Thankful......A Letter to Elder Hawley 11/13/16

Hello Elder, 
How are things with your new companion? We are excited to hear that the work is progressing in your area. It isn't always clear to us the difference you are making in peoples lives though. We sure enjoyed your story about how you met the taxi driver. The Lord can prompt us in many ways. That is the first story we have heard about THAT kind of prompting haha. We are so thankful for and loved seeing the video of you on the mission facebook page speaking Spanish with your current companion and others in the car. Seeing you makes us feel like you are right here with us and so thankful to see you are doing well.

Things are going good here. The kids are all doing well in school and all had great report cards for first term. Mom and dad are super busy with work and life itself. Dad is gone alot between very long hours at work and Bishop duties. We had the primary program today about scriptures and prophets, it was great. Miles and Malia did a great job singing and saying their parts. Malia is happy to be out of primary for good now that the program is over. She is enjoying being in young women. Did we tell you that Megan earned her Young Womanhood Recognition a few weeks ago? She is now working on earning her Honor Bee. So proud of her!

It is such a great privilege to hold the priesthood and to be a part of the miracles and blessings Heavenly Father has for his children. He has and will continue to bless his children in Mexico through you. What a great blessing that is. Remember who you represent and the power that supports you. The scripture for this week read Alma 26:37. We are so thankful to you for your willingness and for taking the time out to serve the people of Mexico.

God bless you. We love and pray for you always.

Much Love, 

Your Family

Video From the Reynosa Mission Facebook Page

Love You Guys 11/7/16

First off I just want to thank everyone who has been supporting me and who have helped me at all in my life. I am truly so grateful for all of you and I would not be who I am today without you all.

Second off, we have had a lot of success in our area. We have 8 people that hopefully will be baptised if everything goes well. I have faith that they can change their lives and become so happy through the gospel. I know that through obedience to the commandments of the Lord we will be blessed so much.

I heard an awesome quote. It was, “If we always focus on where we want to go, almost all the decisions we make on a daily basis and in our lives become easy.” There is a clear path that leads to happiness and it has been clearly defined because this life isn’t meant to be super complicated. If we follow the guidance of the prophets and the commandments we will be alright. Life isn’t meant to be easy either.

About 7 new missionaries (3 Americans) got here this last week and I tried talking to the American and it was so hard. I think like 20 get here in three weeks.

We have gotten soaked like every day. It’s so nice in the mornings and at night. We put chairs on our roof and study up there sometimes.

This morning we ate at a little taco restaurant and it was super super good. Oh tambien (also) we ate at a miembro (member) and they had this chipotle chicken. I am going to learn how to make it because it was honestly so so good. I’m going to buy a book and have the members write down the recipes that we eat.

I love you all so much. Miss you.

Elder Hawley

Swim Like Mitch A Letter to Elder Hawley 11/06/16

Hi Elder,

How was your week and Halloween night? How is everything going with your new companion? Does the time change for you in Mexico like it does here? We went back an hour on Saturday night and trying to get use to it getting so dark early. We enjoyed reading about your week last week and your story about the experience you had with the taxi driver. 

Megan says that she loves you and she knows you are doing a great job. She also says to make sure you always follow the promptings you get as soon as you get them. 

Malia wants to tell you that she did a round off back handspring on the floor by herself in gymnastics. Also that Miles said to her that he wanted to listen to "We Will Rock You because it reminds me of Mitch". It was so cute. 

Miles and mom went swimming on Wednesday with Grandma Paige, Aunt Ginger, Aunt Robyn, and the cousins.(Megan, Malia, and dad were raking leaves for a service project for mutual). It was fun but hard for mom going to the rec center and not because you were swimming. It brings back so many great memories. Miles says he got alot of candy Trick or Treating and he had his first swim lesson on Saturday. He did really good and is in level three. He has to really practice his kicks. He jumps in the water, floats, swims freestyle and loves to push off and do backstroke the best he can. He is having some private lessons with Lauren Barnes until group lessons start on November 28. When he was getting ready for his lesson, before we left home, he ran down the hall, grabbed your green Tsunami towel and your orange mesh swim bag and put the towel in the bag. He had his goggles and swim suit on and said, "I'm ready to go swim like Mitch." Awwww it was so cute. We really miss watching you swim!

For this week's scripture read 3 Nephi 18:15-19. Remember to look for the things Jesus taught about the blessings that come to us through prayer. 

We love you and miss you. Keep working hard, smiling, being positive, and following the promptings that come to you. 

Love, 

Your Family 

If You Love Them Let Them Go 10/31/16

Que paso? (What’s Up/Happening?) Well first off this week has been super good! Referring to the title, my companion got transferred to Matamoros. I stayed in the same area and I met my new trainer today! His name is Elder Muñoz (see picture). So far he has been amazing. The first thing we did was clean the whole house. He is super obedient from what I have noticed. I am super excited, he told me today that there is no such thing as a bad area. It’s just the attitude of the missionary. He is so awesome. He speaks no English which is going to be a struggle, but I am excited to be able to learn Spanish faster. He is from the state of Chiapas and is super cool. He has a year in the mission and we are going to do great things in this area!

As far as Halloween here lots of the churches here say that it is of the devil so they can’t go out, but lots do. There are people here that dress up as clowns and try to kidnap people but the drug lords and all the bad people are going around kidnapping all the adults dressed as clowns. Haha it kind of reminds me of Hells Angles the biker gang.

It has been super super hot. It rained a lot one day so today and yesterday was super hot, but all the people are telling us that the cold is coming.

This week I want to tell a story, in the most missionary appropriate way. I almost had an accident. We had just finished eating a super super good meal and we were walking the 30 minute walk back to our house. Of course about half way through me and my companion had to go to the bathroom. Oh man and when I said we had to go to the bathroom I mean that my two greatest desires in my life at that moment were to use the restroom and to find people to teach. I was walking as fast as my body would allow and then I saw a different path and for some reason decided to take it. It lead us through this giant flea market and took so long to find a way out. By the time we got out I could not handle it anymore. I decided that we were going to use the rest of my money for the week and take a taxi home. We ran to a line of taxis’ and jumped in the first one. As soon as I sat down and paid the driver the need to use the restroom was gone. So mad haha. I just used the rest of my money to take the taxi and now I didn’t even need it. Turns out that the taxi driver was an investigator of an elder who taught him the beginning of his mission but when the elder left the area he lost contact with the church. We gave him the number of the missionary and he called him. He was so excited to go to church that next week. I know that we were more or less forced to that taxi. I love the church and all the cool experiencias we are having. I love you guys.

Elder Hawley!

Fall Weekend A Letter To Elder Hawley 10/30/16

Hey Elder,

I cannot believe how fast Sundays come. The weeks seem to be flying by. How was your week? Do they seem to be going fast for you too?

It will be Halloween when you read this so BOO...Happy Halloween! Is Halloween celebrated in Mexico like it is here?

It was a busy week for us with all the Fall festivities going on and the last week of 1st term already. Megan worked at the ranch all week and long hours for the Fall Festival. She had a date Friday and carved pumpkins. She also went on a date to an EFY conference Saturday. She wanted me to tell you that Brad Wilcox spoke and taught to "Act and not React". She also liked the acronyms that were taught for GOSPEL-Godhead, Only true church (we have all the piano keys), Spirit, Priesthood, Everyone-it's for everyone, Living prophets.

Malia had her orchestra concert and Miles had his school pajama party in his classroom. Mom was able to help with that which was fun. Saturday was crazy busy. Miles attended a birthday party for Will Hoeksel who turned 6. After that we had the Hawley family Halloween party. We sure missed you there. Everyone asked about you and said they enjoy reading your letters/pictures and get a kick at the titles you name your letters. After the family party, we had the ward party that dad and mom helped at. Dad made root beer and mom made chili. It was a good turn out and all the food was gone. We were all warn out. Miles said, "Wow three parties in one day!"

Today was Malachi's farewell. He gave a great talk. He spoke about all his friends his age and you and your age group who went on missions and how that was part of his decision. He knew that it was his time to serve his mission. He also talked about how right after high school he didn't know what he wanted in life and got so sick of everyone asking him if he was going to go on a mission. He just stopped going to church for a while. He knew it wasn't the best decision but he said the Lord didn't give up on him. He enjoyed attending the U though.

Mom learned about JOY in relief society today. We should think of Jesus first, Others next, then Yourself.

Dad says, "I had some training before stake conference. Thought I would pass it along to you. We talked about the parable of the lost sheep. You are probably familiar with the painting of Christ holding the little lamb in a peaceful meadow.  If you read the parable closely they went in search of a lost sheep in the wilderness, a dangerous place. The shepherd went in search of a sheep not a lamb. He threw the sheep over his shoulders not cradled in his arms.  The sheep was no doubt wounded or hurt (that is why it was carried). Rescuing sheep is hard, dangerous work. Carrying a heavy wounded sheep out of the dangerous wilderness is no small task. That is what you are doing. It's hard work, but the rewards are out of this world."

Here is a scripture for this week that goes along with our letter. Ezekial 34:11-13

"...I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered...And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries..."

Can't wait to hear about your week!

We Love You, Pray for You Always, your companion, and the people of Mexico.

Love, Your Family

In the Desert of My Afflictions 10/24/16

Haha the title of this week relates to the climate of Reynosa, my experiences, and the photo attached.

Well this week has been a rollercoaster of a week, lots of trials. I learned that the area I am in is one of the hardest areas in Reynosa which comforts me a little bit, but its still so hard. I went on an exchange with one of the assistants named Elder Mullins. He is from Orem, Utah and he leaves this week. He taught me some awesome things and really changed my point of view on things. He was in my same area at about 1 year into his mission. and he told me that this area was the only area that he didn’t have any baptisms. We have a saying when things are going bad and stuff just kind of stinks, “well at least we have our health”. This week was a trial of my patience. I read in Preach My Gospel that it is one of the most important traits to have, so I decided to try to be more patient not only with the people of Reynosa but also with myself. We had appointments fall through, grandmas yell at us, and drunk guys crashing their bikes into us, but I tried in every moment to have patience. At the end of the week we found almost 10 people that are super cool. It was honestly an answer to my prayers. In Alma 31:31 it talks about patience a lot and it is super great. I know that if we rely on the Lord he will strengthen us in our times of trials. Like the family of nefi (spelling in Spanish) in the desert of their afflictions, if we are faithful we will make it to the promised land.

This week I ordered a corn on the cob in the street from a little cart. It was so good. He put it in a cup for me haha I dont know why but he did. It was delicious. It had peanuts and other stuff and was super spicy. Also it rained a ton and is finally cooling down a little here. Miracles really do happen! Also the one picture is one of the members house. It is an old abandoned warehouse. He just lives there with a ton of dogs and guards it. But boy can he cook.

Love you all! Elder Hawley!