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