Latino

     First of all did you know that if you get bit by a stray dog that you then have to receive 5 shots for rabies? Why did I tell you this, well as it so happened that in my first week with my new Mexican companion (our second day together) that I landed him in the hospital, NEW RECORD! So what happened was we were just contacting peacefully down a street when all of the sudden I hear a blood curdling scream and my companion flies by me about five steps and collapses on the ground still screaming. So I turn around and right there about a foot from me is a huge burly beast sent from the devil himself in a foolish attempt to stop the missionaries from building up the kingdom of God  (I am not sure but I think it was a German Shepherd) the devils minion didn't just want one missionary, it wanted us both so for a good five minutes I have a face off one on one with the monstrous beast that had brutally mutilated my companion. And no one gets away with that (except for me) after a few solid blows the dog learned who was the boss and ran away with its tail in between its legs. My companion is okay now, on the bright side only three more shots until he can be declared rabies free.

In happier news this week we had our Christmas devotional for the mission and let me tell you WOW! it was amazing! I will tell you two of the things which struck me the most.

An early Christmas with departing comp.

1. The most important doctrine that we can share with people is that God loves us, that is the reason for literally everything. IT is because he loves us that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, because he loves us he restored his church through the prophet Joseph Smith, because he loves us we have families and because he loves us we have the opportunity to live with them forever. Also because he loves us he will answer our prayers, if you think about it what would the point of all this be if we couldn't ask God, if it is all true? God loves us and wants us to be happy, it is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, when we prayer he is going to respond because he is our Father. As a favorite scripture says "I am persuaded, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2. Silence=good. I learned that as missionaries we are never in a duo. But that instead we are always and have to be in a trio. Two missionaries and the Spirit. As missionaries we can talk and talk and talk, but if we never give a moment to our dearest friend and companion, it doesn't work, everything that we say is pointless. And so after a powerful scripture or statement we need to give it a second or two and the Spirit will "Come to them and dwell {in their} hearts" 

3. You have probably heard this a lot especially during the Christmas season, but really it is better to give than to receive. I have always liked the scripture that tells us not to store up treasures on the earth, but to store up treasures in heaven. To give is ALWAYS better than to receive. 

Service cleaning a turtle cage

Companion-----Elder Cardona from Mexico, has been in the mission for 19 months, speaks no English, loves to eat, loves to sleep (don't worry I'm keeping his sleep schedule on line, none of that sleeping in late stuff), he is pretty animated, also he really wants to be here on the mission. His parents didn't want him to come (they are not members) so when he told them he was coming they kicked him out of the house and for four years he lived in the house of a member family. He is a good missionary with a strong testimony.

Merry Christmas!

I love you all- have fun playing in the snow while I get tan! Really though I love you all more than you can imagine keep on keeping on.

Much Love,

Elder Hutchins