6.15.11-Week 13 (8:38pm)

Dear Sorella Bowman,

We had a wonderful Steak Conference this week and Elder Gong of the 1st quorum of the 70 was our visitor and presided at the conference. I attended the leadership training and it was very good. I wanted to share something with you that I think is important.

Alma 53: 20And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.  21Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

Alma 56: 47Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.  48And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

Alma 57:20And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.   21Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

Alma 57:25And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.  26And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.  27Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.

Alma 58: 40But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.

There are some very interesting things that we learn in this set of scriptures. 

• The young men were valiant
• True at all times
• Men of truth and soberness
• They had been taught the commandments
• They believed the testimonies of their mothers, they trusted that their mother's testimonies
• They obeyed with exactness and their own faith and testimonies grew.
• Not one soul perished although all received many wounds
• They had exceeding faith in what they had been taught
• Their minds were firm
• They put their trust in God continually
• They stand fast
• They are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day
• They observed and kept his statutes and judgments and his commandments continually
• Their faith is strong

What a miraculous transformation! They were young men willing to go and do believing what their mothers had taught them, they exercised a small amount of faith in the testimonies of their mothers. Based on their experience and trust in the Lord, their faith became strong, they stood fast and were strict in their obedience.  This formula helps all wax strong in the presence of God; D&C 121:45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

This is the key for you to overcome any adversity. Be faithful, be patient, rely on the Lord. You may get wounded, but in the end you will be victorious, triumphant.  The scriptures are full of the hope that people need. You are in the service of our Lord and Savior. Thank you for your faith and your dedication. You have my love and admiration, you help me want to be a better Priesthood bearer, husband, and father.

I Love You Elder Bowman, Dad.

 

My, my, my!! I feel SO BLESSED!!

Thank you all SO much for the letters of support. I honestly had NO idea that my letters were so...well...all of what each of you said! Lauren Arnson, DO IT!! I heard that you are thinking of serving a mission...DO IT!! Seriously...there is NO better preparation for being a great mom, and even a greater person. I have only been in the country almost 4 weeks...and I have learned SO MUCH! The work is hard...but that only means you are doing something right. If it was supposed to be easy it wouldn't be called Missionary WORK. Besides, amidst all the trials there isn't a day that goes by that I do not laugh. Well, that's not abnormal...but still :)

 Jasie- Oh my heavenly days, I almost cried when I read your letter!! I am SO happy to hear from you and of COURSE you can share whatever you feel like. I am so excited for you to be a teacher in RS...you are going to be FABULOUS!! With your bubbly attitude, sharing the gospel will come so easy! I totally know the feeling...you feel ridiculously apprehensive...but once you do it...you are showing the Lord your willingness to just open your mouth...and then He blesses you. There was a woman on the street, who I just felt prompted to speak to. She took one look at my tag and told me she was not interested and waved me away. Alrighty then...so I walk over to my companion, dumbfounded, and I am thinking ^Well...what was that about Heavenly Father? She didn't even want to listen!^ And not even 30 seconds later we get a phone call from a really promising investigator saying that he just watched the Restoration video and that Joseph Smith wasn't crazy...he was just searching for the truth, just as he is...and he can't WAIT to speak with us in our next appointment. Shame on me...I repented right then and there...Heavenly Father was just testing me to see if I would open my mouth...even if I didn't see the fruits. But BECAUSE I opened my mouth...a little miracle happened :) Please tell Tony hi as well as Holly and Zak and the little munchkins...oh for heaven's sake tell EVERYONE hello for me!!

So like I said earlier...trials happen. Mom, the other expense occurred because my bike got stolen this week. We got back from an appointment with a less active...WHICH was a bidone (rejection) and I walk up and my bike is completely gone. COMPLETELY. Helmet, lock and everything. So, I purchased a bike this week...If you know Mater from CARS...that's what my bike looks like...Oh well! It functions and gets me around! I'm telling you...I was really upset at first...almost on the verge of tears. Why couldn't the Lord have pulled a Nephi card and whoever touched my bike would have been shriveled up like a dried reed!? It's because if my bike had not been stolen, we would not have met one of our investigators on the street and invited him to attend a baptism that was occurring in our ward. If my bike had not been stolen, I wouldn't have needed to push myself to find a miracle for that day. Through every trial we HAVE to find the good. Seriously, like the bird poop incident! If that bird hadn't had a bowel disfunction...I wouldn't have been able to make the man across the street, sitting in his car, laugh as much as he did. Still though, I have urges every once in a while to kick the darn things...but I am trying to be better. The pigeons here have NO FEAR and they walk all over...I think sometimes, some of them get into the left over liquor bottles that lie around here and they get a little tipsy...a few have almost flown right into me a couple times. Isn't it strange that they can't walk without moving their heads? When you have been tracting ALL DAY with no success...it is the LITTLE THINGS that get you laughing.

I just want to testify how merciful the Lord is. Mom and Dad...I am SO grateful for everything you all have taught me. It is a DIRE NEED to remember the Lord every day of our lives. I am repenting all the time, because for some reason, the language has been a struggle for me. People hear me speak and they just go off a mile a minute...and I am left there praying for a dictionary...or at least the ability to understand what is going on. I pray for that EVERY DAY...and the Lord always pulls through. He opens my mind just enough to know exactly what to say and how to testify. As far as the Lord being merciful, I can't tell you how many times the Lord has with held the rain from falling so we could have a lesson, or how many times He has blessed me with a calm heart when I start missing home and being discouraged with the work. All of the experiences I have encountered in my life are really coming together to bless me with patience, understanding and just being a better person. All the struggles that we go through in time, sometimes don't make sense and they HURT...but in the end, you realize that they are ALL for your benefit and growth. The other companionship we share an apartment with is really struggling. And it is really difficult to be around sometimes...but I am so grateful that my heart is still open and the contention isn't disturbing my way of thinking. My heart breaks for the pain they both struggle with inside and with each other...but I KNOW the Lord loves them and I really testify that when the Lord puts a struggling companion, or in this case companionship, it is because He trusts you to help. My companion, Sorella Snodgrass, adds: ^yeah, and if the Lord sends you a companion without any struggles...it is because He loves you.^ hahahah We laugh all the time and she is just amazing!

This week has been really eventful with my bike being stolen and such...it just makes you appreciate bikes that much more. We have to take more time walking and things, but I think it has been good. Bus tickets get a little expensive...but the plus side is, we sleep much better. We both woke up feeling like a bus hit us...but that hasn't really happened yet. :) I have learned how to make tiramisu both chocolate and strawberry kind, as well as some other delicious Italian dishes. I love how the Lord blesses me with trials, and even when the adversary fills my mind with thoughts of me not being able to do this work...the Lord blesses me with even more blessings that remind me there are SO many more joys to be had and so many more things to learn and to do. Our AP, Anziano Mangrum is leaving this transfer, and I walked up to him to thank him for his example and strength (he was the AP to get my group going our first day at the Milan Duomo) and before I said anything he goes ^You, Sorella Bowman, just make me smile^ Dah?! What?! And then he goes on to say that I have this energy that is contagious and I just need to keep my head up and just be the ball of energy that I am. WHAT A BLESSING! I seriously thought I was being a slug that day...really trying to be bubbly...but I love how even when I feel tired, I am still bringing smiles to people's faces...or so they say.

The Lord is so merciful and He truly has me in mind. The other day, a woman with her two kids walked past me and I felt I needed to talk to them. But I didn't. Shame. My companion was on the phone and I was overwhelmed that I wasn't understanding anything...and as soon as I got home I knelt before the Lord and confessed my sins. I truly asked for forgiveness for not talking to her...and if it was in His will...I prayed that we could see her again. That was Sunday night...Yesterday, Sorella Snodgrass felt like grabbing a French Book of Mormon (strange because not very many people here speak french) and we headed out to the Parco 22 of Aprile. As we are walking, I see the woman who I prayed about with her two children sitting on a cement wall. Immediately we walk over and start talking with her. Her name is Ana, and she is from Congo...her native language is French. As we started teaching her, she offered a prayer and cried...it wasn't noticeable, but I could tell...as we continued to lesson and bringing it to a close...she started to cry...hard...saying that she KNOWS we didn't meet her by chance, and the fact that the book we gave her is in French, and the lesson we taught about Faith, was truly an answer to her prayers...She invited us to teach her and her family again. We testified that the Lord loves her and that we are here to help. She said that the Book of Mormon would be the only other book she has EVER read in her life aside from the Bible...but how everything came together, she knows that she MUST read it and she will.

The Lord knows that we a dumb sometimes, like me, who wouldn't open my dang mouth. Normally, that isn't a problem, but here it gets to me sometimes. And yet, the Lord gives me a second chance to make things right. I really love finding all the miracles in my life everyday. Being a missionary truly is a blessing...and you find life to be in a whole different life if you let it. Life is TOO short to not smile and to not love. Even when people tell you crazy stories about wicked Mermaid women in Africa who will capture your soul, or the Pagan African gods who will kill you if you don't go to church and receive protection from Jesus...Yeah, seriously have taught people with those concerns...It's just amazing to me. Even when people seem a little paza (crazy) you can't help but love them and find the good in them, because the Lord does. Every smile, every wave, every boungiorno, and even every book of mormon makes a difference. We have a light, and we MUST let it shine!!

As far as pictures, I have a few more from the MTC and a few from Milan. I understand that you got some from the Mission President?? That's good!! And if you can print off emails that YOU send me and that I send, that would be awesome. As well as the emails I get from friends through you...that would be awesome. I can't really print things off here...and I can't upload stuff on the computers...so I'm getting stamps today to send home some photos.

This gospel is true and Italy is a wonderful place!! LIttle quaint shops and strange people...you can't help but love the people you serve. I am so glad things are going well at home...please send my love to everyone..and maybe print off some photos of the kids so that I can be up to date on their growth...snail mail photos so I can put them in my album! LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!! Please take care and know that I am growing and loving so much!! I pray for you everyday and I know you do the same...I feel it!!

I'd love to keep talking...but I have to email the president! A piece of my heart is with you all...but a huge chunk is with the Lord right now :) LOVE YOU ALL!!

Con amore,

Sorella Bowman

I love my mission, and I truly love hearing from EVERYONE.

Sometimes, the rain just brings out the best in people...

[June 8th, 2011at 3:12am]

And sometimes it doesn't...

 

Ciao tutti!! Mi mancate, però tutto aposto cua in Italia. L'opera sta bene, però e SEMPRE dificile. Hello everyone! I miss you all, but everything is set here in Italy. The work is good, but ALWAYS difficult!

I want to first thank everyone for their wonderful emails to me. They honestly brightened my day. Mom, thank you for the snail mail you sent me a while back, I read it quite often this week because I was missing you all. It seems that when the work gets hard, that family is the thing you cling to most. That is what the gospel is all about right??

So I am officially inducted into the mission...4 out of the 7 days this past week it rained...and you think we would have learned after getting DRENCHED twice!! I didn't really mind it though...it's frustrating to feel like you aren't being productive because of the elements, but then I look back and think about what happened...For me, I feel so blessed. All through biking in the rain without raincoats or umbrellas, I am laughing often. All of our lessons were cancelled, but I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. As we would pass people on the street, they would double over and laugh because we were smiling as the sky poured BUCKETS on us. As we would pass, I would just shrug and laugh right along with them...Even if it means getting absolutely drenched and muddy, and we still make people smile...it makes ALL the difference in the day!!

 

We invited Richard to be baptized this past week, and he is still thinking about it. The other sisters have a baptism this Saturday and we are going to see if he can come...baptisms change people's lives...and we know he can make this change. He's reading and praying constantly, and so we are there for him everystep of the way. As far as the family we taught (Rosanna, Sarah, Ricardo) they have been difficult to get ahold of. We call them every once in a while to check up on them, but a HORRIBLE incident happened with their family...We decided, the other day, to just go do a passby and check on them. I love in the mission you justt have this UNENDING love for your investigators...as a missionary you are blessed to see people as God sees them! But we stopped by, and they told us the WHOLE REASON why they haven't been able to see us. Their neighbor, is not the best woman...she is a prostitute and...I don't need to explain. But I guess the family's dog was barking and this woman hops the fence and starts beating the dog with a baseball bat! Ricardo walks in and is like WHAT THE?! What are you doing to my dog?! And with that, the woman turns on HIM and starts beating HIM with the baseball bat!! Ricardo got beat up pretty terribly...he wouldn't hit the woman or anything. He just let her have her way...yeesh. She hit him on his side, and had she hit him an inch higher, he would have died. I guess the law here is that the women aren't punished for abusing men...so no charges were pressed, and Rosanna is just hot as an oven about it all. The amazing thing about the gospel, is after all this, Sorella Snodgrass asked if we could pray...and as soon as she did...there was an IMMEDIATE difference in the home. I even felt at peace...We shared about how trials make us stronger and that we are praying for them. It's really crazy how things happen on your mission that seem unreal. Even when doing parco or other things, I find it quite funny how much I don't get. We ran into a man, well quite a few, and I don't really understand the gist of what is being said. I do...but the context is so different here...that I don't really know. I just end up teaching what I know, and responding in ways that I think need to be responded to. I rarely have awkward situations because I don't know...but Missionaries say that's the best because you are responding with your heart and not your head. Thank goodness for the language barrier now...it helps Sorella Snodgrass because she gets frustrated with the creepy men and awkward conversations...but the culture is so different and you just have to see them as children of God...even if it means excusing yourself, cutting the converstaion short, and going your way. We had a man get off his bike and bow to us saying how beautiful we were...he was younger...but I just laugh and keep walking...while Sorella fumes a little bit. Mah...what can you do?? It's easier for me to laugh and be on my way...and that's how I have always been and I LOVE that about myself. not to boast or anything...but it really comes in handy all the time...and I know the Lord is blessing me everyday with that ability!!

 

We found another young man named Seth from Ghana. I guess he ran into the missionaries a WHILE back, and lost contact with them. As we were doing casa, we knocked into a woman named Vivan who gave us her number. As we were leaving the casa, we met a man named Maxwell who gave us HIS number too...As it turns out, Maxwell and Vivian are husband and wife...but due to where Maxwell works, he has to live somewhere else. But as we go in to teach Maxwell, Seth comes around the corner and immediately changes into something decent (he was in a tank top before) and is just ENTRHALLED with the lessons. We have decided to teach Seth separately because Maxwell is so intense...we just spin in circles. BUT...all in all...the Lord works through mysterious and sometimes complicated ways to help us find His children who are searching. The park we go and visit is said to be pretty sketch, and the Anziani don't understand why we go...but we go because we ALWAYS find people to share the gospel with. Stranieri (those who are not Italian) deserve the gospel just as much!!

 

Today, as it is P-Day, I have been praying to find ideas to build the ward. As I was pondering about it yesterday, I felt that we, as sister missionaries, should spend some time getting to know the YW. There are only 2...and so today we have the 2 YW, an investigating YW and a few others...we are getting together for pizza, popcorn, a movie and brownies. The women here in Italy have such LOW self-esteem that it is really heartbreaking. As we were on the bus the other day, a girl about 16 got onto the bus and just looked so lonely and sad...As I turned to her, she pulled her hair aside and had hickies all up and down her neck...and I literally almost started crying, right then and there. Inside I was just saying...Don't you know that you are so special?! Don't you understand how much you are worth to God?! You are beautiful and you don't need that stupid boy!! It is so heartbreaking to see the women have such low self-confidence, and so I am DETERMINED to reach out to the YW here and remind them how special they are in the sight of God. I reach out every Sunday to ALL the members and address them by name to the best of my memory. I bore my testimony and afterwards SO many people came up to me and thanked me for it. I know that I have a work to do and I am determined to bring the ward closer together. I really do love the ward...it is SO diverse and the power of missionary work can change ANYTHING. I expressed how we can't do the work without the help of the members, and so I am hoping this will make a difference.

 

Well, I am sorry if this letter isn't too interesting..this week has been a standstill week...but we are working our hardest!! the work presses forward and we have Zone Conference next week which is something to look forward too!! I love you all and thank you for all your support!!

 

love,

Sorella Camille Bowman

A Father/Daughter Letter ♥ (Week 12)

Anthony's letter to Camille.  It was very appropriate this week as you will see in Camille's letter she is experiencing true sorrow for the people.  I truly feel for her.  She's happy in the work but so sad for the people.  

Dear Sorella Bowman

Can you believe it! Mom and I have been married for 24 years!!! I can honestly tell you it has been the best 24 years of my life!

I know that you don't have a lot of time to read lengthy emails so I will send just a note of encouragement! Elder Bowman asked me if I had ever faced discouragement in my mission or in life. I thought I would share with you what I sent to him...

I have thought a great deal about your question regarding whether or not I get discouraged and how do I stay motivated. Well the short answer is yes I did get discouraged at times on my mission, and sometimes I get discouraged now. So what did I do on my mission to stay motivated? What do I do now? The reality is I look to what motivates me.

On my Mission: I love the scriptures 2 Nephi 4; D&C 112; D&C 68; John 16. These chapters specifically talk about the trials and tribulations and how to overcome them and why we should be of good cheer. Your grandpa Bowman would always say the following. It is not what happens in this life that matters it is how you let it affect you that counts. When your heart is full of Charity the pure love of Christ, you are susceptible to the whisperings of the Spirit. Satan will do all that he can to try and discourage you. His plan is to plant seeds of doubt because he knows that where fear and doubt exist faith cannot.

I love the scripture in 2 Nephi 4 in particular. This chapter is also known as Nephi's psalm. Just think of how he starts. in verses 15 through 17. I love the scriptures, Oh wretched man that I am. Clearly Nephi is feeling the effects of the death of Lehi, feeling the weight of the hatred of his brothers Laman and Lemuel. I sure that he was battling anger, disappointment, grief and and overall sense of discouragement with how his family was reacting. He then starts to remember the source of his comfort in verses 19-23.

Nephi then talks about how his faith in the Lord grows through prayer verse 24 and 25. He remembers the tender mercies of the Lord and asks himself why should he be discouraged in verses 26 and 27. The ending is fantastic verses 28 through 35, particularly verses 33 and 34. Allow the Lord to encircle you in the arms of His love, trust in Him and he will be your support.

Now -- I feel the same way as Nephi sometimes when he says, Oh wretched man that I am. I feel bad that I get upset with the kids, that I feel frustration at work and that I am assailed on all sides by the adversary. So what to I do now? I read my scriptures and I try to apply them in my life. I love the following scriptures. D&D 88:72-74; Mosiah 2:17; Alma 32:16; D&C 112:10, D&C 5:24; D&C 104:80. What do these teach us? How can we become instruments in the hands of the Lord? We truly find happiness when we are forgetting ourselves and serving others.

I now want to talk about the difference between Godly sorrow and discouragement. Matthew 23:37 the Lord laments Jerusalem and how they would not answer his call. He was not discouraged but sorrowed for their refusal to listen and repent. To feel this same godly sorrow is OK, look at Alma 8:8-18. He was weighed down by the wickedness of the people however he took great courage when he was asked again to go back to the city.

Remember, what is the goal? "You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins. You do this by inviting them to come unto Jesus Christ and become converted to His restored gospel. To come to the Savior they must have faith in Him unto repentance— making the necessary changes to bring their life into agreement with His teachings. You can help people develop such faith by teaching them the restored gospel by the Spirit and inviting them to commit to live according to its teachings." Preach my Gospel; My Purpose page 2

Why? Moroni 7:40-41 this is the ultimate prize. This is what the Savior's whole mission was for. Moses 1:39 points to what your mission is. You are the instrument by which our Heavenly Father spreads His word and work to accomplish His work and glory. Alma said it best in this scripture. Alma 29:9-10. 

BE NOT DISCOURAGED, BUT HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST, BE HIS INSTRUMENT AND FIND JOY THERE IN!!!

I love you my dear daughter. You are such a wonderful inspiration to me and to our family and the ward! People are constantly asking how you are doing. We are all praying for you. Be faithful, when you feel Godly sorrow, cast your burdens on the Lord and find joy in His service.

Be well, be safe, be faithful, be full of joy! Love Dad.

*********************************************************************

Dad,

I cannot tell you how much this email means to me! I know that Father's Day is just around the corner, but I don't know the exact date. Thank you for being so wonderful and knowing exactly what I needed to hear! Your willingness to follow the spirit and uphold your priesthood duties is something to be eternally grateful for! I thank you for being a great example to all of us kids and teaching us to love life...both is struggles and in joys, but most of all to turn to the scriptures and the Lord..because we always need both HIM and them the most. I see so many people here without strong foundations...and I realize that my heart just breaks for them, and how truly blessed I am to have parents who were worthily sealed in the gospel. I am ETERNALLY grateful for this!! I dont know if Mom told you about what I said when i called home, but before I left the MTC they were serving breakfast burritos...I decided to get one and all was well, and as soon as I sat down to eat it I started crying...It reminded me of you and all our fun breakfast mornings! I love you dad and thank you for everything!!

Love,

Your daughter Camille :)

Dad,

I cannot tell you how much this email means to me! I know that Father's Day is just around the corner, but I don't know the exact date. Thank you for being so wonderful and knowing exactly what I needed to hear! Your willingness to follow the spirit and uphold your priesthood duties is something to be eternally grateful for! I thank you for being a great example to all of us kids and teaching us to love life...both is struggles and in joys, but most of all to turn to the scriptures and the Lord..because we always need both HIM and them the most. I see so many people here without strong foundations...and I realize that my heart just breaks for them, and how truly blessed I am to have parents who were worthily sealed in the gospel. I am ETERNALLY grateful for this!! I dont know if Mom told you about what I said when i called home, but before I left the MTC they were serving breakfast burritos...I decided to get one and all was well, and as soon as I sat down to eat it I started crying...It reminded me of you and all our fun breakfast mornings! I love you dad and thank you for everything!!

Love,

Your daughter Camille :)

Pictures!!! Finally!!!

I finally scanned in some pictures from the MTC.  These are right before she left.  Enjoy.  Her camera is broke so I don't know when we will get photos from Italy.

Rosalee

Ciao from Modena!

Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 5:30 AM

Hey Mom!!

 

You are SO FUNNY! And mind you, I really really REALLY took your letter seriously about eating and such. Don't worry...I really DO eat every 2-3 hours...and I always have granola bars with me. It is just difficult because food here is expensive and I want to make the accounts stretch. But I DO EAT...most of the time we just swing and get gelatto (at my comp's request) and then I'm okay. I drink water ALL day long, MUCH more than my companion. I fill up my 24oz thing about 5 times a day. I start the morning off with one, then I have one before we leave the apartment, about 2 throughout the day and one before bed. So I AM keeping care of myself. I don't think it will be a problem because we have ALL received funds and so today is SHOPPING DAY! Today's breakfast consisted of a Trio Bar, and an apple I snagged yesterday from Training with a spoon of Nutella...then for my morning snack because I was already hungry, it was 2 little bowls of veggies with about 12 pieces of gnocchi...and just about 20 minutes ago we had gelatto...I will be eating...so don't worry yourself. You don't need to put any extra money on my account...everything is set. As far as packages and such are concerned, it's not worth it sending it to my apartment. You have to pay a fee...anywhere from 13£ to 30£...NOT WORTH IT!! I can be patient and wait till Zone Conferences and visits from the President. We actually meet them in 2 weeks...so they bring everything to us...June 13-16. Okay, so last time I told you that my camera broke AND now my converter doesn't work. I tried to use my straightener and had it on 50...and it was doing okay...but just to check I tried 1600 and the straightener started buzzing...so I switched it back...and once I was finished, I started smelling something terrible and it was my converter. It's not shot, but I don't want to risk anything right now. Sorella Snodgrass is letting me use her straightener when I want...but anyway, about the camera. Could you check and see how much it would cost to send me one? I know it is a lot to ask, but I am NOT kidding when I say things are so expensive. If it's a problem with customs and just too expensive, then I'll buck up and try to find a decent one here. The kind I have is a SONY CyberShot...Super Stready Shot OSC-W80 with MPEGMOVIE VX...the battery type is from Sony also....I don't know if that helps at all...but if you could please check that would be great!! I received your letter yesterday and I loved it...everything WAS old news, but I enjoyed it anways :) Thank you!

 

So, since last email...Actually, right after I emailed you all I got pooped on by a bird...official initiation into Modena. I know I have changed because it splattered all over my chest and face...and I just wiped it off of my face with my hand. Needless to say I gagged a little when I saw the huge turd all over my chest, but there was nothing I could do. Luckily we were close to home, so I could change. Things just...well...for heaven's sake you just accept them!! Um, we have been hit on by old men...we were tracting the other day and this old little creeper followed us on his squeaky old bike ( I am DEFINITELY more careful with who I say ciao to in the mornings) but he was calling after us in Italian saying how beautiful we were (please...we are sweaty and gross, flushed and dirty...get some glasses or something Sir) and kept asking us if we wanted to go dancing...Yeah...not so much. He kept following us in a furbo way (sneaky) and we eventually gave him a Restoration pamphlet and he left us alone. We've already been yelled at by a red haired Italian woman. She yelled at us from her windowsill saying we couldn't come into the complex and she rudely told us to go away. But, we just laughed and kept pushing the citofono until someone picked up. UNfortunately it was these two creepy, CREEPY Albanian men who just thought they were the cats meow. One of them like blew me this big fat kiss...weird. They came down to open the door themselves, talked with us a bit, and then....dun dun DUUUNN...the red haired lady unLEASHED her wrath on us! Screaming and yelling...mind you she only came up to my shoulder...but she was LIVID. I have NO idea why either...but she kept rudely telling us to leave...and so we did...at the expense of the men. Once we got out...she turned on them. I was about it tears because I was scared out of my mind and had NO idea what was going on...but Sorella Snodgrass started cracking up...and I did too. I think sometimes the mind of a missionary could be like a crazy person. One minute you are scared out of your mind and the next you are laughing SO HARD! Gosh...But let's see what else...Sorella Snodgrass got hit by a car. DON'T WORRY! She is fine...it was quite a miracle actually. You know we ride with skirts, and so you just trip like crazy if you get off wrong. But it was amazing...I was behind and saw the whole thing. As she pulled out into the intersection, her bike went COMPLETELY under the front end of the car...wheel smashed and everything. I throught her leg got crushed...but no. She was standing completely straight up, no tripping whatsoever...it was like she just glided off her bike and she turned around to me and with a sad face goes <man, I just bought this thing! Now my bike is broken!> And I'm like SORELLA?! IS YOUR LEG OKAY?! And the lady who hit her kept asking if she was alright...and Sorella was so confused as to why we kept asking and I told her what I saw, after she calmed down about her bike being broken...and she got a little sick. Yeah, we had to take it easy for the rest of the day because we got home and her bike split her ankle...she saw the blood...and was done for. Interesting, interesting week...Chocolate has been a DEFINITE craving, so we help ourselves to icecream, and our District Leader, Elder Neilson, bought us all chocolate for District Meeting...what a saint! But, other than those things...you know you are a missionary when you don't care what you look like, you have the watch, shoe and <missionary tan>, you just wipe your face off when bugs hit you, and your nightmares consist of cancelled appointments with golden investigators, your bike being stolen, and appointments being kept by unauthorized splits. Yep...I'm there.

 

Truth be told...all the creepy men, literal poopy days, and hungry nights are ALL worth it. The work is DEFINITELY hard. We have the tough side of town where Sorella Snodgrass has tracted over night and day. The ward isn't very accomodating, but I'm doing my best to change that. I stepped out and introduced myself to as many people as I could. I knew I was making SOME progress when the counselor read my name wrong to the ward and a handful yelled out the correct pronunciation :) Piano e piano e piano eh?? Little by little by little...that's how it is done. So we have a family that we are teaching and haven't had a chance to meet with because there are some complications with Rosanna's mom...but we will meet with them soon. We have a woman named Rosemary who is amazing. She doesn't speak English well at all, but she tries so hard. We had a lesson with her this morning and I almost cried because she knows this church is true and she told us, in her VERY  broken english that her bad dreams leave when we see her and ever since we have been teaching her she has been at peace. She can't read, and her husband won't read to her, so we gave her a copy on CD..and she told us she will listen morning and night. She is from Ghana and can only speak Twi...but it's the power of the Spirit that does it all. We also are teaching a boy Samuel who is from Nigeria and he speaks English well. He is a little depressed because of the racism here, and is DYING to play soccer...but the boys won't let him because he is black. Racism is still a HORRIBLE thing here. Anyway, he's 17 and we have an appointment with him too...So the work is still going. The miracle for the week was a man we met while knocking doors (casa...They are really piazza's here and you have to push different buttons on the citofono to get inside...people let you in...Constantly saying  <mi puo aprire...e...non siamo testimonie di jeova> Please open for me and no, we are not Jehova's witnesses...they have just left a sour taste in EVERYONE'S mouth! but we still try) So the man's name was Richard and he gave us his number, and scheduled an appointment to meet in the park. We called the number to confirm..and it was wrong and no longer in use...Bidone (just a term for rejected basically) So we go on our way, and Thursday we get a call...from Richard. He was a little confused because he was looking for 2 girls who gave him this number...the number he gave them was wrong and he wanted to apologize and still meet. CHE COSA?!? So we schedule an appointment for Friday...then Saturday...and then he came to church on Sunday. I have NEVER seen anyone more prepared. We are doing the STONG baptismal invite tonight and are positive that he will be baptized June 25th!! <WHAT TIME IS IT?! BAPTISM TIME...BAPTISM TIME...TIME TO MAKE SOME BAPTISMS!! Now WHO wants to get baptized?!> That is a saying coming from the AP's who are pretty much amazing. We have others who are looking into the church, but most of the work comes from doing Parco (meeting people in the park) and also trying to get the ward to function. I've got my work cut out for me.

 

It's difficult, but SO worth it. The town is wonderful and I love the zone I work with and district. Everyone of course just thinks it is SO funny how excited I am...but I can't help it! I am NOT stupid, it's just SO exciting to hear how everyone is doing and to share the work and glory together. I voluntered for something and the Ap's go <Well, Sorella Bowman is excited> and behind me I hear <sempre, sempre, sempre> and chuckles to bat (always always always). Yeah, Sorella Sparkles...meh it's all good though. Things are going great and i have to remember it's just one step at a time. You can knock a WHOLE piazza and not get anything until the last door on the last floor... THat is how we found Slavik. He hasn't returned our calls, but from meeting him he went from almost shutting the door on us to telling us that he is struggling because his fiancee might have cancer and he works too much and can't find reprieve from it all. We think we're just going to leave a Book of Mormon on his doorstep because he won't leave our thoughts...but never answers us. Always be willing to open your mouth because the Lord NEEDS you to do His work. I'm humbled everyday and even if people look creepy...you don't know what or if they are searching for something...but the Lord does :) 

 

This gospel is true...and it makes more and more sense the more and more I teach it. I know I'll be a missionary for life because it makes ALL the difference in the world. Have any of the kids given out their pass along card I sent?? I hope so...

 

I love you all and miss you all and I hope this email finds you well. Sure, I mentioned a lot of the dirt that happens...but I PROMISE YOU...that the Lord ALWAYS reveals His hand everyday...and miracles happen often. We see a lot of the same people frequently and they always call out and say hello. A difference form before :) Sister Jones is in Cuneo and she is doing well. she sent me a little note of encouragement and Slla Wolfgramm says she's okay. Life is going great...wouldn't trade it for anything!! 

Please tell Aleia I said Happy Birthday and I thought about her all day yesterday. I can't send anything because it is too expensive, but I prayed that she would have a good time yesterday. I send my love to all!!

 

Con Amor Sempre,

Sorella Bowman

 

p.s. I'd LOVE to hear from Sister Ostler! Emails are SO welcome!! 

5.25.11-Week 10

CIAO LA MIA FAMIGLIA E CARI AMICI!!!

 

So according to the guesses of my teachers in the MTC...one of them was right!! Fratello Tate is the winner and I am currently in the BEAUTIFUL city of Modena! It is as hot as an oven here, and I do NOT go a day without sweating my brains out! I am currently sweating like a pig sitting here in the email room, but it is all apart of the mission experience right? I wake up feeling like I have been hit by a bus, which is not uncommon here...people do NOT stop for you worth beans...if you are in the way, you WILL get hit, and it WILL be your fault. I am never clean...My hands always look like mechanic's hands due to my bici...Yes, I am in a biking district and yes, everyone gets a good laugh when we pass by. I didn't have to buy a bike this transfer, but I do have to buy a new camera. It has been very frustrating to break down and do it, but it broke the first day here :( Who knows, maybe I'll run into someone to teach. But anyway, you just know you've had a good day when you go to clean your hands and especially legs, and you can't tell the difference between dirt and bruises...I have permanent bruises below my left knee from my pedals resting on my leg. It is a little embarassing sometimes because I can't get started on the bike right away...riding in a skirt is DIFFICULT!! But I am SO GLAD i know how to laugh at myself...I don't go a day without doing it.

 

I am starting to get used to the city and really loving the people there. Miracles happen every day and we really feel the city is going to be set a FLAME!! At first, I asked the question I really thought I never would...and that's "What in the WORLD am I doing here!?" And that was only because of all the anxiety and cancelled appointments. BUT I have learned that when you put faith in the Lord He DOES bless you!! For every appointment we have had cancel on us, we've had opportunities to teach...about 3 lessons during the time that we could MAYBE share one! It has been amazing. My companion is Sorella Snograss and she is a veteran. This is her second to last transfer and she wasn't really thrilled at first...But now she has more excitement than ever and is excited to get going!!

 

I just cannot testify of the beauty of this work, and the power of opening your mouth. Everywhere we go I always make an effort to say hello to people or have a smile on my face...and it's working. I KNOW that the Lord is blessing us with people. We have so many appointments everyday just from strada e casa in casa (tracting). As an appointment was cancelled on us the other day, we started walking on the street and met an Arabian man from Morrocco who took us to a park to meet his family. They weren't interested at all, but they fed us and listened to us just the same. Even though HIS family didn't accept the message, the park we were introduced to is an absolute GOLDMINE!! We have given out at LEAST 1-2 copies of the Book of Mormon everyday and in whatever language there is! You think of a language, and I am pretty sure we have run into at least one person who speaks it. I have yet to contact someone who's true language is Italian...at least on the street. It's just amazing and I glory in it!

 

Another miracle I HAVE to tell...baptisms are coming!! After we had an appointment on Friday with a beatiful inactive woman, and we asked her to pray that we could find a family to teach. She said she would and we left...only to enter this really creepy piazza...with bullet holes in doors and just...urgh...it gave me the creeps. So we started at the 7th floor and worked our way down. A few days go by and we knock on the last door of the last floor and a woman opens it....She peeks out and all of a sudden the door swings open and after a bit, she decides to let us in. During our lesson, she told us that she felt something different with us, and she wanted us to come back and teach her daughter. During the lesson, one by one the family trickled in. the husband is Muslim, she is Catholic, and the daughter is just beautiful with not really anything to grab on to. So as the lesson progressed, they invited us back to dinner yesterday. And of course, I forgot that Italians eat...A LOT...We had a pizza to ourselves...which I can eat...yeah...crazy! BUT you don't feel guilty because it is made so differently here and it is delicious!! So, we had pizza and I thought that was it...the family offered pieces of theirs...a mushroom piece and then a napoletano piece...which is a cheese pizza with anchovies...Ugh...I had no IDEA anchovies were hairy!! It was truly salty, but the family was offering us ALL they had and so I ate it...quickly and without thinking about it. On top of that I ate most of my pizza and got approval from the father because only a 1/4 was left of mine and Sorella Snodgrass still had 3/4 of hers...But there was more to come...The mother, Rosanna, is from Southern Italy and so she was so proud to give us Southern style clams and muscles...WHICH were delicious...on top of that was canteloupe and on top of that was icecream and we brought brownies as a gift....And to be honest, that was the first time I have been full in a week. We've been living off of bread and tuna and cereal for quite a while...luckily we can shop today!! I'm not complaining...I wouldn't trade things for anything!! It's just VERY expensive to live here...my granola bars have been literally saving me. I am NEVER full...always hungry...but the Lord qualifies me everyday :) But going back to this family, the father left for a smoke...we were explaining the plan of salvation and he left...and Rosanna just started telling us EVERYTHING...She cried talking about her struggles and that she let us in because she KNEW that we were angels sent to her by God. The daughter, Sarah, loves us and she just keeps telling her mom how much she enjoys our company whenever she can. It is TRULY a blessing to know them!! We have an appointment on Thursday for another lesson, and then on Sunday Rosanna and Sarah decided to come to church with us and the father, Ricardo, who is DEFNITELY more resistant, insisted that we come back for dinner...cous-cous...on Sunday. Absolutely insisted. We know that he knows what we say is true, but he is SO insistant on his muslim beliefs that it is a little difficult. But I know rosanna and sarah will get baptized soon...i know it!! They just feel the truth and HUNGER for more each time...Rosanna and Sarah pray often and DEVOUR the scriptures when we read to them...it is BEAUTIFUL. On Saturday we are teaching quite a few people in the park and there is just SO MUCH TO BE DONE!!! I wouldn't trade it for the world!!ù

 

Thank you all for your emails and the support you give me. The gelato is delicious and my favorite thing to have!! The humid is a monster, but thank goodness for curly hair. The district I am in is AMAZING! Anziano Proctor is companions with the DL and the zone is great and I am IMPRESSED with our AP's...literally our mission is GREAT!! I only get mail like once every transfer, so if you write me, I WILL write back as SOON as I get the mail!! Paper and things are VERY expensive here, so when funds come in, I'll purchase some. You CAN email me, I just can't email back :) I DO have an hour for emails...so it's good! :)

 

The gospel is true and people really can change to know the truth. The ward here, from what I've heard, is...wonderful but difficult at the same time. A LOT of work needs to be done in getting the members to help us with appointments and things...but I feel a change coming and it is going to be FABULOUS!! Friends and family, this church is TRUE!! I know it and I know that the Savior is in the heart of my efforts and I feel His help EVERYDAY!! I love this mission and I am so grateful for the comfort the atonement brings. Embrace it and love it and come closer to your Savior everyday!!

 

Con amore sempre,

Sorella Camille Bowman

 

PENSO A VOI SEMPRE!!!

Hey Dad!

The work is absolutely MAGNIFICENT here!! I have been called to serve in Modena...other than Firenze, it is the hottest city in Italy. When I am teaching, I teach EVERY SINGLE LESSON. My companion is absolutely wonderful and I feel that we work really well together. And yes...I have felt to teach something different...There is a woman from Ghana and we planned to teach her about having a testimony...but it just did not feel right and so we just tried to emphasize the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon...she does not understand English very well...but we are trying. She HAS to gain a testimony before anything else can progress. From the whisperings of the Spirit...I KNOW not to EVER lose hope. The Lord has directed us in SO MANY WAYS to go to certain places. We have had many people cancel appointments with us, and as such I have found that when we put our efforts to the Lord, He blesses us with 3 new opportunities to teach for every one lost. It is truly going to be awesome this transfer. My companion has been here a while and she was a little drained when I showed up...but the work is BLOOMING here in Modena and she said yesterday that it is the first time she has actually been excited in a while :) it is so great! My faith is being exercised all the time...the fact of dropping investigators and knowing that the Lord will provide, or stopping people who do not speak english or italian and still trying the best you can to teach them. everyday it is exercised. I have been blessed to have my testimony grow in SO many ways. Dad, I cannot even explain it. There is so much to be done! But I really know that there is a power in saying hello to people...we ride around on our bikes and EVERYONE knows who we are...we are pretty much the ONLY people who were helmets...literally and ride in skirts...and I have just taken it to be an opportunity to say hello to practically everyone I see. I may not be able to stop and teach them all I want to...but I can make a difference by opening my mouth any way I can...and it has made all the difference! the Lord qualifies those He calls!!

 

Love you bunches and thank you for your testimony!!

love,

Sorella Camille Bowman