Growing My Faith

Hi everyone

This week was really great. To start of I didnt change and we didnt even have changes. So we are going to be together for 6 more weeks. This will be the longest that either of us have had together with a companion. I am excited to be here still, we are working with some great people and are hoping to have some baptisms. Things are going better with my companion. he has a lot more excitement to work and everything. We have learned a lot together and I know that we are going to learn more. 

This next week  if all goes well we will have a baptism this sunday. We are teaching this man named Javier. he is 29 and single. He was listening to the missionaries before I got here but we couldnt find him for a long time. We started teaching him like a month and a half ago. He is really great and has a lot of desire to make the changes needed to get baptised. He says that he wants to change is life. During this time he has made a lot of changes in his life and he wants to make more. This last monday we had a lesson with him that was the best lesson I have ever had in my mission. The spirit was so strong and was guiding us like I have never felt before. We were teaching him about the commandments including the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. El espiritu guided us so we knew exactly what he needed to hear. He has progresed a lot which is so great to see. He is going to have his interview this week and We hope that all goes well so he can be baptised the next sunday. 

Also In the whole week we felt guided by the spirit. We were able to find a lot of new investigators and have a lot of great experiences.  Yesterday our convert from may got a calling in the primary which is so awesome. She is so great and is progressing so well. We are hoping that she can go to the temple in august. 

Like I said this week was really great. I am excited for this next week. We are going to have conferences with the president and someone from the seventy. I love it when we have conferences.  I am excited to see what they have for us. I am focusing on trying to do things better. In the last conference they talked about how we can do better everyday. I have been studying about faith and I am working on focusing my studies and goals in growing my faith. If we have more faith we are going to be obedient and work harder. 

I am really grateful this week for the spirit and its guidance in my life. Thanks for all you are doing to support me. Please pray that all goes well with Javier this week. I love you and pray for you all. 

I love you all

Love Elder Hamilton

I dont feel like it is a sacrifice

Hi everyone

This week went by too fast. I didnt like it. There just doesnt seem to be enough time to do everything. That being said also we have changes this week and we think that we are going to be changed. I did get my package which was awsome because it is full of candy and goodies. I loved the pictures and letters too thanks for that. 

You asked about genealogy. There are a lot of people who do have some interest in the genealogy. It is a little hard to do it because not a ton of people have computers in their houses but almost everyone has a smartphone or tablet here so they can do a little with that. The woman who got baptised in may is excited to start her genealogy and go to the temple. 

This week we had zone conferences with just our zone not with the president, that is in another week and a half. It was so great. We talked about sacrifice a lot. Missions have a lot of sacrifice but a lot of the time I dont feel like it is a sacrifice. I loved something that president monson said when he was called as an apostle. He said, I dedicate my life, all that I have. I think for me President monson, Jose Smith and Jesus Christ are such great examples of sacrifice for the will of god. It may not be easy but It is what is important. I also was thinking of our family and the examples of sacrifice that I have seen for the gospel. Especially with the grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa Andrew who have served many missions and Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton who are the king and queen of family history. I am so grateful for the family that I have who have sacrificed time, effort, energy and home for the lord. 

We had a activity this week which was great too. It was really fun. It is a little hard because there isnt always such great asistance at the activities. But some investigators and less actives were able to go. 

Things are going really great here. I am excited to see what happens this week with changes. AND I am so excited that the world cup is over hahaha. But really...

And I want to with a feliz cumpleaños to the happiest place on earth. 

I love you all

Elder Hamilton  

1 Year and 4th Of July

Burn something on your year!

Hi Family

Happy Fourth of July!!! I had a great week and a great fourth of july. I didnt do much that day but we did have a good lunch and at night the americans sang our hymn. haha. The independence day for chile is in september. It is really big with a lot of food. The whole week they are celebrating with food. I loved it this last year. I remember I did get a little sick with all of the food. They do a lot of bbq everyday that week. I am excited for september 18 again. 

This week was really good with investigators We have two investigators with a baptism goal and that is great. We are hoping that they can keep progressing for their goal date. One has a cousin that is serving in uraguay right now and his aunt and uncle are members too. He is studying and is 23. He said that he is excited to come to church with us and work towards his baptism. The other is 29 and he is looking for work right now. He has listened to the missionaries before and we are teaching him again. He is progressing and has a desire to get closer to god. We are really happy with our area and the people here the members are starting to help us more and more with everything which is great. 

This last week I pased my year mark. And everyone has always said that the burned something so we burned a tie. to be honest it was just a tie we found in the house haha but it was cool to burn it. haha. I dont want to loose any of the clothes that I have.  

You asked about this mormon.org box or stand thing that they are testing in the mission. It has brought a little succes. They are testing it in like 6 missions. We haved had it for a long time and will probably get it again in a few weeks. The sisters in my district have had success with it. They were able to find investigators to teach. I know that we have had at least one baptism from the stand. I think it is a great idea. I know that we are going to be doing it for sometime. The president said that if we are good with it they might start giving ipads to our mission. We are going to have a conference in 2 weeks with an area 70 and they are suposed to explain how we will start putting facebook in the mission. But we will just have to wait and see what happens with everything. 

The weather has been good. Not too cold and no rain during the day which is great. 

Everything is going really good here. I am happy and excited. 

I love you so much 

Elder Hamilton 

(What a great thing if they start with the online/ iPads. I know so many who have found great success with it. Tynan and I always said they would get it as soon as they leave. Guess we will see. CH)

 4th of July Meal