Current Thoughts and Loves (w/ pictures!!)

This is going to be one of those weekly blogs in which SO much has happened that I won't even know where to begin or what to say. From transfers, to new gators (what we call investigators in Florida-don't you LOVE it?), to miracles up the wazoo, to the fact that I actually say "Y'all" now (officially), to the most spirit filled days of my mission thus far...there's getting to be too much to share. Here's the update anyway-

Currently Praying for: our dear sisters we are serving this transfer. We've been praying and praying about how to best serve them over the next 6 weeks and REVELATION has been coming. We've decided what sisters out here need the most...is a whole lotta love. Can't even wait to step it up with some of these new ideas and goals.

Currently Grateful for: Sister Call. I will never be able to express what an answer to prayer she was for me. Especially at this point on my mission. She helped me become so much more of the person I want to be. Fam bam....just be ready for me to talk about her for the rest of my life.

Currently Looking forward to: THE STARLING'S BAPTISM THIS SATURDAY. Yes, that darling family is getting baptized. Well, 4 of the 7 so far. Miracles are ABOUNDING. Just get ready for next week's post...it's going to be the detailed story of their conversion. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK.

Currently Stunned that: A year ago tomorrow, I was opening my call to Jacksonville Florida...and now look where I am! Me + a trainer + Lake Butler = the mission life. I never would have guessed it, but I honestly couldn't be happier to be right here, right now. 

p.s. Brother Rusty Shout Out-Just in case you are SOMEHOW reading this too- I adore you and your wife. Thanks for being our home away from home.

Faith, Fuzzy Socks, and Miracles

Do you ever feel like I'm the happiest, dorkiest missionary around? I sure do hope so. Because that's the most true statement. I'm literally one of those crazy missionaries that when the alarm goes off, I'm happy to get up and pray and exercise. Fingers crossed my new companion doesn't get too annoyed with me come transfers tomorrow! Anyway, let me tell you why I'm OH so happy ALL the time!

1. We've started teaching a family. Of 7. Yep, you read that right. It's been a long time coming, but the miracles have started rolling out this week. We've taught them 4 days out of the week. I have literally never been a part of a more spiritual teaching experience than the lessons we have with them. The parents and one of the daughters have baptismal dates. And do you want to know how this miracle all came to be? Because the bishop and his family began praying for missionary experiences. MEMBER missionary work is truly the only way to do missionary work. Imagine a lesson with an incredibly prepared family with the bishop and his family adding their testimony in as well? BEST THING EVER. How could I not be overflowing with happiness?

2. I have had the AMAZING blessing and privilege of having Sister Call by my side for 42 days. Within these 6 weeks, Sister Call has without a doubt become one of my best friends. She's my favorite. And I officially have started talking like her. This ward is getting a kick out of it.

3. The letters I got this week were direct answers to prayer. I don't think people writing from home realize the worth of a letter and the impact it can have on missionaries...or at least on me. Thanks for the love and for listening to the spirit.

4. I got to play the piano a whole LOT this week. This rather large, active ward.....had no pianists for, not one, but TWO funerals, Sacrament meeting, and Relief Society.

5. Though Florida is much more FROZEN than anyone ever cared to share with me before I got here, Sister Call and I have found a solution. Fuzzy socks that we tuck our sweats into at night. LOVE IT. Dork alert. 

6. My blog is opening more doors to teaching opportunities not just in Africa...but in LAKE BUTLER. Even better-people we can teach in person =) By the way, if any of you would want to pin this attached picture on pinterest with a link to my blog (whenyoubelieveingod.blogspot.com ) I would be FOREVER grateful. A gem of a recent convert in New York made it for my blog. 

7. MY NEPHEW, HUGH STEPHEN MUNSON, WAS BORN ON VALENTINE'S DAY. BEST DAY EVER. Can't wait to meet the little guy. 

8. Something clicked this week. I'm finally grasping what faith is and it is my favorite thing in the whole world. Miracles are literally abounding. Not because of some huge change in our missionary work, but because I finally full-heartedly believe miracles will happen each day. And they do. I love it. And I love you. Faith is the best thing in the world.

Love, Sister Hutchins

Missionary Life = A Happy Groundhog Day (w/ such cute pictures!!)

Happy Groundhog Day! A week late!! Sometimes, I feel like my life is on repeat every P-day when I sit down at the library computers to send out emails to family and friends. I still can't decide if I hate or love that movie. ANYWAY....

This week was incredible and exhausting! Two 24 hour trade offs, a zone conference, a BAPTISM, a sick companion, and all sorts of other things all piled into 7 days. Sometimes I wonder how we get everything done. Thank you Heavenly Father. I've randomly decided to go on rather detailed explanation of trade-offs because I LOVE them. Ready? 

So each transfer as Sister Training Leaders we go on 24 hour trade offs with each set of sisters in our zone. Basically we switch companions for a day and a night and it's all sorts of great. The night before we trade off, Sister Call and I pray about which sister we are both meant to go with and what area we are supposed to be in-aka who is serving in which area for those 24 hours. And without fail, the spirit guides us in that decision and off we go.

Our whole purpose as STLs is to lead, lift, and love these darling missionaries. So for 24 hours, I am praying all day for help in what Heavenly Father needs me to be saying and doing to best help these sisters. I can't quite express to you how much I adore trade offs. Nothing is more spiritually strengthening and draining all at once. If there's one thing I know, it's this: God loves His sister missionaries. He guides me so clearly on these trade offs. He'll prompt me to ask a question about something I wouldn't even guess could be a struggle for a sister and suddenly she's opening up and asking for help. He'll prompt me a little extra in relation to missionary work and miracles just pour out in our work. Sisters always feel like they learn so much from us, and I always have to stop them and say, "WHOA. Can I just tell you how much YOU have taught me?"

I feel so BLESSED to go out with these INCREDIBLE missionaries and learn from their examples. I feel like it's all so backwards. I'm supposed to be leading them and I just walk away stunned at how much God can answer their prayers and mine all at once. There's something spectacular about God being able to work through us. I'm so grateful for this chance I have to be serving in this capacity. I'm learning SO much more about how to rely on the Spirit.

I LOVE YOU. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. 

p.s. Dear Vineyard 5th ward in Orem, Utah: I don't know who you are or how you know me, but THANK YOU for the lovely Plan of Salvation kit. I've always wanted one. I seriously am stunned to have had some random ward answer that little prayer.

p.p.s. I've started teaching a few people in Kenya of all places over Facebook. All because of my blog!! Who knew?! I love it. Miracles happen...even over the internet!

p.p.p.s. Sister Call got a training call. I'm sinking into a mini depression at the thought of her leaving me. She's going to Timuquana-BEST PLACE EVER remember? Second to Lake Butler ahem. So heads up- Pday is on Tuesday next week fam bam!

p.p.p.p.s. 9 year old MACY got baptized!!!! Woot woot. And even more of her less active family has been coming to church recently because of it. It's seriously inspiring to see how one child can bless a family.

p.p.p.p.p.s. We are teaching that family of 7 tonight officially at the Bishop's house. BEST FAMILY HOME EVENING EVER.

Who's-its and What-it's Galore (w/ Nessa's favorite picture EVER)

I don't even know how to describe this week. I'm just going to send some brief who's-its and what's-its and y'all can just laugh at me.

1. This is my FAVORITE picture in the whole world. Just picture this....being a little sister missionary in an ER in Gainesville with your Ward Mission Leader as your doctor. OH GOODNESS. Luckily enough, with some medicine-I am all in the clear. Being sick as a missionary is the pits as my madre would say.

2. Remember Brannon who just got baptized?? We started teaching his mama! And she has agreed to be baptized as well. There is nothing like teaching a 40 year old woman and then her son just starts bearing his testimony to her in the middle of the lesson. The spirit in that room was incredible. I love families accepting the gospel all together!!!

3. I've found my theme for 2014. There's a talk titled "Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R. Callister (aka one of my absolute favorites) and it has changed my whole perspective. I want nothing more than to be a consecrated missionary. Hallelujah for a dear friend who sent me that talk. It was a direct answer to prayer.

4. Macy is getting baptized this Thursday! She's the daughter of a less active mom we've been working with. As we've been teaching her daughter it's been incredible to see the mom remember her testimony and begin growing as well! These children are just being examples to their parents every where we go in Lake Butler. I LOVE IT.

5. JULIANN IS HAVING A BABY ANY DAY NOW. Just as a fun side note. It makes me do a little happy dance every time I think about it.

6. I was going to wait til I hit number 8, but we're running out of time. I HIT MY 8 MONTH MARK. Which means my 9 month mark is next...which means I'm almost HALF WAY. Holy cow, I have a whole lot more I need to learn and do. SIde note: There is no February 29th this year...so my half way point doesn't really exist. Strange.

7. I love missionary work with all my heart. It's the hardest, most exhausting work in the world. But strangely enough, at the end of each day, I'm happier than I ever have been and more and more confident that I am exactly where God needs me to be. I love giving everything I have to my Savior.

8. I LOVE YOU ALL. HAVE A MARVELOUS FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.