Fulltime Paradise

So we have finally made it a full week in Key West, now that the transfer is basically halfway over.  Kind of weird, but its all good.  We are super excited for the area here.  The members are amazing, and we should start teaching a lot of people down here.  There are around 90 active members right now in the  branch, and we are in a brand new building.  It hasnt even been dedicated yet.  This week we spent a lot of time with members and trying to get ourselves acquainted down here.  It has been a little difficult leaving the area for 2 weeks, and then jumping back in it.  We got a new phone because our last phone broke, and so we spent some time transferring the numbers over, and were ended up calling any number that we didnt know if it still existed or who it was.  We were able to clean up the phone a bit, and also get some new appointments set up.  So coming back we ended up doing a lot of knocking, and really trying to find new people to teach.  We have also been able to go on the bases lately, so that has been fun.  A lot of the members live on the bases, and Elder Bo's last companion here wasn't from the U.S. so they couldnt go on the base, but now we just have to make sure someone can escort us around.  The members all love having us down here and are really excited to help us out, and to share the gospel with their friends.  It is fantasmic.  We are super excited for this coming week with some referrals to go and see, and some return appointments that we set up last week.  We also decided to change up our workouts to be a little more exciting.  Some days we are going to be waking up half an hour early and playing basketball at the courts near our house.  We started on this past Saturday, and we both agreed that it was great.  It helps get our blood pumping early in the morning so we are less groggy during our studies, and we feel ready to work.  The other days we do push ups and situps and whatnot.  Yesterday at church I got to meet a lot of our members.  We are really excited to be working with them, and they started a missionary food calendar again, so we are excited for that.  All the members here are really excited for everything about missionary work and are always willing to help out when they can.  This past Sunday just really made me super excited for everything that we are going to be doing in the coming week and how we are going to improve our area.  This week in Key West is the speed boat competitions.  Which is pretty cool because we have seen a lot of boats out here, and they are really cool.  They ride by where we bike alot.  We also have an open house of the church since it is so new.  We cannot wait for that.  There should be a lot of people going and we should be able to talk to a lot of people.  As the missionaries we will be the guides in the open house.  We have to get going.  I forgot my camera in my other backpack, so I'll have to share pictures next week, but just know that it is awesome down here, and that it is not freezing cold, but there is always a nice ocean breeze and good weather.  I'm so very grateful to be here, and sharing my testimony with everyone I meet.  I know this church is true, and that we live in the last days, and we are here now to prepare to meet our Heavenly Father.  I know that since our Heavenly Father loves us, he has sent us a way to get back to him, and created a perfect plan for us.  His Son, Jesus Christ died for us, so we could be clean, and he has reestablished his church again on the earth, and it is organized perfectly.  He has also sent us the scriptures, so we can learn and grow, and always have his word with us.  I know that through these things we can return to our Heavenly Father, and live in his presence once again.  I thank you all so much for your love and support, and everything you do for me.  I love getting your letters and hearing about how you are all doing, and the love you share with me.  Thank you so much.  I love you all, and am so excited to be here!

Elder Wesley Christopher Bowen

Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission

7951 SW 6th St Suite 110

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324