Reasons to be Thankful!

Why Hello There Everyone! 

I had a really great week! Super hard.. But also super great! For the sake of time and trying to stay focused.. I'm probably going to tell you about transfers first then do some bullet points. 

Transfers are this week, the day before thanksgiving to be exact. I am going to be staying in the Coal Mountain Ward (which I couldn't be more happy about!) Woot woot! That also means I am still a Sister Training Leader, which means another 6 weeks of 2 exchanges per week and we now have a 6th companionship of sister in the zone. By the end of this transfer it will be my 6 month mark of being a Sister Training Leader. I love it! But I'm also pooped! haha Good thing the holidays bring an added level of excitement so I'm sure I'll find enough energy :) 

For the month of December the mission has asked that you send ALL letters and packages to me directly. My address is 6416 Mayfield Dr. Cumming, GA 30041. So ya.. Write me! :) 

Here is a rundown of the week: 

• We met some of the coolest people this week! I went on two exchanges with Sisters I hadn't gone with before so that was exciting :) On one of the exchanges I met someone who served his mission with Chase Adams-Hart. Small world? YES! So.. If anyone in the Adams-Hart family gets this.. I'm supposed to say "Elder Broadhead says hi." (At least I think that's his name.. haha)
• Wednesday we were tracting and we knocked on the door of Nicki, a pretty young mom. We had been knocking doors in this neigborhood for an hour with no success only fiesty people. And we couldn't figure out why we had felt like we needed to go there. Then we met Nicki, and we knew :) All of her extended family are members and she was so excited to meet us! She said she really wants to learn more and asked us to come back next week when kids are out of school because she wants her kids involved too :) Miracle, I think yes! 
• We were on a team-up with Sister Norton visiting some sisters in the ward who haven't been coming. As we drove into one neighborhood Sis Norton says "My friend lives here!" and we kept going to find this girl in our ward.. well she moved.. So as we were driving out of the neighborhood Sis Norton goes "Well Sisters, wait a second, we weren't here to find Betsy, we're in this neighborhood so you can meet my friend. Ya. Lets just stop by!" :) SO WE DID! And it was awesome! Lyndi was SO excited to meet us and know there were girl missionaries (Sis norton's son is serving in Brazil). As we were getting ready to leave Sis Norton says "You know Lyndi, they teach free lessons about our church.." to which Lyndi responded "You do?! Well then lets get them started! Can you come after thanksgiving and start teaching my family, we really need a church." So we talked briefly about the youth programs available for her kids and it was awesome. :) A miracle, umm YA!! 
• On Thursday we made many a batch of cookies with Sister Davis (one of our offical Grandma's in the congregation) for the troops. There is a thing each quarter that people ship off homemade cookies and southern treats to troops overseas. It was SO fun! I think we made about 20 dozen cookies in 2 hours. It was awesome :) We boxed 225 full of cookies and goodies to be sent to the Military! :)
• As we were making the cookies I rememberd that Thursday was Barbara R (someone we are teaching) son's birthday. He was killed in a car accident a year ago. So we wrote her a card and took her over some of the cookies. I'm not sure I have the adequate words to express how much I love that woman. Nor can I completely describe seeing her that day. To see her light up a bit as we gave her cookies and a needed hug. She told her friend (a member in our ward) how much she loves us and how much it meant to her that we remembered Kyle's birthday. She said "those sisters of yours are welcome at my house everyday!" (Someday remind me to tell you of the miracle of Barbara R. and Mary--I'm not sure I have time today, but its definitely one worth sharing)
• We are having lunch with Mary and her friend Sister Berg to talk about the church and answer some of her questions :) Cool huh? :) 
• We had a Sister's work out/party on Friday with Sister Wolfert :) It was all the sisters in two stakes. It was really fun! We worked out, ate breakfast, did some trainings, and then talked. I unfortunately had to train on not flirting again.. DOH! I trained on it last week in a meeting and then on Fri Sister Wolfert said "Sister Hamilton I know I didn't ask you but.. will you go train on not flirting right now?" So that was "fun" aka not.. haha But its okay! :) It was fun to see a couple of my past companions :)
• Oh and Sister Wolfert called me and gave me marriage advice.. Yes. That happend. And I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen everyday as a missionary! haha She just kept giving me peptalks about finding the best guy and not settling so that he and I together could do great things.. haha Okay Sister Wolfert, THANKS! :) On a serious note I really do love her, she's amazing! I really lucked out and got the best Mission President/Wife. 

So ya, things are great! All the ward is making a schedule of where we will be for what holiday (multiple members each day have us coming) so we are all taken care of :) Its so fun! haha And its a miracle to see them starting to jump into missionary work and be involved. We have about 4 families right now who have nights set up where they have invited friends over and we are going to do a lesson and a game. WHAT A MIRACLE! :) 

Alma 34:38 "...and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." Lifes good! Find reasons to be thankful for! :) Because believe me, there are blessings all around us. 

I love you all!! 

Love, 

Sister Julie Hamilton

P.S. Sorry, no pictures this week. I took a bunch.. but alas.. I forgot my camera cord :) 

Feeling more than blessed!

Hey Everyone!! 

I have to leave in about 30 min to go sew my skirt... so I'll make this fast.. soo.. it will most likely be all over the place :)

I hope you are all doing great! I know I am !! :) Life sure is wonderful. Its been an interesting week here full of miracles and blessings. I realize I say that a lot.. its kind of my mission catch phrase because its so true! Miracles are all around us. You know what's another reason I feel so blessed? I just felt so much love from everyone this week. Don't get too crazy, of course I still met some very feisty Georgians, but I also met some of the kindest people and felt so much love from them and for them. It was a miracle :) So.. let me start with a few miracles and blessings from the week. 

• Miracle of technology and the sweetest Relief Society President ever. I got a text from her Tuesday that said "Lindsey is in Labor!!" Then a phone call around 8:40 where she said "Hello Sister Auntie!" Seriously! How fun is that? I didn't have to wait for Monday to roll around to know Lindsey had had little Benjamin :) Also because of technology Paul was able to text her pictures so I could see how cute he was!! 
• Remember the girl in our congregation who has sooo many reptiles? Well we saw her this week and she showed us all of her animals again and things she's collected over the years. She's getting married and is SO excited which is fun :) As we talked to her I just kept getting the feeling that she needed to know she was appreciated and loved. So I did something which I'm pretty sure I've never done before, I prayed for an immediate interest in her reptiles and hobbies and for an increased love for her. And it happened, immediately. All of a sudden I was "petting" snakes, holding lizards, sharks teeth, bones, etc and she was literally beaming. She looked so happy.  Next thing I knew I had scriptures come to my mind that I could apply to her perfectly and she loved it. Before we left she asked if we could come back again soon and she gave us necklaces she has made out of sea-glass she collected. As I gave her a hug, thanked her for the BEAUTIFUL necklace, and told her I loved her she responded "Thank you for being my friend." If there is one thing serving a mission has taught me its that everyone deserves a friend, everyone needs to know they are loved. 
• We knocked on the door.. A man answered with his wife standing next to him and without any introduction said "Well come on in!" Turns out Rick and Cookie just returned from a 15 year mission in Thai Land for the Southern Baptist Church Foundation. We talked about missions and it was so cool. They showed us an "evangicube" basically the plan of salvation in a cube that you twist and turn.. Lets just say.. I need one! (haha) Anyway, they were so nice. :) It was a definite blessing! 
• As we did a family home evening we asked the kids to do something and one of them said "if I remember" (mind you this kid is 10.. so that is a normal response). His Dad responds by saying "Son, do you know who these girls are?" --Missionaries-- "Did you know that when they speak, they speak for the Savior.. They aren't the ones that asked you to do that service. It was the Savior." He left it at that. It was one of the most powerful teaching moments I've ever been in. I learned so much. What a huge responsibility it is to be representatives of Jesus Christ, but it is also the biggest joy and blessing! 

I think I am one of the luckiest girls in the entire world. Truthfully, I feel that way. I don't know how I got so lucky to have the best family, be serving around the most wonderful people, and to be in such a beautiful place! I mean its 70 degrees today! :) 

This week I was even lucky enough to have the BEST dinner ever. A family in the ward flew in "Moes" clam clowder from Oregon and Boudin's Sour Dough bread for me. Our first dinner there they asked me my favorite thing to do in SF because he goes there for work all the time and I said "Clam-chowder in a bread bowl" They mentioned they havea  favorite place in Oregon.. and so when we came over for dinner this week they had surprised me. How amazingly thoughtful is that?!? :) I mean hello.. here I am in Georgia and I just had Boudins! So mom and dad.. in case you ever doubted.. I am being completely taken care of :) 

Well.. I have to go. So let me just do one or two funny lines from the week 

• I showed up to the Relief Society Pres house for a lesson and she says "Sister Booger, its so nice of you to join us! hehe sorry your brother told me his nick name for you" haha Thanks Paul! I sure love you! 
• "Jesus Recycles" -Mt Tabor Baptist Church
• "I don't want to be mormon unless I can have 10 wifes"--crazy old guy.. haha 
• We went Visiting Teaching.. at the Dawsonville Pool Room. Yes. That really happend. Visiting teaching in a pool hall with billiards slot machines and more. And to make it better we took a picture of course :) And one of the sisters asked the guys at the bar to join in to which they responded "Y'all just want some hillbillies in yur picture." HAHAHA I LOVE THIS PLACE!! 

Well I have to go. I love you all sooo much!! Thank you for all the letters and prayers. 

Have a great week! 

Love, 

Sister Hamilton

"We're praying for you... You're welcome."

Why Hello There!


Don't you just love my favorite church sign of the week? "We're praying for you.....You're welcome." So when in doubt.. At least know the Hopewell Baptist Church is praying for you! :)
It has been a great week and an interesting week! Full of meetings, service, miracles, and fun! But before I recap on last week let me give some shout outs for this coming week..

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Wayne and Kristin!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I hope you like the surprise I sent ya!
WELCOME TO The World Little P&L!!! <--Assuming that little one comes this week :)

Such fun things happening for Hamiltons this week! I'm excited!
Now for a quick rundown on the week..

Sister PaePae and I at Zone Conference! 

• We stopped by to see Barbara one night and read the Book of Mormon with her, she told us we had to wait and surprise Annie, so we did! When Annie got there Barbara proudly told her of the miracles the Savior had done in the Americas (3Nephi17) :) It was so cute to see her retelling all that we had read and how you could see it really meant something to her- a tender mercy! 
• We were landscaping with Mary again this week and she started asking wonderful questions about the Church. She then told us about an experience she had with her neighbor. He asked her "Mary, why do you have two young girls over doing landscaping, my dog ran over to them and they were just so nice.. So what's the deal.. Did they get caught with drugs or underage drinking?"--HAHAHA--She that she told him "Bill! No. Those are Mormon missionaries." To which he asked "Well what are they doing at your house, you're not a mormon." And she said she boldy responded "Mormons are the nicest people and best church, they take care of everyone. You should really talk to them!" 
• We stopped by to see a woman who hasn't come to church in about 10 or so years.. And she said "You know what, you're right. Its time I come back!" Meliah and her two daughters sat with us during church, MIRACLE. 



Sister Nielsen and I at Zone Conference!


• A little boy in the primary program said "My faith increases when I learn the recreation of the Gospel." HAHA :) SO funny, and SO cute. But hey, I love the fun "recreation" that comes from the gospel too! 
• I got a letter this week from a future Sister for the Georgia Atlanta North Mission. I guess she found my blog somehow and so she wrote me and asked me questions for prepping for Georgia. How cool is that? I had no idea that anyone actually read my blog! Thank you so much Lindsey for posting everything on there! And future Sister Johnson, if you're reading this, I'll be sure to write you back today with some helpful suggestions :)
• We made cookies with a woman in our ward this week and took them to her neighbor. It was so fun she said "they just really need the gospel and they have been coming to ward activities for a long time. Its time I be a good friend and simply invite them to learn more!" So her goal this week is to invite them to a FHE at her home. Will you keep her in your prayers that she'll have courage and love to invite their neighbors over for a fun activity? :)
• As we were teaching a member family the restoration.. Sister Alder was sharing her testimony of the Book of Mormon.. it was a great moment and the spirit was really strong. I see the BIGGEST cockroach climbing toward Sis. Norton.. I just watched it.. so I would know where to kill it afterward so Sis Alder could keep teaching.. well Sister Alder saw it and yelled "YIKES YIKES A BUG ON YOUR SLIPPER!" To which Sis Norton literally SCREAMED and kicked her legs back and forth, not only making her slippers fly but also the cockroach. Which flew across the room onto the coach we were on.. Needless to say.. it was HILARIOUS! Now.. that doesn't happen everyday! 

Anyways, its time to go. I love you all so much. I know that God lives, this is His work, and He loves each and everyone of us so much. We are never forgotten, we are never alone. We are His favorite! All of us, His favorite. And that my friends, is a miracle.


Love,
Sister Hamilton

Exchange with Suwanee!! Sister George and I had a BLAST!! It was so much fun!! :) She's a hoot. Its my second exchange with her so that was fun.

"Oh, that's right.. Mormon's Love Everyone."

I hope you are all doing wonderful! I know I am :) Its been such an amazing week I don't even know where to start. I have learned SOOO much. And we have truly been blessed in this area! I'm happy (if you couldn't tell) :), healthy, and lovin' the missionary life! 

Sister Blaylock and I at Mission Leadership Counsel. It was so good to see her!  

Let me start by explaining the title to this email. I was in Hamilton Mill with Sister Cordero and we were tracting in this neighborhood. It was such a beautiful day with a little breeze and all the leaves on the trees are falling.. and many of them fell in my hair and got stuck on my skirt.. EMBARRASSING! :) just kidding, it wasn't embarrassing, it was just funny when I'd notice a leaf on my bum. ANYWAYS. We knocked on this door and no one came to the door but a man came around the garage and asks who we are.. I tell him.. to which he responds "You have GOT to be kidding me.. (mumbles under breath)..Listen.. We're like your enemy." well.. you know me.. I just smiled and responded "Enemy? What? No.. we don't have enemies!" He's response couldn't have been better. "Oh.. that's right. Mormon's love everyone..Well.. I'd like to be left alone." haha so hey, maybe he didn't want to hear anything about our message but at least he knows mormon's love everyone!

Everyone thought we were trick or treating on Halloween.. NEAT! haha

A family I met when I was on exchange in the Hamilton Mill Ward :) They were hilarious! so I asked if I could take a picture :) We had breakfast for dinner.. LOVE!! No one ever does that, so its pretty awesome when we get it.

Do you remember me ever talking about a couple in the Johns Creek Ward, Mandi and Will? We taught Will a lot and I found out at Mission Leadership that he's getting baptized this weekend! Woot woot! He's being baptized this Saturday and they are getting married next saturday! I'm so excited for them! :)

We golfed in District Meeting.. We had to write something your companion does that bugs you on a golf ball then we had our own driving range into the wilderness behind the church. Dad, I am proud to report that I did quite well. And the Elders were shocked I knew how to golf. I may or may not have had one of the longest shots.. just sayin'! :) Thanks for teaching me that very valuable skill Dad, I sure love you! 

We had a ward fall festival and we had a great turn-out! There were lots of people there who are not members of the church and it was really neat to have members excited to introduce us to their friends! We even have a few appointments with some of the families/their friends to teach a lesson.

These are all from my MTC group. Right now 5/6 sisters are Sister Training Leaders and 2/5 Elders are Zone Leaders so we had a lot of fun during our meeting ALL day friday. and I do mean ALL day..

For the sake of time I'm going to close with one story, its a story that happened over the course of 3 days. We were able to get back in with Annie Poleo, a sweet woman we had met tracting on Monday night. She was really excited to see us and asked great questions about our life after this. As we read with her scriptures from 2 Nephi 2 she asked how we knew to find those. I told her it was what I had studied that morning, to which she responded, "well then this is no coincidence!" Now isn't that the truth! :) We invited her to read that chapter for when we would teach her on Wednesday. After we said a closing prayer she asked if we would go see her mom and help her feel loved, which we gladly agreed to do. So we made plans to meet Annie at her mom's, who lives in an assisted living home.

As we went to meet her mom Annie came out of her car with the book of mormon in hand and gladly reported she had read the chapter and showed us a few verses she had questions with. Barbara, Annie's mom was so sweet and had questions about the Book of Mormon, and even asked if she could have one. :) We read some of our favorite scriptures and taught some of the restoration. I went there just assuming we would meet her mom and help her feel happy, I didn't know Annie wanted us to teach her mom too, what a miracle! :) 

We went back on Wednesday and brought a sister in our Relief Society, and taught the Plan of Salvation, which they both loved! Annie felt the spirit so strong and it was a blessing to help her recognize it. She immediately accepted baptism and asked if we could meet more often to read the scriptures! It was wonderful. When we invited Barbara to be baptized she was a little hesitant and before we could try to ask Annie said "Well mom! Why not? What's holding you back?" It was so amazing to see how badly Annie wants this for both her and her mom.

What perhaps was the most tender experience for me this week, if not on my whole mission, was when Barbara took my hand in both of hers and whispered "Sister Hamilton, please do not give up on me, I want this. I want to know this is true." I almost couldn't answer because it was so heartfelt. I bent down, looked her in the eyes and told her that I would never give up on her, and neither would her Lord and Savior. I told her I knew this was true, and if she studied, let us help her, and prayed that she could know too. Then of course, I gave her the biggest hug I could! I love that sweet grandma so much! 

I never will forget that moment. The picture painted in my mind and heart will never be erased. I will forever see her longing face as she explained "Well its just too good to be true." That's the miracle of the gospel, it sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. I know it isn't. God's love for us is real, its never ending. If I love the people of Georgia so much to never give up on them, can you image how much greater our Father is incapable of giving up on us? His love is much greater for us than mine is for this people, which is hard to comprehend because I love them so much. But if His love is greater, than I know He can NEVER give up on us.

He loves us more than we know. His Only Begotten Son is our Savior. And They are there for us always, all we have to do is ask. 

I love you all! I'm off to go buy some fabric to make a skirt! :) 

Love,

Sister Hamilton

Miracles do happen!

Well Hey There!! 

Is a little blurry.. why? Oh that's because a HORSE just attempted to LICK my face. HAHA

I've had pretty much a great week here in Dahlonega, Coal Mountain, Cumming, Gainesville, and Tucker! We've traveled all over the place this week! Busy busy busy. I hit my 9 months.. very bitter sweet. I mean.. Yay! 

I'll start today with how I got to meet Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his sweet wife along with Elder and Sister Soares on Saturday. That was an amazing meeting! Elder Oaks agreed to take pictures with both missions and then shook all of our hands (poor guy, there were a lot of us!) It was really neat to see his sense of humor and hear the messages he and Elder Soares had for us. They gave us lots of reminders of how to be better missionaries but one thing I really liked was the phrase "The messenger must match the message." And Elder Oaks said "Now is the time to step up and do a little better." So that's what I'm going to try to do, is just step it up and be a little bit better in my missionary efforts. Its never easy to step it up, but I think the coolest part is looking back and seeing that you are no longer the person you used to be. We also learned that the missionary efforts in the United States have doubled since last October. That's cool huh! Gives you something to think about. :)

Is Sister Mitton and I after our meeting with Elder Oaks! :) I really hope to be in the same stake as her someday! Mom, do you happen to have a picture of the two of us at our baptisms? I think it would be fun to put it next to one of us on our mission just to see. :) 

Remember how I said we had a ton of ward support basically out of no where last week? Its starting to spread like a WILDFIRE! It is SO exciting! Sister Alder sometimes gets down on the fact that we don't have a ton of set teaching appointments but this week I heard her say "Well I just don't know when we can fit that in. We are SO busy!" I of course took that opportunity to say "Wait.. we're what??" :) She then got so excited and said "Oh my! We're busy! This is so exciting!" And it seems to just keep going.. I am certain that the "best is yet to come" as far as the Lords plans with this part of His vineyard go. :)I can just feel it in my heart that He has so many wonderful blessings and growth planned for the Coal Mountain congregation. I can honestly say this experience has has been one of the best learning experiences during my time as a missionary. I am just so excited to keep working hard and watching as the Lord works miracles. 

Now let me give you a list of some of the highlights of the week:

• We have been teaching this family in our ward the missionary lessons, their son is 19 and hasn't been to church in over a year and a half. The first lesson he was not interested.. but each lesson he has become more and more involved.. And we got a text from his mom this morning that said "[my son] wants to know when you are coming back to teach us! :) And he said mom if I go on a mission, I bet I'd go foreign! He hasn't talked about anything regarding church in almost two years!" Pretty amazing miracle if you ask me! :) 
• A family asked us to do service for their neighbor who needed help with some landscaping. So of course we went and did service and to our great surprise Mary, the woman who we are helping with landscaping, Facebooked about us! And told all of her friends that Dawn's churches sister missionaries are some of the nicest girls she's ever met and its a blessing in her life to have us come help her. Isn't that wonderful :)
• The Johnson's had us over to start teaching them the missionary lessons and they invited their long time friend Barbara to join. Barbara is so kind and I just love her! She lost her son in an accident about a year ago. We decided to teach the Plan of Salvation, God's plan for our families and happiness on this earth, and it was an amazing lesson. She kept telling us about how she felt 2 years ago when she went through the Atlanta Temple during the Open House and at the end of the lesson she said "Can I come back each week when they teach these lessons? I really need this in my life." She also asked us if we could come to her home and talk with her daughter who is really struggling and just bring the peace we brought to the Johnson's to her home. We of course gave her the biggest hug and promised her we would be there! 



Mom, here's proof of the torn post card.. But on happy note, do you like my shirt? :)

• We already have a minimum of 2 teaching appointments scheduled for each day this week.. WHATT??? Am I still in Georgia? Can this really be happening? :) 

Okay I know I've taken up a lot of your time but I have two more things I want to share with you. 

1. On Saturday Sister Blackett (my old companion, who is now serving in Johns Creek) came up to me and said "Sister Hamilton! I have to tell you something! Davis know's the Book of Mormon is true!" do you all remember Davis? Probably not.. He's someone that showed up at church one day and we taught him until his mom told him no. I told him that even though we couldn't still meet and teach him that he could read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it was true and that God would answer his prayer. Sister Blackett said they got a text from him a few days ago that read "Sister Hamilton! I did what you told me to.. and you were right! I've been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and I know its true. And my mom said if it means this much to me that I can come back to church!" They're teaching him now and said will let me know how things go :) It just made me so happy I can't even explain it! 

2. I email/write someone I taught and worked with in Johns Creek who hadn't been to church in awhile. She just means the world to me, and I wanted to share a part of it with you.. She said "And, I thought of you the day that I explained to the lady who is helping me pack that the reason my front bedroom closet was a “pantry” was because I am Mormon and we store food. I thought that you would be proud of me for telling her I was Mormon, because it has been a really long time since I have told anybody I was Mormon." Like many things that happen to me as a missionary, a huge smile became glued to my face. I know that what the Doctrine and Covenants is true where is says " And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen." This time of my life is absolutely the time I hold of most worth. It means everything to me. I love the people here, and I absolutely love the Lord for allowing me to have this opportunity.

I know that we can bring souls to Christ in all stages of our lives, and that we don't have to only have a missionary name tag to do so. President Monson says,"" I know that there are many who need our help, and helping some of them is what has brought me the absolutely MOST joy as a missionary. You might have someone you feel like you need to reach out to, but don't know how to help.. I'm certain the best thing we can do is show them real, and I do mean REAL Christ-like love. It's amazing what a sense of belonging and a heart filled once more with love can do. 

I know God loves His children, and I love you!

Love,

Sister Hamilton

"Blue Grass Show Tonight!" <--where am I???

Hey Everyone! 

Amacalola falls :) So beautiful! 

I hope you are all doing well! Let me just start by explaining why the sign "Blue Grass Show Tonight" stuck out to me so much. Do you remember "The Goofy Movie" and there is like a possum show? Where they play banjos and what not.. Well apparently that doesn't just occur in Disney Animation.. But to my great surprise I was greeted by a large blow up possum holding a banjo and a sign that said "Blue Grass Show Tonight!" Yes.. that is real. I am going to miss the South when its time to go! 

Oh and another important thing to report on.. I've almost been out on my mission 9 months. In fact the official day is this Wednesday. Uh.. WHAT!? How on earth did that happen? Didn't I just get here? Wasn't I just walking off the plane in the Atlanta International Airport and getting the happiest feeling in my heart and saying "I'm home!"? I have no clue where the time has gone, but then I look at my journal and see the entries from each day (yup, still haven't missed!) and I think YIKES! I've been here a long time! 

Oh! One more thing before I forget.. Elder Oaks is coming this week to talk to our mission and the Atlanta Mission. That means I will have heard from General Authorities 3 of the 4 weekends in October (including General Conference). So that's kind of cool/totally crazy!  I think it will be really fun. :) I'm trying to think of a question that I want answered from his fireside or whatever its called. I'll let you know how it goes! 

Me and Sister Alder and Sister George at the top of Amacalola Falls! :) 

Now for the low-down on the week: 

We have seen a lot of miracles this week its been remarkable! We've had a lot of ward support almost out of no where, we found someone to teach!, we had many a laughs tracting, and also some really heart warming experiences too. Let me write a few..

• We had dinner with the Swifts about a month ago now and Sister Swift immediately called the RS president to tell her that her husband, who isn't a member, had never really enjoyed the missionaries coming over. But about 2 weeks ago he asked her "hunny, I really liked those missionaries, when are they going to come over for dinner again?" :) Miracle? I think yes! So we had dinner with them early in the week and then because no one had signed up to feed us on Saturday they gladly had us over again. I sure love them! 
• We visited a sister in the ward who has a thick accent.. No fussin'.. Fixin' to leave.. the whole sha-bang! When we asked her where she was from she said, "I'm from LA" She must have LOVED the looks of confusion on our faces because she busted up laughing and said "Lower Alabama of course! I ain't from the city!" I wish words could express how much I love hearing that accent.. And what's crazy is I almost don't even hear it anymore until someone else points it out, which means I'm sure there are times I use it! :) So.. if that's the case.. just embrace it when you hear it from me! :)
• We knocked on the door and the sweet woman Terry answered the door. She let us come in to say a prayer for her and her family. We said a prayer for her and her daughter in the hospital, after the prayer she gave us the biggest hugs with tears in her eyes and thanked us for the peace that she felt. Perhaps the biggest miracle of it all was that some Sister missionaries had prayed with her daughter in Alabama the day before and that's how Terry knew to ask us to pray. Honestly its simply amazing how much Gods hand is in this work! 
• A ward member said, "We really like our elders.. but truthfully.. We LOVE OUR SISTERS!" Felt good to see that the ward is starting to warm up to us :) 



Almost all the sisters in the zone last transfer that I worked with :)

• We were tracting and this fun energetic woman named Annie answered the door. As we talked she kept asking questions about prophets and the Book of Mormon. We testified of the joy and peace that enters the hearts of those who learn of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. She responded, "You know.. I think my Dad sent you. He passed away a year ago and I just really feel his love right now." Sister Alder and I told her that we knew that the Father of her Spirits or our Heavenly Father had sent us to her and that it was very possible that feeling her dads love was a way that God showed her that this is good. The smile could NOT be wiped off of any of our faces :) We have been talking to her every couple of days on the phone and she keeps saying how excited she is to have us come tomorrow and teach her more. What a blessing!! :) 

Basically its been a wonderful week. The bishop has started giving us names of families to teach the missionary lessons to and we have talked to a few of them and they have committed to invite their neighbors to join! How cool is that! :) I am just so thankful and amazed at how almost over night so much of the ward got so excited to participate in missionary work. We still have a lot of work to do to help the ward, but its really amazing! 

This week I am going on exchange to the area in the most northern part of our mission, to the real hills of Georgia. Its going to be epic! :) 

Well now that I've taken up half of your day with this email I might as well close. But first.. I keep mentioning things I am going to miss when I leave Georgia.. so to finish this email I want to mention one last thing. I am going to miss all the churches. I have probably 100 sayings written down or pictures from the marques of all the churches. Some of them are hilarious, others very spiritual, some bring a new perspective, and others simply make me smile. One in particular that I liked this week was "7 days without prayer will make one weak" That is SO true! I know there is such power in prayer. It is a beautiful way for us to communicate with our loving Father in Heaven. 

The other sign I liked taught me a lot about the afterlife and Halloween..

"Heaven isn't a trick, 

and Hell is no treat." HAHAHAHA thank you Antioch Baptist Church :) 

I love you all!! 

Love,

Sister Hamilton

That dog ain't got nothin' on me! :)

Hello Everyone!!

 

We are emailing today at the smallest library I've ever seen in the mountains of Georgia while we wait for the Zone to get up here to go to Amacalola Falls! It should be really fun! But that also means that I have no time basically before this computer logs me out.. soo... I'll try to be brief and or just hope my fingers can type as fast as I want them too .. :)

 

First things first! We got transfer calls today.. Well actually that is a complete lie. We didn't get transfer calls although they should have come.. haha So.. That means there will be no changes here in Coal Mountain for Sister Alder and I. We will serve together at least until the week of thanksgiving. Yup.. next transfers are the day before thanksgiving. Watch.. Knowing my luck I'll follow the same pattern of my mission and I will be going to a new area and not have anywhere for thanksgiving.. haha Moral of the story: I'm nervous but also excited to stay in this cute little country town.

 

I am LOVING the weather!! Oh my goodness it is wonderful! Really.. you should probably be jealous. I mean its the 14th of October (Happy Late Birthday Waybe, btw!!) and its still like low 80's or high 70's! Seriously, the best! Everyone keeps telling me its going to be a horrible winter because it was such a mild summer.. But I have high hopes that it will be a mild winter because it was a mild summer.. :)

  

We had our Zone Meeting this week and Sister Alder and I trained on Unity. It was fun and we have started doing more things as a zone including P-Day today and a weekly call in to talk about those we are teaching and say a prayer. I hope it helps bring some life and fun to the zone! :) If we aren't having fun.. we're doing something wrong.. :)

 

We went on two exchanges this week. They were really awesome.. and also really rough. I LOVE getting to meet so many of the sisters and help them out, but I HATE having to.. hmm.. how to say this.. point out ways they can be more obedient.. Its defs NOT my fav.. But we still managed to have so much fun and take lots of classic pictures. On a happy note.. I was able to serve on a college campus for a day! And that was SOOO fun!! So for all of you reading this that are currently in college.. LIVE IT UP! :)

 

Now let me share a few great classic stories from the week including our huge miracle! <--Did I catch your attention?

 

1. Let me start by getting some useful information out to all of you. Mace, you know that spray for keeping the creeps away?, well I have learned this week that is good for more than just that :) It is actually also good for keeping dogs away.. So Sister Carrigan and I were tracting, meeting some of the crazies of the world and loving it of course, and one woman answers the door. She is almost in a defensive position and goes "I have a really big dog!" So I kind of braced myself for this dog to come plowing through her.. Then she says "I'm actually suprised he hasn't tried to bite you yet.. Either way I'm NOT interested!" and slams the door.. Sister Carrigan and I look at each other completely confused.. And then we hear the growl and we know.. Yup, that KIND woman left us out to be eaten by her dog! And didn't even call it by name or anything.. WHAT???? ya.. that's real.. Don't worry though, this story has a happy ending.. It just followed us to the curb.. growling.. and snapping its teeth but never actually bit us. So that was neat. I mean really.. who does that?? So we told our dinner appointment about it and the woman says the dogs try to get her all the time while she runs so she carries mace and sprays them when they come close.. haha! So.. I may be investing in some..

 

2. We had Stake Conference this past weekend, it was awesome! Elder Paul B. Pieper was here from the 70 and he requested that we come to the adult session as well, which we usually aren't allowed at. We got to talk to him beforehand and he was super nice. The meeting was AWESOME! They read a letter from the First Presidency that said effective 10/1 the adult session should be devoted to figuring out how to best help move the Work of Salvation Forward. It was the coolest meeting! Seriously amazing! They did a really awesome question and answer forum thing and talked about how they can help work together with missionaries. Elder Pieper called all of us (Sugar Hill Stake Missionaries and President and Sister Wolfert) up to the front and had us serve Called to Serve. It was so fun! And all the moms in the crowd bawled :) Elder Pieper than told everyone that they had to be the answers to our Mothers' prayers. So Mom, you can stop worrying, I'm in good hands. The Stake got a new Stake President, so that will be cool to see what things he wants to change as far as missionary work goes.

 

3. I served in the Chicken Capital of the World.. and took a picture with a big american flag chicken.. Only in Georgia! :)

 

4. People have dogs here.. live everywhere.. one house had 7.. 4 labs.. 2 german shepherds and 1 little dog.. THATS NUTS!

 

4. We were tracting and having no success.. So we left and went to another area where both Sis Alder and I felt we should go to when we were planning.. As we prayed we asked Heavenly Father to lead us to the home of the family He had for us to meet, we also asked that we would be told by the Spirit what to testify of so that we could touch their hearts. First few doors.. no success then we came to one and this sweet woman answered the door. As I began talking I was planning on talking about the Book of Mormon but something seemed to make me tongue tied and next thing I knew I was asking her if we could say a prayer to bless her home and family. Miracle #1! :) She got the biggest smile and said "Oh yes! Please come in." Miracle #2! She then got her children to come join us for the prayer, she loved it and was intrigued by the Book of Mormon next thing. When we asked if we could come back and share more with her family she smiled and said "If it really can bring me closer to Christ, I would love that. But can you make sure you come when my husband is home? I want the whole family to be here." MIRACLE #3!!  :) Its the first family we have found, well and the first person who let us set up a specific return appointment. I definitely fell blessed! :)

 

Sister Alder and I have either called or visited or left notes for every member of the ward who hasn't attended in awhile and visited all the members who come regularly.. So we are going to start round two this week. Do any of you have any ideas of ways we can best help them get excited about church in general? Ive never been in a ward where a lot of the members really don't care that we are there.. So if you have any ideas of things we can do to best serve them.. please let me know! I'd also welcome any easy, cheap, and fun FHE lesson/activity ideas. We do a lot of Family Home Evening type lessons and so it would be great to have some more ideas.

 

Boom! Race the clock complete!

 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Don't forget to write me every once in awhile.. :)

 

Love,

Sister Hamilton