January 28, 2010

Hello Friends,
I hope all of you are in good health and spirits. I am sure each of you is very busy, but I pray what few words I write may be of benefit to you all. I pray it will be a breath of fresh air. The missionary lifestyle continues to teach and stretch me. I am finding myself more and more wanting to take naps during meal times but there is always work to do. I have been in Hong Kong more than 4 months now. I just started by 4th move in the Tsuen Wan Area. Every move is 6 weeks long and then missionaries will get moved around. But I have been with the same companion for 3 moves now. I enjoy working with him; he sincerely wants to help people and takes great enjoyment out of the small and simple things. He has taught me how to cook a little and just how to relate with people on a very simple level. The next time you go shopping, talk with the cashier at the checkout-learn her or his name-and you will understand what l I mean. We have done a lot of work with the less active members in our ward, updating church records and so forth and we are finding people to teach. One man doesn’t enjoy his job right now; he has to work long hours. I have felt his humility and believe the Lord has prepared him to receive the Restored Gospel. When we give ourselves to the Lord we truly see miracles. I know this is true. I hope to continue to keep everyone up to date on these miracles. My best wishes always.

Elder Hawkins

January 7, 2010

I am glad to be able to provide another update after having assed through the Holiday Season. Christmas in Hong Kong is just not the same as Spokane. There definitely wasn’t any snow. All the Missionaries in Hong Kong got together on Christmas Eve, had skits, food and Secret Santa so it was a fun time. The time I have spent serving a Mission appears to have flown by. I can carry on a basic conversation in Chinese now, but I know have only scratched the surface. I am just starting to learn characters. My companion, Elder Weston, continues to be a great example of love and service. He has been teaching me how to cook. We also sang in front of some governmental officials at a Christmas activity and he did a Kung Fu presentation. So, as of right now, I think I have fully acclimated to the life of a missionary. We try and make it as obvious to everyone as we can, that truth in its fullness has been restored, but there are many things keeping people from accepting that message. I have witnessed pride in many different forms being made manifest, and I can only say it literally is the most damning sin-stops progression and hinders the practice of virtue. But I am grateful for my experiences and the opportunity to serve. I know Jesus Christ lives; He guides this church through prophets and apostles. The Book of Mormon is what it says it is: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. And all are free to read and find out for themselves its truthfulness. I hope all of you are doing well and in good health.
Until next month

Elder Hawkins

November 21, 2009

Hello Everyone,
Mission life continues well. These last few weeks have been really interesting. I have provided my mailing address in the event that any person wants to write me or send something. It is not necessary that you do so, but I would welcome any new correspondence. Right now, I will try to be clear and coscise in my update. My Cantonese continues to improve. The Lord has blessed me tremendously. The mission has provided a language study program which I am trying to move quickly through. By the beginning of the next calendar year I should be able to teach all the basic doctrines and principles pertaining to the Gospel. A year after that I should know 3,000 characters and be able to translate. The more I speak the language, the quicker I learn it.

My companion is Elder Weson from Michigan. He loves Chinese culture, Chinese people, and just about everything Chinese. After his mission he plans on coming back to Hong Kong and got to the Mainland where he will study Martial Arts. Right now he is teaching me Gungfu. I am learning a lot from him. Its funny because I am super diligent while he is a little less so, but he is super caring where I am a little less so. We help each other. This is my second move in the Tsen Wan area. Right now we are tyring to teach one family the gospel and help bring another family back to church. The latter is a family of 11. The father is 82. He has 12 grandchildren. All the children are members, but only one is going to church. Its interesting, but hard to see how the decisions we make now affect all the generations after us. We met also a man who liked to read the Bible. He refused to read the Book of Mormon because his church preaches against the LDS church. We showed him how the Bible proves what we are saying is true but he refused to be humble. It is my testimony that a belief in the Bible must be met by a belief in the Book of Mormon. They are inseparable witnesses that Jesus is the Christ. I continue to grow in the mission field. My love and gratitude.

Elder Hawkins

October 23, 2009

Hong Kong is an amazing place; not necessarily for what it is, but for what it is allowing me to become. I will be getting a new companion this next week. My trainer was assigned as zone leader, so he will bein charge of several companionships in another area. He has shown me how to approach people with confidence, and how to apply myself most diligently to this work. I have discovered my work in this life is wholly different from the work the world would have me do. I see kids in nice suits going to work in order to make their next million dollars while I am just trying to get someone to listen to me for only a minute if not more. It's alright though because I am establishing, or helping establish the spiritual kingdom of our Father in Heaven. I know He lives and He has restored His church. Any person can gain this witness through study and prayer. The Book of Mormon is a definite witness that Just is the Christ. Hong Kong is a city of many skyscrapers, and, as a result, my pride has been cut down. This week, however, should provide us an opportunity to perform three baptisms; Ivan, Joe,A-Lam. The Chinese usually take on English names. I have enjoyed th food too; congealed pig's blood was interesting. I think next time I will pass though. They have some really good bread here. I am afraid I will gain weight.

Usually, for my daily routine, I will wake up, exercise, and study during the morning scriptures and Cantonese. Then in the afternoon and evening we are out finding people to teach, teaching people, or visiting members of the church. We teach an English Class once a week. It's free. Then we may do an activity with other missionaries once each week. Within the next few months the mission will have about 90 missionaries. Right now there is about 150. The work is progressing though and I love being on a mission. I hope everyone continues to work hard and focus on that which is important. Enjoy life, now. My best wishes.

Elder Hah

September 23, 2009

I have finally made it to the mission field. Our mission president, President Chan and his wife greeted my gruop of missionaries at the airport. They watch over the mission and direct the efforts being made to reach out to others. Hong Kong is pretty incredible because while it has such a modern look and feel to it, the atmosphere and people is still extremely jaded. On our first day we went to Victoria Park and saw the skyline view of Hong Kong. Google has a picture I am sure. As far as teaching goes, people really just want to be left alone. It is hard to see so many people miss truth that is so close to their hearts, literally and figuratively. But I know all people will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My companion is Elder Swallow from West Point, Utah. He has been training me and helping with the language. We live with two Mandarin speaking missionaries. We have had the opportunity to teach one English class and do a lot of street contacting. We try to be direct in our contacting so as to get people to focus less on what they are doing and then to introduce our message. I essentially learn Cantonese in this process by speaking it, I just have to get comfortable starting conversations.

I will share one experience to close my update. My companion and I were trying to find people to teach, walking around, and we weren't having much success. So we decided to sit down and pray. So I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help us find someone to teach. It wasn't 20 second after that prayer ended that a man came up to us and asked about the Church and wanted to meet with us. He has 7 children. My companion said sucha n event has never happened in his 18 months of service. I think it is a testimony that God is mindful of all His children and does in fact answer our prayers. I know that Jesus Christ lives and restored His church through the prophet Joseph Smith. Anyone who reads the Book of Mormon and asks God if it si true can gain the same witness. I am enjoying the work, despite its difficulties and look forward to future stories I might share.

Love,
Elder Hah

August 26, 2009

Well, I am less than 3 weeks away from leaving the Missionary Training Center and going to Hong Kong. I am ready to go. My Cantonese is still poor but I think I just need to get around some Native speakers. This last month has proved interesting. My companion and I were made Zone Leaders. This means we are in charge of helping all the new missionaries get settled and adjusted to MTC life. We also do anything our Ecclesiastical leaders ask. I have found it to be a lot of busy work. It has taught me more about leadership. I do not gain any satisfaction in being in a position of authority, it only gives opportunity for boasting. I only want to lead with moral authority, serving my brothers and sisters with humility. That was the mark of our Savior's earthly ministry.

This past week I witnessed the dedicaiton of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple and listened to an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is amazing to know the same organization and Priesthood Authority that existed in the Church Jesus Christ established is restored here again upon the earth. I have listened to prophets and apostles.

While the MTC is a bit of bubble and this summer has certainly not felt like a typical summer, I enjoy life as it has been. I am getting to really good friends with some of the other missionaries learning Cantonese. There are only 12 of us split in two groups, an older and a younger district, but i makes for a lot of fun. My best wishes and regards; the next time I write I will be in Hong Kong.

--Elder Hawkins (Hah Jeung lou)

July 26, 2009

I am a month into my mission. It is amazing how quickly time passes. I am grateful for the opportunity to give this update, and pray that it, with many others to come, will help all who read these words understand the opportunities and thought I am experiencing. I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. This is what I will be doing both now and in Hong Kong. Learning the Cantonese language is difficult but enjoyable. I have two teachers, one of which is a native of Hong Kong which helps a lot. My district is made up of 3 other Elders besides myself and two Sisters. While everyone is learning Cantonese, one Elder is actually serving his mission in Toronto, Canada. I am assigned to be with one Elder, or companion, who is from Southern Utah. He grew up on a ranch and is a really good worker with a mellow personality like mine.

Being in the Missionary Training Center (MTC), rumor always has it that the missionaries gain weight because the food is good and all-you-can-eat. The food certainly is better than what I had at school, but with an hour exercise time most days of the week, I think I am staying fairly healthy. I like to run, play 4-square or basketball.

Besides studying and exercise, once a week we get to do service and listen to a leader in the church. I enjoy the life a missionary. The days are long and the weeks are short, but I am progressing and learning. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most precious message to enter in to the heart of man, to bring happiness to his soul and unity to his family forever. My best wishes for another month.