September 23rd 2013

Here's this past weeks update from Hermana Hopkins! Don't forget to write or email her.

Mom/Family,

Oh how I love you. Oh how I love this work!

Sometimes I get grumpy and I am a sour puss to my companion. That is no fun. Today I woke up and decided to be happy! It is a decision! I didn't come to this world to sulk and to drag my feet. I didn't come to the mission to pout and to be discouraged by all those who don't keep their commitments or don't even answer the door. Today I am happy! I am full of energy and ready to go! I have strength in my arms and legs, my mind and my spirit, and I truly know that if God commanded me to do all things, I could do them!

This week we haven't taught quite as much as normal weeks. The mission has been trying to focus our efforts are finding through members... When I think about doing that I start to get discouraged... But it is possible! My companion used to say "That is hard," or "This is so hard," all the time. I got so tired of it one day that I told her to try saying "It's possible!" instead. I have found myself saying "It's possible!" a lot haha.

We found Diana last week and taught her... but we haven't been able to find her since. We went back to her house probably 4 times now but she is never there. Her mother in law, Mercedes, was there and we talked to her about her family here in eagle pass. She told us about her grandson and granddaughter that lived close so we decided to go visit them. We went to her granddaughters address and it was actually the same as someone that we had a miracle first lesson with about a month ago! The thing with her is that we were never able to find her again either... But she was there! Everyone is related to everyone in the Mexican culture. Your grandma and your aunt and your brother and your niece all live on the same street and the rest of your family lives in Mexico. That's just how it is! They love family, its the most important thing to a lot of these people. The family really is SO important. That is our base and our starting point on the board! We should be able to find peace and refuge at home, love and understanding, support and laughs, all underneath our own roof. Serving in Spanish areas has been one of the biggest blessings that our Heavenly Father has given me. I have been able to see the example of family unity so much. When a family is built on the Gospel of Jesus Christ the success and well-being is so much greater. I studied about the Abrahamic Covenant this week, we have a big responsibility to love and nurture our family members and then to share the Gospel truths with everyone else! This morning I studied about what a covenant is. It is an agreement, God makes the terms of that agreement and we choose to either accept or reject it. God will always keep His promises and is perfectly consistant. He is also perfectly patient. The blessings promised to us when we keep our end of the bargain are infintly greater than whatever we promised to do ourselves.

I am grateful that I worship my God and my Father. I am grateful that I know that he is real and he is a man of flesh and bone. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

Why would I not want to share all of that and all the blessings I enjoy with every single other person on this planet???

Share your testimonies, invite someone you know and love to be able to enjoy that same blessings that you do.

I love you. Keep going and never never never never never leave the church!

Hermana Hopkins

This Week in Eagle Pass

Really late update this time. Sorry everyone!

Hello there,

I was sick the last two days but there were miracles even still. Yesterday I got up the energy to shower and we went to two houses. One was an investigator that is a 12 year old girl. Her mom is a member but is not active and is not very supportive. We went to visit and the mom and the young girl said that they wanted to go to a different church instead... We aren't really sure what happened and the mom left the house before we could talk about it and we can't be there without the mom so we had to leave... it was sad. My companion started to think of all the things that they could have been feeling and thinking. I got upset because she always says out loud what these people were probably feeling and what they will probably do. Only God knows those things! I don't know what the problem is there but I know that the more I try and stress about it the more stressed I get. All we can do sometimes is keep going and leave it up to the Lord. The next house we went to they let us in and the daughter in law of the woman we went to visit stayed in the room to hear us. We taught them both about the restoration and challenged them to be baptized. The daughter in law, Diana, said that she would be baptized with such  confident yes that I was almost surprised! The mom did not commit to it though but said that she liked learning. Diana said that she needed this right now because she cries everyday about her husband who passed away about a year ago. She wanted to know about what happens to spirits after we die. We taught her about the Spirit world and the Spirit touched her heart.

These experiences help me to know that the Lord is very active in His work. The Spirit is the teacher. We can only invite. There really are people prepared to accept this message!

Hermana Hopkins

Lessons to Learn

Not sure how to edit this one (the stuff meant for family) But it got sent as is to others. So here's her whole letter.

I am so glad that you learned so much. You have been an anchor in my life and I am so grateful that you have such a strong relationship with the Savior. It is sometimes sad to meet people out here that don't have that.

Yes I did receive the package. I received it on the 24th so it took exactly one month from the time that you wrote/sent it to the time that I received it. But don't worry, I was able to get a small 10 day supply out here and was taken care of. The last pill was used on the day that I received your package :) Little tender mercies like this one help and comfort me to know that everything is going to be okay, God is in charge.Our loving and merciful Father is in charge.

I sent a letter to Andrew last week so he should have received it in time before moving to a different place. I am glad that he asked that question because it shows that he really has a desire to know. I was thinking just the other day and pondering, are my siblings saying their own personal prayers? I used to pray before my mission but it was always in my bed as I fell asleep. Now I pray on my knees every morning and every night. I don't fall asleep in the middle of my prayers that way and it is also showing respect. I challenge you and each of the kids to say your morning and night time personal prayers on your knees every day. Will you do that? I know that when we pray with sincerity and respect that our Heavenly Father is pleased with us and blesses us to be able to have more inner peace and protection from Satan's sneaky tricks. This is something that has greatly blessed me and that is why I thought of it for you, I want blessings for you too.

I would love more pictures :) Especially of family. You and the kids, everyone. I love you all so deeply.

I am learning to not be afraid of what others might think. Also that being bold is the only way to share the truth. People don't like to hear us beat around the bush. Yes, this is Christ's only true church on the earth today. Yes, we do believe that we have a living prophet. Yes, we do believe that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. No, we do not believe in the Virgin Mary. No, we do not go shopping on Sunday. No, we do not drink coffee or alcohol. Yes, we are different.
Sometimes I get frustrated by what some people say to us but then I have to calm myself down and remember to do what Christ would do and say what he would say. I am not Ally Hopkins right now, I am Sister Hopkins, a representative of Jesus Christ. The other day an investigator says she respects our cult but doesn't believe what we have to say unless it is in the Bible. I almost didn't hear what she said... Cult? Haha I just kind of didn't know what to say or do... We have been over to share with her about 5 times now and she still thinks we worship Joseph Smith. That is the point when we have to realize that some people are just not ready to open their hearts and ears. We have to move on and find those who are ready to listen and really ask God what HE wants for them. These people do exist! There are people who are prepared and ready to hear the message of the restored Gospel because they truly want to do the Lord's will. Sometimes I think of how difficult it must be to believe a missionary without any background on the Gospel. But that is why the Spirit is so important. Our words don't and can't convince people. We all have agency. The Spirit is the teacher. If not, gospel truths can not be truly learned or understood. The Spirit speaks to us through the still and peaceful feelings we receive. We must remove all other distractions, thoughts, sounds or whatever they may be, in order to recognize the promptings of the Spirit. It is not a loud voice and crying is not always evidence of the Spirit. But it is a peace and a calm that comes from God. "Be still and know that I am God." Doctrine and Covenants 101:16

I promise you that as you pray daily you will be able to recognize the Spirit more in your life, every single day.

I love you and I know that the Lord is watching over you. I know that He lives and that He is our Savior and Redeemer.

Hermana Alexandria Hopkins

Breathe

Here's a late update from Hermana Hopkins. Updates will be a bit late for the next few weeks. As always, Enjoy reading and be sure to write Hermana Hopkins!

Last Monday my companion helped me make a CD with all Mormon Tabernacle Choir songs. This is my favorite. I have had so many more opportunities to sing for others. Music can bring the Spirit immediately or it can chase it away immediately. It is a very powerful tool. Be careful to the music you listen to. Ask yourself, does it help you feel and invite the Spirit, or is it driving him away?

This week has been so much better as far as teaching. We taught four lessons on Friday on an exchange. The Sister Training Leader joined me in Eagle Pass while my companion went to Del Rio for the day. One of the pictures I sent is with us and the Mexican flag waving in the background. So cool!

I am learning more and more every single day. The reality of the men whose stories are in the Book of Mormon. They really lived, I know that they did! Also what it means to be a member of this church. This is Christ's church! It is not the church of Moses, the church of Mormon, or the church of Saint John or any other man. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. We are His saints when we follow Him. And that makes this the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Gospel will never be taken away again and there will not be another Apostasy. Christ will come again and He will come to His church. Will we be there when He comes? We do not know when it will be, but it is soon. Alma chapter 5 helps us to know if we are prepared for that day or not.

I have learned a lot about attitude lately. A positive attitude changes EVERYTHING. I love my mission. I loved the MTC. I love my companion. I love my family. I love my Savior. I love my Father in Heaven.

Hermana Hopkins