Through They Eyes of the Children

Bonjor! Hola! Hello!

I hope everyone had a great week this past week!  

Not a whole lot happened this week, just lots of teaching and meeting wonderful people!

We have met some of the most genuine families these past few weeks.  I feel so fortunate to be a part of their lives.

This Friday all the people that have been baptized in my area are going to the temple with us for their first time!  I am so excited!  Two of the boys that I baptized now have the Priesthood and will be coming as well!  This is so cool for me to see.  Also we have been bringing many members to lessons with us this week.  Elder Afalava and I decided we wanted to bring mostly new converts to our lessons!  Best thing we could ever do!  Their testimonies of the true church and the gospel of Jesus Christ are amazing.  I would love to watch the look on some of these peoples faces when they found out that these people were baptized like a week or two ago!  It was so cool!  

At church yesterday we had the Coleman family there.  They are the African Family we are teaching!  I can't explain it, but it felt so right having them there.  Everyone just smothered them!  They fit in so perfectly, and their kids just had an amazing time being there and meeting EVERYONE!  So much growth is happening here in Marion, and it's so obvious Heavenly Father is behind the work and the effort.

Towards the end of this week I got in a little bit of a funk.  This is bound to happen while on a mission!  It wasn't till we went over to a members home and Jerica Land a three yr old girl talked to me.  She is so sweet and so fun!  She always puts a smile on everyone's face!  She came up to me and said out of the blue,"You're supposed to smile." and I was caught of guard.  How did she know I was unhappy!?  So I did just what she told me ( which I have learned you always do what she says) I smiled!  It almost instantly made everything better again!  So when ever you are down or upset just remember what Jerica said... SMILE!  

I love you all!! Thanks for the support!! 

Love

Elder Spatch

Pics

-Elder Afalava and myself

-Kohlier Land and myself in their field 

-Jerica. The cutest 3 yr old you'll ever meet.

Things Are Too Good

Well Things here really are too good!  Everything just seems to be happening right!  This past week we have found a lot of success! It really proves to me that hard work and optimism go a long way!  

This week the McMahan Family was baptized.  This was a bitter sweet moment for me.  They are my first whole family baptized.  The way we found them is just a miracle itself.  Just by walking up to a family and giving their kids 2 Wendy's Frostys started it all.  I have been able to teach this family from start to finish, but it really isn't the finish; its only the beginning. Watching them grow as a family in the gospel has been so amazing to me.  I really love and care about this family a ton.  Andrew, the oldest of the two boys, is getting the Priesthood this Sunday, and is has told almost everyone now that he is serving a mission.  And Randi, the mom,  Is doing so amazing.  She has worked really hard to be able to be baptized, and cut so much bad out of her life. At their baptism I had the hardest time.  I just looked at them and thought about how this all began and I just got hit with all of the emotion behind it.  I sat there after the closing prayer just really sobbing until someone came and just wrapped their arm around me.  Then Andrew came up to me and said," Elder Patch... are you ALWAYS crying??"  I just laughed.  I do feel like i cry a ton out here and I never really cried before my mission!  WHAT IS HAPPENING!! SHEESH. I am just so happy and feel humbled by this whole experience.  

We also this week got to go down to OSU and do some training for the new missionaries!  We got to go on campus!  It was awesome cause I got to see the OSU Volleyball team!  I got to see and hug some friends on the team.  And I got to see one of the coaches there who was one of my coaches this past Summer in Turkey.  It was so cool to see kids I know.  MAN I MISS VOLLEYBALLLLLLLL...... BUT ITS WORTH IT.

The last thing I want to talk about is defining your own reality.  Many times in life we are subject to circumstances that we would conform to others ideas and perceptions.  BUT, I know that we can decide for ourselves what outcome or experience we want to have.  We can choose to be happy or we can not.  We can choose to be GREAT, or we can choose to be just good.  I have really learned that I can make my mission what I want it to be.  It all starts with me defining my own reality.

I love you guys.  Thanks for all the emails, letters, packages, and LOVE!! I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!

Elder Patch

pics 

-McMahan Family

-THE BOYZZZZ

-Some Missionaries

Optimism

Hello ERRYBODY!

This week has to be one of my favorites so far!  We have the the best time here WORKING!  This we really went to work and it paid off!  Elder Afalava and I are having the best time and having so much FUN! If you're not having fun on your mission you are doing it wrong!!

So this week we have been gearing up for the McMahan family being baptized!  I am so excited!  This is something I have been looking forward to!  This is the family we met at Wendy's that the husband happened to be a Mormon!  Now the wife (Randi) and the boys are getting baptized.  They are amazing!  Randi has quite smoking and coffee.  She also is super invested in church.  She has become close with lots of the other women in the Branch. Jason the husband got the Priesthood and is doing awesome.  The oldest son is 12 and he is getting the priesthood next week!!! Randi, his mom, told me something really cool yesterday.  She said they were sitting at the computer and looking at lds.org and watching some Mormon messages and then Andrew asked his mom if he could go on a mission?  She said "yes" then he was like you really would let me go?!! Then he got all excited and started saying places he wanted to go on his mission!  I am so excited!  That just made my whole mission!  I also cooked for the McMahan family this week!  I made Navajo Tacos!!! Thanks to my Indian Family (Benally's) for sending me the recipe!  I brought a little West coast to the East!  It turned out really good!  

So as District Leader we went to a training meeting this week at our Mission Presidents home.  It was amazing!  I learned a lot!  What I took from it was "I" can be myself as a leader, and use creativity to inspire others!  We talked a lot about "optimism". I want to focus on that.  President Nilsen said, "You can either look at the good, or the bad." That really struck me.  There is negative in every situation, but if we look for only the good then the outcome will be greater!  So I put this to the test!  The minute I got back from the training to we went out to find people! It was -18 outside and It was freeeeezing.  BUT!  This was a perfect opportunity to look for the good!  So we danced up and down the street and waved at everyone!  We laughed and danced for cars sitting at stop signs to make them laugh!  I think they were mostly laughing at my long legs trying to do dance moves. oh well... but we found two amazing families!  The first was the Coleman family!  This awesome black family with the cutest kids.  They have become my brothas! I love that family!  We are super close with them, and they are stoked for church!  I know if we had not gone out with OPTIMISM and love, we would not have found this family!  Honestly if we just look for the good in the bad then nothing can go wrong!  So optimism is key!

I am loving every minute here on a mission!  There are plenty of BAD moments but there is much more GOOD.  I love all of you and thank you for the letters!  I love hearing all thats happening and hearing your testimonies!  You guys are awesome!!

The church IS true!

Elder Spatch

pics:

Zone Fun day

I made Navajo Tacos!!

Coleman Family

YOBO (You Only Baptize Once)

What an awesome week it has been. 

The highlight of my week has been the baptism of Rose and her son Phillip.  I have grown so close to both of them.  Rose is like my mom! She treats me like her son, in fact she tells everyone I am her son!  She is amazing! Seeing her and Phillip get baptized was almost overwhelming.  I was kinda having a hard week last week and really down, but being able to baptize two people I love reminded me why this is worth it... Rose told me that this is what she has been looking for her WHOLE LIFE.  She is finally done searching!  She explained to me that the day we met her she was going through such a hard time and crying almost to the point of hysteria.  she said at her lowest moment she then heard two knocks at her door.  It was us. she said as soon as you came in I had immediate peace and relief.  I am so happy and strengthened through this journey with her and Phillip.  They have taught me so much about who I want to become! They serve with so much humility!  I want to be like them.  

At their baptism there were multiple traumatic occurrences!  First of She asked Elder Afalava to sing.  Well we did sing and during the song I made the BIG mistake of looking at her. And suddenly Elder Afalava was singing a solo! HAHA!  I was a huge mess up there trying to sing.  The spirit was so very strong.  Then! It was time for the baptism! Phillip went first and we went to the font and the heater broke!  It was ICE WATER!!! Phillip and I were shivering like crazy!  Then rose took one step in and looked at me and announced," I can't do this."  I was horrified.  I Then was prompted to tell her to say a prayer.  She said, "LORD! SATAN IS NOT GOING TO WIN!!!" I love her.  She got in and right before I was about to baptize I got a bloody nose... I guess the cold got to me.  But nothing a little piece of tissue can't fix!  So I baptized Rose with a large piece of paper sticking out of my nose! What an event... That one will go in the books!  Rose and I joke saying we should be honorary members of the "Polar Bear Dip". HA!

With this week being a bit hard, I prayed a lot.  I then received my answer for help.  I read in the Ensign an article called Enduring Well by Elder Lansing( go read it).  It takes about The experience Joseph Smith had in Liberty jail for a year.  With no heat or hardly edible food they endured.  Joseph recounts his experience and recalls the revelation he received.  He prayed begging Heavenly Father for help.  He was cold, hungry, miserable,forgotten. He was answered from The Lord saying,"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment... And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; though shalt triumph over all thy foes."  I was really moved by this. My trials are so miniscule compared to what he had to go through but nevertheless still a trial.  In the eternal scheme of things our misfortunes are "but a small moment" and if we endure them well we will triumph over all adversity.  So if anyone is down or low, angry, depressed etc.  Endure it well, because they are small moments in the eternity's to come. 

I love you all.  Than you for you're constant love and support. This Church is TRUE!

Elder Patch

Pics: Rose and Phillip and Meyer Family we are teaching! 

Brown Boyz

Well President finally did it! He put two brown boyz together!!! My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Afalava!  He is from LA and the crazy thing is we kinda knew each other before the mission!  He messaged me a couple weeks before I left telling me he was a volleyball fan and that he was coming to my mission!! Well turns out that I am his trainer!  Its been so great having him, and his energy and similar enthusiasm!  Marion is about to take off!!!!!

Well this weeks has been full of so much good!  I have been sick all week but i didnt want my sickness to affect the work that we could be doing!  So a lot of prayer and faith and we got it done!  We had a great week meeting so many new wonderful people!  Every time we meet someone great I always wonder if we will meet anyone great again!? And we always do!  There are so many people ready to hear the gospel! Its AMAZING!!!  

This weekend Rose and her son Phillip are being baptized.  I am so excited!!!!!  I love Rose so much!  She is like my mom!  She says she has adopted me and wont ever let me go!! She is the most amazing loving woman!  She only cares for others!  She knew the church was true before she even learned about it!  She said she is getting really excited for her baptism!  I cant wait.  This past Sunday I spoke in church on the Plan of Salvation.  It went well.  I got a lot of compliments on my talk!  I was nervous I was going to start crying (which I did).  I talked about "Agency"  and  when used in righteous acts we are one step closer to our eternal destiny.

First week of district leader has been great!  I wanted to make this district the best!  I have been praying and praying on what I need to do to make this happen!  ANSWER: Obedience!  So I am excited to talk to my district about the concept of exact obedience!   "Obedience brings blessings, but EXACT obedience brings miracles!" I so pumped to see where our district will go!!  We have the BEST missionaries in my district.  And that is not bias!  It comes from higher up!  I can't wait! Well I love you all, and appreciate all the prayers in my behalf!  A mission is the best thing! I'm cherishing mine. This Church is true. 

Love,

Elder Spatch

pics-  New Companion

Baby, It's Cold Outside

     Hot dang!!! Well actually not hot AT ALLLLLLL!!!!! Its really intimidating when you car thermometer reads -18!!!!!! Plus wind chill!!!!!!! So im Marion, OH the forecast says -40!!!! It has been so unbelievably cold!!! I cant even tell you what it feels like here.  You walk out and your bones just turn to ice!!!! But its awesome cause then lots of sympathetic people invite in their homes!!!!! #tendermercies 

  

 Bon Voyage! My companion is off to BRAZIL!!!! He should be there by now in 100000 degree weather.  I cant even imagine how he feels!  Weeks leading up to him leaving were hard for me.  I really grew to love the guy.  We had a system and it worked.  We grew to love so many of the people we taught and in return they loved us together.  The goodbyes on Sunday night were really hard.  A LOT OF CRYING.  The people we taught treat us like their family so it was like he was leaving for his mission all over again!  So hard to watch.  We fasted and prayed a couple days before he left that he would be able to remember the language and that he would have peace about going to Brazil.  That prayer was answered.  He left knowing it would be challenging but that it wouldnt matter, because one thing would remain the same... His testimony.  The gospel is true wherever you are.  

 So what does that all mean for me?!  Well right now I am in a area called "Marysville"  It is small and even more rural than Marion.  I am with two other Elders so we are in a Trio!  I just found out that I will be staying in Marion and will be training a new missionary coming TOMORROW!!! And i will also be district leader.  Im so excited to be district leader.  I plan on helping and working towards making my district the best in the whole mission.  With hard work and sincerity one can accomplish anything!   

  

 This past week i have had the opportunity to chat with my Mission President for a good amount of time.  I really respect who he is and what he is WORKING to accomplish ads a mission.  I relate to him in many ways but also strive to accuring some traits that he has.  We talked a lot about leaving who I was before the mission behind.  I have been pondering this ever since.  Although I believe that as missionaries we are to be "ourselves", but that doesn't mean at the cost of improving who we can be.  Being Ben Patch the volleyball player isn't going to make me a better missionary, but applying the things I learned from volleyball will.  He said some really profound things to me that really made me want to improve.  I never want to stop progressing and enhancing myself, and sometimes we hold on to who we are and forget to look at who we can be.

  

 I am so grateful for the chance and opportunity to serve a mission.  A mission is just as much for people to learn of the gospel, as it is for us as missionaries to learn about ourselves.  I truly have come to know that these may not be "The Best Two Years", but they sure are the most important. I love this gospel and I love our Heavenly Father who never stops letting us learn for ourselves. The church is true.  If you don't know it yet then PRAY AND ASK!!!

Love you all,

Elder Patch

Elder Patch

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!! I know I did!! 

What I loved most was the Christmas spirit all around.  People were just 

generally happier, and more willing to listen.  What a blessing. We have had

so much success these past weeks and I hope it never ends.  I get to see time and time again the result of the restored gospel in peoples lives. Its not that people are changing themselves its that people are enhancing who they are.With every increase of knowledge people become more and more aware of the joy that will coming from RECEIVING the gospel.  I never thought of this but with most ordinances in the gospel we RECEIVE or accept something.  We have to act and not be

acted upon.  With all these people we have met each one is receiving then accepting 

the gospel.  

This week has been amazing. We had TWO baptisms.  First was Ruth and the second was Rex.  They both went so well and a ton of members showed up to show their support.  That is so key in convert baptisms.  Getting members to welcome people into the Church.  The spirit was so strong.  At Ruth's baptism her brother spoke and wrote a letter to her.  It was so sweet.  He talked about how he knew she has been through so much grief and pain and now that she is accepting the truth she has found relief.  Yesterday at church she came up to me and said to me crying,"Thank you Ben, I am finally HOME." I gave her the biggest hug till her eyes almost popped out.  I have really grown to love so many people and just felt the love Heavenly Father has for them #missionprobs.  

Christmas was SICK!!! ALL OF YOU ARE SO STINKING AWESOME!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY! THANK YOU!!!! I had the best Christmas i think I have ever had.  Just so calm and spiritual.  Really gave me the chance to focus on the important things. We had an awesome Christmas Eve.  We had a little Marion Missionary Christmas party.  We had dinner and talked.  Just nice to get to know each other more!  I'll send pics of it.  Then on Christmas day we got to SKYPE home.  OHHHH BOY.  I swear a mission makes your hormones go nuts.  I was cryin all over the place! Sorry Parents.  But it was awesome to share my experiences with them.  I know for certain that I am supposed to be here.  I have felt so strongly that me personally had to meet certain people.  Its been crazy and its just the beginning!!!

Love you all!! Thank you for all the letters!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love 

Elder Spatch

p.s. BYU Volleyball season is coming up.  thatll be weeeiiirrrrddddd.. Go Cougs