6-18-2012
Hey,
This week has been...miraculous, and difficult. Allow
me to explain.
I fasted from Wednesday morning until this morning.
Missionaries aren't allowed to fast for more than 24 hours so I ate lunch every
day, but I skipped breakfast, snacks, and water all day for 5 entire
days. I have been praying for greater faith, charity, obedience, and a
desire to make my prayers more fervent and meaningful. I was inspired
to fast and so I obeyed. I have never been so tired, so hungry, and
working so hard ever before in my life, but I persisted, because as President
Eyring says "True spiritual staying power comes from pushing past the
point when others would stop." The physical and spiritual tax on me
became so immense that I could not help but turn to my Father in Heaven with a
prayer in my heart, always. My prayers in the morning and night have
become a true conversations. I no longer just say the words, I feel
them. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers, and sometimes when we
foolish humans ask for a challenge we receive far more than we anticipated, but
the blessings are great too. Many miracles came this week. My
language skills have greatly improved, and I have a deeper love and appreciation
for the scriptures and for the times when I am not malnourished. I hope
that I never need to learn this lesson again, but I do look forward to the next
opportunity I will have to experience a hard and almost impossible trial
because as a friend of mine told me, she hopes that my mission is hard so that
I can grow. I know that trials are one of the best ways that we learn.
We shifted our focus this week. We did not even try to
do any street contacting this week because we have decided to re-activate less
active members of our ward. There are about 600 people on the ward list,
but 100ish come to church each week. A soul that returns to the Savior is
just as valuable as a soul that finds Him. We spent a lot of time
walking, but we were also able to teach many more lessons than we have in the
past. We contacted many less-actives; all of the people that we have
taught in the last week have been less-actives or referrals from
members and less-actives. This has been a huge blessing because as
we demonstrate to members the Spirit's ability to teach through us, our
willingness to work, and our pure love of the people they feel like they can
tell us about their friends that are prepared to hear our message. We
have 4 baptisms marked for the next 3 weeks solely from less-active and member
referrals. The members are a crucial part of missionary work and I never
understood that before. When I get home I will be so much better at being
a member missionary.
The quote of the week is from my grandfather. He has
been reading my letters and he commented and my mom forwarded it to me.
He said, "Often, after a time of toughing it out, something will
happen to make it all worthwhile. Jesus walked all the time; no bikes,
cars, airplanes or skate boards, just feet. The blisters will become
calluses. All WE can do is pray for strength of body and
mind." I am so grateful for my Opa and his example in my life.
He is such a powerful servant of our Savior Jesus Christ and I will follow his
wise words and continue to pray for strength and guidance.
Love,
Elder Tyler Andrew Bushman
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