Almost Home

Crazy couple weeks, I tell ya. Lots of changes, all for the better. Life is good. Especially good this week because Marshall comes home on Thursday! Just sent him one last email. Can't wait to give him a hug! Thankfully he'll be back at BYU and close by.

Só Jesus Salva!

It was kind of a busy and crazy day at work (to say the least), so it was nice to come home and find an email from my little brother, Marshall. We get emails weekly from him, and they always seem to come at just the right time! It was so good to hear his voice on Christmas when we were able to talk with him for a few minutes. In his email this week, he shared this experience:

"There was one day this week when a man drove past us in the other direction shouting "Só Jesus salva!" ("Only Jesus saves!") You know, in one sense he was right. Jesus did do something that only He could do for us in order for us to receive salvation... but the thing is, there are things we can (and need) to do in order for the Atonement that He went through to apply to us. And as representatives of Jesus Christ, we're here to help other people learn what those things are and do them."

I'm so grateful to have a brother serving a mission right now. I feel like I've grown to love him more even though he's so far away!

And on an entirely unrelated note, my poor desk needs a little attention, don't you think?

Elder Bowerman

Tonight's the night I'll say "good bye" to my little buddy, Marshall! I can hardly believe it's time to see him off! The tears flow when I think about him being gone for two years, but I know he's going to be one amazing missionary for the Church. He will be set apart as a full time missionary tonight and start traveling to Brazil tomorrow and arrive at the Missionary Training Center in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

I love this little picture of Marsh. I think this was taken when he was in kindergarten or 1st grade. His class had gone on a field trip and they talked about all the things they could be when they grew up. Marshall came home from school with this around his neck..."Marshall wants to be a Missionary!" He's wanted to serve a mission since he was young...what a great example!

Be sure and check out Marshall's blog that we'll be updating throughout his mission, elderbowerman.blogspot.com!