There was something I wanted from home, but I can´t remember what -  Oh yeah sharpie pens - that would be great. They don´t exist here, and I have a great fear of losing the two I have that I use everyday. Ohh and makeup! It is ridiculously expensive here -  like $16 for a tube of mascara . Not a lot of makeup, just a little makeup, Mother. Gold tone smoke eye makeup and eyeliner and mascara, if you can. I think that is all for my box.

For Riley 

We are working on finding people by 'fishing.' It is when you don´t go to the people but stay planted in one spot and let the people come to you. 

It is planning ahead of time. With a new cambio we have lots of oportunities to plan

For Mandarin maybe you can try to work through the English-Mandarin school programs that they have. Offer tutoring for children or talk with the education system to see if you can volunteer to help native Madarin-speaking children learn English.  

Ask the city for a service project that your ward can do. we are missionaries and represent a congregation of about 60 adults or for the youth, etc. What can we do.

Love you lots,

Your Sis

      Thanks for all the ideas and emails. I sent the letter Saturday afternoon, so it should getting there in a few days. 

     I'm glad you got the photo with Eric Hilton and me. We just happened to run into each other at a Fireside. Really surprised me.

Eric Hilton and me at a Fireside

    Today, we went to a part of downtown called the Alley. They have some street shops there kind of like the ones we saw in Mexico, with a bunch of different places selling a variety of items.

Missionaries go there fairly often on Pday, but this was the first time I got to go since downtown is so far away from where we live. It was pretty fun. I didn't buy much, but there was a lot to see. Elder Burr and I bought a hot dog wrapped in bacon which was delicious.

    Elder Burr is really outgoing and loud. He is always upbeat and energetic. He is a lot of fun.

   We had a training for new missionaries this Wednesday where President Weidman spoke to us. He has really been pushing lately for us to teach more simply in our teaching. We had a member of the Seventy talk to us some time ago and one of the thing he focused on was teaching the lessons simply. In other words, don't use a lot of analogies and examples, but just teach the doctrine and teach it simply.

    The principles we teach don't need embellishment or examples to understand if we teach it so it is clear. President Weidman emphasized the point that it is the Spirit who is supposed to teach, not us. Therefore, try to make yourself a smaller part of the teaching. People aren't going to understand it due to your analogies, but due to the things they feel. This concept has been a big focus of the mission right now. A meeting can't go by without someone mentioning it.

Elder Bowman

lots of love

your sis

----

 There wasn't too much change this week as we are continuing to work on the same things we have been doing. We did try Taiwanese shaved ice which was delicious; also, persimmons and passion fruit. Both were good, but the passion fruit looked really weird.

Elder Bergeson, Elder Burr, and Me

       Anyway, we are still working on coming up with ways to work find people and use our time more effectively. The universities are not in our area, since we are focusing on southern part of the mission. English class is good, but I feel like there isn't a lot of interest around where we live.

      Perhaps another activity would be more effective. Actually, we have a fair amount of people we are meeting with right now, but we are not able to meet with them regularly as most of them are busy a lot. If we could only meet with all of the at least once a week, we would be doing great. 

We are still trying to think of an activity for next month.

Lots of work, but not much else new with me. There should be pretty big changes over the next few weeks.

Love,

                  Elder Bowman

Thanks for all the letters! So much is going on there. Good to hear about everything.

                          Love you,

                                 Elder Bowman

My choir is going really well. I had seven people this last Sunday.

Not a lot for Utah, but for here it's a great number. 

Each group of people has their own mission or purpose.  Some peope in the the groups are more independent than others. Some need more time and attention, but even with the differences, I know my part is to help each person be happier by helping them meet the goals they have for their life and for eternity. Helping and loving one another is what we are commanded to do by Christ.

I've been pondering these questions and really reflecting on what I can do or say each time I'm with someone.

What sort of impact am I leaving on them? Is my impact positive negative or neutral? How can I be a stronger influence of good or (in other words) God?

- Love your blog, Mich.

She is standing and becoming a person. Well that's an improvement. This green cape thing, it's  really pretty. I want one. Love you lots. Your sis...

                                             October 1

Hi Everyone, 

     Sorry, once again I don't have much time. I haven't received the box yet, but should get it this week. We had a tour today at the Visitor's Center which took several hours.

     The Word Buddhist Leadership Youth, or something like that, had a conference a few days ago and came for a tour at the Visitor Center. There were a few Chinese speakers from Taiwan, but also from Japan, Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. They seemed to enjoy it and were very nice. Elder Shakespeare, the Visitor's Center director, did a question and answer afterward, and I was impressed at how he handled the question.

 It made me think of the trade offs that we do in Alpine in the ward.  Daddy will help with the computers. Then Landen will come help with cutting up the trees. I will give people flowers. The Hardings will shovel the snow...and it goes on. Everyone pitches in.

 A burdened shared is a a burden lighter.