6.6.11

It was a good week. Brent was confirmed yesterday and also ordained a priest and received the Aaronic priesthood ! His father Brad was there and things have been going really well with him. The Lord prepares those who are ready to receive this message. It has finally warmed up here in KS ! The branch is doing well and we are getting fed frequently now so I have gained back some weight !!! :[ HAHAHA but its good to have the branch's trust. That is so cool about Kerry's nephew getting called to my mission ! He is going to love it !!!!! Billy, one of our recent converts, bore his testimony yesterday at church and that was really cool to see. He is a very humble man, with a big heart. I continue to be amazed by the lessons you learn on a mission, it is the best thing I could have ever done !!!!! Home teaching/visiting teaching is so important !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please make sure that you all are making your very best efforts to accomplish these assignments from the Lord. The Trails moved to a new house in a smaller town about 8 miles from Colby. They are very excited about it ! That is so great that Yaya and Ben are moving to Murrieta !!!! Im so pumped about that !

Well ... I love you all and am so grateful for your love and support !!!! I am honored to be a soldier of God and want to remind us all how important prayer is (2 Nephi 32:8-9)... pray always !!!

Love, Elder Hathcock

HI YA'LL !!!!!!! Both my companions have been district leaders Maa, so there is no difference. My new comp kind of looks like cousin Clyde. It trips me out. Brent was baptized on Sunday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is such a great kid ! His dad came and had a really awesome experience and we are now teaching him !!! I am so pumped ! The Lord has blessed us here in Colby. Yesterday it meant a lot because we went over to their house [Brent and his dad (Brad)] and had dinner. Brad told us that he considers us family now, that really meant a lot. He is really proud of the decision his son Brent has made. Brad is a very humble man and I know that the spirit will confirm to him that the gospel is true. We had zone conference yesterday and it was a very memorable one. It was the last one we will have with president and sister Pfile. It was an emotional one but very spiritually uplifting. There is an Elder Hansen in my district who is going home in 3 weeks along with president and sister Pfile. He is such a character, I love this guy. He has been through a lot on his mission too... one thing is that the apartment he and his companion were living in burnt down along with everything that they owned. He comes from a very big family with not a lot of money. He is a farm boy from Idaho. Anyways I am gonna miss him a lot. He bore his testimony at zone conference and it touched my heart. I can't express how grateful I am to be a missionary and to be numbered among these amazing young men who are serving the Lord right along with me. We have a very united district, and are seeing miracles through hard work, obedience, and prayer. I gave a talk this last Sunday on one of my favorite talks by Elder Joseph B. Worthlin, of the quorum of the 12 Apostles. It is titled, "Come what may, and love it!" I talked about the importance how we react to adversity in our lives. Depending on how we react can determine how happy and successful we will be in life. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have to learn and grow from adversity in my life as a missionary. Sister Pfile said that when you are going through adversity, you need to turn to God and ask, "what would you have me learn?" I know it is so true, when we go through tough times the Lord wants to see who we will turn to. I have had many of these growing experiences within these past 2 weeks and I am grateful !


I love you all !!!!


P.s. tell Ryan and Julie thanks for the letter but I didn't get it ! HAHA It got damaged in handling, so they sent it to me but there was no letter ... just the envelope :[ thank you though Ryan and Julie !




Love, Elder Hathcock

5/23/11

YELLOOOOOOO !!!!!!! My new comp is awesome !!!!!!! He is from Wisconsin (near the Milwaukee area). He is also our new district leader. He has been out 18 months, and he was in his last area for 10 months !!!!! A town called "Rye" in Colorado, a town of only 600 people but he loved it there ! He is excited to be here in Colby, it is about the size of the town he is from in Wisconsin. I have been stressing a lot though cause it feels like I'm training in a way because I have to help him get acquainted to the area and the mission out here in KS is different from ways in Colorado. He is very humble, very easy going, very positive, very happy, and it helps out things a lot ! I love this guy ! Brent was not able to be baptized yesterday because of a situation in the branch but he didn't let it get him down. This kid is so smart and is so humble and is so excited to be baptized !!! I love him !!!! His dad is totally supportive which is awesome !!!!!! His brother and his girlfriend are thinking about getting married so that is sweet ! We will see how things continue with them. Kathy is really awesome and we have had some really great lessons with her , I know she will get baptized someday if its not next week. Oh ya !!! My comps name is Elder Darley ! I call him Harley Darley !!! He is awesome and made me feel real good cause he said, "Its weird being with someone who is good at teaching, I'm not use to it." He told me how well I was trained and said that he thinks I'll be training very soon... and that thought stressed me out !!!!! Its funny how stressed I've been getting lately, I'm not use to that feeling. But I love it cause it helps me know how important this work is to me. I was praying early on in my mission to the Lord to help me love the work and now I am seeing how truly important it is to me and that I do love it ! I am forever grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord at this time in my life.


JoJo looks good in that cap and gown !!!!! Bkua looks adorable ! I love the picture with their little family. We've had a couple of rainy and cold days in the last two weeks !!! Its crazy, but it looks like it should be staying warm from here on out. Oh ya, it was crazy ! So when I went to transfers, there was this Elder Smith who was there who is in KS too. It turns out he is from Fredericksburg VA, and he knows the Browns and others from there. I kind of knew his older brother ! Its a small world.


Anyways, love you all and am grateful for Y'ALL in my life !!! I am catching myself say "ya'll" a lot lately ... ... crap HA


Love, Elder Hathcock

5/16/11

Well I don't have much time to write because Elder Andersen is getting transferred. I am staying right here in Colby, but I am pumped because we have some great miracles going on right now. We had seven investigators at church yesterday !!! I think it might be a record in Colby ! Elder Andersen said that's the most people he has ever had at church. Elder Andersen is heading to the city !!! CO Springs area, the 1st time he will have ever served in the city after 20 months in the missh. He is a little nervous. But he has been called as zone leader for the northeast zone and I am pumped for him. Things are going great ! I am excited to meet my new companion Elder Darley, he will be our district leader. My testimony grows stronger everyday ! That's crazy that Derrick goes home in August ! Very proud of him and his hard work, he is a great example to me. Love you all and am grateful for your love and support.
Love, Elder Hathcock

5/9/11

This week's email is short because he got to call home and chat with the family for a little bit for Mother's Day. Missionaries get to call twice a year, on Mother's Day and Christmas. Only two more phone calls and then he'll be home!!!
--


IT WAS SO GREAT TO TALK TO EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA ! Racho, you look absolutely BEAUTIFUL !!!!!! I love the pictures !!! I LOVE YOU STACE !!!! I forgot to tell you Maa about this place we go eat at called "J&B's" ... the BEST double bacon cheese burger I have ever had !!!! Love you all !!!!!!!!!!

5/2/11

HI YA'LL !!!!! HAHAA We had a great finding week ! A lot of great potential investigators. I thought it was really cool that you felt impressed to share Bishop Burk's letter because I bore my testimony yesterday about (John 14:15) and how that scripture really hit me hard. How obeying Gods commandments is our way of showing Him that we love him, and I want to show my Father in heaven how much I truly do love and appreciate him. I had a great sabbath day yesterday, we had an excellent lesson in priesthood about "gratitude" and read from President Monson's talk, "The Attitude of Gratitude." It was so humbling because as a missionary I have found myself constantly giving thanks to God in my prayers more than I ever have before. It is so important that we make sure we remember to thank God everyday for the things we are blessed with and not just focus on what we need or desire. There are so many everyday, little things that we are so lucky and blessed to have that others don't that we take for granted. Be thankful to the Lord. OK, so about calling on Mother's Day ... I'm not going to be calling you, sorry .... ...


HAHAHHAHAAAA just kidding ! I can't wait ! Sister Rose is giving us a calling card and we are going to be calling from the church. I am going to be calling at 4:00 pm my time, so 2:00 your time. We couldn't get access to skype :[ but maybe on Christmas I will be able to. I get 40 minutes to talk. Glad as always to hear everyone is doing great !!! Hope Ben gets the job ! I love and miss you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!


P.s. Heather sent me an EASTER PACKAGE !!!!!! It was so awesome !!!!!!!!!! Love you Heath !!!!
P.s.s the pictures you sent were tiny, I could barely see them HA

4/25/11

Hey !!! Things are going good. We are struggling a little bit to find investigators right now but I know there is a miracle right around the corner. Amanda was confirmed and received the gift of the holy ghost yesterday !!! It was gloooorious !!! Our Easter service was pretty desolate yesterday. :[ But the talks were excellent !!! We didn't have anyone set up to feed us on Easter but we gave sister Laburtus(an older lady in the branch) a call and she ended up making us dinner which was really nice of her. We were very thankful and we were starving ! Its been kind of tough lately cause we have been doing a lot of tracting, well... we always do a lot of tracting but we did even more this past week. But we keep on trucking !!! Tell Amanda Tusa, it might be a bit before I write her back but I did get her letter and loved it ! Tell Stace that I have been really busy the last two weeks but am writing her today(love you Toots). I feel bad cause I dont have much time to write everyone back immediately when I get there letters but I will write back eventually ! I PROMISE !!! ... I miss Zoey !!! HAHAHA ! I think I am gonna buy some short sleeve white shirts today even though it still hasn't warmed up much here and is raining right now. President Anderson is from what I've heard "a big man," and is a spiritual giant ! President Pfile was actually his bishop a long time ago. President Pfile told me in my interview that there isn't a better man that he would want to take over this mission. So I am excited to meet him. This Easter was a special one for me cause I actually realized the importance and special day Easter is. The time that we remember the Saviors resurrection and what I pondered on and was thankful for was the opportunity that I will have to be resurrected because of my Saviors sacrafice as well as everyone who has lived and ever will live. We all have been given the gift of being resurrected. I never thought my faith would be so tested while being here on a mission... but it has also been strengthened. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ everyday and know that by living his gospel we will have happiness in this life and even more happiness in the life to come ! We can't even comprehend !!! We can use skype but Im not sure if I will have that available, I will let you know when it gets closer. Glad you all had a good Easter ! Thank you for all your prayers,love, and support.
Love you all !!!!


Love, Elder Hathcock

4/19/11

Had a good week. They asked Elder Andersen and I to both speak on Sunday and our talks went very well. The branch gave us a lot of love afterwards. It has been an awesome experience to see the branch build unity and gain trust in us missionaries. They have been doing a lot more in helping the work move forward. It was funny cause the branch president (President Rose) came up to me Sunday and said, "I have been thinking about what I can do to fix your ears the past couple of weeks... and I think I have figured it out." HAHA Im was pumped and told him my Maa would be so happy if I came home and my ears were fixed (He is a doctor, if I haven't mentioned that). But we'll see. I really love the Rose family, they have us over for dinner every Tuesday and it is always delicious. We had our last interviews yesterday with President Pfile. He gave me some really good council and told me how great the new mission president (President Anderson) is and I am looking forward to meeting him. My testimony grows stronger everyday through the tests of my faith. I am so grateful for the scriptures and the strength and power we are able to have in life by reading and pondering them. I have really been strengthend by (1 Nephi 3:7) lately. It helps me when things get tough, knowing that God would not ask us to do anything if there were not a way provided to accomplish it. Im so glad to hear that youth conference was a great experience. I am not surprised to hear that Stacy was there helping, she has been a great example to me in the importance of serving. It was so great to have my patriarchal blessing finally !!!! So many things that I needed to be reminded of and guided to do. Love you all !!!!!!!!!!! Remember to do the little things everyday that will give you strength and keep God smiling down upon you :]

P.s. It was so great, I got a package of goodies and a letter from the Parkers !!! Laura knows the key to my heart is through keeping me fed ! :] I love and miss the Parkers a lot.

P.s.s I weighed 308 lbs in the MTC and yesterday I weighed 270 !!!!! GEE GOLLY HUH?! HAHAHA

4/11/11

We had a really great week ! We started teaching a less active members (Sudden) friends. We taught his girl friend and two of his friends, they are all 18 to 19 years old. Really great kids with good hearts. None of them made it to church yesterday though. :[ Its ok though, they'll make it next week. Amanda was baptized yesterday !!! It was a gloooorious service ! She had to get dunked 5 times because the baptismal suit kept floating up ! Poor thing, but she was a good champ about it. Its been so cool to see the change that has come about her. She is just always smiling. Elder Andersen and I both woke up sick yesterday with sore throats and all that good stuff. I'm feeling worse today, I'm glad its P-day. We think we got sick from helping this lady move a bunch of stuff out of her basement that had RAT POOP everywhere !!!!!! She is a "hoarder". I was trying so hard to show love... it was tough. I'm freaking out now, because someone said you can get a disease from in-hailing rat poop !!! Anyways, this newly married couple (Charlie and Stephanie Overbay) that have been here in the branch visiting his parents for the past few months, made me my "greanie meal" yesterday(I took pictures). They have been on break from school. They go to BYU, Idaho. Everything they made was green. It was funny, they are a nice couple and it was sad to say good-bye because it was there last Sunday here. Everything is going good for the most part other than being sick. I love being a soldier of God ! I love and miss you all everyday !!!!!!!!! This is the church of Jesus Christ, and it blows my mind everyday how much joy it has brought into my life ! Love, Elder Hathcock

4/5/11

That is so cool that aunt Jill passed through Colby !!! I miss Bubbas and Bkua sooooo much !!!!! I love that Aidan hugged Zoey ! Conference was AMAZING !!!!!! The first time I have ever watched all sessions and actually payed attention too ! HAHAA I can't believe how much I have missed out on !!! We watched them at the church building on a big screen, it was cool. The sessions on Saturday were just Elder Andersen and I all alone, but it was nice. Then on Sunday we had three investigators at the 1st session !!!! It was great and afterwards the branch had a pot luck ! Soooo good ! It was so cool to hear one of our investigators (Amanda) say that when the Prophet spoke, she got chills and knew that he was the prophet of God ! Loved hearing that !!!!! She will be getting baptized this coming Sunday !!!! WOO HOO !!!!!! I just found out that I am staying in Colby with Elder Andersen !!!! So pumped cause we have work to do and miracles are happening here in Colby ! Tell Racho I love and miss her soooo much !!!!!! That will be a great experience with the youth and is really cool that aunt Monica, Cory and Erica will be there with you. Really cool you met Tristen's parents, that was really nice what they said. Well I gotta get going, I love you all so much !!!! Conference really helped me realize how important it is that we serve others and DO NOT miss opportunities to share the gospel with others ! Love, Elder Hathcock Check out CONFERENCE Here!!!