Learning to Lead

August 6, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week I got my first look at what it´s going to be like without my trainer and first companion Elder Evans, as he is finishing his mission here this week. On Friday, I showed the new missionary and zone leader, in the area next to us, our area and I for my first day ever was leading the conversations with the people we were meeting with and teaching the majority of the lessons. I realized how much I´ve relied on Elder Evans the past eight weeks and that this next week when he leaves, I´ll be relying on the Lord to help strengthen me and be an example to help my new companion, that I´ll get next week, adjust to the area. More importantly, I´m learning to put my faith in the Lord that he will help me completely understand all the people we talk to and I´m learning that the Spirit, if we live worthy of it, can be a great help in understanding, speaking and teaching. Yesterday I think I ate the best dessert I´m had here yet, it was a bowl of fresh tropical fruit, with sweet condensed milk and chocolate, coconut ice cream. That dessert we had for lunch, then we went to another members house and a recent converts house and they fed us more food. The members here and the people of Brazil love feeding us, so we are never hungry, which is great and I don´t have any problem with it since I love food.Trials are occuring here in my life and in my area, but I´m learning that if we rely on God we can do all things and help those that are in need.

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

Love,

Elder Hokanson

Tuesday Aug 7, 2012

Urgent... Read Please ASAP

Mom,

So my companion Elder Evans, from Wilsonville Oregon, is going home this next Monday and his parents are picking him up. Do you have any way possible to get my wobble chair and cervical traction up to Wilsonville and dropped off at his parent´s house before Saturday. They can bring it to the mission home for me, and I can pick it up. Maybe Nate and Kristin or Janae could bring it, I don´t know, but I could really use the wobble chair and cervical traction because my back and neck are hurting me pretty bad. If you can please send these things in a duffle bag ready to be checked with $50 or so for the baggage fee. If  you can do this give Elder Evans´ Mom, Kari, a call at 503-638-7115 or 503-490-4721 to arrange the drop off. Their address is 23544 SW Gage Rd Wilsonville, OR.

Thanks Mom

Love, 

Elder Hokanson

PS-  If you are able to do it make sure everything is done by Saturday because they leave Sunday. Also, don´t include the spinal molding or weights if they don´t fet because I don´t want to have to carry around a ton of unecessary stuff during my mission.