Zone Leader

I know, I was not excited for this call at all late Saturday night but it's true. I am going to be a zone leader but I have no idea where. I'll find that news out in an hour. At least it makes you anxious for the next blog entry right?

So if I'm going to be a zone leader that also means I am going to be transfered. I am horribly shocked, sad, anxious, excited, and nervous/stressed all at the same time. My mind can't focus on all the emotions so it keeps bouncing all over the place like a bipolar basketball. One reason I'm so upset is because I was told I was staying in the area another transfer from the mission president. Well the next day some missionary circumstances arose and president went to the temple and abracadabra! I was called to be zone leader. It really shocked the ward as well because they are transfering us both out. My companion is goigng full time Korean speaking in Bellevue and I am leaving to be a zone leader. The missionaries coming in are extrememly lucky for a white washed area. They have on-date investigators for baptism. 3 Progressing investigators, lessons set-up for the week. A ton of BIG potential investigators, a fully up-dated area book, and a very nice big clean apartment. Not to forget the fact that we had to leave a lot of our food. Grrr!!! It's such a waste of money and trust me, those are sacred funds. We live off of $4.90 a day. So being transfered and having to buy all new food is a hole in the budget. Maybe I'll be doing a lot of fasting.

One more thing. The new mission president is arriving here shortly. In two weeks I just might have met him. Keep posted to the blog. So many events are happening. Thanks for everything you all do and till next time.... I love ya!

Elder Bottema

New Investigator

Every week we find at least one new investigator. However, the best investigators are the investigators that walk up to you in sacrament meeting and say, "I want to be baptized." Sweet! Are you available tomorrow at 7? Meet me at the Bennions for family home evening." BAHAHAHA! I thought I was dreaming!

We also have two church tours set-up this week. Everyone we wanted to put on-date for baptism either moved their appointement to this week or cancelled. We actually had a lot of investigators drop us, but honestly, I wasn't too sad because we found people this week as well. So the work goes on. I have been slacking on the pictures but I guess I have been too focused on other things. I finally feel completely immersed in the work and it is so much more enjoyable and peaceful when you have a perfect companion and one who has the same work ethic as you. I couldn't say anything negative about him. We have been finding, teaching, and baptizing and really foucsing on good planning which has been a blessing.

I feel the most prepared and confident now than ever before. It's nice to be in a period of calm water. ahhh.....

Not much more to report on this week other than these awesome experiences. Thanks for the support!

Love,

Elder Bottema

Alex Elder

Alex's baptism was amazing this week! There were 60 people there. We had to open the overflows in the primary room and setup more chairs. We had a musical number for the intermission and it was sooo good. There were non-members there, investigators, and her family. They all came to her confirmation on Sunday as well. We had an excellent week. What was even better is after the baptism we were invited to a graduation party from the bishop. There were a lot of kids there just a year or two younger than me and we talked a lot about the church and missions (and of course Disneyland). I invited them to come to church on sunday and here is the crazy part. They did! A bunch of graduating seniors came to church on sunday! haha it was so cool! So this past week has been a lot of fun and we accomplished a lot.

My companion is so great! Honestly not one thing has annoyed me. Not one. I have tried to think about something and I can't. I've never had a happier length of time on my mission. I've had awesome days and awesome weeks but this has been the best length of time. These last two weeks of the transfer are going to be packed busy. Leadership training this week on wednesday, district meeting Tuesday and interviews the week after. I have to plan district meeting obviously and conduct in leadership training so tonight and tomorrow are going to be long hard nights planning for these meetings. Much to do. Hope all is well. Still grey and rainy in Seattle. Everyone here says July 5th to September 30 is the best weather. I am counting down to the days of sun. The only sunny day since May 18th was June 5th... the day of Alex's baptism. :)

Good luck at home and much thanks!

Elder Bottema

Public Libraries

You may be wondering why my blog would contain such a title? lets just say a lot of missionaries are at the library today E-mailing and there are such nice people (read that sarcastically) talking to us. I'm pretending I don't hear them while i type this out. It's very eplicit. The sisters are next to me and I would justify it as sexual harrassment. someone is handling the situation right now. Seriously? How old are we again? Obviously not old enough.

Anyway, as missionary WORK pertains we had an excellent week as far as finding goes. We have a ton of lessons set-up this week and I am soooo tired. I think i've been getting busier and buiser on my mission. Training is very exhausting. On top of that we have extra meetings and we just had our last zone conference with president Moffat. He was, to say the least, horribly emotional. He is setting up his facebook! haha so when I get home I'm totally adding him. It was a strange zone conference. We wont have another for 8 weeks. This is going to be a 5 week transfer and then next transfer will be a 7 week transfer so that President Larkin can adjust and have everything running smooth when he arrives. We will be back on the normal transfer cycle August 10th. My new mission president will be in the mission home July 1, 2010 with three children. One of them will be leaving on his mission from the mercer island ward. cool huh?! i'm excited to meet the fam. okay enough random info. Enjoy the weather. It's been rainy... really rainy since may 18th. It's about to break a record for this time of year. The weather forcasted another 7 days of rain too according to many of the members. Ugh. It's supposed to be summer! Enjoy!

Elder Bottema