Hermana Mollie, Elder Riley and Elder Jake Bowman

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.

(Click to Enlarge)

(Click to Enlarge)

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.

(Click to Enlarge)

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

(Click to Enlarge)

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

Sunday, July 28, 2013

July 29

Hi Everyone,

The pictures I attached are on the Peninsula where most of the Branch lives.

(Click to Enlarge Photos)

The Peninsula contains four cities, but usually we just call it Palos Verdes which is one of the cities there. As I mentioned in an earlier letter, the animal of Palos Verdes is the peacock, and they have them roam wild. These are a few pictures of some male peacocks, which are less common than the female.

By the way, it would be nice to read another of Mollie's emails; I haven't heard anything from her in awhile.

     English class is growing. We had 14 people on Tuesday. There were only a few on Saturday because people went out of town, but we also had a new student as well.

     We also had a few students come to the Pioneer Day activity on Saturday.

     The website is being left as it is for now. A friend of our Branch Mission Leader, Eric Chen, agreed to help us make it, so he is going to make a separate site over the next couple months and then move it over to ours. It should be awesome.

    Elder Hsiao and Casey are doing fine. I don't see them as often as I used to, but they have been working on UCLA's campus. This is Elder Hsiao's last transfer here. In about three weeks, he will return to Utah, and about 10 days after he gets back, he will start at BYU for the fall semester. We should be getting a new Chinese missionary when he leaves. It will certainly be different without Elder Hsiao here.

Speaking of changes, it actually rained hard enough for me to get wet. It has "rained" maybe 3 or 4 times since I have been here usually no more than a light drizzle. I still hope that will rain hard one day. It seems like the weather never really changes here and I miss the seasons.

The movie posters are the only real way to tell the passing seasons. We have had a recent change from Minions and Snails to Smurfs and I am still not sure what else.

Also, somewhat interesting, last Tuesday they had us come home a little early and told us to avoid being out late in areas where there are a high population of Black people due to recent riots over a court decision. It wasn't a problem for us, as most of the places we go would be safe, but some other missionaries have had to be careful about which places they go.

Last note before I go, make sure you are maintaining a $200 amount on my debit card. I am thinking about buying a voice recorder to help me learn Chinese, which would be a little more costly than usual purchases.

Love,
Elder Bowman

2:09 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, July 27, 2013

July 15, 2013
Hey all,

So, you all are going to need to write me a little early hopefully the day before or something like that so that I can get your letters before I write you, but don´t worry too much about it this week.

Lot of things happened this week...

Anyway, here is something weird that happened in comic form. One day we had eight drunk men individually approach and talk to us. Usually we get about two in a week, but this day we got eight! I know because I counted them.

The next day we happened to talk to this man who only worships women...he was kind of creepy.

But, hey this is part of the art of contacting and looking for people to teach. We get hippies, gypsies, atheists, drunks, and every type of face - really- passing our way. It has given me a new perspective about people and the faces we share with others.

"I only worship women."
(Click to Enlarge)


Goals vs. Reality (Click to Enlarge)

So we have a new sister in the house her name is Hermana Chavez. She is twenty - a sweet, patient, and silly soul from Peru. Her Spanish is beautiful, and she speaks and constructs what she says very cleanly. She is always understood. It is something I would one day like to have.

We shared our Wednesday night doing silly things and getting to know each other, like playing with this hairpiece that she inherited from her ¨mommy¨of the mission. What do you think? I am not sure long, dark hair suits me.

I have been reading a bit through Jesus the Christ. A fantastic book that is almost scripture. It is a slow read but very good. It makes me think about a lot of different things, such as conviction. Do I practice what I teach? How does this play into integrity?

Many people say that they believe things but don´t show it in their actions. It is like the people that only say I repent and believe that this is repentance. But repentance is truly a change, forcing yourself to go in a different direction, so that you can progress as a person. If we say we believe something we need to be able to match it to an action; if not, it is not true belief. We are not saved if we only say so. We must work out our salvation.

So I invite you to go to work - to up your integrity level.

Lots of love,

Hermana Bowman

6:43 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Sunday, July 21, 2013

July 15

Dear Family,

I didn't take any interesting photos this week so I borrowed some from Elder Bergeson. The pictures are from a baptism in early June. The person being baptized is Michael who is next to me. He is back in China for the summer, but will be coming back in the fall for school. His baptism was right after transfers, so he had learned most of the lessons before I was in the companionship, but I got to be there for his baptism. He is about 6 months younger than me and is awesome.

Thanks for the curry recipe, Father. It was more complicated than I thought I would be, but I might get around to trying it some time.

It is great that Russel was able to leave on his mission. It is a little later than he had hoped, but I know he will do great as a missionary.

As for Facebook, we are working on getting more photos.

Scaled fish sounds alright, but how do you cook catfish? I still have some left and would still like to know. Also, we bought it at the Chinese supermarket, where they have live fish in tanks and dead ones that aren't prepared at all. In those cases, I think it might take more than wrapping it in Saran Wrap with butter and a microwave.

This week was the start of the new transfer and went fairly well for us. We still are holding off on going to USC, as we still need to clarify policy. We did stop by a couple other small colleges to see if they have potential. It looks like we are probably allowed on those campuses, but as far as finding Chinese people, we aren't sure if they are that helpful.

English class is going great. The class I taught Saturday had ten people in it. We also have someone working on our website. By the time it is done, it should be easier to find through online searches. Right now, it doesn't even show up if you search for it. We have some other ideas we are going to look into this week and have some members who offered to help us.

I have a few things I need to ask you for. First, I still need my insurance information. If you could email it I can print it out and carry it around. Also, I need to know the exact time I was born. Don't ask.

Last, I loved to get to see a picture of Jake.

Love,

Elder Bowman

3:33 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, July 20, 2013

July 9

Hi Everyone,

I got the box. I have already used up most of the mixes. They were all great!. I especially loved the blueberry muffin mix. I made blueberry pancake stars for the fourth of July. Happy Birthday, Sister Jolley! Still young in the journey of eternal life. I hope you have a fantastic year.

I loved hearing about Daddy´s shaved head last week. Funny how they made money that way. You should send me pictures. Still, how hard for the Utley family.

Anyway, remember the guy I drew a profile of months ago? He was baptized this last week! Here are pictures of the baptism. He was so excited; he got the church almost an hour early. The good thing was we were also there.

(Click for Profile Letter)

The bishop wasn´t in town. So his second counselor was in charge of the baptism. We have been banned from the font since the sisters flooded the chapel. Guido, the 2nd counselor, didn´t know that it takes almost three hours to fill the font. He left only an hour to fill the font. The water line was really low and the water was cold because both taps were on to fill the font faster. We ended up boiling pots of water and carrying them to the font so that the water was at least room temp.

It was crazy but the baptism was great. I really hope he will continue in the church and continue sharing the gospel with his children.

About the Slaven's Effect - Slavens is a missionary from the MTC. He told me this philosophy, and it stuck.

( Click for Slaven's Effect Letter)

Sorry, I don't have much time today.

Lots of love,

Hermana Bowman

10:45 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, July 13, 2013

North Torrance

July 9, 2013

Hi Everyone,

It is transfers this week, so Pday is Tuesday. There hasn't been a change with us. The Chinese elders are all staying just as they are.

It is great to hear that you are making progress with the Family History. We are planning a fireside in the Branch for September in which the focus will be Family History. I still don't really know how much the church has for Chinese as far as family history, but we should be able to help somehow. We haven't really tried seeing if there is much of an interest in it, but I think there definitely would be for some people.

My Fourth of July was pretty fun. We had to be home by seven, so it was somewhat of a shorter day for us. We helped out all day at the Ranch Palos Verdes Independence Day celebration held by the city. We helped out at some booths and with the activities they held. It was good to do some service, and we got to eat some pie from the pie eating contest.

In other news, a Chinese woman said I look like a girl! I am still a little confused.

I was at church in Santa Monica talking to another Chinese member, and she just walked up to me, said it, laughed, and walked away. I had never even met her before. To be fair, a better translation would probably be "You have delicate features like a girl," which I am not sure is all that much better. I am trying not to take it to heart. She turned out to be really nice and told me I can call her to practice my Chinese, which is a big help as I am terrible at understanding Chinese especially on the phone.

Also, I bought a catfish last week and tried to cook it with little success. In other words, my companion sat on the sofa laughing as I tried to salvage edible pieces off the bottom of the pan. No matter what I did the flesh would always stick to the pan. I remember you cooking catfish in Florida which tasted great. Do you have any advice? Also, if the Father would like to share how to make curry, I could give it a try one night.

I haven't seen the new mission president since last I saw him so not much to tell from personal experience. He seems very involved in our work and seems to trust us all a lot. He is really helping us find a way to work on the college campuses. It has been an effective way of finding people for Chinese missionaries in other missions and has a lot of potential for us. We have SMC, UCLA, and potentially USC. We aren't sure about USC yet, because it is private, but the other schools should be fine.

We are still looking for other options as well closer to the Branch. We still have a lot of things we are working on - a lot of half formed ideas which we hope we will eventually be able to use.

Love,

Elder Bowman

8:48 AM Posted by Sequoia 0

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

July 1

Dear Family,

We only have forty five minutes now to write every week. Some people were using more than the hour, so we've been cut back.

Right now, I am in a different city, Los Angeles, with two other sisters Hermana Lopez and Rivera. They are both great.

Hermana Lopez

Hermana Rivera

I love these two sisters even though I only spent a day with them. Hermana Lopez has a beautiful voice when speaking that invites people to listen. It is a gift I wish that I had.

A LOT has happened this week. Life as always is crazy.

I can't send many pictures this week, because of the computer.

I bought a new pair of boots this week. The others started shedding the leather and looking hoboish, hence I needed a new pair. I went to this shop where all they sell is used boots. It`s a tiny store with these tables that are stacked high with right boots. You have to search through and find one that you like and then the owner Jorge (who is a Jehovah Witness) goes and hunts for the other. We were probably there for about an hour scrambling and scrimmaging for a pair of boots large enough to fit me with a good sole. Still I loved it. These old boots were from all over the world. I eventually settled on what I think are a pair of old military men's boots, but they might be for women it is hard to tell.

Still they fit like a sock and don`t have to be broken in which is a blessing given all the walking I do every day.

Other fun stories. The elders were telling me the other day about the cat funeral service they had to perform. While they were at lunch, some cat who had been playing with the engine of a car up and died. The family who loves and has like 15 cats went to see what was wrong and well... they found a dead cat. (I do feel bad for them - really.) Anyway, evidently the elder had to dig a grave and give a blessing for this cat in the rain. Still, I know they loved it.

We had a Primary talent show. I read and acted out a parable with my companion. The decorations were beautiful, but I couldn´t get pictures. There were balloon-flower creations strung together - hanging high in the gym with streamers. Everyone came and had a good time,and a lot of menos activos were there, too.

I am still working on my poncho I think I may be able to finish it next week, but I am not certain.

Hermana Garcia returned to her home today. This is why I am in Los Angeles.

Four people live in our house. There is my companion - Hermana Nelson, then also Hermana Garcia y Hermana Calsina. Hermana Garcia was my part-time companion - as in 1 or 2 days a week when our companions went to do exchanges with other companionships. They are kind of like women zone leaders. Anyway, Hermana Garcia went home. I am not sure why, but I think it is something that happened in her family. She said she would return to the mission as soon as possible.

Los Angeles is more of a city. Today, we went to this little spice shop, and I bought lots of things.

One thing we have been working this week is unifying the ward. We held this Cine or Movie Night the other day. We cooked popcorn and kettle corn watched a movie and played games. It really helped. I think this past Sunday's attendance went up by 10.

By the way, I have a new testimony of callings. Boy do we need every person! I miss half of the callings that we had at home. It would be fantastic to have a ward greeter or a Beehive secretary. I mean., no one greets the new people.
And I found a 13 year old recent convert by knocking doors. She just got lost after loving the church. She didn't show up one week, and then never went back. No one did anything or really noticed, I guess. But if we had a Beehive secretary, there would be attendance, and people wouldn't get lost. EVERY CALLING IS SIGNIFICANT AND OH SO NEEDED. We don't have half the main callings, and everyone could even be helped by the smaller callings.

Spiritual Thought

I have been thinking about influence - about what I write on other people souls. How do people feel when I am with them and when I leave them. I want to achieve what I call the Slaven's Effect which is:

^`You never know what someone else is going through, so just try to make their day a little brighter.^

I have been working on this. For example, I brought pancake mix and cooked it for the sisters here in Los Angeles this morning. Find moments to make peoples lives a little brighter., like giving away some of my flowers.

Enjoy the heat it is winter here.

Lots of love,

Hermana Bowman

PS I have been reading out of a small, green book called Member Missionary or something like that. It is great! If you can get Riley a copy or see if he has read it, I know it would help him out. It is oriented to the American mindset, but there are a lot of things I can use here in Chile.

5:33 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

Saturday, July 6, 2013

July 1

Hi Everyone!

This week our new mission president arrived. President Weidman and his wife arrived in LA Thursday and spoke to us on Friday. A member told us President Weidman has his own page on Wikipedia so you can look him up. I think his first name is David, and he is the former CEO of a company.

Wikipedia Link - David N. Weidman

It is somewhat odd having a new mission president, because we are not sure if the old mission president's policies remain in place. For example, President Baker had us run every morning, but is that still a policy Pres. Weidman will uphold?

President Weidman and his wife arrived. President Baker and his wife have left.

The meeting Friday cleared up some of the questions. President Weidman also talked to the Chinese missionaries briefly after the meeting. He told us that he was interested in expanding the current Chinese program in the mission. He talked with us a little about what we had been doing and some of the things we haven't quite figured out yet. From what we talked about, it sounds like he will be ready to help us use some of the resources we have that we haven't quite been able to use. We all have high hopes.

This past Sunday, the Chinese missionaries presented a few brief messages for the fifth Sunday. Elder Casey and I shared ours together. It went all right. Our Chinese isn't very good still, so it was a little bit of a struggle, but the Branch was very patient and supportive. They are a great help when it comes to learning Chinese. When they didn't understand something I would say, they would clarify for me.

I also had a chance to talk to Elder Smith this week, one of my previous companions from the MTC who is serving in Arcadia. He gave us a call to let us know about a Chinese member who doesn't speak English moving into our mission. We didn't talk long, but it was surprise to hear from him.

Michele, tell me about your new place in New Jersey.

Love,

Elder Bowman

9:32 PM Posted by Sequoia 0

TOP NEWS

Blog Archive

Labels

Favorite Links

Subscribe To

Followers

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Monday, August 5, 2013

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Saturday, July 6, 2013

About Mollie

What We Believe

About Riley