I have missed you all so much. I cannot believe all the growth I have seen all of us go through in our emails to and from each other. I love that! I look forward to Mondays when I learn so much from the letters you send to me. Thank you for taking the time to do that and for boosting me up. I will make sure you are all in my prayers. I am thinking of you (someone on the other side of the world is thinking of you, isn't that weird).
Today's topic of conversation has been one that I have had plenty of time to practice lately. I want to talk about disappointment and failure. This is a weird topic, I know, but it is something that has been going on with me and my companions and our whole mission really. So, I want to talk about it.
Many times on my mission, lessons fall through, things don't work out, and people don't always do what is needed to feel the spirit or really understand a gospel principle (this includes the missionaries, not just the investigators). But there is an Elder in my district that talked to me about it on an exchange we had last week. His name is Elder Abel and he is a super nice guy and just a transfer ahead of me on our missions. He mentioned that if we are trying our best to do what the Lord needs us to do then all the failures and all the disappointments and difficulties and planned by him or used by him to make us stretch.
Do your best and anything that happens is His plan. Sometimes it is to test you, make sure you really will work your best no matter what happens. Sometimes it will be to lead you to what is really necessary. Life is hard - it has ups and downs (especially on a mission, I think) but if we are doing our best to follow our Savior, we can know that He is always in control. No matter how dark the shadows seem to get. No matter the climb we have to take He will always be there if we are trying to get to Him.
Miracles can happen even when we seem to be in a gutter, they don't happen when we are above it all. We get lifted up because we fall, so reach out and start climbing again. Sometimes those gutters are the only things that move us forward, so don't be afraid. If you ever need a little help I am always here to talk. You are all people I care about and that will never change. I am developing a great love for the people of Cape Coast and especially of Dunkwa. I would do anything to help them be happy.
I love you all. Keep moving and don't ever stop. If we stop that's when we fail. I have learned that any movement in my mission, is better than no movement. So every morning we keep getting up and walking and walking and walking. I didn't get to farm this week so that made me sad but maybe next week.
Merry Christmas!
Elder Edison Butters
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