Salut!! This week was really great! Soeur Denning is an incredible companion, I absolutely adore her! We have so much fun together and we see so many miracles together! 

This week we had some appointments set up and each one fell through...people forget us too easily I guess. So it was a tad bit difficult, we didn't get to teach very much this week. We were struggling during weekly planning because we had no idea what to do the coming week with so few appointments set but the Elders reminded us that the night is darkest before the dawn, and we continued to work hard and we were fasting and contacting and porting and doing everything we possibly could and waiting for our dawn to come.
And Saturday night it finally did! I don't know if you remember Miracle Isabelle from Christmas time. Soeur Foster and I ported into her and sang and prayed with her and it was one of the most incredible experiences. Well Soeur Denning and I passed by her house this weekend. Isabelle's daughter let us in and I said, I don't know if you remember us but...and Isabelle said oh I could never forget you! She was so nice to us and invited us to come eat with them the next day. It was absolutely an answer to prayers! Heavenly Father really was watching over us. So yesterday we were able to go to their home and eat dinner and share photos of our family. We chatted and Soeur Denning played the piano and sang for them and their son Hugo played the guitar for us. It was so much fun and I felt so much at home. Her family is not believing at all, but she is. One of her daughters died five years ago and her family has been struggling ever since. But we were able to share a few paragraphs from A Family Proclamation to the World. It was really cool and Isabelle was really appreciative because usually her husband is totally against anything religious but he was really comfortable with us so it was really great! We'll hopefully being seeing them again later this week :) Being with them made me miss my own family just a little bit but mostly really grateful that I get to be here. Because I've seen in my own family the hope and joy this gospel brings and I am so glad I get to share that with the people here! As we were sharing the Family Proclamation I was impressed with how grateful I was for the fact that my own family was built upon these principles. That no matter what I will be with my family forever even after death. And I am so grateful for this truth that I have and the oppportunity to share it! 

Also this week we went to Versailles! We had a zone conference with Elder Kearon!! It was incredible. Before the meeting started we all lined up to shake his hand and he was so kind. The Spirit during the meeting was so strong. I felt so much love from Elder Kearon and from Soeur and President Poznanski. He testified of Heavenly Father's love for each of us as His children and His missionaries and I knew with all my heart that Heavenly Father loves me and is aware of me. I was able to learn so much and I received so many answers to my prayers. He really was so inspired with everything he said. Basically what we did was he asked questions and we just discussed as a large group all the components of missionary work and being a good missionary. It was so enlightening! I absolutely loved it and it really helped me change my perspective. It is so important as missionaries to have hope and faith. President said, "When you face adversity without complaining it will open your eyes to the miracles Heavenly Father has planned for you." and Elder Kearon said your attitude determines your altitude. It was so emphasized to me how important it is to have a positive attitude through everything. As of now, we have absolutely no amis...but it's important for me to keep faith and hope so that I can find those who are looking for this gospel, who are ready to accept our message. 

Plus this week we have exchanges, and interviews with President and Soeur Poznanski and zone conference!! I am so excited!! I love zone conference. I can receive so many answers and I adore President and Soeur Poznanski so I'm really excited to talk with them. I feel like they are my parents here in France. They love us missionaries so much. We talked at conference with Elder Kearon about the love of God. And as missionaries Heavenly Father lets us borrow His love so we can help His children. As I've been out here, I know more than ever before that God is there. That He is our Heavenly Father and He is watching over us every day. It makes me so so sad when we meet people who are atheist. I can't imagine how sad that must make Him. But I know He loves each and every one no matter what. There is nothing that could ever cause Him to stop loving us. He wants more than anything for us to come back to Him! And I am so incredibly grateful to be  a missionary, to be an instrument in His hands to help His children, my brothers and sisters, to come unto Him. I am so blessed!

Thank you so much for all your support and prayers. I love you all so much!!!

avec amour soeur hawkes 

Ma famille!!

This week was fabulous! And really difficult. But still super good :)

I said goodbye to my mission mom :( It was really really sad, it was so hard for her to leave me!

But Soeur Denning is AMAZING. I love her so much already!!! We get along swimmingly and she seriously has the best stories. Not to mention that we both lived with the infamous Chloe and Ashley. So we quickly bonded over sharing stories of them ha we adore them both so much!

My new comp is from Centerville Utah. She's been out about 10 months, her French is BEAUTIFUL and she was in Avery first and then Luxembourg so this is really her first real French ville. She is going to love it! 

Soeur Denning and I are going to have the best transfer here in Angers! We spent the first four days together contacting and porting until we cried haha literally though. We met the meanest rudest man in all the land, and he was American so we understood perfectly what he said...but it actually only solidified my testimony that I know this Gospel is true and that I am not wasting my time here! Soeur Denning bore a powerful testimony of eternal families. This man said you can't possibly know that. no one can. That's just a belief you have, not a knowledge. She was so gracious and courteous and then we left. We were both stinging after that but it just fortified my testimony. I know that families can be together forever, it's not just a belief but a perfect knowledge because I have felt the Holy Ghost testify of that to me. I know that this gospel is true and that through Heavenly Father's plan that He has for each of us we can live together with our loved ones after this life.

So we did TONS of finding and we found some wonderful people to teach! I am so excited for this upcoming week and all of our appointments!! We found a family on Saturday, it was a woman and her three little kids and the little boys asked us where America was and if we took a plane or a boat. It was absolutely adorable and we're meeting with them on Friday so pray they keep their rendez-vous with us!!! I love them so much already and I really really want them to have this gospel in their lives!!

This week we are headed to Versailles again for Mission Conference! I am so stoked because Elder Kearon will be there!! It is going to be some serious spiritual nourishment! Which is what I need after the week I had! The week was hard just because adjustments are difficult and it seemed that all the mean people of Angers were the only ones out and about. It was really difficult for me to adjust to being the one in charge of deciding what to do and where to go because Soeur Denning has never been to Angers before, she doesn't know the people yet so it was up to me to make the plans for the day and I really really had to lean on the Lord and trust the Spirit to guide us where to go. Plus while out contacting, with Soeur Foster I would start out with people and then she would take it from there. So now contacting with Soeur Denning she lets me do the whole thing and for the first bit I was lost and didn't know what to say but as I relied on the Spirit I was able to ask inspired questions and testify. So this week as hard as it was, was a huge testimony builder to me that Heavenly Father is always aware of us and He always has a plan. I am so grateful He put Soeur Denning and I together, already she has answered so many of my prayers and I adore her!! Plus she's going to teach me so much French and how to cook! :)

I am so grateful to be a missionary. I get to help people find their faith and the assurance the God is our loving Heavenly Father. I think that's the most important for people to understand. Because when they understand that, they can realize who they are and who they are capable of becoming through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When they realize how much God loves them they can realize that He really did send His Son to the earth to die for us. And Jesus Christ is the reason for hope and joy in this life! I am so grateful I have this knowledge and the opportunity to share it with everyone here in Angers.

I love you all so much, thank you for your prayers and support!

avec amour 

sœur hawkes 

                                                Our last district meeting together!!

                                                                  Lenaig and I :)

Bonjour à tous!

This week was incredible! We met so many wonderful people and saw so many miracles! We had fixed a goal to find one new ami every single day and it was incredible to see God answer our prayers and to see the blessings from obedience!

I was so sad to hear about Brother Knuckles!!! I really hope he is doing better, and I will make sure to keep him and his family in my prayers this week!

Also, Soeur Foster is leaving me!! Which is really sad but I'll be staying here in Angers yay!! My new companion is Soeur Ashelle Denning!! I'm super excited! 

We actually only found 5 amis instead of 7 but that goes to show how important exact obedience is and how much the Lord will bless us when we are obedient and we are committed to our purpose with full heart! 

Wednesday we weren't able to find anyone and we committed to finding two the next day to make up for our mistakes that day. SoThursday evening we went to pass by one of our amies and she wasn't home. So we just ported in that building. Every single person said no (as usual :) But finally we knocked on the door, introduced ourselves and why we were here and the woman said come in. And I was so surprised I didn't even move! She had to say it again for me to actually step forward! She is from Africa and she has two little boys age 8 and 5 and they are angels!! Immediately we could feel the love of this family and how close they were to each other. We introduced the Book of Mormon to her and really explained why we were they and testified that this message could bless her and her family. She accepted a soft invite to be baptized and we prayed and read with the family!!! We have another meeting with them on Wednesday. It was an absolute miracle. It was incredible to see Heavenly Father answer our prayers! 

Also on our way home one night we talked to a girl on the bus. We were just chatting and we mentioned why we were in France (everyone asks us what university we're studying at and it's the perfect opportunity to say what we're actually doing here!!) We asked her if she was believing and she said she is atheist. So we talked some more and fixed a rendez-vous for Saturday. Saturday morning came and we prayed so hard that she would keep her meeting and we would get to talk to her and she was there!!! So we got to know her more and then introduced the Book of Mormon, why we were there and all of that. We talked about our loving Heavenly Father and prayer. And then we invited her to give the closing prayer, she was really nervous but we told her all the steps and then she said the most sincere humble prayer, I've heard. It was so full of hope and faith as she asked Heavenly Father if He was there and thanking  Him for all her blessings. The Spirit filled the room and it was a moment I'll never forget. We're meeting with her again on Saturday and then she's moving back home with her parents but we'll send the missionaries there for sure :) I am so grateful I get to be here and to witness the people grow in faith. It's incredible to meet someone who doesn't believe in God and then a few days later hear them say a humble prayer. The life of a missionary is seriously the best!! I get to see so many miracles every single day and not a moment goes by that I don't see the hand of my Heavenly Father in my life. He's with me every step of the way. Giving me the courage to talk to people on the street, giving me the words I need to say and the ability to do that in French no less!! 

Yesterday at church I taught the Gospel Principles class. In French. OH my lanta I was so scared!!!! But I prayed and prayed that Heavenly Father would help teach with the Spirit and that I would be able to say everything I wanted to and it went well!! Obviously I wasn't fluent in French magically but I was able to say the things I wanted to with effort and I was able to testify and share my testimony and that's all I needed to do and I definitely could not have done that without the help of my Heavenly Father!!

I am so blessed to be a missionary, I love being able to share my testimony in so many ways every single day. I know that Heavenly Father is always with us, He loves us so much and He is always there to listen to our prayers. 

 I love you so much Mom. I can't thank you and Dad enough for everything you've done for me. This week we were encouraged by Soeur Poznanski to share why we came on missions to influence the young adults and I was able to share my testimony and story with all the girls we work with here in Angers and as I talked I realized the reason I came was because of you and Dad. Because you taught us the gospel, you raised us with the teachings of Jesus Christ and I saw that bless our family. I saw the happiness and peace that we had that comes from the knowledge that we can be together forever. I never had a troubled childhood, like soo so many of the people I meet. I always had you and Dad who are so firm in this gospel, I always have you as an example and that has made all the difference in my life. And now I get to be here in France sharing that gospel with all the world knowing that I'm far from my parents but that you love me and pray and support me and I can't thank you enough!! 

"God sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He want syou to know that you matter to HIm." -President Uchtdorf 

I love you all so much! Thanks for your support and love!

Avec amour, 

Sœur Hawkes 

Bonjour à tous! 

This week was amazing!! Soo many miracles!! The baptism yesterday was absolutely beautiful. Lenaig was just glowing, she was so happy! I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me be a part of this! Being able to see her grow and progress has been incredible, her testimony and her faith have grown a little every day and being able to witness that has been a huge blessing! The Baptism was wonderful, the Zone Leader's investigator Wilfried got baptized too so it was great! The missionaries and Kahaia, Natasha, Emma sang I like to look for Rainbows with Emmanuelle on the saxophone and Elder Payet playing the guitar. We suprised Lenaig with our little performance during the program and she loved it. It was so incredible to be a part of the baptism! The spirit was so strong the whole time and I couldn't help but tear up as she came out of the water. It was an amazing experience!

Also we met the most incredible couple this weekend! Saturday we received a referral from the office and felt like we should contact her right away so we went and met her boyfriend Cedric, he's French but his English is really good, they met in Hawaii last summer and really hit it off. Turns out Liz is from Utah and she's been here living with him since November, her family is all LDS and she asked her Mom about the missionaries here in Angers. We invited them to church and the baptism and they invited us over to eat the next day! On SundayI was walking into the Chapel and I saw someone waving at me, I look over and there they were!! I was so thrilled they came to church!! That night when we went over, she said that was the first time she has been to church in 20 years. She said she's not sure what's she's looking for right now but she's willing to put forth the effort to find the truth. And Cedric was very impressed that I was playing the piano during Sacrament Meeting, Liz said don't be so suprised, she's American, they all play the piano over there haha. So we'll be seeing them twice a week until she leaves in February to go back to the US to get her visa! I'm so excited. We asked Cedric if that's okay with him and he's like yes yes of course you come all the days, anything for Liz she is the best. it was so great spending time with them, I love them so much! Yesterday they fed us snails!! Oh my gosh they were so good! I don't know why we don't eat them in the US they are delicious! You'll have to try them someday for sure :) 

This weekend, Soeur Foster lost her grandpa and grandma. She was able to talk to her Grandma Saturday night before she passed but her Grandpa passed away Friday night. But she was able to talk with her Mom twice so that was a blessing. It's been difficult for her but she is so strong and you can see that this experience has strengthened her testimony a lot. She has turned to her Heavenly Father for comfort and the members have been absolute angels to her. It's been really cool to see everyone's support and love for her. So please keep her and her family in your prayers. She has been a wonderful example to me and I really look up to her so much.  This experience has emphasized to the both of us the truthfulness of the plan of salvation and how grateful we are for that knowledge and the opportunity we have to share this truth with the people here in Angers!

On Thursday we had a zone conference in Nantes to learn about the new theme for 2014. Which is D&C 64:33-34.

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." 

 It's really good and absolutely perfect! It really helped put things into perspective for me. Our will, our hearts are the only things that are truly ours to give. And I want to give that to Him. I want to be 100% obedient all the time so I can be a useful instrument in His hands! I'm really excited to spend the entire year as a missionary striving to be the best instrument that I can be for Him.

Also the other day I was having a bit of a hard time so I was looking through my scriptures and I found this one and it really touched me. D&C 78:18-19

  And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

I loved it because many times in our lives, we can't bear all things but that's why we have the Savior. He will bear our burdens, He will help us carry our load and that gives us reason to be happy. Because we don't have do this alone, He will lead us along. He will show us the way and He will be with us every step to help pick us up when we fall. It's important that we don't magnify the negative as well. Many times at the end of the day, it's easier to see all the things I did wrong or where I messed up but if I look a little closer I can always see the times when Heavenly Father blessed me, when His hand is evident in my day when his tender mercies were apparent. We can be so much happier when we look for the good in our days! As I have to tried to do that more, to look for His hand and receive all things with thankfulness I have been able to see His hand more and more. I have felt so much happier as I dismissed all the negative and focused solely on the positive things each day. An attitude of gratitude really is the happiest way to live! 

Being here in Angers is the biggest blessing. I get to see so many miracles every day and so many experiences that strengthen my testimony!

Thank you so much for your support and love, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!!

Avec amour,

Sœur Hawkes 

                        Our first baptism, Lenaig.  Also, the zone leader's investigator Wilfried got baptized.

                                                    Eating snails with our new investigators

 Yesterday they fed us snails!! Oh my gosh they were so good! I don't know why we don't eat them in the US they are delicious! 

Picture! Notre Dame, it's a terrible picture and my hair is blowing everywhere but it's Notre Dame!!

Bonjour à tous!

This week was wonderful as usual! Although we didn't have a ton of time to do actual missionary work which made me really sad but it's okay because we still got to see lots of miracles! 

New Year's was great, the 31st evening we made crepes with the Elders at the church and I slept through the New Year but that's okay because  I am really excited to spend the entire year as a servant of the Lord! The idea of that makes me so happy! 

New Year's Day we spent at the Bishop's house with all the Elders as well so it was a full house but it was so fun! Plus the Bishop is from Scotland so it was a whole day of English, it was a nice break!

Friday we spent in Paris! I got to see Notre Dame really quick and then almost everyone from my MTC district! It was a really fun day just seeing old friends and now I am officially legal in France! That will last until my year mark in France which is the end of October, then I get to do it again :)

I love New Year's!! It's a wonderful time for making goals and getting a fresh start!! This week I was studying a lot about the Sacrament, the most important reason we go to church. Through the Sacrament we get to renew our covenants with Heavenly Father and part of that is receiving a remission of our sins. I love that each week we get a brand new clean slate! Yesterday I was thinking about New Year's and my goals. I was thinking about all the things I wanted to leave behind, the bad feelings and mistakes and as I took the Sacrament and pondered what Christ did for us, all the sudden I felt all the feelings leave. They were just gone! It was a huge testimony builder for me as I felt the burdens lifted and I knew that Christ really did suffer and die for me and I can receive a clean slate each week, and rededicate myself to keep His commandments and to always remember Him. I am so grateful for Church each week and the wonderful blessing of the Sacrament Heavenly Father has given us. 

My favorite part of being a missionary is being an instrument for the Lord. We do whatever He needs us to and we get to be the answer to someone's prayer!! I love it so much and it has strengthened my testimony of how much Heavenly Father really loves us!! 

The French is coming...my trainer gets upset if I say it's bad so I don't dare anymore haha but she means well. If I say it's bad than I don't have faith in God to help me out, so I've let go of trying to be perfect and I just go for it and make mistakes! Yesterday we went porting and we were talking to this guy and he asked us about how long we've been out, and my comp said 14 months and I said 2 and he said to me oh that makes sense, her French is wayy better than yours. ha! I laughed and said yeah you're right. But really I've seen myself progress and lots of people ask how I learned French and in all honesty it's a miracle, I've only been able to learn because God is helping me! So many times in lessons I just go off and when I'm done, I'm like uhh what the heck! I didn't even know I knew all those words! It's incredible. I LOVE it. :)

Lenaig is getting ready for her baptism this Sunday!! We were pretty worried about her for a while, because her phone was broken and we couldn't contact her and we hardly got to see her because of the holidays but she's still going strong! We were able to meet with her a few times and she is really excited to get baptized! I'm so excited for her! Being able to see the light of Christ and His teachings come into her life and change her has been an incredible blessing to me. This Church is true! I have seen it change and bless her so much that there's no way it couldn't be!

I am so grateful to be out here. It has been the biggest blessing. It has strengthened my testimony so much and deepened my gratitude for my Savior, my Heavenly Father and my family. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father loves me so much to let me be a missionary!!

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers!! I love you so much!!

Avec amour,

Soeur Hawkes

                          P-Day Eve party with Soeur Hafen on exchanges! And yes those are real French crepes that we made!

                                   Soeur Hafen and I on exchanges! I love her so much! She taught me so many wonderful things!

                                    FRANCE! I live here! Seriously I still can't believe I live in such a beautiful place! 

Bonjour à tous!

It was so wonderful to talk to you on Wednesday! I was nervous that I would be more homesick when I had to say goodbye but I prayed all week that saying goodbye would be a really positive experience and Heavenly Father really answered my prayer! Seeing your faces and hearing your voices and feeling your love and support was the best! It was so encouraging to me to talk with you, and I hope I was able to express to you how happy I am here! At times it is very very difficult but at the end of everyday I go to bed with a smile on my face knowing that I am doing the Lord's work, happy as can be! And I really hope you were able to see that and that you don't worry about me too much :)

Christmas was lovely. At first I wanted the Christmas season to jet by because it made me a little homesick but then I was able to really learn and understand the significance of Christmas. It was a really special Christmas season as we spent our days testifying to everyone the reason for Christmas which is our Savior!  My first Christmas away from home was one of the best ever! I was able to testify Christmas Eve and Christmas day of our Savior and share my testimony that He really is the Prince of Peace!! It made Christmas that much more special :) I couldn't have asked for anything more! Plus the members here and my companion are just like my family so it was the best Christmas I could have hoped for here in France!!

Thank you so much for all the gifts! Make sure to tell Grandma that we are thoroughly enjoying the four boxes of cereal!! All the food is great :) Thanks so much!!! I love the Idaho key chain, it made me laugh so hard! But the best gift was of course talking to you!

This coming week will be super strange. Tomorrow we are having a small party here at the church with everyone for New Year's and then Wednesday is a P-day so we'll go to Bishop's house with the Elders and hang out. Then Friday we're going to Paris again!! I get to go do legality! Woot. So we won't have a lot of time to find new amies :( we'll just have to be really efficient with the time we do have! 

We had the coolest experience this weekend! We've been doing Christmas contacting, where we just offer to sing Christmas songs for people and share the Spirit. Well Friday night we were in a neighborhood porting and we had been going for about an hour, getting rejected left and right! We knock on the next door, explained what we were doing and the lady was very skeptical, after some hesitation she said well if all you do is sing then you can come in, I don't want to talk about religion or anything. So she, Isabelle, let us in. We talked for a little bit, about our missions, and what we were doing there, all that and then sat down and sang. The Spirit was so strong as we sang Silent Night, and Away in a Manger, even though the high notes were a bit of a challenge. It was wonderful, she smiled the whole time after we asked if we could leave with a prayer. I asked the names of everyone in her family, and she mentioned they had lost a son five years ago. The grief on her face was heartbreaking as she explained that things are very difficult in her family now and her husband refuses to believe in God anymore. So I was able to say a prayer for her and her family and after she said a prayer for us too. In the middle of her prayer she began to cry and struggled to finish. At the end Soeur Foster testified to her of eternal families and the peace one can find in God's plan. It was incredible. The Spirit was so strong!! We left her with our card and invitation to come to church. As we were leaving she gave us a book of quotes and scriptures. She was so sweet and she kissed goodbye still crying. I know that we were sent to that house that night. Everyone else had said  no but Heavenly Father knew that Isabelle needed us and I am so glad that were able to show her God's love and share the Spirit it was a wonderful miracle!

I love being a missionary!!! It is the best thing in the world to testify all the time, to feel the Spirit so strongly, to be an answer to people's prayers and an instrument in God's hands! I am so grateful I chose to serve a mission! It is most definitely the best decision I ever made and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for letting me be here! 

Quote for the week: "You only live with regrets if you don't learn from your mistakes"

 I love you all!! Thank you so much for your love and support!

Happy New Year's!!!!!

Avec Amour,

Sœur Hawkes