I guess a cold snowy day is a great time to post and share Elder Buhler's mission with you.
November 19th, 2012
Dear Family,
So this last week was a pretty good week. The weather is starting to get colder so hardly anyone is outside. We can only knock on doors to find new investigators. This makes it harder because people don't usually like it when people knock on their doors. Its hard to explain but they are just less receptive.
Patricia Sweney was baptized last Saturday by Elder Loader and I confirmed her a member of the Church the next day during Sacrament Meeting. It gets me more excited to do the work when you can actually see that your work pays off. The Fredrick family is progressing good as well. I think that I told you about them last week. Oh and we received a really good referral from a member. Her name is Talisha. She is twenty years old. She is very interested in our message. She told us that she loved reading from the Book of Mormon, and studying it.
It was transfer week this week and I'm staying here in Covington for at least 6 more weeks. Elder Loader will still be my companion. Elder Macdonald, the red head, will be going to Shallowford to be a District Leader for the first time. I know you don't really care but I thought that I would let you know anyway.
Well, I have nothing left to say except that the Baptism went great and the work is still progressing.
I just finished my 12 week training as well, which I'm pretty excited about.
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| Elder MacDonald, I think. |
Love you all, and miss you.
Elder Kyle Buhler
November 26, 2012
Dear Mom,
I got your Thanksgiving package. Thank you for the goodies and for the gloves and hat as well. They all fit, and you sent them just in time, too. I was planing on buying some gloves today because its been getting pretty cold. So you saved me. Ha-ha. It was about 70 degrees during the day until the day after Thanksgiving and now its around 50 during the day. I'm very grateful that you sent me gloves because my hands would have froze. Ha-ha. Oh and I wrote Grandma a letter so I hope she gets it soon.
For Thanksgiving we drove to Conyers to play in the Turkey bowl. The game started at 10 am and we played till about 1 pm, it was a lot of fun. I had 7 touch downs myself, the ball was passed to me for only one of them. Three of the touchdowns were interceptions that a ran in for a touchdown. The other three were me catching the ball at the kick off and running it back. I was so sore after the game I could hardly walk the next day. Ha-ha. I guess that's what happens when you play football once a year.
After that we tried to contact some people but no one was in the mood to talk to us. No one has been really in the mood to talk to us this past week. The other Elders tell me that that is what happens during the holiday season. It gets harder to find investigators. We'll find something to do though. I can imagine that we will be doing a lot more less active work.
Anyway back to Thanksgiving, we ate at the Payne's house for dinner. They had lots of family over about 17. It was a lot of fun but I missed being back at home. I know that Christmas is going to be pretty depressing not being at home. For dinner we had turkey, dressing, corn, rolls, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie for dessert. I really missed having strawberry pie and the cranberry pie. It felt like there was a hole in my chest when I realized I wouldn't be eating my favorite pies for dessert. Ha-ha. We were at the Payne's for 5 hours, telling stories and jokes. It was a lot of fun.
This last Sunday there was hardly anyone at Church. I guess they were all on vacation. My guess is that were about 100 people there. This ward seems kind of small when you come from a ward that is huge like ours. I guess that is why I'm out here, to help the ward grow.
As for missionary work, this past week it has been pretty hard for Elder Loader and me to find some new investigators, especially around the Holiday, but we keep on pressing forward. We have a few promising investigators. We'll see how they progress. I have a companion exchange with the Zone leaders right after our interviews with the president. So wish em luck.
Well that's all that I have this week. I hope that your Thanksgiving was as good as mine, and that you are saying warm.
Miss you and Thanks for all that you do.
Elder Kyle Buhler
December 3, 2012
Dear Family,
This week was pretty good for me. We had our interviews by the President last Tuesday. President Wolfert talked about kneeling down in prayer three times a day with our companions and asking for referrals from everyone that we come in contact with. We have always asked our dinner appointments if they had referrals and they usually say no. He told us that if they do that, we are to kneel with them and ask Heavenly Father to have names come to them. Which is pretty intense, but it works. Our ward members just need to exercise their faith a little bit. Sister Wolfert interviews you individually first. Then you get your interview by President Wolfert. While I was in my interview with Sister Wolfert, I told her that I had a soar throat. She put myrrh oil in my hand and had me lick it off. Its made by Do Terra one of Pres.Wolfert's businesses. Anyway, it tasted nasty and it didn't help at all. Ha ha. My throat is still soar but it is getting better. This past week has been hard for me health wise, because of my soar throat. It was very hard for me to talk. And then, I somehow got an ear infection in my left ear. I hadn't felt it or noticed it until early Sunday morning. About 12:30 am I had very excruciating pain in my ear. Then about 3:00 AM, I heard crackling noises in my ear, then my ear drum finally popped. It is currently leaking constantly. I called the mission Doctor and he put me on some antibiotics. I'm fine though, I'm feeling pretty good today. Other than that I have been doing pretty good as a missionary.
We have been finding a lot of people to teach and share the gospel with. We have a few baptismal dates for this next upcoming month. I hope they all hold strong. We met with Sister Sweney this week and taught her about eternal marriage, temples and service. She told us ever since she received the Holy Ghost, she has had a strong desire to share the Gospel. That's the funny thing about this Church. Once you gain the testimony that you know without a doubt that this church is true and you are truly converted, you want to share it with others. You want everyone to know it as well. It's great. Ha ha.
It is a lot of fun being able to spread the truth to everyone and watch their faith grow. With every person that slams the door in my face, or disagrees with what I say, my testimony grows in knowing that this is the only true church. It might not make sense, but it confirms that the second coming is just a little bit closer. It also confirms the reason why I'm away from my family. Its hard being away from home. Its even harder knowing that people are searching for the truth but they don't know how or where to find it. Heavenly Father sent us here to gain a body and learn to become more like him. Sometimes its hard living Christ teachings but in the end it will be worth it. No one said it would be easy. They said it would be worth it. There are somethings in life that will bring us short term happiness, but happiness usually doesn't last long with things of this world. The things come from Heavenly Father, through his son Jesus Christ, they are the things that bring us lasting Joy. The knowledge that you have that families can be together for ever.
I find joy in that Heavenly Father knows that I will make mistakes in this life, but he sent his Son to suffer for our sins. That is why Christmas is such a joyful time. I know that I wont be with you this Christmas and I'm saddened by this. But, I know that during this time our family can and will grow closer together, this is because of Jesus Christ. So, I hope that you all remember what Christmas is all about. I love you all and talk to you next week.
Love, Elder Kyle Buhler
December 10, 2012
Dear Family,
We had a lot of progress with some of our investigators this week. The Frederick family is progressing very well. They love the Book of Mormon and they love that they are able to do genealogy work. They are both in their late fifty's and they have a son that is 23ish. He is very smart and does his research about the Book of Mormon. Good thing we can answer all of his questions or else we would be in trouble. We also met this guy named Bobby. He was getting out of his car when we first contacted him. We ended up sharing the message of the restoration right there on the spot. He then accepted a copy of The Book of Mormon. He didn't want to set up a return appointment yet. We got his number and left. About a week later we were walking down the street when Bobby yelled out to us. He told us that he had been reading the Book of Mormon and that he had been blessed for doing so. He told us that ever since he started reading the Book of Mormon that he has been able to find work to do and that most of the people that paid him to work for them and paid him more than they originality agreed on. We then set up a return appointment and we are going to see him this week.
Other than that, we have been doing good finding people to share the gospel with. Seems like more people are interested in us sharing more. This past week we have been mostly focusing on less active members. Most of them seem like they were offended by someone in the ward and that they let it get to them. Its the main pattern we see. There are about 150 active members and 350 less active members. We have a lot of work to do if we run out of investigators.
My ear has been healing. I can barely hear out of it now. Health wise, I'm feeling great. I am happy to be out here sharing the gospel. This last Sunday, I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. It was about The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop called me the night before so it is short but here it is.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Heavenly Fathers plan for the happiness and salvation of his children. It is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he (Jesus Christ) is the one that is central to this plan. Heavenly Father sent his son here to show us how to live happy and meaningful lives. He also made it possible for us to experience eternal joy after this life.
The first step in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is faith. Faith in him is when we trust him, believe in him and depend on him. Faith to me is a action word. True faith will lead you to want to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ and live his teachings. We know that Christ is perfect and none of us are perfect. Our Father in Heaven knows that none of us is perfect. We also know that no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Heavenly Father sent his only begotten Son to atone for our sins. This makes the Atonement Central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith in him will lead us to repent. In Alma 34:17 it says, 17: "Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his Holy name, that he would have mercy upon you". Faith leads us to stop doing wrong and continue to do things that are right.
Once you have repented, in order to fulfill all righteousness, you must be baptized with the proper authority. When you are baptized you make a sacred covenant with God. You promise to accept Jesus Christ as you savior, to follow him, and to keep his commandments. Once you have done all you can you can be forgiven of your sins. Daily repentance is very important. In Alma 34: 31-33 it reads,
"31: Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32: For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."
The next step in the Gospel is to receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is there to help you recognize and understand truth. It provides inspiration and spiritual strength. The Holy Ghost is a literal gift form God. Your ability to enjoy this divine gift depends on your obedience to the commandments. The Holy Ghost cannot remain with those who do not live according to Christ's teachings. The Next Step is to endure to the end. After these first steps Faith, Repentance, Baptism and Confirmation, you must continue to exercise your faith, repent, and renew your baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament. Enduring to the end is the hardest part for members. In 2 Nephi 31: 20 is says,
20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: 'Ye shall have eternal life'."
I would like to leave you with my testimony that I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ will bring direction, peace and happiness to your life. You will feel the joy of trying to become more like Jesus, while you serve and help those around you. By doing those things you will better understand your relationship with our Father in Heaven and his perfect love for you. You can find hope and a sense of purpose in an often unhappy and troubled world. Never forget to show your love for your Father in Heaven. Amen.
Well talk to you next week. Thank You for all that you do for me and have done for me.
Love Always, Elder Kyle Buhler
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