#35: Baptism Day for Carmelo and Moraima

Hola!
   Life's been really good down her below the border.  This last Saturday, we were able to baptize Carmelo and Moraima!!  It was super exciting to see them in the baptismal font!  I attached the photo for you to see!  I think they were the first people who I've been there to teach from start to finish.  The other man in white is Fernando.  He is in the branch here in Guerrero and was the one to perform the baptism.  Fernando is 19 years old and opened his mission call on Sunday.  He is going to the Mexico City, Northeast Mission and leaves on March 29th!! haha  He has just one month to prepare!  How crazy is that?!

    I kinda think that I'll be transferred when Elder Castro goes home.  I've been here for three cycles and think that my time here is no more after the next two weeks, but that doesn't mean we are going to quit working.

     Dad-Have I told you that I can't wait for my interview with you after my mission?  Please set aside a whole night..haha cause I have so much that I want to share with you! :)  (his dad asked him if there was something that he wished he would have done different before his mission to prepare)-Something that I wish I kinda did more of was go on visits with the missionaries...As a missionary now, I understand how important lessons with members are, and plus it helps give you confidence in teaching the lessons.

I love and pray for you all each day,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:

D&C 66:5

Behold, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should proclaim my gospel from land to land, and from city to city, yea, in those regions round about where it has not been proclaimed.

February 27, 2016
Baptism of Fernando

#34: First Baptism of the New Year!

I was pretty bummed last week when the email server wasn't working, so hopefully today is better! I am feeling a lot better.  I think I ate something last week that my body didn't like so that's what happened! haha  WOOHOO!!!  I'm pretty excited to get my birthday package :)

Fabian was baptized this last Saturday, (February 20th) so that was awesome!!  His mom still has a few worries and things holding her back but we are continuing to work with her! :) We haven't had a baptism at all this year so it felt really nice to finally break the drought! haha Carmelo and Moraina are getting baptized this coming Saturday!!! We are pretty excited!

Le amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
Moroni 7:16
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

Elder Castro, Hermano Cardona, Solanch, Gabian, Norma and I
(Fabian's baptism-February 20, 2016

Playing Fútbol with the kids in Guerrero :)

(I love the pure joy on Elder Fowler's face!  I found out
that the tie he is wearing is one that Brother Tim Mooney
gave him before he left on his mission.  It has Moroni
on it.  He said that he bought the tie clip and it
says, "Jesus"on it)

#33: Goal Achieved!!

Hello friends and family...or shall I say, Hola mis amigos y famiha!  This year has been really good and it seems like each day is faster than the last!  Which means that I'm only given less time here in Mexico.  I'm kind of sad about that as each day passes.  I have less days to be here in Mexico, serving the people that I've come to love!

This last week, the weather has been really nice!  I'm starting to sweat throughout the day!  We don't even wear our sweaters during the day.  That only means that summer is right around the corner and the heat of Chihuahua will be upon us.  On Monday, we had a Zone Conference in La Junta, which was really awesome.  Afterwards, we played soccer (futbol) for a couple hours.  I must say, with all the practice, I'm getting pretty good!haha  Then on Tuesday, we took the bus to go to Cuauhtemac for a Capacitation with Presidente and Hermana Chavez.  I learned quite a lot from both of them.  They are really great and I love them so much.

Last night was really tough on me... I threw up 4 times and probably got less than 4 hours of sleep, which makes today really hard...I'm gonna take a nap for sure!  Today my body really aches and is sore.. I don't want to do much of anything today :(

Each Tuesday and Friday, I teach an English class which is really fun.  I never thought I could teach English in a different language but hey, that's what I'm doing!  They all have a funny accent when they try to talk in English! haha  I get a kick out of it.  I enjoy it and I think the people I teach do too.

We didn't have a baptism this weekend but hopefully on the 27th of this month we will be baptizing two people, a husband and wife,  Carmelo and Moraina.  They are really excited, and so are we. Something that I've learned is investigators have a hard time keeping specific commitments that we give them.  Especially attending church...Every Sunday before church, we go to our investigators houses and knock for some time. haha   Lots of times we wake them up to make it to church at 10:00am!!!

But, this week at church we were able to bring 7 investigators to sacrament meeting!  That's the most we've ever had here in Guerrero!  Also, they had the opportunity to listen to the words of Presidente and Hermana Chavez!  That's right, they came to Guerrero this week and what was even more special, was we reached our goal to have 50 people in attendance during sacrament meeting!  Today the branch had 51 people!  This week, all of our hard work and obedience brought forth blessings from the Lord.

I really enjoy seeing  the Lord at work when we do all we can to bring others unto Christ.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the rest of my mission.

I love you and know that you are in good hands while I'm south of the border!
Le amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is 1 Nephi 18:16  I really like this one!


16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

Together as a zone in Cuauhtemac

Capacitation in Cuauhtemac

Elders-Fowler, Beeson, and Anton
They all were in the CCM together and arrived in the
mission field on the same day.

#32: 7 Month Mark

Hola!!
I don't why, but time is really flying by!  Wow!  7 Months!  Geez, that's crazy! So glad to hear that you all got my letters!! I was getting worried because I did put a coin in each envelope and thought maybe someone would steal them because of that! haha  I can't tell you had bad I wanted to ask if you got them, but I kinda wanted it to be a surprise!! haha

As for our investigators, the are really progressing well.  We are teaching the woman from the flower shop, and her son.  They are really awesome!  Her family are members.  I really enjoy her son, Fabian who is 13 years old and he really likes me!  He needs one more assistance in church, so hopefully next weekend we will be able to baptize him!! :)
(the mission likes to have investigators attend church at least 5 times before they are baptized)

This week, well actually today, I finished reading the Book of Mormon in SPANISH!!  Only took me 7 months!  haha  The English Book of Mormon has 531 pages, where the Spanish one has 642 pages, way more than English! haha  I really do have a strong testimony of it and love the stories which are recorded for us! :) I have awesome markings in my scriptures that I like how it's worded in Spanish.  As for the language, it's coming along better and better each day!  I learn new words and phrases each day too!

I had a zone meeting today in La Junta, so that is why we are writing right now instead of earlier. They are usually every first Monday but because transfers were last week, we had it today.  Tomorrow we are going to Cuauhtemoc to be taught by President Chavez. (his mission president)
I love and pray for you each day!!

Le amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is the scripture that the youth are using for this year's mutual theme:

2 Nephi 31:20

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

This is me and Fabian

Me leading the music on Tuesday for Family Home Evening (FHE)
with the Branch.  I lead the music each Sunday in church too.
(See-having to lead the music at home for FHE, at mutual or
in Young Mens on Sundays, comes in handy)

#31: Staying In Guerrero

It's good to hear that you (mom) had a good birthday.  I thought of you all day Saturday!  I'm glad you've had a good time with Grammy! :)

The attendance this week at church wasn't exactly 50 because there were a lot of people who were sick... so we had only 35 people there.

Today is the start of a new transfer cycle and my comp and I don't have changes (transfers) which will probably mean that I'll end up "killing off" Elder Castro since he only 6 weeks left of his mission.  (To "kill" someone off means that their last companion in the mission will be the one that
will be sending that missionary home-it's missionary lingo)  We have a meta (goal) of having 5 baptisms in the month of February-Wow!  It's already FEBRUARY! haha  I just passed my 200th day in the mission about a week ago!  Oh, and I teach an English class and my companion and I teach seminary once a week!

I heard that the US is getting a lot of snow and weather lately, and that the eastern states are getting hammered!! Thanks for the scripture for the week.  I try and memorize it in Spanish!
Le amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize":
1 Nephi 7:12

12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

Flower arrangements made by someone who we are teaching. 

(Mom's countdown-Purple is the time he  spent
at the CCM, Blue is with his first companion,
and red is with his currant companion.
One full side completed)

(After getting an email from our missionary-later that day when
the mail was checked, there was a handwritten letter to each family
member-I recognized Elder Fowler's handwriting just by the capital
"E" in the upper left hand corner! This is PRICELESS!! We will be sure
and let him know that after almost 2 months, we received his letters!)

#30: Increased Attendance

Hola!  This week in sacrament meeting, we had the best number in attendance for a long time-37!  And that was with many regulars  who weren't able to make it, like the Branch President! haha
I am able to watch videos!!  Send them! Send the ALL!!! haha
I only have one picture this week, but no weekly letter.  I know, I get the bad missionary badge! haha
But hey, I love you.
Oh, I don't know if I told you guys, but the Spanish people have a hard time saying, Fowler!!!  It's always more like "Fō-ler", there's no "ow" sound!!!
Oh, I wanted to let you know that two weeks ago, I cleaned out our shower drain!!!  I give you major props Mom!!  That's one Nasty job!!!  BLAHH!!! haha  I never wanna do that again!  (I told him that this just makes him good husband material!)

I want to say Feliz Cumplaño Madre!!!  I hope this Saturday is a great day and that you will be surrounded by those who love you!  You can bet that I will be sending you love from Mexico!!!  I couldn't forget the birthday of the most important woman in my life!!  The woman who is my biggest cheerleader!!  I love you mom!!

Le Amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Alma 17:10-11

10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

 11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

This is Brother (Hermano) Trini- He is Awesome!
I'm wearing "normal" clothes because we were on our way to do
some service.  And yes, I'm riding in the back! haha

#29: 40 Days of Fasting

Well, the work here is going.  We are hoping to have baptism either this weekend or the following.  Hopefully they will be prepared by this weekend to make this great covenant! :)

I'm really sorry, but I don't have any pictures or a journal entry from this past week.  By the time we come home and plan for the next day, I'm exhausted and beat and just lay in bed...haha   Next week I'll try to have both pictures and a journal entry!

Later today I will begin fasting because our branch here in Guerrero is doing a 40 day fast, where for 40 days, one person fasts for one day.  We are doing this to hopefully get 50 souls in church on Sunday this month.  This past Sunday, we had 34 people, where at the beginning of the month there were only 20!!!  So, the fasting is showing improvement in the Branch!

I love and pray each day for you,

Your Elder Fowler

(This week's scripture to "Ponderize")

2 Nephi 2:11

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.