Melani's Baptism

Dear Family,

So this week was a lot better! Number wise, it wasn't what I wanted to get, but with health, the ward, and with my companion it was a lot better! First off, I am going to get this ward activated! I can't stand boring wards. I am going to just organize activities and everything! In fact, I organized missionary week for the seminary program and we'll be doing it in like two weeks! I'm pumped! Also, we started to do Thursday night soccor with the members which was so much fun! We had some investigators come and it was a great game! Guido, is our new youth investigator. He has been asisting [attending] seminary for two weeks now. We finally get to teach him this Wednesday and I'm so excited! He's this shy skinny looking kid, but on the soccer field he came out of no where and was a champion! We got along really well!

Also, with the youth, Melani was baptized yesterday! I have never been so stressed out for a baptism in my whole life! So, she had forgotten a towel so the bishop's wife took her to go get one. But they took the buses and they came back SO late!! We still had to do the interview and take the pictures and the baptism was already ready and everyone was waiting. But thankfully, she finished the interview with no problems and then we took a few quick pictures and the baptism headed off! It was really great! We had our new ward mission leader direct, the bishopric was there, all the youth, and several other members. Melani wanted me to baptize her, so I did. She's a little snakish but she's just a flirt with everyone! Anyway, it was great and she was funny getting out of the water because she couldn't get her feet back down and she doesn't know how to swim, like most of the people here.

I am continually learning patience with my companion. Elder Carlson has a great heart. He is always willing to work, although the work tires him out so much more than me. The other day, we were late for a ward division activity and he was hurting so bad trying to ride the bikes fast. So, I kept coming up from behind him and shoving him with all my strength! I got him going really fast! Other nights he's so tired trying to get back to the pench that I have him hold onto me and I tow him all the way back! I am always trying to serve him the best I can and to be his best friend. He often expresses himself to me at night. It's obvious that he's uncomfortable with himself and that he really wishes to fit in. I am trying all I can to help him develop into a better missionary and socially adapted person. I may have a hard time with this companionship, but I would hate to show up at judgment day and have the Lord look down at me and say that I was the one to help him and I did nothing. So, I forget myself and try to be his best friend!

We contacted a reference with Hermana Cuavas. Sergio and his family are great! The only problem is that he has an unfixed schedule and it will be impossible to set lesson dates and getting him to church. We also have been getting lots of reference ideas. We have a few ward families with the commitment to go and invite people to listen to us.

I don't know if I ever told you about Santiago. He is a less active addicted to some really hard drugs. He has been able to go three months free and returns to fall again. This last time it seemed very promising, but he fell back into the temptation after three weeks. He is going to spent the next two years in a rehabilitation center. I'm going to miss him and our weekly visits with him. I hope and pray he can overcome this devilish addiction.

We visited Santiago's father the other day and we were the answer to his prayers. We showed up because I had to use the bathroom, but it ended up being a very spiritual chat. He then gave a talk in church and added a powerful testimony of how the Lord doesn't always send angels to help us, but he sends Christ through His representatives. It was emotional and it was an amazing sacrament meeting. We also had several new investigators show up for church which was great! After sacrament meeting, we had a man show up in gospel principles class named Marcelo. He has been looking for the church! He was so excited that he found it, loved the class, and is so excited to start asisting [attending] regularly. He is going to be a fun investigator and I bet he and his family will be ready for baptism in no time. He said that he is looking for the true church, a church that teaches and perfects the members in Christ, something to bless his family, especially his kids, and something to give him peace. WOW! Talk about prepared. I can't wait to go and teach him! We should be having a lot of success this week with new baptismal dates and everything.

With Juan, he is excited to get baptized next week. He has to go to church one more time to be able to do it. He didn't show up yesterday, but we will go find out why this week. I hope he is able to stay away from alcohol and keep the commandments. If he doesn't get baptized next Sunday, it will definitely be sometime in June. He's got such a desire to wash away his sins and start a new life over. I pray for him a lot.

I should probably be heading off now. I am so glad I got to chat with a few of you and read all your letters. Keep being Christlike and loving others. Serve always and be an example of the believers! levantaos y brillad! I love you all so much. I wish the best of luck on anyone who has any finals and a happy summer break for the rest!

Love,

Elder Cowan