Remember Him! 12/26/16

This week was so so great! First off I don't have a ton of time to write because I am in another area, also don’t have my camera..., but next week I will write a super good letter! But just some things that were super great! To be able to remember the birth of the Savior. It is good to remember the Savior at Christmas but it is more important to remember him the rest of the year. I am so grateful for his birth because, well I am human and I make mistakes but thanks to him I have the chance to fix all my mistakes! I know that if we can put in the effort to remember him, he will do miracles in our life. Love you all!

Elder Hawley

Christmas Day & Goals for the New Year A Letter to Elder Hawley 12/25/16

It was so good to be able to see you, talk to you, and catch up yesterday. It was the best two hours of our Christmas Day!!!

Can't wait for your letter and pictures this week. Is it possible to include the family picture you took yesterday in your email so we can have it?

Keep doing what you are doing. You are doing GREAT!

We love you,

Your family

A Letter From Erik Harris to Elder Hawley

Mitch-

I have been fortunate enough to have your mom forward your weekly emails and have loved reading them.  I especially appreciate your honesty in that the weeks are sometimes hard and a challenge, but that you learn from them and find the good in each week.  I share your emails with Will each week and I know he reads them because they are from you.   You have always been an example to Will on how to work through swimming but now you are a great example of what it means to work through service.  Will is at that point in life where he is trying to figure out what will be next for him and your example is showing him what is possible.

I think about you often and hope for your safety while serving.  I know you are being blessed by reading your emails.  Keep serving with faith.  I am a convert and joined the church at the age of 24.  I will never forget the missionaries that taught me and know they were called to serve in Utah to teach me.  I know there are people in Mexico where you are serving that you are meant to teach.  Keep working, keep grinding, keep moving forward with faith.

I will continue to look forward to your email updates.  Take care of yourself!

Sincerely,

Erik Harris

Time Flies When You're Having Fun 12/19/16

Wow this week has been filled with ups and downs, but all the hard work pays off. I have seen the testimonies grow of these new members of the church. They are going to be the future leaders of the church. Thanks to their example the rest of their family is working towards baptism. I have loved this week. I hope you enjoy the photos. The pig included in this weeks email scared me so bad. It was behind a bush and charged me and I thought I was going to die haha. We made these super good desserts (in a container in the one picture) with a new convert this week for the Christmas party and she said I was the master at rolling them out, but we made so many my hands are still bruised. We used pvc pipes to roll them out. The food in my old area was a little better because my new area is really poor but the members are super great and I love them a lot. The members found our number somehow of my old area and invited me to go to their house to eat a super good dinner so I hope I can go. We got to go into the center of town (see picture) today to buy stuff for a Secret Santa and it was super fun!

I have learned so much, but something that I learned from a member of our ward this week is that we can share the good news of the gospel in any situation. She was brave enough to talk about the real meaning of Christmas centered in Jesus Christ to a friend of hers and now she is working towards baptism. If we can share the simple truths of the gospel with others, the Holy Ghost will take care of the rest.

Love you all so much and I wish you guys could be here for Christmas having fun. The time is flying by and I feel like the weeks are like days. See you soon more or less haha!

Love, Elder Hawley

Christmas Week A Letter To Elder Hawley 12/18/16

Hey Elder,

How are things going? How are things different there during the month of December and the Christmas season?  Is it really different down there or pretty much the same? How has the weather been? Our's has been super cold...in the 30's during the day and even colder at night. We had the biggest rain storm on Friday that turned to hail then snowed. It was so crazy, everywhere was frozen and slippery. 

We were super busy this week going to Malia's orchestra concert, Malia and Miles' gymnastics programs, Madrigals programs, and just crazy busy with shopping, wrapping, etc. preparing for Christmas. Malia has been super busy with being a manager for the girls basketball team...going to every practice and the games. Megan has been super busy with Madrigals.

Christmas can be hard being away on a mission but look for the blessings, they will be there, just sometimes hard to see. What better way to serve and remember Jesus then by serving on a mission? We hope you have some very spiritual experiences this week for Christmas. 

We hope all is going well for you and that you are getting to know and serve with all the new Americans that arrived there. We are really looking forward to talking to you via Hang Outs on Christmas day. We have it set up and waiting.

Ponder these things this week with us:

“When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning."

“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

“Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

“Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.
“Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.
“Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.
“Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.” (President Thomas S. Monson, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional)

"The Christmas season is a time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we have because of the birth, life, Atonement, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As our Heavenly Father “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16), we express our love toward one another and toward God and his precious Son by giving of ourselves."

We pray for you, miss you, and think of you always. We know you are doing the Lord's work. Keep working hard, staying positive, smiling, and keeping the spirit of Christ within you.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love, 

Your Family

Puro fotos.Just photos. 12/12/16

This week has been great! I am loving the new area and the members there! They are so great and such a great support! We are teaching a ton of people and they are all super great! I love it here. Here are some photos from this week and also of Thanksgiving sorry its late! I have learned a lot of things in the mission but the one thing that I think I have learned the most is that our Heavenly Father truly does love us. It is such a comforting thing to know that we have an all knowing loving Heavenly Father that wants nothing more than to help us. I know that he will help us with whatever we need. All we need to do is just ask.

The majority of these photos are actually from my last area except the one with the horse. There are animals everywhere in my new area, and a lot of mud and dirt. 

Also this week has been so cold. Like I want to say colder than in Utah but I don’t think that’s true. I’m just so used to the hotness. It was super nice to feel cold for once. 

Stay warm and prepare for the best holiday ever. Christmas...so excited.

Love,

Elder Hawley

Christmas Pictures 12/12/16

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Updates A Letter to Elder Hawley 12/11/16

Hi Elder Hawley! 

Dad says he hopes you got his response to your question last week. How are things going?
How is Christmas different down there? We would love to see pictures of your house and other places you go just to give us an idea of where you are and what it looks like.

We have been really busy here at home. Megan has been doing a lot of concerts with the Madrigals.  She had four today. She sang in three sacrament meetings, including ours, and then a concert this evening. They sounded really good. It was Taylor Willis' homecoming today too. Malia is now a manager of the girls basketball team and has a crazy busy schedule with that. Miles lost another tooth then dropped it down the drain. He was cleaning his tooth so it would be "clean for the tooth fairy" and didn't plug the drain. (Such is his luck losing his teeth. He has swallowed two of them and only one so far has actually gone to the tooth fairy.) He was devastated but wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining what happened and received $2 so he was happy. Mom got braces on December 7th (for Christmas). She looks like a goofy teenager. Dad is busy trying to get tithing settlements done...crazy time of year!

Hang in there. The blessings follow the trials. Find joy in the work. The time will go by so quickly and you don't want any regrets.

Ephesians 4:2  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

We love and pray for you always.

Love, Your Family

Perfect 12/5/16

This week has been so great. We had baptisms and the family was so great! It was a great experience. We are working with other members of the family so they can be baptised too! I love the mission and it has brought me more joy to see these people smile walking out of the baptismal font than almost anything else. I love you all so much! I hope you guys are doing super great! We had a conference with a 70 this week and he talked about how the most important thing is to obey the commandments. They are simple and will bring us the most joy. I love this gospel and if we put in the work for it we will receive the benefits! 

 We are living in the city still. Right now we have a tiny house for the 6 of us. One American leaves in a week but like 13 new Americans got here this week and its super cool to help them.

I’m loving the missionary part of the mission. The native elders are sometimes kind of hard to deal with but other than that everything is great. It’s okay I’m learning patience.

Love you all. Enjoy this Christmas holiday!

Elder Hawley!

Determination A Letter to Elder Hawley 12/4/16

 Hey Elder!

How is the new area and your new companion? What is the area like? Ward or branch? Have you found a place to live? Lots of questions, as you can tell we are excited for your new area. 

Miles and dad went on a camp out this weekend. Miles spent most of the time trying to chop wood. He is just a little small for a big ax and logs. But he sure has a lot of determination. He just wouldn't give up. He reminded dad a lot of you. He is super strong too! 

We had the Ward Christmas party Saturday. We are glad that it is over. It was a lot of work. Funny how you never appreciate how much work something is until you actually have to do it. 

Dad had a lesson today in priesthood. They talked about the correlation between dedication and sacrifice. The more effort and sacrifice you put in to something, the more dedicated you become. Its simple math if you think about it.

 

Well again we are praying for you and for your success. We love you and are so proud of you. You are having wonderful experiences and will continue to see and be apart of miracles if you have the spirit with you and work work work. Something you are very good at with the determination you have in you. That's what dad saw in Miles this weekend. You are a great example to him and he looks up to you a lot! We all do!!!

We Love you tons! 

Love, Your Family

A Letter To Elder Hawley from the Beards 11/29/16

December 2016

Dear Elder Hawley,

Hello sweetheart!  Hope this letter find you well and happy.  You deserve such goodness.  I love that you are doing what you are doing and that you are doing it well and obediently.  I cannot pretend to know what you are experiencing—the good AND the bad—but your example is certainly inspiring to more people than you know. Every week your letters amaze me more and more.  I joke with your mom and Gabbey that I end up crying and laughing both at the same time.  You’re awesome and we all sure miss you.  I feel like I have sent one of own children on a mish.

Hunter, Dylan and Thomas dropped by over Thanksgiving Break when Gabbs was home.  We all definitely agreed we were missing you.  Gabbs had a slip of the tongue a little bit ago when she said she was going out with “Meeshel and so and so and so and so….”.  She stopped, we both looked at each other and she teared up just a little.  Boy, you are missed—but we are so happy you are serving.  You make us proud every day.

Gabbs leaves for Madrid January 25.  She will be back April 25.  She and a friend will take the last week to travel all over Europe and have fun before coming home to Spring term and working full time.  YAY!  You two can chat some when you get home.  She is dating and happy at BYU this year.  Big difference from last year.  She aims to move down to Provo on a permanent basis this August to begin her Junior year.  Kaylin Avery just broke Gabrielle’s 1 Back high school record last week.  By less than a second, but broke it nonetheless.  I thought Gabbs would have been more upset about it but she said 5 years was a good run, she’s busy with other stuff now.  She’s just glad it wasn’t Nuenschwander.  Ha ha.

Joshua is still our hippy child.  Loves MAP, HOSA, and Mr. Bird.  He put his phone in military time cuz that’s how medical professionals tell time.  Lol.  He will grow his hair until the last possible moment.  He is getting ready for high school soccer soon.  Still on swim team.  Still hates it.  Still hates me for it. Oh well. Travels extensively still for soccer.  It’s coming to an end and he is getting quite burned out.  He has decided no collegiate soccer for him.  Much like Gabbey, he just wants to college like a regular kid.

Ducky still so sweet and loving.  Just turned 12 this past fall and is passing sacrament each week.  Still soccering all over the western US.  San Diego over Thanksgiving, Phoenix in February, Vegas in March, Phoenix again in April.

Daniel Avery and Becka are engaged.  Jeanne thinks a May wedding.  Very small.  Family only.

Sorry so boring.  It’s just regular life day by day.

Merry Christmas.  May 2017 be an incredible year for you.  Be safe, be happy, be obedient.  The Lord is mindful of you every single day.  I know that.  I do not doubt it.  I hope you don’t either.

Remember….”be still and know…”.  You can know and you will know always.  You are in His keep.

See you soon.  Keep enjoying that amazing food.  Mission perks.  Miss you, miss you.

So many hugs and such big love,

The Beards—Ryan, Kori, Gabbey, Joshua, and Noah

NEW AREA!!! 11/28/16

Hello everyone!!

First I want to start off by giving thanks to everyone that has been in my life. Everyone that has helped me in every way. You all honestly mean so much to me.  I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving! I miss the food there but it’s okay because I have tamales here and if you didn’t know... I love tamales. Like so much. I want to give a shout out to my mom-family for the Thanksgiving dinner in a box, they are the best I love them.

Second I am getting transferred to a new area tomorrow (Tuesday)! Me and my new companion are going to reopen it!  We don’t have a house yet because the area we are going to was closed before but we are going in to open it back up so we are looking for a house right now. The new area is in Reynosa also but a little bit far away! It is a little tiny town! I am super super excited.

I’m getting a new companion. His name is Elder Jeronimo and he has been a zone leader. He is a native and he is super awesome! He doesn’t speak a lot of English but a little. He has 3 months left. My current companion was only with me to finish my training.

Oh man like the weather here is so crazy. It is super cold in the morning and super hot in the night. I was super sick like 2 days ago because the weather keeps changing. I gave a talk in sacrament  and I was talking so funny. I am feeling a lot better!

I don’t have a ton of time because I need to pack still but I love you all and I miss you all a lot. Remember to give thanks for everything that we have in this life because we really have so much to be grateful for!

-Elder Hawley

Pictures 11/28/16

Counting Blessing/Gifts A Letter To Elder Hawley 11/27/16

Hey Elder,

How is it going? We hope you had a great Thanksgiving, were able to eat a lot of good food, thought of what you are thankful for, and enjoy what came in your box. We had a good Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's with Grandma Suz joining us. It wasn't the same without you though. The kids were able to have lots of fun with cousins and friends during the long weekend. We are so blessed to have you serving a mission. We think of you always and pray for your success each day. 

How is the weather there? We are expecting a big snow storm tonight. We will see. Miles wants you to know he now has 40 Pokemon cards. He is also wearing your first football jersey, # 36. It is super long on him but he likes to wear it.  

Dad says to remember to be grateful and count your blessings. Counting your blessings helps you to remain humble, allowing the spirit to be your companion. Having the spirit is what allows the work to move forward.

Mom received this in Relief Society today...During the month of December, remember the greatest gift ever given to earth was Heavenly Father's gift of His Beloved Son. What gift can we give in return for the gift of his Only Begotten Son? What gift would be appropriate, suitable, and acceptable? One possible gift is found In D&C 97:8 "Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice-yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command-they are accepted of me." The gifts of a contrite spirit, an honest heart, commitment to the gospel, our sacrifices, these are the gifts acceptable before the Lord.

We are eager to hear how your week went. Also if you have a picture of you that you want us to include in our Christmas card, please include it in your letter. Or we can use the one with you holding the Mexico Flag that Sydnee took.

May God bless you. We love and miss you lots!

Love, Your Family

Baby, Firefighter, Pianist 11/21/16

This week a little girl in our ward told me that I talk like a baby, but at least she could understand what I was saying. In addition to being a baby I am also a pianist and firefighter.

This week in the ward they had the presentation of the primary. They didn’t have anyone to play the piano so on Monday they asked me if I knew how to play the piano because apparently all Americans know how. I told them that I could see if I could play the songs because I know a little piano. They gave me one and asked me to see if I could play it and it was more or less easy. I told them yeah I could do it. Then they handed me a folder with 11 other songs, and told me that I had these too. When the presentation arrived I had only played the songs like 4 or 5 times. The sister that was in charge was super worried that I was going to mess up haha so I prayed because they had worked really hard to learn the songs and I wanted to do everything that I could to play the piano good enough. I started to play and I was playing perfectly. I don’t know how but I played all 12 songs super good, almost without mistakes. It was super cool.

Also a firefighter. We were in a lesson with a family that lives in some apartments, and they live on the first floor. Like 3 floors up someone was welding and the sparks were flying everywhere. Like 10 minutes later the dad turned and looked out the window and there were huge flames coming from the other side of the wall. The family has a wooden roof and the flames were getting super close so immediately I jumped up and ran outside with the dad and climbed the wall and he handed me a hose and I started to spray the crap out of the fire. It was like a dream come true but instead of wearing protective clothing I just had a name tag and dress clothes haha. I don’t know how the fire got put out, it was honestly a miracle.

We get some super good hamburgers sometimes at this little building. And food sometimes at a place called Tacos Barron that is super close to our house.

We found a really cool family this week whose kids want to be baptised. They told us they were going to come to church. As church started they still hadn’t arrived and none of the other people we invited had either. I was really disappointed. With like 20 minutes left of sacrament meeting they got there. Better late than never to the classes after the kids had a ton of fun.

The mission is going super great. I have a great watch tan line and am having a great time.

Love you guys, Elder Hawley.

Greater Love Hath No Man A Letter To Elder Hawley From Dad 11/20/16

Hi Elder,
John 15:13. Greater love hath no man. If you follow footnote for the word life. It takes you to consecrate. There is more than one way to lay down your life. True you can give your life or die for love it is a single heroic act. But if you lay down your life by consecrating your life this requires daily effort and daily sacrifice. As you consecrate your life to the savior you show your love for him and the people of Mexico. He will bless you. Im proud of you keep up the good work.
Love, Dad

Playing Sorry A Letter To Elder Hawley 11/20/16

Hi Elder,

How are you doing? How has your week been? We have been praying that you had a successful week. 

We have been playing Sorry a lot. Remember when you would be losing or come from behind and win? Yeah, that's what Miles is doing now. He literally is losing and he ends up winning every time. He now calls himself the Sorry Master. He wants to play you when you get home so he can beat you.

Your letter last week was great. Dad said it's a good moment when an American is let out of the goalie box. He never got out when he played in Brazil.

When do you get to have scripture study? This week read scripture Romans 15:4..."that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." 

Nothing too exciting happened with us last week...just work, school, and homework. The kids are excited about this week only having two days in school for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We can't wait to hear about your week. 

Love and Miss You Lots!

Your Family

Taking Baths With a Bowl of Water and Miracles 11/14/16

Well this week we didn’t have water...they turned it off...well because there was some confusion and nobody paid the bill for like 3 months haha. So we had to ask our neighbor member for buckets of water because the water company couldn’t come to our house to turn on the water for a week. So we bathed in ice cold water with a bowl haha. It was definitely an experience to remember.

Things are super great with my new companion.  I have learned so much Spanish. Some days are a struggle with the language but we communicate almost normal. The area we are in is such a challenge. We were teaching almost 15 families and right now we have like 5. It is just hard to see people turn away from the chance of a lifetime. We just need to love them. There is a scripture in Moroni 7:46- 48. It talks about being filled with the pure love of Christ.

This week we had a miracle. One day it was pouring rain so we were running through the muddy streets looking for shelter and we found this little ledge on the side of a building that was blocking the water. So we took shelter there for a little to see if the rain would go away or if we were going to have to go out through it. Like 10 seconds later this mom runs over with her hija (daughter) for shelter and we started to talk. Turns out she had been hearing the lessons from other missionaries and was progressing really good but then her work changed and she couldn’t go to church or hear the missionaries. We found her and she is doing great, still reading the Book of Mormon and working towards baptism. It is so crazy how that works out.

Also today we played soccer and since my skills are getting better they let me come out of the goalie box and play for real haha.  I got nailed in the face but I saved us from getting scored on. We play with our district and zone depending on where we have our weekly meeting. I love it here and I know that we can live joyfully even in the midst of our trials. I hope you are all doing great! Miss you all and love you!

Elder Hawley