Parental Pep Talk

Dear Mom and Dad,

My week was OK.  It has been really slow but we are not sure why.  Hopefully this next week will pick up. 

So did Rose's Dad louse his kids for good or what's going on with that?

I'm glad that she is with you guys, that way she still has contact with the church. What church does Jacob go to?  How old is he?

Just remember that they still have the agency to choose.  Be careful on what you limit but be an example to them just like you are and example to us, for that is the best way to communicate what is important.  If they come to love you they will emulate you. Especially her brothers, you are the true example of manhood and fatherhood,  I know that you are because you taught me how to be a man and a father.  Don't slack on prayer and on Scripture study both personal and as a group, The spirit is essential in that home, They deserve to feel the spirit while they are there. The spirit also needs to be with you because now you have to direct this new ship.  You are its captain and patriarch. Don't fail to go to church every week because you need that spiritual rest for the rest of the week, because it will be spiritually draining.  I will be praying for you, that you will have the strength that you need to bear the load that has been given to you and also that mom will be able to give nurturing where there was none for them before even though she has her current trials physically. I will also pray for my siblings, that they will be able to be a help aid you and Mother, but that they will still feel loved by you and Mom. I know that you can do it, you were sent to Colorado as saviors to these children.  God sent you there and don't forget that. I know that I had a hard time when we first moved, but over time I have only seen good come of it, and that means that it is of God.  I know this because only good things come from God. Please remind mother of that as well because I know of her homesickness, but remind her that you and her are there from God.  You were available and He used you to fulfill his purposes. It fills me with joy when I think of you, because you were righteous, and because God was able to use you.  That you made yourselves available, and because of that, the blessings that await you in the kingdom of The Father .

 Until next week

                                                                                    Elder Butler

Working Hard and More Investigators

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things have been good for me. This past week was pretty slow but good.  Things out here have been ok in the area I'm in.  We don't have a car so we do a lot of walking.  We have been working really hard.  We have some new investigators that could come into the church, which is really exciting.  We have not had a chance to meet again with Nathaniel, but we see him this week.  They are progressing, but I think I will probably be transferred out of this area before any of them are baptized. 

Like I said last week, I have a new companion.  He is cool. I like him, he is from Utah.

How are your studies in Preach My Gospel?  I hope that you learn a lot from it, because its not just for missionaries, but its also for members.  How is the study of the Pearl of Great Price?  What have you learned from that?

Love Elder Butler

New comp, new investigators

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week on P-Day we went and visited the St. Louis Arch.  I have included some pictures.

This week has been really good.  I got a new companion named Elder Bird.  I'm in the same area, Hazelwood MO,  but we have found new people to teach.  One of them is named Nathaniel.  He is a Seventh Day Adventist.  They are similar to us but the worship on Saturdays instead of  on Sunday because that is the day that the Jews worshipped.  He is interested in why we worship on Sunday and he agreed on taking the rest of the lessons.  Please keep him in your prayers that he will be able to discern the truthfulness of what we are teaching him. 

 

I had a good birthday last week.  Thanks for all you do for me.

 

Love Elder Butler

 

 View of Busch Stadium from the top of the Arch (Where the St. Louis Cardinals play)

 

 The St. Louis Arch

 

 View of the Missouri from the top of the Arch

 

 View from the bottom of the Arch

 

 It must have been pink hat day

 

 The Arch

 

 Base of the Arch

 

 Downtown St. Louis from the Arch overlook

 

 Downtown from the Arch overlook

 

Funny Experiences

Dear Family,

I really like the T-shirts that you sent me for my Birthday.  There are a few people in the mission that have them too. 

How is everyone doing at home?  Are all the kids behaving?

What's going on with Kevin?  I have not heard anything from him and I know that Jessie is back home from her mission.  How is that going? 

So, you know how when missionaries come home and tell you that they had so much fun on their missions, and it all went good?  They are not telling the whole truth!!  It is very hard to be a missionary, and it is something that you should spend two years preparing for!  I wish that I had prepared better for my mission before I left. I think I would have started out my mission a little bit smoother if I had.

Being a missionary is a different experience, definitely, and I am learning a lot.  I'm sorry for keeping everyone in the dark but I don't want you to know how hard it is out here.  Most people just don't want to talk to us, but the ones that do either want to argue, or don't know much about what they are talking about, or both. 

It is actually kind of funny when we get on the bus.  Sometimes, we get drunk people.  One time there was a drunk Jehovah's Witness that came onto the bus and gave us a "What does The Bible Really Teach?" book that was sopping wet. 

One of my first days in Hazelwood, we went to go see an investigator, but when we got to his house he was higher than a kite and he started to just spout out random stuff like "Satan's girlfriend is actually running Hell!" and other really weird stuff like that.  I hope that my stories have given you all a laugh. 

Love Elder Butler

Old Testament studies

My week was pretty good this week.  We did not do much last P-Day, just played some cards.  I got the package you sent. Where did you get the shirts from?  I love them!! Today we are planning to go to the Arch, but I don't know if we will still do it because it is thunder storming here right now.  I will make sure to take lots of pictures if I go.  I'm glad to hear that you guys are studying the scriptures the scriptures together as a family.  My scripture studies are still going really well.  I'm reading the Book of Mormon again.  I'm currently at Alma 43, just after Alma talks to his son Corianton.  The Old Testament will be tough for you guys to read as a family.  I didn't know that they boys had to read every page of it to pass Seminary now.  That's kind of funny.  Good luck with Numbers and Leviticus.  Thanks again for the shirts!

Love Elder Butler

                    

Super Missionary

Hello family,

 

My week has been good.  We have just been mainly running around trying to stay in contact with all of our investigators and the less actives that we have been teaching. I got the package that you sent last week.  All the candy that you sent was gone in like two days. How are all of you doing?  I think about all of you a lot.  I hope that the boys and Evelyn are getting along and not fighting.  I saw the Dropbox pictures.  Ben needs to learn how to take a selfy right.  It looks like Josh and Ben had a good time at Trek.  I added a video to my file.  I got bored so I  made a one.  Also a few fun pictures from my adventures here.

 

 

BELIEVE

 

Stop for the Hogwart's Express at the Train Station

 

My companion (Elder Stowe)

 

Not a very good picture, but this is downtown St. Louis.  You can see the Arch in the background.

 

Love you all,

 

Elder Butler

 

 

 

 

Tornados and Painted Sky

I was happy to hear that our old neighbor David is going to the Temple.  That is so great.  I know that I have been really not up to sending news home. That's just because sometimes I get frustrated and I don't have much to say that is good.  This week I've got something cool to go on the blog. Yesterday we had a tornado touch down close to where I am living.  It did not come close enough for me to see it, but the sky did some cool things.  First the sky turned green. YES GREEN!!! Then to a muddy brown, to orange, to a bright red!. (that's when the tornado got close to me) then as it left the sky came down to a straight pink, then back to normal. 

I love the members here.  They are very nice.  They feed us all the time, so don't worry about that.  I am also still getting along really well with my companion.  All in all I'm doing very well. Just send me more letters. 

Love Elder Butler