It's almost Christmas!

Sent: Monday, December 9, 2013 4:09 PM
Subject: It's almost Christmas!

Hello everyone!!

I got a package with gloves and my jacket. I hope that's the one you are talking about. I loved it! thank you so much. I'm loving the weather out here. It's getting colder but it only gets to the 30s at night and during the day it's around the 50s. I love it! i'm glad you guys are doing well and the Nativity went well. Our Christmas party is this Saturday and should be great! Thank you for your prayers. Let me think about my favorite scripture and I'll let you know.

This week has been interesting. Basically every appointment we had every day this week fell through and we had to find a lot of other people to see. Tuesday we did pick up two investigators for after Christmas. Wednesday we got two more for the next two weeks  as well. Thursday we had a lesson with R and were able to talk with him more. I hope he comes along quickly. Saturday morning we had a lesson with B C, a 70 year old black guy, that really gave us a boost and was great! He was super funny and I can't wait to continue teaching him. that night we went over to Bishop's and discussed our ward list and what we needed to do for each person. then we went to a lesson with C and his mom and they agreed to start taking the lessons! I'm so excited!! Even Pie Night was cancelled that night. This was just one of those weeks. Thankfully it got rescheduled for last night so we got to end our week with Pie Night which was great.

I hope you guys have a great week. I can't wait to hear from you guys again and for Christmas. Let me know if you got my letter. 

Love,

Elder Bushman

Last Week of the 3rd Transfer!! -- oops! apparently I didn't finish posting this! - it is now out of order!

Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 4:32 PM
Subject: Last Week of the 3rd Transfer!!
 

Helloooooo!!

You have no idea how jealous I am that you got some snow and ice. It's been pretty cold out here lately also but nothing like that. Which reminds me I need those jackets sent to me soon please. I can't believe the other wards cancelled church because of a little ice. Tell Bishop thank you for being so diligent and making sure everyone had the chance to partake of the sacred ordinance of the sacrament. There have been some things that we found out about T and E this last week (that I can't talk about over email) that we need to keep in our prayers. Please pray for them. And J and R as well. They need help as well. But R and J are doing great and we've picked up a couple new investigators this week that I am super excited to work with.

I hope that you and dad are okay. That's a little worrying. I'm keeping you in my prayers. I am soooooooo missing choir and Broadway Revue right now. I miss the practices and concerts so much. I've actually joined the ward choir here to have a little bit of that feeling from Mrs. Edwards and Blackstone's choir. I loved it so much. I'm so glad that they were able to pull it off. Don't worry about the Catching fire movie. My homeshare went to the movie the same time you guys did so I was already thinking about it. I admit I'm pretty jealous. Don't worry it wont distract me anymore. I'm glad you were able to find your SD card and start cleaning the desk. I miss Jessica and Tyson. Say hi to them for me. I'm glad you get to take Kaitlyn to lunch. I know how much she will appreciate that. I know she's excited.

It's going to be so wierd not being home for Thanksgiving. My first real holiday away from home and on my mission. Thankfully it's in an awesome area. I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving day. Know that I am going to miss you and will be thinking of you.

So this last week was another slow week. I've been struggling to work my best and find more investigators. Every now and then it feels like I'm the only one. But our district meetings and PDay's and Pie Night always give me the extra boost I need. I'm so sorry I haven't sent any letters lately. I've been trying to make the time for it. So after we finished emailing last Monday we went to LA Fitness to play raquetball and basketball with Kyle and Jesse. Raquetball turned into "lets see who we can hit with the ball" since I'm the only one that really knows how to play and I ended up with a nice welt on my shoulder. It was definetly worth it though. We went out to eat afterwards. We've been having a problem with investigators cancelling daily on appointments so it's been hard to find things to fill in those spaces in the day were weren't expecting to be there. But hey, that is missionary work. The life of a missionary if hard work but rewarding. I've seen both ends of it already. We had a lesson with the A's everyday as usual and R on Thursday. Please keep the A's in your prayers as well. They've been having a rough time. Dinner on Thursday was with the Freemans and they brought us Wings and Things. It was DELICIOUS! We had the leftovers for lunch the next day. Friday Elder Albright and I were together for exchanges in my area and we picked up this awesome 70 year old black guy that is part of the Free Masons and will talk your ear off for hours if you let him. He was a super funny guy and I'm looking forward to working with him more in the following weeks. It was nice to have a break and be with Allbright that day and talk about whatever. He is the best zone leader. It also rained that day and was super cold. I can tell it's going to be harder to get our contacts soon as the weather changes and less people will be out. Saturday we picked up D as an investigator and Pie Night went great as well. I love Pie night. It's sad to think that next Saturday could be my last one. Sunday no one came to church. Not one of our investigators. So that is my new focus this week. Today has been great so far. We've had some good ball. Bill (Pie night guy) actually came to watch. It was a lot of fun. Later we are going over to the Grossman's to play some pool and ping pong. I finally beat Jesse again the other day!!! It was so great! haha

Well I hope that you guys are doing well. I miss y'all. Stay safe. I can't wait to hear from you again. I love you.

Love from Lake Elsinore, Cali,

Elder Bushman

Another Transfer! Another Month!

Sent: Monday, December 2, 2013 4:30 PM
Subject: Another Transfer! Another Month!

Hello everyone!!!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I missed you all. I hope you are all doing well. I haven't gotten an email from you today yet but hopefully it comes before I get off. Well this week was pretty slow again. Mostly because it was the last week of the transfer and Thanksgiving as well. I don't have my planner with me right now to tell me exactly what we did this week so I'm gonna have to go off memory. Little scary. ;)

But Monday was another good PDay. Kyle Freeman and Chad Holmes came to play ball with us since they didn't have school for the week so that was a lot of fun. Tuesday was another district meeting. which is always good. It's nice to spend time with the other missionaries in the zone. Lunch that day was a blast! All the Elders went to Wendy's and just had a great time! We were laughing the whole time as we got to enjoy some man to man talk. It was great! We've had a couple lessons flake out on us like usual. Nothing to different. Thanksgiving was amazing! The only thing we had to do that day was to get our 20 contacts, so that morning at 7 we got dressed went to get our contacts and then for the rest of the day including dinners we were able to were normal clothes. You have no idea how nice it was to spend all day in my jeans and boots. I felt amazing! I even slept in my jeans that night because I missed them so much. We went to the A's and hung out with them for a few hours. They taught us how to play dominoes and it's intense. We basically have to play at least once every time we go over now. I love it! After the A's we went to the S's (recent converts of one year from the Ortega ward) for our first dinner. They fed all the elders in our zone. It was super good. Turkey and steak! As soon as we left that dinner stuffed we remembered we had another dinner appointment in our area at the Cranes. Turkey and Fish. It was super good but I was so full and exhausted I didn't want to do anything the rest of the day but just sit on the couch back home and sleep. It was an awesome Thanksgiving! Friday we met with the G family. They are a part member family and after our meeting with them they agreed to take the lessons so we are super stoked to teach them! Saturday was the day that I have dreaded all transfer long. Transfer calls. I really really did not want to have to leave this area. I love the people here and there is so much work that is about to happen. We did a ton of service Saturday as we anxiously waited for the call to come. It wasn't until after another awesome night at Bill's Pie Night that we finally got the call at 10:30 that night. Elder Kelley and I are both staying for at least one more transfer!! I am so excited to spend Christmas and New Years here!!! It's going to be amazing!!! Sunday was another good day with the ward. and now today we are getting the couple new elders in the area within the next couple hours and I'm stoked. It's going to be a great transfer!

So Saturday night once we found out that we're both staying, Elder Kelley and I decided that we are going to change up our missionary work a lot. And work our hardest to succeed. A few months ago our Stake President told us at ward council that there are 20 people waiting and ready to be baptized by the end of the year. So far we've only had three (B, L, and T). So Kelley and I decided that we are going to make a miracle happen and get the rest of the 17 baptisms this month before New Years. I know how crazy that sounds, but I also know that President Wilson knew what he was saying and was led by the Spirit to do so which means that it is possible. We will be doing a lot of hard work, fasting, and praying to make this happen. Please keep us in your prayers this month so that we can make this miracle happen. I know that with God anything is possible. I am so excited to help make the work of the Lord roll forward. 

I hope to hear from you soon. I also hope youre doing okay. I miss and love you. Be safe and have a wonderful week. 

Love,

Elder Bushman