beating the odds

Christmas was great. I can't even explain how wonderful it was to be with my family. Though I wasn't there in person, I did feel I was there as well as Cecily. Modern technology really pulled through in the three-way calling thing. As happy as a person can be, their happiness is never complete without their family. It was a great day, and it's memory will carry me through until Mother's Day.

Our "White Christmas" a few days after Christmas Day was so awesome. The whole day was rocky: an exchange that took me to the other side of the Yuma Zone and some missing baptismal candidates, figuring out a way to get baptismal clothes and some getting permission from the mission president for a counselor in the branch presidency to do a baptismal interview right before the service ... it made me laugh because only two days before, I had reported to my family that I do not get stressed in the missionary duties. I was definitely stressed that day, but in the end, we literally dumped a big mess in the hands of the Lord, and it was all straightened out miraculously. The baptism was a very special one and we were very blessed.

I had also reported to my family that come the new year, I would be serving in a new place. Well, in San Luis we are beating the odds. I enjoyed seven-and-a-half months so much that I get to stay for nine. That's right, keep sending things to the same old address, I have not gone anywhere. I feel very blessed to be able to stay. I take it as a sign that I am either doing something right, or I am enough of a nuisance that President Craig just wants to keep me out of the way. Elder Villasenor and I will stay together again and we just got news of who else is coming down to our Zone. We're going to have another superb transfer from great teaching and great missionaries.

Everything continues to go well. Elder Villasenor just doesn't understand why I don't like soccer. I tell him I like to watch it, just like any other sport, but that I am so bad at it that I don't like to play. He continues to be stubborn.

The Church is true. I am grateful for the time of year at New Year's to make new goals and to refocus ourselves. It is an opportunity for me to become a better man and a better missionary. I hope we can all focus our goals up unto the Lord and seek His help in achieving our righteous desires. I love you all. Happy New Year.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

merry christmas

To all family and friends, I wish the most sincere Merry Christmas to all. I hope you are all with family enjoying fun traditions and a special few days.

To my family, I can't wait to talk with you tomorrow. It will truly be the best gift of all. Jo, Hyrum, Lizzie and Summer, be sure to go to bed early because Santa won't come if you are still awake.

Also, next week is transfers, so mail is going to be iffy this week. If you send it to me to get here by Tuesday, make sure it will actually get there by Tuesday, or just send it to the Mission Office: 1871 E. Del Rio Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282. I will let you know if I have a new address next Wednesday in my email. Love you all!

-Elder Sam Bostwick

wet christmas

Weather reports turned goofy at some point last week as they predicted coming rain. We ignored the possibility and were caught surprised. We are now in Day Two of consistent rain, something I have seen or even heard of in Arizona. The rain that comes here normally falls intensely, but quickly, which is exactly the opposite of what we are currently experiencing. This slow drizzle has been a welcome blessing, as I really do love the rain, and it is always nice to have a little bit of change. And somehow, rain seems to make the "cold" so much easier to handle.

We tick down to Christmas and all of our missionary activities show it. People are more willing to listen to our message during the Christmas time, and it is always a blessing to be able to touch somebody's heart that would normally be quite as receptive. There is a spirit in the season, and I pray that missionaries all over the world benefit from it.

Yesterday we had yet another road trip. There was a Tri-Zone Christmas Zone Conference yesterday in Casa Grande, about two-and-a-half hours from Yuma. We left early yesterday morning and arrived with only a few hours of proselyting left. The day was great, spent with some of my very favorite missionaries and enjoying the company immensely. It is always good to see President and Sister Craig, and this week, due the the interviews schedule and Zone Conferences, we saw them twice and that was also enjoyed greatly. I feel so blessed to be a missionary, as the life of a missionary is just a happy one. I hope I can find the same happiness in service in the rest of my life.

In my interview with President Craig this week, it seemed hard to explain to him how I feel about my testimony. My testimony is growing more and more every day and it is due to the grace of God in seeing His work in action. I know that the gospel is restored in our day through a prophet, and I cannot think of any other way to believe. I am happy, in a way I didn't even imagine before, but I know that feeling can go away. What I had a hard time explaining was my dedication to my testimony, not just that I have one--but what it means to me. I know what I have to do for the rest of my life, and it is very simple. All that is expected of us is to do everything as our knowledge of the gospel dictates to us. I cannot explain that with the justice it deserves, but I hope you can all feel the spirit of what I am saying. What is most beautiful is that I can help others gain the same change in their lives. I am a better person, and everybody will be, because I have acted on pure faith so many times--indeed sometimes I have wondered when I won't need just blind faith anymore. It is hard for me to not know why we do things, and to not understand God's purposes, but what is most important is that we just do it, and then the understanding comes. I testify that our faith is confirmed only after we act on it, only after we have actively demonstrated it.

I pray that you are all well, and that you are happy in this Christmas time. I love you, and I'm grateful for all who read my email/blog who give me an audience to rant at. Merry Christmas and enjoy the snow!

-Elder Sam Bostwick

adjusted

All last winter, I had to laugh at my companions and the people here in Arizona because they would all talk about how cold it was …. In Utah, I felt like I had become somewhat familiar with the feeling of cold and it definitely was not cold in Arizona. I would tease people and continued to wear a short sleeve shirt without a jacket the entire winter.

I am ashamed to announce that this year I am adjusted to the weather in Arizona and I am most sincerely cold here! Last night was just under 60 degrees and my hands were in my pockets the whole night, I wanted the heater on in the car and I just wished I had brought a jacket. From the way my body was reacting, you might have thought it was low 40s, literally, it was that silly. I've adjusted.

Last week I had a whole great email typed out, well written and thoughtful on the entrance of the Christmas season. A mis-calculated stroke of the fingers deleted it all in an instant, and my email was unretrievable. Hopefully, over time, I will let you all know how I feel about Christmas and you won't feel bad about the mistake.

This week has been more complicated than I would like. I like focusing on being a missionary and not having other things to worry about. I like being dedicated to the task at hand, and I like giving my all where I am at. Due to the requirements of a video audition I am preparing for the BYU Music Theatre department, I have been torn in my attention. Of course, all missionary time is completely dedicated to missionary things, but it is the free time--lunch, time before bed, and P-Day time--that are no longer as focused as I am used to. Hopefully all this hectic activity will end soon as I work to wrap everything up before the new year. With a lot of help from really charitable members from Yuma who I had never even met before, everything is coming together.

With more time in San Luis, I just love it more and more. I love working with our investigators--even the ones who progress very very slowly--and it is a joy to teach them as well as inactive members in our Branch. Christmas has brought a special urgency and energy in doing the Lord's work amongst the members and I have loved, even more than before, the "spirit of the season." Christmas lights have decked the streets and, though San Luis isn't your picturesque Christmas village, it has transformed into a festive place. It is comforting to know that people can still celebrate amidst so much trial and difficulty.

Recently, after it became known that I am "musical" through playing the piano for the branch's Christmas choir, my real life has started to intrigue people. My interests and goals out of the mission keep getting brought up by various members. Our branch president just can't get over the fact that I am actually going to go to college to study acting. It feels strange to have people get to know me after spending so much time in my whole mission focusing on getting to know other people. A real skill I have learned on my mission is how to get to know people: how to connect with others or relate to others. This skill is based on knowing their interests and talking about them, a lot. To have the table turned now makes me almost uncomfortable. But even still, it is nice to let people know who I am. It brings us closer together and strengthens the work.

I am so blessed to be here on my mission. I wish I could articulate how grateful I am for all the people who influenced me to do good things, and who helped me avoid destroying myself. The mercy of our Heavenly Father is a marvel to me and is definitely something I need to develop more of. I have a testimony that He is so ready to forgive us, He wants us to be clean and happy. He has created this plan for our benefit and He is so pleased to bless us with all that we need, as long as we are faithful in asking and doing His will. I hope you all find many of the wonderful mercies God extends to us each day incredible, as I find them. I hope you all are well and happy and that you have the chance to serve others this holiday season. Take care, I love you all.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

welcome christmas!

I had typed a nice long message, and just accidentally deleted it. I'm sorry, my time is up.

Send my love to everyone. Thanksgiving was good--more details pending. We are glad to now welcome in the Christmas season.

Until next week...

-Elder Sam Bostwick