Fighting the Opposition

Dear Family,

I have to say, I am kind of jealous after reading all these emails. You all had so much fun it seems like this past week! Completely opposite of my week. ha ha! I figured that the Lord wants me to learn some real patience right now. Anyway, I can't believe how happy everyone is. I LOVED hearing that Trevor is seeing someone (finally). I love that Kevin is enjoying his summer and has met some amazing people! Seems like Justin still loves his movies and had some good family time this week. Dad seemed a little bored by himself ha ha! Mom, of course was is 100% family time this past week since she's related to half of Utah and and Carly is making me jealous hanging out with all my friends and kissing my brother! ha ha! I am really happy for all of you!

So, I am really having trails in Chascomús. I REALLY want to see some success here but I think the biggest problem is my own companion. He. does. not. work. I can't stand how much time he finds to waste. And every time I go to challenge someone to get baptized or go to church, he changes the subject and won't let people grow! It's driving me nuts. His excuse for everything is that he knows better cause he's been here longer and has more time in the mission. He tries to treat me as if I'm brand new here still. But I know the area better and the members like me better and all he does is listen to his mp3 player and waste time. In fact, right now he's watching anime cartoons on the computer. I have tried to talk to him but he honestly just doesn't care. He's driving me nuts with his lack of desire to work! I hope President lets me train a new elder or gives me a stud next transfer because I'm going nuts trying to get this guy out of bed or out to work or to do anything! ugh. Any ideas? I try to love him and I have given him a ton of things and tried serving him, but I don't know what works to charge the batteries with him.

Sorry to dump that negative note, but I need help with that. But on the bright side of this past week is that we had better church asistence! The week before we had 12 people in sacrament meeting and now this week we had 23! Almost doubled! We were able to get a family to come back to church and to have a good experience! I'm so glad they came. The dad needs to quit smoking again and they need to have more desire to wake up and come to the other classes before sacrament. This is the Family Oroño, by the way. We're going to focus on them a lot this week and try to strengthen their faith. 

It looks like I will be called as a counselor to the branch president because the counselor we have now has gone inactive. He went to the temple for the first time and was sealed and everything just a few months ago, but now he isn't using garments and doesn't want to come to church. I don't know hat happened to him. But I think I will be called as a counselor now and have to be the secretary too. Yay for more work! ha ha! Oh and I played piano in sacrament meeting last week. You better believe it!

So I'm out of money. Mission money and in my personal card. It's impossible to live off of 185 dollars each month. Especially how I have to spend money traveling here. So, I'm fasting a lot. ha ha!

One great thing this past week is that I convinced my companion to go run in the morning. He follows on his bike, but it was nice to go run twice this past week. Oh and last night at seven, he wanted to go back to the pench and I told him no because there was still an hour of work time. He sat at a corner trying to waste time and then I told him how I felt prompted to go down this one street and within ten seconds, I started talking to this guy outside with his car and he was great! His name is Pablo. I am praying that he will be a progressing investigator. He told us how his son died last year with nine years of age and how he always is the taxi driver to bring an active family to church and how he asks the family to pray for him in church and what not. I wonder how people don't realize that's a reference! But we are going over to his house this week to teach him and his family. But my companion couldn't believe that that happened! I then took the rest of the night telling him about how Michael Phelps won the butterfly race in the Olympics because he did just one more stroke at the end and how we can do the same to win each day. He kind of accepted it. So hopefully we'll have more success this week.

Also, we've been teaching Pte. Cignoli's father. And he committed to come to church but Pte. forgot! And he checked his phone after church and there was a missed call from his dad wondering why he didn't come to pick him up! Darn. I hope he can come next week! I know he'll feel the spirit in the church!

So, I'm still here fighting the opposition. Let me know if anyone has any ideas of how to help Chascomús. I love this area and I really want to help it but it's hard with a dead companion. Thanks for all the support and prayers! I am really grateful! Keep enjoying life!

Love,

Elder Cowan

"Come What May and Love It"

Dear Family,

So, This week made me really tired. With all my challenges and opposition from the enemy, I've been wiped out! Plus I started working out again. It was a testimony strengthening week though. I am amazed at how all the challenges I have received, I always end up appreciating them. Last night as I was finishing up reporting the numbers to the zone leaders, I was going through some old papers I had saved. In them, I found a talk by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin that really touched my heart and summed up my week. The talk is titled, "Come what May, and Love It" It was perfect for me and I remember that my MTC teacher who was really tough on me gave that to me and I hadn't ever read it until last night. It was exactly what I needed. Then I decided to read my bendicion patriarcal (I can't remember how to spell it in English). And this time there was a phrase that really hit me. I had been praying all week to have a witness of my Heavenly Father's love for me and in that blessing there is a part that helped me know that he truly does know me personally and he has chosen me for a specific duty and work. So last night was very special for me and a testimony strengthener.

Now, backtracking a bit into the week, on Tuesday we had to travel out to Dolores for the district meeting. It's a long drive. Almost two hours! And when we got there, we realize that the chapel had been robbed. The computers and projector and several things were missing. Someone who knows the design of the church had done it too because it was planned too well. But, after that, we had a great district meeting and shared lunch together as a district. During lunch, I had my first strange interaction with Elder Winder. He's the new elder that Elder Jarvis trained and President told me that I have to help re-train him to be a good elder. So, at lunch he was talking to the Hermanas about having to talk in sacrament and I gave him my opinion trying to help him out and then he turned to me and rudely said, "You know what? I don't care about what you think. So get lost." That really shocked me. I hadn't done anything to this kid! And perfectly planned, I was planning on doing an exchange with him that day. So, right at the beginning of our day, we started off on a bad note. So, when we got to the pench, we went over his plans and part of that wasn't in line with the mission schedule. We don't have dinner in our mission and he was determined to come back during working hours to eat. I told him that it's not what we do in this mission and we could go find someone to teach in that hour and he got really mad at me. So, I let him have his dinner hour. But out at work, we were talking about how and why people go inactive. It was all fine and then he makes this comment, "You think you're always right, huh?" It took me off guard. I asked him what he meant by that and then he wouldn't answer me and kept ignoring me. I finally stopped walking and said we wouldn't leave that spot until he got everything off his chest right then and there. He refused at first and finally agreed. He sat there quiet for a while thinking and then he explained to me that it's wrong to be right so much. I didn't quite understand. But he got over it and apologized and said he just got rubbed the wrong way. I made him read DyC 42:14 that talked about it we don't have the spirit, we shall not teach. SO, I explained him how important it is that we have the spirit together that day to help other people. It was just an awkward day. I don't know what I did to make him so mad at me. . . So, I am praying for Elder Winder to have a softened heart and to be able to get over his problem with me.

After the exchange, I had more problems. Elder Narvaez is not wanting to work at all. We have had way too much time in the pench doing nothing and he has this MP3 player that he puts on and listens to music all the time. I have tried to get him excited to go work, but he has no desire. He just wants to visit members and "drink the milk". So, I have been struggling with him too. Needless to say, we have had little success this week. We fasted Saturday to Sunday for the members of the branch to have a desire to come to church. Less showed up this week. Only 12 people including us were there. Satan is trying very hard to destroy the church in Chascomus. That just means something powerful is here that he fears. I won't let his plan follow through. And to add to that testimony, President wrote me and said, "Elder Cowan: Chascomus well live again. I am certain of it. There is a reason you are there and the Lord will bless you with everything you need. Le amo mucho--Pte. Stapley" It was exactly what I needed to hear too! I know the Lord is strengthening me during this trial and if I can just be obedient and a hard worker, he will bless me with His Spirit and to help this branch. He is looking over me.

Another thing that happened this week is that one of my shoes has ripped open. . . I think maybe I'll buy shoes for my birthday? May I Mother? And I might be taking out a lot of money while I am here in Chascomus for all the traveling and that we have to pay for everything else like lunch and laundry. Sorry!

So, I am glad everyone is having a great time in summer break, Dad working his buns off, Mom doing everything at the speed of light, Kevin killing it at swim, Trevor working up the ladies with delicious cakes (careful, read 2 Samuel 13 ha ha), and Justin working like a beast as usual. I hope there's a little time to relax in those crazy Cowan plans!

Tell Elder Bihner that if he wants to write his "brother missionary" he can write me a note and I will respond to him. I'd love to help him out too!

Remember that true charity is what we need. If we can truly love others the way Christ sees and loves each of us, this world would be a better place. I strive to have charity always for everyone I meet. Make it a part of our family.

I am so grateful for my family, friends, and anyone I have met and the people who support me on my mission. I am eternally grateful for the prayers and thoughts and the things I have learned. I am trying to be like Jesus. I hope and pray that you can all feel the presence of His love this week.

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

P.S. Yesterday was Father's Day in Argentina. I can't remember when it is in the US, so Happy Father's Day Daddy! :)

Traveling, Training & Teaching

Dear Family,
To be honest, I feel weird writing in English because I've been in straight Spanish mode for the past week! Well, I have no idea where to start. . . So, here it goes.

This week was filled up with meetings and lot's of traveling. Chascomus is WAY FAR AWAY from ANYTHING!!! I have to travel at least an hour to get to any other missionary. So, Monday after the transfer meeting, I spent all day in the mission home watching the group prepare to leave, and then leave. It was really weird to see the end of the mission preview. I didn't like it too much. . . I was glad to say bye to a few missionaries that were some of my good friends. Well, after all that, I got to spend some time with the two cutest hermanas of our mission, but I was feeling so bad that I basically slept on the table as they were trying to talk to me. I am officially awkward with girls. I couldn't even be normal! I felt so weird. And now I have hermanas in my district and it's so weird to talk to them every night on the phone.

Now that I'm officially awkward, I am the district leader. I had to go to a meeting on Friday in Banfield, but that's forever away so I had to leave Thursday night, spend the night in La plata and then leave way early in the morning to get there on time. The leadership meeting took ALL day. We even got to meet Elder Beck, general young mens pres of the church. It definitely shows that he is in charge of the young mens. When he talked with us, that's all he talked about! ha ha! But the leadership meeting was amazing! I learned so much and am so excited to start working as a leader in my area. I have this vision of dramatically changing my area and just leading by pure example and it'll be great! I'm so excited!

Most of the week was just lot's of traveling.

But, my companion is great! He's just a little odd. His father died when he was eleven and I think that's why he is slightly odd. He also grew up being the only guy in his family. Lot's of women. But he has a desire to work. He's tired of not working. I just have to urge him a bit to get him to work. But he works like a machine, without the spirit. It's almost like he memorized everything and doesn't show real intent with the people. We have to try and work on that.

So, on Thursday, we found this family and took out five baptism fechas with them! This family, la familia De la Canal, is great! When we clapped the house, they just said to come inside without having said a thing. They have some problems though. Lot's of smoking. People need to get married and read too. It'll be a struggle, but I am willing to work with them a lot! Their names are, Nilda, Carina, Mauro, Walter, and Ximena. But thanks to them, we are now leading the district in fechas! When President found out that we had already taken out that many fechas, he was surprised! I am determined to find about twenty people this week! I'm going to talk with every person that I meet! My companion is going to die of exhaustion ha ha!

So, we have been visiting a few families that are less active recently and they look very promising to return to church. We had an interesting day at church though. There were only 12 people besides my companion and me. And they're all old little people. So, there is a lot of work to do here! We need some new blood and an excitement to work in the work of the Lord.

So, apparently President thinks a lot of me because my zone leaders told me that before transfers they asked President to send one of the best missionaries to help lift up the district that is suffering. So President told them, Don't worry, I'm sending the best of the best. crazy?! I'm definitely grateful he thinks so much of me, but I need to go and do everything so I don't fall short of his expectations.

Well, I am officially over my time to write. I need to go be obedient to receive blessings from Heaven. Thanks for all your emails and the pictures! I love the one of Mom and Kevin together. I'm proud to be a COWAN! yeah baby! Anyway, I love you so much. Thanks for all your prayers. I am deeply grateful and humbled for that. This next week, be prepared for an amazing letter packed of new experiences and miraculous stories! I can feel it and I just need to act on it.

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

District Leader in Chascomus

Dear Family,

Well, I had a list of things I wanted to tell you about this past week, but I changed agendas with the transfer today and I left the other one packed in my bags . . . Yes, that means I got transferred! I am now headed for a little branch in Chascomus in the middle of nowhere! It's so far away that I have to wait for a special bus to come get us. So, I get to spend the day at the mission home with a few other elders and hermanas. We will finally get to my area around nine or ten at night.

My new companion is Elder Narvaez from Guatemala! President warned me about him a bit. I'll explain later on in the letter.

So, this last week, we had terrible numbers! Ha ha! I ended up doing contacts all week long! I sure prepared that next week with a lot of citas and people to visit though! Anyway, there were a few funny encounters last week. First, we contacted this lady outside her house as she was throwing her trash out. She was elderly and kind but when we tried to talk about religion she started to tell us of a vision she had once. She said that she saw Jesus with a white and baby blue belt thing on and that he had multicolored eyes. Then she said that there was some type of a mountain behind him and she decided that it meant she had to join the evangelic church. I don't understand how just about every evangelist has seen Jesus . . .

Another encounter we had this week was when we were teaching the inactive bishop before. We were talking to the family and then their daughter, with her gay guy friend came in and started to greet everyone. I can officially say that a gay man has kissed me now. Gross. I stook my arm straight out and tried to shake the hand instead, but he was really determined! I felt violated.

So, I had organized missionary week for the youth in Guernica and then we went to seminary one night to announce it. They are usually a rowdy group, but I got them under control and we introduced it in a very fun way! It's a bummer that I won't be there to see it out.

So, on Saturday, I knew, for some reason, that I was going to be called by president. And that came true. He called at about seven o clock at night and we chatted in Spanish a bit, then he was confused and asked who he was talking to, I started to speak in English and he was really surprised by my language skills! Woot woot! But then he said that he had four challenges for me. . . 1. He called me to be a district leader. 2. My new branch is suffering big time and there are only about 15 members asisting and there is no success in the mission work. 3. My new companion is going to be a difficult one. Elder Narvaez has problems with spirits and black magic type stuff. He believes there's a spirit following him around and he had problems in his last pench with that. So President told me that if there is any problems or if he tries to go down that road that I do anything possible to change the subject and move on, or if necessary, use the name of Christ to rebuke him or the spirit thing. . . Soooo, we'll see what happens there. 4. In my district, there is an elder who was trained very well and President wants me to go do divisions with him a lot to help him in the work. Elder Jarvis was his trainer though . . . I don't know what happened. We'll see. President said that he trusts me with this challenge and that I was prepared by the Lord to raise that branch up. I'm excited for the challenge though!

Well, I am running out of things to say now. I had a pretty good list of things that now I can't remember for the life of me! I hope everyone has a fun summer and does something meaningful with their free time.

I love you all!
Elder Blake W. Cowan