Letter from 10-23-2013

10-23-2013

Hey everybody! Elder Buckley here still alive and preaching that Spanish here in Stamford, CO. It's been an interesting first cycle here in this place haha. We had a car for like a week and then we had to loan it temporarily to another companionship in Danberry because he was recovering from an injury. But, I pulled my back a bit and it makes the bike riding hard, so I asked for either our car back or another one if they have it as my back hurts, it's cold and the work is tough up here for us Spanish elders. We'll find out today if we can get one, I'm praying that we do. 

We actually had our bike tires slashed the other Sunday while we were at an appointment by some black dude, it was messed up! The members weren't too happy that we were back on bikes, they never are. It was weird though, I thought biking in Yonkers where it's way worse we would get slashed, but we never did. I guess if we have to keep the bikes, we won't park them in that area anymore haha. 

But, I'm having a great time here. I love the members and the area, it's all so great, and it's the hard that makes it great. You really see the progression in yourself as you are put through hard situations. But, the gospel is a great comfort, so it balances itself all out and works out in the end. 

Well, as far as current investigators.... we have 3. One is Cecilia and she's cool. She's older and lives in a pretty nice place with her son. She wants to be baptized but past doubts with her husband and the church are holding her back. Her ex-husband was taking the missionary lessons and reading the Book of Mormon but stopped suddenly and kind of went off the deep end. We'll help her out though she's too nice for us not too. 

We also have Ulysses and he's the one we need help with!!! PLEASE REPLY WITH OPINIONS/RESPONSES: He loves all the things we teach him. He thinks we're nice guys. But, he doesn't believe that he has to choose a denomination or a specific religion to be saved. I see where he's at, but I can't figure out how to go about explaining the differences in our church and beliefs without offending him and... it's just tricky haha. So, if anyone could offer suggestions that'd be great. 

Well, I love all you guys. I miss home and everyone, but the mission is a cool place, one that is necessary for young men to go on to develop the characteristics and other attributes they need to be successful and good people. Please know I love you all, you're in my prayers, and thanks for all the support you've given me! 

Love,
Elder Buckley

Pictures of Funny Sign & Night View of Stamford Park

Letter from 10-16-2013

10-16-2013

Hey there everybody, I'm in Stamford, Connecticut! This is one of the best Spanish areas as well, I will have had two out of the three best Spanish areas for my first 2 areas in my mission, I feel great about that. 

So, what is up with me and my current situation as a missionary right now is that we are on bikes here, Elder Diaz from Cali and I, and the weather is nice now, a little bit cold some days haha but still nicer than biking in the heat. My first week here we had 5 lessons for the entire week. That. IS. NOTHING. We were getting between 15 and 20 a week in Yonkers, so that first week in Stamford was my lowest so far, and I don't ever want to get under that. It was hard. And the bikes are still bad cause other elders messed them up, but we are getting the good bikes that were never used from Yonkers. Good thing I served there so I knew where to get them from haha. (They had to give up the car for a while because an Elder on a bike route broke his leg)

We had an amazing week serving here its really a lot better being out of the car that way its easier to contact people and everyone can see you. We got a lot of referrals, helped out the English elders who are struggling as well, and yeah! It was cool as well the mission president called us in for interviews and he made some personalized comments to me that i thought were cool. He could tell that I did really well in Yonkers. When I first arrived in Yonkers, numbers were bad and nothing too great was happening. I tried everything, map work, calling the whole ward directory, updating the area book, tracting, street contacting, putting together organized binders and anything else I could think of because I just saw the massive potential that area had, and I wanted to leave it better than I found it.

For those of you who know Brother Wagner and scouting, I thought of the Wagner walk haha, to leave the campsite better looking than we found it. 

And so he complemented and thanked me for the service that I had done there, and he said he felt impressed to put me here, because if I could do that in Yonkers, I could work it here. And he liked my idea I came up with, going "mobbing". Sounds hood I know, But it's the membership. organizational. binder. is what it stands for and its just a binder style compilation of the area so when you are in a certain area and something falls through you have a ton of places to go try after to keep busy. 

So, it's been harder, but the projection this week is to have 10+ lessons and work as hard as we can to spread the gospel. I love you all so much, please know that I think of you all often, and that prayers are said for you. Thanks to everyone as well who have either sent me things or sent me letters and emails it means so much to me. 

Love, Elder Buckley

Pictures of New Companion & of Stamford Apartment

Letter from 10-2-2013

10-2-2013

Hey everybody, I'm finally out of Yonkers! In fact, I'm out of the state! My new area is Stamford, Connecticut and man is it gorgeous! We have a beautiful church building, we live in an amazing townhouse, and I'm still the designated driver of a Toyota haha. My new companion is Elder Diaz, and  he's native but he grew up in Cali so he's better with English than with Spanish. 

-Elder Buckley

Pictures from Yonkers 9-11-2013

Letter from 9-11-2013

9-11-2013

So, the mission has been going awesomely! I've seen so many miracles, had so many interesting experiences, and completely lost track of time! Everything goes so fast here, it's crazy! We have, wait for it.... 3 baptismal dates for this month of September!! One is Edwin, a white Ecuadorian man who is about 35 for the 22nd of September, and then Mileyka who is 16, from the Dominican Republic, for the 29th of September, and then one we just acquired, Gary for the 29th of September. We have the baptisms after the meetings for like a 4th hour and its a big celebration with lots of food. Hey, can't complain! Unless it's "cui" which is guinea pig. Then, some complaining might be in order.

Other than that, still training Elder H here in Yonkers. He's from a town as big as my high school, some place called Blanding in Utah. With a name like that, it's gotta be good. (;  And things have been going well, nothing but improvements from the current elders living here in Yonkers. Our apt is much cleaner, our cars as well, and we have been more obedient. Obedience leads to blessings, no doubt, but there comes a point to where its almost annoying. Something I've been trying to figure out as I study and commit myself to obeying more and more. (He gets that attitude from his Mother - Sorry)

So, the biggest announcement: The NYNYN mission will be receiving the ability to proselyte online and every missionary will be receiving his or her own iPad mini, this October! It's a really exciting advancement in missionary work, and I'm SUPER interested in finding out how it will all be carried out.

Things are going well! If you wanna write me and you're expecting an answer, probably through email, but I'm getting better with letters!

Love you all!

-Elder Buckley