***ATTENTION ALLESHA'S FRIENDS!***

Please email your addresses to heatherdalene@yahoo.com so that I can send them to Allesha. She wants to write you but needs addresses! THANKS!

!Buenos Dias! (August 16, 2010)

Ivy was baptized! She's so awesome and you would all love her so much.  I'm excited for you all to meet her someday.  Her baptism was beautiful and spiritual and just amazing!  I'm gonna print out pictures today and send them.  When she got out of the font I wrapped her in a towel and hugged her. We both were crying and just hugging and she just kept telling us thank you.  It was a moment I will never forget.  She's got a hard road ahead of her, but I know she'll stay strong.

Anna Campos is still not sure about her baptism date.  She wants her whole family to be a part of it and go down this path with her.  So we're trying to teach the whole family.  We had a really great lesson with her 19 year old son on sat and he said he'd take the lessons.  So we're basically teaching everyone now, but her husband.  I love their family so much!  They're so funny and crazy and I can't wait for the day when they all get baptized.  I know it'll happen one day!

I love you all very much and of course I miss you.  But the work is going well, and everyday I learn something new.  Everyday I feel more and more grateful for this opportunity and I am sooo glad that I came on a mission.  I really am so happy, despite the hard times, and I know it's going to shape the rest of my life.  Keep doing the little things, read the BoM, pray, and go to church and you will never stray from the path.  This truly is the Chruch of God on the earth and we are so lucky for the knowledge that we have that God still speaks to man today, and that we have a living prophet.  For pioneer day we went to an activity at the stake center wher they watched the broadcast on motab.  One of our investigators was with us, Anna, and when the prophet got up at the end to speak I excitedly turned to her and told her that the Prophet- God's prophet on the earth- was going to speak.  In that moment I realized how much we take that knowledge for granted and how marvelous and special it is to hear and read the words of the prophets.  We are so blessed.

 

Thank you for all of your love and support!

 

I love you sooooooooo much!

 

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hatch (the favorite ;) )

Howdy y'all (August 9, 2010)

Well, it's been another miraculous week here in Oxnard, CA.  And for reals this time, Ivy is getting baptized this Friday!!!! WOOHOO!!!!  

 

Well, we gave out 12 BoMs this week.  People here are just asking for them!  No, really, we've had multiple people ask us for one before we even offer it.  It's awesome!  The area split has actually been a really huge blessing because we've had time to really work in the areas that we still have and find some great people!  We meet some pretty interesting people in the streets.  Someone told me last night that my Spanish was perfect!  (I had only said a couple lines though so he didn't get to hear the real struggles- ha!)  Evidently in Guadalajara (sp?) there are white, tall women that look English and so I think I'll start telling people that's where I'm from.  It'd probably be a lot more popular than Arizona :)

 

Last night when we were walking to an appointment we talked to this teenage girl in the streets and asked her if she had heard about the BoM.  She told us her friend actually gave her one a few weeks ago.  We found out that this girl we had randomly met in the street was actually a referral given to us by a young man in our ward a week ago that he was gonna set up an appointment with!  We were so excited to meet her and she told us she's coming to Ivy's baptism and that she'll set up a time with her friend to have us teach her at his house (her parents aren't too keen on our religion).  We also "randomly" ran into an investigator that had accidentally given us the wrong address (I know what you're thinking and it WAS an accident :) ).  We were so excited to find him and had an awesome lesson the next day with him!  The Lord definitely guides our footsteps everyday.

 

Lolita came to church, but we found out she's leaving the first week of september to go back to Mexico so she won't be able to be baptized here.  We're going to get missionaries in Mexico to finish teaching her though and help her prepare to be baptized there.

 

Oh, I guess I should let you know today's transfer Monday, but I'm staying here with Hermana Frost for the next 6 weeks.  YAY!  We're excited!

 

I'm out of time, but I love you all soooooooooo much and I hope that you're all doing fantastic!  Be good and remember to read the Book of Mormon everyday!  It can truly bless and change your life. 

 

con muchissimo amor,

Hermana Hatch

Me again :) (August 2, 2010)

Hey Familia!  Thanks for the emails and everything.  You guys are great!

 

So Ivy did not get baptized on saturday.  After praying and fasting, she decided to wait until the 14th of August.  She doesn't have any doubts, it's just that she just barely told her dad she was getting baptized this past wednesday adn her sister is getting married next week, so the timing didn't seem right.  Hermana Frost and I feel good about the change, especially since she told her dad.  Maybe by that time he'll have gotten used to the idea and maybe he'll come or at least maybe her mom.  We'll see.

 

We have two more investigators set with a baptism date.  One is this adorable woman, Lolita.  We met her at an FHE we taught a couple weeks ago and she came up to us after and told us the change she felt being there and listening to us talk.  She came to church yesterday and was crying in la sociedad de soccoro (relief society).  We've only taught her a couple of times but she says she knows it's a good thing and wants to do what it takes to be baptized- pretty amazing huh?  We taught her la palabra de sabiduria on saturday and she's trying to give up smoking and coffee.  We had an awesome recent convert (and her friend) there with us and she bore a powerful testimony that the Lord helps us overcome all of our challenges and the many blessings that she's seen n her life since she joined the church.  She's amazing and I love her so much!

 

The other investigator witha  baptism date is Anna.  We've been teaching her and her 17 year old daughter and just started teaching her 21 year old daughter and her husband.  Anna is awesome and she's become really special to me.  We have a close bond and she's progressed so much since I've been here (they were already teaching her before I got here).  I'm so excited for her and her family.

So our area got cut a bit with the stake getting changed and we had to give a big chunk of our area to the 6thward spanish elders- along with some investigators.  It's been sad, but I'm excited to get the chance to work more in camarillo now that we don't have much area in oxnard.  I'm just learning to always expect change.

 

The Spanish is really coming along.  I understand tons more and feel pretty comfortable in lessons talking about the Gospel.  I'm still not great with the small talk and miscellaneous vocabulary, but I'm amazed at how much I've learned in just the four months I've been in the field.  We get a lot of funny reactions when we talk to people in Spanish, but mostly they're just pleasantly surprised. 

 

Any time you feel discouraged, hopeless, frustrated, hurt, angry, tired, or unworthy fall on your knees and pray!  Many times Satan puts thoughts in our head that tempt us not to pray, but we must fight that temptation and turn to the Lord and pray until we feel like praying.  I remember mom and dad used to say that to us- whenever we'd say i don't want to pray, they'd always tell us that that was when we needed to pray and they would make us pray anyways.  I used to hate that :) But now I am so grateful for that lesson.  Even as a missionary I have those moments and those temptations when I don't want to pray, but then the Lord gently reminds me that it is Satan putting those thoughts in my head and that he trembles and his power weakens each time one man or woman gets on their knees and turns to the Lord.  The Lord is waiting to bless us with open arms, but we have to take the step towards Him.  When we do He will wrap His arms around us and we can't believe how we coud've ever considered turning away for even one moment.

 

Be good people and remember who you are :)

 

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hatch

Hello there! (July 26, 2010)

First of all there have been lots of changes this week.  I forgot to mention last week that there is a new church policy that sisters dont have to wear nylons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best bithday present ever! (along with your flowers and cds of course)! Everything was awesome and I was so excited to get the random flowers.  Sister benson also called and they sang happy birthday to me.  We hung out with the other hermanas the pday before and we made cake and my comp made crepes for breakfast.  It was a really great day.

 

Our stake had boundary changes this week and a lot of our ward got sent to the other spanish ward.  It's pretty sad.  The strange part is that the split for the spanish wards now goes right down my area, so we dont know what ward we're in.  It takes effect next sunday so we'll see how president re-arranges the areas this week.  It's all a bit crazy and it's hard not to know what's gonna happen.  Either way some of our investigators will go to other missionaries.  It's hard, but i'm learning to have more faith and trust in the Lord and that He will take care of them.  He is really in control, in spite of the imperfections of His missionaries.

 

Ivy gets baptized this week!!!!!!!  I'm so excited!  She told her mom and sisters last week and while they're not thrilled, they're not totally against it.  Her mom has even commented on how they've actually become closer because of it.  She was going to tell her dad last night, but we haven't talked to her yet so we hope it went well.  She's amazing and has such a strong testimony of this Gospel.  Iit has been amazing to see how happy it's made her.  The gospel truly changes lives.

 

We had an awesome week and many neat experiences.  The other day we were Incamarillo and I remembered a referral we got from the zone leaders.  Even though it wasnt in our plans, we stopped by and she was home and immediately invited us in.  She's so wiling to learn and has two little boys that have questions about God too.  On Sunday we called and invited her to church and she said they'd just woken up but i told her to come late (AND they live in camarillo, 15 minutes away). She said she would but most people say that and don't.  after the first hour an hermano came and told me there was a woman there who said it was her first time and we were teacvhing her. She came with her kids and brought along her book of mormon!  We've only taught her once and she knows almost nothing about the church!  It was so awesome!  She loved it and hop[efully she comes to fhe tonight.  I'll keep you updated on her.

 

Love you all sooooo much and I hope that you have a great day!  It's crazy that i've been out for basically a third of my mission.  It's going so fast i can barely believe it!  Be good this week :)

 

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hatch

Hey y'all (July 19, 2010)

Well, it's been an amazing week.  The last few weeks have been pretty tough and the work was slow, but we're learning patience and dilligence- and the Lord always blesses us when we keep working hard.  This past week we found this really great family in Camarillo we're going to be teaching.  They are so prepared and I love them already.  And then Saturday we were fasting for Ivy and we saw other miracles happen in our work.  We were walking and knocking a lot and found really awesome people who are all looking for answers!  In the morning I had an English BoM in my backpack for a little girl in an appointment that fell through.  I kept wanting to take it out all day, but each time I was going to I felt impressed to leave it in.  We met a few people during the day and as it got later I was starting to wonder why I had had that feeling.  At 6 an appt with Ivy fell through which hardly happens and we stopped by the house of a man we talked to a few weeks ago.  When he came to the door he asked us why hadn't we called and what took us so long.  We were speechless, but quickly shared the intro lesson about the BoM with him.  He accepted it all and I instantly knew the BoM I had was meant for him.  He's bilingual but reads better in English.  At the end we asked him when he knew what we said was true, would he be baptized by somebody holding the Priesthood authority of God and he said yes.  He's so humble and I'm looking forward to talking more with him.  Then we went to this other house of somebody we had talked to weeks ago and he also said "what took you so long?  It's been two weeks!"  Again, we were speechless at the hand of the Lord guiding our path.  He has TONS of questions and is a single parent, but we already met with him again and I'm so excited to help him find his answers to questions he's had for years.  

 

Later that day we met a woman randomly from the Phillipines (sp?) who has sooo much faith and has gone through so many trials.  She was awesome and said that they came here for health care three years ago.  But when she was in the Philipines two elders were teaching her but she lost track of them and left her BoM in the Philipines.  We told her we'd send more elders over with another BoM in tagalog.  It's just amazing how the Lord leads us to His children, even across the world.  It made me think of Aaron since that's where he served.  You never know who's lives you touched who will run into some missionaries years later and they'll remember what you taught them.

 

Ivy still hasn't told her parents, but she's still praying and also fasted and felt peace.  We had a great lesson with her about the temple last night and she's shared with us how excited she is to spend the rest of her life in the church, get married in the temple, and raise her family in the Gospel.  She's amazing and I feel that it was worth it to come on a mission just to meet her and help her find the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

The ward is so great here and they help us out a ton.  They love the missionaries so much and have so much respect for us because most- if not all of them- were converts to the church because of some missionaries at some time.  They are such wonderful people, and they are great examples to me of faith and dilligence.  

 

I'm looking forward to your mail this week :)  I know my birthday will be great and I hope that you all have a great week too.  I love you all and miss you!

 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Hatch

Yay you're alive! (July 13, 2010)

Yes Momma I was getting a little worried, but figured it was probably the week of your second surgery.  How do you feel?  I pray for you every night, and the rest of the family too.  I had a neat experience this week that really made me think of you.  We were in a little area just north of camarillo called Somis.  Our appointment was busy and said to come back in a little so we decided to knock some doors.  We got to this cute little house and knocked and much to our surprise a little woman about your age answered the door with a big grin and immediately told us to come in.  We usually don't get this kind of reaction so we figured she was a member in the English ward.  We went in and sat down and she told us she had just had knee replacement surgery on both of her knees and was at home not working because she was recovering.  I told her my mom just had the same thing done!  She told us about her life and she reminded me of you because she said how much she hated not being able to do anything and how she's so used to going all the time.  She was so sweet and we shared a scripture and a testimony.  I told her the Lord had definitely led us there and she said she knew that He had because she had been feeling down.  The Lord guides our footsteps and I know that He was allowing me to help someone who was going through the same challenges as you, since I can't be at home helping and serving you.  I knew it wasn't a coincidence I was sent to that house.

 

Today's the first sunny day in a while and it's so nice outside.  Time to break out the shorts- haha.  We had zone conference yesterday, which is why I didn't get to email yesterday.  It was really great and we had to guests from the MTC teach us.  They were really great and I learned a lot.  Each time our President speaks to us, a gain a greater appreciation for him and the wonderful man that he is.  Both of the MTC representatives told us how lucky we were to have him and that he's a true example of Christlike attributes.  Elder Bednar said a similar thing when he was here as well.  I feel really lucky to be guided by such an inspired, humble servant of the Lord- not to mention he's quite funny as well.

 

Ivy's still doing really great and is soooo excited for her baptism on July 31st!  She loved church and was able to come to FHE last night!  Her dad is still not really supportive, but I know in time he'll come around.  We have another investigator, Yolanda, that also said yes to baptism this week!  The only question is when.  She's really nervous about setting a date but we gave her one in August to pray about and we're pretty sure she'll have one by the end of this week.  Her husbands been a member for a year and they have two qute little boys and I just love them all so much.  There's no greater feeling than having an investigator that you love a care about tell you that they know that the church is true, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and the Joseph Smith was a Prophet.  Being able to be a part of that process of obtaining a testimony and watching their faith grow is amazing!

I'm out of time but I want you all to know how much I love you all and pray for you all.  The Lord is looking out for all of you and He loves you so much.  It's so important to put Him first in our lives.  I know that as we do, we can have more joy and peace then we ever thought possible.  Have a great week!

 

-Hermana Hatch

Changes :) (July 6, 2010)

We got special permission to email today since the Library was closed yesterday for the holidays. yay!

 

So here I am in Oxnard, CA- only about 15 minutes from Ventura.  My new companion is Hermana Frost from Montecello, UT.  She is very nice and we get along well.  She even likes to jog so I have someone jogging next to me in the morning now! :)  The strange part is that she's only been out a couple more months than me so her Spanish isn't that much different than mine.  This makes things interesting, but we're learning together and I think we'll both improve our Spanish a lot this transfer since we have to be more independent in the language.  I already love her and we've got some great goals for this area.  it's so interesting how everyone does things so differently and everyone has a different view of missionary work, lessons, working with the wards, etc.  I'm definitely getting some great marriage prep :)

 

This area is actually pretty different from Ventura.  I work in a pretty established ward here and the leaders have much more experience than the little branch I worked in in Ventura.  We don't have as many investigators, but we're working on finding more this week.  We do have a few really great investigators though.  About a week before I got here they contacted a 19 year old friend of a member named Ivy.  She's amazing!  They taught her everyday and when I got here they'd gone through the first three lessons and she had a baptism date.  She LOVES the Book of Mormon and reads everyday!  She has come to church once and loves everything that we teach her.  I already love her so much.  Her baptism is set for the 31 of July and she's really excited about it.  The hard part is that her family is not very supportive.  Her mom feels like a failure in raising her Catholic and her dad just doesn't even want to listen to it.  He wouldn't let her go to FHE last night.  We feel like her mom is coming around, but we just keep praying that her dads heart will soften.  I'm pretty sure she will go forward despite what her family says, but they are really important to her and she wants them to feel comfortable with it, which we can understand.  Sometimes I just don't understand how they could discourage their daughter from something that has changed her life and made her a better person in just the first couple of weeks.  I think with time and prayer, they will see what a blessing it is for Ivy and them.

 

My health has improved this week and I feel much better!  And we got extra medical miles to drive to Ventura on PDay for chirpractor appointments.  The Lord is definitely looking out for me and strengthing me.  He is with me everyday and I love the opportunity I have to truly depend on him and abandon my pride.  Every trial is truly a blessing and an opportunity to grow and change into a more worthy servant of the Lord.

 

I love you all very much and I'm so grateful for the support you give me.  I have a lot to be grateful for.

 

Have a great week!

 

love,

Hermana Hatch

Surprise! (June 28, 2010)

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, it took me by surprise too.  I have today to pack and say goodbye and then I'm off to Oxnard with a new companion, in a new area.  I'll be honest and say that I'm not exactly thrilled, but I'm willing.  I will go and do and the Lord will take care of those I'm leaving behind here, and I know he'll support me as well in this change.  Extra prayers are always welcome since you're offering :)

 

Well, not much to say this week and we have a lot to do.  To top it all off I just barely started going to the Chiropractor but won't get to anymore.  I've got some interesting issues- trust me, I've seen the xrays :)  But I have faith that the Lord will give me the health and strength I need.  She let me take the xrays with me so maybe in the future or even after the mission I can get it taken care of.  They are all so nice and Sister Benson makes sure we are all healthy and feeling great. 

 

I love you all so much and I'm glad you had a great birthday momma! 

Never forget that the Lord always provides a way, and He never leaves us alone.

 

!Hasta Luego!

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hatch

!Todavia estoy aqui en Ventura! (June 21, 2010)

Hola Familia!  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY PAPA!  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week MAMA!

Just another week in the life of a sister missionary.  As you know from your surprise call from Hermana Hanson- I have a new companion from Sonora Mexico!  Her name is Hermana Calamaco and she is hilarious and about 5 feet tall (as are a lot of the people we teach). Well, perhaps I should begin with earlier this week.  On Wednesday our investigator with a Fecha Bautismal- Katia- surprised us by telling us that she didn't want to continue talking with us because she'd been listening to the Jehovah's Witnesses and bascially liked what they said better.  Talk about out of the blue.  I almost cried.  But we resolved a lot of her doubts and bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and she said she'd pray about it and we'd come back.  We went back Sat and she's still not sure so we are just going to move forward with teaching her and pray dilligently for her to receive the answer she desires. So THAT was kind of emotional.  Then, the next day we went to the mission home for our transfers/new companions.  I was fortunate enough to get to go to the temple with Hermana Hanson, Hermana Calamaco, and President and Sister Murri.  It was just what I needed and was so peaceful and wonderful.  The LA temple is beautiful!  The best part that was because of the life we live here and the Spirit that we have with us all the time, I didn't feel much of a difference when we were inside the temple.  It was really incredible to realize and appreciate the companionship of the Spirit that we have on a daily basis.  My goal is to always life my life so that when I enter the temple that feeling is so familiar to me- despite the chaos of the world.  By the time we got back we were late for the Book of Mormon class we teach on thursdays so all I got was a quick hug from Hermana Hanson and Hermana Calamaco and I were off.  It was difficult having such a short goodbye but asi es la vida de las misioneras.  I do miss her a lot, but my new companion is really great too.  It was hard the first couple of days, but we're settling into things and I already love her.  It's difficult with her not knowing the area and me trying to find our way around still being pretty new in the mission.  BUT the Lord has helped us a lot.  Another good thing is that because she doesn't have a license I get to drive!  WOOHOO!  I love driving again.  She's definitely whipping my Spanish into shape and she's a great missionary.

Suffice it to say it has been a very emotional week with lots of ups and downs, but I think we're finally settling back down.  Some missionaries from my zone played volleyball this morning!  It was awesome!!!!  I was so happy to get to play :)

Pray, read your scriptures, and do your visiting and home teaching!  I've come to truly appreciate those callings since I've been on a mission.  They are sooo important!  Remember to trust in the Lord and strengthen your faith in Him and He will guide you and give you the help and strength you need.

Lots of Love,

Hermana Hatch

Howdy (June 14, 2010)

Momma, I got your beautiful email you sent to all of us.  Thank you for always teaching us more and more about our Savior and showing through your example how we should live.  It's definitely true about praying for love.  Even when you get along with your companion fantastically, there are always moments, hours, days that you struggle with.  But each time I have prayed for help or charity or patience, I have felt His help and His Spirit soften my heart.  It's amazing and is definitely great prep for marriage one day far in the future :)

It was another great week.  The work here is going well and we have found some golden investigators who we are excited to teach.  Hermana Hanson goes home this week and we still don't know what's happening to me, so you should send any letters or such to the mission office address this week- just in case I get transferred.  It'll be really sad to see Hermana Hanson leave.  She's become one of my best friends and we already have made plans to move to Ojai someday and be neighbors.  Either that or we'll become pirates together.  One or the other.

Well, I'm using a desk at the mission office right now and I'm kind of in the way so I'm gonna get going.  Hermana Hanson and I are going to a Steakhouse today as her farewell meal.  We're pretty excited.  Don't worry, she has coupons and money.

  

Have a great week and I love you all sooooooooo much!  

Love,

Hermana Hatch

Happy Pday! (June 7, 2010)

Well, another fantastic week here in Ventura!  We are just finding investigators by the dozens (ok that's an exagerration)- but we really have found even more this week.  We think that it's a result of the faith of the people in the branch and our investigators.  They are constantly praying for us to be led to people who are prepared to hear the gospel, and the Lord definitely guides our way.  Just the other day we had a plan fall through and looked at our back up plan to realize that it actually made no sense whatsoever.  We were thinking about moving on to the next plan, but the thought came to my mind that everything in this work happens for a reason, so we followed what we had written and went to the house of this potential investigator that we hadn't been able to contact for the last couple months.  He was standing there at his door and he said he had some time to be taught.  As we offered the opening prayer he began to cry and then he told us about how he was so confused about the many churches in the world.  He could tell we cared about him and really were listening to what he was saying, which helped him to open up to us.  The Spirit was there strong throughout the lesson and we told him that what he felt was the Holy Ghost, that testifies of truth.  We set a return appointment and we're excited to teach him.  I can't tell you how many times we've had experiences like these, where the Lord truly guides us to His childre that He clearly loves very much.  When Elder Bednar was here he told us of stories of where he's been led to individuals to help and teach since he's been an Apostle.  He said that with his keys, he doesn't go anywhere by accident.  That definitely applies to missionary work and our experiences as the Lord's servants.  It's so humbling- especially knowing how imperfect we are, and how patient the Lord is with us.  I am so grateful for the trust he puts in us, despite our weaknesses.  The Lord uses His servants, especially when He knows we are trying to do our best.  That's all He asks of us, and in return He gives us so many blessings.  What He asks seems so small compared to what He gives us in return. 

Our baptism for little 9 year old Ebel went great!  He's quite the handful, but he felt very special and good.  I'm gonna try and send pictures this week. 

Tengan una buena semana!  Les Amo Mucho!

-Hermana Hatch

PS-Lindsey, I don't think I ever told you how I see little Kingstons everywhere!  Everybody has a chihuahua and they always make me think of Kingston.  I just can't escape him :)

Sorry I forgot to tell you our Pday changed (June 1, 2010)

Momma! I'm glad you got to help with a zone conference lunch.  We always sing called to serve for the women who serve us and Sister Benson actually asked me to come up with a neat arrangement of it to teach to the mission.  Awesome huh?!  We always listen to them tell us about their missionaries and it was fun to think of you getting to share about your missionary :)

We had Zone conference yesterday, which is why I couldn't email.  It was really wonderful and we learned a lot about studying and changing how we teach.  The church is really focussing on changing the way missionaries teach and helping us to ask better questions and truly help our investigators become active participants in their conversion.  I'm learning a lot that I know will help me with my occupation after the mission- and also help me to be a better mother.  I know that the things that I learn here will bless me forever, and I've come to have a great testimony of Preach my Gospel.  It's not just something for missionaries, but contains so much insight and wisdom and teaches us how we can be truly converted, active participants in the Gospel.  It is something I am going to study throughout my life and with my family.  It really is scripture for our day.  We also sang "O Elderes de Israel" in a quartet with Elder Bills and Larson.  It went really well and it was great to do something music related.

Hermana Hanson has her flight plans- she leaves June 18th.  This means that I will have one of two options happen.  Option 1- I get a mini missionary as my companion- like someone preparing for a mission or a RM that lives here.  However, this will mean that I become the Senior companion for a couple of weeks.  Yup, a senior comp at the end of my second transfer.  Needless to say, I'm still not sure how I feel about this and it makes my stomach turn in knots when I think about it.  The Spanish is coming along, but I still have a long ways to go.  I need to have more faith that the Lord will help me and if it is His will, all will be alright.  The second option sometimes sounds worse though- being emergency transferred to become a trio in some other area and having to leave all of my investigators and the branch here (and the area would be combined with some other area).  So, we are hoping and praying they can find a mini missionary, and enough missionaries to keep the are open as it is.  Your prayers would definitely be appreciated with this.

On a happier note, mom and dad, I think I like fish now.  Everytime we've eaten it I've actually enjoyed it AND I have grown to LOVE avocados and guacamole.  We get tons of avocados from investigators and members.  It's great!

The work here is going great!  After a bit of a lull, we have found 14 new investigators in the last week and a half!  They are awesome and I love teaching!

We have a baptism of a nine year old of a less active on Saturday.  Exciting, huh?!

Well, gotta go!  Have a great week and I love you all very much and miss you.  Be good!  And help mom out :)

Love,

Hermana Hatch