Family and Friends,
We had a baptism this Saturday. It was the very first all Spanish program the Dickson ward has ever had. I didn't know much of what was said in the talks, but Rosie (the lady getting baptized) was balling her eyes out the whole time. The ward was amazing a tons of people showed up even though only like 2 people speak Spanish. Rosie is amazing. She is from Mexico and has been through some stuff. Like when she was crossing the border from Mexico to USA, she had to go through this big ole desert. I've never crossed a desert without air conditioning or on foot, but it sounds like it's bit difficult. In fact, Rosie broke her ankle on the journey and her friend asked the group to leave her to die, but Rosie prayed with her and she said she saw a man in white clothes with her friend that night while they traveled. Rosie's guide after 3 days in the desert tells their little band that he has forgotten the way and didn't know what to do. Rosie said she prayed and saw a glowing light in the sand. She asked others around her if they saw it and they couldn't. She decided to follow the path and her little band followed her to safety. Rosie has the faith to attend a church where she doesn't understand the language, her translators are only half way decent, and it is way different from any other church she's attended. But she has always had the comforting feeling of the Holy Ghost and she said she knows this is where God wants her.
This whole journey with Rosie has been absolutely amazing and obvious evidence of God's hand in this work. Dickson has never had Spanish missionaries. But 2 Spanish missionaries get put into Dickson only days after her coming into any initial contact with the church. Rosie will also be leaving within the next couple weeks to help her daughter with a new born and will be moving into an all Spanish ward (in the Washington DC temple district) and she will only be 15 minutes from the church. This was the perfect window for her to be taught and baptized and she was. It was inspired for the Spanish missionaries to be here, which in my mind is a miracle. It's no red sea parting, but it is a personal and tender miracle for Rosie.
See y'all in about 100 days :)
Love
Elder Hamblin
September 12, 2018 Update:
Familia and friends!
There goes another week and another transfer for Elder Hamblin. I will be starting the 2nd to last transfer of my mission (a transfer is a 6 week period)! Sheesh I'm an old missionary. Soon I'll be back in Rexburg, trudging through the snow, wearing regular clothes, and spelunking.
We had a surprise baptism this week. We had a lesson on Wednesday and things worked out where the person agreed to be baptized this past Saturday. His name is Victor. He's 25 and super good at cooking chicken wings. He's a super cool guy that has been coming to church for 10 months and the ward loves. I was blessed enough that he asked me to baptize him!
Unfortunately, the era of Spanish work for Elder Hamblin is over. Elder Murdock and Elder Doman are leaving and I'm receiving another brand new missionary (this will be #4). This missionary will not be Spanish speaking :( . Our one Spanish investigator was baptized and is moving to Baltimore and I'm sure gonna miss her and her bomb enchiladas and chilaquiles. But now there is no need for Spanish missionaries in Dickson!
Sure do love y'all!
Love,
Elder Hamblin
September 19, 2018 Update:
Familia,
Well, I have been here in the South for 20ish months or so and I have yet to have gotten a tick. I'm rather disappointed. I mean really, the nurse spends an hour or so when you first get to Nashville drilling you with horror stories of ticks, bedbugs and chiggers and I have yet to have the opportunity to deal with one of those lil buggers! Nah just kidding, I'm thankful I've had a very healthy mission.
Well this week I got my new companion, Elder Shaw. He's a native of New Mexico. He doesn't talk much, but I'm cracking him open!
We just had a lesson last night where the dad of this family that's been investigating (3 of the 4 kids have been baptized) just straight up said he wanted to be baptized. I was flabbergasted. I was blown out of the water. We weren't even really teaching him. I had plans on working on the mom and then transitioning to him, but no, he just takes the initiative and make sit happen. That family never ceases to amaze me with the level of their faith. Sometimes all you have to do is do your best and God makes it work. Sure do love y'all, see you shortly
Elder Hamblin
September 26, 2018 Update:
Familia!
There goes another 7 days. Time has really started to pick up speed here in Nashville Tennessee! It seems like yesterday I was giving my fair well talk with Z Lawson and Carter Blaise giving their homecoming. Another change in scheduling for coming home, they changed my departure date to December 12th again. Sorry for all the confusion.
Actually, looking back on my farewell talk and my departure and Monte Moser welcoming me into the Big Baby Club. I've realized I've been able to keep my emotions in check for most of my mission, but these last couple of weeks I've been a wreck! Haha. I don't know what it is. I was making an announcement in Relief Society asking them to join in on a fast for a person we are teaching (that person was also in the room) and I expressed my love for her and her family. I just started tearing up and choking up. It hit me like a load of bricks. I don't know where it came from. I hope I've changed for the better in many regards, but I don't think I've escaped the Big Baby Club yet! Haha.
I've heard from several missionaries, ward members, and Stake leaders that I just look so tired. I always respond "That's because I am!" haha. Truly I am exhausted. These comments on my exhausted look reminds me of a story about Bobbie the Wonder Dog that I feel I can relate to. If you don't recognize that reference, it's from the October 2017 General Conference talk "A Yearning for Home" by President Uchtdorf. In his talk, he relates a story of a family from Oregon that takes a trip to Indiana. While in Indiana this family loses their dog, Bobbie. Eventually, they decide to drive the 2,000 miles back home, dogless. 6 months later, a mangy and scrawny with feet worn to the bone dog shows up at the doorstep. The family was astonished to see their beloved Bobbie. Of course this story becomes very popular and that's where Bobbie earns the nickname Bobbie the Wonder Dog. President Uchtdorf goes on to show this as an example of our inner guidance system to lead us back home. I take hope from Bobbie because like him I may arrive back home rough, ragged, tired and maybe if I'm lucky a little skinnier haha. But it will all be worth it to be united with my incredible and loved family. However, it is even more worth it it me to have an experience that 1) has brought me to know with certainty that Jesus is the Christ. That He is my Friend, and my Savior. That He lives. That He knows me and He loves me. And 2) has allowed me to go through some portion of what He has been through. It's only a sliver. Only a tiny fraction. But that tiny offering I've given in comparison to His has linked my heart to His. And has given me purpose and identity.
Sure do love y'all!
See y'all soon!
Elder Hamblin
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