Challenging Zone

Dear Family,

This is going to be a really rushed letter because I had a lot of traveling and we should be out working as soon as possible! Anyway, this past week I wasn't is my area very much. I had a bunch of meeting and I did a lot of exchanges this week. I worked in three other areas this week besides my own. This week I have a few more meetings and I don't know if I'm going t help another missionary out in their area. My zone has been very discouraged and there has been some disobedience problems that I've been trying to resolve. It's a little tough, but I like the challenge. I have to carry the zone on my shoulders basically.

So a little update on the investigators . . . Hilda, Graciela, Luciano and a new friend, Luerdes came to church this Sunday. Luedres is 15 and five months pregnant and Graciela is 16 and smokes like a chimney. We let them both go to the Relief Society. They were having a great experience, but then they started to smoke in the bathroom of the church during the classes!!!! I was so embarrassed! The bishopric came and asked me about it and I had no idea what to say! It was terrible . . .but other than that I think that they had a great experience. Hilda is really excited to keep going. She lost her husband, her oldest son, and I think her father last year. She is really prepared to keep learning. Her son, Luciano, didn't want to go to the primary class because he was embarrassed, so I had to miss the quorum class and try to convince him to go inside the whole time. He was super stubborn and it drove me crazy. When we finally moved into the gospel principles class, I was pretty annoyed and the recently returned missionary, Gaby, asked me if I was ok. I explained what happened and she totally understands. I love return missionaries. They understand things so much better! I totally want to marry a return missionary. They have such a sweet spirit about them!

Anyway, we couldn't teach very many of our investigators this past week. It didn't help that I wasn't there for much of it either. My comp is kind of slow to leave the pench and not too motivated on his own to work hard. I'm working on that with him.

Well, I have to go. Sorry it's so short! I just have to hit the street and baptize!!! :) Love you all! Oh, and I'm glad I got into BYU. I need to call Elder Borgersen about housing and whatnot. I'll let you know next week. Chow!!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan