Happy Deepavali and Happy Halloween!

Happy Deepavali/Halloween/2nd transfers!!!                                                     Oct. 27, 2019

  Miracle this week: we we got a text while at the mall from a lady we've been trying to meet with, saying that she walked past us at the mall (which surprised us cause we didn't see her pass us). We asked if we could share a quick message with her, but she didn't respond until after about 30 minutes. She finally texted us that she had left the mall, so we decided to leave, too. Right as we were about to get on the train, we got a text from Jasmine saying that she could spare 30 minutes for a message! So we walked all the way back to the mall...and it was 100% worth it. She shared more about herself and what she's going through and how she knows God loves her. We were so glad that we turned back and had the chance to meet with Jasmine and share our testimonies.

  Also, this week, my companion, another sister from subgang, and I had a milo chugging contest. (Milo is basically the best chocolate drink you'll ever taste). Guess who won with a record time of 10 seconds?????

   This week I've been thinking a lot about one of the talks from general conference by Elder Peter M. Johnson (highly recommend give it a read!). If you feel like something in your head is giving you doubts or confusion about yourself or something that is good, don't listen. It is from the adversary. If you find yourself being deceived, discouraged, or distracted, hold onto the things you know are true. Heavenly Father loves you, He is cheering you on! Stay close to Him, and things will get better. Those bad things won't go away, but you will receive strength to resist them.

     Thank you for your prayers and emails and love, you are all examples to me.

selamat tinggal! (Goodbye)

  sister hamner

Buddhist Kung Fu Panda Temple (4 pics)

In front of the Temple gardens

(Rachel is on the right in the back)

Milo Drink Contest...guess who wins

 (If you know how competitive Rachel is, you know the answer!)

Priya and her awesome family

Henry HB

Misbah and Maywish from PJ Branch got Rachel and Sis. Dolenar hyped for Deepavali!

Halloween in Subang

gereja  (English = church)

The Sisters' new friend ;)  (at the Buddhist Temple)

(Clever!)

view from MRT station

Jasmine and the Sister missionaries

Even in Asia Rachel is "nerding" out seeing this!

Happy Deepavali

Yum!!

Feeling the Love of God

Feeling the Love of God

Hello family and friends!                                                                                       Oct. 20, 2019

     I wanted to share a miracle with you from this week! So we got to go on 2 transfers (with the Subang sisters on Tuesday and with the Puchong sisters on Friday). On Tuesday, Sister Charles Gai (she's from East Malaysia and a legend, she gave up a huge nursing job to serve a mission) and I went around Subang and got to visit Connie, a lady from the Philippines who was baptized in her country at 16, but has not been to church in a long, long time. Sister Charles Gai shared some scriptures from 2 Nephi when he expresses his gratitude for God's love for him and the multitude of his tender mercies. She bore a simple yet powerful testimony of her experience with first coming on a mission and praying to God and seeing all that He has answered her with. It touched Connie and she began to get emotional. Sister Charles Gai said she felt like there was something on her mind, and even though Connie couldn't say, she said she wanted to feel what she was feeling now all the time. She expressed that she missed that feeling from church and wants it with her again. I guess I have some of dad's emotional genes, because I began to get emotional as Sister Charles Gai promosed her that Heavenly Father wants her to come back. She then turned to me as if to say "bear your testimony," and I tried to speak, but all I could tell her was that Heavenly Father loves her so much and that she can always feel His love when she prays. I haven't felt so much love for someone this whole time I've been out, and the thought came that THIS is what missionary work is about. Helping people feel God's love for them, helping them realize their purpose, and showing them true happiness. Right when we were about to close, Connie said, "Wait! Aren't we going to sing a song? Can we sing that one that goes something like, 'thank thee, O God, for a proooophet'?" We said sure! So we sang We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet, and as Connie read the words, she began to be emotional again. We also sang A Child's Prayer, and it was a sweet moment.

     Every day I become more and more grateful for being a missionary in Malaysia. My brain is finally adjusting to everything happening, and the scenery here is settling in and it is SO BEAUTIFUL. The palm trees, the sunrises, the rice fields, colorful buildings, everything is just beautiful. And I am blessed to be spreading the very thing that brings me happiness in this beautiful place with the wonderful people in Malaysia. How can I be blessed any more??

     Heavenly Father wants all His children to know that He loves them. One of the best ways to do that is to pray. Just pray! I've probably already said this, but it's so simple and just like it's important to keep relationships strong with family/loved ones through communication, He wants to hear from us. Don't forget to ask Him for the things you need, thank Him for the smallest blessings, and seek His guidance daily. I have received answers and guidance, and know that you can and will, too.

Love,

Sis. Hamner

Rachel and her Trainer, Sis. Dolenar

(Transfers were yesterday...they are both staying another 6 weeks in PJ!)

 THE Subang legend:  Sister Charles Gai; plus Rachel and their noodles!

Sister Charles Gai, Connie, and Rachel

 frozen bananas = yummy smoothies 

(Rachel doesn't look too sure)

 Sister Dayley, Rachel, and Abby from Puchong 

(They taught her the plan of salvation)

Got a little lost on the highway in the rain

 Their friend, Lavanya (She just ran a marathon)

The LRT station...They talked with some guys playing smash bros there. 

Llaoullaou (yow yow), apparently the BEST frozen yogurt in Malaysia, but it comes from Spain.

20 ringgit smoothie....pops

 "We are short!"

  Rachel got to help their Grab (Uber) driver change his tire (in the rain) while picking up their 

Singapore missionary friends from the airport.

 (Shout out to Markie for teaching her how to change a tire this summer!)

Singapore missionary hyyyyype!!

This Week Was Blur...

Hello all!                                                                                                             Oct. 13, 2019

   Welp, it's definitely monsoon season. It rains every day, HUGE thunderstorms, with big booms and lots of lightning, just like Indiana. It feels like home, I love it. I learned another word Malaysians love to use here: blur. For example, if you're confused about something, you'd say, "I'm so blur!" They're so funny. This week, we ate rojak and chendol and abc. Chendol and ABC are both desserts, but no one actually knows what's in them?? All I know is that it contains flavored ice, corn, beans, and a bunch of randomly shaped and colorful chewy things that make it taste sweet. Every day I just pray the Lord blesses whatever I put in my mouth for the next 16 months.

  We had exchanges this week and I went with the KL sisters while my comp traveled to Ipoh. One of the poor sisters was sick for a whole day! but she felt better in evening. The sisters were so fun, happy, and I got to meet one of their investigators, Dianna, who is AWESOME.

  And Joey got baptized!!! That was a wonderful night, she is so solid. Also, conference was amazing, especially Elder Uchtdorf's talk :)

  Thank you so much for all of the love and prayers sent to the tiny town of PJ, I pray for you all every day. Keep saying your prayers and reading The Book of Mormon, every day, every day, every day. Nothing else brings more lasting joy!

sayang kamu semua, (love you all)

 sister hamner

Wise words from Malaysia

Joey's Baptism Day

My new favorite Malay phrase

 Joey, Sis. Dolenar, and Sis. Hamner before Joey's baptism (yes, that's me eating ice cream)

Rojak (redish), Chendol (brownish), and ABC (pink)

The toilet may be clogged...but not the Lord's work

Oct. 6, 2019

 Hello everyone!

  Every Monday, there's a night market in SS2 (a section of the city) and we go there to find people (because everyone who's anyone goes there on Monday night). As we were walking, it was raining, so our shoes were soaked and squishing with every step. Booths making food were steaming and people were shouting and talking, crowded under umbrellas and canopies, bustling and buying and eating. As my companion and I were walking around with our Book of Mormons, the thought came to me: Holy cow...I'm in Malaysia right now!! I'm a missionary. We have this knowledge of happiness and love, and everyone around us doesn't know, but my purpose right now is to help them know and also have joy...THAT IS SO COOL. I love being a missionary. I love PJ. There are too many experiences to share, but know that every day this week, I have felt more and more love for where I am and what I am doing. I love being a missionary :)

  Some things from this week...

- I tried jackfruit for the first time, and it is so good

- Our toilet broke (it wasn't flushing so it stank so bad), but the handy man finally came and fixed our toilet! I am soooooo happpyyyy

- Have you seen the Book of Mormon videos!? WATCH THEM WITH THE FAMILY, THEY ARE SO GOOD. We watch the newest one every Saturday and have a "movie night," they are so fun to watch (we make fun of the cheesy acting, too, hehe)

- Our friend,Jjoey, is getting baptized this Saturday, so we're pumped!

- While on exchanged this week with Sister Beliang from Puchong, we were contacting in a bookstore and this lady we met had come to Malaysia for some day warrior challenge thing. She asked if we wanted to meet her friends, so we said sure, more people to teach, right? She walked us to the front desk where like 10 people were purchasing items, and she literally shouted, "HEY, EVERYONE. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, BELIONE AND HAMMER. THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS FOR CHURCH." My face turned so red, EVERYONE was staring at us. I couldn't believe that someone had basically just announced to the entire bookstore our names and our purpose. It was crazy! But they were all really nice, and I guess you're supposed to talk to everyone anyways, haha!

- Remember that you are loved by Heavenly Father. it all comes down to prayer, daily personal prayer. no matter what, when you pray, He will hear you and He will answer you. the church is true!*

love, sister hamner

Our p-day "movie house"

Popcorn = success!

Sis. Emem...recent convert we visit

A&W in PJ?

A very patriotic car (flags all over the outside)

A cool wall

Our toilet! :)

Visit with Sis. Poh Peng, Relief Society President

"Drinking Milo"

Jia Qing & her friend...ran into them at the night market!

Sept. 29, 2019

 
    Sorry this is so short, but everything is solid here in PJ! This week has been a week of miracles, new friends, and crazy foods, including snot corn, cake (yes, I ATE CAKE.), durian ice cream, mala hot pot, crazy spices rice and noodles, and of course, free samples at the malls. *first pump* (We have made friends with all of the free sample people, and they are amazing). Also, I got to eat with my hands like a real Malaysian!! I felt like a kid again :)

   It can be difficult sometimes during the busy, crazy day to see miracles happening, but at the end of the day when I take time to reflect, it is so evident that this is the Lord's work and His hand is in every aspect of it. During a conference with other missionaries this week, our mission president emphasized the importance of prayer. It is the key to our personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. He loves us so much, and wants us to ask Him for help and guidance. I know that when we pray personally to Him, we will feel His love and receive answers to our prayers and the questions of our soul.

   Sayang kamu semua! (Love you all!)

   love, sister hamner

Sis. Dolenar, their friend Sheena, and Sis. Hamner

The sister missionaries and Elder's performed "I Feel My Savior's Love" at the PJ Elders baptism

zone conference shenanigans

The Sister missionaries visited a Muslim temple last P-day

Beautiful Malaysia

Mala hot pot. (We need these in US!)