Ok...now it's really getting cold!

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 9:37 AM

 

Mamma mia!

 

I find myself saying that EVERY DAY!! It truly is so cold up here in Genova. The wind blows, the rain is literally like ice, and it's always wet. The cold chills your bones and you just don't know what to do about it! So...what does that mean for P-day? You bundle up tight and head to the market! Little to your knowledge that it is a beautiful 65 degrees outside, the sund is shining, and there isn't a trace of wind. (eyebrow cock) So, we end up carrying everything around with us as we buy scarves (which are probably my new favorite accessory), fleece lined tights (WHAT HAVE I DONE WITHOUT THOSE THINGS?!?!?), and slippers because the heaters don't turn on IN ALL OF ITALY until November 1st. Yep, we can't just turn it on...it's literally controlled by the government or something. Mah, we are learning how to keep ourselves warm...Thank you Christmas and Birthday expenses!

 

Spiritually speaking...

Life truly has its ups and downs. I am so grateful for the uplifting emails I've received from family and a few friends. Quite literally, I was just thinking to myself...because for the past week and a half I have been SO TIRED that it literally hurts to get up...so I keep sleeping in...and then I get frustrated with the disobedience and NO EXERCISING that it's just a circle of nastyness!! And so...the adversary started pickin'..così "Sorella Bowman...what are you doing here? You haven't even reached your halfway mark and you are exhausted...do you relaly want to continue like this and waste the Lord's time sleeping? Or rather, you're so tired...what's the point?" Ugh...terrible I know...it makes me tear up just typing it all. But, I'm really striving to push through it all and push through the tiredness and just keep going. For heaven's sake...we had a baptism last week!! Little by little the Lord's work will be done. We have seen the magic with Paola Garcia. During scambio this week (which is a WHOLE nother story in its own) we visited this family and had an amazing lesson on the Plan of Salvation. I had to really lead the lesson because my scambio companion didn't really want to say much..and it was SO AMAZING!! The Spirit was SO STRONG and so many things were said that it wasn't me at all. But it was exactly what the family, especially Paola, needed to hear. My Sorella Nilson and I scambied back and went to see the family again. We were 30 minutes late because traffic was just letting out from a soccer game...and as we show up, the parents are leaving to do spesa (grocery shopping) and Paola is just chillin' at home. So we decide to teach her...when in reality it was the other way around. This girl did a complete 180...turned her life around completely!!! She was just explaining how she feels about life now with the gospel and how her life felt so empty. There was no love between her and her parents and she wanted to live life her way. But now, her life is truthfully beautiful. I was left speechless. I couldn't think of what to say!! We just kept listening and praying for something to share with her...when all we could do is share our testimonies and compare her life with the experience in Alma 26 (lifesaver chapter!!) It's amazing what the Lord does. I do get bummed sometimes because it's still a struggle for me to share the gospel on the packed, sweaty, germy busses (YULGH!! People do NOT cover their mouths here!! Thank you emergency 3 times a day and handwashing...still sends shivers down me spine! ANd yes...I meant to say "me") but nonetheless I am always looking. For example, the other day, we were heading to a members home to visit her before she went to the hospital the next day for some issues with her heart, and this little old man with no teeth starts talking to my companion. I'm just listening and she turns to me, panicked...so I start chiming in. He was the sweetest little old man. It made me just about cry when I recounted the story to my Zone Leaders. Before we departed (which we purposefully missed our bus stop), the last thing he said to us was that it was a joy to talk with us and that we were like rays of the sun. Rays of the sun. Can you believe that? Just when you think that you are just a humbug little person, you really still have the light with you when you can't even keep your eyes open. Lina Salazar was struggling the other day (a NC of 6 months) because her mother was going to the ER...and the first thing that popped into her head was to call the Sorelle Missionarie...can you believe that? We ended up helping her clean her house and cook dinner for family night...which was cow heart with rice. (For heaven's sake...if it looks good...then eat it. It really is a mental thing...pretty much super delicious!!) Okay...the adversary has just gotta stop getting to me...I'm still making differences, even if it is a slower pace right now. You have ups and downs, but the downs make the ups that much more special! Claudia was baptized this past Sunday and it was beautiful. She looked beautiful. The spirit was so strong and she was so excited for her day to finally be here! She recounted to us that when she got home a few days later, she was on facebook and found a picture of one of her best friends had been recently changed. They lost contact for a while just with the bustle of things..but come to find out...they were baptized on the same day!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?!!? She had NO IDEA that her friend was studying with the LDS church...but there she was in white with two Elders! Claudia had a hay-day and can't wait to send her family the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon. Literally, a whole nother adventure in its own. Our investigators find that this book is the ONLY thing that brings them peace when they need it the most. I look back on my life and it is a SHAME as to how much I didn't use it. If you haven't read it today, go read it right now. If you haven't finished it in you life...make a goal to finish it by the end of the year...and I PROMISE it will bring you SO MANY BLESSINGS!! Okay, miracles are everywhere...if you ever have a bad day...just look at the good things that have happened...even if it means that someone gave you a cup of hot chocolate and it tasted just right. Something simple can change your whole day.

 

Temporally speaking...

I laugh. I laugh SO MUCH on my mission. It's truly amazing. And you know, it's a blessing. We have to call the ZL's pretty much every night because we get home past 9:30 quite often, but they say they look forward to it. Anziano McMahon just says that my voice is just so happy...no matter what crazy things happen! For instance, we had to switch back on scambio...so my little companion and I boarded the train at 6:45am (which meant getting up at 5:30) only to find out, once we were in Savona, that there was a sciopero. ALL THE TRAINS DECIDED TO GO ON STRIKE!!! So we were stuck in Savona...basically the halfway point. Luckily the Elders came and found us and let us do some grocery shopping for some food and the older missionary couple (bless their hearts...literally, please pray for them...they need these blessings!! Anziano and Sorella Robinson) came and picked us up in Savona...drove us to Cuneo and back to Genova. It was like driving with Gramma and Grampa on roadtrips. WHICH I was really missing our Fall weekend trips to yellowstone...Gramma Egbert..you better believe we are doing it again when I come home...especially for the Elk bugeling!! But, in Savona it was quite an adventure because we wanted to shop cheap. Our list...bread, eggs, cheese and two yogurts. One of the Anziani asked, What can you do with that? Oh Anziano...what can't you do? We ended up making egg and cheese sandwiches for all of us...pretty good too. When the Robinsons swtiched and brought us home, they made PB and Honey sandwiches and all sorts of snacks...they really took care of us. But, through it all, you just have to laugh!! Another thing, I had been waiting ALL WEEK to get some herbal tea...warms you right up! So I snagged some at the store and I was showing Claudia what we CAN drink...and she asks if it was for her. And before I could answer my collega responds YES! Wait...what? hahaha so all I could do was laugh after giving it to her. After I passed the box, my companion doubled over as we walked away from Claudia and she just started apologizing. It was only AFTER I handed over the box that she realized she had NO IDEA what Claudia just asked and felt like a big jerk. hahhahah Needless to say, she is buying some for me today.

 

That's all the time I have now...thanks for everything!!

 

Con Amore,

Sorella Bowman

 

Autumn- your baby is BEAUTIFUL!! I LOVED the announcement and thank you for the email!

Ams- YOUR BABY HAS YOUR LIPS!! Oh my gosh I cannot wait to meet the little guy!! I loved the announcement too!!

"I have eaten THE STRANGEST THINGS this week...and I didn't cry"

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 9:11 AM

Oh what a beautiful day...I've got a beautiful feeling everything's going my way!!
Oh if only you could make the mission a musical...hahah what a kick it would be! I've lost track of time during this email session because I've been chatting with my mom via email back and forth. BUT I will try and update as best as I can!

I went to the market this morning and holy smokes, I felt like Aladdin on the streets of Agruba! It was really fun, bought some scarves and a little backpack. The wind is picking up here, and snarls my hair up like crazy..BUT I haven't cut it yet! A promise is a promise!

Claudia's baptims is coming up THIS SUNDAY and we are so excited for her. Tonight for ward council we have to set everything straight, but everything seems to be in order :) I just love her so much and the ward is really embracing her. She still is timid about coming to GANS (young adults not married) (I honestly don't remember what you call it in English...yipes) but we are working with her. Kerly is going to be baptized NEXT Sunday and received a blessing this past week that is really helping her. The Book of Mormon brings her so much peace and comfort that it is truly...FABULOUS :)

I am so grateful for all the experiences I am having and the things that I will be coming back to. Time is flying by so fast...I already have to make decisions about coming home so the office can set up my travel plans for me in January. Crazy! I just think...this time last year, I was finishing up my papers and making final decisions...and now look at me. I have to make decisions of how to bring people to salvation and which busses to take to make it on time and leading planning sessions and so forth. Not panicking in public transportation? ME?! Who would of have thought that I would be completely calm when I took the wrong bus one day...Yes ladies and gents, I'm turning into a little swan...hahhahah Just kidding. But no seriously, I think I'm really growing up. In fact, we had a really, schifo, strange man come out of no where when we were headed to an appointment...He wanted said that I should know I'm pretty cute and that he wanted to see us later...Yeah, I gave him the stiff leg and he buzzed off. What I should have done is invited him to repent of his lasciviousness and be ready to face his Redeemer at the end of the last days to avoid the firery furnace that awaited him...But alas, the thought came only AFTER I was home and reflecting upon the day. Anyway, maybe I handled it how I should have haha

Still preparing for the primary program this Sunday and still getting through the music. They do things WAY different here with the primary...the teachers don't sit with the children! The teachers teach and then go to RS...It's simply CHAOS. Ugh, I get a headache...and so I'm hoping I can help turn things around with being the singing time teacher. Yes, yes...the Primary President (after a musical practice) came over to me and my companion and just about cried. We offered our help and she willingly took it...we'll be in accord on Sudnay :)
OH! I almost forgot!! I have eaten THE STRANGEST THINGS this week...and I didn't cry...I just ate it all. I ate chicken feet (not good...it's only skin and bones); octopus WITH THE SUCKERS on it's legs; chicken hearts YES NOTE THE PLURALNESS; chicken liver and I think uterus...it was a part only found in hens, so that's what my guess is...and some weird fruit here called Kako that is THE weirdest tecture but still pretty good just the same; a lady in our ward made these mashed potato things with little bits of white cheese inside and on top a peanut butter sauce...that was absolutely delicious!! Man, the combinations these people come up with just kill you...sometimes literally.

Anyways, I am so grateful for the emails I get from you all. Ams, I got the pictures and I just can't wait to meet the little guy! The pictures were adorable!! Have you gotten my letter in the mail by chance? And Correne, thanks so much!! Don't worry, I'll be  home sooner than you know it! Haha :) And Elder Bowman, thanks so much for the talks, I am very excited to read them!!

Alright, I have to right President...just remember that with the Lord you literally CAN do all things!!!

Con amore,
Sorella Bowman

And Winter Has Just Begun!

Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 6:02 AM

Ciao tutti!

 

I hope everything is going so well for all. I reflected on my past letters that I have sent home, and they are not NEARLY as expressive as they usually are..So, I am going to try and fill you all in on everything that has happened...

 

In all honesty, this week has really been a miracle week. I was sitting on the bus yesterday, I just said to myself..."I have never been the happiest in my life, as I am now." And to be quite truthful, I shocked myself! But, I was reflecting, again, and it's true. The Lord has blessed me so much, and I have no motive to be sad. The weather is changing, and the air is starting to clear...which is ironic because more people are smoking now...But it's time to bundle up and I think I'm so happy because it reminds me of home.

 

On Friday, my companion and I did some weekly planning. The day previous, we had a special training to get the mission jump started on the new MTC program. That day was kinda sorta a fiasco because we went to the wrong train station...well, we were right but the tickets were SO expensive! So we had to catch a bus to ANOTHER station, buy the tickets, and then the train was late, and so we were about an hour late to the meeting. Man oh man a shevits. But, President wasn't upset so that's okay. But, anyways, back to Friday...We had our weekly planning session and we really were thinking about what was taught on Thursday. I spoke with Sorella Wolfgramm about some concerns I had personally, but at the same time, I was able to feel how happy I was about this city. I really feel like I am starting to grasp the idea of missionary work. It's not about numbers. Numbers are there to stress those who need to be stressed, and push those who need to be pushed. For me, I used to stress getting 20 inviti a day...but I couldn't tell you ANY of their names. Now, my companion and I have changed goals. We have set a goal to get at LEAST 3..wow, I can't think of the word...3 meaningful invites. Where we invite the person to learn about the gospel, because we WANT them to learn. We made the gospel become personal and meaning to them...not just to get their name and have another statistic. And as we changed our goal to LOVING people and really searching...my mission has changed completely. I am not stressed if a person won't talk, or if there is no push to talk to someone on the bus because it's not about the numbers. It is about God's children coming back to him and realizing what they have missed in their life. Let's take Tatiana for example. She is a less active woman, given to us as a referral. She has been here in Italy for quite a while, but hasn't been to church in almost 20 years. We visited with her once, and she doesn't remember a dang thing. So, just yesterday, we went to her home and gently taught The Restoration. Before we began she was telling us that she has been really pondering and trying to remember all that she has missed with the church. She is opening up more and more to us. And I really think it's just the way I have changed my teaching. At our first lesson, she kept saying how HARD it was to live the gospel...and you know what? It IS hard...it may not seem hard to you or to me...because we were born into the church. BUT if you think about it, we have HIGH standards and for someone just coming in...they are COMPLETELY changing their life, all based on faith. But, because of that agreement, and not chastisement, I really believe that is why she let us come back. And as of yesterday, she was so firm in saying that she WILL be in church on Sunday (she went looking for the church on her own after we gave her the address) and she wants her son to come to the Halloween Ward Party. But, the most amazing thing about it all...She prayed to her Father in Heaven yesterday, for the first time in years. As a missionary, you panic a little sometimes because you don't think you are feeling the Spirit..when in reality, we are doing all we can to have it with us, and so we become accustomed to it. But as she was praying, it hit me so hard that Heavenly Father just loves her so much and was so, so, relieved that she was speaking to Him again. She had to follow the guide in the little booklet, but she still tried...and I KNOW Heavenly Father listened. I know He did.

 

Saturday, my companion and I had a handful of miracles. We went to a piazza to wait for one of our lessons and ran into wonderful people. An elderly woman let us carry her groceries to her home. Even though she let us in, she saw our nametags and was so grateful for our service. Another woman stopped us and asked us where we were from...because we were saying good morning to everyone, being as young as we were, how did we know so many people? She ended up just talking with us for about 20 minutes, with an invitation to English class. We saw her again just yesterday, and had a little chat with a smile and a wave. Piano, piano eh? But the weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and we accidentally took the wrong bus, but saw Genova from the top of the Mountains, over looking the sea. It was the most BEAUTIFUL thing I had ever seen. But, come to find out, the right bus to take, we met Ingrid. If we hadn't mistaken the bus, and boarded the bus where we needed to...we wouldn't have found her. And you know, I spoke to her because I felt guilty for not speaking to a younger girl earlier. As the girl got off the bus, I turned and saw Ingrid...and a name written on her bracelet. "Okay Heavenly Father, I won't let this one slip this time" and we started talking for quite a while...and got her number and a lesson for tomorrow. We are SO excited!

 

Kerly and Signora Ferrari came to church on Sunday. The weather wasn't as cold, so Signora was willing to come to church! SHE LOVED IT! At our lesson yesterday, she just went on and on...remembering things that she doesn't normally remember. Even though she can't get baptized now, I KNOW she'll accept it on the other side..we just have to do all we can and go from there. Kerly is just a rock star. She gave up drinking coffee even BEFORE we taught the word of wisdom...all because her friend Sorella Herrera explained what we do. Sorella Herrera (Beibi) is a recent convert with her family and has just been a foundation for Kerly. It's been hard for Kerly, but she knows that she wants to do the right thing...and so far, we haven't steered her wrong yet. She came to church and really loved it. She is still a little hesitant about baptism, probably because she doesn't know what to expect...but she is still pressing forward. The power of prayer is SO REAL in her life and is becoming even MORE REAL in mine...Heavenly Father answers us in the simplest, but most profound ways. Mostly in ways we don't expect! For example, we had an appointment with the Herrera family and we really wanted to teach them something great...and we just felt to teach Lehi's Dream. Come to find out, it was something they had never really heard of! So, as we read 1 Nephi 8, Sorella Nilson had made little pictures to go along with the symbols, and we played memory. The family LOVED it. Amazing what concepts are so simple, and yet the world doesn't know.

 

So we have concepts in the church that are the basic foundations...and then you have the beloved members who are just a little over the top. Okay..in this case a LOT over the top. :) Claudia is doing amazingly. She cannot WAIT for her baptism, which is next week. (I cannot TELL YOU how fast time is flying now...it's incredible...) But, a young man (a very attractive young man...who happens to be a international model) has taken interest in her. And she is BEAUTIFUL...naturally beautiful. But he has taken interest in her because Sorella Bertorello's client, is his mother. His mother saw Claudia and wanted her to meet her son right away. So, they have become instant friends. And then we have dear Sorella Bertorello who is lookingo out for dear Claudia, and says that she is NOT allowed to kiss him...and that she MUSt keep the law of Chastity or else God will take everything away from her. (dangit...strike 1) Then Claudia was studying the Word of Wisdom and the word "umbellico" comes up, and Claudia asks what it was. Sorella Bertorello explains it in such a way that Claudia gets the impression that we have to have an organ removed from our stomachs before we join the church (what?!...strike 2) And then to top it all of...you can't join the church if you have tattoos...you have to have them lazer removed before you can progress (strike 3..this Sister is crazy) So we show up and Sorella Bertorello does her thing (don't worry, it is just kind of accepted in the ward that she's a little nutso...but people love her because of her strong faith.which is SO true...a little cooky but really strong in her belief) So we show up and CLaudia just looks at us, after Sorella leaves, and just tells us how her BRAIN has been EXPLODING and she needs us to clarify a lot...and she proceeds to tell us what i just told you all. Sorella Nilson and I look at each other and just start dying. haahahah With the kissing thing, I told her that "she can kiss him all she wants..,.just to be cautious of passion because that's where you go wrong. FOr heaven's sake with a face like this guy, if he goes for it...accept it!" And she just died laughing! Yeah, yeah, yeah...okay...a little bit of a spit fire still...but...it seemed fine to say at the time...And it was. Her fears were calmed. NO surgeries...NO nun-ness (like catholic nuns) and for heaven's sake, if you have a tattoo...you repent and move forward.. Oh the things people think...

 

But life is going really well...I've never been so tired, happy, blessed, frustrated, exhilarated and so forth...in all my life. I KNOW this gospel is true and that family's CAN be together forever...through Heavenly Father's plan. It's beautiful. Study it and I PROMISE it will bless your life! And so, my time is up and I must be going...until next time, I'll eat some fresh bread on your behalf!ù

 

Con amore,

Sorella Bowman

p.s. So...I'm kind of sort of the ward pianist...for everything. Every baptism, relief society meeting, even during Sacrament...as well as Primary...I think I'm going to be asked to be the Primary Singing time leader...the President has never done such a thing...and being in primary last week...it's time for a change :) I'll let you know how it all goes!!

Hello Everyone!!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 10:48 AM

Well, it is the first week of October and I have to wish my little brother a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 5 years old...what a big kid! And, it actually hit me that October 3...starts the count down. My proselyting license ends on that day exactly one year from now! I panic a little bit everytime I realize how much LITTLE time I have left.

Genova is a completely new experience for me, but I absolutely love it. I have to measure my progress differently because we are CONSTANTLY on the busses..and if any of you know me, I get a little "stretta" (tight...or anxious) when I am squished between lots of people. Sure, I am a watcher first and then I dive in with the huge smile and tell you what's up...but I gotta see what you're up to first. On the busses...and metro's...holy smoly...I get touched and shoved and pushed around...sometimes I just wanna flip! So I am just so happy if I can start a conversation with someone. Yeesh! But...I really do try to talk to people!! And Sorella Silva told me that THIS is what is important...that I am trying my hardest to change. My hair is really long now and so I have to constantly tie it back so people can see my nametag. When people stare, I try and make contact to start a conversation...but it doesnt always work. I have come to find that you really have to be real with the people if you want them to listen to you. The gospel has to flow naturally...not like you are trying to sell something. And for me...when I am on the bus, I am looking to talk to people..but I am also stressing trying to find the bus stops and changing busses. (Sigh) It is the effort that counts.

And through it all...I know the Lord is pleased with our work. When we have lessons and when we can talk to people...we make it count. Our investigators, Kerly and Claudia are already progressing and HAVE a baptismal date. Claudia LOVES praying in Creole (her native language) and finds God in EVERYTHING she does. Kerly prays all the time and has so many spiritual experiences that we are just BLESSED to hear them. She works for an elderly woman named Signora Ferarri. She lets us visit and she just loves us. She knows the truth of the message every time we teach her along with Kerly, and she just promises us that we are going to paradiso (paradise). She loves what we teach...but the thing is...it's new to her every time we teach them. She has Alzheimers, and I just got a confirmation the other day, that we need to teach this woman too because she will accept it on the other side. You do what you can...even if she can't remember. We found a woman who has been inactive for YEARS and she wants us to come back. You HAVE to show the people you love them...or they won't listen to you. It's so true. Every mission is so different, and every missionary is so different and you teach the gospel in different ways. I watched this woman, inactive as long as I have been alive, change from being so distant to laughing with us, talking about peruvian food, and how she is distressed in keeping her 7 year old son away from the influence of alcohol and smoking here...it was truly amazing.

I am seeing so many miracles here on my mission. And interestingly enough, the biggest temptation here is to sleep. Ugh...it is SO hard to get up in the morning. My companion and i bought earplugs today hoping to get some GOOD SLEEP tonight. The amublances go ALL NIGHT LONG here and there are ALWAYS yellings and demonstrations in the streets. I'm praying that these things will work!

As far as conference, I really hope everyone enjoyed it. You don't understand HOW blessed you are to HEAR the prophet's voice and everyone that we hear every conference. We didn't get any of the jokes or why people were laughing on the TV because things that are funny to us, don't translate in Italian to be humorous. And the translations aren't exactly as the people say them because they wouldn't make sense in Italian. Nonetheless, I am excited to read it!! I DID love Pres. Uchtdorf's Forget-Me.Not talk. It's true...we need to remember how special we are. I see women, here in Italy, just being treated like objects. Their boyfriends hanging all over them and just using them for pleasure. In my head, I can't count HOW MANY TIMES I say "Don't do it! Don't do it! YOu are worth so much more than he treats you!" But...they don't hear me...nor will they listen. It's how they find "love"...Gosh...it's amazing how blessed I am and have been! I see so much...and it's SCARY. I have to carry around my pepper spray now...just for protection. I was going to a lesson the other day and I saw a man, completely covered in blood with the side of his head split open..just raging and wavering around. I thought it was joke! I was looking for cameras! But no, instead I find another man to my left with a lead pipe...ready to swing. They paused and let us walk through...but I couldn't believe it. We CAN'T be out after dark...just too scary. Yikes, it makes my knees weak just thinking about it. All the more reason to thank my Heavenly Father for the protection he gives us every. single. day.

Now don't worry, everything was safe as we passed...the men were calming down and got in a scuffle because they were drunk. We were protected for sure. I was with a member, there were others watching us...and besides the Mafia really has a silent protection for us. The mafia is here, but if they hear something happened to a Mormon...the people who attacked are as good as dead. So, there is a silent respect from the biggest criminals in the world. What can you do...haha

Man, I realize that this letter sounds HORRIBLE...but it's really life here. I was thinking "man, what is going to shock me when I get home is that I won't have to wait for busses, and at night you don't hear anything other than dogs and cows....and there's peanut butter and REAL MILK at your fingertips!" Never thought I would think that....

Anyway, all is well and I look forward to hearing from everyone! Love you all!!

Sorella Bowman

Fresh fish! We catch 'em, you buy 'em!

I can just feel her excitement in her letter.  If anyone wants to email her I'm sure she'd LOVE it but don't be disappointed when you don't get a personal letter back as her time is so short but I can assure you that she reads them all and LOVES them.

camille.bowman@myldsmail.net

 

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 5:25 AM

I have to chuckle to myself as I walk the streets every morning...I see the pescherie with fresh fish lined EVERYWHERE and the smell is exactly that...fresh..fish!! If any of you remember Aladdin, as Jasmine is walking the streets, you see a merchant wave a HUGE fish in front of her face and say the line I put for the subject heading...And, it is a big joke between my siblings and I that, for YEARS I always thought he was saying "Fresh fish! We catch 'em for your..."

 

Bottom's up, ladies and gents! I am pretty sure I mentioned last time where I was going..but I am here in the port of BEAUTIFUL Genova. I cannot TELL you how much I LOVE this city!! It is EXACTLY how I picture Italy to be. There are hills EVERYWHERE and houses on the hills. One of these P-days, when we have money, we are going to go to Cinque Terre and see all of the beautiful places there. There are bakeries on almost every corner and fish markets too. Our apartment it just amazing...SO MUCH NICER than Modena's. Our ward is absolutely astounding. I'm really in shock as to how much people are willing to talk with us and how many referrals we have received from the members. Mom, there is a woman in our ward from Peru and she thinks that YOU might have had a connection with her sisters...years back...on YOUR mission. When she heard your name she said it SOUNDED familiar, but she had to ask her sisters. Isn't that GREAT?! So, I am trying to brush up on my spanish because a LOT of people speak that here. Many people from Ecuador and Peru...it's pretty great.

 

We already...OH!! MY companion! She is just wonderful! They have COMPLETELY changed the MTC program...I am so jealous because the material we receive now is practically the golden plates for missionaries. We jump right into teaching...our heads have kind of been spinning this week because we have absolutely NO money and we live out of our area..taking the busses gets pretty expensive...but we make do. Her name is Katie Nilson, and she is from Alpine, UT. Crazy huh? Her dad is a stake president over there..maybe you have heard of the family? Anyway, she's great and can speakk the language...so we just jumped right in. We ALREADY have a baptismal date and I am just PUMPED for this next transfer. Mind you, we are DEAD TIRED at the end of every day...living in a busy city drains you! But, there is such a good feeling here that I am really pleased with the rate things are going :)

 

Oh my heavenly days...what news about Hampstead. Mom, if you can, put JT on the email list...I'd really love to hear from him, seriously!! And I am so glad that all went so beautifully in Hampstead. I'm sure you sent our love, right?

 

So, the weeks consist of us just trying to figure out our bus schedules, what busses to take, and the hopes of not getting lost. WHICH we have already managed to accomplish (the getting lost part) but we have great Anziani that take care of us. There are 8 of us here, out DL works with the other Sorelle...and...well...this will be an experience...that's for sure. But Anziano Pitt and Anziano Romeo (Italian) haha, they call us every night to make sure that we get home safe...after our getting lost ordeal.

 

The city is WREAKING with history and I cannot WAIT to send home pictures. I guess there is a gelatteria here in Genova that you have to take an elevator to get to...because as you are buying the city, you can look out the window and see a HUGE panorama of the city with the sea. Oh mamma mia I just can't wait!! Yeah, we go running in the morning and the smell around 6:30 is fresh bread and pizza. Around 7:30/8:00 it's fish...HUGE fish and little fish and things I have never seen before...haha such an adventure.

 

That's about all I can think of right now...things are going super well and I hope to hear from you all soon!!

 

Con Amore,

Sorella Bowman

Oh What A Beautiful Morning...

Oh what a beautiful day!!

 

Buongiorno tutti!! The weather here in Modena is finally changing! The air is crisp and clean...truly reminding me of my mornings in good ol' Rexburg Idaho. To be truthful, I find myself wanting to wake up to the smell of pancakes when I would spend the weekend with Gramma and Grampa in Ashton. The weather is just great...I find myself getting REALLY excited for fall weather here! But, as we know, with weather changes comes...well...health changes. I've been out of it pretty much since Saturday. I am just so dang tired! We have ALL come down with something...sore throats and stuffy noses and achy bodies...we have to sleep a lot. But, you know me, I felt bad not really doing anything, so I made chicken noodle soup for everyone yesterday. I must admit, I really felt like my dad...a little something here, a little more of this there...tasting until it turned out really good. See Babo! (Babo=Daddy in Italian) I HAVE been watching!! I didn't boil the chicken in the water though...I thought I should have, but it grossed my companion out so I just cooked it up in the pan and then added it...Despite that fact, I thought you would be just so proud! haha to be totally truthful, I have been cooking quite a lot this week. We made pancakes one morning for Sorella Silva's birthday...and they were NOT like American pancakes...but she still liked them...I made homemade syrup..which turned out pretty tasty. I also made a tiramisu for her birthday cake which turned out DANG good also...Let me just say...I've got a few things up my sleeve when I come home :) I have also discovered a new love in the mornings...my companion is really into natural healing (yes, always reminds me of Aunt Claudia) but I have taken a liking to peppermint oil...Katelyn (during college days) would always rub it on my temples to get rid of my headaches and I forgot how much it calms me down...But Sorella Smith has been helping me calm down at nights with the oil, and warm milk with honey in the mornings. Now now now, when I say "calm down" it just helps me focus on ONE THING because at night...your mind is ALWAYS going on what you have to do next! But for the mornings with the milk, it is actually helping me curb the cravings with my hypoglycemia. Just having a thick glass of milk is REALLY making a difference. I added a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg this morning...smelled just like a cinnamon roll. ..Haha holy moly, I really sound like my Dad's emails...hahah but heck, I'm in Italy right? I gotta share SOMETHING about the food!

 

Gramma, thanks for the updates about baby Isaac...he's still in my prayers. Also, can we have a family reunion the July AFTER Daniel and I get home too? For Heaven's sake I'll just miss the reunion by 2 months!! THink about it and let me know please! Ams..Thank you for the pictures! Your little boy is just beautiful! The pictures come REALLY HUGE though and I can never see the whole thing :( but from what I CAN see...I can't WAIT to meet the little tyke!!

 

So...you know how last time I had a feeling that the Lord was preparing me to do something really big? And I didn't know what it was? Well...I was right. Sunday night, my companion and I were guessing on where we were going to be transferred with this upcoming. We actually knew last Monday that President was shutting down the Sorelle here in Modena...there is just no cooperation with the leaders. So, we've had to keep our mouths shut this whole time...and Sunday night we could have a little fun guessing where to go. Sorella Smith guessed Trieste, but had a feeling that Como was just around the corner. And look here, she IS headed to Como!! Yes, the beautiful lake everyone talks about AND Swiss chocolate? It'll be a blast. She'll be traveling by boat, bus, and walking. As for me, I just looked at the map and guessed that I would be going to Genova and training...again. I just knew it! But I had to wait till the next morning. President calls and asks me to go and open Genova and that I would find out who my companion is on Thursday. Yes, I'm training...and opening Genova. Genova has been closed to sisters for the past year and a 1/2. So it is up to my companion and myself to set a good name for the city. There will be another companionship opening with us..Sorella Silva and Sorella Simpkins. It should be a grand adventure. I don't know where ANYTHING is...what ANYTHING looks like...nothing. So I would say this is a granchè (a big deal). From what I know about Genova is that it is BEAUTIFUL, right by the sea. They eat a LOT of fish, and Spanish is really spoken there in the city. Time to pick up another Book of Mormon...in another language! Gotta renew what I have sort of learned! Yipes! Enjoy the pictures when you look up the city on the internet!

 

Speaking of pictures...Mom, I sent a pack of them home last week...have you gotten them yet?

 

I am grateful though...The members we became close with were NOT happy about this..."che peccato!" and we actually had one of our new converts and her sister cry...all throughout the lesson. They were preparing dinner for us, and it was like a funeral dinner! They laughed and laughed once I said that, and it got the ball rolling to laughing again. This may sound prideful, but in our first Zone Conference, President encouraged us to work so well with the people that they would cry when you left the city. And I strove for that...to make a difference in the ward and with the people around me...And well...it did. Little Riche was bawling when we went to say goodbye to Anna and her family...Anna felt awkward because Riche was crying so hard....but it is so great that we can write to all these people. Blessings!!

 

I look back on my life leading up to my mission and I am humbled with situations like these. I was so willing to give this up because I wanted something completely different. I knew I needed to go on a mission...but I wanted to get married instead. Dah, the Lord's work will ALWAYS be done. And so I sit here, I just think...who am I to deny the Lord in using me to do His work? Look at everything He has for me to do. I'm lucky I didn't get struck by lightning, or have an experience as Alma did! Struck dumb and chastised for denying what I knew I needed to do. A situation in where I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. Meh (little smirk on my face) I WILL have my cake and eat it too...just about a year's time from now! Haha :)  I am so grateful to be here on a mission and to really grow and stretch myself. I am happy to say that I KNOW I won't be returning as the same person I left...and that's a good thing. Sorella Smith cracked up and said the next thing to come will be a traveling Sister...going from coppia to coppia throughout the whole mission. It HAS happened in other missions...I just throw my hands up and say "boh"...the Lord is capable of anything and everything!! So it's out of Modena at 5:00am tomorrow morning!!

 

As far as Dina is concerned..we lost her. The cheating was too much for her and she asked to be left alone. We left a note in her mailbox saying goodbye..and we can only hope for a brighter future. She was SUCH a wonderful lady...and it makes my heart hurt to have lost her this time. You just HATE it when you think about the situation, and the Adversary shares his little victory cry in making you think he won this time. But, the adversary NEVER wins...the Lord has bigger and better plans...we just have to plant the seeds first.

 

I hope you get my letters well, and I would say I apologize for them being so wordy..but I am not going to...There is just TOO much to write!

Until next time,

Sorella Bowman

 

p.s. This email seems really short...but...it's really not...Oh well! Next week there will be a LOT to share I'm sure! haha

I guess there is a first for everything!

Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 4:56 AM

 

Ciao carissima famiglia e anche miei amici,

 

Amber! CONGRATULATIONS with Baby Jack!! I feel like an Aunt already!! He is BEAUTIFUL, and CHUBBY, and just WONDERFUL!! I can't wait to meet the little tyke! Good work keeping yourself healthy...9.4 pounds..you had a GENUINE bowling ball!!! Congrats!! :DDD

 

SO, my letter this week is going to ring true...this week really has been a first for EVERYTHING!! Let me start with the Thursday scambio to Firenze (Florence). No, I didn't get to see the Duomo or the leaning tower of Pisa...that will have to be saved for another day. But I did get to realize how SMALL Modena is! I was trying not to have anxiety that place was so huge! The saddest thing, when I arrived at the sister's apartment...they have over 200 families inactive in their area...Milan has over 400. The adversary is working SO HARD..and I'll elaborate on this more later. Anyway, I had my first bite of brie cheese (snicker) not my favorite...as well as eating a RED orange! Not blood oranges, but literally red oranges. And they were DELICIOUS!! While I was there in Firenze, we rang a citof and this man pokes his head out the window, looks at us, and lets us in. As we climb the stairs and reach his door...he opens it (a man looking like, well a mix between Sasquatch and Santa Clause) and says <Hi!> I look at him, ask him in Italian if he speaks English...he nods his head...and what the heck..I start ahead extending an invite in Italian. You can't blame me! People here say they speak English adn so you go off and then they look at you like you are crazy! Anyway, I continue, he lets me finish...and then he steps out of the doorway and in perfect english he says <Well, anyway...back to the English thing>. My companion just rolled...saying how I should have just seen my face! I wasn't expecting that at ALL!! Come to find out, he wasn't interested in our message...but it was nice to talk to fellow americans...he's from Florida on vacation with his wife and friends. There's a first...

 

Another first...We did our service opportunity on Friday and we were just starving!! We went by McDonalds and got a small soft serve cone...it was SO HOT and we hadn't had anything sweet since..well..forever. As I am sitting there, our stomachs are rumbling...and Sorella Smith asks if I have ever had a Big Mac. Yeah, surprise, surprise my answer was no! She about flipped! She bought one right there and we split the dang thing. So, my first Big Mac ever was in Europe, in Italy, on my Mission. hahah go figure..Oh! And I also had my first REAL African meal...Felix knew how much I wanted to try it and so he worked ALL DAY on Saturday to prepare FooFoo and Egosee Soup. It turned out really good...I didn't eat a WHOLE bunch because I know it stops you up...but he was so proud of us white girls eating it...You grab handfuls of it, and form it into little balls, dip it into the soup and swallow it whole. I tried rolling it between my palms to make a ball and he said I had to stop...Only the Grannies do it that way. YOu just squeeze it between your hands like to make a roll and go forward. I couldn't swallow it whole...so I chewed it...He was pretty shocked with that...but...he was still proud just the same. Seth was there too...and he just felt so bad for us. He doesn't like foofoo and so, against our will...LITERALLY he went and bought us pizza too!!! SO we took the pizza home and ate a little for lunch the next day...They feed us WAY too much...but they love it anyway. So that's my food firsts!!

 

Another first...this past week as I returned home from scambio...I realized that we had only accomplished 6 lessons! THat night we did some major calling and within 2 days we were going to accomplish 20. It wasn't crazy and we were going to accomplish it!! Come to find out...some things happened and we didn't accomplish 20...but we DID double our lessons..and that's okay with me. Sunday evening we had to cancel 4 lessons...because...well...I got into my first major bike accident. No really, it could have been really, really bad. The Lord was protecting me because I SHOULD have been hit by a car AND split my face...literally. BUT DON'T WORRY!! I am okay now...just really, really, sore and VERY bruised. Sorella Wolfgramm considered me her miracle Sunday night. As I was recooperating at the casa, all I could think about was...<Well, I wonder what my mom would do if she knew that I was in bed recooperating from all this mess..while everyone is dancing around the kitchen eating tacos...and just coming home from Church>. Sorella Smith was just amazing...she recounted the whole story, because quite honestly...I don't remember it. So here's the scoop... 

      As we were coming home from our lesson with Seth and Felix, my bike got it's 2nd flat tire. Okay, had to cancel one appointment across town so that we could switch bikes. We got home and I decided to use Sorella Smith's old bike..which our bike man said was pericoloso, but I didn't really understand why. I knew the brakes weren't that great, but I tested them and they seemed fine. We get to a round about and I squeeze my brakes...I don't remember anything else from here...Sorella Smith says she hears a thump and turns around to see my face: Eyes as big as saucers, my mouth wide open, my hands going out in front of me. I remember falling and then saying to myself, outloud <Gotta get up> My biggest worry was holding up traffic behind me. So, my stuff has flown everywhere and I, well, looking back I feel like a stud because I lifted my bike NO PROBLEM up two levels from the street. There is a step and then another step where we were, and I just moved my bike up that way...yeah, thanks Mark for the weight routine...Sorella Smith grabs everything and just starts laughing. She admitted that she and her family has issues with laughing at people when they get hurt...and by golly...I rocked a doozy! So I start laughing...which is MUCH better than crying. I look down at myself after a few people asked if I was okay...and I start shaking...as the adrenaline wears off. My skirt is completely trashed on the left side....dirt from the road all the way from my feet to my hips. My left wrist is burning and my left elbow has a bunch of dirt. My right palm stings and I notice my left knee is throbbing. I lift my skirt and both my knees are trashed. No blood or anything, but my left knee begins to sweel immediately and my left thigh...shoot, all I could think about was the picture of Grampa Egbert when he fell off the Tarzan in Idaho and slapped his leg against the water...My right knee had road burn all over the place...and it was just a mess. Sorella Smith grabbed everything and we went over to Dina's to clean myself up a bit. The Fabio's were there (Fabios=gay men who are being a BIG issue...I'll explain later) so I tried to clean up as fast as I could. We got home eventually, and Sorella Smith just loaded me up with peppermint oil to stop the swelling and cool down the burns. It worked! We decided to stay in the rest of the night because i was going in and out of shock...The next day I was okay... a little sore...but then yesterday I just had to sleep. I was EXHAUSTED and my arms feel like I was in a boxing match. My knees are okay despite the deep violet color on my left, and my thigh is okay despite the fist size bruises I have (3). So...my first bike accident...there we go.

 

Dina and the Fabios. Let me tell you, we had a lesson with Dina on Wednesday night and there were these 2 gay men there...Supposedly Dina had lost her keys and they let her in the apartment complex. We were supposed to have a dinner appointment with just her, but they wouldn't leave...So another first...I had dinner inside of two gay men's apartment. Dina was there, but we had to eat in their house because her gas went out... Anyway, they are being a BIG issue because we can't get ahold of Dina anymore. We are trying to hard to fight for her...to just teach her!! THese gay men are just ruining her life...because they are hiding the problem, not fixing it. Dina has just discovered that Leo has been cheating on her...and it RUINED HER. And the gay men just made it worse because...well...you know how they work. So right now, as was said in Zone Conference, we are at war. I have NEVER felt the strongest urge to command someone to leave a room...to literally get hence as I felt whenI  was around those..well....men. Dina doesn't see it...and we don't know what's going on. But literally, we are, as missionaries, at war. I feel like a big ball of light whenever we have to encounter these gay men. You lose the Spirit immediately, but yet, you feel like you have so much power because you KNOW that you are living right in the sight of the Lord. It truly is the difference between night and day. So now our lives consist of trying to get ahold of Dina again and showing her the light that she is missing...Please pray for us!!

 

The work is slowing down...and I really feel that the Lord has some BIG changes for me. I keep feeling like the Lord is going to have me open a city...but you never know. At Zone Conference, the Zone sang happy birthday to me because the next conference isn't until December...and afterwards President pulled me aside (people say something that they admire about you...a Wolfgramm tradition) and said that if he could say something, (he couldn't because he'd have to for everyone) he said that I was like an old seasoned Relief Society president, stuck inside a young body. I'll get the job done, and I'll do it how I'm supposed to. He told me not to take it wrong...and thus, I took it as a genuine compliment. I was touched and very grateful!!

 

So remember how I wanted to go on a Mission? And I did go, and I learned a lot, and I am almost halfway through...I hit my 6 month mark in two days? Yeah...remember how I figured a mission would make me be a super mom and make me better than I have ever been? Yeah...I remember that too...I remember my desires everyday...and then I look forward, and remember that they are always changing...but yet the Lord is ALWAYS improving me!!

 

Love you all so much..but I gotta go! Thank you for the letters and emails..please please PLEASE keep them coming!!"

 

Con amore,

Sorella Bowman