Yr. 2, Week 51: I am Forever Indebted and Grateful

Dear Family and Friends,

First off, a couple things mom: no I won't be writing next week. We do our changes and we have some free time but we aren't doing much and then they take us to the airport, so this will be the last time I write, just FYI. Also, don't worry about a calling card, we've survived 2 years, we can wait 4 hours more :) Plus, it'll make the reunion that much AWESOMER! :D 

Second, here's a little update on the week we had. A few highlights! ...

1. Our investigator L. is making EXCELENT progress. He's been alcohol free for a week and a half and has been reading the BofM (he's in chapter 8), he's praying with his wife, and we had two great visits this week with members from the ward. J and H.S. came with us and they both supported him a lot and really just made him feel GREAT! Anyways, we are super stoked for him, he's got a baptismal date for the 5th of April. I'm really excited to see the photo of his baptism. 

2. This week we visited the B. family twice and they were GREAT visits. The first one we were able to teach a bit about church and baptism and the BofM. They are reading so great. C. is in like chapter 6 of 1 Nephi, G. is in chapter 5 of 1 Nephi, D. is almost done with 2 Nephi. IT'S so awesome. The youngest boy C., D., and G. have baptismal dates for the 12 of April. We invited C. to be baptized and he accepted but we weren't able to commit him 100% for the 12th, but that's a job for this week. We had a sick lesson with G. last night where we read the BofM and talked about it. She told us about the change she feels in her family, the incredible spirit she feels in her home, and how much she loves the BofM. Anyways, it was amazing. I love that family! They will be baptized, if not on the 12th, soon after it :D Elder Deal and his new companion (?) are going to do a great job.

3. So we were FINALLY able to visit with D. and her family. Last week they told us that they had some doubts and that this and that and the other! This week we talked a little bit about God's will, and his commandments, and asking and receiving. We read 1 Nephi 2 and it just hit her hard. She prayed at the end and it her prayer she asked God to help her resolve her doubts but that above all that he helped her to do his will. It was awesome!

Everyone, Friends and Family, everyone I know! THANK YOU for your support and for writing me and for praying for me while I have been on the mission! I have felt your influence and I want you all to know that the mission has changed me and I am forever indebted and grateful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity! May God bless you through His Son Jesus Christ as He has me. See you soon!

Elder Bushman

Elder Deal: "Mate overdosed Bushman! In reality he just fell asleep on the floor after daily planning and we posed him like that"

I FINISHED ALL THE PRACTICES IN THIS BOOK :)

This is the best dessert alive...in Chile that is! Haha!
Melón con Helado (melon with ice cream, nothing special, just AWESOME!!!)

Elder Kern and I last P-day of mine

Elder Deal and I last P-day (we played soccer and it was AWESOME)

Yr. 2, Week 50: I'm Going to Read it Every Day

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, what a week. It was a really, really great week. Looking back on it I can see the ups and downs of the week, the frustration and joy we felt, the tough and easy things, the fun and dumb moments, but I just remember the good. Seriously looking back I only focus on and can remember the good about the week. I really like that. :)

So a quick summary of some of the investigators:

B. Family: this week it was really hard to visit with them, however, this weekend we were able to teach them some really cool, awesome things and they are just progressing awesomely. Sometimes they cancel on us and sometimes they aren't there but when they are and when we coordinate well, it's incredible the spirit we feel with them. Yesterday we taught them and it was awesome. They asked us some questions about the BofM and everything and they really have been reading. D. has read up until 2 Nephi 15. It's incredible and she has really marked some things and has been able to tell us why she did so. Anyways, really awesome! We invited them to be baptized and to a date and they agreed. Anyways, they won't be baptized until after I leave but I don't care, I'm really stoked for them. THEY ARE AWESOME! :D Hahaha!

J and P: we also visited with them yesterday and it was sick. We taught the restoration and P. was just knocked off her feet. We gave her the BofM and she was like, "I'm going to read it, I'm going to read it every day in the subway on my way to work!" It was awesome. J and P want to baby bless their baby and we told them about it and they want to come to church and everything! Anyways, they are doing great! 

L: this was an old investigator that we were visiting but we left him because he didn't progress. However, we taught him again and he's decided to be baptized. We invited him and his wife to set some goals as to what they thought they needed to do in order to prepare for baptism. We came back and they said they were going to pray every day in the morning and night, read the BofM together, go to church when L. isn't working, and he wants to be baptized the first week of April! :) Anyways, we visited with him with J., our convert and it was awesome. I think it strengthened J. and helped L. know that there is someone at church who has made changes and who is happy! 

A little bit about my studies this week. While on divisions I had a great study about Virtue. PMG led me to read D&C 48:33. I was meditating on it a bit because I was trying to understand a bit more about why the Lord would be telling the saints to be sanctified and virtuous. I read the section heading and it all made sense. The lord was helping them to know who he wanted the meetings of the church to be directed. So as I kept studying, it made more and more sense why the Lord wants us to be virtuous as we perform sacred covenants. In D&C 133:4-5 it talked about being clean those that bear the vessels of the Lord. So I thought for a long time about what vessels meant and 2 Timothy 2:21 helped me to understand. I loved this study because it helped me to understand what it is that I want to be as I represent the Lord in administering Christ's grace and blessings through those covenants. 

So that's a bit about the week that I've had and I've really had a great time. It's been so fun and so great to be with Elder Deal. We have lots of fun together. He comes home a change after me and is going to BYU too and we we are planning lots of fun stuff to do! Haha, we're good friends! :D 

Love you guys, take care!

Elder Bushman

Yr. 2, Week 47: Some Really Amazing Studies This Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Everything is going really well. I would say this week was a bit of an up and down week in regards to investigator progress, however, it was a week of increased personal spiritual growth in addition to increased faith. Let me tell you about some of the experiences I had this week had increased my faith and also helped me to improve and grow as well.

First off I had some really amazing studies this week. The first one spawned from a scripture our bishop shared in Isaiah 43:2. I later read verses 1-3 and began to study the different names that appear there in regards to Jehovah. It was interesting as I began to study the phrases and words, “Thou art mine” “Holy One of Israel” “Thy Saviour”. That led me to study many different scriptures in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and D&C and Pearl of Great Price. I looked up scriptures in John 1:1-14, Hebrews 1:1-2, John 12:35-36, 46, John 14:6, 2 Nephi 9:10-11, 19, Mosiah 3:7, D&C 110:1-5, etc. I began to see a lot about how Christ really was all that Isaiah said He was in his writings and that He truly was the God of the Old Testament. But more importantly, I began to understand better Christ’s role in my life and His love for me. Anyways, I shared it all with Elder Deal. It was amazing, I loved it. Another amazing study from this week was a study in Alma 43:18-21. I linked these scriptures up with some in Ephesians 6:13-17 about the armour of God.  I linked in the different things about the armour and I saw that the “thick clothing” was something not mentioned by Paul in the New Testament. I thought of the temple and the physical protection we receive there. Therefore, I, throughout this study, was able to see how the armour of God really surprises the devil and how much it protects us compared to those who do not wear it. Pretty cool :D

We had a great experience while trying to exercise more faith to baptize. We taught L. 2 and the Sacrament to A. and her son J. It was a really good lesson and we were able to focus on how the atonement and the doctrine of the sacrament and baptism help us progress and therefore fulfill our purpose on earth. We then invited her and her sons to go to church and she accepted while adding, "I want to get baptized." We were stoked!!!! Haha, now she and her two sons went to church yesterday and we have an FHE set up for this Thursday with them and a family in the ward. One of the kids in the primary personally gave A. a Book of Mormon and she loved it. I think it touched her and I saw her looking up the scriptures related to the hymns that we were singing. She has a baptismal date for the second week of April and we are going to be extending the same date to her son who's 14. :D It was a sweet experience. I think they are going to progress real well.

We visited lots of other people but there wasn't a whole lot of progress with the W. family nor C.B's family. We visited D. and it was great but they didn't go to church or anything. Anyways, some people have paused in their progression, etc. However, with A. we are seeing some good things with others. This week we are going to go full force with D's family and C's and J. and P. etc.

Anyways, take care guys! Love you!

Elder Bushman 

Adios, Elder Nelson!

 APPLEBEES!!!!!

Yr. 2, Week 44: I Have no Doubt they will be Ready

Dear Friends and Family,

This week went really well. We had lots of success teaching and we were able to find a few new people to teach, lots of really special people that I think are really prepared for the gospel.

We were able to revisit and talk to everybody that we taught for the first time last week. We talked to A. and she is doing very well and is really remembering well all that she felt and knew when she prayed a few years back. This week we are going to be able to get a few really sweet visits in with her and we're going to set a baptismal date, invite her to church again, etc. We were only able to talk to G and D. for a few seconds but they are doing great. G. is super awesome, and has lot of desires to know Christ better and she has lots of faith so that's sweet!! We've been stopping by T. every once in a while to check up on her reading. She's reading slowly but surely so that's cool. 

We actually were able to visit with M's whole family yesterday. Her husband R. was there and we taught him a great lesson one. We invited R, M, and her son, F., to read and pray about the BofM. They accepted and R. is quite interested. He's smart but he's got great questions and he's quite humble. Anyways, we are stoked with them. The only problem is that R. works A TON!!!! But that can be solved!!

We found a new couple this week, A and C. SUPER AWESOME!! We talk to lots of people who say, I pray and I'm a good person, I know that Christ is always with me...but I feel like most of them are exaggerating. However, A. and C. are different. They really do have a more humble and honest spirit about what they do. They pray as a couple, the pray personally every day, they read the scriptures, A. works in a catholic school, they really live a clean life, etc. THEY ARE AWESOME. We taught them lesson 1, the Restoration and they thought it was great. They accepted to read the BofM and when we dropped it off the next day they were very receptive. We've got a great relationship with them so far, they are awesome. The only bad thing is that they are going to be out of town for like three weeks in February :S So that kinda sucks but hopefully everything will go okay :)

Yesterday we also had a sick lesson with D. and her kids. We taught about the Word of Wisdom and it was incredible how they responded to it. They had lots of faith and they all committed to not take any of the 5 things. They said that coffee and tea was going to be hard but we are going to help them and they are quite resolved and very set on it :D They are really doing great, I have no doubt that they will be ready by the end of February. 

Well, that's about everything! Hope you guys are well, have fun!

Elder Bushman

Me and Elder Denison on divisions...

Yr. 2, Week 40: 3 Baptisms and 11 Investigators at Church!!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a really awesome, hectic, spiritual, draining week :) Haha! Here's a play by play!

Monday went really quick, almost like it was p-day! We did our studies in the morning, went to the grocery story, and then we headed out for the Christmas Devotional that President was holding. It was awesome. He talked about the condescension of Christ and I have begun to understand a little more like Nephi did after the angel began to show him what Christ gave up to be our savior. Anyways, I've been having fantastic studies about the subject and I've been feeling God's love more and more as I understand more and more what He does for me :) The rest of the day was writing the family and visiting some people. 

Tuesday we had some of the baptismal interviews (all went well) and we were able to visit lots of people and show them and teach them about Christ and his sacrifice. We were able to share a great message with Hermana Ivonne from Philippines about the things Christ gave up :D It was so cool!

Wednesday my companion and I decided to use the very brilliant idea of writing Christmas cards and delievering them. IT WAS AWESOME! We were able to visit with lots of people, gain their trust, and help spread the joy of Christmas while in turn granting ourselves lots of joy! :D We were able to make the nativity with the G. family and also have dinner with the W. family! :D It was a whole lot of fun and I was really, really grateful for all that they did for us. We got home and opened the wonderful gifts from my family (my comp DIED over the BYU shirt, haha, he was so grateful :)... We prepared everything for the BBQ on Thursday as well...

Thursday was the awesome BBQ that we were waiting for. We went to the church, played lots of soccer and basketball, had a sick BBQ, and played a home made version of SETTLERS OF CATAN that Elder Neher in our zone made!!! :) It was way cool...bad thing, we got our cell phone robbed...UGH! Lame!... However, it was so amazing talking with my family and laughing and having a good time with them. It was fun talking to each and every one of my siblings and I hope they had just as good of a time as I had! That night we also visited with some members and investigators and really just had a great time! It was an amazing Christmas, one I will never forget!! :D

Friday was filled with lots of cleaning and baptismal interviews. Everything went well and they all passed and we got everything in order for them to be baptized :D WE WERE STOKED! We also found out that Elder Laurentino was going to be the new assistant to the president and that I was going to have a new companion, Elder Deal... We were both pretty sad but I'm excited for the new opportunities that I have! 

Saturday we were able to visit with lots of people (W. family, D., etc.) and get them ready to go to church :) R. and P. were married by the state and are officially keeping all the commandments :D Haha, P. likes to mention that his marriage certificate is his ticket to the temple (in a way it is :D Haha). 

Sunday was the big day. R, O, and M were baptized by P. (husband to R.) and J. (recent convert and friend to O. and M.). It was a really special service because the whole ward put a lot into it and you could also see the hard work and preparation by those being baptized. D, A, F, C, B, O, R, B, M, and two of C's friends were the investigators we had at church: 11 :D We also were able to set a few more baptismal dates and things are just going GREAT!!!! :D

So a little bit about my companion: Elder Lucas Deal is from Salt Lake City, Utah, is the second of four children, is going to be a music major at BYU. He was companions of Elder Frost and Elder Muzante as well as being my companion :D hahaha!!! It's a fun mix. He has one change less than I do! So it's going to be fun, seeing as we'll be seeing a lot of each other!! :D

Thanks for everything guys! Love you so much!

Elder Bushman

 

Our visit to the G's house on Christmas Eve... Me and Elder Laurentino with our santa masks:

 

 Making the Nativity:

 The Finished Product:

Christmas Eve Dinner:

Our 3 Baptisms: R, O and M

Saying Farewell to Elder Laurentino:

Hello to Elder Deal:

My new soccer ball:

 

Yr. 2, Week 39: They are 100% Ready for Their Baptism

Dear Family and Friends,

Today isn't p-day, rather, they just gave us a little while to write our families and do some other things for the mission. Things are going great. We had awesome lessons with R, O, M and they are 100% ready for their baptism. P., R's husband, is going to baptize her and J, the recent convert who actually gave the referral to the missionaries to visit O, is going to baptize O and M. They are all really excited and they have great testimonies and experiences. 

D, A, F, & A. are also doing very well. They have fantastic questions, lots of faith, and they are having spiritual experiences. This week we are going to invite them to be baptized on a specific date so we'll see how that goes. :D I'm pretty sure that they will accept. Also, F and A came to church yesterday and they loved it. They were well received by the members and things are great with them. 

Y and C are doing well and they are changing and becoming more converted but they didn't come to church yesterday so that's the big difficulty with them. We're still trying to help them all get with the program so that they can be coming REGULARLY :) Hopefully they can go to church and stay for the baptism next week!!! 

Anyways, anything else you guys wanna know just save the questions until the 25th...or THREE DAYS :) I'm really excited to talk to you guys and I hope to be able to see you all :) haha!!! Thanks for everything, you guys are the best! Thanks for all of your support!

Elder Bushman

 

Oh, PS, I ran into a sister missionary at the temple...she just barely got to the MTC, she is from Cedar Hills, and said, "Elder Bushman, before I came here, I was reading your blog!" Haha, it was nuts, she said when she got her call she looked up Santiago Chile and found my blog and has been reading it for a few months, CRAZY :) FYI because I don't know if you know HOW many people read :) haha!

 

Chile Santiago East Mission Conference:

Elder Bushman is third from the right, bottom row of Elders

 

 

This is Elder Rhees and I drinking Mate out of a Piña! It was pretty darn good :D

This is mate out of an orange...EVEN BETTER!

This is the precision driving of the chilean people. You can BARELY see daylight there, it's crazy! 

This is Elder Hokanson and I on divs. We bought Chinese food...not bad chinese food here in chile!

 

Yr. 2, Week 37: LOTS OF PROGRESS

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a great week! We had several awesome things happen! First off, an update on the investigators that are progressing most:

R: she is doing great! She has really been getting involved with the church and doing FHE's and just loving it. She is getting to know so many people and she loves church and they all love going. Anyways, she has been thinking if she wants to get baptized the 28th or the 21st or a bit later. And yesterday she said that she would like to be baptized the 21st, that she feels ready, and that she would like to be baptized the same day as O and M! :D We are excited and we still got a bit to teach but we're confident that we can do it! It's so awesome because all three have testimonies.

O and M: This week we had a sweet FHE with another family in the ward. The L. family invited them over and Sister L. is the primary president. She and her husband are really fun and they made an instant relationship with O and M. Both of them are excited for the baptismal date and lots of the ward members know them and are excited for them! Also, O's husband, L. doesn't really listen to us because he's "atheist" but O. commented that these last few weeks he has been making references to God and also told O and M that if they reallly wanted to be baptized, that he would support them and help them and even go to church with them if they needed him to....LOTS OF PROGRESS :) Also, M's little brother, B. is really excited and he could be the next baptism. 

Anyways, things are good, we enjoying everything, we are healthy and we are suffering SO MUCH HEAT!!!!!!! :S But everythhing's good.

We were thinking about doing the skype at about 7 our time, or at about 3 your guys' time...would that work?? Or no? I got the package, we loved it, we are going to be doing the Nativity with the G. family and probably O. and her family. We are stoked for the cards, I'M STOKED WITH THE BBQ SAUCE, I'm going to use it on the BBQ we have Christmas day :) thanks so much for the presents and everything, I love you all, you're the best! Here's some photos and recordings!!!

Love you guys, ELDER BUSHMAN

 

 Making Empanadas...

Christmas Package - 6 days from Utah to Chile!

Sweet Members and Investigators!

Yr. 2, Week 35: God Loves Us

Dear Family and Friends,

Haha, what a week...there is honestly NOTHING to report... Honestly here's the gist:

This week has kinda been a tough one. My companion, Elder Laurentino, was sick this week so we honestly didn't do much... On Tuesday he came down with a massive fever and had it going strong until like Thursday evening. At one point he had a fever of 103.9. It was NUTS. Good thing we had my thermometer because that could've gotten messy! Anyways, during the weekend he had bad stomach issues and stuff so it was a super bumer week for him and me. I was really bored and just sick of staying inside. Sometimes it's cool to have a break but this was just TOO MUCH. :S Anyways, he's feeling a lot better now so we are stoked to make this week SICK :D

It was a pretty mellow week...full of lots of personal study. I'm not sure if you have been able to read the Ensign for the month of December but read it!! It is amazing. I loved the article about the Sacred Grove. I loved the principles this Seventy was able to learn from the nature that exists in the Sacred Grove!! Also, I read and studied Jacob 5 this week. I reflected on and I felt a strong impression that God loves us and that He desires to help us reach our potential just like the Lord of the vineyard wanted to help these trees reach their potential :) I love this chapter! 

Anyways, I'll send some photos! Here's some recordings too!!! Everything is great :) I'm having lots of fun with my companion and we are putting in lots of work! Take care everybody, love ya!

Elder Bushman

Future Elder G.

Any Guesses?? Boiling his Socks