Five guys and Advice

June 20th 2012

     Today's the day ! I report in less than two hours, and it's still pretty surreal. My cousin cody last night was giving me all this advice and here it is...

  "If you don't feel prepared don't worry because the Lord will prepare you. He called you at this time to serve the people you will find at this time."

  "If you go for the wrong reasons, stay for the right ones."

  "Be obedient. Disobeying the rules is just stupid because you feel so much better following them."

He's helped me more than he probably knows, with his random spanish lessons and chastisement of my less than perfect tongue roll (which sounds pretty similar to hocking a loogie) and random advice that he learned on his mission to Paraguay, has helped me prepare ten-fold for mine. So I love you Cody and appreciate all your help. In fact he told me to pray to be able to do a tongue roll and this morning when we went to Kneaders I was able to do it ! Heavenly father answers prayers people ! Which reminds me I was able to go to five guys yesterday ! Not really sure about the relation in my head, but either way it reminded me of that hahaha. Okie doke time to ship out, see you all in 2 short years. 

-Elder Hawkins

  

Temples and Snow Cones

June 19th 2012

     Today is the last day before I report to the MTC and I am trying to make the most of it. I got to go through the Timpanogos Temple today with My aunt Pam. Which was an adventure in and of itself because we were on such a tight schedule to get her to work on time. We made it just in time, and I gotta say it's my new favorite temple, inside and out it is gorgeous. It's a really neat experience to be able to go through. The peaceful atmosphere there and the stunning beauty, kind of just take your breathe away. I know now more than ever that the spirit abides and resounds there, and it is an amazing blessing to experience that. Just look at this beauty !

     After we left my aunt Pam asked me if there was anything that I wanted to do before I shipped off and I didn't really have anything come to mind, but then it hit me. SNOW CONES ! I have a secret tradition, but not really, of getting one every time I go to Utah. So Jacquelynne, Cody and I ran to a place called Snoasis. Never heard of it before but holy cow! So bomb ! I got mine first as you can tell from the picture haha. Couldn't help myself ! On our way out of the parking lot I overheard a woman ask the kind lady who took this picture, if her name was Wendy. . . it wasn't ! HAHAHA we all busted up in the car. Next on the list of pre-MTC things to do is go to 5 guys burgers and fries hopefully. I love that place, but I have like four hours to get it done. Oh and now that I think of it Buffalo Wild wings is also in the area. Definitely have to get in some final wings before the mish. 

     

Saying Adios !

Hola Elder Hawkins !

     It seems hectic situations follow me, because this morning getting out the door was kind of crazy. Good news is we made it to the airport on time. Bad news . . . left a few things back at home, not to mention the fact that my suitcase had ripped on the ride to the airport. Good thing the zipper was able to cover the rip, because I had no duct tape handy. After all the craziness happened, we were all able to relax and hang out one last time before I left. Good pictures and good company, what more can you ask for really? When it finally came time to say goodbye the joy waters started flowing, which is Sally's way of saying crying your eyes out. I'm just glad they weren't coming from my eyes. After the last few hugs and last words of advice , they all shouted ADIOS STEVEN ! Right after I got out of view I made friends with these two ladies, who just happened to be LDS too! As we went through the metal detector everyone went through fine but mine beeped and apparently they have random screenings for bombs now. Who knew? Thankfully I didn't bring any to the airport, so don't worry. Getting on was far more pleasurable than getting off because it is a hot day today in Utah, good thing I wore shorts. Got picked up by my loving extended family, and now I am off to spend some time with them. It's been a wild ride, but thus begins the best two years.

-Elder Hawkins

Bag check 

Me and my nephew Kane

My sister Anna

That is one cute baby !

Grandpa and I laughing at all the bad pics we took

Ohhhhhh brotherly love

My cousin Chad 

The whole Hawkins kids gang

My Best Friend in the whole world - Sally
(don't worry there is a bible between us !)

Katie and me

The parentals

Hahaha yeah I'm a dork

Grandma and grandpa

Kimber and Kane (And Lance in spirit- he's not dead, he just couldn't make it)

good old Mason

It's Official !

June 19th 2012

     I am going on a mission ! I have been called to serve in the Osorno, Chile mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I report to the MTC June 20th but won't be in South America until the end of August probably. Oh, and when I say south I mean south, there are penguins in my mission. PENGUINS ! Definitely have to get a picture with them. But there are a lot of great things about Chile. I mean it's gorgeous down there. Volcanoes, Glaciers, ocean, Mountains, any  beautiful natural wonder they have down there, and even some unnatural ones. Easter Island is in mission. Not sure if I can visit it while on my mission but either way knowing that is really cool. And speaking of cool it is COLD ! It rains nine months of the year down there and in the more southern parts it snows too ! Mister California and sunshine going to the cold. I am excited though because I was hoping and praying I would be called to serve somewhere that wasn't hot and that is exactly what I got. I am so excited to go and serve, but preparing hasn't been so smooth.

     It has been a wild ride. I think this past week may very well have been the most stressful week of my life. Probably didn't help that I procrastinated most everything until the last minute, or that I had a stressed out mother beating me with an umbrella every other day. True story. My mom is crazy, and apparently finds the belt outdated. Basically it was hectic. We ran store to store trying to get all my last-minute necessities taken care of, like flea collars- BIG deal down in Chile, and trying to get it to fit in my suitcase. Coincidentally the suitcase was bought last. Yeah . . . we didn't really think that one through. It all worked out in the end though and I finally got everything I needed and had it packed away, and once that happened , everything seemed to get a lot less stressful. So all you future missionaries out there reading this, take it from me - PLAN ! Leaving on a mission no matter where you go is already going to stress you and everyone else out a ton just preparing for it. So no need to stress your mom out more to the point of umbrella warfare because you are a procrastinate ! Anywho, so after all of the stress we all settled down and were able to enjoy the weekend. 

     Everyone in my family came down for my farewell but my family from Utah couldn't stay to this past sunday, when I was set apart as a full time missionary. And what an experience that was. My stake president, President Sylva, asked everyone who was there to go around with a piece of advice for me to take on my mission. Some that I still remember are, be 100 % obedient, remember that the mission is not about me -it's about the people I am serving, and seeing with spiritual eyes. My Uncle Randy made sure to add ," Don't eat the spicy Chilis' !" After I was set apart I was given an opportunity to bear my testimony to those closest to me, and it felt amazing. I can't wait to share what I know with the people of Chile, what a blessing ! I can't wait to go share truth. Wish me luck!

- Elder Hawkins