Today is like the Christmas of the MTC!

This week was a crazy week.  We got our Bahama shirts on Monday.  As me and Elder Reese were walking to the field that day wearing our shirts, and this guy stopped us and told us he was from the Bahamas.  He told us that there is a Spanish branch on Nassau, and that we will love it if we make it out there.  His name was Isreal, so if I meet him again there cuz he said he is going back after he finishes as BYU this year, I will be so happy.  It was sooo cool.  We had a lot of treats this week too.  We had a fiesta... well as much of one as we are aloud to have with chips and queso.  It was super awesome.  Then later in the week we had some more treats, that was great.  We really enjoy getting food that does not come from the cafeteria.  Speaking of which it has been crazy this week.  We got 600 new missionaries here this week, and only half of the cafeteria was open, because they made the other half for the 150 or something like that mission presidents here this week.  It is all very exciting.  The hermanas in my district saw Elder Oaks and met our mission president.  We get to meet him later tonight and talk to him for an hour or so.  I'm super excited.  The Hermanas said that he is really cool.  Everything has been super crazy though with them here.  We are blocked out of most of the main building and gym for the week.  So gym has been crazy too, because we have like a million people playing soccer and volleyball.  It is just crazy.  Tonight we will probably get to hear from 1-3 general authority.  We have like a 2 hour devo then we have dinner and meet our mission president.  Today is like the Christmas of the MTC.  We have no class, general authority, mission president, clean clothes, and we get to write to our friends.  The only bummer is no temple. Next week is our last chance to go to the temple too.  It closes next Saturday and we go on Friday.  It will be closed the rest of the time we are here.  We have seen off 2 districts so far, half of the new district this Sunday because they are going to Guatamala MTC, and then the next week the district older then us leaves.  We will be the oldest, how weird.  It will be sad when the district above us goes because we have become really close to them, and we arent as good friends with the new district yet.  Except for the four that are leaving.  Oh well.  This week I saw Elder Pulsipher, he is actually standing by me now.  I also saw Elder Baxter from my BYU ward today, and Taylor from volleyball.  I dont know his last name, but it was crazy because him and Elder Baxter are companions.  Sometimes I feel like out of the Book Of Mormon when I think it is Alma rejoices because he sees his brethren again.  But not only that, but that they are still his brethren in the Lord.  It is a great feeling to see everyone.  That is crazy about the draft, we are all happy he is going to the Kings, they are probably the best chance for him to get a lot of playing time and learn.  We heard yesterday he was in Millwakee and everyone in gym groaned.  It is funny how everyone is a Jimmer fan.  Thanks for all of your support and for everything you do for me.  I read chelsies letter and I had a hard time not laughing.  The first line was "We all miss you, but we are fine." It was really cute adn funny to read.  then she had a "patttern" in her righitng. She's so funny.  I got the pictures and I enjoyed sharing them with everyone.  My maestro Hermano Davis is going out of town we wont see him for like 10 days, super sad cuz he is like the best person in the World haha.  our other Maestra is leaving next week so she can be married.  It is weird that it is changing now.  I got a letter from Collin as well.  He wrote in all Spanish, so I didnt know what it all said, but he talked about Cubans a lot I know.  Well I got to go.  I love you all, and yo se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadera.

LOVE

ELDER BOWEN