El compromiso‏

Hola,

This week I have learned a lot about the importance of commitment and covenants. President LaPierre talked about it in the leadership council and it has been on my mind. He said that Joseph Smith was able to pass through what he passed through in Liberty Jail and came out a changed man because he covenanted with the Lord. When we unite ourselves with Him and are faithful we have power to overcome any trial that comes our way and learn and grow from it. It will all give us experience and be for our good.

The temple dedication is Còrdoba was transmitted to the stake center here and it was incredible. I didn`t expect for it to feel like the actual temple but it really did. I was just in there considering things in the Spirit of the temple and I realized things I need to improve on, but I didn`t recognize them with discouragement and frustration like I used to. I saw that working to improve and progress and helping others to do the same is really the greatest, most exciting and satisfactory adventure that anyone can experience in life. When we have covenanted with God we can work together with Him to accomplish this. That is why the covenants of the temple are so important. I love the temple and I am going to follow the counsel of President Uchtdorf and make temple attendance a regular and uplifting experience for my whole life. What a blessing it is to live so close to the temple.

Matìas was baptized by his father on Saturday. There is a different Spirit when a father can baptize his son. It was perhaps one of the sweetest moments of my mission to see father and son dressed in white in the waters of baptism. That family is going to be a powerful force here in Tacuari as well as the other people I have been able to help here. When they decided to come back to church they entered again into a working relationship with the Lord and are going to improve and progress. It was a pleasure to be a part of it.

And Julio Caceres went to the baptism!! We talked to him on Thrusday about how when we commit to follow a course like read the scriptures we are committing to follow Christ. He said we desired to change and we each shared experiences about how we committed ourselves to follow Christ by accepting an invitation to ACT. I shared about the time when Dad came into my room when I was fighting with Parker and Becca and read me Moroni 7:48 and invited me to pray for charity. I don`t know if he remembers it but he left the room and I stayed there battling with myself and then I accepted the invitation to follow Christ and knelt down and prayed. By accepting that invitation I began to change step by step. I still haven`t made it too far, but by committing myself to improve the Lord began to work in my life. He was afraid to commit but he came to the baptism and said that it motivated him a lot! He also told me that he began to read the Book of Mormon! He knows just as I know that his time is rapidly coming. I hope he sees the importance and decides to commit himself to the Lord by being baptized.

Some questions that we should all consider: Am I truly fulfilling the covenants and commitments I have made with the Lord and allowing Him to change me? What can I do to commit myself more to God?

Nothing is better than being committed to the Lord. It is a very difficult, heart-wrenching, soul-stretching experience, but nothing is more satisfying and it is the only way we can truly be happy.

We just got the changes and I will be training anew missionary in Miguel Lanus and white washing the area! I am going to be a district leader. I am so pumped! It has been an amazing experience here in Tacuari but I am excited for another adventure.

Congrats to Parker for graduating! Also congrats to Danielle and Jordan for making an adorable baby! haha I love you all so much!

Con amor, Elder Hawk

Matias's Baptism

 Elder Hawk putting down the hammer

Hola,

Well I debated not writing today cause we just barely talked but I think I`ll jot down a few highlights.

The coolest moment of the week was the Sunday gospel principles class. There almost wasn`t room cause the class has been growing with people coming back and such. But Enrique announced that he will be divorced on June 5! Then 30 days later he can get married and baptized! We are way excited for him! He has fasted like 3 times and a sister brought him the book "Jesus the Christ" from the temple which he is was excited to read. He is going to be an incredible member. Also, David Neira and his son Matias were there and Matias is getting baptized on Saturday! I have been very impressed with the way that his parents are teaching him and helping him. He understands everything and has a strong desire to do what is right. And David shared with us that before we came he had lots of pain in his arm and he was always nervous and tired and such because he works in the hospital and sees so much death and problems. But when he started going to church the pain went away and he feels a peace in his life. He attributed it to sanctifying the sabbath day. He said that before he never had a rest spiritually but that now he feels so much better and everything is improving with his family. The son of a less active member also came. He is kind of rebellious but we talked with him on Friday about where his life was going and the importance of God especially as he makes decisions that are going to affect his life forever and he really took it to heart and is making efforts to change. And lots of other people who I have been able to meet were there. I just really felt the great blessings that the Lord has given me in my time here and I am happy for the people I have been able to meet who have changed their lives and mine. It was a sweet moment.

Also, this Sunday we are going to get to watch the Cordoba Temple dedication. I am way excited!

It was amazing to talk to all of you yesterday! Happy Mother`s day to all of the mothers out there! Especially mom and Grandma and the newest mother, Danielle. Thank you all for your examples and influence! I love you!

Con amor, Elder Hawk

Màs de lo que soy‏

Hola!

I am so excited for Parker! We are all going on missions way different and way far apart! He is going to have amazing experiences and I know that it will be perfect for him! He is going to be an incredible missionary and is going to learn so much! I am very proud of him.
Note: Elder Hawk's younger brother just got his call to the Uganda Kampala Mission in Africa, he will be leaving in September, and his older brother served in the Suva Fiji Mission.

 During this week I prayed a lot and put extra focus into studying the scriptures and I was able to keep on going and help another Elder in our zone. I really realized the importance of a good companion and realized how blessed I have been with all of my companions who have had a desire to work and to be obedient and to learn. I also realized how dependent I am on the Lord. I kept remembering that prayer I said in my head asking for God to make me more than I am and he answered "I already am." I really recognize how I am only an instrument and I am only an instrument because God has made me one. I can`t take credit for anything really. I am just happy that he lets me take part and learn.

This week we visited an inactive sister who is very sick. She had to be out of her house for almost a year and recently returned right when we showed up. She told us her story of how she was abused by her husband and all of the health problems she has had and I just felt so horrible for her. As I searched for something to say, I could think of nothing, but I felt impressed to sing "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" As I sang a peaceful spirit came and she thanked me with tears in her eyes and told me that she know that we were servants of God. As she told me that I felt the Spirit confirm it. I have no professional training in how to help these people, but the Spirit works and brings peace when I follow the impressions He sends.

Also, this week we visited Lorena twice (the sick aunt of Sister Bejarano). The last time we went she was in really bad shape. Julio took us in his car and didn`t want to go up with us cause he knew how hard it was from when his brother was also sick. She was unconscious and it had a very hard time breathing and she was pretty swollen. We talked a bit with the family and I sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" The Spirit filled this little hospital room with peace. We gave her a blessing and told her that it was ok to let go and that she could have peace and that she as well as her family could feel the peace that the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation brings. We blessed her on Thursday night and she passed away at 3:45 the next morning. She is no longer in pain and she as well as her family can rest. While in that room I felt the so certainty of eternal families. I saw her laying there and thought "Could it be? Is there really life after death?" And I felt peace and knew that there is life after death. We will all be resurrected. We can have an eternal family.

It was a very emotional week, but a week full of support gained from prayer and scripture study. I am grateful for all I learned this week and grateful that the Lord is stretching me and helping me to learn and grow. I`m tired. But I wouldn`t rather be doing anything else. I love being a missionary so much. As hard as it can be there is no work more important and more rewarding than to serve the Lord. I love Him and I love being a part of His work.

Con amor, Elder Hawk