This week was a typical week comprising of accidental missile threats, flying to Oahu, Facebook, and Youth Conference.

Malo e lelei!

​The morning we got the missile warning we found out that many people had broken down because they thought this was the end but I realize more than ever that the knowledge we have of the Gospel and what happens after we die can bring so much hope to others. It really motivated me to work harder and is a fantastic conversation starter ;) 

This week we also had a Missionary Leadership Counsel in Oahu so me and my companion and the zone leaders flew in the morning to Oahu, got to counsel and work with the other mission leaders and our Mission President then fly back to Maui in the evening. It was a lot of fun and I am very excited for the 2018 year I get to spend as a missionary. Thank you to all who support me and email me it means so much to hear from you :)

Lastly, this last Sunday we got the opportunity to hold a "MTC Class" with the youth from our stake. The missionaries got with a "District" (Ours had been called to Argentina ;)) and teach them how to teach the Restoration. Afterwards we went actual tracting and me and my 2 missionaries were able to give away a Book of Mormon in less than 15 minutes to a lady who was genuinely interested in our message, it was a cool experience I'm glad the two I was with got to have. It was such a fun activity and fun to get to know the youth in our stake.  

And for those of you who have not received a Facebook friend request from me, go follow me on Facebook! It's such a blessing to get to use social media as a way to share the gospel :)

Have a wonderful week and remember this church is true! I promise. 

Sister Bowen 

MLC yesterday

I apologize this email is coming a day late but I was at MLC yesterday! Me and Sister Elgueta were able to fly to Oahu in the morning for our MLC meeting with the zone leaders and then fly home again in the evening. I was also able to see Sister Chappel who has been on Big Island for months and I havent been able to see her. Now there's an experience very few people get to have 😊

MLC was very inspiring and I am so grateful to be one of the missionaries to be in a leadership position for this whole year and to hear President Bekker say that this year is going to be historical for the Hawaii Honolulu mission. I am so blessed for so many reasons to be here! Not to mention we were trained how to use the Areabook app on our phones as well as facebook, the Areabook app is amazing and going to really help us in our work, you would be so jealous to see how it works dad 😉

I'm glad to hear that Natalie has her braces and that she got her Patriarchal blessing, be sure to tell her that my blessing has changed my life and nothing in the world is more precious to me.
I hope all is well this week and I love you so much 😊

Aloha at,
Sister Bowen
Pics:
Our Zone on Maui (Maui is 1 zone)
Me and Sister Chappel

More pictures to come next week!

Just some pictures this week

Just some pictures this week: 

Christmas eve dinner (Fresh caught and cut raw fish!!) and Christmas day dinner with an awesome Tongan family

Christmas Day missionary party (WE GOT TO WATCH MOANA :)) and out white elephant wins haha

Awesome Christmas Gifts :)))) I LOVE the ipod with the talks (I listen to them non stop especially "The myth of Perfection")and me and Sister Elgueta listen to Showtime all the time it the car haha. Not to mention the phone has been so much fun to use in lessons and get ready to use as out official area book. Thank you a million times for it <3

Nana and Papa sent me some money so I bought a Maui Built shirt with some of it :) #Supercute

Uncle Joe and the "Fish House" (Uncle Fillimon actually owns the fish house and he looks like the sailor on the frozen fish sticks packages at Walmart, I'll get a picture soon ;)) which has a driveway that leads right to the beach :)

I can't believe how lucky I am

Aloha,

I can't believe how lucky I am to have been raised seeing examples of service in my life. The importance of serving one another is something I didn't fully comprehend until I came out on my mission and understood the Savior and his life more. The song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus" is a song that I am just recently really understanding. Jesus spent him whole life serving and that's all we should do too :)

I hope you all have a great week and REMEMBER TO DO "LIGHT THE WORLD" before it's over :)

This church is true, I promise.
Alofa atu,
Sister Bowen

Aloha and Malo E Lelei!

I have been transferred to the Island of Maui and I love the members here, they are amazing! Tuesday morning I went to the airport and had a 20 minutes flight over to Maui and it was AMAZING to see Hawaii from above. I think I have really started to become a missionary because as I looked at all the homes on Oahu I couldn't help but think of all those people who need the gospel. "O that I were an Angel!" I understand you now Alma. 

We went to Front street today for P-Day and I realize how much I absolutely LOVE art galleries! They have about 10 just on Front street and we spent our whole day today looking at all the art. I am so happy I have a companion that is so similar to me and is as excited about seeing James Colemans (Disney's old background artist from movies like Beauty and the Beast and Tarzan, cool right?) art haha. We always meet people that recognize missionaries and strike up conversations which is fun :) 

I love being a missionary and learning more of Christ everyday. It's amazing how much I know I have to learn, yet the gospel is so simple and despite its simplicity can literally change people. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to share so lets get out and work :) 

Love you all and thank you to everyone that is doing the Light the World Challenge! I have seen how it personally effects those serving and being served :) 

Alofa a tu,

Sister Bowen 

IM GOING TO..................... MAUI!!!!!!!!!

 I'm going to be serving in an area called "Lahina" which means scorching sun (Who's ready for a tan Sister Bowen?) And my new companion is from Norway :) Her name is Sister Elqueta and she was in my first area in Ewa Beach so I know her and I am very excited to  be serving there with her! Let me say this again: I get to spend Christmas in Maui! I'm very excited and couldn't believe our transfer news. I have also been called to serve as a sister training leader (STL) so once a transfer I will be flying back to Oahu to meet with the other leaders and have a conference :) I can't wait to serve the people of Maui and to serve the other sisters on Maui (One other set). I will be flying out tomorrow and by next P-Day I will be able to let you know about it all ;) It was hard to say goodbye to the Waianae ward, I took a couple pictures to send home of them :)

I got the package of Motab Christmas music and the letter and I have been SO happy listening to the album, Thanks so much for sending it and for the letter Dad, it was exactly what I needed that particular day, I read it often. We had the whole island of Oahu and all the Visitor Center sisters. (Usually it is just half the island per zone conference) but a seventy, Elder Stanfill, came and spoke with us. He talked a lot about prayer and the power of it, which is something I have been praying to learn more about. I also watched one of my best friends die (Elder Mcomber) and he said "Smile! We have the gospel of Jesus Christ!" He's a goof and so excited to go home haha, he is one of the hardest working missionaries I know.

I can't explain how excited I am to Skype it Christmas!!!! I miss you all so much :)

Have a good week, I love you both so much <3

Alofa atu,

Sister Bowen

P.S. I AM ALSO OVER A SAMOAN BRANCH IN LAHINA SO I AM GOING TO BE LEARNING SAMOAN FINALLY!!!!!!!!

P.P.S We had our ward Christmas party with AMAZING food and live music, it was the best ever.

Greetings from Paradise

Aloha Mom and Dad :)

This week was a good week, somebody hit our car which as we all know is nothing new for me haha. They just backed into us in the parking lot and didn't make too big of a dent but I just thought that was so funny that that would happen to me of all people ;) 

We were walking down the street the other day when about 5 7-year old girls start running straight to us down the sidewalk. They all tackle-hugged us and talked all at the same time for about 10 minutes then asked us to teach them how to pray. We had only said hi to them one time before but now they love us and ask us to come back every single day. I put a picture of them below (Don't look at me haha I hate how I look in this picture I wasn't feeling good) 

Saw a cow this week, Sister Chappel played a mean trick on me and ate poke. Overall a successful week. 

We also went over to our investigators house (Stevenna who's 9) and asked her why she didn't want to be baptized. We go over about 3 times a week and every once in a while we will ask her if she changed her mind. She said no again but what was really cute was that her neighbor friend was over and asked what baptism was. We explained it and she goes "Oh man Stevenna get baptized! I wish I could get baptized Stevenna that's so cool...I wish I was in YOUR family..." Hahaha me and Sister Soga thought that was so cute. We are teaching her too but her parents aren't too excited about it all. Well see where it all goes. 

I love being a missionary and I am understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ more than I ever have before. I have such a  strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and although learning to completely trust the Lord has been hard I have felt so much peace and hope knowing he loves me and is going to do everything in his power to make me the missionary to want to become :) 

Thank you for all you do for me, I love you both so much and tell everyone I love them and miss them!

Alofa atu,

Sister Bowen (Or if you are 4 and named Kamalei "Sister Mogan") ;)