Blueberry Egos

Dear familia & friends,

Wow what an awesome miracle filled week!!! I have to start out with one from Saturday night. After dinner Sister Kenagy was calling & texting potential investigators & investigators that are the hardest to get a hold of :) One was Emily & miracle she answered! It just so "happened" to be a really good time for her & told us to come on over. I haven't had the chance to meet her yet, we've stopped by her place a couple of times this week & had no luck but woot woot finally we did! Emily is 25 & has had a hard life but she sincerely wants to find &
know truth. She had so many good questions & opened up to us a lot about her life. She is practically Mormon on many of her views, she likes modesty & her perspective on a lot of things are just spot on with what the gospel teaches. She is prepared!!! I can't wait for our next lesson. And Sister Kenagy was totally sent here for her, they have a lot in common & are both 25 & both have birthdays in March (ok not like that has anything to do with it, it's just cool ha ha). I love seeing why other missionaries are called specifically here, warm fuzzies.

We also had 3 investigators at church this Sunday & it was a break the fast after church so perfect opportunity for some fellowshipping! Love that! Our stake president was visiting, President Shipley & Sister Kenagy & I put on our YSA Facebook page that we were looking for some bongo drums. President Shipley rocks & he brought us a big bongo drum!!! Stay with me here folks, Sister Kenagy plays the bongo drums & we got permission from President & I'm going to play my violin while she drums at some college campus's as well as parks & where ever downtown in Sarasota & Bradenton. Our YSA rocks & they want to be involved too, they saw Sister Kenagy with the Bongo drum on her back & of course had to ask what was it that she had, wouldn't you? After she explained a
bunch of them wanted to help & not this Tuesday but next, they will be singing hymns while we play & handing out Mormon.orgcards/pamphlets. Best YSA branch EVER which we are building into a ward!!!

It's amazing what the power of fasting can do, the branch is getting more involved & better at fellowshipping.  There was so much love & kindness yesterday in church. The testimony meeting was really nice.  There is this awesome guy who just moved into the ward. His name is Elliot & he is so cool, he bore a very powerful testimony in church & after he came up to us to let us know when he is free & that is would love to help in anyway he can. I was so grateful & excited, what ward members just come up to missionaries & say here is when I'm available, I would love to come teaching with you guys & please let me help, oh & I have a car & would be happy to give rides for whoever needs one. Can we say a missionaries dream member come true?!?!!!!! What's a tender mercy & blessing from God, every missionary needs members to be more involved & it's just cool that we didn't say anything, he owed up to the covenants he's made with The Lord & is just doing what we should be doing. I really hope I am like that when I get back, again please hold me to my words that I am going to help the missionaries & the Lord's work when I return.

Ok other stories. David Nardeil will be baptized on Mother's Day, May 11th, happy early Mother's Day :) although I didn't do anything, this has been set from before I came to the area. Anywho, I am proud of him for putting up with us, he works on Sundays but every Sunday Sister K & I stay bold with him & are sure to let him know that he NEEDS to come to church & he does!!!! Keep him in your prayers, he is 23 or so & is nervous because of what his family will think. His mom doesn't know yet & he's working on telling her, she's Catholic & isn't going to be very happy. So please keep him in your prayers to continue to have the courage to move forward with this.

Jose is progressing as well, he is finally reading the Book of Mormon & he came to church for the 1st time yesterday!!! He has been to institute 3 times now & really likes it & we think he liked church. We are hoping to set a date with him for June 7th. Hopefully sooner if he puts forth more effort.

Let's see we are teaching our relief society president's cousin. His name is Ivan & he is doing well, he came to church yesterday too & we're teaching plan of salvation this Tuesday, I can't wait for it!!! He said he would be baptized when he knows it's true. I'm hoping this lesson we can set a date, his cousin Arisbeth, she has such a strong testimony & bore a powerful one last time of being able to be reunited with her father that she has never met because he passed away not long after she was born. The spirit was really brought into the room as she testified of families.  It testifies to me how needed members are in this work because their experiences are needed & are powerful in this work & mean more to people because they're people. We have advantages & disadvantages as missionaries with our name tags, some people get the unrealistic idea that we are perfect so it's harder for them to connect to us, sometimes it helps more but just depends on the situation. Member's at lessons provide real people in a sense who can show they've lived life & are better because of the gospel. They are living proof & examples. So needed. We are all so needed & we are all to make it back to God & be in His kingdom. We are each needed or the Kingdom is not complete.

Other blessing for the week, we had exchanges on Thursday & I was super nervous because I was to stay in the area & Sister Kenagy was going to the other area. I just got here last week so Yessum it was a tad stressful not knowing the area or people extremely well yet but thank heavens for Sis K's gps. It was a huge blessing that all 7 lessons didn't fall through, it was a good day & we definitely saw God's hand in it. We were able to have 24 lessons this week, yay! Also mamas package came & that really brightened up my day too.

Oh by the way there is this awesome Amish food market place & restaurant close by called Yoders. :)  It is great & I love it!

Anywho, there is so much more that I haven't even gotten to, yikes!!!! I'll be more on top of it this week but basically I feel like I'm getting closer to the top of my mountain, I feel like I'm really enjoying the view & have gotten through a lot. I am just trying to find confidence in God's love & giving back that love in confidence of God. I am grateful for a deepened relationship with The Lord & the
courage He has in sometimes hurting us so they we can come to a deeper truth of His love & wisdom in knowing what's best for us in life the what we think is. His will is so much better & I love it! Everyone needs to go on a mission or find that mission God needs you to serve. For my sisters - being a mom is an honorable mission & follows the pattern Christ's mission. I am grateful for you.

Ah, I gotta hurry & write my email to President Cusick! I love you
all! much much loooovvvvvvvveeeeeeee!!!!!

Love,

Sister Bush

P.s. Everyone needs to read Elder Holland's talk missionary work & the
Atonement. Amazing!!!