Week Nine! - Swollen Ankles

In 3 Nephi 18:31 and John 10:14 it talks about how Jesus Christ knows and has numbered his sheep. This is a very important line: He has and never will forget you. You are never and have never been alone. At times we may feel forgotten. In the Garden of Gethsemane (don't know how to spell it.) The Savior himself asked why God had left him, he had to go through what he did alone, that was the trial he had to pass. As long as we strive to be by Him He can have a place with us.

When we stray too far from the path it may seem impossible to get back. But we have been told that the Shepherd would leave his nighty nine other sheep to ensure the safety of the one. We can know that we can return.

This has been something that has been very hard for me to accept, it is so easy to say that we are not important enough for a miracle, that we can be passed over. These are lies, don't listen. You matter. In the sight of the Lord why wouldn't He try to save you. You are worth more to Him then anything else.  I have struggled to come to terms with this myself. I can't always see why I would matter, there is no way that i hold an important part in his plan. This kind of thinking leads to many unwanted and scary situations. Don't let them stop you. You are important, you are a child of God. You are not and never will be someone that gets passed by the Lord. You are the one that he would leave the others to go and find. You are the one that will not be forgotten. I wish I was there to tell this to each one of you. I wish i could show you the love God and Jesus Christ hold for you. I know without a shadow of a doubt that they do and it will never change.

Remember if I can see your importance from Ghana and without being able to see you as God sees you imagine what they can see. Imagine the power they see you hold. You are the person they need you to be. So remember that you are not forgotten. If you ever feel like you have been, pray and see what the feeling is like. Ask for comfort and pray to feel his love. And listen.

This week has been crazy with lots of new people wanting to talk and many people willing to listen. I cannot wait to see How this area really grows in my time here. It is incredible to see what has already happened.

This Tuesday i noticed that my ankles were incredibly swollen (like four times the size they should be) I finally called it in to the mission home nurse and they said it happens when you walk as much as I have been. I now have to sleep each night with my feet elevated to get the swelling down. It is not fun at all. I hope you are all doing well. I miss you and Love each and everyone of you. Keep working hard

Love, Elder Butters