Week 2 of training

This week has been a crazy week. We had 3 meetings, one of which was in Fort Lauderdale, so we lost a few hours, haha, like an entire day with meetings, but it was fun, and I learned a lot in a very short amount of time. We have been doing some good work up here in Okeechobee as well. We were able to have 2 baptisms this week, which were awesome. One was on Friday. She was a member's sister that had changed her life around, and very quickly with the Lords help, leaving behind smoking and coffee very quickly. The other was an African American, which happened on Sunday after church, who sadly will not be with us for too much longer because he is heading back to Georgia at the beginning of the year, but he is super awesome, already prepared by the Lord to live the commandments and receive the blessings that the restored gospel had for him. Elder D was able to baptize him as well, and that was very special for him, his first baptism! This week within the 3 meetings we also had 2 exchanges, one with the Zone Leaders, and the other with one of the members of the District. With the Zone Leaders I went to Stuart with Elder Bj, and Elder D took over our area. He did a great job, and was able to navigate himself very well. I didn't have to take over the area for the first time, until after the first transfer was completly over. Elder D did it before his first week was completly over, crazy! With Elder Bj I had tons of fun. It was like bringing back the past, but both of us better at Spanish and at teaching. We saw some great success in their area. The next day I took my area back over, but with Elder De, so it was crazy because I was not totally sure what had happened the day before, but we went back and followed up on some people that Elder D told me about. Overall it was just a crazy week which we were able to have a lot of fun in. Elder D and I are doing great together, and cannot wait to see the successes and experiences we are going to have together. I know that the Lord is working here in Okeechobee, and in Florida, and is preparing people throughout all the world to feel and receive the restored gospel. I know that he cares for his children, and is always creating opportunities for us to succeed and receive more blessings and love. I know that we can all be instruments in the Lord's hands and change peoples lives. I know that Christ was born, lived, and sacrificed his life, so that we may receive life ourselves. I love this gospel so much, and I love you all so much, and appreciate all that you do for me. I hope to hear from you soon

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

I have a son!

So this was an exciting transfer meeting. I am now training Elder D, who is from Spanish Fork, Utah. He is an amazing Elder with lots of heart and is looking forward to his mission. He loves what he does, and is making a lot of progress very quickly. Not only that though, but I am now District Leader here in Okeechobee, never been done since Okeechobee was opened to work like 3 years ago, and for good reason. We had a baptismal interview this Saturday, which fell through when we got there, and we spent 70 miles to go to the middle and back, and they spent 70 miles to pick us up and bring us back. It was a little crazy, but we will get it all worked out. It is going to be a lot of fun here. We had some really cool experiences. This Friday Elder D should have his first baptism, so he is very excited. He is a very good Elder. The first day he invited 3 people to be baptized, and is always working to be better at what he does. He also is not afraid to talk in the lessons, so he will learn fast the things to say and what not to say. We had some powerful lessons, and I am very grateful that he was there to back me up. We had some disappointing things happen, but we will be able to continue onward I believe. We are really excited for this month and all that we are going to be able to do together, and for these 12 weeks coming up. We have 2 hour companionship studies again, so it is a little weird, but we have a lot to do in that short amount of time, so we are working hard. We have had some really good spiritual experiences together. One day we finished a street of harvesting, and we decided we needed to do a little bit more, so we started biking down to another place, and we saw a man on the other side of the road, we stopped by, and left a blessing with him. He accepted baptism, and also came to church this Sunday, it was really awesome, and Elder D is really excited about it. We are just working really hard here, and I am so grateful to the strength that my Savior gives me. We have felt it a ton, and seen it change so many peoples lives down here, and I know that he is always watching out for us. He knows us, and loves us more that we can possibly know, and I know he will support through anything that we do that is righteous. i love this gospel so much, and I love you all. Hope to hear from you sooon

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

Greenie in Okeechobee

So another transfer has come and gone, and a crazy awesome one at that. We had a lot of fun, and had a lot of success. We worked super hard and the branch is super excited about missionary work. We have been able to be apart of a lot here. We were able to start someone on the 7 days to quit smoking program the other day, and she is now on day 6, and is doing awesome. She said she woke up and didn't even think about cigarettes until several hours later, when she realized that she did not want any. It is super cool. We are seeing a lot of potential for this month, and we think that we will be able to continue onward and upwards and hopefully make this branch a ward soon enough. Elder L is leaving now, he is a little upset, but he has been here for 6 months now so he has just about knocked the whole place. At least everything that is permitted by our miles to be knocked and followed up with. I will be getting a greenie here and training him for probably the next 3 months, so I should be here a while. It is pretty exciting, he most likely isn't even in the mission yet, and if he is he is probably getting off the plane right now. Nothing else is really that new, we had a good week with the members helping us out a ton, which is really helping the work.I do not have to much more to say, but I love you all, and I thank you for all that you do. I know that this is the Lord's work, and he always has a plan for everyone. I know that I am doing what he would have me do, and I know that he is here for me all of the time, to strengthen me, and to uplift me, and to guide me. I love you all. I hope to hear form you soon.

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

Thanksgiving

This has been a super good week for us. We were a little worried it being Thanksgiving and all, but it ended up working really well. We were able to have a lot of success really. We also had Thanksgiving 3 times, haha. Once on Thursday, on Friday, and Sunday. All three times it was their only time having it, so it was a lot of fun. We had a little trouble early in the week, but the end was just amazing. On Friday we had 4 baptisms, which was awesome. There were a lot of tears there. Their family from up north came down and baptized them. It was a really special service, and we were even able to have some investigators there. One we had not taught yet, but she was touched so much, that when we went over to her sisters house the next day she kept talking about it, and asked why she would need to be baptized again. We explained to her everything that it would do for her, and how she could receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (which she saw 4 people receive on Sunday), and what that really means. She was so excited for it and is planning on getting baptized real soon here. She came to church and said that she had given up drinking coffee now, and she is really working hard for her baptism. We also found an awesome family earlier in this week that have been talking about coming to a church for a while now, but just have not done it. We brought a member with us, because they both expressed to us that they are shy, and the member was able to help them feel great desires to come, and understand that really the church is a hospital for those of us that are not perfect (everyone), and we are not expected to be perfect, but the do our best to be better everyday. They all loved church, and said they will be back for sure the next week. We were so blessed this week, and I am so Thankful for everything that I receive. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and I am grateful that he suffered and died for me, that I will rise again one day, and have the opportunity to live with my family forever. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who guides us thruogh his prophet, and us personally daily, and is helping me become better and better every day. I love this gospel, and I love all that God has given us. I love you all and I am grateful for all you do for me. Hope to hear from you soon.

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

2 weddings and a baptism

This week has been crazy week in Okeechobee. Probably the craziest there has been and ever will be, haha. It started out with an exchange with our Zone Leaders, which I stayed and had a great exchange with Elder E. We worked super hard, and he helped me figure out some things and how to improve the way I teach. While he was here, we were also able to teach one investigator about the Law of Chastity, and she committed to be married on Saturday, and be baptized the next day. It was crazy! Her boyfriend had been asking her for a while, so she decided it was time for it. It was a crazy lesson, and she was so excited for her wedding and baptism. The next day we went over and helped her and her boyfriend get the marriage license, and then we started planning a wedding. Neither of us had any idea what to do, but we had some members inform us the way that weddings work, and luckily for us, the bride was not to picky, and actually wanted it to be a small gathering at the church. It turned out super well. On Friday we had an early morning as we brought the Elders from Vero Beach down with us West Palm for a meeting. It was an excellent meeting that helped us focus more on the repenting side of the commandments, than on the commandments themselves, and a couple other things. It was super far away though, so by the time we got back it was almost dark. Then Saturday we had 2 weddings. Thankfully the first one we did not have to plan, but had been planned for by our investigators who had been taught the Law of Chastity a couple weeks back, and planned it all out. They were so happy at their wedding, and they are all progressing towards baptism as well. That one started at 3:30, and then the wedding that we planned started at 6. It was crazy getting everything ready, but it turned out beautiful, and the couple were so happy as well. They were of Spanish descent so we had some great Mexican food afterwards. They were so happy with the decisions they had made, both of the families, even though at first they saw marriage as just a piece of paper, their hearts and minds had been changed. Then we had the baptism the next day after church. It was exciting. First person that I have baptized personally in the mission, because the fellowship that she had went out of town unexpectedly, so it was left to us, and Elder L has done a few, so he had me do it. It was awesome. Overall it was an amazing week, and we are looking forward to more success here as well. The branch is still growing, and they are getting more and more excited to go and do it. We are seeing so many blessings here, and we are so grateful for everything that we receive. I know that Jesus Christ has provided a way for all of us, and that there is a plan to help us come unto Him. I know that as President Monson summed up by quoting an experience that he heard of, “You should know that leopards don’t change their spots!' Replied Warden Duffy, 'You should know I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day," and that men and women will change if they have the desire, and are shown the way through Christ. I know that repentance is that change that will help us, and is finished off with baptism, or the sacrament for those who have been baptized. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us, and I am so grateful for this work that I can do, and also for all the love and care you show me. I love you and cannot wait to hear from you.

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

Double Date

This was a good week for us. We had an exchange this week, where I went to Fort Pierce with the district leader, and we had a good time. We did a lot of good work, and found some really nice people over there, that from what I know are preparing to be baptized now. After the exchange we had a lot of fire, and went out and did some monster work. We were able to get a decent number of members out with us this week, and they helped us do a lot of things. A lot of them testified of the enabling power that the Atonement gives us to become better and and better, and they were able to relate a lot better to some of our investigators because a lot of them were converts. Afterwards a lot of them asked when they could help us again, and they are excited to be doing this work along with us. We had one member brings his wife as well, so they joked about it being a double date. We also thought that we were going to have a lot of investigators at church, which was going to be great because we had the primary program, but we still only were able to get 4 there. We always seem to have something happen so some of them who are more solid on coming, but then they have to go to hospital or something that day, and then we are able to get others that replace them, and somehow we just keep the same amount of people. We were joking about it though, we bring more kids under the age of 8, than we do adults, so we are still helping the branch grow well. The building has been full the past few weeks, with only a couple chairs left, so we are going to have to get a new building soon. That will be awesome. We had one primary age come for the first time, and she went right up into the primary program, and they even imporvised a speaking part for her, it was great. We were really happy with this week, and are excited for the coming week. We have another exchange tomorrow, with the Zone Leaders, which will be fun I'm sure, this time I will be staying. I love you all so much, and I love this work so much. It is so satisfying, and rewarding, and I love it. I love my Savior, I know that He lives, and that he has a plan for each and everyone one of us, and if we just follow him, He will guide us, and help us become strong. I love you all nad thankyou for your support.

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

Rough week

This week was a little rough for us. We were both sick the entire week, but we worked full days everyday except Monday, because that was a really bad day. But Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven. We were able to find some cool people this week, and the branch is getting more excited about the work, especially after our last baptism. We found family last Saturday and they said they were going to come to church last week, but they couldnt make it because the underestimated the kids, but they made it this week. they loved the church and we are really excited for them to start progressing. They have some tough challenges to start overcoming, but they are excited and they really want to get to know more. We also found some other people this week that were related to people Elder L was teaching before I got here. They were really interested in the Book of Mormon, and getting to know the message that it contains and just how baptism can help their lives. We also found some exciting news after having a lesson about marriage a week ago, this one family we are teaching decided to take that step. It was a big decision for them, and it is getting them even closer to the waters of baptism, and they are growing closer together, and even more excited about the church. We are working hard, and excited for what is coming this month, a lot of success. i cannot say that to much is happening though, it still kind of seems like the grind sometimes here in Okeechobee just doing the same things over and over again, but we are seeing progress with diligence, and I know that the Lord is blessing us. I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for all you do for me. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that he will guide us and bless us, and keep us on the straight and narrow as we look to him and put our trust in him. He has provided a way back to him, and many ways to feel his peace and love now, and as we do the basics, read, pray, go to church, fulfill our callings, and extend our hands to those that need us, we will be blessed and helped on our way back to Him. I love this work, and I love you all so much.

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen