This week was AWESOME baby...with a capital A!

HOLA FAMILIA Well.....this week went.....AWESOME! We are being extremely blessed for our efforts to be more obedient and diligent. It was a little bit shorter because Monday we didn't work in our area and on Tuesday we were at changes all day! I enjoyed the leadership meeting and I am excited to continue to put into practice what we have learned from Elder Oaks. We have seen a difference in our area as we have invited all to repent and to CHANGE. We also studied about the Book of Mormon this week in the 12 week program and applied this powerful tool to many of the new investigators we found last week. Because we didn't have the two days we got behind on our contacts and I fell into the mistake of just doing contacts and not giving everyone the best opportunity to accept this glorious message. I have to repent and do better this week to find more new investigators. The news that we found last week have shown good results. There are only a few that we haven't been able to find and teach again. We had an amazing day at church! Silvina and Camila our two progressing investigators with a baptism date came! They are very excited and are making true progress. They will actually be baptized on the 17th instead of this Saturday cause we have to teach a few more things and plan the baptismal service. We also had another girl come, her name is Melany. She is only 8 years old but loved the primary and says she will continue coming. We will do our best to teach her all she needs to know and hopefully place a fecha this week. Most likely she will be baptized on the 24th. We doing great and I couldn't ask for a better area, companion, members, or investigators! I can honestly say that I am in love....with the mission and striving to give it all that I can for the short time that remains. If you would have asked me at the beginning how I thought time would pass, I think I would have said slow but I have learned now that is doesn't slow down for anyone! Elder Chumpitaz is doing great! I hope that he continues to grow as much as he has in this first change and I know that he will continue to be a hard working missionary for his entire time here. He has helped me to have patience, charity, and to help everyone I can. The district is doing well and working hard. We also heard this week that we will be going to the temple on the 14th! We are so excited to go to the temple next week and are going to work hard before to be able show our gratitude for this great blessing! I will also be going to Montevideo AGAIN this week for another leadership meeting but it should be great. I hope that I can be the best example to my comp, district, and all who are around me. More than anything I hope to be an example of the Savior so all will want to follow Him and be even as He is. I love my Savior and don't know how to express in words my gratitude for Him. I am eternally in debt to Him for His atoning sacrifice and the opportunity I have to repent and be cleansed. I am not any where near perfection and I need to repent of even more things but I want to get there some day and I know that it is only possible through Christ. It looks like everyone back home had a good week.....I hope that they teeth had a good week as well and didn't eat too much candy! I LOVE the costumes and those are some dang good looking missionaries! Good thing they only have a few more years and they will be where I am now. Its all good though cause we will forever be in the service of our Heavenly Father in one way or another! Congrats to Tal for making to the choice to follow Christ and be baptized and to the Chappells with the new tike....Daxton. Hey is that a birthmark on his arm? Whats up with that? I remember you told me that he was fine but had something....I don't remember but maybe that's it? I am definitely grateful for all I have been given.....my blessings are uncountable! I hope to continue to be even more grateful and to express that gratitude as well as Christ like love! I am also excited for Thanksgiving and I told my comp that we are going to be eating an American meal as we celebrate. I hope that you worked out the deal with the paper route and my future, mysterious job. Thanks for the pizza crust recipe...I think we will be making today. UMMMM.....Pizza. I don't actually have to many desires to eat hot foods now cause it is stinkin' hot. I am not for sure if its the same as last year, worse, or I just don't remember but for real I am bakin'. Its alright though cause its helping with my diet and keeping those extra pounds off. I am super happy and I know that it is cause I am in the service of our Heavenly Father and helping others. Even though we are not all full time missionaries we can feel this same joy as we actively live and apply the gospel in our lives. I know that it is true and we have it because God has restored His church in this last days. I know we have a living prophet we guides us be revelation. I know that the scriptures are true especially the Book of Mormon. I know that families can be together forever through obedience to our covenants and gospel principles. I know that our Savior lives and He loves us. I LOVE being so happy and desire that all can do what is necessary to have the same happiness. Until next week. UN ABRAZO Y MUCHO AMOR Elder Bowden