Well Hello Everyone!

Let me start off by thanking you all for your letters. They are all so wonderful. I wish that I had time to write back to everyone, but I only get a half hour of email every pday.

Some answers to some questions. My companions are good guys. I think that we are really coming together. One is Anziano Craig. He is from Missouri and is twenty years old. He is kinda quiet but we are trying to help him get over that. The other is Anziano Nancollus. His parents are Mission Presidents of the Mexico City North Mission and so he is able to go on his mission early. He is only eighteen.

This past week we have learned so much. I can now bear my testimony, say prayers, meet and greet people, ask about their family and work, and various other things all in Italian. It is amazing how much the Lord helps you with the language cause we are learning things about sentence structure and tense that we didn't learn in Spanish till the third semester. The Lord is definitely driving this work.

Yesterday we taught at the TRC which is where volunteers come in and we get to teach them. They always have a scenario, like yesterday we were knocking doors and getting to know people. That part of it was all in Italian. Then, in Italian, we set up a return appointment for the "next day" (10 minutes later) and then taught the first lesson in English. That was our second time at the TRC, and we did pretty good. The beginning of the lesson was pretty choppy but when we calmed down and really applied our message to the investigator that is when we felt the spirit guide us to where we needed to go in the lesson. All in all it was pretty good.

We have only been here for two weeks and one of the guys in the zone that is about to leave asked my companions and me to bear our testimonies in Italian last night. He said that our Italian was better than his when he was two weeks in. So that was good news to hear and that really will help us stay motivated.

For gym time each day (except today and Sundays) we always go up to the field and play sand volleyball. The Italians are a step above the rest. Some of the Spanish kids challenged us to a game and we beat them with our first server. Then they didn't want to play us ever again. I must say that we are pretty good. The actual gym has been closed but it opens again tonight which will be good, cause on the days that we have gym in the middle of the day when it is blaring hot I will be able to go inside and tear people up on the basketball court. Haha That will be fun.

Our teachers are awesome. Ever though neither of the two served in the Rome mission they are still awesome. They know so much about the language and about the gospel and how to teach in a way that the investigator feels motivated and willing to test the promise in the introduction of the Book of Mormon. It is crazy to think that I will know that much Italian in the future. I can't even comprehend it.

Our days go like this (everyday is a little different) but morning is breakfast then class, then lunch, then class, then dinner, then study time. Everyday is different on where the study time is thrown in and where the gym time is. At 9:00 we plan out the next day. By 9:30 we are back at the dorms and maybe do a little work out and get ready for the next day. We have quiet time at 10:15 and we are in bed at 10:30. So that is what my days are like here at the MTC. I am always tired cause sleep doesn't come that easy on rock beds and aluminum foil-thick pillows. But that is ok cause when I am engrossed in the work, I never feel tired cause of the help of the Lord.

Dad when you said that you got to mow the lawn and spray for weeds I was so jealous. The grounds here are so beautiful but it is no fun that I don't get to work on them. I see people mowing the lawns and I say to myself, "I want to do that." But I guess I have more important work to do so I'll focus on that.

Thanks for the packages that you have sent me mom. I really appreicate them! I need to request a few more things. One, as you suggest, I do need my black compression shorts to work out in, and two, in my closet should be a box of exercise bands. My companion has one and I remembered that I have some at home that I could use if you could send them to me. The gym here (weights) are really wimpy and I can make up better exercises if I have those bands. So that would be awesome. I loved your letters and the card that you sent to me.

Justin and Ashley, I hope that the moving went well and that you are close to settling in at your new abode. Good luch with the studying and the work this summer, Justin, and as you start off know that I am thinking about you and praying for ya.

Kim and Chris, I love getting your letters. Kim's stories about Elliott are so funny. Keep them coming cause they are fun to read during lunch or something.

Jalayne and Julie, thanks for your letters and your prayers and love. Good luch at finding a job Jalayne, and Julie, finish the school year strong.

Well that is about all of the time that I have for this week. Keep the letters coming cause it is always fun to get mail. This is a great work that the Lord has going here and I wouldn't trade anything for it in my life right now. Talk to you next week.

Love,
Anziano Hatch