Merry Christmas!

Dear Family!

Yes, I have regular P-day this week. Mother, about the titles of my weeks and what not for the mission book in the future, I am titling every day of my journal. And I write every single day, so I'm not going to be worried about that! JA JA! Anyway, it was really great to hear and see each of you! I was bummed to not get to see J, but I couldn't figure out how to call him without it being a conference call. Anyway, I love each of you so much! I am sorry that I had nothing spectacular to say. I just work and that's about it. :) I just love Spanish and the people here! It's tough not being able to talk to my companion in Spanish, but he is learning. He just is really confused about a few things. He wants to work though, so he's really to go out and work everyday! So I am grateful for him. His name is Devin Porter from Spokane Washington and he loves his motorcycle! PS, the mission just makes me want one more because that's all the people drive here . . . :) Anyway, he's half native American and so many people think that he is from Chile or Argentina, but then they figure out he's English from when he tries to talk or doesn't understand. Ja ja! I love him!

Elder Rubalcabo, Elder Tantachuco y yo

With Skype and talking to you all, the bishop wanted me to tell you that it was hilarious when I showed Mom what Mate is and how the screen froze right as she made her disgusted face! Ja ja! They drink that stuff all day! Google it, you'll find a lot about it I bet. And now you've seen a fairly well off family too and their house! Kind of small and not too nice, eh? It's really poor here. But, I love it! I think I will feel out of place when I get back home and see all the space and big houses!

So, enough about that. I'll talk about some investigators now. We got to visit Mirta and Maria this week. We got one plus and one minus from that lesson. Do you want the good news first or the bad? Well, I figured you'd want the bad first to end on a good note like always, so the bad thing was that Maria doesn't want to talk about joining the church. She says the Book of Mormon is true but she feels like her church is the true church already, or that there's more than one way to get back to God. She doesn't want to talk about anything other than the questions she has from the Book of Mormon. The good news is that Maria got on Mirta's case again and made her pick a definitive baptism date! So, Mirta will finally be baptized on the 7th of January! Hopefully there isn't any more crazy things that happen like what happened to our fecha this week. . .

So, Lara wasn't baptized because of the problems they are having with the neighbors. In fact, the whole family had to move unexpectedly in the middle of the night because the neighbors were going to kill them if they didn't leave, or if they tried to leave the house, they'd burn it down with them inside, so basically it was death either way. So they left without telling anyone. I called them the other night to see when we could go by to see them and they told me the story. So, they are living somewhere in the North mission right now near the Capital. I was really sad to hear about that because that is seriously my favorite family in the whole country. The bishop, the missionaries who work near the chapel, and the stake president are all looking for houses near the church that they could move into to have their lives again but be far enough away from the neighbor to live in peace and without them knowing. So, hopefully we find a decent one that they can afford. I will call them to fix a time to go and visit all the houses we have marked out. Let's all pray for a miracle to happen! I'm about to donate half my monthly funds to buy them a house, but I don't think I'm allowed to do that . . .

We found Mabel this week. She was a contact I did because she has a beagle!!! Reminds me of a skinnier Blaze! I don't remember his name, but I love the dog! And, Mabel saw me cry a little bit. I couldn't help it with my testimony that time. She told me that she knows the emotions in my face are real and true and for that reason she is going to read the Book of Mormon and try to go to church once all the parties/holidays are over. She accepted a baptism fecha really easily and she has a lot of people in her home that we are going to try and teach too. I hope she is our "beginner's luck" for Elder Porter. She's a really kind lately too. I can see her clothed in white already!

We had the end of the year dinner with the ward this weekend too. The bishop wanted to get special permission for us to stay out until MIDNIGHT with the ward! Ja ja! Yeah right, that didn't fly. Ja ja! So, we stayed till nine thirty and took off for the pench. We had a HUGE asado/Argentine BBQ deal and it was really fun! I fall in love with this ward more and more each day! I make jokes all the time now and the members are loving us a lot more too! They are really willing to work with us now and we might start to do divisions every Sunday now! Yay! Then, with Elder Porter, the members kept telling him things like the meat was made from the dogs here and things like that and it was really funny! I told them that Dad ate dog on his mission (I hope you did because I thought so and said so . . .) and the Argentines were disgusted! Ja ja! The best thing of that night was baffling some of the members with my Spanish. The old branch president of the Fabian Onsari Branch lives in our area and now he is part of our ward along with his counselor. So, they got to meet us a little more. They asked me from where I came and I said the US. Then he was like, no, what area or ward did you come from? I told him it's my first and then another member told him that I have only been here for three months. Those two men were shocked that I talked so well and that I understood everything they said too! Ja ja! I loved that! I am starting to feel fluent now! YAY!!!!! :) I am starting to dream parts in Spanish too! I hope I master it up soon with the grammar.

Well, we didn't get a lot of time to work this past week, so I don't have tons to say. I am excited for an almost full week this week! I can't wait until all the holidays are over and then the work won't be suffering as much! I want to get working really, really hard and start finding new people to teach! I am putting everything into the Lord's hands as my new year's resolution. Everything I do will be through revelation and through promptings of the Spirit. I know it is possible to baptize every single week of my mission and I just have to work for it with the Lord's help. There are thousands of people prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel in every single area! I am going out there and we will find them all! Ja ja! I love my mission so much! I'm such a nerd and I love it!

Elders are saying that president is going to call me as an assistant someday, and if I do, I will be the assistant when we get a new mission president for my last three weeks or so. So, I would most likely be called to extend my mission another transfer or two to help him get adjusted and all. And to the dismay of Kevy, Mom, Aubree, Carly, and lots others, I want that extension!!!! :) In fact I'm going to ask President . . . right now! . . . to extend my mission already! Ja ja! I think missionary life would be better than life back home. I just have to worry about others here. Back home I actually have to make decision for myself. . . Gross. Ja ja!

Well, I have to go write President now! I love you all so much! I am grateful for such an amazing family and for my many friends!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

"I'm a TRAINER!!!"

Dear Family,

Just a warning, I have no time to write this week. I offered to be the missionary who has to wait for the others in the cyber to finish their computer time. SO, I lost twenty minutes. Then, I didn't print this morning because of the transfer meeting, so I had to read a lot. Now I'm just starting and I have so much to say to you all!!!

I'm starting right away with the most exciting news! I, Elder Cowan, am now the most famous missionary in our mission. President has called be to be the earliest trainer in the history of the mission!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!! WOOOO!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? yeah . . . Ha ha! Anyway, he called me last Tuesday and told me that I will be the first person who finished training to train directly after. Everyone in the mission has heard the story and are wanting to know what happens with me. Elder Vergara has been called to be a zone leader and is now in Adrogue. I'm in a trio today with an an elder from Mexico and an elder from Peru. Their names are ridiculous, so I'll write them down later in my journal. So, yeah, I have to go search for my son tomorrow at the mission home and am SO excited! I bet President will give me the Latin one because I still lack a little bit of Spanish, even though the Latins say I could hold my own without a Latin . . . But I am pumped!! Elder Vergara says I'm an assistant in the making now because usually nobody trains until they've had at least eight moths in the mission. But, I guess President listened to my constant pleas to train.
I have taken a ton of pictures this week and will have to send some next week because I have no time! I'm super stressed about my time right now. Anyway, Lara wasn't baptized this past week. She will be baptized on Friday before the end of the year dinner that our ward is doing.

With Christmas, I finally got the updates about five minutes ago. Chill mom. Ha ha!I will be calling from the church phone or if I find a member with skype, I will be skyping. I will have 40 minutes. It used to be an hour last year, but I think president put it to 40 to keep the elders a little more on time of an hour, but nonetheless, I will only use 40 to be obedient. I don't know when I am calling, but I will not try to call during your church. I have to buy a phone card thing and figure out how to call. I don't really know though. Anyway, I am super excited although it feels weird calling in the summer. I feel like it isn't Christmas time. I think Christmas is better in the cold. . .

So, here's a cool little story, our dueño, or guy that rents us our apartment/house, decided with his wife that they are gong to go to church with us. They showed up and are super Catholic, but liked the church! Their names are Marta and Hector. Marta wants to learn how she can have her family forever and Hector had questions about what happens to people who don't join the church after this life. To convert them will take a miracle because Hector promised his mother when she died that he would not change faiths. We've got to show him how his mother is waiting for her ordinances to be done and that it's not changing faith, it's just adding more to his faith. Marta will be more simple once we explain temples and the Plan of Salvation. I hope they are willing to listen to us.

I hope you had a happy anniversary and that the holidays are treating you all well! Kevin, just get through those last finals and I totally know who that Chika is!!!! Trevor, keep having patience and maybe try digging deeper into the scriptures for an answer, it'll come. Look at how the prophets had answers. Justin, thanks so much for your email! Keep working hard and I have a homework assignment for you when I call.

I have to go now. Sorry this letter is shorter than usual. I will be calling in less than a week so don't worry! Wish me luck with my new calling as a trainer! I will need it! I'll send a bunch of fotos home next week! Hopefully they all worked out really well! I might buy a new camera because this one sometimes doesn't work . . . Anyway, I love you all! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!!

Love,
Elder Cowan

Great Ward Family Night

 Dear Family,

Wow! This week flew by so fast! I can't believe I'm already writing again! It feels like just one or two days ago when I was sitting at a computer writing you all. Anyway, yes mother, I did receive the other two packages from you! They were greatly appreciated among the missionaries here! I don't feel like it is Christmas time at all. It's just getting hotter and more humid. That's all it feels like! Ja ja! It really doesn't bother me though; it provides an opportunity to talk to people. The people here don't have air conditioning. They see us walking around in the sun and stop us to ask why we're crazy for sweating all day! Then we bear testimony of why we are here and start teaching lots of them! For Christmas, it is the exact same here. There isn't anything different about the tradition. The holidays just involve a lot of alcohol. For that reason, I guess we're not supposed to be out proselyting after five or six on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Ja ja! And I still don't know what we can do exactly with calling home. All I know is that I will be calling and not Skyping. I have no idea the prices, times, or even where I will be calling from. We don't worry about that much into the future yet. We're more worried about the transfers coming up here in a week. Elder Vergara and I are really nervous. We want one more transfer together so badly! We have to baptize so many people still! Ja ja! But our bishop is calling our president and asking for a four missionary ward! So, if he takes that into mind, we could both stay here and get new comps but live in the same pench! That would be the best option for us! But I kind of doubt it.

Well, it sounds like you're all just about as busy as I am here in Argentina with all your holiday festivities! I have only done one thing for my Christmas and I bought two jerseys. I decided I'm not going to wear them and just gather up a bunch throughout my mission so I can have them back home! I love all the teams and designs here, but "Racing" is still my team for sure! Ja ja! I'm sure you can get everything done this month, though. The Cowan family is notorious for doing the impossible and pulling through in one way or another. In fact, I've talked about you guys to my fellow missionaries and members here and they have come to the assumption that Dad is going to serve in the Seventy some day. Ja ja! I stand by that! They say you look like one of them, Dad Ja ja! Who knows though. They said I looked like some politician here and I don't at all! But I am glad you are all enjoying the season! And I'm jealous of the cold weather. Arizona or Utah! Ni importa!

Oh, before I talk about my investigators, PLEASE HAVE THE MISSIONARIES STAY AT OUR HOME!!!! That would be such a blessing and I am so jealous of Kevin that he can have that opportunity! He could go watch them plan, or study with them or something! He would be the most prepared elder EVER!!! Plus the elders are awesome! For the most part, they are some of the coolest people on the planet! Plus you could help them out with lessons with members and try to have family nights with investigators! That would be so cool! I am utterly jealous of those elders if they get that chance! DO IT!

Well, I am going to write about this past week a little out of order. I want to talk about last night first. Since nobody ever has family night here, the ward is now starting to do a ward family night every Sunday night. We had one at the Luna family's home and almost all the attending members showed up. It was amazing though! I have never seen a group of LDS members so close. They are such a family here and the members are their best friends! They may not have the most functional ward, but it is definitely apparent that these saints have faith. We started by discussing what Jesus Christ means to us in our personal lives. Each of them took turns to describe what He means to them. When it was my turn I said that He is my hope. Through His life and sacrifice for us, we can have the chance to inherit the promised blessing in the Celestial Kingdom. Hermana Luna, who was teaching the lesson, loved that! Anyway, we compiled a list of what everyone said, even a boyfriend of a young woman who is Catholic contributed! Then one of the members, Hermana Coronel, shared her experience as the Primary president and the opportunity she's had to meet Alan's family. She shared how grateful she is for them and their sweet love for the gospel even at their age. And how she's so glad that Lara, Alan's little sister is getting baptized this weekend. Then she turned the subject into how I gave my scripture case to Alan after he was talking about wanting to make one like I did. She cried and described to the rest how the best gifts aren't the things we want the most or are the most expensive things, but are the things we willingly give to show our love in the best way possible. She said the look on Alan's face was priceless and there was such a love and shock. Then the whole ward started to share stories and advice on how they can give the best presents to others. Then the question was posed, "What's the best present we can give to Christ?" And it became a testimony meeting that was so powerful. I ended the family night with my remarks on how grateful I am for their faith and how I don't know how difficult it is to be a member here, but I have been humbled and learned to go by my faith more because of them. We really bonded with the ward that night and it would be so hard to leave them now.
About some of our investigators, well, we are dumping a ton of them. AGAIN! We are wasting time on people who are too lazy to go to church and to read. We are finding new people all over the place. We took out nine new fechas this week and are finding some really amazing people! My favorites this week were Gladis and Dante. We found them after a whole day of failed return lessons and walking around all day. It was the sweetest thing to end the day with them. Gladis is the daughter of Dante and they were so receptive of our message! She believed in everything and is excited to read the Book of Mormon. Dante is quiet but was receptive too. I was so grateful to my Father in Heaven for them that day! I see the hand of the Lord in my life every single day as a missionary. It's so true what they say, as missionaries, we have the front row seat to watch miracles take place every day.

Another lesson that was exciting was with Roxana. She didn't accept a baptismal date, but she is definitely liking to learn about our beliefs. She goes to this gathering of people to discuss the Bible on Tuesdays and we are going tomorrow. Hopefully we can turn the discussion into the lesson of the Restoration and about the Book of Mormon and they all accept it as the answer to all the missing parts of the Bible. We're really excited for that and we might have the chance to take out ten new baptismal dates with them! That would be amazing! Plus they already have the habit of reading the Bible so it would be easy for them to start reading the Book of Mormon.

Well, I have gone over my time. I need to go now. I had so much more to tell you all, but I had to do some other things before I could write today. I love you all and am so grateful for your letters. Next week I will update you all on the progress with Alejandro and Ruth, the three sisters we found this week, and with Mirta who could be baptized any day now. I love you and am excited to call in just two weeks or so!!!

Love,

Elder Cowan

Hilda's Baptism

Dear Family!

December is here and it is time for a Case quote- "OH MY HEART!" It is SOOO HOT here! I officially don't like the humid days. About every three days it is unbearably sticky/wet. You open up the front door and get drenched! Ja ja! It's so weird having a full year of summer . . . I keep waiting for it to get cold, but it's only getting hotter! Yummy yum yum delicious. But don't worry because I'm always so excited and happy to be a missionary! Even when I think that I have 20 more months of this, I'm still feeling great! And you know why? Let me tell you. I convinced my Latin comp to go running every morning this past week!!! Yeah baby! I'm already losing my weight again! I missed running so so SO MUCH! I only get 25 minutes, but it is so worth it! I love the sore leg feeling and just pushing yourself. It's great. I don't even mind that I run around a soccer field the whole time. It is the best. What a blessing! So I am pretty darn happy this week!

One more thing to add to my holiday spirit is that Hilda was baptized!!! Yeah! I love this woman. Right before she entered the font, I told her that she is about to become the most clean person in the whole world and she started to cry. After the short, small service, she told Elder Vergara, one hermana in the ward, and I that these missionaries (us) will always be her brothers from her soul and she will never forget us. Elder Vergara described her as the most prepared person that he has baptized in his whole mission. I'd agree since she's read about half the BoM already. But she is amazing. She wanted to convert her whole family so badly and is already bearing her testimony to them. I would love to see her get sealed in the temple before the end of my mission. Oh and she is SO excited to meet my parents. She called you guys saints for having raised me the way you did. I just told her that you two had nothing to do with that part. Love ya! Ja ja! But yeah, she is wonderful and fits amazingly well into the ward.

Unfortunately, Mirta did not get baptized. I went to the lesson with one of the zone leaders to do the interview, but she finally admitted that she hasn't read or said a prayer on her own yet. Her friend, Maria, was there and laid down the law on Mirta for us. Ja ja! I'm grateful for that! But then she continued to tell us that she knows the BoM is the word of God and she still wants to investigate a little longer before she will accept a baptismal date. But she is really progressing well. She's clever and really understands the lessons and everything. The BoM is really the key in everything. If you find out that book is true, then everything else just falls into place and fits all the puzzle pieces together. Elder Nelson promised us in the MTC that if someone will just read the first chapter of the BoM and actually try to understand it and then pray about it, then it is a guarantee that they will get baptized. 20ish verses can change their lives for eternity.

So, Mother, you need to call sister Jarvis and tell her that I talked to him on the phone the other day. He has had a different experience as a missionary here. Right after training he was called with another elder to be co-senior-comps. Crazy huh? They have shared duties and everything. His Spanish is coming along, but the new program definitely shows a difference in the missionaries. He hasn't had as much luck getting people baptized but I think he just had his first one. But yeah, tell his mom that he's doing just fine! And he's still gaining weight. Ja ja! Told ya he's in my mission.

Well, this week we had a zone conference with Elder Ajducaidis from the quorum of the seventy come. He checked some penches and gave some amazing advice. Everything he told us to do was an act of repentance. Especially our planning as a mission. He attacked that sucker pretty well. We are all trying to focus on bettering our planning. Before we did weekly planning for about two hours and now we are doing it for about five!!! Crazy! I am dead by the end. Ja ja! But it was an amazing experience with him. I do kind of suspect that he is a little crazy, though. He kind of has that crazy eye/laugh thing going on and it made us all laugh sometimes. Love him though!

The investigator of the week has to be Alejandro Lopez. This man is a stud. Last week we helped him build a floor in his house and yesterday he finally understood what we are all about. He understands the importance of baptism and wants a change in his life. He said he will read and pray every day and go to church every Sunday until he has an answer about the church. The only other thing we need to do is get him married. His wife is a little more skeptical of everything but is still willing to go to church with Ale to help him. I hope Elder Vergara and I stay together one more transfer here to see these two get baptized and their family. But I love them so much! They will be one of the most rewarding baptisms.

Oh good thing you sent me those caramels because I'm giving them away! We have an investigator named Gabriel and he wants to quit smoking. So I asked him to give me all his cigarettes and I would give him caramels because that's what he likes and they help take the cravings away. So I felt really weird having cigarettes on me for a little while till I could destroy those little servants of Satan. Gross. But Gabriel is great! He's really smart and wants to help people a lot. He's buddies with my drunk body guard, Julio, who was actually beat up pretty bad the other day trying to buy drugs in the villa . . . Almost dead kind of beaten up. But Gabriel isn't into that stuff. He only smokes. But he wants to quit and keep learning more from us.

So, we having been finding a lot of new people to teach and dumping anyone who is a waste of time. We were promised in the zone conference that we can baptize every single week of our mission if we are determined and find prepared people. That's why we lifted our standards and I now make twenty new contacts everyday!! That's a lot. Some elders can't even do a contact at all. But we are finding a lot and are always fishing! You can't catch fish if you don't have your net in the water! That's what President always says.

Well, I've spent long enough typing up this letter. I sent nine pictures already and Mom is demanding more. Ja ja! SO I have to go work on that. Thanks for everything! I love you all! And Happy Holidays!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

No Baptisms :( Still Good Week :)

Well Family,

This morning I sacrificed my p-day to build another floor in this man's house. Yes, I Blake Cowan am now a construction worker and can build houses. Anyway, because I did that for several hours, I didn't have the opportunity to print out emails this morning so when I finally signed on after visiting three cybers to find one open on this holiday (I don't know which, but I think it's fathers day?), I discovered SEVENTEEN emails. Seriously, I about died because I was worried about being disobedient and taking too much time in the cyber. Anyway, luckily it was a bunch of pictures. I love them! But seriously, it scared me.

So all the pictures from the family trip to Utah were great! I was bummed to hear about Kevin's experience. Poor buddy. But I'm glad the rest had fun! Black Friday reminds me of how I snuck out last year to go with RJ and his family . . . Uh . . .Woops. No joke, I really did that. Ha ha! Oh the mysteries from the life of Blake Cowan . . . Some you might never know. Love you Mom!

Dad, sorry to ruin your excitement, but we did not have Elder Christofferson in our mission at all. My mission president did go to the meeting, but just he and his wife, I think. Sorry! I didn't have time to watch the little film yet, so maybe he was in it. I don't know. Oh! Trevor's new room mate is the trainer of one of the missionaries in my zone!!! I can't remember his name but, the missionary here is Elder Smith. I think you talked to his dad the other day about it too. I don't know.

Well, I'll start with the bummer news for you all and then end with all the good things that happened this week. Ok? Well, Mirta and Hilda could not be baptized this week. It was a conflict we had with the ward because there were too many activities going on and there was no time to do it, plus we had a problem with one of those ladies. Hilda is perfect and has passed her baptismal interview and will be baptized for sure next week. But Mirta has this one doubt. Part of question two in the baptismal interview is about the restoration and having profetas ahora. So, she doesn't believe Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. We had her read his talk from this last conference about his experience in Germany with the temple dedication and we prayed with her to get a testimony of the prophet. Unfortunately some other issues arose with her too. The father of Facu is this extremely angry, lying, evil man. He keeps showing up in our lessons and disturbing the spirit and then we have to leave--like running out of the house. He is threatening to choke, hit, and kill Mirta for many, many dumb reasons. Pray for this sweet lady! She has such a spirit and wants to be baptized so bad! Pray for her testimony to be strengthened from this and also to be able to have a response about Thomas S. Monson.

Well, I'll talk about some really funny stories this week! First, mi amigo. This drunk guy named Julio who is 36 years is now my official drunkard, I mean body guard. Ja ja! We had this pretty long, pointless chat with him and his buddy and he told me that I have a beautiful face and that Elder Vergara isn't that good looking. Ja ja! Then he kept telling us that if we ever need anything we can come to him and he'll help us out. Oh and also, he said that if anyone tries to mess with me, he will go fight them and kill them. He described how, but I won't go into detail. Ja ja! He's a funny guy and we see him everywhere! He absolutely loves me! We're supposed to have dinner with him on Friday. I don't know if we are going for sure . . . We can't teach him because he is so crazy talkative and just tells stories non stop. But I love him! He brightens my day.

We had a successful week with taking out baptismal dates. We had 6 fechas and they're all generally pretty good. I think our zone will break the record this next month in baptisms for the mission. We didn't get our 30 this month. Instead, we had about 17 and ALL except two were from our district. Good work boys! We're having a lot of success! Speaking of our district, I am still the baby, but I speak better then the two others that have two more transfers than me! I did about four comp exchanges this week and I was talking like without having to translate and it was awesome! The worst part is that when Elder Vergara gets back, I can't speak anymore. I don't know what my problem is! Whatevs.

Some amazing experiences this week were our lessons. During an exchange with Elder Saunders, we taught this lady Gladis. She cried the whole time! The second I went with Elder Vergara, she said that she couldn't understand anything Elder Saunders said, she could understand me though. But she said she felt something so different than ever before. She's so getting baptized! I love this lady!

Another experience we had was with our bishop. I don't know why, but he decided to lay down the law on a lot of members. He called us and the ward mission leader into his office and basically chewed the guy out because we haven't had a single meeting with him and we hardly have lessons with members. But he was so humble and is determined to work with us now. Also, he called a young guy of like twenty to be a ward missionary. We might be able to do divisions now! But Bishop was inspiring all these people! Then our elders quorum president was back for his first Sunday and his lesson totally fired up all the men to start sharing the gospel! I loved Sunday even if none of our investigators came to church. . . But it was awesome to see the change in them. Our bishop is only like 28 years old and he just scolded a bunch of older men. It was AWESOME! Ja ja!


One more experience from this week, I had a lesson with a member this week! We showed up for our lunch cita with Hna. Campera and there was this lady there. We ended up teaching her and she loved it! Her name is Antonia. She understood everything and wanted to read the BoM so badly! She is going to come to church next week! She speaks really fast and likes to talk a lot, but I am keeping up in the lessons pretty good now. Sometimes when I am tired I just don't understand anything cause I'm not paying attention, but I am starting to understand the songs and even the egg man here! When you understand them, you know you have Castillano down awesome!

Ok, I have to go. I don't have near enough time to write everything I wanted to this week. To everyone who has written me, I am sorry I still have not mailed back. I can't find any form of a post office or let alone a place to buy stamps. . . Every other elder tells me that I can email people, but I have no time to do so. I am sorry! I have a stack of written letters for you all!

Mother, sorry I opened those packages. But you don't understand. . . getting mail here is like finding water after wandering in the desert for weeks! You can't help but open it! Ja ja! I will try to wait with the other ones, if they come. But look at the scriptures, did Lehi wait till they got to the promise land to read the brass plates? No. He started to dig in right away! Same with Packages here. Love you!

Good luck with everything going on up there in the US! I miss the cleanness of everything there. I just cleaned like crazy again earlier. It's so dirty here. . . I moss you all and love you all! I am missing an Arizonan winter. Hot humid summers aren't that fun . . . Except being a missionary is! Ja ja! Chow chow everybody!

Love,
Elder Cowan

Alan's Baptism

Dear family,

I'M TURNING INTO MY MOTHER!!!! JA JA JA!!! I spent all day cleaning the pench scrubbing and scrubbing everything! I think it's finally mom-approved now. I still have to mop the floors and clean the stove though. But It has come a long way!

Ok, for this next paragraph, I'd like to dedicate it to the birthday girl . . . Car, Car, Car. . . I finally got your letter this past week through dear elder! I loved it! Thank you so so much! I can't believe that I have missed your birthday TWICE now! But if it makes you feel better, I had a pretty awesome day on your birthday. I baptized someone for you! I will be writing you back later in depth of a lot of things going on her. (Those funny stories I don't tell my family like the dog baptism and the funny things that happen in the streets of Tomás Flores.) Ja ja! Keep being 'fearless' and don't stop smiling! That's why they pay Disney princesses at Disneyland, ya know. . . Anyway, I have to update my family now that you have a dedicated paragraph in my family letter. Feel better? Oh and I've written in my journal every. single. day. I don't break my promises, Car. P.S. I'm counting all the yellow cars down here as well as the yellow houses. Be prepared missy! And tell your mom to stop worrying about me. Ja ja! She probably freaked out the most with the robbery story. You don't even want me to begin with the death threats I get! Ja ja! Just kidding, there's only been like three. . . Hope you had a great week! Love and miss you! Happy birthday Car!

Hello again family! So, first off, I didn't even remember we had Thanksgiving! I don't think you realize how much you tend to forget about everything back home! So, actually, holidays aren't really all that hard to be away from family. Ja ja! We're always working! And if we're not working, we're sleeping. I LOVE my sleep. It's the best part of the day to lay down at night and just relax and have crazy dreams all night (happens a lot). I keep having dreams that my leg is going to be amputated from some strange bug bite or fungus. Speaking of those eight legged things, I killed the BIGGEST spider in the world in our kitchen a few nights ago! He was about the size of a Droid cell phone! I put his corpse in a clear jar and am keeping it as a trophy of my success. Ja ja! Those things creep me out. Another crazy night story from this past week was last night. We had been in bed for about ten minutes when the pench started to light up and shake! This crazy storm just appeared out of nowhere and flooded our entire street! As we sat and watched the rain for a bit, we saw a door float down the river/street. Ja ja! It was crazy and now it's super muddy everywhere! Oh and Mother, we have a member washing our clothes. There's no stores in our area. There are two pizza places, a few clothing stores, and a bunch of vegi stands/meat stands. And no, I absolutely cannot run at all unless my comp wants to come with me. If we lived in a apartment tower, I am allowed to run the stairs by myself, but not out in the streets. If we work out, we just get to do some push ups and sit ups and that's about it.

Well, thanks to your prayers and much fasting and praying on our behalf as well, the Lord blessed us this week in sacrament! We had a full house and 6 investigators came!!! WOO HOO! Mirta, Hilda, Emanual y su esposa, Alejandro, y Gladis all came to church! And it was thanks to members that three of them came! I don't know what happened during the week, but the ward was inspired to help us out for once! I am so grateful. They all came and it was an amazing day!

Speaking about members, actually we get fed about every day here. Sometimes members forget and we don't get lunch, but that's ok. We tend to have lunch with the same members every week though. It helps to get to know the families a lot! Not like our ward back home when they are eating with a new family every day. The ward here is just one family. They do everything together and they love everyone so much. They're awesome at making investigators feel welcomed. Oh and I spoke in sacrament this week. I spoke of the trial of my state meet race and the surgery and then about Joseph Smith in Liberty and then about the Atonement of Jesus Christ to talk about why we have trials! People really liked it!

So, the answer is yes. Alan was baptized on Saturday! It was another crazy baptismal service! As we went into the hall to go to the font entrance, we discovered the whole church hallway filled with water! Nobody ever turned off the font!!! Ja ja! Elder Vergara got stuck cleaning that because Alan wanted me to baptize him. After Alan was baptized, Crazy George, this hermano in the ward, was baptizing his niece. He's so crazy and couldn't say the prayer right. He dunked the poor girl four or five times! She was so scared by the end! Ja ja! Anyway, it finally got done and I almost had to go do it. After the baptism, Alan and I ran outside to the soccer field and started playing around with the ball as it was raining! This kid is awesome! He's like a little brother and he is so funny! He said that when I get married I have to bring my wife back and show him FIRST out of everyone in Argentina! Ja ja! He is so fun and I love him. I'm giving him my light blue skinny tie because he liked it a lot plus a Preach My Gospel to get him on a mission. His family will be converted really soon too! His little sister who's nine asked Elder Vergara to baptize her! Ja ja! His mom is feeling a lot better too. Virginia is healing from a type of cancer and has completed all the therapy for it. She just has to rest a lot now.

Mirta and Hilda will be baptized this Friday night and it's going to be awesome! We're going to have six baptisms in this area! The next highest for a companionship in this area was four in the past few years. I hope Elder Vergara and I stay together one more transfer. The transfer ends the 19th and we want to spend Christmas together. It's so weird being summer here. It's not all that hot, but it's just wet. It doesn't really bother me all that much though. I just keep working!


Well, we had Christmas in November this week! I got three packages thanks to my beautiful mother! Two Christmas ones for the twelve days and then one that had some peanut butter and sunflower seeds. Ja ja! Thank you so so so much for the packages! We loved them! Anyway, we couldn't wait to do the twelve days stuff and just opened them all! Ja ja! Elder Vergara LOVES you mama! He loves those Hershey's cookies and cream bars and Swedish fish! It made him yelp in excitement!


Anyway, sorry this letter has been all over the place. I'm having a hard time remembering this past week. They all tend to blend together. I lose track of the days so easily here. I freaked out when a member asked me if I'm excited to call home in about a month! It shocked me so much! I feel like I was just saying bye to my crying mother on the telephone in NY. The time flies. So, I can't remember any more exciting moments this past week. It's just gone too fast. Well, I love you all, as always! I look forward to emailing every week!

Love,
Elder Blake W. Cowan

Wife Point Week

Dear Family,

It was a wife point earning week, I'll say that. Ja ja! There were a lot of ups and downs and no matter what I always take Elder Holland's advice and think of the Atonement and Christ when things turn for the worse. Then it makes me feel like I'm ungrateful and start working even harder contacting as many people as possible! (We do a lot of that with all the fall through appointments.)

Anyway, to take care of some of the other stuff, no Mom, I did not wash my suit pants. I am simply growing taller or the slacks are shrinking cause they are clear over my shoes now. Also, my waist is growing. Not going to lie, I like being the skinny guy. But yes, I realized that my top racing shape is going to be put on pause for a while. I talked to Elder Zapata this week and he's gained 30 pounds and has only been out for 6 months! Oh and Mom, Elder Jameson Jarvis IS in my mission. I heard he got robbed recently. And I have talked to his comps. He's gained 20 plus pounds too. I don't want to be a fatty!!! It is so hard to work out on my own and without running! I miss that A LOT. . . It makes me even more determined to never let myself get fat. JA ja!

Also, thank you for sending the packages! Some elders are receiving their Christmas packages already and you start to feel left out! Ja ja! I am so grateful for hearing from home. I look forward to it all week long! I hope I write enough and to satisfy your curiosity to my world out here in Argentina. I can definitely tell you it is something different. On P days we are sometimes able to watch Disney movies! Today I got to watch Tangled and it made me think of back home when I had watched it. Then when we left all the other missionaries and went back into the real world, it was a weird sensation. I had just been with a bunch of spiritual studs, watching a magical Disney movie, and in a stake center. It was all very tranquil and when I left, I felt the lack of the Spirit in the world out on the street. I can't describe that lack. I see all the people on the street and it makes me so sad to know they don't have the gospel, the truth to their eternal happiness in their lives. I can only do so much since they have agency to choose. But it made me rededicate myself to the work of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If every member in the church could have a desire to share the gospel to SAVE their friends and families and then ACT on it, the missionary work would triple. It would accelerate so much.

It is so hard to be a member here in Tomás Flores, though. In church, we had a total of about fifteen people come. It must break the heart of our young bishop to watch his ward family act so lackadaisical. I am so grateful to have grown up in the Groves Ward where we function properly and have a youth program and scouts. There is nothing of that sort here. It is pure faith driven. I am amazed at these faithful saints. They have a life 10 times as hard as we can imagine, yet they know the gospel is true and that Christ lives. They are so humble. I wish every member from our ward back home could come here for a week and see the blessings of our ward. It is amazing. Also, I have to speak in Sacrament next week. Scary, but it is on trials and I think I apply really well with the trail of the language, and the general missionary work which is quite discouraging at times. But I will do my best to show these saints the blessings that come through hard times. It is to help us remember our roots and blessing. It is to humble us and grant us power beyond our comprehension in the life to come.

I haven't even started to write about my investigators. Well, two of our very secure investigators didn't show up on Sunday. Hilda and Mirta. It has been an interesting week with these women. First, Hilda is amazing. This woman continues to testify of how she knows it is the gospel that has brought her this peace she has been looking for her whole life. She is so excited to keep going through with all the discussions and get baptized. She's even had to sacrifice sleep to go to church and hear our discussions. She only sleeps four hours a night. Think of that, would we be willing to do that for church or to talk to some odd young men? She is so faithful. Unfortunately, Satan knows that too. Her grand daughter had some emergency and she had to leave Saturday night to go help the family. She will not be baptized now this Saturday but the next. Second, with Mirta, oh, bless that woman. She is so dear to my heart. I absolutely look forward to our lessons with her. She knows without a doubt that these things are true. We had a very interesting day with her the other day. We went with her to her friend, Maria's house and watched Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration. It was great! These women accept him as a prophet and are willing to live their lives in accordance with the gospel and the commandments of God. After that long lesson, we were walking Mirta home with her son Facu. Then the saddest thing happened. There in the street, was her dog, dead. Facu's longest life friend was gone. He began to ball and try to wake up his friend. Mirta's repeated phrase, 'oh mi perro,' added to the commotion. We took the dog back to their house and Mirta began digging the grave. We took the shovel from her and finished the project. Then, she disappeared on Sunday. She didn't come to church, she wasn't at our lesson appointment that night, and nobody knew were they were. We passed by three different times in the day and she was never there. Then the thought came to me. If she has been gone all day, who's taking care of her bed ridden father? Her dad had told her the day the dog died that he dreamt that something was going to die. Ironically, the dog had. But now we are worried that maybe her father has passed away. We need to find her. At least she now has the gospel in her life. We will teach her about temples if that did happen.

Well, those are two of my favorite investigators right now. Satan is trying to discourage them. But we have another family that is great too! Alan and his family. I love this exciting family! They are always so excited to see us and are always willing to follow through with their commitments. Virginia, the mother is even making the kids pray and take things seriously because she knows their family needs a change for the better. She is improving in her health too. We are going to be baptizing Alan this Saturday and the rest of his family later when we have worked everything out. Alan is definitely an answer to my prayers though. One day, it was pouring rain. Everyone was turning us down and nobody would let us in for hours. Without coats or umbrellas, we just got soaked and continued on. Elder Vergara doubts a bit in these times and I try to tell him how much the people back home love the rain to cheer him up. But after hours, I saw someone stalking me really close. As I looked, Alan scared me half to death! He asked us to come over and teach them right then. I love that kid. I just wanted to hug him when he saved us from a terrible day!

Let's see, I can't think of much more I really wanted to share this week. We got invited to go to a Jehovah Witness church and some Evangelic church. We might actually pass by to make those people come to ours. I'm not entirely fond of it, but it could be a possibility. I only want to see how their church functions so I can understand their beliefs and help change their point of view a bit into the way of the Lord's church. But it is a slim possibility. We read all their pamphlets and even a book this new guy gave us and then go back to see if they read the BoM. It's hard to teach people who have partial testimonies. They have had witnesses to the partial truths of their churches, but it is difficult to help them understand that there is more to their knowledge that they can have too.

Well, thank you for all the updates! I am always so grateful to hear from home! Congrats Aubree on signing with the Cougars! Kevy, glad you had a fun day activity! It pays to be yourself, huh? Justin, good luck in Utah and I am so proud of you. Hearing about you this week was the highlight of my week. Keep up the good work. If you ever need help or have a question about mission life, please write me and I would love to answer! If anyone else has questions, I would love to answer those too!

I love you all! Especially my parents. You two are amazing and the most dynamic couple. I am so blessed to have been raised in your home. You don't understand all the blessings I have received from you two. I know we don't thank you often or appreciate all you do for us all the time, but we love you. I love you and I miss my family every day. I have to get back to work now. As Dad says to me, 'serve Him well, Dad, Mom, Justin, Trevor, and Kevin.'

Con Amor.
Elder Blake W. Cowan

Working with Lots of Investigators

Dear Family,

Well, it feels weird that I'm already writing you again. I only have a few days I need to tell you about. But first just detail stuff. My foot. It is the bone that points out of everyone's foot on top. Ya know? ja ja! I don't know. It only hurts without my little thing that I tape onto my foot. Don't worry about it! I figured it might be kind of what Cory Breinholt had with his foot. He had a nerve going over the top of his foot and when his shoes pushed on it, it hurt him. But I fixed it with my little invention thing! No big deal. And no, I didn't end up getting sick. Sleeping in that one day nipped it in the bud and I am totally fine!

My little nickname of 'King Killer' just refers to 4-square. One of the positions is the King and I kept getting the king out every time I played. Not much. Just ask Kevin. He'll know what that means. I think. . . And thank you for putting those packages together! That makes me feel very loved out here in Argentina! Ja ja! I am excited to see if they will come or not! And yes the razors you bought are the right ones. I can just buy them down here if you'd like? No sé.

Well, this is what happened in the past couple days--We did another intercambio with Elder Livingston and Elder Hoeft (my robbed buddy). They're both red heads and from Colorado. The funny thing is that Colorado here means red head! Ja ja! So when people ask what part of the states they are from, it is such a crack up! Anyway, I stayed in my area with Elder Livingston. We had a great day! We took out two more fechas with this lady Gloria and her 10 year old granddaughter, Lourdes. I love her name! It's so cool! But they can´t come to church this Sunday but will try and want to go next week. Also, we taught Mirta. This time she brought a friend, Maria. She's so capa too! We explained to her the Book of Mormon and what it means and how key it is in our religion. When she read the part about José Smith in the introducción, she asked who he was. Then, Mirta gave lesson one to her in full! Ja ja! I love Mirta! Anyway, they both said they would be coming to church this Sunday and just loved the lessons.

When Elder Vergara got back, we went to Alen and his family. We asked them to get baptized and they said yes! The problem is that his mom, Virginia can't because she's not married and her man doesn't want to. SO sad! I hate it when people aren't able to progress because of others! The same happened with Silvia and Claudio. He won't get married and she wants to continue so bad! There's just not much we can do with investigators like that. Also, Yamila wants to continue, but her mom was such a jerk (Claudia). She is afraid to say anything because she doesn't want to upset her mom. All these upsets kept happening this weekend and it was really depressing! Also, we went to Juan and Selva where Juan told us that he has no desire to keep the commitments and then Selva told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and that all the doctrine and things we've taught her is true, but she has no desire to go to church because she knows she'll be obligated to go every Sunday if she gets baptized. Major bummer. We have invested a lot of time in them and now we might have to drop them. . . We're dropping people all over the place lately because they're either too lazy, won't come to church, or are impossible to find. We'll just focus on the ones who want it really bad and just get them baptized!

But, we are still finding new people! We took out two more fechas con Gastón y pedro Pablo. Ellos son rebuenos y muy inteligentes! Darn! I always write in Spanish and have to go back and erase and rewrite it. I'm leaving that one for an example. Ja ja! Anyway, Gastón has read the whole Bible and understands things a lot. He has talked to the Jehovah Witnesses a lot but doesn't really like them. Another person described them as being nauseous. But he said he would read and go to church and be baptized. I love willing and SMART investigators! There's a lot of uneducated people that believe but don't do anything. So we're going to play fútbol with him sometime soon and we're going to church with him! With Pedro Pable, we showed up at his house and started to help him paint this grill thing. Through our conversation we mixed it perfectly into the gospel and taught him about the Restoration and The Book of Mormon. He then told us that he had talked to missionaries once before and it really interests him. We told him how prayer is key in this process. He told us how he's wasted his past few years then because he never prayed about the missionaries and decided he was going to read and pray that night! Then, we are supposed to go back the next day (today)! Ja ja! We'll see how that goes. Both those two will be future priesthood holders.

I skipped our church experience. Oops. So we had four investigators come to church! Mirta, Maria, Rosa, and Hilda! They loved the testimony meeting and one man in the ward got up and addressed each of them and testified that if they do what the missionaries ask, they will have a response to their oraciónes instantly! It made some of those women cry! After sacrament, Mirta and Maria had to leave because Mirta's father needed some assistance back at home. Oh and Facu came! Mirta's six year old son! He was so hilarious during the meeting! He asked why we used little cups with water and I told him it represents the blood of Jesus and how we can love him basically. Then, he said that he doesn't want a little cup but a BIG one! Ja ja! He said he was going to bring a big cup next time! Ja ja! Also, he kept raising his hand because he wanted to ask the speakers questions like in school. He is such a punk and so funny! I love him. Anyway, they left after sacrament, but Rosa and Hilda stayed. They were taught in Gospel principles about temples and family history work. For Rosa it was like getting hit by a fire house cause we haven't taught her much. But Hilda was enjoying it so much! She kept talking about how she's had all the material goods in life but it wasn't until she started investigating the church that she has had the peace and purpose to her life that she has had missing for so many years and that the other churches couldn't give her. They're neighbors and friends so I hope it will help them grow and progress together. So church this week was a success! Fasting works! PMG says to fast for special blessings and that's what we're doing!

Well, that's about all I have to write about this week! Thanks for all the letters and emails! It makes all the difference! Read Proverbs 25:25 and that's what letters mean to a missionary. Ja ja! Thanks so much! Dad, I like to hear that you've been running/walking! Try to make it all running! It causes such a difference in calorie burning. Mom, how's the Spanish coming along? One of these days I'll write in all Spanish and nobody will help you translate it! Ja ja! You'll have to do it on your own! Thanks for everything! I love you all! Give references to the missionaries. It helps a lot with planning and everything!

Con amor,
Elder Cowán

October & November Baptism Goals

Dear Family,

Well, honestly I don't remember any of your questions really and I don't have a lot of time. I'll try to catch you up on a lot from the past week and a half! First off, the kids who robbed me got caught robbing two motorcycles and are now in jail. The Lord allows bad things to happen to good people to bring about his judgement on the wicked! Ja! But I actually got one thing back from the robbery. I was given my cool cardboard scripture case and cheap economy teaching triple in perfect condition by some kid! This time I will take a picture of it! And with Elder Vergara being sick, it started to catch up to me the past few days. I woke up today  feeling terrible so I told Vergara I would sleep in another two hours to try and stop it from getting me down all day. And now, I barely feel sick! So I am glad I won't be missing out on all the fun of the mission life! Pray that I won't continue to get sick later or anything. Also for my foot. I have no idea what's happening, but I have this crazy large bone on top of my foot that is poking out and is killing me if I don't wrap it up with this foam thing I made to distribute the pain. But it goes away at times and comes back. It's weird. Don't worry though! Nothing can stop 'The King Killer' from working his hardest! Yeah, I gained a nickname out here. I was baller at four square the other day and it's kind of sticking. ja ja! Oh and I took out personal money with my debit card the other day because I need it in the pench for emergencies and personal shopping items which I haven't bought yet. But I want to buy a new pillow and things like that because I don't really have them. . .

Elder Cowan, Leo, Mara, Gaston, Elder Vergara

Well, enough of all that. I'll try to update you all on the work I've done with my investigators. First with the really REALLY good news! Our zone made this past month's baptismal goal of 14! Elder Vergara and I baptized three last Saturday. I baptized Leo Medina and Mara Medina. The mother, Marcela, backed out at the last moment because she said she was only doing it for Leo and she didn't have an answer yet. I know we can baptize her, though, really soon. Also, Elder Vergara baptized Gastón! The little chubby kid that we love! So we had a good weekend! But the baptism was crazy! Right before we went to go change, we entered the restroom and Leo was telling us to be careful. He pointed to the floor and there was a giant pile of nasty poo! He said some kid had an accident. We were thinking some little kid, but from the stall came the voice of Alen, our 14 year old investigator. He has an allergic reaction to gum and one of the youth had given him a sucker with a gum center that he didn't know of . . . and then it came to pass. . . ja ja! Oh goodness! Elder Vergara had to clean it up while I was changing for the first baptism! It was ridiculous. . . That kid better get baptized now! Which he will. :) I'll try to send pictures of the baptism for you all!

Gaston's Baptism

Oh, so I've been doing intercambios like crazy lately. I went with Elder Chance Pratley, one of our zone leaders last week and it changed my life as a missionary! I learned so much from him and it's amazing! He's such a great guy! Any of my lady friends, you'll want to look this guy up! He's a stud and an amazing missionary! He's only got about eightish months left. ja ja! Anyway, in Avellaneda, they have the coolest apartment and everything! We taught some amazing lessons and even convinced people to get married ASAP like in a week or two. I also went with Elder Reyes-Cairo in my area for a day and it was pretty fun! A lot of our appointments fell through but we talked with a lot of people! And tomorrow I'm going to go with Elder Livingston who is new to our district as of today! I've heard he's kind of trucho, meaning, he doesn't really work that hard and puts up a false image. I'm going to whip this kid into shape for the day and maybe he can finish his mission for the last two months honorably.

Leo & Mara Baptism

Oh so as a zone we have a goal of THIRTY baptisms this next month. We're going to be going all out to get it! We are taking out fechas everywhere and teaching anyone and everyone! We are doing a zone baptismal service on the 19th and we want to have like fifty people dressed in white for one picture! To do it, we're doing a lot of sacrifices, service, and my favorite . . . FASTING!! Yay! We're going to fast once to twice a week to get this goal! We're also in a competition with Bonfield Zone and we're going to kill them! We are the best zone in all BAS!!! ¡Y yo creo! We're stepping up everything. Planning, study, language, helping others, and just every aspect of missionary work. There won't be a single slacker in our zone for Nov! We're so pumped! We talk to every person we meet and I even walk up to people and ask them to be baptized right off the spot! ¡Hola! ¿Todo bien? ¿Quierre ser bautisado? I love doing that! They're so stunned and then we testify and sometimes they actually want to listen! Anyway, we're going all out this month to break a mission record!

Back to investigators, these two women, Mirta and Hilda are such capas! With Hilda, she has read so much in the Book of Mormon and has even answered the questions in the back of the pamphlets which NOBODY in the history of this mission has ever done, according to Elder Vergara! She told us how she wants to be baptized the 19th! So we're going to church with her to make her go. With Mirta, I asked her if she remembered our goal for her baptism and she came out so quick with, 'Yeah the 19th and I'm planning on making it there!' BOOYA! I love these women. They're the two I'm most confident in besides Alan.

With Juan and Selva, we are having a hard time finding them and we NEED them to come to church. We want them to be baptized the 19th of Nov so bad! They need it so much in their lives.

We found the biggest family in the world!!! There are like fifty people and they all want to listen. Thanks to Rosa for having kids and having them all live there with their kids. Romina, Yesica, Erica, Claudia, Yamila, Alan, Sergio, 9 little girls I can't remember, the head man of the house, the drunk guy that we carried in from the taxi, and more!!! I hope we can baptize them all! It's so hard to find a time to be able to teach ALL of them, so we might be able to teach them bit by bit. Also, they all want to learn English, so we're going to try to teach English down at the capilla (chapel) on Fridays. I have no idea what I'm going to do! But they are all very promising! This is all the family members of the Romina who asked us why we never passed by her house before.

There are so many investigators, I can't talk about all of them. We have about 40 investigators. My life is hectic. Ja ja! I love it though! Every day something funny and exciting happens! And as always, the drunk men are the funniest. I always tell them I'm from Spain or from some Spanish speaking country and they believe me! I wish the regular citizens would believe that!

Well, I have officially made it through one transfer and I am staying with Vergara. We probably will change in December right before Christmas! How sad! ja ja! But yeah, my week was crazy and I am running around everywhere. I have to get my pants changed again. I think I'm growing taller because I have high waters now! ja ja! I love you all so much! I'm sorry to Bri, Jacey, Aubree, and Aubrey because I haven't been able to write back yet. I don't even know how to mail here . . . But I will try someday! Thanks Abby and Kami for talking to Kevy! That makes be so grateful and happy! I love you girls! Everyone else, well, I haven't heard from you much! But I wish you all luck with everything and I still continue to pray for my friends. Thanks again for everything! I'll write next Monday!

Con Amor.
Elder Blake William Cowan

Robbed twice and rocks thrown at us, but the work goes on!

Dear Family,

I've got worms and robbers!!!! Ja ja! Not literally . . . The worms are what we call the little girls here who fall in love with the elders. Snakes are the teenagers, and dragons are them crazy wicked grandmas that want your bod. Ja ja! But anyway, I have a lot of the primary in love with me. I have them tell me they love me and try to give me kisses and hold my hands. I feel like Justin in our ward almost! Ja ja! Something interesting about this week in church is that I had to speak for a few minutes! The bishop called me up to introduce myself and talk about my family and mission. It was a little nerve wracking, but Elder Vergara said I made sense with my Spanish, though, and it was good.

So, time for the scary news of the week. Ja ja! So on Wednesday, we did a comp exchange for 24 hours. Elder Vergara left to another area and I was supposed to know my way around the area after a few weeks! That's unheard of! And to make it worse, Elder Hoeft, my exchange comp, only has one more transfer than me and in reality, his Spanish is worse than mine. . . SO . . . Two greenies with a brand new area and a short background of the language. Awesome! Anyway, we uh . . . got robbed. TWICE!!! It doesn't help that Elder Hoeft is about 6' 6" and has flaming red hair. He's the Red Beacon, as we all call him. Anyway, the first time four kids came up to us outside the villa. I knew right away they were up to no good, but there was nothing we could have done. I had the pistol drawn on me, one guy checking my pockets, the other grabbing my backpack. Elder Hoeft just had one guy grab his backpack. I ALMOST grabbed the gun and fought back. It was a huge hit to my pride as a human being. I lost all my teaching stuff, my dictionary, all my photos of family and friends. There was more, but still, it's all gone. The second robbery was later that night about three hours later and this guy stopped us with a gun inside his jacket pocket and told us to give him all our money. I told his someone beat him to it and showed him my empty pockets and started to walk away, just ignoring him. Elder Hoeft gave him 65 Argentine cents. (Less than a quarter). So, that one was REALLY successful! Ja ja! Anyway, throughout all of this, I kept my little money bag, my ctr ring from the mtc, and Elder Hoeft's really nice watch wasn't stolen. Weird. . . But both of those robberies didn't benefit them very much. I was only upset to lose my pictures, our cell phone, and my little reminders of my friends (bracelets from Aubree and Carly and the little pocket knife from RJ's dad). So, we now have the mission record for most times robbed in one day. Ja ja! I swear if it happens again, I'm just going to keep walking and ignore them. They aren't very forceful when they try to rob you. They're more scared than anything.


So, enough of all the non relevant stuff. With the missionary work this week, we had some successes and failures. All our baptismal dates for the 5th fell through because nobody came to church. We had one kid (14 years) come to church with us. His name is Alan. We met him outside a store with his cousin who is a return missionary. We went to his house the next day and taught him and his mom the Restoration. They loved it! When Alan went to church he enjoyed it a lot! Especially the girls. Ja ja! And then his mom wants to come next week. But she needs to get married so we can baptize her. That's a missionary's worst nightmare. But they are looking really good!

Mirta, who we taught last week, was really excited to see us again! She fed us home made alfajores (oh so yummy. :)) and we taught her the importance of reading, praying and going to church. She just accepts everything and loves the lessons. She told ALL her friends about us and we keep getting tons of references from her. We might be having a class of people to teach if her friends come to the next lesson! I would love that! Anyway, she's progressing really well!

Juan and Selva are such capos! They are the best! She continues to read a ton and always bears testimony to us. She is working on her husband to get him to do the same things she is. I can see them as future bishop and Relief Society president material. They just have to come to church!

Alejandro and José are doing pretty good too. José has so many doubts and it was hard teaching them without Elder Vergara, but it was a success! The sad part is that we had Hermano Aleveranga come with us to the lesson and he was supposed to pick him up for church yesterday, but he never went cause they didn't settle all the details. And José was waiting for him . . . The members are sometimes really worthless here. They love to tell us how to teach, but never want to help with their own friends coming to church. That's just another part of why it's frustrating in this country. It's just so dang lazy!! Nobody is hard working here besides the missionaries! Ja ja!

With Rosa, Yesica,  y Romina, they were all there and I taught them about the importance of reading, praying, and going to church. They said they were going to go to the chapel this Sunday but they never showed. It broke my heart. But they have had some family crises with a really sick niece so maybe something happened again. But I hope that we can find them again so we can teach them. They are so accepting of the gospel! I want to see them baptized so badly!

Well, it is hard to watch so many baptismal dates fall through. But, I think we'll be having one this week. Gaston, the ten or eleven year old, should be getting baptized and then maybe the family Medina! They just have to quit smoking and unfortunately we didn't pass by their house this week when they were home so we never found out if they got married on Friday or if they stopped smoking. Bummer! We actually got robbed the first time right after trying to visit them. But anyway, we are working as hard as we are allowed. Elder Vergara got sick this week and we couldn't work very much on Thursday and then Friday we didn't even leave the pench. I read a whole book from the missionary reference library and studied a lot. We slept a lot trying to get Elder Vergara back to health. It's a trying of my patience because I'm doing as much as possible for him to get better and it's a sacrifice on my part. For example, the air conditioner. He is always cold while sick, so i can't turn it on and it is so hot at night! I sleep on top of my sleeping bag and am sweating! But soon enough we'll start turning it on and I hope he'll recover soon.

Oh, one more funny little story from this week. Elder Hoeft and I got stoned! So in one day we were robbed twice, got big stones the size of apples thrown at us, and we still kept working! Eat that Satanás! Ja ja! We wouldn't let anything stop us from the work. Elder Hoeft was really bummed down from the day. He's kind of quiet and shy, so the robberies were a big blow to him. So, I just tried all I could to keep a good attitude and keep talking to as many people as possible to work hard.

Thanks for all the updates from this past week! I love hearing from my family and friends! It helps a lot. Mom, the four pound thing is a recommendation and an estimate weight. It doesn't HAVE to be that heavy or anything. Just listen to the post men and they'll help you out. Oh and before I forget, Kevin, please email me my core work out sheet! I need a set work out so I won't keep gaining weight. I gained ten pounds this past month!!! Yikes! I think I lost five of that in the past few days though by working out again. I just wish I could go running.

So I am three months old on Thursday!!! Can you believe that 1/8 of my mission is already done?! Time really has been flying by when I think about it. I feel like I was just at the airport watching my family cry as I left into the security line. I think you're all a little more Blake-sick than I am home-sick! Ja ja! JK! I love you all and am so glad to be serving a mission. I would love to hear from Trevor and Justin. Especially Justin. You haven't written me in almost two months you booger! Tell me about this Shauna Fuller chika! Ask her if she's related to a senior in high school, Hannah Fuller and her brother Monroe Fuller who is serving a mission right now.

Well, time to go! The work is calling my name and I am eager to go. Thanks for everything! Sorry this letter is all over the place, but that's how my mind has been lately. I'll write you next week! Love and miss you all! Chow, Chow!!