Yr. 2, Week 33: Conference with Elder Russell M. Nelson

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week was a pretty good one. I felt like we did EVERYTHING in our power to help people fulfill their commitments and to progress and receive the joy that comes from the gospel but there were a few people that just didn't make it...They just couldn't fulfill their commitment. I felt sad but as I write this letter, I know that we tried our best to call them, to pass by them, to help them, etc. One of those families that just didn't make the true effort was the ____ Family. We went by them this week and the dad was "unavailable" so he didn't share with us and when they promised to go to church we called Sunday morning several times and then invited them to come for the last hour and they said they would and they didn't. They said they had other commitments and it made me sad but we trusted in them, acted in faith, and we're still gonna try and help but I'm not sure how it will turn out.

On the other hand, there were many other miracles that happened this week. C, Y, B, and M...went to church. They only went for one hour  (since they are still figuring out how they are going to be able to work it out what with having to go to the hospital in the mornings still) but THEY WENT! I was so stoked. Everybody liked it except B. She's in that difficult stage and she was only in the sacrament meeting so I don't blame her really for not liking it. She went and I tried to thank her as much as possible for trying it ... now we just gotta bring some young women to the lessons so she can go to the classes and actually enjoy herself!! :D C and Y really liked it although they had to rush off right away! Now our job is to keep going by with the members and the bishop, get Y an interview with the bishop, and keep reminding them about future weeks! :D 

Also, other miracle! We've been teaching F.  He's kinda been wishy-washy of late and has actually canceled a lot of our lessons. So we were kinda thinking that it wasn't go to work out with him. This week we went out with President Wright and when our plans got changed for the night, we were scrambling in order to find someone to visit with President. We finally decided to call up F...he answered and said we could go by. The visit was INCREDIBLE!!! He read Mosiah 18 and he said he didn't remember everything but he said that he did remember that he felt like the BofM was true and that he needed to follow the example of Alma's people and be baptized. We talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and we invited him to prepare to be baptized in December. He accepted and even went to church yesterday. Compared to other weeks, church wasn't AS great and didn't go AS smoothly as other weeks but it was still great! F. had lots of questions and unfortunately he has some doubts about tithing but we are going to try and go by with our bishop or something so as to help him understand the principle. Anyways, A HUGE BLESSING! He's one of the most progressing investigators right now :D

So a little bit about my companion, since now I've gotten the chance to know him. Man, he's a great companion because of how much service we give to each other. I love that guy so much. The other day his bag broke and I had an extra one so I told him he could have it. He was so grateful. Today, while in the Nike Store looking at soccer stuff, he grabbed a shirt with the Brazil logo on it and he said he was going to buy it for me as a thanks and so that I would always remember him. We take turns helping each other out and we have a lot of fun during the week as we work. He is a really fun, relaxed kind of guy. He likes to joke around and we have a mutual love in soccer so that gives us a lot to talk about. He lives in a city called Fortaleza, which is really close to the beach. He lives with his grandparents and a few of his siblings! He is a convert, he joined the church when he was 12. He's always telling me about all the cool stuff there is in Brazil and he's pretty much convinced me that I need to visit one day. :D Haha! He definitely wants to go to visit the USA and he's learning a lot of English (so help him practice on Christmas Day) :D

Anyways, there were other things that happened during the week but these were the biggest miracles! I love you all, I'm working hard, I'm trying to overcome my errors and my shortcomings but we are doing the best work possible.

OH, NEWS FLASH: today we had a conference with Elder Russell M. Nelson. Everybody got to shake his hand. What an experience! :) Also, his message and that of his wife were just fantastic. His wife invited us to contemplate and study about who we were in the premortal life. She promised us that it would help us overcome anything if we can remember who we were! Elder Nelson talked about 10 subjects that he thought were most important that we study and about which we must increase our knowledge. Anyways, more on that soon! He and his wife bore great testimonies, I loved it! :D

Love you all, take care! 

Elder Bushman

Colo-Colo Brothers :D...

 This is a photo of the jersey I bought of the team I like internationally... BARCELONA :) I got a screaming deal on it today, like 70% off on the official jersey :D

These are some fun photos of me and my companion that Elder Nelson took with his sweet camera. The shirt I'm wearing is the Brazilian shirt that my companion bought for me! :D

Our Popeye's trip! :D (Right to Left) Elder Denison, Elder Deal, Elder Laurentino, Elder Rice, Elder Rhees, Elder Neher, Elder Hokanson, and Me

Yr. 2, Week 31: They Accepted

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope everything is going well for everybody! Things are going absolutely fantastic here in Chile, in Puente Alto and in Gabriela. My companion and I are loving it here and we are having lots of fun and working really hard. Right now E’ Laurentino is sick… Yesterday he woke up with a bad sore throat and stuffy nose…pretty much the stuff I had. So I did what you said mom and I told him to gargle with OnGuard and Lemon (I’m not sure if I should have or should not have put the Lemon in there but I did anyway). He did that all Sunday and then I gave him a blessing and we went to sleep. This morning he woke up and he didn’t even have a sore throat. He still has some congestion and he feels a bit light headed but he’s on his way to recovery. That was a cool miracle :D We celebrated Elder Nelson’s birthday today; you can see some of the photos below. It was pretty fun. As we were eating cake he and I were just dying of laughter as we talked about comedy routines and stuff. He’s a real fun guy and I love him a lot! I’m so glad we are rooming together and I wish we could finish the mission in the same pension but he’ll almost for sure be leaving in a change or two.

So a little bit about our investigators:

C. and Y.:

     This is the family that was about to receive a baby but she was in the hospital, that one. So, two weeks ago in ward council, I told H' S. (president of the relief society) and H' N. (president of the primary) about Y. in the hospital and they visited her. Our next door neighbor P. (1^st counsellor in the stake presidency and H’ S's husband) went with us to visit C. last Sunday like I told you guys. This week Y had her baby at 6 1/2 months. The baby was in the intensive care unit and had a 50/50 chance to live. They were hysterical but they kept praying and doing all they can. Right now the baby doesn’t need any oxygen support, it’s gaining weight, etc; ALL GOOD SIGNS. At this point the baby is almost sure to live and be healthy. The S. family is helping us out a ton with them, even going with us yesterday for a visit. We had a sick lesson! C. is 100% believing in God and has actually been helping his family read the BofM and pray. Y. is doing AMAZING and wants to start participating in the church a ton. C. (and their daughter B.) are gonna get baptized in a few months, just wait and see :D

M. and O.:

     These are two investigators that Elder Thomas and Elder Hill found. They are great friends of P. and R. and everything, they just don’t have much time. But this week, Elder Laurentino and I felt like we should focus on them. We had a really cool lesson with a member and we invited them to start reading the BofM and praying. We invited them to be baptized and to start preparing for the 23^rd of November. They accepted :) We are working hard with them. M., the daughter, is changing like crazy, it's awesome! She went to church yesterday with P’s family and is going to be participating in the stake youth activity this week. Anyways, we are so stoked for them. L., the dad, and B., the little son, are tough. B. is always playing soccer on Sundays so that’s tough and L. says he doesn’t believe in God. But, step by step =)

G. Family:

     We visited the family this week with a member and it was super good! C. has such a desire to be baptized and learn. She kept asking questions during the lesson on the Plan of Salvation. For example, she asked: “So if we didn’t have a body before coming to earth, does that mean when we die that we will go back to Heavenly Father as spirits?” Sick question :) C., the mom, is understanding a ton and becoming much more receptive. We just need a REALLY good family to friendship them. The dad, P., and C., the daughter, went to church yesterday. They loved it, they had a really good time and lots of the members were talking to P. and he participated and everything! Super awesome!  They also said they are going to come next week. Now we just gotta get the wife and son to come to church. But we are working on that!  

P. and R. G:

     Yesterday we had a really good lesson with a member in which we taught about the scriptures helping us learn and follow the gospel. We invited R. to pray and read the BofM and to start preparing for her baptism. She accepted the invitation and accepted the invitation to prepare for her baptism on the 28 of December, the day after her wedding. We are stoked that finally she has a date and can start preparing for it :D

Well, that's pretty much it for this week! Take care guys, love you!

Elder Bushman

Week 2: I Can't Wait to Actually Teach REAL People!

See Photos Below...

Hey Everyone,

Lots of stuff has happened this week so I'm just gonna jump right in. First off, the Latino missionaries left yesterday; they are just in here for two weeks. I loved our roommates and I'm gonna miss them a ton! I am excited for the new missionaries and the new North American ones. Next, we watched elder Hollands talk to the MTC. I have renewed vigor and excitement for my mission! I cannot wait to get out into the field! Sundays are my absolute favorite day! Ah, I love the videos we watch and the discussions and the sacrament meetings. It's so spiritual, so relaxed and all out AMAZING. 

Apparently our mission president for the east mission, President Wright, is SUPER awesome. I cannot wait to meet him and experience all of what he will bring to our mission! The food here is still making me sick but I'm getting used to it. At breakfast they put yogurt on their cereal instead of milk. Apparently milk is too expensive here...who knew? They always have potatoes too and I'm sick of them, but I love their meats and jello! haha! 

So one of the guys in our district, Elder Nelson, is totally TJs twin. His facial expressions and the way he says stuff is totally like TJ. It's awesome....he doesn't look a thing like him though so don't get confused! Me and Elder Mcgary sing and quote psych all the time. We are a ton alike and we have tons of fun together. We're probably gonna do a musical number sometime soon! Some of the elders are having trouble. One almost went home because he was so homesick. He's since decided to stay but the other is having trouble with his testimony.... I'm trying to help and pray for them! I hope my efforts are doing some good. 

So I found out that I leave on March 24, 2015 from the field....a good two and a half weeks early. Anyways, I'm not thinking about the end so much anymore, just the end of this boring MTC. Forgive my poor attitude but the MTC for six weeks is starting to wear away my patience and brain cells... I have been experiencing great spiritual moments during church, when praying, giving lessons in Spanish, and when listing to people sing. It is amazing to feel this spirit. The other night I just started singing Be Still my Soul and I began to cry because I was so happy and joyful and full of the spirit. Boy it is amazing. I can't wait to actually teach REAL people! 

My teachers are leaving to teach the new North American missionaries and we are getting new ones. It's kinda sad because I love Hermano Cerda and Arraya so much; they are great! I've been working on my Spanish and I feel weird. My head is about to explode trying to translate what I am hearing, to English, reading in English, and translating what I want to say back to Spanish. I am absolutely going CRAZY! haha! But it is cool to see my language learning progressing, and it has only been two weeks! and in only an MTC! The lord is certainly blessing me completely! Cuando nosotros servimos Dios, recibiremos bendiciones internes. I've been writing in my journal a ton so there's a great record of everything. Anyways, I gotta go! I love you all and I look forward to next week and writing you all!!!!
Send this to everyone!

Elder Adam Robert Bushman

THE NAMETAG!!!

Elder Pinel - Roommate that just left the MTC

Elder Pinel, Elder Gonzales, Elder Bushman, Elder Holsclaw, Elder Lee

The Elders...

Chile MTC

 From Mom: I was able to talk back and forth with him via email a bit today. He says "everything is FANTASTIC now! WOOOHOOO!" He has replaced all of his country singing with hymns. "Be Still my Soul is my new shower song!!!" Also, when I asked him if he needed anything he said, "Don't worry about the ear plugs; I'm now so exhausted he doesn't wake me up anymore..." He will be able to Skype or call on Mother's Day - he's not sure which, but one or the other! LOVE the photos!!

"No man can teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the inspiration of the living God and with power from on high unless he is living it."
~ Heber J. Grant

Week 1: We are Literally Making History!

Hello everybody!!!!!

OMG this day is honestly better than Christmas!!! I have been looking forward to writing home since I wrote my first letter, haha! I and all the other Elders and Sisters were so ecstatic to get on their email and see what their family wrote. I'm so happy I get this opportunity; there is so much to say. 

A couple things first…I cant send or view photos in the MTC because their internet is slow and there's not much bandwidth to send stuff. I'll send tons of photos when I can.

First off, the language is going pretty well. I along with Elder McGary and Sister Phelps are the best speakers in our class and in our companionships, share most of the teaching load. I feel I'm getting pretty good at organizing my thoughts and memorizing phrases. Spanish is coming along great and it's only the first week! Our roommates are Elder Piñel and Elder Gonzalez. Awesome guys who are fun and with great testimonies. They talk to us a whole lot, though they don't know English. I'll send photos of everyone later. My companions, Elder Holsclaw and Elder Lee... both are good guys and they're pretty cool to be with. The schedule here is tough…we wake up, do personal study for an hour, then exercise for a while. We then prepare for the day and work until 9:30 pm. It's a tough schedule and learning the gospel just makes me all the more tired. Sometimes I'm so exhausted I can barely write in my journal but I gotta so I'll remember everything. 

Last Wednesday I broke down. I missed home and I wanted to see my family and friends. I missed everything … since then I've prayed for strength and received lots from the scriptures, prayer, and other district members. Haha, it's also WAY tough to fall asleep because Elder Lee snores like the Dickens!! Good night, it's insane. I feel like Bro. Bishop when he would bang pots together to wake up his comp so he could fall asleep again before his companion snored again, haha! It's really weird calling everyone Elder and Sister…I've gotten used to it now and when I get other people's real first name, I only think of them as Sister Sommerfeld or Elder Rice, etc. Haha!!! I love it! 

The food here in the MTC is making me sick though. I have to put Digestzen on my stomach every night (thanks Stephen and Jenny)! Were having tons of fun here too! We talk to everyone in Spanish and everyone is making jokes. All of the district members have their own little things. Elder Nelson is the FUNNIEST story teller ever, hahahahaha! It's awesome. I love Elder Rice. He and I are way close. We have very similar situations and we talk about it and buoy each other up all the time! Elder McGary and I love tons of the same things and are way good friends. Elder Paxman is way good at sports and we always play. And it goes on and on for everyone in our district. OHHHH, which reminds me. I was called to be the district leader of my district. There are 5 districts and one zone here at the MTC. All of the districts have latino district leaders and all of the zone leaders are latino. I am the only white guy in the meetings and I preside over my district. It's intimidating but my whole district is very supportive and loving, they respect me a lot. It reminds me of my patriarchal blessing that said I would hold leadership positions. It's a really good experience. I FEEL SO MUCH JOY AND LOVE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS READING MY LETTERS NOW!!! 

Anyways, we are also the first North American missionaries to ever come to and learn here in the Santiago MTC. We are literally making history! Last night Elder Rice asked me for a blessing, not his companion, not his roommates, me. I was super humbled. The blessing was one of strength and it taught me a whole lot and gave me lots of strength. Oh and mom, haha, I have been playing the piano a ton. Once they found out I play the piano, people want me to play for sacrament meeting, FHE, priesthood, everything. It's been spreading like crazy. I played I am a child of God, as a musical number for some latino sisters down here while they sang. I also did a spontaneous arrangement of A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief for a musical number! I didn't do a bunch of fancy stuff, just played it three times with different octaves, repeated some parts, and played it loud and soft. Everyone loved it and the spirit was soooo strong. I gotta go but I love you all and I miss every single one of you! Be sure to post this letter on the blog!

From the Chile!

Elder Bushman

From Mom: I didn't realize they were the first North American missionaries to be at the Chile MTC. Exciting! He sounds so much better than last week. Wonderful to hear that the piano skills are being put to good use! What a blessing to hear such great news this week! Love this boy... Oh, and he told me in a separate email that he will be in the MTC for 6 Weeks.

"It follows that if we have more missionaries, there will be more converts. It also follows that if missionaries are better prepared, they will be more effective."

 - Gordon B. Hinckley