It's finally Summer!

May 25,2015

So this week it finally got hot!!! But it really wasn't super hot almost to the 90s (in Fahrenheit) and I got sunburned while tracting and I put on sunscreen! The sun is just completely draining all my energy so it is getting harder and harder to wake up in the morning... I miss the winter but everyone keeps saying that summer only lasts for about three months so it will be over soon enough:) Canada is really the place for me! I don't know how I survived Arizona my whole life...

Saturday is the big day!!!! I can't wait for the baptism!! Brother Topley is so ready too!! He told us that he was really wanting to know if this was the right decision he was making and so he had been praying. Then one night he had a dream where a the scripture 1 John 1:7 was repeated 4 times and so he looked it up and it says "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." It is just so amazing how the Lord works miracles and he had even said that he can never remember his dreams so it was pretty amazing!!

We have been doing a lot of tracting lately but we have had so many little miracles happen each time we tract. So we tracted around one of our ward missionaries home the other day because she had given us a couple referrals. Her daughter is less active and her boyfriend apparently is more interested in the gospel than she is but she is preventing him from learning more because she doesn't want him to. But we went to his house and gave him a BOM and she was so angry when she found out! Then a couple days later we went back to that area to finish tracting and we went to this random house neither the boyfriends or hers and they were both there!! It was a little awkward because we were like oh hi again and she was like you have met him?? But we hope that we will be able to see her again and talk with her more. Maybe her heart will soften over time if she sees that her boyfriend truly is interested in learning more and that will help her to want to come back... 

We also have gotten a few more potentials this week and possibly another new investigator so things are really happening here!! Mostly all of it has ended up being in second ward but hey we'll take it!! We also almost got our car taken away this week because they thought we had gone over our allotted kilometers for the month but they thought we had 1000 and we actually have 1500. So I pretty much had a hard attack because there is no way we could walk to crossfield . It takes 15 minutes to drive there and so we would of just not have been able to go to crossfield... But it got all sorted out. Next month though our kilometers have been lowered to 1000 so we will have to start walking more. But it's good for me:) I am just afraid I am going to get super sunburned. 

The mission is amazing!!! I am having so much fun with Sister Gleason and we are finally having success!!!!! Happy days!!! I love you guys have a great week!

Love,

Sister Hatch

Zone Conference

Temple with the Worthingtons 

Sister Gleason as Super Missionary with her ultimate fanny pack!

6 Months Down!

May 18,2015

Today is my 6 months in the mission!! I can't believe I have been gone for so long! But I realized the other day, that although I do miss you guys a TON, I love the mission SO much and I wouldn't be doing anything half as worth my time as I am now! I am so used to the mission lifestyle now that I'm not getting as stressed out anymore and teaching has become so common that I could teach in my sleep. (But you still need to listen for the spirit, that's the hard part) Anyways the mission is awesome!! And we have been having so much success lately, more than I have had my whole mission and I am still trying to figure out exactly why that is... Maybe it's just because Sister Gleason is really not afraid to get out there:) 

This past week We had some amazing successes!! We had a lesson with another part member family where only the dad is a member and he is not active. But the oldest girl is about 9 or 10 years old and she is very interested in learning more so the parents are supporting her and are letting us come teach them. The mom has an issue with women not being able to have the priesthood but we explained the roles of men and women and we could tell that her heart was softened. She didn't have anymore arguments about it and her whole expression softened so we could tell her perspective had really changed!! They have a greed to read the first chapter of the BOM together as a family and so we are hoping they will. The girl loves to read so that is really good!! So we picked up two new investigators with them!! You are right dad, the part member families are the way to go:)

Then on Saturday was pretty awesome as well! It was rainy (which I love)!!! But we went Downtown Calgary street contacting again as a district and were able to meet a lot of interesting people as usual:) We got into a pretty intense discussion about the Atonement with one man. He just kept telling us that we need to be more open minded and not hide behind Jesus. That we need to overcome our own sins and not rely on the Savior for everything. It was kind of sad to hear him say those things because it would be hard to live in a world where you thought you needed to overcome everything on your own. That is why we have the Savior is so we don't have to endure our pain by ourselves. Sometimes it hard to really except the Atonement into our lives because we feel like we don't deserve it but it has already been done so we just need to except it. The only way we can show our gratitude for the Atonement is by using it in our lives. If we don't use it, then Christ suffered for no reason at all. 

Then sometime last week Sister Gleason and I had some down time before our dinner appointment. I was exhausted and wanted to just relax a bit but Sister Gleason suggested we go try and contact a potential we had been trying at least once a day it felt like. I agreed but I was just being negative and thinking he is not even going to be home and so we are just wasting our time and our kilometers. But we got there and his girlfriend was home and she is a less active member so she was super nice and really wanted us to come back. We had a lesson with them yesterday and they are really open to us coming over!! Sister Gleason is so good at never giving up, which is awesome because I would have given up a long time ago:) So there is another new investigator.

Yesterday as well we went tracting and handed out 5 BOMs in less than an hour!!! That is a new record for me!! There has never been so many people willing to take the BOM than there was in that one little street! It was so amazing!! I literally have not had this much success or investigators on my mission so far and I guess it is just because of our determination and our desire to get out and find people!! Everything is soooo good right now!! Plus we are going to the temple today so that makes it even better! There is so many people to teach and that we are finding and it just keeps on growing! I love this work so much and am so excited that I will be staying here at least one more transfer to see Brother Topley get baptized and to continue the work here in Airdrie!! I love it here and I have learned so much!!!

I love you all!!!!!!!!! Have a great last week of school!!!! 

Love,

Sister Hatch

Her district and zone leaders 

With her district after downtown contacting

May 11,2015

This week was SUPER fantastic!!!! (As Sister Gleason would say:) Well of course I got to skype you guys which was amazing but last night after skype we had dinner and a lesson with the Topleys AND Brother Topley has agreed to be baptized on May 30th!!!! Can you believe it?? I couldn't be more happy right now! And as a mission we are trying to reach the goal of 50 people on date per week so I am happy that we were able to contribute to that goal this week! You could also tell how excited Sister Topley was as well!! So it was fun!

Then we had a few cool experiences with spur of the moment things we did because we had some extra time. So Saturday we were out in Crossfield and we decided to try and stop by a few less actives. So we stopped by one house and it turned out that the family was gone on vacation for a few months but that there was a guy house sitting. We got to talk to him a little bit and he said he has met with may sets of missionaries before and he has traveled a lot! I don't think it's just a coincidence that missionaries keep finding him every where he goes haha:) But maybe there is some potential there. 

Then Sister Gleason and I decided to take a walk one night because it wasn't quite 9pm yet and there is a really nice walking path behind our house where a lot of people ride bikes and walk their dogs (everyone has dogs here!). And we met this guy that we ended up giving a short lesson of the Plan of Salvation with so that was pretty cool! We gave him our number but we do't know where he lives so it is hard to follow up with him but it was cool to just teach someone and that someone was actually willing to listen to us. So Sister Gleason and I might end up going for more walks at night! 

So I would say it has been a very successful week!! We have a lot of appointments set up for this as well so we will stay busy!! I am loving the missionary life!!!!:) Blessings do come when you keep trying your hardest!! 

Love,

Sister Hatch

Sister Hatch and her companion Sister Gleason

The Big Move

May 4,2014

This week was so good!!!!!!! So our week started out slow (just like mostly every week) but then we were able to have some really cool experiences!!

So Friday we moved into our new place! It is super nice and cozy, just the perfect size for two people! But the lady that lived there before was amazing at keeping things clean! I love to clean but that house is spotless so I feel like I can't touch anything or I will mess it up!! It is very nice though and I will send some pictures because Brenna wanted to see them:) 

The First morning we were there I was cooking some sausages for breakfast and it got pretty smoky and it totally made the fire alarm go off so that was a pretty crazy morning!! We woke up the whole rest of the house but the best part was that me and Sister Gleason were so clam because we knew that there wasn't actually a fire. But we have learned that if we want to cook sausages we need to open the windows and put on the fan haha:)

But I am really grateful for the move because I needed some kind of change. I think I am getting a little bored here in Airdrie but getting a new place has been good for me and given me a new boost to continue working here! I love Airdrie but it's just been hard keeping busy...

Then right after that whole incident we went and did some highway clean up! It was fun but it was super windy and cold so afterwards our faces were frozen!It is extremely windy here in Alberta so that is not new but we aren't usually out in the wind for that long. It also makes it really hard when we are wearing skirts...:)

Then later that day we went tracting for a little bit and came upon a man that was a pretty straight forward with us. He was willing to listen though and Sister Gleason started to bear a very powerful testimony about the Book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong!!!! He felt it too and even took his hat off while she was talking! There was just a power there that is hard to explain and I don't know why it happened right at that moment with that man but maybe that man needed to hear those words. He told us he was open to coming to any church really so we are going to try and go back and see if he read any of it. We don't know if he is really interested but we do know that there was a strong spirit there and we need to go back and see what that meant. It was one of the most bizarre but amazing experiences that I've had while tracting...

We also had another lesson with the Topleys last night!! And guess what?? He has narrowed it down to the month of June!!!!!! So we asked him to pray specifically for the first week in June but we are so happy he is actually getting somewhere!! It is so cool to have been teaching him since I have gotten into the mission and to see how far he has come! I am so excited for him and I am so excited that I will be able to see him be baptized! It truly is an incredible experience to see someone change and come closer to Christ! Sister Topley is so excited too!! I just love it!!!!! Good times!!! And we will be skyping at their house next Sunday so you can meet them:)

I don't remember if I told you this last week, but we do have a few potentials we might start teaching. There are just so many part member families here and I feel like we should focus on them the most right now! Just like the Topleys, it is so much easier for investigators to want to join the church when they already have that support behind them. 

Anyways, the work is great!!! The church is SO true and it brings so much joy!!! Heavenly Father loves you and knows exactly what you are going through and wants to help you through! I love you all so much and can't wait to see you on Sunday!!!! You guys rock!!!

Love,

Sister Hatch

P.S. Mom I am sending you a gift today but I don't know if it will get to you by Mother's Day. But I love you!!!! HAPPY EARLY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Scripture of the week:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you.

  Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sinno more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

D&C 6:32-37

April 27,2015

I got my package!!! Thank you!!! I have almost eaten all of the gummies and I just got it yesterday haha:)

So this week was pretty good!!! The beginning started off a little shaky... I think I got food poisoning or something because I was throwing up all night. It didn't last too long, just the night, but it really drained me. Oh and when it started we were at dinner with a member and I totally threw up all over the dinner table... so that was pretty embarassing!!! It just kind of came on and there was no stopping it so yeah that happened... Luckily we knew the member pretty well so she knew that I wasn't a freak missionary that hated her food haha;)

Then we had Zone Conference on Thursday! So that really recharged my batteries and helped me to see that I needed to work a lot harder than I had been! We talked about being full purpose missionaries and how when we truly dive fully into the work then miracles happen. So since it has been a little slow lately I realized I probably have been slacking way bad and that is why I wasn't having much success. Obedience brings blessings!!!

Friday we visited the old ladies in the Bethany Care Center and there was an outbreak of the Flu or something so technically we weren't supposed to be there but we wanted to see them. And Leona (one of the ladies) was really depressed so we were glad we did! She has been in and out of the hospital so many times the past couple of weeks and she has had a very hard life so I don't blame her for being so down. But I kind of wish she would just be taken from her misery and pass on because she would be so much happier in the Spirit World. Especially because her daughter has already passed on and that is what is making her so depressed to be away from her daughter.  

Then Saturday we helped clean a less actives house for 6 hours!!! So just imagine the hoarders show and it was just like that  plus 8 cats!! It was super fun:) The smell wasn't too bad upstairs because she had cleaned somewhat before we got there but it was pretty bad. We are going to be helping her for the next month or so probably because she really wants to get it to a point where she can rent out the top floor to someone because she needs more money. We will try our best but no guarantees there:) She really is a sweet lady though and she is starting to come back to church so whatever keeps her coming to church right? 

I had East Indian Food for the first time on Saturday but I realized that I don't really like it... But it was worth trying haha:) I also realized this week that no restaurants or fast food places have Dr. Pepper here. Not that I am supposed to have caffeine anyway but I was really missing Dr. Pepper and so one of our members bought me a 2 liter bottle of it. That probably isn't the best for me but I love it!! 

Other than that we have been cleaning hardcore all morning and getting ready to move on Friday! I am so excited to move!! Hopefully all of the stuff I have accumulated over the last 5 months fits into my suitcases though. Other than our luggage we just have to move our beds and our food. But the Elders have a truck so they will help us. I just need a little change right now even if it is just a new house. But I will miss our mansion... It has been fun!! 

We are most likely going to skype from the Topleys house on Mother's Day because we have dinner with them that night so you guys could possibly meet them!! They are so sweet and maybe you could talk him into being baptized haha:) (no but really!!!) I don't know what time works best for you guys because you will probably have a family dinner that night right? We could possibly do 5 my time and that is 4 your time right? But just let me know what time works best for you! I can't wait!! 

I think that is all!!! Sister Gleason has been so good with helping me stay unstressed which is what I really need right now! Being a trainer is very stressful because I don't want to mess up!! But things are going well!!!:)

I love you guys!! Thank you so much for all the love and support you give me!:)

Love,

Sister Hatch

Scripture of the Week:

" Even before they were born, they, with many others,received their first lessons in the world of spirits and wereprepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to laborin his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.

  I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation,when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors inthe preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption,through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God,among those who are in darkness and under the bondageof sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead

D&C 138:56-57   

Jehovah's Witnesses

April 20,2015

Heeeeellllllllooooo!!!!!

My skype with Dr. Howard went great!! There is a super nice lady in 1st ward that let me skype, I love her so much!!! She is literally like a 3rd grandma:) Dr. Howard just said to keep doing what I'm doing and that I should get an eye exam... I don't know how to go about doing that and I thought I wouldn't have to worry about that but I will talk to President Nicholas about it. We have Zone Conference this week so I will see him then:) 

This week has been kind of lame again because we didn't have too many appointments and Sister Gleason has been sick. We have been working on a lot of finding but no one is interested so it has been pretty sad this week... I just feel bad because I have no idea what to do to stay busy anymore. I'm always like we can go tracting again but that hasn't really been working lately... 

I am glad you sent my meds because I was going to ask you to send them this week. I haven't run out yet but I will need some soon:)

The other day though as we were just walking along a car pulled up to us and guess who was inside?? Jehovah's Witnesses!! Yep they pulled right up to us in the car and started talking to us:) JW's are everywhere around here but usually they are too afraid of us to come up to us haha:) I guess it's because we are sisters and they were female as well so we weren't too intimidating. But we got talking about the Bible and the BOM and we actually ended up giving them a BOM which is really hard to do with JW's because they never take them! But they had given us a book and so we were like you should read our book too and we also snuck a Restoration pamphlet in there too without them knowing haha:) I hope they read it!! But we exchanged numbers and they really want to meet with us we just don't know how productive that will be. It would probably just be Bible bashing the whole time so we probably won't do that...

Anyways. Saturday night we had a ward party where different members of the ward came and presented the missions they had served in and brought food from their country or state. It was pretty fun!! I had some patte (I think that's how you spell it...) but essentially it is liver that you can spread on bread. It wasn't too bad just tasted very peppery but I probably wouldn't eat it again:) 

We also met with the Topleys again last night! He is still progressing he just needs to make the decision to be baptized. There is literally nothing else we can do for him, he just needs to do it!!! Patience, patience, patience...

We also got a tour of our soon to be new home next week. The Dunnes (the people who are leaving and the place we are moving into) have left today for the MTC!!! I will miss them but they will have so much fun in the Phillipines! I am so excited for them! 

I can't wait to skype you guys so soon!!!! I love you all so much!!!!! Have a great week! And Happy Early Birthday again Ashlyn! I love you!!!:)

Love,

Sister Hatch

Scripture of the week:

    "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are"

1 Corinthians 1:25-28