Companions

Elder Facer is on the left, Elder Jensen in the middle, and me on the right. 

My name tag until I get one with characters for the field. 

New Suits!

We all got new suits! And the second one is me studying outside. You would be able to see the background better but the flash kinda killed it.

MTC Reunions

Me with Elder Vaughn and Elder Richins

 Elder Bangerter, and Elder Fisher. Elder Fisher was on my soccer team and 

the rest went to Viewmont!

The Compound

7/6/15

Hey Family!,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN!!!!!!!!! I hope you got the card I sent you! It's awesome seeing pictures of you guys doing fun stuff for the 4th of July, we didn't get to do much. We had a big devotional and then everyone in the MTC went out to the parking lot to look at 'fireworks' that you could just glimpse through the trees. Then we went to the edge of the compound, my companionship did, and we got to see the big ones from the stadium of fire in between some more trees. Gotta love the compound. Jenny Oaks Baker did a devotional last night! Mom, I thought you would like that one. You guys aren't sending this first part out to everyone are you? It's only supposed to go to you, the close family. The rest goes to everyone else. Oh and I actually did mean gym shirts..... Haha sorry I guess that was my bad for not being specific enough... If you could just send one more SMALL package with the ping pong, my journal, and a few shirts that would be awesome! No cake though please, there is plenty of food here. I'm not kidding. I still have so many treats I can draw from. Another Elder's mom in my district sent Elder Facer and I packages with candy in them... Kinda weird. Not my other companion Elder Jensen or anyone else in the district got a package from her, including Elder Darrington's companion (Elder Darrington's mom sent the package). Sorry I haven't gotten to the letters lately, I'll be working on sending some this week. This Friday marks 1 month in the MTC and also the halfway point. I can't wait to get over that hump, there is only so much language you can learn in the MTC. I'll be with the same companions. I did get the letter from Grandma! I've seen an Elder from EFY four years ago, he said the only way he recognized me was because I was in the Duty to God book. BTW, I saw Brother and Sister Davis in the Plan of Salvation booklets we use as missionaries all the time. Who are they holding?? They haven't even glanced at our visas. They do it all online as far as I know, and they would have contacted me if they needed anything. I don't get my travel itinerary for four more weeks. When I get it I will let you know. I'm actually eating too much fruit so I've had to vary it up a little bit. They don't have too many food options here. Anyways, I'm getting pretty good at basketball. Never thought I would say that.... Keep up the awesome letters and pictures!!!

Brothers and Sisters,

It has been awesome seeing so many people I know come through the MTC lately! I know there are a lot more coming in the next few weeks, so let me know if you are one of them or know one of them so I can keep an eye out! I got to see a few fireworks for the 4th, so that was pretty awesome. We could just barely see them through a gap in the trees on the edge of the compound. Trust me, it's a compound. But hey, I would definitely rather be in this compound than the one at the Point of the Mountain. The days are beginning to blur together a little bit, especially as we do the same thing day in and day out, but I am growing so much. There is so much to learn in the MTC.

Things I learned from cleaning the Provo Temple today:

-It isn't just superficially clean, we quite literally cleaned every inch. Our bodies represent a temple right? So clean every inch of it. Get down on the floor and scrub the base of the chairs with a toothbrush, wipe it with a rag, and then go over the cracks with a q-tip and a toothpick. Clean even the places no one will ever look. Behind doors, behind picture frames, under benches.

-Go over things twice, with twice the effort. I was cleaning the baseboard by the staircase, and there were tons of black scuff marks. I went over a section of the baseboard once before I found out that if you took a long time to scrub rigorously, the black marks would come out! So I went back and spent around an hour cleaning a 30 ft segment of baseboard. Don't do any job or fulfill any commitment half-spirited. Give it all you got. Put some elbow into it.

-The details are important. What needs just a little bit of dusting in your life? The sisters took every single crystal off of the chandelier in the Celestial Room and dusted them individually (they broke a few but my metaphor ends there).

-Some jobs just need doing. We dusted all the chairs that go in any of the sealing rooms with a bone-dry rag. It pretty much made no difference. Actually, it made no difference. It was completely pointless. But even the pointless things need cleaning every once in a while. Even if it is just to show them they are loved.

I'll share one little epiphany I had last Saturday. There really isn't much to say about the MTC, so I'll have to share a little bit about what is going on in my mind. The MTC changes your perspective on things. I'm not really sure how. The classes are hard and long, many of the missionaries don't take this whole thing seriously, I wake up early every morning, and the food stinks. Ok, not literally, but I can only take so many chicken burgers. So why on Earth do I get anything out of this experience? Honestly, I'm even surprised I'm awake to think about things. But I have a theory. I think that because this compound, this dark and gloomy prison, is set apart from the world. Even though the buildings are dim, the walkways are covered, and there is a fence around the perimeter, it keeps the outside world at bay. We have a place here where everyone has the same purpose, united as one. We all love God. We all have Jesus Christ's name on our chest. And that makes it special. This unique atmosphere really causes you to think about the trajectory of your life. Here people ask me all the time, "what are you doing after your mission? What do you want to be when you grow up?" So I guess that question never goes away and I will never grow up, but it led me to think. Everything I've ever wanted to do after my mission is what society expects. I've always wanted to go to college, graduate with some awesome degree, go get a secure job where I can make a lot of money, get married, buy a house, settle down, and eventually retire. That is the average life. For reasons other than what I can explain, I have never entertained possibilities outside that realm of expectation. I feel like a horse with blinders on! Not only on, but as if they would fall off if my hooves weren't holding them on! I can quite literally do anything, especially in this country of freedom. I can take financial risks. If it goes haywire, I only get more experience. I can move to Africa and live with the poorest of the poor for a year. I can join the Army. I can be a river guide and make no money. That is the coolest thing about life. As long as I continue to live this Gospel, gain knowledge, and follow Christ, I can't go wrong! It's not that I am actually planning on going and doing those things now (don't worry mom), but I have just realized that I can physically devote my life to following the promptings of the Spirit and that having a nice house and a good job aren't necessarily the best way to return to God. I guess I've just realized what's important in life. Take my dad for example. He came out of college and worked at a high-paying law firm where he could get rich. But he didn't like the lifestyle. He wanted a better job where he could have more time with his family and focus on other interests in his life. So he gave up the Lamborghini for a Corolla. Prestige for fish-lawyer. Granted, he is climbing the bars in politics, but that is something he enjoys. It is a job where he can make a difference. I hope we can all take a look at our lives like my dad did and find how we can shift our focus from the natural man to the spiritual man. From mammon, to God. Even though I am starting to learn more things in Chinese, I still always pray for all of you back home. Wo de jia ting he wo de peng you. May you always sail against the wind!

-Elder Hawkes

P.S. Elder Poon and Elder Duffin say Hi

Farewell Open House

with Hannah Klein

MTC Tips for New Missionaries

-Comfortable pillow case
-Small composition notebooks are invaluable for language study
-Several sets of gym clothes instead of just one
-Don't get the chicken sandwich 

The 4th of July and MTC Chicken Sandwiches

6/29/15

Dear Family,

I feel ya on the heat. On Wednesday I had to carry around suitcases of new missionaries for like 3 hours and it was absolutely exhausting. Now imagine that with 90% humidity, and you've got Taiwan!! It's been over 100 degrees in Taiwan this whole last week, every day. I'll keep my eye out for Elder Wilkinson, like I said, we got 40 new elders last Wednesday so it's hard to keep track of them all. Just you guys, and an email from Rachel Pitt telling me about her mission call as well as Levi about every week. If you could send me the email address for Dilan Ritzer that would be awesome! It is on my gmail account. Also, the mailing address for Jake if you think he would be interested to get a letter from me. Best thing at the MTC and worst? Hmm.... I keep getting sick from the chicken, so thats pretty bad. They're chicken sandwiches are to die for... and not in the good way.... Nothing is really GOOD at the MTC cafeteria... I'm fine on everything else though! Next care package you send though you could pack a few extra shirts in and my ping pong set, but the need for those isn't exactly dire. I'll keep trying to send pictures. If you want to know anything more detailed, just send me a letter. Love you!!!

Brothers and Sisters,

Happy Fourth of July!! We don't celebrate it at all in the MTC, so I will be trying to fall asleep with fireworks going off outside. But enjoy them for me! I would also like to take a moment to remember Joseph Smith, as we commemorate his martyrdom two days ago on the 27th. Like it says in D&C 138, no one on Earth has done more for the salvation of man than Joseph Smith except Christ himself. As I continue to learn about the Gospel he restored--in Chinese--and about his sacrifice to bring it to all the Earth, I can't help but be grateful his dedication, faithfulness, and endurance. This last week, all the new mission presidents were able to come here. At one point throughout this week, we have had every member of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, Presiding Bishopric, and pretty much any other important church figure you can imagine. Elder Bednar asked one of the missionaries in my district whether we were speaking Mandarin or Cantonese because he couldn't tell the difference, to which the Elder replied he couldn't either. I didn't get a chance to meet any of them because they locked themselves in 1M, the biggest building here, and rarely come out. Oh, and did I mention? Our cafeteria is in 1M. So we have been eating catered food in the gym for the last week. Yum... The room next to ours captured a spider. It spun a web around the rim of the bottle they put it in, and we keep feeding it flies and flying ants. It's still alive after like a week! Gotta love missionary work!

Where's Waldo?

-Elder Taylor Bangerter! I got to host him on Wednesday (welcomed him to the MTC, brought his bags to his room, and showed him around).

-Elder Matt Fisher! He was on my old soccer team, I couldn't believe it! And he and Elder Bangerter are companions!

-Elder Truman Wardle, Elder Jeff Bednar, and Elder Davis Wesche! Go Viewmont!

-Elder KJ McGuire. Yep. The one and only. Last time I saw him was probably in Elementary School in the principals office getting suspended. How ironic is that?

Every time we have an MTC devotional on Sunday or on Tuesday, my heart just drops like a rock when I hear it's a member of the Seventy. I'll admit it. Especially yesterday! All of the First Presidency have been here the past week, so we were sure it would be one of them that would speak to us. But it wasn't. Every single time I feel disappointed, the member of the Seventy gives a talk that completely changes my perspective on the MTC. I don't understand how they do it! They speak so well! This last Sunday, the speaker was talking about the four phases of adjustment/change: the Honeymoon phase (where you are just ecstatic), the Hostile phase (where you are mad at the world and want to go home), the Grin-and-Bear-it phase (you just pretend to have fun), and the Successful Adjustment phase (where you finally settle in to the routine and start to enjoy yourself). He suggested that when we get down, we sing hymns to bring us up. He also suggested that every time we go through a struggle, there are numerous choirs of angels singing in the heavens for each of us. Boy have those choirs been singing in my direction lately! But then again, I am only one of many missionaries here at the MTC, and I'm certain my difficulty is nothing compared to many of theirs and even many of yours! But how blessed you will be for enduring those trials, even more so with a smile on your face, and making it to the finish line! I love the people of Taiwan, and I am so excited to share God's word with those that are ready to receive it. The other thing the speaker did at the devotional was bring up a missionary he had never met before. That missionary was the son of his first convert baptism in Guatemala. His point was that we never know the extent of the effect our actions bring about. Converting just one of God's children could mean bringing thousands into the fold. And this isn't just true in the mission field! What thousands can you bring? All my love and prayers go out to you guys as you remember the sacrifice of Joseph Smith and celebrate the anniversary of this incredible country's independence. Stay Strong!

-Elder Hawkes

P.S. the pictures aren't working out too well, I'll hopefully get a bunch sent next week but it's being grouchy. Nobody here is able to send pictures. I got to meet my mission president again! He is awesome. Send me some current events in the mail too if you could, I don't know what is happening in the world. 9/11 could happen again and I wouldn't know, so just a little bit of news would be awesome without distracting me too much. The more words I memorize in Mandarin, the more similar they sound and the harder it is to speak. Kinda ironic. Oh! My language teacher is amazing. She does the perfect balance of language and teaching us how to teach. Her name is Sister Woolsey. We actually have two teachers named Wu Jie Mei. There are only like 100 last names in Chinese so it gets pretty confusing when all of us have the same name. Tell Ian McKay I found Elder Stratford and talked to him!! I'm just trying to write till the last minute, we only have an hour on the computers. Love you guys!