Dear Family,
What a wonderful week! I need to start by telling you the miracle which has taken several months to develop. My very last week in Spartanburg, Elder Thayne and I were blessed to find many new investigators. It was Sunday evening, and we came across a man who was sitting on a porch and we taught him the restoration. It was a nice lesson, but when we left, his mother came out and she was not very excited to see us. Anyways, I had forgotten all about this incident until this last week. Elder Thayne, who was transferred into my zone the same day as Elder Fitzgerald, called me up and asked me if I had looked at the weekly mission report, I told him I had glanced at it, but nothing really stood out. Elder Thayne reminded me that in Spartanburg, a man had been baptized. Elder Thayne went on to explain that it was the very man we had met my third to last day in Spartanburg! What an amazing miracle! I am so happy that that man decided to enter the waters of baptism and make that sacred covenant with our Heavenly Father. The funny part is that I honestly don't even remember his name! I will have to ask Elder Thayne later.
The other miracle that we experienced this week was that after working really hard and not having any real results from it, the Lord saw fit to place someone in our path that we will have the opportunity to teach. On Sunday, Elaine, a local member, brought her friend Samantha to Church. Samantha went to basic training for national guard and while she was there she had attended the LDS services. Samantha really enjoyed attending, so when she came home and told her friend Elaine about this interesting church she had attended Elaine explained that she was a member. Elaine invited her to attend the local church in Florence. Samantha came and loved it. The ward was great at reaching out and welcoming her and inviting her to come back next week. We have an appointment with her this evening and Elaine is going to be there as well!
This week has been interesting because last Monday the assistants told us that were going to have a surprise zone conference. It really shocked me. So on Wednesday morning Elder Fitzgerald and I had a zone development meeting at 8:00 in the morning and at 9:00 we then have a zone conference. At the end of the zone conference, I jumped in the car with the Elders that work Sumter to go on an exchange and when we just pulled into Sumter, I received a phone call from Elder Fitzgerald informing me that we were supposed to meet with the stake president in a half hour and Elder Fitzgerald was a little nervous because he had never attended a stake correlation meeting before. I felt horrible that I had completely spaced the meeting, but I turned the car around and headed back up to Florence. I literally sprinted into the meeting. It was quite disorganized, (which was completely my fault for forgetting, but it turned out all right,and everything that we needed to get across was communicated and assignments were made to help the work progress here in the Florence Stake.) (Oh by the way Dad, I would love to attend one of your stake correlation meetings when I get done with my extension! :)
That's the update for right now. The entire church is redoing the mission process, from the way the MTC is run, to all the missions around the world. To start this change, I have to be at a leadership meeting in Columbia starting tomorrow and it will last for four days! I don't know how we are going to help our investigators progress in the gospel with only tonight, Saturday and Sunday to actually be here, but the Lord will provide a way (1 Nephi 3:7).
I love each of you and I appreciate the continual prayers in behalf of my companion and I, and our investigators.
Love,
Elder Cowan
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
New Map and Lots of Work To Do in Florence!
Dear Family,
It was quite interesting as I was shopping yesterday, I noticed that the Walmart is beginning to put supplies out for the next school year. It was quite a shock when I realized that I am not going to spend this entire school year here in South Carolina! :O I need to put the pedal to the medal and make sure I use every moment effectively to fulfill the calling and purpose that I have as a missionary.
This week I am pleased to announce that the Florence area now has a map! It was interesting trying to plan on a map that was so old and had streets that no longer existed and was missing so many new developments. Last week we spent our time buying a new map and laminating it. Yesterday, our district leader, Elder Williams, and his companion, Elder Bangeter, came over and helped find where members live and placed them on our map. This ward is HUGE! There are enoungh members in the ward list to make a stake! It's quite sad that there are only 140-160 active members, while there are 800-900 less-active members. We are going to try and help re-kindle the flame that these members once had, while also teaching their friends and families. We are following President Monson's program "Rescue Effort." We also have been blessed with 600 media offers. These are individuals who either saw a commercial or went to Mormon.org and ordered free materials from the church. We deliver the items and also invite them to learn of the restored gospel. I sometimes wonder how in the world I am supposed to be in charge of bringing the gospel to so many different people. I have complete confidence that as I listen to the promptings of the still small voice, I will know where to begin with these huge lists.
Tanzania, felt the spirit, acted. . .and made the wrong decision. She was truthful when she said she wanted to get back into church, but unfortunately she chose to go back to her family church and does not want us coming back by.
This week we had a return appointment with Annette Brown. She had read the introduction and was very curious about the entire timeline of the Book of Mormon. We explained everything to her, letting her know who was the father of who, and she is so interested in family history! We are going over to teach her the Plan of Salvation today. I am very excited to see how she continues to progress in the gospel.
On Sunday, we found a sweet man named Lashawn. We taught him a powerful straight forward lesson, which I think only lasted about 10 minutes, but by the end Lashawn knew the importance of Priesthood power in performing ordinances in the gospel, and he really wanted to know if Joseph Smith received that authority from Jesus Christ. We have a return appointment with LaShawn today as well. Sister Selph is as sweet as always. I love her to death. She is still working on her addiction to cigarettes. She is going to begin attending the addiction recovery class which is held at the church every Tuesday evening. I know that as she completes the class, she will be smoke free and ready for baptism. The work continues to progress and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Elder Fitzgerald and the people in the Florence area.
I love each of you, and I love the gospel too!
Love,
Elder Cowan
P.S. Note for future missionaries (Justin, Blake, and Kevin):
Keep your area book current! Updating an area book is like repentance, it can be done, but it's a difficult process. The longer you wait the harder it is. If you update your area book everyday (just like repentance), it's easy, but when missionaries for the past year and a half have not kept good records, then it becomes a difficult process. :)
It was quite interesting as I was shopping yesterday, I noticed that the Walmart is beginning to put supplies out for the next school year. It was quite a shock when I realized that I am not going to spend this entire school year here in South Carolina! :O I need to put the pedal to the medal and make sure I use every moment effectively to fulfill the calling and purpose that I have as a missionary.
This week I am pleased to announce that the Florence area now has a map! It was interesting trying to plan on a map that was so old and had streets that no longer existed and was missing so many new developments. Last week we spent our time buying a new map and laminating it. Yesterday, our district leader, Elder Williams, and his companion, Elder Bangeter, came over and helped find where members live and placed them on our map. This ward is HUGE! There are enoungh members in the ward list to make a stake! It's quite sad that there are only 140-160 active members, while there are 800-900 less-active members. We are going to try and help re-kindle the flame that these members once had, while also teaching their friends and families. We are following President Monson's program "Rescue Effort." We also have been blessed with 600 media offers. These are individuals who either saw a commercial or went to Mormon.org and ordered free materials from the church. We deliver the items and also invite them to learn of the restored gospel. I sometimes wonder how in the world I am supposed to be in charge of bringing the gospel to so many different people. I have complete confidence that as I listen to the promptings of the still small voice, I will know where to begin with these huge lists.
Tanzania, felt the spirit, acted. . .and made the wrong decision. She was truthful when she said she wanted to get back into church, but unfortunately she chose to go back to her family church and does not want us coming back by.
This week we had a return appointment with Annette Brown. She had read the introduction and was very curious about the entire timeline of the Book of Mormon. We explained everything to her, letting her know who was the father of who, and she is so interested in family history! We are going over to teach her the Plan of Salvation today. I am very excited to see how she continues to progress in the gospel.
On Sunday, we found a sweet man named Lashawn. We taught him a powerful straight forward lesson, which I think only lasted about 10 minutes, but by the end Lashawn knew the importance of Priesthood power in performing ordinances in the gospel, and he really wanted to know if Joseph Smith received that authority from Jesus Christ. We have a return appointment with LaShawn today as well. Sister Selph is as sweet as always. I love her to death. She is still working on her addiction to cigarettes. She is going to begin attending the addiction recovery class which is held at the church every Tuesday evening. I know that as she completes the class, she will be smoke free and ready for baptism. The work continues to progress and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Elder Fitzgerald and the people in the Florence area.
I love each of you, and I love the gospel too!
Love,
Elder Cowan
P.S. Note for future missionaries (Justin, Blake, and Kevin):
Keep your area book current! Updating an area book is like repentance, it can be done, but it's a difficult process. The longer you wait the harder it is. If you update your area book everyday (just like repentance), it's easy, but when missionaries for the past year and a half have not kept good records, then it becomes a difficult process. :)
Monday, June 28, 2010
New Companion: Elder Fitzgerald
Dear Family,
What an exciting week for all members of the Cowan Family! With those who were on the vacation, I'm glad to hear everyone had an enjoyable, safe time, minus your spill mom :) and for myself here in South Carolina, I had the privilege of seeing the Lord's hand in His work. On Wednesday, we had transfer meeting and my new companion is Elder Fitzgerald. I am so excited to continue to work with the driven missionary. Thursday we drove to Lake City to proselyte there. We had zone conference in Marion on Friday. Elder Fitzgerald and I drove down to Columbia for zone leader council on Saturday and had church on Sunday.
We have been traveling quite a bit this past week, but even with all the activities that we are required to accomplish with our callings, I enjoyed the wise words of mother reminding me to listen for the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I wish I had time to tell you the wonderful experiences that we had this week because the Lord has truly blessed us. Because of transfers, I had to create a new sheet for accountability purposes and I only have 5 minutes left on the computer and I have not written President McConkie either. :) On Wednesday as we were driving down the street, I noticed some houses on our left and it was not part of our plans, but I told Elder Fitzgerald that I felt we should stop. We met Tanzania, who is looking for a church, and I told her the spirit told us to stop and she recognized that we are truly servants of the Lord. When we went to Lake City we met Annette. She is searching for truth and she accepted a baptismal date of the 17th of July. Yesterday we met Chrishelle who broke down into tears because of the trials that the Lord has placed in her path to humble her and allow her to listen to the restored gospel. Not only are we being blessed but the rest of the zone is as well. We are excited to continue to work in this calling we have received to be full time missionaries. I love each of you. Keep the commandments, they keep us free and we feel the Lord's love as we do!
Love,
Elder Cowan
What an exciting week for all members of the Cowan Family! With those who were on the vacation, I'm glad to hear everyone had an enjoyable, safe time, minus your spill mom :) and for myself here in South Carolina, I had the privilege of seeing the Lord's hand in His work. On Wednesday, we had transfer meeting and my new companion is Elder Fitzgerald. I am so excited to continue to work with the driven missionary. Thursday we drove to Lake City to proselyte there. We had zone conference in Marion on Friday. Elder Fitzgerald and I drove down to Columbia for zone leader council on Saturday and had church on Sunday.
We have been traveling quite a bit this past week, but even with all the activities that we are required to accomplish with our callings, I enjoyed the wise words of mother reminding me to listen for the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I wish I had time to tell you the wonderful experiences that we had this week because the Lord has truly blessed us. Because of transfers, I had to create a new sheet for accountability purposes and I only have 5 minutes left on the computer and I have not written President McConkie either. :) On Wednesday as we were driving down the street, I noticed some houses on our left and it was not part of our plans, but I told Elder Fitzgerald that I felt we should stop. We met Tanzania, who is looking for a church, and I told her the spirit told us to stop and she recognized that we are truly servants of the Lord. When we went to Lake City we met Annette. She is searching for truth and she accepted a baptismal date of the 17th of July. Yesterday we met Chrishelle who broke down into tears because of the trials that the Lord has placed in her path to humble her and allow her to listen to the restored gospel. Not only are we being blessed but the rest of the zone is as well. We are excited to continue to work in this calling we have received to be full time missionaries. I love each of you. Keep the commandments, they keep us free and we feel the Lord's love as we do!
Love,
Elder Cowan
Monday, June 21, 2010
I am getting a new companion!
Dear Family,
What an exciting week! Transfers are this Wednesday and I am getting a new companion. Elder Pack is leaving me and heading up to my part of the state. He's going to be a zone leader in Greenville! I am excited for him. I am also curious to see who my new companion will be. This week has flown by. We currently are not working with any progressing investigators, but we found quite a few new investigators on Saturday and Sunday. I am excited to be a part of their conversion process. I hope the Lord will bless us and give us the opportunity to see these, our brothers and sisters, progress in the gospel. We have two families: the Timmons family and the Anderson Family. I am out of time on the computer! I love each of you. I pray for you and I hope you enjoy your vacation!
Love,
Elder Cowan
What an exciting week! Transfers are this Wednesday and I am getting a new companion. Elder Pack is leaving me and heading up to my part of the state. He's going to be a zone leader in Greenville! I am excited for him. I am also curious to see who my new companion will be. This week has flown by. We currently are not working with any progressing investigators, but we found quite a few new investigators on Saturday and Sunday. I am excited to be a part of their conversion process. I hope the Lord will bless us and give us the opportunity to see these, our brothers and sisters, progress in the gospel. We have two families: the Timmons family and the Anderson Family. I am out of time on the computer! I love each of you. I pray for you and I hope you enjoy your vacation!
Love,
Elder Cowan
Monday, June 14, 2010
Adversity
Dear Family,
You are not going to get a long e-mail from me this week. I used my computer time to teach the man next to me. He was taught by missionaries three months ago, but because he was on probation, he could not get baptized. Since he stopped going to church, he has been involved in worldly affairs--drugs, gang, etc. Hopefully he will act on the invitation I gave him to come back to the church and allow the Lord to straighten out his life.
I only have time for one story here it is: This week Elder Pack and I had an experience with anti. We found a lady named Farah on Monday evening and while we were teaching her, we noticed a 16 passenger van pull onto the street. The van unloaded the individuals who had been riding and ALL 16 people would go up to one door and attempt to "witness" to those inside. It was very distracting as we taught Farah. Half way through the lesson, the group had visited every house on the street other than the one that we were standing in front of. They sat on the other side of the street and watched with hungry eyes as they waited to pounce on this seeker of truth. No sooner did we finish the closing prayer that the group surrounded Farah. The sheer number of people was intimidating and they proceeded to undo all the truth that we taught Farah. The so-called "bishop" appeared from the inner midst of the mob and began to question us, as the rest of the group focused on Farah. We calmly answered his questions and read from the Book of Mormon. Elder Pack bore a strong witness. After Elder Pack's testimony the preacher could not contend with him any further and retreated back into the crowd. It was very interesting. Anyways, long story short, we have not gotten back in contact with Farah. I feel bad for her, but honestly I feel worse for those individuals who temporarily damned her eternal progression. The scripture comes to mind in Matthew chapter 7 where Christ warns of false prophets, "wolves in sheep's clothing." I know this is not an original statement, but it applies to Florence at the moment: Florence is "adver-city." Even with the challenges that lie ahead, I am confident in the Lord's promises especially found in the Standard of Truth.
"The Standard of Truth has been erected
No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing
Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, and calumny may assemble,
but the truth of God will go forth boldly nobly and independent
till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say:
The work is done"
-Joseph Smith Jr.
I know that the Lord has great things in store this upcoming week, for why else would the adversary try so hard to hinder our progress?
Update on other investigators: Gloria dropped us and Dante has not been keeping his commitments and Darlene Selph is still smoking. I feel bad updating you with all these negative things, but don't worry I am very excited for this next week. Come what may and LOVE IT!
I love each of you, and I am so proud of your efforts to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of you are an example to me and I am very thankful for you prayers and continuous support.
Love,
Elder Cowan
You are not going to get a long e-mail from me this week. I used my computer time to teach the man next to me. He was taught by missionaries three months ago, but because he was on probation, he could not get baptized. Since he stopped going to church, he has been involved in worldly affairs--drugs, gang, etc. Hopefully he will act on the invitation I gave him to come back to the church and allow the Lord to straighten out his life.
I only have time for one story here it is: This week Elder Pack and I had an experience with anti. We found a lady named Farah on Monday evening and while we were teaching her, we noticed a 16 passenger van pull onto the street. The van unloaded the individuals who had been riding and ALL 16 people would go up to one door and attempt to "witness" to those inside. It was very distracting as we taught Farah. Half way through the lesson, the group had visited every house on the street other than the one that we were standing in front of. They sat on the other side of the street and watched with hungry eyes as they waited to pounce on this seeker of truth. No sooner did we finish the closing prayer that the group surrounded Farah. The sheer number of people was intimidating and they proceeded to undo all the truth that we taught Farah. The so-called "bishop" appeared from the inner midst of the mob and began to question us, as the rest of the group focused on Farah. We calmly answered his questions and read from the Book of Mormon. Elder Pack bore a strong witness. After Elder Pack's testimony the preacher could not contend with him any further and retreated back into the crowd. It was very interesting. Anyways, long story short, we have not gotten back in contact with Farah. I feel bad for her, but honestly I feel worse for those individuals who temporarily damned her eternal progression. The scripture comes to mind in Matthew chapter 7 where Christ warns of false prophets, "wolves in sheep's clothing." I know this is not an original statement, but it applies to Florence at the moment: Florence is "adver-city." Even with the challenges that lie ahead, I am confident in the Lord's promises especially found in the Standard of Truth.
"The Standard of Truth has been erected
No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing
Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, and calumny may assemble,
but the truth of God will go forth boldly nobly and independent
till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say:
The work is done"
-Joseph Smith Jr.
I know that the Lord has great things in store this upcoming week, for why else would the adversary try so hard to hinder our progress?
Update on other investigators: Gloria dropped us and Dante has not been keeping his commitments and Darlene Selph is still smoking. I feel bad updating you with all these negative things, but don't worry I am very excited for this next week. Come what may and LOVE IT!
I love each of you, and I am so proud of your efforts to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of you are an example to me and I am very thankful for you prayers and continuous support.
Love,
Elder Cowan
Monday, June 7, 2010
Reward for Diligence--Gloria Brown
Dear Family,
This week was great. We worked really hard all week trying to see medias, but nothing was resulting from any of the effort that we were putting in, then at 8:00 pm Saturday night, while riding our bikes to a media's house, we rode past a woman putting together a BBQ grill. As we drove by, the lady stopped what she was doing to wave at us as we drove by. I decided to turn back around and see if there was anything we could do to help her. The lady introduced herself as Gloria Brown and she gladly allowed us to put her BBQ together. As we worked, we began to teach her the gospel. We finished the BBQ and then went into the experience Joseph Smith had as he was searching for more truth. The spirit was very strong and the spirit bore witness to me that she knew that what we were teaching her was true. I followed the instruction we received at zone interviews and I told her that I knew that she knew that these things were true. Gloria accepted a baptismal date and really wanted to come to church. As we rode home after the lesson, we simultaneously called everyone from the ward to see if someone could give her a ride. Our efforts did not produce the desired result and we were not able to find anyone on Saturday night to give her a ride to church. On Sunday morning, while conducting the correlation meeting, the Relief Society president volunteered to pick her up. Fifteen minutes before the meeting was to begin, Sister Dew (RS Pres.) left the church to go pick up our investigator. Right as the first verse of the sacrament hymn was being sung, Sister Dew and Gloria Brown entered the chapel. The meeting was great. I love testimony meetings. As soon as the meeting ended, Sister Dew approached Elder Pack and me and told us that she had taught Gloria Brown's children in school! We saw Gloria arise from her pew and then she walked up to another one of the members of our ward and gave her a big hug. To our surprise, she knew several members of the congregation. She loved the rest of the meeting. We have an appointment with her tonight and she is coming to Book of Mormon study on Wednesday, and then on Thursday she is attending enrichment night. I am so excited to see her further progress in the gospel. The goal for this next week is to have Gloria Brown living WOW and LOC in order to add her to accountability. It was a sweet way to end the week after spending so many hours with the medias with no success. I am thankful for the Lord's help in giving me the strength to continue to work and be diligent. I love you!
Love,
Elder Cowan
This week was great. We worked really hard all week trying to see medias, but nothing was resulting from any of the effort that we were putting in, then at 8:00 pm Saturday night, while riding our bikes to a media's house, we rode past a woman putting together a BBQ grill. As we drove by, the lady stopped what she was doing to wave at us as we drove by. I decided to turn back around and see if there was anything we could do to help her. The lady introduced herself as Gloria Brown and she gladly allowed us to put her BBQ together. As we worked, we began to teach her the gospel. We finished the BBQ and then went into the experience Joseph Smith had as he was searching for more truth. The spirit was very strong and the spirit bore witness to me that she knew that what we were teaching her was true. I followed the instruction we received at zone interviews and I told her that I knew that she knew that these things were true. Gloria accepted a baptismal date and really wanted to come to church. As we rode home after the lesson, we simultaneously called everyone from the ward to see if someone could give her a ride. Our efforts did not produce the desired result and we were not able to find anyone on Saturday night to give her a ride to church. On Sunday morning, while conducting the correlation meeting, the Relief Society president volunteered to pick her up. Fifteen minutes before the meeting was to begin, Sister Dew (RS Pres.) left the church to go pick up our investigator. Right as the first verse of the sacrament hymn was being sung, Sister Dew and Gloria Brown entered the chapel. The meeting was great. I love testimony meetings. As soon as the meeting ended, Sister Dew approached Elder Pack and me and told us that she had taught Gloria Brown's children in school! We saw Gloria arise from her pew and then she walked up to another one of the members of our ward and gave her a big hug. To our surprise, she knew several members of the congregation. She loved the rest of the meeting. We have an appointment with her tonight and she is coming to Book of Mormon study on Wednesday, and then on Thursday she is attending enrichment night. I am so excited to see her further progress in the gospel. The goal for this next week is to have Gloria Brown living WOW and LOC in order to add her to accountability. It was a sweet way to end the week after spending so many hours with the medias with no success. I am thankful for the Lord's help in giving me the strength to continue to work and be diligent. I love you!
Love,
Elder Cowan
Monday, May 31, 2010
Media Referrals
Dear Family,
I fooled you! You would have been right about me emailing tomorrow if I was not a zone leader and had to send in reports to the mission president. Also, tomorrow is zone leader council. This week has been quite interesting. President McConkie pulled me aside at zone conference and told me that a local member was going to be joining Elder Pack and me for a week to help him prepare for his mission. On Monday evening Elder Brown from the Myrtle Beach Ward arrived in Florence. On top of the week long member exchange, we received a letter in the mail from the mission office in which they gave us a list 16 pages long of media referrals that had never been contacted in the past. The media's were all from 2007. I think the Lord knew this list was coming because, for some reason, we had a ton of miles left for the month. The past four days we have been driving out in the country to random houses to deliver books, DVD's, and most importantly to give people the opportunity to learn of the restored gospel. We met a lady in Greeleyville which is an hour and a half away, but she is so cool! She told us that she used to drive to Columbia for church, which is two hours away from where she lives, so an hour and a half is no big deal for her to drive to Florence. This lady's name is Laura. Laura was not able to make it to church this week because she had family in town because her nephew was graduating from college. We have an appointment with her on Tuesday.
Bill Smith dropped us. He did not want to change his life to agree with the standards of the church (coffee). Sister Selph has been really busy this week and we did not have the opportunity to see her. She is still smoking, but she has not given up. We are continuing to pray for her.
Another funny story, while in Lake City, we stopped at the McDonalds, and while we were eating, one of the workers came up to us and told us that missionaries had visited her 7 years ago and they helped her quit smoking. She then moved to Florida and lost contact with the church. She recently moved back to Lake City. Her name is Patricia. Patricia really wanted to come to church, but she got called in. :( I am thankful for whoever it was that taught her before because she has the highest respect for the church because of what those missionaries did for her. She is still smoke free to this day.
Dante is a stud. He came to the Book of Mormon class we hold on Wednesday nights. We read from chapters 3 & 4 of 2 Nephi. As we read through, we had a question of "who was Joseph Smith's spokesman?" We were all discussing it and as missionaries we could not agree who it was talking about and then Dante answers, "It was Sidney Rigdon. He was mighty in word and he wrote down what Joseph Smith translated." It blew us all away. This investigator answered the question that us full-time missionaries could not agree on. Dante came to church this Sunday and really enjoyed it. I feel so bad for his situation. He knows the church is true and he wants to join, but his girlfriend does not want to get married. He knows he needs to move out, but he has no money. Business has been slow at the barber shop. He also does not want to abandon his kids by moving out. He is trying to be the best dad he can be. We are praying that we can teach his girlfriend and somehow get her excited in the gospel like he is. Well, I need to go, I've been on the computer way too long. I had a quite a few reports I had to send to President and the stake president. I love you all! Have a great summer!
Love,
Elder Cowan
I fooled you! You would have been right about me emailing tomorrow if I was not a zone leader and had to send in reports to the mission president. Also, tomorrow is zone leader council. This week has been quite interesting. President McConkie pulled me aside at zone conference and told me that a local member was going to be joining Elder Pack and me for a week to help him prepare for his mission. On Monday evening Elder Brown from the Myrtle Beach Ward arrived in Florence. On top of the week long member exchange, we received a letter in the mail from the mission office in which they gave us a list 16 pages long of media referrals that had never been contacted in the past. The media's were all from 2007. I think the Lord knew this list was coming because, for some reason, we had a ton of miles left for the month. The past four days we have been driving out in the country to random houses to deliver books, DVD's, and most importantly to give people the opportunity to learn of the restored gospel. We met a lady in Greeleyville which is an hour and a half away, but she is so cool! She told us that she used to drive to Columbia for church, which is two hours away from where she lives, so an hour and a half is no big deal for her to drive to Florence. This lady's name is Laura. Laura was not able to make it to church this week because she had family in town because her nephew was graduating from college. We have an appointment with her on Tuesday.
Bill Smith dropped us. He did not want to change his life to agree with the standards of the church (coffee). Sister Selph has been really busy this week and we did not have the opportunity to see her. She is still smoking, but she has not given up. We are continuing to pray for her.
Another funny story, while in Lake City, we stopped at the McDonalds, and while we were eating, one of the workers came up to us and told us that missionaries had visited her 7 years ago and they helped her quit smoking. She then moved to Florida and lost contact with the church. She recently moved back to Lake City. Her name is Patricia. Patricia really wanted to come to church, but she got called in. :( I am thankful for whoever it was that taught her before because she has the highest respect for the church because of what those missionaries did for her. She is still smoke free to this day.
Dante is a stud. He came to the Book of Mormon class we hold on Wednesday nights. We read from chapters 3 & 4 of 2 Nephi. As we read through, we had a question of "who was Joseph Smith's spokesman?" We were all discussing it and as missionaries we could not agree who it was talking about and then Dante answers, "It was Sidney Rigdon. He was mighty in word and he wrote down what Joseph Smith translated." It blew us all away. This investigator answered the question that us full-time missionaries could not agree on. Dante came to church this Sunday and really enjoyed it. I feel so bad for his situation. He knows the church is true and he wants to join, but his girlfriend does not want to get married. He knows he needs to move out, but he has no money. Business has been slow at the barber shop. He also does not want to abandon his kids by moving out. He is trying to be the best dad he can be. We are praying that we can teach his girlfriend and somehow get her excited in the gospel like he is. Well, I need to go, I've been on the computer way too long. I had a quite a few reports I had to send to President and the stake president. I love you all! Have a great summer!
Love,
Elder Cowan
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