Letter #18- Guatita

December 17, 2012

Dear Everyone,

Hello hello! South Carolina is wet and warm this winter. I've been working crazy hard at trying to help people this week. We have three little kids that we are teaching that are 8 10 and 13 and they are going to be baptized on the 29th. They are solid little ninios that we have been blessed to be able to know and they are loving the gospel and soakin every little bit of it up. There mom is a less active that we happened upon after asking a member for a friend they think might need the gospel. They have been active ever since we went over there to speak to them.

Funny story this week, well, more like wierd/cool. I ate an ecuadorian plate called "guatita." Basically it is the inside stomach lining of a cow. The second I smelt it the memories of every old dirty barn and rodeo I've ever been to flooded my mind; because guatita smells exactly like that. And even worse, it taste the same as it smells. A member made it for us and we were eating with some senior missionaries who one is from ecuador and she said she wouldn't ever make that dish because it's gross. I got half way through the plate when I decided I wouldn't have any more. I actually wanted to vomit....But then I looked at everyone elses plates and they were empty! I said "NO! I am not going to be the only gringo in here!" I grabbed a lime and squezzed the lime juice all over the dish and then got shot in the eye in the process while spraying sister Benedict(the sister missionary from ecuador) who was right next to me. Then I grabbed a napkin dabbed my eye and went and grabbed some more fried plantaens and sat down and polished off the rest of the plate! They all clapped for me as I finished....And I would eat it again if it were given to me, but I could never make that stuff in my life.

We have several investigators that are Brazillian so I've been learning Portugese as I go here as well as spanish and it gets confusing at times. I feel like a 4 year old. I also have to give the lesson for the elders quorum on the 6th of January. I know I'm going to need some divine intervention on that one. Life's just been going well. Christmas coming up everyone seems to be to busy to listen to us, but it will be fine, I know that we'll be provided a way by our Heavenly Father. I've been reading a lot out of this last conferences Ensign, and it's way cool! I learned so much more from rereading all the talks again than I did when I listened to it.

This week I want to extend a challenge to have each of you bear your testimony to either a less active family in your area or a non member family in your area. I know it'll feel wierd and I know it might be uncomfortable. But you have a greater purpose than being a slave to the man as they say. More purpose than work, school, friends, and hobbies. You are all missionaries. The things you have done and will do have more effect on people than you know. I am just starting to see that as I get letters from you all. I did everything when I was younger because I was taught it was right and now 10-20 years later I'm reaping the benefits of it. I pray for each of you regularily. When ever I feel inspired to say a prayer for you I do it. I've even felt inspired to do things that are completely crazy and don't have any logic behind them, but I know that good will come of them so I do it.

I love you all,

Elder Hatch

Letter #17- On the Lord's Errand

Well, Everyone!

 

This week has been awesome! I've been really working hard and getting myself focused on the work and just having a blast! This week I'll start out with a funny story. I went on exchanges with Elder Hanson (our zone leader, way cool guy, totally solid missionary) and we were in a lesson with a family that has a non member dad, but we planned to stop by for referrals and just share something short. What happened was, they invited us in, the dad had just got back from some car show where he got a ton of free stuff. So he starts setting it up. (Dad isn't a member and doesn't really want to work on becoming one.) Mom is sitting there getting ready to listen to us and the 9 year old daughter as well, 2 year old son is running around on the ground, having a blast. We say a prayer. The spirit starts settling in and mom asks if we want some juice or water. We say, juice is great just to accept something so that we could start. She then asks do you want a sandwich too? We say no, juice is great! she asks if we are sure about twice and then we continue to start the lesson. She then looks at me and asks what size are your shoes?.....12 I said and I slightly chuckle. She looks at Elder Hanson, what size are your shoes, 9 or 10 depending on the shoe make. She then begins crawling over and around this table looking for something. I start laughing because it's something you don't see every day! Then she finds these way suave way not missionary slip on dress shoes and gives them to him. He says thanks and we continue to start the lesson. She then asks if we want yogurt with fruit and granola. We say no and then continue to start the lesson. Right then the son comes running across the floor wrapped in beads for the Christmas tree and a PlayStation controller wrapped on his leg and biffs it hard on the floor. At this point I'm just laughing hysterically and crying. The mom is looking at me like I'm crazy, Elder Hanson is trying not to laugh and the little girl is laughing at me because I'm laughing so hard. It was just a really funny experience, trying to get that lesson started took about 15 minutes.

 

But any way on a more serious note this week we had 8 people come to church. I felt like the whole time I was running around with my head cut off. Trying to get six kids to their classes and then show the adults where their classes were. But then all the sudden! Bam! Members start fellowshipping the crud out of them and just talking up a storm, taking them to class and being way awesome. As should all members! Out of these people that came one was a less active woman with 3 kids. 2 of these kids have agreed to be baptized on the 29th of this month and one is still not to sure. Mom is wanting to come back to activity completely and is way excited to be going to church again. I read the other day one of my blessings is that I would be able help people realize their purpose here on this earth and that God loves them enough that he sent Christ here to pay for their sins. Elder Zurita and I are known by our district for helping people become reactivated. We have been blessed to help several people find their way back to the church. And if I accomplish nothing more than helping people find their way back to activity I will feel more than accomplished in my purpose as a missionary.

 

I know what I am doing has greater importance than I understand right now. And I know that if people truly understood the restoration there would be no person leaving this church. Because I know that Christ church is restored by Joseph Smith. And that I carry that same priesthood power that Christ holds, because of it. I know that The prophet Thomas S. Monson is called of God. My challenge for each of you is to watch the movie On the Lords Errand on LDS.org and then pray to know individually if he is Gods called prophet today. I know he will answer you and I know your testimony will be strengthened from in. Keep working hard and trying to further the Lords work. I love you all!

 

Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #16- Unprofitable Servants

December 3, 2012

Hey everyone (unprofitable servants),

 

This week has been a way cool week! My personal studies have been crazy awesome and they have really helped me have the spirit with me this week. Elder Zurita and I are trying to branch out and see more and more areas. Seeing as our area is about 5 times the average size of an English mission here we have been blessed with a car. Any way, we went and tried an area we had never been to, called Moncks Corner. We found some very cool places to look for people to teach. The most exciting thing is though we went to a place called fairgrounds and it's just a trailer park, a little run down, but not bad. We started at the 2nd to last trailer (The last trailer is a less active man we saw later that day) and knocked. No answer, next place, "Somos catolico," next one, this guy answers and for whatever reason the spirit directed to simply just ask if we come in, so I told him my name, he said his was Hector and then I asked if we could come in and talk to him for a bit. He said, "Claro que si (Of Course)" and just lets us in....weird.... is all I thought. We started talking to him and then opened with a prayer taught him the Restoration lesson and then asked him to pray. At the end of the prayer, we had invited him to be baptized. He said that he would and that he felt something unexplainable right then. We explained it was the spirit, taught him about the importance of church attendance, and then left. We then continued knocking down the line and door after door let us talk to them after that or had set up an appointment with us for next week! We were so excited!

 

Then we had scheduled to come back on Saturday. We show up to the less actives house, because he had agreed to come to the appointments with us. He came and we started at Hectors, knocked 4 times and no answer. Called him and he said he forgot and was apologizing and wanted to reschedule for Tuesday. Went to our next appointment. Knocked 3 times. Nothing. The same thing on every appointment we scheduled....Why am I telling you this and why did I put "unprofitable servants" at the heading? Well in Luke 7:7-10 it talks about being an unprofitable servant. 

 

"7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? 10 I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

 

That saturday, I felt so inadequate like I was doing things wrong and that I wasn't fulfilling my purpose as a missionary. But why? These were things that were entirely out of my control. I have no power over their agency. Why was this making me feel discouraged. So I turned to the scriptures I read in Mosiah 2:21 and it sparked my interest on what an unprofitable servant was. It wasn't until I read in Luke that I understood, I have done my duty. Even though there is not a reward immediately. I know that I did what I could to help these people be ready for Saturday. And it reminded me of a quote by President Monson "Do your duty that is best, leave unto the Lord the rest." I know that God has purpose for me out here even when I am not teaching a lesson that I scheduled. Or even when I am not doing any good directly for a person. I'm running out of time. But know that each of you have a purpose. Regardless of your feelings of inadequacy. D & C 121:7

 

Love you all,

Elder Hatch

Letter #15- "A Time for Thanks and Revisions"

November 26, 2012

Dear Everyone,                                                         

This week has been pretty good. I have been trying to figure out why our key indicators keep falling and what things that I can do differently to help more. So this week I'm going to call it "A Time for Thanks and Revisions." I spent a lot of my time this week doing/spending time on things that I didn't need to. Too much time at dinner appointment, too much time driving to places. So I thought I need to do more. It made me think of a time in my life where I was moving around a lot, going from place to place looking for an escape from the things that haunted me. Well, I eventually found out that I was the problem and that things needed to change within myself to solve those problems. I have again examined my past weeks here in Goose Creek and thought I could change so many of the things I do to be better.

So I made sat myself down and started thinking. My farewell talk was on pioneers (and it was probably one of the worst talks I've ever given), but I know that I gave that talk for a reason. Brother Cox was inspired to have me talk on this subject, because now it is my motivation. I come from pioneer ancestry on multiple sides of my family. They did so stinking much and the other day I was reading an ensign that talked about a girl who was in a temporary internship, temporarily in a ward, and temporarily in this particular place that she lived. She then talked about how she was just going through the motions and not really applying herself to her calling, her friends in the area, and not really trying with her full efforts. She then said could you imagine what would have happened had the pioneers felt and had done the same? They built towns, they build bridges, planted crops, made paths for others to follow, built temples, and served others all along the way while traveling. They put forth their full effort to fulfill their callings to move west and then to colonize their assigned areas. I then instantly thought about my talk, and my pioneer ancestry, and whether or not I was putting in my full effort.

I am temporarily serving a full time mission. Was I working with all my might, mind, and strength? I came to the conclusion that I was letting the natural man take over more often than he should. I had then recommitted myself to working harder and putting in my full efforts. The progress is slow due to the damage done previously. But without the revision and study of my own actions I would never have progressed at all. Are you looking at what you can change daily? I promise you that you too can make improvements daily. Ask our Heavenly Father sincerely to help you to see your inadequacies and he will help you see what things you can do better and revise. Then, write them down and set a goal to over come them every day. I am thank full for revision and the atonement.

Ok, so this Thanksgiving was crazy. I have never ate more this week in my life. We were asked not to proselyte so we scheduled 3 dinners...then we had dinners at peoples houses every single night except tonight. We had to turn down a dinner even....Crazy. I feel super fat.

Locklin called and dropped us a few weeks ago. I forgot to tell you that. We are working with a few Brazillians. By they way we have had about 20 Brazillian investigators since I came to the area and we have more to get in contact with. So I'm learning Spanish and Portugese. Little by little. The funny thing about Brazillians though is they can't say no and they'll just ignore you if they don't want to talk to you. They can't say what they really think, just what I'm finding, this is not eternally true. Umm...Found a cool little family, found out they weren't married after they committed to a baptismal date, and they can't get married for certain reasons I won't say. Then we are working with a man named Candido who is in his 30's want's to know more about the church and we have asked him to be baptised before, but he says he still wants to know more. so I'll let you know how that goes. In means of other work we are doing, we've been working a lot with less actives, Sister Santana is entirely active again, minus the fact she picked up a smoking habit while being away from the church. So we and bishop are working close with her to help her with that. And I'm just grateful to be a missionary.

I love being a missionary! I can see why now people don't want to come home, I'm loving it and the work I do more and more each day. It's insane. I know this is Jesus Christ's restored church and there are so many people out there searching for it. I know the importance of being obedient and working hard for a righteous cause are the most important things I can do right now and I will continue forward with pioneer like effort to accomplish all things. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #14- "I'm loving being a missionary!"

November 19th, 2012

Dear Everyone,

This week has been way awesome! We started out really slow, because last week we dropped all of our investigators. We've started searching for new areas to work and have been doing some more finding ideas. This week we were able to find and teach 16 brand new people who we all have returning appointments with. And it's been awesome to see how the Lord supports those that are willing to put in the effort. Which reminds me of a funny story.

We ran into a guy who said, "No thanks, I've already been saved." So we talked to him for a bit I asked him how and why he thinks that. He said we are saved by grace right it isn't anything that we do that saves us. I said, "Ya, we are saved by grace but only after all that we can do." I wanted to so ok, so you've been saved so now you can do whatever you want and you'll be fine? Any way, we just left. He was crazy.

But, I am loving the changing of the trees and the weather. We've had rain the past three days with some wind too because of the storms going on right now and we were affected a bit by the hurricane, but not much. I don't have much to say this week other than the fact that I've really been trying to do more purposeful studying. Not solely opening the scriptures and reading and then going to the cross references, But actually trying to apply my studies during the day. So I have been writing on an index card each day a message to carry with me and to remind myself throughout the day that that is what I'm working on. I dare you to do it. You'll be so much more effective as a servant of God. Promise.

We've been working really close with that sister we I told you about last week. She is way awesome! She says you guys call me everytime I start getting depressed and she turns to us and says I think of you guys as my guardian angels. We then gave this totally awesome lesson on how the spirit works and how she can have the spirit more in her life by being more active in church. We have seen her the last two weeks at each ward activity minus one and each week at church. She's making amazing progress! Which scares me because she's bound to have something bad happen soon and I just hope that we have taught her well enough that she'll respond appropriately to it.

I'm loving being a missionary! To be honest I woke up the first morning I was here and asked myself out loud. "Do I want to do this every day for two years?" Elder Zurita says he remembers that day and he thought I was going to be a problem missionary. But I haven't had a second thought since. There has been times that my faith has been tried but it was always followed with an, "I know that what I am doing is a good and righteous act and it will affect me and my family for eternity. So I'm going to do it." I love this perfect gospel that makes too much sense! And I am so glad I can serve here in South Carolina.

Love you all,

Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #13 "... Always listen to the spirit."

November 12, 2012

Ok, I'm keeping this one short due to the fact we are at a members house and using their computer because the library is closed. 1st sorry I didn't send the pictures we haven't gone to the post office yet. Should I send that in a regular letter or a bubble padded one. No idea. I'll send it bubble lettered. We have some way cool pictures and some videos of me rapping missionary style to send in some time too. 

Well anyway. Quick story.

We had set up about 7 different member present lessons this last week and all of the appointments fell through except two....It was crazy disappointing so Elder Zurita and I dropped all of our current investigators and started a fast and that fast just ended about an hour ago, so we'll see how it goes. 

Now a long and way awesome story.
We have been trying to get a hold of a lady who is less active for about a month now. Since I got here basically and we had no luck what so ever. So three nights ago...Friday the 9th I think...we were pulling up to another less actives house for a stop in visit. As we pulled in I said to Elder Zurita, "I feel like we don't really get anywhere with Jesus, I think we should try to find something else to do right now."
He said, "I was just thinking the same thing." So he grabbed the phone and started to make our calls that we had on our to do list. It was about 6 at night and we had Hermana Santana on our planner for tomorrow. So we called her. 
She answered and we talked for a little bit. She said she was feeling a little sad right then and that she was depressed. So Elder Zurita said we could give her a blessing tomorrow when we came by. All the sudden she started sobbing uncontrollably. We waited for a bit and she said, "Ok, Bye" and hung up.
We called her back in about 10 minutes and asked her why she was crying and asked what was going on. She said that she was so depressed to the point where she had decided she had no more desire to live and that she was going to kill herself that night. Right after she decided that, we called her. She took it as a sign of God telling her not to do it. Had a short lesson over the phone with her. Read in the Book of Mormon. Bore solid testimony about her being needed here on earth and being of great worth. And then said goodnight.

Went to her place on Saturday with a senor couple from our mission. The Benedicts, they are way rad. And during the lesson the spirit directed me to ask 2 questions and when I went to ask a third, that wasn't directed by the spirit and solely because I was curious, my words were choked back. No way could I have spoke. It was crazy! Then the Benedicts basically attacked her depression with the spirit and love! It was sooooo cool to see happen. She then came to church the next day and then to the Spanish group activity where she laughed and smiled and had so much fun. It was hard not to smile when we saw her having a good time and the change that simply 2 days and an opportunity to partake of the sacrament can change someones countenance entirely. If you or someone you know is having a hard time have them read this story and take them to church or something. Love them and always listen to the spirit.

Well, I'm bouncing out of here.
Love you all,
Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #12- "These men are ordained of God!"

Hello Mom and Family,

 

Sorry you didn't get any mail back from me this last week, our P day was awesome! We went to a park and road bike trails! It was so much fun! Elder Zurita is awesome! He has been out for about 8 months and is a good missionary who always strives to do what is right. He's got a bumb knee so we haven't been allowed to bike at all. The church has started a 12 week in field training program and it's way cool to see how much responsibility you have as a missionary. I know that the things I do now are only through and with my Heavenly Fathers help. Elder Zurita and I live in a townhouse with two other missionaries, Elder Walker and Elder Brinkerhoff. Elder Brinkerhoff heads home next transfer and Elder Walker is about a year out.

 

We are working in about 4 different cities right now and our area is soooo huge because we're Spanish speaking. I can only imagine how large Jacob Moss's area will be with that crazy Asian language he's speaking (hmong?). It's city area, but it's weird to see super thick forest everywhere. There are some swampy areas too. For the most part we work in really poor areas, but last night we got to go to a really nice part of town to have dinner with the Torres family! They are way cool and totally hardcore missionary members.

 

It's wicked hot at nights here, I have to sleep with my feet uncovered and the door open so we get a draft otherwise the room gets stuffy. So no I don't need anymore blankets. There were a few cold nights, but they are rare. I'll send my SD card back in the mail this week.

 

Ok, so we have been working super hard on weeding out the investigators that aren't progressing. We have set up specific goals to get them to act, and if we don't see any action by them in the next few visits we're going to be dropping a lot of investigators. But it's ok because we need to do more finding anyway. Something crazy is happening with the ward. The ward is an English ward and we have spanish translators for all the Spanish members. This week we had 30 Hispanics members/investigators show up and 8 members who are active not show up, so we are hoping that by the start of December we can have a branch up and running.

 

There is a man named Candido who Elder Zurita had tracted into with Elder Bowman(who's home now) and he started going to the free English classes at the church that one of the Senior couple missionaries teach. We got to meet him once before and invite him to church and he came this week. So we set a time to meet with him on Thursday and hopefully we can invite him to be baptized on the 24th of this month and he'll accept.

 

Locklin is doing well for all we know, he has been out of town visiting his family for the last week. His girlfriend is back in town and is at his place so we get updates from her on how he is doing. We don't really know a whole lot of what is going on there, but we've been stopping by and calling daily to see what we can do.

 

Funny story, there was a guy named Derek that we ran into outside, he told us he just got out of prison. He looked really young, we shared a little bit of a message about the book of Mormon and then left him with one and asked if he would read it. We came back the next day and he and three other people were outside talking so we walked up and started talking to them all. This guy named Jerry starts yelling at us saying that, "God wrote the bible, no man wrote the bible.." So and so forth and I stopped him and said, "you mean God wrote all that by hand...?" He stopped and said, "well, no prophets wrote it and the apostles." And I said, "cool, prophets wrote this book too. The Book of Mormon..." and gave him my schpeel on the Book of Mormon plus a solid testimony. Then he stated as if to prove a point, "Jesus is my savior!" and looked at me as if he had stumped me. I said, "Yes, he is. He's mine too." Then I bore my testimony on Christ. This woman then starts in on me and says, "there ain't nothing no man can teach me or give me that Jesus hasn't already gave me." and looks at me like she stumped me. And I said, "You're right, Christ makes all things possible, and our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Christ so we can learn and grow more." This went on for about 4 more sentences where they state eternal truths like God is a perfect man so on and so forth trying to stump me....why I don't know. But then I said, "you know I see we aren't going to get anywhere with this conversation do you need any help at all." Then she acted all offended and said "what do you mean by that????" I said, "do you need anything done any work done on your house, car, anything we'll do it for you." She then said, "Ya for a donation to your church!"

I said, "No Ma'am, we are called by a prophet of God to serve the people in the area we are called to. I was called to South Carolina and I will serve the people here until I leave. And it's not service if we get paid now is it?"

Suddenly her countenance changed, "These men are ordained of God!" She says and then gets our phone number we're going over Friday to power wash her Trailer for her. Just really funny story. There are lots of people like that everywhere. She said she'd come worship with us on Sunday too. We'll see.

 

Well, that was a long story, but a good one. Elder Bednar came to visit our mission this week and we all got to shake his hand. He said something...well a lot of things that were profound, but only one that I'm going to share right now. He said that if we went before the Lord and asked him with sincere desire to know what we are truly like as people, we would be terrified and disgusted at what we saw. It made me really think about my actions and what I was doing. So now I am really trying hard to revise my life so that I am looking outward and not being so selfish. It was way way cool! I learned tons! I'll have to send home my study journals and journals and such so you all can look through them. That would be way cool.

 

Well, it's getting down to the wire. I only have one hour but that is luckily more than at the MTC. I know this work is Gods work today, and that it is my joy to preach this gospel (see also Alma 29:9) I am loving this work more with each and every day. I know that God loves us so much that he gave us our Savior Jesus Christ and that we are able to live, lives that are beyond happy so long as we trust the will of our Heavenly Father. Let him make you a pearl of great price. Submit yourself fully to his will, by asking him to help you to submit your will to his and you will reap the benefits of living by the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Love you all,

Elder Hatch

President and Sister Holm

Photo of Kendon with President and Sister Holm upon his arrival in SC 10/08/12

Letter #11- "By your fruits ye shall know them"

Dear Everyone,

I had a solid week! We have some way cool investigators right now. We met a man named Steve, I don't know his last name but we call him Steve Fish because he had rotten fish in his garbage can that smelt really bad. He grew up Catholic, but since doesn't practice anymore due to some inconsistencies and corruptions that he sees in it. He seems very sincere and very honest with us. He also knows a lot of information about reformers and such, but we had a really successful first lesson with him and he said he's going to read the Book of Mormon, so I hope he does.

The lady Heidi we have been teaching since I came here we found out is praying wrong...so we have to go back and teach her how to pray correctly. We would have taught her then but we had another appointment to get to. I told her that if she didn't make any attempt to come to church within the next three times we saw her we wouldn't be able to come see her any more. I was hoping it would motivate her, but I think that just made her made. Oh well, we have other people that are willing to follow through with their commitments that need to be taught.

We met a man named Locklin this week. We were walking down the street contacting people and he walked out to his car. Looked at us and said, "Hey! I want to talk to you two, but I don't have time right now, come back and see me." We noticed he was drunk, but said ok, here's a card with our number gave it to him and then he drove away. We came back the next day and he was crazy drunk, I think I could have got buzzed off of his fumes drunk....He started talking with us and told us about 4 times that he was in the military and that he was dealing with post traumatic stress. He had pills that they gave to him to take for it but they counteract when taken with alcohol, but that he can't stop drinking. So we decided to teach him how to pray and that that might help him out a little. So we started talking to him about it and some friends showed up and that was the end of that conversation basically.

We decided to come back the next day, we came and he was drunk again so I asked him straight up, "Do you want to stop drinking?"

He said, "Yes, I do, I need Jesus in my life."

I said, "Ok, then we start by getting rid of all the alcohol you have. Will you go pour that out outside? (Pointing to the beer in the living room)"

He grabbed it and poured it out. We then asked any other alcohol in the house he said, "Yes, everywhere!"

We then said, "Ok, get it and lets pour it out."

He responded, "I want to do that with my girlfriend."

Long story short we told him that we couldn't teach him without him being sober and left after saying another prayer with him that he talked all the way through while I said it. I left his house thinking to myself he'll never give it up now.

We showed up the next day, no one answered.

We showed up the next day, He came to the door, said, "You all gonna haftu come back. I'm sick"

We showed up the next day, no one answered.

Finally the next day...yesterday, (Sunday) we show up and he comes outside smiling. He looks at us and says "HEY!" He was completely different, aka sober. Turns out that, the same night that we asked him to get rid of his alcohol he did it! He gave his debit card to his girlfriend said go buy some nice decorations we're going to do this right, after they dumped it all out. She left and never showed up again. He called her and she didn't answer. He woke up the next day and found his card on the porch, 300 dollars had been withdrawn and she was gone without a trace.

Turns out things ran deeper than we thought. He was buying drugs and alcohol for all these people. He deleted all his old friends numbers from his phone, told them they were welcome at his house so long as they were sober and not looking to get high. But if they weren't willing to do that they should not call him ever again. He was sick and vomiting for three days getting his body back into normal order after those three days we taught him about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and now he has committed to a baptismal date of November 24th. He is going to be going to the churches addiction recovery program, and is fighting hard to get his life back in order.

I used the title "...by your fruits ye shall know them..." because the two peoples baptismal dates we had to drop where the two people I thought were our miracle investigators last week. But they did not put forth any effort. Locklin has altered his life in a 60 degree turn by his works alone and the other 120 degrees are surely by the grace of Christ. I could drop a whole strain of scripture right now supporting the concept of the Grace of Christ, but that is what I want you all to research this week. See how our actions are so weak in comparison to what Christ does for us. Look up grace in the Bible Dictionary, the definition is soooo sweet. I know that the Lord loves us, God sent Jesus Christ down here for us and that we through Christ can be with our Heavenly Father again. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Letter #10- Happenings in South Carolina

10.22.12

Dear Everyone,

 

I've been out here in Goose Creek, SC for about 2 weeks now. It's a ton of fun and the Lord is really blessing me to get my mind caught up in the work that I've been called to do. We were having a bit of a difficult time finding new investigators and spending way too much time teaching the three that we had. So Elder Zurita and I started to revise this by making goals. Holy Smoke goals are so stinkin' affective. Oh but first some funny and interesting things that happend to us this week.

 

-We got chased by a big dog, Elder Zurita was like it'll be fine I think that's the nice one. And I was like no it's not look at the way it's looking at us! Then it started bolting at us. But we were far enough away to get away.

 

-We got bit by two demon chihuahuas on the way to the place where we got chased by the dog. And then again on the way back from being chased by the dog.

 

-We saw the biggest spider in the world! Serious the biggest I've ever seen in the wild aside from the tarantula I saw at powell. It's butt was the size of those big black grapes without seeds. HUGE!

 

-We watched a deer jump onto the highway run across and nail the side of a car. A nice sized buck too.

I think that's about all the fun stories for this week. But there is something that I learned this week, people don't always follow even when they've had extreme witnesses that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a woman we have been teaching and she is living every single commandment except attending church and she's been requesting Sundays off to be able to go (that's what she says at least). And we've asked her several times to be baptized and she says yes and then no every time. I dont' know what it is that has been keeping her from it.

 

But any way, we had two super killer lessons with her where the spirit was so thick you could taste it! In the first lesson, which I wasn't there for I was on exchanges, I guess she started getting upset and one of the sisters that was there with the missionaries was super bold with her and said you need to stop. How can you feel the spirit when you're upset ranting and raving? Or something similar to that. And the spirit was super strong.

 

The second time we invited her to a ward activity. She showed up and we planned to do a church tour with her if she showed up so we started on it. During the party thing we found her sitting in the chapel crying. We didn't know what to do so we started talking to her very softly and calmly. We then started the church tour. She loved it, saying, "lindo" and "bonita" all the way through the church halls. We then got to the baptismal ?faunt?, opened the doors and said, "This is where you'll be baptized." We started talking, she liked the church, she liked the idea of being baptized there. My companion started talking to her and I was trying to listen and be able to put in my two cents here or there. (Mind you, this is what I do most of the time....It may sound like a do tons but most of the time I'm quiet and try to listen to what they are saying and more than half the time I don't even know what's going on.)

 

So after a little bit, I started to feel the spirit leaving the room. I stopped everything and said, "Podriamos regresar a la capilla?" (could we return to the chapel? I think) Then Heidi said "por favor" and we went in. I lead the way they went and sat in the back and I went right to the center of the chapel and sat down. I waited for them to join me. They (Elder Zurita and Heidi) came up and sat down. I just looked ahead for about 2 minutes of silence (at least that's what it felt like). Turned to her and started bearing my testimony. I don't remember what I said, but I do remember the spirit prompting me to describe the way she was feeling right then. I described the way she was feeling, and she exclaimed, "HOW DID YOU KNOW!?" I then bore my testimony of the Holy Ghost, so on and so forth....

 

Elder Zurita then invited her to be baptized. She stopped and waited, I felt the spirit leave, and she said, "No." I was going crazy! How could you have such a witness from Heavenly Father and then not do as he instructs?!?! GAH!

 

That is just a cool story that happened. We met a woman named Eli from Mexico, she's here until December then she has to go back to Mexico. We went back to visit her at what we thought was her house ran into her nephew, taught the restoration of the gospel and invited him to be baptized. He accepted and is getting baptized on the 10th of November. And that lesson was in English so the Lord blessed me to be able to contribute more.

 

Elder Zurita and Elder Hanson went on exchanges and I went with Elder Hanson's companion Elder Herrera and they got to find Eli again. I didn't get to teach her, but she commited to a baptismal date in the first lesson. It just goes to show, that some people are so stinkin' ready for the gopel and others have things that they let keep themselves away from the gopel. One thing I have noticed is that there are people everywhere that are prepared and looking for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

The other day Elder Zurita and I were knocking doors and we had a huge muscled out black guy come out. We told him who we were, what we were there for and asked him some questions about himself. He answered a ton of them then Elder Zurita had said,"have you ever wondered...this...this...and this?" I don't remember what they were, but they weren't the classic where did we come from? Why are we here? and Where are we going? questions we usually ask. And he said I've wondered everything that you just said. We then testified about the authority of Jesus Christ being restored again and set a return time.

 

The Lord has servants prepared to do His work today. Make sure you are one of them, because I testify that this work will go on with or without you. I am glad to be one of the Lords full time missionaries, preaching, faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end to His children today. I know that missionary work cannot happen properly without the help of the members, so help your missionaries in your area.

I have to go. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Letter #9- Help your ward missionaries!

10.15.2012
This is Kendon's first letter from the mission field he has now been out there about 2 weeks!

Dear Everyone,

 

So my first companion is Elder Zurita. He is from Ecuador, he knows English thank goodness, because then I wouldn't know what to do with myself. My mission president is really cool, super nice and he seems very calm all the time. His wife Sister Holm is sooooo stinkin' nice, I am pretty sure she would chop her legs off and give them to you if you needed them. I am tired usually all the time and that means I'm doing something right....I think. We certainly work hard. We're working on being more efficient with our planning.

 

A little bit about my first area. I'm in Goose Creek, SC, Charleston area. There is tons of Spanish work to do down here. We've only taught 3 times in English out of about 22 lessons this week. We contact about 17 people a day and work really closely with less active members. There used to be a branch here, but due to inactivity all the latinos now meet in a room after sacrament. The weather is great it's humid and hot somedays, but it's actually really nice most of the time.

 

Cool stories, so my first day here we were teaching a man named edgar. We were talking to him in his living room and he was in the middle of telling us a story when he stops and says "ohhhh....help me it's my pastor." His pastor was walking up to the door. He invites him in and starts talking to everyone. first to understand Edgar, he loves God so much and is super faithful to God, he's Presbyterian I think? He loves the mormon missionaries because we talk about God and his son Alex changed his life and got baptized in the church but since Alex has fallen away. So we stopped in to teach Edgar and see if we could find Alex.

 

Anyway, once Pastor Lindley and Maria found out that we were mormons they flipped! "MORMONES!" I had no idea what was happening because they all start talking super fast in Spanish and I got lost. After too long....I finally realize we need to leave so I say "can I say something, we believe the bible to be the word of God and has the fulness of the gospel, we also believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God and has the fulness of the gospel, and I know that this book (holding El Libro de Mormon) has brought me more close to Christ than I have ever been in my life." He said something, Edgar said something like "Oh....Ok." Probably because I said it wrong and it was the first thing I had said the whole time.

 

I then walked up to the pastor said read this please showing him the first paragraph of the introduction in the BOM and then said there you go. It's a testament of Christ people in the Americas. They had a conversation for a while about it in spanish. The pastor was getting heated and I knew we needed to leave. So I said here is a pamphlet. Read it and it will tell you about the restoration of the proper authority of Jesus Christ on the earth. We said we need to leave we walked towards the door. And I said, "Lindley, no trashcan." and pointed to the pamphlet. He said, "NO, no, no, no, I wouldn't do that." Then I said, "ok, good. A test next visit for you." And he laughed and we left. 

 

That's just a funny story we had, they made fun of me lots calling me a greengo during the conversations and laughing at me when I didn't understand what was happening, but that's ok, I just said No entiendo and smiled basically most all the rest of the time. 

 

There is another lady named Heidi who is from the Dominican Republic and she is way awesome! She is living every single commandment and we practiced the baptismal interview with her....she's so ready to be baptized. She just has to get Sundays off, which we find that out tonight when we go to teach her. She has a little son named adalberto who is six and learning English.

 

There is another couple two doors down from Heidi who are Judith and Donilo. They are sooooo solid. Donilo finally came to church this Sunday with us and from what I could tell he enjoyed it. He's from Honduras and they want to get baptized, but they are living together without being married so we said get married. But they wanted to get out of debt first, they had to pay jail fees. So the lawyer said you can get the fees reduced if you get married and go back to Hunduras in a month. We aren't sure what's going to happen now...but just pray for them. Donilo read the entire Book of Mormon while he was in jail in two days. He has dreams where angels come and talk to him and he is just way motivated to be baptized.

 

I think that before I would have thought these people are crazy, but honestly with the past few days teaching and talking to all types of people I've becomed desensitized to abnormality...Wierd I know.

 

Oh and there is this other boy named Jonathon who was raised Catholic. We've been working with him. He said I only read a little in the BOM last week. We asked what and how much and he said about 50 pages....A little, to get me to read that book when I was younger...holy smoke, I was a member and if I read that much in a week it was because I was at EFY or something. Anyway, he was strait up with us and said I don't really like reading it, it's boring. And I thought, ok fair enough, at that age I wouldn't have been interested either....But then Elder Zurita asked him why was it boring. He said because he didn't understand it. So any way as the story goes he was basically really confused when this was happening why where. So we walked him through all of it and he said, "OH! Ok, I understand better now. I'm gong to reread it!" I was blown away by that. He said it's going to take a lot to make me change my beliefs and I said that's fine we wouldn't want you to change your beliefs over something that you don't know is true, we just want you to find out if it is or it isn't.

 

Any way everyone. The Lord is preparing people daily to hear the gospel. HELP YOUR WARD MISSIONARIES! Please, please, please, I would love nothing more than to have the members of the church be able to keep someone in mind always that they can give to the missionaries.

 

I testify of this work that I am doing, it's so important. I testify of Jesus Christ. That is the thing that I have the strongest testimony of. Not just the atonement of Jesus Christ but of his teachings, he is the master teacher of each of our lives, he made all things possible when he lived, he suffered for our sins, he died on the cross, and was then resurrected. I testify that we too can be resurrected, and that as we use the atonement immediately we have the ability to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. I testify of the changing power of the atonement. I have a testimony that we can learn more through the reading, studying, and pondering of the words of God and then teaching it. I testify of Gods love for us as his children and for my love for each of you. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love you all. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Love,

Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #8, STRIVE to have the Spirit with you...

Dear all you other people not sitting on a pin cushion (everyone else), (See also The Knights Tale)

     I am doing really well, the language is coming along, I do struggle with it, but if there is something I've learned, it has been patience with myself and I think I have patience with other people sometimes. I came across this crazy realization the other day, I'm human! I get up set, I get frustrated, I get tired, I get cold, and weak on fast sundays, but....something I realized the other day, with the help of God, and the Holy Ghost, I have absolute control over my body, my mind, and my desires/heart. I was sitting there staring at my scriptures, so tired from lack of sleep, tired of using my brain, tired of hearing what other people think (especially my compaions), frustrated with my inability to focus and my leg muscles were cramping from playing kickball (our district won by the way). I stopped, set everything down and said a prayer. . . . . . . . and then just sat there waiting . . . . . . . . . . eventually after about 3 minutes or so, I picked up my scriptures and physically said, "I am reading you darnit!" And went to reading the first 4 verses were miserable, but then I came across a scripture it's in 1 Nephi chapter 2 (I think) about the tender mercies of the Lord. I then said in my head, "Father, please bless me with a tender mercy." All the sudden, I was envigorated. I wanted to learn, I wanted to read, and my desires and intents were so clear and my mind was freed from being stagnant.

    

    Then later that night I was frustrated again. I instantly thought, "Oh great, I'm a Nephite caught in the pride cycle." I was sitting in a recording of Elder Bednar talking, I started thinking and trying super hard to concentrate on what he was saying because I knew the Lord had something for me to learn in that talk. I was then sitting there thinking about the experience I had earlier that day (the previous paragraph). I came to a conclusion that I have always known, but didn't really understand (I'm realizing how many things I don't understand but know a lot lately). I am human, I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. I should not stress myself over those things that are so small and insignificant that I miss a greater message that could be presented to me. RELAX PEOPLE! The Lord does not want us always running around like chickens with our heads cut off. When I first arrived I was very relaxed, too relaxed, I quickly decided I needed to be obedient, so I drove myself crazy doing it, I didn't enjoy people around me, people didn't enjoy being around me, and I didn't enjoy being around myself even. I quickly decided I am Elder Kendon Hatch, I will strive to do the right thing always, I want the spirit with me always, I will put the Lords will before my own always, but that the Lords way is not a close minded, no exceptions, one way type of life. The Lord does make exceptions (e.g. Thou shalt not kill......Nephi slaying Laban, Moroni defending liberty) the most important thing to do or that you can do is STRIVE to have the spirit with you and follow it. I promise as a representative of Jesus Christ that the Lord will guide you. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS, he, "reaches my reachings" (Where Can I Turn for Peace). We have to reach for Him and I promise he will not turn away or forsake. God has only once forsaked when Christ was paying for our sins because he had to. I PROMISE he does not want to, nor will he ever do it again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Missing Letters :) # 2, 3, & 4

Dear everyone,                                                        09-03-12

Disclaimer.....missionaries are NOT perfect, the only thing perfect about them that they have is their message.

This last week has been such an emotional rollercoaster, but not because of anything that I have done or felt or have been feeling. Elder Bahoravich, who I told you about earlier, and Mom I want you to post everything that comes in, even my last email, it might help someone...Elder B, he has a mouth and a hot hot temper, like 3rd degree burns temper. We were all having a discussion about something and Elder B said something about something not important, but it was something I didn't agree with so I said "I don't know if I think that necessarily, but this is what I believe...." and went on to explain what I thought. He blew up out of no where and said I'm a dumb blank blank blank blank blank, I'm sorry I'm not perfect.....so on and so forth. I had, had it and no one could feel the spirit, so I said/lovingly yelled "HEY! That is entirely inappropriate and you need to remove yourself NOW." To my surprise, he shut up and walked away. Later on I went up to apologize and he turned and said not now. And I said ok, fair enough let me know when I can talk to you again. He then a few hours later said "Los ciento"(look that one up em). Ever since that moment he and I have not had any problems, in fact he told me he loved me, with a serious tone.

Later, Elder B, he and his companion Elder Adair were having a discussion over what they should teach their investigator. For whatever reason....they got into it, (by the way Elder Adair is from Goodyear) Started getting really intense. I don't know the exact details something about how Elder B was saying...well he was having a pitty party, which surprises me because he is such a strong willed and independent person. Anywho....he somehow ran away from Elder A and grabbed his stuff, went somewhere....no one knows where. So I grabbed Elder A told Elder Judd to come along and we walked outside, Elder A gave me a run down of what happened, we then went looking for him and couldn't find him. A few seconds later I felt prompted to have us pray, so I, being very mean and somewhat learn ned, asked Elder A to give the prayer. It was sooooooooooooo cool to witness that prayer, definitely a you had to be there to believe it type of thing. Elder A felt prompted to return to the class, we walked in and found no one.........The whole class was supposed to be in their studying....So we went back to the residence hall where we found Elder B, packing up and all the Elders in our district standing there talking to him trying to talk to him. He would listen but you could tell it wasn't getting through to him. He was set on going home. Elder Eklof, who is the bomb at everything is sooo humble and has a testimony no person could ever tarnish, asks if Elder B would like to give him a blessing. Elder B says he wanted Elder A to give the blessing so we all put his hands on his head gave him a blessing and up to the front he went.

I don't know what happened, but after Elder Judd and I got back from teaching our investigator Elder B was sitting in class. He had stayed. Well then Sunday came and Elder B got up in our district meeting and said he had changed his mind again and that he was going home. Needless to say all of us were not entirely surprised, so he went packed up his stuff and walked up front, Then an hour later he walked into our room and said I HAVE A LACK OF FAITH! And was being all dramatic and such so I talked to him for a while, told him a portion of my permission life and then said here's what worked for me and then went to dinner. I don't know what has happened, but Elder B is so much more bearable, nothing he has done is different from the time I told you that he and I weren't getting along, but I think he was sent here to teach me how to love more fully. Because I've never found someone more difficult to love, and yes I told him that to his face.

Ok, some highlights of this week were at a fireside someone had said "See others with your heart." That was the most humbling statement EVER. I realized that my actions were largely based off of what I was seeing with my eyes so I had to make some self corrections this week. I also learned how significant baptism is. In 3 nephi chapter 11 the first thing that the savior does after the people touch his hands and feet is establish people with the authority to baptize. I challenge each of you to research baptism, why we have it? why we need it? What things are required for baptism (D&C 20:37) and know that we have agency and that agency is the only thing we can give to the God, everything else he already has, or doesn't need.

Oh and this week while I was teaching a lesson to an investigator I was prompted to say something, I didn't speak up and the spirit left me entirely....I didn't know what to do! I was confused, I was completely silent the whole rest of the lesson. I later talked to my teacher Hermano Halsted about it and he said that Joseph Smith and him did the same thing. He then had me read in D & C section 3 specifically versiculos 4-11. I couldn't feel the spirit again until after I talked to Elder Judd about it and told him I would speak out if I had a prompting again even if he were in the middle of a sentence, because I did not want to go through that type of withdraw from the spirit ever again.

Another thing I learned is that we determine our own successes. Regardless of whether or not we fail at a task. Our efforts determine our success. If you fail a test, you succeeded in studying for it was not a failure. Diligence in all things. Ultimately when we stand before God to be judged it will be based off of our efforts, knowledge, and thoughts (that one scares me). I am starting to consider myself quite philosophical, I made a quote up the other day. "If you want to hear something interesting listen with your ears, If you want to hear something profound listen with your mind, and if you want to hear something that will change your life, listen with your heart. Because when you spell heart the first for letters spell hear."

I'm already 20 minutes over my time limit, and I have 4 more letters to write by hand. So I'm going to bail. But know that I love you all and I'm so grateful to be serving the Lord. No thing is greater than this.

Love you,

Elder Hatch

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mi querido familia,                                                              08-27-12

Estoy animado leer ustedes ?letters?. I have been having a very good week this last week and I've realized that each and everyone of my letters have been about things that I've been learning not necessarily about me and how I'm doing. I've become well adjusted to MTC life, my companion and I get along great aside from one run in that we straightened out as soon as we both realized we didn't have the spirit with us anymore. I asked the Heavenly Father in my prayers for a humbling experience and He answered with a man named Elder Bahoravich in my district. He and I DO NOT get along, he is constantly and openly disobeying rules that were set such as everyone taking a break at the same time during study time to not distract other Elders. He also has a mouth and doesn't try to control it at all. Don't get me wrong, I have a mouth too, not since I've become a missionary and certainly not since entering the MTC, but he will casually drop words and when he's upset there is no end to what he says.

The other day he started to lecture my companion Elder Judd who is a bigger kid, about how he should be eating healthier so he can lose weight. I was NOT ok with that so I told him to knock it off nicely and playfully and he kept it going you could tell Elder Judd was really hurt by it. And Elder Bahoravich didn't care at all what Elder Judd might have felt like and I later ripped into him and he was being a poop head. End of story. Also Elder Bahoravich is saying he won't be here the full two years...it's just GAHHHHH! I probably shouldn't have shared that much detail, but it goes to show that not everyone who is 19 is capable of being a missionary that is....I'm done talking about that. On a lighter note I prayed sooooo furvently last night for the Lord to help me with my relationship with him. Then today in the temple I went there with hopes of recieving an answer and I still don't have a for sure answer, but I have a decent idea how things will turn out. My council of learning from this story would be don't let small insignificant things like a rule to take a break or a small four letter word destroy the spirit in your life and if others are acting like this Elder, don't let your opinions of their actions destroy the spirit from your life. Think on what the savior would do before you act. I actually challenge you as a family to read the book of James for family home evening, notice what council James gives to those with issues such as these and if you ponder on the idea that they need our help so much more because of this I promise that when an instance to act comes about in your life, so long as you remember what James has to say, you will act as the savior did when the Pharisees were wanting to stone the woman who was a harlot. 

In the temple today, when I was thinking of how I could help myself and Elder Bahoravich, I had a thought that had popped into my head. And this is me asking you to go out on a limb, but when I was rock climbing lots there was a family that I had met, the dad's name was Jon the daughters name was Ashli and she was 8 I think the mom's name was Kathy, but I'm not sure and they have one more daughter. They live around 67th and Olive and I thought today while at the temple that they NEED the gospel ASAP. They need to have the opportunity to become a family for eternity and it needs to be through the friendship of our family. They know some LDS people on their street, and I know that their daughter Ashli was in love with me and if they met any of the rest of our family they would be more than excited to get to know our family better. I would like to challenge you as a family to make an effort to find this family for me and invite them to have the missionaries over to their home. I know that they can be blessed by this gospel as can any other family, but for whatever reason the Lord has specified to me that we(you in proxy for me) need to get this family the message of the restored gospel. I do not doubt at all that that was the prompting I got while in the temple today, they spirit affirmed it so strongly.

Also this week has has been huge for reaffirmations of my testimony. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that on several instance he saw God and Jesus Christ, and that this dispensations truly is the fullness of times. I know that through our actions and words we can be examlpes of our Savior always. Recently I've been reading the story of Samson, in their it talks about Samsons amazing strength, he had Deliahla ask him four times how he had his strength and those were four opportunities to flee from the sin. But he stayed and kept close to the sin because he loved it far greater than the capacity he had to do the Lords work, and due to that he lost his strength until that final time he pulled the building down on himself and 3000 others ending his life. (in Judges chapters 13 to whenever it stops.) I know that if we keep ourselves close to the spirit when the first attempt satan makes to have us sin comes we will know how to and immediate rid ourselves of the situation. I love this gospel. I miss all of you, I meow every time I pass an acorn up here and my companion is beginning to do it as well. I love you all.

Love,  Elder Hatch

Also, just a quick story I forgot to type up, I'm already 5 over so it'll be fast.

Elder Judd and I were doing companion study and talking about our investigator Freddy who is a Hardcore Catholic and we had our first lesson with him last week leaving a book of mormon our testimonies and a challenge for him to read the book of mormon and pray about it's truthfulness. Well in our study we had heard from another group that Freddy was going to give it back to us and my companion wanted to plan to that advantage, because somebody already went through the scenerio, I told him no that isn't how it will work in the field. He got sooooooo upset at me and I wouldn't budge, we started to argue. We both noticed the spirit was gone and stopped. looked around us and every companionship but 2 were doing things that they weren't supposed to at that moment so we removed ourselves from the room, and walked outside right after saying another companionship prayer. as we stepped into the sun the lord blessed us both with rain, it was completely sunny but raining. I know the Lord was giving us a witness of his tender mercies. We both started laughing and knelt down and said a prayer of graditude. sorry the grammar is terrible. Remember this story and look for the lords tender mercies in your life, they come everyday I promise you.

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Dear family,                                                               08-20-12

Firstly, it would greatly help me if you were to write to me on Thursday evening so that I can get the hard copy of the letter on Friday evening because they print them out the day after and send them to the missionaries, but they don´t do Dear Elders on Saturday. That way I can plan out what I have to respond with and I can efficiently use the 30 minutes that I have been given to respond.

Second, I´m sorry I didn´t get a chance to respond to everyones letters last week. I ran out of time and couldn´t remember what I was supposed to write back to everyone.

And third here´s something for everyone. I want to talk really quick about the importance of the work I am doing along side 76,000ish other missionaries. I am inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them and inviting them through the doctorine of our Savior Jesus Christ. Something that I learned this week could have probably been the most profound thing I have ever learned and it´s a bit deep so get ready to swim.

We as human beings are damned....straight up, no getting around it, we are literally all born on a path straight to Hell. Because when Adam and Eve partook of the Fruit, we were separated from the presence of nuestro Padre Celestial (our Heavenly Father). This also made physical death possible, the only way to over come these two things is for us to follow the example of Jesus Christ. He over came spiritual death when he had prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and then died on the cross. He over came physical death by being resurrected three days later and ONLY through Him and faith in Him can we possibly return to Father. Adam and Eve both had to have a PERFECT faith in Christ to be able to damn their posterity. I testify that this is true, I will stand and testify this gospel until the day I die and if the Lord permits for me time even after in the spirit world. I love my Savior. My words will forever speak of the glory of my Father in Heaven and I testify that this work ¨...is MY work...¨ (Moses 1:39) and my Fathers glory. My last words that I say or write will by like Moroni's words in Moroni 7:32-34 I will testify of Christ and of His example being the only means possible to return to our Heavenly Father. Read Matthew 5:48 and 3 Nephi 12:48 Write me back ASAP and tell me the difference you see between the two scriptures, that is Christ talking by the way. Dangit.....I'm 5 minutes over time and it's eating up my time for next week so I'm going to go. I took notes on what you guys said so I'll try to find time to respond in a letter this week.

Dad,

We get to go to the temple every P day which for me is on Mondays. So this morning Elder Judd and I went to the temple and it was awesome. I realize the more in tune with the spirit I am the more intense the sessions get.

Love you,

Elder Hatch.

Letter #7, Representatives of Christ

Dear Everyone, 

Ok, look up Moses 6:61 and define what the record of Heaven is. Research it ponder it and then you'll know the importance of everything that happens in your life.

This week Hermano Hallsted gave a totally rad demonstration, where I was his companion and we didn't know what the crud he said, but the spirit was working through him. He's really helped me understand that people do absolutely nothing for the bettering of ourselves, in fact if man were teaching man, I'm positive it would be another apostacy (see also D&C 1:19 [totally mind blowing for me]).

Ok, getting personal....I was attacked...not like some sort of physical bombardment, but my thoughts were attacked by satan...hardcore. It was in the middle of a fireside while I was truly and in intently listening, and I all of the sudden could not keep focused on what was happening. I started praying and pleading for Heavenly Father to help me because I knew what I needed to be doing, but for whatever reason I was unable to do it. I kept pleading for a solid 6 or 7 minutes and the speaker said, "You are a representative of Christ." BOOM!!!!!! Instantly all negative thoughts were gone and I was greeted with the welcome feeling of the Holy Ghost. Why is this significant? BECAUSE WE ARE ALL REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST! If I understood this before I became a missionary, HOLY SMOKE! The things I would have done differently! When we're baptised we take the name of Jesus Christ upon us. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!?!?!?! Because I didn't until I started having a better relationship with Christ. Every action, word, thought, you have, do, or think, should be to further the progress of the Church of Jesus Christ. Now...this does not mean you abandon who you are. I was sent to this earth to be Kendon Hatch, and right now I'm priveledged to be Elder Kendon Hatch. I will always be myself and you should to, but the lord gives us talents so that we can use them to better his work, use your talents, do not lock them away! Ok, I'm done ranting and raving. One more thing that consists of two things....that was confusing. First read the section about listening to the Holy ghost...I think it's chapter 10 in preach my gospel, changed the way I thought entirely. And second, I wrote something in my journal I want to share, "It's funny to think that we get lessons where people say we can do too much of one thing. Too much focus on the needs that you don't teach anything, too much focus on the lesson, not enough on their needs...etc. I am beginning to see more and more my need to rely solely on listening to the spirit and listening to what God would have me do, and do it." (Inspired by D&C 1:17-23?) We need to listen to what the spirit wants us to do and get out of the way! DO NOT STOP THE LORDS WORK BE PART OF IT (see also D&C 3:2-3)

Ok I'm ten minutes over. Thank you for reading, I hope this helps you. I testify that Christ lived, he was baptised to fulfill all righteousness, he suffered for us, he died for us, and was then resurrected for us and lives today. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love you all,

Elder Kendon Hatch

Letter #6, Working toward true conversion

Dear Everyone,

Ok, I am so backed up on responses to letters. Sorry everyone I'm trying to get responses back! They may be lame and short, but please keep the letters coming, I love getting them! So Elder Bahoravitch had to go home for a shoulder surgery, so now we have Elder Adair in our companionship and we are now a trio. I guess he did need to go home. I have been continuing studying about meekness, and get this....Moses was said to be the most meek man on the earth. Crazy right! it's in Numbers. So I've been studying Moses and how God works through him so I could be a more meek person. DO YOUR ASSIGNMENTS PEOPLE! YOU READ THIS, YOU DO THOSE ASSIGNMENTS, NO OPTIONS! JK. But really.... Um.....So meekness, I've been getting much better at it. I've got so little free time now because I'm using more of my time to study. Which is good, I've been needing it. I usually don't get back to my residence until about 10:10ish and quiet time is 10:15 so I have to ready myself for bed like a mad man and then write in my journal. It seems I never had enough time to write in my journal earlier this week so I started carrying my journal with me constantly. Which by the way I completed my first Journal and as part of my study time I've been reading my past entries and seeing what things I have improved on what I could still improve on and what things I wrote down to study but never did. My next challenge to you all! READY? Carry something with you at all times to write things down on. It has done wonders for me. When I get back to the residency I feel so much more liberated from my worries that I carry throughout the day, because I can write things down as I think of them and not worry about remembering them later.

 

In class we have been talking a lot about conversion and being truly converted. Oh my goodness, it's been amazing! I've realized something, like none of the people I personally know are TRULY 100% converted. Sorry folks, you just aren't. If we were, we would do everything how like and when the spirit directs and no one I know does that, including myself. I've been reading so much about it and finding different examples in the scriptures. So ask yourselves am I truly converted? and if not, how can I become that way...given none of us will ever get to it right after studying it, it takes character building. Which brings me to my next topic.

 

Richard G. Scott gave a talk I forget what it's called, but look it up and listen to it several times. Study it. It's called something like "building faith and character." Not a hundred percent positive though. One of my favorite lines is "If you have determined to live righteously don't become discouraged....you are making better progress than you realize. Your struggles are defining character, discipline, and confidence in your Father in Heaven & Savior." He's so amazing. He talks about how people will perform miracles, but they would not stay converted to the gospel because they did not develop character. Study this and how we can build character, then ask the Lord to help you to build character. After I asked Him to help me build character, I had my first nightmare in years, literally about 7 or 8 years. In my dream satan appeared to me and tried to get me to commit sin, I ran away and he kept popping up in front of me trying to get me to commit terrible acts that were vile and completely horrible. I work up afraid and scared that he was going to appear before me in reality, so I prayed for forever until all my feelings of fear were gone. It was beyond intense, I know that my Heavenly Father answers my prayers regularly though.

 

Lastly....I think I had a super profound experience the other night. I had been asked to be an investigator for someone so I went and watched a short clip of who my character was. It was a lady(in this case they changed my name to Miller and had me be a man) who's name was Milna. She had three children. Her husband had just one day up and left taking all of her inheritance money and leaving her and the kids homeless. She then got addicted to drugs for 24 years before getting arrested and put in jail for 3 years more. She lost her kids, had no idea where they were and was lost and confused. She had just got out and was looking for a way to find more purpose in her life. But she had major depression problems and had lost the will to live. I had to be this person for the good of the missionaries teaching me I thought. So I put myself in her shoes and said a short prayer asking for help from my Heavenly Father. As this companionship was teaching me, one of the Elders was spewing information at me, Jesus did this, Jesus did that...was all I heard. I was feeling like he was ramming the religion down my throat. I didn't like it when he spoke. Then the other Elder said something that was sooooooooooo awesome and an answer to one of my many prayers. He said, "Jesus Christ is YOUR mediator to God." It hit me like a garbage truck on the highway! The difference between the two was one Elder was trying to teach a lesson, the other Elder was trying to teach me. That experience will forever change the way I coach wrestling, the way I talke to people about anything, or do anything. We are all individuals, that have needs! If we listen to the spirit, we can help other find their needs as well as have ours fulfilled.

 

Oh, and read the Book of Mormon daily. Not even joking. This above all other things I tell you is most important. DO IT!

 

Love you all,

Elder Hatch

Another Great Way to Write Elder Hatch...

use DearElder.com its free for the MTC Pouch! Remember Kendon will be there until 10/8/12 so you have 2 more month!!!! Please give him some love!

Letter #5, I know some are missing!

Hey Fam and friends,

So the computers are being a bit weird. I am doing fantastic. I forgot everything that I wanted to write about back in the residence room, everything I write to you all I write down previously to make sure I get you all everything. So there will more than likely be a hand written letter later this week for you all with my deeper thoughts. I just woke up from a 15 minute nap too so I'm a little groggy. Something I've noticed is my senses are dulled after I wake up and I have a hard time until I read my scriptures or read preach my gospel. I've spent the majority of this week pondering. And I don't know why you are worrying lady. I lived by myself for years, I'm pretty sure I've gathered a few skills since being out there. Such as eating properly. Don't worry, there isn't any sense in it. I'm doing what I should and the Lord is protecting me more now than ever before, plus I'm not as dumb as some of the missionaries I see around here doing stupid stuff. I feel like I'm not making any sense right now. But, know that I'm fine and will be. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

For what ever reason I can't get out what I'm thinking right now so I'm just going to write and whatever comes out comes out. I've been studying and pondering TONNS! More pondering than I have ever done before, which has been excellent! I've noticed my thoughts have been refined and purified and my focus is so much more effective. Elder Judd and I had an awesome companionship inventory this week. I had expressed a need for us to be more focused during study time (aka him) and he said I will not make it through a mission if we don't have tangents. I told him a tangent would be fine if it was stated and then no more than a few sentences later we were back on task. He freaked and said no I don't agree with that but whatever I'll do it. I stopped him and more clearly than ever the spirit said ask him why he's upset. He and I then spent the next 2 hours speaking about things and the wall that was wedged between us was broken completely down. The spirit guided me that entire conversation told me clearly what to say and when to listen. I testify that as long as we are willing to listen the Lord can guide EVERY action that we want to take. My teacher Hermano Hallsted is an excellent exampler when it comes to this.

I've also had an experience when teaching our investigator Freddy. I was in the lesson just finish up and getting ready to close when the spirit clearly stated you aren't done yet. So I waited. It was about a minute before I said anything, we sat there all in silence, my companion was looking at me like what are you doing? I then just opened my mouth and asked how is your family? he said good. I then asked how do they feel about you being baptized.....He waited....I don't know I haven't told them. I didn't know where to go but I knew the spirit had told me to keep going I just wasn't sure where so I asked more questions about his friends and said I knew that those weren't the questions I need to ask but I knew no where else to go so we closed. I felt so unresolved and the spirit was saying that there was more. What had happened was I was so anxious to follow the spirit I forgot to listen to it's guidance what should have happened was me asking why he hadn't told his family and what concerns he had there. Once I realized this I felt so resolved. But the lesson was over. So next time.

Each week we do something called TRC where we go in to peoples "houses" that are members and teach them. Elder Judd and I got a native speaker from chili whose name was Natalia and she was amazing! She knew no english whatsoever and our message she said was so profound and that we were going to be excellent missionaries. I had a fun time trying to understand her, her endings on words where dropping off before they were finished and her tongue kept swallowing the words as they came out but somehow and I know how I was able to understand her.

This week for your homework....I've been studying a ton on how the spirit works and specifically meekness. Go look it up and make sure you ponder on the verses that you will be looking up for it. They are powerful and will give you a better understanding of how to listen to the spirit, and what we need to do to be more meek then after pondering. PRAY! Always! I spend so much time on my knees it's crazy. I literally get complaints from elder Judd because I make us pray so dang much! Tell Judy HEY! I love you all and am glad you are my family and friends! We have to go do daily planning soon so I better bounce. If there is one thing I want each of you to do is go lay out on the grass look up at the stars and appreciate what our Heavenly Father has given us. Lay there for 10 minutes. Think of how apparent his works are around us and think of how me can more fully recognize them. Think of how the earth has a spirit, how the plants, animals, everything living and dead has a fantastic purpose in the plan that God has created for us. Then after a bit of thinking go find a private spot and pray! Ask Father if he is there if you don't know whether he is or isn't, ask him a question you have if you know he's there, and so long as you are willing to do WHATEVER action it is he is going to direct you to do HE WILL ANSWER! Our answers are based on our willingness to do our Heavenly Fathers will or our SINCERE DESIRE TO KNOW. I have received more answers in the past month than I have ever been able to recognize throughout the course of my life. I love my God! I love my work! I love the fact that I'm always tired because I'm striving so hard to be obedient to the will of my Father in Heaven. I love the imperfections that I get to polish in my life! They help me grow daily and most of all I love my savior! Not only because he suffered for me sins, not only because he is my brother, not only because he died for the salvation of those I love, but because He was perfect, and the perfect example that I get to attempt each day to mold my actions to. He makes me want to be better, HE LIVES TODAY! In the name of Him, Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Love Elder Hatch