This week has just been a blessing, period. I don't even know where
to start...
So transfers happened this week and I unfortunately lost Elder Ballard.
He's going to be a great Zone Leader up in Moses Lake. That's one thing I have
been blessed with is companions in Leadership who have been around the block a
time or two. He was a great example for me and my mission. We traveled up
Kennewick together to pick up my new companion. My new companion is awesome!! I
dare say he might be one of my favorite companions thus far. His name is Elder
Ojeda. He is from the country of Paraguay, and he's just the bomb. He speaks
really good English but we always speak in Spanish of course. He is like a
spiritual power house. Every lesson we go to the spirit is there and you can
just feel it so strongly.
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| Goodbye Elder Ballard |
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| Hello Elder Ojeda |
Lets talk about our investigators..
Alan- Alan is from NC, born and raised in Yadkinville, North Carolina. He
is SO solid. We went to his house with a member this past week and both me and
Elder Ojeda was just pounding questions in on him. He opened up finally and
started telling us his past life. He talked about how his past religions with
Southern Baptist scared him because of the way the people acted. I felt so
connected with him because I have the very same background as him. Not that i am
scared of Southern Baptist people, both the people that raised me are Southern
Baptist, the people in that church are great people as a matter of a fact, but
it just wasn't for me or him. He finally came around and said "I know The Book
of Mormon is true, can I have one? I have to overcome my fear of going to
church.." So we are now teaching him the lessons. He is one of those guys that
is so ready...but he doesn't know it yet. Can't wait to continue working with
him and helping him progress. A baptism is in his future.
Christina- Christina is just so golden. She will be baptized this coming
Saturday the 18th. Her parents are Seventh Day Adventist preachers, and for the
longest time she never told them that she was going to be baptized into The
Mormon church. When I got here she was planning on telling them soon, but one
morning we got a text from her saying "Hey guys, I am going to tell my parents
tonight, please pray for me." So guess what she did, she told them. Every since
then they have been giving her a hard time with being baptized. Sometimes almost
mean to her. But this past Wednesday after we were just saying our prayers the
phone went off and it was a text. It said.. "I forgot to ask you Elder Hutchens,
will you please be the one to baptize me?" Man, I never in my life have felt so
honored and privileged in my entire life. So this Saturday, I will be performing
the baptism for Christina! She has been a blessing to work with and can not to
wait to see what the future holds for her.
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| Christina |
Hannah- Hannah is just as golden as Christina. She has been coming to
church for two years and not ever has she taken the lessons from the
missionaries because her parents wouldn't let her. A little before I got here
her parents decided it was okay to let her get baptized but the missionaries
couldn't get a hold of her. She is in high school and the president of the FFA,
so shes super busy. But we have been meeting consistently every single Wednesday
for the last month or so, and shes ready! We had a lesson on The Plan of
Salvation and things just gradually started to click and you could see she was
learning very rapidly. She has a baptismal date for November the 9th! So stoked
for her..but we got home that night after the lesson and the WHOLE young women
in the church left us Twinkies with cool designs on them on our front door step.
They had notes from all the young women in it. One was from Hannah, it said "
Thanks for you do Elders, I can't wait for my baptism and I am learning so
much!" Its always nice as a missionary to know that your investigators are
learning and giving you twinkies all at the same time..
Virginia- Virginia has been meeting with the missionaries for a long time.
But never has she understood how important it is to be baptized by someone
holding the priesthood. Elder Ojeda with that rolling spiritual tide came in
here this past Thursday and we had a meeting with her. We started explaining the
Priesthood...I was talking, he was talking, I would talk, he would talk. I would
testify..he would testify...BOOM...we had a baptismal date. She's set to go
November 8th. But Elder Ojeda and I were speaking by the Holy Ghost. We had
nothing to do with her finally understanding all this. The Holy Ghost was using
us as tools to deliver the words she needed to hear. She comes to church every
single week, and we are excited for her!!
Guys, I have been blessed as a missionary to be here in the Washington
Kennewick mission. The Lord is working on these peoples hearts, and its evident.
I am rapidly learning more Spanish, the Spirit is always strong, and our
investigators are progressing. I am aware that things will not always be this
good in the future, but I am thankful for all this. Your support has been
awesome! I have also been blessed with awesome leaders, awesome companions and
an awesome area. With transfers of course happening, almost half our zone is now
turned upside down. We have so many new people here but I am getting to know
them. They seem like awesome missionaries! Can't wait to send yall pictures of
the baptism this week, and to let you guys know how our investigators are
progressing. Pray for us that we may be able to feel the spirit during these
lessons and use the right words to help these people come close to
Christ!
I love you all, and I am rapidly putting on weight..so...not sure how to
feel about that. haha.
Con Amor,
Elder Hutchens
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