Last One, Really Quick!!!

I've had an amazing last week! Here are pictures from Calee's baptism. See you all SOON! Happy Thanksgiving!

Love Sister Bowen

The Miracle of A Mission!

High 5!

1. Pablo is on FIRE! We had the coolest lesson with him this week. He is a huge reader and his fellowship gave him A Marvelous Work and a Wonder. It was so cool to listen to him talk about the Book of Mormon. He really understands where it came from and how it fits in now. He also has realized that there really only is 1 true church. He came to church for the first time this Sunday and really enjoyed it. We are so excited for him. 

2. Calee passed her baptism interview and is ready for Saturday! She got a new white dress and everything! We are super excited for her and her family! <3

3. We had interviews with President this week! My exit interview went well...it was long but so spiritual. We talked about the experiences that I've had and I could barely get through 'em! He also gave lots of good advice.

4. We only spent 2 days in our area this week and still hit SOE! HUGE miracle. God is so good.

5. Tom is an "eternigator". He was coming to church regularly, but has been off and on the past month. His wife is part of the hold up so we thought maybe that's why he wasn't coming, but yesterday he told us that she woke him up and told him to go to church...the MORMON church! It was a miracle. We are working on helping him quit smoking but other than that, he is ready! 

Down low, 2 slow. 

1. One of our sisters went home early this week due to medical problems :( It was heartbreaking.

2. THIS is my last mass e-mail!!! We have MLC next Monday. I will probably get to check my e-mail one more time but it will be fast.

Before I get to the spiritual thought, this week was by far the craziest week of my whole mission! It started with getting home last Monday after p-day to find out we got broken into...so we had to stay with some other sisters for a couple days. Tuesday we had interviews and spent the rest of the day packing. Wednesday we had lessons but also had to move. We flipped apartments with the Spanish elders so you can still send mail to that address and they will get it to me. Thursday, the sister who ended up going home was really struggling so we were on splits for their appointments. Friday, she got the call from doctors, counselors, parents, and President that she had to go home. We helped her pack and then took her to the airport. We were in a trio for the rest of that day, covering 3 units until Saturday morning when we went and picked up Sister Rackley's new companion, Sister Hay. Wait...it gets better...we got a phone call from the assistants informing us that the west side STL's were released due to medical problems so now we are covering that zone of sisters too. We had 2 days to get all the information from them in order to coordinate our meeting yesterday with 2 brand new zone leaders who have never been to an SMCM. Then, the APs called us again and asked us to do a 30 minute training at Zone Conference tomorrow. Crazy, or what!? This week we have Zone Conference and 2 exchanges, plus MLC prep and packing for me! Apparently it's true what they say about the last couple weeks of your mission!

Anyways, before my mission I thought I had accomplished some pretty great things, but this has by far been the highest, most holy, and sacred thing I have ever done. For the last 18 months, my purpose has been aligned with God's, Jesus Christ's, Adam and Eve's, and all past, present, and future prophets and apostles. Elder Holland called a mission a "relay race for eternity". The past 18 months have set the tone for the rest of my life and I owe everything to it. It is almost impossible to put a mission into words. I think missions are the best kept secrets in the church; you can't describe it and even sharing experiences doesn't cut it. There is no way to understand it, unless you go! I would encourage you to go if you have the chance. Elder Holland wrote an article on President Hinckley and said he always, only wanted to talk about his mission...almost as if nothing else ever happened. Elder Holland makes the wise observation that nothing else would've happened had it not been for his mission. 

For the past couple weeks I have been thinking about the irony in missionary work. We work the hardest we've ever worked, in extreme weather conditions, we get mocked, persecuted, spit on, made fun of, teased, cussed out, we have things throw at us, we are exposed to anti, we have doors slammed in our faces, and we are rejected over and over again. We come home at night exhausted, physically and spiritually, and then wake up the next morning and do it again. While all this happens, we also experience the most happiness, the companionship of the Holy Ghost like never before, we develop more friendships, receive more revelation, and come to understand the gospel more deeply. I have never studied so hard, pleaded and begged on my knees in prayer for help and guidance for other people, loved so many strangers, been so obedient, seen the hand of the Lord guiding me to just the right place at just the right time, and witnessed so many miracles. 

My mission means everything to me and I would not be here if it weren't for all of you! I really can't thank you enough for the support and encouragement you've given me through emails and letters. My homecoming talk will be Sunday, November 27 at 11am at the Treeline chapel. See you next week!

God speed!

Love, Sister Emilee Bowen

Fear Not!

High 5!

1. I spent a day in Rockaway and High Range this week with Sister Bishop. We had so much fun and met some awesome families for them to teach :)

2. Willy is a new from this week! He recently lost his mom and is very sensitive right now, but we know God sent us to him to help!

3. We had people at church this week-hallelujah! Donna came and LOVED it!!! (She is the one we have been doing service for these past couple months.) Pray for her husband's heart to be softened. She came because he was hunting this weekend!

4. Coolest miracle! We were knocking our hearts out and as we were leaving this house, we heard someone yelling for us to come back. His name is Christopher. He is 17 and he told us he was praying that someone would come along to help him learn more about the Mormon church...!? We gave him a Book of Mormon and will see him again later this week!

5. We found a couple potential families to teach! Kristen is a mom of 2. Her husband is disabled and they NEED the gospel. She is super interested in getting her kids involved. Andrea and her family are Jehovah's Witnesses but took a Book of Mormon and wanted us to come back! Operation find FAMILIES! :)

Down low, 2 slow.

1. We went down in investigator lessons this week :( We still hit Standards of Excellence though!

2. So. Many. Lasts.

Every time an angel appears in the scriptures, they begin with, "Fear not." In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." At MLC a couple weeks ago we watched a video of when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. I wanted to attach it but I can't find it so look it up! Elder Lloyd D. Newell gives a great talk on the topic too! We talked about how much fear Mary probably had, considering the news Gabriel brought her. God does not want us to fear. Because of my lack of time I would invite you to think about how you can develop power, love, and a sound mind to overcome your fears.  

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen 

No Casual Committers!!

High 5!

1. Trunk of Treat! Always such a great turn out! There were lots of members who brought their friends and neighbors! We passed out candy and the chili cook off was so good too! :)

2. Exchanges! We went on 2 exchanges this week! I stayed in our area both times. It was so fun to be with Hermana Holding and Sister Hubbard! They taught me so much!

3. MLC! Accountability is crazy but the spirit was so strong and I learned a lot! I am glad I get to go to 1 more in a few weeks :)

4. Nadine is a new this week! We found her knocking and she has friends who are members in the ABQ North Stake. She is a mom of 2 girls and they are currently attending a Baptist church. She shared a lot with us and is practically already Mormon. She went to the trunk or treat and fit right in! She even told us that they have been waiting for their member friends to introduce them to missionaries! We are excited :)

5. This is the best miracle! Sister Hubbard is a fireball! Wow, I learned so much from her on exchanges and she has only been in the field for 2 weeks now! We had a lesson scheduled with one of our investigators named Megan. We found her about a month ago because she was dating an inactive member in our ward. She has a 3 year old son, Nico, from a previous marriage. She has been tough. She knows the Bible inside and out. The morning of our lesson we hadn't heard back from any of the members we asked to come with us, so I said a quick prayer and the spirit led me to asking a recent convert named Jaime. She is a single mom and has been through a lot. She was baptized in April. She picked us up for our lesson and on the way there we filled her in on  a little about Megan. (Jaime was tough too!) Going into the lesson, Sister Hubbard and I still didn't have a concrete plan of what we were going to teach-just a couple ideas depending on how the follow up went. When we got there, Jaime and Megan clicked! It was incredible to listen to their conversations. They both came from Sagebrush where they felt like something was missing. David, the inactive boyfriend was put in jail just a few days prior because of attempt to murder Megan. Jaime was in a very abusive relationship previously and was able to console her and offer ideas and support. Megan struggled with the term "restoration" and said to her it sounded like the gospel was being compared to an old piece of furniture in the back of someone's garage. Sister Hubbard spoke up and said that there are only 2 reasons a piece of furniture would need to be restored...either it is old, or it had been misused. BINGO. The gospel had been misused after Christ and His apostles were killed. It made so much more sense to Megan and we could see some of those doubts wash away. The spirit in there was incredible and for the cherry on top, little Nico pulled out of his room and little tent that he had lots of his toys and books in and was playing so good while we were talking. Megan talked about how grateful she was for the church, and how she believed that David in her life was merely to bring her in contact with us. The church provided Nico with the tent, toys, and books after their house was broken into. When we walked out, Jaime turned to us in tears, saying, "Sisters, you will never believe this..." She proceeded to tell us that a month earlier, the Bishop came to her and asked if her 3 year old, Asher, had any toys he didn't play with anymore because there was a single mom who had a son who didn't have anything. Jaime went to little Asher and he collected up some of his toys and his most favorite book for the little boy who had nothing. Ever since then, Jaime had been praying for that mom and little boy. Well, that mom and little boy was Megan and Nico. Jaime also had been going through some custody battles with her youngest and was praying that someone would come into her life that was worse off than her that she could serve and help because of her previous experiences. Megan was the answer to her prayers, and ours. God's hand was SO involved in every aspect of this miracle!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. We were expecting 5 people at church this week and only had 1! Ahh :(

2. I feel like I worked all alone in Western Hills this week-haha. 

Again, I have no time but really quick! In Relief Society yesterday we talked about commitment. There is a difference between being committed to the gospel and just going through the motions. You don't really have to be committed to paying your tithing to do it. You don't really have to be committed to going to church for 3 hours every week to do it. What difference does it make when we are committed though? 

Elder Bednar shares an experience from his mission when President Boyd K. Packer came to visit and they were at the train station. While they were among the crowd, he thought about how no one there knew that an apostle of the Lord was right there! President Packer said, "It will be necessary for each of us to learn to be alone in a crowd." Even if no one around you is committed to the gospel make sure you are! It will be a great protection and source of comfort, direction, and everything else that the gospel brings!

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Look Not Behind Thee

High 5!

1. Let the exchanges beginnnnn! We took Rockaway and High Range sisters on exchanges this week and they went well! They are pink washing this transfer but are doing a great job and having fun!

2. Thank you for your prayers for sweet, sweet Calee! She is getting baptized on November 19th! We are so excited for her :)

3. Pablo came with us to a baptism this weekend and felt the spirit SO strong! We looked over after the ordinance and he was crying! He is getting super close. 

4. We found some news this week! Willy just lost his mom so God sent us there at the perfect time! Keith just got out of the military and is going through a divorce and custody battles. I love that the gospel helps with everything!

5. Arlington fed us dinner this week and we had a good chat. We went through the interview questions with him and he is so ready, he is just deciding when...keep him in your prayers though! We love him!

Down low, 2 slow.

1. Ray lost a family member this week and would NOT meet with us :( WE will keep trying!

2. I think I am missing Oktoberfest at home this week...

I am short on time this week so just a quick thought... I've learned so many times how much more important it is to care what God thinks of us than what the world thinks of us. Too often we define ourselves from our past or labels the world gives. We are a peculiar people! Embrace it. God created us in His image and sees us as we can become. As missionaries it is our special privilege to watch the gospel change and shape lives.

Richard E. Cook said, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature”

"Look not behind thee" (Genesis 19:17) and look ahead at who you can become with the help of our Savior. 

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Sacred Callings

High 5!

1. Michael was baptized on Saturday! It was a stressful week preparing for it but it turned out great and we are so happy for him! His story is a miracle for the books and I am so blessed to know him and to have taught him :)

2. Exchanges! Sister Fristrup came to Western Hills this week and we had so much fun! We worked hard and talked about how it feels like yesterday we were in the MTC together!

3. Ray Aragon is a new investigator we found this week! He is an older man who takes care of his disabled great granddaughter. He was raised Catholic but is LOVING what we are teaching him and committed to be baptized at the end on November :)

4. We got an awesome member referral this week! Her name is Alma and she came to church yesterday and loved it. The member actually met her through her 7 year old daughter being friends with Alma's daughter at school.

5. Anddddd, I will be staying in Western Hills, Rio Rancho with Sister Toomey and we will be the sister training leaders for the Rio Rancho and Albuquerque North stakes :)

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Sister Rackley is leaving us! But, she is washing another area in the same zone so we will still get to see her every week :) Trio life was fun while it lasted!

2. I am overwhelmed and beyond stressed... :) No worries though! 

We had a good conversation with one of our investigators, Pablo, this week about the purpose of life. In Alma 34:32 we read, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." Pablo asked us about individual purposes, other than the general purpose for all of us here. 

Of course we all have individual callings we are here to perform. Everyone's differ and they even change over time. Right now, you might have the calling as mother or father of your family, along with other church callings, like primary teacher and home or visiting teacher. No matter our callings in any aspect of our lives, we are asked to magnify them. 

I think some of the most common excuses used when it comes to callings is time, fear, means, and energy. This thought led me to examples in the scriptures of great people who had great callings to perform. Nephi was sent to get the plates from Laban, Moses was told to guide the children of Israel to dry ground, Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Amulek, and the sons of Mosiah are only a few of the missionaries who went forth to preach the gospel. What if they hadn't done the things they did? What if Joseph Smith said that he didn't have time to organize Christ's church because there was just too much to do on the family farm? Or if he said the persecution was too much to handle? What if he gave up on finding a printing press that would publish the Book of Mormon? 

And what if our ultimate exemplar and Savior, used these excuses when it came time to perform the Atonement? None of us would be here today if it weren't for what these people did long ago. D&C 19:19 says, "Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men." 

My invitation this week is for each of us to look at our purposes or callings in life, and recommit to magnifying them, submitting your will to His, and connecting it back to God's purpose for all of us.

I love you all! God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen 

A Royal Army

High 5!

1. The best thing happened! I got a call from the AP's and they let me go to Wendy's baptism this week! Ahh! Sister Ropelato and I drove down together and we felt so at home! It was SO fun to see so many members and recent converts; and of course, Wendy be baptized! My heart was so full!

2. We had Family Home Evening with the sweetest less active family in our ward. We read Alma 24 about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's and every one got a sword to bury :)

3. We have been doing service for a part member family in our area ALL transfer, and this week the non-member wife called and invited us to dinner. We got to teach them afterwards and it went really well! Service makes a difference and totally softens hearts.

4. Our Zone Training was awesome this week! It was on "Master Planning" from Elder Pearson, who came to visit, and hitting standards of excellence. 

5. We went on splits like crazy this week due to SO many appointments! It has been insane and super stressful but so fun.

Down Low, 2 Slow. 

1. It's week 6! I'm about to start my last transfer and it will be a 5 weeker for me. I'm almost positive I'll be staying but I said that last time too,,,

2. Today is my last Tuesday p-day. From now on they will be Mondays! President Guffey is changing things up on us!

Alma 47 is the story of Amalickiah trying to become king by treachery, murder, and intrigue. Lehonti and his army were camped out at the top of a mountain, when 3 times Amalickiah beckoned for them to come down with out success.  

v. 12, "And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him."

In this story, we can see the tactics of Satan. He won't ask us to commit "big sins", at first. He works by degrees. Just as Amalickiah could not get Lehonti to come all the way down the mountain, he did persuade him to come a little way down, which eventually led to him making his way to the bottom. 

v. 18, "And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died."

Satan is a master planner. We must remember whose army we are apart of. Don't let the little things lead to bigger things that will bring you down the mountain. 

God speed! 

Love, Sister Bowen

Easy Jesus

High 5!

1. Zone Conference! This week we had an incredible Zone Conference where President Guffey introduced quite a few new things! It was focused on repentance and the spirit was sooooo strong. We learned a lot. It was a long day but good :)

2. General Conference was so good this past weekend! We had a party of missionaries at the stake center and President Eyring gave Albuquerque a shout out! That made us all pretty happy-haha :) My favorite talk was the one by Elder Nattress.

3. It's Balloon Fiesta time in New Mexico! We have the best view and every morning we go running we see tons of them! 

4. We found the coolest investigator this week! His name is Arlington and he has family who are members. He called us after conference and left us a voicemail of how much he LOVED it! We will see him again tomorrow. 

5. We started teaching a former this week named Pam. She is so prepared! We asked her if she had a Book of Mormon and she pulled it out and it had been given to her by a member with their testimony in it. She called us throughout the week asking really good questions about what she had been reading. She is trying to quit smoking, so pray for her!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Sue will not read :( We kept pushing her date back but now she is going out of town for a few weeks so we will take a break and check up on her when she gets home :(

2. David called us this week and dropped us. Ahh! His family is pulling him away from this. BUT Michael is getting baptized next weekend and we are super excited!

Too often, we hear people say that all they need to do to be saved is say they accept Jesus, or some form of that. This is what we call the "easy Jesus" theory. There has not been a time in history where God has not required something of men. Where much is given, much is required. I'd say the Atonement was much that was given! We have to keep the commandments. If we love God and truly do accept Jesus as our Savior, we will do something about it. 

One of my favorite examples of this is the story of Peter. Christ asks him 3 times, "Peter, do you love me?"  Elder Holland offers commentary on this in a previous General Conference talk titled, The First Great Commandment.  “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

There is no "easy Jesus". We have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. Leave your "nets" of sin, doubt, fear, and anything else holding you back from being a disciple of Him who has given you so much. 

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Belief Window

High 5!

1. Yesterday we got to go to the temple! It felt like I hadn't been in forever so it was much needed! The spirit is always so strong and all worries are put to rest there. Thanks for Opa, I was able to go through for a family name and my experience was sacred. Do everything you can to get there.

2. Sue came with us to the General Women's Broadcast and LOVED it. It was much needed for me too! I felt the spirit super strong and so many questions were answered. If you haven't listened to it yet, I strongly encourage it! It made me super excited for General Conference this weekend. Our zone has flyers and we are going crazy handing them out this week, inviting others to "come listen to a prophet's voice!"

3.We did FUN service this week. We got to prepare and serve food for our ward's youth conference! On Saturday morning, our zone met at the church at 5am and drove out to Bernalillo to help with a run that was going on. We got to hand out water and snacks, medal the winners, and meet a lot of cool people!

4. We went on exchanges this week and it was super fun to be with one of my former companions! Sister Ingold came to Western Hills with Sister Toomey and I and we had a ton of fun! It was cool to catch up and talk about all of our mission experiences since we were together!

5. This week,during the last few minutes of the day, we decided to text a man who was marked as "do not contact" on our ward list. We didn't know why, and he was a perspective elder and had non-member family so we didn't think there would be any harm in sending him a text. The next day we got a voicemail from him that was super friendly, so we called him back and he invited us over to meet him and his wife and to even have dinner with them! We already had a dinner appointment but we went over and found out how prepared BOTH of them are! Brother Claycomb started to read the Book of Mormon again, all on his own, and had so many good questions. Sister Claycomb is not a member but grew up in a very Christian home and agreed to take the lessons. We are having dinner and meeting with them again on Thursday! #NonStopMiracles

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. We are teaching a TON but are having trouble getting our investigators progressing. 

2. We had so many early mornings and late nights this week so I am exhausted!

We had a special zone training this week and talked a lot about our identity. This is the formula we were given...

Identity⇒Values/Beliefs⇒Attitude/Behaviors⇒Actions⇒Reality

It was cool to plug in different investigators attitudes and behaviors and realize who they think they are. President Guffey shared a cool experience in his e-mail this week. "I served as a stake president for 10 years. I held many interviews during that time – temple recommends, missionaries going into the field, new bishops, etc. I began almost every interview with the question , “How is your relationship with Heavenly Father?” Why? I wanted to see if the person recognized who they really are. If we have only a casual recognition of our relationship with Heavenly Father, we are missing power in our lives. If we deeply understand that He is literally the Father of our Spirit, that we lived with Him, that He knows us better than anyone on earth ever will, then we have POWER! We can and will do anything He asks us to do [...]."

Some examples found in the scriptures of people who didn't just know, but understood who they were are found in 3 Nephi 1:12, Enos 1:4-5. and D&C 135:3. Check them out!

I also love thinking about Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:52 it says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." In Jesus the Christ, Talmage comments, "Plainly this Son of the Highest was not endowed with a fullness of knowledge, nor with the complete investiture of wisdom, from the cradle. Slowly the assurance of His appointed mission as the Messiah [...] developed within His soul." This gives me hope and a peace, knowing that figuring out exactly who you are and making your decisions based on that, is a process and the quest of a life time!

Hyrum Smith gives an incredible, inspirational talk called Self Worth. He talks about this formula and different things we place on our personal "belief windows". Listen to it!

Have a great week and God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Live For It!!!

High 5!

1. There was a sister in our mission who got sick and went home early so they had to split up a companionship...anyways, now we are in a TRIO! Sister Toomey joined us on Friday morning and it's been a blast! We all feel like we are roommates in college-haha!

2. Helen and Andy are a new couple we are teaching this week and they are Navajo and we love them! They know the Book of Mormon is true, but are having a hard time leaving their Catholic roots. We will continue working with them but keep them in your prayers!

3. This week, one of our ward missionaries texted us and asked if we could teach her step daughter! It was a miracle! We went over that night and watched the Restoration film with her and she loved it! She is the sweetest 8 year old and wants to be baptized so badly! Now, she makes 2 that need prayers for parent permission...Kaylee and Callee! They both did SO well on their parts in the primary program :)

4. Another new investigator we found, who came really close to cancelling his appointment this week, is David. He loved our first lesson so much and came to church on Sunday. During the sacrament he leaned over to me and asked if he could participate in the sacrament one day. As if my heart wasn't full already, during the primary program while the sweet primary kids sang, "Baptism" about being as clean as the earth is after rain, he leaned over again and said, "I want to be baptized now." I couldn't stop the tears. I really thought my heart was going to burst!

5. I have never seen so many miracles so close together in all of my mission! On Sunday, a perspective elder, who we have never met, brought one of his friends to church! Somehow, they came to the right chapel at the right time. James is the perspective elder and Michael is our new investigator who is beyond prepared! He has recently overcame some addictions and is now working towards baptism. His answers in our first discussion yesterday blew us away! Later, after sharing this miracle with our zone, we found out that some elders got together and prayed specifically that we, sisters would witness a miracle on Sunday. The power of prayer is real and we are so grateful for the people the Lord is blessing us with to teach!

No down lows this week :)

In Mosiah 5:13 it says, "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" In missionary work, nothing we do counts unless we invite others to act. This is why we extend commitments to come to church, pray, and read the scriptures. 

We are the Lord's investigators and He extends commitments to us! How can we come to know Him if we don't live the commandments He has given us? When you faithfully keep commandments that you aren't sure are from God, you change your behavior. In return, Gad confirms to you that they are indeed true by blessing you, causing you to hunger after a closer relationship with Him. As you continue on this path of exercising faith, that change in behavior becomes your new nature. 

Elder Holland recounts an experience he once had. He once had a missionary approach him and ask him if he would give his life for the church. He responded with, "Elder, I am giving my life for the church." He knew what the young elder meant...Would you die for it?  "well", he said, "that's the easy part, and on some days it looks really appealing! But what God needs is people who will live for it."

Trust in His plan for you. He has put the commandments in place for a wise purpose and will never break His promises to open the windows of heaven to you. His invitation to you is, "prove me now herewith". 

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

A Chosen Vessel

High 5!

1. We had a HUGE miracle this week while trying by part member families. The family we went to see was not home so we decided to talk to their neighbors and found a woman named Sue. She let us in right away and we talked to her about our purpose and her religious background. We set a return appointment for the next day, and before returning, found her teaching record in our formers section. We read about how the missionaries in the past struggled to get her to church as well as helping her understand the purpose for another baptism. In our next lesson we talked about the Restoration and she accepted a baptism date for October 1 and came to church for all 3 hours on Sunday! My testimony of God's timing was strengthened.

2. The Rio Rancho stake put on a musical of the Parable of the 10 Virgins and OH MY GOODNESS it was incredible! I cried through the entire thing! The spirit was so strong and I learned so much! It was also great because we got to meet more members and lots of them brought non member friends :)

3. This month is "Fall into Service" for us so we got to go to a service fair this week and help. They had a bunch of different stations and it was super fun!

4. We are teaching a family who was recently reactivated and  who's youngest daughter is not baptized yet. Her name is Callee and she is 9. She is SO sweet and comes to church every week. This week is the primary program and she is so excited to have a part in that :) Pray for the dad to allow her to be baptized!

5. We found SO many potential investigators this week and have tons of return appointments this week! Pray that they all go through. This area has so much potential! 

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. I was throwing up all day Thursday-no fun :(

2. We were cussed out by some formers this week...it was bad. 

This week I've been reading and studying the story of Saul, who later becomes Paul. So often, we hear people tell us that they haven't received answers to prayers, so we respond with, "What are you expecting?" Unfortunately, a lot of people are waiting for a lightening experience, or a huge answer to come down from heaven, when in reality, our answers usually come as simple, quiet assurances while we are reading from the Book of Mormon, sitting in sacrament meeting, or engaging in discussions with the missionaries. After Saul received his answer, he became a great apostle and "a chosen vessel" to the Lord. (Acts 9:15)  President Uchtdorf gave an incredible talk on this subject and there was a mormon message made to go along with it. I invite each of you to watch it and share it with someone else! 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-003-waiting-on-our-road-to-damascus?lang=eng

Love you all! God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen  

Charity Triangles

High 5!

1. I've been transferred AGAIN! Sister Rackley and I are washing Western Hills Ward in Rio Rancho (aka Rio Zion). 

2. Raquel was baptized this week! 

3. The Hardin family will be baptized on October 1st. They ALL came to church on Sunday and we had some awesome lessons this past week. They were definitely my miracle while in 5th ward!

4. Dugis was a new investigator we found! We taught him right then and there and he was SO prepared! He went to high school with our ward mission leader's son and is a huge believe in Christ but felt like he needed more! So cool!

5. I got to see Sister Ropelato at the transfer site yesterday :) haha

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. I had the hardest time leaving 5th ward SO soon :(

2. I had an annoying cold alllll week. 

This will be quick because it took forever to get new library cards and we have a lesson at 12. 

In Matthew 22: 36-39 we read about the first and second great commandments. "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."  

As we seek to develop more charity, we have to grow and study all aspects of it, meaning, love for God, love for others, and love for ourselves. As humans, sometimes we forget to love ourselves and it is my prayer that we will each remember that God loves us because we are His son or daughter, period. Remember your divine nature and strive to use that knowledge to bless others lives; and when we do so, we show our love for God.

I would also invite you to consider faith, hope, and charity as a 3 legged stool. As you increase in one, you increase in the other. The opposite is true as well. Study Moroni 7 and 1 Corinthians 13 this week!
I love you all! God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

NEW ADDRESS!

Sister Emilee Bowen

579 Star Villa Ct. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124