On Sunday, 13 September 2009
welcome Elder Bostwick home:
"Homecoming" Talk
hosted by the Country Park 2nd Ward
9:00am - 10:15am
South Jordan Country Park Stake Center
2447 W 11400 So
South Jordan, UT
Open House
hosted by Darrel and Lisa Bostwick
11:00am - 5:00pm
Darrel and Lisa Bostwick's home
10528 Hemisphere Ct (2060 W)
South Jordan, UT
for more information on these events
contact Lisa Bostwick
801.254.8682
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
very little
I have very little to say today. I feel as though all of the things that I would tell you can wait a little bit more.
The Mesa Zone is doing really well. The assistants thanked Elder Snyder and me last night because, as they say, "we're carrying the mission." In truth, the success we are seeing in the different areas of our zone is a blessing from God and has very little to do with us two. Blessings are obtained by being worthy and focusing on the things we want to be blessed in. I have learned a lot of the great value of goals and praying for what you want/need. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you" is a phrase repeated some 120 times. I think the next most common promise in scripture, thanks to the Book of Mormon, is if you are obedient to the commandments, you will prosper in the land. It is my continual blessing to be surrounded by dedicated and obedient missionaries who, through their actions and attitudes, make great things happen. I have also learned a lot about a good spirit of competition. Throw down a challenge, and watch the results skyrocket. What a concept.
These are going to be a great last few weeks, I can tell. I am excited for the challenges that face me, and I can't wait for the Lord to show his hand, like he always does. The gospel is great.
Well, I think that's just about all I have for today. Thank you for the patience of everybody that has made it possible for today to not be the day I come home. I still feel that the decision to stay was the best thing for me in every way. I love you all, take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
The Mesa Zone is doing really well. The assistants thanked Elder Snyder and me last night because, as they say, "we're carrying the mission." In truth, the success we are seeing in the different areas of our zone is a blessing from God and has very little to do with us two. Blessings are obtained by being worthy and focusing on the things we want to be blessed in. I have learned a lot of the great value of goals and praying for what you want/need. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you" is a phrase repeated some 120 times. I think the next most common promise in scripture, thanks to the Book of Mormon, is if you are obedient to the commandments, you will prosper in the land. It is my continual blessing to be surrounded by dedicated and obedient missionaries who, through their actions and attitudes, make great things happen. I have also learned a lot about a good spirit of competition. Throw down a challenge, and watch the results skyrocket. What a concept.
These are going to be a great last few weeks, I can tell. I am excited for the challenges that face me, and I can't wait for the Lord to show his hand, like he always does. The gospel is great.
Well, I think that's just about all I have for today. Thank you for the patience of everybody that has made it possible for today to not be the day I come home. I still feel that the decision to stay was the best thing for me in every way. I love you all, take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
3
It's so great to see how the Lord puts everything together so perfectly. We've been really blessed to see more people coming to make and keep commitments and prepare for baptism. At the end of trials come great blessings, if we endure well.
In many ways, last week was just hard. Everything felt very heavy and wearisome. We just felt a lot of weight due to the sins of the world I guess you could say. We spent a lot of time meeting new people and every time it was just a discouraging result, time and time and time again. We went through a kaleidoscope of feelings and moods. It was a test, and we had to struggle through it. I normally don't feel down about life. I am a positive person, but even moreso when I know I am doing my part, and having trust in God makes me even more positive. But in many ways, we were running short on hope. After making a point to work hard until the very end, knowing the trial would soon be over, an almost physical weight lifted. On Sunday, from one moment to the next, we just felt better, back to normal. Now, I might not know the reason, or the whole effect, but we made it through some kind of test of our diligence. We didn't break, though it was hard. And now we see blessings. The Lord will take us to where we feel like it is our last effort we can give, and then He provides His strength. The Gospel is true.
I hope you're all well. My time is gone. I love you all.
-Elder Bostwick
In many ways, last week was just hard. Everything felt very heavy and wearisome. We just felt a lot of weight due to the sins of the world I guess you could say. We spent a lot of time meeting new people and every time it was just a discouraging result, time and time and time again. We went through a kaleidoscope of feelings and moods. It was a test, and we had to struggle through it. I normally don't feel down about life. I am a positive person, but even moreso when I know I am doing my part, and having trust in God makes me even more positive. But in many ways, we were running short on hope. After making a point to work hard until the very end, knowing the trial would soon be over, an almost physical weight lifted. On Sunday, from one moment to the next, we just felt better, back to normal. Now, I might not know the reason, or the whole effect, but we made it through some kind of test of our diligence. We didn't break, though it was hard. And now we see blessings. The Lord will take us to where we feel like it is our last effort we can give, and then He provides His strength. The Gospel is true.
I hope you're all well. My time is gone. I love you all.
-Elder Bostwick
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
great weather
It may be that after so long in Arizona, I've finally just adjusted. It might be that Brother Brown has left the air conditioner on a higher temperature recently. Or maybe the temperatures have been unusually merciful for the month of August, but I have felt like the last week has had great weather. I mean, I still stink at the end of every day and it is still the greatest relief of my life to kick off my black leather shoes (which are definitely tired of Arizona, and tired of being worn for that matter), but in many ways there has been a lot of ways that my attitude is improved by the weather.
The forecast looks good too, white in the city of Mesa. I'm happy that I can be here every last day, seeing as up until the last Saturday I will be attending memorable baptisms. We've been teaching a whole family that is excited for everything. They're excited for Scouts, for Relief Society, for the priesthood in their lives, and for the temple as their goal. They're excited for four future missionaries and a whole congregation of family and so much more. We are excited for them, and it is amazing how much the Lord lets us love the people we work with.
On Sunday, I felt like a dad. The elders' quorum president and young womens' president, the Gilgens, had a baby a few weeks ago and they did the blessing on Sunday. The surprise was when Sister Gilgen turned around to beckon me to join in the blessing, and I turned behind me to see who she was looking at, and after some confusion, she made it clear she really did want me to join in the circle for the blessing of her son. I feel a strong admiration for so many dedicated and consecrated members I have met in the mission and their friendship, as much as anything, will be an eternal blessing to me. They show me how the gospel must be lived, and I make notes for the future. Then, afterward in the same meeting, the large, long-haired, three-year-old, half-Native American son of an investigator lady, was going back and forth from one side of the room, where his mom was seated, to me, and being very noisy about it. When it was clear that our little Samson would not be still, and after getting a look from the branch president, I took him out of the meeting. In the hall, we looked at the pictures of Jesus and we talked about how to be good in the chapel. Kids have to adjust to coming to church even more than their parents, but it was strange that it became my job to orient this kid of church behavior. I felt very parental. And it worked! He improved significantly, and every time he forgot to sit quiet with his mom, he would see me standing in the back of the chapel, and I would point to his seat, and he remembered.
Elder Owens and I got to go on an exchange last Thursday and we had a great day together. It was fun to get so much done, but have a good time doing it. It was even fun to be on a bike for the day. I feel more like a missionary on bike and enjoy the extra travel time to think about what we are doing and pray for the people we see and are teaching and sing primary songs. That, too, is a gift from God. It's cool to make connections with American investigators too. Even in one lesson, or one baptismal interview, I feel like I get to know these great people so well. I love them almost as much as I love my own investigators. The Lord brings such wonderful people into his church. We need to work extra hard to keep them fed and loved, because even the strongest of people can become frail and weak after their baptism. The Lord, when we come to him, shows us our weaknesses so they can be strengths. But being humbled hurts when we don't have friends to help us through it. Let's fellowship new members! Elder Owens is a great missionary. His family should be so proud of him. He's always been good, but he has become great.
I don't think I mentioned this, but we're back in the Employment Center. The Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency wanted us to extend the pilot program. So we still work there every Tuesday morning, reporting our progress to Salt Lake. It's very interesting, we meet all kinds of people there. Mostly members who need to repent and draw themselves closer to the Father. It's a hard thing to see, and sometimes I sorrow for justice, but God has his law. When we don't obey his commandments, we don't qualify for his blessings, and it shows. Our English class was fun yesterday as we learned to command people and be powerful. We practiced positive and negative commands. It would be so confusing to try and learn a language without a formal study of it. But our students do good. We even have some non-members that came to English class first, but now come to church on Sundays too, and we've been invited to their house for dinner, though their husbands won't let them get baptized, or that's the story. In any case, it's a success to a certain point.
I love being a missionary. I know life will get better and better, but I cherish every day here. A group of missionaries from my transfer (that started the mission with me) including Elder Rutt, went home today, almost a full 30 days early. That's weird to me. How did time go by so fast?
I'll write you again next week. Be good, have fun. Make good choices ... and all that stuff.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
The forecast looks good too, white in the city of Mesa. I'm happy that I can be here every last day, seeing as up until the last Saturday I will be attending memorable baptisms. We've been teaching a whole family that is excited for everything. They're excited for Scouts, for Relief Society, for the priesthood in their lives, and for the temple as their goal. They're excited for four future missionaries and a whole congregation of family and so much more. We are excited for them, and it is amazing how much the Lord lets us love the people we work with.
On Sunday, I felt like a dad. The elders' quorum president and young womens' president, the Gilgens, had a baby a few weeks ago and they did the blessing on Sunday. The surprise was when Sister Gilgen turned around to beckon me to join in the blessing, and I turned behind me to see who she was looking at, and after some confusion, she made it clear she really did want me to join in the circle for the blessing of her son. I feel a strong admiration for so many dedicated and consecrated members I have met in the mission and their friendship, as much as anything, will be an eternal blessing to me. They show me how the gospel must be lived, and I make notes for the future. Then, afterward in the same meeting, the large, long-haired, three-year-old, half-Native American son of an investigator lady, was going back and forth from one side of the room, where his mom was seated, to me, and being very noisy about it. When it was clear that our little Samson would not be still, and after getting a look from the branch president, I took him out of the meeting. In the hall, we looked at the pictures of Jesus and we talked about how to be good in the chapel. Kids have to adjust to coming to church even more than their parents, but it was strange that it became my job to orient this kid of church behavior. I felt very parental. And it worked! He improved significantly, and every time he forgot to sit quiet with his mom, he would see me standing in the back of the chapel, and I would point to his seat, and he remembered.
Elder Owens and I got to go on an exchange last Thursday and we had a great day together. It was fun to get so much done, but have a good time doing it. It was even fun to be on a bike for the day. I feel more like a missionary on bike and enjoy the extra travel time to think about what we are doing and pray for the people we see and are teaching and sing primary songs. That, too, is a gift from God. It's cool to make connections with American investigators too. Even in one lesson, or one baptismal interview, I feel like I get to know these great people so well. I love them almost as much as I love my own investigators. The Lord brings such wonderful people into his church. We need to work extra hard to keep them fed and loved, because even the strongest of people can become frail and weak after their baptism. The Lord, when we come to him, shows us our weaknesses so they can be strengths. But being humbled hurts when we don't have friends to help us through it. Let's fellowship new members! Elder Owens is a great missionary. His family should be so proud of him. He's always been good, but he has become great.
I don't think I mentioned this, but we're back in the Employment Center. The Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency wanted us to extend the pilot program. So we still work there every Tuesday morning, reporting our progress to Salt Lake. It's very interesting, we meet all kinds of people there. Mostly members who need to repent and draw themselves closer to the Father. It's a hard thing to see, and sometimes I sorrow for justice, but God has his law. When we don't obey his commandments, we don't qualify for his blessings, and it shows. Our English class was fun yesterday as we learned to command people and be powerful. We practiced positive and negative commands. It would be so confusing to try and learn a language without a formal study of it. But our students do good. We even have some non-members that came to English class first, but now come to church on Sundays too, and we've been invited to their house for dinner, though their husbands won't let them get baptized, or that's the story. In any case, it's a success to a certain point.
I love being a missionary. I know life will get better and better, but I cherish every day here. A group of missionaries from my transfer (that started the mission with me) including Elder Rutt, went home today, almost a full 30 days early. That's weird to me. How did time go by so fast?
I'll write you again next week. Be good, have fun. Make good choices ... and all that stuff.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
dear family
Things are well. Elder Snyder and I laugh a lot. We are working very hard and are happy in our work. My time on the computer is gone. Sorry for the short email today.
Love,
Elder Bostwick
Love,
Elder Bostwick
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
time to change
Well, transfer week has come again. Change wouldn't be unfamiliar if I hadn't spent so much time with Elder Argyle, but Elder Argyle flew home to Seattle this morning—it was inevitable—and I had to get a new companion (Elder Rands, not being a Zone Leader, wasn't going to stay with me, we knew that from the beginning).
This last transfer continued our trend of breaking records. We destroyed the zone baptism record and a few other ones also. In our area we also broke some significant records. It is proof of the dedicated service of the great missionaries that I serve with. I am honored to be with them every day.
Elder Argyle's last week turned out to be a really nice one. We had some great investigators show a lot of faith in the Lord and get baptized. It will be my blessing to be able to stay here a while longer and watch the heavens open up and pour blessings on them, because great blessings always come with great sacrifice and faith. I also found out how to buy a marriage license and we had a nice wedding for one of the couples that was baptized. On Sunday, the branch president asked Elder Argyle to come up at the end of sacrament meeting and share his testimony before leaving. Since he has been in this area quite some time, his testimony was emotional for him, and for most of the members and investigators and recent converts in the branch. We all cried. I've really been grateful to serve with Elder Argyle for so long. I learned new things from him every day.
So the transfer news. We have two awesome district leaders, one is the same from last transfer, and the other, Elder Owens (still in Mesa Zone) is the new district leader. I'm so excited, and he'll do great. Two of our junior companions went senior companion, and we have one brand new greenie and a few companionships staying together. Elder Rands was transferred down to San Luis, and he was so excited. As for my companion—the ridiculously unlikely has happened again and I am companions with new zone leader Elder Snyder, otra vez. All the missionaries in the transfer meeting expressed their awe in some great satisfactory "oohs" when our companionship was announced. I am ecstatic. The Lord has let me serve a long time with some really great people.
Right after transfer meeting, I had to announce loudly to a lobby-full of missionaries that "this is my grandma, nobody panic" before I hugged Grandma Jean. The Lunts took Elder Snyder and I to lunch and picked up another suitcase of things I won't need for the rest of my mission, as well as Elder Argyle's guitar. Elder Argyle will get all his things when I get home, just keep it all in my room for now.
I love you all. I am increasingly grateful for every new day in the mission field. Grandpa Terry asked if I had thought about extending—I wish I could. Each day is so rewarding, I would hate to miss any one of them. The friends I am making here mean so much to me, how can the Lord be so good?
I hope everything is well at home, viewing life through streak-free windows. Sometimes the view is great enough you just have to overlook some spots and appreciate what you see. Until next week!
-Elder Sam Bostwick
This last transfer continued our trend of breaking records. We destroyed the zone baptism record and a few other ones also. In our area we also broke some significant records. It is proof of the dedicated service of the great missionaries that I serve with. I am honored to be with them every day.
Elder Argyle's last week turned out to be a really nice one. We had some great investigators show a lot of faith in the Lord and get baptized. It will be my blessing to be able to stay here a while longer and watch the heavens open up and pour blessings on them, because great blessings always come with great sacrifice and faith. I also found out how to buy a marriage license and we had a nice wedding for one of the couples that was baptized. On Sunday, the branch president asked Elder Argyle to come up at the end of sacrament meeting and share his testimony before leaving. Since he has been in this area quite some time, his testimony was emotional for him, and for most of the members and investigators and recent converts in the branch. We all cried. I've really been grateful to serve with Elder Argyle for so long. I learned new things from him every day.
So the transfer news. We have two awesome district leaders, one is the same from last transfer, and the other, Elder Owens (still in Mesa Zone) is the new district leader. I'm so excited, and he'll do great. Two of our junior companions went senior companion, and we have one brand new greenie and a few companionships staying together. Elder Rands was transferred down to San Luis, and he was so excited. As for my companion—the ridiculously unlikely has happened again and I am companions with new zone leader Elder Snyder, otra vez. All the missionaries in the transfer meeting expressed their awe in some great satisfactory "oohs" when our companionship was announced. I am ecstatic. The Lord has let me serve a long time with some really great people.
Right after transfer meeting, I had to announce loudly to a lobby-full of missionaries that "this is my grandma, nobody panic" before I hugged Grandma Jean. The Lunts took Elder Snyder and I to lunch and picked up another suitcase of things I won't need for the rest of my mission, as well as Elder Argyle's guitar. Elder Argyle will get all his things when I get home, just keep it all in my room for now.
I love you all. I am increasingly grateful for every new day in the mission field. Grandpa Terry asked if I had thought about extending—I wish I could. Each day is so rewarding, I would hate to miss any one of them. The friends I am making here mean so much to me, how can the Lord be so good?
I hope everything is well at home, viewing life through streak-free windows. Sometimes the view is great enough you just have to overlook some spots and appreciate what you see. Until next week!
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
loving my mission
I am loving my mission. We have four great baptisms this Saturday, and six others in the zone, which will break our record for baptisms in a transfer—a good way to send Elder Argyle home. We do well in our threesome. The hardest part for me is to try not to compare myself with such great companions. I am definitely dwarfed in the presence of giants.
-Elder Bostwick
-Elder Bostwick
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
this crazy week
I feel like we have been really busy this week, and today is only evidence of that. I already have to be done with emailing. I have spent too much time working on college stuff in the little time I can spend online. Hopefully, step by step some progress can be made. I love you all.
-Elder Bostwick
P.S. Congrats Cecily, that is so exciting! And thanks to whoever was in charge of letting me know the same day!
-Elder Bostwick
P.S. Congrats Cecily, that is so exciting! And thanks to whoever was in charge of letting me know the same day!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
turn up the heat
While it has been consistently hotter than it would be in Utah, the weather had been for quite some time, surprisingly cooler than a normal Arizona summer. We're talking only 105 as the norm instead of 115. But at last the heat has returned, and Elder Rands just shouts out "I love the heat!" To be honest, it is not quite as impacting the second summer as the first—I survived it once, bring it on.
Due to a lot of things that have to get done with a new missionary (new Spanish missionaries get a "training hour" and a full hour of Spanish study; normal Spanish missionaries only get a half hour daily to study Spanish) it feels sometimes that we spend a lot of time inside our house. Add in last week's zone conference, our service in the Employment Center and English classes, meetings on Sunday with stake and branch presidencies, and our two-hour weekly planning session on Fridays, and I am sick of all of these required hours that we are not proselyting. Elder Rands is learning a lot, and we learn a lot from his great attitude about life and missionary service. Elder Argyle and I keep reminding each other that God had a reason in giving us a new elder at this time in our missions, and so we are patient with all the time inside.
In the end, I want to work. The times I have been happiest on my mission, is when we have worked the hardest. There is no secret to happiness in this life, it is written all over the scriptures to be declared by everyone. Be diligent in your duty to the commandments God gives, and you will be happy. I have found considerably increased happiness on my mission than I ever had before because I have been serving other people, rather than catering to my own ever-selfish wants and desires. We went to the temple today and I am pumped to work, not just here for the rest of my mission, but to continue working hard after the mission, for the rest of my life.
The gospel is so true on so many levels and I feel honored and blessed to learn new things every day, to wonder at the works and wonders of our Father in Heaven. My time's out, but I love you all. Take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Due to a lot of things that have to get done with a new missionary (new Spanish missionaries get a "training hour" and a full hour of Spanish study; normal Spanish missionaries only get a half hour daily to study Spanish) it feels sometimes that we spend a lot of time inside our house. Add in last week's zone conference, our service in the Employment Center and English classes, meetings on Sunday with stake and branch presidencies, and our two-hour weekly planning session on Fridays, and I am sick of all of these required hours that we are not proselyting. Elder Rands is learning a lot, and we learn a lot from his great attitude about life and missionary service. Elder Argyle and I keep reminding each other that God had a reason in giving us a new elder at this time in our missions, and so we are patient with all the time inside.
In the end, I want to work. The times I have been happiest on my mission, is when we have worked the hardest. There is no secret to happiness in this life, it is written all over the scriptures to be declared by everyone. Be diligent in your duty to the commandments God gives, and you will be happy. I have found considerably increased happiness on my mission than I ever had before because I have been serving other people, rather than catering to my own ever-selfish wants and desires. We went to the temple today and I am pumped to work, not just here for the rest of my mission, but to continue working hard after the mission, for the rest of my life.
The gospel is so true on so many levels and I feel honored and blessed to learn new things every day, to wonder at the works and wonders of our Father in Heaven. My time's out, but I love you all. Take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
some pictures
These are the Bingham buds. Elders Owens (mid) and Meldrum (right) were companions at the time in my Zone in Mesa.
Jose is about to turn in his mission papers. He comes to a lot of lessons with us. Then me, Elders Snyder, Reynolds, and Argyle.
These are all future missionaries. When I took the picture, the one on the left was a recent convert, and the other three weren't members. Now they are all members and will pass the sacrament on Sunday.
At work.
Elder Argyle, Elder Rands, and me.
The branch campout that we got to go on.
Jose is about to turn in his mission papers. He comes to a lot of lessons with us. Then me, Elders Snyder, Reynolds, and Argyle.
These are all future missionaries. When I took the picture, the one on the left was a recent convert, and the other three weren't members. Now they are all members and will pass the sacrament on Sunday.
At work.
Elder Argyle, Elder Rands, and me.
The branch campout that we got to go on.
clouds, but no rain
We had a great week this last week with an amazing baptismal service. I was able to confirm a ten-year-old kid, which was a first for me. I had never given a blessing of any kind for a child, and it was unique to listen to the language our Father has for young children, so that they can understand what He wants to tell them. With each of our baptisms, we just keep finding new people to teach, whether it be referrals from converts or people that members just start bringing to church or those miracle findings. Our teaching pool just doesn't run dry and we keep a constant flow of new and great people to teach. I am humbled to serve in Mesa.
We've had a few cloudy days, and a bit of wind, but no rain. It has been almost cruel. Although, I am told that monsoon season is near (I missed it last year because I was in San Luis).
We gave one of our final reports to our "boss" in the Employment Center yesterday. We will be serving there until near the end of July, but it seems like we have really gotten a good idea of the potential of the program. In the following weeks, the missionaries and employees in the center are going to help me develop my own resume to begin communicating with a few places in Provo. While I'm there, I might as well make good use of the time, and I know that God with provide for my needs. He provides for us and has promised us time and time again that he that obeys His commandments will prosper in the land.
I am happy here. As much as the heat may rise, and the sun beat down almost as though you could feel it hitting you with physical force, it feels good to spend my time in the service of other people. As I teach the gospel, its wonders open up more and more. Thanks for helping to get me on my mission!
Love,
-Elder Bostwick
We've had a few cloudy days, and a bit of wind, but no rain. It has been almost cruel. Although, I am told that monsoon season is near (I missed it last year because I was in San Luis).
We gave one of our final reports to our "boss" in the Employment Center yesterday. We will be serving there until near the end of July, but it seems like we have really gotten a good idea of the potential of the program. In the following weeks, the missionaries and employees in the center are going to help me develop my own resume to begin communicating with a few places in Provo. While I'm there, I might as well make good use of the time, and I know that God with provide for my needs. He provides for us and has promised us time and time again that he that obeys His commandments will prosper in the land.
I am happy here. As much as the heat may rise, and the sun beat down almost as though you could feel it hitting you with physical force, it feels good to spend my time in the service of other people. As I teach the gospel, its wonders open up more and more. Thanks for helping to get me on my mission!
Love,
-Elder Bostwick
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
!animo!
Someday, I'm going to have to figure out how to type in Spanish. I don't know how to use the language settings on the computer ....
Animo means desire, enthusiasm, or drive and it defines our new missionary. Elder Rands, from the suburbs of Chicago, is huge. He wrestled at Northwestern University in what is a very reputable wrestling program. Physically he is huge, but even better is his huge excitement to be a missionary. With other newer missionaries not having very much drive to learn Spanish well, we have been really grateful and happy to see that Elder Rands wants to talk in Spanish as much as he can. He knows he can't really do the Lord's work until he can speak to the people. Though his speech is now slow, his desire to communicate is visible and endearing and he gets many compliments on his Spanish. By example, he is teaching Elder Snyder's old companion, Elder Reynolds, to step up the passion and speak. It is easy to be happy for Elder Rands's success as he learns many new words each day and gets excited about everything, and telling us how great of missionaries we are. We laugh and tell him he is great too. Truly, his animo is contagious and we have all become more dedicated to the work and we definitely have seen the miracles in even just one week.
We will be having another baptismal service on Friday. Maria Zavala and her kids had their interviews last night and all is ready. We found out that the other area, Elder Reynolds and Elder Burt, will also have a baptism on that day! Elder Burt is good for this area, with a positive way of thinking. Elder Snyder's corneal ulcer weighed down on him and he would say negative things about the area that we knew weren't true, and Elder Burt is proving it. In this first week since he arrived, they have put four people on date.
We were walking in an apartment complex on Friday night. I randomly saw a convert from my days in Queen Creek and we called her mom right there to seek legal help (we need to get a lady divorced and this girl's mom was a judge in Mexico). It was a nice reunion, but even cooler was the fact that as we talked to them, two couples came outside to sit and relax in the early evening that was almost cooling off. As we finished with the girl from Queen Creek, we walked over to talk with the two couples. One couple is from the Pentecostal Church, and they have been taking the other couple to church with them. As we talked, we touched on many doctrinal points, teaching all four of them of the will of God in their lives. Happily, the other couple invited us to come to their home and teach them, and they have remarkable potential to progress rapidly. They were Catholics, converted to another Christian church which turned out to be disappointing, and have just recently started to look to define their faith again. The Lord has prepared them and brought them a long way.
Monday night was supposed to be full of appointments. We needed to have a double exchange to help us teach all the lessons we had scheduled, but after calling everyone in the whole branch, we were supremely denied by every single person. I hope they were all having their Family Home Evening .... Once we got closer to our appointments, they all started to call and cancel. One by one until we almost had nothing to do and we were overall disappointed. Early on, when we had had an appointment scheduled previously, we were contacting an investigator family in an apartment complex that is closed to proselyting. We had received the information for our investigators by referral—the most that is allowed in that particular complex. When our investigators weren't home, we began to leave and were only stopped by an American lady shouting out, "Elders!" She came to us, said she was a member and that the Spirit had her come over to us and she wanted to take us to meet some of her neighbors. We met one neighbor, then another, then went to another, she walked us around and we got several new potential investigators. Even more, she knew our actual investigators and as we finished with her visits, we saw that our investigators had come home so we took her to contact them too. To our surprise, this American member started speaking Spanish when our investigator opened the door, we went in and taught a whole lesson, felt the Spirit strongly and made our investigator's day. There was no doubt that we had made our plans for the day, but that God had made His own plans, and they were better than ours. That lady is a member missionary! And we were so blessed to have her help, even if for just an hour and a half.
I think the gospel gets more true every day. As I discover new truths, my testimony shoots roots deeper and deeper into the soil of the doctrines of the gospel. I find so much happiness in serving these people. It feels so good to sink into bed at night with the spirit as my companion, tired from a full day's work, and ready to sleep truly sound.
I love you, and am happy for the great things you all do. Keep being great! Until next week,
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Animo means desire, enthusiasm, or drive and it defines our new missionary. Elder Rands, from the suburbs of Chicago, is huge. He wrestled at Northwestern University in what is a very reputable wrestling program. Physically he is huge, but even better is his huge excitement to be a missionary. With other newer missionaries not having very much drive to learn Spanish well, we have been really grateful and happy to see that Elder Rands wants to talk in Spanish as much as he can. He knows he can't really do the Lord's work until he can speak to the people. Though his speech is now slow, his desire to communicate is visible and endearing and he gets many compliments on his Spanish. By example, he is teaching Elder Snyder's old companion, Elder Reynolds, to step up the passion and speak. It is easy to be happy for Elder Rands's success as he learns many new words each day and gets excited about everything, and telling us how great of missionaries we are. We laugh and tell him he is great too. Truly, his animo is contagious and we have all become more dedicated to the work and we definitely have seen the miracles in even just one week.
We will be having another baptismal service on Friday. Maria Zavala and her kids had their interviews last night and all is ready. We found out that the other area, Elder Reynolds and Elder Burt, will also have a baptism on that day! Elder Burt is good for this area, with a positive way of thinking. Elder Snyder's corneal ulcer weighed down on him and he would say negative things about the area that we knew weren't true, and Elder Burt is proving it. In this first week since he arrived, they have put four people on date.
We were walking in an apartment complex on Friday night. I randomly saw a convert from my days in Queen Creek and we called her mom right there to seek legal help (we need to get a lady divorced and this girl's mom was a judge in Mexico). It was a nice reunion, but even cooler was the fact that as we talked to them, two couples came outside to sit and relax in the early evening that was almost cooling off. As we finished with the girl from Queen Creek, we walked over to talk with the two couples. One couple is from the Pentecostal Church, and they have been taking the other couple to church with them. As we talked, we touched on many doctrinal points, teaching all four of them of the will of God in their lives. Happily, the other couple invited us to come to their home and teach them, and they have remarkable potential to progress rapidly. They were Catholics, converted to another Christian church which turned out to be disappointing, and have just recently started to look to define their faith again. The Lord has prepared them and brought them a long way.
Monday night was supposed to be full of appointments. We needed to have a double exchange to help us teach all the lessons we had scheduled, but after calling everyone in the whole branch, we were supremely denied by every single person. I hope they were all having their Family Home Evening .... Once we got closer to our appointments, they all started to call and cancel. One by one until we almost had nothing to do and we were overall disappointed. Early on, when we had had an appointment scheduled previously, we were contacting an investigator family in an apartment complex that is closed to proselyting. We had received the information for our investigators by referral—the most that is allowed in that particular complex. When our investigators weren't home, we began to leave and were only stopped by an American lady shouting out, "Elders!" She came to us, said she was a member and that the Spirit had her come over to us and she wanted to take us to meet some of her neighbors. We met one neighbor, then another, then went to another, she walked us around and we got several new potential investigators. Even more, she knew our actual investigators and as we finished with her visits, we saw that our investigators had come home so we took her to contact them too. To our surprise, this American member started speaking Spanish when our investigator opened the door, we went in and taught a whole lesson, felt the Spirit strongly and made our investigator's day. There was no doubt that we had made our plans for the day, but that God had made His own plans, and they were better than ours. That lady is a member missionary! And we were so blessed to have her help, even if for just an hour and a half.
I think the gospel gets more true every day. As I discover new truths, my testimony shoots roots deeper and deeper into the soil of the doctrines of the gospel. I find so much happiness in serving these people. It feels so good to sink into bed at night with the spirit as my companion, tired from a full day's work, and ready to sleep truly sound.
I love you, and am happy for the great things you all do. Keep being great! Until next week,
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
the unexpected
My mission has been kind of full of rather unexpected things. That seems to be Heavenly Father's plan for me: to train me to sit back and trust Him. Speculation is futile, as has been proved to me over and over and over.
Transfers came again. Elder Snyder, after a long time in Mesa, has been sent to the branch in Tempe, where he will enjoy a car and a closer proximity to the doctor's office. In reality, it is a change that I believe should have been made as an "emergency transfer" but I don't make the calls around here. Elder Argyle and I had been together quite a long time and we were not anticipating anything else but for one of us to be transferred. However, as I said before, speculation is futile. I will be seeing Elder Argyle to the end of his mission, making us the longest companionship in known Tempe history. Even more wild and unexpected, President Craig has asked the two of us to train a new missionary together. We set up the bunk bed last night in Brother Brown's house to accommodate another bed and we are all set and very eager and excited to get to work—too bad today is P-Day and we have to relax. Elder Rands is on fire to be here and he will definitely be a powerful addition to our companionship and help us to be proud of our work here in the mission field.
It is nice to hear updates from home. I love the family, and think about you all fondly. Sometimes I even imagine what it would be like to be there, but I know that time goes on as it should and I will be able to pick up right away with all of you. I wish Steven the best, and most of all, that our Father will guide his steps. I've learned a lot about the reality that all of us have a different path, and should go forth confidently. I know this gospel is true. I have very powerful feelings about the plan of salvation, especially in light of Grandma Rose's funeral. I know all that comes to us is for the better, and all the bad that we get or that we bring to ourselves can be turned around for our upbringing and learning. I know that no pain is wasted and no frustration is in vain. Joy is the purpose of our life, but it comes at certain cost.
We went on a trip to the temple visitors' center last night with the youth for a mutual activity. We work with so many youth investigators that this was a powerful missionary activity. My testimony of the mission of Joseph Smith grows every day. By their fruits ye shall know them, and I could spend the rest of my life marveling at the fruits of this great prophet.
Okay, my time really is out. I love you. Take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Transfers came again. Elder Snyder, after a long time in Mesa, has been sent to the branch in Tempe, where he will enjoy a car and a closer proximity to the doctor's office. In reality, it is a change that I believe should have been made as an "emergency transfer" but I don't make the calls around here. Elder Argyle and I had been together quite a long time and we were not anticipating anything else but for one of us to be transferred. However, as I said before, speculation is futile. I will be seeing Elder Argyle to the end of his mission, making us the longest companionship in known Tempe history. Even more wild and unexpected, President Craig has asked the two of us to train a new missionary together. We set up the bunk bed last night in Brother Brown's house to accommodate another bed and we are all set and very eager and excited to get to work—too bad today is P-Day and we have to relax. Elder Rands is on fire to be here and he will definitely be a powerful addition to our companionship and help us to be proud of our work here in the mission field.
It is nice to hear updates from home. I love the family, and think about you all fondly. Sometimes I even imagine what it would be like to be there, but I know that time goes on as it should and I will be able to pick up right away with all of you. I wish Steven the best, and most of all, that our Father will guide his steps. I've learned a lot about the reality that all of us have a different path, and should go forth confidently. I know this gospel is true. I have very powerful feelings about the plan of salvation, especially in light of Grandma Rose's funeral. I know all that comes to us is for the better, and all the bad that we get or that we bring to ourselves can be turned around for our upbringing and learning. I know that no pain is wasted and no frustration is in vain. Joy is the purpose of our life, but it comes at certain cost.
We went on a trip to the temple visitors' center last night with the youth for a mutual activity. We work with so many youth investigators that this was a powerful missionary activity. My testimony of the mission of Joseph Smith grows every day. By their fruits ye shall know them, and I could spend the rest of my life marveling at the fruits of this great prophet.
Okay, my time really is out. I love you. Take care.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
records defeated
Dear Readers,
Elder Argyle and I are a good team. We reviewed the area book and the past records for each of the stats that we turn in and realized that we held several records from the time we have been companions. After looking at the remaining unbroken records, we decided to defeat the records and set new standards for our area. This last week, we defeated the last record we had planned to break (there is only one remaining record, but in order to break it, such as the week it was set, we would have to not teach any lessons and spend all of our time in the street talking to people—we'd rather have lessons). Achieving a goal is a sweet feeling. I have learned a lot from Elder Argyle, and am especially grateful for this last transfer we have had together, since it has done wonders to train me to be a better missionary, and a better man.
This transfer has also included caring for Elder Snyder. His eye slowly recovers, and he goes to the doctor frequently where he, each time, gets a different explanation of why it isn't healing more quickly and a new medication. Supposedly, if it were being treated correctly, it would disappear in a matter of days. After so many blessings and medicine, I am unanswered in why he must go through this, but we are doing all we can to help him get out of the house (he can't ride his bike, so him getting out of the house means going on an exchange with us in the car) and spending a lot of time scrambled up with different companions. God knows why this is happening, and that is the end of questioning.
Yesterday, just before sitting down to dinner with our Relief Society President, President Craig called with the news of Grandma Bostwick. I will miss her. This makes both of Dad's parents whose funerals I was not able to attend due to my missionary service. Again, God knows the reason. I feel that I don't have an emotional need to go to the funeral. Death in the gospel has such a clear perspective that I don't feel much sadness. However, all change has effects, and I feel the effect of a change in our family. I love Grandma Rose and I will be very glad to see her again someday, happier and stronger.
We had a great youth baptismal service on Saturday with a lot of involvement with the youth of our branch. In giving talks or extending welcomes, it was a good opportunity to teach a few of the kids some practical gospel skills. I see it as more evidence that the Church is true, that young people can prepare a talk and present it to a group with clarity, confidence, and testimony. The three kids that were baptized (Jessica, Christian and Alan) are very happy, and we finally began to teach their parents, though they will likely progress much more slowly than their children. We always are happy to see continual progress in our investigators as well as the investigators that other missionaries are working with.
We had a cool experience with a recent convert. He was baptized two weeks ago and the Saturday after his baptism, we went to his house for a lesson, to teach him about the priesthood (he had already been ordained a priest and we wanted him to really understand his duties and privileges as a priesthood holder). When we got to his house, he said he was going to invite a neighbor to hear the gospel, which he did, she came, and he himself began to teach her the about the Restoration, bearing testimony, using the scriptures, and teaching the true doctrines of the Church. This miraculous change from our "so-so" investigator to our new powerful fellowshipper came so quickly as a result of acting on faith. Raul took a leap of faith to be baptized, and his life now is continual evidence of the faith he has to act. The spirit is with him and he is a new man. We took him and his neighbor to the temple visitor's center and he again, bore his testimony with more conviction than we thought was in him. God is great, and this is His work. For as much as we do, we do very little. This change in Raul that is so surprising to us, is exactly the change that He had planned all along, by no accident or chance to the One who really taught Raul to have faith.
I love you all, as I always say, and always mean. I care about what is going on in your lives. Thanks for everything you do to teach me. I have little hope by myself, but I have all reason to hope in the great examples and teachers who surround my life and in the mercy of our Lord, who truly is mighty to save.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Elder Argyle and I are a good team. We reviewed the area book and the past records for each of the stats that we turn in and realized that we held several records from the time we have been companions. After looking at the remaining unbroken records, we decided to defeat the records and set new standards for our area. This last week, we defeated the last record we had planned to break (there is only one remaining record, but in order to break it, such as the week it was set, we would have to not teach any lessons and spend all of our time in the street talking to people—we'd rather have lessons). Achieving a goal is a sweet feeling. I have learned a lot from Elder Argyle, and am especially grateful for this last transfer we have had together, since it has done wonders to train me to be a better missionary, and a better man.
This transfer has also included caring for Elder Snyder. His eye slowly recovers, and he goes to the doctor frequently where he, each time, gets a different explanation of why it isn't healing more quickly and a new medication. Supposedly, if it were being treated correctly, it would disappear in a matter of days. After so many blessings and medicine, I am unanswered in why he must go through this, but we are doing all we can to help him get out of the house (he can't ride his bike, so him getting out of the house means going on an exchange with us in the car) and spending a lot of time scrambled up with different companions. God knows why this is happening, and that is the end of questioning.
Yesterday, just before sitting down to dinner with our Relief Society President, President Craig called with the news of Grandma Bostwick. I will miss her. This makes both of Dad's parents whose funerals I was not able to attend due to my missionary service. Again, God knows the reason. I feel that I don't have an emotional need to go to the funeral. Death in the gospel has such a clear perspective that I don't feel much sadness. However, all change has effects, and I feel the effect of a change in our family. I love Grandma Rose and I will be very glad to see her again someday, happier and stronger.
We had a great youth baptismal service on Saturday with a lot of involvement with the youth of our branch. In giving talks or extending welcomes, it was a good opportunity to teach a few of the kids some practical gospel skills. I see it as more evidence that the Church is true, that young people can prepare a talk and present it to a group with clarity, confidence, and testimony. The three kids that were baptized (Jessica, Christian and Alan) are very happy, and we finally began to teach their parents, though they will likely progress much more slowly than their children. We always are happy to see continual progress in our investigators as well as the investigators that other missionaries are working with.
We had a cool experience with a recent convert. He was baptized two weeks ago and the Saturday after his baptism, we went to his house for a lesson, to teach him about the priesthood (he had already been ordained a priest and we wanted him to really understand his duties and privileges as a priesthood holder). When we got to his house, he said he was going to invite a neighbor to hear the gospel, which he did, she came, and he himself began to teach her the about the Restoration, bearing testimony, using the scriptures, and teaching the true doctrines of the Church. This miraculous change from our "so-so" investigator to our new powerful fellowshipper came so quickly as a result of acting on faith. Raul took a leap of faith to be baptized, and his life now is continual evidence of the faith he has to act. The spirit is with him and he is a new man. We took him and his neighbor to the temple visitor's center and he again, bore his testimony with more conviction than we thought was in him. God is great, and this is His work. For as much as we do, we do very little. This change in Raul that is so surprising to us, is exactly the change that He had planned all along, by no accident or chance to the One who really taught Raul to have faith.
I love you all, as I always say, and always mean. I care about what is going on in your lives. Thanks for everything you do to teach me. I have little hope by myself, but I have all reason to hope in the great examples and teachers who surround my life and in the mercy of our Lord, who truly is mighty to save.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
birthday
Querida Familia,
After two birthdays in the mission already, this third one is rolling around about the same as all the other days. It's funny to think that I've passed the magic line from unofficial adult, to official adult. I can now legally do things that I'm not going to do anyway. Most importantly, I'm told that my brain is supposed to be coming back today, though I think it is hesitant to return to work after eight years of vacation. We are going rock climbing to celebrate (not real rock climbing, but to a rock climbing gym) as a combined Mesa and Tempe Zone activity. We even invited the Assistants, though they didn't sound too enthusiastic about it. It'll be their loss if they don't come. This evening we have a good night lined up, full of good lessons with people who don't know it is my birthday—perfect.
Our meeting with Richard G. Scott was great. It began with technical difficulties—four or five men from the host stake ran around crazy trying to set up a projector that we didn't ever use anyway. Elder Scott also wanted a body microphone so he could walk around, and it took a while to start working. The whole time I kept thinking, "We're losing apostle-time." In the end, Elder Scott wasn't too worried about keeping all the time for himself anyway. Nor did he worry about ending on time, so it turned out all right. One thing I have noticed about presiding authorities is that they know they can do whatever they want. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Elder Scott gave time to our mission president, and Sister Craig also had some time to speak to us. Accompanying Elder Scott was a new member of the first quorum of seventy, Elder Ringwood (or something like that). He also gave us great counsel and encouragement. We spent some time on a roleplay to better our teaching, and then Elder Scott had the last words. He talked about staying active after our missions. He talked about setting our temple sealing as the number one priority in life after the mission. He reaffirmed so many things I think about. But truly, I wish all the missionaries were prepared enough to have received a higher message.
When Elder Perry came, our leaders talked to us about coming to the meeting prepared to be taught, prepared to feel the Spirit and be inspired. We did prepare ourselves and we were filled that day. We looked as we should have, we acted as we should have, we prayed as we should have during the meeting. We were humbled and honored to be blessed. People forget so quickly. Many missionaries did what they should have to come to the meeting prepared and open to receive Elder Scott's teaching, but so many missionaries needed to be told not to go inactive after their missions. This is a tragedy to me. Of course, it is right that he direct his focus on the weakest of us. There was no wrong on the part of Elder Scott, but I lament that as a mission, we have not strengthened the weak among us enough to know that each one of us will do at least the bare minimum to obey the commandments upon returning home. It is, therefore, the duty of the stronger to strengthen the weak, that they too become strong. If only we had learned this before Saturday, we might have heard more than powerful affirmations of what we have already heard, but rather had the mysteries of God revealed to us.
Elder Snyder's eye, which has not healed from before Mother's Day, was finally diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, a very painful and expensive illness. A white ball of bacteria has been eating his eye. The treatment is about as painful as the original sickness, involving acidic eye drops (the most expensive eye drops in existence according to the doctor) that would be poisonous to a normal eye and dilate his eye intensely. Because of the pain he has had before and during the treatment, he and Elder Reynolds have been unable to work. We've spent some time on exchanges to help Elder Reynolds get out of the house and not go crazy. Elder Snyder and I were together for all of Sunday, going to an hour of church, and nothing else all day. It is good to have such a good friend here in the mission, even if his eye is eating itself.
Satan uses every attack he can to prevent people from getting baptized. One of the kids that was going to be baptized on Saturday had an allergic reaction to a new laundry soap on Friday and the emergency room doctor forbade him from getting wet for the next four or five days. When he realized he could not get baptized as scheduled, he began to cry and his Catholic mom just had to say, "Don't worry, you'll get baptized, I promise." He and his brother and sister will be baptized this Saturday instead, assuming Christian doesn't meet up with a nasty bucket of rash-inducing laundry soap. We still had some fabulous baptisms and God continues to bless us in the branch.
I should go. I love you all. I hope you are well. Enjoy the nice Utah weather. And we'll enjoy the heat wave. I always longingly gaze at the clouds that so faithfully stay away from the Phoenix valley. Someday.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
After two birthdays in the mission already, this third one is rolling around about the same as all the other days. It's funny to think that I've passed the magic line from unofficial adult, to official adult. I can now legally do things that I'm not going to do anyway. Most importantly, I'm told that my brain is supposed to be coming back today, though I think it is hesitant to return to work after eight years of vacation. We are going rock climbing to celebrate (not real rock climbing, but to a rock climbing gym) as a combined Mesa and Tempe Zone activity. We even invited the Assistants, though they didn't sound too enthusiastic about it. It'll be their loss if they don't come. This evening we have a good night lined up, full of good lessons with people who don't know it is my birthday—perfect.
Our meeting with Richard G. Scott was great. It began with technical difficulties—four or five men from the host stake ran around crazy trying to set up a projector that we didn't ever use anyway. Elder Scott also wanted a body microphone so he could walk around, and it took a while to start working. The whole time I kept thinking, "We're losing apostle-time." In the end, Elder Scott wasn't too worried about keeping all the time for himself anyway. Nor did he worry about ending on time, so it turned out all right. One thing I have noticed about presiding authorities is that they know they can do whatever they want. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Elder Scott gave time to our mission president, and Sister Craig also had some time to speak to us. Accompanying Elder Scott was a new member of the first quorum of seventy, Elder Ringwood (or something like that). He also gave us great counsel and encouragement. We spent some time on a roleplay to better our teaching, and then Elder Scott had the last words. He talked about staying active after our missions. He talked about setting our temple sealing as the number one priority in life after the mission. He reaffirmed so many things I think about. But truly, I wish all the missionaries were prepared enough to have received a higher message.
When Elder Perry came, our leaders talked to us about coming to the meeting prepared to be taught, prepared to feel the Spirit and be inspired. We did prepare ourselves and we were filled that day. We looked as we should have, we acted as we should have, we prayed as we should have during the meeting. We were humbled and honored to be blessed. People forget so quickly. Many missionaries did what they should have to come to the meeting prepared and open to receive Elder Scott's teaching, but so many missionaries needed to be told not to go inactive after their missions. This is a tragedy to me. Of course, it is right that he direct his focus on the weakest of us. There was no wrong on the part of Elder Scott, but I lament that as a mission, we have not strengthened the weak among us enough to know that each one of us will do at least the bare minimum to obey the commandments upon returning home. It is, therefore, the duty of the stronger to strengthen the weak, that they too become strong. If only we had learned this before Saturday, we might have heard more than powerful affirmations of what we have already heard, but rather had the mysteries of God revealed to us.
Elder Snyder's eye, which has not healed from before Mother's Day, was finally diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, a very painful and expensive illness. A white ball of bacteria has been eating his eye. The treatment is about as painful as the original sickness, involving acidic eye drops (the most expensive eye drops in existence according to the doctor) that would be poisonous to a normal eye and dilate his eye intensely. Because of the pain he has had before and during the treatment, he and Elder Reynolds have been unable to work. We've spent some time on exchanges to help Elder Reynolds get out of the house and not go crazy. Elder Snyder and I were together for all of Sunday, going to an hour of church, and nothing else all day. It is good to have such a good friend here in the mission, even if his eye is eating itself.
Satan uses every attack he can to prevent people from getting baptized. One of the kids that was going to be baptized on Saturday had an allergic reaction to a new laundry soap on Friday and the emergency room doctor forbade him from getting wet for the next four or five days. When he realized he could not get baptized as scheduled, he began to cry and his Catholic mom just had to say, "Don't worry, you'll get baptized, I promise." He and his brother and sister will be baptized this Saturday instead, assuming Christian doesn't meet up with a nasty bucket of rash-inducing laundry soap. We still had some fabulous baptisms and God continues to bless us in the branch.
I should go. I love you all. I hope you are well. Enjoy the nice Utah weather. And we'll enjoy the heat wave. I always longingly gaze at the clouds that so faithfully stay away from the Phoenix valley. Someday.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
the master's hand
This morning was a temple day, which we scheduled to help get our zone ready for Saturday. Saturday will bring a meeting with Elder Richard G. Scott. He is assigned to a stake conference in Gilbert, and called our mission president. President Craig says the conversation was something like this, "Robert, I'm going to be in your mission doing a stake conference at the end of May, and I would like to meet with your missionaries on the morning of May 30th. Does that sound all right?" And in the obvious response to anything an apostle asks, President Craig said yes. I'll let you know how the meeting goes. When Elder Perry came, he was accompanied by a pre-apostle Elder Anderson. The two of them together took two hours. Elder Scott has requested three hours all to himself ... I'm very excited.
An amazing gift is to be able to look back in retrospect. The coolest part about it, is that a retrospect view changes every single day. We are able to see the Master's hand in everything we do, as long as we look for it. Even frustration of plans works to the overall benefit of the Father's purposes. Let me tell you some stories.
As a commitment to the Assistants and to help find new investigators for all areas in the mission, we are contacting inactive families, especially where it is likely that the inactive member has immediate family members (like spouse or children) who have not been baptized. This has been called the "low hanging fruit" though that might be less than true in many cases. We contacted a brother in the branch, and it turns out that he is the oldest in a family with three inactive brothers, two non-member brothers, and five non-member wives. The youngest brother is 11, and all the brothers want to get him into scouts and baptized. Being a pretty normal 11-year-old, Jorge (the youngest) didn't want to go to scouts until he found out that one of his friends from school goes to scouts too. This friend happens to be an investigator who will be getting baptized this Saturday, who was a referral from the recent-convert neighbor next door, and this chain to get a non-member kid to church to help reactivate his whole family and baptize all the non-members is in no way a coincidence or a stroke of luck, rather a calculated plan that our Father has always intended for each person involved.
One day, before getting out of our car to make some contacts in an apartment complex, another missionary called us with a minor problem that we had to fix immediately. We spent a few extra minutes in the car making calls to make sure everything would be okay. When we got out, I was disappointed that the time we could have used to contact some potential investigators and maybe have a quick visit and lesson had been used up fixing other people's problems. As we passed the mailboxes in the apartments, we met a lady named Manuela. She had been going to her apartment and was not planning to go to the mailbox, but kept getting the idea to go check the mail. In the end, she finally gave in and headed for the mailbox. When we met, she told us how she had had a phone number for missionaries in her house for a few years, but that she'd always hesitated to call. When she finally called, the number didn't even work anymore and she lost hope of talking to missionaries that spoke Spanish. She talked about how much she admired the members she had met and how she loved our style of life. She asked us if we had a Book of Mormon with us (which, of course we did) and if we could come by and talk to her and her husband. But then she said, well, we aren't married and we drink and I smoke so we have things we have to change .... If any returned missionary can imagine this kind of conversation on the street where somebody asks all the right questions and volunteers all the necessary information to know how to get this person baptized into the church, you'll understand how amazed we were. Each lesson we have had with Manuela and her soon-to-be husband, Jaime, we have had a different fellowshipper. This would normally be a bad thing, and we have tried to prevent it. But in the process of bringing various members into their home, each new friend has fortified this couple and been an essential step in their conversion. When they finally came to church on Sunday, both Manuela and Jaime felt like they were coming home and were so warmly welcomed that they left after their first time at church with a kind of conversion I have only read about in the scriptures. Both immediately committed to leave behind old habits and get married to prepare for baptism. A miracle that only the Master could provide.
I know this gospel is true. I don't believe it to be truth, or think it's true, but I know it. I have seen it in action, and seen it change lives, including my own. It really is all true. What did I do to deserve this blessing in my life? Or a better question, how do I make sure it doesn't go to waste? I love you all. Have a good week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
An amazing gift is to be able to look back in retrospect. The coolest part about it, is that a retrospect view changes every single day. We are able to see the Master's hand in everything we do, as long as we look for it. Even frustration of plans works to the overall benefit of the Father's purposes. Let me tell you some stories.
As a commitment to the Assistants and to help find new investigators for all areas in the mission, we are contacting inactive families, especially where it is likely that the inactive member has immediate family members (like spouse or children) who have not been baptized. This has been called the "low hanging fruit" though that might be less than true in many cases. We contacted a brother in the branch, and it turns out that he is the oldest in a family with three inactive brothers, two non-member brothers, and five non-member wives. The youngest brother is 11, and all the brothers want to get him into scouts and baptized. Being a pretty normal 11-year-old, Jorge (the youngest) didn't want to go to scouts until he found out that one of his friends from school goes to scouts too. This friend happens to be an investigator who will be getting baptized this Saturday, who was a referral from the recent-convert neighbor next door, and this chain to get a non-member kid to church to help reactivate his whole family and baptize all the non-members is in no way a coincidence or a stroke of luck, rather a calculated plan that our Father has always intended for each person involved.
One day, before getting out of our car to make some contacts in an apartment complex, another missionary called us with a minor problem that we had to fix immediately. We spent a few extra minutes in the car making calls to make sure everything would be okay. When we got out, I was disappointed that the time we could have used to contact some potential investigators and maybe have a quick visit and lesson had been used up fixing other people's problems. As we passed the mailboxes in the apartments, we met a lady named Manuela. She had been going to her apartment and was not planning to go to the mailbox, but kept getting the idea to go check the mail. In the end, she finally gave in and headed for the mailbox. When we met, she told us how she had had a phone number for missionaries in her house for a few years, but that she'd always hesitated to call. When she finally called, the number didn't even work anymore and she lost hope of talking to missionaries that spoke Spanish. She talked about how much she admired the members she had met and how she loved our style of life. She asked us if we had a Book of Mormon with us (which, of course we did) and if we could come by and talk to her and her husband. But then she said, well, we aren't married and we drink and I smoke so we have things we have to change .... If any returned missionary can imagine this kind of conversation on the street where somebody asks all the right questions and volunteers all the necessary information to know how to get this person baptized into the church, you'll understand how amazed we were. Each lesson we have had with Manuela and her soon-to-be husband, Jaime, we have had a different fellowshipper. This would normally be a bad thing, and we have tried to prevent it. But in the process of bringing various members into their home, each new friend has fortified this couple and been an essential step in their conversion. When they finally came to church on Sunday, both Manuela and Jaime felt like they were coming home and were so warmly welcomed that they left after their first time at church with a kind of conversion I have only read about in the scriptures. Both immediately committed to leave behind old habits and get married to prepare for baptism. A miracle that only the Master could provide.
I know this gospel is true. I don't believe it to be truth, or think it's true, but I know it. I have seen it in action, and seen it change lives, including my own. It really is all true. What did I do to deserve this blessing in my life? Or a better question, how do I make sure it doesn't go to waste? I love you all. Have a good week.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
a busy week in mesa
We have been very busy this week. Busy weeks feel really great. It feels so productive, so planned out, so valuable. It means we didn't lose any of the last week. It also makes time zoom by. I'm going to have to accept it, I can't be a missionary forever.
I'm so sorry, but I really don't have much time today, I had other emails to write. But I'll write quickly.
We are working to prepare some people for baptism. We have a family that we are teaching. The kids speak better English, and the mom speaks better Spanish. This means that we usually split up when we teach the lessons. The kids love stories from the scriptures, and it is so fun to choose a story that will teach a specific principle and talk about it to them. They love hearing about Jesus. Meanwhile, the mom just absorbs true doctrine. One time she had confusion about Jesus Christ and Jehovah being the same person, and she was questioning us. A member from work cleared it all up for her and she decided never to disagree with what we taught again. We still invite her to pray and study for her own answers, that she doesn't just have to blindly trust what we say just because we say it. However, her sincerity and humility is touching and she is a noble example for her kids.
We went to the visitor's center with an investigator on Monday. After watching the movie about Joseph Smith, he threw his arms into the air and almost shouted (in Spanish), "It's all true! Isn't it?" The Spirit was thick as we testified of the Savior, the Restoration, and the temples. What an experience.
God has blessed me with a really strange gift. It is the ability to keep my cool in the face of another person's anger. When somebody gets upset, I find it almost impossible to get upset myself. We had a recent convert who was stressed about new callings her and her husband were receiving and the sacrifice of time "demanded" of them, and she was getting herself worked up. She then started to blame people and her husband for silly things and it could have been a disastrous situation. But Elder Argyle and I, coolly and calmly testified of the Jesus Christ, and that life, though a delicate balance, can be maintained as we are dedicated to righteous living. We taught them to cleave to teachings of modern prophets. In the end, we were blessed with a very spiritual lesson that began with her being upset. It was truly the work of God.
Okay, my time is up. I love you all and I hope you are all well. I constantly pray for you, but I don't constantly think about you.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
I'm so sorry, but I really don't have much time today, I had other emails to write. But I'll write quickly.
We are working to prepare some people for baptism. We have a family that we are teaching. The kids speak better English, and the mom speaks better Spanish. This means that we usually split up when we teach the lessons. The kids love stories from the scriptures, and it is so fun to choose a story that will teach a specific principle and talk about it to them. They love hearing about Jesus. Meanwhile, the mom just absorbs true doctrine. One time she had confusion about Jesus Christ and Jehovah being the same person, and she was questioning us. A member from work cleared it all up for her and she decided never to disagree with what we taught again. We still invite her to pray and study for her own answers, that she doesn't just have to blindly trust what we say just because we say it. However, her sincerity and humility is touching and she is a noble example for her kids.
We went to the visitor's center with an investigator on Monday. After watching the movie about Joseph Smith, he threw his arms into the air and almost shouted (in Spanish), "It's all true! Isn't it?" The Spirit was thick as we testified of the Savior, the Restoration, and the temples. What an experience.
God has blessed me with a really strange gift. It is the ability to keep my cool in the face of another person's anger. When somebody gets upset, I find it almost impossible to get upset myself. We had a recent convert who was stressed about new callings her and her husband were receiving and the sacrifice of time "demanded" of them, and she was getting herself worked up. She then started to blame people and her husband for silly things and it could have been a disastrous situation. But Elder Argyle and I, coolly and calmly testified of the Jesus Christ, and that life, though a delicate balance, can be maintained as we are dedicated to righteous living. We taught them to cleave to teachings of modern prophets. In the end, we were blessed with a very spiritual lesson that began with her being upset. It was truly the work of God.
Okay, my time is up. I love you all and I hope you are all well. I constantly pray for you, but I don't constantly think about you.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
maybe a little preachy ....
Dear everybody,
Well, it's been just a few days since I talked with the family (most of the family) on the phone for Mothers' Day. It was very nice, though there was a lot of business to discuss. I love the chances to talk home, but it does make me wonder just how different am I from two years ago? Whatever the case may be, I know the changes have been for the better, and I know that I still have a lot to learn and a lot of progress to make. Good thing I'm not coming home for a really long time still—I need every moment I can get.
Elder Argyle and I make a good team. We have such good relationships with other people as a companionship. We gave a referral to the English-speaking elders for a man we met in the street, but we keep seeing the man, and we teach him on the spot just as much as "his" missionaries teach him. He is so prepared for the gospel; seeing how much he loves to read the Book of Mormon and how much joy he finds in the restored gospel truths is just a joy. Other missionaries' investigators we meet once, maybe twice on exchanges with other elders remember us and want us to be part of their baptismal services. Even the youth in our branch trust us so much that we feel like we can teach them obedience and other gospel principles so easily, because they will respect what we say to them.
It is amazing to watch people's hearts open to change. To see a person come to repentance and grow closer to Christ in any way by small and simple things brings me to a higher plain of joy. Active members can still be uplifted and taught, and I feel so honored that God has put us two in the position to help so many people. Even in silly ways, we have found so many doors to invite people to hear of the gospel and to change their lives. At times it feels comical that as we, two kids, invite people to change habits and repent, that they actually do it. The trust that can be developed as we live honorable lives does so much for the glory of God, and for the furthering of His work. It is a lesson to all. As we model our lives after Christ, the loving, trust-filled relationships we form will be maximized and we can uplift those we love. Only as we become like the Savior and obtain this honor and respect, can we find ourselves being a positive influence in every life we touch.
Of course, we all have flaws and weaknesses, and being truly Christ-like feels so far away, at times even unattainable. This is how we, as Latter-day Saints understand the atonement so well. We understand that it is not only the power by which we become clean of really big sins, but even more it is the force that enables us to modify our lives and move away from imperfect desires. We understand that just because a person is not bad, does not mean they have become like the Savior. The absence of bad does not automatically constitute good, and neutrality can never be a permanent state. The absence of bad, and the everlasting presence of righteous thoughts, actions, and habits is what makes a person like Christ. As we invite people to come to Christ, we don't simply ask them to empty their lives of bad practices, but then at the same turn fill it with uplifting activities. We understand that the quickest way to eliminate sin from our lives is to occupy all our time in righteous pursuits. We must fill our lives to maximum capacity with daily scripture study and prayer, magnifying our callings, serving our neighbors and others, and providing acts of charity to the needy. Only then can we avoid the sins of slothfulness, gluttony, and other temptations that come to us as our hands and hearts are unoccupied. This purifying process is the atonement in action.
Understanding this process also reminds us that mercy is essential. Perfection is not achieved in one day. And we definitely should not put off righteous action until we have been cleaned from all imperfection, for that is not how it works. The day to start is today, understanding our weaknesses and having hope in the process of the atonement. We are each at a different level, and the only one we can afford to evaluate and judge is our own self. Let us be engaged in a righteous cause and leave the old self behind. We must fight the good fight and declare by our actions that we are disciples of Christ, not merely students of his words.
I love you all. Be good.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Well, it's been just a few days since I talked with the family (most of the family) on the phone for Mothers' Day. It was very nice, though there was a lot of business to discuss. I love the chances to talk home, but it does make me wonder just how different am I from two years ago? Whatever the case may be, I know the changes have been for the better, and I know that I still have a lot to learn and a lot of progress to make. Good thing I'm not coming home for a really long time still—I need every moment I can get.
Elder Argyle and I make a good team. We have such good relationships with other people as a companionship. We gave a referral to the English-speaking elders for a man we met in the street, but we keep seeing the man, and we teach him on the spot just as much as "his" missionaries teach him. He is so prepared for the gospel; seeing how much he loves to read the Book of Mormon and how much joy he finds in the restored gospel truths is just a joy. Other missionaries' investigators we meet once, maybe twice on exchanges with other elders remember us and want us to be part of their baptismal services. Even the youth in our branch trust us so much that we feel like we can teach them obedience and other gospel principles so easily, because they will respect what we say to them.
It is amazing to watch people's hearts open to change. To see a person come to repentance and grow closer to Christ in any way by small and simple things brings me to a higher plain of joy. Active members can still be uplifted and taught, and I feel so honored that God has put us two in the position to help so many people. Even in silly ways, we have found so many doors to invite people to hear of the gospel and to change their lives. At times it feels comical that as we, two kids, invite people to change habits and repent, that they actually do it. The trust that can be developed as we live honorable lives does so much for the glory of God, and for the furthering of His work. It is a lesson to all. As we model our lives after Christ, the loving, trust-filled relationships we form will be maximized and we can uplift those we love. Only as we become like the Savior and obtain this honor and respect, can we find ourselves being a positive influence in every life we touch.
Of course, we all have flaws and weaknesses, and being truly Christ-like feels so far away, at times even unattainable. This is how we, as Latter-day Saints understand the atonement so well. We understand that it is not only the power by which we become clean of really big sins, but even more it is the force that enables us to modify our lives and move away from imperfect desires. We understand that just because a person is not bad, does not mean they have become like the Savior. The absence of bad does not automatically constitute good, and neutrality can never be a permanent state. The absence of bad, and the everlasting presence of righteous thoughts, actions, and habits is what makes a person like Christ. As we invite people to come to Christ, we don't simply ask them to empty their lives of bad practices, but then at the same turn fill it with uplifting activities. We understand that the quickest way to eliminate sin from our lives is to occupy all our time in righteous pursuits. We must fill our lives to maximum capacity with daily scripture study and prayer, magnifying our callings, serving our neighbors and others, and providing acts of charity to the needy. Only then can we avoid the sins of slothfulness, gluttony, and other temptations that come to us as our hands and hearts are unoccupied. This purifying process is the atonement in action.
Understanding this process also reminds us that mercy is essential. Perfection is not achieved in one day. And we definitely should not put off righteous action until we have been cleaned from all imperfection, for that is not how it works. The day to start is today, understanding our weaknesses and having hope in the process of the atonement. We are each at a different level, and the only one we can afford to evaluate and judge is our own self. Let us be engaged in a righteous cause and leave the old self behind. We must fight the good fight and declare by our actions that we are disciples of Christ, not merely students of his words.
I love you all. Be good.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
not transferred, no, not one
Transfers are always a hard time for me, and have become even more so recently. Even if you get to stay in your area, and stay with your companion that you get along great with, there are inevitably other missionaries that you have made great friendships with who will be transferred. It gets more and more nerve-wracking each transfer as I realize the possibility of serving with my friends again in another zone in the future is getting slimmer and slimmer. I reaffirm my decision to never come home and stay in the mission forever. Look, it was counted for righteousness for John and the Three Nephites, why can't my wish be granted too?
Elder Argyle and I are, in fact, staying together, as are Elder Snyder and his companion. Elder Argyle and I were surprised to be staying together for a third transfer (if you remember from the famous Elders Bostwick and Snyder companionship, two elders usually serve together for two transfers tops), though we think the decision was influenced by our assignment in the Employment Center, or maybe because we are a great team teaching investigators, members, and other missionaries, or perhaps because we keep finding and teaching amazing new people. All in all, we are happy with the results, and we will have yet another strong zone for the coming weeks.
We, of course, look forward to Mothers' Day and will call on Saturday to make arrangements for a time to call home. We are on the afternoon church schedule, so we'll have to coordinate this like clockworks.
As of Monday, I left for Nauvoo over two years ago ... can somebody shove a broom handle in the Hudsucker Industries clock and stop time from moving so fast?
To respond to a comment Mom made in her email to me about el Cinco de Mayo, I would like to clear the record. We had no fiestas on 5 May, and I assure you that there were very few fiestas on 5 May in Mexico, not necessarily because of the Swine Flu, but rather 5 May is a trivial memorial to some revolutionist somewhere in Mexican history. In the United States, we have a concept that Cinco de Mayo is something like the Mexican Independence Day, and we feel we are honoring our neighbors to the south by celebrating with them. This is merely more evidence to prove how silly we can be in the United States. El Dia de Independencia is on 16 September, a day worthy of note and celebrating. It is a huge celebration accompanied with dances, fireworks, killer food, music, and at night, it is traditional to fire a few bullets into the air (a practice which is illegal nowadays in populated areas because what goes up must come down and people were being killed by bullets falling from the sky). Yesterday was a completely normal day, which we only celebrated as the day before transfers, getting tasty 40-cent buffalo wings for lunch after the Employment Center, and then taking an eight o'clock dinner with Elder Snyder and Elder Reynolds at our house to watch Legacy (which we are allowed to watch, of course). Thank you for listening to my brief cultural history lesson!
So, resume sending mail to my previous address.
All right, I've gone on enough. I look forward to talking with whoever I get a chance to talk to on Sunday. I love you all and I do look forward to seeing you. Thank you for your prayers, love, support, and mail ... it is all greatly appreciated and needed.
Love,
Elder Sam Bostwick
P.S. Our baptisms this weekend all went awesome. I got a lot of surprising compliments on a talk on the Holy Ghost I gave at an English baptism (long story) and the good news is I still remember how to share my testimony in my own language.
Elder Argyle and I are, in fact, staying together, as are Elder Snyder and his companion. Elder Argyle and I were surprised to be staying together for a third transfer (if you remember from the famous Elders Bostwick and Snyder companionship, two elders usually serve together for two transfers tops), though we think the decision was influenced by our assignment in the Employment Center, or maybe because we are a great team teaching investigators, members, and other missionaries, or perhaps because we keep finding and teaching amazing new people. All in all, we are happy with the results, and we will have yet another strong zone for the coming weeks.
We, of course, look forward to Mothers' Day and will call on Saturday to make arrangements for a time to call home. We are on the afternoon church schedule, so we'll have to coordinate this like clockworks.
As of Monday, I left for Nauvoo over two years ago ... can somebody shove a broom handle in the Hudsucker Industries clock and stop time from moving so fast?
To respond to a comment Mom made in her email to me about el Cinco de Mayo, I would like to clear the record. We had no fiestas on 5 May, and I assure you that there were very few fiestas on 5 May in Mexico, not necessarily because of the Swine Flu, but rather 5 May is a trivial memorial to some revolutionist somewhere in Mexican history. In the United States, we have a concept that Cinco de Mayo is something like the Mexican Independence Day, and we feel we are honoring our neighbors to the south by celebrating with them. This is merely more evidence to prove how silly we can be in the United States. El Dia de Independencia is on 16 September, a day worthy of note and celebrating. It is a huge celebration accompanied with dances, fireworks, killer food, music, and at night, it is traditional to fire a few bullets into the air (a practice which is illegal nowadays in populated areas because what goes up must come down and people were being killed by bullets falling from the sky). Yesterday was a completely normal day, which we only celebrated as the day before transfers, getting tasty 40-cent buffalo wings for lunch after the Employment Center, and then taking an eight o'clock dinner with Elder Snyder and Elder Reynolds at our house to watch Legacy (which we are allowed to watch, of course). Thank you for listening to my brief cultural history lesson!
So, resume sending mail to my previous address.
All right, I've gone on enough. I look forward to talking with whoever I get a chance to talk to on Sunday. I love you all and I do look forward to seeing you. Thank you for your prayers, love, support, and mail ... it is all greatly appreciated and needed.
Love,
Elder Sam Bostwick
P.S. Our baptisms this weekend all went awesome. I got a lot of surprising compliments on a talk on the Holy Ghost I gave at an English baptism (long story) and the good news is I still remember how to share my testimony in my own language.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
transfers coming
To knock out the first item of business right away, transfers are next Wednesday. Therefore, in case of a transfer, send all mail for the time being to the mission office at 1871 E. Del Rio Drive, Tempe, AZ, 85282. Thank you.
A few weeks ago, I asked again what type of news would be welcome in these weekly updates. I was told stories of conversions, and specific lessons that we had. Almost as if in response, we had an astounding week with some amazingly memorable lessons, and I would be happy to share a few of them. As for conversions, I will do my best, but the nature of conversion means that I could be sharing the conversion of a nonmember who never gets baptized, or a conversion of a bishop or ward mission leader, who we would have normally thought had "converted" a long time ago. Conversion is endless and continuous, and we could talk for ages about stories of different levels of conversion. But as for some lessons:
Dino is a 23-year-old single guy who left his home in El Paso to start his life over, looking for something better. On his way to Colorado, he took a wrong turn and ended up in Tucson, where he got a job, had success and was quickly transferred to Phoenix to work for the same company here. When he arrived at his new apartment in Mesa, the first people he met were the missionaries. We helped him move in and got to know him a bit. The next day, we helped him return his U-Haul truck and invited him to come to a Spanish singles activity with us. He is hysterical, and has liked getting involved with the single adults, but we hadn't officially taught him until Friday. We took a member with us and they bonded immediately. We taught him the message of the Restoration at the church and the Spirit was so strong. I love teaching the Restoration, it's like a history lesson, but way better. The history of God's kingdom, before Christ, during Christ's life, and in modern day. Super cool, and the Spirit helps us every single time we quote the first vision. It was a particularly powerful lesson with Dino, and we all were amazed at how impacted we were, especially after a strong testimony from our member exchange (who since then has been a perfect fellowshipper, spending time with Dino and making sure he came to church and all that good stuff). I loved it.
We are teaching some kids, a 15-year-old girl named Jessica and her two little brothers, Christian (13), and Alan (12). They are super cool, and especially the two boys just look up to us. They have been impressive at actually learning the doctrines of the Restoration, memorizing the steps to the gospel and the names of the three kingdoms of glory, or remembering all ten of the ten commandments and what we shouldn't take into our bodies because they are temples. It's a joy to teach them and, though I don't have a specific lesson to tell about, they are just great investigators, and we'll get their parents soon ...
We have started with a family who is looking for a church. It is a single mother and four kids. They have been looking for a church that they all like for about a year, and when we told them what time sacrament meeting starts, they all cheered because they can sleep in two more hours. The boys are already active in scouts or cub scouts and love it after just a few weeks and we really are happy about how well the youth do to embrace our investigators and involve them as new friends. They look very promising, and it really is just a matter of time. In our last lesson, the oldest son asked him mom when he could be baptized. I might have seen Elder Argyle pass him a five dollar bill, but I think it was just my imagination ... j/k.
Luis Moegel has progressed fast. His story is a good example that we need to invite everybody to hear the gospel. We received a referral for a girl in this trailer park. When we got to her home, she wasn't there, but we started to teach her parents off-handedly. During the talk, the dad's brother walked in, who they had told us was not religious. We weren't feeling really impressed with the parents, but we left them and the brother a copy of the Book of Mormon, with assigned chapters to read. And really, we didn't hear more about it, until by chance a few weeks later we went back and talked to the uncle of our referral who had in fact read the chapter and others, felt the Spirit, went to the Easter Pageant and was waiting for us to come back to learn more. After very few lessons, he is going to be baptized on Saturday, evidence that God prepares people to receive the gospel and He will work in a round-about way to get it to "the elect." When we asked him if he wanted to be baptized, we said he was going to ask us if he could earlier, but he wasn't sure if he was allowed to be baptized yet. It all turned out perfectly, and we all felt the Spirit really strong as we set his baptismal date. Luis is awesome, and has a huge desire to serve his fellowman and brothers in and out of the Church. We're already trying to get him a calling in the Branch.
That's just a few, but I'd like to keep talking about more. The work is going very well in Mesa right now, and we are abundantly blessed to be able to help people learn of the truth. I love you all, and I hope you are sharing your testimonies with everyone. Just because somebody is already a member, doesn't mean you can't be their missionary. Conversion is a life-long process.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
A few weeks ago, I asked again what type of news would be welcome in these weekly updates. I was told stories of conversions, and specific lessons that we had. Almost as if in response, we had an astounding week with some amazingly memorable lessons, and I would be happy to share a few of them. As for conversions, I will do my best, but the nature of conversion means that I could be sharing the conversion of a nonmember who never gets baptized, or a conversion of a bishop or ward mission leader, who we would have normally thought had "converted" a long time ago. Conversion is endless and continuous, and we could talk for ages about stories of different levels of conversion. But as for some lessons:
Dino is a 23-year-old single guy who left his home in El Paso to start his life over, looking for something better. On his way to Colorado, he took a wrong turn and ended up in Tucson, where he got a job, had success and was quickly transferred to Phoenix to work for the same company here. When he arrived at his new apartment in Mesa, the first people he met were the missionaries. We helped him move in and got to know him a bit. The next day, we helped him return his U-Haul truck and invited him to come to a Spanish singles activity with us. He is hysterical, and has liked getting involved with the single adults, but we hadn't officially taught him until Friday. We took a member with us and they bonded immediately. We taught him the message of the Restoration at the church and the Spirit was so strong. I love teaching the Restoration, it's like a history lesson, but way better. The history of God's kingdom, before Christ, during Christ's life, and in modern day. Super cool, and the Spirit helps us every single time we quote the first vision. It was a particularly powerful lesson with Dino, and we all were amazed at how impacted we were, especially after a strong testimony from our member exchange (who since then has been a perfect fellowshipper, spending time with Dino and making sure he came to church and all that good stuff). I loved it.
We are teaching some kids, a 15-year-old girl named Jessica and her two little brothers, Christian (13), and Alan (12). They are super cool, and especially the two boys just look up to us. They have been impressive at actually learning the doctrines of the Restoration, memorizing the steps to the gospel and the names of the three kingdoms of glory, or remembering all ten of the ten commandments and what we shouldn't take into our bodies because they are temples. It's a joy to teach them and, though I don't have a specific lesson to tell about, they are just great investigators, and we'll get their parents soon ...
We have started with a family who is looking for a church. It is a single mother and four kids. They have been looking for a church that they all like for about a year, and when we told them what time sacrament meeting starts, they all cheered because they can sleep in two more hours. The boys are already active in scouts or cub scouts and love it after just a few weeks and we really are happy about how well the youth do to embrace our investigators and involve them as new friends. They look very promising, and it really is just a matter of time. In our last lesson, the oldest son asked him mom when he could be baptized. I might have seen Elder Argyle pass him a five dollar bill, but I think it was just my imagination ... j/k.
Luis Moegel has progressed fast. His story is a good example that we need to invite everybody to hear the gospel. We received a referral for a girl in this trailer park. When we got to her home, she wasn't there, but we started to teach her parents off-handedly. During the talk, the dad's brother walked in, who they had told us was not religious. We weren't feeling really impressed with the parents, but we left them and the brother a copy of the Book of Mormon, with assigned chapters to read. And really, we didn't hear more about it, until by chance a few weeks later we went back and talked to the uncle of our referral who had in fact read the chapter and others, felt the Spirit, went to the Easter Pageant and was waiting for us to come back to learn more. After very few lessons, he is going to be baptized on Saturday, evidence that God prepares people to receive the gospel and He will work in a round-about way to get it to "the elect." When we asked him if he wanted to be baptized, we said he was going to ask us if he could earlier, but he wasn't sure if he was allowed to be baptized yet. It all turned out perfectly, and we all felt the Spirit really strong as we set his baptismal date. Luis is awesome, and has a huge desire to serve his fellowman and brothers in and out of the Church. We're already trying to get him a calling in the Branch.
That's just a few, but I'd like to keep talking about more. The work is going very well in Mesa right now, and we are abundantly blessed to be able to help people learn of the truth. I love you all, and I hope you are sharing your testimonies with everyone. Just because somebody is already a member, doesn't mean you can't be their missionary. Conversion is a life-long process.
-Elder Sam Bostwick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)