week 3

It is still amazing to me how much life can change in one week when you don't actually go anywhere for weeks on end. Much happened this week.

The biggest event is that we lost one of the Elders from our District. He had to take his leave early because of some panic attacks and we miss him and pray for him. This means that E. Nauman and I have a new companion. E. Rutt. Both of my companions are from Washington State and keep finding people they both know. They even attended the same funeral once, although didn't notice each other. It's also funny that my first companion in Nauvoo was from Washington. 3 of 4 companions so far, Washington must be a pretty good state.

As great as the MTC is, it is also a prison. We smashed our heads against our window that doesn't open very well to watch the BYU Homecoming fireworks. It was past curfew and we couldn't be out of our building, so that was the best view we could get. It's strange to think how close BYU is. Literally a parking lot and a street and you could be on BYU Campus. We hear faint commentaries and even the marching band sometimes.

And as you could expect as a result from close confinement, the MTC is an incubator of infectious germs and viruses. I've got a cough that is persistent and really cannot be treated in any way. It's something I'm trying not to share, but already other Elders in my District are showing signs of illness.

Having a cough and therefore not wanting to run during gym time or else endure fits of hacking, I have had some extra reading time. I read through the book "Our Heritage" and was amazed at how many of the stories I already knew. In many other things I am becoming a sponge wanting to suck up as much knowledge as I can for sheer interest. This is new for me, but I really like it. I also laid out study plans and goals for the next two years, and I might end up needing new ones because they aren't accelerrated enough for my new tastes. Maybe my attitudes will change in the field, but I hope not. I also truly hope that my attitudes won't change when I come back and begin learning about math and writing essays again. Those things seem slightly less interesting, but I hope I can apply this new fire.

Spanish is going well. Not strangely or miraculously well, but well enough. We have learned most of the concepts already and the next step will be to figure out how to apply them. I wrote a letter in Spanish to Mom and Dad and I've also written a few talks in Spanish. Nothing fancy, but understandable, which is great. The Elders who have been here 2 weeks longer are also much further than us, which gives us hope. As for teaching the lessons, we still teach in English, but it is going well.

We taught the Plan of Salvation a few times yesterday and it made me think. Do we really realize what the Atonement means for us? Are we actually applying it enough? Are we expressing enough gratitude for this outrageous gift? I challenge anybody who reads this to take some serious thought and study about the Atonement. Make it personal. Make it real. Make it a constantly active part of your life and every challenge you face will become easier, I promise.

I pray for you all, and have found it in my heart to miss home. I hope to hear from you all, letters mean so much and lift me up so greatly. I love you, and I'll see you all later.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

week 2

As week two is almost over, I am astounded at how much progress has been made in just one week. This is one of those surreal times where time seems to have it's own very strange balance for running.

In this week, a new Elder was having trouble with being at the MTC. He wasn't happy and had a lot of things at home that were unresolved. Me, another Elder in my District, and one of the Zone Leaders were very encouraging for him to stay and give it a try. Elder Wise (ZL) and I stayed up with this Elder one night going over each of his concerns and working them out. We testified to him that the Lord gave him his call for a reason and that he has a purpose in being here. We also testified of the blessings of service and that Jesus is the Christ and could take away all of his depressions and discouragements. Elder Wise had been in a very similar situation and could relate in almost every way. We promised him peace and happiness if he would stay. The Elder left on Sunday night. It was heartbreaking. If losing an investigator feels anything like that, I need to prepare myself for it.

I suppose if anything, all that talking with the Elder solidified my purpose and goals in being on a mission. I know truly know the things I bore testimony of, and I know the truth of the blessings we receive. And now Elder Wise is gone, left for Argentina and I will share that memory with him forever. That's how the MTC is I suppose.

Elder Sam Bostwick

week 1

So I am near one week in the MTC. As a piece of advice to anyone going into the MTC or anybody who would just like to know a bit about it, hang in there until the first Sunday. Each District has two teachers that help them learn the Gospel lessons and their language if going to a language mission. The teachers are inspired on how to teach, but it can be frustrating to begin. They talk mostly in the mission language, which you don't know, and you just have to kind of figure out what they are saying. Sunday is the first day you don't have classes with them, so it gives you your first chance to digest what has been happening.

Also in your first few days, you sit in a lot of seminars that make you sleepy. But they are very worthwhile. These meetings are similar to what it is like when the families drop off their missionaries. You take notes and soak it all in...even though you're tired. It's hard to believe how much sitting we do. In one of these meetings, we were told to convince ourselves that our companion is perfect, and he will be. I actually don't have to pretend, he is perfect.

Elder Nauman is from Elma, Washington (on the west side of the state near Seattle) and just graduated from High School in June. He is the type of person who has been waiting his whole life for his mission. He even took Spanish his last two years of high school, so he can answer most questions we have had so far. He was captain of the football team, on the basketball team, sang in the show choir, and is spiritual and prepared for a mission. Wow, good thing we don't compare ourselves....

The food- everyone has myths about the food in the MTC. Here's the truth. There is nothing wrong with the orange juice. The food isn't as good as home cooking. It is not as bad as regular cafeteria food. If you have eaten at a BYU cafeteria, you've eaten at the MTC. The most remarkable thing about it is that there is as much as you could ever want for every meal. This is a bad thing for some Elders who can't control themselves. As for me, I have quit sugar as a personal goal and it keeps out all the desserts. I eat salads and wraps, and Mom, I eat all my vegetables. It is a bit disappointing when they bring in the BYU Creamery Ice Cream Bar. Oh well.

I also love gym time. With all the sitting we do, it's necessary to expel all the energy you can in the 50 minute gym period. I run almost the entire time. It feels good to channel stress and worries into some good old hard running. Most of the Elders and Sisters think I'm crazy, but that's alright, I sleep really well at night, which I was worried about.

I try to miss you all, but I don't really have much time to think about home. If I did, I wouldn't be concentrating on what I'm doing. I'm glad that I've had enough experience being away from home, that homesickness is not something I am dealing with. Maybe I'll feel it in a few months or a year, but by then, Grandma and Grandpa will be back in Arizona and I'll be fine. I love you and pray for you. God be with you 'til we meet again.

-Samuel the Elder

P.S. My email is swbostwick@myldsmail.net
My DearElder.com address is

Elder Sam Bostwick
Provo MTC Mission
MTC Box# 273 Departure Date: November 6th
Mission Code: Arizona Tempe
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo UT 84604-1793
(I think, I'm not really sure how it works, but that should be all the info. you need. Congratulations Jon for figuring it out already.)

mailing addresses

Elder Samuel Wayne Bostwick

Arizona Tempe Mission
1871 E. Del Rio Drive
Tempe, AZ 85282-2822

until 6 November use:
MTC Mailbox #273
AZ-TEM 1106
2005 No. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604