9.21.14 tasmanian happenings

To the people in America and whoever else,

This week has been the best one yet! I mean not as far as "numbers" go but wow it was the best. Wanna know whyyyyyyy???

HAYLEY AND JEROME WERE MARRIED AND BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED AND HOLLA. Hayley and Jerome are the famous golden couple, they have been investigating for about 4ish months now, and I've been lucky enough to be here to teach them for a bit over 3 months of it. They have two beautiful boys called M (has the same bday as me) and R. They are so amazing and wonderful. We spent all week making preparations for the baptism which is SO much to do! We asked people to speak and sing and cleaned the chapel and made programs and cleaned the font and boiled water and all these crazy things.

Just a bit about this font we have in Launceston chapel. It takes 3 hours to fill up but only 1 hours worth of hot water...so about every baptism that has been there has been stone cold. Like fareeezing! And this was really special because it was Jerome and Hayley so we tried the best we could to get it warm for them, our ward mission leader came and rigged a gas heater to it and heated the water more so it wasn't that bad for them. I just wish they would get that fixed you know. Haha it just makes life harder.

So guess what? We sang at the baptism and guess what else? It was shocking. Shockingly terrible!! Hahahaha Sister S was dead set on singing for them and I refused at first and just decided to do it. Worst idea ever, but thats okay because it was for Rome and Hayley so oh well, haha. But the rest of the program was really good, the primary sang and RP gave a perfect talk on Christ, which we taught them just a week prior and she didn't know so it was perfect. And after they were baptized Jerome bore his testimony, it was the most beautiful testimony! His testimony of the Book of Mormon is unreal, he has really felt the change that comes from reading it every day and night. He says it speaks to him. I can't put in to words what Jerome and Hayley are like, they are just amazing and have so much to give, through their testimonies people will change as well. Ah they are awesome and were so happy to be baptized finally. 

They were planning to be married and baptized on the same day, one after the other, but we went over on Friday night for the baptismal interview and they said that they were going to be married that night! It was awesome, they got married by Bishop Rogers in the house they have raised their boys in, it was so good! They had this amazing cake too.....haha it was really special. They love each other so much.

Our week has been a dream! (apart from the crazy stress and everything) its been the best. Also because we started it off so well too. We got to hold WOMBATS and feed wallabies and pet tasmanian devils!

Brother TR and his wife P (from esk ward) took us and the elders to Truwana on Monday to see all the animals. We had the best time and took some pretty good pictures.

Just wanted to add something from my personal study of the Book of Mormon this week. Based in Alma 30, "..The Book of Mormon..fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies and doctrines of the devil in our day. God so moulded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious and philosophical concepts of our time. " Ezra Taft Benson. There are a lot of antichrists like Korihor in the world. They try to destroy the faith of the believers, they all go about it in about the same way as Korihor did as well. They ask probing questions that are meant to be answered with a full knowledge, not faith. But if we knew the answer to every question about every detail there would be no need for faith and no need to be here living and being tested in our faith, right? Korihor insisted on a strictly rational scientific approach to all problems, trying to steer the people away from "the silly traditions of their fathers" 

vs 31.

Alma used his most powerful weapon in response, the power of personal testimony!! That is sometimes all we can do, is testify of what we know to be true.

Another quote I found "..When a lie is told often enough, even the one who knowingly spread it may begin to believe it." Robert J Matthews. Its so easy to get caught up in the lies and things of the world, if we say it or do it enough it begins to be okay....noooo! Those contradictions to the church are Satans way of taking the faith from the believers, he acts as if he were God, telling us that his way is the right way and making us think that by turning from what we know deep down is right we will be happier, because its easier. Satan is on our side until we have nothing else and then he leaves us be (vs 60).

Kind of all over the place but just a bit from what I studied. I loved it! Basically all we need to do is have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, it's true. Joseph Smith and all the others would not have gone through what they did over a book full of paper and false words. They just wouldn't do that. I know its true! If you haven't, read it and ask if its true! You'll get an answer.

Shout out to the Woodwards for always making the best food and the best faces

Love you people, you are the best.

Sister Hatch

9.14.14 miracle mowbray!

This week has been full of miracles! Let me tell ya, the Lord is ready for the people of Luanie to hear the gospel. We went finding a lot this week as we didn't have many investigators, and we found so many amazing people! We mostly GQ'd (street contact) in Mowbray (miracle Mowbray) and found a lot of cool people that way. We met a Korean guy named Yoo. Haha its so funny because it gets confusing to say his name to people because they think you're saying "you" and its just confusing but he is good! He's been here for two weeks and is staying for 3 years and learning english. So did I say that we teach english classes! (never taught an english class in our livessss) So he was really keen and we met the next day and UTas (university in Mowbray). We called the elders to come with us to help a bit because they are chinese speaking and have to teach english sometimes and thought they could help. Well they got there a bit before and got in trouble with security! They kicked them off campus and said that if they come back they will call the police, uhhhh we felt so bad! Haha I guess its happened before to them but never like that, the poor guys have had such a hard week, they got in trouble at the mall too. Its an outdoor mail and they would go GQing there but city council said they can't anymore. It's so sad! Haha they are so good about it though, no complaining or anything. Something amazing must be around the corner for them.

So english class went well, Sister S is a genius at it and taught most of the english, I taught the GOSPEL. He is pretty good at english but explaining to someone that doesn't understand a lot is a challenge! It helped me teach simply though so it was good and he liked it. He is 21 and really easy going and I think that he will go far! We are excited. He also came to church! Best Sunday ever.

Late that day we went GQing and brought M with us. She is awesome and we love her! She is already preparing for a mission at 16 and she's good at it too. We love to take her with us. Well we were done and going to our tea date and before we got to the car we talked to two islander men. They were both keen to learn more and were familiar with missionaries. We asked them to come to church too and they came for all 3 hours!! It was so awesome, they were all participating in the class we teach as well. We were able to have 5 investigators at church which never happens! It was an amazing week.

Okay now the best part, J and H are being baptized on SATURDAY!! We are sooooo excited! They will be married at 3:00 at the gorge and then straight to the chapel to be baptized at 4. We printed beautiful invites for them and it took us 2.5 hours but we were happy with them. Those two are just amazing, they are so strong in their testimonies, if you didn't know better you would easily think they are already members. Ah they are so great!! I'll send a video of them soon.

Well I don't know what else to say other than God is great! Nothing happens without him, he is the leader of this work. We are just the instruments in His hands. I think thats what I've tried to focus on this week. Knowing that I don't have all the skills and abilities of more experienced missionaries but that I have the Lord on my side and he is going to help me! He is always there and will always put you in the right place at the right time saying the right thing, it's so true and the miracle of this work. As long as we are obedient God is bound, He always keeps his promises to help us. I know its true and I know that this gospel is true. It's all we need.

Have the best week ever, send me emails and letters because our mailbox is pretty empty! 

:(

Sending love from Tassie :)

Sister Hatch