¡Hola Familia, Greetings from Uruguay!
Wow! This week was so short, It seems like it was only yesterday that I was emailing you guys. I still dont know if the other packages have come or if I have any mail because the caja (box) from the mission home hasnt arrived this week. I guess I will have to let you know next week. I am sure everything is ok, it is just taking them a little bit longer because there is more to send. This week was definetly better. We had investagators to visit and they actually talked with us when we went to visit them. I cant believe how many people say they don't have time to talk to us, but the only other thing they have to do is watch tv. I wish there was some way we could help them see what they are missing in their lives. I guess for now we will continue to look for those whom Heavenly Father is preparing and are ready to make the necessary changes in their lives. It continued to rain this week, not three days in a row, but it sure isn't pleasant. I remember saying before my mission that I wasn't going to be cold, but I was wrong. It's crazy how much the wind blows here. I stay dry for the most part, but it isn't always warm when the rain is falling sideways and the wind is blowing branches off trees. Good thing my mom told me I should bring a coat just in case, now I am using it everyday! My comp is a pretty good missionary, he has been out about 18 months in the mission. He also has desires to work hard and to do everything we can to find people to teach and baptize. The hard part is adapting to each others methods of working. Some times he thinks we should do some thing one way and I think another way. We are definetly working better together now and with faith our investagators will progress to thier baptisms. It sounds like you are all doing well and are all busy this summer as usual. I really wish that I was home to see the construction of the beautiful temple only 5 min from our house! It sounds like everyone is preparing to make the temple a part of their daily lives and are learning more of the incredible blessings we can recieve their. I have exciting news about the temple too! I will have the oppturnity to go to the temple with Pedro (one of my recient converts) when he gets sealed to his wife in a year! I cant wait to see them progress to become a forever family. It was also a great day at church yesterday, because Pedro blessed the sacrament for his first time and Diana (other convert) gave a talk! I could really see the differences that the gospel has made in their lives. I am so grateful that I could be a part of this magnificent blessing that they are recieving in their lives! The joy you feel when you see others testimonies grow is amazing! I don't think I can describe how good it feels to invite others to come unto Christ, repent, and be baptized. I have a firm testimony that the Savior lives. That he once walked to earth and did the same exact work that I have the privledge to do now. I know that He suffered and died so that He could know how to help us and provide the way to return to our Heavnly Father one day! I know that when we are obedient to the commandments and standards that the Lord has given us we will be blessed beyond our comprehention. I am grateful for the many people in my life that have done so much to help my testimony grow and to be where I am today. I love serving the Lord and doing all in my power to make Him proud. I love you all and look forward to hearing about the blessings you are recieving everyday!
Love
Elder Bowden
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
First Comp Change!
¡Hola Familia!
WOW! What a week! It sure is great to hear from you and be able to tell you how things are going. I included a few pictures again this week. The first one is of my new comp from Chile (I know he looks kind of like an American). He says he has other missionaries talk to him in English all the time and he has to tell them that he doesn't know English. The other is of Elder Stilwell and I in our Peñarol jerseys! Its pretty much the best team in Uruguay! I believe that they are playing against a Brazil team this week. The other is of the power I know have...keys! The keys to the house, even more the keys to the church, and even more consecrated oil! What a blessing it is to have and hold the authority/power from Heavenly Father to perform miracles! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the package. I only received one of them, but I am sure that the other is coming soon. It was perfect timing cause I got the package with the music the same day that Elder Stilwell left with his. I love having all the hymns and other music filled with the spirit. It was really good to come home that night and to see a US postal box on my desk after a semi hard day of work. It made my day! The newspaper was also a great idea. It is really nice to have some stuff to hear about what is going on at home, the same things that I kind of took for granted before. This week was actually pretty hard, I feel much better now. Getting a new comp and having to say good bye to my trainer was really hard. Especially cause of the different nationalities, not that I have anything against latino comps. I am actually grateful to have one now, it was just hard to transfer. The Spanish is definitely better now, considering that I can ONLY speak Spanish now. Oh well, I guess this is what I am here for and this is what the Lord wants for me now. I can speak all the English I want when I get home. Then almost all of the appointments that we had to go to fell through. It was really hard because I practically had all the responsibility because my comp didn't know the area or the people. Then on top of everything else it rained for three and a half days strait, and no one ever talks to us when its raining. Really this week helped me realize how much I have to rely on the Savior and how much He helps me EVERY DAY. He is always there when we need Him and he knows exactly how we feel. I know for a fact that He lives. I have no doubt in my mind that He is aware of our necessities and will comfort us in our times of need. I feel so much closer to the Savior after this week and hope that I can continue to grow closer to Him. I think my journal entries are going to increase in size and frequency because its the only place that I have to express myself in English, I guess that's not a bad thing. I did have another confidence boaster this week with Elder Avalos. He told me that he thought that I had been in the mission for little over a year. I don't know why he thought this, but I hope its a good sign that I am working hard and doing everything I am suppose to. Church this Sunday was good as usual, just something a little weird. We sang the national anthem of Uruguay. I didn't have a clue of what the words were and didn't really want to give up my American fidelity. I love Uruguay and all, I mean its probably my second most favorite country now. I know that the Lord called me to serve here for a reason and I am committed to finding every one that He is preparing to receive His gospel. It was just a little weird realizing I wasn't at home anymore. Speaking of not being at home any more I had another funny and eye opening experience yesterday that made me grateful for all I had back home. We were walking through the plaza in the center of town and I saw a police truck stop and drop off some officers. One had no shoes on and his pants rolled up like he was going to wade in some water and the other had a stick in his hand. I really thought nothing of it and kept walking. Then all of a sudden they started running towards a guy who was waiting on his bike in the plaza. He saw them coming and immediately started to ride away. The officer with the stick hit him a couple of times, but it did nothing. If it were not for the civilians in the street who tackled him as he was riding away, they never would have caught him. I am grateful to be a missionary and to have the Lord protecting me 24 hours a day! I hope all is well at home. I hope Fathers day was good and that all the birthdays are great. Did you guys sent my visa and drivers license yet? It wasn't in this package so I was just wondering. Sorry I have to go now. Love you all and thanks for all your prayers and support! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords kingdom here on earth. I know the Book Of Mormon is true and we can grow closer to the Lord by reading it daily!
Love
Elder Bowden
WOW! What a week! It sure is great to hear from you and be able to tell you how things are going. I included a few pictures again this week. The first one is of my new comp from Chile (I know he looks kind of like an American). He says he has other missionaries talk to him in English all the time and he has to tell them that he doesn't know English. The other is of Elder Stilwell and I in our Peñarol jerseys! Its pretty much the best team in Uruguay! I believe that they are playing against a Brazil team this week. The other is of the power I know have...keys! The keys to the house, even more the keys to the church, and even more consecrated oil! What a blessing it is to have and hold the authority/power from Heavenly Father to perform miracles! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the package. I only received one of them, but I am sure that the other is coming soon. It was perfect timing cause I got the package with the music the same day that Elder Stilwell left with his. I love having all the hymns and other music filled with the spirit. It was really good to come home that night and to see a US postal box on my desk after a semi hard day of work. It made my day! The newspaper was also a great idea. It is really nice to have some stuff to hear about what is going on at home, the same things that I kind of took for granted before. This week was actually pretty hard, I feel much better now. Getting a new comp and having to say good bye to my trainer was really hard. Especially cause of the different nationalities, not that I have anything against latino comps. I am actually grateful to have one now, it was just hard to transfer. The Spanish is definitely better now, considering that I can ONLY speak Spanish now. Oh well, I guess this is what I am here for and this is what the Lord wants for me now. I can speak all the English I want when I get home. Then almost all of the appointments that we had to go to fell through. It was really hard because I practically had all the responsibility because my comp didn't know the area or the people. Then on top of everything else it rained for three and a half days strait, and no one ever talks to us when its raining. Really this week helped me realize how much I have to rely on the Savior and how much He helps me EVERY DAY. He is always there when we need Him and he knows exactly how we feel. I know for a fact that He lives. I have no doubt in my mind that He is aware of our necessities and will comfort us in our times of need. I feel so much closer to the Savior after this week and hope that I can continue to grow closer to Him. I think my journal entries are going to increase in size and frequency because its the only place that I have to express myself in English, I guess that's not a bad thing. I did have another confidence boaster this week with Elder Avalos. He told me that he thought that I had been in the mission for little over a year. I don't know why he thought this, but I hope its a good sign that I am working hard and doing everything I am suppose to. Church this Sunday was good as usual, just something a little weird. We sang the national anthem of Uruguay. I didn't have a clue of what the words were and didn't really want to give up my American fidelity. I love Uruguay and all, I mean its probably my second most favorite country now. I know that the Lord called me to serve here for a reason and I am committed to finding every one that He is preparing to receive His gospel. It was just a little weird realizing I wasn't at home anymore. Speaking of not being at home any more I had another funny and eye opening experience yesterday that made me grateful for all I had back home. We were walking through the plaza in the center of town and I saw a police truck stop and drop off some officers. One had no shoes on and his pants rolled up like he was going to wade in some water and the other had a stick in his hand. I really thought nothing of it and kept walking. Then all of a sudden they started running towards a guy who was waiting on his bike in the plaza. He saw them coming and immediately started to ride away. The officer with the stick hit him a couple of times, but it did nothing. If it were not for the civilians in the street who tackled him as he was riding away, they never would have caught him. I am grateful to be a missionary and to have the Lord protecting me 24 hours a day! I hope all is well at home. I hope Fathers day was good and that all the birthdays are great. Did you guys sent my visa and drivers license yet? It wasn't in this package so I was just wondering. Sorry I have to go now. Love you all and thanks for all your prayers and support! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords kingdom here on earth. I know the Book Of Mormon is true and we can grow closer to the Lord by reading it daily!
Love
Elder Bowden
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Elder Bowden LOVES serving the Lord!
Hola Familia!
WOW! It sounds like you are all so busy with summer! I guess you have lots of things to help occupy your time. Its better when you have lots of things to do, well at least for me, it keeps me focused on whats important and makes me prioritize my time. Tomorrow Elder Stilwell goes to changes and my new comp comes back. Well as far as changes go I am still in Toldeo, but I have will have a new comp tomorrow, he is from Chile and has about 15 months in the mission. Its kinda of scary because I will be in a house of 3 other latinos, I guess my Spanish will get really good really fast! This week was super crazy! First we had our last district meeting for this change on Tuesday, that was pretty good cause we got to share our testimonies. That is the picture of my district that I sent. Then we had to go to Montevideo again on Wednesday for a zone conference! It was so good! We got to hear from Pres Da Silva and his wife and then from Elder Foster and his wife! He is a member of the seventy. They both gave us a lot of information that will definitely help while in the mission and afterwards too! Then we had the interviews for our baptisms that night, but we showed up an hour late! There was a soccer game in Montevideo so all the buses that were going back to toledo were all full! We had to wait and then cram in one and stand the whole way back! I am not complaining cause we made it back and our investigators were still waiting. That was definitely a blessing from the Lord! Oh and we got lost on the way to zone confere3nce and had to take a taxi to get there, that was kind of a bummer. Then we had the baptisms on Thursday cause there was a stake activity on Saturday and the girlfriend of Pedro couldn't make it on Friday. Then Friday was Elder Stilwells BDAY! It was great cause we had party cake that his parents sent him from home! Oh and we had another good cake from a member when we ate lunch with them! And we ordered a pizza! We ate so much food this week end I cant believe it! Then to top it all off I got to confirm Olga on Sunday! She is 75 years old by the way. I was super nervous but it all went good! Sorry got to go now. THANKS SO MUCH for all that you do. I think about my family everyday as I am talking to other families. I know that the church is true and that we are so blessed to have it in our lives! I am so grateful for the gift of the atonement and know we can be forgiven!
Love,
Elder Bowden
WOW! It sounds like you are all so busy with summer! I guess you have lots of things to help occupy your time. Its better when you have lots of things to do, well at least for me, it keeps me focused on whats important and makes me prioritize my time. Tomorrow Elder Stilwell goes to changes and my new comp comes back. Well as far as changes go I am still in Toldeo, but I have will have a new comp tomorrow, he is from Chile and has about 15 months in the mission. Its kinda of scary because I will be in a house of 3 other latinos, I guess my Spanish will get really good really fast! This week was super crazy! First we had our last district meeting for this change on Tuesday, that was pretty good cause we got to share our testimonies. That is the picture of my district that I sent. Then we had to go to Montevideo again on Wednesday for a zone conference! It was so good! We got to hear from Pres Da Silva and his wife and then from Elder Foster and his wife! He is a member of the seventy. They both gave us a lot of information that will definitely help while in the mission and afterwards too! Then we had the interviews for our baptisms that night, but we showed up an hour late! There was a soccer game in Montevideo so all the buses that were going back to toledo were all full! We had to wait and then cram in one and stand the whole way back! I am not complaining cause we made it back and our investigators were still waiting. That was definitely a blessing from the Lord! Oh and we got lost on the way to zone confere3nce and had to take a taxi to get there, that was kind of a bummer. Then we had the baptisms on Thursday cause there was a stake activity on Saturday and the girlfriend of Pedro couldn't make it on Friday. Then Friday was Elder Stilwells BDAY! It was great cause we had party cake that his parents sent him from home! Oh and we had another good cake from a member when we ate lunch with them! And we ordered a pizza! We ate so much food this week end I cant believe it! Then to top it all off I got to confirm Olga on Sunday! She is 75 years old by the way. I was super nervous but it all went good! Sorry got to go now. THANKS SO MUCH for all that you do. I think about my family everyday as I am talking to other families. I know that the church is true and that we are so blessed to have it in our lives! I am so grateful for the gift of the atonement and know we can be forgiven!
Love,
Elder Bowden
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
2 more Baptisms!
Hola Familia!
Wow! The temple is going up so fast! I cant believe how beautiful it is and how similar it looks to the SLC temple! It all amazes me! I think I might even consider getting married there...who knows? Sorry I didn't send the burnt toast picture yet, I forgot last week after I told you about it so I attached it this week. It is so great to hear from you all again and to know that summer is here and everyone is so excited....hopefully to work. Just tell everyone that there isn't really any more satisfying feeling then that which comes from hard work. I have definitely learned more of that here in the mission. Its great to have the support of so many people back home especially the family. Tell Tyler and Garrett hi too, tell them I need a job summer of 2013 delivering fireworks and see what they say? Speaking of birthdays and eating out....I heard your taking someone else out for their birthday? Let me know how that goes. She said she has also been playing a lot of golf. Dad might have to use those new clubs and see how good Kat really is? Anyways....I am so excited for this week! We are having 2 baptisms! One of them is an older lady named Olga who has been investigating the church for a long time and has finally decided to get baptized! The other is really a miracle sent to us. His name is Pedro and he is my first male baptism. The crazy thing is we didn't even find him, he just came to church one Sunday and we began teaching him. I guess we might have had something to do with it cause we actually talked to the lady he is engaged to and got her to come back to church. She went on a mission and everything and then went inactive. We got her active and then she brought Pedro to church and he wanted to get baptized too. He knows so much about the church and really listens intently to all he can to learn more! The crazy thing is that right now Toledo is a branch and they had a goal this year to become a ward. All they need is one more Melchizedek Priesthood holder and they can become a ward! After Pedro gets baptized then he can get the priesthood and then the branch can become a ward, it's so great to see it all grow and to be a part of it! We get calls for changes this Sunday so I will let you know how that goes. I am probably going to stay here in Toledo for one more change (6 weeks) with a new companion, get him familiar with the area and then I will leave. The kind of sad thing is that my trainer (Elder Stilwell) will most likely be leaving this change. Oh well I guess I will have to get used to changing comps! I heard from Chris Durrans this week and it sounds like he is doing pretty good in Argentina. Also got a letter from Trent, thanks for informing him about the whole mail situation. Well let everyone know that I am doing well and love you all! The church is true and I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus Christ is at the head of it all. I know that the Savior suffered and died for us, his brothers and sisters and he knows how we feel. We can turn to him and any time for peace, comfort, and happiness in our lives. I know that God calls prophets to lead and guide us on the earth today. I know that Joesph Smith restored the gospel and that President Monson is the prophet today with the same keys and authority. I know that the power of the priesthood is real and it is a great blessing to be able to have that power on the earth to work miracles in his name. I know that families can be together forever through the ordinances of the gospel. Love you all, thanks for all the support! Talk to you next week!
Love
Elder Bowden
Wow! The temple is going up so fast! I cant believe how beautiful it is and how similar it looks to the SLC temple! It all amazes me! I think I might even consider getting married there...who knows? Sorry I didn't send the burnt toast picture yet, I forgot last week after I told you about it so I attached it this week. It is so great to hear from you all again and to know that summer is here and everyone is so excited....hopefully to work. Just tell everyone that there isn't really any more satisfying feeling then that which comes from hard work. I have definitely learned more of that here in the mission. Its great to have the support of so many people back home especially the family. Tell Tyler and Garrett hi too, tell them I need a job summer of 2013 delivering fireworks and see what they say? Speaking of birthdays and eating out....I heard your taking someone else out for their birthday? Let me know how that goes. She said she has also been playing a lot of golf. Dad might have to use those new clubs and see how good Kat really is? Anyways....I am so excited for this week! We are having 2 baptisms! One of them is an older lady named Olga who has been investigating the church for a long time and has finally decided to get baptized! The other is really a miracle sent to us. His name is Pedro and he is my first male baptism. The crazy thing is we didn't even find him, he just came to church one Sunday and we began teaching him. I guess we might have had something to do with it cause we actually talked to the lady he is engaged to and got her to come back to church. She went on a mission and everything and then went inactive. We got her active and then she brought Pedro to church and he wanted to get baptized too. He knows so much about the church and really listens intently to all he can to learn more! The crazy thing is that right now Toledo is a branch and they had a goal this year to become a ward. All they need is one more Melchizedek Priesthood holder and they can become a ward! After Pedro gets baptized then he can get the priesthood and then the branch can become a ward, it's so great to see it all grow and to be a part of it! We get calls for changes this Sunday so I will let you know how that goes. I am probably going to stay here in Toledo for one more change (6 weeks) with a new companion, get him familiar with the area and then I will leave. The kind of sad thing is that my trainer (Elder Stilwell) will most likely be leaving this change. Oh well I guess I will have to get used to changing comps! I heard from Chris Durrans this week and it sounds like he is doing pretty good in Argentina. Also got a letter from Trent, thanks for informing him about the whole mail situation. Well let everyone know that I am doing well and love you all! The church is true and I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus Christ is at the head of it all. I know that the Savior suffered and died for us, his brothers and sisters and he knows how we feel. We can turn to him and any time for peace, comfort, and happiness in our lives. I know that God calls prophets to lead and guide us on the earth today. I know that Joesph Smith restored the gospel and that President Monson is the prophet today with the same keys and authority. I know that the power of the priesthood is real and it is a great blessing to be able to have that power on the earth to work miracles in his name. I know that families can be together forever through the ordinances of the gospel. Love you all, thanks for all the support! Talk to you next week!
Love
Elder Bowden
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