Perplexed

Well, my new companion is a pretty cool guy. He's from Pinegree ID and he's got a solid testimony. He's struggling big time with things right now though and he's been contemplating going home to figure stuff out. I don't know what to do to help other than work our guts out and be as positive as I can. We're good friends and the stuff that he's told me about all that he's dealing with from back home is really tough. His dad is crazy. He left the church about six months ago and has gone completely off the deep end reading as much anti as he can get his hands on and then using it to try and persuade his family that the Mormon church is evil. Elder Jenkins's dad tried really hard to get him to not come on a mission, and with everything that has happened, it's most likely going to cause his parents to split up. Emotionally, Elder Jenkins is stressed beyond anything that I could imagine going through right now and I am praying like crazy for him. Please keep him in your prayers. He's an amazing missionary and he will accomplish miracles out here as long as he decides to stay.

So, do you remember the Condons? They were the family that Elder Garner and I were working with back in Penn Valley that drove me crazy, but I love them to death. Well, Janine and her daughter, Rachelle, were baptized on Saturday. Elder Garner has let me know how things are going and it is nuts to hear of all the changes that have happened in that ward since the mid-transfer that we went through. They are on fire with missionary work right now. When I got there back in January, nothing was happening, but now they're tearing it up. There's been four baptisms in the ward this year so far and they have 2 more scheduled right now. Hearing that makes me so happy! I love it!

The watch that you sent me for Christmas died on me this past week. The timer hands on it were all out of sync too. I looked at the instruction manual for info on what to do to get it fixed and it said that I have to send it in to them with a copy of the purchase receipt and a copy of the warranty card, neither of which I actually have. I was wondering if you might have them, or if Coby might know what I could do to get it fixed. Supposedly there is a year warranty on the watch, but you have to have the receipt and the warranty card as proof when you send it in for repairs. Let me know what we can do.

Sorry for the short email this week. My time is gone today because we've been in the mission office all day trying to get things figured out with Elder Jenkins. He's been meeting with Pres. for a while and I have no idea what to expect. I'll let you know how things work out.

Love you all!

Elder J. Hammer

PS. I'll send you out my address next week. Just send things to the mission office for now.