January 23, 2012 - hold on thy way

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me with some cool Chile gear

Hola!

More Cultural Tidbits from Chile:

Everyone says 'If God wants...', like for example when we invite people to church some people say 'If God wants it, we'll see you on Sunday'. As a missionary I want to say back to them, YES! God wants you to go to church! Sometimes we do say that and people just laugh:)

This week we met a girl who is from Morza (which means walrus) so she is from Walrus, Chile! I thought that was pretty funny.

And people LOVE soda here. They drink 49% soda, 49% fruit juice, and 2% water. It is not uncommon to see soda (even coke) in a baby's bottle!

Transfers

Well I don't have too much time to write today. Today is transfers! We found out this morning that my beloved companion is leaving to go to a place called Beautiful Earth. And I am getting a companion from Peru! Who joined the church less than 2 years ago. I am really sad to see Hna. Lopez go because I love her so much, but really excited to be with my new companion. I have heard that she is really great! One of the other hermanas who also lives in the same house as me is also leaving and a brand new hermana is coming to be trained by the other hermana in my house. LOTS of changes. Today is a day of many emotions, anxiety, excitment, sadness...And we have been visiting people all day so that Hna. Lopez can say goodbye.

And...HAPPY 6 MONTHS to me!! January 20 was my 6 month anniversary. 2 months in the MTC, 4 in Chile. Whew! I can hardly believe it. Time flies when you are having fun!

Trials

I don't know about you guys, but this year has startes out rough! Since the beginning of the year it seems like every house we enter has some heavy burden weighing on the family. We are hearing story after story of people suffering for one reason or another. Even in my companionship with Hermana Lopez we have been more onry with each other this past month than in any other month.

The sad part is that many people blame God and turn away from Him in the time when they need Him most. One thing that I have learned is that the trials we face come in many different ways. There are four types of trials that have called my attention:

1. Trials that are natural consequences of our bad decisions.
2. Trials that are natural consequences of the bad decisions of others. 
3. Trials that are a result of the fact that we live in mortality with imperfect physical mortal bodies. 
4. Trials that God puts in our path. 

'hold on thy way'

With all of these types God will turn all of them for our benefit if we trust in Him. Hermana Lopez likes to share with people what the Lord tells Joseph Smith in The Doctrine and Covenants ( a book of revelations given to Joseph Smith concerning the Restoration of the Church). In D&C 122:5-9 He says:

If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

There is a song written by Sally DeFord called ' My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee' That puts part of these verses to music that is really powerful (I encourage you to listen to it!) Maybe our trials aren't THAT intense, but sometimes they feel that intense. Sometimes it feels like all hell is combined against you. But I love the counsel the Lord gives Joseph. Hold on thy way. Don't stray from the things you know to be true and right.

One woman that we are visiting is really angry and far from God in this moment because of some tragic things that have happened in her life, really heartwrenching things. Right before this happened she was reading the Book of Mormon and praying everyday and told us how much she felt the Spirit in her life and how close to God she felt. But in the instant that a trial hit her she stopped doing those small and simple things.

She refused to pray, and refused to touch the Book of Mormon. The two things that would heal her heart more than anything else.We have to hold on our way.

We have to keep pushing forward with faith that all things will work for our good. And that God is with us. And we have to keep doing those things that keep us close to our Father in Heaven. When we don't feel like reading the scriptures or praying or going to church, is the moment we need to do these things that most!

Promise me that when you are feeling bad and don't feel like praying or going to church, that you will think of these scriptures and of this letter and that you will do those things! I promise you in return that you will feel closer to God, you will feel His love for you, and you will find the strength to press forward in your life!

I love you! I'm grateful for your prayers and am praying for you in return!
Ciao! Hna. Bowns

January 16, 2012

Hola hola!

Cultural Thoughts about Chile for the week:

Dreams are a big deal here. Probably more than 50% of the time when we ask people how they think God will answer their prayer if they ask if the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church, they tell us they think they will receive an answer in a dream. We even had one investigator who was waiting for a dream and would't get baptized because he hadn't received a sure answer like a dream. I'm not kidding dreams are so common here. People tell us about their dreams all the time. It's kind of funny, but at the same time their dreams are really interesting and are full of symbolism.

plums the size of apples

Another thing, we are up to our ears in fruit here! First cherries, now peaches and nectarines and plums the size of apples. YUM. This is because I am living in the most fertile part of Chile. All around me are orchards and almost everyone works in the fruit. Packing it and shipping it all over the world. This is great but makes it hard for us to visit people because fruit hours are so crazy. People work all night and all day, because fruit is sensitive and can't wait for convenient working hours.

Also something that is pretty different from the States. Here people live with their parents as a norm. If you aren't married, you live with your parents until you get married. That's just how it is. And even if you are married, it is a lot more common to find multiple generations living in the same house. My companion was super surprised when I told her that when I get home from my mission, I'll probably live at home till I get financially stable but then I'll move out because I can't just keep living with my parents, I've got to be self-sufficient :)

Mission Conference

all the hermanas at the conference this week

Well this week we had a Mission Conference. I love having conferences because we get to see a lot of other missionaries that we don't normally see and we get to learn from President Humphrey. It is always so uplifting and inspiring and I leave feeling like I can do anything!

One thing that he (Pres. Humphrey) talked about with us is diligence. I never quite understood what that word meant fully, but I think I'm starting to understand. President Humphrey always like to share the example of a couple months ago a group of us new missionaries had a conference in another city. On our way back our companions were waiting for us in the bus terminal. Apparently two of the elders arrived later than the rest of us and their companions were waiting for 45 minutes for them. President Humphrey says that if they had stayed and waited for their companions they would have been obedient, and had done nothing wrong or bad in waiting.

A saying on a wall, these are super common here.
It says somthing along the lines of
''Jesus has got it! Follow Him. He's the best.''
People are really religious here! :)

But these two missionaries decided to leave the terminal and come back in a half an hour. They left the terminal to meet and talk to people. They ended up finding people to teach who were interested in their message. President Humphrey loves to tell this story to show us the difference between being obedient and being diligent. Great things happen in the work of the Lord and in our own lives when we are obedient to the Word and commandments of God, but miracles happen when we are diligent.

To me diligence is kind of going the extra mile, thinking outside the box. It's combining our best effort to make things happen with the Lord's power. I love working for the Lord. There is nothing more satisfying and that brings more joy and peace to me than to do the will of the Lord. It's when I'm afraid to act or when I want to do my own things that I feel sad or mad or frustrated.

The more I learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the reason why we are here on the earth and why Jesus came to the earth to suffer for our sins and imperfections the more I love Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness as restored through the prophet Joseph Smith is perfect and wonderful. And I cannot but marvel at how it is changing me, and is changing people around me. Take more time than usual this week to study the Gospel of Jesus Christ and you will come to find the same thing, that your heart is filled with joy and gratitude and you are more happy!

I love you and pray that all is well with you and your family!

Ciao! Hna Bowns

great tan lines on my legs

Oreo Smoothie

Making an Oreo Smoothie