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

Week #3 already!

Dear Family, and Friends.

I am excited for Ben and Lauren getting married this past weekend, what a great milestone. I am excited for them!

We had another baptism this week. I am grateful for that. We have been working hard everyday, and  are having a lot of fun here in Jackson, Wyoming. I love it here. Weather has been great. We have been busy every single day since day one and we have had appointments like crazy. I love my mission, it's great. People are so amazing. I am grateful for this area. It's kind of a small area, and I really enjoy it. We had about 9 hours of church yesterday... crazy I know.

I have been out a month and 2 days. That's crazy, it's flying by. Before you know it I will be flying home, LOL. I have only 700 more days to go... I think I can do it. I am excited to be here and for the great support you guys have for me. I am guessing basketball is over? I do not know who won or anything like that....but I should focus on mission work. I hope Dad, Chris, Ben, and Zack email me!  I love this gospel and am so happy that I have support from all of you.  I got a cold a couple days ago, but I am getting better.  I am thankful for all the love and support you guys give each-day and for your prayers.

 I hope you're all doing well! I love and miss you, but wouldn't want to be anywhere else ;)

I GOT TO GO
LOVE, Elder Hawkins

Only Josh....! Week #2

So... if you don't already know, we JUST decided to make a huge change in our lives. Duane accepted a new job in Wichita, Kansas...which unfortunately is a bit too far to commute. We will be moving in early August. Josh hasn't even been gone a month!  A missionary's worst fear...his family packing up and moving on him!

We let the mission president and his wife (the Brinkerhoff's) know, along with sending Josh an email this week.  I was a bit worried that he'd be upset.  Uhhh, Josh continually surprises me.  What a great attitude this boy has!  Gotta love him...Beth, the mom

Dear family and friends,

 

It's been a good week. Sister Brinkeroff called me and told me about the move. I am happy for Dad and you guys, it's crazy I know. But we all have to start fresh somewhere. And at least there is a big yard to do lots of fun things in, and I like that there is a baseball team close! The weather will be cooler I am guessing. Well I am excited and I can't wait to come home to beautiful Kansas. I do not know about you guys but it's going to go by really fast. 

So good news again, we had another baptism this week. But the cool part was that it was not in font, it was done in lake. Pretty cool right?  I really love the area. The Piersons are feeding us dinner one day this week. I am happy about that.  I am excited for Ben and Lauren getting married at the end of this week. And Saturday will be one month out already because I reported to the MTC on May 22nd. My companion loves me and we are teaching people left and right. There is a guy named Ray who is pretty cool, and is also getting baptised next Monday. I love this mission. I live with two other Elders that are Spanish Speaking. This is a good gospel, and I am excited to have it in my life. Without I would not be on this mission and out here serving others. I love the people, they are so friendly to us. One of the ways we share the gospel is to people when we are riding on the bus. There is one YSA singles ward here, along with two other wards. I am happy to see a lot of people and meet new people. I am grateful to help out other people, and learn and grow in the gospel.

 

Love, ELDER HAWKINS

Hello, first p-day!

Hi Mom and Dad and friends and family,

I am in Jackson, Wyoming, it is a lot of fun! I have not even been out a full week and me and my companion, Elder Adkins from Ohio, already have had a baptism. We had it on Saturday. We had to speak at the baptism.  We have another baptism next Saturday. I have enjoyed this town in Wyoming a lot. We travel to Idaho Falls a lot for meetings. I am excited to be out in the mission, I love it. The weather is a lot cooler than in Tucson. I really enjoy my mission a lot, and I miss all of guys a lot. I live with two other Elders, they are Spanish speaking. I ran into Elder Miller from Alabama, if you remember he was in our branch back in Alabama.. People really treat us well here in Jackson. I do not know where I would be without this gospel. I love this Gospel. It's crazy to think that I am on this mission. God and Jesus Christ sent me for a reason. I love all of you. I need sports updates, not really, I will get that when I get back. I need to have a positive mind set for the next two years. I love you guys a lot and know I am praying for you guys each day and each night. We are great companion's. Elder Adkins has been out for about 4 and half months. He is still pretty new. I kind of miss the MTC, but not really because I know this is the right place to be for my mission. We are ready for anything. I know that I got sent here for a reason.

 

LOVE, ELDER HAWKINS

Finally!

So after 10 days in the MTC, we FINALLY got a short little email from our boy!  I just wanted to hear that he was good, and loving it there. I got my wish...  
(Beth, the mom)

Dear Mom and Dad,

It's my P-DAY right now and  I am washing and drying my clothes with my companion Elder Carter. He is from Tracy, CA right by grandma and grandpa's house. This about-two-weeks in the MTC has flown by. I am super excited to enter the mission on Tuesday. We have done a lot of stuff in the MTC so far. And the MTC FOOD is SO GOOD. I got to see Elder Austin Hurst, he was on my flight from Tucson to Salt Lake City. Ben and Sienna picked me up from the airport, it was funny because there was a homecoming for another Elder and his family was thinking I was the elder coming home.  The MTC is awesome, I almost do not want to leave, it is so much fun. My companion is so much fun I enjoy him a lot. I do not know about you guys but I think my mission will go by fast and soon I will be home from my mission. I do not know if a lot of people have watched 'The District' but my companion and I met Elder Christensen from that movie. 

I miss all of you, and Daisy of course. Anyways I can't talk to long, I've got to go.

Love, Elder Josh Hawkins