Sept. 27, 2010

Dear Mom and Family
This past week was another 4- day training where Elder Peterson and I went to Helsinki. For four days President taught about the fundamentals of teaching found in Preach My Gospel. It composes of eight lessons 1. Doctrine of Christ (baptism- our purpose!) 2. Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion 3. Revelation through Prayer 4. Revelation through the Book of Mormon 5. Revelation through Church Attendance 6. Teach People, Not Lessons 7. We invite, They Commit, We Follow-Up 8. How to Begin Teaching.

All these lessons are focused to help us teach in such a way that the investigator develops their own testimony and establishes a firm foundation. Also this training has blessed me personally in so many ways. It has helped deepen my personal conversion, expanded my vision, and brought heaven even closer.

Also I wanted to share my future plans after the mission. As I have prayed over this and taken it to the Lord. He has answered through the peace I feel as I think about it. I intend to go to BYU Provo next Fall 2011. I already have been accepted (I applied before I left as a backup plan) and just postponed it until the fall of 2010. They gave me half tuition scholarship for four years so that will help. I intend to study business and medicine. The Lord has opened my eyes to what He wants me to be and shown some gifts He has given to help accomplish what He has planned now and in the future. All I have to say is that this plan feels good.
Currently, as I am typing Elder Peterson is right beside me. He impressed me. He is such a good, fun elder. Our relationship is growing each day and I am learning by his example.
This past weekend M. was baptized and confirmed. Her life has changed completely. She smiles so much more and is more out-going. The scripture in Matthew 7 where it describes Heavenly Father's perfect ability to give good gifts to His children. My testimony of this has grown by seeing the gospel revolutionize people's lives in the best direction that they thought was impossible and only for those in the movies.
Remember the power of the Book of Mormon. It continues to open my eyes to what life is really about.
I love you!
Elder Hamner

Baptism :)

Sept. 20, 2010

Dear Family,
This past week was our zone specialized training in Oulu. 11 companionships came and learned from President Brown. He taught about the Doctrine of Christ and the Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion. One thing that he focused on is the difference between testimony and conversion. People can have a testimony and then go less-active but when people are converted they almost always stay strong continuously. Many examples in the scriptures, People of Ammon, Moroni, and Nephites when the Savior visited. I will expound more upon this next week due to time limit.
However this Saturday M. is being baptized. Please pray for her that she will be protected. I will be sending pictures next Monday of her baptismal service.
Love,
Elder Hamner

Sept 13, 2010

Dear Mom and Family
Wow, as I reflect on how each week the Lord has performed miracles and each week they grow in significance. Currently the Lord is protecting M. and I. In both of their situations the Book of Mormon has been the key to their personal testimonies. M. committed to baptism even before we taught the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, or Gospel of Jesus Christ because she saw in us true happiness and prayed to know for herself. As she was reading and praying she received this powerful witness that, ''Yes this is from God.'' Her life has come a new light. I made that comment during a lesson about how her countenance has changed. I asked her if she replaced any light bulbs (jokingly). She laughed, but we helped her realize that yes she has changed and as it says in the scriptures, ''become a new creature''. Also I., who we found through tracting in the area trying to contact a referral who was not home, where she did not understand the restoration completely but because of what she felt from reading the Book of Mormon she committed to baptism. The Spirit is number one in this work and the Book of Mormon is the number tool to bring the Spirit into the Conversion process. Which brings me to my special challenge to you: President Brown is giving us all a new copy of the Book of Mormon in which we are to read it completely by the end of the year. As we read it he has given special instruction to highlight scriptures that reference the Savior in four different ways. So this is my challenge to you: Read the Book of Mormon along with me by the end of the year. I know this will increase our vision and the Spirit will be even more present in our lives. Please read the hymn ''The Spirit of God'' as you contemplate and commit to this. I love you all and we will meet again.
Love,
Elder Hamner

Zone Conference

Hey Mom, this was after zone leader council in President Brown's home. We are fed spiritually and physically. We went to the temple before the council.

Love
Elder Hamner

September 6, 2010

Dear Family
This past week the Lord has blessed M. and I. (our Russian investigator). M. we gave a priesthood blessing so she could cope with all the opposition she faces from the adversary. She is still going strong for the 25th of September. I. is currently praying when she should be baptized. She has experienced a tough life and she will be a great blessing to her whole family.
This past week was zone leader council. Before it we all went to the temple. I cannot express enough how much peace comes from the temple. It truly expands your vision. It helps you see the next step the Lord sees for you. Pres Utchdorf's most recent message in the Ensign was perfect which spoke about the blessings of the temple.
I love you with all the energy my heart. The Lord is stretching me beyond my capacities and I love it.
Elder Hamner