April 13, 2015
Dear Family and Friends,
I don't know how to explain how much I love being a Missionary! I just love it!
First off, I would like to explain our Mission's Standard of Excellence. President and Sister Brinkerhoff will be going home in June (so sad!). Our Mission has a goal to baptize one in April and one in May. As they had meetings and the counsel we got from President Brinkerhoff, this goal will help us in our Mission and with our future life. We were all given three specific changes we need to do in order to reach the Standard of Excellence. Those are: Three Sacrifices, Three Actions of Faith, and Three Evidences. I know that Heavenly Father trust us with this Standard! He loves all of us! I imagine the person we meet in white!
Anyway, this week was wonderful! Sister Ikimau and I went out tracting homes, apartments, and talking with as much people as we could! Our Zone had a meeting together one day. It was so spiritual and inspiring! We talked about having confidence and overcoming fears! Then we were going to meet at the Costco's Parking Lot after lunch for a practice. Elder Williams and Elder Sincere, our Zone Leaders, handed each companionship a Book of Mormon. They explain what we were going to do and we said a prayer together. "Let's go teach!" Sister Ikimau and I went wandering in the Parking Lot, I saw a twenty-years looking young man hurrying into the Firehouse restaurant. I sped walk towards him, but he got to the entrance! I picked up my speed, desperate to share the Gospel with him, I yelled out, "EXCUSE ME! SIR!" He turned and looked at me,but I noticed my companion was gone! I felt so insecure; panic, I glanced around looking for her. Then I found her talking to a lady in her car. I was stuck! I felt so inspired to speak to this man, but I had to be with my companion. I walked away from the young man, feeling a little overwhelmed. The lady in the car was from Utah, but she has no interest. She said, "I appreciate all that you ladies do, but I just don't see a reason for joining the Mormon Church."
I was studying from Preach My Gospel the Addiction Recovery for Anthony. Pondering on the Faith and Repentance from Chapter 3: Lesson 3. Then I remembered some personal experiences. I wrote out my Testimony and gathered some ideas on how we can help Anthony. We'll stop by sometime this week to see him and Stormy. Anthony had a couple dates, but he feel he's not ready yet. We're praying for him and hope that the things I want to share will help him.
There was this one day when Sister Ikimau and I tract all day! We went down a street knocking on doors. An elderly lady opened the door and shook her head, "I'm not interested." And slammed the door. Then we met an inactive guy name Carl. He was not interested in coming back into the Church, but he was very nice. Then we met a man outside of his home, he was smoking. Sister Ikimau and I said, "Hi!" We asked what his name was, Dale Dilly. He was converted when he was nineteen and active for a couple years. We asked inspired questions and just had a conversation with him. He said we can talk to him if he's outside. We went across the street and we knocked on this trailor house. The lady said opened the door, "Come in." Sister Ikimau and I came in and she had us sit down on the bed that was in her living room. She started to tell us her problems. Shen ended saying, "I prayed so much last, and here you are." Unfortunately, we explained that we couldn't help her with her bills. We invited her to come to Church and talk with Bishop. Then I said, "I promise you if you go to Church and read your scriptures, you will not have to have trouble with finances and you will not have to leave your home." We closed with a prayer. I looked up after the prayer and she started crying. The Spirit was so strong!
Later that day we met with the Radmacher's. Brother Radmacher is a very nice man, but there's one thing that is really interesting about him. He look up every words and define all of them. He looked up the word, 'Restoration'. And oh my, let me tell you, that man is intelligent! Very interesting. He came to Church this Sunday with his son, Brandon. Brandon was baptize just before I got to Pocatello. After dinner, Sister Ikimau and I went tracting some more. In our Mission we're told to knock three times (or until someone answer the door). Sister Ikimau and I went to a door, and knocked the first time. Someone peeked out the window. Thinking they were coming to the door, we waited for while. It was awkward, so we knocked again. Nobody came to the door. So we knocked the third time, from outside I could hear feet stumping towards the door. She unlocked the door, opened it, and she gave us a look! Her tone was harsh, "I DIDN'T ANSWER FOR A REASON!" Slammed the door, and I just felt torn apart for her salvation. I prayed quietly for comfort, and we moved onto the next apartment complex.
We met a couple of dedicated people! One divorced Mom with five daughters, her name is Stevie. Her oldest is eleven years old. She has a pretty name, Harmony.After she told us her story of being a divorced Mom, and how she felt like she couldn't handle things on her own, we testify to Stevie that Heavenly Father trust her with these five beautiful daughters. We then testify that the Gospel blesses Families, and that God gave us Family to help us become who He wants us to be. Stevie have had Missionary discussions before, but then she got too busy with trying to work a job and provide needs for her family. Then we met a man name Cutter. We talked with him at the door, he said he have had Missionary's discussions before and the he loved it! We testified and then we invited him to be baptize. He said yes! Then Sister Ikimau extended a baptism date for May. He said, "No." He was so nice though! He said we can stop by anytime!
Miracle! Okay, there's a family we met a couple weeks ago. Quinn, the daughter who was jumping up and down. This is the Merica's family! Dad and son are inactive, Mom and daughter are not members. We taught the Restoration. The lesson was going really well, the Mom has no interest, but she participated and explained Prophets and a few other doctrines. At the end we invited Quinn and the whole family to read the Book of Mormon and to pray individually, then we extended a baptism invite. Quinn said, "Yes." Then her Mom said, "You know Quinn, there are other churches out there. . ." The SPIRIT left! At the end Sister Ikimau and I discussed about how the lesson went. Then my beautiful and inspiring companion said, "I know that all what's going to get Quinn to know that this is true is if the Spirit continue to dwell within the lessons."
Saturday, we went to see one of our Potential Investigator. His name is Ken. With a member, he invited us inside. He showed us his collections of cars, Marine's rewards, family pictures, snow globes, etc. He had us sit down and we asked inspired questions. He then asked about baptism, "Why do you guys have to enter heaven to be baptize? I believe you only have to be a nice person in order to get to heaven." Sister Ikimau tried to talk with him, but he scourge her down! Then the member testified, he listened to her. He kept asking questions, Sister Ikimau and the member tried to explained. Then I felt impressed to flip to Moroni 7:41, "I have something!" The room went silent as I read the scripture and testify of the Atonement and eternal life. I explained that we're not the judge of how can be in placed in which Kingdom. Tears filled his eyes, and it was silence for a while. Then Sister Ikimau testified after me. We closed with prayer, he said to stop by anytime.
I love being a Missionary!
Love,
Sister Hatch.
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