Worldly People

Hey, how the heck is everyone doing? This week has been a pretty good week, We have been doing lots of work here on the west side. We have about 4 really promising investigators, 2 should be for sure getting baptized at the end of this month so we are really looking forward to that. On Saturday, we had this one guy come up to us and just rip into us about how if we had money we would be so much happier in this life. It was an eye opener for me to see how people can just get set on the worldly things in this life and see what really matters to them. He had a little kid backpack and he was telling us that there was 10 grand in there, so why would he need our money? We almost end up getting in a fight with him, but we just finally told him to leave and wouldn't talk to him any more and he just left.

Then, on Thursday, we had this guy tell us that we have no clue what we believe in and I was an exchange with this new missionary and it was just awesome to see him take things over. He said, ''excuse me but sir you can't tell me what I know to be true and have a good day''. I am thankful to be able to testify of the truth and people cannot argue with your testimony. When we testify it is the truth, it makes them think or just leave us alone. I know that when we testify, the Lord truly will bear witness to them that this is His wonderful gospel!

I just want you all to know that if you are struggling with anything, and if you start taking the baby steps, the Lord will help you along the way. ''It is by the small and simple things that great things come to pass!" Love you all and have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Hutchings

4th of July - Religious Freedom!

Hello Everyone! How are all of you doing? Are you having a good 4th of July weekend? This last week has went by super fast. We are still doing a lot of exchanges with the other elders in our district. We only have one more left, so that will be over with for this transfer finally! We had an opportunity to go fishing this last week. I got to catch some large mouth bass, but none of them were very big. Syracuse is such a crazy place to go teaching. We have had the oppurtunity to meet so many people and tell them about this wonderful gospel that we have. The good thing about living in such a populated area is that you will always have a lot of people to teach. I love serving here and to be able to help others strengthen their testimonies. Today has been fun, we have have gotten to play basketball a bunch of the other elders that serve around here. Then, we got to go to the ward party that was going on and we are going to be having a BBQ with some of the other missionaries. 

As we celebrate this wonderful July 4th holiday, our hearts turn to the Lord’s blessings in

helping our forefathers obtain their freedom and create our nation. As one ponders all that

had to happen for the United States of America to take its place in the history of the world’s

nations, one can see the hand of the Lord in every step of the way. Much has been written

about this choice land and our founding fathers. Miracles occurred in many places and in many

ways for this nation to take its place on the stage of world history. We know that a country

had to be established founded upon principles of righteousness, law and religious freedom

before the Lord could restore His church and His kingdom upon the earth. The Lord has

secluded, protected and prepared this land from the creation of the earth for this wise

purpose. This was all revealed to Nephi years ago, “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my

commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which

I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.” 1 Nephi 2:20

I love you all and have a wonderful week!

Elder Hutchings

Serving Can Be Fun!

Hello everyone! This week has been way fun. I am learning a new side of missionary work and it is to have fun while you do the work. My new comp has shown that to me. To be a successful missionary, you have to have fun with it or you will just not be successful. We have been so busy this week and it has been super fun! I have been on exchanges this week with a lot of other missionaries and it is going to be the same this week! Last Tuesday, we had the opportunity to help one of the members do a motor swap in an old Tahoe and well we got really greasy and oily so we couldn't ride in our car like that. So we road home shirtless and it was way funny to see some of the looks that we got. I don't think the black people of Syracuse have ever seen a couple of shirtless hillbillies before haha. We got some of the craziest looks ever! I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life! 

Then, me and my comp went exploring our area this week and we found some awesome places to go try tracting and best of all to go fishing. I am pumped about that, to go fishing again! I hope I can still catch some fish! This week we also had Zone Conference and it was on the atonement and how we can help others to understand it. The atonement is used in every little peace of the gospel and we really went in deep on this subject. When we can help others use the atonement there is no greater joy than that and I have been able to see it change so many people's live here in such a short little while! I am so grateful for this wonderful gospel and my Savior; Jesus Christ, for his atonement for all of us to be able to be forgiven of no matter what sins we have committed. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and how with the atonement it is the most powerful thing we can share with others. I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost we can come to know for ourselves all things and to be able to testify of it. I love you all and have a wonderful week!

Syracuse with Elder Younger

Hey everyone, it has been a really good week. My new area is awesome and we are teaching a ton of people. We have 7 investigators on date for baptism, I am not sure how many will make it to that point, but we are finding and teaching a ton of people in this area. Syracuse is a really big city and I know the Lord has prepared people for us to teach here and I am so excited to find them. I am getting along really well with my new companion, his name is Elder Younger and he is actually from Syracuse, Utah, which is kind of funny. The people we are teaching are really awesome and I hope that they will be able to make it to baptism. The ward I am serving in is a pretty big ward. It is a lot bigger than the little branch I was at last week. I hope everyone had a Happy Father's Day and had a good day with their families. My new address is:

Elder Auston Hutchings

3183 Bellevue Ave., Apt A6

Syracuse, NY 13219

Sheerin' Sheep!

Hey everyone, I am getting transferred to Syracuse (west side)! I am pretty pumped about that. My new companion will be Elder Younger. I will be leaving to go there on Wednesday and it sounds like I will be there for quite awhile, probably 6 months or so. I am excited to go there I have heard it is a really fun area to serve in. We will be playing lots of basketball it sounds like with the ballers on the street playing street ball haha.

I would just like to wish all of you fathers out there Happy Father's Day and thank you for all that you do! This week, we got to go to one of the member's farm and help the Amish people sheer their sheep and build fence. It was quite funny. Me and my Comp have been sick this week so we have been dead for a couple of days now, but we are doing awesome now and we are both pumped for this next week. He will be training a new missionary and I will miss him along with my other companion when I leave for Syracuse. I probably won't see them again 'til I get back home. Both of them have less than 2 transfers left. I miss you all and have a wonderful week!

Me chasing after sheep lol!

Herkimer, New York -- Elder Covarrubias

Well everyone, this has been one crazy week. I have been from one end of the state to the other. I was really sad to leave the Albany ward. I was just getting to know the people and just knowing my left from my right, but I am glad to see some new country. My new companion's name is Elder Covarrubias. He is awesome and a great missionary. He has been doing a lot of good work in this area. We are serving in Herkimer, New York and this place is weird. The branch we go to only has about 30 active members so it is a really small congregation. We have about 5 investigators and a few with baptism dates. I am going to get transferred again next Wednesday but not sure where I will get transferred to just yet. Today, we had the opportunity to go hike the bald mountain trail and it was way fun. There is this giant tower at the end of the trail that overlooks a bunch of lakes. Upstate New York is a beautiful place. Then, we went to a members house and he BBQ'd for us. It was a really fun day. Well everyone, have a great week and love you all.

April Onley and her family.

Roberta Farrell

My new comp! Elder Covarrubias!

Upstate New York is beautiful!

Hiking bald mountain trail. 

TRANSFER!

Hey, everyone! So, this morning we got a call from our mission president and me and my comp are getting emergency transferred to an new area...so don't send anything to the address I have right now. I am sad to leave this area. I am just getting to know the area and then I get transferred. I am going up north to a place called Herkimer and then I will probably go to Syracuse in 2 weeks, so lots of moving in the next couple of weeks. So this last week we have been trying to find new people to teach and we have taught a few, but to no effect. The lady that wanted to be baptized I was telling you about last week, she probably isn't going to get baptized now. She changed her mind and we haven't come in contact with her in 2 weeks. I will give you all some more info next week when I get to my new area and tell you how it is. Love you all and have a great week!