New Year's

Dear Family,

I am doing well. I am really glad that the holidays are now over and that things will return to normal. I am really glad for the opportunity of a new year and I think many others are as well. Many people will be thinking of new year's resolutions and hopefully they have some spiritual nature. I hope that I can be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring added, fulfilling light into people's lives. Hopefully now there will be a void in people's lives left after the many activities of the holidays and that they will be led to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We had the privilege this week to teach a man named Martin who was really looking, well, actually he was hungering and thirsting for faith in God. He also wanted to quit some addictions that he has. We were very glad to meet him and teach him. Unfortunately his family is currently not allowing him to meet with us. We will continue to pray for him and call him next week. Eddie had a rough week with quite a bit of temptation that he unfortunately fell into. He is doing well though. He started smoking again, but after meeting with him yesterday night we developed a plan to get him back on track so that he can be baptized this month. He came to church on Sunday and that really cheered his spirits a lot. he wanted to leaved after sacrament meeting, but we persuaded him to stay and I think that has really blessed him and lifted his spirits. He is in a humble state right now and says, "God is leaving me with no choice but to quit smoking."

So our New Year's Eve consisted of normal missionary work until 6 when we had to be home. We then ordered pizza from domino's-that was really the extent of our partying. We did though have candy (see picture). New Year's day we went to church-it was a bit bare as well. The funny thing was that I think it took people awhile to realize that we were the only missionaries there. Some didn't notice until priesthood. Then we had to do some service. We decided to pay a visit and give some company to this member who doesn't receive many visitors and we watch An Ensign to the Nations with him. Oh, but before that we were walking there when this man across the street called us over. He said, "Could you help me with his guy." We walked up a few steps to see this man sitting in his garden (yard). He was drunk as a skunk and could barely balance himself, let alone walk. So we helped into his home and spoke to him for a bit. Not much was accomplished trying to speak to him, but we left him with a pamphlet. We went by yesterday and got into his home and spoke to him. He really poured out his heart to us of the pain he has felt throughout his life. We will see him again tonight and hope that as we discuss the plan of happiness with him that he can find healing in his heart. Just like Jesus prophesied, "The ^aSpirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath ^banointed me to ^cpreach the ^dgospel to the ^epoor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to ^fpreach ^gdeliverance to the ^hcaptives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at ⁱliberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18), I know that the atonement can healed the wounded soul. Yesterday he asked me why some of these things have happened to him and one reason that I gave was to prepare you receive the truth. I know that the Lord is preparing those to receive us and they are all around us. Later on New Year's we went to the Vallidays and they fed us so much that my stomach was hurting.

This week we were also blessed to teach a young man named Kevin and his friend Jared Doyle. They are really inquisitive about God and our church. They live in Holywood's area though and we turned them over to them. They are quite interested in attending YSA activites and Jared said that he wanted to serve a mission and even be baptized right then. I really hope that they can follow through with lessons and be baptized.

I hope that you all have a good new year.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton