"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

Oh, Hey There America!

11/4/13

So transfer calls came and I've been moved to International Falls, Minnesota. WEIRD! (Not the place, but the fact that I'm serving a Canadian mission in the states.) My companion and I are really excited!

Thursday was Transfer Day.

Friday was Sisters Conference.

Saturday, Sister Christensen and I drove 5 and a half hours from Winterpeg to I Falls. And the best part of that trip?

BORDER PATROL.

Apparently, two young females wearing badges that say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and a backseat full of luggage is very shifty. :) So they stopped us, made us get out, and searched our car. Haha. It was the best!

Anyways, a half hour later we finally are stateside and make our way over to I Falls.

So here I am! Stateside! Talking to people about Jesus and trying not to freeze to death. :)

Shout out to my little sister who turned 15 today. Congrats Contessa, you're OLD!

Alright I'm outta time. Love you all, mucho!!!

With love, from Can-Win

"And he left...and took nothing with him." -1 Nephi 2:4

What would you do if the Lord told you to leave your house, that you weren't safe, and you might not come back? What would you take with you?

My lovely companion and I had an experience like this earlier this week. Thursday night we stayed up talking past curfew, and finally decided to wind down and prepare for bed at around midnight. I said prayers and brushed my teeth, she did her teeth and said her prayers. After she finished she looks up and me and starts to ask me a question when suddenly our apartment starts smelling like burning plastic. It smells like those times a piece of tupperware fell on the heating element of the dishwasher. Except...we don't have a dishwasher.

So we start to look around the house, turning things off as we go, checking the heaters on the floor, and we cannot find the source of this burning smell, but it's getting stronger. I look to my companion who just nods at me, looking as uneasy as I feel, and I say, "We need to get out of the apartment." And just like that we leave, taking only our scriptures, wallets, and a blanket each.

"The Lord hath commanded that thou...shall return." -1 Nephi 3:2

As we are walking to our car I get another very distinct impression. I stop in my tracks and turn to Sis B and said we needed to go back. When asked why I told her that I felt the need to prepare in the case that we came back to nothing, ie passports and important documents would be needed. So we pulled the car around and ran back in. By this time the smell was overwhelming and I felt very uneasy being in the apartment. 1 minute. That was it. We would only grab what was needed, and when that minute was up we would leave.

I walked through each room and grabbed only a few things as I went: My passport and travel documents, a change of clothes, my current journal (with the pictures on top), and my small notebook that I used to take notes while I studied. On a second faster sweep I grabbed deoderant and the ring my parents gave me for my 18th birthday. That was it. She grabbed documents, our coats, a change of clothes, and few sentimental things her mother had given her.

Then we were out.

"And they that have farms that cannot be sold, let them be left.." -Doctrine and Covenants

38:37

First lesson: When the Lord calls you out, or warns you to leave, there will be things that will be left behind. Nice things. Things you love. Things of value. There will always be sacrifices made when the Lord calls you.

So where did we go? To the church, the only place we knew where we could sit and think, be safe, and find peace. And we did. Sister Bronson and I both wondered if we would go back to a whole apartment, or just bits and pieces that had been scorched and burned. But as I sat there thinking I just felt calm. I looked at her, and she said, "I'm not worried." I smiled. "Me either."

Second Lesson: The church is a place of refuge no matter what the circumstances may be. ALWAYS.

From there we went through the proper channels, got a hold of somebody to let them know our concerns, found a wonderful member family who let us crash at their place for the night. (Woohoo London!) We were safe, and we were happy.

"Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body what ye shall put on...For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." -3 Nephi 13;25, 32

The rest of the story doesn't matter, (that and it's very anticlimactic), the point is, I had a spiritual experience in the midst of being prompted to up and leave in the middle of the night.

"Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.." -2 Nephi 4:18

The best and third lesson is this: Trust in God. He will never lead you astray. If He asks you to do something, and you don't know why, trust He has a reason.

I will never know why we were prompted to leave the apartment that night. Sister Bronson and I talk about it, and we still can't pinpoint a reason. But I had personal revelation the night, and we did  something I had been struggling with for so long: I trusted in God. He would provide for me.

And maybe that was the reason all along

With love, from Can-Win.

"Chasten my soul til I shall be in perfect harmony with Thee..."

Happy awkward October Thanksgiving!!!! (If any Canadians are reading this, don't be offended. It's just because I'm American.)

Well life is weird here. Thanksgiving is over and it's on to Halloween!!!! We're also on the tail end of a transfer. It's the 4th week here, which mean next week is transfer calls, and the week after transfers. Crazy, right?

So yesterday was the 12 year mark since my parents and I were baptized. It was very weird to think about how I went from a girl stepping into the water to a soldier in God's army. But it's really neat at the same time. :))

I love God, and Jesus. I am grateful for the things I have been blessed with in this life, especially the gospel. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who chastens me, tries me, tests me, and molds me so that I can be better. I am grateful for the trials I have, even though I wouldn't wish them on anyone else. I'm grateful for the way they refine me and push me to pick a side. In this life it's one or the other. Good or evil. Obedience or disobedience. Happiness or wickedness. God or the world.

You can't have both.

I'm grateful for Preach My Gospel. That book is inspired. It helps in so many aspect of my life, not just missionary work. Right now my favorite section is Christlike attributes. I'm studying Faith and Virtue. If you haven't flipped through that section and studied those attributes, I invite you to do so. It's amazing what the Lord witll reveal to you when you are partaking of things that bring His spirit, especially if you are looking for ways you can improve.

I am grateful for my familiy that supports and loves me. That includes the one I've made for myself here. I love you all. You're kind of the best.

I know that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know God loves us because we are His children. I am grateful to be one of His missionaries.

Life is good.

Love you all! Be good! Be faithful! Stay steady. :))

With Love from Can-Win