Only 5 more months to GO!!!

HOLA FAMILIA Hey! I cant believe that another week has already passed by and we are almost to August! It feels like July just barely started! We had a really good week and are looking to place some baptismal dates in the near future! We didn't have any investigators in church on Sunday but we did have quite a few less actives that haven't been in years show up. We have visited many of them and tried to help them come....and they never came. It was kind of discouraging but yesterday they showed up! It was kind of unexpected but it made our day a lot better! I am glad to hear that the reunion went well and you had a good time. I bet it was nice to finally get a small break from all the chores and jobs at home. Oh yes I did get the letter with my ballet and I will send it back tomorrow! It was kind of funny and really cool cause today I went to the mission home to talk to Pres Armstong and their was a missionary that said he thought I was from Texas. He is from the south (Louisiana) so I guess he has a good knowledge of accents. Then after we went to the supermarket to buy our food and we meet a guy from Alabama! He had a really hard accent and had a great love from American food. He showed us where all the imported food was and we even bought Mac and Cheese! After he asked us if we were going to vote for Romney and I said ya. He said he was going to also! I hope its a good sign for him and that he can help our country. Who knows? Maybe its a sign of the time to have a Mormon president? I am enjoying the mission and I am honestly afraid to see it all come to and end. We have an elder in our district who is from North Ogden and he is going home in a week! He is excited about the BC temple as well and is hoping to attend. I love the mission and can't even begin to describe the feelings you have when helping others come into the gospel. Even though its not easy....the joy surpasses all of the trials and challenges. At time its hard to see the fruits of your labors and to really know all the you have done but I hope that I can touch many lives and continue to help everyone I can. I know that the atonement is real. That as we strive to repent and make changes in our life we feel His love and receive His grace. It is daily striving to become like Him that we can be prepared to enter in the Celestial Kingdom. I know that we are not perfect and we never will be but we can receive added assurance and hope for the future and we live gospel principles. I know that being completely honest with ourselves, others, and the Lord is essential for our personal happiness. To know that we are worthy of the spirit and to feel His presence is GREAT blessing that we should always strive to have. I know that we can always have the guidance of the spirit as long as we are obedient and follow the promptings given. I love you all and seem to miss you more and more everyday. I don't know how you feel but it feels to me as if I have been away for so long it doesn't really matter anymore, but to know that the time to return is coming closer it makes me want to see you more. Thanks to Heavenly Father and the restoration of the priesthood we can and are sealed for time and all eternity. If we are faithful as well as all those we make these covenants can live forever with their families. I know that God loves us and watches over us daily. He wants the best for us and will always help us to know what we need to do to follow Him. LOVE YOU TONS! Until next week! UN ABRAZO FUERTE Elder Bowden

Striving to be better Missionary on a higher level!

HEY FAMILIY! WOW!!!!!!!!!!! The temple looks amazing! I won't be there to go to the open house or dedication but at least I be able to go more frequently (seeing that its only 5 minutes from our house!). Yes I got the package...well I will today but I have to go pick it up when we go to play fútbol! I also sent the flag last week and it should be arriving there in no longer than two weeks! Hey I just wanted to tell you one more quick thing...my eyes don't sting when I wear my contacts, I just get a headache! I said before I think its cause I don't wear them that often. I think I will just try wearing them but for only an hour or two and then slowly increase the time. Let me know if Dr. Terry says anything different. Thanks for all the great updates, your encouragement, and always your loving testimonies. Thanks for helping me get everything worked out for when I get home and the advice to finish strong. Haha! That's super funny that some of the guys were doing a prank down at the house! Tell them all hi for me and that they better behave themselves. Thanks for the pie recipe...I have to let you know how it turns out and at least I'll have it for Thanksgiving now! One more quick question...Could you surf the internet and try to find a Uruguayan cookbook? I want to have one so that I can cook the food when I get home but all the books I have found here cost at least $50. I was wondering if you could find a different one or maybe one a little bit cheaper? The one I was looking at is called Comidas al Sur, Comida casera de Uruguay. The publishers are Marina Lombardi and Susana Soria. Thanks a million! This week went pretty good! It was kind of a bummer cause our baptism for this week didn't come to church on Sunday(so he wont be getting baptized this week). We did have another investigator show up to church! Her name is Jennifer and she is the friend of a family that are re-activating. She is only nineteen and already has a child so we hope that she will see that the gospel can help her and make the decision to be baptized. We have had a lot of good things happen and my comp and I are optimistically looking forward to the future! Its kind of crazy how fast time has flown cause in two weeks we have changes again! I can't believe it and on top of that...this could be my last area in the mission. I hope that I can continue to work hard and focus ALL my efforts on the most important things. I want to push myself to a higher level of obedience and really love the mission. I do love serving the Lord and wouldn't trade this time for anything but I hope that I can strive to be a happy missionary and not dwell on what happens around me. I want the mission to be part of who I am and not just something I do. It has already impacted me lots and forever changed my life but I know that I can always do a little more. We had an activity at the church on Saturday. It was with our ward as went pretty well. We have two boys show up that we invited to play soccer and another family that weren't members. The only problem is that they are relatives of a family in our ward but live in Montevideo(not our area). I guess the Lord prepares people all over and that if they really want to have the gospel they can be baptized there! I know that this church is true without any doubts. I know that Heavenly Father and the Savior live and love us. I know that they know what is best for us and if we follow there guidance we can be truly happy. I know that if we are willing and give our time and talents to the Lord, He will transform us to become the sons and daughters He needs us to be....especially to be prepared to live with Him again. I know that His atoning sacrifice is infinite and although we may not understand it all, we can receive peace knowing that if we repent we can be cleansed and purified of our sins and mistakes. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it helps me to be a better person and missionary as I apply what I learn from it. I love this gospel and am eternally grateful to have this knowledge and responsibility. I love you all and cant ask for a better family and support team! Until next week! I miss you lots! Take care and enjoy the beauties of life! CON AMOR UN ABRAZO FUERTE Elder Bowden

A baptism and Pumpkin Pie!

¡HOLA MEJOR FAMILIA DEL MUNDO! Hey just so you know...the baptism went great(as you can tell from the pictures)! The other pic was of the pumpkin pie I made....it was entirely from memory but ended up turning out good. You should send me the real recipe anyways and then I will be able to compare. This past week was great and luckily not as stressing as your week. We did have the baptism in cold water and Carlos forgot his white clothes at first but we overcame Satan's opposition and had the baptism! Its feels good to finally have one after quite a while....It wasn't me but only the spirit working through me and my comp to help him. We had another one planned for this Saturday but he didn't make it to church on Sunday....so maybe in another week? I also know that it is extremely important to assist church on Sunday and be prepared before to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants. Our new mission President is great! Different than Pres Da Silva but still great. Our entire interview was in English which was weird but really good. He gave me some advice on making decisions and being a successful missionary. I have thought about it lots.....made the list of pros and cons, and even fasted and prayed. I honestly feel that I should stay here in the mission until I finish and come home to spend time with the family. Then I will be able to go with everyone else in the fall (bros, sisters, and cousins). I just hope that you guys can land a job for me and I'll have lots to learn and do. Pres Armstrong has a fairly large family and most of them are already married, but he does have a daughter who is studying here and a son who just finished his mission in Texas. They have made a blog for the mission and the address is...missionmontevideouruguay.blogspot.com.....there will be updates and photos there also! I cant believe I only have 6 months left! I know that 6 months is 6 months but it will pass faster than I know it! I know that I have to work my hardest and give it all I got. I am striving to follow the advice of giving by Pres Eyring who said ``a missionary is successful when......he is worthy to have and follows the spirit. I also have a new goal....to be the second best missionary in the mission and make my companion the first. It has a lot to do with charity and I hope that I can love my comp as well as all those with whom I speak to. I miss you all and love you lots but know that the mission is all worth it. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything! I LOVE being a full time servant of the Lord and striving to help as many people as I can. I will see if I can get the flag sent this week and it should be there in about 2 weeks. I hope that despite the fires....things are going well and that fireworks ended alright. I hope that all are enjoying the summer break and the fun camps. I know that the church is true and that Christ is at the head of it. I know He lives and loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Him and guides us in our lives. I know that gospel principles followed and covenants we keep are the true way to happiness and nothing else matters! Until next week! LOVE you all! CON AMOR UN ABRAZO FUERTE Elder Bowden

Baptism on Saturday!!

HOLA FAMILIA It was great to hear from the fam and see all the great pictures! It looks like everyone had a great day and enjoyed the temple! Congrats! We also had a great week....kind of pressured to reach our goals. I honestly love doing the work but sometimes I am missing the will to keep going when things don't go perfect. I know the a mission isn't easy but through our sacrifices and trials we wil grow and become stronger. I am SO EXCITED for this Saturday. We are finally having another baptism and it feels great! Carlos will be baptized on Saturday, most likely by the bishop. His mom came to church and Sunday and hopefully it will become a habit again. She is less active and the goal is to reactivate the whole family. It's not dads fault but I honestly can feel the mission is coming to the end...I am not trunky and I am going to finish my hardest but almost everyone I know is going home now! SCARY! Hey I didn't get a flag last week but I will check again today and let you know...what happens if I can't get one? Oh tell Jay happy B-Day and there should be a card arriving I am going to send it tomorrow. A few more quick questions...did Grandma Debbie move out? Just wondering I hope all goes well with them. Did you end up sending that package? Not that I want you to send one...you don't have to but you said you were and it hasn't come? Just wanted to know if it got lost or what? Today we are going to play soccer again it should be fun and then off to do some shopping. I think I might make chicken noodle soup today...it's a bit chilly. Don't worry about my feet that was only once but I took a pic a few weeks later...it just barely went away. I just need to tighten the shoe laces on my nikes so that it doesnt happen again. No...my shoes are fine! I am so excited for the BC temple and it sounds like you are too. I hope that all is well at home with the fires and I know that God will always protect my family. Remember we need to keep our priorities straight and put the gospel first in everything. I know that when we do, the Lord will bless us,more than we can even imagine. I continue to pray for you daily and know that all will work out. They called and asked me what airport I'll be flying in too when I go home this week. That's what they call the "trunky" call and I hope that we haven't changed stakes. I am sorry if you wanted to come pick me up but it's too late now.....haha. I am going to meet the new mission pres tomorrow, Presidente Armstrong. We have interviews and zone conference with him. I am going to ask him about going home for school or work and all that good stuff. I know that I have to make the choice and it needs to be by the spirit but what do you guys think? Let me know if I could have a job and the details for school, so that I can get that worked out! Thanks for all you do...you are great parents and I couldn't possibly ask for better ones! I am excited for the future and it makes me so happy to be a full time servant of the Lord! I know that He lives and this is His work. I know that we can be cleansed of our sins through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I know that families can be together forever! I love and miss you all! Until next week! CON AMOR UN ABRAZO Elder Bowden

New Mission President and RAIN!!

HOLA FAMILIA! WOW! Just a quick question? How many emails have I sent home that start with the word WOW? I assume its lots because I always feel the same way....oh well? This week was good....it went by fast to say the least. We are working well and getting excited to have our baptism on the 14th! I cant believe all of the great but crazy stuff that is going on back home. Congrats to dad who is having is interview tomorrow (or actually today). I will be praying for him and know that he we be guided by our Heavenly Father. Congrats to Ash, Char, Tal, and Jay for their exciting day on Saturday and even though I wont be there I know that making their family eternal is whats most important. Sorry to hear that sales are down this year but I hope things end well with the fires. If you want I will send you some of our rain...its rained almost three days in a row. Someone here told us that it was really bad in Colorado and that some even had to evacuate. I am glad that everyone received their cards and letters and there will be more on the way. Tell Katie happy B-Day and that I didn't forget but didn't have time to send a card so it will be a little late. I will for sure find a Uruguay flag and send it home (that way I can say I played a part in the temple dedication). We received an email today from our new mission pres, Presidente Armstrong. I cant believe that we have already changed and it wasn't too big of a deal. I am excited to continue working and eventually get to know him and his wife as well. It will be a short time but it will be a great 6 months. I will for sure fill out the ballet stuff when it gets here...thanks a million! I have been excited for Independence Day...the Fourth of July! Today my comp and I are celebrating by cooking good ole` hamburgers and hotdogs! It should be tasty and is an appropriate way to celebrate. After we are going to relax and write letters. I am honestly feeling scared knowing that my time as a missionary is coming to an end. I don't want to give it up and love the amazing opportunity I have to share this glorious gospel! I have to work my hardest and give it all I got so that I can finish on top. At least to say I did all that I could and I have no regrets. I love you all so much and am eternally grateful for the amazing family I have. I am grateful for all that you do for me and all the love/support I receive. I pray for you daily and know that Heavenly Father is watching over you. I know that the mission is a sacrifice in many ways but it is definitely worth it. I wouldn't trade this time I have to serve for anything else in the world. I know that God lives. That He loves us and wants the best for us, His children. I know that Jesus Christ is His Son and our older brother and that He suffered incomprehensible pain so that if we repent and endure to the endure to the end after making the required covenants, we can live with them again. I know that we have been given the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us on this journey. I know that through the restored church which is lead by a living prophet this saving ordinances by the correct authority are available to us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that with the Bible we are giving wise counsel for our day. If we study them and follow the spirit through humble prayer we will not be lead astray. I know that families can be together forever and I hope that everyone can see that this is why we do this great work. I love you all so much and miss you even more! Until next week! CON AMOR UN ABRAZO FUERTE Elder Bowden PS- Other question...could you ask Dr. Terry about this....I am having headaches whenever I use my contacts. I think its because I use them so little and then when I do put them it it strains my eyes/head. Let me know if he says different and what I can do to help it? Querido Barrio de Perry! I cant believe how fast time flies! I am sure you are all thinking.....only a few months ago Elder Bowden left and I am sure he is doing great. You are right about the fact the am I doing great but it has been a little more than a few months! I just wanted to let you know that I am grateful for the amazing people you are. I have been forever touched by all of you and the many great leaders I enjoyed having as a youngin`. If it wasn't for such a great ward who also supports me and gave such a great example I might not have got to where I am today. I know that serving the Lord in any way we can (missions, home/visiting teaching, fulling callings, raising families, tec) brings us great joy. I know that we were sent to this earth with a plan and a purpose and as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ we will remain on course to return back to our Heavenly Father. I know that Christ lives and He died to provide for us the opportunity to obtain exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. Never doubt the power that we all have as children of God. That we can and must reach out to all those we are in need of our help whether they realize it or not. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is the keystone of our religion. It is a manual given to us in our day to help us personally and as a family. I know they as we study it, we will be edified, enlighten, and guided by the spirit. I know that prayer is a sacred privilege and not just a duty. That we need more than anything to communicate daily with our Father in Heaven. Remember the scripture in Mosiah 2:41 and always strive to live the commandments. I know that we are blessed by obedience. Until I get home! CON AMOR LES QUIERO MUCHO Elder Bowden