Yr. 2, Week 43: We Found some Sweet new Investigators this Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, this is a new experience... I am typing right now on a tablet in the house of a member because the internet place where we usually write  is closed...ugh!!! Anyways, this week was amazing!!!! :) i really wish i was typing on a real computer so that i could tell you guys about everything. But here goes...

A few miracles:

We found some sweet new investigators this week. The first person was a lady named M. We had previously taught her son a little bit and talked a bit with her husband but we dropped by the other day and she was there, and we had an awesome visit. We taught her the restoration and she was very receptive and had a lot of faith. She is excited to go to church and to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Anyways, the next family we visited was an incomplete family. It is a young couple, the dad is a member and the mom isn't. T, the mom, said she was interested in reading the Book of Mormon even though S. said he wasn't interested  in reading, although it looks like his heart is softening. She agreed to read and pray, which was a big change from the way they received us in their home. The next family we found, though we were only able to teach the mom so far is A. She has two kids and a husband and he is awesome. I am sending an email in which there is a big recording about our visit and the miracle we saw with her. Suffice it to say she is very receptive and agreed to read the Book of Mormon, pray, and  will be going to church very soon :) The next family we found gwe taught on Sunday, the A family. We were only able to teach the mom and her daughter, G and D, but they are AWESOME!!! They were so very receptive to the gospel and they  loved hearing about the experience of Joseph Smith. In fact the asked us if they couId go to church and where they could get a Book of Mormon. We said that they could go for sure and that we were going to give them a Book of Mormon. They were thrilled. We didn't meet the younger brother and the dad was working. More details are in the recordings I'll be sending.

Next thing, there is a recent convert in our sector named L. She hasn't let the missionaries go to her house in months and hasn't been to church in over a year. Anyways, we visited her twice this week and helped get her excited to go back to church and have faith and hope so as to see the miralces in her son who is struggling. She went to church and when we were taking her to her class, we walked into the relief society and the sisters there were just so happy to see her again and really welcomed her back. Well, undoubtedly she felt loved and important.

D. and her family are doing well. I was on divisions but Elder Deal went by this week and we reset their baptismal date. They are a lot more excited and they are showing a lot more faith. My goal now is to use even more members than we have up until now. I think that is going to help them a lot in order to be ready for their baptism in February. The W. family is doing well too. Y. is awesome, this week we taught the meaning of the sacrament to her husband and I was just shocked at how well she understood the doctrine. 

Anyways, those were the main things that happened this week. Could I ask our family a favor? Could I assign you guys a few people that I am teaching and could you guys write them a letter? Could you introduce yourselves, tell a little bit about yourselves, and then bear your testimony and invite them to do certain things, such as read the bom, go to church, etc.? Mom, then you, with this letter, could attach a photo of each person and make a little word file and then send them to me. Ill then print them out, translate them, and give them to the investigators, okay? Ill get you guys the assignments for next week. If you have any questions, just hit me up.

I love you guys a ton, see ya!!!!!

Elder Bushman

Answers to questions:
1. The Chilean people believe in God and Christ and the Holy Ghost usually but in the last few years it's been pretty popular for the teens to not believe in God, or believe that he is like an energy or something...

2. The hardest doctrine for people to accept is between the law of chastity or word of wisdom...nobody likes to learn about those commandments

3. The doctrine that brings the most joy is probably temple and eternal families

4. Yes, we have those dates with D. and family... we reset them for February but everything is going great!!!
 
5. I'm staying focused by just thinking about those we are teaching and trying to find more people and help the recent converts
 
6. Goals: Finish the BOM in spanish, have a baptism in january, february, and march, find lots of people for elder deal and the new companion that he'll have and be obedient
 
7. Elder nelson will be leaving the sector this change but elder lee, my old mtc comp, is in the zone so ill die with him :)
 
8. I haven't gone to the temple since Elder Thomas but at the start of February I'll go and then the week I go home my whole group goes with president and his wife. The youth don't usually go unless the ward goes...

Love yall :)
Elder Bushman

Yr. 2, Week 42: They Felt the Spirit of the Message

Dear Family and Friends,

My mom wrote me this week and said, "Well honey, I've been watching the weather reports for Santiago and it looks like it is getting pretty hot down there..." Yes mom, you are right. If anybody has literally ANY doubts about just how hot it is, listen to the recording Elder Deal and I made for my family the other day when it was BLAZING. Just now, I am priviliged enough to be in an internet place and through the only window facing westward shines a big southern hemisphere sun shine directly on and ONLY on me :S It's kinda crazy, but maybe I'm just making a big deal about it...maybe ;) Haha! 

We had a really good week this week; however, we didn't have an outstanding amount of lessons. I would say our success came in the few lessons we had but in the spirit and power that was in them. To start out first:

Yesterday we went to visit O. and M. and we had an awesome lesson literally just because we brought a member. We went with Hermana P., the member assigned to Family History work. SHE WAS AWESOME!!!! She totally hit it off with O and she explained so many of her experiences and everything that she has experienced with FH work. Anyways, she invited them over for this coming Sunday to work on FamilySearch.org and get them all ready to go to the temple. Anyways, it was such a spiritual lesson because the member really helped them get excited about it. Also, Elder Deal shared a personal experience and I shared the experience of Bethany and working with Family Search. Anyways, there was a great spirit and everyone was edified!!!

This week we haven't really been able to teach D, F, A and A because their mom worked a ton, their aunt died, and they went on a vacation. We are going to be passing by tonight but a week ago from today we taught them about prayer and scripture study. It was sweet because we literally asked them how they have been going with their reading and we just shared a little bit about what we had learned in all of our personal studies. It was really cool and I think they felt the spirit of the message. Hopefully all goes well tonight as well!!!!

C and Y and B went to church on Sunday. It was cool. We also had a sweet lesson in which C FINALLY understood (I think) that he needs to read the BofM and pray about it. So we'll see how that goes. Y though is really increasing her faith, I love it!

So to answer some questions.... NO, there is no AC down here in normal houses. In office buildings there is and in some restaurants and in the churches but where we work, there is NO AC and it stinks... I don't think I would every live LONG TERM in a country where they don't have AC during the summer in homes :S It is just too rough, I'm sweaty ALL the time, even at night! People still just want to give us soda but sometimes I just put my foot down and beg for WATER, AGUA, AQUA! Things with Elder Deal are going well. He is really fun and we have a good time as companions. He's really funny, works hard, and we teach well together. He goes home a change after me. He is also going to BYU fall semester! 

Take care everybody, hope everything is going well!!!! 

Elder Bushman!

PS - Elder Bushman sent some really cool recordings. If anyone wants to hear them, let me know.

 A breakfast of mine the other day...sausage, eggs, clams and barbecue sauce

 This is a gnarly crash in our sector on sunday!!! It shut of the power for like half of our sector! Nuts!!!

 Coke Floats...They're Awesome

 Guarana flavored Mate...

 A tribute to Elder Laurentino...

Learning to play the cena (prounounced Kenna)

I am Iron Man...

Jedi...

Yr. 2, Week 41: 7 Sentences

Dear Family and Friends,

Everything went great this week! The confirmations were given to R. and O. and M.! Anyways, they are doing great and everything! I'm enjoying my time with Elder Deal. We are having lots of fun and we are finding new people to teach. Anyways, we had some good experiences this week! I will make some recordings and send them next week! 

 

Love you all, Elder Bushman

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:

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ELDER BUSHMAN

What a wonderful Christmas present - one hour with our Elder Bushman! We had the opportunity to meet Elder Laurentino and hear a cool song from them. We ended with Family Prayer and a photo of all Mom's kids together. Blessings!

Enjoy the video below...

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!