I made it through the MTC and my first week in the mission field! I'm officially 3.8% done with my mission, but who's counting?
A brief summary of my stay at the MTC. I absolutely loved my companions. They were so focused on developing as missionaries that they lifted me up with their efforts to succeed. Elder Titus is currently in my district so I get to peek in on his progress. Although almost all the food was injected with fiber and it would come rushing down with the force of a mighty river, I really enjoyed it. The food wasn't terrible. Exercise time was interesting with all these testosterone filled teenagers trying to one up each other in four square, but I was fortunate to meet the service missionaries. Service missionaries are those who have mental or physical limitations that prevent the serving of a full mission, but they serve their way by working online. They answer questions and work on referrals, but mostly these valiant missionaries deal with all the crap and hatred that is flung at the church online. They are such inspirations. I would be blessed to have the patience and ability to bear afflictions as well as them. The worst part of the MTC was the fact that we spent hours on hours stuck in the same room. But all the spiritual experiences and tender mercies and personal miracles made the MTC such a great experience. But after 19 days I was ready for the field.
Summary of the first week. I have said this already in some of the personal emails, but I'll repeat. The mission has already taught me how to talk with random people, and talk with these people about Jesus. I had to learn real quick because that's a lot of what we do. I do it by talking briefly on something random that applies to the situation, like at the grocery store, I hang out by the noodles and ask what would be best for Mac n cheese. They reply kindly and then I whip out the big guns. Pamphlets and pictures of Jesus. They never see it coming haha. Anyway, I've had some interesting experiences. First day with my companion I give a blessing to a woman talking about crystals and dark spirits and voodoo and dead cats and all manner of things I had no knowledge about. Great blessing though. Thank you Holy Ghost. Next was a lady talking about multi spectrum spirits of varying colors and how she exchanged bodies and souls with them. But she believes that Joseph smith and the priesthood. But she also believes Bob Dylan was a prophet. But all crazy notions aside, she prophesied I would be president. So get ready.
It's so weird being here because like back home, I'm in Antioch and Brentwood. And Brentwood is a tad nicer and Antioch is a tad rough, and I'm blessed to be in Antioch. One thing I'm fortunate to experience as I walk the roads of Antioch is the roadkill. Saw a raccoon and 3 deers the other day. Actually that was the same day we walked ten miles to go knock on random doors and we met an incredible woman. My companion is Elder Melville from the great state of Utah. He is 20, an incredible soccer goalie, pretty decent at improv, and a great trainer. I'm so blessed to be with someone so humble and patient with me as I learn how to live the life of a full time missionary.
Well, it's getting to be that time. I love you and I'll my hardest to get hand written stuff to y'all soon. Keep being nice to people!
Love,
Elder Hamblin
PS: please be nice to people, not just missionaries. You can make someone's day just by talking with them or smiling.
Homework: 1 Corinthians 10:13
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