Hola,
Well it was a very good week. We are starting to see who is progressing and who isn`t ready yet.
We had an awesome lesson with Rafael Leal who is the father of a recent convert. He is evangelical and we taught him and his family about the Book of Mormon. We got there and the first thing he said is that he already has his doctrine and church and he feels like he would be betraying his faith if he accepted what we were teaching. We explained that it isn`t a different doctrine, but rather the same doctrine with more light to help him guide his family. We taught him about the restoration of the priesthood and told him that he could have a portion of that power to bless his family and his home. He was very interested and accepted what we were telling him and used the Bible a lot. He accepted what we were saying and then we were about to teach the last part about asking God if the Book of Mormon is true and he started teaching the last point to us! He talked about how he was in a super difficult situation and he prayed for help and God showed him in a dream where he needed to go to get work and he found the place the next day and worked there for 3 years! Then he said that he needed to set apart time to read the Book of Mormon and that he knew that God would show him that it was true. We were way pumped. I am confident that he will receive an answer because it is promised us in the Book of Mormon. We are excited to go back and see how it went.
We also visited an inactive family and started asking them questions to get them thinking. They all said basically that they wanted to be more prepared before going to church. We read Alma 34:32 and explained that we aren`t on the earth to prepare ourselves to be ready to go to church but rather to prepare ourselves to meet God. Going to church is part of the preparation. Then we read verse 33 and vs. 36 and talked about the atonement. The Spirit was strong and then we explained that Christ is the Great Physician and that the church is His hospital. If we fell and broke a leg we wouldn`t wait to go to the hospital until we are prepared we go now. That part really hit the father. We invited them to come to church so that the Great Physician can heal their wounds and make them whole. We said that God loves them even though they aren`t making the best decisions and that he wants to help them and he is waiting for them in His hospital. It was very direct, but the Spirit was strong so we were able to be more direct. The father prayed for strength to be able to return at the end of the prayer.
Also, Monica came to church on Sunday and really enjoyed it. The members welcomed her very well and she was basically received like a hero for having a son in the mission. It was way cool to see. I just keep thinking about that missionary who is working so hard and praying so fervently for his mother. I`m grateful to be able to help the Lord answer those prayers.
Things are progressing. Luckily I have learned to be a bit more patient here in the mission, so I`m not all stressed out like I would be before. haha We are having lots of success and I am confident that we will have more in the coming weeks. The Lord is preparing amazing miracles here in Miguel Lanus.
Con amor, Elder Hawk
Friday, June 12, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Nuevas personas
Hola,
Well it was a good week and we met a lot of awesome people. There is an unlimited supply of part-member families here in Miguel Lanus so we are finding them and seeing which ones progress.
We went to visit a less active member with Sister Gonzalez and we talked or a moment and then her husband Roberto came up and was way surprised to see us. He asked how we found him cause the house is way back in this tiny trails of super humble houses. Turns out that he lived in El Dorado and the missionaries there were teaching him a bit over a year ago. Back when I was in El Dorado! He was in a different part but the missionaries who were teaching him were from my district! It was cool cause he was just looking for something in that moment when we showed up. He has health problems and started smoking a lot more. He was looking for an escape and we showed up. It also made me think about how maybe there are a lot of people out there who I have taught who maybe didn`t accept everything the first time, but felt the Spirit and the Lord will guide them to the missionaries in one way or another when they need it. I`ll never know the impact I had in some peoples lives.
We also found the mom of a missionary, Monica. She moved here from Santa Fe and we were looking for him cause we saw his name in the ward directory. And we showed up on the one day that she had free that week. We talked to her a bit and during the lesson I just felt very strongly that we showed up there in response to the fervent prayers of her son. She is looking for something to renew her faith and she is starting to read the Book of Mormon and has lots of questions for us. Her daughter who was baptized about a year ago but is a bit inactive is also listening and she was happy that we found them and were teaching her mom.
The other cool experience this week was when we were visiting a family and the mom of the wife was there and the husband said that she didn`t like the missionaries, but we invited her to come and talk with us anyways. She sat down and we had a great lesson and she invited us to their house. On Saturday we went, and they are very humble, but we taught the whole family about the Book of Mormon. The dad was skeptical about another book that wasn`t the Bible but we read some parts and I told the story about Samuel the Lamanite to the kids and they loved it. They are great people and willing to learn.
It really is overloading right now here cause there are just so many people that we could visit. We are going to see who are the ones who progress. But we are working well with the ward. We taught the 5th week class and did a practice with everyone about how to talk to a friend at church and how to treat people right when they come to church and to help them get to classes and stuff. They all participated and it turned out really well!
We are excited with how everything is going and ready for another great week. Thanks for all your love and prayers! I love you!
Con amor, Elder Hawk
Well it was a good week and we met a lot of awesome people. There is an unlimited supply of part-member families here in Miguel Lanus so we are finding them and seeing which ones progress.
We went to visit a less active member with Sister Gonzalez and we talked or a moment and then her husband Roberto came up and was way surprised to see us. He asked how we found him cause the house is way back in this tiny trails of super humble houses. Turns out that he lived in El Dorado and the missionaries there were teaching him a bit over a year ago. Back when I was in El Dorado! He was in a different part but the missionaries who were teaching him were from my district! It was cool cause he was just looking for something in that moment when we showed up. He has health problems and started smoking a lot more. He was looking for an escape and we showed up. It also made me think about how maybe there are a lot of people out there who I have taught who maybe didn`t accept everything the first time, but felt the Spirit and the Lord will guide them to the missionaries in one way or another when they need it. I`ll never know the impact I had in some peoples lives.
We also found the mom of a missionary, Monica. She moved here from Santa Fe and we were looking for him cause we saw his name in the ward directory. And we showed up on the one day that she had free that week. We talked to her a bit and during the lesson I just felt very strongly that we showed up there in response to the fervent prayers of her son. She is looking for something to renew her faith and she is starting to read the Book of Mormon and has lots of questions for us. Her daughter who was baptized about a year ago but is a bit inactive is also listening and she was happy that we found them and were teaching her mom.
The other cool experience this week was when we were visiting a family and the mom of the wife was there and the husband said that she didn`t like the missionaries, but we invited her to come and talk with us anyways. She sat down and we had a great lesson and she invited us to their house. On Saturday we went, and they are very humble, but we taught the whole family about the Book of Mormon. The dad was skeptical about another book that wasn`t the Bible but we read some parts and I told the story about Samuel the Lamanite to the kids and they loved it. They are great people and willing to learn.
It really is overloading right now here cause there are just so many people that we could visit. We are going to see who are the ones who progress. But we are working well with the ward. We taught the 5th week class and did a practice with everyone about how to talk to a friend at church and how to treat people right when they come to church and to help them get to classes and stuff. They all participated and it turned out really well!
We are excited with how everything is going and ready for another great week. Thanks for all your love and prayers! I love you!
Con amor, Elder Hawk
Papà en Miguel Lanus
Hola!
Well it was pretty difficult to say goodbye to everyone in Tacuari. I really grew to love that place and love the people who were there especially. I miss it a little, but I am way excited to be here in Miguel Lanus. The Bishop is way awesome and there is a whole lot of work to do here. The past missionaries didn`t do a whole lot so there will be lots of success here that has been waiting for us.
Elder Cancino is my son and he is from Santiago, Chile. He is 19 and his dad is not a member of the church. He is way excited to learn and be a missionary and I am doing my best to teach him what I know, but I am finding that I don`t really know how to explain a lot of things cause I just kind of do them. haha But it is great to be a trainer and see the excitement and know that the impact I have on Elder Cancino will impact the mission for two more years even after I am gone. He is going to be a great missionary.
When we got to the apartment it was pretty disgusting. If this computer stops being slow I might be able to send the pictures I took. After 3 hours it is looking a lot better now and the Spirit is actually present. haha The Bishop showed us a lot of the area on Saturday and we had some great lessons. We taught a part-member family whose son will be baptized the first week of June and some other less active families who are progressing a lot. The area is HUGE. Maybe my biggest area. The people are a lot more receptive here now that I am farther away from centro. The ward has lots of potential and I am excited to be here.
It felt like a really short week with everything that happened and we didn`t have a whole lot of time to work, but we are happy and healthy and ready to have a great week. Elder Viñas of the 70 is coming on Monday so that should be awesome too.
I love you all!
Con amor, Elder Hawk
Well it was pretty difficult to say goodbye to everyone in Tacuari. I really grew to love that place and love the people who were there especially. I miss it a little, but I am way excited to be here in Miguel Lanus. The Bishop is way awesome and there is a whole lot of work to do here. The past missionaries didn`t do a whole lot so there will be lots of success here that has been waiting for us.
Elder Cancino is my son and he is from Santiago, Chile. He is 19 and his dad is not a member of the church. He is way excited to learn and be a missionary and I am doing my best to teach him what I know, but I am finding that I don`t really know how to explain a lot of things cause I just kind of do them. haha But it is great to be a trainer and see the excitement and know that the impact I have on Elder Cancino will impact the mission for two more years even after I am gone. He is going to be a great missionary.
When we got to the apartment it was pretty disgusting. If this computer stops being slow I might be able to send the pictures I took. After 3 hours it is looking a lot better now and the Spirit is actually present. haha The Bishop showed us a lot of the area on Saturday and we had some great lessons. We taught a part-member family whose son will be baptized the first week of June and some other less active families who are progressing a lot. The area is HUGE. Maybe my biggest area. The people are a lot more receptive here now that I am farther away from centro. The ward has lots of potential and I am excited to be here.
It felt like a really short week with everything that happened and we didn`t have a whole lot of time to work, but we are happy and healthy and ready to have a great week. Elder Viñas of the 70 is coming on Monday so that should be awesome too.
I love you all!
Con amor, Elder Hawk
Farewell to Friends in Tacuari
New Companion---Elder Cancino
and President and Sister LaPierre
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
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
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
Saturday, May 16, 2015
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
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
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
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
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
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