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