Week 15 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

This week didn't turn out how I anticipated it to be.  We actually didn't get any rain like I thought we would.  We still have both baptisms set for this weekend.  Most of our investigators have just been struggling this week.  It still amazes me that one week everything will be going great and the next everything falls apart, but we still worked through it.

Yesterday I had a super cool experience.  We had a couple of appointments that were on opposite sides of our area.  So we organized to go on splits with some members.  We somehow I got a less active member to come out with me, and we were surprised when he agreed to it.  He and I had two outstanding lessons!  The first one was with his neighbor and right at the beginning of the lesson our investigator said that she didn't agree with what "our bible" taught.  My member friend talked about what the Book of Mormon was, bore testimony about it, and invited her to read and pray.  Even though Elder Hatch and I have said just about the same thing, something clicked with our investigator when he said it and all or her concerns were resolved right then.  That was a pretty cool experience to see that even though our member friend didn’t always come to church, he still had a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Our next lesson was just as good, and the man we taught accepted to recommit his life back to Christ!

So this being Elder Hatch's last week, I hope to be able to help him make it one of his best on his mission!  We have a ton of great things lined up and it is up to the Lord on whether they happen or not.  I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Red Breasted Brim

Week 14 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

It was an absolute blessing to see you all yesterday!  I am so grateful for you all to be my family and for all that you have done for me.  My mission has been the hardest work that I have ever done.  As I was praying last night I remembered a sentence I heard "Anything worthwhile in this world doesn't ever come easy."  Even though my mission has been hard it has been the most worthwhile experience I have ever had.  I cherish it with all my heart because I have changed so much for it.  I have gained a testimony that I wouldn't deny even if I looked death in the face.  I know the Book of Mormon is true.  That has been made plainly manifest to me every day. At the beginning of my mission I never understood why I had to face so much opposition with every aspect of missionary work.  Now looking back I have seen that solid growth comes from opposition.  Even though many people have tried to tear my beliefs at every stich it has only proven to strengthen my knowledge of the truth.  I learned that on Sunday when I finally figured out why members down here have such solid testimonies.  It is because they face persecution and rejection everyday which strengthens their faith in God.  Growth comes from opposition.

I love you all so much and I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs

Plantation Home

Week 13 - Nashville, GA

Dear Family,

I had an awesome week!  The Zone Conference with Elder Zwick was really inspiring and the main messages that were shared were: simplify and intensify our testimonies and lessons; obedience is what brings success; and work with the members and the South, as long prophesied, will blossom. Elder and Sister Zwick had a really loving spirit about them and it was evident in the glow in their eyes.

On Sunday we actually got four investigators to church!  Our newest investigator was a miracle of its own that we found her the way that we did and it is a good story I will share with you all.  So a couple weeks ago we were looking through some former investigators.  We found a man, but we only had the name of the street name that he lived on.  So we parked at the end of street and looked way down and we couldn't even see the end of the street.  We had thought that we were going to knock all the doors, but still determined and trusting that God would lead us to him we got out of the car.  We saw a man standing by his truck.  I got an impression that the man was who we were looking for, so we went over and talked with him. Sure enough it turned out to be him and he had just been doing yard work at that house and was about to leave, but he didn't even live on that street anymore, in fact he moved across town!  So we set up a return appointment with him.  When we went to the appointment we met his roommate.  I had actually met her the second day I was in Nashville at a hardware store she worked at.  Turns out the man wasn't interested in the gospel but she was.  We taught her the Restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon.  We met with her a couple of days later and she had read the pamphlet and some of 1 Nephi and was taking notes and cross referencing as she read.  I was surprised to actually meet someone that was serious about learning about the Book of Mormon.  A couple of days later she made us dinner and the next day came to Book of Mormon class!  She said she loved it and then informed us that she had cousins that were members and she used to work for our ward mission leader.  So she had instant fellowship if she was to come to church and she was comfortable with the doctrine.  She actually came to church on Sunday!  I have never met someone so willing to learn about the gospel like she has, and the ward took her right in as their own.  It was the Lord that led us to her and it has been amazing to see his hand throughout all of this.

I am really look forward to seeing y'all on Mother's Day!  I am glad to hear you all are doing good!  Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Hinrichs



Nashville Storm Clouds


Nashville Sunset