All is well and the church is true!

I bet you are all wondering what it's like to have a birthday while being out on a mission for exactly two months. So I will tell you. It's fantastic. You begin by getting up at 6:30 am (weird, right?), and then laying on the floor/pretending to exercise. Then you really do sort of exercise. It's a little tougher than usual because you do 22 push-ups and sit-ups instead of 21. Then you open a package from your mom that's been taunting you for a little over a week. It contains 22 wrapped items of a ridiculous nature so that you can figure out how to use them in object lessons. It's completely ridiculous, but you can't stop smiling because you know your mom loves you.

Then you eat breakfast and get dressed. And then study for an hour. And then for another hour. Then you clean the apartment for an hour. SO FUN! And then you pick up another set of missionaries to go to the library to email friends and family, which is always fantastic. After that you go out for lunch to celebrate your birthday. Also fantastic. Then you grocery shop and wash the car. And then you go to the park and play soccer with five sets of missionaries. You've been suffering with soccer withdrawals, so this is also fantastic. After that you put back on your missionary attire and meet up with P and President H (2nd counselor in the mission presidency) at the stake center where Peter passes his baptismal interview. Which is super fantastic. Then your gps takes you on a mild adventure to get to the house for a referral from headquarters--which we ran out of time. Then we ended the evening with an awesome chat with Brother M, our ward mission leader (who is also awesome) which greatly inspired us and good stuff. What a great day!

We also found out it was P's son's birthday, too. That's kinda crazy because that makes 3 of our investigators who share a birthday with me. And Alex Trebek.

On Wednesday I got kissed! We serve lunch at the Shalom center on Wednesdays and eat lunch there when we are finished. A man (who we'd actually met my first day in Bloomington) who's not all there mentally, sat down and said very politely that he was sorry, but we were preaching false doctrine. And then he invited us to his church. He just kept talking and talking, and we had to get back to the kitchen to clean up. I apologized that we had to go, and thanked him for his insight and invitation. He walked with me to the kitchen, talking the whole time and then leaned over and kissed my shoulder and said "God bless" and walked away. So many fantastic things happen every day!

Sister Howard and I had another great adventure yesterday. PRIMARY. The primary chorister went out of town and asked us to sub because she couldn't find anybody else. So we agreed. 'Cause that's what Jesus would do. But He was probably less terrified of children than we are. So we enjoyed two of the most stressful hours of church we have ever experienced. And we never want to have children. Or at least no more than 20 O_o   And we get to do it again next week. It's a good thing we have both been set apart which gives us much more courage than we normally would have ;)

Last week we also got to teach this awesome man who we ran into exactly a month ago today. We had given him a "a watered down" version of the Restoration (that's really funny because it was pouring rain and we were all outside) and promised to bring him a Book of Mormon. We hadn't been able to reach him since. That's because he was biking to and from West Virginia. On a bicycle.  He seems really genuine in his desire to know for himself if what we teach is true. Which is awesome because that's what it requires to really come unto Christ and be converted. When Brother M offered him a ride to church, he declined saying that he rides his bike anywhere he goes. We're praying that he will not forget the spirit that he felt before our next visit!

All is well and the church is true!

Sister Allie Bowen

It's My Birthday . . .

Well. Sister Saunders is gone, so life is much quieter. Not that she was loud or anything, but there's only two of us now...and we miss her. But she will be awesome up in Purdue with the YSA (young single adults).

But we're also excited to revamp things. We're branching out and getting a lot of new investigators. Yesterday the bishop boldly called the ward members to give at least one hour a month to missionary work, so we're really excited for the good things that will come from that.

It's kinda crazy how bad things always seem to happen to those trying to accomplish good things in their life. P, who's been being taught for years, really wants to get baptized, yet his memory's kinda shot (because of a couple strokes), so it's hard. A little while ago somebody said something about the Priesthood having been restored and he said, "I didn't know it was missing." Even though we talked about it for the previous two lessons. But recently he lost his wallet in Chicago, his dog ran away (but then came back), he fell and twisted his knees badly, and then a car he was working on fell on him. But he's okay. And wants to be baptized. Teaching him can be uber frusterating, but it's also great 'cause he's so funny! But we're not actually sure if he knows he funny or not, so we try really hard to control our laughter. He's a good man, and we're hoping he can get baptized soon.

We also went to an Apostolic church yesterday. That was quite an adventure. It was much louder than I was used to, but it was great to see people with such great enthusiasm for their Savior. And they were all super friendly. Good stuff.

We've had some great adventures with random people, tracting in the rain (although I call it "attracting" 'cause we're trying to attract people to their salvation ;) and it sounds happier)

That's all I've got for today, I s'pose.

"Look to God and live" <--now there's some good advice ;)

Much love!

Sister Bowen

Our trio's down to two

This past week was very exciting, the highlight being that we got a new toilet! Okay, that's not true. I mean it is--we did get a new toilet--but that wasn't the highlight. But seriously, it works like a dream! That is, if dreams flushed and did other toilet type things.

R got baptized on Saturday!! It was a really nice service, which sincere speakers and the spirit was there. We're all so happy for him and I'm so grateful for his excitement for the gospel :D

In other news, transfers are this week. And we are losing Sister Saunders who will be training a visa waiter somewhere unknown at this point. She's been in the Clear Creek ward for about 6 months, and the ward will really miss her. Sister Howard (who is just finishing her training) will finish my training in Clear Creek, and we are so excited, because the ward just so excited and ready to help with missionary work. Exciting things for this area are coming.

But we will really miss Sister Saunders too. But everybody does. More men have professed their love for her in the past two weeks than I've experienced my whole life! (But that makes sense: she is ridiculously attractive, spiritual, obedient, musical, caring, and many other good things). This, among other things, led me to the conclusion that Heavenly Father made me super awkward around guys (or just all the time, I s'pose) so that I would come on a mission. Probably not completely true, but it's a nice thought.

I've learned that God loves everybody, and everybody has access to the Holy Ghost. I knew that before, but I know it more now. Part of me wishes it weren't so, because then it wouldn't take as long for people to realize that what we have really is the entire puzzle. The spirit testifies of truth. Other churches have some truth, and so the spirit is there when bits of truth are testified of. I guess previously I had kinda thought that the spirit would be completely new to people. But it's not. But there's much more to it than people realize.

But that's part of patience on my part. I just wish people would be more willing to take the time to see that it all makes sense. There's so many people that talk about how their religions have some things they don't agree with, and then say that every religion is probably like that. But it's not!

Something that kind of cracks me up is when people are hesitant to ask us questions because they don't want to ruin our faith. It's like they think we're idiots or something--do they really think we'd be out here if we didn't KNOW it was real? Or that we hadn't been asked those questions before? or that we hadn't considered themselves in our personal conversion processes? Weird right? But it is sweet of them to worry about us like that.

But I love this more and more everyday. Well, maybe not everyday, but it is definitely and upward trend. The gospel truly does make people happy, and so naturally missionaries should be happy. Yet, the souls and welfare of others do weigh on us. Kinda like with Heavenly Father in Moses 7. I like that chapter...

I've included a picture of us from yesterday. Brother Anderson (the one whose parents I met that are from Carson City) told us we had voices of angels (this comment was inspired by our soulful rendition of "Come Thou Fount" in sacrament meeting yesterday. It was purdy great--we made up our own arrangement and performed it a capella, which actually worked because Sister Saunders has perfect pitch which keeps us in key.) So we figured it'd probably be our last Sunday together, and Brother Anderson suggested that we take a "Clear Creek Angels" picture. I really love these Sisters, which is quite convenient, because I spend ALL my time with them :D

Much love!

Sister Allie Bowen

Best Day Ever!

Dreams do come true!

I've always fantasized about what I called "complete breakfast pancakes" in which you'd put cooked sausage and scrambled eggs into your pancake batter...and then cook it. The bishop invited us over for breakfast on the 4th, and they had pancakes and other awesome things. Then he said he was going to make some pancakes with sausage in them, if we'd like any. BEST DAY EVER! I told him I'd imagined such a thing before. Later I mentioned how I'd imagine that butterscotch chips are probably awesome in pancakes too. He said that they had some and could do that if I'd like. I was kinda full so I said that we couldn't be making too many dreams come true at one time because then I wouldn't have anything to look forward to the rest of my life. What a great day!

Furthermore, I got to play the guitar at the Shalom Center, which is the equivalent of a soup kitchen that we help at once a week. There's a wonderful homeless man named Billy who comes in with his guitar. He asked if he could play us a song he wrote. Sister Howard told him that I play guitar, and so he asked if I would play a song for him. It was fantastic experience.

And of course, there's been awesome missionary stuff going on too! And I love people too. Even though thy scare the crud outta me. You'd think I'd run out of crud to scare out, but it would seem I've got quite an impressive supply.

We got to meet President and Sister Cleveland on Friday. They're purdy great. President Cleveland shared a couple of awesome stories. One was about how his dad was an awesome baseball player and had offers to play MLB right out of high school. But instead he decided to go to school. After school Branch Ricky offered him a spot on the Dodgers (where Jackie Robinson played) and he played for 3 months. He was a third baseman, but he played pitcher 'cause then he wouldn't have to play on Sundays. Apparently they want you there everyday if you're going to play third base. But then he quit 'cause he wasn't an awesome pitcher. Kinda crazy, eh? What a fantastic example.

He also talked a little about the technology changes in the mission, and how such technology (ipads, tablets, facebook, etc.) have been made for the purpose of spreading the gospel (according to the general authorities, although I don't think the inventors realize that ;) He said 50 missions will get the technology in the next 6 months, but we don't know which missions. Then the rest of the missions will get it in the next year. Purdy cool :D

But we're excited for them and all the great things they will do and inspire us to do :D

Furthermore, I continue to be so grateful for my life. We talk to sooo many people who have such crazy problems, and have had such crazy lives. We talked to four people in less that a day whose houses had burned down at one point. We talk to so many people who were abused as kids. We talk to so many people who have outlandish health problems. We talk to so many people who have significant family problems.

I know for a fact that the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ can help them with their lives, but I can't make them believe it. How can some one such as myself who's had a perfect privileged life (from their perspective) tell them that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them very much? But I do tell them. But they have to learn how to believe. I wish people were more open to this gospel, because it is so completely logical. It's like people have this weird idea that religion contradicts science and reason, and therefore cannot be logical itself.

Also, my testimony of church attendance and church leaders has grown. We run into so many people who are "spiritual", but not religious. They think that the spirit and you is all that matters. You don't need somebody telling you what to do. And for the most part, that's true. But I am beginning to realize how much personal revelation comes to me from simply attending church and listening to my leaders.

I hope all is well back in Nevada and Provo, and everywhere else, for that matter. May the peace of God rule in our hearts, and may we find hope for this life and after in the Atonement.

Love,

Sister Bowen 

Don't Fear the Reaper

If I had one bug bite for every day I've been in Indiana...I'd have half as many as I do now...but no unhallowed hand (or bug) can stop the work (or my part of the work) from progressing.

I've made my bed more times since I've been here than I probably have otherwise in my whole life. 

Also this past week, there was soo much rain! It was fantastic. Except our pamphlets got soaked. We did too, but we still look okay after we dry ;) Also one night, my companions and I all woke up at like 1:15 'cause the thunder was SOO LOUD! That was also fantastic! It was like it was thundering across the eternities, or like something less cliché, but more profound!  

Another random note: In my first 21 5/6th years of life, I'd only met two birthday buddies. Here I've met three in less than a month. Daughters of two investigators, and a 10ish year old girl from the ward. Gosh, they might all be turning 11. And I'm turning 11 too! Times two....

In more exciting news, R is getting baptized! He is a really great man who knows the Bible super well, and is really committed to learning as much as he can from the Book of Mormon, about the Book of Mormon, about Joseph Smith, and about the church in general. He is getting baptized on the 13th, and we're all just so excited for him and what the Gospel can do for him and his life :D

Funny story that I giggle about several times a day: One of our investigators who comes to church with us regularly was singing the closing hymn. But that's not the funny part.... We were singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God, so the congregation didn't know it super well (still not the funny part.) He lifted the hymnbook up in the air, and looks up at it for the remainder of the hymn. As if that weren't a funny enough image, at the conclusion of the hymn, he puts the book back in the holder thingy and says, to no one in particular, "That song was easy." I'm cracking up now just typing it >)

This past week was full of great experiences, and I learned much. On Friday night, I prayed to know what I could work on to become a better missionary. I am completely aware of many things that I do need to work on, so I was praying to know which was most urgent and most beneficial to my growth and Heavenly Father's purposes. 

On Saturday, I was feeling particularly shy and anxious. All day when I knocked on doors my anxiety spoke to me so much louder than the spirit. When Sister Saunders would encourage me to go talk to someone, I would freeze up and feel extremely uncomfortable. At the end of the night, my wonderful companions wanted to call Randy to clear up something. And I was thinking, gosh, this is so awkward, we just talked to him like 2 hours ago. But it was so inspired! They called, he'd been thinking about us, and long story short, he agreed to get baptized :D I felt so incredibly happy for him, but so sad for myself. But also grateful that the Lord had clearly answered my prayer. 

And then on Sunday in sacrament meeting, I was thinking about how, while I absolutely love teaching/talking about the gospel to those who already know it, it's really hard to teach people who don't know it. I was wondering if I would ever get to speak in sacrament meeting. And then I was asked to share my testimony on missionary work from the pulpit. After church, the bishop told me he hoped that it was okay that he'd asked me to come up. He said he'd just felt really inspired to ask me. Kinda crazy, eh? Also, I just received so many positive thoughts and feelings (revelation) through church about my capabilities and purpose, that I feel so much more encouraged. Heavenly Father really does love us tremendously, and I am learning everyday what exactly that means.

In other news, President Collins went home, and we all miss him terribly. On Tuesday, he called us for a minute, and said at one point, "I love you both" I sadly hung my head, because I figured I was probably the one left out ;) When we reminded him there were three of us, he apologized and said he was in the car and that he loved all three of us. We love him too, and we will miss him.

It has truly been a week of miracles, in which we accomplished several ambitious goals. Our ward mission program is purdy fantastic, and gets better every week, which is something I'm immensely grateful for.

Thank you to Sister Fitch for the lovely letter! I hope you received my response.

Zack, Nicole, Megan, Michael, and Jeff Jeff, thank you so much for the letters, it was so much happiness in one envelope! I will hopefully write you back soon ;) 

And here is like the only picture I've taken in Indiana so far. This is from exchanges with the Sister Training Leader, Sister Cordner. We are both in threesomes, so there were six people in our little apartment. So fun! 

From the left, it's Sister Saunders, me, Sister Cordner (from Gilbert, Arizona), Sister Howard, Sister Mumford (from Apex, North Carolina), and Sister Ware (from Kentucky). Sister Ware is a visa waiter headed to Brazil. She and Sister Mumford came out to Indiana with me.

The field is indeed white, and ready to harvest, and I'm grateful to be a reaper at this time. That sounds grim, doesn't it? (See what I did there?)

Love,

Sister Allie Bowen