my poor companion

My poor companion is going home in this coming month. He, like many other missionaries has become a missionary so much that he hardly remembers how to be a normal person. This will probably happen to me as well. Poor missionaries everywhere.

What do I mean poor missionaries? Being a missionary is the life. Seriously, we eat great food every single night. It's not fair. There are people in other places who are lucky if they eat anything at all in a whole day, even days. Here I am stressing out that I have too much food to eat. The world is very backwards. Being a missionary in Arizona is sometimes just too silly. Members all over are wanting to do nice things to help us out. Many members give free things at their businesses to missionaries. Mostly restaurants, but Elder Wood and I were offered free tanning any time we wanted at a member's tanning salon--I don't think we're going to take the offer.... I never would have imagined my mission being like this.

And we are working hard. We are tracting, walking around the streets to talk to people, contacting referrals, searching in every neighborhood for Spanish people. We're working. We have faith that success is on it's way, though not here yet. Last week we tried to set a baptismal date with a couple and were devastated to hear: "We need more time." And so we keep working.

And the weather keeps warming up. We're in the 90s down here, if you can believe it. It would feel great if we were wearing shorts and sandals and t-shirts, but the collar and dark pants with black leather shoes is a bit confining in the heat. We'll just see how I handle things when we get to 115 and 120. I'll be honest, I'm nervous.

I know that my mission is the one the Lord has called me to. It seems strange at times that this is where He wants me, but I know it's true, as ugly and as hot as Arizona may be, it's my mission, and I'm lucky to be here. I also know that the Lord answers all efforts with blessings. Generally His plans are different than mine, so I have to look around to see the blessings, but they are there. I know that the Gospel is taught in the Book of Mormon, that it is the only way to get back to our Father. We are loved so much and our Father in Heaven designed our lives to take us back to Him. It is the whole point. And it is for everybody.

I love you all, take care of yourselves. Keep praying for the missionaries, trust me, us kids need all the prayers we can get. Do your best, even when it is hard, because we always receive blessings, every time we act righteously. I'll write again, bye.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

no time at all

I'm sorry, there is a computer class coming into the library right now and I will not be able to send much this week.

Today were transfers, but Elder Wood and I will be staying together, so it's just a regular P-Day for us. This means that, with Elder Wood going home at the end of this transfer, I will have to go with him for a lot of crazy end of mission stuff.... And I am also set to stay in Queen Creek clear through until June. Cool stuff, I love it here.

The work is going good, I promise, I just don't have time to talk about it right now.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

happy

I'm not sure if it's the weather or the fact that my time as a greeny has officially ended (Happy Mission Birthday to me) as of today, but everything has been getting very fun. I really find a lot of joy in being a missionary.

We have continued to work with recent converts as well as our searching efforts. The recent converts make me so happy. It feels like when we teach them, we are just letting them know all of the blessings that are available to them now as members. It's so exciting talking about the temple, patriarchal blessings, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and everything else. It makes me appreciate the perspective of why we baptize people. In itself, baptism is a blessing, but it really is the opening to a whole new world of blessings even more grand. I love it.

And just as some news, Rosalia finally got her Braille Libro de Mormon in a very large box and has started receiving installments of her Braille Biblia. Cool lady. She called us to see if we had a number for a new family in the ward because she thought they might need some fellowshipping. Orquedia Bajo, the lady who thinks a lot, held a fast with us for her sons. Her faith is so strong that I have no doubt God will answer her prayers and she will, by example and faith, lead her family into the Gospel.

With the warm weather, we have also had the chance to provide some service for some members of our ward. This also turns out to be very fun, even though weeding a gravel yard is a nightmare for fingers. We had a waterfight with Sister Baldwin, a Peruvian member of our ward, which she initiated as we finished up with working in her yard. Many of the families in the ward are having hard times with work and health and so they are very grateful when we pitch in a hand with the yard.

To add to the fun, the member family we live with has a niece competing in American Idol. They are excited, and therefore we are too. Vote Brook White. Living with the Thompsons is ridiculously wonderful. Sister Thompson is a great cook and is always anxious to share fresh bread and cinnamon roles or whatever else she made. Their pool table and ping pong table also go to good use during our lunch time. We really are spoiled, and I am glad we are.

I have so much to be grateful for, I just hope I will be able to repay the Father, the source of all blessings, in my service. Actually, I know I will never be able to repay, but I want to try and to all I can. Even if I don't baptize myriads, I want every day to be dedicated to serving others and inviting them to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the Gospel by living the Gospel. I hope you all know how blessed you are too. I miss you, but not enough to come home. I love you, and hope you are well. Take care of yourselves, and take care of others.

Until next week,
Elder Sam Bostwick

P.S. It got a little colder, we were down to 60 degrees yesterday...