Left Behind

Happy 4th of July!!!

I am so thankful to be from the land of the free and the home of the brave. We haven't done much to celebrate, but it has been a busy week! Elder Westerlind and I have had to do many baptismal interviews a little bit farther away. It is awesome to see  the other people in our zone have such great success. I often wonder why I cant have that kind of success. I got a call also from my old companion Elder Dipko who told me that many of the people who we had previously taught are progressing. I was talking to Elder Westerlind and telling him how I feel about that. It is not a new feeling to me.. but he helped me to understand that maybe it is not God's will that it happen for me right now. He was right. I find myself being humbled like that many times a week. I do want to be better at accepting God's will and not just my own selfish desires. 

One of the nights that we had interviews we were about an hour away from our area when we finished and we were waiting for the bus to go home. We were told that the bus would come around 7.. then around 8.. then it never came. SO we had to stay at the Elder's house in their area. It set us back a little bit but I was so thankful that we were able to stay somewhere. I think about if we were just some random people with no money.. what would we do in that situation? crazy.

This Pday we just got back from visiting the Copan Ruins with many people from our zone! It was a really cool experience to see more of the Honduran culture. I love the weather.. although it is hot sometimes, the green mountains have my heart. it is so beautiful. If i had to live outside of the United States, I would live here!!! .. I hope that never happens though.. haha 

Marshy, I am also so so excited for you and so proud of you! I wish I could be there to hug you goodbye, just as you did for me a year and a half ago! but I know you will be such a great missionary and touch the lives of so many. I will be thinking about you this week, and praying for you extra! Let me know how everything goes down at home! I love and miss you! Marshy, you're the best brother in the universe!!

Love

Elder Chandler Dowell

Welcome to Copan

This week was a  little harder than others, but the weather was nice and cool and it even rained a few times so it wasn't as hot. Copan is absolutely gorgeous. If I lived in Honduras I would live in Copan. The people are very nice. We had an experience this week where we were walking to dinner and a less active member stopped and gave us a ride. He told us that he is one of the people that takes people to the US illegally, but he then offered to pay for our dinner. We ate and as we were paying, the police officer that was eating there too offered to pay for our meal! It was a great act of kindness, the people really aren't too hard hearted! 

Later in the week we did divisions with some missionaries in Ocotepeque. It is a city about 6 hours from where we are. It rook forever to get there, but it was a great experience. Driving in and out it felt like we were driving through a picture! there were giant green mountains covered with clouds and little bright colored houses at the bottom of the mountain. I felt like we helped the missionaries out a lot. It is a hard area because the only church meets in a house and is a branch of about 30 members. When we were there I felt the spirit prompting us a few times to visit places that maybe the other elders never would have visited. I know that Heavenly Father puts us where we need to be. 

Last week there was a branch President change and while they are still looking for people to be the counselors, Elder Westerlind and I, and the other 2 missionaries that live with us are the assigned branch counselors. It isn't much different than what we normally do, we just gotta meet with the branch president each week to talk about growth and sacrament meeting things. 

The funniest thing that happened this week was when we went to visit our best investigator. She is a little bit rebellious, but she tries to do whats right. We got to her house and there were some guys drinking beer and smoking, and there was loud music playing. we figured it was just her brother that she lives with, they are both in their late 20s. We got there and the older brother had hired someone to come give him a tattoo in his living room. we were a little shocked, but we asked our investigators what he was going to get tattooed.. she responded, the same one I got!! ha ha ha just minutes before she had gotten a tattoo on her side of a giant anchor with flowers on it. We were like, Have we taught you nothing?! ha ha She has a little ways to go  before she can get baptized, but I know that they will be able to be members of the church one day. Two of our other investigators went to church too! It was so awesome to see them talking to the members and fitting in. They have challenges, but nothing that the gospel cant fix! I love this Church. I know its true. Happy Fathers day dad!! I love you so much and I am so incredibly grateful of your example to me. I want to be like you and I always think of what you would do in my situations. I want to be the type of man that you are. I love you!! Have a great week.
 

Love

Elder Dowell

Time for an update

**selfish Dad here...I guess it's that time of the mission (18mo in) where I just want him to come home and drag on updating his blog. Here it is...**

May 16

Looking back on the week, I can see the Lords hand in many ways, small and big. The weather this week has been hot. I don't know if there is any other way to describe it other than hot. I am reminded by and thankful for the experience growing up and playing football in this heat. 

The greatest experience of the week came as we were on divisions with our zone leader, Elder Wood. He is from California and he went with us on our visits for the day. We made tons of visits with new people, but the most important was with one of our reluctant investigators. Originally we weren't going to visit with her, but I think Heavenly Father had a different plan for her. We have been trying so hard to get her to change her life and accept a date to be baptized, but she was having a really hard time with the word of wisdom and the Law of Chastity. She really didn't see a point in keeping the commandments, although we explained to her everything about repentance and the Atonement. When we went, Elder Wood shared with her a few encouraging words and we really felt the spirit. I asked her what she was thinking will happen if she waits to be baptized. She admitted that she probably wasn't going to change much. So we invited her to be baptized again and to change her life and she said yes!! It was very sincere and she will be getting baptized this week! It was an awesome experience to see the spirit work in her and for her to act on that feeling.

We were also contacting some Jehovah's Witnesses and had a lesson with them. They asked a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. They wondered why we can believe in such revelation if it doesn't say anything in the bible about these things. We bore them our testimonies that if they would just read and pray, that they would know too. I don't think they are going to do it because we saw them the next day and they were giving out their little pamphlets too. It is crazy how simple our answers can come if we are just doing whats right and we are sincere. I know that the small and simple means confound the wise. 

As we were teaching a guy this week, we contacted him and used our book with pictures of the lessons we teach. When were showed him how the priesthood was restored to the prophet Joseph Smith. He stopped us and asked who the angels were, and he told us that he saw 2 of the angels in a dream that he had. I thought that was so crazy! Maybe because that has never happened to me.. but I thought that was so cool. I hope he acts on his dreams and feelings about the gospel. 

Each day is a new day of people telling us that our bible is wrong (aka the book of Mormon) and them quoting bible verses that really don't exist. We invite everyone to come unto Christ and I love the simplicity of that. Yesterday we contacted a guy that was watching Dragon Ball Z. We met with him and his wife and it was totally one of the best lessons I have had in the whole mission. They were all ears and they had awesome questions about the restoration like, ¨How can we know if this is true. or, why was it important to restore the church?¨ It felt so good to answer those questions. I know they were feeling the spirit becasue they were smiling as they learned what we were teaching them. 

I know that Heavenly Father puts us where we need to be. Sometimes I feel lost, I know I am not perfect, but I know that Heavenly Father helps us out more than we know. I love and miss you guys, i hope you have a great week!! Happy Graduation Marshy!!!!

Love

Elder Dowell

May 23

Dear Family and friends,

This week was full of stuff to do! On tuesday we had a zone conference with some other zones and President Dester. Although it is great to go and learn more about teaching the gospel, the best part is always seeing my mission buddies! I hadn't seen Elder Wight in forever (My comp from the MTC), but he was there so I gave him a big hug and we were laughing and joking around like the good old days. We also saw Elder Bate who is our good friend that came with us. He is the Presidents Assistant and very sincere. It was a great reunion of friends! 

I felt like a hero a little bit as during a lesson I spotted a scorpion running across the floor and warned the kid that was closest. It almost stung him! I think he was in shock a little bit, but he jumped out of the way and stomped on it. 

We had a few lessons that really hurt my feelings. I would say it in a more manly way if I could but that is really how I felt. One was with a guy who was waiting for his girlfriend at her door. He told us that we could come in, but when we started he totally shrugged us off and acted like we didn't even exist. I am pretty used to it, but it felt super disrespectful.. and when his girlfriend was done getting ready, we were in the middle of explaining the apostasy and he straight up said, see ya.. but in spanish of course, and left. My heart felt broken. I always wonder why they wont listen! haha On another occasion we contacted a lady who was baptized when she was little in the church, but never returned. We asked her if she had ever read the Book of Mormon, and she told us without hesitating that the Book is not true. We told her that it IS true and that she just needed to pray about it and ask God. She didn't accept our offer. 

A funny rejection this week came as we contacted an old man. We were returning because we had talked with his wife and she told us that we could return. When we got to the door we asked him if him and his wife would have time to hear a message about Jesus Christ. He replied to us that his wife was asleep. I asked him, ¨what about you?¨ a to which he replied, ¨I'm asleep too.¨ and then didn't answer any of our other questions. Elder Dipko and I had to laugh at that. 

The MOST heartbreaking story of them all happened on Saturday night. We were planning for the baptism of Suyapa Garcia who we have been teaching for like 4 months now. She finally accepted a baptismal date and we had everything ready. We even had the baptismal font halfway filled up when she called us and told us that she wasnt going to come! We were in shock a little bit, and tied to excite her to come and get baptized, but half way through my sentence she hung up and took the battery out of her phone so that we couldn't call back. I know that because we tried to call like 5 times but it went straight to voicemail. That was sad for us but we had nothing else to do but keep visiting people so that's what we did. 

I love these people, even though they don't love us. I don't always love their personalities or the things that they do, but I feel like a parent sometimes. I want what is best for them and we try to teach them what is best for them but they are a little stubborn in doing it. I know this is the Lords work, and that he is preparing the hearts of His children, even ours each day. I know the experiences He gives us are to help us grow closer to Him.

Love

Elder Dowell

May 30

Hey guys!

This week has been very eventful because it was my last full week in this area. It has been so heartbreaking to say goodbye to some of my greatest friends. Before the mission I really didn't think that I would be able to love these people, bu now that I have to leave them they are tearing me apart! How can I just love them and leave them?? Nonetheless I am so grateful that Heavenly Father gave me the chance to be a part of their lives and teach them the gospel.

Some of the greater (and sadder) moments of the week came as I was saying goodbye to the families that have made the most impact on my testimony and I really feel like I have left a piece of my heart with them. 

 One of the families we teach is super poor that lives near a river very far from the city. They are very secluded and were investigators when I arrived. To this day they haven't missed going to church and they were all baptized together. We always joke around and they are very fun to teach because they are so humble and listen and try to do everything that we teach. Well when it came time to say goodbye I shook their hands because the majority of them are girls.. but when it came to the dad, brother, I asked him for a hug. Unexpectedly he broke down and started to cry as he had his arms wrapped around my ribs. he is a small 72 year old farmer, but he bawled his eyes out and told me thank you for all that we have done for him and his family. I was so so touched by his sincerity. my heart hurts just writing this story! Jeez! haha

Another family was hard to say goodbye to because they are my best friends, so we put that off until tomorrow. They started bringing a friend to church and I think he will get baptized soon, his name is Ariel. 

We have been having a tough time getting baptisms, but equally a tough time getting people to come to church. We invited a guy to church named Fernando who was baptized when he was like 9 but never went back. He doesn't know anything about the church but he showed up about half way through sacrament meeting! We were so excited to see him!! He participated in the gospel principles class and had the look on his face like, "this is awesome but I don't want to admit it".. I think he will come more consistently! 

There were 2 people that we know very well who had babies this week. They are so precious! One of the moms was an investigator and the other was the Branch Presidents wife. There is a myth that if someone with light colored eyes looks at your baby, they will get sick.. So what they do to combat it is they have you take sweat from your forehead and wipe it on the forehead of their baby.. I think its super weird, but i love doing it! haha

I will continue to say goodbye to great friends until my heart is broken completely on Wednesday when I have to pack up and leave. I am sad, but happy to go somewhere new and meet new people! I love and miss you guys tons, Keep having a great time at home! Summer is at hand!

Love

Elder Dowell

June 13

This week was a great week! It was super hot and that bugged me at times! haha but we still made the most of it. The people of Copan are very nice, but not as nice as the people in Portrerillos (Paraiso). Much more people try and battle with us about memorized verses in the bible, and those who accept us understand the importance of the restoration, but neglect to read and find out for themselves if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ or not. We had an interesting experience this week where we entered into a house to share our message of the restoration. We have been looking for families and this was an older family of 3 or 4 and we noticed that one of the people in the house had his plaid button up shirt on, reading glasses, and a giant bible on his lap. My thoughts were "this cant be too good".. and.. I WAS RIGHT! haha we started to ask them about their lives and he told us that he was a pastor for the evangelical church. We continued with a prayer and began to teach them about prophets and how Heavenly Father has always called prophets to teach His gospel. They were with us because we related it to the bible. From there, I asked one of the members of the household, "Do you think its important to have living prophets to teach us the gospel like in the days of old?" Instead of answering me directly, they looked directly to their pastor. I was so sad at that. I knew that the pastor doesn't believe in modern revelation, but I wish that they would have thought for themselves instead of looking to us for the answer. The pastor answered me instead of the person, and told us that there were no revelation in these days. We showed him the book of Mormon but he wouldn't let us explain it because he was so ignorant and wouldn't accept our words. At this point I was just frustrated, because I always feel like I am just trying to help them find the truth, but they don't see it like that. We ended up baring our testimonies of the truth of the Book of Mormon. We asked them each directly, "Will you read the book of Mormon to find out if its true?" Again each looked at the pastor and he said in a high voice, "I will never pray about any book other than the Bible." They others followed his statement and I left very disappointing, but felt that we had done our part. 

Similar experiences happened later in the week. I always leave feeling so hurt and heartbroken because I know something that they don't know. I wish they would just try to know it. I know Heavenly Father cant help them if they don't put the effort first. 

As for our investigators, Heidi and her son Melvin accepted a baptismal date for the 2nd of July!!!! We were so excited for them, but they didn't go to church when they promised us they would go, and they live right next to it! but I know they will get baptized next month for sure. She has been visiting with the missionaries for a long time, and her family has member of the church in it too. Another guy we met this week was a guy named Walter Enrique. He grew up in Los Angeles and so we talk to him in English.. it is really weird to talk in English with someone other than Elder Westerlind. But he is in the early stages of learning about the gospel, but he told my companion while we were on divisions that his girlfriend that he is living with does witchcraft.. so hes probably gonna have to break up with her.. sorry dude. Other than that we dont have too many people that want to progress towards baptism. There was a change in the branch presidency this week too. President Dester came to announce it because he is the president of all the districts. It was sad to think that that might have been the last time I get to see him here in Honduras. I hope not, I love President Dester! I love and miss you guys lots too. Have a great week!!

Love

Elder Dowell

If you cant stand the heat, too bad you are there until January

This week in Honduras was very hot and humid. From the time we left the house each day until after the sun went down we were drenched in sweat. At night it gets a little cooler but not much. 

Each door we knocked this week felt like they had some excuse not to talk to us, but we talked to a lot of people about the gospel! It is a great blessing to stand for what is right in a place where not everything is right. Elder Dipko and I have seen the heat and the different life style as an obstacle to our goal of finding people to accept the restored gospel, but I have noticed that I think much more about Jesus Christ, His life, and His atonement. I know it was worse for him, and so I know that only He knows how to comfort me. 

This week we continued visiting many of our investigators that have been having problems with keeping the commandments. The first is a young woman who really has stopped reading the scriptures and praying often. It is so sad and a little bit heart breaking to see her stop doing the things that the Lord has testified to her that are true. That is where the scripture is completed that says many are called but few are chosen. I believe that one day she will be baptized, but she refuses to give heed to the warnings of spiritual and physical danger. 

  

One breath of fresh air was a sister that we found contacting. She is a mom with 3 kids and lives with her boyfriend. She was baptized when she was 9, but didn’t grow up knowing anything about the church. We have been teaching her about the restored gospel, and the plan of Salvation. Her son Eduardo is 12 and has been listening too. We always laugh and feel the spirit when we are teaching them. This week, they showed up at church! It was so awesome to see them walk through the door. It turns out that one of the members is Eduardo´s Aunt, so I think we will have a little more help from the ward in baptizing Eduardo.. we are planning on the 21st of May. He is a shy, but very obedient kid.

  

On Sunday morning we went to bring another investigator of ours to church. He is 16 years old, lives with his grandma and cousins, and sits on the couch all day because he doesn’t go to school. He had told us that he was going to go to church, but when we showed up he had on jeans and no shirt. We were like, what’s the deal. He told us that he didn’t want to go. I felt a little bit like we were just nagging him to go.. but we gave him our testimonies that we had times in our lives where we didn’t want to go to church either, but that he will receive blessings if he goes. I think he will begin to progress more this week, he’s just a snot nosed kid, that’s all! Haha

To answer some of the questions that mom had:

How was your week?

I felt like an ugly kid asking out cute girls to prom.. Straight rejection! but there is someone that will say yes.. its the faith that counts! If planted it will grow!

What questions did you focus on during your scripture study?

Here there is a big problem of people thinking that those who will be saved in the kingdom of God are those who do exactly what the bible says, not taking into account the importance of a church. I studied how we can more fully explain that a church is necessary and that not every church has the authority. There is really no easy way to say it.. But we always invite people to read and pray to know for themselves! That’s how I know!

Have you read Jesus the Christ?  (it’s hard to read, but so good to have that experience)

I have read parts. It is full of awesome stuff! I am also reading the book you guys sent, The Infinite Atonement. Wow. I feel like my mind is expanding from knowledge from that book! I love the scriptures that it uses too. It brings a lot of clarity!

Thank you so much for the Easter Package!! It was so awesome to read your letters and eat American candy!! I love you guys so much!! Have a great week!

Elder Dowell

Questions of baptism

April 25th

This week was a great week because I really feel like Elder Dipko and I were trying to find people to teach. I love Honduras and all of the Hundureñans, but they really are hard hearted sometimes! Nonetheless they always greet us with a warm smile. We have been visiting with a few investigators that we have really been trying to get baptized, but this week they didn't seem too excited or willing to commit to anything. The first week visited were two sisters. We have explained and testified to them many times about the Book of Mormon and why it is so important to read it to find out if it is true. Sometimes they halfheartedly say that they read and prayed, but they do not do it consistently as we have taught. In our lesson this week, we taught them about the importance of going to church, and the blessings that come from it. During the lesson their grandma who is a die hard catholic asked us what were our intentions in our visits. We told her that our purpose is to help everyone to come unto Christ through faith, repentance, baptism by authority, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and persevering to the end. She looked at us like we were stupid! haha She straight up told us ¨they were baptized when they were kids in the catholic church. BEING BAPTIZED 2 TIMES IS A SIN¨. She didn't yell it but she said it like we were 2 babies just sitting in her house because we wanted to.. I had to hold my tongue a little bit or I was going to say something that I didn't want to haha.. but it really hit me that we need to have patience with them, just as Heavenly Father has patience for me. We asked them if they wanted to be baptized and they said no, but they want us to come keep teaching them the word of God. 

Respect for the Temple

Another one of our investigators is one that we have had for a while. She has some problems with the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. We have been trying to help her repent of these things so that she can be baptized, but she is having trouble doing so. We tell her so much about the consequences of what she is doing but it just doesnt seem to click. I hope that the Spirit can touch her heart and help her to change her ways. I know she will be baptized soon!

The most interesting lesson that we had this week was with a Jehovas Witness. He let us in to talk to him for a little bit and we shared a message about the book of Mormon. He asked many good questions about where it came from, why we have it, and why it was necessary for him. It seemed like he really was interested in knowing for himself if it is true.. but as we invited him to read and to pray, he told us that his salvation came through the bible. Many people have told us that  as we contact and talk to people. That is a very new thing for me to hear and try to understand. Our question to them is always, if you only need the bible, how do you think youre gonna get baptized? Well, he finally told us that he would read and pray about the book, but didnt really want us to come back. So we offered to say a prayer and he rejected the offer, saying that because we had different beliefs he wasn't going to pray with us. I was a little bit offended, but i just hope that he really reads and prays on his own!

We had a cool experience where a guy that we had previously contacted asked us who was Moroni! I was super excited to tell him, but noticed aproaching 2 shy kids from church. They take seminary, so I assumed they would know who Moroni was. We turned to them and asked them to explain who Moroni was. After a long day of rejection and trying to explain things to people that dont want to understand, it was so good to hear this little 16 year old shy kid say, ¨Moroni was a prophet¨. I know the smallest truths are the most powerful. I have felt the spirit testify of the message we share. I sometimes just smile of the simplicity of what it takes to gain a testimony. If any of ye have wisdom, let him ask of God. I know he wants to hear from everyone.

I love you guys and I hope you had a more successful week than I did! haha no worries, there are always people to find!

Have a great week guys!

Love

Elder Dowell

April 18
This week was a great week, but always feels a little bit hectic. I suppose that is life everywhere! We were really trying to push our investigators (with love) to be baptized this week. They sometimes lack the will power to make decisions, so we tell them to pray and read the Book of Mormon, but sometimes they even have problems with that. 

Long story short this week we were able to help 2 of our investigators to the waters of baptism! It was so cool to see the change in them before and after their baptisms. We normally would have to go get them to go to church, but they were willing and ready to do make the covenant of baptism. They are 2 friends, and at the baptism they leaned over and just thanked us for what we had done for them. I think it wasn't until baptism until they really realized the importance of these things, and they were very grateful for us. That made all the hustle and bustle worth it. 

As for our other investigators, they resisted the push a little bit. Suyapa is 23 and told us a a grandmother that had passed away. We taught her about baptisms for the dead and it freaked her out a little bit. She couldn't really comprehend why we would do it, and thought that we were taking away the agency of people. We explained that everyone will have the choice to accept or reject this gospel, and she understood a little better. It made me really appreciate the ordinances that we do in the temple. They really are ordinances of salvation. She has little kids and we taught her that she should raise them in the gospel so that they can receive blessings of the restored gospel, and that maybe one day her kids could serve the Lord on a mission. I told her that a big reason why I am here is because mom would always read the scriptures, she taught me how to pray, and the importance of going to church. I told her that her kids will grow up better if she does the same for them. I started to tear up so I just changed the subject. After the lesson she asked me why I was tearing up.. I told her that each time that my mom would read the scriptures in the morning or iron my white shirt, I never really appreciated it. I told her that I wish I would have done it differently. I think that made an impact on her because she told us that she wanted to be baptized. I hope we can help her this week to be motivated to change her life. 

We also got into it a little bit with a preacher. this week it felt like nobody really understood that our message is so simple. There are prophets with authority on the earth, and not all of the churches can be true. Many people here think that salvation comes just from doing good deeds and reading the bible. We testified to this preacher that there really was only one true church and that God speaks to prophets in these latter days. On another occasion, a lady was talking to us about salvation, and we were surprised to hear her say that she was going to heaven no matter what she does she will go to heaven. We explained (maybe a little to harshly) that that was false doctrine, and that she needed to repent and be baptized by authority to receive eternal blessings. 

This week Gustavo ( our recent convert who is 11) told us about some family problems that he has been having. His parents fight sometimes and he doesn't like it. He told us that he said a prayer and felt like he should talk to us. He said he felt the spirit. I did too. We told him to keep praying and to share his testimony to his parents because they are not members. We plan on sharing with them the proclamation to the world. Gustavo also told us that he wants to see his parents get baptized, and he wants to serve a mission! I thought that was awesome. This week there are changes, but I am staying here in Paraiso with Elder Dipko. I am convinced it is because of Gustavo. He said he prayed for me to stay here for another change.. I love that kid.

On top of the best moments of this week is the baptism of Argentina and Gloria. They were late for church and didn't think they would get confirmed but we prayed alot during the sacrament and when I opened my eyes they had snuck in so they were confirmed! Also, we had a visit with one of our investigators who is a 50 year old lady. She was laying in a hammock and as we approached her, she closed her eyes super fast to make it look like she was sleeping, as if we hadn't just seen her! we said her name, but she still acted like she was sleeping so we just laughed and kept working.. it was a little bit pathetic, I wish they would just say no instead!! haha

This week we will be working on getting some older investigators into the font, and also finding new people to teach. There are always people to be found, I know this gospel is true and I know that everyone will have a chance to hear it and know of its blessings. I am so thankful for everyone who helps my testimony, I am trying to help others grow theirs as well! I love and miss you guys!! have a great week.

Love

Elder Dowell

Baptisms on the way!

Dear Family and friends,

I have nothing that can top Marshall's call to South Carolina!!! I am sad that I couldn't be there to support, but I am more happy that he will be serving the Lord where he has been called!! I am filled with pride and so excited to know that he has made this decision. Marshall, if I can give you some advice, I always remember what Elder Busby told me.. The mission is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. There is no truer statement than that. You will have good times and bad, just remember that Jesus Christ is with you through them all. I am so grateful for your example to me and that you are so willing to go wherever you are called. I know you will be a great missionary! 

This week was a little bit slower. We went to many of our investigators houses but many didn't remember our visits and didn't seem to feel too bad about it. What frustrates me the most I think is not that they forget.. because we can always reschedule a meeting. But when we gotta go to their house and its so hot and they act like they really don't want to talk to us, I feel heartbroken. Its like having a giant delicious cake and wanting to share it with everyone.. but nobody wants to try your cake because their friends told them that it sucked.. so they wont even try to listen to us! well, that's the way it feels sometimes. There are other times where are just so humbling and awesome! Those are the times that are worth it. This week one of those humbling experiences was with one of our investigators. She is an older lady probably in her 50s and has been meeting with us for a few weeks. This week we explained to her of the Plan of Salvation. As we taught she opened up to us by telling us about her son that was killed about 10 months ago. We taught her about temples and baptisms for the dead. The spirit was so strong as it testified to her of what we were saying, and she was brought to tears. When she was crying I thought of all of my experience with baptisms for the dead and going to the temple and I was so so thankful for the temple and the eternal perspective and blessings that it gives us. 

We have also been preparing another sister for baptism this Saturday! She is about 60 and doesn't know how to read.. but she is excited for baptism as she has grown her testimony in the restored gospel. She likes to joke around with us. 

As for a much less spiritual experience, we went to visit a less active member because she told us that part of her family weren't members, so we walked to her house in the horrible heat. We sang a hymn and prayed and three drunk dudes came out and sat on the ground where we were teaching. I think they were friends or maybe cousins of those who we were teaching. They started to get really loud and annoying. I was trying not to make eye contact with them so they wouldn't talk but it was helpless. Within moments they were criticizing us and I just had to smile. I have seen it before, but Elder Dipko wanted to try and teach them as they said, "the Book of Mormon is not true" and  "you guys worship Joseph Smith as a God". I told Elder Dipko that we should leave so we shook their hands and left.. 

General conference was also one of the main highlights of this week. I am not just saying this because I am a missionary.. well maybe.. but I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!! Before I really wouldn't get much out of it, but being able to testify of living prophets every day has made my appreciation grow for this restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know Thomas S. Monson is a special and chosen servant of the Lord who has all of the priesthood keys to bind in Heaven what is bound on earth. Jesus talks to him! and he talks to us. I love and miss you all so much. Marshy, words cannot explain how proud I am of you and what you are doing. You are an amazing example to me!! 

Do you ever meet people who know alot about the bible?  

Everyone thinks they know a lot about the bible! ha ha and they have many scriptures memorized which is good.. But when people try to preach to us its hard to listen because I feel like we should be the ones talking.. but there are a lot of people that just want to change our minds and don't really want to listen.

Have you ever felt that someone was prepared for you?  What made you feel that way?

I sometimes feel like no and others yes. I always have faith that there is someone prepared just for me.. but other times it is discouraging when it feels like nobody is progressing. I feel with the investigators how I imagine Heavenly Father feels with me!

Is it still so hot?  

Yes. i don't even know why I bother showering.. I am sweating by the time I am dressed again.

How are you helping this new elder to adjust to his new life in Honduras?  Has he seen anything crazy yet?

That experience with the drunk guys was a little eye opening. He has gotten a little discouraged this week because he is wearing out of the MTC phase which is "the gospel is amazing and everyone wants it".. He has had a little taste of people who don't want to listen to us and so I have been trying to help him keep having faith in finding people and also helping him improve his Spanish. He is really good and a good learner too which is good. He is a humble guy which is a nice change! haha

I Love all of you guys! Have a great week this week! Congrats Marshy!!!!!! SC doesn't know whats coming!!

Love,

Elder Dowell

Semana Santa!

Family and friends,

This week was different than normal because it was a week where everyone in latin america has a vacation week. It is called Semana Santa! That means Holy week in spanish. Of course, it is called that because this was Easter weekend! 

Everyone and there mother takes a trip to the local river or beach to go swimming and spend time with family. It was super hot, so even the people with darker skin looked a little burnt!

Although this was a week for all to remember the Savior, we had a few experiences that made me reflect on my own faith and how I remember the Savior. 

Elementary School in Honduras

The first was on Wednesday, we visited one of our investigators who has been having some troubles within their family. About half way through the lesson we hear some guy yelling, so we poke our heads outside to find an older crazy guy waving around his machete and swearing at his cousin who he was fighting with. He was yelling super loud about 2 houses down and was threatening to machete her face! I wished for a moment that I didn't know Spanish so that I couldn't understand the bad things he was saying to her.. but we just stayed in the house for a little bit until the situation calmed down and everyone went back to their house.

Many of the main investigators that we have been visiting were traveling this week, so we had the chance.. or many chances.. to knock doors this week! There were a few degrading experiences, but always in good fun! haha one lady, as we were explaining about prophets, couldnt help but laughing at us. I felt like it wasnt worth it to keep talking if she was just going to laugh at us, but we finished what we had to say and left. To say the least, I dont think she will call us back..haha

Another experience that we had was a little more helpful, as the lady told us straight up that she didnt like our church. When we asked her why, she said that she didnt like that we were representing Joseph Smith and teaching people that they should worship him. I was a little butt hurt, and told her to please not say those things if she has never visited the church or with the missionaries. I was thankful for my testimony, and I told her that there is no other way to enter into the kingdom of God other than through the Savior Jesus Christ. That gained her respect more, although she still didn't want to hear what we had to say.

It was a great week to teach and testify of the Savior. I know that He lives and that He loves us. I have felt His love for me, and for the people that we teach. I dream of the day that I can see His face, although I will never feel worthy to stand in His presence, as he Himself has said, He is the light and the life of the world, and I know it is true. I know He paid for my sins and he payed for all those who have lived, are living, and will live in this world. He is my example, and the example of all of us. I love Him. 

This Semana Santa, I have felt like I was able to walk in His shoes a little bit. Being rejected many times, standing in the heat, having people preach to us when we should be teaching them the truth. I am thankful for all that Jesus has done for me.

Elder Dipko, my campanion, is an awesome guy. It has been such an awesome experience to teach him about this crazy country, and we continue learning together! I love you guys so much!! Have a great week!

Love

Elder Dowell