Jan. 2, 2016

Dear Family!!!

This week was crazzzzzzy!

Tuesday we had transfers. I got put in a zebra companionship. I'm Spanish Speaking. My companion is English Speaking. We are primarily in an English speaking ward, but every few weeks I get to teach the Spanish Sunday School, which is sure to be an adventure!! ;)

Its only week one and I've already seen so many new sights, and we've experienced so many new things. We got doubled in which means that both of us are new to the area, so life has been bien loco recently. This past week we've been drowning in new and crazy things to do, nonetheless, the Lord provides a way. :)

This past week we went knocking and knocked into a spanish family, and for the first time, I was all on my own. Not even another companion who spoke the language. And the two people we knocked into didn't speak any English either. But today I am here to testify to you that the gift of tongues is real.

The woman was about to close the door. But then Elder Hoffer noticed she looked Latino, and  without hesitation, I jumped in. She realized that I spoke Spanish, and the woman who answered the door let us into the house, and I jumped right in to teaching the first lesson, my heart pumping like a snare drum. Nevertheless, as I acted in faith, Heavenly Father filled my mouth and I knew what to say. We got her number and everyone present, (that is, the woman of the household, her mother, and her children all knelt with us in prayer to end the lesson.) After we left the apartment complex, I did a little dance with Elder Hoffer in the car. 

I now have my very first very own, all mine, Spanish Investigator. (!!!!!Chale!!!)

Also we knocked into a man in his fifties by the name of Mark. He has had missionaries teach him all the lessons but up to this point has not been ready to change. But when we knocked on his door a few days ago. He asked us to come back. And though he struggles with drug addictions and with many things in his life. I know that if this is something that he wants in his life, it won't be long before he is baptized. Because God truly does have a plan for each and every one of us.

We also had our first lesson with AJ, a young man from the Philipines. He doesnt speak English perfectly, and he has a thick accent. He was from the previous teaching pool that the sisters left us. We had already knocked into him twice, and had not had much luck. This was to be our last time trying him before we went to another house. When we knocked on his door the third time, this time having finally set up a lesson with him, his sister answered the door, and let us in. And as soon as he sat down the spirit filled the room. He had been taught the first lesson before, but never like this. He was also delighted when he realized that the two young men sitting across from him in his living room were about his age, so that was pretty cool too, the connection we had when we first started talking to him. And as we talked about prophets and Joseph Smith and especially about this church being the one and only true church on the earth, the spirit filled the room. And I knew that he was thirsting for something more. Something he had been wanting his whole life, but had not known just what it was. Not until the missionaries knocked on his door, and now we had the incredible opportunity, and amazing responsibility of opening his eyes to the truth. He was very receptive and I know the spirit was there! I am so excited to see him again!

Our last investigator, Jennifer has been interested in the church for 9 years. And she is finally ready to be baptized. And although she has troubles with smoking, she is way solid. And I know that she will be baptized if she can only have enough faith. How I love this Gospel, and the investigators that we are so very fortunate to teach!

It is so interesting to me that just like anything else in the gospel, the moments when you can really see the light of Jesus Christ begin to come into their eyes, and the moments when you can really see the spirit working in their lives, its when they are being proactive, self motivated, and because they truly want to know for themselves and are willng to do the work to receive that answer. For as we learn in the scriptures, faith without works is dead. But when someone is ready to change, they not only change themselves. They change you, too. I'm beginning to learn that there are three types of missionaries.

The tourist -- or, the one who is too scared to leave their comfort zone so they stop progressing qucikly.

The one who has finally figured out that they want to be obedient, and learns that the only way to be obedient for the rest of their mission and for the rest of their lives is the missionary and the person who isn't righteous because they want they are afraid, or because they want a reward from it, but only for the solid and single reason that they want to be good. And they are willing to overcome it.

Finally, the last one is there for the people. And that is the type of missionary I want to be. The one who is truly changed and truly willing to give it all for the Lord no matter what, willing to work myself into the ground to find those few who are elect. I want to be this type of missionary so that I can do more than enjoy my mission. I don't want to go through my mission. I want my mission to go through me. I want to work miracles for my Lord and Savior Jesus. And I won't give up until I do.

I know it will be a long road, and I know I'm only beginning. So far I've been all three of these types of a missionary. But I want you all to know that until I become the last one, the only option for me, I will in turn become something more than a man, someone who has indeed dropped all other things along the way along the side of the road -- selfishness, desires to give up, the constant awareness of my own pain and suffering, and all the homesicknesses. I'm beggining to realize that this mission is not something for me. This is perhaps the first of my many journeys in my life that will truly teach me to change. To live to serve others before myself. And, as President Hinckley taught through the loving words of a long since passed away father whos words live on in my own mind and mean so much to me: To forget myself, and to get to work. Because until I can do that. I will never learn how to be truly happy. Until I can do that, I cannot call myself a missionary. And until I can do that, I do not count myself worthy to look my Savior Jesus Christ in the eyes. But I can do it. I know I can. And I won't give up until I've given it all to him, and left it all on the field. Because for Him, I can do hard things. For Him, I will do all things. And I do it not of myself, but in the glory of my God do I do this work. And every day that I get up in the morning, every day I take another breath of fresh air and continued life into my body, I thank my Lord and my God. Because I love the Lord. And that's why I am serving a mission. "I can do all things, through Christ who stregtheneth me."

And some how or some way I will figure all of this out. Because with God I know that the word impossible is impossible. And it is because of this my comfort, that no matter how hard things get, or how tough they may seem, that I will never give up. And I will follow my hero, Jesus Christ anywhere that He may lead, because I love Him. And 'though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him.' I love you, Lord! I love you Jesus!

I know all these things to be true. I pray for you everyday. And I say these things in the name of  Jesus Christ, my Master, amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Hakala​