April 9, 2012 - Easter

Hola hola!

Mini-Mission

This week was unique! We did something called a mini-mission. 4 young women (ages 16-18) from another city came to be our companions for 4 days. That means that for 4 days I was senior companion walking around with an 18 year old Chilean. It was great! The young women who came were SO amazing. They were better missionaries than I was after 2 months in the mission. When my companion would teach, the Spirit was so strong. I learned a lot from these young girls! I also learned a lot from the experience because this was the first time, in my whole mission thus far, that I was senior companion, which means that I was responsible for the work we did as a companionship. My new companion didn´t know where we were giong or who we were going to teach, or how we were going to do it. It was a great test for me, to see how much I have learned and progressed in the past 6 months. For example, 6 months ago I marveled at how my trainer could manage situations. She could teach anywhere to anyone, and invite people to be baptised at any moment, when she felt that the moment was right. She was bold and could teach even drunk people who would talk to us in the street. I remember thinking how amazing she was and wondering if I would ever be able to do that.

Progress and Growth

Well, in these past 4 days I found myself teaching about the importance of baptism to two women in a little street store and inviting them to be baptized, and then when a drunk man interrupted us to tell me how beautiful I was and that he would change his life if I would date him, I found myself boldly telling him to change his life for Jesus Christ, not me, and giving him a pamphlet about the Word of Wisdom to read. Sometimes we don't stop to look  back in our lives and see how far we´ve come, but I did this weekend and was pleasantly surprised that I have grown and progressed! If you haven´t stopped to see your own progress lately, I encourage you to do so. Think of what you were doing or who you were 6 months ago and who you are or what you are doing now and see the ways in which you are doing better! And if you would like to see more progess, set some goals so that when you look back 6 months from now, that you will see even more progress! We are here to better ourselves, and it is this progress and growth that helps us to feel happy:)

Easter

And Happy Easter!! One of my companions made us little "easter baskets" (a bowl made of paper with candy inside) and in church we heard some really wonderful talks about the Savior. One of the speakers talked about the great importance of the Atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He cited these scriptures from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 9:

For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection...Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. (verses 6-7)

And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children... And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell...and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. (verses 21-26)

The speaker read these scriptures and then said something along the lines of: i get it now. I get why it was so essential that Jesus came to the earth suffered for our sins, died on the cross, and was resurrected. Because if not we would die and never rise again. If not we would be subject to the devil forever. If not, we have no hope for life and happiness. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the whole world. He died that we might have eternal life. He was resurrected and He lives. And all He asks is that we now sacrifice, not our life,  but rather our sins through our own repentance, that He might heal and save us. Even though this was a special weekend that we could remind ourselves of Him and His life, I hope we always remember His Atonement and resurrection and what that means for us!

I love you! Thank you for your love and support and prayers!
Hermana Bowns
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April 2, 2012 - General Conference

Talk about a spiriually boosting weekend.

We spent the whole weekend watching conference practically! As a zone we had a barbeque in between one of the sessions with all the missionaries in my zone and some members of the church. Luckily we who are not native spanish speakers got to listen to Conference in English. That helped so I could really get every last drop out of Conference:)

I love General Conference! All of the talks were amazing and inspiring, but here are some highlights of my favorites or things that people said that really hit home.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom:

"It is possible to be active in the Church and inactive in the Gospel." What a horrible thought. I was just astounded during his talk at the prospects of that and loved the point he made that we need to be fully and completely converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church helps us to do that.But if we are active in the Church, and don't understand the Gospel we are missing the point.

President Henry B. Eyring:

Quoting Spencer W. Kimball said, "I feel to say to the Lord humbly, Give me this mountain, give me these challenges." I love so much to listen to President Eyring. His words are always so full of love and the Spirit. His talk and some experiences I've had recently have caused me to think about the reason for afflictions and trials, and what it means if we have little or lots of trials.

I was studying a little about this and came across two scriptures in the Book of Mormon that taught me a little more about afflictions. Alma 32:6 "Alma (a prophet)...beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word." The challenges we are given and afflictions we pass through are meant to help us be humble. I asked myself "Are you letting your afflictions humble you and prepare you to be taught?" And then in Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I like how it all comes together - Our afflictions humble us and help us to see our weaknesses. And when we acknowledge our weaknesses humbly before the Lord He strengthens us! So afflictions are really a blessing that help us learn and grow as we humble ourselves. President Eyring explains a little in his talk, "why...great blessings can come from adversity to more than compensate for any cost."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

"We are not in a race against others, we are in a race against sin!" and "If you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven't made covenants, make them. If you have made covenants and broken them, repent and repair them!"

Elder David S. Baxter:

I was really touched by his talk directed at single parents, and especially single mothers. I liked that he said, "You can't change the past, but you can shape the future." If you are a single parent check out the talk on http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/04?lang=eng.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

"The moment we judge others we condemn ourselves, for none is without sin." and "Heaven will be full of people who have been forgiven and who forgive." Many of the speakers of this conference addressed the need to put away contention, envy, and discord in our lives. I really liked that. Life is too short and too precious to be caught up in petty misunderstandings, or even serious grievances. Like President Uchtdorf said "We are all dependent on the mercy of God." So why should we deny it from other people and condemn ourselves by judging and not forgiving others?

Elder M. Russell Ballard:

Of course my ears perked up whenever someone talked about the family, and I loved this talk! I loved that he talked about causes and effects and how the family is the greatest cause in this life (it causes the most wonderful things and has the most beneficial effects), then using a little play on words he said that we should fight for this cause, the cause of family. He said, "Life is better as hearts turn toward family, and as families walk in the light of Christ."


General Conference was DEFINITELY the highlight of the week. These men and women are called of God and speak with His power. These are the words of eternal life! If we listen and learn from them and apply them to our lives we will find greater peace and joy in this life and in the life to come!

I hope you look up the talks online and read them over and over. I know I am going to!

Love Hermana Bowns


PS I hope you liked my April Fool's joke:) They don't really eat frozen cow tongue here...but they do have this cool popsicle that is like frozen jello!

Note: The church will have conference talk text uploaded to the website after April 5th. Once it is up I'll link each to each talk Di mentioned. The speakers' names are linked to their talks from the April 2012 General Conference. -Ryann

Summer Snack