Thanksgiving was pleasant. We ate dinner with a large group of 4 or 5 families from our ward, including the Bishop, and then ate dessert with a few different families from the ward. Almost all the food was completely American, with the exception of a Peruvian dish of raw tilapia marinated in lime juice. It would not have been bad, except they dowsed it with cilantro, my least favorite. An American Thanksgiving gave me mixed feelings, and being on exchanges with English missionaries (my companion has been training other Elders in our District), it's hit me really hard that I am only in Arizona.
As if to contradict the feelings that I am so close to home, Christmas has swept our area in a comical way. Christmas has always been equated with cold and snow and such. The contrast of the Arizona Christmas flavor is large. The Christmas palm trees are lit up and the winter grass is getting greener every day. Many families have the over-sized inflatable Snow Globes in their yards to bring a bit of winter to the desert. I don't think I'll get used to this.
Exciting news is that the second and third Baptisms of my mission are scheduled for this Sunday directly after the Christmas Broadcast. The Yeomans are getting married on Saturday and baptized on Sunday to end their five-year investigation of the Church. This is another situation where I didn't have much involvement, but am just lucky.
On the other side, a family we started teaching last week seemed to be at conflict about how they feel about the Church. I got so distressed during our last lesson wishing I knew how to say what I felt. That not all churches are created equal. This is the only true church, with all the same truths as the church that existed in the Bible and during the time of Christ. That everybody has the flat-out right to know for themselves if it is true and they will know for sure, if they only ask. My testimony got stuck inside me because my mouth didn't know how to work and it was the most painfully frustrating feeling ever.
So to all the friends and family that read this, know that this church is undeniably the only church on the earth that has the power of God through a prophet who receives revelation. There is no doubt that Joseph Smith restored the exact same church that Christ himself established during His time on earth. As nice as other churches are, they are not true, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and there is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. I can't say the smallest part of what I feel, like Ammon, but I know this to be true.
Thanks for the letters, it's always nice to hear from you all. I try to write back as fast as I can, but handwriting letters is time consuming for me. I'm hoping to get hold of a type-writer to make responses faster. I think about you all as often as appropriate, and love you and miss you. Don't party too much this Holiday Season, and if you do, at least think about me once while you do it.
Love,
-Elder Sam Bostwick
P.S. As far as Christmas music is concerned, it is all approved, as long as the lyrics are not romantic. And of course, what good is Christmas music after Christmas....
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
adjusting
We had my first baptism this week. My heavens it was amazing. Alicia Hernandez was already taught when I arrived and had a baptismal date, but missed it suddenly to visit family in Mexico. When she got back, Elder Bull especially was relieved to see she was enthusiastic as ever about joining the church. She was so kind to me and was honored that her's was the first baptism of my mission. While I did not perform the baptism or the confirmation, I feel like it was very much part of me. Other missionaries might strive to be very much a part of the baptisms, but I was elated to have it the other way around. Even later when I do get the opportunity to participate more, I hope each baptism takes an active participation in my life. In any case, it was a marker and an exciting one.
And now, days later, we have a family who is starting from the beginning and I'm praying for them. It's fun to get a chance to work on my Spanish to teach the Gospel, especially with this family. They are so eager to learn. And I'm glad to have Elder Bull there when they ask about the existence of other worlds and other such extreme questions. They really want to know!
Today we had the chance to attend the Mesa Temple, an occasion we get to enjoy every 6 weeks. A well respected Temple Scholar was in the session with us and so we grabbed the opportunity to ask "deep" questions before we left. I was excited to hear my curiosities become dispelled as the answers were delivered with a ring of truth that couldn't be denied. That must be what it is like to hear about the Gospel for the first time for the firm seeker of Truth. Things just make so much sense in the Gospel. For the amount that people believe our beliefs to be mysterious and confusing, we really have such a clear understanding of much of the purposes of God. True, we don't know everything, but many people just discount their lack of any knowledge to the fact that we aren't able to comprehend God.
I am still meeting more wonderful members every day. They still help me with my Spanish as though it were a fun game. You can be sure to hold up a solid dinner conversation about why a particular country is better than all others at every single home. For example, one sister was telling us we were eating Celestial food because it was Peruvian. That is just one case. Everybody speaks better Spanish than everybody else for different reasons and you'll hear about it from each of them. I love it. And no, I have not yet met any Chileans, although, I would worry about keeping up with them. It is funny to hear different accents and try and decipher them. One family is completely incomprehensible to me. I can't even understand 3 words. And for some reason, Elder Bull speaks like the Argentines, which everybody comments on. I just keep laughing. Jackie, you'll have to let me know how I can keep my Spanish honorable amidst such a sea of confusion.
I'm not sure how it happened, but I think I am the new pianist for our Ward. I played in Sacrament meeting, in Primary and at the Baptism for Alicia. I fear I am rusty without practice and it is just a sign of how desperate they are to have me play. Others might not enjoy it, but I very much enjoy any opportunity to be at a piano. I miss music so much.
So everybody, I hope the Spirit of Gratitude has become aroused from within you as we take the opportunity to reflect at the Thanksgiving Season. It is in itself a blessing to think about how we have been blessed. I hope that you are finding more to be thankful for, as you contemplate, for truly, we can never say, "thank you" enough.
I love you, take care until next week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
And now, days later, we have a family who is starting from the beginning and I'm praying for them. It's fun to get a chance to work on my Spanish to teach the Gospel, especially with this family. They are so eager to learn. And I'm glad to have Elder Bull there when they ask about the existence of other worlds and other such extreme questions. They really want to know!
Today we had the chance to attend the Mesa Temple, an occasion we get to enjoy every 6 weeks. A well respected Temple Scholar was in the session with us and so we grabbed the opportunity to ask "deep" questions before we left. I was excited to hear my curiosities become dispelled as the answers were delivered with a ring of truth that couldn't be denied. That must be what it is like to hear about the Gospel for the first time for the firm seeker of Truth. Things just make so much sense in the Gospel. For the amount that people believe our beliefs to be mysterious and confusing, we really have such a clear understanding of much of the purposes of God. True, we don't know everything, but many people just discount their lack of any knowledge to the fact that we aren't able to comprehend God.
I am still meeting more wonderful members every day. They still help me with my Spanish as though it were a fun game. You can be sure to hold up a solid dinner conversation about why a particular country is better than all others at every single home. For example, one sister was telling us we were eating Celestial food because it was Peruvian. That is just one case. Everybody speaks better Spanish than everybody else for different reasons and you'll hear about it from each of them. I love it. And no, I have not yet met any Chileans, although, I would worry about keeping up with them. It is funny to hear different accents and try and decipher them. One family is completely incomprehensible to me. I can't even understand 3 words. And for some reason, Elder Bull speaks like the Argentines, which everybody comments on. I just keep laughing. Jackie, you'll have to let me know how I can keep my Spanish honorable amidst such a sea of confusion.
I'm not sure how it happened, but I think I am the new pianist for our Ward. I played in Sacrament meeting, in Primary and at the Baptism for Alicia. I fear I am rusty without practice and it is just a sign of how desperate they are to have me play. Others might not enjoy it, but I very much enjoy any opportunity to be at a piano. I miss music so much.
So everybody, I hope the Spirit of Gratitude has become aroused from within you as we take the opportunity to reflect at the Thanksgiving Season. It is in itself a blessing to think about how we have been blessed. I hope that you are finding more to be thankful for, as you contemplate, for truly, we can never say, "thank you" enough.
I love you, take care until next week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Thursday, November 15, 2007
queen creek
The Spanish Ward for the Queen Creek East Stake is wonderful. The members here are missionaries. They are hardworking and goodnatured. They are good to help others. And Dad, you are right, they are humble, humble people. I have never felt so comfortable with my weaknesses as with these people. We all have things to improve, and we work at them.
This knowledge has been important for me. It seems as though I hadn't learned anything in life before my mission. Why did I not seek out the answers to doctrinal questions? Did I even care enough to have questions? I take comfort in the powerful influence of the Atonement. Beyond repentance for sin, we, especially I, have the ability to repent for my apathy. I have met people who don't accept missionaries into their homes, although they accept that what we say might be true, simply because they don't care enough. I wish I could persuade them to care.
As I become adjusted, I am getting more bearings and more of an awareness of the kind of missionary I want to be. It is exciting to me that there are thousands of missionaries in the world, and their differences are what makes them powerful. I hope to find my differences in this work and strengthen them.
The members are kind to be patient with my Spanish. The trick is that many of them, even most of them, speak English at least as well as I speak Spanish. They are kind to play games with their children to not speak English at all for the new Elder. Their help is helping and I have already seen an improvement in my ability to communicate. But even still, there are interesting things to being a Spanish missionary in the states, at least where I am. Chances are good that I will not be speaking Spanish regularly in at least 1 area where I serve. If I ever serve as a Zone Leader, my Spanish status is dismissed. We'll see how things actually turn out.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
This knowledge has been important for me. It seems as though I hadn't learned anything in life before my mission. Why did I not seek out the answers to doctrinal questions? Did I even care enough to have questions? I take comfort in the powerful influence of the Atonement. Beyond repentance for sin, we, especially I, have the ability to repent for my apathy. I have met people who don't accept missionaries into their homes, although they accept that what we say might be true, simply because they don't care enough. I wish I could persuade them to care.
As I become adjusted, I am getting more bearings and more of an awareness of the kind of missionary I want to be. It is exciting to me that there are thousands of missionaries in the world, and their differences are what makes them powerful. I hope to find my differences in this work and strengthen them.
The members are kind to be patient with my Spanish. The trick is that many of them, even most of them, speak English at least as well as I speak Spanish. They are kind to play games with their children to not speak English at all for the new Elder. Their help is helping and I have already seen an improvement in my ability to communicate. But even still, there are interesting things to being a Spanish missionary in the states, at least where I am. Chances are good that I will not be speaking Spanish regularly in at least 1 area where I serve. If I ever serve as a Zone Leader, my Spanish status is dismissed. We'll see how things actually turn out.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Thursday, November 8, 2007
arizona: the beginning
I don't think there is any way to adequately prepare or get an idea of what the first few days of your mission will be like. It is an unknown in the extreme and no amount of thinking about it will brace you for what is coming. But in Arizona, they seemed to be aware of this and they did everything to soften the blow.
I expected to arrive in Arizona, be taken to the Mission Home for a quick interview, be assigned my companion immediately and get to work. This is not what happened.
14 missionaries traveled to Arizona together on Tuesday, 4 Spanish Speaking. We were welcomed by the President's Assistants and the entire Mission Presidency at the airport and they took us to a chapel next to the Mission Home where some ladies had prepared a brunch for us. We took time for introductions and then went to the Mission Home and spent some time for interviews with the President. There were many people to get through, so our interviews were short, but not bad. I am excited to keep my President for my whole mission. President Craig clearly loves us and gives lots of hugs.
After our interviews, there was a down hour where 13 Elders waited at the Mission Home by ourselves. They took Hermana Murray somewhere else to be away from all of us "boys" unaccompanied. I spent the hour taking advantage of the piano, but I'm afraid I was a bother to some without realizing it until after. Oh well, there's nothing wrong with hymns.
Then we went to the Mesa Visitor's Center and learned how we can use that as a resource for our proselyting. And we went to dinner at a member's beautiful house. It was a nice event for us newbies and I sat next to one of the Counselors in the Mission Presidency and his wife. We then went back to the Mission Home where more members met with us to take us to their homes for the night. We were split up in two's, and I was finally apart from my MTC Companions, although not technically with a new companion yet. I and the other Elder with me talked with Brother Lee for about an hour before we retired to our bedrooms (each of us had our own room...) and we called it an early night. It was a long day.
Then next morning we were back in the Mission Home at 7:30 for some orientation. When was I going to get my companion? Most of the morning passed with orientation with the office staff. Then we finally went back over to the Chapel where there had gathered well over a hundred missionaries. I had no idea each mission had so many missionaries. We at last received our companions and heard about everybody else's companion and area transfers. Most of the Mission moved around, which I understand was pretty significant.
My trainer is Elder Bull. He has been out 18 months and is also our District Leader. And he speaks good Spanish. I'm excited to be working with him and hope I learn tons. He tells me that my Spanish is better than his was when we first arrived in the field. I hope I learn fast. Elder Bull's old area was split into 2, and he is now responsible for opening one of the new halves. This means a lot of organization and paperwork. We spent some time getting all we needed from the Mission Home and then swapped around luggage from his old apartment to his new one and then much of the day was over. We went to Walmart for some grocery shopping and then went to a dinner appointment.
Dinner was good with the members we were with. They spoke some English, and I spoke some Spanish. Even Elder Bull spoke mostly English during regular conversation. Their kids were great and the whole family was excited for my first day in the Mission and to help me with my Spanish. The evening did turn out to be a bit of a downer because the investigator who was supposed to have dinner with us and take a lesson didn't show and we don't know why. But the members, the Chy Family, did give us another referral closeby and we visited and made an appointment to come back.
I can do this. The most frustrating feeling is not knowing what is going on. But the thing about a missionaries schedule is that it is full, but not stressful. Things are busy, but not hectic. You never plan more than you can do, and there are many good and worthwhile activities to spend your time on. I hope I adjust fast and learn everything soon. Although I have not had any spiritual manifestations that this is where I am supposed to be, I know I am in the right place. I feel peace of mind being a missionary and am confident that I can quickly understand what I am to do and how I can be successful.
I love you all. I will write again next Wednesday. Take care and write, please.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
I expected to arrive in Arizona, be taken to the Mission Home for a quick interview, be assigned my companion immediately and get to work. This is not what happened.
14 missionaries traveled to Arizona together on Tuesday, 4 Spanish Speaking. We were welcomed by the President's Assistants and the entire Mission Presidency at the airport and they took us to a chapel next to the Mission Home where some ladies had prepared a brunch for us. We took time for introductions and then went to the Mission Home and spent some time for interviews with the President. There were many people to get through, so our interviews were short, but not bad. I am excited to keep my President for my whole mission. President Craig clearly loves us and gives lots of hugs.
After our interviews, there was a down hour where 13 Elders waited at the Mission Home by ourselves. They took Hermana Murray somewhere else to be away from all of us "boys" unaccompanied. I spent the hour taking advantage of the piano, but I'm afraid I was a bother to some without realizing it until after. Oh well, there's nothing wrong with hymns.
Then we went to the Mesa Visitor's Center and learned how we can use that as a resource for our proselyting. And we went to dinner at a member's beautiful house. It was a nice event for us newbies and I sat next to one of the Counselors in the Mission Presidency and his wife. We then went back to the Mission Home where more members met with us to take us to their homes for the night. We were split up in two's, and I was finally apart from my MTC Companions, although not technically with a new companion yet. I and the other Elder with me talked with Brother Lee for about an hour before we retired to our bedrooms (each of us had our own room...) and we called it an early night. It was a long day.
Then next morning we were back in the Mission Home at 7:30 for some orientation. When was I going to get my companion? Most of the morning passed with orientation with the office staff. Then we finally went back over to the Chapel where there had gathered well over a hundred missionaries. I had no idea each mission had so many missionaries. We at last received our companions and heard about everybody else's companion and area transfers. Most of the Mission moved around, which I understand was pretty significant.
My trainer is Elder Bull. He has been out 18 months and is also our District Leader. And he speaks good Spanish. I'm excited to be working with him and hope I learn tons. He tells me that my Spanish is better than his was when we first arrived in the field. I hope I learn fast. Elder Bull's old area was split into 2, and he is now responsible for opening one of the new halves. This means a lot of organization and paperwork. We spent some time getting all we needed from the Mission Home and then swapped around luggage from his old apartment to his new one and then much of the day was over. We went to Walmart for some grocery shopping and then went to a dinner appointment.
Dinner was good with the members we were with. They spoke some English, and I spoke some Spanish. Even Elder Bull spoke mostly English during regular conversation. Their kids were great and the whole family was excited for my first day in the Mission and to help me with my Spanish. The evening did turn out to be a bit of a downer because the investigator who was supposed to have dinner with us and take a lesson didn't show and we don't know why. But the members, the Chy Family, did give us another referral closeby and we visited and made an appointment to come back.
I can do this. The most frustrating feeling is not knowing what is going on. But the thing about a missionaries schedule is that it is full, but not stressful. Things are busy, but not hectic. You never plan more than you can do, and there are many good and worthwhile activities to spend your time on. I hope I adjust fast and learn everything soon. Although I have not had any spiritual manifestations that this is where I am supposed to be, I know I am in the right place. I feel peace of mind being a missionary and am confident that I can quickly understand what I am to do and how I can be successful.
I love you all. I will write again next Wednesday. Take care and write, please.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
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