Week 9 in Veracruz

Jaden's email 12/19/2016:

"Hey everyone!!! I hope everyone had a good week. I've had a good one. I'm happy to say that we successfully helped the Martinez couple to get officially married. That was a cool experience. It hasn't been easy and has been a stressful process but its over. It was just a civil marriage so we woke up at about 5 AM, left the house, and made our way into the city to a place named San Miguelito. One of the government headquarters for marriage is located there. It was cool. The lawyer read some documents, talked about the importance of staying faithful to one another, they signed papers, kissed, and were officially married. We had the privilege of being there with their daughter and a few of their friends. Now we can finally help them get BAPTIZED. They've already had all the lessons and have gone to church numerous times. Also, we had a few investigators in church again. Today for pday we had a fun adventure. We hunted down this american diner we heard about that had amazing food. I learned a new kuna indian legend this week from our recent convert Robelia. We were talking with her about 3 Nephi 11 when Christ comes down to the people in the Americas and she commented on another story she had been told by her village leaders (religious leaders in Kunayala named Silas). She told us about how Ibe Orgum (the white being that their ancestors saw that descended from the heavens.....A.K.A Jesus Christ) chose 12 men to be leaders of the people. This is called the story of the 12 nergan. These 12 men were supposedly blessed by Ibe orgum and given special powers. 3 of them were preserved by god to walk on the earth while the others died after their normal life." 

1 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.

-3 nephi 12:1

"Here's a few other good scriptures about them..."

 1 And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?

 2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.

 3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.

 4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?

 5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.

 6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.

 7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.

 8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.

-3 Nephi 28:1-8

"I'm so grateful to have this gospel and know without a doubt that's its true. I honestly never gave the respect I should have to the Book of Mormon before the mission. I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to come here to Panama and serve others and find my own weaknesses that I didn't even know I had. The more I learn and see the proof of the book of Mormon I wish I could just show the proof to people. However, this will never work. We can just put the facts in front of people because they will always find a way to attack the truth. Many people rejected Christ even when he did miracles. We must first have the desire to know what is true and truly ask him. We have the promise that he will always give us an answer. I know that though we may find ourselves in situations facing tasks that seem impossible, that if we humble ourselves and trust in the Lord, he will help us find the way. Im looking forward to talking with my family this week. I hope all of you have an amazing Christmas. Love you all!! Make sure to tell someone you care about that you love them. Though we often feel they already know it, we all need to hear it as well. Have a Merry Christmas!!!!!"

-Elder Hawes

"Below, some pictures of the couple we helped to get married"

more pics from marriage

- "A Picture from the baptism of the other Veracruz Elders. I did the baptismal interview for the woman"

- "A sign that I like at a barber shop in my area"

- "Me with our Christmas tree that I found in the house after a long day"

- "Fight club (chickens bred for fighting)"

- "Had to say bye to one of my district members today named Elder Rivera. They needed him somewhere else (he's in the middle)"

- "The diner we found today..Success"

- "Pics from the burger place"