You will CRACK up....

Saturday Rob picked all the lemons off the tree. Together we washed, halved and juiced them. We got two gallons of juice. I measured out two cups of juice and poured it into 16 freezer baggies.

To make lemonade:
1 baggie of lemon juice
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 gallon water and ice

Simple and yummy!!! You would think....

... I sat at the computer as Rob and Darian were preparing to eat dinner (the rest of us ate right after church). Here's their conversation:

Rob: "I'll get the drink, oh they only left us crumbs." (just a little bit of lemonade in the pitcher).
Darian: "Is there any more?"
R: "Yeah, we have a bunch, I'll make it."

Rob opened one baggie into pitcher, added sugar and water and put it on the table.

D: "This tastes just like sugar water."
R: "I know, you've got to stir it more."
D: "It still tastes funny."
R: "It's still frozen in the bottom, let me stir it."
D: takes another taste, "Somethings not right, is it old?"
R: "Kath is it old?"
Now Rob pours some in his big cup full of ice, takes a big swig and SPITS it out into the sink.
R: "kath somethings wrong with this lemon, it's bad."
D: "I know, it's old or something, it's got stuff floating around in the bottom."
Me: "Rob, where did you get the baggie from?"
R: "The freezer, right where you put it."
I got up, looked in the freezer, pointed to the second shelf and asked, "Is this where you got it from?"
R: "Yes"
Me: "Rob you used the frozen chicken broth!!!!"

Chickenade!!??

I could not stop laughing, I'm still laughing about it. You know that if it would have been one of you that did that, he would be on the phone calling all your siblings to tell them.

Rob and Darian poured out all the chickenade.

Me: "Would you like me to make some lemonade for you?"
R: "No, I'm having water."

Yay for humanitarian aid

{Letter From Brian}

Well Hello everyone,

Happy St. Patty's Day so don't forget to wear pink or you'll get a pinch to grow an inch, for some that may be desired. ;)
It has been quite a week this week. We had invitation Sunday and it was a great success. We had five non-members there and eight less-actives. Woo Hoo! The talks given were great for investigators and those who came really enjoyed it and ... my companion decided that he was going to tell the ward that we would sing in the choir. So we sang in the choir and did a good job. I'll be honest I don't mind singing in the choirs back at home but I really don't seem to enjoy singing in the choirs on my mission. I know this may sound strange but everyone could hear me sing the tenor part because I was the only tenor besides one of the sisters in the ward and she needs a person who can really hit the correct pitches. Anyways that was a random tangent.
Gina came to church again this week and also Jim Ward, a less-active we have been working with for the past three months, came because I made them both promise me they would be there. Of course, that didn't come without the scorning of the ward leaders. They told me that basically the only reason I believed them was because I was a missionary and that I shouldn't trust that they would come. They also said that they didn't have that kind of faith to believe people like that. You know me and how I've always been that way so, I just let them scorn me for what I guess is what they would call petty faith but I didn't let that bother me. They probably felt a bit humbled when they both showed up for church. I thanked God for giving me such faith to trust when others promise me.
You know I think that Boardman is a great place and I absolutely love it but the leadership of this ward is definitely lacking in faith and that is why the work is so hard here in Boardman. I will not give up on Boardman though because there is so much potential.
Speaking of potential we have three new potential investigators in a part member family. Three girls ages 11, 13, and 15. That would help boost the young women to involve them in church, new blood per se.
Also, I don't know if I told you about Ruth Green but she is an absolutely amazing investigator who has been meeting with the missionaries for about three years but I think that she is really wanting to take another step in her life. I will let you know how things go and I have the faith that she will make that next step and show the ward that she is not just a lost cause.
The work is starting to pick up in Boardman and I am so excited because the Lord has really blessed us for our efforts in finding and now they are just being put in our lap. I love the Lord with all my heart and I know that he is always watching over me. I could never deny what I know because of how gracious the Lord has been to me and I will always praise his name.
I got the package of clothes Mom and they are just fine. Thank you so much for doing that for me. I will be awaiting that talk that you have promised to send me.
Speaking of talks... Everyone is encouraged by me to get the talk entitled When All Eternity Shook by S. Michael Wilcox. It speaks of healing through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and how through him we can find peace and solace. My heart is lifted high above the heavens as I listen to this because it has helped me to realize that it doesn't matter what happens in our lives, the Atonement can truly help us and Christ will succor us because HE HAS BEEN THERE!!! Although I came to a realization of that near the beginning of my mission for the Lord, it has been reiterated to me through this talk. I would also encourage you to get the best of Jack Christianson. It will give you new insights to the people you encounter and for most who have a heart, it will send tears from your eyes as you hear these two most inspiring and wonderful CDs that you will want to listen to time and time again.
The Lord is our shepherd and we are his flock. Trust in him! He is ready to enfold his arms around you and let you know that everything is going to be fine while you are encircled in his love. In the Book of Mormon it talks about how the Lord's arms are always open and we just need to accept his invitation to 'come unto him' and partake of his goodness and mercy.
Elder Jeffery R. Holland has stated in a talk entitled Remember Lot's Wife: 'Faith and doubt cannot exist in our minds at the same time'. So just as Lot's wife are we looking towards the future and Christ or are we wishing we could go back to the way we used to be? I would admonish you to always do the former and let Christ heal all wounds and let go of what has happened in the past that often grieves us and weigh heavily on our minds. We have 'an eternal weight of glory' for us in the here after if we remain faithful to all He has asked of us.
Don't forget how much I truly love each and everyone of you. I miss you all so much but I am never too far away talk to. I am so eternally grateful for the opportunity to be here on a mission for the Lord and bring our brothers and sisters home to Zion. Thank you for all your support and remember John 14:27.

LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY,
ELDER BRIAN BOWLER

{Letter from Brian}

Hey everyone,
We were able to go to the temple today in Tri-cities and we had a wonderful time. I learned some very interesting truths from the Spirit during my session which I cannot tell at this time. Just know that it was a wonderful time and that the temple is a most holy place where the Spirit of the Lord can truly abide at ALL times.
We had a really good Zone Conference last week and we just had things reiterated of what we've learned in past zone conferences. It was such a wonderful experience to be able t talk with President Belnap and be trained by him.
Also my companion and I had interviews with president last week. That was really good because I was feeling overwhelmed by training and as I talked with him he told me simply that I don't need to be perfect in order to train I just need to love my 'greenie' and the people I serve. I have felt so much better about training since then and I am absolutely loving it!
Elder Ord is such a great young man and is so much like I was when I first got into the mission field except that he runs his mouth more than I ever did (not in a rude way). It is so funny because we talk and talk and seem to get so much done. We get along so well and the longer that I am with him the more I love the guy. I can say that the longer he is with me the more he loves me. So it works out so well for the two of us.
The Linseys are members of the Boardman Ward and are a great family. They love missionaries and enjoy talking with us and getting to know us.
The work is slow but we are persevering with all enthusiasm behind us and we do much tracting and visiting less-active members. It is absolutely wonderful to be able to do what we do as missionaries.
I hate to cut this short but I don't have much time to writ this week because we are still in Tri-cities and I only have an hour to e-mail but I love you all and remember John 14:27.

LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY,
ELDER BRIAN BOWLER

letter from Brian

Hey everyone,

The baptism was a real big success! They made it and it has been a real good thing for that family. The Spirit was strong at the baptism. Oh, and when I baptized Isaiah his big toe came up so I had to do it again and the second time was good. One of the members said that it was a good thing we did it again because they didn't want his big toe to still be filthy. I thought it was really funny. They were confirmed on Sunday and were extremely excited and had a wonderful day at church. We had dinner with them at the Poe's home and had a wonderful time. The Poes were the escorts for Marcalina and Isaiah and they invited all of us to their home.
So, I think that your illness has begun to travel through your e-mails because I have had a nasty cough and now a not so desirable cold. I will be just fine though because I have learned how to take care of myself.
The Wallaces told me that it was supposed to be the end of next month that they were going to be in Utah because they will be driving through Boardman and want to see me on their way. I am excited for them to come and see me because I miss them so much and I honestly wish that I could have stayed in their home my entire mission because I really felt at home their.
So big news of the week, I'm staying in Boardman and... ladies and gentlemen hold on to your hats because I am going to be training a new missionary!!!! I am excited and a bit nervous to be doing that but it is going to be a really good experience for me and I know I will learn so much just like I have my entire mission. I know that as I rely on the Lord he will help me to teach this new missionary all he needs to know to be a successful missionary.
I am going to see if I can get some pictures printed off today of the baptism and send them home so that you can see them.
Although my companion and I have had our differences we have really become good friends and we enjoy one another's company. We have worked through our differences and learned to love one another for who we are and for the opportunity to have been companions. I know that the Lord put us together to help us learn to love others who are vastly different than ourselves and so it has been a great, yet challenging six weeks and I will miss the time that we have spent serving the Lord together.
I think that is all the news that I have for the week but I love you all very much and I hope that things are looking to be better everyday as you remember how merciful the Lord has been to you in your life and how he has given you all that you need to be successful in your lives. It brings me much joy that as I have learned that as we truly lose our lives in the service of the Lord that we find the life that we have always been looking for: peace, joy, love and fulfillment in our lives. He will always love you no matter what may happen in our lives we have the assurance that He will gives all that we need, not necessarily all that we want but most certainly all that we need. I love you all, remember John 14 :27. The Lord is our LOVING Heavenly Father!

LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY,
ELDER BRIAN BOWLER

Letter from Brian

HI EVERYONE,

Well, the baptisms are coming up this weekend and we are gearing up for that wonderful day. Isaiah and Marcalina are both excited as well and Marcalina asked Elder Jackson to baptize her and Isaiah asked me if I would baptize him. I thought that was really nice of him to ask me. He will be the first one that I have actually baptized on my mission. Although that isn't very important who does the baptizing, I think it is cool and he always calls me his missionary. I think that Isaiah is a really great kid as well as Marcalina but they are just really rambunctious (I think that is spelled that way) when they decide they want to be. We only have a few more commandments to teach them and it is just so great how impressionable their minds are at this age in their life. If you could pray for everything to go smoothly for the next few days that would be great.
It really sounds like it he been a trying week for most of the family and well it has been quite trying for me as well. I seem to have had an illness the past couple of days that is just pushing me over the edge. I can't seem to balance myself and I feel that I'm on the verge of a mental nervous breakdown and it just seems that everything is out of control. I personally think that it has very little to do with my companion's terrible actions lately and more to do with my wanting to love him and care for him and seeing my efforts go to a careless, belligerent companion who just wants to go home and mistreat women. I am actually surprised that he has not tried to take a swing at me but he has been very verbally abusive to me in front of members and other missionaries. It is hard and it hurts to see him that way but I still think he is a great guy but has many hurdles to overcome. I know that I have only about a week left and that it will be over with him and that is honestly the only thing that keeps me going along with reading my scriptures and praying for the strength to go forward with absolute faith.
I don't want to burden you all with a poor me statement but I know the Lord has something great in store for me. The Lord loves me so very much and I have learned that it is only those who can take the heat are the ones that he gives such daunting tasks to. I don't want to sound conceded but that is just something that I have learned. I know that he cares and just keeps us growing but we must either rise to the challenge or shrink and succumb to the Devil and wallow in misery. That WILL NOT be me I will rise to the challenge he has set before me.
Other than that things are going on fairly well and we are just striving for helping others come unto Christ. I've learned that even though the mission is truly one of the hardest things you will ever do, in the end it is one of the most rewarding experiences a young man or young woman could ever have in their life. I will treasure it forever.
So, I have discovered for myself that I am so much like Mom. Most things that I do remind me of things that Mom does and well I am absolutely happy that I am so much like her. There are things that I do that remind me of Dad and I just enjoy the opportunity of being able to discover that for myself, instead of everyone telling me. Well, I think that is really it for next week except I was wondering if you would guess what will happen to me next week seeing as transfers are then? I love you all very much and I hope that things are just continuing to look up and that the Lord may become integral in your up most thoughts and desires in life. Remember John 14:27 and I will write you in one week!

LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY
ELDER BRIAN BOWLER