I spoke in church this week. It was really good I think, because only like two people were sleeping.

HELLO FAM-O-LEE!

Old photo :)

It's raining, It's pouringggg. The rainy season has officially begun and dang it, the lights went out again so we lost time. So this'll be short and sweet! 

I spoke in church this week. It was really good I think, because only like two people were sleeping. I spoke on our baptismal covenant and linked it to being a disciple of Christ and obedience and sharing the Gospel and commited everyone to bringing a friend to General Conference. OMG IT'LL BE LIKE CHRISTMAS!!! I CANNOT WAIT. I am so excited. I invite all y'all to pay very special attention this round. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and that He is called to guide the church in Christ's name. I know that if we go with open ears, mind, and heart, we will receive the revelation that we need, like Kinda Benjamin says in Mosiah 1:9 :) IT´S REAL :) 

Typical market.

Well, we didn't have any citas fijas (set appointments) for a couple hours so decided to take a little adventure and climbed this giant jungle mountain in the pouring rain (I fell four times) for about 40 minutes and then finally found a house. With a fam of five! It was awesome. We taught them the Restoration and Plan of Salvation and they were all stoked about the Book or Mormon and stuff but then when we went to go and pick them up for church on Sunday they said that they couldn't go because the Dad was drunk and he'd get mad if they left without his permission. So that was a bummer. 

Older photo bcuz no camera.

But we found another family who seem like they're gonna progress. Also, we've worked really hard with the less actives and this week we will have a family and then another teenager, Joan, that will be rescued! YAY! Que alegría. (What happiness!) I really love being a misionero 2.0, where we don't just focus on the investigators, but also on the less actives and the recent converts.

We went out with a lot of members this week, one named Norma.. She's getting set apart for the Lima Peru mish in like 30 minutes! It was way fun to go out with her because she's ssososo super stoked to serve and gave really powerful testimony. 

Adorable kids in native dress

Bishop Cachiguango said that I can pick out any guinea pig of his, kill it, and cook it, and then eat it. JOYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Hahahah. So that's fun. Next week.

I'd like to share a little scripture with y'all! 

Alma 26:12  "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will notboast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." 

It's my mission scripture, and one of my faves. I know that this is the LORD's work, and that as we lose ourselves in it, we actually find ourselves, the salvation of others, and our own salvation. I have truly seen miracles on my mission. I have learned to TRUST in the Lord and just put all of it into His hands... In His strength, I can do all things. All. things. We can do anything, y'all! How incredible is that?! I know that without the Atonement of Christ, we'd be reaaaallly lost. I know that he suffered for all of us, out of pure love. 

I love David A. Bednar's quote: 

¨Thus, the Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities—but also for our physical pains and anguish, our weaknesses and shortcomings, our fears and frustrations, our disappointments and discouragement, our regrets and remorse, our despair and desperation, the injustices and inequities we experience, and the emotional distresses that beset us.¨ 

This is so true. Look to Him in EVERY thought, doubt not, and fear not.

I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that THIS is the one and only true church on the Earth. I know that each and every one of us that are here on this planet chose to follow Jesus once before, and now we have the opportunity to do it again, so we can all make it back into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father and be received into the Celestial Kingdom with our eternal families. So many blessings and so much heavenly help is RIGHT THERE waiting for us to look up.  This Gospel is absolutely perfect and will change anyone and everyone's life as we believe and apply. I love my Big Brother, Jesus Christ, and I am humbled and forever grateful for the privelege it is to serve as a missionary for His Church.

Hope y'all have a miracle filled week. Get on your knees and get to know Heavenly Father a little bit better. He wants to hear from you. 

Con muchísimo amor (With a whole lot of love),

Hermana (Sister) Lauren Bowman

PS  REMEMBER WHO Y'ALL ARE AND MAKE GOOD CHOICESSSS!!!

faithfaithfaith

Chuta y'all.

LOOK AT MY COOL KICHWA PLACA!!!!! Isn't it tight?!?!? 

This week was spiritually uplifting, aaaaaas always. I wish I could scan my study journal in and send it out to all y'all. But it FLEW, y'all, f-l-e-w. It was so fast! I cannot believe it. So, I can't really remember anything that happened. And I forgot my journal. Sowee. I DO remember that I broke a toilet....ha...haha..ha. Oopsies.

Well, I went to Quito twice to the doctor and I got tests on tests on tests, complete with.... an ultrasound. WHAT THE HECK did not think I would be getting one of those anytime soon, ESPECIALLY not on the mish - ahhahahha. But everything is good with my liver and all the other things they checked up on. I have 5 months to live. Hhaha, just kidding, y'all, I'm fine.

I just have a bunch of colon problems and can't eat gluten or dairy or bread or CHOCOLATE. So I got pills I get to take every 4 hours and a strict diet, when I follow it, I FEEL GRRREAAAAAAT! Like superwoman! It's so awesome. but if I forget a pill, it hurts and I can't walk and it's a trainwreck.

This morning when we were walking home from the track like 2 miles from our house, we decided to take the railroad tracks 'cuz it was shorter than taking the road and I was balancing on the metal part (idk what the real term is for that) and noticed that if I kept positive thoughts, I could balance longer, but when doubt crept in, or I got distracted (squirrel!), I would fall. 

Then I started to think about Matthew 14:22-33, where Peter tries to walk on water out to Christ, because Christ beckons him. He's doing really well until he gets sidetracked and all caught up in his surroundings and starts to doubt..He let fear replace his faith. (2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.") He falls. But IMMEDIATELY, Christ reaches out to him and catches him. 

Wish I could be at the funeral

Dearest fambam,

I knew before I got on the computer today (Monday, March 9th) that Grandpa Maurice had passed away... Not because my mission president called me, but because I think I felt him and my Dad this weekend. It was really special. I love feeling angels, and I know that he is one. 

Making pupusas with my comp at the Chuquin's house. 

We know the Plan of Salvation is real, no? There are so many miracles we can witness here on earth. I know that all of us can be resurrected and we have the opportunity to attain eternal life if we are true and faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Grandpipa was such a great example of that. He left quite the legacy and I am so grateful to have learned so much from him. I know he's at peace now, and probably having a fun little (big) gathering in heaven. Complete with music and nutroll :) I feel very at peace because I understand the plan that we all chose to follow before we even came down here, and this is simply a step we all hafta take. 

Y'all can read this talk by the Prophet, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-race-of-life?lang=eng it's a goodie. Wish I could be at the funeral. Love all y'all. 

We have witnessed a few miracles this week. I love milagro de marzo (March Miracles).  Well, actually, I love the mission, because miracles happen every day. I didn't even know that it was possible to see the hand of the Lord SO clearly in all that we do! I have learned also that faith is definitely a prerequisite for miracles. I read Tad R. Callister's Becoming a Consecrated Missionary, which totally pumped me up. I have kept reading the 4th missionary (lesson) as well, and I prayed and studied the Book of Mormon. All of these were windows of light. I LOVE STUDIES. 

We lost 3 days of work this week (UGH) since we were in Quito getting tests done in the hospital and whatnot, but when we got back to Otavalo, we went to the park and contacted our little hearts out. It was so good. I love contacting. Especially with the Book of Mormon in hand! WOOO. We didn't see any frutos (fruits) from those people, BUT, on Sunday, we had four investigators attend! Sindy, who hadn't been able to come for two weeks, came! And stayed the entire three hours! And she had fasted that week! And then a less active and his wife (who we have been trying to contact for over two transfers) came for the first time in four months!!! And also two referrals from our recent convert, Cristina, one of whom has a fecha (date)cfor baptism. It was so glorious. 

I know that the Lord blesses us for our faith and for our diligence, I know that as we give it ALL ALL ALL over to Him, He reveals His hand in this marvelous work. :) Weee!

We were in Quito and saw a group of gringo tourists and they were like, ¨OMG HEY SISTERS!!!!!¨ and waving and stuff. We said, "Hi!" back and kept walking. As we walked away, I heard one of the girls say, ¨That's gonna be me!¨ And DANG, it just melted my heart and I started to cry. I can't believe I'm actually a missionary and that I have the biggest blessing, opportunity, and responsibility to preach this Gospel. I am so dang grateful for this time that the Lord has given me. I LOVE serving Him. Sweet is the work, y'all!

I am grateful for prayer. I am grateful for hymns. I am grateful for Christ. I know that when we submit to the Lord's will, all is made right. We can trust in Him always :) 

I love all y'allllll and hope y'all have a marvelous week! 

Con amor (with love),

Hermana (Sister) Bowman 

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

                                                                                                                            -Isaiah 41:10 

I may have appendicitis

Hey y'all!

Well this week was a good one, as usual. :) 

Selfie he he he you can't even see the waterfall -- 

BUT YOU CAAAAAAAAN SEE MY FACE!

Ecuador is so pweettttttttyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Sorry, I have like no time today... can't really focus either. Bullet points it is!!!!

-I've had some really good studies lately. I am so grateful for the good ole Book of Mormon, such a GREAT guidance in our lives.

With the Bishop's fambam, GOSH I LOVE THEM AHHHHH they're the best. 

Familia Cachiguango. 

The classic nametag pic.

-My companion got her Patriarchal Blessing. It was really cool because Spanish is the Patriarch's second language (Quichua being the first) and so his accent was cool. It was like, in the middle of nature too. SO AWESOME that we have divine guidance and basically a personalized scripture for us.

Taxopamba by via a Mojanda, like 10 mins outside of Otavalo

It's the one I went to in Dec 2013!!!!!!!!!

Smeagol pose.

-My bday was aight, everyone forgot. We saw some cool miracles though. Gifts from God are the best ones :) 

ICE AGE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aka the Relief Society President's kid, Yauri Yuyarik.

-I may have appendicitis, so that's cool. Please pray that no.

-Our less actives are becoming more and more active. 

-We found Sindy! She fell off the face of the planet, but she's back, wooo! 

-Today we went and played at a cascada to celebrate my bday hehe. (Thanks to Hna Deveraux, I have evidence in pics that we went).  It was so fun. I went like more than a year ago with the Imbabura zone. It's a hike but it was so fun! We ran and sang Girls Camp Songs and took a TON of pictures and then just laid on the rocks and like, meditated. It was a fun break :) 

Rock models...

Taxopamba! 

-Prayin' for Grandpa Bowman. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation. 

-I see the hand of the Lord DAILY in my life, and I know that as we all look for it, we become more and more grateful and more and more positive, and more and more aware of His loving care and all of the tender mercies and the blessings which are constantly raining upon us. I invite everyone to do so this coming week. :) 

LOVE ALL Y'ALL

Con amor (with love),

Hermana (Sister) Bowman 

2 0 1 5 wooo

                                         Le nametags. Hashtag OTAVALO WARD HOLLER.