Matamoros Here We Go! 9/25/17

This week was a good week. We found some really awesome familes to teach, but I am getting transferred to Matamoros tomorrow morning, another city across the mission. I’m excited to be able to go there but sad to leave my companion and the area. I’m going to miss the place I’m in a lot, but it will be a good time to be able to grow. Alot of elders are going home soon that are zone leaders, so they made a lot of changes this week. There are a total of 14 zone leaders in the mission. My new companion will be Elder Cisneros, a native, and I kind of know him. We will still be zone leaders in the new area.

I’m excited because everyone talks really good about Matamoros, but I don’t want to leave Camargo or my companion. We have had great success together in the short time we have been here which is only like 25 days and I’m going to miss it so much! I am sick of packing and unpacking. I didn’t even finish unpacking haha from when I got to Camargo! I’m going to miss the people here so much, but it’s okay because I hope one day I can come visit them again! We left like two families that are super excited to be baptised too.

Something I learned this week is that God works in mysterious ways, and if we always follow the promptings of the spirit, God will work miracles in our lives! We found a lot of people just by being in the right place at the right time!

We haven’t had any effects of the earthquakes! It is super super sad to hear about it all though.

                                               A carnival that we got to go to last week.

 

                         A really cool visor that we got for free from this awesome taco place! 

                                                        The town square in Camargo!

                                        Also from a city in our zone called Miguel Aleman! 

                                                      On top of a ferris wheel! 

 

                                          A picture we took looking across the river at Texas!

I love you guys all so much and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Hawley

Steadfast and Immovable A Letter to Elder Hawley 9/25/17

Hey Elder!

How was your week? We are always anxious to hear. We always enjoy your letter and the pictures you send. Seeing you have success with service and baptisms is always so exciting to hear and see. Keep up the great work! Remember to send the picture of your little place and the picture on top of the Ferris wheel.

Dad and mom are getting questions if the earthquakes in Mexico are affecting you. Thank goodness you are at the opposite end and many miles away from where they have been. Hopefully those you have served with who have gone home to that area are all okay.

It was a busy week for us as usual. Thursday was Mile's birthday and a crazy day as Megan played in the WX powder-puff football game for Homecoming week. It was crazy cold and rainy that day. We were all drenched and freezing afterwards. Malia had a voice lesson and a rehearsal for the performance team "Inspire" that she is doing. After all that was over we had a quick dinner and Miles opened his presents and we had cake and ice cream. 

 Friday was the Homecoming game WX against Davis. WX won...woohoo!  Megan had fun at homecoming on Saturday. Their day activity was at Cross E Ranch, then pictures, dinner in Salt Lake, the dance at WX, then card games at her date's house with the group.

The weather was very cold and rainy here all weekend. There is snow in the high mountains already. How has your weather been?

Here are some scriptures and thoughts for you:

2 Nephi 27:23 "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

From Elder David A. Bednar, Steadfast and Immovable, Always Abounding in Good Works talk, January 2008:

"If you and I desire to become steadfast and immovable disciples of the Master, we must build appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation."

How do we become steadfast and immovable? A building or structure that is stable and immovable must be built upon a strong foundation. If you and I desire to become steadfast and immovable disciples of the Master, we must build appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation.

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall”. (Helaman 5:12; emphasis added).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the sure foundation, and you and I cannot and will not fall if we build upon Him as our foundation. This is a truly remarkable and faith-promoting promise.

The steps we must follow in building our devotion to and our character upon the foundation of Christ are identified simply and clearly in Helaman 15:

“And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—

“Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free”.(w 7-8; emphasis added)

Please notice the specific steps outlined in these two verses. The first step is (1) belief in the teachings and prophecies of the holy prophets as recorded in the scriptures. Such belief (2) fosters faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior leads to (3) repentance. Faith in Christ and repentance bring about (4) the mighty change of heart. As many as have diligently and faithfully followed these steps are (5) firm and steadfast in the faith. That is the Lord’s blueprint for becoming steadfast and immovable. I testify that as we ponder and follow in faith the building blocks described in these verses, we will be strengthened and blessed to become steadfast and immovable.

Keep being "Steadfast & Immovable". Have a great week! We love and miss you a ton.
Love,
Your Family

VIVA (Live) MEXICO!!!! 9/18/17

This week was super super awesome! We baptised the family Lopez! They were super excited! We drove all the way to Miguel Aleman because there isn’t a place to baptise close to where we live! We drove there with the family. They are so cool, and I am so excited for them. So that they can keep progressing, they want to go to the temple at the end of this month, but we will have to see what happens! They really wanted to get baptised because of the Book of Mormon. They like reading it and that’s what helped them realize that they needed to be baptized again, in the way Jesus wanted it. They are great.

This week was also super fun because we got to go to a little carnival by our house, for the Independence Day of Mexico. We took a cool picture on top of a ferris wheel, but it looks like I’m going to have to send it home the next week and also a picture of our little place where we live! 

We also baptized a little girl that her family had been inactive, but they are going to church again. She talked in church on Sunday about how she was so grateful for the church and the blessings they have received! 

I love you guys. Have a great week!!!!

Elder Hawley

Inspiration & Feeling the Spirit A Letter to Elder Hawley 9/17/17

Hey Elder,

How is it going? It is always great to hear from you. Your letters are a great inspiration to us and encourage us to do better. We are definitely receiving blessings because of your service. 

From Dad...Just what you wrote in your letter last week helped confirm a decision I have been making about a job opportunity I have come across. I'm going to take a job with Symphony Homes and become a Superintendent. I'll keep Triad open but just won't do much with it for a while why I give this opportunity a try. 

Alma 26:37 "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

Mom heard in relief society today a story relayed of a family who were receiving lessons from the missionaries some time ago. When they first introduced Moroni 10:3-5, the missionaries suggested they read that scripture first, then pray about it, then start reading the Book Of Mormon. The family felt the spirit so strong and were later converted when they started their reading that way.

Well keep up the good work, focus on the Lord's work, and you will also be blessed. If you put your heart and whole soul into the work, when the time comes, he will reward you with the desires of your heart.

Have a great week. We love ya tons!

Love, 

Your Family

Semana De Bendiciones (Week Blessings) 9/13/17

Sorry I couldn’t write yesterday or Monday either. Yesterday we had a ton of appointments and on Monday we had a really fun activity with the whole mission. It was super awesome and fun to see everyone again. We went to this cultural park, but it was actually closed so we didn’t get to do a whole lot. Then in the afternoon we played a ton of soccer and all sports and it was super fun and a good break! After the activity, we didn’t have time to get back to our area so we stayed the night in the mission home, which is two hours away from my new area, and then we went home the next day.

 My new area and new companion are both super awesome. I love them both. I don’t want to leave and I hope we are here together for a long time. We live in a little tiny room with a little tiny bathroom that is connected to the church. The church used to be a pharmacy but now it’s the church. It’s just a single room with a little kitchen. We have like a little griddle thing.

 This week was super super awesome! We got to baptize the nephews of a really cool member we have been teaching! They are super cool! One’s name is Jesus and the other is Hugo! They are super cool and Jesus is really excited to be able to pass the sacrament! Their baptism was super cool and spiritual!

 

Another blessing, is the family Lopez. They are so so awesome! This week when we went to Reynosa they were super mad because we couldn’t visit them. They are reading the Book of Mormon as a family and praying and they want to get baptized this Sunday! They thought we weren’t coming back so they were sad haha. They told us how they read in 3rd nefi about baptism and how they want to be baptised and be like the wise man with their house on a rock! I’m going to send a picture of them that we took this week when they invited us to eat!

 This week I started the Book of Mormon again and I am loving it! Really we can get so much out of every chapter! This week I read the scripture in 1 nefi 2:20. “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.”

When we keep the commandments we will be blessed with a ´promised land´ not only in this life, with more happiness, better work, safety, health, but also blessed in this life too come! I know this is a true promise because I have seen it in my life and in the lives of many here in the mission!

 

Love you guys a ton! Have a great week!

Elder Hawley

Give Thanks & Ask To Receive A Letter To Elder Hawley 9/10/17

Hey Elder!

We enjoyed seeing the baptism pictures. That is a great picture of you and the brother. How is life in the branch? What is the update on the family Lopez? Do you meet in a church, house, or somewhere else? Being in a branch should give you a lot of opportunity to teach and work with the members. Gain their trust and friendship, that will be the key to your success. They will lead you to their family and friends.

Life is super busy here with school, church, and work. That's what makes time fly. We can't believe how fast it is going. Megan got asked to Homecoming last week. She is super excited! He is a junior, on the swim team, and his name is McKay. Malia is constantly practicing her cheers in the house, and using Peanut, and her Viola case in practicing her stunt lifts. Kind of funny. Poor Peanut...she just lays there and takes it. Oh and yesterday was the U vs BYU football game. It was a low-scoring game but the U won 19-13. Yay!

Mexico is having earthquakes. Idaho has been having a lot of mini quakes lately. America is getting hit by hurricane after hurricane, Texas, now Florida...millions of people are on a mandatory evacuation (we are so glad we don't live where there are hurricanes). A lot of Oregon, Washington, and Montana are on fire. Makes you think the end is coming soon. Now is the time to spread the gospel and serve. So keep up the good work!

Two scriptures for this week: 2 Nephi 32:5 "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

We love you and are praying for you and Mexico always. 

Love, 

Your Family

Welcome to Camargo Tamaulipas 9/04/17

First, here are some baptism pictures that are from a while ago from the brother that decided that he wanted to finally! I miss their family a ton, but they called me on Sunday after church and they are doing super great! 

 This week has been super awesome. I got to my area after a long bus ride from Reynosa. We get there and my companion tells me that my life is going to change haha, this little town has like nothing. There are only like little corner stores and one small grocery store, I love it. It’s so fun and all the people are super nice and wave to us! We are part of a little rama (branch) that like 30 people go to, but I’m super excited. There is lots of room for growth. We are on bikes right now, it’s super nice but my butt really hurts!

The other areas are like 30 minutes away so when we have to do splits with the other missionaries, we have to travel a little. It is super fun to meet and get to know all these little towns. From the top of our church we can see Jack in the Box in Texas...we are super close to the border, more North from Reynosa. We are right on the border of Nuevo Leon....I might have to cross really fast and get me a good burger.

Oh I helped to save a life before I was transferred with what I remembered from my Med Anatomy class. The family that is going to get baptized in my last area, the son started to have a heart attack and I recognized it and called the ambulance and we saved his life. He just barely got to the hospital in time. He is doing fine now, the doctors prescribed him with a crazy high dosage of medicine and they are probably going to get sued. It was pretty scary!

We found a super awesome family. I will send a picture with them next week because we never took one with them, but they are super awesome. Their name is the Family Lopez and oh man they are so fun and great! They came to church this week and just loved it! I hope things keep going great with them!

I am loving it here and everything is going super great! I love you guys and I hope you all have a great week.

Elder Hawley

 

Peace A Letter To Elder Hawley 9/03/17

Hey Elder,

So how is the new area? How was the travel there? We are so anxious to hear. Give us all the details. We love to hear your stories. Hopefully you are getting settled in and you are getting along with your companion. Things are just normal busy here. School started so everyone is super busy. 

         Here is a picture of Miles from today...he says "Hi". Haha who does he dress like???

 

Malia auditioned (sang & danced) for a Performance Team called Inspire at Spotlight Children's Theater and made it! She is super excited. It will include singing, dancing, and acting. She also had her first real cheering at the school volleyball games last week. She had a lot of fun! Megan would have tried out for Inspire too, but the schedule would have conflicted too much with work and the other things she has going on, plus she would have been the oldest one. Megan had a date with a cowboy from Davis High, he actually graduated last year, on Saturday. They doubled with his twin brother and date. They went Country Swing Dancing. She had a lot of fun and is so happy she finally learned how to dance that way.

With the mission struggling and baptisms being slow, if you aren't sure why, there is one person who knows-ask Heavenly Father. Keep praying. He can tell you how to fix it. Dad read an interesting talk this week. He doesn't remember who gave it or exactly what was said but the jist was this: Heavenly Father will give us answers, strength, and peace to do whatever lies before us. But we have to work and move forward in Faith (which means we have to do some of it on our our own). If God were to just give us the answer every time or fix it for us every time he would just enable us. We would become more dependent on the Lord and our progress stopped. Life is a struggle by design. That's what helps us grow. Philippians 4:6-7  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  

Mom enjoyed the lesson in Relief Society today on Peace. P ray, E ncourage presence of the spirit, A ccept & conquer weaknesses, C haritable acts through inspired church service, E njoy being you! 

Mosiah 18:21  "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." 

Look what Megan repainted at grandma and grandpas! It was her summer project. She did it by herself and did a great job!

 

Keep up the good fight. Your heart is in the right place and you are doing great!

We love you tons and tons. 

Love, 

Your Family