Kiaora whanau...talofa lava!

Shucks! It's been a good as couple of weeks. Life in the Narre Warren Zone couldn't get any better. Its just so cool seeing all these changes in the mighty Melbourne mission. New shiny  goldens are coming and raising the bar! They are all on fire. We had 2 goldens come into the zone mid transfer this week alone and more to come soon. They all bring so much faith and it has boosted the mission heaps.

This week we had another MLC. I always learn so much @ those meetings. We were given heaps of trainings but my favorite was President Maxwells on repentance. Before my mission I always thought repentance was for the big bad sins alone. It had a really negative connotation in my mind as it probably does for a lot of people. As I've learned more about what repentance actually is it becomes less and less scary and just more and more hopeful and promising.

When we think about the two reasons why we came to earth and when we truly understand  them, repentance no longer is for those who have gone off the path but it is just as much for those who are doing everything they should. (and lets be honest, none of us are perfect)

The reasons we came were 1) so we could get a body. The 1st step we need to be in line to becoming like Heavenly Father and 2) to learn and grow through challenges and trials and faith. Our end goal is to return to Heavenly Father but not just to return to him (if it were that simple, why did we leave?) but to instead change...take on the nature of Jesus Christ while on this earth. This is the condition in which it is required that we return.

I think of it like the army or boot camp...mothers don't send their children (adults lol) away to a 3 month boot camp to do the least exercise possible and barely pass with no real results in physical fitness (which would be pretty hard to do, just go with it) They go to be tested and challenged so that they will improve so that they will change. Their bodies become stronger, they can endure more and have more experience.

The same is for us here...we need to change to strengthen our muscles and to grow stronger, to stand in Heavenly Fathers presence a changed person, a new refined being, ready to receive all the promised blessings of heaven. (Which is where we can compare again to the army) If you do training but don't actually change then go out to the field of active duty (ultimate goal) you wont make it. You just wont, you will not be ready.

All of us are here in this fallen world trying to make it home with no mistakes, thinking if we make one its over, but its not. He knows exactly what we will do, w\everything and just because He is aware already doesn't mean its okay but it does mean that He knows what we need to change. Thats why He provided a Savior! So that we could fix the wrongs and improve the rights. Repentance again is defined as change. A change from bad to good and good to better. What do I need to change today to be more like or closer to Jesus Christ tomorrow?

We listened to a talk by Elder Christofferson, he explained that repentance helps us achieve our divine potential, because it gives us access to His power..which is the only means by which we can change our nature, who we are.

A wise missionary once said that no matter what kind of change we are making, spiritual or physical, it always involves the Savior. He is what makes it possible for us to improve. Every day if we think of it that way and remember all the changes we have made in life it gives a glimpse of how much He really is there with us. 

Elder Christofferson talked about the need to resolve even the smallest things. He said "nothing is swept under the rug" but once it is resolved it is forgotten and that small weight needs to be lifted off of us! If we fail to change to resolve the small things we only can continue in disobedience one thing after the other and we must remember that justice continues as well. We are truly accountable for everything...imagine a lifetime of small weights of guilt piled on your back...of course that would stop progression, after a while you won't be able to walk or even stand. (all figuratively of course) The savior can set you free from all the weight, all we need to do is have a desire to change and then humble ourselves enough to ask for the blood of Jesus Christ to enable the change to happen.

Think of the word "renounce". It means abandoning something to disown, to have no association. This is what we experience after complete repentance...when our natures are changed. We never want to go back to our old ways. Change is not easy and doesn't happen over night, but consistency is key! If we are consistent in always choosing better it gets easier. "Repent daily, improve eternally". One thing I have learnt on my mission is about fear. Who do I fear? Do I fear man who is small and of the imperfect world or do I fear God who's opinion matters more? That helps with pride heaps. I was (and still am) prideful as, but still improving, still changing. Anyway, just food for thought.

Q&A

Do your dreams have Australian accents? Yes, I dream in Australian/ Kiwi accent and cars are driving on the left side of the road as well/. Even if I'm at home in my dreams cars are still on the left.

What kind of cold cereal do they have there and do you eat much? The most famous cold cereal is Weet Bix and I love those. Also Milo cereal. I definitely eat it when we have it but the milo cereal is expensive as and the Weet Bix, I just forget about them. A member gave us a box of 100 oats packets so uh...we just eat that.

Are you still exercising? Yes we box and do all the other stuff. Its starting to get brighter earlier in the morning so we'll do more outside soon.

What was the best thing that happened this week? Well we got to have lunch with Pres and Sister Maxwell again. That was wonderful and we got to teach our resent converts mum last night! She wants to learn more, we are stoked mostly because she didn't want to do anything with church 6 months ago.

*I can't believe that mine and Haydens goldens know each other!! That is CRAZY! I know where we'll be going on holiday. (Chelsea's cousin Hayden in England, both have comps they are training from Tahiti)

Just outside the library where we email

Sister Bennett

Tigerlily

We box!

all I can say is that...it's been a gangsta as week! (in the words of my cool companion sister wairepo)

Monday we hung out with our sisters in Lynbrook, Sister Brown (from Fiji) and Sister Rhodes (UT) . Ya we ate fish and chips, ya I eat way too much greasy food. That night we went to the Martin's, this cool Kiwi fam. There are probably 20 people mostly kids there. It reminded me of home. They sang us Mauri songs and fed us the best lamb I 've ever tasted! It was a solid night.

Then Tues we went to district meeting, good. #basics Then we went to the mission office to pick up baby Bennett! She was the only one so we had a nice lunch from Shnitz w/ Pres/Sister Maxwell and all the seniors in the office. Sister Bennett is the sweetest, she's always smiling. I love her, she is from Tahiti. She visa waited in Tahiti for 4 weeks then came here-she speaks French and was only baptised 2 years ago! Missionaries found her and introduced the gospel to her...now she is so excited to share this gospel w/others who need it just as much as she did.

That night we went and had our "E Papa" practice, it's a Mauri stick game. We performed it @ our relief society talent night! I'll try to send video if not it's the picture w/ the stick in our hands.

Wednesday we saw DAVID ARCHULETA!! And Brad Wilcox, they were stellar! Geez we got to sit on the front row right in the middle...#sick. He was within arms reach and he sang and spoke. He is the most adorable person ever! Then he sang Glorious and I nearly died! Brad Wilcox is such a good teacher, he taught about the 12 tribes and gathering of Isreal. It made me even more excited for this work! I really want to learn more about the 12 tribes, it's so interesting.

Friday we taught some new people  people we found either last week or just this week. So whoever has been praying for us to find new people, it worked!  They are so good, prayers really work. Heavenly Father really does want to bless us  Sometimes we just need to have the faith to ask. 

We also went to the temple, the best place on earth  the happiest place on earth, it's the only place we should go when we feel down or confused or lost. It's the place we should go regularly because that is the only place that compares to what life will be like after this...sometimes I just feel so much peace there. There is nothing like it ...nothing that compares to being in the house of the Lord!

The night keeps going...that night we had our minis arrive! We got all 3 all up. Minis are the best. We just take them out w/ us as if they are normal missionaries. We got to use the van (Betty) again, which made it better. Miracles always happen when minis come and we had such a good day. One of mine got sick so I had to take her home but the others were all goods.

Sunday was Sister Wairepo's bday! We made sure to spoil her...haha as much as missionaries can on Sunday. We did like home...woke her up singing happy birthday. It was even better because the minis were there two. Then we went to church...Jhinny gave her farewell and Shanti got confirmed! It was so good. Good day, good night, gr8  week.

Thanks for the prayers, thanks for the love. Love you all.

xxx Sister Hatch

Q&A

Did you get to meet David A? Ya I made eye contact a few times with him  hahaha I was just right in the very front row. Our mission is pretty formal with this stuff and we couldn't talk to him at all but aye all goods, I feel like I'll see him around Utah or something he is the cutest thing ever.

Tell us about your new companion from Tahiti? Sister Bennet is the sweetest thing ever! She is a recent convert of 2 years and loves the gospel. She loves talking about the Atonement and has a big smile everytime she talks or testifies of it. She is good at English and has a strong testimony. She is so humble and willing to learn! She is a hard worker and is very patient with us :) We don't have as much time to just talk with her because we are so full on busy but she is still doing well! We love our baby. She decided I was dad and Sister Wairepo is mum, all goods. I like being dad. I was dad with Sister Larsen too haha.

How is training going? Training is the literal best thing. I love it so so much. It's definitely different as a ST doing it because like I said there just isn't as much time to take care of them but still works out well. It's my favorite. The best thing about it though is being so busy. I feel like I don't have any time to breathe, also that there are three of us, I love trios

sister bennett, jhinny, sister wairepo 

E Papa practice

sister bennett sister wairepo

the mini's

sooooo we have big news!

Sorry for no letter again, its been a crazy week again. We had heaps of fun, maybe too much fun! Mission life is just the best, I can't get enough of it. Soooo we have big news! Me and Sister Wairepo will be having a baby! President called and asked us to train a new missionary that is coming in tomorrow! She is from TAHITI and speaks French! We are stoked as. So who do you think is mum/dad? Last time I was dad but...

So that's the best news we've got! We are so happy, can't way to meet her. We had MLC and it went so so well. I always have a headache after because of so much concentration and writing but all goods, I always learn heaps.

We got to help out the sisters a lot this week, went to the dentist, doctor, did a driving test and all other things. But man it was good! We saw many miracles. One was when we were doing the drive test, it is really serious here and we go and a man comes out and says I can't go with her for her test (but uh, sight and sound) so we didn't know what to do. I explained the problem and he just went inside and a girl instructor came out....but still a problem...and then I was explaining to her and then a random walks up and said he was a member!! This random is a driving instructor and is friends with her (1) and he was a MEMBER (2) never see members hardly anywhere here, and he had his sister with him (3) that I could stay with while she did the test. Pres said it was all goods, then proceeded to say that we were getting a Tahitian baby, ahhhh, total miracle. I know it was because of obedience! Serious, when we do what the Lord asks He always provides a way for us. That was just a little lesson I learnt this week. Although some things are really small and seem like they don't make all the difference! God takes care of us when we are obedient to the simple things he asks...a lot of times I think he gives us these rules or commandments just to test our faith. Ya we might go without something but it is in exchange for something even better, something that only God can give and that the human mind cannot comprehend, a happiness that is so out of our reach without Gods help.

I feel so lucky to be able to know what God wants for us and the simple things we have to do to access those blessings.

Anyway, stellar week, stellar life. It just keeps going. I can't wait to see what this week brings! We are flat out busy and won't have time to breathe but I'm stoked. And Sister Wairepo is my best friend. I love her.

xxx

Sister Hatch

Q&A

Have you decided yet when you will be coming home? I'm thinking probably just go on the transfer so the 2nd (Dec) but haven't decided yet.

What is your favorite teaching tool to use with investigators? I like to use little likenings, like cups for restoration or plan of salvation drawings or pen and prophet thing. I like analogies, they my fav.

What is something about Australian culture you never thought you would get used to? Ummmmm I never thought I'd say 'reckon' but now I say it 100 times a day.

What are some random things that happened to you this week? Well, we went on a mini mission with 1 day notice, my comp chipped her tooth so we had to go to the dentist to get that fixed. We got to teach a Chinese boy named Steven at a members home, I remembered my Chinese!! Took a driving test...and we got to use the AP's van and that was shwagga. Dang best week ever.

we went to the sky deck again, city lyfeee!

shanti got baptised

and this is a photo of a mini mission we did this weekend. :) i love my mini's! we get to do another on this coming week, i'm stoked 

and we are now the sister AP's, haha just kidding thats to a thing, we just used the AP's shwag van and glasses for a few days and we were pretty happy about it!

my comp is sister wairepo!

My comp is the beautiful Sister Wairepo, I was correct. (Maori name...roll the RRRR). Sorry I don't have a letter this week, its been so so busy and I have so much to do today as well. I am also giving a 15 minute training all alone and MLC tomorrow which man, is a bit stressful. Haha but all goods. This week has just been so so so good. Sister Wairepo is the greatest and I am so excited to serve with her. We have so much fun together and I have already learnt heaps from her. She is Maori! From Hamilton, NZ (my future home, we've already made arrangements and plans so) She is turning 22 on the 16th so like if you wanted to send her some love. She loves Jolly Ranchers.

She has the coolest story, so inspiring but pretty personal so I might write a bit of it in a letter. She helped me realize the importance of a mission. Everybody should go on one regardless of circumstances because its the very best to prepare you for life and God will take care of you no matter what. We have been able to be in a lot of the members homes this week which is my favourite and we got to go to the temple, and we just had fun. I just love it so much, life is great! Wonderful even. I am happy.

Pray that we will find new people to teach or new families to teach! We have had less actives go to the temple and a less active family go to church a couple of times!! Such a miracle. Its really cool the work that is happening here. I love it.

Bye,

Love you!

lunch with Jhinny

and sister kruyer and sister brodie (both gone or leaving next week) ahhhhhhhhh

and sister gibby and sister haenga,,,she is one of my newest grandchildren, im so lucky. :)

samantha and jancy went to the temple for the frist time!! and their mum, shanti, is getting baptised this weekend! we are so 

stoked!!! we got to teach her a lesson inside the waiting room of the temple, man it was the best. 

and this is the beautiful wairepo (maori name...roll the RRRR) :)

had dinner with a family in churchill park ward. Katie (next to me) was one of my mini missionaries from the first mini mision a couple months ago, we get on well and get to go to their house sometimes :) they made a KILLER trifle! ah so good.