Exchanges, Temple, and...FLU!

Dear all,

I went on exchanges this week to a cute little town called Franklin, Indiana.  Aww, it's so precious!  I had to teach white people...which is out of my comfort zone. We actually couldn't find an apartment complex where a lot of potential investigators were located so we called the zone leaders and asked them where it was.  They told us that they "deem it not jack to go the library and google it" so we did.  Then the lady at the library gave us a number for city hall to ask for the address and it turned out to be the mayor's office. Awkward.  We told them that we were trying to move to Franklin so they were super willing to help us out. It turns out that the complex didn't exist.  Haha!  Oh well.   It was a great experience though.  I was with Sister McMillan and she is so great!  I learned a lot from her.  I tell you, miracles happen on exchanges!

On Saturday we went to the Louisville, Kentucky temple!  It's so tiny.  But, Sister Hull had been waiting to be sealed to her husband and we both got to be there for that!  Sister Hull was extremely less active 9 months ago when Sister Loveland started working with her. Now she's sealed to her parents and deceased husband!  That's one of my favorite things about being a missionary-seeing people change because of the gospel.  I love Sister Hull too.  She always calls me "Sweetie"  or "Baby Girl".  Haha!  

Sister Loveland has been sick for almost 2 weeks now so we stayed in for  a lot of the week.  Then, yesterday I woke up with the FLU!  Eww.  So, we stayed in all day yesterday except we went to church to take the Sacrament.  That's what we get for not getting flu shots, I guess. :P

Last night, the Elders brought us over a brownie mix to make for them.  We didn't have any oil so we used apple sauce instead. We forgot that Elder Ledesma is allergic to apples!!!  He thought we were trying to kill him!  Ooops.  He's alright, he just doesn't trust us anymore....

Well, I think that's it...

Please keep Tum Lin, Tin Meng, Esther, Albert, Za Kip Men, and Cung Mang in your prayers!  They really need it....Thanks!  

Love you all!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  :)

Love,

Sister Fowler xoxo

Random Pictures!

I hope they call me on a mission

Dear everyone,

This week has been COLD.  Brrrrrrr!

We had Zone Meeting.  Zone Meeting=a bunch of 18-19-20 year-olds sitting around a table, dressed professionally and talking about people's salvation.  I'm too immature to be a missionary, obviously!  I can't take them seriously!  Oh well, it was great!  

I still love my Burmese people. They're precious!  We're working on getting a Chin-terpretor to translate talks in sacrament meeting so we can help the Chins to understand us!  That will be the day!  I feel like I try to teach them simply, but the reality is that they won't fully progress until they can hear the gospel in their own language.  We honestly don't even know what they understand about the gospel even though we've taught them the restoration 10 times. Haha!  It's a process.  Pray for Burmese or Chin speaking missionaries? Yes. 

We had Stake Conference this weekend and the Sister Training Leaders stayed the night with us. Sleep over! That was a blast. :)  Also, we decorated our apartment with Christmas lights!  It's so happy!  

How many missionaries do we have in the world?  87,000?  Heck no!  There are 15 million and counting!  Are you sharing the gospel?  

We eat dinner almost every Sunday with the Sholders.  Sister Sholders is from Russia and makes soooo much food.  The last Elders would eat it all but these Asian ones barely eat anything!  I think she's offended that they don't eat all the food so now she makes simple dishes and not her usual 5 courses!  It's sad for Sister Loveland and I, but we are just grateful they feed us!  Haha!  :)

If you want to be humbled: serve a mission.  If you want to realize every weakness you have: serve a mission. If you want to see God's hand in your life and the lives of others: serve a mission.  The enabling power of the atonement is real!  I have gained a testimony of that!  Being a missionary is the best!  It's been a great experience and I wouldn't change it for anything!   In two weeks, I'll be a normal missionary!  Almost done with training! 

We're going to the temple this week!  Kentucky, here we come!  Sister Hull (a returning less active) is getting sealed to her husband and parents and we'll be there with her!  We're thrilled about that! 

Well, if you have any questions-email me!  I love you all!  The church is true, the book is blue, and the temple is the glue! Kalo duh! 

Love,
Sister Fowler xoxo

 My trainer, her trainer, and my Sister Training Leaders!

Sister Loveland is a weirdie. But I love her! :)

Secret Tunnels

Hello All,

Once upon a time, we were giving a less active man and his girlfriend a church tour. We were about to begin when he says, "I grew up going to church here. Did you know there are tunnels in the chapel?  I could give you two a REAL church tour."  Uhhh...? So, he showed us the entrance to these tunnels and they lead under the chapel, above the overflow, and to the back of the building.  Last P-day we explored them!  They're gross and cobwebby, but that's just the adventure we need!  

So, we've been team teaching Esther and Albert and their parents with the Elders.  We do that because their mother understands Thai and Elder Uthaichai speaks Thai because he's from Thailand.  It's pretty perfect though!  There's 4 languages floating around in their lessons and I only speak/understand English!! They speak Falam, the kids interpret for us in Burmese, and half of the lesson is in Thai.  It's so random!  But, anything to get this family baptized because they're solid! They came to church yesterday!  Hooray!  

This week, I had a pretty bad headache that wouldn't leave me!! So we visited a member of the ward who knows secrets about the body.  She did light therapy on me and told me that I need to stop carrying around people's stuff.  Not literally-but apparently I carry around people's stress and problems and that's why my head hurt so badly.  Then, she rubbed frankincense on my forehead and told me to repeat my positive affirmation multiple times a day.  We're doing our laundry at her house right now, so she had us meditate with her. I've seriously never felt better!  These things work, I promise!  :)

My favorite thing about serving here is teaching English!  English lessons are so enthusiastic and energetic.  It's so happy!  The Chin people need that too, especially because they've seen so much persecution.  

As for me being surrounded by Asians...I don't even notice that I'm the only white person in the room-ever.  Haha! That's because we're all children of God! 

I learned how to say I love you in Chin!  So, kalo duh!  

Love,

Sister Fowler xoxo

What the...Hubcaps!?

Dear friends and Family,

It's been an interesting week to say the least!  Our apartment complex is sandwiched between a Methodist church on

one side, and a J-Dubb's church on the other. We've actually been mistaken for Jehovah's Witness missionaries

before...Awkward. 

We help a lot of the Chin people gather their information to apply to become citizens, and we teach a citizenship

class to help them know the information for the test.  Well, Elder Uthaichai and Elder Ledesma aren't from America so

it's interesting. This week, Elder Uthaichai asked me what year the Decoration of Independence was signed.  Haha! 

Decoration?  

I got to drive this week!  It's more fun to drive and get to know the area a little better. :) Someone stole our hubcaps

on Thursday, but only 3 of them.  The next day, they were all back!  We think the Elders were pranking us, but they

swear they didn't take them...:)

If you ask Elder Ledesma if he was born in the church, he'll say, "No, I was born in the hospital, but I was raised

in the church!"  I love his Filipino accent. It's funny!  

Halloween was a blast!  We carved Pumpkins!  Also, Albert's birthday was yesterday and they invited us over for

dinner.  We sang happy birthday to him and then, as part of their culture, he fed us each a bite of his cake. Kinda like

the wedding cake tradition in America...he smeared frosting all over our faces!!  It's so great!  Esther and Albert's

Mom cooked the biggest Burmese feast!  They kept piling rice, fish, sushi, pork, beef, chicken, and dumplings on our

plates!  I've never eaten so much food in my life....

So, sometimes I forget that I'm not Asian so I tell people that I'm Asian by association!  :) 

We had interviews with President Cleveland this week. He talked a lot about unifying our hearts and minds and that if

we do that, we will see miracles!  That's what my area needs!  Then, he told me that I will be here in Indy 1st for 6

months!  There's no guarantee, because ultimately God's in charge, but I can't wait!  Also, Sister Loveland will leave

here in a month and so Elder Uthaichai and I will be leading this area.  Think I can do it?  Well, it's gonna take a

miracle!!^^^ He told us that we have to baptize a Chin family before the end of the year, or else!  So, we just ask for

any prayers on behalf of us as missionaries, and the people in this area.  :) :)  There WILL be a Burmese branch in

Indianapolis one day!  I have faith!! Do you?

As much as I would love to teach these people in their language, I've learned so much about how to teach things

simply.  I know that I will be able to teach my future children better because of my time here in Indy 1st.  Sometimes

the Chin people don't understand me, so they tell me.  "Fiang lo."  Haha!  I love those words...

Well, the church is true!  I've just found that it's a little more true here in the Indy 1st ward.  ;) And now, it's P-day,

so we're gonna go explore!  

Stay safe, warm, and happy!  

Love,

Sister Fowler xoxo