Happy Valentines Day!

Reynaldo's Baptism

So this week I celebrated my 13 month mark and Valentines day in the best way possible for a missionary... A baptism!!! Reynaldo Abat is now officially a remember of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. He was sad at first because no one in his family was going to attend, the same day a Sobrina planed a baby shower, there was a wedding, and well of course it was valentines day. But when we were going to the church we told us that it doesn't matter who is there, because its something important that he is doing with God and not with man. we congratulated him for his attitude and the ordinance was completed without a hitch! They didn't put a chair in the baptism font and we were really nervous because before he specifically asked for a chair, but with the member and the elder he was able to go into and come out of the water without a problem and my companion and I sighed a big sigh of relief. Reynaldos son came at the very end and we had a chance to present ourselves and we have plans on trying to visit him in his house and share the gospel as well!

Kristin's Baptism

As a added bonus I got to see Anthony my convert from Collique at a stake activity that they have for the young adults and he is still doing strong, active and is up through 3 Nephi in the book of Mormon! Aldofo is leaving for his mission in 9 days and another youth received his mission call to Columbia. We had an exchange of gifts between the sisters in our zone and Sister Valdivia gave me earrings (and i can still put them in without problems whew!). I was super sweet and a cool experience to think about my Valentines day before in the CCM and the possibles in the future.

Celebrating my 1 year on my mission

Were working for another baptism of a youth named Karen and Sebastian either this month or the beginning of March. 

Today we are having a normal day of work because tomorrow were going to Lima Central as a zone. I'm excited because we planned it well this time and should be doing some pretty fun activities.

Our Zone

This week was also a little funny because we went to the house of a recent convert to teach and there was a team of sell persons form Herbal life. we came both times in the middle of their "show" or pitch and they listened to us and afterwards we listened to them and it was... awkward very awkward but yea we escaped and now the herbal life people know a little more about the word of wisdom and nobodies worse off!

Christ Hill

I hope this week goes well, everyone is with good health and keep me in your prayers! ITS HOTTTTTT.

Reinaldo- our investigator

This week we talked with Reinaldo (55) and well everything is all set up for this 14th for his baptism. My companion and I are just super awed at his willingness to accept and apply the gospel, and we think he´ll be a bishop or something in the future ha ha. The last Sunday when he didn't come to church was a bummer, but we talked to him and he told us how he as waiting and waiting, but the brother was late so he thought he want going to come. And then lo and behold an old soccer friend happens to pass by and invite him to watch. So he goes with the friend and boom they're all drinking alcohol. BUT, Reinaldo holds firm and when they ask him why doesn't he drink now, he firmly states that hes made a promise and he has to complete with it. So they buy him water. And then the food starts getting passed around. BUT we had just taught him about the law of fasting, and he committed to fasting the first Sunday of February and so he said a firm NO! he fasted for 24 hours!!!! WOW! We were just ecstatic when he told us his stories and its really a joy to teach and be taught by him. he has his last and final interview this Saturday and all is good to go for the baptism. because of his legs well baptism him with a chair and two people behind to help him go in and out of the water. Reinaldo is really excited, inviting all of his family and wanting to bring his nieces and nephews to the church with him :) he really is an investigator of gold.


This week we helped a member move from an old house that she had to a new room that shes renting because her daughter is coming home from the mission this week. It was suuuupaa trunky and sooo sweet to see how excited the mother was, how worried she was about what they were going to do, and see the happiness in her eyes and countenance to think of her daughter coming back. It was a hot and sweaty work in the full heat of Peru, however it was just a little taste of whats to come after the mission (with regards to the happiness of the mother and father) and it was gratifying (and a bit trunkifying haha).


I'm excited to let you know how it all goes with the baptism of Reinaldo in next week!


hermana bowers

No transfer this week

Well this week ended on a little of a sad note. Our next baptism date that we had set up for this Saturday fell through because our investigator didn't come to church. the member we assigned to pick him up went to his house, and a niece informed him that he had gone to watch a futbol game. So our valiant member drove to the park, didn't find him, returned to the house and asked again, went to a different park still couldn't find him, and then eventually came to church. It was very strange because the night before we had talked with our investigator, his name is Reinaldo, and he was super excited to come and for his baptism. We dropped him off at his house after attending a baptism that we had this Saturday of a young woman named Kristine and seemed to be enjoying himself. But there is opposition in all things no? As soon as we can were going to try and stop by and see what happened and see if we can reset the baptism for this 14th of February. We fasted this Sunday for everything to go well for the baptism, so with what happened im trying to think then maybe this is the lord helping up realize that this isn't exactly the right time and manner for Reinaldo.


However, like i mentioned we had a baptism Kristine which was a sweet experience. The missionaries before me started the discussions with her and she didn't want anything to do with baptism. her older sister and her grandmother are baptized, and shes been coming to church, but never had a desire be be a member. but this changed about 2 weeks ago, and now she is blessed to have the gift of the holy ghost and has entered the gate to making important covenants in the temple.


My companion and I are both staying in San Carlos for one more transfer. So well see what these next 5 weeks bring!

Monday Feb.2nd 2015

This week we had a Renaildo attend again, so all is going well for his baptism this 7 of February.He smiles a lot more now and I just know that the gospel is helping him out! He is reading the book of Mormon and is almost done with 2 Nefi. Crazy cool no?! The ward is helping us transport him (he walks with a cane and needs a ride to church) and I´m personally really grateful for the members here in San Carlos. I don't know if I have already mentioned it, but also our Bishop is awesome and tries really hard to help support us in all that we do!

We had a good NDH that our relief society organized in which we were able to bring two less actives and a recent converts. We hope that with activties such as these that they will be able to make friends and have support to remain active. We also had another NDH in the house of a recent convert that our elders quorom president organized. We were able to bring a recent convert familiy a less active that is a neighbor. Afterwards the elders quorom preisdent visted the following day at the neighbor with this visiting teachers so were just tickled pink on how the ward is following up and helping us with the people we present in ward council.

We have a baptism scheduled for this Saturday with a young woman who before received the discussions, but recently had made the decision to be baptized. were now finishing up the discussions and if all goes well shell be able to be baptized this Saturday!


Also some fantastic news is that an old less active that we were working with in Collique was sealed to her family last week! My old companion called me to fill me in on the news and WOW I was just so happy! this family has tried 2 times before to be sealed but Satan always put obtsacles in thier way. But yes the third and final time finalllllyyy they succeeded and I am just so happy for them!!!!


Today is transfers so afterwards well find out if well get changed around or not. I will fill you in this next Monday! hope all is well on the other side of the Equator!!!


con mucho amor


hermana Bowers

3 Interviews- Thank-you Bishop!

Our Zone

So this week started off with us in my old area of Collique to play carnivals with another zone. it was taking some time so I started a game of mafia with the missionaries while we waited for the supplies to arrive. It was fun to try and explain and tell stories in Spanish, and we when we switched it up to play signs, almost everybody wanted to join in and it was super fun!

The week was a little hard when Wednesday we found one of our recent converts in a dire situation with her husband. She was unconscionable and we had to leave her weeping in the arms of her sister in law. It sounded like things had ended between the two of them. HOWEVER, two days later we passed by again and they were together! Things were better, and it was really good to hear that they had been reading their scriptures together and were trying to work things out and find solutions. Its was such a 180 from where we left them before that I was personally shocked in a very grateful way. I'm so grateful for this gospel and how it really does help us overcome whatever trial we may have in our way. This couple have a newborn baby and I shared with them that I can't think of anything better that they can do for her, than what they're doing to keep the commandments and have a home with the foundation of Christ and his gospel. It really helps me know what I want for my own family.

We also had great success this Sunday with our amazing bishop! he was out Saturday with his little 1 year old son in a stroller visiting the members we had mentioned in ward council. we passed by him 2 times while we were walking around for our appointments and it was just so inspiring to see him with his little boy trying to help his ward. Our bishop is really young (under 30) and on Sunday he helped us out a lot with interview with menos activos we brought to his office. part of the process to "rescue" a menos activo is a interview with the bishop. he was running around trying to get everything in order and then dedicated the time to have the interviews and we were ecstatic because we got THREE done, and the interview sometimes is the HARDEST part (coordinating everyone's time, and trying to get the people to have the desire to talk to the bishop). Also, we had a man named Renaildo assit for the first time, and he has a baptism date for the 7th of February. Renaildo had an accident in which both of his legs were broken and now after 5 years of surgery and therapy can walk with a cane, but he came to church, enjoyed it and we are super happy to see his progress. two more attendances of three hours and he can make a covenant with the lord through the waters of baptism!

I'm so grateful for each and everyone one of you and hope this January is winding up to be a good start of the new year of 2015!!!!!!!!

Hermana Bowers

It is Summer and it is Hot, Hot, Hot!

So this week was our stake conference! Pday was cleaning and we went out to eat pollo a la braza yum yum yum. Then on Wednesday we had interviews with the president and a revision of our rooms and how we have progressed with our English and Spanish. Friday we had service in the house of a less active and we helped her clean up the main room and dust off a lot of stuff in her garage. Her parents had recently died and she had inherited their house and it was a big task for her. she was recently operated and was really overwhelmed with all that she had to do but it was fun to have service (finally!!!) and see how proud she was of her house afterwards and see her have the doors and windows open when we walked by later that day (before all the chair and sofas were in front of the main door so she couldnt use it). She has been assisting a different church for quite some time and almost was re baptized again, but were working with her and her doubts to be able to reaffirm her testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ.

In our night session of Stake conference we focused a lot on the function of ward council and these new forms that were using for the progress of recent converts and menos activos. It was cool for those who participate in ward council, but I felt a little bad for the youngsters and the menos aticvos we brought that the information went a little over their head. Sunday was super cool, and super full. It's summer here so hot hot hot hot. There is not air conditioning and so the fans were on full blast. As we sat in the back on the stage it made me think of a "to kill a mockingbird" courthouse where were all packed in anxiously listening with our pamphlets as fans fanning ourselves to not faint. Hahha it was fun. I really liked the President Erickson´s talk about how he compared the church of the Zoramites and the church of Jesus Christ. he then said that these two distinct churches can share the same chapel. we have to ask ourselves to which church we belong. Where we go and only listen Sundays and then return to our lives during the week, or do we attend a church were we continually try and apply the teachings and share the gospel with others. He also talked about how Lehi and other prophets were blessed for what they DID. not what they thought, what they attended to do, what they thought, what they said, preached, testified, or shared. But for the Action. what they did. It made me think about what were DOING not just saying.

This week we also found a sister of a member that lived in my old area. Were teaching her and it was funny how we found her. We passed by and I thought, where have I seen her before. And once again we passed by and we introduced ourselves and then she told me how she was the sister of Pedro from Collqiue and I was like OOOHHHHH yeaaaa!!!!! we had a lesson last night where we left a book of Mormon so well see how it progresses.

Thanks everyone for your continual support over this last year! I hope that the lord blesses you and the missionaries that live in your area and that we can work together to hasten the work!

Hermana Bowers

A trip to La Gran Javilla

So a week ago for p-day we went to La Gran Javilla which is a fusion of a petting zoo, a small castle park, and a water park. We didn't get to go to the pools and lazy river, but we were content with the ittty bitty rides they had and the petting zoo. There was a mini supreme scream, bumper cards, roller coaster, and magic carpet ride (its like the swinging boat ride but calmer). Afterwards we went to the animals, I got to touch a monkey and we went on a bird tour and got to almost touch toucans and other parrots! Afterwards we went as a zone to Pizza Raul and my companion got to try the pizza there for the first time! We came back to the room exhausted and we had to turn around and leave to work, but it was a p-day different from the rest and super fun. This p-day is cleaning because we have interviews with the president this week, but well try and find a way to make it fun.

The Zone on P-day

New years we thankfully found people to teach and the day passed quickly. The night before we went to bed at 10:30 and I woke up to the sound of all the fireworks at 12. I was so tired though, that I deemed the better reward sleeping in, so I just rolled over and enjoyed my comfy cama. My companion slept through the whole ruckus and it was funny to hear her talk about the next morning. The night before, the neighbors that live downstairs gave us a plate of chicken, paneton, hot chocolate, and a tamale, all very yummy and delicious. After that the week was a flurry of trying to accomplish all of our goals.

Happy New Year!

Two children were baptized this week, and will be confirmed this next Sunday. The whole family was here in San Carlos because the grandparents were sealed earlier this week. The family wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and two youth that live in Tagna were baptized. It was a sort of last minute kind of deal, but the service turned out great and the uncle who lives in the united states who was here for only a visit was able to baptize his niece. his off on his way with his wife once again to Utah to finish school and it was really cool to have it all come together and that the family could share this special moment.

Venessa Carlos and Family

I'm so thankful for the gospel and how it helps us to avoid the pitfalls of life and helps us have hope and a positive view of the future. I know that if we keep the commandments that God will protect us, and if we have difficulties there is some lesson that we can learn that can help us become better people!

Keep me in your prayers
Hermana Bowers

PS. For you future missionaries, feel free to send me a email if you have any questions about preparing for the mish! I´ll try and respond the best I can :)