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
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