The Sun is Shining and the Flowers are Blooming!

Music and the spoken word yesterday.

Left to right starting on the top row: Sister Lopez (Mexico), Sister
McColgan (Wales), Sister and President Mulford (1st counselor),
President (2nd counselor) and Sister Bateman, me, Sister Tekurio
(Tahiti), Elder Skanchy (financial secretary)
Bottom row: Sister Rajah (Australia--AP), Sister Risenymay, President
Risenmay, Sister Torjesen (Norway--AP)

Working on the schedule. We had been in the office for several hours, so if we look a little
haggard, that's why. 😬 We don't have an office by the way, we
borrowed President Mulford's.

Sister Tekurio pondering 

Hi!

Today is the most beautiful day we've had so far this year. We have all been anxious for Spring to come and it's finally here (At least for now. Knowing Utah, it could snow next week).

My week has mostly been spent in the mission office. We started working on new schedules for all of the sisters since the next transfer is coming up (this Wed.). We find out several days before the other sisters about who will be companions and what their assignment will be. This is a big load to carry around because everyone is dying to know who their companion will be. We've had a lot of sisters trying to pull out that information from us all week. Finally, today everyone found out, so I don't have to hold in all of these secrets anymore. Phew!

I've been thinking about how I can explain to you what goes into making the schedules. It includes a lot of little details so it's hard to explain. It's a job where you need to juggle a thousand different things in your mind. For example, we have 5 desk assignments that need to be assigned to a companionship every hour from 8am-8pm from Mon-Sun. Then we have the Beehive house that needs to have 3 sets of companionships every 3 hours 8am-8pm Mon-Sun. Then there is the Humanitarian Center and Welfare Square.Then of course there is making sure each sister has meal time, studies, and teaching center hours everyday--but that's the easy part. I think the hardest part is making sure there is a balanced number of sisters always on the square ready to take tours. We also need to make sure there is a balanced amount of sisters available that speak one of the four most needed languages. I hope this gave you a little glimpse into what my role is. I've been thinking that even though this seems like such a temporal thing, it really helps move the work of the Lord forward.

I've been studying more into the life of Joseph Smith and the more I learn about him, the more my testimony increases that he was a prophet called by God to restore the gospel. We had a zone meeting yesterday and each sister had the opportunity to share her testimony about the restoration. A general theme was that because of the gospel we know our Heavenly Father loves us and he gave us a way to be happy in this life and return to him someday. When you come to know this for yourself it changes you. You realize you have a purpose and that you can have hope when you face hard times, knowing that it will all work out in the end. I love this quote by President Hinckley: 

“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.”

So do your best, live the gospel, and have faith in God--it will all work out. I've been thinking about how every single good thing I have in my life, everything, is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not just my family, but the strong relationship I have with them because of the gospel. The joy and peace I feel serving full-time for the Lord. Confidence that no matter what challenges and trials we face, it will all work out. Knowledge that God speaks to us today and we are not lost in the wickedness of the world because we have prophets. The list goes on and on. Everything good in my life is because of the gospel and I'm so thankful for it, words aren't sufficient to express my gratitude.

I miss all of you. I hope everyone is recovered from being sick--I heard something has been going around for a few weeks. Feel better! I love you!

xoxoxo,

Sister Butler

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