Thanks for the emails and the pictures! Sounds like everyone is doing
great! Glad dad was able to fly this week and that you all have had
some time to enjoy one another´s company. All of the many blessings
that our family has and has received are a result of the true and
restored gospel.
This week was good. The assistants came and gave a training to the
zone for district meeting. It went well. Then the assistants divided
with Elder Harris and I. It was good. I could learn a lot from Elder
Beck (Assistent). You would think he is american, but he is from
Florianópolis, Brasil haha. Good guy and great missionary.
The zone should have had 4 baptisms this week, but ended up with 0. It
was dissapointing, but 2 of those 4 should be baptized this week. But
overall the zone is doing well. It looks like we will be able to meet
our goal which is awesome.
In our area things were good as well. We had a good number of people
at church. Alex went again and finally his wife Elaine went. We need
to find out how she liked it, but it was good to see the whole family
there. We found a man named Luiz Fernando this week. It is hard for us
not to laugh sometimes in the lessons because he talks with so much
slang that we have never even heard. But he is progressing well and
has a lot of faith.
Unfortunately, Daniel is not reading the Book of Mormon and not
praying and didnt even go to church. The Lord blessed him with a new
job and he says he has the desire to stop smoking and drinking and be
baptized, but isnt doing what he needs to in order to stop. We will
keep offering our help and showing support but it depends a lot on
him. Patricia is super ready to be baptized and they will be married
on Wednesday! PARTY! FIRST WEDDING HAHA!
The Glenn's are an awesome family. I guess Bro. Glenn is some type of
scientist and has been here on and off for almost a year now. He
reminds me of dad (and not just because he's bald haha). His wife has
been with him a lot of the time too. He served a Spanish speaking
mission and does pretty well with the portugues. Sis Glenn doesnt
speak hardly anything haha and she's fine with that. There are a
couple of people that speak english in the ward. Sis. Glenn will go
back to the states for good this week. Bro. Glenn will finish his work
here in Brasil in June of this year. We went there Saturday night to
visit them and they fed us dinner which was nice. Bro Glenn shared a
message with US about D&C 31 and the blessings of missionary work. It
was sweet! Sis. Glenn brought a friend to church yesterday. Such a
great example! She met a lady that speaks a fair amount of english at
a crafts class here in São Carlos. She found out about her friend's
life and some bad experiences with the catholic church. Her friend
commented with her that she is really close with her church members
and Sis. Glenn told her (AKA: bore her testimony) that it is that way
in all our churches. The Glenns invited her to dinner with another
member and then brought her to church yesterday. We will follow up
today. Just another awesome example of missionary work.
Thats an awesome story that Cody told. I can definitely do better
about ALWAYS sharing the gospel. A lot of the times we are so selfish.
We feel like we deserve a rest. But as we forget ourselves we will
forget our problems, help many other people, and be happier.
I am glad to say that even though I will be home in a little over 3
months, I am staying focused on my purpose. Things are improving
little by little, but I am the happiest I have ever been on my mission
I would say. I just dont want to lose any time. My companion is
awesome, just trying to help him keep going too and be positive. There
is always something that we can complain about and always something
for which we can be grateful. We must have an Attitude of Gratitude.
This last week we spent a lot of time knocking doors and contacting
people and trying to help the members and it was a good week. We want
to find more families to teach, but the Lord will provide in his own
time.
I know that the church is true! Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior!
Only through him and his restored gospel can we have an eternal family
one day! I am stoked for General Conference here soon! I know that we
are guided by living prophets and apostles.
Have a great week everyone and thanks for the love and support. BE HAPPY!
Elder Hawkley
No comments:
Post a Comment