Here’s his first email from his new mission! I think he needs mail..
My new address...
Elder Gatchell
Quatre Filles Hope Street
Mosta MST 03
Malta
...actually it is the address of the Church, but that's where we receive packages and mail.. Can you paste this into that mass email before sending it out? Due to the fact that we are rarely in contact with the mission home and WAY far away, it's definitely recommended to send all mail to this address instead of the mission home if that can be added in, too... Love you Mom!
Anziano Gatchell
Bongu' familja!
Well, this last week my world has been completely turned upside down. Leaving Brindisi and saying goodbye to Anziano Errante was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. As I took the train up to Rome and spent some time talking with President Kelly about the situation here at Malta I was overwhelmed with a pressure to keep this work moving forward here. It was a great experience, also because I was able to see Anziano Haberl and Anziano Russell, two missionaries that I haven't seen since we left the MTC. I sat alone in the Rome airport waiting for my plane to Malta and it seemed really weird. In a very real sense it gave me a scare of what it would be like to be going home and it made me grateful to have so much more time to serve the Lord. The plane ride down was very fun. I talked with a kid from Malta, but who spoke fluent English. After a small stop in Sicily, it was over the Mediterranean Sea to the small speck of island amongst the waves. When I arrived there my new companion, Elder Sturges from San Diego, was waiting for me with Elder Tilley, a senior missionary from Manchester, England. From the first point of view the island was different just because we were driving on the left side of the road on the way to my apartment. Little did I know, that was one of the many minor changes that I would have to get used to! The people here are from all over the world. This island is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! If I could describe it I would say it is a mix of Oahu, Hawaii with Florence, Italy. We speak in English every single day, but we are learning the Maltese language. The most part of the Maltese people speak English, but are not as able to speak and communicate like in their own language. Maltese is incredibly different than any other language I've ever even studied. It definitely is from an Arabic background! There were many new characters and people that we met. The buses here are from the WWII era and are so epic. Tourists are beginning to flood this island and I have heard that they will continue to do so until the streets are full for the entire summer. It's been a HUGE change for me. I feel as if I'm starting all over again; which at times is a bit hard but completely motivating. This place is so incredible I can't even describe it. Everywhere is a boardwalk and a party. The people here are definitely here for vacation and holiday, but there are definitely those families searching for the Gospel. The branch president here is a stud. His name is President Bateman and he's from Seattle, served in the Hiroshima Japan mission about 10 years ago, and works for the U.S. Embassy here at Malta. Hoping for this to be a casual gig of 3 years on an exotic island, he's now been thrown into a complete and hectic situation with Libya. Sunday was such a good experience in Church. We had fast and testimony meeting and all made me feel right at home. The branch consists of an American family, many Maltese members, many elderly people from England (who are awesome!), our branch mission leader Brother Foster from Pennsylvania (more to be said on him later), and many others from the likes of Austria, Ivory Coast, and much, much more. It was so strange to hear and see all of these people share their testimonies in English but it made me feel a little bit at home and a small part of me was found again in the Church that I once knew. The Spirit was so strong and yet again I received an undeniable testimony of the truth of this incredible Church! There are four missionaries here, along with a senior couple, the Tilley's, here at Malta. There is A LOT of work to do here and it doesn't take more than a week to figure out the many missionaries in the past here have taken advantage of a few transfers on a vacation island during the spring and summer. There is so much that I want to talk about! This place truly is a hidden paradise and I don't know how we have never heard of it before. I feel at times like trying to do missionary work on the Las Vegas strip, or the Newport Beach boardwalk. It makes it really fun! However, having all of the language skills that I want is a big help and I absolutely LOVE talking to people. We take the buses everywhere and the people are so much fun to talk to. My companion has been here for about three transfers and is a great guy. If I could describe him as someone from The Office I would say he's a definite Toby. We're going to have a lot of success together and the work is going to fly forward. Just sitting here in the internet point we have a couple speaking Arabic, someone speaking Russian, and another speaking Maltese. How much I love the Lord's promise that they will all hear the fullness of the Gospel in their own mother language! The history on this island is something else. At parts there are temples dating back to before the pyramids in Egypt were built. Words truly can't describe the world I'm living in right now and the people that we share the Gospel with. I guess you all will have to come and see it for yourself someday! Nothing goes by without thinking of you all and how much I'd love for you to be here with me, but there's a time for all things and right now is my time to work. I can honestly say that there is no other place in the entire world for a missionary to serve like this island. It is a twenty-year-old's paradise, a Mormon missionary's worst nightmare, and my biggest challenge yet. I'm ready to work, that's for sure. As I start what feels to be like my second mission I ask for your prayers and to help us find those that are ready for our message. The Book of Mormon is trying to be passed to be translated into the Maltese language and we REALLY need your help. Please, anything that is possible to pray for us to find someone to help translate this book and for the miracles to take place that need to happen for these people to know this message is true! I love you all, I'm safe, happy, and ready to work. The Lord truly does love the obedient and always chastens us to get the best He possibly can out of us. Where much is given, much is required... And I've been given a whole lot in my life. There is absolutely no reason we can't have success here and it truly just comes down to my desire and my faith. I promise I'll do my best so we can all come back here someday! I love you!
Anzjan Gatchell
"il Knisja ta' Gesu' Kristu tal-Qaddisin ta' l-Ahhar Jeem"
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