A Real Honduran

This week was a little different than usual. I got called to go to San Pedro to take my picture for my residency so soon I will be an official Honduran! I don't know if I am ready for that title..

This week we have also been working with the branch for our activity to raise money for the Humaña family. They are a very poor family that we are teaching that wants to get baptized.. but they don't have the money to get married. It costs around 1500 limpiras which is about 75 bucks. We made 100 limpiras this week making and selling baleadas to the members.. so we are getting close to getting them married, although it is a little more difficult with getting the papers that they need (birth certificate etc).

We are planning to have one more small activity for them this week.. but we need to talk to the branch president first. The branch has helped us out a lot this week and there are tons of awesome people.. and many young men that are good friends with us. The youth this week went to SOY which is the central american EFY. It was funny to see them come back and bare their testimonies. I remember the great experiences at EFY and the Book of Mormon Journey and the role they play in my testimony today. I know I will say that about my experience now as well.

This bridge in our area is a little sketchy, but a great view

This coming week I will finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish! It feels like it has taken me forever.. but I am 3 chapters from the end. There was a promise made by a general authority that if you read the book of Mormon in your mission language that by the end you will be fluent in speaking. I don't know how to compare my fluency.. but I feel that I can express myself and what I want to say in Spanish.. although fully learning Spanish will be a life struggle! haha

    

My companion wanted to help a kid fix his kite so he fixed the kite and they flew it today. The wind stopped and the kite fell into someones yard. The kid ran to see where it was.. then ran back to us to tell us. When we got there someone had cut the string and the kite was gone.. we asked the people who lived there and they blamed it on the neighbors. We hung around for about 5 minutes and they brought it back out to us. It was very shameful.

Eating healthy!

It helps to have a companion that is from Honduras.. but he wasn't too motivated this last week so I guess I just gotta get him motivated for this next change! 

I love and miss you all and I hope you have a great week!

Love

One Year Down!

Hello family and friends!

This week is my one year mark! It is hard to believe all that has happened in this year and although the days feel long.. the year has gone by pretty quickly! I think I have learned more in this year of my life than all of the other years combined. Never in my life have I been so thankful for the scriptures, the church, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This experience is helping me to see a bigger picture of the plan that Heavenly Father has for each one of us. If we are going through hard times or just feel like we need a friend, Jesus Christ always has His hand extended for us.

This week on the year mark we had our interviews with the mission president. He told me that it is important to be patient through our times of trial. I asked him how we can know what Heavenly Father thinks of us. I have always wondered what Heavenly Father thinks of me. He told me that I will probably not receive a direct answer, but we can feel of his love and approval through words from family, friends, and from leaders.

We also had the opportunity to baptize 3 siblings.

The 11 year old boy and asked me to baptize him.  The girls are 16 and 19.. They are very smart and are setting an example for their parents who are not members of the church. I think because of their examples that they will hopefully take the lessons soon.

mini turtle

Yesterday I got sick and had to take a little rest.. but I am feeling better today. Looking back on this year there have been many ups and downs, but I know they are all helping me to grow closer to Heavenly Father. I am so thankful that I can be His servant during this time of my life. I love and miss you all at home! Have a great week this week!

Love

Elder Dowell