Fetchas!! Por Fin!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Okay, well first off, I'm just so happy because finally we have baptism dates!!! WOO HOO!! Por fin we were able to invite some people to be baptized and they accepted! Wooo hoo! Man, it just feels so good to have fechas again! It's been so long! These are the first fechas I have had in my time here in Talagante! It's weird how every sector is different! Some sectors we would have like 8 fechas and then there are some where it's just a little bit harder, but not impossible! Just as my theme for my mission, which I stole from Br. White, "Your attitude determines your altitude!" 

But to get on with the things, first off, I want to update about Loreto and Rodolfo! They are awesome! They are the ones that accepted the baptism date for the 28th of this month! Really, last week we were able to go visit them and when we got there they had already read the commitment that we had left for them which was 2 Nephi 31 and they understood a lot of the importance of baptism. But they were still a little ify on the subject so we taught in depth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Brady was on divisions so we had Elder Ludeman with us, who is a new missionary. But Elder Goates and I just went ham in that lesson! We kinda forgot that Elder Ludemans was there, actually, because Elder Goates and I just went ping pong galore in that lesson! HA ha, it was a very powerful lesson! We testified over and over again about baptism.

And then near the end of the lesson we testified a lot of the role of the Holy Ghost and how we can recognize our answers to our prayers. They said they would pray to know if they should be baptized the 28th. The only thing we are worried about is that they haven't attended church yet! They really wanted to attend church yesterday, but something happened Saturday night where Rodolfo had to go pick up his aunt at the airport and stayed at her apartment because it was so late. But really we believe they can still be baptized! I don't know if I ever told you guys, but before for an investigator to get baptized they had to attend church 3 times. But President made a change about 2 months ago that now it's only 2 times that they have to attend church! And there are only 2 Sundays left of this month, so it looks like its gonna be another last minute miracle, like always!

It's funny how the Lord always wants to test us down to the last minute! It seems like every baptism that has happened in my mission it always comes down to that! But that's what I love! I love the challenges! And I know it helps us to trust more in our Savior and to make us humble that really it is Him that is leading the work and not us! So please keep Loreto and Rodolfo in your prayers!

Other than that, all our other investigators kinda went cold on us. We had a really strange day on Saturday--something that has never happened in my mission before. We contacted a lot that day and actually entered a lot of new houses. We could have had like 7 or 8 new investigators in just that one day. We were able to get in thanks to the video, "He is the Gift," but then afterwards as we tried to set up another appointment to come back they all denied us. Ha ha, it was weird, I've never had a problem with that before! But at least that helped me to really search more for the people that are really prepared this Christmas season!

Tuesday or Thursday, all the days are starting to blur into one so I honestly don't know which, but we had planned an interview for an investigator of one of the district leaders in our zone. His name is Isaac. And I have actually done a few divisions over in that other sector and have gotten to know him. He has attended church for over a month now and he really knows everything about the church and that it's all true. But as we were at the church, he didn't show up. . . . We felt like something was up and us three, with the district leader and his companion, decided that we would all go to his house to see what was up. So we got there and started to talk with him of why he didn't show up for the interview. He told us that he just isn't 100% sure and still has some doubts about some stuff in Church. 

But as he went on to tell us I could just tell that he was scared. I shared with him Alma 32:28-35 and talked about the seed of faith and how in one of the verses it asks a question that if we would be able to have a perfect knowledge after we have planted the seed. Obviously no! because we can't see and we have no idea what will happen in the future. I shared with him that of course he isn't going to know everything. I told him that if wanted to act in faith then he would get baptized. But he looked down and told us the same answer.

I felt like something was up and just called his attention and said, "Isaac, don't lie to us! Tell us what really is bothering you!" From there, he looked to his wife who then sat at the table and started to tell us that if he gets baptized she is going to take the kids and leave because once he is baptized she knows he will have to pay his tithing, but they are already in a lot of debts that she believes will ruin her family. She got a little fiery actually at us, but we were able to keep our cool and tried to explain to her. But she was just probably the most stubborn person ever ha ha! But at the same time it just ached my heart to see someone without a single ounce of faith. She doesn't believe that the Lord could help them if they got baptized and believes that they will lose everything once they become members and start paying their tithing. But awww! It was so hard to see someone so blinded! It was even more sad to see Isaac, who has a testimony of everything in the church, but it's just his wife that is limiting him. 

It's a pretty sticky situation he can either get baptized and lose his family, and he can obey his wife and be in danger on the eternal aspect of things. Bless his soul, Isaac. 

Really, there is a whole lot more to faith than I had ever thought before. It's not just a belief, it's not just going Sunday to Sunday to church. As the scriptures say, "Faith can move mountains" and I firmly believe that. Faith is the foundation of all miracles that take place, the action on our part is to show to the Lord that He can work through us. It's a principle of power that really endows us with the help from above! I believe in Christ! I act in Christ and I receive the power of blessings that are promised upon me according to my faith. Miracles do exist, beyond our human minds can comprehend, but I know Christ lives and loves us so much. I love being His instrument to be able to perform His heavenly works here in this earth!

Love Elder Cowan!