Week 5 - The Streets

Hola Everyone! 

Another week down, and this one flew by. Spanish is going well, I have learned how to use about 8/9 of the tenses that are used in Spanish so my vocabulary has expanded tremendously. I am learning about 40-50 new words every day and trying to retain them all. I have really been working my hardest out here, I am not slacking because I want to be ready to be out in the field.

This week a couple of cool things happened. We got to go out on the streets one day this week and go talk to people! I handed out a few pamphlets and Book of Mormon. It was so cool talking to real people. And the best part was, I COULD UNDERSTAND AND COMPREHEND EVERYTHING. Very big confidence booster for sure. I don't know how a bunch of 18-20 year olds could come from knowing almost nothing 5 weeks ago to being able to have 10-20 minute conversations. The people are so awesome here, and pretty patient because we are gringos still trying to learn the  language.

I also got another haircut this week. The first day I got here they buzzed all of my hair off , and let me tell you. I am pretty sure they got some random guy off the street, gave him 20 dollars, because this was the worst haircut I have ever received. I have found out that I have about 10 different cowlicks in my hair that no amount of water can keep down, we just couldn't notice them because my hair has never been short. Well I got another haircut at a professional place in a mall this week. The cool part was we got to walk about 2-3 kilos to get there, and that was the fun part. I love just being out on the streets in Latin america, there is nothing like it.

As a lot of you may or may not know, Saturday July 28th marked the 1 year anniversary of my best friend Brody in heaven. It has not been an easy year in the slightest. I have thought about him every day for this past year and even more since I have been out here because I he told me last summer about how he was proud of me for doing what I am doing. I know he is still proud of me now, and is watching over me every step of the way. 

I find comfort in knowing that this life is not the end. There is a purpose and because of Jesus Christ and his plan for us, I know we will be able to see our sweet Ody again. I am out here because I know this, and I want to bring the same knowledge and share it with everyone. 

I love you all, thanks for those who have written me, continue to write, send pictures please they are my favorite! Next week I will be on a plane to Honduras, I don't know how much time I will have exactly to write, but I will for sure have more interesting stuff! Love you all!

Elder Butler

Week 4 - 1 Month Down!

Hola everyone!

I have officially been in Guatemala City for 4 weeks and I have 2 weeks left in this place (hallelujah). I love being here and I love learning the language, but honestly I am definitely ready to get to Honduras and out in the field. Guatemala is muy muy muy bonita, but we are pretty much trapped in the MTC. Its like holding a little kid in front of a playground and saying "You cant go and play, you can only watch" haha. 

I will say though that I have never worked harder at anything than I have with learning Spanish. I worked hard in school, but I actually have a desire to learn as much of the language as I can while I am in the MTC because once I am out in the field, everybody will only be speaking Spanish. Its a Dog eat Dog world my friends. I am learning basically to survive.

My progress on my Spanish is honestly better than I ever thought it would be in the MTC. We talk soló en Espanol everyday, and I can express pretty much anything that comes to my head. I spend a lot of my time talking with the Latinos here. They can talk at fluent speeds and I can understand almost perfectly and have full conversations with them. Me and my companion Elder Zwahlen honestly love the Latinos way better than the gringos because they are so much funnier. 

I honestly love my companion Elder Zwahlen, hands down one of the funniest guys I have ever met. I am not just saying this because I am a missionary and I have lost my sense of humor, because I promise you that is not the case at all. I read an email form my old college roommate that's on a mission, and he said the same thing! Zwahlen is the kinda guy who will say or do something and then when it comes time to be quiet or reverent or quiet like during a prayer or when a teacher is talking, you just cannot stop laughing hysterically. I am super ready to go to the field, but I will definitely miss Zwahlen. He is planning on going to UVU or BYU so that will be awesome!

Guys I will be completely honest, there hasn't been a ton of crazy fun things that have happened this week, but I promise that at this time in 2 weeks I will be in Honduras, and will hopefully have more things to share!

I love you guys, thank you to all of you who have written me a short message, I honestly enjoy them so much! (I am sorry to some if i don't respond right away, I get an hour a week so if I don't respond one week, I will get you on the next!)

You don't have to, but always feel free to send me some pictures or a short message! I love you all so much! Stay cool America.

Elder Butler

Week 3 - The Zoo & The Temple

Hola Everyone!

This last week has been such an interesting and crazy week! The time really goes by so much faster, it is crazy. Every week goes by and it is like my Spanish is exponentially better than the previous week. I can pretty much comprehend a native speaker almost perfectly, although Latinos talk wayyyy fast! I can communicate almost anything I want to say, but my speed is getting there. I have to correct myself sometimes, but for 3 weeks I feel decently confident. My only problem is we just started learning the different tenses, which before I could basically only speak in the present tense for conjugating. 

Today all of the Latinos left the CCM and headed off to there missions, since they already speak Spanish they were only here for 3 weeks. It was sad to see them go because some of them were sooo funny and fun to talk with, but its excited that they get to get out of here and out in the real world haha. Only 3 weeks more for me!!

Today was surely an adventure! my favorite day by far. We woke up super early and went to the temple. Going to the temple was an awesome experience, especially listening to the session in Spanish. The spirit is very strong there, I love it every time I go. (For those with questions about the temple, feel free to ask haha!)

After the Temple, we loaded up on a bus, and left the prison gates of the MTC (lol its not a prison we just call it that) We barely get to leave here because we are basically studying and learning the language 24/7, so this was awesome for us. I took so many pictures and funny videos, I cannot send them while I am here in Guatemala because they said it would crash the computers, but I will for sure try and get them out in a few weeks!

Next we walked over to a local marketplace. So a little about Central America marketplaces for you guys. Marketplaces consist of small tiny shops with souvenirs (excuse my spelling errors, there is not spell check and I am typing as fast as I can) These shops have shirts, bags and everything is dirt cheap and authentically homemade. I pretty much wanted to buy everything I saw, but I also don't want to carry around stuff for 2 years. I will have plenty of other opportunities throughout my mission. 

In the shops, Latinos see gringos walk in, and they see money signs. The currency here is 7 Quetzales to 1 Dollar in American currency, so everything is dirt cheap, so they try and up sell you everything. Nothing has price tags, so we were taught how to barter starting from 40 percent asking prices and trying to meet in the middle, so that was interesting! I got a really cool tie, and dropped it down 20 Q from the asking price, which in reality is like 2$ but oh well.

Afterwards, we hit up Wendy's. I can not tell you how amazing that was. The food in the MTC isn't bad, but it is still cafeteria food. Guatemala City has your regular fast food restaurants, but in my mission in Honduras, there will be more times where I am basically in the Jungle from what I have been told, so no worries, I will most likely be receiving an authentic experience. Still, Wendy's was dank.

The days feel like weeks here, but the weeks feel like days. I am very excited to leave here in 3 weeks, but I am having a good time here, and I am making the most of it because I need to learn as much Spanish as I can!

I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be right now. I have a love for the people of Honduras, and I haven't even been there yet. The people of South America are so humble and kind, it really puts perspective when you grew up in the bubble called the Woodlands haha. 

I know that Christ lives, and loves each and every one of us. I know God helps us and answers our prayers, (I wouldn't be able to have learned what I have learned for a different language in 3 weeks if he didn't answer my prayers). One last thing I want to say is, if you are ever feeling alone, need help, ask a question to someone, turn to prayer. God listens and hears us, and if you pray with true intention, you will receive an answer. It has brought tremendous comfort and joy in my life. If you don't believe me, read John Chapter 1 verse 5 in the bible. 

I love you all, I am so grateful for some of y'alls letters! I will do my very best to respond, I only get an hour a week to type but I love hearing from everyone, so continue to write me! See y'all in a week!

Elder Butler

Week 2 - Getting into the routine of things

Hey there everyone! I am so happy I could hear from a lot of you! After a week of non-stop learning and practicing spanish, it is honestly a blessing to get to read about all of your lives, I love it! If you ever feel inclined to, always send pictures, they are my favorite! 

I have taken a ton of pictures here in Guatemala, but they told us to wait until we leave the MTC because they crash the servers here or something. Doesnt make much sense but oh well haha.

I WILL send some in the coming weeks, do not worry!

This last week has been about same old same old, except I feel the difference between this wweek and last week in my learning of spanish has increased a lot! I comprehend pretty much everything at full speed, we almost never use english anymore except for at night. My speaking is pretty much there, I can say mostly whatever I want, but I have to think about it first. I am great at teaching about Jesus Christ in spanish and teaching lessons so thats exciting! 

I dont really have any exciting stories this week, but I promise they will be coming once I am in Honduras. We are going to the Zoo Next week, so stay tuned for that because I am very excited haha!

I would however, like to share something with you all. The phrase One by one. I was reading the bible this week in Luke chapter 15, verse 4-6. It talks about how if a shepherd had 100 sheep and lost only 1, he would leave the other 99 to go and rescue that 1. Christ works the same way. He knows each and every one of us one by one. God is our Heavenly Father, and we are his children. He loves us all One by one. 

I have come to realize that when it gets hard, I know I am out here to love and serve all of the people of Honduras. I have a love for a people that I have never even met, yet it is love all the same. 

I love all of you, I cannot wait to hear from more of you guys! See ya in a week!

Elder Butler​

Week 1 - MTC Life - Arrival in Guatemala

Hey there everybody! 

On the evening of Tuesday night, June 27th, I left my family, friends, puppy, and life behind to go serve a full time mission in Honduras for 2 years. It is hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I am very happy and excited all the same!

Me, and about 60 other missionaries flew on a Redeye for about 6 hours to Guatemala and arrived on Wednesday morning. For those who are wondering, I am in the Guatemala City Missionary training center for 6 weeks to basically learn spanish and prepare to teach people in a different language.

Guatemala is hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. While at the MTC, we arent allowed to explore the area much, but just on the bus ride, and looking around the mountains, it makes me want to go jump into the jungle and just explore!

We had about one day to be confused and for someone to speak english with us, but by the second day we were here, they only speak, talk, and teach in espanol. The amount I have learned in only just a week of being here is incredible! It is a very humbling experience being here. I can understand the language pretty much fluently now, and can converse decently well, but my speaking still has much to improve! 

I am so grateful for each and every one of you! You guys all mean the world to me, and I think about everyone back home all the time! I only get 1 hour a week to email, but feel free to send me pictures, or just update me on life! I promise that I will send a more exciting email as the weeks goes on, but I am pressed for time right now!

I Love you all and I love serving my heavenly father. I know that this is exactly where he wants me to be. Your prayers are felt and appreciated! I love you all!!