WEEK 21

Mom's Commentary:

I tried to email music to Joseph and wanted to know if he got it.  It was "Voice Male" and I am going to send him some more for his birthday.  Packages are too tricky to get to him.  Joseph  really likes  John Williams which does all the movie theme music.  It is usually classified modern classical but I don't think the "Throne Room" from Star Wars is really inspirational.  Anyway I love the hymns so I will send him my favorites...

Also, it was my birthday on Dec. 4th. No emails came on Dec. 5th am when we usually get them... For a mom it is torture waiting, forever waiting for those emails.

Joseph's email:

 I didn't get Vocal Point music, if you sent some from Vocal point, but I did get the "Hims" Voice Male A Capella music.

Btw, Pres. Msane just changed the Music Rules from "Hymns or Classical". Other music has to be spiritually uplifting and turn your thoughts to the Savior"  to "Hymns" Other music has to be approved by  him so John Williams is no longer within the rules. (Although I did ask him just in case. So we will see what he says.)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Your turning what now, "Super Duper old"? or is it just "Kinda Super Old" haha 

I am sooo sorry I wasn't able to email you yesterday, but I am writing this first today! (I haven't read any of your emails yet) 

So I didn't get you anything for your birthday, although I did baptize that Kid we were working with on your birthday, so consider that your Present. I miss you alot but I'm excited to be out here serving the Lord in Africa!

We had Transfers this week! Guess What! 

I'm still with Elder Otika in Kyambeke, but our District and Zone leader changed. This transfer we are either going to Explode and do Amazing work for the Lord...or we may kill each other, Either way I will be happy in the Spirit world right? haha

Anyway, I hope you have a Wonderful Christmas Time, and remember "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Just like the One's I use to Know"

I love you Mother!!!

p.s. Listen to "Christmas Down in Africa" for me a couple times, ok?

p.p.s. Don't forget to go watch  the new Star Wars when it comes Out!

Another email from Joseph:

Ok I read your email so this is my response to that.

Its good to hear that you had a fun early Birthday!

Btw, I miss snow. All i do here is Sweet... its getting old haha

Can you tell the Bickley's I"m thinking and praying for them. I Wish I could spend more time learning from such wise people. Also, tell them I Love them.

I will certainly do my best to appreciate the many people that pray for me, Although it sounds like quite a challenge to fully comprehend and appreciate, Thank you so much for the inspiring words!

These were my inspiring words:

We pray for you all the time.  We pray for your mission president also.  When we go to the temple they always pray for the missionaries around the world.  At the first presidencies' Christmas devotional prayer they prayed for the "angels" that are our missionaries all over the world.  I'm often humbled to know that there are people all over the world who are praying for my son in Kenya.  I trust in those prayers.  May you not take them for granted.  May you thank Heavenly Father for the many, many people who love you, Joseph, and prayer for you Elder Butters.  Remember to always pray for the people you teach.  Call them by name and petition our Father in Heaven in the name of his son with faith in their behalf. Your prayers will be heard. 

WEEK 20

Mom's Commentary:

When I wrote Joseph I mentioned that his Dad literally spends ours researching and writing this scriptual based commentaries and I hoped that Joseph appreciated it. after Joseph's opening comment there will be no stopping Russ now.  I'll be lucky if Joseph has any time to reply to me.  His dad also told him about our crazy election and the bazar attitudes of people when Trump won.

Joseph wrote:

Yes I LOVE! Dad's Emails, (although it is a leading cause for my short replys since I spend so much time reading them haha). Please encourage him to continue working hard on them. (after my mission I would kinda like to make a book out of them)

District conference was great.  They really emphasized the Temple and Home teaching. Unfortunately President Msane was too busy to go proselyting with any one. One day though I'm sure I will be able to. He is an Amazing Man though. He works endlessly and is an excellent example of Christlike Love to everyone he meets. Its rare for him to get home before midnight and he wakes up between 4-6 in the morning every day. He is really going to make the KNM grow and become powerful (as long as we missionaries listen to his counsel. Which I try hard to do.)

I hope I don't become a Canadian while I'm here haha!

Love you guys!

-Elder Butters

WEEK 19 (cont.)

Mom's commentary:

This was a video that Joseph sent in August about a common food called Chapati.  I had the link posted but then messed up something so you couldn't view it.   I have struggled with getting it posted.  We'll see if this works.   

WEEK 18

Mom's Comment:

Crocks were on Joseph's Missionary List.  We had a hard time finding some that fit him and then convincing him that he indeed wanted them. We were told during the raining season they carry them and switch out with their shoes because the mud is so deep it wrecks leather shoes and then they can just hose off the crocks.  It sounds like its a good thing he has them.

It was Thanksgiving here and they obviously don't celebrate that in Kenya.

Joseph's letter:

Thanks mom!

I will remember hymn 94 this week for sure.

Weekly Quote from MOM

  Come, ye thankful people come. Raise the song of harvest home.

  All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.

  God, our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied.

  Come to God's own temple come; raise the song of harvest home.

  All the world is God's own field.  Fruit unto his praise to yield,

  Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown.

  First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear.

  Lord of harvest grant that we whole-some grain and pure may be.

Hymn #94

This week has been interesting because of the severe rains. It has been raining during the day a lot now which makes the Hills extremely muddy.  I can tell you Hiking in 3 inches of mud... Is not fun! I have come to appreciate my Crocks though.

This Sunday is the District Conference (the equivalent of Stake Conference) which should be good. We have 6 other Elders that are going to be sleeping at our flat to attend. That will be interesting having 8 people in that tiny house haha. The Mission President will be there and it sounds like he intends on coming proselyting with some of us which will be an Awesome Experience. I hope I can have that privilege.

Here are pics from the baptism. Denis Matunga is on the left and Fredrick is on the Right.

WEEK 17

Mom's commentary:

These  short notes are priceless for me.  They speak alot that I can read between the lines. Joseph is doing well.  Before he left he cleaned his room but left everything in it.  He wouldn't give anything away or box anything up.  His niece, Kenzie asked if she could borrow some of his book.  Their interests and personalities are  alot the same.  It makes me laugh. Joseph has changed so much since he left in July.

We had 2 more Baptisms yesterday! It was awesome. I don't think I mentioned them much in my letters because they are 9 and 11 year old kids and I wasn't sure we would be able to baptize them, But we taught them a lot this last week and they made it! They have another brother that wasn't ready for baptism yet but should be in the next week or two.

Also, you can just let Kenzie keep my Percy Jackson books. I probably am never going to read them again. Haha!

Sorry for another short note but I have to Go. I will try and send the Baptism Pictures next week. Let dad know I'm printing off his email so I can read it later. Thanks!

WEEK 16 1/2

Mom's commentary:

We got an email from Bonnie Lyman, a member of the Manito Ward on the south hill, who is serving in Joseph's Mission.  She ran into him at the last zone conference and also sent some pics.

From: Bonnie Lyman [mailto:blyman48@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2016 10:24 AM
To: laurabutters@gmail.com; russellbutters@gmail.com
Subject: Together in Kenya

Hello Butters,

We met up with your son at zone conference today.  He is doing great and we can tell by his comments in conference that he is a great missionary.  We have been here 17 months and go home 8 December.  We have always felt safe here.  It's sounds more threatening in the US these days.  Most missionaries are from Utah so it was so exciting for us to meet your son today.  He is serving in one of the most rural parts of Kenya but one of our favorites, Kyembeke (pronounced chembekay) Branch,  in the Kilungu Hills District, referred to as the Hills.  It's beautiful here but the work is very hard because of them speaking their tribal language, kikamba., plus various other challenges.  Not a grocery store for miles....just little roadside stands selling produce and eggs and maize.  Ask him how he likes ugali...the main stay of these Africans.

We share some Homecoming remarks 18 December, Manito Ward, 11:00 am if you would like to come.

 Nov 3rd Zone Conference

Joseph with Bro & Sis Lyman of Spokane

Elder Butters at Zone Conference

Kembeke Baptismal font

Kembeke Chapel

WEEK 16

Comments from a mom: 

 Halloween through New years have always been full of traditions for the Holidays.  Some were started when we first got married and then with Rachel and carried over to Joseph.  When you don't have kids at home anymore focus becomes different and traditions need to change.  We are in the process of finding new traditions.  We also sent a package to him for his birthday to see if it would make it to him and what we were actually dealing with...so we got our answer kind of..

Letter from Joseph:

Well you sound like you guys are having an Interesting time Ignoring all of our Traditions (Shame on you :P)

By the Way we were unable to find my package when we were in Nairobi, Hopefully the Assistants to the President can find it and bring it to me in a couple weeks when they come. Otherwise Zone conference was Awesome, I really Like President Masane and Loved his training that he did. He really emphasized Obedience, which is good because the older missionaries have, frankly, been terrible Examples to me and my MTC group. Its been a real challenge. Anyway it should be getting better now after that Zone Conference.

I  forgot to answer a couple of your Questions last week, The green bottles were Novida, from Schweppers, Its a Pineapple malt soda that Tastes Fantastic. Not sure if you can find it back home, but it is an American company so maybe. I was able to make that picture because my camera has a "selective Color" feature built in.

Raining season started! it has been Raining every night and there are now Millions of Bugs EVERYWHERE, it kinda Sucks actually. Fortunately it stays pretty sunny during the day so it hasn't hindered our work yet.

ITs Election week isn't it? let me know how that goes...

I love you guys! Tell Tony Congrats for me. I will make sure to learn about African Christmas traditions (last time I asked, everyone insisted they were the same as American traditions, anyway one of these days I  will pry something out of them)

Sincerely-Elder Butters