Eternal Families!!!!!

So this week was pretty awesome. I only have 17 minutes, so let's make this happen!!!

This week was wild. I went on divisions with  E l d e r  G a r r e t t, and he came to my area. We left thinking it was going to be a cold, normal day. But then it started to pour. And we had nothing! So we were walking all over looking for shelter in the freezing rain! Then finally, a member took mercy on us and took us in. When we had to leave, she insisted we take her husband's big work coats. But these work coats were giant white coats. We looked like marshmallows. I wasn't too big on the idea because, well, I'm not that big on the idea of getting robbed either, but we did it and we made it look good. ;)

We also had the baptism of Sabrina. On Friday, she was baptized and because of working hours, her HUSBAND asked if we could baptize her that night. Haha, OKAY! So we made adjustments and boy was it a party. The Spirit was super strong and at the end we sang Come, Come Ye Saints and the words, ¨Oh, esta todo bien!¨ Rang true in my ears. And apparently in Sabrina's because she was crying at the end of it. :) It was amazing. AND! Today one of our investigators took out her turn to get married today for the 19th of June, so we are just marrying all sorts of people up in here! Haha.

Side note just so I don't forget. I will be writing next Tuesday because of transfers; crazy how fast they go by, so yeah. We will see if someone goes or not. ;)

ALSO! Today we went to the TEMPLE!!! Wow, I was so happy to be there, it was incredible. I felt the Spirit so strong, and testified of the things I really had on my mind. And  E l d e r  P a t e y, my comp in Parque Patricios, told me as we were standing in the Celestial Room that Ester got baptized! I don't know if y'all remember her. I tried so hard to baptize her along with the family Patiño, but she just couldn't commit. Well. SHE COMMITTED! And is now a member of the Church of JESUS CHRIST! Such a blessing. The whole family is member now! YAHOO!

My Life is changing a ton and can't believe how fast time is passing. Today, to get to the temple, we passed by my old area in Lugano. It was wild thinking of all the 6 months full of memories there! I do love this work. And I love our Savior! It is the best!

I love all of y'all a ton!

At the Temple!

The baptism with the whole family!

Oh, está todo bien!

Feliz Dia! P-day!

So this week has been a wild ride, but super productive. I have quite a bit of stuff to talk about... I think. Haha.

So first of all I went on divisions with Jose C. Paz 1 and I went to their area with  E l d e r  D a v i s  from Redlands, California. He's pretty new in the mission, but he has a ton of desire to work hard, so it was really good. Then they finished their week really strong.

Afterwards, we had interviews with President Ayre and the Assistants (Krivocheev and Ferreiros). My companion and I opened up the doors to the baptismal font in the room for interviews with President. Haha. He loved the idea. Lots of pressure. Hahaha. But it was really good and I was able to receive a lot of guidance, which helped me and the zone, I think. I love President. He is super fun-loving, but has his goals and there is no stopping him from achieving them! haha!

So in the spirit of that, my companion and I decided to go, the both of us, to an area that was struggling and lift them up. We worked hard all week to miss a day and then both of us went and worked with them. It was an amazing day and they ended firm as well. haha! I really learned how to love my Elders. Ha, doesn't matter how much you know, until they know how much you care. So that was definitely a highlight.

But the best part is this. I was there on divisions still when I got a call... The person was asking for Elder Hankins and I was like, ah shoot what did I do? Haha, and then he said something that totally gave it away! It was ELDER TIPPETTS! Hahaha! OR better to say Brody. haha. He had come down to visit the mission with his Dad and he got permission from President to come over on Saturday morning to visit me for a bit. It was SOOOO crazy. I was freaking out, I was so happy. We talked about life and good times and hugged and everything. His Dad is super legit too. And on top of that, he brought with him a box full of double stuff Oreos and peanut butter and Pop-tarts and stuff! I was seriously in HEAVEN! Hahaha! Seriously, the best moment ever being with my best bud again. It gave me a ton of energy and desires to end strong like he did.

This week I studied the Book of Mormon and the missionaries in it. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I simply wrote down my feelings. The Spirit would testify of every truth I wrote down. So awesome. I'm learning more about doing things that aren't normal. Just thinking outside the box, just like Jesus did. Who would have thought of walking on water as a form of teaching? I find that moment one of the most powerful in the Savior's ministry!

So my companion woke me up at 4 in the morning and was all... Hankins, I'm freezing and throwing up. And I was all, Ah shoot, Take my sleeping bag and everything. So he was a bit sick this morning, but he is getting better now. Haha!

Oh! And I haven't talked about Sabrina yet! So Sabrina is a little gal we have been working with this transfer and is getting married this Friday with a member of the Church! And she will be getting baptized on Saturday, confirmed on Sunday! WAAAAHOOOOO!!! haha, so awesome. I love their family so much. She has a little baby boy named Santino that is always so happy. And I always feel at home because her boyfriend is 1 of 6 boys in the family. All boys! Haha so I see the connection they have and know how to work with them better. Pray for Sabrina and the Ayala family, that all will be well for her marriage and baptism! WOO! So pumped!

Our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, Lives!

Loves!

Baptism of Alisson. With the fam!

BRODY TIPPETTS!

So I got these pants..
They literally call them poopy pants here. Haha.
And I'm sporting the River jersey.
They were crowned champions last night. Haha!

River Plate celebrate the Argentine Championship

Feliz Dia de Madre!

It's a little late now, but I just wanted to say that I love my Mama! She is the best! I feel like I can reach my goals and really show my love towards others because of my Mom's example. More than anything, she has given me a firm foundation from the start! I can't thank her enough!

This week was a good one. We had Elder Gonzalez of the Seventy come and visit the mission! He talked a lot about our purpose and just had a big smile on his face when we conversed with him. I want to be able to know the scriptures like him. Something that I was able to take away from our time with him is to always pay attention to how you feel. If you feel good, analyze why you feel that way and make it a habit. Sometimes it's good to not be stressed, and focus on how much we learn and understand, but that we should narrow down on what is good. He also talked about how the Book of Mormon is an undrying well of good vibes, you can say. Haha. You can never feel bad reading that book, seriously. That's something we are focusing on in the Zone this week is using the Book of Mormon more in our lives!

So we were teaching this part member family this week, and in the middle, the lights went out. Haha, maybe it's not that funny and you had to be there, but for like 10 seconds after the outage there was dead silence, and then my companion in his Latin accent broke the silence with... AH FREAK MAN! Hahaha. I don't know why, but I couldn't stop laughing. Espinoza is a stud.

So a little awesome news. The mission is going on a temple trip this month! The 26th of MAY! Wooo! I am so stoked to go; it's the closest to heaven I feel. And also, Alisson was confirmed yesterday which was really neat. I love it! And Seeing the family yesterday by way of Skype was the highlight of the week. To see all those happy faces. haha! I'm pretty jealous that it's all nice and sunny out in Idaho and here it is all rainy and stuff. But it's all about the attitude, right? :)
I think I'm gonna go and buy a cheeseburger. Love you guys!

White shores...and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise -Gandalf

Loves,

MOTHER'S DAY SKYPE

La Gran Rama de Vucetich!

   The Great Branch of Vucetich!

Hey Hi Ho.

So this week was a good one! I am just super grateful for all that I have and what the Lord is preparing for me and you and everyone!

E l d e r  E s p i n o z a  and I really put an emphasis on The Work of Salvation with not only our branch, but with the entire zone! We really feel that it will catch this zone on fire! So talking about that...

This last week we talked with the President of the branch and he is a stud! He has a great vision for the branch and what we can do together to make it grow and become a ward! We talked about goals and he said that he made the goal with the Stake President to have 120 people in church weekly. We have had the average of 80-100 lately... But this last Sunday, we had 135 in church! Lots of less actives coming back that we visited. It was amazing and the Presidency was super pleased! All the members love the missionaries here and call this branch, "La GRAN Vucetich!".  Haha. Lots of excitement.

E l d e r  E s p i n o z a  and I also had a meeting with our district leaders and helped them understand how we can work more with the wards we are assigned. It's gonna be good; I can feel it! Super pumped. We also talked about this in our zone meeting last week and I think the Elders are liking it. So yeah...I'm just fired up about it.

We had a baptism as well on Sunday! She is such a miracle, seriously. We asked her mom to give her testimony at the baptismal service and it was so powerful. We knew it would be. There are so many out there that WANT to come back, but just need a little bit of love and support. Anyways, it was great. And next week the other Elders of Vucetich (one of which was with me in Parque Patricios) will have a baptism. So Vucetich is going up! WAHOO!

I am really grateful for everything. And I really do feel all the love and support from all of you. I feel like everyday, my relationship with Christ grows stronger and stronger. I feel like, amongst other things, He has developed into a faithful friend to me here on the mission. That not only did He suffer for me, but that He is here WITH me every step. I know that He has our future covered when we are obedient and live in the way He has asked. I love this work!

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Loves!

From Last Fall...

Sleeping on the bus

DEAR ELDER HANKINS

 "améis unos a otros; como yo os he amado"
"love one another; as I have loved you"



T o   E l d e r   H a n k i n s
F r o m   P a r q u e   P a t r i c i o s

José Chicoma:
Hermano Elder Hankins, en el tiempo que he podido compartir con usted he logrado encontrar una persona maravillosa.
Pocas veces he tenido la oportunidad de conocer personas con un corazón tan grande como el suyo.
Realmente estoy agradecido de haber tenido cerca de mí a alguien que me enseñó cómo amar a los demás.
Usted tiene un espíritu amoroso, comprensivo y grande para todos.
Estoy muy orgulloso de poder decir que usted es mi Hermano.
Siempre lo recordaré y siempre lo tendré presente durante mi misión.
Estoy orgulloso de usted y de su trabajo.
Pude ver cada día tu esfuerzo y las ganas que ponías por esta obra.
Sé que el Señor ha inspirado su alma.
Nunca olvidaré sus palabras antes de irse: 'VE Y HAZLO MEJOR QUE YO'.
Usted además de ser un gran misionero, es una gran persona.  Eso es único.
De este lado del Mundo, en el Sur del Planeta tiene un amigo, un hermano.
Lo llevaré en mi corazón, por siempre.
Mi hogar tiene las puertas abiertas para usted.  Y mi familia lo espera.
Lo quiero con todo mi ser.
Usted es especial y único.
Nunca deje de sonreír, nunca.
Todo el Mundo que lo ha conocido ha podido sentir algo especial con usted, y esa es su humildad.
Hermano, amigo, lo extraño.
Pero sé que está haciendo lo mejor que puede.
Ahora sé que usted está “Livin´ the Dream”.
Te amo hermano.
Un abrazo desde dónde estés.
Nunca olvide:  Todos estamos siempre…bajo la misma Luna.

José Chicoma:
Elder Brother Hankins, in the time that I have been able to share with you, I found a wonderful person.
Rarely have I had the opportunity to meet a person with a big heart like yours.
I'm really grateful to have had someone close to me who taught me how to love others.
You have a loving, understanding and great spirit for all.
I am very proud to say YOU are MY BROTHER.
I will always remember you and I will always have your example present during my mission.
I am proud of you and your work.
I could see everyday your effort and desire that you put in the work.
I know that the Lord has inspired your soul.
I'll never forget your words before leaving: ´GO AND DO IT BETTER THAN ME´.
Besides being a great missionary, you´re a great person.  That is unique.
On this side of the world, in the South of the planet, you have a friend, a brother.
I carry you in my heart, forever.
My home has open doors for you.  And my family is waiting for you.
I love you with all my being.
You are a special and unique person.
Never stop smiling, ever.
Everyone who has known you could feel something special with you, and that is your humility.
Brother, friend, I miss you.
I know that you are giving your best.
Now I know you're “Livin' the Dream”.
I love you brother.
A hug wherever you are.
Never forget:  We are always...under the same moon.

Sandra Lopez Rodriquez:
Hay tantas cosas que quisiera decir a E´Hankins...
El es un joven muy especial.
Aprendí muchas cosas de él; como el disfrutar cada momento, cada oportunidad que se nos presenta en la vida para reír, gozar y ser felices, sin importar que nos veamos tontos.. jajajaja
El hizo que yo comprendiera que no importa la diferencia de edades para empezar una amistad;
que debemos dejar salir a ese niño interior que cada uno de nosotros lleva en su interior.
Me hacia reír a cada momento con sus locuras; él dijo que siempre podía hacerme bromas porque sabía que yo no me iba a ofender, bueno casi nunca me ofendo...él me conoce; sabe que es así...jajaja
Lo extraño mucho; me siento triste, más en estos días en donde él tenía que despedirnos al partir nosotros, pero así es la misión, y los cambios siempre son buenos.
No es lo mismo caminar por la villa sin él.
Su entrega, su dedicación, su trabajo, su amor por cada uno de sus investigadores, aumentó en mí el deseo de servir en una misión; él es un gran ejemplo a seguir.
Elder Hankins es un capo...!!!
Siempre lo voy a recordar por su frase: "no haga eso hermana"... jaja.
Se que Nuestro Padre Celestial está muy complacido con él, por el gran misionero que es.
Dios lo ama mucho.
Gracias por cambiar mi vida.

Sandra Lopez Rodriquez:
There are so many things that I would like to say to E´Hankins...
He is a very special young man.
I learned many things from him; like how to enjoy every moment, every opportunity presented to us in life to laugh, enjoy and be happy, no matter that we are foolish... hahahaha
He made me understand that no matter the age difference, to start a friendship;
we must let out that inner child each of us carries inside.
It made me laugh every moment with their craziness; he said that he could always be teasing me because he knew that I was not going to offend, well almost never offended me...he knows me; knows that this is true...haha
I really miss him; I feel sad, especially in these days where he had to say goodbye to us, but that's the mission, and changes are always good.
It is not the same walk through the villa without him.
His devotion, his dedication, his work, his love for each one of his investigators, increased in me the desire to serve on a mission; he is a great example to follow.
Elder Hankins is a stud...!!!
I will always remember his phrase: "don't do that sister''...  haha.
I know that our Heavenly Father is well pleased with him, by the great missionary that he is.
God loves you very much.
Thank you for changing my life.

Blanca Patiño:
Elder Hankins es muy especial.
Él me bautizó.
Me siento orgullosa de él.
Forma parte de mi familia.
Él es mi hijo mayor.
Es muy bueno.
Nos tuvo mucha paciencia.
Nos acostumbramos mucho a él.
Nos quedamos muy tristes cuando se fue, pero así tenía que ser.
Yo sé que dónde él vaya le va a ir muy bien.
Cuando termine su mission, va a formar su propia familia y va a ser muy feliz.
Es muy buen misionero.
Es mi maestro.
Lo quiero mucho y mi familia nunca lo olvidará.

Blanca Patiño:
Elder Hankins is very special.
He baptized me.
I am proud of him.
He is part of my family.
He is my eldest son.
He is very good.
He was very patient with us.
We got used to him a lot.
We were very sad when he left, but it had to be.
I know where he goes he will be very well.
When he completes his mission, he will form his own family and will be very happy.
He is a very good missionary.
He is my teacher.
I love him & my family will never forget him.

Guido Patiño:
Le doy gracias a nuestro Padre Celestial por su amor y misericordia al enviar a Elder Hankins a predicar el evangelio de Jesucristo a mi familia.
Y por la gracia de nuestro Padre Celestial somos parte de esta gran hermandad.
Estamos agradecidos a Elder Hankins por enseñarnos y conducirnos en todo momento mientras estuvo en nuestra área.
Lo queremos mucho y le agradecemos por todo.
Que nuestro Padre Celestial ilumine siempre su camino para hacer lo correcto.
No cambie nunca su manera de ser.
El amor que tiene por los demás es algo que no tiene precio.
Gracias Elder Hankins.

Guido Patiño:
I thank our Heavenly Father for His love and mercy to send Elder Hankins to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my family.
And by the grace of our Heavenly Father we are part of this great brotherhood.
We are grateful to Elder Hankins for teaching and leading us at all times while in our area.
We love him very much and thank him for everything.
May our Heavenly Father always light your way to do right.
Never change your way of being.
The love you have for others is something that is priceless.
Thank you Elder Hankins.

Vanesa y Mercedes:
Estamos muy agradecidas por haber conocido el evangelio y por tener esa oportunidad de conocer Elder Hankins.
Le damos gracias por todas las cosas buenas y por tantos momentos maravillosos que pasamos con él.
Él es muy especial para nosotras porque nos mostró el verdadero camino y porque pudimos sentir el Espíritu Santo.
Lo queremos mucho.
Nunca cambie y nunca deje de sonreír.
Que nuestro Padre Celestial ilumine siempre su camino y que el espíritu siempre lo acompañe.
Esperamos volver a verlo algún día.

Vanesa & Mercedes:
We are very grateful to have known the gospel and to have that opportunity to meet Elder Hankins.
We give thanks for all the good things and many wonderful times we spent with him.
He is very special to us because he showed us the true path and that we could feel the Holy Spirit.
We love him very much.
Never change and never stop smiling.
May our Heavenly Father always light your path and that the spirit will always accompanies you.
We hope to see you again someday.

Pablino Britez Lescano y Katetina Belén Duarte:
Elder Hankins, te queremos mucho y te extrañamos.
Gracias por la paciencia que nos tuviste,
Sos un gran Elder.
Sabemos que nuestro Padre Celestial tiene muchas bendiciones para vos.
Que siempre seas un fiel testigo de Él.
Bueno, Elder te deseamos lo mejor y esperamos que no te olvides de nosotros cómo nosotros siempre nos acordaremos de vos.
Cuando nos casemos, te vamos a mandar las fotos.
Te queremos y te amamos mucho.
Seguro nos vemos en tu despedida.
Siempre te llevaremos en nuestros Corazones.

Pablino Britez Lescano & Katetina Belén Duarte:
Elder Hankins, we love you very much and miss you.
Thank you for the patience you had with us.
You´re a great Elder.
We know that our Heavenly Father has many blessings for you.
Always be a faithful witness of Him.
Well, Elder wish you the best and hope you do not forget about how we will always remember you.
When we get married, we will send our photos to you.
We love you and we LOVE you VERY MUCH.
For sure we see you on your farewell.
You will always be in our hearts.

Elena y Patro:
Elder Hankins, Soy tu mamá Elena y Patro.
Te deseo lo mejor.
Que estés siempre bien en los lugares dónde tengas que ir.
Espero que te sientas siempre como en tu casa.
Dónde estés espero que seas recibido.
Que el Señor te cuide siempre.
Gracias por la foto.
Siempre te recordaremos.
Gracias por todo.
Un abrazo.

Elena & Patro:
Elder Hankins, I'm your mother Elena and Patro.
Wish you the best.
You're always well in places where you need to go.
I hope you always feel at home.
Wherever you are, I hope you're received.
May the Lord watch over you always.
Thanks for the picture.
I'll always remember you.
Thanks for everything.
A hug.

Aldana y Derliz:
Te extrañamos un montón.
Ojala que pueda estar bien y que vengas a visitarnos para ir a la Iglesia así aprendemos más de Dios.
Nosotros te extrañamos un montón.
Ojala que pueda venir otra vez.
Gracias por ayudarnos.
Te extrañamos Elder Hankins.

Aldana & Derliz:
We miss you a lot.
Hopefully you can be good and you come to visit us to go to church and learn more about God.
We will miss you a lot.
Hopefully you will come again.
Thank you for helping us.
We miss you Elder Hankins.