Last P-Day In MTC! 8/18/12

Date: Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 7:10 AM

 

"LAST P-DAY PEOPLE !!!!!! Kind of crazy. So this week, as always, has been eventful ! But to summarize, the devil REALLLLLLY doesn't want me in Chile, or Elder Nelson hahaha. So this week in our 2nd to last gym elder Nelson sprains his ankle, second degree ankle sprain and it looked bad. So he was really worried that he wouldn't be able to go to Chile with us so our whole district participated in a blessing. It was such a cool feeling, and now he is healing like crazy. Yesterday I was a little worried because it bruised up pretty bad, but today it's great. And I told him if he doesn't fly with us I'm spraining his other one. 

 

 

 

     So then that night at dinner my filling on my last tooth way in the back is just falls out during dinner . . . I was like ok that's wack. So I didn't tell anyone in my district because I thought they would freak out and be like WHAT ?! now YOU can't go on the plane with us ?! and the next morning I go get an appointment with the health office for 2:30. So then after lunch we go to the shuttle that's supposed to arrive at 1:55 and we're waiting and waiting and waiting I pray and turn to the scriptures and I can't remember where I read , all I remember is it said walk wisely basically. So I decided to run to the travel office and get it sorted out. Apparently they had forgotten and the other people were running late. So we got it sorted out and on the way back I turn to Jensen and am like. The devil is rude, I am GOING to Chile. So we get to my appointment and everyone is really sweet and nice and I get it all looked at and they are like well it looks good and clean it just popped off so we can have you fixed in 5 minutes without anesthesia even. SWEET! So we finish and  we are waiting in the waiting room for our shuttle to get back, which by the way is a camry, and we just chill in the waiting room - they forgot us again. So this time we call them again and decide to wait outside and this lady I saw across the street I can feel is gonna come over and talk to us. So she did and we talked to her for like 15 minutes and tried to help her with some problems she was going through. Then our shuttle came and we made it back to in-field orientation. 

 

     Oh yeah so this whole time we are just supposed to be in 1m listening to in-field orientation. Which is basically a bunch of return missionaries teaching us about the field, stuff we never focused on in class. A lot of practice and it was such a cool experience, I was able to see the giant growth I've been making. We practiced giving pass along cards and just meeting people in the street and giving them a minute "lesson" So we start and I have to sit next to someone on a "bus" and hand one out and just talk with them. It was way sweet and it felt really comfortable. Then the senior companions teach the junior companions , oh and it's someone you have never met before too. So an Elder sat next to me and the poor elder was having a really hard time doing it so I helped him out by leading the conversation. But it just made me so thankful for my teachers and all the progress I've made here. So yeah good experiences and super fun. 

 

     Oh my gosh and this week me and Elder Jensen were invited to participate in first experience teaching, which means we teach someone in front of the new elders' and sisters that arrive that week. We taught this awesome guy named Juichi and it went super well but then we taught Lawanna ... So Lawanna is kind of like camille's mom, our neighbor from canyon crest but way more sassy and skeptical. So we were a little nervous in the lesson or something . So we go in and I'm just being smiley and she is like is this how you really are ? Is this real ? and I'm like what ? and Jensen is like yeah he's just an extremely happy guy. So then I try to talk to her and I keep fumbling my words because I keep almost saying the stuff I'm saying in Spanish. So she's like is this real? Are you ok? And I said yeah sorry I am just used to speaking Spanish. So we continue with the lesson and to keep it as short as I can because I have like 1 minute. Basically my companion basically inadvertently said it was cool she had cancer, and that he never gets sad. So she put him on time out. So I had to teach a lesson alone and just basically said that I know that Heavenly Fatehr loves her, and that Jesus Christ loved her so much she died for her. And she wondered how I knew and one thing lead to another . I heard before hand from some elders that she had been shot at. And freudian slip I asked has anyone ever taken a bullet for you, trying to apply it to how Christ took the ultimate bullet for her, and she said no but I almost took one. And I asked how she got shot at . What a great lesson huh. bahahahaha it was hilarious. 

 

      So they stopped the lesson (we only teach for 8 minutes) and as the class is talking we talk to her and she was so sweet and was like I am sooooo sorry. It was totally fine though good experience hahaha, and she was just acting. 

 

      But anywho this week I learned even more of the love that Heavenly Father has for all of his children. So much more to say but no time. Anywho I love you your Father in Heaven loves you , and the church is true. PS NO ONE CAN SEE ME AT THE AIRPORT !!!!!! AND NO OFFENSE BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU !!!! BUT I WILL CALL !!! So please send me everyone's number. The devil can't stop me now !!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

-love

Elder Hawkins"

Travel Plans to Chile! 8/10/12

Date: Friday, August 10, 2012, 9:39 AM

     "How's it going familia ?! Como estais ? So I got my travel plans yesterday and it's craziness ! SO I have to be at the travel office Monday august 20th at 6, then I have a flight from Salt Lake city to Atlanta Georgia from 9:45-3:35 and then I have a flight in Georgia to Santiago chile at 10:35 and we land at 8:10 the next day haha and then a flight to OSORNO ! At 11:30 landing at 1:10 bahaha so pretty much 31 hours of travel ! And I'm the travel leader which basically means I am in charge of making sure no one dies or gets left behind. Good thing I have a lot of experience with the subject and will know how to properly handle the situation. Rule number one don't save up score points they're worthless. 2 make sure you get your 50 score points toy if you happen to get left behind. And 3, most important of all, make sure your family's love for you exceeds that of their love for Del Taco, because of they don't, you'll be getting left behind a lot! hahaha just playing family ! LOve you guys ! 

 

     That being left behind at score taught me a very valuable lesson that day - make sure all kids are attached to some sort of leash, preferably monkey tail leashes. Hahaha so yeah basically I'm super excited to be going to Chile. Mainly because it doesn't feel, as of yet, that my mission has really started. I mean being in the MTC the first day was like wo, but it's not even real. The MTC isn't really looking at me right now Cody, Chad, and Jaquelyne. Oh b t dubbs - Josh eezy eez Cadden says hi and he's sitting next to me right now putting my arm on my shoulder. hahaha we're cracking up ! Oh my gooosness I just told him how the hat that Ben always wears is the one I left at his house one day...like 2 years ago BAHAHAHAHA me and Josh are Dying !!!! I didn't have the heart to tell him it was mine hahaha. 

Elder Cadden & Elder Hawkins in front of Provo temple

      Anywho back to business. I just went to the temple today and it was sweet. Not just the food we eat there, which is a million times better than the MTC food, but the temple is just awesome. I came in there with some questions and left with answers. Oh which reminds me can I get a list of emails of our family? Cuz I only have aunt Pam Leslie and dads, and mom I forgot yours so send me and EMAIL with it and not a dear elder so I can have it in my email PLEASE hahaha sorry. 

 

 I have nooooooooooo idea what's going on so yeah anticipate my questions and please answer them hahaha. Anywho how was your birthday James ? Your letter didn't really talk about that hahaha. I can't wait to hear how you like work ! Well I hope you like it and think you will- ok know , cuz everyone is awesome, but yeah excited ! And Mom and Dad anniversary number _? Same day as Michael Farrell's b-day. He's gonna be up here soon ! And I am gonna be gone soon ! I got so much to learn still, but I know that Heavenly Father's on my side helping me all the way, so I don't worry. How's summer going by the way ? Any more camps ? I heard from Adam that Youth Conference was awesome so I can't wait to hear you guys tell me ! 

 

     So Tuesday we had a devotional and the speaker Dellenbach and Emeritus 70 was talking about the truthfulness of the book of Mormon and how it has to be real - just look at the facts. And there is a lot of facts, and good reason to believe it , but the whole time I kept on having thoughts that that doesn't matter. And it really doesn't no matter what facts don't forge testimonies. And the only way this book will benefit my investigators or anyone in the future is if they gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Facts are great and all  but a testimony on facts doesn't stand. So yeah keep reading your book of Mormon EVERYDAY so you guys can gain an even stronger testimony of the message it contains within its pages. The message of the Everlasting Gospel, of Jesus Christ. 

 

 

 

     I love you guys. Keep it up ! Oh by the way I had my BEST LESSON EVER the other day !!! I had an idea to do and object lesson on the 3 parts to revelation, prayer, reading the book of Mormon and going to church. Basically 4 bottles 3 spoons make em satack (pictures soon) and it was just bomb. And when we left our investigators told us that there was a tangible difference in the spirit when we left, like it left with us . Such an AMAZING feeling . Anywho gotta go LOVE YOU !

 

-Elder Hawkins"

Life Of A Missionary & Never Forgetting 8/3/12

"Hola familia how's it hanging ? It is officially the greatest day of the week today - P DAY WHAT WHAT ! Hahaha So how is everyone doing ? Based on mom's letters' it sounds like everyone is doing good, but people come on - it's summer , and let's be real right now, you have time to write me. Get signed up on Dear Elder asap because, I only have 2 and a half more weeks of being able to hear from you everyday ! Hopefully I'll be able to get my letters to you guys out today - I have so much to write !

     So James, how's Ralph's ?!?! Is everyone there like the chillest people ever . I love 'em so much, could you do me a favor and tell them I say hi and hope everyone is doing good and that I miss 'em . And if they want they can talk to me on Dear Elder. Jeez I sound like a walking advertisement. Which reminds me. I can't believe you sent me my work shirt, I feel like every time I wear it I'm breaking mission rules because I'm advertising hahahahaha. Oh and could you send me my grey pants please, and hahaha I meant the other blue shoes of mine, the dark blue with brown shoe laces from h&m (Anna ;)  hahaha) but these ones are fine :) Thanks for sending me the package ! I literally got it right after I sent the email last week , it was SO CRAZY ! hahaha I guess you were really holding on to it until I answered your questions.

MTC Food

Ok, so the life of a missionary at the MTC. There's normally a highlight of everyday of the week, Monday is workshops, Tuesday is devotionals, Wednesday new people (orange dots) come in Thursday is p-day eve and cleaning of our classroom, Friday is p-day, Saturday isn't anything really , and Sunday is church and firesides. So basically on a normal day we wake up, normally 6:25 so we don't have to wait for a shower get out and breakfast at 7:10 and you gotta be ready for the day. Normally breakfast sucks, actually it's sucked every time except when they have breakfast burritos and something like mom's "breakfast". After breakfast we have to be in class by 7:40. It's a three hour class and we do language study, gospel study, and teaching investigators. after that depending on the day we have gym. Love gym- volleyball or soccer everyday, and since the gym's been closed I am just now getting back into the groove of volleyball I could have had like 3 more kills but I hit it out of bounds my last three - so lame anywho so we also have our own personal, companionship, and language study without a teacher during the day. Normally I just read through the scriptures or pmg in English and Spanish so I'm doing it all at once. Then lunch and dinner and after dinner we have another 3 hour class with a different teacher along the same blueprint. By the way my teachers are awesome and we have other teachers come in that are soooo chill. And everyone has like their own catch phrase. So my real teachers are hermano johnston-tengo fe en ustedes (I have faith in you guys) hermano larson- comments,chistes, chispes, cacahuates, elefantes somethin' somethin' somethin' I don't know all of it but basically just rhyming in spanish haha. Then we have hermano painter- pues pues pues mira quien es (well well well look who it is) hermano johnson - es lo maximo verdad ! or poderoso verdad ?! (it's the best right ! or it's powerful right) hahahaha hey james AYALOOOWAY !!!!! hahahahaha what was the other one ? en serio ? either way hilaruious. SO then we finish class by 8:30 study more, plan at 9 back to home by 9:30 , quiet time at 10:15 and lights out 10:30. Lather rinse repeat. So that's our life.

Paisley ties!

Study space

     If you send the grey pants could you send the other blue shoes with it ? Ok so this week we had an amazing devotional by a former seventy I believe sorry left my notes at the residence but anywho the thing that touched me the most about it was he told us a story of a misionary who wasn't having any success and his mission president, the guy talking, promised him that if they looked through the area book they would find someone to teach. So he did and found this lady who the missionaries had gone to, but never came back although she wanted them to. So they came over and she was so excited to answer the door and said ," I was afraid you guys had forgotten me" I never want to forget anyone. Every single child of God deserves the opportunity to hear the gospel and change their lives now, and have happiness - real happiness now.

     The other day we got on this conversation about the word of wisdom with our teacher and he said that some people had such bad addictions to drugs or alcohol and stuff that it was physically impossible for them to quit or they could die, or other problems. Too addicted that they couldn't change. Too addicted that they couldn't accept the fulness of the gospel. So they had to "drop" a lot of people.The thought is unbearable to me, I want to get there before anyone goes too far. Everyone deserves a chance. And I know that there is nothing that is too far beyond the infinite reach of the atonement. There's nothing beyond the reach of the savior's infinite love. So I need to get to them ! I ONLY HAVE 22 MONTHS !!!! That's not long at ALL !!!!

      Anywho no time left but I love you family, love you Sally, and your family ! I hope you guys are doing good ! READ YOUR SCRIPTURES EVERYDAY AND PRAY K LOVE YOU BYE !

-Elder Hawkins"

More Soccer & Teaching About Trials 7/28/12

"SO this week has been pretty sweet. Since the gym is closed we have to go to the field every day for gym so all I have been doing is playing soccer, hopefully my sets will still be in tact next week when it opens again. Anywho cool quick story . It's the end of gym, Corner kick, I make eye contact with who's kicking it and run he passes it right to me I go through two guys to get the ball , quick touch, shoot and bam score right as they call gym time over. WOOT WOOT it was pretty dang fun. So anywho that's pretty much all the normal stuff that happened this week hahaha. 

From left to right: Elder Nealson, Elder Willis, 

Elder Bever, Elder Hawkins & Elder Jensen

     TRC is tonight and last week it was really cool, I shared some personal stories about how I got responses to questions through prayer and reading the scriptures and I could totally feel the spirit. And this week we taught 2 guys together Esteban and Nate and they are both catholic but one isn't really there with a testimony so we talked about faith. Alma 32's experiment. That lesson was nearly perfect ! I was so shocked because for once my words came out quickly,fluidly, and it was just a totally rocking lesson. Thanking Heavenly Father for that one because seriously without the spirit helping me I'd be stuttering my words  hahaha. 

     So this week we taught a guy from Ecuador who moved to America but left all he had family and land to come here and his wife had a really hard time and they are going through a bunch of trials. Oh and we switched companions for this so it was me and Elder Bever. So planning for the lesson we thought of telling the story of Lehi and all their trials and how he comforted his wife with his testimony and as long as they had faith that Heavenly Father would deliver them they were able to overcome their trials. Then we cam up with Mosiah 24:14 cuz that's personally given me a lot of comfort in my life and yeah lesson went great! At the end I related as best I could some trials going on in my life that through it made me gain my testimony or strengthened it and I totally felt the spirit in the lesson and it was a short lesson too like 10 minutes! Jeez loeeez life is awesome up here.

     How's it going for all of you guys ?! I hope you enjoyed the letters , sorry Kimber and Lance for not sending one to you guys ! What's your address ? Ummmm other news I went to the temple today ! It's back up ! We stayed in the celestial room for like an hour hahaha it was awesome.

Provo Temple

     Hey guess what ! Dad your prayer is coming true because I haven't felt homesick yet ! Oh and I finished 1 Nephi the other day I decided this week that I was going to read the Book of Mormon start to finish and try to finish before I leave the MTC , hopefully I can ! Oh my gosh my teacher ran a marathon and we all guessed what his time would be, I guessed 3:05 and everyone else guessed lower. Anywho basically Murphy's law happened to him and as he was flying down the course 6 miles in like 30 minutes I think he said he started to get heat exhaustion from the weather and his feet felt on fire. When he finished the race they looked at his feet and literally half of his foot and up his heel was a blister on both feet and they had to scalpel it of BLEK ! but yeah basically I guessed the right time. . . if you added two more hours hahahaha old grandma's were passing him ! I love that guy OH don't forget to send the sd ca5rds ! and Sally I believe i got you're letter Tuesday and so you should send that birthday package now ;) thanks so much for the other package ! You saved elder Willis's life he needed that box more than me in class I'm all sorts of healthy, for the most part, now ! Oh awesome devotional on pioneers but being a pioneer in your family and to others by livning the gospel and no time but basically people are praying for you and praying to find the truth- so don't be scared to share it ! 

BE BOLD !!!!!

-love

Elder Hawkins BYE !"

Writing Letters & Sangria 7/20/12

On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Steven Hawkins <steven.hawkins@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Starting from left: Elder Glasset, Elder Wood, Elder Willis, Elder Nealson, Elder Cook, Elder Bever and Elder Hawkins. Photo from Provo Temple visit.

     "P-what ?! a P-day a P-what? a p-day! Woot woot! I get to write you guys again! So I found out we were actually breaking another rule this whole time, I have been writing letters everyday and apparently that's only legal on p-days. And they told us this right after p-day so I had a week to wait to tell you guys hahahaha. Oh my gosh I had such a cool experience with it though. So this other elder in my district is named Elder Willis and he reminds me in his mannerisms a lot like Jay. But he's way more outgoing than Jay and just crazy but we hang out every night and he is definitely one of my best friends here. And so the night they told us we couldn't write anyone I was like ok lame I really don't want to follow this rule cuz I had just written two letters to you guys that weren't quite yet finished and so I asked heavenly father to bless me with humility and then I just kept hearing mom say 100% obedience. If they tell you to boil that water YOU BOIL IT hahaha. So I felt I got my answer and just then Elder Willis came into my room and asked me for some advice and he was like my good friend is struggling with his testimony of the church and he could go either way right now basically and he sent me a letter, do you think it's ok if I write a quick one and just tell him I can only write on Fridays anymore ? So I said well I really didn't want to follow this rule either but for me I felt like I should, but you know what how about we pray about it. So we shut the door to my room just him and asked him who he wanted to say it, me. So I said a prayer asking heavenly father to let us know the answer and right when I said amen he was like yeah it's a no. And i was like oh wow really? And he was like yeah the second you started praying I knew it could wait. Such an amazing experience. I am so thankful for these elders. 

 

     Oh my gosh totally opposite note, so yesterday I bought a sangria and a sangria is a bottled beverage and they didn't have any bottle caps so I was trying to figure out a way to do it. So right before we get to our building for class, Elder Glassett is like hey you should pop it off against the brick wall it will pop right off. So I thought he was serious and that it would work. So I walk up to the wall right next to Elder Tanner who is holding the door open for me and pop it off. and BAM it erupted out of there and got all over me and poor Elder Tanner. BAHAHAHAHa his face was PRICELESS. So our whole district minus elder Tarr, Cook, Wood, and Nelson saw the whole thing. So funny ! Elder Glassett didn't think I was so gullible. . . ridiculous. He felt so bad but I was like no worries you just made memories. And Elder Tanner was such a good sport about it hahahaha. And today I got another one and when I walked out I passed elder Tanner and he said good luck hahaha. I clearly need it. 

Sangria explosion!

 

 

     So today I forget my card to do laundry or so I thought so when we got back to our room to look for it I prayed and voila ! I found it in a secret compartment in my wallet. I love prayer - works every time. So what's going on with you guys ? How's everyone doing ? Did James get the job ? How was volleyball camp today ? And how did the softball camp go ? I sent you all a letter minus Kimber and Lance sorry guys I ran out of time, I accidentally fell asleep today. But did you send me Adam's and Hunter's address I can't remember. I literally have a drawer now overflowing with dear elders. Next P-day I gotta categorize them. Oh did I tell you guys that I got an 100% on my Spanish test I took the other week ? Wellllll I did so woot ! kind of exciting. Oh and thanks again for all the dear elders, could you guys tell Louis and Jon and Adam and Hunter and everyone that if they have time I would love to get a dear elder from them ! Oh my gosh which reminds me Anna or Katie you have to tell Dani and Jackie Waldron that Paul Russavage is in the mtc with me ! Andrew fisher is still here because his visa isn't processed yet but his companion is already in the Madrid MTC. 

 

     Oh and yesterday when we were playing soccer an elder came up to me and was like you are amazing. Such a stinking kind thing to say ! So I returned the compliment but yeah seems like the long tall string bean is at it again hahaha. Some of these elders take sports waaaaaaaay to seriously though so I juke em and run like crazy. 

 

     Which reminds me we had a talk by a guy who was talking about an elder who was scared to go home because all of his friends had gotten into bad things and so his mission or stake president gave him this advice, if ever someone does something that doesn't coincide with your standards you turn, and you run like like hell. hehehehehe so yeah just do as my seminary teacher said when we learned about Joseph and potiphers wife. You say I am shocked ! that a daughter of God would do such a thing and then you peace out ! run like heck guys :P love you all. Can't wait to hear from you.

 

 

 

-Elder Hawkins

p.s. I love you
p.p.s sally"