Happy New Year!

Dear Family,

Alright, it's hot. It's too hot. In thermic temperature, we have reached 127 degrees in humidity! I've never been one to sweat a lot, but here, I sweat a lot! But it's been a great holiday season! It's been a time to reflect on my life, set goals, and plan. I'm very excited to start this next year. I'm still a little shocked that today is the last day of my black year (the year you never see home). It's odd because I start realizing that more and more of my friends are leaving and that I know less and less missionaries. It's the sign of getting old. . .

So, I know you're all anxious to hear about the transfer, but it's nothing too exciting! I am staying with Elder Borgersen! We're going on for three transfers together. I've only had Elder Porter for this much time. I'll be Elder Borgersen's first companion to stay with him for three transfers. He's taught me so many things! He's only got three transfers left now and he's still a machine and works so well!

The new assistant goes home with President in June. His name is Elder McLaws. He went up as a zone leader with me. He's a great guy and totally suited for the job! It'll be interesting to see how he teaches and works.

Well, this week was a bummer because we weren't allowed to work a lot! With all the events, we lost a lot of time. We had Christmas eve, Christmas day, my companion's birthday, a trio companionship, and a baptism. It was pretty packed. Anyway, our baptism was great! Karina was baptized in the morning and she loved it! She said that she wanted to do it again because it felt so great! She was baptized by Elder Borgersen and I confirmed her. She was such a golden investigator!

Speaking of golden investigators, we found another one! Her name is Paola. She was a contact of two elders that came to do a white storm here. We called her up, fixed an appointment, and then had one of the most amazing lessons ever! She had all the right questions! She loves the idea of modern prophets and scripture. She had already started reading the BoM. She accepted a baptism date for the 19th, but her only problem is that she works night shifts and sleeps during the day. So it will be hard to asist church. I have faith that with a little stranger testimony, she'll make the sacrifice to come! We're going to continue praying for her.

We had one other amazing event this week. The Silverio family, the one we've been activating and where we used skype on Christmas day, has been progressing unbelievably. We had a lesson the other day with them and their two sons, Tommy and Facundo. Facu is older and is about 24 years old. Tommy is only about 13, but both of them are very smart and know a lot of politics, science, religion, and are very good public speaker type people. Anyway, we taught them the begging of the Plan of Salvation and everything was going good until Tommy started his thesis of science. He believes in science and not in God. But as we were trying to explain it to him, his brother just bore the most amazing testimony that God exists and why he is the answer to the question "Why?" to all of the mysteries of science. It was so powerful, then brother and sister Silverio began to tell their own testimonies and Tommy was just silent. He felt the Spirit without a doubt. He just needs to try Moroni's promise and get over his pride. But it was amazing to see the three other members of this family teaching Tommy and us three missionaries (because we were in a trio with Elder Martinez). Facu said he wants to keep studying with us and said he's been reading about the story of Joseph Smith and even knows what the Urim and Thumim is! He said that he wants to go to church next week too! I'm sooo excited to teach them again!

The last thing from this past week is that Elder Ayala left to go home on Saturday morning. So we had to drop him off at the mission home on Friday night. We then were left with Elder Martinez until this morning. It was fun to have a third, young, elder with us and to teach with him. It was a great opportunity to teach him and to give him a sneak peek of leadership.

Well, that's about it from this past week. I definitely have to say that skyping home was the highlight of my week. I needed that so much. I needed to see your smiles, I needed to laugh, I needed to cry, and I needed the extra strength that you gave me. I have to admit that it's completely weird to watch Trevor with Kiersten. I'm such a missionary . . . It was like a sin talking to them and watching them so in love. I'm so happy for them, though! I'm really excited for their future! I was so grateful to be able to speak with each one of my siblings and my wonderful parents. Dad made me cry this time. I was expecting it for Mom, but when Dad began to talk about the end of my mission, I couldn't help it. It'll be very hard for me to finish the mission. Anyone who gives their heart to the Lord for these two years can't help but feel the heart ache when you finish and have to take off that tag.

I love you all so much! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you'll have a wonderful New Years!!! 2013, here I come!! :)

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

Feliz Navidad Y Prospero Ano!

Dear Family,

Well, I'll get the update on the week done quick and then answer some questions. But first off, FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO AÑO!!!!!!!! :) I love Christmas sooooooo much! The hardest thing about being in Argentina is the lack of the Christmas spirit. Christmas here is celebrated more like the 4th of July back home. Everyone sets off fireworks right at midnight. There's lots of alcohol and a lot of BBQ. It doesn't have the same feeling as it does back home. There are very very few houses with decorations. Nobody says Merry Christmas" and it's sweatin' hot out!!! Ha ha! But it is truly a great time of year no matter where you are in the world. There is still a way to invite the Christmas spirit in our teachings and to help others feel the love of the Saviour. 

We will be having one baptisms on the 29th it looks like. Karina is so prepared and she came to church again. We found out that in about a year she is planning on marrying that friend of hers in Chile that told her to find out more about the church. She's basically a member already. For example, she paid tithing yesterday. She's not even baptized yet!!! That's what faith is all about. Just trust in the Lord and do what's asked because you know it's true. Anyway, we will be ending my "black year" (the year you never see home) with a great baptism!! :)

Claudia isn't going to make it. She wanted to stop smoking so badly today, but yesterday at church, she told us that she got depressed on Saturday and smoked a ton of cigarettes. She's really depressed and feels that the addiction is too big and strong for her to overcome. It's so sad to watch her. I really wish we could help her more, but we all know that each of us must fight our own battles and exercise our own faith.

Griselda still has the problem with her daughter. She wants to be baptized, but is refusing until her daughter accepts her decision. She will make it some day. We have not had a chance to teach her daughter yet. We just need to show her how we're not a sect and that baptism is the best thing for her mother.

The rest of our investigators are still in the same boat. No one really progressing and all needing a little push. We did have the opportunity of finding Walter yesterday. He's a little "slow" It appears, because he was not really focused on the present, but his family was very kind with us, so we are going to try to teach them. We just need to find. We compared our numbers from those of the last transfer and there's a big change! Last transfer we found 41 investigators and this transfer, with one week left, we have only found 11. We've had really great contacts, but we can't seem to find anyone in their homes. This time of year, everyone has weird schedules.

Alright, question and answer time. Tomorrow I will be calling at 2:00 Argentina time. That will be around 10:00 Arizona time. SO be prepared. I will be skypeing from a member's home. I will be able to talk to Justin also, which I'm very excited for! :)  President told us at Leadership council that he's not too worried about the time limit. He said to be reasonable was all. He wants the calls to be inspiring for us to keep working. SO if the call is too long and makes us feel home sick, then it's too long of a call. So, it depends on what we feel is right. I'm not too worried about it though. We generally keep it to reasonable amount of time.

I am fine talking to the family however you want. If someone wants a personal slot, I'm fine with that! I would like to hear from everyone at one point, and then maybe separate for a few time slots, and then get everyone back together again.

Well, I'm not sure what else to say. I'm just really excited for tomorrow! :) I love the holiday season! I love you all too! I'm so grateful for all my many blessings. 

Merry Christmas!

Elder Blake W. Cowan

Amazing Week!

Dear Family,

Honestly, this week was amazing! The Lord did a great job distracting me throughout the events of the wedding. Elder Martinez's sister also got married recently, about a week and a half ago, so it was fun to talk to him about it. Anyway, this letter is going to be really short. I honestly would rather look at the pictures. 

A few highlights of the week were that we had an activity on Friday and we got 160+ people at the church and had a giant dinner! It was sweet! The bishop had to fork out a lot of personal money, though, to feed all the people. It was awesome, though! There was a small nativity by the primary and a chorus by the Relief Society and it was a great time!

At church yesterday we had Karina, Griselda, and Claudia all there and each had an amazing experience and we moved their baptism dates to the 29th. We are going to try and get them all baptized together. Claudia has improved with her cigarettes. She's only smoking about 10 a day now instead of 20+. Griselda's daughter agreed to talk to us soon and that's an improvement because before she never even wanted to talk to us. We saw her in the street the other day and we said "hi" to her and she was really kind to us. And Karina is amazing! She is accepting everything soo easily! We only need to teach her about tithing and we're done! They can all make it by the 29th if we just stay on top of them and help them get ready. :)

I did not get my Christmas package. I will be getting it on the 24th in the mission home. I'm not going to lie, though, I'm more excited than ever to talk with you all!! I really want to meet my new sister!!! I hope she's got lots of questions and great stories to tell me. :) 

Anyway, that's about all I have to say this week. We are struggling to find, but the investigators that we have are great and progressing really well! Pray for my white Christmas! We need these three women to get baptized! Thanks! I love you all! Merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

Tough Week--Love My Mission

Dear Family,

Well, this week was pretty tough. Nobody was home at the times we had previously fixed and so we got a lot of street time. But no problem! We also had a leadership council and we had a great time at the mission home for the day. I know my package is here, but guess what. . . They changed the rule this week. Now we do have to pay for packages, they say it's like three dollars though. That's nothing. But I saw it in the assistant's truck, but they are holding all packages until the 24th I think . . . So, I know it's here, but I don't have it yet. ha ha! On Christmas I will be skyping at around 2:00 Arg time and it should be at 10:00 Mesa time. I hope all the Christmas rush has gone by already! ha ha! But it'll be really exiting to talk to my sister-in-law for the first time! Carly sent me a picture today of Trevor and Kiersten holding hands. She was sneaking on them the other day on her way to class. ha ha!

Anyway, I don't have many stories for this past week. We didn't teach very much and we didn't find very many new investigators. Someone new is our other neighbor who's name ironically is Priscila too!! We live between two Priscila! ha ha! But she is a 13 year-old girl and has a lot of emotional problems. Her father abandoned her as a baby, came back into her life when she was about 9 and left her again at 10. He is an inactive member of the church too . . . He caused a lot of hate and heart ache in that family. Priscila's mom doesn't like the "Mormons" now because of that experience. But anyway, Pricila was on the back balcony and I went out there to check out the weather before going to bed. But she was out there and really needed someone to talk to. So I sat there and my companion came and we talked to her until about 11:30 at night giving her advice and helping her see that we're normal kids too. SHe had had a bad argument with her mom the other day and was kicked out of the house for a day or two. She went to her grandma's house and she was so depressed that she cut her wrist. She said the reason why was because she didn't want to focus on the other pain she was feeling and preferred the physical pain over that. She's such a good girl though! She kept wanting to know more about the church and she kept asking us why we're always so happy and how she can be like us. So we talked about the gospel and then told her how to pray and figure out if God exists or not. She had lots of doubts, but was very willing to try it out. She's a great girl, she's just very lost and needs to be loved.

Another great experience was that the Silverio family came to church again!! :) We went to teach them on Saturday night, but it turned out to be wayyyyyy longer than we expected. We got there and started to get to know ther son Tomás who is not baptized. While talking to him and his mom, Alejandro (Hermano Silverio), went and bought a TON of meat to do a BBQ (asado) and those are LONG to cook. We tried to say that we wouldn't be staying to eat but he obligated us to stay and eat. We got home at about 12:40 . . . It was a great time though! We talked with them a bunch and helped them with some doubts that they have. Also, they were set on NOT going to church when all of the
sudden they decided to go again out of nowhere! It's amazing! Alejandro told us that it's something about us two that is different than others that has brought them to church two weeks in a row without having gone in 23 years! :) So it was worth not sleeping! ha ha! We told them that next time it can't be that late though. We have a schedule to follow. But they came to church and we are going back again this week. They also are going to let us skype from their home. (It's a way nice Argentine home :) )

Karina is progressing really well! Although she didn't make it to church yesterday. I think it's from a birthday party that she went to on Saturday night and so she didn't get up in time. Anyway, she is SO
excited to get baptized! Unfortunately we have to plan her baptism for the 29th now because she doesn't have assistance. She's super cool though!

We haven't had too many great experiences this week. We had a lot of meetings and we didn't get to work as much as we'd like and the plans we had didn't come through, but this week will be better!

I can't believe my brother will be getting married this coming week. I was reading in the bible the other day and there is a cool scripture I found that reminded me of Trevor - Proverbios 18:22 "El que halla esposa halla el bien y alcanza la benevolencia de Jehová." So, I took that as in trevor has found his wife and has found what the Lord wanted for him and for that he'll be blessed. I also read in Génesis 2:24 that says that a man and a woman when married become one body or one flesh. I though that was a great analogy. then I thought of Santiago 2:26, It says that the body without the spirit is dead, so is the husband without his wife. I'm so excited for Trevor! I know that all of us have the dream deep down of finding our eternal companion. I know Trevor we'll be so blessed for making this covenant and I know he'll be so much more happier too!! I love the gospel so much. It united families and causes so much joy even though there are trials and terrible things in this life. I know that our Heavenly Father prepared a way for all of us to be happy and it's through the Atonement of Christ. I'm so grateful to represent HIM. I can show people's the Saviour's love through my actions. I know He lives. He has gone through it all. He understands us and for that, he knows how to save us. I pray that each of us can try to be more like the Saviour. That means being Saviour's to others as well!! We need to learn how to understand our neighbors and learn how to save them by being the answer to their prayers.

I'm so grateful for my mission! It is changing me so much. I am a different person that I was several months ago. I know I'm changing for good and becoming more converted and sanctified. And there's no feeling more special and gratifying than spiritual growth. In 2 Corintios 5:17 it says how we become New creatures in Christ. It's an amazing feeling to know that the Lord is forming you into who He wants you to be. and all he requires is your heart.

I love the gospel and I love my Savior. The church is true and I love representing it! I love spreading the gospel and saving my brothers and sisters here in Argentina. They're a wonderful people. I love you all so much and I hope you all enjoy the festivities of the season, especially the wedding! Till next week! Suerte!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan

Missionary Miracles

Dear Family,

Well, this week was pretty tough because our plans kept falling through and we are trying really hard to find new investigators and we're just not having the results that we'd like to see, but then I go and compare the amount of work we're doing now compared to when I was in Chascomús and it a HUGE difference! Even a bad week here is pretty good. But we only taught 19 lessons and last transfer we were averaging about 25 per week with tons of new investigators! But I can't complain too much. We still were able to witness many miracles this week!

First off, I have to give a shout out to Justin for his birthday coming up! Te amo muchísimo!!! Gracias por tu ejemplo! Sos increíble! Espero que disfrutes tu cumple. Cuidáte! 

Alright, so this past week we found three new people. Say hello to Karina first. Karina is a single mom. She has an 18 year old daughter who is 8 months pregnant and a six year old son named Matias who goes by Mati. Anyway, Karina is the lady that just showed up at the church last week and told us that she wants us to teach her! That's one of those ridiculous missionaries miracles when you look at your companion and he's got "baptism" written across his face and a smile from ear to ear! ha ha! Anyway, we went and taught her the other day and she is soooo prepared and amazing! We taught her the about the Restoration and she just accepted everything! We told her to pray and ask God for an answer about the things we shared with her and she asked, "why? I already know it's true!" Now could a missionary want any other type of answer than that? Let me tell you, "no." Anyway, we're planning her baptism for the 22nd.  . . I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!!!! :) And we taught her again last night and it's just too easy to teach her everything. She's so prepared and offered an amazing prayer! 

Alright, another new investigator was Griselda's husband who has had a rough past. He was caught with another woman a few years back and there has been some major family difficulties. Griselda suffered from a stroke and she is a little askew at times. She also has a baptism date for the 22nd. She's very nervous and her psychiatrist is telling her to take things slower, so it's going to be a bit of a battle. Her kids are extremely catholic too. SO, they aren't too happy about her decision to be baptized. She's already come to church twice now though. We just have to teach her now and that's all. Her husband is a great guy, he really is a changed man. He is a little hesitant about baptism for himself but he is urging Griselda to do it. He believes it'll be great for her.

Another new investigator we have is Julio. He was a contact we did the other day, he's 25 and just a stud! He is a definite lady's man, though. He is way smart and loved our first chat! We gave him the goal for the 22nd also and he accepted. The only problem will be getting him to church and to live the law of chastity. He always travels on the weekends to see his girlfriend who lives far away and he stays the nights there. SO.... getting him to church will be a challenge and we will be hitting up the law of chastity soon. He's a great guy, though! He's be such a great priesthood holder!

One of my favorite experiences of last week was with the Silverio family. The other week, Elder Borgersen and I printed off a sheet that had all the kids that were blessed in the church but never made it to baptism. This was one of those families. We went by and fixed another day to eat dinner with them! SO Saturday night, while eating dinner with them, we talked about them and their life story. So, they were both baptized when they were about 15. Hno. Silverio had an amazing conversion story! He had received the discussions from the missionaries as a family when he was 12-13ish and then they dropped the missionaries. But for two years he studied the Book of Mormon and one day, out of the blue, decided he wanted to get baptized. SO it was a Sunday and he walked out into the living room and told his family he was going to be baptized by the Mormons. They agreed to it and he got dressed and went to church after not having gone for two years!!! Now when he did go to church, it was a night, so he went at night, but they had changed the schedule. SO he got there and it was basically empty except for a few young women doing some type of activity. They told him to come back the next week and to talk to the sister missionaries. SO he did. They taught him all the discussions and was baptized and held many calling and so did his wife! But when he was the secretary, he got offended for something. He mentioned that he didn't approve of the bishopric talking about very personal things about the members lives. So they went inactive 23 years ago and never went to church since. . . . until yesterday!!! We had such an amazing lessons with them telling about how we got our testimonies and how we need to accept the will of God and do what He wants us to do, not what we choose. And without even extending the invitation, he said that they would be going to church the following day. And they did!!! There, they met up with old friends and had an amazing time! They enjoyed themselves quite a bit and it was a very spiritual experience! It was wonderful to see a family so far from the gospel come back to church and feel the spirit as they once had. It was wonderful! Although it doesn't show up as a baptism or good numbers at the end of the week, it was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had on my mission. I am so excited to go back to them on Saturday and to start teaching them more and to teach their two kids!

Well, I'm kind of out of things to write about now. It was a great week even though we walked quite a bit, lost a competition within the zone, and didn't reach our goals, but that's ok! It was still amazing! Every day, every week, and every minute you wear the name of Christ on your chest is an amazing moment. There is honestly nothing more rewarding than sharing the gospel with your fellowmen. I love the work. I love the Lord and I love knowing that I am an instrument in the Lord's hand to bring His children back to him again. There is no other place I'd rather be than right where I am now. 

I love you all and I miss you. But the Work is ever ongoing and I hear the Master's call. Till next week.

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan