I was raised in the San Francisco Bay area. After graduating from BYU in 1982, I married Christopher H. Bowman. We moved to the colonies in 1983 into the Bowman family hut. This little adobe house had been built in the 1950's by Wesley and Alleen Bowman. It was situated next to the Bowman homestead. Through the years, many family members lived in this house. Most notably was Jenny Bowman. Even though it protected us from the summer sun and the winter cold it could not protect us from uninvited guests. With the help of two sided tape over the kitchen threshold I dented the population of those intruders. In a two-night raid, I captured 263 ugly cockroaches!

My husband Christopher (Castro) and I raised our four children in Colonia Dublan. It was there they were taught the value of work and the benefit of a strong heritage. My three oldest children are bi-lingual. They learned the importance of honoring different cultures and respecting other people and themselves. They have fond memories of Colonia Dublan and even stronger ties to the land in which they were born, their beloved Mexico.

Although I longed for the familiarity of my own country and culture I eventually learned to appreciate the colonies and the unique freedoms obtained in those tiny communities. Mostly, I appreciate the safe haven my children were allowed to live and grow and develop. They are able to go out into the world unafraid. They are self-disciplined and possess self-confidence. They know who they are.