My First Area, Manurewa (South Auckland)

Kia Ora everyone,

I have a lot of things to tell you but don't know how to tie them all together. So just be ready for a messy email. 

I'm out in my first area. I'm loving the work so far. I've learned a ton from my new companion Elder Wangsgard! I was assigned to the Manurewa area for my training...so don't expect very many pictures soon. I'm in South Auckland, very very poor. I know I'm here for a reason though. There are people prepared for me here..and i just have to keep telling myself that. Just to scare you mom... I live on the most dangerous street in all of NZ. Home of the Black Power gang and a few others:) 

Meeting President/sister Rudd was very cool. They are great people. I'm far away from them now though so I probably won't be seeing them anytime soon.

The first song we sang at president's house was "Have I Done Any Good." I absolutely loved it because I could just picture grandma Connolly coming in my room in the morning singing "wake up...and do something more, than dream of your mansion above!!!":) 

I've eaten pretty well so far. A sister in our ward, sister Pereira made us lasagna... SO GOOD! Don't worry though dad it wasn't even close to yours. 

I also thought about you guys when my companion made me chocolate chip waffles for breakfast the other day. I downed 3 of those bad boys. 

Me and elder Wangsgard throw down a nice run every other morning, and a workout every morning. So I feel pretty good!!

So I'll actually tell you some of the spiritual stuff that's going on I guess.. cause i'm kinda on a mission. So the other day me and elder Wangsgard were out tracting because all of our plans were messed up. So we said a prayer in the car beforehand asking Heavenly Father to guide us in where we needed to go. So we got out of the car and went to two different houses. The first one we were met by a "very nice lady" who told us she didn't care and to go away. The second house a "wonderful" man opened the door and said "read the sign...we don't talk to people." SLAM!! alright... so we went back to the car. It was almost time to go back to the flat but we thought it would be best to say one more prayer. After that we drove around for a bit, and ended up at a house.. it was our last try of the night. An Indian man opened the door. So deep inside i was thinking "oh great, another muslim or hindu that doesn't give a darn about what we have to say." But surprisingly he let us in. We taught him the restoration and he was very into it. We invited him to be baptized. He wasn't sure yet, so we're going to have him come to church next week! We got out of that house and I was almost in tears. It was the best feeling ever knowing that god answered our prayers and helped us. 

The people here are great. But the word of wisdom is a HUGE issue. Our solid investigator Peter is getting baptized next Saturday. I'm so happy for him because he's had to give up a ton for the gospel. He's had such a rough life, and this is exactly what he needs. It's been a huge eye opener seeing all these great people. I'm definitely not in Utah any more. My mission has truly changed me in several ways. Even in just the first few weeks. I see people differently. I have a better love for them. The book of Mormon... I've learned so much more, and actually enjoy it. We met a man named Stoney. He was a huge man who LOVES smoking weed(he told us that). He is on house arrest, and just got out of Jail. He has 5 kids. When we talked to him, I wanted to do nothing more, but help him and provide service for him so he could change his life. Because that's what he said he wanted. 

Gosh this work is so great. It's dang hard, but it's awesome. 

Oh by the way. Damn and Hell aren't swear words here. but don't worry because I promised i wouldn't say them. So i don't bring them back to the states. The first thing i heard though from one of the Australians in our district. Was "What the Hell is wrong with you Damnit!!"  I was a little confused. Elder Wangsgard then said that the Bishops and people giving talks in church will get up and say them all the time. It's pretty funny!! 

The first time i took a shower here...I turned the water pressure up too high.. and it drenched the whole bathroom. I guess that was a prompting that i wasn't working hard enough or something. :)

Well anyways. I love you all!! You guys are sweet as. I will talk to you again next week:)

oh and by the way..i'm sorry for my typing errors.. this computer is dumb and won't let me fix them. so whatever! 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler

Pics from the MTC

at the Hamilton Temple

(He's in heaven being one of only two token white boys in the group!) 

This was their first time touching a Palangi...so we had to get a picture!

My boys on the last day!!

My chain from Tahiti, and my Lava Lava from Samoa!!

Letter (and pics!!) from President and Sister Rudd

Kia ora!  Greetings from the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Elder Butler arrived safely to Hamilton, and is already labouring in his new area. His companion is Elder Wangsgard.  They will be serving in the Manurewa Zone, up in south Auckland. I have enclosed a picture of them, one of the entire group that arrived the same day, as well as a picture with us.  We love Elder Butler already.

We look forward to serving with Elder Butler in this wonderful work as the missionary wave floods this great country of New Zealand!  We need him and are excited to serve together!  His testimony will grow as he helps others receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Arohanui,

President and Sister Rudd

Last Day at the MTC!!

Malo e lelei everyone,

Fefe Hake...So I know you're not happy with me because i haven't sent any pictures yet. It's because the MTC rules are ridiculously crazy. So on my first P day, i'll send a bunch of pictures. but don't be too excited because MTC pictures aren't the greatest. I did take a few of the temple trip we took though.

 

So anyways... I love you all! The mission life is pretty good so far. I enjoy dedicating my whole day to the Lord! It really feels awesome. I got the opportunity to give my companion, elder Lau, a blessing last night. It was a very good experience. The spirit has been so strong here.

 

The other day I was telling my buddy Elder Gutke that i was having a hard time with a few things.. esspecially with companions. I now know that the Lord has a sense of humor because later that night i was asked to give a talk in a fireside on that same thing.

 

Volleyball is, no doubt, the funnest thing about the MTC. I've been telling people, If I keep playing with these guys...I'm going to the pros when i come home:) The brown fellas are amazing. Elder Taufa and Toa's sets are phenomenal and i just hammer them:) so sick.

 

We have a teacher named sister Vai Kei. She's way chill...so when we've been studying for hours, we get to take a break and learn Tongan. It's so sweet. I've learned things from a bunch of different languages while I've been here though like Tongan, Samoan, Tagalog, French, and a little Manderin Chinese.

 

I've finally burst out of my shell when it comes to singing... I've sung every hymn so far. We sang Army of Heleman the other day, and i was gettin me some. :) I even know how to sing "Whaka Ria Mai" (How Great Thou Art in Maori).

 

So today is my last day here. I'm getting picked up at 8:00 tomorrow morning to go to Hamilton! I'm more than happy to leave the MTC. I'm ready to actually experience New Zealand.

 

Sister Kei told me something cool the other day... "Many people get the opportunity to wear basketball shoes, but not very many people get to wear the Lord's shoes!" And that's what i'm doing right now! I'm very excited to help people change their lives!

 

Oh and by the way... I'm learning the Island life! Its pretty cool. They share EVERYTHING. If someone likes your shoes, you give it to them. I gave my boy Elder Enoka from Samoa my black running shoes because he needed some, and he gave me his Lava Lava. If you're hungry.. you look at their plate, and they'll hand it to you. So every time i come over.. I get more stuff than i need so i can give it all away!!:) haha it's awesome.

 

Tell Riley he needs to email me so i can talk to him. i'm so happy he's going on a mission! that's so good. He's going to love it.

 

And Jaycee & Baylee... I promise i'll write you soon! I don't have very much time on the computer in the MTC, but once i get out in the field, i'll have more time most likely.

 

 'Oku ou ofa atu... I love you all... i miss you bunches!! And be expecting pictures next week sometime hopefully.

 

Arohanui,

everyone's favorite palangi brotha,

Elder Butler

Good Times at the MTC!

Family!!!

It's been a great few days. I have to say though, I do not like the MTC. It is like a spiritual Jail. It's great because you learn so much, but you never get to go outside. Oh well... I'm only here for a few more days thankfully.

So let me tell you about my fun few days.. Yesterday during sports we played basketball. I went up and threw it down with two hands and all the brown people went crazy calling me Michael Jordan. :) All the other brown people were playing volleyball but I didn't want to play because I didn't want to play "mess around ball." but then I watched them. They were freaking good. So after their game, Elder Taufa asked if I wanted to try to hit. So he set me and I freaking cranked it. So I've been officially recruited to the Tongan team. It was pretty funny what they were saying. "Elda Butla, You jump so high... You play with our team tomorrow ya?" So that was definitely the highlight of my week so far.

One of my favorite things to do is listen to Elder Fine talk about the Samoans. He's a big Tongan fella, and they HATE the Samoans. So when we play volleyball, it's not the usual "missionary volleyball." It's like war. "Elda Butla, you jump and hit the Samoan in da face ya?"

I'm so excited, me and my buddy Elder Gutke, (one of the few elders from the states) just got done talking to Elder Enoka from Samoa. He said he was going to give us a Tupeno or Tupenu, however you spell it, at lunch. That's what they call the skirt thing. So i'll be the freshest white person in Hamilton pretty soon;)
So everyone said that McKay Butler was going to get fat on his mission? Garbage!! ;) I have the perfect lifting routine in the mornings. I use my 50lb suitcases as my weights. So watch out everyone because I'm coming home Jacked!!

K...My companions are dang weird though... I have a philipino companion and in their country they don't use toilet paper. So when he got out of the bathroom, he said "Elder Butler, can you show me how to wipe my butt?" hahaha I almost died! But then i realized that he was being serious, so i showed him the correct form:)

Well everyone... I love you all, and think about you every day! Thank you for all the aweome letters!!

 

Ofa Atu,

Elder Butler

 

Ps. i can't send pictures yet because the MTC camera rules are ridiculous. But i did take a few pics at the temple and they will be sent soon!

Finally Arrived!

Kia ora family,

I hope you're not worrying about me, because you shouldn't.. Let's be honest here... I'm in Paradise. I've never seen anything like New Zealand....Ever!

I'm finally settled into the MTC. It's been a great couple days. Today we got to go to the Hamilton Temple with our zone, and it was awesome. Craziest thing ever happened.... The person that helped me through the temple was the temple president..but not only was he the president.. He was Sidney Going, one of the best all blacks in NZ history. So sick! 

I've made some good buddies while I've been here. I thought of dad the second I made them also because my buddy elder Fine (Fee Nay) is who I've been chillin with lately. I'm teaching him how to pray in English for the devotional tonight. He's a big Tongan fella. It's kind of a bummer.. all the brown people have to stay in the MTC for 6 weeks so I'm not in their district, but we still find time to hang out.

The different cultures and nationallites are crazy here. My room is me, elder Selma from the Philipeans, and elder Lau from Hong Kong. It's awesome because nobody speaks English. We have people from Tonga, Samoa, Tahitti, Vanuatu, Sweden, Australia, Fiji, Philipeans, and a few others I can't even pronounce. So the languages are so sick. Yesterday we sang "I am a Child of God" in our native languages, and the spirit was so strong even though it sounded terrible.  My buddies elder Fine and elder Tauraa (Toww rah ah) call me a Palangi. I guess that's a white person in Tongan??

Well anyways... I don't have much to say really because I've only been here for 2 days, but it's been a good stay so far. I've learned a little Tongan, been to the temple, met a NZ legend, and learned more about the gospel...what more could you ask for? I love you all, and miss you tons!

Arohanui,

Elder Butler

The Bountiful Temple

Today I had the opportunity to enter the House of the Lord. It was an amazing experience. It wasn’t too hard to give up my basketball jersey’s to wear garments either I guess! ;) The feeling I had while in the temple was indescribable. The spirit was stronger than I’ve ever felt in my life. My favorite part, no doubt, was when I was finally entering the celestial room, I saw my wonderful mom and dad standing there welcoming me in with huge smiles and warm hugs. The spirit testified to me that I would be able to live with them for eternity because of what my savior did for me. It was the most amazing feeling because that is my eternal goal. All I want is to be with my family forever and realizing that at the temple was incredible. I know the people in New Zealand love their families also, and I’m so excited to tell them that through Jesus Christ and his gospel, they can live with them forever too.