Packing and Moving!

It's been a long time since I have updated Josh's blog. Neglectful mom.  It was so awesome to skype with him on Mother's Day!

He was able to visit Yellowstone Park on Memorial Day. He said he took 700 photos!  Oh boy, can't wait for THAT slideshow.... ;)

He has been serving in Shelley Idaho for the past 6 weeks...but is already moving on!  We got an email this week from his mission president...Elder Hawkins will be serving as a senior companion in his new area of Ammon, Idaho. (Yea, I had to look on a map....it's really kind of part of Idaho Falls.)  So exciting for Elder Hawkins!  And he will be back to a wide assortment of fast food restaurants and the WalMart.  Shelley was a tiny little town and he hardly ever used his debit card, LOL!

Here is his letter from this week. (Always short and sweet...that Josh!)

Dear Family,

I am leaving on Wednesday. I am getting transferred to Ammon. The Elder I will be going with is a visa-waiter. He is going to the same mission in Brazil as Sister Hawkins, our cousin. He is a fireball missionary. Elder Atwood is going to Paris, Idaho and he is leaving today. I will be with two other missionaries in my district until Wednesday. So I am excited, but sad at the time to leave after only 6 weeks here in Shelley, but oh well. The Sisters in the other half of the stake will be taking over the whole stake, not just 5 wards but 10 wards. So Ammon is right next to Idaho Falls, my old area. We are both really sad to leave this area at this time, but it's all good. We are excited to be in new areas. My mission is going by really fast! 

Ben and Lauren, Happy Anniversary on  June 22. I will be at 13 months that day as well. We are going to say goodbye to a lot of people today, Bishops, Ward Mission Leaders and so many others. I am excited to leave this area, I have found great people whereever I go. I have to go pack like crazy. Hope all is well wherever you are.

LOVE ELDER HAWKINS  

Welcome to Idaho Falls!

Josh is now working in cold, cold Idaho Falls!  His new companion is Elder Corbett, he had TWO Thanksgiving dinners, and he is loving his new area.  He sent a few pics last week.  (Not sure where that beanie came from, but at least it matches his tie...?)

I am lucky enough to be part of a Facebook group of moms with missionaries in the Pocatello mission...and there are several church members in the group as well.  These sweet moms in Idaho are the ones feeding our kiddos and keeping an eye out for them!  Several photos were posted of a zone conference that Josh was at last week...I spied him in a couple of the photos!  Nice!!

Can't wait to see his little face in person (via Skype!) on Christmas! 

It's October already!

Hey family and friends,

Another week has gone by super fast. So I have some pretty sad news to say... Elder Adkins is leaving me. I mean, I am getting a new companion on Wednesday. His name is Elder Jack and he is from the Marshall Islands. I have really enjoyed Elder Adkins, we have had HUGE opportunities to share the gospel with others. I have been with him for four months, it is crazy how fast time flies. 

General Conference was pretty cool. We have been super busy saying goodbye to people before Elder Adkins leaves on Wednesday. We also went to the Idaho Falls Temple on Friday, which was right before General Conference-- that was amazing, So it's sad to see Elder Adkins leave me but oh well he is actually going to Idaho Falls and the temple will be in his new area. We have had 5 baptisms as a companionship, pretty cool.  So great to hear that there is a total of 15 million members worldwide and also there is more than 80,000 missionaries worldwide.  President Brinkerhoff is doing well, we saw him on Friday.

We have to come back here-- there are so many awesome ward families here. We just got back from golfing today, that was a lot of fun. We have a lot of appointments and people to see since Elder Adkins is leaving. I got your box this past week a lot of yummy foods. Enjoying beautiful and cold Jackson. By the way it snowed on Thursday. Yes, I actually bought a coat, do not worry I am not going to freeze to death. Loving it here in Jackson, Wyoming. OK I got to go we have appointments and a dinner to go to-- talk to you next week, love you.

Happy 2 months!

Dear Family and friends 

HAPPY 2  MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hope all is well. Tucson will be missed a lot. But oh well... you're moving on me, that's fine with me. There nothing I can do about it. Enjoying it here here in Jackson, Wyoming. We went on a double decker bus on Saturday, and out to a place called Mormon Row. It was just an old barn. We have taught a lot of lessons this week . I am excited to be on my mission and can't believe that I am two months out-- that's crazy. I am one/12 of the way done. Way to go me. I am enjoying it so far so good. We are going to Idaho Falls on Thursday because Elder Adkins has an appointment with an eye doctor.  

One of our Spanish Elders got transferred and the elder that is here now is from Peru. He is pretty cool, I like him a lot. I am speaking at District Meeting tomorrow. I do not have much else to say. Ben and Lauren, you guys have been married a month pretty cool! 

LOVE, ELDER HAWKINS

July 15

Hey how is everything going in Tucson, even though you guys are almost done living there?  Moving on my mission is sad, but i will get over it. How is it going with the move and everything? I hope all is well I think about you guys a lot, I LOVE YOU. I am still in Jackson getting trained, my companion is now our new Distract Leader-- crazy right? I am loving it here in Jackson. I am so happy to be on this mission right now. I am hoping to get a care package or something. I need snacks to eat.  We are going to the Rexberg temple, and we are really busy with a lot of things to do. My mission has flown by-- without the support of my companion and you guys I do not know where I would be! I am really happy to be preaching the gospel to people who need to hear it. 
I am really excited for your move. Tell Zack and Dad to write to me this week. And send snacks!  Have a good week, guys!

LOVE, ELDER HAWKINS

YAY, an extra email this week!

Hey family

Hope everything is going well. Well it's an all day P-DAY today for the holiday. Also it's your last month in Tucson. Hope all is going well, and Happy Birthday Grandpa! We have been busy busy, and we are super excited tonight to watch fireworks. I have been in the mission field one month. I am so excited to share this gospel with everyone. We are having a BBQ tonight for the 4th of July it should be a great turn out. I am happy to be a missionary here in Jackson. I never would have thought I would be serving in Wyoming but that's where the Lord wants me. Enjoying my mission, it is going by pretty fast. I have not heard of any sports stuff but the gospel is more important. I love you guys I got to go

LOVE, ELDER HAWKINS

Happy July 4th!

Dear Family and Friends,

It been a good week here in Jackson, Wyoming. We have two P-DAYS this week, but I do not know if I can e-mail on the 4th of July or not. I have been working really hard. My mission is flying by, and I am loving it. Elder Adkins and I are doing great. We get along so well. We have had lessons left and right. BUSY ALL THE TIME. I am loving it here in Jackson. It's a great mission so far. We are visiting people like crazy as well. We have a car but sometimes we ride the bus. The bus is sometimes a good idea if we find people that might be interested in learning about the church. Pizza over at the Pierson's house was so good. I hope all is well with Ben and Lauren HAWKINS (that's CRAZY to say!)  Crazy to think when I get back they will be married for two years already. How is Chris doing?  I am hoping he will do good staying in Tucson. How is my buddy Zack doing? Dad I love you and I miss you and I hope I get to fly home on a sweet JET, LOL. Grandma I got your letter from last week it was good, thank you! Weddings are happening like crazy. I want see more wedding pics of Ben and Lauren, I love them. How is Daisy doing? I miss her, and I hope she is going to enjoy Kansas. We are busy today and are going shopping for FOOD YUMMY FOOD. When you are a missionary you can't say no to food. I gotta go!

LOVE ELDER HAWKINS