"Hey everyone! plot twist..So this week we had emergency changes and my comp got sent off to a different area before we even knew what hit us. Hes off somewhere else and I'm not even sure well. Sometimes they pull missionaries out of their areas to fill in spots where other missionaries had to be changed. That was a real bummer. I will really miss that guy. Well..we got our changes this week. Dad you were right. First district leader..next zone leader. I got a call from president Current last night and he called me to be a zone leader in Arraijan (not exactly sure how to spell it). Its the biggest zone in the Panama mission. I believe it has about 24 missionaries and covers a lot of Panama. My companion is one of my good friends named Elder Sendon. I got to know him in San Blas while I was living in Ukupa. He lived in Irgandi and we did divisions/hung out on Pdays sometimes since it was only a 40 min walk through the jungle. I've heard a lot of good things about this zone. They have the highest baptismal statistics in the mission and the zone is full of friends that I've gotten to know. Its crazy to see that many of the guys that I came with are now leaders as well. Looking back on my time in Veracruz, its been great. We had 4 baptisms and helped to reactivate a good number of people. I made a goal when I got to Veracruz to search out many of the less active return missionaries in Veracruz and help them get back on the path. I'm so grateful to say that out of the 4 I found, we helped to reactivate 3. For those that have taught less active return missionaries its not easy. They themselves have searched for less actives as well and can be kind of stubborn feeling as though there is little we can teach them. Luckily, the lord helped us to find the message they needed and we could help them get back in the game. They're now helping the branch to grow and taking on leadership roles again. I had an especially great experience with the Almengore family. The husband had served a mission and had fallen away from the church a little. He married a non member. This family was our next door neighbors. Knowing that a countless number of missionaries had went and visited there I decided to take a hit and started visiting more with them. They opened up to us about how they had nearly lost a little child in the hospital since he was born in the hospital premature. That he was born with a whole in his heart and suffered from breathing problems. I felt prompted to share the same experience that my own family has experienced with my little brother Gavin. How he fought and survived against all odds as god protected him. The husband then bore his own testimony bout how doctors had told them the baby wouldn't live and missionaries went to the hospital to give their child a blessing. He too survived against all odds and is with them today. He testified of how he too had given blessings and knew without a doubt the truth of this church. The spirit was so strong his wife burst into tears and decided she wanted to gain a testimony as those that had been shared with her. We put a baptism date with here for this upcoming month and I challenged her husband to prepare to perform it. Its interesting the way god works. He puts us through difficult situations though we don't know why these things happen to us. What I've learned from this experience is that we need to push forward with firmness in Christ..never looking back, and remember that each trial we face has been placed in our way to help us grow. We are fighting for our salvation in this life and we must do the things that help give us strength. This includes family prayer. scripture study, church and temple attendance, and doing all that we can to follow the example of Christ. I have little time but want to invite all of you to think of a challenge you've had and how you were able to overcome..If you struggle with current trials..use the past to your advantage and analyze what god helped you do to overcome it. We are never alone. I love you guys and I will be doing the best I can to be a focused missionary to help make our mission vision come true."
Panama mission vision
Helaman 3:
25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands
"Have a good week everyone!"
-Elder Hawes
"Have a good week everyone!"
-Elder Hawes
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