October 27, 2014

Hello family and friends!!!
This week was honestly a spectacular week. My district got to work and we got err done. Sadly me and my companion didn't have all the results we hoped for in investigators in church, but almost all of our other goals we completed. And as a district  they did a great job. I felt really good about that and I feel like if we keep it up we are gonna keep taking care of business. We had a meeting this week as leaders in the out zone. We talked about all the things that were happening good and bad. Then we began to talk about them. Our zone leader said sometimes the mission is going rough. Whether we work as hard as we can or not. Sometimes we don't receive the success we deserve or desire but it all has a purpose. We saw the story of Alma in Alma Ch 4-6 I believe. It talked about when he goes to a city and just get flat out rejected. They throw him in jail and killed the majority of the people that were listening and/or believed in what he had taught. The King of the land spat on them and treated them horrible, but even then they didn't respond. Then Alma prays to the Lord and basically says Father we have done all that you have asked how much longer must we suffer? Then the Lord makes the walls of the jail fall killing the people inside and letting them go free. Sometimes in life we do our best.....and sometimes things don't turn out how we would like, but that doesn't mean the Lord doesn't love us or he doesn't want to help. It's a trial of faith. It's to see how loyal we really are to him. We live in a life full of trials....and it's hard, but the Lord has given us the gospel. If you live it you will overcome the trials, but if you stop living the gospel you will not overcome them.  

When I refer to living the gospel I refer to living all the commandments, keeping your covenants by going to the temple, reading scriptures daily, and praying daily, having Family Home Evening, paying your tithing, and fasting every month. I promise that if you do this personally you will have the opportunity to return to the presence of our Lord and God. I also promise that if you do it as a family you will understand why the Lord has put us in families and what he desires of us, in doing so you will find happiness in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come. I know and testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer amen.

Love,

Elder Hakes

October 13, 2014

This week I bought another new pair of shoes! But these are church shoes. They cost $20 dollars so.....ya and it was kinda hard not to buy them because they look sweet too! My shoes are kind of dying but I'm gonna go find a shoe repair shop and put new soles on these bad boys. 

This week was a good experience. We had 2 baptisms. One they called us at 9:30PM and said she wasn't going to be baptized, so we got super nervous. We woke up the next day and went to her house early. We got there and sat down and began to talk. She said that she had lots of doubts the night before and began to think and sent us the text message that she wasn't sure and she wasn't going to be baptized. So we knelt down my companion and I and we asked in prayer that our investigator would begin to pray and know what she should do. She told us that after she sent the message she felt the need to pray. She wrote a list of why and why nots of her baptism and then prayed to know the truth. She then began to bear testimony to us of the prayer she offered and that she knew she had to be baptized. SO everything was ready and she was baptized. It was awesome to see the testimony that she had earned by herself. Not because of me or my companion but because she had the sincere desire to know. And as it says in Moroni 10 she received a witness by the power of the holy ghost. 

Also, With the other baptism it was awesome too. I remember a prayer he offered with us. IN his prayer he said THANK YOU FATHER FOR GIVING US THE BOOK OF MORMON BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU SPEAK TO US THROUGH IT. It was such an amazing feeling to see that he received a testimony of the Book of Mormon. They gained their own testimonies and it was awesome to teach them. Now we gotta go find new people.

The Evans are friends in Mesa.  They called a week ago and said they were traveling to Veracruz and would take a package for me.  They went the extra mile and delivered it straight to Brent and sent me this picture in a text.  LOVE IT!

Also, This week it was fun seeing Brother Evans and Rylan Evans and receiving a package from my family. Not sure how my English was, but I did my best!! haha. And I'm sure they understood me. It was nice to see them! Thanks mom for the package! Peanut butter M&Ms are so amazing!!!!!!! Just reminded me again of that fact.... I love you all!!!!!

Elder Hakes

October 6, 2014

I got a little sick this week with a cough. I'm still fighting it off but it will be rolling out quickly! But this week was awesome!!!! We had conference!!! It's always the best time of the year in the mission!!! That and calling home of course;) But, I truly loved conference and what I learned was priceless. 

1. We must do everything we can to receive revelation 

2. We must fast and pay fast offerings 

3. Do the little things right, etc.....so many more things. 

But I thought mostly about revelation. How do we receive it? and what must we do to be worthy to receive it? 

First off, what we have to do to be worthy. 

1. Live the commandment- How can we ask the lord do give us something when we don't even obey him? We must be obedient to him and we will receive all blessings

2. Keep Your Covenants- The Temple is the holiest place on the earth that you can go to and in going you will continually "cleanse yourself from the world of sin". 

Those are 2 things you must do. And now in order to receive it you must:

1. Study the Scriptures Effectively- Check in Preach My Gospel Chapter 2 to see how to do that

2. Prayer of Faith- Truly talk and express yourself with the Lord also Preach My Gospel Ch. 4 Pray with Faith 

3. Fast- Sacrifice the worldly to receive the spiritual blessing.

Those are just suggestions and from what I have lived so far its how I receive revelation. I know that as I have done it, I have been able to help myself and others have more success as missionaries and as people. I promise even as our prophets did this week that the only way to move on in this world in  happiness is by receiving revelations. It is essential in the salvation of all people. Without it you will not return to the kingdom of God and you lose your purpose in life. Learn to obtain revelation and when you receive it, obey what the Lord as taught. If you do it you will have eternal happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

Hope all is well back home.

I love you all!!!!!!!!

Elder Hakes