Bi-Polar Nebraska!

January 31, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!!

This week has definitely been a crazy week. But, I am so very grateful for my mission, and all I am able to learn from it.

I said Nebraska was Bi-Polar because we had a hard-core snowstorm this week! But.... Today got up to like 55 degrees. So.. The snow is gone!

I, of course, was very heartbroken to receive a phone call from my mission president on Tuesday regarding the passing away of my Aunt Sandi. It was a hard couple of days to be away from home, but the Savior never fails to heal and comfort us. I am so very grateful to be on a mission, where I can share with others my knowledge of God's perfect Plan of Happiness. We are so blessed to know that there is so much more after this life, and to know we have a loving Heavenly Father.

On another note, I would love to share a cool miracle that I witnessed this week!! On Tuesday, we were on exchanges with the Eagle Run Sisters! I was with Sister Preator. We felt like we needed to go and try a particular former investigator. So, we knocked on her door but no one answered! We instantly knew that the spirit must have led us to that specific area for a reason. So, we decided to knock on the surrounding doors. The very first door we knocked on was a woman named Vey. She is a cute, young woman and she let us right in!!! As we talked to her, we began to ask inspired questions. We asked her about her relationship with the Savior, and she instantly started to cry. She told us how she has had a couple of miscarriages, but that the Lord has blessed her with a healthy pregnancy so far, and how He has blessed her with a great husband. We taught her the restoration, and she was very tuned in the whole time. When we invited her to be baptized, she said "This is so weird, because I have been wanting to get re-baptized." At the end, we asked her about how she was feeling. She started to cry again and said "I feel so at peace. I know it was not a coincidence that you came here. I thought it was interesting how you asked me about Jesus Christ, because he's sitting right on this couch. I see Him when I look at you." I have never had anyone vocally recognize me as a representative of Jesus Christ anymore. It was such a cool feeling.

Another miracle happened this week! As Sister Hall and I have been praying lately, we been very specific in our prayers. We asked Heavenly Father what kind of family is waiting for us to teach them. We both got the impression that there is a family of 5 in our area that is in need of the gospel! Every prayer we have prayed has been dedicated to asking God to find a family of 5, and we ask everyone we talk to if they know of any families of 5 in the area. We received a media referral a few weeks ago for a man named Phillemon. As we knocked on his door a couple of weeks ago, he answered and said that He didn't even order a Bible, but that he would be willing to meet with us! We went back to our appointment with him last week and he remembered (!!) and let us right in! As we sat down, we spoke with him and his wife, then 1..2..3 (!!) kids ran in! It was a family of 5!! They had a lot of great questions, and are wanting to meet with us more. They are from Ethiopia, so there is a mini language barrier. But, they told us that they have a mormon friend that is flying in from Ethiopia this week!! We know that is not a coincidence :) God's hand is in all things!

There was a big floral festival downtown this week, and there was a display dedicated to Winter Quarters! So, they asked some of the sisters if we could be there to answer questions. It was so cool! It was in some huge catholic cathedral, and we talked to a lot of people. :) Many people went to the Trail Center because of it!

I love my mission so much. I am pretty sure I talk about the happiness I receive because of my mission every week, but I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. I love serving the Lord and being so close to my Savior. Thanks for all of the support I receive.

Love,

Sister Missy Hutchison

Sister Preator and I after exchanges :) 

Winter Quarters floral display

My mossy boyfriend. 

Felt super hipster. You can catch me in Vogue 

Amazing AMAZING week

January 24, 2017

Hey Family and Friends!!

This week has been insane, but it has definitely been a great one :)

We got new Trail Center Directors this week, the Russells! They are super sweet, and I love them a lot. They definitely rely and me and Sister Hall a ton, so it is a lot of pressure! But, things are definitley going great.

I will kind of start off with a sadder note.. Teresa, the golden investigator we found last week, dropped off the face of the planet. We were pretty sad about that because we were trying our hardest to help her. Then our other investigator, Chris, experienced his mother passing away this week.. He is currently angry at God and hard to get ahold of. We had a day of discouragement and frustration because we have been working so hard, but nothing was working out. But, we have seen the Lord's hand immensley this week.

I will start by sharing jus a FEW of the miracles we saw this week. It started off with a lesson with one of our less-actives, her name is Rose. We felt like we needed to help her feel peace from the Savior. So, we changed our lesson in the car, right before we went inside. We decided to talk about Peter walking on the water, and connecting it to how we need to focus on Christ through our trials. We shared the Bible video with her to start, and then she stopped us. She said "I have been thinking about this story all week. I know that the Lord is trying to tell me that I need to focus my life more fully on the Savior". She took the words right out of our mouth. It was amazing. Then, we had another appointment with a less-active woman named Sue-Z. She has very bad health issues, and loves our visits. We brought an awesome member in our ward! During the lesson, Alma 26:27 randomly popped into my mind. It didn't relate at all with what we were talking about, but I knew I needed to share it because it was a prompting of the spirit. After the lesson, our member looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "I have been having the hardest day. I was reading a conference talk, and it brought me to a scripture that helped me. I read the scripture directly before I left my house to come to this lesson, and it was Alma 26:27. I know God knows me." Wow. I am unsure if the scripture touched Sue-Z's heart, but I truly was able to see God's awareness of His children. Another miracle that happened was a man named Tiger (lol welcome to North Omaha). Last week we knocked on a door, and some low voice yelled out the window saying "COME BACK LATER, I'M IN THE SHOWER", so we took that as an OK to come back, haha. So, this week we were tracting, and a random thought came to my mind that said "you haven't tried the shower guy". So I told Sister Hall about my thought (not my thought, it was the spirit), and she said "I was thinking about him today too!!" So, we took it as a sign and decided to go and try him. As we get there, a car is pulling out of the driveway, so we were bummed. But, we decided to try the house anyways! So, we get out of the car, and start walking towards the house, but then the car comes back!! He immediately parks the car (in the middle of the street) to talk to us. Then, he let us share our message with him. After the restoration, he informed us that he has been looking for a new life and the thinks this is an answer to his prayer. One last miracle was a man named Nathan. We wrote down a specific street that we wanted to tract, but........... I lost my planner (aka my life)... It was gone forever. I had to take a guess of what street we wrote down. As we parked, we prayed for guidance and got out of the car. We immediately felt like we needed to knock on one particular door. A man named Nathan answered the door, and he was kind of hesitant at first, but as soon as we told him we were representatives of Jesus Christ, and that we have a message that God needs him to hear, he invited us to sit down with him on his porch. We shared the message of the restoration, and it was powerful. He listened so intently. Next thing we know, it's an hour later and he is reading through The Book of Mormon with us. We were able to find specific scriptures that answered the questions of his soul. He told us that it wasn't a coincidence that we knocked on his door, because he felt lost, so he pulled out his Bible for the first time in a long time 2 hours prior of our visit. As we were ending, we testified to him that we knew we needed to be there, and that God led us to him. As we testified his focus kind of left us for a moment, and came back in shock. He said "Wow, I just saw a shooting star. I have never seen one before. This is crazy. It must be a sign. Do you have a phone number? I want you to come back." We are going back on Tuesday. God knows us so individually. During the drive home, I remembered the street that we had originally planned to tract (it wasn't the one where we went). It totally made sense why I had to lose my planner; We wouldn't have met Nathan! -Side note: This happened on Saturday, and I thought my planner was gone forever... But, this morning, our doorbell rang and so we went outside. No one was there, but there was my planner!!! So crazy!!! Again, God is so mindful of us!

Last night, as we added up our numbers for the week, we almost hit all of our goals. We ended up receiving 27 referrals, and contacting 21 of them. As we were counting all of our appointments for this upcoming week, we found that we have 14 (!!!!) return appointments. Only 3 of them are for less actives, and the rest of them are with potential investigators. Yes, the week started off being a bummer. But, as we trusted in the Lord, and had patience, hope and faith, He blessed us immensely.

I love this work, and I am the happiest I have ever been.

" Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27

Love,
Sister Missy Hutchison

Happy 15 months!!

We found a lost dog this week! We totally saved its life. We let it chill with us during our lunch break, and then the humane society came and picked it up. I would have never lived with myself if I would have left it go wondering. LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS.

Ice Storms.. Not

January 16, 2017

Hello Family and Friends!!

It was another great week here in Nebraska :) Due to ice, our cars were all grounded for most of the day today. So, we spent most of our P Day chillin'  at our house. Our day consisted of naps, food, and Harry Potter coloring books! The cars will be ungrounded probably until like 6 tonight.

Last week was transfer week! I am safe in the Winter Quarters ward with Sister Hall still, except we aren't a trio with Sister Firth anymore!! :(  I am very happy about staying, though! It is super crazy to think that I only have 3 more transfers left. Time flies!

Due to the new transfer, a lot of our time this week was spent making the new Trail Center schedule. That always takes up a chunk of our time. But, we were able to get it done! Woohoo!

We were able to find a new investigator this week. Her name is Teresa, and she is so sweet. We met her husband a couple weeks ago, and he told us we should talk to his wife. As we went back for our appointment, Teresa answered the door and was very excited to see us. As soon as we started to teach, she started to cry. She opened up to us, telling us how she is going through a hard time right now and knows our message will help her. She looked at us and said "I don't know what it is, but I feel different around you. I have never felt it before, but I know it must be good." We then were able to testify of the Holy Ghost. We taught her the Restoration, and after the first vision, she stopped us on the spot. She said "That story of Joseph Smith sounds oddly familiar. I feel like I have known it all along, but I just didn't know it. I know it's true." We were able to testify to her that she knew all of these things before she came to this earth, and that the Holy Ghost is bringing it to her rememberance. She went on to tell us that she would be willing to change her whole lifestyle to receive the happiness of the gospel. She is such a cute mom, and knows this gospel will bless her and her family. She is set for baptism on February 11th! Needless to say, God's hand is definitely guiding this work, and Sister Hall and I walked out of that lesson with her in awe. Please PLEASE pray for Teresa. The last thing we want is the adversary messing with her and her newly  found testimony, and we know he will try.

Also keep Kale in your prayers. His doctor has been giving him the wrong medicatio for a while now, and it pretty much poisioned him. We felt like he had  been acting weird the last few times we saw him, and now it all makes sense. He was rushed to the hospital this week because his memory was failing. The medicine was so toxic to him that they had to put him on dialasis. Now, he is in the hospital and has no idea who he even his. Hopefully his memory will come back and he will have a healthy recovery.

We were supposed to have an ice storm on Sunday. All of Omaha has been preparing for it for a few days. Lots of people have been stocking up on their food, and closing all the shops. They combined all 3 wards in our building for church, and we just had a one hour meeting at 9 O'clock. There was no ice storm.. Haha. But, it did rain quite a bit and it all froze overnight. So, our cars were not ableto be used from about 5pm to the rest of the night on Sunday. I am very happy to be able to get out!!

All in all, it was a great week!! I love missionary work so much.:) I feel so at home in Nebraska, and I know this is where God needs me to be at this time.

Love,
Sister Missy Hutchison

Our puzzle that we completed!! Tangled!!

last party with the trio.. So sad!

I love Sis. Cope!!!!!!!

The Crandalls go home this week, and my heart is broken. They have been such amazing directors, and I am glad I have gotten so close to them!!

Miracles and Fun!!

January 9, 2017

Hello Family and Friends :)

Wow, another week has come and gone! Crazy how fast time is going!! This week was another fantastic week. I am so grateful for this precious time I have to be serving the Lord. I am so happy.

President Gardner gave Scotty permission to come and take me and my companions out to dinner this week. It was such an amazing experience. After over 2 years without seeing my brother, it was definitely a sweet reunion.

It was definitely a busy week of trainings! Sister Hall and I had to train at two different Zone Trainings this week, and it was a lot of fun. I love getting to know all of the missionaries so personally, and being able to constantly be sharing my testimony with them. I think the trainings went well :)

I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE TEMPLE AGAIN THIS WEEK. President Gardner put together a special temple session for all the missionaries in the whole mission who have memorized 68 scriptures from Preach My Gospel. It was such a full session, but it was so incredible. I am so blessed to have a temple so close to me. I am also so blessed to see the temple every single day, being able to serve at the Trail Center. Even though we can only go inside on special occasions, the temple's presence carries a special spirit.

Sister Hall and I took an awesome tour this week. It was a less-active woman and her non-member boyfriend. To start off the tour, we shared the message of the restoration. Directly after the first vision, the woman burst into tears, telling us how she knows that this church is true. Throughout the rest of the tour, she was testifying to her boyfriend, and he accepted missionaries and committed to read the Book of Mormon with his girlfriend. It was so cool to see the spirit completely take over.

We also had a great lesson with our investigator (eternigator), Chris. I may have mentioned him before, but he has been investigating for many years. We were pretty bold with him last night, and so was the member we brought with us. We asked him if he knew the church is true, and he said "I absolutely do". Later on we were talking about something completely different, but the spirit told me to  ask him: "What would you sacrifice to come closer to the Savior?" He was thrown off, but then immediately tears filled his eyes, and he answered so sincerely "Everything. I would sacrifice everything." He has been living with his girlfriend for quite a few years, and so we were able to commit him to either get married or move out. He agreed, and agreed for baptism on February 11th.

This week is transfers. We talked to President Gardner yesterday, and he said "Sister Hutchison, I still have no clue what I am doing with you." So, I guess we will find out if I am staying or leaving in the next email!!

The Gospel is so true. I can feel it everyday. I can feel it in the happiest times, but definitely in the hardest times because I know that I am never alone. I love 3 Nephi 11:14-15. It reads:

"14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."

The Savior didn't have to let everyone individually feel His wounds, but He did. He could have just appeared and told them who He was, and I bet most of them would have believed Him! But no, just like the scripture said, he had the multitude come forth "one by one". He knows us individually. He suffered for us individually. His Atonement was so personal. I pray that each of us can come to understand the everlasting love the Savior has for us as individuals. He knows us "one by one". I really felt like I needed to share that, so hopefully I could be of help to someone. :)

I love this work so much, and am grateful to share my testimony with others. Thanks for all of the support I receive each week! I love you all!

Love,
Sister Missy Hutchison

Me, Sister Hall, and Sister Orton at Missionary Leadership Council last week! 

After our training for the Council Bluffs Zone

Special temple trip! 

Me, Sister Orton, and Sister Smith

Me seeing Scotty!!

Kaylee must have been missing her aunt, because she was licking my face. 

My first time meeting baby Trey!!!

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2017

Hello Fam and Friends!!

It was a great week :) Happy 2017! I can't believe it is already a new year. 2016 was the fastest/hardest/best/most rewarding year of my life. I love my mission so very much.

Something new and excited that happened is I am now in a trio!! Sister Firth's companion had to go home for some bad health issues, so Sister Firth is with me and Sister Hall until transfers!! It is fun being with two of my past companions again :) I think we have too much fun.. Just kidding. :) It is hilarious when we are tracting, and then someone opens the door and realizes that there is a party of missionaries on their porch.

I had a great New Year!! We spent the evening at the Trail Center, playing games with all of the Senior couples. It was so fun! The Senior couples are such a hoot and very competitive. They make my mission so special. We set our alarm that night for midnight! Apparently I woke up and said "Happy New Year" very mumbley, but I have absolutely no recollection of that.. All I can remember is that it was a great night sleep, and then when I woke up at 6:30am, it was 2017! New Years was a success!

We are teaching quite a few people right now.. It is funny because they all have names that sound like a food. First, we taught "Kale". Now, we are teaching "Dill", his son "Danish", his friend "Bean", and their neighbor named "La'Soup'a". I had to turn my back when she told us her name because I was dying of laughter. Sometimes I feel immature, but then I remember I am still 20, so it is okay. Haha.

We had Missionary Leadership Council this week! It was a lot of fun. I love being able to learn from all of the other leaders in the mission. President Gardner gave an amazing training on how the Savior knows each and every single one of us, one by one. I was touched. It is so true. The Savior knows every single one of us personally. He suffered for our sins, of course, but it was so much more than that. When he suffered, it was also for our pains and our sicknesses; it was for every time we are heartbroken or frustrated. He felt it all. He did this because he has a perfect love for us. He did this because he NEVER wants us to feel alone, and we never are alone now, because of Him. I am so grateful for my Savior, and for all He has done for me. Through Him is true happiness.

I had an awesome miracle at the Trail Center this week! I took a cute non-member couple on tour. The man was from Germany, but he left everything behind to move to the US for her. They were so in love and getting married in the summer! They loved the idea of the temple, and understood the restoration. It just made sense to them! They kept holding hands and looking at each other saying, "families really are meant to be forever". At the end of the tour, I invited them to meet with missionaries, but they said they were in the process of traveling, and it would be hard. So, we exchanged information instead so I can keep in touch with them. They graciously accepted a copy of The Book of Mormon. The man had the paper I gave him with my information in his hands, and said "Wherever I stick this piece of paper is where I will start reading". In my head, I was thinking "Oh no.. Not a war chapter or Isaiah!!!" When he stuck the paper in, I asked if I could see where he stuck it. He showed me, and it was Alma 26. The amazing thing was, Alma 26 was the exact chapter that I was studying very intently about 10 minutes before they walked in the door. It is an amazing chapter that will touch anyone's heart. It was such a cool miracle, and I know it was inspired of God. His hand was truly in this miracle 100%. I will never forget it.

I am excited for what 2017 has in store. I know if I continue following the Lord's will for me, it will be another amazing year. Thanks for all of the support I receive from every single one of you. I love you!!

Love,
Sister Missy Hutchison

Pic after MLC

The Laings go home tomorrow :( I have loved serving with them!! 

The Happy Trio wishing you a Happy New Year

In our house, there is a room with carpet walls. No better way to celebrate than the 80's carpet room!