Letter to Preston

Dude I am going to send you a picture of the bat that was in the baptism font this week before our baptism. It was crazy. Also this week I forgot to tell mom but for the blog we finally got hot showers. It is sweet. I love it!

E-mail June 22, 2009

Well this week has been a little crazy. We had transfers this past week on Tuesday and Wednesday so I got a new companion. His name is Elder Pelero, from Argentina. He is a freaking clown and I love him to death. He is just a funny funny kid. So we have 2 Gringos and 2 Argentines in the house. Williams and Jimenez didn’t get changed. So we have just been having a blast. Also, this week we had 3 baptisms on Thursday, it was great cause they are all so good. Ines, Norma, and Oscar Jimenez. Ines and Norma are sisters that live next to the church and their dad doesn’t like the church at all so it was all done in secret because he works in Bogota but was home for fathers day and the rest of the month. I felt kind of bad about it but they are both over age so we don’t need permission and they have testimonies that it is the correct decision. Oscar Jimenez is the same as before his wife is a member and he just had never talked to missionaries. Heavens he knows more then most the members, I asked him what he knew about tithing, and well that was the lesson cause he explained it all and had no doubts about it. So it was great to see him get baptized. I got to do all three and there were no mess ups. Which to me felt good cause I feel like the Spanish is getting better. So yeah. Then later in the week to try and help Ines and Norma´s father have a better impression of the church we did service there and moved a big mound of dirt with a pick and shovel and wheel barrow. Man it felt good to do some hard manual labor, but my hands have become soft, so I have 2 huge blisters, one on each hand. I never used to get them at the house, dad I have grown soft. Also with my new companion we will have Maté every day in the house which elder Williams is quite excited for. We were supposed to be going to Bogota tomorrow, but of course change of plans. I was a little disappointed, because I have officially picked a soccer team to follow, Santa Fe, and they are in Bogota and I was going to buy a jersey, but not any more. We also were going to see all the other missionaries because it was for the new mission president, but now were not going so we were all a little sad. Elder Williams especially because he was going to buy his own Maté cup and everything. He is addicted to the stuff. Nothing much else is new except our area is kinda dying, we have had trouble finding new people to teach that have a real desire. So hopefully with our prayers it will pick up. I have tons of advice for when Preston goes. Like cuffs in the pants, yeah he wont be doing that. But I am happy here with what I am doing. I also wrote Biss a letter today telling him how proud and excited I am for him. He is going to have a sweet time in Hawaii. I am just trying to think of what else has gone on this week. Companion, baptisms and that is about it. Thanks for all the love and support that you give me mom, it is greatly appreciated. Tell friends and family hello! Love you all thanks for the prayers, love and support. Love Nate

Email June 15, 2009

Hello,

Well we had the wedding and well I bought a cake for it well 2. Never thought I would pay for a wedding before I was 50. But it was worth it I love the family and well the wedding cakes for 2 was only 30 bucks which well is relatively cheap no? haha also no baptisms this past week but we have 4 this coming week which is way exciting. I am in this moment just beaming with happiness. I found the bag I have been wanting for tracking cause we cant use a backpack and I found one today that is perfect. Also I got a hair cut that wasn’t chi chi like the one I got a few weeks ago. And the Spanish is coming along very well I am just happy. But one this is for sure is that this work is very stressful and I was a little annoyed and stressed about it then I read D&C 11 and I felt like all my questions had been answered. It was a nice relief. Also we find out tonight if about transfers. And I think I will bet getting a new comp. because mine has been in this area for 6 months now. I am not looking forward to it a lot but change is good. It will give me a lot more responsibility. Also this past week we had our last zone conference with President Camargo. It was a little sad but oh well. Also at zone conference on Tuesday I met Elder and Sister Chapman. They are senior missionaries and have been here just about a year. They are from Florida. Great people but the funny thing is I speak and understand more Spanish than they do. It was an interesting experience. But they are great. As for spiritual wise, I have learned so much about the church and about the Book of Mormon. I didn’t prepare very well for this mission and it is hurting me now so I study hard everyday to try and get caught up. But I love it. It has been hard for me to let people have their agency because I know that the gospel will bless their lives but some people just don’t want to keep commitments but right now we have one girl Jessica that is just amazing, she just wants to find the truth so she reads and prays and comes to church, she is getting baptized on Saturday and I am so happy for her. Nicholas family I got both your letters but on the same day. So I couldn't tell you what way is faster to send. But thanks so much for the love and support. AMY MORRISON I just love your sweet heart! I got your letters this past Tuesday and well they just make my day to know that I have people like you praying for me. It is also nice to get an update on what your family is doing cause well Amanda don’t write me none. I am writing people with correct paper cause I hadn’t been so letters should be coming soon to friends. Also big news in the Bosque house, WE NOW HAVE A FRIDGE. Oh it is so nice, we have cold water and ICE CREAM and mom the jello was fantastic! Also another fun detail I have gained a little weight, had to let the ole belt out a notch this week. My Spanish is coming along pretty good. I can understand about half right now and it also depends on the person talking, like English some people just talk better than others. But I am trying to work hard to just be fluent. People have a tough time understanding me sometimes cause I must have a thick accent. So I am not exactly sure how to get rid of it but it is a work in progress. Hope all is well with friends and family. Know I pray for you all everyday. So I love you so much and am glad that I am serving.
Love Nate

E-mail June 8, 2009

Dear friends and family

Well this past week in Colombia has been a good one. We didnt have any baptisms but we have lots of people investigating the church which is a good thing. We have a young couple Manuel and Angelica that have 2 little kids that are getting married this week!! I am so happy for them and their little boy is the cutest thing ever. But that is the big news of this week to come that we have that to plan for. So I will send some pictures of that next week if things actually go through. cause well plans here are never certain until the exact hour. So we will see. Today for P-day we went to a little pueblo called Mongui. They are famous for making soccer balls. So well I bought one that is pretty cool. It was so pretty up there. It was very high up in the top of the mtns. This past week we did service and I got to chop wood! I was quite excited because I quite like doing it. Dave save me a big stack for when I get home!! It was pretty funny cause my companion never had done it and I had to teach him. It was fun. Also we ate on Sunday after our fast so stinking much that I about threw up. Then our next appointment fed us again 2 huge plates. I was so sick on Sunday that I could hardly stand but I survived. I have just been living on the edge here and some days I wonder what I got myself into but I am having a wonderful adventure. I am so grateful for all your love and support and hope you all know I love and pray for you.

love nate

An Excerpt from the letter to his dad:

Thanks for your e-mail it is what I needed this week I have been a
little stressed cause we have high goals for lessons and contacts and
such and well just haven’t been making them cause the people here,
well like to talk so it is a little stressful but I have been getting
used to it cause now I actually understand a lot more of the
conversation. The people here are so interesting to talk to and hear
about their lives. And yes I have learned that I could live on
nothing cause well at the end of each month we live on nothing. But I
want to thank you for all the opportunities that you have given me as
a kid. I was a very lucky kid.
My mission is definitely different than I thought it would be but well I
have learned a lot about who I am and that well there are just people
that flat out don’t want to listen, and that we need the millennium to
actually do all the work that needs to be done. Our area is huge and
we track maybe 1/30 of it cause we just don’t have time for more.
I am going to send you some pictures of a man that is in the ward that
is the hardest working person I know. He rides his bike about 10 miles
everyday at 3 am for work for one of his jobs but yet is the happiest
man ever. also I got to eat a peach from one of his trees. It was
small and green but it was still very sweet and good.

Email June 1, 2009

Well hello from Colombia friends and family,

Well first off we went through 3 giant rolls of toilet paper in the house this past week. haha yeah one of those weeks. anyway. Today I don’t have my camera unfortunately cause we are out and about. But the other 2 elders Williams and Jimenez had 3 baptisms this past week. it was cool. and well we have some real investigators. One Oscar Jimenez, his wife and 2 kids are members, and he I think will get baptized. every time we teach them I think of the Arnolds, because the wife just hasn’t pushed anything on her husband and now they will be able to become an eternal family. that is like the ultimate goal here to make eternal families.
alright you want to hear about my mission huh well I get up at 630 every day and pray solo and with my comp. then I make breakfast with elder Williams cause nobody else will in the house. then from 8 to 9 I have personal study, which is my favorite part of the day. haha then comp. study. from 9 to 10 then 10 to 1030 I study Spanish. then we have appts. for the rest of the day. and we eat lunch with a family in the ward every day at 1 then appointments til 9 I then plan with my comp for the next day, and write in my journal and pray and go to bed.
so yeah the days are long but fulfilling. Today a coke truck was turning the corner and the back tires went up the curb and it was open and like 15 crates of glass 1 liter bottles went everywhere and just coke river in the street it was pretty funny we helped clean it up.

I was happy to hear Jordan made it off on his mission and he is in for the time of his life. it is just living on the edge for 2 years. for example I bought some bread the other night and we started teaching the family that owns the bakery and well during the lesson some stray dog came in and walked off with my bag of bread. it was just like DUH it was funny. well I don’t have much more from this week. I am doing good and the language is coming along and we have our last zone conference with President Camargo this week on Friday. it is kinda sad that I only got to know him for 2 months cause he is a great inspired man. Then on the 20th of June we get to travel to bogota to meet the new president, President Hacking. so yeah that is about it from Colombia. love you all and thanks for the love and support. I pray for all (well try to). thanks nate.
OH also some huge black man today told me to get out of his country. haha I just laughed. cause well he could have torn my arms off.

Also Liz CONGRATULATOINS that is pretty big day for you and I am happy for you!!
ali thanks for sending my mom pictures. they are great.