January 25, 2016

Hey!!! wazzzuppp?!! 

Yeah so, this week was awesome!! Well there were some downsides but for the most part it was pretty awesome!! So we had a world training for missionaries only from the Elder Oaks and Elder Anderson and some other general authorities!! It was awesome!! We learned a lot from them on how to teach people. A lot of it was from Preach my Gospel too. It was all good stuff there. 

We went to the doctor. But don't worry, it wasn't for me. It was for my comp, He has been having back problems so we went to check it out. We went to 2 doctors. The first one said he thought it was Kidneys the 2nd said he thought it was muscles....... so he is going to take a test to make sure it isn't kidneys. That'll be Wednesday. It kinda stinks because we have to rest a bit in the pench and we cant do much proselyting, but we got to get him healthy first so we can get back to work full time :) 

We had an awesome activity this last Saturday!! I didn't take my camera but there was another person there who had a camera so we will see if I cant get those photos!! It was an activity that had a spiritual thought and some games. We did girls doing guy games and guys doing girls games. so girls had to play the soccer on the playstation, and tie a tie. They were going to do arm wrestles but we didn't have time. The guys sewed buttons, changed diapers and were going to have to braid hair but we didn't have time for that one either. Oh, we also made chori pan! Chorizo sandwhich (chorizo,lettuce,tomato, mayo on bread) It was way fun!! Then the next day we had a ward council (first time in a long time) and they all talked about how they were unified by this activity and they want to do more activities like this so we can be a more unified group. Also the Leaders want to meet up at least 2 times every month to become more unified. And they want to go to the temple at the end of the year as a ward!!! So yea, that was awesome!!! Happy weekend :) 

It's amazing how the Lord can bless us when we put a little work in. We didn't think that this activity would help animate the bario to do the things they are doing now. Just a Bolivian, American, and a crazy Argentine ward mission leader throwing an activity together and it worked out amazingly. When you put in the work the Lord always does his part. I hope you guys know that and can see that in your lives too. If not, get to work and you'll see it!!!! hahaha. 

Love you guys and hope you have an awesome week!!

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

January 18, 2016

Waaazzzzupppp!! 

It's been a good week over here in Argentina! Well, it was a bit hotter the past week, but it rained like yesterday and the night before so it cooled off a bit again! It's kinda weird weather to be honest. I guess it has to do something with the tormenta del niño or the child's storm? That is in Perú. Or at least that is what someone told me it was. It could be something else, but I don't know haha. 

It's been a pretty good week! We had an investigator tell us that she believes the church is true this week!! It was awesome!! We were there in her house teaching and we were starting to finish so we talked about prayer and how they can know for themselves that this message and this church is true. And that's when she said I believe its true. It was amazing!!! But, her husband looked at her with disbelief and she got shy and didn't want to say why she believes in the church. So we will have to see if we can get her to tell us if she prayed to know or not this week. Awesome family. 

I got everyone telling me I'm leaving this transfer. I guess its unusual for someone to be in an area more than 4 transfers. But we'll see what the Lord decides through President Goates. Besides, I still got until like the 2nd week of February until I know, so I don't know why they are all saying that. haha. What 3 weeks? 

I ate some chips for the first time in Argentina this week. First because they are way expensive second I didn't want to spend the money haha. But, we found a little shop/store that sells them for way cheap so we bought them there and they were awesome!! I think I'll have to pass by there again :) 

I got the Lettter from Grandpa and Grandma Hakes this week, tell them I said thank you for the card! and I hope they are doing well and that they are still keeping their kids all in line. Not buying all these jeeps and fun stuff without there favorite elder Hakes ;) haha. Yea, I don't know what else happened this week... Mission leader had his daughter's birthday party so we helped him set it all up and cook the asado! It was a fun day! Don't worry, we didn't just waste time there. We were working too. While we made the asado we talked to all his nonmember friends :) hehehe. We also played volleyball with the 2nd counselor in the stake so that was fun! Emily will be proud that I'm playing her favorite sport! 

Well, I cant think of anything else that happened this past week so I guess that'll be it for now haha. 

oh wait. 2 more missionaries moved into our pench because their pench is way bad so yea. We are a pench of 4 missionaries now. It's was kinda crazy the first couple days getting all of their stuff where it should be and organizing everything but now we are back to normal. Work work work. and then some more work. haha. We are helping an investigator build his house so I am learning how to do brick houses which is pretty cool! So when I get back I'll be able to build Shabins and brick houses! ;) hahha. Alright, now I really don't know what else to talk about but its been a good week. Hope you guys all had a good one this last week. I'll see y'all later! 

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

January 11, 2016

It's been a rain filled week here too! hahah. That's kinda funny that it was the same thing as over there seeing as we are in opposite seasons.. But it was way nice. Rained in the night and morning and then clouds all day. So we didn't get sunburnt  :) We'll see how this week goes with the weather! That's awesome that you guys got to go play in the snow this week!! Looks like a couple feet worth? Also you guys made a snowman!! That's pretty dope ;) hahaha. I don't even remember the last time I used that word.... I think it has been a while..... Glad to here good old grandma Dani lyn Hakes got out on the sled!! Where did you guys go down the hill?? and did you buy sleds?? Everyone here thought that the pic.....with the cut out me from the wedding was real too, like I was actually there hahaha. 

**** I asked Ryan how I can teach the young women at church to make Christ the center of their life.

How to make Christ the center of their life... I think it all starts with faith in Him. If they really want to put him in their lives they need to have faith in him and gain a testimony of Him. That he is their Savior. That he came to this Earth, 2016 years ago, to pay for every one of their sins. He didn't leave out one of their sins, but every little sin. Once they realize how important that is they can have a much easier time putting him as the center of their lives. Prayer is an easy way to do that. Like it says in 2nd Nephi 32:8 ask him before you do something to know if this action will benefit you in your life. But I think the most powerful is the testimony because when someone has a REAL testimony of the Savior, they will do everything to follow him. And it doesn't have to be someone big with the best faith and testimony in the world. He uses the people who are small to bring big things to pass. He took fishers who knew little if nothing of the gospel and helped them change into Apostles and prophets. Imagine what he can do with someone who already knows the gospel and is willing to follow him? 

I don't know if that helped... I kinda just started rambling I think but I hope it helps. Remind them to do the basics (scriptures, prayer, keep commandments...) because you can't build a roof if you haven't built the floor, the walls, and the rest of the structure first. 

If that didn't really answer the question tell me and I'll try to re answer it :)

What are my goals for 2016?... I want to finish the New Testament in Spanish. I am also trying to mark all my scriptures according to the different lessons to help me if I need a scripture in the second of a lesson. Not sure what else. Help everyone come unto Christ. But I think that ones a bit obvious... hahaha :) I haven't thought much in my goals yet. I'll think some more and if you ask me next week again I'll let you know.

It's been amazing to see the Lord's hand in the mission field. He helped us find a new family this last week who are awesome! And something that almost never happens but has happened with this family is THEY ARE MARRIED!!!! It is such a blessing when they are married because they know that the law of Chastity is true or they wouldn't have got married. Well they don't know that its this commandment but they know that marriage is important. It's been awesome getting to know them and helping them learn more about the gospel. I can see a little of a change in their eyes. Like they are a little more happy. It's awesome how the spirit can work in peoples lives. It can be like a fingerprint that is so small but that fingerprint can make a huge difference in the life of people. I hope that you guys can look for these fingerprints in your lives like I'm sure Tara Cummins invited you guys to do. It is so true. If we don't look for them they will pass us by.

I love you guys and hope everyone is safe and having a good old life in the states. Have an awesome week and dont forget to look for those fingerprints! :) 

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

January 4, 2016

How's awesome possum mama this week?? I'm doing great! It was awesome to see you guys and talk to you in skype!! I almost cried once but left the rest of that for you and Emily because I know you guys can cry enough for the 3 of us ;) hahaha. Not gonna lie, it was crazy to see all the Christmas trees and lights and everything set up in the house. Here they have like no lights and some people have trees.. A bit different eh? haha. 

Lets see... New Years we celebrated with 4 other elders from the district. Elder Perez, Elder Nuñez, Elder Piedra, and Elder White!! It was way fun!! We made an asado and some Russian salad with some Coca Cola!! We just ate played games, watched fireworks and then went to bed! It was way chill!! Kinda miss throwing fireworks... It's kinda fun to do that but I guess some elders almost burned down a pench or something, so this year we couldn't have them. It's all good thought because we had a good week anyways!! 

We were helping our investigators Antonio and Jenifer Benitez build their house this week. I got sunburned pretty bad... hahha. I'll have to send you that photo.  I think it will bring back memories to the time we went to California and then I came back a lobster! haha. But we have almost everything done to fill with concrete and then start laying bricks. Then we got the rest of the house to build. We can only build a part of it now and the rest later. But they are an awesome family. They told us this past week "thank you for coming to our house, since you guys came here there has been a peace between us and we feel a lot better. We talk a lot more now than we ever had in our time together. Thank you so much" Jenifer said that and Antonio didn't really say much but he prayed at the end and in his prayer said basically the same thing!! It was Awesome!!! :) :) we were so happy to hear that from them!!

It really is amazing to see the difference just a little bit of the gospel can do in the lives of people. I think it is a lot harder for us as members of all of our lives to see and feel this difference because we are used to it but when someone who has never heard the true gospel in all of their life and then start to listen to a bit of it, it changes them. And it is amazing to see this in the lives of these two people Jenifer and Antonio. 

I encourage you guys to look for the blessings that the gospel has given you in your lives in the last 2 weeks. or month. I know that you can find some because I have too. 

I love you guys. Have and amazing week and I hope everyone had a Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo!!!!

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

I finished  reading
the Book of Mormon in Spanish!!!

December 25, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!