The Hardest Things

Hello world! ¡Salud!

Growing up, I always heard that mission was going to be the hardest thing that I would ever do up to this point in my life. I didn´t really understand what could possibly so hard about serving a mission...you just go out and share the Gospel with people. Worst case scenario, I get rejected and have to walk around in the sun or rain all day. Or maybe I would have to eat gross food or get bit by a dog or attacked or something. But even considering all these things, I still didn´t understand what was going to be the hard part. I mean, surely if I had sufficient faith, then I would be able to see past all those things and trust in God, trust in His plan, and just keep working. This was my thought process, and I still believe it, but this week I was able to understand some of the harder things about the mission. 

Where to start....

Okay. Thursday night. 6 days ago. A sweet lady in our ward passed away. She´s a member of one of the strongest families in our ward, a family who we spend a lot of time with in service and church activities. This lady had been sick since October, and these past 2 weeks the infirmity acceralted and pretty suddenly it took her life. I suppose that´s a part of life, but it was still sad mourning with everyone over her death. Of course, understanding the plan of Salvation offered everyone a perspective and comfort that only truth can provide, which has been appreciated this weekend.

Friday night, 5 days ago. Do you remember that family that was baptized in February? Well, there´s been some legal issues due to complicated (and tragic) history in the family, issues that put some serious strains in the family. After being abandoned by her husband for another family (wife and kids) he had "on the side", this lady was left to raise her 5 kids on her own. 2 of these kids have slight forms of autism. Being raising them and working, here in the streets of La Pintana, the kids spent a lot of time in the streets playing with friends until their mom was home and able to bring them food and, well, be their mother. Long story short, one of her childeren got involved with drugs which caused some serious issues, creating concerns from the Neighbors and the Chilean Version of the CPS. Years later, the CPS shows back up and on Friday, the kids were temporarily taken from the house. In 6 months there will be a re-evaluation and we´ll see where things go. 

We were able to give these kids all blessings, with our Bishop, before they left, and The Spirit was strong as we enjoyed the blessings of The Priesthood in that home on that night. A good example of the blessings that come from a knowledge and faith of The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Saturday. 4 days ago. Camila, our investigator who has been ready and excited about her baptism since the beginning of February decided that she didn´t want to be baptized. She was crying and sad that her only friends at church (the kids who were just taken from their mom) weren´t going to be there anymore. Camila is 12 years old. Her family is a little rocky. She started to coming to church with Gerald, Victor, and Antonella in the beginning of January. We found her through them. But the poor little girl was heartbroken that her only friends were gone, and didn´t have the desire to be baptized anymore. There isn´t much to say, really, the only thing to do was be sad with her and let her feel and understand that we were asd, too. 

So, those were the major events of our week. I suppose it is hard being a missionary for the same reasons that it is so great: You grow to love the people. That love increases both our capacity to feel joy as it does our capacity to experience pain. I´m sure all parents out there understand that relationship much better than I do. It would make sense that He who has the greatest love for us is also He who suffered, and continues to suffer, the most for us as well. The very first chapter of the Book of Mormon offers a perfect message of solace to those who suffer: 

After Lehi tried to do what was right, he suffered (v. 18-20). He suffered even to the point where he almost loses his life, as Nephi says, "And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away". This week I was able to see 3 people who are just trying their best to do what´s right, (can I include myself and say that I saw 4 people trying their best to do what´s right?) and the suffering that came as a result. But Nephi goes on to give the comfort that I put my trust in, that all Latter-Day Saints who suffer put their trust in: But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Righteous suffering is the prelude to melodious tender mercies. After all, it was only after his suffering that Lehi was kinda obligated to leave Jerusalem, which was his first step in the direction towards The Promised Land. 

So, the hope and certainty of tender mercies and a Promised Land give me hope that all will be well in the lives of those with whom I was able to suffer a little bit this week. 

General Conference woo!

-Elder Hixon

The Fourth Quarter!

I can't believe I'm in the 4th quarter!! Just as intense and exciting here in the mission as it was on the football field. 

Did you see the new video of the 1st Vision? I think it´s called Ask of God...6 minutes, it is super super super awesome. I love Joseph Smith. Let me share a few thoughts about Joseph Smith from my studies yesterday. I read The Testimony of Joseph Smith in The Book of Mormon with a fresh set of eyes and noted the cool order of things. Pertaining to Moroni's visit. 

1) Light filled the room 

2) Once the light was established, the Messenger appeared. He couldn´t show up before the light, the light preceded His appearance (at least to the eyes of Joseph)

Then the order by which he starts the revelation

1) Joseph called by name

2) He is sent of God

3) Then tells Joseph his name

I recalled something I had noticed before. The first thing He does, before any revelation, is establish the relationship between Himself and His Child. Always. "Thou art Joseph, I am God" "Saul, Saul, I am Jesus Christ" "Thou art Oliver, I am God"

He does this over and over again, I have a list in my study journal. The first point of the first lesson we teach as missionaries is "God is Our Loving Heavenly Father" (and we are His Children).

If that "First Doctrine" (as Jeffery R Holland called it in the April General Conference of last year) isn´t understood, or at least recognized, then no other Doctrine or Revelation will ultimately be of lasting value. 

Those are quick thoughts!

Love you all,

Elder Hixon

Our Stake Choir

Woo!

Hello! Another week for the books! Woo!

Been awhile since I`ve said woo...

This week was a good one. Last week I commented to Mom that we had found a family the day before and that we had a follow up cita with them in the future...well we had the cita! And is was a hit! New family, but I`m talking FAMILY family. Like, two parents, 2 kids, their kids` spouses, and their kids`s kids. Alba and her husband (whose name escapes me in this moment), and their 2 kids whose names are Pascar and Karina. Oscar is married as well, and has 2 kids. Karina is single. We taught the message of the Restoration to Alba and her husband, Oscar, and Karina. It`s so weird...these people are the first Chilenos I have taught who just listen. Like, I don`t know any random infirmities they`ve had or if they have any cousins in Miami, I don`t know how many dogs they have had in their lives, or if they`re cat people, nor do I know who their favorite soccer team us. I`m not sure about ex husbands or ex girlfriends, nor have they said "Well, we don`t go to church, but we`re Catholic" or "yo creo en Dios, pero a MI manera." These people just listen! It`s crazy!! It`s awesome :) 

They accepted the invitation to read the Book of Mormon and be baptized. We are going to see how they are tomorrow, and when all is well, we are going to put on a date and keep working! Woo!

I continue learning from my companion, Elder Araujo, about how to be a better missionary and how to focus on the things that really matter. Of my 9 companions, 5 of them have been pretty new to the mission. This has been such a blessing for me in helping me remember to focus on what really matters, the importance of never teaching more or less than the pure doctrine of Christ. It has also helped me to remember and study Preach My Gospel and just base both myself and our teachings on the fundamentals. To get make a layup, the ONLY thing you gotta know is up strong, right elbow, right know, corner of the box, hit the floor and box out. The same with The Gospel...all I gotta focus on to strengthen my testimony and deepen my conversion is faith in Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Make and Keep Covenants, Strive to be worthy of and guided by The Holy Ghost, rinse and repeat. This focus has been a blessing in my life, and Elder Araujo has helped me a lot in that. 

Woo!

I`m gonna send some pictures now. Camila is doing awesome, on date to be baptized the 25th! Also, we NAILED some musical numbers as a stake choir this Sunday at Stake Conference. I also get to play in another Stake Conference with another stake choir this next week. Perks of being the only 1 of the 30,000 in these stakes who is willing to play the piano at last minute :) 

Love you! 

-Elder Hixon

 Learning Portugese. #wooo Elder Araujo

baptism 

our taxi driver

Resting

The work is good! This week I was able to see the eternal truth of how simply working solves so many problems. Elder Araujo and I seem to be the happiest and work together best as we are just working, doing what we are supposed to do. It seems to only be when we are wasting time or walking without any real purpose that we are annoyed or have issues. D&C 58:27.  Elder Araujo continues growing and learning, I am also learning more about where to push and where to give. One of the best moments we had this week was yesterday as we decided to sit down for about 10 minutes and watch the sun go down. Sometimes there' s a debate between us as when to rest or not, and I realize I can frustrate my companions sometimes because resting is not in my make up. This time we rested though. It was one of the first times I feel like Elder Araujo really opened up and told me stories about his life before the mission, questions and doubts he has about this life. It was super surprising, he just opened up and started talking. I was able to realize that while I should strive for the ideal, I need to also always be looking for and worthy to hear and follow The Spirit. The law of The Lord is love, and I need to listen to His Spirit to know how to help my companion feel that love. As Elder Holland described in an Easter message a few years ago, there IS a point where Justice, Love, and Mercy meet. That point is found in the Atonement of Christ. As I strive to better focus on His Atonement and His sacrifice for ME, I am sure that we will be able to better work and share that love and truth with those around us.

We continue finding people and teaching, but the progress in our sector is pretty slow. The great people we find seem to drop off the face of the earth after a few visits. We have 2 baptismal dates for the 25th of March, one is a friend of the family who we just baptized. Her name is Camila, she´s pretty awesome. She´s 12 years old and has come to church for the past 6 weeks by herself! She´s there for every appointment. Her parents are not against her going to church or even joining the church, but they don´t really seem to have any interest of going or joining themselves. But Camila is progressing! 

The other family that we are working with is a Less Active wife with her nonmember husband and kids. Their names are Enrique and Regina, and their kids are named Romina, Maite, and Luna. They are a family from Peru, the cutest little kids in the world. Romina is 12 years old, and she´s on date to be baptized on the 25th. We are working with Enrique, but he seems to progress slower. He and Regina aren´t married...so baptism right now is kind of complicated. But he loves listening to us and always makes time for our visits, even though he works just about all day, every day. 

Other than that, we found a few new people on Monday who we are going to visit tomorrow. Their names are Alba and Karina, potentially a new family of investigators, We were just knocking doors and Alba (50ish years old) answers and lets us share in the patio. We shared with her and her daughter, Karina (25ish years). We taught a short version of the Plan of Salvation, and have an appointment tomorrow to meet the rest of the fam bam! We´ll see how things go. 

All good things! Work keeps on keeping on, I´m trying to just keep up :)

-Elder Hixon

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A Short One

Hmm, what to be said about the week! I don`t know if you remember Elder Ricks, then Elder who was at the Phoenix Airport with me, but he`s now living in my house and serving in my ward! So that`ll be fun. Elder Araujo continues learning and adapting, bit by bit, to the mission life and the mission rules. 

I haven`t had too many callings or assignments in my time so far as a missionary, but I have been called to train twice...and easily these have both been the periods of the most learning that I have had in my time here in Chile. I have learned so so so much by training. Everything really has changed since I was first called to train Elder Hair, and I continue learning and seeing great changes as I work and serve with Elder Araujo. The weight of the load has really helped draw me closer to the covenant path.

So in short this week, Keep on pushing your load (sounds more enabling than "pulling" the load). 

Sending my love to everyone,

-Elder Hixon

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