Elder Latu

This week has been so full of emotion I honestly do not know where to begin. But I will start with the good I guess. So Christmas was very good and it was so great to just focus on the Savior and his birth. I felt the spirit of Christmas so much more powerfully due to circumstances that soon will be told. We also received transfer news this weekend and that was great... I am staying at least Six more weeks here in Katlehong. So that will make Seven and a Half months here... So yeah but I was called as District Leader for this transfer. That will be a pretty big change but not really at the same time. We also got to skype!! That was great!! It was so good to see the family and see them!!! These were the Highlights of the week. Well now for the rough news that is really hard to talk about. But if you have not heard Here in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission we lost a soldier in the army. His name was Elder Latu from New Zealand. He was a powerful missionary and was doing so well! But I guess his Transfer came a few days early. His calling is in a higher and a better place now. So we found all this out on Friday and then we had our Christmas devotional on that Saturday! It was a sad but so spiritually filled meeting. We had a few musical numbers as well as testimonies. It was just so great.. I honestly cannot explain all that was felt during that meeting. But again all is well and it is so great to have a knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and what is in store when we leave this mortal body. But Merry Christmas to you all!! I love you guys and I wish you the best. 

Elder Cowan

The 3 missionaries who were involved in the accident holding Elder Latu's Book of Mormon

Words from the Mission Presient:

In Memoriam: Elder Nofo-I-Lelenga Latu (1997-2016) - The outpouring of love and prayers for our dear companion and friend, Elder Latu—who died in a tragic car accident on Thursday—has been overwhelming and so appreciated. It has also been a genuine godsend to our missionaries who have been understandably devastated by this tragedy. Elder Latu was a phenomenal, consecrated missionary who inspired and lifted all he came in contact with. Every day and in every way he was all about doing the work of the Lord. He truly gave "the last full measure of devotion." And his radiance and effervescent spirit will be sorely missed. His unflinching commitment to his God and his religion can be best stated with the words of another similarly committed young person, Joan of Arc: “Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it…and then it’s gone. But to surrender who you are and to live without belief is more terrible than dying – even more terrible than dying young.” Elder Latu certainly gave his life for what he believed in. And his stellar example will continue to inspire and lift us as we mourn together and work through this painful event. It will no doubt also help us as we collectively rise from our sadness and become even more committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ—which gives us the the clarity and certainty of knowing that Elder Latu's spirit indeed lives on. I will never forget the day we met Elder Latu and first saw his ever-present smile on a bright and beautiful morning this past August at the mission home in South Africa. Nor can I ever forget the stirring tribute to him yesterday morning, on Christmas Eve, where every missionary in Johannesburg gathered to reflect on Elder Latu's life, and on the 100-day reading of the Book of Mormon which culminated that same morning. As our missionaries bowed their heads in tribute, Elder Latu's companion, Elder Andrews, holds up Elder Latu's Book of Mormon,flanked by Elder Eatough (left) and Elder Droubay (right), who were all miraculously unhurt in the accident. Elder Latu's last journal entry in this study book reads, "I am so grateful for the joy I find in this work." Please join us as we continue to pray for Elder Latu's family in New Zealand, and for the missionaries who mourn our loss yet celebrate his remarkable life here in South Africa. ‘Oku ou ‘ofa ‘ia koe, Elder Latu.

Holidays and Exchanges

Well this week was not the best week! We had a lot of dropped appointments and cancellations. That word cancel is the worst word I have heard this week and probably the most used. So basically a lot of people in the Gauteng province leave to the other nicer ones and so it makes it seem like everyone we teach left. But we will were able to have some success especially on Wednesday. We had exchanges that day with the zone leaders and that was really nice!! We taught a lot of lessons and we talked to a lot of people on the road. Like 100 of them actually. So yeah that was powerful. Also this week was a biggggggg public holiday know as Reconciliation day. We as the zone were invited to the President Vettens house who is in the stake presidency! They had us over for burgers and to just have fun after district meeting. Elder Lambert ( our Zone Leader) and I played catch in their back yard which was pretty fun as well!! But yeah it was some good food!! I am excited for Christmas coming up and look forward to celebrating here in the mission field! Merry Christmas!! I love you!! 

Elder Cowan

Mission Tour

This week on Thursday was a mission tour! So we had a General Authority visit us and instruct us in a conference setting. So for us we had Elder Stanley G. Ellis from the Seventy came and gave us instruction! He is a really cool guy and really able to keep us missionaries involved and not falling asleep! He was really good though he basically talked about not just pleasing god with our work but satisfying him with the work we do! His wife also spoke and she was really funny! She went through all 9 of there children and talked about them and it was just funny! But yeah we learned a lot!! So this week we got these two new investigators Linah and her Daughter Ofentse. They are really cool and really religious and it was fun teaching them! We saw them twice and they understood what we taught and also were willing to learn more as well! We also saw Dumazile and her Husband Godswill! They are super cool as well and are still wanting to learn a grow in the gospel! This week was basically the same though as the others. It was not bad at all but it was not the best!! So yeah we are doing good and it is getting really close to Christmas! WOOOO Hahah But yeah all is well here in South Africa I love yall!! 

Elder Cowan

#LighttheWorld

This whole week has been one of gladness and sorrow. We are seeing another missionary go home who is our good friend here. He has gotten really sick and has to go home for medical examinations... He is a great guy and I am sad to see him leave. But this week has been great!! We started the #lighttheworld campaign that the church has going on and it has just been great participating and even teaching what it is and how to take part. It warms me to see people taking this by the reigns and actually doing it!! There has been so much good going on in Katlehong because of it. I am grateful to helping with it! But yeah this weeks was good we put one of our Investigators on date for the 29th of January. That will make three that will be dunked on that day! So i am super excited. But yeah this week was just a normal week other than Thursday where we helped the Germiston Elders with service at one of their investigators place. Yo that guy was crazy and funny!! He is just a bit odd but that is okay sometimes. It was very interesting to be there and to help out at his house. His name was Noody. But yeah this week was great! I am glad to be a missionary it is nice! I love you all! 

Elder Cowan