Week 42 and not a lot new has happened. I am truly amazed at how quickly the week goes by it seems like it is Sunday and we are emailing Jacob. It is getting very warm here in Oklahoma but nothing compared to how it is were Jacob is serving. I sure do worry about his fair skin and hope he is using his sunscreen. Well here is his latest letter.
"Well, we went on down to Veracruz this week, but we had to return the following day because of a strike in the bus companies. I guess the gov't raised the price of oil and now it's harder to get around. Thanks always for the beef jerky, my companion is hooked! In How neat the story of President Monson, I really would love to read that book when I get home! It's pretty hot here, but the sunscreen works really well. I'm not changing colors anytime soon! Well I love you both and I know you do more than I can think for me. I know I'm doing the Lord's work and that this is what I must do right now. I can't wait to talk to you in one week!
-Elder Butterfield
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Week 41
Week 41! I know I say this each week but I can't believe that we are at week 41 already. It is heating up here in Oklahoma but I don't think that this is anything compared to what Jacob is experiencing. I know he is looking forward to cooler weather. His new area looks beautiful and he is really enjoying it. Here is his latest letter and a new picture too!
"Hot is it? Maybe that global warming business has some sense after all. Haha, well it's not as hot here as Poza Rica, but it's higher in altitude so the sun in pretty strong. I put on sunscreen every day, so don't be worrying. We had a really special baptism this week of a 70 year-old man named Candido. We got permision from President Hansen to confirm him after his baptism so that he could go to the temple with the ward the following day. I baptized him in a river in our area. It was absolutely beautiful and really a special experience. President Hansen and his wife also stopped by for Sacrament Meeting Sunday morning. They offered their testimonies and really excited the ward. President Hansen ends his service at the end of this transfer and he is going to recommend me as a trainer for the next change. It will be a very neat experience to be able to train a brand new missionary especially in an area such as this one. Well I love you all! I'm in the true Lord's work! But even then I plead for help every day because I can't do this alone. I expect great news this week, because I know it will come if you continue reading The Book of Mormon, praying and striving to do your best ever single day! Just say every morning, ´´Today is going to be a great day´´ and it will go well. Pray every morning and it's impossible to frown. Well, that's my advice, you made the right decision, now love it!
-Elder Butterfield
Jacob and his companion at the baptism of Candido
"Hot is it? Maybe that global warming business has some sense after all. Haha, well it's not as hot here as Poza Rica, but it's higher in altitude so the sun in pretty strong. I put on sunscreen every day, so don't be worrying. We had a really special baptism this week of a 70 year-old man named Candido. We got permision from President Hansen to confirm him after his baptism so that he could go to the temple with the ward the following day. I baptized him in a river in our area. It was absolutely beautiful and really a special experience. President Hansen and his wife also stopped by for Sacrament Meeting Sunday morning. They offered their testimonies and really excited the ward. President Hansen ends his service at the end of this transfer and he is going to recommend me as a trainer for the next change. It will be a very neat experience to be able to train a brand new missionary especially in an area such as this one. Well I love you all! I'm in the true Lord's work! But even then I plead for help every day because I can't do this alone. I expect great news this week, because I know it will come if you continue reading The Book of Mormon, praying and striving to do your best ever single day! Just say every morning, ´´Today is going to be a great day´´ and it will go well. Pray every morning and it's impossible to frown. Well, that's my advice, you made the right decision, now love it!
-Elder Butterfield
Jacob and his companion at the baptism of Candido
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Week 40
Well this was another rough week as we traveled to Utah for a funeral. It was nice to see family but not under these circumstances. I can always count on a letter from Jacob to put everything into perspective. Here is his latest letter.
"Hey there! Well, here I am in beautiful Tlapacoyan, Veracruz. My Zone is officially in the State of Puebla, but I´m still here in Veracruz. The town is pretty small, about 20,000 people and there´s a ward here. The chapel is just being built, and they have met in a rented building for 7 years, needless to say, the ward is very excited. My companion is Elder Castañeda, he´s from Mexico City and it´s his third transfer in the mission. The area is cool and I would say it´s the most beautiful area I have had in the mission. Really, look it up! Well, I hope and pray that you´re all doing alright coping with Tad´s death, and I´m sure it was easier with the family at your side. It was unexpected, but it can´t be changed. There´s an absolutely beautiful talk that was given in General Conference, ´´The Atonement Can Heal Everything´´ or something like that. It´s very powerful and incredibly true. Don´t worry about a thing, just live in gratitude to Heavenly Father and always remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There can´t be any other remedy more fulfilling. Well, I love you both and I´m excited to hear about you two reading the Book of Mormon, hopefully one day you can finish it in Spanish. If you don´t believe me, read Mark 9:23. Well, this work is true, and I wouldn´t be out here if it wasn´t for you two. Love you!
-Elder Butterfield
"Hey there! Well, here I am in beautiful Tlapacoyan, Veracruz. My Zone is officially in the State of Puebla, but I´m still here in Veracruz. The town is pretty small, about 20,000 people and there´s a ward here. The chapel is just being built, and they have met in a rented building for 7 years, needless to say, the ward is very excited. My companion is Elder Castañeda, he´s from Mexico City and it´s his third transfer in the mission. The area is cool and I would say it´s the most beautiful area I have had in the mission. Really, look it up! Well, I hope and pray that you´re all doing alright coping with Tad´s death, and I´m sure it was easier with the family at your side. It was unexpected, but it can´t be changed. There´s an absolutely beautiful talk that was given in General Conference, ´´The Atonement Can Heal Everything´´ or something like that. It´s very powerful and incredibly true. Don´t worry about a thing, just live in gratitude to Heavenly Father and always remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There can´t be any other remedy more fulfilling. Well, I love you both and I´m excited to hear about you two reading the Book of Mormon, hopefully one day you can finish it in Spanish. If you don´t believe me, read Mark 9:23. Well, this work is true, and I wouldn´t be out here if it wasn´t for you two. Love you!
-Elder Butterfield
Week 39
Week 39 and it has been a rough week. We had an unexpected death in the family and I think it made Blake and I realize that life is very precious and you just never know when your time to leave this life is going to be. We are ever more grateful for the knowledge of eternal life and we know that we will see our loved ones once again. Here is Jake's latest letter.
"Hey there, thanks a lot for the letter. Pretty special that you were welcomed into the new ward and there's already connections being made. Is the Bishop pretty neat? We were blessed this past week with a nother baptism of a young girl named Dana. We're bing blessed, but my time has come to change areas. I'm being transferred to a fast growing ward in the state of Puebla (but still in the Veracruz Mission). A few people have commented on the tornadoes they've seen in the news. It's pretty rough I hear, but that's how it goes. Well, it is incredibly sad to hear this news about Tad, especially because I really respected and admired him. Your brother had all sorts of charisma and grew a beautiful family. I can't imagine the grief that is passing through the family in this time, but it's reassuring to see the family coping together with this pain. I really hope and pray that you're all doing all right and thanks so much for your letters and prayers. All I can say is that we know the true Plan of Salvation, there is no substitute. We know that there is life yet to come and that our trials and sufferings are but a brief moment in this life. We are blessed to live in the last dispensation with all the truth we have. Just a quick experience: when I was reading your letter, the truth of your statement about President Monson struck me very deeply. I know he's a Prophet of God in our time too. Thanks so much for your testimony and support. My heart truly goes out to our family and we will be blessed and comforted in this time. I love you all!
-Elder Butterfield
"Hey there, thanks a lot for the letter. Pretty special that you were welcomed into the new ward and there's already connections being made. Is the Bishop pretty neat? We were blessed this past week with a nother baptism of a young girl named Dana. We're bing blessed, but my time has come to change areas. I'm being transferred to a fast growing ward in the state of Puebla (but still in the Veracruz Mission). A few people have commented on the tornadoes they've seen in the news. It's pretty rough I hear, but that's how it goes. Well, it is incredibly sad to hear this news about Tad, especially because I really respected and admired him. Your brother had all sorts of charisma and grew a beautiful family. I can't imagine the grief that is passing through the family in this time, but it's reassuring to see the family coping together with this pain. I really hope and pray that you're all doing all right and thanks so much for your letters and prayers. All I can say is that we know the true Plan of Salvation, there is no substitute. We know that there is life yet to come and that our trials and sufferings are but a brief moment in this life. We are blessed to live in the last dispensation with all the truth we have. Just a quick experience: when I was reading your letter, the truth of your statement about President Monson struck me very deeply. I know he's a Prophet of God in our time too. Thanks so much for your testimony and support. My heart truly goes out to our family and we will be blessed and comforted in this time. I love you all!
-Elder Butterfield
Week 38
It is so hard to believe that we are at week 38 and before long it will be 52 and I will be counting down from there. Sometimes people ask me how it is to have a son that you can only talk to twice a year. My answer is that it is very hard but I know that he is doing the right thing and he is happy in what he is doing at least most of the time. Well here is his latest letter.
"Hola! Well it's true, the world continues, although a lot of people thought we were spreading the rumor about the 21st of May. We said, ''no, no one knows....'' Is it looking like the time for Mitt Romney or are we going to go with Palin? Haha, not that it really matters. Tornadoes? That's what I always think about when I think of Oklahoma. I heard that our picture is in the Liahona this month, look for one of a baptismal service in Poza Rica, Veracruz. The work is going great. We had a baptismal service this week of a 24 year-old named Julio, that makes 3 consecutive weeks of baptisms! Our Heavenly Father has truly blessed us in this area and He continues to do so. I'm about to finish 2 Nefi in Spanish, and I learn so much every time I read. We taught about 27 this week and we had a conference with President Hansen. He's only got about one month left! It's blazing hot here, but I'm loving it. We're enjoying the blessings for our work and the heat. That's great to hear about you reading the scriptures every night. You will be blessed as you continue to do so. Well I know this Church is true. The Book of Mormon is a true book and was written by Prophets that lived here. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God as Thomas S. Monson is today. Jesus Christ must be the center of our lives if we are to be peaceful and happy. nThanks so much for your prayers and I love you both!
-Elder Butterfield
"Hola! Well it's true, the world continues, although a lot of people thought we were spreading the rumor about the 21st of May. We said, ''no, no one knows....'' Is it looking like the time for Mitt Romney or are we going to go with Palin? Haha, not that it really matters. Tornadoes? That's what I always think about when I think of Oklahoma. I heard that our picture is in the Liahona this month, look for one of a baptismal service in Poza Rica, Veracruz. The work is going great. We had a baptismal service this week of a 24 year-old named Julio, that makes 3 consecutive weeks of baptisms! Our Heavenly Father has truly blessed us in this area and He continues to do so. I'm about to finish 2 Nefi in Spanish, and I learn so much every time I read. We taught about 27 this week and we had a conference with President Hansen. He's only got about one month left! It's blazing hot here, but I'm loving it. We're enjoying the blessings for our work and the heat. That's great to hear about you reading the scriptures every night. You will be blessed as you continue to do so. Well I know this Church is true. The Book of Mormon is a true book and was written by Prophets that lived here. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God as Thomas S. Monson is today. Jesus Christ must be the center of our lives if we are to be peaceful and happy. nThanks so much for your prayers and I love you both!
-Elder Butterfield
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