March 26, 2019

okay so the reason this email is short is because 

1 i took a nap

2 i had to pack

3 we had lunch with danielle 

haha anyways im glad we at least got to talk on the phone so i could tell you the crazy updates! 

(hermana escobar going to alliance, my lost wallet and then the 3 nephites bringing it back, the prank we pulled on sister snell, my thoughts from 2 nephi 17 and when i had to go swimming in the font again haha) 

couple other things: 

wednesday we got to stay at the peters love them so much, then help the schooleys move (and i was the lucky missionary who got to scrub the toilets so that was fun) we taught velma how to use the family history app and then had dinner with the frankens in chappell on the way home and invited them to re-test moronis promise. how did that go for you guys by the way? thats what i invited you guys to do last time we called - did you guys get a chance to? any cool experiences? if you didnt do it, you should do it this week (:

thursday we got to talk to a super awkward family so that was fun but then we got to meet a guy named steve who is interested in our church! so that was a blessing. 

friday we taught ashley and charrod and got them on date for baptism! they are good friends with the holcombes and it was cool to teach them the restoration. it was sis snells first baptismal invitation so i was proud of her haha. but then charrod was hesitant about setting a day so i had to jump in and help her handle that 

saturday we did a lot of tracting and contacting, met quite a bit of people and some of them actually set up return appointments! so that was exciting for sis snell so she can be excited to teach people and find more after we leave(:

sunday we had ward council and ward conference and then spent time trying to find my wallet thank goodness it was there 

then we studied and then went to the haleys where we pulled that prank. SO FUNNY IT WAS HILARIOUS 

then we read the book of mormon with sara and im glad that she has a desire to start reading again. 

monday we began making fudge (brigadarios) of course cuz thats always what i do before transfers its like a thing now haha and then had a lesson/chapel tour with stormy and then drove around saying goodbye to people: grandma gave me the marriage talk. so cute. and then had dinner at the silers LOVE those guys they are great 

anyways thats ill i got time to write for the week but its been crazy busy and weve been doing so many things. no regrets!! im so grateful for my time here. serving in the fort collins mission has changed my life. im so grateful for my outbound and what ive been able to expereince here.

LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!!!!

sis Bush 

March 19, 2019

Hola familia! 

So! Updates! 

Austin: we've tried so hard these past couple weeks. We've roleplayed and roleplayed, fasted and prayed, texted and called and searched the scriptures so much. He was supposed to be baptized this saturday, the 23rd. At first I felt guilty that he won't make it to his date but I have since come to peace with it. He has his agency. We haven't met with him for a couple weeks, we have like 4 lessons left to teach him and he often won't answer our messages. I don't know what else we can do. I've spent a lot of time on my knees but I feel that he will eventually be baptized. Just not this week. Which makes me sad But I know he has to be ready, and right now he isn't ready. 

The storm: we are safe! The storm here was the worst in this area since November of 1977. Apparently, that's what the members were saying. We had huge snow drifts, some up to 12 feet tall. It was crazy. We stayed inside for almost 2 full days: 1 because president McMurray said we weren't allowed to drive and 2 because hermana Escobar was feeling sick. We did a LOT LOT LOT of studying, roleplaying, planning and using social media. But I'm glad we were safe. We didn't have anything nearly ad bad as the other parts of Nebraska - with flooding and frozen stuff and broken roads and evacuated cities - so sad. So we are praying for them. 

Because of the crazy storm, Danielle couldn't come to the temple. She couldn't go to work on the days that she was supposed to because of the weather and so because she didn't work those days they called her in to work on her day off - saturday. It was super sad. But at least Velma got to go!!!! It was an awesome experience with velma. She described the temple : 

Peaceful. When you are in there you feel as if you don't have a care in the world! 

So cute. She can't wait to go get her endowments out 

I just loved walking into the fort collins temple and 

1 imagining the wedding in May 

2 doing baptisms, I haven't done baptisms in a long time 

3 spending time with the sisters in our ward. I've served here in Sidney for quite a bit and so it was truly a special experience to go with these faithful sisters inside the temple and feel the spirit with them. 

4 feel the spirit as I read the revelation on baptisms for the dead in the scriptures. 

I JUST LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!!! 

MIRACLE alert: this week we felt prompted to go visit the holcombes, a family that is trying to return to full activity in the church. When we got there, they had 2 friends over! Ashley and Charrod. Both Ashley and Charrod had lots of questions and wanted to come to church on Sunday too! We briefly went over the restoration and the book of mormon and gave them copies. They were super excited. So that was amazing 

On Sunday no one came to church really and hermana Escobar was feeling like she was going to pass out so we spent more time at home. Then when she felt better we drove to Kimball to visit people there and have dinner with the markums! We practiced teaching the restoration and had sister Snell take the lead in that lesson. I was super proud of her and how well she did!! I love watching missionaries grow in their confidence as servants of the lord. 

This week we also found out some news about when I leave...... they will definitely need prayers. So we will talk about that when I call haha. 

This week during my studies I've been highlighting every reference to the doctrine of Christ in the book of mormon and preach my gospel. It's been so cool! I thought I had an idea of how much it is at the root of everything but I wasn't really grasping just how much it is. It is central to EVERYTHING. It's amazing. Also remind me during our call cuz I have an idea about how you could next study the book of mormon!! (: 

Avoiding slang: sis Snell brings out the worst of my slang and casual language - which we are supposed to avoid as missionaries haha. 2nd stringers and other funny phrases or words... which are hard to avoid when you are comfortable with someone and having fun. But we are doing what we can to stop and better follow that mission rule haha. I wanted to try the pushup situp thing when we were avoiding the word like but I can't just do that anywhere because I'm a missionary...... So the only thing we've come up with is to snap our wrist with a hairband every time we say something we shouldn't haha. If you have any other better ideas I'm all ears!! 

I can't believe the twins are 17. That's so weird. I remember when I was turning 17! I feel like that was yesterday! It's strange to think how close they are to go on missions. Are they planning to go to college first or just go on a mission straight from school? Also, charter school? That's cool! I'm excited for them. I hope they aren't too worried about it. I'm sure it will be good for them. Is it just them going or also some of the other kids? 

So happy about your growing clinic! Slowly but steadily it will get where you want it to be! I'm excited about that (: 

Love you love you love you love you love you so much 

Sis Bush 

March 12, 2019

Is there really a God? Does He actually care? 

How am I supposed to help my teenager that is struggling with a mental illness? 

Can I ever be forgiven for what I've done? 

Will I ever have a stable job? 

Will I see my mom again? 

Is there anything special about me? 

How can I strengthen my relationship with my spouse? Do they still love me? 

Why can't I find peace? 

Will I ever know the truth? 

Am I always going to struggle with this? Will this pain ever end?

What am I meant to accomplish in this life? 

How can Jesus Christ help me? 

Maybe you have asked one of these questions in your life. Maybe you have one of these questions right now. Or maybe you have a different question you wish you could have an answer to. 

The truth is, we all have deep questions and we wish they could be answered. Sometimes we voice these questions, sometimes we keep then tucked away or buried deep inside. But until they are answered, they will remain in our minds and hearts. 

Let me suggest one simple way to get an answer to your questions. 

Pray. Kneel down, humble yourself before God and ask Him. Pour out all those locked up questions and concerns and worries and hurts. Share with Him the deepest parts of your soul. 

Heres the next step: Read the Book of Mormon. Whether you've never read a single word of this book or have read it through nearly a million times - after you pray, read. And pause as you read. Look for the answer. 

I cannot promise that your answer will come in the first verse you read. But I can promise that it is in that book. The very answer you wish you had, is in the book of mormon. And the Holy Ghost, the spirit, will help you recognize it. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that God uses it to answer our most sincere questions. He will answer that question that is most important and dear to you. I know that He loves you. I know that because He loves you, He has provided the Book of Mormon as a way to receive revelation and inspiration straight from heaven. 

I love you all, thank you for your support and your prayers! We are seeing miracles and I know we will see more this upcoming week! 

Sincerely, 

Sister Bush 

Ps funny story: we forgot about daylight savings and so we were late to church. What a great way to start that day --I pulled into the parking lot and was thinking "why are there so many cars?" 

And that's when the realization hit haha. 

Good times good times. 

Anyways have a great week everyone! 

March 5, 2019

Hello everyone!

Me: what's your.... favorite animal? 

Hermana Escobar without hesitation: you. 

Nice. 

So I'm still in sidney Nebraska! 

Plus also, this week we will begin training a new sister, straight from the MTC. she seems super cool so both hermana Escobar and I are beyond excited. 

Since I last wrote a weekly, we have had lots of adventures. 

We: 

- shoveled snow until our backs nearly broke

- had a lengthy discussion with a well practiced, over zealous basher. 

- ministered to the sweetest widows

- forgot the code to our garage door

- had someone decide to be baptized and then 2 days later change their mind 

- Taught the word of wisdom to someone in a bar

- slipped on the ice a little 

- started doing come follow me with our families via video chat 

And 

- felt the power of the Book of Mormon! 

I came across a verse in the Book of Mormon that really touched me. Ether 6:10: and thus they were driven forth, and no monster of the sea could mar them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water. 

This group of people, traveling in little boats across the sea, always had light. I think that's similar to our lives. 

If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest of times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, se can choose the right with the guidance of the spirit. 

So whether you feel you are on top of the waves or buried down in the deep, you can have light. Jesus christ will guide you to your promised land - no matter where on that journey you are. He is the master of all seas and all oceans. And he can be a light in your life. I know He is the light of mine. 

How has christ been there for you - in the good and bad and in between times? 

I would love to hear your insights. 

Love you all! Have a great week! 

Sister Bush (: