Update on Italy

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Hello to everyone,

Received a call yesterday from Camille's mission mom, Sorella Wolfgren.  She sounds like a wonderful person.  She called to say that Camille arrived just fine.  She said p-days are on Wednesdays so we won't hear from her till next week.  Also told me that she was going to be sent to Modena, Italy.  Home of the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti, balsamic vinegar, Mazerratis and Ferraris.  IT's a beautiful city, she said.  But what city in Italy wouldn't be??  She went on to thank us for sending such a wonderful young lady and how prepared and strong Camille is.  She said, "we've only been around her for a few hours, but the mission President and I have fallen in love with her".  Must be her contagious laugh!!  Almost made me cry because we love her so much and are so excited.  Who would have thought that there would be so much excitement on our parts as parents with our two children out serving??  It is just awesome.  Here is her address for the next 16 months.  Long ago two stamps would have worked but I went on line today to check postage and it said for 1 ounce it was $1.82.  YIKES!!  I am gonig to go to the post office and check that personally.  Sounds kind of high.

I will keep you all posted.  Thanks for your prayers.

Love,

Rosalee 

Sorella Camille Bowman

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via A. Gramsci 13/4

20090 Opera (MI)

Italy

Off to Milan!!!

Hello to everyone,

Well, no letter to pass on but we did get to talk to her today.  She has a grueling flight to Milan.  She started this morning at 7:15am and will get to Milan tomorrow morning about 10am.  She called this morning to catch the kids and Anthony at 6:30am and then called to talk to me from the Chicago airport.  They have almost a 4 hour layover.  It was a good conversation.  SHE IS SOOOO HAPPY.  She kept saying over and over that she just couldn't imagine NOT going on this mission.  I had to laugh because she said that if she gets to 25 and is not married, SHE'S GOING ON ANOTHER MISSION!!  LOL!  Good for her.  I guess we better plant a money tree!!!  

They are traveling in a group of about 18....4 sisters and the rest elders.  She said they were having lunch and she said a little prayer that they would have the chance to share the gospel with someone in the airport.  Not 2 minutes later a pilot came up and was very curious about young ladies and going on missions.  He thought only men went.  He explained that he has been interested in the church for a long time but not quite sure how to go about it.  Camille pulled out a Book of Mormon but he said he already had one, so another sister pulled out a mormon.org card and gave that to him.  Needless to say...they were so totally excited and talked for quite awhile with him.  

Just wanted to share that with you all and once again thank you all for your prayers and support.  Please pray today that the plane will function properly and that the pilot will be alert and that our precious cargo make it safely to Frankfurt, Germany and then on to Milan!!  

Love,

Rosalee (Sister Bowman)

Last P-Day!!! Week 8

Dear Everyone,

So, just to recap her letter, you can dearelder.com her till Monday.  No more emails as she won't get them and I don't know if they will forward her letters if they come late.  Here is her address in Italy...send a letter NOW and maybe it will be there in the office waiting for her???  Thanks again.

Rosalee

Missione Italiana di Milano

Via A. Gramsci 13/4

20090 Opera (MI)

Italy

 

Wed, May 11, 2011 at 7:30 AM

 

MOOOM!!!

 

First off, I was totally jealous that Daniel got to skype you all...I was pretty bummed Mother's Day! I hope you had a good one! What was Daniel wishing the girls good luck for?? I know this is earlier than usual, but today is a busy day and I have a lot to do before we take off on TUESDAY!! SO...first things first...

 

TRAVEL PLANS!! I took a lot of pictures, and I'm sending them home today. Speaking of which, I sent a box home last week...did you get it? And I'm sending home 2 boxes today...hopefully you'll get those too. I'm sending home my hairdryer because I don't want to risk shooting it...People say that the dryers just get shot, regardless of your converter. So I am just going to buy one there. Good thing my hair is curly! AND I sent home my curler because my hair is just too long now and it's time consuming..

 

Okay, sorry, plans :  LEAVING: SLC, UT 07:12am MAY 17, 2011

                               ARRIVING: Chicago/O Hare, IL 11:21 am MAY 17, 2011

                               LEAVING: Chicago/O Hare, IL 3:40pm MAY 17, 2011

                               ARRIVING: Frankfurt, Germany Fed 6:50am MAY 18, 2011

                               LEAVING: Frankfurt, Germany Fed 8:45am MAY 18, 2011

                               ARRIVING: Milan, Italy 9:55am MAY 18, 2011

So there we are! We have to be at the travel office at 4:00am...yikes, I know. As far as the aiport, I'm pretty sure you'd be ridiculous if you tried to come. So really, don't worry about it. I'll probably call you during my layover in Chicago. I'm going to buy a calling card today so that I don't have to worry about it at all :) I can't wait to talk with you all!! PLEASE dearelder.com me with all the details regarding what number you want to call and anything else you'd like me to know about the family. No more email access for me...at least until next week sometime. I don't know when P-Day is in Italy. Oh! So an explanation as to why I am sending so much stuff home. It's not that I don't want them, but I really have to be smart now. The rule for our flight is only ONE 50lb bag, ONE 18lb carry-on, and ONE small bag like a purse. The second 50lb bag is going to be $50 and that's ONLY if it's in weight limit. I have a feeling I'm going to be okay, but I just have to be smart and do without some things. Crazy huh?? And I am also curious, do I have at least $200 on my VISA card?? I'm not quite sure...could you let me know? And if you get a chance, I'd like my white shrug I decided to leave home...I just need more coveralls/shrugs to go over my shadeshirts...so maybe that and my jeans vest?? I have a purple button shrug in my summer box that I'd like too. :) PLEASE!! Sweaters are just too warm, and the shirts by themselves are a little awkward. If you can't, I understand. I'll just make do!

 

THANK YOU DAD SO MUCH FOR THE FLOWERS!! They truly made my day! Ever since Mother's Day and knowing Daniel got to skype, I have been so sad...I haven't heard from ANYONE lately. Sob story...I was the only one in my district to not get a letter the past couple days. And so...the flowers made ALL the difference. THank you thank you thank you!! 

 

Um, let's see...This week has gone by so fast! In our PMG a challenge was given to go without something for a week to kind of feel how an investigator would feel going through addiction recovery. Sorella Jones and I decided to give up chocolate, cookies, sweet breads, cake, pudding, gelato...basically anything and everything sweet. It was SO HARD!! I couldn't believe how much my body wanted the sugar. I never really ate a whole lot, but just going COMPLETELY without it.....gosh it was crazy. BUT we did it!! We finished it last night and celebrated with homemade oreo cookies from a package Sorella Jones got. And truth be told, they weren't that appetizing. They were delicious...BUT I didn't want them as bad as I thought I would! Okay, so here's a fun story...WE have to sleep with our window open because our room is just like a furnace! So the other night, around 4:30am (as told by Sorella Baker) there was SOMETHING flying around our room!!! Like scratching at the vents and everything!! It scared Sorella Baker SO BAD!! And she just pulled the sheets over her head. I guess it flew out or crawled into our vents...we're pretty sure it was a bat. Wanna know what the word for bat is in Italian...pipstrella!! IS THAT NOT THE MOST HILARIOUS WORD EVER?! I died laughing...well I do that everyday anyways, but I did it pretty hard that time when I looked it up.

 

On a spiritual note, we got to teach our progressive investigator...Stefano again yesterday. Sorella Jones and I felt that he was ready for the Plan of Salvation and had this really cool idea, thanks to Heavenly Father, to relate the PoS to the game of Soccer. We worked for about 2 hours on it...We were even late to gym because of it. But, we were pleased and SO excited to share it. We get to our appointment, and walk it and do the small talk of how are you's and things. Sorella Jones starts into the lesson and I just get this impression that it's not what we are supposed to teach. She's still talking and I just get this calm feeling that she'll stop talking...and not 30 seconds later, she did. Our whole lesson consisted of the importance of prayer and how prayer is our key to gaining knowledge. The fact that Heavenly Father knows HIM by name, just as He did with Joseph Smith and with all of us. The Spirit was so strong, we just knew the truth. So, all in all, our 2 hour lesson plan never happened. All the Anziani were SHOCKED but were thrilled with what happened. It was just great for me to experience. The ideas flowed, but I KNOW Heavenly Father was trying to see how hard both of us would work. We worked SO HARD and yet, we were willing to follow the Spirit and forsake the lesson completely and just listen. I know our investigator felt the Spirit, and I'm so glad to know that I AM GROWING UP! and I am growing into a woman that I am proud of! My knowledge of the gospel, my ability to love people and teach people, and my ability to teach by the spirit has COMPLETELY increased! I AM SO BLESSED!!! Thank you all for your prayers...they are being felt!

 

I only have 2 minutes left, but I am just thrilled to be here. And leaving for Italy soon!! I have 2 English BoM and 1 Italian Bom to give in the airports...as well as Pass Along Cards. Please pray for me to find those who are searching!

 

Love you all!!!!

 

Con amore sempre,

Sorella Camille Bowman

 

p.s. If you all send DearElder.com's I'll get them until Monday. Hand written letters...well I don't know...but I leave EARLY Tuesday so Monday will be the last day. Italy is the way to go pretty soon!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!

13 Days Until Italy!

Hummm....I'm all teary eyed.  Having kids on missions is truly the most wonderful blessing and most humbling experience.  However, I think Camille and Daniel are far more mature than I was when I went.  It's definitely a testament of the last days and a stronger generation.  Each generation gets stronger and stronger as we get closer to the Second Coming.  ~sigh~  For whatever reason the spirit is touching me very softly today.  Maybe he's just letting me know that once again, this work is true and it MUST go forward and we all need to "put our shoulders to the wheel" and do whatever we can.  GADS!  It's hard here in Utah where EVERYONE in your neighborhood is a member. But.... there are a few scattered here and there.  I just need to pray for the opportunity and be ready when it presents itself.  Ok.  Read on....her letter is full of energy and excitement.  I'm nervous about her leaving but I know the Lord will be with her.  Daniel seems to be doing just fine in all the rain and such.  He's just says he's "always drenched and happy" but the sun is making is debut there AS WELL AS HERE IN UTAH!!  Yahoo!!

Love you all and thanks for your prayers and support to our kiddos.

Rosalee

Wed, May 4, 2011 at 11:59 AM

CIAO AMICI E FAMIGLIA!!

Yes, you guessed it...can you believe it?! I have 13 days until I am on a plane headed to Milan, Italy. I get my flight plans tomorrow and I am just SO EXCITED! Last week was slightly overwhelming because the reality of it all just hit me SO HARD. It really feels like in 2 weeks we should be going home...but no...I am SO BLESSED to be going to another country, one of the most BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES in the WORLD for 16 months!! Today as I was walking home from the temple with my companion, we smelled Pizza in the air and both of us were thinking "Man, some GREAT pasta and GREAT pizza sounds soo good right now.." And what do you know? WE WILL HAVE IT IN 2 WEEKS!! Everyone is just so excited for us, and the work is BOOMING in Italy. Slla Jones and I have 2 progressing investigators this week...Pietro and Stefano. Pietro is...interesting. He is very proud of his culture and proud of himself. We get to teach him today and I'm excited...he just makes me laugh...frequently. Stefano is a 23 year old professional Soccer Player for Italy...and oh man...he is GORGEOUS. And I'm not saying this to be weird...he was an investigator of one of my teachers and so my teacher is re-enacting Stefano's character for us...but my teacher DID show us a picture...I mean, man, the people of Italy are just BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!! I'll REALLY need to pray that the Lord will loose my tounge when I run into these people. There is an Italian sister here named Sister Lui and she is from Verona, Italy. She is just the bubbliest little thing and ALL the Sorelle ADORE her!! She is headed to temple square on her mission and is just so excited she has people to talk to in her native tongue. All the Anziani flock to her too...they just get so tongue tied...it's pretty funny to watch. We still have Anziano Mongelli here too and his English is coming along!

The new Anziani and Sorelle came in this past Wednesday and the orientation that I stressed myself out about went just fine. I left M&M packets on their desks Friday morning and it seemed to really comfort them. ON Sunday I found a little box of candy from one of the new elder's saying thank you! They come up randomly and say "Ti Amo" and i just gently remind them that for sisters it's "Ti Voglio Benne" (the softer form of I Love You) They'll get it eventually. The Sisters are wonderful. There are only 2 of them this time, but they work hard and they are doing just fine. I feel so blessed to have the calling that I do and the abilities that the Lord is blessing me with. I want to help people...that's all I want to do...and this calling helps me accomplish that!

I'm getting a little overwhelmed with the thought of packing, but I'm taking it one step at a time and getting rid of things as I go :) Mom, I'll write what I need in my hand-written letter because I don't want to bore others with my worldly desires ;)

The Lord truly does bless those He calls...and He qualifies them to the ultimate maximum. We had a heartbreaking experience this week...Monday morning to be exact. One of our Elder's had to go home. He was called to the office at 9:00am and told that he had 3 hours to pack and he was on his way. Our Fratelli explained that this was a good thing...he'll be able to take care of things that only HE can take care of for his family. He kept saying it was family problems and that he didn't want to go, especially with such small time left in the MTC...but he knew it was right and is just praying for the Lord to guide him. We all promised him letters, and I cannot explain how heartbroken I was. He was arrogant at times, and drove me nuts...but seeing the fact that he was going home, broke my heart into a million pieces. Yep...I sobbed. When I look back, he really was genuine and served with his whole little heart. He is in my prayers and I hope he will be in yours too...he definitely needs it. Anziano Bryce J. Hays. It really taught me to never let your issues with people keep you from loving them. I never STOPPED loving him, like I was always kind...but sometimes I would roll my eyes or something...shame on me. I have prayed for even MORE patience since this experience and I really feel the Lord helping me. That night, Monday night, the spirit was SO STRONG as we sang Nearer MY God To Thee...I looked around at all the faces in my district and it just really sounded like the most heartfelt prayer I have ever heard in my life. I was SO GRATEFUL for that! I told the Anziani that they would be in my prayers and I testified that the Lord truly was here comforting us with the Holy Spirit.

My fears and worries that occurred last week are being put to rest. We had an AMAZING devotional about faith last night, and what touched me the most was Elder Nelson's sstory that was shared about heart surgery. If the Lord can guide Elder Nelson in repairing someone's heart at the moment that he needed it...he can help me with my significantly smaller issues. BUT...if it's important to me...then it IS important to the Lord. And I know that...with everything that I am! We were also  counseled to share things...he who keeps, loses...but he who shares, keeps. And so, my love, from now on ,will be shared. For some reason, I have a really hard time expressing love for people...Sorella Jones is ALWAYS saying how much she loves me and appreciates me...and I just feel awkward. But, she knows I'm seriously, seriously trying. And it's taking a lot of prayer, but I'm getting better! :)

I AM becoming someone great, and I look forward to seeing who I am 16 months from now. I KNOW my testimony is increasing everyday and that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives! I'm HERE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE WORLD!

Time's out...PENSO A VOI!! (I am thinking of you)

Con amore sempre a tutti, (with love always for all)

Sorella Camille Bowman