New companion, a miracle, and hopefully a wedding......

Dear Family, All right so first of all I guess I will address the concern about why my letters haven't been as long. I only have 45 minutes at the library to write letters and I have to write to you, and president Barry, and I have to read all of the ones I get.  Today however I am at a member so hopefully I can get more in before we go play frisbee golf. And dad I know sometimes you would like more but sometimes my letters are like a good book, you want them to keep going but unfortunately they have to end sometime haha

So this week has been a really amazing week actually. My new companion is named Elder A, he is from Ogden, Utah. When he was called to be my companion I new immediately that we were going to work well with each other.   He is our new district leader since Elder B. got called to be a Zone Leader. Our first night teaching together we were teaching K. and E. the plan of salvation and in the middle of it while talking about the Holy Ghost, the spirit was super strong and we invited them to be baptized and they said yes. E. has come so far from barely believing in God to now wanting to get baptized. She is going to get baptized this Wednesday before the Youth temple trip so that she can go, so we are way excited for her. But of course there have been some complications which I will talk about in a minute.  But yeah Elder A. and I are just already working so well together and its nice having someone that has the same excitement as I do, he's been out for 7 months by the way. 

So now I will talk about K. and E. and their family. So after we committed them to baptism we set a time when we could come back and finish the lesson on the plan of salvation. That night we went over there with a member who spoke Spanish so he could help us out a little bit.  We invited the husband to come and sit in with us, his name is M. We taught the plan of salvation and it was going really well, Brother M. was answering questions in Spanish and it was just going really well. Afterwards brother manning told us to check and make sure if K. and M. were actually married. So next time we go back I asked her if she was married and she said that they planned on getting married in two years but that they have been together for 7 and they consider each other husband and wife. So yeah major set back! So we didn't know what to say because it was at the end of our lesson that night and we just decided to address it later once we figure out more. Because the main thing is that we didn't want to offend anyone and we wanted the husband to be on board.  So we talked to a lot of people and got a few ideas and decided that we were going to talk to them about it yesterday after we watched prophet of the restoration.  Before we went over there Elder A. and I both had mighty prayers, and then made our way over there.  The thing was though is that the husband wasn't going to be there because he had work so we were feeling wrong about it because we didn't want to go behind his back. but as soon as we knocked on the door the husband pulls up in his car, MIRACLE!!!  So we went in there and watched the movie with them. After the movie K. was crying and everyone else loved it and the spirit was so strong.  We then talked to M. about what he thought of it and he really liked it and said he knew it was true because of how he felt. I asked him what he thought those feeling meant and I told him it testifies of truth, and then I told him when we get those feelings that they cause us to act. I asked him to act upon his feelings and be baptized. I don’t think he totally understood what I meant but the prompting to ask him to be baptized was so strong and I knew it was the thing that needed to happen. He said he wanted to keep learning and thanked us for coming over. So now we have the husband on board and we are going over tonight with a Spanish missionary to talk with them about it. So please pray for us that everything goes well because this is going to be huge! But you know all I can say about that whole situation is that it was totally spirit led and one of the most spiritual moments I have ever had. We went in there not totally knowing what to do, but because of prayer and faith the Lord led us to do what we needed to do. So that was kind of a big summary of it all and sorry for the grammar but I'm typing really fast. As for other investigators, we haven't been able to get a hold of T. and L. the people we met on the street, but we keep going back and leaving notes and stuff. They actually left us a note the other day and told us not to forget them and to pray for them, so that was good. 

So that was the main stuff that was going on this week. I haven't been able to get the package that you sent yet because when I went to the post office on Saturday it was closed and it will be closed today so won’t be able to get it today. But thanks for whatever is in it haha. I hope everything is going well with the family, I'm doing great! I actually know my area a lot better than I though I did, so that’s kind of nice. Its crazy to hear how there is still so much snow getting dumped on the mountains, I wish it would snow here, its getting so hot! we biked over twenty miles last Wednesday and it was 95 degrees outside with a lot of humidity.....yeah I was really sweaty after that day. Our ward is actually getting split next week, so our area will be a little smaller here pretty soon. Hunter its awesome to here that everything is going well and that you are working hard in everything you do. I'm excited that you are going to be playing in the Symphonic band, that must be really cool. I really hope you all will be able to understand my letter this week, because it really is just a bunch of rambling and stuff sorry for the grammar haha I also hope I didn't disappoint this week and that my letter is sufficient haha Well I got to get going someone else needs the computer so you all have a wonderful week!
S

Love, Elder Garrett Bushman

JAX East Zone Conference

Dang he looks good!  I'm so grateful for the mission president's wife who does the blog - so we can see pictures of Garrett occasionally.......

What I've learned....

Dear Family,

I will first start off with addressing your questions, both mom and dad's. I have a lot to say and not a whole lot of time so sorry if the grammar and what not isn't the best.  So Mom, no I am not leaving my area and I'm staying in my same apartment. And I won’t find out who my new companion is until Tuesday so I can't tell you too much about him, but thank you so much for getting those things for me, I really appreciate it.

Dad, as for how my experiences in Iowa have helped me. I can't tell you how many times I have been able to talk to people about how they need to overcome adversity and that how they need to do it is by humbling themselves and coming unto Christ.  I share my Iowa experiences probably every week. The main thing I have realized, and I shared this with our new investigators that came to church the other day, is how I was humbled while I was in Iowa. I never realized how prideful I was before my mission until I actually got out here and saw all of it.  Before I went to Iowa, you remember, I thought I could do it all on my own, I told everyone how I would never get home sick and how I could handle it on my own, well I was sorely mistaken. The Lord had me go to Iowa so that I could be humbled and realize that I can't do things on my Own and neither can any of us. We need Jesus Christ and his atonement more then anything, and it’s not just for us to be able to repent of our sins, but it also for us to help us through hard times. He felt everything we have ever felt, and if by any means at all we think we can go through this life or any trial on our own, than we are rejecting the atonement of Jesus Christ. Every day we face a trial, and every day we should be looking to Christ as a source of strength and not be just relying on our own. I had to learn that the hard way in Iowa as I was continually brought down by my teammates, coaches, and performance. I realized that I myself was rejecting Christ's gift to me and I needed to change. So what I would say is just to always remember Jesus Christ and his atonement, to never rely wholly on ourselves, but use the atonement, don't just let it collect dust. I hope this answers your question dad.

So as for this week, it’s been really good. We had a zone conference on Tuesday and we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon the whole time, it was wonderful. I've began to realize that the only reason that anyone would go inactive is because they didn't read the Book of Mormon or have stopped reading it and have not prayed about it. Anyone who gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon Will come to know Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, so those that leave the church will leave crawling and dodging the book of Mormon as they leave. (As Elder Holland says). I have a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon, I know it’s true. I have been reading the Isaiah chapters this week in 2nd Nephi and they are so hard to understand but in chapter 25 it talks about how in the last days that we will be able to understand them, so I'm excited for that.

I am glad that all of you have been reading, it’s so cool to hear of what you have been reading and what you have been learning. I know that every time you read it strengthens your testimony because it sure strengthens mine. Dad I love those chapters about Captain Moroni, he is such a stud! I read them the other week and I couldn't stop reading it, it had me hooked. I can't imagine having to put up with all that stuff he had to put up with, and Pahoran must have had to be a humble man because I know if I had received a letter like that I would have been pretty upset. But I love he scripture, I think its in Alma 46 which says "if all men were like Captain Moroni the very gates of hell would be shaken forever and the devil would have now power over the children of men:" something like that. So continue to read, it’s awesome, and I would encourage strongly all that are reading this letter to read the Book of Mormon, I think I addressed clearly enough about why earlier in my letter.

Well I will find out who my new companion is on Tuesday, I am a little nervous because now I'll be introducing the area and trying to figure everything out, and it has just made me realize how little I really know. But I put my trust in the Lord and continue to Learn, because I know he is my strength. And dad I just can't help to keep feeling overjoyed about my friends that are deciding to go on missions, I knew that all these kids that I have grown up to love and be friends with would make amazing things happen. I have been truly blessed to have grown up among such amazing people.

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week, but I have like two minutes left to finish this letter, so I love you all and have a good one!  Love, Elder Bushman

May 16, 2011

Dear Family,  Dad I can't tell you how overjoyed I was when you told me about all those kids wanting to go on missions. Wow especially Michael, he used to be one of my best friends and I love him and all those other guys so much, I am just so happy right now! Now we just need to work with Tyler.

Well my week has been really good. We got in and taught a lot of people this week and got 6 new investigators! The only problem is that none of them are keeping commitments. We had one sweet miracle where we were riding our bikes back on Wednesday night and we stopped off and started talking to this black couple walking along. We were just laughing and talking but then we stopped and bore strong testimony about the Book of Mormon and taught them a little bit. They were really touched and L., the woman, said that she felt really good inside and that she wanted us to come back to their apartment the next day and teach them, and then she gave us a hug. Haha  So we went back the next day and sat down and they just went off, they said they had read the whole restoration pamphlet, which we gave them, and they basically taught us. We were so happy.  So then we went in and taught them more and went more in depth, it was a powerful lesson and at the end I invited them to be baptized on May 29th, and they said yes!  She also asked us for a Book of Mormon, and asked us if we could have daily contact, it was perfect! Well they said they would come to church and we went over there four times on Saturday to try and see them and remind them when church was, but they never answered and never were home so they weren't able to come to church, it was a real bummer.

However, while we were at church two women that we had never seen before showed up.  We went and talked to them and the mom said that she was just driving by and saw the church.  She said she wanted to get her daughter into church and to grow her faith in Jesus. She asked us if we could come over and teach, so of course we said YES!  So we have an appointment with them tonight, it's going to be sweet!  It just goes to show that the Lord works in mysterious ways and he's always looking for opportunities to lift us back up when we're down.

Speaking of which, all of Sunday I was having this weird feeling, just like I was sinking and I just felt like really in the dark and not good, Satan was working on me really hard. After church before we went to study, I just prayed for a long time for Heavenly Father to help me feel the spirit and to pull me out of this darkness I was feeling. I studied 2 Nephi Chapter 4 and it hit me so hard, and the spirit just poured out to me. It was about Nephi and how he himself was still harrowed up in the guilt of his sins, and then he just offered one of the most amazing testimony/prayers that I have ever seen. He just poured his soul out to God to help him conquer his enemies, to help him overcome sin, to have the gates of hell shut before him continually and to have righteousness poured out upon him continually.  It just made me realize that even people like Nephi have hard times and that they struggle, and that all we have to do is pray unto the Lord for strength and he will bless us.  I highly suggest reading that chapter it was awesome! Speaking of which how is everyone's book of Mormon Reading going? I want updates! haha Hunter was the only one to update me so as of right now he's passing, all of the rest of you are on the edge. hahaha

Well this is my last week with Elder Zabriskie too, which I'm kind of excited because it's hard being around someone that’s going home.  haha   I love the guy though, he's awesome. Oh something else, we had a crazy storm the other day, when it first hit the sky just turned dark, the wind picked, up and then it started to rain, it looked like a hurricane, it was so cool!  I wish you could have seen it. Well I got to go but you all have a wonderful week.  Love Elder Bushman

What's left to say???

Dear Family, 

Man, it was so great talking to all of you yesterday and kind of weird. So much is going on its crazy hopefully you all don’t get washed away in the flood. haha Shoot I really don’t know if I have much to say. But mom I'm so glad you had an awesome mother's day, and it's funny because I don't even remember getting you pillows and stuff when hunter was born, that seems so long ago, but at the same time I can think back and it feels like it was just yesterday. It's kind of fun as I look back over the years and all the things that we have done as a family that I just got to say, WE HAVE AN AWESOME FAMILY!!! And I am way super excited for Austin and Libby to get married because I know that Libby will be just another awesome person to be a part of this awesome family. Pardon me for my pride but I can't help but express the love and joy that I have for being able to grow up in this family. But you know, the reason why I have all this joy is because I know that all of you are living righteously, that’s what brings me the most happiness because I know that if we live righteously and endure to the end, we will all get to be with each other forever, and that is what is AWESOME!! so good job family, keep up the good work!!

Well this is all I really have to say, oh but next time we talk in seven months, I’m going to try and be more obedient and not talk for and hour and a half, just as a forewarning. haha but I love you guys and have a wonderful week!

Let us all press on.....

Dear Family,

Thank you all for your love and support, it’s very appreciated. Dad so far I haven't had anything that was as bad a trial as IWCC, my hardest trial is wanting to wake up in the morning and get going. haha I have to constantly remind myself what my purpose is, which is to invite other 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. When I remind myself of these things I remember that the worth of every soul is great in the sight of God and that everyone I see needs to here of this glorious message because it is there salvation we are talking about!

This week was actually pretty rough at first. Elder Z. was really getting on my nerves because he seems to just be mad about something all the time, which you know me - when someone else has a bad attitude - it just makes me angry, something I need to work on haha but on Friday we sat down and talked about it, and I told him what was on my mind and to my surprise he listened and after that we had the best weekend that we could have asked for. This weekend we got 3 new investigators, we actually got in and taught some people, it felt so good! It just showed me how unity and harmony in any relationship can make life a whole lot better and you get so much more blessed for it.

On Sunday we had Stake conference and it was so amazing! The first half of it was about the importance of teaching children good principles so they can grow up and be strong. It just made me realize how grateful I am to have had such amazing parents that taught me about true gospel principles and that loved and cared about me enough. I thought back on all the times that I didn't want to listen or I thought your rules were stupid and I realized, when I have a family I wouldn’t do it any other way, those rules were put there because you guys loved me and knew that they would best benefit me. I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for both of you as I realized this, so I hope to let you know how much I love and appreciate both of you, even if sometimes I was a snot.  (haha) You know it made me excited for when I will have a family some day and I will get to teach them and watch them grow. The second half of conference was on missionary work, President Barry was there and he got to speak. I love President Barry, he is such an amazing man.  His desire to help us as missionaries fulfill our purpose and to help us grow is unbelievable. He talked about how each one of us are full time missionaries, that in fact the missionaries that are out for the two years are only part time. We are missionaries FOREVER. Then our stake president got up and he did something that I had never seen before. He said, "By the Keys that I hold, I call each one of you to be a full time missionary, all those that accept this calling raise your hands." It was so awesome! It blew me away, I was so excited. I have a feeling that missionary work is going to blow through the roof now.

Well that’s really all I have to say about what happened this week, I am excited to talk to you guys next week it will be fun. Oh by the way my apartment number is 4101 don’t send anymore stuff to 4104. haha And sorry dad if my email last week wasn't to your approval, I hope I made up for it with the letter I sent.  Oh and that’s hilarious about.....shoot I forgot her name.....umm.....well Austin’s old girlfriend whatever her name is, I really can't remember haha but that was funny. I feel bad for her a little bit, but sucks to be her. Oh and I don’t know when I'll be calling you next week yet, it will probably be around like 5 or 6 or maybe earlier hopefully I'll get to call you before hand and let you know, but I'm almost out of time and got to go, Love you all have a great week!