December 19, 2011

So this was one of the most crazy weeks of my entire life. BUT!!! ALL IS WELL ALL IS WELL!!!

Monday night we got the big news (while i was on a division that night in another city) about Elder Santos and I. Tuesday we had our zone conference and then visited a few people before Santos left the area. We stayed the night at the zone leaders house and then left for the mission home the next morning at 5. I got my new companion, Elder Souza there and then we headed back for Indaiatuba. I was a little worried if we would get back in time cuz we had Rafael´s (baptized yesterday) interview that night, but we made pretty good time. Also, me and Elder Santos were talking and realized that we had almost nothing planed for the baptisms. So thursday friday I was just running around with my new companion like a chicken with its head cut off, talking on the phone (which is really hard at times, especially when it sounds like the person is at a rodeo) and making sure we had everything squared away. BUT ALL IS/WAS WELL!!!

Katherine (baptized saturday) was really great! Actually... she asked me thursday if i would be the one to baptize her... It was one experience that I won´t forget. Ther was only a handful of people, but it went so great!!

Rafael´s was amazing as well!!! Very strong! His parents are Catholic and don´t really like us too much, but they were there!! They enjoyed it (I think) and it was just something special I am grateful to have been a part of.

This week, I´m ready to go to work with my new companion! It will be a little interesting the next two weeks with Natal and the new year, but bring it on! We have a christmas conference with the interior on wednesday so I´m stoked for that!

I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!! I CAN´T WAIT TO LISTEN TO YOUR CD ON SUNDAY AND TALK TO YOU ALL!!!

Com amor,

Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

December 12, 2011

The week has come and gone... WOW!!!

So like I told Mom, we are almost positive Elder Santos is being transfered, so this past week I was the senior companion to see how well I knew the area, and with teaching and with other stuff too. It was an experience that´s for sure, but the Lord never gave up on us... Actually, the work is the same. Just miracles. We had 8 investigators in sacrament and I´m not even sure about LA. We will be having 2 baptisams this week. Our numbers this coming week will be a little shakey but Elder Santos says that´s common with a baptisam. Plus we have tranfers and plus I´ll probably be getting a new companion.

Real fast, I forgot to say this last week, but I went to an English couse with someone in the ward (everyone is trying to learn English here, i swear) and it was awesome!! Ha, they gave me some time to talk about what I do so me and Elder Santos practiced what I would say... I COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH!!! Anywho, I took a picture and it was a great experience.

So one of the people that will be baptized this week, her name is Katherine. I kind of talked about her when we first met her, but here´s the sparknotes version. We were walking to an appointment and a guy at a gas station stopped us and said that there was a girl in that store over there (very close) who wants to know more about what you guys do. We talked to her, got a return appointment, asked her to be baptized after the first lesson, and now after 3 weeks from this, she will be baptized!!! ELECT!!!

Sorry I don´t have much time, but the church is TRUE!!! The Lord continues to bless the work here, especially when the advisary wants a peice of us. But we will never give in. I´m very sad that Elder Santos will be leaving me... It will be very hard, but I know that it is His will. In the words of Elder Worthin, ``Come what may and love it.´´


Love you Family!!!


Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

December 5, 2011

Great week! We only have 2 sold baptismal dates BUT!!!! Will be 4 sold by the end of the week AT THE LEAST!!!!

Saturday was such a special day. Back to back lessons of ours where investigators with dates and they both were asking questions as if they knew there had to be a restoration. The spirit was so strong and they were both in church. After the last one, we got in the elevator and I looked at Elder Santos and said to him in English, what is happening? He replied, we are doing our best, and that´s all that counts.

This is the testimony and promise of the Lord. (DC82:10) I have found myself saying in my prayers how interesting life is. Here, we are being tested. But we can have a Spirit always with us telling us the answers. We just have to allow Him in. He gives us weaknesses that way His voice can be louder or softer depending on our faith. I have said many times, the choice isn´t usually between good and evil. It never was for Adam an Eve. Eve knew what she was doing. The choice is between faith and fear.

Really good week, and I´m looking forward to the coming week. P.S. One of our investigators is scheduled to be baptized the 18 of this month. Was a very special feeling when he said that day. Another reason to always remember that day.


LOVE YOU FAMILY!!!! Thank you for your prayers and testimonies.

Com amor,

Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

November 28, 2011

WOW!!! Where did this week go?!
Granted, I was in São Paulo this past week for a couple of days, but it went by fast. Wednesday night I headed off to the Center to become a legal person in the great country of Brasil. Thursday morning, bright and early, we drove from the mission home to the federal police station which was about 45 minutes, just to find out that our part wasn´t till 2. So we took the subway and bus all the way back cuz our ride left. When we went back, it was about 3 hours of almost all waiting. After, we were stuck in the São Paulo traffic so it took us 2 and a half hours to get back to the mission home. Our plan was to go back to our area that night, but our area is the furthest away from the mission home so we stayed another night. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot being with the other missionaries. I even got to go on splits Thursday night with an Elder from Provo, who is the financial secretary.
About the work… Wooow… Me and Elder Santos have been praying really hard to find new investigators. We felt that we had kind of hit a plateu and that we needed a lot more. We know/knew that there were elects out there just waiting to hear the gospel, we just needed to go find them. That´s not exactly what happens every time… They found us. Two examples. We were walking to an appointment and this guy on the side of the road told us that a lady working in the story next door wanted to know what we were sharing. We talked with her for a little bit and got a return appointment. Another time, we were going to visit a former investigator and they weren´t home. We saw a guy on the side of the street so we started to talk with him. During the middle of the contact, a guy on his motorcycle pulls up and asks when he could talk with us. Me and Elder Santos look at each other and said whenever works for you. He asked us if tomorrow in our church would work. CRAZY!!! Before this week, we only had 2 people with baptismal dates with maybe 4 good investigators. We now have 5 people with baptismal dates and over 10 solid investigators! The field is so white and ready to harvest down here, it makes Lambo Field look bad.

The work continues to move forward, and I am grateful for the blessing I have to be apart of it. I love you family!!!
Com amor,
Elder Bowman
omhiwDmb

November 21, 2011

Hey Family, not a whole lot of time today so this will be VERY quick!

Good solid week this week. We now have 2 investigators with dates of baptisam and one before that fell through... Yeah, she was in church on Sunday.

Ha, so I´m not going to lie, people can´t sing down here. My first couple of sundays I would actually just smile all way through the song. Yeah... Not funny anymore.... Elder Santos likes to sing so we sing to people and then they ask me specifically to sing a solo the next time I´m at there house. I CAN`T SING!!! I was the reason we didn´t take state in Madrigals! (You can´t take state in Madrigals, but still) So anyway, me and Elder Santos are also singing in 3 weeks in sacrament. I guess this would be a good time to thank you mom and the 6 sisters for encouraging me to do choir.

Friday I got to go to a training just for Leaders because of Elder Santos. I felt a little out of place, we have SOOO MANY AMAZING missionaries in this mission, and I just felt like I should have been at the kids table. But it was awesome, all the zone leaders spoke and AP´s and President and Sister Martins. The Spirit was very strong.

Sorry this is very short. Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving week and Fun at Jacob Lake!!! Thank You all sooo MUCH!!!! LOVE YOU!!!

Com amor,
Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

November 14, 2011

Ola Família!!!

Jonas was BAPTIZED!!! It was an awesome experience! the night before I was thinking about Josh´s Baptisam and how that was the last one I saw... THAT WAS ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO!!! I think I´m addicted and might go baptism hunting on the weekends when I get back cuz they are the bomb!!!

I had an amazing experience with Jonas. Friday I believe it was, we went over there to make sure everything was good and talk with them for a little bit and share a small lesson. When we were talking, we realized that Jonas hadn´t chosen someone who has the keys of giving the Holy Ghost. He and his Mom both turned to me and said, Bo - mem? (That is how a lot of people say our name down here :) ) I said, Irmã??? I said that they were crazy and that I had barely been there for 3 weeks!!! Ha, we have a funny/great relationship with them. She said that if I loved her son that I would do it. Being as overwhelmed as I was, I pondered for a moment as I looked down at the floor, looked up and said that I would do anything for her family.

The blessing went great! Not my words or vocabulary by all means, but the Spirit was something else... A feeling that I would do anything more to get it back... Missionary work is a special thing. Special cuz it is very unique and like nothing else, and special because there is something in your heart you want nothing more than to feel.

Often i wonder why I prepared for so long and going through all these experiences the 8-9 months before the mission. (especially the 5 and 1/2 before leaving) All this knowledge I worked so hard to study and know. But I have found that it was more then just the experiences that I had. It was the feelings. I think one of the greatest blessing of having a body is the gift to feel. To feel somewhere only the Spirit can touch. When all seems dark, the feeling I remember is going through the temple for the first time. Waiting in the Terrestial Room all by myself, millions of thoughts and questions going through my mind... But having the thought that if this is what deciples of Jesus Christ do, I will follow Him, and having the FEELING of His loving arms around me. THen, it was His hand that took me through to be with my family forever.

What a great work we have embarked in. The fulness of times in where we can feel the fulness of His Love. As we strive to follow Him in Obedience and Faith, our testimony can be as strong as if we had touched the prints in His hands.

LOVE YA FAMILY!!!

Com amor,
Elder Bowman,
omhiwdMb

November 9, 2011

First off... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW MICHELLE BOWMAN PALMER!!!! LOVE YOU!!!

MILAGRES DA MISSÃO!!! And boy, we have had a lot of them! But, the only way that they will come through and continue to happen is we got become better!!! I swear, everyday is like the 4th quarter of a football game... Ya gotta love it!!!

Jonas WILL be baptized this week. Crazy things with the scheduling and all. We had stake conference this past week and with other weeks he wants as much of his family there and this is the best week. He has a cool story but its also a long one. Long story short, he is 11 and will be the only member in his family, but a lot of his family, including his mom, knows that the church is true so it will be awesome to have a lot of people there for him.

We went to this house were we heard would be good to talk with this girl. No one really knew much more then that. Turns out that it was a less active family who said it was a miracle that we were there cuz they hadn´t seen missionaries there in a long time and miss the feeling of church and the Spirit. At the end they said that they have a daughter who they want to be baptize, and would be there at our next visit.

I´ve kind of hit a wall with my progression with the language. I´ve tried many things, but nothing was helping. Sunday night I was reading in my notes and came across something about Joseph Smith. I wish I would have taken better notes, but it was about when he hit a wall with the translation. The Lord told him 4 things that he needed to do and the first two he was already doing. They were (can´t remember the first one) humility repentance and diligence to pray. I thought about this more that night and the next morning when I was going to São Paulo my zone leader gave me my mail. One of the letters was from Coach Miller. Coach Miller is one of the busiest people I know so I felt really touched to see that he wrote me. In his letter he said he felt inspired to write me. He told me a story of a missionary who had a goal that was realated to the work, but wasn´t working. He talked to his Mission Pres and his Pres asked if he was praying to the Lord about it. The same day, David Evans talked about DC 9 and how we pray for really good things but are specific with the Lord on why we ask for these things. We just assume that the Lord knows that they were good. MIRACLES

When Jehovah created the earth with Michale, Elohem knew what they were doing and knew what they were doing was good. But everyday (whether how long that is) they returned and reported. Its the same thing with us. Heavenly Father wants to bless our lives, but He can´t just bless us if He is just of our lives. He needs to be in our lives.

The Church IS TRUE!!!
I Love you family!! Hope all is well!!

Com amor,
Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

October 31, 2011

OI FAMÍLIA!!!

Quick one this week, sorry.

Our baptisam changed to this week because he could have more friends there. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!

The past two weeks, we have had a family show up out of no where! AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!! The one from last week we taught the first lesson and invited them to be baptize. They said no, but they are still wanting to learn more and one of the 2 daughters seems really really interested.

Busy week last week, busy week this week. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!

To have understood that my greatest trial is my greatest blessing has been really humbling... Most of the time I don´t know exactly where we are going or what we are doing, but I know it is something productive because of Elder Santos. Just yesterday, a sister in the ward during the middle of sacrament asked Elder Santos if we could go outside. She said some other stuff, but I didn´t know what was going on. When we got out into the hall, the sister´s daughter was there. We went into a room and I realized that we needed to give this little girl a blessing. The first thing I thought is that I can barely pronounce words in this language, but then the question that came to my mind was if I was worthy. Me myself, I'm worthy, but the atoning blood of Christ is what makes us clean. I felt at peace and thought of the great faith this little girl had. She reminded me of Kena of how she looked...

Sorry I don´t have time to write more, but the Lord is ever with us.

Love you Family!!
Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

October 24, 2011

OPA!!! ESTOU NO BRASIL!!!

This is the craziest thing that I have ever done in my life!! Sometimes, I´ll just stare out the window of our apt and just soak in where I am. In my journal for my first week, I am writting down things that are so strange to me. The first thing is the traffic!!! When we left the airport and were on the road, I couldn´t tell you how many times I thought I was going to die! And the motorcycles!!! They just drive like we´re at the circus or something!! There are many other things, I just feel like my world is upside down alot :)

I have Superman for a companion!!! SERIOUSLY!!! His name is Elder Santos and he is from a place by Recife. He speaks really good English, but only speaks Português to me. It´s hard, but it has helped me a ton. He is soooo patient with me too! He is more then I every wanted out of a trainer!!!

So when we got to the mission home, we talked to the Elders there for 10 minutes, and then they asked us if we were hungry. About a 5 minute walk, we were at the TEMPLE!!! Right then, I knew I was home... A picture I had been stareing at for 5 months in my room and there it was... I knew that I was in Brasil... We went and sat inside the waiting room for just a little bit, then went back

We had dinner with Pres and Sis Martins and it was sooo good!!! We also had an interview that night then I met my knew comp. The next morning after some training, we headed out.

Some fun things real quick, we have a baptisimal date this week which I hope so bad will happen. I met him once, his name is Jonas and he is 11 i think. Also, my first official day of working, we invited someone to be baptized!!!! Her name is Sabrina and she is about 21.

I love you all so very much. It is very difficult, but it´s those tender mercies that make it worth it. 2 Cor 12:9-10. He Is my Savior and I will glory in Him para simpre.

Com amor
Elder Bowman
omhiwdMb

October 17, 2011

HELLO FAMILY!!! I can't believe the Alabama Chapter to my story is coming to a close... But I'm excited for what the Lord has planned for my future. Where ever the Lord needs his errand, Jakie Bowman will be there. I may not be the best missionary, but I'll do my best to become what He needs me to be. Not a whole lot to report what's new with the area. Eric is going to be coming to church this next week! Just a little spoiler alert, I am sending home a tape this week and I talk a little more about everyone in that. What I like to talk about this week and I feel to express my thoughts with the very little time that I have, is from a quote by Elder Oaks. "We should focus our efforts on being what we are called to be... Not on what we feel qualified to do." As I've pondered about the matter, it has really drawn me closer to this work, my purpose and the Savior. I find myself as accountable as the rest, but we often find ourselves going through the motions. Doing what is expected of us. What we feel will be enough to "get us by." I can testify that going "through" this life and going(receiving) through the motions(ordinances) is not why we are here. If that is why we are here, to obtain a body and receive the ordinances, what is the point of even having us live past the age of accountability? That is not what His plan intended. I'm sorry, but I don't have the time to extend this fraction of the equation further. I will wrap it up with what means the most of better understanding this, but in small terms. We were qualified when we accepted Christ plan. That's why we are here. We are qualified to live on this Earth because we are all God's children. But to be qualified=Child of God. Whether we except the gospel (right now) or not, everyone we see and know is God's child. But the difference between qualified and focusing on that calling(magnifying) is being a child of Christ (Gal 3:26-29, sorry for time) If we look at it (as best we can) from the Saviors perspective, He was qualified, because He was chosen, the Only Begotten and for the other reasons you all know. In a nut shell, because He is who He said He Is. He Is Jesus The Christ. But how He became What He Is now is a lot more then what he was qualified to do. Yes, He was the only one qualified, but it was far more then that that made life with Heavenly Father possible again for us. When He was in the garden, He was qualified to take upon Himself the sins of the world. But how he did it was more then just being qualified. He focused on the will of the Father. Matt. 26:39. He focused on each one of us. I wish I could have at least 30 minutes to express but a hair of a head the teachings and testimony of the Spirit on the matter, but if I could leave one thing, it would be never think you are never qualified. You were always qualified. As Pres. Eyring said, "Don't worry about how inexperienced you are, but think about what, with the Lord's help, you can become. I love you all so much. I am grateful for your prayers and your support. I know there are some very difficult times for me ahead, but for the first time, I couldn't be more excited to face them. With Christ, all things are possible. I do not know the meanings of all things, but I do know that Heavenly Father loves His children, and Christ wouldn't have done what He did if this wasn't true. On my honor I will do MY best. Like Pres. Eyring said, "I can’t be a perfect servant every hour, but I can try to give more effort than I thought I could." Hooray for Israel!!! Pelo Reino, eu combatera (it has an accent) Elder Bowman

October 10, 2011

MY FAMILY!!! HOW ARE ALL'YALL!!! This week went by FAST!!! We got 3 new progressing investigators in which we met all of them this week! One of them is Eric. We met Eric Tuesday night. We we're almost done for the day and were doing some tracting. When we first knocked on his door, we gave him our little shpill and asked him about his faith in Jesus Christ. After his response he invited us in. (THIS DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN TOO OFTEN HERE) We asked him about himself and got to know him a little better. He didn't mind, but he really wanted to talk about what we believe. To explain Eric; Eric is probabaly in his mid-30's and very smart, yet very very curious about life I guess you could say. He grew up and was baptized a Methodist. He lives by himself in a nice humble house. Hey is into computers and I'm not exactly sure what exactly. To say it the nicest way possible, Eric is kind of a nerd, but that's what I love so much about him. He is like someone I've never met before. Anywho, back to the story. He asked us many questions about our church and what our stance was on a lot of political issues. It wasn't until 10-15 minutes in that we started teaching him basic things in what we believe in and the Restoration and the BoM. He had so many questions and was very respectful. The whole time I was thinking, just keep this as simple as possible. We talked for perhaps 30-40 minutes with him that night. We gave him a BoM and was able to tell him the invitation/promise. We also gave him a mormon.org<http://mormon.org> card. So we met with him last night and boy, did he do his homework. But he did his homework the right way. Usually when we give people a mormon.org<http://mormon.org> card, they just go google us and that usually leads to wikipedia and that sorta jazz. Never good. BUT!!! He went on to mormon.org<http://mormon.org>! Like I said, he is very smart so when he was asking us questions, he was even quoting Brigham Young and giving us dates and stuff. Pretty much the lesson we were giving him last night was "deep doctrine" but we kept it very simple. It was like he already knew our message, but had questions about putting pieces together. He asked us a question about if God loves all of us so much, why did he regret creating us? I was very puzzled and asked him what made him think this. He refered to Genisis 6:5-8. He had read out of the NIV Bible, which instead of the word repent, it used the word regret. You can also see what it says in the foot notes and stuff cuz that was what I was trying to explain to him. I really wasn't sure where I was going with it cuz while I was talking, I was thinking, why would God need to repent. I was explaining the matter of this verse for about 2-3 minutes still pondering on the fact why would God need to repent? I was praying for the Spirit to say something the entire time. About 3/4 of the way into the confersation, I had realized what the Spirit had put into my mouth and what I was saying. I was explainging that repentance is the washing away of sin, not everything. If God would have washed away everything, including the righteous, we wouldn't be here. It uses the word repent as the analagy of washing away sin (the wicked people) After that last word, I just looked at him and said a prayer in my heart during the silence. Then he responed and said that that makes sense, and that he needs one of our Bibles. THE SPIRIT TESTIFIED!!! Like one of the Brothern said at GC, we do not teach infront of or behind. We teach BY the Spirit. I had something else I really wanted to share with you all this week, but I guess it will have to wait until next week. The field is WHITE!!! We just need to go find it. I love you all and am grateful every moment for you. I hope you all have a wonderful week this week! Com amor Elder Bowman omhiwdMb

October 3, 2011

ONE OF THE GREATEST WEEKS!!! I don't have too much time to share nearly everything I like to, but I'll just share two, maybe three of them with you. Just before I got here, Elder Anderson and Christensen (they were companions before me and Perdue got here) found a couple from Brasil! They had only met with them once before so not a real solid foundation. When we went there Monday, we took a member who served in Rio with us. It seems that there are a lot of people who speak Portuguese in our ward. When we were first talking to here I was switching into Portugues and English with her, just with the small talk. When I began to give the introduction and what we were going to talk about, she asked (in Portuguese) if we could do it in Portuguese. (She isn't very comfortable with her English) While my mind was in shock, my heart began to deliever the message in Portuguese as she asked. My Portugues isn't very good and the member seemed to have lost a lot of his "missionary lingo" in Portugues, but the Spirit is the one who talked to her and to us that night. I wish I could go into more, but we do have an appointment with her tonight :) How about conference? Quick story too.... I didn't have questions exactly, but was hoping that they would talk on a few specific things. Even though my testimony was stregthened from all the wonderful talks of the first day, no one had really talked about what I was looking for. I remember having the thought go throuh my mind before Priesthood that I need not worry because we still had a full day tomorrow. Low and behold, the first three talks was exactly what I was hoping for. My heart swelled. Ha! During Brother Callister (I think that is his name) with about 30-40 people in the chapel (most people watch it at home here too) I gave a fist pump into the air during the middle of the talk! I wish I had more time. I have so much to share and the Lord's work is growing everyday in the Madison first ward. I know that this is His work. He lives. I love you family!!! I hope all is well. -Elder Bowman omhiwdMb

September 21, 2011

HELLO FAMILY!!! Wow! is the field crazy or what?! So much different from the MTC. I'm in a ward in the city of Madison. There is a rocket business (kinda like ATK) or something like that in the city and they have a lot of LDSaints here so the like to think that this is Mormonville, but don't let the name fool ya. It is different from the true south, but when they said there was a lot of mormons, I guess our views were a little different. I love the ward and the area though! Goodness, I didn't want church to end yesterday! The speakers were awesome and the members had to be one of the most "friendshipiest" wards I've ever been too! Ha, in DP class the teacher had me say the opening prayer and when I was done he said, "Don't sit down! Come on up here. This is what a greeny is everyone!" Everyone got a pretty good kick out of me. I guess I was just a little excited to be there and like the song says, working like missionaries do. The work is great here! Like I said, a little different from what I thought it was going to be like, but the field is white! So with the time that I have I like to share my experience in the Temple. First of all, I can't express the small chance of me having gone to the temple while here. In my Pat. Blessing it says that I will have the opportunity to go inside many doors of the Houses of the Lord. That declared more truth to me my second day in the field. The temple is about as big as the monticello and we had two zones there. We had to use folding chairs in the rooms. Another small miracle accured when I was asked to be the first one to go through . . . because of where I was sitting. As I was in the Celestial Room by myself for maybe a minute of two, the thought of when I first went through ran through my mind. I remember being by myself in the terrestial room, having so many questions about the church. (Im running out of time) But at the same time I knew where my family was and that they were waiting for me. I then heard a voice say to me, If this is what followers of Christ do then I will obey. I then felt a warm hug and within moments, was with my family. As I was with myself, I thought of my family. Not just of my family right now, but of my eternal family. To wrap this up, I thought about how Heavenly Father knows exactly where all his children are and is waiting for us to come home. I love you family!!! I got to go! God be with you

Birmingham Alabama!!

Elder Bowman left for Birmingham Alabama on Monday September 19th. He is there until he gets his visa for Brazil. These are pictures we found on the Birmingham Alabama mission blog the link for the blog is http://alabamamissionupdate.blogspot.com/

Elder Bowman going to Brazil speaking Portuguese

Elder Bowman promising to drive safely.

Elder Bowman with his friend Elder Paulson

Our four new visa elders at the office during a brief orientation Monday.

A break from a very long day. Dinner at the mission office.

Looking at the location board to see where they are going!

New Companionship! Elder Bowman and Elder Anderson.

All the Portuguese speaking missionaries together in one apartment. The President in Brazil will be very happy to hear they had the opportunity to practice so much while they were in Alabama.

September 12th, 2011

HELLO FAMILY!!! Where has the time gone?! I can't believe that my time here is almost up! Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever but for the most part, I feel like just yesterday was July. I'm excited to call you mom on Wednesday and report where the Lord needs me at this time. My district is all pretty pumped at the matter, no matter where it is, we just all want to get out there and do our part. We had about 20 missionaries get reassigned in my branch (we have one of the biggest branches with on average around 75) and we aren't replacing any of them this week so the branch will be a little bit smaller this last week. All the missionaries who were outside of Utah were reassigned to SLC (they are thinking that their visas are coming soon) with about the other half going to different places such as DC South, Washington, Arizona, and one to Oregon. It seems that they call them some where to the south cuz of our clothes but will also call them where ever. So last night Pres. Brown (MTC Pres) came and sat by us at dinner. He's an awesome person! Really friendly. towards the end of our meal he asked out of our district was the best Book of Mormon Scriptorian. I'm not really great and in my opinion there are a lot better ones im my district but everyone turned and pointed to me. I was very shocked!! He asked me to come sit by him and asked me ten scriptures in the BoM that refer to the Atonement, He actually had everyone participate but when he specifically asked me he asked me for location and who was speaking and all that. HA! Very overwhelming and on the spot! But here's the kicker. Right after dinner we had our departure meeting and when he stood up to give his presentation he asked his "Brasilian Missionaries" to come up! He asked us for 10 scriptures and Sister Hayes took the rains as we all gave her our answers so it wasn't too bad. Oh ya gotta love it! So tomorrow at the devotional they have asked Elder Clements and Sister Hayes to say the prayers so that will be an awesome experience! We'll all get to go sit up with the speaker and MTC Presidency. I love you all sooo much! Everyday is a struggle with an even greater blessing in store. The Atonement is real and I'm doing my best to use it in my life. There is no greater message then the one we have. I'm excited to see where the Lord needs me at this time and bare my testimony that He lives to whomever He and Heavenly Father have prepared. I LOVE YOU!!! Elder Bowman omhiwdMb

Pictures!

My Companions! Elder Clements and Sister Hayes. They say sister in Brazil because Irma is a nun down there.

We like our 4-square! :)

Irmao Dodge (Left) Irmao Hermana (right) my teachers. My other teacher is Irma Adamson

Jackers? Where is Jakie going on his mission?

The one who looks thug is Elder Perdue. He thinks he's black. He calls himself Paroa De Bala. Bullet Prove.

We do work. No big deal.

The Workshop.

Elder Paulo Holding Down the Fort.

September 5th, 2011

The weeks are just going faster and faster!! Today I got to see Elder Katsos before he heads out at 4 in the morning tomorrow. I'm going to go try see him tonight though but no promises. We committed two other baptizims this week!!! Fernando -who is played by Irmao Harmon and the other one Steeferson -who is played by Irmao Dodge. Tonight is Irma Adamison's last night (she played Gina) I'm really going to miss her. She has been my favorite teacher. I don't know if her being Gina helped, but I've always felt comfortable and confident with my Portugues with her. This week is also Irmao Harmon's last week. He's like the head professor here at the MTC so its kinda a big deal that he's leaving and also a true blessing that he was our teacher. Irmao Dodge has been with us the whole time, but we just got a new teacher a week and a half ago named Irma Beery. She's way sweet! So by the end of the week, we will have gone from 4 teachers to 2. It's almost un heard of to have more then 1 perminit teacher so we've really been fortunite. So to quickly talk about this, Irmao Dodge lost 60lbs on his mission so a few of us (especially me and Elder Perdue) have been seeing who could gain the most weight here, then lose it out in the field. Well... Last nights devotional was all about health and stuff. So lets just say that me and Elder Perdue called it a draw with him gaining over 16lbs and I was a half a pound from 20. Yeah... No joke... This has been the most amazing, hardest, self defining relationship between me and the Lord. I love every minute of it. Last night at the fireside, we sang called to serve, but the special version at the MTC (a few of you know what I am talking about) To explain the feeling wouldn't be enough for words. How greatful I am for this time in my life to bare witness that I know Christ Lives. So many missionaries, but even more lost children of our Father in Heaven out there in the world. What a privledge it is to testify of his love. I love you family! Sorry, I can never write all that I want. You all are great! The church is TRUE!!! Com amor, Elder Bowman OMHIWDMB

August 29th, 2011

The weeks are just going faster and faster!! Today I got to see Elder Katsos before he heads out at 4 in the morning tomorrow. I'm going to go try see him tonight though but no promises. We committed two other baptizims this week!!! Fernando -who is played by Irmao Harmon and the other one Steeferson -who is played by Irmao Dodge. Tonight is Irma Adamison's last night (she played Gina) I'm really going to miss her. She has been my favorite teacher. I don't know if her being Gina helped, but I've always felt comfortable and confident with my Portugues with her. This week is also Irmao Harmon's last week. He's like the head professor here at the MTC so its kinda a big deal that he's leaving and also a true blessing that he was our teacher. Irmao Dodge has been with us the whole time, but we just got a new teacher a week and a half ago named Irma Beery. She's way sweet! So by the end of the week, we will have gone from 4 teachers to 2. It's almost un heard of to have more then 1 perminit teacher so we've really been fortunite. So to quickly talk about this, Irmao Dodge lost 60lbs on his mission so a few of us (especially me and Elder Perdue) have been seeing who could gain the most weight here, then lose it out in the field. Well... Last nights devotional was all about health and stuff. So lets just say that me and Elder Perdue called it a draw with him gaining over 16lbs and I was a half a pound from 20. Yeah... No joke... This has been the most amazing, hardest, self defining relationship between me and the Lord. I love every minute of it. Last night at the fireside, we sang called to serve, but the special version at the MTC (a few of you know what I am talking about) To explain the feeling wouldn't be enough for words. How greatful I am for this time in my life to bare witness that I know Christ Lives. So many missionaries, but even more lost children of our Father in Heaven out there in the world. What a privledge it is to testify of his love. I love you family! Sorry, I can never write all that I want. You all are great! The church is TRUE!!! Com amor, Elder Bowman OMHIWDMB

August 23rd, 2011

OI FAMÍLIA!!! Como vão? Well not too much to report this week. I'm in the choir which I'm sure that will make a few of you smile. We sing tonight and I think my district will be doing it every week now. Oh by the way, thank you sooooooo much for the doughnuts mom! Also, we had our last appointment with Gina yesterday night and I had the chance to bare my testimony and ask her to bare her's. It was really neat! This is Irma Adamson's last week (She plays Gina) and I'm really going to miss her. All my teachers are incredible, but she has always made me feel comfortable and good about myself with the language. We had our two district elders that are at the Brasil CTM write us and tell us how it is. They said to take andvantage of it up here cuz I guess they're a little more relaxed down there. I'm sure the pilot program that we are on has a big thing to do with it. I'm really greatful to be where the Lord wants me, but especially that he has allowed me to be here. Everything about it just makes sense. Yesterday was the greatest day I have had thus far with the language. Of course you would think that thats how it would be with every new day, but I was understanding almost everything the teachers were saying and was able to make more sentances. I was also able to pronounce the words better which is what I seem to struggle with the most. That's been the hardest and I think the biggest difference between Portuguese and Spanish. It isn't as friendly to native English speakers. I just want to close about how I have really had to come to know that faith isn't just believing on something, it's doing all that you can and knowing that the grace of the Lord will be done. Perhaps the greatest miracle any of us can grasp in this life is when our will and the will of the Father and of His Son inter-twine. This has been the hardest thing for me, but I'm greatful that the Lord cares for me so much that He wants me to grow. Thank you all so much for the fasting and prayers. I love you all so much. Remember to always choose faith over fear. Eu te amo família!!! Com amor Elder Jacob W Bowman OMHIWDMB

August 16th, 2011

Oi família! Como vocês vão? What an amazing week it has been! It's been a roller coaster ride and it's been an amazing experience! Well guess what?.... Gina is getting baptized!!! She has been so reseptive and we have asked her before, but she wanted to finish the Book of Mormon first, but the Spirit was just so strong!! I'm going to send a tape home this week so I'll go into more detail in that. It's crazy how the little time I have to email flys by! No one has gotten their visa this week, we are thinking that we'll all be here the whole time now, but its whatever the Lord wants. So there's 6 Elders and 1 Sister and the Sister (Hayes) and Elder Purdue are the only ones from out of state and from the west coast so we think if anyone leaves it will be them. So in sacrament meeting they never tell who the two speakers are until right before they give the talks. Yupp, it was me this week. Straight up Portuguese. It was a real eye opener for me. I struggle to pronounce some of the words, especially in the scriptures, but I always have a comforting Spirit telling me that it's what the Lord wants and I must stand tall in what I believe. Its interesting, Adam an Eve took from the fruit that they may know the good from the evil. That they may experiene the joy from the sorrow. That they may become stronger from the weaknesses of mortality. But the choice isn't usually between good and evil. Rather than faith and fear. But as the scriptures state, God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of sound mind and love and His power. We should never be ashamed of the gospel or the testimony of our Savior. We can do all things through Christ, who is our Salvador. I hope to tell you more about my experiences in my tape. Eu amo todo você! Deus esta com você Elder Bowman OMHIWDMB