Snapshots

Aww Elder Hatt found a friend from home!

What's he pouting about?

Elder Hatt and his new companion in the Peru MTC, Elder Lopez! He is from Guatemala!!

Elder Hatt also misses being able to style his hair :(

He says he's on a mission...but it looks a lot like a resort!

Hola mi Familia!!

First of all let me tell you that I've arrived safely in Peru! It was a bit nerve wracking because our flight from Salt Lake City was 1 1\2 hours delayed! Which means that when we landed in Los Angeles we had like literally 10 minutes to get to our flight. However we still had to:

     1. Run to the other end of the airport for our other airline.

     2. Check in and receieve our boarding passes

     3. Run and strip down through security as fast as possible, only to put everything back on just as fast and then,

     4. Book it as fast as we could to our gate!

Whew, I get excited just typing that out. Anyway, to say the least it was very exciting, and a lot of fun. However on the down side, if we didn't make our flight we would have returned back to Utah until we could fly out again. Thankfully the Lord was watching over us and he had all the Flight people there ready to meet us with our Boarding passes and take us in groups of 5 through security and to our Gate. It was a really great

experience and we were really fortunate and blessed to have our Airplane delayed so that everyone was able to get on! We flew all night as arrived here at about 8:30 this morning. We then had to go through Customs and get our Passports stamped. Then we had to go get our luggage! Now that was a bit scary...

Right away I found one of my Suitcases but I never saw the other one! As well, a lot of the other missionaries were only receiving 1 piece of luggage or none at all. Or some got it all with no problem. However it took us a good 20 minutes standing there just waiting for our Luggage to come. We then went to the Baggage Claim counter and asked them where it was, they did there detective work and while they were looking the belt turns on again! This is like 15 minutes after the belt turns off. And lo and behold here comes everyone elses luggage one by one. It was a great blessing that everyone was able to receive their luggage without problem or anything. Afterwards we boarded our Bus and drove downtown to get to the CCM here in Lima. (CCM stands for Centro de Capacitaciòn Misional which translates into MTC but only in Español) It was definetely a sight! It made me very excited and I can't wait to get to work! The campus here is breath taking and as soon as I can I'll send some pictures!

Okay but I have to get going and fill out documents etc. But first my address is...

Elder Jonan Klinton Hatt
Peru Lima West Mission

Av. Melgarejo 159

Urb. Campo Verde

La Molina, Lima, Peru. 

Okay here is where it get's tricky! Mail should only be sent for the first 4 weeks! During my last 3 mail should be sent to the mission address which will be addressed at a later date!

Here is where it get's depressing! No Packages are allowed!!! I know stupid isn't it!! It says it's because Quote: Customs fees and taxes here are very expensive. It is better and safer if they put deposit Money in your bankaccount and you buy whatever you need here in Peru.

Okay I'm being told to leave now, but I love you all! I'm safe and happy and nervous and excited and anxious and exhausted and any other emotion you can think of I probably feel!

I love you all!

Elder Hatt :)

New Beginnings, new friends

This is Elder Howden (who works at the MTC as an online missionary) and our favourtie Jonan!! This was taken just before he left to head off to Peru. Looking good Elder Hatt!!

Package Ideas

Q: What sorts of things does Elder Hatt need?

A: Excellent question, in fact, here is a brief list he sent just in case you are wanting to send him some goodies:

1. Missionary Reference Library (It's a little book stack with books like Jesus the Christ and stuff, thought I'd really like to read it for my mission)

2. Pens!! But nice ones, that write nicely, whatever your favourite is :D

3. A bouncy ball? Something to keep me occupied during the night before bed or on P-day's (A skyball would be awesome! hahaha)

4. Candy! (Gummies more or less, also if you can get some Canadian things that would be great, such as Dill Pickle Chips or Smarties or Aero orrr Caramilk :P A lot of these american's are really curious about them!)

5. Stamps! Yes please, international ones would be best, so I can send letters back home without constantly buying more stamps on a limited budget.

6. Plaid Ties? Aha I love them... more would be great!

Thank you!

Elder Hatt :)

Week 2!

Hi!!

So I'm a little bit upset right now because I tried to send an email last week and it apparently didn't even send! But of course I couldn't find that out because the e-mail is blocked here except for once a week for exactly 30 minutes! So my time is short and very restricted! I would copy it and send it if I could but that's blocked... so I can't do that, and I can't even resend it because it keeps failing every time!! I'll try to figure it our but I really don't have much time so let me type super fast and tell you as much as I can!

The MTC has been great, we're learning so much sooo quickly! It's crazy to think that I've been here for 2 weeks already. Also I leave on December 15th for the Peru MTC assuming my Visa comes without any problems! So if you want to send any mail or packages please have them sent before then! Also please tell anyone who writes me letters through Dear Elder that they need to attach their address with their message if they want a response since it won't attach it automatically (Sorry Kaiti! but I did get the letter and I loved it :D )

But it's crazy! The days are long but they all seem to kind of blend together to make one big super week... if that makes sense, it's a strange feeling. But I'm in a tripanionship! One is from Seattle and one is from here in Utah! It's a bit tough at times to be in a companionship, let alone with 2 companions. But it's good, we get along fine and our lessons go great. Also, I've been chosen to be the District leader for our District!! So I'm in charge of 11 other missionaries, 5 of us are going to Peru while the other 7 are going to Mexico. It's great, a lot of responsibility and work, but it's very fulfilling and I feel like it's a good preperation for what I'll be doing in the mission field.

Umm last week when I wrote was Thanksgiving! It was pretty cool and we had lot's to do. Including attend a devotional where Jeffrey R. Holland came to speak to us and all his family! I think that was my favourite, It was so cool to see an apostle there and the spirit he brings with him.

Okay I only have 25 seconds left but I love you! And will write a bigger one next week I promise! As long as they send!

Hope all is Well!

Love,

Elder Hatt

Hola a todos! (Hello Everyone) !

Hello friends, family, colleagues, acqaintances, strangers, creepers, associates, chums, classmates, comrades,  sidekicks, and even my enemies :)

This is officially the 1st Blog post of many of the Adventures of Elder Hatt! (Or Las Aventras d'Elder Hatt). This will be the place where everyone goes after a hard day's work filled with sweat and tears (and maybe some blood) to read about my incredible adventures as I work in the wonderful land of Lima, Peru for 2 years!... I know, you're jealous ;)

Sooo, I'm sure there's a couple people out there (alright probably everyone) who's wondering "Why the heck is this boy going to live in Peru for 2 years away from friends and family, practically isolated, with little to no communication other then the periodic email once a week and phone calls twice a year and snail mail that will probably take at least 2 weeks to get to him?" (Please refrain from sending me freshly baked goodies for a package, as they will most likely take twice as long as a letter and may not be so fresh once recieved... unless you undercook them :) ) And my response would be, "Good question, when I find out, I'll let you know!"

No I'm just kidding :) I can't wait to get to Peru and meet the people and learn the language. The reason I'll be in Peru is to actually provide service to the people while serving a mission for my Church. I'll be helping them with whatever they need and teaching them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is my belief and my hope that it will be a most rewarding experience serving in Peru and I can hardly contain my excitement... In fact I enter the training center in exactly 18 days. But who's counting right? :P

I'll fill you in a little bit on how the process works, because I don't actually leave straight for Peru. So, my first step is to enter the training center in Provo, Utah to prepare myself to live in Peru. While there I'll be learning the language as well as the best way to help and teach the people that I'll be surrounded by. Typically I stay in the training center for 9 weeks before I am kicked out and forced to fend for myself while learning how to live in a polluted, hot, smelly city with a small population of only 9,000,000 people! I can't wait :) Aha I'm kidding, I'll be paired with another Missionary in Peru who will train me and help me get my feet on the ground. Typically I'm with one Missionary for 6 weeks before recieving a new one, sometimes more, sometimes less. And this pattern will continue for the 2 years while I'm there! It'll be a hoot, that's for sure.

Anyway that's a basic synopsis of my life to come in the next few years! If you'd like to send me a letter while I'm in the training centre the address is as follows:

Elder Jonan Klinton Hatt

Peru Lima West Mission

POB 30150

Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150

USA

If you would like to send me packages while in Peru my address will be:

Elder Jonan Klinton Hatt

Peru Lima West Mission

Aveniva Carlos Salaverry 3664

Los Olivos

Lima 39

Peru

Phone: 511-521-5405 (Phone number is only needed if shipping with a private courier, but again remember, no freshly baked goodies please :) And please don't call the mission home!)

Unfourtunately I do not have my mailing address while in Peru, and won't be recieving it until I get there, but I will be sure to let everyone know what it is as soon as I do :)

Anyway, that's a little bit of an insight into my life. I wish you all the best and remember to check back weekly for updates or pictures or information or a combination of the three :D

Sinceramente (Sincerely),

Elder Hatt :)