Time flies when you are serving!

Hola Familia!
Wow! Who changed the time schedule? I think they cut out a few days and now there isn't enough time to do anything? This week is already over and I can't believe it. All the other missionaries tell me that the first area is the longest and then it goes by quicker, but the time is already going by so fast! This week was a little bit of a test for me, at least a little harder. It started when I went on a intercambio with an other elder and he is kind of disobedient. I had to basically sit at a members house with him and try not to watch the NBA playoffs while he was enjoying it. Then we had a really nasty lunch that was basically fat and noodles which made me sick to my stomach for 2 days. Now I have some sort of a cold and I can't get rid of it. I got some medicine form the pharmacy but I don't know if its working. I cough a lot and have a super bad congestion problem. The bad thing is I never get to rest to let myself get better cause we always work. Its alright though cause I know that the Lord will do all he can to help me accomplish his purposes here in Uruguay. I also burnt some toast cause our toaster pops up but it doesn't turn off. Then I tried to get rid of the burnt toast and burned my finger, it feels better now and I can still type so I think I'm good. Its always great to hear from you guys and hear your testimonies, it always strengthens mine. We have an investigator, maybe two that will be getting baptized on the 10th of June! It so great to see some fruits of all your labor and even more important, see people change their lives to follow the Savior. I found out that Marbles is probably the second most popular sport in Uruguay next to soccer of coarse, both of which are played in the streets. The picture of Elder Stilwell with the kidnapped dog...ya that's right we kidnapped a dog.....Well its time to rap things up, I know that the Lord knows us personally and we can feel of his love and comfort when we follow him. I know that this is his church and he has called a prophet to lead us today.
Love you all,
Elder Bowden

Wow! What a week!

Hola Familia!
Wow is sure is great hearing from you guys every week! It always makes me happy to have baptisms on Sat, Church on Sunday and talk to you on Monday! It sounds like the weather is pretty crazy back home, luckily we haven't had to much rain lately. It rained pretty hard yesterday but it was a great day! We found a really young family who is living in a small home. We knocked or clapped mas bien and the guy came out. I thought he was just a brother in the family, but found out later he was the father. His wife told him to invite us in and we gave them both a lesson about the Plan of Salvation and how we need to be baptized to return to live with our Heavenly Father. We gave them a baptism fecha and now they are preparing to be baptized, all they have to do now is go to church! Thanks for the inspiring scriptures and quotes, its always great to here from the living prophets and those of old. I hope that they send us the May months Liahonna soon, I can't wait to read all the conference talks! WOW it looks like the temple is going up so fast! It will for sure be done before I get home. Too bad I wont make it back for the dedication, but I will be able to go everyday if I want! You can still call me son to....just cause I am Elder Bowden now doesn't mean that I am not your son anymore, that I will always be. It is great to have wonderful and supportive parents back home! I feel bad for all the elders that don't have this blessing. Sounds like Ash and Char are doing good, with my favorite niece and nephew, jobs, softball, and a new house! It sounds like you are having some hard times with the kids. I wish I could give you some advice on what to do but its hard to teach an old dog new tricks, I mean you can't teach a dog anything he doesn't already know. You guys are extraordinary parents and I don't know of anyone else who would or have done what you chose to do by adopting. I am grateful to have you as wonderful examples and I am grateful that you have made the lives of all my brothers and sisters so much better. Just remember one thing, Agency. I am reminded of this often as I talk to investigators and even less active members who don't want to do anything. Our job is only to invite others to come unto Christ, we cant make them do anything. Continue to be the great parents you are and then let the kids exercise their agency, cause if they don't they will not learn. This is how Heavenly Fathers plan for us works, we learn by making our own decisions and choosing to follow Him. It sounds like the Bowden bunch is busy as usually with all the sports, jobs, and animals, keep up the hard work and remember that there will always be rewards! Congrats on making it past the end of the world! It was really funny cause there was a church down here that put a bunch of ads up the said that judgment day was 21 of may and that the Bible guaranteed it! Lots of people actually asked us about it and it was kind of funny. YAY! The package finally came! Thanks for all the candy it was tasty and I shared with all the other missionaries who also enjoyed it! That backpack cover its GREAT! I used it in the rain yesterday and it couldn't have worked better! Thank you! I am glad that the package that was in Argentina finally made it back! Don't worry about the jersey right now, but if I do decide to buy one I will let you know! Please just make sure that there is like 200 dollars in my checking if you can! Sorry I have to go now! Thanks for everything and the church is ALWAYS true and will ALWAYS make you happy,
LOve
Elder Bowden

Another Busy Week!

Hola Familia!

Wow! What a day! This was definitely a very busy P-Day with lot s of stuff to do. First off, Elder Stilwell broke his tooth that he had chipped previously and then we had to go get it fixed. Yay! Got to go to the big ole´city of Montevideo again. It is pretty exciting to go to the busy places after you have been in a small town for a while. We had to be down at the dentist at like 10:45 but Elder Stilwell had never been there before and we accidentally toke the wrong bus. After we realized we were going the wrong way we asked how to get there and then finally arrived at the dentist a half an hour late. Then we had to wait like an hour cause the lady was really busy with the other missionaries that were there. It is the mission dentist and she was really busy this P-Day. Then we went to like the largest shopping mail in Uruguay! It was huge and had so many things it was crazy! I was going to buy a jersey but I didn't yet cause I thought it was pretty pricy. Maybe you could look up the price of one of the blue, Uruguay world cup jerseys for me at home and let me know how much it is, they are like 90 buck here! Then we went and found me some rain boots for the winter. They were 540 pesos which wasn't too bad. Then to finish it off we ate McDonalds for lunch! Not a huge fan of McDonalds, but its the only popular fast food place in Uruguay. It was a pretty tasty Big Mac with fries and a coke. Then we finally made it back and now I am emailing you! This week was pretty hard, but hopefully it gets better. My comp was sick and chipped his tooth then we had a lot of appointments fall through and didn't meet all of our goals cause none of our investigators went to church! It was stake conference and it was really good but apparently hard to get people to go to. Our mission Pres and wife spoke about how the members could help the missionaries, it was really good. Then the the temple pres and his wife spoke about temple attendance and than the stake presidency about the same and their testimonies. It was really good. We also had a member of our branch get sustained to be an Elder and receive the Melkezidek priesthood! Oh and we were going through our investigator records and found an Hermana Bowden that was here in this area in 2006? I don't know her or know if we are related bu that was kind of cool and weird. Oh and we saw the military personal in our area parachuting this week, it was like a test so lots of people were watching them come sown, that was kind of cool.Oh and the stuff I told dad about is Postum, an ELder who just became or new zone leader said his mom used to drink it at home too and he said it is the same stuff. If I can send some home I will try, if not you'll have to wait two years. Everyone here lights fireworks when the soccer games are going and when the teams score and win! Its always loud when there is a game on. I had cow intestines for lunch this week. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, but I am not going to lye, it was pretty nasty and think it made me sick. You guys are great, thanks for all your love and support and all you have done and continue to do. I have so many great family members, friends, ward members, and parents! I don't know what I would do with out all of you! I know that this church is true. I know that when we put forth our full effort in helping others and the Lord , He blesses us beyond what we can receive! I know he died for us and that He lives and we can live again with Him someday too! I know that we can receive help and answers to our prayers through the Lords book, The Book of Mormon. I know that the Lord is aware of all our problems, thoughts, and concerns and loves us. Her will let everything work for our good when we do what he asks of us. Love you all so much! Got to go, until next week!
Love
Elder Bowden

Best Mother's Day Present for the WHOLE FAMILY!

Hola familia!
Wow it was great to talk to you all one the phone yesterday! It is good to know that all is going well, you are about to finish school, and the summer is close! I am so amazed at the many blessings that the Lord gives all of us every single day! I had fun crocheting as you can see in the picture! I don't really know what to make so I just keep going and going and hopefully it turns into something cool. It does get pretty cold here in the morning and the humidity make the condensation on our windows crazy! I cant remember if I told you but we have the district leader living in our house now. His name is Elder Ojeda and he is from Colombia. It is different having someone in the house that cant speak English. Well the baptism went well. We finally got her to the font and now we don't have to make to 40 min walk every single day. It was definitely worth it though. We are actually working on baptizing her daughter now. She is kind of interested and her mom (Diana) really wants her to feel the same way she does now. I never really realized how good my life was until I came on the mission! I really do have so many blessings from the Lord and his church in my life! I am grateful for my wonderful family and all the sacrifices that they are making for me. I am grateful for all my friends, neighbors, and ward members that make me life so much happier! The Lord knows each of us personally and helps us when ever we need it! I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and how we can be guided when we follow his promptings! I always hear these stories of the Holy Ghost telling someone to do something miraculous, but really He works through small whispers. Many times during my day I just look at someone and think, maybe I should talk to them? Then I do, and it ends up being a really good contact and some times a great investigator. I often have thoughts like, give this person this folleto (pamphlet) or go down this road. I don't know why at the time but I just do it and later find that these thoughts are promptings from the Holy Ghost! It is great to be so close to my Heavenly Father and His son and my elder brother Jesus Christ. I am humbled to be a representative for Him for the short two years that I am a full time missionary. I know that we can be a force for good by simply being a good example for those around us and by standing up for truth. I love studying and learning so much about our Savior, His plan for us, and how we can live according to His will. Love you all and love hearing from you always! Thanks for everything!
Love
Elder Bowden

Another Baptism!!!

Hola famila!

Wow I cant believe that it is already to call home! I cant wait to hear from you all! We have another baptism on Saturday! Her name is Diana and she is super prepared, we really don't have to teach her, just help her understand what she already knows. Wow yesterday it rained so so so much. We were in the rain for like 6 hours after church and the wind was blowing like mad! It wasn't really cold just kind of a pain, I guess I better get used to the Uruguay winters huh? We have changes this week, but I am still in the same area of Toledo with the same comp, Elder Stilwell. Actually three of the four missionaries in our house are staying, only Elder Fry is leaving and Elder Hudson is getting a latino comp who is our district leader. I started putting the stickers in my scriptures, there is some many of them it is going to take a while, but they will help me find the PMG scriptures better. We are going to crochet latter today! Elder Hudson is going to teach us how, even though I kind of already know from grandma. None the less we bought hooks and yarn and are going to make some sweet stuff! Oh and dad is not going to believe this....but I am pretty sure that I found Postum! Down here it is called Cebada which directly translates to mean barely, but I think it is the same stuff as postum. I have been drinking it for breakfast lately it pretty tasty. I have also been eating some oatmeal and rice with milk, cinnamon, and sugar! Yummy! Well I don't have much time left and I am going to attach some pics so I leave you with my quick testimony that I know the Savior lives. That we can turn to Him at any time in any place and for any reason! I know He knows us personally and can and does help us when we ask. I know this is His church and that He is at the head of it. I know that he calls prophets to lead, guide, and give us revelation. I know that when we work our hardest and put the Lord at the center of our thoughts and desires that he will bless us beyond our comprehension. Love you all!

Elder Bowden