SO MUCH LOVE

Another week down! This week was so fun. SO MUCH FUN.

It's crazy how much love you feel as a missionary. Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode. I love the people we teach. I love my investigators. I love the ward members. I love my district. I love President and Sister Cutler. SO MUCH LOVE.

P-day was on Tuesday last week since Labor Day is a "Prime Proselyting Day". I had so much fun! The Elders had been telling me about secret tunnels that they had found under the church. I was SO all over that. So first thing they did when we got to the church to play sports was show me how to get it. Sister Proffit wouldn't go with me cause it was dark and full of spiderwebs and dirt and rusty things, but I wanted to go explore so badly. Thankfully, the wonderful Sister Pearson saved the day! The tunnels were small enough to crawl in, but that's about it. I carried a stick to tear down cobwebs and a flashlight in my mouth. haha. It was so fun. There is one part that you can stand up in and its by the podium in the chapel. If the bishop was sitting on the stand during church, you could see his feet. It was so legitly fun. I don't know what was so intriguing about
                                                                                   tunnels under the church, but it was like the greatest P-                                                                                    day activity ever.

We also played soccer with the Elders. So fun. I am sooooo outta shape and they are all legit pro athletes (okay, I exaggerate..but still). BUT. I made a goal! (: Sports is part of my favorite part of P-day. Being a missionary is great and I absolutely love it, but sometimes its so great to just wear real clothes and play games with other people.

Elder Kimzey took us to a natural oils store to look at essential oils. Oh my goodness, hilarious-town. Elder Kimzey LOVES essential oils. He convinced me to by some peppermint oil since I've been having some pretty bad headaches. And I got wintergreen too. haha There were like 6 of us in that store freaking out over different oils. SO funny. Those poor employees.

We also had dinner with a family in the ward that I ADORE. I love having dinners with families because it's as close as it gets to my own family. So its kinda bittersweet, but it's also awesome sauce. I can't wait to come back and visit these people that I love.

Wednesday we had Zone Training in Oshkosh. Yes. Oshkosh. Like the overalls. I loved it. The zone leaders are Elder Kemper and Elder Beech, who I serve with in the Appleton 2 ward. They trained us on faith and my mind was blown. Somehow I keep learning things right when I think I understand. We talked about two types of faith: Faith 1 - willingness to do what God requires no matter what, and Faith 2 -the power God gives to those who do His will. With Faith 1 comes Faith 2. It was super awesome. Changes the way I think about faith and how I read the scriptures.

We also had District Lunch after at Culvers. So fun. I love our district. We have so much fun.

Thursday was the greatest day. We had to go to Oshkosh again all day for new missionary training meeting. There we talked a lot about the doctrine of Christ and how to work with members. It was super awesome and spiritual and fun. President and Sister Cutler are the greatest. They lead us with such love and understanding. They work alongside us. I just adore them.

Also. Sister Proffit and I are opening the Appleton 2 area for sisters, so we got a new apartment with all new stuff. Well, we've been here a month and stuff was still unassembled and in boxes. We just haven't got the time to put nightstands, dressers, and bed frames up. Usually the Elders aren't allowed in our apartment, but when they heard that we still we sleeping on mattresses on the floor, they offered to put our stuff together. Since we would be hours away in Oshkosh with President all day, the Zone Leaders okay'd them and Elder Croft and Kimzey to go over and put our stuff together. So we cleaned our house real nice and left them lunch and treats to eat while they were there.  OH MY CUTENESS. We came home to the cutest apartment ever. They left sticky notes with scriptures and quotes and pictures all over our apartment.

They put Halloween cobwebs all around my bed (we have a "pet" spider named Aragog. We let him live in our house because he eats the flies that somehow are always around. Anyways. I like him,. I had a dream that he build his web around my bed and it was cute? haha idk But I guess I had told they elders and they thought it would be funny to recreate). So cute.

They also left a crown on my pillow that said "Royalty" since I'm related to King Henry and make them call me Sister Princess sometimes. hahahha. They even FILLED our shower with balloon. SO MANY BALLOONS. It was the greatest thing ever.They totally exceeded all expectations. Not only did they put our stuff together beautifully, but they were nice and thoughtful. So precious.

Thursday was also awesome because we had a super great lesson with a new investigator! She has SO much faith in Christ. She is searching for truth and has tons of good questions. I invited her to be baptized and she said yes! My first baptismal invitation! YAYYYYY. We have been asked to commit everyone to read the Book of Mormon for 10 minutes every day, and she said she'd read even more than that! Yay! I'm excited to work with her.

Kira's husband got baptized on Friday! SO HAPPY! His baptism was so special. It was the first time in a really long time that I thought of my baptism and how I felt. I felt so jealous of that warm clean feeling. But then the Spirit reminded me that that is how I should feel every Sunday I take the Sacrament. So, that's what I am studying and working on. You should do it to!

I am so happy or Kira! I just love her. I know the gospel blesses families. Elder(s) Kimzey, Crot, Thompson, and Larsen sang a musical number at the baptism and it was so tender. SO tender. I've been able to watch them practice all week since Sister Proffit accompanied them, and it's been so great. I sat there beaming! So proud.

We also taught a cuuuuute lady named Katie. I just love teaching! I love the Spirit! I love getting to know people and being able to give them tools that will help them.

Saturday we volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Restore, So fun. I was in charge of cleaning light fixtures. I got to clean this super awesome antique chandelier. It was SO PRETTY. It sold right afer I put it on the floor. I also got to work out in the rain that morning and it was way fun. I ran around and did jumping jacks and lunges and it was so fun. So sore. The Hmong elders have been teaching me Hmong! Nyob zoo. Kuv lub npe hu au tsai tses pab.!{Hello, my name is Sister Butler. Well. I don' t have a Hmong name, but they call me Tsai Tse Pab because it means daughter sister helper. So yay! I am daughter sister helper!} I love learning Hmong. Hmong people are so cute and their food smells really good. haha. We have a Hmong neighbor who is SO CUTE. She speaks absolutely no English, but sometimes Hmong elders come and translate. Its fun.

Yesterday at church was wonderful. Sacrament was so good. Stephanie came to church with us! Relief Society was AWESOME. Elder Kemper signs so he and Elder Beech come to interpret for a deaf sister. Elder Beech sat next to me and was like, "Is Relief Society always like this? This is awesome!" It truly was so inspired and what everyone needed to hear. I just love everyone!

That's what has stood out this week. SO MUCH LOVE. I love it.