April 21, 2013

There was some problem with the library computers and reservations today so I got to read all the mail but I'll respond in full next week. First, my Mission President is the best he really cares about his missionaries and the work. We had a Stake Conference with Elder Rasband this week and he pretty much demanded he make time for a special meeting that morning. 

I'm going to be needing to buy a windbreaker style coat soon, the one I came with doesn't work with suits and I need something to throw over it when we're in the rain. I think that was it. I'm going to look around the salvos here for some more suits. Thanks for sending the sweater over. I love you, have a great week, sorry I couldn't write more.

Colin

April 15, 2013 (and the 8th)

Transfers have been a bit revealing for me as a new Missionary.  It was interesting to be able work with new Elders who had different ideas and focuses than my last companion, and so far it’s been fantastic. Last week we cancelled two of our baptismal dates.  It was unfortunate, but neither had come any closer in progression to their (baptism) dates.  But in just three days, in this first week, we set dates for four more investigators, all in the month of May, and are looking forward to setting at least two more in the coming week. Each of them is solid and excited to receive answers to their prayers.  Being part of each of those in such a short amount of time was, for lack of a better explanation, overwhelming.  I loved it, and I love these investigators. I can't wait to see how the Lord blesses their lives in the coming weeks.

One of the former investigators had a really rough week though. She's socially unstable, and came to rely on the Elders she was speaking to in the past few weeks. When my companion was moved, she was extremely upset. Most of the weekend I was worried we'd drive up to the Modbury Chapel and find that she'd started it on fire. Her date had been set for last weekend, and she claims if she had been baptized, and Elder Stirling left right afterward, she'd have (done something bad). I'm completely lost on how to handle the situation. I know that if we cut contact she'll be even more upset, but continuing to talk with her seems dangerous as well. Either way, she's likely to confront our Bishop about my companion's transfer, since she believes he makes the decision on transfers and is "responsible".  We've tried to explain that it’s through revelation, and doesn't have anything to do with our Bishop, but evidently she has not understood.

Transfers were a blessing. My last companion is, while a genius, (was a difficult) person.   It's not healthy to focus on (our issues) even now that we aren't Companions anymore so I say it only to contrast my two new companions (we're a trio) are two very humble missionaries. The first is Elder Paulo from Samoa, he doesn't speak much English but he has a great testimony and he asks everyone to get baptized. He's great. The other, Elder Sexton from Tennessee, was at BYU at the same time as I was.  He's a great missionary. This is going to be a great transfer.  Elder Stirling took the place of one of our Zone Leaders who went home so he's fired up more than ever.  Things are going well though.

Conference was awesome; there were so many great talks. Elder Holland is fantastic, Elder Ballard, Pres. Uchtdorf like always, and even Elder Cook this time. Great Conference.  Blanca shake everyone's hands!  I'm excited to get the Ensign and really study them (the talks).

(In response to questions about if it was nice to not be experiencing finals weeks at BYU)… And no it doesn't feel nice because here it’s like every week is finals week and no one is getting baptized yet. We're working on it though.

Have a great week! We'll talk more soon.

April 8, 2013 

(A short email with simple responses to the emails he received from home.)

Yes, we don't get to watch it (General Conference) until next week so don't say anything about it. It’s like missing the Super Bowl. I don't want to hear anything until I see it.

(His flat) a pretty cool place. The bikes are (kept) under the stairs.   We are on the third story over the (Bellezza Gourmet Chicken) chicken shop.  Mawson Lakes (his area) is upscale and very green.  Maybe it won't be in a couple months, but at least right now it is.  Great biking weather.

Elder Hatch

Facebook Post

Today, one of the alumni from Colin's Seminary class posted  this on Facebook.

CC: I do love L. Tom Perry. Plus he kinda looks like the old man from Up!

ML (Seminary teacher):   That observation reminds me of your running commentary during seminary while watching seminary movies. Thanks for the memories

CC: Hahaha I loved doing that! You're welcome Every time I watch one of those videos (I saw one just three weeks ago, actually) I can't help but turn to make a comment to Nathan and Colin even though they're not there.

Class of 2008-2009:  Back row:  Ashton, Kiefer, Colin, Nathan, Michael, Bobby.  Front row:  Stephanie, Devin, Chandrie, Marissa.  Motley crew, especially at 5:45 am...

April 1, 2013

I have literally less than 20 minutes to write. I had to give a talk in church on Easter Sunday; it went alright but like always could have been better. My trainer is from Brisbane, he came out when he was 18 so he's younger than me, and he has been out about a year. We have the nicest flat in the mission its third story on Goodall Parade in Mawson Lakes. 

As you can tell our schedules are pretty busy, we teach about 20 lessons per week and pretty much follow the standards of excellence for the Pacific missions, except in Church attendance which we're working on now. Member lessons are difficult too with the Ward we're in, there aren't a whole lot of great members right around us and we work a lot with the ones that will come out with us. We eat a lot, we don't sleep enough, and we teach all the time. Thanks for the mail, it’s good to know everything is still going well at home, good luck this week, can't wait to hear more. Time goes so fast!

I'm not sure which set of flats he lives in, but here are some examples of flats on Goodall Parade.

March 25, 2013

Ahh.. I have no time. We'll be going to the Temple soon; yes we're staying very very very busy. I still haven't taken too many pictures, we can only use the cameras on p-days and their usually too busy to think about pictures. And no we don't really do fun things on p-day, most of it is getting everything together for the week.

Thanks for the article (Pub Crawl in Adelaide) and yes we know about those streets and that’s why Rundle is strictly off limits to all missionaries, along with a couple of other streets. Those guys party harder than we preach. I have to go.  It’s good to hear from you and I can't wait to talk more next week.

March 21, 2013

UNIVERSITY students charged into one of Adelaide's busiest intersections, stopping traffic and jumping on a car trapped in the scrum during one of Australia's largest pub crawls.  Video has emerged of thousands of students on the annual Adelaide University Engineering Society pub crawl converging on the intersection of Rundle and Pulteney streets in a huge flash mob about 9pm last night (Saturday).

The video shows some of the students - among an estimated 5000 wearing Boozing Bad' t-shirts - stopping traffic and jumping on the bonnet and roof of a dark-coloured sedan trapped in the throng.  The footage was recorded by Sydney resident Catherine Greenhill on her phone from her bedroom at the Quest Mansion apartments on Pulteney Street after hearing roars from the crowd.  "It was pretty out of control," Ms Greenhill said.  "My heart was racing. I just thought - I'm going to hear one of these kids hit the deck."  Organisers promote the annual event on their Facebook page as the world's largest `shirted' pub crawl. Ms Greenhill said the flash mob occurred "many, many times" and decided to call the police at 9.30pm.

"I saw two police cars and two policemen in the centre of the intersection, but the next time the red light came sure enough everyone ran in the middle again," she said.  Police arrived soon after and dispersed the crowd. A police spokeswoman said officers were viewing CCTV footage from the intersection to investigate whether this and other offences had been committed.

More than 30 bars and nightclubs were listed on the event's Facebook page, where the AUES promises "a night so memorable you'll wish you hadn't forgot it".  "The AUES has lined up 30 venues ... with an additional four venues where you can get your craving fix by the ounce or pound," it reads.  "You own this town."

A university spokesperson said the university did not sanction the event but would be following up with the student society involved in the event. AUES president Maxim Dupree said: "We expect all students to demonstrate positive, responsible behaviour on and off campus with respect for people and property as members of the University and wider community.  "We certainly do not promote or support any form of binge drinking."  Pub crawlers and others took to Facebook and Twitter yesterday to both defend and condemn Friday night's antics. "The AEUS have a lot to answer for," Andrew Christ posted on Twitter.  "Cars got swarmed."  

March 18, 2013

Good to know everything is going well back home. This week was pretty normal, not a whole lot to report. The weather finally got nice this week last Wednesday; we're hoping it stays like this for as long as possible before cooling down too much.

Most of this area is pretty much just like the States. It’s really not all that different besides driving on the other side of the road and a whole lot more immigrants and people who don’t speak English.

It was good to hear from everyone, I'll see if this next week is any more exciting than the last.

March 12, 2013

Monday March, 11th was a holiday in South Australia so we didn't get Colin's email until Tuesday.  Not much news from him...I guess I'll have to start making stuff up. -- the mom

Hello family,

This week has been pretty normal I guess, even though it’s my first week here and I don't really have much to compare it to. It’s hot (mid 90's), and yes we are exclusively on bikes. Mine is brand new, but it won't be by the time I'm finished with it. Bikes are nice though, I don't feel as bad about not being able to run so much, and we get to shower twice a day. And yes, I'm always in short sleeves. I don't like them at all. The shirts are actually all too big for me, but if I got any smaller of a size then the top button wouldn't fit around my neck. All my pants are going to be ruined pretty quickly too, I mostly just wear the black pair right now; I figure I'll move on to one of the other ones in a couple of weeks. We don't really ever get fed by members, but that’s actually a good thing because dinners take a couple hours out of our day that we can't get any numbers from, so it’s kind of a waste of time. My companion cooks though so we do better than I would if I was living alone.

Take care this week, maybe I can write more next week. Talk to you soon.