. Our goal for this transfer is to speak total spanish all the time and have 2 baptisms. I am a quiet person sometimes so I am trying to talk more haha. We also have found more and more people to teach which is deffinately a blessing in my live and mission. So we have a lot hope for some of the people we are teaching so we will see what happens.
The rules really arent to hard to keep. We just keep doing our best and try to keep them all. The hardest are only having one hour for lunch, because the members sometimes like to talk a lot and eat slow, and not being able to go into houses with just women. Now dont worry we never break this rule but the elders here before us did so all the members think that it is ok and we have to explain that it isnt ok and it is against the rules. ANd It is difficult with investigadors because they dont understand either but it is a rule for a reason and I totally understand. Just like the other rules I have felt blessings from keeping this rule. 
For contacts we contact on the street and some doors. THe ward unfortunatly doesnt do much we are working with the word council to have them help more with refrences but they always just say they dont know anyone. We receive some every week though which is good. 
Things are great here. I still am loving it more and more everyday. This is the true church I have no doubt. I know that everyone is able to know that for themselves. This work is so important. It is wierd and sometimes difficult to have the feeling that I am doing something successful when people around me are not to happy or excited to talk to us. But like I said I can feel the spirit the whole time and It is such a blessing in my life. I am so excited for conference this week and I hope everyone listens and watches our leaders and prophets teach us. 
I love you all so much. 
Be safe in all you do and pray always, I promise you it works.
Te amo 
Elder Hamilton