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

Elder Latu memorial poster

Little miracle

Hello!!!! So to start off this email today I will like to start with today PDAY. So today we started a 60 day workout routine that will get us into shape. So we were pretty exhausted after that! So then we thought it would be a great Idea to hit up a place called Bounce. Holy Cow!! That place was so cool! We had a great time as a district and we were able to learn some cool things! Unfortunately we all forgot our cameras and we were unable to take any pictures. But man it was really cool there and now we are completely tired and sore! So this week was a very normal week here in South Africa! We did do a decent amount of contacting and talking to people but we had a few good lessons! The apex of the week was we started to street contact on Saturday afternoon and as we started to walk we had a member hoot or honk at us. He turned around and explained that he was picking up his son at a friends house and that friend has been interested in the gospel for the longest time. This member did not have our phone numbers and he was living in Bedfordview. Since we just started to open the area and that we are new not to many other Areas have our phone number. We talked to the boy and he was really cool and was willing to learn we set a appointment for next Sunday so we will see how that will go! So that was our little miracle for the week. We are really excited to start to teach him and his family! He has a good knowledge about the church which is always a good foundation. So all in all this week was pretty decent! Nothing to crazy happened and nothing went wrong. But we are pushing forward in Faith which is all we need to do!! I love you all!! 

Elder Cowan

All in all... Decent week

Well this week was another pretty bland week again!! Basically we had a few appointment and a lot of contacting!! Basically we tracted a lot and talked to a lot of people on the side of the road which is always fun!! We actually got a few potentials but none have gone through yet! Also this week we were able to go on exchanges and I went with Elder Shepardson and we had a good time as all exchanges are! So I went back to Randburg which was really weird but it was cool we saw some of the members and had a really good dinner with this cool Italian family! But yeah this week was kind of saddening but it is fine cause the guys in the district make up for it! Yeah but lets see I had to do a Baptismal interview that is why we were on exchanges! That was really cool and the lady was super powerful!! We had a few dinners this week as well which was good to meet members! They are finally starting to trust us a bit more which is always good. On Sunday we had this less active guy come back to church which was cool his wife died recently and so he wants to get back into the church and get to the temple! So all in all it was a good week! I love you all!! 

Elder Cowan