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

Email from January 5, 2015

We have had a hard last couple of weeks and our poor Brayden has been taking the news of his Aunt Janae having cancer hard. He has sent some sweet letters regarding his Aunt. Ill probably call tonight but ill talk to the mission president first to see what he wants me to do exactly. Im grateful for your prayers on my behalf and i know that She is going to a better place. I dont have alot of time to talk now but Im keeping you guys all in my prayers and i know that all of these things happen for a reason and will all eventually be for our good. I love you guys alot and i wish i could be there to help you guys out but im needed here and i ask you to not worry about me. Ill just work even harder to keep my mind busy. I love you all Love Your son, Elder Brayden Hatfield This was a pretty good week. Im just throwing myself at the work to help out. but its going great here. We are focusing alot on helping our members get a stronger testimony. Its slower than i would like but little by little they are getting there. The work is going great out here and we are seeing some good success in the branch. We are finally getting some coordination going with a meeting we have today we are going to bring some good things to the table. I want the branch doing things too because I feel like the missionaries are the branch presidency out here as well. THis week i also was blessed to attend the funeral of one of our members. She was a sweet old lady that we brought the sacrament to each week. She passed away the 31st of december and i spoke a bit at her funeral. Its sad that there are alot of people who dont have the same hope that we have when it comes to life after death. Dont worry about me. I know very well where Jay is going and it just means i got to put the shoulder to the wheel and push along. Love you dad, Elder Hatfield

Christmas Day phone call 2014

Christmas was Wonderful because we were able to talk to our Elder Hatfield!! Best Christmas present EVER!!! He looked great and sounded great! Sure love and miss him!

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!