Letter #34- Serve Others, Love Yourself!

May 25, 2015

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was outstanding! I have loved putting the Lord's trust continually, as we show the love and concerns for others!

Before Sister Ikimau left to Shelley, we visited a few people. One of them is a lady by the name of Rose King. What Sister Ikimau and I have called her was our "active investigator". Which means they pay their tithes, they fast, pray, attend Church regularly, read the Book of Mormon, etc. They just won't get baptize! We started with an opening prayer. As I closed the prayer, I had this bad feeling, I wasn't sure why. Right after the prayer, Rose express that she basically wasn't happy. She sounded a little bitter as she went on. She claims she has a stronger testimony than anyone else, that she knows the Church is true, that she knows the scripture better than anyone else. . .she just went on slapping her jaw off! I just listened, I looked at her in the eyes, and then it came to me! Sister Ikimau testified a few times, answering her questions, but Rose declined or told her off! I felt the Spirit tell me to let Rose know something. I sat up against the edge of the couch, my heart was pounding FAST and LOUDER, and LOUDER! I went to share what the Spirit was directing me to say, but every time I went to open my mouth, she continued on! Eventually the topic was changing, I still felt the need to share what the Spirit told me. I kept trying to speak, but Rose kept changing topics! My heart was racing, until it finally slowed down towards the end of our discussion.

I can't explain exactly what the Spirit wanted me to say, but it was strong! I could feel it! After the lesson with Rose, we discussed together how the lesson went. Sister Warren was with us, since her companion went home. Sister Warren said, "The important thing for Rose King today was to feel understood." We probably couldn't say much, but to just listen with love. And that's what Rose needed. As we discussed, Sister Warren asked, "What does Rose need? There's something deeper that she needs more than what she have expressed. Because obviously, she would be baptize by then!" We talked about that we need to pull the wires and ask the hard questions! I am trying to figure out Rose. And I think Sister Vere, the amazing testimony she has, can help fix Rose's problem!

On Sister Ikimau's last night in Pocatello, we went to go see Anthony and Stormy. I felt so sad for Anthony. As his wife shared what he have done and said the other day, she told him to "give up drinking or me and Evony." Anthony loves his Family so much, but of course he is addicted to drinking. He decided to give up drinking. We asked how he was feeling, he said, "Embarrassed." Sister Ikimau and I talked with Anthony for a bit. Anthony then got up and walked out for a smoke. We could hear him yelling from outside, he was filled with anger. As I write this, it makes my heart aches and I just want to cry for both Anthony and Stormy! I want to help! We told Anthony that coming to Church is going to resist the temptation of smoking or drinking. And with Church, it'll help him and Stormy to quite arguing or fighting so much. I know that attending Church regularly with the desire to go, will strengthen your relationship with Family! And Church will help you change to become a better person as you partake of the Sacrament.

Sister Vere and I met with Chris! Chris was the young man that Sister Ikimau and I met, he was working on his Chevy truck. We went over to him, "Hi Chris!" "Hi!" He said. We talked with him for a few minutes. He was putting a new Radio Station in, because he was on his way to Washington in about a few weeks. We asked if he read the pamplets or the Book of Mormon. Chris said, "I have read two chapters of the Book of Mormon." We asked if he felt anything as he read it, he said, "I feel that I am not alone." Every time we meet with Chris, he is softening up. We shared 2 Nephi 5:27, "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." Chris smiled as we testified of that scripture. We asked if we could close with a prayer, he smiled, "Yes!" After the prayer, Chris looked at all four of us (we had two young women with us) and he said, "I will be looking forward to be meeting the four of you again." He smiled again! We told him to have a good day and walked away. When we got furthur down the street, I couldn't stop smiling! I was so happy for Chris! I know he will someday meet officially with the Missionaries! So grateful for this experience!

For personal study I read my Patriarchal Blessing. I asked Heavenly Father to show me what I need for the day to share with others. I couldn't help but to be filled with great joy as I read my Patriarchal Blessing and feel the love of God. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of all of His Children circumstances and He knows each of us personally! If you don't know that, I want to invite you to look into that. Prayed to Him, seek to look at others and love others as the Savior would love them, if you don't have one - get a Patriarchal Blessing. I know that you will realize you are not alone, Heavenly Father is taking care of each of us.

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Sister Hatch.

Our Zone went on a hike for the last time together

 we saw snakes everywhere!

Doing our poses :)

HAHAHA! We all have some intense or silly faces!

JUMP!

 All four of the Sisters!

Sister Ikimau saying good-bye to some of the boys

 Transfer site!

We forgot our umbrella. . .got SOAKED from the rain.

Letter #33- "I know that Joseph Smith was the true Prophet"

Hello Everyone!

Oh my goodness! Okay, first we got transfer called this week! Sister Ikimau is leaving! I'm sad to see her go, but so excited for where she's going! Sister Ikimau is going to SHELLEY! I was born there! And we both think she's going to "die" there. Sister Ikimau have four months left on her Mission. My new companion is Sister Vere (pronounce as Veh-dae). She will be "dying" with President and Sister Brinkerhoff. (She has six weeks left). We're both excited for this transfer!

This week has been good. Remember those people who ran away from Sister Ikimau and I on the hill? You're going to laugh about this, but we just had dinner with them this week! We went up to their home at dinner time. Sister Peck, the Mom, invited us in. We sat down while we wait a few minutes for her husband to come home. She talked with us of how sad she is for her son being on his Mission in Chile Santiago. But then she smiled, "We talked with him on Mother's Day. He is doing great! I just wish he could come home!" Later, her daughter came in and sat down. She talked with us for a few minutes. They're both non-members, the daughter asked us questions. It was a good dinner, they told us, "We're not interested. But we love how you Missionaries never give up on us!"

We went out with a member, Sister Brown. We were going to the family who moved from New Mexico. As we walked up to their door, the Mom opened the door. When she saw us walking up, we squealed and slammed the door. Awkwardly standing there, we weren't sure what to do. We went up the door and knocked anyway. We did a couple of knocks, then I saw someone peeking through the window. It was dark in the room, I could see two eyes staring at me. I waved at the little girl who was looking through the opened blinds. She slowly moved back. It was strange, I could remember seeing the two eyes!

Anyway, Saturday we had a meeting. After the meeting we saw one of our Ward Mission Leader and his family setting decorations up for Jensen Parrish's wedding. We offered to help for an hour. It was so beautiful! It was gorgeous! Later, after that, we had a lesson with a less-active family. They've been coming back to Church and recently Sister Hill asked if we could teach their family some lessons! It was wonderful! We got to know them and we invited them to pray, read, and to come to Church.

I am running out of times! But I have loved this week!

I want to share my testimony, that I know my Savior lives. I am grateful for the good news the gospel brings! I love this Gospel, I love being a Missionary! I am grateful that I could take a year and a half to proclaim and share about the Savior, Jesus Christ. The truth and fullness of the Gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was the true Prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is to be true!

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Sister Hatch.

Got to hold the member's BOA (small, can grow to 5 feet)

 IDAHO POCATELLO NORTH ZONE! President and Sister Brinkerhoff last transfer!

Letter #32- "I thanked Heavenly Father for these wonderful experiences"

May 11, 2015

Dear Everyone,

This week has been amazing!

Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Sister Warren! It brings back so much memory when we were companions together! I learned so much while I was with her! I felt like I was led by the Spirit not knowing what to do, like Nephi! It was great to feel the love of the Savior!

We taught a less active man outside on his bench. We visited with him and got to know him. Then we shared Moroni's promise, which is if you read the Book of Mormon with real intent and prayed to the Father with sincere heart, asking if it's NOT true, the Holy Spirit will manifest the truth of it unto you. We invited Brother Hall and his Family to read the Book of Mormon and to come to Church. He expressed his concerns about not wearing appropriate clothes to Church.  We talked with him for a little longer until he committed to come to Church. Later that day, all of our appointments fell through, we went through our back up plans. I prayed to Heavenly Father, "I don't know where to go, but I know there is someone." I remembered the referral President Brinkerhoff gave to Sister Ikimau and I. We went over and we met a young boy named Danny! He was playing basketball with a few of the priest aged young men in the Ward. We talked with Danny for a while, he said we could come back! I  On the exchanges I learned how I can better help our Investigators improve in the Gospel. I love these people, Children of God, so much! I want to help them! My worries and concerns are a few of them who are not able to get Parents' permission. I know that as Sister Ikimau and I follow up with them daily and pull the wires, as Elder Haws and Elder Deppermen gave the training on, they will want to progress and they will see that light and love of our Loving Father in Heaven

Oh my goodness! Sister Ikimau and I did meet a basher! His name is John! Contentions and anger, we could just feel it rise! It was so sad to see John that way! As he kept asking questions trying to prove us wrong. He then asked us, "Are you convinced that you are going to go to Heaven if you were to die right now?" I felt like I stood up tall! I felt confident, "YES! I DO!" He gave us this look as if we were stupid, "Really!? Because I don't think you will! I KNOW THAT AT THE LAST DAY I WILL TELL GOD THAT YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME!" We let John go on the rant. He told us he believe in the Trinity, which is Heavenly Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit is one. He asked more questions trying to still prove us wrong. I kept opening my mouth trying to testify to his questions. But every time I do, he interrupts me! Finally I said, "Okay! Can I ask you a question?" John said, "Sure." I asked, "Why would God send Himself down to die on the cross for us?" He said, "Easy! In John3:16, 'For God so loved the world that He sent His. . ." He stumbled for a while, "His. . .His Only Begotten Son! But there's other scriptures that talks about that!" OH MY! It was intense! I was so sad for John. We told John we had to get going, he said, "Oh okay! Well anytime you want to, come by and I'll prepare some scriptures for you!"

I love working with my Companion, Sister Ikimau! I have enjoyed learning from her as she share what she studied from her Personal Study, what revelation she receives after we have taught a lesson or correlation meeting, and I have enjoyed her company, and that we're able to work together! We both felt so stupid when she shared what she learned in Personal Study this morning. In the past week we got some people who have asked, "What if you find out that there is no God?" or "What if there is no life after death?" And our response was, "But what if there was a God?" or "What if you do find out there is a life after death?" We would respond their question to a question! What Sister Ikimau shared this morning just have clicked! Why do we respond their question to a question, when we have been called to TESTIFY to what we KNOW!? SILLY! We know there is a God, we know there is a life after death. Why don't we just testify of that? It was great to be able to recognize how we could progress in our Missionary effort!

I got to talk to my Family for Mother's Day! It was great to see them! I have enjoyed them. It felt like I have never left them! After skyping, Sister Ikimau and I had a few miracles!

Sister Ikimau and I had a few miracles last night! I believe it was because we followed the Spirit immediately! For the past month, Sister Ikimau and I have been trying to see a Part-member Family. After dinner, Sister Ikimau said, "Let's go see the Bisson's." We went over there, just in time she got home! We helped her haul in some things in her home and Sister Bissoon offered water. We kindly said, "No thank you, but thank you so much!" We complimented on her beautiful house and the pictures of her beautiful Family on the wall. She told us her husband past Missionary experiences. We listened with love as she told us what have happened in the past. After spending almost an hour there, she said that her husband just recently wanted to take the lessons again! Sister Bissoon told us that we should be expecting a call from him sometime soon or we could call him up someday! We left her home with a prayer. As Sister Ikimau and I were heading down to the Apartment area, I thanked Heavenly Father for this miracle and prayed for the Bissoon Family. We went to an Apartment and a man was standing outside smoking. Without fear, Sister Ikimau and I walked up to him and talked with him. His wife is a member, he is not. He have had Missionary discussion before, but then he moved from Ammon to here six months ago. We got to know Jason and his wife Marie. I felt such great love for him as I imagine the both of them in white. We were able to set up a return appointment. He has been to Church more than three times. After we left and open up our planning for the night, again, I thanked Heavenly Father for these wonderful experiences. I was grateful that we followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit!

I love you all! I got to go!

Sister Hatch.

Letter #31- May The Fourth Be With You!

May 4, 2015

Dear Everyone,

May the 4th be with you! This month is going to fly by so quick! But I wish it could slow down!

My heart aches as I think of this upcoming month, because I will be halfway through my Mission!

But I am enjoying it as much as I can, and refocus on the Lord's work.

Okay, really quick funny story:

This happened last night! Sister Ikimau and I finished planning, we went to kneel down for a prayer. Oh my goodness! I can't believe I'm about to tell you all this, but hope it'll brighten up your day! So, we were about to pray when I saw a random yellow note paper. I asked my Companion, "Sister, is this yours?" I went to grab it, but it was too far! I couldn't reach it! My chair has wheels on it, I was still on the chair trying to grab the piece of paper. By the time my whole body was on the chair, I rolled off the chair! I did a summer salt off the chair, I could remember Sister Ikimau saying, "OH!", then she was pretty silent as I did five different turns. My skirt flew up! My poor Companion! I felt bad that I pretty much flashed her! Then I landed, after have had kicked my legs against the wall! We were just laughing so hard! She saw everything! We had a good laugh about it, I hope you all did too!

Anyway, this week I have seen myself grown! Our Zone did another blitz in one of the Elder's area. Sister Ikimau and I met a family that were having a barbarcue outside. A girl said, "DAD! THE MORMONS ARE HERE!" We were smiling, then she looked at us, "I'm already Christians!" I smiled even bigger, "OH! So you have that belief in Christ!" She has a sassy tone, "Yes!" Her Dad came to us and asked how we were doing. We talked with David for a few minutes. He said, "I will respect you if you will respect me. I believe in God, and I am comfortable with my religion. So, don't preach to me." Then he said, "No offense, but you guys, Mormons are cults!" Sister Ikimau and I talked with David for a long while. He rubbed his hands together and said, "Okay, now. Let me ask you a question." "Okay!" Sister Ikimau and I respond. David continued, "If I was mowing my lawn, would you help me with my yard work?" We said, "Yes." "Okay, if I was drunk and I'm about to pass out. Would you carry me to the coach and watch the fight with me?" Apparently there's a boxing tournament everyone was watching that night. Anyway, my Companion and I said, "No, because we can't watch T.V." Oh my goodness Sister Ikimau is so bold! She looked at David, "If we needed help with the Baptism font, would you be the first one to be baptize?" He stood there and looked in doubt. Sister Ikimau, "HA! I got you! I got you!" He nod and smiled, "You got me." Later that night we met a man named Brent. He's inactive and his wife is not a member. We talked with Brent at the door. Sister Ikimau, him, and I going back and forth. He said, "I believe there is no God. No prayers. No Bible or your Mormon's Bible. All I know is that you live life until that day comes when we'll see who's right and who's wrong!" Then out of no where, I asked, "AND what if it was wrong?" He stood there in silent and shrugged his shoulders a couple of times. Brent then said, "Well, you ladies have a nice night. I don't want to waste any of your times." He shut the door. I turned to my Companion, "Sister Ikimau, was that right for me to say?" HELLO! Of course Sister Hatch is was right! Sister Ikimau nods her head and said, "Yes. That leaves him a question to ponder on."

Sister Ikimau and I went to visit a less active man who we were told that he wants to come back. We were sitting on his front porch just talking to Brother Condie. He started talking about the Second Coming. Then it was quiet for a while, Brother Condie looked at me straight in the eyes. He pointed at me, "You are going to be a witness of Christ's Second Coming! I can feel it!" Brethren and sisters, this is the last dispensation. I can testify that to you. I don't know when, we all don't know when, even the Savior, Himself, doesn't know when He is coming. But I can promise you that if you prepare yourself for that day, endure to the end of your life, you will come to know that God loves you unconditionally! And that you, your family, and your eternal salvation will be saved!

On Thursday, we were going to contact some of the referrals we have received. Sister Ikimau and I went to contact a lady named Ruth. I got told off by her. She has member neighbors and friends. She said she was not interested and that she belongs to the Presbyterian Church. She was talking about her religion and she mentioned that she reads the Bible. I asked, "How do you feel when you read the Bible and pray?" Ruth stood up straight, she act stunned. She started to say, "Well, I find that VERY PERSONAL AND VERY INTRUSIVE!" By this time she raised her voice, and she went on a rant. I just stood there and listened. At the end she continued to raise her voice, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUNG LADY!?!" I felt bad, so I kindly said, "Yes ma'am. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that." Sister Ikimau and I went on splits. I went with a member while she went with one of the Sister Training Leader. I went to Chris, the boy who works under the hood. Sister Bassett, the member and I went up on his porch. After a couple knocks the Chevy truck pulled up the driveway. We heard Chris' Mom from the truck yelled, "WHY ARE THEY ON MY PORCH!" We pretended that we didn't hear her and we smiled as they got out of the truck. "Hi Chris!" The Mom's friend walked between us and Chris and gave me a scowling look on her face, "Don't talk to me! I'm Atheists!" I smiled at her and nods, "Oh okay!" I looked at Chris, "What does Atheists believe in?" He laughed, "Pretty much no God and everything is Hell!" I respond politely, and then asked, "Have you got the chance to read what we left you?" He said, "Yes. I read a couple of Chapters." His Mom came out of the house and they had to leave just as Sister Bassett asked what he have learned or read. Later the next day Sister Ikimau and I saw Chris as we were walking home from the Church. We went to talk to him. He had a whole bag full of empty beer cans. We talked to him as he finished his last bottle of beer. Then a random man walked out of his home and said, "Come let's go!" Chris asked, "Where are we going?" The man shouts, "We're going on a five mile ride!"

I got to go, but one more story.

So, Sister Ikimau and I were talking to the Radmacher's twins outside on the street. It was Friday night and we were just talking with the boys. Reineer was about the get on his skateboard and ride it across the road. But just before he crossed the road a Jeep sped a hundred miles down the twenty-five mile road of the Trailor Park! There was a lady holding a beer can in her hands out the window. Sister Ikimau and I knew who this was. It was Crystal and Tyrel! Gas was smoking out the car. I watched them go across the busy road at the end of the Trailor Park! Oh my goodness! It was scary! Sister Ikimau and I told the twins and all of the mad Moms that we were going to talk to them, because we teach them. The next day we saw them drive back home and one of our Potential Investigator, Mike, was following them home. We talked to Tyrel and Crystal. Sister Ikimau kindly asked, "Did any of your neighbors come to talk to you?" "No." "Were you guys speeding down the road?" They were so hang over, they just laughed!

Anyway, I got to go! Love you all!

Sincerely,

Sister Hatch.