Ciao!!

April 27, 2011

Dear everyone,

No letter from Camille yesterday.  I was so sad.  If we get a hand written letter and there's stuff to share from there, I'll type it out and share it.  She must of had a busy p-day because she KNOWS how I wait for those letters.  It better have been important AND fun!  ( ;

Rosalee

Yahoo!  Made my day.  Looks like they had a p-day change.  Thanks for everyone's interest and prayers for our kiddos out serving.

Love,

Rosalee

 

Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 1:17 PM

Ciao cara mia famiglia e amici!

Sorry that the letter came today, the MTC is totally REVAMPING everything and that includes complete schedule changes for EVERYONE. It's been hard to adjust, but I think I'll come to like it. Gramma Egbert, thank you so much for your letter. I am absolutely THRILLED about this situation with the family. It really brought tears to my eyes (which, by the way, is NOT uncommon around here). I just feel SO BLESSED. I honestly canNOT believe that Italy is truly around the corner...3 weeks!! But...no one is counting of course ;) Before I get into the meat of my experiences this week, I'd love to thank you Mom for the WOnDERFUL package you sent. The elders were ALL truly touched and it was such a wonderful lesson for me to learn. Unselfish service really does change lives...and I am SO GRATEFUL for it! I want it to be apart of my life forever and always...even when things are tough for me, to see the joy in others because of the willing service I could give...is worth more than anything in the world. So Mom, you will be blessed for everything you are doing for me and the elders and sister in my district. They LOVE YOU and hope that they'll have a wife like you someday...hahahah!! Um, as far as things I need...i need another razor...i lost it somehow...i have NO idea. Just the Venus one with 5 blades...I have some refills and I'd like to stick with that kind. My roommate lent me a disposable one, until I can get a new one..so...please?? Um, could you ask Cadha if she ever gave my tithing to the bishop? She sometimes forgets, and that's really important!! I LOVED the CD player and CD's...it was TOTALLY unexpected!! Thank you thank you thank you!! But with that...could I get a copy of that CD of yours? The one you heard of at the funeral you went to?? I'd really love it...and if you feel like it, a CD called Images of Christ...some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard!! So that's about it...OH! And if you ever go up to Idaho soon...snag my guitar back please...I'm picking it up when I get back home..I felt I needed to!

 

So today the new Anziani e Sorelle are coming...there's only 16 all together so it'll be interesting to see how things plan out. I'm very excited though because i get to meet them and really interact with them because of my calling. tanner petersen is reporting today if I remember correctly, and so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for him. Interestingly enough, we have had 2...yes TWO APOSTLES of the Lord come and speak to us in less than 8 days. Every Tuesday after devotional, we gather as a district to discuss the meeting. After Elder Richard G. Scott's talk last week, the spirit was IMMENSE!! I cannot TELL you how amazing it was. As my turn came around to share, I started bawling...sheesh, I do that all the time. But, the truth is so far greater than me that I cannot CONTAIN IT!! I really started bawling when an Anziano was called again to speak and he started crying. We were all so concerned because he's been contemplating thoughts of returning home...but he looked up and said, with so much solemnity..."Tonight, an apostle of the Lord came to speak to us...and he did NOT answer my prayer. But...Sorella Bowman did." And of course, I started bawling uncontrollably. It is SO AMAZING how hard the Lord works to bring His children close to Him. I want to be His tool and NEVER miss an opportunity to teach, testify, love, and bring others to Christ. As I was sitting in the temple today, an older sister was crying...and grandmother I suppose. but as I watched her, I just felt Heavenly father's love for her and i started crying too!! I felt her pain and just wanted to help her so much...And I can do that because I'm a missionary...ha-ha...free ticket to talk to people whenever I want. And even with that...We all can talk to people whenever we want. I LOVE testifying of this gospel and what I want, for the rest of my life, is to help heal souls...to serve with all my heart, put others first and just bring joy that I feel into their lives. I want EVERYONE to feel this joy that I do...to realize HOW MANY TImeS THE LORD IS IN OUR LIVES. I want to help heal souls, just as the Savior did...and I'm in His hands...so I better be darn prepared to do it. Elder Dallin H, Oaks came tonight and spoke about the importance of the work. And I realized, as comparing to Elder Scott's visit...Elder Scott was ALL ABOUT healing the soul and once the soul is healed, it's time to get to work. it's been on my mind lately because many souls in our district have needed healing. I've received notes from some just saying to never stop laughing and being who I am because I'll make a difference. When I think, goodness, I NEVER would have thought anything about it. How BLESSED and HUMBLED I am to be in the presence of these young men and how BLESSED I am to be serving my God and my Savior. You see the broken hearts, how MANY broken hearts just need to come to know of the Balm of Gilead? And how many times do we pass by the broken stranger, simply because America has a culture of how awkward it is to say hello. When you have a joy within you, and you cultivate it...you HAVE to share it. No more friends and family, no more will I be silent. Joseph Smith did NOT lose his life for this gospel, nor did the Savior lose His life for nothing. I do what I do because He did what He did. The Savior gave His life for us all...And now it's up to me to help others find their own lives through Him. And what greater work could I be doing?? I've changed ladies and gents, but I KNOW it's for the better. Why, after all this time, have I NOT opened my mouth and shared the truth?? It's TRULY PRECIOUS...and everyone deserves it. It makes me laugh out of sheer joy as to HOW BleSSED I am and how underserving I am of all the Blessings. I had an experience this past week that AMAZED me as to how the Lord's hand was in my day almost EVERY HOUR. On monday we all received new service schedules, and there are things called Narnia HOles, where old elders stick things in for the new elders to find. A letter was found by one of our Anziani that testified, from an elder LONG AGO, how important it was to stay on a mission. How he regrets leaving his early and returning home, all because he wanted material things back. His story was TRULY heartbreaking, but a true testament of how important the work is. So our Anziano brings it back to the room and Sorella Jones reads it first, and then I take a whack at it. Interrruptions would come and I could never finish it. The story unfolds as to that we had gym class, but I had to go home because I forgot some things, we run into a Russian sister who tells of her conversions story so we end up not working out and going home early. We change and head to class, all the while 2 of our Anziani find a random letter on the floor and head to 1M to give it to the front desk. They return to class (where we are) and say that an elder has decided to go home. Without much words being said, we ALL FOUR OF uS rush back to the 1M building and give him the letter. I can't explain what I felt, because I did all the talking...They just assumed I would do it because I still had the letter in my hands. Anyway, I testified of his need to be here (his bags were packed and he was ready to go) but I told him to read the letter before he stepped outside the doors. We shook his hand and testified a little more and left. Immediately we found a chapel and had one of our elders offer a prayer of faith unto our Lord. our elder said a beautiful prayer which brought tears to HIS eyes...and it's just amazing what the Lord does to just save one soul.

 

time is out...but family and friends...I know who I am. I am a SERVANT and DAUGHTER of the Lord. I am going forth to save souls!!

 

Vi Amo,

Sorella Camille Bowman