Mother and Padre,
(We were talking about nicknames last night and realized I've missed calling
you those ;))
Who's ready for
some crazy news? Anyone, anyone? Alright so guess what? IM TRAINING. AND
WHITEWASHING. LIKE WHAT THE HECK RIGHT!?! I still feel like a greenie and most
missionaries train like 8 months into their mission, not 4!!!
So tomorrow I get
to meet my greenie at transfer meeting, then drive to a brand new area I've
never been to before, and get to work! I couldn't believe when President Bekker
called and asked me if I would train! I was sitting on the floor and Sister
Chappel goes, "Sister Bowen President is calling!" and I said,
"Oh my he is not." and shes like, "No for real! Hello President
how are you today?" and I look at Sister Nichalson and shes like, "No
she's serious." Then Sister Chappel hands it to me and President said he
wanted me to train and I would be moving to Waianae and whitewashing! He didn't
say anything else but I think he knew what a big responsibility he was putting
on my shoulders for my 2nd area. Wowzers I'm excited! I"ll have to let you
know all about it next week and send you pictures as well!
This week has
been wonderful and I have finally gotten lots of pictures with people because
I'm leaving!
Picture 1 -
Brother Ichimura is our ward mission leader and he is absolutely phenomenal. If
anyone magnifies their calling it's him. He goes ministering twice a week and
comes to lessons and contacts us almost everyday...he honestly is amazing, I
know I won't get a ward mission leader like him again. His wife is one of the
most giving people I have ever met. She does Lula Roe and has given me 4
different dresses, and those things aren't cheap! I love them and their
inactive daughter is in the Waianae area so it looks like it's time for me to
pay them back for all the good they have done for me :)
Picture 2 - The
Criders, Kelly and Cody, are my favorite inactive members and they love having
us over for BBQs. The dad, Kelly, told me I was his favorite missionary because
I just know how to get him to open up, he says he hates it but he loves me more
and more every time I do it and he always laughs when he realizes I have him
talking about the gospel. I know it's definitely got him thinking about the
gospel and his inactivity more :)
Picture 3 - One
night it was about 8:30 and we were having bad luck tracting and we were about
to start heading home when we were inspired to knock on one more door. A
southern lady opened the door and we asked if we could share a scripture with
her about Jesus Christ. She said "Sure come on in!" We actually all
just stood there for a minute like wait you want us to come in? You know we're
missionaries right? Well we went in and turns out they aren't members but LOVE
missionaries and didn't know Ewa Beach had missionaries! Their names are Reese
and Larry and they have invited us back a couple of times for some awesome
southern cooking and lessons and I love them with all my heart. One of the days
it rained really bad and I came in and Larry took my jacket and after being
there for a bit I realized he was in the front room drying it with a blow
dryer! They are the sweetest couple, I'm going to miss them and their little
dog Jack.
This week we also
did a really fun car wash and chapel tour and got a new investigator from it.
(And got our cars washed.) We bought Guams (Hands down the most comfortable
thing I have ever worn) and it was $13, my life was completed. We made a
"Stop Smoking Box" for my other favorite less active, Brother Moana
with pictures of us and Christ on it, so every time he goes get a cigarette he
remembers us and then potentially stops smoking ;)
And the most
important news of this very long and very deserved email (Sorry I was unable to
email last week) is that THE QUEMADOS GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! The Quemados have
been investigating the church for 9 YEARS AND THEY JUST GOT BAPTIZED THE
TUESDAY BEFORE I WAS GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!!! We have been working with them for
so long and trying so hard to show the Dad that him and his 2 girls were ready
and then he left on a trip for 5 days, got home and said okay lets do this and
they got baptized a couple of days later. He said he started facing a lot of
tribulation on the trip and realized it was Satan trying to do everything he
could to tear down his ideas of getting baptized so he punched Satan in the
face and shocked everyone by getting baptized right when he got home. It was
the happiest day of my mission so far. :)
I love you both
so much and I love getting emails from you every week :) I feel the strength of
your prayers and I have a personal testimony of the power of fasting, I have
used it many times on my mission and it has worked without fail. I love the
Lord and this gospel and I cannot wait for the responsibilties that the Lord
has seen fit to give me :) Have a great week I love you both very much!
Love,
Also we took this one today, this is my companionship and the zone leaders! We went to this place called Teddy's Burger after we played tennis and it's amazing :) A Guy payed for our meal and I am just really going to miss hanging out with these 5. (Sister Nicholsen, Elder Eborn, Elder Willden, Sister Bowen, and Sister Chappel)
