A Mission for Our Church: Kevin Butler

Dear Family and Friends,

One day runs into another and at the end of each week, we look back, and can’t believe all that has happened. We thought we would be hit by the hurricane “Tomas”, but he passed right by. It was supposed to go right over Turks and Caicos, but so far all reports have been very mild impact. We have not been able to reach those we know in Haiti, so we don’t know what happened with the storm there.

We spend all the time we can in our areas finding, visiting and talking to all. We are making some friends in each area and enjoying the relationships we build.

I have to tell you about Kevin Butler. He was baptized two weeks ago along with his aunt, Joan Lynn. The day before he was baptized, his doctor told him he had to come in for a procedure on his heart. Kevin said he would not come in that day because he was going to be baptized. The doctor said he could have a heart attack anytime and he should not put it off. Well Kevin got baptized on Saturday, confirmed on Sunday, had to leave early because he was not feeling well. Went into the hospital with a mild heart attack, had the procedure and is ok. So we went to visit him and he started telling us all these wild stories. He is a pathologist...born in Jamaica (He is Jamaican)...grew up and was trained in the states....very smart. He works for the government here, and at least now, one of his jobs is to prepare bodies to go to the mortician for burial. We sat for an hour and wondered if this guy could be a stand-up comedian. I have never heard such wild stories in my life. I will only write a few stories for you, but believe me there are many more....some would scare you to death. I don’t want to frighten anyone from coming on a mission so I won’t tell them all.

When he first came to the island of Jamaica about a year ago, he met a man and told him his name. The man asked about his father and when he told him his father’s name he told him to go and talk to a woman who was standing near by. The woman pulled out a birth certificate that prooved she was his mother. Kevin quickly called back to the states and talked with the only mother he has ever known. As soon as Kevin told her the story, she said she always wanted his father to tell him the story but never had. Kevin had truly just ran into his birth mother by chance. Come to find out that soon after he was born, his father has wisked him out of Jamaica and to the states so he could have a better education and a better chance.

2. One day he went to where he had to pick up a body. He took it to the morgue, took off her clothes and washed her down and left the room to get his equipment. When he walked back in she was sitting on the slab wondering why she was there. She had been in a Coma, they had pronounced her dead, had waken up and had no idea where she was what had happened to her.

He has had many life and death situations where he has come out alive. I know these stories seem to have very little to do with spiritual experiences, but in reality I think it does. He is very strong and very converted. Priesthood strength is so desperately needed in this country and we feel that Satan has tried to destroy him several times before he could be a force for good in the church.

Today on our visits we had a grand adventure. We usually spend an hour looking for each person we find. We always have someone with us to show us the way but it does not matter, there are always mazes. To see one of the ladies we had to park and walk up a mountain. She lives there with her 3 children. We saw a place for a fire where they cook outside. Their home is just a one-room, plywood structure, up on the mountain. We had a great visit....so fun!

Five of the people we visited last week came to church on Sunday. That made us feel so good. Now, if they would keep coming, then it would truly be a miracle. We feel so blessed in so many ways.

We love you all.

Elder and Sister Herbert

Elder and Sister Flake with Joan Lynn and Kevin Butler.