Week 34

It is hard to believe that Jacob has been gone 34 weeks. I am anxiously awaiting another phone call in a few weeks. He sent a few pictures this week and I don't like one of them. I will let you guess which one I am not too fond of.

"Happy Easter!  We were able to view a progam on Easter yesterday, a musical by the Church that was really neat.  We did have a great week, we were blessed with the baptisms on two sons of an inactive (but now active) member named Brenda.  The Lord blessed these yound boys with faith and confidence in thier decisions.  Here's their picture.  Well it was interesting with the new companion, he's from Peru and speaks a little different than the Mexicans.  His name is Elder Quispe, and we're going to have a lot of success together!  This change has been interesting for me, as I'm sure your change has been interesting. It's still cold up there?  Well, it's so hot that we left the windows open and a scorpion entered our house!  It was interesting, plus we only have one fan to cool us.  I bathe with cold water every day and I love it!  We're going to go to the edge this week and do all things in order before our God.  I'm hoping we'll have Skype, but I don't know how well I'll be able to speak English.  It's going to be interesting.  Well I love you all so much.  I thank my Heavenly Father for pouring our His blessings upon our family.  It's truly the Lord's work.  Love you!
 
-Elder Butterfield

The scorpion that snuck into their apartment.....

The young men they recently baptized!


 

Week 33

Well this has been a week of change for everyone. I am living in Tulsa and starting a new job. When I think of how hard this is sometimes I reflect on how hard it must have been to leave your home and everything for 2 years like Jacob did and every other missionary does. I think missionaries make such a great sacrifice I have nothing to complain about. Well here is Jake's latest letter.
"Hello!  Thanks for telling me how it's going with all the new changes!  What do you do to pass the time by yourself?  I hope you have a hobby (maybe learning how to use Linux), or find some good friends down there. News on this end, my companion, Elder Flores, is getting transferred tomorrow after only 6 weeks here.  My new companion is a Peruvian Elder named Elder Quispie.  We will be co-Senior companions for the next six weeks.  We're looking forward to 2 baptisms this week, sons of a recently reactivated member, named Brandon and Gael!  They're really excited, and it's going to be a really special service for them.  I'm looking forward to the new companionship, and working extra hard in the next six weeks!  Well, I can't thank you enough for your support and prayers.  I'm eternally greatful to my Heavenly Father for sending me into such a warm household with a true eternal family.  I'm out here to express my gratitude for my blessings, thanks for the letter and talk to you in one week!

-Elder Butterfield 

Week 32

I got a little behind on my posts but I am all caught up with his letters until I get one tomorrow. I am use to being able to check my email throughout the day on Monday but at my new job I will have to wait until I get home from work. It will give me something to look forward to all day. I live for the emails I get each week. Here is Jake's latest email.
"Sounds like a great week for you all at home!  Hope everyone knows I'm doing great out here and I hope the same for those at home.  I'm actually going to write Henrik today to see how things are for him.  What's time out for women?  Did Sheri Dew speak?  (I met her in the MTC!)  Going to the temple will allow you to set your mind on the greatness of God and being in His service, He will bless you for your diligence!  WHAT?!  A freshman?!  Haha, it's about time Oregon got a prodigy, dad will have to keep me updated on that.    Well thanks for your letter.  We're really working hard, and our goal is to baptize someone every week for the next six weeks, I know we can do it, and Heavenly Father will help us!  Thanks for the update, I'll let you know how things turn out!  Love you all!
 
-Elder Butterfield

Week 31

It is week 31 and it won't be long before I will get my next phone call. The time is passing quickly but it also seems like he has been gone forever. Here is his latest letter:
" Well I don't have much time to write, but I want to tell you about Eudoxio:  We had been teaching this older man for some time, and he always wanted to postpone his baptismal date.  In a lesson with him we tried about ten times to get him to pray with us about his date.  Finally, he offered a very simple but direct prayer to Heavenly Father.  Minutes later he confided in us a past issue, and asked us, ''what do I need to bring to the baptism?''  It was absolutely inspiring and truly a testimony to the work.  I realized this week how simple it is for someone to receive an answer from God, although so many people don't do it.  He is evidence that everyone can receive a testimony of the Church and be certain about their baptism.  After I baptized him, he said he wanted to do it again.  Well the Conference was really special, although I couldn't understand much of it (they speak really fast).  Well I'm eager to hear what's going on next week, but for now I'll just say I love you very much and pray for you all frequently.  The Church is true!
 
-Elder Butterfield

Week 30

It has been 7 months since Jacob left and it has gone by rather fast. Here is his latest email and I am glad to report he got our email this week.
"Wow, I really expected him to be in another part of Japan, but there he was.  That's truly amazing and a testament to the protection of the missionaries.  The Lord's hands we're guarding His servants.  A lot of people have commented on the earthquake, and have talked about ''the end of the world.''  We won't have need to worry about such things if we're doing the things we should be.  If you want info on Mike, check under my Facebook, his name is Michael Ruefenacht, I'm not sure on the spelling.  My companion is really great, the Lord blessed me and this area with such a solid servant.  Every companionship in the Zone has at least one baptismal service planned for this week, and in the mission as a whole, there are 109 baptisms planned for this week.  That's absolutely stunning for a mission of 89 companionships.  We've been teaching a man whose is about 65 years old, but has a health condition.  Last night he told us that he doesn't want to die in sin.  We're praying for him a lot, that he will get baptized this week.  Wow, is it starting to hit you now?  The big change of life from Oregon, Wisconsin to Oklahoma.  I know everything will work out because the Lord blesses the families of his missionaries.  I can't even begin to express the thanks I owe to my family.  I have been blessed with goodly parents, and the Lord has allowed me to tarry in an eternal family.  I love you all, that's about as much as I can say.  I thank Heavenly Father frequently for my family and I pray for your safety. Something I found out in the mission: a study of the scriptures will increase intelligence faster than anything else.  If you're having trouble, do a little study, and it will work out.  Well thanks for everything as always, soon enough we will be able to talk and see eachother!  I might have a little trouble, after all, I've started dreaming in Spanish!  Heavenly Father has really helped me take long strides in the language.  Well love you two again, let me know how the move turns out!"
Elder Butterfield