Well my dear family:]
This week has been well, interesting with a lot of ups and downs!
We taught Coach Graves for the last time (at least for now) we went to
visit him and he hadn't read 2 nephi 29, so after talking a little bit
we decided to read it with him. I think it actually kind of hurt his
feelings a little bit, he loves the bible and our intent wasn't to hurt
his feelings, but goodness when the man condemns us to hell we kinda
gotta bring out our big guns as well! So for now he's on the back
burner.
We had to bump back Sharlynn's baptism which kinda sucks! She's soo
ready to be baptized but most of this week she's gonna be in arkansas
and we haven't taught her everything yet so the date is now June 22!
It's gonna be so great! We went to Lulu's kindergarten graduation on
friday and we actually came in contact with another investigator so that
was sweet!
Oh my lanta. We had dinner at Barbara Moore's house this week and
can i just say never again!! haha she made us catfish and oysters. I
wanted to gag it smelled so bad with every bite i just had to psych
myself out and say it's just slimy chicken it's just slimy chicken. haha
SO GROSS. A member called us later that night and while she was moving
out she had hired a lady to help her clean. She ended up bearing her
testimony to here and sending us over to see her. Marta is awesome. As i
was handing her a book of mormon i looked into her eyes and said I know
this book can bring you so much peace and comfort into your life. I
seriously felt the spirit so strongly. She later told us that her
daughter had passed away 5 years ago and she still wasn't really over
it. She came to church yesterday and it was perfect! We're gonna start
teaching her this week and i'm so stoked! By the way, WHY DIDN'T ANYONE
TELL ME HOW GREAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS? haha i'm serious. I know you
guys told us to read it and la la la, but seriously there's some dang
good stuff in this book. During study time i seriously am blown away by
all the things that i learn. I know that it really can change a person's
life and help them come closer to him.
I was reading Eyring's talk Mountains to Climb earlier this week
and was just blown away. After reading it felt somewhat inspired to ask
Heavenly Father to send me a mountain. haha i'm only waiting to see
what he throws my way. It is soooo dang hot and humid here. On Saturday
basically everyone and their dog flaked out on us, so we ended up
spending a lot of time tracting, can i mention it was 103 with who knows
what % of humidity. hahaha as we were standing on people's porches and
doorsteps i was literally dripping sweat. Haha it was a rough day. We
went over to Shimshack's to help her clean again and that ended up being
awful. She wasn't in the mood to clean so we shared a thought with her,
after we shared it was bearing my testimony to her about the temple and
la la la. All of the sudden she said, there's something i haven't told
you guys. It turns out Shimshack drinks coffee and alcohol, and that's
what's keeping her from the temple. As we were walking home that night i
can not tell you just how disappointed i was. I wasn't mad it just hurt
my heart that she had kept that from us, that we thought everything was
golden and then wham! While walking i thought to myself man,, is this
how i've made my parents feel? When i had those extra piercings in my
ears, or stayed out later than i should, or was just being my dumb
rebellious self, is this what they felt like? Cuz if so, i am so so
sorry. I just felt a little betrayed, hey i'm here to help you and you
kept this huge thing from me? Man. Well anyways she's getting a blessing
tonight and things should start rolling again.
After church yesterday we met up with Brother Mader! He's come to
church 3 weeks in a row and is doing soo good! I don't know if i've
mentioned this before but Mades has a HUGE smoking problem. but anyways
we decided that yesterday was the day to talk about the word of wisdom.
As we got talking he started putting up a fight, finally i just asked
him, Mader would you die for the Lord if he asked you to? He said yes.
Then i asked, Mader if the Lord asked you to quit smoking would you? He
said no. And then quickly added well he's never asked me too.
(Powerhouse moment for Sister Bowden) I then said Well Mader He's asking
you today right now. Will you stop smoking? Boom, there's the spirit.
He got a little fidgety and said ah, crap. haha he said he's going to
stop, but we have to remind him everyday. He actually started crying and
said he didn't want to let us down so everytime he's about to smoke
he's gonna either call us or a member that he's pretty close to! We're
praying for him and i hope so badly he sticks it out. I know that
miracles can happen and this will be so awesome if he does it!
This week i really have come to love the time we have to study,
there is just so much to study and learn. I love it! I feel like i have
made huge leaps from where i started. I am a lot more confident in
teaching and just letting the spirit take the lead. When i got set apart
President Christensen said Just hit the ground running don't waste a
minute of it. I'm trying my best to do just that, i have hit the ground
running and everyday i want to keep that pace. I love this gospel. I
know that if we face our daily challenges and make the most out of what
we are given we're going to be so pleased with what we have
accomplished. In Alma 26 there's a verse that says I can not say the
smallest part to which i feel, and man that's how i am. I'm so grateful
to be here in Sweaty Station. I'm so grateful for this opportunity i
have to help others find Christ in their life.
I miss you guys so much! I pray for ya every night and can't thank
you enough for all the support ya give me! Transfers are Wednesday! I'll
let ya know how they go:] Love ya all! Stay strong, preach on!
-Sister Bowden
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