LA VERGÜENZA!!!!!

Hola my lovelies!

It's really weird and really kind of humbling working here in Metan... I know without a doubt I'm supposed to be right here... I meet soooo many people that I KNOW not really know like "Oh your name is Phil and you like dogs..." No... thats just creepy. But many people have questioned me this week...

"Do I know you? I swear we've met before.... There's something different about you."

And I feel the EXACT same way.... Do I know these people?

Well yes... Obviously they're my brothers and sisters... but when you think about it... We actually did know alot of our neighbors before we came here. All are children of God... Just like we know our siblings and our parents here in the earth... we know our family in heaven also. It's really humbling to remember the sacred privledge I have to work with and help these children of God.. I can't really explain... But my heart is just full of love for God who trusts me to help his other children, and for the people here.

There's nothing like living in a foreign country and really getting to know the people. Im in their homes, part of their family, I see it all and how can you not be full of love. These people are the best. And upside... Spanish is ALOT easier... yay! So now I can actually understand these children of God...hahahaha

This week I met a 91 year old Jehovas Witness out just hoeing down the lawn... and her name is Juana. We chatted about God. 

I met another lady, Celicia and she's Catholic and she accepts everybody into her house, looking for who can tell her where God is. She told us in our first lesson with her we were meeting in vain... because she hasn't found the answer yet. She hasn't found the Church of Jesucristo.

their version of a corndog.  haha

And we also contacting a lady Aurora in the streets. We went to her house, sat down and drank yogurt with her, saw her bible from a different religion she was reading and came to find out she is a member. This happens alot. hahaha But shes been inactive for 29 years.

We find and meet really different people... but the point is. IT's the same God we believe in. THE EXACT SAME! I mean... not when we talk to the Chinese people here, because their Buddhists... but almost everyone! hahahaha But's its the same God and sometimes we forget how similiar we all are. 

You all should read the talks... "The Call to be Christlike" Elder Holland

and "Follow the Path of Happiness" Bishop Gerald Clausse

And sidenote.... The dog was following us FOREVER!! So I now carry my spray deodrante like pepper spray. The poor thing is terrified of it. hahahaha It might be the spray or the crazy look in my eyes.... Im not sure..hahahah But its a good pepper spray.. Especially when we're walking in the streets and the lights go out because of the storm and we're in a iffy area... hahaha I have my "pepper spray" for the heat, dogs, and creepers. hahahaha 

I love you all!!! Thanks for the letters and the love!!!

Hermana Bower  

shes sick so she had to pee in a cup.. and shes never done it before. Im a good friend and laughed in her face and took the pic. Im building her confidence. or bringing it down. but whateves! MEMORIES! hahahaha     Things happen in Argentina

The Hammer

So I kinda brought down the hammer on my branch... ooops.. sorry not sorry. Its the Branchs Presidents fault. hahaha

So last Sunday the branch pres was talking to my comp and ill admit, I was zoning... hardcore. And She said yes to something and said that I could do it. So not paying attention and having a bunch of eyes on me, I nodded my head. What. a. mistake...

Cora, Raquel...

hahaha not really mistake mistake, but I found out Saturday night that I was giving a talk in Church.... hmmm... thanks companion. hahhahaa no I was excited and dreading it, but I also had no time to prepare a talk.... hahah aoops.... And so my talk was about Missionary work... obvio... hahaha But this branch has not been helping us. Its a branch and we have 4 missionaries working their butts off... 

So it might have been interesting because we had been fasting for a day to find new people to teach, we were exhausted and a little ticked with the members, and I stood up to give a talk in front of them. I had the spirit I know that... But everyones faces were a little bit.... like I brought down the hammer. hahaha my companion send I definetley gave a smack down but she said I did it with love... so I hope... But in lunch right after church... the member family we were with was giving us references and talking about how to help... almost frantically. Hey... I was tired, hungry, ticked, and I have the spirit with me... this is a deadly mix. Hopefully it helps this branch. THeyve been trying for 20 years to make it into a ward... we'll see. hahaha Don't mess with the missionaries..We're here to work.

But I serioulsy love the people here in the area. They are one of a kind. Every investigator we meet thinks we're part of the Menonites or the gypsies that live here.... its because I've got my long flowy latina skirts, and Im blonde. Its a weird combo. But Its a good way to start talking to people.

All of our investigators are baptized... so we're trying really hard to find new people.... This little city has about a million different churches. I've talked to literally EVERY type of religion. We have people from India, China, US, and gypsies from all over, so literally... we've got it all. hahaha

So pray that we can find some new people please.

But here's a photo of our fav converts... Raquel is 11 and her mama Cora.. they are SO HILARIOUS!! and Raquel is really shy.. hahaha so hard to get a photo. Cora said that my future husband is an africano.... eh never know... hahaha

The dog that is always following us. And was trying to climb into our window. He seriously thinks we're his parents... as if.

I love this work with all my heart. And my testimony of what we put into it is what we get grew this week. Its up to us. If we're not puttin in the effort, GOd can't help us. But I also know that when we are prepared by reading the scriptures, and by praying constantly, we can have the spirit with us and be guiding by God.

Empanada love... yes 12...

In class yesterday someone said that people were talking to Pres. Hinckley about how many times people say prayers in one day. People were saying they had about 6 or 10 or 11 prayers everyday. And someone asked him how many he had. He replied "one... I say my prayer in the morning and end it in the night." 

Pray constantly, in secret, and out loud. And always have a prayer in you heart.

I love you all MUCHO!!!

Hermana Bower

A night in Tucuman on the roof... HACE CALOR!!!

Sleepover with the roomies

World Records

So I don't have time today... In case you didn't know.. I talk too much. And so..

Ya fue this email!!

 But just so you all know Im alive and loving life,

hahaha this week was pretty awesome!

I'm pretty sure this branch could be in the world records for most amount of people who attend church but its still a branch, they have the worlds FATTEST BABY!! seriously... shes the biggest child I have ever seen. Her rolls have rolls. shes at least three people. And lastly... a 100 year old man sang to me. He's a member. And I pretty much love him to death. He literally is perfectly healthy. He has no problems walking or picking stuff of the ground. Only thing is he can't hear you talking unless you're right next to him. But he sang us a song this week during lunch. My heart!!! AWW!!

also... people keep asking me if Im Italian... Im not sure how or why but i have a italian accent in spanish... didn't know this was possible. but DANG IT! Ahh!

So the work here is probably my favorite thing in the whole world... besides like God and Jesus Christ... but this is their work... so you know.... same thing. But I LOVE talking to people!! They become my very best friends. They teach me how to make empanadas in the streets, tell me every problem they ever had, I become like their white daughter that they've never wanted... all is well. And then they rip out your heart and don't want to listen to the very thing that literally saves lives. That and all of our investigators are members now... which is awesome!! But now... now we need new investigators. hahaha But the work goes on!!!!

And so does that annoying dog...

So I've seen a lot of miracles this week, and I just want to say that if you're not working with your missionaries... go. do it. I don't care the excuses. Because when the members and the missionaries work together, lives literally change. I have a strong testimony of this. Go work with the missionaries. Remember that while we are servants of God, we still are only in our early twenties or younger. we need all the help we can get. 

I love this gospel with all my heart. And I know that the Book of Mormon literally has every answer to every question every. Sometimes I feel like a doctor prescribing medicine... read this chapter everyday for one week and youll feel just fine again.... but it's so true. So when you feel like life is too hard or too crazy... are you reading your scriptures? are you praying? are you going to church every Sunday? Because if no... then theres your prescription. Our lives are always hard when we forget Christ. Put him at the center and your life might not be easier but He always ALWAYS lifts us above what we feel we can't handle. 

I love you all so much! 

Thanks for the letters and emails!!!

I think I'll find my suitcases the last week of my mission... but hahaha oh well.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Hermana Power Ranger (apparently Im the pink one)  

Clothes are EXPENSIVE! Seriously... I don't know if its the norm or if I was in Ukraine for too long of a time but every shirt is at least 20 or 30 bucks. its killing my soul. Im kinda a cheapskate. or least here. hahahaha Im looking for suitcases but its hard. 

Basically i live in a tiny little city. Which means that if they don't have it.... good luck. And we leave far from anywhere else to go buy stuff. But i did find some clothes in a different area when we were there for a meeting. Its going to take me a while. Life is expensive and not for tall people. hahahaha

us making bundt cake with some investigators... hahahah I love them so much

I have had 5 baptisms in my four months. Ayleen, Milagros, Maria de los Angeles, Cora, and Raquel. The area I was in before is one of the toughest areas for baptism. The last one was almost two years ago, but we were blessed with 3. I hope that this helps that ward.

We have about two or three more persons but they need to go to church. hahah But the work is moving on. 

Its definitely hard when you talk to this people and they become your best friends in a matter of minutes and then they rip our your heart and don't want to listen to your message. They very thing that could help them alot. You'd be surprised how much people open to us in the streets. People here are not afraid of strangers, just strange people. But because I live in a area with Menonites and Chinese people... people don't have problems at all with talking to us. hahaha I love it. 

hey by the way...

HAPPPPY HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  Oh this is for your birthday!!

Here's a cupcake I ate for you!!!! hehehehe but seriously I bought this and ate this for you because we both know the cupcake love is real!!You are my favorite mommy in the whole wide world. seriosuly. You are my best frind. and I miss talking to you everday. hahaha youre right, ill never shut up about Argentina when I get back. Late night chats? hahahaha love you so much mama!! have the bestest day ever! and have a big party!! and tell dad clearly he's upping his game this valentines day. hahaha so cute! and i love your cards for him hahahaha I miss you mucho!!! 

LOVE YOU MAMAMAMAMA!!

Si Dios quiere

Dios siempre quiere... hahaha when we invite people to church or commitments, thats always their response. If God wants.... well Dios siempre quiere. hahaha

The evil empanada

So... I'm pretty sure God wants me to be skinny... Because I've been SICK all this week. Like... dying... why? Well... I ate three empanadas I thought were made with love... It's kind of like Snow White and the Poison Apple. I ate three empanadas and now, I've lost a lot of weight, got a shot to the bottom... (I don't know why that's a solution to everything here in Argentina, oh you're sick, shot to the butt!) and yet... will this stop me from eating Empanadas? Uh no... heck no!

But other than my dying this week, it was a pretty special week! When I first got here my comp had taught this family one lesson with her past comp. And so.. we've been teaching them and it's been a ROLLERCOASTER!!! Seriously... but I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! And never before have I seen a family so prepared. The grandma, Norma, then her daughter Cora, and her son Martin, and Cora's daughter Raquel. They were prepared by the Lord. Si o si. They were contacts and when my comp tried to find their house they realized that they wrote down the direction wrong... and then as they were walking they found this family AGAIN!!! And wrote down their address correctly this time and visited them. The chances of seeing the same people in this area again are slim.... seriously. But words don't do it justice how much I love this family.

Cora and Raquel after a stressful week of wanting a baptism no more, were baptized this past Saturday. AHHH!!!! And the rest of the family wants to be baptized too. The just need to go to church. hahah theyve never been. hahah but they can't leave their house un attended because their neighbor wants their house and if they leave, their neighbor can steal it... oh joy. hahaha But Norma was asking us... what do I need to have at my baptism? hahah uh Norma we haven't even taught you the second lesson yet. You only need your wonderful self at the baptism... oh and a towel and sandals. 

hahahah the love this family has and the sass... the tease me so much. hahaha and apparently I need to name my first child Cora now... hahahaha

But this baptism was CRAZY!!! We got back into our area at 4pm and the baptism was at 6. We were stuck in Tucuman for two days because the weather and we were trying to buy more clothes for me... its difficult. hahaha but we just got back into town, and ran over to our investigators house because Raquel was sick with a fever. AH! and then we ran to the church building without ever going home first, only to find the baptism font was full but full of NASTY WATER!! and so began our frantic race to empty the font by bucket...

I don't know how many buckets of water I dumped into the toilet that day... but my back knows... it felt every single one. hahah and as we were emptying the font, we realized that the water was on, and we couldn't shut it off so every bucket of water we took out, more nasty water was put in. yay... -_- hahahah We were soaked with nasty water, and so ridicously tired and stressed because our investigators were sick.. and all the members just got back from a week long temple trip the same day... and then the members were fighting us to not have a baptism... needless to say... it was CRAZY! but moral of this ridiculously long story, is that we had the baptisms... in nasty but clean rain water and I felt God's love for these people more than I have ever felt in my life. 

So these photos are probably the worst ever, as we hadn't showered that day because we were in the terminal of tucuman, and we were soaked and sweating but SO HAPPY!! hahaha 

I love this gospel so much and the for the opportunity everyday to help these people. A guy asked my last night in the park, why are you here... personally. And the crazy thing is, I know exactly why im here. Not only specifically here in Argentina but in this life. I am a child of God, and He loves me, and I love Him. And I'm standing as a witness of God... 

Everyday, every moment, testifying that He lives, and He loves us.

Still missing my maletas in Metan, but never happier,

Hermana Bower

It's raining dogs, and white people... and Chinese.

So just to clear the air... yes... it really was 125 degrees here... Or whatever 60 C is... someone do the math please... I can't just Google my life here...

OKAY so this week... almost had a baptism... SO CLOSE!! But she had some doubts and her daughter doesn't want to get baptized without her mom. Cora the mom goes to church every Sunday but isn't sure about her testimony of Pres. Monson... And her daughter Raquel is 11. I love them! I might say that about everyone but its true.... hahaha They are so hilarious! Our lessons with them are so fun! I've realized this week to teach the Gospel, shame on you if you're just checking off the points but this is more than that. I'm sitting in people's houses with their children, teaching them about how there really is someone who loves them a lot. It really is a humbling opportunity. And a hilarious one. Metan is FULL of jokesters... 

So my comp is pretty awesome. No lie. And hilarious... The only words she knows in English are: "Hello my friend" and "Sassy". Which is perfect... hahaha She tells my everday: "Oooooh que Sassy!" This week was obviously crazy as all of my stuff was stolen and I was trying to buy clothes to fit my tall self in the insanely tiny short Latin America... But also I've been crazy happen this week! I think that's because I haven't even had time to think too much. I've been working!! Something I've been desperetaly wanting to do for 3 months.... My comp here.. well she doesn't stop for nothing. We wandered in the rain for two hours, completely drenched and shivering because.. well I don't have any other clothes, let alone a jacket. hahaha And we had to go to the bathroom SO BAD but we couldn't go back to our apt. We still had two hours. No members lived close by and our area is really far from our apt. So we knocked on doors, we contacted the crap out of people. I don't think I've ever been turned down in my life.. hahaha Satan really didn't want us to teach a lesson and get out of the cold... but you know what? Im so ridiculously happy and I'm just getting started here in Metan. hahaha We have three baptisms planned right now of people we started teaching this week. I love this work so MUCH!!!

So as to the subject of this email... There is nothing more weird than talking to white people in Spanish... except maybe Chinese people in Spanish... There are a TON here in Metan. Their menonites.... and it's weird. I stare at them, they stare at me, and the whole of Latin America stares at us... I bought starbursts from them today and just pleasantly chatted with them... but WHAT THE HECK?! Where am I? hahahaha 

Some of you were wondering how you can help... well.. if anybody is listening... hahahah Somebody tell JOSH WINWARD that I need his Dog whistle thingy STAT! I have a dog amigo... and I swear it's the nicest dog ever but I only have three skirts and it put a whole in one! AH! And he was waiting for us at the church building!! I don't know how he knew where it was! He FOLLOWS us EVERYWHERE and its bad because there are a MILLION ZILLION dogs here and so yesterday we had 5 dogs following us... and getting in fights at our investigators houses. Its like,

Hola we're missionaries of Jesus Christ, here's a dog fight for ya!

hahaha no! And our stinking dog that we refuse to claim came into the church building during Sacrament meeting and jumped on the other sister missionary that was conducting music.... hahaha please help.

I really love this area!! This suitcase business sucks... But I've got my scriptures, I've got God and if I have to dress like the people down here for a year and a half... so be it. Just don't judge my photos... hahahah

I love you all! Thank you for your emails! I wish I had more time to write and tell you the HILARIOUS THINGS this week. But I'm sure more will happen this week. hahahahahaha God is with me here... I feel it and I just can't stop laughing. God knew I have a hard time so he sent me into a branch, into a area that loves to be sassy. hahahha I love God with all my heart and I know that much like the sons of Mosiah... I don't need anything but him to go teach the word of God, and he'll provide the rest. His servants are never left wanting.

Mucho AMOR,

Hermana Bower

P.s. the menonites think Im one of them.... THis is NOT okay... It's the long skirt I bought here... ahahah no...