Job in Beijing

FAM BAM,

They said I would receive blessings from coming on a mission, but I never expected this one: I got a job in Beijing. Here's the story. My companion and I were walking the neighborhoods, as we normally do, when we spotted a man. Like the persistent and diligent missionaries we can be, we pounced. He turns to greet us and after a couple of seconds he invites us in from the rain. After some small talk where we learned that he recently moved in, even though it was somewhat apparent when all he had was a chair with a rice cooker on top of it. We ask some basic questions to get to know him and he recently moved here from Beijing to work at a nearby university to help research fuel cells or something. He starts asking us questions like who are you and why are you dressed funny. Unlike his neighbors with heavily influenced Baptist backgrounds, he has no idea who Mormons are and very little knowledge about Jesus Christ. This is completely new because the vast majority of people we teach are active in a church of their own. When we come back for our return appointment, he is baffled by our timing, not uncommon with missionaries. As we walk in, I see he has a small TV set up with a show he had paused. In the corner it says the name of the TV show in English with all other subtitles in simplified Chinese. I comment on the show asking if it was "White Deer" or the only English words I can see. He exclaims "You watch White Deer?! It is incredible!" He continues on for a bit leaving no room for me to explain I don't watch White Deer, and all I could do is politely nod to his obvious joy. I still haven't told him, but we will see. Anyway, he is very impressed by me and says I must know a lot about Chinese history, yet again leaving no time for me to deny. He remembers me saying I studied engineering before my mission and says I have to come work for him and his family in Beijing as an engineer when I graduate. So now I have a job and a new friend haha. 

In all seriousness, I am extremely happy serving here in Nashville TN. I have begun to forget that I am dressed funny and that what I do is not the most common thing and can make people fairly uncomfortable. I have been enveloped by this work and this cause and have seen so many blessings for not only me, but also for the people who need and accept it. Keeping praying for me, cause I need it! I love all of you so much! Go VOLS!

Love,

Elder Hamblin  

Mid-June Update

To Dad

Fajo,

So the assignment of district leader for the McMinnville district has allowed me to stay in the Tullahoma area. The district includes McMinnville, Manchester, Tullahoma, and Winchester and a few of the surrounding small cities. Like Lynchburg with the Jack Daniel's distillery which is ironically a dry county. So I'm still in Tullahoma and now it's just me and Elder Wadsworth. I'm really thankful he stayed. He is a good missionary that I trust and know I can rely on.

Life as a missionary has been a little bit tough the last two weeks. We had a baptism canceled which led me to be a little bit sad and unfocused. That has transitioned into more frustration and anger. And I think it has shown a little bit with how I've treated our investigators and random people on the street. The discussions have been more about showing them the logical fallacies with their faith as opposed to teaching with the Spirit and lifting them up higher than where they are. My companion and I had a good chat about it and I plan to refocus on loving those I teach and allowing space for the Spirit to teach and testify to them.

I am still with a full time car thank goodness! Tell her to drive safe and be wary of the random storms. We have random storms like that about every other week. Heat bakes the humidity. It evaporates rapidly which leads to rapid collection of the liquid which leads to rapid dispersion of said liquid. And then it starts again. 

I don't know if I've lost any weight recently, but I have been eating a lot healthier and have a ton more energy. People here don't all like people from California, they are still considered Yanks, so I have been telling people I'm from Oregon and they like me a lot more now haha.


Thanks for all the love and support and prayers. I need it.

Love 
Elder Hamblin

New Assignment as District Leader

Dear Elder Hamblin, 

Thank you for accepting the new assignment to serve as a district leader in the McMinnville district. Heavenly Father has great trust in you. As a leader in the mission, please continue to earn His trust each day. 

District leaders have a huge impact on the success of our mission. You will have more direct contact with the missionaries than any other leader in the mission, besides their trainers. You will train the missionaries in your district, through exchanges with the elders and through district meetings. As our district leaders go, so goes the mission. 

Remember that President Monson has taught “whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” He has also taught that “when you are on the Lord’s errand, you are entitled to the Lord’s help.” Seek the Lord’s guidance, as you serve the missionaries in your district. He knows the missionaries, and He will help you to know what to do.

Being a successful district leader is far more about what you do than about what you say. Please lead by example. Find constantly, teach repentance from the Book of Mormon, and baptize converts. Be a Preach My Gospel missionary and a Missionary Handbook missionary, by striving to be exactly obedient. If you do these things, and if you teach others how to do that, then you will be a successful district leader. Remember that you are a keeper of the TNM Christ-centered culture of high expectations and charity.

I love you. Lift, build and inspire the best efforts of the missionaries in your district. Missionary work can be challenging. Always seek to encourage missionaries in their faith and joy. Let charity be your guiding motivation in all that you do as a district leader. I believe in you, and I know that with the Lord’s help you will be successful. You will be in my prayers daily.

Love,

Jared W. Stone
President, Tennessee Nashville Mission