Feliz Navidad!

Hey family!
WOW! It was so great talking to and seeing you all yesterday! It was definitely a long awaited milestone for me! I hope I can remember everything that I had to tell you cause I left my agenda in the house which had the list of things to tell you. First and most important is......I LOVE MY FAMILY! You all made my day talking to you and I know that I am extremely blessed to be among such an amazing group of people. Second is that I told you about the contact with the man in Toledo that got baptized and the girl I found in Chuy, but I opened the mission newsletter today and found that there was another women who I found in Toledo whose name is Angela. I don't know if you remember me telling you about her but she came to church once and then never again so my comp and I stopped teaching her? Well she got baptized last week! I guess that I am one of the missionaries who plants a lot of seeds and reaps the fruits later. I also forget the mention that yesterday I finished the Book of Mormon again! I was on a challenge from Pres Da Silva to read it and mark every time it said Father or God, Son or Jesus Christ, and repentance. I don't have to be done with it yet but I had I goal to finish before Christmas and I did it on the day! I really did have a great Christmas. I enjoyed all the small goodies that I received from you guys and the call. It wasn't quite the same here in Guay. The Christmas spirit is just not the same. It was not too hot but we did see quite a few fireworks and a lot of people had some parties. I hope that everyone here (at least the members) remembered the true meaning of Christmas as I tried to focus more on the Savior. It would be great if you were here for church yesterday. Just our family of eight would have been bigger then the branch assistance. We had five members and my comp and I. It wasn't too many but it turned out all right. My comp presided and I was kind of conducting. We had to bless and pass the sacrament to each other and then to the rest. This is by far the hardest area I have been in my entire mission but I am learning lots! It is in the times that are hard that we grow the most. I am still not exactly for sure why I am here in Carmen but I am destined to work hard and find out. I know it sounds like I am trunky and unfocused now and it is probably true because we are not having a lot of success. I am going to finish my two weeks of this change working very hard and if I leave that is fine, if not then I will be prepared for my next comp that comes. I am going to strive to enjoy my time in this area, work as if I am excited to be here and not just endure and wait it out. I love you all and you have helped me to become better. Without my family I wouldn't be the person that I am today and I wont be the same tomorrow. Don't worry cause I am sharing some stuff with Elder Taylor and enjoying all the candy. Hermana Ester the member whose house we were at is so great. When we got done talking to our families she thanked us and said she was so glad that we could talk to our families. She said even though I was almost yelling the whole time that it was because I was excited and she could feel and tell how much the phone call meant to us. There truly are amazing people here in Guay as I am sure there are everywhere in the world. Sorry to dad and all our exchange students but the country of Japan has dropped to third on the list of favorite countries now, with Guay in second, and America on the top. I know I am not suppose to be trunky and focus in the mission but I do want to tell you some thing real quick. I have decided that I don't want to do nothing when I get home. I want to stay busy and not waste to much time. This gives me two options. Come home three weeks early so that I can make it back to Snow for school. That would be kind of hard cause I would be away from you guys. Back up plan to that would be apply to, get accepted, and go to school at USU. The third option would be that you find me a FULL time job that I can come home on time and still work and be with the family. I know I don't even have a year yet but I just wanted to let you know what my plans are so that you can find out and let me know for the future. I just don't want to lose any good opportunities I could have just cause you weren't informed. I love you all so much! I know that this is the only true church on the earth today. I know that it is lead by a living prophet called of God. I know that we have trials to learn and grow. I know that Heavenly Father influences our lives and future DAILY. That He loves us, wants whats best for us, and knows exactly where we need to be and what to be doing. I know that families can be together forever and I am so grateful for this blessing to know that I will have these AMAZING people and relationships forever! I love the mission and am eternally grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to be here. To be His representative and do exactly what He would if He was here. I hope you all had a great Christmas and have a great New Years. I love and miss you all so much but know that what I am doing is one of the most important things we can do for Heavenly Father and know its worth every sacrifice. Until next week!
CON AMOR
Elder Bowden

Christmas Day--We love SKYPE!

We had the wonderful opportunity to skype with Elder Bowden on Christmas Day! What an amazing blessing new technology brings us! Elder Bowden looks AMAZING!! He is still very thin because they have to walk everywhere...no cars or bikes are allowed in his mission. He loves the people in Carmen and loves his companion Elder Taylor! They fit each others' personalities very well! We love our missionary and miss him dearly! He will be at his one year mark next month! YAY!!

Elder Bowden is calling HOME for CHRISTMAS!! :)

HOLA FAMILIA
Wow! I cant believe that we are only 6 days away from Christmas and I Am going to be able to talk to you all! Time has been going so fast and it is unbelievalbe that my long waited day is almost here! This past week was amazing! As far as the missionary work goes, it was alright. We are having some more success and things are finally rolling! The best part of the week was the Christmas conference though! We had P-Day on Monday then we worked on Tuesday and then headed to Durazno that night. We had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning again to make it there on time. Its all good though I am used to the long, boring, time to sleep bus rides. When I got to the church where we were having the conference one of the elders that is in the offices told me that he had talked to my mom. I was like...WHAT? Why you be talkin a my mom? He said he couldnt really tell me but that everything was all good and he would tell me later. I eventually found out that
it was to remind you to send me a letter, which by the way I LOVED! It make my already great and spiritual day even better! Both mom and dad said some things in the letter that I really felt like I needed to hear at this time. I thank you so much and am so grateful for amazing parents. It reminded me a lot of Aaronic Priesthood Training Camp
where we would also get letters from our parents and dont worry I didnt break the tradition cause I also cried here. I cant believe that it seems like only yesterday I was going to camp to prepare to be a missionary and here I am already half way through! CRAZY! Then we had a really good lunch, it was ravioli and then we took a mission
picture! I got to see all my old comps except my trainer (who is home) and my group from the CCM. Then after all that I found out that my family sent me SIX PACKAGES! I cant believet that you guys did that! Just to let you know everyone thinks I am spoiled and that my family is rich. I just told them that we are really blessed and I guess you
just miss me. Well just the let you know, I am in Tres Cruses right know. It is a big place in Deo. I came because I have to sign a paper for my visa. If I dont then I will be an ilegal immagrant here in Guay. I never said we cant do skype I just said that I had to get a web cam. I am still planning on doing it and I have my account set up.
It has my full name and my user name is elderbowden. I will try to do it at about 5:30pm here and it should be 1:30pm up there in Utah. I hope it works alright and we can see each other. If not I just call you and then you can call my back, but that is definetly the back up plan! Got to go! Sorry its a short email but Ill talk to you soon! I
am going to spend some money today, not for sure how much but we can verify later! LOVE YOU TONS! I know that the church is true and always will be. Jesus loves us and want us to be happy. NOS VEMOS

CON AMOR
Elder Bowden

The work continues...as hard as it may be! And--It's almost CHRISTMAS!

HOLA FAMILIA

Yo no puedo creer que estamos tan cerca de Navidad! Estoy tan animado para hablar y usar SKYPE! I hope you got that if not then you can use google translator. Oh what technology we have! Wow this was a pretty good week, average for here in Carmen. We were not able to do email yesterday cause the Library was closed and they still haven't fixed the internet in the church. We are still searching far and wide and re-knocking houses to find those who Heavenly Father is preparing for us here in Carmen. I have to be honest, this is by far the hardest area of my entire mission and it isn't getting easier. I think that Heavenly Father has sent me here to learn how to be more diligent and work with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I am struggling with being positive in an area where things don't go as smooth. I know that everything happens for a reason but almost everything here seems to fall through. I often wonder what I have to learn in the time that I am here and don't know if I will realize it before I leave. All I have to do is to continue working and do my best. I don't know if we will have a baptism, but I know if I do my part and follow the Lords will then all will be well. My goal now is to leave the area better then when I found it and in hopefully more than one form. It hasn't been as hot this week but its still summer. It rained a little today and has actually cooled down. Tonight we are heading to Durazno so that we can leave for the Christmas conference tomorrow. It is in Montevideo so we will have to leave at like 3:30 in the morning. I don't have a lot to tell you as far as the obra or work. We found an investigator who wants to be baptized and even sealed but it will take time. He is the son of a member and has lost two children do to some complications at birth. He told us that if God would save his son then he would change. Maybe it was Heavenly Fathers answer to help him turn his life around. I am excited to see him progress and make the necessary changes in his life. Vamos a ver. Oh ya about the Skype thing.....no one here has a web cam. I don't know what I should do cause I really want to SEE and talk to you guys. I can call by the phone as usual if you want, if not then I can buy a web cam. Let me know what you think and then we will act accordingly. Thanks so much for the pictures! I love them all. Its not that I am super trunky or anything just nice to see some things to help me remember what its like over there. I am glad that you are all doing well and are just excited for Christmas as I am. The only difference is that we wont be having a break here. I am not exactly the same as dad when he was in Japan but am still trying to focus on the work, the Savior, and staying busy. Sorry that the email isn't too long this week but I cant think of too much more to tell you and I am basically out of time. You don't have to send my B-Day package yet, actually if you want then you can wait and then it will spread the excitement out a little longer. Thanks for all you efforts to help me, here and at home (especially with the cards). I LOVE my family so much and will always be grateful for you. Tell the boys at home that I like the future missionary pics, keep up the good work, and don't stop with the cool poses. I know that this church is true. I know that our Father in Heaven knows and loves us. I know that no matter how hard things in the mission or life get, it will always be worth it to live the gospel. I know that it will bring joy to every life that I share it with and because of this it helps me to always keep going. I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and the time I have to meditate on His life and birth at this time of the year and always. I am amazed every time I realize the He has trusted me to be a full time servant of Him. I know we have trails for a reason and that they also help us to grow, exactly in the direction that the Lord needs and wants us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I love the book. I enjoy reading it everyday as I am touched by the spirit through its pages. I know that it was written for our day and we have it because of prophet called of God. I know we have these same prophets on the earth today that hold all the keys of the kingdom. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of us when we make and strive to keep our covenants with Him. LOVE you all, until next week (email), and then the Christmas call!

CON AMOR
Elder Bowden

We get to SKYPE for Christmas!!

HOLA FAMILIA

Its great to here from you all again! How fast the weeks are just flying by, I cant believe that we are already in December! You will have to send me pics of all the gingerbread houses....how yummy! That's one thing I will miss this year is all the traditions but its only for a short two years. Oh ya and if you could send me a few more pics of Michael's car, the TR6 (cause we have an elder from England in our district), and the house that would be great! You´re all awesome. We found out that we are having our Christmas conference on the fourteenth and we will be together as a whole entire mission! We get to talk to everyone, learn some new things, and eat food! I am really excited! We finally found a member, well actually here daughter, that has a computer that we can use to Skype you for Christmas, so that should be really fun. I am here in Durazno today. We came to play soccer with our district and zone leaders, it should be fun. Oh and we are getting a new mission pres, but not until I have like 18 months in the mission so its a little ways away. Hey what are you doing with the old Suburban? You haven't sold it? Are you planning on keeping it? Just curious as to that and what the inside of the new one looks like? You should send me some pics of that too. We have one new zone leader here in Durazno, but he is the same one that I had when I was in Maronas so he isn't really new to me. Our old ZL was from Roy and he had a job working where? That's right...the best burger joint around...Burger Bar. He said he worked there for over a year! He loves it just as much as we do! As far as the work goes we are still trying to be diligent and find to chosen. It is going a lot better for us. We didn't have as great of a week as the last one but it was fairly good. To inform you more about doing service, we had another small act. There was a woman that was mowing here lawn and has stopped for a little break. When she went back it wouldn't start and she barely had enough strength to pull the cord. We asked here if she needed help and she said if we could. I didn't have to use to much of my small gas engine skills but we did get it running in a few minutes! It was great and now she will hopefully be more receptive in the future. We are still trying to find some one to help get baptized and I know if we do our part the Lord will fulfill the rest. I am loving the mission, it isn't easy but it is all worth it! Church here in our small branch is getting harder. Our branch president is going inactive, its been about a month since he has come to church. I have already given like two talks and classes in the six weeks we have been here. Its alright though, it helps my Spanish and my public speaking skills. We still have about 18 people coming to church with us and all the primary. Hopefully we can get some more less actives to come back and some new members too! Oh ya one more thing I need if you could include in my next package. A pair of rubber doctor scholes, size 11.5. If you can it would be great. The problem with the shoes I have now is the the part inside my shoes get sweaty and then they just start falling apart as I walk. THANKS! If you could also send me the size of every ones feet in inches or centimeters would be even better for next weeks email that would be great, Ashlee's family too! Sorry I ask so much, if its too much and you cant get it done its all good, just when you can. Oh ya and I forgot to tell you the names of friends for the Christmas cards. I will do it in this one and if its too late then maybe you can just do an email. Some of them are one missions and I don't really have any of the addresses but you should be able to find them through Facebook. Thanks! Hey I love you all so much and miss you tons! I cant wait to talk to you all in like 20 days! I know that this church is true, every single principle! I know it with all my heart and not any doubts cause I have prayed and received an answer. I know the God knows and loves each and every one of us. I know and am grateful for His Son Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. I know He lives and all pain, suffering, sin, and affliction that we have can be healed through Him. I am overwhelmed when I realize that He has called me to be His servant here in Uruguay. I am extremely humbled and am striving to be as obedient as I can so He can always bless me. I love you, until next week!
CON AMOR
Elder Bowden