One Year

Email received:
Well, what an interesting week this has been!

We lived through Typhoon Glenda! It really was just a normal typhoon, nothing to exciting! But we had fun cleaning up little mini flash floods from all the water coming through our windows! :)

There are some areas in our area that have some flooding, with pretty black water! That was way fun! Its a good thing I like adventures! But please pray for the people here as typhoon season has just started!

This last week I celebrated what would have been my 1 year mark as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints! What happened to the time?! One year already?! It feels like it has only been a few months!! but I have learned and grown in ways I never though possible! I can now eat fish, and shrimp, and even speak a different language. But the thing that has been the greatest is the daily walk I get to take with our Savior Jesus Christ! From the first moments I wake up to when I go to bed I am engaged in this work. I have learned from the scriptures and from the Holy Ghost and have had the unique privilege of seeing modern day miracles!! None of this would have been possible to this extent if I had stayed at home! Even though this past year has been filled with heart ache and trials, I know that those trials are necessary to give me the "spiritual traction" and Elder Bednar puts it, to help me grow!

Every day when we wake up we have no idea what it going to happen! But we also don't know the many wonderful blessing our Heavenly Father had prepared for us!

So wherever you are at, and whatever heartache you are facing, face it with a smile and with courage for you have the Savior of the world behind you ready to back you up!!

I love you all so much! Maraming Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng support ninyo at pagmamahal!! ( Thank you SO much for all of your support and love!) I couldn't do it with out you!

-XOXO-

Sister Hawkins

 Written Letter Received:
 So Today is what wouold have been 1 year as a missionary!  One year ago today I entered the Manila Missionary Training Center.  I had no idea the kind of adventures that laid ahead of me, the excitement and heartache I would face as I invited others to come unto Christ!  And I had no idea how fast time would go!  It feels as though this day a whole year ago was just yesterday. 

Today I realized something wonderful.  We contacted a referral last week whose name is Henry, but his nickname is DubDub. We are going to teach him and his parents for the first time later today.  And I just realized what a big event this is. Their family is about to enter one of the greatest journeys of their life today and they are being given the opportunity to effectively prepare for eternal life.  They didn't have this chance yesterday!  Today, it all starts.  And they have no idea.  a scripture I found that seems to be appropriate for both these amazing events is D&C 78:17.  In this relation to Joseph Smith the Lord says "ye are yet little children and ye have not understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands prepared for you" 

As we wake up everyday we have no idea the kind of happiness our Heavenly Father has prepared for us.  But everyday we have the opportunity to find out. The Lord then continues to say in verse 18 "ye cannot bear all things now, nevertheless, be of good sheer, for I will lead you along.  the kingdom is yours and the blessings there of are yours and the riches of eternity are yours" 

Even though we may be blinded by our everyday troubles we ned to look up and be of good cheer because he truly is here, Leading us by the hand and eventually we will one day realize just how great our potential is! 

:Live each day to the fullest, cheerfully!  They go by  to quickly!  I love you all and I am so thankful I have such amazing people in my life who love and support me.  I will see you soon.  Love Sister Hawkins