Transfer Week

April 25, 2016

My last transfer of my mission has come and gone!! Crazy!! It has been an insane week but it has also been full of insane miracles!! 

So before Sister V. left we had a lesson with Brittan (the one who was blessed as a baby but her family has never really been active) and she is so solid!! She told us how when she had moved out she had fallen in with the wrong crowd and didn't like how her life was going so she decided to come back to church!! She would go to church with her grandma a lot when she was young and she just remembered the good feelings she had there and wanted that again. So we invited her to take the lessons and she said yes!! She has been coming to church every week as well!!

Then we had a birthday party for Meg's cat, Onyx because why not? And we will probably skype at her house so you will be able to meet both of them:) 

Then Sister V. was off!! And she is actually in one of my old areas so that will be fun for her!! And I got Sister Tolbert on Thursday!!! She is so amazing!! She is from Spanish Fork, Utah. Another one from Utah:) But we have been getting along really well so far and our whole zone is absolutely crazy so I know this will be the greatest last transfer ever!! 

Thursday we had a miracle!!! So literally in between transfer meetings on Thursday (I was still waiting to get Sister Tolbert who was coming from the South) we get a call from the mission office that a lady just called saying that she wants to join our church!!! So we call her up and sure enough she says she wants to join our church and so we set up a lesson with her that night and it was amazing!! We taught the Restoration and she was just like, "I know this might sound crazy right now but I just feel good about everything that your saying and I agree with it all!" WHAT?? I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE SO GOLDEN!!!!! I didn't even think it was real!! So Sister Tolbert really loves the area haha:) And we are having a baptism this transfer so she came at a really good time! Her name is Muna by the way:) She is living in a Women's Shelter right now that she will have to be out of by next month so we are trying to find her a place to live but she seems to be a hard worker. She is in University right now doing Journalism so she is really smart as well! We hope she will stay solid!!

Oh and we also had another miracle this week on Tuesday that I almost forgot about! So we have been trying to get in contact with a former investigator Isabella who was on date for baptism at one point. She has a really good friend in another YSA who saw us downtown and told us that she was going to be picking her up in a few minutes so just to wait with her. We waited and were able to have a lesson with her right there!! It was so awesome!! And we got a follow up appointment! 

The Lord has really been watching out for us this week! I am having to get used to not driving though... Since it is my last transfer we aren't supposed to drive just so we don't get a ticket or something and then leave the country and don't pay it:) It also has been cooling down a bit which is nice!! I love it but my companions never do:) It has been raining!!:)

I love the Lord and this work!! It has been starting to hit me a little more how much I really am going to miss the mission and all the people here! We are going to have to come back as soon as possible! 

I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Hatch

New companion Sister Tolbert 

Onyx, Meg's cat.

I got to meet an Apostle

April 18, 2016

Let me just start off with saying this week was amazing!! But really what week isn't amazing on the mission? 

We didn't really have any lessons this week because everyone ended up cancelling on us but it was all ok because the end of the week made up for that and we actually stayed super uber busy somehow..

So Friday we had dinner with Leah and kind of went over some details for her baptism and let me tell you, she is just so awesome!! I think I have told you that about a million times now but she really is!! She has been such a great example to her family and her brother actually just recently told her that he would be interested in coming to church with her sometime because he has seen how much of a change it has made in her!! And she said he has never ever been one for religion!! It is so awesome!! And her boyfriend gets home the end of April so we will be able to get to know him a little bit before the baptism in May! Yay!! She was also answering questions like crazy at church yesterday! I am just such a proud little missionary!

Then Saturday Elder Christofferson came and spoke to our WHOLE mission!!! It was so incredible!!! We got to shake his hand and ask him questions and I got to see all my old missionary friends that I haven't seen in forever!! It was so great!! That will probably be one of the  only times the whole mission will be together for a long time!! Elder Christofferson is a funny guy too! 

And Sunday 4 investigators were at church!!! Four!!! One is a new investigator too!! Her name is Brittan Kelly!! Her grandparents are very active and she was blessed as a baby but other than that she hasn't been to church much in her life. Recently she showed up at church and says that she wants to be baptized so we are going to meet with her this week!! 

God is so good!! And really all the miracles we have seen lately have not been of our doing at all!! When you truly pray for the hearts of the people to be opened it happens!!

Oh and transfers are this week!! I am most likely staying for my last transfer but who knows? Sister V. has been here for three transfers already though so we think she will be leaving... It has been fun!! I can't believe I only have one more transfer left! AH!

Love,

Sister Hatch

"Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration...But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants." (I forgot who said this...)  

They caught a little bunny

April 11, 2016

Hey!!! Sorry for the late email.. The internet was down in the family history center so we went to the public library last minute haha:) This will be another short email because I don't have time.

But it has been a great week! We finally got in contact with Mckenzie (the one who read the whole BOM) and had an awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation!! And he prayed!!!! Yay!!!!

We also had an amazing lesson with one of our investigators named Alex!!! We were on exchanges but the spirit was so incredibly strong!!! I love the spirit!!!

Anyways I know that was a lame email but I promise I will try to do better next week!! Life is great!! Oh and Banff was awesome!! We didn't get to go on any hikes this time because it is bear season so all the hikes are closed but we did get to do a lot of shopping so I got all my souvenirs!!!! Yay!!! I love you guys... but also hate you for going to six flags again without me... We will talk when I get home!! 8 more Sundays left!! Not that I am counting...:)

Love,

Sister Hatch

April 4, 2016

We are going to Banff today so this might not be as long as normal...

General Conference was so amazing!!! Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was by far my favorite and I'm pretty sure his message related to everyone! But I really needed that! All we need to do is try our best and when we try to progess we are successful. We don't need to dread tomorrow but live in the moment of today!! So good! 

We had many wonderful experiences again this week being that we didn't have a car (but we didn't get lost this week!). We met a homeless man who was pitching the nutrition facts of cheerios to us and escorted a drunk lady to her rehab/homeless shelter. Oh man, good times!! You meet some pretty sketchy people Downtown but it keeps life interesting!! We also got offered Kit Kats by a homeless man but thought we better not take them because who knows what would have been in them:) 

We got two new investigators this week as well!!! They are both former investigators so they have both had most of the lessons already but one wants to be baptized!!! He is engaged to a member and just has to quit nicotine before he can get baptized which will be soon because he wants to get baptized before they are married in September!! His name is Josh and he is hilarious!! 

Other than that our week has been all the normal stuff!! I miss you guys!! Sorry today's email is so short but I will send more next week!!! 

Love,

Sister Hatch

Happy Easter!

March 28, 2016

Happy Late Easter!!!

We got to color eggs for FHE last week which was really fun! Other than that I didn't do anything special for Easter. I did however get to speak in church yesterday about the Atonement and it is truly crazy to see how much Christ has done for each and every one of us. Obviously we can't comprehend all that He went through but I know that because of that I have the opportunity to change!! I know I shared this talk with you a couple weeks ago but I just love it so much!! In the talk, "His Grace is Sufficient" there is a part where he is talking to his friend and it says, "I have born-again Christian friends who say to me, “You Mormons are trying to earn your way to heaven.”

I say, “No, we are not earning heaven. We are learning heaven. We are preparing for it. We are practicing for it.” They ask me, “Have you been saved by grace?” I answer, “Yes. Absolutely, totally, completely, thankfully—yes!” Then I ask them a question that perhaps they have not fully considered: “Have you been changed by grace?” I love that last question. What are doing to change yourself because of the Atonement? The only way we can "pay back" Christ for all that we have done is to live our lives the way He has asked us to live it and share what we know with others!! 

I loved the Women's Conference because that was all it talked about!! Forget yourself and go to work!! That is something I needed to be reminded of. When you start thinking of yourself too much in missionary work, that desire to work leaves you and you aren't as effective. I think now I have finally understood why it is so important to stay focused on the mission. I didn't feel this way until recently when I started to think of home way too much and didn't have any desire to work. But we had interviews this week and President Miles said that sometimes we have to rededicate ourselves just like sometimes we have to rededicate temples. We get worn or tired of what we are doing and we need to rededicate ourselves to the work. So that is what I am trying to do!

It has been such beautiful weather here!! I am so afraid to go home to the heat!! But it is supposed to start warming up here a lot more this week so maybe it won't be so nice for me anymore. Sister V. is always angry with me because I am constantly praying for snow or rain and she hates the snow!! Hahaha!! The other morning we woke up to snow on the ground and I was so happy and she was like "YOU PRAYED FOR THIS!" and I was like "YEAH!! God does answer prayers!" haha:) I love it!! Oh how I am going to miss the snow...

Leah's baptismal date got pushed back a week to May13th because her family won't be in town until then and they wanted to come to the baptism so that is awesome!!! I am so glad her family is so supportive and wants to come!!! Her mom wasn't so excited when she first told them about her wanting to get baptized. 

Other than that we have had a lot of crazy run ins with people downtown. One guy said he doesn't believe in Jesus because he believes in sex and so he can't believe that Mary was a virgin... That was probably one of the most hilarious run ins I have encountered on the mission!!! It was awesome!:) 

I love you guys!! I am glad you had a great Easter!!! You guys are truly the best ever!!!

Love,

Sister Hatch

"I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary." (Missionary Work and the Atonement by Elder Holland)

YSA all the Way

March 21, 2016

This was a slower week but not a bad week.

We got Leah on date for baptism for May 6th!! Sister VanSchouwenburg is a little upset that is after transfers but she might stay!! You never know these days:)  We taught the Word of Wisdom to Leah and she agreed with no problem. I have never had such an easy time teaching the Word of Wisdom my whole mission!! It helps that she is a health freak so she doesn't believe in drinking caffeine already. She was just born to be a member!! She is so awesome!

We haven't been able to meet with Mckenzie (the guy who read the whole BOM) this week because he has been busy and then left for Mexico... But he will not get away! Haha!

We also talked to President this week about our situation with both our wards meeting at the same time on Sundays and he agreed that it would be best if the Heritage Elders take 1st ward because they meet in the same building. So now we only have YSA!!! But I love it and we stay so busy!!

They have so many activities! We had a chili cook off the other night and we were the judges. It was so fun! 

I am starting to see the YSA drama though which I don't like as much... Oh well... And our ward mission leader just got engaged! They are so cute! (side tangent)

Anyways, we got lost so much this week! This was our week to not have the car so we have been trying to figure out the buses and it hasn't worked so far... On Friday we walked a good 5 extra miles than we needed to because we were so lost and we never did end up getting to our appointment. But we met some awesome people along the way so that was a plus! I really do know how to read maps guys.

And we also had Zone Conference! Which I thought was going to be my last one but we will be having another one in May which I am so pumped for!! And we are also going to be visited ny Elder Christofferson in April!! Exciting things are coming!! But back to Zone Conference, it was amazing!! Let's just say the Atonement is real!

Oh and a lady in YSA served her mission in Tempe!! She served in Shalimar ward and is going down to visit the Cleggs this week!! Isn't that crazy?? She is the Relief Society President in YSA!! I love her so much!!! Such a small world!

And we have a less active in our ward that I skyped in the MTC! Haha!! It's so funny how the Lord works to put people in our lives:)

Life is good and the gospel is true!! I love you guys!! 

Love,

Sister Hatch

Leah and Beverly.  Leah is on the left and getting baptized May 6th! 

Chili cook off

Lunch with the Sisters

Having fun on the merry go round

Zone Conference

We are Baptizing Nations

March 14, 2016

YSA wards rock!!! So many awesome things happened this week!

So first, we met with our investigator Leah, who has only had two other lessons before this week and from everything I was told about her she sounded golden. And guess what? She was! We met with her and decided to put her on date for baptism and we did!! Well kind of... Her boyfriend is in Utah going to BYU right now and she really wants him to baptize her so we just have to figure out a time that he can come up!! But he said he would be willing to come up anytime! So we are going to have a baptism soon! She is so awesome!! And she came to church! She has no concerns whatsoever! AHH!!

Second investigator is Mckenzie (male). We met with him the first day I got into this area and he seemed kind of distracted... We didn't know if he had real intent and he ended up cancelling our appointment this week because he had to work so we just didn't think much would happen there. But then we get a text from him saying that he read the WHOLE BOOK OF MORMON!!! THE WHOLE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!! No one reads the whole Book of Mormon!!! literally tears came to my eyes I was so shocked!! AND THEN he came to church!!! And he said he loved it and he felt so welcome and happy!! Miracles!!!

Then we also just got an investigator passed off to us from the other Elders because he is YSA age that has a baptismal date for April 17th! And he came to church too!!! And we have another potential that we are going to start teaching this week that came to church as well!!! What is happening?? I have never had so many people progressing in my whole mission!!!!! I am so beyond stoked!! 

The only sad thing was we were on splits for church yesterday and I went to Calgary 1st ward so I didn't even get to see all of these people at church:( But that's ok! I just feel bad that we aren't able to spend that much time on 1st ward but we have so many people to teach in YSA!!! I love it!!! Miracles are happening!! And we are baptizing nations!! I take back every thing I said about YSA before!! It is absolutely amazing!

I love you guys! The gospel is true!

Love,

Sister Hatch 

"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever." (2 Nephi 9:18)

Dillon and Emily a couple in the YSA ward.