Some Must Push and Some Must Pull

This week has been a long one. We're not seeing a whole lot of success in the area but no reason to be discouraged! Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to pull a train... I can just picture a cartoon of a little guy trying to pull this train. At first he tried from the front and runs a hole in the mud... then he runs to the back and pushes with his hands... and then his back, but the darn train just won't budge. I'm sure someone has made this cartoon. Mom, you got this! See what you can find... if not why don't you just draw it haha you're the one with talent here! 

(The Mom: actually, SHE'S the talented one! Didn't find a train pic, but thought this was relevant!)

Anywho I think it's really just been unsuccessful this week because we've had a TON of rain. Funny because the First Presidency asked all members in Brazil to fast for all those who have a shortage of water. Those prayers are being answered here... I think we're getting plenty, thank you! So yay for blessings! Nay for wet skirts and wet shoes. When it comes down to it though, I'd take wet shoes over thirsty friends any day.

And so it goes on! I'm pretty accustomed to Brazil I think. My feet are a lot stronger now thank goodness! My knees on the other hand are a different situation but overall, it's good to be here! I go to bed at night thinking I'm never going to wake up and I wake up ready to conquer the world. My companion thinks I'm crazy due to the energy I have to work out in the mornings. She sits and stretches while I'm like a 90s Tae-Bo DVD. 

Portuguese as of late is coming along. I really can say and witness that the gift of tongues is real. Just because it's real though doesn't mean it's all that easy to learn another language. I felt like I was finally getting to be a good teacher in Spanish when God sent me here and now I'm back to square one. BUT God taught me something really cool this week as I was studying my scriptures.

I was reading in John chapter 4 about the Samaritan woman. Jesus and this woman conversed for a while by the side of a well for what may have been the longest recorded conversation that we have of Jesus. But the whole time, this Samaritan woman just was not getting what Christ was saying. It seemed to have gone in one ear and out the other as the conversation continued. From their whole discussion, she only seems to gather that Christ has got to be some kind of prophet due to the prophecies he made of her life. In short, she leaves to tell the whole city that this man sitting on a well may be a prophet. What ends up happening is this:

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

41 And many more believed because of his own word;

42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

And so... the story of a woman without much understanding was just what these Samaritans needed to find out the truth for themselves. Maybe I don't know Portuguese very well, maybe I don't know all the references and scripture stories to answer every question thrown at me, maybe I can't quite express the Gospel in the manner I'd like to, but I do know one thing. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He has called ME to be an instrument in bringing others to the well of the living waters. We may never live up to our own expectations, but we are who the Lord has chosen and WE are all He needs, inadequacies included. 

If "many more believed" through one, why not through one more.

Love,

Sister Hawkins

P.S. Sorry no pics! It was too rainy to take my camera out. 

The Mom: This week I told her we had our Christmas decorating going full swing and that I miss her every time I hear a certain song that makes us laugh together after a frustrating evening of getting lost one time trying to find a Messiah sing-along practice and this song playing on repeat. I loved her response: 

"I miss the Christmas decorations and things so I drew a Christmas tree and we're cutting out snowflakes to tape on it. haha oh missionary life. 

And I sometimes sing that Michael Bublé song when things go unplanned here... like if an appointment falls through... bu da da da bum bum bum ba dum. haha it makes things a little bit lighter."

So in her honor....