Leaps of Faith

Hello Family and Friends,

My week was Ok. I am sick today. Its good to hear that Mom and the kids are getting closer to going home. Ed's Baptism went really well and he is getting more involved in the church.  We had an investigator named Meredith who was supposed to be baptized on Saturday, but it was canceled. She doesn't feel like its her time yet. I met with my mission president last week and the meeting was ok. It's still undecided if I will return home or continue my mission at the end of the two transfers. I plan to continue after this transfer, but it's still in the air.  It is really just up to President Gifford at this point.  We evaluated how I was doing and I don't really know how well I'm doing. I personally think I need to do better. I think I just need to take Leaps of Faith and talk more about the church when I am out and about. I also need to start doing better at tracting. I am obeying all the rules as I am told and I follow the direction of my companion. Just plan for me continuing and I will let you know if things change. My Companion Elder Holland is going home on Wednesday and I will get my new companion tomorrow. His name is Elder Gubler. My week was just as normal. I bought some pies and made some heaven for my companions last district meeting and the other Elders really appreciated it. They called the heaven coyote turds. It was fun.  I plan to make more. Thank you for the support.  I will be staying in the same area this next transfer so don't worry about sending letters to the wrong place. I love you all and I hope you do well. Have a good day and a good week.

Love Elder Butler

Easter Weekend and a Baptism

Hello Family and Friends,

The week went well.  We had our baptism of one of our Investigators this Saturday and he got confirmed this Sunday. His name is Ed.  I will attach a picture of him in the Email. Thank you for the money, it helps a lot. I got the Easter package today and thank you for it.  I got a good lunch on Easter and I felt tired.  I needed the break today. Thank you for the scriptures and I will make sure to highlight them. I will share them here with everyone.  It is a good reminder why missionaries serve and do what they do.

D&C 18:10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

D&C 18:15-16

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

I love you all and this is the only Email I can send you today because of how late I am getting to the computer. I will talk to you next week.

Elder Holland, Ed's son-in-law who baptized him, Ed's Daughter, Ed & Me

Service and Soreness

Week 4 went well. I had some awful muscle pain in my arms, but other than that, I'm fine.  I have done quite a bit of service lately. My companion doesn't believe we should do too much service and that we should focus on teaching though. My muscles are hurting from some exercise one of the elders had me do while on exchanges. More of a stiff pain where I can't move and when I try, it hurts. We mostly helped people move out of there homes for service. There are lots of people moving in and out of Denver.  It's good to hear that you got that package of games I got. I got them from a less active member who gave them to me. I'm glad that Ben and Alex are enjoying them.  It's good to hear that Ben is starting to go back into more "active" work.  I got the package you sent to me, it was nice.  I am doing fine out here. It would be nice to send some more treats. It's also great to hear that Mom and the kids are getting closer to moving back to Utah. I spent the week just doing what was normal. One of our investigators is getting baptized on Saturday and we have another one next week. We do a little bit of tracting but only tract when we have nothing else to do because its not the most effective way to find people in the U.S.   But it would work in places like Samoa and Africa. The ward is doing fine and so is my companion.  I will be getting a new companion on the 25th.  We just got a new Bishop yesterday during sacrament.

Here is a video I thought you might like

.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/face-to-face/face-to-face-with-lindsey-stirling

 

Thank you for the emails and I love you all and I will see you in 7 more weeks.

 

 

 

 

Church Sleep is the Best Sleep

The third week of my mission was good and I am still feeling good. Today is the 22nd day of my mission. My Companion and the other elders are  nice people. Conference was great. I especial liked the talk from President Uchtdorf when he said "Church sleep is the best sleep". We watched Conference and a two  homes of members and then watched the rest of it at the Stake Center. 

I am still writing in my journal. My studying in my scriptures are doing well. I have just started studying in 3rd Nephi and will read more later tonight.  There wasn't anything new this week.  We aren't doing a ton of lessons. We are mostly trying to find people to teach who don't want to religion bash. We do mostly updating the maps to try to round up who is a member and who isn't.  Zone conference was good. I got to meet with the Mission President and it was just a small 5 minute interview. The interview went fine, nothing to report on that. We now have two investigators, Ed is one and Meridith is the other.  They both have baptisms that are coming up.  One is on the 15th of April and the other is on the 22nd of April, so please pray that those will go well.

I just got a new camera today.It was great to hear about you all going back to Utah for a visit. I will continue to pray for Mom and Dad to get jobs there. I am obeying all the rules as best as I can but there are some days that I don't want to get up, but I am doing fine. I just try to remember Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Tell everyone to start sending Emails!! 

Love to you all,

Elder Butler