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!!!

3/28/11

Sounds like you and Pops had a great weekend for his B-Day. I'm glad to hear that. I am really bummed cause the Trail girls didn't get to watch the broadcast cause they were sick ! We had a pretty intense week. Skyler(the 12 yr old boy who is the PM family I told you we were working with) was all set to be baptized, you could see the change in the kid and he bore testimony of the B.O.M and Joseph Smith and was excited to be baptized. He had his baptismal interview on Thursday and was good to go. They were even having friends from the Colorado Springs area to come and baptize him. Anyways, long story short, we get a call from Skyler's mom (sis Gee) and she says that the baptism is postponed, Skyler talked to his grandparents and isn't sure now. We can't believe what were hearing (and there's a lot more to this story but I am not the fastest typer in the world and don't have all day to write details but anyways) ... Skyler basically got anti'd by his grandparents and we were asked to help them start their garden Saturday morning, not the grandparents but the Gee families garden. HA! So we get there and we ask to talk to the family together before we start the garden stuff. Long story short, the Lord guided us through the visit, the spirit was strong, Sis Gee made it clear to Skyler this is his decision and for him to do what he knows God wants him to do ! ... Skyler was baptized yesterday !!!!!!!! WOO HOO !!!!!! It was a wonderful service and the Mayfield family from Colorado(their friends) made it for the baptism. I am so grateful for the guidance given to me and my comp. through God, that's the only reason this all worked out. It was a very trying time but righteousness prevailed !!!


Now I've got a funny story to tell :] So Elder Andersen and I are outside in front of the church after the baptism talking to a younger newly wed couple in the branch (Charlie and Steffani) and all the sudden Charlie says, "look at that turkey!" We turn around and there is a big Ole turkey running through the parking lot and into the grass area of this "old folks home" next to the church. So without thinking twice Charlie takes off after it (HAHAHA and I'm thinking to myself, "that's country living") So I'm laughing and saying, "get him Charlie !" Then I'm thinking to myself ... I'm gonna get in on this and I take off in my suit after the turkey ! The turkey gets kind of cornered in by this old folks home and thinks a window is open and smashes into it and then bounces off it !!! HAHAHAHAAA !!! So then it starts running again and I'm right next to it running along side it and I'm going pretty fast and I'm all pumped like, "Ya baby, I'm gonna grab this thing by its neck!" and I'm getting close when all the sudden I get to the grass with a little snow on it and ... WHOA, WIT,WHOA !!!!! I'm down sliding on my belly for like 10 feet !!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHHAAAA I was so bummed and we were all cracking up ! The dawg gawn turkey got away ! And the best part is ... Elder Andersen had his camera on him and recorded the whole thing !!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAA Can't wait for you to see it someday. Well I love you all and please don't let anyone write to my exact address- you need to have them write to the mission address please (that goes for Stacy too !!!) Love you Toots ;] And thank you so much Maa for the package !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome !!! Contacts, vitamins, Emergen-C, all kinds of wonderful things to get, I was very thankful !!!
Heather Parker sent me an awesome package too with the perfect things that I wanted( love you Heath !!!)


I'm working hard and have a feeling I am getting transferred which is sad but ill be alright. I love Elder Andersen, he has been a great trainer. I love you all and am grateful for all your love,prayers and support.

P.s. well I don't know where my patriarchal blessing is but I'm pretty sure I looked everywhere, ill check again

pictures!!!

with his companion, elder andersen

picture for stacy's birthday

st. patty's day

the whole mission

3/21/11

Hi Y'all !!! HAHAHAHA Im catching myself saying that sometimes !!!! That's just Kansas though ! HAHA That's cool that JoJo is gonna work for Rob. That's a great calling Maa !!! I knew that's where Stace would wanna eat !!! :] I'm glad to hear that you had a great day at the temple and got to see Brenda, I miss her !!! And yes, you and LaRee are right, I probably will cry cause I'm already thinking about how hard its gonna be to say goodbye. I have a feeling I will be getting transferred this one coming up (April 4th I will find out). To answer your questions; yes I stayed in Co Springs for 2 nights when I went there. Yes, I am sending my sd card to Stacy today. I do need to get some short sleeve shirts here very soon. My suit is getting a little big but that's no big deal. I don't have my patriarchal blessing with me. I have never been able to find it so I'm thinking I forgot to bring it. Can you PLEASE send it to me ?!!! I need to read it as often as I can. I can't believe Pops is going to be 55 !!!! That sounds like a fun get away that you have planned for his b-day. Ashleigh and Alexis Trail both gave talks yesterday !!! They were both awesome !!!!! I love those kids !!! I was so proud of them both. We are really trying to focus on their dad right now but its been hard trying to meet with him because of his busy schedule. Overall, things are going good. I have been pretty exhausted lately and don't have much energy and its hard feeling that way as a missionary cause you always have to be on your A game. But I keep on truckin' along, singing my songs and preaching the word !!! HAHAHAA Oh ya, I need to figure out how to go about getting more contacts cause I'm out. They don't have a "Sams Club" around here sooo ... ya. It looks like the bad weather is behind us WOOOOOHOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!! So pumped about that ! I am ever so grateful for the atonement and the opportunity I have been blessed with in serving a mission. LOVE you all, I thank you all, and am grateful for your love,prayers and support !


P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY EVER BEATING HEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.S Grandma Sue's B-day is on Saturday !!! I can't believe she's almost been gone a year already !!! I love and miss her like crazy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3/17/11

A letter from Tyler to his dad:

That's great to hear Pops, my testimony of the temple has grown as well this past week since we had a married couple in our branch who are converts of about a 1 yr 1/2 and they went to the temple with the branch to do baptisms for the dead for their first time. They came back and on Sunday you could just see the change that came over them in their experience, it strengthened them so much and solidified their testimony in the church. They were asked to bare their testimonies and it was beautiful !!! It really showed me the importance of having our new converts aimed toward the temple. The Trail girls/family all went too and I can't wait to hear of their experience. Thank you for everything Pop, I love you and I am working hard !!! (Alma 36:24) "Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
This scripture is so dear to me, its exactly how I felt after my conversion and how I still feel !!!

3/16/11

WOW !!! Canada huh? That's awesome !!!! Congrats Ben !!! Dad has pre cancer cells on his face ? That sucks, but that's pretty funny about his cheeks being bright red. I got an awesome package from JoJo and Kbua, with the cutest pictures of Bkua !!!! I love and miss her, she is so precious !!!! We didn't get P-day until today because I had to go to Co Springs for a meeting. It was exhausting but really, really great !!! It helped me get motivated and really focus on my purpose. It helped me get my focus back on what my whole purpose is centered around and what helped me gain my testimony of the Gospel ... THE ATONEMENT !!!! I learned a lot and am so grateful for President and Sister Pfile. It was also really cool cause I got to see everyone of the Elders I came out with, except for one. Also one of the Sisters I came out with. I was blown away at the change/growth that already took place in my MTC companion (Elder Willis) it was amazing and so cool !!! As well as the rest of the missionaries I came out with. It was a great experience. Baptism is necessary for us to return to our Father in heaven and we are so blessed to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to be with us always when we enter into the covenant of baptism. As members of the church we are all missionaries and we need to remember that. I have been learning so much through the Book of Mormon, it gives me so much strength and happiness. I love you all and am always grateful for your prayers and support. I keep you all in my prayers daily ! I love being a soldier of God !!!!

3/7/11

Sounded like everyone had a great time that weekend ! I miss you all !!!!! Before I forget, can you spread the word to everyone and Stacy to send everything to the Colorado mission address from now on just so there is never any mix up or mail that I don't get, thanks ! We had stake conference yesterday and it was really good, we were a little bummed out because we couldn't get rides there for any of our investigators. :[ Its ok though, were gonna keep our faith in the Lord. Stake conference was really good, they talked about the importance of temple work, the relationship between family members, being honest and true in all that we do ! It wasn't very many people for a stake conference, very different to see. Hopefully the weather will stay warmer here pretty soon cause I am sick of the COLD !!!! We also had a special meeting in Garden City Saturday and I got a lot out of it. President and Sister Pfile are so awesome ! I am realizing how crucial effective planning is in our work, we are going to do better in that department. The importance of showing LOVE for everyone was really focused on and I feel so blessed from the Lord in giving me the gift to be able to show that love and I don't ever want to lose it ! God is love, that's what it comes down to. The ups and downs are hard in the mission but I really liked what was said in our meeting and it really strengthened me. Sister Pfile bore her testimony and said how important it is to get through those tough times and keep having faith and pressing forward cause she wouldn't be where she is today as a member of the church if those missionaries didn't GIVE UP and she told us to "NEVER GIVE UP!" Then President Pfile said "We are fighting in the toughest battle... but at least we know the outcome." That is so true and gives me the strength to press forward !!!!! We must never let our faith be shaken, I know the church is true and no matter what happens my faith will be in the Lord.
Love you all


P.s. that's hilarious that Pops got stuck in the elevator HAHAHAHHAA

P.p.s Thanks Kimmy for the other letter !!! Love you sis