Wow... I am very sorry to hear about the murder in your church. Scary...

As for your hamster, you must be so excited! I had one, my sweet Ritz, who died when I was in sixth grade and I still miss him. Hamsters are sweet and adorable and can bring a lot of joy into your life. Make sure your hammy has lots of fresh, clean water every day, and lots of food. Ritz used to hoard his food (he'd stuff his cheeks and go bury it in a corner for later!). Also, I remember the pet store person who sold Ritz to me said that it takes a hamster 3 days to get used to his new surroundings and that you shouldn't try to pick them up until those 3 days are through. My little sister decided not to listen to this advice, and the next day she reached in and got bitten. I, on the other hand, gave Ritz 3 more days to get accustomed to his new life and when I reached in for him, he was a perfect little sweetie! So my advice is just let him be for 3 days. Keep us posted on how it all goes! I am so excited for you!