Homecoming Talk

THE ATONEMENT CAN CHANGE US

Brothers and sisters

How blessed I feel to be to you today! In the Bible dictionary the word Atonement is defined as "'at one' of those who have been  estranged, and denotes reconciliation of man to God is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin." David a Bednar said "One of the principal purpose of our mortal existence is to be changed and transformed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." I know through my mission i have been able to see the atonement take place and transform a lot of people's lives especially and myself personally. In one particular time you went to visit this less active sister and we were going to share with her the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ  lesson. When we came to Joseph Smith's first vision my companion asked me to read that out loud and as I did getting to the last part where it said  "one of them spake unto me calling me by name and said pointing to the other this is my beloved son hear him." I felt the spirit confirm to me and to that sister that he does know us individually by name and loves us because "he so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son." The atonement can change us to be a better saint as we are submissive, meek, humble, patient and full of love. An example of the atonement taking place in a person's life on my mission was when we went to go visit a  less active family, brother and sister walker. We knocked on the door, brother Walker lets us in and we talk for a little while. Then sister Walker asks if she can get a priesthood blessing because of a medical issue and we said she can. So we called two brethren in the ward, brother Carney and Jarvis, who came and gave her a blessing that she would get feeling better and that she would be healthy. The spirit was there and she felt well enough to come to church that Sunday. When she had asked for a blessing my companion and I felt like she knew her Father in Heaven loves her and it was great to see the changes she was and is willing to make because of the blessings she received. she let the atonement take place in her life and asked for a blessing which created a change in her, which is repentance. When we accept our savior and ask for his help he is there and is an arm reach away. An example in the book of Mormon of how the atonement changes people's lives was when Alma the younger who was rebellious had an angel come to him and told him to stop doing wicked things. He was so afraid that he couldn't move for 2 days but when he received his strength this is what he said in  Mosiah 27:23-25 which reads (read it). After recognizing what he had done wrong and had the will to make changes he was able to take upon himself that enabling power of the atonement for a better saint. There are always changes that we can make in our lives to become like our Heavenly Father. I love what president Micah Rolfe said about the atonement using his funnel analogy " the atonement of Jesus Christ is like a funnel. it is sufficient for those inside the funnel with the application of it does everything, make the choice to be there and keep pressing forward." As we apply the atonement letting the effects mold us to better we can feel that redeeming love fully. Bear testimony.

Letter #72- Give All You Got!

May 18, 2015

 Everyone!
This week has been great! We have had the help of some members here
doing great missionary work, we met with Judie and had sister Hanson
with us which was great! Nancy and Jen are doing great, enjoying
reading the Book of Mormon! There was one day we were biking and we
come across a couple of guys and we stop to talk with them, we and
they had to get going so we set a return appointment for the next day
after our missionary meeting, they told to be careful on our bikes and
of course we said we would! The next day we have a spiritual filled
missionary meeting with great role plays! We head back to our area and
met up with brother vickery to go met the two men. We get there and no
one is answering the door so we go around the corner to see if that's
where they are at but wrong house. We go back to the original door and
try again,still no answer so brother vickery opens the door and walks
towards another door and knocks really loud on that one! So that was
quit an adventure but never the less we were able to met with Matthew
who said he would be willing to read the Book of Mormon all the way
through. Brother vickery has shown sister Clark and I how important it
is to give it your all! Jenn was confirmed on Sunday which was
exciting! There are great things abiding here in st. Augustine! I love
you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #71- The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ!

May 11, 2015

Everyone!
Miracles are abounding because of the people, in Florida and all over
the world to Arizona, who have an exceeding great faith which gets
built even stronger everyday because we do not doubt what we know to
be true! We met with Judie a sweet lady who we do service for once in
a while, we invited her to be baptized on May 31st and she said she
would once she knows things are true. I am sure you have heard me talk
about how I love the Book of Mormon so very much, well it's true, it
testifies of Jesus Christs and Heavenly Fathers love for us! We had
exchanges and I was with sister Clay we met a nice man while biking
named Tony who is willing to read the Book of Mormon! A day after our
exchange, sister Clark and I knock in a neighborhood and sister Clark
suggest we try this one door. We do and this sweet lady named Debra
came out and talked with us. We explained to her what's helped us feel
peace and joy,the Book of Mormon! Debra told us that she had lost her
mother a day after Christmas. We testify that she will see her mom
again. Sister Clark shares a scripture from the Book of Mormon which
Debra found very neat to her and asked if we could mark that page for
her, we did and gave her the copy of the Book of Mormon so she could
share that scripture with her brother! The Book of Mormon does answer
questions of the souls and helps bring peace and happiness, I love it!
The elders in this Ward had a baptism for their investigator Kenny
which went great sister Clark and I sang a song there. It was great to
see my family via skype! I am grateful for mothers and fathers and the
roles they have in our lives! I know families are together forever! I
know this gospel is true! I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love
us all so very much individually! I'm grateful to be a missionary at
this marvelous time! I love you all!
Your truly dedicated disciple,
Sister Hatch

Letter #70- Baptism and Preparation!

May 4, 2105

Everyone,
It's been a blessed and funny week. We started our week doing great
things talking with everyone and giving invitations to pray read or
come to church. We met up with Jenn to get things ready for her
baptism! We had a day where we had dinner at the Cusicks (members) and
had a spiritual filled lesson with Michael, which was great. So funny
but miracle story for Jenns baptism! It was a Sunday at 3 and had to
be out by 4 for the next block to meet in the relief society room.
Everything went great. Enjoyed sacrament meeting! We taught gospel
principle class, baptism programs put all together. We get to relief
society, sitting there it just dawned on me that we hadn't started the
font and so I tell sister Clark and we go looking for someone to start
the font, it's started, they say it takes about an hour and a half to
fill. Well it wasn't quit filled all the way by the time we go through
the whole baptism program. But nevertheless last ten minutes of the
hour Jenn goes down in the water and had to go down at least three
times before they can call it good. After all that she was finally
baptized! Jenns dad was there and he said he enjoyed it and was happy
for her! It was blessed time and huge miracle! I'm grateful for the
priesthood, the Book of Mormon, the gospel of Jesus Christ that has
been restored and is still taught today! I know Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ love us all! I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #69- What to expect

April 27, 2015

Everyone!
There are so many great people here in st. Augustine. We met with Jenn
again this week and she is getting excited for her baptism. There is
great things coming forth. We have met so many new people this week
and have followed up on people who have been visited in the past.
Saint Augustine is close to a beach and there are so many people here
on visits because there's tourists sights. I'm grateful to know there
are so many people meet. I am still getting to know things around here
but it's a blessed place to be. I love you all.
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #68- St. Augustine to the max!

April 20, 2015

Everyone,
Transfers are a little tiring but worth while! Changes are meant to
happen for a reason! The best meal I have had this week was a beef
stroganoff that sister Clark made, it was really delicious! I love
that sister Clark can cook she makes very good meals, I also loves
that she sings at random moments! Her singing is what I like that she
says! Meeting our baptism date Jenn who is so golden was the best
moment. So far what I like about st Augustine is there are tiny little
shops to check out and fun people to talk to, they are all friendly
waving back. I haven't gotten to see to many cool places yet but I
will eventually. The Ward is kind of small here because their bldg
that they originally met at is getting worked on right now. But it's
fun! There some really fun people to talk with out here and the
members are really missionary minded given us referrals like crazy! I
know there is a purpose here for this short little while! Keep those
minds missionary minded and always look for opportunities to serve
others! I love you all!
With love
Sister Hatch

Letter #67- Beginning of last six weeks!

April 14, 2015

Everyone!
It's been a blessed time in Orange park! I am getting ready to head to
st Augustine for the last six weeks of my mission. Sister winkler is
heading home to Canada! I am going to miss the members and wonderful
people in Orange park! There is going to be great things to do in st
Augustine! This week we met with Briana who is so solid and ready to
be baptized! We had Nancy Walker come to church on Sunday which was
great! On Monday we went to the county fair in Orange park which was
neat! We met up with Tabatha and Sullivan Wilemon which was great. We
saw many less actives and got to help our sister kelly put up some
curtains. I know there is much joy and excitement brought into Orange
park with the missionaries and members working together. There is much
joy in my heart for these people in Orange park and for the wonderful
people I am about to met. I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #66- Tips from a missionary

April 6, 2015

Everyone!
It has been a great week! We went to the zoo with the sisters in the
Jax west zone ( in missionary terms zone means stake). That was a lot
of fun. I have more pictures but they are on my camera.we finally met
up with Brianna again having a lesson at a members home which went
really well. She was beaming when we invited her to baptism on April
25th. Lee mills is doing great, we are going to check on how he's
feeling about the 11th of April on Tuesday! Tip number one have the
investigators within the home of a members it's a great way to feel
the spirit. Tip number two, when having a flat tire be sure to have
the right tools because that makes everything easier. We are enjoying
biking on the days we bike because we are talking with everyone. I
really enjoyed general conference and I hope you all did as well! I
love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #65- Exploring time!

March 30, 2015

Everyone,
We have had a blessed week! On Monday went to st Augustine which is
the oldest inhabited city in the United States. We checked out all the
fun little shops they have. We kept busy showing people the new video
the church came out with called because he lives! It's a really neat
video that y'all should watch! We have had a great week stopping by
with sister Jensen to see the Dillaberrys who are a very and great
people! We let the elders stop by our part member family the mills to
make sure Lee understood the priesthood from priesthood holders
perspective. It's great to know that there is so much blessings to
come as we diligently grow our faith, have more room to gain more
faith and to not cast it out! The women's conference I really enjoyed
especially when president Erying said 'Joy comes after sorrow' I know
things can be tough but Jesus Christ is the one that is always there
for us and we can be that example to others as we lift one another's
burdens. There are more adventures I will tell you about next week! I
love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch!

Letter #64- In the name of Jesus Christ!

March 23, 2015

Everyone,
There is so much good coming in Orange park! We met with the Foster
family who had invited us to their church a couple of weeks back, that
was a good visit with them, they agreed to read the Book of Mormon.
Visited with sister Kelly a couple of times. We have met up with a
couple of people that we have met in the past. We had interviews with
our mission president, which was great! I know I learn a lot from
president and sister Craig! We had a spiritual lesson with the Mills
talking about lees questions, at the end we invited Lee to be baptized
and he said he will pray about the date of April 11th. He gave a
spirit filled closing prayer! There is power and answers to every
question in the scriptures! There is nothing we can't do without the
enabling power of the atonement and faith in Jesus Christ, it's
through him that all things are made possible with his love that he
has for every single one of us. I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #63- Aloha from the land of Florida!

March 16, 2015

Everyone,
This week has been great! First off when your in Florida don't forget
to wear sunscreen especially when biking, a lesson learned for us two
sisters in the Orange park first ward! There have been so many
miracles that have happened this week! Being in a car share is a lot
of fun! we are talking with a lot of people, we are still getting some
adjustments down buts it's going great! We got to have a meeting with
Elder Kopischke who is a member of the seventies and from Germany. He
gave us really great insights on what we can do to improve our
missionary work in our areas. We have talked with a lot of people who
have met with missionaries in the past and are willing to met with us
again. A lot of the excitement happened on Saturday, we made contact
with a referral from members, who came to church, her name is Breana
and we are going to be sharing with her the discussions! The ward had
two eight year olds get baptized which is always exciting, we had our
part member family the Mills come to one and they enjoyed it! The luau
was fun and the members did a great job putting it together, there
were members who invited several other friends who came and enjoyed
it! On Sunday a member was nice enough to bike over to met an
investigator named George Tolar with us and he gave a great testimony!
Many more stories to come this up coming week! I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #62- Mission life to the fullest!

March 9, 2015

Everyone!
Transfers have happened as you all had heard, I am in Orange park! We
are doing a car share with the Orange park second ward sisters! It has
been a really great time! Sister winkler and I are talking with
everyone along our way! We have had so many miracles meeting a lady
named Amber! There was one day sister winkler and I were on bikes, we
were passing though the Orange park high school heading towards the
church thinking the gates were unlocked but we came to a gate and it
wasn't unlocked but there was a smaller fence near by that sister
winkler hoped over, I handed her the bikes and then I hoped over. It
was a fun adventure! We are looking forward to many more fun
adventures this week. The members are the greatest and always making
sure we are kept safe. There was a talk in sacrament where the member
shared the story of Pinocchio and he related it to how jimminy cricket
as the Holy Ghost and us being Pinocchio who need to listen to that
still small voice. If we ever need help or feel tempted we just need
to give a little whistle or sing a hymn. That's what we as the Florida
Jacksonville mission are learning with this Facebook reset is we are
learning to be in one with our companions and to be in communication
with the spirit and with our Heavenly Father continually. I know as we
are Heavenly Father blesses us in marvelous ways. I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #62- Gospel blesses families!

March 3, 2015

Everyone,
Ok so this week we have seen a lot of part member and less active
families like the Mills who had their baby Benjamin blessed! We are
working with the Wilemon who are a sweet fun family. This week while
we did some knocking around we meet this one man who we invited to our
church and he invited us to his! It was interesting and I am grateful
to have the knowledge and truth that has been taught to me within my
family. I am grateful to be a missionary at this time sharing this
gospel that has been set by the power of God through his son Jesus
Christ! I am going to be staying another six weeks. In Orange park
with sister winkler and it's going to a blessed time. Don't forget to
pray and read! I love you all!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #61- 'Don't just read it, Apply it!'zz

February 23, 2015Ip

Everyone,
This week we have been busy seeing a ton of people. We stopped by
walkers who we are seeing again this week. Melody and Lee Mills are
doing great with their new little baby Benjamin! We were going to help
Kanoi Ivory with a project but it was cold but Kanoi is really
enjoying what we are sharing with her. You wouldn't imagine Florida
being cold but it's like a to the bones cold, the humidity seps in. We
had an opportunity to hear from Elder zwick of the seventies and we
were instructed more on how to use our iPads, being safe online as
well. It was great! In church this Sunday there was a talk and what I
had learned was 'apply it, not just read it' regarding the Book of
Mormon because there have been times where I am just reading it and
apply it sometimes but I need to apply it all the time! I have
definitely seen my testimony grow more when I apply it and act on it.
I know Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ Love every single one
of His children and has put so much trust into our generations to be
doing his work at this time because His purpose is to "bring to pass
the immortality and eternal life of men"! Doing small and simple
things brings about great blessings! I love you all!
With Love,
Sister-Hatch

Letter #60- Life's greatest answers to questions!

February 16th, 2015

Everyone!
It's been a great week! Sister Winkler and I went on exchanges with
sister Sandburg and Crawford which was great because sister Sandburg
and I met a man named name willie who truly loves his savior Jesus
Christ and enjoyed church! We had zone conference, which was a great
time to receive some great revelation! I hope you all had an
enjoyable Valentine's Day! I know I did because what better to be
doing than to be sharing the gospel and our savior, Jesus Christ's
love with all of our Heavenly Fathers children! Everyday as we share
and live that example of true love which is charity helps us in every
day matter and questions because He truly does love every single of us
individually! I love you all so very much!
With love,
Sister Hatch

Letter #59- Work of the lord hastening on!

February 9, 2015

Everyone!
It's been a great week! We have been busy working with all that we
have met with! The members are the best coming out to meet others with
us! I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the truthfulness it
holds for all of its children of God. It is a book with a promise and
gives us, just as the bible does, the directions and guidance we need.
It shows the love that our Heavenly Father has for all of his
children! There can be so many today that will view the Book of Mormon
differently but what I know will always be true in my heart! I exhort
you my brothers and sisters if you haven't gotten a testimony of the
Book of Mormon to sincerely pray and read about it! I love you all!
Happy Valentine's Day!
With love,
sister Hatch!

Letter #58- #FebruaryofFaith

February 2, 2015 

Everyone,
It's been a great week. We are enjoying sharing with people about the
Book of Mormon, riding bikes and smiling all the while. We are looking
forward to a great month of miracles by our faith! I know there are
great ahead of us this month! We met with Chandyn which is going good
and having the members help us is always great! Biking once in a while
is a such a great opportunity talking with everyone! I love you all!

Letter #57- Stop and smell the roses

January 26, 2015

Everyone,
This week has been great! We meet with Chandyn on Tuesday and that was
a great lesson with him and the bells (members) on the plan of
salvation. We have been busy going out and about talking with
people.checking on less active and recent converts here and there.
There was one day we walked up to a house and there was a rose tree.it
reminded me of that phrase 'stop and smell the roses' which my family
had used quit a bit as well! There can be so much to do as a
missionary and it's always nice to stop and smell the roses! I know as
we take line upon Lin then all else will fall in the hands of the
lord! I love you all!
With love,
Sister-Hatch

Letter #56- #embark #discoverthebook #f2bm

January 20, 2015

Dearest Everyone,
This week has been great! Monday we saw Zach which was a pretty good
lesson. Through out the week we saw Chandyn who we will be seeing
again today. Tuesday we saw sister Haynes and met a sister named
Tabatha who is really sweet and a missionary mom! Wednesday we as a
mission got to see Elder Neil L. Anderson, which was really awesome
and he is such a sweet man who has a really strong testimony of the
prophet Joseph smith. Which we as a mission are again doing the
discover the book event to promote the importance of the Book of
Mormon! Thursday we meet with Kanoi who is a sweet lady from Hawaii.
Friday we saw Melody and Lee which that was great visit. Saturday had
a fun relief society activity which Kanoi came to and really enjoyed
it! After that we went with the op second Ward Ward sisters to help
out at Henderson haven, we spray painted tires and picnic tables.
Which was a lot of fun! Sunday Kanoi, Chandyn, and Lee came to
church. They all had a pretty great time! The little letters on of the
tire stand for free 2 be me and I find that very true as all of being
a child of God we are given that freedom to choose. We are excited for
another great week ahead of us! I love you all!
With love,
Sister-Hatch

Letter #55- A broken heart and contrite spirit!

January 12, 2015

Everyone,
It's been a busy but fun week! Starting off, we were doing some work
in the family when a man named Zach came walking up to the door! He
asked when the church services were and we told him, leaving him with
our information. He called us later in the day and asked if we could
meet so he could learn about the church. We set up a time and meet
with him a couple of times so far, how grateful I am to have member
present because they can really help bring the spirit! Chandyn came to
church again and he really enjoyed it! Zach invited us to come and
help out at a wheelchair rugby tournament which was fun and worth
while because there were a lot of people there to talk to! I know the
lord puts us in places for specific reasons and purpose! How grateful
I am for this gospel and the love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
has for all of us! Embark in the service of God!
With love,
Sister-Hatch

Letter #54- Don't underestimate!

January 5, 2015

Dear everyone!
Happy Twenty-Fifteen! I hope you all had an enjoyable week and have
some great goals in mind! So this week, we went to see potentials and
to catch up with those we hadn't seen in a while. I must say it gets
exciting when people are keeping commitments because it shows how much
love and excitement they are getting for the gospel in their life! We
meet this one young man named Chandyn who was riding on his bike and
we just waved at him and said 'hey can we give you a card' and he said
sure. So we gave him a card and then talked with him about the
restoration of the gospel! We invited him to church and he came. Okay
so funny story with Chandyn, sister winkler and I both thought he was
17 but he is actually 25 so the Bells (a ym&yw leader) gave him a ride
to church, when we went to talk with him at church he said his age, we
just had a laugh because we guessed his age wrong! So when it comes to
the creation of our Heavenly Father don't underestimate your potential
as his sons and daughters because you have great work! We are going to
be seeing more great miracles this upcoming week! Love you all!

Sister-Hatch

Letter #53- Christmas and New Years!

December 29, 2014

Everyone,

Ok so Christmas has past and gone but I wont forget the reason for this season and the gift that was so freely given to every single one of us! New years is coming upon us fast and a lot of people are working to set goals and resolutions for the year of 2015! There were a ton of miracles this week being a little crazy. First made cupcakes with a less active sister which was fun.Visited Charlotte a fun elderly sister in the ward. Christmas day went caroling at elderly ladies home, in the evening went caroling with orange park second ward sisters which was a lot of fun and we saw the Lehmans! Had fun skyping family after having dinner with the Lovenburgs! Saturday was a day we were trying to figure out what to do but ended up meeting the Lewis family who are really nice. Sunday enjoyed church and ended that night after dinner with the Sopolskis seeing our investigator Wendy! All these miracles came about because of goals and plans that we set to achieve and with what we set we are accountable for those! With this new year coming up set goals that will help you be accountable and that can stretch you beyond what you are capable of! I know there are great blessings in store for every single one of us as we strive to reach that! I love you all! Happy New Year! 

With Love,

Sister Hatch