The Best Pee-Eve (PEEVE) Ever!!! Drew

This last week has been so crazy. It first started out on Thursday when i was in a lesson teaching an investigator, and i received the gift of tongues. I knew what i wanted to say and i said it. It was the coolest thing ever. i know that all of your prayers are helping me out significantly.

Friday came and we got a package with tons of stuff from home. Thanks mom and dad for all that you get us from the outside world for us. The Isagenix helps a lot and I've lost weight hahah, if you can believe that. I have been running every day about 2 miles and play volleyball. I've gotten pretty mean at it. Really good at setting and spiking with team work. Also the coat that i Received is the best coat I've ever had and it keeps me so warm thanks again mom and dad. 

On Fridays we have our set 3 hours for service but we do ours on Tuesdays so we get a mini p-day after p-day. This week a maintenance guy gave my bed a needed improvement and overall the room needs work. its hard because i am the only one who cleans and tidies up. I spent a whole hour cleaning there stuff up and re arranging the room. Lets just say it looks Amazing. I love that day because it is some more time to let your brain cool down and catch some much needed sleep for the others, i hate how much we sleep here, and how we have to go to bed early. everyone in Collins district( my brother) doesn't like how early i get up and even my own. they love to sleep and waste time. I feel like waking up in the morning gives you so much time, and too yourself. Its nice to clear your head and think about life and what is going on.

So Saturday was an interesting day in of itself. We got some fiber optic Christmas trees thank you mom. You are so good to get us what ever is needed. So i came back from picking up a package with elder Reece and Carr, and when i got back my door was shut and i didnt have my keys to get in. So i knocked on the door and asked if i could come in, and i just heard someone say NO!!!!! This annoyed me a bit and i brushed it off, but i walked out to the stair well and sarcastically yelled a word in Russian that means why?. I turned around and the zone leader leader was standing there yelling at me and said at the top of his lungs " If i ever here that word again we are going to have a problem!"  I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he went in and continued to talk to my companion. Then i set up a couch and foot rest outside the door and waited. when he opened the door i said can i come into my own room now? I never liked him or his comp so i was happy they were leaving the next day, like a mini Christmas.

Sunday, fast Sunday, It was amazing and i had a lot of personal revelation. It was nice to feel like i was in wrestling again with the whole not eating thing. It wasn't even hard at all, and every time i eat i think why am i eating this and wow this is bad for me but who cares. We had sirloin steak for dinner it was more of a dry roast lets be honest here, but it was good and it was food.  The devotional had a profound closing line which is" May we remember our generous Heavenly Father this Christmas who gave us wings to fly." I thought that is a very profound line. Know that i will be thinking of you all this Christmas season. 

Monday was a good day for me. I love my teachers and know that they love me so very much. They teach us 1 on 1 if we dont get something and you can see it in their eyes that they actually care. You can see it in their actions and how they are willing to help us learn anything. Then when i went to lunch Elder Reece told me that he had top go to a meeting in the middle of class which means its important, and he didnt eat. When we got back to our residence hall, usually i am in shorts and a t-shirt in 20 seconds and talking with people. That night i felt the need to stay in my suite when i walked into my room. I walked out into our common area and Elder Reece asked me to come sit and talk. He had all 17 other elders come and listen. He said I though that he was telling us that a family member died and was he was going home, but he told us that his mom found out she has breast cancer. Would you keep her in your prayers? (Wendy Reece) He wanted to tell all of us so people didnt ask around, he wanted everyone to know. Then he said that he wanted a blessing, and he turned and asked if Elder Hawkins would do it, I thought he was talking about Collin but he was looking at me. We all stood up and put a chair down. I was ready to bless him with oil. Bring in the big guns, but i got shut down with that, mostly i was so nervous i wasn't thinking. This was a big task, and very important. We had 17 Elders in the circle, that's more than how many ordain the prophet, and the spirit was incredibly strong. When I began to speak The power of God Flowed through me when i spoke. God spoke through me! I know this to be true!! I could feel the spirit so intensely  that my body began to shake. I felt as if my body was glowing while i gave that Blessing. I dont know what I said, i guess that's one of the trade offs for giving it. I began to tear up and cry and i didnt know what i was saying. I know that my mouth was moving, But God was speaking through me. After the blessing all were crying and the spirit was so strong. No one  would say anything about the blessing, but i more than a few come up and say that it was the most powerful blessing they have been a part of or heard. I know that it wasn't my word, I know that god spoke to elder Reece Through me, I know this and would defend that to my grave. The one thing and only thing that i remember from it was that i promised him that he would be reunited with his family after his mission was done. I boast of my God and not of me or any man, but of him. That through him, and by him anything and all things are possible. God puts those people in your path for a reason, and i believe this was why i became such good friends with him since he got here. I was someone he could turn to in his moment of need. That is all of us with Jesus Christa and God! They are who we need to turn to in our hour of need. When the time to act is at hand the time to prepare is gone. I thank My parents for preparing me to act in this moment and to be prepared to bless the lives of those who turn to me and that i will find. I know this to be true. I love my God and Know him so very well. He knows us That I testify of and always knows what we are capable of handling and going through. I love you all ELDER HAWKINS

You Can Lead A Horse To Water, But You Can't Force It To Drink-Collin

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has had lots of ups, but fewer downs. I have been able to see the Lord's hand personally in my life. I love all of your letters and packages. Getting news from home is always good to hear. I love it! I am doing well. I am keeping fit...such a hard thing to do when you can eat all you want! Thanks Mom and Dad for sending the Isa, everybody has been asking questions. You should be getting an email in the next week about Isa. I love this time of year and all of the festivities. They always make me happy!  As most of you know, Christmas is my favorite time of the year because the hearts of the people are turned more towards The Savior. I want you all to know that I know that I love Him and He loves you all. He watches over you all day and night. read the words in the song, "Dearest Children God is near you, watching o'er you nigh and day." He knows your pains, your joys, your fears, and He finds joy when you are happy. God loves us, He knows us by name. I love Him so much!

Update on my investigators:

Katya:

Katya has committed to be baptized. Thank you for all your prayers. They are graciously received. Elder Rindlisbacher and I have taught her all the Discussions and are finishing up with the last of The Commandments. She is progressing so well! Thank you again for your prayers. 

Vitalli:

Vitalli is progressing well, but he hasn't found the courage to tell his family that he is meeting with the missionaries. Please pray for him. He could use your prayers. We just taught him the first half of the Plan of Salvation. We are teaching it in 2 lessons because it is still new vocab for us and the first time we taught it, we didn't feel like we could talk freely. Learning the vocab is hard, but I have faith that in time it will come. We gave him a pamphlet so that when we teach him again on Thursday, he will not get lost or hung up. 

I love these two so much. As much as I teach them, they teach me twice as much. Vitalli was so skeptical at first, but with the power of The Holy Ghost, his heart was softened and he was open to receive the Gospel. Please pray for him to have the courage and to be able to understand the doctrine well. 

Theo:

Theo is a new investigator. I contacted him at lunch. He was sitting alone and he looked like he could use some company. I offered for the sisters to sit with him, but they refused. I went and sat by him and we started talking about the gospel and questions that he had. We spoke with him all through lunch and we scheduled to meet with him again the next Monday at Lunch. 

Teaching him in English was so weird to me. I felt like I didn't know what to say. I could just think of Russian words. We were able to teach him well though. 

Monday came and there he was waiting for us, but eating his lunch. We sat sown and began talking to him just trying to get to know him more and a group of 4 elders came over and did the same thing. It was unexpected, but it was good to have their perspectives. I love how this gospel can bring all together. We scheduled to meet with him on Tuesday, but when we waited for him, he didn't show. We were sad that we wouldn't get to teach...but we know to trust in the Lord. Pleas pray for him and for us that we will be able to teach him well and also teach him what he needs. 

On Monday, we taught Katya. I forgot everything that I knew about Russian, ALL of it... I couldn't say anything that I was prompted to, nor could I read what was in the lesson plan. The only thing I could say was so broken that Katya couldn't understand. I tried asking her if she would say the closing prayer, but I couldn't remember the conjugation for the verb, "To Pray" (молиться) 

When I did get something out, she laughed at me. She laughed and so did my companion. I went along and laughed...but it made me a bit sad. I tried hard, but it didn't work. We went back to class and my companion could do nothing, but laugh and laugh and laugh. He even came in bragging that he told Drew and the other district of my mistake. I felt dead inside. I felt like if I wouldn't have been in that lesson, it would have gone much better. 

I got a few letters that day and so I read Casey's and Nelly's letters. Thanks for that, it really made me feel a bit better. I just wanted to be alone because if the shame that I felt. I wanted to feel better, but I didn't know how. 

As if God were standing in the room when I said the words, Elder Reece gathered everybody because he has an announcement. He gathered up our whole branch (minus the Sisters) and he told us that his mom had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. He told us all that he is staying out on his mission, but he wanted a blessing. He asked Drew if he would give it and invited all who wanted to join to please join. This was an answer to prayer. Service is that best way to fix sadness. Please pray for him and for his family that they will feel God's love for them. They will need it through this trial. Everybody stood in on the prayer, 18 Priesthood holders and Drew giving the prayer. The Spirit was so strong in that room. 

There is a companionship that Elder R and I run into almost every day without trying to. I have grown a love for them, but I don't know them that well. Elder Winkel is one of the elders in that comp.ship. He is such an example to me. I never see him sad and he is always willing to say hello. They leave next Monday so please pray for their success.

Subject: 

The reason that the subject is what it is, is because I have tried telling the elders in my district some of the things that Dad has taught me and they all discredit it. I hold it close to me and with all that I could, I tried to help them understand about faith and things, but they just shrug it off and make it sound like I don't know what I am talking about. They also view our investigators as our teachers. They are our teachers, but they are portraying actual investigators that they had (except for Theo. He isn't an actual member.) I tell them that they need to separate the two and make fun of me for asking God to help them. They don't understand that I see our teachers one way and our investigators another way. It makes me sad that they have found the lake, but know not where to find water. I still love them, but it is a trial that I have been given. 

I love you all. Drew and I are still growing closer still. Drew and I both felt the need to talk to an elder about some stuff and The Spirit was so strong. After that discussion, Drew and I talked about life and our missions, trials and why we get them, and other things. I am so thankful that Drew and I are here together. He is a huge blessing. I want you all to know that I love my God and I know that He loves you. If you will be thankful for your trials, God will bless you with His mercy, I promise you! I love you and I pray for you all! 

я люблю всех

старейшина Хокинс (Elder Hawkins)

Please send your addresses if you want letters. You can also use www.dearelder.com to send letters and it is a free letter service. 

Elder Collin Hawkins

Departure Date: Jan 04  #97

RUS-SPET

A Song of The Heart Is A Prayer Unto Me-Collin

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was pretty great! Thanksgiving was really good...We had a Turkey Lunch and a sack dinner. It was all worth it thought. Elder Oaks spike to us about Thanks and Gratitude. He brought along his family as the music for the meeting. We got to hear things from his family and we also got to hear his daughter, Jenny Oaks Baker, play her violin. I love that through music we can break down the wall that people even countries have. There are lots of examples where the work of The Lord has been testified of through music. I love being in the MTC Choir, it is such a blessing to my life. Drew is also in the choir as well. Who knew that he would like singing in front of General Authorities every week. 

After we had lunch on Thanksgiving and after the devotional, we had a service project. we made 357,000 meals for kids in Utah that don't get food on a regular basis. It was so fun to forget about myself and help those who are in my home state. It was a surprise to me that so many kids go without. I want to help with the relief effort when I get home.   

Update on my investigators:

Vitalli:

We went a week and a half without teaching him. I was really sad because he had told us that we wouldn't be able to teach him on theFriday after Thanksgiving, but then he showed up and we had to reschedule for the next Monday. This taught me to always have a lesson planned even if the investigator says that they can't be taught. I was humbled and will always try to better myself. Vitallli has not told his wife or his son that he has been meeting with the Missionaries. He fears that if he tells his family, things might end up going south on him. please pray for him and his family. Pray to give him courage. that he may overcome these challenges.  It may be easier to teach Katya, but I love teaching Vitalli. He stretches me and makes me think more and harder. He wants to know what language the Book of Mormon was translated from. I told him that I understood his question, but I didn't know how to say it in Russian. I told him that we would answer that in our next appt.

Katya:

Katya is amazing. She came to church with us this week. She loved it. I am so proud of her willingness to keep her commitments. She still is having questions to know if God loves her. We tell her to pray and she is having a hard time with this. I have faith that she will keep her commitment to pray this week. I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and almost started crying in Russian...I guess you can cry in other languages too. haha. 

On Monday we had over 170 senior couples come through the doors. This is the most that the MTC has had in one day. My companionship's job was to greet them and help them through their registration. I made quick friends and when we pass each other on campus, we greet each other. I greet them in Russian and they greet me in their language. It is kinda dorky, but then again look who is talking. I love them and the examples that they are to me. 

The Subject Line:

In Choir we were singing the song, "Behold The Wounds" I want you all to look up the text and to study it out. Our conductor compared it to the story of the Bridegroom. Look up the way that the marriages were in Jesus' time. 

They would covenant with each other

The Groom would pay the price to redeem the father for his daughter

The Groom would go to his fathers house and he would build a house for the two of them onto his    father's house. 

The Wife would have to wait without knowing when he would come back

When the Groom was finished, he would gather his friends and they would sneak into the nigh tot he house of the bride and start yelling to wake her up. 

   If she was prepared, she would be in her wedding dress and they would go to the engagement ceremony and be married. 

Now I want you to apply this to the Atonement. Don't you think this is the reason that they call The Savior, "The Bridegroom"? This was a really great thing to learn. Please study the words of the song and apply them. I promise you that you will receive blessings! 

Until next week I send my love,

Elder Collin Hawkins

Russia, St. Petersburg Mission

The following pictures are from Drew: