Hola, Family and Friends!
I have been thinking a lot this week about my covenants with
my Heavenly Father and my Savior and the plan the gospel gives us. Each day of
my mission I discover more and more that the gospel is all about charity - the
PURE love of Christ. I love the opportunity I have each day to "lift up
the feeble knees of those in distress" and "comfort those that stand
in need of comfort." It has been a wonderful and emotional draining, yet
very uplifting, week here in Green River .
The big fun news of the week is that I got to visit with my
dear friend Kimberly! I don't know if you remember her but she is from Cottonwood .
Crazy. I was on exchanges and Sister Mendoza and I were discussing some of the
valuable lessons we have learned on our missions. One of the greatest lessons I
learned on my mission was from Kimberly. Well, no less than about an hour later
I get a text from her! Don't know how she tracked down my number, but she told
me she was on her way to Greenriver and she needed an appointment with me! haha
She is a HOOT! So, she drove down and while Sister Kent was in her “Sister Training
Leader” meeting we got to chat. Kimberly is my lifelong friend and I know one
of the reasons I am here on my mission is to help her. She is an elect daughter
of God. What a blessing it is to be a part of her life. I'm so grateful for the
support I can give her and know that I have to remain strong and faithful to
this gospel for people like her. She also uplifts and encourages me to be a
better disciple of Christ. “He that preacheth and he that recieveth are BOTH
edified and rejoice together.” <3 -D&C 50. (That is who the photo is
from that you got mama - seconds after she arrived to see me in Green
River .) She is one of the strongest people I know. Please keep Kimberly
in your prayers.
Also, stake conference was this weekend! It was absolutely
wonderful! We have such a wonderful, missionary-minded stake president - and wonderful
wards as well. Minutes after the conference was over one of our bishops approached
us and told us what he got from President Young’s message and asked us to speak
about missionary work in the ward and what the focus should be and that missionary
work will be the theme of sacrament meeting for the next month or so. There was
a real focus on going out and BRINGING souls to Christ. That it requires great responsibility
and effort on our part as well as asking and praying for opportunities to
invite. We need to be doing more. Just like Elder Holland’s analogy in General Conference
with the two brothers who were climbing, we need to REACH out our hand and LIFT
and BRING our brothers and sisters higher and we need to do it out of love. We
had the opportunity to hear from THREE General Authorities as well. Elder
Johnson of the Seventy and Elder and Sister Durham (He was just called this
last General Conference as an Area Authority and she was called as the Second Counselor
of the General Primary. SO inspiring to hear from them each twice - during both
sessions of stake conference.
Every one here is doing well. Sister Kent is preparing to go
home in a few weeks and just discovered she has walking pneumonia! :( Please
keep her in her in your prayers. We both want to finish STRONG for her and that
is going well. Israel ’s
baptism is this Saturday and he just can’t wipe the smile off his face. Pray
that he will be able to find another job so he can start coming to church regularly
and to all three meetings.
The Clarks are so enthusiastic about learning
more and preparing for baptism but they have some hurdles for sure. We are
seeing Sister Clark tonight - she is seeking some peace. They are such a
remarkable family.
The Rapues are awesome. Sister Rapue, after studying and
studying the Book of Mormon has just
told us that she, without a doubt, knows that it works hand in hand with the Bible
and it is true! (: They are gone this weekend to see their son who will hopefully
be home soon so that they can work together as a family to prepare for baptism.
Joey has a very sincere heart but lots of changes that he
needs to make and has a little bit of a way to go - so his baptism is being
pushed back. I just love Joey so much and most of all want him to be safe from
the things hurting him in his life.
Much prayers are greatly appreciated for all of theses
wonderful people we are working with. We have great support here. Amazing ward
mission leaders and genuine people striving to do their best. As different as
it is out here, I am learning a lot and constantly learning more about who my Savior
is and what His Atonement means to me personally. The Atonement is so individual.
Discover what it means to you. It is SO real.
I love you all and pray that all of you will have the opportunity
this coming week to comfort those that stand in need of comfort. Someone out
there today needs your nourishment. Rely on the Savior and "go and
do" -1 Nephi 3:7 <3
--
XOXO,
Sister Hatch
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