tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29392670861699623182024-03-05T02:06:59.646-08:00Sister Alison Kae Hatch: Illinois Chicago MissionLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-40128055560401258262012-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:002012-05-17T11:23:10.616-07:00Home to Heal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwbRwwm21RzprebcpzPx80HCIpqfhbAYBGVUJhm1sHdbdFYhoD_W3dWALm3n7TuuAO3uyUWC7H2uDCx1zf7qfZJxHICYaEaAZYIRo69vFYFy5pG5WcXp4IoWnK0qZfF90qBjwYXZk2hY/s1600/Ali+Airport-+May+16,+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwbRwwm21RzprebcpzPx80HCIpqfhbAYBGVUJhm1sHdbdFYhoD_W3dWALm3n7TuuAO3uyUWC7H2uDCx1zf7qfZJxHICYaEaAZYIRo69vFYFy5pG5WcXp4IoWnK0qZfF90qBjwYXZk2hY/s320/Ali+Airport-+May+16,+2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Ali has been sick since early February, and they finally determined she needed to come home to rest and get better. She has just been working through it for a few months, but it hasn't gone away. She got home to Boise last night, and it was great to see her. <br />
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She of course has mixed feelings and will greatly miss the people in Chicago she has learned to love.<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-53682919872694273062012-05-07T14:14:00.003-07:002012-05-07T14:18:10.778-07:00Wonderful Stake Conference<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYeDmgpbXpNxa6G-v7R16RTjK5LpnGu5YoOcHVnO7FGG7oTWaMFoablEbmPGS7tLPu3y-CaQ6Cs08m2PIjb2sq_z3YwoK91LseTnKL5_8uHvaCc8tDKgK7V6BM0M0W9H8ukIIVEQdcBg/s1600/IMG_8347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYeDmgpbXpNxa6G-v7R16RTjK5LpnGu5YoOcHVnO7FGG7oTWaMFoablEbmPGS7tLPu3y-CaQ6Cs08m2PIjb2sq_z3YwoK91LseTnKL5_8uHvaCc8tDKgK7V6BM0M0W9H8ukIIVEQdcBg/s400/IMG_8347.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrews Baptism from Last weeks letter.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I will call around 5:00 my time for Mothers Day!!! I'M SO EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU!!!!!!!!!! :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">This week has been good, but pretty boring as far as lessons go. As in, we had ZERO lessons with investigators or just people letting us in after knocking on their door. We had 3 less-active/recent convert lessons and 6 active (from dinners) and that was it. But we did find a lot of potential investigators this week. Hopefully we will be able to turn them into new investigators soon! Because we are really struggling for a teaching pool right now. Sister Carlton and I are doing well though and are as happy as ever together. She is seriously hilarious and cracks me up on a daily basis. It's great :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Stake Conference was AWESOME! We got to go to the Saturday evening session, because we had a potential investigator who was able to attend. His name is Charley and he's been going to church for 3 months in the Soldier Field area (I think that's somewhere in the City??) but he lives in our area, so the Elders just told him that he needs to be taught and baptized in our area! So we met him for the first time on Saturday, and will hopefully begin meeting with him officially very soon. He is super busy though, so it's going to be hard to schedule things. At least we know he has the desire though! So back to Conference. Elder Oaks is really funny. All the talks were great - there were a lot about parenting, which is kind of fun, because the principle totally relate to teaching investigators about the church! And the things that don't apply now, are good reminders for the future. And then Elder Oaks got up and was commenting on all the other talks and adding his bit to what they all said and throwing in random stories all over the place. It was great. He did the same thing on Sunday :) As he was speaking on Saturday though, after a while, he paused, and then said that unrelated to anything that had been talked about and not concerning anything he had thought he</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>would</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">talk about, he felt impressed to talk about Family Prayer. He said that we need to be having DAILY, KNEELING family prayers, and that as we kneel in prayer, we are able to overcome the formality of prayer "which won't help God at all, but it will sure help you!"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Sunday, he talked about the Sacrament and how if we truly take the name of Jesus Christ upon us, we are promised that we will ALWAYS have the Spirit to be with us. Then he talked about the difference in the two Sacramental prayers and how that condition and promise is only given together in the prayer for the bread. It was pretty cool. Along with that, he had a big emphasis on the NAME of Jesus Christ and said that there are over 1500 references to the NAME of Jesus Christ throughout the scriptures. He said that Apostles are not special witnesses of Christ, they are special witnesses of the NAME of Jesus Christ and that it is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>by the NAME </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">of Jesus Christ that we are saved. I'm not really sure what the full significance of all this is yet, but it really stood out to me. I need to study it more and I would love to hear all of your ideas about it! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">He also talked about Tithing. In our "Tithing" pamphlets that we use there is a story about Elder Oaks mom, so it was really neat to hear him share the experience himself. His mom told him that there might be some people who were rich enough that they could afford not to pay tithing, but that they were poor, so they</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>needed </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">to pay their tithing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then he gave this little formula: 90% + Blessings > 100% without blessings. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">It's so true!! We NEED the Lord's help in our lives. None of us are rich enough to get along without his blessings. We ALL need to pay our tithing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">On Saturday, he also talked about the Articles of Faith and compared them to other "supreme expressions in the English language" such as the Gettysburg Address, the Declaration of Independence and parts of the Constitution.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">He told a story about when he was serving as President of BYU and Elder Maxwell in one of their meetings asked all the men present to think about "What do you want to be remembered for when you are released from you current calling?" and then related it to parenthood. I think it's a great question to ask ourselves in ANY situation we find ourselves in. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Elder Payne of the the Seventy also came and one really profound thing he said was, "The first element of Testimony, is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>gratitude</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">." and then talked about how if we feel like our testimonies are waning, we need to work on being grateful for all that our Heavenly Father has given us, and then our testimony will grow.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">One of the funny stories Elder Oaks told was about a letter that he got from a little 10 year old girl after speaking at a Stake Conference in England a number of years ago. At the end of the letter she wrote, "I know you are an Apostle, because you are clean and your head is shiny." Hahaha! It was great.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">So yeah, Stake Conference was great.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Sadly though, we found out Saturday night that our District Leader, Elder Harmon, is being transferred. We are really going to miss him. He has been a FABULOUS District Leader and we have had a lot of fun together as well. He really cared about us and our investigators, and it was nice to feel that love and concern. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Oh! And the very exciting news of the week, is that President Doll gave the WHOLE mission permission to go to the Cubs game on May 29th! Woohoo! We're super stoked :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Can't wait to talk to you! LOVE LOVE LOVE!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Sister Ali</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">p.s. Do you by chance have any news about Juliette and the wonderful Soelberg family? I haven't heard from Jette since December...</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-6694181204319525352012-05-03T14:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T14:32:01.384-07:00<br />
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Happy Birthday Dad!! I've been thinking about you ALL week :) I hope you have a good day and have fun with the missionaries tonight!<br /><br />So it turns out I might be allergic to minocycline? Well, not might be. Most very likely am. And all tetracyclines for that matter. Weird. My blood tests came back all nice so I went back to taking the minocycline since Elder Craner (mission doctor) had told me to wait until everything was back to normal before taking it again. Since all was well, Friday morning I took some. As we were tracting that afternoon I started to get sore, but I just figured it was from our run that morning and that my arms were sore from some exercise I had done on Thursday. But then I realized how odd it was to be so sore from a run in the same day. And it just kept getting worse, and it was happening rapidly. I decided I better take some ibuprofen since that's all they did for my last time, and I wasn't sure what else to do. We had Andrew's baptism Friday night, and all I wanted was to be able to get through that. Sister Carlton could tell I was starting to suffer the more we walked, so when we finished the section of street we were on, we headed back to the car, I took some ibuprofen and we went home until dinner so my body could rest. I ended up sleeping for the whole hour because the pain was exhausting! Miraculously, I was still able to get down on my knees, and I said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help my body have the strength to get through the evening without being distracted by the pain. The worst of the pain held out until after the baptism was over. It was a miracle.<br /><br />The baptism was perfect. Andrew's whole family came and some very good family friends drove all night from Delaware to be there for it, so that he could baptize Andrew. They stayed for Sunday so he could be confirmed, and then drove all night back to Delaware Sunday evening. Brother and Sister P... had so much love for this family! It was a really neat experience to see their love and sacrifice for their friends because they wanted them to understand how important being active in the gospel is to them. Dear Sister P... started crying as we talked with them after church on Sunday thinking about how sad it made her when she found out that they weren't active, and then thinking about how happy she is now that they are starting to come back to church. It was also a really incredible experience to witness Brother B... wrestle with the Spirit on Friday at the Baptism. That was his first time in a church building in several years, and the first time that many of the members had ever seen him. All the songs we sang were primary songs, and it was great to see Brother B... start singing them. And then as we watched from the corner of our eyes, we noticed he would close his eyes and really seemed to be wrestling with the Spirit as Enos describes in the Book of Mormon. We are praying that he will allow the Spirit to win this wrestle. <br /><br />Saturday I woke up and my body was all puffy and swollen, and I was in pain. Not as bad as last time though. We had a really busy day planned, with several appointments, but there was no way I was going to be able to make it. We called the Woodridge Sisters, and their schedule happened to be completely open during all of our appointments, so they were able to come do splits with us, so that we didn't have to cancel. I am very grateful for their help, and grateful to see another example of how God is in the details of our lives. I was able to get through church yesterday, and today I have more energy, but my body still hurts - especially the bottoms of my feet, which makes walking difficult...<br /><br />Oh right. So back to how I'm apparently probably allergic to minocycline. So Elder Craner and the nurse at my Dr.'s office both said that somehow I must have developed a sensitivity or an allergy to the medicine and that's what's causing the pain. So all I have to do is never take minocycline (and probably not any other tetracycline either) ever again, and I should be fine. Elder Craner doesn't think it's necessarily related to all the crazy blood tests from earlier, or the pain BEFORE the major attack, but at least it's ONE thing we can be pretty certain about. I have an appointment with Dr. Weinberg tomorrow, so we'll see what she says.<br /><br />Brittaini is doing really well. The ward is getting her involved with things and soon she will be a visiting teacher! We will be riding with her to Stake Conference on Saturday night :) She bore her testimony on Sunday and it was beautiful. So did her son Alec. He's only 5 and only been to church 4 times. It was so sweet to hear him share about how he knows Heavenly Father and Jesus love him because they created the earth for us to live on. They were also able to come to Andrew's baptism, and it was super cute because afterward Alec was just jumping up and down and told me "I want to get baptized RIGHT NOW!" <br /><br />Rick is going out of town for a couple of weeks, which is kind of scary because Satan works really hard on people who have chosen to change their lives and follow the Lord, and Rick is on date to be baptized, so Satan will be working hard on him. It will be hard to not see him for so long, and I just pray that he will continue to read and pray while he's gone and stay close to the Spirit. He is worried about his family and not having them come with him on this spiritual journey to a church that asks so much of us. We are trying to help him understand that it's not because the CHURCH requires so much, but the LORD that is requiring his time and sacrifices. Even if it means not going to church with his family because they've chosen another path...<br /><br />I actually saw Don this morning, because he gave me a hair cut :) He and Rose are doing well, but still working on a few things. They finally stayed for Sunday School!! We all really want them to come to Stake Conference, but Satan is so tricky how he comes up with ways to keep people from going to where he knows they will have a spiritually strengthening experience! Bill's daughter (the man who lived with them until he died in February) wants to "talk" to them, and apparently the only time she can do it is Sunday morning. I think he would LOVE to hear from you. I will also attach some pictures of the fun Sister Carlton, Sister Weber and I had while Don was cutting Sister Stewart's hair... <br /><br />This afternoon, we had a May Day celebration with some of the other missionaries. It rained though, so we had to improvise on our "pole" inside... I'll send some pictures :) Between the adventures this morning during the hair cuts, and the May Day Celebration this afternoon, it was a really funny day. <br /><br />Also - the most success in missionary work comes when MEMBERS REFER people for us to teach! Preferably where YOU - the members - introduce your friends to the missionaries by inviting them all into your home for a lesson. Most people won't listen to us if we just knock on their door. But when they KNOW the missionaries are coming by to see them because you suggested it to them, or you invite them over to learn more about the family proclamation, or something important to you and to have a gospel discussion with the missionaries, THAT's when the work moves forward and we actually see investigators progress to baptism. It's possible the other way, but it's much more difficult. So PLEASE think about someone you know that you can tell about the gospel and invite to learn more about why it means so much to you.<br /><br />This gospel is TRUE. Sometimes it gets frustrating when people don't accept the truth, or can't see how it really all DOES make sense. And sometimes I find myself questioning why it is that they can't put the pieces together, and I start to wonder if it really DOES all make sense. But then I think about all the things I KNOW to be true. And I realize that Satan is just trying to stop the work. I know the gospel is true. I know Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth again. I know that the Priesthood - the authority to act in the name of God - is real and that it is powerful. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church on the earth to hold that authority from God. I know that in order to return to our Father in Heaven we must have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the End. I know that God requires these things of us in order to help us grow and learn so that when the time comes, we will be comfortable in His presence. I know that God loves me. I know He loves you.<br /><br />Alma 26. Read it. It's amazing.<br /><br />All my love,<br />Sister Hatch<br /><br /><div>
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</blockquote>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-67460218255339457072012-04-24T07:38:00.001-07:002012-04-24T07:41:36.716-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Dear Mom, Dad, Danny, Shar, Katelyn, Madison, Jane, Amy, Nate, Lucy, Ivy, Jack, Alicia, Alan, Norah, and everyone else,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">First of all Mom, Thanks for all the news! (I haven't read the rest of your letter yet). OH MY GOODNESS on all the marriages. Craziness. Congrats to Nancy! And welcome home to Ashley! Congratulations to Lacey and Jake and Becca! It's weird that that much time has already passed. I just realized the other day, that I have been out for 7 months! Which is getting close to halfway. Very weird.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We had a great week this week. On Wednesday, we discovered that the less active family we have been working with to get the son Andrew ready for baptism will actually count as a convert baptism because he turns 9 two days before his baptism. So we have a baptism this weekend! We were always planning on being there, because we've been working with him and his family, but because both of his parents are members (they just aren't super active and the dad is totally inactive) we figured it would be a primary baptism. Plus the ward kept going back and forth on what they were going to consider it and never told us for certain how it was all going to come together. But we are excited for him to get baptized on Friday and we hope we will be able to help the family stay active! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The greatest part of our week though, was Friday. We were on exchanges and I was serving with Sister Weber, while Sister Carlton went to Woodridge with Sister Stewart. We went to our appointment with Rick and when we followed up on how his reading of 2 Nephi 31 went, he said, "it made me want to get baptized" !!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness! This is exactly what we were hoping would happen! Right about then, he ended up having a question about authority, so we answered that question, and then I led that into a discussion about Faith so that we come back to the whole baptism thing. We had a great discussion about Faith as we read from the Bible Dictionary and then the member with us shared her conversion story of having to take those steps of faith even though she didn't know all the answers. She shared how as she has continued to keep the commandments, she has seen more and more that the decision she made was right and she has eventually gotten all of the answers she needed. It was really great. Then I looked Rick right in the eyes and asked, "So Rick, will you take this step of faith, and follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God? We are holding a baptismal service on June 23rd. Will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that day?" He got this curious look as I said the date, looked at his calendar, and then asked how we came up with that particular day. We explained that we had prayed about it and just felt like that was a day he could be ready by. Then he told us that in Puerto Rico, where he is from, they have a holiday every summer. This year it falls on June 23rd. It is called "John the Baptist Day." He agreed to be baptized on June 23rd :) SO COOL! He is really excited about it and he feels that us choosing that date is another sign from God that he should in fact be baptized. Sister Carlton was so excited when exchanged back that night! We are really happy for him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">After Rick, we had an appointment with a woman named Brandi that we had tracted into a few days before. She LOVES family history and she has worked with the church</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://familysearch.org/">familysearch.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">website a LOT. Sister Weber and I had a great talk with her, getting to know her and about her family history. Then before we left, we quickly introduced the Book of Mormon and asked her if she would read from it and then if we could come back and talk to her more about it. She said she would and was quite excited about her "homework" :) The best part though, was when we were first talking about it. She mentioned how the Jews have the Old Testament, most Christians have the Old and New Testaments, and then the Mormons have the Old, New and Another Testament. And then she said, "What I don't get, is why hasn't anyone else picked up this book? Why haven't any other churches started using it?" Very good question Brandi. Very good question :) We would be thrilled to answer that for you when we come back. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">So we were very happy with our investigator on date to be baptized and our new investigator for the week. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I am still absolutely loving working with Sister Carlton. She is fabulous and we work so well together! I enjoyed working with Sister Weber on Friday, but I really missed Sister Carlton while she was gone. I'm happy to have her back again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Last night in 2nd ward we had a ward activity centered on missionary work. It was AWESOME! Brother Oscarson put together this whole program of speakers and videos from</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://mormon.org/">mormon.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">etc, to talk about what it means to be a Mormon and how we live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus Christ because of that. Several youth spoke, and Courtney (one of our recent converts) and then the Bishop gave a great talk at the end about acting on the feelings that anyone may have had during the program which then led into the "Waiting on the Road to Damascus" mormon message. It was fabulous. (P.S. Mom, you should try to put the video on my blog right here if you can. That would be cool.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Ht7C_-MLY&feature=plcp&context=C45dc215VDvjVQa1PpcFPqZYA_lG2_vx1LmHSmnt_4CcWQNNrSlYg=">Waiting on the Road to Damascus - President Deiter F. Uchtdorf</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I also forgot to tell you about this cool thing that happened last week! Last Sunday, we had a comparative religions class from the College of DuPage (CoD) come visit Sacrament meeting in 2nd ward, and then they stayed after for a question and answer session with us. We were able to get several members to stay with us to help answer questions and it went really well. We ended up giving them all a restoration pamphlet and we gave away about 6 copies of the Book of Mormon. We had a few with us, and passed them out for them to look at while we explained a little about what it was. We were hoping they would want to keep them. At the end, one lady handed hers back to Sister Carlton, and when she told her she could keep it, she said she didn't want it to be wasted, so she would just give it back. Two seats down, another lady had heard her, and jumped at the opportunity, reaching across and saying, "Well then can I have it??" It was exciting to see her so excited about it, and a few of the others holding their copies, gently fingering through as they pondered on the things they had just heard and felt. Then this week, we found out from one of our Bishopric members that someone else in the class had stayed after and asked him if he could get a copy of the Book of Mormon! It was really neat and I hope those who were touched - which I would say there were many who were - will get the chance to learn more about the church and will request the missionaries in their respective areas. That would be even better if they lived in ours :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I think that's about all for the week. Healthwise: Saturday was a pretty yucky day, but yesterday was better and today is a good day too. I got my follow-up bloodwork on Friday, so hopefully we'll have those results back soon. Sister Bostrom (WML's wife in 3rd ward) also said she would ask one of the doctors she works for if she has any ideas what all this could be. She said this doctor is an excellent diognostician and that she would be willing to look into it for me, so I gave her a list of all my symptoms and we'll see if any new ideas come from that. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I love you! I miss you! (in a good way)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Love, Sister Ali</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-25478301993812550342012-04-16T11:26:00.002-07:002012-04-16T11:41:19.163-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Haha you wore my clothes :) Well I'm glad they can be there for you when you're missing me. For exercise we sometimes go for little runs outside, sometimes we just walk, and sometimes we just stretch and do crunches in the apartment... Way to go Dad! Running a whole mile! I bet he's sore! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We get to go to RS in the 3rd ward, but not in 2nd because that's during 3rd ward's Sacrament meeting. I can't believe our ward has 7 recent converts! How many converts did we ever have my whole time growing up in that ward? Like, NONE? That's awesome and amazing and wonderful. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Our "Walk with Christ" was on Good Friday, and they had about 6 different rooms set up with either "live" scenes or videos playing (with a narrator in every room) to share testimony of who Chirst was, or to depict scenes from his death on the cross and resurrection and then it ended with Him visiting the Americas. It was pretty cool. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Happy Birthday Sheeshee! I hope you have a wonderful fabulous day!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">This week I got sick again. So far it's just a cold, but a few of the signs/symptoms from when I got SUPER sick have started coming back, bit by bit. I'm trying to take care of myself and take it easy so that it doesn't end up like last time. We'll see what happens and I'll keep you posted. A funny thing did come of this though. For a couple of days, but throat was so raw (like when I got my tonsils out) that I couldn't/didn't have any desire to speak at all. So for two and half days Sister Carlton and I communicated by limited sign language skills and writing things down when it was too complicated to sign. She was awesome and took over teaching a couple of lessons all by herself. So one day, we had to go to the Sprint store to see if they could fix our phone, because it is having some major issues right now - we like to say it's possessed because it is seriously wacky. Anyway, we went into the store and I just kind of hung back while Sister Carlton did all the talking. As we waited though, I came up by her and I had a few things I wanted to tell her, so I wrote it down on. The girl working noticed my lack of vocal communication, and drawing conclusions from the name tag I wear asked, "Did you take a vow a silence?" Hahahaha! It was awesome. We explained that I had just lost my voice, and she was afraid she had offended us, but we weren't upset at all. We just thought it was hilarious. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">For our Stake Conference on May 5 & 6 Elder Dallin H. Oaks will be coming to preside. AWESOMENESS! Super excited about that. Hopefully we can get some investigators there!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And speaking of investigators: We had a really great lesson with Rick this week. We had planned on teaching him the Plan of Salvation, but then when we were following up on how he liked church, he had some questions about the Priesthood, and when the member with us mentioned one of the differences between Aaronic and Melchezidek being that one could baptize and one could confirm, he ask what being confirmed was which then led into a really awesome discussion about the Holy Ghost. It was super cool and the Spirit was definitely there. We asked him if that constant companionship of the Holy Ghost was something that he would want and he said it was, and that he thought it would really help. Then we explained that that is why we invited him to be baptized, because we wanted him to be able to have that as well. This week he is going to pray on his knees at least once a day and ask about baptism and the Holy Ghost and if that really is something that he can have and needs to do in his life. We are excited!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Agnes, the sweet Sister that we visited in the hospital last week, passed away on Saturday. Her daughter visited our ward on Sunday and thanked us for going to visit her. We are both so grateful that we had the opportunity to meet her. Her funeral is on Saturday and perhaps Dean, the man we met while sharing the Easter message on the driveway will be there. I am happy to know that she is now at rest from all her pain and no longer has to suffer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We have been having some CRAZY thunder storms the past few days. The only problem is, they have only been happening at night - as in the middle of the night - so I don't really get to enjoy them, and then they just end up waking me up periodically throughout the night because the thunder is so loud and the lightening is so bright. But oh well! I can sleep well another night... Maybe not until I'm done with my mission... but another night nonetheless :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Saturday's Miracle: We went tracting in the neighborhood just south of our apartment complex, so instead of driving, we decided just to walk there. We worked on a street called Applegate and we met some nice people, and a few not so nice. Overall, it was a good and successful morning. Then it was time for lunch, so we started to walk back. As we were walking by this field close to home, we crossed paths with an older lady walking her dog. We ended up talking to her for about 25 minutes and she said she was currently in a "state of transition" religiously. She said she would be interested if she could ever make the time to sit down with us and learn more of our message. So we gave her our number, and then asked for her number and address. She lives on Applegate. I guess we were going to find her one way or another! It's amazing how the Lord leads us to those that He has been preparing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you all very much! I miss you!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the pictures Dad! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Oh! And last night we got a text from Brittaini saying that she was going to quit smoking once and for all! She asked for our prayers, saying that she was going to go cold turkey and that she had just thrown out her last pack of cigarettes, but that she knew with the Lord's help she could do it. We promised her on Saturday that if she read from the Book of Mormon every day she would have greater power to resist temptation and now she's acting on it! What a show of faith. She decided to do this all on her own, and we are just happy to be a part of all these wonderful changes she is making in her life. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Ali</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The pictures are from our lesson with Andrew (the one from the less active family getting baptized on the 27th). We talked about Nephi building the boat and then we made our own :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS2g2i4KD5OTgQtrayRK61YP8kTuPDHNGgeknxRBUz4OURXIAEitEOJG5bxqDpWtXnAH0k2yHKapmkJCVMyOLeXUwfsAhzbgLODmZXBCFrmqDq9puQXbKhqf_8RRD3Smsv317oA36PTM/s1600/IMG_8327.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS2g2i4KD5OTgQtrayRK61YP8kTuPDHNGgeknxRBUz4OURXIAEitEOJG5bxqDpWtXnAH0k2yHKapmkJCVMyOLeXUwfsAhzbgLODmZXBCFrmqDq9puQXbKhqf_8RRD3Smsv317oA36PTM/s320/IMG_8327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732067417542666402" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIorog9uT95RaDzvMIwVV6gtxSFsODISJUAT24Cu-RLhVfSojP_UlcdRaO9kC2swf4y20NNOL1YxQNtQ-jQdzDLe5gcOH_K9XTFX2xgENB094aY8jh3R055PUK_QRGBrVZlAlVr71t8Y/s320/IMG_8328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732067425508761474" /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-31181058528977620772012-04-09T17:32:00.002-07:002012-04-09T17:46:33.450-07:00<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuNyv56AalrcHxeEo1ygbp3aAJqrWGNz6odSmS0bg6VTGek_2JnwwtSSpU-m6YTgA_mrkap8Fe03gf_sBXbMcY6dZa72Cr5JwZBgqgrqPliCT3ID7lm3a4cjYBJuTDOXsU6cSBCxrW-4/s320/IMG_8266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729564736088347810" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQPYU2gLBHBnVdEDHyZcT0i1IkESNOeR9HmUTGvWU12mIbpjX7YotNrtkZXhzIxwbueSQmjgCErRHAJ697F7Fw293RHPD-5Mgul1zVq37I3p8ce72uVV47oXv1MRjtkGfu7LrbGCC5GY/s320/IMG_8270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729564741544367074" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr9x5EeecbjDhPpo9osp0zqjHC_s11FjDR2BiDrhc8X3JkI6fCSDjEzJ96pK9kFFldlxmE0IrJPn_sZaOngSVmbssGpchAgulLFPaJe0tY1Elr4FtICL8NW47DagFtgbUk2ctijjyilM/s1600/IMG_8292.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr9x5EeecbjDhPpo9osp0zqjHC_s11FjDR2BiDrhc8X3JkI6fCSDjEzJ96pK9kFFldlxmE0IrJPn_sZaOngSVmbssGpchAgulLFPaJe0tY1Elr4FtICL8NW47DagFtgbUk2ctijjyilM/s320/IMG_8292.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729564761815977106" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Dearest Familia,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">This week has truly been a week of miracles! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Miracle #1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Last week we had a woman named Brittaini call us. She told us that she was a member, but hasn't been active in over 10 years. She wants to come back and to raise her kids in the church and she wanted to know what she needed to do. We met with her on Tuesday and it was AMAZING. We started with a prayer, and she was crying by the end. She said she hadn't felt the Spirit that strong since she was learning about the church and joined when she was 12. It was pretty cool. She told us her story, which is basically that she's always known the church was true, but was looking for something that would be "easier" or that would let her break more rules. She got married to a Muslim man and for the sake of family unity, converted to Islam. And then she got really depressed. And I mean REALLY depressed. Finally one day, she realized that it was because she couldn't NOT accept Jesus as her Savior and as the Son of God. Once she started coming back to that realization, and decided that she wanted to come back to church, she started feeling better. And so a couple of weeks ago she looked up the closest church building on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://lds.org/">lds.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">and saw that the 4th ward met on Tuesday evenings for mutual, so she figured she would show up at the church and see who she could talk to. When she got there though, no one was there. It was Spring Break and they had cancelled mutual. Just as she was about to leave though, someone pulled up. It was the Executive Secretary from the 4th ward. He was able to look up her address and see that she was in our ward, so he gave her our number and the Bishop's number. MIRACLES. So we met with her on Tuesday and then invited her to the "Walk with Christ" event that the 3rd ward (her ward) was doing on Friday night to celebrate Easter and she and her son came and LOVED it. Alec is 5 and he had never been to church or anything before. He had a really hard time in the Crucifixion room and got really sad, but then by the end when they showed Christ visiting the Americas and blessing all the children he got happy. Then as they were driving home he said, "Mom, I really love Heavenly Father and Jesus." I am so excited to be working with Brittaini and her sweet family! They ALL came to church on Sunday - even her husband - and they had a great time. The ward was so welcoming and loving. It was wonderful. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Miracle #2</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">On Saturday, after tracting for a couple of hours, we had to use the bathroom, so we called the Matsens to see if we could stop in quickly and use theirs. On our way over, Sister Carlton suggested we share the Living Easter Card with them and see if they could think of anyone we should share it with, since the next day was Easter. We were able to share it with them, and then Sister Matsen suggested we visit an older lady in our ward named Agnes who has cancer and so is unable to come to church. Her husband is not a member, but Sister Matsen said he was really nice, so we should be okay to go over. When we got there, there were three men sitting in lawn chairs in front of the open garage door, just talking and drinking their beers. We asked for Agnes and they told us that she was currently in the hospital, and gave us her room number. Then we asked if we could share our Easter message with them, and they said that would be alright. So right there in the driveway, we pulled out our scriptures and hymn books and started to sing and read the Easter story. The neighbor across the street had been mowing his lawn, but he stopped and came over to listen as well. So here we are, two young girls, and these four old men, all drinking their beer, and listening to us sing about Easter. It was pretty cool. When we were done, the one man who had been very quiet the whole time, stood up and came over to us. He thanked us and reached out to shake my hand and then pulled me into a kind of hug (we didn't know what to do!), and then did the same to Sister Carlton. It was powerful to see this man so touched by the Spirit. We gave him a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://mormon.org/">mormon.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">card and told him he could find us on there. We are praying that sweet Dean will visit the website and request us to come back. If he doesn't soon, we are just going to tract his street until we find the right house! We know it's close. Then, Jesse, Agnes's husband, wanted to make sure we would go visit his wife and share our Easter message with her. That night after dinner, we went to the hospital, not knowing what to expect. Agnes was worse than we could have imagined. We found her room, and saw this tiny, fragile woman, clearly in a great deal of pain. We shared our message with her, and though in agony, she joined in singing with us as much as her frail condition would allow. Every so often, I would look up from my hymn book and scriptures, and I saw this light come into her eyes. She was still in pain, but she had joy and hope now. And as we finished our message, she smiled. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. Her smile told us what she could not say: that although she was in the deepest pain and agony, she had hope and faith that because of our Savior's Atonement, one day, her pain would end. And until that day, she knew that at least she wasn't alone in her suffering. My testimony of the Atonement and the Easter season was strengthened greatly by this dear sweet Sister's song and smile. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Miracle #3</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Rick is awesome. We went to his new house for our appointment on Friday and got the tour. Nothing is moved in yet, but in his daughter's room was one picture sitting against the wall. It was the "One hundred cats and a mouse" picture that we have hanging in our downstairs bathroom! I have never seen that picture anywhere else. It was really cool. But then, this picture became more than just a fun connection to home.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxvGnFpV2xQpH3YzRHs1gu1f4WqjM_V4Gk2WpiqWtJjBiOZsg4QWgLW96Tf03PXfEEpvndX8kXqeRzDChLzL5HqUVieQ-b8YoXBkOAKeBkZNtFqdY8q8-BcA7d0zU4CfxpDsK3ryXQqM/s320/IMG_8284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729564748764803394" /> As we went forward with our lesson, Rick told us that sometimes he feels like God speaks to him through dreams. We said that was perfectly plausible - and then he proceeded to explain: A couple of days before Sister Sorensen and I knocked on his door, he had a dream. Though unclear in the details, he somehow knew that I (me, Sister Hatch) would be coming to learn his story. So then we knocked on his door and our journey together began. When I recognized the picture, that was just one more sign that I really was the one he had been told would be coming. HOW CRAZY IS THAT??!? And by crazy I mean that in a good crazy way. It was really cool to hear that. Anyway, we had a good lesson with him. We invited him to the "Walk with Christ" and to church and he said he would try to make it to both, but he wasn't certain he would be able to come, but he would try. All the pipes started leaking in their house Friday night, so he couldn't come to the Walk with Christ, and then he wasn't at church on Sunday either. But then, as I was handing out flyers for a ward mission activity at the door after Sacrament meeting, someone told me that there was a man in the foyer looking for me. I peered around the corner, and there was Rick! He came to church!! He was just a little late and didn't want to interrupt the service. So he listened from the foyer and gave himself a little tour of the church and looked at all the pictures. Then he came to Sunday School with us and he went to Priesthood as well! We were super excited :) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So yep. It's been a pretty amazing week. There have been tons of other little miracles happening all this past week, but those are the big three.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">On Sunday, I received probably the greatest compliment anyone can receive as a missionary. Elder and Sister Anderson are Stake missionaries for the Addiction recovery classes and such, and they are in the 3rd ward. I absolutely love them :) A few weeks ago, Sister Sorensen and I had dinner with them, and yesterday Sister Anderson told me that after we left Elder Anderson said to her, "I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><i>really</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">wish we had someone for them. ... I would trust Sister Hatch with anyone. She is something special." I was blown away! I'm not sure what I have done to deserve that, but I am grateful for the gifts that Heavenly Father has given me to gain the trust of the members so fully. I must strive to keep that trust that they have in me, to teach their friends about the gospel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you very very much!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Hatch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><br /><div><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-75791647846229423422012-04-08T16:32:00.001-07:002012-04-08T16:36:28.468-07:00April 2, 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Dear Mamacita and Papcito,</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm really glad to hear that Don and Rose said they were excited to watch Conference! Sister Stewart's recent updates haven't been too heartening, so I've been worried about them. She said they still come to Sacrament, but they won't stay for the classes, and for a couple of weeks they kept cancelling their appointments. I hope they really did watch Conference. It was FABULOUS! We watched it at the Naperville Stake Center (because it's closer than Joliet which is actually our Stake...) and it was fun because a lot of other missionaries were there and Sister Charles from my last area brought the Woodridge Sisters and food for all of us :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I did get the money from Grandma and Grandpa and I am very grateful for it. I plan on using the birthday money to get a few summer-y things in terms of clothes because I'm starting to realize that what I have is going to be too hot! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So, about this week: My dear sweet companion is named Sister Carlton. She is so awesome! I seriously LOVE her. We get along really well, and I keep forgetting that she's brand new because she's such an incredible missionary already. She's from a tiny town in Kansas called Larnad. She is number 8 of 9 in her family, and her dad died in a car wreck when she was 3. She graduated from BYU-I in early childhood special ed in December. She is super cute and tons of fun. It's great because she's so fresh from the MTC, and I'm still pretty new, so we are figuring things out together, and moving forward with some fun plans to get our wards ready to take the next step in doing missionary work. She has a lot of good ideas and is really excited about the work and the possibilities ahead of us, and it helps me remember my excitement when I first came out and to keep it up, rather than letting it dwindle with time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We had an AWESOME first "official" lesson with Rick on Friday. We taught about the Restoration, and we were able to flow really well together in our teaching, and while sometimes he went off on a few digressions, we were able to bring it back to the Restoration. It's interesting, because we talk so much about "teaching people, not lessons" but then we also talk about how important it is to bring things back to the Restoration, so sometimes it's a tricky balance, but I think we did pretty good. Then he ended up bringing up on his own things that TOTALLY sounded like the Word of Wisdom, so we gave him a pamphlet for it, and told him to read D&C 89. Things worked perfectly into that because we had just given him a large print BoM, but they only make them in triple combination form, and literally at the last second before going in to meet with him, I decided to put some more pamphlets in my backpack, and Sister Carlton must have been inspired to hand me one for the Word of Wisdom. I love little miracles like that :) Then at the end, he gave the prayer, and it was one of the most sincerely searching prayers I have yet heard from an investigator. It was really powerful. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">After Rick, we went to visit a woman named Jane, who loves us and says we are always welcome, but isn't exactly interested in changing religions. I think she totally knows it's true though, she just doesn't want to give up her Catholic traditions - even though she doesn't believe it all! People are funny like that... Anyway, I had been reading the Conference talk by Elder Cook from October, "The Songs They Could Not Sing" and kept thinking about her, because she has been through a lot of really difficult things in her life, and I wanted to give her a copy. We stopped by and ended up having a great lesson with her and invited her to watch Conference. She seemed really interested and I hope she did! She is a really sweet lady, and just fun. But she needs our prayers. She's one of those people that we WANT to visit regularly, but she's not officially investigating, so we can't just go over to hang out, but at the same time we're still always teaching her things about the gospel (oh yeah, and she's already read most of the Book of Mormon!) so I don't know quite what to do. But she's definitely someone we don't want to lose contact with. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The other woman we don't want to lose contact with, but aren't teaching - though again, we're always welcome - is Carla. From the second I met her, I loved her. Sister Sorensen and Sister Carlton were both the same way with her. She knows who God is, and has a great understanding of Jesus Christ and His role as our Savior, but she "cannot" accept the Book of Mormon. She thinks that she can just get her authority from the Bible and that it was never lost from the earth. Other than that though, she is spot on with pretty much everything else we have talked about. She and her husband are in Brazil for two weeks and they are going back to the place where he had his "spiritual awakening". We are praying that that site will continue to be sacred ground for them, and that somehow they will have another Spiritual awakening wherein they desire to read from the Book of Mormon to see if it is true. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And now back to Friday... After Jane, we stopped by a less active Sister in the same neighborhood, but she wasn't home. We had planned to just tract her street afterward before moving on to the area that was closer to where we would be having dinner. When she wasn't home, we walked back to the car to grab our tracting bags, but both ended up just getting in. I had this weird, uneasy, kind of creepy feeling and I didn't like it. I had worked in that neighborhood before (that's how we found Jane) and had even been on that street before and felt totally safe, but something was not right. I was trying to decide if I was just feeling like that because I didn't really want to tract right then, or if there was something else going on. I expressed to Sister Carlton that I was feeling kind of uneasy about the area, and she said she felt that way too, so we quickly started the car and left. We went to the area we had planned to work later in the day, and after listening to a couple of hymns, everything was better and the creepy feeling left. I had heard about missionaries feeling warned about certain areas before, but I had never experienced anything like that before, so it kind of freaked me out at first. I don't know what would have happened if we had stayed, but I'm glad that I don't have to find out. I am grateful that we were both in tune enough with the Spirit to recognize his warning and that we were able to remain safe and protected. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">On a happier note, this morning we were studying the Christlike attributes section of PMG (Preach My Gospel) and our focus was on Hope. We had a really awesome study, and I encourage you all to study that chapter (Ch 6). As we read through the scriptures and talked about it, I came to realize the significant relationship between Hope and Eternal Life. The scriptures tell us that if we want to have eternal life, we HAVE to have hope. I had never realized that before! Hope in Jesus Christ and His Atonement is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><i>essential</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">to obtaining eternal life. And as we talked about it, we came to the conclusion that hope in eternal life (that through the atonement and resurrection we can all obtain eternal life) is really the only thing there is to have hope IN. Everything else comes back that - to our Heavenly Father's Plan for us. I don't know if that is making any sense, but it was an epiphany for me. Eternal Life really</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><i>is</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">the greatest gift God can give us. And so it is in eternal life, through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we have hope. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Happy Birthday to Alan! I hope it was a fun day with all the Conference goodness imaginable!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Today we are going to dye Easter Eggs with the Woodridge Sisters using the dye Shar and the Girls sent me for my birthday :) I'm excited. Happy Easter on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Spring.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love yous! (I told you the "yous" thing is a Chicago thing, right?)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Hatch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-81189135531780561262012-03-26T16:34:00.005-07:002012-03-26T17:10:11.246-07:00Pictures to go with the Previous post.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLAtZ-i1WOWziXUbALmVwI0HX7wbmHT1ppFBdRhnppKxm8Tox7DT9erBTwaf8Wa6dpK7sHcE1kNF8fI1yomGCuVaVJ8x_1WTZC2tRBENH8NM4tiCurSGARPXCRgP3NHFHYQsRo1UWFXw/s320/IMG_8213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724354340815492850" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOwyvx61OMNhulxOu95h0sfjjOzFSDeCMLyWWoWs90wvp5YT27dOfgLtez2aHEsU9RYxKiclB7Dev_A2iRWqf3NWRuMyJq9E3rNuGmViYuH6jL7Olz91riY10kCKn5EKD0F3H6M3mM-s/s320/IMG_8093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724356919161132194" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUT86F1CUlBg8CAk_AQnAdLeNL91B-echItCK7dwGep8oHtTOLbhEYkck333shCYgp6FocZ93V84YPbrw4JBiC2D8PKuRnreuasLT06xFmlceGR-FIc6ZDqbEbBNCH_mCyTa9fo3kSQ4/s320/IMG_8092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724356929844662114" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Pictures: 1) Marsha and her girls: Morgan (yellow), Megan (blue), and Madison (brown) 2)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">having a picnic at lunch 3) getting caught in the wind at our picnic...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> 4-5) Tracting in the rain... </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUDg_ciP6sZDTwf59i3TxkLi7_iKiczQ-vGRzYp0JYXCuagaHxnzIy3-KZxeXmVnmiMU8rpxXxQlgZGnkOmU7AIT3Fs2R7Bfu7pY_IxbVo-GAmTbyjGR8enVfj1G0iR6indktPWEENeU/s1600/IMG_8182.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUDg_ciP6sZDTwf59i3TxkLi7_iKiczQ-vGRzYp0JYXCuagaHxnzIy3-KZxeXmVnmiMU8rpxXxQlgZGnkOmU7AIT3Fs2R7Bfu7pY_IxbVo-GAmTbyjGR8enVfj1G0iR6indktPWEENeU/s320/IMG_8182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724354365732784386" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppUseyk4suuzUfRvfFCmxe1WQI74wMa2Rkb2Ih3SOasOsVbq6nafvGSyqFbOeHUL-9Q8zHXAHMR8Hjzl0RH13fvB_fgSMqPOYFPuDbztXB0W1pOv8fG2Hc04fZnbDXajT5GCX0sChP_o/s320/IMG_8183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724354347781833234" />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-41720887699352331972012-03-26T14:21:00.002-07:002012-03-26T14:27:34.695-07:00Night Terrors or Training Terrors!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>1021</o:Words> <o:characters>5823</o:Characters> <o:company>McAlvain Construction</o:Company> <o:lines>48</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>11</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>7151</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A">Just kidding, I'm not having any nightmares. But I will be TRAINING this transfer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bahhh! What the heck?! I don't know what I'm doing well enough to TRAIN someone else!! Everyone was predicting it, and I sort of had the feeling but kept denying it... but after President Doll called Saturday night and said that he would like me to train, there was no more chance for denial. It's kind of like everything else has been with new big changes for my mission: I feel like I should feel more scared than I do about this. There are 3 or 4 new English Sisters coming in, so I don't who I'll be training yet. President Doll will decide tonight after he meets and interviews them all, and then tomorrow I will go to a short "training" on training and then I will meet her and bring her back to my area! I've never even been Senior companion so this will be quite a change for me. I'm excited though to meet her and to embark on this new phase of my mission. Sister Sorensen is leaving tomorrow, and that is sad because we've had a lot of fun together, but new adventures await with my new greenie!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Thanks to Shar and the girls for their WONDERFUL package! It was super fun. The lights, the cupcakes with their cute little paper wrapper things... it was all perfect. And I LOVE the notes and pictures! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Thank you for you letter last week Danny. It was just what I needed. Your letters always come at the perfect time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Mom - I got a card from Brother and Sister Williams. Will you tell them "Thank you!" for me?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Now that I am finally back in full health and don't have crazy other things to report on, I might actually have time to tell you about a few of the people we are working with here in Naperville! A lot of the work we are doing is with a couple of recent converts and a less active family. Lee is married to a member (Tiffani) and he got baptized in January and Courtney lives next door to a member (our current ward mission leader) and he got married in December. They are both AWESOME! Courtney is this big man who used to be in the military - a navy seal and sniper. INTENSE, right? Well the gospel has completely changed his life, and now he is this big teddy bear and one of the sweetest, kindest, most gentle people you will ever meet. His wife and daughter have not been baptized, but we're hoping that they will continue to be more interested as they continue to watch the changes and improvements it has made in Courtney's life. Every time we go over there, either Sister Sorensen or I end up crying because the things he says are so sweet and the spirit that is there is so strong. Yes I know that crying is not the only sign of the Spirit being present, but that's the best way I can express how truly wonderful he is. I wish you could all meet him! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">The less active family we are working with are the B.....s. Andrew B is 8 and will be getting baptized on April 27th. Both the parents are converts, and they have been less active for a long time and the dad is totally inactive. When the two older kids, Aaron and Amanda, were 8 they met with the missionaries to be ready for baptism, because the mom wanted them to be baptized, but then soon after, they would go inactive again (the dad never coming during any of this...) But now that Andrew is getting ready to be baptized, the whole family (excluding the dad) is really getting into church. Aaron and Amanda LOVE mutual and Aaron was just asked to be in the Teacher's Quorum presidency. Sister Sorensen and I got to teach him about the Priesthood because he didn't really know anything about it, and it was really cool. When we visit with Andrew to go through the lessons - now we have finished them and are just going through Book of Mormon stories with him - his mom, Amanda, and younger sister Allie sit in too, and Aaron joins if he's home. It's really great to see how well Sister B has taught her children in the gospel even though her husband isn't helping her and they were less active for so many years. We are really hoping that this time they will stick with it and that with Aaron soon receiving the Priesthood that the dad's heart will be softened and he will come back too. They are a really fun family and I'm excited for Andrew to get baptized. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">We have a new investigator!!!! His name is Rick. One day a couple of weeks ago, we had less than 10 minutes before dinner to tract this street. We realized we obviously couldn't get much done in that time, so we decided to each choose three houses and then compare. We each said our own little prayer and then chose our three houses. We ended up picking ALL THREE of the same houses! Super cool, right? Then we had to decide which one to start with, and we both felt like we should try the blue house first. We knocked, and there we met Rick. He had heard of the church before because he knew a few members in college and they had given him a Book of Mormon. He had also recently heard something on the radio about the destruction in America at the time of Christ's death and visitation to the Nephites and so that sparked some questions. We told him where to read and then had to run off to dinner. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">The next week (last week) we decided we wanted to finish tracting Waupaca, and after having literally NO ONE talk to us, Sister Sorensen suggested we go see if Rick was home. We knocked again, and he came right outside. He grabbed some chairs and we ended up having a really great lesson on his front porch. He was asking us questions that covered pretty much all of the lessons, which generally we like to stay a little more focused and not discuss baptisms for the dead and such in the first lesson, but we let his questions be our guide and it turned out really great. He said we could come back this Friday so now he is considered a new investigator! We are hoping to take a member with us and that we can get him to watch General Conference at their house with us this weekend. We are really excited to start teaching him more. He has a few quirky ideas - some of which remind me of Don - but also a lot of really good ideas. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Vermell sadly is moving out of our area this week :(</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">Have I told you about Marsha? Tell me if I haven't and I tell you about her next week. She's awesome. I love that family.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 17px; ">I love, love, LOVE you!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT; color:#1A1A1A">Sister Ali</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-29436644614696059602012-03-20T07:10:00.005-07:002012-03-20T07:40:19.952-07:00Idaho for my Birthday:)<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahwADrFYAHQ22yq0FIZnpIrwYUFMybOSQthMhvbKQmuYuyuQgF3ET0NyfZ6k936lDsiwHUyzar1AZYckl9cjcwXaxN5VNvtZz-JCQ3b0sc1si5U7XEnzi0Q_Syo68OTFR2CfGxexiJ4Q/s200/IMG_0187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721983609322398338" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8DFrT0XtQK4dyhOFDrXpwPSVCmKjQAmHGThy-_NK8KC5OXwUkoVUrZ88i4w0mc1eUh-NJ-ByDYNhFjRuY528p7KuiHkg2rpSb7Ze8hFZU_FAh3pQaNZwgK05Ii8Oc_BNuNrtGxHKAlc/s200/IMG_0214.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721983623339267394" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MH5OcQ8CoQhNM1np9KTrQtZC1b6qdpItMzaGt1Fn2tHIjQ0sRgenc2kkwTKWYdM7W06spLOfcUGIl5DYtNA0NUp-ke8Cqfp8ptjzlkQiEpFjN3B-YRO9ozf76u940ppa2Y9SBe5E0N4/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MH5OcQ8CoQhNM1np9KTrQtZC1b6qdpItMzaGt1Fn2tHIjQ0sRgenc2kkwTKWYdM7W06spLOfcUGIl5DYtNA0NUp-ke8Cqfp8ptjzlkQiEpFjN3B-YRO9ozf76u940ppa2Y9SBe5E0N4/s200/IMG_0218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721983623967718994" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNxLjTzi8HIiQyg6_JfxdKEUY8YDrzPkA0JjadXli0pxLAGfujCkYIkOfGsqMpIf9rLMSkzWxBD5Apnn4-93al10vFrPXXYgevpK7nqRrKOx4QWjZClr4sSqG94y15vjsX1G959UogIc/s200/IMG_0265.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721983640685791922" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6O72c3cg8nlXg5akjzw6GzhKjTWn1KctOfT58ecU-SeikEcPyw-0y45CZ-yF8IsoT0gIVHK3iI-qvdCeXYd6TDaVMEt4e5Acs4I6kLl35itM7CtOlVmk64h3IyP9wNzuKk1ACC1phebw/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6O72c3cg8nlXg5akjzw6GzhKjTWn1KctOfT58ecU-SeikEcPyw-0y45CZ-yF8IsoT0gIVHK3iI-qvdCeXYd6TDaVMEt4e5Acs4I6kLl35itM7CtOlVmk64h3IyP9wNzuKk1ACC1phebw/s200/IMG_0190.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721983611304357682" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Thank you Alicia for that ADORABLE picture of Norah!!!! I took a picture of the picture just so I could have it on hand at all times to show people how awesome my family is.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Oh Mom! I got a letter from Sister Hopkins a couple weeks ago, and I haven't been able to write her back yet. Will you tell her that I got it though? It was so fun to get such an unexpected letter! She's cute.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">My birthday started off with Sister Sorensen making me banana pancakes. We had strawberries and whipped cream on top and they were delicious. While we ate I opened your package and it was so fun!!!!!! I laughed at how well you know me with all the perfect things you sent. Like the almonds. And Reeses. And Harry Potter bag. And those organic things are actually pretty good! The bunny crackers taste like Dunkaroos! All I need is some frosting...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Then we headed off to Zone Conference in Joliet and it was really good. It was so fun to see everyone. All the Senior couples were there and knew it was my birthday and they were all so cute and nice to me. It was fun. The best part - and this is truly a miracle and Heavenly Father at work - was that the ward that was serving lunch was the Woodridge 2nd ward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was incredible. Sister Anderson and Sister Phillips (the R.S. Pres) were there and several other women that I knew well. It was perfect. And then they all got to come in and sit at the back of the chapel for our musical number, which was really nice. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">We ended up singing the same song we did in church last week which was a really pretty arrangement of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives". It went really well. This is also a true miracle, because we gave Elder Harmon (our district leader) the music for it the day before. We were going to do another song, but it just wasn't working out. So we changed, and he was willing to do it, because it was my birthday :) He did AMAZING and I know the Lord answered our prayers to help learn it so well so fast. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Don and Rose also sent a present with Sister Stewart and Sister McCluskey and that was really fun too. They are funny.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">We had dinner that night with the Brown family and they were tons of fun. The Dad is overseas in the army, so the Grandma is staying with them to help with the kids. She is from Chile and doesn't speak any English, so we had some fun translating sessions... We didn't tell them it was my birthday, but she had just happened to have cupcakes, so when I went to the bathroom, Sister Sorensen told her, and she got out a candle and they all sang to me in Spanglish. It was really fun. The funny part is, they live on Idaho street, so I got to go to Idaho for my birthday! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">The weather has been amazing, but the humidity is starting to set in, and I see what uncle Alan meant by there only being two good weeks of weather normally... I may need you to send my extra watch link before my arms swell up to much! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">St. Patrick's day was great too. Sister Gallup knew how much I like the holiday and I had mentioned how we turn everything green, so when we got to their house for dinner, everything was as green as she could make it! It was really fun. They also had a birthday cake for me! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I have to get some follow-up bloodwork in a couple of weeks until my levels are back to normal, but otherwise I'm doing good.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I love you all so much! I am so grateful to have you for my family. Thank you for your prayers and your love and support.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Love, Sister Hatch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Pictures: 1) the musical number crew from Zone Conference 2) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">the Daffodils are blooming everywhere!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> 3) St. Patrick's day with the Gallups! 4) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> Forsythia! Thinking of you Momma :) 5</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">) Dinner with the Browns</span></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-55534309713316453482012-03-13T14:14:00.004-07:002012-03-13T14:28:16.075-07:00Greetings from Land of Springtime!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnSqZS3WDiKlckIcshN1GB0ypT7FuoMyv5KAuFirvTt6lcsQNL2Eqy56qXCn41FTckttl_V8T6AIr4-sbe3I2xVRLHPBBTS15dDAGBfF_v1vgGqZgDjBTzj59ojx0hkDU3tqhsdqSsqA/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnSqZS3WDiKlckIcshN1GB0ypT7FuoMyv5KAuFirvTt6lcsQNL2Eqy56qXCn41FTckttl_V8T6AIr4-sbe3I2xVRLHPBBTS15dDAGBfF_v1vgGqZgDjBTzj59ojx0hkDU3tqhsdqSsqA/s200/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719495768172824114" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Dearest Familia,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I'm in Heaven. Weather-wise that is. It is BEAUTIFUL here! And warm enough to not wear a coat. I feel so free! It's supposed to get up to 70 this week and I hope it happens on Thursday because Heavenly Father knows all I ever really want for my birthday is for it to be warm and sunny. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I got your letters with the talk and the birthday package. Thank you so much. The letters and the talk were perfect and just what I needed. I am so grateful to have parents who know me so well and know just what I need when I need it. Thank you for being close to the Spirit so that you could know just what to say. I've been feeling pretty good this week, and Sister Doll, the mission doctor, and my doctor have all said that I should just work as I can and not to feel bad if I can't. I'm grateful that this week I was able to work. Saturday morning was rough though, I'll admit. Sister Sorensen was getting a cold, and to save her voice so that we could still sing in church yesterday, she wasn't really talking and would just sign to me until I figured out what she was saying. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I started out feeling fine, but by the time I was done with my shower and ready for the day, I was suddenly exhausted and not feeling well. This was not good in combination with Sister Sorensen not feeling well, but we went out and did a few stop by's anyway. Then we came home for lunch and she fell right asleep. I made a quesadilla and then I re-read your letters (they came on Friday) and then read through the talk because I hadn't had time to read it before. Then I laid down for a bit, and when Sister Sorensen woke up we headed back out, and despite neither of us feeling well, we pushed through it and worked anyway. And little by little, her voice started coming back, and I ended up feeling great by the end of it all. She was still a little sick, but my energy came back pretty well. I am grateful that we pushed through and were able to have a good day. We found a potential new investigator (PNI) who we'll be meeting with on Wednesday and met another really neat lady who might come to church some time with her friend who is also not a member. And we were able to set up an appointment with a less active family that we stopped at.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">So quickly about my health: The last blood tests show that my TSH and the liver stuff is still off, but slightly improved. When I went on Friday they only took 2 tubes of blood this time! And we'll know in the next day or two what to make of everything. There is a cool story though that goes with my hospital visit on Friday. Sister Sorensen kept joking that we had to keep going back to get more tests because we hadn't met the right person yet - because every time we go, she pulls out her Book of Mormon, or the Ensign, in hopes that someone will ask her questions, but no one ever does. So when we found out we had to go back a THIRD time, she said, "well 3rd time's a charm, right?" A lady came in to the waiting room a little after us, but she was watching the TV so we didn't really talk much. Then they called me in. One of the phlebotomists was the one who did it last time, so we started talking, and then out of nowhere she asked me if our church still had the Family History Center. Yes, they do! I responded and then both of them started talking about how they need to get more into that. I told them to visit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://familysearchindexing.org/">familysearchindexing.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">and if I wasn't remembering that website correctly,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://mormon.org/">mormon.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">would at least have a link to it. So hopefully they actually visit the website! Then they were done and as I was walking out, the lady from the waiting room was being called in. I noticed that she had a really cute scarf, so I told her I thought it was cute.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">She then took it off her neck, and handed it to me! Saying, "well here, take it." I tried to tell her that was alright, but she insisted I keep it. It was so nice of her!!!!! I meant to take a picture, but I forgot... Anyway, Sister Sorensen told me as we were walking out, that she had ended up talking to the lady about the Priesthood while I was in there. ! She had commented that I was too young to be sick and having all these health problems, and then they started talking about prayer and how that helps, and then S. Sorensen told her a little about the Priesthood and how that is something that really helps us too. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">So third time really was a charm :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Congratulations to Orchid!! That is very exciting. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Dad forwarded me an email from Deb & Dan just before I left Woodridge and I printed it out and gave a copy to Don and Rose, and they really enjoyed it. Rose had been wondering about being able to let go of her old traditions from her Catholic school days, and some of the things Uncle Dan wrote really made me think of her. So will you thank them for helping my missionary efforts through their missionary efforts when you see them? And tell them that I love them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Sheeshee - there is a little girl in our ward named Norah, and she looks a lot like you did (according to pictures I've seen) when you were little. She's about 2, so she's about as big as your Norah will be when I get home. Weird! She's super cute though, and it makes me excited to meet her and know her when she's so big. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">One of our members (the ones that asked us to sing in church - which went okay by the way) made us these tasty honey-lime enchiladas for dinner and told us that she got the recipe from her cousin's blog which actually has become so popular now that she made into a url address. I thought you might like to see explore it and see if there is anything you like because she said her cousin makes really good food. It's :</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://melskitchencafe.com/">melskitchencafe.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I don't know if I've told you about Marsha or not, but she's awesome. She lives sandwiched between two members who have been working on her for a while. She grew up with a really strong religious background and has taught her girls to pray and all that. She has an amazing testimony of Jesus Christ, and last week we found out that she already knows the Book of Mormon is true! We invited her to be baptized when she comes to know that these things are true, and she said, "Well I already know it's true. And that Joseph Smith was a prophet." So she said she would be baptized, we just haven't set a date yet. And we are working on getting her to church, but this weekend her little girl, Madison, got sick so she couldn't come. She DID say the prayer though at the end of our lesson, which was HUGE! She has never been willing before (it's the out loud part that scares her, not the concept of praying) and she finally said it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I love you very very much! I'm looking forward to opening my birthday package on Thursday :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">hugs and kisses to everyone!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Sister Hatch</span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-91554730874440761182012-02-28T05:42:00.003-08:002012-02-28T06:00:14.991-08:00<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcSzcGq8oEAJ4XI3CMUJO1C0lKGiR0mstxmRGJq94ir9zVDENQc2jsH7zwa0ntv3Dmzc8WdLcEe-uAUD4KMN4YL7zQJpUemg5M6IelVa7w9lEMVtWFnqpOd1FG2vz0bGpbdWyRDLXesE/s200/IMG_0055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714183032215579842" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5ad3v7kfOuDK-FaRcHAK5x5tKFCH4hVFu5c4fyJWqEgjSF3xG3RLZmVB5eWuNR14Q7PDbi-ke-DXG_mXa0Efr7LJ8ZIiJID3d1Fn12GtRj1AxApbX4FR95o4YpIG3Ftk4gNWcUY5Xo/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5ad3v7kfOuDK-FaRcHAK5x5tKFCH4hVFu5c4fyJWqEgjSF3xG3RLZmVB5eWuNR14Q7PDbi-ke-DXG_mXa0Efr7LJ8ZIiJID3d1Fn12GtRj1AxApbX4FR95o4YpIG3Ftk4gNWcUY5Xo/s200/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714183073944530338" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> I did get your letter with all the fun Olympics stuff! That sounds like a really great activity and I was glad to see there was such a big emphasis on the investigator FHE :) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">That is so exciting that the 16th ward is having so many baptisms!! And I am very excited for Orchid :) Tanya's letters have been great. I really enjoy getting them, I just don't always have a ton of time to write back, but I am hoping to get to writing her back one of these days! Just let her know in the mean time, that I really appreciate them. How are the Elders finding people to teach and baptize? Are they knocking doors? Or are they member referrals? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Naperville is a tough area for finding on our own. We NEED the members involvement to get anywhere with these people! They are so busy and suspicious that they rarely open the door for us, and if they do they are interested. Those that say they are interested just end up not being there when they tell us to come back. So we need the members - badly. The last three baptisms the 2nd ward had were all member related and we're thinking the only way we're going to get another 3 is if we can get referrals from the members and start teaching them in their homes. The great thing about this, is that the members are already SO GOOD at talking to their friends and neighbors about being members of the church! They invite them to church and activities, and they aren't shy at all about letting people know they are Mormon. Now we just have to figure out how to take that willingness to share into finding people to actually teach. It's hard not teaching anyone right now. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Brother O..., the Ward Mission Leader (WML) in the 2nd ward is working on a really great program right now to get the members more involved and ready to share the gospel. He wants to do a dry run in April of an event called "Meet the Mormons" where they use</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://mormon.org/">mormon.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">style videos to talk about what it means to be a Mormon and really let people know that we focus on Jesus Christ. Then, once the members know what the event is actually going to be like, they'll be more willing to invite their friends (and they'll know what to tell them about it) because they will already know what it's going to be like and they won't have to wonder if anything crazy is going to happen! We're really excited about it and we're hoping the 3rd ward will want to join as well. Right now we're thinking we'll have workshops and things after the presentation to help the members set up profiles on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://mormon.org/">mormon.org</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">and other things to help prepare for the actual event, but we aren't sure what all of the workshops should be. Any ideas?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Sister Sorensen and I volunteered to do the musical number at our Zone Conference in March which happens to be on my birthday! She has a beautiful voice and we have a lot of fun singing together. I'm a little nervous though because the last couple months my voice has been acting weird... It sounds like I have a sore throat all the time, but it's not scratchy at all. M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">y doctor asked me about my speaking voice because she noticed the scratchy sound. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">It's like there's something in the middle of my throat that my voice has to get over every time I sing. I can still sing the low notes, and I can still sing the high notes, but I can't sing the ones in the middle. It is very annoying. See what you can find out about weird voice changes like the one I described? That would be great if you can find anything for me to even ask about.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">The doctor said I also have mono. Awesome, right? I don't feel like I have mono though, because I'm not super exhausted, but the test came back positive so I guess that must be right. All the heart tests came back negative, so that's good at least! There were a few elevated numbers of some enzymes in my liver and my thyroid, but the accompanying antibodies with that particular thyroid elevation were not present so they aren't sure what's going on there. She is having get more bloodwork done on Wednesday to re-test those things. We'll see what happens! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">about the pictures:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">1) We went to a baptism in Prestbury (S. Sorensen's last area) and all the Sisters sang a medly of I Need thee Every Hour and When I am baptized and some Tongan song. The little boy Julian was one of Sister Sorensen's recent convert's sons.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">2) self explanatory... this is just awesome.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">3-5) The 3rd ward had an Iron Chef activity on Saturday and we were the judges. The rule was that everyone who made something had to team up with a less active or a non member. It was really fun. The prizes were chef hats with the label of what category they won. They also had some cool silhouette decorations on the walls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I love you lots and lots and lots!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Ich hab euch lieb!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Schwester (Sister) Hatch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4mj-UmAmDYITGLgYVmjTHwriiseRtp638aN8ehwVt7HXXlr8wbpzCzoJdowIW-53QorxXjsb_xfulEMLojugbIn9JAMuqJPfys9DZ1Zcdj5qaxfE9wLlvNZexG_6y5o1DVfEwIeUaPo/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4mj-UmAmDYITGLgYVmjTHwriiseRtp638aN8ehwVt7HXXlr8wbpzCzoJdowIW-53QorxXjsb_xfulEMLojugbIn9JAMuqJPfys9DZ1Zcdj5qaxfE9wLlvNZexG_6y5o1DVfEwIeUaPo/s200/IMG_0066.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714183067960185922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSlVM2Jvcqe9XkKyDyuRZiRRPGeHq4-_a_o2B8BYWbdaks5WTMpGTh79GOuc9Wg6VxEIpo1ER_T1BPSaBIBOCeca9p2YOejS6uf4IQScTxdWbGRupgz4GTzfIXbu494iK7A5rIsuBcg8/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSlVM2Jvcqe9XkKyDyuRZiRRPGeHq4-_a_o2B8BYWbdaks5WTMpGTh79GOuc9Wg6VxEIpo1ER_T1BPSaBIBOCeca9p2YOejS6uf4IQScTxdWbGRupgz4GTzfIXbu494iK7A5rIsuBcg8/s200/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714183056880453154" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBipuuuAmREo19HHP7EtnEgfBTlb3w_K2Rxegl8W8RmT8tdK9ev1D3ylGSfMDa3j02fqpKMaBdldxDgtX0qa945OYTmnjVzti8xY5sZNBqoOS6SIQO-yy1LxvcxOlbAv-oxFeF2m-0wY/s200/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714183039645294130" />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-85317902158448377282012-02-13T14:57:00.000-08:002012-02-13T15:27:04.247-08:00So you're probably all wondering how I ended up in the ER...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqoeaEow-fmLHa16EYfr24EJ8quEh2Jrh48q_RKMXv5LaVUHZV7m7XxUUIx6owHv-XbWrmBOtlShhTk1tlBDAfVcIYG7VvWvMLcccJv8eSQRnMzKFctu3FTh9upiU95NTulvepFbcSSQ/s1600/IMG_0019%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqoeaEow-fmLHa16EYfr24EJ8quEh2Jrh48q_RKMXv5LaVUHZV7m7XxUUIx6owHv-XbWrmBOtlShhTk1tlBDAfVcIYG7VvWvMLcccJv8eSQRnMzKFctu3FTh9upiU95NTulvepFbcSSQ/s200/IMG_0019%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708759845089475346" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21OxRJ-B1j-VMpHHv13zm17jiD0SC-aoxqRRc3aI50kOQbBH43EMVaPFpe2v2rwMzBUNUE9PXKrGkZElmqCMj2Rm498WlOyXksuj4-njwkm9yAYHSBW-OCfrLT1HECmt8zMyGxhSfJfo/s200/IMG_0017%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708759839002313602" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Dear Mom and Dad (and everyone el</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">se),</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm sorry to hear that Dad has been so sick. It was kind of funny though, because I had a little bit of a cold last weekend, and I thought, oh how interesting that we are all sick at the same time! It must be our family's way of staying connected or something even though we're a thousand miles apart. And then it wasn't so funny anymore - and it wasn't just a cold. And so here is the story of how I ended up at the ER and all the accompanying aftermath:</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Tuesday morning, 1:30 am. I wake up in excruciating pain coming from every single muscle in my body. My arms, my legs, my back, even my fingers and toes. Every movement sent sharp pains throughout my body. After 2 hours of this, I finally accepted the fact that things just weren't getting any better. I was about to wake up Sister Stewart when she actually woke up on her own, because the pain was so bad that my breathing had changed enough to tip her off that something was wrong. We decided to call someone for a blessing. I can't tell you how grateful I am to be serving in an area where I know that I can call someone for a blessing at 3:45 in the morning and it will be no problem at all. We were able to get a hold of Brother Brown, and he and his son came right over. The two things I remember from the blessing were that 1) those caring for me would be creative in the methods they used and 2) there would be no lasting damage from this, whatever it is. Then we called Brother Ioannou because he is an MD to get his opinion on what we should do. Anyway, we called him, and he said to go to the ER because he was afraid it might be something that could turn really serious really fast. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">4:30 am ish we arrive at the hospital. Brother Brown and his son had helped me get into my coat, down the stairs and into the car, then led the way as we followed them to the ER. I could barely walk, so they got me a wheelchair at the hospital, and helped us get inside and started on the checking in process. I am so grateful for them!! We could not have done it alone.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I got checked in and the nurses and doctor asked me a few questions and then determined that it was probably just a bad virus, so there really wasn't anything they could do. They took a sample just to check if anything showed up but when they didn't see anything, they released me. They had given me some Motrin so the pain wasn't so bad by that point, but it was still pretty bad. All day Tuesday I slept. Every hour or so I would wake up and eat something, but then just went right back to bed. Sister Stewart was great and would bring everything to me, because I didn't have the strength to get up. Not only did my whole body hurt, but I was very weak. That night I got a fever (even while on ibuprofen) but it eventually broke and that seemed to be the worst of it. Then Wednesday I started noticing a tightness in my chest that hadn't been there before. I called Brother Ioannou just to make sure it was nothing to worry about. After describing to him what all had happened, but that I have been having some aches in my wrists and knees for several months now (just never to that magnitude) he suggested I go see a doctor. His guess was that this is more than just a virus and based on the blessing Brother Brown gave me, that's what I was thinking too. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Thursday I called Dr. Weinberg's office and they happened to have an appointment available Friday morning. I took it! Her office is in Naperville, just west of us. We went Friday morning, and I explained the situation to her. I don't remember exactly how she said it, but basically her point was that yes, there are a lot of viruses going around, and my body is entitiled to one just like everyone else's, but that there are about a million OTHER things that could be causing this, and she thought we should find out what it is. She ordered a BUNCH of crazy blood/lab work to be done including checking my thyroid, as well as an ultrasound of my heart (2D echo) and an EKG. I'm having that done on Wednesday, and then I'll have another appointment with her after the results are in.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm doing much betternow, and I can move relatively pain free, though my fingers and toes are still swollen and I feel like I've jammed them. It's weird too because it's worse in the morning and gets better throughout the day.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Conveniently her office is in Naperville which is where I just got transferred to. That's right, I'm being transferred tomorrow. I will still be in the Joliet Stake, and in fact I will still be in the same District! Just a new area... It will be nice to get updates from Sister Stewart on how everyone is doing. She will be training - so Woodridge gets two greenies in a row!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We got the call late Saturday, so Sunday at church I had to tell everyone I would be leaving. It was really hard to say goodbye to Don and Rose, and Rose got teary, which then made me teary (because we all know I'm just a waterworks waiting to happen). I've promised them like 17 times that when I'm done with my mission I'm coming back to visit - and I intend to keep that promise. They have become so special to me! It breaks my heart that I won't get to see them, and Jasmine and Cierra and Tina (who also came to church yesterday!) continue in their journey of progressing in the gospel. I feel like they're mine - It's not that I don't trust Sister Stewart and other future missionaries to take care of them, because I do, it's just hard to leave them behind. They're all special too because they are my first few investigators and the ones that I have gone the farthest with. Yes, we've taught a lot of other people, but these few are the ones that have stuck, and they will stick with me. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Oh! I forgot to add, that in the midst of all my crazy health issues, Sister Stewart has been having her own lovely array of complications. She is going to the doctor for a few things. So this week has been ultra crazy between my ER visit, her doctor, my doctor, her bloodwork, and scheduling more work for both of us. Coordinating all that with Sister Doll AND the mission doctor Elder Craner. And we had to get a new phone because ours was going berzerk.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So, while we didn't get much work done this week as far as usual missionary work goes, we still ended up with 9 lessons (the mission standard of excellence is 20) and FIVE investigators at church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's the part that makes me most excited. That's the most we've ever had, and they all had a really good time. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So yeah... I think that about covers it. It is starting to get colder, but still not much snow. When it gets in the teens though, and the wind blows, I like to call it "March of the Penguins" Cold. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm just really excited to work with Sister Sorensen. She is in my district, so I already know her pretty well and she's great :). Sheonly has one transfer left though and will be going home at the end of March.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm glad to hear theTenney household is doing better! And I hope Dad gets doing better soon as well! I told you I got Sue's package, right? It was so fun! And how are the New Yorkers doing? I love hearing from you all! And tell Grandma and Grandpa thanks for the letter a few weeks ago! I haven't gotten to writing them back yet...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! miss you! But mostly, I just really really love you.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Hatch</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZBZjL6zB3uwewicjnvhkiJwJ4r8wOn7W98ZerlDwadbQAo3h8pQRNW6QyiVx9A98Xg60MWE1dY-NGqgP2LSRm-xpdK83P4_WbBPpI6NbaOF-iQoMhyJb3wvkXlvNq74yD1NNe4LMzSM/s1600/IMG_0013%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZBZjL6zB3uwewicjnvhkiJwJ4r8wOn7W98ZerlDwadbQAo3h8pQRNW6QyiVx9A98Xg60MWE1dY-NGqgP2LSRm-xpdK83P4_WbBPpI6NbaOF-iQoMhyJb3wvkXlvNq74yD1NNe4LMzSM/s200/IMG_0013%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708759834534074466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrCu6g5wLD1tzBdqCSVxrJfBl0eTGgEC44hiW90ncuc3HNWk1x2-3AX8AeGWWQJcTSW0PHlbELUbbJcq_zfkccC_VM5nnywceZIRzi1PuU9KT9iq04f1AhewoCzjDKUaGeT3fAcryAC4/s1600/IMG_0007%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrCu6g5wLD1tzBdqCSVxrJfBl0eTGgEC44hiW90ncuc3HNWk1x2-3AX8AeGWWQJcTSW0PHlbELUbbJcq_zfkccC_VM5nnywceZIRzi1PuU9KT9iq04f1AhewoCzjDKUaGeT3fAcryAC4/s200/IMG_0007%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708759823339437922" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zNFRFyS26bvChCBlFK-K_cETDloSf78rRCe5AEGG44uVSn5DG4YzFCgpXRLC5vqDxcS2LiPS-uyCb3Kz3ZkGOSV8fpypkS2TcPz1piZqC_XpbLBV6acvKRhmcJhIyuUe33CnxuiXG-s/s200/IMG_0006%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708759814275361730" /><br /><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-11426714098449656982012-02-06T16:10:00.000-08:002012-02-06T16:18:20.099-08:00of Germans, Gin, and Poker Chips.....<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Dearest Familia,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Did our Stake get two more new wards?? Or did Meridian 7&8 just get renamed? Because Brother Davis in his "high counselor" letter said something about a few wards I've never heard of...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Did you see the Janssens in the Ensign?? I was on exchanges and Sister Daley and I were flipping through, and suddenly I saw people I knew! It was very exciting :) </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Jasmine's mom was finally home when we went to teach her!!!! YAY! She sat down with us and we had a great discussion. We gave her a Book of Mormon in French, but I guess she actually reads/understands Creole much better. So now we're working on tracking down a Creole BoM. The Zone Leaders were a little surprised when we asked for that one... :) But really, it was great. She sat down with us, and is really interested in learning too, and very excited to read the BoM. She wanted Jasmine to be able to come to church too, even though she wouldn't be able to take her because she would be at work! And now THAT, my dear friends, in an adventurous story...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We had arranged for Brother and Sister Cox to pick up Jasmine for church because they lived close by, and Sister Cox is a YW advisor. We planned to meet them there, so Jasmine could be introduced before getting in car with people she didn't know (her mom made sure we would only have someone that we trusted pick her up :) which of course we were planning on). We got to Jasmine's and waited for the Cox's to come, but they never came. We tried calling, thinking perhaps they were just late in leaving, but they didn't answer. We called Sister Anderson (who is in YW with her, to see if she had a cell phone number). The only other number she had for Sister Cox, turned out to be a work number. Disappointed and confused, we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would just have to tell Jasmine that we were sorry, but they never showed, and we would just have to try again next week. But when we got to the door, and saw her coming, she was all dressed up and ready and she looked so pretty! It broke my heart to think of telling her we wouldn't be able to get her to church. Thankfully Sister Stewart was closer to the door and said that we would try someone else really quickly. I called the Andersons again, but they didn't answer and must have already left. I didn't know who else to call, because it was getting so late, and everyone that lived by Jasmine had probably already left. I decided to give the Beylers a try, since Sister Beyler and Grace had met Jasmine on an appointment a few weeks ago. Sister Beyler answered!!! She said they were just getting ready to leave, and that they would be right there to pick her up. Hurray! We were saved! The Beylers came a few minutes later, and Sister Beyler told us that they had literally been walking out the door when the phone rang. She almost didn't anwer, but then had the impression that she should. How grateful I am that she heeded that prompting! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The story doesn't end there though. We all got in our cars, and were heading out of the neighborhood, when we see the Coxs, driving the other way, back toward Jasmine's house! Sister Stewart and I turned around, and hailed them down by honking as Sister Cox was walking up to Jasmine's front door. It turns out they had been driving around trying to find her house, but were at the wrong place because they had mis-heard what I described about where she lived. Anyway, they had tried calling and had left us a message, but our phone has been wigging out lately, so we never got the call! Needless to say, by the end of all that, we were late to church, and the ward was all looking at us funny when we walked in, but we got Jasmine to church, and that's all that matters!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And she loved it! And she wants to go to mutual too :) We're pretty excited for her and her family. Hopefully as we start teaching her mom more, we will be able to teach her cousins (who already sit in sometimes) and her aunt and uncle as well. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The other exciting thing about church is that Mario came again, and he brought his roommate with him! So cool. On Thursday we had a lesson with Mario, and he said he's not ready for baptism yet, but that's definitely the direction he's going, and he does want to be a part of the church. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Don and Rose are doing well, though their friend Bill, who has been renting a room from them, just passed away last night. It's sad, but it's also good because Bill was really sick and Rose just couldn't keep taking care of him. Hopefully soon they will be able to find someone else to rent the room from them though, because finances will be really rough without the extra rent income. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Oh... and I suppose I should explain that title, eh? Friday I was on exchanges in Wheaton and Sister Daley and I were stopping by one of their potential investigators. As we were coming out, we started talking to this man in the garage next door, because his dog came out to greet us. We told him who we were and a little about what we do as missionaries. He had lived in Salt Lake years ago, so he knew about the church. He told us that the dog's name was Morgen, as in the German morgen meaning "morning" so then I asked him if he was German. He said his mom and grandmother were, and then asked me in German if I spoke German, and I said, "Ja, ich kann ein bischen. Ich habe zwei Jahren an der Universitaet gestudiert." We spoke in broken German for a while, because neither of ours was very good, and then he offered us a drink of whatever alcoholic beverage he had with him. haha. No thank you sir! (It was in a glass bottle and it was clear, so it was probably Vodka, but Gin sounded better in the title, and I don't REALLY know, so whatever...) And then, this is my favorite part, he gave us both a poker chip. So random! Hahaha. I'm not sure why, but he did. And they're real, legit poker chips. Oh. And his name was Ron :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I'm running out of time, but I love you very very very EXTREMELY much! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Ali Hatch</div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-18268223108067073332012-01-30T18:00:00.000-08:002012-01-30T18:11:31.075-08:00Miracle Monday - and the week that came thereafter<div face="Helvetica" size="medium" style=" "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Let's start with last Monday - Monday night, our investigator Paul calls us. He calls alot, and usually just to talk... but he's a great guy and needs lots of love and support right now. Anyway, he calls and I'm talking to him. He tells me about all these things that he knows aren't right but that following Jesus Christ is right, so then I ask him, since he knows these things are true, if he will be baptized. And he says yes! He was SO excited about it! He knew that it would be a wonderful blessing and he was just so excited! We had to go to an appointment right then, so he said he would pray for the people we were going to teach and that they would want to come to church because of how wonderful it was and everything was really great. Then we get to our appointment - which was with Don's neighbors that he referred us to because they are going to through a hard time right now, etc. Just as we pull up, so does someone else. A family gets out of the car and goes right up to the house we were about to go up to! They went inside, and we're sitting here awkwardly wondering what to do, because obviously our appointment just got company. Just then, Don comes walking up to the car (I have a picture of this, because he was bundled up so funny I couldn't resist) and startles us a bit, but he said he had talked to Jeff and Melissa and they were planning on us coming over, so to "get going!" We knocked on the door, and they let us in - and then ALL 4 of the adults sit down with us! The kids all went to their rooms to play, and Jeff, Melissa, Jennifer and Scott all stayed and talked with us. They had some awesome questions and seemed really interested in coming to church. Jennifer and Melissa even said they would try to come to the RS activity Wednesday night. So from one referral, we got 4 new investigators (TWO families!), and we got someone on date for baptism. All on a preparation day. It was awesome :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And then the rest of the week happened... Jennifer and Melissa didn't come on Wednesday. And they didn't come to church either. Paul cancelled our appointment on Saturday and didn't come to church on Sunday. Cierra didn't come to church on Sunday. Kasey didn't come to church on Sunday. So we went from thinking we would have 7 or 8 investigators at church plus Cierra's mom and aunt, to having 3. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">This week wasn't terrible though, in fact we had some really great appointments. We just also had quite a few disappointments... Mostly everybody falling through on church was the biggest thing. Well and Paul getting all weird over the weekend... but we had and AWESOME appointment with Rose this week and a really great lesson with Cierra which her mom joined at the end. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Rose has started listening to the Book of Mormon on CD while she drives to and from work (and Don just said that they were listening to it while running their errands on Saturday too). We went over on Friday and basically she just wanted to double check her understanding of what she had heard so far. She was amazing! Don was speechless (which NEVER happens) and Sister Stewart and I were just in awe at how much she had listened to and how much she had gotten out of it. It was really cool. They're not on date to be baptized yet, but it really is only a matter of time. I think the only hang-up right now is the Word of Wisdom. They need to quit smoking, but I think even more than that, it is a matter of understanding WHY we aren't supposed to drink coffee. They know smoking is bad for them, but they don't see what the big deal with coffee is. It's hard because Don KNOWS Joseph Smith was a prophet, and has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and I think Rose is really close to that point, but they still haven't quite gotten that if Joseph Smith was a prophet and said we shouldn't drink coffee, then that should be enough. I realize that they have to come to that point on their own. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Bummer about Nate's pneumonia! Awesome birds of prey stories! And that's super funny about Elder Thomas with the cups. hahaha. I got Sue's package today! It came on Tuesday, but I had to wait until today to pick it up, since the post office is out of our area. By like 10 feet mind you, but out of our area nonetheless... </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Cierra is doing great. She was going to come to church on Sunday, but slept through her alarm :( We had an awesome meeting with her on Thursday though. We talked about prayer and she's just awesome. Every question we ask, she has the greatest answers to showing how much she understands her relationship to God and the importance of following Him. Then at the end, her mom came in and sat down with us while we watched some mormon messages. Sister Stewart has a DVD (which by the way, if you can find those DVD's at Deseret Book, I would LOVE them! They are great teaching tools. She has the one with "My New Life" as the last video so if there are others that would be a good place to start... though that one would still be good for when we're not companions anymore) with a bunch of them. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Anyway, Tina likes them, so we watched a couple and then had a really good discussion about forgiveness. 7 months ago, her sister, Samantha, was shot in the head by their mom's husband. It is a complete MIRACLE that she survived. She said that she is no longer angry about it, but that she's still not ready to forgive him. But I think where she's at, is a form of forgiveness. No, they haven't forgotten about it, but they have moved on. There are still suffering from the affects of it, but they are moving on with life. They are helping Samantha with her recovery, and they are a stronger family because of it. Tina and her fiance were going to get married last summer, but then this happened and they are now waiting until Samantha can be in the wedding - standing. Because soon she will be able to stand on her own again. She has made some incredible strides in her recovery in so short a time. This family is AMAZING. We also asked Cierra about baptism again, and she said that she talked to her mom about it, and at first she was pretty against it. But after they came to church, she opened up to it quite a bit. One of our members knew Tina from work - they knew each other well enough to recognize each other at least - and Cierra said that after talking to Sister Dodd, who told Tina she herself was a convert and that joining the church had "changed her life", that she was much more willing to consider Cierra getting baptized. That, on top of the fact that she has been joining us for the mormon messages the last few times, gives us hope that soon we will be able to teach them as a family. Cierra was really awesome too in switching from "student" mode to "teacher" mode when her mom joined and it was cool to see her sharing her testimony a little about these things. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And Mario came to church again! We weren't able to meet with him this week, but he still came to church! And he stayed for Sunday School this time. It was really cool, because the lesson was on baptism, but Sister Smith was focusing a lot on the repentance part - which is somehow I think what Mario needed, even though he totally doesn't have any big sins he needs to repent of or anything. (Mario is the one who when Sister Brown and I first met him, basically told us that he believed in and was living the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity) Anyway, we're going through the lesson, and Sister Smith says something about having a firm testimony. Mario raised his hand and asked if she could "elaborate on 'testimony' " which then led to the whole class having a really great discussion about what it means to have a testimony. Most of the people in there were converts and so it was cool to see them all working together to help Mario, and remembering what it was like for them investigating the church. Hopefully that was what he needed to be confident that he can join the church without knowing everything - but that he knows enough. We'll find out on Thursday. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Don cut our hair this morning and it was really fun. He is so funny and it was just great to be able to give him that joy of being able to practice his trade again. I'll send a few pictures that the other Sisters took. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love LOVE <strong>LOVE</strong> you!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Your littlest one, your missionary, your Sister Ali</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Helvetica","Tahoma","Arial","sans-serif"'; font-family:'";"><span style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-31505821318790459022012-01-23T14:39:00.000-08:002012-01-23T15:12:31.672-08:00<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOEb62n8mV67WBE67w5Dgf4DbY46iiUlHbjiD0_nIOyLCswpl_Ddh_s0e0NfICglSl0ANLTsl8bkgG453PkitiH2NUH-W6LYwCySbn_EHgOkvcro0Ti1t8ePvnxa5Fibya0KOgnzbuZY/s200/Finished+Project.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700964631145194626" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKxl37WVfg7OojjrNa69mSn-afF-minFxtuvrRjh52AoaYJnIt0_8dnjKrwwLQcRGJnOukrkf7Gnr-FyeHirT_MDvf6q1ZZpMs2DAeXXwsLHASNqrKoC2R77J-m8KuCwNwmSKBb7LURk/s200/egg+rolls+cooked.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700964641050303602" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Liebe Familie,</span></div><div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Thank you SO much for your letters last week. They were perfect. I laughed - and cried. And it was great. Thank you for the advice and the words of comfort and love. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Last week I got a new pair of shoes. Don't worry, I didn't spend any money. A less active Philippino lady in our ward gave them to me. Haha. She said she had some shoes for me that she thought would fit me, because they didn't fit her, and I was thinking okay... Sister R...... - you are TINY. How could a pair of shoes intended to fit you <em>possibly</em> fit ME? And what on earth are they going to look like?? This woman is 84 years old mind you. And not that 84 year olds can't look good, but usually they don't have the same kind of shoes as 21 year olds... So the next time we went over, she had the shoes out. And they were Clark's - which is the brand of ALL the shoes I bought for my mission. And they were cute! And they fit <em>perfectly</em>. And I'm wearing them right now :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And speaking of Philippinos... today Sister Stewart and I learned how to make Shanghai rolls (basically egg rolls) with another Philippino sister in our ward. It was super fun. She took us to the Asian grocery store and we mixed the meat and veggies and rolled them and fried them and then ate a TON! It was great. And they are surprisingly easy to make. I'll send a few pictures.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We have a new investigator! His name is Paul. We think his tendencies are possibly the affects of being an alcoholic for many years...? He's been sober for about a year and half though and doing great. He wants to devote his life to Jesus and we are excited to help him in that journey. I think the best way to describe him, is to say that he is childlike. He's hard to keep on target, and to get a straight, simple answer from, but he is completely devoted to God, so definitely worth the struggle of teaching. He calls us all the time. Seriously like 4-5 times a day. But he LOVED church, and he called the other night to say that he knows the Book of Mormon is true! yeah, he's great :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So... random side note... but have you ever seen frost on the INSIDE of a car?? The other morning, we went out to start the car, and all the inside windows were completely covered in frost. It was the weirdest thing! I didn't know that could happen, but I guess that's what happens when you live in a humid place... </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Yes we had our big storm! And it was like the Chicago winter I have been expecting. But then it got warmer again and turned into more of a Boise winter. It has been raining today and most of the snow is melted. Last week it was 8 degrees outside and it snowed all day. We had a Zone Meeting in Joliet on Friday which was when we got hit hard with the snow, so that was an adventure. We got there fine, but by the time we got out of our meeting, there were like 4 inches, and by the end of the night, there were probably 8-10 inches. The weird thing is that the snow is so light! I guess that's what happens when it is SO cold. The snow doesn't stick together at all because it's so frozen that there's no real moisture to it. And then it just blows everywhere. It makes shoveling both easier and harder...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">[This is from my letter to President Doll this week, but I decided to just send it to you as well, so that a) you know a few of the things I'm feeling/thinking about right now, and b) I don't have to retype it]</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">A few "other" concerns: 1) I have been struggling to figure out how to share with people on the doorstep that our doctrine of eternal families is unique. It seems that most people we talk to already believe that they will be with their families again. While I know that we are unique because we actually have the AUTHORITY to make that happen, I don't know how to gracefully share that with people on the doorstep. Any ideas?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br />2) I feel like I'm not feeling the Spirit as much as I should be - or not following it enough in my teaching. I can't decide if this is because I have gotten "the hang of things" a little more now and so I am falling into the trap of leaning on my own understanding, or if this is because I am used to having the Spirit with me so much now as a missionary, that I just don't realize I'm following it. If that makes sense... In retrospect I can see things that I did and said that were definitelyprompted by the Spirit because it turned out to be exactly what that person needed, but I don't ever FEEL like I'm following a spiritual impression. I'm unsure if the Spirit is guiding my ideas for what to teach next, or if it is just me following what seems most logical. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">3) There is so much to pray for!! How can I possibly do it all? I was reading this morning in PMG chapter 4 in the section about praying with faith because I was wondering if perhaps I was trying to pray for too many things for my investigators and our companionship and my family and friends, and I think if anything that made it worse, because then I read about even MORE things I should be praying for. But when do we ever have enough TIME to pray for all that? and still get to bed by 10:30? </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Well I think that's about all for now... I LOVE YOU! And miss you - but not in a distracting way.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Vielen, vielen Liebe!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Hatch</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Pictures: 1) the weird geese statues everyone has here... and a lovely display of the array of clothes they give them. 2) you know you're in a missionary's apartment... when the dresser looks like this :) 3) our deck after the storm. 5) the finished egg rolls </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jlPFZx7OPERIJNbEjrYIfrH4yQTWqI0zkrrCnZQZ5DHpJq9xoBLDodDbpG_B77kmr_Zw_nsShjtQacvZu_SIaYnSyrGrHlOkXYQHsXI0ct8qg4edDU7A6RvxxMXFWtL5f493vzRJ6jg/s1600/geese.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jlPFZx7OPERIJNbEjrYIfrH4yQTWqI0zkrrCnZQZ5DHpJq9xoBLDodDbpG_B77kmr_Zw_nsShjtQacvZu_SIaYnSyrGrHlOkXYQHsXI0ct8qg4edDU7A6RvxxMXFWtL5f493vzRJ6jg/s200/geese.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700964620535102962" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh97wp9WDajDWxRP8qXv6Gy91UvAlWxvP9BmGtRotLkg7VpZFJzn4NqJKSZDGx6We8Dzr3Ctveh2VSb7MHFMujLxTvxC-96duiMRotc2w0AHp7nZ348y3IcwmyYOFddKVIURe-PoafKNs/s200/desk.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700964604204189682" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaxWz3zV77U4IgmSUOj9SZ6jI3s0jJ22ll9TGaGDRRCxzIiyqMA0Ywubyvhtixifwi4P3LvlfDrP881foz0QtqGNeo3Y1scXg9-9oCbmHSnEfgNVP7MS75ov18Zp0gScEQu4pO8mJuZI/s200/snow.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700964615049156146" /><br /><br /><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-87956275139006426252012-01-17T11:41:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:45:59.713-08:00Winter has arrived and God answers prayers<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">It finally feels like winter in Chicago today. We did have one big "Chicago" style snow last week (where it snowed for literally 13 hours straight), but then it warmed up again, and this morning we went running outside for our exercise. Crazy! I walked outside in shorts and flip flops to do my laundry! This should not be possible. Apparently the weather realized what it had allowed me to do though, because it quickly turned cold and now there are little ice balls falling (though more like being driven - becuase of the wind) through the sky. I suppose I can't really complain about it snowing so much last week, because technically I prayed it in. Cierra's mom and step-dad make most of their money for the year by shoveling snow. We haven't had ANY snow yet worth shoveling for, so last Tuesday night I prayed that enough snow to give them some good work, wouldn't totally mess anyone else's prayers up, could we please have some snow for the Falbo family. Wednesday morning we got a text from the office telling us to be careful driving because a snow storm was expected on Thursday, and Thursday it snowed all day. We had 6 or 7 inches I'm guessing. God Answers Prayers.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Don said that cigarettes have started to have a funny taste to him. Like he hasn't brushed his teeth in 7 years. :) YUK!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Mom, I met that lady again who grew up in the 3rd ward and I got her name this time. Kaaren Nokleby - related to Lee's Candies. She knew RaeAnn too and a bunch of other people whose names I knew from stories from you and Grandma and Grandpa. It was fun talking to her.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Friday night I had my first experience with having my testimony rejected. True, I've had many people turn us away at doors, but I've never had my testimony rejected by someone that I love and care about before. Tom is an inactive member in our ward, and his wife Lynn is not a member. She is studying the Bible THOROUGHLY, but is not ready to accept or read the Book of Mormon, because she doesn't feel that that is what God is telling her to do. We meet with them every week though, hoping that she will accept it soon, and in an effort to strengthen Tom. We have really great discussions with them, but she's still not ready for the BoM. Friday night, I bore a brief testimony about the Book of Mormon, and how it contains the same teachings of Jesus and does the Bible and I said that I knew she wasn't to that point yet, but that when she gets there I know she will feel that too. And then she said, "I love you. But I don't think I'll EVER be there." That really hurt! I shared something with her that means SO much to me and she doesn't want it! And I shared it with her because I love HER so much. But she doesn't want it. And while it hurt to have her say no, I'm not sorry that I shared my testimony of it with her. Because I did it out of love. And this has given me a new conviction that I need to love everyone at EVERY door better than I do, so that when I bear my testimony of these things at their door, they can feel that it truly is out of love for the Savior, for the Book of Mormon, and for them.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">You had 7 investigators at church???!!?!!? That's AWESOME! How are they doing it?? The fact that we had THREE this week was a major step up for us. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Another miracle and another answered prayer. Yesterday I was trying to think of who would be a good visit buddy to go to Kasey's tonight when Sister Stewart and I have to do splits. Sister Charles is always a favorite choice just because she's so awesome (seriously this woman is INCREDIBLE) but I wanted to make sure she would be the right one. I prayed about it and felt okay about calling her, and as no one else came to mind, I decided to ask. I made one other call first, and then called Sister Charles. She was at Ikea taking apart a shelf so that she could fit it in her car and then put it back together at her apartment and she desperately needed help. Our morning appointment had been cancelled, so we quickly threw on our shoes and ran over to help her. We finished that up and then helped her put it all back together at her apartment. I told her about what had led to me calling and then she told us a story. When she and her son had moved to Georgia, they had a lot of trouble finding help unloading the moving truck. After working ALL day in the sweltering heat, and only getting halfway done, she expressed that they could not do this alone in that heat. The next day they went back to the storage unit to finish unloading and they realized the work was going much quicker. And then they realized that it was 20 degrees cooler than the day before. She had said they couldn't do it alone in that heat, so Heavenly Father made it cooler for them, so they could finish the job. She was remembering that Ikea, so very specifically prayed that she could not do THIS particular task alone - with no mention of the weather or other conditions. And that's when I called. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Lots and lots of love! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love, Sister Hatch</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: '"Helvetica","Tahoma","Arial","sans-serif"'; "><span style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-35795555252901974422012-01-09T13:56:00.000-08:002012-01-09T14:11:38.787-08:00Losing Lizzie<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Hello, </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Thanks for the idea to give Rose a Daughters in My Kingdom book, Mom! I think that's a great idea and that she will LOVE it. Did I tell you we are going to get her the Book of Mormon on CD? So that she can listen to it in the car going to and from work. She's excited for them. Don and Rose are doing so well!!!!! They are really working on keeping the Word of Wisdom and and starting to smoke MUCH less than they were. They are also working on giving up coffee, though Rose is a little more hesitant on that one. Seeing how far she has come with everything else though, I'm not too worried about it. She told Brother Anderson and Brother Ioannou (ee-oo-wa-noo) yesterday that she can tell a difference in her week from when she goes to church and when she doesn't. She knows that when she comes to church she'll be able to get through the week no matter what happens. !!!!!! SO EXCITING! Brother Anderson and Ioannou went over yesterday to give them both a blessing because Rose has been having some health problems and Don still has lots of pain from his osteoarthritis (and they are trying to quit smoking) and today Don said that they both felt warm all over when they gave them the blessings. (Happy! Happy! Happy! That's what that makes me.)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We also asked Don if he would cut our hair for us and the other missionaries close by because he was a barber for 41 years but can't work now because of his osteoarthritis and he got so excited! It was awesome to be able to see like that. Sister Stewart came up with the idea as a way to help him feel like he is needed. He also found out what our family crest is apparently. He really likes family history work... He is so funny. I wish you could all meet him.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">About Sister Stewart: She is really sweet and very genuine and sincere. She has so much love for our brothers and sisters all around us! She has had some really great insights for our investigators already, and I think she will be a wonderful companion to work with. She is really focused on meeting the needs of everyone we meet and I want to learn from that example. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">A crazy tale, which I like to call "Losing Lizzie": Thursday afternoon we decided to stop by Lizzie (I think I told you about the miracle of how we found her, right?) She had to cancel our second appointment, and we never heard from her after that, so when her name came to mind on Thursday, we decided to follow up with the impression. Well Lizzie wasn't there. And neither was her house. I swear it was like Harry Potter and 12 Grimmauld Place. Only there were no missing numbers! Just her missing house! I had written down that it was number 4, but I KNOW it wasn't number 4. Number 1 was abandoned just as I remembered and I am 99.9% positive that it wasn't house number 2 or 3 either. I seriously have no idea what happened to her house! It still boggles my mind.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">After feeling a little out of sorts for the whole losing Lizzie incidence on Sister Stewart's first real day of working in Woodridge, in combination with a couple of epically failed stop-by's to some potentials, I was struggling. We had planned to stop by Mario who is the most golden potential (very soon to be current) investigator EVER, but it was still early and we needed more to do before seeing him. We decided to try a less active member in our ward, Jess. She was home! Which was a miracle in itself, and then she let us in. We had a really great discussion with her about how she wants to come back to church and be a better mom and all that good stuff. Sister Stewart had some divine revelation to make a calendar with her to help her set goals to get back on track and she was really excited about doing that. We went back to see her today, but her son was sick, so we said a prayer with them and are going to reschedule. Then we went to see Mario and it was so great! We have an appointment with him tomorrow. He is seriously so awesome! He wants to do what is right SO BADLY! But he just hasn't known where to look, or that there are other people out there like him. We are really excited to finally be able to start teaching him.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Another MIRACLE: On Friday we went to work on Cherokee Dr, and it was my turn to pray. I prayed that we would "find a miracle" and that singular use of the word turned out to be quite significant. (Usually I would have said "miracleS" but this time it just felt like I should be more specific.) We knocked a few doors, and then someone pulled up into the driveway as we were approaching. We waited for her and then told her who we were. We could tell she was having a rough day, so when we showed up she had some groceries to take in we offered to help. She said that she would be alright, but we both just stayed. When she realized we weren't going anywhere, she agreed to let us help. We took them in for her and then she had us sit down. We learned that she had some breathing problems, so the help with the groceries was actually a HUGE blessing to her! Then she told us some of her story and the difficult things she is going through right now. (The crazy part is that as she was telling her story, part of what she said was something that I KNOW I have heard her say before in a dream or something! I know I have some sort of connection with this dear Sister now and the Lord has a work for me and Sister Stewart to do in helping her) We were able to share the Book of Mormon with her and promise her that as she reads she will feel peace and our Heavenly Father's love for her. We set a return appointment as well. She needs us, and we were all able to recognize the Lord's hand in bringing us together. She mentioned that she had been wandering around the store and then decided it was time to come home. If she had come two minutes later, we would have completely missed her.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Stewart and I have been working really hard this week, and I am exhausted! It's a really good exhaustion though, because I know I'm working hard and we have met some really incredible people. I love you so much!!!!!! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">How are Grandma and Grandpa doing? How about Norah? The rest of my wonderful family?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love YOUS! (apparently it's a Chicago thing to say "yous"...)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Hatch</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-86886805678015279572012-01-04T14:06:00.000-08:002012-01-04T14:35:46.216-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmKAjViZsCZ05xoD5bmG-1ApLLmRNF1gjyleeaR3KRV149inImj5JmQ_Uzg6UGh7gi6tTlIscw3RP-pa4dOXhx5S9LQqIBpGM_a4rMKXYxNVIVNlzpWTEMJXPYiIAUOdl-__CuXpy5Zk/s1600/IMG_0019%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmKAjViZsCZ05xoD5bmG-1ApLLmRNF1gjyleeaR3KRV149inImj5JmQ_Uzg6UGh7gi6tTlIscw3RP-pa4dOXhx5S9LQqIBpGM_a4rMKXYxNVIVNlzpWTEMJXPYiIAUOdl-__CuXpy5Zk/s200/IMG_0019%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693909084758576450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmXN0wofdVZhLxa4ZMgvdgutzQryRppMvAut04I-dXQ-9IXKxNB7yRvpK5hMGDMr9AzxrDsMd9MpAlBFeDcgaQghvS_sRwInHAdUkpmVGIXiYz_6Kc_QBlVshWhtgkP1ut2iaM6biaho/s1600/IMG_0001%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmXN0wofdVZhLxa4ZMgvdgutzQryRppMvAut04I-dXQ-9IXKxNB7yRvpK5hMGDMr9AzxrDsMd9MpAlBFeDcgaQghvS_sRwInHAdUkpmVGIXiYz_6Kc_QBlVshWhtgkP1ut2iaM6biaho/s320/IMG_0001%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693905833115364018" /></a><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oNrm7XJ5EdheAa33eKyqlrt1QDSQIhVJcPPjRC2ikUVkh0zKHeWA0tHhZHAouUuFpOhd5uHB4W6a6RVDL0jM7He8-3AJq0zi-s8yzZblsgMd-pu1_uyeIacbVzaynUYOnK4XptWzuCY/s320/IMG_0029%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693903373677550258" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Hi-ya!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">First things first. A Christmas miracle: Sister Worlton gave us some of her homemade jam for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Strawberry, Peach, Pear and Plum.</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3xJlbdMgRiBdGEbICqATW7__OUA9Jt5SETVX9E89OYqGVf7HVAJDYKMqrUrXXx9aOt33ltVuHFXs8xJB1RmMZMatkBrVYvRS575OzXB_kW7yf6Lz2DHhRk9NhWAcPkZ64FX5HuWFp64/s200/IMG_0010%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693908153878786466" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> Oh my yummy!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Also - how the heck did it get to be 2012 already??? Happy New Year! Where on earth has time gone though?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I got a letter from Tanya. It was great. Tell her thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Would it be possible for anyone to find me some sheet music (for a duet, trio or quartet) for the song "How Can I Keep from Singing?" ? When Dad set me apart he said that I would be able to use my singing voice to help share the Spirit and I have been trying to think of ways to do that, and this is the first idea I've had...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">So, about Sunday: CIERRA CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaahh! I'm still so excited about it! She texted us around 10:15 and said that they were getting ready and we were just giddy the rest of the morning because she would finally be there! She and her mom showed up just before the meeting started, so we didn't have time to introduce them to anyone, but that's alright. They were THERE. Then the opening song was Hymn #291 "Turn Your Hearts" which is all about Malachi... I was mortified. Of ALL the songs they could have chosen. Really? We're going to sing about Malachi today?? Don't they know we have an investigator here for the first time??? yeah... and then it got worse. The youth speaker announced that he had been asked to speak on Temples and Baptisms for the Dead. Awesome... THIS is what Cierra needs her first week at church. To get freaked out because we baptize dead people... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">All the speakers actually did a really great job though of explaining that temple work is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><i>on behalf</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">of the dead and done in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><i>proxy</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">. And they didn't seem to be too freaked out, so that was nice. No, it actually turned out fine and once I calmed down a bit and realized that Heavenly Father must have had a reason for having THAT be the day they talked about Temples, I was okay. Who knows, maybe something from those talks really touched them and was the piece they needed to maintain (in Cierra's case) or gain (in her mom's) interest in the church. God is in charge though, and He'll take care of it. If those talks weren't for them, he at least knew that they would be okay with them. I just have to trust Him. After Sacrament meeting, I was able to have a really good conversation with her mom, Tina, and finally get to know her story a little and bear my testimony to her that despite how hard life has been for her, and the disappointments she has experienced, God does love her. It was pretty cool. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Oh! It was also super awesome, because as soon as the meeting was over, Sister Dodd who was sitting right behind us started talking to Tina and I guess they work at the same place. Then other ward members and the bishop all started coming over to meet them. I LOVE OUR WARD!!! Cierra also recognized a couple of the kids from school, so that was cool too. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Another very exciting part about Sunday was this: I stood up after Sacrament meeting was over, and since Sister Dodd was talking to Cierra and Tina, I was just looking around the chapel. And then I saw Leah Hoogland. !!!!! It was so weird to see someone that I knew from pre-mission life. So much fun though. She is in the 1st ward that now with the time change meets right before we do. She said when she saw the Elders serving in her ward, she grabbed them and wouldn't let them escape until she found out if they knew me and how to get ahold of me. Haha. They told her not to worry and that I would be coming with the next ward. It was so good to see her! They live just outside of my area, but she said she might be able to meet us in our area on a preparation day or something. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Saturday night we got a call telling me that I would be staying here in Woodridge 2 and that my new companion would be Sister Stewart. The ward was so relieved that I would be staying, because apparently the last few times they got Sisters, they didn't stay for very long, and even that was a couple of years ago. It was nice to feel so loved though that they wanted me to stay and didn't want to see Sister Brown go.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">So this morning we went to transfers and I met Sister Stewart. She is really tall, which means that together we will be the tallest companionship of Sisters in the mission! haha. It also means that I won't be the giant companion any more! Because even though I'm really not that big, next to Sister Brown, (and Sister Kearnes, and just MANY of my roommates...) I'm tired of being the giant. Perhaps this is one reason Juliette and I are such good friends?? ;)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Sister Stewart seems really great and I think we are going to get along just fine. I'm excited to be staying in the area, and it will be fun to learn some new styles of doing missionary work as I learn from her. I'll tell you more about her next week, when I actually know a little more. I can tell you though that she is from Oregon, though her family lives in Utah now. Both of her parents are from Idaho (Rigby and Hunt) Wasn't Grandpa born in Rigby? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">In an appointment with Don the other day he said that he and Rose were talking about it, and they determined that Sister Brown and I would "make great wives". Hahaha! I love that they were talking about that. It was a really nice compliment, but it was just funny. Especially since he told us that in the middle of the lesson. Oh Don...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Well I think that's all for now.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I love you lots and lots and lots!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Love, Sister Hatch</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Pictures:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><ul><li>Sister Stewart!</li><li>the park at the end of Don's street.</li><li>bundled up for winter - the first day of the big puffy coat.</li><li>pants that match the bulletin board at church. Thank you for sending me new PJ's! those ones were getting a little old...</li></ul></span></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-36956570857687695312011-12-29T16:46:00.000-08:002011-12-29T16:54:39.477-08:00December 28, 2011<div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><div>Dearest Familia,</div><div> </div><div>It was wonderful to talk to you and see you on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Starting January 9th our preparation day will be moved to Mondays. So I have one more Wednesday (the one where Sister Brown goes home and I get a new companion) and then I will be writing on Mondays. So get your letters in by then!</div><div> </div><div>Have you ever heard of having chili with noodles?? Because a couple of weeks ago, someone mentioned it "spaghetti chili" and then TWICE this week, we had chili with noodles. It sounds super weird, but it's actually pretty good.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>STORIES</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday I went on an exchange with the Wheaton Sisters. Sister Fossett came to Woodridge to work with Sister Brown, and I went up to Wheaton to work with Sister Nielson. IT WAS SO COOL!! We had an awesome day together and had a really cool miracle. We were working in a little neighborhood, not having much success, but so is life. We got to the end of the second streeet and turned around to work the other side, rather than continuing around the corner. When we completely finished both of those streets, we decided to start working on the next street at the top of where we had started from originally. At the first house of this circle, we met a teenage boy who told us that they weren't interested and so, as was our practice, we left a Joy to the World card, and continued onward. </div><div><br /></div><div>As we were finishing our loop, a man came out of one of the houses we had already knocked on and asked us if he could offer us anything warm to drink and said that he was interested to know more. We didn't recognize the man, and realized that it was because we had never met him, but had only talked to his son. He invited us in and we sat down with him and his wife and ended up having a 40 minute discussion with them about the Book of Mormon, why we are here on missions, prophets, and what it means to truly follow Christ. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Sister Nielson and I were both able to bear powerful testimony about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and why they are so important to us, but that we do not worship them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sister Nielson, who is also going home next week, said afterward that she has been waiting her whole mission for one of those experiences where someone calls them back because they have decided they want to know more. They were both really nice, and it was a great experience to be able to answer so many of their questions, and to be able to do so by bearing testimony. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>A while ago, we had planned to teach Don about obedience, and following the Prophet, but that lesson never actually turned in that direction, so we didn't give him the Book of Mormon Ensign we had planned on giving him. Yesterday we met with him, and were finally able to teach that lesson. Sister Brown still wasn't talking much, so it was mostly on me - a little intimidating I admit. I felt impressed to ask him about church on Sunday and dig a little deeper into his feelings about that, and we had a really good discussion about that and what going to church is meaning for him and Rose. From that discussion I was able to discern further some concerns that I previously knew about, but hadn't connected to this topic of following church leaders, which I was then able to use in talking about following the Prophet. Then, after we gave him the Ensign (which, by the way he totally loved and thinks is the coolest thing ever - he loves when we give him new things to read and new ways to research and learn about the church) and he had looked through it briefly, he said "You know, this is really what I needed today..." AH! And then I realized why we hadn't been able to give it to him two weeks ago like we had planned - because the Lord knows him, and knew that he would need it more today.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Last night we had dinner with Sister Beyler (her kids are all out of town with their dad this week, so she has the house to herself). Sister Brown was exhausted from being sick, so again, the lesson would be pretty much on me. I was thinking about it all morning, but I was struggling to know what we could share with her. It would be different because all the kids wouldn't be there, and we really wanted to share something that would help strengthen and uplift her. As I was pondering on the matter, and praying to know what on earth we could share with her, I had the thought to look at a letter from President and Sister Doll which they had given us for Christmas with some quotes by Elder Holland. I got out the page and began reading the quotes. The Third one seemed like it would be a good direction, and Sister Brown agreed, so we decided to share that with her. In the quote, he talks about how the best missionary work we can do, is to just be a good example of a happy and faithful Latter-day Saint life. And that's TOTALLY Sister Beyler. She is incredible. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, we got to her house, and she had invited her mother over for dinner as well, who is not a member. I got a little nervous, because our message was directed very specifically at Sister Beyler and the awesome example she is of "happy and faithful Latter-day Saint life", and not geared at all toward having a nonmember present. Sister Brown didn't seem to concerned though, and I didn't know what else to share, so we just went forward with it. As we were driving home, Sister Brown said she was glad we had still shared the quote, and I was too, because it led to a really great discussion, and it was nice to let Sister Beyler know how great we think she is and what a good job she is doing, even though things are really difficult for her family right now. And then as Sister Brown and I talked about it, I realized that as we had talked about earlier, we don't need to worry - the Lord has it all under control. I shouldn't have been nervous just because her mom was there, becasue the Lord guided me to that quote, and HE knew that her mom would be there, even if I didn't. And if we had known, we probably would have shared a completely different message.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>I love you all so very much! And thank you for your prayers.</div><div> </div><div>The Lord is in control. He is watching over all, and we just have to trust him and give our worries over to Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love, Sister Hatch</div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-83715337400888019942011-12-29T16:01:00.000-08:002011-12-29T16:39:50.698-08:00December 21, 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGcV9JGa5yFcHwX3men4OmcI-9r7vNT2yu_35mw15H6O1JTZcRbSdMcbsCgUsGcEJwr-DqMn_WRj_t3y1ts-1R6kqKDcEPehzrmpMXHyj6eQeBOVsDU-gket9dhwAt2B4VYyYQ47XHhQ/s1600/IMG_0299%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGcV9JGa5yFcHwX3men4OmcI-9r7vNT2yu_35mw15H6O1JTZcRbSdMcbsCgUsGcEJwr-DqMn_WRj_t3y1ts-1R6kqKDcEPehzrmpMXHyj6eQeBOVsDU-gket9dhwAt2B4VYyYQ47XHhQ/s320/IMG_0299%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691711601352355698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lCP1N7ny0u4qMVxg2JCT0o6BQHZKRo9Pk3TZs1pUmAT3hLdPyaGG9_z4Yash0FNIWb8luAEf91_Hc1r4-cZ_A30-0m4Zi0hi0mbjnhBINbW2ynoOYxjeyx7mWG3dalYtV-kmwoVg3UY/s1600/IMG_0303%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lCP1N7ny0u4qMVxg2JCT0o6BQHZKRo9Pk3TZs1pUmAT3hLdPyaGG9_z4Yash0FNIWb8luAEf91_Hc1r4-cZ_A30-0m4Zi0hi0mbjnhBINbW2ynoOYxjeyx7mWG3dalYtV-kmwoVg3UY/s320/IMG_0303%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691710196705889490" /></a><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Dear family,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Some updates of</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">how things are going:</span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The big thing out here is not ice cream, but custard. It's EVERYWHERE! Seriously. Have you ever heard of Culver's? It's a fast food place out here that has a different flavor of the day every day of different things they mix in the custard. It's delicious :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I finally went into a Menards. What the heck?? That store is crazy! It's a hardware store mostly, but then you're walking through, and suddenly you're in the middle of a cereal isle. Continue walking, past the Ranch dressing and tuna fish, and you will soon come upon clothing. And toys. And who knows what else because that place has EVERYTHING! It's crazy. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And now to the more serious things (though ice cream/custard is quite serious in itself): Our ward is awesome. In addition to all the food they gave us, they have now given us tons of Christmas presents! Our "tree" actually kind of looks like a tree now it has so many things under it! And once again, our counter is beginning to overflow with goodies and treats. Apparently everyone has the same train of thought, which goes a little something like this: "I have WAY too much of this food and these Christmas treats... I know, I'll give it to the missionaries! We had to freeze some of it we have so much. And some of it might still go bad before we can eat all the leftovers, becuase the ward feeds us every night! It's awesome.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Have you ever been to <a href="http://christmas.mormon.org/" target="_blank">christmas.mormon.org</a>? You should go. It's cool.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">About investigators: Jasmine (have I told you about her?) is doing great. She is so cute! She is 12 years old, and has such a strong desire to follow God! She really is incredible. And we were finally able to meet her mom! We tried to schedule times that she would be home, but then things kept coming up, and it would only be the grandma home, who doesn't actually speak English... (She is from Haiti, so she speaks French Creole). Then on Monday, her mom came home right as we were getting ready to leave. She was so nice and thanked us for teaching her daughter about God. It was really cool. English is her second language, so she said she struggles sometimes knowing how to teach Jasmine about Him, but she seems to be doing a pretty good job so far. We talked to Jasmine about prayer on Monday, and she said that they say their prayers every night before bed, AND they have family prayers. umm... AWESOME!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We also just started teaching a girl named Nathalice (sounds like Natalice). She is 16 and has a 6 month old baby, andwants to be a better person. We found her because she had ordered a Bible from <a href="http://mormon.org/" target="_blank">mormon.org</a> after she heard people talking about the Second Coming and she wanted to know more because she was kind of scared about it. She said we could come back, and we were able to talk to her about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. We have our third appointment with her on Friday. She is so sweet. It was actually really sad (turned into a good thing) too, because she said that she didn't feel like she could pray or that God would listen because she hadn't been to church in a while (her family is Catholic, but I don't know how strong they are) so when we told her she could pray to know about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, she was really happy to know God would still listen to her and that He would answer her prayer. The next time we went back, she said she had been having a really bad day, so she decided to pray, and afterward she felt really good and things started to get better. It was so cool! She's great and I am so excited for her to learn more about the gospel and be able to turn her life around.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Update on Don and Rose: Rose had a crazy weekend working, so she wasn't going to be able to make it to church. Because she wouldn't be coming, neither would Don. But, the Spirit was working on him, and on Friday he told us that he was going to try to come even if she couldn't! And even though it would be far for him to drive alone. Sunday morning it was really foggy outside and we weren't sure if we would see Don or not. But he still came!!!! Without Rose, driving far by himself, and driving through the FOG! It was a miracle. Then yesterday we had lunch with Don and Rose and it was really great. We were able to explain a little more about the Restoration to Rose and answer some of her other questions. And we were able to give her a Book of Mormon and she said she would read from it!!!!!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdiCZFp5S12rUBSIFW0T74MBV75aJ90hIDR7lhyphenhyphenognooI14lJ86RKuMvLpvYyad_TXhjCi-sdj9R-waV5E60UfoK-ABC5u2X2e8JM35JV5gkidjHqB-MZ0g64yTmYj0eoCDSKDhHJeOs/s320/IMG_0323%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691712003968684386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Things are really moving forward here in Woody 2 and I am so blessed to be a part of it!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you all so much! I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Love, Sister Ali Hatch</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-65618925960428706602011-12-14T13:37:00.000-08:002011-12-14T14:44:49.956-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiReMX8CBDmHcVIny7Bzk_ZQ7KIi9Yd-HtwpcN59bov_MfxlrVRM2UevNlYI1mmkN1LZm0zFPv3hRUlNhnt6fV4UdkzMQoKSr28kEFqJl5Tl86J6DuPTctzETqT7SlY5T_f1etpgYB6zY/s1600/IMG_0275%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiReMX8CBDmHcVIny7Bzk_ZQ7KIi9Yd-HtwpcN59bov_MfxlrVRM2UevNlYI1mmkN1LZm0zFPv3hRUlNhnt6fV4UdkzMQoKSr28kEFqJl5Tl86J6DuPTctzETqT7SlY5T_f1etpgYB6zY/s320/IMG_0275%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686107042745039778" /></a><br /><span><span></span></span><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ooCIIWD3KPh9OvRfLD_f0nOAsNp0awRzA0sTBW0jV8zKSMYxORaPNvnC0yEfWD7EV4bcwIVXJPjZwFHFSx5WfF4aFqLRRmuSSDs4lJTkRmW77SwvPPvwSeWQ7UxCx2EecTWih9_Jgew/s320/IMG_0290%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686103888311784018" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWATGej_boiGpxvH6XfEryMVA5AC4sRjDJSF4YhzKbmQH18Ipf9cFt0cZYBggwNJQJ2ucI_WtDJ7msrbHLFYLJokWGyKEQUxlqfy40OiDOYimfBc_yEZDYTbgKHSGC1VbYuQxiRA-ag3w/s320/IMG_0279%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686103186019545570" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Pictures:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:85%;">1) eating my first Chicago Dog</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">2) this is from the Live Nativity that we had on Sunday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;"> I guess they've been doing it for 20 years now! Our ward and the other ward in our building do it together, and people from all over the area come. It was REALLY awesome.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">3) the Picture that Hailey Smith sent me and told me to color to look like myself. Please share this with them.</span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">4</span>) some of my Christmas decorations :)<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">5) our Christmas "tree" - it's the fireplace... and the best we could do. </span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span">6) the Chicago Dog.</span></span></li></ul></span><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5WZYmnq9HSOEJ17Ib4GRH5enqV2XFhsONhZdjKLi1oNms38Nl1NChViyGfxzw-yV_RGhuPjeJS1CG5laLZyzzFm1AIDHiwwWWrCU3c0nHjXNLA3tZySvblNpjdpvxSFyfCdNyHCe30o/s1600/IMG_0272%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5WZYmnq9HSOEJ17Ib4GRH5enqV2XFhsONhZdjKLi1oNms38Nl1NChViyGfxzw-yV_RGhuPjeJS1CG5laLZyzzFm1AIDHiwwWWrCU3c0nHjXNLA3tZySvblNpjdpvxSFyfCdNyHCe30o/s320/IMG_0272%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686103182170613650" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlIKayQ0XSDxI7CAEpJtzdOQUAQeJW4vIIZrlokV2cZo_8BXQBGStyVq7TIZnI17sHiWt8C9pvRedu3z6qfZ7CoCSYIlH9kjQCh4cvDgwDucPeACtKTVVt55hyNInkzIlfqJY9OpoYaM/s1600/IMG_0268%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlIKayQ0XSDxI7CAEpJtzdOQUAQeJW4vIIZrlokV2cZo_8BXQBGStyVq7TIZnI17sHiWt8C9pvRedu3z6qfZ7CoCSYIlH9kjQCh4cvDgwDucPeACtKTVVt55hyNInkzIlfqJY9OpoYaM/s320/IMG_0268%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686103164917265810" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">The Christmas card: I can't believe you actually did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Hahahahahahahahah! I was cracking up when I opened it</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lLEQZta8bcpOMGJO4FGXx_JKw7N2CxV-WNlNKtcxe7BFVAS2SVlvecCNdG23dsginOJVeRnbYly-RftgpPFlTzzeEJsp3tDootBGZ2pyPmNd1fnvPacQCwh9K-8uLE0JqwH8CcrAwk/s1600/IMG_0273%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05lLEQZta8bcpOMGJO4FGXx_JKw7N2CxV-WNlNKtcxe7BFVAS2SVlvecCNdG23dsginOJVeRnbYly-RftgpPFlTzzeEJsp3tDootBGZ2pyPmNd1fnvPacQCwh9K-8uLE0JqwH8CcrAwk/s320/IMG_0273%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686103151148184146" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Thursday was our Zone Conference, and it wasn't super Christmas-y as Sister Brown had predicted, but it was still really good. Every ZC, President sends out an assignment to everyone for a 5 minute talk (all the same topic) and then at the conference a few people are asked to come up and give their talk. I was one of those chosen. Our assignment was 3 Nephi 5:13 about being a disciple of Christ. I focused on the last line that talks about how we do these things that they might have everlasting life. That line describes how selfless our calling as missionaries is, and how Sister Brown put in context for me the saying that "we're not here for ourselves". For some reason I was SUPER nervous the whole time I was speaking and I could hear my voice cracking and everything, but everyone said I did a really nice job, so that was comforting. </span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div face="Helvetica" style=" ;"> </div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Exciting news relating to discoveries concerning my distant past: One of the Elders that meets in our same building is named Elder Hibbard. On Sunday we discovered that Katie Hibbard, the same Katie Hibbard who shares my birthday and was my best friend until I think I was 4? when they moved to Meridian, is his cousin. SMALL WORLD. </span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Yesterday we had two appointments in the same neighborhood (Don and Cierra) so we decided tha in between them, we would just keep working in that area. We've already done a bunch of it, so soon we'll have the whole section tracted out! It was not only convenient, but turned out to be inspired. We knocked on a door and this man, Jermaine, came outside. Sister Brown introduced herself, and I followed suit. Jermaine was SHOCKED. He told us that his god-father had just died a few days ago. His god-father's name was Robert Brown. And Robert Brown's best friend (and Pastor) was Pastor Hatch. None of us could believe it! I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering that the name Poplar is what led us to find Don and Rose, and Cierra. But I truly believe that Jermaine really needed a Hatch and a Brown yesterday to grab his attention so he would listen. We had a really good talk with him, and then Sister Brown asked him to read from the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:3-5. He read that, and then he just kept reading for a while after that. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I could tell that he definitely did. It was really cool. We set up an appointment to meet with him next week. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">After our appointment with Cierra yesterday, we saw that we had a voicemail. It was from Don, who had seen our car across the street. He told us to come over for a minute when we were done. We went over and Rose had just gotten home from work. She had brought us a poinsettia for Christmas! It was so sweet and so perfect! They were wanting to do something for us for Christmas, but they don't have much, so it turned out perfectly that she was able to bring one home from work to share with us. I also LOVE them of course. Well anything that has to do with Christmas really... Each week we make goals, and we decided to make a few fun goals this week and one of them was to Christmasify our apartment. I had already made a few snowflakes and a paper chain, but we thought the place could still use a bit more. And it's been awesome because people have just been giving us stuff this week! We got another Poinsettia from Sister Andrews later that night, and on Friday, a sweet old Philippino lady gave us some bells to hang on our door. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-7768886452276240992011-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:002011-12-07T17:43:19.755-08:00December 7, 2011<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And so dearest family, here is my update for the week:</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Last week President told us to all expect and pray for miracles, so Sister Brown and I decided to make that one of our goals. On our first street of the day, we prayed to find miracles, and let me tell you - we found them! At almost every house (I think all but one) if they weren't already home, the people either pulled up right before we got to their house, or as we were knocking on their door. Because of this we were able to talk to so many people! Then, about halfway trough, we got a phone call. We decided to head back to the car to talk so that we weren't just awkwardly standing in front of this house we were about to knock on. By the time we were done on the phone, the lady at that house was outside talking on the phone. We decided it would be a little odd to bee-line it straight to her with her watching us for the whole walk, so we just decided to start at the top of the street again, just on the other side, and work our way back down to her house. At the second door we met Lizzie. Lizzie only had about 10 minutes before she had to leave, but she let us in and we were able to teach her a quick lesson about the Restoration! She was really excited about it and invited us back! If we hadn't had that phone call, and then decided to start at the top of the street again because of the phone lady, we totally would have missed her. MIRACLES. It was so awesome!!! </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I got a new bed! Yay! The old one was like sleeping on springs, and I ended up sleeping on the couch for about a week because it finally got so bad. But thankfully they brought me a new one and I am sleeping much better now. However, I have gone from sleeping on an extra tall bed (there were two boxsprings) to now sleeping on an extra low bed (I guess the mattress is just really small? I'm not exactly sure how my bed got to be so much shorter than Sister Brown's...) </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Burr Ridge (where the Hoogland's are moving) is just barely outside of my area. It borders the northeast corner of my area in fact.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The Beylers are awesome. So are the Andersons and the Andrews. Those are probably my three favorite families, and they all really love us, so it's great :) Eating with the Beylers is where I heard the coffee thing. Those kids are so funny. I wish I knew how to describe it, so you could enjoy it as much as I do.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Don said he wants to get baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He just wants to wait for Rose, who we still haven't been able to meet with, so we don't have a date yet. But I am very okay with that. We know that he wants to, and once he has committed to it, you can be pretty certain he'll do it. He is starting to realize that only on of the baptisms can be valid, which is really exciting becuase it means that his testimony of the Restoration is starting to really take root. Cierra is awesome. She just "gets it" all, and said she feels like the Book of Mormon is something she <em>should</em> believe. We are also teaching a 12 year old girl right now, Jasmine, that also soaks it all up and really wants to do what is right. Yes that means that half of our investigators are teenage girls.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">quick side note: How on earth did you get such a big tree??? Does it even fit INSIDE? Also that is really cool about the Elders and the whole 16th ward effort. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-82310546342958284662011-11-30T13:52:00.000-08:002011-11-30T14:11:19.069-08:00November 30, 2011<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT54HpcOEgSQpYsGpPpmW9Z1y7kQ9ixJ0gjrm2bKk45WYxBlCXCE6q_n1pYW8QkePury1WYI-c2dYNmd9-u-0oSE1iyZxiGGWK9zqgK5NEFKSWLL5LtQVuBjo4SkO7ADP1rclhuhs9Aeo/s320/IMG_0250%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680911271123569554" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvloSyMMQfu2VzYPWBBns92cQJvurmlt6dJyZw7XYVW5F5AqQ1wwyxKBlmrnTSUsC02cQtdLS9IFqtYv5K7zql-E7HHJNaaeYrzhUZD7j32sUtTFiIdZEv_DkMSUnoZH3c4Na6yalzKA/s1600/IMG_0255%255B1%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvloSyMMQfu2VzYPWBBns92cQJvurmlt6dJyZw7XYVW5F5AqQ1wwyxKBlmrnTSUsC02cQtdLS9IFqtYv5K7zql-E7HHJNaaeYrzhUZD7j32sUtTFiIdZEv_DkMSUnoZH3c4Na6yalzKA/s320/IMG_0255%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680911273996416290" /></a><br /><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XDOH48dKuMNer19RqGCnk-we35vdXI7WR3OsVcW-xfw3iEbD4lvabz3zVEAG1lttFeNA0EP3eeayp_HOUch-2fY7uRmwb4UUcaXFO_bVearg-WgDBObkxyPoqw2V6nDizhT0lnUIstU/s320/IMG_0244%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680911251656114146" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXdSJt4XJ7lqR1OdrxB78na10IKG_XGYS2euhiBA7NvoLjSmIl5xL5bJXP2DExSefxsP1IWClTPysVFtXX2QvRlkmL7ps-i3301QXjmeENjZc4yxW2z-vyTqYl3NSXW9oY5z6E8DpkvQ/s1600/IMG_0248%255B2%255D.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXdSJt4XJ7lqR1OdrxB78na10IKG_XGYS2euhiBA7NvoLjSmIl5xL5bJXP2DExSefxsP1IWClTPysVFtXX2QvRlkmL7ps-i3301QXjmeENjZc4yxW2z-vyTqYl3NSXW9oY5z6E8DpkvQ/s320/IMG_0248%255B2%255D.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680911258256188354" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Pictures:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">1) can someone please identify this for me? They are ALL over and we have no idea what they are. They grow on the trees and they look soft and fluffy, but we discovered that they are actually hard and look a bit like brains...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">2) the inside of unknown vegetation...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">3) Sister Doll and I after our shopping excursion a few weeks ago. I got a wool skirt and a red sweater. Though I think I'm going to need more skirts... It's just so cold!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">4) My district.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Dearest Family,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Thanksgiving was different, not being home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">On a related note: if you are ever wondering what you can do to help out the missionaries, invite them over for appointments on Holidays if you can. We are still expected to work on Holidays, but knocking of people's doors just really isn't a good idea... Also- you do not have to feed them dessert every time they come over. I'm pretty certain that's why so many missionaries gain so much weight... Yes it's delicious, but unnecessary. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Momma - that is so cool that you listened to that prompting to stop by .........! Miracles happen when we prepare for them. I will keep them in my prayers. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">A little about Sunday: Church was really awesome on Sunday. Don and Rose came again and loved it! The Spirit was so strong in all of the meetings and I had a really great day. In Relief Society the lesson was on Elder Christofferson's talk from April 2011 GenCon and it was really great. I love the story about Hugh B. Brown and the gardener. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Then that afternoon we went to stop by a few people and then go tracting. The houses we went to all seemed to have a ton of company over, so we ended up not stopping to talk to them. When we were down in that neighborhood, we passed a street and I had the thought that we could tract there instead of where we had planned to be, but I didn't make a big deal out of it, so Sister Brown kept driving and we went up to Zurich Lane where we had planned to work. Bad idea. Very few people were home, and of those that were home, most were quite rude. After working that area for 2 hours, we had only had 1 quality gospel conversation. It was cold. It was rainy. It was windy. And it was rough. I learned an important lesson though. If you have an impression - small though it may be - FOLLOW IT. Who knows what could have happened if I had listened to that idea of working Franklin instead of Zurich. Who knows how many people were waiting for us there! And we never met them, because I was too shy to make a big deal about something that I wasn't absolutely certain had come from the Spirit. The Spirit is quiet. And usually not as forceful as we would hope when important matters are at stake. Whether or not there were really hundreds of miracles waiting for us on that street, I should have listened. Because maybe the thought just came to see if I would. But at least I have learned - or am starting to learn - a little better how the Spirit works with me. And maybe I won't always be 100% certain that it was a spiritual prompting, but as long as it's not for anything bad, there really isn't harm in following it. Yes I wish I could know more exactly what is and what isn't a spiritual impression so I know whether or not to act on it, but if I don't start acting, how will I ever find out if it was?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">A few items of note before I run out of time: Apparently no one in Illinois has sprinkler systems. I guess it just rains enough... who knew, right?? I guess that's the difference in being from a desert...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Often instead of coming to the door, people will just look out the window and then motion for us to go away. Sometimes they yell at us to find out who we are. It's pretty funny. I just don't understand why yelling through the window is easier than coming to the door...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">People here are very cranky and impatient drivers. I feel bad for them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I love you all so much and am so grateful to have you as my wonderful family. I hope Grandpa gets better soon! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Love,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Sister Hatch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">P.S. A Louisiana accent turned Chicagan sounds extremely odd. Just in case you were wondering (because I figure that you all probably were...)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">Oh. And Mom you can just send the package here because I will be in this area at least until Sister Brown finishes her mission in January, and probably for the next few transfers after that. But I will for certain be here until January 2.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div id="avg_ls_inline_popup" style="visibility: hidden; left: -5000px; position: absolute; z-index: 9999; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; word-wrap: break-word; color: black; font-size: 10px; text-align: left; line-height: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; "></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939267086169962318.post-23917023904783202312011-11-23T12:27:00.000-08:002011-11-23T12:35:00.883-08:00<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Dear Familia,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Some fun facts to start us off: 1)People go to bed REALLY early here, and by 5:00 is is DARK. Both of these make for very interesting contacting/finding in the evenings... 2) I have discovered a store like-unto Winco, which makes me happy :) It is called Food for Less and you bag your own groceries like Winco and it really is cheaper! Thankfully they do take credit card though. 3) The wind is so LOUD here! In fact, there is so much wind, that I swear you can almost see it sometimes...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I picked up the package this morning and it is wonderful!!! Thank you so much! It really was perfect. And the gloves are nice to have now because my red, possum fur ones seem to have disappeared. Luckily I have still had the little stretchy gray ones, but it is still sad to lose those ones. That little angel is adorable Mom! And the pine cones smell so good! And thanks for all the peanut buttery things. Mmmm...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Saturday was incredible. It was supposed to rain all day and be really windy so we were nervous. But, God knew what we needed and the words to "Be Still my Soul" kept running through my head: "The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below" because it didn't rain, the wind didn't start until after we were done, and in fact it was actually quite nice and warmed up a bit. So many people from the ward came to help and it was wonderful. Don and Rose were astounded that so many would come to help and that they did such a fabulous job. Every time we talk to them, they express their extreme gratitude. It has been really neat. Sister Brown and I were also able to go inside and talk with Rose for quite a long time and answer lots of her questions. We had a really good discussion with her and they said they are definitely coming back to church this week! They weren't able to attend Stake Conference this weekend, but they said they WILL be there on Sunday. Yay!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Stake Conference was really good. They had three recent converts/ recently re-activated members talk about what it means to them to "be a Mormon" and they all did a really great job. The Stake Presidency all gave really great talks as well and then the Temple President and his wife spoke. He said that some people would never even dream of missing Sacrament meeting, and some people wouldn't even consider not paying their tithing - so do we feel that way about the Temple? It was a pretty cool perspective. He also said that we shouldn't just be going to the Temple to get a spiritual renewal, but that we should be gearing up spiritually so that we can go to the Temple. He said it much better than that, but that was the point he was making. Another thing I really liked from Stake Conference was from the Stake President. He talked about how conviction leads to action and action leads to revelation.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I don't remember if I ever thanked you for the letter you sent wit all the notes in it! THANK YOU. Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa (also thank you for your letter Grandma!). And thank you Quilting Mothers! When I lost Dad's original "fear not" note, it was really hard for me. It was a silly thing I know, but the note meant a lot to me - they all do - and to lose one was difficult. I prayed that I would be able to find it, and I knew that Heavenly Father could easily give me a miracle in which it would turn up. I didn't understand why He wouldn't give me such a small thing, especially because it gave me so much comfort and courage. And then when your letter arrived I realized why Heavenly Father hadn't answered my prayer - at least not in the way I had asked Him to. It was because He had something better in mind for me. If I hadn't lost that note, I wouldn't have gotten all those others and the added love and support and joy that came with them. It's a small example, but it has really taught me that although it may seem like He sometimes doesn't answer our prayers at times, we have to understand that He knows what He is doing, and that what He is doing will be so much better than we could have even imagined or hoped for.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">The same day that we met Don, we met a girl named Cierra (who also lives on Poplar) and we have been teaching her, but because she is so busy, we have only been able to meet with her every other Tuesday. We met with her for the third time yesterday. The last time we met with her we read 1 Nephi 1 with her (because she hadn't been reading since our last appointment) and then invited her to read something everyday. When we went back yesterday and asked her how her reading was going, I couldn't have been more pleasently surprised. She has read up to 1 Nephi 22! We were also able to have her say the prayer at the end of the lesson and it was really beautiful. She is wonderful and I am so excited for her. She said she might come to church this Sunday because she doesn't have any dance things this weekend, so we are praying that she WILL come. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">For Thanksgiving we are going to the Otto-Piech family's house. Cecily asked if we could help them put up their Christmas tree afterward and I told her only if we could listen to Christmas music ;). Thursday evening we are trying to set appointments with members so that we don't have to be out proselyting and having everyone think we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sister Brown and I continue to grow closer and we are starting to have a lot of fun together. I am very happy.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">A lot of my scripture study this week has been bringing with it a recurring theme (that really has been a theme since I was in the MTC with things people have said etc.) That theme is FEAR NOT. Funny how that all works out, right? I have been praying to know how I can become a better missionary, and the answer I seem to be getting is that I need to stop being afraid of inconvienencing people on the sidewalk, or in the store, and just talk to EVERYONE! A scripture related to this theme that I have decided to memorize is D&C 6:33-34. So that is my goal for the next little while: To take advantage of those opportunities Heavenly Father gives me to talk to more people, becuase who knows when one of them will be searching for the Truth.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I love you all so much! Happy Thanksgiving! Our district leader asked us to text him on Thursday and tell him one thing that we are grateful for from that day and one thing that we are most grateful for out of everything, and the thing that I am most grateful for in all the world is My Family. You are such amazing examples to me, and you bring me so much joy and happiness. You are my greatest strength and your loves sustains me through all of the heartache and challenges I have faced in my life, all of those I am now facing, and I know it will through future challenges as well. Thank you for being the wonderful family that you are. Knowing I can be with you all for eternity makes everything else worth it.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "> </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">All my love,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Ali (though technically I suppose I should say Sister Hatch)</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16692938148307896186noreply@blogger.com0