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