Letter from Daniel, September 20, 2013

September 20, 2013

Mom,

How are you?  Sorry for this letter not getting to you, been running around working since we got here.  I hope you liked your e-mail!  :)

This area is going to be difficult, but I keep my Patriarchal Blessing close and that gives me hope.  Your probably wondering how I am writing if I am busy?  I'm sitting in the zone van heading back to Patchouli from a regular one hour drive one way, without traffic.... yeah.... been driving for about two hours and only half way there...   :(

My new companion and my father (aka trainer), is Elder Jolley.  He has an awesome story.

When he was 12 he became less active.  At 18 he left home, drank, did drugs then one day he decided to go back to church.  He heard a testimony about baptism.  From that day, he cleaned up, didn't touch any of it ever again.  Cleaned up for the next 6 months then came out on a mission.

He is super cool and a good friend...  You don;t realize what friends you have until they aren't around.  My old district was so cool!!

Recent happenings,

I seen my old companion today!

        He is serving in city, he loves it and is working hard...

We gave the Sister missionaries home a dedication and blessing.

I have my first PI appointment Tuesday!!!  :)

I found out I will be getting an I-Pad, so I get to skype at Christmas!  So inform everyone!  I hope to see everyone!!

I will try to take pictures for ya'll   :)

They have guitars here  ^_^  It made my day.

It gets chilly, but I have a medium fleece coat and an overcoat for Sundays.

I had a slice of New York pizza, pretty good!

Been feeling home sick these past few days....

And so has Elder Jolley, he got back from surgery on his knee the same time as me, so we talk a lot about it.  I hear it is normal for the first six weeks... 

I miss familiarity,  haha I sound stupid, but I do....

But as I close this letter, I hope and pray for your well-being as well as all the family. (Yeah mom, this does include Allie, I hope you don't mind.)

I hope to hear from ya'll sooner than later.  I can ALWAYS use a letter and a prayer.

Tell Spencer I love him and that I hope he took my challenge, there is a huge reward for him.  Tell Jaz that I miss her and to always work hard and to the both of them to always work towards their ambitions and to ALWAYS remember who all gifts, blessings and life comes from and that Heavenly Father loves them.

I love you mom, thanks for everything and for believing in me.

Your son and favorite Elder,

Elder Buffington

P.S.  Sorry for the sloppy writing.  :-)

Letter from President Calderwood, September 16, 2013

Letter from Daniel, September 16, 2013

Dated 9/16/13

Dear Mom, Dad and family,

I have safely made it to New York!

We can write you all from the mission home.

There are lots of Spanish speaking Elders and Sisters and two Elders and Sister that speak Portuguese besides Elder Thorley and I.

It has been a super long day and now I am currently waiting and seeing if I am getting my interview tonight.  And Mom I hope this counts as a letter to you. Haha

I'm writing you a good letter, soon it shall be sent.

Monday is P-Day so then there will be an e-mail sent...

Such a long day!

I will write more soon!

Thank you all for all the support!

Your Elder in the field,

Elder Buffington

Email, September 23, 2013

how is everyone?!
 
its p day and all is well
 
so there is a sister that has been in the mission for about 9 weeks, in fact she is training a missionary, that companionship is both visa waiters, im in a pad with another visa waiter.... so in our area, there are 4 Brazil missionaries! woot! represent!
i heard of a missionary somewhere else in the mission that was perminantly placed here
 
im keeping the language up, and it is way fun! im in 2 Nephi and am reading a chapter a day, in english and portuguese :)
funnnnnnn 
 
 
home sickness is at a minimal but would love mail :)
it takes a while for mail to be recieved here so if u have sent letters i will not get it for a while :)
alot of work needs to be done, the lord needs me here in new york...
 
i know i dont have my camra here but i dont really have pictures to send, so when i get pictures today i will send them next monday :)
 
my companion is Elder Jolley, he is way cool... from a small town near ceader city Utah, so he has a twaing... goodbye brazil accent hello twaing :P
he is a awersome missionary, and fearless when it comes to talking to people, he just got back from returning home due to a knee surgery... so that hurts him a little and has a bit of homesickness like me, i should settle in here soon, my area is Patchouge and we live about 10 to 15 minuets outside of our area, well that is where the pad is...
 
im working hard as possible so wish me luck!
- Elder Buffingon
 
 
new mailing adress
Elder Daniel Buffington
85-69 60th Drive
Elmhurst, NY 11373
United States

Email, Wednesday, September 18, 2013

hi all yall!
its me daniel and i have been given permission to email you all and let you know i have arived here safely! the work here will be super tough... i am in the south shore area.... this is the mailing adress....
85-69 60th Drive
Elmhurst, NY 11373
United States
 
i wish i could stay on and wait for a reply but i have alot to try to do here.... thanks for everything that you all do... i feel your prayers and know that if it wasnt for yall i wouldnt be able to last :)
 
stay strong... remember who you are....
i love you all so verry much
i am keeping my hopes high...
i will prob still need all the prayers i can get,
more info will be sent out on my p day monday
 
with much love,
Elder Buffington

Email, September 12, 2013

ATTENTION!
DEAR ELDER BUFFINGTON 
 YOU WILL BE SERVING A TEMP ASSIGNMENT IN THE NEW YORK NEW YORK SOUTH MISSION!!!!!!!!!!

monday september 16th, flight departure 825a arive in phillidelphia airport at 236p
i depart from philldelphia 400p arive 513p

Email, Tuesday, September 9, 2013

hello there outside world!!!!!!

its lil ol me again! went and did some awesome temple work..... we got
there super early to do some extra stuff :D i needed the extra
blessing from it cause i might not be in a temple for the rest of my
mission!

  Obedience is the Price
          Faith is the Power
    the Spirit is the Key
         Christ is the Reason
           Love is the Motive
             Joy is the Reward

i love everyone and hope im making you all proud! im working as hard
as possible! im getting used to the "fire hydrant" of information...
and now i want more!

hang in there and keep strong everyone!

yall are my life line :D

with total love,
Elder Daniel Buffington

ps i will be speaking only Portuguese from now till i leave the MTC...
wish me luck (nervousness)

quick story:
this is Irmão Belchior! he helped me out so much! he has a testimunho
GRANDE (GREAT testimony) he liked that particular tie so i marked it,
in return he gave me this tie... he wore it to every exchange and
transfer... it is well worn and the legacy of that tie will
continue... one of many storys he has with this particular tie is that
he was hit while he was on a bike, and his companion didn't see that
him and his bike was perfectly fine... so when Belchior reached his
companion and places his hand on his shoulder his companion started
crying thinking he was a spirit xD lets hope it will provide me with
the same protection!!!!

also as a update.... i LOVE being Zone Leader....

and also.... for jonathan... i live in the celestial kingdom if i have
not told you yet....
the vending machines have 50 50 bars for 50 cents so i do love them