Dear Family and Friends,
This past week has been a week of great improvement! I really felt like I have done much better with keeping my mind on my mission this week. I have certainly felt more comfortable and less homesick. I am so glad that I have recieved these blessings! Past week though it has been full of challenges with weather, plans falling through, not knowing all of the answers and companion differences, I have really come to appreciate the saviors role in this work. I read the poem "he has been there before" which gives me a great perspective and comfort on how the atonement works and how it can help us become better, more spiritual missionaries. Although this week has had its good times, I have certainley felt when I was without the spirit and I have had trouble staying focused during personal study at times and I have felt my mind wonder, but when I have the spirit there to guide me and keep me on the path I have noticed. My relationship with my companion and trainer elder Carbonell is improving, I have felt more comfortable around the flat and I have felt more at home this past week. The beginning of this week was quite slow because my companions tire on his bike blew up, not just the tube but the tire, so we were earthbound for a day or two, but this member offered to let him borrow his bike so we have been using that, its this super hard core mountain bike haha, but we have been treating it right. the work and was very difficult because we have been running out of people to teach, we have had a lot of people drop us in the past two weeks, so we have packed in extra finding activities which are good and they help me stretch and get out of my shell. During these last few days though the lessons started picking up and we have finished strong with more lessons than all of the previous weeks. the work is progressing, slowly, but it is progressing. I have become much more comfortable in teaching situations and with talking to people, though I still have many mountains to climb, it has made me very happy because I could not imagine teaching this many lessons in a week in the MTC. I have been very excited with my progress. We also planned to meet with Jamal the investigator that we have a baptismal date for, he was drinking with a friend, which concerned me, I am not sure how he will be able to keep the word of wisdom or the law of chastity which seem to be his biggest problems but I am hopefull that he will receive a witness that these things are true, and that he will have the will power to follow the commandments that the lord has given us. We spoke at church this weekend which made me very nervous, I had many concerns with my ability to get up and speak in front of this branch, but as I got up and spoke I was very surprised with how much easier it was than in years past. I spoke on love and Obedience with an emphasis on missionary work. I felt for sure that this talk would be perfect for one of the less actives who came to church that week, but when I finished and went back down to sit by him he apologized and said that he wasnt even paying attention and didnt hear it, I was very saddened by it but I hope that lated we can get him to understand the importances of obedience. Finishing off the day we had a lesson with Navin and udaya( i've been spelling his name wrong). They said they had read a little and we had decided to read the first chapter of the Book of Nephi, we explained it and tried to help them understand how the scriptures teach us, we also watched the finding faith in christ DVD which helped Udaya strengthen his faith in Jesus Christ, he did not grow up in a christian background so we are trying very hard to help him gain faith in Christ. Overall this week has been a productive week, I am very grateful for your continual support, I can feel your prayers everyday! I also would like to thank my family for sending my Christmas package which came a few days ago, I love it, but now I have to stare at it till Christmas haha Im just kidding, But thank you all very much for your support. Please If you feel so inclined, write me a letter some time. I hope all is well in Bountiful Utah! I love you all!
This past week has been a week of great improvement! I really felt like I have done much better with keeping my mind on my mission this week. I have certainly felt more comfortable and less homesick. I am so glad that I have recieved these blessings! Past week though it has been full of challenges with weather, plans falling through, not knowing all of the answers and companion differences, I have really come to appreciate the saviors role in this work. I read the poem "he has been there before" which gives me a great perspective and comfort on how the atonement works and how it can help us become better, more spiritual missionaries. Although this week has had its good times, I have certainley felt when I was without the spirit and I have had trouble staying focused during personal study at times and I have felt my mind wonder, but when I have the spirit there to guide me and keep me on the path I have noticed. My relationship with my companion and trainer elder Carbonell is improving, I have felt more comfortable around the flat and I have felt more at home this past week. The beginning of this week was quite slow because my companions tire on his bike blew up, not just the tube but the tire, so we were earthbound for a day or two, but this member offered to let him borrow his bike so we have been using that, its this super hard core mountain bike haha, but we have been treating it right. the work and was very difficult because we have been running out of people to teach, we have had a lot of people drop us in the past two weeks, so we have packed in extra finding activities which are good and they help me stretch and get out of my shell. During these last few days though the lessons started picking up and we have finished strong with more lessons than all of the previous weeks. the work is progressing, slowly, but it is progressing. I have become much more comfortable in teaching situations and with talking to people, though I still have many mountains to climb, it has made me very happy because I could not imagine teaching this many lessons in a week in the MTC. I have been very excited with my progress. We also planned to meet with Jamal the investigator that we have a baptismal date for, he was drinking with a friend, which concerned me, I am not sure how he will be able to keep the word of wisdom or the law of chastity which seem to be his biggest problems but I am hopefull that he will receive a witness that these things are true, and that he will have the will power to follow the commandments that the lord has given us. We spoke at church this weekend which made me very nervous, I had many concerns with my ability to get up and speak in front of this branch, but as I got up and spoke I was very surprised with how much easier it was than in years past. I spoke on love and Obedience with an emphasis on missionary work. I felt for sure that this talk would be perfect for one of the less actives who came to church that week, but when I finished and went back down to sit by him he apologized and said that he wasnt even paying attention and didnt hear it, I was very saddened by it but I hope that lated we can get him to understand the importances of obedience. Finishing off the day we had a lesson with Navin and udaya( i've been spelling his name wrong). They said they had read a little and we had decided to read the first chapter of the Book of Nephi, we explained it and tried to help them understand how the scriptures teach us, we also watched the finding faith in christ DVD which helped Udaya strengthen his faith in Jesus Christ, he did not grow up in a christian background so we are trying very hard to help him gain faith in Christ. Overall this week has been a productive week, I am very grateful for your continual support, I can feel your prayers everyday! I also would like to thank my family for sending my Christmas package which came a few days ago, I love it, but now I have to stare at it till Christmas haha Im just kidding, But thank you all very much for your support. Please If you feel so inclined, write me a letter some time. I hope all is well in Bountiful Utah! I love you all!
love always,
Elder Bowers
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