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!

Surprise!

Hey everyone, how are all of you doing? Well, this week has been a really long week. We had ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) this week. I learned a lot from President Rogers this week. The meeting was on the Doctrine of Christ and how we need to have it planted in our soul as missionaries. As members of the church, all of us have some knowledge of the doctrine, but all of us don't know as much as we need to know. Being on a mission, I have learned so much about the doctrine and how I can use it to teach others. It is incredible how the simple ones like faith can be so complex! This week we were teaching one of our investigators named Sara. Sara has been through a lot in her life, but the first day I was here on my mission I shared my testimony about the Book of Mormon combined with how church can heal the soul and that week she went to church. This past Tuesday, we went over to teach her and well right as we sit down she says," I want to be Baptized!" I was not expecting this at all and well she brought a friend and she says I want to be baptized too! So now we they are getting baptized on June 18. It was so exciting to hear her say that! Well, love you all and have a wonderful week!

Elder Hutchings

Lots of Service and Lots of Rain!

Hey everyone, this week has been going pretty good we have been doing lots of service still and we are struggling to still find people to teach, but are trying our hardest to find the people the Lord has prepared for us to meet. Not a whole lot has been going on out here, but we are having our ztm (Zone Training Meeting) this week and I am looking forward to that. The rains still have not stopped out here! The other day we were out walking in a monsoon rainstorm and had a broken umbrella...so lots of fun with that. President Rogers announced that if we live within 2 hours of a temple, we are allowed to go now! Unfortunately, I do not live within 2 hours, so I don't get to go in this area but that's okay. Love you all and have a wonderful week!

-Elder Hutchings

 

 

Loved Talking to MY FAMILY!

Well, this week has been fun. I got to talk to my family yesterday and I loved it! It is weird how my little brothers' voices have changed since I left. I thought Hesston was Trenton when he answered yesterday...I just started laughing. This week has flown by, we have been trying to find people. We have tracted many hours this week and with little to no luck with that. Whoever we talk to doesn't want to listen, so we are still trying. I am getting used to getting doors slammed in my face haha but i am still loving it and like meeting new people and just get to hear their stories. I loved talking with my mom yesterday and just another shout out for Happy Mother's Day yesterday.

On Saturday, we helped the other missionaries in my district move to their new place (which kinda sucked) but it was good. I am so thankful for all of the members out here. I am so blessed to be able to meet them and become such good friends with them. Making food for us is always a good thing. This morning, I was reading in 2 Nephi 29 and I just thought how cool it was and how it talks about people rejecting the Book of Mormon. I can totally relate to that chapter out here. Everyone just has their Bible and thinks the Book of Mormon is false scripture, Ya, I think this is going to become one of my favorite chapters when I can call some people fools haha. Well, love you all and have a wonderful week.

--Elder Hutchings

 Cohoes Falls

This was a cool sight to see.

Baptism - Davonna Austin

Hey everyone! How are all of you doing? Happy Mothers Day to all of you mothers out there! This week has been pretty good. I hate the allergies out here, they suck! We had another baptism, her name is Davonna Austin. She is one cool person. I have had a fun time teaching her and her family. Today, all of the other elders in my zone and I went to Thatchet State Park which was really fun to get out and do some hiking and get away from the city for a little while. I wish it didn't have to rain every day, though. It hasn't quit raining all day, but it made for some cool pics there. Chambers is my companion for another transfer. It is weird...I have only been gone for 2 months, but it feels like forever at this point. All of the days are mostly the same as a missionary, which is weird. I wish we could change it up a little bit and do some different things, but New York is doing good. Love you all and have a wonderful week.--Elder Hutchings




Elder Chambers, Davonna Austin, Me



Hiking Thatchet State Park with all the Elders in my Zone!

Crazy Week! Trip to Utica / Baptism

Hey everyone! This last week has been crazy! We have had so much going on. We had a baptism on Saturday which went really well. It is awesome how quickly people can change when they have the gospel in their lives. The girl that got baptized has been a great example to her family. Now, all of her family members have been reactivated and are going to church every week. She and her sister are going to the temple next week for baptisms for the dead. 

On Thursday, we had to go return and report up to Utica and it was really nice to see all of the people I came out of the MTC with and see how they are doing. When we got to Utica, we were surprised to see our zone leaders there. Come to find out, one of them started to have some heart problems and had to go home. It was a really sad moment when we first heard this, he was a really good friend and a great missionary. It was awesome to be part of the blessing that President gave him before he got sent home. Having 10 missionaries and the mission president as part of this blessing was awesome. It was such a powerful blessing, the spirit was so strong. He did serve a good mission and I know our Heavenly Father knows that, too.  He will be blessed for it. I am looking forward to another baptism this week and hopefully more to come. Love you all and have a good week.

Sincerely,

ELDER HUTCHINGS