February 6, 2017

What a crazy week its been! On Saturday night I found out that I'm
being transferred back to the Longmont Zone! I will be in the Union
and Ute Creek wards. (Covering two again)
After this transfer I will have served in 4 different wards in the
Longmont Stake, which is pretty cool. My new companion will be Elder
Prescott, who I don't know super well, but seems like a pretty cool
guy, so that'll be awesome.

I am sad to leave Cheyenne. I honestly didn't think I would ever say
that when I first arrived here, but Cheyenne has a place in my heart
now. (As cheesy as that may sound)
I love the people here, I have loved serving here, and I have grown so
much in the short time that I have been here. I'll miss Elder Callahan
and his hard work, and I'll miss all of the missionaries here in the
Cheyenne Zone. They are all so awesome. I've also heard that
missionaries who serve in Cheyenne tend to come back after a while, so
I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can come back.

In other news, the work here has been going really well. We are really
starting to be able to touch some of the hearts of the people here
with the Spirit. Something that I have learned here is the truth
behind this simple phrase: "Charity never faileth".

A lot of times we feel like we have to label missionary opportunities.
For example, a missionary opportunity is a chance we have to give
someone a copy of Book of Mormon, or a chance we have to invite
someone to church. But really, an opportunity to show love to someone,
or to bring their garbage cans in, or even to simply just listen to
someone is a missionary opportunity. This truly is a labor of love. I
think our Savior would have it no other way.

Appropriate love to you all!
Have a great week :)

Elder Bush





Personal email to mom...

 I love you guys! Gideon is so cute. And you all are such great examples to me! Every day I think of you guys and how I want to be like my siblings or my parents when I grow up :)

Those are some cool lessons learned this week! I have learned a lot that can't really be put into words, but I will attempt:

- I have learned the importance of staying in tune with the Spirit. I have also learned how to recognize the Spirit more. It was something j heard in gospel doctrine at church: (not quoted exactly because I can't remember it exactly)

"The Spirit is described as a burning in the bosom, but is it really a caloric burning that we think of when we think of fire? If so, I've never felt the Spirit. The burning in the bosom is more of a burning of desire. It is more like light being shed upon our souls. It is peace and serenity. It cannot be described, only experienced" 

That was kinda the gist of the thought, but I thought it was super cool

- I have also learned the importance of love. Love is really spelled T-I-M-E, not just in family relationships but even out here in the mission field. We have really been striving to have contact with all of our investigators and less actives every day. Every single day! It's hard, but when we take the time to invite the Spirit into their lives and spend time with them, they progress so much faster and our relationships with them grow so much faster. It is truly amazing. 

- I've also learned the importance of self evaluation, but more importantly than that, I've learned the importance of Divine evaluation. Asking Heavenly Father what He thinks of me has impacted my week a lot. Also, evaluating where I'm at is really an essential step in daily repentance. 

- Something that stood out to me in my scripture study this week-- 1 Nephi 6:4

"For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved."

I thought about what my purpose is as a missionary: "Invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." 

Is this the fullness of my intent? 

How cool is it the Nephi and I have the same purpose? 😎

What would it look like if this was the fullness of my intent? 

Well, for Nephi, it looked like this:

 " Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.

 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men."

Nephi did only what God commanded him to. He didn't bend to pressures from the world. He shared his testimony through the Book of Mormon. He taught the doctrine of Christ. And he invited everyone to come unto Christ, even his brothers, who wanted to kill him. 

These are things that I hope someday I can do. I want the fullness of my intent to be  to teach repentance and baptize converts. I know that as I consecrate myself day by day I can get there. 

So those are my thoughts for the week.

In other news, I might start a photo share today. I think they are actually approved. I will be able to upload pictures for you guys to see throughout the week and you can comment on them and stuff. I'm pretty sure they are okay but I'm going to double check with President McMurray and then let you know! 

Love you so much!

Elder Bush