A Little Taste of General Conference

'Sup? This week was pretty awesome. There isn't really a whole lot to tell about our investigators- we taught most of them really great lessons, and none of them came to church. Lame, frustrating, disappointing. yeah. But, as frustrating as it can be, people have their agency and there's not much I can do about it. So that's it with our investigators. Hopefully there will be more to report on next week.

So, I also have a new companion. Exciting, huh? His name is E. Foust, he's from Wyoming. He's been out 6 months. He's interesting. I don't think he likes me very much, but I'm not sure just yet. He doesn't talk a lot, when we are at home, or when we are teaching. We'll have to work on that. But from what I can tell so far, he will be the toughest companion I've had so far. I've already had to discuss with him some of the things he shouldn't be doing. Well, I guess it wasn't much of a discussion, cause he really doesn't talk a lot, so he didn't say anything. But, rather than letting it be my "I had this one companion that I just couldn't get along with" experience, I'm going to make it my "I had this one companion who allowed me to learn patience and charity, and now we're friends" experience. If he doesn't like me, that's up to him, but I'm going to do everything I can to grow to love him. There's a good chance he will only be here with me for 1 transfer too, cause currently there are only 4 cambodian Elders in the mission, and we have 2 new ones coming out in about a month, so I will be training one of them, and E. Foust will get moved. I'm almost positive that's what will happen cause that's what President told me would happen. But you never know for sure.

Well, I bet you are wondering about my subject line this week. You probably assume it's because I told you last week that we were going to be visited by Elder Christofferson. Well, yes, that is part of it... Not only was it Elder Christofferson, it was also... Elder Eyring. Not President Eyring, but Elder Eyring, who is the area 70 out here. He's President Eyring's son. But wait! there's more... Elder Claudio R. M. Costa from the Presidency of the 70.....AND.....Bishop H. David Burton, the Presiding Bishop of the Church!!! 4 General Authorities! It was incredible. President Evans told us that it was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to have that grouping of general authorities come to visit us. And then Elder Christofferson told us the same thing. He said that they get paired up every once in a while, but it is very rare that it is that kind of grouping. Needless to say, it was amazing.

Elder Eyring spoke first, and it was really good. He told a few stories of himself and applied them to us. Then it was Bishop Burton. He is such a funny man. He told us some neat facts about himself. He served his mission in Australia, and was the last missionary that traveled to that mission by ship. It took 27 days. But he talked to us about some scriptures from D & C and some other stuff too.

Then was Elder Costa. He told us about his conversion story. His parents both joined the Church, but he wanted nothing to do with it. The missionaries were at his house a lot cause his dad was the ward mission leader. One day, they had a lesson with one of their investigators at his house, and Elder Costa left the room. He was in his room, with the door cracked open just a little bit. He left to hang out with some of his friends, but the stuff he had heard the missionaries teach was ringing in his head, so he decided not to go with them. He went home, and decided that he needed to find out if it was true. He told us that he read Joseph Smith History, and after every paragraph, he prayed to know if it was true. It took him 14 hours, but when he finished, he knew it was true. He went to the missionaries' house and waited for them to come home, and told them he needed to be baptized that day. After some counseling with the leaders of the mission, and within 3 days, he was taught everything, interviewed, and baptized. He had never even been to church. Ever! So that was a cool experience.

After Elder Costa was Elder Christofferson. Rather than giving us a talk, he just opened it up for questions. It was awesome. All of the questions were really good, and he would give the other general authorities opportunities to answer the questions too. I can't really describe how awesome it was. It was incredible. I really look up to those men so much. Elder Christofferson didn't give a talk cause the questions took the whole time, but he did give us an Apostolic Blessing that was very special. I felt the Spirit stronger during that meeting than I have in a long time. Then after the meeting, we did a mission picture with the whole mission and all 4 of the general authorities joined us for the picture. That is going to be a cool thing to have. I don't know if they will give us all copies or if they will email it to you, or what, but I'm excited to see it. So yeah, I learned a ton of stuff that is going to help me out a lot. It was great.

So that's about it for this week, I think. Mom, in your letter, you mentioned something about the Judd's going to Africa? I hadn't heard that yet. That's pretty exciting though. I also got David's letter. Recife, Brazil, huh? That's tight! Tell him I'm excited for him.

Oh yeah, it snowed again this week. about 5 more inches, but it's been raining for like 2 days now, so it's gone. cool stuff. Ok, well I hope you all have a great week. Wish I could hear from more of you consistently than just Mom....But I still love you. Bye!

Love,
Elder Hammer


P.S. Happy Birthday Mom! I didn't forget, I just wanted to put it down here. Don't remember how old you are... sorry. haha. Love you!