This entire week felt lousy. We taught good lessons and had some success with the numbers and all, but it just felt like different. Sunday was a strange day. We heard some bad news about a recent convert, less investigators came to church than we expected, and the Primary kids were horribly behaved. Elder Robinaugh and I were down all day and then the news of President Hinckley's death came suddenly on an already sad day. Plus it rained all day (surprise), which made work harder. Monday night led up anxiously for transfer calls. Last transfer it was very easy to say what would happen. Elder Bull had already been told he was leaving. This time there were no hints, and nobody had any ideas. Then Elder Robinaugh got a call from the President to train a new missionary, which meant I was gone. I love the ward I have been serving in, and I was sad to be leaving. Tuesday we spent seeing different people, leaving my last enthusiasm for the progress they were making or thanking members for their help and examples.
Then came Wednesday- today. My life was packed and our ride took us to Tempe to meet up for the transfer meeting. Every companionship in the mission except 5 were being changed, which is very abnormal. I was nervous and I already missed my ward. And so I am now serving in the other area in the same ward. I already knew my companion very well, and I know many of the investigators already. I get to stay in the ward and attend all the baptisms for my old investigators. I am way too lucky. Elder Sam Wood is my companion now, from Kaysville. We get along, and he speaks Spanish better than any American from the mission. I am excited. Plus, we live with great members, and get the benefits of only having two in our apartment, rather than the distraction of another companionship as well.
All goes well, I am happy and healthy and learning. I love that the church is true and am excited to continue to share it with others. The missionary Spirit is infectious and I love to work with members who have caught the virus. There is great power in the faithful prayer.
My time is almost gone, and there is a lot to do moving into a new apartment. I'll write again next week. I love you all.
-Elder Bostwick
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
a week well worth it
For sure the most exciting thing to report from this week is the Baptism and Confirmation of Rosalia. Her brother, also a recent convert, was able to baptize her and she was confirmed by the 1st Counselor in the Bishopric, one of the greater men I have ever met. Everything to do with the baptism was great, even the tension leading up to it and the fact that for some reason the hot water did not work in the font. Elder Robinaugh and I had fun singing a special song just for Rosalia after her baptism that she had taught us. It turned out well, and I have special pride in it because I arranged it for the piano myself. Everyone present felt the Spirit and knew that what we were witnessing was something special, not to be forgotten.
I have a powerful testimony of member missionary work. Missionaries cannot do their jobs without the support and involvement of good members of the church. I promise that if you want to feel more satisfaction in life, get involved with the local missionaries and try your best to help them out.
Jorge and Marta are friends of Rosalia. They came to the baptism and confirmation and because of new friends they made in the ward they are firm in their plans to get baptized. We were even able to watch them teach the Plan of Salvation to their daughter. It was so rewarding to hear them say things like: "What we believe is ...". Former skeptics are now so much farther on the path to conversion because of the kindness of some members.
Nailleli and Armando were caught in a trap of legal complexities dealing with immigration laws that meant they could not get married. With the help and advise of members who knew the laws, it looks as though they will soon be blessed with a legal marriage and then a baptism. I have never met anyone with such impressive willpower to live the commandments of God. A hopeless situation is now easily overcome, all because members were willing to help.
Maria is awesome. Somehow she always ends up teaching the lessons. For example, just last night we were going to teach the Word of Wisdom and were leading into the idea of obeying commandments. She interrupted explaining that she knew commandments were to protect us. She had always done her best, but she smokes, and she knows she shouldn't. She told us that her body is a temple, a gift from God, and to give it proper respect she should care for it better. She also knows without doubt that the Book of Mormon is true after only reading two chapters, I wish I were that receptive to the Spirit. Usually Elder Robinaugh and I just nod our heads during our lessons and I consider her undeniable evidence that God prepares people to receive the gospel. A family in our Ward has been so wonderful to be friendly and offer service to her such as rides to church and just company during the day.
I get so excited thinking about the progress of people I have come to love. I want them to continue to progress and know that I need to be ready to help them. As I work with people, I can tell my ability to speak is improving. There are times when I am not even sure what I am saying and wonder if I would know how to say what I do in another circumstance. I know that this is the Lord's mission and I just bring myself, willing and worthy and He molds me into the tool He needs. The beautiful thing about being a missionary is that all your time is focused on others, but both sides are blessed so much. I feel as though I should not be having such a good time or be able to recognize how I am being helped by the hand of God, but I am and I do.
God's Plan is perfect. It is created for us, His children. He is personally interested in our success and obedience, which are connected to one another. Faith is not a waste of time, rather the means by which God does His work. Thank you for your support family and friends who read this. I love you, be good.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
I have a powerful testimony of member missionary work. Missionaries cannot do their jobs without the support and involvement of good members of the church. I promise that if you want to feel more satisfaction in life, get involved with the local missionaries and try your best to help them out.
Jorge and Marta are friends of Rosalia. They came to the baptism and confirmation and because of new friends they made in the ward they are firm in their plans to get baptized. We were even able to watch them teach the Plan of Salvation to their daughter. It was so rewarding to hear them say things like: "What we believe is ...". Former skeptics are now so much farther on the path to conversion because of the kindness of some members.
Nailleli and Armando were caught in a trap of legal complexities dealing with immigration laws that meant they could not get married. With the help and advise of members who knew the laws, it looks as though they will soon be blessed with a legal marriage and then a baptism. I have never met anyone with such impressive willpower to live the commandments of God. A hopeless situation is now easily overcome, all because members were willing to help.
Maria is awesome. Somehow she always ends up teaching the lessons. For example, just last night we were going to teach the Word of Wisdom and were leading into the idea of obeying commandments. She interrupted explaining that she knew commandments were to protect us. She had always done her best, but she smokes, and she knows she shouldn't. She told us that her body is a temple, a gift from God, and to give it proper respect she should care for it better. She also knows without doubt that the Book of Mormon is true after only reading two chapters, I wish I were that receptive to the Spirit. Usually Elder Robinaugh and I just nod our heads during our lessons and I consider her undeniable evidence that God prepares people to receive the gospel. A family in our Ward has been so wonderful to be friendly and offer service to her such as rides to church and just company during the day.
I get so excited thinking about the progress of people I have come to love. I want them to continue to progress and know that I need to be ready to help them. As I work with people, I can tell my ability to speak is improving. There are times when I am not even sure what I am saying and wonder if I would know how to say what I do in another circumstance. I know that this is the Lord's mission and I just bring myself, willing and worthy and He molds me into the tool He needs. The beautiful thing about being a missionary is that all your time is focused on others, but both sides are blessed so much. I feel as though I should not be having such a good time or be able to recognize how I am being helped by the hand of God, but I am and I do.
God's Plan is perfect. It is created for us, His children. He is personally interested in our success and obedience, which are connected to one another. Faith is not a waste of time, rather the means by which God does His work. Thank you for your support family and friends who read this. I love you, be good.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
singing and dumpster diving
This week has been great and fast. We are more excited than ever for Rosalia's baptism, and her baptismal interview went smashingly. In our visits this week, she played the guitar for us. It was so fun. She taught us a song that she used to play for her Catholic congregation and we sang it together, me singing a harmony part. Then she had both Elder Robinaugh and I sing "Soy un Hijo de Dios" and "Las Familias Peudan Ser Eternas" on a recording, so she could memorize them and sing along at her baptism (they are the opening and closing hymns). It was such a fun evening spent with her.
On a not so happy occasion, an older brother from our ward has severe cancer that has spread from his throat to other parts of his body. He was in the hospital this week and the doctors decided to prepare him for a bleak looking surgery. With the idea of another brother from our ward, the four of us elders went to the hospital to sing hymns for him. It was a truly special experience with his whole family and the Spirit taught each of us about how there is nothing to fear from death. The power of music is continually amazing to me, and I am so grateful that it is part of my mission. These special experiences, along with fun times spent as the Primary pianist (did I mention that before?) would be so tragically missed otherwise.
Now to dumpster diving: I would just like to announce that our apartment, that didn't have any furniture with exception of beds for the Spanish missionaries is now fully equipped with a dresser, a bookshelf, 3 plastic drawer containers, a nightstand, 2 desks, and 4 new chairs. And it was all free. It pays to keep your eyes open.
We had interviews with the Mission President this week and Elder Robinaugh and I think that we will be together for next transfer too. I really hope so. I learn a lot from him. He is very good natured and people like him immediately when they meet him. I learn about what is important from Elder Robinaugh, and I hope it will continue for another transfer.
Well that's all, be good everybody. The Church is true and when you pray, God is always listening. Be sure when he answers, you are listening. It's hard to tell sometimes, but I know He always does. Never forget the power of faith. I hope you are all well, and that I hear from you soon. Until next week ...
-Elder Sam Bostwick
On a not so happy occasion, an older brother from our ward has severe cancer that has spread from his throat to other parts of his body. He was in the hospital this week and the doctors decided to prepare him for a bleak looking surgery. With the idea of another brother from our ward, the four of us elders went to the hospital to sing hymns for him. It was a truly special experience with his whole family and the Spirit taught each of us about how there is nothing to fear from death. The power of music is continually amazing to me, and I am so grateful that it is part of my mission. These special experiences, along with fun times spent as the Primary pianist (did I mention that before?) would be so tragically missed otherwise.
Now to dumpster diving: I would just like to announce that our apartment, that didn't have any furniture with exception of beds for the Spanish missionaries is now fully equipped with a dresser, a bookshelf, 3 plastic drawer containers, a nightstand, 2 desks, and 4 new chairs. And it was all free. It pays to keep your eyes open.
We had interviews with the Mission President this week and Elder Robinaugh and I think that we will be together for next transfer too. I really hope so. I learn a lot from him. He is very good natured and people like him immediately when they meet him. I learn about what is important from Elder Robinaugh, and I hope it will continue for another transfer.
Well that's all, be good everybody. The Church is true and when you pray, God is always listening. Be sure when he answers, you are listening. It's hard to tell sometimes, but I know He always does. Never forget the power of faith. I hope you are all well, and that I hear from you soon. Until next week ...
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Thursday, January 10, 2008
not much time
Time with Elder Robinaugh has been moving too fast. I enjoy every day, and I am coming to realize that as we rejoice and are happy, we can be closer to God. We still have not moved out our house, but the circumstances of this transfer make it a joy to have 4 missionaries in the same home. We support each other, and all work hard. We have fun, but work is work. I love it.
Elder Robinaugh and I are the lone Spanish Elders in our District. The other missionaries often wish they had at least some use of the Spanish language when they are out talking to people on the streets and such. We have decided to use the opportunity to the advantage for all and allow me to help all the English Elders learn a little Spanish. As I teach, I learn, and I continue to progress with Spanish. Maybe someday, I won't feel afraid to talk with people in Spanish.
The same truth goes with my understanding of the Gospel. As I teach, I learn. We are excitedly progressing toward the baptismal date of Rosalia, our blind investigator. Our other investigators are also working and obtaining testimonies of their own of the Restored Gospel, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.
I was recently re-reading a letter sent from Jay in which he included some letters from his mission. In his letter, he spent a lot of time describing the world of his mission area. The imagery is great. It wouldn't take many words to describe Arizona, just flat and brown, with a lot of houses very close together. Maybe, I will find some poetry in the landscape soon, I'll get back on that.
My time is limited, I love you all. All is well and I am happy in working. I hope you are all happy and working too. I'm sure our house is a lot of fun all the time with so many people living together. Be good, everybody, and I know I should be better at responding to letters. I'm working on it. I love you all, take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Elder Robinaugh and I are the lone Spanish Elders in our District. The other missionaries often wish they had at least some use of the Spanish language when they are out talking to people on the streets and such. We have decided to use the opportunity to the advantage for all and allow me to help all the English Elders learn a little Spanish. As I teach, I learn, and I continue to progress with Spanish. Maybe someday, I won't feel afraid to talk with people in Spanish.
The same truth goes with my understanding of the Gospel. As I teach, I learn. We are excitedly progressing toward the baptismal date of Rosalia, our blind investigator. Our other investigators are also working and obtaining testimonies of their own of the Restored Gospel, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.
I was recently re-reading a letter sent from Jay in which he included some letters from his mission. In his letter, he spent a lot of time describing the world of his mission area. The imagery is great. It wouldn't take many words to describe Arizona, just flat and brown, with a lot of houses very close together. Maybe, I will find some poetry in the landscape soon, I'll get back on that.
My time is limited, I love you all. All is well and I am happy in working. I hope you are all happy and working too. I'm sure our house is a lot of fun all the time with so many people living together. Be good, everybody, and I know I should be better at responding to letters. I'm working on it. I love you all, take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
happy new year
Happy New Year everybody! It is very cliche to say it, but I can't believe it's already 2008. Time has indeed started to go by quickly, and I can only count on it getting worse.
Good news of the week, our blind investigator, Rosalia, has committed to be baptized. We are very excited for her and last night she told us all she wants for this next year is to be baptized and "caminar en los caminos del Senor," or "walk in the ways of the Lord." She is awesome, and we are having a good time figuring out ways to teach someone who can't see. It presents some challenges that we hadn't thought of.
Elder Robinaugh is awesome. I'm really enjoying working with him and we work well together. I had my first experience with actual tracting yesterday. There are a few spots of our area that have high concentrations of Latinos, but very little work has ever been done there. It will be a big job, but Elder Robinaugh and I are going to change it. The field is indeed white and there is not place that "doesn't have potential" as many missionaries will claim. So to begin, we just started knocking doors. Latinos don't really have the good sense to be mean, so every door met us with very friendly people, and we just had a good time. I love getting to know different people from different places.
In another unsearched area, there is a member family that invited us to a New Year's Day Barbacoa Mexicana (Mexican Barbeque). It was so much fun. They cooked the goat in a pit in primitive dutch oven style, but underneath the meat was also a stew. When they served it up, they just would rip a bone off or something and you got whatever meat came attached. It was delicious in tacos or in the stew or just plain. This last week we've also had tongue tacos (that's cow tongue) and my first time trying tamales, which were good as long as they are cooked by a good chef. I'm really enjoying the food, and the company that goes with it. The barbeque was also a really good way for us to get to know some new people in an unknown area and we are excited to go to work out there.
Things are really going very well. I can't say enough how grateful I am for my companion. More and more I am learning the appropriate balance of work and play. But an even better lesson that I am glad to know, is that work can be play with the right attitude, that nothing is ever hopeless or aggravating unless you make it so.
And speaking of hopeless and aggravating, the only thing that gets me frustrated is Spanish. No matter how much I know I am learning, I wish I could skip the learning process and be in the knowing stage. I know I am doing all I can, but I don't like being limited. On the bright side, ward members, investigators, and my companion all say I am learning well, so there are no legitimate worries.
To my family, it was very nice to talk to you. It was good to feel as though I was there for Christmas, and I thank you for your love and support. I'm sorry response letters take so long, it is not because I don't want to write back, but time is limited. Just know I love and miss you all, especially the kids. Be good, and share your testimonies.
Love,
Elder Sam Bostwick
Good news of the week, our blind investigator, Rosalia, has committed to be baptized. We are very excited for her and last night she told us all she wants for this next year is to be baptized and "caminar en los caminos del Senor," or "walk in the ways of the Lord." She is awesome, and we are having a good time figuring out ways to teach someone who can't see. It presents some challenges that we hadn't thought of.
Elder Robinaugh is awesome. I'm really enjoying working with him and we work well together. I had my first experience with actual tracting yesterday. There are a few spots of our area that have high concentrations of Latinos, but very little work has ever been done there. It will be a big job, but Elder Robinaugh and I are going to change it. The field is indeed white and there is not place that "doesn't have potential" as many missionaries will claim. So to begin, we just started knocking doors. Latinos don't really have the good sense to be mean, so every door met us with very friendly people, and we just had a good time. I love getting to know different people from different places.
In another unsearched area, there is a member family that invited us to a New Year's Day Barbacoa Mexicana (Mexican Barbeque). It was so much fun. They cooked the goat in a pit in primitive dutch oven style, but underneath the meat was also a stew. When they served it up, they just would rip a bone off or something and you got whatever meat came attached. It was delicious in tacos or in the stew or just plain. This last week we've also had tongue tacos (that's cow tongue) and my first time trying tamales, which were good as long as they are cooked by a good chef. I'm really enjoying the food, and the company that goes with it. The barbeque was also a really good way for us to get to know some new people in an unknown area and we are excited to go to work out there.
Things are really going very well. I can't say enough how grateful I am for my companion. More and more I am learning the appropriate balance of work and play. But an even better lesson that I am glad to know, is that work can be play with the right attitude, that nothing is ever hopeless or aggravating unless you make it so.
And speaking of hopeless and aggravating, the only thing that gets me frustrated is Spanish. No matter how much I know I am learning, I wish I could skip the learning process and be in the knowing stage. I know I am doing all I can, but I don't like being limited. On the bright side, ward members, investigators, and my companion all say I am learning well, so there are no legitimate worries.
To my family, it was very nice to talk to you. It was good to feel as though I was there for Christmas, and I thank you for your love and support. I'm sorry response letters take so long, it is not because I don't want to write back, but time is limited. Just know I love and miss you all, especially the kids. Be good, and share your testimonies.
Love,
Elder Sam Bostwick
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