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

thanksgiving

In San Luis, many of the members and investigators are new to the United States. They celebrate all the Mexican holidays with vigor and traditional exactness, but sometimes the American holidays seem strange to them. I admit, Halloween is stupid- I don't like it, much like many of them. St. Patrick's Day- who was St. Patrick anyway? We have several holidays that are very strange with a purely analytical outlook.

As time has been coming into Thanksgiving, there have been plans in Branch Council for the dinner we had for "el dia de pavo": Turkey Day. They were sure to make arrangements for a strictly American meal with turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. They even almost bought pumpkin pie for dessert, but then decided to stick with pastel de tres leches, a very good Mexican cake. All to stick with the strict celebration of the holiday. But they kept talking about Turkey Day this and Turkey Day that, until even I was referring to it as "Turkey Day." Elder Snyder, before he was transferred had started to joke about how in America, we worship turkeys and that's where turkey day comes from. That, of course, is ridiculous. But it gave me a good opportunity to think about what we are celebrating. I would never call Thanksgiving "Turkey Day" in English, but it just became so habit in Spanish. The routine of it all caught up to me so quickly. The food, the decorations, the dessert- it all required so much of our focus that it was easy to lose touch with the point. I wanted all of the members to know what we celebrate.

As times get harder and harder, we often see all the things that aren't right with life. We see what we lack and what is not going well. We see economic struggles, and suffering around the world. We remember how we sometimes feel lonely or unloved and how we don't meet our own expectations. We feel how far away we are from family and friends, and wish things could be different. But these do not come from God. Even to His children suffering afflictions of great measure, our Father in Heaven has declared peace, joy, and comfort. A positive and grateful attitude bring us closer to God, whereas we will drive ourselves downward by putting our focus of the negative aspects of life. When troubles get so high we feel we have been forgotten by our Maker, let us remember the words given to Joseph Smith when he was despairing at the tragedy of his situation. All things will be for our experience and benefit. Even the Savior suffered greatly, how is it that we would be exempt from the hardships of the world. In it all, let us "be still, and know that [He] is God,"(Psalms 46:10) and remember that Elijah endured thunderings and storms and earthquakes before he could hear the voice of God.

I am grateful for Thanksgiving. What a wonderful time to look at our lives and identify our blessings. We will find great blessings, of course, being thankful every day of the year, but it is fantastic to have a day set apart just to be thankful. Is that really how we feel on Thanksgiving? Do we focus our thoughts on our blessings, raising a voice of gratitude to our family and our God? Do we lose focus and begin worshipping turkeys? I am continually amazed at the lessons life throws to us every day as we are watching for them, and grateful to be able to share a few with you readers. Thank you for reading my thoughts. Thanks for supporting me by taking time to think about me. That means a lot that I would be worth your time. I feel like every day gets busier and busier and time is a commodity of higher and higher value. Thank you for lending a bit of time for me. My greatest blessings have always come in the meaningful relationships I have been given. Thank you for sharing your lives with mine, and being good to me. I love you all--God bless you on this Thanksgiving day. Enjoy the food and family, and be thankful.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

P.S. The Tempe postmaster is finally tired of forwarding missionary mail. The Mission President has asked that our families and friends send mail to our current address, rather than the mission home. Jay, [will] post my current address on my blog in a very conspicuous way [...]. Each six weeks, the week before transfers, mail is then to wait if possible until the new or continuing address can be confirmed. Thank you.

transfers

This week contained several special occasions. Elder Snyder and I were able to end our time together with some very memorable experiences. On Saturday and Sunday particularly, we were able to participate, through broadcast, in the rededication of the Mexico City, Mexico Temple. The cultural celebration on Saturday night was fantastic and so much fun, but also President Monson and President Eyring, who were both present at the event, both gave powerful messages to the Mexican Saints. I loved listening to them! It was such a special thing for me. Then Sunday, we went to see the dedication itself. Even more moving messages and testimonies were given within the Celestial Room of that beautiful temple. All in all, with our temple trip at the beginning of last week, and the rededication, the temple took a big highlight for the week. I find it hard to not have tears begin to well in my eyes in thinking about the great blessings available to us in the temple in our days. In no other time has man been so openly privileged to enter into the presence of God, and it is honoring to think that we somehow merited a mortal life in this great time in the history of the earth. It is incredible to realize that we literally have no idea who we are!

Then, ex-Elder Wood paid us a visit with some friends from Queen Creek. They were on their way to Mexico and stopped in town for the night to stay with some of the recent converts that were baptized while Elder Wood was here. I was very happy to see them, and we were able to go out to lunch with them the next day. It was fun for me.

Time going up to transfers was intense. There was no way Elder Snyder and I were going to stay together, but the speculation of all the possibilities became a constant topic of talk. We rushed home on Monday night to wait for the calls. In the end we both had to go to Tempe on Wednesday morning. Elder Snyder went to Mesa, where he is very happy as a senior companion. I went to pick up a new missionary. Transfer meeting was a treat after having not been there so many times in a row. I was able to see some of my favorite missionaries who are getting close to finishing their missions. I loved it.

The Yuma Zone fared very well and we have a great group of missionaries for this transfer. Did anybody know that Isaac Owens got his mission call to the Tempe mission? Well him and I are both serving in Yuma together now and I'm very excited! Another missionary in the zone is from Draper and knows a lot of the people I met with Draper community theatres. My companion, Elder Villasenor, is from San Antonio, Texas. I'm so excited to be his companion. Both his parents are Mexican and his family all speaks Spanish. He was prayed here to the branch--the members have wanted a Mexican missionary for a long time. At last he arrived. He's a good teacher and we'll get along really well. After so long with Elder Snyder, it is almost weird to have a new companion, but I'm adjusting quickly.

I'm happy, and everything is going well. We are excited for the progress that is coming in San Luis and hope it results in big success. We get to start from the beginning to teach ourselves the right things we can be doing with our time as well as teach the members their responsibilities in missionary work.

I hope you are all well, especially as the holiday season approaches. As times get harder, we can better appreciate how much we are protected by our obedience to the commandments of God. I love you all very much. Take care.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

a great week

This week has been great. Particularly for the past few days we have had pure good things, back to back to back.

After Wednesday of last week, Elder Snyder and I both continued on a little sick. We had to stay close to the bathroom, and just as we were worried we would have to see a doctor, some members brought us some Immodium and our problems were solved. Monday we had our time for weekly planning in the morning, and a brief afternoon of work, and then we drove to Yuma to meet with the other missionaries for yet another trip to Tempe. Elder Snyder and I, along with Elder Carlson (our zone leader) and his greeny Elder Robinson, and Elder Appel (the district leader) and his companion Elder Elton all stayed with the APs in their apartment for the night. It was a great night, and then in the morning we left for our half-mission zone conference with Elder Christensen of the First Quorum of the Seventy. It was a great conference and we were literally filled spiritually. It is always a treat to get to see other missionary friends from around the mission and rejoice in the progress we are all making. I definitely feel like the least of all in big meetings like that. As if our zone conference wasn't good enough, all of our Yuma Zone then drove to the temple and I personally had an intensely wonderful experience there. It had been over six months since the last time I had been able to go to the temple, and I was in need of a reminder. I loved it, and am so grateful that we were given permission to take a bit of time to go and recharge our batteries. I stayed in the celestial room after the session and just cried, feeling truly in the Lord's House and in His presence. It filled me.

Then we drove back to Yuma and Elder Snyder and I stayed the night with Elder Carlson and Elder Robinson so that we could be up here for a 10:30 birthday bowling party for Elder Carlson. I got to test out my recent acquired bowling shoes, and it was a blast (and a member payed for us, which was the greatest part of all). And now, after what feels like a very long time, we are back in San Luis, kicking around for the rest of our P-Day.

I would love to tell you more, but my time has run short. I have such a strong testimony of this gospel and wish you could all be sharing in my experiences in Arizona. I love you all, and wish for the best for you. We are in the Lord's hands, and as long as we obey every commandment, we have literally no cause to fear. I am full of hope, as I desire you to be. Keep on in this cause, it is the greatest we can do.

-Elder Bostwick

sick

Dear family and other readers,

I hope my email finds you all happy and well this week. I feel, for some reason, more positive and pleasant than normal, and it is great. If you are lucky, some of my good attitude will wear off into this email and you will also feel in a better disposition to handle life.

At the beginning of October, Elder Snyder and I both rejoiced when the weather cooled down. We were so relieved to open our windows and let a cool breeze run through our house while listening to the gentle music of the ice cream truck that perpetually haunts the streets of San Luis. Our joy was full, however brief, for as quickly as the cool air swept in, the heat tromped back. We grieved at the outlook of possible eternal suffering. Our fears fled a few days ago when the familiar cool air returned and the windows flew open yet again. Amidst our happiness came the warning of flu season from the mission nurse, Sister Lepetich. Elder Snyder and I laughed it off, knowing we were invincible to the effects of such an insignificant virus. After all, "cool weather" in Arizona at this time of year means lows of 70 degrees. Never having been susceptible to the flu before, I never thought it possible that I would contract it here, of all places. As though to humble me in my immune-system pride, I woke up two nights ago in the middle of the night with wrenching pains in my stomach. Details here would be inappropriate, it will suffice it to say that I didn't sleep much for the rest of the night and for the first day of my mission, Elder Snyder and I had a sick day.

Perhaps I feel so positive today because I feel so rested. I slept for a long time, and Elder Snyder (who also was sick) and I read and talked for a long time. With the help of the Priesthood and a bit of NuQuil, I feel great today, as though nothing had happened at all. Just in time for P-Day (close call).

We also had a weird Halloween, and I'm mostly just glad I never have to have a missionary Halloween again. I will include pictures of our awesome costumes, just look closely. My time's up for the day, but I really do hope you can all feel positive today.

No matter what stress, or what problem faces us, our Savior has walked through it already. We can put our trust and faith in Him, that He will provide us with comfort and peace. The gospel is, very literally, good news to the world. Let us all put more faith in the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Prince of Peace. I know He lives and that He will not forsake us. As often as we cry unto Him, He will heed us. He desires the best for us, and as Christians, we desire the best for others. Let's reach out this week to serve someone we wouldn't have thought to before. Let's remember to forgive as we pray for forgiveness. And that's all the preaching I'll do today.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

[click on photos for the full-size view - Jay]

hace mucho

Well, I'm afraid it has been too long since I emailed home. The last few P-Days' email time has been dedicated to college application. I have been working to try and get myself applied for and get accepted to BYU. That is my excuse for not writing, but I still apologize in any case.

What hasn't helped the situation is that it feels as though new things aren't happening. In fact, we have had a few very difficult weeks all leading up to last week, which was the hardest of all. I have been more tired than I can remember being, and very stressed. All our efforts have been unsuccessful so far, and Elder Snyder and I just continue to work our hardest, waiting for the blessings to come from our faith and diligence.

It is a hard lesson to learn that the Lord has His own timing in all things. Our zone leader, when things go well for his area, says, "Well, blessings for obedience and diligence!" If only it were so easy. The hard truth is that, though blessings come every time we do the will of the Lord, they hardly ever come immediately. We have done what we are supposed to and have almost no evidence of blessings for our work. Though we are worthy to be blessed, blessings will still only come as the Lord wills them to. I am so grateful for the numerous blessings and lessons I have received. I am infinitely blessed to have a family, and friends who all support me in my decision to be here. Even more, I was born with the gospel, and have grown with its teachings. Though things are difficult for a few weeks, I still marvel at my enormous blessings that I don't deserve.

I know this is the Lord's work. We can only do what is asked of us, and trust that everything that comes is for our own good. Sometimes it feels like we've been given a lot to chew, but we can come out stronger, and we will as long as we rely in the strength of God. I am sad when I see people who are not obedient to God's commandments, especially those who have already received His Gospel. I struggle to understand how a person who claims to have faith can be so faithless in their actions. I wish I could do more to change lives and help others gain the necessary faith to always always do our Father's will. I trust He is strengthening me to do more than I could do alone. He has sent me a good, strong, and worthy companion to do it, and I know He has put us here, at this time, for a reason. We have been blessed, and as I think back on the testimonies I have received in the past, the confirmations of faith, the blessings, my testimony is fortified and strengthened. We cannot fail. We cannot do less than what has been asked of us. I fear some of us will find themselves ashamed at the last day when all petty excuses have been cleared away. I am so blessed to know of the truths of the gospel, so I can do all in my power to repent and serve with all my heart.

I am sorry that all seems very scattered. I have had many thoughts in the last few weeks. The gospel becomes more real to me every day and I am so grateful for the mercy I have been given from a loving Father in Heaven. I hope you all feel of my love for you at home. Keep doing what is right. Don't lose hope. I was very moved by President Uchtdorf's talk on hope, but I won't get even more scattered than I already have been.

With much love,

-Elder Sam Bostwick

another transfer

Well, the improbable has happened. Usually, a companionship will only serve together for two transfers, or three months. This week we got transfer calls, and we had been debating and guessing for days leading up to the calls. Who would go? Who would stay? The speculation was rampant, as Dad would say. And so we anxiously awaited transfer calls on Monday night. Elder Nauman called, laughing over the phone, because Elder Snyder and I, the invincible team, is indeed invincible and we are staying together for another six weeks.

We are excited because our time together has been marked with intense spiritual experiences, which have built our faith and testimonies in the reality of God and His care for us. We look forward to many more strong experiences as we both work together to become better missionaries and men. I know that God has a special work for us together, and we have seen blessings already that only our companionship could have brought about.

One of these blessings is the betterment of the members of the San Luis Branch. I admit, I have had moments where I have been so frustrated at the lack of support from the Branch that I just wanted to leave and go to a new area. But after much prayer, faith, and patience, all the sudden miracles have happened and we are seeing intensely rapid improvement in the attitude of the auxiliary presidencies, primarily in the Branch Presidency. I am so grateful to be serving here at this time. I know that the Lord is building me in large amounts more than I could be building up anybody else. I feel humbled at my calling, especially as I realize more and more the blessings and mercies of God in my life.

I loved Conference, and I'm out of time, so maybe I'll write about it later.

-Elder Sam

P.S. I hope you all liked the voice recordings last week. [Jay: These will be posted soon.]