Dear Family and Friends,
Bueno el tiempo ha llegado. . . .
But before we get on that idea, I want to talk about the milagrous week we had this past week!
Truly, milagros are still coming down to the very last day!
Last Monday we were visiting Maria Ignacia who has attended church twice now and likes it a lot. We were visiting her and talking about the Plan of Happiness when we started talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how one needs to be baptized to be able to get into the Celestial Kingdom. She was really excited when we started talking about baptism and all, but then Luis, her dad, had just come home. Luis sat down and once he realized that we were talking about baptism with his daughter, he freaked out a little bit and told us how she isn't ready and with her hearing problems she can't be baptized until further on.
He was being a little stubborn with us even though he is a member and got baptized in February, but sometimes he is like that. . .HA ha! We started to worry a little at how, first off, we realized that the spirit had gone and it was getting into an argument a little bit. We were able to calm things down and then we asked Maria Ignacia what she thought. There were a slit pause of silence, as she looked at her dad with fear and then looked at her mom and said some things in sign language. We found out that she was telling her mom that she wanted to say yes. So after explaining to her mom, her mom yelled out, "then say yes if you want to!" Finally, she looked at her dad one more time and told him, "Me bautizo." Luis was fine with her final decision and all and she looked to us and gave us the sign for faith in sign language.
It made me a little emotional as she was truly showing complete faith in that moment. I truly have never seen so much faith in one person before! We were all excited for her and put the baptism date for the 8th and she accepted! Woo hoo! So we are gonna try to pull off another baptism before I finish the mission!! Woo hoo!!
Another miracle was with Gabriel after the life changing lessons that we had last Sunday. We passed by Tuesday and ran through the baptismal questions and he knew everything. But the only problem was that he was still smoking a little bit. So we gave him a priesthood blessing then left.
We left a little worried but at the end of the day Elder Daniel and I prayed and really asked the Lord for His help in letting him stop smoking. It felt as if all Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I was walking with the prayer in my heart. Finally, it got to the day of his interview and we hadn't had contact with him for the last two days so we were a little worried. He went to the church to have his interview as I stayed outside. And aww, it felt like forever! I was really nervous and I couldn't focus at all even though Gabriel's sons were trying to talk to me.
I finally couldn't take it anymore, so I went around the corner and offered a small little prayer. As I was praying, I instantly felt a calm peaceful feeling come over me. As I finished the prayer, I felt fine and lifted up my head to see Gabriel leaving the interview with a smile on his face. He had passed his interview.
Two days later we filled the baptismal font and I had the opportunity to baptize him. Later on Elder Daniel confirmed him and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost. Later on that day, Sunday in the afternoon, he told us that from the day of the interview he was really fighting against the temptation to smoke. But he was able to drop it for a few days out of his own will power, but then he told us that from the night of his baptism and especially after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, it was as if the desires to smoke had left him--from one day to the next. It was powerful to see how changed this man has become!
It was an even greater blessing to see all the family united in the church now, happy and all members of this great church. Something that the rest of the family were waiting for for years and years!
I know that God is a God of Miracles. I am extremely touched at the feeling of knowing that my loving Heavenly Father has given me to be his instrument and to be able to see so many miracles. I know that my faith in centered on my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. I know this is His church and I know I have the power and authority given to me through the holy priesthood to fulfill the covenants with His children.
I love this mission so much. Yes, it is a very emotional time right now. . . But I know I have given it my all. And I still will till the end of this week. I know that with my faith, the Lord will be my constant companion with me for the rest of my life. there's no doubt in my mind about that. I love serving with Him and look forward to serving even more for the rest of my life. I am His servant and His friend. I am so grateful for His atoning sacrifice that He has offered to me specifically to be able to be cleansed and to be endowed with power.
I love my Savior so much and this mission!
I can't wait till you guys get to see this wonderful place! It's a place that will always be in my heart forever!
Love you all,
Elder Cowan
