Where in the world is Elder Butler now?!

hey mom!

 

Well, I'm in the zone Nimajuyu. If you look on a map, it's z. 21. My area is called Venezuela 1. I'm in charge of my area and Venezuela 2. The area is really small. The ward is incredible here. They give so much support to the mission work. President only had me train one missionary due to missionaries receiving their visas, and a few had to have surgeries. My comp's name is Elder D. He's from Chimaltenango, and is waiting for his visa to go to Bolivia. He got some bad news yesterday, though, that they rejected his visa. It's because he changed his last name, and it's different from the paperwork that he presented to get his visa.......they have to restart the process. Pray that it will be able to go through. He really wants to go to Bolivia.

 

We had a great first week, though. The area was kind of tattered when I got here, but Sunday we had 9 visitors at church! For a lot of them it was their first time. I feel like we're working with a lot of faith right now. On the 2nd of June, we're having a "white sunday (domingo blanco)" for the stake, in that every group of missionaries is going to have somebody ready to baptize that day. Basically, a giant baptismal service for the entire stake. it's going to be amazing! We've got a couple that we're going to try to have baptized that day. Pray for us so that we'll be able to help these people make good decisions and make covenants. 

I've been trying super hard to be focused and faithful. I feel like I've been doing good with that. I forgot to tell you, the zone that I'm in is one of the zones that the South Mission is going to take at the end of June. It's very likely that I'll be going to the South mission. It's sad because I love this mission, I definitely won't be able to see my converts, and Pres. B. is one of my heroes. If God needs me in the South Mission, that's where I'm supposed to go. It'll be alright, though, because my companion from the CCM and many other friends that I made there are serving there. It will be fine. It's not set in stone, but it's very likely. President B. hasn't told me directly that I'm going to that mission, but it's really probable. Oh well. I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord!

 

Well the phone call was great! I can't believe how old John is. You all look great but the time is too short, though. We'll do better for the Christmas phonecall! jajajajajaja I can't believe that I'm now heading onto the 14 month mark. Jeez I'm old. I feel like time in the mission just doesn't exist.

 

I took a bunch of pics when I left Palin, but I can't upload them because there's no attachment here. It's all good. I'll try to send them over next week. It was pretty sad leaving. Saying goodbye to The R. Family and the G. family was super difficult. After visiitng all the time for the past 8 months, it was really hard to do. But that 's the mission. Luckily, I was able to say goodbye to all of my converts. Some of them weren't home or were really hard to track down, but I ended up running into them in the street! I know God answers our prayers. Elder R.was really sad, too. We got along really well at the end of the change  It'll be fine, though. President put a really good missionary there who's getting ready to go home soon. He was a zone leader for about 7 or 8 changes, so it'll be fine. I'm so thankful for the time I had there.

 

Well I love you guys a ton! Hope everything goes well for graduation. I know it's a hectic time, but everything will go well. Make sure to help out the missionaries! Give them a reference or 3.

 

Con amor eterno,

Elder Butler

Well I'm movin' on up.....

Hey mom!

yes, I'm going to be training 2 missionaries at the same time! it's going to be a pretty big challenge, but I welcome it with open arms!

I'm definitely bummed that I'm leaving Palin. This place is my home. I tell everyone that I'm "palineco". I'm going to take some more pictures of the area before I leave. I just love it here. The bishopric is super awesome, great ward. I'm truy going to miss this place. 

Thanks for everything! I've been packing a little bit, and it cracks me up that I've received 4 or 5 packages here lol. I'm soooooo old. 

Well tomorrow will be super crazy. I'm wondering where they'll send me.....who knows. All that President told me is that it's gong to be a big challenge.....challenge accepted!

It was absolutely great to talk with you guys. It goes by so doggone quick though.....It's all good though. John sounds super old now.... time just absolutely flies. But i want to see some photo evidence of that first!

Well I am going up! I have interview with President Brough which means I'll be going into another leadership position! I'm stoked, it'll be a good time for me to learn. 

So what's going on in the NBA? 

Well I'm excited to start another chapter in my mission. I hope that I can keep growing and progressing. Love you guys so much! thanks for all of your support and for not giving up on me.

Love,

Elder Butler

One down, one to go.....

Hey mom!

 

I couldn't believe it either that it's been a year. This time last year we were eating Chipotle and taking teary eyed pictures in the airport (btw, i still remember your joke about the 1 eyed security guard and you said that he was a pirate......lololololol). It's gone by so quick, and you're oh so right about the refinement. I think one of the scriptures that goes through my mind the most is Mosiah 3:19. Putting off the natural man is easily and will be the most difficult challenge for me. I sure did need that time to get better, though. I have to be thankful for every one of my challenges. the mission has been such a great privilege spelling?). I love every opportunity that I have been given to serve, and I'm so excited to see what the next year will bring. I thank you all so much for the help, love, and support that you've given me to come on this misión. It has changed, is changing, and will change my life.

 

Hey what happened at the Boston Marathon?

 

I loved what you said about the questions. That's easily one of my biggest weaknesses. There's a term in the misión called Preguntas Inspiradas, or inspired questions. I have had some experiences where these types of questions have completely helped change someone's perspective, and the lessons has been able to truly come unto their heart. That advice you gave me really cheered me up. I've been trying soooooo hard. We'll both get better in time lol.

 

Well I've got one more month in Palin. We have 2 baptisms set for this Saturday! Our Ward misión leader, J.(who is also one of my converts), has given us so many great references. I think we've had 6 baptisms through him. I just want to go out with a bang from here. I've been here so long. I feel like a Palineco. I know the culture and the people so well now, and I've even learned to speak a Little bit of the local dialect that they speak here (pokomam). It'll be exciting to see where i go next!

 

I'm sorry that my emails aren't very good. It's just that the brief time we have doesn't let my go into detail about Guatemala. I'll be ready to talk your ears off when i get home. lol

 

The weather stays the same here in Palin. It gets hot in the afternoon, but in the night it cools down. Palin has the perfect climate.

 

How's work going? Getting ready for the graduation i imagine. I always remember that this time of year is super stressful for you. But just think, you've lasted all these years with the graduation planning, I'm sure there's many more to come.

 

Well I've started reading the New Testament. I love reading about the life of Christ.  I love the example He sets and I'm really trying to be more like him.  We are all progressing as long as we are headed in the right direction, do all we can to improve and are kind with others our lives will be awesome.

 

Well I love you guys so much! I'm so glad that you all are doing well. i hope W's internship problems can get ironed out. I pray for you guys all the time and know that you are in His hands. Love you all so much.

 

Elder Butler

 

P.S. one year down, one more to go! One celestial minute down, one more to go!

One year down...

Hey mom!
Glad to hear the vacation went well. I just hope grandpa can just relax and enjoy his family. I hope Nana can relax too.

Conference was great! We saw 3 of the sessions in English. I saw the final one in Spanish It was super hard to concentrate, especially with Elder Holland. The translator didn't have any inflection in his voice. But nonetheless I'll read the talks when the conference issue of the Liahona comes out.

That's so crazy Ms. J. got a hold of you. Such a small world, huh? I still remember her and the class.
We didn't baptize in March but it's still been fun. We have plenty of people progressing. I just think this month is the time to reap the rewards. It's sad, though, because I'm sure this is my last change in Palin. I've spent over half of my mission here. Its all good though. W. spent a lot of time in Bakersfield, right? They're going to open up that mission this year! President knows where we need to serve.

Hey got a letter from Bro. S. again. If you could get his email for me that would be great! I'd really like to send an email to Bishop W., too. 

Well things have been great. Next week I will have 1 year in the mission. Wow, where has the time gone? It's so true that this time just flies. I think I feel like this because these two years are dedicated entirely to the Lord and to service. His time runs so much faster than ours. We did the math yesterday in zone conference, and our mission comes out to roughly 2 minutes in God's time. Wow.......(But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8)

Well, I love you guys a lot. Thanks for all the support that you've given me. Just another year......whoa. You guys are awesome. Love you so much.

Elder Butler

Eleven months and the work is great

Hey mom!

 

The package came last week! Elder G  and I thoroughly enjoyed the goodies! The alarm clock wakes up instantly! lol Tell Mrs. South the candy was delectable  and Elder G especially loved the sixlets. He hasn't be able to try a lot of the American candies. The Girls Scout cookies were also incredible. Thank you for sending everything Mom! You're my hero!

 

I love hearing about the bi(polar) weather of Ohio. Whenever people ask me what the weather is like in Ohio, I always tell them it's a little bit of everything, but you can never know what's going to come!

 

Well Elder G  left today for D.F., Mexico. It was a great month I had with him, and it was such a great privilege to train him! We had 0 problems, had fun, and worked hard. What else could a missionary ask for? Now I'm with an Elder from Honduras, Elder R , another great guy! I'm finishing his training this change and the next here in Palin!

 

I still haven't got any more letters from Bro. S. The mail is sketch sometimes.

 

But things have been going great here. We've been patient and now there's plenty of people who can get baptized. The Lord will help us if we just trust in him and work super hard.

 

I'll send something for you guys next week with the details about the mission. It'll be nice for me to take some time to meditate and see how blessed I've been and how our youth can prepare to serve missions.

 

Glad to hear your lessons went well. President S  is such a great guy. Bishop M  taught about achieving perfection too. Man. he's a spiritual atomic bomb. Incredible.

 

Sis. P is awesome. her husband works here for Dometec. They're building a giant sugar dome in Santa Lucia. It's super crazy.

 

How's W  been? Let him know that I hope he's doing well in school.And J? I know he's doing well in life, never have to worry about him lol. he's awesome.

 

Man, I can't believe I've been in the mission for 11 months! So crazy! it's gone by so quick. Hey how was your birthday!??? I prayed that you would be able to enjoy it and see how much of a positive influence you've had on so many people's lives, including mine. I owe everything to my Savior, but i feel likeI owe a lot to you guys as well. I'll always been indebted to you guys, and I promise that this time next year when I  get home I'll be a blessing, not a burden. Love you guys soooooo much.

 

Elder Butler

Working, working, working

Hey Mom!

Well, you aren't going to believe how hard we've been working this month.  It's crazy but I LOVE this work.  It makes such a huge difference in people's lives.  Gives them focus and purpose.

Glad to hear that you get to see Grandpa. Hope he feels good while you and J are there.

Elder G (is a great son.  That is what we call them when we train so we remember how important it is to do this work,)  He is a champ! He's progressing so much. It's truly an honor to train him. 

So awesome Escuintlas going to be a stake. The work truly is booming. It's the stone cut out of the mountain. You just can't stop it. 

Well we're going to Antigua next week.  It is kind of touristy but cool anyway. I don't need a lot of cash. Just something in case I find something interesting for you guys to send home. Maybe i'll send a package home at my 1 year mark, because once Christmas rolls around I'll only have 4 months left! But don't worry about it. I hate talking about money.

Well I'm honored that someone thought that I had an impact on their life, especially since I mainly live in regret for what i did back then. I guess there's something we good we can take out of every experience. I'm almost positive I know who it is. Love that guy.

Well, you might have noticed how I've started out every paragraph with the word "well". I've fallen into a bad habit of saying the word "pues" at the beginning of every sentence lol. Please forgive me I know have bad habits in two languages!

I had some cool revelation this week. I realized why it's such a great blessing to have prophets,  Think about how many revelations God has given to our modern day prophets. The Family, Proclamation to the World, Sec. 138 of Doctrine and Covenants,prophetic counsel about personal  debt, etc. It's such a blessing to have them. I can't wait until conference to hear counsel from  our divinely called leaders!

Well I'm absolutely loving the mission. I can't believe we're already half way through this change. Time just doesn't exist in the mission. I'm just grateful for evey day that i get to go out and preach and truly help others come unto Christ. It's such a great blessing.

Well I love you guys with all my heart! I hope everything goes well this week for you guys, and know that I'm praying for you guys always!

Con Amor Eterno,

Elder Butler

Training

Hey mom!

Well, I'M A TRAINER! My kid is awesome. His name is Elder G. 

 He's waiting for his visa to go to Mexico. I hope he can stay here

 the full six weeks. If he leaves in the middle of this change, it

will probably mean i'll stay in Palin for another change, which 

means i will have spent a third of my mission in Palin.

The change meeting was crazy. We opened up another 6 or 7 areas, and
we received a ton of missionaries. The work is growing rapidly.
President told us about how the number of mission calls has
skyrocketed. I'm so glad I'm part of this work.

Well my last week wasn't bad at all. I remembered what 

President Ucthdorf said 2 conference's ago. The merciful obtain mercy.
I applied that and it's paid off. It also says in Mosiah 4 that people
who are humble will always retain forgiveness of their sins. I've felt
it a lot more throughout my life.

Thanks for the money! Me mejorare para ahorrar mis quetzalitos!

Hey no worries if you can't find the hoodie. It's just a white and
black Nike hoodie. The extra ties are to give to other missionaries
and members. You are right though, the pacas have ties for pretty
cheap. No worries if you can't find/send them. No tengan pena. but if
you could send a digital alarm clock, that would be wonderful. The
wind up ones don't work very well.

Man that stinks about the weather. I'm so spoiled here because of the
wonderful weather that we have. It's always super nice here in Palin.

Man it's so crazy that I've been here in the misison for 10 months.
It's gone by way too quick.

Well i read last week in Alma about how they stood for the freedom and
their religion. I loved how it said that they also stood for their
sacred duty to protect their wives and children. The family truly is
the essential unit in the plan of God. It's helped me to remember what
I fight for as well.

What have you guys been reading? How has the Book of Mormon truly
helped you become more fully converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
What's you favorite scripture and how has it helped you.

Well pray for me that I'll be able to be a good trainer. President is
changing the mission even more. He wants this generation to be better
than the next. He's starting to have really young missionaries train.
I just hope I can live up to the expectation.

Love you guys for everything you do. Cuidese mucho! Love you guys with
all my heart.

Con Amor Eterno,
Elder Butler