Sister Emilee Bowen: Merits, Mercy and Grace

High 5!

1. Sister Roylance and I made it to the El Paso 5th Ward! We have the nicest apartment in the whole mission and the best members! We are loving it here and are expecting BIG miracles to take place :)

2. There were only a could of investigators when we got here but Kevin Antunez was one of them and he wasn't progressing. The elders had only taught him a couple times but we had one lesson and he accepted a baptismal date of September 3rd! He is part of a part member family so keep them in your prayers!

3. Lonnie has been investigating for a while now and he struggles with the tea and coffee aspect of the word of wisdom. He was super interested in reading the Doctrine and Covenants though and committed to pray about it and come to church on Sunday. He says the next church he joins will be the last!

4. Small miracle this week! We were knocking doors in a neighborhood and realized that a part member family lived near by so we went by, knocked on the door, the 25 year old less-active daughter answered and invited us in...she told us that she had just been praying that someone from the church would come by so her sick mother could get a blessing! We set that up for her and they were really grateful :) Heavenly Father knows!

5. Frank is another one who has been investigating for a while...he was super hesitant about having sister missionaries but quickly got over that after our first lesson. He is the sweetest 90 year old man and SO healthy! His struggle right now is his anti mormon care giver :( Pray for them!

Down Low, 2 Slow.

1. Yesterday we got bashed by this man for almost an hour. We don't know if he ever even took a breath, let alone let us say anything!

2. If I thought it was hot up North, down here it's 10 degrees worse! BUT I can't believe it's August!

This week was longgggg. We are still trying to get to know the area and the people but are super grateful and excited to be here! Sister Roylance is straight out of the MTC but on fire! She is good at being personable and always wants to use the Lord's time most effectively :)

We have been talking a lot about repentance in meetings and trainings; mostly about how to teach it. A lot of times we hear the word repentance and shrink. It seems scary. I love the verse found in Alma 7:15, "I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments [...]". Heavenly Father is eager to forgive us. That is why He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to atone for us!

In Alma 11, we read about Amulek's encounter with Zeezrom and the important difference it is to realize that Christ saves us FROM our sins, not IN our sins. There are merits to His mercy.

The demands of justice stand as a barrier to which we are powerless to overcome on our own. We might find ourselves asking, "If we cannot ever do enough on our own to be saved, why bother?" Or in Paul's words,"Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" His answer is simple and clear. "God forbid." (Romans 6:1-2)

Though we are saved by grace after all we can do, our willingness to obey the commandments shows our love for God. President Uchtdorf says, "Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be obedient to each of God's commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand to receive this sacred gift from Heavenly Father."

Through the Atonement, we can overcome the undercurrents and quicksands of the deceiver, rise above sin, and be perfected in Christ. Don't leave this precious gift on the table.

God speed!

Love, Sister Bowen