#13: Rainy Days While on Exchanges

Today is transfers and Elder Vergara and I are staying in Anahuac for the upcoming transfer cycle.  Elder Vergara returns home on November 11th.  I really enjoy our area because this past week I went on exchanges (when missionary companionships trade companions for a short period of time) with the district leader in Cuauhtemoc and I felt completely out of place! We were on exchanges from Wednesday afternoon to Friday evening!  I missed my "own" bed in Anahuac.  Anahuac is like my home now! My companion and I are really getting along.  There isn't too much of a language barrier anymore so that is nice! Oh, and our boiler is finally working again and we have Hot Water!

I'm talking a lot more in lessons and honestly I have no idea what I'm about to say, but the Lord fills my mouth with the words I need to touch the hearts of those we teach.  We had another baptism yesterday.  She is a 9 year old girl who's parents have been less active so we've been trying to reactivate them.

Here is Mexico, they don't fast the week before General Conference, but my companion and I did anyway.  I believe I will be able to watch General Conference in English with the other gringos, if not, then in Spanish and then next month I can read the talks in the Ensign.  I did hear about Richard G. Scott...crazy to think that three General Authorities have passed this year.

I Love you and constantly pray for you all,
Elder Fowler

September 27, 2015

Mucha Mucha lluvia (lots and lots of rain)

Out on exchanges with a District Leader
(Love this picture-He doesn't seem to mind the rain)

He wanted to send us this picture because he says there are
everywhere-this was like his dad's first car back in the 80's.

Check out this car....never seen one of these before.

#12: A Big Goal to Try and Reach

Hola!  Comó esta?
This last week has been pretty good.  I feel like the days are kind of long, but the weeks truly fly by so quickly.  On Monday after P-Day, we had a multi-zone meeting with Elder Larsen who is an assistant to the (mission) President.  He extended a goal to each of us to double the attendance in sacrament meeting these next two weeks!  Our plan to achieve such a goal is by reaching out to the less-actives, and recent converts.  In order for my companion and I to double the attendance, we'd have to have 40 less-actives/recent converts in church!  It may not seem like much, but that's a lot to my companion and I.  All this week, we were spending about 80% of our time with less-actives, planting that seed of faith to attend this Sunday.  We had many families say that they would be there!  When Sunday rolled around, sadly, that wasn't the case... I was devastated!!  We tried so hard to rekindle the desire to come to church but ultimately, people have their agency to heed the words we share or not.  We have one more week to achieve our goal.  The most important thing is, to not lose faith, but to put our faith in the Lord.  It is by great faith, miracles are brought forth.

On September 16th and 17th was Mexican Independence Day.  (Some of the pictures below are from that day)  I really love the salsa here!  It has amazing heat to it and I have a couple recipes I will want to make for everyone back home! They're pretty simple recipes. Mom-I have a couple scriptures for you that I came across in my scripture study.  I think it applies really well to you and you will find peace. Doctrine & Covenants 75:23-24

23 And again, thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye elders of my church, who have given your names that you might know his will concerning you—

 24 Behold, I say unto you, that it is the duty of the church to assist in supporting the families of those, and also to support the families of those who are called and must needs be sent unto the world to proclaim the gospel unto the world.

As far as learning the Spanish language, it's coming along slowly.  Each day is better than the last and it's exciting to see the progress I've made thus far.  Fro me, I think the hardest part is hearing the words which are spoken, and be able to comprehend what they are saying.  It's defiantly much easier when it's gospel related, compared to just casual street conversations.  But the Lord has defiantly helped me along the way.  He has opened my mouth several times to speak and I don't know what I'm saying 100%, but the people understand and they can feel the Spirit in which we bring.  I've been thinking about Landon (his cousin who will be leaving on September 30th to serve in the Mexico-Cancun mission) and the things which he will endeavor!  Super excited for the kid! :)  It's crazy to think that this transfer cycle is almost complete!  The mission has taught me many things that I'll be eternally grateful for.  I'm excited to see what miracles the Lord will give us this week!

I Love you-Forever and Always,
Elder Fowler

September 16-17-Mexico's Independence Day Celebration

"Los Arcos" Three grande pizzas, 3 pitchers of lemonade,
and 5 milkshakes for $550 Pesos, that's like $35 US dollars
Not too bad if you ask me ;) 

Today's lunch...3 hamburgers for 40 pesos... That's like $2.30 in US Dollars

#11-Temple Rededication

This week has been kind of a typical week in the mission field.  I've been feeling a lot better after going to the doctors last week for my stomach.  I think it's getting better which is really good.  I really enjoy Elder Arnold, he's like a brother to me.  (he is a zone leader to Preston) He was the one who took me to the hospital and helped translate everything for me! haha  Doctor talk is hard enough to understand in English! haha  I enjoy eating with the members because they are awesome people and super strong in the gospel.  And don't forget the food!  I haven't had one day where I didn't want seconds!  (I asked Preston if they have a microwave and if he'd like me to send him popcorn) We have a microwave and we use it sometimes, but maybe occasionally popcorn would be nice...popcorn here is a bit different haha.  We have no stove which sucks, but we have this electric plug-in stovetop but it's pretty awful. haha  Right now we don't have any hot water because our boiler broke and we need a new one.  So, I've taken plenty of cold showers in the morning... hopefully it's fixed before winter comes!


On Sunday, September 13th, church was a little different because we attended the re-dedication of the México City Temple, in Cuauhtemoc, via broadcast.  There were three sessions, each an hour and half long.  We attended all three so we had "church" from 8am-3:30pm!  I felt like dad with all his long meetings each Sunday!  President Henry B. Eyring  presided and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland were the general authorities that were there.  Elder Holland is amazing!  He bore his testimony in Spanish, and I could understand every word!  Even though we were hundreds of miles away from the ceremony, I felt the Spirit so strong just as if I was in the temple itself with these amazing brethren!  I've never attended a dedication before and I was really impressed.  After attending, my desire to go to the temple is even stronger now!  The temple truly is a heaven on Earth!  I know Heavenly Father accepts all of the temples as a House unto Him.

I love you all.
I know the Lord is blessing each of you.
Love your missionary,
Le Amo,
Elder Fowler

He gave no description-I know he's at a member's house though.

Overlooking the area where his is serving; Anáhuac

(I ordered these mini missionaries because it makes me think of
Elder Fowler (Left) and his companion, Elder Vergara (Right)
Now, if their hair color could be swapped)

#10-Battle of Tastebuds VS Stomach (Today's post is posted on Elder Fowler's 2 month mark!)

    This week has been pretty crazy because a lot of stuff happened.  On Monday, we contacted a lot of people but I wasn't feeling 100%.  I had bad stomachaches, and I needed the bathroom quite frequently, but I didn't think anything of it.  Then, Tuesday came and  I was feeling worse.  I ended up needing the restroom 11 times that day...so, I knew something was up, so I called President Chavez and told him what was going on.  We decided it was best for me to go to Chihuahua and find out what was going on.  At the hospital, the doctor told me I didn't have a virus or anything like that.  But, it was just my body still trying to get used to the food here in Mexico.  So, they gave me some medicine that should help fix the problem.  I felt a lot better a couple days later so it should be working as it's supposed to.  I really do love all the food here in Mexico and always want to eat more and more!  But my stomach isn't as enthusiastic about it like my tastebuds!  It will just be a matter of time until they both are on the same page.

     On Saturday, September 5th, we had another baptism, and I was honored to perform the ordinance.  The baptism was for a mid 40 year old man named Guadalupe.  He's about 6'2" and close to 225 Lbs.  I was a little worried about how I was going to get this much of a person into the water completely, but I was able to do it without a problem. (Guadalupe was taught most of the lessons from other elders before transfers but Preston and his companion continued the lessons with him and then was able to baptize him) These moments are the moments I live for on a mission.  It feels amazing bringing people into the waters of baptism and witness them making covenants with the Lord.
   
    Spanish is coming along one day at a time and I can see the Gift of Tongues work when I speak with investigators and my companion.  I think the hardest part is listening and understanding what people are saying.  I really do love the people in Anáhuac  and their kindness.  They are blessing my life just as much as I am blessing theirs.

     Oh, I wanted to tell you that I finished reading the Book of Mormon on Friday (September 4, 2015).  I started the first day of the CCM and just finished!  In Mexico, there are real native people who dress like back in the day and live the same way. It's pretty crazy but the Mennoties work on farms... particularly Apple Farms! Their homes are HUGE!!!!  I love the apples down here.

     This P-day (preparation day-to do laundry, shopping, e-mails, etc) was better than last.  We figured out a better and faster way to use our washer and then we shopped for groceries. Everything is super cheap.  I can get a drink, and a pastry for about 14 pesos!!  That's less than a dollar in the US!!  But each peso I have is super valuable!!  Thanks for all that you've done for me and continue to do.
Le amo!
Your son and Missionary,
Elder Fowler

 Companion Elder Veraga, wife of Guadalupe, Guadalupe and Elder Fowler
September 5, 2015 

Elder Fowler's District
(Preston-back row-far right)

A home of one of the Mennonite people-WOW!!!  Impressive!!!

Pretty neat to find this down in Mexico!!!
Maybe it stopped to get Scooby a snack!!

#9-First Baptism on August 29, 2015

I really love the pictures you sent this week. Some of them crack me up. Ha Ha! I did receive your package on Friday and it was just what I needed this week, so thank you so much!  Some really cool things happened this week!  My knowledge of the gospel and testimony have really grown through the hours we are given each morning to study the doctrine.  Also, we are given an hour each day for language study and I really enjoy being able to learn the Spanish language.  I think the hardest part of the language is listening to people talk.  They talk super fast and I only catch a couple words.  But it's just something that takes time and it'll soon come. We have a washer, but no dryer so we just hang our clothes out to dry and our washer is ghetto, so we have to manually fill it with water, then  drain it into a small trash can.. We've made messes with water all over our floor...mainly my companion's fault...haha...oh well :)

Our branch is really small, about 40-45 people attend church... and on Sunday, the missionaries were asked to bless the sacrament and it was really awesome doing so in Spanish.  I got it correct the first time!  Elder Vergara and I have a couple investigators that are really progressing and it's exciting seeing them come closer to Heavenly Father and the gospel.  Yesterday, August 29th, was one day that I won't ever forget!  We had our first baptism!  She's a 70 year old woman who everyone calls, "Abuela", which means, grandma.  I had the opportunity to perform the ordinance.  It was my first baptism ordinance and it was in Spanish!  Those kind of moments are the reason I wanted to serve a mission; to bring as many people I can into the waters of baptism to make covenants with our Father in Heaven.

 I really enjoy the Mexican people.  They are super nice and forgiving of my lack of Spanish.  Most doorways here aren't made for the average American.  I always have to duck my head before entering into homes!  Mexicans sure do know how to cook amazing food!  I haven't had anything that I didn't like.  The members treat us so well and it's such a blessing.  One time, we even had cheeseburgers with fries and beans!  It was a nice reminder of the food from the states!  Overall, it's been a great time down here, south of the border and if anything happens these next two years, It will be that I  am more converted to the gospel.  I love and miss all of you and hope all is well back in the states.
le Amo, tu hijo,
Elder Fowler

So excited that Elder Fowler received a package from home!
Now that we know how to send packages and that he will receive them,
we will be sending him more.
 Check out that cool shirt he is wearing too :)

A "Greenie" is a missionary that has just entered the mission field after being in the Missionary Training Center.
It was fun to send him all kinds of green items from home.

Elder Fowler-He is wearing the same white tie that his dad
wore when he baptized people while serving in
the San Bernardino, CA mission between 1990-1992

August 29, 2015- Elder Fowler was able to baptize
this sweet 70 year old woman.  This would be
Preston's first baptism ordinance that he would do in Spanish.

As his mom, I must say, these pictures of this baptism brought
tears to my eyes, seeing my son dressed in white, ready to baptize
this sweet woman that everyone calls, "Abuela", meaning grandma. 

The sister missionaries with Elder Veraga, the woman being baptized,
and Elder Fowler

Elder Fowler's nephew, Krew was
blessed on August 30, 2015 in Reno, NV

We didn't want to leave Preston out of the special blessing day,
so we brought him along with us.

Elder Fowler was certainly thought of today during Krew's blessing.

This was a sweet reminder that Preston would have been in the
circle when his nephew, Krew was blessed.  Oh how we miss him!

#8 First Week Out in the Mission Field

I feel like it's been forever since I've talked to you!  It's been like 10 days or something crazy like that.  I made it to the Mission Field Monday morning (Aug. 17th) and met my mission president and his wife (President Ulises and Sonia Chavez).  They are really sweet people and I know I'll love them; they seriously are the best people to direct th missionary efforts in Chihuahua.  My companion's name is Elder Vergara, he is from Mexico City and has 3 months left on his mission. At first I didn't want a native as my trainer, but it's all working out just fine. I teach him English, while he teaches me Spanish!  It's a fair trade.  The food here is so good and the members feed us really well.  There's a drink that's really common here that's just water and cantaloupe.  I love the stuff and I'm sure Grammy Val would love it, like as much, if not more than me. I'm serving in a city called Anáhuac, which is by a bigger city called, Cuauhtemoc.  Our area is quite big...we walk maybe 15-18 miles a day over mountains!  But the thing that happened this week is that it's probably hot until 2:00-3:00pm and then there's cloud cover and rain for the rest of the evening. I have been quite humbled by the things I've seen thus far.  I'm definitely blessed with so much in my life that I've taken for granted, especially my dental hygiene.  We've met so many people this week and we have a handful of investigators that seem really interested  in the gospel. I kinda failed today because this morning we had a Zone meeting at 8:00am and I didn't know we would be emailing here, so I forgot my weekly letter in the apartment and I have no way to send my photos...Sooooo, I'll have to send them next week!  I'm sorry about that!  

But, I'm really enjoying the mission and the people, they are the nicest people I've ever met.  There's nowhere in the USA where people will listen to everything you say.  It's definitely a tender mercy of the Lord!  The members in the is area are seriously the best!  In Mexico, the big meal of the day is lunch around 2 :00pm. We are fed the best Mexican food I've ever had, and there's plenty of food to be full. ha ha  The missionaries are treated so well, so my mother doesn't have to worry about me not getting enough food. ha ha  I love the Mexican candy!  I didn't like it before my mission, but I love the stuff now!  I'll have to send home my favorites!  I am so grateful for all the prayers from everyone in my behalf.  I know the Lord blesses His missionaries with safety and success as we are obedient.  I really have enjoyed every moment of my mission. I look forward to seeing the things that will happen in my mission.  It's going to be "the best two years" without doubt!  
Hope all is going great back at home!  I love and miss you all!!!  Someone eat an IN-N-OUT Burger for me!! Ha Ha!

Le Amo
Your son,
Elder Fowler

Questions that Preston answered for us:

Q: How much time are they giving you to send emails?
A: An hour and a half!  So it's a little more than the CCM.

Q: How's your companion?
A: There is a language barrier so it can be hard, but it's good!  

Q: How are the living arrangements?
A: It's just my companion and l in a small house that these people are renting out to missionaries. It's nice not having other missionaries in our living areas. I love coming home and feeling exhausted and beat.  Makes me feel like I did something good that day!

Q: Do you feel like you are getting a grasp of the language?
A: Sorta.. I felt like I was in the CCM but out here, everyone speaks differently, so it's harder than I thought it would be....but my language is getting better and better as time goes on.  I feel like it will take the 12 weeks of training to fully understand the language, if not more.

   Below, the first 2 pictures were put on his mission Facebook page that we were then able to download.

Preston on the first day he arrived in the mission field (Chihuahua) with the other missionaries from the CCM. Preston is the 5th one from the left in the back row. President and Sister Chavez his mission president and wife are front row center. 

Preston met his mission companion, Elder Vergara (from Mexico City)
for the first time in Chihuahua, after leaving the CCM in Mexico City.

Some last minute photos while in the CCM

Picture of Elder Fowler and his district in the CCM

Elder Fowler is 2nd from the left

District 10B Despedida

Group photo of his Zone while in the CCM

Elder Fowler, Sister Gaton, Elder Beeson. Sister Gaton will be serving her mission in Reno, NV.

Preston arriving at the airport in Chihuahua, Mexico

Looking down the street from his humble abode.

Elder Fowler somewhere in Anáhuac. Mexico

Elder Fowler's home for the next little while.

#7 Made it to Chihuahua, Mexico!!!!!

Hola mi padres!
I've made it to Chihuahua and it's been a super long day.  We left the CCM (Mexico Missionary training center) at 3:30AM and we got to Chihuahua about 9:15 their time!  I believe Mondays are my P-Days (preparation day) but this P-Day is kinda shot, so this is all the time I have this week to contact you.  I wish I had more time but oh well! Ha!  I have lots of pictures to send next week and I'll tell you more about it.
Love you both,
Elder Fowler