Working hard and continuing to baptize!

HOLA FAMILIA Well.....another week has come and gone and we continue to do well. This week contained a lot of traveling. We went to Durazno for district meeting as normal. The district meeting went very well. We played a game which I created with missionaries and investigators and how to help them progress on the journey to the temple as well as exaltation(the game board was organized that way). Each companionship had to draw cards and each card had a commitment for an investigator and whether they kept it or not. This determined how fast and how many squares they could move. We realized that the invitations we give to people have a lot to do with how well they progress but as we learn from second Nephi they also have their own agency. We watched a video from Preach my Gospel on how to focus on their needs and finished it up with practices. The district is doing well. The elders are working hard despite the opposition they seem to be having. A few of their investigators have decided to wait a while but they will be baptized for sure (and they are probably moving). They are finding news and progressing well, they only thing is right now they are kind of in a slump. The sisters are working as well. They say that they are doing well and excited about the future. They had two in church, the same two with fecha, and the same two progressing. I hope that they continue to push themselves to do better. Then on Friday we had a meeting in Montevideo. It was with all the trainers and their comps. I enjoyed it a lot and learned of more things that I can do better. It was basically to evaluate ourselves and how the new missionaries are doing. We had lunch after and then came back on the bus. We left at about 4:30am and return at about 6:00pm. After that we had a FHE with the Marques family (the family with the little girl,Camila, or the miracle!) the good thing is that is was a successful FHE. The bad thing is she wasn't there, but we found some one else. Her name is Silvina and she is 13 years old. She is a friend of the family and just happen to be over at the same time we came. We watched a video talked about the importance of baptism and she accepted the invitation. She then asked when she could come to church and we told her Sunday. The best part is that she came and liked it! The only thing we have to do now is talk to her parents to place a baptism date. We are excited and pray that she continues to progress. This week we will meet with the same family and talk to the others! We also had another lady show up at church. She is an older lady who my comp was talking to and said ``hey come to church tomorrow at ten.´´ She showed up for the first two hours but then didn't feel so good so she didn't stay for sacrament meeting. We hope to help her as well. We continue to see that the Lord blesses us in so many aspects of the work and mostly because of our diligence and obedience. We found a couple other news this week and are waiting for our return date to invite them to be baptized on a specific date. We are going to do all that we can to take care of these new sons and daughters of God and help them embrace the fullness of the gospel. I am enjoying the work and I have never felt greater love for what I am doing until now. I am also realizing a lot more of the small things and steps I need to take to improve. I hope that I can get all of my personal challenges out of the way so I can focus 100% on our investigators. I have a goal to work my hardest every day. To work as if every day was my last and be able to say to my Father in Heaven at night, that I did all that was in my power to help my brothers and sisters as possible. I know that this is the work of the Lord and He leads us in it. I am so excited to hear from Elder Dallin H Oaks this week! I am waiting anxiously to receive more revelation on how to improve and help our area grow, but real growth! I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves us. I know that He send His Son the rescue us from physical and spiritual death. I know that only through repentance and the atonement can we be forgiven of our sins and sanctified to return to the presence of God. I love and miss you all! The family looks great! Thanks for the pics! I can't believe how grown up everyone is! Tell Michal that I like the hair cut and now I won't be able to call him goldy locks! Thanks for the updates and I cant wait to hear from you next week! CON MUCHO AMOR Y UN ABRAZO Elder Bowden