very very bitter sweet

dear home,

This week's letter is very very bitter sweet, mostly bitter. We got transfer news and I'll be leaving the blessed city of Melbourne. :( :( I'll still be in Melbourne but not the city part. :( I've never been so sad. I saw it coming with Tassie but not here. I was gutted when I found out. One transfer isn't long enough ANYWHERE especially the city. We are doing well here and it didn't make sense why I was leaving until president called Sunday morning and asked me to serve as a sister training leader which is amazing and I'm so honored! It will just take an adjustment. The hardest part is packing. I literally just finished unpacking last week and I don't want to leave Sister Albania or the branch. :(  *tears* *tears* *tears*

I am just so happy I was able to serve here at all, the Lord answered my prayers! Now I am on to something hard that will help me grow as a missionary. God knows what he's doing so I'm going to trust him! All is well. All is well. :) We had interviews this week which were great. I had a kebab- delicious. We had zone pday with our Chinese zone which was a blast, so so fun! I'm so sad to leave them. I hope there are Chinese people where I go so I can keep up on all the Chinese I learned here.

Pedro will be getting baptised this weekend- .

So many wonderful things happened this week that there is no time to write about. My last pday in the city and we're going to make the most of it! 

Sorry for being sad :( I really am EXCITED for this next chapter in my mission, it's a big one!! I'm grateful for things like this. :)

I love all of you. I love my mission and I love my Savior.

1 John 4: 7-9 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that liveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

xxx

Your city sis

Sister Hatch

 urban paradise

Melbourne is still as great as ever and the work is soaring! The weather is starting to turn cool and the sweaters have come out, luckily it doesn't get quite as cold here as Tasmania- so this winter should be alright.

Still can't believe I'm headed into my 1 year mark soon...not enough time left! Elder Bednar said something when he came that really stuck with me. We were w/ him for 3 hours and it felt like 30 minutes. He said its because there is no such thing as time in eternity. Thats why it went so fast. The closer you come to eternity by the spirit, the less constrained you are in time. On a mission we are so close to the spirit, we get closer to eternity every day. Thats why it goes so fast. I feel so blessed to be apart of this glorious eternal work.

We meet so many people every day and its pretty safe to say 75% of them are cray. (Is that word still cool? Was it ever cool?) and because of that we hear some colorful words/language. When people yell here they call it abusing and we got abused this week...heaps, it was the funniest thing...not something I would wish on anyone but made for a good mission story I guess. It was only bearable because of the infinite atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. The enabling power is my saving grace. I wouldn't still be here w/o it.

Our investigator Pedro is so keen for his baptism on Saturday. We had some really cool experiences w/ him this weekend, God was working his miracles again...as per usual. He doesn't have a solid testimony yet, so we've been focusing on building that, spiritual experience by spiritual experience, line upon line, and the change I've seen in just 3 days in indescribable! Gods love is real an the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ is REAL. Say prayers for him.

Today we will be having zone pday...again! We have unofficially become part of the Chinese zone! (since the beginning of transfers) and we'll be having pday w/ them. :)

My favorite scripture this week..might be the same as last week. Moses 28:3 "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should perish; yea even the  very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

Love you all,

From the most livable city in the world.

xxx Sister Hatch