Mt. Isa

Mt. Isa

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sad Week

No email this week.

The Mom wept...

Hopefully, he was busy doing something amazing or maybe there were transfers.

Thanks to everyone who checks this blog on a regular basis. Ya'll come back next week.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Week April 18

Hey,

This last week has been an interesting one. It started out pretty normal but by Wednesday night everything was going pretty crazy. That night we got several phone calls, the first was from the senior missionary that takes care of housing telling us we really needed to find a new place to live and we needed to be looking for places to rent. About an hour later Pres. Langeland called us and told us we were getting a senior couple and right after that, the office called to see what supplies we be needing to be sent up with the seniors. This was Wednesday night and they arrived Saturday afternoon. We've had to do a lot in that time to get ready for them. We cleaned up the flat next door to us. No one has been living there for about 4 months. It was stressful. As it turns out the senior couple are from Liberty Utah, Elder and Sister Rhodes. It’s unbelievable but they have been on like 7 missions and as it turns out, they actually know my old New Testament teacher, Andrew Skinner personally.

Anyways we had to take them here and there and to the shops this morning and yeah. It is great to have them and more especially the car but its rather burdensome to have them right next door to us. I feel like we have so much we need to tell them and introduce them to but they're just kind of doing their own thing so whatever. I'm looking forward to conference this weekend and am very excited for it (LOL), yeah, it is the little things like Conference that does it now. Funny as that is. I got the package by the way. Thank you so much for that I really do appreciate it and it means a lot to me. I love the Texas flag and I already hung it in my room right over my bed. The Girl Scout "cookies" or buscits are great and of course I love the card as well it does remind me of home.

I have a little time left so I'll tell you about one interesting guy that in our branch. Just to put it out there I could tell you about several people but one in particular is a bloke... He is probably in his 50's and he's an interesting fellow. He grew up here in Mt Isa and has lived here for most of his life. He didn't grow up as a Christian but had some interesting dreams/vision and then converted to Catholicism. After about 20 years of that he converted to Judaism and for 8 years followed that. Two years ago he started having the LDS missionaries over and now he is coming regularly to our little Branch. He still wears his crosses, and reads his bible, wears has kipa and reads the Jewish law and now is also reading the Book of Mormon and loves it. He believes it and has a testimony but he also believe Christ will personally baptize him. He one of those people who are just unbelievably nice and will give you anything he can give you. Last transfer he gave us each kipa's and a legitimate Siddur book of Jewish prayers. It is awesome. I'll probably be sending those home sometime just for safe keeping. A great guy though and one of those people that you just have to love; a little different but a great bloke all the same.

Well I've been good. I’m looking forward to chatting with you in a couple of weeks. It should be fun. Thanks for the package again and the supportive emails. It does mean a lot to me. Love you.

Elder Hatch

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Week April 11



G'day,

I'm trying to attach some pictures to another email and sent those so we'll see how it goes. It’s taking a while for them to download of course. I'm not really sure what the best way to do this is but whatever I guess I’ll figure it out.

Yesterday a member with a big land cruiser took us out into the bush just for a quick look at Mt. Isa from a place called Four Mile Hill which is 4 miles out of town, naturally. It was cool, and if you get the pictures, you see we're pretty much in the bush of Aussie. It’s all good though. It’s getting cooler so it’s been nice outside. It’s the perfect time to be here. Well, that’s what people say, so I reckon they're right.

It’s good to hear Colin’s getting registered for classes (at BYU) but not so good that things aren't really coming together. The mission prep teacher I had was Bro. Bott but his classes are probably already completely full but they're all good teachers. Just jump in and learns as much as you can. You shouldn’t have a problem, most teacher are pretty good, just don't get Ludlow for BOM. I've heard he's painful to listen to.

Wow that's great that you (Colin) brought your girlfriend to church. Good on ya man, I'm impressed. Maybe she'll even want to have the discussions (lol). Well the Mining Expo was on this week. Sadly, we didn't get to go but the ward is having an Easter get together this weekend so we're excited. We might even get to be wise men (lol). We'll see how that goes. I’m going to teach Elder Munyard how to make confetti eggs today. It’ll be fun, I think.

How to Make Confetti Eggs, also known as Cascarones.

Festive cascarones are believed to date back to romantic Renaissance days when Italian gentlemen filled emptied eggshells with perfume or cologne and tossed them to women as a sign of affection. Nowadays, children "bump" the fragile eggs on the heads of others and make a wish. If the eggshell breaks and showers the recipient with confetti, it is said the wish will come true



All is good here and we're still working hard. Thanks for the uplifting word and as always it’s good to hear from you. Love you and well talk to you next week.

Elder Hatch

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Week April 4


G'day,

It has been a pretty crazy week. The whole being senior companion thing and the only one that knows stuff about the (Mt. Isa) area has been interesting. Planning effective days has been a challenge. It is tough to plan a day that has a mix of finding techniques and, hopefully, lessons without killing yourself knocking doors all day long. I have really had to step up and do many things that I didn't have to before which has been a growing experience to say the least. Luckily this last week’s weather was absolutely beautiful. Cool, overcast and yeah, it’s been great.

Elder Munyard (new Companion) is doing good. He's green to say the least but he is a lot better than I was. He teaches well and is a good worker so what more can I ask. The full time biking has been hard for him and other little things as well. He is adjusting but it'll take time. Mount Isa is an interesting place to serve, to say the least. Elder Munyanrd has only been a member for two years but he knows his stuff pretty well. He loves heavy metal music and video games and so that’s been interesting. He a strange fascination with tattoos, as most New Zealander in and out of the church do, so that’s been a bit dodgy as well. I have to keep myself really focused on being obedient which can be difficult and has been at times over the last week. Both Elder Munyard and I have the potential to both grow a lot over the next couple of weeks.

We probably won’t get to hear General Conference until the last week in April. That is when the tapes will most likely make it here. So I'll be out of the Conference talk loop a little bit during that time. I know the organization and procedures of some of the meetings have changed but I’m not sure what you mean when you talk about the ward leadership. It will be interesting. I'm interested in seeing how that will affect the ward back home and the branch here. We really don’t get the Ensign regularly, only when the mission office sends supplies up, which is rather rarely. It is all just part of being in Mount Isa, lol. It'll get here, eventually…

I’m sorry I haven't gotten many pictures sent. I meant to bring the camera today but I forgot it on the way out. I haven't had to chance to take too many pictures but I do have some, so yeah…

Thanks for your prayer and support and it’s been good to hear from you…hope things continue to go well. Love you heaps.

Elder Hatch