#69: Halloween Package

Good to hear from you.  This week I'm emailing a little later because Elder Johnson had an interview with President today, so that kinda pushed our emailing time back. haha  Sorry to hear about the frustrations this week (our other son was in an accident and our car might be totaled, which leaves us with only 1 car)  I just read Brecken's email....YIKES!  That's super crazy to hear what happened with Brecken on Saturday, luckily, no one got hurt!  How are you guys gonna do the whole ride stuff with work and school and shopping?

My week was really good!  We started teaching a man named Naín.  He's really awesome.  He's reading the Book of Mormon and is already in 2 Nephi and he loves church and the way he feels in church!  He's is one of my all time favorite investigators.  I really love him.  Super awesome!!  This cycle we are hoping to have him baptized so that will be great.  I haven't had a baptism since I lived in Guerrero; almost 6 months ago, so I'm excited!! :)

I live with Elder Johnson and my zone leaders: Elder Harrison and Elder Chan. We have a really sweet house, with really cool elders.
Love Your missionary,
 Elder Fowler


I got a Halloween package from your friends (Jaymie, Jenna, Kelly and Melody-they are so sweet to send him something)  Please share this message with them:

Message for the girls!
Thank you girls soooo much!!!  :)  I got the package from you girls this last week.  I wanted to let you all know that that I'm so grateful for you thinking about me! :)  I think the biggest thing that I loved the most was the Double stuffed OREOs!!  I loved the letter as well! :)  When I read everyone's name, I loved that the most!:)  Seeing all the kiddos names and remembering each one of them! :) What a great experience! :)  I want you to know that you all are in my prayers everyday! :)
I love you all so much,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
Ether 12:6

And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

(His sister Brooke emailed him this week with news of the gender of her and her husband's second baby-we knew there was a possibility that Preston could come home to meet not one, but two nephews or nieces.  Here's Preston's response to her sending him this picture with her son Krew eating an ice cream cone that is PINK....Meaning IT'S A GIRL!!!)

(Preston's response to his sister's news:)
Wow!!!  Brooke!!!  Felicidades!!!!!! I'm super excited for you and Dylan!!! I love the way that you announced what you are having with Krew and the Ice Cream!!! :) Great idea!!  I just put that pic on one of my flash drives!! :)  I can't wait to hold both your kids in my arms for the first time!! :)  We will take a pic for sure!! :)

(With that PiINK ice cream....this means
that Krew is going to have a little SISTER
coming March 2017)

My church building!

Another church building that ACTUALLY has CARPET!!!

#68: New Companion, New Area, New District, New Weather, New Everything!!

These new changes are exciting!! :)  New Companion, new area, new district, new weather, new everything!!!  I am in the Villas del Real Ward.  Never been in a ward so it's pretty cool!  We even had people who attended church with us!!  It's been quite some time since I have seen success on Sundays.  It's really hot here in Chihuahua, hotter than it ever has been in my mission! hahaha I'm always tired 'cause the sun is kickin' my butt!! hahaha  I really like Elder Johnson!!!  We are getting along great!  We have a lot of things that are in common which is great! :)  He likes the Flash as well! and has a younger sister that keeps him updated about it, just like Kylah does for me.  We work together well and we teach together great!!  His Spanish is really good, so it makes teaching a lot easier! :)   It would be sweet to be here for Christmas with Elder Johnson!  Christmas would be more like home! haha  He just got out of his training period and we are kickin' trash!  We have lots of investigators and I can contact in the streets here in Chihuahua.  Elder Johnson and his last comp had some investigators before I got here, but we also found some sweet ones as well together this week!!  Also, his birthday is March 27!!  But I'm a year older (Preston's birthday is March 28th) cool, huh? It's going to be a great time with him.

I did get the letters that Sister Dobbs had sent from the girls at Girls Camp.  I liked them very much!  Tell her thank you for me! :)

I did leave a few things there in Cuauhtemoc because I thought that maybe Elder Merlo would find use of some of the things I left. :)  I also live with my zone leaders, so it's cool!  Elder Nicoll from the Sierra is here as the other district leader.  Our zone has only 12 missionaries.  I am the district leader of 6 missionaries, including myself.  I even have sisters in my district that I'm over and they are cool!  I like the mountains here, they remind me of Utah's!

Love you,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Mosiah 21:14

And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

New Companion: Elder Johnson  (From Arizona) with Elder Fowler

(These two have a lot in common, including a love for the
show, The FLASH.)

Saying goodbye to Elder Arnold

Elder Ashworth and Elder Fowler
This will be Elder Ashworth's last cycle before he goes home.
(He is from Las Vegas)

(Preston sent his sister Brooke, saying this picture is perfect for her
-she's pregnant and has a young child)

#67: 15 Months Out; Changes.....Drum Roll Please!

Soooooo....... I have big news! Drum Roll Please...... I have changes (transfers)!!! I'm pretty excited!! The changes from now on are, if you are training a new person from the CCM, you have changes on Monday, but all of the others are tomorrow, but we found out last night at about 11:10PM!!!hahaha  I'm going to be going to Chihuahua in the zone called Tecnológico 1. Can't wait!  Tonight I'm going to pack my stuff.  I started this morning but I'm struggling finding room for everything!! I will still be a district leader. I'll be going on the Omnibuses!  They're like big travel buses with nice comfortable seats!  The mission has a contract or something like that with them so we don't have to pay anything, the mission will pay for it all. I do know that my companions name is Elder Johnson!  I guess he just finished his training and with that last name, I believe he's American!!  My first gringo comp!!

(When Preston told us the name of his upcoming companion, I laughed out loud because I knew exactly who his companion is.  Elder Johnson's mom is on the mission FB page that I follow and we have corresponded back and forth for a few months now.  I sent Preston a picture of Elder Johnson to show his what his new companion would look like.  I have a feeling it's going to be a great companionship)

I believe Elder Arnold goes  home this Wednesday, so he's in the office now so I think I will see him tomorrow! :)  I will be sure to take one last pic with him before he goes! :)

Elder Merlo (who he recently trained as his last companion) will actually be finishing up training Elder Hernandez (who he's been with for this last 6 weeks.  This means my "first son" will be the "father" of my "second son"!!!  How weird is that!!??

This week's scripture is:
Doctrine & Covenants 124:45

And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

My two "sons": Elder Merlo and Elder Hernandez

Elder Hernandez & Elder Fowler-Last Sunday together as
companions in Cuauhtemoc

Elder Cruz and Elder Fowler

Elder Fowler & Elder Fuentes- both in the same zone

Elder Larsen, Brother Ordoñez and Elder Fowler.
We played basketball a lot with Brother Ordoñez.

Elder Larsen & Elder Fowler

Elders: Larsen, Fowler & another Elder Hernandez

Elder Larsen, Brother Octavio and Elder Fowler
(Brother Octavio was the one who sent us pictures and a voicemail)

Elders: Larsen and Merlo

19 year old Ivan will be leaving for his mission to
Puebla, Mexico on October 18th.  He'll have
only 3 weeks to be ready.

Elder Fowler, Branch President Lopez, Elder Larsen, and
Branch counselor-Brother Hernandez; Cuauhtemoc

Elders Fuentes, Hernandez, Hiendel and Fowler-District

Saying goodbye to Branch President Lopez, his wife
and two daughters in Cuauhtemoc

Brother Hernandez

Saying goodbye to Brother Hernandez

#66: General Conference Weekend

This weekend was really good! I loved conference!  We were able to watch it in English which was so good!!!  Actually hearing the voices of the leaders of the church is better than someone interpreting. haha  Did you see that Elder Pieper gave the opening prayer in the Priesthood session? (Elder Pieper was the one who interviewed Preston while he was visiting his area) My favorite talk was from Elder Andersen, I think he spoke in the Saturday afternoon session.  His talk was on members helping with missionary work.

I am pretty sure that next week I will have changes (transfers) because my Zone Leaders told president that I have spent my whole mission in the same District, so I'm pretty sure that I'll be leaving Cuauhtemoc, but we will see what happens.  Plus, President wrote to me today and told me that I will have changes of some sort!

Thank you so much for the money that you deposited!  I was able to buy the shoes that I needed/wanted.  I've attached a picture of them!!  They are to play soccer on the concrete courts!  I love them.  I had to buy them because my Vans are trashed!!  They called me the "Messi" of soccer today! hahaha I was doing pretty good :)  Messi is a soccer player that plays for Argentina! :)

Love you bunches,
Elder Fowler


This week's scripture to "Ponderize":
Doctrine & Covenants 115:5

Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;

(Shoes for playing soccer on concrete courts on P-days)

#65: Two Baptisms in My Ward But Not My Area

How's it going?  I hope all is well!

This week has been good and lots of things have happened. There were two baptisms from my ward, but not in my area.  They were really good.  There was lots of support from the members! :)

To answer your questions:

We are going to watch general conference in the church building here in Cuauhtemoc.  Usually all the Gringos go to a separate room to watch it in English, which I like because I like hearing the voice of the prophets and not just an interpreter. hahaha

The photos are of me with a duck.  It belongs to less active family. They have like 20 rooster too that they use to fight!  It's like dog fighting here but with chickens...crazy, huh? The others are of an ice cream waffle bowl maker and ice cream.  There's a restaurant that sells them for 50 pesos, like $2.30 in the US....super delicious!

I can't believe it's almost October already!  Time flies by super fast!  It's starting to get cold here again and that means that the end of the year in nearing...meaning Christmas and all that good stuff.  I can't believe that May to December is 7 months!  That's a long break without seeing the family!

The work here is going mas o menos still.  Our investigators don't come to church and that's hard, we are teaching like 5 people and can't find new people to teach.  We are working about 60% with part-member families and 40% investigators.

Love you much!

Your son,

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
Mosiah 2:36-37

36 And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—

 37 I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.

#65: Two Baptisms in My Ward But Not My Area

How's it going?  I hope all is well!

This week has been good and lots of things have happened. There were two baptisms from my ward, but not in my area.  They were really good.  There was lots of support from the members! :)

To answer your questions:

We are going to watch general conference in the church building here in Cuauhtemoc.  Usually all the Gringos go to a separate room to watch it in English, which I like because I like hearing the voice of the prophets and not just an interpreter. hahaha

The photos are of me with a duck.  It belongs to less active family. They have like 20 rooster too that they use to fight!  It's like dog fighting here but with chickens...crazy, huh? The others are of an ice cream waffle bowl maker and ice cream.  There's a restaurant that sells them for 50 pesos, like $2.30 in the US....super delicious!

I can't believe it's almost October already!  Time flies by super fast!  It's starting to get cold here again and that means that the end of the year in nearing...meaning Christmas and all that good stuff.  I can't believe that May to December is 7 months!  That's a long break without seeing the family!

The work here is going mas o menos still.  Our investigators don't come to church and that's hard, we are teaching like 5 people and can't find new people to teach.  We are working about 60% with part-member families and 40% investigators.

Love you much!

Your son,

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is:
Mosiah 2:36-37

36 And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—

 37 I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.

#64: One-On-One with a General Authority

This week was super special!  Well, to start off, On Monday, it was my Zone Leader, Elder Larsen's Birthday. So after playing basketball with Hermano Orodoñez, we went to celebrate.  We ate pizza at a place called Los Arcos.  It was  fun!  Then, on Tuesday we had our District meetings, meaning I have to train my District.  I think that it went well.  My Spanish has definitely improved since the first time I trained my District, so that's good!
This week was more special than the others because we were visited by a General Authority, Elder Pieper of the Seventy!  On Thursday was a meeting for the members.  The missionaries weren't given permission to attend, but because I am in the District Choir, I was able to attend. (This was totally news to me that he was in the choir)  It was a really good meeting.  The members were able to ask him questions.  Eventually, the question came up, "What do we have to do, to become a Stake?"  I really liked Elder Pieper's response.  He said, "Every member needs to pay their tithing, and fast at least once a month and pay their fast offering; if not, there's no promise or blessing."  I never thought that the simple commandments of tithing and fasting would bring such great blessings.  Then he mentioned how all the blessings of the Gospel can only be received in the Stakes of Zion (See tho week's scripture to Ponderize below)  Overall, I think that the members are excited and animated to put in practice the teaching of Elder Pieper.
Then on Friday, we as missionaries had a training with Elder Pieper from 9:00am-2:00pm! It was super sweet!!  He really helped me understand better teaching methods that I'm definitely going to put into practice.  After the training meeting, Elder Pieper wanted to talk to a couple missionaries one-on-one.  To my surprise, I was chosen!!  I was excited and nervous because I've never talked with a General Authority one-on-one before.  I really loved it though.  He helped answer a couple questions that I had and gave me excitement to finish my mission strong up until the very last moment.
Overall, I really loved this week and the privilege I had to learn and hear the voice of Elder Pieper.  I know that he is called of God, and is His servant.  What a spiritual high and something I will never forget.

Scripture to "Ponderize"
Doctrine & Covenants 105:1-5

 1 Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people—

 2 Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now.

 3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;

 4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;

 5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

My Zone with Elder and Sister Pieper and President and Sister Montoys (front row)
(Elder Fowler is in the center of the back row)

Selfie with Me and Elder Arnold-he will be going home in 3 weeks)

Selfie with me and two of the sister missionaries while
celebrating Mexico Night.