Wrapping up

Hey mom!

I can't believe that this is my last week of the mission. The good thing is that we're finishing the week with a baptism! We're baptizing the Elders Quorum President's niece.. We've been teaching her in his house, and it's been super effective. Maybe you should see if someone could come over for dinner next Friday. It's incredible how effective it is to teach people in the houses of members. We've had a lot of success in our area this week. We had 10 investigators at church! Hopefully we'll have more next week. 

Next week, Tuesday after changes Elder B.and I are going to see President Brough! I'm definitely stoked to see him. They're going for 400 this month. Hopefully they'll be able to reach it. 

I'm really leaning towards being an EFY counselor, just to try and give something back. I think the deadline for applications is in May. I'm gonna have to ponder and pray about it. We totally should go to the temple!

I'm super glad that I'm here in this area. I'm so thankful for the experiences that I've had these past two years and I'm looking forward to making more at home with you guys! love ya tons!

Con Amor Eterno,

Elder Butler

Last week of February

Hey mom!

The temple trip was great. I absolutely love it. can't really expound details, but it was so great. I love going to the temple. Hey when I get home we're going to go to the temple more! I think that going once a week is a pretty reasonable goal. I feel like it would be one of the best uses of my time.

Well it's official. I've got my return information. Wow, time has gone by so quick. I can't believe it.......It's going to be a little interesting in our area. We had 2 sets of missionaries in our ward. They're going to close the second area. My companion and I are going to work in all of Barrio Cerro Grande! I'm excited! Our areas really small, so we're going to be able to reach out and find more people! I feel sad, though. Elder Fraughton is easily one of my best buddies in the mission. We thought he might've stayed for one more change.  We're going to need to be firing on all cylinders here in the zone. Our goal for March is 24 baptisms. That'll be the new record for most baptisms in a month in the stake. I just hope we can get it done. Hopefully this last change we'll be able to get some more miracles here. 

I found out last week that yet another person that Elder V. and I visited in Mezquital got baptized. It makes me glad to know that none of our efforts are wasted. 

Well the weather is still the same here. It doesn't really change. Actually, it's been getting a little hotter here. I'm losing weight! I've been drinking more water and I'm not eating tons of junkfood. I'll be coming home with my beach bod.

I can't believe this is my last change. I'm so glad that I've had all this time to serve here in the mission. I'm ready to go out and work with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Love ya mom! Thanks for everything you do! You'll always be my hero!

Con Amor Eterno,

Elder Butler

New area on fire

Hey mom!

We totally had some miracles this week. Working in the other area has proven to be quite incredible. We had 7 investigators at church yesterday. We have 3 investigators that have accepted fechas in March! I'm so stoked. I love working in the new area. There are a ton of people that have been prepared. We're totally gonna find more people this week. Know it. I'm glad i get to end my mission in this area. The ward is getting so much better here. I love it. 

I'm stoked to come home to the spring time. I totally want to mow the lawn when I get home. 

Well, the zone is doing great right now. We've got a goal to baptize 24 people this month. we're lookin pretty good. A lot of areas are working well. Being a zone leader here has been super genial. I love the missionaries in our zone. It's like an all star team right now. I love it. We're going to have a lot of miracles this month.

I can't believe I have such little time left. I have such little time to do so much. O well. I'm not baggy. I'm working hard and I'm going to return with honor.

I think evertyhing's fine for school......I'd like to apply for some summer work to keep options open. THe only problem is that you have to take care of your own transportation. The civic will die if it's taken out of Ohio (gift of prophecy powers.) But i would totally love the experience to give back to the youth. What would be great is if you could see if there are any job postings around that require someone speaking Spanish. be prepared. 

Hey something that I think we're going to do is make shirts for the zone. It would require just a tad bit of dinero. Also, there's a guy here in the mission that does suits. He said that he could embroider a guatemalan flag into my jacket for 300 quetz. I think it would be kinda rad. ni modo.

Hey we're totally going to see the next conference together! Just to let you know, I refuse to watch it in the house. I have repented of my ways for always sleeping during conference. I will not go back to my own ways. We're gonna go play bball with some investigators today. It's really embarrassing because I've lost all my skill, but there are some really good players here. 

Love ya tons mom!

Elder Butler

February a quiet month so far

Hey mom!

Well this was a better week. things are on the up here in our area. We're finding more people and we've got some more people progressing. God definitely answers prayers. Our ward leaders, though, are really awesome. They're truly converted people and they put a great example for everyone here in the ward. 

Why's everything so cold and frozen? I mean, it's winter, but you guys have now been like that for quite a bit of time now.....I wonder what's going on there. Ni modo. 

I can't begin to tell you how many things I've learned here at the mission. It's made me realize that I truly am a debtor in so many aspects, and that I need to pay my dues. I really want to help this future generation of missionaries be more prepeared. That's a huge motivation I have.

Anywho, I have a determination to just die like a champion. We've got interviews tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being enlightened by Pres.'s advice and spiritual knowledge. 

I'll try to have a little more content next week. I'm on the same brain wave as well, not a lot to tell.

FYI we won't be writing until Friday of next week because we're going to the temple. don't worry. love you guys a ton!

So long January

Hey mom!

Well the conference was incredible! Elder Cook was so awesome! Elder Soares was there was well. Elder Cook needed a translator so it was a little difficult sometimes to focus, but it was way easier to take notes. He told us that we should look at 3 things in each ward and find how we can grow them. 1. attendance 2. spritutality 3. future missionaries. Man it was awesome. He talked about how, on his mission, He was put in an area and needed to start a branch. He and his companion fasted and prayed that they'd be able to find the leadership of the new branch. They were riding home on their bicycles and felt an impression that they needed to stop and tract. They went and ended up baptizing the branch president, relief society president, and many other leaders in just that street. How amazing! I had a similar experience and was able to baptize a former pastor! I've really been trying to focus more on being guided by the Spirit. Well, I learned a ton from the conference. I don't have time sufficient to tell you everything, but I have notes!

Crazy to hear that it's super cold and crazy in Ohio. I've loved that you'll never be able to expect what happens in Ohio. Being a meteorologist there must be a pain lol. Hope you guys and everyone else can be safe!

The weather here has been super sporadic (spelling?). It's super cold in the morning, super hot in the afternoon, and super cold at night. It's the roller coaster of weather here.

Yesterday I ate something called "ravo". It's cow tail. It was really delicious, but super difficult to eat. Here in guatemala many parts of the cow are eaten. I've eaten cow tongue, stomach, liver. I've eaten a matriz de pollo (female part of chicken). All of which were quite delicious. 

I'm super stoked to do family history work with you guys.

Love you guys!

Elder Butler

The work goes on

Hey mom!

Well my new companions name is Elder A. How crazy! I've got another gringo companion. It's been great, though. We had a solid week. We found some new people this week that are pretty solid. Just gonna go out and work hard this week. Our bishop is super awesome. We had a super good visit with him. He's 100 percent behind the mission work. We're gonna start working a lot with the ward. Super exciting times. Also requires lots of faith. They just opened up two new areas in the zone so we've got 10 companionships in the zone. Hopefully we'll be able to get a lot done.

Elder V. went home Tuesday. He was pretty sad to go, but at the same time super happy. He was a good guy. It's so crazy. Now all the legends that I've known are at home now. It's so crazy that I've got so much time now. Saturday I hit the 21 month mark. I'm really old. Don't worry, though, I'm still focused on the work. It's just super crazy. O well. heart might mind and strength. 

That's crazy the high school team is doing so good. Who all's on the team?

Hey guess what? we're going to see Elder Quintin L. Cook and Elder Soares from the Presidency of the 70 the 22nd. Sweet! That's means now I'm going to have seen 2 apostles! How awesome!

Well I find myself with very little to write. I'm super glad that I'm here on the mission. I hope you guys are doing well.

We're starting interviews with President this week in the mission. He wants to talk with us about our goals for this year. It'll be interesting because I'll have to share goals about the mission and what I want to do when I get home. I  think it would be cool to really put my sights on the temple when I get home. It would be cool if you could help me learn how to index and do family history work. What do ya think?

Hope you guys love the sporatic weather. Everyone's telling us how cold the states are right now. enjoy! the weather's always the same here. 

Well, I love you guys a ton. Hope everything goes well for you guys this week!

Con amor etrno,

Elder Butler

Goals - Key to progression

Hey mom!

Well this was a super difficult week. We found a lot of people, though. It's just that I've never had a point in my mission like this where we haven't been able to find a lot of people to teach. IT's all good, though. Great trials bring great blessings. Well I've got 2 changes left. My companion goes home tomorrow. I'll be getting a new companion. It very well may be my last companion. I feel like I'm on a super high point, though. President taught us about the importance of learning and studying the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. It's helped me out so much to put in perspective the commandments and points of doctrine. I feel like I've been learning a ton. I'm almost done with the New Testament! I'll be starting Revelations this week. I'm now on Alma 40. hopefully I'll be able to finish the BOM before the end of the mission. That'll be my 4th read though. Twice in English and twice in Spanish. I love the scriptures. I loved the goal to become an expert from Pres. Uchtdorf. I feel like I've been learning a lot from the scriptures lately. They just open up the windows of revelation. I have to take advantage of the study time that I have here because I totally won't have 3 hours everyday to study. tengo que aprovechar!

Goals are so important. I've been trying to so hard to dial in on the goals. One of the reasons why this mission doesn't baptize a lot is that no one knows how to set goals. I want to be example. I have 2 big ones before the end of my mission. 1. I want to have at least 1 Sunday where we have 20 investigators in church. 2. have 20 baptisms in the zone in March. Before we got sent to Mision Sur, Elder Duncan from the 70 taught us about the way to have more success in our missions and in life. You have to have a vision, goals and plans. You have to write down your goals. ( Harvard studies show that you have 10x more success when you write your goals down.) I'm glad you wrote me about goal setting. I'm going to work on that this week. 

Well I've been a zone leader for a change now. It's a challenging experience. Sometime it feels like a babysitting job. I'm super privileged, though, because I get to learn from all of them. It helps out a lot. I can't believe that I only have 3 months left. I just want to go out with a bang. Just really help out this ward. It's got so much potential. Well tomorrow will be a crazy day. Changes are always so crazy and nerve wracking. WHO WILL BE MY NEXT COMPANION??????? that's probably the biggest question that's on my mind. 

Well, you'll have many details next week. It'll be an exciting new chapter in the story of the mission of Elder Samuel Forrest Butler. Love you guys!

Con Amor Eterno,

Elder Butler

P.S. Thanks for the application stuff. Coach said that I would have to come do a visit so he could see what position I would have to play. It's all good!

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

Short and sweet

Hey mom!

 

E. was baptized this week. He's super awesome.

 

Well we're starting to meet a lot of problems. It's all good. If I want to experience joy,I have to see opposition. We had interviews with President this week. He's so awesome. I'm so glad to have him as the President of this mission.

 

Great to hear about the missionaries in the Philippines surviving. There are so many miracles that happen in the field, I can't even start to list all the miracles that I've seen here.

 

Thanks for sending the package! My companion is anxiously awaiting the candy.

 

Sorry this email is so short. The computers here are so doggone slow. I can't write that much because the computer freezes.

 

Almost done with the New Testament.

 

Love you guys so much. Hopefully the next week I'll get a better computer. Love you guys. I'll be praying for everyone.

 

Love,

 

Elder Butler

This and that

Hey mom!

 

Well E. is going to be baptized this Saturday! So glad, he's changed a lot. It's great to see the gospel work in people's lives. I'm super stoked, and hopefully we'll have another one the next weekend!  Please keep praying. 

 

Thanks for contacting the coach! I need to keep my options open. I got the email from the coach and I'll talk with him to see what I could do. Thanks for doing that for me. I can't rule out BYU either, although I'm still kind of weirded out from the last Utah experience we had. No worries. If God wants me to go there, I'll go.

 

I've learned a lot from the scriptures this week. Paul said in 2nd Corinthians that if we sow a little, we'll reap a little. If we sow  , we'll reap a lot! Love it. It can be applied to so many things in our lives. I just want to finish my mission on a good note. We're working hard here and I feel that God is satisfied with what I'm doing. I'm not content with all that I do, but I know that I repent and apply the atonement constantly. I work on being humble and not judging others, and I feel more at peace in my life. I'm so thankful for this time that I have. It's so short, and this won't be my profession when I get home but it's truly the most important thing in the world.

 

I'll definitely pray for the missionaries in the Philippines.

 

Send my love to everyone in the family. Love you so much, Mom! thanks for doing so much for me and for others. You truly are my hero.

 

Con amor eterno,

Elder Butler

A month of Thanksgiving

Hey mom glad to hear everything is going well! thanks for sending the dough!

Well one of our fechas fell through. O well. Faith Hope Charity. the others are doing fine, and we found a part member family this week. Elder V. and I are working extremely hard here.

I read a lot of cool stuff this week in the scriptures. A Christlike attribute I've been working on is charity. Like you've told me, it's not worth it to judge. Christ speaks so clearly about it on the Sermon of the Mount. If we want to help other out, we need to start with our own selves. Moroni warns people of passing bad judgement upon other's rapidly. I've done that wayyyyyyyyyy to often in my life. Before I come home, I truly want to be a more charitable person. In order to accomplish that, you must first have faith, hope, obedience, and diligence (teaching of Pres. Brough.) That's one of my goals before I come home. .

I'm sorry to hear that you still havne't found a car yet. Don't worry. God requires trials before we can feel true joy. I'm glad to hear John has his expectations high. I'll play plenty of bball with him when I get home.

I'll make sure and pray for R. and for Mrs. P. They're fighters.

Well, hope everything goes well this week. Before you know it, you'll be eating  Thanksgiving. What day is Thanksgiving?

I like what you said about having an attitude of gratitude. Prayers are so much more meaningful when we take time to look at how the Lord has blessed us. I always love the example of the 10 lepers, and how only 1 went back to thank Jesus for healing him. He told that leper that his faith had made him whole. The others were made whole physically, but for being grateful, the other was made whole spiritually and physically.

Well I love you guys a ton and wish the best for you this week!

Love,

Elder Butler

New area is GREAT

Hey mom!

 

Well we had a great week this week! We've got 4 baptismal dates set! Hopefully we'll be able to have some more this week. My companion and I are working hard and we're united. Couldn't ask for anything better. The area that I'm in is extremely dangerous. There was an 18 year old girl shot on Saturday. We hear gunshots almost every night. The truth is, I really don't care. I have a direct promise from God that we will have angels on our siniestra and diniestra (right and left hand?) The area is great, though. people here are way more humble than my last area. I still miss it, though. O well.I feel extremely blessed to be in the mission. Temptation is trying to make me drop the diligence because I have such little time left. I've been blocking it out and just working, and it's been great.

 

Elder L. left for Uruguay last week. He was the other missionary in the trio. Great guy.

 

Answer 1. No we don't have ways to make cookies.

            2. It would be 10 times easier for me to just get an umbrella here. I also need a cheapo watch and alarm and an umbrella all of which would just be way easier to buy here. This will be my last Christmas in the mission. I don't need a lot of stuff. Just body wash! If anything it would be better to just send something for my companion and some candy from the states. That's pretty much all I need. I think we'll be taking out money Thursday or Friday.If  you would like you could put it in then. Thanks for everything.

 

I'm sorry to here about your concussion. I hated having it. I had a hard enough time studying, but you're a secretary! You're the busy bee. I'll be praying for you this week.  The driver was drunk wasn't he? I know we need to have patience and love but he needs to learn something so he doesn't go out and do it again. O well, I'm not the judge.

 

I really appreciated your advice about how to deal with the disobedience here. I just need to worry about being an example and working as hard as I can. You always have been my best mentor!

 

That's crazy that it's already snowing! We have big plans for something good for Christmas!

 

Please pray for J. and C., E., and J.. They're our 4 fechas for November. You know what to pray for!

 

I'm so glad the ward has so many missionaries! I always feel sad for how much of a chambon I was for not helping out the missionaries more. You can promise them, a favor de mi, that I'll help them when I get home!

Change is in the air

Hey mom!

Well we had some surprising news last night, Elder B. and I are both leaving the area! I don't know why. We haven't been lazy or disobedient at all. I think they might put sisters in our area because it's relatively safe. I'm super sad, though. We had an investigator that finally accepted a baptismal date for the end of the month. Now the both of us are going! O well, God ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Even though the past 6 months have been extremely difficult, I'm still extremely, even eternally grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve in Venezuela [name of the community]. Now I'll start one of the last chapters in the story of my mission. Hopefully everything goes well. I'm so thankful that I was able to train Elder Bailey. He's a winner. He's a way better missionary than me, and that's  the goal of any trainer.

President Z's quote and insights really do make sense. They receive revelation for the stake, and if you think about it, in Ohio there are very few latter day saints. We will have to stand for our beliefs, but I thank God that He found me worthy to come and preach the gospel so that I'll be able to defend my faith in the future.

Christmas things: 1. Body Wash 2. American candy. That's about it. I would really appreciate it if you could send me some money because I need a new umbrella and watch, both of which broke in the last week. This mission doesn't give us a lot of money for extra costs and things like that, ex: umbrella. I would really appreciate that. I never like asking because I feel like I'm adding an extra burden. I'm sorry.  

Hey, anybody else that wants to write can.

I wonder where I'm going to go. In this mission President doesn't do interviews for missionaries who are going to go up to another leadership position here, so you really are just left completely speculating where you'll go. O well, I'll enjoy it while I can. 

I'll send some pictures next week from Elder B. and I saying goodbye to everyone. I love you a ton and am eternally grateful for all the sacrifices that you have made and are making for me. I just hope there's some way that I can pay it all back in the future. Love you guys!

Conference Time

Hey mom!

I'm stoked for Conference. it's been a complete 180 for me. I used to just sleep through conference, but I'm glued to the screen actively scribbling my notes. You're right, it just might be my last one [in Guatemala]. I looked at the change schedules and my last one ends at the beginning of April. Who knows!

My card still hasn't come yet. I'll find out Thursday because that's when the zone leaders get letters and packages. I wouldn't worry, though. It'll be fine. 

Not a surprise they invite people to retire here. Things are dirt cheap here. The old people could go live in Pana or Antigua. That's where a lot of the foreigners live. And in zona 10. Guatemala's beautiful, but the captial is super dangerous. 

That's a shame the football team hasn't been doing so hot. How's J's soccer team been doing? Maybe he'll be the future of the football program lol.

That's crazy what happened to Mr. D. You are so right, we can't procrastinate the day of our repentance. We taught a member's husband yesterday who still can't grasp that concept. That's one of the hardest parts of mission work, respecting people's agency. Nephi exhorted his brethren constantly and they even  saw an angel, but in the end it availed them nothing. Agency is just such a crazy concept. I just think that's why it's our job to work diligently so their sins don't fall on our heads. O well. Learning a little, everyday.

I got that copy of that talk you sent me. It's pretty true. We have to be valiant, not honorable. Loved the examples. Brother S. sent me a letter as well. It's so weird seeing the ward handout and seeing Bishop L. It still seems like Bishop W. is bishop. I will always be grateful that hew was the bishop for me. 

We've been finding some super awesome people this week. God blessed us with a great new ward mission leader. He's been so pilas by helping us out. He's super diligent and loves mission work. We're starting to see some fruits. Hopefully we'll have some baptisms at the end of the change. 

We had zone conference on Friday. Pres. S. is awesome. I'm not going to lie, I'm still trying to get used to the differences between him and Pres. B., but nonetheless he's still an awesome guy. The biggest thing I took out of the conference was how our principal motivation as missionaries should come from our love for the Savior and for the people. It really helped me put into perspective what I need to do to really end on a good note here. 

Well I love you guys a ton. Las familias pueden ser eternas. Les amo!

Elder Butler

No change this change

Hey Mom!

Elder B. and I are together for another change! Super stoked. We're going to tear up the area. God has been answering our prayers. Really learned a lot this week. I've almost finished reading John. I just want to finish the New Testament,  and I'm on my 4th read through on the Book of Mormon. Loving the scriptures!

I've really enjoyed being in this area, even though it definitely is a difficult area. We're not too concerned, though. There's potential in every area. We've decided to quit knocking doors. All of the church leaders always encourage missionaries to work with the members. We've hatched a plan to work with the ward better. It'll be a stretch, but that's better. When there's more suffering, there's more joy in the end. It's essential that there's an opposition in all things.

We've got a fair number of investigators that are reading the Book of Mormon now. I love it. Have you had any good experiences with the Book of Mormon? 

We have an awesome investigator named A that made us jello cake this week. I'll send you some pictures of it.

I've love  reading the New Testament. It helps me connect with other people. It's super important for me to know because having more knowledge helps draw the parallels between the BoM and the BIble. I really regret all the time I wasted sleeping in seminary. If you could pass a message along to the youth of the church from me, it would be that they actually need to participate in Seminary. 

Glad you're helping the missionaries. That's crazy they've got so many there now. I guess the work should be booming now. How many baptisms are you having every month? Glad to hear the work is moving along. I'm going to help out a ton once I get home!

How's school going? Back in the swing of things again? How's the Pride of Bethel Marching Band and Mr. E? Football? Soccer team?

Love you guys a ton. Thanks a ton for you support and persistence with me! Love you! 

News from Nimajuyu

Hey mom!

I got the birthday package! I loved it! thanks for everything. We ate a lot of the stuff with the zone leaders. Elder G. freaked out when he ate the sour patch kids! hahahahahaha Loved all of it! thanks you so much!

Hey I think it would be good to put a little money in my account, just in case the new card takes a while to get here. We get wayyyyyyyyy less money than we did in Central. No worries though.

Wow, you had a quite a temple week. I can't wait to go back. I like to reflect on the sessions and just the great feeling there. The work really is speeding up. I love hearing that term. It brings such a great sense that our hope really isn't in vain. I know that this is the work of the Lord. Elder B. and I learned a lot this week about hope. We just needed to endure and actively wait. We're starting to see some fruits of our labors now.

We had a baptism! J. is way awesome. She truly is wonderful. She got baptized in 3 weeks. She immediately received a testimony about the Book of Mormon and was baptized, even in the face of opposition from her family. I'm super honored that God used us to help bring her the news of the restored gospel.

So is it still super hot? We're starting to have a heat wave here. I'm fine with it. The heat helped me lose close to 40 pounds in the coast! Even though I have lost a lot of weight, I'm still not where I'd like to be. I  sat down and made a list of exercises and a mini diet plan. Please pray that I'll be able to lose more weight!

I've started to study about Christlike attributes more. I've realized  I've just been so focused with finding the most effective way to work that I forget how important it is to be a Christ-like person. Like I said earlier, we've been learning a lot about hope. I read a ton of great scriptures about hope that have helped me put in perspective everything that Pres. B.taught us. He talked so much about hope and suffering, and they just go hand in hand. I really do miss him, but I know that I'll honor him and God through diligent work here.

It just hit how little time I have left. I'll only have 4 changes left after this change! I've got to do the best I can.

Well I love you guys a ton. Thanks for everything that you've done for me! I am super grateful for all of your sacrficies! know that hthey haven't been in vain!

LOVE YOU GUYS

Elder Butler

Hit the 15 month mark!

Hey mom!

I'm glad to hear that you're just going to keep working even more with the youth. They sure do need you. Literally fulfills the prophecy of the hearts of the children to their fathers, because you're literally helping children (teenagers anyway) hahahahahaa. 

I can't believe I hit the 15 month mark last week! I'm getting super old. 

Everyone's been talking about how hot it is in the states right now. Is it like that for the whole country?

The size of the mission was reduced drastically. They lost 6 zones and only gained 2 from us. Before they covered the Atlantic and the Pacific, now it's only the Pacific. A lot of it's just Capitol and coast. I'll be able to come back here in the future and get to know the rest of the country. 

We've been visiting a lot of less active's lately, and 3 of them came to church for the first time yesterday.  We're still trying to help a lot of our investigators, but we're getting better hear little by little. Elder B. and I are staying together another change! I'm super stoked. It's been pretty fun, and we're going to be working hard and baptizing! 

I'm sorry my emails have been so poor lately. I don't really have a lot of new things to update, but nonetheless it's been great. I love the mission! 

Love you guys a ton. Keep serving with all your heart might mind and strength. Please gives the Elders of the ward a reference! Love you guys!

Elder Butler