February 21, 2011 - Eu estou em Oklahoma

HEy family!
The title says "I'm in oklahoma" haha. I say that because the scenery in the part of southern central brasil where i'm at reminds me a ton of oklahoma. Its very green, but with lots of fields and rolling hills. Its beautiful!

We got the email about Padrao de xelencia and you said to look at some pictures.  But there were no pictures and no website to go to.  What were you talking about?
    Our numbers were good that week. All of our numbers met the standard of what they should be and so we were in the news letter. Its not a big deal.

Sounds like things are going well.  You are busy teaching.  How is Karina doing?  Do you have a lot of youth in your ward to be good friends to her?
    Karina is doing pretty good. She sings in a band and started before we taught her. The problem is that she sings on sundays. We are working lot with her, but things will work out. Our other recent-convert, Cibele, hasn't come to church since she was baptized. She says she will come but hasn't yet. We are going to pass by this next week.

Loved the pictures.  Glad that you were able to see Elder Fidelis before he went home.  Looks like you guys got drenched!!  Did you get caught in a down pour?  How has the weather been lately?
    Yup we caught some rain haha. It has been hot here. And everyone says that it is just going to get hotter haha. It gets really hot and then the cloud comes and then it rains by the end of the day most days.

Did you get the package we sent with the Ensigns? and candy? and card?
   I haven't gotten them yet, but i'm ready haha.

So what do you do for service in your area?
  We haven't had a lot of opportunities for service yet. This saturday we are going to help a member do some concrete work. They are going to start at 530 or 6 in the morning haha, in order to finish early. It will be good though

What are the people's home like?  I know that you said it was a more humble area.
   Its really actually pretyt normal. The members homes are normal. Every once in a while we teach someone who has little. But its all good. I'm used to it already. People do the best with what they can and they are always trying to take good care of what they have. There are a lot of drugs in our area though and a bar on every corner.

Things with the comp are good. Every once in a while there are some things that i don't like, but i'm doing my best. We are looking for people to teach right now. None of the investigators that we are teaching came to church yesterday. That was a bummer. We are really looking for families. Church was good yesterday! I played the piano. I love playing the piano and it is awesome to be able to use my talent to bless the members here.

Thanks for the letters and advice. It helped a ton! Hope you are all doing great and i love you all. Keep the questions and the pictures coming! The gospel is true! When we do what Jesus Christ did, we become more like him.

Elder Hawkley

February 14, 2011

Hey family!

Well, thanks for all the pictures and letters. Everyone looks great! I hardly even recognize Rachel, haha she is changing quickly a ton. Beck looks great. He really does have red hair (for now at least) ahah.

Well we found out the transfers saturday morning. I will be staying in my area and i will be staying with my companion, Elder Mendonça. He is now our district leader, which is good for him. Maybe it will help him out. I hope so. I am going to do my best to help him be a good district leader.  I´m doing alright. It will be good. This last week was a little difficult. We came home saturday night and he was mad at me for i have no idea why. He didn't say a word to me. He put his headphones on (that we aren't supposed to use) and listened to who knows what. We woke up sunday morning and it was the same story. Things got better and by the end of yesterday we are fine. I still don't know why he was mad, but oh well.

We had a baptism this sunday! We baptized Karina (16). She was a contact. She lives with her older sister. She didn't have a lot of support from the family, but chose to be baptized anyway. It was another rushed baptismal service. She wasn't ready on time ahah. The members here are really nice, but we aren't receiving a lot of help from them. Some things are really good.

I need some advice. Whenever an appointment falls or we have a space of time, my comp wants to go to a members house. Sometimes we eat dinner or something. Its one of those things that is hard for me. I feel like that we could be doing more with the time that we have. It was interesting that you sent me that scripture dad. I understand, but how do we know when we are doing enough???? I always suggest to my comp, "lets go visit ..., or what if we...", but he just does what he wants. We are being obedient, at least I'm doing my part. I tried talking to him about this, what i was feeling and he just got mad. He said "diligence has nothing to do with time" haha. Its hard for me. If i make the suggestion but we do it anyway, am i doing my part?????

I'm glad you were able to go to Beck´s blessing and were safe. I pray for your safety, physically and spiritually, everynight. I'm so grateful for the family i have and for your examples and guidance. I love the words of the living prophets and apostles. They always bring comfort to my soul. Always study the conference issues, they´re my favorite.

Could you email me two talks? The talk by Elder Christofferson this last CES fireside (way good, i read a copy) and the talk "come what may and love it" by Elder Wirthlin.

This morning we went to the rodoviaria (bus station) to see all the missionaries being transfered. I was able to see Elder Fidelis and talk and laugh with him a little bit. I love that kid. I'm going to write him for sure. He is going home tomorrow.

I love the Lord and this gospel. I want to give him my best! I know that there is true safety in keeping the commandments. Sorry if this letter is depressing haha, im doing good just a little stressed and trying to figure things out more, little by little. I am learning and growing with my companion. I love you all!

Elder Hawkley

January 7, 2011 - Hey!

Hey family!

Glad to hear that you guys made it to Beck´s blessing! Thats crazy about the snow! Send me some pictures. That stinks about tyson. Did he get hurt?

Well it was a hard, but good week. This week I personally had a hard time with my companion. I just became angry. I didn't express my anger to him though. He wouldn't wash his dishes and i felt like maybe i was being penalized for his disobedience (like maybe the spirit wasn't with me or something like that). I was just unhappy and then the spirit really wasn't with me. I had been and still am praying a lot. So one morning i washed his dishes and just started doing lots of little things of service. I also started writing down the good things that he did each day. My whole attitude changed and i became more happy. It seems like he is a little more happy also. It still isn't easy, but it became easier. I learned a lot about really loving someone. If you love someone you see their good qualities and truly have patience with them. So that was good. Transfers are this next week. I am thinking that we will both stay here, but there are a lot of missionaries going home this transfer which means that a lot of changes are coming. I would like to stay in this area. Either way should be fine with the comp. I'm sure every companionship has challenges. We´ll see what happens.

There is an elder in my zone, Elder Childers, thats from Idaho and he knows some Hawkleys from Idaho. Do you know any Childers dad?

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and man was it good. There´s a kid in the ward here named Murilo. He is ten years old. He is the only member in his family. He always gets to church early to set up the primary room. He really is a great example to me. Anyway we got to church early yesterday to meet up with some members to do splits to bring investigators to church. Murilo didnt look too good and he said he had a stomach ache that started the night before. He told his mom that he was fine so that he could go to church! haha. We offered to give him a priesthood blessing and he accepted. We gave the blessing and then left to bring investigators to church. When we got back to church he said he was feeling better. Then during testimony meeting he bore his testimony about the priesthood and priesthood blessings and told about the blessing we gave him. The spirit was super strong. My testimony of the priesthood grew. I'm so glad that i was worthy and that the Lord let me be a part of this experience. Another sister in the ward also bore her testimony of the priesthood. We had given her a blessing for a headache during the week. She said that she felt better right away and the headache didn't return. It was an awesome testimony meeting.

We were teaching a kid named Pedro (15) this week. His older sister is a less active for a while and she has doubts about the book of mormon and joseph smith. As we were talking, their uncle came up and started saying all kinds of things. We exchanged a couple of scriptures (which got nowhere as usual. thankfully i don't like to bible bash. it gets nowhere) and then just bore our testimonies. The spirit was with us. I don't think his heart was open, but i hope so. It was a privilege to bear testimony of Joseph Smith. I know that he was a prophet and that he saw God and Jesus Christ! He restored the church, the only true church on the face of the earth! Being a missionary is hard at times, but times like this make it worth it and make it awesome.

Hope you are all well. Never forget that this gospel is true! I´ll try and send some pictures next week, you guys send some too! I love you all soo much. Thanks for the email!

Elder Hawkley

January 31, 2011 - HAAHA

Hey family!
Como e voce??? nice try haha. You said "How it is you?" You could say como você está? or como é com você? But thanks for the effort!

What have you been doing on your pdays?  Try and get out and explore your area.  We would like to hear about it.  Take some pictures, too.  ha ha
    Today for pday we had a super pday. We all went to the mission office here in Ribeirão Preto. There is joined with the institute headquarters. They had a place to play soccer ("cuadra" = soccer in a parking lot basically) and a game room with pool, ping pong, air hockey and foosball. It was fun. I wrote some letters to recent converts and some friends. Last week we played soccer too. It is a ton of fun. I was sore the whole week this last week haha. My comp doesnt like to stay in the house at all. I like going out, but i also feel that some things need to get done on pday. the house should be cleaned a little and some other things aren't getting done. We leave as early as possible and get back late. Today we left late and will have to catch a bus after this. I told my companion we should go and that i was ready and then waited. I'm doing my best. But it was a good pday today.  I do need to take more pictures. Its hard in our area because there are a ton of drugs and stuff and so there's no good place to pull out a camera. I normally don't carry it with me. I'll try my best though ahah.

Congrats Rachel on the tennis! Do work on those courts! Remember to just have fun, win or lose. More importantly, congrats for standing up for whats right. You will be so blessed as you continue to do so. The spirit with be with you to help always. I'm so proud of you and your example!

That's great to hear about Beck and that you guys will be there for the blessing. Travel safely and take some pics for me.

I didnt know that Lauren Lands wasn't baptized yet! I know what its like to have an investigator that the parents don't authorize. It stinks!

Well it was a good week. We are working hard here. We had a baptism! We baptized Cibele (19). We found he as a past investigator in the area book. She was ready to be baptized, but was afraid of her mom and what she would think. She had a lot of fear and doubt. We talked a lot and man did it take patience ahah. But she was baptized and her family, although not at the service, gave their support. It was a crazy sunday. We went to pick her up and she wasn't there, she was cutting some ladys hair. The baptism was supposed to be at 2. We had a member pick us up at her house. We were late already and on the way a motorcyle almost hit us head on, but swerved at the last second and broke side-view mirror of the members car! It was nuts. We got to the church at 230 and baptized her, with the service ending at 3 and church starting at 3. It was rushed and not how i would have liked it, but we baptized and confirmed her.

I played the piano for all the hymns in church this sunday. I learned a sacrament hymn and played. I think i messed up on every hymn that i played but i was able to keep it together. Hopefully next week will be better. I like being able to use my talent to bless the meeting here. I did my best.

Things are good with the comp. We are working hard. He has a hard time getting up in the morning. He normally gets out of bed at 730. I do my best to help him and try different ways to help him, but nothing changes. If anything it's getting worse hah. I'm being patient and trying my best to help. I'm not sure what else i could do, besides just continue. The other thing is that he is messy. This guy doesn't do his dishes or throw his trash away. And because of the pday situation, there is never time to clean the house. I talked to him once already, but i will try again. Any advice? The spirit does not abide in unholy temples haha. I'm doing my part though and so i trust that the spirit is with me.

Hope you are all well. I love you so very much. You have taught me well and have been and forever will be my greatest examples. When the times are tough, pray. When i'm having a hard time here, i get on my knees and pray. Then i go to work. Sometimes i leave with a heavy heart, but Heavenly Father always hears and answers my prayers and soon i'm feeling better. I know that this power of prayer is there for anyone and everyone. Have a great week! travel safely!

Elder Hawkley

January 24, 2011 Cartas, Cartas, Cartas

Oi família!

 

Questions

 

Tell us a little bit about you new area.  Is it a ward or branch?  Was your companion there and you were transferred in and his old companion went to Leme?  How are things going?  Who is the senior companion?  

    My area is Parque Ribeirão. It's on the edge of the city of Ribeirão Preto. It is a ward but a smaller ward. This last sunday there were only 75 people. Normally it's closer to 100. The meetings here start at 3 pm. It's really weird and i think it's the only area like this in the mission. My companion arrived with me and so we had to start from scratch again. My companion is the senior companion and things are going much better than i was thinking. Pres gave him a new chance and made him senior. He knows and remembers this and had a great desire to work hard. This last week was good. We found a lot of people to teach. My companion is good. He is kind of a slob haha but i'm learning a lot of patience haha. We are being obedient and working on a couple of little things to improve. He has a hard time getting up in the morning, but i'm being patient and trying to help. This emergency transfer involved a lot of companionships. My comps old comp went to a differenct area too. Part of it has to do with 3 new missionaries arriving 2 weeks late.

 

Yesterday, Sunday, we had Executive committee meeting at 8 and missionary correlação at 9. The bishopric is really young here. All return missionaries in the last 6 or so years. I like it a lot because they know how the mission is and are ready to work and help. Then we visited some investigators, went to lunch, and took our investigators to church. A part of me liked the sunday like that.

 

In the ward, no one knows how to play piano. I played the opening hymn, how firm a foundation, but i didnt know the rest and so i didn't play. It was kind of humiliating but oh well. I'm going to let the bishopric know which hymns i can play and i will have to learn a sacrament hymn pretty quick. Should have practiced more hah (laugh it up mom haha).

 

Do you think you will stay in this area for a while?

I don't know. I have at least 3 more weeks here. This next transfer close to 20 missionaries are finishing and so there will be a lot of changes coming. We´ll see there. Whatever happens will be good. The area is about a fourth the size of Leme and so it's a lot smaller. It's easier for the most part to bring people to church. We still walk a lot, but it's all good.

 

The city of Ribeirão Preto sits in a valley and so it's super hot. I've only felt a part of it so far. Our area gets a little wind which helps a ton.

 

Thanks for the ensigns and the letters from everyone this week. Your letters many times keep me going. Thank you for your prayers, love, and thoughts. I always take your advice. I trust in the love and words of everyone in the family. I learned a lot about judging this week. We must be careful not to judge wrongly and remember that we too have faults. Hope you guys are safe and happy. Love you all. Pray and then go to work and everything will work out. Be Happy

 

Elder Hawkley

January 17, 2010

Hey family,

Well i'm here in Ribeirão Preto. Yup I was transfered today. I found out saturday morning. I was able to say goodbye to most everybody. This morning we got on the bus to Ribeirão Preto and right now i'm with my new comp in my new area. It is an emergency transfer. Some other elders had to be transfered because of some things they did. 


My new area is Parque Ribeirão. It's on the edge of Ribeirão Preto. My area is smaller and a more humble people. My companion is Elder Mendonça. He´s from the Northeast part of Brazil. It was hard to leave Leme. I was there for 5 months. I really grew to love the people there. I felt very comfortable with the members and the area. Elder Fidelis is super cool. We were getting along great, working hard, and laughing alot. It was disappointing to not be able to finish the transfer with him. 


We had two baptisms this last week. We baptized Débora (12) and Mariana (9). They and their mom Ana were a member referral. Ana will be baptized soon, she just has to get married. Elder Fidelis will help her do that and then baptize her. They are just great! 
This last week was good. I was able to learn a lot from Elder Fidelis in the 2 weeks that i was with him. I learned about patience and perseverance. He is working hard in this his last transfer!  I arrived with my new companion. Our house needs to be cleaned badly haha! 

Thanks for the pictures. Haha, tyson looks like one of the who´s from whoville in the Grinch!!!! Beck looks great!!! Glad you guys were able to see him. 

So glad that you received all the packages!  Does Elder Fidelis like Twizzlers?  ha ha  Are you taller than him?  I know that is a really random question, but we were just wondering.
      The twizzlers got to Elder D. Souza and he really liked them. Elder Fidelis got the stockings and said thank you. Elder Fidelis is super tall haha.

Would you like us to send you the Ensign?
  YES. Send it now. Anything you send to me will get to me quick because i'm in the city of Ribeirão Preto. At least thats what I've heard. 

I sent some pictures. There is one with Elder Fidelis and I hanging on a tree near the lake in Leme. The others are of the 3 baptisms that Elder Fidelis and I had together. 

Well i love you all very much. Thank you for your love, support, and example. I have a testimony of this gospel and the things that i am teaching. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power to change. God´s plan for us is a plan of happiness and he wants us to be happy. The commandments give us that opportunity. We just have to obey. Mosiah 2:41

Elder Hawkley

January 10, 2011

Hey family!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I had it written down on a sticky note last week (i promise haha) but forgot to send it haha. 24 right?

 

Questions:

So, tell us about your new companion, Elder Fidelis.  Where in Brazil is he from?  Are you getting along well together?

   He is from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. If im correct its in the middle of brasil. I guess it's really hot there, sometimes 47 degrees celcius! Elder Fidelis is tall and dark. He is in the last transfer of his mission, but working hard. He is a good missionary. I am going to continue learning with him. We have been laughing a lot which is good. This first week with a new companion was difficult. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I had to do the planning and decide what we would do. I'm still having to do that a little bit. I think i may have to the rest of the transfer haha. Elder Fidelis doesn't talk a ton, so i don't know what it is that he is thinking. I spent a lot of time second guessing myself this last week. I realized that i just need to be confident in myself and try my best. I hope to be able to converse more opnely about the work here in Leme this next week.

 

Glad to hear that you were able to confirm your convert, Adenilson.  How is the teaching going?

    The teaching is going good. I have a lot to improve. There are a lot of aspects involved in teaching. Scriptures, questions, committments, the spirit haha. But I just need to keep practicing.

 

You said your camera card is full, right?  It would probably be best to send it in a package or a padded, thick envelope.  Try and burn a CD with all the pictures on it first, and that way you will have a copy of it just in case the card gets lots in the mail.

   Alright (thanks for responding haha, sometimes i wonder if you guys read my emails haha). Is there anything else that you guys would like me to send. I thought about maybe a present for birthdays (you, tyson, rachel) that are coming up. What do you think?

 

Did you get the other packages yet?

   YES! I got the other package from you guys (thanks for everything!). I also got the package from GMA and GPA and from Tyson and Pehrson. It was great haha.

 

We have heard that you have been getting a lot of rain there?  How are your shoes holding up?  How are your feet doing?

   Yup. It has rained everyday this last week. The members say that it will be like this for the month of January ahah. It doesn't rain all day, it comes and goes. My shoes are doing great! Feet are good too. I talked to the doctor and he told me to buy some cream. It doesn't look like it's doing much but oh well haha.

 

Thank you all for your testimonies! That was really my favorite! It was so great to read them. It lifted me up.

 

We had a baptism this week. We baptized Solange (51). She has been going to church for 4 months now and we were able to start teaching her this week and baptize her on saturday and confirm her in church yesterday. Elder D. Souza and I tryed to teach her but she didn't accept. Last sunday the Branch Pres talked with her and we started to teach her.

 

Could you guys send me the ensign in english. actually wait a week. We have interviews with Pres this week and i will ask him if we are allowed to receive mail in our houses. But i really would appreciate it haha.

 

I liked the quote mom. I read an earlier talk by Pres Monson today and it had that quote (the Lord shapes our backs to bear the burdens). Our Heavenly Father loves us. His plan is for us to become like he is and be happy with him forever. He placed us here on the earth at this time together because now is when we can learn the lessons we need to and do the most good. We taught the gospel principles class about eternal families this last week and it talked about this a little. It was good.

 

Well thanks for the email and love and support. Hope all is well. When times get tough, say a pray and then go to work. Don't stop. I may worry haha but i don't stop. Stay Strong. I love you all.

Have a good week!

 

Elder Hawkley

 

this computers slow. i'll send a picture next week

January 3, 2011 Feliz Ano Novo 2011

Hey family,

I´ll start with the 2 questions haha

So, what was your week like?  How was New Years Eve there?  Was it pretty crazy?

      The week was good. We were able to confirm Adenilson and Isabella. We are working with the rest of Isabella´s family and hope to baptize her mom and sister soon. Her brother Gabriel received the priesthood yesterday! That was sweet. Hopefully he will be able to pass the sacrament this next sunday. New Years was good. We went to Gilberto´s house, one of our investigators that is just waiting to get married to be baptized. We went there for Christmas Eve too. There we just talked and had a dinner. It was good. Elder D. Souza and I put our matresses outside on the front porch and slept outside. We woke up close to midnight and stood up on a wall to try and see the fireworks by the lake in the city. We were able to see some haha. Then we went to bed. New Year´s day we went to lunch and then just visited some members. It wasn't pday and so we did our best, but it is a hard time to teach.

Are you being transferred this next week?  Your companion?  Did you receive our second package, or the one from grandma and grandpa, or Pehrson & Kate?

     I was not transferred, but Elder D. Souza was. This will be my fourth transfer here in Leme, but things are going good. We have some great investigators and should have some baptisms soon. My new comp is Elder Fidelis. He hasnt arrived yet. Elder D. Souza and I came here to Pirassununga and he left with the other elders being transferred to Ribeirão Preto. I'm here with one of the zone leaders and another elder. Our companions should get here in a couple hours. Elder Fidelis is Brazilian. I'm glad because i will be able to continue to improve my portuguese. It is his last transfer, so i might have to help him stay animated. From what i've heard he is a good missionary and a cool guy. It will be strange to have a new companion. I prayed and fasted to be able to love him and help him and to be happy. My goal is to just be excited and work hard from the start.

     I´m hoping that he has some of the packages with him. I´ll let you know next week.

 

This week we had a family night with a less active family and some of their friends. I made the brownies there haha. They turned out great. Next i need to make the cookies! Sounds like you had a good trip! Glad that you were able to see Beck and visit Pehrson and Kate. Send some pictures when you can.

  

It was interesting to think about this last year, 2010, and this next year 2011. 2010 was a great year. I did a semester at BYU, received my mission call, went to the temple, and became a missionary. This next year will be one of the best years of my life. I will be serving the Lord 100% for 2011. What do you guys hope for this next year?  As i thought about all of this i thought about how we can start over each year. We can make new goals and change. Really, that is the promise and blessing that the gospel and our Savior Jesus Christ brings to us. The chance to start over. No matter what happened last year, last week, yesterday, Today can be different. Today we can change. The sacrament is the same. Each week we have the chance to start over and try our best again. It is only possible through the sacfrice and love of Jesus Christ. Make this year a good one!

 

I´m doing good here. I´m a little nervous about the new comp and a little stressed because of the greater responsability that i will have (i will have to show my comp everything for the first week or so). But i'm doing good. I just need to live one day at a time and be happy. I have so much to be happy for. I love you guys very much. Thanks for the love, support, and letters haha. Let me know if you have any questions. Stay strong.

 

Elder Hawkley

December 27, 2010 Feliz Ano Novo!

Hey Family,

Well, it was awesome to talk to everyone. Sounds like Christmas went well and everybody is doing great. Thanks for your love, support, and encouragement. I love you all so much!

Well we had a baptism. Isabella (8) was baptized. She is awesome and very smart. We taught her older brother gabriel first and as he was about to be baptized, she wanted to be too haha. We arrived one day to teach Gabriel and Isabella said that she had read all the lesson pamphlets and started to explain the word of wisdom to us haha. She reads very well and always reads the parts of the Book of Mormon that we mark. She was very excited to be baptized and asked that I baptize her. It was an awesome service.

 

We also confirmed Gabriel. We tried to confirm Adenilson, but he travelled this weekend. We´ll get him next week haha.

 

I forgot to tell you guys when I talked, but Pres said that we could use skype to talk to our families. But no one that we know of has skype haha. Maybe for mothers day!

 

Also I have filled up a memory card on the camera. Do you want me to send it home? How should I send it?

 

Rachel - I forgot to congratulate you on your braces! Thats awesome. Your smile looks great. You look super different. In that picture mom sent me i barely recognze you. Haha you´re growing up quick. And you are lucky that i didnt have time to ask you about driving! But how´s it going?

 

What are your plans for new years?

 

The mission christmas conference was awesome. It was all the missionaries together. It started with a christmas program. Our zone sang a song that i recognize, but i dont know the name in english haha. We had churrasco for lunch, which is like an assada for tyson, or a big barbacue with lots of meat. It was really good. The afternoon we watched the mission video, which is made up of our pictures. We had to send 3 funny and 3 baptismal fotos. It was sweet. Then we watched the grinch haha. That was cool. It was in portuguese and kind of hard to understand, but had english subtitles. Then we sang God be With You for those that are leaving and they bore their testimonies. It is always super powerful and spiritual. I can´t imagine myself up there yet haha.

 

Happy new year and have fun in California. Say hi to the LeSueurs and give everyone a big hug. Stay Safe. I love you!

 

Elder Hawkley

1. This was the family that we ate lunch with on the 25th. They are super awesome.

2. This is Isabella and her family. Her older brother Gabriel was baptized last week and confirmed this week. We are going to start teaching her older sister and mom and maybe dad (parents are separated). But it was awesome to have her family there supporting her. That was a first for us, to have the parents there supporting. Its not too common here. Thanks for all the support you gives have always given me. Whether it be showing up to a school event or teaching me what is right, my family has always been there. (The 2 goofballs in the picture with us are our recent converts haha, they are doing awesome)

3. Haha this was a motor bike we saw in the rode. The owner was cleaning it and I asked if i could take a picture haha. One of the coolest pics ever haha.

December 20, 2010 - Sou Tio!!!!

Hey family!

Eu sou Tio! Haha I´m an uncle. Man I really cannot believe it. Beck! I like the name. He looks great! Can´t wait to see that bright blonde hair haha! When will you guys get to see him. I´m thinking you guys will go there for Christmas right??  Congrats Pehrson and Kate. They sent me a super awesome email with lots of pictures and details.

Well it was a good week. We had another baptism! This week we baptized Gabriel (13). He is super awesome. We would visit him to teach each day and he had read the part of the Book of Mormon that we left and prayed. He always remembered what we had taught. He has already talked about wanting to serve a mission. He is a quiet and somewhate timid kid, but polite. Elder D. Souza baptized him. His little sister Isabella is 8 years old. She is just as special as Gabriel and will be baptized this next Sunday. We found them through a contact. Every baptism here has been through contacts. We rarely receive referrals here.

 

Questions:

What do they do to celebrate Christmas there?  You said that you were excited about your Christmas lunch.  What will you be eating and who will you be with?

    They have a late dinner the night of the 24th and they open presents that night. The dinner is a big family thing and it normally starts around 12 at night haha. Lunch will be with the family of Irmã Ivoni. Her daughter and son-in-law live in the city too and it will be the family together. They are fun to be with and the food will be sweet!

 

How is the teaching going with those kids?  What happened to their mother?

   Our recent converts??? They are going good. Our focus with them is church, read, and pray. Not all of them have been going to church, which is hard to see. We just keep visiting them and telling them to go to church. We can't visit them as often as we would like, because we always have a lot to do. We don't have too much support here in the branch. Our Branch Mission Leader doesn't help us very much. We try to help him help us haha but sometimes that doesn't work too. It's a lot to do. We have 2 ward missionaries, but they are really busy and can't do too much with us. We are everything in the missionary work here in Leme. But we are working super hard. There are good people that do what they can.

 

Loved the pictures.  Your apartment/home looks really nice.  Is it always that clean?  ha ha

    We keep it clean. The mission is doing a competition thing where you earn points by cleaning and sending pictures of the house to the secretaries. But we clean every pday. It really is much better to come home to a clean house and live in a clean house. Thankfully my comp is the same.

 

How are your feet doing?  You didn't say anything about them in your last letter.

   They´re not worse, but not better haha. I will talk to Sister Prieto tomorrow at the conference. I don´t want to have to go to the doctor or anything. Its just uses a lot of time, but I´ll see what needs to be done.

 

And you had another baptism!  That is wonderful!  How did you find Adenilson?

   Through a contact. We weren't able to confirm him yet. Unfortunately he didn't wake up for church haha. But we will confirm him this next sunday.

 

What time are you planning to call?  There is a 4 hour time difference.  You are ahead of us.

   I'm planning to call around 5 here, 1 there? I'm pretty sure i will be able to call the 24th for like 5 min to set a time also. We are going to call from the chapel here. Does that work for you guys? The number that i have for the chapel is 019 3554 6431. I don't know what other numbers you would need to call from the US to Brasil. But plan on a short phone call sometime the 24th and 5 oclock here the 25th. From what i hear we have an hour to talk. Make sure that the account has a bunch of credit (money) haha. I remember what happened with Tyson last time haha.

 

But how are you guys doing? Will you guys go to California? Rachel is already getting her Braces off? I noticed that Pehrson is doing everything he can to not show his braces in a picture haha. Just show them ahah. What are your plans for Christmas? I guess none of these questions matter since I will talk to you Saturday. Oh well.

 

We had a branch party. It was a secret friend activity and dinner. It ended at 11. We got permission from Pres to stay. It was fun. I got a zipper tie and I gave a picture of us eating lunch to a sister that gives us lunch. She really liked it.

 

It was a good week. We are working hard and I´m learning a lot. It is always hard to hear what you are doing wrong. But if you change for the better afterwards it is very gratifying. We need to not be offended, but be humble and look to change. We will become a better person. I have seen this with me. I don't like hearing what i'm doing wrong but I like the fact that i can change and learn and grow. And I Have. I love you all a ton! Talk to you Saturday! Stay strong and be safe.

 

Elder Hawkley

 

December 13, 2010

Hey family,

Well how´s it going? Its going good here. We had a baptism this week! We baptized Adenilson (16). Hes a super happy kid, especially for the life he has. He is always smiling.

 

We are looking forward to talking to you at Christmas.  Have you received our packages yet?  Just wondering.  The YW also sent you a package this week.  You probably won't get it until after Christmas.

           i received one package last week with the presents and stuff. Thanks a ton! We haven´t opened the presents yet haha. I want to wait haha. Did you guys send another package? at the same time? i´ll look for it at the christmas mission conference. Packages are awesome! Grandma and grandpa also sent a package.

How was your week?  Who do you eat with?  Are there members that you really like and get along with?  Tell us about them.

    The week was good. We are working hard. We found a family this week. Daiane, David, Gabriel, Gabriella, and Nicolas are 5 kids that live alone. Their dad died less than a month ago. Their grandma lives next door. David is the oldest and is 16 years old. They are all really awesome and i love teaching them. We are working to bring them to church right now.

    We eat with the members. There are lots of awesome members here. They aren't super involved in the work (which isn't too good), but they are good friends. Sometimes they make the food and my comp and i eat alone and other times we eat with the members. Our lunch on christmas is going to be good. The food and the company will be great haha.

Rachel - Congrats on the honor bee and the hair looks good! I want a picture when the braces come off!

 

Haha i cant believe Kate hasnt had the baby yet! Hope all goes well this next week.

 

I dont know if i will be able to email next week. If not i will talk to you guys on the phone the 25 haha.

 

I love you guys a ton! Thanks for the love and support! Thanks for the advice and for keeping me informed. I know that this gospel is true! It is god´s plan for our happiness. The choice is ours. Sieze the day! haha

 

Elder Hawkley

(sorry for the short letter again) Keep your letters big haha I like info!

December 6, 2010 - Feliz Natal

Hey Family,

   Feliz Natal is correct! haha good job

.

-Thanks for the pictures. Kristy is very pretty. hope that works out. Looks like it was a good trip

-Thanks for the advice. I really do need to be more patient with myself and forget my mistakes. I´ll work on that.

-In the pictures it was a member that was with us. He is 17 and his name is Marco. Hes cool. Most cities have a statue like this of Christ.

-The feet are the same. I need to call sister prieto. It doesnt hurt, but the skin turns white after my feet have been wet for a while. There was a thing called "Imosiaca" in the mission. A fungus of the feet and theres a good chance i have that. Im not too sure what it is. Im not too worried.

-The time is close to call home on christmas. I dont know what the time difference is. right now it is 12:12 here. We should have an hour to call. I think we will call the 24th too to set a time, but im not too sure because they havent told us anything yet. For us here we can call anytime in between 3-8 our time. Let me know what you guys are thinking. It probably would be a good idea to put more money in that account. I still have the number and everything.

 

-Sorry for the short letter. Thanks for you letters. I love reading them. Im doing good. 

-This week in district meeting we talked about the power about the book of mormon. If we dont read the book of mormon, it will be hard to stay firm in the gospel. You guys read everyday too. I love you and i know the church is true.

Elder Hawkley

November 29, 2010 - Ola

Hey Family,

 How´s it going? Sounds like Thanksgiving was a blast! Thats awesome that you guys got to go there and see everybody. How is the new truck? Thats actaully really cool about Tyson and Kristy. Kristy (Sister Pfeifer?) is actually really well known in the mission. Every area that she served in the members love her. My companion arrived in the mission when she was leaving and even he knows about her. I hear shes super nice! Hope things continue to go well. Did you talk to her about the mission here?

  About the ensign, don´t send it yet. There´s a really good chance that I will get one in english this week. If i dont receive one this week, you guys can send it next week. Thanks a ton though. I´ll let you know next week. This week the mission bought us a washing machine! HAHA, it is soooo much better than what we had. Its still not a washing machine like we have, but its super good. It does everything on its own. Its going to save me a lot of time on PDay.

  I sent some pictures. These are some of the pictures from our hike. I also attached a picture of my foot. I think i have a fungus of some sort. It doesnt hurt or anything, but i think its growing a bit. Its just on the back of my heel, but on both feet. I´ll probably talk to Sister Prieto. But its all good. Maybe you guys can do a little research for me, haha.

   Well this week was SUPER hot haha. I have never been so tired in my life too. The heat just sucks the energy out of you. I´m going to sleep for the first time on pday haha. I have a question for tyson and pehrson (who i havent received an email from in decades haha just kidding, but seriously). What did they do for water? I know that tyson just asked the members for water as he went and pehrson im thinking was water bottles. But i dont remember completely. They gave us a water bottle with filter in the CTM. It came with 2 filters, 1 for each year. The problem is that my first filter crapped out this week haha. I dont know if its possible to get another filter. I drank water at the members a little this week and im doing good. I had some diarhea yesterday and we arrived late to church HAHA. But pepto bismo makes everything better. haha. What are your thought/ideas?

   Good job on the missionary work mom! As a missionary all I do is invite: invite people to come unto Christ. That is really all we can do. People have their agency. Continue to make small invitations. As you continue, you will lose your fear. Pray for courage and i know that the Lord will give it to you. He has given it to me. I love you all so much. I cannot wait for the Thanksgivings that we will have, but I know that this is where I need to be. It is a very hard thing. But I know that i cannot stop.

This week was a week of finding people to teach. We found some and are still looking.

Never stop living the gospel. I need to know that you guys are being obedient, and I know that you are. If we are all obedient and have the spirit with us, whatever happens doesnt matter. If we stay worthy, we will be together forever and be happy forever. You can have the joy you felt at Thanksgiving forever, and with all of our family and friends togethter. Never forget that perspective. I forget a lot and do a ton of stupid things. We all do. But do your best and the lord will do the rest. A phrase i learned in the CTM that i really like is:

 

Your best is good enough. But good enough is not your best.

 

I love you all more than I can express in this letter. Live the Gospel and Be Happy.

 

Elder Hawkley

November 22, 2010 - Oi!

Hey Family

Bom Dia means Good Morning!  I´ll start with the questions:

 

Do you know if you are being transferred yet?  New companion?  We might just have to wait until next week, uh?
    I wasn´t transfered and neither was Elder D. Souza.

Were you able to go on that hike last week?  How was it?
    We went on the hike and it was actually really cool. It was hot, but its always hot. Don´t worry i took a bunch of pictures. I don´t think I´ll have time to send them this week but next week for sure. Today I had to send pics for a christmas video the secretaries are doing for the mission. There will be a conference close to christmas where the whole mission will be together. It will be sweet.

How are your new baptisms doing?  Still coming to church?  Is the ward helping them stay active?
    The baptisms are doing great. Cristina went and did baptisms for the dead this last saturday. It was really cool to see her want to go to the temple and be able to go. She said it was awesome. Her life is changing. The kids we baptized are good. They are sometimes really rowdy in church and sometimes really good. But we´re are going to help them keep coming to church. If they can just keep coming to church throughout their lives, their lives will be so much better than that of their families. The ward is okay, but we have some really good members helping us.

 

Keep trying on the missionary work. Just be a good example and don´t be afraid. Just look for small oportunities to share the gospel. Question: Is there anything you guys want me to send for Christmas for you guys? If you think of anything anybody wants or that you want to give someone let me know next week.

 

Well we had a baptismal interview for one of our investigators this week but she didnt pass the zone leader and had to be interviewed by the branch president. Pres Prieto would have done it but was in São Paulo. She didnt pass the branch president either. She has to wait a bit longer. We dont know why or how long yet, but we are going to keep working with her. 

Sorry for the short letter. I will do better next week haha. Im doing well. Hope all goes well with Thanksgiving! I had forgotten haha. I love you all so much. I´m so proud of you guys. Keep it up. Live the gospel and be happy.

 

Elder Hawkley 

November 15, 2010 - Bom Dia!

Hey Family!

How´s everything going? Sounds like you guys are all doing well. I´m doing good also. Thanks for the pictures. Kate is big! Haha thats so awesome. Hope everything is well with them.

 

Rachel - I forgot to tell you that your hair looks great! Its a lot longer now. And nice job on the pumpkin. If i´m right its the beach. Man you´re good. Are you planning on going to the beach this year or something haha? How is tennis? School? What happened with the callbacks? Hope all is well. How´s those scripture mastery coming? Read the scriptures and pray everyday!

 

Dad - How´s work going? and the ward? What else is new?

 

Mom - How´s the calling? and the stake youth committee? Glad to hear that training was good.

 

Questions:

Tell us how many hours a day you walk and how the weather is.  

     The weather is hot! Its wierd how the weather is hot but Christmas is almost here. It has rained a lilttle bit but not too much. From what I understand it will start raining a lot soon. We walk a ton each day. I´ll have to do an experiment where i time myself walking. Its hard to say.

 

Tell us what your favorite Brazilian snack food is. 

     Hmmm...as far as candy goes they have something called bis, which is similar to a kit-kat that is good. They have these oreo-like cookies but like a key lime flavor that i like haha.

 

Tell us how many investigators do you have.  How many lessons a week do you teach? 

      Right now we´re working a lot with our recent converts just helping them to stay active. We are teaching one woman/girl named Vánia. She is 21 and is really good. She is the niece to another investigator (Gilberto) and lives with him. Gilberto is still working on getting married but still wants to be baptized. Vánia wanted to know more and so we taught her. She will hopefully be baptized this week. We´re working with her on the Word of Wisdom a little bit but she liked church a lot this last week. We are looking for more people who have a strong desire to teach right now. We teach close to 30-40 lessons a week (but a lesson doesn´t necessarily mean one of the lessons from PMG). We have to walk a ton and we are struggling in teaching with members. Not a whole lot of involvement with the members right now.

 

 Do you take turns during the lesson teaching?  

   Yup. We normally each teach half of the lesson.

 

Do the people treat you nice or are they rude to you? 

    Most people are pretty nice. Every once in a while you talk to somebody who is mad at the world and there isn´t too much you can do. But for the most part people are nice.

 

 Do they ever talk so fast that you can't keep up?
     Everyonce in a while i have to ask them to repeat or ask my comp, but for the most part I understand well. Sometimes people don´t understand me very well and I have to try again or my companion takes over for a bit. I think its my accent, which will improve with time.

 As far as the letters go, just keep sending emails. I can print them i found out today. Email is better because its FAST haha. But thanks for the concern and ideas.  2 packages for Christmas?!/!? Man am i lucky haha thanks a ton. I´ll look forward to getting them. There´s going to be a mission conference the week of Christmas where the whole mission will be together in Ribeirão Preto. It should be awesome! We have a zone conference this week also. I´m excited for that.  They are always good. Transfers are next week. I could go or stay and the same with Elder D Souza. We will see. Both ways will be good. Today after emailing we are going to hike this hill that overlooks the whole city with a priest in the branch here. There is a statue of Christ there, typical of almost every hill in Brazil haha. But it should be cool and I promise to take some good pictures.

But im doing good. I´m healthy and im still liking the food. I really like beans and rice. Many times they eat "macarrão" with beans and rice. It is just a word for pasta and spaghetti sauce haha. Its really good all mixed together with a piece of fried chicken. The only thing that i´ve eaten thats wierd was "moella". Its some internal part of the chicken. I dont have my dictionary with me otherwise I would look it up. I knew it was different just by looking at it. It was cut up in a mixture of food. I just ate it. It wasnt too bad but i wouldnt choose it. The member told me that she only made it because her husband likes it and that she doesn't even like it. She told me i didnt have to eat more of it if i didnt want to and was super nice. 

I´m proud to represent the Lord every day. I have things I need to do better, but we all do. The important thing is to look to improve and set goals. This week I learned and will continue to learn about diligence. Diligence truly brings a feeling of satisfaction. Its easy to want to do nothing or less important things. But when we do the hard thing or the thing that needs to be done, we will be more happier. The gospel is the plan for our happiness. Keep doing what you guys need to do to be happy (Mosiah 2:41). 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your love and support. I hope you are happy. I am happy. This is the important stuff, the stuff that matters!

 

Elder Hawkley

November 8, 2010

Hey family,

Well we have another baptism this week and 4 confirmations. It was a good week. We baptized Fúlvia. She is 12 and is the sister of Daniel, who we baptized last week. I baptized the 4 last week and Fúlvia this week. I also confirmed 2 people. One of the kids, Richard (9), was cranky at chruch haha. He didnt want to be confirmed. He didnt want to listen to anyone haha. I was able to confirm him, barely. I didnt have time to give him a blessing, just gave him the holy ghost haha. He was trying to remove my hands from his head. These kids have nothing and no role models. But the holy ghost will help them through their lives. That was our greatest motivation for them. My intent was to attach a picture of the baptism haha, but somewhere I made a mistake. I will attach the pictures of the two. I havent been taking too much pictures, but I probably have more than you think haha. I will try to do better there too. Thanks for the letters and the pictures, and for the package for Christmas!. 

I´m doing well right now. Things are going good.  I´m happy and proud to be a missionary serving the Lord. Things are super good with my comp. He helps me a lot through the hard days. He is a good example to me. We have transfers here in 2 weeks. Time really is flying. The days are long, but the weeks go quick.

As a missionary I´ve learned a lot about how critical the members are in missionary work. We don't have a ton of support from the members here in Leme, but are working hard to help them help us. Missionaries need people to bring investigators to church, to be a friend to investigators, to teach lessons with, and last but NOT least, to feed them haha just kidding. But really please do all you can to support the work. Without the members the work is much more difficult and less effective. Make a goal to give a pass a long card a week or something. Don't be afraid. D&C 68:5-6. The Lord will be with you. The most they can do is say no. Remember that the gospel is a blessing in our lives and that other people need that blessing too. 

I love this gospel, I love being a missionary, and I love you all more than I can write. Stay strong and safe and happy!

 

Elder Hawkley

These pictures were taken of the baptisms last week.  The little girl on the far left in the first picture, I think, is a from a member family.  The other four were their investigators.

 This was from the baptism they just had.  Her name is Fulvia.

November 1, 2010

Hey Family!

Well we had 4 baptisms this week! We baptized Christina (18), Lais (12), Richard (11), and Daniel (11). Christina is a girl I contacted on the sidewalk outisde her house. She already has an 8-month old boy and is not married. She is super awesome and we talked a lot about the temple during teaching and she is super excited to go the temple and wants to marry there someday. Lais and Richard are brother and sister and Daniel is their cousin. They all live together. Their mom´s have been inactive in the church for a long time. Their moms drink "pinga" (alcoholic drink) all day long, and their dad is in jail. Its super sad. The mom of Lais and Richard is 4 months pregnant and just drinks all day long, without eating or drinking water. We´re doing our best to help them, but they have to want to stop. Thats whats hard. The kids are awesome and the church will save them. The baptismal service was good. A little girl in the branch was also baptized. Richard was super scared. The first time his foot came up and he did not want to do it again. Eventually we were able to baptize him haha. It was a little stressful for me haha. We had the baptism immediately after church sunday. The only thing i didnt like was that it felt super rushed. Lunch is the big meal here (not sure why haha they eat the same thing for dinner haha) and you could tell that everyone was ready to leave. But it was good.

 

Questions:

Tell us about the city where you are and what the people do for a living. 

   The city of Leme is a big area for only two elders and so we walk a lot haha. As far as what the people do for a living I don´t really know too much. There´s a pop factory here thats pretty big and some people work there.

What kind of stores are around there? 

    They have all kinds of stores. Lots of little stores with a specific thing. They really like shoes here. The shoe stores are massive haha

 What do you do on pdays? 

     Today we got a haircut and after this we will buy groceries. After that we go home, clean the house, do laundry. I write a letter or two. Then its time to work again haha.

 Any adventures or outings? 

    Not yet. Theres a hill close by with a statue of Christ that we may go hike one pday. 

 

As far as the package goes I´ll let you guys surprise me. Vitamins: so a thing of vitamin c and zinc. Ideas: Laffy taffy, granola bars, honey roasted pnuts, beef jerky, a small thing of twizzlers (my current comp like them. I dont know if we will be together, but you could throw in a little thing of them just in case). I would like a narrow click pen. 

 

Well things are going good. We are working hard. Something funny is that for a meal to be a "meal" in brazil it has to have rice and beans. Anything else: hamburger, pizza, etc is only a snack haha. I love you guys a ton. Thanks for your example and support. Stay strong and live the gospel.

 

Rachel - congrats on the talk. Hows school and tennis? Keep up the good work! I love you

 

Love,  Elder Hawkley 

October 25, 2010

Hey Family!

  Things are going better for now. It definitely was a tough week. But i got the package and i think 6 letters from people! They were sent a while ago haha. Thanks for the package and everything in it. I am enjoying  the snacks! Ideas for the christmas package: krazy glue, toothbrush, pen( narrow with a click top), 1 thing of those zinc tabs (nice for when sick, but im healthy), 1 more thing of vitamins, 1 thing of melatonin, granola bars, uno, the same snacks as last time. mints/gum, and 2 blue refils for my marking pencil. I´ll let you guys decide what you want to send me. I really liked all the snacks you included in this last one! I would send the package 6 weeks before you want me to receive it. You can send it this week or wait a week and i´ll let you know if i think of anything else.

    We´re working hard and we may have some baptisms this week! We are teaching some kids in a less active family and also an 18 year old girl named Cristina. We´re going to work hard to help them get baptized this week.

   Glad to hear the trek went well. Sounds like it was a great experience for all who went. This week we had a random guy give us a ride to one of our appointments. Nice, right. When we got there he told us that the book of mormon wasnt true and that we should go home. I wanted to laugh in his face. I bore my testimony and we left. If anything it strengthened my testimony even more. Satan is working hard against and always will be. It will be hard at times, but this is the work of the Lord and the only true church on the earth in our day. The Church of Jesus Christ! Live it to the fullest and you will be blessed. Happiness lies in living the gospel. I am so blessed to have you guys as my family. I love you so much! Keep me updated. I will write more next week. I promise haha!

 

Elder Hawkley

October 18, 2010

Hey family!

I´ll start with the questions.

 

Questions -

We would like to send your Christmas package in the next couple of weeks.  Anything special you would like? 

       I can´t think of too many things right now. I will think more and let me know before you send it.

Did you get the package?  If not, you might want to ask the Mission Office to call the Post Office and see if it is sitting there waiting to be picked up or something.  Hopefully you won't have to pay a fee to get it.
   Haha no package yet. If I don´t get it this week at district meeting I´ll call the mission office.

How is the teaching going?
    The teaching is going good. We are trying to find good investigators. Many times we find somebody, teach a good lesson, and then the next week they don´t want to be taught anymore (hiding from us haha). But we are just looking and teaching. This week at church we didnt have any investigators so that was a bummer. But we will press on!

Tell us about the branch you are in.
   The branch is good. We are trying to get the members more involved through splits and better branch activities. This last week there was 67 people in attendance, which is pretty average. But there are over 700 people baptized here in Leme haha. The list of less-actives is a BOOK haha.

What do you do on Pdays?  (besides write to us! ha ha)

    Pday we clean the house, do laundry, buy groceries. Not too much. Normally I am trying to organize things or write in the journal. We just rest in our house. Its good though. I always look forward to pday.

 

Well I know it was short, sorry! But I love you all very much and i will write more next week! I´m doing good here in Leme. Hope all is well there!

 

Elder Hawkley

October 11, 2010 - Baratas!

Hey Family!

All is good here in Leme! I was not transferred and neither was Elder D. Souza. Im definitely excited to stay here in Leme and also to have the same companion. A little part of me wanted a new companion, just to be able to learn new things. I have much to learn from Elder D Souza and I´m super grateful for him. Time really is flying. Already one transfer down. I already know that leaving the mission will be hard haha.

Barata is the portuguese word for cochroach. Yup. We came home one day this last week and there were 5 in the bathroom and a couple in the kitchen (which is actually outside, i´ll take a picture). It was disgusting! I hate bugs haha. Elder D Souza killed them and we cleaned a little bit haha. We found one more a day later, but since then its been all good haha.

      

The picture this week has a story. Look closely at my shirt. You will see lots of dirt. We were walking to our last appointment one night this week week and it was raining. Not super hard but the roads were wet. I was closer to the rode with Elder D Souza by my side. A car flew by and muddy water just drenched me haha! At first i couldn´t believe it and was a little mad, but i immediately started laughing and so did Elder D Souza. He only got a little dirty. I learned a good lesson. If we can laugh, we won´t be mad and we will be happier. I could have gotten mad, but because i laughed everything turned out all right. I got some good pictures and a good story haha. We scrubbed the shirt and it actually turned all normal haha. Still white.

 

Questions

We loved the pictures you sent.  Your companion looks awesome!!!  And you are taller than he is.  Are the people shorter than you there?
Not everyone is shorter than me. I would say i´m maybe a little taller than average, but I don´t stick out or anything.

Your poor feet!  Did you take any tinactin with you?  I know that Grandpa found some really good stuff in Chile that they used.  He was going to look it up and see what it was and send you the name of it.  Maybe you can find it there.

Haha I started using tinactin and its helped a little bit. I got an email from gma and gpa and will look for the stuff they recommended. My feet are doing awesome though. It doesn´t hurt to walk anymore. They just look bad haha.

What is the kitchen like in your home?  Do you have an oven, stove, refrigerator?  Send some pictures of your place, inside and out.
We have a fridge, oven w/ stove, blender, and a sandwich maker that i use more than anything. I will send some pictures of the house next week for sure. Its a good place though, I like it a lot.

You mentioned that you were teaching some great families.  Who are they?  Tell us a little bit about them.  How you found them, etc...
We are teaching one family that I made contact with near the beginning of the transfer. We are having a hard time finding them at home right now, but will keep trying. Satan is working hard against us haha. We will teach first lesson and think, they´re going to be baptized! Then the next week they don´t even want to go to church haha. I dont think its something we´re doing wrong, but I don´t know. We can only keep looking for people to teach. The only way to find those who are ready is to talk to and teach everyone and that is what we are doing here in Leme. No baptisms yet, but its been a good lesson for me. If you look in Preach My Gospel Chapter 1 it talks about the characteristics of a successful missionary. Notice that it doesnt talk about baptisms there. Elder D Souza pointed this out to me. Success is not in the numbers. It is definitely harder to maintain desire sometimes without baptisms haha. But this experience will only make the next difficulties easier.

Have you received your package yet?
Nope not yet, but transfers are happening today and I hope to receive it this week at district meeting. I also hope to receive some LETTERS! haha

 

I sent rachel a letter last week. Hope she gets it. In there is a letter for Sra Dillard. I invited her to listen to the missionaries. If she accepts I need your help haha.  What a blessing about Tyson´s teeth. I will keep praying for him. Say hello to Elder Maiers for me. Hope the work is going well there. I can´t believe that Colton is almost there. Thats awesome for him! Thanks for the money for the plaque. I´ll get that ordered here soon. Whats the word with visas for Mexico lately? Hope that all works out.  More possibilities for the christmas package are: gum/mints, 2 more blue refills for marking scriptures, vitamins haha. Let me know before you send it.

 

Rachel - congrats on the tennis! Keep it up. and I´m so proud of you for sharing the gospel. The spirit will be with you to help you. Be bold. The worst thing they can say is no. And unfortunately, they will be worse off because of that "no". But we have to try. How did the other tennis match go??? I love you a ton.

Well I love you guys a ton! Glad to here that all is well. Hope Tyson and Pehrson and Kate are all well! I love you all and your examples to me help a ton. The Church is true and commandments are a blessing. Disobeying them will only hurt us and lesson our joy. Keep them to the fullest!

 

Elder Hawkley