He's Coming Home!

The time has come...Elder Matthew Braun Bowden is due to arrive home on January 25th at 2:05 pm to the Salt Lake City International Airport!

Last Changes! Only 6 more weeks! EEK!

HOLA FAMILIA Well....this week went pretty well. Yesterday we got the change calls.....are you all anxious? Are you currently on the edge of your seats to know what is going to happen? Do you want me to tell you? Okay....I am staying here! I will be finishing my mission here in Paso de los Toros and with my oro(Elder Chumpitaz). He is my first and last comp that I have been with for more than 3 months! I am still district leader so I'll be going to Deo on Tomorrow to have a small leadership meeting. Elder Bennett who was my zone leader and is from my origanal group that came to the mission is training his last change and he is in my district! The hermanas or sister missionaries are no longer here, so the district is all elders. It looks like all is well on the homefront. Everyone seems to have built a nice gingerbread house....I hope you made them earthquake proof cause the end of the world will be here soon and I dont know if they will survive the trembling!?! I have to tell Ash thanks for doing my job....I wasn't there to eat the frosting so I guess someone had to do it! This week we had our ward Christmas party or dinner (la cena). It was a really successful activity and lots of people showed up(less active and active members). The only bad thing is that they started it at 9:00pm so we were only there for enough time to grab some food, say hi, and then bounce! But we did have 7 people come that aren't members. We hope that we will be able to make contact with all of them this week and make them new investigators. On the flipside...we only had one investigastor come to church on Sunday. His name is Felipe and his is the grandson of two recent converts. He is really excited and is loving the church. We are planning on inviting him to be baptized for the 29th of december even though he has already come to church twice cause we´ll need to time to teach him everything. Our other investiagtors are doing well....reading and praying...for some reason they just couldnt make it to church on Sunday. My comp and I are very excited to continue working together here in Charrua. I honestly feel as if we are doing many great things and we have seen many miracles. We have not found a family to invite and be baptized yet but we are constantly looking and asking as we contact and ask for references. I know that as we repent and strive to do better, and do all that we can the Lord will guide us to the people that are prepared. I am going to all that I can to be the most powerful teacher I have been in my entire mission. We have set many goals and are working to have the spirit with us at all times to testifiy to the people of the truthfulness of our message and the restored gospel. I think it will be good to have elders here in Paso with us and it should have a large impact on the other ward. The elders in Centro also seem to be excited to continue working with the investigators they have found and Elder Phillips will work very well with Elder Chavez. Elder Walker who was here before is going to Toledo...the area where I started my mission! So I told him he has to say hello to all who are there. So...you are going to temple square on the 21st? Are you sure that the world is going to end? haha I am not for sure what will happen but it think things will be a little crazy. At least I think so...there won't be any problems here cause we will all be at our mission Christmas conference! Oh speaking of Christmas.....I will be calling on Tuesday the 25th from our neighbors house. I am pretty sure I'll be calling at 8:00pm here which means it will be 3:00pm there! It will be by Skype again so if there are any problems let me know. Thanks for the packages.....even though I said not to send them! I'll will be waiting to see if they arrive on time! I am ready to give it all I have and leave it all on the field! I have set a lot of goals and Im going to do the very best I can to do all that our Heavenly Father wants me to do and become. This is going to be the best six weeks of my mission! I am not excited to leave Guay....a large portion of my heart belongs to this country and the people here. I am sure going home will feel similar to when I left. Have you heard anything about my flight? I mean you should know by now...I am have one more fast Sunday left in the field! Anyways....I love you all and I am very grateful for you love and support. I have learned so much from everyone of you and you are all example in one way or another. I couldn't ask for better parents who have taught me the gospel and helped me to obtain a testimony and become truely converted. I know that the gospel is the only thing that will bring us true happiness and in the end its all the really matters. Often times I believe what Pres Uchtdorf says...we waste our time and talents in things that don't even have significane in the eternal perspective. I have seen this on my mission as I have strived to do good continually and work in the most efficant way to help others come unto Chirst. I know that He lives and I love Him! I have no greater hero or idle than Jesus Christ himself. I want to be exactly like Him. I know that it isnt easy and that it will probably take me a very long time but it is done, day by day, and decision by decision. I know that it is only by His infinite, eternal, and atoning sacrifice that is is possible. I have grown so close to my Savior in these two years and I know that I will continue to grow closer after as long as I am obedient and diligent. I know that anyone who desires to improve their relationship with the Savior can also do it and it starts with a simple desire and prayer. I love the mission and being involved in the service of God. I am going to serve Him for my entire life cause thats what makes me happy and I know thats what really matters. My mission is the greatest blessing that I have been given next to the atonement itself. I am grateful for this time of season to meditate a little more on the Savior and what He has done for me. I know that we should remember Him always but I feel that many at this time of the year need to know even more that Christ was born, came to the earth, died for us, resurected, and that He lives today. I love you all, miss you too, but its all worth it! UN ABRAZO Y CON MUCHO AMOR Elder Bowden

More Miracles and Baptisms!

HEY FAMILY Well....this week went great! We had an amazing week filled with lots to do and many miracles! We had our last district meeting of the change on Tuesday and it went well. We read Mormon chp 9 and how we need to have faith, work our hardest, and be worthy to recieve miracles. We also talked about how to improve our verifications every day and to tell the Lord in our prayers how our day went. On Wednesday we went to a small town (really small like 50 people small) called Chamberlain. There we visited a family that has come to church the last two Sundays in a row. The mom and kids our coming, none of the kids are at the age of baptism yet but it will be great to be baptized when they turn eight. The father still hasnt come but when we talked to them he listened and seems very reciptive. It is a young family they are only 23 and 22 years old but we are already seeing how the gospel is helping them. The other days were also filled with lots of charlas and success. On Sunday we had the confirmation of Camila! She seemed to be really happy and is excited to continue in the gospel. We also have five investigators come to church for which we will invite to be baptized this week and prepare them for the month of December. We are doing great and giving it all that we have. I can't believe that this is our last week before changes, on Sunday we will have the calls. I have already been with Elder Chumpitaz for three months. We have learned many things, have seen many miracles as well as trials, but more than anything have worked to help all the people we can. We hope that many more people will make the choice to follow the Savior and be baptized and we continue to pray for the revelation necessary for their progress. We are working to find a family that can be baptized in the month of December and have a few possibilities. The district is doing well. I am glad that you had fun making gingerbread houses and I'll have to see how you did next week. The ward Christmas party also sounds like it was a success. We are also having our ward Christmas party this Friday. We will be eating lots and I think there will be some sort of a program but I'll let you know next week how it goes. We are excited to celebrate the birth of the Savior as well and I can't wait until Christmas arrives. Today we are going to put up the tree and the other decorations. It should be very excited and we hope that as we work on focusing more on the reason for the season that the people we teach will also feel it. I am eternally grateful for the Savior in my life. That our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His only Begotten Son to suffer and die for us. I know without a doubt that this was an act of eternal love and that is was and is necessary to return to Gods presence worthily. I know that as we repent and strive to change our lives, to do good works continually, that they power of the atonement changes us. We can forget the past and move on to the future. I know that as we pass through trials and tests that the Savior will comfort, guide, and give us the strength we need. We will always be able to move forward with faith and be obedient to the commandments. I know that we are blessed as we strive we all our heart, might, mind, and strength to serve God and to love Him enough to be completely obedient. I know that God leads us in our lives. I know that if we are humble and follow the promptings of His Holy Spirit that we will recieve even more revelation and be even happier. I know that the church and restored gospel of Jesus Christ are true. I know that as we follow these principle through out OUR ENTIRE LIFE we are blessed. I know that we are all children of God and He loves us and desires that endure to the end. I know that families can be forever and I love my family. Thanks for all you do and love you, miss you, and will talk to you soon. Tell Chris and Zach congrats and I will have to write them. Hey my comp already has a Book of Mormon in english I just thought it would be cool to get him the small one the pocket size but what ever you can do is fine. I said only ONE package but I guess you guys are never obedient so I hope you dont lose out on blessings. Have a great week and I will anxiously wait to hear from you next week. UN ABRAZO Y MUCHO AMOR Elder Bowden

Many Miracles!

HEY FAMILY! Well...this week went really good! Faster than normal because of every thing we had to do! We had a pretty good P-Day last Monday....we took it easy and cleaned the house. This week we are in Durazno for a zone activity! We are going to cook some food and then we are going to play soccer...but I brought my basketball so we´ll see! We had district meeting on Tuesday which went well. Last week the district had two baptisms and this week we had one! We had a good thanksgiving as well. About a week ago I started writing down a list of all my blessings. We had lunch planned on Thursday but the hermana (sister) forgot. So we went out to buy a few things and we made Thanksgiving dinner! It wasnt exactly the same but pretty close and turned out being tasty! Yesterday we had the baptism and it went great! We had lots of members show up and had lots of support from the primary! Camila was very happy and was glad to finally be baptized. We had her mom and her dad come (neither of them are members but very supportive). She has lots of other support from her grandma, aunt, and cousins and I dont doubt that she will contine to be strong in the church. We have many future possible baptisms and we are going to do all that we can to help them progress. We had a great day at church! A day filled with miracles! We had four people show up that we werent even planning on coming. 0ne is an young mother who lives in a really small town out in the middle of no where! Her neighbor who is a member has been teaching her a few things and she wants us to teach her more! The only thing is we dont know if we can travel there or not cause we would have to take a bus and then walk two kilometers! But hey they are souls and its worth it! Her daughter also came with a cousin and a husband of another less active member came! We are going to try to place many fechas this week and invite as many people as we can to follow the Savior and be baptized. I hope that I can continue to do all that my Heavenly Father requires of me to help as many as I can and be worthy of His many blessings! My comp (Elder Chumpitaz) is progressing very well and already knows every thing that he needs to know. He continues to teach me lots of stuff and what I can do to improve. We are working well do together and we dont know what will happen with changes in two weeks! I am willing to do what the Lord wants and go where ever He needs me but I think that I could finish with Elder Chumpitaz here in Paso de los Toros. I am definetely loving the mission and have grown to love the people here as well as all my other areas! Yes you are right when you say that December has arrived quickly! I cant believe that we are almost there but it should be a great time to celebrate the birth of the Savior and find lots of people who need the restored gospel. No I dont feel bad that you only write emails and not letters. At least I get to hear from you! But yes I do feel bad when I dont hear from anyone else (all of those who dont write)! If any one decides that they want to write tell them to do it fast cause in about a month it wont be worth it cause there will be no time! I dont know what you could send me for Christmas? I was thinking that you could send me a pocket size Book of Mormon and a small Hymn book in english cause Elder Chumpitaz is learnig the language and I wanted to give him those! You could also send me the Ensign (conference addition) and whatever else you feel would be helpful. Please dont send more than one package (one is enough, it costs lots, and I dont have much time left). I still have all my stuff from last year so we will be putting up the tree and decorated in the near future! Think of some yummy treats that you could send but be careful with the chocolate cause it will melt! Pop Tarts! Whatever mom thinks of.....I am your son and you should know me well enough! I hope that dad is doing well....at least walking and that everyone else is behaving themselves! I love you all and miss you lots! I hope you can all embrace the gospel in the same way I have cause it has changed my life forever and has made me extremely happy! I know that this church is true and that there is no other on the face of the planet! I know that Christ lives and that He was foreordained to give His life so that we could repent, be forgiven, and return with our families to the presence of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it is another testament of Jesus Christ. That at this time of year when we meditate more the birth of Him it will up us feel His love and draw closer to Him by reading it! I know that we are lead by a living prophet. I know that God knows and loves us. I know that we are required to be obedient to the commendments in order to recieve the promised blessings. I know that we are free and happy as we make correct decisions and live the gospel. I know that miracle happen today and the more diligent we work to serve those around us that more we will she Gods hand in our lives. I know that when we are worthy we are lead by the Holy Ghost to know what to do, where to go, and how to help. I love you all.....Until next week! UN ABRAZ0 Y MUCH0 AM0R Elder Bowden

The "Bowden Tree"

HOLA FAMILIA Well.........this week went well. Our day at the temple was great but the rest of the week was kind of ahi. I went to the temple waiting to feel what I should do and reiceved the answer that I have to finish my mission strong and not to worry about the other stuff now. I dont worry about the future and I know that if I rely on the Lord and I am obedient to Him I will we blessed. I told that we were going to have a couple of baptisms this week but do to the oppistion and a few other things we didnt. On of the girls said that she just didnt feel the same as before but what we think really happen is her parents said something. They used to go to another church and told her that she cant go changing religions all the time or she is playing with God. We went to talk to them one day but didnt talk to us, they only yelled from inside the house that theyre not from our church. We hope that she will still be able to be baptized cause some ward members are going to talk to them. Camila is the other girl and she is progressing well and will be baptized on the 25th. She is very excited knows almost everything but is waiting for her mom to come back from Montevideo so she can she her baptism. It should go well and we are happy for her. We had an intercambio with the zone leaders this week and it went well. I learned new things and realized that we can never stop learning. I realized that there are many ways that we can ask for references and that we must be persistant. I know that if we are we will be blessed with results. We had a ward activity on Friday and it went really well. We had 5 investiagators come and we are now seeing more unity in our ward as far as helping the new people who come to church (recent converts and investigators). The district is doing well.....everyone has their challanges but I am doing my best to recieve the revelation necessary to help them. We are excited for this up coming week and are going to strive to be more worthy of the blessings and miracles that Heavenly Father has in store for us. Sounds like things on the home front are normal. I know that its not always easy but everything happens for I reason. Tell dad he needs to be more careful(I am not suggesting he switches to four wheels but be careful) and I hope that his foot gets better soon. I will be praying for the young boys who need help in as many ways possible. I know exactly how the curiosity of fire is but in my case I dont believe anything too bad every happened. I know Heavenly Father will watch over them. Well dad....I dont think its too early but you sure seem trunky....but yes I can do Skype for Christmas. The only problem is that on the 12th of December we have changes. If I stay here than I already have a place to do it but if I go some where else I am not for sure? I will let you know what happens. It seems like everyone is good and ANXIOUSLY waiting the famous return. I can't believe that this week is Thanksgiving already! Time has flown by and it feels like just a couple weeks ago I was in Carmen having Thanksgiving. Oh I heard from the elders in Carmen that the Hermana Ester named one of her trees after me. She now has in her garden the ´´Bowden tree.´´ She is definetely one of my grandmas away from home. Im sorry about my email last week I was kind of bumbed and didn't feel like writing too much but I'll try to do better....after all we only have like 10 emails left! I love you all, I love the mission, and I love my Savior. I desire to serve Him and do all that is in my power to purify myself and others to return to His presence. I know that it is only possible because of His atoning sacrifice. I know that His church and gospel has been restored on the earth today. I know that times can be hard but I also know they help us to rely more on Him and less on ourselves or the world. I know that obedience to the gospel, commandment, and covenents brings true and lasting happiness. I know that we must take advantage of every minute of everyday to help those around us and prepare us for judgement day. I love you all and miss you too! Until next week! CON AMOR Elder Bowden

Going to the Temple!

HOLA FAMILIA Well......this week went alright. Our two investagators that are going to be baptized didnt come to church....actually no one came to church. We announced the baptism anyways because they have been going to church for like a month now. We are excited to continue working diligenty and to go to the temple this week. I am grateful for my family that always writes and inspires me. Thanks for your love, support, and testimony; you are great examples. I hope that everything continues to go well. Its kind of a bummer Romney isnt president but hey I guess its not what Heavenly Father wanted. Thanks for the poem dad....thats cool that Ryan or Elder Erwin shared it and you heard it. It is definetly true, we are changed in the hands of the Savior as we travel through lives journey. I know this church is true and I always will. I know that we are blessed as we are obedient. I know that God loves us and guides us daily. I know that nothing can stop His work from going forth. You are in my prayers as always. Until next week, UN ABRAZO Y CON AMOR Elder Bowden

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