A Constant Companion

7.7.14

Well usually people don't like it when they are continually followed by someone else, it is actually really creepy when this happens, but there is a huge difference when that 'someone' is the spirit. And this week God has blessed us with him as a constant companion.

Tuesday, what a day. Monday night my companion and I planned out an amazing day Tuesday in which we were going to "bring to pass much righteousness", we thought we had planned the perfect day, but come four O'clock on Tuesday God showed us a better way. And let me tell you, it was a lot better. Two of those lessons changed peoples lives forever. And they were two lessons we hadn't planned on having. 

LESSON 1: We called a recent convert and asked her how she was doing, her response, "Horrible" So we 'went to the rescue' We found out that the family was having a lot of problems especially related with their fourteen year old daughter who rarely listens to our message. Thanks to our constant companion we knew just what to do and we began asking Nicole (the fourteen year old) a few questions. To some up a long story, after I had asked a particular question she said she didn't want to answer, instead of responding immediately (like I do too often) I listened to the promptings of the spirit and I made eye contact with her and we sat there, and sat there, and sat there some more, until slowly tears filled her eyes and she began to talk and by the end the whole family was in tears. Well we put the needed goals and commitments and are making daily contact with them to make sure they are reading their scriptures everyday, and the change is incredible, now when they answer the phone they are all (the fourteen year old included) laughing and joyful. That is the joy of a missionary. seeing lives change.

LESSON 2: Hernan, a twenty year old who loves meeting with us, but has had some trouble keeping commitments. Well Tuesday we had a great lesson, in which we addressed one of his doubts, if God does exist. So we invited him in the moment (thanks to the promptings of our dear friend) to offer a prayer asking God if he does exist. Well about half way through the prayer the words coming out of his mouth stopped and we sat there, or kneeled there, for ten minutes in complete silence, Hernan with his head bowed. He is getting baptized the nineteenth. He is reading the book of mormon and arrived at church at 9:30, well before the majority of the members and the bishopric, Future missionary!!

We had a zone activity today, the activity, COOK OUT, chef? Yours truly. 

I love being a missionary, nothing beats it, sorry everyone else, but I tell it how it is. Love you all.

Elder Hutchins!!!

Perfection by fire.....and ice water

6.30.14

Some test manhood by eating contests, others by how much weight you can bench, the native Americans sent you out into the wild until you had a vision and came back alive, well here The CHILE CONCEPCION MISSION we do it a little bit differently, we test manhood on how many days in a row you can take an ice cold shower. Mark me down for two weeks and going, everyday! I have officially been declared the cleanest Elder in the house as I am the only one to have taken a shower Everyday. I will have you know, for the book that it is now the dead of winter here and we have no heating in our house. Perfection by ice water.

This week was an interesting one. First off my companion had to go to concepcion for two days for his 'new confrence' and left me completely and utterly alone. Luckily for me I know people and made a few phone calls and I was covered for those two days I had people to accompany me to everywhere that I needed to be. THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! Not only did that allow me to get done my long list of required tasks, but it allowed me to obey the commandment to do everything with the members, I love it when a plan comes together. 

Just one of the many blessing I have seen from talking to everyone, yesterday in the afternoon we contacted a fairly angry looking man and turns out he is the owner of a gym and invited us to go and workout free, sweet! So today my companion and I hit the racks and went to work. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together. 

Furthermore, this week, on Wednesday night, while my companion was in concepcion, it was freezing and so I got all bundled up for bed and when it was nice and warm I drifted off to sleep, hours passed with me in my unconscious state when suddenly a loud bang woke me up, what followed was a terrifying blood curdling scream that seemed to go on forever, finally one of the elders in our ward turned on the lights, turns out that Elder Rodriguez (from Italy) had fallen out of the upper bunk of the bunk bed and dislocated where the collar bone meets the shoulder. Well we returned to bed and dealt with it the next day, but now he is going to have to  have an operation this next Wednesday....dang.

I love the work, I hope each of you can say the same, if you cant repent and go to work, that is the system the Lord has placed.

Elder Hutchins

ITS THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

6.23.14

We are preparing here in San Carlos for a host of Baptisms. I think I will introduce the host:

SOFIA: She is an eight year old ball of crazy (she reminds me at times of the Lovely Lady Lavinia). She has wanted to get baptized for some time, her mother is a new convert and really no one has done much to help her get baptized and so we are getting it done. Anything to build the kingdom of God. This young lady wants to be a missionary and does it by copying whatever I do. Apparently she has decided that I tell people to repent a lot because she has begun to call her older sister and her mother to repentance when they do something questionable. 

Hernán: Twenty year old Hernán is a really cool guy. My companion contacted him in the street thinking for some reason that he was a member and now he is progressing really well. The best part about teaching him is the involvement of the members. When he didn't show up at church yesterday the members were asking where he was and then they did more than usual and went to go and visit him! LOVE IT!!!! He is lacking peace in his life and just wants to feel good inside, also he wants to serve a mission for the church, sweet!

Francisco and Family (of five): They are a great family of five who have met with the missionaries consecutively for about seven years, and this past week we made more progress with them than was made within those past seven years together. We asked a few questions to which the father of the family responded, "well that is a great question, also it is the first time the missionaries have ever asked me that" PROGRESS.

Marixa and Monserat: A grandma and her granddaughter who really need some help in their current situation and have found the answer in the restored church of Jesus Christ. Last night The granddaughter asked us to give her more to read in the Book of Mormon and then to come back and quiz her on it. That is what I am talking about!

Also props this week go to my son, Elder Gorham, he is my first companion who I don't have to motivate to clean and boy today did we do a super clean of our house, I walk in and it just smells SO clean I love it and so does the spirit. 

We started up some English classes this week and are beginning to do more activities (five references contacted at soccer this Friday and a grand total of eleven investigators!) and the members are starting to invite all of their friends. 

JUST LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

LOVE 

Elder Hutchins