God's Workmanship

(I miss Vegas!!!)

Shoutouts! Mom, Dad, Oma, and Uncle Johnny :)

(Los Lunas Zone)

High 5!

1. Manzano had an awesome week! Dennis is on date for baptism! July 9th! I have never seen someone SO prepared, found by tracting. 

2. We have a new investigator in Manzano. Her name is Agnes. She is 19, and a refugee from the Ivory Coast! She has been at church the past 2 weeks, has awesome questions, and wants to do what's right. Prayer is the key for her right now but she will get there and we are so excited!

3. We have been looking and looking and looking for a former investigator who used to be on date with no luck for the past month. We finally caught wind that he had moved out of state so kind of gave up...well, he showed up at church on Sunday all on his own and wants to start meeting with us again! MIRACLE. Pray for Kevin!

4. Los Lunas had a baptism this week of a girl who just graduated high school and will now be coming to the branch. Her name is Mihaela and she is from the Ukraine! We got to be there and be apart of the program. I don't have pictures but she is such a sweet girl and we've never seen her so happy!

5. We had lots of fun BBQ hopping this Memorial Day weekend :)

(We had to take our car ABQ to get fixed and found a Chipotle on the way back...had to!)

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Slow week in Valencia.

2. Still no update on Wendy :( Pray for her!

1 Nephi 18:1-4 "And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore it was not after the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord."

As I read this chapter this week, I thought about how we all have so many influences around us and we get to choose which ones are going to shape and mold us. Will we be built after the manner of men, or after the manner of the Lord? I imagine lots of people trying to correct how Nephi was building this ship, and mocking him for even trying, but he wanted the ship to be built after the manner of the Lord. He knew that if he wanted his family to make it across the sea safely to the promised land, the ship needed to be built with His guidance and direction. Pray often and seek counsel from the Lord in all thy doings. He will direct thy paths for good and in turn, shape and mold you into a far better person than the world will. Look at Nephi's character. He was fearless, bold but loving, courageous, a strong leader and humble follower of Jesus Christ. May we each strive to become so, so the Lord can carry us to the promised land in safety!

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

(We hiked Los Lunas Hill last p-day!  Hardest hike of my life but SO fun!)  

Your Search For Happiness!

High 5!

1. Zone Conference! Yesterday we had our LAST zone conference with the Millers! It was such a great experience. We learned a lot and it was definitely an uplifting a edifying experience. STUDY PREACH MY GOSPEL :)

2. Last night we had a fun FHE with a part member family in the Valencia ward! We had a BBQ and talked about keeping our focus on Christ, like Peter did when walking on the water.

3. We are trying to do some branch missionary trainings so it's been fun to visit some of the members in the branch and of course, talk about missionary work :)

4. Eduardo Gallegos came to church on Sunday! He is a perspective elder and we just started teaching him. Along with teaching him the gospel, we are teaching him how to read!

5. Saturday we got to have breakfast with Jason and the Tidwell family! We helped them with some projects afterwards too!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. We are all going to miss the Millers SO much! Everyone CRIED yesterday!

2. Randy Light.

My last down low goes into my thought for today. Randy was on our list of perspective elders and we've been going through trying to find them, and invite them back into the gospel. He is one we haven't been able to catch at home but FINALLY this week we knocked on his door and he was there.

He answered and we introduced ourselves. We told him we hadn't seen him at church but would love to, and then he proceeded to ask us if we knew Patrick Dempsey. (YES! Grey's Anatomy!) Randy is part of his race team! How cool, right? He told us all about it and how he is leaving for a 48 hour race in France in the next couple weeks. He talked to us about his past. He grew up in a small town in Utah, attended Utah State, we think he served a mission, and then graduated from BYU. He came home, let go of the iron rod, was married and didn't raise his family in the gospel, and now is divorced and got to the point where he had to find some source of happiness in his life- racing. He described it as a "dream come true".

After we left, my companion and I were talking about how so many people go looking for happiness in the wrong places. Don't get me wrong, we still have hobbies, jobs, vacations, entertainment etc., but true and lasting happiness is found in the gospel. Racing is fun, thrilling, and I'm sure includes adrenalin, but after those 48 hours are up, then what? This kind of happiness is temporary. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us a sense of fulfillment and fills a void in us when we are searching for direction and purpose. If there is something missing in your life, or you feel like your happiness never lasts, turn to the Savior and conclude your search for happiness once and for all.

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Courage Not Compromise

(Flowers from Sue!!!)

  

High 5!

1. Sue was baptized! It was such a special experience and she had so many people there! Afterwards, one of her daughters even made a comment about how good she felt and that she would be baptized soon enough :) I will send pictures!

2. We took Ladera on exchanges this week! Sister Kelso came to Los Lunas with me and we had tons of fun! She got to meet Sue and the Wade family.

3. We found the most awesome new investigators this week! They are a couple, Joseph and Amanda! We have a return appointment with them this week so stay tuned but they let us right in and are super prepared!

4. Andrew is another new but in Manzano! We were having dinner with a couple in the branch and they invited a friend from school. He was super excited about the Book of Mormon so we look forward to teaching him more often.

5. I hit my year mark this past week! WHAAAAA!? Bitter sweet for sure!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Yesterday we had our LAST interviews with President and Sister Miller :( They went really well and will definitely be missed a ton!

2.Wendy's baptism will be pushed back a week or 2. We didn't get to see her at all this week but will teach her tonight!

Sister Ropelato and I got to give a training about a week ago at a Zone meeting and we talked a lot about courage. Missionary work takes a lot of courage! As I was studying more about it, I realized that there are so many scriptural examples of courage! In Mosiah 13, we see Abinadi's courage to stand bold, letting King Noah know of the authority by which he was called to tell the people of the commandments. In Alma 24, the Anti Nephi Lehi's showed courage by burying their weapons and laying themselves under the sword to be murdered for what they knew to be true and right in the sight of God. In Alma 56 we read about the 2000 stripling warriors who had courage to go to war at such a young age, knowing that the faith their mothers taught them to have, would deliver them. In D&C 128, Joseph Smith is sending out a group of missionaries and tells them, " Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! [...]" 

Elder Alvin R. Dyer gives a talk about being a courageous missionary. He talks about the common misconception, that people have to be "ready" before we invited them to be baptized, or as members, before we invite them to church, or to read the Book of Mormon, or to meet with the full time missionaries. Challenges are for those who aren't ready! If they were ready, it wouldn't be a challenge anymore. 

Have courage in your missionary work. I attached a mormon message that I love about Esther's courage and what it did for her people. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-03-004-courage?lang=eng

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

(A member is our ward who is a super good wood worker had our district over last p-day and made all of the Elders wooden ties!)

Come to Zion!!

High 5!

1. SKYPE! It was SO fun seeing my family and talking to them for a little while! Everyone looks so grown up and happy and I can't believe that was it until I'm home! Thanks to everyone who was there :)

2. Joseph was baptized! We had such a spiritual day on Saturday! The best part was when Joseph bore his testimony at the end. There was not a dry eye! Our hearts are full and SO grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to taste of how much love Heavenly Father has for each of His children. 

3. We had MLC this week! We learned a lot and have A LOT of work to do but are excited about it. Sister Ropelato and I got to give a training to our zone the next morning and it went really well :)

4. Jennifer and Warren were passed to us from Los Lunas this week because of boundary changes. Their family has been coming to church for a couple years now. The kids are baptized but we are waiting for them to get married before their baptism. Keep them in your prayers! 

5. Last night we had Family Home Evening with a new family in our ward, also from Los Lunas. It was fun to get to know them and the FUNNIEST thing happened right before we went to leave...their front door was open and a bird flew in their house! They have 4 little boys and they were all shooting at it with nurf guns and bow and arrows. The dad finally caught it in mid air after it trapped itself into a bedroom. Pictures to come!

Down Low, 2 Slow

1. Brandon dropped us this week :( NOOO.

2. It's getting hotter outside and all the cockroaches think it's okay to live with us.

Elder Christofferson gave a talk in October 2008 General Conference about building and strengthening Zion. In D&C 115:5-6 it says, "Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that they light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth." We all have a role in making where we stand a defense against the adversary and a refuge for others in our lives who may be lost. 

Much of the work to be done in establishing Zion consists in our individual efforts to become the pure in heart. Some ideas on how to constantly magnify this duty is to always remember the Savior, and make a pledge of obedience, sacrifice, and consecration. Each of us should prayerfully consider if we are doing ALL we can, or just getting by with what we think we can. We truly can do and be more than we think, especially in regards to missionary work. 

Recalling Elder Neal a. Maxwell's phrase, which I've quoted before, let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon. I know that Jesus Christ is the King of Zion.

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

Standing The Test Of Time

High 5!

1. WE SURVIVED TRANSFERS! Sister Ropes and I are SO happy to be staying! We also didn't lose any investigators to boundary changes! STOKED for this transfer of miracles :)

2. Speaking of miracles, Joseph passed his baptism interview yesterday with flying colors! Our DL was super impressed with him. Saturday at 1:00...come if you want ;) Sister Ropes and I will sing at it too.

3. We taught a GOLDEN new in Manzano this week! He is SO prepared. We went to teach the first lesson and he had already read part of the Book of Mormon AND prayed about it AND knows it's true! He got into a car accident a couple days ago so keep Dennis is your prayers!

4. Another solid new in Valencia this week! Brandon is a single dad and is looking for truth to help him and his son. We took solid fellowship to meet him this week so stay tuned for future lessons. Valencia is BOOMING!

5. We got a media referral this week of the SWEETEST boys. Shawn is 11 years old and asked his mom to request a bible for him so we got to deliver it. Him and his friend held that and the Book of Mormon like it was a million dollars. They were so polite and we hope to teach them soon!

No down lows this week :)

Our bishop gave an awesome talk in the stake meeting this past Sunday about building a testimony that will stand the test of time. It made me think of Joseph Smith and the pioneers, and all of their trials and setbacks that in turn, made them into some of the best people who ever lived. When I think of what they endured, it makes my obstacles seem so small. Besides the fact, we all face them. 

Elder Maynes said, "The race that is set before us on this earth is an endurance race filled with obstacles. The obstacles in this race are the challenges we wake up to each morning. We are here on earth to run the race, to exercise our mortal agency, and to choose between right and wrong. In order to honorably and successfully finish the race and return to our Heavenly Father, we will need to pay the price of dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline. We need to get into spiritual shape. We need to develop spiritual stamina. We need strong testimonies that will lead to true conversion, and as a result we will find with ourselves the inner peace and strength to endure whatever challenges we may face."

Great examples of spiritual stamina come from reading our own family history accounts as well as studying the gospel of Jesus Christ daily and striving to apply it. "You must become the rock the river cannot wash away." 

May we each continue striving to build a testimony that will stand the test of time so we, like the Apostle Paul can say with confidence, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day."

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen

PS. Happy Mother's Day!