January 27, 2015

Hi everyone!!! Sorry I don’t have much time this week but first I just want to say Im sooooo extremely happy for Maren and her mission call to ZAMBIA LUSAKA!!!! And that I’m so excited for Aimee to enter the mission field tomorrow!!!! You both will be INCREDIBLE missionaries!!!!

I’ll be honest this week was a stinker. But it’s nice to look back and just laugh! First on Wednesday I was just washing the dishes but had to turn over my tortilla so I left the water running for like a minute if not less. Anywho, a few seconds later Hna Vasquez yells my name and I turn and see that there is like a bunch of water everywhere. Okay maybe it was more than a minute. Ahhh I’m so imperfect. So yep that happened, flooded our apartment.

So pretty much this week 18 of our investigators moved from our area. I really don’t want to even think about it. It breaks my heart. Ninorshca being one of them. I really have gotten sooo close to her family. But ya so we are starting over haha. But it’s been sooo good to learn to listen to the Spirit to know where to go. I know without a doubt that there are families in the area who are ready. We’ve just gotta find them!!! So Ramon’s baptism was set for this Saturday and on Friday he was all pumped and was soo happy. And then on Saturday he called and said that he simply couldn’t do it because his son wouldn’t allow it. It just breaks my heart because he wants to be baptized but Satan is just attacking. But Heavenly Father will win so we are going to continue to help up strengthen his testimony so he can stand up for himself.

So after we found out that news we were walking and I was just telling my companion my thoughts and how I really feel like we need to focus our time in those who are ready. Then literally two seconds later this guy in the street just stopped and looked at us. So we stopped too. Then he said I need an interview with the bishop. So we continued talking to him and found out that he is a member but his family isn’t, and that he wants to come back and his wife and children want to learn about the church.

After we finished talking we turned the corner and we both just stood there in shock. I’d never received an answer to my prayers so fast. I know that when we doubt, the Lord can’t do much. We need to always trust in the Lord and know that he will guide us in what we should do. I’m so glad missionary work is hard. I’m learning a lot about our Heavenly Father and how he works. I know that this area has sooo much potential and that Satan wants us to think that there’s no use in trying. I know that we have the fullness of the gospel. And everyone needs to know about it!!! I love you all and hope everything is going well!!!!! 

PURA VIDA!!!!

Hermana Fowler

happy happy happy :)

HI :) Weeks go by sooo fast. I seriously can’t believe it’s Tuesday again. I love hearing from you all and am so grateful for the family and friends that I have. I can’t wait to hear WHERE MAREN WILL BE SERVING AHHHH!!!!!! I’ll be praying my heart out for Costa Rica :)

This week was Cinthias Baptism. She is Anas daughter. She seriously has changed sooo much it’s incredible. The members really were the ones that taught her. Working with members is the best and makes a night and day difference. So help the missionaries okay?? The skirt that I am wearing in the picture I will send is one that she made for me. Everyone is soooo generous here.

This week felt like 200 appointments fell through haha. Everyday my companion and I found ourselves not having appointments and just talking to lots of people in the streets. Which made it really interesting haha.

One day this week we noticed this little older guy following us so we started walking fast but he still kept following us. So we turned down this street that ended up being a dead end and then he signaled for us to come talk to him. So I told him to go away. (I feel bad now okay?) And then this guy walked by so we told him he was following us so he went to go talk to him and when the guy came back he was just laughing and said that all he wants to do is touch my eyes. He said that he is a really good person just drunk. 

But with the lessons that we did have, we saw lots of miracles. Ramon is such a sweetheart. He really is someone I could never forget!! So we had a lesson with him and his wife, which was huge because the wife never wants to listen, and it went really well. During the lesson his wife left for a second and Ramon started telling us how happy he was to have us teach them both together. He bore his testimony to us for the first time and began to cry. I just feel so honored to be able to watch him through this whole process. 

In December our zone met our goal for baptisms so we got to go to president’s house and have breakfast. It was sooooo good. Gosh I miss my mom’s pancakes. But it was reeeeaaallly fun to be with everyone and play games and bond more. I know that I have a lot to learn from the people that I am surrounded by. 

Spanish is coming. I understand almost everything I just struggle with the talking part. But the Lord is helping me an incredible amount. I know that there is no way I would be able to do this without the Lords help. I always reject compliments from people about my Spanish because I feel like it’s horrible but I’ve realized that it’s so ungrateful to Heaven Father and all he has helped me with. I’m so grateful for this time to focus on other people and on their concerns and doubts. It has made me realize how much I will always have to learn.

We had a family night with some recent converts and we all went around the circle and shared how the gospel has changed our life. It was funny because it began to feel like a support group so we all kept making jokes and when it was someone’s turn to start they would all say at the same time Hi Hermana .... One of those you had to be there moments. But it made me realize how much my testimony has changed since I got here. I’ll always have things that I will need to improve but I hope to always change for the better and not go back to old ways. 

I’m grateful for a patient Heavenly Father who never says "Okay Hermana Fowler I’ve had it. That was your last chance." But his purpose is to help us in every moment and to help us grow so that we can one day be like him. I’m grateful for the knowledge I have. And I am so glad to have the rest of my life to learn more about Heavenly Father and his gospel. I love you all and pray you all know how grateful I am for your influences in my life!!! COSTA RICA IS THE BEST!!!!!

Love always, Hermana Fowler

P.S. I don’t know if I told you last week, but I don’t have a cook anymore. You would laugh if you saw my companion and I try to make lunch. We are considering paying the other Hermana’s to cook for us :)

pura vida :)

Hi again :) First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!! I love you a million times a million. Thank you for being my best friend and for raising me the way you have. You’re the best person I know!! and I hope to one day be half the person you are. :)

We had a great week here in Costa Rica. It seriously blows my mind how many miracles I am seeing and how this is the Lord’s Work. After I wrote last week I had divisions with the stl´s. Wow I really learned sooo much. I’m so grateful for my leaders they really are the best and they set such a great example. 

One day this week we were walking down the street and this guy jumped out of nowhere and said, “Hi are you guys missionaries?” That’s not normal for people to know who we are just so you know almost everyone thinks we are Jehovah Witness´s. So we started talking to him and he said that last night he prayed that he could find a way to change his life and that we were an answer to his prayers. After talking more we found out he is a member and his whole family also and they live in our area. He came to church on Sunday and said he wants to come back to church and prepare for a mission. What a blessing he found us on the street. I had forgotten for a minute that finding people is a two way thing and the Lord leads people to us. He really is preparing his children. 

My heart got torn this week. We went to visit Ramon and the first thing he said was that he had bad news but that we should first start with a hymn and prayer and then talk about it. So we sang for him and when we finished he was crying. Listening to us sing for him is one of his favorite things. But he said, "That baptism thing I said I would do. I simply just can’t". He explained that his wife doesn’t want him to visit with us anymore. After talking through it all he said that we could try to call to see if we could visit him this week. At that end of the lesson he asked holding back his tears if he could come to church on Sunday. Of course!!!!! He really has a special place in my heart. With all the changes that have happened lately (I’ve had like 10 different companions), he always explains to them that I always have different companions but I will always be there. He was someone Hermana Cuevas and I found on the street. We are praying really hard for him. I know he will be baptized I just hope I get to be there for it. 

Another investigator whose name is Louis is progressing soo much. This family is just the cutest thing ever ever ever. In church on Sunday when people were speaking they said, “I know this is the only true church on the earth today.” And he just kept shaking his head. haha We are in the process of teaching him the restoration but I am so grateful to be able to know this family. They really are something special! He said the other day that he hasn’t received his answer yet but he is getting there and has a feeling it will come soon! 

My companion is such a cutie I love her so much. We have problems with laughing. Ah it’s bad but we’re praying really hard to be more mature. She is pretty shy so it’s teaching me to be bold and to talk to everyone. It has put me out of my comfort zone a little but it’s good. I like it because I know that this is where we will see miracles. The real question is, are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place? uh yea!!!!!!! Dame este Monte!!!!!!! I love you all and I pray for each one of you!!! Share the gospel!! It’s sooo fun!!!

Oh last thing... people are crazy here they think that when a dog barks it makes the sound wow wow. NOOOO. I explained to a bunch of members that is ruff ruff and they were all pointing at me laughing their heads off. They’re crazy.

Love always

Hermanna Fowler

P.S. I had tortillas with the family of Louis!! They said I was good at it. It took me like an hour to make one but whatevs.

Oh and my companion doesn’t like taking pictures so I guess it’ll be a mystery what she looks like.

6 months ;(

2015 wooohooo!!! That feels weird to type it. This week lots of stuff happened. So after I emailed last Tuesday we got home and pretty much found out that we needed to find another house that would be in a better location. So in one day we found a house and moved all our stuff! I was first excited because I’ve never moved houses before but I quickly realized that it’s not as fun as it looks. Thanks mom and dad for not putting me through that earlier.

So for one night we slept on our mattress on the floor. You wouldn’t think that it would be that much colder but it is. Talking about cold, our shower is literally a pipe in the wall haha. Holy moly its freezing!!! The wind is crazy. I sometimes feel like I’m going to get knocked over. But it’s probably just because I’m hungry and don’t have much strength. I’m starting to regret all the half pushups I did when Jan wasn’t looking. That was so random.

Okay so the better stuff... On Friday I got a call for the AP’s saying that I need to be in the mission office in the morning to pick up MY NEW COMPANION!!! Yay yay yay. What an answer to my prayers :) So my new companion (Hermana Chen, I first thought she was from China but nope) is the best eeevvver. She has 3 months in the mission. So we are like babies together haha. It’s been hard for me to accept the fact that I only have one year more. I refuse to think about it. Anyway my comp is from Guatemala and is 23 years old. She is the sweetest ever. Pray that she will rub off on me k? k thanks. I feel bad because she had emergency changes but I know that she will be a blessing this area. 

The other day we were talking to a lady on the bus and she said she wanted to know more about our church so we wrote down her number to call her another day. Sunday morning we felt like we should call all of the people that we had talked to in the street the day before and make sure they knew what time church was and where it was at. She said that she wanted to come but just said a bunch of excuses. So after rejecting every one of those excuses, she said that she would come. So my companion and I got on the bus to get her and show her where the church was. And to our surprise she invited everyone that lives in her house. 8 people!!!!! They are all so incredible. It still continues to blow my mind how much the Lord has prepared these people. 

We got a reference the other day from some elders saying that a family would be moving into our ward and that they are all recent converts but the dad isn’t baptized. The elders said good luck he’s a toughy. So the other week we helped them move into their house (not sure if I said that last week). It was quite an adventure haha. Anyway I met the Dad this week. He is a funny one. The elders had a point but seriously I know without a doubt this family will be sealed in the temple together. It’s crazy how much love I have for this family. I’m grateful that I can be with them during this time of trial and this time of lots of questions about this gospel. It strengthens my testimony to help him find the answers he desires to receive. 

I love it here sooo much. I LOVE COSTA RICA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so grateful to be a missionary! I really can’t thank my Heavenly Father enough for sending me. Thank you for all your emails and prayers. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the support I receive. I pray for each one of you and know that the Lord will bless those who obey him! I LOVE YOU!!!!! Be good :)

Hermana Fowler