Hike to the waterfall

There was no email this week, but lots of pictures.

Elder Bowles was saying how he loves to get actual letters in the mail so if you would like to write him here is his address.

Elder Xander Bowles

Colorado, Colorado Springs Mission 

4090 Centerpark DR Suit#4

Colorado Springs, CO 80916

If you prefer to send him a quick email here is his email address

xander.bowles@myldsmail.net

 RAID for those pesky pesks

 Hike to a beautiful waterfall

 The View!

 Lookin' Good

 He made it!

 Elder Bowles and Elder Pexton in the background

So Beautiful

Post By:redheadedmama73

Work and Pday Adventures

Dear Family,

Well this week the work has been progressing we trackted into this part member less active family and the mom is the member and she has 2 kids one is 13 the other is 5. We are teaching her 13 year old son its amazing! She wants to come back to church and her son wants to learn and get baptized.  The mom told us she said,"I see you guys ride by everyday and I hoped you'd stop by someday", and we did and shes so excited to get her kids in the church and to come back she's a convert from when she was 15 I think.  She lived in Mexico but she said she fell away when she moved here and didn't like the Spanish branch, but now she knows English and wants to come to our ward! We also are teaching another part member family and less active, so the mom is less active and they have a 4 year old and like a one month old and we are teaching her husband who doesn't believe in god "yet", but he comes to church and is friends with alot of the members and the mom wants her kids blessed and to be raised in the church. We have a few investigators we are working with, one who knows what we are teaching is true she said its just going to take some time to adjust and to work with her. Our less actives who are smoking have come so far we are on the brink with one of them and we also got another less active this week its a brother of a girl in the ward and hes super funny and has been coming to church when he doesn't work which is awesome! Our other investigator rockey just had a baby so he will have to wait a few weeks. I have seen so many miracles and blessings that come from this great work I'm so blessed to have leaders, parents, teachers, and examples who loved me and showed me the way. I challenge you all to have the faith and strength to share the Gospel but to also read and pray and grow your own testimony!
I love you and have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Bowles

 Elder Bowles and Elder Pexton in a 4th of July Parade

 Biking adventures

 On Exchanges with another Elder

 Beautiful Sunsets

 Elder Lloyd, Elder McCall, and Elder Bowles on a hike called "The Incline"

 The Incline

 The Incline

 They made it to the top

 The View

Now to go back down

Weather, Baptism, New Mission President, and Adversity

Howdy Family,

I hope your all having a wonderful week! My last week was really good but crazy, the weather is so crazy we've had snow and rain and lightning and fireworks...wait that's not weather lol oh and sunny days as well...welcome to Colorado! lol Anyway this week is going really well something exciting happened I got asked by our investigator who is getting baptized on Saturday to confer the holy ghost to them on Sunday. So that's exciting.

The Schlosser Family

This week I learned a lesson in reading in 1Nephi 16:15-31 about adversity, we face trials but its how we react to our trials do we be like unto Lamen and Lemual or like Nephi do we go out of our way and ask questions like what am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help and how can I remember my  blessings in times of trial? When we have adversity and rely on faith we can grow so strong and be able to see gods hand at work. I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week and never forget to smile and Godspeed!

                                                               Love Elder Bowles.

 His Companion Gave him a hair cut

Elder Bowles' New incoming Mission President emailed the Colorado Springs Missionaries.  This is part of the email....

President Daniel K. Stevenson
We know that a transition in a mission president can be a time of uncertainty for you as well as for us. We are committed to making it as smooth a transition as possible for all of us. I have been praying recently that each of you might be blessed to have the Gift of the Spirit that is described in D&C 46:15 as “to know the differences of administration”. The genius of this Church is that we don’t serve in the same position forever and that the Lord changes our assignments from time to time to bring new perspective and different talents—all with the common purpose of continued personal growth and growth of the Kingdom. We may do things differently (don’t read into this drastic changes because I don’t foresee any), but always with the same goal: to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end!

I love Church music so it might be good for you to know my “favorite” hymn (we might be singing it a lot!). It is this: Let Us All Press On! I think the words of this hymn are appropriate as we face this transition together: “Let us all press on in the work of the Lord”. I invite you to memorize this hymn. It has some great counsel and promises. Let’s stay focused on our missionary purpose and together we will continue to move the work forward in great ways! Let’s just press on! As we look forward to continuing this great work together, always remember this truth: “an unseen power will aid me and you in the glorious cause of truth”.

Elder Bowles's Uncle Seth was on work assignment in Colorado and was able to see Elder Bowles and his companion while he was there.

 Uncle Seth Bowles, and Elder Xander Bowles

Uncle Seth, Elder Bowles, and Elder McCall