"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