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
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
3-21-11
Hey mom I don't have a lot of time left. less the 15 min so ill try to get in as much as I can.
So this week was pretty good. We have a few new investigators but yet again no one came to church. We have like 7 people were working with but they are all super flaky. Ka* is supposed to be baptized on Saturday. She has an interview with president tomorrow. Hopefully that will go well. She wasn't at church either. Her boss wont let her get off work to come to church or anything. Its really frustrating and we don't know what to do. Jo* is from Lebanon and he has a kind of accent like from the terminal. Its pretty funny but hard to understand him and talk to him. he doesn't understand a lot and he believes that every church has authority so he doesn't want to be baptized. he prolly wont cuz he will not progressing. But that's really pretty much it for investigators. Transfers are right after general conference so like on the 5th or 6th. Last I heard from Spencer he is just waiting for his bishop to get back in town and he'll start his papers. He wants to be out by July.
We get fed every night so I'm eating just fine. for lunch i usually have leftovers, a pizza, mac and cheese, or a ham sandwich. The apartment is fine but threes a lot of crazy people and sound goes right through the windows. But other then that its pretty good. The ward said they found us a new home to live in and that we'd prolly move in at the beginning of April. I sent the memory card home so you should have gotten it by now. Anyways, my companion thinks that I'm going to be transferred this next transfer. He thinks that this is to be his last area and that I'm gunna be a senior companion. We'll see about that. But anyways time is running short so I gotta go. Love and miss you all!
Elder Steve Butler
So this week was pretty good. We have a few new investigators but yet again no one came to church. We have like 7 people were working with but they are all super flaky. Ka* is supposed to be baptized on Saturday. She has an interview with president tomorrow. Hopefully that will go well. She wasn't at church either. Her boss wont let her get off work to come to church or anything. Its really frustrating and we don't know what to do. Jo* is from Lebanon and he has a kind of accent like from the terminal. Its pretty funny but hard to understand him and talk to him. he doesn't understand a lot and he believes that every church has authority so he doesn't want to be baptized. he prolly wont cuz he will not progressing. But that's really pretty much it for investigators. Transfers are right after general conference so like on the 5th or 6th. Last I heard from Spencer he is just waiting for his bishop to get back in town and he'll start his papers. He wants to be out by July.
We get fed every night so I'm eating just fine. for lunch i usually have leftovers, a pizza, mac and cheese, or a ham sandwich. The apartment is fine but threes a lot of crazy people and sound goes right through the windows. But other then that its pretty good. The ward said they found us a new home to live in and that we'd prolly move in at the beginning of April. I sent the memory card home so you should have gotten it by now. Anyways, my companion thinks that I'm going to be transferred this next transfer. He thinks that this is to be his last area and that I'm gunna be a senior companion. We'll see about that. But anyways time is running short so I gotta go. Love and miss you all!
Elder Steve Butler
Monday, March 14, 2011
3-14-11
Note- my email must be having some problems. Steve said that he didn't get a letter but I know that I sent one. I'll have to find out what the story is.... :(
Hey so I haven't gotten a letter yet so I guess Ill have to wait till next week to get one. This past week was really good, then really crappy again. So Tuesday was actually a really good day. We had this specialized training. It was like a mini zone conference. We watched a bunch of videos from the district 1. We talked a lot about going back to the basics. So Tuesday was a pretty good day. Wednesday we had weekly planning and then had a lesson fall through in the afternoon and that was pretty much it. Oh and my front tire on my bike went flat. Luckily it was just as we were leaving the apartment. We went back it and took off the wheel and the tire. We found where the leak was and it was the tiniest hole. So i got some super glue and glued over the hole, put it all back together and it was good to go. Thursday was a pretty awesome day. We got a referral from our bishop and went to teach them and committed them for baptism on the 27th. So that was pretty cool. Not much else happened that day. Friday was district meeting. We taught the referral from bishop again (Mike and Amberlee). They grew up in Utah and have lived here in the springs for a few months. Mike is Amberlee's half brother. they live together with Amberlee's daughter. We also taught Karla again and now we have taught her all the lessons. Also on Friday we tracted this one street and got like 6 potentials off it. It was super awesome. Best street ever. Saturday we were loaded up with lessons. Unfortunately they pretty much all fell through. So Saturday turned out to be a super bummer. Then Sunday came. We were expecting to have 5 people at church. And guess how many we had!?! 1. And that person left halfway through sacrament meeting. And Sunday evening my back tire went flat. So the week ended out pretty much as crappy as possible but hopefully this week will be better. I have to go now so I'll talk to you all later.
Elder Butler
Hey so I haven't gotten a letter yet so I guess Ill have to wait till next week to get one. This past week was really good, then really crappy again. So Tuesday was actually a really good day. We had this specialized training. It was like a mini zone conference. We watched a bunch of videos from the district 1. We talked a lot about going back to the basics. So Tuesday was a pretty good day. Wednesday we had weekly planning and then had a lesson fall through in the afternoon and that was pretty much it. Oh and my front tire on my bike went flat. Luckily it was just as we were leaving the apartment. We went back it and took off the wheel and the tire. We found where the leak was and it was the tiniest hole. So i got some super glue and glued over the hole, put it all back together and it was good to go. Thursday was a pretty awesome day. We got a referral from our bishop and went to teach them and committed them for baptism on the 27th. So that was pretty cool. Not much else happened that day. Friday was district meeting. We taught the referral from bishop again (Mike and Amberlee). They grew up in Utah and have lived here in the springs for a few months. Mike is Amberlee's half brother. they live together with Amberlee's daughter. We also taught Karla again and now we have taught her all the lessons. Also on Friday we tracted this one street and got like 6 potentials off it. It was super awesome. Best street ever. Saturday we were loaded up with lessons. Unfortunately they pretty much all fell through. So Saturday turned out to be a super bummer. Then Sunday came. We were expecting to have 5 people at church. And guess how many we had!?! 1. And that person left halfway through sacrament meeting. And Sunday evening my back tire went flat. So the week ended out pretty much as crappy as possible but hopefully this week will be better. I have to go now so I'll talk to you all later.
Elder Butler
Monday, March 7, 2011
3-7-11
Why, hello everyone
This week has been crazy like normal. But not a good crazy kinda. This week has been really tough. We've had an abnormal amount of people yelling at us and trying to bash with us. On Saturday we went to Burger King to eat and when we came out my bike lock wouldn't open. So we had to call a member to come and cut the lock cuz we were quite aways from where we wanted to go and our apartment. My companion also got a flat tire on his bike early Sunday morning. We havent been able to teach very many lessons this week. we've done a lot of tracting and trying to see less actives. Unfortunately we havent seen very much success from that though. We did have a cool miracle yesterday.
So we have church at 1.30 which means that we can still have our studies in the morning. As we were having our study we get this random phone call. i look at the phone and its no one that we know. I answered the call and it was someone named Joe. The first thing he asked was "what time does your service start?" It was crazy and out of the blue. We went with our ward mission leader (who is a big time fisherman-dad) and picked him up and he came to church with us. Later that night we went and taught him and gave him a baptismal date for the 20th. it was an awesome miracle that mostly made up for the crappy week we had. Hopefully things will pick up this week and we will see a little bit more success.
So when my companion and I were waiting for members to come with the bolt cutters to free our bikes from the burger king light pole, we walked to a Kohl's that's nearby in our area. There were these really nice pair of brown slacks that would go really good with a few brown ties I have. there was also this beautiful red paisley tie there too. You know if you have time maybe you could put in a little money in my bank so i could get them?? but the only good thing about going to burger king was that as soon as we walked in the next people behind us were members so they bought us our lunch. That was pretty awesome.
Anyways I hope everything with everyone is going well. I'm prolly gunna have to go to walmart today and get a new bike lock since mine was retarded and wouldn't unlock. it was weird cuz when we got out of burger king it wouldn't turn at all. then when we came back from Kohl's it turned halfway. but then my companion broke the key off inside the lock so there was no hope. I miss everyone and hope that everything is going well!
Love, Elder Steve Butler
P.S. I guess i should start adding Steve on there since Neal is going to be a missionary in about a week
This week has been crazy like normal. But not a good crazy kinda. This week has been really tough. We've had an abnormal amount of people yelling at us and trying to bash with us. On Saturday we went to Burger King to eat and when we came out my bike lock wouldn't open. So we had to call a member to come and cut the lock cuz we were quite aways from where we wanted to go and our apartment. My companion also got a flat tire on his bike early Sunday morning. We havent been able to teach very many lessons this week. we've done a lot of tracting and trying to see less actives. Unfortunately we havent seen very much success from that though. We did have a cool miracle yesterday.
So we have church at 1.30 which means that we can still have our studies in the morning. As we were having our study we get this random phone call. i look at the phone and its no one that we know. I answered the call and it was someone named Joe. The first thing he asked was "what time does your service start?" It was crazy and out of the blue. We went with our ward mission leader (who is a big time fisherman-dad) and picked him up and he came to church with us. Later that night we went and taught him and gave him a baptismal date for the 20th. it was an awesome miracle that mostly made up for the crappy week we had. Hopefully things will pick up this week and we will see a little bit more success.
So when my companion and I were waiting for members to come with the bolt cutters to free our bikes from the burger king light pole, we walked to a Kohl's that's nearby in our area. There were these really nice pair of brown slacks that would go really good with a few brown ties I have. there was also this beautiful red paisley tie there too. You know if you have time maybe you could put in a little money in my bank so i could get them?? but the only good thing about going to burger king was that as soon as we walked in the next people behind us were members so they bought us our lunch. That was pretty awesome.
Anyways I hope everything with everyone is going well. I'm prolly gunna have to go to walmart today and get a new bike lock since mine was retarded and wouldn't unlock. it was weird cuz when we got out of burger king it wouldn't turn at all. then when we came back from Kohl's it turned halfway. but then my companion broke the key off inside the lock so there was no hope. I miss everyone and hope that everything is going well!
Love, Elder Steve Butler
P.S. I guess i should start adding Steve on there since Neal is going to be a missionary in about a week
Monday, February 28, 2011
2-22-11
Hey Everybody!
This week has been crazy just like every other week. Elder Michener went home on thursday. Since then ive been on exchanges with my zone leader Elder Miles. Hes really cool. Weve been covering 3 wards the past few days. I just found out that my new companion is Elder McGrath. Hes in the buffalo grove stake. I think he lives in lake forrest. But im still serving in the 6th ward. I did get the package and it was awesome. But most of the cookies were broken . Do you want the tupperware back? I will send you my memory card with the pictures in it prolly soon. I just have to print the pictures off it first. For some reason im having trouble about what to right. We dont really have any solid investigators. I have a feeling that this next transfer is just gunna be really tough.
Thats way awesome that you guys got to go to the auto show. Thats always a lot of fun. Too bad andrea didnt get to go. Elder Miles just got a brand new truck for his area. Its a 2011 Chevy Colorado. Its only had 26 miles when we got it and weve been driving in that the past few days. Im glad i havent had to be on my bike but ill be back to it pretty soon. Its weird to think that ive already been out for 6 months. It feels like I just got here. Before I know it ill prolly be home. I hope everyone is doing well. I dont hear much from very many people. The only people that have been very consistant are Mom, Spencer, and Rachel Gibson. Oh and if you didnt figure out already today is Pday cuz yesterday was a holiday even though presidents day isnt much of a holiday. Hopefully the work will pick up soon. Well anyways I gotta go. Love you all!
Elder Butler
This week has been crazy just like every other week. Elder Michener went home on thursday. Since then ive been on exchanges with my zone leader Elder Miles. Hes really cool. Weve been covering 3 wards the past few days. I just found out that my new companion is Elder McGrath. Hes in the buffalo grove stake. I think he lives in lake forrest. But im still serving in the 6th ward. I did get the package and it was awesome. But most of the cookies were broken . Do you want the tupperware back? I will send you my memory card with the pictures in it prolly soon. I just have to print the pictures off it first. For some reason im having trouble about what to right. We dont really have any solid investigators. I have a feeling that this next transfer is just gunna be really tough.
Thats way awesome that you guys got to go to the auto show. Thats always a lot of fun. Too bad andrea didnt get to go. Elder Miles just got a brand new truck for his area. Its a 2011 Chevy Colorado. Its only had 26 miles when we got it and weve been driving in that the past few days. Im glad i havent had to be on my bike but ill be back to it pretty soon. Its weird to think that ive already been out for 6 months. It feels like I just got here. Before I know it ill prolly be home. I hope everyone is doing well. I dont hear much from very many people. The only people that have been very consistant are Mom, Spencer, and Rachel Gibson. Oh and if you didnt figure out already today is Pday cuz yesterday was a holiday even though presidents day isnt much of a holiday. Hopefully the work will pick up soon. Well anyways I gotta go. Love you all!
Elder Butler
Monday, February 14, 2011
2-14-11
Hello everybody
This week was real rough. On Monday we went with some other missionaries and played some basketball and indoor soccer. It was fun but I was totally drained. I got a massive headache that night right before bed. Tuesday I still kinda had a headache and a cold so I took some medicine and I was feeling better but it was supper cold. Like -15 or something like that. We did some tracting and saw a few people that the ward has given us to contact. Wednesday was weekly planning and that took up a lot of time. We took a lot of the stuff that they taught us at zone conference and used it there. Wednesday I was still kinda feeling a little bit ginchy and it got worse as the day went on. That night we went to Te*'s house to teach him and I was feelin it pretty bad. My headache was comin back and my ears started to ache too. We finally got back home and i went right to bed. Thursday came and I was hammered. Elder Michener called up our district leader and went on exchanges in our area with his companion while i slept and rested. So I pretty much slept all day on Thursday which really sucked. Friday I was still feeling pretty bad but we had to go to district meeting. After district meeting we got home and stayed in for pretty much the rest of the day. Saturday we went out and while elder michener and a few of the members did some yard work for a guy while i sat in a car and tried to read the scriptures. I hadn't really eaten anything these past few days cuz my stomach wasn't feeling good either. But Saturday we got to teach a lesson to these girls that we found a couple weeks ago. There mom "used to be" a Mormon and so we saw her on the ward list and so we went over to meet her and it turns out her daughters had met with missionaries before. So we have started to teach them and they went to church yesterday at the singles ward. One of the girls is 22 and the other one is like 15. So hopefully everything with that will work out. So anyways the past week Ive been mostly sick and now I'm finally feeling better.
Elder Michener goes to the mission office on Thursday to go home on Friday morning. So Ill be with my zone leader elder Miles from Thursday til transfers which are on Tuesday i believe. So I'm not sure exactly how that's all gunna work out and everything. It ll prolly be pretty crazy.
That's sweet to hear that Andrea's show choir is doing really well. I was looking at the email that tahlia sent me of their blog and there is a picture in there where Claire looks just like you mom. Its pretty funny. Anyways I havent gotten much study time this week cuz Ive mostly been sick and asleep but I'm almost finished with the book of Mormon again and Ive been reading a little in Jesus the Christ along with bits and pieces of the new testament.
But all in all I'm really good right now so nobody better be worrying about me. I Miss you all and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!
Love,
Elder Butler
This week was real rough. On Monday we went with some other missionaries and played some basketball and indoor soccer. It was fun but I was totally drained. I got a massive headache that night right before bed. Tuesday I still kinda had a headache and a cold so I took some medicine and I was feeling better but it was supper cold. Like -15 or something like that. We did some tracting and saw a few people that the ward has given us to contact. Wednesday was weekly planning and that took up a lot of time. We took a lot of the stuff that they taught us at zone conference and used it there. Wednesday I was still kinda feeling a little bit ginchy and it got worse as the day went on. That night we went to Te*'s house to teach him and I was feelin it pretty bad. My headache was comin back and my ears started to ache too. We finally got back home and i went right to bed. Thursday came and I was hammered. Elder Michener called up our district leader and went on exchanges in our area with his companion while i slept and rested. So I pretty much slept all day on Thursday which really sucked. Friday I was still feeling pretty bad but we had to go to district meeting. After district meeting we got home and stayed in for pretty much the rest of the day. Saturday we went out and while elder michener and a few of the members did some yard work for a guy while i sat in a car and tried to read the scriptures. I hadn't really eaten anything these past few days cuz my stomach wasn't feeling good either. But Saturday we got to teach a lesson to these girls that we found a couple weeks ago. There mom "used to be" a Mormon and so we saw her on the ward list and so we went over to meet her and it turns out her daughters had met with missionaries before. So we have started to teach them and they went to church yesterday at the singles ward. One of the girls is 22 and the other one is like 15. So hopefully everything with that will work out. So anyways the past week Ive been mostly sick and now I'm finally feeling better.
Elder Michener goes to the mission office on Thursday to go home on Friday morning. So Ill be with my zone leader elder Miles from Thursday til transfers which are on Tuesday i believe. So I'm not sure exactly how that's all gunna work out and everything. It ll prolly be pretty crazy.
That's sweet to hear that Andrea's show choir is doing really well. I was looking at the email that tahlia sent me of their blog and there is a picture in there where Claire looks just like you mom. Its pretty funny. Anyways I havent gotten much study time this week cuz Ive mostly been sick and asleep but I'm almost finished with the book of Mormon again and Ive been reading a little in Jesus the Christ along with bits and pieces of the new testament.
But all in all I'm really good right now so nobody better be worrying about me. I Miss you all and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!
Love,
Elder Butler
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hey everyone and people
So before i forget mom if you could look and see if you have the 1993 june ensign and if you do could you send it to me? because president pfile is in it and hes wearing like a hawaiian shirt and a cowboy hat. Its pretty funny looking.
This week has been OUT-OF-CON-TROL. So on monday we had P-day and Elder and Sister Grover are at the end of their mission so we had Grover day at the mission office. Where I was lucky I was there cuz my tie racks were there. They couldnt be sent to me cuz they were sent UPS. Anyways we had cake and stuff it was fun. On tuesday, if you didnt hear, it was -40 with the wind chill. Me and elder michener were on exchanges in our disrtict leaders area. While Elder michener and the district leader were going to appointments in the car me and Elder McGrath (who is in the buffalo grove stake) had to go tracting. We tracted for a totall i think of like 1 1/2 hours. I was sufficiently covered but my eyes werent so when the wind would blow into my face my eyes would water. And cuz it was so cold it immediately froze. Which made my eyelashes freeze together every once in a while.
On wednesday both me and elder michener werent feeling good. So we stayed in and did some cleaning and a little bit of planning. Thursday was zone conference which took up pretty much the whole day. Friday was district meeting so we had like half a day there and saturday we finally got a whole work day. Yesterday was a pretty normal fast sunday. I have no idea what happened in the super bowl for obvious reasons. I havent had a chance to ask anyone yet.
And guess what happened today? On the way to the library where im emailing right now this guy started yelling at me and my companion. I rode by bike past him on the side walk and I heard him yelling so i ignored it. I look back to see where my companion is and he is talking to the guy so i turn around and ride back there and the guy wont let my companion get past him. Hes yelling at him for riding on the sidewalk and cussing and saying anti stuff like how Joseph Smith is the devil. Elder Michener is trying to apologize and get past him but the guy is like pushing him trying to get him onto the street (cuz i guess thats where your supposed to ride your bike). So I tell the guy hes gotta settle down. Finally the guy lets us go but he continues to yell at us even after we cross the street. It was ridiculous. But whatre you gunna do? At first i was just laughing in my head and then i started getting mad but we got outta there so its all good.
But besides that not much has happened this week. Its cold and theres snow and its not fun to be out in but there really is nothing else productive to do. I suppose i could just sit in the apartment and do nothing but id prolly hang myself and that would be a complete waste of the lords time. The snow storm in chicago was on the news out here. Our member recorded it and made me watch the short clip. It reminded me of the movie Day after tomorrow. So remember that huge winter coat you got for me mom from Mr Mac? All the buttons on one side of it came off. And the hem on the right leg of the dress slacks came undone. I sewed up one of them very badly but im gunna take them to a lady in the ward and she will fix them for me. Oh and Jeff. I was at dinner at this family's house the other night and the mom's brother teaches Jazz at BYU. I told her that you played percussion there and she called him up and said that he knew of you. His name is Ray Smith or Brother Smith or something. Anyways I thought that was cool.
But thats all for me. Cant wait to hear from all of you. Stay Warm!
Love, Elder Butler
So before i forget mom if you could look and see if you have the 1993 june ensign and if you do could you send it to me? because president pfile is in it and hes wearing like a hawaiian shirt and a cowboy hat. Its pretty funny looking.
This week has been OUT-OF-CON-TROL. So on monday we had P-day and Elder and Sister Grover are at the end of their mission so we had Grover day at the mission office. Where I was lucky I was there cuz my tie racks were there. They couldnt be sent to me cuz they were sent UPS. Anyways we had cake and stuff it was fun. On tuesday, if you didnt hear, it was -40 with the wind chill. Me and elder michener were on exchanges in our disrtict leaders area. While Elder michener and the district leader were going to appointments in the car me and Elder McGrath (who is in the buffalo grove stake) had to go tracting. We tracted for a totall i think of like 1 1/2 hours. I was sufficiently covered but my eyes werent so when the wind would blow into my face my eyes would water. And cuz it was so cold it immediately froze. Which made my eyelashes freeze together every once in a while.
On wednesday both me and elder michener werent feeling good. So we stayed in and did some cleaning and a little bit of planning. Thursday was zone conference which took up pretty much the whole day. Friday was district meeting so we had like half a day there and saturday we finally got a whole work day. Yesterday was a pretty normal fast sunday. I have no idea what happened in the super bowl for obvious reasons. I havent had a chance to ask anyone yet.
And guess what happened today? On the way to the library where im emailing right now this guy started yelling at me and my companion. I rode by bike past him on the side walk and I heard him yelling so i ignored it. I look back to see where my companion is and he is talking to the guy so i turn around and ride back there and the guy wont let my companion get past him. Hes yelling at him for riding on the sidewalk and cussing and saying anti stuff like how Joseph Smith is the devil. Elder Michener is trying to apologize and get past him but the guy is like pushing him trying to get him onto the street (cuz i guess thats where your supposed to ride your bike). So I tell the guy hes gotta settle down. Finally the guy lets us go but he continues to yell at us even after we cross the street. It was ridiculous. But whatre you gunna do? At first i was just laughing in my head and then i started getting mad but we got outta there so its all good.
But besides that not much has happened this week. Its cold and theres snow and its not fun to be out in but there really is nothing else productive to do. I suppose i could just sit in the apartment and do nothing but id prolly hang myself and that would be a complete waste of the lords time. The snow storm in chicago was on the news out here. Our member recorded it and made me watch the short clip. It reminded me of the movie Day after tomorrow. So remember that huge winter coat you got for me mom from Mr Mac? All the buttons on one side of it came off. And the hem on the right leg of the dress slacks came undone. I sewed up one of them very badly but im gunna take them to a lady in the ward and she will fix them for me. Oh and Jeff. I was at dinner at this family's house the other night and the mom's brother teaches Jazz at BYU. I told her that you played percussion there and she called him up and said that he knew of you. His name is Ray Smith or Brother Smith or something. Anyways I thought that was cool.
But thats all for me. Cant wait to hear from all of you. Stay Warm!
Love, Elder Butler
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