Casi un Bautismo

Dear Family and Friends!

Wow! I just love you guys soo much! Seriously! It surprises me how fast the time is always flying by, but I just love you guys soo much! Way to go to Dad for having a great stake conference and Mom taking out the trash with your to do list! Ha ha! I love you guys so much!

Well, to first break the news right off the bat! Jean Paul didn't get baptized yet. We are on a little titter totter saw with him right now! I will explain everything though! 

But first of all, we were able to start off the week with a hit with doing splits with one of our district leaders! And this week we did it with ELDER KIMBALL! MI HIJO!! Woo hoo! AWWW it was amazing to be back with Elder Kimball in my sector and just takin' out the trash! It was so fun! Seriously! I love that man soo much!! We had such an awesome day and in the night Elder Kimball opened up to me of the stress that he has been having and it was awesome to give him some "father to son" advice and truly that was awesome splits! 

And an awesome thing that happened at the beginning of the week was the first lesson we had with Jean Paul he just asked us, "This gospel is so good. . . why isn't everyone a member? Can I invite others to listen to you guys?" Ha, ha, ha! YES! Of course, we responded and then the next day we left with him and we went to his friends house where he presented us to her. Her name is Lyryel! And she is awesome! Truly it was amazing to see the spirit of missionary work, work through Jean Paul. So we are super pumped about Lyryel and to see where she gets to!

Then I had divisions or splits and that time I left and went to Carlos Valdovino. That was the night Jean Paul was going to have his baptismal interview. He told my comp that he had dropped smoking to only 1 cigarette now! And he only started to try to stop smoking Sunday! That was Thursday when he said that! It was amazing to hear about his progress! But before the interview my comp and Elder Fernandez had a lesson with him where he explained that he doesn't feel ready for baptism. He wants to be more sure that he will be able to control his smoking problem and he wanted to tell his mom first. Igual, he still had the interview with the DL just as a practice, and he practically passed. 

We always have a hard time teaching him on the weekends because that's when he studies and works a lot, but he came to church again and then we had a lesson where we met his mom who just was visiting him that day. She was fine with everything but as we started to explain about baptism again he told us that he wasn't sure about tithing. But its not like a typical doubt that normal investigators have about tithing. He really wants to pay his tithing, he has already looked at his income to see in what way he can pay. But he just wants to "try it out" first before he gets baptized. It was kinda of a dumb excuse and we think there might be something else as well we told him that the church wouldn't even accept his ofrendas because he isn't even a member yet. It was a hard lesson to keep control of everything. But he still believes everything, he has told us that he wants to get baptized, but just not so fast. Really he is sooo good! And we know he is ready! Tonight we are going to have a family home evening with the 2nd counselor of the bishopric to see if we can get him baptized this Saturday! I know it's possible!

So please keep Jean Paul in your prayers for this week! This is the last week of March and we have a lot of people in our zone that can be baptized but just need the last little "push" to be able to commit to baptism. The assistants and even President have called us a few times just to make sure we are gonna get these baptisms through for this month. So there's a lot of pressure, but really I know these people are ready! I know our Heavenly Father loves these kids of His who He has trusted us to teach and bring them back to Him. Yes, it will take miracles, but who are we to put the limits upon God? We had a new investigator called Ferney who is amaizng as well! He accepted a baptism date right away and that was his response as well. He has a lot of faith and we are pumped to keep teaching him! 

Truly, the Lord is blessing us so much! I know it gonna have to take a little bit more for him to bless us with these miracles! I can't wait for this week!! Woo hoo!!

I LOVE THIS WORK! IT IS THE BEST THING EVER!!

Love Elder Cowan

Sweet Letter sent to Dad

Thanks for updating me about the news of Grandpa. Really when you read my letter this week we were able to finish the lessons off with our super amazing investigator Jean Paul by teaching last, the Plan of Salvation. This was Sunday afternoon about 4 and yes the spirit was strong in the lesson but there was a moment where it was as if the spirit just poured into my soul, and it was just when my companion was teaching and testifying of the spirit world. My whole entire mission I usually explain the purpose of the spirit world in really basic terms, but when the spirit just basically hit me so strong I knew there was a reason. . . I have been wondering and pondering why that moment of the lesson was the most powerful, and truly reading your letter and receiving the news, I know the spirit was already testifying to me and preparing me for this news. Que bonito! 

I'm so grateful for your example of Seize the Day. I'm grateful that you were able to tell me how you were doing. Did they give a exact amount of how many months or is it unpredictable? I truly am grateful as well as our whole family is for the spirit world. If I get to see him after my mission, it'll be a great blessing, but at the same time it's such an even more amazing and beautiful feeling knowing that if not, he'll be going to work in the spirit world and that the two of us will be able to work together at the same time, Grandpa and grandson! I love our Heavenly Father's plan! Everything is going to be fine! I will for sure to keep the whole family in my prayers!

Love your son,

Elder Cowan

Jean Paul Blessing

Dear Family and Friends!

Wow! Well, I can't believe I'm going to have a little niece!! Woo hoo felicitaciones a Trevor y Kiersten! I'm so happy for you! And I just love each and every one of you so much! I know that I may not write a whole lot to each and everyone of you but truly I have the best family EVER!!

Well, the time is running out and there is a lot to write! Well, first off! There were a ton of things that happened this past week! Just like in the mission of Bryce's that I just read, we had a mission training meeting here we learned a ton and as well we were able to watch "Meet the Mormons!" Ha ha, I loved it! Ha ha, but it was kinda weird watching a movie again! HA ha! Woo hoo to the Church in getting that movie out!! And I was able to see Stacie's brother!! Woo hoo!! Elder PETERSON ES UN KAPO! Ha ha, truly I was shocked at how well he talked! I thought because he was new that he would just want to talk in English with me so that's how I started off talking with him! But oh no! He was set on speaking Spanish and spoke it the whole time! It was amazing! What a blessing! He is great! I love the guy!

As well! We were able to have 4 baptisms in our zone this week! All from one companionship! It was a sister of a member and a family of 3 that are from Japan! It was incredible! Ha ha, I was thinking of Elder Free the whole time during the interview! Aww, I just love doing interviews!!!

And another blessing that happened this week was with Regina! Woo she wasn't joking when she told us that she wanted to start all over again! She came to church and just loved it! She said she always wants to come! Truly, it brings joy to me seeing souls of our Heavenly Father repenting and coming unto Him! Whether it be through converts, less actives coming back to church or baptizing people! It is amazing to brings these brothers and sisters to the fold of Christ! 

Well, other than that, as well, we have been seeing a little opposition in the things that have been passing through the zone. Almost every single missionary got sick at one point in this past week and I was the one to finish it with only getting about 3 hours of sleep last night because I was in the bathroom all night long. I have no idea what happened to me, but the whole time I was going number 2 hardcore. But I woke up and this morning I had to do my visa again which I was able to do it pretty fast but struggling trying to control my bowel moments and now I'm feelings fine! But igual, throughout the zone we have been seeing a lot of things like that.

Wednesday, Elder Wagner went to the temple with his go homer group and with President so I was left in charge of the district and leadership meetings that morning. I met with our district leaders and felt impressed to read the story of Jose Smith. I told them of the opposition that he had before AND after and how either way: there's always opposition before the greater blessings. I invited a tener el VALOR and to stand up and fight against it! We knew that our mission has a lot of potencial this month and we know that Satan knows that as well. It was a great meeting! We all left the meeting pumped and ready to fight against the adversary! Thanks to that those 4 baptisms were able to come to pass!

Saturday I had the blessing to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead with a elder in our zone and with his convert because his companion was sick. And when I got there I saw Elder Smith and Elder Goates! And they brought Francisca, Loreto y Rodolfo to do baptisms! But sadly they had finished right before and they all left except Elder Smith and Elder Goates. It was a little bummer that I couldn't be there with them to do baptisms but still just seeing the pictures and knowing that my converts went to the temple is the best! I love the temple!!

Now onto the miracle of Jean Paul! Well, this past Monday we showed up at his house and he told us that he had read all of Mormon.org about the topic of our beliefs. He then went on to tell us of what he understood of each commandment. He told us that he had a problem with smoking and that we would have to help him out. But other than that he told us that he was down with keeping all the commandments. I love Jean Paul! He just accepts it how it is! That's what I love about him! He then went on to tell us the reason why he likes this church so much. He looked at us and said, "Your church practices true faith. Really I could believe all of what your saying and it would sound neat and all but it all comes down to if I accept it and trust in the feelings I have if it's true. That's what I like." Ha ha! Truly, I have never seen so much faith in one investigator! He then went on to tell us that he has already looked at his finances and his taxes and he knows perfectly how he is going to be able to pay his tithing! Ha ha, I was so shocked! 

Then we had a lesson Wednesday night with him which wasn't as great as the other lessons. We were teaching soo much and soo fast that he started to get confused on everything. We left not feeling so confident in that lesson. Then he had work for the rest of the week and we were a little worried to not be able to see him for some time. But he showed up to church decked out in a nice new suit! HA ha! He loved church again and then we were able to teach him Lesson 2 after the meetings and pull everything together. I was able to give him a priesthood blessing that way he won't have the tentaciton to smoke and truly it was a powerful lesson! His baptism date is for this next Sunday and it still looks like everything's going good for that date! It just depends if he can stop smoking! But I know he can do it!

Truly, the lord has been blessing us with Jean Paul soo much! I love how the Spirit testifies to each and every one of us! I love this work and I love this gospel! Just as we taught last to Jean Paul, I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father lives and has a plan for our families! I know everything will be fine and that His Son Jesus Christ gave His life out of love for us to be able to live together forever!

Love you all sooo much!!!!

Elder Cowan 

The Harvest

Dear Family and Friends!

Well, with the help of the Lord this past week we have been able to find a lot of tender mercies! Wow! I still can't believe it! I have such an amazing family! Thank you guys soo much! For the numberless times you always pray in my behalf and for the behalf of the work here in Republica! I feel your love and concern on my behalf throughout the week! It's amazing to be so united with you guys in prayer!! You guys are the best and I love you all soo much!!!!! Prayers are amazing!! 

Well, to first give a shout out to Trevor and Kiersten for my opinion of what I think the baby is going to be is. . . . . for it to be a girl! :) But either one will be amazing! I'm so happy for you two!!!

Wow, well at the beginning of this past week my comp and I both decided that we were gonna change things up a little and have a "white wash" attitude towards our sector. So we started from the basics and started contacting a lot! And thanks to the help of the Lord we were able to find a lot of new investigators this week! We were able to find 16 new investigators!!! Wooo! What a miracle!!! Just the comparison from last week where we had no one to teach and the Lord was so merciful upon us to find these new families to teach! I won't be able to write about them all and, as well, even though we found the a lot, there are some that may not progress, but we'll see! 

First off, the first new investigator that we found was Reginas family. Regina is actually a member but hasn't gone to church for a couple years, but she contacted Elder Kimball in the street! And then Elder Kimball passed us the reference and we were able to meet her husband, Jose, and their daughter, Laura. Regina has all the desires to come back to church and their family is sooo nice! They live in the corner of our sector and it was amazing to be able to find them! They are an awesome family! Laura actually wasn't there the first lesson we had with them so Regina was kinda worried that her daughter wouldn't want to talk to us because she is only 15 years old and is just passing through her teenager "whatever" attitude. But we passed by again and luckily Laura was there and we got off on a really good note! I honestly don't remember what we started talking about, but she opened up to us and we were able to teach the whole family! We'll see how this week goes for them!

Then the next miracle was Miguel and Jordana! They were contacts that the last companion of Elder Wagner did a little over 3 months ago in a park. But they stopped us in the street, told us that missionaries had contacted them before, but then nothing happened. They told us that they were a little down that no one came and then asked us if we could pass by and visit them. I almost just yelled out "YES!" with all the excitement! Ha ha, and another blessing is that they are married and they have two little twin babies that are only 1 year old! And these two babies are models! Seriously! They are the most adorable babies ever! Ha ha! It's just a picture perfect family! They are amazing!!

As well, we were able to find a new investigator through a less active/recent convert family. We looked at the members list and realized that there was still one person left in the family that hasn't been baptized yet. We passed by and met the Suazo family. Two are less actives, and there is another that lives there that is part of our retention. Nino is the only one left that isn't baptized. We taught lesson 1 and put a baptism date! And he accepted! He is really humble and really kind! The only problem right now is his work. Because he works almost everyday. So we are praying that he will be able to find a way to attend church!

Then President had a genius idea this week to do "harvest" within our zones! And we just took out the trash! Basically, the idea of a "harvest" is that all the missionaries meet up in one zone and just contact everyone in that one place and gather all the new investigators that they possibly can find. We started that this past week and there was so much excitement between the missionaries and so many blessings and miracles! Each day was a different sector and we were able to contact from 3 till 6 in the afternoon. And in those 3 hours we were able to "harvest" out a ton of new investigators for every sector. It was a amazing! Elder Wagner and I were in one sector of one of our district leaders and we were contacting the whole afternoon and my companion called me and told me that they weren't having a lot of success. I was with our district leader and turned to him and told him that we'll need to step it up. So we just went ham on contacts and were able to find 6 new investigators, planned 10 more appointments for the next week and were able to put one baptism date! It was incredible!

Then the next day was our turn to have the "harvest" come to pass in our sector. Once again we divided up and started to contact throughout the whole sector. And truly, it was amazing! I was with Elder Hunter, a new missionary, and I just loved his greenie power! Ha ha, he was so excited and we just contacted every building we possibly could! And if we couldn't knock on the door we went to all the windows instead to knock! Ha ha, truly the Lord was pouring out his blessings upon us to help us find 7 new investigators in that three hour span. QUE MILAGRO!! 

Then it gets even better! It was such a blessing Friday night. We had scheduled an appointment at the church with an investigator that Elder Wagner had been teaching for some time, but sadly he didn't show up. The appointment was set for 8:30 so we were planning on ending the day with that lesson. We waited a little bit more to see if anyone would show up and then at about 8:50 we started walking out of the church gates to go home for the day. That's when we saw our ward mission leader and we were talking for a little bit when I saw a man walk by us, we both made eye contact and you could see that he was interested in our conversation, but I thought nothing of it and looked away and kept on with the conversation. 

Then like a minute later the same man walked back, stared at us and asked, "Where can I make some friends?" . . . . . I looked at the man, at my companion, then our ward mission leader, and then back to the man and was just speechless. I turned to the man and told him, "HERE!! Come on in, you'll make the bestest friends ever here!" HA ha! He then entered the church and we gave him a tour of the place and presented some more members. His name is Jean Paul and he is about 27 years old and is studying and working here in Republica. He is a really calm person and a man of little words but is super nice! After the quick tour of the church we wrote down his address and then invited him to come to our free English classes that we were going to give the next day.

And he came the next day!!! He showed up to the church again and liked the English classes and then the Elders Quorum just so happened to have an activity that day where they were making pizzas! So we jumped over to the other side of the building and had a great time together! Really, during the whole time Jean Paul was pretty quiet and I could tell he was just observing everything with a small smile on his face. The next day, Sunday, he came back to church and attended sacrament meeting with us! Truly, he is a miracle! After the meeting he kept asking us how the church is organized because he was so surprised how well the church was run and how many happy families were there! We told him that we would have to explain a lot and that we would love to have an appointment in his apartment. He turned to me and said "4 o'clock! Today! come on over!" Ha ha, he is sooo prepared!!!!

When we went over to his apartment we taught lesson one which helped him understand a lot about the organization of the Church. He loved the lesson. He had a little note pad and was taking notes through the whole thing. He has a ton of questions too! And they are super good questions! In that one hour we ended up teaching just about everything! Ha ha, all thanks to his questions! But after finishing up teaching the commandments he said he is down to keep them and then we wrapped it all back to the Book of Mormon. I took my Book of Mormon in my hand, looked at him and said, "None of this matters unless you read this tonight and pray specifically if it's true!!" We were in a locked gaze for a while and the spirit was soo strong. He nodded in agreement to which I responded by inviting him to get baptized for the 22nd of this month. He understood the importance of getting baptized, but was a little taken back at how quick the date is. But without us saying anything he told us, "The 22nd seems pretty fast and I don't know if I'm prepared, but God is a God of miracles and why can't he do one with me! Yes, Elders I'll pray to know if I should get baptized the 22nd!" :0 !!!!!!!!!!!! I was taken back at his response! It was incredible! He is just soo amazing! And just soooo prepared!! He is truly de ORO! We are going to go by again tonight to keep teaching him! I'm soo excited! Please keep Jean Paul in your prayers! He is such a miracle and tender mercy for us! 

This past week has been incredible! Truly, the Lord has blessed us with soo much that I can't even understand why. But I do know He loves us. I love being His missionary and I love this work soo much! 

Love Elder Cowan

Come What May and Love It

Dear Family and Friends!

Wow, well a lot of things have happened since I have been transferred to here in Republica! my companion is great! Elder Wagner is a great guy! He is so humble and nice! Truly, it amazes me! He is ending his mission this transfer, but he still has his head turned on straight! And we are pumped for the month of March!! Woo hoo! 

But to describe my sector a little bit . . . it's not like any other sector I have had before in my mission! We are right by the limits of the Santiago East and North missions, so we are in the heart of Santiago which consists of a ton of buildings! ALL OVER! Ha ha! Our sector is just super tall buildings, apartments, businesses, and universities. There are a TON of people in our sector! But the thing is that they are all on "the go" and they just go, go, go. Ha Ha, it's a little hard to contact in the street because they are all running to work or school or something. And if you can talk to someone in the street there's like a 10% chance that they actually live there because a lot of people come to our sector just to work or study.

As well, we have a lot of apartments, buildings with 20, 30 floors! But we can't enter the buildings unless we have a name of a person. And once we have the name of the person we have to go to the doorman and he will call their apartment to see if they are going to let us in. So it's pretty hard to get into houses in this sector! But no me importa!! Ha ha, There is a will, so there is a way!! HA ha! 

As well, there are a ton of foreigners in this sector! Santiago is full of them! I have talked to a lot of people from: China, Haiti, Columbia, Ecuador, USA, Dominican Republic, Japan, Peru, Argentina, and Mexico! There are a ton of foreigners! It's awesome! They are usually better to get into their houses because between all the super tall buildings there are tiny little passages where there are like 20 houses all back to back to each other. So we kinda got a little of everything!

Thursday we had Consejo de Guerra again which was 7 hours long! But it was amazing!! President is such an inspired man! It was just 7 straight hours of doctrine and revelation! Our mission hasn't been achieving as much as we should be and part of that is because January and February is vacations and it's summer time and there are a lot of people away. But now it's MARCH!! It's the next inning now and it's game time!!! We have planned to baptize 120 people this month and reach 7000 attendance in our mission! Both have never been done for a really long time! But we know it's the time! And that means we have to give it our all!! I'm so pumped!!! You can just feel the excitement in the air in our mission! 

We had a zone conference Saturday to be able to share the same vision and goal with all the other missionaries! While there I got to meet my grandson, Elder Rutty, form Peru! It's awesome having Elder Kimball in our zone! We are a little bit smaller as a zone, but the missionaries are awesome!!!

Then we got to the tender mercies that we started to see at the end of the week. To be honest, the week was pretty slow, there aren't many investigators and a ton of people our still out on vacations. We were basically walking all over the place. It was pretty hard just not having anything. But it's all fine now! We decided that we are just gonna think that we are in white wash and we are going to resurrect this zone! My comp and I have talked a lot this week and even though by numbers wise it was probably the worst week we have had in our missions we know we have to be better! We have a lot of ideas to work with now and we are pumped to be able to have this sector rise again!

The secret: The Atonement. We are focusing a lot on the Atonement this transfer and just how Lehi, Enos, and Alma experimented with the Atonement in their lives they had a stronger desire to share it with others. And for this it has been amazing studying the Atonement for this past week. Even though the sector is dead, basically, just as the title says, Come What May and Love it! And that love comes from our Savior and from His loving sacrifice of His Atonement! 

When we started focusing on that, that was when we were able to start to enter a few more houses. We had a miracle Saturday with Ilde! We contacted him in the street as he was changing his tire and told us to come back again because he asked us, "If God loves us, why is there suffering and so many bad things in this life?" As we gave our testimonies to that question it sparked his desire and we passed again Saturday. And man, is he prepared?! As we started teaching Lesson 1 about the Restoration at the very beginning, he also asked us, "If Christ is the Savior of the World, why did He only visit the people in Jerusalem and not in other parts?" And he had like 5 or 6 more questions like that! It was amazing! All of his questions were directed perfectly to the Restoration!

Ilde loved the part of Pedro, Santiago, y Juan coming to give the priesthood to Joseph Smith. He told us "Oh well, there you go! That makes perfect sense! Cause they were the last ones to have it!" Ha ha, he is amazing! It was a huge answer to our prayers and fast that we did this past weekend. We almost put a baptism date with him, but he wants to take things serious and really wants to dig through the scriptures in the Book of Mormon for his answer! He is awesome! It was such a tender mercy to find him!

I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know the only things He asks of us is to be humble and to have a broken and contrite spirit. I know He loves us soo much! And thanks to that love, He promises soo many blessings for us! But only if we are humble and if we have a contrite spirit. I know that this truly is the work of salvation. And thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ He broke the bands of death and atoned for our sins that made it possible for us to receive this salvation. And since He did it, we have to work as He wants. I know that if we put our pride and other desires on the table and turn them over to the Lord, we can become instruments in His hands! How wonderful that it is! I love my Savior. I love every day He gives me to be his representative and for the chance to know him more personally day after day. This is the best experience ever!

Love you all!

Elder Cowan

8 Day Miracle Baptism

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

Miracles at Church!!

Dear Family and Friends!!

Wow, this week was another great one! And it was jammed packed with things to do again! Ha ha, I honestly don't know where the time is going with everything! This transfer has been the best!! I love my companions so much! They are such studs! And we are just taking out the trash this transfer! I have never had so many logros in one transfer before! It's a miracle!

The beginning of this week started off a little slow for us! I think at the beginning of the week we were a little too contento of our achievements from the week before that we were as diligent as we should have been. We saw that in our results the first couple days of the week of barely getting anything done with our time. Monday through Thursday there was just a lot of small little things that would waste our time, but in the end we were able to pull it all off!

After the first three slows days of the week, Thursday came around and we had a special meeting with Walter F. Gonzalez. He had advised us early that he was going to come and talk to the whole mission Friday. But he threw in a little surprise and just wanted a special meeting, Thursday, with all the zone leaders! It was at a little bad timing because it took the whole afternoon and we got back really late but it was awesome being able to be in that special meeting with him! Walter F. Gonzalez is in the presidency of the 70 and the president of the South America South regions! The meeting was incredible! There were about 20 of us leaders and he was able to teach us the importance of being a leader! And how to be a true leader in this true Church! He gave us all his tips on how to motivate missionaries and how to keep their excitement up! I love that part! He talked about motivation and how it doesn't really exist in the gospel language. But he went on to tell us that motivation comes from the understanding of pure doctrine! 

Then Friday we were as a whole mission together when he gave a new capacitacion with us on how to focus more on better goals! He went on to tell us that a lot of times missionaries get confused and only focus on "middle" goals and not "final" goals! He went on to talk about how missionaries just need to fulfill the things that President asked them to do (for example, 30 lessons a week, 4 fechas, etc.), but they never focus on the final goals which in the end of everything is: to baptize! He also used a lot of examples on how we can use the Book of Mormon in EVERY situation! He and his wife did a few role plays to show us! And it was incredible! Even in super awkward or hard situations Elder Gonzalez was able to relate EVERYTHING to the Book of Mormon! It was so cool!! 

As they started to do more role plays as examples for us, they started to show us examples of ministering to less actives and how we have to use the Book of Mormon to guide us to the needs of them. But before he started he turned to President and asked for a companionship of zone leaders to come up. President thought for a moment and then called our names out! Aww!! IT was pretty scary having to do a role play demonstration in front of the whole mission and let alone to a member of the 70! But we did it pretty good and Elder Gonzalez was really pleased with our efforts! Woo! Our hearts were beating like crazy! Ha ha, but it was fun!

Then we were able to teach Ibet who I don't know if I have written about much. Her husband is inactive and we have been teaching her and her two kids, Kelly and Max and they are progressing really well. Then we were able to pass by Mary and Scarlett and teach the Plan of Salvation and they are so ready!! They just know it's all true! So that was a lot of blessings on its own just to see so many of our investigators progressing! But there's even more!!!

Friday night we got a reference from a member in our branch of a part member family. We got this reference a while back but we haven't been able to find them, but Saturday in the morning we passed by and found the mom, Isabel! She has been inactive for a few years now and within the first two minutes of us sitting in her house she just started to cry. She went on to tell us the problems she has had in her family and how she married someone outside of the Church and how he didn't support her in her beliefs at all. They had two kids Reanatta and Francisca. The husband never wanted his daughters to participate in the Church. She told us that a lot of times while he would sleep in the morning or if he had to work then they would sneak out and go attend sacrament meeting because they used to live around the corner of the church. But then they moved farther away and they were never able to attend again.

Luckily, they were able to resolve their problems and were able to separate as a couple and now Isabel lives in a different house (now in our sector) with her two daughters. Right when she finished telling us that story, her daughter Francisca came in! She just about exploded with happiness to see us! She went on to tell the same story of how her dad wouldn't let her participate in the church, but that she always wanted to go to church and be a member. She said that her dad made a contract that when she turned 18 she can decide for herself. And luckily in December she just turned 18! And she told us that she wants to get baptized! Woo hoo!! Such a miracle!!

Then the next day Francisca and her mom both came to church! And, as well, Ibet, Kelly, Max, Mary, Scarlet, and Scarlett's friends Javiera all came to church!! It was amazing!! We were able to bring 7 investigators to church yesterday! We took up a whole bench! It was incredible! And Rodolfo, Loreto, and Benjamin got confirmed in church yesterday as well!!! 

Even though the beginning of this week was a little slow the Lord still blessed us with so many miracles! Francisca is such a huge miracle! We will be able to pull of that baptism really soon! And as well with all the other investigators that came to church! Such an incredible blessing to see so many people progressing in this wonderful Gospel!

Love you!

Love,

Elder Cowan

The Night is Dark Just Before the Dawn

Dear Family and Friends!

Well, I'm just gonna jump right into writing you guys because now I have less time on the computer! President lowered the time on the computer for our benefit to be better and more obedient missionaries! And I love being obedient!!

So this week was insane! Seriously!! We went like 100 miles per hour and then Sunday it kinda all stopped us like a brick wall! But it was still amazing! 

Well, to first start off, Tuesday, we had another Consejo de Guerra where the zone leaders and the assistants talked with President. Well as for the state of the mission we aren't doing that great! We had 92 baptisms in November, 42 baptisms in December, and now we only had 38 baptisms in January. We are lowering and it's bad! President shared a lot of problems that are passing through the mission right now and sadly there aren't a lot of missionaries converted to being obedient. And for that disobedience we are receiving the consequences! So we are gonna be even more obedient! And we put that in practice a lot this week with Elder Goates and Elder Smith!

And even worse is that even though we still had a low number for the total of last month, our zone of Talagante didn't have a single baptism. A whole zone! I just don't know how that happens! But as a companionship we are putting into practice Jacob 1:19. We are taking upon ourselves the responsibility of that because that's just not acceptable! So we decided we need to step it up and look for some baptisms and some miracles!

The next day we taught Rodolfo and Loreto. We finished teaching them everything in that single lesson. It was a powerful and doctrinal lesson! Ha ha, but then we threw in the baptism interview questions and they all responded correctly. We then read Mosiah 18 with them and then challenged them to get baptized. They were a little taken back but at the same time they knew that they know these things to be true. After a lot of mediation, Rodolfo opened his Book of Mormon hoping to look for a sign when he came upon Mosiah 18:27 where it says that those that have should give more on their part and those that have little, give little. Rodolfo took that as a principle of where much is given, much is required. He told us that we have given him a lot of blessings and knowledge of this gospel and since he has been given this opportunity to have the gospel in his life, he too is required to act on his part. So he told us that they were ready for baptism!

It was amazing! I'm so grateful that he opened up to that scripture and that the spirit testified to him of what he should do! We were sooooo pumped! We got so excited and then challenged them to get baptized for that weekend! They accepted and then we left. But as we left we looked at the time and it was 9:22 and we only had 8 minutes to get into the pension. . . and we were sooo far! But we remembered the importance of obedience and we ran! And I don't think I have ever run so fast in my life! I think since we were on a little spiritual high from the lesson that helped us to have the energy to get in on time. And we did it! I don't know how because usually from their house it's like a 25 minute walk, but we ran and ran!! Truly, I know the Lord saw our efforts and helped us get in on time! 

Then the next day we finished teaching them everything. That day, Thursday, President called us and said he wanted to work with us that day, which he hardly does, so we were super surprised but he didn't have enough time to make it out to Talagante. Then Friday came along and they had to do their interview! And that's where we saw a little opposition in the process. We were at the church when they sent a message telling us they weren't gonna go. We were so confused so we took a taxi and rode out there. We entered the house and they were fighting a little bit. You could see how Satan has his power to impede people to come unto Christ. They were just arguing because Rodolfo punished his son for leaving the window open and Loreto thought it was too harsh of a punishment and then they started to fight. I was dumbfounded. I literally asked them if they were gonna lose their salvation over a dumb open window. Ha ha, I wasn't gonna risk it for anything else so I just told them straight forward. They realized it was dumb and got all ready and went to the church and they all passed their interviews!! Woo hoo!

Then we get to Sunday! Really, we couldn't believe how we were about to pull off this baptism even when only 2 days earlier they didn't even have a baptism date. But truly the Lord was helping us a lot this past week! But long story short, Loreto's mom is super Catholic and came over Sunday in the morning and tried talking them out of it all so we had some problems with that because that was during the reunion sacramental. And if they didn't show up for the sacrament meeting they wouldn't be able to get baptized. Sadly, they got there for the last hour of church and then we had to explain how they weren't going to be able to get baptized that day. It was pretty sad telling someone that. I have never had that experience in my life, but they accepted it and they are ready to get baptized this next week! So next Sunday we are having 3 baptisms!! Woo hoo! We are soo pumped!

Really, we saw a lot of miracles this past week! We are gonna change this motion we are having in the mission right now and we are gonna take out the trash and have a lot of success! I know it! And I know it all comes down to our obedience! I love being a missionary! I love the guides we have as missionaries that really help us to be the best we can possibly be! I love my Savior and I love serving as His representative!

Love Elder Cowan