#91: Turning 21; Changes (Transfers)

How's things going?
  Well, as you are aware, I have some changes for sure.  I am no longer a zone leader, but am now training!!!!  Which means I'm a dad again.I have another "son"!  This is my third son! haha  His name is Elder Farrera.  He's from Chiapas, Mexico.  This means I've only had one gringo companion, and that was Johnson!  President told me that I'm going to finish his training, which means he will be my last companion! haha   I feel good about being a trainer, it will keep me alive, that's for sure; although I really wanted to be a zone leader.  Also, I changed areas.  We are in a zone called Tec 1.  Where I was with Elder Johnson, but in a different area called Portales 1.  It's pretty sweet because I kinda already know the area. So, no, I'm not with Elder Fardos.  He is now in Chuviscar, my old zone!!!  Elder Fardos though is known in the mission as the most handsome missionary!!!  (His mom will get a kick out of that)

Yesterday in church, we had a total of 27 investigators in church!  That's the highest we had in Chuviscar.

Yesterday I was with Elder Anton in the offices when he was writing his mom and she said you were wondering if Anton, Beeson, Larsen and I would like to all be in an apartment together.  That would be the greatest thing ever!!! :) That's a great birthday present in itself!!  :)  So, the four of us rooming together, that's really awesome!!!

Thank you everyone for the Birthday wishes, that was really fun to get!!!  Thanks for thinking of me on my special day. I tried not saying anything to anyone, but word got out and so the new zone brought me a cake!  It was cool!!

The pictures are from last week.  The family and the kids are my favorite.  They are the Gonzalez Family.  They are members and the best ever!  I feel like I'm home when I visit them!!!  I want to return and visit them!  You would love her, and dad would love him!  They are the best!

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:
Moroni 7:41

And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

Love your missionary,
Elder Fowler

(Mission assignment complete!!! We told Preston that he has
to be sure and take a picture of him with a Chihuahua while
serving there. Finally, after 20 ½ months, he finally did!!)
This is the Gonzalez's dog

Last picture with the zone in Chuviscar

The Gonzalez family, Elders and Sister Missionaries

Love these kids

In the mission office with Elder Sanchez (his 7th comp)
and Elder Anton (He's known him since the CCM-Missionary Training Center)

(A little birthday wish from home)

(Even his little nephew Krew was able to send him a birthday wish)

#90: Dreams

Happy Monday!!

   First off, thanks for all you have done to help sign me up for school.  What a blessing you are to me!  I am really excited for post-mission life, but it scares me a lot!! haha  I just wanna focus these last three months of my mission and go all out!!!  I'm starting to rely on the reserve tanks to push me through!!  This past week, I had a dream that my mission ended and that we were all in the airport.  Why do I think about these things subconciously?  I don't like it! haha The thing is, I don't need anything to motivate me to be obedient, I just do it!!  There's missionaries with less time than me, and they struggle getting up in the morning; me, no!!

(I asked him if the birthday package(s) came):

Elder Anton checked yesterday and told me that the package for my comp (Elder Canche) is in the offices.  They will hopefully bring it tomorrow, because his birthday is tomorrow and he will be turning 23!!  Also, Anton said the packages you sent for me and Elder Johnson is there as well.

(His good friend from home, Matthew Herron has been home from his mission since September and just recently got engaged.  We asked him if he had heard any news from Matthew)

Yeah, I heard from Matt this week!  I'm happy for him, but at the same time, super disappointed because it will be 3 weeks before I get home; not cool!!!  :(

 As a Zone, yesterday we brought 23 investigators to church!!  That's the best we have ever done since I've been here!  Lots of progressing towards baptism!!!  Changes (transfers) are next week, but I think I will be leaving.  I'm kind of wanting to.  By the way, President Montoya might change my assignment to District Leader, or Trainer, or both!  We will see though.  Kinda sucks that changes are the day before my birthday, but oh well.  haha

If you have pictures of Baylor, I'd love to see them! :)

Love your missionary,

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture is Alma 26:30  It's a great missionary scripture.  I found it this morning during my studies.

And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

The Elders in the Zone

The Elders and Sisters of the Zone

#89: Stake Conference (An Uncle to a Niece)

 Last Night, Preston's sister Brooke had her baby girl which they named, Baylor Mckelle Mooney.  She was 3 days early so this was a sweet surprise to be able to show pictures of her to Preston today and give him all the information.) 

Holy Smokes!!!!!  I'm soooo happy right now!!! :)  Can't believe all the things that happened last night!!! :)  God is Good!!!  :)  Brooke told me!  Is she still in the hospital?? Or is she out now??  Do you have a picture of Krew holding Baylor?  I would love to see that.

(From Preston's sister Brooke:) Baylor Mckelle Mooney • Born 3/12/17 • @ 10:34 pm • 6lbs 14oz • 19 1/4 inches long • Our little miss decided she wanted to make an early and QUICK arrival (by quick I mean momma was only in active labor for 2 hrs & only had to push twice). We couldn't be more excited to add this sweet little girl to our family, and can't wait for you to meet your big brother in the morning. We love you Baylor bean! 

Yesterday, we had Stake Conference, which was really, really good!  They told the members that they are lacking on their missionary work. :) haha  It was great!  Hopefully we will have more success with the members.  But what was really funny is, the stake center didn't have any power!!! So half of conference, I didn't hear because I was seated far in the back, but then they brought a speaker and connected it to a car or something  and then we could hear just fine!! :)

The work is going.  We had 18 investigators in church, as a zone, and 5 were from my area, so I was pretty content with that!  As far as potential baptisms, in my area, there is a grandmother and her grandson, who's families are all members besides the.  So, we just need to put a date for this month.  I'm thinking March 25th.  

Love you forever and always,

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize": 

2 Nephi 9:21

And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.

This is Elder Hernandez.  He is the Elder who's mom
passed away while he's been on his mission. I just love this guy.

#87: Funny Pictures

Happy Monday!!

Yesterday the family of four that we've been teaching wasn't able to come to church with us, but we still had two investigators in church :)

I can't believe you guys keep getting more and more snow!!!  While I'm sweating in the Chihuahua heat!!!  haha  Luckily, I only have 4 months to suffer with this heat!  haha

Yeah!  I do know how to make homemade tortillas!  They are the best; well I think so! People here eat tortillas like potato chips!  haha

Love you tons!  Have a great week!  Thanks for the prayers and thoughts :)

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is: 

2 Nephi 25:29

And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.


    (The pictures below are still shots from a video that Preston sent today which were super funny to watch but I couldn't figure out how to upload it because the file was too big. Here's what he said about the videos though):

They are of this shocker box thing, that's used in muscle therapy.  We used it to teach that pride is very powerful and everybody can feel it.  It can affect everyone nearby.  hahaha  Afterwards, Elder Canché and I were playing around with it.  Elder Canché went first.  I slowly increased the "shock" level and he ended at about 9.5.  When it was then my turn, we forgot to reset it to 0 so it was super strong at 9.5 and my muscles got super tense-fast!!!  hahaha  It was great!!!  
(These pictures just give a glimpse into the videos. You can almost hear his laughter just by looking at the pictures.)

#87: Improving as a Zone

Hey!!! This week was really good.  We are improving as a zone here in Chuviscar (area in City of Chihuahua)!  As a zone, we brought 18 investigators to church yesterday!!!  Yeah, now the time is REALLY flying by, like we are already in week 3 of these new changes!  I only have 16 more weeks to give everything to the Lord!  I really don't wanna go home....I think I'm more scared than anything. haha Lots of changes!!

There's an Elder in my zone named Elder Hostman. He is from LOVELOCK, NV!!!  He tells me he and his family pass through and visit Reno frequently!!!  He knows Sheels, the Summit, Everything!!!!  Maybe you can find his mom on Facebook and talk to her and get to know her :)  I know you love that stuff momma!!

We have a family of four we are teaching. They are the Martinez family.  The two teenagers are our best friends!  The kids love listening to us, which helps the parents listen to us too! :)  They even came to church!! Yesterday, they were our 4 investigators at church! :)

(His dad told him about Jack Buell's baptism this past weekend.  Jack has been  going to church with his wife and family for several years and even served in scouts.  It was quite a beautiful baptism with over 100 people in attendance)  Dad, not sure if you remember, but you told me not too long ago that you thought that while I was serving my mission, that Jack Buell would be baptized!!  It think that is so great!  The blessings of missionary work.

Love you!

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Elders-Canché (my comp), Fowler, Marx & Perez
Sister Gil

Elders-Perez, Marx, Canché, Fowler
Sisters-Gil & Romero
Sister Romero hit her one year mark in the mission,
so we brought pancakes to her! :)

At the mission office
Companions-Fowler & Canché

This one cracks me up!

#86: Pictures From Nain and His Family's Baptism

This companionship is great and the first week as the senior zone leader has been good!  On Thursday, we had a Leadership training meeting which was really good.  Tomorrow we are going to a zone conference with President Montoya and the assistance.  It should be good! We had a baptism in the zone as well!  This week we did some service because a member's home got burned.  I don't know how because all the houses are cement!!

(I told him that our friends, the Perez family, here is Reno are moving to Texas. They have been so good to Preston)

Really?  Darn!!! That makes me sad?  Why are they moving??  Be sure and invite them to come to my homecoming please!!!  I want them there!!!

( I asked him if members still feed them during the week)

Yeah!  I'm actually really excited for this week because we are eating with awesome members!  We will be eating with the Patriarch and his wife, and also with the 1st Counselor in the Stake Presidency.

I still don't have a picture yet with me and my comp yet, sorry! :(

Love you,

Elder Fowler

This week's scripture to "Ponderize" is:

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Baptism of Nain with his wife and older child.
February 11, 2017
(Because of transfers, Preston was unable to attend the baptism.
I think he was bummed that he wasn't there because this family
has been so good to him.  Nain was baptized by a his friend on the far left) 

(Some of the many Elders that have been blessed to know this family)

(Nain's family with the Sister Missionaries)

Saturday, February 11, 2017

(Nain and his family saying goodbye to Elder Johnson.  Nain
came to the church building on the day of transfers, but Elder Fowler
had already left.  Elder Johnson and Elder Fowler were companions
at the time when Nain was taking the lessons)

#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