October 4, 2010

Oi Família!

I´m sending more pictures. (They are after his letter)

Questions

What are some things that you learned from conference?  Were you able to understand it?
We were able to watch 4 of the 5 sessions of conference. We are two hours ahead of oklahoma time. We missed the very first session. We watched conference in the city of Pirassununga, a city about 30 minutes away. Priesthood started at 9, but Pres Prieto gave us permission to watch it. We rode home with the branch president here in Leme and got home about 11:30 haha. All of conference was in Portuguese. It was translated live. It was interesting though because some of the speakers had pre-recorded their talks in Portuguese. Elder Andersen, Elder Scott, Elder Jensen, and Elder Mazzagardi all had their talks pre-recorded. Elder Mazzagardi is the area presidency of Brasil. I was actually able to understand conference for the most part. I took notes in english haha. I had to focus a lot in order to understand. Every time i got distracted, i got lost in the talk haha. The spirit is the same way though i think. We have to focus a lot in order to recognize and understand the promptings. I had a harder time understanding Elder Andersen´s recorded talk than the Brazilian translators haha. Conference was good though. My favorite session was Priesthood. I saw Elder Tyler Bean singing in the choir HAHA! It was cool. What an awesome experience for him! I'm sending him a letter today. Hope he gets it. In conference they talked a lot about pride and decisions and agency. I liked Elder Uchtdorf´s talk on pride. He said that pride is humbling others instead of ourselves. We must humble ourselves. I also liked President Monson´s talk on gratitude.

You always say you eat beans and rice and some type of meat.  Do you know what type of meat it is?  Have you had any avocado smoothies?  What has been the best/worst thing you´ve eaten?
Meat is usually some type of beef or chicken. Haven´t had the smoothie yet, but my comp makes them for breakfast. The best thing i've eaten was a key lime pie dessert haha. Hadn't had anything terrible or wierd yet. Always beans and rice. Also they eat spaghetti with spaghetti sauce a lot with the rice and beans haha. Its good.

We are starting to get your Christmas package together.  We need some ideas!!!  What do you need?
I really want an ensign of the conference in english haha. I don´t know if i will get one down here or not, so please send me one! Snacks are always good. Granola bars, mosquito net, and i will think about more stuff and let you know haha.

Are you feeling better?

I am feeling a lot better. Things are still hard at times, but all is good. Looking back on this transfer and my time in the CTM i truly am grateful for the trials and the hard times. Looking back on them I can see how I´ve grown and I find joy in looking back and seeing how I made it through. I think that is what will happen when we meet Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the Judgement. We will find joy in looking back at our trials and hardships if we endure well, because we will be able to see how it helped us and the things we learned. Never Give Up, Only Trust in the Lord. I´m still not very good at this haha, but I´m working on it.

It was a good week. We had interviews with President Prieto. I really like him. My interview was quick. He asked about my family, health, companion, and area. It wasnt robotic though. It was good. Pres. Prieto told us something interesting. He said that there are only 35,000 missionaries in the world right now and that Brazil is really lacking. The area presidency has a plan for every stake in brasil to send 5 missionaries by the end of the year. If the stakes cannot meet this goal, 6 missions in Brasil will close! Thats nuts! Im a little confused though because in conference, Elder Nelson said that we have 52,000 missionaries and thats the number we had last conference. Anyway it was interesting. 10 areas in our mission are going to close by the end of the year due to more missionaries leaving than coming in. We need more missionaries i guess! It is an honor and privilege to serve. Everyone should!  

Its been cloudy and rainy for the past week. Today is the first day of sun in a while. I like the sun, but it is hot haha. 

Transfers are this next week. I hope to stay and I hope that Elder D. Souza stays, but all will work out. Elder D Souza taught me this week that we need to be positive. If we go into a transfer thinking it will be good, it will. If we think are companions will be great, they will. We must look for the good in everything. If I am transfered, you probably wont receive an email. I cant believe ive been here for 5 weeks already. Time is flying! 

Well got to go. I love you and thanks for the support. The gospel is true! We are teaching some great families right now! Endure to the End!

Love,

Elder Hawkley

 My companion, Elder D. Souza

This was after a lunch this week. I always eat a ton, but then we had watermelon for dessert. I almost died haha.

 President & Sister Clark (CTM President). They were super nice. Sis Clark is one of the happiest and nicest people ever!

 My right foot. I don´t know how well you can see, but its a combination of the aftermath of lots of blisters and athletes foot. haha and my pinkie toes were destroyed, but are getting better haha.

 Putting the clothes on the clothes line this morning haha.