Lots of pictures

So I don't have much time today, but I hope that you all enjoy the pictures from the past week and this week as well!

This week was special because we had training with another zone with the Mission President. This is where we had to present our memorization of the plan of salvation lesson. We BLEW IT out of the water! (Helps when your companion is a theater major and is used to memorizing long scripts of stuff :) ) We learned a lot about the importance of commitments and how we are changing the focus of our work here in Peru. Other than that, things were normal, we had more people in our English class... and nothing really new to report! Enjoy the photos!

Amor de

Hermana Bowers

My first English class....

Hermana Gludehill and Elder Aoki and I during the combat activity

All of us at our bar b q & p-day and movie!

                                       My companion and I with a head we found in the secretaries office

                                Now the front. our jerseys say MPLN (Mission Peru Lima Norte)

                                               The children playing the cup games in our activity

                                                           The zone! well most of it

Some Elders from my zone with me at the first stake center ever made in Peru, where we got to hear from
Elder oaks

                                                           The baptism of Estephano!

                                                          The baptism of Estephano!

Elder Peterson and I, he is home in China right now- seeing and hugging his family, and we couldn't be happier (that he's happy, not the fact that hes gone)

                              The soccer court between our two capillas where we had the activity

                                     All of us as and the zone to say good by to good ole Pete!

                           All of us at the breakfast we had as a zone to say goodbye to our zone leader

                                              Kevin, our recent convert at the activity with us!

So yesterday I hit the 5 month mark! Its been a good 5 months full of a lot of hard work and learning, and I'm going to try and make the best out of the 13 more months that I have here in Peru.

To begin we had our first english classe this week... and nobody showed up. In fact we were locked out of the chapel till about 7:20, and then finally at 7:40ish one person wandered in the church and we ended up giving him a private lesson about infinitive verbs in English and Spanish. Here is hoping that this next week will be a bit better.

So our service project fell through but our Combat activity on Friday was fun. Hardly anyone from our Ward showed up, but we made the best out of the games and people that we had, and our zone leaders were able to make it really fun. we made polo or jerseys as a zone and they look pretty legit! Pictures hopefully next week (this week my computers USB ports don't work)

Then on Saturday we had the amazing opportunity to travel to central Lima and hear from Elder Oaks. the whole mission met in the first stake center ever built in Peru, and we heard from two of the 70, Crow and... oooo can't remember his name right now, their wives and then finally Sister and Elder Oaks.

I could go on and on about our meeting with Oaks, but now I can say that I have shaken hands with an apostle of the Lord. How AMAZING is that? Also I had to freaking pray IN FRONT of an apostle, IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. I was freaking out when we were singing the opening hymn and just praying for heavenly father to not let me make a fool of myself. that was when the thought of the widows mite came into my mind, and well as long as I was giving all that I had-- I knew that that would be good enough and accepted by the lord. So after the song, I got up did my thing and sat back down. The part that startled me was when I could hear the translator lady through the earphones of Elder and Sister Oaks translating what I was saying... That's when I got panicky and quickly closed my prayer. But as is well, I did it!

The voice of Oaks is something in itself. One time he amened after everyone else after a talk, and his amen was a booming thing that clamored through the hall and echoed of something eternal and final. I was fortunate enough to sit in the front row right in front of the pulpit! sure I had to look through the flowers a little bit of the arrangement that was in front of the podium, but I don't know how much closer you can get to an apostle than that! It was just a really cool experience, I learned some really awesome principles.

And then after Oaks was the baptism of Estephano, a 13 year old youth who now after yesterday has the gift of the holy ghost! I'm really surprised that the baptism of Estphano went as smoothly as it did. Its nearly impossible to find this kid and we still had to teach him about the law of chastity, word of wisdom, and day of rest before his baptism. and we had 4 hours to try and find him, teach him, and get him to come to his interview so he could be baptized.

BUT with the stress mounting and the clock ticking, all came out well, his grandma and aunt, who aren't members, came to the baptism. He bore his testimony after being baptized, he thanked Hermana Osignaga and me personally by name for teaching him, and that about melted my heart. this is the first baptism that, for once, I felt that I actually did something. I only know that from here on out with the more Spanish I can understand and speak i'll able to have a great part in helping and teaching people and my joy will be even more full.

Ha ha a funny thing that did happen at the baptism, is that Hermano Rodriguez forgot to bring another white shirt to use after the baptism, so he didn't have a shirt to wear! he only had his garment shirt and his suit jacket, so at the end of the baptism when he was giving Estephano the welcome to the ward talk (Hrno Rodriguez is the 1st counselor in the ward) he was all huddled in his jacket, clutching the collar to not expose himself. It was a sight and he walked into the room while we were singing a hymn and we all couldn't help but laugh and laugh. Poor fellow, but hes a good sport so it's all good.

So thats it for this week! Thanks for checking in on me and hope all is going well on that side of the equator!

Mucho amor de

Hermana Bowers

So this week has been awesome, and full of progress, and let me tell you, nothing is more beautiful to a missionary than that!

The first awesome thing, is that we got permission to baptize a young kid whose been coming to church with a member friend. We´ve been teaching him, and talked with his grandma, and FINALLY she saw the light and signed his permission form (hes 13). So this Saturday we have his baptism!!! We have to finish teaching him the lessons and get his interviews and all that jazz done still, but this Saturday we´ll have a baptism again! Whoo!

Second is that we made great progress with one of our investigators. We´ve been teaching her and she has such a strong testimony of the book of Mormon, but has to move out or get married to get baptized. One day we were teaching her, and in walked the boyfriend (up to this point we still hadn't met him and knew that he didn't really like that we were teaching our investigator). However we were able to finally meet him, talk to him a little bit and talk to him about letting our investigator come to church. We invited him to come as well.. and lo and behold, halfway through my class about the apostasy my companion gets a call, dashes out into the hallway and brings in the investigator and her boy friend! We have a noche de hogar this night where were going to watch the testaments, and they'd said they'd come! So were really excited to get to know and share the gospel with this couple and we´ll see where things go.

Also we´re teaching a lawyer, (lawyer by day and a skater guy by night) and he accepted a goal to be baptized later this month. Well because of his occupation, he is the type of guy that wants to investigate every point of the lesson and debate and discuss them for hours, but we have been seeing great progress in him and his willingness to even accept the idea of baptism is really great!

Fourthly, this week I had a vista de trabajo, or I think they are called exchanges in English. We have sister trainers that help us out and check up on us to make sure were following the rules and doing OK, and my companion went to their area, and one of them came to stay with me in my area. I was really stressed out at first because it meant that I had to be the lead and plan which investigators we had to teach, and what message and the whole sha-bang, but it turned out to be a really neat experience. ALL of our appointments that we had planned fell through or were canceled by the investigators, so we were wandering around trying different people four almost 2 hours! This is like worst case scenario, but Hermana Brigance, a gringa from Missouri, was such a pleasure to be with that we were talking (finally in English) laughing and having a grand o time. She is such a bright light and even though we had a terrible day by all means, I was humming and laughing at the end.

So this next week is going to be awesome as well because we have fun activities planned almost EVERY day!

Tomorrow will be the first day of our English Classes. We got it all set up with the bishop and made fliers and have copies of worksheets from my companions English book for the people that come. I'm nervous because I have never taught an English class before, but you never know until you try right so were just going to do it!

Wednesday we have a cool serve project planned with the zone, which is awesome because we never get to do service, so I'm stoked for that.

Friday we have another missionary zone activity where we'll be playing games from a show named combat. Its where well race through obstacle courses and playing min to win it games to see which ward in the stake is the champion of the world!

And Saturday... Saturday we have training from none other than DALLIN H OAKS!!!!!! Yes an apostle of the Lord will be in Lima Peru this week, and we get to come and listen to his voice! I was asked to give the opening prayer to the meeting... IN SPANISH!!!!!!!!!!! I'm admittedly nervous but I'm just hoping that I get to shake his hand. If i can say that I have shaken an apostle's hand, I can die happy lol. And then after the training we'll have the baptism of the young man were teaching, so fingers crossed that it all works out!

Well much love from Peru!


Hermana Bowers

Stake Conference this week

Our zone before our transfers, we said goodbye to our district leader Edler Ruiz, Hermana Moe, and Elder Martinez de Amancae

So no transfers this round, so I got a another month and a half at least in Las Violetas, and I couldn't be more happier. Finally I´m starting to understand a bit more, and remember names and faces of the people here in the ward. I´m finally able to ask questions and understand the stories of each of the members, so I really really don't want to leave just yet. 

Me and Hermana Moe, shes such a great example to me on how I want to be when I have 10 months in the mission!

The stand out of this week was that we had Stake Conference. The session we had Saturday was all about Ward council, who should be attending and what is is we should be talking about and with what papers. One of our recent converts, Jaime, came and sat behind us. Poor guy, he was bored out of his mind. He´s really gung-ho to get a calling though, but he has to wait till he has the  Melchizedek priesthood. He´s almost there and I´m super excited to see and talk with him when he´s finally achieved this important step in his life!

The Sunday session we had one investigator show up. Her name is Reyna and we have been teaching here for a good long while but she just hasn't progressed. She recently found out though that she has the beginning stages of cancer, so after church our zone leaders gave her a blessing of health. I´m hoping that the blessing was maybe the thing that will help Reyna realize that the church is here to help her, and through her obedience she can have those blessings promised to her!

We also door contacted into a wonderful young women named Dalila. We had three fantastic lessons with her, and she accepted the date for the 21st to get baptized. The thing is that she is living with her boyfriend at the moment, but knows that she has to move out to obey the law of chastity. She loves him, but knows that he wont accept her decision to get baptized. Notwithstanding, she is still willing to move out and try and find a job to be able to be baptized and receive the holy ghost. We couldn't be more amazed at her faith and willingness to accept the gospel. We have more appointments with her this week, and do all we can to help her come closer to Christ and accomplish the things she needs to to be able to be baptized this next month. 

That is all this week, know I´m so thankful for this gospel and all those who are supporting me either via mail or email. 

Mucho amor de Hermana Bowers

Me Hermana Cruz and Hermana Rene, our pentionista that helps cooks EVERYDAY for us and lets us use her house some times for p-day

My companion did my hair the morning of our Stake conference. My companion has the strangest and coolest talents.

My companion, who hates spicy (like you mom!) who i got to try a hot Cheetos. She tried one, screamed, and then chugged practically half a carton of yogurt. And even after that she said that the Cheeto was still burning her lips. This was her face afterwards.

P DAY SOCCER

So my new companion is Hermana Osinaga! Shes 19, has 6 months on her mission, and is from Bolivia. She understands English REALLY well and can speak it so so. Its been awesome getting to know her, and she is a really sweet spirit. I´m learning so much and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be her companion. 

Welcome to Las Violetas Hna Osinaga!!!

So for our p day this week we had a fun activity that was with the WHOLE entire mission! We had a soccer tournament between the missionaries from different countires. The hermanas played just gringas vs latinas though, and WE WON! I played goalie and stood around for most of the time, however it was really fun and it was the only match in which the gringos won. Whoop whoop for us!

This week was a challenge trying to show the area and the investigadores to my new companion. But we had some great experiences knocking doors. We found two different sisters, one 18 and the other 40 something that let us in and we talked. With the 18 year old we returned two days later and gave her a book of mormon. We explained it really briefly and she seemed really excited to read it. she said she loves to read and was looking for a way to get closer to God. Bingo. Another sister we found on accedent. We got an address of a menos activo wrong but after a little convincing she let us and we were able to talk with her. She ended up opening up to us a lot, and well my Spanish wasn't functioning that night so I didn't understand a lot, but she had some problems with either a friend or a niece and we were able to advise and help her. We have a return appointment later this week and we´ll see how it goes!

We have transfers later today, so well see how it goes. I try not to stress too much when they come around becuase there is nothing I can do, and while im 80% sure i wont have a transsfer, there is a slight possibility becuase we have a BOAT load of sisters coming in. There is always that lurking terror as being put as a trainer, but what happens happens I guess. 

That's all for this week, and thank you so much for your love and support!

                                                                THE SOCCER GAME!

 At our big p day I got to see my fellow sisters from the CCM

 Some of us Gringas that won in the soccer game against the Latinas!

The surprisingly nice field we played our world tournament at

Love Hermana Bowers

On the Verge of Change

So where to start.

First off we have a special p-day with all of the mission this upcoming Monday, so were taking our internet time Saturday. 

Well, we got a call around 8:30 am this morning informing my companion that she has an emergency transfer. She has to pack up all her stuff and be ready by 12 today to be driven to her new area, where we still don't know where yet. So this means in the next 3 hours I´ll have a new companion and will have to take charge of all our investigadores and appointments until the new sister gets the hang of things and can help out.

I´m really sad to see Hermana Espinoza go, but I know that the Lord has his hand in all things. I know that we´re suppose to have each and everyone of our companions for a reason, and I´m anxious and excited to be able to get to see and know my new companion for this next long while.

Maria Bastida her son Daniel and her husband Florencio who were trying to work with these past two weeks to be baptized the 24 of this month. (they took us out to La Leña) Well see if he can make his date! But Maria Basitda is just amazing, the incarnation of charity!!! I love her so much!

I forgot the name of this, but a member from Argentina made this for lunch. It was like a spinach and hamburger crepe and we had a huge glass of jello afterwards!

 In the pic are Hermano Rodrigez, the first counselor in our ward and his wife.

So we had our first Multi- zone conference since I´ve been in the field this week and it was really cool! We heard from our president, his wife, and the presidents assistant. One of the talks our president gave was about the keys of missionary work and we studied Alma 17 and 18 pretty intensively. If you´re looking to find some awesome pointers on how to be an awesome missionary take a look at these chapters.

Also this week is of course Mothers day, and boy oh boy does south america celebrate! Well, i haven´t experienced many holidays here in Peru, but mothers day is way much more of a big deal that it is in the USA. There are parades in the street, each school and each grade has a assembly where they sing songs about how they love their mothers, and everyone is bustling around buying and preparing for Sunday. Its like Christmas or valentines day piratically.

Well off to say goodbye to the members that we can find for Hermana Espinoza and time to start a new leg or journey in my mission. Ah my first transfer, my first big change! Wish me luck!!

Love

Hermana Bowers

Also, Hermana Lupe, a member in my ward makes THE BEST HAMBURGERS in THE WORLD. Nothing compares really, and I´m glad that Hermana Espisnoza and I had the chance to eat one together last night before she had to go!

Best four soles you can spend in Peru. Me and my lovely lovely hamburger

      

Lehi's Vision Here In Peru

So the big thing that happened this week was our Stake wide missionary activity! 

We recreated the experience of Lehi's vision with the rod of iron for the people here in independencia! We sectioned off the Stake Center, had blindfolds and a rod in which the people had to follow to either the room of darkness or the celestial room. 

We had people tempting and trying to sway the people as they made there way through this maze of rope. Afterwards, depending on if they let go of the rope at all, there were two different talks in two different rooms. The celestial room had our Stake President who gave a talk about the rod of iron and how we need to endure to the end. It was all in white and we had a white tree with sparkling white christmas oriments that my companion painted.

The other room was all dark, with only a strobe light and creepy haunted house music. In that room was one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Perez, who was dressed in all black he talked to the people who let go of the rod/rope and explained how it was a parable for the way of God in our lives. We had a projector which showed the image of the celestial room and showed the people what they could have had. he admonished them to not make the same mistakes in life or he'd been seeing them again soon ha ha ha. Afterwards people were given a ticket and with the ticket they could get food to eat and mingle with others. 

It was a little stressful in the beginning because we did not know quite how everything was going to work, but it turned out to be a roaring success and the members are still talking about it. We had some of our investigadores come as well and they made it to the celesital room! My companion and I were stoked and glad they understood the activity and had a good time. 

Other than that, our week was pretty normal. We did divisiones, or I think the English term is splits, and I was basically cut loose with a youth for a companion. It was interesting and showed me that I have still a lot to learn before I can be the senior companion!

Also I taught the gospel principles class for the first time this Sunday, and my companion and Ward Mission Leader said it went good! So good in fact that my Ward Mission leader wants me to teach indefinitely from now on. He says it will help me learn Spanish a lot faster. Its kinda daunting to think about, but I trust my Ward Mission Leader and yea we'll see how it goes!

We have our first multi zone meeting this Thursday and of course Mothers day this weekend. I'm stoked out of my mind and can't wait to be able to talk to with my family! Remeber families are forever folks! 

Thank you for all your love and support everyone, it means a lot :)

Love

Hermana bowers