Last mission post plus I'M HOME EVERYONE!

Dear family and friends,
          I apologize for not having sent a post out last week. A lot happened in the last week of the transfer and in case you haven't heard: I'M HOME!!!!!!
                          So first let's start with the second to last week of my mission: First, on Tuesday I got my "trunky letter", a.k.a. my flight itinerary.

 Second, Elder Beck and I moved out of our converted three door garage into an apartment complex 3 miles out of our area! It had a racquetball court and a gym which was nice.


Third, on Saturday Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to our mission and toured it! This was a mission-wide conference and it occurred outside of the skeleton of the new Phoenix temple.

 I took a few pictures before we sat down with some old buddies. The missionary I'm with on the top is Elder Pearson, my MTC comp.
 

The missionary in the middle is Elder Beck, my last companion on the mission.






 
And this is Elder Hernandez. Another really great missionary! 

         The mission conference was SWEET! Elder Anderson, Elder Maynes of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Bishop Causse of the presiding bishopric was there. Bishop Causse spoke a lot about Alma 5:62. He said that our purpose both as missionaries and as members is to invite everyone to be baptized. Elder Maynes spoke about being connected to our purpose. Elder Maynes also said that Joseph Smith was the first investigator of the last dispensation and how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ represent the first missionary companionship in this last dispensation. Then last, but definitely not the least, Elder Anderson spoke to us. He spoke a lot about how "faith is the power to make the unseen a reality". He spoke a lot about how faith is the power to create miracles and spoke of how faith builds us up. He also mentioned how missionary work is changing. There's no advantage toward rushing baptisms, tracting is going away and he stressed the importance of working with ward leaders. "The Atonement is learned by experience" he said, and "these spiritual experiences help to build their testimony". All in all it was a great conference.

Later on that very same evening WE HAD A BAPTISM! Patrick Alexander, the brother of Ryan Alexander who Elder Kelley and I previously baptized, was baptized October 20, 2012. We moved his baptism up by three weeks because Sister Alexander wanted me to be there for the baptism and because he was ready to be baptized. He and his family investigated the gospel for about 2 years so he did not need to be taught again. Patrick wanted me to baptize him which was AWESOME! That had to be the most rushed baptism I've ever had but I was glad to have it then right before going home. It was a great way to end the mission!

So that all happened in the second to last week of my mission. The last week of my mission consisted of me and Elder Beck feasting on numerous pizzas, brownies and ice cream, barbeque and candy. It was amazing! We attended both Trunk-or-Treats, which were very well done. The Winceks, an amazing member family in one of the wards I served in, did a phenomenal job dressing up for Halloween.

The picture's kind of blurry but you can still see who's who.Then I came home.

                   The flight to San Fransisco didn't take too long. I slept through almost the whole flight. The flight to Modesto was the shortest flight in my life! I was happy to see Molly, Aunt Carrie and Grandma and Grandpa Boothe. It was awesome seeing family! After seeing everyone I bought an orange sweatshirt and jeans. After that I had my interview with President Wasden. He gave me a lot of great advice and he talked for a while. What was even weirder was to see MY plaque on the wall. President Wasden released me and then the next day I went out on the train and made my way to Utah. I read the Princess Bride on the way there. THEN I GOT TO SEE RYAN, GARIT AND DAD! Granted it was 4 am but I was a happy man.

                  I've been living with Ryan ever since. I've bought a few more sets of clothes since then and I've  slowly yet surely been readjusting back to "civilian" life. Ryan, Garit and I hiked up to the Y yesterday. I haven't hiked that high in a while and it was tiring but I was glad I did so.

Ryan and I hiked past the Y. I couldn't help but take a few pictures.

Yes I made some goofy poses. It was fun though.

Another cool thing I've been doing is reconnecting with all my mission buddies on Facebook. I've been able to get in touch with almost everybody really quick. I'm loving it!

I should let you all know that I will continue to update this blog for a while so you can all see how I'm doing with adjusting to post-mission life. Anyway gotta go.

Love,
Grant (former Elder) Boothe 

Two More Weeks

Dear family and friends,

 

        I am pleased to report that this week was more eventful than the last. For starters we set a baptismal date with Ryan Alexander's brother Patrick for November 3rd. We also got haircuts that same day with a less active couple! The weather this week was actually quite nippy, reaching down to the 70's. In comparison to the weather in Utah that must be warm but here in Arizona you start putting on a jacket when it hits the 70's or lower. I am not looking forward to the shock that will take place once I get to Utah. 

 

        The people that we live with are moving out so that means we're moving out as well! The Andrews were planning to move in November and since the mission office wants us out of there a.s.a.p that means we'll be moving out by this Wednesday! Of course the mission office didn't inform us until this past Wednesday but whatever. We'll be moving to an apartment complex that the sister missionaries used to live in that's way outside of our area, and they're not giving us a car. I'll be fine since I only have about 1 1/2 weeks left but poor Elder Beck and whoever his new trainee is are going to have to scramble to find someone who will let them live with them. 

 

        In Gospel Principles yesterday, in one of our wards, nobody who was teaching the lesson so me and Elder Beck taught on the fly. That had to be the most awkward and the most boring lesson I've ever taught. There were like 5 people in class and only 1 of them actually responded. Oh well. 

 

         We found 3 new investigators this past week, which should make this week even better! Plus we've got General Authorities visiting us this Saturday! I'll let you all know how that went.

 

It's scary to think about how little time I have left! I love you all!

 

Elder Boothe

Three Weeks

Dear family and friends,

 

     The highlight of my week was General Conference. I loved it! I've never appreciated General Conference more than being on my mission! As one missionary put it "General Conference is like Christmas for missionaries". There seemed to be a lot of great talks given and believe me I took a lot of notes! Elder Beck and I don't live too far from the Stake Center so we were able to bike there just fine. 

 

      We also had interviews with President Taylor this week. I loved having interviews with him. He is such a kind man who is awesome! I thoroughly enjoyed interviews! The work right now is dragging by a snail's pace! It's slow over here. Elder Beck and I are trying to increase our faith. Prayers would be helpful. I'm also working on my D & C Countdown. I'm on Section 120 right now. I'm fairly confident that I can finish the D & C before going home. 

 

Love,

 

Elder Boothe 

The Morning Breaks...‏

Dear family and friends,

 

         We found 3 new investigators this week. This came about by tracting in an apartment complex. This is funny because I don't really believe in tracting because I've done it so much on my mission and haven't seen fruit come from it. One of the people we knocked into was a lady from a Catholic who, after letting us say a prayer with her, had us come back a few hours later. We shared a spirtual thought from mormonchannel.org with her and taught a little bit about prophets and set up a church tour for this upcoming week. We also started teaching a part-member family that we came across. My companion, Elder Beck, and I abolished the dinner calendar much to the dismay of the members in both of our wards. 

 

          So we had this cool experience happen a few days ago. We were out on splits with a future missionary in one of our wards when we visited a former investigator that we came across in the area book. We set up a return appointment with him since the time we met him wasn't a very good time for him. We're in the car figuring out where to go next when the man walks up to the car. Elder Beck and I thought he was going to cancel when he instead pulls out a $100 bill and gives it to us. MAN OH MAN we were so happy! We went to Culver's (it's like Dairy Queen except better) and then two days later we went to Red Robin's. It just so happened to be Justin Bieber's birthday when we went to Red Robin's so the place was packed! We had a good time though and the young future missionary we took out with us had a good time so it was a good experience in the end. I'm looking forward to General Conference this weekend! Who else is? 

 

  Well that's all for now,

 

Elder Boothe