August 29, 2011

Guess Whattttttttttttttt!!!!!

I don't have too much time to write this week because it's been a packed day with writing family and President. But I will try my best to include somethings and type as fast as my little chubby hands can type! Here we go! 

So this has been a really great week for me in my brand new area of Faucett 1!! (That's what it's called, and yes, it's in Lima). It's on the west side of Lima close to the airport! It's in a poorer section and at times is apparently a bit dangerous, but that's okay! I'm living with 2 other missionaries and we live on the 4th floor of the house of our Bishop and his family, who is actually the Taxi driver for our mission! (You know, takin the sick and afflicted all around and such...) It's been really cool and a great experience to have a new area. However at night it get's really cool being so high up and there's a lot of noise with airplanes flying by, and pigeons on the roof... and super loud parties all around us on Friday and Saturday
nights... but that's okay, I guess lack of sleep is a sacrifice in the mission!

It's been a good week with my new companion, Elder Ochoa. He's a really good missionary, he's a hard worker, very prepared and very obedient, and I'm sure that together we'll have few problems and really be able to enjoy our time together and have lot's of success! He only has 2 months in the mission but it doesn't feel like I'm training him or anything, which is a nice change to be able to just focus on working and growing together.

Let me tell you what a DL does real fast! Basically I'm in charge of 6 other missionaries in my Zone, and I have to watch their progression and make sure they're doing everything correctly and there aren't major problems. Also every tuesday I'm responsible for teaching them and helping them learn and grow and put it into practice. It's a bit different and a lot more responsibility, but it should go fine, I think I'll enjoy it, we'll see! Also I'm responsible for taking down their numbers everyweek and then sending these to the Zone leaders, who give it to the Assistents, who give it to the President, who gives it to the area president, etc. etc. until the Prophet get's it! Cool eh?

Also!! We have 4 baptismal dates who are preparing to get baptized on the 10th. They're some great people who are really excited, and we have another 3 who we're working with, and if everything goes well this week, we should have 3 more!!

Thanks for the awesome pictures! 

Anyway I'm out of time now, so I'll have to wait until next week!

With Love,
Elder Hatt

August 22, 2011

Hola Hola Hola!!

Wooo, so lot's to fill you in about this week! However... I'm again low on time, but I'll try to answer all your questions and fill you in as much as I can! Somewhat organized too, but no promises!

First of all, Transfers! I'm leaving! How anticlimatically written! Baha, but I'm going down to Lima tomorrow morning! My new companion is Elder Ochoa G., I know an Ochoa O, but he's not him... so I don't know him, but that's okay. We'll see! I'll be going down as a District Leader in charge of 6 other missionaries I think. I'm excited, we'll see how it goes! It'll be strange leaving here though.

I'm happy that you're happy to be home! And a little jealous honestly, but that's okay, what can I do! For this week, I want you to remember that almost any message can be returned back to the Restoration. A prophet is here to lead and guide us closer to God, to take our hand and teach what we can do. It's our choice to follow his words or not, receive God's blessings... or
not! The fact that God loves us enough to call another Prophet in this dispensation is really cool though, the fact that, even after crucifying his only begotten son, he loves us enough to give us another chance to return to him. Because that's our purpose here in the world! I could go on for hours, but to me, that's kind of what a prophet is. The bridge between our father
and his children!

So tell me, what was Sister Lavatai doing back in North Bay? Just visiting her mission? Is she getting married soon?! I can't believe Sister Barton is finishing so soon, gahh so fast! I
need to write that girl back!

Let me answer some specific questions for you!

What is on the agenda for today? Packing and saying goodbye to members and converts!!!

Were you able to get Breno the priesthood this week? Yes!! This following Sunday he'll be preparing the Sacrament and passing it!

What strange foods have you been fed this week? Nothing really strange this week! But our pension (I'm attaching a picture of me with her and her family) went to Lima to visit the temple so her daughter cooked for us... it was... interesting! It wasn't terrible, it was just very... different!! Delicious! 

Have there been any more strange "holidays?". No, nothing yet!

Anyway, out of time now,
Until next week!

Love you lot's!
Your peruvian,

Elder Hatt

August 8, 2011

¡¡Hola mi amor desde el país que comen más arroz que cualquier otro país en el mundo!! ¡¡¡¡¡Sí!!!! (You can google translate that if you want!)

Thanks for the information about what life is like for you back in Rocker Bay! I'm so jealous you got to go to the Cottage and just hang out. Are you getting a sick tan like mine? Kara wrote me this week and gave me some great... information... aha... Today Jarom is supposedly proposing to Ashley... And today Dad and Pierrette are going to the temple to be sealed together. Honestly it's really hard to describe my feelings right now, you know me, APPARENTLY I don't like to show my feelings that much. But I think it's just really... strange... right now. It's going to be SO different when I get home, so much is happening there, it's really weird to be so detached from it all, and slightly difficult aha. But that's okay, I knew it wouldn't be the same coming home when I left, and that my family have their own lives, and can live them as they wish, therefore there's nothing that I can do but respect their decisions and hope for the best. So that's what I'll do!

Speaking of lot's happening. There's quite a bit going on down here in Rice Land! I mean, garbage land! nonono, spanish land?... shoot, I forgot where I am, oh well, it's not important! This week was a great week! Breno, like you know, had his baptism! It was a great baptism, and Elder Iglesias and I went with his Aunt to decorate for his baptismal service, even though it looked a bit more like a wedding then a baptism, it was beautiful and a very spiritual and peaceful experience. It's been a great chance to work with Breno over these past 6 months and help him develop Faith and know that God DOES exist, that he loves us, and will help us in every moment if we seek his support and help. He's a great kid and this following Sunday we'll try to see if he can receive the Priesthood and start helping to prepare the Sacrament. What's even more awesome is that Elder Iglesias had the chance to baptise him! I'm not frustrated at all, it was his first one and he did a great job and really made him happy. Photos to follow!

We also had a Blitz in Jardines this week, which is basically when all the missionaries in the Zone come to one area for about 2 hours, and just contact people! It's to strengthen the other areas and help them with find new people, which was much needed after the 2 recent baptisms we've had. Now we're jam-packed with people to visit this week and I'm looking forward to see what comes from it!

I want to thank you, for being such a great support to me here in the mission. It's not an easy thing to be a missionary, but friends, and family definitely make a huge difference. Thanks for diligently writing me every week, keeping me informed about what's happening back home, and more then everything, for making me smile :) You're a bigger blessing in my life then you know!

Anyway, that's pretty much my report for this week! Oh but before I forget! You asked me about my Culinary Adventures, and today a member is going to teach us how to prepare and cook Anticuchos! Which, if you remember, are Cow Heart! Mmmmm!! I'm super excited... photos to follow next week! But other than that, nope, nothing strange... Just a ton of white rice!

I hope and pray everything is going great for you. I hope you're happy, you're enjoying life, and that there's nothing too terrible happening in your life. Always remember that we have trials, difficulties, and temptations in the life to make us better and to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and Christ if we approach them and deal with them correctly. You're the bestest! Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you here in Peru! Anything you want? A nice knitted poncho? A hat? A bracelet? Ahaha

Love ya!

Elder Hatt

The glass says "Moo..." anyone who knows of Elder Hatt's obsessions for cows and milk (both of which he will probably deny) will appreciate this! 

August 1, 2011

¡¡Hola Hola Hola!!

Yayyyy August!! (MISSION KEEPS GOING!! SOOOOO STINKING EXCITED!) :)

So thank you for the wonderfully normal and jumbled email. I love it, because that's what I'm used to and it makes it interesting! And much less formal.

Okay so before I continue, let me clarify everything! Elder Bustos (My Zone Leader) is a great missionary! And what I wanted to say is that he's obedient... to the point of being obnoxious about it and over-bearing slightly. Like what I mean to say is that he's so eager to work that it's to the point of being strange, awkward, and scary... which is the complete opposite of what I want to be! Have you seen a missionary run someone down to invite them to the church? I have! And no... usually missionaries, the closer to finishing they get, the more they think about home when effects their work in the field. It's a natural problem, but I'll try my best not to become that way, cross my heart!

So this week has gone really well actually. I think the highlight of this week was the baptism we had! But not just because it was a baptism, but because I've been working with this sister (Milagros!) for the past 7 months (Since I started in Barranca). This wednesday she had a great wedding, which our President actually helped out a lot with, and this saturday we had her baptism. It was a great experience and so fulfilling to know that I was able to help her make this change in her life and help her finally do what it was that she wanted to do so much. Now we're preparing her to go to the temple and trying to build a lot of friendship between her and the members so that she has a strong anchor, forever! Like you said, it really is so important that we make the investigators feel welcome when they come to the Church. They need to feel welcome and wanted when they come! So thank you for being such a fantastic member missionary, I wish we had some more of those down here!

Other then that the work is going really well. It's tough at times to find new people and find people who are able to progress. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged, but every day I try to do my best to not think that way and just enjoy what it is that I'm doing. It's been a great experience to serve here in Jardines, and I've personally seen a lot of change.

This Friday we'll be having Breno's baptism! He's super excited for it and it so ready! It'll be great to see him enter into that water, and come out a different, better, person. He came to Milagros's baptism and I think he really enjoyed it, the spirit was so strong, I love this work!

Guess what else I did this week? I ate Rabbit for the first time! The 28th of July here in Peru is like July 1st in Canada. So there's a lot of celebrations and parties! It's super funny I think though, because here in Peru they have a day for EVERYTHING! And basically it's just a reason to miss school... the schooling system isn't the best here aha. They finish a year earlier then we do, and only study about 4 hours every day. (In the morning, or in the afternoon). For example, have you ever heard of Best friend day? Or Grandma or Grandpa day? Or Maybe Rotissery Chicken day? Because they have all these, and more, here in Peru! It's like The Price is Right, Come on down! ahaha... not! Please finish your schooling, kids! you have no idea how fortunate you are aha.

It's so great to hear about you and your life. It makes me so happy to see you enjoying the things that you want to do, like going out with friends. Anyway, I'm out of time now. Today I'm going to go eat KFC with our zone, because we're in a bigger city where we go every month to take out our money, and since today is Pday, and I haven't eaten fast food in about 9 months... I'm going to KFC! I'm excited :)

I'm attaching some pictures from Milagros's baptism and wedding! One of the photos is her with her daughter, and some members (The young guy with the long hair and moustache is Breno... he's cool... aha)

Love you  long time!

Until next week,

Elder Hatt

July 25, 2011

HELLLLLOOOOO!!!

Sorry I’m sending this so late but Internet was down this morning so I had to wait until now to send almost all my emails. Please forgive me, because this will not be organized… nor super big. But it will be filled with thoughts and love! Just like you! Love you?

So Milagros is getting married this Wednesday! She’s super excited and it’s only been 8 years, woo! And depending on her family, she’ll be getting baptized Saturday, Sunday… or the following Saturday. Her family is coming up for her wedding and will be visiting for a while.  But her Mother is super Catholic and would be super against her Baptism to the point of depression aha… so she doesn’t want to tell her. So depending on her Mother depends on her baptism! She’s 41 and has the cutest 4 year old daughter ever with long Brown curly hair, I think she’s pretty awesome. Breno is doing great and he is excited and ready for his baptism as well, nothing wrong with him! He’s…  tall, likes metal music, funny, knows a lot of English (Mostly bad words) and has changed a lot since we’ve started talking to him (for the better of course). Not sure what else to say.... hope that's okay?

Elder  Iglesias is travelling to Lima right now with another Elder because of a tooth problem he has. So now I’m with Elder Bustos (My zone leader) and am his assistant until he returns tomorrow! Oh what fun aha. He's finishing his mission in 3 weeks! But it's strange because he's like the most obedient missionary we have in the Mission... and usually the closer a missionary gets to finishing, the trunkier he gets. But he's the opposite and just tries to work harder the closer he gets. He's a really nice guy and I'm sure he's got something to teach me in these few days! We'll see how it goes :)

Take care! Love ya!

Elder Hatt

Pee ess – Where are my Canada day pictures?! I want more pictures! <3

**SORRY**

Hello everyone,

I must  apologize for the lack of posts from Elder Hatt as of late. Due to faulty internet and the inability to access the blog over the past month I have been unable to keep you folks updated. Now that our internet is once again up and running properly the blog is current.

Thank you for your patience and support to Elder Hatt... he appreciates it more than you know!

With love,

Jenn-la