"Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time"

My last picture with the poulsens :(

The beautiful dark blue sky behind the temple!

Hello! 

I hope everyone is muy bueno! Being in a multicultural mission, some things are bound to rub off on you. For example, rice. Everyone eats rice here! For the Asians they have it with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm starting to understand their obsession. Even the McDonald's in the Philippines (and probably other countries) sells rice with each meal! It's fun getting to know different cultures.

Yesterday was the Poulsen's last day. They were so sad to leave and we were sad to have them go, but they have finished their service here. Sister Chamberlin and I were talking to Sister Poulsen yesterday and I felt a huge wave of sadness come over me listening to Sister Poulsen share how much she's going to miss it here. I've already said this, but they have given their whole hearts to us and this mission. I guess when you do that, it's hard letting go. They have a special place in my heart and I will miss them so much.

I will share with you a little bit about the new mission president and his wife. President and Sister Risenmay have served a mission previously in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. When they were asked to serve again they thought that they might go foreign. Not so! The Lord knew they were to stay in Utah! President Eyring skyped them to tell them where they would serve. He shared that he didn't know much about this mission but he knew that the Lord sent some of His choice daughters here. That was pretty humbling. During the meeting today I felt the Spirit so strongly. I know that they are called by God to be here and I'm excited to get to know them more.

Sister Chamberlin took a guy on a tour last summer who ended up going home and meeting with the missionaries. He knows the church is true, now it's just a matter of picking a baptismal date. He has friends in Utah that introduced the church to him and he wants them at the baptism. It's a challenge since he lives all the way in Iowa, but I know it will work out. He is awesome and I'm so excited for him to enter the waters of baptism and receive the Holy Ghost! Yay!

So you're probably wondering about the subject of this email. I watched a Mormon Message this week called, "Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time". http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/hope-ya-know-we-had-a-hard-time-3 It's based off a talk that Quentin L. Cook gave several conferences ago. It touched me so much. For anyone going through challenges right now I highly recommend watching it! On a side note, Sister Chamberlin said that her mom really likes this talk so she picked up on the phrase. Sister Chamberlin said that sometimes when her dad would come home after a long day her mom would say to her husband, "Hope ya know, we had a hard time." Haha! I thought it was funny.

I love you guys! 

xoxoxoxox.

Sister Butler