Transfer #2

This week was the start of transfer #2.  We are really excited here and are really working hard.  We have a new missionary in our apartment now.  Instead of Elder F, it is now Elder Fi.  Elder Fi has been out for over a year, and he was actually called to Mexico, served in Salt Lake while he waited for his visa, got to Mexico and found out he couldn't get his medicine fast enough there, and now is serving here.  So he has experiences from all over.  Tuesday night we were able to visit a member a referral and have a return appointment for tomorrow.  They said they would read the Book of Mormon as a family.  We were able to start off transfers really good this week.  We went to knock doors on Wednesday, the first day of it, and we got into some awesome houses.  One, the lady was super prepared to listen to us.  We were able to give her a Book of Mormon, and she was really excited to read it, and to learn more about our church.  She had been to Salt Lake Before and took a temple tour, so she knows a little bit and is really interested.  Later we were able to see some great members.  Thursday was planning, and we had some great lessons planned, well they all fell through that day.  Every single one of them.  It was disappointing, but we went to go see a potential investigator and he wasn't home.  So we decided we would knock there since all other plans had fallen through.  The first door that opened we were let in.  We met a wonderful couple, who has his mom staying with them because she is sick.  We got to know them and then got a return appointment for Saturday.  Later we were knocking and met some other really cool people.  No one else let us in, but we were able to set some return appointments.  One guy said his name was Coach J and that we could come back in a couple weeks when he has organized all the sports teams he is in charge of.  We are really excited to go see him soon and teach him.  Friday we were able to do some service with some older investigators in the morning and have an appointment set up for tomorrow night for dinner and a lesson.  She is a gourmet chef, so first we will excellent food, then we will have an excellent lesson.  She had asked some questions about our beliefs on after this life, and now we are going to be able to go back and teach her the Plan of Salvation and really answer some of those questions for her.  Later we went to a return appointment we had gotten from knocking doors.  The person we had talked to wasn't there, but his dad let us in right away because it was pouring rain and was really excited to talk about God.  He really knew how to talk fast and we had trouble being able to say anything to him without being cut off, but hopefully we will be able to stop by again and share more what we believe because last time was all about what he believes.  We then got to teach the English class at the church and more people showed up than usual.  It is really fun to teach English and have everyone speak as much English as they can.  Teaching it is helping me understand Spanish a little bit more.  When we have words like Spirit or some they always say espirit or esome, so that is one of the little things I'm picking up that is helping my Spanish sound more natural, there are a couple other things too.  Saturday the Ward Mission Leader came out with us and all 3 people we had hoped on seeing were not there, and he had mentioned something earlier about a less active family.  We ended up visiting that family and we had a great talk.  We will be going back more often now to continually strengthen them.  Then we were able to go back to the couple and the mom and teach the Plan of Salvation.  They really enjoyed it and had some good questions.  We gave them the pamphlet and they said they would read it over and pray about it.  They are a really solid family.  Later that night we went to a less active members house, and when they had us come in, the BYU game was on.  We saw that BYU was up 13-3 and then that's all we saw.  We were really excited, but it is to bad we found out they lost.  Sounded like it was a good game, just the offense imploded on itself at one point.  BYU sounds like they can do pretty well, since they were competing well with Texas.  I heard they play U of U soon at BYU.  Cant wait to hear how BYU crushes them! haha.  But so back to the work.  Yesterday was Stake Conference and President and Sister Anderson spoke.  they had all the missionaries stand up and give the purpose in Spanish and English.  We found out that the purpose in Spanish changed at the beginning of 2011, so at one point we all were saying different words.  It was pretty funny, but I think the point got across.  He said that we know our purpose and we want to help the best we can.  Everyone really enjoyed conference.  A lot of the talks were also about how baptism is only the first step and how the temple is the real goal, and the blessings we have from the temple.  I think for the investigators that were there, it was a really good thing to hear.  So Stake Conference went well, and it has been a really good week overall.  Really excited for this transfer, we should be seeing some real progression with our investigators.  I love this gospel and I know that we are blessed for living the standards of it.  This week we saw the benefits of setting goals for each activity we do, and what we want to strive for.  I know that Jesus Christ died for us, so that we can return to live with him someday, have perfect bodies, and be forgiven of our sins if we follow the steps he has given us.  I know Heavenly Father is watching over us and wants to grant us our righteous desires.  He knows us and sees our potential. I'm so grateful for this gospel and the hope it brings to individuals and families.  We are here for a purpose, and really our greatest desire of our heart is to fulfill it, and we can only do that with an understanding of the gospel.  I know this church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is here for us now to provide security for our souls.  When it seems hard, it will get better, The night is always darkest before the dawn.  I love you all and thank you so much for your support and strength you give me.  I couldn't do it without you!

Love 

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen 

Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission

7951 SW St Suite 110

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324