Monday, July 14, 2014

So much to say, so little time. 

I'll start with my new mission presidents, President and Hermana Bowler (pronounced boler, not like irritable bowel.) We had Consejo this past week so we went up to Teguc and slept over with them in President's house! When our taxi pulled up, Hermana Bowler was waiting outside for us and greeted us with big hugs saying, ''My daughters, my daughters!'' She is adorable. She actually reminds me a lot of mom! (Hair, voice, etc.) She hardly speaks a word of Spanish and is experiencing some serious culture shock. She kept apologizing because the downstairs bathroom didn't have the little bar to put the toilet paper on. I thought it was hilarious! She'll die when she starts using public restrooms here. President Bowler is a Weasley (red head) and he served in Argentina like Dad! His Spanish sounds a lot like Dad's Spanish, so we'll pray for the gift of tongues. They are cattle ranchers from Nevada, but Hermana grew up in Salt Lake. They are so humble and so willing to serve. Their MTC experience lasted 5 days and in that short time, they were able to hear from all 15 members of the quorum of the 12 apostles and the prophet's presidency. They brought the most pure and beautiful and powerful spirit with them. 

In Consejo, I translated for Hermana Bowler!! It was the first message we heard from her and it touched my heart and made me cry. She told us about their Sacrament meeting in the MTC with the other 129 couples. They announced that there would only be one speaker after the sacrament... President Thomas S. Monson. A few new Elders preparing to go out into the field had the privilege of blessing and passing the sacrament. Hermana Bowler said that she realized that the prophet wasn't only there to fill the future Mission Presidents, but also to send his special spirit with them for all of us. I know it's true. I felt such a powerful testimony of our living prophet, seer, and revelator. She shared 3 Nephi 18:3-4 and talked about how the Nephites were filled with the sacrament. She asked us what we need to do to fill our lives. I love her. 
President Bowler is so great. They have 3 boys and one adopted son with some problems and have had many foster children, including new borns. Basically, they're angels. I miss President Hernandez, but I could not be more blessed to have this new leadership! 

I've been learning a lot lately. A lot about God's laws and about His plan. For example, the star that appeared when Jesus was born didn't just magically appear out of nowhere. From the foundation of the world, God organized it all so that a certain star would shine brighter than ever before on that special night. Everything is perfectly orchestrated. 
When I learn here, I feel like Lehi in his dream when he partakes of the fruit (the love of God) and immediately searches out his family to share it with them. I wish you could all be here, learning and loving and experiencing with me. It is so rich and refining. 

Here is a poem that speaks to my soul. Aly Carter sent it to me. 



Disturb us, Lord, when 
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus Christ.

Sir Francis Drake 1577

 I could never thank you all enough for all that you've taught me and for all the ways you've served me. Just trust me when I say that every sacrifice and every extra mile we go to obey God's commandments and progress spiritually is worth it.

There is so much more to come! 

Flynn Family for Eternity! 



Hermana Flynn