Happy Thanksgiving!

(The ducks love me!)

High 5!

1. This week we were asked to help out with YW in Excellence. It was missionary themed and so we put together a mini MTC experience for the girls. It was super fun and a success!

2. Julietta is doing SO well. We had another lesson with her this week and the spirit in her apartment was strong and undeniable. We know she felt it as we reviewed the Restoration by watching the film. Tears ran down her face. She prayed right then and there to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and if the Book of Mormon is true. She is slowly but surely progressing and we are so proud of her!

3. We had our first lesson with a man named Roy this week! He is a neighbor to some members in our ward. He seems pretty comfortable in the church he is going to right now but agreed to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. That's all it takes! We will find out how it went later this week during our second lesson.

4. We had dinner with a family in our ward this week and they invited their non-member neighbor as well! Her name is Gaby and she is from Romania! She is Christian and is going through some hard things so is super interested in learning about the church because we promised it could help her.

5. We got to help a family in our ward move this week as well as help them paint their house so it is ready to sell! It was super fun :)

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1 and 2. I had my first bike wreck this week...it was bound to happen-haha!

(Bike rides are fun...until you wreck!)

This week, being Thanksgiving, I have been focusing my studies on gratitude! One of my favorite stories about gratitude is found in Luke chapter 17. This is the story of the 10 lepers. Jesus Christ comes to their mercy and tells them to shew themselves unto the priests. As they went, they were cleansed. Verses 15-16: "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks [...]". Be the one. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf tells us that gratitude is the catalyst to all Christlike attributes. I hope that we can all keep an attitude of gratitude during this season and the Christmas season to come, for the many blessings and mercies which He doth bestow upon us. 

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen