Well, I still haven't heard from Trevor
yet. I understand he's all lovey dovey with Kiki right now though.
Woo!!! I had an interesting week. It was full of funny moments, tough
moments, and really spiritual moments and all the hard work paid off!
But first, to answer a few questions, first, no I didn't know that Emily
Blair has a baby!! And Taylor's getting married?! So weird. We have had
to spend a lot of time teaching less actives and the active members to
strengthen the branch. President told me that if I couldn't raise the
asistance [attendance] of this area, he was going to close it. So we have gone from
12 to 36 in two months. Pretty good. Could be better though . . . But
I'm grateful! We recently have started to teach more investigators this
week. We found a few and they are amazing! I'll talk about them later.
But it is a trial every day and it is currently the most difficult area
in our mission according to the president. The area is a small city by a
lagoon that is mainly a tourist pass by or a spend the night and keep
traveling type place. It reminds me of where we stayed in Canada a bit.
Very calm and there's not much around. In about fifteen minutes we can
already be out of the city and into the giant plains. It's a big cattle
farming area too. It's fairly cold too because of the moisture we get
from the lagoon that is about five blocks from our apartment. We can go
several days without seeing the sun and in the mornings and at night the
fog is so thick you can't see the other side of the street! It isn't a
poor area although there are poor families. The general living standard
here is way above that of Tomás Flores closer to Buenos Aires. We aren't
even considered the providence of Buenos Aires I don't think. . .
People regard Chascomús as it's own place. It's great though! the people
are a little proud though. They don't as readily accept the message
like the humble people in the villas.
Alright, enough about the area. It's time to talk
about some events this past week and about the investigators/members
we've taught. So starting with Yolanda and Javier. Recent converts as of
about a year ago, they are struggling a lot with money and just trying
to feed their children. We have been humbled by them and seeing their
strong testimonies. The trial we had this week with them is that on
Javier was mad for a few things he sees in the branch that are wrong and
he was discouraged, not sure if he was going to keep going to church. We
visited them and resolved all problems and doubts and ended up laughing
together. Their kids can't pronounce my name so they call me Elder
Escoba! ha ha! That means broom in catellano and it's cute! These kids
are so loving! Their daughter is unbelievably cute and I want to steal
her! The saddest thing is that when we leave she cries so hard because I
have to leave! It breaks my heart every time. Well, anyway, Javier has a
daughter living in an orphan home because they can't afford her. Sad,
huh? but she is now able to come with them to church on Sundays and we
are teaching her. Her name is Ludmila. She's going to be baptized in
about two weeks and we have only one time to teach her!!! I'm not sure
how we're going to be able to do that. . . Anyway, she is very smart and
has a desire to be sealed to her family and she's only 9!!!! What an
example! I love her! She's super fun and loves us a lot. She ran over in
the middle of testimony meeting to come sit by us and she was showing
us the pictures she likes of Jesus and the prophets. Isn't she great?
She'll be baptized, the family will get out of poverty, they'll be able
to go to the temple and be sealed and it's just an adorable story all
around. I'll send pictures of them soon! And this is the family that
Elder Narvaez didn't want to visit because he said it was a waste of our
time. . . Sure. ha ha!
So the other baptism we're hoping for would be
Matias. He's very hard to teach. He's 10 and loses interest very fast.
I'm not sure what we can do to help him. We told him on Saturday we were
going to pick him up for church and then he slept in at his grandmas
house and couldn't make it. It was a bummer, but we'll try to get him more
excited to go to church and to listen more reverently. His mother isn't
the best example, though, either. She does want to go to church, but she
would rather stay with her boyfriend on Sundays. We're trying really
hard to help them.
Alright now here's the best part of the week.
Alejandra and Gabriel!!!! They're so amazing! SOOO prepared it is great.
Ok, here we go. So on Wednesday we had plans to go find a bunch of old
investigators and we were looking for Alejandra's brother, Luis. But we
found them instead because Luis was working. So we go in without much
insisting at all and we began to talk to them about their knowledge of
the church. It turns out that Alejandra grew up in the house next door
to the church and she used to go often as a little girl and played
soccer on the field we have. For some problems, they had to move a
little farther away. Anyway, we began teaching a lesson about how much
our Heavenly Father really loves us. We were using the pamphlets and
teaching, trying to apply every principle to them! At first they were
confused as to why we were there and we explained why and, using some of
the points from Preach my Gospel, we were able to show them how our
message is important, centered in Christ and how to improve their
lives. The TV was on and they were paying attention to it and us about
equally in the beginning, but then we started asking some questions to
get
their interest. The inspired question that changed EVERYTHING was,
"Have you ever felt the love of God in your life before? No, not really.
Would you like to feel that? . . . silence . . ." Wow! The atmosphere
changed. Their eyes were locked onto us. The television was obsolete.
They listened, feasted on the words we began to share with them.
Skillfully, we only gave them a portion of what they wanted to have
them want more and more of this message. We explained how God loves us
and how he gave His only begotten Son for each of us to be able to live
with him again. And for that reason, we also have to Gospel - the things
that Jesus Christ wants us to do in this life period. The questions
touched their hearts and the room was filled with that amazing sweet
spirit that speaks peace to the soul. We committed them to read the
pamphlets and that we were going to come back on Friday. Gabriel offered
his first prayer in his life to end the lesson and it brought a choking
sensation and a tear to his eye. He was touched already by that amazing
spirit, the Holy Ghost. We left the house speechless. Our excitement
burst out after a few short moments and turning around the block. We
were hugging each other and praising the Lord as the Sons of Mosiah had!
It was awesome!
Thursday was all too long. We didn't enter into a
single home. It rained all day and we got unbelievably muddy. The bikes
broke down. Elder Haynie's chain popped off 7 times. It was great though
for our companionship and we quoted a talk we read the other day, "How
lucky are we! We get to suffer in behalf of our Lord and King!"
Friday came. Unfortunately, they weren't there. They
left to a family member's house and partly worked too. Thursday repeated
itself.
Saturday was filled with visits to members and trying to help them go to church.
Sunday rolled around as it usually does with it's
fasting hunger pains and nervous stomachs wondering if we would have
success that day. The fasting payed off and the blessing poured through!
We had 36, a new record here, in sacrament meeting! Rebekah came. Paola
came. Slightly made amends, enough to keep assisting [attending] and not fight, and
we had a wonderful lesson with Ludmila and her family after the
sacrament service. We ate lunch with the branch president, President
Cignoli, and we ended up spending a long time their helping him feel
better because he was very heavy hearted with several things. He has had
such a hard life lately and is exhausted. After some uplifting words,
we parted to find Alejandra and Gabriel one more time. We went, we
entered in, we taught, the Spirit returned instantly, and lo and behold,
two more baptismal commitments!
The lesson consisted in reviewing a bit of what they
had read, talking to a few members of the family, and then teaching
about the Apostasy and Restoration. We had planned to use the DVD, but
for some reason, it failed. We taught the Joseph Smith Story with such
clarity that it made so much sense to them! The need for a prophet and
the power and authority of god - they could see the essential necessity
of the two. We asked them to be baptized on the first of September and
they accepted with joy! Alejandra recounted her desire when she was nine
to be baptized in the church, but her parents, being Catholic of
descent, denied her plea. Gabriel's enthusiasm also was apparent. He told
us of how he's searched through other churches and never found what he
looked for. He thinks that he has found it. They are going to read and
pray from the Book of Mormon.
Miracles happen. When the Spirit takes the lead in
the lessons, that's when to earth begins to shake and the lighting
strikes with deafening thunder, according to Elder Holland. Angels are on
the Earth. They prepare the hearts of men to here this grand, restored
message of hope of a Saviour. The Atonement works. A young boy really
did
see God the Father and His Son in a vision. The truth is back.
As you have read, you can see we're happily working
away. The Lord is comforting us in our afflictions and we have been
able to use the tools the Lord has provided to work this part of His
vineyard. I love you all and am thankful for the great example my family
has shown to me and in helping me discover my personal testimony of
this work. Stay strong, remember the Redeeming One, and serve others.
Charity never faileth. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Blake W. Cowan
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