July 26, 2010

Dearest Gorgeous Mom and wonderful Justin, Jordan, Kaity, and Karlie

This past week was crazy, edifying, and miraculous. As we were on the trains Elder Henderson and I were either teaching others or ourselves when time allotted. On our train from Oulu to Kuopio I met this one older lady, Mi, who was going back to Kouvola, my greenie city. As we were talking we came upon the subject of the bible and she expressed how she is disappointed how the bible is losing its meaning and power because of all the many translations. Upon that I introduced the Book of Mormon and taught how this is a record that God has brought forth to help us know which is Christ's church and original doctrine. When I gave her my copy of the Book of Mormon, she noticed it was my only one and denied it out of politeness, but I assured her that I can get another one in Kuopio. She was very grateful. After our discussion I returned back to my seat next to Elder Henderson and noticed that Mi was reading the Book of Mormon more about 20-30 min. I was praying that she would feel the Holy Ghost and accept the message. Then towards the end of the train ride came down the aisle two girls who were selling strawberries. Mi then bought one box and gave me and my companion half. I later told Elder Henderson that was the fastest I have ever reaped the ''fruit'' of my labor.

Besides that train ride, the Lord has blessed me in many ways. My love for this people is growing daily. This land is full of precious people. What a blessing to be here.

Elder Henderson and I did receive our change calls. He is now one of the assistants to the president and Elder Peterson from Kuopio will be my new companion. I truly love Elder Henderson and look forward to loving Elder Peterson.

Also about this new program from the First Presidency. Its purpose is to help us become better teachers and they have simplified our training so that when we met for zone conference, district meetings, and leadership training there is time to practice what is taught, evaluate, and practice it again. I am looking forward to this. This is where lasting progress occurs.

Accountability is an amazing principle of character. In the world no one wants to take accountability unless it makes them look good, hence gold is more common than character. It takes character to stick to a goal and accomplish it. And it takes more character when a goal is not set, to analyze why it was not accomplished, and then accomplish it.

I am grateful to come from a family where action is taken to improve and love the Lord. That is what matters.

Love
Vanhin Hamner

Picture with Elder Causse.

Elder Causse is in the 1st Quorum of the Seventy!

July 19, 2010

Dear Wonderful Mom, brilliant brothers, and sweetest sisters,


That is so crazy that summer is coming to a close soon and fall will be beginning! I am doing my best to savor every moment. And this next week Elder Henderson and I will be traveling most of the week all around Finland. We start onTuesday going to Kuopio (eastern side of Finland), then leave for Helsinki (southern) Wednesday night, after which we go to Pietarsaari (western) on Thursday night and return to Oulu (northern) Friday night. The reason for the traveling is district meetings, a baptismal interview, and mission leadership training meeting in which President Brown has received something from the First Presidency to change the way training occurs. The focus of it is to improve our teaching abilities. I am so excited for this program. I will definitely write more about it when President shares it this next Thursday.

Saturday was M's baptism! It went so well. It feels so good when you see someone who you have prayed your guts out for, studied for every need you find out about, and done your best to help the ward be included, and to see them enter the waters of baptism. What a blessing the Lord granted to Oulu. M was so ready. She was dead set on it even though there was resistance from mom and a recent tragedy with her brother. She is an excellent example of when life kicks you, to kick back. Her confirmation on Sunday also went well. Our branch president performed it as Elder Henderson and I participated. In that prayer he said some things that he could not have possibly known except only through the Holy Ghost. Also at the baptism we had a former investigator who came and asked about the details of getting baptized! I will keep you updated about him-Br (a native Swede).

The Lord is moving His work forward here. I love each of you so much.

Love
Vanhin Hamner

July 12, 2010

Dearest mom and family


This past week has just flown by. We had splits with the Kuopio elders and it went great.

Something happened today that was pretty crazy. It being P- Day had this big service project to help this older couple at their summer cottage. The whole story started when on Sunday we met this Finn (lady) who was accompanied by 3 Spaniards. The Spaniards spoke some English to explain that they are from Spain, not Madrid....sorry Elder Ketchum, and they were staying with this older couple who have never visited church. Apparently they have been friends (couple and Spaniards) for 25 years and visit each other periodically. So these Spaniards are members and invited us to help them do some yard work and introduce the missionaries. While there working on the yard four languages were spoken: Spanish, Finnish, English, and Swedish (older man being Swedish). Yes the lesson after dinner was quite fun. I hoping someone could have thrown in another language but I guess four will due :)

I love you all. Remember how much influence one person can have on so many. The rock thrown into the lake ripples farther than the rock thrown in the water can see. Only the Thrower can see it all. I know we all can do better in allowing the Thrower work through us.
Love,
V. Hamner

July 5, 2010

Dearest Mom and family

This past week was quite miraculous. Let's start with the beginning of last week. M., almost 18 year old girl who has been up north for the past 3-4 weeks, returned. We were able to meet with her and we set a baptismal date for July 17th! During that teach she testified how the gospel came just at the right time in her life because she was depressed and about to take a scholarship for the violin even though this was not her dream but other's. She expressed how the gospel has given her the peace that she has never felt and yearned for. She is happiest that she has ever been. The whole teach was spectacular. She is ready to be baptized. But because she has committed it seems that the adversary is doing his best to stop it. This past sunday her brother got into a car wreck where he ended in the hospital. M. found out about this at 6am sunday morning. She doesn't live with her family so she couldn't go visit him but just wait and hear back about his condition. Despite the circumstances, she came to church when it was fast sunday. President Brown, who was present with Elder Causse (Europe Area Presidency), noticed M. in the congregation even though he had not met her before. He said, '' She stood out from all the other members.'' After the meeting a member pulled Elder Henderson and I aside and informed us about M's situation for we knew nothing about it.The member asked M. if she wanted a priesthood blessing and M. said yes but let the elders do it. So Elder Henderson, President Brown, the member, and I gathered in a small room and gave her a blessing of comfort and counsel. Before the blessing M. was trembling and almost fainting because if she lost her brother from the car wreck then that would be her second brother , but after the blessing she was at complete peace. She, afterwards, went to Relief Society where she bore her testimony and invited all to her baptism! The Lord definitely protected her from the powers of the adversary.

Then Elder Causse visited the north zone where Elder Henderson and I were instructed by him for 12 hours= 6 hours zone conference, 3 hours zone leader council, and 2 hours for local ward meeting in which we were invited. It was a spiritual feast. I will be sharing more about what he taught next week.

I love you all
Vanhin Hamner

video - Beautiful Kuopio

June 27, 2010

Dearest Mom and beautiful family

This past week was quite fun. We had our district meeting with President Brown during which we had our interviews! Every interview is precious. One on one time with President Brown. Just a little background President Brown has taught seminary his whole life, bishop, and was a stake president. He knows how to teach and I watch him closely. Every time he just amazes me with how natural teaching is to him. Even when we are eating together he is teaching whether through personal experiences or just through example. I love him with all my heart just like all of you:) Actually he shared a story about the importance of focusing on the doctrine and teaching by the spirit. He said that there was once a problem in a certain reservation where the deer were not able to get enough food because a lot of it was still frozen. So some of the rangers put out alfafa hay thinking this would solve the problem and all the deer would survive. However after a few weeks they found hundreds of deer dead with huge bloated stomachs. They ate plenty of hay but they could not digest it. They literally starved to death while as it seemed to them feasting. President Brown emphasized how when we teach by the Spirit and focus on the doctrine there in lies the true nourishment. That is just a sample of President Brown's excellent teaching.

This week M., our almost 18 year old investigator who's mother says no, is back in Oulu. Please pray that her mom will be softened to the message. We have been keeping in contact with her this past month through texting, phone calls, and sending letters (for example Liahona General Conference issue).

Also this week is Mission Tour where Elder Causse of the Europe Area Presidency is visiting and in Oulu the north zone is holding a conference. For Elder Henderson and I it will begin on Friday at 9am and end 9pm same day because of councils and meetings after the missionary conference. I am so excited for this. Please pray that the missioanaries here, including I, will hear what we need to hear and apply it.

Receiving personal revelation and applying it so that we accomplish what the Lord asks is one of the toughest challenges all Latter-Day Saints face including missionaries. President Brown would say, ''That's the whole shooting match''. It's true, following through when the Lord speaks to us and making sure you fulfill is tough, but so rewarding. That is one thing I am working on: focusing on one thing at a time which the Lord reveals and make sure I do it thoroughly. I have already felt the peace and the blessings that come from it. I wish I could give more stories and examples but my time is soon to expire. I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and being specific in them.

Rakkaudella,
Vanhin Hamner

June 20,2010 (video - The Lofty Apartment)

Dear Mom and Family,
Wow this week was pretty different because we were in Oulu the whole week. We did a lot more tracting which was refreshing. Teaching is the best. whereever whenever teaching is the greatest call.

We learn the most as we are in the work. We can learn so much in the classroom until we come to the point where we must apply what we have learned. This can be compared to the pre-earth life and life on earth now. We learned a whole lot before this life but we needed to come here to put it into practice: faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end are what we need to do.

Currently, we will be having a member of the area presidency coming to conduct a ''Mission Tour'' Elder Causse. He will be in Oulu on Friday of next week. I cannot wait. The Lord wants to teach us more and we are ready.
I am sorry this letter is shorter than normal. There was a miscommunication about the computer reservation.

Love,
Vanhin Hamner
PS Please tell Papa happy fathers day!!!!!