Hermana Mollie, Elder Riley and Elder Jake Bowman

Saturday, September 21, 2013

September 9

Hi Family,

Wow! What a crazy flood! It's always so dry there, it's kind of hard to imagine where that water is coming from.

Tell hi to everyone for me. I love seeing them in the photos you send.

Way to go Donnie with his first talk. Jake, don´t underutilize the chem lab! I love you lots.

Reading about your life Sis, I feel like there should be a Mich poem

...She was working in a cafeteria at BYU

Till she married Matt and moved to Princeton with a baby too

Where was she to go, What´s she to do

not sit on her fanny

but be a nanny ...

Love you, Mich! Hope you´re enjoying nannying.

So my companion is leaving. The thing I learned most from her is about asking good questions and never leaving anyone behind.

We contact everyone in the streets but often I don´t think it prudent to visit all of them. Some of them I just don´t think want to listen. But she gives everyone a chance, and we have found some good investigators that way.

She is also very good at asking questions.

Like when we were contacting a man the other day, and he was babbling on about how he didn´t believe in the devil . "People are devils!" he said. My companion asked him, "Do you want to be a devil?" very cool and calmly. It made him stop and think, at least. She was looking into his eyes. Questioning to get people to stop and think is something I need to improve a lot with.

We met a different type of investigator the other day. When we met him, he had a Preach my Gospel in his hand marked up!

He approached us and asked, "What is the name of our Heavenly Mother? President Hinckley in the year 2000 and something ish said that there is a Heavenly Mother. What is her name?"

Then he went on to say he prays, but doesn´t feel anything. I will be seeing him tomorrow. We will see if he read and prayed what we asked him to.

So I will be getting a new companion tomorrow. My companion is going south to Lebu or the most southern section. Right now we are in pretty much in the most northern section.

My new companion will be Hermana Martinez. She is from Argentina, and I´ve heard she speaks with a very strong Argentine ' shh' accent. That's all I know about her for now.

Click to Enlarge

Other things that happened this week - lots! I did get my box, sort of. It's here, but I have to go pick it up in the office.

You should look up the Cueca on Youtube. There are different outfits for different regions of Chile and all dance it a little differently. We are in the central region. One of the youth, Dayanna, tried to teach us the other day. It went very wrong, but was entertaining for everyone in the least.


Helping with the Church's Flag

There is a law in Chile that for the 18 of September everyone must have a flag out. If you don´t have a flag, you can get fined. Hence flags are popping up all over the place... everywhere!

Flag prep for Independence week here in Chile


Decorations for Ivonne's Birthday Party -The leader of JAS or YSA (Young Single Adults) here.

This is the map I drew of the sector all the part north is water and swamp I would take a picture there but its not safe. I might try anyways in the morning one day It´s beautiful. The gold triangles are the active members silver are some of the less actives or inactives. It's a work in progress.

Love you all lots!

Hermana Bowman

10:01 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Sunday, September 15, 2013

September 9, 2013

Hi Everyone,

We went to the Chinese museum at Sunrider last week and took some pictures there so I am sending those as well. The branch President is the non-missionary in the photo, and the sisters are temporarily Chinese missionaries. I think I told you about them. The other Chinese elder in the photo is Elder Yang, who was in the photo I sent last week as well.

Thanks for the box of goodies from Bowman and Poppop. I shall enjoy them even though I have been gaining weight - around 160 now. The members and nonmembers have been feeding us well. We have an English class student who always brings food for us, because he worries we don't eat enough.

Another person we met recently keeps on giving us food. She is amazingly hospitable and has stuffed us with food every time we go over. This presents a small problem. We went over to teach her last week, but instead ended up being fed instead. In the end, we went back to the apartment with enough food for lunch and dinner the next two days and 5 pounds heavier than we were when we went in. It amazes me that she is willing to do so much for people she has hardly met.

Things have been going well here. Chinese school started up again, and we went to help out on Saturday morning. From what they told us, we aren't going to be assigned to a certain classroom, but go wherever they need help that day. Hopefully, this will give me the chance to work on my Chinese, as well as give us the opportunity to meet more Chinese people in the community.

The Family History fireside got pushed to next month. Could you send me some family stories? I am not sure how much we are going to do, but it would be good to have something to share if it comes to it. Particularly those dealing with the church. I remember you telling me once about an ancestor who didn't take his children to church because he had to work when his wife died, but don't remember the details.

Thanks.

Love,

Elder Bowman

12:50 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, September 14, 2013

September 2

Hey all,

So I have pictures this week! They are from my companion's camera, because I am afraid to carry mine around. We will see what I can do about taking them with mine.

This first picture is of me and my companion in the house of a recent convert, Alejandro. He is wonderful. He often accompanies us on visits. He has a big family - three sons and their girlfriends all of which came to Family Home Evening. Only one of his sons is a member, and he is inactive. This is one family that we are working with.

They are fun and were telling us stories about how once when they were playing Truth or Dare, someone dared someone to move the roof - and they moved the entire roof of the house. Yep! Never leave three boys alone in a new empty house.

We made chocolate krispie treats for some members of the ward and because my companion studied art history, I posed as Dionysus with the grapes - but with chocolate krispies balls. She thought it was hilarious and pulled out her camera on me.


Being Dionysus with chocolate krispies balls

Everyone is prepping for Independence Day here in Chile, which I think is the 18th of September. I am not sure to be honest, because it is a celebration for an entire week. Everyone is talking about different celebrations on the different days.

The church is doing something, too. One part that I love is that they dance the Cueca. I am not sure how to spell it but you say it - "Quick-a." It is the national dance, and it is very entertaining. I have seen it once in the talent show they had here my first week. They say you gain 4 kilos from celebrating, so we will see how this turns out.

These photos are of us with costumes at the Bishop's house. His wife came downstairs, so the family could pick out different costumes, and they decided we needed to look a little more Chilean :)

As for your other questions:
1. No, I haven´t got the box yet. I will try and take a foto of my map.
2. Choir went okay we had like 3 people which isn´t bad - But I would rather it be ward run, so I am trying to pass it on to someone else.
3. It's always good to pray for my language and understanding skills. Sometimes my companion and I just don´t catch onto things very well.

Say Hi to Nathan.

Jake you need a planner si or si. I know you can do this if you plan it well, but you must plan. My friends and I always say that organization is what determines good grades more than if your smart or not. These people are here to help you. Make sure that you really know your TA and go to their office hours or the TA lab once a week minimum to check your work... And that you get enough sleep!

Have fun at PF Changs. How cool - a finders fee.

Say 'Hi' to everyone for me!

Thanks for Donnie's photo. I miss Donnie, too. There just aren´t others like him. We don´t have a single deacon or teacher here in the ward. I really miss them. They are really important. I am really looking at finding them, whether they are inactive or investigators.

Here is a game I've played down here - 'Two Lies and a Truth' is played with a glass of water. Which is a lie? Which is a truth? Those who guess the lies get a spoonful of water to the face.

There is one truth. Everything else is lies, and it is important to find the truth whenever you can.

Mich - Love your blog. Your are great with that camera of yours. Hope work is going well. Keep posting. Very cute Mich. 8 months and all I have are pictures! I definitely have to visit when I get home.

Love you all lots!

Your Sis

PS - btw, I would like a ruler - hole punch. They don´t have hole punches here. It drives me mad.

Love you all lots!

Hermana Bowman

12:28 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Sunday, September 8, 2013

September 3

Dear Family,

Thanks for the pictures. We went to the temple today, so our Pday is today rather than Monday. It is always great to be able to enter the temple, and I can feel the difference it makes in our work after going there.

I forgot to take pictures again, so I took a few in the computer lab with the other Chinese Elders.

Also, I found the other picture of our Branch when looking through Elder Casey's camera. That is at a hike the Branch went on together with a couple of our English class students.

Click to Enlarge

This week went great. We did service Labor Day helping out with a race. It was a race which went over the bridge by the port of Los Angeles. We got to go on the bridge and lay down mats for the runners to run over. It was an awesome view up there as you can see the cranes and containers from the ships.

I don't have much time, because it took a while to get the pictures. Sunday went great. One of our Branch member's daughter was baptized. They had a huge dinner afterward, which we got to take some leftovers from. We usually have too much food at our apartment ever since Elder Bergeson started his diet, so it is a race to eat all the leftovers before they go bad.

English class is going well. We don't have too many students at our English class right now, but the ones we do have are pretty solid. We still get a few new people each week. We had an English class activity with the Branch Saturday. We had a BBQ at our branch mission leader's house. Most of our English students came and enjoyed it. They also were able to meet some of our branch members for the first time.

We have been trying to finish the format for our English lessons this week. We have been constantly building and altering our English class.

Love,

Elder Bowman

1:59 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, September 7, 2013

August 26

Hermana Van de Merwe and Me

Hey all,

Very little time this week - a lot to print. I am starting a choir here. I made posters for the church and invitations last week.

The second week here, I gave a talk and talked about missionary work and set up a table in the lobby where we are putting announcements, invitations, pass along cards, and things like that. I think I might start a weekly missionary challenge.

I am trying to find the answer to ¨the case of the missing youth.¨ The ward has a group of sixteen year olds - four of them - but there are no other youth. They exist, but they don´t go to church. I am trying to figure out why. Some of them are recent converts, so it is really sad.

Cleaning the house had a nice surprise. Michele isn´t the only one that got a new purse. I found this cool shoulder bag, sorting out all the old missionary clothes in the house. I think I could use it instead of a backpack. It needs to be cleaned up, but it is a good cargo bag with lots of pockets. I am working on downsizing the things I carry with me and this is really going to help me.

My map is almost done. I am really excited. When I first got to the sector, we had a map, but it is tiny, beat up, and hard to read. The new one I drew out has all the passageways and everything that, for some reason, isn't on the city map.

I was sick all week and am just getting better. I spent a day at the bishop's house watching Rio, because I was coughing so much and I didn´t want to do so in front of investigators. I am not a pretty sick. I just get red, coughy, and terrible.

My companion was also sick. At one point, we both had lost our voices - making for some very interesting lessons and contacts - Shouting at doors with our voice cracking halfway through the word, etc. Our Spanish is hard enough to understand without the nasal I have a cold sound. One of our investigators thought when we said 'prophet' that we said we were like slaves of God - Until the member clarified what we said. Evidently, it is close to another word.

I have been working on asking better questions this week. My companion and I have very different styles of teaching, but we both decided to work on this.

One question we have been asking is -Why do you think God gave you your family?

Love you all lots,

Hermana Bowman

1:33 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Monday, September 2, 2013

August 26, 2013

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about Sister Chamberlain, but I am glad her family got to be with her before she passed. Is Brother Chamberlain going to move in with one of his children? Thank you for letting me know.

I received the DearElder for Nick (Missionary in Germany) and Statler (Missionary in Ghana). Thanks for passing on Michele and Mollie's blog and email. What classes is Jake taking? I attached pictures of the apartment since you have been asking.

I don't think I have much time, so I will have to make it brief. We had our first zone meeting last Friday in the newly created International Zone. Elder Kuo is going to be the solo zone leader, at least for now. He also is the district leader for the Chinese program, training, and in charge of all the English classes in the mission as well as trying to set up the group. He must be ridiculously busy.

The International zone contains the ASL, Chinese, Korean, Samoan and Tongan missionaries. The Samoan missionaries are a new companionship as our mission received our first native Samoan this past Wednesday.

We also got to meet the new Chinese elder. His name is Elder Yang and is being trained by Elder Casey and Kuo. He is from Taiwan, but has lived in Utah the last year and a half. His father does translation for the church and sounds like one of the best. He does the translation for President Monson in Conference. He actually wanted to learn how to teach English in college and had it as his major.

I didn't get any pictures with him yet, but will try to get some for next week. Our districts are each specific to our language so all the Chinese are in one district. It makes it pretty small, but we also are able to do district meeting in Chinese, which probably won't happen for now.

Love,

Elder Bowman

8:08 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Sunday, September 1, 2013

August 19

Hey all,

Don´t worry so much. I am figuring things out bit by bit. Anyway, I gave a talk yesterday. People said they like it and that it was spontaneous. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

'Obra Misional' was the theme of sacrament. All of the ward missionaries sang together. It was pretty good especially since half of us are sick with a head cold. The people here are a little bit better off and a little bit more educated, aka they sing better. The sister that directs music has one of those giant opera singing voices and well she doesn't really know timing. It makes playing the piano especially entertaining. This week we are starting a choir and then Sunday I am playing for Primary.

Primary here is crazy. I spent last Sunday in Primary. As a general rule, I always carry around colored pencils and a sketch pad for lessons with kids that just don't know how to not bother their parents. I then take requests for things to draw their favorite animal, etc. It really helps.

Anyway, there was an inactive mom with her two younger kids in church for the first week Sunday. She spent the whole time in Primary because her son was shy, and it took some time to help him interact with the other kids.

After Sacrament the first hour is class time which is coloring and reading from The Friend which works fairly well. The last hour is what we call 'let them run,' where the kids run around the gym. I also practiced the Primary music number with them.

Spiritual Thought - "By your fruits you will know them" -

One thing we have been working on is the PR of the church in our sector. Things like making sure the outside of the church is clean and things like that. There is a lot of antimormon stuff going around. You never know who is watching or what signs we are projecting as a people. So as church members we should try and be an example of Christ in all of our actions.

We have a new mission office for sending packages. Don't worry the other ones will be forwarded.

It is:

Mission Concepcion Sur

Castellon 1063

Casilla 3560

Concepcion, Bio Bio

Chile

We are receiving packages and can send packages but letters seem to have problems.

Out of time. I will try and figure out a way of taking pictures.

Love you lots,

Mollie

(To Riley) - Hey Ri - Things are crazy here in Chile as always. I am debating starting up an English class again in this new sector, but I am not to sure about it. I am still getting to know the sector and just started a choir.

The youth here don't do any activities. They only have seminary together, and there are only about 4 of them that regularly attend church. If you could throw me some ideas I can present to the leaders to activate the youth that would be helpful. What are some easy Young Mens activities? We have two that are active, but I think if we got some good activities going they would invite people.

How great that you are doing so well on your mission. Funny that you got a talk I spoke last week.

Love you lots,

Your Sis

(To Michele) - Love the pictures keep sending them. Tiny looks a lot like you Mich. I miss the beach and I am right next to it. GO figure.

Love you lots,

Your Sis

Mollie heard her friend, Hannah, is pregnant

(To Hannah S.) - Da felicidades por ella y saludos por todos. That is fantastic hope the summer is going well.

7:25 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Thursday, August 29, 2013

August 20, 2013

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the letters. It's nice getting to see Michele's blog.

The photos I am sending are mostly old ones of Elder Hsiao that I don't think I have sent before. I didn't really take any photos this week.

Click to Enlarge

The one of me I did send was taken in the parking lot of the library where I am emailing. You can notice I got a new haircut.

The ones of Elder Hsiao also show the apartment where we lived when we were companions. It was pretty nice, larger than the one we have now. Elder Hsiao is going home tomorrow, so these will probably be the last I send of him.

      Transfers were last night. Elder Bergeson and I didn't change at all. We are both pretty happy with that as there is a lot going on in the Branch and we want to be a part of it.

     The one change we did have was the creation of a new zone. The new zone is called the International Zone and, as we understand it, contains the language programs with the exception of Spanish of course. That should mean Korean, Chinese, and Tongan. Also, probably, ASL and maybe Samoan. I am not sure if there is a defined Samoan program right now.

      We don't know who our district leader is yet, but the zone leader should be Elder Kuo. As far as we know, he is the only zone leader, which would be weird as there is always two. The new zone should help us coordinate better for English class and finding techniques.

     As the Chinese program grows, we also could have a Chinese district which would be neat as we could then hold our meetings in Chinese. The new Chinese missionary should come tomorrow. From what we have heard, the next one will probably come during the transfer. I think both of them should be fluent in Chinese.

A lot of things have been happening here and we have been able to find Chinese people who are interested in being taught. There seems to be a lot of Chinese people moving in around the Branch. It really feels like there has been a big change we have seen in the past month in regards to our work. It is easy to see the God's hand in the work we have been doing as he guides us and those we teach. We have made a lot trips to the Visitor Center lately. Every time we are there, Chinese people will unexpectedly come in and we will be able to talk to them.

Love,

Elder Bowman

2:23 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, August 24, 2013

August 12

Hey All,

Thanks for all the letters this week and last week. Pictures are great! I am close to Concepcion, so we go every P day and downloading is really fast. I really loved the pig wrestling story. How funny!

Anyways things are crazy as always.

Don´t worry too much about the security- I think my companion scared me more than anything as long as we stay out of certain sectors at night and in the morning we should be good.

Still, I am afraid to pull out or carry my camera around - we already get more than enough attention being to griengas...so you won´t be getting very many pictures. There are just too many people with hoods on that lurk around doing nothing on the street.

Where to start. I am getting to know the sector which means cleaning organizing and studying.

Step 1 - Cleaning

When I first got to the house there was lot of green and gray things growing on the walls but I have eliminated most of them with vinegar, water, and after that bleach.

There is a giant fear here of not having water after an earthquake. Our tiny house had at least 60 gallons of water stored in different size soda and juice bottles. People had been storing them for years, and when I emptied them there were green and white things growing in these bottles. Gross right?! The sinks don´t drain well. I have tried vinegar and baking soda, but they still wouldn´t drain. I'm going to try bleach next. Cleaning has been the first step.

Step 2 - Light

When I came to the house we did not have light in our room. We were doing numbers and plans in the dark with a flashlight and my companion said they had been doing so for more than two weeks. The socket has been changed since, and now we have light. I hadn´t realized how much I under appreciate this blessing. Try going without light for a week and you will know what I mean

Step 3 - Organizing

Because there was no light, a lot of the paperwork got behind so we have been organizing and updating. We have also been organizing our companionship getting to know one another and helping each other grow. We take note of which things we can do better and how we can work together to maximize our talents and make up for our weakness.

Step 4 - Studying

We think biggest weakness as a companionship is Spanish. We get along but well - there is a strong need to understand and communicate well. So we have been studying like crazy. The biggest challenge here when it comes to teaching is naturally the Word of Wisdom. Almost everyone drinks and smokes, so we have spent extra time studying it.

It rains here - I mean rains like Florida but cold. I am going to have to buy another umbrella. We get soaked leaving butt marks of water in the chairs of the members' houses through the towels.

We did a pancake breakfast with the missionary counsel of the ward I made pancakes, and we all got to know each other a little more. i think it really helped us have greater confidence with some of the members of the ward.

I have this recipe for you it is from a member a natural remedy for a sore throught or something like that. it is kind of strange but I thought you might like it.

Spiritual Thought - Just don't let rainy days get you down, because after four consecutive days of rain... Today is a lovely day of sun.

Lots of Love,

Hermana Bowman

1 Attached Images

8:59 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, August 17, 2013

August 5

Good bye to my Angol Zone!

Hey all.

My new sector is called The Marina. It is in the city of San Pedro which is just south of Concepcion. It is actually warmer here in the day but colder at night. Go figure.

My new companion is Hermana Van De Merwe, who is 20 years old. She is from Draper, Utah, and was studying public communication and art history before her mission. She makes up songs and sings in the street, the shower, while cooking, etc.. needlessly to say, I love her.

She has been in Chile for 3 months, making me the senior companion. It ends up that I can speak Spanish a lot better than I thought I could, because we ended up teaching alright here.

Our sector is one of the most ghetto sectors in the mission. Just last week, sisters from the ward next to ours were robbed.

The members and people we have contacted in the street have banned us from going into certain sectors (pretty much our whole sector) at different times of night.

There is a big problem with drugs and alcohol here. It is terrible and really hard on the youth. The other day I had a conversation with one of the youth that was accompanying us on visits about whether it is bad to try out marijuana. Just to try it you know.

I think I explained it in the way that you explained it to me.

Me: Is dirt good for you.

Youth: No

Me: Why not?

Youth: It can make you sick

Me: Exactly, you know it isn´t good for you

Youth: Is marijuana good for you, a good thing?
Me: No

Youth: Why not?

Me: It's obvious.
Youth: They say it's healthy, like medicine.
Me: So if everyone was eating dirt -which you know is bad for you- you would it it too, right?

Youth: No.

Me: Exactly and it is the same with marijuana. You know it is bad for you, so don't take it. You don´t need to try it to know its bad for you. You don´t need to eat dirt, just because everyone else is.

Youth: Yeah, I know but my brother he´s having trouble with it with his friends. He doesn´t have good friends. And he´s just not as mature as me (younger brother by 2 yrs)

Me: Alright, what night is good to have a Family Home Evening with you and your brother and the bishop? ( The dad drinks a lot and they don´t have a mom)...

This was like my second day here. I didn´t even know the kid.

Needlessly to say, things are as interesting as always.

There is lots more I could tell you guys-.

Life here is always interesting. But I don't want us to be like the Athenians - if you don't know what I mean look at Acts 17:21.

(Click to Read Acts 17:21)

I was studying in the New Testament this week.

That will be my spiritual thought - Do! - Don´t just talk and listen.

Love you lots,

Hermana Bowman

PS. Thanks for the letters

Another photo of my Angol Zone. I will miss them!

11:19 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

August 12, 2013

Dear Family,

Thanks for the emails. Michele's blog post was excellent, and I loved seeing the photos from Mollie. A 17 year old ward mission leader? Wow. Sounds like an eventful week.

The recorder has already proven useful a few times. Right now, the main use it has seen is in appointments with other people. Oftentimes there is a lot said that I don't understand, so recording and then reviewing the conversation helps me isolate the words and phrases I don't know.

The bridge in the picture is over by Long Beach. I took it up in Palos Verdes when we were visiting a few places. Actually, the local missionaries helped out with a race which takes place on the bridge on Labor Day weekend. It is a fairly huge event as people actually get to run on the bridge from what I've heard.

Yesterday was really busy. We had a lot of nonmembers at church. We had ten total and actually had more nonmembers than members when church started, because most of the Branch members were late.

It was quite exciting. Elder Bergeson and I also gave talks in Sacrament meeting. It was in Chinese, of course, and the first Chinese talk I had given. I am not really sure how much of what I said made sense, but they all of course said I did well. And told me to speak up. I was worried about it all last week so it was good to finish it.

I also had another talk to give in the single's ward of the stake north of ours. It was one of those touring talks that we had planned. That one did not go that well. In fact, I would rather not think about it.

Fortunately, the day turned out great. We had dinner at the Chen's house in the evening. Their whole family was there. The Chen's are a couple who are in our Branch. They have five children, all married, two of which are in the branch as well. All five were there with their children last night so it was a crazy, but fun evening. We had a chance to talk with some of them about their missions and compare the differences.

Transfers are coming up the week after this one and promise some changes. We found out we actually have 2 new Chinese missionaries coming in. I have given up trying to guess what is going to happen as the situation seems to change every few days. In any case, I think it is probable that I will end up moving somewhere. From the sound of it, some other changes will be taking place as President Weidman starts his second transfer here.

There isn't too much more going on here that I want to go into right now, but just know that everything is going well. I am excited to see how things progress here.

Love,

Elder Bowman

5:41 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Sunday, August 11, 2013

August 5, 2013

(Click to Enlarge)

Dear Family,

Thanks for the letters. First off, don't worry about the recorder, Miss Donna sent me one. Be sure to pass on my thanks to her.
The genealogy conference you went to sounds interesting. Lately, I haven't really been thinking much about how I would use genealogy here, but it certainly is something that could prove to be useful. It has been a little busy lately, but maybe as we near this fireside I will have some time to give it more thought.

       A lot happened this week, more than I probably have time to talk about, but I can give you some highlights. First of all, this is the best week we have had for attendance at English class with 18 students on Tuesday. The Korean missionaries have a beginning class they have started now so not all are Chinese, but most are. Wednesday, we had a special conference about English class presented by Elder Hsiao and Elder Kuo.

       It was a fantastic conference. Elder Hsiao is simply unbelievable. I still don't know Elder Kuo too well, but Elder Hsiao speaks very highly of him and says he is the most organized person he has ever met. In any case, the conference they held was really impressive. The purpose of the conference was more or less to present Los Angeles English. They went over the benefits of teaching English, how to run an English class, and the current organization of the English class we made. President and Sister Weidman were present for the majority of it. Also, the Korean missionaries were there as well as the ASL missionaries and three companionships of Spanish missionaries. Apart from ASL, they are all planning to start an English class using the organization and material we prepared.

     Elder Hsiao is now in charge of the English class program in the mission. Before the missionaries can open their own English class (or English Unit), they need to go through a Startup checklist and run it by Elder Hsiao. These Spanish missionaries will be the start of incorporating the Spanish program into English class. Our English class is going to be officially mission sponsored and run mission wide. Back when we were first starting English class, when I was first in LA, Elder Hsiao told me that this was the eventual goal. It is hard to believe he actually pulled it off.

We also had some other successes this week, which I am out of time to tell you. Maybe next week.

Love,

Elder Bowman

3:50 PM Posted by Sequoia 1

Saturday, August 10, 2013

July 29

Hola everyone,

SO, cambios and I am changing. BOO... :( but at the same time. I am glad to reflect back on all of the changes that have occurred in my time here.
The ward is stronger and better able to retain members. About five families have been reactivated. We have a mission leader. The sisters in the house are working better together. We have a whiteboard and a map. We have cleaned up the phone, the menos activo list. We have members that work with the missionaries. We have regular Family Home Evenings where we can invite people. There have been a plethora of changes. In the moment, progress seems so slow. But really a lot has happened in the time I was here.

Here is a picture of me and Keila. (Click here to learn more about Keila). It's from my going away party they held for me spur of the moment last night.

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This is my ward missionary group. This is what we started with. We have a lot more now, but these three have always been ready to help us when we needed them for arranging activities or coming to lessons. This is Keila, Victor, and Diego. Diego is now our ward mission leader. He is 17 and a fantastic leader.

They went with us to the canteras, which are small lakes. I've been wanting to go since I came here, so I am really glad I got to squish it in. The canteras were mines, but then one day they struck water and filled up. Supposedly, it filled really fast and all of the machines are still down there under the water, which is evidently really deep.

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These are some of the families I helped reactivate and Sergio was baptized. This is from the party they threw for me.

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Meet Momita, also known as Hermana Pati. She is fantastic - just a beautiful and wonderful person. She has taught me a lot about discerning needs of others and then teaching them how to act to fill those needs. Hard to explain, but she is wonderful at discerning the needs of others and then straight out questioning them. She uses questions beautifully.

Things like asking sisters in the ward...

Momita: How are you?
Hermana: Good.

Momita: (Looks in Hermana's eyes) No you are not. What is wrong?
Hermana: Nothing.

Momita: (Long hug) You are important to me. How can I help you?

She sees things, and then she finds ways to invite people to act - to change in order to feel better. She is one of my favorite people here, and I WILL MISS learning from her - a lot!

Love you all lots,

Thanks for the letters,

Hermana Bowman

4:39 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Monday, August 5, 2013

July 29

Dear Family,

I ended up not buying the voice recorder because they looked expensive, and I wasn't sure which one would work well. Could you order one online? It needs to be small enough that I could put it in a pocket and it would be nice if it could use a memory card I could save recordings to. Other than that I leave it in your hands.

The Chinese Family History chart sounds fine. We are still preparing for our Family History Fireside in September. We want it to be big so we are creating flyers to hand out at the places we normally advertise English class at.

I think I have told you this before, but I am now companions with Elder Bergeson. In fact, I have been for the last nine weeks. We are living in Lomita, which is just south of Torrance. It is an apartment owned by a family in the branch. It is nice albeit a little small. Elder Casey and Hsiao were still living in the old apartment up until this week.

Elder Bergeson

There have been a lot of changes this past week. Before I go into that, Elder Hsiao's name is with an "H" and not a "T". In the Taiwan romanization, "Ts" would be "ts" as in cats, whereas "Hs" would be an "sh" sound. Also, it is "iao" pronounced "ee-OW"

Alright, now for the changes. A week from yesterday, Elder Hsiao and Casey met with the Bishops and ward mission leaders in a number of wards up north to discuss creating a Chinese group up around USC and UCLA. A group is a church unit smaller than a branch and, in many cases, a precursor to a branch. As a result of this meeting, Elder Casey and Elder Hsiao moved up North and we split our areas. Therefore, only Elder Bergeson and I will be covering the Branch and the other Chinese companionship will cover the Northern part of the mission.

President Weidman also moved another missionary into the Chinese program. His name is Elder Kuo, and he is of Chinese descent, but doesn't speak it fluently. He was a Spanish Elder before and only has two transfers left in the mission. His Chinese is probably at least as good as mine, which is to say, overall lacking.

Elder Casey is going to be with Elder Kuo's companion for much of the rest of the transfer. He is going to be in an city called Watts, which has a reputation as the most dangerous area in the mission. His first night there, they had a drug bust across the street from his apartment. Still, I am sure he will be fine. The areas that are too dangerous are red zones, in other words areas missionaries aren't allowed to enter. Elder Casey's area has three, and he is smart enough to know to stay away from them.

Tell Michele I loved the picture of Madeleine and the Cheetos...and those animal heads are creepy.

Love,

Elder Bowman

12:34 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, August 3, 2013

July 22

Dear Family,

I only have 45 minutes now to communicate. It leaves me about 15 minutes to write to you all every week. This week I have little time for uploading photos.

Anyway, life here is good. We had twelve menos activos at the church the other day and three investigators. This is good!

Sometimes, I really wish that our Alpine ward had missionaries.

Missionaries play a bizillion roles in the wards here. We fill callings, matchmake friendships, teach how to fill callings, teach leadership skills, help with activities with the youth, help troubled youth, teach planning to the leaders, help prepare the youth for missions, let people know about illnesses and deaths, and help with the deaths. The fact of the matter is we are working at establishing the wards here, and it is a lot of work.

Communication is everything...which is why sometimes I wish I could speak Spanish better. I often feel limited in my ability to communicate and express. Still, I know I am getting better everyday. I think I just need to study Spanish every day no matter what - sí o sí. Still, if you could find me some blank spiral bound flash cards it would help. They don´t sell them here, and I like to walk and study.

Other things to send me. Dark Chocolate chips. The chocolate here...they tastes like wax. The first ingredient is fat, the second sugar, and the third cocoa powder. I have to melt it down and add cocoa powder and let it harden to cook with it.

Unusual thing that happened...Well, this morning we had to cook at the church for an activity that we had this afternoon. But well, evidently someone died last night. So, we were at the church alone cooking with a nearby casket for company. A bit creepy.

In this picture. Hermana Chavez stole the camera. I am cooking for the bishop. His father died so we collected notes from the ward and baked him some delicious no bake cookies.

Spiritual thought

I have been reading in Jesus the Christ. Sometimes I feel that I will never finish it, I still have about 600 pages more, but it is helping me better understand the strength and ability of Christ.

I am in the part about temptations. Christ grew grace by grace. He waxed strong. He was not born with the understanding and remembrance of his pre-earth life or calling. He was not completely clueless though. He had a strong understanding of what he did know and must have had the spirit with him, as he did teach the rabbis and scholars at twelve.

The first time he is acknowledged by God to man shows how very important he is to God's plan. This is at his baptism. "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased..."

After his baptism, I think he started to realize how important his calling was, how strong he needed to be. He went into the desert near the River Jordan and fasted for forty days - to consecrate himself - to understand his calling- to give himself time to think.

Then, the devil comes and tempts him.

IF you are the son of God make this stone into bread. Your Father wouldn't want you to be hungry,

IF you are the son of God cast yourself off of this temple. After all, the scriptures say angels will carry you.

This is the largest temptation. The temptation to doubt who he was. To doubt the answer that he received at his baptism.

I think this is one of the largest temptation for us as well - to doubt our calling and abilities. To doubt the answers, miracles, and callings that we have seen and received in our life. To doubt what Heavenly Father knows and wants us to be. Even if we don't understand things with an eternal perspective, we can strive, as Christ did, to put busyness, doubt and temptation aside, and really focus on what we should be doing and who we can become.

Love you all lots,

Hermana Bowman

P.S. Loved the pics. Can you send a family pic the one from pre-mission? I don't have one.

Gracias.

7:38 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

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