The Book of Mormon Changes Lives!

Kia Ora everyone!! :) 

This week was just so wonderful!! I have so much to tell you.. but I will start off with my experience yesterday!! 

Yesterday was an absolute miracle!! We've been working with our buddy Terry (this 30 year old Maori guy) since I've been here in Taranaki! Every time we see him, he's depressed, and down! As we started to gain a solid relationship with him, we taught him the restoration (about 3 weeks later!! That's how long it took!!) He really accepted our message and accepted the commitments to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! We went there twice last week and, I kid you not, his whole countenance has changed! He seems so much happier! He was up to 1 Nephi 8, so we helped him understand Lehi's vision. The Spirit was so strong! He even offered to say the prayer at the end (that's something he REFUSES to do every time!!) Long story short.. Yesterday was the first time Brotha Terry has ever stepped foot in the church building (we've been trying for over 2 months to get him there)!!  He had a great experience!! The best part of all though was at the very end! We introduced him to Elder and Sister Taylor and Terry goes up and says, "These two brothas are great representatives of your church!" To hear Terry say that was a miracle!! To know that the last 2 months of seeing him have impacted his life.. was such a blessing!! and just knowing that I am an instrument in the Lord's hands is so wonderful also!! 

Next.. We had an Earthquake!! Taranaki wasn't very bad.. but up north was worse!! All the cans in the pantry fell over.. It was pretty funny!! 

We had a waffle party at the Taylor's last Monday! So sick!! There was heaps of food and ice cream and every single topping you could possibly think of!! It was so much fun! 

We went on exchanges with the other Elders! Party!! 

We went to our Brazilian friend Cassia's birthday party! She taught us how to sing Happy Birthday in Portuguese. I told Sister Lifferth that I now understand why Heavenly Father didn't trust me on a Foreign speaking mission!! Holy cow that language is so hard!! Maori is way easier!! But It was a wonderful time!! She made some delicious food!! :) 

Last.. I was almost bitten by a white tail! Well.. kinda! I was mowing a lawn.. and looked down... and there was a white tail about an inch away from my hand! again.. long story short.. I freaked out and refused to mow the rest of the lawn! 

Well.. sorry my email wasn't too long... I do have so much to say! But when I received my emails today.. I didn't get the best of News from a few people!! My big brotha Ben!! Bless his heart!! I love that kid! And I'm worried sick about Sister Thalman... who comes in to email just minutes after we do.. We usually sit and talk to them while they're starting!! :( So my mind is just somewhere else right now!! But I love you guys!! I wish you were here in NZ to see all the beautiful miracles with me!! Have a wonderful week!! 

Love,
Elder Butler 

We KILLED THEM with KINDNESS!!

Kia ora Whanau in 'Merica!!

Sweet as week here in the Naki!! Miracles, Miracles, Miracles... one of my favorite things ever!! 

Starting out... my first District Meeting!! FLIP!! I was scared out of my mind!! I was praying for AGES to have a really spiritual meeting. So I planned really well.. and my goodness, If you were there in that meeting you would know... that the Spirit was so strong.. you could stick out your hand and flippin' touch it!! It was amazing... some of the poor sisters were in the back crying for goodness sake!! The best part was reading 3 Nephi 11:3-14... that is a life changing scripture for me!! I can't read that scripture without crying through the whole dang thing!! Now I'm planning for tomorrow's District Meeting, so hopefully it's as good as last time! 

This week we went on an exchange with the Mania Elders in Opunake. It went really well. Their area is slow as though... we tracted for like 9 hours!  That's a pretty bad exaggeration, but that's what it felt like!! I was with Elder Searle from Bingham, and Elder Canoy and Gerardo were smashing all the Philippenos in our area! 

We went to Normanby this week and walked past these brothas who were playing basketball.. and they waved 2's at us (meaning they wanted to play 2 on 2.) So Elder Canoy and I will never turn that down. So I set up my camera and started the game. The first play of the game Elder Canoy throws me an alley oop and I threw it down with my left hand!! It was hilarious!! I think I had like 5 dunks that game!! ;) It was so nice!! There is a video of the first play.  I'll get it to you as soon as I can! It's already on Facebook.. but I'll give you the real thing so you can share it!! ;) You're welcome mother!! :) But after the first play, the wind blew the camera over!! :/ but all goods!! 

Last night was hilarious!! We were walking in the town at around 8:30 and we passed this little take-away shop (little food joint thing... all over the place in NZ.) And there was a group of about 6 people. The guy in the middle thought he was funny as and he flipped us off. So I gave him a smile and a wave. We take a few more steps and I tell Elder Canoy, "Those guys just flipped us off." Immediately he said, "Let's go back!" So we laughed at the idea for a sec and went back to greet our kind brothers and sisters! We walked in this shop and went over to them with big smiles and started shaking all their hands. Their girls were all giggling and the guy who flipped us off had his head straight to the floor. He would NOT look at us!! He was guilty as!! It was hilarious!! We absolutely KILLED THEM with KINDNESS!! It works every time!! We laughed about it for the rest of the night!! 

That was my week right there... Oh.. Deanne and Steve (the to be continued story).. holy cow... Easy Baptism for the future sometime!! They are glorious!! I quote, "This is the path that I want to take!!" That came from Deanne... I'm so pumped for them!! 

That's all!! 

Laterz famdamily,

Elder Butler

Game on!! ;) 

Opunake Beach.  We ate some fish & chips on the beach for lunch!!

#elderbutler

Commanding the "many waters" of Opunake!!

Mt. Taranaki is finally snow topped!!

Every Dang Day!!!

Kia ora Whanau back home!!

This week was another roller coaster... that's for sure!! 

Starting off... We had our Temple trip on Tuesday/Wednesday!! It was amazing!! I absolutely love the Temple! The spirit that is felt there is unlike any other!! I wish I could go there more often... but for now... my missionary work is for the living!! ;) But it was such a wonderful experience like always!! 

After the Temple, I went on an exchange with the New Plymouth elders. New Plymouth is probably the most beautiful place in Taranaki, so it was way cool!! We found a few Samoan houses also, which is always a blessing because there aren't as many Tongan/Samoan down south. But it's a blessing because they feed you heaps! Pumpkin in Coconut creme!! :) mmm!

General Conference was so great! I took 4 pages worth of notes!! I'll have to read them all over again because I was writing 90% of the time!! But I really enjoyed Elder Pearson's talk... He is the Pacific Area president... (He ate ice cream with us once...just sayin') But I loved when he said.. "Every Day, Every Day, Every Day!!" That right there is my only advice to all of you back home!! Flippin' read your Book of Mormon Every dang day!! It's so wonderful!! I've only read it 3 times now.. but I've already learned more on my 4th!! I love the Book of Mormon!! 

Lately our district has been going through some rough times! My companionship included!! This last week was a struggle!! Matthew and Wiki have come to the last 2 sacrament meetings... and seem keen as!! But all of the sudden... her mom and dad WILL NOT let them get married!! Which is important.. if you didn't listen to conference!! ;) So it's been hard!! But during every rough time we've had this week... I've kept my head up with a smile on my face!! I can do that now... because... I know why our message is important to me!! I know that my success is measured on MY commitment alone.. not how my investigators use their agency!! If I've tried my hardest... I can walk away thinking about my Savior telling me, "Well done!"... and I feel much better!! So that's what I'm going to give a training on tomorrow in District Meeting so everyone can have a little spiritual boost!! ;) 

This week flew by.. I drove for 3 days... so that was useless!! But other than that... that's my week!! ;) So I hope you enjoyed it!! ;) I miss you all!! ;) (well.. I don't know who's reading my emails.. but I hope I miss you!! ;) ) And love you heaps!! Have a wonderful week!! I'll talk to you soon!! :) 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler

p.s. And yes mom and dad... It's been flippin' pouring here in Taranaki!! It rains a ton!! We just had to sprint to the chapel to email because it's coming down so hard!! ;) 

Nothing...but Miracles!!

Flippin' goodness

I have so much to say.. but not much time!! 

This week was nothing... but miracles!! Holy Cow!! Starting out.. Matthew and Wiki. We found them and their cute little family. They are a young Maori couple! They are literally our best friends!! We've grown way close to them this week. We set him for baptism the first day.. and have been to their house every day since! They made us dinner last night, and we watched "Meet the Mormons." They came to church and loved it!! 

The second miracle was pretty ridiculously awesome!! We were tracting one day (about 3 weeks ago).. having no success, and came to this Maori house. She said we could come back and that missionaries have been there before! So we FINALLY caught them this last week. She told us that Missionaries came about 4 years ago.. and that her husband kicked them out because he's a staunch Anglican. But their member nephew heard that missionaries had stopped by, and he gave them a Book of Mormon. And the husband took a look at it. And in her own words she said, "It changed him... it changed his life!!" "He quotes the Book of Mormon, He stopped smoking and drinking because of the Book of Mormon, and he has sticky notes all over the place with questions." I was freaking out inside.. (the man was at work!:/ ) So this story will, most likely, be continued!! ;) btw.... That is a family of 6, and Matthew's is a family of 4. We're bringing FAMILIES to the gospel!!! 

I had my first boil up the other day! A big Maori meal... beautiful!! 

I played soccer at Sports Night... totally killed it!! I should have continued playing!! ;) haha totally kidding.. It was way fun though!!

I'm reading the Book of Mormon again... BUT.. this time.. I'm finding as many internal evidences that i possibly can! All the Semitic Idioms, The Cognate Accusatives, the Specific Semitic sentence structures, The engravos, and much more!! It's unreal!! Joseph Smith couldn't have done that without the help of God!! (Engravo: best example is Alma 24:19.. They are mistakes made in the Book of Mormon.. mistakes that couldn't be erased on Gold plates so they had to reword it.. or rewrite the sentence... but if you look at Mormon 9:31.. you'll read why they are important!!) and yes.. i know what you're thinking... By the time i come home.. my Book of Mormon will be as valuable as the Gold Plates themselves!! ;) 

The life has been pretty dang good lately!! I'm definitely not complaining!! ;) The work has been better than ever. Last month, our zone baptized more people than Taranaki has ever achieved...ever! It's amazing!! 

I love you all!! Thank you for all of your wonderful emails!! Keep being great!! 

Ka Kite,

Elder Butler 

The Sisters were taking "Flower Pics"... So I had to shoot one too!! ;)

Standing out over the Rocky Opanaki Beach!! And yes...It was REALLY windy.  The tide was HUGE!!

Lighthouse Trip!!

My New Boys!!

New District Leader!! :) 

Me and Elder/Sister Taylor...my favorite people in the whole wide world!! ;)

Check out this dang storm!! 

District Leader in Taranaki! :)

Man......

The emails i received today were absolutely amazing! When I saw the video of Josh opening his call I had to look away from Elder Canoy, who's sitting beside me, because I almost busted up crying!! It was unreal!! I'm more than proud of that kid!! Hanna has been in Washington for a while now, and loves it... and I know my good brotha Doughn (Josh) will love it also!! Flip that's awesome!! 

So I got some news this last week.... TRANSFERS!!! But guess who's staying in Taranaki for another 3 months!?! I AM!! And I couldn't be happier!! Taranaki is the zone that missionaries beg to stay in!! And little Elder Butler has just been called to be the District Leader in the best district in the mission!! So I am pumped as!! I love leadership positions because I learn way faster!! So it should be really good!! I'm nervous for my first training though!! 

District Conference was unbelievable!! (sorry mom... I forgot to take pics!!) ;) But Holy cow... I thought I was on the fourth row of General Conference!! President Rudd's talks were phenomenal!! The spirit just fills the room when he speaks!! And President Jones (1st counselor) spoke also... he's like my hero!! I learned so much!! I would tell you what I learned.. but I left my notes at home.. and I'm on a spiritual high at the moment after watching Doughn's video!! So maybe next time!

This paragraph is dedicated to Sister Lifferth heading off to Brazil soon!! I got a call from the sisters the other day and they wanted us to go do service with them for one of their investigators! So we went. This lady who we did service for was straight from Sao Paulo (I was hoping she was from further north but still... Brazil!!) She was absolutely hilarious!! She talked our flippin' ears off!! She was cracking jokes and telling us stories for HOURS!! Hanna is going to love the people there... if they're anything like Cassia... she's in for a treat!! ;) 

I'm sorry I don't have much to talk about this week.. I've been at leadership meetings... district conferences, and other stuff!! So I'm busy.. the way I like it!! I don't have too many pictures.. or stories... but just know that I'm doing great!! Oh.. by the way Delmond.. is actually Dalmon.. and he is the man!! Yesterday he took the 5 hour trip to the Temple to be there for his dear mother, sister Tutauha as she went through for the first time... he could only stay outside, but I can't wait to hear how he felt while he was there during FHE tonight!! 

Life is great!! Missionary work is the best!! My family is the greatest ever!! I love you all!! 

Ka kite ano,

Elder Butler 

Flippin Roller Coaster!!

Kia ora Elder Butler fans!! ;)

This week was a flippin roller coaster!! It had some really solid ups, and some definite, ridiculously low downs!! 

Starting off with the bummer stuff.. We had this REALLY solid investigator who we've been praying about, studying for, and had a date set for him for baptism. We were tracting the other day and ran into one of his work mates. He had heaps of questions.. and we were able to answer them all.. we bore powerful testimonies and everything!! But he was still very cold!! He's been telling our investigator a lot of crap!! So the other day we got a text from our investigator telling us that he doesn't want to meet any more... and he just flippin avoids us now! It's heartbreaking!! We can't even really do anything about him besides pray!! That is the number one hardest thing about missionary work!! 

Next... We had this dumb cat follow us home for about 2km. It thought we were it's parents... It wouldn't flippin leave our house!! It meowed at us ALL night long through our window!! And later the next day.. it found a way into our flat. So i got frustrated with it and picked it up and chucked it in the air over the fence!! I thought i saved the day until it was back 5 minutes later!! It tracted with us... studied with us... and everything else!! But finally we were tracting one day.. and this girl picked it up and took it home!! thank the heavens!! 

We've been doing service every week in the Tutauha's home. They are the cutest little Maori grandparents. They have a son named Delmond! He is the man.. but he's not a member!! He was telling us at dinner the other day that he allows the missionaries to share messages with him after they eat.. and he said he never used to do that.. but he's starting to get interested. So we share little scriptures now and then... but then we asked him if he would let us share the restoration with him.. and it was so solid!! I won't say too much.. not enough time.. but just know that the lesson went perfect!! He will be a solid member of the church of Jesus Christ in the, not to far, future!! 

Elder Canoy taught me how to make Chicken Adobo!! It's so good...and so easy!! So we eat chicken and rice for every other meal almost!! HEAPS of chicken!! The only problem... it's expensive! ;) 

We played some awesome volley last week!! Heaps of fun!! I absolutely love our district!! Usually when i'm with missionaries.. we get along just fine. but the missionaries in my district.. they are like my best friends!! I love them all!! 

That's all for now!! I love you guys bunches!! 

Ka Kite ano 

Elder 

...that is why I'm here!!

Hello lovely people back home!! :)

It was such a wonderful week!! I don't have hardly anything to talk about because it went by so quick with the vacation to Hamilton again, but here it goes.

This week we had a Baptism. His name is Murry Johnson. He's hilarious. He asked me to baptize him on Saturday, so that was definitely a good experience. The spirit was definitely present... and i love it when it is!! 

We took another vacation to Hamilton to see Elder Neilson of the Seventy. His conference was so awesome!! It lasted for like 4 hours (luckily we had a nice lunch in between.) I left my dang rain coat in Hamilton!! and the weather has not been very nice to me. We are expecting the cyclone from Vanuatu to hit us also... so we've had some unreal rain! And all i have is an umbrella!! So hopefully the Zone Leaders bring me my jacket soon!

I gave a blessing to one of the sisters in our ward this week. Man the spirit was amazing!! That's all i have to say about that!! ;) 

I got 2 greenstones this week! I've been wanting them SO bad!! It's a huge Maori thing!! (they're very expensive!!) The Brownings gave me the first one for my birthday... (you give people greenstones when they mean something to you. And to let them know that you'll always be part of their Whanau! So they mean a lot!!) Then Elder Waldron gave me one when we went to Hamilton!! I'll send pictures of them!! 

I had a nice little flashback the other day!! ;) Almost brought me to tears! I was looking in the "preparing to enter the temple" book and saw a wonderful picture of the Celestial room in the Salt Lake Temple. The middle couch in that picture is where I sat with my sweet mama just a few days before I took the long journey to New Zealand!! It was so wonderful!! That was one of the best experiences of my life.. and I will always remember it!! I have been to the Temple plenty of times.. but that one time... I will never forget!! 

That's all I have for this week... sorry it's so short!! It went by so fast!! But just know that I love you guys!! The church is true!! I love it.. and it has blessed my life more than anything!! and that is why I'm here!! 

Arohanui,

Elder Butler

My Greenstones...Left (Brownings) ...Right (Waldron)

They're see-through!  I love the Maori culture!!

Murray's Baptism:)

The park next to our house...lots of duckies!!  We teach one of our investigators on this bench that I'm sitting on.