March 29, 2011 - PASCO, Washington

Hey guys,

I’m doing great here. Right now I’m in Pasco. I serve in the Pasco 2nd and 4th wards in the Pasco stake. My comps name is Elder Salmon, he’s from Willard, Utah.  I have my first baptism next week. He's a tennis player named Marco, he's 18 and has a strong conviction to the gospel. He seems so willing to do what the lord wants him to do.

The 2 wards I’m serving in are great also. They just split the Stake so everyone is getting used to each other. My companion and I are the first missionaries to serve here so we are all in the same boat. My mission president has asked us to make sure we are diligent in our work. When we follow the lords will we can be blessed in ways we never would have imagined.

I love it here in Wazu. I can’t wait to hear from you guys, thanks for the emails. Please keep missionary work in your prayers. Love you

Elder Butler

President and Sister Greer

Leonard Dare Greer, 55, and Julie Neville Greer, four children, Washington Kennewick Mission, Gilbert 6th Ward, Gilbert Arizona Highland Stake. Brother Greer serves as a stake president and is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and counselor, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission. Attorney/Shareholder, Raymond, Greer & Sassaman, P.C. Born in Mesa, Ariz., to Menlo Dare and Barbara Fernanda Turley Greer.
Sister Greer serves as the stake music chairman and has formerly served as a ward Relief Society president, Young Women adviser, stake and ward Primary music leader and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Rapid City, S.D., to Robert Taylor and Maxine Burton Neville.
(From the Church News)

Combined emails and letters from: March 11- 17

Things are going great here, I've learned a lot also. My companion's name is Elder Clark. He's from Orange County. He goes to Cal State Long Beach majoring in biology. He's going to Jamaica. I have 6 elders in my district; 24 in our Zone. I am learning that "when and where will never matter, as long as why and how we do it is true, we will succeed" - Jimmy Hendrix

I have 2 teachers. their names are Bro. Murray and Gonzalez. Bro. Murray was teaching us how to teach with the spirit. He had us extend a baptism commitment and the investigator was supposed to say no. After the “investo” said no to the invite, we were supposed to just sit there and wait for the spirit to tell us what to say. I honestly waited for 5 minutes, staring into his eyes waiting for something to come to me. It felt so awkward sitting there but after I stopped thinking about it the answer came to me. After I just sat, mouth hanging open, I was so surprise. I didn’t think that the spirit would come to me like that. I'm just so grateful that God has blessed me with the intuition and ability to understand the spirit as well as I can.

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks already.  Elder Clark and I got to welcome the new Elders in our Zone last Wednesday. And this Wednesday we will welcome 7 new this week. I love being able to serve my zone this way. The pictures are from when we went on a walk around the Provo temple grounds.

{Taft will leave the MTC on Tuesday March 22 and will fly in to Kennewick, Washington.  All mail after March 22 should be send to the mission office.}

First Letter From the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT

Dear Family and Friends:
All is well in the MTC.  I'm having loads of fun and learning loads of stuff. I hope California is going well for you.  My companion's name is Elder Clark.  He is from Orange County and is currently going to Cal State Long Beach. I met my branch president tonight as well.  His name is President Newsome and he is really easy to understand and get along with.  Please continue the prayers for u.  We feel the blessings from them every day. Thank you for your continued love and support.
Love Elder Butler