Hey all,
I know that I have been terrible at emailing over the past month or so, but I have either had technical difficulties, I have forgotten to email, or I had several hours of pickleball that distracted me from emailing. Anyways, I am now in beautiful Washington. The Seattle mission is amazing, even if the area is currently dealing with "Seattle Freeze" where no one wants to talk to missionaries. I've seen people cross the street to avoid us when we are walking towards them.
If I am completely honest, the past month here in Seattle while I wait for further news about Angola has been such a short time. Most days blend together, then when you remember something from the day before it seems like it's been weeks.
Alright, I know many of you want some updates on the mission, so I will give an overview.
My companion and trainer (he is suppose to teach me all of the in-field basics) is Elder Andersen. He claims Rexburg, Idaho as home, but he has lived across the world because of his fathers job. He is amazing at connecting to diverse people because he has snippets of Tanzanian, Arabian, and Turkish culture thrown in his collection of memories. He is a very Christ-like person. He is also astounding at impersonating a person's mannerisms. He can take a character from a TV-show, a speaker from General Conference, or someone that we've spoken to, and just speak like them. He sometimes introduced two of those people together and has them have a conversation. He has made me laugh innumerable times.
We have had difficulty finding people to teach in the area. There are a few that we are working with, and many of those are just sitting at only a first lesson/meeting. I will discuss two people in particular. One us Cheyenne. She grew up a member of the Church, but she had her records removed when she was about 20. She has spent the last decade discovering her own desire to have the Gospel in her life, and subsequently, this past month she requested to receive the missionary lessons again. We have met with her once (waiting for an extended family reunion to be over) and taught the most amazing lesson. We probed with questions throughout the lesson (that's for you, Irmão Stephens) but she kept insisting we continue with the lesson. Our final question for her was "is there anything else you want to know or have questions about?" To which she requested a set if scriptures (that's a jaw-dropper around here). I had decided awhile back to always have a Book of Mormon and a Bible on me to hand out. I was able to give her both and suggest some readings. She cradled them with such care it amazed me. I was told by some seasoned missionaries that they have never tried carrying around a Bible to hand out; in the two weeks since I started, I have handed out 3 Bibles and need more when we get supplies.
While I return home almost every day and can think "today was a great day," it isn't always highs. In the month I've been here I've been cussed at for several minutes, had doors slammed--or worse--opened and closed with the only exchange of words is a "not interested", spat at, had people tell me I'm deluded, and had some use up an hour of my time to try and show me I don't know the Bible as well as they do (I'd like to say they were disappointed). However many times that happens I'm always astounded when I only feel love for the people here. It's the strangest thing. The missionary calling has the power to change people. I only desire that they will have a softened heart and perhaps treat the next missionaries with more kindness. Their efforts invigorate me. Their hate is not returned.
I want to share a highlight that will be a highlight for my entire mission. This past Saturday my mission was visited by Dallin H. Oaks of the first presidency. He spoke solely to the missionaries in the Seattle Washington mission. He shared many powerful teachings, but the most powerful teachings came from the revelation that we received through the promptings of the Spirit. I will say that he is much funnier in-person than when he is giving his regular technical discourses in General Conference. He didn't have a script--and the funniest parts could not have been scripted--but he still shared his humor with us. My top 3 favorite teachings:
1) This Church is not here to make better people. It is not here to keep people from hellfire. It is here to get people the blessings of the Celestial kingdom and Exaltation.
2) If you are struggling with something, act on it (that advice may have been given after a mid-speech bathroom break).
3) Missionaries need to learn to repent. Too often they are unable to teach others how to repent because they themselves do not fully know how to.
Bonus: people who do not pay tithing often have the most creative ways on how to spend it.
Already my mission has been a spiritual highlight in my life. I know that we are each rewarded for the sacrifices and trials in our lives, and those experiences can help mold us into the person we want to be if we apply the all-encompassing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Com amor,
Elder Jonas Butikofer
