March 24th, 2014
Dear Everyone,
I have had an outstanding week! Things in the mission are really picking up! The members are doing a lot more of the, finding people to teach, part. It's amazing to see how much more effective it is! We have 3 wards throughout the mission that are doing this consistantly, and it shows they have 2 to 3 people being baptized each week and their wards have just been split, a little more than a month ago. It is not the increase in missionaries that makes the biggest difference, but it is the fact that the members are making friends with their neighbors and inviting them to church, activities, mutual, etc.! These people truly understand the importance and the need of the ordinances of salvation for their brothers and sisters and all they are doing is inviting them to act and find out for themselves. Stepping outside of the "all my friends are Mormon" realm and pulling people in. I promise and testify that there is at least one to two families or individuals in our lives that are ready to listen to the gospel! The only thing that we have to do is look outside of our comfort zone and invite! I know this is Christ church here on the earth and that each of us need to take part in it!
Elder Muir and I had a fantastic miracle just yesterday! We had went to a home looking for a man named Akino and his wife Arlinda (A Pohnpein couple from Pohnpei, Micronesia). We had met them while checking up on a list of people that had formerly investigated the church. A different woman than Akino's wife had answered the door and we began talking to her. As the conversation continued, we showed her our Pohnpein proselyting materials and asked if we could teach her and her family. She said yes absolutely! Then Elder Muir asked if she had been baptized before and she said "I have, but I have 4 kids who have not, and I want them to be, do you baptize people?" It was so great! The Lord has sent these people all the way across the ocean so that they could receive the gospel! We briefly explained the restoration and asked if we could come back another time when the whole family was home and sober and we could teach them about the message (they were having a big family party, and weren't keeping the word of wisdom at the time). There is a large population of Pohnpeins here in Irmo, SC and there was actually just a baptism this last week of a Pohnpein woman named Rose. The Lord is bringing about miracles in his vineyard, and inviting all who are humble and willing to come follow him. And I am blessed enough to be able to be a fultime representative in his work! I love the gospel! I know it is the very gospel Christ taught when he was here on the earth and I know it is here for the salvation of God children. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Love you,
Elder Hatch
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