Learning Curve & Growth

Dear Family,

So I think I have changed a lot this past week. I learned a lot about humility and about controlling myself and becoming more like the Savior. I honestly think I grew more in this past week than I have in a long, long time. So it was a very successful week, which is odd to consider that I learned humility when everyone was praising the numbers we got this week. But in a way, I feel completely different now. 

So the week started off a little odd. It felt so weird to be with a new companion and in a new area. I just felt like I was doing an exchange with another missionary. But what I've come to realize is that this zone, the largest in our mission, depends completely on me right now. There are quite a few disobedient missionaries here and especially the ones that live in my pench. I have been a robot with the rules lately and I have been dragging people out of bed and making people study, bath, eat, and leave on time. I feel like a drill sergeant almost, but I can see that my diligence is helping each of these missionaries and our zone.

One of the elders in my pench is actually the other son of my trainer. He has been a problematic elder since day one. I remember when my trainer used to talk to me about him and his problems. Well, anyway, he has not been waking up in time for the past several transfers. He gets up usually around 10:00 every day! I wasn't going to let that happen anymore. So, I've been waking up extra early to get everyone up for a mutual prayer every morning and getting them all doing exercises or reading the scriptures. I have even sat by this Elder's bed and read the scriptures for an hour just so he could have a study in the morning and to not let him sleep. He has now been getting up every single morning cause he knows that I'm serious about this. 

My area was completely dead when I got here. The past missionaries went to visit other areas last week to see converts and what not because the Elder I replaced was going home. So, there was nothing waiting for me here. I put a huge goal, though. I decided to take out 14 new baptism dates this past week. And I did it! My companion was so tired from a full hard week of work, that he fell asleep in one of our lessons this past week. ha ha! But I'm whipping everyone into shape now. So I just decided to go out and work as hard as I know how and contact everyone possible. We found some amazing people and we were able to have some amazing lessons. 

One of these great experiences was the other day in the morning when we were trying to find a house and we were a little lost when all of the sudden, we heard a very clear voice say, "Elder!" It wasn't a shout or anything, but it made both me and my companion stop in the street and we both looked at each other. We decided to go back and figure out who it was. We went to the house where we thought we had heard the voice and we saw a parrot there. In my mind I began to think, wow, it was the parrot saying something similar to elder and now we're just doing a regular contact. We clapped the house three times and finally a woman came out and we shared with her that we wanted to teach her and her family about the gospel and how it blesses our families. She surprisingly opened the gate and told us to come in and teach her and her family while she was cooking lunch. We started to get to know them a bit and basically gave them an overview of what we do and what the church is all about. We invited them to be baptized and to come to church and this lady said that she works on Sundays, but she wants us to take her kids to church! It was awesome! We felt that this family will really progress and have strong testimonies.

This whole week was just packed with feeling the spirit. I think the members are seeing a change in the missionaries too. I have made several goals and I am determined to make the members and missionaries work together and to carry out the plans they make in ward council. I am determined to show everyone by example how to work hard, be obedient, and to love people genuinely. I am so excited for this second week of work and am expecting to see a bunch of miracles everyday!

We had a sister missionary return this past week. Her name is Gaby and she is awesome! She wants to work with us and she is so excited to help her own ward grow! We met her family who is slightly inactive and they have seen a huge change in their daughter/sister. We have been so focused on reaching our goals and being obedient, that this whole week just flew by! I don't even have time to write down all the experiences that we've had.

I just feel so alive and filled with the spirit! I am so ready to work and to help others come unto Christ in the way that the Lord has instructed us. Pray for my zone to catch the fire of the missionary work too. I want them to all feel this same desire that I have! I love you all and am grateful for your advice and your letters. I feel your love and I know that I am being protected by your prayers. Remember that you are also involved in this great work. You need to be on the lookout to give references to the missionaries. You are the biggest key factor in this work!! Share what you know to be true!!

Love,

Elder Blake W. Cowan