Any Last Words?

~sigh~ As her mom and dad, our hearts break for her. We will work hard to support her and help her understand that she has NOT failed and she will continue to be an instrument in the Lord's hands her WHOLE life. Once again, thank you to everyone for your love, prayers and support. We are excited for Friday night...to give her a big hug and get her home where we can help her get better and back up to school to finish!!!! Love, Rosalee


Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1:41 PM

I've come to find out that my mother has already filled you all in on the decision I have had to make this past week. I would like everyone to know that, even though I will be honorably released, I know that my mission isn't finished. It never will be. THe things I have come to learn and to love, to cherish and to make a part of me, will always be at the front in my life. The Lord has blessed me with this opportunity to get better...to truly have the health and strength I will need in the future to do His work. I am so grateful to the Lord and feel completely at peace that this IS exactly what I need to be doing with my life. I want to thank you all for your love and your support, your prayers and your fasts. THe Lord's work WILL go on and people WILL be blessed! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way we can return to our Father in Heaven and that Jesus Christ IS our Savior and Redeemer of the world. How grateful I am to Joseph Smith and the stand he took! What a sacrifice he gave so that we may have the truth and the world might be saved. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's mouthpiece on the earth today and that the sealing powers of the priesthood have been restored. I know what my next steps in life are, and how grateful I am to be guided by this gospel and to have The Book of Mormon right by my side!! The Book of Mormon IS the word of God and I am blessed to read it and ponder it and study it each and every day. May the Lord bless you and keep you all safe! I'll arrive in the States on Friday night! See you when the time comes, and thank you all so very much for you love and support. I say these things in the name of my Lord, my Savior, my Brother and my Friend, Jesus Christ, AMEN. as always, SORELLA camille m. bowman

Homecoming Happiness

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:02 PM

She will be home this Friday, June 1 at 8:25pm. Her homecoming talk will be on the 10th of June. We meet at 9:00am in the morning. If you are in the area, please come by.

 We may have a BBQ on Saturday before but that is up in the air. We want to see how she is doing. The chapel address is:

 285 N Matterhorn Dr. Alpine, UT. 84004 

If you have any questions my cell phone number is 480-273-7783.


Thanks again for all your love and support. Rosalee

She's Coming Home

Saturday, May 26, 2012 3:18 PM

Yes. This is bittersweet news that we share with you all. For some time now Camille has been struggling with her health. She has taken gluten totally out of her diet and for a bit it "seemed" to help but as time has gone one, she has gotten worse and worse. With only 11 weeks left till her actual release date, the mission president doesn't want to take any more chances nor does he want to do testing over in Italy because Dr's here wouldn't accept those tests. In a random conversation with a mom at soccer she mentioned that she had served in Italy and had to come home 2 months early. She had a parasite and her symptoms are very, very similar to that of Camilles. It's not like she's on her death bed. She has good moments, hours sometimes even a good day but then it hits her and she's down in pain and just can not function.

So she will be home Friday. We are not sure of the exact time but should know by Tuesday or Wednesday. Bishop here said they would schedule her homecoming talk within the next couple of weeks.

Please continue to pray for her and she has one more week there and a grueling plane flight home. It is miserable to be sick on a plane.

Thanks, Rosalee

I Find That the Scriptures are Becoming More Alive

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 9:06 AM

Sounds like things are going really well! I am so excited that everything worked out for the fundraiser and that you had all the help! Congrats! I'll need to pay more attention when I come home for visits so that I can learn some more cooking tips from Dad...I wished I had paid more attention when I had the opportunities!

As far as your choir calling, Mom, relax! You have conducted Primary like, all your life! And a ward choir is just like primary, only the people are like 30 years older. No big! Haha! They probably don't know much about music except the Pratt's, but I am sure they would be willing to help you when you needed it. The Lord called you there for a reason because He knows you can do it and learn something great! And about getting your degree? Why not?! You want to, so do it! You are right, you aren't getting older...but you know, whenever I would travel through the airports and stuff, I saw this add for the oldest person getting a degree...know how old? A 98 year old woman! It's NEVER too late! I say go for it...it'll only help you from here on out!

I look forward to skyping too...it sounds like Daniel is doing better. I have been praying for him and his companion. That Daniel would see his companion as a person struggling and maybe use some inspired questions as to how to help him out. Missionaries come from all sorts of backgrounds, and the only way to help them is to see them as people too...and not categorize them as "they should be working like this..." If my companion thought that about me...I would feel like a big turd...all my mission. THis past week I have had more stomach problems...a pain that doesn't go away until around like 10 in the morning. Yesterday it stayed with me ALL DAY LONG and all I could do was lay down and stick to the brat diet. Sorella Wolfgramm, poor thing...she can't even help me and yet still wants me to call. So I called her and told her what was up, and she wants me eating more fruits and veggies...more fiber! Which our fridge is already a living garden so we are trying even more! I am trying my hand at cooking dried beans, and my companion is all for it. Summer time is here and the markets are FULL of delicious stuff. We got ready this morning because there is a market every Wednesday right by our house and I LOVED IT! We got SO MUCH GOOD PRODUCE and I felt like a stud because we compared prices from our usual shopping to the market and we struck gold!! AND because are "beautiful, young American girls" the vendors would give us price breaks "just because we are us" Haha HECK YES!! So we bought kilos of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, apples, oranges, asparagus, fennel, celery, carrots, kumquats, strawberries, kiwi, bananas, cantaloupe, and watermelon! We are still bummed about our blender, and I know dad said to get a new one but my companion just can't justify it quite yet and wants to see if someone can fix ours because it is brand new! We DO miss the green drinks, that's for sure. And we both laughed as I read about Daniel's "no air conditioner and windows being sealed shut..." All I could do was laugh and think, welcom to Italy. The only way to stay cool here is to shower cold...and tie your hair up and no make-up. It's starting to get warm, but it is only the beginning. We are already getting sandal tan lines and the famous missionary tan lines...hahah woo hoo!! So still going off about food, our investigator Francesca was SO worried about me yesterday...when my illlness was the worst. She had prepared her delicious minestrone just for us, because she knows how much we love it and I just wasn't sure I could stomach it...literally. But she kept saying that I have dropped too much weight too fast and that I needed to eat. Mind you, I haven't lost anything. And she..hahah, gosh Sorella Hanks and I just laughed about EVERYTHING last night. This woman is just so funny and so attached to her food! We are trying to help her lose weight and convince her that she doesn't have to lost 50 pounds before she can be baptized. It will serve her WONDERFULLY to lose the weight, for crying out loud she has to take a blood decoagulant to live..."Did you know that the medicine I take is poison for rats?" WHAT?! OH MY GOSH!! hahaha But she also believes that her son has a stomach ulcer because he at sandwhiches at 12:00 noon all his young life, and the bread was too dry. LOL!! I laughed so hard until I realized that she was serious.....Italians and their wives tales...

But the progress with Francesca is really slow. We WERE going to drop her yesterday, but Sorella Hanks and I felt so impressed not too...she would literally die without us. Heavenly Father loves her so much, and we just need to be patient with her. We are making progress with the ward and finding the lost ones...we got 19 lessons last week...almost the mission goal of 20! And each lesson we taught was exactly where we needed to be...it was amazing. I was saying my prayers the other night and I was asking Heavenly Father to guide us to those who are in need of our help...and it hit me that He is. Not in the form of investigators, but in the form of members who are losing their faith. VISITING TEACHING AND HOME TEACHING ARE SO IMPORTANT!!!!! MOst of the members don't have these key people...we have felt impressed to ask if they have one or the other and sometimes they have neither!! These single women don't have priesthood holders in their homes and when they don't have home teachers WHO CAN GIVE THEM BLESSINGS?! So we are trying to meet with the RS president to help her get some VT set up...Sorella Hanks was secretary of the RS in her old ward and so VT was a BIG part of her responsibility...and I...am learning much, much, more of the importance and will DEFINITELY take it more seriously when I come back.

We had interviews this week with President and I was a little worried...fears of him suggesting I go home because of my illness...but it was the other way around. As we started talking, he asked me to share my experiences in any shape or form...and of course I started talking about my thoughts and fears as to where I am now. And it turns out, my illness here in the mission has changed my life. I started talking about how I have really turned to Heavenly Father and looking at where I am in my mission, I am doing things because I WANT to, not because I HAVE to...and it was a really wonderful spiritual confirmation to me that the Lord is pleased with the work I am able to do. I really AM grateful to be a missionary. The Lord KNOWS I can't go out and push like I used to and He knows that it won't be fixed until I can get proper medical attention...but I need to serve and love with all that I can give. And thus I am beginning the Book of Mormon again for the 6th time but circling repentance, prayer, knowledge wisdom and remember. I find that the scriptures are becoming more alive and I just find the testimony of Joseph Smith like, burning within me! I read his testimony of the whole experience and also the testimony of the witnesses and it was just remarkable. I found myself thinking "it's so true...this is so true! How cool would that have been? I wonder why this happened...?" and all sorts of other questions. I am also studying PMG MUCH more indepth now and actually writing down my thoughts...yeah yeah, I know. Journal writing has ALWAYS been a struggle for me...mainly because I justify my emails home as journal entries..but I do write a lot of my thoughts in my study journal and am working on my personal journal. I am experiencing a LOT of personal growth and finding a lot of permament changes that I am going to strive to keep with me for the rest of my life. I no longer have homesickness, just a little frustration as to how sick I get and if it's me or I am really sick...usually I am really sick because my companion asks what's wrong...and when I sleep...I am OUT. She is so patient and I am just so grateful for her!!

I know the Lord is aware of me and I know He is guiding our work. If the ward isn't willing to do the work, the missionaries will step up to the plate and gem this ward!! It's hard work and sometimes stressful because you think "THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF!!!! YEAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!" But then, my companion pointed out that these people are like 1st and 2nd generation members of the chruch...we are dealing with babies still. SOoooo we have to watch the boundaries of the things we say...22 and 23 year olds counseling the Bishop and RS President is a touchy subject...but we are making good relationships with the wards. Our 1st counselor LOVES us and the 2nd counselor too...so they do listen and they DO KNOW that we are hard workers. I bore my testimony on Sunday and really enjoyed the experience. I really do love these Italian people and the experiences I am having. Thank you for the prayers and the support and more digging and sifting will be done here in beautiful Milan! Love you all so much!! Love, sorella bowman

p.s. Can't wait to hear from you all on SUNDAY!!!!

Anyone Awake?

The reason she titled this "Anyone awake" is because sometimes we catch each other in the morning when she writes and we chat back and forth. I wasn't home this morning when she wrote so I missed her. Sad days. 


Wednesday, May 2 2012 9:19 AM

 Yoohoo! Thank you so much for your emails this week. I know, I know...I had to think back on my email's I've sent and it kind of troubled me that you and Dad were so worried. Honestly, I freak out in this hour and then off I go again doing the work. P-Day's don't feel like P-Days anymore...we are constantly looking and constantly adjusting so we can teach and talk to people. We DO have to be more careful at nighttime, because it's summer now and creepy...like legit creepsters are out and about...and gross. But, I carry around my pepper spray, and my ankle is strong enough...so if we have to take off, I can! And Sorella Hanks is really proud of her little soccer sprinter quads...she's "gotta good kick!" and isn't afraid to use it! Haha!

We are really excited for the work that is going on. Our work has taken a different direction than most missionaries, but we are seeing a LOT of success. When we go and find these less actives, we end up teaching them like investigators. Most have forgotten almost everything, if not all. And most are part-member families. YAY! We decided to just put our tracting shoes on and go find the names out in San Donato...a little country paiese..very quiet and not much going on, about an hour mediante Metro. But there was a LONG list. We had been praying really hard to make this time worth while, and when we finished the day...we felt VERY accomplished. EVERY SINGLE PERSON we passed by was home...and EVERY SINGLE PERSON we passed by said how happy they were to see the missionaries. Some hadn't seen missionaries in YEARS...let alone members. One, well 2 families the Bishop gave for us to go and see...basically because he has given up on them...we found themand they were so receptive! And we have an appointment with one of the families this Saturday...WHICH we are very excited for! The progress with Francesca is moving, but moving slowly. She FINALLY understands the importance of prayer and WHY we need to pray with our hearts. Mind you, this has been the lesson for the past like...month...and finally something CLICKED...I mentally slapped my forehead once she said "Well, you think you would have told me this before!" Oih...hahah but that day I had prayed for patience and I had prayed for love for her and not frustration because we were teaching the same lesson OVER AGAIN...and that extra please for patience worked!

I am finding that I am more at peace with myself and the direction of my mission. Do I know who I am? Yes, I am a daughter of God...my Heavenly Father, who loves me even when I don't love myself. So when my mind turns in that direction, those thoughts are NOT from the Savior...or even me because I KNOW I am here in this life to improve...it's tools of the adversary. Here on this mission, we are given EVERY SINGLE TOOL to feel good about ourselves. And I KNOW now that I wasn't being a lazy missionary when I wasn't able to get up...I was literally sick. How do I know? These past couple days I have been getting up early and encouraging my companion for a run! The moment I had some flour...I was sick to my stomach for a whole day...and even a little bit today. I know that I can be what the Lord wants me to be and He IS guiding me. I am starting to not second guess...and just go ahead and ask. There isn't any harm. The other day I saw a mother with her daughter, a beautiful woman from Peru. I thought "Ask her the baby's name" and then i started to second guess...and a thought came to my mind "You are growing now and you have more peace with yourself...just ask. You have only once to do this..." And so I did. Her baby's name was Linda and I talked with her about how, Oh My Goodness! That's MY sister's name too! And we got off the same stop as her, just to talk with her...she wasn't really interested and kept pushing her stroller faster and faster...haha yeah I jogged after her....and I ended up testifying of the family and leaving a pass along card. DID I JUST JOG AFTER SOMEONE? PUSHING A STROLLER? IN THE RAIN? Yes my friends, heck yes I did. And it felt so good!! I really do love sharing the gospel and honestly, my heart feels SO LIGHT.

I have been studying about repentance and the process of it all. How can we ever forgive ourselves for the things that we have done? How can we get rid of those memories that bog us down and turn us to things that we want to leave in the past? I thought it impossible. And I had been praying for a solution for quite sometime...One day I was studying PMG Chapter 1...My purpose as a missionary and I couldn't study...all I could think was "Go say a prayer and talk with Heavenly Father" I kept brushing it aside because I HAD TO STUDY...but finally I couldn't put it off anymore and I did. I knelt down and I prayed. I recognized. I confessed word for word my feelings and my doings and my guilt. How can I perform restitution? That answer came from Heavenly Father. "Don't worry about it...you have repented and I have accepted your repentance for a while now. YOU just need to forgive yourself. Remember? When you repent, I the Lord remember them no more. Now it's your turn." A scripture I had read over and over again smacked me right in the face and illuminated EVERYTHING. And my life has changed. The beauty of the Tree of Life, Lehi's vision...and the fruit being the Atonement...it's true. It really is the most delicious thing for your soul...it's the only balm there is. And I have finally come to myself and made it my goal to talk with as many people as I can...and testify of simple truths. People will KNOW what we, the nametag bearers, stand for, even if we don't get to share our whole message. God loves us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us. We KNOW He is the same yesterday, today and forever because He speaks to ALL people. How do we know? A prayer was said by a young boy, only 14 years old and he wanted to know what church was true. God and Jesus Christ appeared to him and Christ said to not join ANY of the churches, but that later in life, he would be called a prophet of God to lead and guide His children back to Him. The Book of Mormon is proof of this. You can read this for yourself and come to know the Love God has specifically for you. The Atonement not only took care of our sins, but also our heartaches, our troubles, our fears, and HE HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR US TO LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND. I testify of this with love in my heart and tears in my eyes...I KNOW it is true with all my heart. When you forgive and love yourself, understanding that whatever happens, the Lord is in it...the sun shines brighter and the gospel is that much sweeter and the love you have for complete strangers is real. (tears in eyes again). I know, I only have one chance and if you had spoken to me about this a month ago, I would have felt hopeless. But now, I feel more excitement, love and hope for my mission than ever before. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ...and He LOVES His brothers and sisters....and Heavenly Father LOVES His children. Prayer and obedience, faith and hope are the keys...as well as studying the scriptures, meditating and asking the Lord "Where must we (I) go today?" And I KNOW He leads us! Every missionary is different, every city is different, but we each bring the same message in different ways. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN RESTORED. COME UNTO HIM AND BE BAPTIZED IN HIS NAME AND RECEIVE A REMISSION OF YOUR SINS. Has anyone noticed how many times "repent" is mentioned in the Book of Mormon? The Lord talks of the punishments that will happen IF you don't repent. Repent and everything will be fine! I am so grateful we can do this each and everyday.

"Pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus" and "all things shall come together for your good." This I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

p.s. Liz (from Genova) was baptized on the 14th of April. The Elder's called President and asked President to tell me. Liz is doing wonderfully and is a complete rockstar in the ward!! MIRACLES HAPPEN! Also, a couple that was baptized last week in Lodi...turns out they had met with the missionaries 7 years ago...3 scheda FULL of information. Never lose hope...and always keep track!

Visiting Teaching is SO Important!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 9:26 AM

  

Things have been going really well with the work. A lot of things are dealing with testing my patience and just relying on the Lord. Our one investigator Francesca is progressing...ever so slowly. BUT!! Our relationship with the ward is growing TREMENDOUSLY!! Sorella Hanks and I feel so excited!! I was struggling one day in the fact that our investigor pool is more like a puddle...and what kind of work was the Lord expecting us to do here in Milan. I wasn't feeling good one day, so I decided to pray diligently and then take a little nap. As I was praying, I was just frustrated "Heavenly Father! Why don't we have any investigators? What am I doing wrong? I want to serve thee and I have no idea what I'm doing here! Please, help us find investigators so that we can have baptismal dates!" And then, it hit me "I haven't sent you and your companion here to Milan for baptismal dates. I want you to go and find those who have lost their way." We are here to build the ward and help the ward find out who really lives in their areas!! We  had a little visit with the Relief Society President yesterday and found out a lot of....henpecking? I guess there are more issues in this ward than what we were aware of. But we tried some smoothing over and we really ARE getting a lot accomplished for the ward. After the visit, we went with her and a NC to visit a less active sister named Marcella. She is a YSA and just got back from vacation. Sorella Hanks and I had been praying for a less-active, part member family and we had no idea about this Marcella girl. So we go, thinking to strengthen the ward, and SHE is the only member of her family...consisting of her mom, dad, and younger sister. When we got home for nightly planning, Sorella Hanks' and my eyebrows shot up...our vision for this transfer is to find and baptize and reactivate a less-active, part-member family. Thank you Heavenly Father. We are helping the RS president clean the chapel tomorrow, and we hope Marcella and her sister will be at the FHE we prepare every week. THEN, if they ARE there, we swarm!! Just kidding...more like make an appointment with her family and visit a bit more.

Speaking of visit....VISITING TEACHING IS SO IMPORTANT!!! I have SUCH a testimony of it...it really is the Lord's tool to build relationships between members and sisters of the ward! As the RS President and her companion (the NC) did their lesson, they just shared the message and wanted to "get out of their hair". And I was like "WOAH?! Wait a minute...No testimony? No inspired question? Let's slow things down a bit..." The message was about Daughters in My Kingdom (WHICH! If you haven't read it, you totally should...it's beautiful!) So the NC shared the message in English (She's Filipino) and I translated. Once the message was done, the RS president just said "Va bene" and was getting up to leave! She shared her testimony, a little bit, but was focussed on getting out. So I jumped in and asked if I could ask a question..I wasn't going to let this opportunity leave! Here was this less active 24 year old girl and her mother, who ISN'T a member, taking time to listen to a message about a book they have never even read! So I asked a question "What does it mean to be a daughter in a kingdom? To know that you are a princess?" And the whole feeling changed...The daughter responded saying that she felt priviledged and that it was something wonderful. And the mother, WHO ISN'T A MEMBER, answers and says that it is a beautiful thought and it gives her comfort. She then goes on to say that things are really hard right now and they are struggling...and then the RS President jumped in and started sharing her story about how she found work. Daauughh...Anyway, that's all we needed and Sorella Hanks and I went forward from there. That little tidbit could have been worked with so diligently, but I think we get wrapped up in the idea of sharing the message and getting out...when in reality it is a time to strengthen one another and lift the hands that hang down. I LOVE MY MISSION AND I AM LEARNING SO MUCH!!! So that was an interesting experience and yet so grateful for it because we know now who to try and work with and go forward from there. Little by little a mission changes your ideas of certain things in the church, and it only changes you for the better. LIFE LONG LEARNING! LIFE LONG CHANGING! LIFE LONG DISCIPLESHIP!!

And that's another thing...life long discipleship. We actually have become really good friends with a young couple in our ward. Her name is Jackie and his name is Nathan. THey have a little girl named Elly (Elliana) and they are the Marshall family. We are actually having dinner with them tonight because they want to introduce the gospel to their land lord. He is here in Italy for school on a study abroad...he is from Blackfoot and she is from Minnesota. They will be here until the end of July. But, we see that our hardwork is helping the ward because Nathan SWORE off sister missionaries. He served here about 5 years ago and the sisters were a joke...always making problems. But after we got to know them and talking with them, he told Jackie to invite us to dinner again this past sunday. PROGRESS!! Hahah Jackie was really happy that we changed his heart...I think she likes having people close to her age to talk to...in English nonetheless. BUT!! Hearing those sisters like, ruin an elder's idea about Sister missionaries, and even President and Sorella Wolfgramm were concerned when they first arrived. The sisters that were in the mission when they arrived were crude, rude, and un-Christlike...they were GLAD to see the sisters leave! They didn't want to deal with them anymore! And I see now like, if you have the opportunity to serve a mission it can change you to be the person you want to be. I am so glad because I am learning how to deal with things...fully relying on the gospel. You learn mothership, sistership, self-ship (?boh?), and discipleship, all cram packed in 18 months more or less. 

I am so grateful for the things that I am learning and how I can truly talk with my Heavenly Father about anything and everything. My tiredness frustrates me and I feel like a lame-o because I just need to sleep...that's all my brain will think about "sleep...you can't go further just take a nap." Do I feel better afterward, yes. But do I feel lousy that I had to take that time away from the Lord's time? Also yes. So, I decided to pray about it. I just told Heavenly Father that I just can't do it. I can't get up in the morning...my body hurts and I am so tired and I'm frustrated because I am tired of eating such heavy foods and wah, wah wah. And basically I threw a tantrum and went to sleep. As I woke up, I received an answer to my prayers...1 Corinthians 10:13..."that ye may be able to bear it" I was just reminded that I have some factors that are against me and that I need to be patient. I can't let this get in the way of missionary work. And sometimes it does. For example, the other day we were visiting Francesca and she has patience the size of a lentil bean. I was trying to explain something and she wouldn't listen...so I just got a tight lip and had my companion take over. I was fuming! And I think it all stemmed from the fact I was mad at myself for sleeping, I was mad that she made me eat so much food, and I was just mad....So I decided to not say anything because I DEFINITELY wasn't feeling the Spirit. Luckily my companion turned it around and I was able to refocus. But, I can't let the little things get to me and I really need to work on it. So, I think Francesca and this whole sleepiness thing is teaching me patience and understanding...something I thought I had...but realize now that I really lack. Francesca didn't think anything of it and the lesson ended up being a really good thing. I had to lay down the law because she wants me to marry her son..Filippo, who is a total weeny...smokes, drinks and just whines about life....and he's almost 40...still living at home. I just layed down the law and then bore my testimony about how I will marry a man who will be worthy to take me to the temple...Then she said that she'll convert her son....and I just rolled my eyes and bore testimony again of the importance of the gospel and the importance of the sealing power in the Lord's house.

I am SO grateful for the temple and the work we can do. I miss the temple so much, and cannot wait to do a session and just go inside. GO TO THE TEMPLE! PLEASE!!

Love,
Sra. Bowman

I wasn't sure if this was her letter to everyone, but it appears to be so as nothing more came.  Kind of exciting....I received a letter from her mission president asking me to email all the info needed for her return home trip on Aug 24.  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?????  Her homecoming talk is scheduled for Aug. 26 so if you are in the area, please come.  I can't believe my babies will be home THIS YEAR!!!  It truly does go by so fast.  What a wonderful experience and testimony building experience they are having.  Thanks for all you love and support to our kiddos.
Rosalee

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

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 9:53 AM

 

YES!!! I am SO EXCITED that you are going to take Daniel and I on a cruise!!! I am STOKED!!! I have been configuring a plan all week to see what I could do to convince you to take us all again!!   I am SO glad you all had a great time and that everyone got home safe :) WHAT?!???!? ANNA IS GETTING MARRIED!???!? Oh my gosh that is INSANE!!! TIme is flying by way too fast...my whole world is going to be turned upside down!!  Well, as far as the candy is concerned, it is still sitting in a pile on my couch and my companion and I are slowly getting rid of it. All the whopper eggs she ate because the malt is all wheat products....she happily made the sacrifice. Yeah, I saw the list correne thought up for me and I'm really happy with it...I wish I could take a break in the Winter...but...I think she thinks it would be better for me to just plow through...then I could have the whole summer off and start in the fall. I am looking forward to the pictures and I really am glad that you all are sold on cruises. Do you think we could also consider doing a church history tour? I remember you saying something about going to NC also...what are your traveling thoughts? Whatever it is...I'd like to be in!! How has Ruston been doing? THe little guy has been on my mind lately. I am a little, ever so slightly, homesick...just really missing everyone around this time. But, I have the faith to walk right through the homesickness and all will be well. Transfers are this week and I am staying in Milan again with sister hanks. WE ARE feeling so much better!! THe Lord has been really helping us and me...I've decided to get up even if I feel sick...get up and exercise and run...and we walk everywhere now too....I am determined to lose a few kili before coming home. So, it's lots of fruits and veggies and yogurt and walking...it's coming to summer time now and all the fruits and veggies are great. Today we didn't do exercise in the morning because we are so sore, but we are walking and just having a great time enjoying the weather...even if it is crazy.

 

This past week/weekend has been a miracle for me. We had zone conference on Thursday and it changed my mission. I felt like I had been digressing as a missionary, and I didn't know what to do. And so, inspired like they are...President and the AP's did an amazing "break your boxes" conference. I shaped up, wisened up, and am striving to be more obedient and happy than ever. One of the biggest things President emphasized was for ALL OF US to change our mode of prayer. We needed to start praying with faith. If we did this, we would see miracles. Ho reso conto (I like...well...it hit me?) that I needed to be better and more sincere with my prayers. Immediately I went home and made a sign on our front door out of the cute little heart sticky notes that says "Did You Think To Pray" and so EVERY SINGLE TIME we leave the apartment, we get on our knees and pray as a companionship. We teach a principle to each other 4 times a day as has been asked since the beginning of my mission, and I am seeing the blessings. I never really had a testimony of it because it seemed really stupid...but I have repented and it helps me be more willing to talk to people. TALKING TO PEOPLE!!! It is becoming SO MUCH EASIER!! I just smile really big and be cheerful and people think I'm crazy...which, suprisingly, interests them more in what i have to say! Saturday and Sunday were MIRACLES FOR ME. Saturday I was close to tears all day long because I felt the SPirit of the Lord so strongly within me. We have quite a handful of potential investigators and the days pass by even faster.

 

I was pondering this week of the purpose of my mission. Sister Hanks brought up a comment over dinner about how a departing sister mentioned in her testimony that every missionary has their specific mission. She asked me what I thought mine was....and I didn't really know. As I teach and as I meet beautiful, wonderful people...I wonder if my mission was really a tool for the Lord to change me. To, realize what a blessing the gospel in my life is...and to really embrace the positive demeanor that the Lord has blessed me with. I relfected on my setting apart blessing, as well as my patriarchal blessing, and both talked about rejoicing in life, finding joy in the journey, and happiness. Joy. Joyful, Joyous. FINDING THAT IN LIFE. As I reflected on me entering the mission, and stirring my pot of pasta, I was NOT joyful. Oh my heavens...life was so hard for me. But now, I think I am really coming to understand the joy of the gospel, which in turns brings joy into my life. The Spirit is so tender and I strive DAILY to maintain it. I find multiple times the Spirit testifying to me of things I read in the Liahona's we receive...sometimes it's ridiculous and I cry over stories I read in the Friend section. To have joy in your life is so tender, and yet so important. I find now that I am happier than ever and a sense of relief is in my heart. And when I pray for charity, each and every morning...I am less inclined to get frustrated and I see people in a more beautiful light. My hour of study that I had been missing because I wouldn't get up...makes all the difference in my day. I don't want to lose that!! Studying...gosh I LOVE IT!! I don't have enough time to study in just that little hour in the morning! Studying is a lifelong daily thing....bah, it's so important! I want to be a better bigger sister, so many things to make up for and help my siblings know that I love them. This month's Ensign is BEAUTIFUL and some of the stories in the Friend too! It talks about the importance of talking with our children and making time to talk with them. I've decided that I claim dishes after dinner whenever I come to visit at home so that I can snag a sibling and take time to talk with them. And it made me even more grateful for you Mom and Dad! It meant SO MUCH to me, and STILL DOES that I could come to you at 300 in the morning to just talk and help me understand the factions of life. And how I could call whenever, come home whenever, and just talk whenenver. It is such a comforting thing...even if the subjects were redundant...you still encouraged me and helped me along the way. Thus, I want to be the same. This month's Ensign has inspired me to make a Mommy Manual. It's going to be a binder FULL of talks of the Apostles and Prophets on how to have a happier and faithful family. I have already started a list in my "Use Time Wisely" section of Preach My Gospel. WHICH I LOVE!! I LOVE THIS BOOK and I will use PMG for the rest of my life!!!

 

My joy is full and I rejoice in the gospel and the blessing of eternal families. I am so grateful for this mission and how it is teaching me to be an eternal disciple and missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ. My day goes smoother when I know that my knees have become a little rougher and my Book of Mormon pages have become a little more wrinkled. I have to finish it this week before the new transfer starts...and it freaks me out that I am on the last leg of my color coordinating in the front cover. But yet, oh how blessed I am to be a member of this gospel and to be happy...no matter what happens. The quote for the rest of my life...that always brings me peace "No matter what happens, the Lord is in it." As I see people living their lives, and hearing of people getting married and having babies...I love the pace that the Lord is leading my life. Everything will come in its own due time. I have to learn what I am capable of...learn to listen to the promptings of the Spirit...and I think that big chunk of time during my mission of being sick and not doing EVERYTHING with exactness...taught me what it is like to NOT have the Spirit with you. Thus, I am so grateful for repentance...because when you repent and strive even harder, it's like you LEAP to a whole new level...and life seems a little more brighter.

 

Not to mention I am less tired because we have new mattresses and pillows and we are eating much better because we are teaching Francesca about the Word of Wisdom...with portions and food substitutions. And seeing her illness has kind of...scared us...into eating better and changing into a healthy lifestyle. Which I am excited. Our blender broke this week...and I cried because I spent about 40 minutes trying to make a green drink by hand, and trying to make the blades spin, and it didn't work and I wasted it all... so now I add the seeds to my yogurts and cottage cheese. I don't know if I mentioned this first, but President asked us in the last conference to ask our loved ones NOT to send packages because custom payments have shot THROUGH THE ROOF. If we are willing to pay with personal money for the customs, then it is fine. But other than that...it's just not worth it. THe only thing I can think of you wanting to send is vitamins...and I can do without them until I return. Thank you so much for everything and I love you all so very much. I am so excited that in like 3 weeks we get to see each other and talk!! How are we wanting to work this out??

 

WEll, time is up and I gotta go!! Love you!!

until next time,

sorella bowman

As far as this side of the world is concerned

Hello everyone!

So, it's been kind of a stressful few nights. A few months ago, a cruise ship (well renouned) crashed off the coast of Italy, not that far from Genova, and many MANY people died and were drowned. The news has been saying that it was a miniature Titanic. I don't know how many of you know, but my family is enjoying the warm coast and waters of the Carribbean and I've been having nightmares that something has happened to the ship or that one of my siblings have drowned. The captain of the Italian ship had left his post to mess around with a passenger and wouldn't let people abandon ship, he ordered people to their cabins. Because of this, he is is prison...the ship is sunk...families have died and people are missing. So yes, as I haven't heard from my family...there is a bit of anxiety but I have to have faith that the Lord is protecting them.

Anyways, over here it's rainy, wet, and freezing. My companion and I have been taking turns with a nasty virus that has been going around and so it's been a trial judging whether or not we can go out for the day. I had to stay in Monday because with this virus you feel nauseated ALL THE TIME and your heart starts racing like you need to purge, but then nothing happens and it's all you can do but stay down in bed. You get a nasty sore throat a quite the headache too...which came at full force yesterday morning for me. But we went out anyway yesterday and taught 5 different people, all of which were really important lessons. Today the weather is even colder and rainier, but we are in our black coats and umbrellas doing our shopping and getting prepared for next week. Tomorrow we have Zone Conference and I am SUPER excited for that. It's always an awesome spiritual boost and helps me improve in every aspect of my life.

We had to drop Domenico this past week but have made some appointments with some potential investigators who were lost in the phone and area book. Today we have an appointment with an Ecuadorian woman who was SO excited that we called and wants us to teach her family. If it means getting new investigators, then it is worth losing an hour on our p-day :) Francesca came to church and really, truly loved it. Her testimony is so strong and it seems there is no shaking her. She prayed for us yesterday to get better and not miss an appointment with her...she is literally like a sponge, soaking EVERYTHING up. There are a few things that we are working on to help her change her "pointing finger" attitude, but the family is getting better. We are praying that her son and husband with soften their hearts to have a desire to start listening to the gospel :)

This past Sunday was Easter Sunday and it was probably the best Easter. I think back on Christmas and I am grateful for the Christmas I experienced because it made me appreciate and look forward to the family Christmas we have each year. Our family, which I am so grateful for, really takes Christmas as it is and truly celebrates the holiday season...looking forward to that again. But this Easter was really special. I think because it gave us missionaries a chance to show who we are in the ward. The Bishopric asked each of us missionaries, President Wolfgramm, and also the older missionary couple to take charge of Sacrament meeting. Anziano Barnes went first in talking about faith, Anziano Jensen went next and talked about the Book of Mormon. They are the AP's. Then Sorella Hanks spoke about praying to know the truth and I spoke about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father. For me it was truly a wonderful experience because I was nervous as to how I could put all my thoughts together. I get up to the stand and everything just flowed. I didn't even have to look at my notes, and I felt the Spirit of the Lord testify through me that these things were true. We then sang (the AP's, myself and my companion) Savior, May I Learn to Love Thee as a special musical number. Then Elder Lynch spoke of he and his wife's conversion stories and President spoke on the Atonement. As he was speaking, a new convert named Ruth, to me showed the beauty of this gospel. After Ruth was baptized 2 years ago, she had a stroke which left her a mess. She's been in the hospital ever since...except this Sunday. Ruth is SUCH a special lady with a smile as warm as the sun and a personality that is so kind and caring, even though she can't say or do much. But the family who brought her to church had to leave early, well on time because we went over, but as President was speaking about the Atonement and Christ's love for each and every one of us...Ruth was slowly walking with her cane, smiling as big as ever making sure that she said goodbye to each and every one. President just continued talking, but it was such a beautiful thing to see this ward come together to love a little sheep who has been pent up in the pasture for a while. I hadn't seen this before. Usually my companions and I have had to work SO HARD to unite the ward in EVERYTHING...but Sunday was such a special experience. I saw people get up from their chairs to hug and baci Ruth to wish her a happy easter. Buona Pasqua. I was a little anxious that no one was listening to President's talk...but I tried to see it through the Lord's eyes...instead of leaving Ruth to herself and she slunking away unnoticed because of her condition, she made every effort she could to say hello and goodbye to everyone...Seeing the happiness on her face and the joy she had within her...I'm sure she truly awaits the Resurrection...which we were celebrating that day. Our bodies are corrupted and would have been this way forever. Disease, disfigure and everything else...things we would wait to overcome us and live forever...only to see a fate under the cold earth. But grazie al' nostro Salvatore, Gesu Cristo, we too can overcome death. The spirits which we cultivate here will shine through in our glorified and perfected bodies because HE overcame it all. We will NEVER be able to comprehend the Atonement, but when we try to use it, I testify that we become steps closer to Him and we come to understand His love for us and everyone each and every time. I have taken the Atonement into my life many times, some more strongly than others...and I come to find that my testimony has grown.

After the sacrament service members flocked to us with referrals and invitations to Easter lunch. But a humble sister and her son had invited us a few days earlier, and we knew that that was the home to go and visit. As we arrived, this family was out of sorts...kind of grumpy and unhappy. But, as we visited and tried to cool things down...it ended up being a wonderful experience. The son, who is divorced and on the verge of inactivity, asked us how we gained our testimony. As I sat and pondered...I realized that my testimony has solidified all thanks to my mission experiences. I have come to see the Lord Jesus Christ as a closer friend, I know that NO ONE is too far to taste the relieving waters of the Atonement, I have gained a greater testimony of the experiences of the prophet Joseph Smith and realize what a miracle the Book of Mormon is for us to have. The gospel means EVERYTHING to me...it what makes and holds happy forever families together. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and we truly DO become closer to Him if we read it every day. As I have been sick, I haven't had chances to read the Book of Mormon, and when I feel better I feel distant from the Lord...and when you feel this way, we are counseled to dive into the sacred books and repent del nostro allontanza...um...we repent of our farther...um...we repent from moving ourselves away from Him. And then we are blessed with His spirit once more. I am nervous for the day when I have to board the plane...it's getting closer and closer...and i don't want to lose this beautiful gift which I have been given...of always feeling the Spirit. It makes me think of what movies am I going to see...what music am I going to listen to...it seems like NO MOVIES and only EFY are in my category...but I am sure it will take some prayer and sincere pondering to see what music and what movies are good in the sight of the Lord. You see that beautiful pan of brownies and you want to take a bite...but would you still take a bite if you knew it was made with just a little bit of dog poop? Or you see that DELICIOUS ice cream sunday and it is everything you are craving...but then just half a cockroach is sticking out of it....would you eat it anyway? 

It's such a fine line in keeping the Spirit with us and not being as the jews...hypocrites in word and deed. It is so important to stay close to the Lord, do wholesome activities that bring your families closer together...you won't have this time again. It makes me a little sad to not be apart of all the fun things that my family is doing back at home, but I am learning key tools that will not only change me but also my future family and will bless us through the eternities. Which in turn, I too can make little memories with my siblings and parents upon returning home...with the little time that I will have.

The Lord has a plan for each and every one of us...and my companion is reminding me daily that the Lord really is aware of every situation that we find ourselves in. As Joseph and Hyrum Smith would always say "Whatever happens...the Lord is in it." Oh! That brought tears to my eyes....I know it's true. Whatever happens in your life, the Lord is in it. Whatever sorrow or pain you may be suffering, our Savior Jesus Christ has already suffered and wants to relieve you of it all...He's in our sufferings to bless us. Allow Him to help you...allow Him to heal you. He paid a debt that we can never repay, and all He asks is for us to follow Him and keep His commandments.

I testify that Jesus is the Christ, and that He is our Savior and Redeemer. Even though my time in Italy is drawing nigh, my mission will not stop here. Your mission continues. You learn things to change you and your life here in the mission, and upon returning you magnify it all and live as a disciple of Christ for the rest of your life. Pray to the Lord to place someone in your path that you could help today...maybe consider bringing a Book of Mormon with you and giving it to someone who may be searching. If you don't know that the Book of Mormon is true...the Lord will tell you in His own way that is personal to you...if you TRULY desire to know. We did not come to this earth to be led astray...but to be shown the way and magnify it. I testify that the Prophet Joseph Smith did INDEED see God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Why couldn't he have seen them? God can do whatever He wants. I know that President Monson has been called of God to lead and guide this people unto repentance and salvation...and how grateful I am to my ancestors who accepted this gospel so that I could be raised by goodly parents and be born in the covenant. I too will do the same someday, and how grateful I am for the sealing powers...for whatsoever shall be bound on earth shall be bound in heaven if it is found good in the sight of the Lord. Death, where is thy victory? Thy sting has been muted for the eternities are true! This I testify in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

p.s. Every time I step out into the cold, I remember that April showers bring May flowers! And even the gray skies emphasize the beauty of the...well...grafiti :) And flower blossoms when we see them :) So, when skies are gray in your life...look for the beauty because it's still there!! 

Until next time!!

baci e abbracci,

sorella bowman

Ohhhhh....my sweet daughter.  Sometimes (more than sometimes) she worries too much.  I just have to laugh.......BUT she is very insightful.  Just gotta love her!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 8:29 AM

 

"Dear Dad,

I'm sitting here in the chapel in Milano 1 and as I was listening to the YW Conference (which was GREAT even in Italian) I had some questions come to mind that I am pretty sure you can answer.

   My feelings came stronger when I heard President Monson speaking to the YW. How am I to raise a righteous family? How am I to fin a companion to discipline my children in a righteous way and through the gospel, just as you have done?

   I thought back on some of my friends in HS...their father's being Bishop's and Stake President's...and their standards less than admirable. I even think of some family members who are in this same boat! And I puzzled and just...don't get it! One of my friend's turned openly gay and married a man. I must find a righteous husband who will openly help my sons and raise them in righteousness. Okay conference is starting...

   And so we jump ahead to April 3, and how grateful I am for the servants of the Lord. I wrote questions down this conference and I KNEW that the Lord would answer. I could FEEL it; it was a feeling of complete confidence and almost a buzzing inside. My greatest question was asking the Lord HOW am I to search diligently for my future companion, just as Elder Causse counseled me to do? And I had a feeling that Elder Scott would be the one to answer...and he was. In order to search diligently, I must remain close to the Spirit and scriptures. I need to heed the counsel of the prophets and the Savior and His teachings. I was afraid that I would be coming back into "life" blindly, but it won't be s. I'm excited and feel more assured in this gospel than I ever have my whole life. 

   I also went to the Lord with questions about my health, as to which Elder Nelson responded beautifully. In personal study, I asked myself what exactly is the meaning of "Christ" because we always hear Jesus THE Christ. Brother Hallstrom answered it by saying that Christ means Messiah or Anointed One. Before the Sunday Morning Session, I had struggled over my weaknesses and how frustrated I was...over how many chances I have missed. What were the words out of Jeffrey R. Hollandìs mouth?Direct quote of my sorrow answered with a  direct promise of the Atonement of the Savior..."

And so that is where we stand...I am just so grateful for the prophets and how BLESSED we are to be watching General Conference with ALL sessions available to us!! I can't BELIEVE I would fall asleep!! Never again....it gave me a spiritual recharge and has CHANGED my mission. I am taking leaps and bounds and feel like I really CAN continue....thank you for your prayers!! Love you!!"

And thus you all see the letter I have written to my father, which summed up this week EXACTLY for me. I feel so reinforced that I cannot even explain myself. My life has taken a complete turn, and I feel now, MORE THAN EVER so close to my Heavenly Father. I am finding JOY and HAPPINESS, TRULY in the work, and I pray for charity every day...which the Lord is blessing me with. It's like a shade has been lifted from my eyes and I SEE people as they are...Children of God. And I don't really have a fear anymore to talk to people...This gospel is what will SAVE the world!! 

We had a lesson with Francesca the other day and it went BEAUTIFULLY. She made these HUGE cookies and I had to reject them because of the gluten issue and she forgot! SHe gave me an orange instead...and I just chuckled to myself because LAST time she made these DELICIOUS cannoli and I ate them anyway because she was so proud of them..."I made these special for you because I know you are Celiac (that's just what I tell people for easiness) and so I left out eggs!" hahaha...one thing I CAN eat...So I "died" happy because they were truly delicious. But the lesson...we broke it down into little pieces because she has SO many questions!! But, at the end...as we were talking about miracles, she began to cry. She's VERY heavy and doesn't know what to do about losing weight...Here in Italy they don't help you much in that matter...hello...Mission suit? But, as we testified that if she worked hard to get to church, the Lord would bless her and we talked about Sacrament Meeting and she asked us to sing a Hymn....I opened right up to Abide With Me Tis Eventide, and mentioned how this was not only my favorite but also my father's and I testified of the truthfulness. I sang soprano and Sorella Hanks sang alto..and Francesca silently cried throughout the whole thing...saying she never heard anything sound so beautiful and that she was grateful to God for giving her this blessing. It was all I COULD DO to not cry the Spirit was so strong. It was such a blessing to feel the Lord's love for this special daughter. 

This Sunday is Easter Sunday and the ward has asked the missionaries to be in charge....2 weeks ago my companion and I shared a lesson in Relief Society which went really well...It Is Better to Look Up by Elder Cook. And this week, President asked me to speak on God is our Loving Heavenly Father..as to which I need to share a personal experience. How could I not declare that God is my loving Heavenly Father? I am so excited for this experience and please pray for us to have a family ask us to Easter Dinner...or else we're spending it alone.

Jesus Christ lives. He died so that we might live and broke the bands which hold us tightly, so that we may brake them to. Go to the Lord in prayer and allow the Savior's atonement change you life. Anything important to you, is important to the Lord and He WILL help you change! I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple and the sealing ordinances which will take place in my life..the next ordinance I have been asked to prepare for by the apostles themselves. The Lord ONLY wants our happiness and we will find it, only through Him. I Know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives who once was dead...I know that my Redeemer lives. He is real and He is there. This I testify in the name of my loving Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

p.s. I felt another prompting right before I sent this letter, but I had to stop myself....I feel that whoever I am speaking to....You need to go to the temple. Don't make excuses, just go. Someone on the other side is waiting for your help! GO!!! LOVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE TEMPLE BECAUSE LIFE IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE BLESSING TO GO WHENEVER YOU WANT!! I KNOW THIS AND AM LIVING IT!! GO!!!

Here A Little, There A Little

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:40 AM

Seems to be the theme of my mission right now :)

Everyone has struggles, right? I have been doing a lot of studying and pondering about the Prophet Joseph Smith and really refocussing on what my purpose is here in Italy. I know that I am on my last leg, and yet I feel I have so much more to learn and do and with all of that...everything started to bog me down. Thoughts of frustration as to my being sick all the time and not getting up to study and then just being unmotivated, mainly because I didn't feel well. And just when you are at the end of your rope, and you can't find the strength to tie a knot and hang on, the Lord does it for you. The Lord tied the knot at the end of my rope for me through the realization that General Conference is in only a few days and that President was inspired to do training with just the Sisters. I had been having nightmares that I was being sent home, released and that the Lord wasn't pleased with my work. Yeah, definite nightmare. I just have this fear of jumping right in and talking with people about this gospel, and I haven't yet learned how to conquer it. And then our beautiful training helped me out so much and I gleaned some tips to help me.

I have come to truly love my mission and that it has really shaped my life for the rest of eternity. Sorella Wolfgramm gave me so much comfort in her words that our mission doesn't stop in Italy. We gain the tools here in the mission to help us be missionaries for the rest of our lives. And just as I am thinking "I only have so many months left and I better do EVERYTHING in order to receive the Lord's promised blessings..." It's not true. As long as I am growing and learning and pushing towards the goal, the Lord still will bless us and myself. Each area has a different form of missionary work, and I have come to see that my mission has been working with members and bringing back the lost sheep. Helping people understand what unity is and how to bring in the fold. That has been such a blessing...for members to come up and hug me, just because we went and saw them that past week. People actually excited to see the missionaries and then helping them realize that they CAN share the gospel. The work dies without the help of members, and so my companion and I are trying to light the fire within them and go from there.

I hope you all read my brother's email this past week, a letter which touched my heart and was so grateful that he had the blessing to experience what he did. The world is so different in every country and even between genders of missionaries. I see so many people, and I want to help them...but we can't. We can't offer money, and I try not to let my heart be hardened because a lot of these gypsies choose this life...to beg and live on the streets. It frustrates me sometimes to see these women get on the busses and metro's and put on their "moaning voice" and have their children be dirty and hungry. Jesus Christ helped those He could, but I KNOW that we must help ourselves. I always want to offer them the gospel of JEsus Christ but they don't want to listen. If you can't give them money, you are no use in their life. BUt to have seen my brother and his companion offer that man a fishing pole and a pizza, I cried. How I remember that December day, and how I wish I could have acted faster. I just can't help but say, if you feel impressed to do something, you must do it. I testify that we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, must do as my brother did and lift the weary hands that hang down. Yes, okay, we must remember our own safety, but I must remember that the Lord will guide us to those who WILL receive our word, or who we CAN share a bit of bread.

And thus I realize that if this letter is a little whiney, I apologize. But missions are not always roses and candy canes. THe times you struggle are the times that the Lord is preparing you for something bigger than yourself. Jospeh Smith, whenever he would play the game of stick-pull would always say that "The Lord brings us low so that He can lift us higher" How blessed we are to have the prophets and apostles to speak to us, and how my testimony has grown in their behalf. I KNOW that if we come to conference with questions, the Lord will answer them. Conference for missionaries is like Christmas..and when we receive the conference issue in English...the best present in the WORLD!! How grateful I am for this.

WIth all these hard times, I have come to have a greater testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and how true this gospel is. I know it is true, and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. All in all, my struggles come from beating myself up at my lack of ability to just tell someone about the Book on the bus or the metro. BUT I AM working on it, and that is what is important. I KNOW that people see the difference in our lives, and that they DO see the light, but then they choose to pervert it and say horrible things. Ugh, what a fine balance between loving the sinner and hating the sin..even when the words they use are vulgar and crude. And I guess I am so fired up about this because on our way to the QUESTURA today a man approached me on his bike and was a...nasty. And thus it made me SO ANGRY to think that men think that THEY can talk to me like that. Yesh, I am madder then a wet hen about it all!!!!!!!! WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?! What a noob. Well, anyways, getting into the QUestura it was a little crazy, and a long time of waiting, but we ended up meeting a beautiful woman from Egypt named Emmy. She had been waiting in line, and when they told us to go wait in another room she freaked. Her face was just flustered and she called her friend and started speaking in perfect English. She was panicking because she didn't know what to do and couldn't understand what was being said and was about to cry. And I just opened my mouth, while she was on the phone, and asked her if she would like for me to translate. And she looked at me...looked at me like I was a ghost or something. She couldn't believe I spoke English. Next thing, she tells her friend that two angels have come to help her...and so we did. I translated for her and helped her get her permesso and by the end of leaving she asked if we could meet with her again. She is muslim, but she would like to know more...and that she was grateful that we literally were her angels and that we saved her. I laughed and said, "well, you could say that this is our job :)" We exchanged numbers and we look forward to meeting with her again.

Okay, miracles do happen still... Yes, they sure do. Speaking of which, we have a new family named Francesca, Vincenzo, and Fillipo. They are a family that needs all the help that the gospel brings...they are making progress and have been a testimony builder for me that the gospel really starts in the home. Haha, they make me laugh after every lesson because PATIENCE comes through them :)) 

Happy Conference and listen intently, the Lord has much for us to learn at this time! This I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

baci e abracci,

sorella bowman

You first must be in the way in order to get out of the way...

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 9:37 AM

Does that make any sense? We had a training specifically about this this past week. In order for someone to say to you "hey get out of the way..." You have to be in their line of direction in the first place, right? So, our training was all about being in the way of the Lord and coming to understand what He wants for you. You first have to be in the way, and then be willing to step out of it so that He can direct you to where EXACTLY He needs you to be. We had some wonderful training by President and then we watched a WONDERFUL MTC talk given by Elder Holland in January 2011...Which I am pretty sure you attended Elder Bowman..(I need an older sister moment...) WHAT THE HECK!??! WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE HOME ABOUT HOW AMAZING THAT TALK WAS?!?! PROPRIO...JUST AWE INSPIRING AND LIFE CHANGING!! It's a good thing you're a bit of a ways off because you would SO be in castigo right now ;) And speaking of which, you should tell your Italian friends that I am here in Italy! I am sure they would have SO much fun stuff to tell you about!! Okay, so anyways, I hope you learned as much as I did from his talk...

Elder Holland has, once again, changed my life and my mission. He spoke about how precious our missions need to be and how hard we really do need to work! Elder Hudson! I am SO EXCITED for you to go and labor in the Lord's field in good ol' Utah! You are NEEDED there and people are WAITING for YOU to find them! We must treasure up our missions and work hard to allow the Lord to use us in His plans. Sorella Wolfgramm and President Wolfgramm had a Mission President's training in Germany and they spoke to us about being justified and sanctified through the Atonement. And what a light that brought into my life...something I have been searching for. My past mistakes were justified...I have repented and I have moved on the greater and better things...but when does the sanctification come? When does the guilt leave and the scarlett is washed white through the blood of the Lamb? Sanctification, I believe, comes in many different ways and only in ways that the Lord knows you will pay attention to. During that conference, I received such a wonderful sense of peace and a strong confirmation on many things...as to which I broke down in tears and felt the Lord's love for me...and felt the CLEANSING power of the Atonement and the washing away of all guilt. It's real. The Atonement is real. Most times, if not all, the most beautiful miracles come in unanswered prayers because we see how the Lord guided us to what was "best" for us in our lives. Thank you Dad.

Each week we have to share a miracle with President Wolfgramm...I included this insight with him, and I will go ahead and explain further what the "white jacket" is...He has been using my experience in these last trainings to share with others and so I didn't repeat it to him...nonetheless: 

 I have already mentioned the "white jacket" miracle but I must say a miracle that I saw happened yesterday when we had a lesson with a certain family of the bishopric. As we entered their home, things started out a little crazy..what with kids showing off and all that jazz. But eventually we got right to the lesson that turned out to be so spiritual it was absolutely amazing. THe daughter, only 14 (which freaked me out because she's the same age as my sister and doesn't look like it) was having some troubles that I could relate too. The miracle of it all was me finally learning and coming to terms with how the Lord has beautifully guided my life. As I sat there and taught, bearing my testimony of things I KNOW to be true....the things that I knew coming only through struggle and frustration, prayer and desire. You come to find that, sometimes, the greatest miracles unanswered prayers and the Lord loving you enough to cut you down. I am really grateful that I'm a currant bush which is lovingly being trimmed by the Lord's all knowing hands   

This week has been difficult for me. I have been struggling with headaches, fatigue, tiredness and swollen everything. I have been really, REALLY struggling to get up on time...in fact I haven't been able to do it at all for the past week. But my companion continues to tell me that "Rome wasn't built in a day...We'll get this, little by little." But thus, I know that the Lord knows of my frustrations and how I am trying SO HARD to finish my mission waving the Title of Liberty to everyone I can...I  really am! And yet, I still fall short. But, a tender mercy was given to me from the Lord...just to let me know that He hasn't forgotten me. President Ucthdorf's talk from the Women's General Conference last year: "Forget-Me-Not"...Sisters, read it again. I testify that it is true!! But, on Friday night I put it into my heart that I really want to gem this city and I really want to bring it BACK to the Lord. (Milano 3) A LOT of mistakes have been made and are BEING made and so Sorella Hanks and I have been doing a LOT of clean up and still have a LOT of cleaning up to do. People are just slipping through the cracks! But Friday night I prayed unto the Lord to forgive me, to thank Him for His gentle mercies, and also if He would be willing to help us reach 20 lessons or at least find someone to teach and talk to. As I sat there pondering, I had...well a "visions" you could say. I felt that at 12:00 noon we would need to go down to the Metro Station and there would be someone in a white jacket near a pole. And as I sat pondering, I remembered that we had an appointment at 1:00 and we wouldn't be able to be by the station at noon because we needed to figure out where the appointment lived. Nevertheless I just said "Okay Heavenly Father, if that's where we need to be, I know thou wilt make it happen." And thus I went to sleep. NEXT MORNING: Things are just going great! Started the day off with a great breakfast of a healthy green drink and started our planning right off the bat! We started having some really great success and then, we get a call...our 1:00 appointment cancels. I look at my companion and share my experience. She looks at me and we decide to pray about it ...Noon it is, right at the Famagosta Station. So we keep planning and 11:30 rolls around...then 11:35...and I panic a bit because we REALLY need to plan! But we pray about it again and all I could feel was this peace and a little voice saying "Go" Alright, I make the final decision and we go. So we start walking and for some reason, my mind starts filling with doubt. "Who's going to be wearing a white jacket? Who even WEARS white jackets?" And then it was like the Lord being funny...I rememberd that I wear a white jacket. So I left all doubt behind and started looking. We arrive at the station at 11:58 and we see a man IN A WHITE JACKET board the bus....okay, that must not be him. Then off in the distance my companion sees SOMEONE walking in a white jacket...and so we "casually" go after, what we find out to be, her. As we arrive, we look at the clock and it says 12:15...but on the other side it says 12:00. For some reason, I felt to just play along and check a few times....and this young lady starts laughing and talking to us. She is 26, named Paola, searching for the light and the road that she needs to take. She was leaning by a pole, in a white jacket, at exactly 12:00 noon. She was waiting for a bus that she has only had to take for this second time in over 3 years...she was going to get a package that her mother sent for her. As we started talking, we couldn't teach much, but we testified and promised her that this was the road she was searching for. IN the back of my mind, I also remembered from my "vision" that we wouldn't have a lot of time...maybe 20 minutes...mainly 15. So we teach, talk, and testify and she says that she would like to learn more. ANd thus, I move in, exchange numbers and right then the bus comes. I look wave goodbye, say we'll call, and look at the clock 12:18...Miracles.

I know that the Lord lives and that He loves me and each and every one of us. I am so grateful for His love and the tiny miracles He shows me, each and everyday. That's all for now!

until next time,

sorella bowman

p.s. Gaetano doesn't really want to learn anymore...He brought beer to the last activity (after we explained that it wasn't okay) and he didn't think it was all that great. But he still wants to come to the activity..so...little by little eh? Funny things DO happen!!