Transfers!

Here's this past weeks email from Hermana Hopkins!

We get transfer calls on Sunday nights letting us know if we are training or not, moving areas or staying, or if we are going to the border. That call is to prepare us for the transfer meeting on Thursday. So I found out last night that I will be training another Sister and going to THE BORDER! At first I was sad because I am going to miss all the wonderful people that I have met... But I am excited to go to the border. It is basically "the coveted area" cause our mission has English and Spanish areas so all the Spanish called missionaries want to go down there. I am truly blessed. On Wednesday I will make my way down to the border of Mexico and Texas and meet my new companion and find out exactly what area I will be in haha. I will be missing the baptism of one of our investigators though :( His name is Jorge, he is so cool. It has been so cool to see the changes that he has been making in his life. He is the man on the left between us Sisters in the last picture that I have attached with us four standing awkwardly.

There is a picture there of Jonathon as well, the first real investigator who I got to teach. We went back to visit him and he hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon at all. I was sad to hear that. But it was great to see him again.

I hope you enjoy the photos :) I love and adore these people and I am excited to meet more and more wonderful people on the Border for the next 6 weeks or more!

Hermana Hopkins

July 15th

Here's this weeks update!!!

I don't really know how to help or what to say about all the things that you are having to go through right now... but one scripture popped in to my head. It's in Doctrine and Covenants when the Lord is speaking to Joseph Smith and says, "Thou art not yet as Job, thy friends do stand by thee." The fifth part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Enduring to the End. I am learning how to not only endure, but to ENJOY. We were sent here to earth to be happy and to learn. We knew what challenges we accepted and we agreed to those terms. The great thing about all of this is that Heavenly Father is in charge. He knows what is best and he will help us if we ask him and have faith. Part of faith is action. If we know something is right but we don't do it, how can we expect to be truly blessed?

What is prayer?

Prayer is the communication that we are privileged to have with our Heavenly Father. He has provided us a way that we may contact Him at anytime. He has sent us from home for only a short time, but we will return again. We will live this world with the same faith and the same knowledge that we have obtained in this life. We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. When we understand that relationship our prayers become more meaningful and more natural. When we pray we must pray with the intent to receive answers and do what those answers say to do. If not we are not submitted our will to God's and we need to humble ourselves. It takes a lot of humility to actually do what we mean when we say, "Okay Heavenly Father, I'm going to give up all my wants and dreams so that I can do what YOU want me to do." 

The more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know. That statement applies with Gospel principles, learning Spanish, Life principles, and pretty much everything else as well.

On Saturday I saw an investigator of the other missionaries in our ward get baptized. The man's name is Luis and I took plenty of pictures haha. I'm sure you can picture the smile that reached both of my ears as he was baptized and confirmed. This was the first baptism that I have been to here on the mission. I couldn't help but stare at the smile that Luis had on his face as he stood from the circle of priesthood holders who had confirmed him. He was so happy. 

We had Zone Conference two weeks ago where during lunch an Elder was looking for someone who could sing in the crowd of chatting missionaries... My companion pointed at me and said "Sister Hopkins can!" He had us walk over to the Mission President who then asked me to sing a song to start off the next meeting that would commence in 5 minutes.... Ha. I said yes. I sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" and afterwards everyone told me how great I did and how much they loved it. I felt really good and knew that the Lord wanted me to use my talent to bring the Spirit to the meeting. From that meeting everyone now knows that I sing haha. So from there my District leader asked me to sing at Luis's baptism an hour before it started just this last Saturday... and so I did. I sang "Baptism" in the Primary children's songbook in Spanish. The Bishop of my ward was there... and he told the Chorister of my ward and she asked me yesterday at church if I could sing in Sacrament next week... And so I said yes. Haha. So I will be singing in church on Sunday something in Spanish, memorized hopefully. It has been a privilege to be able to bear my testimony through singing. I think I will sing "I Stand All Amazed" but of course in Spanish it is "Asombro Me Da"

The Lord has shown me endless mercy. I can only try to be as merciful as He is. I am continually blessed. I am alive and safe. I am healthy and happy. I pray for the same for each and everyone of you. Sometimes random people come into my head and I think of how they are doing and say a prayer for them. For anyone that is reading this right now thinking, "I bet she doesn't even remember me or think of me," you are probably wrong. For anyone who is thinking "No one remembers or thinks of me," I KNOW that you are wrong. Our Heavenly Father continually watches over you and cares for you. He loves you with a love that is unconditional, perfect, merciful, and infinite. If He didn't love you He would not have sent you here. And if that sentence confuses you, read your scriptures, study about what your relationship is with your Heavenly Father and then PRAY. Talk with your Heavenly Father and then act in faith.

I apologize to those I didn't write back today, know that I love you all and will respond to your emails as soon as I can!

Con amor,

Hermena Hopkins

July 8th

It's time for more letters from Hermana Hopkins! It sounds like she's been busy.

We taught Jorge again, like three times this week actually. He wants his friend, who is a member of the church, to be there at his baptism... but she is out of town until the 2nd of August. So we have switched his baptismal date to the 3rd of August. He really is so awesome. I love being able to see the changes that he is making because he is understanding WHY it's important. He wears a nice white shirt and jeans to church every Sunday. This last week he came to church 15 minutes early to make sure he was there for the Sacrament. He understand that the Sacrament is the most important meeting of the week. He is happier, I can see it. I love that the Lord let's me see that. He has a smile on his face. He read all of 1 Nephi... that's right, up until Second Nephi, all within like 4 days. I was in wonder and awe haha. The church is true.

Andrea will still be baptized on the 20th of this month. She is the cutest. I love her and her family. Today we are going to teach her about the importance of Scripture study, Prayer, and Obedience.

We taught a man from Honduras two days ago named Norlan. He is like 22 yrs old. He plays soccer (just like most every latino young man that we meet) and works a lot. He told us that we he wakes up in the morning he wonders what his purpose is. We taught him about the Restoration and I got to tell him about the First Vision. I love telling the 1st Vision because I get to see their souls as I look them straight in the eyes and tell them what Joseph Smith saw. The reactions are usually pretty similar, sometimes people aren't really listening, some people don't believe it and think it's crazy, some say they believe it but it doesn't make a difference for them. But Norlan loved it. When I finished the 1st vision and paused to let the silence sink in he smiled and said "Wow... that's so cool..." He was in awe. I felt in that lesson that we will be baptized and be a strong member of the church one day. We invited him to be baptized and he said sure, he would just need to get work off haha. I try not to get too hopeful in these situations because I lot of people say "sure" to baptism and don't understand or care. But I have a feeling that he will be baptized soon. His faith is so strong. He trusts in the Lord and understands that everything happens for a reason. He said the closing prayer and asked if this all was true and for direction. I know he will find his answers if he listens.

I love the Lord's work. 

Hermana Hopkins

July 1 2013

It's that time again! Here's another letter from Hermana Hopkins!

Aaaawww that is so sad! Hmmm, that reminds me of a member in our ward that last her baby a few weeks ago. That was really hard for her. We visited her and the Relief Society did too. 

Concerning the heat... haha it has been in the triple digits all week and it will only get higher as I have heard. I got heat exhaustion myself a couple of days ago, I just need to drink more water. It really is a blessing though how the work is never interrupted. I think that the Lord really puts a bubble around His missionaries of protection. I hear about bad stuff happening around us and to other people but we are always safe. The Lord takes perfect care of us. Especially when we are obedient.

I went on my first Companion Exchange on Friday. Basically my companion is a Sister Training Leader and so she needs to go with other companionships every once in awhile. When our companionship was a trio, Sis
Lund and I would just stay on the area. But now that there are just the two of us I have to go spend a day with another companionship when Sis Alfaro needs to help/evaluate other Sisters. It was honestly shocking for me to see other missionaries not doing exactly what they should. I am soooooooooooooooooo grateful for an obedient companion. We have seen miracles in the work because of our obedience. Other missionaries ask us how we do what they do... In my head I just think "EXACT OBEDIENCE". I strive to live the white handbook to a T. I know that obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles. And our investigators need miracles, so I am exactly obedient.

We are teaching Jorge, he will be baptized on the 20th of this month. He is a really chill guy who works a lot. He asked one of his friends in the ward yesterday if he would be willing to baptize him and of course he said yes. Jorge understands why it is so important to go to church every week. He knows that the Sacrament is where we renew our baptismal covenants and remember the Savior's sacrifice for us. We taught him at the church last night and just went over the Plan of Salvation since he has been taught before. He didn't say much and so the next lesson we are going to ask him some really inspired questions to get him to express his thoughts/concerns if he has any. 

We are also teaching Andrea. She is 9 and will also be baptized on the 20th. Her older brother will baptize her. How cool is that???? We are teaching her again tonight. She is sassy and cute, it makes me think of Victoria. 

I have decided that me two favorite kinds of people are young children and really old people. That's just a side note haha.

I Love being in a Spanish Area :)

I love speaking Spanish.

I love working hard.

I was thinking about all the members that have come out to lessons with us and how cool it would be if my family went out to lessons with the missionaries. If any of you aunts or uncles or cousins or anyone has gone out with the missionaries I would love to hear about your experiences! You can relate to just about anybody! So you should go with the missionaries too to help fellowship the investigators so that they can see a real life person with real life experiences doing their best to live the gospel. I promise that if you do that you will recognize the many blessings that you have and your days will be happier. I promise.

I know that this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that exact obedience brings miracles. I love love LOVE you all and think of you often.

Hermana Hopkins

Kangaroos and such

Here's the most recent update from Hermana Hopkins. Enjoy

When I saw the subject line I laughed cause my companion knows all about kangaroos since she is from Australia! I have included a picture of her. She is awesome. She used to teach Latin dancing! The picture with the donut is from awhile ago but I figured I would send you a picture for you to get a taste of the Texas culture. ;) Don't worry, I only ate all of... a bite or two ;) Haha :) 

RS was about tithing, I shared how you have always been a wonderful example to me of paying a faithful tithe especially when you feel like you won't have enough for the month.

Since this last transfer it has just been Hna Alfaro and I. We know that we are going to see a lot of miracles this transfer. Transfers are every six weeks. We are both hard workers and willing to work hard. We are focused and obedient. And the Lord knows that too. Already, in the week that we have been in this transfer, we have seen even more and more wonderful miracles. Guadalupe came to church with her boyfriend. THAT is a miracle because first of all he is hardly ever in town and because he is still married to his wife in Mexico. We taught him his first lesson on Saturday. Gaudalupe wants this so bad for him... She is ready for baptism. She knows that this is true and has expressed that to us multiple times now. The only thing, and I mean the ONLY thing, keeping her from baptism and enjoying the companionship of the Spirit is that she is living with her boyfriend. She can't just marry him and be baptized because he is married to someone else. And she can't just move out because she doesn't have papers to live in the US and she is barely making enough money from babysitting and and selling her food and pinatas that she makes. She is a beautiful and wonderful woman. She is my heart and a half. She is so willing to learn and repent and takes the best notes from her Book of Mormon studies that she does. We are praying that something will work out soon.

We have met so many cool people here, an Italian man, a man from Nicaragua, people from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, tons from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Iran, Haiti, the Philippines, Hindus, Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses, Seven Day Evangelists, Catholics of all kinds, Nondenominational Christians of all kinds, and much much more. I love meeting new people and talking to everyone.

Yesterday we taught an investigator who had been investigating the church in November of last year and had come to church again today. We met with him after church and got to know him a little better. He came back because he felt alone and desperate. He said he is now ready to prepare for baptism. We invited him to be baptized and he will be baptized on the 20th of July. I am praying really hard lately for all of our investigators to hold strong. And you all as well. I hope you know that I pray for you all everyday and love you dearly.

Also we had an investigator come to the church on Saturday for a lesson and a church tour. her name is Angelica and she is a single mom of three kids. She felt the spirit and it is so cool to be able to see that work in her. She came to church with her kids on Sunday too and it was powerful. The Lord has a time and a place for everyone and everything. I know that this perfect Gospel will bless her life and her family.

It is truly a blessing and a miracle to be apart of the only true church of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, and that we have the fullness of the Gospel on the earth today. I am so grateful and humbled every day.

Hermana Hopkins

June 3rd 2013

Here's the weekly update! Make sure to write her everyone.

Guess what, I cut my hair last week! I know you probably would have cried if I cut my hair too short, so I just trimmed it and made it look more clean and fresh instead of scraggly and split ends everywhere. It feels nice to have less hair to deal with. I also cut my companions bangs for her. She felt better too. A lot of the little things you taught me are becoming ever so useful now as the others here don't know how to do it themselves. Like how to clean the kitchen or the bathroom, how to cut hair or how to cook even. It's nice to already know how to do these things and I know it's a blessing.

I fasted yesterday as well, It's amazing how much strength we receive from the Lord when we sacrifice our own comfort. He makes up the difference and blesses us with hundreds of times more than what we give him. And what we give him is his already so all around we should be very thankful! I love the Lord.

This week we met Raul as we were knocking on doors. We knock on doors in trailer parks because that is where the Hispanics live. Hispanics are a lot more friendly than white people, I can say that too because I am white. We knocked on the door of this trailer and Raul answered the door. He was simply working on the empty house doing construction. He let us in and gave us each a cold bottle of water. Usually we would not be allowed to enter a house if there was only one male in the home but because there are three of us in a companionship we can go in to any home. It's great :) Anyway, he let us in and he said that he had gone to our church when he lived in Arizona. He said that he went there with his friend who was a member and that he liked it a lot but never went back since moving to Texas. He is Christian and he said that he has so many questions that are running through his mind all the time. For us missionaries this kind of person is almost like a dream come true because usually the Hispanics are Catholic and want to teach us about their beliefs instead of letting us teach. Anyway, Raul was awesome and it was so cool to get to know him. He is a dad of 5 kids and loves working with his hands. He said he lives in Round Rock though so he doesn't actually live in our area. That was sad for me cause I wanted to teach him, but the Round Rock missionaries are going to visit him sometime so I am excited to hear from them how he progresses. 

Right now in our area we don't have any progressing investigators. We usually teach a first lesson or a second lesson and then the person either is not interested in learning or they won't make time to meet with us (which also means that they aren't interested). It's been a trial, but I am learning how to better talk to people and to get out of my comfort zone when talking to people about religion. Especially in Spanish.

I took the mission Spanish test about a month ago and just got my results yesterday. You need a %80 to pass and that is pretty much the best that people usually get too. I got a %26 hahaha. But ya know, I think I did pretty good! For only three months of Spanish at that point, I am happy to say that I am learning fast! The Lord works miracles after we have and show our faith. 

I love you all, I hope you are learning from the things that I am learning as well. Thank you for the birthday wishes! Read and study the Book of Mormon, it's my favorite book!

Hermana Hopkins

May 27th 2013

Here's this weeks update from Hermana Hopkins!

This week we met a man named Steve who told us to prepare for The Rapture... This is a belief that his religion has (I'm not sure exactly which one) when the good people who followed Christ will be taken up at his second coming and the rest will be under the rule of Satan for 7 years. Steve said that they study the bible and only the bible and they only believe in what the bible says and nothing else. He told us that we aren't ready for the Rapture and that we need to prepare... We asked him where it was called the Rapture in the Bible and they said it wasn't in there... From this experience my testimony of the Book of Mormon was strengthened. People have been so confused about the Bible. So many people understand the same passage of scripture so differently (just like Joseph Smith said) that it really is quite obvious as to why so many people are so confused. The Book of Mormon is beautiful. It clarifies in a way that children and adults can all understand. I truly love the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith's history. I am no professor or scholar, but I know from my studies and my personal experiences, prayers, personal revelation, and answers that this book is true. Just like Joseph Smith said, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it."

Transfers are in two and a half weeks and I had a dream last night that I was being transferred to open a new area and also train two sisters... That was a pretty rough dream haha. I thought of how my companion must feel having to train two sisters and I had a little bit more compassion for her when I woke up this morning.

I studied this morning in Moroni 7 about faith, hope, and charity. I am learning so much about each of those three things every day. They go hand in hand for me, I need them all equally, not one more than the other or sooner than the other. They are all so so so so important.

I love you all, sorry I didn't have a ton of time to write too much or respond to everyone, but know that I am doing well and I am learning probably 10 times more than I teach haha. But even that's an exaggeration... because I don't teach, the Spirit does.

Hermana Hopkins