Week 23 - Christmas in July 🎄🎄

Hello all!

Sorry I didn't write very much last week....there wasn't a ton going on except a lot of finding and also there was an ultimate dodgeball game going on. So, yeah sorry about that! But this week was a good one! We actually found someone who was prepared and his name is Juan and he has a baptismal date for August 13! 🎉  We've been a little bit frustrated these last couple weeks because we haven't been able to find people that will progress. But we've learned that as long as you're giving everything you can, Heavenly Father will make up the rest.

Thursday was a really good day. We had an appointment with Juan Franco who we found during power hour. And as we taught him he told us about all his problems (for some reason people do that all the time with missionaries, I don't know why) and then we explained to him that baptism is a way to start a new life. So we invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! Then we set him for a date on August 13! I might not be here at that time because I'll probably get transferred (😓😓😓) but I just hope he progresses. He didn't come to church on Sunday so we'll keep trying with him. Then we had dinner with the Smith family, not Bishop or Stake President Smith but old stake president and ward organist Smith family. They are soooo nice and we're actually going to start playing racquet ball at their house for excercise 3 days a week so that will be fun.

Friday we had district meeting, and our district leader is so so good.  He really cares for us, and he told us then that we were going to do Blitz in our area.  Blitz is when all the members of the district go to an area of a certain companionship that might be struggling, and they all stay there for an hour and find people to teach. So we're going to do that next Saturday! Hooray! That's how you show love to others, especially as missionaries. Trying to help others. So that will be cool.

Saturday we had a lesson with Damian. He's so awesome. He wants to go to all the temples in Utah. He loves the temple! He's really got a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He's supposed to be getting the Melchezedek priesthood soon, and that will be so awesome because he leaves for college in like a month. We also had a lesson with a less active named Katie. She's really struggling, and it stresses me out that I have so many people to take care of and that I am responsible for helping them and I want to make sure I can do everything I can. It is just a little overwhelming when you realize just how much you need to be doing as a missionary. And I want to do it right, I want to do everything I can, but sometimes I feel like it's just so much.

Anyways, later on on Thursday we went and visited an investigator named Silvia. She's really really old, so we're not even sure if she understands everything. And she didn't come to church on Sunday like she said she would. :( so we'll keep looking to see what we can do to help her understand. And Pres. Flores and his wife came to the lesson with us and they helped. And I can't understand her at all because she's speaking a lot of slang Spanish and she has no teeth. So, it's a little frustrating! But then we had a lesson with a less active family that night named the Mayas. Their kids are soooo cute! And they love us always, and they are so nice. They have true desires to come to church but Ulises always works so they don't come to church. So we will keep working with them!

Sunday was good, we had church, and there was a bunch of drama in the Spanish branch because of the old ladies. We had dinner with Sis Holt who is so sweet. But then I accidentally ate like some cashew dust.  But it was a miracle because I didn't even react! My mouth got slightly itchy and then it went away. Milagro!! And that night we had another miracle. We went to go see an investigator who we hadn't seen for a long time. So it was a long shot that she would be home because she's always in Mexicali. But we drove by her house and there she was! Sitting outside! So that was so cool. And we talked to her and she had been reading the Book of Mormon! So we're going to go back and see her on Wednesday and help her understand the Book of Mormon a little more because she struggling with that. The only problem is that her husband doesn't really like us.....so I really hope that he sees that we truly care for her and that he doesn't make us go away. Because that has happened before and it's sad when that happens. But we will keep praying for her! She's going to have a baby in a few months too, and that softens hearts.

Monday we went and did power hour with John. He's a member, he got baptized 3 years ago but is too old to serve a mission but he wants to SOOO bad. And he's like a better missionary than me. But he's awesome! And we take him out with us at night to keep us safe from all the crazies haha

This week something special that happened was that we had dinner with the Gows. They are the cutest!  And Sister Gow likes to celebrate Christmas in July so she gave us clues and we had to find our Christmas present.  And she gave us chocolate covered macadamia nuts from Hawaii! They are so nice. I mean, I'm allergic to macadamia nuts so I actually gave them to our homeless friend named Bruce but it's the thought that counts. Brother Gow is really old but he's really really funny and they tell us stories and we're also kind of working with their less active kids at the same time. So it works out great.

If I get transferred next week, I will be super sad but I also know that I can trust that my Heavenly Father knows what's best for me! He knows what's best for all of us. And that is so great about this Plan that He has. It is in our favor. We're on the right team. :)

I love you all, thanks for all the support! You guys are awesome!

Les quiero!
Hermana Fowlks

Here we are celebrating Christmas in July with Bro. and Sis. Gow :)

 

Here we are with who I like to call the King of Brawley.  He's literally everywhere.

 

 

Here is some of the scenery we found when we got lost.  Only cows and birds and us.  But the sunset looked nice!

                 

 

We found this crazy person with these crazy signs.  Yeah we avoided this house... haha.

 

 

Week 22 - No hay mucho...

Hola!! ¿Como están?

I'm doing pretty good over here in Brawley, I'm having a hard time believing how fast the time is flying but besides that I am good.  We're seeing a lot of miracles, especially with our less actives  coming back!

 

Wednesday we had a lesson with a recent convert named Adelina. She's super sweet, and comes to church every single week. But she needs to get to the temple. She's just fine staying where she's at. But I suppose it's all in the Lords timing! We also had a lesson with someone we found during power hour, her name is Silvia and she wants to get baptized! Who hoo!  Thursday we had weekly planning, and we got spooked at the church so we had to come back and do weekly planning in the apartment haha. But it was good! Then we had dinner with this crazy old lady from the Spanish branch. Her name is Hermana Ledesma. She like 85 years old and she is so crazy.

Friday we had zone meeting! We learned a lot about having member home lessons. Our Stake President came and gave a super inspiring training. I love our stake Presdient, he's a convert to the church and he's super into missionary work. He loves it! And we're lucky because he lives in our ward boundaries so he helps us especially. He's just so cool. And his son is our bishop and is just as awesome! And then we had dinner at our stake presidents house. 

 

Sunday was church. And it was my turn to go with the Spanish branch.  And this returned missionary came and spoke and it was really good.   All the old ladies were in love with him. Then we had a lesson in the stake presidents house and it was super spiritual! And the stake Presdient told us we were good missionaries. Which was good to hear because our numbers are so bad and it's stressing me out.

Monday during power hour we met this guy named Juan who is super interested in the church! So we're going to see him on Thursday.
 

And, nothing too crazy happened this week. But the work continues! And I love it here! And that's all :) but here's some pictures!



 

All of the 4th of July stuff that my mom sent!                          Also a super cool chicken mailbox we found!

Sister Garcia and I found this selfie of two other sisters in the mission and we recreated it!

Aqui es una foto de la zona despues de dodgeball!  Pero, dodgeball maravilloso. ;)



 

Week 21 - The Armor of God 💪

Hola a todos!

This week was a good one. We worked really really hard, and saw a bunch of miracles! One miracle in specific that we saw was with one of our members named Lori. She loves visits from the missionaries so we thought we would stop by and see how she was doing. But her mom never lets the missionaries in. But this time she did! And we taught her about the Plan of Salvation and how she can see her son again. She is a very stubborn woman in her own beliefs but I think her heart is softened. And it was so cool! So my invitation to you all this week is NEVER DELAY A PROMPTING. ever. You never know what could happen. If it is a good thing, there is no harm in doing it. :) go visit that
neighbor, or pay for that person behind you in the drive though. Little things make a big difference :)

Wednesday we struggled lessons wise, we didn't teach very many, they just all seem to fall through! But we did have dinner with the Walkers, and they are such an awesome family. She's like my mom out here, always making sure we have enough to eat and that we are happy and safe. Even though she lives in Westmorland she still takes good care of us. She has 2 boys that are preparing to serve missions, so it's cool to be able to talk to them.

Thursday we had district meeting, and our district leader is really good and supportive even though our numbers right now are TERRIBLE. He keeps trying to find ways to help us, and we just keep finding those different ways. One place that we are really struggling in is member present lessons. For some reason, we just can't get fixed appointments to get members to. And if we do, then they fall through! I mean, the Lord might be testing me because we are working so so hard. But there is always room for improvement. We also had lunch with Presidente Flores and his wife. She makes such good chile and rice and beans. YUM. I love Mexican food. And they gave us a bunch of less active families to go visit!

Friday was a much better day! We went and found a less active named Isaac and found out his concerns. So we're going to start working with him to help him get back to church. We also went to have a lesson with one of our members named Lori but then it turned into a lesson with her mom who is not a member! It was cool. We also had a lesson with a recent convert who was having troubles with the word of Wisdom. She's like super old, and she's struggled with it her whole life. She quit cold turkey for her baptism but then started up again a few weeks ago.  But when we went and visited her on Friday, before we could say anything she said "I'm on my sobriety!" And we were SO EXCITED FOR HER! It's so awesome. And she's so much happier now. Then we had dinner with the Gows. I love that family so much. Brother and Sister Gow are the cutest. Brother Gow actually reminds me a lot of grandpa Dee. Just like 10 years older. They even have the same glasses. But I just wish that I could hang out with them all day and listen to their stories.  Because they are so neat.

Saturday we had lunch with the Call family, and we had a classic 4th of July BBQ. It was just like home! I didn't know how much I missed that until I saw the food sitting there on the table and just got so happy.  They were really good burgers too. It was awesome. And we had a cool lesson with a less active member who's son told us he wanted to be baptized! He has been going to church in El Centro and the Elders had neglected to tell us about him and the fact that he lived in Brawley. So we were super pumped and we were like well let's get you baptized next weekend then! But then he told us he's going up north to work. So maybe like 3 months from now he'll get baptized. When he comes back.  But we will see. Sunday was fast Sunday, and there were some awesome testimonies born and it was a cool day. Except we didn't have dinner with anyone...so we had instant potatoes. NASTY!

Also this week I was reading in Ephesians 6, where it talks about the armor of God. But in verse 12 it says:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
We are in a wrestle every day! We need to always be prepared to fight off what comes. Never let your guard down. Read the scriptures, pray, and go to church. We cannot afford to be casual in this fight. We've got to keep going and help our brothers who have become wounded in battle!
And most of all, we've got to keep fighting. ;)
I love you all!
Hermana Fowlks

 

Week 20 - It's still hot haha!

Being a missionary is awesome. Really though, like even though it's like a thousand degrees outside and there are cockroaches in your apartment you're still so happy. All the time! It's so cool. It's amazing what the gospel of Jesus Christ does :)

This week was good, we're in a rebuilding season of missionary work. We are finding, finding, finding! And as we were knocking on a door on Thursday, we saw these 2 guys that looked like they played NBA basketball. Except one of them had crazy black dread locks. But these guys were huge! And one of them was just staring at us. And as missionaries, we are called to bring the gospel to everyone. And I looked at my companion, and I could tell she was thinking the same thing I was thinking. That these guys looked SCARY. But something told me that we needed to talk to them, and something caught my eye about the one with the dreadlocks. So we start walking, and he calls out to us and asks who we are. So we started talking to him, and he asked for a Book of Mormon and he said that he really wanted to know more. So the lesson here is never ever judge someone by how they look or what they do. We are all children of God, we were all on the same side at one point.

Friday we had exchanges. The new sister Sister Romero came out to Brawley with me. And we had like the least successful day of my whole mission. We did have one good cita where a less active said they would come back to church. And that was at the beginning of the day. But then for the rest of the day nobody was home. We knocked so many doors and nothing happened. Then our power hour that day was just garbage because we weren't in the right place at the right time. It was just bad. And the day ended with us knocking a door of a potential investigator. And her little white miniature poodle came out of nowhere and started attacking us! It actually like was biting our ankles! We were fighting it off with our bags as we ran away. So yeah Friday wasn't the best day. It was fun though, and we worked hard. So I suppose that is was matters! We did have dinner at Johnnys Burritos with Hermana Anduro and I love Johnnys Burritos. SO YUMMY.

But Saturday was better. It wasn't as hot which was pretty awesome. We also had a lesson with Maria where we watched the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. She really liked it. I really liked it too, that move is awesome :) if you haven't seen it, you can download it on gospel library! You should watch it! Then we also had a bunch of visits fall through...but we went did get a potential investigator  named Pamela! It was cool. But Sister Garcia and I really support each other, and she is so loving and I feel really good when I am with her.  She's also a really good missionary. I'm so lucky to have her as my companion! And I'm sad because we'll probably only be together for one transfer.
Les amo!
Hermana Fowlks

PS Damian is going to Utah for 2 weeks, so keep an eye out for him! He says he wants to go to the Oquirrh Mountain temple, so he'll be around there. So if you see a giant Peurto Rican guy with glasses walking around with a little white blonde girl, that's him and his girlfriend McKenna ;)

 

Sister Fowlks and Sister Garcia

 

Zone Conference - June 2016

Note from Sister Fowlks Mom -
Damian stopped by our house today and gave us a letter from McKell and one from her companion.  He told us how grateful he was for McKell and that she was the reason he was now a member of the church!  Pretty awesome!

Week 19 - Milagros en el calor! (miracles in the heat)

This week, I learned how to jump start a car! (Kind of embarrassing that I didn't know that before.....My dad has taught me before but I obviously didn't listen very well.) but anyways our car died twice this week because the heat was destroying the battery, and so the zone leader, Elder Burt, that had to drive a half hour to come rescue us (bless his heart) and he taught me a bunch of stuff about cars so that he and Elder Castillo don't have to drive out every time something happens to the car. The things you learn on a mission ;)

Wednesday when we went and got the car fixed, we walked about 3 miles to this smoothie place, and that was when I realized that if I was on a bike in the Imperial Valley I would die. Just walking out in that heat I was so hot! It is getting really hot here. This Monday its supposed to be up to 122. Also on Wednesday during power hour we had a guy just stop and give us all of his information and walk away. So we went and saw him on Thursday and he is really prepared! He just got out of prison and is ready to let God into his life.
Thursday a really neat miracle happened. We were finishing our power hour, and it had been a pretty crappy one where we had had lots of doors slammed, but we saw this guy like squatting down on the road. So we went to go talk to him and turned out he was a member who was from Idaho and he was here working going door to door for Vivint. Then his partner walks up, and he was a member too. So we talked to them, then all the sudden they were like well let's see who we know that you should go visit. And so they gave us 5 referrals that day! It was so awesome.

Friday we had District meeting with our new district leader Elder Baldwin.  He really cares about us as missionaries, not just the numbers were putting up on the board. So that's super cool. And Friday we had a lesson with Jasmin!! She had a baptismal date then like stopped contacting us all of a sudden. But we were able to get a hold of her, and we finally taught her again! And Hermano Anduro came with us and he is like the best member in the world. And it was such a good lesson! She's going to have a baby boy in November, and her and Ruben have to get married before she gets baptized. They said they were still thinking about marriage, but they would let us know. And we told them we would plan the wedding for them if they decided to get married ;) that would be SOOOO fun. Sister Garcia and I would have a party. Speaking of Sister Garcia, I love her so much. Like, I didn't realize how much a companion that is loving like her could change the mission.  She's starting to adjust to the heat, kind of haha. But she's got a really positive attitude and I like that :) can one really adjust to 122 degrees? I don't think so!

And then on Sunday and Monday it was pretty toasty. I didn't know I could sweat so much. But it's good!   But we had a zone wide power hour. And I wasn't sure where to go for it, so we decided to go to Holtville. Come to find out, that isn't even in our area! Oops. But we saw a bunch of miracles!

If you haven't read the introduction to the Book of Mormon recently, I invite you all to read it :) it truly is inspired!

I love you all!! Les quiero!
Hermana Fowlks

Sister Garcia and I after the sweatiest hour of my life.         Sunset in the farm, we love it here!

 

The new Imperial Valley Girls

 

Picture of the temperature on Sunday June 19, 2016 (just in case you thought I was being dramatic about the heat)

Week 18 - Transfers and Tremors

Well, here in the Valley, it gets really really hot. Like, 120's during the day. And in zone meeting on Wednesday, we talked about how we're going to really be "unfailingly optimistic" as Elder Hamula said last week. But, there is a promise of being in the Imperial Valley in the summertime! MIRACLES. So I'm really excited to excercise my faith and work in this heat because I know Heavenly Father will help me to be more sensitive to the Spirit and help me find more prepared people.  (Even if I'm literally sweating buckets as I find them). And it could be worse! We could be on bikes like the Elders in Calexico and El Centro! Haha. 😁

Tuesday we played a nasty game of basketball. I'm actually getting decent because we play every week haha. Sister Tuia and I always guard each other and she is so competitive so it's kind of fun. She's really rough too, like if I didn't outweigh her by like 30 pounds I would be in trouble! But it's still fun. The Elders treat us like we're just other players (I guess they kind of have to when we play 3 on 3) but it's fun!
Then Wednesday we had ZONE MEETING! I love our zone. They're so great.  We talked a lot about goals, and we set a goal to have 25 baptisms this summer. Because miracles happen in the Valley. It's like a common mission knowledge that when the summer comes, the Valley lights on fire. Spiritually and literally.
Thursday night was an exciting night. First of all, for some background information: Sister Tuia and I have beds that have wheels at the bottom and our house is all hardwood floor. And in the middle of the night I wake up to my bed shaking back and forth. And first I was like seriously Sister Tuia it is one in the morning! But then I just hear, "Esta bien Hermana?" And I realize that we are in an earthquake! I've never been in one like that before. So it lasted about 5 minutes (maybe it was shorter I'm not sure) and then it stopped. Then Sister Tuia and I established that we would make  emergency earthquake kits just in case there was a big earthquake and we had to run out. (We would definitely need some snacks in that situation ;) and then we went back to sleep! So that was pretty exciting, and I'm sure it was not the last one we will feel since the fault line is right where we are and the weather is apparently earthquake weather. So I get to experience something new and exciting!

Saturday Maria got baptized!  We got there in time to fill the font, make the programs, and decorate and set everything up. So the service went well, then it came time to have Maria be baptized. And they opened the doors, and the font was only half full! I guess I didn't put the plug in all the way or something and the water had been slowly draining out. But she got all the way under and that is what matters haha. She was so nervous, but it went really well. She has been investigating the church for over 8 years and finally made the decision to be baptized. It was a really special and spiritual service and I felt so blessed to be a part of it.
 
Sunday we had lunch with the entire family of brother and sister Gow.  And their son apparently served his mission with a Trevor Fowlks.....all you Fowlkses out there do we know a Trevor Fowlks?
Anyways, that was good.  Monday we found out about transfers and got a new car! Who hoo! I will be staying here in Brawley (🎉🎉🎉) and Sister Tuia is going to Sweetwater.  I'm really really happy that I am staying here (also because I really really didn't want to pack up all my stuff) but also I feel like I still have a lot to learn from the people here in Brawley.  And my new companion is named Sister Garcia, she's from Chihuahua, Mexico and she usually serves in the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in San Diego so that's kind of fun! She came to melt in la Valle. Pobrecita. And then we got the Sister Training Leaders' car because they're going to sell ours. And their car is soooo nice and the air conditioning works way better. So that's awesome.
Les quiero mucho!

 Hermana Fowlks

 

The Sisters in the District.  Sister Sanders is going home.

Maria's Baptism 

                 New Companion Sister Garcia

 

Week 17 - Just Keep On a Goin!

Hello family and friends!

This week was pretty normal. 

Wednesday night we had a really special day with one of our member families. They are called the Gows.  Brother Gow called us earlier that week and asked if we would come over for dinner on Wednesday. So we did! And when we got there we found out that it was Sister Gow's birthday. She was turning 82! And she made us the most delicious teriyaki burgers.  But she got kind of emotional during dinner. We asked what happened and she said that this was the first time in their life that they had the missionaries over. Brother Gow had never invited missionaries over to eat before, and that this was the best birthday she had ever had.  I wanted to cry!  It was so nice.

Thursday was pretty good, we had weekly planning and a way solid lesson with Maria who is getting baptized this Saturday. Then on Friday we drove to San Diego again! This time Elder Hamula of the 70 spoke. He was awesome. Here's some of the notes I took:

Casualness is the gateway to disobedience. This war is not casual.  If we are not ready, we will become a casual missionary. And in the heat of the battle we might become a casualty. You study the BOM and if you hold on to that testimony, I assure you that heaven will guide you carefully and hell will have no power to take you off that course. And believe me hell will try.  When there is too much noise, you can't hear the spirit.  Develop the attribute of quietness and soberness.  Rarely does the voice of the Lord press.  You have to understand who you are before you can understand the gospel of Christ.  The best trees grow slow. Now why is it that the Lord has you grow slow?  He's got His purpose, to have you grow.  He wants you to understand something else.

Then, I was studying in the book of Moses, and when Satan comes to tempt Moses. But because of the spiritual experience  Moses had previously had, he was able to resist the temptation. And then I read this quote from Elder Holland: "In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. … When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what
you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. …The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue--it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do
have and the truth you already know"

So, if you are struggling at all with your faith, I ask you, don't give up! Hold on and love the Lord,
and good things will come. As President Uchtdorf said: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters--my dear friends--please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”

I love that. :) and I love all of you! Keep going, God is good.
Love always, Hermana Fowlks