Year 2, Week 2: I Love the Mission! I Love the People!

This week has been good. Elder Warner has been transferred to Waltham. The Weston Sisters have been moved out and Elder Warner will be training an English missionary in a half Spanish, half English area. This has never happened before, at least that I know of. He seems to be doing ok with the change and adjustment. Hopefully he will have success. Elder Fragoso is my new companion. He is from Utah and knows Jessica Larson from High School. He is a super hard worker and his parents are from Mexico. He is a fluent Spanish speaker so I will be asking him questions about the Spanish language. I am looking forward to this transfer. A little nervous though. In our mission, for each Zone there are 2 Zone Leaders, with one Zone Leader as the Lead Zone Leader. Usually the Lead ZL has been a Zone Leader for several transfers etc. Most ZL's will have been a Zone Leader for 2 transfers before they "train" a new Zone Leader or before they become the Lead. In this case, I have been with Elder Warner for 1 transfer and am the Lead Zone Leader. All Zone decisions will be made by me and Elder Fragoso but the real training of him will come from me. I am excited to grow and everything but it's nice being comfortable. I guess I have been comfortable too long and the Lord is ready for me to get back to the refining.

We didn't have any Investigators come to church this week. Elder Petit and I were on exchanges on Saturday and found some pretty cool people to work with. One guy is named M. He is from El Salvador. When ever I meet someone from El Salvador, first thing i say is, Le Gusta Pupusas?? You will always get a great reaction from some white boy, speaking spanish, knowing their food. Same thing with Dominicans. If I meet a Dominican, you say, A Un Tigere. I honestly don't know what it means but its a nickname for Domincans. Then you just talk about their food and instant love and respect from them. We will see if there is any potential from him.

There is a lady that the English Elders met named M. She is from Dominican Republic and I met her when I was on exchanges with Elder Blotter a couple weeks ago. I did the normal routine of asking her about her food and what part of the DR she was from. She invited Elder Warner and I over to have Lunch with her. We saw her again a couple days later and she told us to come again and get food. We showed up and she fed us lunch and then she gave us a TON of food. Random stuff she bought from the store. We told her that we were ok and she didn't need to give us anything but she said that she got it for us and if we didn't take it she would be mad. So we took it. Ill send some pictures of the week.

Anyway,  not much else happened.

 The week was good! I love the mission! I love the people! I love working in Worcester! I love you all.

Elder Bushman

Year 2, Week 1: We Mean Business

This week has been pretty good. We had a lesson with a lady named W. She listened to the entire Restoration and said that it was super cool how Joseph Smith was called as a prophet. She loved the Book of Mormon up until the part where we told her that Jesus Christ came to the Americas and established his church and called 12 apostles. First time in my entire mission that someone has had a problem with another set of apostles. Prophets yes, another book yes, but another set of apostles has never been a problem. She pretty much freaked out and said that we were welcome back to talk with her and she would even feed us, but, she is Catholic and she doesn't want to learn any more about our church. So that was a pretty sad experience.

We did have a super cool lesson with a guy named J. He never tells us when we can come over so we just show up and he invites us in and we share a message. We have done that with the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have invited him to be baptized and he said when he knows the Book of Mormon is true. We have helped him to realize though that we mean business and we aren't going to just beat around the bush with him. He is super cool though. Hopefully he will actually read etc.

M and J  have gone on vacation with their family to Washington so we haven't been able to meet with them at all.

J wasn't able to come to church yesterday and he hasn't been able to meet with us so we haven't taught him any of the new convert lessons.

We did meet a super cool lady named J. She is from Puerto Rico and we met her while knocking doors. We gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a time to come back. When we did she was ready to talk with us. We taught the Restoration and invited her to be baptized. She said she would and that she would also come to church. She didn't make it to church because he kids got sick but she said she would come next week.

I hit my year mark this week. Elder Warner and I went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate and we each got 16oz Steaks! The country music playing in the background was definitely the best part of the experience with steaks and 2 Cesar salads as sides coming to a close second. Peanuts were good too.

We also went to Wings over Worcester this week. The Best wing place in Worcester!! $14.99 for over 1lb of chicken covered in their signature sauces. I got a super hot buffalo sauce and a another spicy one so the sugar content wouldn't be too high!

Anyway... I'm kinda rambling on and on. It was a good week.

Love ya

Elder Bushman

August 2, 2018: One Year!

My One Year Mark Celebration: Texas Roadhouse

I hit my year mark this week. Elder Warner and I went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate and we each got 16oz Steaks! The country music playing in the background was definitely the best part of the experience with steaks and 2 Cesar salads as sides coming to a close second. Peanuts were good too.

Year 1, Week 52: Juan Got Baptized!

First, I would like to send a thought I had while studying yesterday. I sent this out to our Zone but it can be applied directly to us. 

In October 2012 General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar said, "A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel."

Am I converted? The answer to this question is based upon action. Like faith without works is dead, testimony without works is dead. A testimony cannot withstand the" fiery darts of the adversary" (Helaman 5:12) if not nourished by living and acting upon the message of the Gospel.

Preach my Gospel says, "a great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others" (pg 13).

Before our missions we should have received a witness of why we decided to serve. It might have been a testimony of prophets and we knew we needed to serve missions because we have a testimony of a living prophet. It could have been the Holy Ghost directing us to serve. Whatever the case may be, our testimony of why we are here is dead if we do not work and show our conversion.

If we dedicate two years to serve the Lord and not consecrate ourselves, are we going to dedicate ourselves when we return? If we serve with "lightness and frivolity in your hearts, looking for this and that, and to learn what is in the world,... You will go and return in vain" (Missionary Manual pg 7). 

Elders and Sisters, let us focus in on the work of the Lord and show our conversion to Him!

As I've tried to focus more on the reasons why we do things I have found a deeper desire to work harder. Anyway, but for the big news... 

Juan got baptized on Saturday. It was a great experience even though he got baptized twice. We filled the font as high as we could but it didn't even come up his waist. He is 6'4, a very big man. The Branch Presidency didn't show up though so we had to wait for 40 minutes before it started. On Sunday he was confirmed a member of the church and that was a super awesome experience. It's interesting to listen in Spanish. When we say receive the Holy Ghost, in Spanish you use the command form. So we as Priesthood, are commanding the Spirit to come to Juan... It's kinda awesome when you think about it!

Not much else happened this week. We had Zone Conference and Elder Warner and I gave trainings, we had exchanges with the English Elders, and that's about it. Super super busy with not much happening. I gave a training in District Meeting that went pretty well. I talked about how we need to convert ourselves and be a strong chain that others can lean on. It was pretty cool. I think it went well.

Anyway, love you all! 

Elder Bushman

Year 1, Week 48: God is Great...

This week has been so slow, so fast, so exhausting, and so rewarding all in one!! Being in Worcester is going to be so much fun! I cannot wait to have more experiences here. So being a Zone Leader is fun but it comes with its challenges. Worcester is the second biggest city in MA so there are 8 missionaries alone here. Elder Warner and I, 2 English Sister named Sister McKee and Sister Fleming, Elder Blotter and Elder Petit (English Elders), and 2 English Sisters (Sister Brown and Sister Tychingco). These are all in the our District. With Worcester being so big there should be tons of work going in and we should be picking up so many new investigators and setting dates, having baptisms and converts going to the temple, but key indicators have been dropping as of late. Usually this Zone finds over 140 New People a month and is one of the best working zones. This month, 86 New People were found. Considerably low compared to what has been done in the past. Elder Warner and I have spent a lot of our time finding and planning on how we can help the zone bump Key Indicators back up and really help missionaries reach their full potential in missionary work. In the couple of days I have been here, we already see a drastic increase in efforts and are looking forward to seeing what can be accomplished. That is why it has been rewarding, exhausting. It has also been in the high 90's as of late which is never fun. Slow and Fast comes from finding all day! Anyway, I LOVE Worcester (Wustah) and can't wait to learn more!

President and Sister Mavromatis have arrived in the mission and we are having a Welcome Conference tomorrow. I have no idea of what to expect but it will be exciting to be working with them a lot closer and being able to learn more about the Gospel etc. I've already learned a lot and looking forward to more.

Worcester is SOOO great!! Such a fun area with tons of Hispanics and members! It's a branch of 50-60 so a lot more than Waterbury and Waltham! The apartment is Great! Smaller and I don't have my own bathroom but really nice! I've been blessed with very nice apartments on the mission! The members are nice. I've been assigned to teach Elders Quorum next week, give a talk on the 22nd and bare my testimony in church... So... Lots of stuff....Yes! Tons of investigators. It's super easy to pick people up here which is fun! A lot more people listen to our message! 

Elder Warner is super great! It's fun to serve with him and learn from him! Elder Warner and I have a guy who is going to be baptized on the 21st of July. His name is J and his friend served a mission and the friends mom is in our Ward. He has only come to church 1 time so we are going to be telling him that if he wants to make his baptismal date like he wants to, he will need to come to church for the next 2 weeks straight and for the REST of his life. To many people start there life on the right path and then stop coming to church. So we are going to be working with him to help him stay on the path after he gets baptized. We have been working super hard though. We have found many people to teach and have had some awesome lessons! We are going to be trying to set as many baptismal dates as we can. We are super excited! Not much more to tell for this week. Elder Warner is great! The Mission is Great! 

 

God is Great! Beer is bad... and People are crazy!! Elder Warner is a lover of Country music so...:)

Elder Bushman

Year 1, Week 47: We Look Freaky Fresh

So Elder Perkes and I just went and got our haircut. It was DOPE! First, they were playing the world cup, two, we look freaky fresh, and three, we even got a shampoo and conditioner wash for free! I feel like I sound like a girl but it was awesome! And only $18!

This week has been great! I learned that I will be getting transferred out of Waltham to a new area. Worcester, MA! It is pronounced, Wustah! Elder Curzon has been in that area for the last 8 months and I'm replacing him so, it's exciting! My new companion is named Elder Britt Warner. He is from American Fork, UT and we have a lot of mutual friends. Remember how Bishop Beeson told me to talk with an Elder but I already did over Instagram?? Yep, same guy! I'm pretty excited but a little bummed to be leaving so soon. We are close to Boston, have a great Spanish group, a truck, an AMAZING apartment, I even have my own Bathroom! But, I'm excited for change:) Elder Neeley, the Elder I trained is replacing me. Elder Perkes has been called as the new District Leader here in Waltham and I'll be going Zone Leader with Elder Warner.

Our investigator L is doing so good! He has been sober for about a month now which is so exciting! He says that he drinks pineapple juice whenever he has a craving because the acidity in the juice gives the same feel as alcohol! So he has found a replacement which is great:) he picked up a second job so he hasn't been able to come to church but we are working on that! He says he wants to build some trust before he asks for days off. He is still planning on getting baptized on July 15th, so I'll come back for that! 

We picked up some new investigators this week! The most promising is named L. He said he would listen to our message, pray about the Book of Mormon, read it, and meet with us again. We are meeting with him on Wednesday but I'll be gone so Elder Neeley and Elder Perkes will go. We are hoping that he continues to listen. 

So the Cambridge Chinese Elders had a baptism on Saturday, but forgot about the font so it flooded the church! They sucked out about 15 gallons of water with a water vacuum and had fans drying the room when we showed up for church. We still met with our Spanish group despite the water damage. During Sacrament meeting, a member of the High Council gave a talk but only spoke English. So I had to translate from English to Spanish. He was smart and printed out the scriptures and general conference quotes he was using so I could read them but anything he personally said I translated into Spanish. The members said I did a great job so hopefully it turned out alright. 

Elder Tebbs, my first Zone Leader in the mission, finished up and went home this last week. He chilled with us for about 3 hours before we took him to the mission home. I haven't had any companions go home yet and he is the closest friend I've had leave. It made me a little jealous that he was finishing up but, I'm all good to stay out. I haven't changed enough and can't go home until I do;) good thing I've got another 13 months to do it! 

We helped another family move this week! It was about 90 degrees outside and I was in my sweatshirt so I could work up a good sweat! Let's just say it happened... :)

Also, before district meeting I decided to make homemade cinnamon rolls! It was pretty sweet, one of the senior couples said, "I love cinnamon rolls and try to find the best ones wherever I go. These are one of the best I've eaten!" Liv would be proud of my baking skills! 

Anyway, not much more to tell! Love you all

Elder Bushman