Using the Priesthood

OHHHHHHH MAN!!! 

My mother is going to be so proud!! I kept her commitment and took pictures! She is so blessed to have me!! ;) ha 

This week was solid! We started it off by going to the Hamilton Gardens on Monday. Took some pics there and it was a fun time, but started raining. (like usual.)

Then we received a weird call from Sister Saunders in the mission office telling us that we were needed somewhere to be filmed for a new message for the Pacific Area for the Priesthood. So that was fun. I had my 2 seconds of fame in that vid!! ;)

I made a bet with Elder Hopoate... and he lost.  So he had to take an ice bath after planning! Flippin' hilarious! ;) 

My goodness, the Sisters give us the WORST referrals ever! We went and contacted their first referral.. and he was completely possessed! It was scary as! Then, the next one we met was drunk out of his mind. He was hugging me and Elder Hopoate.. and we were just trying to get away the whole time! ;) Never again will I go see a referral from the Sisters! ;)

Sad story... :( My favorite investigators ever--Daniel and Mily (Our Brazilian investigators.) They couldn't find a job in New Zealand so they were pretty much forced to go back to Brazil! So we went over there and said our goodbyes. Their son Moises, flippin' cute as, gave us hugs and said goodbye to us in his broken english! ;( It was way hard! But I have high hopes for that family! I know we helped them... we planted a good seed! :) 

We went to the VC (Visitor's Center) twice last week! The Spirit was so beautiful both times! The first time I fasted to allow us to notice more miracles in our area, because we didn't feel like we were having any! So we took this nice, very smart lady to watch the Joseph Smith movie. She found some anti stuff a few days before so she had heaps of questions, but wanted to watch the movie to get our side of things. We watched the movie, and it went okay. Nothing too crazy happened. So I was very disappointed. I had faith that we were going to have something happen! But nothing really happened. BUT.. we went to the VC again that night with Maria and watched Meet the Mormons, and when it was finished, one of the senior couple missionaries came over to me and Elder Hopoate. He said, "Hey... do you remember that lady you brought in a little while ago?" we said yes. Then he said, "Well... she stayed at the Visitors Center for over an hour after you left.  I was able to answer her questions that maybe you might not have been able to! (they were very difficult!!) And she was very pleased, and accepted the challenge to read and pray about the Book of Mormon!" We were very excited! It was something so small... but I definitely see it as a miracle! 

This week, one of our members got in a serious car accident, and was in critical condition.  He fell asleep! The firemen had to cut his car to get him out.  So we were called to go to the hospital again to go visit with him. We got there a little early, so we just walked around for a bit. Then this member comes up to us, from Temple View! "Elders... my mother goes in for surgery in a short amount of time... and there is nobody in my family that can give her a blessing because they're all away. It's a miracle that I found you!" So we went up and I gave her a blessing! They were very happy! They were saying how God truly put us in the right place! It was such a neat experience!  After that, it was time to see our member who was in the accident. He looked like he was doing a bit better! Tubes all over the place, cuts and bruises. He also asked if he could get a blessing.  I was then called upon, again, to give a blessing! Very wonderful experiences in the hospital that day, being able to use the Priesthood! 

Our investigator Melese came to church yesterday! He's from Ethiopia! Skinny little fella, and very soft spoken! But it was wonderful to see him there and have the members greet and welcome him and introduce themselves. 

Last story... it was kind of funny! So we met these Indian fellas. They told us we could come back and share a message with them. So we went yesterday! There are 3 of them! We talked to the first one, who we were more familiar with. He said his name was Singh. Then I said, "And what are your names?" The second one shook my hand and said, "Singh." So I thought it was pretty great... alright we have Singh 1 and Singh 2. "And what's your name buddy?" The third one shakes my hand. "My name is Singh!" Haha I'm teaching Singh 1, 2, and 3... all in the same house!! ;)  It is a pretty popular name though. I've heard it a few times! ;) 

That's all for now!! I love you all! :) 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler 

Daniel, Mily, and Moises 

Elder Hopoate and I went for a walk!! Romantic as aye?? I know..... 

My friend. 

I'm trying to look like Eminem... did I succeed?? :P

Trees here grow flowers.. I don't know why... ;) 

Finding

Hello Fam!!

It's me again! ;) Honestly, I have hardly anything this week! We have really been struggling finding keen people lately!  It's been a bit frustrating at times. So we have spent our week finding...and finding...and door knocking...and talking with everyone...and more finding! ;) So I don't have any miraculous experiences to share today. 

BUT I did eat a pigs ear.. or 5 or 6. Lisa and Jing took us out to dinner one night... and that's one of the meals they ordered, because they know how I am with trying outrageous food! ;) Next week Jing is making pigs feet!  Haha, weird. But they are my favorite Asians ever!! ;) 

We received a special assignment from President last week. Brother Laurie, one of the older members from my last area, (Hawera branch) was flown to the Waikato hospital. He's 93 and 100% deaf, but he's the man! So we went and visited him, gave him a blessing, and talked to him for a while by writing on a little whiteboard. He was very happy to see us. He told us his war stories and how he was baptized, just like old times! ;) 

Also, we had interviews this week. We were able to give a training to our zone, and see President and Sister Rudd. They are the bomb! 

Honestly, that's all I have written down on my little 3x5 card for this week. I know... boring! I'm sorry! But, I have continued to learn heaps while on my mission! I've learned to love people for who they are! I've learned to work hard! It's been very good for me! 

So Elder Hopoate committed me to be better at writing in my journal because I'm horrible at it! So starting on Friday.. I have started my second half of my mission journal! Oh.. but my study journal is cash money! I'm pretty proud of that! ;) 

But anyway, The church is true! my testimony grows every day! The mission life is flippin' hard.. but it's the only place I want to be right now! (Even though my mom sends me pictures of her golfing, and heaps of other stuff, trying to make me trunky as!) But all goods!! ;) New Zealand is the bomb... I've enjoyed being here in Hamilton!! 

That's all! :) I love you all! :) Have a wonderful week! 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler 

Pigs ears!

David Archuleta and Brad Wilcox

Kia ora whanau!

I'm pumped as to email you today, but I'm finally getting over a migraine right now as we speak! I was super bummed because I haven't had one in over 9 months!! But I'm still dying right now.  Hopefully it goes away soon. 

The week was solid! Let me tell you a great story that happened! We were on exchanges with the Morrinsville Elders when I get a call from Elder Hopoate! He says, "Elder Butler, we have great news... the assistants just called, and we're having a special zone conference with just a few zones in our mission. David Archuleta, Brad Wilcox and Sheri Dew will be there!" (Sheri Dew ended up not coming because she stayed in Auz.) But still. David Archuleta sang, "I believe in Christ," "Come, Come Ye Saints," and "Be Still My Soul!" Some of my favorite flippin' songs!! And Brad Wilcox was the man! His training was so mean! After it finished, David and Brad came down and talked to us for a bit.  David actually lived in Centerville for a while.  I didn't know that! But oh my goodness, David Archuleta is like 5 ft. tall and 100lbs...on a good day! He was tiny! But his voice was of the angels in heaven!

Next... We took bishop to a lesson with our Brazilian friends on Friday night. When we were all finished, Elder Hopoate says, "Hey, if you ever need anyone to give a talk in sacrament meeting, just let us know!" Then bishop looks at me! "Well I guess it's Elder Butler's turn aye?!" I didn't know he was talking about the Sunday in a day and 1/2! ;) He texted me the topic on Saturday morning, and I prepared a mean talk for the following day! Haha, it was the bomb! 

Other than that, I got sick. I've had the worst sickness this week! No throwing up luckily, but coughing up a storm and just weak as! So that's been a bummer, but we've pushed through! 

Anyways, I love you all!! Have a wonderful week! I'm so sorry for my short letter. I'm just really feeling down with this headache! 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler 

Teaching the Good News!

Kia ora Whanau,

It's Elder B here... 

I don't have anything too special for you this week! No eating chicken feet, or anything like that! But it was pretty solid! Starting off though, crack up... Basketball!

We were out tracting one day and I saw this bro playing ball. So I was like, "Let's go get a new investigator!" He was trying to dunk it... he was so close!! He would get the ball over, let go, then grab the rim! So I took it as an opportunity to "Teach the good news!" ;) Let's just say it didn't work out as planned. I started talking to him, told him to throw it down, and said, "NICE man!!" Then I asked him if I could try! So I go up, feel wonderful, put it behind my head and just throw it down with 2 hands. I felt pretty good...until I looked at the hoop! I wrecked the whole backboard! It completely smashed to the ground. So...while everyone was in shock (including myself) we tried to fix it. It took us a good 20 minutes to figure something out! ;) But it ended up good enough. I told the guy I was so sorry, and he said, "Well...I wasn't expecting the brotha to have hops!" ;) Haha! So the point of this story is... I have no idea! But we laughed about it for ages after we left! ;) 

We brought some investigators to the Visitors Center. Their names are Maria and Reece. We've been working with them for a while, but just lately they've seemed way more keen. We watched the Testaments with them. You know it was a success when there are tears falling! ;) So that was cash money!

I've been out for a year now.  Wow, where has the time gone!? It's flown by! Soon I'll have to see all you crazy people again (what am I going to do?!) ;) All goods though!! The big fella, Elder Hopoate, just hit his 1 month left mark the other day, so that was cool I guess. 

I made a good friend last Monday. She's 19, she's from Malaysia, and she's a hard-out Muslim! Haha, we talked to her for ages because she flats with one of our recent converts, Jing. She told us all about the Muslims. She wears the hijab, (the covering for the hair and everything else) and she helped us understand a lot about them. She was way nice though! Her name was Aqmar. I just thought I'd let you know.. because it was cool! 

That's all for now! I know, I'm sorry I don't have heaps of goods to tell you! But my fingers are tired of typing, and I don't have any more stories. But I love you all!  Have a great week! 

Arohanui,
Elder Butler 

So we tracted a farm area last week. Found 1 keen as investigator that we're way pumped about. And we also found the nicest cow and donkey! They loved us.. They followed us everywhere. So I had to shoot a pic! 

#friends

I took this because I just wanted a picture to give to my dear mother so she wouldn't be mad at me!! :)Sso this is me and Hopoatamus (like hippopotamus.. long story) sitting.. emailing you!! ;) 

My Posterity is Flippin' BEAUTIFUL!

What's up everyone?!

Okay, tons of my emails were about the new 6'7" guy and the other tall guy that just came in. Let me tell you all about them! The 6'7" guy is my great grandson!  I'm a flippin' great grandfather! (I've been out for ages!) I trained Elder Lingwall, he trained Elder Fellingham, and now he's training Elder Bowman! So yah...  He says he plays ball, but he seems WOH as!  He's in my zone, so we'll ball hard. The other one though... (this is funny!) The other tall guy is Brady Christensen. Brady...the one that was on my basketball team in like 5th grade! He comes up to me and says, "Elder Butler, I don't know if you remember me, but I was on your team years ago!" Haha, the man!  He's playing football for BYU when he gets home! He's about 6'5 and can flippin' throw down!  We'll have some nice dunk competitions. (I got this!) Oh, even better...he is my grandson! Elder Lingwall is training him! My posterity is flippin' BEAUTIFUL! Full of athletes - every single one! :)

So there you go! I hope that answered all your questions! 

This week was transfers! Don't expect me to leave for the next 3 months. That's my guess!  Elder Hopoate and I are still together for 1 more until I kill him! He's the man though!! But big news - guess who is back in my zone?! Elder Flippin' Canoy!! What the heck?! Haha, he's trunkier than he's ever been! Oh boy! Transfers is always the bomb though.  We get unlimited free subway, so I gain a few KG's every time! ;) 

Funny story... We were talking with everyone the other day, and we see this young Maori couple. (They might have been drunk.) I had talked to him before but not her, so I came up and said hi and introduced myself to the wife. I leaned on the pole and shook her hand. I guess that came off flirty or something because the guy said, "Man, I'm going to bash your head in if you look at my Mrs. like that again!" Haha, then Elder Hopoate steps in and tries to defend for me, and the bro gets mad at him and makes me speak. Haha I was like, "Man, I'm a flippin' missionary! I'm not worried about your 'Mrs.' You don't need to worry about us!" He was so mad! It was absolutely ridiculous! So we just walked away. 

We had a ward soup night.. Solid! I love ward activities that deal with food.  You can always count on Elder Butler being there! :)

My goodness, Satan is such a turd. He gave one of our investigators some Anti-Mormon false doctrine. Elder Butler and Hopoate to the rescue! We shoved it right back down Satan's throat! We came out of that lesson with our investigator understanding.. and the spirit was with us! If you lived in the presence of Jesus Christ and Satan, and you wanted to know the truth about the restored gospel, would you ask Satan and his demons for some quick facts?  Come on people.  It's the same today.  If you want the truth,  read the dang Book and pray about it! Simple...but yet so hard for some reason!

That's all for now! I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week!! 

Love,

Elder Butler