Email Tuesday, September 3, 2013

My Dearest Family and Friends,

    these past four weeks have humbled and inspired me to better myself, in hopes of being the best i can possibly be, having the opportunity to visit the the temple every Tuesday morning is an amazing time to pray hard, ponder a lot, and receive personal revelation as to what i should do as a missionary to better prepare myself, to my family, and my closest friends that have sent me notes and letters, thank you so very much for every note, i hear rumors that the leader of this nation we live in is considering making poor choices... revelation from ancient prophets are truly coming to past... wars will be fought... the lord has hastened His work for the hour of his coming is at hand... i know that this generation of missionaries is very important because there has been two apostles speaking to us in the past 4 weeks... this normally never happens... upon this... it has rained quite a bit here... we had to walk half an hour in it. woo! which reminds me i might need a rain coat for when i head to Brazil.. Meu não gusto being wet.. :D 

so the mail room has been closed for the last three days... so i was wayy excited to see all the letters.... aannndd  dear elder will be sent this evning after dinner.... maybe i will have more mail! woo!

just trying to think of the stuff i can type today is overwhelming thank goodness i can write letters.... wich i will be sending letters off today... i hope... 

the one cool story i shall tell in this story, second week in we got a new teacher in addition to Irmão Walker, Irmão Luis Belchior, he returned from his mission about 9 weeks ago, he was born in Mozambique, while he was young his older brother went and served a mission, while he was out his parents passed away, him and his sisters were left to live in a orphanage, long story shot due to my slow typing, he cam to america, where he did a documentary... he served a powerful mission and the tie that he wore to every exchange was given to me as i gave him a tie of my own, no tie could compair to his tie, when it comes to a meaningful tie... he has tons of sweet mission stories... i will have pictures coming soon of it.... but for now.......

Jonathan :D 

   thank you so very much for the EPIC GRAVATA! by far the best tie in the MTC! 

(He sent 5 pictures...3 didn't come through and the other 2 were in last week's email so I didn't include them here)

Pictures Daniel forwarded from another Elder that have Daniel in them:

  

Sunday, September 1, 2013-Letter from MTC Presidency

Dear Elder BUFFINGTON,

Congratulations on your new calling as a missionary leader! Please see the attached letter regarding your new call.

Sincerely,
The MTC Presidency


Dear Elder Buffington,

Congratulations on your assignment as ‘Zone Leader’. You have been assigned by inspiration and given the
responsibility to be an example to the members of your branch. As you personally maintain the high standards
of the Missionary Training Center, and keep yourself spiritually prepared to receive the promptings of the Holy
Ghost, you will be an inspiration to the missionaries in your branch.

This is a special opportunity for you to develop the Christ-like qualities of leadership that will invite others to
follow your example. This means to lead in love. Be sensitive to the needs of the missionaries in your branch.
Some may need an encouraging word to bolster their faith and confidence. Remember to follow the counsel of
your branch president. Make him aware of special needs as you see them and report anything that you may
notice as being amiss.

By your example of faith and obedience, you will encourage and strengthen others to serve with commitment. In
the Doctrine and Covenants 121:41, the Lord counsels: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained
by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love
unfeigned.”

Be clear and bold in your counsel and your leadership of other missionaries. (D&C 121:43) If you expect and
require the highest level of obedience and dedication, your missionaries will raise themselves to that level.
Please refer to your missionary leader guide book for specific responsibilities.


May our Father in heaven bless you as you serve in this important responsibility.

Sincerely,

Lon B. Nally

President

Email August 27th, 2013

 heyyyy there from the MTC! 

       how is it going on the outside world?? it is long here but flying by so quickly.... almost half way done.... everyone is being reassigned stateside and waiting for the visas.  i have the opportunity to attend the temple and i prayed fervently to know what was going to happen... the most remarkable feeling came over me, the most peace and the reassurance that i was there for a reason... and that if i am reassigned state side, there is a reason for it.  the days are full of attempts to learn Portuguese and practicing baring my testimony in the language... most of my prayers outside the temple are in the language, i see the lords hands at work with me and my district mates, so if anyone has not heard the huge news my companion and i are the new Zone Leaders for Branch 70! my patriarchal blessing said i would be given responsibility that i would assume that are impossible to accomplish, but i am faithful and prayerful, i hope i am humble... and as i am continuing in this assignment i will accomplish it with success. (i glance up to about twenty red-squiggly-lines-that-let-you-know-that-you-cannot-spell-to-save-your-life-thingys.... staring and taunting at me cause my mouse isn't working...) i realize i am learning much when i start to see words in english and i think i see the portuguese word in stead... im starting to think certain words in english... along with that my letters are effected a bit... i love the language, it is the ultimate language, portuguese is best described as a mixture of french (love language?) and spainish (epic accents?) haha alright, now for picture time!!!!

elder Charles!

 heel click for joy??

 temple walk sundays

 

sisters showing there yay hands from Irmão Belchoir 

an unfortunate person with unfortunate circumstances.... i pray he sees how much the savior loves him... 

well that will be all for this week... 

-Elder Buffington (Boo-f-ing-tone is how they pronounce it)   

ps i love and pray for you all! stay stong and keep mom from missing me too much!!!

Excerpt from email to Mom:

as i am on my complete third week, i find that i need another pair of jeans, maybe a pair of khaki (?) slacks... and a shirt or two... if you all in the real world can find the Brazil mission tee-shirt.... or if u can find a Brazil, Macéio mission tee-shirt maybe you can get one for my companion and i... if you all do, I'm a Med. and my companion is the same!

btw.. if you find a tie like this.... or maybe the background black and the stitching pink... id be grateful!  the design is called "paisley" ::)))))

so my roommates and i created a top 25 tips for missionaries

1. Socks, THAN Shoes

2. Residents vents can be doubled as fridges

3. you may be called to one of the Brazil missions, but your serving state side, you just don't know it yet.

4. official tie length is described as "to the belt buckle"

5. comparing district members to the Disney characters they resemble is a good use of language study time

6. The best way to make friends is cinnamon rolls and a ab wheel

7. A missionary will use the hand sanitizer dispensers on average of 25 times daily.

8. if you are having trouble memorizing "your purpose", turning the lines into war chants makes it a success

9. don't play with your cafeteria food, UNLESS it is JELLO

10. the most seriously observed and respected game at the MTC is 4-square.

11. if lessons with your progressive investigator isn't going well, crying hysterically is a acceptable last resort.

12. dropping your scriptures on the ground is a automatic 10 pounds on your future wife, but don't lose hope, there is a reset option, its called prayer

13. having a companion is like having peter pans shadow, but you cant get rid of him with soap, or bring him back.

14. TALL lab (interactive language learning program)= nap time

15. the Orange Juice here is rumored to be sketchy

16. tie exchanges can be fun, but people can be real "wheeler-dealers"

17. the Cafe doorman watches like a hawk... so if u don't have your card, your not eating

18. encourage friends and family to send packages and letters, especially if you have the early eating schedule

19. if you are saddened by not receiving any letters or packages blaming your district leader can be a good stress reliever

20. if a sister tells you that you have a "sweet spirit" it ISN'T a complement

21. all stories that include "long story short" ends with a long drug out ending.

22. don't photo bomb on the temple grounds, you'll feel stupid

23. if you are going to sing during a Sunday night devotional, 1. SHAVE 2. don't sing like a goat

24. singing, parkour, jump-roping, food eating competitions, riddles/jokes

      -these are examples of things you might think impress sisters, but in fact makes u a outcast

25. Make sure you know what a dear john is before PROUDLY announce it in front of the entire MTC population

i must let you know that these are not ALL done by us.... 

hahaha hope this made you smile :) we are working hard here... but my district is like a family to me! it has assisted me so much!

you can share the list with the others if u feel like it.

keep praying, keep on being faithful, and above all else, Stay Strong, and remember who you are :) 

i love ya mom and will hope to hear from you soon! 

Letter Home - Friday, August 23rdish, 2013

Friday, August 23rdish, 2013

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

hello there! well this is my weekly update to let you know the cool stuff that has happened, i might add a pic or three, gotta find a way to reduce the size of these :D

anyhow, i have been slowly but surly growing in the language, these hours are difficult but much worth it!

sobe missed me xD

Elder Thorley and I

(such a great companion)

my district in front of the provo temple

my first progressing investigator

portu-englês words (zinhos= little, so, little byes, little breaks, etc. (fox is irmão walkers little boy xD))

thats all for this week i think, for everyone following me, thank you for the support and may god be with you till we (e-mail) again!

and mom... thanks for the livingroom picture on my camra, i just found it the other day! you are the best, and a super thanks for the care package!\

tchau zinhos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Buffington

(called to the lords true mission, slightly delayed cause of meainies, but i know there is a reason for it!)

Letter to home. August 18ish? 2013

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

hey mom! it has been a crazy week! but this is my p day! i get an hour to do this! i sent a note home, a brief note but it does have my adreass on it! language is progressing more than i could ever imagine, and i have been told i have a Portuguese accent now! hope all is well with you at home, and the family of course, thats good that spence is heading there, i guess he is there by now, tell him that i love him and he has been in my prayers, i believe today has been by far the best day, i started my day at 6:15, then had a small bite to eat, than we went to the temple and went through a session, it has been too long sence i have been there and it was a much needed time to converse with the lord, i hit a point that i thought i couldnt learn anything because i can understand sooooo much and i know what to say, i just get a bit nervous when it happenes.... my companion is Elder Thorley, he is a epic person and he is awesome in the language, he assists me when i need it!!!!!    by the way... you covered o output with duck tape,

i am trying to read the book of Mormon with the Portuguese book of Mormon side by side, you all are in my prayers always, i love you all, i have about 20 min. on here so maybe there will be a reply,

i love you, stay strong and remember that you have a son that is puting all his heart might mind and faith into his preperation to serve the wondwerful people of Maceio,