Frogs, Spiders, and Rain

October 22, 2017

Thoughts from the mission and answers to family emails:

You know, those really are great goals to pray for (make someone happy, make someone smile, find someone to serve, and find a way to share something about the Gospel with someone. As I read them, I thought perhaps they can be summed up into one thing: Love One Another, the way Christ did. I've found that when you do that, you're doing all of those things: making someone happy, making someone smile, serving someone, and sharing the Gospel. For me, I don't really know how to talk to these people yet, so the best thing I can do to love them is often to just smile to them - passing on the street, talking in the lessons, etc. 

Still having great experiences here in the 'historical port town of Levuka.' You know, the more time I spend here, the more I just can't wait to come back after the mission and bring you guys here to see it - and finally talk to the people in fluent Fijian! There are so many great things here I may not see again for the rest of my mission, and more and more I find ways that this place, though nearly 6000 miles away, is just like home. You know I guess there is a lot that could be improved here when compared to America, but compared to the rest of Levuka and Ovalau we live like kings with our support and our flat.

You know, a lot of the time I find myself thinking "I can't wait to leave this place" because of different circumstances - but when I move my thoughts away from complaining and being selfish I find that I don't want to leave here because I have yet to be able to talk to the people well in Fijian. I find that there are a lot of things I could do that I want to do badly - grow closer to the people, teach with more power, strengthen the members, etc. - that I'll only be able to do as my language improves. Then I'm encouraged to go out and listen and study and do all I can to do just that. With my situation (away from other native English speakers, companions with a native Fijian, 'stuck' on an island where we don't leave and see other English speaking missionaries much and where 99% of people are native Fijian) I have an excellent environment to learn the language very quickly and Fijian-ly, and there's much to take advantage of. Anytime I have thoughts like that, where I see how I was put into this/these situations to learn, I don't worry about time or selfish interests - so I try my best to be grateful for things in my heart as often as I can, and it always helps.

Thanks for the hymn - I've been finding lots of Hymns that apply to my days, serving as a missionary or trying to be grateful or positive or turning my thoughts to those who came before me or to the gathering of Israel or to the Savior.

Last week was Dipwali (day-wally) on Thursday the 19th. It's an Indian holiday, and they celebrate by dressing up fancy in the evening and eating 'sweets' which I thought were going to be candies but they're little baked goods that can be anything from a craisin doughnut-hole to some spicy thing and I wish I took pictures to show you. At night all the peoples' houses have lights like Christmas but more colors that look hilarious compared to America because its sort of jank but they shoot off fireworks from the streets and it's pretty crazy because they're so low and loud and there's so many people shooting them off (it's not like a constant barrage but maybe like an average of one every 5 min, a set of fireworks is lit). It was pretty neat.

Most common ground animal: frog. Second most common: squished frog. Yeah I just see dried squished-flat frogs in the streets and roads all over the place, from people stepping on them or cars going over them. I've only seen a fresh one once and it was gnarly to see - I was gonna write what it looked like but it was graphic so nevermind. Maybe when I send a Christmas package home I'll bag one and send it to hang up somewhere :D (I keep thinking that would be hilarious - and very feasible).

There's the picture I put and I took a video I'll show you someday but there was a massive spider in our flat just chillin' and I was gonna kill it but then Elda said it was sort of tabu (forbiden) to kill spiders because they wove a web at the entrance of Christ's tomb so the soldiers couldn't go in. IDK how accurate that is but it took a lot of courage to leave the flat while the spider was still there. I wound up escorting it outside with a broom later that evening though, not killing it.

We eat mangos all the time and they're seriously one of my favorite things about Fiji and especially Levuka because the trees are all over and we've got one at our flat - so we just get mangos and eat them you know no big deal.

I'm reminded of memories with family all the time and it's awesome but I'll have to write more about it later - this is long and I don't have time but I love you guys thanks for the emails send picture more and more I love you - bye!

*Note:  We don't have the back-story with these pictures but apparently Elder Hatch was in a rain storm.  :)

Yet another great... ITS 6 WEEKS?!

October 15, 2017

Elder Hatch had a great week this week but most of his email home was in response to emails our family had sent him.  So please enjoy some of the pictures he sent home, though we don't have his commentary to go along with them.

Great Week

October 8, 2017

Well I ran out of time faster than I thought I would, so here's my email to everyone and everyone can read everyone's stuff and yeah just go for it. If there's something else you want me to tell you or that you want to tell me, don't forget it and don't let me forget it!

The people are always very inviting and polite. Though they may not have an interest in the message, they are always willing to accept you in and hear a message/spiritual thought. This makes things tough at times because we want them to progress and act, but its better than nothing.

There's a cemetery here that we walk past on our way to Natokalau and it's always very sobering to see and think about all those people - the lives they lived, the people they touched. Also, sometimes there are graves in the middle of (not exact middle, just within) the little villages we see. It reminds me, and makes me grateful, that all those people will have a chance to be with their families again.

That was actually fish and tavioka (cassava). It's the Fijian equivalent of potatoes pretty much because they eat it with like everything, or else there's another root in its place. It's pretty plain, they just peel and boil it, but I really like it with salt on it. I'm just a salty guy. :)

Glad you could have waffles - that's something I miss but Elda Rakatia makes a great Fijian equivalent of a pancake that is SO GOOD with peanut butter and syrup, with cocoa on the side. I sent a picture of it - I wasn't even able to finish half of my serving but last time he made it I ate all of it and still had room left over. Eating/food has changed drastically for me, can't wait to show you in two years - yeah I'm eating pretty well - sometime I'll have to go into more detail about the things I like to eat.

We actually just got back from the small island today - I'm sorry I didn't tell you about that earlier! We left Saturday and came back this morning after we were unable to come back yesterday. I have some fantastic pictures and it was a really neat experience - can't wait to tell you more!

It doesn't matter how fast or slow your time goes - what matters is how you spend it. that's something I've learned this last month that's changed me. So remember (and this can go to everyone): There's always something to be grateful for! and since there's always something to be grateful for, there's always something you can thank someone for.

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly-

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Hey Hey Hey!

October 1, 2017

FIRST OFF: QUESTIONS FROM LAST WEEK

• Did you actually get to go to the temple in Suva?  The pictures you took there were beautiful!  That will be cool to attend there from time to time (maybe once a quarter?) - We didn't go to the Temple while we were there :(

Elders Hatch and Slack (MTC companions) in front of the Suva Fiji Temple

• How big was that bug you took a picture of - looks like a moth.  We couldn’t decide if it was really huge or really tiny!! ;) - Lots of the moths are pretty big - a couple inches wide and long.

• The sky and water are so blue!! And there’s so much green!!  No question there - just an observation.  - Yeah the sky and water are blue - but I think Heavenly Father had in mind that my favorite color was green when he decided to send me here :)

• So what’s the story with the rugby trophy on the ferry to your island?  Were the guys you took the picture of the team members that won it?  That’s kind of cool. - The story behind the trophy is that the school that won it was Elda Rakatia's school, and those men were coaches and teachers.

• Love the little girl you took a picture of in your doorway.  What’s her story?  Does her family live near you guys? - I'm pretty sure she's our neighbor but I could be wrong.

• You took a picture of a family - a girl and two men and another with your companion with two kids.  Are you teaching them?  Are they members?  They look like humble, lovely people. <3 - That picture was from a birthday party. some of them were the family that lived in the home, others were friends/members. But they're all members. and yes, they are truly lovely, humbly living people.

• What is the building like where you attend church? - The building we attend church in is... interesting. I'll have to try and get some pictures of it, but it's a little (big for Fiji) building with stackable chairs for the chapel room and a few smaller rooms for the branch president's office and classrooms.

This last week was pretty good - as I mentioned we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders, Eldas Gray and Tupe. I was pretty scared because I still don't know Fijian well and I was going to have to lead them around to our investigators and other places, but things turned out OK and we had a great time.

I'm learning a lot still. From scriptures, from council and words from friends and family, from Preach My Gospel and other words from the Prophets, and from acting on my faith. I love you guys.

-Elda Hatch

Feeling Better

September 24, 2017

Thank you EVERYONE who sent me emails this last week - so many people and so many kind words! Looking back on the things I was experiencing leading up to last week's email I've realized that I was making a huge mistake by forgetting this crucial aspect of Missionary work:

Love those you serve.

I was told by my mom that someone commented that it was wise I remembered that so eary (MTC early that is), but I was very unwise to completely forget about that during that first week. Since that realization I think I've learned a lot. Of course there's still a lot to learn, but having that at the heart of my service will definitely help me overcome my obstacles and make these two years great.

So, that said, last week was pretty wild.

As a foreword, Levuka is a truly wonderful place - if you don't see it with the right eyes you'll miss out on a lot of great things. This place is ANCIENT (there are flyers everywhere advertising the 140th year since the declaration of Levukatown) so there are a lot of really old things to see. The Levuka area of the Fiji Suva Mission actually covers Levuka itself and a few 'nearby' villages and settlements - I use nearby loosely because a couple of them take an hour or so to reach by walking, though usually we try to catch a taxi or crazy truck-bus to travel. There's even an outer island called Moturiki that we go to once a month by a little boat. 

This area is a crazy mix of city and bush, so I see a lot of pretty interesting things: chickens and their little chicks and even a few cows towards the bush and village areas, power lines and technology and huge industry settlements by the bay towards Levukatown, mountains and rocky little cliffs and the ocean with all sorts of small-medium boats are visible from pretty much everywhere.

  

- Also dogs. Dogs everywhere. Two hang out by are flat and are great and super annoying/misbehaved at the same time. All kinds are here but usually garden variety medium-sized, and pretty unhealthy - stray Winslow-style. PETA would have a conniption.

  

In the distance you can see more little islands and the clouds are always low, hugging the mountains near Baba (Bahmbah, a little bush village behind [west of] Levuka that we see often). Many times we will walk right outside our flat and get a mango or two from the tree nearby and eat them with breakfast. Each day we go to a different one of these villages to see the people, which can be exhausting but it's great.

  

Last week I had quite a few firsts, mostly because those firsts would've been in my first week but we were going to Mission Tour so we missed them. I rode a "crazy bus" (my nickname for the pickup trucks with army-wagon style canvas and seats in the back). 

I got sick for the first time also - Thursday morning I went through the regular schedule until like 9:00 when I threw up in the bathroom. Diarrhea'd, threw up again, called the mission nurse who prescribed simple foods rest and water as well as a pill for diarrhea, threw up twice more after only drinking water and some re-hydration powder, then everything settled down and I was able to walk into town to see the boys and help a tiny bit with unloading the supply truck. I also threw up yesterday morning but it didn't hold me back from going to church or anything.

That reminds me - the boys. There is a large group of young men aged near 21 that we go to the qito (nGeetoh) field with and see. I still can't quite understand what they say but Elda Rakatia tells me he's been seeing/fellow-shipping with them for quite a while and sharing gospel thoughts with them and that they've changed a lot from some bad choices they've made. Another thing about Levuka is that sometimes the work is slow (everything is so relaxed sometimes several of our appointments/plans fall through in just a day) so we struggle to find things to do to use time effectively. One thing we've found is that we can help unload the big supply truck that comes a few times a week in the evening (imagine a big waste-management sized truck filled with bulk produce and flour and stuff). The boys are always there too and we have a good time serving doing that.

All in all I truly have a lot to be grateful for here. The people (members especially) truly are super nice and want you to be happy, always asking if you've eaten enough or if you want more. I find myself getting down in the mornings whenever I think of my shortcomings and how long the mission is - but I always find that once I remember my purpose, focus on loving the people, and find ways I can improve myself and learn for the day, the three months I'll be spending in training in Levuka (though I may end up staying a bit longer afterward) and even the whole two years of my mission start to feel short.

Thanks again everyone who emailed me, I love everything you had to say and still have to say. I will try my best to email you individually but with all this love coming in I've truly got more on my hands than I may be able to take care of!

I love you all - and always remember that so does your Heavenly Father.

-Elder Hatch

Tough Times

September 17, 2017

My Dear Family,

I want you all to know that if you send me an email, I read it. Though sometimes for some reason or another I may not respond, please be ensured that I read every bit of all of the emails you send to me. I look at all of the pictures and I see all of the quotes. I truly treasure all of these things.

These past ten days or so I cannot share everything about, but I can honestly say that they have been the most difficult of my entire life. For reasons other than just being away from home and family and giving up my personal interests as well. If you felt that anything you said was inspired and you didn't know why, please know that it definitely was. I am having an extremely hard time right now - I even sought serious help from my Mission President in my weekly letter today. I love you all with all of my heart.

I know that the Lord visits his children in their afflictions. I know He will help me.

With that out of the way I want to ensure I answer the questions you've asked me:

• Do we send mail to the mission office, or do you get mail where you are? I believe mail is just sent to the Mission office and sorted from there.
• Did you fly or go by boat to your island? We took a ferry to my island, onto which a bus we rode in would drive onto, then back off of.

• Is it hot/humid/rainy? It is humid but I am used to it now so I don't know how to gauge it, same with heat.
• How big are the geckos?The geckos are all about the same size as lizards in Winslow (but now and then I see a tiny lizard-like thing that's not a gecko and its dark colored - also the geckos poop like pigeons).
• Where (city/island) is your companion from?  My companion is from Naitasiri in Viti Levu. 

• Did you make it to the mission conference last week? I did make it to the Mission Tour - we got support money.
• How many missionaries are on your island?  Two
• Is your area the whole island? Nah, just Levuka and Baba behind it, the area a little ways north and Natokalau to the south.
• Is there a branch or ward? It is a branch.
• Looks like your grocery store (morris hedstrom?) stocks a lot of weet-bix, have you tried it? If yes, do you like it? (Jason Richards likes it and he has some at his house here in Winslow.) I have tried weet-bix. Perhaps mine wasn't prepared right but I didn't care for it much.
• How many sulus did you buy? Three - a black with stripes, a brown, and a lighter brown almost tan.
• Is there anything you need? I am grateful for the support you've given me, and I think that's all I need.

Levuka is pronounced Le (like French) vookah, lehvookah. Baba is mBamba. I haven't eaten anything weird nor totally delicious - maybe I already mentioned I tried octopus. I also am a champ/tryhard at eating mangos though they're nothing special to me right now. I haven't gotten anything by mail yet, it's ok if you don't send - I won't be hurt. I am super grateful for email. Language is OK and I'm improving my hearing/discerning/piecing-apart-what-people-are-saying though I may not know what it means. I truly do want to serve the people here. 

I hope everyone who emailed me will get to read this email I am sending in response. I am having a hard, hard time, but I know the Lord will visit me in my afflictions and bear me up.

He will not let me fail.

Thank you all so so much. I love you all dearly. Please remember that.

-Elder Hatch