Movin' On

Hey yall! I'm headed up to Fairbanks tomorrow to be in the Badger Road ward. I'm trying to be excited! hahaha

This past week has been pretty good. We taught quite a bit and began to prepare people for 2 new Elders. Elder Olsen is headed to Nome!! hahaha It was a pretty happy and sad week. A less-active member that we had been workin' with and who began to come to church again passed away last Friday and we were in shock and disbelief because he was only 34. So we were dealin' with that pretty good I reckon and then Tuesday we found out that another young man who had begun to come back to church and had started to change his life for the better passed away Monday night from an accidental overdose. Clark's funeral (the 19 year old) was on Saturday and was quite long, but the most spiritual and best funeral I have ever attended. It was hard to choke back the emotions, especially when his 9-year old brother, Scott, helped push his casket in with tears rollin' down his cheeks. The message that his father wanted everyone to know was to not do drugs. Don't do it because it's not worth it. He was an awesome young man and many found comfort and acceptance at the funeral. He will be missed. Sunday was Brother Brownson's funeral and his was very good as well and short and celebrated his life. He was an awesome man and loved his boys so much. He will be dearly missed. 

It made me think a lot about what people would say about me at a funeral if I were to pass away. Would people say good things about me or would they say bad things? I thought a lot about it and thought people would say good things and think I was a great person. I encourage you to reflect on your lives and think about what others would say about you. If you find that there are things you should change, change it and live a better life. I know that a better life comes through the Savior. He loves us and wants the best for us. I love yall and hope you have an awesome week!!

Love,

Elder Taylor Bowes

**Last Monday for PDay we took a trip down to Portage glacier and made a stop at the wildlife refuge place! Got to pet a moose and have a bear model for me lol :) Hope yall enjoy!**

Elder Olsen and I

Mountains

**August 13, 2012**

This week was pretty good. 

Monday we just played basketball and tried to see a few people with no success. 

Tuesday we went and taught the Filson's and had an awesome lesson. The spirit was so strong and spoke to their hearts. You could see it in their eyes. It's wonderful to see a change in them :)

Wednesday we went and taught Lorelei and Greg! Lorelei is gonna get baptized! :D She is such an awesome little girl and there is somethin' special about her. Greg is gettin' closer. :) We also taught Isaac and Aislyn about tithing. We do short lessons with them so we can keep their attention long enough. hahaha Their dad is goin' on a huntin' trip at the end of the month and growin' a sick beard! hahaha 

Thursday we taught the Filson's again and the spirit was so strong again. They are doing everything we ask them to and they are really feeling the spirit! It is great to see! 

Friday we went and said goodbye to David Wilcox. He left that night for his mission to Colombia, South America! He is gonna be an awesome missionary and i'll miss havin' him around! He's a great example to his younger siblings! 

Saturday we helped Erik Wilcox with his Eagle Scout Project again. He is almost done and it looks pretty dang good! It's funny. Erik and Tyler, 2 young men in the ward always try to copy my accent hahahaha. They work together and when they pass each other they stop and say "Hi, my name is Elder Bowes!" hahaha I know i'm loved in this ward! It's pretty funny to me cause they aren't very good at copyin my accent. 

Sunday seemed to take a long time. I think it's cause we had an early supper at 3 in the afternoon. It's all good though. We are seein' a lot of success now and our hard work is payin' off! Don't try to do only big things, it's the smallest things that mean the most. The Lord works through small means to bring to pass great things. Love yall!

-Elder Taylor Bowes

Short!

**This is from August 6, 2012.  Sorry ya'll I've been slacking with posting these emails!!**




Hey yall! Sorry this is gonna be real short! I only have like 5 min left on the computer! 

We worked really hard this week and were able to teach lots of people! It was a great week and we are lookin' forward to this week! 

I'm doin' well and my shoulder is gettin' better! Thanks for all the prayers for me! I love yall and hope yall have had a great week and that you have an even better week this week! :) 

Love,

Elder Taylor Bowes

Rainy Monday :(

Hey yall this week was dang good! 

Monday was good, got lots of exercise. 

Tuesday we went and did service at the Book store for about 4 or 5 hours! We arranged the store the way we wanted it haha. There was probably 16 missionaries there. It was pretty fun and then they ordered a ton of pizza for us and there was enough left over to have our own to take home. 

Wednesday is our busiest day of the week. We have lessons almost all day long. It's probably my favorite day of the week. It goes by quick and I feel like i've accomplished a lot in terms of bringing others closer to Christ. We are making lots of progress with less-active members of the church who have lost their way a little. 

Thursday we had interviews with President. Just a routine thing. We tried to see lots of people, but no one was home. 

Friday we helped out with Erik's Eagle Scout Project. haha took me back 4 years ago when I finally finished my eagle. Can't believe it's been that long ago! 

Saturday mornin' we played dodgeball with people in our district. Then we went and helped out more with Erik's Eagle Project. We went and taught the Hill's about the Plan of Happiness. So glad I know what I know about that! Helps a lot when you lose loved ones or close friends. If you don't know about it, ask the missionaries near you!! We ate supper with the Filson's and then were gonna attend a baptism, but I was holding Elder Olsen's carry out and the whole way from the restaurant to the chapel it leaked onto the seat and onto my pants and I didn't realize it til I was gettin' out of the car. So we went and I changed. Didn't make it back in time. I'll be makin' a visit to the dry cleaners this week! 

Sunday was really good too! David Wilcox had his farewell talk. He leaves for the MTC in 2 weeks. He is goin' to serve in Colombia! He is pretty stoked! He is an awesome young man and he will do so good as a missionary! It was cool to come back to this ward and see how hes grown up. He was already a mature kid, at least to me, his family might think differently lol. Since I know they get this email lol. I'm lookin' forward to another great week and I hope yall have a great week too! 

Love,

Elder Taylor Bowes

Overdue

This week was pretty dang good yall! We taught a lot and were able to help people get movin in the right direction!

Monday was pretty good, we had supper with the Ellis family. They are pretty awesome, they used to work in the mission office. Elder Calk played us a last song or 2 on his final night in the mission field. It was really good. He's gonna be famous someday! Probably already has a CD out hahaha!

Tuesday was a good day, but somewhat emotional and sad. A lot of missionaries i know very well left and went home and some that I know even better are going home next week. It's crazy because the guys I came out with are now leaving and i'm still here. It's pretty weird to sit back and watch them leave and not be able to leave with them. I'll miss them all very much. Made me realize how short of a time I have left on my mission. Only 6 1/2 months. Crazy to think about. It's passin by too quick! 

Wednesday was pretty fun! We had a lesson with Isaac and Aislyn and then played Badminton and volleyball because we promised them we would last time. They had lots of fun and so did we! 

We did a lot through the rest of the week too, but I have like 5 minutes so I will just wrap this up. I hope yall have a great week and that you can do somethin nice for someone this week. WWJD? think about it. He would help everyone. Love yall! Later!

-Elder Taylor Bowes

Jacob

It is such a blessing to come back to the Klatt ward and see the growth of these kids physically and spiritually! Probably my favorite kid in the ward is Jacob. He has downs and he is such an awesome kid. I love that kid! We taught his family the first lesson last night and he knew some of the answers and you could just see the spirit pouring through him! To me, he is an angel in the flesh. I'm sure he has taught all of his siblings (7 of em) so much. They are awesome!

 

We haven't had any crazy storms and rarely do here. If it rains it's just a regular rain, nothin really hard. We probably get 20 hours of daylight maybe more! It sucks that we have to be in by 9 or 930. Summers up here are the best!

 

Sorry I have been really slackin on my weekly email to yall! Hope yall have an awesome week and I will try to have a weekly for yall next week!

 

-Elder Taylor Bowes

Quick Update

Well quick update. Sorry these are so short lately!

 

I am getting transferred back to the Klatt ward starting tomorrow!!! I am so excited!! I am lookin forward to workin hard there! My new comp will be Elder Olsen, I have no clue who he is. I guess i'll find out tomorrow! This past Sunday we had 3 people get baptized!! It was awesome! They were so happy!! Elder Tebbs is feeling better now, finally! Just in time to get transferred again! Anyways love yall!

 

Gotta go!

 

-Elder Taylor Bowes

**Sorry this email isn't that long. It's hard for me to respond long like I did when I was in Whitehorse and Bethel. I'm restricted to an hour now at the library.**