Hamiltons, Danny O'Neal, Taylor,  Keith, Mt. Hood.

We saw some incredible miracles. we're now about to start working with a man and his family, and they're from the Marshall Islands. My companion and our member friend thought I was making it up when I said, "oh, so you speak Marshallese?" Hahah. An even bigger language barrier than our Chuukese friend, who's getting baptized on the 29th at 11:30. Then another one at 2pm. YAY for them!!!!!!! THEY ARE SO HAPPY. Seriously. Anyway, our Marshallese friend was BLOWN AWAY by the Restoration DVD. If y'all have one, you should watch it :) They come with probably close to 30 languages that you can subtitle or dub over. Unfortunately, Marshallese isn't one of them. Sister Poulson has had bites all over her legs for a couple weeks, now, we don't know why, but washed all the sheets... But she was picking at her leg just before our first lesson with him, and then all of the sudden, during the lesson, she's bleeding all over the place, and I have nothing but a POST-IT! bahaha. eye roll. I knew the gift of tongues was real--in regard to the Spirit helping the people we're teaching understand what we we're trying to convey! So, we did our best to speak slowly and carefully and clearly, and he loved it. It was so cool to see him love it. haha hard to describe. :)

There are some members in our ward who have a son about 12? He has a "special friend" who came to the VCenter and really felt the Spirit. She even confessed to their son that she cried on occasion. It's so cool to see the family really rally around her and really love her and know how much the Gospel will bless her life. I love the Gospel. The most important thing to realize is that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we really can be clean. Elder David A. Bednar has a good talk that was also spoken on in our sacrament meeting yesterday called (I think) "The Atonement." It's about the enabling and strengthening power of the Atonement, as well as its cleansing power.

Never underestimate the power of example. This girl, another family we're working with to help come back to church, and our Relief Society first (?) counselor all became interested in the Gospel because of example. So don't be worried if it doesn't happen now. People will love you and give the church the time of day, when it comes down to it :)

Mucho Gusto Love-o,

Sister Bothwell  ;)

Welp, I'll just write a couple sentences.
The Gift of Tongues is real. We've been teaching this Chuukese guy, and we Should Not have been able to teach him for all intents and purposes. But, he's getting baptized on the 19th.  And, Another investigator is as well. All of the people we're teaching are progressing so well! And, we continue to find when we teach and teach when we find, because we want to continue to work our hardest and not have our people run out. I love this area, and the adventures, and hope that're rampant around here. We love the people we're working with, and if you could pray for them, I KNOW that the power of faith and prayer works. I've literally had too many times where I've experimented with God and He's always there/come through for me. I love my mission, and am so excited for the trust God places in me to be able to help these people. It's really my companion, though: she carries our companionship :)  Haha, but reals.
I love you all, and hope you're reading the Book of Mormon and praying daily, because that's really the only way to stay strong. Also, go to church. I've really, really, really seen some happy people as they change to become closer and more like Christ.
Googma, Sister Bothwell

Jordan here.
Since my mom started doing Seminary she's had less time to proof and forward Jenna's emails. Because of this we're a couple of emails and pictures short of a good looking blog. Sorry. 
 I'm going to try to get Jenna to start sending the emails straight to me but I don't know how well it will all work out.

In the meantime we might have a couple bursts of a lot of emails then silence for a while.
Hopefully the blog will start getting updated more regularly.

-Jordan

On the road, again. I can't wait to get on the road, again. blah de blah de blah de blah de blah, I can't wait to get on the road, again.

SOoooooooo. I'm now full-time proselyting. Adios, VC, Hola RAINER, OREGON. um, we have a beautiful view of the Columbia River to see out the window, and while driving. Our area is forty minutes wide? My last area was fifteen minutes wide? maybe ten?

I'm grateful for inspriration. Oh, and for gel-sole boot inserts. Yummy on my feet. Oh-kay, well, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep yesterday. My companion is so sweet! We got to know each other and everything. She's from Virginia, nearing 24, and her name is Sister Horne. Funny story, we have alllll the same missionary-type instincts and habits. Pray before you leave, pray before you get outta the car, working on asking good questions to bring the Spirit. Oh, and exact obedience. Turns out she's into that, as well. It's funny, because I've really just learned over my mission, if someone is obedient, I trust them completely, because I like consistency. If you break the rules, or there are exceptions to things at any point, no! Oh, and now there are sisters in Seaside! I was told that would never happen! Sister o-Farrell, Sister Knight and I all went full-time proselyting, and Sisters Arts, Piggott, and Poulson are training. Sister Holman and Sister Baker are together in the Visitors' Center. Oh, the Hermanas that came in to be trained at the VC are so precious! They are both hispanic: Elder Johnston will be thrilled-- he was the only one who spoke Spanish for the past nine months. bahaha. Oh, and it was my birthday, and SIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX people came to church, that I love. welp. I love everyone. Obviously. But these in particular. We--well, Sisters Poulson and Quijida are teaching two full Marshallese families, and several Chuukese, and our recent converts got callings and sustained to the Priesthood! They now have the even more ability to bless the lives of their family members-- all of their respective familiy members are very super interested in the church and following the example of Jesus Christ. I'm going to miss those cute little peoples and the Spirit I felt so strongly while teaching them with my companion. I've now moved on to something totally different, and that's exciting in and of itself. My life has been blessed, the more I follow the Spirit and come closer to Christ by being OBEDIENT. and I'm grateful that that can continue in this area. I don't know much about it, but I am kind of REALLY PUMPED, because there are so many things to be grateful for and small mercies in every activity. Last night, we got our door bell rung and banged on but no one broke in, so PERFect. :D

Oh, and I have a lot of stuff... so Bothwell family, there are a lot of things headed your way. Potentially seashells, but maybe not. It's beautiful here: I've so missed the rain! Ah! and now, I get to back up the car, in the middle of the road. I've missed it! haha The ward seems fantastic from those I've seen. :D and our apartment is warm and toasty :D Personal Study was good this morning: I remembered how it was in Meridian Park, and it was sweet, because it's not as though the church changes anywhere you go, very much.

 The exact same things that comforted me in Tualatin, comforted me this morning. And it's like going off to college: you get to finally change for good, habits that you've been working on changing, and become the fantastic person God intends. cool, cool, cool.

Welp, I love you all, and had a WONDERFUL birthday: thank you for your prayers and support!!!

Googma, Sister Bothwell

James, happy birthday, man. 

We had A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT AT CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A family in the ward's less-active son came, four of our investigators came. So many wonderful people bore their testimonies, and the Spirit was just there really strongly.  And oh, wow, do I have a testimony of the word of wisdom. People are just more prepared to hear the whispering, and promptings of the Holy Spirit when they're not focused on other things! These are eternal principles, you know? I've seen a change in our investigator. He just brightened up! He walks in the park, and goes and hides from all of the people he used to hang out with that drink alcohol and do drugs. He says before when he would try to quit, he'd eventually bum some cigarette off of someone, but now he's quitting and everyone's asking him if he wants some. He thinks it's funny ;)! Oh, my goodness--he's so excited to go to the Addiction Recovery Program every thursday and goes with a former investigator (that we just picked back up and are teaching again). Says he's so excited to learn how to express himself in English for like spiritual things.

Our investigator who was afraid to pray and hasn't for such a long time (18 wks?), prayed. Well, he asked for forgiveness in a group prayer with us, a couple nights after he'd gotten up in ARP and said he "hoped" God's mercy was greater than his wrath. I'm telling you. By the end of sunday night, I was too blown away to even use superlatives. There were some huge deals. 

Haaa it stinks, because these few sentences are things that took a long time to come about and then boom! Our investigator that prayed. WOW. 

A boy in the ward is convinced we wear blue every day. He's also convinced turquoise is blue. So, today we invited his sisters over to play the couch game with us and the member that we live with's grandchildren who were in town, and guess what? He wanted to go home first, because HE WORE BLUE! hahahha. Oh, it's the little things. :D They're also having us over for dinner next week,

 and I begged them to let us have some of their homegrown corn! From their garden!!! :D

This week we got a call from our investigator. "I decided not to read the 'Book of Mormon: Made Easy', so I read the Book of Mormon all day Friday, from 9-5pm. I needed to keep awake, so I was talking a walk. I stopped and prayed--something I've not done  ever before, I think, and I don't really remember what I prayed for, but I opened my eyes, and there was an Oregon Portland Temple picture on the ground, there, in the dirt." Sis. P:"Oh, wow. So, did you see this as answer?" "Oh, absolutely-- it made the hairs on my arms stand up."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

We got a call from this same investigator, this morning, after having a lesson with him on wednesday, and him committing to pray about a baptismal date-- while we were taking a nap, and I looked over and thought, 'don't answer, we're asleep,' and then, I thought, 'who do you think you are, YOU MISSIONARY'. "Hi, I was praying today, for the same thing I've been praying for: an answer to my question of is this true. All of the sudden, a lot of emotions and thoughts and memories washed over me: all the times y'all had met with me, the times I read the Scriptures, and went to church & felt the Spirit. I've decided I want to be baptized." Sister Poulson almost keeled over with joy. That's the truth. 

Our investigators with a baptismal date may have dropped us, but we're not afraid. We know that as we communicate the most important thing to them: the Atonement of Jesus Christ allows us to return to live with Heavenly Father and our families, forever. 

You would think that having an incredible Spirit-filled week would tire us out, but I know that the Lord strengthens our capacity to have joy and be filled. Hearts just get bigger and then fill. Which is something else I think about a lot. Oh, if I do everything I'm told, I will be boring. Now, I realized, my life just keeps getting better and better, and is NEVER BORING. Evar. My goodness-- I hope y'all are growing and learning more, because that is the definite truth: if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward. That's legit. Buy a Preach My Gospel, and if you already have one, look up the "Questions of the Soul", section. 

I heart you all, and am so sorry for being a lame writer. 

Muah!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, Sister Bothwell

I'd love to hear from you all, about your spiritual experiences, and about your real life. :) <3

Transfers

Welp, we had transfers today, and my companion got transferred! She was so ready to go, she packed her bags a week and a half ago. If she hadn't been transferred (b/c we don't get the calls until two days before they happen,) she was just going to unpack, but how silly is that!? We (the Meridian Park & Lake Oswego Sisters) were in the Vcenter together the night of transfer calls, and out of the eight sisters in the vcenter, two--one from each of our ^ companionship's, were getting transferred. So, hullo, we thought we knew exactly where they were going to go! To each other! haha did that make any sense?! ;) We loved each other already, so it's fantastic. Maybe she'll get my butt running in the morning!!! My companion's name is Sister PoulsOn, and she is from the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake, Utah. She's cute and blond, and a powerhouse missionary!!! I'm super excited to see our *new area EXPLODE!!! :) We went food shopping today, as our first companion activity, and I bought the most junk food I've ever bought (we had a joint account). She bought the least. ;) bahaha. Our area's on fire, and all we need to do is feed the flames. I'm excited to get to know her even better, and help the cute little greenies that are now in our district! One is from Australia, and the other is an Elder...so I dunno. We had an Elder at transfers--the ELEVENTH OF SEVENTEEN. I mean, yeah. Woo. Everyone and their kids needs to go to lds.org, and find the talk "Seven Lessons on Sharing the Gospel", by Elder Clayton M. Christensen. HAHAHAHAH OH MAYNE-- I'm driving. . . Yieup, that's right, you're looking at the newest member of the Senior Comp(anion) club. Woot. I'm freakin'. out. death. But it's cool. The haha's were because I drove out stylin', with the LO sisters and my companion, while blastinggg the Lion King-- "Circle of Life" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The only peeps we can listen to, here. Every missionary at transfers heard us drive away; it was phenomenal. .. and then, we got a text from the Assistants to the President. "Nice music, sisters", it said,"but not approved, unless it was by the Mo-Tab." "Ahh, we're not breaking the rules!!!", my companion texts back. "We didn't think so, but we got asked, so we responded."-they wrote back. Whoopsie. ;) I'm really so intimidated by Sister Poulson, but I know we're going to get along, swimmingly: anyone who obeys the rules with exactness, gets along with anyone else who does. . . I just hope I can live up to her awesomeness. Did I mention she's really great? Yieup. ;)
Don't worry-- I'll make sure she's tasted grits by the end of this! ;) I can't believe I'm the Senior companion. I have to make sure things happen, now! And write things down! yipes. Oh, and ask people for things/be bold. It'll be a kicker, but I'm sure we can handle it, as a team!!!!! Did I mention I'm driving? ha ;) 

I was reminded why I don't miss dating this week-- Good thing I've dodged that bullet. ;)
jokes! hahah
I love you all so much and can't wait to hear about your lives!
Now write me ;)
GOOGMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sister Bothwell
ps. Just so y'all know, I think about you often, and pray for you. Let me know how you're doing, and I can petition the Lord for ya. We're close. ;) <3

Our investigator's getting baptized!!!!!!!

We did not see this one coming, but it's happening now! And sometimes, those are the sweetest. She's going to sing a song she wrote at her baptism, and is on-fire with having us talk to her brother, and baptizing her friend, who is deceased. She rocks. :) We've discussed a lot of things in a short period of time, aka the whole gospel in two lessons, even though we've been meeting with her for over eight weeks. She's the one we've been singing with... :) who all of the sudden decided to rock the gospel...ah hahaha.
We're also teaching a 93 yr old woman from Great Britain, who has really good stories, but we've never really been able to get a word in edgewise. Honestly, we didn't try our hardest, because, for myself, at least, I was afraid she'd get angry at us in her sweet British accent, and schoolteacher voice. . . But! There's a quote in Preach My Gospel, by President Eyring, I think, who says that, if we pay attention, there WILL be something we can teach, in the things they say. I tried really hard to listen for something, last time, and it happened. It kind of went like this,
"Busy and I used to do everything together, but I haven't heard from her in a long time, maybe she's not even with us, anymore."
"So, what do you believe about death?"
It sounds abrupt, haah oh, dear. But it went well. Her heart was open, and when people's hearts are open, that's when the Spirit can work on them. Working with people who's hearts aren't open...doesn't work. The Spirit has to be working on their perspectives.  
We've been dealing with a lot of drama from a situation with one of our investigators with her member friend, and all I have to say is, "AH, DRAMA!" This member has been telling our investigator that if she messes up at all or anything akin, that the member will stop being friends with her. Yipes. Not the best things, going on, but this investigator has such a desire to be with her 9 mos old son that died-- she's having a difficult time, but we're pretty sure that as she's being worked with, she'll survive/come out on top!
We didn't get to go to the zoo, though. Bummers.
Ah! Our investigators were chilling at the Ward Game Night! and having a BLAST. That, is a blessing to see, and makes our hearts sing! :) They are so cute, and all they want is to know if this Gospel is the truth, and they want to be closer to it! The one investigator who came to all the things last week, he knows it's true. We had a lesson with him, and discussed with him how the answer he was seeking, may have already come in the form of good feelings as he read and prayed to know if the Book of Mormon really is the word of God. He said he feels good while reading it, and we said maybe that's your answer, since God wouldn't send the Holy Ghost to testify of truth, and have you have those good feelings, if it weren't true.
yes? yes.
All the people we've been working with, have been dropping off the face of the planet, but somehow we seem to keep ridiculously busy.
There was/is this mysterious scratch on our car, but we car-share, and neither companionship will fess up to having done it, but that's okay, cause it meant we got to go to the Auto Body Shop and they cleaned it, which was cool, but cooler!!! They gave us car paint. Booyah. It's Chevy Malibu Gold. Holl-ah. The Spirit has been so strong in our lessons, and I know this baptism is a blessing, but SO NOT OURS. Most def the Lord's.
I love you all, and hope you're doing so well!
LOVE YOU MOSTEST!!!!!!!
Sister Bothwell