December 26, 2018

Hello!! 

It was so great to talk to you guys yesterday, it just always goes by so fast! I'm sorry I'm such a cry baby haha. I just miss you guys so much!! And I don't realize just how much I miss you all until I see your faces and hear your voices.... But don't worry, Christmas wasn't too hard for me. I spent a lot of time reflecting on the savior and that was really good. David's birthday was probably the same level of hardness as Christmas, which I didn't expect. Anyways. Just know that I love you guys so much. So much. So much that it's coming out of my eyes!!! I miss you so much and that's another sign of my Love for you. It will be a wonderful day when I get to hug you guys again! It will be so sad to leave my mission but it will be so wonderful to be with you. Good thing next Christmas I can be!!!!!!

This week has been pretty crazy, and gone by fast. We had zone conference! That always makes the week go by faster. We did did pday, exchanges, zone conference and then back to our area for the rest of the week (: I'm organizing my email a little different today so tell me if you like it! 

THINGS I'VE LEARNED: 

A couple quotes from zone conference: 

Jeremiah 16:16!!!!! 

"A day without finding is a day without fulfilling your missionary purpose." - Uchtdorf 

"A repentant soul is a converted soul, a converted soul is a repentant soul." -Pres Nelson 

"There is nothing that will bring you closer to the Savior than repenting every day." - Pres McMurray 

1 Corinthians 4:10!!! 

"Your name tag is permission to be awkward!" - Elder Halladay 

2 Nephi 9:23!!!! 

"I am absolutely convinced that the key to overcoming any struggle is to have faith in Jesus Christ." - Pres McMurray 

A sweet old lady we went to visit and she said it was her turn to give the lesson so she read us some Christmas stories and other cute books. My favorite was this one by Max Lucado called the boy and the ocean. I think. Anyways it was so sweet and I loved the message it gave. 

FUN EXPERIENCES: 

We got to help out at meals on wheels and that was fun. We bagged a lot of cookies and cleaned their basement. Meals on wheels provides food for people who can't leave their houses easily or have other health issues. So that was pretty cool! 

I got to see sister Jeffords at zone conference!!! It was so good to see her, reminisce about Nauvoo memories, share some Nauvoo gossip lol and be excited to go back. She's so cool. 

I got to participate in 2 things at an old folks home, I got to paint their nails and I got to be a showcase person for their auction haha. They used play money and it was so much fun. 

for zone conference we had a white gift exchange and I had fun with this because sister Walker decided she just wanted to give someone a bag of potatoes. Well I decided to help her out and I wrapped each potato individually and uniquely. You couldn't tell they were all potatoes and it was so hilarous! 

We made cookies with the Jones family this week. They are a lot of fun, and musically talented! I was like: these are my people. Haha we had a good time singing along to Christmas tunes and decorating cookies! 

We also helped a lady in the ward wrap her Christmas gifts. So that was fun. I looooove wrapping presents I like making them look cool haha. 

CRAZY WEIRD AND RANDOM:

We met this lady who has had a rough life! Out of all the things that happened to her, I can't believe the fact that her husband cheated on her with her mom. what?!?!?! I was shocked about that. And she forgive him! And he cheated again, with a different lady. (That time the wife didn't get as mad as her mom did haha what the heck) This world is wack. 

Since coming to Nebraska I thought I would eat a lot of fish. Well, randomly, 6 out of the first 8 days here I've had tacos. I'M SO SICK OF TACOS PLEASE MAKE SOMETHING ELSE hahaha it's so gross to me now. Just ask Kelsey how she felt about lasagna after 14 days. I can't imagine. Cuz I've had tacos for only 6 and it's disgusting. (Even zone conference that's what they chose to feed us! Why!!!) 

MIRACLES!!!!! 

I was on exchanges and this lady who isn't a member let us in! Her husband is a member but hasn't been to church in a long time. Anyways, we wanted to share light the world but basically didn't have good service. It wouldn't download to the phone. But I knew we should show it to her anyways so I introduced it and pressed play (faith!!!) At first it wouldn't go. I started praying that it would work so she could feel the spirit. Well! After my prayer it just played all the way through! How cool is that! Seemed a small thing but it was super awesome. 

Richard from dollar general. 

COLIN AND HIS FRIEND!!!!! 

We got to ring bells for salvation army, and because it was cold outside they moved the stand inside! So we didn't freeze! Christmas miracle! Haha 

We got to have our interviews with president over Facebook messenger video call. It was so nice to talk to him. I love that guy! 

My Christmas eve was a miracle. I thought I'd be super homesick but I was alright! The Peter's did an awesome job of us creating new fun memories. We made a Bethlehem dinner with breads and nuts and dates and fruits and veggies and olives and oils and salmon and humble bean soup. I actually really liked it. Then we dressed up for the nativity and did a photo shoot haha which was awesome and fun. After that we all sat out by the fire, under the stars and read luke 2. Then we want Christmas hymns. It was a quiet peaceful evening and I'm grateful for that. Then we went inside, the peters gave us pjs and stockings haha and then read us a bedtime story before we went to bed. 

On Christmas day we spent all our time visiting with members, playing games with them and sharing Christmas spiritual thoughts with them. I had a lot of fun. The Haley family is my favorite because their kids remind me of ours haha. So much fun. 

Anyways, I love being a missionary ! 

Sorry for the shorter email today, my pday only goes till 1 and we have a lot to get done! 

Love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu 

Sis Bush 

Ps about nauvoo I think I've decided that it would probably be best to bring the whole family for pageant season and then when you guys (just mom and dad) pick me up from my mission, you can get the full tours. Cuz idk how much the kids would enjoy listening to alllll the full tours anyways Haha. It might be nice just for you and dad to soak it in and then we can take our time and everything(: I'm letting you know in advance because hotel rooms and stuff go super fast when it comes to pageant season. Plus they are kinda pricey so I'm sorry about that...... If you think it would be better to do it opposite you can do whatever that's just my input! The dates of pageant season is July 9th through August 3rd. Come whenever it is convenient for you, because I can switch my pday to be whatever and your sites with you one of the days. I don't recommend surprising me Haha it always works better when the missionary knows when their family is coming. I think the bare minimum time you can spend and still see a majority of everything would be 3 days. A weekend might be nice. Idk haha You are welcome to spend more time than that Haha but yep. Pray about it and see what works!!! I love you guys so much. Even though it will be hard to say goodbye again before I go home I think it will be worth it to show you nauvoo and everything I love about it!!! 

LOVE YOU SO MUCH 

December 18, 2018

Hello everyone! 

Just for your information I am now in a trio in Sidney Nebraska! It's a great place to go if you want to live far from a walmart, smell cow poop every morning when you walk outside, have Nicholas Cage as your bishop and see miracles every day! That about sums up my missionary experience here haha. I've been working hard and seen so many blessings. Also with Christmas, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about light.... 

 

Even during the holiday seasons, sometimes life can get dark and dreary. In a spiritual sense, gloom settles in and clouds cover the skies. But I want to tell you that there is hope smiling brightly before us. 

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

When times have gotten dark for me, He has always been a light in my life. Jesus Christ is a light that never darkens, fades or flickers. I know that we can always rely on Him. 

There's a quote by C S Lewis that I've always liked: "I believe in Jesus Christ like I believe in the sun at noon day. Not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else." 

I agree. He is my light. Brighter than the Christmas lights on temple square. More brilliant than the stars that stretch across the sky. Even more glorious than the sun at noon day. 

Winter can be a hard season, sometimes cold, dark and lonely. But I have learned that no matter what season of life you are in, you are never too far from the light of His love. I know that He is our Savior. I know that He lives. And I know that He loves you. 

I leave this simple testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Have a very Merry Christmas! 

Plus also, I know some of you wanted to give me something for Christmas. If you do, please send me an email or letter with your testimony of Jesus Christ along with one of your favorite artwork selections of Him. 

Sincerely, 

Sister Bush 

Email to Family:

So! Sidney Nebraska! It isn't nearly as windy here as it was in casper, but it sure is different. We cover a huuuuuge area. (We are teaching a lady who lives an hour away who is still reasonably in our area.) All the way across I think our area is up to 3 hours. Idk but its crazy. We are an outcast area so we don't actually really see other missionaries lol. For district council we FaceTime in. Even our interviews with president will be over facetime. (We are the only district who gets that haha) we just live so far from everyone else. Another thing! Is that every morning when I walk outside I am greeted by the lovely smell of cow crap. Sometimes it's stronger than others haha but that's just part of living over here! The locals call it the smell of money hahahaha 

We have a little ward. It might actually be a branch. It's super small. In a minute I'll tell you some of the people we work with. Missionary work is a little different here, tracting isn't as effective cuz there's just not as many people. So we focus mainly on service and helping returning members and stuff like that. 

Being in a trio again is good. A different dynamic than me and sis jones and sis moss or me and sis fuge and sis van camp. Haha always different. 

Sister Carrasco is from Argentina but has lived in the us for like 6 years. She is super smart and has many talents.  She also takes pictures of EVERYTHING. Haha I like her willing attitude about things (: 

Sister Walker has been out for quite a while but is still working hard. We are trying to figure out how to train together. Neither of my companions have been in a trio before and this is my third haha. So we are all figuring it out together. She is from Springfield Oregon and likes to have fun with missionary work. I love how easy going she is and her ability to connect with people. 

On Transfer day.... It was quite a day. I spent most of it I spent in a van squeezed between missionaries driving haha. But! Highlights include that I had chic fil a for the first time in over 8 months! That was awesome! Plus that night we had dinner with the bishops family, and one of their little girls was so funny. We were talking about puberty at one point (for some reason I don't know) and our topic for our dinner message was light the world. So later I said "hey you do a good job to light the world with humor!" And the little girl was like "um I haven't hit humor yet...." It was super funny! I told her she definitely had 

We served at Table of grace this week, and got to help a lot of people get food. It was so cool. I love working at food banks and stuff. 

Since serving here I've made a change in my prayers. I used to pray as soon as I got up or right before I went to bed. But when I pray then I'm super exhausted and already sleepy so my prayers are either super short or I drift off or whatever. Now I pray in the morning after I've woken up a little bit (worked out, or ate ect.) And I pray at night right when I get home (before I change or brush teeth or anything.) It really helps me stay focused during my prayers and not rush them like I used to. I love it. 

Also! Alma 8:27. This scripture applies to this area. A few transfers back this ward had disobedient missionaries and so the members are still learning to trust us. So we are spending more time with members than normal trying to help them learn to trust us! 

Random side note: I fell off the last two rungs of the bunkbed this week haha I hate the top bunk but so does sis Carrasco so I let her have the bottom! 

We spent about an hour the other day ringing bells for salvation army at the front of a store! I thought it would be miserable but we actually had so much fun!!! We rang the bells and danced and complimented people and oh plus also we made a parody to Rudolf the red nosed reindeer. Except it's about the restoration. Haha I'll sing it and add it to the share it's pretty funny. 

Okay people we are working with: 

Bradley!!!! We went to visit a possible person with interest who met with missionaries in the  past. Her name is carol. She got offended by the disobedient missionaries I think. Not sure.  We went to visit her and her friend Bradley came in to check on her. (She's super sick.) So we introduced ourselves and I felt prompted to tell him that we not only serve people but we teach them about Jesus christ. He was about to leave but he literally closed the door, walked back in and started asking us questions! I can remember 4 questions of the soul that he asked during that conversation. So right then and there we gave him a book of mormon and set up a return appointment to teach him on saturday! At carols house! So she will hear the lessons again! So excited. Miracles every day 

Grandma! She doesn't let us call her anything else haha. She is an older lady in the ward who's husband passed away. We visit with her and help her wrap her chocolates and candies that she makes! She sells them to keep busy. 

Judy has cancer and is at a nursing home. We visit to read the book of mormon with her every once and awhile. She can't read with us right now but she just asks us to come and read to her. What a fighter! I want to be like her when I grow up. 

Sara is a single mom who is trying to come back to church. She has a goal to read the book of mormon so we try to go over almost every day to read with her and spend time with her kids. 

Bryan and Chesley. These two teens are recent refugees and converts from Honduras. So sis Carrasco is teaching them the new member lessons in spanish! I got to bear my testimony in Spanish and that was the first time I've ever done that. It was so neat. 

Velma! I haven't met Velma yet. She lives an hour away (but still in our area) she came to church the Sunday before I got here and also has been reading the book of mormon. This week she will probably commit to baptism!! 

Herb is a recent convert who is going to get the priesthood soon (: 

Sister Pierette is a lady who just moved in and her husband is deployed in Afghanistan. She is so solid I love her faith. 

The Jones family is super cool but brother Jones is coming back to church. They fed us deer! My first time eating deer haha. He was like stirring the meat in the sauce and was like "yesterday this baby deer was alive! How crazy is that! Shot him around noon." I was like uhhhhh crazy. People weird me out haha. 

We are going to decorate cookies and Christmas Carol with them on christmas eve which makes me happy. 

The bishop! Also. If you want to know what my bishop is like, just imagine Nicholas cage. NO JOKE. HE IS NICHOLAS CAGE. Plus also he gave us "the talk" this week on sunday for like 3 hours on how we need to work together to help the work progress and establish zion. He's pretty cool. He's like santa cuz he says he will help us with anything haha. 

This week I was also reminded of the hard part of taking care of doggos! We do service at adopt a dog and we spent like almost 2 hours cleaning up their poo. So nasty. 

Anyways that's just about my week! Things are going well here and I'm a happy missionary! 

I love you both SO SO SO SO MUCH!!! 

December 11, 2018

Hello all! 

I have made some pretty darn good memories these past couple weeks. 

Highlights include buying a lopsided Christmas tree from the thrift store, cuddling with puppies, attending sweet Jaydens baptism, making (and tasting) fudge, bearing testimony of Jesus Christ to a woman who feels lost, handing out free hot chocolate to tell people about light the world, being bitten by a baby devil dog and serving as many people as I can! I'm so grateful to be a missionary! 

This week I was pondering what it means to give as He gave and serve as He served. I found an example in the bible about Christ healing a woman with an issue of blood. In this story, found in Luke 8:41-48, Christ is asked to come heal a girl who is dying. He is heading there to perform this miracle and is surrounded by a crowd. As he walks through the crowd, a woman touches the hem of his clothes and Christ feels power go out of Him. He asks who touched Him. The woman tells Him that she touched Him because she has been sick for 12 years with a disease. She has spent all her money on doctors and is left on the streets. Christ then takes the time to comfort her and tell her that it is by faith that she has been made whole. This beautiful story teaches about faith and healing, but it also teaches us about service. Christ was already on his way to go heal someone who was close to death! Talk about important. But even though He was busy and on His way to do this very important miracle, He stopped to take the time with this woman and serve her. I love this because it meant the world to her! We are never too busy to serve. If anyone was busy and had important things to do, Christ did. But He always took the time to serve. Give as He gave by taking a minute or two out of your busy schedule to serve someone this week! Who knows, you just may light their world. 

"To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may mean the world!" 

Sincerely, 

Sister Bush 

Ps! I'm being transferred to Sidney Nebraska! I will miss Casper Wyoming and sister Van Camp dearly, but I know that Sidney is where the Lord wants me to serve right now (: 

December 4, 2018

Okay so I typed out this whole email and then saved it for a moment because I only had a little left to write. Then had to do something and when I came back.... it was all gone. So this is the second time in typing it out which is super frustrating actually. Soooo yeah. But I'm writing it all out again anyways haha 

Wednesday 

Book of Enos thoughts! So I read the book of Enos on Wednesday, and this time as I was reading it I just was thinking about the pattern of prayer. That it always happens over time. Where does it say that all of Enos' experiences with prayer happened within 24 hours? His first prayer was for that long but what if after he got that answer he went home, was still pondering it and then felt a desire for more and then continued to have spiritual experiences with prayer as he continued to grow? That's how it has been for me. So I think it might be likely it was that way for him too. Just some food for thought. 

We met sister Fossey this week! She is working on coming to church and she is literally one of the coolest people I've met. Her faith is rock solid even though she's been through so many things. 

Also this week I learned that distraction is one of Satan's greatest tool. We had several lessons where the families were being distracted or in a distracting environment. They weren't being distracted by bad things because they were actually good things. But Satan uses good things to keep our minds of the best things. I've learned that this week. 

We bought a Christmas tree! We found one at a thrift store for 20 bucks. The box said it was pre lit but that was a lie haha and then when we set it up it we discovered that it leans all the way to the left hahaha. But at least we have a tree! All we need now is some lights and decorations haha. 

Thursday  was a no drive day, which means we spent most of it either outside walking around or inside planning things so we didn't want to be outside. 

We had a lesson with Lisa and her friend Steve was there. He was strange because he acted like he wanted to bash but then he didn't. So oh well. 

Bob the mailman! While we were walking around I felt prompted to talk to the mailman and it was good cuz we got to talk to him about light the world (: 

Then we had dinner with the liskas. We showed them the light the world video but sis Liska didn't like it because she said it seemed political. With like creating empathy for Mexicans or something? Can you guys tell me what's going on in the world? And maybe why she would think that? And also how to address it? Haha I have no idea. 

Friday 

We basically Spent all day contacting people on the part member family list, and I can't remember much else. 

Saturday! 

It was the Worldwide day of service, but also it was another No drive day. We did service for sis Allen and her friend, cleaning her house because her parents had died and she needed to sell their home. 

We also did a free hot chocolate booth on main street! We talked to people about light the world and it was awesome. We handed out like 80 cups of hot chocolate and like 50 light the world pass along cards and gave 1 book of mormon! So it was good. Freezing but successful! So we will probably do it again(: 

We had dinner with the Langi family and they are my favorite. Sis Langis husband is deployed in a somewhat dangerous area for a year and she is taking care of their 5 kids on her own. She is a champ and we love her!!! She said that she feels like we are in this ward because of her. I think that may be a reason too (: (: (: 

Sunday 

Dan, Zoe, Jayden and Jim came to church! 

We went to primary to have them announce Jaydens baptism which is on December 8th, this Saturday and all the sudden we were teaching! Sister parks, the primary president was like "OHHEYIMGLADYOUAREHEREWEHAVE3CLASSESWITHOUTATEACHERCANYOUUSETHISROOMILLGOGETTHECHAIRSTHANKSBYE" 

So we randomly got to teach the 11 year olds about light the world hahahaha it was fun. 

Jayden made us cookies our lesson that day! So cute. Except it was fast sunday so that was kinda sad. We just ate them later. We taught about word of wisdom and law of chastity! I have never taught that to a kid before but it went well haha.  

Lesson with Teresa was good. She's from Nigeria and knows it is true, she's been going to churc for 2 years but won't commit to baptism because her family isn't here.... 

No Christmas Devotional for me, we have to wait a week or two to watch it. But that's okay. 

Monday 

We met Bear. She is on the records of the Church but says she is catholic. Her dog is devilish. She bit me.... So yeah. But I'm alright haha.  

Animal shelter with ninja kittens! 

Movie time. We watched Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration with Dan and Zoe it went super well. I love those guys. 

Lesson with Jayden again! We taught about eternal families and temples. I think it was the best lesson so far. It's cool to see their progression. Hers and her dad Jim! He used to not participate or anything but now he offers to pray and helps us teach! Ahh I love the gospel!! 

I'm pretty nervous for transfers. We will find out Saturday night what will happen!!! Ahh. Rumor is I'll be training. We shall see. If I do, I hope I stay here so I don't have to stress about training as well as being in a new place. 

I can't believe it's already so close to christmas!!! I can't wait to call and see you guys. I love you all SO MUCH 

Sis Bush