Thanksgiving Letter 11-21-16

Buying, Preparing and Eating

Zona Caborca`s Thanksgiving Dinner

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!

Hello beautiful people!!!!

This week I am so grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel, my wonderful family, all of my friends and loved ones and all of the experiences the Lord has blessed me with on my mission. Also the scriptures because they rock, also puppies (rest in peace. little Millie <3), flour tortillas, chocolate ice cream, my companion and toothpaste. Really the list can go on and on. My full length version of the grateful list would wrap around Mexico 40,000 times, I'd say.

Today was a fabulous P-day because we celebrated Thanksgiving (or Dia de Accion de Gracias) here in Zona Caborca. Hna Payne and I were in charge of ALL the cooking. It was a big assignment but we took on our shoulders with red-blooded American pride. Payne killed it in the stuffing and gravy and I gave the Hauck name honor in the mashed potatoes and pies. The zone loved it! We all went around saying what we're grateful for.

This week has been nice but we're still seeing lots of problems with getting people to church. This week was even worse because it was a Mexican holiday and everyone was out in parades and parties. This week we'll be trying really hard to get pur investigators to realize how important the day of rest is.

Please keep your prayers coming! I've only got a month left but I've got LOTS to do!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

HAUCK & PAYNE & SKIRTS Letter 11-14-16

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am very pleased to announce that the stars have again aligned for Hermana Hauck and Hermana Payne.... WE`RE STAYING HERE ANOTHER TRANSFER TOGETHER!!!! In others words, I`m ending my mission with one of the dearest, most fabulous and awesome human beans I know!!!! Wow! I can`t believe that I`m in my last transfer of my mission. It`s all going so quickly. 

Another grand bit of news of the week is that SKIRTS ARE BACK!!!!!! After 4.5 months of wearing ugly grandpa clothes I finally get to end my mission in skirts!!! I`m just thrilled with life right now!!!

It`s a little interesting being here right now with the Trump election and all. We, being 2 Americans, have gotten tonnnnss of comments about it. Everyone wants to talk about it with us but we try to avoid it at all costs. 

Hna Payne and I are so excited to be here another transfer because we have really come to love Caborca so much. There is a lot of work here. We`re kind of on the look out for new investigators who are ready to receive the gospel, so if you could keep us in your prayers that we can be guided by the Spirit in our endeavors, that would be greatly appreciated!

I also just wanted to tell you quickly about these two kids we found this week, Dulce and Fransisco. They live in pretty extreme poverty and I their mom is catholic and uninterested in the church as I don`t think that they’ll be able to listen to us for very long, but Payne and I taught them about the restoration and the plan of salvation in hopes that someday they can really have the gospel in their lives. I would love it if you could pray for these two as well. I know that the Lord can bring about salvation in many ways. 

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Dusty Caborca Letter 11-7-16

SHOUT OUT TO MY PRECIOUS LITTLE EMME FOR TURNING 4 TODAY!!!!!

Sorry that last week's email was so lame and short. It's because our go-to internet cafe was closed when we got to it, so Hna Payne and I had to hunt our area in Caborca for another internet. When we found one we only had 20 minutes to write because we went to Hermosillo for a meeting.

The meeting in Hermosillo was awesome! I love seeing President Robinson because he just loves his missionaries so much. We heard some really inspiring messages from him and Zona Caborca has been working even harder since.

Glad to be back in Caborca! It's still very hot.. November, where are you??? but Hna Payne and I have started listening to Christmas music nonetheless.

As far as the work goes, all is well. But we're in a bit of a dry period with progressing investigators. Hna Payne and I are trying really hard to find the people that are ready to receive the gospel. Please remember the people here in your prayers.

Oh funny story!! So Caborca is a little town of dust and we are always dumping dust out of our shoes and cleaning our pants. The other day were were passing this mansion that's in our daily route when we stopped to shake dust off. I had leaned against the outer wall of the place to take off my dirty shoes and beat it against the wall to get dust out when the señora of the house drove right up to us. She said nothing to us dirty, sweaty and extremely guilty-looking gringas beating my dirty sketchers against her house but she gave my theeeee dirtiest look. Hna Payne and I got quite a laugh and a picture out of it. Gotta love the mission.

Con amor

Hermana Hauck

Express Mail Letter 10-31-16

Hi everyone!!!!

So sorry, but this week's email is going to be super short! I'm leaving for Hermosillo in a half hour.

Good news!! Felizardo's baptism went great!!!!! It was wonderful having a baptism here because there hadn't been a baptism in our branch here for some time. And it's been amazing for my companion and I to see all the changes that Felizardo has made in his life.

Sorry again that this email is so short! But I gotta run.

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Sweet 16 Letter 10-24-16

Stop time stop, can't process flying, stop time stop, time time time, stop please recalculating...stop time stop, stop stop time, malfunction!

Before you get worried that I'm seizing as I write or something, the paragraph above is to illustrate how unable I am to process the fact that TODAY I have 16 months in the mission...WHAAAAT?

This week was a great one! Our zone has been working really hard to step it up into high gear. We've been putting really high goals to push us. I'm so proud of the missionaries here because they've all been working so hard!

Our investigator, Felizardo, is doing really well! He's been working so hard to change some problems he's had and we've seen help that can only come from the Lord. He's getting ready to be baptized this Friday so keep him in your prayers, please!

Another investigator, Gustavo, came to church with his wife (who we'll start teaching this week). He's got a baptismal date too, for November.

We've had several other investigators doing well but haven't come to church yet. Please pray for Irasema, Leonor, Ana, y Ivana.

Have a wonderful week!!!

Con amor,
Hermana Hauck

Sister Trainer Letter from President Robinson 10-14-16

Dear Brother & Sister Hauck,

It is a pleasure to communicate with you, and tell the great work that Sister Hauck is doing in Mexico Hermosillo Mission. She is now serving as Trainer Leader of the Sisters. It is a great responsibility, a sign of confidence that the Lord has in her. She will have a great influence on the lives of the sisters, giving an example of obedience, including accurate and effective proselytizing. This experience will serve her in these 18 months and throughout her life.   We hope you continue writing letters and through your letters give encouragement so she can continue working with your support and love. We thank you for the example you have given to your daughter, may the Lord bless you in your efforts to continue supporting her. You can contact us with any questions you have.

Sincerely,

President & Sister Robinson

Missionarying in Caborca & Hermosillo Letter 10-17-16

Hi all! Things are still wonderful here in Caborca. Hna Payne and I are working hard and having lots of fun. EVERYONE thinks we`re sisters here. Sometimes we go along with it and let people believe it. We really don't look thaaaat much alike... but I guess to the grand people of Sonora we do.

This week was a crazy one!!! We had two trips to Hermosillo (a WHOLE lot of time in a bus if you ask me), first for a meeting with President Robinson on Tuesday then to go to the temple on Saturday.

I got permission to go to the temple because a couple that I taught, Alicia and Mario, were endowed and sealed! It was an amazing experience because I had never seen a sealing before. There were many other missionaries that went too so I got to see some old companions including Hna Pelico and my daughter (trainee) Hna Balboa! I was so, so SO excited to see them both:)

It was also great seeing this couple because they were like my second parents when I was in Guaymas. It was one of those special moments being in the temple with them because I could see how much they have progressed and how their testimonies have grown.

Not to keep going on about this, but it was also amazing to go to the temple in light of Grandmas Hirschi`s death. It sort of gave me the closure I needed being inside the House of the Lord and thinking of how He has made possible that families can be forever. I love going to the temple!!!

We weren`t able to work as much as we would have liked this week because of the many hours we spent in Hermosillo, but I`ll fill you in more on one of our progressing investigators.

I`m pretty sure I mentioned Felizardo last week. He`s an investigator we inherited from Peñasco. He`s been doing really well with his commitments and we were able to move his baptismal date up to the 29th of October. He`s a kind of funny guy, but is really sincere with his desire to follow God`s will.

Have a great week!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Bitter-Sweet Week Letter 10-10-16

Life with the Payne

Goal presentation with Zona Caborca

Skype Call with Mom and Dad

Hi family!

This week was a bitter sweet one. As you know from last week, I am now companions with one of my best friends from the mission, Hna Payne. This to me completely proved to be revelation because my first week with her one of the dearest ladies in my life, my Grandma Hirschi, passed away. It`s somewhat hard for me to write about this right now so I`ll be brief. But I want you all to know that I`ve received comfort from my companion, my mission president and from Mom and Dad (Pres let me call them on Thursday). I`ve also received lots of comfort and strength from the Holy Ghost.

I want you to know that I have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I teach every day that thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will all live again and will be able to live with our families eternally according to our obedience to His commandments. This week was a chance for me to ask myself `I know it, but do I believe it?`. I am so happy to tell you all: Yes, I do believe it. I really do believe that Grandma Hirschi is awaiting in the Spirit Paradise and will reunite with her body in the resurrection. We will see her again. I believe and have faith in Christ and His Atonement. That was the only way possible to break the bands of death and sin for all humankind. It wasn`t extremely difficult but He `drank the bitter cup` because He loves us. How amazing!!!!

As far as the work goes here in Caborca, it`s been fun opening area.... again! BTW this is my 5th time opening an area in the mission. Not sure what`s going on there, but I`m not complaining. It`s a lot of work but is really a great experience every time I`ve done it.

We have one progressing investigator right now, who`s name is Felizardo, but we call him Feliz. He`s come to church with us once and has the goal to be baptized by the end of October. I'll keep you updated on him.

Caborca is quite different from my area in Peñasco. Here it is very dry and dusty. And I`m pretty sure we are in the rich part of the city because the houses are huge! Hna Payne and I are getting along fabulously, of course. We have way too much fun! She`ll get home next March and you will all meet her because she`s moving into our house. :)

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Transfer of Dreams Letter 10-3-16

Bye Hermana Camacho

Adios Penasco

Adios Penasco

Penasco Family

Pink Cupcakes

Penasco Zone

Hermana Hauck live writing you from CABORCA SONORA!!!!!!!!!!! That's right, I was transferred to a town 2 hours south of Peñasco, but the news doesn't peak there. The stars and planets aligned on this one and I my companion is going to be my wonderful partner in crime HERMANA PAYNE!!!!!!!!!! When my old zone leaders told me about my transfers I jumped up and down screaming with excitement. Then I later called Hna Payne to plan our arrival in Caborca because we´re opening area. Our phone call went like this:

(ring ring)
PAYNE: Bueno?
HAUCK: Hola.. quien habla? (Hi, who´s speaking?)
PAYNE: Hna Payne... quien habla?
HAUCK: Soy Hna Hauck
PAYNE: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAUCK: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see we are both very excited. :)

We will be working as capacitadoras (Sister Training Leaders) here in Caborca. Basically we just help out the other sisters, have exchanges and have meetings with President, but I´m really excited to be given this opportunity to serve the missionaries here along with the people.

I don´t have much time because my COMP<3 will be arriving here soon and I´m going to pick her up so I´m just briefly going to write about conference.

First off, favorite part of conference for me was when I saw Sarah (aka sister Wykstra) in the MTC choir in the last number! I was searching the missionaries in each number and had to hold back my (THAT´S MY COUSIN!!!) when I finally saw her.

I haven´t been able to choose a favorite talk yet.. I´m going to have to read them all again. But I really enjoyed the talks by W. Mark Bassett, Linda S. Reeves, Dale G. Renlund and Russell M. Nelson. Also, it was amazing as always to hear from our beloved Prophet Presdient Monson. I loved all of the talks of course, these are just the ones that stand out most clearly in my mind right now. I noticed a theme of repentance. I loved what Sister Reeves said about Satan's tactic of making hiding a sin to protect other seem more noble than confession. I also loved the little story in Elder Bassett's talk about worrying to open the information that wasn't available in place of searching and treasuring the plain and precious information that we do have.

Well that´s about all I got this week. I´ll have much more to tell in this next week!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Drum Roll Please...Letter 9-26-16

Ivonne

 

Ivonne

Hermanas Comacho & Hauck with Three Converts

Kenia

Irlanda and Her Family

Irlanda

WHAT A GLORIOUS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO happy to tell you all that Irlanda, Kenia and Ivonne were baptized Saturday after the General Women´s Conference. It was a bit crazy this week leading up to Saturday because everything that we had to do to get ready for the baptisms got put back because I came down with bronchitis. Thankfully we had some members that could help us get everything done. And my super hero companion did a ton too! All was worth it because the baptism was perfect!!!

I can´t even express how strong the Spirit was in the baptism. Our three investigators in white brought tears to my eyes and will be a special memory for the rest of my life!! I couldn't stop smiling and hugging everyone as their families and friends and other members of our branch arrived for the service.

Irlanda was baptized by her dad, whom we recently reactivated. It was really special for us and their whole family (quadruplets and all) because they want to prepare to be sealed in the temple this winter. Irlanda is a gem and practically like my little sister :) After the ordinance she changed into this absolutely adorable fluffy white princess dress.

Ivonne is the second from her family to be baptized. Her grandma, Alma, is actually a convert of my old companion, Hna Mendoza. She was baptized in January. Now the 2 of them are getting names ready to take to the temple for baptisms. Ivonne wants us to send missionaries to her mom who lives in Mexicali.

Kenia has set a really great example for her family. Her husband came to church on Sunday to see her be confirmed and we´re going to start teaching him. Her little boys love primary:) and she is already getting involved in programs of the church.

I am so grateful that the Lord let me play a part in the conversion of these hermanas. This was a miracle!!!! I as a missionary didn't do much to be honest. It really all is the Lord. If we are obedient and submit ourselves to His will He can make us instruments in His hands. Irlanda, Kenia and Ivonne were part of the ¨white and already to harvest¨ group. As my companion and I worked hard and made the sacrifices that the Lord asked of us He let us see the miracle of the harvest.

I´m not sure what´s happened with the ponderizing scriptures lately... so I´m going to pick it for this week. I read this in personal studies Sunday morning after the baptism and it expresses my thoughts perfectly.

¨I know that which the Lord commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory in myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance, and this is my joy¨.  Alma 29:9

Con amor,
Hermana Hauck

¡¡¡¡¡VIVA MÉXICO!!!!! Letter 9-19-16

With Saulito

With Ismelda Moreno (RS president)

With investigator Ivonne and her recent convert grandma, Alma

With Ariana, Rosario and Valeria

Hola!

What a wonderful week we had here in Peñasco! We celebrated Mexican Independence on Thursday with a ¨Noche Mexicana¨ in the chapel. Hna Camacho and I and the other missionaries from our branch showed up in Mexican dresses that mi comp's mom sent us from Veracruz.

Other than that, this week has been filled with attending to our investigators that will be being baptized this weekend.

AHHHHH I´M SO EXCITED FOR THIS WEEKEND!!!

As of now Irlanda, Kenia and Ivonne will be baptized. Ariana and Rosario will hopefully be baptized in the following week. Please include these (and all) of my investigators in your prayers.

Please forgive me for a short email this week. I have to make a program for the baptisms... AHHHHH AGAIN I´M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

Little Girls Bike Letter 9-12-16

Flour-faced hermanas after our zone activity today.

More Flour Faces

Yaqui mural here in Peñasco

Yaqui mural here in Peñasco

Nursery Time

Hello all!!!

The work keeps moving forth here in Peñasco! We had a really good week, though Hna Camacho came down with strep throat this weekend:/ I´m sick too but just mildly. It´s been kind of hard attending all of our investigators being sick and all. I went on divisions with a member to be able to get in some needed lessons. The good news is we´re both healin´ up well and will be pretty much back to normal by tomorrow or Wednesday. 

Besides that unfortunate event, this week was lovely! We had a Zone conference with President that was really inspiring and got me so excited. He talked a lot about the Atonement. He shared a story that I think many of you have heard. It´s about a little girl who wanted a bike. Her dad told her to do all she could to earn the money for it and she could have it. She did everything she, as a little girl, could but still was short of the price of the bike. So her daddy paid the remainder. I couldn´t help crying as I listened to this story  that I´d already heard many times because it touched my heart in such a deeper way this week as I imagined the Savior paying that debt for me. I, being young, impatient, selfish, prideful and imperfect in so many ways will never be able to reach the happiness and glory that Heavenly Father has prepared for us. Yet Christ atoned to be able to lift me higher than I can on my own. I know that He has paid that same debt for each and every one of you.

And in the work, all of our investigators are doing really well..

Irlanda:
This girly is absolutely adorable. She has a little journal that she writes in as she reads her Book of Mormon to remember what she learns. Her family is less active but told us this week that they want to be sealed in the temple!!! They´ve already gone to church twice as a family:)

Kenia:
Doing really well too. She has several friends that are members which helps so much. Her kids are coming to church with us too but aren´t old enough to baptize yet.

Rosario y Ariana (y Valeria):
We started teaching Vale, Ariana´s sister, this week. They´re doing really well too and have come to several activities and church meetings with us.

Andres:
Also doing well, but sadly this week his parents expressed some of their negative feelings towards his preparations for baptism. From what we can understand from their point of view they have fears that he´ll be baptized then later on in his teenage years he´ll go off the deep end and make lots of serious mistakes (as happened with an older daughter of theirs). They feel like it would be better for him to be baptized when he´s older and has more sins to be washed away. I understand how someone could arrive to that logic, but I don´t think they really understand the purpose of baptism, nor that it is in fact a commandment. And one of the amazing parts of baptism is the confirmation of the gift of the Holy Ghost which will help him in his life to make the correct decisions. We´ve tried sharing scriptures with them and talking on the matter but they´re rather set in this idea. If anybody has advice on the matter I´m all ears:)

That all for this week!

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck

A Happy Week And A Happy Life Letter 9-5-16

ELOTES with member Lupita:)

Masks with Ariana

HI FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE READING THIS EMAIL!!!

Hermana Hauck here is a happy camper because we had a great week here with our investigators! Yesterday 5 investigators came to church with us! It was so amazing having them all there because it´s been really hard getting people to come to church here in our area. Brief summary of each of our main progressing investigators:

Andres: You already know a bit about him. 10 years old, son of a less active couple. He is the CUTEST THING EVER. He´s extremely polite and doesn´t has a sarcastic bone in his body so I am (naturally) always joking around with him.

Irlanda: 11 years old and also is from a less active family. She´s the older sister of the quadruplets... I think I mentioned them once, right? Well, the whole family came to church with us this Sunday! They were climbing all over the seats and running around. Irlanda is really smart and has been progressing well.

Rosario & Ariana: a grandma and her 17 year old granddaughter. They are really sweet and love Hna Camacho and me so much. Actually, last night we did facials with Ariana.

This week was also really special because we had a visit from Seventy Elder Pino. All of my zone here in Peñasco went down to Caborca for a multi zone conference with him, his wife an Hna and President Robinson. He talked alot about the sacredness of our calling. He told us that our mission calls are recieved via revelation. The Lord puts us where He puts us because He knows where we need to be for our own welfare and that of others.

With those thoughts from Elder Pino, I just wanted to share with you that I know that to be true. In these 14 months that I have been here as a missionary in the state of Sonora I have learned that the Lord actually knows me and that He sent me here. I look back at the early months of my mission when I had such a hard time adapting to Mexico. I thought I would never come to love my mission nor this place to where I was called. Now I can´t express hard grateful I am to have been sent here by the Lord. I have had experiences here that I am sure I could not have had anywhere else and I have come to love this place, the people and the culture so much I feel like my heart might explode! It´s been a lesson for me to trust in God. He knows what He´s doing and He doesn't give us things we can´t do. If we´re tried in the tasks and calling He gives us, it because He wants to give us a chance to prove our faith and dedication.

I also want you all to know how much I love you and how grateful I am for your support. Hahaha wow, lots of feelings right now!

Have a great week!!!!!!

Con amor,
Hermana Hauck

¨[Hna Camcho] took a little spill at the sand dunes today... broke her coccyx¨ Letter 8-29-16

14 Months on the Mission

Caty's Kids

Caty's Kids

Caty & Kids

Hola a todos!

This week has been a pretty good one, though I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I HAVE 14 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!!!!!!!!

It's starting to cool off ever so slightly here in Peñasco. And I'm also glad to tell you that there were no phone ransoms paid, dog bites, nor any other kind of mischief like that in this nook of Sonora. But poor Hermana Camacho has had some problems with her tailbone and this last week it's gotten worse so we've taken a break from our bikes. But now our area seems so much bigger!! We're going to the doctor tomorrow to check out her back. Hopefully they can find something or give her some kind of medicine because she's been having a lot of pain.
*PS-10 points to all of you who understand the subject line...

Our young investigator, Andres, is doing really well. We watched the Book of Mormon cartoon of Nephi and the Brass Plates this week which was really fun for him, but he wasn't able to come to church yesterday  because both of his parents worked. We're trying to reactivate his whole family so this week we're going to put some goals to be able to make it to Sacrament meeting this week.

Caty is still doing well, but gave us the sad news that she and her boyfriend and kids will be moving to Hermosillo in 2 weeks before she can get baptized. I hope she can continue to prepare for baptism there, though. We're going to send her dates to the mission office.

We have a new progressing investigator named Rosario. She has around 50 years and is darling! She was so excited when she came to church with us yesterday. I´ll keep you all updated on her and on our other investigators. Please keep them in your prayers.

Con amor,

Hermana Hauck