12/10/2012... LAST LETTER!!

Hello everyone !!!!!! We had a big day on Friday !!! In the morning we had our "Zone Training" meeting. Then the Relief Society sisters in our ward made us a really nice lunch. During lunch, Elder Brandon and I had a little activity planned... "Mr. Krueger's Christmas Trivia!!!!" HAHAAHHAAHA !!!!! We came up with 10 questions to test everyone's knowledge !!! The winner received a copy of "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" signed by Jimmy Stewart !!!!! (I signed it) HAHAHA !!

After that we had our "Christmas Conference." During this whole day President and Sister Anderson, the assistants (Elders Durrant and Maumau), and our entire zone were in attendance. The Christmas Conference was really good and I was asked to be the chorister for the entire meeting !!! I did my best. HA !

Then after that we headed to the Stake President's home (President and Sister Seger) for a Christmas celebration !!! We had a delicious dinner, then a white elephant gift exchange ! The Segers also gave each of us a Christmas package and also one for each companionship !!! They went to a lot of work and money to do this for us. It was really awesome of them. They do it every year for the missionaries in our zone. They are good people !!!

We have been working hard ! Yesterday was the first time it got really really cold this year and I wasn't prepared. I didn't grab my winter gear from our apartment so I froze for a while !!! I was trying to be a tough guy but it really messed me up when we finally got warm I was in a lot of pain. I thought I had frost bite on my ears for a minute but I'm ok.

I love my mission and know that this is Gods work. I love you all and will see you soon !!!!!!

 

p.s. Thank you for the b-day wishes !!!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

aKa "Soldier of God"

I'm not getting released until 8pm ????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  DANG !!!!!!!

12/3/12

HELLO EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!! It was a great week !!!! J passed the sacrament for the first time yesterday at church !!!!! It was such a blessing to see him fulfill one of his priesthood duties, he was so happy !

The "Christmas Devotional" was so good and one of the many people we invited came!!  Good ole Mr. P!  He really enjoyed it.   The music was so beautiful too!  

Coming to the close of a mission is so hard in so many ways.  But I have been so happy and at peace lately.  I will be a finisher!!!   My Savior has done WAY too much for me for me not to be!!!!!!!!  The gospel really does bring happiness.

Recently I have thought about when we, as God's children, go through tough times.  I recognize that even members of the church and others who are really good people, all go through tough times no matter what.  But I thought about how much harder those tough times would be without the gospel.  I feel so blessed to have the gospel in my life.  I've lived both ways (without the gospel and with the gospel) and let me just tell ya.....Life is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much happier and better with the gospel!!!!!!  

I testify that God lives, that his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ lives.  I testify that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet of God!!!  That he restored the same exact church that Jesus Christ established when He came to the earth and that this church holds the power to act in God's name. I testify and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is holy scripture along with the Bible.  I know that the Atonement is real.  I will never fully comprehend that amazing gift but I know my Savior has redeemed my soul and I will have the blessed opportunity to live with God again and be with my family forever!!!!  I know all of these things because God has made them known to me by the power of the Holy Ghost.  ANYONE can know of these truths if the sincerely want to know and pray and simply ask their Father in Heaven.

I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

aka "Soldier of God"

11/19/12

So happy for Carli !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It will be the start to a glorious life.
It was a pretty good week for us. We are working hard and I am staying focused. J will be receiving the Aaronic priesthood this coming Sunday and we are so happy for him. He really blows my mind how awesome he is. He has been sharing the Gospel with everybody !!!
I'm excited to hear where Mackenzie will be serving !
We are having Thanksgiving at the Santiago's. They are an awesome family and it will be a blast. That morning the ward is also having a Turkey bowl and I've got my cleats ready to rock !!! I am happy to hear that our family will be together along with some Monettes !! That's awesome !
I was blessed with the opportunity to teach Elders quorum yesterday about "forgiveness" and it really helped me to understand how important it is that we first seek the forgiveness of others before we go to our Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness. I want to invite us all to make that effort to forgive someone who may have done us wrong and I promise that we will be the ones with a burden lifted.
Oh ya !!! I got to go back to Colby like you already know Maa. But it was a tender mercy from the Lord.  I was so grateful to have been able to see those who I got to see.   I didn't get to see the Trails which was a BUMMER as well as all the Rose family but it was great to see Sister Rose, Abby and Judd.  I even got to see Brent Bandy and Travis Sies and that was a great experience that I I will have to share at a later time.  But it was so great going back to where I started.
Andrew Cordova wrote me and wanted me to say hi to you all for him.
Well I love you all and am blessed by your love everyday, I know that's true !!!

Love Elder Hathcock

11/13/12

Its been another busy week!   Every-ones costumes were amazing!!!! 

We have had to do a lot of traveling again this week but it was beneficial.   We had our zone training meetings last Friday and they went really well.  We do two different ones in our zone because of the distances.   But Elder Brandon and I felt that at the end of each one we should take some time and talk about the importance of being united as a companionship.   Then we did a little activity where we had each companionship do "trust falls." It was fun  and we feel that the message was received well.

I love the Savior Jesus Christ.  I am nothing without him.   I love being one of his soldiers and I will continue to serve him forever.   I love you all and thank you for your love and support.

I am so proud of my cousins Elder Lange and Elder Larsen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock

11/5/12

Hello everyone !!!!!!! another glorrious week in good ol Kansas just doing the good Lords work. I don't have much time to write because I love reading my cousins letters!  Things are going good. I am so strengthened by everyone's prayers. Thank you so much !!! I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

10/29/12

Hello !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for the package !!!!! It was truly a treat !!!!!

We had a rough week but we are trying to seek guidance on what we can do better and are looking forward to this week. J is continuing to do great !!! He is the MAN !!! He is preparing to receive the priesthood so we are helping him with that.

I feel like I don't have a whole lot to say except that life is good, the church is true and I love being a soldier of God !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween.

Something that I read recently in Preach My Gospel has really changed the way I read scriptures. In chapter 2 it talks about really visualizing whats happening as you read. It has been amazing as I have done this.  It has allowed me to really grasp the reality of everything that is happening in the scriptures. To feel what the people or prophets must have been feeling and how hard it would be to experience a lot of what goes on within the scriptures. I invite you all to do this and see how much more it will invite the spirit as you do.

I love you all and am so grateful for your love and support.
I recently got letters/cards from Heather and Kim Parker which was really sweet of them to do.

Love you all !!!

 

Elder Hathcock

10/23/12

Hello everyone !!! It was another busy week. I don't have a whole lot of time to write because I had to read through some upcoming travel arrangements that Elder Brandon and I are involved with. We have 2 visa waiters in our zone that we have to drive in to the Springs.

But anyways, J was confirmed on Sunday and he is doing great !! He was walking on air after he received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was beautiful to see. He loves to participate in Sunday school. Its great !

We had interviews yesterday and it was nice to talk with President again. It was also nice to see Elder Clark again, I missed that little rascal. It was great cause his mom and dad sent me some granola that they make and a letter. So sweet of them.

Coming closer to the end is rough but I keep on striving to rely on the Lord and think of others and I am strengthened. I love you all !!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

aka "Solder of God" (Soldado de Dios)

OK for the package if you could include some "cheeze its" that would be great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]  but whatever is fine, I am pumped !!! Love you

10/15/12

Hello everyone !!!!! J was baptized yesterday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is the MAN !!!! It is so amazing to see how happy he is. The gospel changes lives !!!!

We have been teaching one of the recent convert's fiancee and she is getting baptized this Sunday !!!!

I am loving it here !!! Spanish is hard but it has been cool to be able to understand more of what I hear.

We had our Zone Training meetings last Friday and they went really well. We have to do a lot of traveling as zone leaders out here because it is so spread out. Next time we are in Liberal I will have to get a picture of Dorthy's house from "Wizard of Oz", That's where it was filmed!!

I love being a missionary. I continue to learn and grow everyday. I know this is Jesus Christ's church on the earth. I love you all and pray that this week we will all pray everyday for an opportunity to serve someone.

Elder Hathcock

aka "Soldier of God" "Soldado de Dios" :]

P.s. you also forgot to mention who the new Stake President is... HAHA

10/10/12

I had no idea that Racho was planning on serving a mission !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so awesome !!!!!!!!!! I was hoping she would. :]

It has been amazing coming here to Kansas ! Back to my roots !!! HAHA !! Elder Brandon is a great missionary. He is from Spanish Fork, Utah and speaks very good Spanish. We have not had much time to do language study this week but Elder Brandon has been teaching me the conjugations ... talk about a headache. We are not teaching anyone in Spanish right now but we do have two investigators. J is getting BAPTIZED this Sunday !!!!!!!!! He was actually found when we came down for exchanges a couple weeks ago. He has been doing great and now his mom is interested !!! I have been waking up so happy lately ! I am grateful for my last calling but I am loving life right now !!! We have done a lot of traveling this week because of baptismal interviews and also we had to drive back to the Springs for Zone Leader Council. So that's why we are just now having p-day. I love you all !!!!!!! General Conference was amazing !!! We need to "hasten" the work of the Lord. We all need to be sharing the Gospel !!!!!!

Elder Hathcock

PHOTOS!!!

9-30-12

The news about C has made my day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for her. It has been a crazy week. We went and did our last day of exchanges with all the zone leaders this past Wednesday. It was in Kansas !! It was cool cause I got to see a little preview of my next area. I went with my soon to be new companion and it was a great day ! I am looking forward to serving with him. I am however very very sad to be leaving Elder Clark. He really is like the younger brother I have always wanted. We have had some incredible experiences together !! As well as some great laughs. I have learned so much from serving with him. He is a very hard worker, a great teacher, and a true soldier of God. I love him and am grateful for the honor it was to serve along side with him. We also brougth in our new companion Elder Durrant. I wish I could serve with him longer too, he is a spiritual giant and very smart. I am very impressed with him. He is from Meridian, Idaho. Benjamin probably knows where thats at 'cause its not far from Boise. I am very excited to be going back to having more time to proselyte ! And to be in Kansas !!! YEEHAW !!!!! Its gonna be a great way to conclude my service. I just want to say that I know that the Lord is mindful of us all, he loves us and knows what we need most. I love you all !!!! I hope the birthdays were a blast !!!!!!

 

 

Elder Hathcock

9-23-12

How goes it everyone ?!! It was a great week with a lot of traveling involved. I am feeling the results of it today. So Monday we were able to have a "P-DAY" and it was fun cause a member took us golfing and out to lunch ! Then we had a lesson with P who is moving to San Diego at the beginning of October, but he is doing well. Then we headed to the San Luis Valley for exchanges with the zone leaders there. Its about a 2 1/2 hour drive but it is a beautiful drive. They are a Spanish speaking companionship so it was a reality check ! Tuesday we spoke Spanish all day !!! Well ...  I attempted HAHA. But I did say two prayers in Spanish. Then on Wednesday we had a meeting with President and that evening we headed to Parker to go on exchanges with those zone leaders the next day. They live in the basement of a member home and it is a really nice set up. Parker is a rich area and it was different working out there but Elder Maumau and I saw some great miracles that day. That night we traveled back and continued our meeting with President. Friday morning we continued our meeting with President and prepared for our "Train the Trainers" meeting and held it that evening. It went really well, we have some very good trainers for these next couple of transfers. Then the big day finally came !!! Saturday morning we got up earlier than usual and got to the church building where Elder Holland would be addressing us. Thankfully all of our missionaries got there on time and were seated in an orderly fashion in preparation for the brethren to arrive. Elder Clark and I, along with the zone leaders formed a little choir for the event. We sang "We'll Bring The World His Truth," to start off the meeting. We first heard from Bishop Davies of the presiding bishopric and he spoke about his mission and his time serving as a mission President in Puerto Rico. Then we heard from Elder Gonzalez from the presidency of the quorum of the seventy. He is from Uruguay, where Bishop Davies served his mission. He talked a lot about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how we should look for every opportunity to teach and testify from it. It was great ! Then we heard from Elder Holland ...  it was intense !!!! He had a cordless microphone so he came down and walked around as he spoke. I was sitting in the second row of the middle section in the chapel. I was on the end so he would be standing inches from me at times ( I know pretty cool huh?) :]. He has a lot of energy and spoke with such power ! For me the things he said that stood out the most was to NOT return home and be who I use to be before my mission. He talked about how upsetting it is when missionaries return home and walk away from the gospel. He said, "I WANT YOUR MISSION TO CHANGE YOU FOREVER !!!" There were so many other great things he said and talked about but that is what I wanted to share. He has a great sense of humor too. It was a very uplifting meeting and I feel so blessed to have been able to attend. One other thing that was great was when he discussed how the first 20 verses of the Book of Mormon outlines the profile of a prophet. Pretty amazing ! Well tomorrow we bring in the new AP and he is a great missionary who is from Idaho. I love you all !!!!!!  

 

Vaya con Dios  !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

9.16.12

"GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH ... GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH !!!! "   Hello everyone !!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been an exhausting/glorious week full of miracles !!! We went on exchanges with three other Zone Leader companionship's this week. They were a success !!! We have very good missionaries as Zone Leaders. We will be doing two more exchanges this week and one more the following to finish up our exchanges for the transfer.

Elder Holland comes this Saturday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our mission is so blessed to have an Apostles of the Lord come address us this week. For your information Maa, we will not be able to take pictures. But I will get to meet him !!! So pumped !!!

Yesterday I was on exchanges in my former area and I got to stop by and see Nancy, she was having a rough day and we were able to help her see all the great things she is doing and reassured her of how happy Heavenly Father is of her. It is great to see how much she has grown in the gospel in such a short time, I love her !!!!

My testimony of this work continues to grow everyday, it is amazing to see how the Lord places us exactly where we need to be when we do our part in planning through the Spirit. I have gained a firm testimony of the importance of setting goals and making plans. It enables us to progress and stay anxiously engaged in a good cause.

I hope BUBBA'S had a most excellent birthday !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss him so much !!!!!!!

Well I love you all. I pray that you will have a safe week and continue to recognize how blessed we are.

 

Elder Hathcock

9/9/12

Well it has been a glorious week !!!

Yesterday B was baptized and it was so beautiful to see him and his family sitting there with smiles on there faces. At the end of the service B bore his testimony and the Spirit was so strong as he shared his experiences with prayer. He also expressed his love and appreciation for his dear wife Z. It has been so amazing to see how the gospel has made their marriage SO much better.

We have been so blessed in the work. I am really grateful for Elder Clark, he really is one of the best missionaries I've ever seen. He is THE MAN !!!

There has been some interesting changes in what President has planned for where and how I will be ending my mission. But I will not be able to tell you until the time is closer. But this will be my last transfer as one of President's assistants. It is going to be hard to not be able to work so closely with President, but I feel truly blessed with the time that I have had to serve with him.  That is not for a few more weeks so there is really no reason to even think about it now.

Today at church is going to be glorious !!! Elder Clark will be blessed to confirm B today in sacrament meeting.

I loved reading Elder Lange's first letter in the MTC !!! It took me back to remembering that special spirit I felt when I was there. Elder Lange will be a great blessing to his companion ! I love it !!

We have been seeing so many miracles lately and we are doing our best to assist President in helping this mission progress. I love you all and hope you have a blessed week, full of accomplishment and success !!! 

 

Elder Hathcock

aKa "Soldier of God"

9/2/12

HELLO EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is another glooooorious sabbath morning !!! And I am grateful to be alive !!!!!! It has been a great week of miracles, Elder Clark and I are pumped for the month of September because we have a lot of time to proselyte. It is the most time I have been able to since I have been in this calling ! So we are excited to do work and help the Zone Leaders in the mission by going on exchanges with them. It is going to be epic !!!!!! This week we experienced a miracle with Z's husband B. It was one of the most amazing lessons I have ever been apart of. When we met with them, B was in a very bad mood and felt overwhelmed with everything that was going on at work and he wasn't willing to pray or anything. So we were praying hard that we would be able to help him. It was amazing the way the Spirit took over and guided Elder Clark and I to address his concerns and help him see how God is there to help him. By the end of the lesson we invited B to pray right then and there, to ask God if he should be baptized. He did and after he closed his prayer we sat in silence. The Spirit of God filled the room and B was looking at his two little boys and he began to smile. He told us that he only was having good thoughts and that he felt that God was telling him "Try me and see if this is not right." B is now preparing for baptism so that he and his family can prepare to go to the temple some day and be sealed for time and all eternity. He will be baptized next Saturday the 8th !!! I testify that this Gospel does bring happiness and makes marriages better. I have witnessed it with two married couples with in the past couple months. It is such a testimony builder for me personally !!! It all starts by being baptized into Jesus Christ church. Today Z and C will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I will have the honor of confirming C and Brother D will be confirming Z. I am so grateful for the blessing to be able to see how we as God's children get answers to our prayers and are blessed, when we truly desire to do His will. I love you all and know this is the greatest work I will ever do in my life !!!!!!!! Hope you all have a great week !!!!
 
Elder Hathcock
AkA "Soldier of God"

PHOTOS!!!

They had a crawdad cook-off with some members so tyler sent home a couple of photos of that!

8.27.12

Hello everyone ! It has been a very hectic week but it all was worth it yesterday when C and Z got baptized. There is nothing like seeing Gods children enter into the waters of baptism and to see the joy that they have from doing so. At the end of the service they both bore pure testimonies that filled the room with the Spirit. I had the honor to baptize Z and Elder Clark baptized C. It is truly a blessing to be able to help others come to know for themselves the truthfulness of the Gospel.

Alright so I have some pretty amazing news ... I have known this for a little while but couldn't say anything until now. But Elder Holland is coming to our mission to speak to all of us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO WEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped !!!!!! It will be at the end of September and the whole mission is coming in for the meeting. Elder Holland is my kinda guy so I am really looking forward to hearing from him. Our mission needs it.

I am so excited for Cory, he is going to be a great "Soldier of God!" there are people being prepared for him to find and invite to come unto Christ.

Well I love you all and am always, always grateful for each of you. I love you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Hathcock

8.11.12

I am writing tonight because tomorrow we have a lot to do before church. We are also heading out to Kansas right after church so it will be a long day. But Elder Clark and I are pumped about tomorrow !!! All of our investigators are solid for coming to church and we had a great lesson tonight with the B's. In our lesson last night, Z( the wife) felt the spirit so strong as we taught the Plan of Salvation that it brought her to tears. It was so beautiful because she said, "I can't explain the feeling that I'm having but that it just feels ...  good and I know its right. I am so happy." Times like that make every hardship worth it !!! The Spirit doesn't lie. She and her husband will be getting baptized next Saturday !!!!!! We are seeing so many miracles right now. I am so grateful for the blessings that this Gospel brings. My testimony continues to grow stronger and stronger everyday. I am so grateful for holy scripture that is written for us in these latter days by Gods chosen prophets. Elder Clark and I are having a glorious time together ! Spiritual highs and good laughs ! I love you all and I hope you know how much I really do appreciate your support and prayers. I love you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hathcock
aKa "Soldier of God"

8.4.12

Hello !!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has been a great week but sad week. Elder Bischoff went home yesterday and it was rough, but I am happy for him and know that he is doing great ! We have a lot of stuff to do so I don't have much time to write today. But Elder Clark and I are seeing miracles !!!!!! K's husband is doing great !!! He is now preparing for baptism and has seen so many blessings already !! He is reading the Book of Mormon and is understanding it so well, its beautiful ! Our other investigators are seeing many blessings too and that has been a testimony for the husband that what he is doing is right. He has seen their marriage improve since they have been praying, reading, and coming to church. It is amazing to see the change in him in such a short time. I know that this gospel is true and that the church of Jesus Christ is here on the earth. I love you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

p.s. So pumped for Kevin Andersen !!!!!! He looked like the happiest man on earth coming out of the temple with his beautiful bride. I love you brother !!!!  (Kevin Andersen was Tyler's companion-the one who trained him)

 

Elder Hathcock

aKa "Soldier of God"

Got another email that said this:  real quick, something really cool that is going to happen today is that K is being confirmed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also a less active family that we have helped get back to church asked if I would bless their little boy and give him a name and a blessing. What an honor !!!! So hopefully that happens today !!!

AP Camp video

Tyler was ask to share his testimony for a video they put together for our Stake Young men's AP camp. Above is the finished product that they put on you tube - he is the last one- Thought I would send it out for those who would like to see it
- Tammie

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMK8Kbw2y8M&feature=plcp