I'll just start with the biggest news... July 19, 2015

hi!! :)

well i'll just start this week with the biggest news: we talked to Kelly's MOM over the phone last night. She didn't hear much of what we had to say, but told us firmly that Kelly can't get baptised  this sunday. noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. that was the worst phone call ever. we hung up around 10:30 and just sat there for a moment. but, within those 30 minutes before bed, Sister Kartchner and I built even more faith. We had just invited Kelly to start reading the BoM for 20 minutes every night, and now we are going to do a much better job on following up on her prayers. is she praying with REAL intent? i want to invite everyone to study about what praying with REAL intent means. I promise you, if you really study about praying with real intent and then act, your relationship with Heavenly Father will increase. When this happens, you relationship with everyone around you will also strengthen.

Well, Kelly is allowed to keep coming to church, so that's a huge giant miracle! Please, if everyone can pray (with real intent!) for Kelly, she will be able to get baptized soon!

Remember how last week I  talked about Sister Ho, the less active we have been working with? Well last week, in the midst of painting and cleaning her home, we made sure to just talk to her, share some scriptures with her and do little things like get some bread for her. In a lesson last week, her husband wasn't there at the time, but she said that every day, the first thing he does when he comes home is pray with the family. and after that, he goes into his room to pray alone.

THIS SUNDAY, the entire Ho family came to church the for the first time in a long time. Seeing them walk into our gorgeous, clean chapel,with their ragged, mismatched wornout clothes, unkept hair, and very broken hearts, was the most beautiful scene I have experienced here in Hong kong. THAT is the effects of the Atonement. THAT is why we call ourselves Latter-day  Saint Christians. The members took this family in, and they are healing them. But even more than any Christian can do, our Savior is healing their hearts and their family relationships. I've never seen Sister Ho have such a real smile as she sat in the air conditioned church building that sunday.

I can't express the immense love our Savior has for us, but I know I have felt. I've felt it through repentance, through service, and through sincere prayer. When I feel His eternal love, I change. I know we can all, no matter what our beliefs are or feelings towards the church are right now, can feel our Savior's love, too.
I love you all!

Love Sister Bosler

Notes from Karli:

matt is so cool. that firepit looks incredible! did you know the hong kong people DREAM of seeing places like this--in our very backyard--and never actually get to see it? we live such a fortunate life.

sounds so great! how is (friend of ours)? i think a lot about her actually. one night i kept thinking about how we need to share the gospel to her and what she needs to hear. i really feel like she's being prepared, she's just nervous to commit to anything and find out truth. she's stuck in her old traditions, but with some help, she can find the truth and this pure happiness.

aw Ty is so cute! he's seriously the coolest ever. i miss him a ton always!


Pictures and letters from home:

 Ron and Sharon George's 50th wedding anniversary!

 Last night with our dear friends at a 50th anniversary party. Missing you, Natalie and Sarah. ❤️

They are all on their way home now and I will write you more tonight -a letter- if you have not written to us yet. Sorry this is so rushed! I hope dad sent pictures of his and Tylers  high adventure biking trip this week. So glad they're alive!

I love you!!!
Mom

 Tyler was the shark in the pool.

 New game! Jump off mini trampoline into the pool. Look at Tyler haha!

 Tonight the gang came over for dinner and swimming. It was perfect weather.

Our tree is loaded with plums and pluots. (Or I thought it was.) These boys love fruit!!! Isaac is eating a pluot. (Plum/apricot mix-so sweet!)

 Matthew was reading grandpa and I segments of his new upcoming BOOK SERIES - yes,  he has a whole series and it is unbelievable Karli, I am not kidding. He truly has a gift for writing. I was so impressed I couldn't help bursting into tears. He'll be a famous author someday.

 Eating by the pool. Love these boys.

Swinging by the pool with homemade Popsicles.   

Every week gets better and better! July 12, 2015

Hellllloooooooo family! :)

I don't know how it happens, but every week gets better and better. It's amazing how much God blesses us and how much we can control  our lives by choosing to accept His blessings to have happier lives over time. God's plan for us is perfect.

We had many rare opportunities to serve this week. I'm grateful because we were able to find 2 very in need less actives and get the ward on board with helping them. We've been visiting one less active family since I first got here in SSP. This woman's home (last name Ho) is full of stuff--even Liahona's from the 1990s still out in the living room. As of now, the relief sociery and high council are on board to help their home! we cleaned her home on saturday, and they will all be returning again this week to get some measurements in and a new paint job. It's wonderful being ablt to help someone like that! But even in the midst of all this great christian work, my completely selfless companion at the end of the day looked at me and asked, "how does Sister Ho feel?" sure, we were there hours cleaning, organizing, preparing food; but during all of this, Sister Ho was hiding in her room. she would come out occasionally and help, but for the most part, she was hidden in her room. 

If it were me, I know I would feel flat out depressed. All these people over, cleaning up the life I can't handle, with my 2 sick kids screaming and crying--i would just give up even more. At the end of the day, I realized a huge lesson. I was completely humbled. In that situation, what would our Savior have done? Would he be out buying bins to pack things in, throwing stuff away, calling more people over, doing all the busy things? No, he would be with her, by her side, comforting her. Just talking to her. 

May we always remember to do all things in the name of Christ. Truly think about those words: in the name of Christ. If I cleaned Sister Ho's home in the name of Christ, I would've done all I could to help her feel she is loved. If we, in our daily lives, do ALL things in the name of Christ, imagine how much more purposeful all our actions would be? Imagine how much each person we know would mean to us? Let us never, ever forget the sacrifice He made for us. This love our Savior has for me should and does change the way I feel towards people, situations--everything. I can't wait to see Sister Ho again this week and just love her to pieces. :)

Besides our experience with her, we called President Lam asking permission to go to a mental hospital in a different area. We got a hold of an 18 year less active's mom, who told us her daughter was in that very hopsital--for already 2 months! No one in the ward even knew. 

The next day, we went with the YW president to visit her. We can call her Man Man. when sister Kartchner and I walked in the hospital, the spirit immediately left us. The walls of the cell Man Man was in were so bare and white! All the patients were in their hospital garments and everyone looked like the light of christ was gone from them. 

Only 2 people are allowed in at a time, so Sister Kartchner and I went to visit Man Man. Her face instnatly lit up. Man Man kept holding our hands, thanking us for our visit. No one, besides her mom had visited her for 2 months! She asked us to sing her a hymn, and we shared a scripture, and prayed with her. She told us that her faith in God has been healing her more than anything else. With a hopeful and healing heart, she shared with us that she gets to leave the hopsical on tuesday and is excited to meet with the missioanries again! 

Towards the end of our visit, her mom walked in, who we haven't met yet. She asked us to wait outside for she wanted to talk to us after. As we waited outside, we heard Man Man begin to practically wail of sadness. She had just found out she has to stay in the hospital for 2 more weeks :( we have scheduled again, however, to meet her this week! and, we left for her in that bare cell, a new copy of The Book of Mormon :).

Kelly fasted for the first time on fast Sunday. She received her answer. As we taught her (inside our mission presidents home, under the temple, with our mission president just chillin on the couch!!! coolest and scariest moment ever ;) ) she told us that she finally had the impression from the Holy Ghost that yes, she needs to on July 26 receive baptism!!!!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!! Her faith is growing. family, Kelly used to not believe in God. But since she's found comfort in the Book of Mormon, she is coming to know that God. loves,her. Because of that, she has more confidence in her life.

Between these 3 experiences this week, the way I live as a disciple of Christ has changed. It's gone from 'doing what i know we are supposed to do' to 'in the name of Jesus Christ, doing what HE would do.'

My invitation to you all is to evaluate your day, your week, your lives. How can you change just ONE action--or thought--to do what Christ would do in His name?

I'm so grateful for my Savior. I love Him with all my heart. When we read His word everyday, pray to God for our friends and family every day, and then ACT in His name, He will change our hearts.

I love you!

Love, Sister Bosler

 

We had the missionaries over tonight for dinner and that always love to show them little clips from our trip to China! LOL

 

Tyler trying out my new gift for my birthday. A table inverter for my back! It stretches your spine. Tyler loves it the most I think! But it really does work.
 

Free 7-Eleven slurp bees on my birthday 7-11. We dumped it after the picture! LOL then we saw the movie "inside out" it is so good!

 

Trish Wilcox cleaned my whole closet out then we went to lunch and had pedicures. Becky's family was supposed to come swimming but they were all sick! 

 

Licia and Bob delivered the most beautiful plant for my birthday! Best friends in the whole world.
 

 Cabo with Kaitlin's family! Swimming with the dolphins...

Notes from Karli:
SOOO FUNN!!! wow, kaitlin musttve been in heaven haha
im so glad you had an amazing birthday! Im so sorry i forgot.... aw man. but, i will make it up next birthday for sure haha.
where is this place with dolphins? you are all so awesome
yay keep having the missionaries over! that dinner sounds seriously incredible. a member is taking us out tonight but we are eating dumplings. haha oh well.
im so happy to hear how happy everyone is! yay!
we are so busy right now--and so happy. ive never been so happy on the mission as now! sister kartchner is seriously the greatest, mom!

turns out, guess what! i CAN go to other countries when you come pick me up! but not china.
should we go to taiwan for a day?
 Anyway, how long will you be here for? sister kartchenrs family is also picking her up at the same time!
 We'll have to visit so many wards that one sunday haha!


From Mom:
That's sooo cool! We are coming in the 21st- VERY LATE and will be there a day early. We won't come see you until you are released but that's just how the tickets turned out to be more affordable. We will be there one week total– So whatever you want to do and whoever you want to see! I bet it is so weird talking about coming home and I know you probably don't even want to talk about it because you love your mission so much! I really need to talk to Sister Kartchners mom - how absolutely amazing that they are coming out at the same time! What the heck?! So awesome!!!!!

From Karli:

yeah, shes the best.

hey, what foods have melatonin in them? ive been weirdly exhausted lately when i sit down.


Hi mom! haha i dont think it's that severe! im okay! i have been extremely exhausted lately though. i fall asleep every study and never want to move! but, im probably just being dramatic because i do anyways and dont complain about it haha. anyway, maybe i just need  to change my diet? i dont ever eat protein or dark greens, so maybe that's why. my diet here in SSP is veggies like a carrot, some bell pepper, tomato. and then sometimes ill get a subway sandwhich (THEY HAVE IT HERE!!!) or an indian food falafel thing. and then of course chinese food. oh and i eat apples and fruit. so probably i just need to eat chicken again? or protein and dark greens! 



 

What an exciting week it's been! July 6, 2015

HI!!!

What an exciting week it's been!!! Seriously. wow, life is awesome. In the past 7 days, Sister Kartchner and I have given 5 trainings! And it's funny how much I have learned from GIVING trainings. I love how that works.

We met our new mission president, President Lam. They are in our ward! I think we see them almost every other day. At church on Sunday, Sister Lam met our investigator, Kelly, and invited us to come teach her in her home... IN THE TEMPLE!! This hasnt been done in over 3 years at LEAST! Kelly gasped and said, "but im not baptized yet! I can go in?!" so cute. I love Kelly, she truly wants to change and follow God. Imagine if everyone had that desire..and acted on it. She's incredible!
So, this Wednesday we will teach her in the temple with the mission presdient's wife. haha so awesome.
President Lam got baptized 20 years ago. His wife is amazing-- it's because of her 100% commitment to God and obedience why he is baptized today.
This was literal proof and a witness to me that when we obey our Heavenly Father, He will bless us. Let us always remember the covenants we made with Him when we decided to get baptized, when we partake of the Sacrament, and when we went through the temple. I love those covenants!

President and Sister Hawks, however, have made a huge impact on my life forever. One of the biggest things I've learned is how imporant it is to love your spouse. The love President and Sister Hawks is like the love general authoriries and their wives have for each other. It's so strong, it's eternal, it's pure joy. How did they get it? They work for it. But not alone, they focus on God. He is number one in both of their lives. I'm so grateful for their 100% commitment to Him. I have a whole page, front and back, of things I have learned from their examples.

I love this gospel. I love serving! Especailly with sister Kartchner, she is a perfect example of Christlike love. She is always laughing, and always going the extra mile to become more like the Savior. She thinks of Him always before she opens her mouth or acts. You can tell she does. Mom--coordinate with her mom when you both come to hong kong... i want you to meet her so bad!

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to come closer to my Savior. I love Him! I love you all!

Love, Sister Bosler

PS. i used my first squater today in Hong Kong! fun stuff!

Today was my first time going to "yam chah" or eat dim sum!! SO GOOD. seriously, i loved it all. I remember a RM from HK took me to eat dim sum in SLC and I hated it... either it's 100x better in HK or my taste buds have changed... probably both :) these are all my favorite sisters! love them all!

Letters & pictures from home:

Hi Karli,

We are at Mindi's house right now heading over to grandpa Thomases house because it's his birthday today. Everyone's in the car waiting for me so I just thought I would hurry and shoot a few pictures off of this weekend. I flew up to Provo with Tyler and he went to BYU basketball camp – which he loved! And then we both attended Britney and Sean's reception on July 3rd and I went to her wedding – all of my 11 siblings were there! So exciting and fun.

 All 11of us!! Nate photo bombed haha

 I took Sophie and Hattie on a walk and they kept pretending they were dead! LOL

 Tyler LOVED basketball camp!

 Took my fav nieces and nephews to BYU Creamery

 Brittany and Sean coming out of the temple.

 Loved helping at the ice-cream table at the reception.

 Can't express how much I love my boy. He was such a gentleman tonight - introducing himself to relatives and helping out and dancing with his cousins. He's so cool.

 The Freedom run

 Went to a beach by Ginas after the parade and played water games.

 The STADIUM OF FIRE! JOURNEY WAS THE BAND!!

We sang "You are my sunshine" in the woods together! 
From Karli:
CUTE til death!!!! (i dont know if thats a phrase in english, but it is in cantonese!)

"Favorite Things" June 28, 2015

Helllllllooooo family!!!!

it looks like everyone is doing awesome at home :) i love hearing about that!

Sister Kartchner and I had an I N C R E D I B L E week. we sat down to eat i think only once this week-- no lie. haha we've been insanely busy and insanely happy. the Lord is blessing us so much, we can't even believe it!
We've been working with an LA named To Hiu Ching. she's 19, and so shy. and pretty lazy. stays up until 4am and never comes to anything. her sister is one of our investigators! cool huh!

anyway, with To Hui Ching, she still isnt coming to church! our last lesson was pretty powerful: forcused on sacrifice and obedience. i LOVE those 2 topics... I really feel like sacrifice and obedience are 2 really sacred things, because of the humility we show towards God, and the incredible blessings He gives us. Elder Holland once said that it makes him cringe when people casually say Nephi's words "i will go and do the things which the lord hast commanded" because most the time, we dont realize the sacredness and importance of true obedience and sacrifice. (and TYLER BOSLER!!! I got your letter! LOVED YOUR TALK. my comp and I read it so many times last night, and honeslty, we learned a lot about teaching skills. you are seriously amazing. mom and dad must be dying about how cool you are, because i am dying! and so is sister kartchner! she cant wait to meet you!) well, in the end of our lesson, we committed her to sacrifice saturday night parties so she can wake up for church. and we both did a little sacrifice along with her. we called her on sunday morning as we were on the MTR, but, as usual, she didnt answer. as we sat down in the pew, SHE WALKED IN! with her BOYFRIEND!! oh yeah. sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven.

today we will go shopping with investigator Kelly to buy modest clothes :) every time we see her she's a little more modest each day! she's working on it! woo!!!

one day, we ran into the mission office (which is our church building, in Kowloon Tong) for little 10 minutes to eat lunch, copy some papers, and leave. but then Elder Pack, the senior couple, ran up to us so excited and told us "PRESIDENT HAWKS IS READY!" we had NO idea what was going on, but all of a sudden, Sister Kartchner and I found us in President Hawks' office, with Elder and Sister Pack (senior couple) and Elder and Sister Holbrook (Another senior couple) and we all started singing revised version of "These are a few of my favorite things" to words of serving a mission in Hong Kong. we were DYING of laughter.  I Really felt like it was a scene from The Office. Hahaha that was seriously the highlight of our day though! Who else gets to sing to their mission president with the senior couples? the lyrics are so clever and cute, too, ill show you someday ;)

Sister Kartchner makes me laugh so much. She is the most positive--TRULY positive--person I know and she does all things because of her love for the Lord and people. yay!

I love you all!!!!!!

Love, Sister Bosler

Pictures from home; Cabo San Lucas

 From Karli: you are BEAUTIFUL!!!! wow look at you both! that looks so much fun. love that. i love you both!!

 that is too funny!! haha i havent seen an iguana in HK! but that looks so much fun! loved the pics so much!

From Karli:
haha right now it is 12:30 pm on monday!
wow congrats to Matt! YAY!!! haha mom i love the things you do like that! freeze them all up woo!!!!!! ty will help you pick them! ;) or you can get the deacons to do service haha.

From mom:
Karli you’re online! So cool! 
Dad and I are inside now and the house fan is on and it’s perfect weather. We are both eating cherries and Matt’s peaches are all ripe. That means I have to pick and freeze them ALL tomorrow. Most of them are on our side of the fence and Matt thinks it’s funny because he doesn’t want to pick or freeze them this year.
I love you! Do you need anything to add to your grocery list? Did you ever get the little blender for smoothies?
Love, Mom

From Karli:
Haha, the chinese woman's food looks just like mine. ALL THE TIME.

except S Kartchner loves eating healthy and really wants to learn how to eat healthier and wants to lose 2lb a week! so we're eating healthy! woo! and buying everything together and cooking everything together! it's so awesome.

im not eating as gourmet as you are though! that sounds incredible! our groceries were really slim... some peppers, tomatoes, carrots, a can of tuna, 2 avocados, some bread (not healthy, just life wheat lol), and a half a cantelope and baby apples. haha literally our groceries for the week. we'll jsut pray...? ;)

mom, your life sounds SO fun! wow! im so happy to hear you've been able to spend time with everyone in the family. families are so special in the gospel.

im glad dad had a great fathers day!
haha dont eat TOO many cherries now! ;) seriously, why is mexican food SO MUCH BETTER than chinese?? haha i totally agree! however, chinese food CAN be healthy. normally, when you eat at normal member's homes, they make (white) rice, dark veggies (but in soy sauce) and a big fish. and then normally chicken wings, but you can get by with eating 2. and then they usually have pork, but as long as you keep your bowl full of something else and you dont finish eating first, you can get by without the pork! the worst part, though, is when they bring out the soup in the end, full of pork fat... then it all goes down the drain haha. but, i wouldnt trade it all for anything. i only get this special experience once. hong kong is so special :)

love hearing updates about you!


From Mom:
Dear Karli,

What an amazing week you had!!! Leaving Tai Po, then finding out your new companion.  SISTER KARTCHNER IS YOUR COMPANION AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! AGGGH! I love her mom too! You've got to be kidding me!
Well it will certainly be a wonderful experience. Yesssss!

I love your letters Karli!

I also want you to know what a joy it is reading five chapters a day in the book of Mormon with Tyler. We even kept it up on vacation last week! At one time me, Tyler, and Kaitlin were all on the bed just reading the scriptures together. It was such a neat feeling.

We really had the best vacation with the Goldthorpes. I've decided it really is special to have just one-on-one time with each child's family. You really get to know them that way and have such special topics. When dad and I take the entire family to a family reunion, all the kids end up talking to each other which is great but the one-on-one time is very special.

I just made dad a really great baked tofu sandwich. Amy McElwain gave me the recipe! You marinate the tofu in garlic and sesame oil etc and then bake it in thin slices. Soooooooo good! I added non dairy cheese and coleslaw etc.

Well I used really fresh sour-do bread like it suggested in the recipe, but from now on I'll use Daves bread!

I just love the scriptures as I read in Jacob today.

We are so blessed to have the book of Mormon in our lives!

Well if you read my "happy birthday" email to Jason and you will have seen some of the pictures of our vacation to Cabo. You wouldn't believe how adorable and smart Landon & Carter are. Kaitlin & Scott are such amazing and loving parents! I love how Scott loves us too. He's so fun to talk to; dad loves talking about medicine with him and they are both so interesting to talk to.

Right now I'm eating a huge bowl of cherries that are in season and sitting outside by our pool. The weather is just perfect and there is a slight breeze. I love living in California.

When we got back from Cabo San Lucas, we met a Chinese gal at the airport that dad had arranged to give a ride home and stay at our house for an evening. She was so sweet - here's a picture:

We took her out to dinner and this morning she just wanted the leftovers from our dinner last night. My favorite you know, Chinese food! Seriously ever since we went to China it's been very hard for me to eat Chinese food. It was so fun in Cabo – Mexican food is always so delicious! I've never eaten so much guacamole and salsa in my life. It was so creamy and delicious, served with everything from grilled vegetables to fajitas to sandwiches to omelettes everything! Now I need to go on a cleanse. LOL

Well I took Tyler to BYU basketball camp today for a week. Then I am flying out on Wednesday and will help with Brittany Beckham's wedding on Friday!!! July 3rd. I really love the guy she's marrying, Sean, and they will be moving to New York to live where he has a great job.

Well the sun is setting and it's just gorgeous here. It's nice to be home even though it was a blast to be on vacation too.

Last week I bought a memory foam topper for your bed and you know you have a new bedframe for when you get home right? No more hard squeaky mattress and wobbly frame! That was ridiculous! Ha

I love you so much Karli. Does your loved his Father's Day card, too. That was so sweet! Jason sent dad two really nice shirts and Kaitlin did a homemade shirt which was so adorable with lots of dads favorite treats on a poster she took to Cabo! So thoughtful. We have such a great family!

Love you sooooo much!

Mom