SO not a lot has happened since Thursday when i emailed last. Friday and Saturday we were trying to play catch up and we got to see a few of the people were working with. Judy and Toby tried to drop us but we were like you have to read the book of Mormon and pray about it before you can really know. We kinda did the same with one of our other investigators. No one came to church. Its so hard to get people to do the stuff we ask. No one seems to be reading and praying and no one wants to promise that they'll go to church. its really dumb but we cant do much except for invite them to do so.
I can get packages at the post office but it might be a good idea to send them to the mission office nearing transfers just in case it takes a while or something so i get it for sure. The pants are great i needed them so bad. And thank you so much for the ties. Its kinda missionary tradition that people can trade ties if they want. They take ties really seriously. But yeah get me some ties from the cupboard and stuff and feel free to send ties out whenever. We went the other day to a JC Penny outlet and i got two ties for like $6. It was really awesome. The thing with the USPS is that the mission home can forward them for free that way. So if your sending stuff directly to me UPS or FEDEX is fine just when it goes to the mission home it needs to be USPS.
I know just how you feel with Peter slacking off. That's pretty much everyone that we are teaching. Its all really up to intent. Does he really want to know that this church is true? Is he Willing to act on that answer? Does he know how to get his answer? Does he know why the book of Mormon is so important? The whole thing is that the priesthood authority of god was lost from the earth. If the book of Mormon is true then Joseph smith was a prophet and restored that authority because he used the power of god to translate it. If the book of Mormon is true everything else we believe is true because we have that authority and a prophet that speaks to god.
I'm not sure how much the shot is but sister Pfile said it was like 100 and something. Ill talk to her again and see which doctor she recommends and how much it will cost and stuff. Ill be waiting for that coat. I was thinking about getting like a hoodie jacket thing just for the in between till it gets really cold. Early in the mornings its like low 40's then by the middle of the day its like upper 70's mid 80's its ridiculous. the other day our windshield was covered with ice and then later in the day we were like sweating it was so hot. It would be nice to have some gloves too. that are wind and water proof and that are warm. Ill def need that and i want some of those wrap around ear muff things that dad uses. But besides that i think I'm good. Thanks so much for the packages. Everyone was jealous of me.
I cant wait to hear back from everyone and i love you all
Elder Butler
Questions I asked Elder Butler:
1- Do you get Dinner Appointments with the members in Antonito?
every once in a while we do but not that often because there are only like 40 active people in our branch
2- What have you cooked for yourself?
Mostly just like raman noodles and some pizza, sandwiches, eggs, cereal
3-Do you and your comp eat together (ie cook meals together, you cook one night he cooks another) or separately?
We eat separately
4- What is your apartment like? What do you see out of your living room window?
the apartment is really small and kinda trashy. it smells a lot but we don't spend much time there. The window faces more apartment on the other side. but we keep the shades shut all the time
5-How far away is the grocery store?
theres a grocery store in town but its kinda expensive so two or three times a transfer we go to a town that's a little bigger called alamosa where theres a walmart and we buy stuff there
6- What kind of car do you drive?
We have a Subaru Impreza. Its really weak and we only get 1250 miles a month and everything is pretty far away so we save miles as much as we can
7- When are you going to send home some pictures?
Ill send pictures home soon. Theres a couple pictures i wanna take first before i send the card home. Are there any specific picture you want?
8-What is a typical day like for you? (give details)
We wake up at 630 exercise, shower dress and eat and then start personal study at 8. companion study at 9. leave the apartment around 10, 10.30 and go out either tracting ITLing or go to appointments we set up. We do service every once in a while. we go see recent converts and less actives sometimes. We have an hour lunch where we eat for half and take a short (much needed) nap. we come in at 9 or 9.30 if we have an appointment. but they want us in at 8.30 cuz its starting to get really dark outside early.we usually come in an hour early and take dinner then. Then we plan the next day out and get ready for bed. we usually get to bed between 10 and 10.30 and that's about it
9- Do you travel outside your little town? How far and are the other towns as small as the one you are in?
We live in the main part of antonito but there are a bunch of small communities that we go to like san rafiel, and conejos, lobatos, ortiz, and we take a car there and tract around on foot. Theres a lot of farm fields. most people grow hay but some people have sheep and cows and chickens. its a 5-10 min drive to most places at 65mph
10-Are there any lakes, rivers, mountains, cactus or any other cool things in your town?
antonito is in the san luis valley so theres mountains all around. Theres the worlds largest free standing mountain just south of us call the San antonio mountain. theres like one little river thing called the conejos river but were basically in new mexico so its pretty deserty with sage brush all over the place and its dusty and gravel roads most places
A blog for close friends and family to keep in touch with Elder Butler while he is serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
9-23-10
So there is a reason why i didn't email on Monday. Simply it was because i was out of my area for a Leadership Training in Pueblo. Basically They taught us a simplified curriculum (er however you spell that) for the new Preach my gospel essentials which is the new eight lessons. So starting in May at the MTC they will only teach the eight new lessons which basically teach how to be a missionary. So stuff like how to give commitments, the doctrine of Christ and how to teach people not lessons. It will help missionaries more effectively teach investiators to their needs instead of just reciting the Three lessons in PMG (preach my gospel). So when missionaries get to the field they will learn the gospel lessons from their trainers and such.
OK now to try to answer some of your questions. Yes Antonito is very small and its dusty and theres abandoned broken-down houses everywhere. There's stuff all over the place in peoples yards and pretty much everyone has a dog(s). Dogs walk around the street and some are pretty nasty and most are super annoying. We have a branch but its in Fox Creek which is like 15 min drive from Antonito and im pretty sure its the one west of us. The members are unreliable and same with the branch leaders so we have to do all the finding on our own. We Tract and ITL most days and try to go see people that were teaching.
So all the people we had baptismal dates for before aren't following through and pretty much don't have a date anymore. But the good news is that we have three new investigators that we found last week. Two of them are this old couple and have baptism dates for the 3rd or 10th. We taught the plan of salvation first because we found a teaching record for them and on it it said that Judy didn't want to go further basically cuz her dad was Catholic and she didn't want to disrespect him. So we emphasized the spirit world and she says that she agrees with everything we've taught and we have answered all her questions. We also taught them (Ju* and To*) the restoration. Were hoping to get them to church this week so they get into the habit of that. The other investigator is this kid named Gr* who is the son of a recent convert. We were just talking to him about like sports and video games and stuff then my companion said to him, can we practice a lesson on you? So we taught him the restoration and committed him to baptism on the 10th I think. He says hes pretty interested. We'll only get to see him on Saturdays cuz that's when he comes home from the college he goes to.
Besides that, that's whats been going on. I found the scripture i want on my missionary thing. Its Alma 28:9. Umm for the coat the 3 in 1 sounds good cuz then i coud use it in the rain and stuff. I finally got the pants at leadership training cuz they were sent UPS so they couldn't forward them to me. If you are gonna send a package to the mission office for me it has to be US mail cuz they can forward it to me for free. And today i got three packages. one from jack and two from you guys. I haven't opened it yet but i will as soon as i can.
That's so awesome about Peter. I sent him a letter but i don't know if he got it yet. I heard Neal is working for Brother Milner. You know what kinda stuff he does? Apparently Sister Pfile has some Butler relatives so maybe you guys could look into that. I need money in my chase account cuz i need flu shots and Hep A shot. so just keep that in mind. I hope you guys have fun at the BYU game that sounds like a blast. There's this one elder in La Hara which isn't too far from us in Antonito, but hes from Hawaii and hes and amazing artist. HE is a convert and was 15 days away from getting married in the temple when the bishop asked him to think about going on a mission. Him and his fiance prayed and now he's here. Hes been out almost 6 months and hes like around 24. He is such a cool guy. He left his company back home called Hawaiimaco or something like that. They make custom shirts and surf board and snow boards. Hes an amazing artist. Its way cool.
Well anyways I'm doing really good and I cant wait to hear from everyone soon. Ill be emailing again on Monday. I love you all
Love, Elder Butler
OK now to try to answer some of your questions. Yes Antonito is very small and its dusty and theres abandoned broken-down houses everywhere. There's stuff all over the place in peoples yards and pretty much everyone has a dog(s). Dogs walk around the street and some are pretty nasty and most are super annoying. We have a branch but its in Fox Creek which is like 15 min drive from Antonito and im pretty sure its the one west of us. The members are unreliable and same with the branch leaders so we have to do all the finding on our own. We Tract and ITL most days and try to go see people that were teaching.
So all the people we had baptismal dates for before aren't following through and pretty much don't have a date anymore. But the good news is that we have three new investigators that we found last week. Two of them are this old couple and have baptism dates for the 3rd or 10th. We taught the plan of salvation first because we found a teaching record for them and on it it said that Judy didn't want to go further basically cuz her dad was Catholic and she didn't want to disrespect him. So we emphasized the spirit world and she says that she agrees with everything we've taught and we have answered all her questions. We also taught them (Ju* and To*) the restoration. Were hoping to get them to church this week so they get into the habit of that. The other investigator is this kid named Gr* who is the son of a recent convert. We were just talking to him about like sports and video games and stuff then my companion said to him, can we practice a lesson on you? So we taught him the restoration and committed him to baptism on the 10th I think. He says hes pretty interested. We'll only get to see him on Saturdays cuz that's when he comes home from the college he goes to.
Besides that, that's whats been going on. I found the scripture i want on my missionary thing. Its Alma 28:9. Umm for the coat the 3 in 1 sounds good cuz then i coud use it in the rain and stuff. I finally got the pants at leadership training cuz they were sent UPS so they couldn't forward them to me. If you are gonna send a package to the mission office for me it has to be US mail cuz they can forward it to me for free. And today i got three packages. one from jack and two from you guys. I haven't opened it yet but i will as soon as i can.
That's so awesome about Peter. I sent him a letter but i don't know if he got it yet. I heard Neal is working for Brother Milner. You know what kinda stuff he does? Apparently Sister Pfile has some Butler relatives so maybe you guys could look into that. I need money in my chase account cuz i need flu shots and Hep A shot. so just keep that in mind. I hope you guys have fun at the BYU game that sounds like a blast. There's this one elder in La Hara which isn't too far from us in Antonito, but hes from Hawaii and hes and amazing artist. HE is a convert and was 15 days away from getting married in the temple when the bishop asked him to think about going on a mission. Him and his fiance prayed and now he's here. Hes been out almost 6 months and hes like around 24. He is such a cool guy. He left his company back home called Hawaiimaco or something like that. They make custom shirts and surf board and snow boards. Hes an amazing artist. Its way cool.
Well anyways I'm doing really good and I cant wait to hear from everyone soon. Ill be emailing again on Monday. I love you all
Love, Elder Butler
Monday, September 13, 2010
9-13-10
HEYY!!
ok so this is the first time ive been able to email in like two weeks. my new address is PO box 922 Antonito CO, 81120. Im pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. I havent gotten any letters. Hopefull they didnt get lost and ill get them in the next few days. But yeah im way down almost in new mexico. There arent very many members and most everybody is catholic which is really annoying. So i got to the mission on monday and they took us to the mission office and they gave us all the stuff about cars and money and that type of stuff. Then we went to the mission home and had dinner and the mission president talked to us about all kinds of things. Then the next day we got our companions. My trainer/companion is elder Guymon from roseville CA. Hes really cool and we pretty much like the same kinda stuff. When i got here we had like 3 investigators with a baptismal date but none of them came to chuch so we have to recommit them. Its really dissapointing. Since its such a small town we live in theres not that many people to contact on the street. There are no stop lights in town its that small. So we tract and dont get much success from that. The other day we were walking around and saw this old lady racking up some rocks so we offered to help. As we did we started teaching the first lesson. Just as we were about to start the first vision it rained so she went inside. We set up an appointment for sunday but when we went over there she wasnt home which really stunk. But im still gettin used to being a missionary and being in a tiny little town. But im liking it so far.
Its already starting to get cold. like in the mornings theres frost on the ground but then in the afternoon itll get up to like 80. ive heard snow is coming soon but then i havent. i have a hat but i need a winter coat and gloves. and maybe earmuff things like dad gets. Just send as many ties as you can cuz i only have like 6 and everybody else has a ton and they trade ties and stuff. thanks for the addresses. Oh and dad i didnt for get your birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I still have a lot to learn but hopefully itll come quick. Weve been having trouble getting people to church. How is school and seminary andrea?? Kristin/Andrew - what was the name of the CD with the guitar hymns? and do you think i could have a copy? I got my bike any everything but we dont use it much in our area cuz everything is so far apart and we have a car. I havent gotten the pants or anything yet. But yeah im doing great and i cant wait to hear from all of you!
Love Elder Butler
ok so this is the first time ive been able to email in like two weeks. my new address is PO box 922 Antonito CO, 81120. Im pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. I havent gotten any letters. Hopefull they didnt get lost and ill get them in the next few days. But yeah im way down almost in new mexico. There arent very many members and most everybody is catholic which is really annoying. So i got to the mission on monday and they took us to the mission office and they gave us all the stuff about cars and money and that type of stuff. Then we went to the mission home and had dinner and the mission president talked to us about all kinds of things. Then the next day we got our companions. My trainer/companion is elder Guymon from roseville CA. Hes really cool and we pretty much like the same kinda stuff. When i got here we had like 3 investigators with a baptismal date but none of them came to chuch so we have to recommit them. Its really dissapointing. Since its such a small town we live in theres not that many people to contact on the street. There are no stop lights in town its that small. So we tract and dont get much success from that. The other day we were walking around and saw this old lady racking up some rocks so we offered to help. As we did we started teaching the first lesson. Just as we were about to start the first vision it rained so she went inside. We set up an appointment for sunday but when we went over there she wasnt home which really stunk. But im still gettin used to being a missionary and being in a tiny little town. But im liking it so far.
Its already starting to get cold. like in the mornings theres frost on the ground but then in the afternoon itll get up to like 80. ive heard snow is coming soon but then i havent. i have a hat but i need a winter coat and gloves. and maybe earmuff things like dad gets. Just send as many ties as you can cuz i only have like 6 and everybody else has a ton and they trade ties and stuff. thanks for the addresses. Oh and dad i didnt for get your birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I still have a lot to learn but hopefully itll come quick. Weve been having trouble getting people to church. How is school and seminary andrea?? Kristin/Andrew - what was the name of the CD with the guitar hymns? and do you think i could have a copy? I got my bike any everything but we dont use it much in our area cuz everything is so far apart and we have a car. I havent gotten the pants or anything yet. But yeah im doing great and i cant wait to hear from all of you!
Love Elder Butler
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)