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
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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
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
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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...
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...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
gorgeous
I don't know if you are still getting a lot of snow in Utah, but I wanted to mention that we are loving the weather right now of a pretty consistent 75 degrees. This is why people live in Arizona. Already, there are bunches of people out enjoying the sunshine and warm breeze. People don't go outside in Utah like they do here. Every park is full of people almost all the time, it's pretty fun.
Not that we get a whole lot of time to just enjoy the weather. As our area is, we spend a lot of time in a car. Occasionally we find time to ride around on our bikes and catch some fresh air. We spend most of our time searching out people called "potentials." These are people who have in the past, met missionaries, and consented to having them back, but not at a specific appointment. It is the most productive way to find new investigators, or that's what I hear. We are finding that a lot of our potentials have very little potential. In fact, most have moved and have very nice American families living in their houses. As far as teaching, we work a lot with recent converts. One of the recent converts is someone I could just sit and learn from all day long. She is the kind of lady who thinks about things and knows how she feels about everything. I think living in a country where you didn't understand the language would give you a great deal of valuable thinking time.
In our world, we go so fast that we don't take time to think about things. I remember talking with Becca years ago and she told me about this very thing, how the pioneers must have discovered great faith in themselves as they spent quiet hours churning butter or bailing hay or other equally important, but thoughtless tasks. I wonder how much of people's problems could be worked out by themselves if they took good, prayerful time to ponder and meditate on life. Or even better, pondered and meditated on ways to serve others. In the case of my Spanish friend, she thinks about how needy other people are and worries herself about their needs. How can I lift this person's life? I know they have been struggling. Or, what would make the new family feel more comfortable in the Ward? I should invite them over for dinner and get to know them. How much opportunity do we miss to receive guidance from the Spirit, or answers to our prayers because we don't give quiet time to listen? I hope my feelings came across.
I miss you all, and hope you are well. I want you to know that I do think about you, my family and friends. I do not distract myself with your problems, but I do think about your needs and your lives. I wish there were direct ways in which I could help you when you are in need, but I trust that others will be placed to do what I would hope to do. And I trust that you all know that the Savior has given so much for us already. He, too, thinks about our needs, and is merciful and good to us in our weaknesses. Have faith in Him, come unto Him, and be saved.
I love you all, and continually pray for you. Take care. Do good things.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Not that we get a whole lot of time to just enjoy the weather. As our area is, we spend a lot of time in a car. Occasionally we find time to ride around on our bikes and catch some fresh air. We spend most of our time searching out people called "potentials." These are people who have in the past, met missionaries, and consented to having them back, but not at a specific appointment. It is the most productive way to find new investigators, or that's what I hear. We are finding that a lot of our potentials have very little potential. In fact, most have moved and have very nice American families living in their houses. As far as teaching, we work a lot with recent converts. One of the recent converts is someone I could just sit and learn from all day long. She is the kind of lady who thinks about things and knows how she feels about everything. I think living in a country where you didn't understand the language would give you a great deal of valuable thinking time.
In our world, we go so fast that we don't take time to think about things. I remember talking with Becca years ago and she told me about this very thing, how the pioneers must have discovered great faith in themselves as they spent quiet hours churning butter or bailing hay or other equally important, but thoughtless tasks. I wonder how much of people's problems could be worked out by themselves if they took good, prayerful time to ponder and meditate on life. Or even better, pondered and meditated on ways to serve others. In the case of my Spanish friend, she thinks about how needy other people are and worries herself about their needs. How can I lift this person's life? I know they have been struggling. Or, what would make the new family feel more comfortable in the Ward? I should invite them over for dinner and get to know them. How much opportunity do we miss to receive guidance from the Spirit, or answers to our prayers because we don't give quiet time to listen? I hope my feelings came across.
I miss you all, and hope you are well. I want you to know that I do think about you, my family and friends. I do not distract myself with your problems, but I do think about your needs and your lives. I wish there were direct ways in which I could help you when you are in need, but I trust that others will be placed to do what I would hope to do. And I trust that you all know that the Savior has given so much for us already. He, too, thinks about our needs, and is merciful and good to us in our weaknesses. Have faith in Him, come unto Him, and be saved.
I love you all, and continually pray for you. Take care. Do good things.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
sad to report nothing much
I wish I knew how to work harder to produce more success in this area. Little success means little to report.
But my testimony is still burning stronger. I love reading from the scriptures. I love how the Bible and the Book of Mormon work so well together. When Christ is visiting the Americas, I think it is amazing that He teaches virtually nothing that He didn't already teach in the Bible. His Gospel is the same, and always has been.
I am working hard, don't get the idea that I am not. We pray for the Lord's help to magnify our efforts. I'll keep you posted. I'm sorry that I take so long to write back to individual letters, especially Becca, I'm sorry.
I love you all, keep being good examples around and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel with others. Have a good week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
But my testimony is still burning stronger. I love reading from the scriptures. I love how the Bible and the Book of Mormon work so well together. When Christ is visiting the Americas, I think it is amazing that He teaches virtually nothing that He didn't already teach in the Bible. His Gospel is the same, and always has been.
I am working hard, don't get the idea that I am not. We pray for the Lord's help to magnify our efforts. I'll keep you posted. I'm sorry that I take so long to write back to individual letters, especially Becca, I'm sorry.
I love you all, keep being good examples around and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel with others. Have a good week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
short
I sadly have very little to report on this last week. I have been doing a lot of organizing, a necessary evil when an area has not been kept up very well. I get satisfaction from working hard to make paperwork accurate and all up to date, even though it is tedious and sometimes feels hardly worth doing.
Learning a new area has made time slow down very much. It has been a long week, but things will start picking up. I am enjoying the blessings of living in a single companionship apartment, but do see the down sides. Elder Wood is funny, but works too hard to make people like him. I like him, and he doesn't have to work for it. And he teaches me a lot of Spanish.
That's really all for this week, I hope I have more to say coming up.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
P.S. We did really enjoy the funeral services for President Hinckley. It is bittersweet, and the great thing is the church is still true, no matter what.
Learning a new area has made time slow down very much. It has been a long week, but things will start picking up. I am enjoying the blessings of living in a single companionship apartment, but do see the down sides. Elder Wood is funny, but works too hard to make people like him. I like him, and he doesn't have to work for it. And he teaches me a lot of Spanish.
That's really all for this week, I hope I have more to say coming up.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
P.S. We did really enjoy the funeral services for President Hinckley. It is bittersweet, and the great thing is the church is still true, no matter what.
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