Zone Conference, Temple and Service

Well this week was exciting due to the fact that we were busy doing a lot of things as well as missionary work. Well in all respects it is all missionary work but yeah! Anyways at Zone Conference we were able to see a lot of old folks from the former areas and districts. It was awesome I was able to catch up with a lot of them and it was nice. We had some reminders on the rules because some missionaries have seemed to forget some things. But it went well and I enjoyed. We were able to get flu shots which were not that bad which also was a plus. Anyways the temple was amazing as always!! Here are some great pictures from that with myself and the District. We had a great session though and were able to be very much uplifted and definitely felt the spirit. We were able to have two different serice projects take place. One was painting and sanding this fence for a member! That was very exciting.... Not really but it was good!! Also we participated in a ward service for the Ruimsig ward. That went well. We were able to help out at a library and do a lot of yard work! It was pretty nice. It looks good! Unfortunately in both instances we left our cameras. But yes it was good and we survived. Well nothing much on the normal side. We contacted a lot and found hardly anyone but maybe there was something there. Also on Sunday we met with our investigator Felix and we were able to put him on Date for baptism. So that was awesome as well!! Anyways I love you all!! 

Elder Cowan

Easter and Exchanges

This week was just like any other week. To start the week off we had exchanges which occurred on Tuesday. I went with Elder Wolfgramm to the Randburg/Sandton area and Elder Palkki stayed in our area with Elder Shepardson. Elder Wolfgramm and I decided it was time to go and contact Sandton CBD (Central Business District) which is the richest square mile in all of Africa. As we decided this we also thought yanno white shirts and ties really are under dressing here so lets wear suits. So we suited up and contact for around three hours there. It really was one of the better days on mission. It was actually really fun and we felt really good as we did it. Considering people wear suits around in Sandton we really didnt stick out to much and we were able to gain the respect of some of the people that we talked to. Especially we were talking to this one guy and we said we are not Jay Dubs or Jehovah's Witnesses and he said I can tell you are in suits. So that really stuck out and it was kind of funny. But yeah throughout the week nothing super crazy happened. We just had our normal contacting and lessons. Nothing new has came up so far. But we finally got some people to come to church this week. Easter was literally a normal day for us and yeah we were unable to see anyone. But anyways I love you all!! 

Elder Cowan

Conference for us

This week was really a uplifting week for us here. We were able to watch general conference which is the reason that it was good and uplifting! There were some really powerful talks that were given that really touched me. I honestly thought this was one of the better conferences that I have witnessed which is probably sad to say but it is true in my eyes. They flew by way to quick sadly I wish I could have just kept watching and watching. But yeah let us see that basically took up most of our Saturday and Sunday. We had some really good appointments this week as well as some cancellations which are never good. But the one we did have were very powerful and they were meaningful to the people. This week as well we had Interviews with out new mission President. He is such a amazing guy and I look forward to working under him for the next 4 transfers. I have already learned so much from him and he has helped me already in so many different ways. But yeah in general this week was pretty bland. The guys in our flat have been sick so that hasn't been nice. Also on Thursday our power went out and didn't come back on till Saturday afternoon. Yet since then it has been off and on for a few hours at a time. So all of our food was spoiled.... Anyways all is well here in South Africa! I love you all!!

Elder Cowan

New Investigators

SOOOO this week was a pretty normal week for us here in the good old South Africa. Nothing super crazy happened this week other than today. We were planning to go to the Tallest Building in Joburg (which I have gone to) and as we were arriving there we were about to turn to go to it and we here a series of gun shots and a bunch of people running so we sad nope and got out of there. Fortunately we were not there when it happened just a street or two down so that was exciting! That was the suspenseful thing of the week! So this week we got four new investigators. Three of which are from this members family and have been wanting to be taught. We met with them on last Monday and had a great lesson!! We just did a short how to begin teaching and got to know them and went over a short gospel principle. The other was this lady we met street contacting the other day. She was interested in the Book of Mormon and com to find out she is looking for a church. She said it is time that she finds her own to raise her family in instead of her mothers. So in general she is super powerful! We committed her to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. We will be seeing her on Tuesday and we will hopefully see if she did those things. On Sunday we had a family bring an investigator that has been learning about the church in another ward and with other missionaries. He was a cool guy and since the family is going to be gone or something like that they passed him over to us! So that was super exciting. He is a awesome guy named Calvin and we were told he wants to be baptized. So we are super excited for that and look forward to meeting with him this week. So all in all this week was really good and we were able to do a lot of work. I love you all!! 

Elder Cowan