End of 2013

Hey mom!

Well this was a fun Christmas. We didn't see as much of the fireworks as we would've liked. Guatemala is a very mountainous place. The capital has lots of valleys and  Zona 21 isn't a very high point. The fireworks I saw in Palin last year were way better. It's all good though. We ate some reallly good turkey and tamales. They gave us so many tamales! It was a genuine Christmas, though. I'm gona miss all the Guatemalan traditions. We will just have to use them at home.

I don't need any clothes at all. I will probably leave all my clothes here when I go home. No worries. I'm good to go. 

We loved all the stuff from the packages. The protein bars are delicious. No worries. The hygiene products were of high need. We loved everything. Thanks for everything!

I can't believe you guys didn't take any pictures!!!!!!!!! Well, the ward didn't do anything. Normally, they have a convivio. It's like a dinner and a dance. It's usually super fun and lively and all that stuff but we didn't have one this year.

I feel really focused on the task at hand. I've only got a few months left to go out and do what God wants me to do. We're really struggling in our area. We have nobody to teach right now. Members have to help out now. God changed the rules of missionary work. You can't go out and knock a ton of doors and have a ton of baptisms. We need to have members helping us now. We're going to start teaching and training members to know how to share the gospel.

Well we've got changes next week. This is the week where missionaries think a ton about who their next companion will be. Everything will be fine though. 

Well thanks for everything! you guys are so awesome. Love you guys with all my heart! Happy New Year!

Con Amor Eterno, 

Elder Butler

Another baptism

Hey mom!

We had another miracle baptism! J. is super pilas. Super glad, at the end of her baptismal service, she got up and bore her testimony voluntarily. Man, it was so awesome. I'm super glad to be here.. I read this week in Alma that when Ammon was brought before Lamoni the first time he said he wanted to stay there, "maybe until the day I die". Every missionary should have that attitude. I love reading about Ammon and Lamoni. I learn so much more about them everytime I read those chapters. Just grows my testimony even more that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book upon the face of the earth.

I'm super sad about Ellie it's like hearing  a sister died. I don't want to sound like a little girl but I'm just devastated. At least animals are automatically saved. It's still super sad, though. O well. No use sobbing over it. Maybe I'll take a dog from the street and bring it home with me. sheesh. I just feel super sad. I don't know what to say now. mannnnnnn...... Well it's all good.

I loved the pictures of you guys in Disney! I can't believe how big J. is! I loved all the pics. I want a beard like S's. He and G. always look happy. Loved the Family photo.

Well, I really don't know what else to write. I'll be talking with you guys on wednesday, the 25th, at 11. The whole Ellie thing's kind of sapped me.....

Well love you guys a lot! Send pictures from Christmas morning and everything! Love you guys!

Elder Butler

Package arrived before Christmas...SCORE

Hey mom!

Well we had 5 baptisms this weekend! It was great! The only problem is that we have to go back to square one and try to find new people. It's all good though. God's definitely hastening His work. I love the atmosphere in the church now. The barrier between missionaries and members is finaly dissolving. That's a great thing about the work. The bishop's going to send in goals for the next year soon, so we're going to work together with him to put in effective goals. We're really trying to focus on the work with Bishops and it's really paying off. THe zone right now is doing really well. We're half way through the month and we've got 8 baptisms. Hopefully we can finish with 16. It's great because our zone isn't too big. There's only 8 companionships. It's definitely a marvelous work and a wonder here. 

We had a great zone conference. We talked about the importance of teaching the people about the Godhead. We talked about repentance and the necessity  to be repentant. The best part was that we watched a movie called "Ephraim's Rescue". I think it was made by the same people who did 17 Miracles. It's a great movie. You should watch it! It talks a lot about believing in miracles, but it also talks about the importance of being worthy, obedient, and faithful. It definitely inspired me to go out and work even harder and believe in miracles. We should do our best to always beleive and ask for miracles, and be worthy to act at the needed time. 

So glad to hear that W. graduated! Do you guys have any pictures? 

Be thankful that there's ice and snow! There's nothing Christmasy here! I did get the package! We loved the candy and food and all the stuff! Thanks a ton for everything. Also, tell thanks to Bro. L. and Bro. S. for sending letters. Some of the Sisters from the ward sent letters as well. I think it was Sis. F. and Sis. M. and S.L. Sister T. from the stake sent the letter about the missionary appreciation activity. That was great to hear! I loved seeing the pictures of all the missionaries we have in the stake!

How's everything in the ward?

O, about communication, we have the option to use Skype. I really don't care either way. You'll see me in 3 months anyway. But it's up to you guys. We'll email you guys next week to let you know what's going on. We don't exactly know because we have to sort out the mess about who's going to use Skype or not. 

Well love you guys a ton! Hope you're week goes well. We'll be talking for the last time next week. Wow. I'm super old......... 

Sois mis queridos amigos. (vosotros is not used at all in Central America, just using the scriptures)

¡Feliz Navidad!

Con Amor Eterno,

Elder Butler

News from the new area

Hey mom! 

Well we're going to have 5 baptisms this weekend! I'm super excited. La familia and A. are super awesome. I'm super glad. We're working a lot with the bishop and it's helping a ton. We're working hard here. I'm glad for your advice because my companion and I are both dying soon, these truly are the defining moments. It's not about how you start, it's about your finish. 

We got to go to the Christmas devotional. We took investigators and they loved it. I loved it how almost every speaker talked about the true way to find peace is through Jesus Christ. We live in such a tumultous world. People need true peace in their life. I love seeing how the Gospel works in the lives of people. 

Well here they're going to be some people that are going to use Skype. I don't think I want to. I don't know. We're going to have zone conference with President this week so we'll get all the details sorted out this week and I'll be able to filll you in. 

That's so great W.'s graduating! What an inspiring moment for not just him, but for all of us! What a great lesson of enduring to the end. I'm super proud of him. I know he's gone through a lot, but it's so wonderful to see how we receive grace from the Atonement of Christ!

Well Pres. gave me the green light to fill out an application, but I can fill one out in April. I got permisison to go on the website. If you want to fill one out now then that's fine. maybe I didn't read the details well enough. But I would like to work in some that are close. The only problem is that you don't get paid a lot. Who knows. but anyway, I'll leave it in your hands. 

I haven't been able to talk with Coach but he's gotta know that if I'll play for them it's going to take a while for me to get in shape. I'm totally not lineman shape anymore. I'll try to write him an email right now. I've been thinking about it a lot and I would like to keep my options open. Sister S. gave me some advice that I should only focus on it if there's deadlines involved. Winning. 

Hey, trunky doesn't exist here. IT's Baggy. Lol trunky sounds weird. 

Well I hope you guys enjoy you're vacation. Soak up the sun. Be nice to Hispanics. You have no idea what they do and sacrifice so that they can come to our country. 

Love you guys!

Elder Butler