California Girl - Adventures of Hermana Hawkes

Hi all-- My title for this week is from the incredible Hermana Torres, who feeds us every Friday without fail. Her home is only two rooms, and she has twin 4-year-old boys hanging on her the whole time, but she somehow manages to whip out the most amazing meal nonetheless. Honestly, it's Aunt Katie or Aunt Jenny level. Her boys, Jacob and Nephi, are the cutest, but like all four-year-olds can't focus much on our message when dessert is on the way. Hermana Torres had bought sweet breads with pink icing, and the boys, especially Nephi, just couldn't take it. They gave her absolutely no piece until she finally shouted in exasperation, "Noooo pinky pan!!" This surprised them into silence for about thirty seconds, and then they both started back in with "Pan, mama?" "Piiinky?" I don't know what about it was so funny, but Hermana Stanfield and I just about died laughing. When the day starts to get long one of us is bound to turn...

Dad: I'm planning to write you all a big, handwritten family letter this week because the computer time is tragically short. I have so much to say and so little time. I'm out of time right now technically, but I just couldn't leave without writing you a tiny message to let you know HAPPY FATHERS' DAY and that you were on my mind yesterday. I'm so grateful to have you as my dad, more and more as I get older and learn even more your strengths. Being on my own has taught me a lot about you and Mom, and I'm grateful for you both each and every day.  Ever since I read "To Kill a Mockingbird" for the first time I've thought of you as my "Atticus Finch." Cheesy, but there you have it. The same man everywhere he goes, with a deep sense of integrity. A man who stands by what he believes in whether it costs him friends, reputation, or anything else. Someone I constantly turn to with my troubles, with full confidence I'll leave feeling more...

Hi all! I am every bit the "greenie" I feared I would be, but I'm getting ahead of myself!  What a whirlwind, but I'm here. I still wake up every morning convinced I'm back at the MTC. Then the train that runs next to our apartment complex rattles by and I remember I'm in Fontana, California. Crazy, and so exciting!  Getting here was wild. The morning I headed out I knocked milk over an entire tray of biscuits (the lunch lady was less than thrilled), lost my room key and notebook full of Spanish notes, and ended up running so late to the bus that I didn't say goodbye to half my zone. The thought kept running through my mind, "What on earth am I doing?"  When we finally got to California, however, everything started to look up. Redlands has mountains, albeit dusty ones, and just seeing them made me feel a little more at home. President and Sister Dixon  made us all feel so welcome the first day, even driving us around to see som...

Hi all!  It's starting to sink in that I'm headed out of here in 3 days. The fact that suddenly all my investigators will be real, and I'll need every bit of my tiny Spanish vocabulary is scary! At the same time, I'm so excited to leave the MTC cafeteria and the routine behind me and meet the people I've been called to serve. I've talked to three Redlands natives now, and they've told me to get ready for heat, great grapefruit, and great people. I like 2/3 of those things so I'm feeling pretty lucky. I've been inside all day here, so I figure I'd better arm myself with some serious sunscreen before Tuesday though! Some things to know about the MTC-- it is amazing. Never again will I get this kind of time to stop, study, and think. It's easy to get caught up in the idea of leaving so soon, so this week I've tried to slow down and enjoy the experience of being here. Our zone receives a new district of missionaries every week no...

Hi all! My theme this week is an Elder Holland quote; "If you miss the joy, you've missed it." I've decided I don't want to miss a second. This week was a whirlwind. About week 3, the MTC really starts to fly. At first the stretch on forever, but by now I'm left wondering how I can possibly learn enough Spanish during my final week. The truth is, I can't, but I'm grateful for the little bit I've been able to learn while I'm here. They encourage us to speak more Spanish than English now, which ends up as constant Spanglish, but the newest missionaries think it's very impressive. My zone members continue to think I'm Latina, so I get constant questions on language. Luckily everyone quickly realizes I have no idea what I'm doing either!  I know I talk about the language so much, but it's an opportunity I'm so grateful for. To be able to have a conversation, albeit a slightly clunky one, with someone I wouldn't ha...

May 26, 2018 Hola all!  First things first: shout out to my amazing family which gets a little bigger this week! So excited for Camille and Jordan, so much love to you both!! We officially hit our MTC halfway point last Wednesday, which is crazy. At first, the time really dragged, but now 2 weeks feels insufficient for all I need to do and prepare for. Having the mission field in sights in equal parts terrifying and exciting. This week's highlight was definitely receiving new missionaries in our zone. We've been the newbies for 3 weeks now, so boy were we excited. I already love all four of them, although I think I completely failed at the "cool-big sister" impression MTC veterans are supposed to give new missionaries! Hermana Effington is a ballerina like Hermana Hall, Hermana Johnson has already made me laugh so hard I cried, Hermana Yates is a classically trained vocalist who just finished an English degree, and Hermana Hemsley just wrapped fres...