Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Merry Christmas!


   CHRISTMAS EVE 2010             
                                                             
                   Dressed up for acting out the Nativity

                          My favorite Pic of Elder L and I (taken Christmas Eve)
                                  The shoes we got for Christmas from the Hills
So my 4th transfer I will still be serving in this area!  
I will still be companions with Elder Lualemaga as well!  I am glad that I am still able to stay here because I really enjoy the area and the people that we are teaching.  I am also glad because I don't have to take the time to pack all my stuff up and 
I still get to stay at the Tajmahill! ha ha  I am still District Leader and the only change to our district is that we now will have sister missionaries in it.  I hope that 2010 ends well for you all and that 2011 starts well! 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!
 
Things are going really well! The work is progressing a lot! We taught more lessons last week than I ever had in a week before.  We are super busy so having a car really helps.  We have a Chevy malibu (2010 i think).  we can see a lot more people now!
 
Zone Conference yesterday was really a good experience.  President Greer has adopted something for the mission that originated from Elder Smith, Lefevre and I when we were in our companionship.  It has kind of become a unnofficial theme for the mission.  I will tell you more about it if you want on Christmas!  We also got to watch Toy Story 3 for the christmas movie... it was kindof a bummer since I had already seen it but it was still a ton of fun!  I got the package you sent as well as one from the Woodens! I enjoyed getting them both and I really appreciate all that was in them! I will share with Elder Lualemaga.  His girlfriend sent him/us a package.  She got us stockings that look like a missionary shirt (tag and everything) with our names on them.  It was really nice of here to include me with Elder L.   I will look foreward to Christmas!  Love you tons and talk to you soon!:)
 One other peice of good news is that we will be getting a car!!!! It will help us get a ton more work done, stay warm and dry and not sick, and allow us to not rely on members for rides when we need them.
 Our Car Finally Came! 
 We were able to go to the Portland Mormon Choir concert last week when they performed in Vancouver.  We were the ushers there so we got go go in early and hear them warm up as well as we got to see the performance!
                      Our neighbors have some pretty cool lights lining their driveway!
                               Yesterdays Sunrise before Zone Conference
  Do you recognize the woman in this picture??? It is Carol Wilson!  She worked at MVHS as a counselor and is now serving with her husband in my mission!  It was a lot of fun to run into them at Zone Conference yesterday!
       This is a baby named Avery that is way funny! She is only a year and a few months but talks really good.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

It Rained a TON this week! December 14, 2010

It rained a TON this week! there were flood warnings and stuff!  We were out on our bikes and the roads were flooded so much that the water was up higher than the sidewalk! We rode through puddles that when you are standing as high as you can on your bike, the water is still pouring in your shoes!  It gets to the point where you no longer care how wet you get anymore.  I did get a new rain jacket though from an elder going home this week. 
Elder Bowen   Elder Kelly   Elder Lualemaga

I had an amazing experience last night that really strengthened my faith in the Preisthood.  We were asked to give a blessing to a member that was going in for surgery today.  We have also been teaching her husband who is a non-member.  As I gave the blessing I felt the spirit very strongly.  I concluded the blessing and afterwards, she told me that about half way through the blessing, the words that I spoke were told to her in her mind right before I spoke them.  I was very amazed at hearing this.  It was an assurance to me that the words that are given in a blessing are not those of the individual but those of the Lord.
 


 We were able to attend the Festival of the Nativities.  
The whole church building was filled with nativities from all religions from around 
the world!  It was a lot of fun to go there and browse around. 



        Me and Elder Lualemaga with our favorite shirts




Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Mission News From Matthew November 30, 2010

Hello,


Thank you for your Birthday wishes! It is weird to think that Its already December.  It feels like it should still be June! Time just froze when I got my call.  I think another reason that it feels like it is earlier in the year is because there is no snow here but just rain!  I miss the snow even though I'm sure it would get miserable riding bikes around in it!
Time is really flying though.  I think the responsibility of District Leader makes things go quicker as well.  Staying busy is not a hard thing to do! 
We have a ton of investigators!  We just had a baptism this last week but I wasn't able to attend because of Zone Conference but thats ok:)  The work is progressing really well.  The other night I had a hard time sleeping because I was up thinking about our investigators and other people that we have talked to.  I feel a sence of urgency about the work and I hope that doesn't run out as time goes on with my mission.  The past 4 months have gone fast but at the same time it feels like it has already been 2 years!
It was fun to see the picture of Chase with all of you:) (its weird calling him chase and not Elder!) I'm glad that he got to connect with the family:)

I miss you all and LOVE YOU TONS! 
Have a good week!
-Elder Bowen

This is a picture of Matthew's companion Elder Lefeve and his parents.  They came over for dinner and we had a wonderful evening visiting and getting to know them.  They live in Southern California and were here to see their daughter who was expecting a baby any day.   It was amazing to think that less than two weeks earlier Chase had been with Matthew.  we felt a little closer to our son and brother that night.  Matt was able to see this photo as an attachment on his gamil the next day. 
This Morning we got to go to the Portland Temple again.  It was a really good experience and it reminded me of the day when I was able to go through the temple for the first time 
with all of you!   I will look forward to doing that again when I get back. 
 


    My first helping of Thanksgiving Dinner!

This is a gmail that was sent by Sister Karen Hill  Matthew lives in the Hills basememt 
"Your son is currently living in my home along with 2  companions, Elder Crabtree and Elder Lualemaga. I wanted to send some pictures and your son wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. He said he hopes it was a great day for you and he is looking forward to speaking with you soon.
The boys played football and went bowling today. We ate at about 4:30 and I apologize that the dinner photos are lacking in quality. We ate pie, drank hot cider and played a game tonight.
Your son is doing well.  He seems to be a natural leader and has been made senior companion earlier than most. He is always polite and offers assistance regularly.  We having enjoyed having he and his companions here. They are working hard."  Kind regards, Karen Hill
 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Favorite Fall Photos of Matthew

Shaving with "Elder Bear"
Giving directions to "Elder Bear" 
 Halloween "boo!"
Autumn in Washington

November 23, 2010

I actually have 2 new companions! I think I hold the record in the mission so far for # of Tripanionships! ha ha
My new companions are Elder Lualemaga (who I came out with in the MTC) and Elder Crabtree (who has been out for one transfer longer than us).  We get along really well together.
 We got a tiny bit of snow so we went sledding down the hills back yard thismorning:)  It was Elder Lualemagas first time in his life experiencing snow!  It has been fun to see his reactions. 

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Exerpts of Matt's letter November 16, 2010

Hello all,

I will be staying in this area (Vancouver) and have been called to be the District Leader.  I'm sure it will be a great learning experience especially since I don't have the typical experience of a DL.  I will pray for help to be able to help the district progress.

I just finished reading the Book of Mormon.  It was hard to read it so quickly but I was glad I accomplished my goal to read it in a transfer.

We have been teaching a lot (98 lessons in the last transfer with Elder Smith and Lefevre) and have 2 people on date to be baptized with hopefully more to come!


A huge apple I bought
Nightly planning on Halloween (having some fun doing it!)
Elder Smith, Elder Lefevre, Awesome Ward Member, Elder Bowen

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Matt Bowen Mission Call

Matthew Bowen received his mission call to the Kennewick, Washington Mission in July.  He entered the MTC on August 4, 2010 and is currently serving the The Dalles, Oregon.