Week 51 - Half Way Done

Guys I'm halfway done with the mish and its crazy as all heck! HeckinHEckHeck! Still going strong though! Man the time does fly, but I have definitely cherishing the moments because although its hard, I will never get these moments and experiences of sharing the gospel and helping people find peace and love in there life back, at least not in the same way ever again.

WELL Gonnaa be honest, this wont be a super fun letter, nor long because this week was a little boring and I also don't have a ton of time! But I will go for a few quick things that happened:

ALSO, I am turning 21 in a week. It wont be a super celebration or anything, Ill burn my one year shirt and all, but really the one thing that would make me happier than anything in the world to be a message or email from any of you guys catching me up on your life. You don't even have to wish me anything, I just wanna know whats new cause believe it or not, if your reading this I love YOU!! *If you read this and don't send me a message, then I will formally unfriend you in my life. Be friends with me or not, the choice is yours. ;)

First, I am back in my normal area, which was a relief because the kid I was with was a little hard to handle.. Great kid, new with a lot of energy, but a little prideful and a little racist towards gringos, BUT something great is for the first time in my life I feel like I was super patient! I just decided to let him be in his ways because I wouldn't be there forever, and kept my mouth shut. SOOO basically the good thing that happened is that I've gotten BETTER (not perfect) in the aspect of patience.

I was talking today with an old friend and catching up, and he told me that I seem different "in a good  kinda way" . Then asked me if I hoped I would be the same when I get back_ I thought about it for a second, and then responded, "I hope I'm not the same person when I get back". 100 percent the truth. Of course the personality will always be the same, but I have seem and felt little changes in my life and priorities. One of my best friends and examples of being a missionary gave me some advice as I first went out of the mission, this is what he wrote me:

"I want to tell you to not worry about trying to stay the person you were before your mission. You went out to represent Christ so take this once in a life time chance to emulate him the best that you can. Let him turn you into something that you are incapable of becoming without him. I’m telling you this because this was a mistake that I made. I tried so hard to hold on to little bits of old Nick that I thought made me important and unique, but the truth was that it kept me from fully taking advantage of the mission experience. I could be 50x the man that I am now if I gave up the controls completely then. I love you bro. Do the right thing. "

I have taken this advice to its fullest. I left out a confused kid, and hope to come back a better man, and representative of Christ. Love this Church, but also I know without a single doubt that it is the true church. I promise you I would not be here after a year if I thought for even a moment that what I was teaching wasn't true. I know that it is led by Jesus Christ himself, and that through his Everlasting atoning sacrifice, we can come unto him and be happy. Im just out here trying to spread happiness to the world ! Love you all, and I invite you to pray to know for yourself as well.

Love you all, hit me up!

Elder Butler