Letter #29- "...I've seen myself grow"

April 20, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was quite an adventure! It has been crazy, yet I've seen myself grow.

We met with Anthony this week. He said he wants to get baptize, but he's not ready yet. We encourage him to read and pray. He hesitated for a while, but he said he will. After we met with Anthony and Stormy, I thought of Anthony all dressed in white. I saw Heavenly Father opening His arms for Anthony and hugged him. I know Anthony will get there, he's a Child of God. I want him to be happy with our Father in Heaven.

Later that night, Sister Ikimau and I were going to see a part-member family. The Cruz's and Hall's. The nine and eight years old were outside playing in the street. Their names are Angelica and Aliscia. We talked with them, they're not baptize, their brother got baptize a couple years ago. Mom, Dad, and Grandparents are inactives. The girls said to come meet her Grandma. We talked with Grandma Hall and got to know her. She seems like she wanted to avoid us. But the girls said they were coming to Church this Sunday! Later that week, on Sunday, we saw Angelica and Aliscia playing in their Sunday dress out on the street. They explained how they got ready to go, but their Dad had to take them somewhere. We went to the park with them and their brother, they were going to play baseball and wanted us to watch them. Sister Ikimau and I went to watch them play baseball, cheering them on! Then we had to go, we started packing up our bag. Angelica said, "Can we talk about baptism?" We started teaching the girls with one of their member friend at the park. Aliscia asked, "What is baptism?" We explained a short, sweet message. They want to get baptize! We just have to meet with the parents and get parents' permission! But they are sweet girls!

Okay, adventures! Sister Ikimau and I were walking in the blizzard. We were heading over to a home, but I saw a man walking down the street with a beer can in one hand and smoking on a cigarette in the other. I whispered to Sister Ikimau, "Let's go talk to him." We crossed over, "Hi!" "Hi. . ." The man looked drunk and wandered side to side. "What is your name?" I asked. He smiled and his eyes were black, "Jay." We asked him inspired questions, but he said he had to get going. Sister Ikimau then said, "Where do you live?" He pointed towards the apartments and he gave us his address. He lives with his Mom, he's a less-active. He mentioned how he felt he can't go back to Church because of everything he got himself into. SISTER IKIMAU IS SO LOVINGLY BOLD, SHE SAID, "Well, you know you can do better things! You can read the Book of Mormon and that will change your life around! I can promise you that if you do that, your temptations and addictions will disappear!" Jay was so high, he just smiled at us! After a few moment of awkward silent we asked more inspired questions. Then we left him with a pass along card.

After Sister Ikimau and I had our weekly planning on Thursday, we went to go on Chickadee Street. We were walking through the street and a whole bunch of people were out! We were going to go see one of our less-active, Terry. Just as we were heading up towards her house, her son was getting arrested! Sister Ikimau and I kept walking not sure where to go. So we started heading to one of our Potential investigator's home, but the Spirit told the both of us to not go. We walked past her home walked around the dead end and head the other directions. I felt weird, Sister Ikimau felt weird. So we just decided to head back towards our apartment to go up the hill. As we were heading that way, a car pulled up next to us. "Hi Sisters!" It was one of our less-active! We talked with her and she said, "Come over to my house!" Sister Ikimau and I have never been over to teach her, we only talked to her at the door step. We went to her house, and she told us her conversion story. We got to know her and invited her to read and pray and to come to Church!

Quinn's parents forgot we were coming. But we talked with her at the door and she said she still wants to get baptize! We are going to try to set a date with her and her parents.

Saturday was an interesting day. We went to go see the Radmacher's. Brother Radmacher was driving past us. We smiled and waved at him. He was so funny! It totally made my day! He waved both of his hands in the air at us, and honk his car horn! Sister Ikimau and I thought it was so funny! He was so excited to see us! We taught the Radmacher's twins, Brandon and Reineer. We talked about the Holy Ghost. They're so funny! 

A Catholic man tried to convert us. And he was telling us everything that we believe and dropping everything telling us he disagree. Then we met two Muslim. That was interesting. I felt sadden for the lost and confusion of these people. Okay, one last adventure, then I have to go. . .

Sister Ikimau and I tried a new move in. All of the neighbors' kids were in their yard. Their door was wide opened, we knocked. A man voice said, "COME IN!" We shouted from outside, "Is there a woman home?" He yelled, "COME IN!" We asked again, he said, "Yes. She's right here." He came to the door, "Hi" We told him who we were. His hands were behind his back. He smiled, "I got a 40!" I was confused. He pulled a whole jug of alcohol from behind his back. "OH!" Sister Ikimau and I were surprised. He said to come in. We were talking to him and his girlfriend the whole time while they were drinking out of the whole jug. He was smacking his big ball of gum in his mouth as he talked about his religion. He's Native American, some cultural religion. I've never knew so much more about other religions this week. . .

Love you all!

Sincerely,

Sister Hatch

Idaho Pocatello Mission