The One with the Sister Leader week....

Hey everyone!

This week was insane! Haha, on Tuesday we had divisions with the sisters in Perico! They are so dang fun. I stayed in our area while my companion went to Perico. I went to go pick her up and we took the bus back to Palpala.... well we were both exhausted... and decided to close our eyes for a second... Next thing we know we are in San Salvador!! It is about 1 hour past our area! We felt terrible!!! but it was pretty funny....we decided to get off in San Salvador because my companion needed to go to the dermatologist anyway! Things always work out :) So we went and turns out she has a fungus in her skin! Yikes.... it is all over her legs and on her face. Poor thing. She says it itches really bad. She has to take benedryl which basically knocks her out... I feel so bad for her... but we laugh so hard about everything that it's hard to have sympathy... haha. 

Anyway.. we worked Wednesday in our area and planned Thursday morning. Then some of the sisters in our zone called to ask us a favor. Their companions had to go to Tucuman to do paperwork for their visas... and they didn't want to lose their appointments with their investigators. So they called and asked if we could do divisions with them so they could work in their areas.... we were like... um.... Sure! (We can't really say no...) haha so we went! I stayed with Hermana Herrera and Hermana Stewart and my companion went with Hermana Peterson to her area. What was supposed to be 1 day turned out to be 3..... hahaha we were 3 sisters with 2 mattresses.... needless to say we didn't sleep very well... but we had a blast together!!! Hermana Herrera and I have divisions next week too.... round 10! We are basically companions. Oh and to top it all off my companions birthday was on Friday! We had a surprise party all planned and everything and had to cancel it!!! :( She was okay with it though... she is like me... she doesn't like much attention on her birthday..

So this week we are even more motivated to work extra super hard in our area!! We got some great references from the zone leaders in a neighborhood that I have never been to.... wish us luck.. 

Mercedes is doing good! She is still having problems with her daughter but she is trying not to get discouraged.

The Caro Family is doing good too! They have a hard time understanding the gospel. We have to teach very clearly and repeat a lot of things. Last night we watched The Restoration and they felt the spirit so strong. They are looking for an answer. Now they just need to act :)

Okay that about sums it up!! We are so stoked for another week in paradise!! 

Have a great week everyone! Thanks for all your prayers!

Hermana Hammond

We are a special companionship......

The One with the Road Trip!!

Hey everyone!! 

So we just got back from a long road trip!! There are some salt flats up north... almost Bolivia... and we took the P day to go and visit!! Then we stopped in Purmamarca (the hill of 7 colors) on the way back!! It was the greatest P day! We took tons of pictures and I got to buy a bunch of stuff for the fam! :) 

Yet another week that I don't have much time to write.... I just get caught up sending pictures and chatting with my family that I forget to write a big letter!

But life couldn't be better here! The Caro Family came to church yesterday!! It was so neat because they said when they were about to leave their house they couldn't move their legs!! They said it was a weird sensation but they pushed through!! They were so glad they came and LOVED sacrament meeting with all of the testimonies. Tonight we are going to watch The Restoration with them :) And talk about Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove.

Mercedes is doing great! She couldn't come to church yesterday because her daughter is really struggling. She got home at 4 in the morning, they had a little fight, but didn't get ANY sleep. We are really going to focus on her this week. 

This week we went to Salta and had 2 zone conferences! It was so spiritual! MLC was so uplifting. We talked a lot about faith and talking to everyone! I left with so much excitement and we both wanted to talk to everyone!!! We have had so many miracles happen this week! We are contacting everyone we see and finding a ton of new people to teach! 

Life is pretty much the greatest. I wake up so pumped up every day! We are making the most of every moment!

Have a great week!!

Hermana Hammond

Llama selfie....

Standing on a llama selfie.... it's a llama world down here :)

Hermana Owl :)

We went to the salt flats! It was SO BEAUTIFUL!

The One with a Good Feeling :)

Hey everyone!

So I just love every minute of my life. Serving as a missionary has brought so many blessings, trials, learning opportunities, and difficulties, but it has mainly just brought me happiness. I can't explain it very well, what it's like to be a missionary. (and not just because I'm forgetting English...) It's just a hard thing to explain. Every minute of every day I am happy. I wake up happy, I go to bed happy. I LOVE this gospel and everything that comes with it. I just have a good feeling this transfer. 

Yesterday Mercedes came to church! She is a rockstar! So prepared and so ready for the gospel. We are getting everything ready for her baptism on the 27th of June :) She had us over for lunch on Sunday and told us everything she learned at church she wants to apply at home! She said, talking about church, that she finally found her home. It was so sweet. I loved hearing that from her. Church was very spiritual on Sunday. The talks, the sacrament, the lessons, EVERYTHING! It was a great day!

We are still teaching the Caro family! They couldn't come yesterday but promised to go next week! Keep them in your prayers :)

I wrote a short letter because I tried to send more pictures! But this lovely computer doesn't let me multitask... if a was downloading a picture I couldn't write in the mean time... so... I'm sorry for the short letter and few pictures but hey... there's always next Monday. :)

I am out of time but I want you all to know I have a very strong testimony of this church. It is true. And I will defend it against anything. I feel like the work is going so great. We are working harder than I have ever worked and I am growing more and more everyday..... in more ways that one :)... haha. Thank you all for your support and your prayers. They are felt.

Have a great week!

Hermana Hammond

Sisters from 2 different countries :)

We had dessert night in the ward! We were the judges :) Haha it was so fun! And this is the only picture I have so far with my new companion..... 

Bronchitis fun.....

I love Hermana Arrospide. We made a good team :)

Lone Peak Knights! Haha I even wore our school colors....... 

my trash basket photo collection is coming along... :)

Sister Arias (the youth in south america get to serve mini missions in the mission they live in! Sometimes we need more help! She was a mini missionary for 5 weeks! We got to do divisions :)

The San Pedro Crew at the Cordoba Temple Dedication. That was so neat for me to see all of them there!! 

And that's all the pictures for this week.... 

The One with Bronchitis... aint nobody got time for that!

Hello everyone and Happy Memorial Day!

Holy moly the work is just going so good!!! We started the transfer sprinting.... and then I got hit hard with the flu and bronchitis.... ain't nobody got time for that... haha the worst thing for a missionary is getting sick. And on top of that I lost my voice. I was called to preach and couldn't even open my mouth! haha but the good thing is I never got mad or disappointed! We have so much excitement and are so happy to be here that this trail didn't even phase me. That was such a blessing. We went to the hospital yesterday, I got an Argentina shot in the butt and a breathing treatment. It was a needed experience for any missionary... haha as the nurse was injecting the medication he asked me if I was allergic to anything.... haha stupid... now ya ask me?? Good thing I'm not :) But today I feel SOO good! We decided to work today on our Pday... because when you have as much time in the mission as I do you just don't want to waste anytime. 

We had lunch with Mercedes!!! WOW! She is going to be baptized in a month!!!! She (and we) are soooo excited! Please pray for her. She is incredible. She wants to learn so much. I have NEVER had an investigator like her. She looks for ways to progress, she asks us what more she can read, she strives to keep the commandments. I have never met anyone so prepared. I am so excited!

So this week is going to be incredible! We have SO MUCH WORK TO DO!!! It's insane! haha but I LOVE it so much! My whole mission I have been preparing for these last weeks. And man do I feel prepared! I love Palpala with all my heart! I have never been happier! 

The work is hastening!!! And we've got to get going!!! LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for all of your prayers and support! I will have more updates next week! And pictures....... this computer didn't read my camera... so sorry!

Anyway!! Got to go! OH! And happy last day of Alma! (for those who are reading the Book of Mormon with me) What a great book. I LOVED every chapter! The Book of Mormon is TRUE. Let it guide your lives.

Have a great missionary week! Share the gospel! It's so fun! :)

Hermana Hammond

The One with the Temple Dedication.

WOW!!! I did not use my time wisely this hour I have to write y'all..... sorry. Haha but WHAT A WEEK! 

First off TRANSFERS!! I am now with Hermana Pereira!! She is from Buenos Aires and is awesome!! She has been out a year on the mission! We are still the sister leaders for our 2 zones :) haha I love it! I love helping other missionaries and being there for support. It is such a privilege. 

Another privilege was the temple dedication!!! It was so spiritual and so neat. And the COOLEST part was that the members from San Pedro (my last area) were there!!!!!..... With all of my converts!!!!!!! Wow that was the neatest thing to sit with them in the ¨temple¨(stake center). :) I am so proud of Hermana Hooke and all the work she did to help them get interviewed. It was such a blessing for me to see them there. We took a picture but I forgot my camera cord so I will send them next week for sure!!!

I am SO SORRY for the short letter! I will repent and write more next week!

Love you all!

Hermana Hammond

The One with the 6 pounds of sweet potatoes....

Hey there!

So yesterday was the BEST day ever! We brought an entire family to church! Please pray for the Caro family :) I just love them with all my heart! They mean the world to me! We have a LOT of work to do to get them ready for baptism.... which includes a WEDDING!!! YAY!! :) Please pray that everything will work out. I know it will.

Also yesterday we met the wife... well the girlfriend of a member in our ward! They are living together but she wants to join the church! She said he has been such an example to her and she wants to be apart of the church! So ANOTHER WEDDING! haha Her name is Mercedes :) prayers are welcome.

So we are doing so good here! This week we had a conference with Elder Viñas! President Chaparro was his assistant when he opened the Argentina Salta mission as President! Super cool! He helped us a lot. We had to give him a report of each area. He wanted to know if all of the priesthood holders who have been ordained to the office of Elder, are active, have a calling, or are serving a mission. He was so pleased to hear that almost 100 percent of all the men are active, have callings, or are serving missions! He said we were the best mission.... I would have to agree :)

Today we go to Salta! This month went by way too fast... but I am excited to get more advice and help for our zones. It will be fun to see everyone too :)

So today I got a big sweet potato craving... haha we went shopping and I bought 6 pounds of sweet potatoes!!! Hahaha that should do it :) So... I will be having sweet potatoes for breakfast everyday this week.

I hope everyone has just a lovely week!

Hermana Hammond

p.s. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mommies out there!!! And all you future mommies!!! :) 

The tallest Elder in the whole wide world took our selfie..... 

Look who came to visit!!

The tallest Elder in the whole wide world took our selfie.....

The One with the haircut!! :)

Hey everyone!

It was a great week :) And.... don't worry... I didn't cut my hair... but I did cut my companions hair!!! We CHOPPED IT! She is so cute and I LOVE it! Hahaha I was surprised by my hidden talents :) haha pictures attached.

Nothing really out of the ordinary this week... well every week is EXTRA ordinary but not much to report on.

Here's what I've got:

1. I decided to do personal progress in my last 3 months of the mission! I talked to my Bishop and the Young Women's President and they approved! Whoo! I am going to do it at lightening speed. 1 value per week and the project! Yikes!!! Haha but it's a lot easier as a missionary because well... It's basically personal progress everyday! It will be the perfect thing to help me run past the finish line!

2. I had my favorite district meeting this week! We talked about faith and the things we can't see as missionaries. I LOVED the lesson! We talked about the purposes of God and how they are great and eternal (reference from our scripture reading yesterday... hint hint) and that our work here will last FOREVER!! It was a great meeting and really made me feel like I am an eternal missionary... not just an 18 month one :) 

3. We are working so hard to find people who are ready to hear the gospel. We have had lots of members who were inactive come back to church. That is a neat thing to watch :)

4. I have also been going over my MTC notes. I have learned so much reading what I learned over a year ago. It is helping me become the missionary I wanted to be when I started this great journey.

Well that's all I've got in this short hour :)

I love you all so much! Have a great week and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! 

Love,

Hermana Hammond

yay for fast computers!  I got to send a lot of pics this week...

Fun family that we found on the trail! They are going to look me up on facebook! The lady next to me has a sister who is a member! I love sharing the gospel!

my get up :)

This little name tag has seen it all...

Before haircut...

...after. She is so cute:) 

These hooligans.... are my roomates.. hahaha I love them :)

Market

This is how I feel...

I love my mission...I don't want to leave.