#85: Week of Transfers

Hey! How are things going?  Well, today were changes (February 13th) and I am still the Zone Leader in Chuviscar; but I have a new companion!!!  His name is Elder Canché!  He's from Yucatan, over where Landon (his cousin) is!  He's funny and short.  I think it will be a great 6 weeks with him.  He has been out almost 13 months I believe.  Elder Rojas goes home in August. He was transferred to Cuauhtemoc as a Zone Leader and I'm now training my new comp as a Zone Leader.  That makes me Zone Leader #1 which kinda freaks me out but it's all good.  Deep down, I thought I had a 30% chance of leaving this area.  I had no idea that Elder Rojas would be.  I actually had an interview with President two weeks ago about setting goals that I want to accomplish during the remainder of my mission.  I wanna be a missionary that others still talk about years later after I leave. 

(His dad asked him if there are any other missionaries that he knows well, that are still in his zone) Ummm, there's only one that we call Niño, meaning "kid". haha Just a nickname that stuck since his training days, I believe his mom passed away while he has been on his mission.  I think it would be nice if he got a package from mom.  His name is Elder Hernandez, he likes American candy and love from the USA. haha  He has been out about 8 months, maybe a little more.  He's from the star of Acapucco Guerrero, it's near the city of Mexico DF.

Elder Johnson had changes to Parral.  He told me to have you tell his mom, he will most likely write tomorrow.  He is taking the bus to Parral right now.  I've never been to Parral, but everyone says it's full of steep mountains....so Johnson's legs are gonna get huge!!!  Also, it's hotter than Chihuahua.  hahaha   

Sorry to hear about the fridge going out again.  In my world, I don't have a washer right now because it broke, but the owner of the house will have someone come over on Wednesday to fix it.  We don't really have to wait until P-day to wash our clothes, everyone just washes clothes when they need to. haha

Next Monday all the Zone Leaders in Chihuahua City will play b-ball together, or we will play lacrosse.  I think President Chavez will come too!! 

Love you long time!

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.

Saying goodbye to some of those from my zone:
Me with Elder Bautista and Elder Johnson

Elder Mamani is leaving the zone too.

Elder Bautista

#84: A Family of Investigators

Sorry for writing late!  We've been super busy tonight!  We cleaned our house REALLY good!! You can smell the spirit in our house!! haha  Then we played fútbol with the youth from our ward.  I have a picture from it so I think you will like it.  There were about 10-12 missionaries that played. It was fairly even.

(I asked him if he's still writing in his journal)  To be honest....I'm lacking on my journal writing!  I'm just always busy doing stuff when we get home at night, plus I'm super tired!!

(His dad told him about the 51st Football Super Bowl-and how the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime 34-28)  Yeah!  I heard all about the Super Bowl. As much as I don't like Tom Brady, he is the best quarterback, that's for sure!!  haha Kyle Van Noy?!  Sweet!  He has a Super Bowl ring now!!  Impressive!!  Did his mom and dad go to the game??? (The Van Noys were in our old Stake)

(The last week of January there was a world-wide missionary training meeting. I asked him what changes he has seen in their mission)  We now have a new schedule.  Get up at 6:30am, start studies at 8:30-10:00am then we leave the house and don't return until 9:00-9:30pm, but nothing more.  But it's all good!  I like the changes! :)

This last week was Cool!!!  We brought 6 investigators to church from my area alone!  We met some new people we are teaching....A FAMILY!!!  Their names are Monica (the mom), and her kids Javier, Bryan, and Brisa!  They are awesome!!!  We saw some cool miracles this week as we fasted and prayed.  Then last night, we had a zone meeting where we had a zone council thing.  They told me and my comp, Elder Rojas, things that we are doing good, as well as things that we need to improve on.  I was a bit discouraged, but whatever.  Yes, transfers are next week.  I don't know how I feel... Like I wanna leave cause some of the missionaries don't want to work hard, but then again, we have really cool investigators!

Love ya,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize":

Doctrine & Covenants 62:3

Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.

These are the youth in my ward; Left to Right:
Ozzy, Haciel, Alexis and Jonny

Thought this was interesting!! :)
(AT&T is where his dad works, and IN-N-OUT Burger is
where he worked before his mission)

#83-(Package From Elder Fowler)

Feliz Cumpleaños Mamá!!!  How's your Birthday?  What have you done?
Hello Adoptive Mom, I'm Elder Sanchez. I hope you have a happy birthday :D 
That was sent from my old companion, Elder Sanchez from Guatemala.  He's here with me right now! :)
I'm so glad you got my package!!!  I really liked the nativity set with the indians.  They are called Tarahumaras. They are indigenous people from Mexico. :)

( I told him that he needs to be sure and bring home a Mexican nativity and/or Christmas ornament. This past Tuesday, we received a package in the mail that had a Nativity set, an SD card, his first name tag, and two bracelets. It was so fun to get)

(Last week I asked Preston if he could help me with my talk that I had to give in sacrament meeting this past Sunday. I asked him if he could share his thoughts about being a missionary and able to put aside the world for these now nearly 19 months that he has been serving and live such a Christ-centered life.  Here is his response:)

I love studying the scriptures each morning.  I love that it is a way to put on the armor of God, to be prepared for whatever temptation comes my way.  My testimony of the Book of Mormon has been strengthened tremendously because I am anxiously engaged in my studies.  The Book of Mormon truly was written for our day.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have to Read, Ponder, and Pray on the Words of Christ.

Love you tons,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to Ponderize is:
2 Nephi 32:3
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Elder Sanchez (his previous companion) and Elder Fowler
emailing home.

(The Nativity, bracelets and his first mission tag was
what he sent home to us)

(Love that he sent these to us)

#82: Zone Hike to the Mountain Top

Hey!  What's up?!
   Today, I went with my zone on a hike to climb to the top of this mountain.  In the pictures, you will see that I am wearing the Tabasco shirt you sent me.    Elder Johnson took some videos of us, I'm a goober in them!  You'll have to check them out if he sent them to his mom.  We are progressing in the work, bringing more people to church and teaching more lessons with members.

    (I asked him if he ever did play the game, PIE FACE, that we sent him at Christmas)
As a zone on New Year's Eve, we played that game!  It got a bit out of control, because everyone was throwing the whipped cream!!!  Sadly, I don't have pictures of it....sorry!!

  Tomorrow, we have a District meeting at 10:00, then on Wednesday we have a broadcast from Utah for all the missionaries!!! :)

Love your son,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Doctrine & Covenants 112:11

I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.

This is Raul and Gloria.  They were our investigators in Villa el Real,
when I was with Elder Johnson.  He is the one who had two of
his toes amputated when I was there.

The Zone Hike
January 23, 2017
(Makes me laugh because the one Elder is wearing Elder Fowler's
high school Lacrosse sweatshirt)

My companion

#81: 18 Months Serving/Goal for More Investigators at Church

How's things going?

Wow!  That's so nice of the Stabenow's to do that for me!  I will write them a quick email today. :) (His Uncle and Aunt sent me a check to deposit in Preston's checking account)

Yeah, the gas prices and all that went up, which caused riots and they blocks the freeways so none of the food, gas, water and other things couldn't get here.  But now everything is normal.  No biggie!

This cycle will/has been really hard.  My last two cycles with Johnson and Sanchez were sweet....no problems...no conflicts...just peace and smoothness!!  My comp and I have a hard time understanding each other and that is frustrating, but we are trying to help the zone meet their goals and all that, so we are focusing on them and what we can do as a companionship to help them.  As a zone, we brought 11 investigators to church yesterday.  As a zone with 9 companionships, that isn't good at all. So yesterday the assistance came by and trained us on how we can better ourselves in this area.  President raised all our goals for investigators at church to 12, and that's per companionship!!!!  Here in the zone, we seem to lack faith....a lot of it!!!   My companion and I brought one investigator to church yesterday.  He has a baptismal date for the 28th but we might have to push it back.  How do the missionaries in your ward get people to go to the stake center for church, isn't that far??

Dad, that's so sweet!  I can't believe you are having all these opportunities to know and greet general authorities and an apostle.  Do you have any pictures with them?  (This past weekend, the Apostle, D. Todd Christofferson, and Area of Seventy-Elder Larkin and Elder Pearson visited Reno.  D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Larkin sat and observed Preston's dad's ward council meeting which was a bit stressful beforehand for him, but it went really well.  It's not every day that an apostle of the Lord is in attendance in your ward meetings)

(I asked him if he received a letter in the mail from his Grammy Val that she sent to him.  She typed out the story of her conversion to us which is so sweet)
I did get Grammy's letter!! I was very happy to see it! :)
I also got a big poster thing from members in the ward-like even Matt (Herron) wrote on it. Haha!!
(That poster was one that several youth signed during youth conference several months ago.  Matt was recently home from his mission and was asked to help out with it. It's always fun to get snail mail)

Te amo,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Doctrine & Covenants 59:5

Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.

These picture are some I forgot to send earlier.  This is at the
house we Skyped from.  We played a game where you have
to try and open up a gift with oven mitts.  It was actually hard.

Our Zone Gift Exchange party.  I ended up with a scarf and a beanie.

These are the awesome Star Wars pajamas that
Elder Johnson's mom made me for Christmas!

#80: Monday, January 9, 2017

(Not much to report this week, other than the scripture)

Scripture to "Ponderize"

2 Peter, 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

#79: Week of Changes (Transfers)

Hey!  I'm finally able to talk to you guys!  Feels like forever, but that's alright! Well, as far as the changes for me....I'm still a zone leader in Centro!  But, I have a new companion because Elder Sanchez was made an AP (Assistant to the President).  His name is Elder Rojas; he's from Panama and has been out about 15 months!!  He has a different accent so I'm gonna have to learn to understand him better!haha  Today we had Leadership Council with President Montoya!  It was really good, and I think later this week, I'm gonna have to train my missionaries in my zone on it!  Wish me luck! :P  As a zone, we had 6 baptisms in the month of December.  That was the second highest for the mission.

(I had asked him if he had to pay to use the computer at the internet cafe)

When I write you guys each week, I pay like 20 pesos, which is like a dollar for an hour and a half.

I love the pictures I'm sending you with President and Sister Montoya! :)  I really love them!! Like my belt and shoes?  The other kid is just 15 years old.  His name is Diego and reminds me so much of Brecken because he has Brecken's type of hair cut.  I had the opportunity to interview him to be baptized, and so I got to know him really well!  Love the kid!  And, here is the picture I showed you during our Skype time with Elder Fardos. I think it will make you happy mom :)

(Elder Fardos mom and I have met through a missionary FB page for our son's mission and hoped that they would one day get to meet since us mom's like each other so much.  I told Preston if he ever gets to meet him, to be sure and take a picture and that I'm sure he won't think it's weird because I'm pretty sure his mom had told him about Preston too. So, I'm so happy that he followed through and took a picture together.  Makes a missionary momma's heart happy)

Love your missionary,
Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Elder Fowler with President and Sister Montoya
(His mission president)

(He's been wanting to get a picture with them for
a while now.)

Diego who I interviewed for baptism

Look Mom, It's Elder Fardos!!