Striving to be a better missionary and District Leader!

HOLA FAMILIA Well...this week was really good. I had lots of new and exciting experiences! Some of the same as well meaning I returned to the same zone, but hey I like it! I attached a photo of me and my new comp....like I said before he is from Washington but his parents are from Mexico. Its cool cause I get to learn a little bit more about the country and talk more like them! He was pretty excited when he heard that Mexico beat Brazil in the Olympics. My new area is great and I am already loving it! It is a smaller city but there are two wards here and the hermanas or the sisters are in the other ward. They are part of our district as well as two elders in Durazno. Everyone is working hard and I am really excited to have a great change! It is really funny cause three of the four elders that I came with to Argentina/Uruguay have been in the area. There is actually quite a few shops and things have a lot of movement. The population isn't as much as my last area but about three times as much as Carmen...maybe four times. The great news is that there are lots of people to baptize and we are striving our hardest to help all to come unto Christ! I am so happy to hear that everyone is heading out on their missions...the only bad thing is I won't see them for practically four years. We actually have a baptism this week and we placed some fechas or dates this week for the up coming three weeks! If everything goes as planned we should have a baptism every Saturday for the next month! I can't believe how fast time continues to fly! That's cool you saw the elders from our mission that just went home....was it Elder McCellan or Elder Heywood? One is from Far West and the other is from North Ogden. I am working hard, trying to give it my all but I still have lots of room for improvement. I don't know if you looked up my area online but it's in the department of Tecùrambo....I think I spelled that right? It is exactly in the middle between Brazil and Montevideo. It is also where a drink was created called Paso de los Toros...its grapefruit flavored. It rained on Sunday so not too many people came to church, members or investigators, but we are going to fix that! I talked in Sacrament meeting which went well....on a good day we usually have about 40 to 50 in sacrament meeting. Being a DL again is pretty good. I honestly feel it motivates me to work harder and be a better example. The only thing is that I don't have to much time at night when we get home cause I have to call all the companionships and then report to the ZLs. I just do my exercising in the morning and then write in my journal(writing in the journal is one of my goals to improve). All in all I am doing great and I am super excited for the future. I love being a missionary and working as a full time servant of the Lord. I can't lie it is going to be a really sad day when I have to come home. We have had a lot of excellent charlas or lessons this week, all of which we have felt the spirit very strong. I have been working on becoming a missionary more in tune with the spirit. I am striving daily to be more worthy and able to recognize his presence and follow the promptings. Our bishop here is happy to work and is fulling his calling well...we are going to continue to work with him. I found out but don't know if I ever told you but the hermana (Watkins) that left with us is already home! She went home a little early to study! I know that this church is true and I don't know where I would be without the gospel in my life. The gospel along with my mission has literally changed my life and has made me all that I am today. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! I love this gospel, church, and my family! They are some of the greatest blessings that I have been given! I am glad to hear that dad had a good interview, that the family is doing well, and that everyone is busy! I will continue to pray for you as always and do my very best here so that I am as well as family is worthy of these marvelous blessings! LOVE YOU TONS and MISS YOU TOO! Until next week! CON AMOR Y UN ABRAZO Elder Bowden