April 29, 2019 The Miracles

Just a little one this week, but I have to tell a few stories! 

This week was wild, We've had a hard time fimding new people to teach tecently. It's neveer hard to meet new people, but those who genuinely want to learn about the gospel itself it sure is! It's funny how, just when you think you've done everything in your power, the Lord sends blessings in such a way that you know 100% that you had absolutely nothing to do with it. So it was with this week! These miracles are a tribute to how Hna Alvarado talks to everyone. 

On Wednesday, we were running late but had to stop and get gas at this tiny gas station. The machines at the pumps weren't working all that well, so they send us inside to get our receipt. The young man who gave us our receipt, kept looking at our tags. Finally he asked Hermana Alvarado about it, and she explained what we do as missionaries. He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then asked if we could teach him as he was going through a hard time. Andres hasn't believed in God much in his life, but now he says he's willing to try. 

The same night, as night fell and we were headed back to the car, we passed a giant group of kids and a young dad. Several paces later Hna Alvarado stopped dead in her tracks, "Man, we should have talked to that guy." As a missionary, there's often this moment when you have to decide whether to chase someone down...we decided to risk it and go back! Good thing we did, as he had been having a recurring dream of people who have passed away unable to "cross" or "progress" because of a veil. Absolutely crazy! 

The same night, and about 10 feet from our car, we waved at a young family headed into their house from their van. The mom seemed to slow down and seem to want to talk to us, and very quickly started to open up about how she studied heavily with missionaries 6 years ago, and loved it. She went on and on, telling us all the doctrine she agreed with. Finally I had to stop her and ask why she had stopped meeting with missionaries! Turns out she misunderstood praying about Joseph Smith and thought she needed to pray TO Joseph Smith. 

There's a detail in the Bible I picked up on recently that I never had before. When Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood, he was actually on his way to the daughter of Jarius. They weren't just wandering around Jerusalem when he stopped, they were rushing to the home of a girl on her deathbed. Still, Christ took the time to stop, turn, and minister to the sweet little sister quietly hoping to even touch the hem of his robes. With each of the people we met this week, I was just so glad we weren't in too much of a hurry to see them. I think sometimes I'm in so much of a hurry to "go where I'm going" or "do what I'm doing," I miss the people around me who may need help the very most. 

Have the best week! Please keep Esteban in your prayers! He is deciding on a baptismal date for next month. Also he is trying to teach us a dialect called Tarasco which is just crazy sounding. Like Spanish and Russian mixed. 

Love, 

Hermana Hawkes 

"Solo los animalitos serán salvos." 

 "El perro se llama 'Estarbucks.' El es tremendo, tremendo!" --Hna Lopez 

"If missionaries are angels sent to teach us, then Hno Esteves is the head angel. The big angel!" --Esteban (those two are best friends now)