(I’m including a
portion of Kendon’s letter to Mom because it explains a little about his new
assignment as Assistant to President – which he will most likely never talk
about specifically to everyone.)
Dear Mom, 10-21-2013
…So the new assignment
I have is with Elder Stadel. I used to live with Elder Stadel but we weren't
companions then. He is from Lehi, UT and he used to wrestle for UVU. He is way
super talented and is trying to talk me into coming back and wrestling again. I
don't know. We'll see. I told him if it's going to happen we need to start
training our bodies right now. That's just P-day talk though. I am serving in a
purely English ward. There are no Spanish speakers there, and my assignment as Assistant is basically. We organize and council with President on almost
everything dealing with which missionary goes where, logistics for meetings,
any special tasks he needs us to do, how we can better each part of the
mission. We're kinda like Presidents right hand men. Elder Brimhall was the old
AP I don't know if you remember him. He's from Show low and I am taking his
spot because he's headed home next transfer. But so far it's just a lot of
computer work, which I don't mind so much and the greatest thing is that I get
to go on exchanges all across the mission again with the Zone Leaders. So it's
like my last assignment just with more to do. When does Emily report again?
Well, I'm going to write to everyone,
Love you,
Elder Hatch
And it's not super
pertinent that you keep everything a secret about my assignment. You can tell
people.
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 10-21-2013
I just got transferred to a new area. I am now serving in what
is called the Dutch Fork Ward and it is purely English. I was a little bummed
by that, but President asked me to trust in his decision, so I didn't object.
Anyway, I not wanting to lose what Spanish skill I had acquired had been praying
for some very specific things. One of them being a Spanish speaking person to
teach. As we walked from door to door I saw a man that I felt we needed to
contact just a few houses up. Wouldn't you know that the first person we street
contacted in our area was a man named Andi from Colombia (the country). I was
giddy and excited and I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear, I couldn't
imagine what he was thinking during that. I wasn't surprised at all, that the
Lord blessed me with that, I just was happy it came on the first day. I love
how our Father is so aware of our desires and wants us each to be happy.
We also found an
amazing woman named Karen that we met on Saturday talked to her, told her we
loved her, invited her to be baptized (she said no), invited her to church, she
came, and the gospel principles class was all loving up on her. It was just
amazing to see, I love reaping the benefits of being an obedient missionary. I
love seeing peoples lives change. And I love living the gospel.
And this was kinda the
highlight of my week. Along with my assignment to Dutch Fork, I also have the
assignment to the Fort Jackson Military base. We only are aloud to go once a
week to the base, each Sunday from 9:10-12. Because we help out with the
services that go on there, and the military has very strict proselyting laws. I
had no idea what to expect. I was told I couldn't invite anyone to come to
service, but if they showed up I could talk to them. But I wasn't aloud to
offer them a Book of Mormon, they had to ask for it themselves at a specified area
in the chapel. So I was nervous that I was going to do something that I
shouldn't because I wasn't sure of all the rules.
Well, I sat there
waiting with about 10 other missionaries. My companion, 2 senior couples, a
pair of Elders, and a pair of Sisters. Finally a bus arrived. Soldiers came pouring out tired, nervous, laughing, angry, happy, confused, every emotion you
could possibly think of. I walked toward a crowd of the soldiers that had
huddled together. (The day before we had received assignments to find specific
soldiers and teach them.) I was looking for Ross and Mahon. I was talked to by
a soldier who was a return missionary from Chili. Nice guy, but not who I was
looking for, I finally saw Ross and made my way to him. I began talking to him.
In the 8 weeks he had been there he had attended the LDS service 3 consecutive
weeks, in those 3 weeks he had read through the book of Alma in the Book of
Mormon, and the words that fell from his lips after that impacted me the most.
"....I have been raised a different way, but after reading the Book of
Mormon, there is no other truth, this is Christ church." I thought for
just a moment, what could have happened to this 18 year old boy to make his
life flip in just 3 weeks?
"Are you going to be baptized this week?" I asked
him.
"Yes, that's the plan."
"Wow." I thought, "I'll find you right after
the first meeting."
Just then a senior sister tapped me on the shoulder.
"Elder Hatch, this is Medley. It's his first week at service here. Do you
want to explain what happens?" Then she walked away. I looked at him and
said,
"Hey, I'm Elder Hatch. I know just about as much as you
do at this point...." I talked to him for a bit and then I asked him if we
could say a prayer because I was nervous and I could tell he was too. Right
after the sacrament meeting I went and interviewed Ross to be baptized, he was
baptized and confirmed that day. Then I went back to talk to Medley. As I sat
down with him, just he and I, I looked into his eyes and asked, "So what
brought you here today?"
"I wanted to know more. I had two friends that were just
the best most awesome girls that I had ever met and they were Mormon. I want to
know what the Book of Mormon is and....I want to feel loved."
I paused for just a moment, "I know that your Father in
Heaven loves you, and know you personally. He has a deep need for you as you do
for Him, and he wants you to be happy." Tears started to well up in his
eyes and his bottom lip began to quiver. I looked at him, examining him. This
man was in desperate need of the atonement. I began to teach him the lessons
from Preach My Gospel, but then I got pulled away to interview someone else for
baptism and another missionary took over the lesson I was teaching. The
missionary later told me he had asked for a Book of Mormon, and had accepted a
baptismal date. I loved that moment, seeing one of God's children be so willing
to search for peace that he timidly entered the front doors of a chapel,
putting himself in a place to receive direction from our Father. I've gone over
time. But I know that God loves his children. And I know when we humble
ourselves we are letting ourselves be freed of the pain we feel. I hope we all
can turn to Christ as humbly and willingly as my friend Medley. In the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
___________________________________________
Dear
Everyone, 10-15-2013
This week was a killer week. Everyday this last week Elder
Noyes and I were on exchanges. When I had the opportunity to go on exchanges
with Elder Dollahite I learned something that was very profound and very
amazing about myself. I have a lot of love for this Elder because of what he
has taught me. He is a new missionary, 18 years old, not very tall, wears the
thickest glasses I have seen, still has baby fat on his cheeks, a black belt in
Tae Kwan Do, and he is legally blind. He is not entirely blind, but wears some
intense lenses to be able to see and to read he has to take out a second pair
of magnifying spectacles and put them on while holding the book or paper to his
face. As I got ready to go out with this young, excited missionary, I felt a
deep compassion and love for him; more so than what I have felt normally when I
have gone out with other missionaries. During our time together, especially as
I witnessed him testify to others the truthfulness of the restoration, I
meditated as to why I felt this love for Elder Dollahite. Was it his apparent
handicap? Or was there some other reason?
The answer eventually came to my mind, it was because of his
disability that I felt this compassion, love, and respected him for coming on a
mission. As I meditated on this more another thought came to mind that hit me
like a ton of bricks. Why is it that I had to see the handicap, the scars, the
wounds, before I had compassion and love for this brother of mine? Didn't the
Savior always have a sincere compassion and love for everyone? I don't expect
myself to be perfect at this but it's something the Lord brought to my
attention. I know that as we focus on the Savior and act as if he were here
with us, and try to view others as the Savior would we will have a love for others
that is immensely different than the thoughts we had before.
I have no time what so ever this week to email due to some
changes to my assignments, but I found a very amazing scripture that has
changed my life. Right after conference I found Helaman 3:35 and as I pondered
the things of conference I made a huge list of about 47 things that I could
work on and change. I narrowed these 47 things down to 4 and began to purify
myself through rejecting and pushing off these actions. Starting with a fast
and prayer, the spirit I have felt, I have felt work through me to others, and
the peace and grace that I have witnessed have changed my world, and it will
yours too.
Love you,
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear
Everyone, 10-07-2013
It has been a super busy and very rewarding week! We worked
way hard! I have really noticed a change in my teaching skills. Whether it was
LTM (Leadership Training Meeting), or Conference, or the exchanges I had, or a
combination of all of them, I don't know, but I was grateful to see the change
in my abilities. I was able to really turn my focus to my investigators. After
a deep reevaluation of my lessons I realized how robotic I had become in my
teaching. But my exchange with Elder Gustafson (Arizona) and Parker
(Washington) really opened my eyes to that. Also, our area is just sprouting
with elect investigators. We have found some amazing families, young too. Ones
that could really grow well in the new branch. We are having a wedding for 2
investigators on the 3rd or the 10th of November they haven't decided which,
they are a little hesitant to accept an exact date for baptism, but I am just
happy that they are taking steps in the right direction.
As I've been on my mission I have really grown to appreciate
those steps we have to make towards our Heavenly Father, no matter how
adventurous, frustrating, tiresome, exciting, or scary they may be. I have
really found that my life is a journey, I'm ok with not being perfect... for
now.... and I have found hope in the grace and mercies of Jesus Christ as I've
begun to notice the expansiveness of His atonement for each of us. I can
honestly say with confidence I love my savior Jesus Christ. I love my Heavenly
Father and I love being His child.
This last week Elder Noyes and I were asked to give a
training at a training meeting of about 180 missionaries. We had 20 minutes to
talk about our purpose as missionaries. Of course it had quite a bit to do with
baptism and we had a lot of role plays or practices planned, setting things up
to invite someone to be baptized without scaring them off, and showing them
that we love them. Then we had to give a training about a technique that is
used often but that our mission had a huge emphasis on not too long ago. We
call it the "Come Follow Me" technique. I explained it really quick,
"We basically ask them to think about what they would do if the savior were
here with us now or what he would ask us to do." I started to testify that
it worked and I immediately was taken over by a tremendous wave of my emotions.
I sucked it up and continued, "Ok, now we'll demonstrate it and we'll cut
you loose to practice it with your companions." I turned to face Elder
Noyes, looked at him and said, "Brother Noyes....." The spirit
enveloped my hole body, tears came to my eyes and then rolled down my face. I
gathered myself together and choked out the words, "If Jesus Christ were
standing with us right now, what would he be doing?"
Elder Noyes said, "I imagine he would serve us."
"I know that is true, He would serve us and invite us to
come follow him", I said.
I know that our Savior had immense purpose when he came to
this earth. To save us from ourselves, and I know that as we turn to him and
follow his example, we will not only find our own way home, but we will be
examples and help to those around us to find the same way home. I love you all,
and I love being a missionary, it has changed my life. And I love my savior.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
___________________________________________
Dear
Everyone, 09-30-2013
It has been a fantastic week. I have been so blessed to be
able to experience change. Change for myself, my companion, and for our
investigators. It blows me away to think that our Heavenly Father loves us so
much that he gave us agency. The last few weeks, I have been so short tempered
with some of our investigators, to the point that I felt I had to apologize to
one of them. After I realized that Heavenly Father wants them and me to choose
to follow him, and the only way that anyone would want to follow someone is if
they knew they loved them, I decided just to show people love (Sorry, that's
worded funny). So I set out doing so, the second I really looked at these
people sitting in front of me, I knew He loved each of them and I wanted to
feel the same. So I just testified of His love for them and they responded by
coming to church and accepting baptismal dates. I really have begun to feel the
motivation of love increase the quality of work that I am able to do. And I am grateful for that.
I am starting to love going to Church in Spanish. I haven't
had to focus so hard in my life during church meetings to catch all that is
said, and it really is amplifying the spirit I feel during church. I fear going
back to an English ward... I've been in this area for about 7 months now and I
have made some great friends, there is a man named Gustavo. Who is an 80 year
old less active man from Ecuador that I have become so great of friends with
him that he emails me stuff he reads now. I've gotten to know each of the
members and easily consider each of these people my family. There is a little
11 year old girl named Yadira who has cancer and I just adore her to death. The
Carreto family is our only active family in our area and I love them so much, I
helped build a good bit of their house. The branch President has President
Acosta is one of my most favorite men of all time, who has one of the most firm
testimonies I have ever seen in my life. Sister Chavez has a rock solid
testimony and was the only active member with her husband for more than a year
when there was no one else. Sister Jimenez has made it a goal to come to church
every single week this year and so far has only missed one week, even with a
less active husband, and 5 kids under the age of 10, who she usually totes in
with her 5 minutes before church each week. Brother and Sister Valasquez were
entirely inactive when I came into the area and now Brother Valasquez is
serving in the Branch Presidency. And Sister Valasquez I just love so much, her
favorite food is corn! That's right, that's how good I know her. I could keep
going but I want to talk about a small family I met that aren't members yet. I
feel so amazingly blessed to know each of these people, problems and all. I
love that my Heavenly Father blessed me with them, that I can grow and learn
from them.
Lastly I met a new couple Ana and Roman. Ana is 20 and Roman
is 27. They are amazing. We met them through a family that we have been fellow shipping for quite some time. They have shared with us some very personal
stories that I am not going to share right now, but they are truly humbled by
the experiences that they are having right now. What I have learned from them
is that, our Heavenly Father knows each of us. They might not have seen it for
themselves yet, but the Lord has been preparing this couple for the progression
of his work in South Carolina. I know it! I love being a missionary. If you get
the opportunity to serve a mission. Take it! I know it will be worth it. It
will be harder than anything else you have ever done. But our Father wants to
bless each of us and the greatest blessing I have in my life right now aside
from my family is my mission! I will not ever be the same because of it. I CAN
NOT be the same because of it. I have 40 seconds left and I'm not done! But I
love you all!
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear
Everyone, 09-23-2013
This last week has
been a good one. I have really been humbled quite a bit. We have been working a
lot more with the branch members in means of helping them be more missionary
minded. Our building is preparing for a church tour activity, we've been
inviting all the members to invite friends and family to tour the church with
Mormon messages and I'm a Mormon videos playing in certain rooms. So I am
really looking forward to that.
This last week I
really felt the love of our Heavenly Father as I was able to bless the
sacrament. I had reached out to take back the tray of water from Elder Silva (a
newer missionary in training that serves in the branch with Elder Noyes and I)
and out of the corner of my eye I saw the picture of the resurrected Savior
speaking to Mary Magdalene outside of the tomb. I was instantly filled with so
much love and the spirit testified to me that everything the Savior did was for
me. That he was happy with me and my efforts and that he loved me so much that
I couldn't begin to understand.
As I went back to my
seat and sat down waiting for the meeting to resume. In walked a woman who I
didn't recognize at first, until she sat down next to Brother Garcia (Our
Branch Secretary), and I realized it was his wife, who isn't a member and 8
year old daughter who also isn't a member. The wife has told me in the past she
is Catholic and never going to change. But as I thought of how happy Brother Garcia
must feel to have his wife finally join him after more than 20 years of
marriage. I felt an immense amount of love and excitement for Brother Garcia
and new that the Lord was blessing him for his faithfulness.
Just then another
person walked in that I never expected to be there Sister Luz Maria, who has
only been to church once in the last year. I could not hold back my tears as I
felt ONLY A PORTION of God's love for these wonderful children of His. I love
seeing Him work in peoples hearts. I love being a missionary!
I need to get running,
but I love you all, and there was lots more that happened this last week I just
can't remember it all. You'll have to look over my journal some day.
Love you,
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear Mom, 09-16-2013
(and
everyone- because he was having problems getting computer to work and ran out
of time)
…I'm almost out of
time. But thanks for writing I think I'll just copy and paste my letter to President
for everyone to read….
Love you,
Elder Hatch
Just kidding my computer won't load stuff.
Just tell everyone I love them and that I had an awesome week. Some trials here
and there. But the blessings came!
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 09-09-2013
I have been sitting here at the computer for about 15
minutes, trying to summon up some sort of message I could give you all to tell
you about my week. I have been thinking a lot lately about how I want my
mission to affect me. I only have a limited time use and this time is flying,
and that hurts a lot. But I am so grateful for the changes I have made, and
will continue to make. I know that people do change through Christ. I had the
joy to see about 5 different baptisms this week. These people (2 of them being
Sherri [one of my recent converts] son and daughter in law) have changed immensely.
Only 4 months ago they were sewing Sherri and with some time, some serious
prayers and serious demonstrations of LOVE, these two fantastic people did not
just turn a new leaf. They cut down the old tree and put in a brand new one.
I have been reading a talk called the 4th missionary lately.
In this talk I have learned the need of doing one of the most difficult things
ever, but it has brought me more peace and joy than I have felt in a very long
time. I still have ups and downs, as does any missionary, but I have gained a
confidence and can testify that the Lord will support us when we do this. It
talks about giving up your will. Your desires. Let your will be the will of our
Heavenly Father. In this talk there is a quote from C.S. Lewis book Mere Christianity.
I could not hold myself back from weeping when I read it. In the book Christ
says, ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money
and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural
self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a
branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. … Hand over
the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the
ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In
fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.’” (Mere
Christianity, New York: Collier Books, 1960, p. 167.)
I know that our Heavenly Father loves each of us, and has
demanded us to change each day to better ourselves. "Therefore I would
that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is
perfect." 3 Nephi 12:48 I know that this is a commandment of God and
though we cannot attain that in this life. Christ has made it possible for each
of us through his mercy and grace in the next. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Kendon Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 09-02-2013
I've had a way good week. A little miracle I want to talk
about. We were out teaching people and had just left an appointment that was
pretty good. We got a call from the friend of a man you all might recognize.
Luis, the same one we were helping with his alcohol addiction. To fill you in,
when we were helping him we called him two times a day at 2 pm and 7 pm. Well,
he eventually told us that he didn't want to stop drinking. So, we sadly had to
stop visiting him and calling him. Well. We got this call and were told that
Luis was on his way into the hospital with a very serious head injury. They
said he had our number memorized and that he had spewed that number out to them
to have them call us (miracle). So we went to the hospital and had to wait for
him to become stable before we could go and visit him. As we were on the way to
the hospital we called the sister missionaries to head over to his families
house and tell them about Luis. So then long story short because I have no time
we went in there. Waited for his wife Carman to get there and then left them
with a pass a long card. Then we went down to the waiting room where we taught
a lady we had been talking to earlier. And got her information to send to the
missionaries in her area.(miracle).
There are miracles everywhere.
Love you all,
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 08-26-2013
I have been busy as crazy! We had this whole last week
planned out to stay in our own area so we could actually get some work done.
For those tuning in late I've been traveling around the mission for the last
two transfers doing exchanges with all the Spanish missionaries and a few of
the English missionaries. Well we got an assignment from President to do a
follow up exchange in the middle of the week. So we asked if one of us could
stay behind because we had a few appointments. Elder Noyes went to Myrtle Beach
and I stayed here and worked with two English missionaries. I got to teach 2
lessons by myself in Spanish, I know now why we need companions. But what was
cool is that one of the lessons the lady accepted a baptismal date and she'll
be getting baptized here next month. I gave a talk yesterday in the Branch.
About following the counsel of the Prophets. It went pretty well.
Lately I have been
studying a ton about the Plan of Salvation. My companion is very very very knowledgeable of the gospel so I felt I needed to deepen my knowledge so that I
could express properly my passion and testimony for this work. President
actually gave me an assignment for having passed my one year mark. "Elder,
this next year I think you should really focus in on deepening your testimony
of the gospel." So that is what I am going to be doing. I'm out of time
almost.
Love you all,
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 08-19-2013
It was a super great week.
Last Sunday (the 11th) Elder Noyes and I did a fireside and we were a little
worried that it didn't have quite the effect we wanted. Well, we went and
visited the one active member that we have in our area and the wife turns to us
and says, "Elders I talked to a lady at my work and asked if you all could
go see her and she said yes!" So in the near future we will be going there
to see her friend.
Well then later, we went to go see a less active (Who is the
mother in law of the sister who gave us the referral), and turns out that she
had a referral for us as well. And this Sister didn't even go to the fireside,
nor have any indication of it's happening. I learned from this that as you put
in the efforts, as imperfect as it may be, miracles are performed for us each
day. The Lord know's our desires and what we are striving for and only asks for
us to act on what we believe to be true. The evidence of that is given to us
after we act according to our faith. (Ether 12:6).
Also this week my companion came to me with some concerns,
(after I forced him to sit down and talk to me about it) I realized how much of
an effect I had over the feelings he had. He didn't even say anything was
directly my fault, but I was guided to what things that I could change to help
him. To each of you who have a spouse, I invite you to open to PMG and chapter
8 and in the weekly planning session go to step 13 and conduct a companionship
inventory. I promise you that it will be awkward....but the blessings and
feelings of love that will come from it will be more rewarding than you could
imagine.
Love you all,
Elder Hatch
___________________________________________
Dear Everyone, 08-12-2013
I had a way busy week. We had a fireside that Elder Noyes and
I put on, Sunday, Saturday and Friday were the only two days we worked in our
area. Monday through Thursday we were on exchanges in different areas. But I
have loved getting to see all the different missionaries. The Lord has truly
blessed me to be focused and consumed in this work and I am loving every
second of it.
One thing I have been
working on lately is imagining if the Savior were here beside me, what would I
be doing? Would I be doing this? or That? And it has really helped me to amplify
my efforts as well as cut the fluff. The Savior was always direct when speaking
to people and he taught at there level in the things they could understand so
they could discover the truths for themselves. And every day He is teaching me
how to more fully fulfill my purpose as his disciple. I know that I am called
by our Heavenly Father to serve in the mission field at this time. To bring the
restored gospel, church, and authority (the priesthood) to every single soul
that I meet. I've found that through the giving of my time to studies and
pondering I have come to discover truths that can be brought to others simply
and directly. I know that this (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints) is the church of Jesus Christ. He established it when he came to the
earth. It had been taken away due to the wickedness of Gods children, and in
these days has been restored through God and Jesus Christ selecting a peculiar
boy by the name of Joseph Smith to be a prophet. He received the proper
authority (The priesthood) from Peter, James, and John (3 of the original 12
apostles) and was directed to make this precious teachings and saving ordinances (or promises between man and God) to all the world. I know it to be
true because I have felt the truthfulness of it given to me through the
feelings of the Holy Ghost (the way God communicates with each of us through
feelings of joy peace, [see Galatians ) In
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
