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