December 15, 2014

Mom, its been pretty good out here not to much going on. And yeah Elder Brian is a great missionary. We get along pretty good. I havent got the package yet. and ill have to get back to you next week on when and where i will be for skype. I dont know where ill do it. Nobody in out area has the internet(weird huh) so ill have to find somewhere to do it. Im glad you guys are getting ready for Christmas. It doest feel to much like Christmas down here. other than 1 in every 10 people has something Christmas related outside. Its 85 degrees and im still tanning so no not really like Christmas haha. Work is progressing pretty good here we had a few changes in our boundaries so we will be getting busy to know the new area and the members who live there. We are doing really good. Being safe. We got a few places that we can go to during the Holidays so that should be fun. Well you take care. Im grateful for all you do. And i know that your really looking out for me. Im learning alot and this experience is the best thing ever. Its hard at times. probably the hardest thing ill do for a while. teaching people and then watching them make the wrong choice and every once in awhile the right one but im growing and changing daily and i can see it. Its amazing. Love you mom! Dad, Its been a blast down here. We have been busting our butts to bring the gospel to people this holiday season. Im grateful that i have the chance to represent our savior this holiday season. Its a big responsibility but nothing is better. Thats exciting news for Jenny! She is going to fall in love with missionary work. She is a strong person. Just needs to set good patterns in the mission early. Helps the process of change down the road. Looks like the campout was really cool! we dont have anything like that down here really. Just alot of cactus and mesquite trees. The environment is alot like the people. Tough and dry. Just the way i like it haha. We got some pretty interesting people in our area and it always makes it fun to run into them. We also recently just changed the boundaries to the area so we have a bit more responsibility. Im doing good, im healthy(gaining a little weight actually shocker right?) working hard we got alot of people to help out but service is my favorite thing in the world so of course actually the other day i was helping a member put up christmas lights and tore the crotch on my suit pants and she in turn was able to do some service and sew them up for me haha. I know this church is true and i have a personal testimony that God knows us perfectly, He loves us perfectly, and He know exactly what we need. I have grown so much and I have a testimony as well in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I trusted him before this life and I trust him now. Nothing has changed. In a sense all we are doing as missionaries is reactivation. Because we were all pre mortal mormons. We all knew what we were doing so now its just keeping the second estate. I know that we can talk personally with out father in heaven and just as joseph smith did after reading James 1:5 we too can gain wisdom by the father of all by simply asking. Love you dad, Elder Brayden Jeffrey Hatfield

Elder Hatfield's email for Dec. 8, 2014 ~ New Companion Elder Brian !!

The fun part is that Brayden has a new companion and that the companion knows a friend of Brayden's from OHIO. Too fun! Such a small world. I think he will do great with this his new companion. first off yes its elder Brian. He is from Utah and friends with Sydney Tanner?!?!? wierd right? hey also at least one long sleeve sweater and then a box of powerbars por favor. we are getting some ready too so we can enjoy our christmas. The mission has been really good. Glad that your making friends with the people out here. they talk about you a little bit with me. its nice to be updated haha. and no she didnt email me back so i havent emailed hannah. Just want to say thanks again for all the great things you do for me. Your a great mom.(alot better than alot of moms here) So im grateful that i have your example. Not a whole lot of new things to right about. Just that it rains alot out here this time of year. Ill be eating alot of tamales this time of year haha. Well you take care and ill probably send you the time that i will skype you guys next week if thats okay. I need to find out whose house i can do it at. Love you tons! that helped alot with my question thanks a lot! And yeah i have noticed a huge change in my knowledge of the gospel. Before it was mediocre and now i can hold my ground against preachers in other churchs(more impressively in spanish even) but i do my best to avoid arguing. Nothing will be taught with a spirit of contention. This transfer i plan on putting my knowledge of the area and my relationships with members to the test by being a challenging missionary. With the new church movement of "He is the gift" im trying to help the spirit of missionary work penetrate the hearts of our members here. Something needs to change in our branch so that it can be a ward and i think its the feeling of urgency in our last 4 minutes. The all is well in Zion (I have accepted the gospel so im good) Mentality needs to change. Im grateful that i can share this great gift this holiday season. THere isnt anything greater than being here and serving the lord in this great work. One thing i think you can help Mckade do that i wish i learned a little bit better is how to set and reach personal goals. The new year is coming up and my full year as a missionary is coming up. So i want to set some important goals. I think that would be a good thing to do with Mckade so that he has that tool the rest of his life. Just a thought i had. Im grateful for so much. I love you guys but i wouldnt want to be anywhere else. Missionary work is probably one of the most "selfish" things you can do I know its a selfless work but you receive so much more than you give that i dont feel like it can be called selfless. Thank you for your example of righteousness and for your resources(Im lacking a few that i could use in my gospel study haha) But i know that im hear for a reason and im going to make the most of the time i got with these great people. Love you dad, Elder Hatfield

WOW- Elder Hatfield will be 6 more weeks in Roma, TX!!!

Elder Hatfield will be in Roma, TX for another 6 weeks. He thought for sure he would be transferred since he has been there almost 6 months. But he says he has more work to finish!! So proud of him!!

Few photos of Elder Hatfield having Thanksgiving dinner in Roma, TX 2014

Elder Hatfield had a great Thanksgiving eating at 5 different houses!!! I sure hope he got full!!! Sure happy he had a fun Thanksgiving!