Dear Family and Friends!
Well! Yes, just to let you all know I got transferred! It was a little bit of a surprise and it was hard to leave Talagante with all the success that Elder Smith and Elder Goates and I did. The both of them are staying there and we have a lot of people prepared for the month of March, which usually happens right before I leave. But whatevs! They are gonna keep taking out the trash!
Now I am with Elder Wagner! From South Carolina! (Yep that's right Trevor! He said he might even remember you!) He is from Goose Creek or Charleston basically and he lives in the Crowfield Ward! I don't know if you ever met him, Trevor, on your mission, but that would be cool! Really, I have known Elder Wagner for some time throughout the mission and he's probably one of the nicest guys! He has already been in this sector for a transfer and he goes home this transfer. So it looks like I'm gonna be killin' another companion this transfer. We are in Republica! Which is basically where the Mission starts from Santiago. I have never been so close to the city before! We live on the 7th floor of a tiny apartment building, right next to a huge highway . . . So we'll see how that goes.
But the cool part is that Elder Kimball (mi hijo) has been here for 2 transfers now and they just announced today that he is going to be one of our district leaders and is going to train!! Woo hoo!!! I'm incredibly excited for him!! That means Elder Kimball and I will get to talk every night when he gives his redimiento de cuentas every night! I'm so excited! This zone too is pretty small. There are only 9 companionships to which in Talagante there were 12. But it looked like they had a good month this past month so I'm excited for what's in store!
But now onto the good details of my last week in Talagante. It's incredible how much a missionary comes to love his sectors. When I first arrived in Talagante I was anxious, but at the same time a little resistant because it felt like I gave out all my heart to my last sector with Elder Kimball in 4 Poniette. But with my awesome companions we just took out the trash! I have never had soo many things happen in one transfer before! IT was incredible! And with all those good things, baptisms, and miracles, it was pretty hard to leave . . .
But we ended it with the best way possible! With a baptism!!! Yea! So I can't remember if I told you guys about Francisca last week but Saturday 14 we found her from a reference a member gave us. Her mom is less active and she just separated from her husband who was against the Church and never let their daughters get baptized in the Church until they were 18 when they could be adults and make their own decisions. And with the huge miracle of Francisca turning 18 in December we found her on Saturday, she came to church the next day and just absolutely loved it! She has been waiting her whole entire life to get baptized and be a member of this Church and she even got a little emotional that now everything was coming to pass for real!
And from that point, we knew that she was a miracle and already ready! Her mom, even though she couldn't get her daughter baptized, she still tried everything to prepare her beforehand so that way when she turned 18 she would be ready for the water! Truly, I can't describe how amazing this family is! I love them so much!!! From that point, after attending church for the first time on the 15th we visited her everyday last week. And we were able to teach all the lessons which she already learned from her mom, basically, and Friday she had her baptism interview, passed with flying colors and then chose me to baptize her!!!
OHHH!! What a blessing it was!! I can't tell you guys enough! It was a straight miracle!!! From only meeting her on that one Saturday and to end with the blessing of baptizing her only 8 days later!!! That is truly a miracle!! One of the most incredible miracles I have ever had in my whole mission! I felt so privileged to baptize her. Seeing her true desire to come unto Christ, but having to wait 18 years and now it was finally the time! Her dreams had come true!! IT was AMAZING!!! Yesterday at the baptismal service was probably one of the strongest moments I have ever had in my mission. The spirit was just so strong! Francisca and I were both balling our eyes out! It was the most beautiful feeling ever! She was 100% ready! And was a miracle!
Last night they invited us tomar once and that is where I broke the news that I had changes. . . it was hard to break it to them. Only getting to know them for such a little time but in that small amount of time it was just pure blessings and miracles and then all of that to just telling them that I wasn't going to be there anymore was really hard. It's crazy how in my whole entire mission, from being in sectors for 3 months, 4 months, or 6 months and getting to know a lot of families in those periods of time, the family of Francisca, (the Ceron Berrios family) has probably been the family I have gotten closest too and most attached too than of any other in my mission. And it was only in 8 days. I think that's why having transfers was so hard. But at the same time I know that family was specifically prepared for me. They are incredible! I love them soo much!
Now onto this next transfer to be able to keep the faith to do the same! There's still a lot to do and I can't wait to see what's in store! I want to bear my testimony of the pure love of Christ that one can feel, helping another come unto Him. That is the most beautiful experience I have witnessed time after time, sector after sector in my mission. This gospel brings happiness to all families! It is meant for everyone! And everyone needs it! I'll be honest, I'm nervous for this transfer, but I know if I serve and do my part, I can always feel the love of my Savior. I love my Redeemer Jesus Christ with all my heart. I love this mission. And I love with all my might, this pueblo de Chile.
Love,
Elder Cowan
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