Kentucky!

HOWDY YA'LL!

 

First off I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I missed you all and all the traditions but such is life. So anyways. So I'm sure you're all wondering where I got shipped off to eh??  I'll start by saying I probably shouldn't have said anything about how bad it sucked biking in my last area... Haha and I'm sure president wanted me as far away as possible from him, cause I'm now in a bike area (one of the biggest ones too) and I'm in Kentucky. Yeah Ha, That's what I thought too. Kentucky?? my area is the Hebron, KY ward and it's a big one. 20mi North to South and about 18 East to West freaking ridiculous. haha so we only span maybe a 5 mile radius around our apartment (which sucks compared to my last one) which is in Burlington, KY. I will tell you my legs were rubbed raw after the first couple days... and It's exhausting but it's just another thing to get used to. People here are not as nice when you knock on their door. I've had more doors slammed in my face in the first couple days here than I did in my entire last area. But whatever. Not a problem. It's funny though cause I'm in a much nicer area and the "well off" people don't care to listen at all. But I miss the ghetto. and the funny people I ran into. So my first three days here the weather was nice. It sat around 60-65 degrees then friday it dropped down between 25-30 degrees. haha yeah that was a shocker. It's not even winter yet! and it's already as cold as St. George during the winter. but it's not bad. I have some support back home. Thank you to those who helped with winter gear. It's much appreciated! My new companion is Elder Garner. good worker, gets things done. Interesting guy who's really quiet and doesn't show much much emotion. And he does basically everything himself. So I feel pretty useless in this area. It's hard without a car cause there is so much ground to cover and we can only do so much. Smaller areas have cars so it's frustrating. I'm fine without one if my area wasn't so dang big. But since it is it's a little frustrating. We have one solid investigator and we taught her yesterday the 3rd lesson and she's on date for the 16th! pretty exciting. She's 17 (been to girls camp for the past four years and has been around mormons for forever) her name is Emma Napier. and she looks like someone from back home which is weird but yeah. The ward is awesome here. they're pretty good at helping us out. We walk more than we bike. (I haven't biked once yet) but that's because it's super hilly around here and there are only two roads with decent shoulders and they happen to be highways. So we just walk. It definitely makes the days longer and focusing harder. Waking up and rolling at 6:30 is a struggle for me! haha I'm working on that. But it's a hard area for me. I'm trying to figure things out and like this area. So we'll see how long I'm stuck out here. It's weird how alone I feel. I feel very distant from the rest of the mission (prolly cause I'm not with ZL's anymore and I'm not in on the phone calls but w/e) but it's interesting. I love you all. Keep sending loves and letters! I thank you for all those who have sent some (know that I'm trying to find time to write back but I rarely do) know I haven't forgotten about you guys! All my awesome little cousins I'll try to write to write you guys as soon as I can ok? I love you all!! but that's really all for this week. It's hard to find people and all that and such. so that's why we only have one solid investigator. We have a couple others but I haven't been in to really teach them. so yeah! until next week! (which this last one was my longest yet! haha anyways! love you all!

 

Elder Bowler.

P.S. I will work on pictures next week haha.

Transfer time :)

Hey Mom.. Soo umm Calvin wrote me. Can I just say what the heck?? haha holy crap that is nuts! I hope Alec is doing ok. Calvin just needs to wear a helmet from hear on out like in Benchwarmers :P I hope everything is ok! That's just freaking ridiculous! Thank you for the Pictures and also for sending that package. I probably won't get it for a while because I am being transferred... Ha yup. I only stayed here in Englewood for 1 transfer and my "training" program goes for 3 months (2 transfers) but tomorrow I head up to Columbus to get my new Companion and area. Elder Wheadon is being transferred too but Elder Brooks is staying to finish his mission as a Zone Leader (he goes home next transfer.) It's crazy. I think having to babysit was slowing the work here so they're booting me out haha. But I don't know how I feel about all of it. This last week has been a long and interesting one... now with today and being moved is interesting. So first off thank you all for the letters and e-mails. (yes it's ok to email me, I just can't email besides this main one) but... So this last week we had Zone Conference with the Elders from our stake and the Dayton East stake. It was good and went by really fast for being an all day meeting. Pres. Nilsen is an awesome guy and I think just at first he lays down the law and then after that he's good. But he doesn't tolerate crap too much, but he has a ton of funny stories and gets off tangeant (sp?) a lot. Pretty funny. And Sis. Nilsen is crazy amazing. She works harder than anyone in the mission and still raises kids. But they were both and Z.C. and taught us and it was good. After it was all done and all I talked to Sis. Nilsen cause she's in charge of everything medical for the next while. (Bro. Young, the guy who was in charge of physical medical stuff, is moving) but I had to tell her that I stopped taking my meds and then I told her about what I was feeling and all that, So she set up an appointment with a psychiatrist and long story short, I'm on new meds. So hopefully something works but we'll see! I got a blessing from Pres. Nilsen to help out with everything. It's definitely been a fun experience...but He's really loving and when it comes to stuff like this he's good about it. I think he just has to get to know you first. (like most of you said, which I kinda already knew but whatever) So I have in my little "Daily Planner" notes of things I want to write about. One of them are how amazing the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful. (not as good as Utah though but still amazing.) I also put down to talk about Stina. We haven't been able to get a hold of her in a while with everything going on w/ her family and all, then a couple days ago she sends a text that she doesn't think this is the right church for her... Satan is a clever little piece of crap. Hopefully things get cleared out with her, but we'll see. John is still doing good. I love that kid. He and his mom came to church on Sunday which was sweet! and he's still working on his date for baptism on the 15th. Please keep him in your prayers, He needs all the support he can get. Get on facebook and find him and talk to him. His name is John Swindle and he lives in Trotwood Ohio. I told him he has 200 plus people (all of our families combined) supporting him. Message him on FB and let him know I told you to talk to him. He sings gospel music and stuff and looked up a bunch of MoTab stuff on Youtube. He wants to sing in the choir. He watched Alex Boye's Mormon Message video. And he called us asking for his number. (we of course didn't have it) but yesterday he texts us and said; "Guess who I just tweeted?? Alex Boye!!" So Alex totally talked to John and talked to him about the Choir and Alex told John to tell the missionaries (us) hi! haha pretty freaking awesome. But he still needs your prayers. It was hard, We went over today to say goodbye since we're being transferred. It was heartbreaking and I've grown a love for that kid. he's only 18 but he's definitely a part of my life forever. I told him I'll come back to take him to Utah when I get home. Imma stay in touch with him as much as possible and hopefully I can come see his Baptism. But either way I'm gonna miss him. I don't think he liked the idea either. We went Bowling today with Bro. Ware (ward mission leader) and a new investigator, Duane. He's a young 71, he's funny and is good at Bowling. it's funny we'll go play these sports (and also like B-ball at the church w/ the youth) and we'll be in our missionary clothes. ha but Duane is pretty bible smart and funny and smart in general. We'll see where he ends up. We had to drop a bunch of Investigators this last week cause none of them are really progressing which is sad but there is nothing we can do. They just aren't ready yet. One day though. So anyways. Next time I write you I'll be in a different area. With different stories and all that. I hope I get put in a place where I can be near Dayton area so I can come see John's baptism.. but yeah. That's all for this time! I love you all and thank you all for your prayers and your support.

 

Elder Bowler

Boo...Satan!

Hey Everyone!

 

So first off I want to thank everyone for the letters and support and love. I'm sorry I haven't had time to write back individually. I usually only have time for my Email home. It's kinda frustrating but it's how it goes. So beginning this letter off I want to tell everyone how much I hate Satan, And how bad I want to punch that kid in the face. He sucks and I bet he's laughing at me. This last week (well more like since Wednesday night on) was brutal, and Satan made things so much worse. I've definitely had a hard time keeping my cool and I wish there was a punching bag in our apartment. I'll expound later of what I'm talking about. So I'll just go through the days that have some significance. Tuesday: I went on Exchanges with the Dayton Elders (Sorry G-ma Nyquist for mixing up where everyone was born, I could have sworn Grandpa said he was born there but whatever. I was close haha) So Exchanges were cool. I more like got dropped off because my companions had Zone Leader Council, so I hung out in Dayton. Talk about run down and ghetto haha It makes me appreciate Utah so much more but it was a fun day. I enjoyed being with "normal" missionaries. Elder Saunders (been out for like 14 months) and Elder Robinson (came out with me) we talked to a few people and it was just good. Mornings weren't hard to get up for (ha they have a gym in their apartment complex and I almost broke the treadmill and exercise ball [I threw it on the treadmill trying to trip Elder Saunders and yeeaah... Loud screeching noise and such.. pretty funny though but dumb]) umm we met with an ex gang leader. He was actually pretty funny. He's gone through some hardcore crap though. He was dead for 11 minutes (I think he tried to slit his wrists) but he lost a ton of blood but survived. His mom was dead for like 27. (I think stroke) but just crazy stuff. we went over the P.O.S. with him (plan of salvation for all those dirty minded people back home ;]) and hopefully that went well. Wednesday we had Zone meeting and I reunited with my papa's. cept afterwards Elder Wheadon went on exchanges to Greenville so we had Elder Maher (mayor) with us! He's been out for a transfer before me. We went to young mens and played ball with them and we met a new kid Named William!... (he knows John [the kid using our wifi]) but we started teaching him and his sister Lania who came to church with John the Sunday before, but we talked to him and set up a time to go and meet with all of them. We met with William and John and Lania and also with John's sister and also William's older brother... Now not to be racist but they are all black and have that black attitude especially with the reiligious aspect... Holy crap.. that just turned out to be a bible bash. Now John is golden. He's awsome. His younger sister just sat there, But the other 3 were off the wall.. I walked out so frustrated and everything. And I can never get a word in with any lesson really. (Elder Wheadon is very controlling and has to be right and dominate the situation..And and things which is ok. It just clashes against my personality, which irritates me but I am learning how to work around that. He also says things to me that kinda hurt and frustrate me and make it to where I have a hard time focusing on the work. But it's a learning thing. and Satan uses all of it and makes it worse. But I am learning to deal with it) So I can never get words in and it's frustrating and then when I do say something that I thought helped the investigator, it apparently wasn't the best way to say the things I did. So it's like when I do say something it's still wrong. So usually I just keep my mouth shut cause it's pointless but still frustrating. Oh well. I'd be fine if I didn't have Satan there laughing at me and making things worse, I already have enough crap to deal with that I don't need this. But I was able to get over it and I'm just glad the week is over. John got frustrated at everyone cause that's not what he wanted (they all believe in different stuff and it's all weird crap, other religions are all out of whack haha) after that fiasco things calmed down, and William looked on Youtube and found why Mormons hate black people and all this crap about Joseph Smith and The BofM etc. etc. Freaking you can't believe the crap that's on Youtube. Sad thing is he believed it all and Neither him nor Lania would even try to read the BofM and Pray about it but I think their dad is a pastor or was or something but he's the one who messed his kids up. But John is solid still. We met with him twice on Sunday, Once during Preisthood and Later that night. We explained the whole dark skin curse thing in the BofM and etc. and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. He holds his ground. And he's only 18. But he was saying the William that if they (mormons) hated blacks then they wouldn't even look at us or talk to us or be as nice as they were (our ward is awesome) and they wouldn't bother to teach us etc. etc. So he's awesome with all that. Stina is doing well, Her grandpa had a stroke and so she's in Indiana helping with all that. Umm Other than that nothing big happened. Just a lot of chaos and frustration and it was such a long week... But I'm glad it's over. Keep John in your prayers. He will probably go through this alone but he said if that's how it's gotta be then that's how it is. He's a boss! But pray for his strength. I love you all and I'm sorry I didn't have time to give a lot of details! I'm hanging in there. Thank you all for your prayers and support. It means a lot!

 

Love you all

Elder Derrek Bowler

Hey Mom, And everyone else!

 

So thanks for the letter and all that and I will try and print it off later. and I'm glad everyone is doing well. Why did the missionaries come looking for me? That's strange but whatever. This week has been a little crazy.. ha and it feels like it's been such a looonngg week... I don't even know where to begin... Or even what exactly happened. I hardly even remember yesterday. It doesn't help that every day is basically the same so it's hard to pick out things that are different. I need to get into journal writing to get all that sorted out haha. Maybe one day. So in my planner I wrote down stuff that I wanted to talk about so let's start with those. First off Halloween out here is all sorts of whack. (And it feels like that was forever and a half ago...) But they call it "Beggars Night" out here and they do it weird. No one really went trick or treating in my area on Wednesday but it all happened on Tuesday. They do it on different days, during different hours, for every different area. or city. So ours was on Tuesday and It was cold and bitter and was raining in flurries. That dumb hurricane made the first part of the week miserable and we got some fun weather cause of it (speaking of the Hurricane, Tyson Ware (his dad is the ward mission leader and his family is so cool) the kid who just got home from his mission in St. George right when I started mine showed me a picture of New Jersey and the streets all flooded and a shark just swimming around... No big deal.. I miss the dry weather cause it's bone-chilling (now I know what you mean by nasty Grandpa, and it's not even winter yet...) to where it doesn't matter how many layers you have on you're still cold in some way. But I got through it with a positive attitude and made it fun. Yes I would still yell out "THIS SUCKS!!" but it'd be in a laughing way. That's just me and it still sucked. But Wednesday we had to take a "Bike day" and Elder Wheadon didn't have a tube in his tire so we walked, in the cold and it was sleet and bitter, and I found some coats and stuff in the closet left behind by some previous elders and who knows what is in all these things but they're old but I was cold so I used it. We're walking out and decide where we want to go and start heading out. Now the way I got through it was with "Wife points." The more you stick it out through crappy conditions or situations you get wife points that make your future wife hotter and more amazing haha so that was fun and actually helped a lot. You minus points when you drop your scriptures or PMG or stuff like that (like she gained 10 pounds) so it's just more fun haha. I was cold and it was bitter and I probably got frostbite on my hands and ears and nose, but elders who serve in Ohio where it's nasty cold and miserably hot and humid during the summers end up with the best wives :P :D haha so I'm set ;) as we were walking I had the impression to stop at a house.. Ha dumb idea. But wife points :) this guy has heard of us and he told us that we believe in a "fake" Jesus Christ and that Jesus was a book (Bible) and that the BofM is a load of crap etc. etc. Ha the things people say or think. Everyone is part of a religion basically in some way or another and so everyone is taught a bunch of weird crap. I never really get discouraged. I usually say something blunt and funny to laugh it off. Like this one lady who we stopped and talked to who smiled at us and said I already know I'm saved and as we're walking away I said "Ok crasy lady, see you in spirit prison" (in my awesome latino accent! :P)  and stuff like that haha I don't know why it just comes without thinking but it helps and it gets my companions to laugh too for a bit. We also went to the hospital to see a lady in our ward who recently had a stroke and is about to croak but she was asleep and I felt that I should go next door to this guy who I passed by. But I enjoyed talking to him. His name is Jerry Stevens? I think. But he's been through a lot and doesn't really have anyone but he has a ton of surgeries and stuff. But his doctor suggested he moved out to Phoenix cause it'll help him. So keep your eyes open for him my native relatives! We've tried to meet with Margaret and Raeyon but haven't had a chance to get in and see her. Her granddaugher, Ryan (Raeyon's mom) kept waving us off and she's also been super weak. It's sad but we're trying. I think I told you guys about Stina? The single mom with Camryn her stud of a son. (He's part black so he's already awesome) but we've had the chance to meet with her twice this week! She's freaking awesome and our second visit (first time we met this week) we went over any questions she had and made sure she was reading and followed up on all that. She's definitely been reading (she gets discouraged cause she has a hard time understanding it all [she never really read the bible and all] but that's Satan getting to her and she also said it's getting easier!) but we read 1 Ne ch. 2 with her and helped her understand. We answered quetions that she had from Ch. 1. (She totally highlights stuff and writes in the sides and writes quetions too!) So we did that and the Book heading through her off cause she was looking for things about a boat but that doesn't come till like 17 or 18. But she definitely feels the spirit and loves having us over. We went back again and solidified the Restoration and we brought Bro. Dotson (YM pres) with us and he helped out and it was great! We invited her to church but she backed out the day of. :/ oh well she said next week! we'll get her there and she does want to come so yeah. Friday we had to take another bike day cause some elders somewhere got in an accident and so everyone in the mission has to take a bike day... Not fun at all. suits are not meant for bike riding and neither is my bike meant for the flat land of Ohio. I should have just bought a Walmart Bike haha. The suspesion kills. and I swear no matter where you go it's uphill.. and I was low on air. So we biked around and I was peddaling harder than my comps but they were going faster cause their bikes are meant for this haha. My head is too big for that dumb helmet which doesn't protect crap but oh well. It's just funny looking with a dinky helmet, a suit, and a beefy full suspension mountain bike that's blue with purple handlebars and a monster sticker. Must be really entertaining for everyone haha! My butt hurts and I am so out of shape it's not even close to funny. But that bike day was the day we talked to the lady who is "saved" we were walking that area and dropped out bikes off at the Marker's house around the corner, It's a part-member family and Sis. Marker is the only active one. We're starting to teach her 9 year old son so we'll see how that goes. But she has 4 kids two in their 20's and an almost 8 and 9 year old. Her two older kids are lost, they used to go to church but didn't have the best time there and fell away. Alex who is 24 lives somewhere in Ohio for schooling. Lives w/ her BF (probably doing the cha cha) and drinks and crap. Cole who is 20 almost 21 lives at home smokes has a kid and his 24 year old GF lives with them. Their son Sylus is 7 months old and cute. They are an awesome family and I love being around them. Sure they're not doing the best but it's cool to be with them. I've only seen Alex once but I talk with Cole and Nikki (his GF) and Sis. Marker. They're awesome. And Cole just needs some help getting back and maybe he just needs a friend and stuff to help get him started and I found out how that might get started. Friday before we left I talked to him about music. He was wearing a shirt with a band I knew. Only one song and never really listened to it. But it got that rolling! We started talking about bands and concerts and he listens so some of the same stuff I do, And so does his GF (but I wasn't talking to her just Cole) but it was funny cause he didn't expect a missionary to know or listen to that stuff (probably thinks we all listen to Sesame Street and Mo-Tab haha) but he got excited about that so I will continue that convo when I see him next. I talked about how I loved playing to drums to some of the songs he was mentioning (BTW mom, I can't believe your selling my drums!! D:D: at least put some money in my acct. so I have something to come home to, Unless you really need the money then that's all good) but it was cool and broke the ice kinda more :) Ummm I'm trying to think of other things that happened. Sunday we went and made breakfast for a new investigator (heavy smoker, stains my clothes and hurts my head, If I'm going to get that much second hand smoke at least let me have some nicotine so I'm not just getting cancer with crap benefits! haha Just kidding. She doesn't smoke in front of us but it is so strong inside there.) but we made pancakes to try and get her to church, Totally didn't put two and two together. We knew that we were making breakfast, we also knew it was fast sunday, and we were totally fasting.. yeah ha not anymore. Oh well it was for a good cause. Another kid, John. showed up during the last half of preisthood! we met him on Thursday at out church for a Baptismal Interview. He was hanging by the opposite door looking suspicious, Elder Wheadon went and talked to him and he (like most people) thought we were the feds or something. He's 18 and lives in the apartments next to the church (super ghetto and a bad neighborhood, we lock up the doors as soon as church starts. and sisters aren't allowed to go in there haha) but he was all scared told him he didn't mean any harm or trouble he was just using the WiFi. Elder Wheadon told him we're missionaries and invited him to church and stuff, and he surprisingly came! and brought a 16 yr old friend who went to YW and loved that (she's only 16) nice kid and said he wants to learn more and find out God's path for him. We went looking for him the day after the interview and knocked on all the doors in that place and they probably all thought we were cops (they're all black and I don't mean that in a racist way just stating the facts) but they all stick out for each other and would point us to all these different houses and no John was to be found. We decide to leave and a cop pulls in as we're leaving. haha funny stuff. As for me personally I am hanging in there, and trying to get everything working to where I want to stay out and not struggle with all this personal crap going on. I stopped taking the Meds a couple days ago cause I feel they weren't doing crap and making my mind think more than it needs to. So I'm still in this unhappy slump. I'm talking to the President and his wife (she handles all the depression home sickness etc. the emotional medical stuff) but I haven't talked with her at all yet. Elder Snowden (another helper) came and talked with me so we'll see what happens. There are a lot of times when I just want to go home and forget about all this, to where I don't have to worry about this or have these problems in my life. But I'm not going to. I told myself to stay for at least 6 months, (usually when it kicks in for missionaries and things set fire) also because I know I have a ton of future missionaries behind me and I can't quit for them either (i'm not doing it just for them but it's helping me stay out here and fight a little longer) I've been given awesome talks and I'm trying my best and taking one step at a time. I gotta get going but I love you all and thank you all for the constant support and love. I am blessed to have that in my life. Keep on writing. Alec, Calvin, Write me. Tell me how life is going and how you're feeling about things. Ok?? Love you all!!

 

Elder Bowler

 

P.S. that night that brother Dotson came with us to Stina's afterwards we told him about companionship curls. (workout) which is you and your companion trade off a curling bar. Now how you do it is one starts, One. then passes it. One. Then back Two curls and so forth. all the way up to 15 or so curls, Then you count back down. and if you go to 15 it's like 200+ curls. and it hurts. going up at about 8. with 45 pounds. Now I did it in the morning with Elder Wheadon and Again with Bro. Dotson. so that day I did like 334 curls. Pretty awesome and it hurts. if you want a good workout. This will burn. haha but I'm not too sore, I just had to share it :P