Field Trip to Chile

Just a field trip mid-spring to Chile through the Andes Mountains

1) Me and two flags

2) A man made tunnel so that the snow in the Andes Mountains doesn´t need to be cleared from the roads.

3) I didn't know what to do with my hands.

4) An Amazing Sunset.

I had one week of training before taking the responsibility of over 300 missionaries and doing it none the less in a second language! I'm a little stressed!

Elder Devin G. Hampton

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos

 Elder Jorge F. Zeballos of the first quorum of the Seventy

Vale la Pena

What am I doing here... at times I have literally no idea.

Let's just recap my life over the past 2 weeks.

Domingo Sep. 7:

Get a call telling me that I will be saying in Tucumán, AR. for another transfer but Elder Vera will be leaving to be a zone leader in Santiago de Estero, AR.

Lunes Sep. 8:

Woke up to drop E' Vera off at the terminal and waited 13 hours for my new companion to arrive (Elder Dawson from North Carolina). No time to wash clothes or buy food or write family.

Jueves Sep. 11:

All day lunch and meeting with Elder Jorge F. Zeballos of the first quorum of the Seventy. Amazing. Absolutely AMAZING.

Sábado Sep 13:

During our baptism, we get a call saying we are leaving in the morning for Córdoba, AR (a different mission in a different Provence) and then to Chile (the country) to do stuff for our visas.

Domingo Sep 14:

All day in a colectivo (2 story charter bus). Eat dinner in the mission home with President  Alliaud and his wife. Take pictures in front of the to be completed Còrdoba Temple. Embark for Mendoza, AR (different mission in a different Provence).

Lunes Sep 15:

Eat breakfast in the capital of Mendoza. Arrive at the boarder of Chile in the middle of the Andes Mountains. Snow ball fight while waiting for 2 hours to cross over. Dinner at an awesome Chilean restaurant. So awesome. Start our journey back home.

Martes Sep 16:

While eating lunch in the middle of a ghost town in Córdoba, AR, get a phone call from Elder Merrel (Asst to the president) saying when I get back from Chile I will need to pack all of my stuff and then catch a colectivo to Salta, AR because I am the new Secretario de la misiòn.

Miércoles Sep 17: 

Arrive in Tucumán, AR at 8am. Pack all of my stuff (and shower!) and then back in the terminal headed to Salta at 1pm. Arrive in Salta... still trying to figure out where I go from here...

Totals:

0 changes of clothes

0 showers

2 countries

6 providences

96 hours in a bus

436 pictures

Vale la Pena

Miss you guys,

Elder Devin G. Hampton

Secretario Hampton

I love you.

I am safe and healthy.

My new p-day is Saturday.

I will share as much as I can this Saturday about my life - it has been turned upside down.

I love you so much!

Elder Hampton - Secretario

Mision Argentia Salta

Oficina - 0387-439-8119

Celular - 0387-594-9900

Prehistoric Cathedrals

Here in Argentina, the culture is rich with history religion. Christianity and its traditions run through the blood of almost every Argentinian. Almost Prehistoric Cathedrals tower over the busy streets of ¨Centro¨standing as an Ensign to the country and to the world of their beliefs in God and Jesus Christ. It is truly amazing (in the actual meaning of the word - amazing) the architecture, detail, and sacrifice these titaneous symbols represent. My companion, Elder Vera and I, were sitting in the bench of one some weeks ago gazing upwards at the roof where the creation had been recreated in 7 individual murals representing the 7 creation periods; statues of the suffering Christ illuminated at the front and back of the halls. Biblical verse and history painted, carved, and written over every centimeter. At first glance, two white-shirt-and-tied, short haired and clean shaven Mormon boys sitting in a Catholic Building would seem awkward, even inappropriate. But there was something symbolic while sitting there. Something spiritual. 

We all come from the same creator. God -  our Eternal Father organized, planned, prepared, and created this world - the heavens above and the earth beneath - for us, his spiritual children. He did this out of his Eternal and Infinite love for us. Jesus The Christ lived, preached, and died to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of Man. He gave freely his time, words, love, and life that we can be made perfect in him. 

No matter the background, culture, religious beliefs, history, likes, dislikes, language, name, nationality, sexual orientation, or color of skin we ALL come from the SAME home. We are ALL headed to the SAME death. We are ALL headed to the SAME judgement. We are literally brothers and sisters who agreed to come to this Earth and help one another. To live above the world, to see people as Christ sees them, to be made perfect through the blood of the Savior is to loose your self in the service of love. I echo the words of one of my favorite Prophets who explained perfectly the importance of Charitable Service ¨And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.¨

My testimony is very simple but not to be taken lightly. 

I know with full surety of Heart the God and Jesus Christ live. They love us infinitely and eternally. 

I know because I have received it, the atonement or sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the only way to soften the hearts of the hardened and lift up the hands that hang low.

With the Help of God and Christ we can be made perfect. To this I testify.

As I sat in the sacred building of another´s beliefs I was humbled in my heart. To be given the sacred and special opportunity to share this message of love and unity is and will ever be my privilege. 

You are in my prayers and I pray that I am in yours. 

With Love, 

Your white-shirt-and-tied, short haired and clean shaven,
Elder Devin G. Hampton

Washing The Feet of His Fold

MOM, Accept the facebook request from Alejandra Cuevas. The Cuevaz family lived in UTAH for a few years and she speaks Spanish and English. She Rocks. They are as close to the HAMPTON family here in ARG.

Bought a portable DVD. I love the sales/people skills Dad and Troy and Grandpa have taught me. My pockets are a little heavier because of it.

I appreciate the help with the Health. I am a pillar of energy and spirit this week. Thank you.

I want to share an experience with you about my week this last week.

One of our investigators, Miguel Giminez, has a badly infected leg. Last week it was to the point where infection has been saliendo (I don't really know an adequate word in English) out of an open wound in his knee for over 2 months. We teach him almost every other day and his pant leg is always soaked with fluid around his knee. It is terrible. He has ulcers on his feet and very very very affected toe nails that are changing the color of his toes. The shoes he wears are normal sneakers but very dried and almost like sand paper.

This last week, Elder Vera and I performed  surgery.

We washed his leg and messaged the infection out of his leg for about an hour using a lot of gause to clean as we worked. Elder Vera had a pair of Crocs (The spongy shoe) that he turned into shoes that Miguel could wear. We washed his feet, peeling off crust and dirt from in between his toes and heals. We cleaned his legs and feet, took out as much infection as we could, used purification oil on his knee and feet and then wrapped everything in bandages to absorb the oil and keep it clean. Left with a priesthood blessing of health and a scripture on Charity (His favorite topic to listen to).

To be honest and open, it was a very trying experience, yet, I don´t know if I´ve ever felt more humble. While we were washing his feet Elder Vera had said a comment that made me realize what we were really doing. As representatives of Jesus Christ, we were literally washing the feet of another person like Christ had done in Juan 13. For the rest of the day I reflected on what we had done for Miguel; Feeling an insurmountable feeling of gratitude and love for my Savior.

Mom, I have to just say thank you for what you and Dad have taught me. Daily I represent two names. Hampton and Jesucristo. I am not here as Devin. Not for a second. A life of sacrifice yields the best tasting fruit, a heart full of love, a life filled the blessings of Eternity.

Enjoy your week my family.

You are always in my prayers and in my thoughts.

THINGS I NEED...well, I really don't need anything, but I would REALLY like:

PEANUT BUTTER

P90X VIDEOS ON USB

Taco Bell seasoning

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU.

Chao!

Elder Devin G. Hampton

Argentina Flare

I know the Lord is blessing me 100 fold every day, and if the family is experiencing just 1 tenth of the blessings I am receiving every day you guys must be flooded with them. I love it.