"Endings are not our destiny..."

Life is weird today.

I've spending a lot of time contemplating my rapidly approaching "finish" mark. There is so little time left, so much I feel like I should have/could have done. I feel in many ways that I didn't do enough, didn't become enough, should have talked to more people, should have tried harder to overcome my fears, should have just done it! 

I should have been the perfect missionary.

Welp! Surprise, surprise, guess who still isn't perfect? :)

But that was never really the point. The point was to come, to serve, and to be my best. Honestly, sometimes my best means getting up on time and eating breakfast. Other days my capacity is much greater.

I'm scared to go home. Even with the voice of my father ringing in my ears that there's nothing to be scared of, just family and friends waiting to welcome me, I'm still scared. I wonder if this is how it felt to stand on the brink of that pre-mortal life, knowing that I had to go, that there would be loved ones waiting for me, but panicking a little inwardly. I bet that's fairly accurate. But even there, I had the voice of my Father in my ears, telling me that it was ok to go, that there was nothing to be scared of.

Trust me. 

I feel like that was probably the last thing I heard before I left.

Well, these days are full of life to be lived, people to meet, with my life contained to two suitcases and my scripture bag. I keep telling myself this isn't the end, just a really wild beginning to the rest of my life as a grown up. :) And it's true.

President Uchtdorf said, "There seems to be something inside us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless....endings are not our destiny."


With that in mind, I'm off to go make this day a good one. 
Stay classy.
Stay excellent.

With love, from Can-Win

p.s. Shout out to the BV crew!

Secret Missions and Strawberry Kisses

I haven't written in forever, so this post may be super disjointed as I play catch up to the last little bit of my life. 

I'm currently serving in Saskatoon, in the Wildwood ward where we are affectionately known as the "Wild" Sisters. (Haha, Elders. Very funny.) Most people have little ones and "Hutchinson" is kind of a mouthful, so I'm Sister Hutch. It's gotten to the point where most of the adults call me that too. I don't mind, and it's super cute to hear all the kids say "Sister Hutch! Sister Hutch!"

So, here I am just doing missionary work forever away from home; but life is good. 

One of our investigators was baptized, received the priesthood, and went to the temple within a two week period. Crazy! We were blessed to be able to accompany him down to Regina. (BEST. DAY.EVER.)

My mission also had the rare opportunity to gather as a whole, all 150-something of us, and have a conference in Regina where Elder Christofferson addressed us. First of all, he's HILARIOUS!!! I love that guy! Such a great sense of humor. Second, I love what he said to us. After having a little Q and A sesh, Elder Christofferson gave us a sermon in one word: Remember. He then said, "Remember that you and I were here. This will likely be the only time in this life all of us will be together. Remember this. We were here. I was here, and you heard me say: Jesus Christ lives!"

I just loved that! I feel that the way I feel about that one moment is probably how various others felt about listening to Jacob, or Ammon, or Moses. 

Well, transfers came and Sister Smith headed out east, and I welcomed Sister Hansen!!! Woohoo!! We have so much fun!!

Ex: This week I was really struggling just to feel charity for my elders, let alone show it. I mean, it was an honest struggle. So Sister Hansen being the sweet thing she is says, "let's make cookies, and you can write nice notes to each of them."

Siiiiiiiiiigh. Fine! Then as I'm sitting down to write these notes...I have an idea. I just get so excited about this idea I start grinning like I'm the Joker or something. I think Sister Hansen could see it, and was a little worried because she said , "Whaaat?" in kind of the Mom voice that says 'i'm not gonna like what I hear, am I?' I just flip out, and I said, "I'm going to make them all go on secret missions to find their treats!!!"

And that is precisely what I did. 

I sent out messages saying that an important mission had come through the T.S. database and that I needed volunteers to accept the assignment. All 4 sets of Elders agreed. I then proceeded to direct them to various locations in search of their package which would contain not only cupcakes, (the cookies burned), but a note telling them their next assignment was to spread the love. It was so FUN!!  Thus, secret mission goodies are now a thing. 

In addition to secret missions, this week has brought packing, packing, aaaaand...oh yes, more packing! Our ward consists mostly of young student families who travel back home for summer time. So this week brought many opportunities to serve those in our ward. Woohoo!

The highlight of my week, however, was dinner last night. We had pancakes, syrup, strawberrys and whipped cream, along with kids running around, animals under foot, and the singing of Disney songs. It was so good. I extended scripture challenges to the two older kids, and was torn between the two middle kids vying for the attention of myself or my companion. But I totally fell in love with the 3 year old with blonde hair, and brown eyes who wants help blowing her nose and gives sweet spit and strawberry covered kisses. Honestly, being at their house made me miss my own crazy home. I know exactly who I am and where I fit there. 

I'm the oldest child, born of goodly parents with three terrors for younger siblings. I am chauffeur, instigator,  and zoo keeper. I am late night partner in crime, gym buddy, and runner for whatever it is that Mom or Dad might need. I am comic relief, storybook reader, and local database for useless information. I am also quite the con artist, hoodwinking my 3 younger siblings out of all their hugs, kisses, and cuddles. (No place like home, eh?)

I'm still trying to figure it out here. I don't really know who I am, what I want, or where I'm going in life. The only thing that's really for certain these days is this: I am a disciple of Christ. I know He lives, and I want my life here, whatever that life may be, to lead me back home to His presence.

Be of good cheer, dear readers.

 Keep fighting the good fight. 

Have a family dinner. 

Pray to that God that gave you life. 

Admire the beauty of the world in which we live.

 Do work. :) 

Brethren, adieu. 

With Love, from Can-Win

p.s. Shout out to DR who likes to stalk missionary blogs!!!

"Aren't you going to teach about God or something? You're missionaries!!"

Last night I had the opportunity to teach one of the most hilarious 6 year olds I've ever met. The Elders, my companion and I stopped by to see a single mom so I could say goodbye before I left. (Oh yeah, I got transferred.) As we're talking to Sister K, her son breaks in and says "Aren't you going to teach about God or something?" When we all turned to him he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "You're missionaries."

Yup. We are missionaries. And sometimes we forget that people really do watch us with expectations, to see if our walk matches our talk. I'm so grateful for Seth, and his amazing little spirit. I swear that kid's gonna be the prophet one day. :)

This week I am saying goodbye once again to the motherland, and being shipped off to the western side of Canada. I was transferred to Saskatoon,(commonly known as Toon Town amongst the missionaries.)

Oh Cana-diaaaa.....

So for those of you who have sent things to my Minnesota address, send things no more!!! It's back to the mission office address for letters, packages, and other snail mail type things.

Minnesota has brought some grand adventures, here are a few of my favorites:

There was the time we had a sliding contest in the middle of the road with the Elders. #ElderNattresscheated

There was that other time where Sister Christensen and I ran and launched ourselves onto the high drifts of snow. #snowiscold #almosthadhypothermia

Then there was that excellent time where I met amazing people, and got to teach them about the Savior, God, and the gospel of repentance. #JesuslovesJesussaves

Oh, and then there was that time when we drove on the ice roads. #scary

I will miss Minnesota, and not just because dairy and oreos are cheap. I will miss walking into a branch building where I know everyone, and where everyone knows me. I will miss Monday night dinners with the Wojdans, and Tuesday night dinners at the Withers. I will miss dropping by unexpectedly to visit Sister Funk, and walking into Hardee's and hearing "Here comes trouble." I will miss Sunday dinners, and Thursdays at the Food Shelf. I will miss Arden, and Amber, and Fame, and Lisa, and downtown, and Sis Fox, and The Burkmans.

I love International Falls. I'm sad I have to go.

But when the Lord calls, you go. So I am packing up my room, (which is a lot harder than it sounds, so much stuff!), and kissing the stars and stripes goodbye!

It's been real, America.

With love, from Can-Win

"I Hate it When She's Right..."

Dear fellow Virginians and everyone else,

It's been quite a while since I've posted things, and that is mostly due to all of the emails I have been receiving on a weekly basis. It's the BEST! So keep it up. :) Missionary life hasn't changed, and yet...it has. I think it has to do with the length of time you've spent on your mission. Missionaries look at missions like a teeny tiny game of life.

Your MTC experience is the Premortal life. There you learn all you'll need to help you navigate the mission field (life). From there you are born to a loving father or mother (your trainer) who will show you by example how to live a good life, (or have a good mission). When you're old enough, or well trained enough you get to go off on your own, experience missionary work and play around with what works and doesn't work not only for you but your area. The way you teach changes as you get older. Then one day you're blessed with a kid, a sweet lil missionary who's green as grass, wide eyed and looking to you to lead them safely through the field. There's pressure to do well, frustration, worry, and love. Because they're yours, your little bean that you get to help raise with lots of help from the Lord. And then after you live a good life...YOU DIE!

But it's ok, because waiting for you on the other side is a marvelous life of college, jobs, marriage, and all that other adult stuff.

I am now raising my third little bean. :) She's taking to missionary life like a fish takes to water. But I'm older, missionarily speaking, and training her is different than training the other 2. I look at things very different than she does because I've been here longer. She won't and doesn't always understand why I do the things I do, or why I say the things I do, but I get it now. Because once upon a time I was in her shoes, and I didn't understand my trainer.

I do now.

So within this twisted little Plan of Salvation parallel, I'd like to give a shout out to all the Moms and Dads reading this: You weren't crazy. You knew best. And we're grateful to have been led by parents like you.

After all these things, all these life lessons and crazy moments I've had thus far on my mission, one thought keeps coming back to me: "I hate it when she's right."

Mom:1

Me:0

I love you.

Be good. Be safe, everyone. Be faithful!!!

With love, from Can-Win

 

That moment when you realize you're a grown up. But for reals.

1/13/14

Today I got an email from my Mama that said one of my very dear friends from my childhood would be getting married in May. Now I don't want to name name's because that would be rude.....

But shout out to Sarah K for getting engaged!!!!!!!!!

You win some, you lose some, eh? :)

So that's 6/8 for my childhood/teenage friends from church. (Does anyone know if Justin's engaged yet, cause that would make it 7/8) All my school friends are tying the knot and sending me invitations, and being all ridiculous and adorable. Then there's me in Minnesota, freezing my tights off, and trying to teach people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

And as I sat here geeking out in the public library I thought to myself, "Hey, this makes me a grown up doesn't it? Aw maaaaan!"

If I didn't think I was one before, this new engagement seals the deal. I'm old, and I'm an adult....mostly. :))

It was a bit of a mind blowing moment, but I'm happy.

Right now.

In this moment.

I am happy.

:) I hope all of you have found something to be happy about today.

With love, from Can-Win

"Nevertheless We Did Not Feel To Murmur"

1/6/14

This week my thoughts have been focused more or less on this really nasty habit I seem to have developed. It's called complaining, maybe you've heard of it. Maybe some of you do it!

Well, it's bogus. I know that's not really a dignified word, but it came to mind so I'm using it.

Complaining is something Satan has set up to trick us into thinking it will make a less than ideal situation better, but it doesn't. It makes it worse actually. A lot worse. And then you're just grumbly for the rest of the day. Once you open your mouth and that whining, irritating tone comes out, you're sunk! Give yourself a round of applause ladies and gents, cause you've just ruined your whole day.

"Psh! That's not true Sister Hutchinson! Complaining doesn't ruin your day!"

False.

I should know, I do it. And it does, in fact, ruin your day. I don't really know how it happened honestly. To me I was just venting frustration and then I started to notice I got this tone, and it wasn't pleasant.

To quote my mother, "It's not about what you say, it's about how you say it."

Man, I hate it when she's right! It's all about how you say it. So one day I'm sitting talking with one of my favorite people in the world and it hits me, "I'm a complainer. I murmur!" That was it, game over. I sat there and realized I had found myself in the company of Laman and Lemuel, and that was not pretty. (I think the exact words that ran through my mind were "Well this is unsettling.")

You know who likes Laman and Lemuel? NO ONE. Cause they murmured ALL THE TIME! I mean they had amazing experiences and STILL complained. I know for me I read the Book of Mormon and I think "You're an idiot! How can you be so hard hearted?!?!"

Oh...wait....

I do that too.

Well, after having that nasty little realization, I decided I needed to change. The "tone" has got to go. A) It doesn't make me feel better about anything and B) it's really unattractive. So I'm breaking up with complaining. It's outta here,. We are through!!!!!!

Best part: that's what the Atonement is for. Uh, I love this! I love my Savior because He died so I could overcome the big stuff. But He also died so I could overcome the little stuff too. So I'm going to conquer complaining.

If you've got a nasty little habit like complaining, I invite you to break up with it. The Savior will help you, that's a promise. But you have to make a decision to do something about it first. :)

I love you all!!! Be good!

Stay excellent.

With Love from Can-Win

"Have Some Candy"

12/30/13

This week's email is going to be short because I fail at life and forgot that I haven't written in forever!

MERRY (late) CHRISTMAS!!!! AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

This Christmas brought surprise visits from Santa, candy wars with the elders next door, lots of hot chocolate, Wreck It Ralph, phone calls home, and my birthday! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

In light of the holiday that has past but the New Year that will be here in a few days, I invite you to think of one thing to give the Savior this coming year. It could be reading your scriptures everyday, it could be being nice to that one guy at work who just reeeallly gets under your skin, it could be bringing someone else closer to Christ by inviting them to church. It could be so many things! But think of something, and make plans!

For myself I've decided to adopt the motto "Kindness is free!" and be more kind to ALL of God's children. Even the ones that drive me more than a little crazy. :)

I love you all!

Be good! Be happy! And don't look back, look to the future! Like President Monson says, it's as bright as your faith.

WIth love, from Can-Win

 

"Sometimes I can't see past what's on the surface..."

This past week nothing huge happened, no game changing life lesson was discovered, and no angels ministered to the people as we taught of Jesus Christ. This week was made up of little things, the kind of things we refer to in the Church as the basics.

My companion learned to study the scriptures a little more carefully, to read a little more earnestly.

I learned to love a little more easily, to judge a little less frequently.

And we learned together how to serve more willingly.

This is what my week has been made up of and I'm grateful for those little lessons. It seems like as a missionary you hit a point where you become a little more hardhearted, a little more cyncical as you've been out longer, and seen very similar stories in multiple places.

THAT'S BAD!!!!

You can't judge the one by the other, and honestly it's just not very Christlike. So I've been working extra hard with the Lord in softening my heart. It helps knowing that Nephi prayed for this very thing too. Apparently I'm in good company. :)

That's pretty much it from the The Icebox of the Nation. Other than that I am just being Sisterly, helping in parades, coaxing small children to be friends with me, and trying to stand as a witness.

It takes effort to do that. I'm not always the best, but I try. The Lord knows that.

Anyways, I love you all!!!! Be good!

Shout out to the London ward, I miss you!!!!!! Mucho. :))

With Love from Can-Win.

"..but He helps me understand the depth of my purpose."

There are days I feel like I'm playing chess with God

There are days I feel like I'm playing chess with God.

Except I'm one of the pieces. (It's like wizards chess in the first Harry Potter movie, where they have to play across the board. Anybody? No? Just me then? Ok...)

It's not that I'm playing against God, rather He's using this game to test me, to see how I react when pieces don't move the way I thought they would. So there I am, skipping across the board, ready to reclaim one of my fallen pawns, and the Lord completely blocks my path and says to me, "What will you do? Now that the way doesn't seem clear and easy, what will you do now?"

That's where I am right now. I was in a ward where I was loved, and things were somewhat easy. I knew people. I had a brilliant companion. The work was going fairly well, and I was getting complacent. So the Lord started moving pieces, and now I'm at a point in time where it seems like things have popped up blocking my way. My ward now isn't a ward but a branch, and we struggle. We don't have the luxury of numbers here, we are 28 to Sacrament meeting on a good week. It's hard here.

So what's a girl to do?

I pray. Not always well, and sometimes I ramble and don't really make sense but I pray. I read my scriptures and look for words of comfort from Heavenly Father. I won't lie, I whine a little too, mostly to my companion at night as we're getting ready for bed. But I struggle to put all that I have in the Lord's hands and let Him do the heavy lifting.

I wouldn't trade this. This experience is hard, and stretching, and frustrating. But it's mine to make and do with it what I will.

I choose to roll with it. :)

To those reading, I hope you're having a beautiful day. If it doesn't feel beautiful, find something to make it so. I love you all.

Be good. Stay excellent.

With love , from Can-Win

Yay! Pictures!

Back yard in International Falls, MN

Tiny Branch Building

Sisters!

 

Old District