Year 1, Week 21: 10 N.I. in a Day!

Hey Fam...

First, thanks all for the Birthday wishes on the 21st! It was a great day. Taught a lesson on keeping the Sabbath day holy, obeying the law of the land, and then Chastity. Everybody makes it seem that Chastity lessons are so awkward but in reality.. They're not that awkward. Just say what needs to be said and that is that! We have started planning Tania's baptism. Her husband Alberto is planning on talking with the Bishop to see if he can become a priest so he can baptize his wife into the church. She should be all ready to go by the 11th of January.

Other than that, on my birthday we went to a soup kitchen to do some service, did studies, and then went to the Vogels. She made Salad and Alfredo with zucchini noodles. She had a big, thick, rib eye steak for me to grill. I grilled it to a beautiful medium rare and dipped it in Avocado Ranch!!! Pretty Legit! We spent the rest of the night there with the other 2 Elders.

The day before was our Christmas Zone Conference in Belmont, MA. That is where the temple is. We had breakfast and lunch and then went to the temple. I did an endowment session, sealings, and initiatories?? However that's spelled. Mom you can correct it! That morning I woke up at 3:30 and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Belmont, did the Conference and temple and got back at 10:42!! Long day!! Then woke up at 6:30 the next day!! Haha!

I was a little nervous that I was going to be homesick after talking on Christmas, but I wasn't. 40 min. is definitely not long enough.. But I understand that they don't want you spending to much time. Sister Vogel got to talk to her son in Cambodia for 2 hours.Christmas eve was full of Finding! We had a challenge and goal to find 21 N.I. as a district. When the 24th came around we had 10/21. With hard work and miracles from the Lord we picked up 10 N.I. in a day!! That is how we spent Christmas Eve! Last night we finished at the Crooks and went home. Nothing else happened. When I called you guys it was almost 6 so when the other elders finished it was about 8. So the drive home / cleaning up our gifts and such at the other Elders, that finished the night. Members we went to: breakfast with the Masons, lunch with the Haltermans (second counselor in the bishopric, and then to Crooks for dinner.) We opened gifts with the English Elders, Elder Davis and Elder Goodman. We took turns (photo below is all our gifts combined)

Spending Christmas in the mission was pretty great! It wasn't bad at all! Being a missionary... In Hartford I LOVED it! I had gotten used to the schedule, the members, and everything about it. Coming to Waterbury really shook it up especially with a new companion, new area, and not having the other 2 Spanish elders living with us. I am starting to get used to it again though so that's good

All of the Libraries will be closed next Monday so we will email on Tuesday!

Love ya,

Elder Bushman

Christmas Zoom

We got a precious 40 minutes to talk with our Elder for Christmas. He talked for a few short minutes to every family member and loved seeing the sweet babies. He bore his testimony in Spanish. And his witty, fun personality made us laugh and smile as always. Merry Christmas, Elder Bushman. Each second was a treasure! 

Happy Birthday, Elder

Sister Vogel made him steak for his birthday cake. What a thoughtful lady! And she posted some photos of the Elders at her home on Elder Bushman's birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Elder. You're doing a great work....Good for Nels!

Year 1, Week 20: I Didn't Partake

Hey Fam!!

First of all, I will be calling on Zoom around 2 o'clock your time! 4 o'clock here in New England! I am going to a family named the Crooks! They are a young family with 2 little kids! Very nice people!

Lots happened this week. I don't even know where to start.

Tuesday was full of picking up some things at the store that I forgot on Monday and trying to visit old investigators and referrals. Also that night I met this super awesome member named Sister Vogel. She has 3 kids. Her oldest son didn't serve a mission, her daughter served, and her son, Patrick, is in Cambodia on his mission. She is such a great lady. I told her I was prone diabetic and she said it was completely fine and has been asking me questions and things so she can help me with it! She is great. She has a lot of "adopted" kids which basically means she kinda took them in and acted as there mother even though they lived with there actual parents. One of those kids is named Miguel. He is 21 and working on his mission papers. I told him about Keto and he asked how he can do it. I gave him a list of foods to eat so we'll see if he gets going on that. That would be pretty cool!

Wednesday was pretty great. We taught Waddy, one of our baptism dates, the Plan of Salvation. His mom really understands the gospel and she was taught and baptized about a year and a half ago. He didn't have any questions or concerns, he is 10 with a member as his mom so he shouldn't have any. After that we went to the 1st counselor in the Bishoprics house to practice our musical numbers for the Christmas party. We sang Blue Christmas, Mary did you know, and I'll be home for Christmas. Basically, we sounded TERRIBLE!! But we performed it anyway and so yeah. I didn't record it though. Again, Terrible.

We taught Tania again on Thursday. We taught the The law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast. She accepted them both really well and said she would live them when she got baptized. Now all we have to teach her is Chastity and obeying the law of the land. Her date is for Jan. the 11th.

Other than the Christmas party on Saturday not much happened. There was mashed potatoes, ham, rolls, all the normal American Dishes. Then... The spanish group shows up with rice, empanadas, sopas, etc.. I have stuck to Keto for the last week so, I didn't partake of the food:) That was good:)

Sunday was great!! We got to church at 7 in the morning for meetings and things. We had church, went to visit some people, went to the bishops house for dinner and then caroling with his family. It was great.

Love all of you!!

Elder Bushman

Year 1, Week 19: 2 Baptisms

Hey Fam!

This week has been pretty intense... Monday and Tuesday were full of Goodbyes and last minute visits to investigators telling them that two other Elders will be teaching them from now until forever. It was kinda hard saying goodbye to my first area and companion. I will miss Elder Curzon. I have been chatting him for the last hour and a half so that is sick!! Wednesday was the worst day of the mission so far!!

At 11:00 o'clock we left to take Elder Curzon to Worcester. That drive was 2 hours. After we said goodbyes and such we left for the 2 hour drive back to Hartford. When we got back, I immediately go in the car with Elder Felt (Elder Tirado's trainer) and Elder Tirado to take Elder Felt to the mission home. (He is now home). That drive was 2 hours. Then Elder Tirado and I left to come home from the mission home to Waterbury, stopping in Hartford to get my luggage. That was a 2 and a half hour drive. So, on Wednesday, I drove for 8 1/2 hours of the day!! WHOOO!! When we got into Waterbury it was already 9:30 so we basically put my luggage inside the house and went to bed.

Thursday was full of unpacking and cleaning the apartment. I didn't take any pics until after I cleaned because mom probably would have died. If mom was there to deep clean like she did Nicole's apartment, she would have demanded a payment of at least 10 grand! DIRTY!! My first appointment in Waterbury was a lady named Tania. Her husband is a member and she has been investigating for a while. She comes to church very regularly and basically is already a member. We taught her the 10 commandments and extended a Baptism date. She agreed to Jan.11. WHOO!! Basically, Part Members who except a baptism date very rarely don't get baptized. We are very excited for that. We weekly planned a bit and that basically wrapped up Thursday. That night we also had a dinner with a member named Edith. She made awesome tacos!!! She is from Mexico. Super nice lady.

Friday was district meeting. We had a great training by some of the Waterbury English Elders. Elder Davis is the District leader and his comp. Is Elder Goodman. They are awesome! Elder Davis served in Lynnfield, MASS When Elder Curzon was up in Lynn, Mass so its been good to swap stories of Elder Curzon. On Friday we also went to a Dominican Families house. We taught a boy named Waddy. His mom, Denny, was Baptized a couple years ago. Her son, Waddy, is 10. He has been taught everything and we set a Baptism date for him on Jan. 6. So we should have 2 baptisms coming up very soon!

Not much else happened. Church was great.

In answer to Moms questions::

1. What is Waterbury like compared to Hartford?

Waterbury is a lot like Hartford except for TONS of hills. Lots of the same type of people.

2. What has your experience been coming into an established area vs. opening up one yourself?

Its been pretty nice having investigators and such already. It makes it hard knowing exactly what the investigators have been taught. Some Elders are not very good at updating there teaching records.

3. What is the difference in the ward/branch? in Waterbury compared to Hartford?

In Waterbury we have a Group, which is smaller than a branch. About 20 members come every week. We had about 2 feet of snow on Saturday so when it came time for church, not 1 spanish member showed up. Lots of them walk / take the bus. So I got to hear the Sacrament Prayers in English. In priest quorum in the AF 24th ward, we focused a lot on the Sacrament prayers so I love hearing them in English. Members showed up later and we went to the Spanish Sunday school.

4. What is your apartment like? And the area that it's in?

I sent pics of the Apartment. The area is pretty nice. Kinda far from the real ghetto areas.

5. How is it having a car? Must be nice as winter is setting in not to be out in the snow/cold!

The car is great!! Super nice!! I do miss walking though. A lot more people on the streets.

Love ya!!

Elder Bushman

Year 1, Week 18: Waterbury

Hey Mom and Family,

Not much has happened this week. Elder Curzon and I have both been transferred out of Hartford so we have been meeting with members, filling out our area book, telling our investigators that two other Elders will be taking over for us, and packing things up. I'm being transferred to Waterbury, CT. 

The Address is:

440 Meriden RD. Apartment #322

Waterbury, Connecticut

06705

 

My new companion is named Elder Tirado. He is from Orem, Utah and speaks both English and Spanish fluently. He came into the mission at the same time as I did but went to the Mexico MTC. I think he was only there for 3 weeks though. Elder Tirado doesn't drive so I am the designated driver. I will be driving a 2017 Chevy Malibu.  

Elder Curzon is being transferred to Worcester, MA. He has been called as a Zone Leader so he will be doing that. 

Since it was fast Sunday this week we both bore our testimonies and announced we were leaving. We have been meeting with members and taking pictures. (I left my battery so I can't send any this week). Other than that not much has happened. We went to the Villagra's house yesterday to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was awesome! Pretty funny with some great messages behind the stories. 

Other than that not much has happened. Sorry for such a boring week. It will be better next week when I can send the pics and everything!

Love you all:)

Elder Bushman

 

PS: 

Probably 20% of the people I deal with only know spanish.

80% know both.

80% in English. 

Elder Curzon understands everything and can say everything he wants to relating to Gospel and most normal conversational stuff. 

We teach in English a lot of the time.

If the person in more comfortable in Spanish we will teach in Spanish. Most of the young people speak super good of both languages so it's whichever they prefer.

I understand probably 25% of what people say. And I hear more Spanish on the streets.