Adventures in Biking!

Alright soo news for the week!! TRANSFERS..... Both Elder Hatch and I will be staying here another 6 weeks!!! we are super excited!! We feel the work here is on the verge of exploding!!! And as missionaries it is so cool!! Everyone else in the city does not realize the amazing work that is being done and in the next few weeks we are going to find so many people!!! :) This week has been a very interesting week!! We have very few miles so we have been riding bikes!! Wednesday we were out in the rain and we were on the side of the rode and my back tire flew out in front of me bringing my bike to the ground on its side and I got a few cuts on my eldow and we were going to a lesson at the church and mutual was going on and all the members were freaking out haha it was so funny!! Also we went to Comfort this week and I had another accident after trying to copy Elder Hatch and I ended up in a ditch haha then Saturday we went down the I-10 on the frontage roads and on the way back Elder Hatch's tire popped and so we walked like 2 miles back to the apartment!

 

We have had some really spiritual experinces this past week! We had a lesson on Wednesday night at the church, while mutual was going on and we did a tour of the church and and used the pictures on the walls as part of the lesson. The Lesson was with Stephanie and Chris who are thinking about being baptized. We Shared the Restoration with them and I noticed that even though we could hear people, nobody walked by us as we shared the First Vision, it was like a force field was keeping people away. The spirit was really strong!! We also have been working with a guy named Roland and he is married to the daughter of a less active. And before he was closed off to hearing anything, now he is super excited to learn about the church. he has not been to church yet but really wants to find time off work to go. And his family is going to come to Confrence next week for at least an hour and we are so stoked for that!!! But we had another lesson at the church useing the pictures on the walls and with this lesson as well,we waited in a classroom for the last ward to get out and for things to quiet down. And all that loud noise of kids getting out of class never came. I know Heavenly Father was preparing the building for that lesson because the Spirit had such a penetrating presence it was incredible!! And when he knows this is the church he needs to be in, then he wants to be baptized!!!! We have seen miracles this week!! On my mission I realized how much I took the Gospel for granted and now that I am out here with 80,000 other missionaries I see the blessings, all the things I have learned and all that I will learn and it is incredible to be a part of such an amazing work! We help with the Work of Salvation each and every day, if you know people who want to serve, never discourage them from not because that is the Lord calling them, never turn down an opportunity to share,invite or demonstrate an act of kindness to someone. To see the joy that someone feels when they find the truth is the most rewarding thing ever and that pushes me to try harder every day and I know that all of you feel it as well. God is real and I know he loves me and knows me and he loves everyone because we are his Children. Jesus Christ is The Savior and Redeemer of the World and through him we can be with our families forever. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!!!

It's a small world when you are a Mormon... :)

Christy here:  Taylor's companion is from our neighbor city, Gilbert and a family in our ward knows his family as well!  I was lucky enough to get a copy of his weekly letter last Monday that was sent out to his family and friends.  Here is Elder Hatch's version of the "bike adventures" last week!  Enjoy!

Buenas Dias!

This week was eventful. Elder Wanlass and i cover a huge area so last week we had already driven our car too much. This whole past week we were forced to the bikes and I'm glad to say today is our last day riding bikes. One of these days this past week Elder Wanlass and I were riding and the whole day was pouring rain. We had to stop by our apartment on the way to another appointment and it's on top of a hill. So we headed out down this hill and we're booking it, towards the bottom we pulled our brakes and both of us flew off our bikes and slid across the asphalt like 20 feet almost into a busy road. Luckily everything was alright. Elder Wanlass and i weren't as wise as we thought and forgot to put our fenders on our bikes. So by the end of the night Elder Wanlass and i had brown shirts instead of white and blood all over our arms. Later we were headed to the last appointment at the church and on the way Elder Wanlass ate it on the side of the road. We got to the church and the youth had a huge combined activity that night. So we walked in and we looked like we just got into a fight with a couple pitbulls. Everyone was concerned for us so we felt a little loved and appreciated.

We have a bunch of youth in the ward and Elder Wanlass and i have a huge relationship with them. I think that has helped us a lot to gain the trust of the parents in the ward, because i see now why my parents liked some misionaries over others. Because they want a positive influence on their kids, because if they're kids are excited about the gospel they know that they won't go astray. It has been really sweet working out here with all of these strong youth and the joy they bring to the work.

Elder Wanlass continues to teach me daily, there is no ending to learning in this life. This past week at lunch after district meeting we were talking about our missions and how fast they have gone by. It never ceases to amaze me the change that I've seen. But I have a new direction and know what i want and the amount of assurance that gives me is crazy. I love my mission these past six weeks have been the toughest in my life but i feel like I've learned the most here than i have before. We were informed yesterday that Elder Wanlass and i have six more weeks together! I'm stoked for what's to come because these past six weeks we've finally perfected our unity and now it's time for power. 

Stay Good.

Con todo mi Amor,

Elder Hatch

Exciting News in Boerne!

Alright so this week in Boerne Texas was awesome!!! Last Monday we went to a frozen yogurt place which was really yummy!!! Anyways at the moment we are teaching Miguel and Angie and are trying to set a firm baptismal date. It has been a little frustrating because we know he sees a difference and so now we are just trying to help them along. Also we have Rey and Lisa who are spanish speakers as well and they are a really cool family. They know a family in the ward so we are moving along with them. Something very exciting is that the Hill Country stake wants to start a spanish branch here in Boerne!!! So we had a meeting yesterday with all the spanish people, even non Hispanic people that speak spanish were there! and it looks like it is going to happen, I dont know if I will be here for it though.. :( Elder Hatch this week got a package in the mail that was for both of us and it had two Gilbert, Az temple key chains in them. And also Elder hatch knows brother Ray in the G3 ward! I was asking him if he knew a Brother Ray and he wasn't sure. Then I asked him if he knew the son "Moose Ray" and he was like "You know B Ray!!" it was funny that I had to use Moose's name for him to know who I was talking about haha.  But anyways I want y'all to know that this is the one true Church of Jesus Christ, His gospel is on the earth today in its fulness and that he is the Savior of the WHOLE WORLD! The changes you will see in people are extraordinary and I love you all wish you a great week!!! :) 

A Quiet Week in Boerne....

Alright well it was another great week here in Boerne Texas!! This week Elder Hatch and I actually rode our bikes this week, trying to save miles! That was really fun!! We talked to quite a few people and there were some who were interested so it was cool!! This week we talked to Miguel and Angie again and had a great lesson with one of the members present and it was really cool!!! We are also talking to a friend of Miguel and Angie and we have had to lessons with him and he is super cool!!! We went to the very southern part of our area Friday, Lake Hills; it was not what we thought it would be. Maybe 20 years ago it would have been booming but the lake it pretty dry and not a whole lot of people live there. So that was interesting. Then we had exchanges on Saturday and Elder Hernandez came to the Boerne area and we found quite a few people while we visited some people so it was sweet!! Other wise not a whole of exciting news, Hope all y'all have a great week! Love you!!

A Baptism This Week!

Well just to let you know we mixed things up today so we are doing email last. Today we had a sweet 3v3 basketball tourney with the youth for P-Day so that was really fun!! Alright so the best part of the week!!! Jessica was baptized and confirmed on Thursday as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints!!! It was such a great service and she was super excited for it!! One of the young men that she knows baptized her and then Bishop confirmed her, it was amazing :) Her dad came to the service and was really proud of her and her decision and he has agreed to take the lessons as well!!

As well we have found a family that is interested in the church and came to church on Sunday, they really enjoyed it and are coming back next week!This week we had the experience to go to the San Antonio Temple!!It was really powerful, Then i got a stomach virus or something and I did not feel good the next day. That is all for the week and I hope all of y'all have an amazing week!! 

My pants still fit... ha ha ha....

Wow the Lord Is hastening the work!!! I am super proud of all my friends and family who were involved with the Gilbert Temple Celebration and for the hours you sacrificed to prepare and to represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!! All Y'all are amazing and will be blessed!!

Well this week we have a Baptism coming up for Jessica on Thursday!!(odd day because Bishop's family wants to be there before they leave for vacation) but she is super excited and totally ready for this!! We have a lot of the ward coming and quite a few non members as well so we are getting super excited!! We have had a few other new investigators come up within the past week(Spanish) so I get to practice haha we have had some cold nights and some warm days (Texas is interesting that way) but I love every bit of it :) 

So a funny story from last week! Elder Hatch and I were running in the morning and I was not paying attention to what was on the ground and I almost stepped in some deer guts that had gotten left behind after the deer had been dragged across the side walk and stuff falling out of it lol it was so gross!! So much road kill here! well I hope all Y'all have a fantastic amazing week following the Temple Dedication!!! I love you guys!!!

 

Elder Hatch and I with our high school gear :)

Dinner at the Guajardo's(Im bending backwards, im not fat haha)

Then part of a member's gun collection :) my red neck came out a little haha