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