Baptism Week

Dear Family,

I am doing well. We are still really excited to see Eddie baptized on Tuesday night. It should be really good and I am so excited to see this son of God become a Son of Christ. At church yesterday he seemed so comfortable. Enough so that we left him alone and he was fine having some "yarn" with the other members. He is so excited to be baptized and has really shown immense effort as he has quit smoking and stayed off as well. Many times he has been tempted, but overcomes it. He is such an example to me in how the gospel can changed people's lives when they feel the Spirit, and have baptism and the celestial kingdom as their goals. On Thursday, he passed his interview. We were really worried when we came in because we could see smoke and noticed a couple of mugs of coffee, but it turned out that those came from some friends that saw him earlier. The zone leader, Elder Thomas, who interviewed him even smelt his breath, and he was clean. It was a great relief and I am glad that this his finally his time. Sid also came to church amazingly. It was a great feat for him to go. On Saturday we were teaching him about the importance of church attendance from Moroni 6:4-6, 9. At first he was reluctant to go, but after reading these scriptures, he was determined that he needed to go. He even pulled out his "glad rags," his suit as he called them, to wear to church. Then that night he was feeling very ill and had a legitimate excuse not to go, but he said to himself that he needed to go. So he did and he enjoyed himself and was quite fellowshipped by the ward, especially those from his neighborhood who knew him as he was growing up. This week were also able to teach a lady named Carmina. He is Cuban/Irish, and her husband is from Fiji (he is in the military and away in the middle east right now). She is really good and already lives many gospel principles. She is planning on coming to the baptism as well. On Friday we went to do some service again at Tools for Soliditary. This time we were taught how to make the wood boxes that they pack the tools in the ship to the places they want. It was quite easy especially since we used a nail gun. I liked doing it and it was relieving and soothing at the same time. On Tuesday we had a zone conference in Dublin. It was really good as they spoke about family history and how we need to teach our recent converts and less actives about it because it can really solidify them in the gospel after their baptism. It gives them another goal to work towards-the temple-and if they take their own names, it becomes more personal. They also spoke about improving our teaching skills so that we can teach by the Spirit more powerfully. President Griffiths echoed over and over again how we need to simplify, clarify, testify, and verify.

I would be more than happy to be Matt Doxey's roommate next year. I also help him in his class selections as well. For my birthday I would like some more butterfingers as well as a few homemade or costco rolls.

My companion is doing very well. He knows the area quite well now. I am really starting to let him take more control in planning and teaching-especially in starting out in every lesson. I have gotten on with all of my companions. Never have I lost my temper and I can say that I am friends with most of them. I love you all and hope that I have great news to to tell you next week.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton

Happy Anniversary!!

Dear Family,

I am doing very well. You had some questions regarding the pictures that I sent last week. Most were taken in an area called New Lodge, a Catholic area. Many of the murals depict cultural and political circumstances of Ireland during the last century. If you read up on the history of Northern Ireland and the troubles than you'll learn more. We hope to do another area of town called the Shankill today. Another day we plan on going to a place called the Falls with Brother Valliday since he grew up there. I did get my debit card. Is it activated? I also finally got a package from Sarah Combs which was filled with stuff like butterfingers and stickers and church pictures and what not. I really hope that you enjoyed your anniversary.

Eddie is doing extremely well and hasn't smoked in 11 days now. He is really determined to be baptized next Tuesday and he has asked that I baptized him. We have a nice serviced in the planning stages and we hope that many members will be there as well as his family and friends. He also just got a dog to help him keep busy. It's a boxer. We were there with him the first day that he had it and it was very calm and I even stroked it to sleep, but the next day it was off the walls. It must have felt a lot more comfortable. It is a really friendly dog and should keep him occupied. He is the only one that has shone any real progress at the moment. We met with Sid a couple of times, but he seems quite reluctant to come to church let alone be baptized. Maybe it's just not his time right now. However, we are finally meeting this lady this week named Carmina who the other elders found. She seems quite promising. We also started teaching this lady named Precious who is a former investigator. She is from Nigeria. She's really quiet and a bit hard to know what her desire is, but we hope to see her more and hopefully prepare her to be baptized.

So now funny story time. On Friday night we were tracting and as we were walking to our next appointment, we had noticed that there was a large group of teenagers gathering at the bottom of the street. We walked past them as we were getting to this appointment we had when these 3 girls walked up to us wanting a Bible. We gave 2 of them copies of the Book of Mormon because that's all that we had and then some pamphlets as well. They all said thank you and then Elder James got a hug from one of them and exclaimed, "I don't know what to do." It turned out fine. He was a bit shocked, but we went on our way.

This week we also have started meeting with all of the members and making a list with each one of the people in their lives that they could share the gospel with. We got this idea from a suggestion in Preach My Gospel, but also we heard from a member at church who quoted from Elder Clayton of the Seventy that "The Holy Ghost likes lists." So we committed each to pray over the list and pick someone that we could pray for as well. The power of pray is so amazing. I really know that as I have prayed with faith for Eddie, he has really come through and has changed dramatically.

 

I love you all.

 

Elder Buxton

The New Year

Dear Family,

How are you doing? I am doing very well. The work has really picked up and we see ourselves getting busier. This week we have a lot planned so we look forward to seeing to all of our appointments. Eddie is still doing very well. He was struggling in the beginning of the week, but he has come around and his spirit are quite high. He experienced a miracle and also a humbling experience. We were over at his home on Wednesday and Sister Templeton eventually convinced him to give her all of his tobacco. A couple of days later he smelled gas in his flat and called someone to fix it. They did and he realized that if he had lit a cigarette that he may not have been here anymore. The Lord does work in mysterious ways and I am sure that this strengthened his and our faith that He lives and is providing for His children. He is now off the smokes for about 4 days and is doing very well. We hope that he can be baptized next week as we continue to meet with him and get him off the nicotine patches. He came to church and really enjoyed himself and is being fellowshipped quite well into the ward. We were also blessed that another man that we have been working with, Thomas, came to church as well. He was back from Tyrone and came to church. He said that he really enjoyed Priesthood when they spoke about the life of President Smith. They shared about his experience on his mission when a mob came to his cabin and began shouting into it, but he knew that he was on the Lord's errand and would be protected. In what should have been the scariest moment of his life, he had no fear, but was full of faith.

Last week I mentioned about a man named Sid. Well we met with him a couple of times and it turns out that he knows a member, Brother Hull, and some members we spoke to at church knew him as well. He really wants to turn his life around. We met with him yesterday and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon with him and it finally clicked why the Book of Mormon was so important and necessary that he should read it. We hope that as he reads the Book of Mormon and live the commandments that we will teach him, that he will receive power to quit his addictions. We also started teaching another man named Gareth who is interested in hearing our message and is really curious to find out how we know that these things are true. He says that he will be at church next week as well.

On Friday, Elder James and I went to Edinburgh for a new missionary meeting. We discussed many principles about missionary work that not only apply to new missionaries, but all. We spoke about how to begin teaching, revelation through church attendance, revelation through the book of mormon, and teaching commandments (like the law of chastity). It was really good and I loved being there and learning from the assistants and President Griffiths. Also while we were in the airport, I bought some nice ties for a good price (70% off) in a shop there.

This winter has been really mild as well. Christmas was 13 degrees Celsius. It is interesting that it was similar in America. I am glad though that is was so mild because snow and missionary work are no fun.

I'll email President today about the endorsement and I think we are having interviews next month so that I can speak to him about that as well as getting my temple recommend renewed. Thank you for all that you do for me.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton

 

 

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

 

 

Christmas Week

Dear family,

How are you doing? I am doing fine. I have a slight cold right now and I really hope that it will go away quickly. As far as Christmas goes. I know that I have a package in Lisburn and that I will get it tomorrow. For skyping, I know Michelle might now like this, but I will call at 10:30 am your time. I hope that I will also remember my account. I should be good though and everything will be fine. It is getting really excited now as it is less than a week to Christmas. I am really excited for zone conference tomorrow and the opportunity to go to the Dublin again. This past week we have been blessed weather wise as it hasn't snowed and stuck really (knock on wood). I am very glad of that. It is funny that Drew's voice just stayed the same because that is the opposite of how people speak here. Many go up and down and many people's statements end with their voice going up which can be confusing, but I am used to it now and just last week a missionary from London said that I sound a bit English.

As far as missionary work goes, Eddie is doing well. He came to church and is really enjoying himself and preparing himself for baptism next week so long as he can quit smoking. We did a fast with him and he is so close to quitting. He came to the ward's Christmas dinner on Friday with two of his children and they enjoyed themselves. His children say that he is so much happier now than before. Rakesh came to church as well for the first time in a long time. He is going to cook us Chinese on Friday for Christmas celebration that we are going to have with him. Also at the Christmas dinner was a man named Richard that we have been teaching. We set it up so that he would sit with some people his age (between 20 and 30), and he enjoyed himself and was able to discuss with them about the Book of Mormon. It really goes to show that we things are carefully planned that great things happen. This week we also started teaching this man named Paul. He wonders if God is there or not and why those that do wickedly sometimes appear to be better off than those that do good. We were able to explain a bit about that and we will see him again this week and hope that we can get his whole family involved. Another great miracle happened this week. We received a referral from a member. He was over at his grandson's mother's home and her friend started asking him some questions. So he got some pamphlets from us and brought her to the Christmas dinner as well. Then on Sunday we were over at this member's home for dinner and they came by to get their grandson and take him home. While there we were able to answer some of her questions and she is quite interested to learn more. So we will see her this week with the member. Her name is Madi. On Friday we went and did some service for this place called Tools for Solidarity. They refurbish old tools and sewing machines and send them to 3rd world countries. I just cut up some wood for them so they can build some boxes to send the stuff. It was fun and we enjoyed ourselves. On Sunday evening we were able to go to the stake carol service. It was kinda like a concert and many wards had choirs that sang. There was some narration in between from the stake presidency and others. It was really good. We will be doing more singing later this week as we are going carolling with the ward at an elderly care home and Christmas eve we have a fireside that we are singing at as well.

I love you all and look forward to speaking with you on Christmas at 10:30 am.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton

 

P.S. the photo is of Elder James and I with the man that trained my trainer. His name is Patrick Brophy.

 

 

December 12th

Dear Family,

How are you all? I am doing well. There hasn't been much snow since last Sunday. If it does snow, it snows in the hills surrounding Belfast. I really don't know what the forecast will be this week, but the funny thing is that how much people complain of the cold. It might be that we are in most of the day so we get used to it, but as far as I know, it hasn't really been much below freezing. I really glad though that the bad weather hasn't hit yet and I really hope it never does. Trudging through the snow isn't that fun.

As far as Christmas goes, this is what were are doing. We have Sacrament Meeting in the morning at 10 and then afterwards we are doing service until 4pm. Then we go to a member's homes for dinner and phoning home. We are going to the Templetons and Brother Templeton is the ward mission leader. So I think you should probably work this out for me, but after 4, what would be the best time to skype? (I think they can anyways, but I'll let you know more next week) Your package hasn't arrived in Lisburn yet, but not worry because there are still 13 days to Christmas and if mine got home so quickly, yours should be here soon and I'll probably get it in our Christmas Zone Conference on December 20. I sent my package early just to be positive that it would get there before Christmas and I hope that you enjoy what I sent. Yesterday we were allowed to watch the Christmas devotional and I really liked it especially the new videos that they have made. They are really well done. I liked what President Monson said about how the spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ. I can really feel it coming along. Our ward is doing quite a bit. This Friday is our Ward Christmas dinner. A week from Wednesday we are going carolling at a care home where a member stays. Next Sunday is a stake carol service which I think is just a concert where the wards come and sing at. Then on Christmas Eve, there is a fireside. I am really excited to be doing these things.

As far as missionary work goes. Things were kinda slow, but Eddie is doing really well. I believe I told you last week that we walked with him to church. This week he walked himself to church. He really enjoyed it and is fitting in nicely with the members. He loves to listen to the Book of Mormon and is understanding the story line for the most part. He is also making great progress keeping the word of wisdom and has nearly quit smoking. The funny thing is that a couple of months ago, he told his son that he was going to quit drinking and his son doubted greatly, but Eddie did. Then a couple of weeks ago after we taught him the word of wisdom, he told his son that he was going to quit smoking and his son doubted, but his girlfriend reminded him of how he quit drinking and his son said "oh," and felt embarrassed. He came to the Christmas devotional as well and loved hearing from the prophet. We are hoping that he will be baptized shortly after Christmas.

We also began teaching again a man named Thomas. I have mentioned him before. He goes back and forth between Belfast and county Tyrone and he was finally back again and staying for the weekend. He came to church on Sunday as well and really enjoyed himself. He felt the spirit strongly during Sacrament Meeting and participated well during Sunday School and Priesthood. We also ran into some good people and hope that their appointments hold. One man named Kevin nearly died some time ago and believes that God is letting him live for a special reason that he hasn't found out yet. We testified that this is what he has been looking for. We set up an appointment and he seems quite keen. The funny thing is that he lives on the street that Elder Graves and I were looking for when we found Eddie. It really does exist.

As far as the places I would like to visit when you come, I think that it might be better to discuss that on Christmas. Truthfully i would like to visit all my areas because there are nice things to see in each (Loch Ness, Cliffs of Moher, Culzean Castle to name a few).

I love you all and thank you for emailing me and keeping me posted on many things.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton

Winter Wonderland

Dear Family,

 

It has finally come. Last night at about 6 pm, the first snow of the year fell to the Irish ground. It didn't really stay, but then it snowed some more this morning and the roofs are topped with white. It didn't really stick to the ground except for in the hills really, but this only means that more will come soon. It was really unexpected, but last year it had already snowed by this time. Is there snow in Utah yet? Are week has been a bit tough, but we will continue to be resilient as this will be a tough time during the year. Thankfully the ward is providing some things for us to do like carolling and singing in choirs. We are also having a Ward Christmas dinner on the 16th which will be really good. We are hoping that the day afterwards that Eddie will be baptized.

Eddie is doing great and has really shown great effort in living the word of wisdom. He has no other concerns at the moment. He unfortunately couldn't come to church because a couple of months ago he promised to go to a christening. He was really bummed that he couldn't come as church has now turned into the highlight of his week. He really loves meeting with us and learning about the gospel. It has really changed his life and his family has said that he is so much more calm, patient, and especially happier. Other than him, we have really struggled to meet with anyone else. We were able to meet with this man named Sean and speak with him, but he wasn't there for his return appointment. We met with Rakesh on Sunday night and that was good and he gave us some Indian food to take home with us. Yesterday we also met with a man named Niel, but he seems to be quite content the way that he is. I just hope that the next time that we see him that we can help him feel the Spirit and that He will touch his heart in such a way that he will yearn for more. One great miracle was that on Wednesday we spoke to these two ladies that were baptized about 40 years ago when they were children. They were very nice to us and let us come to their home the next day. Then one who owned the home, Kathy, was really open to having us around more and I feel that she really needs the healing power of the atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ. We hope that as we continue to meet with them that they will come back to church.

I am really glad that the Durango Ward is finally getting a convert baptism. I think that the last time was when the missionaries found a less-active a baptized her kids. I went with the missionaries one of the days just before their baptism. Are they still coming to church or did they move or what?

I mailed your package last Monday and I know that it will arrive in time because there wasn't any snow then.

Just to clarify a statement sent to me by my sister, as of tomorrow, I will have 6 months left in my mission.

I will you all a Merry Christmas and hope that you will be able to share the Love of God during this Christmas season.

 

Love,

Elder Buxton