Only 3.5 Months Left

Hello Everyone,

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog update.  Things have been good for me.  I am currently in Warrenton, MO.  I was moved here a few weeks ago.  My new address has been added to the blog page.  My new companion is Elder Hatch.  He is from Texas and has been out for about 15 months.  Here is a picture of the two of us grilling some pork steaks.

I am liking my new companion and my new area, but I'm a little sad because I was transferred just before our investigator in my last area was baptized.  She has been baptized now, but I wasn't able to attend because my transfer.  I have met some nice members here in Warrenton.  Below is a picture that a member texted home to Mom.  I was enjoying playing the guitar.
 

 

 

My last blog post was clear back in June.  A lot has happened since then.  I was serving in Maryland Heights then.  After that, I was Emergency Transferred to Moberly, MO and was reunited with Elder Lolo in a Tripanionship with Elder Seamans from St. George, Ut.  I was moved to be with them because neither of them is able to drive, so I am basically a chauffer.  I spent my 20th Birthday in Moberly with them.  Below is a picture of my Birthday celebration. 

 

 

 

I can't believe that my mission is almost over.  I have been informed that I will be going home on December 12th, 2 weeks before Christmas.  I appreciate all of the love and support from my family and my ward family.  Thanks for everything.

 

 

Elder Butler

 



 

 

Bearing Testimony

Hello everyone,

 

Much has happened since the last blog update.  I have been transferred to the Maryland Heights area.  The blog has been updated with my new address.  My new companion is Elder Hopkins from Highland, Utah.  He is a really nice guy.  He has been out for 9 months.  My new area is nice.  Kind of similar to the Hazelwood area that I was in earlier in my mission.  My new area is only about 20 minutes from the temple.  We don't have a car in this area.  We do a lot of biking, walking, and riding public transportation. 

 



Elder Hopkins

Elder Hopkins and I have been working really hard.  This area is struggling so we are doing all that we can for the people here.  We actually got two new investigators yesterday so we are really excited about that. 

 

I had a cool thing happen to me this week.  I bumped into someone that was in Hazelwood that just moved to this area the other day.  She is a member that has gone less active.  I think God may have put me here to meet up with her again.

 

I can't believe that my mission is almost over.  Only 6 months left.  I realized the other day that this area could be the last area of my mission. 

 

I have a cool story to relate:

 

I just finished reading the Book of Mormon a week ago, and I have been trying to find ways to share testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I found a scripture that stood out to me and started to share that with people.  It is Moroni 10:3-7

 

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful The Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.  And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. 

 

 (Below is the part I want to highlight).

 

And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.  And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever."

 

So the story behind this scripture is yesterday we saw a less active named Sister Miller.  Our lesson was about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  So we had a couple of scriptures that we had shared and a video by Elder Holland called Safety for the Soul. At the very end I decided to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I read this scripture and as I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon, I began to feel The Spirit testify to me the truth of it.  The Spirit also testified to Sister Miller of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and she committed to read it.  As The Spirit testified through me, both of us began to understand and we rejoiced together.  I really hope that she follows through and takes up that challenge.

 

I love you all and thank you all for your support. 

 

Until next time,

Love

Elder Butler

 

 

First Baptism of My Mission

Hello Family and Friends!!  I just wanted to write a quick letter home and thank everyone for all the love and support that you have all given me.  I have been doing so much better lately!!  Right now we have some of the best investigators in the mission!!  That's because all of them have a baptism date!!  I have attached some pictures that I have taken recently.  The first two are of my zone from a zone meeting. 

 

Me at Zone Conference

 

My Zone

 

I have more great news to share!!  We had the first baptism of my mission last Sunday!!  Elder Lolo did the honors and it was such an exciting moment!!  Her name is Shelly Ganz, and she is pictured below with her husband and son.  I have also added some pictures of some of the great friends and other missionaries that are in my mission district. 

 

Sister Ganz with her family at her baptism

 

Missionaries from my district (Elder Lolo on left)

Missionaries from my district (Elder Lolo on left)

 

 

Lately I have really been missing my siblings, especially my brothers.  How are Josh and Ben doing with their grades?  Do Evelyn and Abby get along and play together?





 

I wanted to say that I am so sorry that you had to hear about all of the problems that I was having obeying the mission rules.  I could not hide them any more.  Elder Lolo told me that I should tell you.  Elder Lolo has been a great help to me.  I would not be where I am without him.  Sometimes I fell really bad because I can't help him like he helps me.  He does so much for me, and it's really hard to repay him for that. 

 

Thanks again for all the love and support.

 

Love Elder Alex Butler

 

 

 

 

Obeying the Rules

I just wanted to write you all and give an accounting of how I am doing.  I have been doing even better since the last time I wrote you.  I had been having some trouble with obeying the mission rules.  I just wanted you to know that I am doing a lot better and that I have put those things away.  I have received lots of help from the Mission President, and from my companion Elder Lolo. 

This point in my mission is the greatest time that I have had since I have been out because I am finally being obedient to the mission rules.  Because of this I am now seeing a lot of successes.  We now have 4 investigators, and all 4 of them have baptism dates!!  They are all progressing very nicely.  I just wanted you to know that your prayers and your money are not going to waste, that your son is having successes here out in the Midwest.  The most success has bee with myself, that I have changed, and have turned to the work with full vigor.  I am now just reaping the success of other missionaries and the blessings that were in store for me and for others. 

I love you guys so much and I wish the best for you and it makes me smile when I hear good from you.

Love Elder Alex Butler

Elder Lolo

Service!!

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

Moving Along

 

Hello Family and Friends,

 

Things have been progressing well for me here on my mission.  I got the package Mom and Dad sent last week and I love the Broncos Super Bowl 50 Champions shirt!!  Thanks.  Elder Lolo and I have been teaching a lot and we have 3 investigators who are progressing towards baptism!!  It is very exciting.  Last week was pretty tough.  Both myself and Elder Lolo spent much of the sick, so we weren't able to get out and work as much as we would have liked.  It is hard to spend so much time in the apartment. 

 

I really like the area that I am in a lot.  The people are great and we get fed a lot. If there is no one signed up, there is always someone we can call that is willing to feed us. Me and Elder Lolo get along very well. I'm trying to hang in there.  I want you to know that I feel your prayers every day though.

 

Last P-Day we helped a family move.  I have sent a few pictures of our fun day helping them.  I love you all and thanks for all of your prayers and support.

A New Area and a New Companion

Hello Friends and Family,

I have moved on from Charleston to a new area.  I am now covering the Shiloh Illinois Ward and I'm living in O'Fallon IL.  My new address is:

109 Melissa Ct. #5
O'Fallon, IL 62269

I really like my new companion.  His name is Elder Lolo, and he is from Samoa.  He has been out almost as long as I have.  He is at 10 months.  Yesterday was my first P-Day in the area.  We went to St. Louis and went to the Science Museum.  It was great.  This area is pretty cool.  O'Fallon is kind of like a bigger city, but a lot of my area is small towns.  We have a car so that we can get around. 

I watched the videos of Abby and Ben that you posted on DropBox.  Thanks for posting them.  I have taken a lot of pictures and will share them with you all soon.  Tell Josh and Ben that I am very proud of them for passing all of their classes this last term. 

I heard about the Broncos making the AFC Championship game.  I will be rooting for them from here!!  Please let me know next week if they win and make it to the Super Bowl. 

I love the color of the new suit that you sent me.  Thanks so much.  I am still working on finding someone who can tailor it for me. 

I love you all,

Elder Butler