4-25-11

Dear Family, well since I didn’t have much time to write, or type what I usually tell you in my email, I’ll do that now.  First I’ll answer questions thought.

        This week has actually been really good and really hard.  It’s hard because I’m getting pretty frustrated with my companion’s lack of enthusiasm and excitement, so I’m really working hard on being patient but it’s tough.  Also he gets really made a little things, he’s way uptight.  He’s always apologizing to me at night thought for getting frustrated and stuff, so that helps out a lot.

         So the good stuff is that we found a ton of potentials this week. I’ve been praying a ton for this area, that the hearts of the people will soften, and it’s happening, so we are super blessed.  Now we just have to make them all investigators this week.  Funny story – so we rode by on our bikes, pas a bus stop and we stopped to talk to the people.  There were two women and a guy.  We started talking and one of the women all of a sudden said, “I’m a gay Catholic.”  Well we didn’t know what to say to that so we just said good day and left.  Ha ha  - it was hilarious.

         So anyway we also have this way sweet investigator that Elder Z. has been teaching for like 4 months.  She is finally starting to progress.  We had her watch Elder Holland’s talk about the Book of Mormon, “Safety for the Soul” and afterwards she said she knew the Book of Mormon was true and that every thing was starting to click.  Her husband is a member, but inactive.  He is now getting active again and going to get the Priesthood on Mothers day.  But the cool thing is, is that his wife after watching that said she wants to renew her vows in the temple!  So yeah – she is totally getting baptize and wants to get married in the temple.  So amazing!

         My week was topped off however when I got to go to M’s baptism.  He was just glowing – it was amazing.  Sis. H. was so excited to see me, she kept saying thank you to my ride – N, like every 2 minutes.  It was hilarious!  N is a stud – he is leaving on his mission to Salt Lake City in 14 days and he’s speaking Espanol.  Well I  better get going to bed so I’ll talk to you all later.  Have a wonderful week.  Love Elder Garrett Bushman

P.S. – thank you so much for the package and everything.  Oh and dad thanks for the poems and that conversation story, it’s actually something I was going to ask you for.  It’s so cool!  Well have a nice day!

Field trip to Brunswick, GA

M. W. was baptized on Easter Sunday.  Garrett got to go up to Brunswick for it - thanks to this nice young man pictured below that took him up.  This young man - Nathan Humphries - lives in Garrett's new ward - and is leaving on his mission to SLC in a couple of weeks.

Happy Easter everyone

Dear Family,  Ok so I don’t have a lot of time today, but I'm going to write you a letter with more detail about my week and answer all of your questions, but since Easter was yesterday I thought that I would share with you all my Testimony of the Savior.

I want to let ya'll know that, I know my Savior lives! I know that if it weren't for him and his atonement that I wouldn't be able to return to my Heavenly Father and live with him and my family forever. I have such a great love For Jesus Christ, while I've been out here I've come to a real appreciation for him and I've come to know how much he loves me. I know that if I were the last person on earth or the only person on earth that he still would have suffered for my sins, he still would have died on the cross, because that’s how much he loves me and how much he loves everyone. Sometimes I feel kind of insignificant, like what can I ever do to repay him, but you know what all he asks is that we love him and obey his commandments.  That love right there makes me feel like I'm the most important person in the world. I don’t say that out of pride or anything but that is truly how he feels about each one of us. I am a son of God, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, I know that only through him can I truly be saved from sin, and only through him can I rise again and be glorified with a perfect body just as he is. The atonement is real, I know it is, I have felt my saviors love, and I have used the atonement in my life.

As I said before, "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God, I have been called to preach his gospel among this people that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13) I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Well I got to go, but I'll be writing you today, love you all.  Love Elder Bushman

New area, new companion, new transportation.... Life is Good!

Dear Family,

I don't have a lot of time today because I'm at a library.  So I'll try to make it as good and as detailed as my other ones, but it will be a little harder.  So anyway, so much stuff is going on back home that is so crazy. Everyone is getting married! I guess President Monson's talk really had an effect on people. hahaha  And dad way to go going down Eagles Nest that is sweet, and you almost died which makes it even cooler! Man that is so crazy how much snow ya'll are getting. Out here its 80 to 90 degrees everyday. And mom you never answered some of my questions I had in last week's email, but I'll let you go back and look and answer.

So this week has been really crazy, I got transferred to Jacksonville. I am in a place called Atlantic in the Jacksonville East zone. My companion is Elder Z, he has been out for 22 months so I'll be finishing him off. He has had kind of a rough mission from what it sounds like, he told me that I had more baptisms my last transfer then he has had in a whole year.  So when I first met him he was kind of down. He is such a good missionary though, he is just really smart. But when I came here, we had no progressing investigators and only like two all together. So we have a lot of work to do. So I've been really fired up and excited because I just want this last transfer of his to be the best one he has ever had. We actually ran into a sweet guy on the first day I was here. We were riding out bikes and he was riding his and we kind of like pulled him over and started talking to him. We did our little spiel and he wanted us to come back, so sweet!!! I was pumped! So we went over to his house Wednesday night and the first question he asked us was, "How do I know when I'm saved or how is it possible?" We about wet our pants, this question was perfect! So we had a really sweet discussion with him about Jesus Christ and his atonement and how we can be forgiven for all our sins. It was such a sweet experience. So things are going well with him and he was way excited to come to church this Sunday, but he didn't show up. We had someone go pick him up and he wasn't there. So we have been praying for him and hopefully we can contact him today.

This is a picture of Elder Z. (middle Elder) and Elder R. (who came out with Garrett) - in front of Garrett's new apartment.

You know every time I go to church I love it more and more! For one thing the ward here is awesome, they feed us so much! I'm glad I'm on bike because if I wasn't, I would definitely be getting fat.  I still am a little bit, but I'm working hard to keep it off.  I'm back up to 200 pounds. Ha ha Anyway, so as I was saying church was amazing this week. Elder Z. and I went a little early and we just sat in the chapel for a little bit. It was so quite and peaceful and you know you could just tell it was a place that the spirit could dwell. I also got to pass the sacrament this week, the first time in a long time. I forgot how amazing it was. It just felt so good to be holding something and to be giving out the thing that helps us remember our Savior. I got a whole new perspective on it this week and its importance. So Hunter don't ever take for granted passing the sacrament.

We also had an awesome lesson in Elder's Quorum about charity. We were asked to teach part of it, and we were given the topic on how charity can help us have love towards others even though people have so many faults. This thought totally brought me back to thinking about Jesus Christ. The ultimate form of charity that he did was that he gave his life for everyone. The Atonement is the greatest act of charity. In John 15:13 it says something like "no man hath greater love than this than that he give his life for a friend." And you know, it got me thinking if we understand what Jesus Christ did for us and truly understand his atonement, then we will have that love for our fellow man. We are all sons and daughters of God and if we understand that, then we will love him and we will love Christ and what he did for us.  And if we understand what Christ did for us and we love him, then we will love everyone else because he also did that same thing for everyone else. It's kind of confusing but it made so much sense to me. But yeah that's what I learned in church this week.

Well family, I'm still working hard, harder than I ever have actually. I am so exhausted every day but I love it so much! I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all your prayers. I know they strengthen me every day. I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Love,  Elder Bushman

Sister H's and Sunshine's Baptism - April 3, 2011

Elder Bushman, Sister H.,  S. and Elder P.

Sister H. and Elder Bushman

Sis. H, Y. and Sis. H's mom.

And the three stooges....

Or um.... missionary superstuds...

And a picture completely out of order....

I received this picture today from Helam's mom - it's Garrett with Elder Helam Hemuli and Elder Connor Winters  in the MTC- all three played little league football together.  What great young men they turned out to be....

I just got settled and now I'm leaving....

Dear Family,

I'll just start off answering your questions so I don’t forget haha well umm...I don’t know where I’m going yet, I won't find our till tomorrow. So I will let you know next Monday where I’m at.

Man it’s been a crazy week, and I have learned a lot. You know I used to think that I was really humble but I've learned this transfer that actually I am really prideful. haha We had a cool companionship inventory where we wrote down all of the things that we thought the other was prideful at and wow I dominated. haha It hurt at first but then the more I thought about it the more I realized it was so true, so I am really grateful for that companionship inventory. I don’t know, my heart and my mind are just so full to the glory of this gospel right now, there are times when I'm sitting there looking at the clock wondering when nine o’clock is going to get here and then I have to remind myself what my purpose is and that is to bring souls unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. What a great calling that is and when ever I think about that I get so excited and so happy, I love it so much! I can't think of any greater thing to do in life than help people come unto Jesus Christ and be baptized into the true church, it means their salvation! It's so important!

The baptisms this week were amazing!  A. and Y. were so happy when they came out of the water, they were just glowing.  Elder P, W and I sang a child’s prayer for them, and I was so nervous!  I'm actually getting a lot better at singing though, like its not the best but I think its bearable haha. I also gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, I wasn't nervous doing this for some reason, the words just flowed out of my mouth, reminds me of D&C 84: 85 which says: "Neither take ye thought before hand what ye shall say, but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion which shall be meted unto every man." I really like that because as long as your studying and always pondering on what you are learning then the spirit will direct what you will say. Just like in D&C 11: 19 which says "Seek not to declare my word but first seek to obtain my word, then shall your tongue be loosed. Then if ye desire then shall ye have my spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men." Oh man I love scriptures!!!! 

So tonight I get the chance to go talk to and teach C, I can't wait!   Sister H. says he's excited to see us, so he's so totally going to get baptized this next week or the week after. Oh and then we had another miracle, M, the guy that is looking for a job, well he didn't get a job, but his ex-wife is moving out and paying for the lease, so now he can get baptized!! MIRACLE!!!! My companions and I have been so blessed, I can't even begin to describe how lucky I am, I have two great companions and also the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I just hope that wherever I'm going that I will always be able to qualify myself for the spirit so I can keep having such miracles.

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week. But I have to go, bye bye now.  Love, Elder Garrett Bushman

4-11-11

Hunter,

Sounds like you had a crazy week haha So as I was sitting here reading about all the times about how you were just sitting around doing nothing, the thought occured to me....Well first I'll start off by saying how dissapointed I am in myself for just sitting around a lot. Man I was so lazy! I never took advantage of my opportunities, Hunter don't do the same thing. If you've got the chance to go outside and its a nice day, go practice something, go ride your bike, most importantly read your scriptures!! Hunter the scriptures are so amazing I love them so much, and if you want to be a good missionary like I think you do, I want to make a challenge to you. Here you go are you ready for it. Hunter will you, before next christmas, read the whole book of mormon and take notes on it, on scriptures you liked or how you felt. At christmas when I call you guys you will report it back to me and then I will make another assignment ok? :) I promise you that it will help you out so much in your daily life and with gaining a stronger testimony. Anyway well I love ya little bro have a wonderful week.

Feeding the Hungry.....

Elder Wadsworth, Elder Pelo and Elder Bushman

The Elders went on a split with my friend Joann's husband. Afterwards they were treated to Joann's homemade Pizza.  According to Garrett - this was the BEST PIZZA he's ever had.... 

April 4, 2011

Dear Family,

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!! oh man I don't even know where to begin. Being out here on a mission just kind of gives you a whole new perspective on things, you know I teach every day about how amazing it is to have a prophet in these latter days but I don’t think I really ever appreciated it or understood it's importance until I did start teaching it.  I was so excited for general conference this weekend and I was not disappointed at all! ha ha I will talk more about that later.

But this week was actually kind of tough, like you said mom the H's had so many challenges this week it was ridiculous. What was really depressing was that C. and B.s father wouldn't let them come to the baptism or even be baptized this weekend. C. told his father what was happening this weekend and his dad pretty much made fun of him hard core and anti’d him a ton. C. texted his mom and told her he wasn't sure about being baptized yet, this about tore Sister H apart and it tore at me really hard too. I was so angry with this kid’s dad and Sister H was in tears she was so angry, but she has so much faith and she still wanted to get baptized.  I know that once we get the opportunity to talk to C. that he will get baptized, so that will probably happen in a couple of weeks but unfortunately I won’t be here. Yes I am getting transferred, when you get trained by zone leaders you are automatically going to get transferred at the end of the transfer which will be next Tuesday for me. I don’t know where I'm going yet though. But anyway the next day after C. gave us this information we had a lesson with Sister H and the T family was able to come with us. Sister H said that she almost gave up that day, Satan was working really hard on her, but the T's were amazing, they are recent converts and they had almost exact similar stories as Sister H. They were able to comfort her with their testimonies, it was a really sweet experience. And yes mom I have been able to see J.; her husband came on a trade off with us the other night and after we went back to their house and she had made home made pizza. It was the best pizza I have ever had! Oh and mom you would love their house, they are remodeling it and it looks like one of those houses that you always watch on the homemaking channel. hahahaha

Ok now for general conference.....What an amazing weekend it was!  I got to watch every session, it was so cool! I came into conference with the question of "how can I keep myself motivated always?" I found out that it is through LOVE. I had a bunch of ideas from a whole bunch of talks Elder Scotts is the one that really brought it home though. But it all combined together for me in the end of Love. If I Love my Savior and understand His infinite atoning sacrifice then I will want to do anything to serve Him.  And If I love, then I have a desire and desire, leads us to act, and action leads to change. And when I act upon my love and change then will I receive Joy. Oh how great my love has increased for my Savior! And how great my love has increased for his Prophets and apostles and what they do for us. And I just want to let you all know how much more I love you after listening to this conference. I came to know of the real understanding of how important eternal families are and how important temples are.  I read my patriarchal blessing after conference and it said that I will have an increase of love for doing temple work, and it made me laugh because I gained just that during this conference. I can't wait for the opportunity to do temple work again, and I can't wait for the opportunity when I will be able to go through the temple with all of you, oh how sweet the blessings are that come from knowing that families are eternal. I Love you all so much!

Well not only was General conference amazing but so was Sister H and her Mom's baptisms!!! It was so awesome to see their joy that came from it. I had the opportunity to baptize Sister H and she was so scared that I would drop her; but she told me that as soon as she took my hand and came into the water, all her fears washed away. It was amazing as I felt the power that comes from baptism. They were both glowing and I am so happy for them. Y. was there and so was A. and they are getting baptized next week! The seemed so excited to see the baptism, I have never seen Y. smile so much. What a great way to end the week.

So I bet Austin probably asked Libby to marry him after President Monson spoke huh? hahahaha  Oh by the way we can have Ipods out here so have you used that Ipod shuffle yet or is it still just sitting around? I'll probably send my other memory card soon, there are some cool pictures and videos on their. So Hunter what did you learn from priesthood? haha well anyway thanks for everything and have a wonderful week!  Love,   Elder Garrett Bushman