12-31-12 email

Merry Christmas Everybody! So first off, Elder Valladolid and I are both staying here another transfer! Wahoo! I have been in this area a really long time. It will be almost six months by next transfer! (FEB 12) I was pretty glad to find out that I will be staying here. It's really starting to feel like home in this area. It also means I don't have to be all stressed out and packing stuff up on New Years Eve. Speaking of that, We will be hanging out with the douglasses tonight for the most part, because we have to be at home earlier. Thats ok though. It will be lots of fun. We bought them a game called ticket to ride for Christmas, and we have played it like ten times since then. Hahaha It's lots of fun. So I also have some more big news. IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!!!! YA! It was only there until about 10 this morning, and it was less than an inch for sure, but it actually snowed! I definitely made my day to be able to throw a snowball! It has been a pretty awesome couple of weeks. The work has been slower, but we are still seeing some successes. Our newest investigator, Shikha from the English ward, now has a baptismal date for January. I don't remember if I told you about her already, but her family is from napal, and she actually took the missionary lessons a couple of years ago, but her parents didn't let her get baptized. They told her to wait. So now that she has waited, and is now 18, she really wants to get baptized! So we are pretty excited for her. Also, our investigator Brian will probably get baptized in January too! He went to SLC last week and absolutely loved it! Oh, and Dylan (who is now a preist) and Tania are going to SLC next week as well to see the temple. I think it is the coolest thing to see how much support they have gotten from their family and new friends that they have made. Anyways, with the new year, both of our wards will be meeting at 9 on sundays for church. Which will be hard because we are supposed to go to both of them... That will be fun. Well, thats about all I have for this week, but I hope you all feel better soon! And have a great week! -Elder Hatch

12-24-12 email

So, we really didn't get an email from Jacob this day because we got to skype with him the next day, but he did send some photos along.  Our skype call on Christmas was great!  I think Elder Hatch is doing well.

12-17-12 email

Dear Family,

I'm doing pretty good here. The work has been slowing just a little bit because of the holidays, but things are still going well. We have a baptism this Saturday for Tanya and Dylan. We are all pretty excited for it! It is always the best seeing family members getting baptized together. Especially right before christmas! I admit, its been getting a little bit harder for me again as we get closer to Christmas. I have found a lot of peace in trying to keep our little traditions and of course trying to help other people out as well. I read an article the other day that has really helped me put things into perspective though. If you get some time, read President Monson's article in this month's ensign. I'm positive that was written for my sake. And while I'm still getting a lot of festivities (Especially with Sister Douglas) I'm starting to find that the things that are really important to me are different this year. As I have been reading about Christ each morning, and serving others the rest of the time, I've found a new kind of Christmas spirit that I don't think I really appreciated until now. And once again, I think President Monson sums that up pretty well. I'm glad you enjoyed those Christmas cards, they were pretty cheap, and I thought they would be a pretty easy way to stay in touch with a lot of the people that I have met in the mission. I am planning on sending you guys a little package this week too, with a little extra something for Tyler of course! BTW... (make sure to scream at the top of your lungs when you read this next part)  HHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPYYYYYYYYYYYY BBBBBBBBBBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHDDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY TTTTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYYYLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyways, I did really enjoy Stevies letter, and I am super happy for him! I sent him a card too, so hopefully he gets that soon. So as far as skype goes, would maybe around 10 work? Also, I think I need your skype information or something in order to call you. I'm not really sure how it works though. Oh, and I am still loving your fudge! I have rationed it now so that I can still have some on Christmas. Hahaha... I'm sad I missed the Christmas Party, but I'm glad to hear it was as great as ever! I miss you guys soooo much! especially right now. I want you to know that I love you all, and I hope you have a  wonderful christmas! -Elder Hatch

PS we found out at Zone Conference that because of all the new missionaries coming, they are shifting the transfer schedule, so all of us will be going home a week earlier than originally planned. Which means I wont actually serve two full years!

PPS It was super hard to see grandpa and not be able to talk for a long time. I miss him a lot too!

PPPS Elder Harris is very thankful for your generosity!

12-10-12 email

Dear family,

It has been a pretty good week this week. Brian is still doing amazing, and is planning on getting baptized in just a couple weeks. We teach him with the walker family (who reffered him to us) and we have already had a few really spiritual experiences with him. He is so prepared its ridiculous! Tanya and Dilan are also planning on getting baptized on the 22 this month. They are really cool too! He is 16 and she is 20, and they are both in the US for the first time right around the holidays, which has been pretty hard for them, but they are so open to the spirit, and so willing to listen. The Lord is really blessing us right now by just dropping golden investigators in our lap. Its been really nice. We have also been trying to ask for refferals from everybody, which has given us like 7 refferals in just the past couple days! So we are doing really well.

      So I did get your package this week, and we have all loved your fudge! In fact, Sister Douglas wants the fudge recipe. And/or your cinnamon roll recipe. Also, to answer your question, I have not actually baptized anybody on my mission yet. Its actually kind of discouraged because they really like to have somebody baptize that isnt going to leave again in the next couple of weeks. I have confirmed a couple of people though, which has been amazing. So with this Christmas coming, I will definitely be able to Skype! I will let you decide where you guys want to be, just remember I have a time limit, so there cant be too many people. (I would love to talk to Grandma and Grandpa though) I will try and work out what time we want to do it soon. It is good to hear about steven and dan, and all of the fun stuff you guys have going on. I have to go, but I hope you all have another wonderful week! Love Elder Hatch

12-3-12 email

hola familia! Things are wonderful here in Albuquerque! We had the baptism and confirmation for Natalia Cantua last week, and that was awesome! It was a very nice service, and it was crazy how much support from the branch she is getting. It was really special because it is the first baptism the branch has had in over a year. The work is continuing to grow though! We have two more baptisms for the branch scheduled before the year ends! Tanya and Dilan just came here from Mexico to live with there family up here, which just happens to be our branch president's family, so they are now very interested in the church, and are progressing really quickly. Also, we found a golden new investigator in the Taylor Ranch ward named Brian. We saw him for the first time like three days ago, and he texted us this morning to say that he just finished second nephi! Anyways, we are very excited to be working with him, and we will hopefully have a baptismal date with him this week. And one more bit of good news, Cedric helped bless the sacrament for the first time this last sunday! He is still doing great. solid as ever.

        So we have also spent some great time helping the douglases put up all their christmas decorations. I have had a lot of fun putting up lights, singing christmas music, and making paper snowflakes and such. I Have also already received two christmas packages! one from the Ruppers, and one from the ward. Really cool! especially the tree that the ruppers sent. It looks awesome! I am starting to feel better about this christmas. Me and Elder Valladolid are getting along pretty well, and we are working a lot too. One thing I know he would love is a sweater (medium, vneck, solid color, maybe red or blue) Other than that I don't know, but he is a pretty cool guy. Well, thats about all I have to write about today, but I love you and hope you all have a great week! -Elder hatch