1.Monday we went to go and visit a sister who is investigating the church, when we showed up at her house and knocked on her door. When she answered the door we could see that something was up, she wouldn't look us in the eyes and kept looking at the ground. We asked her if we could still share a message with her. It took her a few moments to choke the words out, "No, no, I... I cant do this right now." After about five minutes of trying to figure out what happened we left. This experience reminded me that sometimes in our lives the answer to our problems is literally knocking at our door and for one reason or another we turn it away. But usually the answer doesn't just go away and give up (especially when the answer is the missionaries, we'll be back Carmen)
2. On Saturday we went to the Riquelme family, man they are just the best. The wife and daughter of Luis are not members, but Elizabeth (the mom) recently told her Evangelical preacher Father that she is going to get baptized, and is trying to share the gospel with her brother and his family! She is inviting them to a Family Home Evening next week on Monday. Their two year old son Lucas got a drum set for Christmas so Saturday we taught the word of Wisdom rock style! That's how we do it.
3. Saturday as well we were out with Sergio (24 and going on a mission in February) all of the lessons we had planned fell through... and we were stumped for about five seconds when the spirit took over. A few weeks earlier Sergio had told us about a classmate he knew who might be willing to listen to us, so I asked him if we could visit with him. There was only one problem he had no idea where he lived and no way to contact him.... But again the spirit took over and we selected a street and once on the street we walked to a house and stopped and I told Sergio, welp, we are going to start here, lo and behold, it was his friends house. We went in taught him the restoration and set up a return appointment. The spirit will guide us if we allow it to.
4. Saturday again (it was a busy day) At nine o'clock the other elders in our ward had a baptism (it started at 930) But it was the best attended baptism I have ever seen, it was incredible and powerful, as always.
5. This week for Christmas a family in our ward gave us chicken, but since we had an activity for the mission is went uneaten that day, sitting in the sweltering sun on the sofa in our apartment, but as nothing goes to waste in our apartment my companion elected to eat the chicken the next day. To make a long story short I have never seen someone have to make so many bathroom breaks in my life. We literally have been running from house to house, running because as soon as we leave the previous house once again he has to "drop the kids off at the pòol" if you know what I mean. But seriously I feel kinda bad for him, but that doesn't stop me from chuckling from time to time.
I hope that is enough stories for this week, but stay tuned there will be more next Monday, and the next one, and the next, and the one after that as well, for about the next two years. I love each of you, please try to refrain from eating old chicken that has been sitting in the sun, it's not healthy. Follow the spirit, rock out, but most importantly listen and search for the answers and God is always trying to give us.
"Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."
It is God's character to give, let it be in our character to receive with a cheerful heart that which he is giving. I love each of you SOOOOO much! Especially my family Mom, Dad, Derek, Seur Hutchins, Hanners, Kevi, Jimmy, Moriah, X-man, Izzy, and of course the Luv bug Lavinia who loves me soooo much!!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Hutchins
