Still in Toledo!

¡Hola Famila!
WOW! It sure is good to hear from you guys every week! It always brightens my day and helps me to know that my family is all doing well! First off, changes didn't go anything like the way I planned. I thought that I was going to leave the area because I have been here for three changes, but I was wrong. I am going to spend a quarter of my entire mission here in Toledo. Its not a bad thing, I actually like the area with the exception that there isn't much to do and if you need to buy something, there isn't many places to do that either. (no we don't have to many things to go sight see) There is a horse racing track in our zone (Maroñas) but they didn't give us permission to go to it. Nevertheless the area is pretty good. We found out that Elder Avalos and I are staying here for another change and he is going to be our district leader. The other thing is that there was two areas here in Toledo, but they closed one of the areas. Well they didn't close it from missionary work, only from missionaries. My comp and I have to cover both of the areas now! I thought that our area was big before...boy was I wrong! I am super excited to work more here in Toledo and hope that we can have a few more baptisms before I have to leave. Not that it really matters, but did the second Cars movie come out? I saw a couple of posters that were for sale in one of the stores and it was advertising cars the movie with new vehicles that I hadn't seen before? The activity in the church went well. It was super fun to finally play some sports again. It was not so pleasant tracking after playing 4 straight hours of soccer (fùbtol). I sent some photos of this, I hope that you enjoy them. Oh? speaking of photos does it look like I am gaining weight? I think I am and the I don't really trust the scale in the Pharmacy, but it says I weigh 220lbs! YIKES! Well my comp says that missionaries always lose a lot of weight during the summer, cause it is so hot, so I am not to worried yet. Thanks for helping me to purchase the best pair of glasses I have ever owned...I got hit with the ball directly in the face again. Nothing happened to my glasses, but my eye was a little bloody. Uruguay won the Copa America this Sunday. It is a tournament between south and central American soccer teams and they beat Paraguay to win the entire thing (now they have 15 of these championships, hence the photo). Well sorry that I didn't write a lot this week, but things are all going well! I love being a missionary and serving the Lord 24/7. It is definitely a blessing in my life and the lives of my family and friends. I can definitely see the Lords hand in my life, DAILY. I know that this church is too and that the Savior lives. I love being so close to Him and am constantly working on recognizing His promptings through the Holy Ghost. I love you all and thank you for your support. I think I will get my other packages tomorrow when I go to Malvìn for changes (my comp has a leadership meeting and I have no where else to go). Stay close to the spirit and continue to be worthy to receive the Lords blessings in your lives!
Love
Elder Bowden

The power of CTR rings!

¡Hola Familia!

¿Comò està? Sounds like everything is going very well at home, and I have no doubt that the Lord is answering my prayers and helping my family while I am gone. It is crazy that Jaylee is 4 now and that that close to everyone else is another year older! I cant believe how fast time is going....tomorrow I will have been out for six months! That's it, a quarter of my mission already done. I am still striving to be 100 percent obedient, including even the very little things. This week I am working on the Christlike attribute of diligence. I know that as I have the faith and desire to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength and ask for His help in prayer, I can become the missionary and disciple He wants me to be. I know that as we are patient and humble before the Lord we are like clay in His hands and he can and will mold us. This week was a lot better. I find myself saying, ``What happened to the last week? It is P-Day again already?`` I know that as I work diligently and in the way the Lord wants me to work, I will be able to see true results of a successful missionary. Today was pretty fun. We had a ward activity which included playing fùtbol (soccer) and eating lots of food. I will send you guys more pictures next week! I have really come to enjoy the area and members here in Toledo and think I am going to miss them when I leave. We will know what changes are this Sunday and I will let you know next Monday what is going to happen. This Sunday was another great day, filled with the spirit and the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. I am so grateful for this chance I have every Sunday to prepare myself, improve things, and remember what my Savior Jesus Christ did for me. We finally had an investigator in church this Sunday and a lot of less active members/recent converts. I finally have a story to tell you about an experience with the CTR rings. I used to just give them to members and the kids of investigating families, but this week I gave one to a kid in the street. We were contacting houses on this one block and there was a young boy who was riding his bike up and down. He told us of all the people that were home and all those that were not home and it worked out really well. After we were done contacting and leaving the area, he asked if we would visit his family We tried, but they didn't want to listen to us. I told him what the significance of the CTR ring was and gave him one. He was super excited and I hope that in one way or another I planted a seed. I know that the Savior lives. I know that He loves and knows each of us personally. I hope that I can continue to plant seeds here in Uruguay and work my hardest to invite those who are ready to be baptized, to receive those covenants. I am so grateful for my family and the gospel in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to repent and be forgiven and to be serving the Lord as a full time missionary. Thanks and until next week!
Love
Elder Bowden

6 month mark...oh how time flies!

¡Hola Familia!

Wow! Every week gets better and better! I love hearing how well you guys are doing and all the activities that are happening at home. Well a lot of interesting things happened this week. We ate lunch with the branch president and he gave us a type of soup with rice. It had some weird looking meat in it and I didn't know what it was. I later asked and found out that is was pigs feet. Luckily he had a dog! I honestly tried eating it, but couldn't handle the texture and taste. Oh well, he said I didn't have to eat it if I didn't like it anyways. I bought a 3 kilogram bag of oatmeal and have been making no bake cookies a lot lately, they are pretty tasty. We were taking the bus the other day and I saw a younger kid with a blue and orange coat. I thought to myself that is was pretty cool, he then walked passed us and I realized that it had the Denver Broncos on the back. Even all the way over here in Uruguay there are Bronco fans! My comp and I are currently working to find new investigators. It is really sad but that ones that we had were not keeping their commitments and we had to drop them. It definitely isn't easy to knock (clap) every door and try to find the people Heavenly Father is preparing for us, but we have faith and know if we are obedient the Lord will lead us to them. I cant believe how fast time is going. This next week I will have been out for 6 whole months! CRAZY! I have heard that the first 6 months are the slowest and then things get better and begin to speed up. If that is the case I am afraid of how much I currently need to do to become the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I am 100 percent committed to working my hardest and giving all my heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord for the remaining time I have. I only have 2 more weeks in this change, at the end of July I will probably be changing comps and areas. We went to Montevideo again today to get some new shoes for my comp. It was another adventure! We found the exact same shoes at this store as the ones that they were selling at the missionary mall. They are made in Brazil, thought that was kind of crazy. Then I picked up some souveniers for the whole family and the best part was they were all free! I know I am a bargain shopper like my mom and dad! We had interviews with President Da Silva this week and those were excellent! I love talking to him and know that he holds the priesthood keys to guide me and all the missionaries here in Uruguay. I also had to opportunity to watch a talk by Elder Holland that has changed my whole entire mission. I love hearing from the prophets and apostles and know they are called of God. I know that this is the only true church on the earth today. I know that Heavenly Father loves and knows each of us personally. I love you all and thank you for your love and support! Sorry I am out of time! Until next week!
LOVE
Elder Bowden

Happy Birthday America!

¡Hola Familia! (fotos para familia Bowden y familia Avalos)

Your right, I cant believe another week has passed either! I want it to slow down a little so that I have time to accomplish all the Lord wants me to do. I am not for sure when you are going to read this, knowing you guys you will probably stay up real, real, real late to finish fireworks and read the email. so I will try to make it a good one. It sounds like you guys have lots to do as always and fireworks have been very successful this year. I know that the Lord is blessing my family and I for constantly trying to follow all of His instructions and commandments. Happy Independence Day! It definitely isn't the same here in Uruguay, but it has given me time to ponder on how grateful I am to live in the country where we have so many blessings and opportunities. As you can tell from the pictures, I colored my agenda special for this day. Were you guys able to see the parade? It is really exciting to hear that L Tom Perry was in it this year! I love the fact that I live in Perry, where there is a lot of history to due with the church. I cant wait to have a temple five minutes from my house! The temple is a sign that members of the church are prospering in the land and doing all they can to further Heavenly Fathers work! We have interviews with Presidente Da Silva again on Friday. I am truly grateful to have such a great leader and servant of the Lord as my mission President. He truly follows the inspiration of the spirit. Thanks for the quote from the apostles and Preach My Gospel. It is exactly what I needed to hear at this time. My comp and I are still striving to work together and things are much better. We found two families these last two weeks and are currently working with them and trying to find new investigators. Have you guys got rid of the fox yet? It sounds like it has done some pretty bad damage to the farm. OH? We have new neighbors too? Matt told me in his letter that we do, who are they and where do they live? I also received Michael's letter this week, practically by miracle because he only put a US stamp on it, not an international stamp. Speaking of stamps, if you would, please send more some more. I am getting kind of low. THANKS! This last week was really good and we had a great time bonding with the ward members here in Toldeo. On Friday we had a Noche de Talentos/Show. It was really fun to watch and listen to all the talents that Heavenly Father has blessed His Children with. My comp and I performed a skit (my first ever in spanish). It went really well and the members loved it. They were laughing for quite a while. It was of us getting kicked out of our apartment because I didn't pay the rent. Then we slept in a tent that we made and there was only room for one so I slept outside. Then I got beat up by teenagers 3 times before my comp let me sleep inside. When they returned to beat up us up again my comp said that he had already been beaten 3 times and to get the missionary inside the tent. Sorry got to go! Love you all and thank you for your support! The church is true and I have no doubt in my mind that we are children of our loving Heavenly Father!
Love
Elder Bowden

PS I am sending the pictures to my comps family too, that's why it says for both families. Oh and I burned more toast.....

Still Hard at Work!

¡Hola Familia, Greetings from Uruguay!

Wow! This week was so short, It seems like it was only yesterday that I was emailing you guys. I still dont know if the other packages have come or if I have any mail because the caja (box) from the mission home hasnt arrived this week. I guess I will have to let you know next week. I am sure everything is ok, it is just taking them a little bit longer because there is more to send. This week was definetly better. We had investagators to visit and they actually talked with us when we went to visit them. I cant believe how many people say they don't have time to talk to us, but the only other thing they have to do is watch tv. I wish there was some way we could help them see what they are missing in their lives. I guess for now we will continue to look for those whom Heavenly Father is preparing and are ready to make the necessary changes in their lives. It continued to rain this week, not three days in a row, but it sure isn't pleasant. I remember saying before my mission that I wasn't going to be cold, but I was wrong. It's crazy how much the wind blows here. I stay dry for the most part, but it isn't always warm when the rain is falling sideways and the wind is blowing branches off trees. Good thing my mom told me I should bring a coat just in case, now I am using it everyday! My comp is a pretty good missionary, he has been out about 18 months in the mission. He also has desires to work hard and to do everything we can to find people to teach and baptize. The hard part is adapting to each others methods of working. Some times he thinks we should do some thing one way and I think another way. We are definetly working better together now and with faith our investagators will progress to thier baptisms. It sounds like you are all doing well and are all busy this summer as usual. I really wish that I was home to see the construction of the beautiful temple only 5 min from our house! It sounds like everyone is preparing to make the temple a part of their daily lives and are learning more of the incredible blessings we can recieve their. I have exciting news about the temple too! I will have the oppturnity to go to the temple with Pedro (one of my recient converts) when he gets sealed to his wife in a year! I cant wait to see them progress to become a forever family. It was also a great day at church yesterday, because Pedro blessed the sacrament for his first time and Diana (other convert) gave a talk! I could really see the differences that the gospel has made in their lives. I am so grateful that I could be a part of this magnificent blessing that they are recieving in their lives! The joy you feel when you see others testimonies grow is amazing! I don't think I can describe how good it feels to invite others to come unto Christ, repent, and be baptized. I have a firm testimony that the Savior lives. That he once walked to earth and did the same exact work that I have the privledge to do now. I know that He suffered and died so that He could know how to help us and provide the way to return to our Heavnly Father one day! I know that when we are obedient to the commandments and standards that the Lord has given us we will be blessed beyond our comprehention. I am grateful for the many people in my life that have done so much to help my testimony grow and to be where I am today. I love serving the Lord and doing all in my power to make Him proud. I love you all and look forward to hearing about the blessings you are recieving everyday!
Love
Elder Bowden

First Comp Change!

¡Hola Familia!
WOW! What a week! It sure is great to hear from you and be able to tell you how things are going. I included a few pictures again this week. The first one is of my new comp from Chile (I know he looks kind of like an American). He says he has other missionaries talk to him in English all the time and he has to tell them that he doesn't know English. The other is of Elder Stilwell and I in our Peñarol jerseys! Its pretty much the best team in Uruguay! I believe that they are playing against a Brazil team this week. The other is of the power I know have...keys! The keys to the house, even more the keys to the church, and even more consecrated oil! What a blessing it is to have and hold the authority/power from Heavenly Father to perform miracles! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the package. I only received one of them, but I am sure that the other is coming soon. It was perfect timing cause I got the package with the music the same day that Elder Stilwell left with his. I love having all the hymns and other music filled with the spirit. It was really good to come home that night and to see a US postal box on my desk after a semi hard day of work. It made my day! The newspaper was also a great idea. It is really nice to have some stuff to hear about what is going on at home, the same things that I kind of took for granted before. This week was actually pretty hard, I feel much better now. Getting a new comp and having to say good bye to my trainer was really hard. Especially cause of the different nationalities, not that I have anything against latino comps. I am actually grateful to have one now, it was just hard to transfer. The Spanish is definitely better now, considering that I can ONLY speak Spanish now. Oh well, I guess this is what I am here for and this is what the Lord wants for me now. I can speak all the English I want when I get home. Then almost all of the appointments that we had to go to fell through. It was really hard because I practically had all the responsibility because my comp didn't know the area or the people. Then on top of everything else it rained for three and a half days strait, and no one ever talks to us when its raining. Really this week helped me realize how much I have to rely on the Savior and how much He helps me EVERY DAY. He is always there when we need Him and he knows exactly how we feel. I know for a fact that He lives. I have no doubt in my mind that He is aware of our necessities and will comfort us in our times of need. I feel so much closer to the Savior after this week and hope that I can continue to grow closer to Him. I think my journal entries are going to increase in size and frequency because its the only place that I have to express myself in English, I guess that's not a bad thing. I did have another confidence boaster this week with Elder Avalos. He told me that he thought that I had been in the mission for little over a year. I don't know why he thought this, but I hope its a good sign that I am working hard and doing everything I am suppose to. Church this Sunday was good as usual, just something a little weird. We sang the national anthem of Uruguay. I didn't have a clue of what the words were and didn't really want to give up my American fidelity. I love Uruguay and all, I mean its probably my second most favorite country now. I know that the Lord called me to serve here for a reason and I am committed to finding every one that He is preparing to receive His gospel. It was just a little weird realizing I wasn't at home anymore. Speaking of not being at home any more I had another funny and eye opening experience yesterday that made me grateful for all I had back home. We were walking through the plaza in the center of town and I saw a police truck stop and drop off some officers. One had no shoes on and his pants rolled up like he was going to wade in some water and the other had a stick in his hand. I really thought nothing of it and kept walking. Then all of a sudden they started running towards a guy who was waiting on his bike in the plaza. He saw them coming and immediately started to ride away. The officer with the stick hit him a couple of times, but it did nothing. If it were not for the civilians in the street who tackled him as he was riding away, they never would have caught him. I am grateful to be a missionary and to have the Lord protecting me 24 hours a day! I hope all is well at home. I hope Fathers day was good and that all the birthdays are great. Did you guys sent my visa and drivers license yet? It wasn't in this package so I was just wondering. Sorry I have to go now. Love you all and thanks for all your prayers and support! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords kingdom here on earth. I know the Book Of Mormon is true and we can grow closer to the Lord by reading it daily!
Love
Elder Bowden

Elder Bowden LOVES serving the Lord!

Hola Familia!
WOW! It sounds like you are all so busy with summer! I guess you have lots of things to help occupy your time. Its better when you have lots of things to do, well at least for me, it keeps me focused on whats important and makes me prioritize my time. Tomorrow Elder Stilwell goes to changes and my new comp comes back. Well as far as changes go I am still in Toldeo, but I have will have a new comp tomorrow, he is from Chile and has about 15 months in the mission. Its kinda of scary because I will be in a house of 3 other latinos, I guess my Spanish will get really good really fast! This week was super crazy! First we had our last district meeting for this change on Tuesday, that was pretty good cause we got to share our testimonies. That is the picture of my district that I sent. Then we had to go to Montevideo again on Wednesday for a zone conference! It was so good! We got to hear from Pres Da Silva and his wife and then from Elder Foster and his wife! He is a member of the seventy. They both gave us a lot of information that will definitely help while in the mission and afterwards too! Then we had the interviews for our baptisms that night, but we showed up an hour late! There was a soccer game in Montevideo so all the buses that were going back to toledo were all full! We had to wait and then cram in one and stand the whole way back! I am not complaining cause we made it back and our investigators were still waiting. That was definitely a blessing from the Lord! Oh and we got lost on the way to zone confere3nce and had to take a taxi to get there, that was kind of a bummer. Then we had the baptisms on Thursday cause there was a stake activity on Saturday and the girlfriend of Pedro couldn't make it on Friday. Then Friday was Elder Stilwells BDAY! It was great cause we had party cake that his parents sent him from home! Oh and we had another good cake from a member when we ate lunch with them! And we ordered a pizza! We ate so much food this week end I cant believe it! Then to top it all off I got to confirm Olga on Sunday! She is 75 years old by the way. I was super nervous but it all went good! Sorry got to go now. THANKS SO MUCH for all that you do. I think about my family everyday as I am talking to other families. I know that the church is true and that we are so blessed to have it in our lives! I am so grateful for the gift of the atonement and know we can be forgiven!
Love,
Elder Bowden