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
