October 8

Hey!
 
So My LDS Mail still won't let me send anything so I will have to get that worked out with the Mission Office. But, this has been a really great week. The power of prayer became very real to me this week. We have a few investigators that for one reason or another we have not been able to contact or they are not progressing. That has been frustrating but I decided that I was going to just keep doing what I could even if I could do nothing other than pray. Well the Lord heard those prayers and we had many miracles happen this week. Our investigators that have really pulled back came to conference at our WML's and in talking with Bro Metler last night he said that Andre` really opened up and was able to sit and listen. Our investigator that we have not been able to contact for the past five weeks contacted us and let us know that she still wanted to meet but that life happened and that she is moving this week but wants to meet after that. Our new investigator from last week was able to watch conference with us on Sunday and felt the spirit and said that it really answered some questions that he had. We also went and had a lesson with a former who the ward has started to fellowship. They were very warm and friendly to us and we are going to the Visitors Center with them on Saturday. We are planning on asking them to start taking the lessons again while we are up at the Temple. So we have a lot of really cool things that are starting to happen!
 
Wasn't Conference great!! I loved it. Elder Grimes and I had to split so that we could watch it with our investigators. So I went and watched it with Jeff our new investigator from last week at the Labar's house. Jeff loved it! That was fun. This ward is so great to work with they are WAY helpful and will do anything for us. It is sad that they lost trust in the Missionaries because of almost a years worth of bad missionaries but Elder Grimes and I have been successful at rebuilding those relationships. 
 
It is fun to hear about the family. I am glad that everyone is doing well. I hope that all of you know how much I love you! I hope that you all have a great week! Transfers are on Monday so I will e-mail on Tuesday!
 
Love Dustin

September 30

Hey!!

 

It really is crazy to look back and see how the time really has flown by. One year ago to day I was sitting in the MTC watching conference. It is really weird to think that after this weekend I will only have one more conference before I am home. WERID!! I am so excited for this weekend though. If there is one way to know that there is a prophet on the earth today it is to spend ten hours over two days just listening to the words and the spirit that comes from these men, truely called of God.

 

There were a few AWESOME things that happened this week;

 

1) We had Zone Conference on Friday! it was great! President Morby is really good about making sure that everything that is talked about will really lift us and make us better missionaries. The conference focused on the Atonement of Christ and how it is the Most imprtant thing and how we need to relate it to everything that we teach and about the Doctrine of Christ as our missionary purpose. It was way good! If you want a really good read 2 Nephi 31. There are not too many times in the scriptures that the Father is quoted but in this chapter Nephi quotes Him 3 times (I think).  

2)We also had Bishop Goodmenson** (Bishop over my ward) come and talk about building realtionships  . . .

computer problems to be continued. . .

Notes from Mom!

**Monday the 1st I got a call from Bishop Goodmenson - he was in Grandpa Mickelsen's mission as a missionary.  He spent time with Grandpa and Grandma at the ranch and at his home in Bountiful after everyone was home.  They did a mission reunion every year at the Ranch and he was part of the planning of those events - I know Grandpa and Grandma really looked forward to those summer outings.  Uncle Lynn as a member of the 70 was the visiting authority in their stake several years ago.  He also worked with Uncle Dale when they were setting up the Chevy Dealership in Rigby.  It was fun to talk with him and have stories to share.

***I think Grandpa Mickelsen is still watching out for Dustin!  They were such good buddies!

Hump Day Pictures

Celebrating the 1st year!

One year left to teach and lead those around me!

September 24

Hey!

 

So I talked with President Morby this week. The look on his face was beautiful. It was really hard no to laugh. The letter got sent to the wrong family.   He said that he really owes the bishop and the ward good missionaries.    So the bar for missionaries in this ward has been set very low, no wonder that they really like Elder Grimes and I - we are visable.  We went to dinner with a part member family on saturday.

 

I did get one package and the mission office called and said that they got another from UPS so they will get it to me on Friday at Zone Conference. 

 

Other than that this week has kinda been a blah. I did finally get to meet a few of our investigators which was great. And one of them made it to church. Hopefully he will start to progress.

 

I really like Tualatin. It is way nice and the ward is so eager to help with missionary work. They are way excited about having missionary experiences. It is way fun. I haven't had a ward like this yet on my mission. I hope that you really help the missionaries out as much a possible. There is no way that they can do it by themselves.

 

I love you all very much and pray for you. Thanks for all the support and love!

 

Dustin

September 17

Hey!!!

 

We had another interesting week.  It is crazy to think that it has all ready been a year. On the bright side we have been able to gain some more of the members trust. This ward has had really bad missionaries for almost a year now and so it has been really easy to get them to trust us because they see us out riding our bike and making visits. We are out working and improving.

 

Interesting facts... Elder Grimes family used to have a cabin right next to the ranch and now they go camping right behind the ranch. Also Grandpa Mickelson was who sealed his parents.

 

Funny story... Elder Grimes had a count down calendar that he had made on a piece of paper and he was scribbling through everyday. He took out his lighter and decided that he was going to burn all the days that had all ready passed. Well the paper burned much faster than he had thought that it would so he tried to blow out the flames which just made it bigger. So he throws it into the garbage, right after he did it he realised that it was very stupid so he reached into the can and pulled it out and ran to the kitchen sink leaving behind a bunch of charred paper pieces. 

 

I think that my major accomplishment this week was that I finally got our apartment cleanish. It was so gross when I first got there. The first thing that I had to do was clean the sink so that I could have a starting point. To finish it all off today the carpets are getting cleaned which will be great so that I will no longer have sticky carpet:)

 

Thanks for all that you do for me! I love you all so much and am grateful that I have the chance to serve the Lord. I pray that I will be able to see success and have good thing happen in this area.

 

Love you all so much.

 

Dustin

Letters

We got some great postcards from Dustin this week.  They are of his trip to Mt. Hood.  They are the old fashioned ones that look like they used to be the advertising to get people to come visit.  They are really cool.  It looks like a beautiful area.  We look forward to visiting there after he returns!


We also got a letter from Dustin's mission President.  There are 16 stakes in the Portland Oregon mission.  There are over 200 missionaries serving in that mission.

Notes of encouragement can be sent to:

Elder Dustin Hatch
Oregon Portland Mission
1400 NW Compton Drive, Suite 250
Beaverton, OR  97006

P-day pictures September 10, 2012