20 Years Later....

This was such an inspiring week for me in my life. Like always, some days were good, some days were bad, but overall I was amazed by the blessings that I have seen since I have been on my mission.

This week we had a few things happen but I really wanted to focus on a couple of stories that made my mind almost go insane. I'll start with a lesson that we had on Friday with a man named Ennis. We have taught Ennis a few times and I absolutely love him, he is so humble and willing to listen to and accept our message. We went to his home and talked to him about the Book of Mormon on Tuesday and then started to discuss the Plan of Salvation on Friday. As we spoke with him about God's plan for us on this Earth and about Adam and Eve, he just understood so well and continued to show love for what we were teaching and signs that he knew that it was true. As we were talking with him a woman nearby was shouting on the phone. Despite this I just continued to tell myself that I needed to listen and pay attention to him. I felt the spirit so strongly even though there was noise. Such a powerful lesson about our Savior's love for us.

Immediately following that lesson we met with a man named Brother Grey who lives not far from Brother Ennis. He came to church last Sunday along with Brother Ennis and had a good experience there. We had a good lesson with Brother Grey, but when we were about to close the lesson he said something that was so significant to me and I don't really know why. He said that in 1998 (almost 20 years ago believe it or not), there was a boy in his school named Nyanforh (don't think it is the Nyanforh that is now the stake president) who would always stay after school and share things with other students about his church and about the Book of Mormon. He said that the other students would always give him hard time but that he would just continue to talk about it. He went to serve a mission and he hasn't heard from him since and wouldn't recognize him if he saw him probably, but he said that he was always interested in the church because of his conviction and what he would say about it. So now, almost 20 years later, he is talking with the missionaries and has a strong desire to know the truth. You never know how much good you do...

Other than that, the week was pretty normal. We're just working hard and trying to share the gospel with as many people as possible :) Life is good. Today I found Oreos and bought a lot of them and they were really expensive but totally worth it.

Hope you have a great week!

Elder Bush

Pictures!

  On top of the church... Probably shouldn't have done that...
  

 Still on top of the church

   I asked this little girl to bust my block (pound it?) and she would not stop and would not let me go either it was so cute. When I finally left she cried... Weird

   One year in Liberia!

Toy Exchange

My sister Alisa sent me toys that her children had chosen to share with a few of the children in Liberia. She included photos of her kids with the toys and asked me to show them the pictures so they would know who the toys were from. Then I gave them to some special children and took their picture with the toy. It was so fun! This is the result...

 

 

When Luke (my nephew) saw the little boy with the train he was so excited! He just kept repeating that the boy was so happy!

Happy New Month

Time is moving my people. We're in March now and I forgot how hot it was last March. Yeah, that's right, I was here last year in March. See aging missionary! 

So yeah it's about a billion degrees right now in this country and I almost die every day but then I don't. I have to drink so much water and I still never drink enough. My life is actually really great I live in Liberia. 

So anyways, this week was pretty cool. We had so much progression from a few people that we are teaching and it made me so excited. My first week that I came here we had two people that we are teaching come to church and this week we had 13 people that we are teaching come to church. Sometimes the people here frustrate me, but most of the time they are just so sweet and humble and willing to submit to the will of the Lord. I just need to continually practice patience while speaking and interacting with anyone who I meet. I love that I get the opportunity to share the gospel with so many people each day, it gives me hope that more people will be willing to accept the truth. 

Apparently a rapper in Liberia died in a car accident because he was going way too fast in his car. A bunch of people were really sad and our Branch President even kind of mentioned it on Sunday and told people that they need to slow down when they drive. I thought that was kind of odd, but Liberians are like the worst drivers ever so hopefully they do learn a little bit from that. 

Besides that again, this week was pretty normal. We are expanding the are that we are in and are teaching a few people that are a 30 LD car ride away from the chapel. Even though that's only about 30 cents it's still a pretty big sacrifice for these people and we had 3 people come from that area this gone Sunday. All of them are super sweet. Brother Gray, Brother Buster and Brother Ennis. They are all very interested and willing to learn about the gospel and showed their faith on Sunday by making their way to service. 

We met with one woman this week who is really funny. We've taught her a couple of times and after we teach we will usually buy something from the little market that she has. This week when we tried to buy however, she told us she doesn't like how we behave. She doesn't like how we ask for things that cost money and then have the audacity to want to pay for them. She didn't use those words obviously but she said that we shouldn't pay anymore when we want something... Liberians are so sweet. I probably won't get anything again though so she doesn't lose money.

Well, that's about it for this week! We went to the beach again today for a big activity and it was pretty fun! I love the beach and really wish I was allowed to go swimming... But alas, my hands are tied. I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week!

Elder Bush

1. My sister sent a train to me to give to an African child. His name is T Boy. He was happy.

 

. This boy is really good at smiling.

 This baby is super adorable. The mother is a recent convert named Pinky.

Little Friends

More Pics

My hammock

 Super cool house destroyed during the war

 Weird Spider?

ScHoolboy Q

Hey Fam, what's up?

This week was a great and normal week. Nothing too eventful happened but the area is beginning to improve small small. 

On Tuesday we taught a few people, but there is one woman named Elaine that we teach that just gives us hard time. So many Liberians love the Bible, which is great, but sometimes they interpret it so differently that it no longer makes any sense. Basically, her and her man's claim (don't think that they are married) is that all we need to do to be saved is just believe in Jesus Christ and everything will be cool. She just got really confused because I asked why she goes to church then and why she doesn't go to the club... If all we need to do is just believe then why not just do all manner of wickedness and it's all okay. She's just really confused but we are trying to be really patient with her.

On Wednesday we had interviews with Mission President again and that was really great. We didn't really get to teach that day, but we did get to sit in air conditioning in my old chapel so that was sweet! I miss Paynesville.

Nothing really significant really happened on Thursday or Friday that I remember. On Friday we teach this guy who lives near the beach and there is a little shop that sells bread and fried egg and it is arguably the best part of my week every week and I want to go there every day. It's so simple and yet so relaxing and wonderful I can't properly describe it to you.

Saturday, one of the boys that we are teaching called me Schoolboy because I was wearing my glasses so I told him to just call me ScHoolboy Q, hence the title. He will actually call me Elder Bush don't worry. 

Finally on Sunday a member of the branch gave us a big dinner with lots of rice and cake that made me happy. The people are so sweet here I love them so much. 

Sorry this letter was so lame I just forgot everything that happened during the week! I promise to make next weeks letter much better. 

I'm happy and healthy and working hard! I love the work even though it isn't easy but I am learning so much and I truly love my Savior Jesus Christ. Life is good :)

Elder Bush

The sweet bread and egg stand!

 

  Children that won't leave me alone...

 Beautiful beach. This is in my proselyting area...

 Me on a rock on the beach :)

 Jogging in the morning

Sweet signs in Liberia... Hope you can read them! Not really sure why Hippos are used? Seems a little derogatory if you ask me but I didn't paint them.....