Elder Zachary Troy Hamilton

Nov. 24, 2014

Hey Mom and Dad,
First of all, I would like to thank you both for teaching me how to spend money. Seriously. Thanks. It's almost the end of the month, I haven't been without food, and I still have like $25,000 on my church card. And everyone else I know is barely going to scrape by this month. So thanks for teaching me how to not buy stupid stuff.

Next, have you seen meet the mormons?? When is it going to some out on DVD? And can you send it to me as soon as possible? That would be awesome.

Next, shoes. I am very sad to say that my shoes are probably not going to last through the summer. I have been doing my best to keep them in good condition, really. But we walk all day on rough roads, dirt roads, gravel roads, sometimes no roads. You get the picture. There's this brand of shoe called "Ecco" I think, and they sell it in utah in the missionary mall or whatever, mr mac, and they're supposed to last for a looooong time. We'll talk about them more I'm sure, so don't buy anything without talkting to me first.

Also, does that scripture marking thing you sent me come in Spanish? It's flippin sweeeeeeeeet. If not, I can totally make one, but I was just wondering.

Thanks so much.

Zac

Q. from mom & A. from Elder Hamilton

1. I don't think you've told us what you're reading. Or how you read. Do you pick a topic and study it, or do you start at the beginning of a book and read all the way through? do you use your English scriptures for personal study? I'm on Alma 44 for my personal study, the family is in 2 Nephi. The YW are doing a Book of Mormon reading challenge. January 1 we start. I think we're going to read it in 3 months.

I basically study whatever we're going to teach someone that day. So it changes a lot. But I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish out loud, and I'm almost done with Mosiah. Someone important in the church said one time that once you've read the book of mormon out loud in your mission language, you'll be fluent. So that's awesome.

2. Do you attend a ward or branch? I think you mentioned it once, but I can't remember.

It's a brach. Normally our attendance is around 35-40 including us missionaries.

3. Do you attend a meeting called Rescue Council or Ward Council? It's on Sunday with the Bishop and all the auxiliary presidents.

Lol. That's not a thing in south america. At least no one here has ever heard of that.

4. Tell me about the YM/YW in your ward/branch. And the YM/YW leaders. Do you work with them and try to get their involvement, like the missionaries here?

We don't have any. Literally. No leaders either, because there are no jovenes. (youth)

5. I'm sending out a Christmas package in a day or two. It has 4 tubes of sunscreen in it. Costco doesn't sell it this time of year, so it's from Target. Is it hard to find sunscreen in Nancagua, or is it just that you don't like the quality? I don't mind sending it, I'm just wondering.

We go to Santa Cruz every wednesday for district meeting, and the Lider (South American Walmart) has some, but I think it's kind of expensive. I'll tell you how much it is next week. I like the stuff I brought because it feels like it's not there.

6. How are your shoes holding up? Are you wearing them out already?

Well. My shoes are not doing too well. At all. I've been rotating them and stuff, but they're all getting kind of beat up. I'm gonna send another email right after regarding shoes.

7. How often do you go into town? Rancagua?

We go to Santa Cruz (1/2 hr bus ride) every wednesday and sometimes for P day. We almost never go to Rancagua. It's only if something special is happening.

8. Did you find out what that special ingredient is, in the rolls you make?

I haven't, sorry.

9. How are you doing? You always seem happy and upbeat in your emails. I know you're a happy, easy going person, but I wan't to know if you're having any struggles. I know it's not like you to struggle with anything, but please tell me if you are.

I'm doing pretty good. I wish the beds were about 2 feet longer, but those don't exist here... But yeah, as long as I put on sunscreen I have fun each day.