Baptism Dates Set! Missionary work is AMAZING!

HOLA MI QUERIDO FAMILIA INCREIBLE Well.....thanks for the great report and to hear that so much good is happening! We also had an amazing week filled with so much success! This was one of the weeks that makes me want to be a full time missionary forever! I LOVE THE MISSION! So I hope that all who are going or preparing to go can grow to love it as well. So on Tuesday we had the last district meeting of the change. I don't think that I told you last week cause I didn't think anything was really going to change. I was right....our entire district is exactly the same. So we will be here for at least another six weeks! I'm excited to see what happens! Then after our district meeting we did an intercambio with the other elders. I worked in my area with Elder Phillips from England. He is also a new missionary but is progressing very well and is learning all he needs to be an excellent missionary. Elder Chumpitaz is also doing well and I see that he prepares himself more and more everyday to give it his all. We placed a couple of baptism dates this week. One with Camila who is the 10 year old girl who rode her bike to church. She is excited to learn and is preparing herself so be baptized on the 10th of November. We gave her a Book of Mormon and is hopefully reading it. We also talked to another girl Silvina that we found last week and came to church. She is 13 years old and also showing lots of excitement to be baptized. They both came to church on Sunday and are progressing very well! We are working hard to teach them all they need to know, to gain a testimony, and to become truly converted. We also found seven new investigators this week! We are anxiously waiting to go back to visit them this week and invite them to come unto Christ and be baptized. We had the conference with Elder Oaks on Saturday! IT WAS AMAZING! We all got to shake his hand and meet him. Just so you know he even said or pronounced our name right. We also heard from Elder Viñas of the seventy and Elder Hallstrom of the presidency of the seventy and you cant forget their wives! We were all edified by the spirit and I learned of my new things I have to improve. He didn't talk about anything complicated but did only as the prophets of old....cried repentance. He talked about how we must be examples of repentance and to help the members and the investigators to do it as well. He said that it mentions the word baptism 980 times in the scriptures and that less then 10 times it mentions it without the word repentance. He talked about how we must change to be converted. That new members have to be called unto repentance, they have to understand that this is a new way of life and they must change to become like the Savior. They have to understand that they must change to be at church every Sunday, that they have to be married to live with someone else, to live the word of wisdom, etc. We are going to teach more with the spirit and apply all that we have learned. It was great to also see some of my buddies from the CCM or MTC that went to the Uruguay west mission! They are all doing great and are closer to finishing then I am! I also had a get together with the Box Elder gang. I sent the photo with Elder (Ryan) Erwin, Elder (Jake) Olsen, and me! I also met Sister Shaw. I didn't know her before but she graduated when I was a sophmore and finishes in February. I think you might have mentioned her before and I am sure that dad knows the family (after all who doesn't dad know?). Elder Erwin is going home this week! I cant believe he is already finished....you should see his photo in the Box Elder News Journal. Things are going very well and I am loving the mission more and more everyday. This only bad thing about that is that when I finish its going to be even more heartbreaking. I don't know what or why but I guess I am changing. One of the members in our ward, actually our ward mission leader said I was different than when I got here and I had changed a lot....I hope that's a good thing. I feel great desires to do good continually and to also help those around accept and live the gospel. I can honestly say that I am a converted disciple of Jesus Christ and am willing to do whatever He requires of me. Our ward here is kind of struggling but we are striving to strengthen them and leave the area stronger than we found it! Our bishop is great and very willing to work so we are going to take advantage of that and help the rest of the members. I know that this church is true and this testimony brings me such great joy! I love being a member of the only true church and enjoying the blessings and happiness that is brings. I am excited for Tallin and Daxton and hope that all goes well for the Chappell family this week. I know that making and keeping covenants is what Heavenly Father want us to do and is what draws us closer to him. I know that He knows and loves us. I know that He sent His son, Jesus Christ to suffer and die so that we could return to His presence. I know that His sacrifice is infinite and eternal and we can be cleansed of whatever mistake we have made by truly repented and applying the atonement. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is another testament of him. I feel my Saviors love for me through the Holy Ghost as I read it. I know that the gospel is the only path, the only possible way to live in this world and feel secure, full of hope, and true happiness. I know it and I can never deny it. I hope that everyone where ever they may be can obtain this same testimony and know that they can by sincerly praying. I love you all and miss you lots but not enough to be distracted from my purpose as a representative of Christ! Until next week! CON MUCHO AMOR Y UN ABRAZO Elder Bowden