Elder Bryan Bozung's Mission Site
Email June 2, 2008
Date: June 08, 2008Area: Roseville 5th, Roseville Stake
Companion: Elder May
[Email, June 2, 2008]
So of course the big question is how is your ankle doing? Did the mission office mention that I called to make sure you would not be "macho" for too long if you really needed to get it x-rayed (unlike your father who walked on his for 3 or 4 days before finally getting an x-ray and a cast since it was broken)?
Oh no. You lost a little bit of my trust. You aren't supposed to call the mission office. Its parents like you that I have to deal with. :P and what if I had answered the phone? Alright... we usually only do that when no one else is here. I was being trusting and actually telling you about my ankle. If it was actually bad I probably wouldn't have even told you. :) President Barnes did mention it, but I thought he was joking. But I understand, you are sensitive to that situation since you did it yourself. It really is doing fine though. The next day I stuck it in the air cast and went tracting for a couple hours. We were on exchanges and I couldn't let that get in the way. I was good though. I reported it to the mission nurse and then I took care of it pretty well the first couple days. I didn't play any sports today either. Well, I bowled, but that doesn't count. I was actually amazed at how quickly it got better. I could walk on it fine within a few days. Now it is more of a soreness than a pain. It is definitely still sore, but I'm fine.
It sounds like Dad isn't doing good though. Did you just catch something going around?
It sounds like its been fun seeing all the family as well. I'm glad that you were all able to get together.
Well, this week:
Tuesday we had Rocklin interviews and then exchanges. I stayed in the area. We tracted, tried potentials, etc. The usual. Nothing too eventful that day. We did have dinner with the family that is fellowshipping the Ellings. They had been over for 3 hours the night before for Memorial Day/ FHE. Awesome! It sounded like it went really well. I guess Tawnda even signed up to bring food to Enrichment this week.
Wednesday we had to do office junk. It was nice. We had actually avoided the office for quite some time. We hadn't been in there nearly as much as usual. But I'm afraid that won't be the case again for a while. In the afternoon we went to an appointment, but no show. We wanted to go work, but we needed to start thinking about transfers so we went to the park and started discussing who should be the next ZL’s, trainers, etc. We had some crazy kid come talk to us. He was very very outgoing and liked to talk. He studied Hebrew and Arabic and seemed to know a lot about the church, but he was also very jumpy from topic to topic and then he took off on his bike. I got his number though, so we'll call him.
We had dinner with the other family we are trying to teach. So that was cool that they wanted us over. Unfortunately they took a long time with the dinner thing so we didn't get to formally sit down and teach them, but we of course still brought up lots of gospel topics, answered questions about what we do, etc.
We went straight from that to the Ellings’ with Bro. Gibson (WML) and Bro. McCartney (Recent Convert of about a year). It was a good lesson. Bro. Gibson just went off and talked forever. He is very good though. It seemed like three separate lessons. First, a lesson on family, which we have talked about a lot, but discussed even more about how the Gospel blesses families. Then we got to teach about the second half of the plan of salvation. Scott didn't like it. It just didn't click with his previous feelings and ideas. He even said that everything had resonated with him so far, but not this. However... as we continued to talk it was very interesting to see how within 5 minutes the Spirit had helped him sort it out in his mind and he began to accept it. He recognizes it is new and he needs time to think about and accept it. Also, that it is God's plan and it doesn't have to make perfect sense to him. It was awesome because Tawnda doesn't talk much, but at one point she said, "Scott, look at it this way..." Scott tried to interrupt and she said, "No, listen." and continued to explain how she viewed it and used an example of what if his sister was a criminal etc... Scott hadn't liked the idea of everyone getting rewarded and a few other things. Then we talked about recognizing the spirit.
Thursday was our AP Meeting in Yuba City with the 4 of us and President. We talked about the state of the mission, which is doing much better than anticipated this month! Its truly a miracle. I just pray that we can do the same in the month of June and have a lot of momentum for when President Pendleton arrives. We couldn't plan too much detail into Zone Conference and Zone Leader Council because we'll have to do that with President Pendleton. President Perry has asked me a few times if I am doing alright and if I feel any pressure. haha. I'm doing fine though. It will all work out.
It was interesting to get him going a little while on stories of the apostles and Pres. Monson. Then we worked on transfers. Lesson that night at the Satterfield’s 9 year old that will get baptized soon.
Friday mainly an office day.
Saturday, unfortunately a little office in the morning. Then to work. Set up a chapel tour with the Browns (the second family). We saw the Ellings too. We had a good conversation with Scott and he will eventually be fine with the plan. He recognizes it doesn't have to make complete sense to him and that we aren't going to know all the details. I seriously love those two. They are awesome. Tawnda's dad was there for the weekend. They invited us to stay for a BBQ, but unfortunately we couldn't.
Sunday. Church. We had dinner at a less active's house. The Tupous. He is a polynesian. Great family, but we need to get them to church!
We were supposed to have two chapel tours that night with a few nonmembers as well as members, but everyone cancelled out and it ended up being just a member couple. :(
A lot of the office time has been spent on transfers this week. There are some missionaries that are very hard to find a place for. That is when the inspiration part comes in... but it seems like we are left to struggle until the day or so before transfers and then everything begins to fit right. It really is just a very hard puzzle or game of chess. One move affects everything else and there are a few hard puzzle pieces that complicate things.
That brings us to today. We had haircuts with President this morning. Last time. They've started the packing process. It’s coming. All will be well though. I love this work and it will be a unique and challenging opportunity to help President Pendleton figure out his role as Mission President. I'm excited though. I'll miss President Perry, but I know President Pendleton will be great as well.
I love you all.
Love,
Elder Bozung
So of course the big question is how is your ankle doing? Did the mission office mention that I called to make sure you would not be "macho" for too long if you really needed to get it x-rayed (unlike your father who walked on his for 3 or 4 days before finally getting an x-ray and a cast since it was broken)?
Oh no. You lost a little bit of my trust. You aren't supposed to call the mission office. Its parents like you that I have to deal with. :P and what if I had answered the phone? Alright... we usually only do that when no one else is here. I was being trusting and actually telling you about my ankle. If it was actually bad I probably wouldn't have even told you. :) President Barnes did mention it, but I thought he was joking. But I understand, you are sensitive to that situation since you did it yourself. It really is doing fine though. The next day I stuck it in the air cast and went tracting for a couple hours. We were on exchanges and I couldn't let that get in the way. I was good though. I reported it to the mission nurse and then I took care of it pretty well the first couple days. I didn't play any sports today either. Well, I bowled, but that doesn't count. I was actually amazed at how quickly it got better. I could walk on it fine within a few days. Now it is more of a soreness than a pain. It is definitely still sore, but I'm fine.
It sounds like Dad isn't doing good though. Did you just catch something going around?
It sounds like its been fun seeing all the family as well. I'm glad that you were all able to get together.
Well, this week:
Tuesday we had Rocklin interviews and then exchanges. I stayed in the area. We tracted, tried potentials, etc. The usual. Nothing too eventful that day. We did have dinner with the family that is fellowshipping the Ellings. They had been over for 3 hours the night before for Memorial Day/ FHE. Awesome! It sounded like it went really well. I guess Tawnda even signed up to bring food to Enrichment this week.
Wednesday we had to do office junk. It was nice. We had actually avoided the office for quite some time. We hadn't been in there nearly as much as usual. But I'm afraid that won't be the case again for a while. In the afternoon we went to an appointment, but no show. We wanted to go work, but we needed to start thinking about transfers so we went to the park and started discussing who should be the next ZL’s, trainers, etc. We had some crazy kid come talk to us. He was very very outgoing and liked to talk. He studied Hebrew and Arabic and seemed to know a lot about the church, but he was also very jumpy from topic to topic and then he took off on his bike. I got his number though, so we'll call him.
We had dinner with the other family we are trying to teach. So that was cool that they wanted us over. Unfortunately they took a long time with the dinner thing so we didn't get to formally sit down and teach them, but we of course still brought up lots of gospel topics, answered questions about what we do, etc.
We went straight from that to the Ellings’ with Bro. Gibson (WML) and Bro. McCartney (Recent Convert of about a year). It was a good lesson. Bro. Gibson just went off and talked forever. He is very good though. It seemed like three separate lessons. First, a lesson on family, which we have talked about a lot, but discussed even more about how the Gospel blesses families. Then we got to teach about the second half of the plan of salvation. Scott didn't like it. It just didn't click with his previous feelings and ideas. He even said that everything had resonated with him so far, but not this. However... as we continued to talk it was very interesting to see how within 5 minutes the Spirit had helped him sort it out in his mind and he began to accept it. He recognizes it is new and he needs time to think about and accept it. Also, that it is God's plan and it doesn't have to make perfect sense to him. It was awesome because Tawnda doesn't talk much, but at one point she said, "Scott, look at it this way..." Scott tried to interrupt and she said, "No, listen." and continued to explain how she viewed it and used an example of what if his sister was a criminal etc... Scott hadn't liked the idea of everyone getting rewarded and a few other things. Then we talked about recognizing the spirit.
Thursday was our AP Meeting in Yuba City with the 4 of us and President. We talked about the state of the mission, which is doing much better than anticipated this month! Its truly a miracle. I just pray that we can do the same in the month of June and have a lot of momentum for when President Pendleton arrives. We couldn't plan too much detail into Zone Conference and Zone Leader Council because we'll have to do that with President Pendleton. President Perry has asked me a few times if I am doing alright and if I feel any pressure. haha. I'm doing fine though. It will all work out.
It was interesting to get him going a little while on stories of the apostles and Pres. Monson. Then we worked on transfers. Lesson that night at the Satterfield’s 9 year old that will get baptized soon.
Friday mainly an office day.
Saturday, unfortunately a little office in the morning. Then to work. Set up a chapel tour with the Browns (the second family). We saw the Ellings too. We had a good conversation with Scott and he will eventually be fine with the plan. He recognizes it doesn't have to make complete sense to him and that we aren't going to know all the details. I seriously love those two. They are awesome. Tawnda's dad was there for the weekend. They invited us to stay for a BBQ, but unfortunately we couldn't.
Sunday. Church. We had dinner at a less active's house. The Tupous. He is a polynesian. Great family, but we need to get them to church!
We were supposed to have two chapel tours that night with a few nonmembers as well as members, but everyone cancelled out and it ended up being just a member couple. :(
A lot of the office time has been spent on transfers this week. There are some missionaries that are very hard to find a place for. That is when the inspiration part comes in... but it seems like we are left to struggle until the day or so before transfers and then everything begins to fit right. It really is just a very hard puzzle or game of chess. One move affects everything else and there are a few hard puzzle pieces that complicate things.
That brings us to today. We had haircuts with President this morning. Last time. They've started the packing process. It’s coming. All will be well though. I love this work and it will be a unique and challenging opportunity to help President Pendleton figure out his role as Mission President. I'm excited though. I'll miss President Perry, but I know President Pendleton will be great as well.
I love you all.
Love,
Elder Bozung
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