:)

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