The Hatch Batch

Thomas Franklin Borges

2011-02-26T19:12:00.003-07:00

Baby Tommy finally made it. He was born on January 24, 2011 at 10:27p.m. He weighed in at 9lbs. 9oz. and is an extremely healthy boy. We can't seem to get enough of him. Lucky for us they frequent our home a lot so we can get our Tommy fix. Thanks so much to Troy Galick www.garlickphoto.com for the great pictures. If you want to see more pictures and get more info go to http://gorgeousborgesfamily.blogspot.com/ I hope to post more pictures soon.

January 2011

2011-01-22T21:17:00.011-07:00

ANTICIPATION
Wow! We are so excited for our grandchild to finally make his debute. He was due on January 16th and still hasn't decided to leave his comfy, warm surroundings. We are hoping that he will eventually decide to meet the rest of us. These are some pictures we took of Annie a couple weeks ago.

Gary had some knee surgery in December. His right knee was extremely painful and he wasn't able to walk or bend his leg without grimacing. He had fluid drained from off his kneecap several times but it didn't seem to help. He even ended up in the ER one night due to severe pain. Well after several doctor's office visits it was determined that he needed surgery. He had surgery and they took out a couple of pieces of his patella and found a pocket of calcium deposit under his kneecap that was causing him some serious pain. The surgeon said he has seen this kind of thing in shoulders but never in knees. So I guess there is a first for everything. After a couple of weeks of physical therapy and lots of ice...he is feeling a lot better. Modern medicine in incredible. It is nice to have him feeling well again.

Madison is starting her last semester of classwork and is getting very excited about finishing up. She still works two jobs as well as carrying a full load. She has had her share of doctor visits as well this year. She has something called pancreatitis where eating food causes her internal pain. She did lose 5 lbs during her week of not being able to eat, but finding the reason for this phantom pain would be great. She has given blood samples several times and has been directed to a specialist. So we are keeping our fingers crossed they can give her some answers.

Zach began school at the U. He loves school and is finding his way around campus. He bought a new computer that his is really excited about. He was able to continue working while he goes to school. He met a guy at school that is taking all the same classes he is. This has been very helpful when it comes to studying. He has had a few setbacks with his schedule but he thinks he has it all worked out now. He even had enough money saved up to pay tuition. WOOT WOOT. Now if he can find an economical car to drive to school. Zach got to reconnect with Will Eteaki last week. It was a great reunion.

Mac is back in school and loves it. He has many friends and loves his new schedule. He completed the requirements for his Eagle Scout and will be awarded it in February. We are very proud of him. He and I took a trip to St. George over New Year's and spent some fun time with my family. I was glad to have him with me. We had a great time.

As for me I am waiting to become a grandma. I am excited to see my daughter enter that new phase of her life. I look forward to being there for her when she needs me. I have had to stop myself from doing any more shopping for Sharky until he arrives. However I am sure Grandpa and Aunt Maddie will help out with the shopping for him. Luckily I work very close to Annie's home so I can go visit often. Other news, I am back playing tennis and I love it. I am also being brave and trying some new recipes. Hopefully I will broaden my cooking skills. Who knows I may even take a cooking class this year. If I find a recipe my family really enjoys I will share it with you all.

Just a random picture with the kids.

2010-11-26T08:19:00.003-07:00

Thanksgiving was great this year. We had 31 people over for a grand celebration. Two of my brothers and their families joined us. Everyone from all three families was able to make it. It was pretty amazing. We also had some close friends join us. We set up 2 long tables in the family room to accomodate everyone. There was plenty of food for everyone. So many things to be thankful for, but as it is so elequently put, "Giving thanks is best shared in how we live our lives." So with that said enjoy the holidays and live your life with a heart full of gratitude.

LIFE IS GOOD

2010-11-06T08:36:00.005-06:00

It has been several weeks since I have blogged. October was an amazing month. Gary, McKay and I were able to go pick up Zach. We had the privilege of meeting some of the good people he has worked with the past 2 years. It was truly a blessing to see him in that setting. The best news is that all of our children are home again. It has been a long time since we have all of them living in the same city. I love it.

Angela Neumann provided a place for us to call home for the 8 days we were there. She stayed in a beach cottage so we could have use of her home. It was truly a blessing for us to be able to stay in her home and get to know her and her family. The zone leaders from that area also live there, so we were able to see how their schedule. McKay loved being near the Elders and getting to know them. We hope we can repay Angela for her kindness in the near future.

Elder Doane and Elder Moncur were wonderful. They are the mission AP's and allowed us to spend time with them so we could see a little of the workings of the mission. They are very hard working, spiritual young men. Their parents should be proud. We also met the office staff for the mission, the Freemans and the Robins. They welcomed us with open arms and we definately have new friendships with them. President and Sister Dalton were wonderful as well. They shared experiences with us and included us in some very special opportunities while we were there. I know they touched McKay's life for good. We grew to love all of these people.

The Tongan ward was amazing. To hear these saints sing is a testimony in itself. You can really feel their spirit through song. I gave it my best shot singing in Tongan, needless to say I wasn't very good. The spirit in the meeting was strong and good. At the end of the meeting the whole congregation stands to sing aloha oye and then proceed to walk to the front of the building and draped Elder Hatch with leis, hugs, and kisses. It was a very emotional time. They even gave Gary and I leis. We were all a mess. The next night they had a luau BBQ at the park for us. Man there was a lot of food. The ward was so kind as to provide this going away celebration for Zach. We ate, laughed, talked, and they shared experiences they had had with Elder Hatch. It was a marvelous night. We didn't want to leave.

Some of the other tourist things we did: shopping at the swap meet, PCC, snorkeling, body surfing, Laie Temple open house, eating wonderful food, dole plantation, driving around and around the island, sitting on the beach, submarine ride, Pearl Harbor tour, and just enjoying the island spirit.

Life is good. We have been very blessed as a family. Thanks for all your love and prayers over the past 2 years. Now on to new adventures.

Hawaii in October

2010-10-17T18:52:00.002-06:00

Mac's Eagle Project

2010-10-10T07:37:00.006-06:00

McKay had great success with his Eagle Project. He collected about 30 bicycles. Thanks to all who supported him. Special thanks to his good buddy Jack for helping out.

McKay's Eagle Scout Project

2010-10-03T20:34:00.007-06:00

McKay is working on his Eagle Scout Project. He will be collecting bicycles and bicycle parts to be donated to the Salt Lake Bicycle Collective.

http://www.slcbikecollective.org/

You can go to the website to see what it is all about. If you have a donation please let us know and we would be happy to pick it up. We will be collecting on Saturday October 9th.

Zach turns 21.

2010-09-27T19:29:00.009-06:00

Elder Zachary Hatch

Erin's baptism

Silly Missionaries

Last Month

2010-09-23T17:04:00.003-06:00

Week 98 Last Transfer

2010-09-18T07:18:00.003-06:00

Well I don't even know where to begin with this week but I will do my best. Things were super crazy with it being transfer week, but transfer week is always crazy.

Monday 6th- We had to finish up a few things but we had a little time for p-day stuff. I got to introduce Elder Doane to the world of pawn shops. He had never been to a pawn shop before but he was looking fora cello so we went to see what we could find. Unfortunately we weren't able to find anything but it was ok we will look into it again and see what we can find. Then we went to this really cool members house and played volleyball and rugby right by the beach and the water. It was a lot of fun. I got a little burned. Whatever blood it is that is in me went right to work and I was tan the next day. Nobody ever believes me when I tell them that I will be burned one day and then tan the next.

Tuesday 7th- So we started off thinking that today would be just fine until we had to pick up the greenies, but there were a few things that came up that we had to take care of in order to get things ready. We had a few missionaries have some health concerns and such so we had to take another look at the transfer board and do some praying to see if we could figure out a way to make it all still work and have it the way that the Lord wanted it. We were able to get it figured out and when we finished we all felt like we had it the way the lord wanted and where the missionaries could get the help that they needed. So it came time to go and get the greenies and there were so many of them that we had to take 3 cars just to get them all in. It was a good thing that we took all 3 cars as well otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get all of their luggage in. It is always so fun to pick them up and to be able to give them their first impression of the mission. This group seemed like they were going to be a really good group. They all seemed really happy and really excited to be here. So we got all of their stuff and headed to presidents. When we got there we dropped them off and got them all situated and then Elder Doane and I drove to the tabernacle because we had to unload all of their luggage. Usually we wait until the night to unload their luggage but it just so happened that their was a baptism that night and we thought it would be a good idea to take the new missionaries to it so that they could get a really good idea of what our mission is all about. So we unloaded their stuff and headed back to presidents. We got there just in time for the last little part of orientation before we were to eat dinner. So we had a good dinner but we kind of had to eat fast just to make sure that we could get to the baptism on time. So we loaded the vans up once again and headed off to the baptism. We were running a few minutes behind so we were trying to get caught up. It was really suprising, usually there is bad traffic but for some reason that night there was hardly any and so we were able to make it on time. After the baptism we took them back to president's where we finished the orientation for the night and also did what we call the first call letters. This tells them who their first companion is going to be and where their first area will be. It is so fun to see the look on their face when they open it up. Generally they are very excited. Mostly because none of them know where it is that we are sending them it just sounds cool.

Wednesday 8th- Oh boy I don't even know where to start with trasfer day. This day is always just so crazy and so full of energy. So we went to presidents to have breakfast with the greenies and to pick them up to take them to the tab. We got them all and headed to the tab. It is funny being an AP you learn who everyone is and develop such a great love for them. It doesn't matter who they are you just know that you love them. I always make sure that I give every elder there a hug before we go into transfer meeting. Help them to know that I care about them. I make sure to take the time to ask each of them briefly how they are doing and if their is anything I can do for them. So transfer meeting started and it went really pretty smooth. Everything went the way it was supposed to. It was great. We got everyone all paired up and then got them ready to send them to their areas. It is always so crazy after transfer meeting is over because everyone is always asking us to do things and where certain thing are and if we can get something for them and do this favor for them and what not. We just do as much as we can and then let them do the rest for themselves. Then after the greenies are done with more orientation, before we send them to their areas we send them out on the streets to talk to people in downtown honolulu. It is kind of a fun thing to do to get them right into the the mission mode. It is fun to see their reaction when they come back from talking to people. So many of the greenies were flying off island to start so we had to take many of them right back to the airport. It was good to get them off to their areas. They were all very excited as well so we wanted to get them out as soon as possible. After we dropped them off Elder Doane and I had to go and clean up the mess of the hurricane of transfer meeting. We made sure that everything was put back together and put back in order. We had to get a few thing out to people before the day was over. I was so tired when we finally got home and were able to go to sleep. It always wipes you out and you answer about 1000 questions and get about 100 phone calls. Our phone rings off the hook all day. It was a good day though.

Thursday 9th- So today we had few thing we could do before the missionaries going home came into the office. We were completely out of a few things and knew that we had a little bit of time so we ran to the store to get what we needed really quick. With all of the transfer stuff going on we didn't have a chance to go on Monday so we just took a few minutes in the morning to get it all done. Then we went back to the tabernacle and met the missionaries there. We had to make sure that all of their luggage was under weight and that all of their bags were good to go before we headed to presidents house. It is always just fun to spend time with them and to watch them reflect on the last two years and to talk about stories from their missions. One of the elders needed to mail his bike home so I took him to ups to send it and it was fun just to talk to him and to see that he had served a really good mission. There were so many good missionaries in this group that I knew that is was going to be hard to send this group off. So we took them to president and we had one last testimony meeting with them. It went really long though. We were running really late so we had to eat dinner really fast in order to make it to the airport on time for all of them to see the members that came to see them off. It was really hard for me to send this group off. I had so many good friends in this group. So many missionaries that I had served around. Some of my closest friends in the mission were in this group of missionaries going home. So it came time to say the final goodbys and I gave them all one last hug. I made sure that Elder Medeiros was the last one. I love that kid so much and got so close to him in the 5 months that we were companions together. He is such a great kid and I know I will miss him. Good thing I will see him in just a few weeks when he comes back on vacation. So we headed back home for the night.

Friday 10th- So today was like our driving/ moving day. I think in total we made 3 trips to the airport and drove almost completely around the island. I think in total we ended up driving like 200 miles. If not that many it was like 180? It was a lot whatever it ended up being. We started out with two seperate trips to the airport. We had a few of the missionaries that were finishing flying international so their flights didn't leave until the next morning but they were spead out by about 2 hours each so we just had to time it just right for each of them. Then we closed a few pads so we had to go and move a few people out of thier places. We also did what we were calling the mission commisary consecration. We knew that there was lots of commissary floating around out there that wasn't being used so we wanted to get it back into the mission office so that we didn't have to order more from salt lake. So we drove to a couple of the zones to pick all of that stuff up from them. We got back and realized that we had forgotten to take a few of the things to the zones that needed them so we got back in the car and drove the rest of the things around. I was so tired by the end of the day because I had driven the whole day. It was crazy, but it was a good time for Elder Doane and I to talk and decide what things we needed to do and how we could help the mission.

Saturday 11th- So Saturday was a pretty good day. We had a little bit more mellow day compared to the rest of the week. We had a little bit of office work to catch up on and things like that. Then we had some time in the afternoon and evening to actually do some prosyliting. It was such a great feeling to just get out and to talk to people and to see how our ward was doing. We found a few of our members houses and they are in the ghetto and the members kind of looked suprised to see us down in their part of the woods. It was funny though. That was pretty much it for the day. Nothing to exciting happened though.

Sunday 12th- We got to church and it was just great day as always. We showed up and it was great. It was in tongan as usual but the funny thing is even though it is in another language and although I might be able to understand all of it I can still feel the spirit. I can pick up a good portion of it but I can always feel the sprit strong and that is the important. Then we were supposed to teach our investigator Erin but she wasn't there so we left and we got a call that they were there so we went back. We went back and they still weren't there so we decided to leave agian. We were kind of bummed that we missed her because she is so solid. I am excited for her to get baptized here in a couple of weeks. Then one of the other set of missionaries needed us to do a baptsim interview for them so we did. I did the interview and the kid was awesome he is so exctied to be baptised. Then we went and had dinner with some of my favorite people in the whole entire world. The Freemans fed us and she cooked us some really good shepards pie. I hadn't had that stuff in forever. Anyway it was good to sit and chat with them and to spend time with them.

Anyway that was pretty much our week. It was a good week. I am glad that it is over though because it is so stressfull. I hope you all know that I love you a lot and pray for each of you every day. It is such a privilage to have a family like you. To know that I have someone back home rooting me one and is there to support me. Those are the missionaries that I feel the sorriest for, the ones that don't have that support from home. Well again I love you all a lot.

Ofa Atu

Elder Hatch

Sunday September 12th A taste of Heaven!!!

2010-09-15T18:26:00.004-06:00

We were able to attend Elder Medeiros' homecoming on Sunday. He was Zach's companion for 5 months. They served in the office together and did a lot of the administrative stuff for the mission. They are very close. When we arrived at the church Elder Medeiros was standing outside as if he were looking for someone. We got out of the car and he looked at us and said I know exactly who you are. You're the Hatch Batch, with a smile on his face. It was so great to hug him and know that just 3 days prior he had been with Zach. I know why he and Zach have grown so close. His family was so gracious and welcomed us to their ward and thanked us for coming. They then had us sit with their entire family. (A taste of heaven.) Some of them are from Hawaii so they had seen Zach recently as well. Such a wonderful family. Then President and Sister Peterson sat next to us as well. Needless to say we got a bit trunky. It was so surreal being surrounded by people we barely knew but loved them so much. It was difficult to contain our emotions as we felt the spirit so strong and were surrounded by such incredible people. Gary and I both had a very spiritual experience that day and felt so blessed to have had Zach serve a mission. Words couldn't really describe how we felt.

Hatches, Medeiros', and Petersons

Hatches, Elder Medeiros, Petersons

Week 97 Last transfer before he comes home.

2010-09-12T07:29:00.009-06:00

Elder Medeiros going home.

Aloha family,

So this week was really good. We spent lots of time in the office getting things ready for transfers. I will try and give you a briefing on what each day included

Tuesday 31st - We spent the whole day in the office spending most of our day doing transfers and getting things all put where they need to be. I don't think anything to exciting happened. Wednesday was pretty much just the same as Tuesday. There is so much paperwork that goes into doing transfers and so many things that you have to do to make sure that the transfer goes smoothly and that everyone gets to where they need to be with who they need to be with. It is always very stressful because if you miss just one thing it could all fall apart. Well not all fall apart but it could cause some problems. We have checklists we follow to make sure that we get eveything and when we go over the checklists we go over them like 3 different times just to make sure that we have everything.

Thursday 2nd- We spent most of our morning moving people around. We had some of the missionaries get offered new beds from their members, so we had to go and get their old ones and also go through the storage. We have gotten so much stuff from missionaries lately that our storage is just really full. There is so much stuff. Elder Doane and I are going to go through it all next week and see what can stay and what things just need to go that are really old. We have some things that have been in missionaries pads since Brigham Young. So we will see what we can do to get rid of the old stuff.

Friday 3rd- We spent lots of time in the office again. We wanted to get as much of the transfer stuff done as we could so that we could go to as many baptisms as we can on Saturday. So we got most of everything finished up that we needed to. It took us pretty much all day but we were able to do it. I thought I was going to go stir crazy sitting all day in the office but we were able to manage to get through it.

Saturday 4th- Today was like a miniature road trip. We started first by taking someone to the airport for president at like 7:30 in the morning, then we went back and went to the first baptism which was in Honolulu. Then after that one we caught the freeway and headed out to Mililani where there was supposed to be another one, but when we got there they forgot to tell us that is was cancelled so we called them and their investigator wanted to meet us, so we went and met them. We just went and talked to them for like 5 minutes and then Elder Doane and I were like well we gotta go. So we headed off to the next baptism which was down in Makakilo. We went to that one and just barely had enough time to get back to Mililani where they were having another baptism. We had to leave that one a few minutes early so that we could make it to another baptism. It was in Ewa Beach so Elder Doane and I were both excited to go to that one.(They both served there) So we went down and it actually started late so we just waited for a few minutes. There was one last baptism that we wanted to go to so we got back in the car and headed off. We got there like 2 minutes before it started so it was awesome. We made it to 5 total baptism that day. It was a really neat day. We headed home to eat some dinner and finish up a few other things. Then we had to go back to the airport to pick some people up for president. I think in total we drove 150 miles or something like that. It was a lot whatever it ended up being. It was a good day though and Elder Doane and I were glad that we were able to support so many missionaries at their baptisms.

Sunday 5th - Sundays in the Tongan ward are always good. We didn't have a chance to go to our sacrament because we had to teach a lesson to our investigator Erin. She is doing so well and she is very excited to get baptsied on the 25th. We are excited for her as well because we know it will be a great day for her. So after that we went to sunday school. They have started teaching a new sunday school class in english because so many of the tongans are marrying people speaking english now. It is great though. We have a really good teacher for the class. She does and awesome job and always makes our investigators feel comfortable. Then we went home and got all of the last things put together before the big week.

Well that is pretty much the wrap up of the week. I love you all and hope that you have a good rest of this week

Ofa atu,

Elder Hatch

Week 96 The Work Moves Forward

2010-09-04T07:12:00.003-06:00

Well this week was pretty good. We did lots of traveling and did a little bit of flying as well. So I will just try and sumarize the best that I can the last weeks events and once again tell you if anything funny happened.

Tuesday 24th - So we were supposed to go to waipahu to do interviews with president, but we had a lesson set up with one of our investigators so we go to the house and we ask if they are there. The guy comes out and we sit down with him and start to talk with him. He is supposed to get baptised in like a week and a half. So we go over the baptism questions with him and everything is good. We got him all set up for next week Thursday. His name is James by the way. So we taught him and then we headed out to waipahu. We were out there doing interviews and stuff and they all seemed to go pretty well. Then that night we went on splits with our ward. It was really a good night with them as well. We started with a few visits and then we ended at one of the members of the bishopric's house and we taught his nephew who is not a member. It was a really good lesson. I couldn't understand everything that was going on but I did my best. The spirit was really strong and the members were bearing some really solid testimonies. It was good this kids name is Afele. He had been coming to church for a really long time and had been taught before but just had never been baptised. We asked him why he wanted to get baptised and he said because he knew that his family needed the blessing and because he needed to share the gospel with his wife back in Tonga. So it was really good and he got baptised on Saturday.

Wednesday 25th- We had to get up super early because we had to fly to the island of Hawaii. I love going there. I really like it there, but I really like it in a small town called Waimea right at the top of the island. Anyway we got there and had interviews with the missionaries there. We had to drive all of the way around the island that way we didn't waste as much time for the elders. Elder Doane and I took turns driving because there was just so much driving. We didn't mind though because President got a rental car and it was a dodge charger so it was kind of sweet to drive. Anyway we drove all around and caught a late flight back. We didn't get back home until like 9:30 So it was a really long day. It was really funny though president was running really behind schedule so we had to skip lucnh. Elder Doane and I were soooooo hungry so we took the rental car at like 5, we told president we went to put gas in the car but we made a quick stop and got some food because we were just starving. It was pretty funny though because president had no idea that we had even gone to get food.

Thursday 26th- So we were supposed to have another appointment with our investigator James, but when we tried to call and confirm the appointment the phone was disconnected so we were like that is weird? So we decide just to drive over there for our appointment and we get there and find out that our investigator and his wife Moni had been in a huge fight. She is a member by the way. So they got in a huge fight, moni kicked him out of the house and got a restraining order against him and they were going to like get a divorce. We were like holy cow what is happeneing . So we sit down and talk with her and come to find out he had ben lieing to us. He said he had been reading and stuff when he really hadn't been. She was so ashamed and embarrased. We sat down and talked with her and she just broke down. She has kind of been less active for a while so we started teaching her. It was really good she really opened up to us and told us that she wanted to get more active in the church again and she knew what she needed to do. So it was a really good thing that we stopped by. It is just amazing how the spirit works. You think you are meant to go to a place for one person when really you are going there to help another person. So we had interviews the rest of the day. Then that night we went to ur ward because we were having the baptism interview for our investigator. It was really good and he passed so we were really happy about that.

Friday 27th- So friday was a pretty crazy day. We had to go do interviews on maui, but we got word that the missionaries apartment on molokai had caught fire and that one of the missionaries things had all burned. They were coming to maui for interviews so president put us on special assignment to go and help him get all new stuff. President gave us some money to go and get it all with. So we spent like 4 hours shopping getting this elder everything that he needed. Man I just felt so bad for him. All of his clothing was gone. Everything else was ok just his clothes. They contained the fire to just one room so that was good. It was a pretty long day helping him with all of that. It was also really good to see Elder Medeiros. Man I love that kid. We spent some time together talking and reminiscing about the past and how much we missed each other. He will be one of my friends for life just like some of my other companions. But it was really good to talk to him and to spend time with him again. I am excited for you to meet him. Then we flew back home and had to get to our ward house again. Our ward was putting on a volleyball night and they had all of the youth invite their nonmember friends. It was really good and it was a good oportunity for us to get to know all of their friends better. There was a really great turn out. I wish that we would have been able to play a little bit more but they already had the teams set up. It was ok though we had a great chance to sit down with the bishop and talk to him about the missionariy work in the ward.

Saturday 28th- So we had our baptism this morning and it was really good. The baptism was super spiritual. Elder Doane had to give a talk on the holy ghost but they asked him to do the whole thing in Tongan. He did a really great job and I was really proud of him. The ward really loves him and so do I. He is a great companion and I learn so much from him. The ward was so impressed by his skills to speak the language. He is really goood which really helps me. Then the rest of the saturday we spent going to baptisms and other things like that. Nothing to terribly exciting happened.

Sunday 29th- We went to church and had our investigator get confirmed. It was really good. You could tell that he was really happy and that he was a changed man. We taught our gospel principles class like normal and it went well. Then after church we were able to sit down and meet with our investigator Erin. We taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it went really well. She could feel the spirit super strong just like all of the rest of us. We were able to invite her to be baptised on the 25 of September and she said yes so we were super stoked about that. She is just so solid and sees the need to change and how the gospel and the church just help to make you a better person. She was telling us about how things that she used to do she now realizes that they are not ok and that she needs to change. So it is really neat to see the change in her. Then later that night we went up to the Freeman's house and had dinner with them. They are such amazing people. They are just so happy and so full of life. They do so much to help us out in the office. I really don't know what we would do without them. Anyway they fixed us a really nice dinner and stuff. We were so grateful to them.

So anyway that is pretty much my week. Sorry I always try to make them shorter but it never seems to happen. This is kind of like my journal though since I don't have a whole lot of time to write in my journal. Anyway. I love you all so much. Have a great week.

Ofa Atu

Elder Hatch

FIFTY NIFTY DAYS LEFT

2010-09-03T19:31:00.001-06:00

Week 95 The Weekly Round Up

2010-08-27T21:06:00.006-06:00

Aloha family,

Yes it is that time of the week again already. I really can't believe how fast this comes around each week. It seems like I was just typing my last email home and here I am again. I don't think this week was as crazy as weeks past, but I will try to do my best to talk about a few of the highlights and a few of the crazy things that happened.

Tuesday 17th- So we started doing interviews this week and they are always fun. The interviews are a great way for us to see how the missionaries are doing and get some one on one time with them while President interviews. It is really interesting sitting down with them and talking because you find so much out about them and who they are. Sometimes they tell you a little more than you want to know but it is all good. So after interviews were finished we had a few cars that needed to go a few different places and stuff. So we took a car out to waipahu and it was good. We had to hurry back though because our ward mission leader wanted us to go on splits with us. So we hurried back and we asked him who we were going to see. He said that he was taking us to a guy that the missionaries had taught before and when they had taught him he told them that he was already baptised. Well he hadn't and our ward mission leader was on a quest to go find this guy. So we drive out to kalihi and find this guy hangin out with his family. Our ward mission leader just goes inside because it is a tongan household so he can just do that and he finds the guy. So we sit down with the guy and Brother Fatongia is like, "James you lie to me!! You tell me you baptise, but you never baptise!!" We were both just sitting there like oh man what is going to happen and then the guy was like, "yeah I haven't gotten baptised yet but I have been thinking about it." Then Brother Fatongia says, "No time for baptise!! You been taking the lessons to long already!! You need to baptise" the guy was like yeah I know, then brother fatongia looks at us and is like elda what is two weeks from fursday? We were like uh sept. 2 and he was like good we baptise then. The guy was like alright cool. Anyway I know that was kind of a long story but Elder Doane and I had a good laugh about it after. We are going by to teach him a few times this week just to refresh him on everything and then we will get him interviewed. It was just funny the way it happened. Then after that we went to this super shady part of town down by china town if you know where that is. We drive down this dark sketchy alley in Bro Fatongias truck. We get to the end and it was sooo funny. There was like this old asian couple like dancing in the middle of the street, these two tongan guys sitting on the side and this other black guy just drunk out of his mind. I wasn't scared though because we were with Bro Fatongia and he knew the people. So we are sitting there talking to these guys and we can't get out of the truck because the alley is to narrow. The drunk guy on the side is just like sitting there and Bro Fatongia is like, "Hey you never like come fix my truck?" The guy was like, "you never call me?" come to find out that Brother Fatongia had hired the guy to fix his truck, he had come to the Fatongia's home, started fixing the truck got bored, left his tools and caught the bus home. So on the way home Brother Fatongia decided to take us to McDonalds. So we get to the drive through and he starts ordering but he has his tongan accent so the lady can't understand him. It was so funny listening to them trying to communicate. Then as he was finishing the order the lady told him how much and he was like ok sista. We start busting up laughing he starts laughing and the lady that took the order starts laughing into the mic thing. So we get to the window and he gives her the money and he is like, "Why you laugh?" and she just gets all serious and doesn't know what to say because she doesn't know if he is serious or if he is joking. Needless to say Elder Doane and I had a good laugh that night about the events that had happened that night.

Wednesday 18th- So we were in Laie today for interviews. So we had to take two different cars. They needed a car in Laie and we were also supposed to pick some furniture up from Laie and also deliver some to other parts of the island. So we decided that we had become HD. Meaning HD moving services, HD used cars, HD airport services, HD problem solvers and the list goes on and on. So we got to Laie and I felt like I was back home again. We started the interviews, and even though most of the sisters have changed, they all still seemed to know me. It is always fun to go up there. The sisters are so funny. So we spent some time there and we went to the kahuku grill, an all time favorite. Owned by one of my most favorite people in the whole world President Hanneman. So we go and he is there so I gave him a big old bear hug. I was so happy to see him and he like wise. It just made the trip to Laie so much sweeter to see the good friends that you have made while you are here. So after we did that we went all the way around the island to wahiawa. We took the way all the way through north shore because it is faster to get to wahiawa. It was also good because Elder Doane had never seen the north shore. So we got to waihawa, made a quick stop to drop off the stuff and then off we went, becuase we had to get to an appointment with our ward back in town. So we got back but we were a little late. It was ok though because the tongans run on what we call tongan time. They are always late. So we get there and they want us to share a message and for some reason the got the idea that right after we shared the message we had to leave. So we told them no no its ok we can stay for a little while. It was actually really good because there were some inactive people as well and some non members there that we were able to teach. It was a good night though.

Thursday 19th- This day was really really long. We had two zones worth of interviews to do. As we have been doing the interviews we have been checking the missionaries area books. So we checked about 25 area books in total. It was ok but after awhile you just feel like you are looking at the same thing over and over again. We didn't finish all of the interviews until like 6:30, so we came back had to run to one of our members houses for dinner and then we went straight home to bed because we were so tired.

Friday 20th- Well we got up this morning and flew to kauai. It is always kind of different to fly back there because it is my greenie area. We got there and we were able to spend some good quality time with the missionaries. It is a little bit harder out there for them because there are only 8 missionaries on the whole island so when we get a chance we like to talk to them and give them some comic relief. Nothing else really happened.

Saturday 21st- We spent some time cleaning today. We never have any time to clean so we decided that we didn't have anything going and that are pad really needed to be cleaned. So we took a couple of hours and deep cleaned it. We got rid of ALL old crap and made it so the only things that are in there now are Elder Doanes and mine. It was really great and our pad felt a lot better after. I think that is the only really major thing that happened.

Sunday 22nd - So we taught our gospel principles class as normal and it went really good. We really get some good involvement from our recent converts. So we taught the class and then during 3rd hour we spent some time with the young single adults. It is really good to talk to them because a few of the guys have been trying to decide whether or not they want to go on missions so we were really able to help them. Then after church we were able to teach our investigator Erin. She is so awesome. She has such a solid testimony already and she is not even a member yet. She said she gave up coffee already and she didn't even know why. She said she gave it up just because her fiance said that in the church they don't drink coffee and she really liked what she saw in him. We were teaching her about living prophets and I asked her, "Erin what would it mean to you to know that there was a living prophet on the earth today?" She took a second to respond and when she did she got really emotional and talked about how she knw it was really important. That God is the same forever and that she thought he would call a prophet again today. She told us that it would be really important in a world that has such ever changing values. She was still emotional as she talked about how she realized that things that she saw on tv are not ok and that she would have never realized that if she would have never met with us. She talked about the trails that we face in life and how satan throws so much stuff at us. I then was able to share one of my favorite scriptures Helaman 5:12 and I think it really helped her. It was just a really good lesson and the spirit was really strong. I miss being able to teach like that all day every day. But I have learned to cherish those opportunities when they come. Then we had to run to the airport to pick up President Dalton. We had to run a few other places and we were driving our truck and all of the sudden I look behind me and there is a cop with his lights on? I was like hmm thats weird I haven't done anything wrong? So he comes up to the window and like motab is playing and he asked for they typical stuff. I was like something wrong officer? He was like yeah your saftey inspection is expired and so is your registration. I was like oh ok? He was like does this vehicle belong to you? I was like no this belongs to our church. He was like ok just tell your church to get it fixed. I was like ok. It was really funny though. Anyway that was pretty much my week. Some funny stories this week. I hope that you all enjoy. I love you all so much and am grateful for the support that you show to me.

Ofa atu

Elder Hatch

BIG NEWS from Annie and Steve

2010-08-18T21:39:00.002-06:00

A few pictures

2010-08-17T19:05:00.004-06:00

Can't believe it is down to 2 months

2010-08-17T14:22:00.003-06:00

Maddie is Home YEAH!!!

2010-08-15T07:57:00.003-06:00

Maddie has been on a pharmacy rotations for school in St. George. She has been gone for a month. We are so glad she is back and making us laugh again. We all missed her, especially the dogs. They were so excited to have her back. Little Ruby keeps snuggling up to her on the couch and follows her around. It is always great when one of the family comes back home.

Week 93 Review of what has been going on. July 28th thru Aug. 8th

2010-08-10T12:13:00.002-06:00

Aloha Family,

So it is that time again to send yo another email. I figured I would send it now because this is about the only time that I will have over the next week with the crazy schedule that we have this week. So I will try and recap the last two weeks of events since I wasn't able to email last week with the busy schedule that we had.

So starting with the first week. So I can't remember if I wrote about this week or not but it is always super stressful because this is transfer week and there is so much going on and so many things to coordinate. You have to make sure that no one misses any flights and that everyone has a ride to transfer meeting and that everyone has a cell phone and everyone knows how to get back to their pad and so on. There is always just so much to keep track of thank goodness for excel. So we got the greenies and got them all oriented the first night. Actually it went pretty smooth for it being President's first time. He did a really great job and with such a great learning curve. He kept a very level head and just stayed calm through most of the process. So Tuesday night we finished with the greenies a little early which never happens and make the preperations for the next day.

Wednesday July 28th - Transfer day!! This day is always fun and always crazy. I always sweat soooo much this day because I am just running around like a chicken with my head cut off or something. haha It is always good though. So we got the greeenies to the tab and it was wierd because I had to conduct this time. I felt really inadequate again. It seems like I should still be sitting down in the group with all of the other missionaries waiting for my asignment. It made me remember the feeling and emotions that I had every time that I found out that I was being transfered and the anticipation. I felt so bad for President though because he was trying so hard to pronounce the names of all of the places but he was struggling. My heart went out to him and I just wanted to be a bug in his ear and help him be able to say it right. I also felt bad for him because he said a companionship that I knew was not right, he had just accidenlty looked at the wrong line and when I heard it I knew it wasn't right. So I walked up really quick and just told him hey they are supposed to be with so and so and he got really embarrased but he handled it really well and just took it and made a joke about it and moved on which I was really impressed by. This day always feels so long. By the time 3 rolls around it feels like it should be 8 already. It turned out to be a good transfer day with no problems which was really good.

Thursday July 29th - This day was really good, I was hoping that it wasn't going to be to tough but I don't know who I was kidding knowing that I was going to have to send two of my best friends in the mission, home. So we had a somewhat normal morning with studies and what not and then it was time to start preparing the diers. So we met them all at the tab and President gave some of them their final interviews. It is always interesting to see the faces of the missionaries, becuase you can see in their faces who didn't do all that they wanted to and you can also tell those who did exactly what they wanted to. It makes me happy to know that I will be able to have that satisfied look on my face and being able to say that I know that I did all that I could in the time the Lord gave to me. Anyway, we went back to President's house and had the last testimony meeting with them. This is always tough because you hear some pretty powerful stuff in that meeting. We always have one last good dinner with them as well before we take them to the airport. So it came time to take them to the airport so we took them and I just spent most of my time sitting and talking to Elder Eteaki and Elder Fredrickson. It was good just to talk to them for a few minutes and to reminisce with them about the last months that we had been around each other and the good times that we shared together. Oh let me back up just a second, we got to the airport and usually this member girl helps us out but when we got there I couldn't remember her name so I went up to the counter and just started to as if there was a member that worked there and they said yes Eta worked there and it clicked with me that was her name. So they went and got her and I started to work everything out with her. It was crazy. She said that they used to email the info to her and she would get everything ready so once we got there we could get the bags done quick. So I got her information for the next time that we go. So I just started to do them one by one with her and got everyone checked in. So then it came time to take them to the security check. I was doing fine not crying until it came time to say goodbye to Elder Eteaki. Man I love that kid with all of my heart. I gave him a hug and started to let go and he just kept holding on and would not let go. He started to cry and it made me start to cry. I knew that I was really going to miss him once he was gone. He is one that I will go home and find right away. He and I will be life long friends for sure. So we sent them through and I just sat and watched them until I couldn't see them anymore and then I picked myself up and went back to work because I knew that was what was expected of me and I knew that they wouldn't want me dwelling on them.

The rest of the week was pretty much the same, not to much exciting going on. We did a lot of preperations on the weekend for all of the training that we would be doing this week. So we made all of the preperations and them we were actually able to do a little bit of procelyting. It was great. It felt great to be able to teach a little bit and to be able to go and knock on a few peoples doors and talk to people.

Monday Aug. 2 -It was ZLC which I just absolulty love because it is just like a brotherhood. We get so close as zone leaders and form a bond like none other and we just really all understand each other. It was kind of hard because there is so much stuff that goes into it and there is tons of planning and preperations, but everything went really well. All of the zone leaders took all of the training to heart and were all really excited to have it implemented into their zones. We were really glad that they took it so well, because it could have gone either way and they took it the right way. I wasn't really to worried about it though because the zone leaders are so good and I knew that they would take it the right way. We spent most of ZLC just teaching them all about the new stuff and everything that we would be training them on. But after ZLC we took some time for ourselves because we knew that we wouldn't have much time the rest of the week to do anything. The Kauai zone leaders were going to be staying with us for the next couple of days so we took them to costco and we stocked up on a few things to hold off for the next couple of weeks. It was a pretty good pday, finished laundry and headed home for the night.

Tuesday Aug 3-This was the first day of training and it went pretty well. We got everything all set up and ready to go and the training went smooth all day. It was really long though. It was like 7 hours so it took lots of concentration and we had to stay very involved. After about 6 hours of it I was pretty much cooked for the day. After that we were able to go and teach a few people and to have dinner with one of our members.

wednesday thru friday Aug 4-6 - All of these day were just full of training. It was crazy to have all of the leadership on Oahu all in one place. It was kind of scary in a way to think that all of the leaders had been taken out of thier zones for the week. It all turned out really well. It actually turned out that all of them went back to their areas and were applying the things that they had been learning for the last week so that was really good to hear. We were so excited that they were taking it to heart and applying the things that they had learned. It was cool as well because we were able to watch the new segments of the district.

Saturday Aug 7 - So today we had a baptism for 5 people. It was a really good baptism. It was a family that had 4 teenage daughters that were active in church but just had never gotten their daughters baptised. Then also a samoan lady that is married to a tongan guy. Her name is Jesse and she just has the sweetest spirit ever. She knew it was true and she really wanted to be baptised so it turned out good. Then we had a party with our ward at the park. It was really great because they had brought a few nonmembers so we were able to talk to them and hopefully we will be able to teach them. It was just good to build some trust with our ward. Elder Doane is really helping me my tongan, he is more fluent than I. The people just love him. I am trying to get better so that he and I can teach together in tongan. That would be really neat to be able to do that. After that we had some time so we started going and visiting some of the formers in our area book and were able to start meeting a lot of tongans that lived around. We were able to set up a few lessons with some of them for next week so that will be really good. It was a really good day though.

Sunday Aug 8 - Well today was ward conference and we showed up expecting the normal and found out that they were changing all of the meeting around. So instead of having sacrament first it was going to be last. We had priesthood first then sunday school and then sacrament. It all worked out. We taught the gospel princlples class and it was going really good. We had only been teaching for like 15 minutes and then bishop told us we needed to end because they were going to start sacrament meeting early because it was the ward conference. So we go in to sacrament and it is just packed. Which was good because I haven't seen our ward that full in a long time. Then after just like any other tongan event they had food at the end of ward conference. I love the tongan food now. It tasted good the only bad part is that it is not very helathy for you. Then after church we did some studies and then we went to this one senior couples house for dinner. The Freemans they are so awesome. I love them so much and they are such a strength to us in the office. But we went up and ate with them and it was great. Then we taught a lesson and that was pretty much our day.

So sorry this is so long but I felt like I should recap on the whole week. I love you all so much. I will email you next week when I get back from the big island and tell you all about my adventures there.

Ofa atu

Elder Hatch

Week 92 (a bit late)

2010-08-03T15:50:00.003-06:00

Aloha Family,

I am so sorry that it has been so long that I have had a chance to write so I will try and tell you what has been going on for the last two weeks.

So Starting on the 13th through the 18.

We had the rest of the interviews this week and we were able to introduce President Dalton to all of the missionaries and have a chance to meet with each of them. Man I always get so tired when we travel so much....anyway so we were on Big Island, Maui and around here in Honolulu. We spent lots of time hearing the same thing over and over again so Elder Medeiros and I always tried to find things to do while they did the meetings. There always seemed to be something that would come up or something that needed to be done. So we finished the interviews on Saturday just in time to go to a baptism of a Samoan fellow I taught while I served here in Honolulu with Elder Eteaki. It was so neat to finailly see him take that step and be baptised. He had been investigating the church for like 9 years or something like that. It was also good to see Elder Eteaki finally help this family as well right before he went home. He has been working with this family the whole 9 months that he was here and was able to get some closure on them. Well after the baptism we went to another baptism. So we are driving and it is back up in Mililani my old zone and we get there, and one of my favorite samoan guys from my old ward was there. I got really close to his son while I was there and now his son is out on a mission. Anyway so I gave him a big old hug and he said how much he missed having me around and I told him that I missed he and his family a lot as well. It was just so great to see a familiar face again and it flooded back so many memories and emotions from when I had served in that ward. I am not going to lie it kind of made me area trunky. So after the baptism Elder Medeiros and I rushed back because we still had so many preparations that needed to be made so that we could start the transfer process the next day. I never realized how complex the transfer process was until I became an assistant. So we made most of the preparations that needed to be done and at about 10:30 we finally called it a night and went back down to our pad. It was a really long day to say the least. So Sunday came and we had church in the morning. Man have I told you lately how much I love the Tongan people and the wonderful spirit that they have about them. It is just so amazing to just feel of their love right as you walk into the chapel. Anyway so we had church and then came the big moment. It was time to go and pick up my new companion. So for those of you who don't know we went and picked up Elder Doane. I love this elder. He is just such an amazing missionary and you can just feel the spirit so strong within him he will be a great companion to have for the next 3 months. He is from Salt Lake and went to Highland High. He loves playing lacrosse and he loves to go skiing. He and I have served around each other before so it was so great to be back around him again. So we picked him up and brought him back to the tab so that we could start the transfer process. Man let me just say I am so glad that I paid attention for the couple of times that I had the privilage to do transfer plans with President Peterson. It truely paid off. As we sat down to do the first one it was a little different because President is so new and doesn't know the missionaries very well yet. Elder Medeiros and I were just so unified though and had the spirit and had good notes from the last time we did transfers, that he and I would just start going with things that we knew needed to happen. We let the spirit work through us and we were able to know companionship changes. It was funny a few times he and I would throw out scenerios of things that could be done and we would both understand what the other one was talking about and could complete the others sentence, and then President would be like wow wow you just lost me there. Go back and tell it to me again? It was kind of funny. It made Elder Medeiros and I feel good though because we knew that the Lord was using us as a tool to move the work forward and to know what would be best since President is so new. Anyway back to the week..... So after transfer plans we had dinner with one of the senior couples and then we had a meeting with president and by that time it was time to call it a night.

Monday 12th- So we go up to the office and spent pretty much the whole day just doing transfers. It is such a long process and so draining. You are always just so tired by the time you get done because you are just focusing so hard on what needs to be done and what will be the best for the mission and so forth. We had sort of a p-night were we were able to do a little bit of shopping and some laundry but that was about it. All and all it was just a long day with nothing to exciting.

Tuesday 13th- It was amazing how the lord blessed us this time as we did the transfer plan. Were able to get all done with them by Tuesday afternoon which is just amazing and it left us so much time to be able to do all of the paper work and the hard part of the transfers. Making all of the packets, getting things ready for the new missionaries, making sure that everyone had a car that needed one and a cell phone that needs one, and so forth. There is just so many things that go into transfers it is jut not even funny. So for the next couple of day we pretty much just spent most of our time doing all of that stuff. Oh yeah on Wednesday we had a cottage meeting at president's house and it was really great one of the people that I taught down in Ewa Beach got baptised and then came and spoke at the cottage meeting. It was a really great meeting with some really solid testimonies born. I always love going to those things and being able to feel of the spirit so strongly. Especially being an assistant because you don't get to teach nearly as much as you would like to so you have to do you best to have those really spiritual high moments.

Thursday and Friday 15th and 16th -So nothing really exciting happened on Thursday so I am going to skip right to Friday. So as we were getting all of the logistical things figured out for transfers we figured out that we are going to have to move a few people and going to have to buy some beds and things. So the whole morning was spent just moving furniture around and stuff. We went to one of the mission storage sheds and it was just packed with crap ( Which was kind of frustrating because I had just cleaned the shed like a month ago) but anyway someone else had put more crap in there. So you knowing me I didn't put up with that for more than about I don't know 30 seconds. I loosened my tie and just started pulling crap out. Looking at stuff to see if it was even worth keeping organizing it so that things would fit better. Oh I guess I should tell you we were doing this because we found out there was some more stuff that needed to be put in there. SO I just start pitching old desks that have seen better days and old chairs and nasty stuff just getting rid of it and loah and behold there was room to put the things we needed to in. I am going to have to change the lock on that door though so no one else will put crap in there haha. So after we finished that we went and stole some beds from this one pad because we had to take their bunk beds to put into another pad. So we got them torn apart and in our pad. Then we went and bought new beds with one of the senior couples and took them to the missionaries that we had stolen them from. Then it was time to take a trip out to beautiful Laie. Man I love taking that drive it is so pretty and is always so fun to go there. So we ran out there and delivered the stuff. It was so good to be out there and to feel of the spirit out there again. I felt like it was home. I loved that area so much and I miss it all the time. It was such a great area and had such great people to serve with out there. Anyway any chance I get I always love going out there. Anyway that was pretty much our day.

Saturday 17th - So today was pretty boring just did more transfer stuff. It was good though we were able to go to a few baptisms as well. Alright I don't have anymore time tonight because it is like 9:30 at night so I will finish in the morning and send the rest love you.

Elder Hatch

I was waiting for the second half of the letter but never got it. But I will share what I know.

Tuesday 27th the new missionaries arrived in Hawaii. Zach always loves it when they come. They are so eager to get started and bring a great spirit with them.

Wednesday 28th- Transfer day. This is when all of his hard work for the past two weeks really comes together or not. Making sure all of the missionaries make flights, and get their cars and phones, and have what they need in their new pads. The exiting missionaries all come to the President's house and spend the night there. He had to send his wonderful companion Elder Medieros to Maui. They got along so well and it was a great experience for Zach to serve with him. Elder "Nalu" Medieros goes home in 6 weeks so he was grateful to go back out to teach for the end of his mission.

Thursday 29th- The exiting missionaries do a bit of traveling around the island before they head home.

Friday 30th - I think the missionaries flew home on Friday but it could have been Thursday. This is getting harder and harder for Zach because these are missionaries he has spent most of his mission with. There were several missionaries that Zach has gotten very close with that he had to send through security at the airport. He tells us it is very difficult to say good bye. He said the only thing that makes it better is knowing that he will see them in a couple of months.

Life Lessons

2010-07-28T17:14:00.006-06:00

This past weekend we had my family reunion. By parents, brothers, sister, and their families met at Mammoth Creek for the weekend. A good time was had by all. We usually rent a house that we can all fit in. This one was a cabin style on Mammoth Creek. It was a beautiful setting with the creek running right behind the cabin. We ate good food, played games, walked, talked, laughed, watched movies, hiked, and enjoyed each others company.

I was able to complete one of my bucket list items this year. There is a bike trail from Brian Head to Panguitch Lake that my family has ridden in the past. This is a ride that I have wanted to attempt for a long time and just never felt like I could do it. Well this year my brother, Jim, took me and my two sister in laws on the ride. Jim is an experienced rider and gave us pointers along the way. As I thought about his pointers they made a lot of sense in our daily life. I thought I would share some of my insight.

Rule #1: If the trail gets too difficult to ride it is okay to get off and walk. There was no shame in recognizing the trail was too difficult for my abilities and I needed to get off and walk through a particular section. Sometimes in life I think we need to get off and walk.

Rule #2: Whatever you focus on, on the trail, you will hit. So if you focus on a log or a big rock in your path you will utlimately hit it. Life is much the same. Wherever we put our focus that is what we will hit. Wow, so important to be focused on the right things.

Rule #3: Don't cross the chain. Meaning it is very difficult for the chain to work when it is small on front and big on back or big on front and small on back. The chain has difficulty functioning properly. The same goes for life. We have to live our lives in harmony with what we believe. It is important that our words and actions are in sinc with one another.

Rule #4: It is easier to go through soft sand quickly. When I was riding the trail and came to soft terrain it was so much easier to go through when I was going fast. The slower I went the more I got stuck and lost my balance. When we find ourselves caught in doldrums get out. Move through them quickly and get on to what is important.

Rule #5: It helps to have some guidance and encouragement along the way. As we traveled the trail my brother would stop and inform us as to what we could expect ahead of us. He would give us some pointers from his experience as how to best complete that leg of the trail. He would also give us encouragement and tell us what we were doing well. So it is with life. There are people put in our lives to guide us along the way. These people may have more life experience or knowledge and are there to help us avoid lifes pitfalls. They are also there to give us the encouragement we need to continue on when the journey gets tough.

Rule #6 Well this could have been rule #1 but none-the-less....one should would protective gear. I never knew if or when I might crash along the way. Wearing the appropriate gear is so important. As it worked out I did crash and was grateful to be wearing a helmet so as to protect my head. We are given many opportunities in life to put on our protective gear. Our testimony is something that should be a great protection to us all of our lives. If we truly believe and follow what we know we will protected beyond our understanding. There are other things that will give us protection as well...prayer, scripture study, good friends, paying tithes, service...the list could go on.

Rule #7: Enjoy the journey. As we went on our ride it was so amazing to enjoy the journey and to take time to see the grand views, to observe nature, to learn to respect the elements, and to feel God's love. Life is a journey. We can get so wrapped up in the everyday tasks that we forget to enjoy the journey.

Rule #8: Take it at your own speed. My brother is an accomplished mountain bike rider and could ride the trail quite quickly. My sister in law has also ridden many trails and was more comfortable with the trail. I am a novice mountain bike rider and my skills were quite challenged. It was quite alright for me to go at my own pace and complete the ride. The other riders would go at their pace and then wait at a point in the trail for the rest to arrive. Then we would rest, get a drink, talk and then move on with the next leg of the trail. I learned I need to take life at my own pace. Even though there may be others who are speeding past me it is okay for me to take life at my own pace. It is good to take a break, get a drink, and regroup before going on to the next task before me.

Thanks to Jim, Lisa, and Tammy for a memorable ride. I learned so much that day. More about life than about riding a bike.

Week 91 Some pictures from the past week

2010-07-21T11:49:00.013-06:00

Elder Hatch, Sister Dalton, President Dalton

Elder Doane (Zach's new comp), Elder Hatch, Elder Medieros (Outgoing AP comp)

Elder Eteaki the Missionary in the white clothing, is said to be Zach's brother from a different Mother.
Not quite sure who this is but I will find out.

Annie and Steve are moving

2010-07-17T08:14:00.005-06:00

Annie and Steve will be moving into a house next month. We are so excited for them. It has been completely remodeled and is in a great Taylorsville neighborhood. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, large kitchen, and a family room. There is a big back yard for toys and several sheds for storage.

3 months, 3 months, 3 months

2010-07-17T08:09:00.002-06:00

Yeah I know I just posted 100 days. But I'm keeping up with the monthly countdown also.

The Count Down Begins

2010-07-14T15:59:00.003-06:00

THAT'S RIGHT, TODAY THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS. TOMORROW WE BREAK INTO THE DOUBLE DIGITS.

Weeks 89 and 90 Could his life get any busier?

2010-07-12T13:35:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I am making this blog into a book to remember our year. This entry is quite long but I feel it is important for the book. So I apologize for putting the whole email in.

Alright I will do my best to recap the last couple of weeks events.

Monday 28th- So it was p-day, but we had some things so get ready for the last zone conference as well as some final things to help President Peterson before he went home. He told Elder Medeiros and I that he wanted to interview the both of us one last time before he left and he wanted to give us some advice for the future. So I was able to sit down with him one more time face to face and heart to heart and have a good conversation with him. It was really great. He is such a wonderful man and I have learned so much from him. He has been like my father away from home. Anyway he gave me a temple recommend interview and he also just talked to me about my mission and the things that would take place after the mission. He gave me some great words of counsel and advice that I will take to heart and use. In his last interviews with the missionaries before they go home he asks them about their favorite companion and their favorite area and so on and it was great to tell him what my favorites were. He said it was very interesting to him to hear what the missionaries say. Anyway we did that and then we went and taught a lesson in our ward and it was a good day.

Tuesday 29- Today was the last Zone Conference for President and Sister Peterson. It was going to be perfect and we had it all planned out and then we got to the church where it was going to be held with all of the missionaries on Oahu and Elder Medeiros and I were setting up and realized that we had forgotten out jump drives back at the office. We were like oh no so we told President, then Elder medeiros and I got in the car and went back to the office as fast as we could. They started without us and we luckily got back just in time to do our part of the zone conference. We really lucked out. The Zone Conference went well though. I think it was really hard on the Petersons knowing that is was their last one. At the end of the zone conference I got asked to present this book of tributes to them. It was a book we had all made of our feeling towards the Petersons and what they had done to help us. It was a really neat experience to present it to them. But after it was over, all of the polynesian missionaries did the haka for him and they asked me to help them do it since I had been around most of them my whole mission. It was really cool and President loved it. Then all of us that did the haka sang to President his favorite Tongan song while we were down on one knee. We really wanted to give him the best before he went home.

Wednesday 30- So today was pretty much just a normal day. Nothing to exciting happened. We pretty much just made ourselves available to help President with whatever he needed. He had us help him pack and get the transfer board ready and stuff. It ws a pretty laid back day. We made sure that the office and the cars were clean before we went to pick up the Daltons.

Thursday 1- Wow today was pretty crazy. So today was the day that the new president flew it. We went with the Petersons to greet him at the airport. We got there and were waiting and then all the sudden here they came. We greeted them and said our hellos. President Peterson told them that we would go grab their luggage and asked how many bags they had and they said the had 11!!!!! We were like wait what?? Your kidding right? They were like no we brought 11 suitcases so we went over and pulled off all 11 bags. Lets just say that is was a good thing that we brought the van otherwise there wouldn't have been enough room to fit it all in. So we loaded it all in and while the Petersons took them to lunch Elder Medeiros and I took all of their bags to their house. Then after that we went and got a quick lunch. We went back to the office and just waited for them to come because we were going to have to show them around the office and do whatever they wanted. So we waited for them and they came and we spent some time getting to know them and showing them around the office and stuff like that. He also wanted to meet with Elder Medeiros and I briefly to talk about a few things. So my first impression was pretty good. He was a vey happy and pretty laid back guy.

Friday 2- President Dalton had a few things that he needed to do around town and knew that we knew our way around town and asked if we would help him do them. So we picked him up in the morning and took him places to do his internet stuff to get it set up, we helped him get a bank account set up and we helped him get his whole phone situation figured out. It took a good portion of the day to get it all done but it was a great opportunity t get to know him a little bit better on a personal basis. He has a pretty high tech phone that took some time to figure out. Then after that it was time to go with the Petersons. They wanted to have dinner with us one last time and wanted us to be the ones to take them to the airport and to send them through security. So we picked them up back at the tabernacle and we went to the Spagetti Factory with them. We had already decided that we didn't want them to have to pay for dinner so we got up and told them we had to go to the bathroom when really we were going to pay for the food. So we went and paid for it and then we were sitting there waiting for the bill and President was like why isn't the waiter coming we need to get out of here. We were both like it's ok we can just go. President was like no we can't we have to pay before we leave and the two of us were just like no it has already been paid for. He was like you two are going to get it from me when you get home. Anyway after dinner we took them to the airport and they had a few people that came to say one last goodbye to them before they left. Then came the hard part of sending them through security and now it was Elder Medeiros' and my turn to say our final goodbyes. This was kind of wierd since we had been watching the rest of the mission do it for the last two weeks and now it was our turn to do the same. So we said our goodbyes which was a lot easier than I was expecting but I think it was because we knew that we were going to see them in just a few months. We drove back home and let me tell you it was a pretty quiet ride back.

Saturday 3- Well we woke up to our phone ringing and some of the released missionaries calling and telling us that President and Sister Peterson had made it home safely. So we were glad to hear that. Today was kind of a day to drive the Daltons around and get them used to some of the places around as well as to have them go and teach with a few people. SO we made a few phone calls and told the missionaries that the new president would like to go and teach a lesson with them. Some of them were really freaked out but my man Elder Eteaki pulled through and jumped at the opportunity to go and teach with him. So he went with them to a lesson which gave Elder Medeiros and I a chance to work on our training for Monday. After they came back from their lesson we had to go straight to a baptism that was out in Ewa Beach. It was really good for him to see a baptism on just his second day here. After that we went back with them to their house and spent a couple of hours helping them unpack and getting their computers and their phones and their electronics all put together.

Sunday 4- We had church. I always love going to the Tongan ward because you never really know what is going to happen. So we got to church and they always have us bless the sacrament so we were sitting there and then all the sudden guess what they came back and asked us to bless it again this week. We agreed and went up and did it. Then after we were teaching our gospel principles class and one of our ward members were in there and we were talking about repenting and he was asking a question about something he had done but was trying to make it sound like a general story that wasnt about him. It was really funny because he started out just by saying thingsd like what if a person did this, and then it turned into I tried to do this and so forth it was so funny. We made our progress record as usual and gave it to the ward. We thought that we were going to have meeting but it turned we didn't. Then after church we spent a good chunk of time working on our trainings again because we knew that we had to get them done before tomorrow. Then we went to a 4th dinner at one of the members in the Manoa Ward with President. It was really great and we were able to get aquanted with a few more people around in the area. We collected the numbers as usual that night and then called it a night.

Monday 5- Today was ZCL (Zone Leader Council) This was the meeting that we wanted to make just perfect for President Dalton. This would be the first opportunity that he would have to meet all of the zone leaders and to get a feel for his leadership. So Elder Medeiros and I got everything all set up and ready to go. We had the meeting going and it was a really great meeting. He was able to get a good feel for his leadership and then he was also able to talk about a few things that he had on his mind as he came into the mission. We had all of the zone leaders account and explain what was going on in each of their zones so that he could get a really good feel for the mission. We were a little worried because we had never had to run the whole show before but it went really well. I think that the leaders really liked him and got a good feel for him as the new president. You could definately feel that the mantle had switched over to him and that he was the new president.

Tuesday 6- Today was the first chance that we had to go around and meet a few of the districts with president. He was able to meet a few of the first groups of missionaries. It was really a good thing for the missionaries I think because they are able to sit down face to face with him and meet him. That night after all of the meetings were over and he had met all of the districts he had dinner with the stake president. Elder Medeiros and I got stuck at the chapel without a car for a couple of hours so we decided to walk around and talk to a few people. We were supposed to have dinner at our member's house but he was running so late that we had to cancel and just had to run by later that night and pick up the food from their house. It was ok though it wasn't that big of a deal.

Wednesday 7- Today we went back to Laie and you all know that this is one of my favorite places. I have always loved this place and it has a very soft spot in my heart. So we went there and had their meetings up there and went and got lunch with a few of the elders. It was good to spend a little time with them and to talk with them . We had to take a fridge to some of the elders there so we asked for all of their help in getting it into their pad. We did the second group meeting and they were able meet all of the missionaries there. Daltons were having dinner at the pcc with a few of the stake presidents so, I decided to to go to one of my favorite members grill and have dinner there. I love this family so much and knew that they wouldn't mind if we just showed up. Sure enough we showed up and they were just so happy to see us. It was good to see all of them as well.

Thursday 8- So today we had to go to Kauai. We knew that it would be a really quick trip. So we got there at about 1:30 and President was really hungry so we got a quick bite to eat and then we went to have the meeting with the missionaries. Then we had dinner with a few of the missionaries while president was at dinner with the stake president. Then we went back to the airport. I think we were there about a total of 6 hours or something like that. All I know is that it was a really fast trip. It was funny though because President was just there with his whole family 3 weeks ago on vacation before their mission started. They had this vacation planned long ago and it just happened that they got called here on their mission.

So that pretty much sums up what happened in the last two weeks. I hope that this email doesn't bore you too much but hope it gives you some insight of what I have been up to for the last couple of weeks. It has been a crazy few weeks. This week is going to be pretty crazy as well but I know that it will be good. Well I love you all. Thank you all for your support.

Ofa atu

Elder Hatch

Family Update July 5, 2010

2010-07-05T14:44:00.001-06:00

Well I thought I would update you on the Hatch Family.

Annie and Steve are looking to buy a house. They are ready for homeownership and the responsibilites that come with that. That way when things break they don't have to wait for the landlord to come and fix it. They are expecting their first child in January the day before Annie's birthday. Needless to say we are all excited about the news.

Maddie is enjoying her summer break from school. She will be heading down to St. George to do an internship in the hospital for 3 weeks. She just got a new bike and she is planning some great mountain rides. She is trying to enjoy her summer before her third year starts. She has some awesome friends and has had many fun summer nights having a good time with them.

Zach is still in Oahu. He is working under a new mission president and is trying to get to know his style of leadership. He is trying to lose some weight before he comes home but it is hard when those islanders feed him so well. He has about 100 days left on his mission and then back to real life.

McKay is loving summer. He is trying to read all the Harry Potter books again to be ready for when the movies come out. He is currently reading the fifth book. So he is well on his way. He plays tennis a couple of times a week and is getting ready to go to scout camp. He will be going to a basketball camp with his cousin Josie. He is still deciding if he wants to play football or not.

Mom and Pops are finally finishing up a 6 month house remodel. It has come to the point of ridding ourselves of things we have collected over the course of our marriage. If it doesn't have a home now it never will. So we are doing some exhausting sorting and cleaning. We get to go to Hawaii to pick up Zach. We weren't going to go but an opportunity came up that we couldn't pass up so we get to fly home with him. It will be awesome to tour the island to see where he has been serving. Other than that we are also enjoying summer and getting some projects done around the house. We are running Zach's lawn business while he is gone. It is a lot of work and we are tired but we hope to keep it going so he has some income when he comes home.

Gracie and Ruby, our dogs, keep us busy as well. Grace is getting old and tired. She has arthritis and doesn't move very well. Ruby is still a puppy and loves to play. She will play any time you sit down. She also loves to chew things up, nothing is safe anymore. They are great pals though and get along really well.

Well that is us in a nutshell. Life is good and we are all well and happy.

Week 88 Remember to remove jewelry before trying to board a plane

2010-07-01T15:19:00.000-06:00

Alright so this last week was pretty crazy so I will try and recap it the best I can so you can get a feel for how busy we have been.

So Last Monday (June 21) was p-day of sorts. More like p- hours because there was so much to do and so many things that we needed to get ready that we didn't have a whole lot of time to spend just playing around and stuff. So we had to finish our training for Zone Conference, print off the sheets that Sister Peterson needed, put together a few slideshow presentations so that everything would go a lot smoother when we actually started doing the zone conference.

Tuesday (June 22) We got up pretty early and got on a flight for Kauai. This is always our first zone conference and being that it is the first they are always kind of the guinea pig to see how things are going to work for the rest of the mission. So we get there and some of the missionaries had to take their car to the toyota dealership and no one that could drive knew how to get there. Elder Nau, my former companion who serves there, knew how to get there and I pretty much knew how to get there so we jumped in the car together and took off to pick up the other missionaries before zone conferences started. So we got them and headed back to the church just in time for the conference to start. We got it going and we did our training. The training went really well except for the fact that it ended up being like and hour longer than Elder Medeiros and I had planned on. President was ok with it going longer though because he said it was all stuff that the mission needed to hear so we didn't feel so bad. Then Sister Peterson gave her "dying testimony" and it was really good. She shared a good quote with all of the missionaries that I liked. It said, "Don't be sad that your mission is over, just be glad that it ever even happened." I was like wow that is so true. Then President got up there and gave his "dying speech" and man did he have a lot of words for all of those missionaries. He gave them part of the speech that he gives to all of the dying missionaries. It was really good and I took lots of notes because this was the last counsel that I was going to get from president for the next little while. Then it was time to fly back and we get to the airport and I forgot to take off my watch as we went through security and they got all upset and gave me the pat dowm and the little wand test and checked my palms for gun powder and I was like you have got to be kidding me. President and Elder Medeirso were just laughing at me the whole time. It is funny that they did all of that though because the only place you can really fly to from the Kauai Airport is to Honolulu on one of those little island hoppers. I thought the whole thing was pretty ridiculous.

Wednesday (June 23) We had the next zone conference up in Laie and it went really well. I love Laie so much. For some reason this zone conference was a lot harder on me? It was so hard to see president in Laie for the last time. All of the memories that I had of me sitting and talking with him all came back to me and I knew that I was really going to miss him a lot. I had some really deep conversation with him while I served there. It was wierd though because there has been so many changes up there since I have served there. Most of the sisters that I served there with have gone home. It is wierd how fast the time goes and how even when there is a rotation in people the work still goes forward and eveything still works the same. It just goes to show that the work of the Lord is the same eveywhere that you go.

Thursday (June 24) We were headed to the big island today, but we had some minor set backs that were a test of President patients, haha. The flight that we usually left on no longer exsists so, we had to change the time that we flew which got us to Kona a lot later that usual. We usually start zone conference there at 10 but our flight didn't even land until 9:30 and we had an hour drive to Waimea where zone conference would be held. Then as we were driving there we got stuck behind some really slow drivers which made us even later than we already were. It all worked out though so that was good. I had quite a few of my mission friends that I served with over there so it was pretty good to see them all and to be able to spend time with them. This trip was harder for President because he really loves the big island. It was a really good trip though. It was a really fast trip we were only there for a couple of hours and then we flew right back to Oahu. I was so tired at the end of the day. I was drained emotionaly, phyically, and mentally from all of the stress.

Friday (June 25) We flew out to Maui and this zone conference was really special. I have always loved Maui and the spirit that is there. It is so amazing the history that is there. We had a general authority come a little while back when I served on Maui and he told us that I think it was George Q Cannon who was visited by the Savior himself there when he was thinking about giving up on the Hawaiian people because he couldn't understand the language and he couldn't eat the food. Pretty amazing story. Anyway we did the zone conference at the Palehu Chapel which if I am not mistaken was the first chapel in all of the islands. So there is some serious history there as well. Anyway it was really fun to do it in that old chapel where the spirit was so strong. Then at lunch the old tongan ward where I served was in charge of lunch. It was so fun to see so many of them and to feel of their spirit again. I was surprised how well they remembered me. I thought because it had been so long that they wouldn't remember me but they all did. So it was a vey sweet reunion.

Saturday (June 26) We thought that we would be able to do some catching up on a few things today but it turned out that the Lord had a few other plans for us. In the morning we got a call from a companionship of sisters who locked themselves out of their apartment. So we got what we thought were the keys to their pad and drove clear out to Mililani. When we got there the key they had listed as the spare key to their pad but it wasn't. So we called one of the senior couples that are in charge of housing and he called the landlord and was able to get another set that were the correct set. So we drove all the eay back to Honolulu then all the way back to Mililani again. It took forever. We got it unlocked for them and were starting to leave and found out that they locked themselves out again. So we went back and opened it. Then we went to a party that our ward put on and it was insane. It was supposed to be a farewell but it looked more like a wedding it was pretty crazy.
The rest of the week was pretty chill. So that was what happened. I will give you a little tid bit for next weeks email. I had a good last interview with President. Sending President home and so forth. Anyway I love you all and I am grateful for all of you.

Ofa atu

Zig

Just a few pictures from Maui.

2010-06-27T09:04:00.000-06:00

President and Sister Peterson, Elder Hatch, Elder Medieros, and Elder Fredrickson

A church house on Maui that is a church history site.

Inside the little church.

These were take while they visited every zone before President and Sister Peterson are released. Thursday July 1, 2010 is the big day for passing of responsibility. I think Zach is prepared for the transition. He has been doing all he can to prepare for this emotional time in his life. He is excited to meet the Daltons and is ready to serve with them the best he can. I am sure we will get some pictures by next weekend.

Madison's 23rd Birthday

2010-06-24T20:07:00.000-06:00

Our Madison is 23 today. We are so glad she is part of our lives. She brings so much fun to our family. Here are Madison's top ten.
1. She has a great sense of humor and is always making us laugh.
2. She is a great fisherwoman and loves to spend time on the boat with the family.
3. She has a good eye and steady hand when shooting a gun. Watch out or she will end up buying drinks.
4. Mads loves being with the family. We are so glad she was accepted at the U so she could live at home and be here for all the family fun. She hates working Sundays because she has to miss family dinner(and church).
5. She loves family reunions and spending time with her cousins.
6. She has lots of fond memories of Cedar and all the crazy things that happened there.
7. You can always count on getting a hand made card from Mads on your birthday. She is very creative and artistic when it comes to cardmaking.
8. She is extremely musical and plays her beautiful music whenever she gets a chance.
9. She is a great example to her family, friends, and coworkers.
10. She is a true friend.

We love you so much Mads. Thanks for being in our family and making life great. Hope all your hopes and dreams come true. Lot of Love. "THE FAM"

4 months to go! Can't believe it is going so fast.

2010-06-24T20:01:00.000-06:00

Week 87

2010-06-24T19:35:00.000-06:00

I know it has been a while so I figured I would sit down for a moment and write a quick email. Things have been super crazy. I will try and summarize the events from the last couple of weeks for you the best I can.

Week before transfers- Well we did all of the transfer plans and it all went pretty well. No major issues in the planning process. We had lots of missionaries moving though so we had lots of flights to book, lots of rides to coordinate and lots of new missionaries coming so we had to make sure that things were ready for them. So we got everything ready and were able to do a few other things before transfer week came. There are always just so many preparations that go into transfers and you just want to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that everyone gets where they need to be without too many problems.

Transfer week- Holy cow where do I even begin with this week. So Monday we had a p-day of sorts but not really. We played basketball for about an hour but then had to go to a lesson with our tongan ward and then after that we had to get everything ready for the greenies who would be here the next day. So Monday absolutely flew by. Tuesday we had a big old planning meeting with President Peterson where we tried to get as much stuff prepared for President Dalton as we could to make the transition a whole lot smoother. So we did that and then we drove out to the airport to pick up all the missionaries. It is so funny to see their faces when they step off the plane because they have such the deer in the headlights look. It is classic. I am sure I had the same look when I came though. So we get them and for some reason it takes forever to get their luggage. The machine at the airport stopped working and then there were about a 1000 people there trying to get there luggage. Oh I forgot to mention their flight was delayed so they landed at the same exact time as another flight so there were twice as many people as usual. We had to keep track of them in the big crowd. So we got them and took them to Presidents and got them all situated for the night. We went back to get the chapel ready for transfer meeting the next day and we get there and the chapel where we usually have the meeting is all taken apart because the stake is having some showtunes concert in there and they had lots of the rows out and the stage all taken apart. Elder Medeiros and I looked at each other and just went oh boy that's great. So we talked it through with President and he said it wasn't too big of a deal we would just deal with it.

So transfer day we take all the greenies to the tabernacle for transfer meeting and stuff like that. This day is always super stressful for us because we get about 1000 phones calls (Now I know why dad hates talking on the phone) of people trying to figure out how to get to the tabernacle. We have to make sure cell phones get to their proper area and cars get to their new areas and make sure that everyone has a ride back to their area and that everyone that has a meeting gets to it and is not late otherwise all of the other meeting that follow will be late. So we will just say that it is a super stressful day.

Then the next couple of days after transfers we pretty much just spend moving people and moving furniture and all of that kind of stuff. It was still really crazy because we had so much stuff to do. Then during the weekend we spent the whole time getting our zone conference training ready because we have to present all this week. We had two days to pound it out so we sat down and just pounded the whole thing out it was insane. So that pretty much puts us where we are now. My hands are tired of typing so I am going to stop.

ofa atu
Elder Hatch

Weeks 84,85, and possibly 86

2010-06-11T07:47:00.000-06:00

We haven't gotten a big email for awhile but have gotten small blurbs here and there. So I will try to summarize some of the life of Elder Hatch.
1. He finished off Zone Conferences in week 84. He loves traveling to all the zones and meeting with the missionaries. He tells us the missionary spirit is very strong and he loves getting his batteries recharged being with all of those missionaries.
2. He has been working on transfers for the past week or so. Transfers are on June 16 and there are 16 missionaries going home. So this is a big transfer. They have been working on putting the right companionships together for this transfer. Transfers are a big deal to him. He takes them very seriously and there is a lot of prayer, fasting, and trusting in the Lord when making changes in companionships. He is now preparing all of the paperwork, transportation, and training manuals.
3. On July 1 President Peterson and his wife will have completed their service in Hawaii. Zach is helping to make preparations for a smooth transition to President Dalton and his wife. This is a very difficult thing for Zach as he has grown to love the Petersons as if they were his own parents. He has such love, respect and admiration for both of them. I know they will have a close relationship for the rest of their lives.
4. He has also been making deliveries, teaching some investigators right there in Honolulu, visiting all the missionary pads, and working on other missionary stuff.
5. He found out that we will be picking him up in October. Hawaiian Air had a great rate and so we booked our flight. So exciting.

Week 83 Elder Hatch's Wild Adventures

2010-05-27T21:41:00.000-06:00

Talofa,

Well I had few minutes tonight and figured that I would try and recap a few of the events from the last week. Well we finally finished up the interviews throughout all of Oahu. Man it took forever driving to some of those pads. Some night we didn't get back until almost 7 and we would leave at 9 in the morning just driving from one place to the next. President has us drive because he would rather sit in the back and get some other work done rather than waste his time driving. So that is always fun to be stuck in that bumper to bumper traffic. Anyway we got them all done and then on Friday we got a call that some missionaries were being kicked out of their apartment. So we had to grab both the mission trucks and Elder Mederios and I drove them both out and head clear to Maili Kai and if you don'y know where that is, it is clear down on the west side of the island. So we got out there and loaded both trucks full of washer dryer, fridge, stove, desks, beds, chairs, dressers and pretty much anything else we could fit in two chevy calorados. It was crazy and then we drove them all the way back out to Honolulu to put them in the mission storage shed. Well when we got to the storage shed it was so full of stuff you could barely open the door. I was like you have got to be kidding me!!! So I just start ripping and tearing at things pulling them out and just putting them all in a big junk heep. All the time just asking Elder Mederios if he wants to keep it. So I get eveything out sweep it up, get a shelf set up to put all of the dishes and everything else we found in there. Then we organized the stuff we wanted to keep and what do you know there was room for all the new stuff that we brought and it was clean. It was a very satisfying project to say the least. Anyway it was a pretty fun adventure.
So then on Saturday we thought it was going to be kind of a day just to catch up on things and to be able to preparea little bit. Well once again we were dead wrong!!! We started getting all of these calls of old furniture that we needed to get rid of and things that people needed in all of the zones, so we decided to run a bunch of the errands that we had. We we ended up going to 6 different zones that day and probably driving a hundred miles. It was a long day to say the least. We got eveything done though. Then that night we pounded out our training for zone conference. It was really good because it was uninterrupped so I could just keep my train of thought going and be able to get everything pretty much the way I wanted it.
Sunday was pretty much just a typical Sunday. We went to church and had all of our meeting and stuff. Then we went back to our pad and had some lunch and stuff. We got a call from Elder Eteaki saying that he needed us to help sing with him. So we were like hmmmm?? Maybe, I am not the best of singers you know so I was like what are we singing? He was like nearer my god to thee and I was like ok that one is a pretty easy one to harmonize. So we went to their baptism with them and helped them sing. It went really well. Then we went back to the office and finished our training and got ready to take the numbers that night. We were sitting waiting for all of the reports to come in so we could compile them and then they all finally did, and what do you know it looks like we will hit "Vision 100" again this month so that is good news.
Well Monday started out pretty normal, we did our usual accountability and had to run a few errands. We had to go to the dump which is always fun. The dump here is so weird. It is like a gaint warehouse that you just dump everything and then the tractor comes and pushes it out the bottom. Anyway we did that and then had to do a few quick other things for president. Well them we played some basketball and got some good exercise. It was pretty fun. Then that night we were making all preperations for Kauai the next day when we got a phone call from president telling us that he needed us to do something for him. Needless to say we had to stay out late doing it. It was pretty crazy. Then the next morning we got up really early and flew to Kauai. Man airplanes are so small or maybe I am just really tall (that wasn't a fat joke) So we got there and it was a really good zone conference. Well I am out of time for now so you will just have to stay posted til Monday and I will let you know what happened in Kauai and in Laie. Some good times. Man I miss Laie so bad. It is such a blessed place.

Ofa atu

Elder Hatch

Week 82

2010-05-19T18:25:00.000-06:00

Elder Hatch and Elder Medeiros with Jamboree their newest convert.

Zone Leader Conference

Aloha Family,

Well I realized that I had been super busy and hadn't written you in like 2 weeks. So that is my bad. I don't have a whole lot to fill you in on because I just talked to you last week on the phone, but I will kinda let you know what is going to happen this upcoming week and what happened this last week. So this last week we had interviews and this transfer president decided to do interviews at their pads so that I could see where all of the missionaries live when he is gone. So we have been driving around the whole island all week looking at pads, checking area books, while president does interviews. It is kind of fun to see where all of the different missionaries live and to see all of the sides of the island I haven't seen yet (Which isn't much)!! We have also been filming the missionaries because we are making a new baptism dvd for the mission and needed some testimonies and some other things like that in it. So we got their testimonies and stuff and took them to this member who is going to put the whole thing together for us. By the way mom and dad congrats on the 27 years? What does that make you maybe 38 years old??? BAhahahaha Anyway yesterday was really long. Elder Mereiros got really sick the night before and threw up a whole bunch so I just had to stay home with him all day and try and help him get feeling better. Mostly I just let him sleep all day. So while he did that I read scriptures, read pmg, read the conference ensign, watched the restoration, watched legacy, watched some church history dvds, took a nap pretty much whatever I could to keep myself occupied to that I didn't get bored. It was ok though I was more worried about him feeling better than me being bored.
So this week will be more interviews and such. So Elder Medeiros and I get to play taxi driver for president and drive him around to all of the differnt zones. It is pretty fun though because we get to see all of the missionaries and get to build better relationships with them. Some of their pads are way nice and some of them are pretty crappy and when president sees them he tells us that he wants to try and get out of those pads. Luckily we won't be doing any flying this week so it won't be too tiring. We pretty much are just going to prepare for our trainings and stuff like that and book flights and all of that fun stuff. Let me just check and see if you had any questions this week.........Oh ya our ward did a car wash and just like any other tongan event there was plenty of food to go around. I think we had more food than we did cars washed but it was still good we actually found a few people for the other missionaries to teach so that was good. Well I think that is it for this week. I love you all so much and pray for each of you every day.

Ofa atu

Zig

FIVE MONTHS

2010-05-17T20:07:00.000-06:00

Five more months and then Zig comes home. We found out the day after he gets home there is a football game. That is really crazy timing. I hope he is up for it. We are hoping to hear from him today so we can share a bit of what is happening in his life. So stay tuned.....

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Mom

2010-05-09T15:33:00.001-06:00

(Troy Garlick Photographer)

(Lee Peterson Photographer)

My top ten reasons I love being a MOM!!!
1. Annicka, Madison, Zachary, McKay
2. The first day of school every year
3. Great hugs
4. Graduations
5. Times to talk and cry
6. Text messages
7. Fishing at Panguitch Lake
8. Utah football games
9. Doing yardwork together
10. Having family members pray for each other

I love being a mom. It has brought me a lot of joy throughout the past 25 years. Thanks to all of you who have been influencial in my children's lives. There isn't a day goes by that they don't make me proud. Annibell, Mads, Zacher, Macsta you guys are the best. Thanks for making my life so fun. Love you all MOM.

Week 81 Summary

2010-05-08T21:39:00.000-06:00

Here is a summary of his week.
Monday: Zone Leader Conference (ZLC) he had to prepare a talk for the Zone Leaders

Tuesday: New Missionaries arrive from the MTC. He always loves to see the excitement in their eyes and their enthusiasm to begin the work.

Wednesday: Transfers. Making sure all the missionaries get to their new areas, all the cars are where they need to be, all the flight plans are scheduled, and everything runs smoothly. He tells us that planning transfers and making all the changes is an incredibly spiritual experience. He said it is just amazing how the Lord works.

Thursday: Those missionaries going home spend some time in the mission home and tour the island before they fly home.

Friday: Sends home those missionaries who have completed their missions. This is a most difficult event. He has learned to love them all so much and it makes him sad to say good bye knowing he may never see them again.

Saturday: He has a baptism and it is "Helping Hands" day in Hawaii. The missionaries will be doing a lot of service as they support this day in Hawaii.

Sunday: He will be calling home. YEAH!!!

Weeks 79 and 80 (They all seem to run together somehow.)

2010-04-29T21:13:00.001-06:00

Malo Elele,

Well first off I would like to apologize for not writing for the past like week and a half or maybe it has been two weeks now. My bad!! Things have been really hectic and there just hasn't been anytime to write. Where to start off?? Well I can't remember what I told you last time but we had like 4 or 5 zone conferences since the last time I wrote. They all went really well and I think that we got better with everyone that we did. President said we got better so that is a good sign. Those take like all day so by the time we would get back from them we would catch up on a few things in the office and then have to call it a night. I know since the last time I wrote I went to Maui. It was really neat to get back there and it brought back lots of memories and reminded me how much I missed that beautiful island and the people that live there. I was able to get in contract with the bishop of the ward that I used to serve in over there and he said it was so good to talk to me because he had lost all my info because his phone had broken. I had a really great time there. It is really uncomfortable to fly on the plane though because they make the seats so small that there isn't a whole lot of room for me to move. Whenever I can I ask for the exit row because there is a lot more room and I can fit so much better and not make the ride really uncomfortable for me and those that are sitting around me.

I think one of my favorite zone conferences would have to be the last one. It was Honolulu and Hon-west. The spirit that was there was so strong and there were some pretty powerful testimonies born about the atonement. It was good too because I got to sit next to my good buddy Elder Eteaki. Man I miss him. Their conference was also good because it was the last one and we finally had all the kinks worked out and everything just went really smoothly without any problems. After that we had a few days off to prepare for transfers because there is so much we have to get ready. President had to go off island again for a stake conference but luckily we didn't have to go off island with him. We hang back and prepare everything for him so that when he gets back he can just go over what we got ready. Today was a big headache. It is such a long process, but you have to allow time for the spirit to work through you so you know exactly where everyone needs to go and who their companion needs to be. It is such an amazing feeling to be in the room and the spirit that is there as you plan. President is such a spiritual giant and you can tell that the spirit is just working through him and that he is receiving revelation. You receive such a confirming witness when something is right it is just so amazing. This upcoming week is going to be insanely busy. Tomorrow and Wednesday we have to finish transfer plans and then on Wednesday night we have cottage meeting at President's house so that will be really crazy getting everything set up for that. Then on Thursday we have to get all of the things ready for transfer meeting like all of the packets and stuff like that for the new missionaries, the stuff for the trunky papers and the stuff for new leadership so we will stay plenty busy. We also have to check on all the housing, the cars, and make sure everyone that is in a car area has a person that can drive and stuff like that. Then on Monday we have zlc again so we will have to do all the planning and organization for that so that we make sure we have everything that President needs and that we can accomplish as much as we can in that meeting. I won't have a p-day again. I think I have actually only had 2 since I have been in the office. Otherwise we just do things on the fly and do laundry wherever we can. I will try and email again whenever I get a chance but there is no promises. I will try and send some more pictures later this week.

Well since I only have 6 months left I have decided I am going to try and lose as much weight as I can before I come home. I am eating a lot more healthy and am eating in a lot smaller porprtions which is good. I am trying to workout whenever I get a chance as well to see if I can't burn off a little of the tongan food. Things with Elder Medeiros and I are still great. He and I get along so well and we seem to get so much done together. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve with him and to learn and to grow from him. He is such a good example of what a good missionary should do and should be. I know that I have made another life long friend in him.

Oh this last Saturday we had another baptism. It was for a girl her name is Fo'o. She is from Maui and is Tongan of course. Her husband was already a member but she was really intersted so we were able to teach her and to get her baptised. It was a really great baptism and our ward is so supportive and will help her to stay active and to continue to build her testimony. We are hoping to have another one this Saturday but we will see what happens. It is for a girl who is married to this Tongan guy she is not Tongan herself but if she comes to the Tongan ward we can teach her. She really understands what we teach her and has a desire to be baptised. I will let you know what happens with her but we don't know anything for sure yet. Well I think I have written you a big enough novel for tonight. I love you all so much and am grateful for the support that you give to me. I am so grateful for this time that I have to serve the Lord with all that I have so that I can say that I gave it my whole heart, might, mind, and strength.

Ofa Lahi Atu

Zig

Slump Day April 15th

2010-04-18T15:44:00.000-06:00

Zach only has 6 months left! I can't believe how quickly 18 months has gone. I am sure the next 6 months are going to fly by as well. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to write to Zach and include him in your thoughts and prayers. When he writes us we can see how much he has matured over the past year. I am sure the next few months are going to be very emotional for him. He will be sending missionaries home that he has grown to love. His mission Prsident will be released in July and a new President will come. Zach will be working closely with both of these wonderful men. I am sure he has some incredible experience ahead of him.

Week 77 and 78 It's a long one...you don't have to read it all.

2010-04-14T18:10:00.001-06:00

Aloha,

Well I know it has been awhile since I last wrote and for me it is 4 flights later, two other islands and two zone conferences down. These last couple of weeks have been absolutely crazy!! Starting with conference, man how I loved it. It was amazing right from the get go and was filled with so many great talks all the way through. I have never been so excited to watch conference before in my life except while I have been on my mission. It was really cool, President called us and told us that we had to keep up the fathers and sons tradition and took us out to dinner for priesthood session. It was really pretty sweet. I loved so many of the talks I think that there are too many to mention. One of my favorites would have to be the one on patience. It it so important to be patient with others but especially with yourself. I liked how they talked a lot about how most of things that happen to us in our life come because of how we react to something. I thought it was amazing how so much of this session of conference was based on Christlike attributes and how we apply them into our lives. Really getting back to the basic fundamentals of the church. President said to us, " Brethren what new doctrine did you see taught in this conference?" We said, "nothing president." He said, "exactly it is all the same stuff going back to the basics." Anyway loved conference.

Monday was ZLC ( Zone Leader Council).I always love ZLC but it was a really different feeling being the one running the whole thing and making sure everything went smooth instead of just sitting back and letting someone else do that for us. It was really quite intimidating training all of the zone leaders and knowing that what ever we say they are going to take back to their zones and train all of their missionaries on. That what we have taught them will be applied through the whole mission. It was really great to be able to see all of my mission friends though. So many of my really good friends in the mission are zone leaders. It will be really hard in the next couple of months because many of them go home before I do so I will have to send them home. It is always good to see them and reminisce with them though.
Then later in the week we headed to the big island and I absolutly loved it. I really did not want to leave and I told president that I wanted him to release me so that I could stay there and serve there. He laughed and told me that that was real funny, but that I wasn't going to get off that easily. I told him come on president you don't need me in the office you can do it without me but he declined and told me I had to get back on the plane. I had a really good exchange with one of the sets of missionaries over there and had a lot of fun riding around their huge area with them in their sweet truck. I had a lot of fun. We had our first round of zone conference over there and it went fairly smooth. We had a few glitches but we were able to work most of them and we were able to talk about it with president and get everything in order for the next one. We had to get going right after the conference to get right back to the airport so that we could get back to oahu.

On Saturday we were back on oahu and had to deliver a whole bunch of stuff to missionaries all over the island. We attended a few baptsims, finished a few things in the office, and called it a night. Sunday we had church and it went really well. We have such an amazing ward and I love them so much. They would do anything for us. We went and met with the ysa group from our ward and had luch with them. They are always looking for people for us to teach. After that we went to presidents to do some early end of the week wrap up becasue he had some other things that he needed to do. We had a fireside later that night and it was all in tongan and I could pick up most of it of what was going on. One of our ward members said we don't have any tongan missionaries but its ok because they get the work done. President Peterson got up to speak after him and told him that he was crazy. He said you can't tell me you look at Elder Hatch and tell me you don't have a tongan missionariy. He said he listens better in Tongan than he does in English. He said even though he appears to palangi you peal off that white skin and you have a Tongan underneath. They all started to laugh and after that they all came up and just started speaking pure Tongan to me. I was like gee thanks president. It was a really great fireside though.

Monday was pretty hectic. We spent a good portion of the first half of the day in meeting with president. Going over the logistical things of the mission that needed to be taken care of. Then we got a few hours to get our shopping done and to get laundry and some of that stuff out of the way. We then had to head off to our dinner appointment for the night. We came back and had to get all the things sorted out for todays zone conference and make sure that everything was in order to insure that things went smoother this time then they did the last.

Today was also very hectic. We had to be up by 5:30 to get ready to make our flight on time. Man I am getting used to flying and now I know to ask to always sit in the exit row because there is so much more room there. I can actually fit in that row. We caught our flight and it was off to my old stomping grounds of Kauai. It was really kind of weird but really nice to be there again and to see how similar everything was to when I left. Not a whole lot had changed since I was there last. I enjoyed being in the nice fresh air again though and to see the chapel where I started my mission. We had the conference and this one went a lot better as we had everything in order and all of the kinks worked out so that all we had to do was present it and help all of the missionaries feel the spirit. It was a really big success. I was so tired when it was all over though and had a big old raging head ache. I can't believe that this transfer is half over already. It seems like I just got to the office and I have already almost been here 5 weeks. It is crazy. But I think that is everything that I have needed to catch up on over the past couple of weeks. I am sorry I have been so bad at writing but there really hasn't been a whole lot of time to write. I had a few minutes tonight. Sorry this is so long but I figures you would want to know everthing that has been going on. Well as always I love yo all so much and miss you. I can't believe Mother's Day is like 3 weeks away.

Ofa Lahi Atu
Zig

Tag You're It

2010-04-06T20:25:00.001-06:00

I was tagged by my lovely daughter Annicka in a game of blog picture tag.
The instructions were this: Go to your first picture folder and pick the 10th picture and explain what it is.

This is a picture of Madison and McKay at a Utah football game.

"Priceless"

Join the fun and post a picture from your file.

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-04T09:47:00.000-06:00

At this Easter time may we reflect on the Gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That we may live again after this life. That we may have love, hope and peace in this life. That we can constantly become better and make changes in our lives to become more like him.

I look forward to Spring and the new life that comes with it. The world becomes fresh and clean once again. Time to enjoy the sun and warmer weather. Here's to SPRING.

Recent pictures of the remodel

2010-04-03T13:33:00.001-06:00

Pictures of Master bathroom remodel

Pictures of Downstairs Room

Pictures of where he currently lives

2010-04-01T19:44:00.001-06:00

Week 76 The Emotional Rollercoaster

2010-03-30T07:09:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the last couple of weeks but things have been pretty hectic. I think the last week was one of the most emotional roller coasters I have been on. From becoming assistant, to getting ready for greenies, to picking them up, to transfer meeting seeing all my mission buddies, to going to presidents house with the missionaries going home, to the testimony meeting with them, to taking them to the airport to say goodbye to members, to sending them through security and waving them off, to taking more missionaries from other missions to the airport at 4 in the morning things have just been crazy and they are not going to be any better this coming week. We have interviews this week so we go around with president to those and do activities with the missionaries. Then next Monday is ZLC again so this time I will have to train at that and be apart of it rather than just go and learn. I have to prepare my training and stuff like that. Then the next week zone conferences start and we will be flying to the big island and from what I hear I will be able to go to the temple so I am pretty stoked about that.

Well not to say that I haven’t loved Sunday night before on the mission but now I really love them. We always go to presidents for dinner and do what we call the Sunday night wrap up to the week. It is so amazing it feels like just being home with family and eating with your family it is so amazing. Like all of you I am looking forward to conference and if I am not mistaken I get to watch it at presidents house. I am not positive on that but I am pretty sure that is where we will end up for it. I know that we will spend part of conference weekend with our ward because being in a Tongan ward, if there is an event it gives them a reason to get together and have food so we will go eat with them.

Other than that I don’t think there is anything that is really new since I emailed on Thursday. I look forward to conference this week end and can’t believe that I am almost at 18 months. Man how time flies. Sorry this is so short but there is nothing else to write about. Well I love you all so much and will talk to you again whenever I get a chance.

Ofa lahi atu

Zig

Week 75 Transfers, Greenies, and Cottage Meetings

2010-03-25T20:36:00.000-06:00

Holy crap another week down and the stress level is still up haha. This week has truly been crazy. Well I guess I haven't filled you in for like a week and a half so I will back up little bit. Last week was insane as well. We had to get all of the transfer instuctions, needs preparations,new leadership packets, greenie info, greenie packets, rosters for housing, checklists and everything else that goes into transfers prepared so that this week would go smoothly. We spent a lot of time with Pres. making sure that everything was in order for him as well. Last week we had what we call a "cottage meeting" which is were people from the Kaneohe, Honolulu and Hon-west zones invite their investigators to come to the Presidents and he has a couple of recent converts speak to all of the investigators. It is really neat but it is some work for us to make sure that the program is ready to go and that all the chairs are set up at his house and that everything is ready to go. It is always so neat though and the speakers are always so good. I am pretty sure a majority of the people who go to those get baptised. Anyway enough about that back to the crazy week. Sorry I didn't email on Monday but we spent the whole day making preperations with President for the upcoming transfers as well as for the transfer meeting today. It was good we actually got a lot of things done and were able to get a bunch of things in order.
Then Tuesday came and we had to make sure that all preparations were done and then go pick up the greenies. Man that was an interesting experience going back to the airport and seeing those brand new missionaries come out and look so excited and so ready to serve. It brought back lots of memories for me from the beginning of my mission. Then we took them to President's house and had sort of a devotional. President did some orienting and some other things and let us train them a little bit and give them some words of advice and some council. It was kind of neat to be in that spot and be able to share some of my thoughts and some of my wisdom per say. Then we watched a baptismal dvd of baptisms from the mission which was very powerful and made me emotional of course and the last picture of the dvd was the picture of me and the 8 people that got baptised that one day in Wahiawa.Pres turneed to me and asked me, Elder Hatch how does it feel to baptise 8 people in one day. I told him it is indescribable and an amazing feeling. The whole group was crying it was very spiritual.
Then this morning we picked them up at Presidents, had breakfast with them and brought them to transfer meeting. It was really good to see so many of my mission friends again and be able to feel their love again and feel their trust for me as their new assistant. I didn't have any one give me crap just their love and expressed how grateful they were for me. It was great to know that the mission supported me and that they stood behind me. We had a transfer meeting and then after we trained the greenies a little bit more we sent them on their way to their areas. Things finally started to calm down a little bit and I had a second to write you. So that is pretty much what has been going on. Now for the rest of the week. We will go meet with the missionaries that are going home tomorrow. We will take them to the airport and send them off which is weird because the sisters that are going home are the sisters that I came out with. WEIRD!!! But it should be fun. Then we will run around like crazy for the rest of the week making sure all preperations are made for this coming week when interviews start. Man it just never ends the days just fly by so fast and we are constantly going. Well I think that is it for now. I will try and write on Monday and I should be able to. I love you all

Ofa Lahi Atu

Zig

Midweek Message

2010-03-17T18:26:00.000-06:00

Aloha family,

Well I had a few minutes and figured I would drop you a quick line to let you know what has been going down for the last couple of days and to answer a few of your questions. It has pretty much been the craziest couple of days of my mission from extreme headaches trying to figure out transfers from missionaries jumping all over me for finding out I became AP to no sleep to being all over the island to deliver things to people, it seems that it never ends. It has been a lot of fun but when my head finally hits that pillow every night I just crash. I really love working so close with president and learning from his wisdom. You really get to see a different side of him and get a different feel for him than any of the other missionaries do. He gets so close to us and we help him with anything that he needs. I also love working with the other 2 ap’s. I am learning so much from them and I am just trying to be a sponge and soak up as much as I can for the time that I am with them. You really get to see a different side of the mission and the work we do here is completely different form the work that we did out in the field. It will take a little bit of getting used to but I am sure I will adjust as time goes on. Pres said that I will be the go to guy once the new pres gets here because I will have the most experience in the office out of anybody here. I really have some big shoes to fill over the next couple of months. It is going to be and already is a lot of responsibility

Well to answer a few questions that you had. I will try and get a picture of the truck this week and send it out. I haven’t named it yet but it might already be named I don’t know I will have to ask the other elders. Sister Peterson is just like the mission mom. You call here if you need something and she is just there to help in any way that she can. I love this assignment although it is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. So much to remember and so much to do all the time you are staying constantly busy. It is funny pres. is still holding me accountable for what happens in the Waipahu zone because I was supposed to set it up for success even after I left. Elder Malan will be fine though and I am sure he will get a great comp to help him out down there in Ewa Beach. I think that is all the questions you had but if you had any others let me know I will try and answer them. Well I know this is short but like I said time is really short now and this next week will be insane with transfers and the greenies coming in and all of that. This week is going to be really hectic and really busy getting things ready. Next week email should be full of experience to tell you. One last thing I am back with my brother Elder Eteaki. It is so good to be so close to him again and be able to work so closely with him again.

Well I love you all so much and am grateful for all of the support that you give to me and all that you do for me. I couldn’t do it without the support of my family. I will talk to you agaon as soon as I can but I am not sure when that will be.

Ofa Atu
Zig

Week 74 Zach moves into a trailer

2010-03-15T18:23:00.000-06:00

We didn't get an email from Zach today. He told us he will not be emailing on a consistant basis anymore. With his new assignment he really doesn't have a p-day and will send us information when he can.

This is what we do know. He will be living in a trailer in the parking lot of the tabernacle. He is back in a Tongan ward again and loves that. He gets to drive a truck now which he is so excited about. Squeezing into a Corolla was a bit difficult. His new companion is Elder Medeiros. Zach thinks they will be together for quite a while. Zach has been referring to the AP's as his buddies since he served in Honolulu. So he is excited to be comps with Elder Medeiros now. He was called on Saturday, but the rest of the mission won't find out until Tuesday. So they are keeping him in hiding. He said he isn't to easy to hide though being as big as he is. He is really looking forward to working with President Peterson and the other senior couples. He is also excited to meet with the missionaries throughout the mission. He said that because of the schedule they keep that many of the standard mission rules are a bit flexible for him. He still will have to be a good example and serve with love and dedication.

An Important Phone Call at Rite Aide

2010-03-13T13:07:00.001-07:00

It was 11:57 a.m.,we were picking up some medication at Rite Aide when my phone rang. I looked at caller ID and it read Pres. Peterson. I knew it was a call from Hawaii. President Peterson called to tell us he had called Zach to be his assistant. He will be working closely with President Peterson and the office staff much like a couselor to a bishop. He will be helping with the transition of new mission presidents in July. I think his companion will be Elder Nalu Medeiros. Zach has a lot of respect for Elder Medeiros. With his new call he will be required to fly to all of the islands to facilitate zone conferences. Can you say "Big Guy in a little plane?" He has not been to the Big Island yet,but it will be a new adventure for him. We are very proud of his service so far. He has shown great humility in serving and has really grown to love the people of Hawaii. Well now he's on to a whole new set of challenges and blessings.

Saying Good-bye to a Good Friend

2010-03-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Tribute to Greta Adamson

Most of you won't know this good lady but she had a great impact on my boys. Greta would have my boys help her clean her porch in the summer. It seemed like such a small thing but it meant a lot to my boys. Talking to elderly adults can be a bit scary for young boys but Greta made it enjoyable. She would always ask them about what they were interested in and what they had done for excitement in their lives. She always had chocolate for the boys to finish off their visit. It was the expensive stuff too. I am so glad my boys had the opportunity to meet Greta and do a little service for her. The world will miss this cheerful little lady. Good-bye Greta. You will be missed.

Week 73 Waipahu is Progressing

2010-03-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Well this week was pretty uneventful but I will give a brief report and then try to answer some of your questions. This week was a little bit slow for our area but really good for our zone. We have 24 people with a date right now so that is good. Elder Malan and I have 3 of them so we are trying to do our part even in a really slow area. We committed those 3 this week and they are scheduled to get baptized on the 20 of March so we will see what happens. It has been really windy this past week and kind of rainy which is weird for Ewa Beach. Usually it is really dry and hot but it has been a nice change. My comp says he is freezing which I just can't understand because it is still like 85 degrees and at night like 70. I lay in bed and sweat and he is in a hoodie and sweatpants bundled under a blanket. I still think its bloody hot but that's just me. We are looking forward to this coming week though. We are having zone conference and I always look forward to zone conference. It is such an amazing experience and I learn so much everytime we get to go. It is also good to see my buddies the assistants and president. I love seeing them and feeling of their spirit while they are here. Other than that things have been pretty typical. Just still at the grind stone doing my very best to build up this zone and this area.
To answer a few of your questions yes I have eatin at Hukilau and it is really good. The missonaries always eat free there. I haven't had poi in a while but I do love tarrow which poi is made out of. Actually I like tongan tarrow the best. I did meet one of grandpa's friends President Wantanabe and he took me to see grandpa's old neighborhood and house. It was kind of funny to be at his old house and to think that a lot of the family had been there. It is an amazing view from where he lived it overlooked Pearl Harbor. Really neat. I also found out which chapel he went to and stuff so it was pretty cool to see it. I think that is everything for this week I am going to try and send some more pictures home soon. I need to take more so that is one of my goals to take more pictures. Well I love you all so much and hope that you have a good week.

Ofa atu

Zig

Week 72 Tsunami Update

2010-03-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

Well hello there family,

Well it was a pretty eventful week. We had the big tsunami that turned out to be nothing. It was a crazy day though. I got the first phone call at 3 in the morning from some missionaries who were scared and so I called the assistants and got a call back from them that pres was having a phone conference in half an hour. So at about 4 in the morning we were all on the phone with pres, well at least all the zone leaders. It was crazy. He told us that we need to get our missionaries moving to a safe place so we started packing things and getting the missionaries informed so they could get moving as well. We really had to get moving in the morning so it was like a hurry up and wait because the thing wasn't even going to come until like 11 in the morning. So we got the missionaries safe, did some studies and other activities with them and kept them occupied. We were finally able to leave at like 3 in the afternoon which pretty much shot our whole day. I was so exhausted that I went back to our pad and slept for a little while so that I could at least function. All in all it was a pretty crazy day.

Well yesterday we had Zone Leadership Conference and it was really good. We talked about the needs of the mission and a few other things. It lasted all day but it was good to see so many of my mission friends. We also had the pres of BYU Hawaii come and speak to us so it was really good. He talked about the liahona and how all blessing are predicated on faith, obedience, and dedication. So it was really good. That's about it for zlc though. If I told you the rest it would just bore you. Oh well pres did have me sit next to him which I thought was kind of funny. I love that man though so I didn't really mind. He talked about the new pres a little bit and how he wants to get things all set up for him so that when he comes things are all ready to go.

My comp and I are still doing pretty well and are still trying to get things going in our area. It is a little bit difficult because things have been really slow but I don't get discouraged I just keep going. I am pretty sure I know why I am here now. There are some of missionaries that are struggling and I feel like I can help them out. I just work my hardest all the time and help out where I can. I think I can really help this zone. I still don't know how long I will be here though. We will see though it will be interesting. Well I think that is all for this week. I love you all so much and hope that you have a good week and I will write again on Monday.

Ofa atu,

Zig

Tsunami

2010-02-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Zach called us at about 10:45 to tell us what was going on with the tsunami. He is currently living in Ewa Beach so we thought he might be evacuated. Here is what we told us. He has been up since 3:30. He was on a conference call with President Peterson at 4:00 to decide what needed to be done. He contacted all of his zone and they are currently at the Newtown Stake Center on higher ground. I asked him if he had gas in his car and he said, "Oh, mother don't you know me better then that!" Well I knew he would be prepared. He had 3/4 tank of gas so he is good for awhile. He also had water and 72 hour kits in the trunk of his car. So I am sure he will be fine. He sounded good. He said it is very stressful trying to make sure everyone is safe and where they need to be. He loves the rush of it all though. I am sure there will be a lot of relief efforts that will take place next week. Keep the missionaries in your prayers.

Week 71 Back to the Basics

2010-02-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Well as you can see from the heading from my email I have taken my zone back to the basics in the way they do missionary work. I made that our zone theme for this transfer so I am pretty excited to see what happens. I was talking to Elder Eteaki on the phone last night and we decided between our two zones we want to get half of vision 100 in the month of March. So that would be 50 baptisms between our two zones. So we will see what happens we are going to try and unite our efforts as much as possible even though we are in different zones. As for my area this was a really good week. My companion and I taught a total of 22 lessons which is really good. Our goal is to teach 20 a week. The week I got here they only taught 11 so we are seeing some big improvements.
So it was pretty funny this week in church. We were sitting there in sacrament meeting and this poly couple with their two little kids and sit next to us. Me loving little kids and loving polys started to play with the kids. Then after church I started talking to them and found out that it was Nia Fotu's sister and brother in law. We are going to their house again tomorrow so that will be fun. They are realy cool people. Hopefully I can build a good relationship and get to know him and his family better. Just a funny little story though.
Well I decided that I wanted to do something to start uniting the zone more so we did a zone car wash on Saturday morning and it was a huge success. We had like 15 referrals from it and like 5 return appointments, which is really good. The zone really came together and united themselves. I was so happy they are finally getting along and working together. It was really cool though because before I left Honolulu the assistants told me they would come and visit me on a regular basis. I got along really well with them in Honolulu and they became some of my best friends,so it was really cool to see them show up at our finding activity. I really love those guys they are like my brothers.
So I finally got to meet one of our 2 investigators we currently have in this area. I am working on trying to find more. She is this local lady that is really cool but we haven't been able to get in contact with her since I have been here. The work in this area has been quite slow lately so we are trying to get things picked up. Hopefully we see some good turn around in the next couple of weeks . I think I am going to try and do a few exchanges this up coming week with a few of the companionships so I get a better idea of what is going on in their areas. Other than that it was a pretty typical week. Talked to a few drunk guys told them we can't drink and walked away. Well just like always I love you all so much and miss you like crazy but there is no place I would rather be right now.
Ofa atu

Zig

Week 1 Remodel Update

2010-02-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

The remodeling is coming along well. The concrete walls are gone and most of the debris has gone to the dump. They have knocked down my bedroom wall so that all that separates the bedroom from the construction is plastic sheeting. The new floor for our bedroom extension is in. The new steel beam that holds up the house is in as well. The progress is great and I can't believe how much has been done in a week. I will keep posting pictures and updates as the work progresses.

The makings of the new floor for our master bedroom. Soon to be the closet and new shower. (The top of the picture, not the wood plank. LOL)

Preview of new room in the basement.
Another view new room. Pretty dusty still.

New I-Beam

Support beams for new I-bEAM.

WOW...Week 70 Can you believe it!!!

2010-02-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Well here I am now in Ewa Beach and it is a lot different from the city. My area mostly consists of military people and a lot of newer neighborhoods. I serve the cities of Ewa Beach, Pearl City, Newtown, and Honouliuli. Most of the houses in my area are only about 5 years old so they are are really nice and actually it looks a lot like a mainand neighborhood. I guess one section of our area is a little bit more run down but for the most part it is all brand new. The work here has been really slow and I am going to do all I can this week to get it moving. President has raised the standards for our zone so that should be interesting to see what happens. He says that our zone is really good and that we can do better than they have done in the past. So I am trying to get my zone pumped up and to get them unified as much as I can. Pres expects a lot out of us this transfer so I am going to see what I can do to get that. We are hoping to get 22 baptisms this transfer in our zone so I am going to do everything in my power to help them get it.

So this week had some highs and lows. It was extremely hard to say good bye to Elder Eteaki. I love that guy so much but I have talked to him every day since I left. Pres told me I could talk to him whenever I wanted so that is good. I got to drive the AP's truck for the day and decided I really miss driving a truck. I fit so well in there Colorado and I liked sitting up higher. As for the new zone there are 22 of us and it is the biggest zone in the mission. I am just trying to help the missionaries to know that I love them.I do everything I can for them and just praise them like crazy. I asked my companion if they were doing some things in this zone and he was like no and it is things that should be done in every zone so I changed those right away. My new area is really really slow right now. I don't know what they did all last transfer but they have like no investigators. I will be changing that. It is hard to leave an area because you build it up and get things going great and then you have to leave. It is really frustrating. I left an area with 10 people coming to church 10 with a baptism date and 25 lessons a week to 0 with a date 0 at church and 15 lessons a week. I hopefully will change that though. I am excited to see what happens this next couple of weeks. I am just keeping the faith. You know sometimes the Lord brings us lower before he can lift us higher. Well I know this is short but my mind has gone blank. I love you all so much and hope that you have a good week.
Love you
Zig

The house remodel begins

2010-02-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

We are making a bathroom downstairs for the boys and redoing the bathroom upstairs in our bedroom. So the original back wall of the house had to come down. The floor for the upstairs is going to be extended 4 feet to match the wall of the garage. So our basement and bedroom will be a little bigger and we will have a small family room downstairs to relax in. If you need any dust come on over we will have plenty for the next couple of weeks. Today they are jack hammering the original basement wall and removing all the rubble. The dogs are not liking it at all. I think they will go visit their cousin Puzzle for the day. I will keep updating with pictures as we progress the next couple of weeks.

Week 69 He gets transferred to Waipahu

2010-02-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well aloha family,

Well you will all be shocked at this news as much as I was. I am off to Waipahu Zone and I will serve in a towm called Ewa Beach. I was completely blown away and really quite sad. I have really enjoyed being with Elder Eteaki. I am excited to go but also nervous. I was just confused at first because I had just got here and I had only been with Elder Eteaki one transfer. But it is the Lord's will not mine. Wherever the Lord needs me to go I will go.

Other than that we had a baptism this week. It was for a guy named Joe Jackson. He has been investigating the church for like 2 years and he finally is living the word of wisdom so he could get baptized. He is a really cool guy not completely there but he had a desire to be baptised. He had done lots of drugs in his life so that makes his mind a little slow. He has been trying so hard for so long and now he is finally able to. I was grateful to be apart of it. As for our other investigastors we have 9 with a date but none of them will be getting baptised until after I leave but you know you don't always get to reap what you harvest.I am excited for this new area though and see what I can do to help them. I hope I can do what the pres wants me to do. Elder Eteaki said he wishes he could just end his mission because he can't get another comp like me but I say he is full of crap. I love that kid to death though and know that I have made a life long friend in him. I know that we will stay in contact forever. He has a girlfriend he wants to marry but he told me that now he has to wait for me to get home before he can get married. Man I love that kid he is the best. He has such a strong testimony and has a rough background I will tell you about someday. It is a miracle he is even on a mission but he is. I know that he and I are more than just companions we are a life long support system for each other and that is what it is all about. I think that is why we were put together. We needed to meet so that we could support each other through the hard times throughout life not just on the mission. The mission pres gave me permission to call him whenever I want and however often I want.

By the way sibling thanks for the package I loved it. Thanks Mom and Dad for the book. It is really cool and I really like it. I am so grateful to have such a great family.So many missionaries don't have the support that they need but I think I have enough to support a whole zone of missionaries. Well I think that is about it for this week. I love you all so much. Have a good week and I will email you from Ewa Beach next week and tell you about my new zone.

Ofa atu

My Amaryllis Bloomed This Year !!!

2010-02-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well I had success this year with my amaryllis. It was simply beautiful and I loved it while it lasted. I hope some of you had success this year as well.

Week 68 Zone Conference brings an unusual teaching moment

2010-02-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

We had zone conference this week so that was good. We watched all the PMG DVDs. Those are always good to watch and I learn so much from them. This zone conference was really long but it was really good. I learned so much. I had a scary moment though. I was sitting there and we were getting ready to do a role play. The Zone leaders usaully go around and listen to other companionships do the role plays, but this time Pres. came and sat next to me and said, "OK, teach me." It was a little nerve racking, but I did it. He told me he was extremely impressed. He said he didn't know anything I could improve on which I find hard to believe. I was talking to the assistants and I guess I was the only one that had to role play with him this transfer. Oh by the way transfers will be this coming week so by next week I will know what will be happeniong and stuff. I hope I stay with eteaki. I love that kid so much. He is the man.
Other than that it was a pretty typical week. I know that my email didn't go through last week. It must be lost in cyberspace somewhere. Anyway we had a baptism last week it was really good. He was a guy from Iran. His name is Ashkan and he is 32 years old. We are having another baptism this friday for a black guy named Joe Jackson. He has been clean from drugs and is ready to be baptised. I will let you know how it goes. Other than that my comps and I are doing well. I am excited to see what happens this up coming week. Thanks for all of your support.

Zig

He sent us some pictures that I will post here. You will see that he has gotten bigger. Not only has he put on a few pounds he has grown taller. He tells us he is about 6'8" tall now. He has to duck through most doorways and duck under ceiling fans. He gets asked everyday how tall he is.

He sent us a package by slowboat about 6 weeks ago and it may be lost at sea. He tells us it has some great recipes in it. So hopefully we get it soon. McKay is excited for it to come. He gets the worn out backpack that Zach is sending home.

He is teaching a family of 5 that have set a date for baptism for Feb 27th. He is very excited about them and their enthusiasm in learning the gospel. The work is really moving forward in Honolulu.

He told us that a lot of the missionaries that were there for his first year are all going home. He is now one of the old missionaries there. He told us it is really weird to be meeting all the new missionaries. He loves it though and still has a great missionary spirit.

Week 67 Ashkan is baptised

2010-01-26T19:33:00.001-07:00

Zach didn't write much this week. Not sure why but the big email didn't come through this week. So here is a summary of what we know. He had a baptism this week of a fellow from Iran. His name is Ashkan and Zach said he was pretty much a golden contact. They also committed a sister to baptism for the first part of February. Their zone is doing really well and has many people committed to baptism.

Zach said the city of Honolulu is quite a bit different from anywhere else he has served. It is a lot of high rise buildings and not as many houses and families. He said it isn't as scary as he thought it might be. He does get to go to Manoa which he loves. But he is really loving getting to know this new area. He tells us it is hard being a ZL and training a greenie at the same time. His two companions are large lads as well. I am not sure how they fit in their little Corolla.

Gary and I got to go to dinner with the Buckholz family and the Wootton family this past week. Zach lived in the Buckholz apartment in Hawaii and was companions with Elder Wootton. It was pretty surreal to be eating dinner with people that had spent time with Zach. They shared stories with us about their conversion and about experiences they had had with the missionaries. We were so grateful to know they had taken care of our son and watched out for him. I am sure there is a bond of friendship that will last forever. We also had fun sharing stories with the Woottons about our sons adventures. It was a wonderful night. Thanks guys for coming and spending the evening with us.

Now for some mother's ramblings. Zach's mission has gone so quickly. I can't believe that he is on the downhill side of this. He has grown up so much and is learning so many great life lessons. I can't express how powerful a mission is in a young man's life. Yes, I have missed him but there is no way I could have taught him the things he has been able to learn and experience on his mission. Besides, how else could you afford to live in Hawaii. He has got less than 9 months left on his big adventure. We are already beginning to look into college life for him and getting things ready for his return. I can't believe it. I am so glad that he has had a wonderful mission president who serves with humility. Zach has learned so much from him. Thanks for all your love, prayers, and support. We sure feel it as a family.

Annicka Sue Hatch is 25

2010-01-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

For those of you who follow our blog...our little girl turned 25 on Sunday, January 17th. Annicka Sue or Annibell as we fondly call her celebrated another birthday. We can't believe that she has been with us for 25 years. Gary nor I are old enough to have a child that old. She is a good girl and makes her parents proud. She is currently working as a nurse in a local hospital. She loves her patients and takes great pride in the care she gives them. She is a good sister and loves her siblings. One of her favorite pasttimes is taking McKay on field trips when their schedules allow it. She is a kind and loving wife and is dedicated to her husband. She loves serving as the primary chorister in her ward. She is always making new things to help the children learn the songs. She loves to sing, sew, cook, and travel. She looks forward to being a mom some day. She would love to have her own home but knows that it will happen when the time is right.

We are so proud of her and love her so much. Happy Birthday dear Annibell.
Love, Mom and Dad

Week 66 Zach gets called on in Stake Conference

2010-01-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well hello family,

Well another week down and there was quite a bit that happened in the last week. First we had interviews this week and they went really well. I always love the time that I get to spend with President Peterson and here his insight on how I can improve. He said that he was very happy with what I was doing and just keep up the good work. He told me to broaden my horizon and to help other missionaries to get on board with me. So that is what I am going to work on doing is helping out other missionaries and do some mentoring. My interview was long but we mainly just talked about other people. He is such an amazing man I am really going to miss him when he is gone. But I am sure the new one will be just as good.

Well Elder Cook of the twelve and Elder Clayton of the seventy were in town doing a training. We saw Elder Cook in the church parking lot and then we met Elder Clayton on Sunday. We were sitting there in the conference and he said there was an elder standing by that door. I think he was wearing a blue and gold tie. I looked down and it was me. He was like if that elder could please come up here. So I went up and he talked about how someone had to teach me the importance of serving a mission, I didn't just wake up and go. It was really neat to be standing up there with a general authority. I could feel his power and authority. It was so amazing and I will remember it forever. Also this week Elder Eteaki and I had to train all the ward mission leaders from the stake. It was kind of scary but we trained them and the stake president loved it and said because it was so good we will train them once a month. President Peterson heard about it and was so happy and told us to keep up the good work.

I think that is about all that happened major this week. We commited two more people for baptism so that was good. I can't think of anything else that really happened. I put some some pictures on a cd and sent them home so watch for that. I love you all have a good week.

Zig

Week 65 News of the City

2010-01-11T18:52:00.001-07:00

Aloha family,

Well another week down, but it is really going well. Well our greenie is still doing well. He is really starting to get the hang of missionary work. Elder Eteaki and I are still trying to get him more involved though. Sometimes he just sits back and doesn't get involved and I think sometimes it is partly our fault because we forget that we have both been out for awhile and that he hasn't. Sometimes it can be difficult because we have to do zl stuff and we have to find things for him to do while we do it.

Well nothing too big to report on this week. We taught 22 lessons so that was good. We are really trying to show the greenie how to work and how to get things done so that when he leaves us he is ready for that mission field. We don't do a whole lot of actual tracking but we do do lots of street tracting. All the apartment buildings are locked up so we couldn't get into them anyway. We have one of the biggest hospitals in Hawaii in our zone so we give about 10 blessings a transfer. It feels good to be able to exercise our priesthood. We live in an apartment building as well so that is a little bit different. We live on the 7th floor so not too high but high enough that we can see the city. Sorry, I know this is a pretty boring email but there is not too much to report on this week. I will try and put some pictures on a cd and send them home this week. I love you all have a good week.

Love you, Zig

My turn to share...

2010-01-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

I know this blog is suppose to help you stay caught up on Zach's mission but I had a marvelous experience yesterday that I want to share. It strenghtened my testimony and marriage. I brings me to tears thinking about the feelings I had. Gary and I went to the temple yesterday for ward conference. The session we went on was very tender. I heard and felt things I had never experienced in my 26 years of attending the temple. Who would have thought that at 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon I would be so touched by the Spirit? I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. He wants me to choose the right and follow his plan so that I can return to him someday. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and came to earth to show me the way to return to Heavenly Father. I know he set the example for me in so many ways. I know he atoned for my sins and suffered so that I can be forgiven for my mistakes and continue to progress and learn. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and family who love me care about my welfare. It was a marvelous day yesterday. I feel so blessed. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.
Love, Mary Ann

Week 64 Elder Hatch, Elder Eteaki, and Elder Polier

2010-01-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Aloha Family,

Well here I sit and email you from the mission office. Man how the city is different. I am really starting to like it. I am in the Honolulu zone which is sweet. We live in an apartment building just down from the Univesity of Hawaii which is pretty cool. Our zone has 14 elders and two sisters. The assistants are technically included in our zone as well. It is really awesome we get to spend a lot of time with them and see them everyday. We see the senior couples in the office all the time as well so that is pretty cool. The mission office is in my zone so we come here quite often to do things here and there. Yes we still have a car. Brand new corolla again so I can't complain about that.

Well it turns out that Elder Eteaki and I are an excellent match. We get along great. But there was one thing that Pres. failed to mention to me before I emailed you last week and that is that Elder Eteaki and I are TRAINING!!!. Yes you heard that right. His name is Elder Polier and he is from Oregon. So we get to do our zone leader responsibilities and train. We work his guts out and he comes home at night and just lays on his bed because he is so exhausted. We want to show him how to work so when he leaves us he will be ready. It came as a little bit of a shock to me but I am used to being in a threesome now. Elder Eteaki and I really hit it off and I am so so so excited to be with a Tongan comp again. They are such amazing people I love them to death. Speaking of Tongans, Elder Nau got named a zl so I was super stoked about that. I was so happy for him and all that he is achieving in his mission. Some of my greastest joy is when I see those around me that I have served with succeed.

I can't tell you how much I am still enjoying my mission. The city is really different but really good. Oh by the way my new area is the Manoa Valley part of downtown all the way to Waikiki which is red zone and St. Louis Heights so it is pretty sweet. It is really pretty nice and I get the best of both worlds, part city and part suburbs. So I will give you a little more on my comps I guess really quick. E. Eteaki is from cali in the bay area. He is one of the hardest working missionaries out here and I have looked up to him my whole mission so I am super excited to be with him. He has been out 17 months so not to much longer than me. He has served most of the same places as me; Kauai, Maui, Laie and here so that is cool. Elder Polier is a very big kid he is very nice. I think he is still a little shell shocked right now but he will settle in.

Last week I told you that we barely missed vision 100, well I lied and I have repented. We got it right on the dot again!! It is so amazing the Lord is blessing us so much and is really blessing the people of Hawaii. Something else that is interesting and down right sad is that I have been out the second longest in my zone next to Elder Eteaki. We are the two oldest missionaries in our zone, crazy. He has been helping me with my Tongan. It is funny he knows I can understand so if he has a question for me at a members house he will ask me in tongan. It is awesome. I will bear my testimony in tongan when I get home.

I know that it was a lot but there was a lot to report on. I love you all so much. Man I love this work!! It is so amazing the change you can see in people and especially myself. I was too prideful at home but I have rid myself of a lot of it on the mission. It doesn't matter what we have in the world. What matters is our family and our friends and staying close to them. I know I don't tell you enough but I love you all so much. I love the Book of Mormon. I am learning more from it now more than ever. I know that we can become better people from reading it. A very wise man told me it is not just another testament of Jesus Christ, it is the best testament of Jesus Christ. Well enough rambling for tonight. I love you all very much.

Zig

Week 63 Moving to the Big City of Honolulu

2009-12-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Aloha Family,

Well the big news for this week is that I am getting transferred. They are sending me into downtown Honolulu to the Manoa Ward. I will be companions with Elder Eteaki. He is a Tongan kid that is about 3 months older than me in the mission. I am really excited to work with him but also really sad to be leaving Elder Wootton. We have had a lot of fun together. I have really enjoyed serving in this area and to serve with Elder Wootton. I have met so many great people here and have built some really good relationships.

Well other big news is we had Tiara's baptism. It went really really well and she was so ready to get baptised. The whole program went really smooth and there were no complications. I actually got to confirm her in Sacrament Meeting the next day so that was pretty cool. The confirmation was amazing and the spirit was definately strong in the room. While we were at her baptism none other than Ni Fotu shows up. (ute football player) He was a friend of the person getting baptised so that was pretty sweet. Got to talk to him for a little while and encouraged him to go on a mission. He said he was thinking about it so we will see what happens.

Funny story...So we went to lunch at this families house yesterday and we were talking to there daughter and she said she served her mission in Utah. I was like oh yeah what part? She said Panguitch? I was like what! No way that is crazy. So we ended up talking about Panguitch for a while and stuff and talking about Pres. Tebbs. It was really funny I was so shocked that she had served there. She was like yeah there are a lot of Hatches there. I said yeah they are all my family. She was like woa that is crazy.

I think that is all to report on for this week. I loved the phone call home last week. It was a good boost and really good to talk to you. The time just went so fast. But before you know it is will be Mother's Day. I love you all so much. Have a good New Years!!

His new apartment is right across the street from the mission home. So he better be good being so close to the mission home. If any of you have any information on the Manoa area we would love to hear it. He has spent most of his mission in the country so he is a bit nervous to serve in the city. He told us that the mission had another 99 baptisms in December. That is so amazing. He seemed pretty excited about that. It could be an exciting week for him with a new companion, new area, and new apartment.

Life is good.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a random sampling of our activities of Christmas 2009. Thanks to family and friends for a wonderful celebration. If you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can view it better. MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25 Christmas Day

2009-12-25T20:49:00.001-07:00

It was so great to hear Zach's voice today. He sounds so good and made us all laugh. Life in the mission field is wonderful. He has been fed well today. He told us it is very rude to not have seconds. So I am sure he has put a few pounds on. I think the island people are feeding him well. He said when he gets home he is going to have to go on a serious exercise plan because he eats so well. He got our package on Christmas Eve at about 3:00. We were a bit worried he might not get it but alas it arrived. So glad he had a Merry Christmas.

He is anxiously awaiting trasfers this Sunday. He isn't sure where he might be going. He may even stay put. Just not sure what President Peterson has in mind for him. There is a group of missionaries going home next week and a new group coming in on Wednesday. So it could be exciting on Wednesday. He really loves Laie. The couple missionaries there treat him so well. Sister Eubanks even made each missionary in Laie a quilt. She made Zach's extra long. We know wherever he goes he will be blessed.

He wants us to thank everyone for their cards and gifts. He feels so blessed and loves all of you. So glad we got to talk to him. Merry Christmas everyone.

Random Family Photos

2009-12-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Week 62 Wishing you a Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Aloha Family,

Well this week was pretty good. Not too much to report on this week other than I am really excited to talk to you on Friday. It will be the best Christmas present I can get. Well transfers will be this up coming week. So by the time I email you I will know whether or not I am being transfered.
Well it was pretty funny earlier in the week we were at the visitors center and we are standing near the front and someone opened the door to walk in and this huge dog comes running in. I was like laughing, but freakin out. None of the sisters knew what to do. Me being so afraid of dogs, NOT, went up and grabbed him by the collar and drug him back outside and to the street and yelled at him to leave he kept coming back. This local guy that lives near by started yelling at it in this deep voice and the thing took off so fast down the street it was pretty funny.

Well we had two Christmas parties this week and I have decided that polynesian people know how to have fun and are a lot more fun than white people. Their parties are so much fun and they have so much food. They are not bashful and have no shame. They put themselves out there and don't care if they make a fool of themselves.

Well the big news for this week is that we are having a baptism on Saturday. It should be a really good one. It is kind of a funny story how we came across this girl. We picked up the Samoan wards and were visiting their investigators to find out if they were going anywhere. We were actually visiting this other kid at this house and she came out and was like I am Tiara I have taken the lessons. We were like cool. She told us she had requested sisters, we were like oh why? So we got talking with her and then she told us the other elders were really quiet and would never talk and stuff. She didn't feel comfortable with them so we were like oh ok here is our number call us if you need anything. The next day she called us and set up an appointment. The lady she lives with is a member and we were talking to her the other day and she was like ya Tiara came back in the house after you left that day and was like oh I am fine with these elders they are cool. So that was a success to us.

Well I will keep it short because I will be talking to you this week. I love you all so much.

Zig

Zach is doing very well. He loves the work, his companion, and our Savior. We are all so excited to talk to him on Christmas day. It will be good to hear his voice and share in the holiday spirit. We are so grateful for this time of the year and the spirit it brings into our home. We love all of you and appreciate your support. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and your lives are filled with the true meaning of Christmas. May Christ be the center of our thoughts and actions.
Love,
Gary and Mary Ann

Week 61 - All is calm, all is bright

2009-12-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

Zach is still in Laie and LOVING it. There are a lot of members of the Church there because of the proximity to the Temple and BYU Hawaii. It is so gratifying to see Zach's growth and the deepening of his testimony as his mission progresses. May we wish each of you who have prayed for him, thought about him, sent money, cards and letters to him and supported us as a family during the past 14 months a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A few thoughts from Zach.
We helped an investigator make Lau Lau this week. It is a small piece of pork with some fat wrapped in tarrow leaves and tea leaves and then cooked for about 4 hours. Really good! We made about 100 of them because they were selling them that night. Our investigators are progressing well and we should have a baptism with Tiara on December 26th and our great Samoan investigator, Jody, on Christmas Day. I am so excited to be spending Christmas in Laie. I have so many great friends and memories here. I feel so comfortable here. I have an excellent companion and a family that loves me. What more could I ask for? I have so much to be grateful for this holiday season. I truly am blessed so much. Looking forward to talking with all of you on Christmas Day. With much aloha. Zach

Week 60 Vision 100 was a big accomplishment.

2009-12-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

We've had a very eventful week here in Laie. First, Elder Wootton and I taught about 18 lessons which is alot especially considering all of the other Zone Leader stuff that we have to do. Most importantly our mission hit the Vision 100 goal which was to have 100 baptisms in the month of November. Pres. Peterson was so happy! It had been 7 years since our mission had done that in a single month. He was very emotional in our Zone Leader Conference on Monday and told us that it was a goal he had set but had not been able to reach in the 2 1/2 years he and Sister Peterson have been serving. On Tuesday, we had Zone Conference and the Pres. focused on the Atonement of Christ and how without it there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas. It was a great talk. We also have been able to commit 2 more investigators to baptism dates: Tiara on the 19th of December and a really stubborn and intimidating Samoan guy that Elder Wootton and I have been teaching and have had a couple of really amazing, spiritual lessons with him and so we challenged him to be baptised on Christmas Day and it looks like it will happen. What an amazing Christmas gift he will be giving his wife and family. Even though it is hard to be away from family at this time of year there is no place I'd rather be than spending it in 80 degree weather in Hawaii teaching the gospel to people who need it and sharing in the greatest gift ever with them. I have also been able to give a few blessings to Sisters in our zone who have had some sad things happening at home. One of them was such a neat experience and really made me cry even though I had no idea what she had been struggling with. I look forward to talking with you all on Christmas Day.

Week 59

2009-12-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

Elder Hatch and Elder Wootton

Laie Zone Conference

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope that you all had a good Thanksgiving I know that we did here. We ate 4 different meals through out the day. I felt like I was just going from meal to meal all day. We actually had to turn a few people away becaue we had so many invites. We had a lot of fun though. Elder Wootton got a package form his parents and it had Christmas decortaions and Utah/BYU stuff it was a lot of fun. Some of the sisters came out of the woodworks when they heard BYU won but whatever it's cool.
Well this week was really fun. We were able to go on splits with the APs. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it and we got a lot done in their area. I got to drive their truck for the day and I was in absolute heaven. I was loving it. I will have to talk the Pres into getting me one of those full time because I fit so much better. ANYWAY I was in heaven. Too bad it didn't last longer.
Well big news for this week is that our mission reached its goal of 100 baptisms in a single month. Elder Wootton and I were so excited and the new goal is to have a white Christmas and have every companionship have a baptism in the month of December. So hopefully that will happen and it looks like our zone is on track to do it so that is good. Elder Wootton and I should be able to add our portion to it as we have a couple of baptisms lined up for the month of December.
In other news we had a baptism this weekend. It went really well it was for a 12 year old Samoan girl. Her name is Sam. She was baptised before but her records were lost a couple of years ago so we had to reteach her everything and baptise her. She was way smart and really prepared. The whole thing was in Samoan so I couldn't really understand a whole lot other than the words that were similar to Tongan.
Well I think that is about it for this week I love you all so much and hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
Love
Zig

Week 58 Meeting L. Tom Perry and Good Bye to a good friend

2009-11-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well it was fun to have L. Tom Perry in town this week and be able to meet him and shake his hand. Although the Prophet had to stay back we were still able to meet Elder Perry so that was pretty sweet. He is a really nice guy and he looked at me and said, "Well you're a small lad aren't you?" He gave a really good talk and talked about loving your companion and continuing to work hard. President Monson did a satellite broadcast and talked about rescuing the lost. It was really cool. This meeting was just for missionaries. It was cool because it was 100 missionaries and Elder Perry in a chapel. Pretty amazing. There was another conference on Sunday for all of Hawaii and we did have some investigators at that so hopefully that strengthens their testimony.
Well we had transfers this week and got a couple of new sisters in our zone which is exciting. Oh so I have a funny story, so we were at the mission office and they had a brand new car with 7 miles on it for our zone. Yes I said 7!! And so Elder Wootton and I were like huh that would be sweet to have the new one and the assistants were standing right there and they were like just go talk to Elder Miles I am sure he would assign it to you. So we were like ok so we did and we got the brand new one and one of the sister companionships got our other one which was still pretty new so we have yet another new car.
Well other big news for this week, we were talking to the Samoan ward bishop and he was like ya there is this girl who we can't find her records let's get her baptised. So we were like ok sounds good we will do it. So we went and talked with her and her mom and set a date for Nov. 28 so that should be pretty good. Her name is Sam and she is 12. She is really smart and is really excited to get baptised.
So this week we have interviews and also the Ap's have decided to come on exchanges with us this week. Hurray, some elders to be around instead of all of these sisters. Interviews should be good and I always enjoy any time I can have with President Peterson one on one. It will be a nice break. Then Thanksgiving is just like any other work day so we will do the best we can to make appointments and things like that. Well that is probably long enough for this week. I love you all so much and look forward to hearing from you next week.

Zig

A fond farewell to the Buckholz family who are moving to Utah.

Just some fun pictures

2009-11-21T18:40:00.001-07:00

Elder Hatch, Elder Ngatuvai, Elder Wootton
Hump Day Camels

PCC

Recent Convert
Recent Convert and his roommates

Week 57 Special Visitor

2009-11-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

Aloha family,

Well things this week were good. Not a whole lot to report on. We had transfers this week and I found our that Elder Wootton and I get to stay here together for another transfer so that should be fun. We will be here through the holiday season. We are both really excited for this up coming six weeks. So this week we will have a chance to go and hear the Prophet. It should be really neat. It will just be President Monson and 100 missionaries so that will be exiting. In other news our baptism got postponed to January but we have to do things out of respect for the family. Elder Wootton and I almost hit our goal of 20 lessons this week and had 18 lessons. So close. That is quite a few lessons for one week here so we are going to keep uping it and keep improving. I really can't belive it is the holiday season already again. It seems like it was just last Christmas but I guess time flies when you are working hard. I love my mission so much. Well I think that is it for this week. I love you all so very much and appreciate all of your support.

Zig

We found out he broke his hand when he was moving a few weeks ago. He didn't go in right after he broke it. When he did go in they gave him a splint to help keep it stable. He said it didn't last long. President Monson, Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Richard J. Maynes will spend two hours with the missionaries in Oahu on Friday. That is going to be an incredible experience for the missionaries. I told Zach not to forget his camera.

He told us it has been raining a ton there and he is constantly wet. He said he never feels like he is completely dry. He wants us to tell all the ward members thank you for their letters and packages. He really appreciates it all but has no time to write back. Somehow he ripped a hole in a pair of his pants. I guess Sister Eubanks is trying to repair them but they may be beyond repair. He also told us their apartment had a case of bed bugs. They had to spray the beds for several days to kill them all. He said it was pretty grose.

Week 56

2009-11-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well another week has gone and I can't believe it. Well this week was pretty good. We taught a good amount of lessons and commited someone for baptism. Her name is Jayce. She is 12 years old and is really neat. She will be baptised on Thanksgiving Day so that should be a really nice Thanksgiving gift. She is really into it and she usually takes notes.
Not much else to report on. Transfers are next week so we will see what happens. He has been there for two transfers now so it is possible he will get moved. We hope he stays put for the holidays. He and his companion are getting along really well and are making a lot of contacts there. We got a small package with some pictures in it, a camera chip, an audio tape, and some hawaiian memorabilia. He can't believe he has been out 13 months. The time goes so fast. He really loves his mission and all the great people he is meeting with. There is some big news but I can't spill the beans until next week so stay tuned.

Week 55

2009-11-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Not to much to report on this week. Our mission is doing really well right now. We currently have 115 people with a baptism date, 11 of those are here in the Laie Zone so that is pretty sweet. Also we have 4 people baptised in our zone this week so that was good as well. We are actually planning to commit one of our investigators tonight.
Well Halloween was pretty exciting well actually it was quite crazy. They love Halloween here and everyone goes all out for it. People thought we were BYU students dressed up like elders for Halloween and we were like uh no we are the real deal we do the work and everything so that was pretty funny. We actually saw the Mission President because his son goes to BYU and has a kid, so Pres was out trick or treating with his grandson. It was pretty funny. We had a goods time. We had dinner with this family and taught them a lesson and then we went and spent some time with Buckholz. They are really amazing people and have been so good to me. I am really going to miss them. I know I will see them in Utah though so that will be good. I think he is actually going to try and sell cars. Our new place is great and the members are nice and take care of us but its just not the same as the Buckholz. I love you all and will talk to you next week.

Zig

In his google mail he told us that he and his comp are getting along great. They play tennis about 3 times a week. The tennis coach said he would give them lessons if they would work with his kid on piano. He is really enjoying working in Laie. Mark Eubank gave him some ties so he tells us he is wearing TV famous ties now. Wow, two months until we get the Christmas phone call and get to hear his voice again. It will be so sweet. He is working hard and seems to be doing well. Thanks for all your love and support. If you want to send him a holiday package it is best to use the priority mail boxes. It will save you a bunch of money. There is no weight limit and they come in all sizes. Anyway until next week. ALOHA

Halloween Costumes

2009-11-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Week 54

2009-10-27T19:30:00.000-06:00

Another week here on the mission and I couldn't be any happier. It sounds like you had a good time at Elder Ngatuvai's homecoming. By the way mom the mission Motto is " We Are grateful to be in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. The Aloha mission. The atonement of Jesus Christ is our message love of God and others is our motivation and obedience to the commandments and mission rules is our strength. By sharing the Gospel with others we can give them the HA the breath of life even Eternal Life A-L-O-H-A!

So life on the misson is good. Our teaching pool is a little low right now but we are going to try and find a few new people to teach this week. Elder Wootton and I are getting along great. He is an awesome kid and we have a lot of fun playing tennis together. I have missed playing so much. Oh big news with us is that we had to move this week. Our land lords are moving back to Utah so we had to move to the place where the other elders used to live. It is pretty new but they didn't take very good care of it. Elder Wootton and I had to spend a whole day cleaning it so that was not very fun. We were sad to leave because we really enjoyed staying with them. This new place is good though because we live with a part Tongan part Samoan family. We live on a street calle Iosepa so you can look that up if you want.

Oh the mission tour was cool. It was Elder Johnson of the Seventy. A british guy. It was really neat. The best part is I got to see a lot of my mission friends like Nau and Doane and Sister Fiavokiamoana. I really enjoyed it. Well I love you all so much.

Week 53

2009-10-19T21:35:00.000-06:00

This week was a pretty exciting week. We had lots of stuff going on and once again tons of meetings to go to. We were able to have a baptism on Saturday and it was really amazing. I had the privalige of baptizing him and I was so grateful to have the oportunity to do it. Drew is an awesome kid and I will definitely stay in contact with him for the rest of my life. I am just so grateful for all of the amazing experiences I am having on my mission and know that I couldn't be having them anywhere else. I know if I hadn't come on my mission I would have regreted it for the rest of my life. It is just so amazing to see so many people make life changing decisions for the better. I see these people we help and they are so much happier and are so positive about life.

Well Elder Wootton and I are doing great. He is a really awesome kid and we have a lot in common. All except for the fact that he is a hard core BYU fan. But I catch him humming the Utah fight song every now and again thanks to my alarm clock.( Thank you maddie) We love playing tennis together and we are both on about the same skill level wich makes it even better. It is awesome we came out in the same transfer so we will be going home together. I hope we get to stay with him a couple of transfers but who knows.
Well other big news for the week is that we got a new car. It is SWEEET. It drives really smooth. Its a 2009 corolla so not much change and I still don't fit very well but it is a really nice car. We also got a new phone this week. My comp had our old one in his pocket when we were playing frisbee one morning and landed right on top of it and broke it in half. It was kind of funny actually. So they sent us a new one and we got it the next day. Other latest news is that we will be moving this week. We have to move into the other elders old apartment.

HUMP DAY!!!

2009-10-15T20:45:00.000-06:00

Well I can't believe it but HUMP DAY is finally here. One full year of service and now it is the down hill slide. Thanks for all of you that are checking up on Zach. He is really doing well and loves what he is doing. Stay tuned for another year.