gorgeous

I don't know if you are still getting a lot of snow in Utah, but I wanted to mention that we are loving the weather right now of a pretty consistent 75 degrees. This is why people live in Arizona. Already, there are bunches of people out enjoying the sunshine and warm breeze. People don't go outside in Utah like they do here. Every park is full of people almost all the time, it's pretty fun.

Not that we get a whole lot of time to just enjoy the weather. As our area is, we spend a lot of time in a car. Occasionally we find time to ride around on our bikes and catch some fresh air. We spend most of our time searching out people called "potentials." These are people who have in the past, met missionaries, and consented to having them back, but not at a specific appointment. It is the most productive way to find new investigators, or that's what I hear. We are finding that a lot of our potentials have very little potential. In fact, most have moved and have very nice American families living in their houses. As far as teaching, we work a lot with recent converts. One of the recent converts is someone I could just sit and learn from all day long. She is the kind of lady who thinks about things and knows how she feels about everything. I think living in a country where you didn't understand the language would give you a great deal of valuable thinking time.

In our world, we go so fast that we don't take time to think about things. I remember talking with Becca years ago and she told me about this very thing, how the pioneers must have discovered great faith in themselves as they spent quiet hours churning butter or bailing hay or other equally important, but thoughtless tasks. I wonder how much of people's problems could be worked out by themselves if they took good, prayerful time to ponder and meditate on life. Or even better, pondered and meditated on ways to serve others. In the case of my Spanish friend, she thinks about how needy other people are and worries herself about their needs. How can I lift this person's life? I know they have been struggling. Or, what would make the new family feel more comfortable in the Ward? I should invite them over for dinner and get to know them. How much opportunity do we miss to receive guidance from the Spirit, or answers to our prayers because we don't give quiet time to listen? I hope my feelings came across.

I miss you all, and hope you are well. I want you to know that I do think about you, my family and friends. I do not distract myself with your problems, but I do think about your needs and your lives. I wish there were direct ways in which I could help you when you are in need, but I trust that others will be placed to do what I would hope to do. And I trust that you all know that the Savior has given so much for us already. He, too, thinks about our needs, and is merciful and good to us in our weaknesses. Have faith in Him, come unto Him, and be saved.

I love you all, and continually pray for you. Take care. Do good things.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

sad to report nothing much

I wish I knew how to work harder to produce more success in this area. Little success means little to report.

But my testimony is still burning stronger. I love reading from the scriptures. I love how the Bible and the Book of Mormon work so well together. When Christ is visiting the Americas, I think it is amazing that He teaches virtually nothing that He didn't already teach in the Bible. His Gospel is the same, and always has been.

I am working hard, don't get the idea that I am not. We pray for the Lord's help to magnify our efforts. I'll keep you posted. I'm sorry that I take so long to write back to individual letters, especially Becca, I'm sorry.

I love you all, keep being good examples around and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel with others. Have a good week.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

another week

Work in this area is so much different than what I had gotten used to. It is somewhat discouraging because I feel as though we don't accomplish very much. There is only one couple that we are really working with, and of course we hope for the best, but other than their progress, there is very little to show any results for our efforts.

We had Zone Conference this week and Elder Wood and I went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I learned a lot of things I can do better to be a better missionary and to be more faithful and effective. One is prayer. As much as I have increased the amount I pray during the day, I came to the realization that it still isn't enough. Prayer is a simple way to direct thoughts and purposes toward the Savior. Without prayer, it is easy to forget the goal and aim of your work. And real prayer is hard work. I keep learning step by step.

On exchanges it was strange doing English missionary work. We even taught a very good lesson, and every time we started talking about the gospel, I almost spoke Spanish. The Spanish work is so different from what the English missionaries do, and it is hard to say which is better. It's good to know what the English work is like, because at some point of my mission, I may lose the Spanish Elder status depending on the needs of the President. For the sake of learning Spanish, I hope the day doesn't come too soon, if at all. I am gaining a lot more confidence in Spanish, even though I still have bunches to learn. I really enjoy getting to know about different Latin countries and their differences from the others. Accents from South America are so great to listen to, and I think I have a natural tendency to get along with South Americans more than Central Americans, though all are just wonderful. I continue to learn a lot of Spanish from Elder Wood and I continue to help keep him concentrated in the last few months of his mission.

We have been getting ready for the weather to get warmer. Just today I heard that most places of the country are going through unusually cold spells right now. It seems far away when Arizona temperatures are about as perfect as you could ever expect. However, the beauty proceeds the pain in this case. Other missionaries have been giving tips on how to stay cool and healthy, and I am planning on following those tips. There is a man named Terry Cannon (ring any bells Dad?) who sells Camelbacks on discount to missionaries and he came to our apartment and sold me a backpack. It is nice and I bought it at good price. Other missionaries are also saying that you will stay healthier if your clothes are dry, so they suggest upping my number of shirts and underclothing. Mom and Dad, I hope we can work something out to do that.

That's really all I have to say for now. I hope you are all well and happy. In our Zone Conference we talked a lot about the ideal members for missionary work. I would just like to add in a plug to be the kind of members that missionaries pray for. I know especially in Utah it is hard, I don't even remember seeing missionaries in our Ward--ever. But I hope building the Kingdom is on your minds. As we talked about in Zone Conference and adding to the Leadership Training from Sunday, the two ways to build the membership of the kingdom are missionary work and having children. Remember to pray for opportunities and then act on the answers you receive. The missionaries are there to help you, even if you never see them, just call them--we always call back.

Love you and miss you,

-Elder Sam Bostwick

short

I sadly have very little to report on this last week. I have been doing a lot of organizing, a necessary evil when an area has not been kept up very well. I get satisfaction from working hard to make paperwork accurate and all up to date, even though it is tedious and sometimes feels hardly worth doing.

Learning a new area has made time slow down very much. It has been a long week, but things will start picking up. I am enjoying the blessings of living in a single companionship apartment, but do see the down sides. Elder Wood is funny, but works too hard to make people like him. I like him, and he doesn't have to work for it. And he teaches me a lot of Spanish.

That's really all for this week, I hope I have more to say coming up.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

P.S. We did really enjoy the funeral services for President Hinckley. It is bittersweet, and the great thing is the church is still true, no matter what.

transfers ... again

This entire week felt lousy. We taught good lessons and had some success with the numbers and all, but it just felt like different. Sunday was a strange day. We heard some bad news about a recent convert, less investigators came to church than we expected, and the Primary kids were horribly behaved. Elder Robinaugh and I were down all day and then the news of President Hinckley's death came suddenly on an already sad day. Plus it rained all day (surprise), which made work harder. Monday night led up anxiously for transfer calls. Last transfer it was very easy to say what would happen. Elder Bull had already been told he was leaving. This time there were no hints, and nobody had any ideas. Then Elder Robinaugh got a call from the President to train a new missionary, which meant I was gone. I love the ward I have been serving in, and I was sad to be leaving. Tuesday we spent seeing different people, leaving my last enthusiasm for the progress they were making or thanking members for their help and examples.

Then came Wednesday- today. My life was packed and our ride took us to Tempe to meet up for the transfer meeting. Every companionship in the mission except 5 were being changed, which is very abnormal. I was nervous and I already missed my ward. And so I am now serving in the other area in the same ward. I already knew my companion very well, and I know many of the investigators already. I get to stay in the ward and attend all the baptisms for my old investigators. I am way too lucky. Elder Sam Wood is my companion now, from Kaysville. We get along, and he speaks Spanish better than any American from the mission. I am excited. Plus, we live with great members, and get the benefits of only having two in our apartment, rather than the distraction of another companionship as well.

All goes well, I am happy and healthy and learning. I love that the church is true and am excited to continue to share it with others. The missionary Spirit is infectious and I love to work with members who have caught the virus. There is great power in the faithful prayer.

My time is almost gone, and there is a lot to do moving into a new apartment. I'll write again next week. I love you all.

-Elder Bostwick

a week well worth it

For sure the most exciting thing to report from this week is the Baptism and Confirmation of Rosalia. Her brother, also a recent convert, was able to baptize her and she was confirmed by the 1st Counselor in the Bishopric, one of the greater men I have ever met. Everything to do with the baptism was great, even the tension leading up to it and the fact that for some reason the hot water did not work in the font. Elder Robinaugh and I had fun singing a special song just for Rosalia after her baptism that she had taught us. It turned out well, and I have special pride in it because I arranged it for the piano myself. Everyone present felt the Spirit and knew that what we were witnessing was something special, not to be forgotten.

I have a powerful testimony of member missionary work. Missionaries cannot do their jobs without the support and involvement of good members of the church. I promise that if you want to feel more satisfaction in life, get involved with the local missionaries and try your best to help them out.

Jorge and Marta are friends of Rosalia. They came to the baptism and confirmation and because of new friends they made in the ward they are firm in their plans to get baptized. We were even able to watch them teach the Plan of Salvation to their daughter. It was so rewarding to hear them say things like: "What we believe is ...". Former skeptics are now so much farther on the path to conversion because of the kindness of some members.

Nailleli and Armando were caught in a trap of legal complexities dealing with immigration laws that meant they could not get married. With the help and advise of members who knew the laws, it looks as though they will soon be blessed with a legal marriage and then a baptism. I have never met anyone with such impressive willpower to live the commandments of God. A hopeless situation is now easily overcome, all because members were willing to help.

Maria is awesome. Somehow she always ends up teaching the lessons. For example, just last night we were going to teach the Word of Wisdom and were leading into the idea of obeying commandments. She interrupted explaining that she knew commandments were to protect us. She had always done her best, but she smokes, and she knows she shouldn't. She told us that her body is a temple, a gift from God, and to give it proper respect she should care for it better. She also knows without doubt that the Book of Mormon is true after only reading two chapters, I wish I were that receptive to the Spirit. Usually Elder Robinaugh and I just nod our heads during our lessons and I consider her undeniable evidence that God prepares people to receive the gospel. A family in our Ward has been so wonderful to be friendly and offer service to her such as rides to church and just company during the day.

I get so excited thinking about the progress of people I have come to love. I want them to continue to progress and know that I need to be ready to help them. As I work with people, I can tell my ability to speak is improving. There are times when I am not even sure what I am saying and wonder if I would know how to say what I do in another circumstance. I know that this is the Lord's mission and I just bring myself, willing and worthy and He molds me into the tool He needs. The beautiful thing about being a missionary is that all your time is focused on others, but both sides are blessed so much. I feel as though I should not be having such a good time or be able to recognize how I am being helped by the hand of God, but I am and I do.

God's Plan is perfect. It is created for us, His children. He is personally interested in our success and obedience, which are connected to one another. Faith is not a waste of time, rather the means by which God does His work. Thank you for your support family and friends who read this. I love you, be good.

-Elder Sam Bostwick

singing and dumpster diving

This week has been great and fast. We are more excited than ever for Rosalia's baptism, and her baptismal interview went smashingly. In our visits this week, she played the guitar for us. It was so fun. She taught us a song that she used to play for her Catholic congregation and we sang it together, me singing a harmony part. Then she had both Elder Robinaugh and I sing "Soy un Hijo de Dios" and "Las Familias Peudan Ser Eternas" on a recording, so she could memorize them and sing along at her baptism (they are the opening and closing hymns). It was such a fun evening spent with her.

On a not so happy occasion, an older brother from our ward has severe cancer that has spread from his throat to other parts of his body. He was in the hospital this week and the doctors decided to prepare him for a bleak looking surgery. With the idea of another brother from our ward, the four of us elders went to the hospital to sing hymns for him. It was a truly special experience with his whole family and the Spirit taught each of us about how there is nothing to fear from death. The power of music is continually amazing to me, and I am so grateful that it is part of my mission. These special experiences, along with fun times spent as the Primary pianist (did I mention that before?) would be so tragically missed otherwise.

Now to dumpster diving: I would just like to announce that our apartment, that didn't have any furniture with exception of beds for the Spanish missionaries is now fully equipped with a dresser, a bookshelf, 3 plastic drawer containers, a nightstand, 2 desks, and 4 new chairs. And it was all free. It pays to keep your eyes open.

We had interviews with the Mission President this week and Elder Robinaugh and I think that we will be together for next transfer too. I really hope so. I learn a lot from him. He is very good natured and people like him immediately when they meet him. I learn about what is important from Elder Robinaugh, and I hope it will continue for another transfer.

Well that's all, be good everybody. The Church is true and when you pray, God is always listening. Be sure when he answers, you are listening. It's hard to tell sometimes, but I know He always does. Never forget the power of faith. I hope you are all well, and that I hear from you soon. Until next week ...

-Elder Sam Bostwick