Elder Troy Bush: August 30, 2022

Subject: the monthly email

I apologize for not writing for a month, its come to my attention that I am not good at emailing.

I intend to focus my email on the more spiritual side of my mission experiences, but don't worry,

I'll include a few certain events that I feel are worth noting.

This past month I've spent here in this little town with about 1780 something people that inhabit it,

I've seen a lot of tragedy among the members, and among the residents of this town.

The people here are very close nit and they all carry and help support each other.

It's been cool to be able to see all these people serve and show acts of love and kindness to those families

and friends affected by certain things that have happened.

I've been able to see a ward that's struggling really come together and lift the heads that hang low.

Now for a bit of a recap on what things I've personally been up to here.

Lots of driving and biking to homes, then having people politely and also not so politely

decline the message of joy we have been trying to share.

Kendra was baptized in this ward after over a year of attending church with her part family.

My companion Elder Burr and I have done quite a bit of walking, knocking, and praying.

I've done a good bit of fishing for fish in ponds with a fishing pole using my hands.

I've learned a lot about how much I really don't know...

The closer I feel I am getting to the Lord the more I realize I have so much room to grow spiritually.

I admonish everyone to study more in their scriptures, they bring true power.

They provide real strength beyond our own and a vision of God's love that was previously unimaginable to us

and beyond all comprehension. I'm being serious just do it. don't take my word for it take your own.

I can share what I've experienced but it's up to you to actually set the time aside and literally,

a c t u a l l y do it.

I decided to randomly start on a long journey of listening to every single talk given since the year I was born.

I think I'm on talk number 8 from like 200+ sessions. I encourage everyone

and yes I mean everyone to listen to more General Conference talks than you already do.

Just do it, I took these talks for granted, and it's a regret of mine.

Some of the really cool impressions I've had from some of the talks so far have been:

"Hidden Wedges"
Thomas S. Monson
April 2002 General Conference
"Blame keeps wounds open, only forgiveness heals."
"Shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy,

and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge

that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us."

Thomas S. Monson
October 2012 General Conference
Priesthood session

"See others as they may become"

"We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits.

They can repent from transgressions."

There's plenty more but Id rather you learn and find them for yourself because to me the best way

to grow spiritually is to let the Spirit take charge in your learning process.

I've also recently decided to write down impressions from talks I listen to and not write down the exact words,

because David A. Bednar has told me to. So here are some of those from this past sacrament meeting.

You can touch others' lives, without even realizing the impact of your actions.

Small and simple acts of kindness and love can change others' lives.

One of Satan's greatest arts of deceit is distraction; being busy isn't always bad,

but sometimes we do so much and get nothing important done. Don't be busy, be purposeful.

It isn't true service if it isn't joyful and heartfelt.
If we don't willingly and cheerfully serve, then it's just as useless to us if we didn't do it at all.
Do we love who we serve? Are our hearts full of love for those that we serve?

True service is one of the most accurate representations of the pure love of Christ.

That's all I've got this time to share, wish you all the best.

Elder Troy Bush

Fish I caught with a hot dog

A valley

A rundown town brick wall

Amish bakery stores

Hat

Sunrise

Pig I held while he was de-balled

Font pic

Landscape

Sunrise 2

White chucks I cleaned

Amish buggy I rode in