Monday, September 30, 2013 - Week 38

Mom and Dad,

I got the package, beef jerky and all, no problems. Thank you so much for all of the goodies! It's all delicious and I appreciate it all so much!

It's been an excellent week. The weather has been nice - not too hot during the day and the nights are nice and cool. We've been working hard and having tons of fun! I come home every night feeling exhausted and tired but so happy with what I'm doing. We've been focusing a lot on not over-thinking things and just working. I've been trying hard to simply rely on the Lord and just work. As it says in D&C 123:17 just cheerfully do all things which lie your power and see the salvation of God. Likewise in 2 Nephi 25:23, grace will make up for all that we can not do after we have done our best. That grace and salvation are undoubtedly referring to the matchless and infinite power of Christ's Atonement. As we have been focusing on just doing all we can with a smile, we've seen the Lord's hand, help, and guidance making up for everything we are unable to do.

We were blessed to have a new investigator this past week. He is about our age, and has a lot of questions about all of the things we have to offer. I feel very much that as we've begun to rely on the Lord more, He is beginning to trust us more with those He has prepared to hear His gospel.

It's going to be October tomorrow! How the time flies! I'm pretty excited for General Conference coming up. It'll be on the 12th and 13th for us here. I am looking forward to hearing the words of Monson Daikancho (President) and the Shitotachi (Apostles)

Thank you so much for all of your love, support, and prayers.

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, September 23, 2013 - Week 37

Mom and Dad,

Tyler Randolph's farewell?! Wow that's so exciting to hear that he'll be headed out! Glad to hear the weather has been good in Utah. It's been absolutely beautiful here this past week. Blue skies, the days are still a bit on the hot side, but the evenings feel fantastic. I'm also glad to hear that Grandma Ingrid is doing okay. I loved seeing pictures of the farm - I miss the farm so much! I've adjusted to and don't mind living and being in the city and all but I really miss the quiet and calm that you can get on the farm.

It's been an excellent week. Like I said, the weather has been absolutely splendid. The typhoon last week cleared things up and it made for some really pretty sunsets. We went to a park by a river on Tuesday evening to dendo (missionary work) and the park was pretty thrashed. The tennis court was a small pond, and the port-a-potties were all tipped on their sides or completely over. One of the people we talked to said the water got up to 3 meters, and it was apparent by the destruction.

We've been working so hard this last week, and the Lord has been blessing us. We were able to get one new investigator this last week, and we've found some solid potentials too. Dendo is so much fun and there are so many crazy and amazing things that happen every day. I feel like the language is coming more and more every day. I'm learning so much and I'm having so much fun!

Thanks for sending another package! I just got a package from Grandma Hutchings yesterday and am pleased to say that goodies are plentiful and I am well fed. I feel very blessed with good health and I haven't been having any health problems or anything - my joints all feel fine and my feet are giving me no issues.

I'm excited to go into another week in the Lord's service! I love you!

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, September 16, 2013 - Week 36

Mom and Dad,

Crazy to hear about how much rain you've been getting in Utah. Things have been mostly sunny this last week, but they haven't been as ridiculously hot as before. We had a typhoon move in yesterday so it rained all of yesterday and the wind was blowing way hard this morning. The clouds have broken up for today, but it's still windy. Fun to hear about the Homecoming game and the band and to see the pictures. Glad to hear everything went okay with Grandma Ingrid as well. I'm sorry to hear about Brother O'Brien. Nathan Anderson and Miranda Porter are engaged? What splendid news!

About the package, I'd love some Nutella. I am able to buy it occassionally, but only from the Honbu (mission home), which I normally don't go to the Honbu that often. Other than that, I'm not in any particular need or want of anything right now. Will Sister Hansen's dad be taking it with him then sending it in Japan? If that's the case, the Mission Office requests that it is sent through the Japan Postal Service. If it's sent through the Japan Postal Service they can forward it for free.

This last week has been excellent. As we have been striving to be completely obedient in all that we do to the instructions the Lord has revealed to us through our leaders we have been greatly blessed. We've been able to find many more potential investigators, and we have 4 appointments set up for this upcoming with with PIs. Beyond that, 2 other potentials said they will try to come to church this Sunday. We're excited to move into this week and keep working hard and doing all we can to follow the Lord's will. The mission goal that we have right now is to have 1 baptism in every zone every week. Everyone in the mission is working hard and putting forth greater faith and effort, and it's been amazing to see the results.

Things are going well between Elder Baldwin and I. We're working hard and loving it! My district is doing all right - we're all struggling a bit with finding new investigators. Elder Baldwin and I are working hard to receive blessings and help from the Lord so that we can see success. After that, I hope my district will try and follow the example that we set. I feel like that's a critical part of leadership in any organization - example. The only way that I can expect to uplift and help my district is if I am in good standings myself.

Another fun thing that I got to go to this last week was District Leader Council. It was fun to talk to all of the other District Leaders in the mission and receive some training from Zinke Kaicho and the Assistants.

I'm happy and healthy and I love being a missionary!

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Me by the church

Some Engrish from a notebook I bought at the Dollar Store

grocery store right next to the apartment

This is what I see when I look out the front door.

River by the church grows when it's rainy!

I love my mission so much. Can't you tell?

Monday, September 9, 2013 - Week 35

Mom and Dad,

Isn't it crazy to think that on January 9th I entered the MTC? I just realized that when I looked at the date on the computer screen. It's crazy to think of how quickly time passes! It's so fun to hear about everything that's been going on. Park City sounds like it was a good time all around. Also good to hear that things are cooling for you, they've been cooling down here too. We've had a bit of a rainy week last week, and it's felt really nice.

That's awesome that you had a chance to see Sachi! I'm glad to hear she's doing well. Do you know where she's going to school in Japan? And do you happen to know where her mom and brother are living? I'm just curious because I kind of get where things are in Japan now. If you wouldn't mind asking Carla French for me, I would appreciate. Splendid to hear that Elder French is well! Way awesome that he's losing some weight too.

I'm sorry that I haven't been sending that many pictures. We're not supposed to take pictures while we're proselyting, so I kind of just forget a lot of the time to take pictures of the area and what not. I'll take some today and send them next week.

I do know Josh Harding! I heard from someone a little while ago that he got his call to Fukuoka. Josh Harding and I were friends in elementary school, and he was also in one of my classes when I was at UVU last year.

Work this last week has been a bit slow - in that not a lot of the people we've been talking to on the streets are making the transition into becoming investigators, and a lot of our current investigators are kind of doing so so. I'm not going to lie, I kind of felt like I was slipping into a grind, too. I feel like I started to just go through the motions of missionary life. But, this last Friday we had a really good Zone Training Meeting where a new mission goal was introduced, and Elder Baldwin and I are dedicated to working for it. Beyond just the goal, we were reminded about all of the steps that it takes and will take to fulfill any goal. If we don't hit the smaller objectives and get the foundational and basic tasks done and in order, the higher and greater things won't be accomplished. As a companionship we're going to work harder to really focus on making sure we're doing all we can to be 100% obedient to not just the mission rules, but to all of the training and instruction we've received. By doing so we know we will qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and only through the Holy Ghost can we know what the Lord wants us to do. That's really the only way to be an effective servant of the Lord. After you know what the Lord specifically desires you to do, then so long as you have faith that the Lord will help, then the Lord will grant you His help and power to fulfill what He has instructed.

I'm happy and healthy and super pumped for this next week. I'm finding great joy in the work I'm involved in, and I'm ever grateful to you for all of the support you give to me.

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings

Monday, September 2, 2013 - Week 34

Hi Mom and Dad,

 

Things around here have been a bit cooler as of late.  We've been getting some rain the past few days and it's felt pretty nice.

 

This last week has been fun and a great one!  One of our Zone Leaders last transfer became one of the Assistants to the President this transfer, as such he had to go to the Honbu last Monday.  Because of that we worked with the other Zone Leader, Elder Kato, as a san-nin (3 some) this past week.  We ended up going to his area, Senri, and working there from Tuesday to Friday morning.  It was a lot of fun working with him, and it was an excellent experience getting to learn from him.

 

The sister who was going to be baptized this last Sunday didn't end up being able to make it through.  We weren't able to arrange for her to get a baptismal interview (with the Zone Leaders since I'm District Leader) and she still doesn't feel ready.  We're hopefully going to meet with her again this week and we plan to set a baptismal date with her that she is committed to.

 

Things are going well in this area otherwise.  We're focusing a lot on finding new investigators right now, because a lot of our other investigators are not really investigating.  The language is coming along bit by bit.  The sister's area in our district became a Yon-nin (4 some) and one of the new sisters to the area is Nihonjin, so hopefully having her around will help out with the language too.  I am enjoying the work I'm doing.  There are so many experiences I have - from crazy and drunk people on the street, to tender mercies of the Lord I see all around - so everyday is enjoyable and an incredible learning opportunity.  Elder Baldwin is doing incredible, and he is for sure on track to be training in the next transfer or two.

 

I'm in good health and I'm definitely having fun!  Thanks again for the package!  Cinnamon gum o taberu no wa hisashiburi desu! (long time since I've had cinnamon gum)

 

Love,

Elder Kyle Hutchings