May 19, 2014

Hey mamma!!

So I'm not actually in Dayton. Dayton itself and everything west is in the other mission. But Yeah I'm in good ol Beavercreek. and Back on a bike. which I don't mind too much! It's not all that bad. But my new comp is E. Bullock. He's from Draper, UT and has been out for a little over 6 months. He's a stud. I was actually praying a couple days before getting transferred that my next comp would just be a bro. Someone who I can get along with, Be myself, hardworker so that we can just tear it up and do well. So I got E. Bullock and I already love the kid. We have quite a bit in common which makes things nice and I think we'll do well here in Beavercreek. So we got Doubled in. My 3rd time now. They closed our part of Big Walnut Creek so now that ward is back down to two sets of missionaries. Which I think is a good thing for that ward. But I actually miss it there. I don't miss the work too much cause it was just a constant cycle of people flaking out but the ones we got to build relationships I miss greatly. So it's a good area and I'm grateful to have served there. So I think God has a sense of humor cause I was talking to E. Blalock (back in BWC) about how he was gonna step up and be a DL and he just said nah Imma be doubled into Beavercreek with a duck. But lo and behold I got doubled in, luckily not with a duck. Although that may have been cool. But this area is pretty dead to say the least. It's always been a harder area. So I also think we're here to pick it up! Which is what I'm excited to be doing! We've been getting to know the members here and build simple trust with them and just serve them at every opportunity. Actually this area is REALLY nice. and for once I don't have any ghetto. It's almost a weird adjustment because I have a harder time talking to White people than I do Black people. In the hood everyone will talk to you no prob. They just never go anywhere. In the upper class part of the spectrum. Nobody will talk to you. So I think a lot of the work here is gonna be through the members. Most are here for the Air Force at Wright-Patt Air force base so it's actually a pretty big ward. When we first got here we had two RM's come pick us up from the transfer meeting, Duffy Young and Tony Aleccia. Duffy just got home from Brazil like a week or two ago and Tony got back from France in January I think. They're pretty funny. But super missionary focused (surprising huh? :P) but we never received our keys so our first day here we stayed at the Young's home to try and get our grounds. Pretty hectic and we got a tour of our area. So Since then We've just been trying to visit the members and less-actives. And all that. It's been pretty good and I think we'll get the trust back quick. The apartment has absolutely no food, Like literally it had two ketchup packets. A half thing of peanut butter and a bag of Jolly Rancher jelly beans... The Elders before got shipped out a couple weeks ago. One went home for medical reasons and the other just got Emergency Transferred. So they cleaned everything. We don't even have a teaching pool so we just got dropped right into the dead of it! But We're gonna pick it up, missionaries in the past kinda messed things up and just didn't want to work. But this isn't the first time this has happened to me. So I'm excited to see what the Lord is gonna do with us here! The members though are amazing. They seriously have helped us a ton. They jumped on board to help us get some food and I took before and after pictures of the fridge and pantry to show the difference. So now we just gotta keep the trust and build it with other members. The WML and his wife Bro and Sis. Cross are amazing!! They are so great And I think things will start to roll quite nicely with the ward. It's a little overwhelming and stressful sometimes just cause it's a different kind of missionary work then I'm used to so gimme a week or so and we'll have it figured out. But I am grateful to be serving here and the things I get to learn!! It's all just part of the routine now. :) I'm doing really well though. Growing every day and my testimony is deepening a lot. I'm so grateful for the people in my life who have truly blessed it more than they'll ever know. Those that I've met out here whether they by Gators, Members, or Missionary and those that I have back home who are still there for me in my life and have stuck through with me and even the ones who moved on. I've still been blessed from that and all it I'm eternally grateful for. I love this gospel. I love my Savior and brother. I love my father in heaven. I am grateful for the testimony that I have and all that it does for me. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I don't have a lot to write but just know I'm doing really well. I love and miss you all!!

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler

PS I'll try to send pics soon! Either today or next week :) 

PSS. This past week was interesting. It was weird saying goodbye to Cornia for a time but I'm glad he's able to move on and progress now. It's like losing a family member sometimes not gonna lie. But it's all good. It's just cool the relationships you build out here.

May 14, 2014

Hola mi Familia!

Yo tengo dos gatos para el libro con queso.... hahaha Don't ask. Just random. Anywho! So It was freakin awesome to talk to you guys this last Sunday. I'm a little bummed we couldn't get more time or get the Oovoo to work. But oh well. It was cool to talk to you and Alec! :) So last week we actually had a pretty good week. We found quite a bit of people and also were able to have a couple cool meetings. I don't have too much to say really. But E. McCullough left for Brazil and I'm getting transferred too. Not sure whats gonna happen.. It's weird but it was definitely time for a change. We were able to get in contact with Dwayne after two weeks and he had all these big concerns come up and all of a sudden after much fasting and praying the Lord told him its not true.... That just bugs the crap outta me but oh well! haha People have their agency. I just love when people try to ask me if they can pray for me to find the truth. Little do they know that time and time again when they do pray they do get it answered because my testimony of this is constantly being reaffirmed. It's cool and I know one day these people will accept the gospel. I love this gospel and my testimony of it. I'm so grateful for the foundation that I'm built upon. Man. What a crazy life. Today was good though. We had a zone funday. We went Bowling and played Sand Volleyball in the rain. It was so much much and not gonna lie made me miss home a little bit but it's all good! haha our zone pretty much exploded and everyone is getting moved around. I didn't get a call if I'm still DL or not (not that it matters) but I just hope I get an area and a companion that is a bro and is like me and we can get the work done. I wanna finish my mission on a high note. Not in survival mode. but Anyways. I love you all! I'll write monday!

Love,
Elder Derrek Bowler

***as a side note...Elder Bowler was transferred to Beavercreek which is near Dayton.  

May 5, 2014

Hey Ma.

So I don't have much time at all today. We had a pretty decent week. Yesterday we helped someone move so we gave up pday time for that. It was good. It was for Whitney and I'm hoping she gets active again. This past week we lost contact with Dwayne for a week. Which always happens it seems but he called us Sunday morning and says he was studying more and has questions and wants to sit down and really talk. Which I'm glad cause it was a huge relief. So hopefully that all works out smoothly and goes well. We've been doing pretty good here. We had interviews this last week and those were good. Nothing too special. Umm. yeah. haha Nothing really too eventful happened this past week. I'm doing good. Still learning and doing the best I can. :) Next week is transfers and OH that's right. Elder McCullough got his Visa so he'll be leaving the 13th two days before transfers. So I'll end up with someone new. I'm not sure if I'll stay or go but whatever. :) And We get to call this week so when I get more info on that I'll let you guys know :) K love you all! Miss ya and thank you for all you guys do! Hope you start feeling better! I had a brutal cold that knocked me out for once haha. It was good cause I got to rest for a bit. But it was weird. It's crazy green here again. Spring came and went super fast. Last year it lasted longer. But time is flying now but I still feel like I have a year. When I only have a few months left... It's just the weirdest feeling to me haha. And E. Cornia goes home next week and that's tripping me out cause it's already here! Man I remember feeling I couldn't possibly make it 41/2 months cause that was too long and now I have less than that left! just weird... K Love ya!! Talk to you Sunday!! :D 

SOCIAL MEDIA SPLIT!

Dear Family,

On May 10^th we are doing a “Social Media Split” within our wards and branches throughout the Ohio Columbus Mission. This effort will show everyone what a “Day in the Life” of a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is like. We will have members who are savvy in social media follow us from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm to chronicle our day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, YouTube and other social media outlets.

This is much bigger that just our wards, or even our mission. This is a missionary split—on social media—involving hundreds of missionaries and members working throughout our entire mission. And we want you to be involved!

Members in our ward will be posting at least 4 posts an hour on their Facebook pages. You can be involved by “LIKING” and “SHARING” these posts. You can also “LIKE” posts on Instagram and Vine and “RETWEET” on Twitter.

President and Sister Nilsen are very excited about this project and have promised that 2 people would enter into the waters of baptism due to the efforts of this event. We know that there will be more miracles and more people will be blessed as we increase the number involved.

Now, what is expected of you, you might ask? We want you to “follow” the members of our ward who will be following us. Attached is a list of members who you can add or follow on the specified social media outlets.

Mom, I have a favor that I need your help with. Can you log onto my Facebook and “share” the posts from there so that all my friends will see it? I’m so excited to see what comes from this and am so glad you can be involved! Let me know if you have any questions.

We’re so excited for our social media split!

Love,

Derrek.

April 28, 2014

Hey Mom!.... and errybody else

Perfect Timing :) So best address is 3158 Balsam Lake Dr Columbus, OH 43219. Transfers are on the 15th of May so I dunno if I'll stay or go but if you wouldn't mind I would love to read that new Brad Wilcox book if you'd be down to send it. If not I can wait... Apparently E. McC got his visa cleared so there's a good chance he's shipped to Brazil... Who knows haha and yeah it was great seeing Mike. He just drove over to our area to come take us to lunch it was fun :) will you forward those pics to me so I can save em? Thanks for working on that package :) haha I've been like a giddy little school girl waiting for it! haha K not really but I'm excited! I am so glad Alec's blog is updated. Imma write him cause I think I know how to help. I sure do miss my bros. I heard from Calvin too. He seems to be doing good. I can't wait to get home to try and kick his butt into gear. Time is definitely going fast now and it's just the craziest thing to me.

Recently like I said I've been working on seeing who God needs me to be and I kinda got stuck but Mike actually helped me out find the solution. So I have had a couple experiences that lead me to believe that God needs me for a big purpose. And I was trying to find this "Big" one answer solution that will just spring board me forward. And I realized something when I was telling Mike this and his answer. So I realized that I'm on the right path. I know I don't or won't have everything figured out now but I was expecting something to just send me flying. And that's not how things are gonna fly. I realized that God knows me perfectly. and Loves me perfectly, Actually my testimony of God's love has grown immensely recently and that's my main focus on helping my investigators. Because NOTHING else matters in religion or church or even the commandments until we realize and understand and KNOW how much God truly and deeply loves us. Then everything else begins to make sense and stops feeling like a burden and is viewed as the blessing it is meant to be. We had the privilege of going to the temple this past Thursday and we got to watch the latest new video. (Bro. Bristow even showed up for a session and that was an extra blessing!) But I love both videos for different reasons. I get different learning experiences from the two combined. In this new one I love how they portrayed God. He has this look of deep concern for our welfare and is constantly seeking and providing solutions for us at every single turn. It was really cool and helped me feel that much closer to my Father in Heaven. I am truly grateful for my Savior, and for a loving Parents both Earthly and Heavenly who truly and deeply love me. I feel it so strong and it fills my heart in was that haven't happened before.

This past week was actually really good. I was able to get out of that little head funk. I still have some moments where it's all cloudy but this past week we were really blessed to see great progress being made here. I guess the biking in -40 degree weather is finally paying off ;) haha and we aren't really doing anything different. But our hearts are a little different and all of the things that are happening are because of God. I'm just regular ol Derrek Bowler from St. Geezy. "And I like to party..." (haha sorry. Hot Rod quote) but I've been seeing more how the Lord is able to use me and my talents to help people here. I've been focusing more on my district and their needs. And in all honestly a DL is nothing special. But I love the opportunity I have to create a closer bond with those I serve along with. To try to help them and motivate them to reach their fullest potential and the things that are happening the credit still goes to God. But I'm grateful he is using me. :)

Dwayne is amazing. He already has a strong testimony and has said "I don't know why more people aren't mormon.." Well quite frankly not everyone can quote the bible like he can and can understand and see how much they compliment each other. He's a testimony builder in multiple ways. How the Lord knows his children and prepares them all (like our GPS' guiding us constantly) and how the Book of Mormon changes lives. So powerfully. I love the Book of Mormon and I know it's true. I've never doubted it's truth and divinity. But I haven't had a chance to truly see the effect it has on the hearts of man. It's helped me in my life time and time again and I continue to receive guidance and direction. I'm so excited for the things my future holds. For the opportunities I will get to have to become the best I can be. And to one day run into my saviors arms and feel a joy like none other as we both walk up to Father. I am excited to see the person who I will marry and to see our lives blessed from all of this and to understand more clearly the love you and dad and Heavenly Father have for me as I take on the role of a parent. I realized something else this past week during a spontaneous Specialized Training we had this past week. It was more like an Intervention but I did get some good stuff even though I've heard most of it before. I realized how much of a blessing my Mission has been to me now and how great of an impact this Mission will have on my life. I don't think any other Mission or Mission President would have been able to provide that opportunity for me. Because no other mission has the kind of ethic my life truly needs. Our mission is the fastest growing and most productive mission on this side of the U.S. and is seeing growth from year to year. President Nilsen is very good at what he does and recently I've started to have more respect for him. I have never brown-nosed or butt-kissed and deliberately avoid that at any costs. But he's taught me a lot, and that I'm grateful for.

We had a pretty good week. Got to go to a mission open house with Dwayne at the mission home to mingle with other missionaries. I got a chance to talk with some new people and got to see old friends. Dwayne is close to the lord and it is ama-za-zing. Sheree is doing good as well. We helped her paint a room this past week and that was fun. Got to know her a little more and talk a little bit with her. Even had a good lesson after we haven't seen her in forever. This district is awesome and such a good group of kids. They're all making great growth and understanding more what it is to be a missionary. We had a huge finding challenge this past week and we set a goal for 15 gators (which is pretty decent for our district. Since finding is harder in some areas) but we shattered that and found 30. It was so cool getting the calls from each area and seeing the growth they made this past week. And we all rejoiced together. Alma 29: 14-16 Dwayne is now on date for May 17th and we're excited for him. He will be a great addition to this ward and wants to help other people cause he feels the Lord can greatly use him. Especially cause he's black. (He said that haha) in his own words he said "I don't know if you know this but I'm black" when he told us about the Lord using him haha. We're making good progress with an eternigator Sam Lee which was awesome to experience and see. Hopefully we'll be able to help her build a relationship that's clear and recognizable with God. I told her to forget about everything about the mormons that stops you from joining because you don't wanna give up you past life and just focus right now on developing a good relationship with God. That matters more than the Word of Wisdom, or the Coffee of the Weed or Tithing. Understanding those things come over time and will make sense eventually. I love you all. I am very grateful for the man I am today and for God's help in getting me here. I love my family more than words will ever give justice to and I love all the friends I have. I especially love those who I have been blessed by out here. My Converts, My fellow missionaries and the members I get to serve along side with. This past week was really good and has helped me to appreciate his area and the work that has gone in it. I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ and I am truly grateful they never abandon me. Even when I'm being a stubborn little turd. haha I am grateful for the testimony I have and the faith I am blessed with. Thank you all for your help and blessing my life. I am here because of your efforts. Here are a couple fun pics from this past week. Including our Zone at the Temple. :) LOVE YA!!!

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler