Hey Mom and Dad,
It
snowed about 15 inches or so over the course of Saturday and Sunday.
It makes getting around by bike wicked fun and a bit of a pain. But it
warmed up yesterday afternoon and it's sunny today, so at least the
roads have enough clear space that we can ride in relative safety. If I
can, I'm going to try and find a pair of boots or something that I can
wear. I've stolen a pair of overshoes and a pair of bigger rain boots
from the house here, but those look rather strange to wear if I'm not
wearing my rain gear, and they also have the draw back of not keeping my
feet very warm. I was thinking if I could find some decent looking and
decent priced boots that would keep things warm and dry it would be
nice. If I do find something, I'll purchase it with my debit card, just
heads up. If I don't find anything, then no worries.
I feel like I'm losing my mind. Time is going so
fast. Another transfer has passed and in just a week it will mark one
year from when I entered the MTC. Elder Hoshino and I are both staying
in Toyooka, as it were. There are a few changes in the Zone with folks
transferring out and in.
Yesterday I conducted Sacrament Meeting in Japanese.
It was definitely an interesting and fun experience. I'm sure I'll be
doing it quite often from here on out. So that will be fun and it's
definitely something I'm hoping to improve on. The conductor of the
meeting has quite an influence on creating a spiritual atmosphere in the
meeting. The tone of voice, level of formality (especially in the
Japanese language), speed you talk, and the way you conduct yourself
factors fairly heavily into whether an environment where answers to
prayers and guidance from on high can be felt through the Holy Ghost is
created. Other than conducting sacrament meeting, another
responsibility I have is to help with Dendo in the branch. We don't
have a Dendo Shunin (Mission Leader), and the Branch President is rather
busy, so I play a supporting role there.
I wish to express my thanks for the Christmas cards
from the family and neighbors. I've gotten one from Alan and Brenda,
Larry and Hattie, Craig and Whitney, the Teasdales, among others. It
makes me happy to see the pictures of everyone and getting the chance to
see how everyone is growing.
I enjoyed the call. It was nice to talk for a bit
to everyone and hear how you're all doing. I'm sure grateful that
nobody has spontaneously combusted or anything like that. It's nice to
not have to worry much about home and family and be able to just dendo
(do missionary work). I've been meaning to send out some letters
lately, by the way, and I hope to do so soon.
For whatever reason, as I'm drawing near the
half-way point in my mission, I've been thinking a lot about belief. In
the Japanese language especially, there's a real difference between how
they interpret "I know..." and "I believe...". It's fascinating to me,
but it's led me to realize a few things. Life is good. We have no
reason to despair. Either there's a God in heaven or there's not. As
I've chosen to test if there is a God and to follow what God has said, I
have come to firmly believe that God exists. He's always kept His
promises, and even when it seems like there's no reason to trust Him,
just following His way has never brought me regrets. I've never seen
Him, or heard His voice so I probably can't say that I know for sure
He's there, but because of what I HAVE experienced, felt, and seen, I
have no grounds to deny that He is not and I choose to believe that He
is. I don't know or understand everything, but I don't care to. I know
enough. I believe He is there, I believe and trust in what He has
said, and I'm not afraid to change what I am in order to fulfill what He
wants. I do believe He knows better than me about everything, so why
on earth would I question His ways, character, and current or past
works? I believe that as a man I can't comprehend all that God has done
or will do. But I also firmly believe and have faith that trusting Him
will only lead to good for me, for now and forever. Sometimes
believing has been really hard for me, even as a missionary. But I've
gotten comfortable with the uncomfortable feeling of taking the step
into the dark, letting go of what my physical senses and brain tell me
makes sense, and trusting in His ways. I do believe His ways and
thoughts are higher than ours. What I believe to be God's way has only
brought me joy and joy to those around me, so I aim to keep on going in
His way.
Love,
Elder Kyle Hutchings
