Monday, December 1, 2014 - Week 99 (Last week in Japan)

Mom and Dad,

 

I'm going to be headed over to Kobe today to receive my interview from President Welch and what not.  Then I'll be going back to the honbu (mission home) on Friday evening to eat dinner there and stay over to fly out on Saturday.

 

I still don't know what will be happening between today and Friday, but I'll probably hear more about that today.

 

I would write more, but I've got to go back to our apartment to wait on the people to pick up my luggage.

 

I love you.  I'll see you on Saturday!

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, November 24, 2014 - Week 98

Mom and Dad,

 

It's strange that you mention Lilia's birthday party.  Do you remember 2 years ago how just before we ran out the door to go to Lilia's party I opened my mission call?  Crazy to think it's already been two years since that night.

 

It's strange to think that this week is my last week as a missionary.  It's looking like a busy week.  We've got appointments with two people we found last week, a meal appointment with an investigator and a member, I have a Leadership training meeting to attend on Tuesday, an Eikaiwa Activity on Saturday, etc.  We've been keeping pretty busy all along, but this week is looking particularly full.

 

This last week we attended a Zone Conference in Kyoto.  It was great to see President and Sister Welch and the Assistants (one of which is my dear Hoshino Choro).  I sat with Elder Asai and we switched off translating every 30 minutes of the meeting.  It was strange getting up at the end of the meeting to bear my last testimony (which Asai Choro translated) and then translating Elder Asai's testimony.

 

I still haven't slowed down yet, nor do I intend to slow down at all.  Sorry this is a short one again, I've got to get a few things taken care of before next week.

 

I love you,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, November 17, 2014 - Week 97

Mom and Dad,

 

Life's been good this last week.  It's definitely been busy and getting chilly here too.  It hasn't been too bad in terms of the cold, and I'm surviving.

 

This last week I had a chance to go on an exchange with Elder Donaldson again.  It was great to be able to spend some time talking to and working with him.  Had a great time with the other Elders living in Hirakata, Elder Moos from Spanish Fork is one of them.  I'll attach a photo if I can.

 

There's truly nothing more important in this life and in this work than love and having the Spirit.  If you are filled with love, you will have the motivation and will to do all you can to help others and to give yourself to God.  If you have the Spirit with you, you'll do the right things at the right time.

 

Sorry, this week's e-mail is a bit short.  We've got to go get my companion's bike fixed.

 

I'm doing great and still love life.  I can't believe how close I'm getting to the end of my mission, but I'm not slowing down, nor do I intend to!

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

 

Me, Elders Moos, Donaldson, and Spilker.  We got some soda and steak sauce at an import store.  It's been a while since I had root beer!

Monday, November 10, 2014 - Week 96

 

Mom and Dad,

 

Fun to hear about the baby shower and that Lillie and Mimi will be going to play with Grandma and Grandpa.

 

愛する父よ、もし私は漢字で書いてもまだ読める？私はRAGNARで走りたい！(In case you couldn't read that, yes, I would be very interested in running in the Ragnar).  Also, we haven't been going very far on the distance - my companion brings a soccer ball and practices kicks and drills while I do pull-ups and dips on some exercise bars in the park.  We also do stairs and sprints sometimes.  I love getting up and moving!

 

It's been another good week.  Things are starting to get a bit chilly around here, but not quite as bad as where you are.  It's nowhere near as bad as it was in Toyooka last year either - Osaka has probably been the nicest area for weather for me on my whole mission.

 

Last Friday we had a Zone Training Meeting.  It was awesome because Elder Hapi is also in this Zone so I had a chance to talk to him.  It was a bit strange because I'm going back one transfer sooner than he is.  He said he's considering coming to BYU Provo for school, but he's not how much he wants to live in America.  Hapi Choro is such a hoot.  It was also strange because I was invited to give a returning missionary testimony at the end of the meeting.  I remember when I first got to the mission and went to a meeting or conference and saw the returning missionaries give their testimonies.  I always thought that it would be so far away.  But here it is, and it's a sprint to the finish.

 

The Eikaiwa (English conversation class) in this area is awesome!  I've been having fun doing the kid's class, and last week two more families came with kids.  They were invited to come by the students already coming.  We're working with the ward now to plan an activity outside of English Conversation class to try  make it easier to bring in a Gospel introduction.  We're excited to see where things will go with Eikaiwa.

 

We've received a challenge from President Welch to read the Book of Mormon by the end of February.  I'm excited to begin the Book of Mormon again and deepen my own testimony and conversion.

 

I love life and I love being a missionary.  It's strange to think that in just a few short weeks I'll be seeing you all, but it makes me want to sprint harder and harder.  I remind myself that the only way I can hold my head high breaking through the finish line is if I finish pushing my hardest.  In Helaman 16 (maybe it's 15) it talks about how after Samuel the Lamanite flees from the Nephites, he goes back to his own land and keeps preaching.  If sharing the Gospel is what you're supposed to do when you go home (which I think it is) then I've got no reason to stop doing it or slow down now!

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, November 3, 2014 - Week 95

Mom and Dad,

 

Working here in Sekime is a lot of fun.  Elder Eberhard has been awesome enough to go running with me.  We run through the park not too far from our apartment and he brings a jump-rope to use while I do pull-ups and dips.  This last week has been full of good things to do and I really feel like I've been able to effectively fulfill my purpose to invite others to come unto Christ.  Every Monday a brother in our ward from Africa named Brother Usman holds a family home evening.  Basically all that we do is get together with some ward members and investigators and read together from the Book of Mormon then we eat food.  It was so fun this last week, and there was such a sweet Spirit there.   On Wednesday I taught the kids class in Eikaiwa.  There are so many people who come to Eikaiwa here!  It's awesome!  I had a lot of fun just being crazy and trying to teach all the little kids English.

 

I've been thinking a lot this last week about love and repentance.  It's been interesting and educational having a chance to serve as missionary.  I've really come to see how the Gospel and the example of Jesus Christ are so necessary to have any sort of meaningful influence on other people.  When you are full of love for others and patiently and kindly teach and invite them, then you can effectively help others repent and come closer to the Savior.  At the same time, when you have a love for Jesus Christ and truly believe in His power, you personally will not hesitate to make the necessary changes in your life to draw unto Him.  When people know they are loved and understood, they are much more willing to accept an invitation to draw unto Him.  The Gospel truly works for anything and any situation in life.

 

I love being a missionary.  I love life!

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, October 27, 2014 - Week 94

Mom and Dad,

 

Sekime is in the middle of Osaka.  It's a big city area.  I think that just in this area, there are over 9million people or so.  That may have just been for one of the little sub-cities in this area.  In any event, there are a lot of people!  Just yesterday we went up to the 14th floor of an apartment building to visit a former investigator and we looked out to see buildings as far as the eye can see.  Osaka Umeda station and Universal Studios Japan are also in this area.  There are a couple of sisters in the ward from America who work at USJ at the new Harry Potter thing they've got there.  There's also a large African man who was converted about a year or so ago who's been faithfully coming since he was baptized.  He and those 2 sisters don't speak any Japanese.  Elder Eberhard has been translating for them for the past little while, but I gave him a break and did some translation yesterday during church.   Last Saturday the ward had a Halloween party, so I was able to go and meet a lot of ward members right off the bat.  It was really fun! 

 

Elder Eberhard is a great guy.  He's originally from Colorado, but went to high school in Ogden and his family is still there I think.  We should be in for some fun times and good work this transfer.

 

I'm still a little bummed out that I was transferred out of Matsue, but I know it's not for nothing.  There's a reason why I'm here, and whether I see that reason now or if it takes until after I die to know, I don't know.  But it doesn't matter.  God has revealed to all men the biggest "Why?" of all - and that is that He loves us and wants us to be like Him.  All things God orchestrates in our lives is to help us personally, and help us help others, get to that goal.  As much as I want to know the smaller "Why?"s and the reasons behind things, I know that it's all in God's wisdom to bring about his great and eternal purposes.

 

I love being a missionary!

 

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, October 20, 2014 - Week 93

Mom and Dad,

 

So, as it were, I'm getting transferred for my last transfer!  I'm headed back over to Osaka to a place called Sekime.  I'm getting paired up with an Elder Eberhard.  Hashimoto Choro is going to be transferring as well and they're going to be bringing in a couple of other Elders in to replace us.  I'm excited to head back to Osaka.  Sekime is a very tokai area from what I understand.  It'll be fun to spend my last leg of my mission in the big city!

 

Due to transfers and missionaries heading home, etc. I'm actually e-mailing in an internet cafe in another area.  One of the Elders here is heading home and got on a bus alone to head home this morning, and so another Elder from Matsue and I came so he wouldn't be alone.  We'll be headed back to our area sometime soon so that I can pack up, etc.

 

Because of all of that this is where I'm going to be ending my e-mail.  A bit short, I know, but we've got to go do stuff!

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings