No Air Conditioning but Baby Chicks Make Us Smile

These dedicated missionaries have no air conditioning in their apartment!  Ugh!  They are waiting for a ride to a dinner appointment in the comfort of their apartment lobby.

What a smile.....on the missionary, I mean.  Not the chicken.  These are Elaine's chicks, growing bigger and bigger every week.  Elaine and her amazing yard and her chickens make this missionary very happy.

Week 34 - A Mango On My Head

NiHao Everybody!

We have had a busy week! We've had some crazy fluctuating weather, and inspection of our apartment, interviews with Pres. Frandsen, and a whole bunch of service. What's more, we've seen a lot of small miracles in between. 

Elder Tung and I have had some great teaching opportunities this week! We managed to find some new investigators who we will be meeting with next week, which is very exciting!  All of our current investigators are very desirous to learn about the gospel and feel the Spirit, but they all seem to lack somewhat in their personal testimonies. They all seem to have barriers to overcome to help take the next step to baptism. 

We taught Sis. Lu (a woman who's been an investigator for over two years) the Plan of Salvation, using her son as the 'guinea pig,' relating every aspect of the Plan to Zhuang Zhuang. It seemed to really provoke some thought in her. We invited her to be baptized, but she declined. She is worried about her husband's point of view on the church (its been a issue for a while now). We are still striving to be patient and loving with her, and we left promising that if she continues to follow the Lord, good things are sure to come to her. 

We also met with Bro. Wu and Sis. Fang, and helped them realize that religion is more than just a cultural stigma; believing in Christ needs to be the focus of our lives. We are counting on a miracle this week by inviting them to be baptized. To be honest, I'm a little nervous about doing that. They are very worried about their current status in America, and their lack of a green card. It will be a real test of my faith to invite them to be baptized (especially after two invitations previously), but I want it to happen SO badly! They are so ready and so prepared and I would love to see them take this step of faith. 

Elder Tung has been a great example of boldness and faith in teaching and extending commitments to me, and I'm grateful for the incredible love he has shown me and our investigators. In my time with him, I have learned a lot about effective planning and the blessings it brings, as well as teaching to needs; we need to be willing to take time to make sure that investigators are truly understanding everything being said. Elder Tung has taught me that by doing this, they feel the Savior's love through us. I'm grateful for that lesson.  He's also taught me a lot about Asian cooking and sauces, the story of the Monkey King called "Journey to the West," and have had some great evening talks. 

We've spent a lot of time serving this week as well. We trimmed down one of Elaine's massive trees, and I also learned to cut a bee-swarmed lavender bush outside of Sis. Ye's. That night, we had a Branch FHE on Saturdaynight, which is always a lot of fun. And finally, thanks to Elder Tung, I now know how to sing "A Mango Grew on my Head" to the tune of Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas! Man, the things you learn on your mission!

Love you all! Have a fantastic week! Always remember the Lord loves you and that he is watching over you!

Love

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Week 33 Photos - The Old Team and the New Team

P- Day in Oakland at Merritt Lake.

He Got The Box!!  The Wicked Box from his family!

Elder Smith is leaving for home and Elder Tung (behind them) is joining Benjamin.  Behind Elder Tung is Elder Lee.  That means that this photograph has Elder Butters pictured with all three of his companions since leaving the MTC!

Not bad for a first companionship dinner!

Elder Tung - the official third companion and now District Leader.  He and Benjamin hit it off immediately.

The chicks that belong to Elaine have grown in size and vocal ability - Elder Butters watched Elaine feed them worms from her flower pots.

Week 33 - New Companion!

GeWei JiaTing he PengYouMen Hao!

This has been one of the busiest and most rewarding weeks of my mission so far. There have been a lot of changes and a lot of cool things going on.

Firstly, I "killed" Elder Smith on Monday... He is now home in Allen, TX, and will be missed around here. My new companion is Elder Tung. He is from Hong Kong, and has served for 19 months. Funnily enough, he served with Elder Smith previously in the Oakland Chinese Branch! He was at BYU Hawaii for a little while before his mission studying social work. We are already off to a great start here in Hayward! He is also our new District Leader. He is very dedicated and motivated to help, and his Cantonese comes in handy with a lot of our members and investigators!

We've been able to meet up with all three of our investigators this week. Sis. Lu is someone we haven't been able to visit in ages, and we met her a couple times at her doorstep. She told us about her concerns with her testimony, and we were able to bear witness of the power of the Book of Mormon and the confirming witness we receive if we pray and ask to know if it is true. She read and said she felt at peace, which is great. We also discussed with our other investigators, Bro Wu and Sis Fang, about the separation of religious conviction and a normal belief in something. Both Elder Tung and I shared that a strong belief in something is good, but in order to develop a testimony, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes! They seemed very happy with our visit, and are continuing to read the Book of Mormon (They are now up to Alma 30s, which is incredible!) We are making progress, slowly but surely!

In other news, we've encountered some service in the sun (man, its burning up here, especially the past few days), a Zone meeting on baptismal goals, fixing a self-installed shower door, a few rounds of UNO for a finding game night activity, and a LOT of rice! Seriously, a heck of a lot of rice, even by Chinese missionary standards....

We have quite a summer shaping up for us in Union City. We are doing well and working hard. Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and kind words on my behalf. They truly mean the world to me! 

Wo Ai NiMen! Have a great week!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Week 32 Photos

Temple Day and a BBQ at the mission home afterwards.

Volleyball with the Mission - guess these guys are pretty competitive!

While Elder Smith isn't looking, Benjamin comments on his smashing success at hangman.

Chinese Branch barbecue in the park.

Elaine, a favorite friend and member to Benjamin.  He cuts her branches, builds her furniture, and takes very good daily care of this wonderful lady.

Thirty Second Email - BBQ and Whistling While you Work

NiMen Hao!

It has been a pretty chilly start to June here in Union City, but a lot of good things have happened. 

We've been able to render a lot of service, both for members of our branch and members of the Union City 1st Ward. We helped Bro. Perez take a HUGE stash of recyclables to the recycle plant, where he received $162 compensation! We also helped another family move one evening, and washed two of Elaine's cars (that she later informed us haven't been washed since Christmas....)

Our investigator couple is still doing well. They made it to church on Sunday, and we were able to continue our lessons on the 10 Commandments with them over a dinner appointment last Thursday. It is clear to me that the Holy Ghost is definitely touching them, slowly but surely. There is such a wonderful spirit about Bro. Wu and Sis Fang!

We also continued in our knocking doors as a means of finding new investigators. We, again, ran into some very interesting people, and I was able to add a few new names I've been called on people's doorsteps into my journal, that I'm sure will entertain posterity in future years ("disciples of the devil" was my personal favorite!). 

I have had a lot of opportunities to feel the Spirit this week. Yesterday was the first time I attended "Why I Believe," a special devotional held by our mission in which recent converts have the opportunity to bear testimony and share the stories of how they came to be baptized. I was touched by many of the speakers. What an incredible change the gospel brings into the lives of others! 
Most of my studies have focused on the differences between the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost, which I have found really fascinating. It made me realize that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is so much more than I previously made it to be. I'm very grateful to have it's companionship. 

I also have been reading the account of Ammon and King Lamoni lately. Yesterday, in Alma 27, I read about Alma's reuniting with the Sons of Mosiah, and that Ammon had so much joy that his strength was exhausted. It made me think that only joy like this can come from the Lord. Though I may not experience joy like that, it makes me want to experience greater joy, and makes me hopeful that the capacity to feel joy is so much greater than I currently think. Studies this week have been a good motivation to make this a goal for me. 

We've also had some incredible Branch and Mission Activities lately. We had Temple Day and a BBQ to follow on Tuesday, and a BBQ with our Branch on Saturday, which was attended by a lot of our members as well as a few English Students, and a few people who just happened to be passing by. We are surrounded by some of the best people with some of the biggest hearts I've ever known. 

In other news, transfers are tomorrow, and I am killing my current companion, putting him on the plane to Allen, TXWednesday morning. I will be staying in Hayward for my 5th transfer (at this point, my entire mission, making me the missionary that has been in the Hayward Zone for the most consistent amount of time), and my new companion is Elder Tung. He's from Hong Kong, and previously served with Elder Smith together in Oakland, who raves about him. He will also be serving as District Leader, and I'll have more info to share on him soon!

I love you all and could not be more grateful for the service you show to be and the joy you all bring into my life. Have an amazing week, and know that Heavenly Father loves you too!

Love,

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

P-Day Photos and More

A P-Day activity at the shoreline - not lots to do so we do what we can.

My missionary son on the San Francisco coast -

Gorgeous and an ocean away from his home town of Shanghai.

Facial features for English class.

Baby chicks that belong to Elaine, a favorite Chinese friend of the missionaries.

Beautiful Saturday night sunset near Benjamin's apartment.

Week 31 - Chopping and Talking

NiHao Everybody!

Another week has come and gone, and there has been a lot to do in this one!

This has been a week of learning for me. We have continued our finding adventures, tracting all throughout our area. We contacted several Muslim people, one of whom told me an interesting fact about Muslim beliefs; that Jesus Christ was taken up to heaven before he was able to be crucified, and the countenance of Judas was changed, so that he was the one to be crucified. I thought that was very interesting. I'm grateful for the constant opportunities that present themselves everyday to develop and grow and learn more about not just my Savior, but the faith and beliefs of others. The other one never let us say a word, talking constantly for about 20 minutes at his door...we didn't really know what to do...

We are still trying to find investigators, but our current investigators are doing great. Bro Wu and Sis Fang loved our conversation on the Law of the Fast and Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy last Thursday. They are so incredibly prepared, and so willing to accept and follow God's commandments. Its inspiring.

We also met with a couple of recent converts and less active members from our branch, both of which we challenged to read the Book of Mormon and to attend church. Elder Smith and I had the chance to give Jerry Yang (the less-active) a blessing of comfort and peace for a big CPA examination he has coming up. It was wonderful to hear him bear simple testimony, especially about the importance of the Holy Ghost in his life. We hope he starts coming to church more so he can feel the Holy Ghost more abundantly. It made me grateful the for the constant companionship of the Spirit that I am able to have, and made me more determined to always have the Spirit with me.

We've also had a LOT of fun this week. Last Monday, we went out to the Hayward Shoreline, which was freezing and covered in broken glass, but fun! There aren't many P-Day activities in the Hayward Zone, so we try to do what we can. At Elaine's, we chopped up a MASSIVE branch down from one of her trees, and we also got to see her new baby chicks! Finally, I taught "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to our English class, and they loved it. I think we will start making songs a part of our curriculum. 

All in all, not a bad time. We're hoping to make this next week really good before Elder Smith goes home next Wednesday. We'll see what happens. 

Love you all, and Heavenly Father loves you too!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)