March 14, 2016

Please send me a video of Jacers with her :) I want to see big brother Jacers hahaha. WHAT --- Dad's buying a tractor and a port a potty after I leave!????? Does anyone else see something wrong with that or is it just me!!!????? hahahahaa. I guess I'll just have to play with the tractor when I get back :) i'm gonna go hit some massive 2 inch jumps with it, and y'all gonna be impressed ;) hahaha. That's crazy thinking you guys are in rugby and volleyball and tax season.. It's so weird being here. It's like all of that is just a dream and like it was soo long ago.. 

I was missing rugby a ton this week. I started day dreaming about it in the bus. And yes, in the day dream I was running everyone over to score a try :) haha. Looks like everything is awesome there with Macey and Tractors and Port o Pottys. Sounds like the life!!!! hahaha. I'm over here working hard so don't worry. I'll work and you guys can play ;) hehe. 

It's been a way good week here. We are working hard and trying to find people to teach. Its been a pretty tough are to start out but were finding people and so we are hoping to have some baptisms pretty soon here :) We found like a ton of less active members in one barrio or group of houses that we are working with to reactivate so that is fun :) Its been a good week. the district shirts should be done tomorrow for photos so I can show you guys the design we did. I hope it turns out awesome!! I think it will. We are heading to a lake today. Don't worry..... we aren't going to swim because that's not allowed, but I heard it is awesome there so we are gonna go check it out! I got my sick rugby jersey on so that's making me happy :) I am trying to think of things that happened in the last week... my mind is as blank as a white paper right now... haha. 

Oh, our stake had a training to teach all the leaders how to work with the missionaries and in what way which was way good! We sang wait, let's see if you can guess it.................... yes, called to serve!! haha. It was cool. All of the leaders in one spot at one time and we were all singing called to serve. It was pretty powerful. 

Well, I love you guys and I'm running out of words to say so I guess I'll let you guys go. I hope you are all doing good. And I'll see you guys the next week!!!!

Con amor, 

March 7,2016

Oops. clicked send.. oh well, that's so exciting!!!!! I hope all goes well and Macey comes out as beautiful as ever!! haha. That's so crazy thinking she  is going to be born because like I'm not there... I guess I feel like you felt Brent.... jajaja. Good stuff. Glad to hear Emsy is working her way up with volley ball!! That's sounds like some fun stuff. I hear all of my friends are starting to get married... it's kinda weird...I kind of forgot about that until I got some letters about people getting married... Oh, well I guess its life right?? :) 

This week has been a good one!! We found some new investigators and some investigators that could be somewhat close to baptism!! Fun stuff!!! We are gonna see what we can do to help them grow and reach that point!. What else happened this week... I made a new type of  sopapillas!!! Flavor Banana!!!! They are way good!!! I'll have to send you a photo when I make them again. It's like banana bread in sopapilla form. Cool stuff and everyone likes it so even better!! Only one problem... my comp is telling everyone so looks like we are going to have a semana of Banana sopapillas for FHE jajaja. Its all good though!! Let's see... We are making shirts for our district to have!! They are going to be so sick!! Me and Elder Long designed them, but for some odd reason they all decided that I should draw it... I was like uhhhhh, I cant even draw!!!! But I did it anyway and it actually turned out way better than I thought!!! Maybe there is a different gift of drawing over there in D and C that I haven't seen yet... ;) It's been a fun week. busy with lots of work but lots of fun too. So, We are all happy happy happy!! I think that was a quote from a movie... not sure.. haha. But its been a good week. Well, I want to share a little scripture with you guys to end this mansa letter. entonces,

Alma 27:7-14. This is when Ammon and the pueblo of Anti Nephi Lehi have to leave from where they are at for the danger there. so what happens?? In 7 and 8 they are ready to do the thing that the Lord commands of him before they know if they have to leave. They are putting their trust in God. Then in 10 they ask. in 12 and 13 they get their answer that they need to leave. Now this is important. What did they do right after they got their answer?? Fijate. In 14 they did what's in the first sentence?? They gathered together to leave. They show us a couple of examples. 1. Trust in God that he will give you an answer. 2. Ask. 3. Receive the answer and ACT. But not just act but act right away they were ready to do what the Lord commanded them the moment that the Lord asked them to do something. I know that we are human and we like to think before we act in the will of God but so were they. So if the Lord calls you to do something always be ready like this pueblo to act in a moments notice and lay down everything you have for him. It was hard for me to think I would have  to leave my family, you, friends, and rugby but its what the Lord commanded and I knew he needed me to go so I went. I invite you to always be ready to act upon the answers that the Lord gives you whether it is life changing or as simple as bearing a simple testimony to a friend. JUST DO IT. The Lord gave you that impression for a reason don't waste it. Maybe you'll change that persons life or maybe you will be the seed to start that persons spiritual tree or Maybe you will just strengthen your testimony. I don't know, But what I do know is that the Lord sent you to do that so get on it and get it done. He commands and we act out of our love for him and then he blesses us. I know that he blesses us when we act with faith and in the moment he asks. Don't lose the opportunity. These things are true and I bear you my testimony of them in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Love you guys, have an amazing week and I'll see ya in the next week :)

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

February 29, 2016

WWWOOOOOHHOOOOO rugby!! Sounds like some fun stuff!!! Those kiddos are always in the ortho.. you should get em out of the ortho and put em in school!! haha. TJ isnt doing so good?? That's too bad.... who is he staying with?? 

It's been a fun week! We went to the super p-day and it was awesome!! We played some soccer and some people had some silly string that they started to shoot!! and water balloons too so that was fun. All of it was outside so don't worry!! haha. We had a meeting with President Bednar to all of South America and it was awesome!! He talked a lot about asking in faith and doing everything in faith. He also reprimanded us about prayers. About the prayers in church where someone asks that everyone who wasn't here this week can be here the next week. His words exactly were, FAITHLESS PRAYER. now, why is it faithless? Because we are asking God to do everything and bring the investigators and members, less actives, recent converts to church without an ounce of our strength or faith. And like we know faith without action is dead James 2 16-17. So it is a faithless prayer. So what should we do instead? He gave an example of a prayer which basically said, "God, we are all going to go and pass by a member when this meeting ends. We are all going to pass by someone and be their friend or help them in service or in whatever way we can. And if the bishop doesn't like what I am saying in this prayer he can stand up and stop me now. (pause) Yep he didn't stop me so looks like I am going to keep praying. We are all going to do our family home teaching, visiting teaching, and pass by someone after church to help them come the next week to church and we only ask one thing. Please, don't let us all go to the same house. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. " This is a prayer of faith because we are going out to do something we are ACTING with faith. It was all about that. Act with faith. It got me thinking a lot in my own prayers and how many times I just ask for something without giving my action. I think we can all relate to that. And it is something that we can work on. So, I encourage you guys, like Elder Bednar, apostle of the Lord, to change your prayers into prayers of Faith. To ask in Faith and not just ask for things. It has helped me a lot in this week to make my prayers better and I know it can help you guys have better prayers and more spiritual prayers too. 

Thanks for all you guys are doing and have done for me. 

Love all of you tons. And miss you all a ton too. 

Have a spectacular week and we'll see ya next week!!

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

February 22, 2016

Sounds like a fun week!!! I got a new comp. Elder Almeida. He is from Paraguay but lived most of his life in Buenos Aires so basically is Argentine haha. It's been a good 2 weeks with him. We get a long good so its been great. I am district leader of 2 elders and 2 sister missionaries. It seems to be a pretty awesome district. the other 4 missionaries have been here together for a transfer or 2 so they all know each other and everything but we are starting to get to know everyone!! haha. It's a zone with a bunch of new missionaries.... like 6 new missionaries who started this transfer. I'm district leader so I have to teach a class every week to the district in our district meetings. So that's a bit interesting. Learning how to each missionaries is different than investigators haha. We have gotten to know a lot of the area. its a lot bigger than my last area but its okay. Just means a little more work :) 

OOOO fun story this week. We went to get to know one of the members in the ward and we were talking then she asked us where we were from and I said Buenos Aries just to mess around. She asked me seriously?? and I was like yea!! Why don't you think Im from here?? Is it like my Spanish is bad or what's the deal?? and she said no.... you have an accent of an Argentine but... fine, where are your parents from then??? hhaahahaaha I had convinced her I was from Argentina!!! She was asking to know where my parents were from because I don't look Argentine but I sounded like one hahaha. I eventually told her I was joking and she laughed a little bit. it was funny though. :) 

There hasn't been too many other things exciting like that that have happened this week. It's been a pretty chill week. Well, super hot but relaxed week getting to know people and everything. I think I sent photos last week?? I don't remember. If I didn't send anything let me know. We have super pday today with the 2 zones of San Juan so that'll be awesome!!! 

Well, hope all is well with you guys and love yall a ton. 

Cya next week!!!

con amor,

Elder Hakes

February 15, 2016

Hey mom!! 

It's been a good week!!!! We got here to San Juan Tuesday miday and then some elders showed us to the pench. My comp is Elder Almeida. He is from Paraguay, Asunción , but has been living in Buenos Aires since he was 7. So cool stuff there. He seems to like to work so everything is going goood! We cleaned the area. so both of us showed up new again. Looks like we are going to have to learn the whole area haha. There are some maps here to help us though. It's a bit harder being district leader because now I am charge of some other missionaries and I have to teach them every week in a district meeting but I'm starting to learn how to do it haha. It's definitely harder than I thought it was. It always seemed so easy but now I'm learning it takes preparacion haha. 

Let's see, San Juan is pretty hot. like 40 degres C. so we are trying to get more used to that but it's good. We are just getting to know the members and the investigators that are here. They seem to be way good people so that's pretty awesome. 

Let's see... what else has happened.. We had to give testimonies in church this last week because we are newbies to the ward. We are in a ward with 4 missionaries so its a bit interesting.  They have one side of the ward and we have the other side. So it's cool getting to know them and all of the people in this ward. It's way bigger than the last ward I was in! I feel like this one has almost twice as much so that's awesome to see in the church :) 

I heard Cody is trying to be as cool as his brother in rugby, but I don't know if he's that good yet ;) hahaha. I think I'm gonna go find a rugby ball. I want to play with one haha. Like at least have one in my hands to pass around. Looks like Rugby is bigger in San Juan so I am very happy :) as I'm sure you can imagine haha. 

How's all the fam doing? Whats going on with Davy y Nessy?? Is it almost baby time again? Because that'd be cool haha!! 

I love you guys and hope y'all have a good week I am gonna go bowling now so see ya later!!

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

February 8, 2016

Hey mom!!! 

Sorry I am so late today.... we were way busy this morning and afternoon. We went to one of Elder Lujan's old areas to visit one of his converts. It was awesome!! Really good family!! They made an asado for us too!! It was sooo good!! We actually cooked the asado but that was cool to learn how to do it!! 

I got transfered!! Well, tomorow I leave to San Juan!! I hear it's the same as Mesa Az in heat so we'll see how the end of this summer goes!!! hahahaha. Also I will be the district leader so that should be pretty cool. Elder Lujan is also going to San Juan as district leader in the same zone as me! hahaha. He'll be right next to me hahaha. I hear that San Juan is awesome so we'll see what it's like pretty soon here :) I'm excited to get to know a new place though. 

Let's see.. what else happened... we had that asado with the other elders which was awesome! That was the last week. We got together for the missionaries going home. sorry that my email is a bit short but we are running late so I can't write a big one this week... oh, one more thing. We had a family home evening with the whole ward yesterday which was awesome. I got to kinda say goodbye to everyone too so that was fun. Overall, its been a pretty great week :) Love you guys and I'll see ya next week!

Con amor,

Elder Hakes

February 1, 2016

This week was a good one! It was a little cooler. There was a couple of rain storms throughout the week. So that made it a good week too! This next week is transfers so we'll see if I go or if i stay here another. I'm pretty sure I am going to leave though. Oh well, what can we do? haha. The ward is doing a lot better now. They are starting to unite and become closer as a group so it is awesome! It's too bad we couldn't have got them animated a couple months earlier... hahha. I´m happy for them though. We have the elders and high priests going to meet with less actives and members and investigators every Sunday! It's pretty awesome!! Let's see, oh mom can you send me the recipe of the baked ziti. I want to see if I can't make it down here :) We've made some banana bread and sugar cookies which were awesome so why not try out some other things too?? haha. Our investigators are doing good. We didn't have one come to church this week but the next week for sure! :) I don't know what else to say haha. pretty chill week. Today we are going to make an asado because there are some guys who finished the mission and are heading home so we are gonna eat a good hunk a meat with em! I´ll send some pics later so you can see them if I can with wifi or something. Well, I guess that's it, hope you guys have an awesome week and we'll see ya the next week!

Con amor, 

Elder Hakes