Was there any work done?

Hello and welcome!

This week was weird because it felt like no work was done. P-Days we
just clean and get groceries and throw water at each other. Then in
the evening we have a FHE activity. So that whole day is always
planned out automatically. It was fun though we had smores and had a
lesson about obedience.
On Wednesday we had this Men's Health Conference that non of us wanted
go to but, a non member invited us to. We ended up helping out there
all day. We helped out with all the presentations and activities. I
went to a class about diabetes and another about mosquitos. And helped
out at a wood burning one. It was super weird and kind of a waste of
time as a missionary but, we got free stuff so I guess it was okay.
Thursday was pay day this week. So, that means they all go wait in
line to get their share of the money from he tribe and then, go up to
Show Low to buy a bunch of groceries. It is annoying because no one is
home. But, we did manage to find a party that a tribe council member
was holding and we crashed the party. We went around and talked to a
bunch of people and of course answer everyone's soul searching
question: "Whoa dude! How tall are you!?" Also, a bunch of them
"needed" a picture with me. Haha it was weird. I don't like being the
celebrity. We found a few people out of that though.
Saturday we had a huge branch activity where we had a game night. It
was super fun and hectic. We played dodge ball, basketball, a bunch of
mini games and cleaned it all up in preparation for Sunday. It was
super exhausting but, worth it.
Sunday we had a super good lesson with our recent new investigator
Merlinda. She is going through some tough stuff and we had a super
good lesson about the Holy Ghost that brought them hope. So, they
accepted the invitation to be baptized. So, we are super excited for
them! They have two little girls too. This lesson is what made it all
worth it this week. I love it!

Sorry, I didn't have time to add detail to this email. An official
apology has been made.

Thank you!
Love you all :)

Elder Hamson

Enjoy the silly pictures!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy day of the Father!

Elder Hamson here, still serving the Apache Tribe and haven't learned
an ounce of Apache! Yay! Haha is week was CRAZY!!! We had three
baptisms! It was awesome and guess what!? I baptized Thomas, one of
those three! Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself. Let's start over
shall we?

Monday we run a FHE activity where we have a lesson with all the
families we invited, and then we have an activity. This week we played
dodge ball it was pretty fun and entertaining how competitive that
sport can get. 😂 That was just super cool I'm excited to see who
shows up for tonight.
Tuesday we had five solid lessons, I love it!
Wednesday I got to back to my home town in snowflake, talk to my
trainer, Elder Robinson, say goodbye to President Sweeney because he
leaves in like a week then, I got to go to he temple! Yup, that's
right, It was a super good day huh? But, wait! Plot twist! The Cedar
Creek Fire is a flame! All of a sudden the road is closed to get to
Cebique and this enormous fire is headed for Show Low! So, the Cebique
Elders came so our place to stay the night since they couldn't get to
Cebique. It has been super crowded. In case you don't know what
Cebique means or who Show Low is, I will draw you a picture.

Wa-Bam!!

Apache!

Sicnae! Dagotee!

I got transferred! I now am a part of the branch in the Apache Indian
reservation! Fort Apache! My companion Elder Bay is the district
leader and we have had a crazy three days so far in fort Apache.
Day one we get to the rez and we taught five lessons! It was awesome I
got to meet half of our investigators on day one! The people are so
nice and cool! I love it! The pace is so much faster out here. The
work felt a little draggy in Snowflake but, it was all I knew so it
was great! But, now that I am on the rez, I'm hooked! It is so good!
And all the people here love Basketball! They get a kick out of my
height, it is pretty funny. We had this open gym thing that goes on
every Friday. Where we play basketball with the people in the area and
contact them and get them to invite friends. Super cool and I think
president put me here because of the people's obsession with
basketball. Interesting.
Day two was nuts! One of our investigators got married so, now she can
get baptized next week. We went to that and her reception. We had a
baptism as well! Chloe! She had her baptism and a dinner thing later
that night. Man, we ate so much food that day. And some how in the
middle of all this we got weekly planning done in three hours. Also,
three lessons. It feels like I have been here a whole week but, it has
only been three days! I am so excited! The people are so lovable!
Day three, Sunday was super different, I only had to go to one
sacrament meeting because we only cover one branch. So, that was nice.
Also the ward was all converts and it was cool to see it all run
different and a little rough because they are learning. Not your
classic white Utah Ward. And we had this member missionary meeting
thing where we invite the members and talk about how we can best
welcome people into the Ward and help new investigators feel
comfortable in coming to church and the weekly activities. It was
super good, I am learning a lot! Then, we had a bunch of interviews
for baptism and that took forever and We learned that our
investigators are drinking coffee so, that's good to know. That night
Elder Bay had to collect all the numbers or stats for the week and
then we traveled up to Show Low so we could shop on P-day.
So, here we are! There is so much that happened I can't even process
it all. We slept on the hard floor because there wasn't room at the
apartment we went to. We got our shopping done today and drove back
and now this email is standing between me and this basketball game we
are about to start so.... Sorry, this is awkward but, I love you so
stay positive! You can do this!

Tootles!
Elder Hamson

Hot Hot!

Welcome Friends!

This week has been hot! It was like 95 all week, which is pretty hot
for early June up in the mountains. This week started with a good ol'
Weeding service project and we was pulling seven foot weeds taller
than me! It was a good time and we had a couple good lessons about the
plan of salvation. I love talking about Happiness and what God has
down to supply happiness for us in this life.  Mmmm :) Then, on
Wednesday we had another Elder with us because his companion was on
exchanges with another group of missionaries. Which made things
interesting. Haha, oh yeah! Last week we talked to a pastor over a
local church and he invited us to lunch. It went well, it was cool
learning about his church and what his job is as a pastor. He took us
to Arby's too so, it was nice to have a classic roast beef sandwich.
Anyway we asked if he had questions about our church and he blasted us
with anti-mormon doctrine he had prepared. It was kinda rude and I
didn't like it so we politely bore our testimony and thanked him for
the meal. That was fun.... But, we did end up having a good lesson
with a part member family. It was a little rough with three of us but,
it was nice to teach a family.

Exciting news! I had the opportunity to go down to the valley to be a
part of Mission Leadership Council! That means that I might become a
district leader soon. That should be interesting but, I am not sure
how soon that will happen. President Sweeney is leaving soon and
President Robinson will come in so we will see where this goes. But,
it was cool being a part of the "round table" haha. It was 115 degrees
in the valley though! Ah! So hot! It was like a giant hot blow dryer
on you continuously. Or like a giant oven. Apparently, normally the
heat is supposed to sink down into the earth once night comes but,
because It is one giant city covered in concrete and asphalt it
bounces back into the atmosphere so it is literally hot air trapped
between mountains, concrete, and atmosphere like an oven. Well, anyway
I managed to survive and it was super good! Now I am just nervous what
news awaits me this week for transfers. We will see and I will tell
you next week if I become a district leader or if I change companions.

Saturday and Sunday we had a bunch of good lessons and Elder Robinson
has been saying goodbye to all our investigators and Ward mission
leaders because he thinks he is getting transferred this week. But,
maybe, who knows. It is a weird time right now. But we had some solid
lessons and it was nice to get back to preaching the gospel. That
valley trip threw off my mission grove. Haha I hope you are doing well
my friends! I love you and stand tall as if you were seven two!

Majestically,
Elder Hamson

Softball First, Then Family

:)

We had a great week this week! The mission has a big push to get 90%
lessons that have a member present. That is huge! especially if you
serve down in the phoenix valley. But, this week we got 100% member
present lessons! We had 6 non-member lessons that we brought a member
to. It was awesome! We met with a bunch of less active members too!
Man, what a week!

let me start over. I love you guys and thank you so much for reading
this today! If you are reading this prepare to hear some epic
experiences! Okay, so Monday we took a member to two lessons and the
first one said he needed to read the Book of Mormon and wants to come
to know of its truthfulness. We are so excited for him. He is so ready
to be baptized but, his fiancé, who lives with him, doesn't like us.
So, that is a problem. Next we had a good lesson with a
non-denominational family and they are cautious to read the Book of
Mormon but, maybe.

We moved two families as some fun service projects, no adventures out
south this time haha. But, I enjoy moving projects I don't know why,
Tetris maybe. Haha anyway this whole week I have been getting yoked!
(Buff, built, however you want to say it.) The high school gym is open
and we go every morning.

We had a fun lesson with Godoy's and they said they would come to
church but, then they got in a car crash Saturday. They are okay but,
a bit bruised. I love them! They have such a good attitude about life
but, they have a hard time with church because every time we come over
they say they count that as church. Oh well. We had another lesson
with Donley, it went so grand! I felt the spirit so strong in that
lesson. We had a priest with us and he bore a powerful humble
testimony. I love it!

Zone conference was this week! I loved that too! President Sweeney
called on me and my companion to teach a role play. I love spontaneous
lessons that require humility and spirit. That lesson was the best
lesson I had ever taught! Ah, so blessed! President asked everyone
what we did well and they were all impressed and praising us it was
cool and now everyone thinks we are perfect teachers. Lol but we
aren't, haha it was all God.

And I'm back! Sorry, I just went to play softball in the middle of my
email time. It was way fun and exciting, thanks for asking! Anyway,
yeah zone conference was good, President and sister Sweeney had cool
talks about the second coming and how the sign has come, the book is
here, and here we go any day now. Haha it was awesome.

We also had a opportunity to teach mission prep yesterday on Sunday.
It was super fun and spiritual to teach future missionaries, it wasn't
long ago where I was one of them. Also it helps when we are all the
same religion and no one interrupts you mid testimony. I love
teaching! It's kinda cliché for a missionary but, it's true! I love
it! Haha, well I hope you survived this long. I know this is a bit
much but, if you didn't make it through, I forgive you. Even though
you won't be reading this part so, this was super pointless. Just ask
the secret question: "What is purple and quacks like an elephant?" And
if you have read this whole thing answer with "I don't like
hamburgers, silly!" That is how you will know those who are loyal to
reading this entertaining passage. So, have fun my friends! I love and
care about you even though you don't write me... Just Kidding! Not
complaining! ;)

Love for all, and for all a happy Monday!

Elder Hamson