Wowa Powa

Dear Familia and Friends,

Before I foget HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DIXON! On MARCH 3rdddddddddddddddddddd! Sinnnggginginginging :D Happy birthday on that day! Ha ha you're the best from the west in the east! Wacha! :)

So, wowa what an interesting week. I have found the happiness of the miracles that come forth when you have a unified companionship...which mine isn't... didn't discovered how truly frustrating it has been until recently. On Monday we went downtown Tampa for 3 days. It's a thing the whole mission is doing, they are having all the missionaries do this over these last few transfers. They have about 3 sets of missionaries come stay with the downtown sister training leaders, who are Hermana Birch and Larsen (love them!) and it's a nice apartment, ha ha random. Ok, so the Elders do this as well with the APs. Its a mission joke among the missionaries that Hermana Birch and Larsen are the girl AP's because they are clearly President Cusick's favorite missionaries. It makes sense they are both gorgeous and just flat out rockin Sister Missionaries, they are incredible examples and again are the best examples of what Sister Missionaries should be like/ disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Anywho, we went down from Monday to Wednesday to do a fast training on Street Contacting/ fast quick interactions with people in handing out pass along/ mormon.org cards. If lucky have an engaged conversation and get their contact info to pass on to other missionaries. I was really grateful that it was my old area so I didn't have to stress out about the city :) I felt like I had a nice head start because a little bit of practice from the transfer I had spent serving there. I think it's awesome and genius that they are doing this. They also start out any new missionaries there as well, super smart and again awesome! So, this experience was very eye opening. Not only did I learned a lot, I did enjoy myself quite a bit. My confidence was really boosted up in realizing that I was a lot more comfortable and good at it then I realized. Oh and the other cool thing, they had different "stations" of where missionaries were required to be certain times of the day so we weren't all in the same places, for the most part. For example, some were assigned to go on the bus while others were assigned a certain park or block of town. It's cool because some people are starting to have a lot of interactions with the missionaries in the city and starting to get to know "the mormons." 

I was grateful to be able to stop by one of the restaurants Sister Burton and I had gone to when we served together there for dinner. I was very happy to see Victoria still working at Peta's Republic which is one of my favorites, it is delicious! Anywho, again I was really happy to see Victoria, she is one of those people that I feel like we were friends before this life and connect too. She was going through a lot and it was nice to hear that she is praying more and reading her bible (which is a good start ;) ) I encouraged her to read the book of mormon and to check out the church in town. It was nice to be able to write down scriptures for her and to have a really good conversation with her. 

Downtown Tampa was a valuable experience that needed to happen. Like I said earlier it was eye opening. It is a astonishing difference to see what a unified companionship can accomplish which I discovered on splits with Hermana Larsen. Let me explain/give an example. On Tuesday we were assigned for our station for the first half of the day to ride the bus which is a great way to teach people lessons and what not. So on the bus Sister Godwin sat in the front of the bus and I went to the back. I met a man named Mike, had a great conversation and got his phone number to give to the STL's. I was pumped up from the positive encounter and conversation as he left with a mormon.org card and smile on his face. It was disheartening then to look down at the front of the bus to see my companion asleep. It really just made my heart drop. I was going to wake her up but she is always doing this. Every Sunday in church she falls asleep. We have talked about it and she knows what she needs to do but she doesn't care. We have had conversations on caring more, again she knows what she needs to do, this is a before the mission thing as well and yet she just won't do it. It seems miserable to be miserable and to know what you need to do but to just continue on and for what pride? What a lame thing. Anywho, she wasn't happy with herself either and as we got off the bus around downtown I tried to encourage her. She had the good idea to go on spilts with the STL's to have them help out.

We met them at the park and she went with Hermana Birch and I went with Hermana Larsen. Hermana Larsen and I in that short amount of time that we did splits had miracles left and right and the spirit was so strong. I missed that soooo much. It was nice to be with someone who gets it and who loves the Lord in putting His will first and putting aside any selfish concerns. We talked to a lot of people, said a prayer with a man who was probably homeless but I felt we needed to it was sweet, and the best was this couple we met who were sitting at this table. They were my favorite. We talked with them and they were asking a ton of stuff so we sat down and had a great discussion and by the end of it while the man was talking to me the woman leaned to Hermana Larsen and said. "I really want to read that book." In reference to the book of mormon we just had given her. It was AWESOME and the man was so prepared as well, he had a lot of questions and good points about how incorrect the bible was and it was exciting to testify of the power and truth of the Book of Mormon being not only a second witness but a accurate correct witness of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Oh goodness it was a great experience. So, take that miracle happiness of support from Hermana Larsen who was willing and always talking to people and how we were balanced to getting back to Sister Godwin who is just pushing through. It was hard. 

I love her but was stunned to see what I've been putting up with this whole transfer and it was more stunning in comparing at the end of the downtown experience I had passed out over 100 cards and she had passed our 18 or 20. When you care God will help you succeed more then what you can do. Grant it I will give her the credit that what she did was a Huge improvement of how she has been. And she did a great job on the bus the 2nd day and engaged in conversations with people and was friendly and smiley. So it went a lot better. 

I was also grateful for when we got back Wednesday night, we had a text from our STL's for out area, Sister Goodmen and Trabatitch letting us know we were going on exchanges with them for Thursday and Friday. Good thing that that happened because with all that I realized and was able to report to Hermana Larsen it was nice to have exchanges with Sister T to be able to talk about everything else. I've notice that obedience to the written rules mean nothing when you're heart isn't being obedient to what we should be doing in living the higher law. Sister Godwin is good at being obedient to the written rules as to caring and loving God's children that's a whole other story. I know she does and I have seen her care but she puts up such a fight. It's not worth the fight, loving is so much better even though it is harder!!!!

I love Sister Trabatitch and I feel bad because that's the wrong spelling. She is incredible though and is a convert herself and is one of the best missionaries I have ever seen. I am touched by her dedicated service even though more then half of her family is not supporting her and her own father hardly rights her because of her decision to serve a mission. She loves being a missionary with all of the opposition she has and that is a missionary who gets it. I am blessed to have gotten to know her and am grateful for what she has done for me.

Anywho, all this to say, that I get that I'm not the problem and how I never want pride to be my problem. I've worked through what I needed to and I am happy and from earlier this week seeing the difference in myself and the difference in other missionaries good or bad it just re motivated me to do better. My heart has been purified and I just feel this energy and urgency of the work. There is not any time to waste time over our petty selves. The bigger picture is so much more then us being selfish! I loved a scripture I discovered in John 17:3, life eternal is to know God and Jesus Christ. How do we get to know them? Take the time to. Put God first in our lives. It just doesn't make sense not to.  

Ha ha, I have felt like I've been through a lot but I know I really haven't. I am grateful for everything I have experienced thus far even with companionship struggles. We are all so much better then what we choose to be at times and I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ in every detail of our lives to help us fulfill more of who we really are. We can do that if we soften our hearts and let Christ help us out. Pride is NOT worth it. 

Anywho, I am excited, when Elder L. Tom Perry was here ( I heard this from the STL's) he had told President Cusick that there needs to be 8 baptisms per missionary happening for our mission. I know if an apostle of God says this that is what needs to happen and will happen. Frustrating thing is when the Stake Presidents were told this they all said that that's too much and not possible. Grrrrrrrrr Seriously people, you are going to question direction from and Apostle? I don't get it. Anywho, they agreed on by October 4th to have I think 4 or 6 baptisms and then December 6th up to 6 or 8. All because of the lack of faith from Stake Presidents in this mission. I was grateful to hear though that our Stake President, President Thompson was in support of what Elder Perry said. I know that faith precedes the miracle and that it will happen if we do our part and BELIEVE. 

Sister T and I had a lot of great experiences together, President Cusick had asked us a while back to walk once a week. Sister Godwin complained about it and will bike but wouldn't do the walking. On exchanges Sister T was awesome and we were able to do it together and even in the broad area of Brooksville, because of our faith the Lord put people in our path. It was wonderful. Sister Godwin and I finally did it recently, I was grateful for the change she was making and ha ha not as awesome the results that Sister T and I had but it is a start and will continue to be brighter and better. 

This work is true, it is hard but it is worth it and it IS FUN. :) I love this time and I hope each of you do to, it Is indeed the last days let's live it up in the best way by preparing! 

I love you so much, I don't know if I express it enough but I am grateful for the family I was brought up in. I am grateful to know my heart finds relief in knowing that my parents and my siblings are doing what they should be. I am so blessed to be apart of such a wonderful group of people who listen to the Lord and are following the spirit. I am so grateful for my friends in how supportive they have been in my life and such a positive piece in my life and heart. I love you all so very much.

Thank you for everything and keep it up, every effort counts and is beautiful!

MUCH LOVE,

Sister Bush

p.s. D&C 58:27, 2 Nep 2:26-29, Alma 37:47, Deut 30:19-20 

I Have A Feeling This Email Will Be Short

Dear Familia and Friends,

First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY to LYDIA tomorrow, what a fun and exciting time, woot woot :D And thanks Mom and Dad, loved your Valentines made my day and was just what I needed, great letters. And Thank you April, it was adorable and appreciated. 

So this week, we had a great miracle, Sister Peek did an awesome and natural job in suggesting her friend to talk with us who her friend is looking for a church. Her name is Donna Dufour and we had a a great time meeting her. They've been changing things in our mission in how we teach lesson one and it is really neat. Instead of us reciting Joseph Smith's experience memorized we have the investigator read the experience and then we say, "I testify that what you just read is true." It's a unique way but powerful. At the end of lesson 1 instead of talking about the book of mormon we now tell people that we have a gift for them next time we see them. The next lesson is all about the book of mormon and we read parts of the first chapter with  them and then commit them to reading it all from the beginning to the end. Before we would assign different chapters and what not to go with different lesson points and we can still do that but it's more encourage to actually have them read it. It was a nice tender mercy of the Lord to have my prayer answered for Donna to come to church because she did :) She only stayed for sacrament but what a blessing to have someone come to church!!! We will be teaching her Lesson 2 or 3 this next week and will be committing her to a baptism date, wish us luck. 

Let's see, we haven't been able to see Monica, she keeps canceling on us and it's frustrating, we have good lessons with her and it's super spiritual and then she flakes out. ARgggg, so hopefully things will go better this week because I know she is so close! Blah.

We had a really nice lesson with Miguel and we brought a sweet member with us to his lesson. Laurel Murray, Laurel is incredible, she is in her 30's and is a miracle that she is alive and walking. She was in a car wreck 11 years ago, she was hit by a drunk driver. She was told that she would never walk again and she told us how silly doctors are. Her loving father promised her that she would be able to walk and with many priesthood blessings and the persistence and dedication of helping move her legs for her everyday she is now walking. She walks with a cane and is slow but truly amazing that she is. I am grateful for her example of her father's faith and for her faith. She struggles in talking and honestly the first time I met her I had wondered or thought that she was handicapped mentally. But then hearing her comments in Relief Society I soon and quickly discovered just the opposite, she is a brilliant individual and is powerful. I love how her comments always tie back to Christ and God's love. She always talks about what a joy life is and how her accident is the best thing that has ever happened to her. She has talked before about how people are distracted by the physical and how that is not it, it's all about the spiritual. She talked about how even she was distracted, she had played volleyball and did track in high school and was very active. After her accident she was angry for 6 years at God but now is so sincerely happy that it happened. My favorite thing she always talks about is seeing the Christ in each other and what a joy that is. We just need to see the Christ in each other. 

Anywho, I love her and am really happy we took the time to have her come teaching with us, she just beamed when we asked her too and had talked about how she had always wanted to serve a mission. She really had an impact on Miguel and I know her testimony brought him to say at the end of the lesson that he wants to get baptized. We are praying for a date and he is too. This week we should be setting a baptismal date with him. I am grateful for Miguel, he always ask good questions and really thinks about things seriously, it's great he is so contemplative about gospel topics. We've been praying for him too that his wife will be able to get her paper work process done fast, she's in the Dominican Republic and is trying to get to the states so she can be with Miguel. It would be neat to teach her too. 

It's been nice to see people coming closer to God and changing, nothing makes me happier then sitting down in a lesson and find out that they've actually been reading their scriptures. It's a nice feeling. It helps. Speaking of help, I am grateful to God and charity. I've prayed for it a lot and it's been tested as my patience is tried with my companion. That has been the hardest thing for me my whole mission and I didn't think it would be. Companions are driving me nuts though. I just want a best friend who is great to deal with. It's tough, my current one is emotionally disconnected and even though is great with being organized and being obedient, has a tendency to not really care about the people we serve. She does and then she doesn't and it's baffling to me. It's nice to have the open communication so we can talk about it and I'm grateful for that but she knows what she needs to do and pray for and yet won't. We can be the only ones to choose to be happy to choose to care. I am getting exhausted. I feel I have done what I can on my part to be a happy, healthy person, I am just sick of other people not doing that. To go day after day seeing adults choose misery is aggravating. We must all answer the call God has given us and choose His will not ours. I'm clearly not perfect but I am learning to choose happiness everyday instead of getting discouraged by others choices and it's nice to see a difference in my life. Again, I am working hard on it but it doesn't take hard work when I forget myself and do service or let others know they are loved. It only gets depressing when consumed with just being selfish and thinking of myself instead of others. What a difference it makes to think of others, to think of Christ, to think of God and His love. The bigger picture is everything. 

Much Love,

Sister Bush

Happy Valentine's Day on Friday!

Dear Familia and Friends,

HAPPY UPCOMING VALENTINES DAY!!! I LOVe, love and have definitely manifested it from God this week and last few days and today. I'm so happy that everyone is happy and feeling of that love too :) I have seen so many blessings of God's love, big and small ways one of the ways...

In an email from President Cusick who sent a hilarious email titled, "POPI," which stands for Prayer, Obedience, Pamphlets, and drum roll..................I-PADS!!!!! WE are getting Ipads tomorrow and get this we EACH are getting an I-pad and WOOT to the WOOOTTTTTT!!!!!!! :D Super excited, best Valentines week EVER! 

And Thank you, Thank you thank you MAMA, for your package. On Saturday, I had the pleasant Surprise of seeing a package as we were walking out the front door after lunch. Adorable outfit and happiness of snacks, so good. 

Another way I felt of God's love was on Tuesday when I got to talk with Sister Tilley. What a wonderful life changing discussion we had and hope I had none of you worried, things are great :) It was funny because even before seeing her that morning and the drive down I had gotten myself so stressed out and worked up before it that I ended up having a migraine, Sister Godwin didn't know because I just kept it to myself but it was painful and unnecessary. It was crazy too because while we were talking and going over things I even thought I was going to throw up because of how stressed I was over the whole thing, I didn't do anything bad I was just super worked up. Ha ha, what a relief I didn't and thank heavens to Heavenly Father for helping me to breathe. So some of the things she said that really helped me get over beating myself up for past mistakes were, "Every choice that we make is the choice that we're capable of making at that moment." But the events after help us to progress. Some times in life we get the joy of learning from the choices we were only capable of making but the key thing is the choices we choose to make after we have learned what we needed too. Our faults are opportunities to become like our Heavenly Father, purposely made that way. We are give the challenges that we are give for a reason. 

It really put things in perspective for me and calmed a lot of my unrealistic fears I had been having. The biggest thing I had been struggling with was how I interpreted events. She wrote out a little equation that really helped, A+B=C. What I was struggling with was the + sign. Let me explain, A stands for Event, the plus sign stands for what we think or how we interpret the event in what it means aboutus. And B stands for Behavior and C stands for the Result or consequence from behavior. 

So A (Event) + (Interpretation about ourselves from the event) B (Behavior as a result from our interpretation) = C (Consequences or results). It was great to go over different things in my life with Sister Tilley and finding a healthier way to interpret things from my past and how I saw myself, and to stop blaming myself for things out of my control. To stop taking on so much responsibility for others actions or decisions and to just answer for myself rather then others. Loved it. Another thing that was really nice was she asked what was my biggest stress was and I said the stress of being or trying to be a "perfect" missionary and really wanting to please our Heavenly Parents and making it back to the Celestial Kingdom. I was SO stressed out from this. She was awesome in again helping me see a better perspective and calming me down that I was the type of person to least worry about making back to our Heavenly Parents. It was nice to hear her talk to me about my empathy that I have and how huge that was. Anywho, sorry not to go off about "Me," bah ha ha even though the majority of this email is but I really want this to hopefully be a benefit to anyone else :D Soooo "Back to Me," as the old spice guy would say. 

Sister Tilley shared a really awesome scripture that one of the 3 mission presidents she works with shared with her. This women drives around between 3 different missions counseling missionaries, she awesome right? Crazy busy, 62 and just great! Anywho, We turned to D&C 138:25-26, I was stunned, it says, " I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel, endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance;

And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands. "

We discussed how even when the Savior was here there were but few who listened. I wept as I expressed to her how stunning that was to me because that's my Savior and I love Him so much, how could there only be but few? I love Him and our Heavenly Parents from all that I am, I only am because of them. It was something that moved me to feeling at peace that just because things are so different from the start of my mission doesn't mean I'm a bad missionary or that I'm not working hard enough. Timing is huge and people that are ready will be here read to move forward and those who aren't, well we're just helping them step up on another step of their faith ladder that is preparing and helping them climb to a place where they will be prepared for more. Every effort counts. So she asked an even better question after we discussed and read that verse, what kept the Savior going? I answered with He had a deep relationship with God and had an Eternal perspective, He knew the bigger picture. And that is key in life, we need to Remember God's love and that He knows us and remember the bigger picture!!!! 

I could go on and on, to the point, I'm so much happier. Yes, companions have been frustrating in the past but I can't blame them for if I'm happy or not. I have to be responsible one and one with God and how I interpret myself and events. It's broaden the whole circle of influence thing for me and I'm finally feeling confident, love it! I'm just ready for change and I feel it in me and yeeha it's great! 

Oh and on the way drive down it was great, Sister Godwin had a talk/ fireside thing on cd called, "Seeing Ourselves as God sees Us," by Michael Wilcox, the title might be wrong I can't remember how exactly it was phrased but I highly recommend it, has a lot of really good thoughts!!! It was helpful in not only calming me down for the counseling session but also in preparing me and giving me more insights into a healthier perspective of myself and God. Love! 

Sooooo pretty much Counseling is the best and awesome when they are LDS because then you can talk about spiritual things and scriptures and it= powerful :) I love that Dad is a psychologist! And I just hope that everyone takes time for it more often. Taking time to talk and make sense about your life and life in general is just healthy, "Go talk to a counselor make the world a better place." If ever I go into politics that'll be my slogan ha ha good thing I'm never going into politics. But seriously if we all took time to get out Crum together life would be so much better and we'd stopped blaming each other for why we're not happy :p EVEN better if everyone had the GOSPEL that would solve things too. Speaking of gospel you all need to watch or read this broadcast, it's great...  http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2014/01/what-is-the-blueprint-of-christs-church?lang=eng&query=ces+fireside+broadcast+blueprint

Muah ha ha this is such a long email! HA! And I'm not done yet :D I'm so happy, good grief, I really hope you are all happy because I love you all very much. That was another thing I told Sister Tilley, I just told her I could brag about my family for hours and I just said you were all amazing and awesome. And it was really sweet because then she later had mention that I said that and she said you need to say and see that You are Awesome too just like your family. So, family guess what? I AM AWESOME :D but in all sincerity a big part of why I am Awesome is because YOU ARE AWESOME, ha ha ha speaking of awesome I bought this Journal of Awesome that in different pages it describes something awesome, woot you rock target! And yes, yikes I bought it from target but this was weeks after all the scariness that went down at target, so we should be good. lol! Oh I crack myself up. 

So speaking of focusing, I've been focusing more on Christ and trying to pray in my heart more through out my day and God's love is really sweet. Daily love reminders, keep your eyes open for them ok? Like in church yesterday one of the handouts said, "Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, taught: "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if He lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until He find it?..." That's a huge part of how I got my answer to serve a mission was it's not just about the one but the 99 and Amen to that. Anywho, this handout was a sweet reminder to me of how grateful I am for serving a mission and how happy God is too.  

Ok, I gotta run but I love you all so much And will write next week about sweet Laurel Murray this women is an inspiration and needs to have a mormon.org video on her, she's so inspiring!!!! 

Here's some random great scriptures, 1 Peter; Helaman 3:27-30,35; Moroni 7:12-19; D&C 121:41; 123:17; 138:25-26 oh and D&C 6. Just great! 

Oh and luckily the music thing hasn't been as hard, I thought it would be really painful and it is better then I expected and oops I didn't mean to make President Cusick sound like such a punk even though a lot of the time he is but there were missionaries who had been sent home and apparently it had started with music and so that's why he just x'd it out for everyone. But for now that is how it is hopefully we'll be able to have that privilege again. 

MUCH MUCH MUCHO Much LOVEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Love, 

Sister Bush 

Happy 10 Month Mark!

Dear Familia and Friends,

Holy Guacamole, today is my 10 month mark and I'm just shocked by how time is flying!!! Speaking of flying I am so sorry if I've missed anyone's Birthdays and I know I've always been terrible at writing people cards and what not but I did want to wish Ellen a Happy Belated Birthday, I hope it was a blast and went great! Yeeha! Oh and Dan, Happy happy Birthday!!!!! :D Speaking of calenders is April still making those by any chance or??? 

So, today is one of those days where I'm not quite sure what I want to share :) It's been a week with a lot of tender mercies and some challenges but I'm grateful as usual by the end of the day. Let's see we've had a couple of good lessons including with Monica and her niece Jessi who apparently Jessi's grandparents are mormon. Unfortunately Monica won't be baptized this Sunday, there's still a lot to teach and she's still praying but the last lesson we had with her went really well, the spirit was super strong and it was awesome to bear sincere testimony to her and Jessi. Jessi had asked Sister Godwin and I if we missed our families and I answered very honestly that yes it was really hard. But I followed with my testimony of how amazing this mission has been for my life and how grateful I am to be humbled and lucky to be serving God. I wouldn't trade anything for the beautiful the moments of being able to testify to people of God's love for them. I tried not to but I couldn't help but start to tear up as I then testified of that love for them. It was so nice to hear Monica after that say how strong she had been feeling the spirit from our visit, for the last 30 minutes she said she could feel it and it was cool too as her 15 year old daughter sitting next to her said she could feel it too. They are all making such progress. No matter the time they have been prepared and Sister Godwin and I are hoping to help them to the waters of baptism by the end of the month. 

That same day we ended the night nicely with a lesson with Matt who his comments were awesome and he had gone off on how disappointed he was with TV these days and how they never have a normal family. He talked about how it was always broken homes or single parents and where was the support for values. And later on in the lesson he talked about how frustrated how no one kept the Sabbath day holy and that there is no reason for stores to be open on Sunday and what not. It was so cool, I was shocked because he was right on and tee hee those moments are so rare sometimes when teaching people but he really gets it, he really knows his bible and it's one of the best feelings when people connect to the spirit and just seeing how they've been prepared. Love it! Oh I don't know if I've ever written about Matt or not but he was a former investigator of Sister Kitchen and Sister Anderson (who had trained Sister Kitchen) and he had a baptism date but gave up because of coffee and tea. Anywho before Sister Kitchen had been transferred he had sent us a reply to our scripture of the day text saying that he thought we were good people and wanted to meet up again and was in need of a prayer. He's married and has 3 or 4 kids, can't remember at the moment but he just has a sincere desire to be a better person and improve his home life. So, we're starting the lessons with him again and he said he was going to come to church without us asking but he didn't come yesterday :( But I know he'll come he is prepared and I think he knows it's true, he's got a good heart. 

So, ha ha we've had a lot of rules these last few transfers from President, including no mass texts (which is sad because scripture of the day was a great way to get people's phone numbers and it worked a lot in people eventually warming up to wanting missionary visits), we have one day a week that we have to just walk or bike so we can do street contacting which is good just a little difficult for Brooksville because it's a big area but it's good, and with most rules I'm ok but this has been the hardest rule recently when they said No music at all, not even mormon tabernacle choir. That has been hard for me because that is how I distress, I love music and I feel like every way that I use to distress before my mission has been taken away from me. It's really hard. Luckily President just said for now but our Training Leaders said that we need to mail home our cds so I will be mailing those home but at the same time our mission President didn't say to do that. He said no music for now so I'm debating what to do. I've been obedient and haven't listened to anything but it is a crack up to me how missionaries are constantly making up their own rules that aren't official rules from the white handbook or preach my gospel. It can get really annoying and old especially when they are saying that President said so, they use it as a cope out and again it gets old real fast when people act like the rules they make up obtain to my personal salvation and my purpose as a missionary. Argggg. Anywho, sorry trying not to complain. 

Let's see some nice scriptures I like recently include D&C 121:41, 123:17 and I'm looking forward to reading the CES broadcast that Pappy wrote about recently. Oh and next time I need to write about this sweet sweet woman in our relief society, her name is Laurel Murray and good grief they need to make a mormon.org video about her, she inspires me so much. Every Sunday she says the most tender comments and a sincere, Christlike joy just radiates off of her. She talks a lot about seeing the Christ in others and goodness, she's a very choice daughter of God that's for sure. I've learned a ton on my mission how anger is not of God and it was tough for me recently but God is very merciful. I prayed and prayed and prayed really hard in church yesterday to not be angry about some things and I just wanted to cry because in my heart I really wanted to not be angry and I really wanted to please God and I just super super stressed. It was really cool because in Sunday school we were learning about the freedom to choose and I just had the thought hit me really hard of not judging and it just impacted me really hard. I prayed and prayed in my heart to not judge because that's something I struggle with and I felt a huge burden lift from me and felt God's love. It was nice and I keep finding new ways that I'm learning about the Atonement then I'd ever expect. 

I'd like a thought one of our Elders had shared at our ward correlation meeting on Saturday around the Links camp fire. He had mentioned that Charity and love are the only Christlike attributes that it specifically says you have to pray for to acquire. It hit me strong and I realized I really needed to do that, not just for others but for myself. Oh and that same night was neat, Sister Link's mother, Hope, had asked us what a testimony was and then after we explained it to her she asked to hear all of ours. Sister Links parents have been visiting the past month and aren't members and her father asked for a preach my gospel and has been studying it. Her mother is pretty strict Catholic but I think she's been really impressed by the missionaries. I loved having a testimony meeting around the fire, it reminded me of home and when our family has our testimony meetings when we go camping. It was cool to because I asked Hope and Wally what their testimonies were because I wanted them to know they were included too and it was cool to hear them open up. Unfortunately it was a little tense between Sister Link and her mom after her mother had expressed how she had hope her children would of all stayed true to the Catholic church but she was positive towards us and she loves us. But yeah, besides the little tense moment, I was grateful for Sister Link in her honesty, I love that she's not afraid to be open and to just say how she feels about things and spoke up about God's and Christ's love. Overall it was a really good meeting and yessum. 

Ok, I better go and wrap this up, ha ha my emails will be shorter eventually. Just last quick awkward thing, tomorrow I will be meeting with Sister Tilley to evaluate my stress levels. Last week after a zone conference meeting President asked to see me and basically he had Elder Young (our mission nurse) send me a stress questionnaire. He said that I needed more joy, I have been stressed and ever since that last interview I had had with him it has been up and down for me. As we talked I cried because I was scared that meant me getting sent home, he told me I wasn't going home just needed to help balance out my stress levels. So, yup, I took the questionnaire and the good news is that it's not severe but I did score a 78 which qualifies to go talk to the lds social service counselor person...yeah. Ha ha after the interview with President on the car drive home with Sister Godwin I just cried and then she started crying to because she has been super stressed out too. Ha ha, we had a good laugh at ourselves and joked a lot about it all, ha ha Sister Godwin put it best when she said, "Well I guess missions are also good to find out if there's anything wrong with you." Missions serve a lot of purposes eh? :) And cool thing to is she took the quiz and talked to Elder Young to, ha ha she scored a 83. Woot woot we both will be talking to Sister Tilley and look forward to working through my insecurities, yay! Oh boy :p 

Oh and one last funny thing, today as we've been checking our emails, I looked over to tell Sister Godwin something and saw a picture of this man in a bike race and I said "ooo who is that!," bah ha ha she replied with, "Umm that's my dad." AWKWARD! In my defense he had sun glasses on and how can you really tell what a person looks like with a bike helmet on and what not, age can totally look deceiving. YAy, good thing I'm seeing a counselor tomorrow. :)

Much Much LOVe, I love you all, Love your stories and updates it's always a joy and the church is true! 

LOVE,

Sister Tasha C. Bush

P.S. You're all in my prayers and thank you so much for your prayers, I can feel them!