Dad,
wish i could tell you with transfers but we still dont know anything. But i feel like im leaving as well. This is a long time to stay in an area. And dont get me started on the whole struggling without mom. Ive been surviving off of beans and tortillas and the generosity of the hispanic people(AKA im actually doing pretty good) THis has been a difficult transfer. we have worked with alot of people who for one reason or another chose to use their agency poorly. We are focusing hard on our members to get testimonies. To really get converted. Member work is amazing. And it is the only way this area is going to progress. I hope my service here has really helped the area. The sweat and tears that i have shed here(and in a few occasions a bit of blood) all of my companions have said this is the hardest area they have served in. I guess God needs a chisel and hammer to help shape me and teach me lessons. My patience has grown so much here. Acting rashly and letting others get to me has been refined here. To be my own person who acts from a drive within and not solely from outside influences. Its a skill that has been grown here. Im sure there are alot of other reasons for my time here but i dont know them all now.
Thanks for the support you give my mom. And the support with mckade and tate. your example will take them places. It has carried me so far in my mission. I see fathers everyday who are unfaithful to their families and who lie and dont cherish the gifts that god has dropped at their feet. The broken homes and the fact of parenthood at the age of 15 and up as a common thing. I am so blessed to have had the life i have had. and to know the people i know and the experience i have to know that this isnt life.
I love you guys and im grateful for you all. Ill let you know about transfers when i know.
Love,
Elder Hatfield
Mom,
Yeah transfers are tomorrow but we still dont know anything about it so you will probably find out from kenia if i leave or stay. But yeah wether i stay or leave im ready.
It was great to talk with Jay. She definitely helped me out. She is a great example for all of us. Thank you mom for all that you do. It hasnt been exactly easy but thats not what we came here for. we knew it was going to be hard and that the trials that come in life would hurt but we cant grow without trial. we wont become any stronger or better if we just sit around. I know you are a strength to the family right now. And i pray that she passes on too. Henry B. Eyering talked about his mothers funeral and the prophet Spencer W. Kimball talked at her funeral and she had suffered for a few months before she passed away and he said. Her suffering wasnt for a sin or anything she had done in her life it was because God wanted her a bit more polished before she came home. So Jay is just getting polished and ready for life in perfection.
Thanks mom for all that you do for us. You truly are a living example of service and charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ. Thank you for that example. I am learning how blessed i am for the life i have and the family i have. Families down here are broken and shattered and most people are too broken to act on the gospel its sad we have the key to their happiness and we are trying to help them open the door but they throw it away. But just like anything if you want to succeed you try and try and try again. Because if they dont understand how important it is at least we do.
I know this church is true and even though its hard to be away in this difficult time that my service is a blessing to you and for that i am so grateful. I love you so much mom
Love
Elder Hatfield
Zapata is really cool. Lots of cool people and alot more receptive to the gospel than Roma was. Its similiar environmentally to roma. Low income , dogs, dirty, bad roads, and crazy people. Its great. We are working with alot of cool people and yeah my comp is from Utah. Spanish fork actually. I got some pics for you that im sending after this email. But I guess just keep going strong. Im having alot of fun out here. Its hard but its alot of fun. learning alot and progressing so much.
Im good on just about everything so no worries there. I kept some shirts and stuff so im good on those too. Pants and shoes are still doing good. And even if i needed new stuff id rather you just send money but i still have a bunch so no worries there.
Love you guys!
Elder Hatfield
Dad,
The meeting with Oaks was great. He had alot of notes and then he thought about it and then shut his book and said that we are a good group and he can feel the spirit with us so he went the last half hour off the spirit and asking our opinions and things. it was really cool. He talked alot about receiving and recognizing revelation. He said it comes more likely in the mornings when we are well rested. Like with Joseph Smith. In dreams. When we underline scriptures thats revelation. All sorts of little things that just make it so clear. WE have been busy and we sent a proposal to president maluenda about our area and getting some more authority to do things because the branch president that we are under lives in laredo and he doesnt really care. He just likes the numbers that we give him. So thats how it goes.
Cool story you can share about tithing.
We have a sister in our area called sister Moreno. She was one of the original members before the church closed down here. Well the church was closed over 7 years here and when it reopened she came to the missionaries with two huge cans of coffee. and they were thinking uh ooh. Well turns out it was her tithing for all of that time. The missionaries counted it out to send up to laredo and it took about 3 hours to count it all but she had over 300 dollars in tithing that she had been saving up to say she is a full tithe payer. That was a cool experience for me and a story i plan on using. The lords hand is in the work here. its great. Lots of love!
