Monday, October 2, 2017
Conference and Cake
Well this was a wonderful busy week as always!
We had a lot going on this week and we got a lot done as
well. On Wednesday night I went for an exchange with Elder Sorenson. He is one
of the assistants that is serving in town right now. Wednesday night I went
with him to his apartment and slept there. They have air conditioning and it
was so weird to sleep in the cold. I had a little sheet so my body was fine,
but breathing in the cold air gave me a hard time. I don't know how I'm going
to make it when I get back when even outside will feel air conditioned in the
winter! I'm sure I'll manage. We had a nice exchange but I mostly just
conducted baptismal interviews for their candidates. I like doing interviews
though people say funny things.
Saturday we had a baptism and it went... well?His name is
Shadrach and he is a really funny old man. He really loves the gospel and the
church though and he is doing well. Friday Brother Shadrach was
interviewed and passed. You can only baptize someone if you have water though!
We cleaned the font and turned on the water which ran for a little while, but
we had to go home. We turned off the water and came back early in the morning
to turn it back on. Water was not coming anymore... Yay! So we had to draw
water from a well probably about 100 yards away from the font or so and carry
it to the font using buckets. This is the second time it has happened in this
ward. We got enough to baptize Shadrach and that was good enough for us and
him. So he was baptized and everyone is happy.
Sunday we had conference so we went in town early in the
morning and watched the Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and priesthood
session of conference. For some reason all the women stayed for the priesthood
session and no one told them to leave... I guess that's okay? I
loved the talks and I was especially touched by what Henry B Eyering said about
the Book of Mormon. Although he has been reading the Book of Mormon every day
for over 50 years, he decided to read in more detail and with greater focus
because the prophet asked. Humbled me a little to realize that I need to
continue reading it each day. I have been reading Doctrine and Covenants so I
got a little bit lazy. So I am recommitting myself to be diligent in reading
The Book of Mormon as well. Between sessions the assistants had made some cake
and food so we went up to their apartment to eat which was super nice of them.
I sustain them. Great week!
That's about all for today but I'll send some pictures. Love
you all!
Elder Bush
Thursday, September 28, 2017
It's Normal
Today my companion and I were walking on the road and one of
the members in my former area in Caldwell was driving in his car and saw me and
said, "Elder Bush! You still here?! You still in Liberia?!" Yes
Brother Wulah... I'm still here.
That's okay though because right now I'm really happy and
things are going well. I guess the only thing I could wish more for is maybe
Goldfish. Besides that everything is wonderful. I eat a lot of rice, but since
I became companions with Elder Silvis I also eat a lot of other stuff so it's
not bad. I don't know if you guys ever eat plantain but I love
plantain. It's so good I hope I can find it when I get home.
This week ws crazy busy once again! It's really great though
I love it that way. It makes things a little stressful, but not too bad when
you have a good companion who is willing to work hard with you. It also makes
time go by so much faster! Every day just begins and then it ends and then it
starts over again. We're about to start the fourth week of the 6 week transfer
and I feel like it jsut started.
One thign that has helped me a lot is that I don't keep
track of the date anymore. That may sound strange or bad, but it helps me not
to worry about how much time I have left. Each day we plan for the next day and
write in our planner and on top you usually write the date. Well, I just write
September now. And the date also used to be on my watch but the band on my
watch also broke so I don't wear it and I never know the date. It's great! I do
know that we're in September though and that it is going to end soon. Crazy
stuff man.
Well, I'm doing really well so don't worry about me. I gave
away some white shirts and trousers that were in the apartment to some members
on Sunday and that made me really happy. Some were mine, others were from some
different missionaries. I use the same 4 white shirts and about 1 pair of
trousers a week. Yeah... My hygiene isn't the best in the world. I use a lot of
bleach don't worry. We use a big wide bucket to wash our clothes on Mondays. If
it's sunny we hang them outside, but it has rained the past 20 out of 24 days
in September, so we put them on a drying rack in the apartment. Looking forward
to the dry season.
That's about it for this week! I love you all and miss you a
lot. Probably not as much as I miss Costco or Walmart... But I miss you a lot
rest assured :)
Sorry no pictures lately, I need to transfer them and I just
keep forgetting.
Elder Bush
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
What Time Is It?
O my people this week was great.
My new companion and I are doing really well together. I
love my companion and we get along really well together. We talk to each other
all the time and like being around each other so things are really good. We
worked really hard this week as well and teach in unity so far. We had a lot of
the people that we taught this week come to church as well. Both investigators
and recent converts. So things are going really well. We had a really fun and
tiring day today as well so I don't have much time to write this but I'll
try.
I'm in the same ward as before, but a different area. I
really like the area but it has a lot of hills that are going to kill me. My
calves are huge now though.😉
I really like the
people that we are teaching though. We have some great people that are
really accepting of the gospel. One of the men that we are teaching is
hilarious. He's an older man that walks all the way to church each Sunday which
is probably a good mile walk or so. We wanted to meet with him on Thursday and
when we got there we said," hey we want to study with you now." He
said "oh I'm supposed to go to a meeting by 12, what time is it?" We
said "it's about 2:30..." He said, "Dammih... Time really
got away from us didn't it?" My companion and I were trying so hard not to
laugh! That pape is hilarious!
I really love this new area. I'm in the same ward but
a different area now so I've just been all over this place! I know Congo Town
good good!
Well that's it for this week but things are great! I love
you all!
Elder Bush
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
I Don't See A Problem
Hey guys what's up? This week was alright-o.
So on Tuesday I went to the eye doctor because I have some
small bump on my eyelid. I was told that I should go to this SDA hospital to
have it checked out. So I went there. It was interesting... The place reminded
me of something you might see in a movie of a undeveloped hospital. They were
using a generator that kept losing power, turning on and off. Didn't comfort me
too much. So anyways, I got called in and the guy starts looking at my eye for
a little while, shining lights in it and nonsense. So then he draws a picture
of my eye and says I have some red streaks and that comes from the sun so he'll
give me some eye drops. But I stopped him and said, well that's nice but that's
not why I came here. I have something in my eye like a bump I want you to feel.
He felt around my eye for about 5 minutes and said, "Well, maybe I'm old
but I can't feel anything so I don't know." Well sweet. Thanks Pape. So I
left and my eye problem is still not fixed but I'm not really too worried about
it at this point.
The rest of the week was pretty normal and whatnot. We
should have a crazy busy week this week! Should be exciting! Baptism on Sunday.
Love you guys!
The Turn-Around
This week was incredible! This was probably one the the best
weeks on my mission and I see it as a turning point again for me. We had a
General Authority Elder Nash visit our mission this week and it really helped
me a lot.
So previously, I had kind of been feeling down about my
mission and the mission in general. I felt like the work was almost coming to a
standstill and it just wasn't very nice. So going into zone conference on
Thursday that's how I felt. After zone conference, a meeting afterwards
with Elder Nash and a special MLC meeting with him the following day... I feel
spiritually uplifted. It's ironic because in the meeting we were talking
about lifting others but I really felt like he lifted me. He is really an
amazing teacher and I learned so much from him.
In our meetings we talked about the plan of salvation a lot
and how we fit into that plan. We often think about that plan, but sometimes I
think we neglect to see ourselves in it. Our purpose here is so much more than
what we may think it is. I really got to understand how important it is that I
am here and what I will do with my time. It is the only purpose of God to grant
unto every child he has the glory and happiness that he has in the heavens. So
I'm just trying to help some few people to have that happiness. The work will
continue!
Our MLC meeting was really great as well. We talked about
our plan for the mission and what we can do to improve. I feel that if we do
the things that we talked about there we can really change. One of my favorite
scriptures now is 2 Nephi 2:8-10. Kind of an obscure scripture, but it contains
so much power and meaning. I shared it with Sister Nash and she really liked
it. It's amazing how much we can learn while we are here.
After Friday, the rest of the week went alright. I am now
with my companion that should have been with me since last transfer, Elder
Silvis. He is from Idaho and we're going to do really wekk together I already
know it. Two white men walking the streets of Liberia. What a sight.
Several missionaries are going home tomorrow and several are
coming as well. This is good news. That means I only have a few transfers left.
But I'm ready to work throughout the rest of my time here. Hopefully the new
missionaries will give us some energy and zeal for the work. My trainer is also
going home tomorrow. This mission is going to change soon!
I love you all and I love my mission. I love being able to
serve here. I'm so blessed for all I have been given. This mission has truly
helped me appreciate all that I have and has given me a desire to give more.
Thanks for all your support I love you all!
Elder Bush
1. Baptism for Ben! He was taught by missionaries before and
then we took over their area for them in addition to our area. He's great.
2. Me and my father Elder Ojo, my peace I leave with you (They call their trainer "father" since they are such newbies when they first get there)
3. Elder Takouo and Elder Silvis had a baptism Saturday and
there was no water so we had to draw water from a well and haul it into the
font with buckets, many members also helped including this cute small girl :)
4. My drawing of me
5. Two children were in church on Sunday because of the
rain, but I still tried to teach them how to sing I Am a Child of God...
Someone needs to teach me!
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