October 7, 2013

Hey everybody! 

I really hope you were paying attention in conference this last week! Cause it was pretty awesome! I don't have my notes with me but I remember that I loved Ballard's talk. I'm trying to remember what he talked about though haha.... I think it was about missionary  work. There were a lot speaking about the missionary work and mostly about the members part. As a missionary having members work with you is honestly the most efficient way to work. I've learned that in my short time here! There were also a lot of talks about women and keeping your standards high. I'm not sure why but that stuck out a lot to me. Just always remember who you are guys or girls. We live in a world full of sin! FULL! Do the little things right and all will be ok! Never forget the little things cause the second you do you WILL fall. We can't live in this world without the blessings we have within the church. We have been given much and we also must give. My challenge to anybody who reads this is to share your testimony 3 times this month. Believe me that is super easy! haha. I don't remember but I want to say it was Ballard's talk where he said if we all just invited one person before Christmas then how would the church grow or something like that. There are 15 million members of this church and 80 thousand 300 and 3 missionaries in the field. And the numbers should only grow. Do our part forget ourselves and get to work. As every prophet we have ever had has said members are missionaries. Spencer W. Kimball specifically is famous for the every member  a missionary quote. The work is hastening but it will only go as far as we let it by doing our part. 

I loved one of the quotes from Pres. Uchtdorf where he said something along the lines of don't criticize others for their sins because you have the same as them. I honestly don't remember what it was but it was something like that. He also shared the story of Christ in the temple and how they brought the woman who was caught in adultery and he said any of ye with out sin let him cast the first stone. I loved that! We all have problems in this world and most of the time we don't even know when someone is having problems. But that's why we have the church "for the strengthening and edifying of the saints one with another". Love one another and pick up our brothers and sisters in this world. Help them, encourage them, heck invite them to church where they can get help from all members! The church is a support system in a way. We are all there for one another and pick each other up. I'm trying to think of what else I liked and I cant remember....but those were the biggest things I remembered. 

General conference in the mission is like Christmas! haha. Its so awesome! The time honestly flew by and I'm proud to say I didn't fall asleep once! Although I was pretty darn close 2 times haha. But remember why we have these prophets. These men speak the scriptures of our day. We always talk about studying the scriptures (Book of Mormon,Bible) but remember the scriptures of today. They receive inspiration for all of us. They know what we need and they freely give it. Why not take part in it? Its right there and its free! The prophets speak the word of god. Something I did before the conference is I wrote questions I wanted answers to. After the first session the prophets had already answered every question I had. We have prophets and scriptures, and prayer. Do these things and you will be blessed. The Lord wants to bless us but we need to do our part first. Always remember that. Conference was truly amazing! It was a little hard trying to understand in Spanish but I understood enough to answer my questions. 

I love you guys! Thank you for all the support!!! Never forget who you are and stand tall in this world!       

Love,

Elder Hakes

September 30, 2013

Hello family and friends! 

Today we are going to have our first legit baptism! But one of the ward members will baptize her! Which is all good cause she almost didn't get baptized. Her name is Luz. This week she had to go and ask permission of her parents to be baptized. Her parents are actually long time inactive members. But she went and asked her mom on Wednesday and her mom said no. So Luz came to us to talk about it and see if we could help somehow. We showed her 1Nephi 3:7 Which pretty much everyone knows (go and do the things which the lord commands.....for he will reveal a way for them). Very simple scripture and that's how we should teach honestly. It's better that way and they understand. But that's what we did and bore testimony that the Lord would help her but first we need to ask. So we knelt down on our knees and prayed. My companion and then her. I honestly think when we were sitting in that room she was thinking these guys are crazy praying won't do anything. But anyways the next day she went with a friend that's in the ward to ask again. They talked with her mom and long story short her mom said yes and that she could see the difference in her! Its soooo awesome to see the power of prayers. Never doubt the power of a prayer. 

We had in activity this last week. We are suppose to be doing missionary activities but the ward only wants to party and have food....its makes things difficult. So we had a talent night with Mexican food...it wasn't really missionary but it was good. And lots of people came! BUT we didn't receive any references or anything so it was just a big party. It was just a ward party....all of us are kinda frustrated with doing activities every month. We want to do them and they are great for the work when it has a spiritual function. The problem is no body listens to us we tell them what they have to do and they don't do it. Its kinda frustrating when even the members don't listen. The members here are honestly great! The problem is they don't do much when it comes to ACTION. 

But this Sunday we called a lot more missionaries del barrio to help us. We are trying to have 5 family home evenings every week. The 4 missionaries of our ward split and go with a pair of ward missionaries. We will see how they work this week. 

Oh yesterday was a rough day....we went to a members house and they were watching.......FOOTBALL. It was very very very hard not to watch it!

This week we gotta find people we don't have anybody right now....and that's not good at all! SO we are gonna work super hard this week to find and teach more people. Over here its been super hot lately! Pretty brutal like Arizona but humid! 

Love,

Elder Hakes

September 23, 2013

Dear Family,

This week was pretty good! Not too shabby but not amazing! We actually found 2 new people named Janet and Fernando. Fernando has had problems with alcohol but he told us that he wants to change. We didn't have a chance to meet with them. We only went once for a familia home evening. It was really awesome and I think they enjoyed it. 

Right now we really only have 2 investigators that are progressing. One is Luz. If all goes as we hope she will be baptized this Sunday. She lives in a part member family but her family is inactive. She wants her dad or uncle to baptize her. The problem is that her uncle lives far away. He might come in this week but he might not so if he doesn't come Luz wants to wait until December.....which if that happens she wont be baptized at least I don't think so. So I don't know whats gonna happen with her. We talked to her and told her all this yesterday so she is gonna think and pray about. Also, we have a member in the ward who knows the uncle who is going to talk to him and if the uncle cant come in we want him to tell Luz to allow one of us to baptize her. Idk! If nothing happens it will stink a lot..... She has all the lessons she is excited and ready but who knows what will happen. 

Then we have a girl named Michel. She is 14 years old. Her family is also inactive. I think its mostly cause the dad is a taxista and so he works nonstop. Taxis dont make much money here. But the dad and her both went to church this last week. SO that was awesome! But they only stayed for the sacrament. I think she needs to learn a little bit more and gain a stronger testimony. She believes the book of mormon is true. Which is awesome cause if the Book of Mormon is true then Joseph Smith was a true prophet and the church is true as Preach My Gospel says. So we are just gonna work with her some more and see what happens! I think shes ready. 

We have the same problem we need to find more people....and its a lot harder than you think! Especially with the ward directory we have. It has like 600 names I think but only 150 are active. We got to a bunch of these houses and almost none of them live in the address we have. Its frustrating but at least we are helping the missionaries that come for the next exchanges:) haha. 

This week has been super hot! The week before this week was raining a lot and then this week came and was sooo hot! It was like back home in Mesa with no clouds in the sky but here it was still humid! Haha. 

I found out that I now way 165 lbs I lost everything I gained in the MTC and then some. haha. Everything is going good. We are gonna have an activity this Saturday. An open house to explain the different programs of the church (YW,YM,RS,etc). Then after its gonna be a Mexican night with a bunch of food and a talent show. I'm not sure how this one is going to go....(Mom has anyone responded with ideas of missionary activities???) I feel like its like the Mexican night has taken priority over the spiritual side for this activity. But who knows! Ill find out this week and let you know! Hope all is going well at home! I don't remembering hearing anything about Ryan and football? Mexico is great! 

Love you guys!

Elder Hakes

Nate-I met another missionary who knows who you are. An Elder Javier Vargas I think?  

September 16, 2013

Dear Family,

This week....hmmm I have to think. I'm not good with remembering things. It was kinda a tough week. We've been searching and we decided to go visit inactive members. We thought ya that's a good idea right? Well we went to a bunch of houses almost none of them live here anymore and some of them had died....So ya that wasn't very fun. 

There's been a lot of rain the last couple days and some of the streets were flooded with water. I guess some tropical storm? I don't know, that's what my mom was saying haha. There was lots of rain this last week and lots of the streets were full of water! Nothing too big happened!

I think we probably lost one of out investigators this week....Darwin. I don't know how or why but I don't think he will talk with us anymore. Yesterday was independance day for Mexico. And he said he had to go make things for the big party they have in the city. When we arrived at his house he was sleeping. He came outside and said how he was busy. So he didn't go to church. and before this he cancelled meetings with us twice I hope that he continues, but I don't know.  It's tough when this happens. This guy was the best investigator we've had. He read the Book of Mormon every day and always had questions about what he was reading. But I don't know... I think he's done with us.

 But the other investigator Luz. Shes doing great I'm still kinda nervous that she only wants to talk to us because she wants a relationship with my companion. But we have talked about it and are being cautious. The biggest thing is we need to find people. I want to work with the members more. they know people and know where they live, what they need, etc. It's very hard here in Carillo cause the people always lie to us....they'll tell us oh ya she lives just up the road and we go and there is no one. It's weird.....I don't understand why. It's tough but thanks for everything! I'm doing great! Love you guys!

Love ,

Elder Hakes     

PS

Please tell Nate I met a former Elder Paco Marquez who lives in Carlos a Carrillo and knows Nate. He just got married.

Congratulations Jennie on graduating!