Mission Frustrations

May 23, 2016

HI MA!! And everyone else!!! 

Lately we have been finding a lot of cool people and having great "how to begin teaching" lessons, but then they don't keep return appointment, don't come to church, and we are not able to contact them. It is slightly frustrating, and also pretty sad that people don't want to receive the blessings of the gospel in their lives. We have really been trying to talk to everyone we see and do those things that will help us help others increase their faith in Jesus Christ.

A cool thing though, is that yesterday at church a lady in our ward stopped us and told us that she wanted us to come see her neighbor and teach him. Turns out he has cancer, which is sad. So she told him we would come and talk with him about God's plan for us and whatnot. It was really neat, and we are going to go see him with her tonight at 7pm.

Yesterday my studies ended up being about the Sabbath day and the Savior without me planning it that way. So once it was time for church I was ready to enjoy church. Our gospel principles class was about repentance, and then our relief society lesson was about seeing

ourselves in the temple, and sacrament meeting was about being a divine woman and about charity. All around a great day at church.

I know this email is short and not terribly exciting, but I can't really think of anything else I need to tell you about, or anything else that's going on. . . So I'll just keep working hard and helping Sister Perez finish her mission strong!

Sister Hatch 

Charity Week

May 16, 2016

Hello Everyone!!!

This week in our mission we had Charity Week. We had an increased emphasis on showing charity and love for our investigators through bold invitations, fortifying and following up with them to help them increase their faith. We had a special study about the Christlike attributes and prayerfully set some goals that would help us show more charity this week.

I really enjoyed it, too!! It was a good thing to remember, especially during times of the day or during the week when I just wanted to quit and use the excuse/justification that I was sick and needed to rest.

But instead I remembered to have charity for the people I serve here in Lawndale, and boldly invite everyone to do things to increase their faith.

***So remember how on Mother's Day I had allergies?? Well on Monday it turned into a cough and a really bad snot head, and my lungs were wheezing and painful when I breathed. So we showed up to our special brief Mission Leadership Council on Tuesday morning and President told me to go get somedrugs. LOL. I am feeling much better now, thank goodness, and I don't have pneumonia, which is good. ;)***

One thing was different about this focus on charity through bold baptismal invitations. In the past when we would be asked to do things like this - things involving praying for something specific in a short amount of time and being expected to get an immediate answer - I would get very stressed out and frustrated, which did NOT help me be excited for whatever it is we were asked to do. I guess I have come a long way since then, because this time around, I didn't get frustrated! I talked with my companion about how many baptismal invitations we wanted to extend that day, and then we went out and did it! Granted, we didn't always reach our goal, but it was always in the back of my mind, and I really tried to listen more as we spoke of the Savior and more specifically about his gospel. So that was pretty neat. It reminded me of what Mom told me after talking to you on Mother's Day

that she could recognize the growth I am making, and I definitely can too. I find that very comforting to know that I am being molded and shaped, just like you said, through the atonement of Jesus Christ. How thankful I am for Him!!

This week we had interviews with President, and it was my last with him before he goes. :( It was ironic, because he had asked what I needed to talk about I had nothin'. Life was good and I was just going along. The last few interviews I've had with him included a list of things that I needed help with either personally or with my companion. Then later that day and the rest of the week I started feeling worse with the cough and whatnot, which certainly did not help my mental state. So then later I was a little bit discouraged and frustrated and just wanted to quit, like I mentioned earlier, and I tried to remember just to take one thing at a time. It has been pretty hard for me not to be distracted when I have departing companions. This time has been a little worse I think. Now that the end is somewhat in sight for me, I just think about what I will be able to do when I get home that I cannot do here. But then Sister Perez reminded me that there are a lot of things that we can do here that we cannot do at home. That was a really good reminder for me, and it went right along with charity week

and remembering the authority of my calling.

Besides that, I really don't have much else this week. . . I am feeling much better and am looking forward to a much better week this week. Not that this last week wasn't good, but still. Time sure is

going fast, and I don't want to waste any of it!!

Sister Hatch :)

This happened a few weeks ago. Sister K needed some practice biking, 

so we went to their area and did just that!

Before another bike ride

Sisters Abon, Hatch, Kosoltrakul (K), Perez


Lunch at McDonalds on a Monday a few weeks ago. I know I look rough. No makeup + a billion things to do on Mondays + being a STL = P-day struggles. #don'tjudge

Exchanges

May 9, 2016

On Tuesday after Mission Leadership Council we had our first exchanges with Sister Garza and Sister Wadsworth. It was a really great exchange, and those sisters are doing great work. I went with Sister Garza to their area, and Sister Wadsworth came to our area with Sister Perez. Sister Garza is working really hard on her English. Before being her Sister Training Leader, I had no idea that she didn't speak any English before her mission. She has probably come a long way. So that was good.

Our next exchanges were with Sister Asay and Sister Shupe on Friday after Zone Training Meeting. I stayed this time around with Sister Asay and Sister Perez went with Sister Shupe. I got to know Sister Asay a lot better, and we had a really great time. We were able to see several people, and found out that one of our referrals has actually probably already been baptized. We are going to talk to Bishop about finding her records. That was pretty neat.

​Me and Sister Asay, one of our sisters, on exchanges

This coming week we will have exchanges with Sister Abon and Sister Kosoltrakul. Today they told us that a random guy showed up to church Sunday, and he has been reading the Book of Mormon. We are looking forward to hearing about this guy in the future.

As for us this week, we were able to meet several new people and set return appointments. One was a referral who had a big family!! The Spanish sisters received his info and quickly learned that he was not Spanish speaking. So they called us and we went by the next day. We talked to him briefly about the Book of Mormon, and set a return appointment. Mother's Day weekend was a little rough for trying to see people, but hopefully this week we are able to continue to teach these awesome new investigators.

Bruce wasn't able to attend church yesterday, but he sent us a text and said that he has been super busy with work this last week, and that his days off were Tuesday and Wednesday, so he wants us to stop by. That was a tender mercy, because he was never home when we went to see him this week. It restored my faith and Sister Perez too. We are going to see him and continue to help him learn the gospel.

We got a referral this week from the Redondo 2 sisters, and they told us that her daughter had met with missionaries about a year ago and she wanted them to come back. So we went and found the woman, and her niece and super cute little nephews. We just did some "how to begin
teaching" that time, but when we went back, we taught the restoration, and those kids knew a lot about the bible! They were hilarious the whole time. They said things like "God turns my tongue into a taco" and "Jesus was reborn and then he had a circle on his head" (referring
to the halos that Angels wear) and then the last one I remember "Angels have BIG wings, even if they are little" It was precious! It was at the end of the lesson when we started talking about baptism when her aunt told us that she was pretty sure she had been baptized when the kids lived with their mom in Utah. Like I said, we are going to find out about that this week.

I LOVED talking to you and hope then end of your school year goes well!! We are looking forward to a great week this week, and excited to find, teach and baptize!

Sister Hatch 

Mother's Day Skype

Adventures!

May 2, 2016

HI FAMILY!!!!

This week we had some adventures!! 

Last night at our dinner appointment, I got food poisoning after my fast. :( We went to eat with a super sweet lady in our ward who has only one daughter who happens to be 12 and reminds me a lot of another 12 year old I know ;) I made it through the day okay, but then I drank some water and ate a few goldfish while they were finishing up dinner. It was NOT sitting well, while all of this was going on, so I went to lay down on the couch while the 3 of them ate. After a long while I asked for a bucket and that was that. :/ They were so kind, and took such good care of me. Sister Coplen said "Your mom isn't here, so I'm taking over!" Sister Perez said that her house was the best in the ward for that to happen. Sister Coplen sent me home with Gatorade and a thing of Saltine crackers and we just went home afterwards. We had stayed over and hour since I was sick. I felt bad for going in early. So as I sipped on some Gatorade and ate some saltine crackers we made a bunch of calls and caught up on the 33 conversations we were lacking from the week. That was a tender mercy for us for sure!!

​

This is Sister Coplen and Lexi, who we ate with when I got sick. 

I love them so much!!

On Wednesday were able to have a new investigator/baptismal date. His name is Bruce and it was really cool because we met him on the street, and as we entered his info into Area Book Planner, another teaching record showed up with the exact same info. We set a return appointment in the street, and when we went back for the appointment, he accepted the invitation to be baptized! As we were explaining about baptism, he mentioned that he had been baptized when he was younger, but wanted to do it again so that he could remember it better and understand what the significance is. We had our Bishop out with us on Saturday to go visit him, but unfortunately he was not there for our appointment. Instead we walked down a couple of blocks to see a part-member family who's son was baptized in November. It worked out really well. He wasn't at church yesterday, so we are going to try to contact him asap. 

Last Sunday we picked up the gift packets from the Saints Unified Voices Presentation, containing a Restoration DVD, Book of Mormon, red marking pencil, sampler CD of Gladys knight, etc., and only had one. We were really confused because it was for the husband of a family in our ward who we thought was a member also. We had tried to contact him through the phone and through his wife, since we weren't sure what the situation was. However we hadn't had any luck. So on Thursday morning before planning we decided to try going to the house during the times indicated on the request card. 

We had just walked across the street and down for a few minutes when we hear "Hello Sisters!" From a car on the street next to us. It turned out to be President Hales, our stake president! He said he was running some errands, and that two sister missionaries out on the street are fairly easy to spot. So we talked with him for just a minute and then he went on his way. It was cool because last Sunday was our ward conference, and he got up and gave a great talk. I enjoyed it because he mentioned that in the California Los Angeles Mission, we have the best missionaries, and that in the Torrance North Stake, we have the best missionaries in the mission. That sure made me feel good!! Our zone leaders are in our ward as well, so that was a nice thing to have the stake president say. I LOVE this ward and this area, and am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve here. Later that week we were able to go and deliver the packet and set a time to come back and practice teaching his family! They are awesome and I'm looking forward to going back. 

Our other big adventure was that after all this happened on Thursday our toilet wasn't flushing properly. . . NOT a fun problem to have. So that night, Friday morning and night, and Saturday morning, we walked down the street to the Spanish sisters' apartment to use the bathroom. Also a HUGE tender mercy that they live just on the next block from us. We were pretty frustrated with the plumber guy too, because we called after it still wasn't working (I tried to fix it) and he never showed up! He called Saturday morning and said a guy would be there in 30 minutes, but 1 1/2 hours later, there was still no one to fix the toilet. So Elder and Sister B came and got it fixed Saturday night, and Elder B is going to file a complaint to the property management. It was kinda nice to go late at night and early in the morning and have a nice brief stroll, but after yesterday I am very thankful that we have a functioning toilet again. 

That being said, I want to thank Dad for addressing his tenants' problems asap, even when it is 6pm on Friday night. I was so frustrated with this guy, and it made me remember the times when he would complain about going to fix things. But I know those folks are thankful, and I am too! 

Besides that not much else happened. We ended up needing to move the exchange we had planned for this weekend, but we do have 2 exchanges planned this week, which should be good. I am looking forward to them. These sisters are some that I don't know as well, so it should be fun. 

Sister Hatch :)

Best Week of Mission

April 25, 2016

HELLO family!!

This week was quite possibly the BEST week of my whole mission. Everything about this week was so fun, perfect, miraculous, and any other strong positive adjectives you can think of. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. So with that being said, you'll either want to get comfy or come back to my email another time, because it is going to be quite the novel. ;)

First of all, on Monday night, Sister Green and I ate dinner with a member who lives in the UCLA Grad housing. We were tight on time, and thus just tried to find a meter to park at. Well, we found one that still had 45 minutes on it! So we just popped a few coins in it and went to dinner. That was a tender mercy. Afterwards we were able to go to the Visitors' Center fireside with Oscar and listen to Sister Elaine S. Dalton and President Matt Holland (of UVU) speak. Sister Dalton gave an excellent talk about temples and about the "rising generation" and I felt that it was really good for Oscar to hear. She was so positive and praised all of the young adults (who the fireside was tailored to) and expressed her confidence in us to do what the Lord needs us to do. It was a really great talk. President Holland was talking about Civic Charity or something, but we didn't get to hear much of it because we had to go home. I helped Sister Green make plans for the next day, then I just finished up my packing and went to bed. 

Transfers went so well on Tuesday!! Sister Green did a workout while I showered and got the last of my things together. I took a brief moment to say goodbye to Sister Olson and Scrappy (the dog) and enjoy the sunrise out the little window on the front door. Then I started taking my things to the front entry way and Kristen came right on time. Kristen was a pro at fitting all of my things into the back seat of her little 2-door car. It was pretty awesome. By the time we finished loading my stuff, Sister Moli had arrived to be with Sister Green while she waited for her new companion. We gave hugs and said goodbye and off we went! Thankfully Kristen's car cooperated (she mentioned the day before at the fireside that it was acting up) and we made surprisingly good time getting to Lawndale and the other Sisters. We got my things unloaded and I said bye to Kristen, and she told me she would keep me updated about my recent converts and all of my people from the ward. And that was that! 

Sister Perez and Sister Asay helped me take my things to the apartment, and since I arrived earlier than planned, I was able to get settled in and get things unpacked. That was really good, because there wasn't a whole lot of time the rest of the week to do that. After a while we walked down the street to the other sisters' apartment to wait for Sister Asay's new companion. Sister Shupe arrived shortly after we did, so we were able to help her bring her things upstairs and then headed back to our apartment for the new leadership training. It was a really good meeting, and I am really excited to serve as a Sister Training Leader. It really isn't all that different than what I have been doing, and I feel like this assignment will help me even more to become the person that I want to become, and of course the person that Heavenly Father wants/needs me to become. This assignment comes at just the right time for me, because I feel like I have had all the experiences I need to be a STL. I am feeling much more confident in this assignment than I thought I would, which is also a tender mercy. 

This is me and Sister Perez, who used to be my STL last year.

Also on Tuesday we were able to deliver the last of the Gladys Knight tickets that had been requested from the ward. We met a sister who served a mission and who now takes care of her mother full time, which unfortunately prevents her from coming to church. But she is really great and said she would love to come out with us. She also gave us some alkaline water from some fancy Japanese machine, while telling us all about the pH of water and what our bodies need and all that jazz. Sister Perez and I had quite a discussion about that afterwards. It was great. Later that evening we met the fiancee of a potential investigator who said we could come back! We set a return appointment for later in the week, but we haven't been able to catch her at home. We also met Alia, a single mother of 5 who was recently widowed. We showed her and her kids a little video and set up a time to go do service for her. When we called and confirmed, she said it wasn't going to work out this time, but that she would let us know. So hopefully this week we'll be able to go see her and see what we can do to help her. 

Wednesday was HOT! Tuesday was too, but it was especially hot since we were at House of Yaweh doing service. This time I got to do something different than what I used to do when we would go there. Last time I would help to fill the boxes, but this time we got to help give the boxes away. There was a lot of standing around and waiting, but it was still good. I enjoy being able to go there and help out. After service we went to try and see some people, and talk to people along the way. Later in the evening after dinner we had a really sweet member of the ward out with us. She and her husband are musicians and seem to be really great. Our last stop for the night was a couple of recent converts, one of whom received the Aaronic Priesthood and was able to pass the sacrament these last couple of Sundays. 

On Thursday we had an awesome weekly planning session and we got to talk about some goals we want to work on within our companionship and with our sisters as well. Once we finished that, we headed out to go see some people around the church building before going to our coordination meeting. Our Ward Mission Leader is awesome!! He is a go-getter and will probably do anything we ask him to do. He personally knows all of the people that the missionaries talk about, and he makes sure that we have anything and everything we need to do this work. My last WML was on his way out of the state for some job thing, so we didn't see much of him. He was awesome too though. After coordination we had the opportunity to go see a few more people and then eat dinner with our WML and his wife. They are both converts to the church, which I only found out about yesterday at church, and I think that's pretty neat. Shortly after dinner Brother Evans came out with us to visit a Recent Convert. It turns out that I had gone with Sister Diaz to teach this RC's mom over a year ago when I came to Lawndale on my first exchange. She found the church through a pass along card and then requested missionaries to come help her son. 

On Friday we had quite a day. We picked up a couple of sisters and then went to the Artesia building for our 2nd Gladys Knight/Saints Unified Voices training. This time we were talking about how important it will be to follow up with the people who request the gift package thing from the presentation. I also appreciated the time we spent talking about the racial questions and concerns that potentially could come up when we go to see people. It was really helpful, and I learned a lot. So far we have only received 1 referral from the presentation, but several of our members took their friends and non-member family members, so we are looking forward to following up with them this week. Later Friday afternoon, we had a girl from the Young Women out with us and we went to visit the sweetest old Polish guy ever!! It was pretty neat, because when I came on the same exchange I mentioned earlier, Sister Diaz and I went to visit this very same guy. That night we ate dinner with the Bishop and his family, and they are so cute!! Bishop's wife told us the story of how they met and got married, and it is the sweetest story. His wife also gives really great hugs. She is so kind, and I already love her. 

Us with Goldie and our SUV tickets while we stood in line :)

Saturday was more or less of a circus. First thing that morning we got ready and drove to the temple to go through the temple with Sister Perez's recent converts from the Spanish ward. We battled traffic a bit, but made it just in time. As we got our clothes, I saw a member from my first area, Sister Reagans. We rushed and changed and it was all good. The session was in Spanish, and I decided to do the session in Spanish instead of using translations. I enjoyed it and understood fairly well. My previous experience working in the temple before my mission and the video also helped a ton. Sister Nauta was there too, and it was really great to see her. 

Immediately following the session, we got changed and drove back to Lawndale so that we could grab some lunch and meet our investigator who was going to drive us to Carson for the SUV presentation. We again had just enough time to grab Chick-fil-a for lunch and drive to her house before needing to hit the road. We made great time and didn't have to stand in line long before we were able to go in and sit down. The best thing was that I saw Brother and Sister Tuianna from Harbor City, and they are doing great!! Bro. Tuianna is going to receive the Melchizedek priesthood soon, and they are going to go to the temple together this summer!!! I was SO HAPPY to see them! 

At the presentation I also saw Bishop Clark and his wife from south bay Young Single Adults, Brother Baconawa, Bro and Sis Widdison, the Bee family, Sister Nagano and Sister Johansen, Bro and Sis Conley and several other people. It was so great!!! I think our investigator really enjoyed it too. The presentation was so focused on people giving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ a chance, and I thought it was great. Brother McDowell's testimony was also pretty funny. 

Sunday was another day of miracles. It turns out that Bishop Mead and his family from Harbor 1st are in our ward! And this ward is just so great!! Everyone was so kind and loving and welcoming to me, and I already love serving here so much!! It is going to be a great transfer and I am so thankful for this opportunity from Heavenly Father to serve here. I have a great companion too, so that helps a ton! :) We have been able to exercise every single day, minus Sunday of course, so that definitely helps too. 

I think I have finally reached the end of the list I made of things to tell you, so BYE! I hope you are all doing well! I look forward to hearing about your week and love you all a bunch!! 

Sister Hatch :)

Sister Training Leader

April 18, 2016

Hi family!!!

It sounds like this summer is going to be full of adventures for us all because we got our transfer calls, aaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd I am going to be leaving to Lawndale to serve as a Sister Training Leader!!!!!!!!!!!!

But first let me tell you a couple of other things:

On Monday night we had a long awaited and much anticipated miracle happen! When I first came to this area there was a girl leaving on a mission to Minnesota. That was way back in November. Then another girl in our ward took her spot in the apartment she had been living in. Well, the girl she shared a room with is not a member of the church, the only non-member in the apartment. So for a few months we have been hearing about how we really need to teach Audrey, "you should meet with Audrey sometime", and so forth. We got all excited because these people telling us this were excited, but it just never happened. It made me rather frustrated. BUT then last week Liz (Audrey's roommate) signed up for dinner and said that we could do a lesson with Audrey afterwards!!! I was super excited. 

So Monday comes and after preparation day was over we had a lesson with Oscar at the Visitors' Center, and then walked down to their apartment (they live right by the temple - it's awesome). It worked out perfectly because they got home late from some audition and were still cooking, and then we were a little bit late getting there. So we ate some yummy spaghetti and salad, and ate cookies fresh out of the oven as we talked with Audrey about the Restoration. It was so great!! She had a lot of questions, because her dad is a Baptist pastor, but it was good! She almost always comes to church, so thankfully that and her good Mormon friends and roommates have softened her heart to our message. Hopefully the sisters can continue to help her learn the gospel!!

Then yesterday the guy who accepted the invitation to be baptized was able to make it to church!! He couldn't last week because he got a flat tire - darn Satan! But this week he came and our members did a really great job fellowshipping him and making sure he knew where to go and all that stuff. After church we were able to take him to the Visitors' Center for a little while and show him the Christus statue, the Special Witnesses and the Book of Mormon pods. We set a return appointment for this coming Friday, so I'll have to ask the sisters what ends up happening. 

Anyways, about being a Sister Training Leader. Remember back in October when I was still in Torrance with Sister Wehrhahn?? Well, she got a call from President Weidman in the afternoon after church the day we would be getting our transfer calls and he asked her to be a STL. So yesterday when President called right as church was starting, that's when I knew. Last night the Zone Leaders called and told us that I would be going to Lawndale with Sister Perez, and that Sister Green would be staying with Sister Okuhara, from Japan. I am somewhat nervous about leaving all of this to them, but I know that Heavenly Father always gets His work done, no matter who He is working with. It will all be fine. And I am excited for the adventures of being a STL!

It has been good to serve in this area.  I have been privileged to witness many miracles and countless tender mercies. Emily, Erin and Saray got baptized, and I feel like we are able to work better with the ward than when I first got here. I am so thankful for the things I have learned and the people I have met. They will always have a special place in my heart.

At the same time, I am also looking forward to the new things that lie ahead. I don't know how I'll handle the responsibilities of being a STL, and who knows how much I'll be able to help the other sisters, but I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn and grow and become better. I have been praying and telling Heavenly Father that I'll do whatever He asks of me. Looks like this is what he needs me to do right now. It is surely going to be a wonderful experience. 

I think that's about it for this week. I hope you all get time figured out and then get along :) Love you!!


Sister Hatch :)

Short and Sweet

April 11, 2016

Hey everyone, 

This email is going to be pretty short, but I sent out a few letters and specifically in the one to Reed you'll read (pun totally intended) about why. 

Anyways we had a good week. Nothing miraculous happened. Fast and testimony meeting was good, and I got up and shared my testimony. We have been working with Oscar still (he's the one who we taught with President and Sister Weidman. He has been working really hard to overcome his addiction and his depression, and we had a really good lesson with him yesterday after church. It will take some time, but he said he wants to work towards baptism. 

Besides that I am enduring to the end of this transfer. I am really glad transfers are next week - on Heather's birthday by the way. I don't care if I stay or go. That being said, I'll do whatever Heavenly Father needs me to do. 

I love you all a bunch and hope you are doing well!


Love, Sister Hatch 

This is what happens when your dinner appt. falls through, it's been

raining, and it's already 7:30pm - Little Caesars pizza in the laundry

mat next door = this is how we do it in LA. 

All thanks to our awesome Ward missionary Mark.