A Brand New Car!

Hello!

 

Another great week flew by. Again. We had so many appointments this week, and it's been hard keeping up with it all by foot... (my bike has been in the shop.) Luckily, we have a car now!! It's a red Toyota Corolla, and it smells nice. I never thought I'd be so happy driving a grandma car. It's been a miracle for me and Elder Maciel. We are picking up 5+ new investigators this week, so we will really make the most of this car. We have a busy week ahead of us and I am so excited to meet new people and work hard!

This ward has provided a surprising number of Brazilian experiences. I've met a few members who served in Brazil, and it's been fun practicing Portuguese with them & Elder Maciel. There are also two young men in this ward who have been called to Brazil (I've been quite the horror story for Bryce and Ben's mothers). One of them, Bryce Richardson, gave his farewell yesterday. It made me think about my farewell and how exciting of a day that was for me. It's been fun getting to know the young men in this ward preparing for and leaving on missions.

 

We had a great lesson with Laura this week. We teach her at the Simpson's home (member family in our ward),they really help make the lessons powerful. She is a former Jehovah's Witness, and we have been working with her for awhile now. We had an awesome lesson on Alma 32 about how to develop faith. She knows so much and so easily recognizes the influence of the Holy Ghost, but she has a hard time committing to the Gospel. Brother Simpson did a great job at helping her realize how powerful her testimony truly is and how much Heavenly Father loves her. The spirit was so strong in the Simpson's home. She also accepted our invitation to baptism!! She will be baptized on August 17!

 

Sounds like there have been a lot of great missionary farewells in the last few weeks. I am so excited for all my friends who are serving right now and will be serving soon. When times get hard, it has been comforting and encouraging to know that I have so many friends along my side in this work of changing lives. I know that when I come out the other end two years from now, I will realize not only the great things I was able to do, but the great change the world has experienced from the valiant missionaries of our time!

  

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

 

                                                                             Picture #1 - Stuck at train stop for nearly 15 minutes!

                                                                             Picture #2 - Einstein

 

I Love Greeley!

Oi!

 

This has been such a great week!! Probably the busiest week of my life, in a good way. We have picked up a couple new investigators and the work is really starting to pick up here. I am learning so much and so fast, and I have seen so many miracles and blessings.

 

Andrew and family are coming along well. He is very receptive to our message and has such great desires to learn. In our last lesson with him, we brought Brother Johnson, our ward mission leader, with us. Brother Johnson helped Andrew relate our lesson to the blessings of gospel to his family, and he invited us and Andrew's family to come over for a barbecue this week.

 

Saturday was Colton's baptism!!! It was an incredible experience. After Colton came out of the water, he had the biggest smile on his face, and he radiated joy the rest of the evening. The next day, he was confirmed in sacrament meeting and he also received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of a priest!! It's remarkable to see the change the gospel has made in his life over the course of three weeks! I am so grateful to be here at this time and this place with these people. Colton is a great example to me, and he alone has made my reassignment worth it.

 

I have received news that my visa has been processed and approved!! It is expected that I will have my visa in the next couple weeks. While I am excited to go to Brazil, I am disappointed that I will have to leave Greeley. I love this city. The people, the ward, the 7Elevens, the missionaries, etc. I have big plans to make the most of the remainder of my time and see my investigators reach certain goals before I leave them. I have some big days ahead of me, and I look forward to the work. I love missionary work, regardless of the soil I stand on!

 

Tchau!

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

 

 

The Best First Week!

Hello everyone!!

 

Today marks my first week out in the field!  It still blows my mind the calling I've been given and the work I'm privileged to do.

Now that I've been around a little longer and have paid attention to my surroundings, I finally know where on earth I am! I am serving in the Cenntenial Ward in Greeley, Colorado. It is a nice little city and the people here are great. It's quite a diverse culture too, full of all different types of people and religions. The Centennial Ward is the biggest ward in the Greeley Stake, and the work is really starting to pick up here. Sometimes Elder Maciel and I don't how to keep up without a car, but riding a bike is helping burn off the great dinners the members feed us.

 

  

I have my first baptism this week!! His name is Colton Milliron and he is a stud! He is 15 years old and lives in Washington with his dad during the school season. He started investigating the Church because he desired to know the truth. He has been reading and sticky-noting his copy of the Book of Mormon.  He has such great faith. He committed to baptism after our third lesson! He is such a great example to me and has shown how much joy and change can happen as we can receive the knowledge of God's great plan and by following the example of Jesus Christ.

 

This week, I've realized how Heavenly Father has blessed me by putting me in the right place at the right time. The other day, Elder Maciel and I were riding our bikes back from a dinner appointment. Just as we were about to pass a 7Eleven, I was suddenly prompted that we stop and go to the ATM. I asked Elder Maciel to pull over. As I was about to enter the 7Eleven, a man from behind me asked, "where do you work?" I turned around and told him that I am a missionary for the Church. As we started talking, he mentioned that he was looking for a church and wanted some information on our church. I wrote down his name and address and told him that we would come by. We visited Andrew yesterday and met his wife and son. And his pets. He was far from our home and I know that if I had not happened to run into him at 7Eleven, we would've probably never met Andrew. It was a great experience for me and one among the many miracles I get to be apart of here in Greeley.

 

I am so grateful to be in the Fort Collins Mission right now. There are things that I've learned that I know I needed to learn here before I'm ready to serve in Rio. Talking about Brazil with Elder Maciel is certainly making me anxious, but overall, I'm just so happy and blessed to serve.

 

Godspeed!

Elder Hamilton

 

Contact Information

Here is the new contact information for Alex:

Elder Alexander Hamilton
c/o Colorado Fort Collins Mission
5285 McWhinney Blvd., Suite 100
Loveland, CO 80535

ONLY PRIORITY AND NEXT DAY MAIL IS DELIVERED TO ME QUICKLY.  Standard 1st class is only distributed once a month (applies to packages and letters)

His email remains the same: alexander.hamilton@myldsmail.net

Fort Collins, Colorado

Oi!

 

I'm now in Fort Collins, Colorado!! I've been here for 24 hours and am so excited! I learned that this mission was just created on July 1st. Me and the wave of missionaries that came to Fort Collins yesterday are the first new missionaries in this mission! It was a choppy start trying to organize new missionaries for the first time, but we are now all settled. The mission president is awesome, and the members here are so excited about the changes in the way we do missionary work and growth of the church here.

 

My trainer is awesome! Truly a miracle for me. His name is Elder Maciel and he is a Brazilian!! He is our district leader and is a hard working missionary. He is the nicest guy and is happy to help with my Portuguese. He has taught me so much already and I look forward to working with him.

 

Because yesterday's events took longer than expected, the missionaries here lost time to email and shop for P-Day. So, Elder Maciel and I are getting caught up with that stuff, doing some training, and getting ready to meet with some members. We are also planning to do service work with "Just Serve", which is a new program run by the Church. The missionaries and members here are actively  involved in it which is great for the church in this community. Elder Maciel and I are also preparing for a couple appointments tomorrow, and I will have the opportunity to invite someone to be baptized!!

 

Since arriving here, I've noticed how much missionary work is starting to change. Like emphasized in the World-Wide Broadcast a few weeks ago, the work is strengthened as every member does their part. The members here are incredible and do just that. The people are so enthusiastic and assist in the work through referrals, hosting missionaries (there are only two areas in this mission where missionaries don't live with members), and being active in the community. I am so grateful to be here. I love this work, and nothing could make me happier than helping others come unto Christ.

 

I'm so thankful for all of your support.  God be with you!

 

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

 

 

 

Colorado Bound

Oi todos!

 

I've received my reassignment!! I will be serving in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission!!! It's a brand new mission that contains a big chunk of Wyoming and a small chunk of Nebraska. I will serve there until I recieve my visa. I fly to Denver Monday morning.

 

I am so stoked!!!!!!!!! In the last Sunday devotional, the new president of the São Paulo MTC came and spoke to us about reassigned missionaries. He talked about how reassignments are an important part of the Lord's plan for us and for the people who are prepared in those areas. I know I am going to learn what I need as a missionary and help the people I'm supposed to find in Fort Collins. I know this call is just as important as my call to Rio de Janeiro and it is God's will that I be in Colorado for the next little while.

 

These last several days at the MTC have been incredible! I am still learning so much, and while I am really excited to get into the field, I will miss the MTC. I've had the best experiences here and have met so many great people who have changed my life. We had a great Fourth of July here. The day started with In-Field Training, then we had a big devotional where we listened to speakers, special musical numbers, and watched 17 Miracles (great movie). We then finished the night eating MAGNUM BARS and watching The Stadium of Fire Show from the MTC Campus. I was great spending Independence Day with the missionaries. I am proud to be an American, a Mormon, and a representative of Jesus Christ.

 

Tchau Tchau!

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

Pictures of the Week

Oi mãe e pia!

 

Today I won't be sending out my regular weekly email. I get to send out an email when I get my reassignment later this week, so I will write then. Here are a few pictures from the week.

 

Muito obrigado e eu amou voces!

Elder Alexander James Hamilton

 

My District at THE MAP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look who I ran into at the temple.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Me and Sister Openshaw (my never met before the MTC, turns up in my district 3rd cousin)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our MTC teacher's last day.