On the way out...and lots of pictures

Family and friends,

I cant believe that it will only be about 10 days until I see you guys again! Looking back on this time I have been able to see so many things from a different perspective. I am so thankful for the things that I have learned and the experiences that I have had. 

This week was a great week, we taught investigators and helped strengthen the branch as well. We had a few lessons that I really enjoyed. As we were contacting in the street we were able to make our way into a house and teach about the restoration. It was such a powerful spirit that was there as we bore testimony of the restoration and of the Church of Jesus Christ. I couldnt help but to think that this week will be some of the last times that I will have to share this special message as a missionary. I thought back on all of the timest that I had taught this particular lesson and I am so thankful that I can feel the spirit testify each time we teach it. 

In a lesson with a few of the neighborhood kids we have been teaching we were able to respond questions that their neighbors had given them. They asked why we shouldnt drink coffee and about what would happen if they didnt get baptized in this particular church. I felt like Elder Ocon and I could relate alot to them because it wasnt too long ago that we were kids just like them. I even have had some of the same questions that they were asking! 

Apart from that, Sunday was a very spiritual day for me because I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament with 

Juan carlos, a convert of the sisters in our ward. I was able to baptize him a few weeks ago and this was his second time blessing the sacrament. I have been a witness of the change that has taken place in his life and it made me so happy to see him doing that special ordinance. 

As we were leaving church, a drunk old guy named Manny started to yell at us and say bad words because we believe in the Book of Mormon. He even started yelling at the sisters and looked like he was gonna do something so we took him aside and calmed him down. Santa Rosa is a very safe place, but there are always crazy people! 

I have felt so happy in these past weeks and months. I couldn't feel that at the beginning but I know that reading the scriptures, praying, and serving others is what brings true happiness. I love you guys and I am so so excited to see you guys!! Have a great week!

Love

Elder Dowell

More pictures...

The Work Continues

Dear Family and friends,

This week was a great week! Elder Ocon and I have been working closely with some of the same neighborhood friends and they have been helping each other to progress. There are 3 boys who are the main ones that are progressing and our recent converts (2 youngmen) have been talking to them alot about the great blessings that they have recieved from the gospel. We have planned for this week the baptism of  two of them depending if they has been reading and praying. 

On Thursday we intended to do an activity for Thanksgiving because it is not celebrated here in Honduras. We had everyone say something that they were thankful for and the spirit was great as each person said that they were so thankful for the gospel and the blessings that they have recieved by living it. We ate a traditional food called pastelitos which is basically a corn tortilla fried with meat and rice in the middle. It made me think of the many things that i have to be thankful for.. there is so much! 

One of the most spiritual experiences that I had this week was when we taught our most recent converts about the plan of Salvation. They remebered alot of what we had taught them and what they had learned at church, but they had some amazing questions that really filled the room witht the spirit. Josue asked us why evil exists in the world if God loves us so much. He asked us why it was so important the atonement and what happens if we dont repent. We took the chance to explain to him about agency and the premortal council. We explained to Him that before this life he agreed to the plan that Jesus Christ presented which allowed him and everyone in this world to have thier own agency and that is something that God cannot take away from us. We told him the consequences of sin and how we need to repent to recieve blessings and salvation in the celestial kingdom. His mind was opened and in his prayer at the end he thanked Heavenly Father for what we had taught him because he felt in his heart that it was true. That was one of the greatest experiences that I have had in the mission. I could feel the spirit testify of our words and the truth that we taught. 

We also had the chance to talk to an atheist girl who doesnt believe in God. We listened to her point of view and taught her about prophets and how they have always testified of a supreme being and to know if its true we invited her to pray. Prayer is such a powerful tool that we have to know of truth! I am thankful for the answers that I have recieved to my prayers. 

What are your thoughts as you prepare to come home?

I cant believe its actually close! haha i am sad to leave but happy to see you guys. My feelings are mixed but i feel happy. 

Are you reading through your old journal entries?  

Yes.. there are some very interesting things in there.. i wonder what i was thinking! haha

How do you feel the spirit directing you these days?  Is that different from when you first got there?  How?

I feel so happy. I feel like I understand better my purpose in this life and I can feel the spirit guide me in the good decisions that I make and I know when something is wrong when the spirit leaves. I would say it is the same.. i am just a little more experienced at noticing it.

What have you learned from teaching this week?

I have learned that there are some atheists that believe that everything that we do is just in our mind and not real.. i thought that was an interesting way to look at things. But I learned that God is perfect, even though He gives different commandments at different times to His children. The fact that He has revealed new comandments doesnt mean that He is defferent. 

Who will be hard to leave behind when you come home?

It will be so hard to leave my converts and the members of the ward. they are so supportive and i can always feel their love for us as missionaries. 

How do you feel about your new companion?

He is super awesome. This week we have worked alot together and we have got to know each other very well. Actually he is one of my favorite companions! We get along great!

I love and miss you guys and I am so thankful for your support and prayers these past 2 years. i feel like it has gone by fast and I am so excited to see you in such a short time! Have a great week!

Love

Elder Dowell

Old habits die hard

Dear family and friends,

This week was full of surprises and miracles! I sometimes dont recognize the little miracles that Heavenly Father puts in our path, but I am so grateful for what He does to help these people progress. 

On Thursday night we visited with one of our investigators that was having a problem with drinking coffee. From what I have seen, that is the hardest commandment for the Hondurans to live, other than the law of chastity, because everyone grows coffee. He was a reference from our mission leader. He had never been baptized, but has a very strong catholic background. We told him that he couldnt wear his cross necklace, too. He told us of his desire to be baptized and we have been teaching him for about a month. This thursday we werent sure how he was progressing, so we took a member with us to visit. The member helped explain the importance of living the commandments and why it is important to be baptized. At the end, he told us that he had stopped drinking coffee, and that he wanted to be baptized on Saturday!  We were so happy for him and the spirit was felt very strong in that lesson. 

When it came time for the baptism, Elder Deeble, my companion did it, and as they were entering the water, I laughed a little bit because he crossed himself as if he were still Catholic. I dont think he understands all that well still, but he is progressing!  Afterwards he gave a small testimony thanking everyone, and then finished with "Lets give a big round of applause for our Great God!" It was so incredibly awkward that everyone started to give a little clap! it was priceless.  I could see some other people snickering too. it was good to mix it up a little bit though! haha

One Sunday morning a man got baptized. He is an investigator of the sisters that are in the area next to us. We help in fellowshiping him, inviting him to activities and saying hi to him also. He is 24 years old and was a drug addict. He used to smoke a pack of ciggarrets every day, but recently he was slowing down to 2 or 3 a day. This week we told him that he could get baptized if he stopped smoking completely for a week. He said that he could do it, and he did! He is such a great examp`le to me because his desire to be baptized was so strong. I had the opportunity to interview him, and he asked if I would baptize him too! I was so grateful for that spiritual experience, and that Jon Carlos gave up so much to be able to be clean from his sins. While changing he told me how happy he was, and after the service he began to cry. I was touched by the miracles that we waw in these people this week, I know that it could not have happened withoud the hand of God.  

On a long bus ride back from Gracias, Lempira, we contacted and sat next to 2 travelers, one from England and one from Scotland. They were both 18 years old and after a little bit of time talking about their countries, we found out that they were atheist. We asked them why and they said it was something very common where they were from. We bore our testimonies that God lives. We explained to them about sin and the eternal consequesnces that come if we dont have faith in Jesus Christ and repent. They asked us many questions. The main topic for them was gay marriage and sexual relationships outside of marriage. They told us that they didnt see those things as a sin and asked why God would allow it if it were something bad. We took the opportunity to explain to them about agency and that just because there are bad things in the world doesnt mean that it is ok before the eyes of God, but that since before this life we have had the ability to choose between right and wrong and that is something that even God cant take away from us. They were very interseted, but didnt want to step out of their comfort zone. We challenged them to pray to see if God exists and they said that they would. I am sure that if they actually do it, they will feel the spirit. I know that God lives and that His plan is eternal. It makes me happy too! 

I love you guys and I cant wait to see you in such a short time! I pray for you always and that we can be together forever!  I hope that you guys have a great week this week! 

Love

Elder Dowell

On the clock

Dear Family and Friends,

This week it really hit me how short of time that I have left here in Honduras! I am so thankful for the spiritual experiences of this past week, i feel that they have helped me to grow in my testimony of the true church and in Jesus Christ.

I recieved a new companion this week when Elder Deeble left on Wednesday. His name is Elder Ocon and he is from Peru. He came from a very dangerous part in San Pedro Sula called Valle de Sula. He told me a bunch of crazy things that happened to him and his companion there, including when they were robbed at gunpoint. I am partly sad that I dont have a crazy story like that to share, but so grateful that nothing that severe has happened to me in my time here. Each day we hear about deaths and terrible things happening.

We have been working with our recent converts two young men to be able to visit with some of their neighborhood friends and family members. They have 2 friends that said that they want to get baptized, and they even went ot church! One of them is a 12 year old kid and the other is 13. I hope that they get baptized and continue to go to church so that they can stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. 

Each week when there are changes there is always a little bit of tension, but by Sunday it is normal and easier to connect after having a few days of living together. Elder Ocon and I have very high goals to baptize, not just those kids, but a few other family members as well. They are progressing and are in the beginning steps of recieving their personal testimonies of the Book of Mormon. 

Our visits with them are filled with laughter and learning, but the most spiritual moment for me came on sundaymorning when we got to church. The boys showed up in the white shirts and ties that we gave them so that they could bless and pass the sacrament. I was in awe as i thought of the change that Jesus Christ had made in those two kids in the past month and a half. They went from normal street kids to holders of the holy priesthood! I marveled as I watched them fulfill their duties, not knowing completely the significance and importance of it. They will always have a special place in my heart. They had to start the sacrament prayer over once, but afterwards we were able to tell them that it happens to everyone and he felt a little better! haha I remember my first time doing it in spanish and I for sure had to restart! 

Who did you teach this week that you know felt the spirit?

One of the boys' cousins was in a lesson with us and I could see the beam of understanding as we taught him about the Book of Mormon and the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. It was easy for them to accept because I know the spirit was helping them to understand.

What are you doing to keep the spirit with you when you become frustrated?

It helps me to think about the Savior and how He would be as a missionary. He would be so incredibly patient and loving to everyone, so I try to remeber that when things maybe dont go as planned.

What is the message you testify of most?

The Restoration! It is the most important and the one that ties in to all of the other lessons too! we get the chance to clarify alot that Joseph Smith is not our God and that he didnt write the book of Mormon.

What are the greatest things that keep people from being happy?

I would say thier unwillingness to change and repent. Here, as well as everywhere in the world, there are tons of problems with the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. Everyone drinks coffee and almost everyone lives with their boyfriend or girlfriend. I love helping others to realize how happy they can really be! 

I love you guys and I am so thankful for you!! whether its thanksgiving or not! 

Have a great week this week!

Love

Elder Dowell

Selling baleadas

Family and friends,

This was a great week that went by. We had many great experiences.. and almost all of them we were soaking wet because it rained all week! We had the opportunity to go back and visit one of our investigators that owns a coffee and wine shop. Many of his cousins served missions but he never learned of the gospel. We taught him about prophets and about Joseph Smith. After explaining the apostasy, he told us that it is reasonable to think that God would call another prophet to restore His gospel. Elder Deeble and i looked at each other smiling because we knew that he was right. 

On Friday night we we were worrying a little bit because we had planned an activity to sell baleadas to raise money for the couple who wants to get married and baptized. We had only sold about 70 beforehand and we had the ingredients to make 150! I asked our ward mission leader what we should do and he told me to have faith. I thought that it would be impossible.. and that faith for a silly activity like this was not important.. but as we continued to make them, more and more people started to buy.. until we had sold them all! I was very surprised and i learned a little bit more about the importance of having faith.

The most impacting experience that i had this week was in a lesson with our 15 year old investigator named Arnold. He is not the brightest kid ever, so when he started to ask us questions about how many wives Joseph Smith had and who Brigham Young was, we knew something was up. He told us that one of his customers told him that everything that we had taught him was false. I asked him who it was and as i did an older man entered in where we were sitting. He called us out saying that our religion was false and that Joseph smith was a false prophet. He told Arnold not to listen to us. As i sat there, i began to get very angry at this guy. I could tell that 

Elder Deeble was even more furious because the guys wouldn't give us a chance to say anything so Elder Deeble 

started to raise his voice. I felt the impression to leave, so we did. I felt terrible afterwards. Mainly for Armold. I didn't want his testimony to be shaken by the foolishness of that man. Later Arnold called us and said that they kicked that guy out and that he was still thinking about getting baptized! If i had a time machine i would go back in time and share my testimony with that old man instead of just leaving. I did try to.. but his ears were closed shut.

Yesterday was one of the best days because we had our district conference and elder Valledares of the 70 came to speak. I also saw all of my friends from La Entrada who came to Santa Rosa for the conference. I will send pictures of that today. I love you guys so much and i am so thankful for hour love and support. I am so thankful to be a missionary!

Love

Elder Dowell

Selling baleadas

Family and friends,

This was a great week that went by. We had many great experiences.. and almost all of them we were soaking wet because it rained all week! We had the opportunity to go back and visit one of our investigators that owns a coffee and wine shop. Many of his cousins served missions but he never learned of the gospel. We taught him about prophets and about Joseph Smith. After explaining the apostasy, he told us that it is reasonable to think that God would call another prophet to restore His gospel. Elder Deeble and i looked at each other smiling because we knew that he was right. 

On Friday night we we were worrying a little bit because we had planned an activity to sell baleadas to raise money for the couple who wants to get married and baptized. We had only sold about 70 beforehand and we had the ingredients to make 150! I asked our ward mission leader what we should do and he told me to have faith. I thought that it would be impossible.. and that faith for a silly activity like this was not important.. but as we continued to make them, more and more people started to buy.. until we had sold them all! I was very surprised and i learned a little bit more about the importance of having faith.

The most impacting experience that i had this week was in a lesson with our 15 year old investigator named Arnold. He is not the brightest kid ever, so when he started to ask us questions about how many wives Joseph Smith had and who Brigham Young was, we knew something was up. He told us that one of his customers told him that everything that we had taught him was false. I asked him who it was and as i did an older man entered in where we were sitting. He called us out saying that our religion was false and that Joseph smith was a false prophet. He told Arnold not to listen to us. As i sat there, i began to get very angry at this guy. I could tell that 

Elder Deeble was even more furious because the guys wouldn't give us a chance to say anything so Elder Deeble 

started to raise his voice. I felt the impression to leave, so we did. I felt terrible afterwards. Mainly for Armold. I didn't want his testimony to be shaken by the foolishness of that man. Later Arnold called us and said that they kicked that guy out and that he was still thinking about getting baptized! If i had a time machine i would go back in time and share my testimony with that old man instead of just leaving. I did try to.. but his ears were closed shut.

Yesterday was one of the best days because we had our district conference and elder Valledares of the 70 came to speak. I also saw all of my friends from La Entrada who came to Santa Rosa for the conference. I will send pictures of that today. I love you guys so much and i am so thankful for hour love and support. I am so thankful to be a missionary!

Love

Elder Dowell

Quick note

I feel bad for not writing a big letter so i will not leave these questions unanswered!

What was the highlight that you hope to never forget?

We had the baptisms of a 15 year old kid named Josue and a 16 year old kid. It was an amazing experience teaching them and preparing them for baptism. The 15 year old was baptized first by my companion and I will never forget what he said when he came out of the water. He said the waters freezing! But i can feel such a great feeling of peace. That is what he said to his friend who I was about to baptize. Without knowing it, he bore his testimony to his friend. I wrote about that in my journal!!

  

What was the hardest part of your week?

Sunday was the hardest. I was super tired and when we went out to work nobody was home and nobody wanted to hear us. It was so frustrating and I was fed up.. but today was better!

Who did you make a connection with this week?

This week We made a great connection with those two boys. We can tell that they look up to us alot and they said that they want to serve a mission someday too! we also have been connecting great with our branch President.

What did you enjoy studying in the scriptures?

Reading in alma about captian moroni and the preparation and noblility that he had in fighting for what is right!

How have you see the Lords hand in your life this week?

Yes. I have seen it every day.. especially in the people that we teach. He helps me to be more patient and to see His children as he sees them.

How have you been the Lord's hands this week?

We were able to help plan an activity for this coming week to make money for a family that we are trying to get married and baptized! 

I am really sorry for being short!

I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Love

Elder Dowell