May 27, 2011 - The Office

Hey Family,

Well life is good. I am a little sick. It seems like since I have been in the office, either I have been sick or my companion haha. I am getting over a cough right now. But I am doing well.

Thanks for the pictures of Beck! Haha it looks like he will be a toe head (isn't that what they say for blonde headed kids?)

This last Sunday we had a stake conference and the stake presidency was reorganized. Our bishop was called to be the first counselor in the new presidency, so we should be getting a new bishop here soon. Elder Mazagardi of the Seventy came and reorganized. He didn't come here to the mission office, but he spoke in the general session. It was really good. He talked a little about callings. He said that to be called doesn't mean that you move up and to be released doesn't mean that you move down. He said that as we keep our covenants we go forward and if we don't we go backwards. In other words be only progress as we are obedient to our covenants and to the commandments. It doesn't matter what calling we have.  He also talked about how we cannot let what is sacred become common or normal. He talked about how he would go to the temple every week, but wasn't really learning a lot. He said that he realized that it had become something normal to enter the temple. As he remembered the sacredness of the experience, he began to learn. He said that we must do the same with prayer and taking the sacrament. We must pray with feeling and remember that it is a sacred experience to talk with Heavenly Father. He said that we must pray in this manner to receive answers. It was a good conference.

Things in the office are going good. I really like Elder Ramos. We get along great. We always have things to do and are always trying to organize ourselves a little better. It is great to work with President and Sister Prieto and develop a stronger relationship with them. In our area, Iguatemi, we don't really have anybody to teach and so we are knocking a lot of doors. We are still trying to find the right routine to leave the office at 5. We haven't achieved it yet. I know that there are families waiting for us, we just have to be diligent and find them. We did find a man named Thiago who was baptized in the US when he lived there for 2 years. He loved the church there. When he came back here to Brasil, he said the members in the ward he went to weren't very united and he didn't like church. He stopped going. He now has a wife and a baby boy. Our ward is great here. We haven't been able to teach them yet, but we are going to try to bring them to church this Sunday. We are working with Giorgis mom still and she is doing good. Still studying the scriptures and going to church. Just has some problems with the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity. For now, they are with her to decide. Elder Ramos and his last comp baptized a super awesome family that we have been visiting and strengthening. They are awesome.

When somebody you don't recognize comes to church, always talk to them and sit by them. Explain the meetings to them and maybe even invite them to dinner afterwards. Get their telephone number and call or pass by during the week. Help the missionaries teach them. That is your responsibility as members of the church. When an investigator gets to church, the missionaries should be able to hand off their investigators to the members. I promise you that as you are a part of the conversion process of someone, you will have a greater desire to share the gospel. Ask your missionaries for help. The missionaries are there to teach and help members fulfill their missionaries duties. They are not there to find. Continue to be good examples. Watch this video together for family home evening please (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSKUEVamgc0)

But it sounds like life is good with you guys. Keep sending updates. It is always good to hear any bit of news. Let me know how Tyson did on his test! I love you guys so much. Thanks for being great examples and supporting me as i serve the Lord. It is the best to be a missionary! Have a great week

Elder Hawkley