Dear all,
Wow, it sure has been awhile since I last wrote! So much has been happening I almost don’t know where to begin. I’m sure most of you are aware that I spent a majority of this past summer in PNG with Benji Campbell. I had a total blast. It was definitely something I needed to do. This seemed to be the year to return, as well, since the total number of alumni present almost amounted to a class itself. I don’t really want to go into a lot of detail, because I could go on for days and days, but I really had one of the best times in my life.
My return to the US went well. I was unable to find a steady job for the remaining month of summer, which was a pain, but such is life. I did manage to make a trip to Waxhaw, NC, to reunite with some close friends from Middle School. We’ve had a small reunion almost every year since ’97, and it’s always a good time.
I am about midway through my first sophomore semester here at IIT, and things are going fairly well. Classes are much more difficult this semester, but I do have more time than in the past, so it all seems to even out. I was elected Vice-Chair Internal of the Student Leadership Committee last night, which is mildly exciting, so we’ll see how that goes. It’s not really that big a deal, but it does open the door to other student leadership opportunities, and it will look good on my Leadership Academy Scholarship application next year. :-)
Life here in the house is also going well. Now that I’m on SLC, the house controls 3/5 of SLC executive committee, and 5/9 of Finance Board, SLC’s sister governmental branch that handles finances for the student body. It seems that there’s quite a lot of resentment towards our house because we’re so involved. Needless to say, that is troubling to me and to the house.
Well, that looks like everything I wanted to say. Hmmm, much shorter than I thought it would be, so you should have no trouble getting through it in one sitting… :-)
Tyler Butler
PS. Some of you will remember my mentioning Aaron Whiting, the guy who I write my music with. He came to Christ at the beginning of the summer, and he has undergone some major attitude changes. He amazes me with his thirst for the Bible, but also with his lack of knowledge. Despite growing up in a Catholic home, he has very little knowledge of Christ and the Bible. It has been truly amazing to watch him as he goes through the Bible book by book and discovers how many things are covered. He is going through the Old Testament and New Testament concurrently, which I feel is a wise choice. I think he prefers the New, but finds that sometimes the theology is tough for him to understand. He does not dislike the Old, but finds the culture very different and strange. He doesn’t let it bog him down though, and he remains excited as ever about his life change.
There are also quite a few other guys in the house who have expressed a desire to become more involved in religion. Several have asked about going to church with Aaron and me, and others have asked specific questions about God and what makes Him so great. There definitely seems to be a sense of longing here, and we Christians have noticed and are doing our best to witness, both in what we do and in what we say. It all confirms for me that this is indeed where God wants me to be. We could all use your prayers, both for the Christians, that we would remain strong and faithful, and for those who continue to live in darkness, that God would help us show them the light.
I’m going to try to include a little profile on someone in the house that I’d like some prayer for in future emails, much like I did with Aaron tonight. Please pray for all of us.