Testimony Building Experiences

Dear Family and Friends

I just wanted to write a letter home because family has been on my mind.  I just got this new typewriter and wanted to write some letters home.  How are things at home?  How is Mom's new job.  I can't wait to hear some cool stories about the prison.  Is all well?  Things out here are very good.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures I sent a few weeks ago.  I am trying to get in the habit of taking pictures everywhere I go so that I can send them to you.  I also bought a new selfie stick.  I am coping better with my anxiety.  I am taking steps to overcome that and I have come a long way, but I still have some more work to do.  Please keep me and all the other missionaries serving in your prayers. 

There have been a few experiences that I've had in the past few weeks that have strengthened my testimony, and I want to share them with you.  This past week, we had an experience with a recent convert.  He was baptized just this last December.  He is a great kid and we love to hang out with hi.  He comes out with us Every Friday.  This last Sunday, there was something wrong with him.  I could tell from the way that he talked with us, and later we got word that he was having a trial of his faith.  Elder Lolo and I prayed for him night and day.  We fasted for him two times over the course of the week.  Then I had a dream about him.  I dreamt that we were with him in the car, and we were laughing and having a good time together.  In the dream I looked at him and asked "What are you thinking about?".  He looked at me and said that he was wondering if he had to serve a mission like us.  I told him that it was totally up to him.  He then told me that the reason he had been having a problem was because his mother was giving him a hard time about serving a Mormon mission.  I told him that all was well, and that he did not have to serve a mission if he didn't want to, but that if he did then The Lord would bless him.  That is the end of my dream.  the really cool thing here is that today we took him out like we normally would.  Elder Lolo and I were amazed at how much more relaxed he was.  We asked him what had happened and he said "Oh, it was nothing."  Because of this experience I now have a renewed testimony of prayer and fasting.  I know that if we pray and ask God for anything in faith it will be given us.

I also had a another great experience recently.  We were helping a lady move, and she only had 3 days to do it.  I have been going through my own problems, mainly back and feet problems, but we went to help.  When we got there, hardly anything was packed and she was a frantic mess, all over the place.  At that moment I knew what I had to do to help her.  She needed order, and someone that could give orders, that had a clear head and knew what he was doing, so I took it upon myself to do that.  As I began to help her al the things that were bothering me left my mind and I was able to help her.  We got it done in 2 days.  At the end of this experience I came out healed from the things that were bothering me and came out a better person.  I know that as we help people we will be spiritually healed in return.  This was a great experience for me because I learned that if I put others ahead of myself and my own selfish wants and desires I can help others and be blessed in return.  Through helping her in her own stressful time, my own stress was healed. 

Now for a report on my mission.  I currently have 0 baptisms, 3 investigators, and all 3 of them with a baptism date.  I see a lot of potential with these people.  Despite issues that I've had, they have been blessed by The Lord, and I have been blessed by The Lord that I am able to teach them.  I will let you know of the dates as soon as they are finalized. 

Love Elder Butler