Email from Sept. 29, 2014

Yeah, I have been without mom for awhile and its hard. I had to grow up really fast as you can Imagine. Its been a lot of fun out here the past little bit it has been raining a lot and we have needed it. Had my first sickness of the mission after my comp got sick. La gripa. (cold) so that was not fun at all. But we were able to spend a lot of time with the zone this week due to the most recent revelation from President Maluenda. We need to have at least 5 meetings a week lasting 2 hours just on our teaching methods. and honestly we needed it. We have really improved and im getting to master the scriptures more. We have been able to bring the spirit more strongly and teach short simple doctrines. (we even taught a Jehovah Witness out of his own bible) Their bibles are missing a lot of important doctrine but the just was the same. It was an interesting lesson but it goes to show that the truth is omnipresent and there is no way to hide from it if you are looking for it. Especially if you have some stubborn missionaries like us. We are working with a lot of people right now and we have a lot of great people down here praying and working to get a temple down here. They deserve one for sure. Glad to hear all is well. You guys are great and I love you! Love your son, Elder Hatfield

September 22, 2014 Email...

Hey from el sur de tejas, Todo esta bien en este parte del reino. we are doing great and we had a really good week to build us up and get us pumped for the week ahead. We had zone conference and stake conference and the temple was really focused on. I want to challenge you guys to see if we can get a temple announced in the texas McAllen mission before you get one announced back in Ohio. I think we might be able to do it. Just need to convince to get a temple recommend that they cant use until we get a temple. we are having a ton of fun down here with all of the work that is going on. There are so many people who are just growing in their faith and testimony. Its a bit crazy the growth we are seeing. We just hope the members can keep up with us haha. The members here are amazing they sacrifice a lot and they give to us even when they don't have anything for themselves. If you want some food really bad just tell one of the hermanas and they will cook you more food than you can handle. And I can eat a lot of food. Probably more than I was able too before. I feel like I will probably gain a bit of weight out here haha. I need it. Well no huge things happened this week. Just the normal for south texas I think. Not too normal but whatever. Well you guys take care and im keeping you in my prayers. Love, Elder Hatfield

"Cake in the Bottle" made it to Elder Hatfield for his birthday! YAY!!

I had sent Brayden some homemade "Birthday cake in a bottle!" Coolest thing ever!! I found the idea on Pinterest so that I would be able to send him some cake down in TX for his Birthday! Worked GREAT! The missionaries all were able to enjoy cake with him!!! Its been a crazy week haha. We stayed at the ZL's apartment. 10 missionaries in one apartment. its interesting haha. Its been a lot of fun out here and the work is going super well. We are getting in a lot of doors and teaching a lot of people. We are also working with some amazing less active families. One of them had callings in the church as relief society president and the elders quorum president. Its kinda nuts that the could fall away but we gave them a run for their money. They kept setting up return appointments because they were always "busy" and we kept going back but it was the same thing over and over again. Then we found out they were moving and we didn't know where. so we had to do some FBI work and find out where they moved too and then we showed up and they were really shocked to see us. So eventually her heart softened and she realized that it was the lord trying to speak to her(we also saw her at the store for 2 weeks in a row. Not a coincidence haha) so she let us in and we had an amazing FHE with them. It was amazing.

Sept. 15, 2014

HOWDY YALL, Things are going great down here. A lot of good things are coming to pass! THe branch is growing really fast and we will be a ward real soon. There are a lot of great people down here and im really beginning to understand them and be able to talk. ITs weird I didn't change anything really just my desire to learn the language grew I guess but its just clicking and sticking now and its great. I translated the services this sunday and did really good as compared to the times in the past. Also this week it rained and flooded our area and was awesome. We went on bike and there was a few spots where the water covered our shoes through the whole pedal rotation. It was awesome until you hit a pothole 2 ft underwater haha. People thought we were crazy but at least now they can see how much we love what we do. you guys take care and have fun up there. Love, Elder Hatfield

Sister Guzman from Roma, TX sent these fun pics of a surprise birthday party for Elder Hatfield!!!

Sister Guzman from Roma, TX threw a surprise birthday party for our Brayden! Makes this mom happy that his birthday was celebrated. Thank you Sister Guzman!! Happy Birthday to Elder Hatfield!!!

Roma, Texas update... Sept. 8, 2014

Howdy Yall! Its been one big week down here at the bottom of the states. We had an amazing miracle this week resulting in two souls starting their path back to our father in Heaven. Satan put up some fierce opposition but we punched him in the face in the end. We are growing so fast that our church building cant hold all the people anymore and so we are going to be building a white person church(big fancy church) because our trailer chapel isnt cutting it anymore. The lord i think decided that this place has been a branch for too long. So im glad i have the privelege to be apart of the work in this part of the vineyard. It seems like all my friends back home have moved on to mission or college so it seems kinda lonely back home. Im glad that i can represent the Hiram ward. What a blessing it is to not say im from utah like everyother missionary. Keep up the good work guys. I love you all. Love, Elder Hatfield P.S. I met a girl this week who said i was the first person she has ever seen with blue eyes. That helps put the culture in definition down here haha. Thanks for taking care of harley for me. I miss that dork haha. Love you mom and im good and healthy. I have you to thank for that. alot more stuck than i thought when i was watching you do stuff.

Still in Roma, Texas... Sept. 2, 2014 email

I am wondering why most missionaries send home sweet pictures of themselves but my Brayden likes to send pics of dogs and dead chickens?? LOL!!! Howdy yall! fun week. I had some fresh chicken that was dead about 30 minutes before he was in my tostada and got to do some pretty cool stuff overall. Still dont really have the hang of missionary work but im getting better and just having lots of fun overall. Still learning the language its kicking my butt a bit but im glad to hear that everyone is doing so good back home. it sounds llike everyone is growing up and moving on so fast. Ive learned to make a few different types of mexican dishes and i dont mind saying im getting to be a pretty good chef. We had over 85 people in our branch this sunday and my first sunday in this area we had almost 40 so we have pretty much doubled it. The work is progressing so fast its crazy. Im glad i was called to work here. Im learning so much and i wouldnt trade what ive learned about the savior and his teachings. Ive learned really well this last week to be as children. So far on my mission I have seen how special spirits children really are. so if we all want an example look to the little ones. They are there as our example. You guys take care and chambiar. Love, Elder Hatfield