Week 16: It wasn't Ring Around the Rosies or Duck, Duck, Goose

Dear Family and Friends,

First off, a good hearty thanks to my wonderful mother! Thanks mom for sending me a little personal blurb! :) I'm going to look forward to that every week. Sorry you were worrying about me this whole week. Monday stunk but that day I started to take DigestZen and some water. Tuesday I began getting better and by Thursday I was 100 % :) My personal prayers, the prayers of everyone else, and the power of Essential Oils just got 'er done!!!! :D I'm drinking a lot more water now so have no fear. 

About the photos...I can't wait :D HAHAHA! I'm fairly giddy :) Can't wait for Spencer's letter too! As for the DVD, cannot wait! Could you include a paper that tells all of the numbers and everything and the names of the videos? Also, I'm not sure how easy it would be to make a screen selection to find the specific videos? Let me know on that, I'm just thinking about how easy it should be when showing them in lessons. I'm glad that you are changing prayers, that's awesome! That's one of the hardest things out here, it's like beating a dead horse that was killed 5 or 6 years ago. These people have heard the same shpeel over and over again and they just keep saying, "No, I don't really know anyone who is interested." Thanks for the prayers :) The Pig Head tasted good, but just had a horrible texture, ugh... Cannot wait for the package! Our district class got moved to Friday (just about typed Viernes, awkward :S) so maybe I will get them both :D Hahaha! Glad everything is great at home and that you all have a sense of humor :P

So real quick I just got to fill you all in on the craziest experience of my life. So we went to an investigators home, a family of 5 women, ha! We can't go in unless we bring a man, so we brought our good buddy Christian (a freakin' dope Peruvian kid) - [This means a really cool, awesome and sweet boy from Peru. I asked]. The mom said her daughter was sick so we couldn't go in but she did tell us to go and knock on her neighbors door to see if they were interested. So we did. We walked over there and we told Christian we would teach him how to contact...he wanted to wait on the corner :) HA! Funny kid. Elder Frost told me to "Strap Up!" That's pretty much our motto out here! So we bucked up, and knocked and this guy answered and said they were having a party. We tried to share a little bit about us and tell him about our church but he just kept saying, "Look guys, the thing is, we are having a party." So we left and started to walk away with Christian. He was sending a text on his cell phone when a different guy popped out of the same house and told us to come in and that he wanted to talk to us. So we did (what we didn't know is that Christian wasn't behind us and that he didn't know that the guy called us back. So he kept walking 'til he realized we weren't there, then he just waited...hahaha!). We went it to find that, yes, they really were having a "party." And it wasn't ring around the rosies or duck duck goose, this was a Wordly Party. There was beer and wine, men/women in their 30's, dancing, a pool, music, and weird crap!... I leaned over to Elder Frost and I said, "I don't feel good about this, we gotta get out of here." Everybody kept asking us to have fun, have some drinks, make ourselves at home, etc. It reeked, alcohol is so disgusting smelling :S I wanna throw up every time I get a whiff! Anyways, we talked to the guy who owned the house, placed a pass along card and said we'd come back later (when there is NO party). Anyways, wild ride! Glad we got out while we could, before anything NUTS happened :S

Anyways, we are working with some good members, things are going good! I'm almost out of my training period so that's sweet! Also, we did divisions with our Zone Leaders and I had a really, really great time with an Elder Clyde from Washington. He goes to BYU so we'll probably see each other and play ball when I get back :)

Thanks so much everyone; I'll fill ya in on more next week! Loves!

Elder Adam Bushman

From Mom: He asked me to send him the Bible Videos in Spanish - so that's what the DVD is. I downloaded them all...just need to get it copied onto a DVD. Our Bishop asked us to start praying that the members will find people for the missionaries to teach, not that the missionaries will find people to teach. So, that is how my missionary prayers have changed. I'm so glad he is feeling better...I was worried all week about him, but it sounds like he got over it pretty quickly. Now his feet are bothering him so I need to get some opinions from my doTerra friends. Freaky business about the crazy party....glad he and Elder Frost left right away. Obedience - so important! Hopefully he'll get his birthday package on Friday. It's in Chile - just need confirmation of delivery. Love Mondays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

"Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was." - Joseph Fielding Smith

Week 15: They Have Their Agency

Dear Family,

It's beginning to look a lot like P-DAY!!! :) Woot, I love P-day!!! Hahaha! 

So, congratulations to my buddy Taylor Welch for his call to Fort Collins, CO! That's so awesome, good luck man, you'll be awesome :D And good luck to Joresth Blakeley who's in the MTC right now! Glad Girl's Camp worked out good and that everyone had fun! Sounds like my family, extended family, is having a ball back in Utah...without me... Whatever! ;)

So first off, a spiritual experience I had this week:

This week it's been a little tough to work hard and have a good attitude while struggling with Spanish, having our investigators telling us to buzz off, and being stricken with an illness (more about being sick below). At points I was just like, "Ugh, I don't want to do this." But I did them, nevertheless. My experience was while we were watching the video, "How to Find Faith in Christ" with a recently reactivated member. While watching the video, I realized that Jesus Christ didn't want to die or suffer or hurt or anything. He didn't want any of it but he did it for us, for me. I kinda applied that to me. When there are things that I don't want to do, or when I am hurting, or when things are tough, I should remember Christ. I should just do these hard things because Christ did hard, hurtful things for me when he didn't want to. That has really changed my attitude. I felt the spirit a ton :)

Really quick, one of the things that I have eaten down here that is a little weird is Pig Head, or Cabeza de Chancho. It is really strange, good flavor, but I don't like the texture. It's really fatty :S

So right now I'm sick, it stinks. Last night was pretty bad, my stomach hurts, I have a headache, and my body is really sore and achy. I had a horrible sleep last night because I constantly felt at the point of throwing up. I woke up a lot and dreamed weird stuff... I just hope I can get better soon.

Right now the time feels like it's passing really slow and my struggles with Spanish and having success here isn't helping. Ya know what else? Chile is a hard place. There are a lot of members of the church but a lot of them are inactive.  At times it feels like we aren't making a difference down here and that's hard to deal with. But I know that our church is true, I know Joseph Smith is a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. And I know that through Christ's teachings and restored gospel covenants we can return to God again :) If people reject that, that's okay. They have their agency. Yes I'm sad, but at least I know what is right and at least I am choosing the right. 

One thing I have learned is that if I do not baptize anyone down here, nor if I aid anyone (which obviously won't happen), at least I am a better person. At least Christ worked a miracle in me. If I am converted from the mission, that is enough I suppose :)

Anyways, love you all, until next time!!!

Elder Adam Bushman

"My wall of Awesome Stuff"

"Elder Frost Cleaning"

"Elder Bushman Cleaning"

"I would rather have a son in the vineyard, saving the souls of men, than to have him heaping up gold at home and becoming a millionaire."  - Wilford Woodruff

Week 14: My Spanish is "Incredible"

Dear Family and Friends,

Haha, glad to see that everyone is doing great!!! :) Congrats to my little brother Spencer on becoming a deacon! Way to go bud, you're making me proud!!! :) Also, glad everything is going well with Girls Camp and good luck to Dad out there in Missouri! Watch out for those Tornadoes...whew!!! Hello to everyone else, love you all, keep doing what the man up stairs wants for you, and don't be LAZY! That's the biggest problem we face out here, lazy people! Do what needs gettin' done!  :D

So today for P-day we went to mall Catorce and mall Florida! It was fun, and I got to meet my Grandpa, Elder Cofré! Basically, your first companion is your dad, your second companion is your mom. If you train someone, that is your kid. Elder Cofré trained Elder Frost and Elder Frost is training me. He's a good guy and it was fun to meet him. Also had some fun hanging out with Elder McGary and Elder Hunt. Elder Hunt is training my buddy Elder McGary. When E' McGary and I hit a year, Elder Hunt will have two months left in the mission... Nuts! Anyways, Elder Frost was going to get some things to finish off his whole Real Madrid (soccer team in Spain) kit. He has a jersey, cleats, and a warmup sweater now and he's going to get socks and shorts! Then he'll be done. We couldn't get it today so hopefully next week! I'll send pics once it's complete!! :D

Right now we only have one progressing investigator...still. Her name is Jacquelin, she turned 34 yesterday (that through us for a loop, we thought she was like 27 :S). Anyways, we have almost taught her everything. She is praying morning and night, reading everything we leave her, and is almost off coffee. She is off for about 6 days, then drinks a cup, then goes off for like 4-5 more days. Once she gives it up and comes to church three times she can be baptized. She is completing all the requirements and we're helping her a ton. This Thursday we have a family home evening wit her and a young couple in the ward!! It should be awesome! :) 

Not much else is new! We got a new investigator, the boyfriend of a member's son's exwife ... yeah, just swallow that one for a second :S Read it slow, then again, write it out, Google it, then read it again...you should be able to figure out the relationship by then! Anyways, he doesn't live in our sector but he wants us to teach him at the member's home. We are going to and we'll eventually get his address (he wouldn't give it to us at the start) and put him down for a reference to other missionaries... Too bad we can't progress with him :( 

In one week I complete 4 months! Crazy! Elder Frost's birthday is in about 3 weeks, then mine is 2 weeks after that, then I'll have 5 months out! Freaking crazy... The mission is going quick, sometimes it seems like I just got out here...!!! Cameron is almost at a year, nuts! Drew is at 7 months already and Jenz Bunnell is already a month over his year mark! Things are going by really, really quick.

Well, not much else is new. We're going to be doing a two week English fast starting tomorrow. Should be fun. Hopefully my language skills will be taken to the next level. After my last English fast it was slightly hard to talk in English and I was feeling comfortable always talking in Spanish... Now not to make you think I knew everything that they were saying or that I could say everything I wanted to. I couldn't! But it was feeling kinda comfortable. Hopefully that will get even better this next week! Elder Frost told me the other day that several people have said that my Spanish is "incredible" for how long I've been out! It hasn't gone to my head or anything, but that compliment has made me want to work even harder and get better and better and better! The promise in 1 Nephi 3:7 is coming to pass :)

I love you all, talk to you next week!

Elder Adam Bushman

PS - This place we go to email has weird USB's ... sometimes they work, sometimes they don't... Can't send any photos today either, sorry! :(  

Can't wait to get the package!!

"What a responsibility we have. The whole fate of the world depends on us, according to the revelations of the Almighty. We cannot waste time. We cannot be unrighteous in our living. We cannot let our thoughts dwell on immoral things. We have to be the very best that we can be, you and I, because the very relationship of God our Eternal Father to His children on the earth depends on their accepting what we have come to teach according to His magnificent word."

 - Gordon B. Hinckley

From Mom: He says he has 4 months out because of his return date. He really left three months and a week ago.  

Week 13: We Found Two Families

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow...I am beat... Elder Frost and I just got back from playing soccer. I busted my butt and was running everywhere. It was nuts. I kept getting schooled by our Bishop, Obispo Quinteros. He's probably 3 years younger than Dad but he was killing it out there. Haha, fun times :) 

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Father, Sam, and my legit to death Brother, Spencer. Hope you both had great days full of happy memories and all :) Spencer, keep practicing your basketball! I'm so happy to see that you are spinning it on your finger, that's so great :D Keep up your dribbling skills, that will be your biggest help in AHS basketball. If you can out dribble the people you play, you will always...always be successful :) Go get 'em buddy!!!!

Tell Michael to get better, okay :)

We are working with members a bit more...but honestly, the members down here are pretty...hmmm..."busy!" They don't feel the need or desire to help. It's really frustrating :( We can only go to the temple and do a session once per year. We have interviews with our mission president once every three months. I do see him and his wife every training meeting though and at the Zone Conferences...also every three months. Money is good, I get about $120.000 every month, about $240. It's more than adequate, haha! José didn't agree but he's still thinking. His other brother, Felipe, is going to be thinking about it too. We meet with them tonight so hopefully :D No, it snows in the mountains, rains in the city. 

I'm really glad that Dad's birthday was a huge success and that everything turned out amazing. The parades, the barbeque, everything...ugh, amazing. So Kelley Clarkson rocked the house huh? Awesome, that's so cool. Cary Rae Jepson...nah, who cares! Haha, Anna? No way, that's so awesome and cute, haha! Tell everyone I said hi :D One cool thing is that Chile's independence day is coming up and we get to celebrate with some of the members... That means big ASADAS baby!!! WOOOT! Basically, it's where they put every kind of meat...and a ton of it, on a grill and just go to town. It's going to be a lot of fun :D

One really awesome thing from this week is that we found two families. One is a mom, dad, one girl, two boys. We meet with them tonight. They have all amazing qualities and the parents are so loving but strict with their kids. They all have amazing values that would totally be awesome in the Church. The bad thing is that they just like to hear the standpoints of other religions...just for knowledge :S Hopefully we can get them a testimony of the BofM!! The other family is a mom and four girls. They are awesome as well, great values, awesome love. They all seemed interested. The mom had taken lessons in the past but was really pressured by the missionaries. We are going to take it really slow with her. We meet with them Friday!!

Right now we only have one progressing investigator. That means that there is only one investigator that we have that is keeping the commitments that we extend. We still meet with other investigators, but they don't really keep commitments...hence, they aren't progressing. We are just trying to get this lady to church and to stop drinking coffee. We are trying various things. Hopefully they'll work out! 

Anyways, glad everything is working out amazing for everyone back home :) I'm going to be sending my family personal letters this week! So be ready! Also, Nicole, let me know when you get my letter!!! 

Loves!

Elder Adam Bushman

"I would rather hear an Elder speak only five words accompanied by the power of God, and they would do more good than to hear long sermons without the Spirit." - Brigham Young

Week 12: Maybe I'll be Dreaming in Spanish Soon!

Greetings from Chile!!! Hello all you Gringos! :)

Haha, una broma no mas (just a joke)! Lots has happened this week so I'm just going to jump right in...no sense wasting time, eh?:

Earlier this week we stopped by the home of one of our investigators, a 16 year old by the name of José. He's a good kid, reminds me a ton of Guillermo. Dark hair, light skinned, and talks way fast and slurred in Spanish. We asked if he had time to meet with us. He said he was too busy studying for his math final and was having trouble with a problem. I asked if I could see the problem. He invited us in and showed it to me. Elder Frost helped me with the translation and he asked if I could do it. I said I could. Well, I did it and got the right answer. I explained how to do it with some help from my comp and José was really grateful. Long story short, we had a great lesson with him and he agreed to pray about if he should be baptized. We'll find out his answer this week!!!!

Also earlier this week, we dropped by to knock this house. No one answered and the neighbor said they left. He then started saying that they were Christian and believed in God and no other religion and told us to leave. I began to explain that we believed in God and Christ as well...he didn't like that. ESPECIALLY when we asked if we were Mormons and we said yes. I told him we had a special message about Christ. He barely let me get that out before he started speaking in crappy English saying, "No, thank you, we fine! You Evangelicos, we Christians. Good bye. Leave." Horrible English...worse attitude. It was a pretty sour experience that made me sad and disappointed that people have such misconceptions about us and the things we are trying to do...

Elder Frost and I are going to be together one more change! :) He also got called as a District Leader for our district! WOOOT!!! :) Haha, it's really exciting. We are going to be together for his birthday! Hahaha! 

This week we had an English Fast. No English for 7 days...ugh. Tough! But it was good and I think I learned a lot. Last night when we ended it, I kept accidentally speaking Spanglish...I just couldn't speak English correctly. Haha. I've noticed that no one talks in my dreams. Maybe I'll be dreaming in Spanish soon!

The weather is really, really cold and rainy. The good thing about that is there aren't very many drunks in the street to bother us! The bad thing is it is freaking cold in our apartment!

One fun fact, all of the food here is practically in bags. They don't really use tubs. The Ketchup is in a bag, the Mayo is in a bag, so is the Mustard, so is the deli meat, so is the yogurt, so are the juices (some of them), so is the jam, so is the nutella, and the manjar, and on and on and on. I don't like it...It's way too hard to function and it's a lot messier :S

Mom: in the package you send me, could you put in a whole box of envelopes and the conference edition of the Ensign??? Also, I'm not sure if we could do anything to prevent customs from opening the package...any thoughts?

Thanks for all the info about home! I wish I had more time to respond to it all! Thanks, love you all, congratulate all my friends on their calls and kick those in the pants who don't have theirs ;) 

Love,

Elder Adam Bushman

The Zone

Elder from Peru

District Buddies

Mom LOVES this photo!

Storm Clouds

Such a neat boy!

Good thing for that TETON sleeping bag!

Well taught by his Aunt Suz!

Looks like pizza from home

Again - Looks like Utah

Memorize scripture passages that explain and support the principles you teach.

~ Preach My Gospel, 23.