Year 1, Week 2: I Love Teaching

Hey Everyone!!

It is my second week in the MTC, and it's going better for sure. Everyone says that the first couple days you are here are slow and then it goes really fast! That is so true. This week has flown by, and I can't believe I'm in my second week already. This week has been a blast! My district is so much fun and we laugh all the time.  We are all sore from laughing so much!

Me and my companion had our first TRC's this week! That basically means that we go and teach someone about the gospel for like 30 minutes. Some, I have heard, are actually investigators and some are just members, so we can practice on. 

We taught a lady named Alexi and she is a 22 year old who is going to BYU. We got together a lesson about the spirit and how to recognize the spirit. We connected great with her right when we went in which was great. As we went along she asked us a question that we planned on talking about which was perfect! She asked how can you tell if it is the spirit talking or your own thought! The spirit was there and we had a great lesson! We taught her one more time but it was basically about the same thing. She had lots of questions so we just answered them for the whole time. It was great! I love teaching! We start our Spanish TRCs on Monday so wish me luck! 

So the MTC isn't all that bad. The language is just hard to get used to. You can't speak the same way and you can't understand your teacher but other than that it's pretty good! I love teaching and feeling the spirit and that's for sure there a lot! My district is so fun and we laugh a lot! We get along great! 

We had our first devotional on Sunday and Bishop Causse spoke! He talked about ways we can be BOLD missionaries. It was really good and it inspired me to become a better missionary! I love the MTC choir! If anyone ever goes to the Provo MTC, you should definitely join the choir because it's so good! The director is so funny and tells great stories! And it's fun to sing so yeah, win win win! 

This week was definitely better than the first couple days. I think I just needed some more time to adjust but yeah it's great now and I'm learning a lot! 

I'm definitely terrible at taking pictures so I'll try better next week. 

-Elder Bushman

spencer.bushman@missionary.org

Photo: This is me with my companion, Elder Grant

Year 1, Week 1: My Purpose as a Missionary

Hey Everybody!

It is my first week in the MTC and feeling pretty good! I got here and they immediately threw me into a class. Every missionary has a phone so I can communicate that way as well as have a schedule. It's pretty useful, so I am grateful.

My companion is Elder Grant. He is from Cedar Hills so that is pretty cool. He loves soccer and he loves the gospel. He has a great testimony and I like him a lot. We get along great.

The first couple of days are just orientation but they are the longest three days of my life. I feel like I have been here forever, but it's only my fourth day. I am sharing a room with two other Elders, Elder Eqihua and Elder Nelson. They are really cool ,and we have a ton of fun together.

Spanish is hard but it's coming along slowly. I know how to say a prayer in Spanish so I only really pray in Spanish now. 

The food here is not very good which is rough because I love food. 

We had a really good lesson on our purpose as a missionary.  understand so much more now of what my purpose as a missionary is. We also had a lesson on the gift of tongues which really helped me get more comfortable in learning the language.

I know that as I work hard and have faith in Christ that he will bless me for it. I know that he will compensate for what I am not able to accomplish. I know that he answers prayers because he is helping me with the language. 

Well there will be more next week because it will be an actual week haha! Also there will be more pictures. 

-Elder Bushman

"God’s miracles are not happening just in Haiti, Thailand, or the Ivory Coast. Look around you. 'God is mindful of every people … ; yea, he numbereth his people, and his … mercy [is] over all the earth.'"

—Neil L. Andersen, "Thy Kingdom Come"

Safe Here in the MTC

Hey mom!

I'm safe here in the MTC and I'm in class. My PDay is going to be on Saturday, so you'll probably here from me then.

I love you and I'll talk to you soon! :)

Elder Bushman 

"As we move into the future with quiet confidence, [Christ's] Spirit will be with us."

—Boyd K. Packer, "The Reason for Our Hope"

Saying Goodbye....Saying HELLO!

It was the first day of school, so these three said goodbye to Elder Bushman when they left for school. So sweet! We stopped by Purple Turtle (Elder Bushman had never been there in his whole life of living in AF, so that was his pick) and then took photos at the Provo Temple. I know, so cliche, but beautiful. 

And he's off! Go get 'em!!!!!

"Devoted disciples of Jesus Christ always have been and always will be valiant missionaries. A missionary is a follower of Christ who testifies of Him as the Redeemer and proclaims the truths of His gospel."

—David A. Bednar, "Come and See"

It's Official...Elder Bushman

Spencer Stephen Bushman was set apart as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on August 20, 2019 by President Jeff Abram. He will be leaving for the Provo Missionary Training Center on August 21, 2019. (He was reassigned to Provo because he did not receive his Visa. He was supposed to go to the Peru MTC.) You are prepared. You are humble. You are willing.We are behind you all the way! We will pray for you and think of you always. We love you!!!

Latter-day Saints take seriously this responsibility to teach all people in all nations about the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We believe the same Church founded by the Savior anciently has been reestablished on the earth by Him in the latter days. The doctrine, principles, priesthood authority, ordinances, and covenants of His gospel are found today in His Church." —David A. Bednar, "Come and See"

Family Time!!!

We've had the great blessing of having many wonderful experiences this summer as Spencer prepares to leave. What special occasions they have been!

Thomas' Graduation

Camping!

Spencer's 18th Birthday!!

Elder Ben Bushman Returns!

 FUN!

Family Reunion

Some "For Now" Goodbyes