Dear Family,
Well, this week was a bummer for the first half and then got
increasingly better!! First, I thought I was better when I was writing
last week, but I ended up with everything coming out of both ends all
week! I finally stopped throwing up Friday morning. But, I still worked!
I won't let anything keep me from working! I didn't have the best
numbers for this week, but that's not everything that matters in the
mission.
The only real story I have to tell this week from the work is with the
family of Virginia, again. First off, she has officially come to church
two times and is going to be baptized this Saturday the 4th! FINALLY!
I'm so excited! We need to review the interview with her and that's it!
But, the real story comes from her sister-in-law, Mari. Anyway, back
tracking a bit, we have brought tons and tons of food to this family and
they are so happy every time we come by now! We visit them every single
day like PMG says to do with your fechas. But with all this food and
presents, we didn't want them to lose the focus of our visits. So, we
had a lesson about Christ and His Atonement for us. We read from Alma
chapter 7 and what he went through. Then, the next few verses talk about
the gospel of Christ and how we need to use the Atonement in our lives
and be baptized. So, we re-invited Mari to get baptized to add more
emphasis with her. She sat for a moment. thinking, then told us yes.
But, she wanted to explain herself before we could respond. She then
continued to recount the dream she had the night before about a woman
who looked similar to Lara, but a grown woman, who descended from heaven
dressed all in white and touched her on the head and said, "baptize."
She said that she has thought, and thought, and thought about it all day
and then during those verses from Alma, it was apparently clear that God
wants her to get baptized even if she doesn't understand the church very
well. So, she was going to try and be baptized with Virginia, who I
actually call Vicki, but she couldn't come to church yesterday. Her 15
yr-old daughter with the baby never came home Saturday night so Mari was
stuck with the baby and had to go find her daughter. Bummer. We will try
to get her baptized the 11th of Febrero now.
Anyway, this family loves us so much. Vicki is so happy to see us now
and never wants us to leave. We are the source of the Spirit in their
home with so many problems. It brings them peace and happiness. They say
that they always forget their problems and fears when we come to visit
them. Vicky even started dancing around a little bit last night cause
she was so happy! Alan and Rici are always hanging out with us on P-days
and the kids love us too. I love that family so much!
So, Saturday night, the bishop's counselor called us and asked if we ever
received the bishop's message. I told him that we had not. Then he
assigned us two talks for the next day! It killed me. I basically had to
stay up late and write my comps talk for him cause he is struggling
really bad with the language and then I wrote mine afterward. I didn't
get to bed until one in the morning. Then I woke up at six to get ready,
finish my talk, and go look for investigators. We gave our talks and
they went really smoothly. My talk was literally a piece of paper with a
list of 5 scriptures nothing more. I got up and gave a full 15 minute
talk on that and using a PMG quote from Pres. Hinckley. So, don't ask
more about my talk cause it was all on the spot! Ja ja! I love being able to
speak the language now. It hardly ever challenges me now. I understand
everything and I only lack vocabulary right now, especially slang words
that Alan and Rici use a lot. I'm learning lots of Guarani too from them
too because they're from Paraguay.
Well, I'm sorry my letters are kind of lame lately. It's tough to write
long letters when we don't get to do much to have stories for you. This
week and transfer should be better because we aren't sick and can
finally hit the pavement, or dirt . . . and then baptize millions!!!
Thanks for all your support and love! I really appreciate all the letters
I receive from my family and friends! Love you all!
Love,
Elder Blake W. Cowan
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Ward Rallies for Virginia's Family
Dear Family,
Well, I hope you are happy with all the many pictures I have sent home!!! Many of them are of families that Elder Vergara and I visited when he was leaving Tomás Flores and others are of Elder Porter and I being goofy with our really gay bed sheets! Ja ja! Mine are zebra stripes and I love them!!!! Ja ja! Well then, I am battling a bit of food poisoning, again. Elder Porter was battling the flu the other day too. I am glad that I am able to work though! This past week was definitely better than the other week.
First off, Lara and Rici were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on
Sunday!!!! Yeah baby!!! I'm so glad that we finally had some
baptisms. It's been awhile for this area, but we should be baptizing a
few more really soon because Virginia came to church and so did Mari! I
had to pay for eight people to take a bus to get to church just so they
would be able to go and take all the kids and what not to church. I love
that family! Yesterday, this little ward brought forth a mini miracle.
Elder Porter and I, after a division split with the Bishop and Hno.
Gimenez, ran from house to house and gathered a TON of food!!! It was
soooo heavy that my shoulders and arms hurt for how much food we
collected! Then, we brought it all to Virginia at night. Virginia and
Lara were the only ones awake at the time. We brought it into the house
and Virginia was shocked! Lara was so happy that she couldn't help
herself and gave my waste a big hug! It was a pivotal moment in my
mission. To see their faces was worth all the work and effort we have
put into this family. . . I love them all so much! I am worried about
when I have to leave this area!! I don't want to! It's going to tear my
heart in two because part of me is going to stay there with them. I am
not too good with goodbyes, as many already know, but this will be
really tough on me. Last night was the happiest I've ever seen Virginia
in the three months that I've known her. I love being able to see
miracles happen.
Anyway, with other investigators this week, we found a few more people like Alberto and Fransica. We found them in the area book but they accepted baptism dates soo easily and then wanted to go to church, but Fransisca couldn't cause of a health problem. We've been finding a lot of less actives lately on accident! We are reactivating left and right! People are just scared to return to church because they are afraid of what others are going to say. What they don't know is that we will be immensely happy to see them in the capilla!
This week went by so fast that I'm having troubles remembering everything that happened! I can't believe that this week I will be completing the first six months of my mission! It's ridiculous how the time starts to accelerate. In the beginning I think everyone has a bit of fear of two full years, but in reality, it's nothing. It flys by! And my opinion has changed so much about the mission. I used to think it's the best two years for my life, now I know it's truly the best two years of my life!!! I love the mission so much! I love the Argentine people and their humor! I love the Spanish/Catillano language and I love the missionaries here! I don't even care how cheesy it sounds, but the mission is just so full of love! Ja ja!
Well, the only problem I seem to have in the mission is the girls. Ja ja! Just like back home eh mom? Jk! Anyway, there are a few snakish girls here in the ward, or investigators. They are out to get me! I even have worms trying to kiss me and hold my hands! It's like I have to be on constant guard with that! Ja ja! Anyway, Elder Porter describes it as if they are staring at me like a piece of meat. Ja ja! Oh goodness. . . It's always fun to bring out a picture of Carly at that moment and then they get their dreams crushed in an instant! Ja ja!
So, I can't remember what happened this week really. It was a mixture of sicknesses, great moments with the ward, Virginia's family, and being rushed around everywhere! It was a fun week though!
About the camera business, I decided I will never have time to go buy a camera. It's your decision, mother, if you want to mail one or not. Just hide the valuables you send inside other things inside the packages and never write it down on the outside that it is inside! With Carly's package, well, ask her. Ja ja! The problem is that she still has it at her house! Ja ja! What a gal. . .
Well, I love you all! Till next week!
Love,
Elder Blake W. Cowan
Well, I hope you are happy with all the many pictures I have sent home!!! Many of them are of families that Elder Vergara and I visited when he was leaving Tomás Flores and others are of Elder Porter and I being goofy with our really gay bed sheets! Ja ja! Mine are zebra stripes and I love them!!!! Ja ja! Well then, I am battling a bit of food poisoning, again. Elder Porter was battling the flu the other day too. I am glad that I am able to work though! This past week was definitely better than the other week.
First off, Lara and Rici were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on
Sunday!!!! Yeah baby!!! I'm so glad that we finally had some
baptisms. It's been awhile for this area, but we should be baptizing a
few more really soon because Virginia came to church and so did Mari! I
had to pay for eight people to take a bus to get to church just so they
would be able to go and take all the kids and what not to church. I love
that family! Yesterday, this little ward brought forth a mini miracle.
Elder Porter and I, after a division split with the Bishop and Hno.
Gimenez, ran from house to house and gathered a TON of food!!! It was
soooo heavy that my shoulders and arms hurt for how much food we
collected! Then, we brought it all to Virginia at night. Virginia and
Lara were the only ones awake at the time. We brought it into the house
and Virginia was shocked! Lara was so happy that she couldn't help
herself and gave my waste a big hug! It was a pivotal moment in my
mission. To see their faces was worth all the work and effort we have
put into this family. . . I love them all so much! I am worried about
when I have to leave this area!! I don't want to! It's going to tear my
heart in two because part of me is going to stay there with them. I am
not too good with goodbyes, as many already know, but this will be
really tough on me. Last night was the happiest I've ever seen Virginia
in the three months that I've known her. I love being able to see
miracles happen.
Anyway, with other investigators this week, we found a few more people like Alberto and Fransica. We found them in the area book but they accepted baptism dates soo easily and then wanted to go to church, but Fransisca couldn't cause of a health problem. We've been finding a lot of less actives lately on accident! We are reactivating left and right! People are just scared to return to church because they are afraid of what others are going to say. What they don't know is that we will be immensely happy to see them in the capilla!
This week went by so fast that I'm having troubles remembering everything that happened! I can't believe that this week I will be completing the first six months of my mission! It's ridiculous how the time starts to accelerate. In the beginning I think everyone has a bit of fear of two full years, but in reality, it's nothing. It flys by! And my opinion has changed so much about the mission. I used to think it's the best two years for my life, now I know it's truly the best two years of my life!!! I love the mission so much! I love the Argentine people and their humor! I love the Spanish/Catillano language and I love the missionaries here! I don't even care how cheesy it sounds, but the mission is just so full of love! Ja ja!
Well, the only problem I seem to have in the mission is the girls. Ja ja! Just like back home eh mom? Jk! Anyway, there are a few snakish girls here in the ward, or investigators. They are out to get me! I even have worms trying to kiss me and hold my hands! It's like I have to be on constant guard with that! Ja ja! Anyway, Elder Porter describes it as if they are staring at me like a piece of meat. Ja ja! Oh goodness. . . It's always fun to bring out a picture of Carly at that moment and then they get their dreams crushed in an instant! Ja ja!
So, I can't remember what happened this week really. It was a mixture of sicknesses, great moments with the ward, Virginia's family, and being rushed around everywhere! It was a fun week though!
About the camera business, I decided I will never have time to go buy a camera. It's your decision, mother, if you want to mail one or not. Just hide the valuables you send inside other things inside the packages and never write it down on the outside that it is inside! With Carly's package, well, ask her. Ja ja! The problem is that she still has it at her house! Ja ja! What a gal. . .
Well, I love you all! Till next week!
Love,
Elder Blake W. Cowan
Monday, January 16, 2012
I LOVE Argentina!
Dear Family,
Well, this was a slightly difficult week for me. A lot of investigators were dropped or dropped us after we had amazingly spiritual experiences. The hardest part of the mission life is watching someone experience and have a witness of the Spirit and then get too prideful or scared to follow with it. You'd be surprised how many believers are out there and won't act on their promptings. Anyway, I like to think that I am a fairly positive person, so I will focus on that stuff this week. I'll just say that Mirta is a very difficult person and is driving me nuts with all this baptism stuff. No, she still isn't baptized. I'm giving her one more try. Now, onto the good stuff!
First, we had interviews with President this week. President is really pleased with what I'm doing and training so early and still having success in our area. We had a good talk and he gave some inspired advice to help me in my calling as a trainer. Then, we brought up the extension topic. The official answer is that if I can find someone who came here with me that wants to extend, it is a definite yes that I can stay for 30 more days and work in the area of my choosing. He said that maybe that will change, the choosing part, but the 30 days will be set. Seeing as I came in with 26 other missionaries, I don't think I'll have a problem finding someone who wants to stay too. I just have to start asking now. So, pretty much that means that you all have to add thirty more days onto those calendars of yours!!! Ja ja!
I just LOVE Argentina and the people here. I have learned to love the people of Paraguay too. There are a lot of them here too. I am starting to pick up on a bit of their language, Guarani. It's really interesting and surprisingly a lot easier than Spanish. I want to find a type of grammar book to learn it. Anyway, Alan's family is Paraguayan. They are so much fun! Anyway, we've been teaching their cousins a lot and Rici will be baptized with Lara this coming Saturday! Por FIN!! And then, we went and had another lesson just for Virginia, Alan's mom yesterday. She asked us when she can be baptized! She told me that she has two goals in her life now. The first, go to the temple. Second, learn English. Oh I love this woman! She's been through sooo much in her life that I couldn't even imagine and she is trying to unite her family forever. She can hardly walk and even breathing is hard for her, but she said that next week she will go to church even if someone had to carry her. (I offered ja ja!) But, I honestly know that I was called of God to find this family. I always feel like I knew Virginia from somewhere else. Maybe in the pre-existence we had come up with a way to find each other in this life so she could have the gospel. I know that God works in mysterious ways and that he will provide a way for every one of His children to accept the gospel. I know that it is going to be really hard to leave this area and this family behind someday. But, I will be coming back and we will all be coming back to our Father in Heaven.
Well, I don't have much to write this week. I am out of ideas. It was a contacting type of week. With pictures, I am taking pictures. I need to find another converter to get them off the card. I also want to buy a memory card here too. There's a huge mission approved music at the mission office that we can play in our penches! I think I'll be buying one soon. But, I will be sending the pictures soon! And yes, I do like them by the dates in the blog. Thanks mom! I'd love two things from you for a package. One, a copy of Trevor's mission book, if possible. Second, The books from Reflections of Christ and the cd's that go along with those. That's about it!
Love you all! I don't quite miss everyone now . . . ja ja! JK! I miss everyone! I just don't want to leave here. Thanks for all the letters you send! Till next week! Chow!
Elder Cowan
Well, this was a slightly difficult week for me. A lot of investigators were dropped or dropped us after we had amazingly spiritual experiences. The hardest part of the mission life is watching someone experience and have a witness of the Spirit and then get too prideful or scared to follow with it. You'd be surprised how many believers are out there and won't act on their promptings. Anyway, I like to think that I am a fairly positive person, so I will focus on that stuff this week. I'll just say that Mirta is a very difficult person and is driving me nuts with all this baptism stuff. No, she still isn't baptized. I'm giving her one more try. Now, onto the good stuff!
First, we had interviews with President this week. President is really pleased with what I'm doing and training so early and still having success in our area. We had a good talk and he gave some inspired advice to help me in my calling as a trainer. Then, we brought up the extension topic. The official answer is that if I can find someone who came here with me that wants to extend, it is a definite yes that I can stay for 30 more days and work in the area of my choosing. He said that maybe that will change, the choosing part, but the 30 days will be set. Seeing as I came in with 26 other missionaries, I don't think I'll have a problem finding someone who wants to stay too. I just have to start asking now. So, pretty much that means that you all have to add thirty more days onto those calendars of yours!!! Ja ja!
I just LOVE Argentina and the people here. I have learned to love the people of Paraguay too. There are a lot of them here too. I am starting to pick up on a bit of their language, Guarani. It's really interesting and surprisingly a lot easier than Spanish. I want to find a type of grammar book to learn it. Anyway, Alan's family is Paraguayan. They are so much fun! Anyway, we've been teaching their cousins a lot and Rici will be baptized with Lara this coming Saturday! Por FIN!! And then, we went and had another lesson just for Virginia, Alan's mom yesterday. She asked us when she can be baptized! She told me that she has two goals in her life now. The first, go to the temple. Second, learn English. Oh I love this woman! She's been through sooo much in her life that I couldn't even imagine and she is trying to unite her family forever. She can hardly walk and even breathing is hard for her, but she said that next week she will go to church even if someone had to carry her. (I offered ja ja!) But, I honestly know that I was called of God to find this family. I always feel like I knew Virginia from somewhere else. Maybe in the pre-existence we had come up with a way to find each other in this life so she could have the gospel. I know that God works in mysterious ways and that he will provide a way for every one of His children to accept the gospel. I know that it is going to be really hard to leave this area and this family behind someday. But, I will be coming back and we will all be coming back to our Father in Heaven.
Well, I don't have much to write this week. I am out of ideas. It was a contacting type of week. With pictures, I am taking pictures. I need to find another converter to get them off the card. I also want to buy a memory card here too. There's a huge mission approved music at the mission office that we can play in our penches! I think I'll be buying one soon. But, I will be sending the pictures soon! And yes, I do like them by the dates in the blog. Thanks mom! I'd love two things from you for a package. One, a copy of Trevor's mission book, if possible. Second, The books from Reflections of Christ and the cd's that go along with those. That's about it!
Love you all! I don't quite miss everyone now . . . ja ja! JK! I miss everyone! I just don't want to leave here. Thanks for all the letters you send! Till next week! Chow!
Elder Cowan
Monday, January 9, 2012
Alan Family
Dear Family,
Wow! That was a great bunch of letters that I got this morning from my family. I absolutely loved them! Thanks so much! Anyway, this letter is more about the family of Alan than anyone else. They've been a focus lately for us.
So, we have taught them many, many times. Every time we have focused everything on the kids because they can actually get baptized. This time, I could see that Virginia, the mother, was just about to let everything out. All her emotions and everything. So, we were sitting there and I stopped the regular lesson and asked how she's doing. Her sister in law said she's just really sad after Virginia didn't really answer. Then, she broke out. She just began to cry. So much has happened with this family and they are struggling so much right now. The poor family has been discriminated for their race, almost killed, lost their home and many possessions, their pets were left without anyone to watch them, even her health is turning bad again, and even problems within the family have aroused. Anyway, I changed the lesson to meet the needs of this poor woman. I asked each of the kids if they would like to have help from God and they all said yes. I then asked Virginia last and she said that He doesn't want to help her. I asked her if she even believes he exists and she didn't know how to respond. I testified with all my heart that there is a God. He loves each one of us individually and has a plan prepared for each of us. He listens to our prayers and answers too and gives us trails in this life to help us grow and have experience. I asked her to read Ether 12:6 and told her that the blessing and testimonies won't come till after the trail of our faith. She started to doubt even more at this point. Then I testified of how I gained my own testimony and then she read verse 27. The Spirit had grown so strong in this moment and then she read the part where the Lord will make weak things strong. She couldn't even finish reading the verse. The tears poured down her face as she muttered those words again. Las cosas debiles serian fuertes para ellos. I testified that all the weakness she feels will be stronger than ever. Blessings will come through this trail. Her family will grow closer together and she will learn to feel the love of our Heavenly Father. She told me how she always reads a ton every morning and prays all the time. I told her that the third way to receive an answer from Him is through the church. I promised that she will fell his love there and will find the peace she has been searching for. Then she admitted that she needs to go to the church. Then Alan's aunt said that everyone will be going to church next week. Virginia included. After all of that, she found hope. I wrote her a scripture reference chain to look up and to pray about it.
Then, she said that she wanted to talk to me without all the kids around. So, Virginia, her sister-in-law, and Elder Porter and I were left alone to discuss a little bit. Virginia told me that she will maybe get baptized now but she wants to explain some things. So, she began to tell me about the man she's been living with, Carlos. He's always been the reason why she couldn't get baptized. But now they are separated. She told me how he and the godfather of the kids are part of this form of gang. She said that they are involved in animal sacrifices and draw on their heads with the blood of the animals. She told me that the kids know nothing of that and she had only seen the place where they work once, but didn't think much of it. But one day Carlos and the godfather came home with the blood all over and started to tell Virginia that all the bad things that are happening are because they are investigating the church. She rejected that and left. They are living in the villa with her brother now and Carlos and the godfather don't know where they live. Carlos asked to come live with them and Virginia said no. Also, the aunt of Alan is stuck in a situation too. She is a maid for a family most of the week and when the man of that house is alone with her, he tries to kill her. There are so many problems with these women and all they try to do is live their lives in the best way they can. So, now we are stuck trying to find a way to pay for a terrain and/or a house for them to live in but they only have about 4 thousand dollars worth of pesos. It's such a sad situation. I know I am not supposed to ask for you to donate to causes here, but if Kevin wants to start a service project with the school to buy/build a house for this family, it would get him a fatty scholarship and would help a family in really desperate need. Just a thought. Anyway, I know God sent me here to help this family and I am going to do all in my power to help bring these children of God, back to Him.
Well, that is enough about them this week. Anyway, this week we found a few more investigators, took out one more fecha and just kept visiting our fechas everyday to help them get baptized. It's repetitive, but necessary. We have visited many members that are new and inactive too to try and help this ward become more active. Of the 485 members here, only forty are actively assisting church. Imagine that. . . And only 15 of those are adults! What a trail! We are reactivating families and working all day long with them. Sometimes we are WAY too late getting back at night because we work so much. I got back at 10:30 one of these nights because we kept visiting people. Poor Elder Porter is so tired because I make him work so much! I will be better this week about getting us back at 9 or 9:30. I worry about him and the language. It's not really clicking for him like it did for me. He still can't understand and that is a real trial when you don't even know what the people say or even your companion. I bet he feels very lost and alone sometimes. We have to improve our language study or something.
I am winning the hearts of the members here! They actually want to help now! There comes to a point when you can put your personality into the language and I now am there! They are always laughing because of my jokes and how I treat the kids here. One family who I love is the Luna Family. The dad is active, but never has gone to the temple because he can't stop drinking alcohol. He's an awesome man though! I love him. So, we are going to get him to the temple sometime! It's one of my goals. Also, I love Hermana Luna. She's so funny and an artist too! She always loves to chat and know more about my life. Then, their daughters are awesome! Little Valentina is sooo cute! I love playing games with her. She always asks her mom if she can sit with me at church and at lunch appointments! Then there's the middle daughter who I can never remember her name. . . guess it's true, the middle child in always ignored. Ja ja! But the oldest is Sheila. She's 16 and is awesome! She wants to be a missionary so bad! She went with us to a lesson, they weren't there and she walked all the way back and was still really excited to just be allowed at a lesson in the first place! Ja ja! She's way fun! But, I always have to keep my distance with her! Ja ja! I don't want anymore snakish encounters. . .
Well, the one guy we gave a baptism goal this week was Daniel. This skinny white guy without the teeth on the top row. Ja ja! He looks really wimpy but is a boss!!! He knows a lot about self defense and has had a few encounters lately with the gangsters. So, this one time he was walking to his house last week and it was kind of late. Then, these two kids asked him the time. When he went to check his watch, the kid put a gun to his throat. Then, Daniel knocked the guys arm away, whipped off his belt, and smacked him in the eye with his belt buckle! The guy, of course, fell to the floor and was swelling up big time. The other whipped out a knife and started to charge him. Daniel picked up a bottle, broke it, and then as the other guy tried to stab him, he pulled his arm past him and smacked him in the face with the broken bottle! Then, he just walked away like nothing happened! Then, a few months ago while he was working a night job as some sort of security guard, a man pulled a gun on him about thirty feet away and demanded all the money and what not. Daniel turned to walked away and then quickly took out his gun from the back of his pants and shot the man in the shoulder to make him drop the gun. Then, once again, he walked away like nothing happened. What a boss!!!! Ja ja! He's super nice and wants to learn more about the gospel. I'm not sure about his commitment level because he didn't show up at church yesterday, but we will bring him later.
Well, that's all the stories I have for the week. My foot hurts as if I have plantar fasciitis, but it's all good! I stretch it and keep working. I figure the Lord will bless me if I just push through it. I love you all! I am so glad to have inspired parents and loving brothers. I'd love to hear form the two older ones . . . Anyway, I know you're busy. I love you all! Chow chow!
Love,
Elder Cowan
Wow! That was a great bunch of letters that I got this morning from my family. I absolutely loved them! Thanks so much! Anyway, this letter is more about the family of Alan than anyone else. They've been a focus lately for us.
So, we have taught them many, many times. Every time we have focused everything on the kids because they can actually get baptized. This time, I could see that Virginia, the mother, was just about to let everything out. All her emotions and everything. So, we were sitting there and I stopped the regular lesson and asked how she's doing. Her sister in law said she's just really sad after Virginia didn't really answer. Then, she broke out. She just began to cry. So much has happened with this family and they are struggling so much right now. The poor family has been discriminated for their race, almost killed, lost their home and many possessions, their pets were left without anyone to watch them, even her health is turning bad again, and even problems within the family have aroused. Anyway, I changed the lesson to meet the needs of this poor woman. I asked each of the kids if they would like to have help from God and they all said yes. I then asked Virginia last and she said that He doesn't want to help her. I asked her if she even believes he exists and she didn't know how to respond. I testified with all my heart that there is a God. He loves each one of us individually and has a plan prepared for each of us. He listens to our prayers and answers too and gives us trails in this life to help us grow and have experience. I asked her to read Ether 12:6 and told her that the blessing and testimonies won't come till after the trail of our faith. She started to doubt even more at this point. Then I testified of how I gained my own testimony and then she read verse 27. The Spirit had grown so strong in this moment and then she read the part where the Lord will make weak things strong. She couldn't even finish reading the verse. The tears poured down her face as she muttered those words again. Las cosas debiles serian fuertes para ellos. I testified that all the weakness she feels will be stronger than ever. Blessings will come through this trail. Her family will grow closer together and she will learn to feel the love of our Heavenly Father. She told me how she always reads a ton every morning and prays all the time. I told her that the third way to receive an answer from Him is through the church. I promised that she will fell his love there and will find the peace she has been searching for. Then she admitted that she needs to go to the church. Then Alan's aunt said that everyone will be going to church next week. Virginia included. After all of that, she found hope. I wrote her a scripture reference chain to look up and to pray about it.
Then, she said that she wanted to talk to me without all the kids around. So, Virginia, her sister-in-law, and Elder Porter and I were left alone to discuss a little bit. Virginia told me that she will maybe get baptized now but she wants to explain some things. So, she began to tell me about the man she's been living with, Carlos. He's always been the reason why she couldn't get baptized. But now they are separated. She told me how he and the godfather of the kids are part of this form of gang. She said that they are involved in animal sacrifices and draw on their heads with the blood of the animals. She told me that the kids know nothing of that and she had only seen the place where they work once, but didn't think much of it. But one day Carlos and the godfather came home with the blood all over and started to tell Virginia that all the bad things that are happening are because they are investigating the church. She rejected that and left. They are living in the villa with her brother now and Carlos and the godfather don't know where they live. Carlos asked to come live with them and Virginia said no. Also, the aunt of Alan is stuck in a situation too. She is a maid for a family most of the week and when the man of that house is alone with her, he tries to kill her. There are so many problems with these women and all they try to do is live their lives in the best way they can. So, now we are stuck trying to find a way to pay for a terrain and/or a house for them to live in but they only have about 4 thousand dollars worth of pesos. It's such a sad situation. I know I am not supposed to ask for you to donate to causes here, but if Kevin wants to start a service project with the school to buy/build a house for this family, it would get him a fatty scholarship and would help a family in really desperate need. Just a thought. Anyway, I know God sent me here to help this family and I am going to do all in my power to help bring these children of God, back to Him.
Well, that is enough about them this week. Anyway, this week we found a few more investigators, took out one more fecha and just kept visiting our fechas everyday to help them get baptized. It's repetitive, but necessary. We have visited many members that are new and inactive too to try and help this ward become more active. Of the 485 members here, only forty are actively assisting church. Imagine that. . . And only 15 of those are adults! What a trail! We are reactivating families and working all day long with them. Sometimes we are WAY too late getting back at night because we work so much. I got back at 10:30 one of these nights because we kept visiting people. Poor Elder Porter is so tired because I make him work so much! I will be better this week about getting us back at 9 or 9:30. I worry about him and the language. It's not really clicking for him like it did for me. He still can't understand and that is a real trial when you don't even know what the people say or even your companion. I bet he feels very lost and alone sometimes. We have to improve our language study or something.
I am winning the hearts of the members here! They actually want to help now! There comes to a point when you can put your personality into the language and I now am there! They are always laughing because of my jokes and how I treat the kids here. One family who I love is the Luna Family. The dad is active, but never has gone to the temple because he can't stop drinking alcohol. He's an awesome man though! I love him. So, we are going to get him to the temple sometime! It's one of my goals. Also, I love Hermana Luna. She's so funny and an artist too! She always loves to chat and know more about my life. Then, their daughters are awesome! Little Valentina is sooo cute! I love playing games with her. She always asks her mom if she can sit with me at church and at lunch appointments! Then there's the middle daughter who I can never remember her name. . . guess it's true, the middle child in always ignored. Ja ja! But the oldest is Sheila. She's 16 and is awesome! She wants to be a missionary so bad! She went with us to a lesson, they weren't there and she walked all the way back and was still really excited to just be allowed at a lesson in the first place! Ja ja! She's way fun! But, I always have to keep my distance with her! Ja ja! I don't want anymore snakish encounters. . .
Well, the one guy we gave a baptism goal this week was Daniel. This skinny white guy without the teeth on the top row. Ja ja! He looks really wimpy but is a boss!!! He knows a lot about self defense and has had a few encounters lately with the gangsters. So, this one time he was walking to his house last week and it was kind of late. Then, these two kids asked him the time. When he went to check his watch, the kid put a gun to his throat. Then, Daniel knocked the guys arm away, whipped off his belt, and smacked him in the eye with his belt buckle! The guy, of course, fell to the floor and was swelling up big time. The other whipped out a knife and started to charge him. Daniel picked up a bottle, broke it, and then as the other guy tried to stab him, he pulled his arm past him and smacked him in the face with the broken bottle! Then, he just walked away like nothing happened! Then, a few months ago while he was working a night job as some sort of security guard, a man pulled a gun on him about thirty feet away and demanded all the money and what not. Daniel turned to walked away and then quickly took out his gun from the back of his pants and shot the man in the shoulder to make him drop the gun. Then, once again, he walked away like nothing happened. What a boss!!!! Ja ja! He's super nice and wants to learn more about the gospel. I'm not sure about his commitment level because he didn't show up at church yesterday, but we will bring him later.
Well, that's all the stories I have for the week. My foot hurts as if I have plantar fasciitis, but it's all good! I stretch it and keep working. I figure the Lord will bless me if I just push through it. I love you all! I am so glad to have inspired parents and loving brothers. I'd love to hear form the two older ones . . . Anyway, I know you're busy. I love you all! Chow chow!
Love,
Elder Cowan
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I Love Training!
Dear Family,
Wo, what a week we had! We missed work time this week because of being sick and also the holidays, but we came out with some great numbers regardless! We took out six more fechas this week! :) So, first, I have to tell my slightly scary moment this week.
So, on Monday, I felt the impression that we needed to go to the Matera, the nasty villa, and look for someone to teach because our plans fell through and I didn't feel like our back up plan was going to help in the work. So, we took off for the Matera, blind, but guiado by the spirit. When we were in the heart of all the nastiness and right after I was telling Elder Porter how you can feel a physical, spiritual difference once you enter into the villa, someone grabbed me around the neck. . . I was certain that I was getting robbed again. But, I turned around to see some punk kid with a "watchituro" haircut. Google it. Then, I realized it was ALAN!!! He came back and was visiting his cousins! We went to his cousin's house right away to meet Ramona and Rici. Also, Ramona had a friend over, named Yanina. They all have fechas right now and we visit them every other day to make sure they are all going to get baptized. Also, the rest of Alan's family is visiting often over there so I have been able to see the whole family again! :) That was the best Christmas present for me. We are now also planning to do Lara's baptism with all her cousins on the 21st! I'm so excited! We also have two more fechas for that day! We could baptize so many people that day if they will come to church.
Anyway, I now have a funny story about Yanina. Wow what a change in that girl!! She might be my favorite investigator right now because I can see the changes in her life already! First, she was kind of uninterested, then really snakish, then had a ton of questions, and is now progressing really well! So, the first lesson, she started to get interested in the lessons but also in me . . . After the lesson, they all walked us to the bus stop because it was late and they were worried someone would rob us in the Matera so late. But on the way to the bus stop, Yanina kept trying to walk really close to me and kept brushing her arm against mine and was telling me how my eyes are beautiful. I kept just walking away and telling jokes with Alan. They Alan asked what the word in English is for Ramera, which means whore. Ja ja! Then he turned and called Yanina a whore in English! I laughed and then asked why he said that, then he told me that Yanina is dating some guy but also is planning on trying to kiss me at the bus stop! Ja ja! Oh goodness . . . Don't worry, I made sure it was a firm handshake. The next lesson, I brought pictures of Carly. :) Ja ja! But now she is so interested in the church and wants to go and is reading a ton in the Book of Mormon! She's a capa. I was really worried at first with her, but now she is awesome. She even asked about the Law of Chastity and wants to live it.
Well, we also found Guillermo this week. His name means William in English, but he is a difficult investigator because he has a lot of physical problems. First and most apparent, he has one leg. He lost that from an infection in a cut in his foot when it flooded here once. They cut bit by bit off until it was a mid-thigh amputation. Then, he has blood problems with this device thing build into his arm that follows under his arm pit. So, he can't use crutches. We had no idea how to baptize, or even get this guy to church! But, he is reading and trying to learn more about the church. But then we found out that there is one member with a car in our ward! Hno. Luna! Yeah! So, we're going to try to get him to bring him to church. Guillermo is such a sad story though. He told us how he loved to dance with his wife and how sad it is that he can't even stand and hug her normally now. We invited her to join our lessons, but she denied. But I think she will join because she almost cried after the last lesson we had that we are willing to come visit him and be his friend when he has nothing in his life. I would love to see them both going to the temple someday!
Another awesome lesson we had this week was with Mari and Juan! They are this really nice couple and we taught them about the Restoration and they accepted baptismal fechas. The hard part is that Mari doesn't know how to read. So, Juan will have to read for her to be able to know the book a little more. I need to ask for some cd's or something so she can listen to the Book of Mormon. But, they are a pretty awesome couple and are so nice! Mari's sister died and her mother recently. Now her niece lives with her and we are going to teach her too. But she doesn't know how to read either! Ugh. We just need someone with no problems . . . Ja ja! But they are thinking and discussing the lessons later, which is great that they are thinking about it!
Oh and Mirta will finally be baptized on the seventh! She's totally prepared and is willing to get in the water now! So, we will have a wet week! :)
Unfortunately, Luis, our awesome Bolivian cannot follow with our lessons. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and wants to learn more, but he is getting moved to another providence to work for at least six months! I told him to look for the missionaries there and also to call our number when he gets back in town here. I hope he finds his way to baptism someday.
Oh and remember Selva and Juan? Yeah, we went by again. Selva might actually go to church now. We'll see. . . Fingers crossed and praying like crazy for that one!
Ok, so I have to tell you my funny story this week! Elder Porter is amazing. I love training new elders! Ja ja! So, I never really had any moments when my Spanish was really bad as a new missionary. But Elder Porter sure does! Ja ja! So, we were having lunch with the Familia Rodriguez. They asked him if he wanted more to eat and then he said, "Aqui (pointing to his stomach and then rubbing it) . . . Yo tengo . . . uh. . . la . . .plentitud. :)" Ja ja! Oh I was crying because of how funny that was! He said, "Here . . .I have . . . the fullness (as in fullness of the gospel)" It was so dang funny! The Rodriguez's were laughing so hard too! Hno Rodriguez sent me text saying, "Do you have the fullness?" later on and I died! Ja ja! Oh I love my comp. . .
Other funny story, since it's getting pretty darn hot here, we
decided to go to Walmart yesterday and buy some bed sheets. . .
Yeah, joking around turns into reality. Elder Porter's bed sheets
are white and pink with flowers and mine are zebra stripes. Now we
have a pink bedroom, with girly beds. Don't worry, pictures of our
super cool bedroom are coming soon! Now everyone wants to do
intercambios/exchanges with us! Ja ja! 
Well, I have officially run out of ideas of what to write. :) I am
so glad the new year is here! It's weird to think that this whole
year will be spent in another country. Weird huh?! And then the next
new years will be on the last lap of this race! Crazy. Oh speaking
of mission time, President responded to my plea to have an
extension. Basically, he told me that I just have to find one more
elder in my group that came here to want to stay too, and I could
have up to thirty days!!! :) WOO!!! I'm going to pull a Trevor. :)
From Elder Cowan to Élder Cowán! :)
Ok, I'll write you all next week! Love you as always, thanks for all your emails, and I can't believe how great of a family I have and all my amazing friends. Hasta luego! Chow.
Elder Blake W. Cowan
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