The Spirit of Serenity

High 5!

1. We FINALLY found a new in Manzano and she is awesome! Her name is Esperanza and she is about to graduate from Valencia High School. She is hungry for the gospel and is looking for something to get her going in the right direction for her future.

2. Cathleen is a new in Valencia! She has a son who married a member and they are living in Utah. He is taking the lessons and she wants to know what he is learning about! She has had some really traumatic experiences and suffers from PTSD but we are so excited for her because we know the gospel is the best cure :)

3. We did service with Sue this week and she has new housemates! Their names are Stacey and Phillip and we are teaching them next! Keep them in your prayers! We showed up to teach Sue this week and she had her testimony all typed up and ready for her baptism! So cute!

4. Saturday morning the Tidwell's took us to breakfast at Weck's before our lesson with Jason-so fun!

5. Wendy's dad's last name is Bowen so we are totally related right!? She's convinced. I love that woman to death. She is SO prepared and Sister Ropelato and I don't think we've ever laughed so hard in our lives!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Our car got backed into while it was parked so we are currently driving around a mini van! It's hilarious. Everyone calls us the "mission moms" :)

2. SAY NO TO TRANSFERS!

My thoughts this week come from a talk given by President Packer in the fall conference of 2013. He shares a story of a dream President Jospeh F. Smith had while on his mission. "He dreamed he was on a journey, rushing as fast as he possibly could. He carried with him a small bundle. Finally he came to a wonderful mansion which was his destination. As he approached, he saw a sign which read, "BATH". He quickly went in a washed himself. He opened his little bundle and found clean white clothing. He put them on and rushed to the door of the mansion. He knocked and the door opened and the man who stood there was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He looked at him a little reprovingly, and the first words he said were, "Joseph, you are late." Yet he took confidence and replied, "Yes, but I am clean-I am clean!"

The Lord cares a whole lot more about how we arrive than when we arrive. Our personal worthiness affects our peace of mind in this life. President Packer puts heavy emphasis on scripture study and I know it is the answer to a feeling of serenity in a world where that's hard to come by. He talks about finding  peace in a world that doesn't know where to look anymore. President Monson says, "God will speak peace to your soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life's greatest blessing." I know it can only be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Serenity Jacob's is 8 years old and is doing wonderful things to help her family in their journey to baptism. She tells her friends at school about the things she learns in primary and in missionary discussions and she reminds their family to have prayer and scripture study daily. I know that as we "become as little children", innocent, pure, clean, worthy, our personal world will be peaceful. May we all catch the spirit of Serenity.

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen