{life of Chase}

Good morning family! Sorry for not writing last week... I wasn't
around wifi most of the day so it was tough to send off emails. But
anyways, so what's been going on the last 2 weeks... I FOUND MY
WALLET! Here's the story: So me and my companion were walking home
from a lesson for dinner and my comp was like "hey man I'm thirsty..
Let's go to sonic" so I was like alright. Then on our way there, we
see these 2 chicks on the side of the sidewalk and they stop us and
ask what church we go to and so I take off my sunglasses to talk to
them and then she's like "DUDE I FOUND YOUR WALLET IN MY APARTMENT
COMPLEX" and so I got it back from her. #Miracles #Blessings. It was a
super cool experience. I prayed so hard for it. This last week was
really good too. We had like 25 lessons set up from teach but
unfortunately we had 12 cancel which is one of the toughest things
about missionary work. But the lessons we were able to have went
really well. Me and my companion are getting along pretty well. We
definitely do have some differences in how to do missionary work and
were pretty different in personalities too but it's all a learning
experience. We both love to play soccer so that's usually what we do
on p-days. Oh and this last week I got to go to a freakin JAZZ GAME!
It was so cool because it was my first NBA game. One of the members I
worked with in my second area called us on Friday morning and asked if
we wanted to go and me and my comp were like heck yeah, that'd be
dope. So we called our mission president to ask if it'd be okay and he
was down with it! We had to wear our missionary clothes which was way
weird but still an awesome experience. We definitely got judged and we
got tons of looks while we were there from the members but it was
still a good night haha. Oh and another thing, last week we had a zone
meeting just like normal but in this zone meeting, we talked a lot
about Rutts... So what are Rutts? Basically it's when you get into
this groove and you're just doin the same thing day by day and just
going through the motions. Basically, you're really comfortable with
where you're at... And if any of you know me, you know I love to be
comfortable so it was a really good meeting for me. Why is it bad to
be comfortable? Because if we're comfortable, it stops us from growing
and progressing. So that's probably been my biggest struggle out here
on a mission.. Like leaving areas that I love so much and then trying
to adjust to a new one so that's kinda my challenge to you guys.. Look
for ways to reach out to those around you... It might be a little
uncomfortable but no growth occurs in the comfort zone! Well that's
all for today!

Elder Bowler

{west valley}

This week has been pretty cool out here in west valley! Definitely
much different than Taylorsville haha! We actually got to teach about
15 lessons this week which was awesome. And the people out here seem
to be a little more genuine because they don't have that much stuff
and they're truly looking to better their lives so that's definitely a
plus. My new comp elder Erdman is a pretty cool guy too. He's real
quiet but he just loves what he does out here. He truly loves being a
missionary and helping these people out which is so cool. When I'm
struggling to find motivation to work, he just says alright let's go
to another house hahaha. I got a lot of respect for him. So a few
things that happened this week... We went to visit someone this week
and we go up to the door and this older lady is like "the bishops are
here!!" And then our dinner on Tuesday.. Oh man I had to say a prayer
that I wouldn't get sick from it. So we're just sitting down getting
ready to eat and then I taste the soda and the salad dressing and they
taste a little funky but not like bad but just a little weird so I
look at the label on them and they were like years out of date. And
then I started to look around at the other stuff on the table and it
was ALL out of date by like 6 months - 2 years! Hahahaha so
sketchyyyyy. Afterwards, I told my comp and he didn't even notice. He
was just like oh my gosh... Haha! Then on Thursday, my comp and I went
on splits with a few guys from one of he wards and I was like what the
heck... Because I had just gotten into the area and I didn't know any
of these people and I didn't even know how to get around but we did it
anyways and it went awesome! I went to a couples house and we had to
guess which house it was because it was a fourplex and my comp didn't
tell me the number so we guessed and we got it right on the first try!
But anyways... I went into the lesson with a little bit of a lesson
plan but not really much to work off. So I got in there and just
started talking to them and it turns out that they are trying to get
back to church but the biggest reason for it is because of their 5
year old who pushes them to go to church every week and they go
because they said they will do anything for their daughter. And then
the lesson got a little more intense when she told me as to why she
stopped coming to church in the first place and I'm not gonna say the
reason but wow... This lady has been through so much. After she laid
it all out on the table, I was just kinda sitting there and I was
kinda tearing up and I told her just how much respect I had for her
and how I knew that the lord would bless her if she did her best to
come back to church and she was just in tears. Such a cool experience.
I truly learned that you always have to follow the spirit in what to
do and say because if you don't, you won't know what they truly need
to hear and you won't figure out what they need. On a different note,
I lost my freakin wallet this week... It sucks. So as of now, I'm
trying to figure out how to get a new drivers license and I've got to
get all me cards and stuff. Well, that's all for this week! Keep it
real.

Elder Bowler

{14 months}

Good morning! So it's that time again... Transfers! This time, I will
be leaving my area and heading to West Valley, Utah which I've been
told is the Compton of Utah Valley so I should have a few more
interesting stories than I do now here in Taylorsville hahaha. Oh and
I also hit my 14 month mark this last week! 11 of those months has
been spent here in Taylorsville and the other 3 months was in
Granstville. It's gonna be way different leaving after being here for
so long but change is good! My new companion will be Elder Erdman and
I was in the same district as him when we were out in Tooele together
so we've been on a few exchanges and he's a pretty cool guy. He's a
real hard worker, he's more on the quiet side but he's like the same
height as me so we'll be like the shortest comps in the mission!!
Hahahaha and obviously the best looking too. Haha anyways... Elder
Ball will be staying here in this area and getting a new companion
named elder Keesling and I know both of them are great missionaries so
I'm not worried about the area too much. I'll sure miss it though.
This week has been a pretty slow week for teaching but we've gotten a
lot of referrals so elder ball will be just fine. Well, I'll have more
to write this next week! If you ever have questions or anything, just
send me an email! Love you guys!

{busy week}

Hey friends and family!! Sorry for writing this email so late! Been a
real busy day today. So this past week, we had a rough week and it
really tested our patience! We had 11 of our 15 appointments cancel on
us for just random reasons and there's nothing worse than planning on
having a lesson with someone and then they cancel... And then our
investigator with a baptismal date named raistlin ended up moving to
Maine over the weekend which was just unbelievable to us because like
who the heck even lives in Maine?!! It was just so crazy and it really
sucks because he was supposed to get baptized this coming Saturday so
it's a pretty big bummer /: just gotta keep working hard to find the
others who are being prepared! I've been in the area I'm in right now
for about 4 months now and transfers are coming up next Tuesday so
most likely I'll be getting transferred out to a new area and getting
a new companion but we'll see! I'll keep you guys updated on my photo
sharing on Saturday when we find out what's happening so keep posted!
Not too much happened from Wednesday to today so I'll keep it short!
Love you guys! (:

{times flyin}

February already... Can't believe it. So, I could come up with an
excuse as to why I didn't write a weekly email last week but I can't
think of a legit excuse haha sometimes a weekly email is just a long
process! Sorry about that. I'll do my best to not miss another week!
So this last week has been a pretty great week! We had a zone
conference all about working with our ward leadership and always
involving the members in our teaching and it was really good.
Definitely learned a lot of things I could improve on as a missionary.
So a little challenge for you guys reading this back home... Look for
opportunities to help out the missionaries. The most solid converts
I've had on my mission have come from member referrals and strong
fellowshipping from the member. Just think of it this way... You're in
a brand new place and you don't know very much about what's going on
and you're all alone and you don't know anyone. Kinda scary right?
Would it be a little easier with a friend there with you? Most likely.
That's how it is with our investigators. Most of us have all grown up
in the church and we know exactly what to expect but others have no
idea and they need a friend to be there to explain certain things and
to just be there for them as they make this huge change in their
lives. Fellowshipping is KEY. On Thursday of this last week, we moved
out of our old apartment into a new house more central to our area and
it is wayyyyy nicer. We have a full kitchen and living room and just
tons more space. Our last apartment was just one bedroom and a
bathroom and the landlord was real weird and it was just a real bad
situation so the mission decided it would be best for us to move out
to this new place and it has been GREAT! Our new landlords are an old
couple and the wife reminds me a lot of Nan because she is super nice
to everyone and super churchy! haha she's great. So funny story... We
were on exchanges last week with the district leader and I was with
him in my area and we stopped into the church building to get out of
the cold for a little bit and we needed to use the bathroom and then
I'm just washing my hands and he starts freaking out in his stall and
then the toilet freakin overflows and water gets everywhere. Hahahaha
And I'm just dying because there's water everywhere and he's freaking
out and he doesn't know what to do but luckily it went down and there
was a drain next to the toilet so it was fine but oh my... It was so
funny lol. Besides that, life is real good right now! We have 3
investigators at the moment. One should be on date next week but we'll
see how it goes! We're teaching about 10-12 lessons a week so I can't
complain! Today we're just going shopping because elder ball has to
get a new suit. We're going with a 19 year old guy who were trying to
get out on a mission! Wish us luck!! (:

{i hate snow}

Good morning!!! 

So for the past like month or so, there has been snow
on the ground 24/7. Like every time it gets close to melting, we have
another snow storm and I freakin hate it! Hahaha I miss having a 60°
Christmas where you can go play golf for free after you finish opening
up presents! Luckily, I have some snow gear which will be pointless
when I get home hahaha. But anyways, this week has been a pretty good
week overall. We had a lot of lessons cancel on us this week which was
rough but we also had some really good lessons so it was all good! I
hit my 11 months left this coming week which is crazyyyy. We had a
lesson with a less-active lady that we've been working with for a few
weeks and some of the ward members came with us to the lesson and we
talked a lot about faith and after we had left, I was just thinking
how crazy it is that we as missionaries can meet someone and then like
a few weeks later, we can become super close with them and become
lifelong friends. Just from a few visits with them. I've gotten closer
to more people out here from being in areas a few months than I did
when I was in Texas for like a year and a half which is crazy but I
love it out here. Sometimes, I'll just look down at my name tag and
think to myself like wow I can't believe I'm here. Before my mission,
nobody (including myself) thought I would come out on a mission. Even
when I left, there was some kids in the ward that just thought I
stopped coming to church! Hahaha I was never really a church person
and I just didn't have it on my mind but that is the magic of the
gospel. It can change who we are and make us into the person that were
meant to be. I've made so many close friends and I've had experiences
that I know I was meant to be here for because I was able to connect
to people that needed my testimony. I know I was sent out here to Utah
for a reason and I know that there are no accidents with who is put
into our lives and the things that happen in our lives. So that's my
challenge to you guys. Look for opportunities to be a light to those
around you. Because if it wasn't for Jake Frandsen and my family I
wouldn't be on a mission or where I am today. You never know the
effect you have on people and you never know who's watching you. I've
realized that a ton on my mission. Most of the people we teach are
interested because of a friend or because they saw that people in our
church are just happy people or they saw the missionaries and saw how
happy they were so they wanted to know what they had! Always be an
example.
Love, Elder Bowler

{transfers}

So for the first time in my whole mission, I am staying with my
companion for another 6 weeks! I'm not getting transferred! Elder Ball
and I will also be staying in our area so no packing! Yessssss. I'm
pretty excited about it. Me and my comp get along real well and we're
just starting to pick up the work in the area so we're excited. Not
too much going on this week... We found a new less active member that
were working with to help bring back to church and she has a
non-member son that were hoping to start teaching so I'll keep you all
posted! The mission is really starting to fly by... Like I would
always say "im going home next December" when members would ask and
now I can say I go home this year in December and instead of them
saying that I have a while left; they say you're on the downhill now
elder bowler haha. It's crazy to think about. But I love my mission.
Those first 6 months were tough but ever since then, time has really
started flying by like crazy. I haven't regretted coming out on a
mission once. For all you youth that are deciding if a mission is for
you or not, I can promise you that it is for you. I'm not gonna lie to
you, it will be tough and you will be pushed to the limits sometimes
but you'll never be given more than you can handle and it will be the
time that you spiritually grow the most in your life. So if you're
thinking of a mission, do it (:
Well that's about it this week. I'll have more next week!

Elder Chase Bowler
Salt Lake City West Mission