BEST BLOG EMAIL EVER, but really!! (w/ GREAT pictures!!)

 

 Are you ready for the darling, STARLING miracle?

First off, you must know that Lake Butler is Zion. I've decided. Everyone knows, loves, and reaches out to one another in this perfect little town. As a missionary, I feel like all I do is sit back and watch God's miracles pour out upon these incredible families.

The darling, Starling family miracle all began when member missionary work lessons hit the scene in October with dear Sister Call. The Bishop's family jumped on board with these lessons and who would appear in their radar, but the Starling family who had JUST posted a Facebook status that they were looking for a new church to attend.

Fast forward 4 months, include a few friendly chatting visits with the sister missionaries and quite a few invitations to come to church and various activities (though they kept falling through) from the bishop's family, and then came February....the month of ALL things lovely and wonderful. God's timing is powerful and finally everything aligned to bring the Starlings, the bishop's family, and my companion and I altogether for the first lesson. It was without a doubt the most powerful 90 minute lesson that I have ever been apart of. With the Bishop and his wife testifying alongside our lesson, Ganeene and Stephen were already blown away and recognized truth. The next night we finished the first lesson and invited the parents to be baptized. Ganeene nearly died with excitement about setting a solid date to be baptized on. She told us she felt so strongly that God had been leading her whole life to this very moment. And Stephen, the rock of faith in the family, told us he was excited to hold the Priesthood. When they came to church that week, after a perfectly timed church tour the day prior, they felt so at home. They loved it, and their 5 kids fit right on in.

Over the following two weeks, two of their daughters, decided to be baptized as well. A whirlwind of lessons began to catch their two daughters up. Every activity days event and mutual activity was attended too. And you can bet even before Ganeene was baptized, she was raising her hand in Relief Society and sharing her testimony.

This past weekend, 4 of the 7 were baptized. Two are not yet baptismal age, and their 15 year old son is currently taking the discussions with the elders (we made him nervous haha). I can honestly tell you that the past two days of baptisms and confirmations, and even Stephen receiving the Priesthood, have been the single most incredible days of my life. I have never been so happy. I do not believe more happiness could be possible. The opportunity to love, share my testimony, and then help this family take one step toward their ultimate goal of being an eternal family has been the privilege of a life-time.

My three PERFECT moments (it's been REALLY hard to narrow this down) are the following:

1. Ganeene sharing her testimony at her baptism....she told her whole conversion story and then began sharing her belief and gratitude in having a prophet on the earth today. Hearing her testimony, that just three weeks ago I was testifying ALL about to her, was mind blowing.

2. After the family was confirmed (took nearly half of Sacrament meeting) they were asked to stand for the ward to welcome them in. It was almost too much for me to handle watching this family I have grown to LOVE with my whole heart, stand and see each and every hand in that chapel nearly SHOOT into the air. 

3. I don't know how God could be so kind, but by the grace of God...we were able to slip in and see Stephen be ordained to the office of a Priest. As we slipped in the furthest door in the chapel, just before the ordination began...Stephen caught our eyes and gave us his perfect finger wave. And in that moment, it hit me that we helped this family get here. God used Sister Call, Sister Cline, and me to help bring this absolutely darling family to the gospel. Heads up-I've never cried out of such pure joy SO MUCH in my life. 

Missionary work truly is the best work in the WHOLE wide world. I could live this life forever.

p.s. March 4th is my exact half way mark on the mission. HAPPY HUMP DAY!!

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.

BEST DAY EVER (w/ pictures!!)

BEST DAY EVER. Yes, I do believe we had one. Can I tell y'all ALL about it? Beautiful. January 26th is going to forever hold a special place in my heart.

Let me just list out the perfect moments from that day:

BRANNON'S BAPTISM: I wish I could convey in words how grateful I am to have been apart of that whole experience. There was this absolutely perfect moment during the program. After the actual baptism, we came back in and the entire youth surprised Brannon and performed a special musical number. Wanna guess what song it was? THREE KINGS FOUND THE LORD. Yes that Forgotten Carols song that was my theme song during Christmas this year! And as they sang, Brannon, this faithful, darling, 14 year old boy, started to cry. And by the time it had ended, he had thrown his arms around his non-member mom and they were crying together. I simply cannot describe the Spirit that filled the chapel in that moment. I can't even begin describe the testimony Brannon shared because I'd start crying right here in the library.

NEW INVESTIGATORS: We've been struggling like crazy to find people to teach. But the Spirit was guiding us yesterday so clearly. I felt we needed to go to an area, and then Sister Call had a potential investigator's name come to mind once we got there. We're now teaching a family...they loved the Plan of Salvation. God knew exactly what goals we were falling short on with the end of the week coming up, and He miraculously placed these precious souls in our path.

WE TAUGHT A LESSON ON FACETIME: Yes, you read that right. This week, the leadership of the mission were given their iPads. And it is NO coincidence that I began teaching a man living in Colorado just this week over facebook that was EXCITED to facetime. BIGGEST MIRACLE EVER. These iPads are opening so many doors. I can't quite handle it. The church is so true.

So here's the take home lesson if you just skimmed that and are shaking your head at my gushy missionary self: I used to think perfect moments were for movies. And that they couldn't happen in our lives. The past couple years, I found more and more of these perfect movie moments in my own life. And on my mission, I've found SO many perfect movie moments. These perfect movie moments don't last long. They are only a minute. But it's in those perfect, God-sent minutes where I know with every fiber of my being that God's whole purpose is our happiness. The closer I come to my Savior, the more perfect moments I am privileged to experience. I've never been happier. And I could not feel more blessed to have this opportunity to share this joy with the darling town of Lake Butler. And goodness me, I get Sister Call by my side every minute. OH HAPPY DAY. What's not to love about missionary life?

Sister Hutchins

p.s. If I defriended you on Facebook, it's not because I don't love you. It's because of some missionary rules I didn't know! WOOPS. Keep sharing and following my miracles blog though. That blog is providing SO many opportunities to teach. And I LOVE any help I can get to get it out for the world to see.

Play Pretty Now (w/ picture!)

Are y'all ready for some Lake Butler updates? I thought so!

Did you know everyone in tiny, cute Lake Butler refer to each other as Sister Mary. Brother Thomas. No last names. Why? Because everyone is related to everyone. We have 40 Waters family members alone!! I love the South. Using their first names just makes it all so homey.

I LOVE that moms here tell their children to "Play pretty now!" as they walk out the door. You can bet I'm adopting that phrase. 

Sister Call got an iPad! And I'll be getting mine oh so soon. Talk about crazy! We'll be teaching a facetime lesson tomorrow. Our minds are currently being blown by how many doors technology can open.

The 14 year old boy we are teaching is getting baptized on Sunday! He has such an understanding of the gospel that we walk out of lessons with him with our mouths hanging open. We can picture him on a mission and it just melts our hearts.

I want to share with you a quote I stole from Sister Call. It's from a book about a girl in Uganda or something....who knows-but it describes my view on the world PERFECTLY.

"Sometimes I want to spend hours talking with my best friend about boys and fashion and school and life. I want to go to the gym; I want my hair to look nice; I want to be allowed to wear jeans. I want to be a normal young woman living in America. Sometimes. BUT I want other things more, all the time. I want to be spiritually and emotionally filled every day. I want to be challenged endlessly. I want to be taught by those I teach and I want to share God's love with people who otherwise might not know it. I want to work so hard I end everyday filthy and too tired to move. I want to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I want to follow the call God placed on my heart. I want to give my life away, to serve to the Lord with each breath. At the end of the day, no mater how hard, I want to be right here in" Jacksonville.

Oh how happy I am to be serving. It's right where I'm supposed to be. Love you all.

Sister Hutchins

P.S. We had a Mission Leadership Council meeting in Jacksonville...and who did I get to see but  my darling MTC companion Sister Phelon! I'm still praying it's in God's plan that we get to serve together before the end of my mission.