"This is a Gospel of Second Chances"

Dear Family,

This week's letter is going to be really short. I have a meeting in an hour. I am doing the Lord's work. I may not talk the talk, but I am trying to walk the walk. Life is great. I was a little down because some of our top investigators have fallen off of the path. The thought popped into my head, "This is a gospel of second chances." My immediate thoughts were selfish and self centered. I thought, "maybe I will have a second change to baptize these individuals." My thought was then directed to the Fort Jackson Military Base. I was thinking of the last two soldiers I had the privilege to teach and witness them enter the waters of baptism. I recognized there was one thing in common between these two soldiers. They both at different times in their lives had investigated the church. In their previous investigations, these two men were not ready for the Restored Gospel. I compared my feelings for the two individuals in the Camden area who dropped us, with the missionaries who were dropped by the soldiers in their previous investigations. If only those missionaries could have been in attendance at their baptisms. I know it would strengthen those missionaries to know that their efforts were not in vain. It brought peace to me to know that I will never see the end result of my efforts here in South Carolina. I know that this Gospel is a gospel of second chances, maybe not for me to teach, but for God’s children to receive the Restored Gospel. I have an even greater resolution to work with all that I have for none of it will be wasted. We had three baptisms at the Fort Jackson Post. One of my favorite converts is Brother Watkins. He was baptized three weeks ago, two weeks ago he blessed the sacrament, and just yesterday he had the opportunity to baptize one of his battle buddies! Talk about a quick start! I love you all! Thank you for your continual prayers!

Love,
Elder Cowan

New Companion: Elder Ernst, Five Baptisms at Ft. Jackson Base

Dear Family,

My new companion is Elder Ernst. He is from Spanish Fork Utah and he was called by the prophet to teach the gospel in the Spanish language. It's really fun to be able to do both Spanish and English work. I'm learning how to pray in Spanish. 

Life is so busy. We continue to be blessed at the base. We had five baptisms at the Ft. Jackson Base. We are really trying to push ourselves to a new height. We want to increase the average at the base instead of just staying where we are at. I love being a missionary. I hope all is well at home. I love you all! I'm sorry I do not have more time to write! 

Love,

Elder Cowan

P.S. At Transfers Elder Taylor received a new missionary to train! My posterity continues to grow! :) 

Brother Watkins' Baptism

Dear Family,
Transfer information is out! After serving in the Camden area for nine months, Elder Taylor is now being transferred. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to serve with Elder Taylor once again and I'm excited to see who is going to come into the area. Elder Poll, one of the Assistants, told us that is was going to be a Spanish speaking missionary. I don't know if he was pulling my leg or if he was telling the truth. We will see on Wednesday! Elder Taylor got a call from President. President McConkie thanked Elder Taylor for his service as a zone leader then President informed him that he would no longer be serving as a zone leader. He is, on the other hand, going to be training a new missionary! That means I get another grandchild. Elder Taylor and I were thinking about it and we wrote out my family line of missionaries. I have trained three times: Elder Taylor, Elder Douglas, and Elder Thayne. When Elder Taylor picks up the new missionary on Wednesday, it will be his second time training. Elder Taylor trained Elder Wood and this new missionary. Elder Douglas has also trained a new missionary. That makes three "grandchildren." Elder Wood has trained twice: Elder Peirre and Elder Mearse. That makes two great grandchildren. :) It is fun to see all the connections within the mission. I know wherever Elder Taylor goes he is going to do great.

This week we had Elder and Sister Sybrowsky tour our mission. It was quite the experience. We had zone leader council with him on Tuesday, and he frankly told us that we have not been fulfilling our purpose (which is true, there has been a slight down trend every month of less and less baptisms within the mission). He trained us on receiving personal revelation and how it is crucial in leadership responsibilities, especially as zone leaders in the Lord's mission. He explained how revelation + leadership skills = miracles in the work. I have also received an assignment from Sister Sybrowsky to ask you to write me the stories of how our family entered the church. Dad, this is an assignment from a member of the quorum of the seventy for you to share your personal experience, and mother you will have to go back through the history books a little. Sister Sybrowsky said, "I don't care how long your family has been in the church, whether it's been over 100 years or if you are a first generation, the stories are going to have one thing in common: full time missionaries. Sister Sybrowsky has promised us that as we read these stories it will motivate us to go out with an even greater desire to share the gospel and to alter a family line just as the missionaries who did it for mine. Thank you for complying with that assignment! :) I am really excited to read them, especially yours dad.

We also had zone conference on Friday in which Elder Sybrowsky told us to stop focusing on the number of new investigators we get and start focusing on baptisms. We get obsessive with getting the numbers and we are losing so many people who could be making and keeping covenants with our Father in Heaven. Elder Taylor and I were commanded by Elder Sybrowsky to move Anna Baker's baptism date up one week. We went over on Saturday and moved it up to this coming weekend, September the 18th. It is going to be a busy week, but I know that an authorized servant of the Lord asked me to do it, so we are going to work everything out for the baptismal service this evening!

Oh by the way, mother, you were dead on. I have been sick the past two weeks. :) I'm not sure how you can know that. I decided not to tell you the past two weeks because I did not want you to worry. I am feeling much better. I promise. You have the mothers intuition, I guess. Thank you for thinking of my physical well being. The members we live with have been great to doctor me up. Sister Dent used to be a nurse. I love the Dents. They are really great. I feel so lucky to be one of the few missionaries in our mission to serve with members.

The base was amazing this week. Brother Watkins was there early and we went through all of the commandments. We went through the baptismal interview and when we finished the interview Brother Watkins stated, "I can't wait to go by the branch back home. The first thing I am going to tell my branch president is, 'I am a new member, I have received the Priesthood, you better start praying to find out what calling the Lord wants me to do, and I need you to tell me what I must do to get a Patriarchal Blessing!'" Brother Watkins was so excited and truly committed to the covenants he was making with Heavenly Father. I had Brother Watkins' battle buddy speak with the branch president, but his battle buddy has not been active and did not feel worthy to perform the baptism, so Brother Watkins asked me to perform the baptism. The only problem was that I did not bring another pair of garments. I wasn't going to let that stop me. I performed the baptism and confirmed Brother Watkins while wearing my garments and then I changed back into my suit. I had wet garments the rest of the day but it just made me happy because the rest of the day I remembered the spirit that was felt as Brother Watkins was baptized. I love this gospel. It was one of the happiest moments as he was baptized. I am so thankful. The branch president conferred the Aaronic priesthood to Brother Watkins and he has been given the assignment for next week to pass the sacrament! It is just great!

I love each of you; I am working hard. I appreciate the support; y'all help to motivate me. I realize how little time I have left and that is a great motivator as well, but my greatest motivation are the covenants I have made with my Father in Heaven. Thank you all! I love you!
Love,
Elder Cowan

Opposition in All Things

Dear Family,
What a week. I am really tired. I don't know what it is, but I don't seem to have as much energy as I usually do. This week has had very high points and also extremely low points, but that's life. "Opposition in all things" is a true principle. Jerry had a really bad relapse with alcohol. He was doing really good and then one day he slipped, and he slipped farther than he has in a very long time. I don't know what to do with him. He recognizes the need to change, he wants to change but I don't see any improvement. Jerry is not very educated, and his eyes are really bad so he is not able to read the Book of Mormon. I know that if he were to read he would be able to receive power from Heavenly Father to overcome the addictions which hold him bound.

Annette Adair also has experienced another type of opposition this week. ANTI. Annette called me Wednesday night and she was very distraught. She was so worked up. I feel so bad for her. She is very confused at the moment and does not know what to do. Please pray for her. As I spoke to her on Tuesday, I invited her to ask God about anything we had taught her, and that through the Holy Ghost he would reveal the truthfulness unto her. Annette promised me that we could come by the following day and answer her concerns. On our way over to her house on Wednesday, she called us and canceled. She told us that everything was snowballing and that she needed to get away for a time. She left Wednesday night for Charleston. She is to return later this week. I hope the vacation will benefit her. I hope she has taken Moroni's promise and pondered on the things that we have taught her. I know that IF she asks, THEN the Lord will answer.

Enough with the bad on to the good. When Annette canceled on us on Wednesday, it left our evening completely open. We decided to see Sister Ana Baker. Ana Baker has come to church twice but she would never set a return appointment with us at church. We decided to show up at her house and try to see her. Ana Baker lives 45 minutes away. It still amazes me that she drove down to Camden all on her own just because her granddaughter asked her to visit the church. We drove up to her street but we could not find her house number. We knocked on one door and Carolyn Cateo answered the door. Carolyn invited us right in and we found out that she is related to Sister Ana Baker, and that her sister is a member. She told us how much she loved her sister and the example she is. Carolyn has been surrounded by members. She does home health and she watches a lady in Lancaster (which is not in our mission) who is a member. Many times while she sits with this elderly lady, the missionaries from the North Carolina Mission have taught her the gospel. Also, her sister took her down to the Columbia temple and Carolyn was able to meet the temple president. Before we even began to teach her, she knew Joesph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. Carolyn accepted a baptismal date for the 25 of September. After visiting Carolyn, she directed us over to Sister Baker's home. We sat with Sister Baker and taught her more about the gospel. Sister Baker came to church this week. Carolyn and her family could not make it because of work. Carolyn is changing her schedule in order to come to church this next week.

The best part about the week was while I was at the Ft. Jackson Military Post. I have been teaching a young man named Watkins and yesterday he finally accepted a baptismal date. This was a result of the two of us kneeling in prayer in the middle of a hallway. There is not much room in the building where the services are held. It's amazing how the Spirit works. Even with noise around us, and people walking right between us, Watkins still felt the spirit. As he arose from his prayer the first words out of his mouth were, "I would like to be baptized!" I am so excited for him! Also, to make the service even better, Brother Schuetter who I had the blessing of teaching the gospel to two weeks ago, passed the sacrament for his first time. Also, another one of my converts on the post bore his testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a real treat to witness these two soldiers continuing in the faith. Well, that's the update for this week. I don't know why it took me so long to write this letter. I need to get better. I just have a difficult time writing. I don't want to come off the wrong way. I love the Lord. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all your prayers.

I love you all!
Love,
Elder Cowan