I love the snow!!!

We had snow this week! The people in the area have been asking us all about whether or not we have snow tires, or chains, or studs, or a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The way they were talking, you would think we lived in Alaska or something. Well, come to find out, the reason people get so worked up about the snow around here is because they don't know how to take care of the roads! We've done just fine so far without having to put chains on the Corolla, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were the only front wheel drive vehicle around that didn't switch over to studded tires for the winter. The crazy thing is that just because people have changed tires or have a 4 wheel drive makes them think that they can still drive like it's summer time. I guess there are dumb drivers everywhere!

Our week was ok. We met with our new investigator Chris Shields again this week and he told us that he wants to get baptized! Sweet!! There are a few problems though. Number 1, his family is Catholic. My experience with Catholics has been that even though the only time they may set foot in a church building during the year is on Christmas and Easter, once you're a Catholic, you're always a Catholic...or else. So, Chris is facing adversity from his family. The other main problem is that Chris has some disabilities and he relies on his adopted parents for basically everything. His decision to get baptized is going to affect them much more than it would in most other situations. He is 23 years old and they are fine with him making his own decisions, but it impacts them also. They think that Chris is rushing into all of this without thinking about it enough. However, they also really don't understand the whole concept of receiving a witness from the Spirit that tells you something is right. Once again...they are Catholic. I'm not too worried about things right now though. Chris knows this is right and the Lord will provide a way for him to get baptized.

Well, that's about it for now. My year mark is this week!! That's pretty crazy! Time just goes faster and faster. I'm still trying to get things coordinated with the family we are spending Christmas with for a phone call home. We were told that we can give our families the phone number for where we will be. I'm waiting to hear back about what phone number that will be for sure. I'm also thinking that I'll be able to talk around 10 or 11 in the morning. The family we will be with is also totally cool with us just calling you instead so it goes on their bill. I'll send you a letter this week once I get everything nailed down.

Have a good week! Love you!!
Elder Hammer

Another Blog

I decided I'd do something new so I am making a blog for our missionaries. I will post letters and info here as I receive it. I hope you enjoy keeping up with Justin and Devin as they serve. Justin is currently serving in McArthur, California and loving it. I thought he would be transferred, but he is staying! Devin will enter the MTC on February 3. We are excited to have these wonderful sons serving the Lord.

Elder Hammer's News This Week

I am staying another transfer in the Fall River area!! I am way excited about it!!! There has been some drama this past week surrounding transfers. I've been speaking with President Pendleton nightly about the area and he told me earlier this week that I could go ahead and plan on staying in the area. The following night, however, he started asking some questions about how the ward has been doing with scheduling lessons for us to stay busy. One of the promises that our ward made in order to get the missionaries back in the area was that they would help by getting lessons set up for us. Well, they haven't done very well at it and the work has been slow for the past transfer. President was concerned about that. He told me that we might be getting moved out. This was the last thing that I wanted to hear, so I jumped on the phone the following day and called our RS President, EQ President, WML, and Ward Missionary to tell them about what I had heard. The news that we might be getting pulled kind of lit a fire with the ward members and we are looking at about 6 lessons scheduled for this week now. I told President this, and told him that we also found 2 new investigators, and he said that we would be staying!! Yes!! Now, we've just got to make sure that the ward follows through this next transfer so the missionaries can continue to stay here. Hopefully that all made sense. : )

The weather has been really cold lately'. It was 14 degrees when we went to church yesterday. We keep hearing that it is supposed to snow, but it seems like everyone is telling us lies because it hasn't yet. Maybe this next week. I definitely wasn't expecting to be serving in an area like this or else I would have brought some warmer clothes. I think I'll survive though. : )

Well, I think that is about it for this week. I'm looking forward to Christmas and speaking with the family. I haven't quite figured out where we are going to be yet for Christmas, so I'll get you all the information probably next week. We get an hour to talk.

Thanks to everyone for everything. Oh, if Leah reads this, congrats on the engagement!!! If I remember right it was a year ago that we went to my work party and I told you that within a year you would be engaged or married...look who was right! Oh, and Elder Copeland, get used to not getting mail.

Anyways, I love you all! Merry Christmas in a couple weeks! Geez, that year mark is going to be here so soon! I can't believe it!

Elder Hammer