"Don't Cry For Me Argentina"

Hello Family!

Happy New Year! So this week’s Testimony Meeting had some very similar testimonies… 4 or 5 mentioned that they received a watermelon from “angels”… All of the rest of the members who received watermelons realized that they got watermelons from the same “angels” so after sacrament meeting, people stopped us in the hall and said “I KNEW IT WAS YOU GUYS!”… I didn’t really like all of the ward finding out that we gave watermelons to everyone… big scale surprises don’t stay surprises for very long… Not much you can do. I did, however, appreciate hearing that it made their Christmases brighter and that some of them were really in need for a spiritual pick me up. One lady said she opened the door, and before she even knew who it was from, started to cry (I thought Mom and this lady would be best friends) and just felt really grateful in her heart (yes… sounds like mom). 

Tomorrow, we have a Mission Leaders Counsel with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in the mission. I always over think everything and get stressed out before hand for things like this… But then tomorrow it just feels like another normal day. I’ll be giving a training on “Personal Revelation through Prayer” and “Personal Revelation through the Book of Mormón”.

My Peruvian companion is trying to learn more English. He keeps repeating the line "Don't cry for me Argentina" all day long.... mercy...

I was reading the Liahona from November (we received it last week… “Don’t cry for me Argentina”) and the Insert about Elder Scott. He was the Mission President for the Argentina North Mission (my mission is only a part of what his mission was then). He related a funny story about his Assistants and how they messed up one time. I found comfort in the fact that I am not alone.

“Serving in Argentina, President Richard G. Scott was an efficient but compassionate mission president. One of his missionaries, Wayne Gardner, remembers having to make arrangements for a missionary conference located far from the mission home and being responsible to pick up President Scott from the airport. At the last minute, the building Elder Gardner had scheduled for the conference became unavailable. Then he and his companion were late getting to the airport to pick up President Scott. They also forgot to tell the taxi driver to wait for them and there were no other taxis, so they were stranded.

“Even though I could see frustration in the president’s eyes,” Elder Gardner recalls, “he put his arm around me and told me he loved me. He was so patient and understanding. I hope I never forget that lesson.”

As far as reading the Book of Mormon goes… Do It.

Don’t make excuses for not reading the Most Important Book we can ever occupy our time with.

Have a great week Family!

Élder Hampton | Misión Argentina Salta

Hot Humid & Happy

Before I start, let me thank you fro your emails and for your support. I love getting pictures and updates from everyone. Although I hardly ever respond, I do read every email and appreciate your love and support.

So my life moves very quickly. Days feel 48 hours long but never enough time to finish everything for the day; however, 11pm doesn’t come fast enough to be able to sleep. The weeks end faster than any individual day… they fly by. I’ve now been in Salta again for the past 6 weeks. President changed P-day to Monday so our office week is Tuesday – Friday. We now have one entire day to go “missioning” in our area. It’s great. This last week broke down like this:

 Last Monday – “Spiritual Preparation” to give a training in a Zone Leaders Conference.

 Tuesday – “Zone Leaders Conference” All of the zone leaders from the 10 “zones” we have in the mission came to Salta for a training conference. Hermana Chaparro, Presidente Chaparro, Elder Rich and I trained the missionaries on some aspects of “finding” people who we may teach/help/etc. After lunch, the zone leaders from Tartagal (the northernmost zone in the mission) back to their house and we spent the night with them.

 Wednesday – Elder Rich and I exchanged companions in Tartagal in order to further train and teach other missionaries (mostly learning from them… I don’t know in what I am “assisting” but I learn much more from other missionaries than I think they are learning from me). Tartagal is a VERY humid city. It’s just south of the Bolivia/Salta, Arg. border. THERE ARE MANGOS EVERYWHERE! I am not exaggerating by saying that the streets are LINED with mango trees. HUGE MASSIVE trees covering the entire area. It is very much a jungle. There is a constant hum of “Coyuyo” which are these ENORMOUS black bugs like the cicadas during the summer months in the desert. I went with Elder Mahowski from Chile in his area (Aguaray) even further north (just 15mins south of Bolivia). We met A LOT of people. While talking with a lady at her gate, I noticed a green thing moving in the backyard. IT WAS AN ANACONDA, nah, just kidding. It was just a huge green Iguana strolling along, eating little chicks and the eggs of all the wild chickens that run loose. I kind of lost my train of thought talking with the lady and was caught by the Iguana. The lady wasn’t interested in listening to us, she just wanted to talk so I pretended to listen to her and just watched the thing walk on by. It was sweet.

In the evening we were teaching a family who hadn’t gone to church for years, and one of the sons had never been present in one of the missionary visits. We were teaching him to pray and he said such an AWESOME PRAYER. It was so sincere. Well, while he was praying I heard this “flop” “flop” – I was really paying attention to Bruno pray. It wasn’t like my experience with the Lady and Iguana – I peeked my eyes opened to see what it was and I see this GIGANTIC Frog the size of football hopping along behind Elder Mahowski and me. I shut my eyes quickly knowing that I was in no harm. Bruno at the end of his prayer started to cry (I was glad I had paid attention). He felt like God had listened to him and really felt the Lord’s love for him. He was kind of overwhelmed by the experience so he started to cry. Not the Iguana nor the frog was quite as awesome as being a part of someone’s first prayer. Watching them be filled with Christ’s love is unforgettable. Ended the night by eating fried meat sandwiches back in the house of the Zone Leaders. Delicious.

 Thursday – We left Tartagal and headed to Embarcación, a city 2 hours to the south but 2 times more humid. I went with Elder Jones from Phoenix, Not the most productive day in my mission. I haven’t been so hot in a very long time. Even one of the most humid days in the desert doesn’t compare to how hot and humid it was. I took advantage of the opportunity to exercise diligence and patience. Having a sweaty drunk man hug me and breath in my face and in my ear really tries my patience. It’s hard to “minister” or be a “minister” in situations like that. I kept a smile on and just laughed with him and tried to just be very patient waiting for him to let me go. I felt good, walking away from the house, knowing that I was able to control myself and my emotions. We ended the day eating a Kilo of ice cream in front of their air conditioner in their room. Slept on a tempur-pedic, electrically chilled bed with Egyptian cotton 2000 thread count sheets. Indulgence baby.

 Friday – Woke up from one of the best night’s sleep and we drove 3 ½ hours to San Salvador, Jujuy. One the way, we passed some cool fruit stands set up alongside the route and realized that they were selling stuff that was growing just behind the stands. I pulled off the road and we headed into a plantain grove. Rows and rows of plantain plants with bunches and bunches of fruit growing off of every plant. Elder Rich is a little like the guy "Cameron" from the movie Ferris Buller’s day off, really nervous over just about anything. He didn’t like driving on “not so public” property without asking someone first. I loved the pictures. We left the grove, kept driving, took some pictures of bridges, and signs, finally getting to San Salvador, Jujuy.

We ate lunch with the Zone Leaders from Jujuy Centro Zone and then split up to go to work. I went with a very new Elder, Elder Osorio from Buenos Aries, Arg. We talked with a lot of people, taught 1 lesson and walked a lot. About 2 hours before we had scheduled to meet back with our companions it just stated pour down rain. We hadn’t had much success all afternoon (in terms of teaching lessons) and I was just praying that someone would let us in their house to get out of the rain. The past 2 days I felt like God had set up a “prayer answer hotline” in that every time I prayed to be guided to someone to teach, we found someone really receptive and that let us teach them a lesson. Now, sopping wet, patience being tried, feeling the success responsibility over my shoulders with this new missionary, I was pleading Heavenly Father for a miracle. Elder Osorio was talking with the church member who was with us, brainstorming to identify someone we could visit, and still praying in my heart the God sends us a miracle. They think of someone to visit and we start walking to her house. We ask everyone and anyone we see if they would be willing to let us come in their house and share a Christmas message with them; every single one of them politely declined. I didn’t get it… The last 2 days had gone off without any trouble. God had been answering my prayers left and right, I was beginning to wonder WHY He wasn’t answering. Rejection after rejection I began to think “Don’t these people see us?” “We are soaking wet. It’s raining. We are smiling. Are these people not normal kind people who offer, at least, to invite another in out of the rain?” I began to find fault in the people and in God for our lack of success, but just as I began to do so, I realized the grand mistake I had begun to make. I realized that my faith and my love had become VERY conditional, exercising faith and love only IF God, or these people answered my requests in the way and timing that I was demanding for. I asked for forgiveness from God and changed my mood towards the people who were rejecting us. We didn’t ever get invited into a house, but I ended the night much different than the way I had started it. I felt an appreciation for God and his patience with me. I felt humbled to be considered an example to Elder Osorio and other missionaries. I felt, yet again, the peace of being able to control my own body and emotions. Elder Rich and I drove back to Salta, getting home after midnight.

 Saturday and Sunday flew by.

 Today (Monday) – With a little Christmas money I received in my family’s Christmas advent calendar (thank you Dad), I took Elder Maldonado (my real assigned companion) golfing. It was his very first time ever playing golf. It was awesome to see the progress in his swing and understanding of the game. We walked the course with a caddy and really got to know him. His name was Mario. He wants to come to church with us on Sunday. I hope he makes it on Sunday. 

Elder Maldonado wanted to try Chinese Take-out so we ordered take out and are writing emails to our families.

 This next week we have to plan Transfers with Presidente and then get ready for next week (the sending/receiving of old/new missionaries)

 In two weeks we have 4 Christmas Conferences in the mission and CHRISTMAS! I don’t feel very Christmassy yet… I think I’ll make that my project this next week…

I love every one very much. 

Thank you for your prayers in my behalf. 

Élder Hampton | Misión Argentina Salta

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I Love My Life

I've spent the last week in the jungles of Northern Salta and Jujuy. I hunted wild plums, explored Plantain plantations, paused on the free way to watch tuco-tuco (fire flies) and have trained 29 Elders and 10 Sister Training Leaders this last week, finding and teaching families that speak very little SPANISH and much more CHINE (pronounced CHEE-NEIGH) which is an aboriginal dialect in southern Bolivia... it has been raining for the past 48 hours and I would have to say: I love my life.

Élder Hampton | Misión Argentina Salta

Everyday is an Adventure!

Transplanting A Palm

 Lunch Last Tuesday

 Lunch with Patriarc Badami who owns an Ice cream Shop... 1 kilo of ice cream for dessert to take home...great day!

Companion Exchange

 Teaching the brothers of an investigator how to shine shoes while Elder Moyano was in a baptism interview with her.

 Them shining my shoes.

Leaving the house of an investigators house after a lesson. I believe they borrowed the chairs for the morning so we could have a place to sit while we were teaching.

We got home from Conference on Saturday night and these guys were tring to move a palm tree. The night before I explained how they needed to cut the roots and transplant it without having to do extra work and without it dying. There were 10 (12 with my companion and I) grown men all standing around this dinky palm tree and trying to figure out how to pick it up and move it to the front yard to plant it. We go inside our house and I told Elder Moyano, lets go show them how to move a palm tree. We changed really quick from white shirt to soccer shirt and went over to show them how to do it. Hermana Pazpinto (the grandma who lives in front of our house) said they had been there for 3 hours trying to move the palm tree. Elder Moyano and I moved it and were backfilling the hole in 15 mins. They made us a 1/2 meter sandwich to say thank you. 

  Hermana Pazpinto saw the sandwich and invited herself over to have a bite too.... sweet sweet Hermana Pazpinto.

 Élder Hampton | Misión Argentina Salta

Little Old Argentine Ladies

This last week was AWESOME!

3 New families to teach!  2 are super super awesome and are going to be baptized in 3 weeks. 1 family... not so much... it was a bunch of ladies and the poor old guy in the house and all the ladies were more interested in where I was from and my hair cut than what my companion and I were trying to explain to them about the Book of Mormon.

Me: "The Book of Mormon is..."

Them: "So what's your first name."

Me: "Nephi is the first prophet in the Book of Mormon"

Them: "Is it really nice in California"

Me: "Nephi wanted to do the Lord's will to recieve blessings for his family"

Them: "Do you have a girl friend?"

Me: "We're going to end with a prayer now..."

So that's a little exaggerated (Hal Hampton) but I really lose my patience with some people who don't even care what I am saying... "I am trying to save your soul and you don't even listen long enough to understand that!" We find a lot of people in Satiago, lots of people to teach, but only a few really listen to what we are saying... I understand a little bit more how Christ felt when trying to teach people and the Pharisees and Scribes and Jewish Leaders would just ask stupid questions and try to throw Him off or change the subject... "Let's end with a prayer now..."

Slept on the roof last night. The eclipse was awesome to watch... I don't know if California got to see it.

My P-days are very routine. 0730 hrs wake up. Wash something and clean something until 0900 hrs Hermano Jimenez First Counselor in our Branch picks us up to play futbol in the church. 1100 hrs Walk around in Centro for an hour people watching and looking at cool things to buy that I will never buy. 1300 hrs buy some bags of milk... 1pckt of noodles... rice... that's about it.  1500 hrs Nap/Lunch/Letters/Study/Wash Clothes/Make ties/Clean House/Kill bugs/etc until 1900 hrs when we leave the house to teach. It's too hot to leave the house during the afternoon..... pure desert. We aren't in Summer yet, but as you guys are in "Fall" (yeah right. Like Fall exists in the Coachella Valley) we are in Spring (Pre-Summer)... really similar weather.

Please pray that:

People come to General Conference this next Week.

Paola and Marcos will be baptized on the 10th.

That Luis and Victoria will get married in 2 weeks.

That Leo and Flavia will receive an answer about the Book of Mormon and that they have enough Faith to act upon their answer.

That we keep finding complete families where the Dad wants to be baptized as well.

I love you all very much!

Élder Hampton | Misión Argentina Salta

Service project for other missionaries

 Eggs from an Investigator

 My companion went to the doctor 3 times...three different doctors... 

I LOVE THE HOSPITALS IN ARGENTINA.

Questions From The Little Sister

-HOW ARE YOU?

On a scale from 1 to 10....... 12. I love being a missionary.

-What is your favorite thing to do each week?

My answer is a tie:

1) Study. Every day I have 1 hour of personal study, 1 hour of companionship study and 30min-1hr of language study

2) Teach what I study. I love when I am able to explain something complicated and complex in a very simple way. I LOVE the spirit I feel when The Holy Ghost bears testimony of MY words... I love teaching.

-Have you pulled any pranks?

I ate a gecko the other day... not really a prank but it was weird feeling it crawl around in my mouth.

-Are you anxious for the end of your mission or are you dreading the end and want to stay forever?

Both…I miss home but I am very nervous to face ALL that comes with taking of the missionary badge and leaving my most dearest friends (missionaries and members and investigators) whom I've grown so close to over these past 16 months... I don't want to have to take off my apostolic mantel either.... I don't want to stop being a defender of truth. I don't want to stop being a missionary.

-What's the craziest thing you've eaten?

So Argentine people love their sandwiches - We ate a pizza/meat sandwich. 2 pizzas with carne asada in the middle of it. You cut it like a pizza but you eat it like a sandwich... they also sell this meat sandwich by the meter (a little over 3 feet long)...

Savannah Mae