#61: Transfer Day-But Staying Put

Here I am after another transfer.  I'm still in the same area, but I have a new companion.  Elder Merlo was sent to the other side of Cuauhtemoc. I'm training another "son" in the mission. (meaning his companion is fresh from the Missionary Training Center) His name is Elder Hernandez.  He's from Chiapas, which is in Mexico, but somewhere near Guatemala.  All my companions so far here in the mission field have been native speakers.  I don't know why, but whatever! hahaha I will help him with his English, and he'll help me with my Spanish.   I still do hear from Elder Vergara (he was Preston's trainer "dad")  We have a new assistant to the President as of today.  He's really dope, (cool) and I like him a lot!!  We brought 3 people to church this last Sunday!!!  I was stoked because that was the most we had in this area!!

(He was asked if the members there feed them) Yepp!!  We eat with members every day, except Mondays.  Usually we eat with the same families each week....imagine doing that?!

(His dad asked him how he felt about chapter 4 in the Preach My Gospel manual)  Yeah, that chapter is soooooo important because if you don't know how/what the spirit is telling you, you can't teach your investigators according to their needs.  The gospel discussions need to be adapted to each person specifically to their needs and concerns.  Only through the spirit can we know what those needs are.  

(His dad cautioned him: 'This is a time in the mission when you're working on all cylinders. Just don't forget it is easy to become complacent and get lax on the obedience part.  Help your new companion to start out on the right foot and be obedient in all things and watch the miracles roll in!')

Of course, dad!!!  I'm not someone who will get lazy and disobedient!  Always doing the right and setting the example! :)

Love your son and missionary,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
Doctrine & Covenants 81:5
Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

Elders- Fuentes and Fowler

Elder Fowler's Zone
(Taken before the transfer)
(Back row-second from right side)

While in Rubio at another set of Elder's apartment, we trapped
and killed this rat!!!

Success!

The shoe is there to show you how big this thing was!!!

Saying goodbye to Elder Merlo as he is about to board a
bus to take him to his new area on the other side of Cuauhtemoc.

#60: Making a Difference

This week was a good one.  We had one of our investigators attend church with us and he is really dope!  (meaning cool) haha  I hope to bring him more to church so he can progress on his way to baptism and confirmation!

(His dad told him some exciting news about an upcoming baptism for Susie, here in his home ward)
What a great email this week!  I can't believe how awesome that story is!!  Wow!!  All I can say is WOW!!!  These are stories that I love to hear!  They bring a smile to my face.  I think about Brother Olano and his conversion (1 ½ years ago).  I remember going out with him on visits right before my mission, and he and I were both looking at the other to take the lead as we taught lessons in the less actives homes.  I can't wait to go on splits again with him.  Now I will know how to teach so it will be a lot more fun!  I love him and his wife!  They will be so happy once they can be sealed together in the temple!  And...I can be there for it as well!  How special.  The Lord works in marvelous ways.  The Lord is good and knows all our needs and how we can help others come unto Christ, even when 3000 miles away!  I hope you do send me pictures of her baptism.  I would really love that!! :)

I think that with this week being changes (transfers), I will be leaving Cauahtemoc because my zone leader was talking with President  and told him that I have been the Cauahtemoc stake for my whole mission, so there's a good chance come Monday.  This area is cool and all, but I want to see more of the mission.

I'm learning to memorize the scriptures in Spanish and Elder Merlo is in English!!  Pretty cool, huh?  Elder Merlo tells me that I dream in Spanish because sometimes I talk in my sleep and he hears everything! hahaha

I love you and hope you have a great week and that you see the blessings from the Lord in your life!
Love,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
3 Nephi 27:19
And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.


(We received two emails from his companion, Elder Merlo-Thank you Norma for translating them both for us)

(First email) Thank you so much for the cards, and the things that you sent me.  The truth is I’m taking care of your son, I hope that this is like payment for the love he has shown me.  Thanks again for the cards, they are beautiful,  eventhough I don’t understand everything, but one day I will.  Say hi to your family.  I love you all very much.

(Second emial)  I am also grateful to the Lord for my companion and trainer that he has given me.  It is true that I feel satisfied with him, and I love him so much, just like you love him.  I hope that the Lord continues to bless your family always the way he has blessed me on my mission and in my life.  I would love to keep in contact with him and with you guys, and perhaps one day I will visit you in your house. Ha Ha.

(In the last package, I sent both Elder Fowler and Elder Merlo letters
that were then folded to look like shirts, with their name tags on them.
"My Mother" is what is labeled for Preston's and "My Grandmother"
is labeled for Elder Merlo's-since Preston is Merlo's trainer, they
refer to his as Merlo's "father".  So, if Preston is Merlo's "father" than I
would be his "grandmother".)

#59: Time in the city of Rubio

My week has been pretty good.  I was in Rubio with my District on Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday as well.  It was a good time that's for sure.  I really like the city of Rubio.  It reminds me a lot of Guerrero which is really cool!

We don't really have training meetings with President Montoya as often as we did with President Chavez but it's still really good.  On day President Montoya came out to our house in the morning to teach us personally!!!  I love him.

Thanks for the update on the family and the friends back at home.  I like getting updates on everyone, but wow, I can't believe how crazy the last couple weeks have been for everyone..What an emotional week, that's for sure.  (I let him know about the death of Alisa Hardy-Orton and her unborn baby girl, Ellis-hard week with the funeral being this past weekend)  That sounds like a great fireside with Elder Lynn G. Robbins.  idk why but I feel like he goes to Reno a lot. Am I right?

(This Wednesday marks 1 year that Elder Fowler left the missionary training center in Mexico and got to the mission field in Chihuahua)  This Wednesday will also mark one year that I have been in the same Stake!!!  The Cuauhtemoc Stake.  Pretty crazy, that's for sure!!  We have a couple of our investigators that are progressing and keeping their commitments, so that is good.  I feel like Elder Merlo and I are getting even closer.  He trusts me and tells me things that worry him and questions that he has.  It's cool.
Love your son,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Doctrine & Covenants 4:5-6

 5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherlykindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

Elder Stockton and Elder Fowler walking throughout an apple orchard.

(I will let you guess what this is)

All cooked up and ready to eat.

Hermano Ricardo Ordoñez

Elders Stockton, Heindel, Hernandez and Fowler playing basketball on their P-Day.

#58: Loaded with Pictures ;)

I'm glad to hear about the updates on the family and on the house!  Can't believe that Brecken is a Senior and Kylah is a Sophomore!! Crazy to think that I will be home right after Brecken's graduation!  Wish I could be there for that though.

I thought of some things that I could/want in the next package...Tooth flossers, nutella! hahaha  Teeth whiteners 'cause two years without a dentist sucks!! hahaha  Also, last week when I washed my clothes with another missionaries, he had forgotten to take out a RED pen, so they are now covered in red blotches!!

Again this week we didn't have any investigators or less actives come to church with us.  To be honest, I wasn't too upset because President Montoya told me this last week that the success that I have as a missionary won't be based on how many baptisms I have, but rather my DESIRE to find, teach, baptize and confirm converts.  That was something really powerful and a testimony builder to me as well.

I love and pray for you each day!
Love your son,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Isaiah 41:10 & 13
10 ¶Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

(This week, our son-in-law's cousin died from his injuries due from slipping off a bridge while with a group of friends-it's been an emotional week, but here is what Preston wrote to his sister Brooke today)

Thanks for the update today on Carson.  I've been really praying this week for him and his family.  I will continue praying and thinking about  him and his family.  I LOVE the atonement and the knowledge that we have of the gospel and that after this life, we will all be together forever without any pain or heartache.  I love the gospel and for the chance that I have each day to share my testimony of the glorious message which the Savior has given us.

Trying raw coconut for the first time.

Elder Fowler, Elder Merlo and Hermana Ordoñez-Her son
is 26 and plays ball with us each week.

Broken umbrella-time to get a replacement

Where we play basketball every week.

We ate as  a district at a place called Smokehouse!
We spent 530 pesos (about $15 each) between me and Elder Stockton
for all the food in the two pictures above.

Elders: Merlo, Stockton, Fuentes & Fowler

Having to climb into another set of Elder's apartment
because they locked themselves out.

Success!

#57: An email from Elder Merlo

(The following is from Elder Merlo, who is Elder Fowler's companion.  It was sent in Spanish, but my sweet friend Norma translated it for us :)  Thanks Norma!!  This was such a sweet reward for us to hear from him.  I know Preston really enjoys him)

Hiiii, I hope you are doing well and are enjoying the blessings that come from a son who is serving a mission. First off thank you for the work you did in raising your son Elder Fowler, he helps me a lot in the mission and now that he is my father (trainer) he helps me a lot.  He has taught me so much about being obedient, and how that is so important. He is so good to everyone and I’m happy he is my trainer/father ha ha.

Thank God that you have such a wonderful son, Elder Fowler, and that he is doing this great work for the Lord.

Thank you for everything take care of yourselves and many blessings to you and your family, say hi from me.

(Elder Merlo)

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

(No pictures form him this week, but this is how it makes me feel)

#56: A Sweet Surprise

From Elder Fowler's mom:

 (On Wednesday, July 20th, I received a friend request on FaceBook from a man in Mexico.  I thought that was cool, but wanted to talk to Preston about it first before adding him.   A little later, I saw that I had a voicemail on my cell phone.   My phone had only been on silent for 15 minutes.  I listened to the voicemail message and was sad that I had missed the call by only 5 minutes.  It was from a member in Preston's area, Hermano Marquez.  His message said, "Hello Miss Alison, this is Mr. Octavio Marquez from Chihuahua.  I'm a friend of Fowler.  He just wanted to say hi to you.  He is eating with me today, on Wednesday.  I just want to say thank you for sending him down here to Mexico.  He's a very good friend of mine. Have a great day, and God bless."    

At first I was so sad that I had missed this call, but it is really nice to have the recording so that I could share it with my family.  This made me wonder if he had left me a personal message on FaceBook.  On FaceBook, if you're not "friends" with someone and they send you a message, it can end up in another area and you have to search a bit for it.  Well, I was right, he had sent me a message AND a picture of my missionary!!  I was able to correspond back and forth with this member through FaceBook a bit.  He is the mission leader there in the area and he takes the missionaries out to eat each Wednesday.  He also told me, "He is a great missionary and working hard to bring others unto Christ. He is in good hands.  He is part of my family. They are special to me."  These words from this man mean so much to a missionary momma.  I'm so grateful that he is so good and kind to Elder Fowler and Elder Merlo.  My heart is full.)

(Gracias Hermano Marquez for being so kind
and feeding these missionaries each Wednesday!)

(Now from Elder Fowler's email this week)

  I really loved the pictures that you sent me this week!  I can't believe how big Krew is...he's HUGE!! jaja   ("jaja" is used for LOL-or haha) I love the "Flat Uncle Preston"! (see pictures below) I'm glad that you had great week with the birthday party and that surprise message and pictures from Octavio!!! hahaha  He's a cool member for sure!!  He buys us burritos...HUGE burritos for 25 pesos each!! pretty great deal!

Really!!! More home improvement projects!!!  I think you had this all planned before I left to do all the renovations while I'm gone! hahaha I seriously won't feel like it's home 'cause of all the changes that you guys have done!! haha

This week has been good!  We FINALLY brought one of our investigators to church.  We were told of someone that needed a blessing, and that is how we were able to have this investigator.  I was seriously so happy after never bringing anyone to church with us in this new area, to finally having one.  Elder Merlo and I made sure to give muchas gracias to our Heavenly Father!  We also have more investigators that are progressing, so I believe that  our work is finally showing improvement!

Today we played basketball with a member in a huge arena where the PRO team of Cuautemoc plays!  We didn't play with the them (the pros), but it was a blast... we played for like 2 ½ hours! I will send pictures next week.

Love, Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is great for missionary work:

Mosiah 26:22

For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.

(His nephew Krew was born 2 week's after he left on his mission.
To be sure Elder Fowler was still part of the festivities, I made
a "Flat Uncle Preston". Here, Krew is giving him kisses!)

(At one point, "Flat Uncle Preston" was placed
on to of the cake.)

#55: No Beans About it!!

Well, as far as changes (transfers), we are the same, and I'm in the same difficult area, and am with Elder Merlo!!!  So that's good :)

This past week I went to Chihuahua to take fingerprints and all that so I can live here for another year!  It was a fun trip! :)

Each Sunday here is pretty hard to bring people to church...I get really frustrated and down the whole day... but Elder Merlo and I are working better on bringing our investigators to church!  The Lord does put ways to find new people.  (His dad gave him great advice and told him to think outside the box) Remember Elder Beeson from the CCM?  Well, he is now President Montoya's secretary!!  I'm enjoying being a District Leader.  My district baptized 5 this last week, so I'm pretty happy!

Something crazy that happened this week was that we were cooking beans and we had to leave the house.  We forgot to turn off the stove, so when we came back, about 1 ½ hours later, the whole house was FULL of smoke!!!!!! Now my clothes smell like tobacco!!! hahahaha  So, I'm getting my suit dry cleaned and my clothes washed AGAIN!!!hahaha (sure glad they didn't burn down their apartment)

Love,your son,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture:

Ether 4:12
And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believemy words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.

I went to IHop when we were in Chihuahua.
(Elders-Pettingill, Borgel and Fowler)

A bowl of Chocolate Rice Krispies
(He can now have better tasting cereal)

Ether 2:12
(This was last week's scripture-I love that he marked his
like I did mine)