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