Photos from Week 47

That meal looks pretty good for $5!  These men found their new favorite place in Chinatown!

A planning meeting for the District Leader and his companion - super fun!

After the planning meeting, the sorting hat was magically found in a classroom at church and Benjamin wore it while playing the piano.

A relief society activity learning to make bread.  The Branch President's wife had been willing to set this activity up for some of the Chinese sisters and investigators.

Elder Li really has a way about him.....

The view from Benjamin's apartment!  (Greg just happened to have driven down this very street on this very day!)

The penmanship, the depth and the intensity with which this man studies, amaze me!

Soccer games at Golden Gate Park on P-Day!

Volume 47!

DaJia Hao!

The weeks are flying by here, its crazy! 

We've had a good week, with a little bit of frustration along the way, but nothing too horrible. 

Lately, I've found a lot of comfort in reading the Book of Mormon and highlighting all of the Christlike attributes I find in its pages. It truly is a special book, and reading it has become one of my favorite parts of the day. 

I've really been praying earnestly as I can for Elder Li and I to find new investigators. While we yet have one to find, we do seem to be running into people who desperately need the gospel all over the place. This Saturday, while riding the bus home, a young Russian man named Sergi stopped us and asked if we were with a church. When we said yes, he started talking to us about his severe addiction to alcohol, and his desire to stop. He hoped that the church would provide a means of helping him to stop and overcome this massive trial in his life. We gave him a pass-along card and our number. We hope that he will eventually come to desire to know Christ more fully, and want to know a little more than just how faith in God can lead him to stop drinking. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father continues to place his children who need him in our path, even if a baptismal date isn't in the cards right now. 

We have continued our English classes as a means of finding and service, too. This week, we brought our students to attend a Relief Society Activity; our Branch President's wife, Sis. Yang, is a fabulous baker, and taught our students and the sisters of the branch how to make Moon Cakes, the traditional food of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, which is almost upon us. The students seemed to really enjoy themselves and associating with the members. 

We hope to continue to plant seeds and hopefully see some fruit soon!

In other news, we've knocked a few doors with some not so nice people behind them, and others with some very nice people. We've walked all over the placed contacting less-actives, all the while translating for Chinese tourists and helping each other improve our Chinese/English grammar. We served with a member of the Spanish ward at his kitchen for the homeless and malnourished, and rocked out 80s hits (Thank you Mom and Dad for raising me on such great music) as well as finding some great cheap REAL Chinese food in Chinatown. We also had another great institute class with the YSAs of our branch. Even if there is a rough day, there is something good to help the mood turn around. I'm grateful for that.

Love you all! Miss you all! Have a fantastic week! Can't wait for conference!

Wo Ai NiMen!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Haircuts, Craziness, Cooking and Exchanges

Elder Li doesn't leave his sense of humor dormant for long!

Elder Li in all his glory!

Time for a hair cut, Elder Li......Benjamin has never done this before.

Turned out pretty good for a first timer!

The latest in kitchen creations by the dynamic duo - Pasta Pot!

Out on exchanges with zone leaders - changing things up a bit is always good.

Week 46: The Bus Chase and The Light In The Darkness

NiHao, Wo Ci'Ai De JiaTing He PengYou!

This has been a busy and somewhat frustrating week for Elder Li and I, but we managed to have some fun highlights along the way.

Firstly, we were unable to get into contact with Rebecca, our current investigator, and because of that, unfortunately, had to drop her baptismal date. That was kind of a blow to me. Anyway later in the week we come to find out through members who've worked with her before that her husband attends a Catholic seminary, and should she or anyone else in her family be baptized into another church, the school will discontinue their support of their family. It very much helped my understanding and helped me to be much more patient and empathetic instead of angry and bitter, which I was feeling a bit toward the situation. We will continue to pray for her that eventually she will be baptized and become a member of this church. In the meantime, I'm learning to be content with the fact that Elder Li and I assisted the Lord in planting a very good seed!

We tried to contact Rebecca as part of a massive day we had in Chinatown on Wednesday. Because its pretty far by bus from where we live in Sunset, we really make a day out of going downtown, trying to contact and visit as many potentials and less-actives as we could. It was a lot of fun, and a very busy and tiring day. We are still on the lookout for a New Investigator, though, and pray we find one soon. Also, Elder Li, still learning how to get around on the bus, stayed on the bus at one point when I got off...I'm sure I gave everyone a good laugh as I sprinted down the streets of Chinatown after the bus in order to save my lost companion...I managed to keep up pretty good, though!

We have once again started a very good English class program in an effort to continue to find new investigators. Though only one student showed up, she really enjoyed our devised curriculum. It was a real answer to prayer.

We did have a very interesting contact yesterday, though. A homeless woman named Doris approached us yesterday, and explained that she had previously met with missionaries while she lived in Oregon, and through a dramatic set of circumstances moving to San Francisco, lost not only contact with the missionaries, but also her livelihood. She asked if we could give her a Book of Mormon, telling us that she had felt an emptiness in her life ever since she stopped reading it. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and through her tears, she asked us if it was too late. I was so grateful that I got to tell her that it's never too late, and that God loved her. This experience with her testified to me that both the comforting power of the Book of Mormon and the cleansing power of the Atonement. It became very real in my life as well s hers. I feel like God placed both Elder Li and I in her path last night to bring her some much needed comfort. I won't forget that night!

I also went on a great exchange with Elder Oliphant, one of our Zone Leaders. He taught me a lot about effective and diligent study,encouraging me to look for the "gems" of truth in every scripture I read, and search to capitalize on that "gem." It was fascinating! He also taught me a lot about persistence when it comes to finding. I hope to make some improvements in these areas!

Elder Li and I have been having a lot of fun in the kitchen lately. We've invented some cool recipes involving making soup out of Hot Pot mix. We call it "Pasta Pot!" Its basically the much more classy Chinese missionary version to Mac-n-Cheese. It's a keeper for sure.

I want to share with you all the same thing I did with Doris: God loves you, and it's NEVER TOO LATE! Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Photos and Elder Li's Return

The majesty of Elder Li returns to Benjamin's companionship!

The box arrives!  More toilet paper, deodorant and potato chips for the gang.

The District appreciated the chips we sent.

Elder Li discovering San Francisco with the District.

Yes to this awesome missionary and his awesome picture!

Benjamin loves this city!

His words:  "I am so lucky to be able to say that I served my mission in this place!"

Week 45 - Heating Up and Returning to His Past

NiMen Hao!

Holy cow, has it been HOT this week! A lot of change as we stare down the road that leads us into another transfer.

As I informed you all last week, I said goodbye to Elder Ho last Tuesday, and welcomed back my "father." Yup, Elder Li is back in the Chinese program after six months in English speaking areas. He is still very much the same fun-loving, wacky, and all-around-lovable missionary that trained me, except now with much better English! He has also grown as a missionary since I last worked with him, and I feel I have as well. We are really trying to hit the ground running by contacting former investigators, restarting a free English class for the Chinese natives around where we live, and contacting referrals.

Speaking of which, we met a man named Thomas this week, who had requested a Book of Mormon. He is from Laos, but speaks Mandarin. We managed to go down to Daly City to talk with him for a few minutes, and ended a quick conversation by adding him as a potential investigator. We also had another referral received this week, but have been unable to successfully contact Wendy Lee so far. Fingers crossed we'll find her eventually!

 We are still very excited about our prospective baptism with Rebecca, our new investigator. However, due to scheduling concerns and her business with caring for her two year old and three month old sons (she has to deal with quite a handful), she was unable to meet with us this week. Please keep her in your prayers! She is SO prepared and so willing to meet and share her thoughts, desires, and feelings with us. We miraculously got in contact with her again last night, and hope to find a way to get a hold of some of her time this upcoming week. We also met with one of our Recent Converts (after a long time of being unable to contact him as well) and another investigator, though, we are not sure how much longer we will be meeting with him. Still, Elder Li worked his charitable magic (he is REALLY good at talking to people) and we will hopefully see some miracles come from our efforts.

I once again have begun a study of the Book of Mormon, this time highlighting every different Christlike Attribute that is emphasized in Preach My Gospel. It has been quite the interesting exercise, and I have found a real connection between the attribute of Humility, Faith, and Diligence, and how through exhibiting them all in how we live the gospel, we increase in Spiritual Knowledge. And, of course, Nephi proves to consistently be a great example of Obedience. 

Elder Li has loved getting to know the city, even though he falls dead asleep on every bus trip we are on (he's bobs around like a bobble-head, and its pretty funny!), and we have enjoyed visiting our members and exploring downtown together. We hope to see more success in this crazy place we call our mission in the coming weeks.

I love you all! The gospel is true, and I hope you all know that Heavenly Father is there and watching over and loving you! Have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

PS - Once again, if you could send up an extra prayer or two for Rebecca this week, that would be very much appreciated!

Photos from a Great District Week

The Area Book that has been created by the San Francisco Zone!

Elder Ho, Benjamin and Bear, heading to Wu MaMa's home for dinner.

Elder Teriitahi and Elder Butters rocking their service hats on their exchanges.

Elder Ho and Elder Butters enjoying time with Wu MaMa in her home.

The San Francisco District under the direction and leadership of Elder Butters.  Their smiles are absolutely contagious!

Can You Handle the Heat?!

DaJia Hao!

This has been an amazing week, one that has been blazing hot both literally and figuratively!

We have seen some incredible things happen to us this past week, one of which I count as one of the biggest miracles on my mission to date. 

I contacted a Chinese woman named Rebecca Wong on an exchange last week, and managed to set up a time for a return appointment for this Wednesday. We met with her at the Pacific Chapel downtown, and she blew us away! She informed us that she previously met with a Senior Missionary Couple, who shared with her many of the lessons and helped her to gain more of an understanding of the gospel. She brought along her copy of the Gospel Principles manual to our lesson, which she has already read and understands many of the principles contained therein in detail! We began teaching her the first lesson, and responded to most every comment we made with "I know!" She especially loves the idea of the Plan of Salvation, and what it means for her young family. She has two very young boys, and she admitted to us that she wants them to be raised in the church. 
Then, the moment came...we invited her to be baptized, and she said YES! We have tentatively scheduled her baptismal date for October 7th! We are thrilled and so grateful for Heavenly Father's help in bringing about this incredible miracle. We will further our discussions with her, and try this week to find a way to get her to church! Please keep her in your prayers; a baptism for the Chinese program doesn't happen very often!

I also had to opportunity to go on another exchange this week, this time with Elder Teriitahi. He is a great Elder, and has an impeccable sense of his area and his purpose as both a trainer and a missionary. We did service at a kitchen for the homeless as well as taught several lessons to potential investigators and recent converts in the Spanish Program. It was a lot of fun! I am truly honored to be leading all of the missionaries in my district. They are all incredible! We got to attend many of the baptismal services for each other's investigators this week, which is really helping us to keep unified. 

Among other activities, we've visited a few of our members this week (especially Wu Mama, and elderly woman in our branch who always needs help around the house), and had a lot of yummy food as a result of departing missionaries and transfers. Chinese people really like to eat when people are leaving!

That's the other big news this week...Transfers! I will be staying in San Francisco until further notice (probably for as long as I was in Union City), but Elder Ho has been called to serve as a trainer, and will be leaving tomorrow to re-open the Chinese Elders Area in Oakland! We now cover THREE areas in the mission. I will miss working with him, and the fact that he knows the bus schedule like the back of his hand. 

As for my new companion...its not so much a new one as it is going back to old times. ELDER LI and I will be reunited for another transfer together. I was honestly shocked to have my trainer back in my mission life so soon, but here we go again! We will see how it goes! 

I love you all! Have an amazing week, and say a few prayers for those literally in the eye of the Hurricane that is facing Texas right now!

Wo Ai NiMen!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)