September 30, 2013

Dear Family,
 

Things are going great here in bROCKport. It ROCKS! Ha ha ha yes that was a very lame joke but I couldn't help myself ;) This week was a really good week. We've met lots of people and seen lots of miracles and I know there are many more to come. It's just up to us to be faithful, obedient and diligent!

What probably made this week the best was the specialized training we had on Thursday. Up until Thursday Sister Morgan and I had been having a hard week. I wasn't feeling well and I was getting discouraged. No one wanted to meet with us and it was just kind of discouraging. But, specialized training showed how much Heavenly Father knows us and answers our prayers. I felt like Heavenly Father had inspired President Francis to tailor the entire meeting to me. He talked a lot about the atonement and allowing the atonement to motivate us. Sisters Gillespie and Hawkes did an AMAZING training on planning and Elders Erekson and Olsson did one on goal setting. President Francis ended by showing the video I helped Sister Killen make (Here's a link to it :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDFUlVhPhyc&feature=share) and talked about being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In a lot of ways, I felt spiritual rebuked by the meeting, and it felt SO GOOD!!! Heavenly Father was telling me, "Forget yourself and get to work, Sister Butters!" President Francis I swear was talking right at me when he said, "NOW is your time." It's true. Now is my time in this mission to have the success and learn the lessons Heavenly Father wants me to learn. This isn't even about me. No matter how tired I am, He needs me to just keep opening my mouth. He WILL fill it and He WILL carry me. Now is my time to end with a bang and that's exactly what I want to do.

Something else President Francis talked about in connection with the atonement is that the trials we experience are specifically designed to give us the most growth. Isn't that the truth! I know I keep saying that being in Brockport has certainly not been the easiest part of my mission. It's even better: It's what Heavenly Father has planned for my mission, so who cares what I thought I wanted. I want to be where Heavenly Father wants me to be. I know it's still not going to be easy. But I KNOW I can do this!

Moral of this week's story: Faith, obedience, diligence and love. I know that we experience the things we experience are for a reason. I know I'm in Brockport for a reason and I am so happy to be wherever it is that Heavenly Father needs me.

I love you all so much and miss you tons. I can't even believe how fast the time is flying, but I am going to treasure every minute of it. I pray for you all every day and hope everything is going well!

Love you all times a billion!

Love,

Sister Butters