Kick When You Don't Want to Kick! Mar 4, 2013

**Mothers note - this letter is pretty lengthy and super interesting & detailed about the people he is teaching. But there is a very sweet, heartfelt testimony at the end, so don't stop short in your reading:)

Family and Friends,

I’m just going to do a handwritten letter so I can make it longer and more detailed.

Tuesday, 2/26/13- Today wasn’t very exciting, we went to lunch as a zone because transfers are this week and 7 people are leaving! Elder Elkington, Elder Furness, Elder Womsley, Elder Mecham, Elder Aiken, Elder Reguera, and Sister Mertlich! They are all great missionaries and I’m going to miss them tons! We walked around for a few hours offering Harvesting Blessings and had little luck but we got 2 referrals for 6^th ward! We stopped to use the bathroom and shared a message with Br. P, one of our ward missionaries. He is awesome! He was a jock in High School and even though he is now a 75-year-old diabetic, he’s still a jock! Haha He is so bold with people! He also has a best friend of 60 years named Jack in our ward who recently got out of the hospital due to cancer/over medication. We visited him next and gave him a blessing. He was a ward missionary too before he got sick and he can’t wait to be back on his feet so he can come out with us! As we were leaving, he said, “Just like Schwarzenegger: I’ll be back!” We knocked some more doors and met an old potential investigator named Don. He is nothing short of prepared! He asked all the right questions and gave all the right answers! He invited us back on Friday. I’m excited!

Wednesday, 2/27/13 – Today felt really long…probably because Elder Swenson and I took a nap during our lunch breakJ We had 6 quality lessons today and 4 of those were with investigators! We are making a lot of progress with Curtis, Gloria and Jerry! And a new investigator (who is married to an inactive member) named Monty who really wants to read the Book of Mormon but he’s super busy trying to find a job and such. And his wife is checking up on him (asking him if he’s reading etc.)! It’s awesome! Back to the other investigators, I’m not sure if I’ve told you about Gloria and Jerry…ladies first. Gloria is married to an inactive member, Harold, and she is a character. I don’t think its possible to describe her with words. Harold would much rather go to our church but he doesn’t want to cause contention with Gloria so he goes with her to her church. They’re both awesome. Harold always takes us around shopping on Mondays and Gloria pays half her tithing to our church because she likes when the missionaries come and pray for her. CrazyJ Jerry is a 28-year-old Mexican with 4 kids and a 24-year-old girlfriend named Marlene. They’re not married=problem. Marlene wants to get married but doesn’t want to listen to us. Jerry wants to listen to us but he doesn’t want to get married (too much money). And Marlene is immature so that doesn’t help anything. We think they might be having some relationship problems… Perfect time for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Thursday, 2/28/13 – We saw a lot of people today! We visited Jamal, this HUGE (muscular) black guy who looks like a straight G, but is the nicest guy ever. His wife has cancer pretty bad and we’ve been trying to catch them both at home because they both want us to give her a blessing. Awesome! We met a man named Stewart who has been visited once a year by missionaries and has never read the Book of Mormon… We straight up preached. It was awesome. The spirit was strong. He felt it! He’s reading the Book of Mormon! Next, we went and visited the E. family. This family is going through a lot, which makes them perfect for the gospelJ The mom (Sylvia) was sleeping and the son (Jesse) who has a drug problem, wasn’t home. We talked with Jackie (26 year old daughter who has a 10 year old son) for a good hour about life and the Holy Ghost and how he can help make important decisions. She’s really looking for direction in her life and we’re pointing her directly to the best source of direction: the Iron Rod. We also met a Fijian man named Harry who said he is a mix between Hindu and Christian…interesting. We taught him the first lesson (restoration) and he loved it! We’re going back Tuesday. Then we had dinner at the Maciel’s. They are Brazilian and Sis. Maciel is the CRAZIEST old lady I’ve ever met! She is a crack up! I haven’t laughed that hard in a while! Then the rest of the night we spent street contacting. No success really. Great Day!

Friday, March 1, 2013 – We only had two lessons today, but today was weekly planning. Our first lesson was with Juan. It really is a miracle that we ‘found’ him. We were riding our bikes a week or so ago on our way to an appointment and this guy yelled out to us. We approached him and he asked us what ward we are in…weird. We told him and asked him the same question. He told us he was baptized 9 years ago in San Jose and fell away from the church about 5 years ago. He has a really strong desire to start living like he should. We sat down and went over the restoration and he kept asking, “So when is a good time for me to talk to the Bishop so I can repent?” He’s awesome. Nicest guy. Our second lesson was after dinner with the S. family. They are inactive due to people offending them…dumb. But they’re super nice and Br. S. was impressed by how many ribs I ate so he said he wants to set me up with his granddaughter who is currently at U of A. Psh. Crazy old man. Hahaha. BYU or bust! We had a really good lesson with them about repentance. We tried to visit a few more investigators but they weren’t home. Then, on the way home, I got really mad at Elder Swenson. I definitely admire his faith, but he’s under the impression that God will protect him ALWAYS, so it’s perfectly fine to run red lights… We almost got killed. Ugh. I guess I could have just not followed him… Next time!

Saturday, March 2, 2013 – Today was crazy, kinda depressing. It was really cloudy so everyone was kinda down. Also, I learned that Modesto is the 5^th most depressing city in the United States. And there are an average of 30 murders/year…yeah. We went around and visited every one of our investigators to invite them to church! We have 15 fairly solid investigators right now. Yeah we’re awesomeJ We didn’t do a whole lot of teaching today though…only two lessons. But Juan came out to the ward potluck! He was talking to everyone! And he’s coming to church tomorrow! Also! I got a package from Erica! Anyways, not a very eventful day.

Sunday, March 3, 2013 – Not a single investigator at church today. Bummer. Not even Juan! We stopped by to pick him up and apparently he went out for tacos… Satan is largely invested in Taquerias! Guess what Erica sent me? Jello and mints! She knows me so well. Hahaha. We ate dinner at the G. family's today. I don’t think I’ve told you about them yet… They’re insane. Well the daughters are. They’re pretty much anti-church but they like the social aspect of it so they still come. And the parents and the oldest daughter are SUPER knowledgeable in the gospel! We got into a super deep/mind-blowing conversation about the War in Heaven, pre-mortal life, Holy Ghost, etc. Br. G. could be a General Authority someday. Sad to say, but Sundays are generally uneventful… Only 2 lessons todayL We’re gonna do work this week thought! We have a lot of investigators that are super prepared! Love it!

Closing remarks – I thought it was cliché, but missionary work and being out here in the field 24/7 is the hardest work I’ve ever done. But it’s by far the most rewarding. Elder Holland teaches that a great swimmer once said when asked his secret of success, “I kick when I don’t want to kick and I stroke when I don’t want to stroke!” There have definitely been times when I haven’t wanted to stroke, when I haven’t wanted to kick, when I haven’t even wanted to dive in. But I did. Not because it’s expected of me. Not because I want to make a name for myself. But because it is the only intelligent thing to do. There are a lot of things in this gospel that are hard to do. But in the eternal aspect of things, the only intelligent thing to do is to follow Christ. I don’t know who the man is in the Stonecutter video (about the man who walked 22 miles to work on the SLC temple) but he said something that really hit me: “Callings are seldom convenient”. I love this gospel. I love the Lord. And I love what He did for us to allow us to return to His presence. He could have given up. He could have said, “What’s in it for me?” He could have just ‘gone through the motions’. But He didn’t. I want to add my plea to that of Elder Hollands: “My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ ‘at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,’ for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone.” I love this from Elder Holland’s talk None Were With Him from April 2009. I couldn’t agree more. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman

One down, 7 Billion to go! Feb 25, 2013

Oeun Sok got baptized on saturday and it was awesome! But monday night, everything took a turn for the worse....

 

We visited a potential investigator and didn't really expect to get in the door but he let us right in and we shared the Restoration and committed him to read and pray! It was awesome! So we walked outside and I joked, "Just watch our bikes be gone." I ate my words. All that was left outside was Elder Swenson's helmet. I was dumbfounded. Our new investigator looked all around and called tons of people but no luck. So that was a bummer.

 

But the next two days were AWESOME! We taught 8 lessons to non members in two days and committed 3 people to be baptized! It was so great!! But I still don't have a bike and I wasn't sure how I would get one. And mom just told me that I got tax returns that will definitely cover a new bike. God is awesome. That's it. He's great.

 

Also, I had one of the greatest spiritually edifying experiences of my life. We were talking to a Romanian/Jewish man named Emmanuel and he has always kinda given me the creeps. He's just really dark (not skin tone, just creepy...) But he is VERY knowledgeable about the Bible. Too stubborn as well. The conversation got kinda heated and he looked me dead in the eye and said, "Are you prepared to die for what you believe in?" I matched his gaze and said "Without a second thought." He didn't know how to respond to that. We straight up tesitfied of the Book of Mormon and he said he is going to stick with the Bible. Sad, but we'll get him baptized eventually.

 

He was definitely put in my path for a reason. I needed to realize for myself that I AM prepared to die for what I believe in. And I wouldn't have to think about it for a SECOND. I love this Gospel. There is nothing good in my life that is NOT a result of me being involved in the Gospel. I love it. I live it. I wouldn't trade it for the world. The church is true. I bear you my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord. Amen.

 

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman 

Come Unto Christ, Abide in Him & Live! Feb 18, 2013

Howdy!

(This is going to be really short, my companion is complaining because he wants to go play basketball... Sorry.)

I read a lot of interesting things this week.. And when I say interesting, I mean crazy cool and I suggest you all read them. They are as follows: "Victor Garcia" profile on Mormon.org, "What's on the Other Side?" by Brent L. Top, and "Why 1820?". So cool.

Also, check out the song "I Will Rise" by Alex Boye and two other people.. It's incredible.

OEUN IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!! We went over the interview questions on saturday and he is super excited!!

Also can you try to find out who Jacob Hamblin's mission companion was? Elder Swenson thinks our ancestors may have served together!!

Curtis is having more surgery on his foot so he has to stay off his feet and can't come to church. But we set a date for him to be baptized March 9!! Please pray for him!!

We met a lot of really great and prepared families this week!! Except one of the family's father is a truck driver and doesn't want us to come teach his family while he's gone...

This week has definitely been more finding new people than teaching our other investigators.

I love you all!! Hopefully I'll find some time today to write a hand written letter with more details!

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman

On our way to the Provo Temple.

Me and my comp, Elder Badley. We were in class all day and this is what we walked out to! Winter Wonderland!

Me and Elder Badley

Me and Elder Shiflet, a face from home!

Two more beautiful faces from home - - Sis. Schwarz and Sis. Raley!!!

My fabulous MTC district on our way to the airport!

Our Branch President, Pres. Wenn! He's so little!!

We are on our way to the best mission in the world!

Sleeping quarters, guess which one is mine...

Our kitchen and my bike.

Our study area

My first bowl of the morning...

The view out our window.

Harvest Blessings! Feb 11, 2013

I've got to make this a little short but I want to give you an update on our investigators!

 

We haven't been able to see Connie or Oeun because they've been really sick but I DID find out that Oeun has a son named Jim.... Making his name Jim Sok.... "Gym Sock"..... Bahahaha

 

Curtis is progressing a lot! He is feeling more open to talking to people and he knows he needs to repent in order to feel happier and come closer to Jesus Christ.

 

Barry took us to lunch tuesday and is making progress very slowly... He's quite stubborn. But we gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would read it!!

 

We have a few new investigators!! Namely: Mike, John, and Sylvia!

 

We initially contacted Mike a week ago and he said to come back anytime. We did exchanges this week and Elder Swenson went to see him with Elder Blake (our district leader, also the most Christ-like person I've ever met). They taught him the restoration and committed him to baptism and he said YES!! 

 

John Espinoza was contacted before I got to the field and we hadn't been able to get ahold of him until a few days ago. Elder Swenson and I stopped by his house one night and he said "Not a good time guys..." Then told us he has "gout" in his foot... Don't know what that is... We offered him a blessing and he gladly accepted! I gave it and when we were done he said he felt really peaceful and we testified of the priesthood and the Holy Ghost. We invited him to be baptized and he said that he wants us to keep teaching him because he REALLY wants the Gift of the Holy Ghost!!

 

Another thing we do in the Fresno mission is called the Harvesting Blessing. Basically we just knock on a door and say, "We have been called and set apart as representatives of Jesus Christ and he has sent us to leave a blessing on your home." We were on another exchange when Elder Swenson and Elder Mecham met Sylvia. They were using the HB and she said "Come on in!" (that never happens...) Apparently she hadn't been feeling comfortable in her house and she woke up that morning with the thought to call a priest or pastor or whatever to come bless her house (yeah THAT would've done a lot of good... Psh.) They blessed her family and her home and taught the restoration, and she said she wants to hear more!!

 

We've had an awesome week!!

 

Also, I went through my camera and described all the pictures so I'm going to send the SD card home today.

 

I hope I answered all of your questions that I said I would in the big email... I love you all! Thank you so much for all your support and prayers!! Keep 'em comin!!

 

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman

 

Born to Testify! Feb 4, 2013

Holy Snap!!

 

This week FLEW by!! We met a LOT of new people and testified a TON! I love it! Just to give you a glimpse of who we're teaching, I'll try to summarize our investigators for ya.

 

Curtis- Socially awkward, in his 40's or 50's, lost his job, house, and a few toes due to cancer/diabetes, lives in our apartment complex, We've taught him all the lessons but he's not quite sure who God is, we brought him to Stake Conference yesterday which was a broadcast from SLC in which Elder L. Tom Perry basically taught all the missionary discussions!! So Curtis now knows that on the road to conversion (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost), he is at the repentance part! I think he's making a lot of progress!!

 

Barry- This guy is a little Italian fireball. He was street contacted a little while before I got to the field. And we've been trying to get in contact with him for a while. He is recently divorced and taking care of his house pretty much nonstop. We had 7 appointments cancel on us Friday and so we swung by Barry's house. We caught him and talked for about 45 minutes about the Book of Mormon. He seemed a little offended that we "need another Bible". The conversation got a little heated and Elder Swenson and I thought we were going to lose him. We were quickly chastised by the Spirit and calmed down and let the Spirit testify through us. Barry just looked at us, smiled and said, "You two are good.... not in a smart aleck way. You're really good! I'm going to take you to lunch on Monday. And in return, you can give me a Book of Mormon." We committed him to pray about what we taught him and that we'd see him Monday. Well, it's Monday, and we hadn't heard from him until 5 minutes ago. He rescheduled for tomorrow. He needs to be baptized.

 

Oeun Sok- (pronounced "oon"), he's Cambodian, and has been coming to church pretty much every day for the last 3 years. He know's the church is true. The only reason we haven't baptized him yet is because the ward found a membership record for an "Oeun Sok". But the record says "female and 36 yrs old", the Oeun we know is in his 50's and male... But the addres is the same... I dunno. We're just waiting for the Stake Pres to make a decision. Haha

 

Connie- In her 60's, knows the church is true, but she is in the process of getting dentures and she's embarrassed to come to church. Psh. She'll be baptized in a matter of weeks.

 

There are others but these are the ones who are progressing. :)

 

Elder Swenson is the MAN. He really is just like me. Haha We are the only two in our apartment and we pick on each other nonstop like brothers. It's great. I feel like I've known him for years. He's a great example to me. Even though it makes me mad when he makes up the dumbest rules and doesn't even follow them. It's all good though. He knows I could put him in the ground. :) Haha I love the elders and sisters in my district! We're not nearly as close as my MTC district, which makes sense, but I still love 'em!

 

Someone asked if I am riding a bike or driving a car... There are only three cars in our whole Zone. Our district leader and his companion have one and so do the sisters (they are all spanish speaking so they cover the whole stake) also, the Zone Leaders have a car, for the same reason. Let's just say my legs are getting really big from riding a bike all day. Haha I love it! 

 

I think I've been on the computer too long and I haven't even written Pres. Gelwix yet....

 

I love you all!! Thank you for the prayers and support!! :) 

 

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman

Sis. Gelwix, Elder Bushman and Pres. Gelwix on his arrival in the mission field.

Elder Swenson (Zac's trainer) and Elder Bushman

We Fed Your Missionary:) Feb 3, 2013

Hi families of Elder Swenson and Elder Bushman,

We enjoyed dinner here with your sons tonight. We had Hawaiian haystacks. Elder Bushman said he was concerned he might not get to have them while on his mission, and here we had them tonight! We also had chocolate cake and mint chip ice cream. 

They gave a wonderful message about being member missionaries, and we talked about their recent zone conference.

Your sons have exceptional spirits and are so upbeat and optimistic! I know they work hard and their employer is the Lord. They are doing a great work!

Thank you for raising such fine sons!

-Heidi Howell and family

This new hairdo is in response to a challenge from a General Authority...if all missionaries in their mission would part their hair, he promised them that they would be the highest baptizing CA mission. They all do part their hair and they are the highest baptizing mission in CA!!!

He Will Increase Our Capability! Jan 28, 2013

Hello everyone!! I love you all!!

 

Just a heads up, this email is going to be VERY scatter brained....

 

I've been in the field for just a few days now but I'm absolutely LOVING it!! My companion's name is Elder Swenson and he is absolutely incredible!! Basically, we're the same person. So... yeah, he's awesome. We're serving in the Modesto 2nd Ward which is about 40% active. And about 80% of that are senior citizens. I love it.

Dad, do you remember a Trevor Gipper from Dobson? He is a missionary here and he asked if I know any Bushman's in Arizona. I got a good laugh out of that. But apparently he was in your Spanish 3 class and all he remembers is "Pagame un peso!"

Also, several years ago, one of the General Authorities came and promised the Fresno mission that if all the elders would part their hair, that we will out-baptize every mission in CA. So... that is taking some getting used to, but it's growing on me.

Our district leader's name is Elder Blake and he is probably the most Christ-like person I've ever met. I love him. President Gelwix is probably one of the most inpirational speakers I have ever heard! I'm so excited!! And Sister Gelwix is an angel. She's the sweetest lady ever. There's also a crazy black lady lives next to us and threatened to kill us... So.... She needs to get baptized. :) 

As far as mail, everything has to be sent to the mission office then they will send it to me. Dad, I need help with Spanish!! I'm running into a lot of only spanish speaking people... Maybe a spanish Preach My Gospel? :) Sorry this is a short email, but we had some crazy stuff going on today. Haha

Two more things... It was just my luck last night... We had dinner at the Ward Music Chair's house. We negotiated to have a non-member accompany me on the flute. Hahaha She's gonna get baptized. :) Also, we just went shopping for food and such and I don't really know what stuff is good to have on hand to cook with... So I just got the bare necessities. I think I did pretty good, but advice/recipe's would be VERY appreciated!!! I love you all so much and hopefully my next email will be better structured and informative!!

 

Elder Zachary Evan Bushman

P.S. I wanted to say two more things...

 

Read "The Challenging and Testifying Missionary" by Elder Alvin R. Dyer.

 

"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, He will increase our capability." -Neal A. Maxwell