Gratitude Amidst Chaos and #sharethebook

The longest, hardest weeks are always somehow the very best. I don't know how to describe it. While this week was a tad difficult, it also was miraculous. Love it. So here is my gratitude list for the week:

1. I'm grateful for strong spiritual promptings. We had a meeting with our mission president and the APs about what we needed to train on for our Mission Leadership Council this month. After we left, Sister Ashcraft and I felt something was off. We were missing something. The next morning we called President to ask if we could somehow work in that faith talk I told y'all about last week. Guess what? He'd been thinking the exact same thing! And we had been nervous to call and request a change! Following the Spirit - it truly never leads you astray. 

2. I'm grateful for perfect lessons. Yes, they exist. Especially with Shay. It was quite a large group of us. We had an extra sister with us and one of our favorite members, in addition to Shay of course. The Spirit in the room as these powerful women bore their testimonies was incredible. I'm so grateful to be surrounded by such faith. And I'm especially grateful for the power of music. We've been starting lessons with hymns...especially if a piano is nearby (Sister Ashcraft has a GORGEOUS voice). Music starts lessons off with a strong Spirit so naturally. It truly is perfection. 

3. I'm grateful that SHAY was baptized!! Minus the fact that she forgot her towel, standing behind her as she was baptized by her husband (it was his first baptism!) was a privilege. Being the first to talk with her as she walked back into the bathroom and we sopped up her hair with paper towels, was another perfect moment. She was SO happy. You could feel her happiness. One year from the 28th, that darling couple will be sealed!!!

4. I'm grateful for 3 Nephi. It is by far my favorite book in the Book of Mormon. I especially loved chapter 17 this week. Pondering the way that Christ would pray for us and the way that He would speak in those prayers has helped me so much in praying specifically for the people I love when I'm praying with them. Often, I hesitate to pray a longer prayer, or to pray specifically for their needs when it's a public prayer because so much of my heart is in those prayers and I don't want these investigators to feel overwhelmed by me haha. But, I'm learning that those very specific, individualized, and love-filled prayers, are the ones I most need to be sharing. Thank goodness I'm learning it now. 13 months later! Goodness.

5. I'm grateful that we had the chance to go out with a newbie missionary that entered the field on Tuesday. She came out with us that Tuesday night and I LOVED her pure faith and excitement for this work. She had no tainted doubts, or shattered visions. But pure, complete faith. It was an incredible reminder for me. Love that sister to pieces. I pray that I get to train after this calling.

6. I'm grateful that the BYU newspaper interviewed Sister Ashcraft and I, and my mission president last night! We've got another story hitting a newspaper. Woot woot. Success. And even though the subsequent events following Discover the Book have gotten smaller, it's okay because we are building our group Called to Share. The events will be long gone in a few weeks, but our base...Called to Share will be able to work out from here with our future ideas about spreading awareness of Family History and SO much more. Can't wait. Miracles abound on Facebook.

7. I'm grateful for my cute mom who is going street contacting at a Bart station with sister missionaries this week. She's the cutest member missionary around. LOVE her.

8. I'm grateful that I have one more day as a 20 year old. We're going to go do some rather immature things with our P-day. Well, not quite. Hopefully we think of something funny. 

9. I'm grateful for this quote: "Make no small plans - they have no magic to stir men's hearts."-Spencer W. Kimball. Don't you LOVE that? Big goals for July here we come. Can't wait to share with you all the miracles.

10. I'm grateful for the truth that God is in the details. He truly is aware of me and you all day, every day. Trust that. He has a perfect plan for each us. 

LOVE YOU ALL.

Sister Hutchins

P.s. Last FB event...Share the Book-JOIN US PLEASE =) Simply post a photo like mine and share your testimony. Invite others to message you if they'd like a copy of the Book of Mormon. Use that hashtag #sharethebook! Thank you and please!!

Aloha and Facebook Miralces

Aloha y'all! 

(I'll explain in a bit, hold tight)

Today is a bit of a rushed P-day because of transfers. All the new missionaries are coming in today, and Sister Ashcraft and I get to be a part of it all. LOVE IT. I just love missionaries. So today I'm going to whip out quick updates.

1. We did LOTS and LOTS of service this week. And one morning while working on a member's garden with them....Sister Ashcraft killed a snake. Cut it into 4 pieces as she was shoveling away. She basically saved my life (not literally, but felt like it.) The member's two year old son then came out and punched Sister Ashcraft for killing the snake. I've been dying laughing all week. 

2. We had a Southern Luau in our ward last week. Complete with a Sister missionary Hula performance (oh the things missionaries get roped into!) and a nice and roasted pig. Why they brought the head in on a plate, I will never know. Anyway, the night was a huge success. Aside from all the fun, investigators and less actives came. It was DELIGHTFUL. And Sister Ashcraft and I wore matching floral mu-mus. There was supposed to be a costume contest....at least that's we heard. We would have won hands down. Don't worry mom. I'll never wear that dress again in public haha.

3. I found my favorite talk on the planet this week. It's really changed my mindset about what faith truly is. Sadly, it's one of those talks that is no where to be found on lds.org and was written by a member of the 70 no one knows from years ago. I will copy it and send it home though! Anyway, it's really made my aware of what my very thoughts are the root of my faith. "Your thoughts, more than anything else, will be the determining factor in what you accomplish during you life."

4. We have been teaching a man in England via Facebook. Last night, we finally had a voice call and it made my heart SOOO happy. Hearing his accent, and finally realizing that these people we teach on Facebook are real was incredible. We've even set a baptismal date with a man living in New Jersey. Facebook miracles are abounding. LDS Living even posted this morning on their front page all about our events, reminding people to post. I LOVE it. To take my #livethebook photo, Sister Ashcraft and I had to venture across a few busy freeway on ramps. Don't worry, it was well worth it =) Sister Ashcraft has been wanting a photo standing there for months. Mission accomplished.

5. We were teaching Shay the Plan of Salvation this week, and when we went to explain how her family could be forever because of temples...she stopped us and said, "Oh don't worry, I'm already looking forward to our sealing in a year." My jaw definitely dropped. Normal investigators have NO clue what the temple is. Shay is the most on top of it, faithful, powerful woman. I love it. Can't wait for her baptism on Saturday. 

LOVE YOU ALL. POST ON FACEBOOK THIS WEEK WITH #LIVETHEBOOK.

Sister Hutchins

Facebook, flying chicken, party killers, oh my! (w/ pictures of course)

 This week was INCREDIBLE. Good thing I've finally caught up in my journal to record it all. 

Miracle Moment of the Week: Our Zone Leaders promised us that if we did few specific things....that'd we'd have a miracle baptism this month. Well, after doing our best at each of those things they specified, and fasting, and praying a whole LOT, a miracle occurred in the last hour of our night on Saturday. Even through all this Facebook craziness, miracles are happening in our own area! Shay, a part member, agreed to be baptized! Just three weeks ago she was telling us she wasn't ready to take the lessons and then this week she'd read clear to Mosiah in 6 days. We asked her to be baptized on the 28th and she said she'd read and pray about it. The next morning at church, she marched straight up to the bishop and asked to be baptized on the 28th. We walked up right as she started talking with him, and I nearly passed out with joy. Ammon would have passed out in that moment I am sure. God is perfect! 

Embarrassing Moment of the Week: Our mission president and his wife came to a lesson with us. We ate a delicious meal before the lesson at the investigator's house and let me tell you, this couple we are teaching are very PRIM and PROPER. It was all going fine and dandy, until somehow the chicken I was cutting flew from my plate to my Mission president's wife's lap. I nearly died laughing, but had to keep it quiet since no one had noticed but Sister Craig. She was having a hard time keeping her giggles quiet too, but she hid the chicken oh so slyly. After the lesson when we walked outside, we finally burst into the long awaited laughing. Priceless missionary life moment. 

Adventure Moment of the Week: This morning we ran away from all responsibility and went on another adventure. We went to the tallest building in Jacksonville, and took pictures on the 42nd floor. We walked around parks and made wishes in fountains. It was a perfect early birthday adventure for Sister Ashcraft. Her birthday is on Friday!

Awkward Moment of the Week: I officially am someone who walks into a room and is expected to correct obedience issues with missionaries. It is NOT my favorite thing to do. This week, Sister Ashcraft and I had to do just that, and it's crazy how instantly laughing and disobedience can stop. We're party killers. But along the way, we do our best to love them into that obedience.

Right Place, Right Time Moment of the Week: We had incredible lessons planned one morning this week, and they both fell through. We were a little bummed about it, but luckily, God reminded us that He is perfectly in control. Because those lessons fell through, we were right where we needed to be when a set of sisters needed extra love. It couldn't have been more divinely orchestrated.

FACEBOOK SUCCESS MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Have you been waiting for these? Because I've been dying to share them. Mormon.org, Deseret News, Deseret Book, LDS Living....they've all been writing, and sharing about our event! It was on my bucket list to be quoted somewhere big....well ladies and gents - that is now crossed off!! How crazy is that!? Disover the Book reached 81,000 invites and people all over the world were sharing photo after photo of the Book of Mormon covering their faces. The Church's media department has been watching us and wondering how we so brilliantly started this group with selfies to combine members and misionaries online sharing the gospel!! Sister Ashcraft and I didn't even realize that the Book of Mormon photo over the face was a selfie - haha. When Mormon.org said that, we just laughed and laughed ourselves to sleep that night in amazement at how perfectly God does this work. We're currently struggling with invites for this second event, but we just made connections with the tight knit group of LDS admins that all work together online to share the gospel through unofficial and official pages. They've started helping us in the last 12 hours...even more miracles are coming!!! I LOVE IT. Have you joined Called to Share?? What about our second event, Search the Book?? Please please please join us. And invite everyone you can. We're flooding facebook again tomorrow! Woot woot. (By the way, all of the missionaries in our mission that I've talked to are finding investigators online through this event. It's been incredible. Sister Ashcraft and I found 5 investigators this week online alone. Miracles are ABOUNDING.)

Side Note of the Week: I'm officially telling people I'm a Family History major. Yep, said it. And I feel strangely good about it. I'll let you know what that even means in 6 months. LOVE IT.

I know with all my heart this work is led by God. Every night on my knees, I thank Heavenly Father for leading us and guiding us every step of the way. I couldn't be more grateful that this work is His and not our own. I love you all so so so much. Now, I'm going to go live up my last weeks as a youngin'. Have a lovely week!

Sister Hutchins

P.S. Not sure if this is missionary appropriate, but we were laughing so hard. I just had to do it. 

Craziest Week Ever (w/ pictures!)

While driving over the to library today for emailing, Sister Ashcraft and I were trying to remember what went on this week. Honestly, I've never had a crazier week in my life - haha. I can't even fathom how to begin this post. 

Our week in list form:

*We traveled the mission hitting zone meetings to give trainings. And throughout ALL that driving we were in the infamous "AP Clergy Van." I was nearly dying all week every time we drove. Missionaries in a minivan with a clergy tag. I mean part of my heart thought it was the greatest thing ever, the other part was mortified that I could even consider it great - haha. 

*Somehow we fit in two 24 hour tradeoffs in. Florida Jacksonville Mission is the best mission in the world. These sisters are gems.

*Interviews with President. These happen every four months or so. I couldn't be more grateful to serve under President Craig. He has a knack of ministering to the one that I love.

*FACEBOOK EVENT. I mean HOLY COW. Over 12,000 group members and 50,000 invited to #discoverthebook in less than 4 days!! This has been one incredible roller coaster, full of deleting anti-posts every few hours to blocking marriage proposals up the wazoo from strangers living across the world - haha. But in all seriousness, it has been incredible to watch members and missionaries jump on board. Over the past few weeks with this Called to Share group I've felt very much like I've been walking in the dark, with the faintest light ahead of me. Every time everything seems to go black and I don't know which way to go, a light flicks on in the distance and miracles pour out as we follow that revelation from God. 

*Praying constantly. One night in particular I had gotten rather discouraged about something and was praying for quite a while. Right as I mentioned something in my prayer at 11:03 pm, our phone buzzed and that prayer was answered perfectly. Heavenly Father is so aware of us and He is especially aware of this Facebook Group "Called to Share". I have been gaining the strongest testimony of how truly He is in charge of this work.

*A darling old woman we began teaching a few weeks back used to be adamant about never joining our church. Whelp, ladies and gents....she just asked us if she could come to church this Sunday. The Spirit is a powerful tool. Her heart is changing. (Yes, by the grace of God, we sometimes fit in teaching appointments....sometimes.)

*We had a meeting at President's one night with the APs that went quite longer than any of us anticipated. But at the end, Sister Craig offered the prayer, and as we knelt in prayer, I felt so at home...it was crazy. Flashbacks to family prayer in the Hutchins home all growing up. It made my heart oh so happy. 

*We ventured to St. Augustine this week and had the world's perfect companionship date. Complete with touring a gorgeous old lighthouse, eating Northern Florida's best pizza, and delicious ice cream. Slipping out of the world for those few hours and into our little perfect afternoon was divine.

*We emailed every FB mission president in the country about this Facebook event....and the very next morning missionaries were jumping on board from Tennessee and Washington DC and all sorts of places. My heart was melting with joy. We even had a member of the 70 call President asking what we've started on Facebook.

I know there is SO much more I could share and tell you all about, but for now, that's all I have in me to type. I love this work. I love being a missionary. And most of all, I love that the Lord is hastening His work ONLINE. Right now. If you haven't already....JOIN US.

p.s. I made a list of the ways you can help =)

Here's a small list of things your family can do to take part and help in this online effort!

1. Invite Facebook friends to the Group - Called to share - and to the event.....Discover the book and future events

2. Post your own picture and hashtag on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, etc and tag your friends and family.

3. Personally message 20 people to ask them to participate in this effort with you!

4. Share the group and 4 events in person at home wards, ward councils, and online on Facebook pages.

5. Ask for the help of those you know who are famous/well known. Think big!

6. Find a friend online who wants to learn more? Direct them to your son or daughter's profile!

7. Pray the event will find those that are looking to discover the truth!

Facebook Enigmas and Needing Help from YOU [yes you!] (w/ very cute pictures!!)

Oh do I have one crazy story to tell y'all. I hope you're ready for one of the craziest, hardest, and best weeks of my mission.

It all began on Wednesday at our Mission Leadership Council (MLC). My Mission President had asked my companion and I to give a training on how to be effective on Facebook. After we gave our 45 minute training that we had prayed, fasted, and prepared for....President Craig pulled my companion and I aside during lunch and asked for more. He wanted us to break down the walls our mission had been limiting ourselves with. My stomach dropped...we didn't have anything else to share...or so we thought. When we stood up there after lunch, the strongest Spirit filled the room. For an hour, the leaders of the Florida Jacksonville M mission bounced ideas back and forth. And over and over again, I felt like I had to tell them to think bigger. Go further. We all felt that something big was coming, but when President pointed at Sister Ashcraft and I and asked US to head whatever this bigger and better ENIGMA was...my stomach dropped all over again in the midst of all the excitement.

The last five days have been a whirl of praying, meeting with the APs and President, brainstorming, scribbling on whiteboards on my knees at midnight, fasting, and laughing at our new found obsession. I've never had something consume my thoughts so much. The Spirit in that MLC reminds me every morning that this is even bigger than I can fathom. We're not giving out all the details on this viral Book of Mormon project just yet because when this hits, we want it to hit the mission, the members, and the rest of world all at once and roll out from there. But details will be coming next week and you can bet your bottom dollar we are going to need each and every one of your help. So, at this very moment...consider yourself recruited. You've been called to serve a Facebook mission for the next month. And if this is going to be viral...we need all the help we can get.  We've got a list of specific ways our families and friends can get involved that will be coming out in the next week. Oh my goodness-I almost can't contain my excitement. This is going to be SO good. 

In Mosiah 2:8, King Benjamin had to do more than merely speak his words on the tower...but he had to write them to reach everyone. In our day, we can't just touch enough people face to face anymore. We have to use technology to reach anyone and everyone around the world. And we're going to start testing those waters as Facebook Missionaries starting here and now. OH MY WORD-I love my life. I love this work. I love answered prayers. And how guided by God every ounce of this work is. 

When you see an event on Facebook go up that's titled something like "Called to Share the Power" jump in. I can promise you, we need you. Sharing what you love the most really is the best work in the world. 

Sister Hutchins

p.s. If you wanted to know what I want for my birthday....I want your help in this viral Book of Mormon project. Nothing would make my heart happier. 

p.p.s. You know that feeling when you are exactly where you are supposed to be? Not just kind of there, but EXACTLY there? That's what I felt fill my heart this morning as I washed dishes and prayed for more guidance. Life is WONDERFUL. 

p.p.p.s. My new address is 3900 Oldfield Crossing #613, Jacksonville, FL 32223.

 MLC Sister Training Leaders....we were missing a few. 1000 souls is our goal for baptisms for this year. We're oh so excited and committed to it. We'd love and appreciate your prayers =)

 I heart Sister Jensen and Sister Phelon.

 By the grace of God, my darling MTC companion and I went on a trade off the on our year mark...it was LOVELY. 

My ward's MASS of missionaries=)