Hiiiiiii friends & family.
This week has probably been the hardest week when it comes to the work for us because we have just been getting rejected left and right. But we have had some cool experiences that I would like to share. Ok. So We have a returned mission president in our ward. So Elder Smith and I were talking to him and asking him for advice because we weren't having as much success as we would have like to be having. He told us that we are entitled to specific revelation, and we were like OH YEAH! So this week during our daily planning, we have really been trying to involve the Lord. It's his work anyways right? Ha. Yeah, so we were really praying specifically. We are trying to get really good at recognizing the spirit. After all was said and done. We felt impressed to go to an area we had never been to before and tract there. So, we went. And guess what happened? Well, I will tell you. We had a couple of lessons that were ok i guess..... Haha. You thought I was going to tell you some thing amazing didn't ya. Ha. Well, sorry to disappoint, but let me get to the thing that's really important. We really don't know why we felt impressed to go there. We didn't meet anyone golden. We just had a couple ok lessons with people who could be potential, But here is the point. It doesn't matter what happens as long as you are satisfied because you know that you were following the spirit the best you could. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Don't get depressed because you don't see the fruits of your labors yet because they will come. Whether in this time or another, they will come.
Here is another story now. The day after that, we were planning to work in another area that we had not been to yet because its really far away. We took a jeepney to get there, but we missed the street to get off on, so we had to walk back a little bit. We decided just to walk down a street and try to find the street we were looking for cause we also didn't bring our map. Well, we started walking and as we got to an intersection, there was this girl just standing there and then she called out to us. So naturally, being a missionary, we went and talked to her. Long story longer. Turns out. She has been a member for 10 years. She moved into that area about 5 months ago, but she hasn't been able to find a local church. As we were talking she said that she just comes out on the side of the road and waits sometimes just for the missionaries to walk down the road. She said that all different religions of missionaries have walked down, but she had been waiting for the LDS missionaries. How cool is that? We were an answer to her prayer. It just shows that, you don't have to know that you have a spiritual prompting in order to have a spiritual prompting if that makes sense. All you need to be doing is following and keeping the commandments of the Lord as best you can and you will be following the spirit already. Look up Elder Bednar's mission story about the 20 mark note. Its a good one. I am so grateful to be a missionary. The work is so hard, but so rewarding. I know that the church is true and the Lord loves every single one of us. I testify of that too. I love you and pray for you everyday. May the Lord watch over you always. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Elder Butler
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sept 12, 2011
Ok here is the latest from the Elder in the Philippines. Well, it hasn't flooded as bad as it did last Sunday so that is good. Yup. Well that's about it. Talk to you next week! Haha joke. But really, I can't think of anything super cool that I want to share that happened..Ha. Oh joke lang. alright, so this week we had interviews with President Delamare. That was really good. He is an awesome man and I am grateful to have him as our president. And you know what was even cooler? He and Sister Delamare worked with Elder Smith and I for about 2 hours! Way tight! So, I don't know if you guys know, but my mission president served his mission in the Philippines. Cool huh? Yeah, and back then, every one here spoke English. But when he left, they changed it because the nation was worried that they were going to lose their Tagalog. Man how I wish it was still English....Ha. The language is coming. Slowly but surely. :)
Lets see what else. We had 15 more people at church which was really cool. This Ward is gonna explode. It's exciting. It's rough though, cause the ward isn't used to working with missionaries very much, but we are changing that. So things are good. We haven't been able to get in contact with that "Golden family" since we visited them last, but they will be baptized. hopefully. :) Ok what else? I went on exchanges last night with a Philippino. that was fun. It's really funny, our ward missionaries are like 20ish and 19ish so around our age, but they all make fun of me cause I don't understand a lot. Its great. They think that my little giggle is hilarious, and when I laugh just a little, they burst out laughing. haha I can't really describe it, but they are way tight, and we have a good time.
So yeah, this week was just a really slow week. Just working with a lot of less actives and such. OH! I can't believe I forgot! I ate balut! I have now just about had a full filipino experience! It's sobrang masarap. Super delicious.... Ha. It was nice.... yup. yeah, and my comp even has a video and pics of it. I would attach some pics, but as you know, I can't right now. Ha. Ok well, I think that's about it. Some things I have learned is that missionary work is not possible without the members. Members are so helpful when it comes to missionary work. So please work with the missionaries. They will love you a lot. I have a strong testimony about missionary work. Yesterday was the primary program in our ward, and yes, it's exactly the same here too. There are still the hilarious little kids who belt out the songs. Its so great. But I was very touched when they sang "We'll bring the world his truth." Why? well, let me tell you. Because, it took me back to when I was young and thinking about what serving a mission was like, and now I am actually here. It's a cool feeling. I'm serving the Lord. What could be better? Sure I miss a lot of things and people, but this work is so important, and in the real grand scheme of things, it is not even that much. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here on a mission. I love it and the gospel.
Bye for now! Mahal Kita.
Love Elder Butler
Lets see what else. We had 15 more people at church which was really cool. This Ward is gonna explode. It's exciting. It's rough though, cause the ward isn't used to working with missionaries very much, but we are changing that. So things are good. We haven't been able to get in contact with that "Golden family" since we visited them last, but they will be baptized. hopefully. :) Ok what else? I went on exchanges last night with a Philippino. that was fun. It's really funny, our ward missionaries are like 20ish and 19ish so around our age, but they all make fun of me cause I don't understand a lot. Its great. They think that my little giggle is hilarious, and when I laugh just a little, they burst out laughing. haha I can't really describe it, but they are way tight, and we have a good time.
Bye for now! Mahal Kita.
Love Elder Butler
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
So, the Temple, Woo hoo! That was really cool and really needed. The Manila temple is really small. But everything is the same. The gospel is the same where ever you go. It's always true. I think I am almost over the culture shock now Haha. We are still sleeping on the floor, but I am alright with it. It's kinda cool. Yes the appliances here are all half size. Haha.
Man, the weather the last couple days has been weird. The rain is bipolar. It will just down pour for about 5 or 10 seconds and the it will just stop. Or it will pour for forever! haha it's so sweet! OK what else. No more really crazy experiences this week. Haha but everything is still weird. I love it.
Ok, so this is what I'm up to right now. The work is going really slow, but we are still very close to making standard on all of our numbers which is pretty sweet. Our focus has been mostly on reactivating less actives, because that was bishops revelation on what needs to be done here the most. There are about 350 members in our ward and only 150 are active if that. Retention is the problem here in the Philippines, not baptism. But all is well, we have had some cool experiences. Man, I don't think I have ever walked so much in my life. It's awesome! I come home just dead tired and I LOVE it! Haha. Its so hard, but its really rewarding. We have taught one lesson by candle light. Most of our area is like squatter area. The people are super poor, its crazy. I am can already understand the language a considerable more amount it's pretty amazing. But I still have a long way to go. My Tagalog has gotten a lot better for sure. Thanks for the update on everything by the way. I like hearing about all that stuff so please continue to do so.
Ok, now to answer some more questions. There is never any hot water haha. The water is always just cold. It's not bad once you get in and get used to it. Our toilets flush so we are lucky. And we also have toilet paper so that is nice too. Balut is the fertilized egg fetus. My comp is from Moorepark, California. He is so tight. I love him. We get along so well. I can print out my letters but it is
expensive, and we don't really have the funds for it right now. Oh we do emails in computer shops that are just off the side of a street.
K, well that is all I have. O wait. We went to the mall today it was so sweet! It's like being in America. Its tight. Ok, now that is it. I love you all. Don't worry about me. I am in the Lords hands.
I have such a strong testimony. I have come closer to my savior. I know he is with me. I love my redeemer and I know that he loves me and everyone of you. I will not give up or give in. I will give of and give to others what I have. I love you all. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love Elder Butler
Man, the weather the last couple days has been weird. The rain is bipolar. It will just down pour for about 5 or 10 seconds and the it will just stop. Or it will pour for forever! haha it's so sweet! OK what else. No more really crazy experiences this week. Haha but everything is still weird. I love it.
Ok, so this is what I'm up to right now. The work is going really slow, but we are still very close to making standard on all of our numbers which is pretty sweet. Our focus has been mostly on reactivating less actives, because that was bishops revelation on what needs to be done here the most. There are about 350 members in our ward and only 150 are active if that. Retention is the problem here in the Philippines, not baptism. But all is well, we have had some cool experiences. Man, I don't think I have ever walked so much in my life. It's awesome! I come home just dead tired and I LOVE it! Haha. Its so hard, but its really rewarding. We have taught one lesson by candle light. Most of our area is like squatter area. The people are super poor, its crazy. I am can already understand the language a considerable more amount it's pretty amazing. But I still have a long way to go. My Tagalog has gotten a lot better for sure. Thanks for the update on everything by the way. I like hearing about all that stuff so please continue to do so.
Ok, now to answer some more questions. There is never any hot water haha. The water is always just cold. It's not bad once you get in and get used to it. Our toilets flush so we are lucky. And we also have toilet paper so that is nice too. Balut is the fertilized egg fetus. My comp is from Moorepark, California. He is so tight. I love him. We get along so well. I can print out my letters but it is
expensive, and we don't really have the funds for it right now. Oh we do emails in computer shops that are just off the side of a street.
K, well that is all I have. O wait. We went to the mall today it was so sweet! It's like being in America. Its tight. Ok, now that is it. I love you all. Don't worry about me. I am in the Lords hands.
I have such a strong testimony. I have come closer to my savior. I know he is with me. I love my redeemer and I know that he loves me and everyone of you. I will not give up or give in. I will give of and give to others what I have. I love you all. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love Elder Butler
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