November 25, 2013

Dear Family,

This week went pretty well. We found 23 new investigators this week! My companion said he has never had that many before. We found a family of 6 that are  really interested too. They accepted to be baptized December 15th. But, I don't know if I'll be there which would stink but regardless it's pretty cool. The parents aren't as interested, but all the kids love it. They went to church and enjoyed it. They're gonna keep listening and hopefully they continue. They are a good family. 

We also found a family of 5. The 2 kids and the mom are listening a lot and like the church. The dad not so much and the other one is a little girl. This week was pretty cool because one of the missionaries that got here the same time as me got to baptize a guy named Pillo. He is a huge guy...not to be mean but just so you can imagine how big he reminds me of Kung Fu Panda. My friend, Elder Melgar is like 5 foot 7 and probably weighs 140 pounds. It was a battle haha. But what made it special was the things that he had been through. He had a motorcycle accident like a month ago. He almost lost his foot in the accident. His toes were pretty messed up too. But I remember we were all there and gave him a blessing. His foot is still messed up but he can walk and was able to be baptized yesterday. It was pretty awesome. 

For us we got to baptized Marbella this week so that she could be confirmed a member with her sister. I got to be the one to baptize her. It went a little bit funny cause she got to the last step of the font and then she fell into the water and got soaked. I had to pick her up so she could get her footing haha. Then after that everything was good! 

We have baptized 3 weeks in a row now. It feels pretty good seeing the people accept the gospel and letting it change their lives. We are working hard to find more people. That's always the hardest part finding people. That's why this week we trained the ward missionaries how to contact people. It was pretty fun. I got to play the grumpy investigator. haha. But it went well and they are gonna talk with people and find references for us. 

My comp's a good guy. I feel like he's got mostly everything down. Sometimes he's a little prideful but that's just how he is. But he's a goofball.  He will be super serious and then does the most goofy things haha. Its pretty funny. He reminds me of my dad sometimes haha. Right now we are addicted to making chocolate or strawberry milk with banana. Its so darn good! haha.

I actually was a little sick this week but it was just a cold. I still have it a little bit. Everyone here freaks out if you have a little cough. Its kinda weird. They all are asking oh have you taken any medicine or do you want a blessing. I'm just like you guys are ridiculous I have a cough haha. I don't know... its just different. 

The missionary life is good! Hope all is well back home!

Love,

Elder Hakes

...I asked Brent what he is thankful for....

I'm thankful for a lot of things mama.....I could send a whole letter of things I'm grateful for. But more than anything is the family I have. My parents are pretty darn good. I see so many kids here that have no rules and do whatever they want and end up with problems. I can't tell you how many 15 year old girls I've met that have kids....or 13 year old drug addicts. I am thankful that you guys put rules for me. Also for the church. That it also teaches everything that you taught me. That I always have a home in the church along with all of my family. I am grateful to know that almost all of our family are active members, including cousins. I had good schooling. I'm grateful that Gary let me work for him so that I can be here right now. All the llittle miracles I've seen here. ETC.....and hundreds of other things..... 

November 18, 2013

Dear Family,

 

This week was rather uneventful I feel like. Then, yesterday we had a lot of success. We went and looked in our area book the other day. It's a book with records of all the people that have been taught before. We found a record of a family of 4 that live somewhere called Playa Medina. We had no idea where that was so we started asking around and found out its a tiny town on the other side of the river. Because there's a bridge to cross to the other side but we never knew where it went. But, over the bridge is Playa Medina. So we went yesterday to go see what we could do. We went over there and knocked doors. We found 11 people to teach in 2 hours. Four of which were the family that has already been taught by other missionaries and have been to church.  It was awesome! So we are gonna go see them again on Tuesday and we are gonna work hard over there. 

Today we had a zone activity... I don't like them right now 'cause we have to travel an hour and a half to get there and we spend like 100 pesos. Which is a good amount of money for pesos. But it was fun. We played kickball and ultimate frisbee but with a football. Where we went there are a bunch of mosquitoes and my companion got bit a ton. He's got a bunch of red dots on his legs its pretty funny haha. I wore long socks so I don't have quite as many. 

The mission is treating me well. I feel super tired right now so sorry that its not very much but my brain is just not working haha. 

I extend invitation to anybody who reads this to invite at least 1 person to church this week. 

Love you guys thank you for all the support.

Love,

Elder Hakes

November 11, 2013

 Ok this week was a roller coaster that ended going upward! The work during the week was a little slow. We weren't finding a lot of people and we just weren't having a lot of success. We ended the week and we really had nothing to show for it. We went to church and were kinda bummed. Only 3 investigators went to church and 2 less actives that we were talking with. 

Earlier in the week or last week I don't remember. We were teaching a 12 year old girl. I had taught her with my old companion and a bunch of other missionaries before us. But anyways we went with her during the week and she said, "I was baptized in the catholic church. I don't need another baptism." So we taught everything about why she needed to be baptized again and then she said the same thing but added at the end, "I don't want to keep meeting with you guys". It was tough because we had been working a while with her and then boom just turns us down completely. So we left her. But then she came to church Sunday, which was normal cause she has cousins that are in the church. She didn't say anything to us at all. Then the end of church Michel and her aunt came over to us. Michel told us she wanted to be baptized and that it will be this Saturday! Man....I felt like I had won the lottery or something like that! haha. It was awesome to hear those words.

Then, we had our baptism after that and baptized Esmeralda. We couldn't baptized Marbella cause she drank coffee...an 11 year old drinking coffee. Ridiculous....but she is going to be baptized now on the 29th of November. So that's how the week ended! It was awesome to see. 

It's just the same as what I said in my last letter the Lord blesses us for obedience. Go read practically any chapter of 1Nefi and you will find an example of obedience. That's what I want to do. I want to strive to be like Nephi... he was obedient and he was blessed so much. I know it's the same thing for nosotros. (its getting harder to write in English)..... I can't keep my Spanish and English straight. haha. Never thought that day would come around.

I'm loving it here in the mission. My comp right now Elder Vasquez is a boss. He's a good man and knows how to teach. I like when he teaches because he is very direct and gets right to the core. We are working hard and we are only gonna have to work harder to have more success. I love this work The Work of Salvation. Love you guys thank you for all the support.

Love,

Elder Hakes

November 4, 2013

Hello everyone!

 Life is good! My new companion got here Tuesday and he's a good man. He is very obedient and works hard. We have been working our butts off this wee  and we have definitely been blessed because of it. 

This week we went back to see and teach my first investigators. They had stopped listening to us and so we stopped visiting. But, we went back and visited them. The mom named Mirna, still doesn't want to get baptized but we talked with her 2 daughters. It was a miracle and they accepted to be baptized this Sunday. They went to church yesterday and for right now I think everything is good. We are gonna have a family night with them today and prepare for this Sunday. I'm very excited for this Sunday! And if everything works out I think we will have 3 more baptisms on Sunday. 

I've learned this week of the power of obedience! We have been strictly obedient. Not that I wasn't obedient before, but my comp wasn't very obedient before. But with my new comp we have both been very obedient and have had lots of success this week. We have found at least 1 person everyday. I'm actually having a hard time remembering all the names of our investigators haha that never happened before and it  was because we always only had like 5. Right now we have like 15 being taught. 

We are working hard to get them prepared and teach them. The only thing that is difficult is when the people lie to you. Unfortunately that happens all the time here.... and I cant stand it! But besides that everything is great! There's a woman that is awesome that we are teaching named Claudia. She went to our activity viaje a hawaii. She felt that it was specifically for her and answered many of her questions. So right now we are teaching  her. She's awesome but the only thing is she hasn't gone to church yet and she has to get married! I think there's no big problems with getting married cause they can get married fast unless they have to get divorced. But we haven't seen her in a couple days...the last 2 times she wasn't at her house when we went. But we are having lots of success right now and lots of people that are listening. 

THE LORD BLESSES US FOR OBEDIENCE!  

Remember that!

Love,

Elder Hakes