Arise from the dust!

High 5!

1. Jaime was given to us as a referral this week. He grew up LDS but never got baptized...!? We went out to Chaparral to meet him and he said, "Can we pick my baptism date now?" Yes we can! He came to church yesterday and the ward loves him! We are so happy for him and his desire to come back to Christ. In Jaime's words, "July 25th couldn't come fast enough!"

2. Norma and Tyler were another referral we got this week! A member from the Transmountain Ward invited us over to teach them in her home and they are SO excited to learn about the gospel.

3. Margie! We met her while we were knocking doors this week and she was SO kind to us and I learned a lot from her. She said, "I don't follow Christ because of the miracles, but because I follow Him, the miracles follow me."

4. We had lunch with our STL's as the "last supper" of the transfer, haha :)

Sister Williams and I!

(My first missionary friend in El Paso, haha :)

5. 4th of July just because it's my favorite holiday and I got SO many pictures of everyone's festivities! I saw like 5 fireworks from our balcony when we got home Saturday night too. Better than nothing ;)

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Sister McKendrick is leaving tomorrow!!! She got a transfer call :(

2. #1 counts as 2 :(

Sooooo, yup! President informed me that I would be taking over UTEP after only 6 weeks...! Ahhhhh! I'm nervous but know that with The Lord I can do it. Tomorrow I will meet my new companion! We've been updating maps and boards so I feel prepared other than my Spanish... Pray for me please!

Today I started a 40 Day fast in hopes to become a more consecrated missionary. I was reading in Matthew 4 about Jesus Christ's 40 Day fast and realized that it's not going to be easy and Satan is going to work on me... BUT at the end of that chapter, Jesus sees His disciples fishing and says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". I know that as I am diligent in obeying with exactness and removing anything from my life that is keeping me from putting my whole heart into this work, He will make me a "fisher of men". That's what I want and that's what the people in this ward and city need from me while I'm here.

I love being a missionary. One of my new favorite scriptures is Moroni 10:31-32 :) 

I love you all! God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

 (Found Jay Mattox!)