September 22, 2014

This was a great week! We went on exchanges with the English sisters in Worcester. That was fun. We also have a baptismal date! Her name is M. She's been investigating for awhile now, but it's only been recently that she's been ready to take the step to be baptized! It's exciting! She's going to be baptized on October 5, during conference sessions. We're really exciting! We're hoping her dad, G will be baptized too, but we'll see about that.

This transfer we're doing a cool Book of Mormon challenge. We're supposed to read the Book of Mormon all the way through and mark all of the tender mercies of the lord. I've already started and it's been a great experience!

On an exciting note, last night there was a community event in the chapel with Danny Ainge. He was interviewed by Mike Dowling, a retired sports newscaster in Boston, who apparently is pretty famous himself. (He sat next to me at transfer meeting and we talked. I had NO idea who he was) It was a really cool event and a lot of non members came. I made sure to get a picture with Danny Ainge, even though it was kinda blurry(the lighting in the church is horrid) And he signed my planner. Not being a huge sports fan, I don't really know who he is, but I know he's a big deal so I made sure to snag a pic.

 

The really exciting part for me is that Brother Bayles was there. As in, Dallyn Vail Bayles, the singer I've become obsessed with who lives in Boston and resides in my stake. He sang one of my favorite songs, Better Than I. It was amazing, of course. And I got a picture with him too! He's a really cool guy. We talked with him a bit about his mission in Melbourne, Australia. He was telling us about the giant spiders there. Gross. But he's really nice. 

Sorry this wasn't a very spiritual email. I'm doing great though! I love worcester and being an STL. 

Have a great week!

love you all!

Hermana Hutchinson

September 15, 2014

Greetings from Worcester, Massachusetts! 

I've only been here a few days, but the drivers are already driving me crazy. The roads are narrow and there are way too few stop signs. I also usually have no idea where I'm going haha but I'm making it. No accidents so far :)

Of course, coming to a new area is always stressful. You have to meet and get to know a whole new set of people. And it's always hard coming from an area that you were in love with. But everyone here is really nice and I already like it, so no worries there.

My adventures as STL have been uneventful so far. I feel really under qualified to by STL, but obviously the Lord has other ideas. So I've been in the process of setting up exchanges with the other sisters, without success. Last night I tried to call them all, but no one answered....and then they never called back. I'll try again tonight! haha I did get a hold of the zone leaders though and asked them a few questions so we're all on the same page. I feel slightly less lost haha This will be a fun 2 transfers.

I would tell you about our investigators, but I'm still meeting them too. haha But there is a new convert in our group named Isaac. It's pretty easy to remember his name.

Sister B is awesome though! President Packard keeps putting me with really awesome companions. She has only been in the field for 1 transfer, but she's already rocking it. Her spanish is already good and she knows the area really well. I also found out she's been a member for less than 2 years! I was blown away when I found out. You wouldn't even guess, her testimony is so strong. We've been getting along really well though, which I'm happy about because she'll probably be my last companion..............

H got his mission call!! He's going to Provo, Utah Spanish speaking and reports to the MTC Dec 3rd. Hooray!

This week has been pretty chill, not a lot to report at the moment.

Hope you all have a great week! I miss you all!

Hermana Hutchinson

September 8, 2014

First and foremost: transfers. 

As much as I don't want to, I am getting transferred. I'm going to Worcester, MA (pronounced Wooster. the "oo" as in "good". or if you want to say it as they do in New England, Woostah) I'm going to be a Sister Training Leader and I'm finishing a training again. So a STL is a leadership position. I'm in charge of going on exchanges with the Sisters, doing training in our zone training meeting, going to Missionary Leadership Council. I'm basically a sister zone leader, but I don't have to do as much busywork. My new companion's name is Sister Butts.

That's not the crazy part though. Sister B is ALSO getting transferred. She's going to Nashua, New Hampshire. This means they're shotgunning (aka whitewashing) our area and they're bringing Elders in.

Let's just say the branch is sad that they're taking the sisters out, but I really think Elders will be good for this area. There were some people we just couldn't teach effectively because they need guys teaching them.

Yesterday, they threw us a surprise going away party. It was really sweet. Everyone went around and said a few nice things about us. We ate chips and took pictures. S was crying, H was crying and this sweet little 11-year-old who's class we've taught, D was also crying. Okay, actually H wasn't crying, but he almost did. It's really sweet to see the impact you have on people's lives, especially when you didn't think you were really doing anything. We got lots of pictures, and still have more to take in the next couple days. Although I'm devastated to be leaving Hartford, I'm excited to go on to my next new adventure in Worcester!

Our investigators are doing well, we're in the process of telling them all that Elders are coming. H's baptism has been rescheduled for the 20th. We are just worried about his retention. He doesn't really know anyone in the branch so he doesn't have a huge pull to come all the way to Hartford to come to church. Hopefully the elders will be able to help him be more integrated in the branch. I have faith in them. No word on O yet. We were supposed to have an appointment yesterday, but it got cancelled (which was a good thing, or else we wouldn't have been able to go to our surprise party) but we have an appointment with them tonight. And J is going on and off the map. We were supposed to have an appointment with him yesterday too, but he never answered his phone. 

H STILL hasn't gotten his mission call. He was supposed to get it on Friday or Saturday, but he didn't. He probably won't get it before we leave so I'll have to hear about it through the grapevine. 

Well, I'll let you all know how things are going as an STL in Worcester next week! I'm going to miss Hartford so much! Even though this is the most disgusting, ghetto city I've ever seen. It has a special place in my heart :) 

Hermana Hutchinson

September 1, 2014

Well we were supposed to go to Boston today. It's a long story, but the end is that we weren't able to go. It's okay, there will be other chances to go to Boston.

So this week was a bit on the crazy side. Thursday we had interviews. Usually interviews for me are pretty uneventful, so I wasn't expecting anything. One of the first things president told me when I walked in is that he's going to transfer me and make me Sister Training Leader. Then, as I found out the next day, he told the same thing to my zone leaders, my district leader and Sister Beatty. So my whole district knows that I'm getting transferred. To where, we don't know yet, but we all know it's going to happen. 

That kind of threw me off, because I LOVE Hartford and leaving is one of the last things I want to do. I'm also too keen on being Sister Training Leader, at least for my last 2 transfers. But I'll accept the call as I'm sure it will be fun. I was a little out of sorts for the rest of the day, though.

That evening was fun because there was a BYU football fireside. BYU played (and creamed) UConn on Friday. On Thursday they gave a fireside. If I liked football more, it would have been cooler, but alas, football just doesn't call my attention. However, it was still an awesome fireside! The coach was there with the whoooole team and the new BYU president was there so it was cool.

We had a great Sunday though! O and R came to church! And H went to church, but to a different ward. Then, this less active who I have never seen at church, just randomly showed up with his two daughters who are not members. It was miraculous! We were both really happy. H also went to church, but he went to a different ward. He's supposed to get baptized on Sunday, but I think we're going to change the date, because we feel like he needs a little bit more time to progress. He's not quite ready, but he's still doing great! And unfortunately, the less active who went to the fireside, did not come to church yesterday. But she'll be there soon.

We met with O and R that night and had a great lesson. We had a really good talk about them getting married. R is still really unsure about it, even though O is all for it. We realized that, even though they're together and they do things together all the time, they don't really have that close of a relationship. So we challenged them to read the Book of Mormon together every day this week to strengthen their relationship and build trust. We testified to them about how studying the gospel together builds relationships and as they seek revelation for their family, they will grow closer. I know that, if not next week, after a few weeks of studying together they'll be coming to US asking to be married. 

And H did not get his mission call. We were disappointed. He better get it before I leave!!!

I'm glad to hear everything is going well at home! Keep up the good work with the sister missionaries! We need the help :)

Have a great week!

Hermana Hutchinson

August 25, 2014

Hey, sorry for my horrendous email last week. It's seriously getting harder and harder to email on p days. I don't really know why, it just gets old I guess. Especially when nothing exciting or interesting happens during the week. But this week, I'm repenting.

So H is doing well. This week we saw a great change in him. He is understanding the gospel more and he is more interested in reading and going to church. He has even been doing the assignments we give him! He didn't come to the branch yesterday, but apparently he went to the Canton ward with his uncle. Which, I mean, he's at church, but he doesn't understand any of it, so I don't know. Anywho, he's doing well still. We've starting planning his baptism, like who's speaking and what time it's going to be at. We're really excited and hoping that all will go well in the next couple weeks. We still have a lot to do!

O is also doing well. Due to some dumb circumstances, we weren't able to meet with him 2 weeks in a row. BUT we met with him Saturday and Sunday. He asked us what else he needs to do to prepare for baptism since he's been reading and praying a ton. We told him, "Go to church!" He keeps telling us that he's going to go to church and then....he doesn't. But he said this Sunday he will definitely come. No word yet on the marriage, but we want to meet with R sometime and talk about it with her, just us girls. Maybe we can help her get past some of her worries about getting married.

J....well, we haven't met with J recently. He dropped of the radar, but we're going to call him.

Do you remember me telling you about M? She's an amazing woman from Brazil who was already reading the Book of Mormon when we met with her. Unfortunately we have only been able to meet with her once. She started working late and it was difficult to find a time to meet with her, even though she really wanted to learn more. Her family has been going through a lot of difficulties recently. We found out this week (thanks to a great member who's been good about keeping in contact with her) that they were going to be moving to Florida. Her daughter was really sick though and wanted a blessing. Well, it just so happened that an Elder from Brazil had just been transferred into our zone, Elder P. So we called them up and they willingly came to give her a blessing (because they're appointment just "happened" to cancel on them) It was an amazing experience! He was able to speak Portuguese with them, without any language barrier and give her daughter a blessing. M said she's going to join the church when she gets to Florida. We're all hoping and praying that there is someone in the town they're moving to that will be able to help her. We also found out that her daughter, G, also wants to get baptized! So I'm sure, with time, the whole family will get baptized and get sealed in the temple :)

And H. He is still waiting for his mission call.  There were a couple problems with his papers before so they didn't get sent until last week. We're hoping that this Friday his call will come! We have dinner with them that night so it would be very convenient if it came so we can find out where he's going!

Yesterday President Packard came to our stake and did a fireside about "What the World knows because of Joseph Smith" It was an amazing fireside! And we saw the coolest miracle! There is a less active in our branch who was offended and doesn't have very good feelings towards the church. She's a "do not contact". Well, last night, guess who was at the fireside? Yep, the offended less active! And dang, that was an amazing fireside! It got rave reviews! Of all the church events she could choose to come to, she came to the right one! Hopefully she'll come to church this week! 

Another cool thing, on Thursday, we found ourselves driving behind a Bing street view car. It had this tall pole on it with a 360 degree camera. Sooooo we're going to be on Bing street view. It's not a cool as google street view, but I'll take what we can get.  

This week we have interviews with President Packard on Thursday and Wednesday my 100 day countdown will begin! Can you believe it!? 100 days. That's not very many days. (Especially compared to the greenie in our district--he has 700 days left) Also, BYU is playing UConn in football and the BYU president is coming to give a fireside which the missionaries are invited to! We're also doing exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. I'm going to their area and one of them is coming to Hartford. No, they don't speak spanish. No, I have no idea how our exchanges work, but they do.

Next Monday, we're going to the temple. We don't really know yet if we're going to stay in Boston or not. But in the event that we do, I don't know when emailing will happen. Just so you're aware. But don't worry, I'll send an email next week.

The end of August is shaping up to be a good one! I hope you all enjoy your extra 2 weeks of summer! In Hartford, school is starting this tomorrow. Summer went by fast! Don't blink, or it'll be Christmas ;) 

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Hutchinson

August 18, 2014

This was an interesting week. We decided to just stop by H's without setting up an appointment. It ended up being a great appointment! He has been struggling a bit with the Word of Wisdom, mostly because he just doesn't understand why he has to keep it. When he goes out and drinks, he only drinks a little so he thinks it's okay. We were able to help him understand why Heavenly Father wants us to avoid alcohol completely. We also taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and gave him an example of working out (which he loves to do...it's like N all over again haha) We told him that enduring to the end was like working out. When achieve a goal that you set for yourself, you don't just stop working out, or you'll become weak again, but you continue to work out. Like enduring to the end. He really liked that example.The next day, he came to church!! We were excited about that because he's been saying he'll come to church for weeks and he finally came! We were kind of worried about his baptismal date, but he's been progressing a lot the last few days so hopefully everything will work out. We're really excited for him.

We also might have a couple new investigators soon! Last night we were talking to a 15 year old who was asking us a lot of questions about our missions. She thought it was crazy that we were willing to give up movies and music and friends and texting for 18 months.

Okay, I'm sorry this is a short email. I'm getting kicked off. 

Have a great week!

Hermana Hutchinson

August 11, 2014

This was a good week! We have a new zone leader and he's really been pumping up our zone to do a lot of work. We had a zone meeting on Friday that was really good. It was a really spiritual meeting and we learned a lot. Our district is getting along really well this transfer, which I'm grateful for. It's nice to be in a district where everyone is close and we all get along.

 

Last p day the elders in my district were awesome and bought me a watermelon for my birthday! I cut it up and enjoyed watermelon all week. I finished it on Saturday and on Sunday, the M family, the family who let us skype at our house for mother's day, gave me another watermelon! So I got TWO watermelons for my birthday. Best birthday ever!

We're really excited because we have a baptismal date! We invited H to be baptized and he accepted! He's baptismal date is set for September 6th. We're honestly kind of stressed about it because he lives kinda far away in Bristol, about a half hour away and it's hard to keep in contact with him. Plus it's hard for him to get to the branch building in Hartford, but we trust Heavenly Father that he will provide a way for him and for us so that he'll be able to get baptized on Sept 6th.

O and R are also doing well. R is a member of the church, but she's less active. We didn't get to meet with them yesterday though because R was at her mom's house and Oscar was home alone. We set up another appointment for next week though.

I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Hermana Hutchinson