"In Christ Alone, My Hope is Found"

Hola!

It's been a little bit of a rough week but miracles continue! We have a few new investigators and found an awesome less active lady to teach.

Paula is in her 80's and has been married for years to an active member (kind of like Ron Radcliffe!) and she loves her husband and is ready to be sealed in the temple! She has never heard the missionary discussions but she knows a lot and wants to be baptized ASAP! HUGE miracle. She lives in Salt Lake but has a house here in Park City. They spend most of their weekends here, so there records are in this ward. So kind of hard to teach her, but we have special permission to go down to Salt Lake with our senior couple the McMullins to teach her two times a week!

Rachel grew up FLDS in a polygamist family but said she would love to hear the missionary disscussions! A few of her grown kids have been baptized.

Rebecca is someone who has been involved in the church for years and has said in the past she wants to 'eventually' be baptized but doesn't want to be pressured. Well, she has been to church for the last couple of weeks and is coming to General Conference with us and said she is ready to have the discussions from the missionaries!

Lora, our less active member, is the sweetest lady ever and just needs some love and friendship and I am excited that Sister Nelson and I can give that to her. (:

Okay, now for the answers to your questions ;)

• Send all my mail to the Family Tree Center : 531 Main St., P.O. Box 4620, Park City, Ut 84060
• Sister Nelson is so sweet and cute and we are getting along great and having lots of fun together! That's so funny that Mariah isn't answering her texts! She should be better at that since I'm not there, whenever she wouldn't answer Brenda's calls or texts, I would get one from Brenda ;) 
• No, I have not heard from Mariah or Cierra for a while. :(
• Being at the Family Tree Center is very different because some days it will be slow and I don't feel like a missionary! haha But, at the same time, the slow days are nice because I can do more of my own family history work and I am excited about the promise from Elder Bednar to be more spiritually protected by the spirit of Elijah. (: There are lots of opportunities there with non-members! It's really neat. Just last week we had people from Russia, New York, Georgia, Hawaii, Tennessee, and MESA ARIZONA -their family was from St. Johns (: - and many many more places! 
• Chat is really fun. We get some really interesting questions sometimes, haha. Sometimes people are just messing with us! But, we also get lots of wonderful opportunities. Just the other day we had some one in Wales searching for her own religion to join. She liked everything about our church but wanted more insight from people other then those who had been raised in the church. We were able to tell her that even long time members of the church have to seek answers for themselves. When we find people like her we are able to get their contact information and keep in contact online and they can become and "online progressing investigator" and we can send local missionaries to them!
• Park City is a lot different than Cottonwood in a lot of ways. Lots of people in the Salt Lake Valley say that this is a rough place to be a missionary because it's where people in Utah who don't want to be associated with the church go to hide, which maybe is true, but the environment is wonderful. The members of the church are really strong and faithful and very missionary minded. There are many opportunities.
• The i-pad is an AWESOME resource, but it is quite a development process. We have them now and can use them for teaching in our area. Next we are going through the training process to recive the online area books and records; after that we will add Facebook and other social things but that could be weeks away, maybe months. We don't really know the schedule, just that we will add and add little by little. I can still keep in contact with Sister Coleman and others by email on p-day
• There is one set of Elders in our district: our district leader and his companion. haha - we call that a "Sis-trict" and the Elders don't work at the Family Tree Center. 
• There is always one set of sisters at the Tree Center, so whoever is at the Tree doesn't have a car.
• We live fairly close to the Tree but everything here is spread out. There is just one stake here in Park City, we cover the Park City Ward and the Silver Creek Ward, which is like 15 minutes away! For comparison to the Salt Lake Valley: in cottonwood we were allowed to use 650 miles a month, here we are allowed to use 1700. 
• The weather is beautiful here, too! I'm so grateful! I came at the right time! 
• Yes, I got my package, thank you! (:

Well, I titled my email this week with my new favorite song because it's helped me a lot this week. Trials don't go away when you decide to dedicate your life for 18 months to the Lord. Sometimes I'd like to think they do! But, through the Atonement we can work through our trials. I am gratfule for the opportunity I have to understand the Atonement more in my life and find hope through it. I know I can find it in prayer, in my scripture study (which has become my FAVORITE part of the day) and in the example of my mission president, other mission leaders, and always, you, too. I was reading in my patriarchal blessing about how one of the greatest blessings I have is my parents who love me and love the gospel. Even though I am not with you, you continue to be an example and a strength for me. Thank you!

Fun Fact of the Week: Elder Don R. Clarke is in our ward and I got to shake his hand yesterday! He is who did our i-pad training, as well.

For mom: Sister Nelson likes essential oils, too and she showed me this scripture Alma 46:40 - And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate— ;)

For dad: We had a Relief Society activity and a joke was told that I thought you would enjoy: A Relief Society president sits down on plane next to a man and works up the courage to ask him the "golden question"... RS president: Do you know much about the LDS church? Man: Yes, ... a little. RS president: Would you like to know more? Man: YES! I am a stake president and I could use all the help I can get!! ;)

-XOXO, Sister Hatch

An ADVENTUROUS week!

It has been an adventurous week! So, I had a hard time leaving my area and all the people. Lots of tears were shed; it was really hard to say good bye, especially to Billie, Kenneth, the Minors, the Montelongos, and Karina, who I was able to get in contact with before I left and say goodbye - it was so good to see her again. She is struggling right now and said she really misses "her angels". Please keep her in your prayers. Everyone was so sweet when I left, giving me cards and sweet things. It really felt like I was leaving another home. It was really hard leaving Sister Coleman as well. We both went to transfers really wary of new companions.

Transfer meeting was CRAZY because there was a HUGE snow storm. Anyway, I found out I was going to PARK CITY and my companion is Sister Nelson! Because of the snow storm, no one from Park City or Wyoming was able to make it down to the meeting, so I had no idea who Sister Nelson was or when I would meet her. But it was really fun because the area I am in was Sister Coleman’s first area! It was really hard to say good bye to her, but I was very excited to be going to my dream spot while on my mission (: It took everyone from Park City 2 hours to get to SLC, but I finally met Sister Nelson from GILBERT AZ (I now make 4 of the 8 missionaries in Park City from Arizona) and she is awesome. It was funny, on the drive home we told each other our first names and later that night she said "you remind me SO MUCH of this girl I was in choir with in high school and her name is Mariah, too!" haha She was meaning Our Mariah, Mariah Tanner, so that was fun! (Mariah, if you still read my blogs, Megan Nelson says hi ;)) Also the other Sister from Arizona is Sister Greeley who was roommates with Jocee in Idaho. Such a small world!

So, Adventure 1 of the week started the night before transfers when Sister Coleman and I decided we needed to learn how to make the "food of the culture" from our missions and asked Sister Holtby (awesome RS pres, I skyped at Christmas from their house) if she could teach us how to make Jell-O. Turns out she has never actually made it before because their family thinks it is disgusting, but she agreed that it was important for missionaries serving in UT to learn how to perfect their Jell-O making skills ;) haha, so we went to their house for a Family Home Evening on p-day and had fun with their family making Jell-O.

Adventure 2: Being in Park City, do you want to make any guesses as to the kind of place where  live....? Well, you guessed wrong, I live in a hallway of a barn! haha It’s really cute and cozy but it’s just funny. So you walk in, There’s a dresser and a couch on the left side of the hallway and the sink, fridge, and table on the right side of the hallway. The bathroom is at the end of the hallway right next to the ladder that brings us to the loft, where the beds and closets are. It’s pretty snug but I actually really like it!

Adventure 3: Here in Park City I am a half proselyting-missionary and half visitor-center-sister! We work 30 hours a week at the Family Tree Center on Main Street helping people from all over the world with their family history! Its pretty ironic, just the other week, we were helping a lady in my last area with her family history, but really Sister Coleman was, and I said, "Wow, I know nothing about family history, I’m probably going to be sent to Park City next transfer.” And, here I am! I really love it though. I have already learned tons! So, half of our shift we are down on the main floor just waiting for people to come in and help them with their work or find names or give them a tour, etc. and the other half we chat with people all over the world who have any questions. So you know on Mormon.org where you can "Chat with a Mormon" - that's me! (:

Adventure 4: On Friday night we were leaving the “Tree” and someone backed into our car and our radiator was punctured so now instead of sharing two cars with three sets of sister missionaries, we have one car, which has been quite the adventure because we cover most of Park City. The other day we had to walk from where we dropped our car off to the nearest bus stop, which was all the way on the other end of a freeway - pretty scary, but we made it! It’s pretty nice being in a spread out place though because we only cover two wards! Before I was covering four wards and in Salt Lake City that's like the least amount you are EVER assigned to. So, two wards will be a piece of cake!

Adventure 5: I was able to start of the transfer by speaking in church about the atonement. I have really developed a love for giving talks! I learn so much from preparing them and I LOVE bearing my testimony – it’s the best part of being a missionary. I love the wards we are in - they are very welcoming.

So, its been a pretty filled week and its been pretty hard to be in a new place with new people out of my comfort zone, but I am very grateful to be where I am with Sister Nelson. I don't think I could have gotten any luckier.

We have lots of work to do this transfer. We don't have any progressing investigators, but only because they were all recently baptized and they are all super solid! They just baptized a 17-year-old girl named Ally, who has wanted to be baptized for a few years but her parents wouldn't let her; but they finally softened their hearts and she was baptized last Saturday. Another guy just baptized was a man named Gaetano and he loves the gospel and is an awesome missionary! His brother is one of our two investigators, but he is a little less interested, so we will see how that goes. They also just baptized a set of 40-year-old twins from New York and they are a hoot! And, last but not least, they baptized an awesome guy from Rwanda named Philemon. He is such a sweetheart, the first time I met him was on his 3-month anniversary of being baptized and he was so excited he gave us all thank you cards. He even made one for me and bore his testimony and thanked me for doing what I am doing. It really made my week and made me feel like I am where I need to be. There is another man from Rwanda who we are teaching named Yosouff. He is a Muslim, but is super interested in the church. We just have a hard time meeting with him because he works alllll the time - he usually only gets three hours of sleep, then goes to work all day. Pray that we will have time to meet him more this transfer! Our miracle of the week was being able to teach him the first lesson because he was given a whole day off, which hardly ever happens!

Well,  that's the week! I love you so very much! Thanks for your prayers and all that you do. I love this gospel and I love my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is true and the spirit I get from reading it truly leads and guides me each and everyday.

xoxox, Sister Hatch 

Transfer time!

It's been a rough morning. We received transfer news and I am leaving my first area and all the people I have truly grown to love and care for so much after a short short 6 months. I have been praying all week to feel at peace with what ever happens and I do. I know the lord knows me and the people who are in need of me next, but I don't want to leave! I feel like am leaving home all over again!

I will email more next week when I find out where I am and who my companion is. I am a little worried. I can’t believe Sister Coleman and I were only together one transfer! We connected so much and she is truly one of my best friends. But I feel so grateful that I get to leave this beautiful place in her hands. No matter how hard! Dang. Can you believe I have been out 6 months?! I can't, and I don't want to start over in a new place, but here comes a new adventure.

The Lord knows what is best for each of us. Sometimes it is hard to do it His way, but I am grateful for the peace of knowing God is in charge. That is definitely how I am feeling with this transfer. I wish I could stay here but I know the people I love won’t progress in the gospel as much if I stay because now they need some one new, and that kills me, but I am so grateful to be so close to them.

I will let you know my address as soon as I can, but for now you can just send any packages to the mission office and my zone leaders will get it to me. And, yes, Sister Coleman and I are both fashionistas so we borrow each others clothes quite often ;) - but my pink sweater is new, we went to Target last p-day.

Thank you so much for the beautiful family photos; Lily is an absolute doll. I was thinking about the blessing all day on Saturday. I know it will bless Heather and Braden’s lives so much.

Easton’s soccer story killed me! gosh I miss that kid! I am so happy he loves church, I am praying Heather finds the strength to go with him every Sunday; I know it will bless their whole family.

This week has been full and exciting! Kenneth was baptized, we had a fun volley ball activity with all the people we are teaching, and we had both a mission-wide and stake-wide fast for missionary work - I can already see the blessings coming from it!

Kenneth’s baptism was a huge success, we were worried about who would be there because he hasn’t made lots of friends, but the ward support was HUGE. Kenneth could not stop smiling, he said he has never felt happier in his life and the ward just fell in love with him, everyone was coming up to him and asking if they could get a picture with him even though they just met that day. The spirit was so strong; lots of teary eyes.

Funny story of the week was at Kenneth’s baptism. So, his good friend Victoria (she is Sister Minor’s daughter) is at hoot. She is this big black woman, missing a few teeth, and she is very boisterous and always makes us laugh. She was baptized exactly 2 years before Kenneth, which was fun, but after Kenneth gets dunked under the water the spirit was so strong and people were crying and Victoria screams, "AMEN!" and then everyone started clapping - it was too funny.

Ron is out of town for 10 days and I am heartbroken I don't get to say goodbye to him, but he postponed his trip to see the baptism and he really enjoyed it; Sister Coleman and I are planning on him being ready soon and I will be able to come back to attend the baptism.

Our volley ball game was awesome. Our friend and recent convert, Billie, came as well as our friend Laura, an in-active return missionary, as well as Kenneth and the Minors who are ALWAYS the life of the party and our district came as well. Billie is incredible and has just blossomed in the gospel. If you met her today you would think she has been a member all her life; she has had some amazing experiences and her testimony shines inside and out of her; she is the best missionary and is always just glowing! Well she and Laura clicked at the activity and we think that friendship will really help Laura out with where she is at. Laura is probably one of the best ladies I have ever met. She has a really strong testimony, too, but has been through some rough things. She always gives us great life advice about how to live so we won’t make the mistakes she did and hold fast to the iron rod. I am really sad to leave her.

Our fast was amazing. We attended two fast and testimony meetings, one was Kenneth’s confirmation and the spirit of missionary work was fantastic! I am sad to be leaving just as the miracles start. But this week we were able to find two new investigators and I know it was a result of everyone preparing for the fast.

Oh, another exciting thing is that we got our i-pad training - it was really neat! We will get the actual i-pads on Friday. This whole i-pad thing is different than in other missions with i-pads before, they are now doing it completely new, it’s a pilot program and we are the first mission to do it! All of our books are "DRAFTS" - its way exciting. They emphasized that we are not "social media" or "i-pad" missionaries; we are the same missionaries as always, but with a new resource - to further the work with a new tool. It just like it has always been, the scriptures were at one point a new tool, the Liahona, the radio for conference, and it continues and its all about the Work of Salvation. We will have Facebook and Skype with our new converts and so forth, and there will even be a training for switching back into real life mode after our missions. It will also be used as soon as new missionaries get their call: the newly called missionary will be in contact with his or her MTC teacher. It’s incredible. I am so excited to have this resource!

I love being a missionary. My heart is so full of joy each day. Some days I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open; fasting while doing missionary work is physically exhausting; people canceling appointments or not keeping commitments or not answering the door is emotionally exhausting. I shouldn't be so happy, but I am. This church is true and the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is real. I feel it when I pray for my earthly family at home and as I serve my mission family here. I don't know the people who I will be serving next, but, I already love them because I DO know my Father and my Savior love them. I love all of you and you are always in my prayers.

xoxox, Sister Hatch(: