Building our lives

So this week I had the opportunity to talk to a man who is a convert to the church and he told us his conversion story. He said that he came to Manila and didnt have anywhere to live, nothing to do and one day he met a man who got him a construction job...building a chapel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There were only 2 latter-day saints that were working on that job and he said for whatever reason he would hang out with them. Well that got him going to church and then one day his branch president ask if he knew how to cook... he said yes and the next thing he knew he was hired as house help for some missionaries and a year later he was serving his own mission. 

Something happened to this brother as he was building this sacred house of the Lord. The same thing happened to the Pioneers who trekked across America to find Zion. When they arrived in the Salt Lake valley they began to build the world famous temple, the Salt Lake Temple. This beautiful building took over 40 years to build as those who build it had to cut each stone by hand. They first got stones from the mountain and had to use whatever means possible to get it to the temple site. From there it was taken from its rugged raw state and formed into what is now a beautiful edifice! 

Heavenly Father is doing that with each one of us. He is taking us from our natural or Human man and turning us into a useful, beautiful instruments worthy and ready for exaltation. But we to must build our own temples. What sacrifices are you willing to make? what kind of materials are you going to use? and who are you going to allow into that temple?

As we can see from more than one example, beautiful things happen when we surround our lives with the spirit and clean and good things. 

I encourage all of you to select the things in your life wisely. And as you do you will find yourself growing closer and closer to our Eternal Father in Heaven!

I love you all! Have a great week!! 

-XOXO- 

Sister Hawkins 

Trying on Shoes

 Before I left to come to the mission I needed to get another pair of shoes... I wanted a different color than Black and maybe a little heel and of course it needed good arch support for all of my walking! but other than that I didn't have any specifications..So we went on the hunt... we went to so many different stores and nothing! They were all really cute! But they either didn't fit right, or rubbed in the wrong way... they just weren't right... well we ended up going to Dillards since that is where we found my shoes the first time I came out on my mission. We walked in and there where the shoes that I bought for my mission the first time. But I didn't want the same shoes! So we kept looking... we were at the store for maybe 2 hours!! And at one point I looked over and here comes my mom with an arm full of shoes and said "These are all the flats from over 

there, take your pick!" hahaha I love my mommy!... well I found a pair I really loved! They were a nude leather with a little heel, oh my goodness! They were so cute!! and they fit really good, the only problem was the price and there was just something there that didn't feel right!...I ended up going with the first pair I saw the same ones I had taken in black the first time I went out!  

Now you may be wondering why I am telling you this long drawn out story about shoe shopping... well...

 It is kind of like each of our lives you have something or a period in our life that finishes and we need to start a "new chapter"... that's when we go looking and here in this life we have so many options! So which one are we going to choose?! the one that looks cute or I guess fun or the one that is going to give us that "support" or assure us that you are doing the right thing?!... I have to be honest with everyone reading this and I hope by saying this I can help someone pick the path that has some unknowns but is ultimately the right path. But it was SO much harder for me to come back out on my mission. I had just gotten comfortable with my "normal life" and I remembered how hard it was being a missionary and having to learn a new language and all...so in essence I went shopping. Shopping for what I could now do with my life. I prayed and even fasted and I knew that Heavenly Father would support me in whatever decision I made just as any shoe would cover my feet from walking on the bare ground! But when it came down to the good and best choice I knew I needed to come back to the Philippines Quezon City North Mission. This path in my life wont just "cover my feet" but will give me the support, comfort and experiences that will not only help me but will help change lives for eternity! So here I am writing this in the Philippines, still breaking in these new shoes, but this time I have gratitude in my heart and optimism for every day that lies ahead of me! So take courage in His plan, and take that leap of Faith! And I promise if it is the right thing, and He wont let you go to far if it isn't, everything will be just fine! 

-XOXO-

Sister Hawkins