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

Korean Speaking

Yes, my thoughts were correct. Why would I be getting a car again? Maybe because we are covering two wards. My new companion is Korean speaking and he is from Bountiful, Utah and was at the MTC for 11 weeks. Poor guy. Training is difficult but so rewarding. Being a district leader trainer adds a whole other section of busy-ness. I have less study time, more meetings to prepare for, more meetings to attend, and required to teach MORE lessons. What the freak? How do zone leaders have time to train?

Bro. Long has been especially nice which is out of character for a new missionary because he like to intimiadate, but I think he's just as excited as I am to have a new missionary. Especially since he and Elder Merrill were in some type of fight everyday. No exaggeration. He has been so giving and kind, as well as my new companion. The first thing he said to me is, "I'll do whatever you train me to do. " ahhhhhh the heavens have opened! Talk about a humble companion. President Moffat had him read charity and love from the chirstlike attribute section of preach my gospel before he assigned me as a trainer. I don't know why because he is the most charitable companion I've served with thus far. I love this guy to death! I honestly wish he knew. I understand where the slang comes from when missionareis call theire traines sons because it kind of feels that way.

As far as baptims go we are preparing for Alex's baptism on June 5 and her interview is tomorrow at 4:00 P.M. She is awesome! I love teaching her. She is going to BYU Idaho next fall. We are still teaching Cory and are going to put 2 more people on-date. We were going to do it last week but the appointments fell thru. We will press on!

Okay as far as that goes no other news here. I'm only writing my blog because My new companion needs to set up his new address. Thanks for everything!

Elder Bottema

Training

I must say I have a lot of news to share this week. So transfer calls came and I am again staying in the Jovita Creek ward but I am getting a new companion. Not any regualr old companion but a brand new one fresh from the MTC. That's right. I am training and I am as nervous as anyone could be. I think I'm getting a foriegn speaking elder because I got a call from our car coordinator and I am getting a car again. I'm still biking on days we don't need it though. It's better biking. It's only October - March that it isn't fun to bike. Anyway, i'll probably have to start covering 2 wards but only time will tell. I don't go to transfers until 12:00 today and then I go to Bellevue to the mission home at 1:00 to be trained and then to pick up my trainee and leave at 2:00. EEEK! My companion is leaving and of course I don't know where yet. We don't find out until transfers. I've never been so happy to get a fresh start.

In other news the weather this past week has been perfect! Rainy in the morning to clean the air and sunny by 11 for us to bike. Life is good. It's rainy right now but I bet It'll clear up by 2:00. Who knows though. It is Seattle.

As far as baptisms go we just started to plan and orgainze Alex Elder's Baptims for June 5th and we are planning on putting a lot more people on-date this week. I'm going to leave my area with a bang. Next transfers is June 29th and I am pretty confident I'll be leaving that date. It's less common to stay in an area longer than 6 months. A lot of great things are happening in the Jovita Creek ward. I'm glad i'll be with Brother & Sister Long another 6 weeks. Speaking of that I hope you enjoyed the pictures of our latest prank. The next one will be a new beginning and a different genere of pranking. We've done this kitchen thing twice now. maybe the bathroom will be next..? Thanks for the news from home. I love you guys!

Elder Bottema

Mother's Day

This week was very productive as far as finding people. We were able to find 3 new investigators and take 2 of them on a church tour to teach the restoration. Every member needs a copy of PMG. It's written towards missionaries of course but there is a lot of information for members as well. Many of us get caught up in all the deep doctrine and this brings us all back to the basics. The messages we REALLY should be giving our non-member friends.

We had a crazy cleaning insepction from brother Long.... he is really clean. But now our basement looks spotless and I love it since it's usually messy. Hey, I keep my side clean. I get up at 6:30 every morning and make my bed. Does my companion? No, it's usually 7:30- 7:45. Moving on!

We are really working had on an investigator who we can not get to church and it's really frustrating! I don't know what his deal is?! He says he wants to be baptized but if you aren't coming to church then don't count on it. That's an important step. Any suggestions?

We also had interviews on Friday and they went really well! I am praying I'll stay one more transfer and get a new companion. That's my selfish side speaking but if I leave I'll know I'm going where I need to go. It's still kind of a win win situation because I won't have to be with you-know-who for another 6 weeks. YAY!

Okay enough negative talk. I love my mission, I love the people I'm teaching and I loved talking to the family yesterday for mothers day. Sounds like home isn't too bad. The only things I really miss are Disneyland and music. But they are sacrafices I'm willing to make. Alright I'm done writing nothing exciting. Thanks for the support. I'll write next tuesday since next week is transfers and preperation day is on Tuesday. The mission office also starts holding mail on Friday and sends it out again on wednesday. There is your tidbit of information for the week.
Till next time,

Elder Bottema