Sept. 30, 2013

Hey Mom!

I'm so glad you had a happy birthday!! That sounds like a ton of fun and yes I'll do the picture thing. and YES I'd love to have a "kit" for teaching. I do pretty well with kids and have a couple things I use, but I'll gladly take anything I can use! I would think it was just those Elders cause most people either do or don't have a problem with teaching kids. It just depends on if you can handle them or not. But that'd be awesome :)

 

I don't think Mike has his blessing yet or not. But he's doing good. I still keep in contact with him. I love that guy. He does a lot for all he can and it's just cool to see him with situations :) So Glad you got the pictures from the Fowler's and I have too taken a serious picture it's just rare ;) Stupid ones are more fun :) We were over there just hanging out. We watched 17 Miracles and kinda just goofed around :) it was fun! Thanks also for getting that stuff out to me. The sidebag thing is like the gayest thing I've ever heard. Plus I'm on a bike.. Those two don't go together, but thanks for helping out with that anyways. I'm good on shoes. Mine are good and Mike is fixing the broken one.

 

So this past week was actually a pretty good one. The work is finally picking up here in Hilliard and the ward is getting more and more missionary minded. I've loved the ward even before that but it's pretty freaking sweet. This ward is prolly my favorite that I've served in because all of the people are so great. I still love Westland and such but just select people. It's just good all around.

 

So I'll just go through the week :) So Last Monday was pretty hectic. We were busy and had a double dinner with the Shurtz family and then right after we had another one at the Matsoso's. They were both really great and they're sweet people. I was just so full! haha then after we did family home evening at the Fowler's. It was pretty spiritual and I don't even remember what was said. It was just a good lesson and I hope it helped them cause they need it. Tuesday we had a surprise specialized training and that was pretty good. Most of what's said is just repeated over and over but I still learn a couple things. I don't really remember what all went down from 2-6 that day, We did exchanges for a short little bit and I was with E. Young. He's still a boss and we taught an investigator E. Young and Monahan found. Jibson. He's pretty solid but I doubt I'll have anything to do with him. but we all had dinner at the Rhees' they are a super sweet couple. He's super funny and chill. We went and played soccer with the ward afterwards (we had Prince show up) K I swear, I still hate soccer. And I swear I was better when I was in that little league crap in Vegas. Haha but it was good. I do well on defense cause I'll just attack the ball but as soon as I get it I don't know what to do with myself.. Prince was surpisingly good though so that was cool. Wednesday we had a couple good lessons. We talked to the Sanabria's for a couple hours and printed out copies of Jesus. We went over to Elder Martin's home (He works with Family History) but that was pretty good. He was the first temple president of the Columbus temple so he has a bunch of marble from it. So we all have a little piece of it :) We had dinner with the Steele's that night and that was pretty good. But it went over a bit so it shot our night basically. But we went over to Meijer's and printed out pictures and we made a big one of Monahan and I for E. Park. and Mike met up with us and helped us deck out the other Elder's apartment cause they were gone on a 24-hour exchange with the ZL's. It was funny, and we had a good night there. Thursday was hectic. I had the dentist that day. (I don't know if Sis Niu called you but that was just such a waste and I'm sorry) But before that we helped the ZL's move a member in their ward and since they're a tripanionship Cornia took us to the dentist. Well after that we had to figure out how to get Cornia back cause his comps had a lesson and it was just crazy. Anyways long story short we did a spontaneous exchange and I went up with the zl's and Monahan went with Park and Young. It was good. We saw a couple people. Knocked on people's doors and they answer just baked out of their minds. It's funny haha then we saw a less active member for a bit. That night we wrestled. The last time I wrestled was with Wheadon. My stamina was so bad. But I wrestled Bishop and he's a light short kid who somehow got me in the sleeper hold and I almost passed out. haha but I tapped. Then their greenie decided to wrestle. So I eventually wrestle him and he's this 250 pound Phillipino kid who's just solid.. I won though after a double leg lock. I was so burnt out on all sorts of energy.. but yeah.. that was fun but President just like chewed all the leadership out for that haha sooo yeah... Friday was good and relaxing cause nothing happened. Elder Niu needed our help to drive some new 2014 Cruze's down to the body shop to get hitches and that was fun cause I got to drive one alone and so did Cornia.. They're zippy little cars. Like Go-karts. I wanted to race Cornia but we didn't :P then we get back and it was supposed to be weekly planning but Bishop pushed Cornia and I to wrestle which it was our first time. It was fun cause we're like dead on even. In strength, height weight. Even body type, and we both had no clue what we're doing. So the first time he got me in this weird headlock and I tapped cause my neck is already bad enough and Bishop just destroyed it the night before. but we went again and I won with a leg lock. We both cranked on each other's legs cause it was a double leg lock. It hurt but was fun. Oh and the other Elders had a crazy experience. Remember that dude that knocked on the car window when I was with E. Young forever ago and just bashed hardcore with us. Well after the Hilliard Elders taught a lesson to a gator he knocks on her door and goes off about us and tells her we're evil etc etc. Then she tells him to screw off and leave and then he follows the Elders to bash with them! It was nuts! People are so stupid and think they're doing such good! but they're not. Saturday we had the AP's blitz our area for a little bit. and that was good. I went with E. Nielsen who graduated a year before I did at SC and also worked at Ford in STG. Small world! But that was good. We talked to a guy we knocked in before. And he went off on us and it was just nuts. Apparently E. Kujanpaa (now an AP) said I'm going DL next transfer and everyone's pushing for it and I don't want it. Leadership is so dumb out here. I just wanna help others without worrying about stupid titles. So we'll see. It's dumb though and I don't like it. But yeah. We talked to one of Emily's friends on Saturday who wants to get back in church. She's really responsible and cute and only 19 but hanging with such a bad crowd. She just helps others and you don't see that too much. Her name is Stephanie and I guess has a lot of problems too but we'll fix that. The gospel will help. Sunday was really good. Church was great. We got Prince and Emily there (I made them Omelets) and I bore testimony about the gospel. And expressed my love for the gospel and ward members. Then like a couple kids in the ward said really simple things that just got me all choked up. Like how missionaries are awesome and fix peoples spirits. I dunno it was just tender cause It was a soft moment for me. We get back and E. Monahan takes a long nap. but We had dinner at 5 with the Rynearson's. He's from STG too. Then Omer comes with us to teach Stephanie at 6 and that was really good too. Then we stopped by Prince and Emily to wish Prince a Happy Birthday (he's 20 now) then at 7 we saw Liz and Tommy. They're doing good. We're going out with them again this Friday. Then after that at 8 we went to the Fowler's and that's where you got the pics from :) haha I have pictures I need to send but never have time cause it takes so freaking long for it to happen. anyways. I'll get them out eventually. Sorry! Thanks to all those who've written! I love and miss you all! Church is True!

 

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler

having a good time at the Fowler's house

September 23, 2013

Hey Everyone!

So this past week has been a decent one. Not too much went down but it feels like it's just been absolutely hectic, anyways. I'm glad things are going good though back home. It's been weird lately cause there are days when I want to do missionary work but then I somehow just lose the drive and get all relaxed and it's just a weird little cycle. It's not that I don't do it, but more just don't care as much. Then again this area is difficult. But the good thing is is that I feel I'm being molded still. I think that since the area isn't as booming as I'd hope I lose the drive maybe? Dunno. We have actually been doing work but I guess not like tracting and stuff like that. We've been working with families in the ward and less-actives mostly. So it's good. But yeah. Sorry to start things off like that. But things are good really. Just getting that off. So! My high from the temple lasted a couple days. We had exchanges on Wednesday and E. Park came here. I feel bad for the kid cause he has a ton of problems. He tries hard and usually I try to help but this time I just stayed quiet. I had to run errands and stuff so we did and saw a couple people, I dropped all my pants and short sleeve shirts to the Millers (sweet members in our ward) cause Sis Miller is good at sewing! So she did all my pants (which all had holes or the seams were falling out) and she sized my shirts so they fit better :) They move soon but they're way cool. I would love a wife that's like her personality and such.. But yeah. The exchanges and everything else is burning me out a little. E. Monahan is still kinda the same. He's over most of this already. I think he blames me for "bringing him down" to where he is. I've been doing a lot better and caring more about the little things cause I know it helps me personally. But he still slacks sometimes and gets frustrated about it and prolly thinks it started with me. I dunno. I can't read the kid and frankly don't even care a whole lot anymore. I'm on a path personally and doing better personally and I know that and so does God and that's all that matters. So yeah :)

Prince and Emily are going through an interesting time. We played basketball on Thursday and found out Prince decided he was gonna get married and is trying to be sneaky with it and he was the one who wasn't sure about it and so we got super excited cause they're getting closer and have come so far. We just gotta find out more of Prince's past cause we're not sure if he needs to repent to the law for some stuff. So Saturday he drove us to a baptism in E. Monahan's old area of a 430 pound lady he helped taught. It took four missionaries to dunk her. It was crazy.. Took em three tries to get it. But anyways. Things seemed to be fine there and we were gonna go over and make breakfast and head to church. But Sunday morning Prince went on a temper tantrum and texted us and bailed and was saying stuff about Emily and how she doesn't believe it and she's not used to it etc. So we thought she bailed (which we found out today she didn't) so we were gonna try to go over after Church but got caught up with meetings and such. Then Emily texted us saying she doesn't know what to do about Prince. Just it's overwhelming. haha It's been a lot of back and forth stuff and we haven't been able to see them really in like a week for a lesson and get all on the same page.. It's just crazy. So we're figuring that out! And then there is a family in the ward we're working with and there's like a ton of drama and stupid crap there that's crazy and hectic. So we forget to meet with people cause we get caught up with others and it's just crazy.. But we're working on sorting it all out and it's slowly getting better.

The ward is starting to love us and do some missionary work so it's getting a lot better there. We had a good dinner last night with the Snow's and they invited some Catholic friends over and we had a good casual dinner that might progress here soon. I told him about Mike and it caught his interest. So we'll see where it goes! It'll be exciting and hopefully booming soon. We just gotta do our part and the Lord will take care of the rest! I don't have my pictures with me today so I apologize for that. But yeah. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I appreciate it a ton! I don't have much else to say but yeah. I'm doing good and still growing. :) Love and Miss you all!

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler.

September 17, 2013...two days shy of his ONE YEAR mark!!!

Hey mom,

Thanks for writing!! The fair sounds like it was a ton of fun! I can't believe two puked it all up! Ha I don't remember the last time I threw up... JK I do, It was scout camp at Jacob's lake in '08 sorry.. off subject. Sorry I didn't write you and dad like I said I would.. To be honest I totally forgot what I was even going to write about so we'll see if any of it gets included here.

So Hilliard is seriously such a dud... And It's hard to stay motivated sometimes here. And honestly most days we're not. It's something I'm working on. We went to the temple today. (first off, LOVE the new video!!) I learned quite a bit there today and it was really good. I also got called out when I was in the Celestial Room asking for help with all this. So scriptures helped on that one! So it's good. This area I feel has been more for me than anything else. Learning a lot of deep life lessons and figuring things out there. Omer Sanabria is such an inspirational guy. He inspires me almost as much as Beecher does. Us being here has also helped the ward for future missionaries. The one Elder that burned this area frustrated the crap out of me and I seriously just wanna punch him when I see him cause of what he did, But... that's not what Jesus would do ;)

This last week we haven't been able to be too successful here. We've been working with members and less-actives and helping them out. We've been sticking close to a couple families who are struggling a little bit. I can't think of what we did on a day to day basis, but I'll just talk about a couple experiences.

We were able to celebrate Mikes birthday and that was fun. I made Chicken Crescents.. (I don't remember if I wrote about that...) Wednesday we had Zone Meeting.. (they all seem the same to me personally) But after E. Young came and hung out with me for exchanges. He's getting burnt out with his comp so we relieve him. It rained on us and was pretty stormy Wednesday and Thursday but it's fun! Sometimes... Tomorrow I'll prolly have Elder Park. He's a good kid. Just needs help. Elder Cornia came down with us on Friday to Saturday. It was way fun and A nice break from everything. I like pray we could serve together cause it would be the best haha. I'm getting a little burnt out on things but I keep going and learning. So I can't complain. :) Saturday we had a hog roast (which was a ton of fun and I love the ward a ton and would love to be a part of it like as a normal dude, but missionary wise.. it's getting there..) and I just kicked and threw a football to a bunch of kids.. Ha then the sole of my shoes came halfway off (sorry Nana!!! I'll still use em when I buy shoe goo! haha) anyways so the ward like felt really bad (and I didn't think anything of it. It was my fault and I was just gonna glue it when I got back. It was funny actually) anyways so Omer took us home and drove past our house and went to famous footwear and bought brand new shoes....It pissed Monahan I think and I seriously felt bad... (And Mike I feel bad with you too, even if you don't think so) I didn't feel like I didn't deserve it cause I'm not a good missionary. I'm just trying while I'm out here. But he loves us and I use them as motivation to "earn" them. Cause Omer has already done a ton for me personally and I love the guy for everything already. He's so funny to and I swear He'll be an apostle. Just you wait guys you'll see him up on the pulpit one day!! We went over there on Sunday for lunch and we just talk a lot about life. We also had dinner with the bishop which was good! He had a guitar so of course I played it. I played Fever Dream by Iron and Wine and now he wants to learn it! haha I thought that was cool :) We then went over to the Fowlers and also taught their F.H.E. last night too. They're a sweet family. I hope things get better for them. They're great. I haven't been able to talk to Mike as much as I've wanted to but I miss that guy. I can't wait to hang out with him after all this. Honestly I love the relationships I've been able to create out here. These people will always have a place in my heart. Last night we had dinner with the Howlett's (first time we've really talked to them) They're kinda weird... He's lonely and she's kinda crazy... We got there and they just finished putting the Lasagna together and threw it in the oven for like ten minutes. I think the only thing that cooked was the cheese... The joys of being a missionary sometimes... Ha mom.. Send some Lasagna please.. Thanks..

Well I hope things continue to go well and actually I do miss doing the Mortuary Drives. I always see Acadia's out here and I think of that! It's fun telling people I drove dead bodies around. Most people's dad's don't go from General Contractors to Funeral Directors... It's good stuff :) Don't worry bout the pictures. I figured that was the case. But thanks for the Card, I needed that too! Well Back to riding around Hilliard getting honked at yelled at cause I'm the weird kid on a bike ;) I have fun though. I jump over what I can :) like the Sanabria's boy Diego's bike yesterday. E. Monahan got everyone to make me do it. I swear he thinks I'm like this prideful arrogant kid who likes to show off on his bike when I'm just trying to enjoy things but it's all good though. It's fun and it's his problem. Anyways. I love you all and miss you guys more than you know. But I'm doing great out here too :)

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler.

The pics I have I'll have to send next week cause the computer is being dumb... Sorry!

Hey Mom :)

Thanks again for all the birthday stuff. I know you've always tried hard and did your best I was just always a punk with it. And last year was just really weird for me so yeah. I got the box today and a letter from Grandma Nyquist. (Seriously.. She is so amazing and tender. She has done a ton for me and I'm a turd for not thanking her more. I'll write a letter though :)) It was good. I'm glad I got to spend it with Mike and Pebbles and Cornia too (on the 4th) The only thing I think that could have made that day better was if I found some drums to play.. I can't tell you how bad that's killing me.. Ha but all in good time :) I actually got a pair of drumsticks from Michael Bowens. I don't remember if I told you that. But I play with those all the time :) anyways. So This letter is gonna be pretty dull not a lot happened. But I'll write a hand written one of personal stuff I wanna share that you can type and put on (I don't have much time sorry)

So. Monday not a whole lot happened.. I think we did exchanges again. I left to Hilliard to with E. Park and not a whole lot happened. It was like one of those days where I just felt so completely frazzled, But we didn't have a dinner so I called the Billings and they did a little birthday dinner. We had Bacon wrapped jalepenos with Dove meat :) it was pretty good! Tuesday we actually had to help the mission office furnish a new apartment out in Reynoldsburg, which serioulsly took all freakin day. And a lot of it was driving around getting crap from all the storage units and then getting new beds and it was just hectic. Actually it was pretty fun, The 4 Hilliard Elders worked together and the new apartment was sweet! haha so the place had like a laundry chute from the top floor to the basement and we wanted to see if it worked so Elder Monahan through his magnetic badge down to see if it works... but it got stuck to the chute wall. So I had my clip one and hucked it down and that got stuck! So it was dumb but funny. :) I actually got it back today at the Mission Luau we had :) (it was just for accomplishing some goals and they had fun games and such so it was good :)) Wednesday was our P-day so not a lot happened there cept a member who seriously inspires me a ton (and is gonna be an apostle) talked to us and it was a good convo. I'll explain more.. Thursday was transfers and my b-day and we had a decent day planned just nothing went through. We had fun though. E. Monahan woke up at 2:30am and put up streamers which was surprising. He's gotten better. I called him out on how he was acting and he knew it was true cause I wasn't the only one he has been like he has too. He got sick though and was out for Thursday and Friday. And then he ate a peanut on Saturday (I got it from Chad and Julianne [thanks a ton for that you guys!!]) and He wanted to see if he grew out of his allergy... Ha... Nope... It was pretty funny even though he was like dying. So not much happened those two days.. Saturday night Prince and Emily came home from vacation and we went over there and talked. They have such a strong desire but the little things are getting in their way so we're working on that. Other than that our teaching pool sucks. We work with members and strengthen the ones who need it like the Fowler and we try to help Liz and Tommy but we go over and have fun. She is less-active and we're still trying to figure out if we're related but she's also from South Carolina so we'll see? They're awesome though and she made a super awesome dinner for us on Sunday! I should have taken a picture but yeah. I don't have a ton of time so if I get time this week I'll write more and send pics but I'll try and do it in that hand-written one. K? I love and miss everyone! I'm doing well I wish I could get into more detail now but it'll have to wait! K Gotta jet!!

 

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler

Happy 20th Birthday!!!

It was transfer day on Derrek's birthday and wanted to make sure he had a good day.  There is a Sister that lives about 2 hours away from Columbus (she is now in the Cincinnati mission) and has been, upon request, helping moms in the Columbus, Ohio mission by delivering a cake, balloons, and a treat bag.  I am a part of the Missionary Moms Facebook Group and they had mentioned that if you wanted to do this for your son/daughter, to contact her.  I really wanted to do this for Derrek, but at the same time hated asking someone to do it, especially since I didn't even know her.  But, I realized that she offered because she wanted to do this and I thought it would really be great.  I would want some mom to contact me and do this for her son if I was on the other side of things.  So, I contacted Tina.  She has this down!  She started asking me about Derrek (favorite color, cake flavor, silly toys, candy, etc).  She was going to Columbus for transfers to do a couple other birthday surprises for other missionaries and she said that Hilliard is on her way home, so if Derrek wasn't at transfers, she could still get it to him.  She told me that she did see him at transfers, but didn't realize it was him because I had told her he was staying in Hilliard and she didn't expect to be looking for him at the mission home.  But, she was able to contact him, thanks to Mike Wihl who gave me his cell number so that I could give it to Tina to get in touch with Derrek.  Here are pictures of that occasion!

 So, I guess the moral of the story is, you have gifts and talents that can be used to brighten someone's day...start small and then over time, like Tina, we can be doing it for the whole mission :).  Tina said that her son served in the Oklahoma City Mission and there were moms there that did it for her son and that always stuck with her.  This will definitely stick with me and when I have a chance, I would like to do it for our missionaries, too, passing on what someone did for me :).  Thank you, Tina!!!

Staying in Hilliard

Hey guys :)

So I'm sure everyone is curious with transfers, E. Monahan and I are both staying another transfer in Hilliard. Which I was shocked... Everyone kept telling me I was gonna train (I'm kinda glad I'm not) but I missed like a day of morning schedule.. So that's prolly why. ha I don't even care cause my body needed it cause I was running out of gas. So it's all good :) I'm not gonna lie but it's a little bittersweet that I'm staying in Hilliard. It's just such a dead area and is so small, but it'll work out. E. Monahan and I talked a little and I let him know some things and I think this next transfer we'll get along a lot better. Which will be good. They took our car away so that's kinda a bummer. I don't mind bikes at all. I feel more productive. but it was nice to have a car cause the gym we got to go to and also for groceries and errands. So we'll see. Oh and real quick.. Backpacks are no longer aloud so I need a shoulder bad or just something small. I hate shoulder bags so I don't even know if I want one but we'll see. I'll let you know. :)

 Once again there isn't much to report on with the work wise. I've seriously gone on so many exchanges I don't even know what's going on with my area anymore haha. Apparently Prince is gonna take more work than we thought. They've been on vacation in Virgina this past week and so we haven't seen him in a bit. But he has a huge addiction to Weed and it's bad that he'll need medical help for it. But he has the desire and hopefully willpower to overcome it. I know it's possible. But he's been smoking it since he was 8 and smokes an ounce and a half a day at about $150 a day too. So it's crazy but I know he can do it. I'm glad we still get to work with him but now it's gonna take a lot of work. Micheal Bowens is doing well. He's hit a couple walls with himself personally. but we're able to help him so it's cool working with him. I got to see Mike today, we met up for lunch which was awesome. I miss that guy but I got pictures of that so that's sweet. :) He's doing good as far as I'm concerned. I haven't had the chance to talk to him too much but yeah. Pebbles is leaving Westland which sucks. I seriously love that kid a ton. I hope Mike handles that well. But I'll write more on Monday I don't have much time today which sucks but I'm doing well. I'll send pics on Monday and you can add this email with that one. I hope everyone is doing good. I love and miss you all!

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler

Ok so basically we found more time and I don't know what else to write. But I'll just send pics. I'm sure most have seen that we went to lunch downtown with Liz and Tommy. That was way fun and they bought me a record (vinyl) for my b-day which was awesome! Cept it wasn't even the right one... I got the Civil Wars Vinyl but I got Florence and the Machine. So they'll take it back for me. I was trying to find The four Thrice Vinyls but they're super expensive. (in case you're wondering E. Monahan has a record player and we play it all the time. We play old school music like "ain't no mountain high or low and such and also christmas music. and His Bon Iver vinyl that he got with Liz (Steurer) and Tommy :) fun stuff!) but other stuff is just pics from lunch today at this little farmers market and deli. it was sweet. We got to go with a lot of people and eat good sandwhiches :) I also have one of E. Bishop and I in the car for exchanges :) K so I'll write monday! Love you guys!! oh and there's one of this Lambo Diablo that we saw driving! it was dark so hopefully you can see it! it's sick! I have more pics but I gotta get em from E. Monahan so I'll send those Monday. oh and I guess I can tell you that Monday this last week we did exchanges again and I went to hilliard 2 with E. Park. It was alright. I just was way to tired to think straight. haha and Tuesday we spent all day helping the mission office move in a new apartment out in Reynoldsburg that took all freaking day but I lost my tag there cause I threw it down a laundry chute and it got stuck.. So yeah that was funny but dumb. other than that nothing really happened! K love ya!!

Elder Bowler and Liz Steurer (she calls him her brother from another mother)

Yes...Derrek's face isn't for real...I asked!

Elder Bowler and Elder Cornia

Mike with his "chew" and Elder Bowler

Friends forever ?!?

So it's E. Monahan and I going through the car wash yesterday and It's Pebbs and I taking a cute little photo. (his hand is right under my right hand on my side haha cute stuff ;)) and then it's Cornia and I with a baby cow at that farmers market then me and Mike with his "dip" that he tried to fool us with haha :)

Still growing!

Hey Mom! 

So first off HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! I hope it's a great one!! I sent Alec an e-mail so hopefully he gets that today or if not he'll read it next Monday. I talked to Calvin also, He's not gonna worry bout God for a while. Which is totally fine. His choice. He'll come around though. I pray for him often. That's sweet about that baptism! We're progressively getting closer to one. Prince and Emily (our most solid gators now) have a lot to go through but the change that's come is freaking epic. We have to marry them (well bishop will) which I think will be sweet to have done that on my mish. I'll talk more about them in a bit.

This past week hasn't been any more special than the one before. It's gone by fast but looking back a lot has happened. Not like entirely missionary wise (we had doctor's appointments and chiropractor stuff [frick yeah!]) we have done a ton of exchanges, and we're doing two more this week, and I'm going to the other areas.. So it'll be hectic. This last Wednesday President came in during our district meeting and then basically called us all out (mostly E. Park for slacking as a trainer) So it was crazy. We all were told to step up and President and Sister Nilsen did say some things to me that helped "inspire" I guess you can say to do a little better. I'm no where near a good missionary or the perfect missionary. Ha I know that. But I also know how far I've come this past year. I know I sounded dramatic and pathetic at the beginning cause it didn't seem like a big deal but it did to me. And for me to overcome what I have personally is probably one of the coolest things. I got to talk to Mike this last week on the phone which was great. I was good talking to that guy. He helps me out too. I've come a long way. E. Young told me that the Zone Leaders (Cornia and Bishop) were gonna recommend me for leadership to shape up or something like that. Ha I'm not (mission) leadership material. I do better helping one on one, Sharing what little insight I have. I did that with E. Young and apparently helped him out. So that's cool. but I don't want that other crap at all cause I don't wanna deal with more people than I do. It's different dealing with someone when you love them or go out of your own way to help others than to say "here, get along with this kid" or something like that... I dunno, I'm rambling haha.

Anyways. Monahan got sick and we took a day off. We had two Chiropractor appts that is like an hour and a half drive total. Clear to the boondocks it seems haha. It was good though I enjoyed it and my back got worked on which is nice. We have an appt this Friday so it's nice. He's a member and helps missionaries out for free. (doesn't do the best job since it's free but hey I can't complain) We went on exchanges and I got Elder Park. He's a good kid. I like him and a lot of people judge quick with him. He opened up and has gone through a lot. This was before District meeting and I gave him a couple things to work on. I get to go with E. Young tonight in their area and then E. Bishop on Wednesday in Hayden Run.. Yay...

Last week lesson wise wasn't the best. But we had really powerful ones with Prince and Emily. Prince opened up some deep internal battles he goes through with God and Satan and we gave him a blessing and it was pretty powerful. He's doing great now and He and Emily read the Book of Mormon and Pray every night. And the night we gave a blessing he opened up randomly and the first scripture he read was EXACTLY what he needed to hear! It was so sweet! They did a chapel tour on Saturday but I didn't go cause I was babysitting E. Park. E. Monahan and I switched shifts to get E. Young out and working. It was nice. I got to read and do some thinking. I also read that book Lexi made for Christmas. I love it. Thanks again to all those who wrote in it! But I got to go out and work with E. Young a couple times this weekend. Anyways. I'm doing well. Becoming more aware of who I am and how I want to become and the mission is definitely becoming a part of who I am and helping in a lot of ways. Even when I want to just take a break and say forget it for a couple days It's still a good thing. I'm becoming more thankful everyday for this decision to serve. I gotta go! I don't have much time today! Love you all! Read Alma 13-14; and 17-18. Sweet scriptures!!

Love,

Elder Derrek Bowler (Elder Bowler #1) ;P

PS most the pics are from a metro park we found! pretty cool stuff!