Monday, July 25, 2016

9 Months???

July 25, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Wow. It was one wild week, and it went by soooo fast. Where do I even begin?? All I have to say is my mission is flying by, and it makes me uncomfortable because I love being here so much.

I guess I will start with the week in general.. A massive heat wave passed through Omaha. Awe man, it was nothing like I have ever experienced. For 3 days it was about 110 degrees, but with the heat index it felt like 120 degrees. The humidity was at least 80%, and I have never felt more sticky in my life. Every time I would step outside, it would feel like I stepped into a sauna, and I was automatically super sweaty. I am NOT being dramatic or exaggerating. This is what makes me so grateful for the Trail Center, because it caused me to be inside throughout a good chunk of the heat wave, haha. I love air conditioning!! Since we were at the Trail Center so much this week, we slept at the Trail Center Leaders' house for 3 nights, and when we got back to our apartment, our apartment was so humid that our bathroom door was literally swollen, and wouldn't shut. (don't worry, we figured out how to get it shut)

On Thursday it was my 9 month mark!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that crazy?? I feel like I just left yesterday, and now I am practically half-way through my mission. Also, on Thursday, it was Sister Slater's birthday! It was such a fun day, that was full of way too much food. For lunch, the senior couple on shift with us at the Trail Center bought us all pizza, and Sister Slater's mom gave the senior sister some money to go get a red-velvet cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (Then the Senior sister told us how many calories were in 1 piece... #noshame) We did service with the Trail Center Leaders at a health clinic that night, and the doctor in charge took us all out to a super nice dinner. When, we got back to the Trail Center, a member of our ward had dropped off a massive meat platter from Famous Daves, and another member of our ward was waiting for us with huge cupcakes. We exercised our self-control and saved the Famous Daves and the cupcakes for another day.. It was such a fun day, though.

I gave a pretty awkward tour at the Trail Center this week. It was this family that was moving to Utah from Pennsylvania, and was hitting all of the church history sites on the way. As we started the tour, I casually started talking about how much the pioneers loved the temple because it strengthened their families. Then, I asked them how having an eternal family has blessed their lives.. yeah... They weren't members. WHO MOVES TO UTAH AND GOES TO CHURCH HISTORY SITES THAT ISNT A MEMBER? I am pretty sure I was sweaty and red the rest of the tour, and I apologized about 100 times. Then, the dad was on the verge of bible bashing me the whole time. He kept asking me about the Bible and I shared with him my favorite verse from the New Testament. As I read it, I started to cry (he thought it was because of the spirit but I was really just nervous as HECK), and then he felt bad for me and was nice the rest of the time. So, that is my awkward story of the week. Long story short, they are going to start meeting with missionaries in Utah. So all is well.

Anyways, it was a really good week. We didn't have a lot of time in our area because of the Trail Center (we literally only had 2 days in our area), but it is cool how Heavenly Father makes up for the lost time. We were able to find about 3 potential investigators the other night, and I know it's because Heavenly Father is mindful of us. He isn't just mindful of His missionaries, but he is mindful of YOU. I have learned that so much on my mission.

I love you all, and am so grateful to be a missionary. The gospel is the only way to true happiness, and I am able to experience that every day. I pray that you do as well. Have a wonderful week!!

Love,
Sister Hutchison

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." - Alma 26:37

*lots of pictures this week*


our last District Meeting since transfers are this week!


proof of heat


9 Months with Nebrasquad


one more Nebrasquad pic :)


one of my best friends, Sister Hyde, goes home this week :(


Happy Pioneer day!!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Nebraska = Humid

July 18, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!!

I can't believe it is Monday again. It feels like Monday was 2 days ago!! Time just goes by way too fast on a mission. It is freaky.

I don't feel like I have too much to share this week. All of this week I was working on not letting myself freak out since my family was in Lake Powell without me.. But I made it through, and I am really good at breathing exercises now. Haha just kidding. (kinda).

Most of this past week was spent at the Trail Center, since it is crazy busy. I have some good Trail Center stories! A group of 150 polygamists came in. That was something else. They all just looked really angry the whole time. One of them went to high school with one of the sisters that serve here, and she said she had no idea because he graduated from Seminary with her and everything. It was interesting! I learned a lot! That's what I love about serving a mission; you get to learn so much about other religions.

I took a tour group of 36 youth all by myself this week. In the beginning they were really shy and didn't want to be there, since it was the last stop on their trip. I tried cracking some of my good ol' jokes, but they didn't laugh and it was awkward. But, it is cool how the Trail Center softens peoples hearts! By the end, they were all talking to me and they were so spiritual. The Holy Ghost does wonders :) Another cool tour I took this week was with a single woman. She was probably in her 60's, and she was baptized when she was 18. She didn't speak English too well, but it was such a good tour. We mostly just walked around the gallery, and then sat and talked for about a half an hour. She completely opened up to me about her amazing conversion story, and she asked me about how the gospel has effected my life. We just sat talking, laughing and crying with each other. I love how you can meet someone for the first time, but during the tour you start to feel like you've known them forever. I love serving at the Trail Center.

Kind of a funny thing that happened this week. I completely fell asleep while reading the missionary handbook in the morning. Mid sentence I just was out, immediately woke up, and all of the sudden I was crying. Sister Slater couldn't stop laughing for like 15 minutes, and neither could I, which made me cry harder. Missions do weird things to you.

All in all, it was a pretty good week. Next week is going to fly by, I just know it. I am way too busy. Summer is great. :)

Love,

Sister Hutchison

ps. I am going to start putting a scripture of the week in my email. I found this one a few days ago, and completely fell in love with it.
- " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20


Yes. This happened. 


I had to add this because we looked so happy


Since my family was in Lake Powell, I wanted to be there too... On lds maps. 


also, this is why Senior couples should not leave their phone unattended at the Trail Center.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Temples and Burritos....

July 11, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!!

This week was great and quick, like usual. I love the Midwest. It is such a beautiful place to be!

I had a pretty busy week. I was serving at the Trail Center quite a bit. It is soooo busy. So many Mormons on church history tours walk through the doors every day. Last night a group of 300 youth came in. It is only the 11th of July, and we have had well over 3,000 visitors. It is insane! We barely have time to eat when we are on shift!

Speaking of eating..... The best miracle in the world happened to me this week. The miracle is from a mother's love, which resulted in CAFE RIO. Yes. My super-hero as a mother managed to send a frozen pork burrito from Café Rio with a neighbor who was traveling through Nebraska this week. Being on a mission + Café Rio = The most happiness one could ever feel in their life. That first bite was life changing. I love serving in America. haha.

On a more serious note (not that I wasn't being serious).. We were able to go to the temple this week!!! The last time I went was in March, so it was a well-needed trip. It was exactly what I needed, and such a special experience. I truly wish I could just go every single day, but I am here on a mission to help the living come closer to Jesus Christ. I have to remind myself that every once in a while, but being so close to a temple is such a blessing. I know serving in the shadow of the Winter Quarters temple every day has impacted me greatly.

The work in Bennington is going well! Our investigator pool is a little shallow, but it is okay. I know that as I continue to give my all to Heavenly Father, he will recognize the effort and bless us immensely.

I love you all so much. I appreciate all of your love and support on my decision to serve the Lord. It is the best thing I have ever done.

Love,

Sister Missy Hutchison


Me and Sister Slater at the Temple


My zone at the Temple


Proof of the Café Rio magic


One of Sister Slater's Selfies of us at the temple


Gotta love President Gardner

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Happy (late) 4th!!!

July 5, 2016

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Wow, this week certainly flew by! I am so happy to hear that everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. I know I am so grateful for the religious freedom in our country. It was fun to thank Heavenly Father for that yesterday.

I feel like I don't have too much to say this week! So I will just update you on a few things!!

Our investigator, Emma, is still doing great! She is praying about baptism. So we know that as she continues to pray and read the Book of Mormon, that the Lord will truly answer her prayers and that her desire for baptism will increase. Please keep her in your prayers.

We did service/dinner at a less-active family's home this week. It was so fun. We cleaned their whole house, and then they let us help make dinner. They are all from Texas, and so of course we made homemade deep-fried chicken wings, and homemade French fries. I could feel my arteries clogging, but it's fine. They told me it was a good thing I didn't get called to Texas on my mission, because I would blow up like a balloon, because that's all members would feed me every day. Haha. Blessings of Nebraska. There were some non-members there too. We had a good conversation with a woman there, and ended up teaching the restoration to her. It was a great experience! She enjoyed it!!

I had a FANTASTIC 4th of July. As you know, most of my 4th of July was Preparation Day. So, President Gardner gave me and my comp permission to drive to the outlet mall kind of far from our area. It was so fun! Then, we had a party at the Trail Center! We all watched Cokeville Miracle together and had a crepe bar. After that, I was on shift at the Trail Center. That was a party too! The senior couple on shift with us bought us all Jimmy Johns, potato salad, watermelon, cake pops, and Krispy Kreme donuts. (Sister Slater and I totally bought stuff to do a juice cleanse this week, don't worry). Then, since Omaha is literally INSANE about fireworks, on the drive home there was a non-stop firework show in every single place you would look. It was magical! The noise kept us up all night, but it was still a lot of fun.

On a more spiritual note, I was able to finish The Book of Mormon for my 3rd time yesterday. I don't know if you remember the challenge I told you that President Gardner gave to the mission, but he challenged us to start the Book of Mormon on March 23rd, and finish on the 4th of July. He challenged us to mark every reference of Christ on each page, which are his names, attributes, The Doctrine of Christ, and His words from him or a prophet. It was an amazing experience. I was kind of having a harder week, but, as I finished the Book of Mormon and got on my knees to ask if it was true, I got an overwhelming feeling of joy that I cannot deny. It was almost like a burning in my heart. I have never gotten an answer that strong before. I always had a testimony that The Book of Mormon was true, but I never really felt like I received a direct answer from God that it was true until yesterday. I am still so full of happiness. I know without a doubt in my mind that the Book of Mormon is true. It blesses lives, and it blesses mine each and every day. I know that The Book of Mormon truly testifies of Christ. I have never felt closer to Him as I did as I read it this time. It was such an amazing experience, and I never want that feeling of happiness to go away. I know it wont go away as long as I remain worthy, and as long as I try and keep the spirit with me as much as possible. I am so blessed to share that glad message with others.

I love you all so much! Thanks for the wonderful emails I receive each week. You truly make me feel loved.

Love,
Sister Missy Hutchison


Sister Hyde, Robertson, and I have matching shirts. So of course we had to wear them the same day.


CORNFIELD PIC




we are patriotic