christmas

First, I hope that everybody had a very merry Christmas. I hope you each had time to think about the season, to slow down for at least a bit. I also hope that everyone who had a White Christmas appreciated it.

As for me, Christmas was not white, at least we didn't have any snow down here. Yes, it was different from the norm, but it truly was a wonderful time for me. This last week with Elder Robinaugh has been great. We get along even better than I had hoped. Our district has a good bond and I am making some good friends.

Both Christmas Eve and Christmas were unusual days. We spent a lot of time visiting with members of our ward. It was good to be invited in as a part of their holidays. Some even bought us presents, making us feel spoiled, but we were very grateful.

Yesterday, Elder Robinaugh and I ate five very delicious, very large, and very enjoyable meals. It was a miracle, but we made it through. In fact, with both of us being sick, I think we are feeling better today after being incredibly well fed.

Our final dinner appointment was with the family and friends of one of our investigators. Rosalia, who is blind, had another blind friend there. Her friend, Evelyn, speaks English as well as Spanish and is very curious about religion, in fact she spends most of her time thinking about it and learning more. She had come to some very acute conclusions about God and the Bible and I was grateful to be able to testify to her and teach her in a mix of Spanish and English. Other investigators of our's are friends of Rosalia's family, and were at the party as well. We watched the Joy to the World video, and the Spirit was strong. It is a great time of year to learn more about the Savior.

As nice as all that was, the best part of Christmas was the time I spent on the phone with my family. The only pity was that Cecily and Tommy weren't there. It's always nice to talk with Grandma Rose, and JoAnna and Hyrum were also fun to talk to. With so much going on at home and such a full house, I'm sure I miss out on a lot of parties and good times. But I haven't really been gone that long. In fact, on the phone, it felt as though I hadn't really left.

But I am gone, and I have changed. As the year comes to a close, it's astounding to think how much I have grown since last Christmas. To think where I was is almost unbelievable. Surely, there have been miracles in my life that have shaped and directed me. Accept my gratitude, all those whose guidance helped lead me in the past year. Many of you will never know how you have influenced me, and I suppose that is as it always is. Thank you for the Christlike examples, and uplifting hands of friendship, and patience. I wish I could write you all and tell you individually, but if I had enough time for that, then I wouldn't be doing what I am supposed to. (If you are wondering if you are one of the people I am talking about, just assume you are and feel good about yourself)

My time is up. Thank you again, for everything. Party hardy, and Happy New Year. Love you!

-Elder Sam Bostwick

asi, empieza

Thus, it starts, transfer 2! The anticipation continued to build through the week, but at last transfers came. And the results ... I stayed. My trainer has been transferred to another area. It was time, considering he had been in our Ward seven-and-a-half months already.

My new companion, Elder Robinaugh (rob-in-aw), came from the other companionship in our ward, so I already know him very well. I am excited for this time coming up, because we have a lot of work to do, but it will be so pleasant to do it with Elder Robinaugh.

Christmas approaches and our plans are looking favorable. We will be spending some time with the English speaking members Elders Wood and Rutt live with, but much of the day will be with a family from our Ward, the Baldwins. All four missionaries will be together, so it will be a party. I just wonder if there is such thing as too much fun in missionary work.

This is the last email I'll get to send before Christmas. I testify of the sacred purpose of that Babe born in Bethlehem. I know that God has purpose in all things, that there is a plan for us as all of His children and individually. I know that we cannot grow without suffering. We cannot grasp joy without going through the fire of affliction, and everything is for our good. I am thankful for the plan of my challenges, and the plan that was set forth to make up the difference for the times when I don't do what I should. We must come unto Christ, especially in this special season. I pray that you are all safe and well and enduring well the things God has been planning for you.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

one week to transfers and counting ...

There is an anticipation leading up to transfers that I find very interesting. Apparently with a fairly new Mission President, nobody really knows what to expect when transfers come around. Some are excited, others afraid, I just want it to come.

In the last week I have discovered a lot about my situation in the mission. Apparently, my district for the last few months has been known for being the most "apostate." There are a lot of negative feelings amongst the missionaries and it really hinders the work. Everybody is trying to make predictions for what will go down next Wednesday at our transfer meeting, but like I said, nobody has any real educated guesses.

A section of our mission became part of the Phoenix Mission on Sunday. This meant a lot of companionships became threesomes for a short time until our transfers when they will be dispersed into the rest of the mission. This adds more tension to the upcoming transfer.

One of my companions from the MTC, Elder Rutt is now in my same ward with the other Spanish companionship. It's strange to see him again. The MTC feels like a very long time ago, but the last 5 weeks have moved very quickly. We've both grown a lot.

I don't know who says that it never rains in Arizona ... it has been raining for 2 weeks almost every day. And everybody else is bundling up for colder weather. This morning we left our house in a dense fog. All this bad weather has been bad news for missionaries who are accustomed to working in perfect weather. But still Elder Bull and I worked hard this week. And it paid off I suppose.

I don't know if I mentioned it, but we are teaching a blind lady. Her brother and sister-in-law are great to testify powerfully about the church every time we are there. She quit drinking coffee and is on track to be baptized, all we need is a date.

Another family is gaining more knowledge about the nature and purpose of God. As they learn, they have more faith to do things like quit drinking alcohol, a big accomplishment for their family.

Another investigator, Steve, is something we call an "eternigator" because he mostly just likes us to come over and visit, but he never makes progress. This week, he told us that he is actually going to come to church, a huge step. Steve is funny though, he's been paying his "tithing" for months. As we leave, he goes to grab $20 that he smoothly slips to us as he shakes our hands. We turn it in every Sunday as his tithing, and told him we would bring him some tithing envelopes next time we stopped by.

Norma and Carlos have been studying with Jehovah's Witnesses for a while. We had a powerful lesson with them and they were excited to read the Book of Mormon and ask their preacher why the J. W. Bible has omitted certain scriptures.

Jorge and Marta basically know the church is true, they just need to learn more, and it's wonderful to teach them.

Of course, not everything is good. These successes come after a lot of rejection, but the field is white in Queen Creek for Spanish missionaries. I continue to work at Spanish, and it becomes a great way to make friends with the people we meet. Sharing stories about learning a language is good common ground. I have made many good friends of investigators and members of our ward. It's hard to think, in one week I could be leaving. Perhaps even more scary, Elder Bull might leave, and I will need to show a new companion everything about the work we are doing, which seems daunting right now.

This is God's work. He wants all His children to know of the Gospel and to give them the true opportunity to make a clear and educated decision. This church is so true, and it is so obvious to one who asks in faith. I am grateful to be a missionary, even though I don't get to be at home with all of you. Always do good things, I pray for you all, just think of me during the season.

Love,
-Elder Sam Bostwick

one month

Tomorrow is my one-month anniversary in the mission field. As another missionary pointed out, that means I only have 21 months left. I'm not very anxious to start counting down to the end. So far, it is true that time picks up. It doesn't feel like a month has gone by. Before I know it, I will be home and wondering what happened, and perhaps even wishing to come back to my mission.

The wedding and baptism for the Yeomans this weekend went great. The wedding ceremony was simple and performed by the Bishop, followed by food, music, and dancing. Latinos know how to party. The following day, at the baptism, the Spirit was so strong with the support of almost the entire Ward in attendance. We even had other investigators come. The part that was most nerve-wracking was the announcement that Elder Robinaugh, Elder Wood (the other companionship in our Ward) and I would take some time to talk. Apparently this meant we were to teach the first lesson. For the first time, I taught the Restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. It was also my first opportunity to bear open and straightforward testimony to our ward. With the help of the sympathetic Holy Ghost, I did it, and did it well. Not that I am fluent at all, but the improvements in my Spanish are hopeful and truly miraculous.

All the Spanish missionaries in the mission meet the first Saturday morning of every month to have Spanish Class. It was the first time I had seen my MTC companions since we all left the first transfer meeting with our trainers. Once again, I had a sudden jolt of realization that this is actually my mission. Sharing stories of the past month got me thinking about how I will be telling mission stories for the rest of my life.

And as for Christmas time ... With Christmas lights on our house, and a borrowed Christmas tree in our living room, the holiday cheer is sneaking up. I was on an exchange with another missionary one night this week, and as we were walking around, I started to look at the stars. The stars in our end of the Phoenix area are fairly vivid, moreso than Salt Lake in any case. Walking through the desert with the stars, I imagined a star brighter than the others in the wide expanse of sky, pointing to the new-born Christ. How silly to be wishing for snow, there certainly wasn't snow the day Jesus was actually born in a manger. What does snow mean to Christmas, really? So Dad, I accept your challenge to make "White Christmas" mean something more than winter time. But even more than the goal to see investigators dressed in white, I want to become more "white" inside myself. I want to sacrifice more, I want to give more, to become pure through service to others with. Christmas is a time to become more like Christ, by loving others, by being happy and focusing on family and God.

Merry Christmas everyone, I love you. Take care and enjoy the winter in Utah.

-Elder Sam Bostwick