News from the MTC

Sorry I didn't post last week. Things were pretty busy and crazy around here. Getting back into the routine of school after the Christmas break takes a little getting use to but we are back into our routine. Jack and Jenny are doing great and Dorothy is working hard.

I am posting the last two emil letters from Jason. He is still at the MTC and will be until at least 17 February 2009.

Letter form 8 January 2009

I am so happy to be here in the MTC. I got to write a thank you letter toa Mr. and Mrs. Stephen from here in Orem, Utah to thank them for their donationto the missionary Christmas fund, and that was so cool. It reminded me of myChristmas a bit, and to be honest (I love you guys), it was the best Christmasever. It was humble and just nice. I loved to hear from two apostles, and themission presidency was great at trying to accomidate so many missionaries.
(His snail mail letter talked about the Christmas Eve Devotional with Elder Bednar and a Christmas Morning Devotional with Elder Holland. He said: "It's really neat having to have heard from 2 apostles in the last 24 hours.")
Anyway, the studies this week have been really good. I have enjoyedeverything we've talked about. My teachers are so inspired of God, andit's wonderful getting to learn from them. As my companion and I study,trying to prepare for the lesson we give on Tuesday for evaluation, we learn somuch, mainly about how much we know and don't necessarily need to share. We only have 30 minutes and the gospel is so good, we tend to spend all 30 minson the Pre-Mortal existance. So yeah, cutting down information is hard, but yesterday, we got to teach a portion of the first lesson in Spanish to anothercompanionship from another district, and that was great. We actually spent lesstime talking (mainly due to language restrictions, haha) and had the opportunityto just listen to the investigator and fit his needs. It was pretty cool.
The more time I spend here in the MTC, the more I actually want to go anddo the work, but as it's said in Doctrine and Covenants: "Seek not todeclare my word, but first seek to obtain my word..." I understand this,but it's kind of hard. We get the opportunity every week to go to the"Referral Center" and make calls to people who have ordered materialto make sure they got it, and that is a wonderful experience to get to hearpeople's concerns about the gospel and about the Book of Mormon. We had onemissionary in our district actually teach the entire plan of salvation over thephone and then commit the man he talked to to read and pray about the Book ofMormon. It was awesome. Two other elders were in Chat talking to a man abouthis concerns with Joseph Smith being able to see God. They got his e-mail and are still talking to him. This is such a wonderful place.
Anyway, I just want you to know that the Church is true. Joseph Smith isthe prophet of this dispensation and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on theearth today, continuing to lead and guide people on the earth right now. I know that I am a son of God, He loves me, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ Ican return to live with my Father some day. I look foreward, through theordinaces of the gospel and my own personal obedience, to seeing you all in theCelestial Kingdom one day. I pray that no one, after all is said and done, isin any other kingdom, for it is damnation. One can not progress anywhere exceptin the Father's presence, so to be away from Him is a dam on your progression. Stay fathful and follow the Spirit.
Love you all,
Elder Jason Bowen

Letter form 15 January 2009

Mom,
I got the letter, and all is well. The cookies were kind of dry when I got them though...lol. They're still good though, just gotta chew for a bit till they get nice and soft. Tell Dorothy thanks form me.
I had a wonderful week. Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to us Tuesday night and it was wonderful. He really knows how to give a pep talk. He made an anology of how our little brothers think that we're flying somewhere over Omaha, with a cape, and as we look out over South Dakota, we say "I sense evil...I will swoop down and call them to repentace." He had us ROLLING in the isles for about a half an hour...it was so funny.
But then he talked of us sticking to our missions and not complaining, which was really good. I always enjoy hearing him. He know what to say and when to say it.
Um....let me think. So much is happening, but it's kind of all the same. I don't want to sound repetitious, but the Spirit is so strong here and I'm recieveing so many revelations as my companion and I study. I have an investigator on the phone lines here that I'll be calling back on Saturday. Oh, yeah, you don't know of that yet. There's a place called the Referral Center (RC) where we can make phone calls to see if people have recieved media and how they liked it. (My district also does Chats) Anyway, I made a phone call to one lady named Donna, and when she answered, she was kind of mad because it was the third phone call she had gotten and was wondering why. She and I talked for a bit, and when I asked her how she liked the movie (Joy to the World) she said that it was a good movie and it brought her closer to Christ but it wouldn't convert her to Mormonism. We talked for a bit longer and she committed to reading Alma chapter 7. She also took her movie to her atheist son-in-law, but he didn't recieve it well. I'm going to try to continue to work with her, becuase she has a really strong testimony of Jesus Christ and I know that his restored gospel will really help her.
We're also getting ready to start teaching one of the teachers here like a real investigator. If he doesn't feel the Spirit, then he said he'd kick us out and we have to earn a right to come back and teach him more. I'm kind of scared, but really exited to see how well we do. Normally, we teach a teacher and get feedback, but he wont give it, we have to use the Spirit and figure it out for ourselves. Pray for me....lol.
Besides that I really don't have any strong feelings right now...I dunno, but this is an awesome place and I look foreward to the field. It's funny, I really want to go out and teach, but I thought of something this week: "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall [ye be] loosed." I changed it up a bit, but that's kind of how I feel. I have this huge testimony and I want to go out and let the Spirit convert those who He needs to convert through me, but I need to obtain the word here first and I know it. By the way, I know that the verse is a bit different, but I changed it to fit how I need it right now. And it's kind of funny.
So, I want you to know I love you all and pray for you always. I know that the church is true and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I bear my testimony at least 10xs a day here, and at first it felt kind of odd, but now they're all sincere and I really know that what I'm saying is what the person hearing me needs. My purpose is to "bring people unto Christ" not just non-members, so I know that when I teach these members who are playing investigators, they need something too, which is why I know that as I bear my testimony to other missionaries, my testimony strengthens them as well. I love the Savior and I love this Church so much, and I know that it's true. The more I study, the more I come to love the gospel and all that it offers us. I love you all and keep up the good work in your areas of the vineyard.
Love,
Elder Jason Bowen

Letter from Elder Bowen

I received the first e-mail from Elder Jason Bowen this week. We have received two letters through snail mail but this is the first e-mail. He is doing great and enjoying every minute of his mission. We miss him but know that he is doing the Lord's work and would not want to bring him home for anything.


Hello Mom, I only have 25 minutes left to write you, so you'll get a letter later on this week probably....Jenny, I wrote yours this morning. Anyway, I had a wonderful week. After hearing two apostles of Jesus Christ speak, Christmas was great. I missed you guys to, but the goodies helped (my entire floor thanks you, peanut brittle seemed to be the best received). My roommates really thank you for the cookies, Jenny and Jack. I spent the rest of the week doing classes and waiting on teachers. One of our teachers is in Texas for the holidays, so his replacements have sometimes showed up. Hermana Body, the teacher that stayed, is great. She's so knowledgeable in the gospel and it's so great learning both Spanish and doctrine from her. Hermano Paz Soldan (he's from Bolivia[name means peace soldier]) has been the main replacement, and we went over all the past tenses yesterday at once, that was rough. Most of the district was spinning after that, but we're good now. It will come in handy when I need to speak in the past though. He's also really awesome on doctrine, but I love it when he talks about how to teach to actually teach the investigator. He's very knowledgeable on people and it's great when he does a demonstration; he's so in tune with the Spirit. We've been having an awesome time as a district here. My companion and I are getting along. There are some bumpy spots, because he's REALLY goofy a LOT of the time, but I'm learning to love that about him. He makes me less serious, and it's kind of, no, it's working out for us. He's really in tune with the Spirit when it comes down to it, and it helps in the lessons. I just need to talk less. We taught our district leader and his companion the second lesson (plan of salvation), and it went rather well. My companion had only read half the lesson, but we didn't get farther than he read and our time was up. We did a lot better on understanding the investigator's needs, asking questions, and not talking to long. It was a really good lesson, we just need to add the last part. I am enjoying you letters, and it takes about 6 days to get here. I got the goodie package on the Monday or Tuesday after you wrote the letter (dated Dec. 23). I don't know how long it takes to get from here to there, but the mail isn't running today, so I'm sending out my letters tomorrow. I would rather have the snail mail than e-mail. It's like Christmas when I have mail and get to see who it's from. I love you all and miss you all, I still have about 15 mins, but I can't think of anymore to write, if I think of it, I'll but it in the envelope with Jenny's letter. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith is true, and I'm grateful to serve my God and King on this mission. I love the MTC and my testimony is growing by leaps and bounds and I look forward to the day when I can go out into the NV-LVW mission area and start preaching to the Hispanics in the area. I kind of feel bottled up here, my testimony growing and no one to share it with that doesn't already know the truth for themselves. I want to be out there teaching others and bringing them to Christ. To everyone back home ('cause I know Mom's reading this in Relief Society at least [love you Mom]) I say to go out and bear your testimony. It's true and the good people in the Lonoke Branch area have been kept from it for way to long. Bless their lives by taking them the gospel that has blessed you for so long.I love you all and look forward to hearing from you,Elder Jason Bowen


The rest of the family is doing great also. It has been nice having Dorothy living at home again although we don't see much of here. Jennifer, Jack, and I have all enjoyed our Christmas Vacation and are not wanting to return to school on Monday but it must be done. We have enjoyed spending time together and with Dad that we don't usually have the time to do. The start of 2009 has been a great one.

Missionary Update & Airport Farewell

Sorry I haven't written for a while but things have been really crazy here. The two months from the time Jason received his mission call and when he left flew and were full of preparations, school activities and work. It seems there were a thousand things that needed to be done to get Jason ready.

Along with Jason's mission preparations there are always a lot of school activities and test preparation this time of the year. Jennifer and Jack are both taking band this year (as did their sister and brother before them) and the Christmas Concert is always a high light of the year. This was Jack's first year in band and he was really excited about his first concert.

Jason's flight date was right at the beginning of semester test time at school. Even with all the conflicts, and there were many, the preparations go forward slowly. On Sunday evening, Dianna and President Burton, our branch president, accompany Jason to Jacksonville to be set apart as a full time missionary. The experience is a beautiful memory that I shall cherish for the rest of my life. As President Burkheimer pronounces a blessing on Jason the Spirit fills the room and the feeling of a dream come true engulf me. It is a wonderful feeling to have a son who is willing and worthy to serve the Lord in such a way.

Unfortunately, Jason got ill on Sunday night and was not feeling well throughout the day on Monday. Since he had put off packing until the last minute, Dianna spend most of the evening on Monday trying to fit everything into one suitcase and a carry on bag. At about 8:30 she finally gave up and ended up using two suitcases, a carry on and his backpack. And that was a real challenge. But she got everything packed.

On Tuesday, the weather worked against us. We got up to icy roads and offices closed that we need to get final information from. Challenges all the way to the end. We got him to the airport with extra time and were able to say our final good-byes. It was exciting to send him on his way as a full time missionary for the Lord. He arrived safely in Salt Lake City about an hour behind schedule because of weather. The whole experience was wonderful.

Note: Sorry for the way the pictures are arranged. With Jennifer's help I was able to put the pictures in the posting but I have not figured out how to get them where I want them to be in the posting. At least you can see his send off.

Mission Call Arrives

The wait is finally over. After months of paperwork getting lost and blanks not completed we finally got everything together at the same time to submit the paperwork for Jason to go on his mission for the Church. He found out last weekend that the information from church headquarters was mailed last Friday and he has been on pins and needles all week anticipating its arrival. (I must admit that I too have been a little excited waiting for it.) The early part of the week was just a little nerve wracking but by Friday it was unbearable to wait for the mail. When it didn't come Friday he was really stressed. I told him that it was because we wanted to all be together when he opened the letter and that everyone was going to be in a different place on Friday night. Earl was in Little Rock for a doctor's appointment (just a check up) and then doing the family shopping. Jenny had to play in the band at the ballgame and I was scheduled to work in the concession stand. Jason was planning to go with me and Jack had decided to just stay at home. Like I said, everyone scattered.

Then, when Jason got home from work this afternoon and the mail had not arrived yet he was like a little child on Christmas morning waiting for everyone to wake up. He paced from the front of the house to the back and then to the front again waiting for the mail to arrive. Then, suddenly, I hear this blood curdling scream from the front, "It's here." He was just a little excited. We all gathered in the kitchen, Jason called his Aunt Lori on his cell phone and put her on speaker phone. Earl called his mom on the house phone and put her on speaker. I tried to get Dorothy and Uncle Roddy but neither were in a position to answer their phones. Before opening the envelope everyone made a guess as to where he might be going. We were all over the map. Then he opens the letter and starts to read. His eyes scan down the page and he bursts out with a loud laugh and announces that someone is going to be very excited. He has been called to the Nevada, Los Vegas Spanish speaking mission. This is ironic because his paternal grandmother lives in Phurmph which is about an hour from Vegas. We are all stunned and excited at the same time.

We have a lot of preparations to take care of in very little time. He goes into the Mission Training Center on 17 December 2008 and that only gives us two months to get everything pulled together and ready. Christmas will come a little early to the Bowen family this year. But we wouldn't change any of it because we know this is what the Lord wants him to do and we are thrilled that he is able to go. It has been a dream of his parents since his birth and a dream of his for a very long time. We look forward to sharing all the exciting times ahead with each of you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

As usual, life in the Bowen house is very busy. School activities and functions have everybody hopping except for Jason. Jenny stays busy with band practice and football games on top of her class work, which seems to be much heavier now that she is in high school. She can't decide if she likes high school or not. She loves the idea of being in high school but it also has its drawbacks. She likes playing in the band and loves concert season but marching season is another topic. Being out in the heat and the cramps in her legs are not the most fun that she has had. The homework is harder and takes up more of her time and she is not sure that she likes that either.

Jack is excited about being in middle school. And we have another musician in the house - if Mom and Dad can take the noise - Jack is becoming a percussionist, he is learning to play the drums. The house will never be the same, and we are not sure that the walls can take it. (We know our ears can't.) Actually, we are excited that he has decided to follow in the footsteps of his older siblings and is interested in music. His birthday is on Friday and he takes every opportunity to remind us that it is coming. He is really excited.

Jason is still trying to get all the paperwork together for his mission. It seems that every time we think it is all finished and everything is ready to submit them, something gets misplaced or there is a line that was overlooked. Hopefully he is finishing the last interview tonight and all will be together and can be finalized. If so, we should know when and where he will be going in a couple of weeks. We will keep all posted and let you know as soon as we do.

Earl is taking some much needed time off before the busy holiday season starts and is looking forward to having time to do some things around the house. Dianna is envious and wished she could be at home with him to help, but this is a very busy time for her at school. Next week is Homecoming week and she will be going nonstop trying to get everything done along with teaching classes. Like I said: Busy, Busy, Busy.

Family - What's Up

I am looking forward to having a place to keep the distant (in miles only) family members up to date on what is happening with this branch of the Bowen Family. We are holding our own. Although, we do miss having Dorothy around. There are times when I wish I could make her a young girl again because I miss her so much, but I can't so I must let her be her own person. But that is very hard. Jason is anxiously waiting for his mission call to come. (Actually, I think Mom is more anxious about it than he is.) We all know that he is going to be a dynamite missionary. He has grown so much spiritually in the past three years. His knowledge and understanding of the scripture is awesome. Jennifer is getting into high school life but sometimes wishes she could go back to middle school. The workload is already beginning to overwhelm her but she will do just fine. Band is also taking up a large portion of her life these days. Jack is anxiously waiting for his birthday to arrive. He can hardly wait. Everyone at church is also watching the calendar because he will be 12 this year, able to receive the Aaronic Priesthood , a deacon. It has been a while since we had a deacon in the branch. Earl and I are still working hard and trying to keep things running smoothly.

Changes

You may have noticed that the focus of my blog has changed. It is not that I have abandoned learning. Learning is a continuous thing. I have just decided to change to a family oriented blog. My hope is that this will be a way of keeping family and friends updated on the events taking place in our family. The weather is getting bad due to the remnats of Hurricane Ike so I am going to end this and shut down my computer.