Testimony

We worked Memorial Day since people did not have work and would be home all day. President McConkie asked us to type up a testimony that could go into a Book of Mormon and I spent my whole time at the computer writing it. Since I don't have much time to write anything else I am going to send it to you as well.  :) 

"Dear friend,
This book means everything to me. I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know within its pages it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Even though the Book of Mormon was written thousands of years ago, it has relevance in today’s world. The authors of this book were inspired and called of God. They saw our day and wrote this book for our benefit.

Since I have started studying from the Book of Mormon, a peace and love has entered into my life. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know my Father in Heaven loves me and wants me to live righteously so I can return and live with Him.
I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. As you read, ask your Heavenly Father, "Is the Book of Mormon true?" I have prayed many times and asked this very question. Each time I ask, Heavenly Father answers my prayer. I know He will answer your questions as well. I know peace and comfort will come into your life as you read from the Book of Mormon, and you will draw closer to your Father in Heaven.
Love,
Elder Cowan"

There it is. Not fancy at all but it's what I know. I can't believe I have already been out for 3 months. I feel like I know nothing. I am even more committed to make every day count on my mission. I love this work. I am blessed to have this opportunity. I Love you all!

Elder Cowan 

Stake Conference with Elder Oaks

Dear Family, 

I'm not sure what just happened, but my email I was writing to you just got erased. This is going to have to be quick.

Thank you for the prayers to find new investigators. They were answered. Elder Bowles and I found TWENTY new investigators this week!I wish my email had not been deleted, I'm going to have to make everything brief.

Elder Bowles and I have had to ride our bikes all week in order to be obedient with our mile limitation. It seems ineffective biking 40-45 minutes just to get to our area, but the Lord puts things into place when we are obedient.

Tuesday started off with a 45 minute bike ride to an appointment (which was not even there). As we road down a street we have been on many times before, Elder Bowles noticed a trailer and we knocked it and while we were teaching her Elder Bowles told the lady that we represent the church she has been looking for. She responded "How did you know I was looking for a church?" After that point she really recognized us as servants of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday we did not have much success during the day and then we went out with Brother Helm for the night. I was stuck in the back seat of his BMW and there was no room at all. The window was down and the wind was blowing in my ear so I could not hear anything Elder Bowles or Brother Helm were talking about. We did not have any success seeing any of our investigators, so he dropped us off at the church early, but when he did we started talking to a member and she told us about an unbaptized child that wants to join the church! The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.

Friday I went on an exchange with Elder Quakenbush. It was great and we found some pretty solid investigators.

Saturday I went on an exchange with Elder Solomon, one of the APs. Boy do I have a ton I can improve on. It was great to go on the exchanges to see how other people teach. Oh yeah and while I was with Elder Solomon, I received a phone call from Sister McConkie telling me that I was going to be playing the piano at zone interviews after stake conference the following day, and that ELDER OAKS was going to be there! :O Yeah I was a little stressed out.

Sunday. Both Stakes in Greenville  had stake Conference, but Elder Oaks only spoke in the East stake, not the one I'm in (west). After stake conference, Elder Oaks came to our zone interviews and I had to play the prelude music and the opening song! I was stressed out to play for an apostle, but I know the Lord directed my hands. It was such a great experience to meet him and listen to him train us. We were really lucky because he is not going to tour the mission, so only the two Greenville zones had the opportunity to meet him. It was great to see what I teach about. I tell people in South Carolina that yes they are good people and Christians, but the truth was lost with the death of the apostles. And I was able to see a living apostle. This church is true. I love it with all my heart. I love you all and I pray the Lord will watch over you and bless you with anything you stand in need of.

Love,
Elder Cowan

Mother's Day

May 11, 2009

Dear Family,

It was nice to hear from all of you! This has been a busy week! Last Monday we went out to lunch with a member to Olive Garden. Oh it was so good! The member who took us works at Olive Garden so she knows how many calories are in each bread stick: 380! I had a total of ten bread sticks. We were having a fun time counting up the calories we were inhaling. :D Tuesday/Cinco de Mayo/Dad's Birthday. We had a successful day! We had six lessons with a member present. Elder Bowles and I went on exchanges with two members from the ward. Wednesday we started the day searching for new investigators. We were blessed to find four. It was a great way to start off the day. We then spent the night with the two investigators who were getting baptized on Saturday: Edna and William. I have truly enjoyed spending time with them and watching their countenance change as they have lived the gospel. It's been wonderful seeing their testimonies grow as they read from the Book of Mormon and through prayer. Thursday morning we had a District Development Meeting in which Sister Black (she's a senior proselyting missionary) gave a training on using members in missionary work. That woman is BOLD! She goes to inactive members and the first thing she says is, "This gospel used to mean something to you. If you let us come over and teach you four lessons, I know it will mean something to you once again." Elder Bowles and I struggle with using members. It was a great training. After DDM, Brother Gardner came out on splits with us to teach all our new investigators we found this week. We had appointments with six of them, and not a single one was home. Oh well.  :)  We also had the baptismal interview for William, Edna, and Billy Thursday night. Billy does not have a baptismal date because his mother Darlene will not sign his baptismal record but we wanted to get the interview over so when she does sign it, we won't have to wait for anything. Elder Bowles went out with zone leader, Elder Jones, while I stayed at the church while Elder Merrill conducted the baptismal interview. Elders Bowles and Jones taught Wayne who has been progressing tremendously, (He told us the Spirit told him to be baptized, but he wanted to see a baptism before he made his final decision). During the lesson Elder Bowles explained that part of being baptized is becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. This did not sit well with Wayne. He told Elder Bowles and Elder Jones that he no longer wants to be baptized. After the interviews were over and we met up with Elder Bowles and Elder Jones, they told us what happened and it crushed my heart. Wayne has felt the Spirit, he has told us the Spirit had told him to be baptized, and then he denies everything. I have to trust in the Lord that He will make everything right in His time.

Saturday was the big day! The Baptism was at five, but we had to arrive at the church three hours early to fill up the font and make the room ready. The baptism was perfect. I baptized Edna, (my first time baptizing, well excluding non proxy baptisms) and Elder Bowles baptized William. I wish I was better at expressing my feelings because it was such a joyous experience. After we changed out of our baptismal clothes, Edna bore her testimony. It was so sweet and pure. I know everyone who was there was touched by her simple loving testimony.

During sacrament meeting Edna and William were confirmed. Brother Trotter confirmed William, which was a neat experience because Brother Trotter joined the church only a year ago and by confirming William they have created a bond of friendship. Elder Bowles confirmed Edna a member of the church. Both blessings were heartfelt and came from the Lord. 

Sweat marks from Biking!

During church we received a voice message from the zone leaders. In the message they explained that the mission as a whole exceeded our miles by 8,000! I could hardly believe it! Staying under miles is part of being obedient. The zone leaders explained we had to go under miles this month in order to make up the excess from last month. Everyone in the mission has to reduce their miles by 1/4. That is going to be difficult because we have to go to Greenville three more times this month (stake conference/zone Interviews, zone development meeting, and zone conference) each one of these trips take 100 miles. We calculated how many miles we can use, and we can only drive on P-days. So for the rest of this month we are biking Elders. It will not be very effective since it will take us 45 minutes to bike to our area, I know the Lord will bless us, after he tests us. Obedience is the first law of heaven and we are going to obey! It was so nice to hear from each of you! Make every minute count! I will close with a quote from President Monson: "It is not the number of hours, but what we put into each hour that counts."
I love you!
Elder Cowan

:)

Elder Cowan, Trinity, Felicia, & Billy

May 4, 2009

Dear Family,
After not writing about last week's events, everything seems messed up. I will do my best to keep you updated with everything that's happened. I talked to Elder Bowles about Mother's Day and he said that they just used a members cell phone which has free weekends. I don't think I will need a calling card.

Ok this letter is going to focus on 1. Edna and her grandchildren 2. William and last but not least 3. Wayne

Edna is truly elect. The Lord has been working with Edna for quite some time to prepare her for the gospel. I love going over to see her excitement for her baptism. Edna has told us multiple times that we were an answer to her prayers. Edna was searching for a church...well let me rephrase that. Edna wanted to get back into going to church, and many of her friends invited her to go to their churches, but she always declined. When we knocked on her door she recognized something was different and allowed us to come back. I love hearing Edna pray. Whenever she prays she always include us in her prayer. Edna pleads with Heavenly Father to lead us to those searching for the truth, because "I know they are out there, I was one of them."

Billy, Felicia, and Trinity are Edna's grandchildren and they are so much fun to work with. Trinity made a bet with us. She said that she could read three chapters in the Book of Mormon in one night, and if she did, we "had to" come over to their house everyday. It was a win win situation, because we love to see them and she was reading the Book of Mormon!  :)  We went over this week to have the baptismal record signed by their mother and unfortunately she won't sign the papers.  :(  These kids want to be baptized so bad! Edna is still planning to be baptized by herself and I pray that her example will lead the grandchildren to ask their mother (Darlene) more fervently to sign the baptismal record. With these three children added to the list, we now have four people who truly have a desire to be baptized, but their parents get in the way. We continually work with Nick and we told him, Elder Bowles will most likely not be here next transfer, and we want to see his baptism, and he agreed. He wants us to be the ones who baptize him since we taught him, so I think he will work harder on getting his mother to sign the baptismal record. Elder Bowles and I are not sure what we can to about Darlene, but we must trust in Heavenly Father and know that he will work everything out in his time. All that is left to do is pray that her heart will be softened.

William Bradberry. William is still solid for his baptism this coming Saturday. The goal is to persuade Edna to let me baptize her, and then have William be baptized by Elder Bowles so we can all dress in white.  :)  William has progressed tremendously. He recognizes us as servants of Jesus Christ and is willing to commit to anything we tell him. When I (well it was me and a priest, Elder Bowles went with another priest to teach Wayne) taught William about the Word of Wisdom, I asked him if he had any coffee or tea in his house, and he got up and told us to wait a minute and he gathered up all his coffee and tea and told us he was going to give it to someone in the neighborhood! We came by later that week and he had given it all away to remove the temptation. I'm excited for this upcoming week.

Wayne Morris. Wayne is so close to be baptized! He has come to church with us twice, and when Elder Bowles taught the Plan of Salvation, the spirit was so strong and at the end of the lesson Elder Bowles asked Wayne to say the prayer and to make sure he waited after the prayer to stay on his knees and listen and feel for Heavenly Fathers' response. When he finally got up, he said "the Spirit is really working on me. I need to see a baptism before I make my final decision." :D The Lord has planned everything! We have been working with Edna and William for years to prepare them for baptism, and He's made it time out in which their conversion will also help another of his children enter the waters of baptism! I love it! After the baptism I feel Elder Bowles and I are going to have to be VERY bold with Wayne.

I love missionary work. I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and His willingness to drink from that bitter cup so that through the Atonement, we all have an opportunity to accomplish the work our Father in Heaven wants us to complete. I can't even begin to imagine the love our father in heaven has for each and every one us. I am learning every day to trust in the Lord  more and more.  As long as I am being obedient to the commandments he has given me, no matter what comes my way, I know it is what the Lord wants. Keep reading your scriptures and praying it is the greatest way we can strengthen our relationship with our Eternal Father. I love you all!
Elder Cowan 

First Baptism!

April 27, 2009

I do not like myldsmail.net It takes forever to load pictures, so I only have five minutes to send my letter. I have not even had a chance to read your letter mom. Sorry. I pray life is going well.

21st and 22nd-went on an exchange with Elder Roundy. Tuesday night and I worked Greenville Wednesday.  Elder Jones (not the Elder who lives with me) came from Greenville to go on an exchange with Elder Bowles. I realized that I have taken Elder Bowles for granted. He is an amazing missionary. It was nice to work Greenville for a day.
23rd-District development meeting. I gave a training on prayer. I find it appropriate that I received Dad's email about prayer AFTER my training. :P oh well. :D Oh funny story. The day started out with no dinner appointment, then throughout the day I actually ended up with three dinners! Yummy.
24-Ward had a pot luck dinner. A lot of part member families came so it was good for those nonmember to enjoy the ward.
25-Luis and Gasper's Baptism! :D It was great! It was a little confusing because the location of the baptism was changed three times, and the last time it changed, it not only changed locations but time. The baptism was going to be at six pm but it ended up being at 10 am. We had a member who was going to give us a ride at 6 but with the change in time we had to drive out to Boiling Springs which really took a number on our miles so we will be biking the rest of the month. Brother Prestigue (their dad) performed the baptism. He was so happy to see his sons take the first big step in the gospel. The baptism was in Spanish, so it was very interesting. I loved it.
26-we have been struggling with finding new investigators but the ones we have are solid! Edna and her three grandchildren are looking great for the baptism on the 9th, we also have a man named William who is going to be baptized that same day. Oh funny story. William thinks he is a prophet. First off, everyone in the south has had some type of crazy spiritual experience in their life. William's was a vision. In his vision two foot tall Cherokee Indians surrounded him and above him was the "spirit" of God. We still have to work with him on the whole "being a prophet" but he is really excited for his baptism. I wish I had more time. Make sure Dad forwards the pictures. I love you!

First Zone Conference

April 20, 2009

Dear Family,
Be the part; Wear the part!
I have not seen a Wells Fargo. That's why I sent the check home. I'm sorry I didn't write anything. I do love you and I can only write on P-Day. I forgot to tell you last email that there is a new policy on the mission. (Dad's going to love it) All missionaries have to part their hair.  :)  I also was asked last week by the Ap's to play the piano at zone conference this Wednesday. I'm thankful for the little skills I have. I've had the opportunity to play the piano MANY times at different meetings. The bike I use is owned by a member. He doesn't use it so he gave it to me for my time here in Anderson. I think I answered the questions. If I didn't, I'm sure you will ask me again next week.

When I received the call to play the piano at zone conference, they told me I had to be at the church by 6:00 in the morning. When I got off the phone I told Elder Bowles and he was shocked because I guess zone conference starts at 10, but I didn't know any better because I've never been to one. Our zone leaders also asked us to start a fast at 12:00 Tuesday to prepare for the special zone conference. With all the excitement about the special zone conference (the earlier time and fast), everyone was speculating what was going to happen. The two biggest guesses were 1. one of the 12 apostles were coming, or 2. We were re-dedicating the south for missionary work. All this excitement made me nervous with my assignment to play piano. :P We started the fast on Tuesday and later that day we taught Bill and Wayne (the two Catholic brothers) at the church. We focused on the Book of Mormon, and Wayne really enjoyed the thought of Christ appearing to the people in America. It was a great lesson.

In order to get to Greenville by 6:00 we woke up at 3:30. :D When we arrived I went to the bathroom to get away from everyone and say a quick prayer asking that I may be calm and that my fingers may be guided as I played. I played for a half hour of prelude music and it was great.  :)  the Lord definitely blessed me as I played. When conference started President McConkie told everyone that we were getting in the cars and leaving. He didn't tell us where we were going but we filed into the cars and left. We drove to a State park and started hiking. After a couple of minutes on the trail we stepped off into the forest. We read the first vision and sang Joseph Smith's first prayer. I love music. The spirit was in rich abundance as 40 missionaries sang. It was powerful. We then had time to separate from everyone and have our own sacred grove time. I started with a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for revealing himself and His son to the young Joseph Smith. I then read through the words of the hymn and I was struck by the lyrics "but undaunted still he trusted in his Heavenly Father's care." I had been talking to Elder Bowles and how I wished I knew the reasons behind the rules so we wouldn't have to have blind obedience and Elder Bowles commented: "It's a chance to trust our Heavenly Father. We don't have to know why there is a rule, but where and who the rule is coming from." As I read the lyrics in the song, I thought about how I need to trust my Heavenly Father more. I trusted him enough to come on my mission, but do I trust him enough to send his spirit when I testify? Do I trust him enough to guide me to his elect? Do I trust him enough to align my will with His? These were the questions that I pondered and it was a great experience. We then went on to have the regular zone conference at the church, It was great but the best part was our sacred grove time. The focus of the conference was to "Send your investigators through the Sacred Grove." I need to help the investigator have the desire and then pray vocally to Heavenly Father asking their question.

On to Thursday. We taught a man named Joel but it was very difficult because we were teaching in his front yard and the dogs were barking, and his house was next to a highway so cars were driving by constantly so it was difficult to have the spirit with us. Even with all the distractions we invited him to kneel down and pray, and he did! It almost shocked me that he would do that in the middle of his yard while cars were driving by. It was pretty cool. His friend had been listening to the discussion but at the end he got frustrated with us and we were not able to get a return appointment with Joel but later that night he gave us a call and wanted to meet us at our church so we could teach him some more and without distractions! :D Happy day! 

We continue to go over to Edna's every day to have contact to make sure she is still excited about baptism, and every time she is firmer and firmer in her determination. This week she even told us that she knew that God had sent us to her. We were an answer to her prayers. Her baptism date is the 9th along with her three grandchildren. Saturday while riding our bikes away from Ednas, we came across a huge hill and I went down a little fast, and....crashed. L:) I ripped up my shirt and my belt broke but it was so funny! I also got a little road rash on my arm but I could not stop laughing after I got up. Don't worry mom. And don't email Sis. McConkie. I am fine. It was a funny experience. Another funny story this week. I talk in my sleep, you know that, but Saturday I woke up and Elder Jones and Bowles told me I had said the Lords prayer in my sleep!  :)  Wayne and Bill must be rubbing off on me.  :)  We taught Wayne and Bill again about baptism and Wayne recognized that he has not been taught the truth in the Catholic church. Luis and Gaspers baptism is this weekend so pray for them to stay strong and that all will work out. I love you all and I pray all is well.
Love Elder Cowan. 

Easter Week

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April 13, 2009

I'm surprised you got my email last week! I pressed send and there was 40 seconds left on the computer. The computer was "thinking" but it never said the email had been sent. I'm glad you got it.

Thank you for the package. I've been eating more candy than I think I did in my life. :D I'm feeling much better. I have been drinking a ton of water because I did not want to get headaches or sore throats but the water did not prevent it. I bought a water bladder that I keep in my backpack and it has a hose so I can have easy access to water at all times.

Time for investigators. I don't know if I told you about Barry Brown, but he was a large, let me repeat LARGE man. He use to play in the NFL, anyways we have been teaching him, then we didn't see him for a couple days. We were wondering where he was but then we got a call from his wife who told us Barry had congestive heart failure and that he was in the hospital. We were worried about his health but we were glad to know why he was not answering our phone calls so we didn't think much about him, but this week we got another call from his wife, and she told us Barry had passed away. I'm thankful for the gospel and the truths that we know. Even though we were not able to baptize him, I know the missionaries on the other side are continuing to teach Barry the lessons.

Tuesday we visited Shirley Payne and she told us an amazing experience. Shirley was at the store and a lady came up to her and told her to be careful when it comes to the "Mormons" because the lady had heard we worship Joseph smith. Shirley turned to the lady and told her "you have been misinformed. The Mormons worship God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Maybe you should look into something before you start talking about it." I was so proud of her! After teaching Shirley we tried to teach Melonie who has been lame and avoiding us, she told us she didn't feel good and then shut the door on us, so we went to the side of the road and ate lunch. While we were eating it began to snow! :0 Crazy! the weather in South Carolina is crazy! It will be warm one day, then rain, then tornado, then snow! I also performed my first service on Tuesday. We planted a tree.  :)  we didn't find any new investigators during the day, but we called Luis, and I'm not sure what I told you last, they change almost every day, but he wants to be baptized! We drove out to teach him and we had a wonderful plan of salvation lesson, so its great to have them as investigators again. Hopefully this time they will stay committed to the gospel.

Wednesday. We went over to the Busbys for dinner (they feed us every Wednesday) and before dinner we have an ugly tie contest. I received 25 ties from a man in the ward and I must say they are pretty ugly. All four of us had really ugly ties and for the first time in the Busby Ugly tie contest, there was a four way tie!  :)  It was quite funny. After dinner Brother Busby came out with Elder Bowles and I, and we went to a media referral for Rick Shuffler. Rick has a friend in UT and Rick went to Utah recently for a funeral. He and his friend spent four hours talking about their beliefs. we brought him the Book of Mormon he ordered, and he already had questions for us. He seems really interested, but he's either going to accept the Book of Mormon, and we won't have to work very hard (because he will believe everything we say) or he will find something in the Book of Mormon that he sees as a contradiction to the Bible and he will want nothing more to do with us. Either Extreme. We are praying for him.

Thursday we taught Hunter and Stephanie who used to be the other missionaries investigators but they suddenly had to move and they lost track of them and then on Wednesday night they showed up at the church to do family history. They want to be baptized but it will be difficult because they live with Stephanie's mother who is anti-Mormon.

Friday. Boy did it come down today! It rained really hard. It was quite fun though, I was in such a great mood. We had planned Thursday night to ride bikes all day long so we decided to stick with our plans. I was drenched completely through but the whole time on the bike I kept singing "There is Sunshine in my Soul Today." We stopped by Shirley's and I've decided she is completely crazy. She told us she believes she is going to be God's wife, and she told us a vision she saw of a tornado that is 50 miles wide and will destroy SC. It was creepy. I don't think we are going to keep seeing her. We found a man named Lawrence a couple days ago and when we first taught him he told us he had become really good friends with some missionaries a couple years ago, he even cooked them steak! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and it blew him away. I know I'm not supposed to judge the other missionaries that used to come over to his house, but Lawrence told us that they discussed the gospel every time they came over, but he had never heard of the Plan of Salvation. When we taught that the belief of only heaven and hell was incorrect he completely agreed with us because he had always wondered about those who never had the chance to hear about Jesus Christ. There is a lot of potential with Lawrence. There was a tornado warning Friday night and it was a crazy storm! The zone leaders called in a lock down so we had to return to our apartments early, and when we arrived the power was out. What a crazy day!Wow Saturday the Lord really blessed us. Within an hour Elder Bowles and I taught three lessons, and from those three lessons we picked up six new investigators! We taught Edna and her grandchild Trinity. They accepted everything we taught them, it was a powerful first lesson. We then taught Wayne and Bill who are brothers who live together and they are catholic. They both accepted the commitment to be baptized, but they will have to come a long ways before they will actually be comfortable because their whole life they have been in the Catholic church. We then went over to a leads house his name is JR, but he was not home but two other people were so we taught them and they accepted the commitment to be baptized, I 'm really excited because we could get the whole household to be baptized.

Sunday we only had Sacrament meeting because the power had still been out from the storm Friday. It was a great service. Edna came to church but it wasn't just her. She brought three of her grandchildren with her! Trinity, Billy, and Felicia. Their ages are 9, 14, and 11. they really enjoyed church and we are teaching them again tomorrow.  Wow I hope my emails make sense. I just ramble and don't really make sentences. Oh well.  :)  I love you all and I'm thankful for Easter, for the opportunity to celebrate Christ's resurrection.
I love you all!