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