another week

Work in this area is so much different than what I had gotten used to. It is somewhat discouraging because I feel as though we don't accomplish very much. There is only one couple that we are really working with, and of course we hope for the best, but other than their progress, there is very little to show any results for our efforts.

We had Zone Conference this week and Elder Wood and I went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I learned a lot of things I can do better to be a better missionary and to be more faithful and effective. One is prayer. As much as I have increased the amount I pray during the day, I came to the realization that it still isn't enough. Prayer is a simple way to direct thoughts and purposes toward the Savior. Without prayer, it is easy to forget the goal and aim of your work. And real prayer is hard work. I keep learning step by step.

On exchanges it was strange doing English missionary work. We even taught a very good lesson, and every time we started talking about the gospel, I almost spoke Spanish. The Spanish work is so different from what the English missionaries do, and it is hard to say which is better. It's good to know what the English work is like, because at some point of my mission, I may lose the Spanish Elder status depending on the needs of the President. For the sake of learning Spanish, I hope the day doesn't come too soon, if at all. I am gaining a lot more confidence in Spanish, even though I still have bunches to learn. I really enjoy getting to know about different Latin countries and their differences from the others. Accents from South America are so great to listen to, and I think I have a natural tendency to get along with South Americans more than Central Americans, though all are just wonderful. I continue to learn a lot of Spanish from Elder Wood and I continue to help keep him concentrated in the last few months of his mission.

We have been getting ready for the weather to get warmer. Just today I heard that most places of the country are going through unusually cold spells right now. It seems far away when Arizona temperatures are about as perfect as you could ever expect. However, the beauty proceeds the pain in this case. Other missionaries have been giving tips on how to stay cool and healthy, and I am planning on following those tips. There is a man named Terry Cannon (ring any bells Dad?) who sells Camelbacks on discount to missionaries and he came to our apartment and sold me a backpack. It is nice and I bought it at good price. Other missionaries are also saying that you will stay healthier if your clothes are dry, so they suggest upping my number of shirts and underclothing. Mom and Dad, I hope we can work something out to do that.

That's really all I have to say for now. I hope you are all well and happy. In our Zone Conference we talked a lot about the ideal members for missionary work. I would just like to add in a plug to be the kind of members that missionaries pray for. I know especially in Utah it is hard, I don't even remember seeing missionaries in our Ward--ever. But I hope building the Kingdom is on your minds. As we talked about in Zone Conference and adding to the Leadership Training from Sunday, the two ways to build the membership of the kingdom are missionary work and having children. Remember to pray for opportunities and then act on the answers you receive. The missionaries are there to help you, even if you never see them, just call them--we always call back.

Love you and miss you,

-Elder Sam Bostwick