Santa Rosa

Hey guys!

This week was an adventure continuing to get to know our area in Santa Rosa. On numerous occasions we had the opportunity to talk to people in the streets, many of which were drunk or in need of the gospel message. We were stopped by 2 guys in the street who asked us if we wanted to go smoke with them. We just laughed and told them that we don't do that because its bad for us. They proceeded to tell us that it was ok because the elders 3 years ago used to smoke with them as they were teaching. I was surprised at that! It made me realize how desperately important it is to really try to be a good example. 

This week we also have been working with the members to be able to have us teach their friends and family. I have not had a baptism in a while, and although the "numbers are not important" I feel that the best way to get a baptism is working with members and those who they love because they are more likely to help us. That being said, we put 2 people this week with a baptismal date in the coming weeks. The first is 23 years old. She told us that she feels that our message is true. We were so excited to hear that. Sometimes after so many people not understanding or rejecting our message, it feels so good to have someone that gets it! haha The problem with her will be her family. They are very evangelical and always give her a hard time about our visits. I was able to tell her about dads experience of baptism. We assured her that it is more important to do what God asks, and stick with the consequences, than to do what your family says. She agreed that it was more important. 

The second guy we are teaching was an evangelical pastor before, but he has learned of the truth of the restoration of the gospel and it has been amazing to see him understand, without battling on scriptures! haha normally a preacher would have tons of questions about the scriptures for us, but he listens with an open heart, ready to learn, and we have felt the spirit very much in  our lessons.

On Thursday I was definitely thinking about gameday, but we had the opportunity to put our work in as well. the lights went out in the evening hours and the rule is that we would have to go home. So we did and took off our ties and everything. When we got done planning, we still had about an hour and a half left and the lights came back on. We saw it almost as a test, and chose to put the ties back on and go outside and see who we could teach. We found many opportunities to serve and help others, and even teach. I know that putting in the extra mile will always pay off. In trying to do more of what the Lord would have me do, i feel happier. I know that I have much to improve, and I want to make a bigger impact on these people so that they will come to the waters of baptism. Now that the time is winding down, the thirst is much stronger! I love and miss you guys. GO BIRDS!

Love,

Elder Dowell

Adios La Entrada

Family and friends,

This week was a great week, although a little bit stressful. The changes were this week and I am now in an area called Santa Rosa de Copan. It is about 45 minutes from my other area in La Entrada de Copan. It has been very weird because I was placed here as a district leader instead of a zone leader, so one of the zone leaders is my old companion elder Vasquez, and the other is a good friend of mine from Canada! His name is Elder Comin.

I also recieved a brand new companion from Idaho. he is starting his mission and so I will be his trainer! I am very excited to get working with him because we are both new here and we don't know the area very well. His name is Elder Tyler Deeble. We actually look a lot alike! haha the people here think we are twins. He is learning Spanish still and so it will be fun to help him learn more and more. I remember not too long ago i was in his same position. That has helped me to have a little more patience and sympathy.

 

This week it was so so hard to leave the great friends that I have made in La Entrada. I have really felt like my heart was hurting for them as i thought back on all the great times that we had teaching and laughing and visiting. The good part is that I am close, and yesterday we took a trip to a priesthood meeting in La Entrada and I saw a bunch of people from the branch! It was a happy reunion. 

In getting to know the area better, we had a 3rd companion with us to show us our area for 3 days, then he left on friday morning. His name was Elder Nuñez and he was from Chamelecon.. the most dangerous city in Honduras! He was a very humble guy and helped us out alot, showing us where the members and investigators lived. But once he left, we realized how lost we really were! We struggled even to get back to our own house. luckily, the members are very helpful to us and have shown us how to get places.

As a welcome to the branch, I was assigned a talk yesterday on missionary work! I have been trying to have more confidence in my public speaking, and i didnt feel as nervous as usual up on the stand so i think that i am improving little by little! haha it is good to practice. 

In our daily visiting, we have had many spiritual experiences, although sometimes it is hard to get people to understand the love that Heavenly Father has for them. I have been doing almost all of the talking in the lessons, so this week Elder Deeble and I are going to work on how we can work better as a team. He has very good intentions so we will do our best to make a difference in this crazy town! I love Copan and I am so excited that I will be a part of the growth of this place. It will be a stake someday! Maybe in the millennium

, but someday! haha have a great week! I love you guys so much!

Love

Elder Dowell

Questions of the celestial family tree

This week was a good one! There were many weird things that happened. To start, our best investigator who was progressing so well, she told us that she was going to move and on Saturday she went to live with her mom who lives about 2 hours away. We were distraught! Just as we felt like we were starting to have some success, and it felt as if it was sucked away in just a few days. On top of that, we went to visit different investigators of ours on different occasions to find out that 3 of the families had had someone in their family die this week. We were so surprised to hear that and were able to offer just a little bit of comfort to each of them before they left town for the funerals. We ens

ured that they would see their families again. Through the plan that Heavenly Father has provided us. I cant imagine having someone die within my family and not be absolutely sure about what happens after this life. I am so thankful to know what happens if we choose the right!

 

On a funnier note, we were contacting houses and came across a man sitting in his chair. He told us to answer a question that nobody has been able to answer him. We were fairly confident that we could answer whatever his crazy question may be. He asked, "who is Jesus's grandma?" We laughed a little bit and told him that it wasn't very important to know.. but that we didn't know because it isn't in the scriptures. He argued that it was a very important question. He continued to tell us that Jesus was going to come with a stick to be able to clean the earth. He waved his hand as if to mimic what Jesus would do to clean the earth and it was hilarious. He then told us that Jesus would send us into space and we would start floating.. and he acted like he was floating. We had to smile a little at that one. 

On the same day we contacted a man that we had seen at church. He was a former drug addict and he was with a preacher that was blind. The preacher started talking a bunch of apostasy saying that he knew a man who was very powerful and started over 15 thousand churches. Anyways, the less active member asked us if we would stay for a while because since we had arrived to talk he had felt the spirit very strong. We felt like Jesus when he came to visit America and the people didn't want Him to leave. I took a step back a little bit in my mind and recognized a little bit more the importance of this work.

Yesterday, finishing up the day, I got a call from President Bush, telling me that I was going to be changed out of my area for these upcoming changes on Wednesday. I was a little bummed out because Elder Vasquez and I just started to get along really well. President told me that I will be training a new missionary and I will still be in Copan about 40 minutes from where I am at now in a city called Santa Rosa. He told me that I will need to work alot to make the branch stronger because it is the main part of Copan that needs to grow to make Copan a stake someday. I feel blessed for the trust that President Bush and the lord have given my new companion and I to go work in that area and try and make things happen! He also said, " I think you will be more happy if you have something to do!" I think he is right. I am sad to leave here, but excited for the new challenge. 

How are you feeling this week?  

This week I feel like I have grown more from the experiences that I have. Physically, a lot like Marshall! haha I need to get in shape!

Who have you spent the most time with?

My Companion..  haha but seriously we are with the other 2 missionaries at night and in the morning. Elder Cobar and Elder Cole have grown to be great friends of ours.. as for our investigators, whoever will listen! We try to visit families more than individuals.

Who have you found to teach this week?  

This week we have found a few small families to teach. It is cool to see them as God sees them and with the potential that they have to be an eternal family, even if they aren't at that point yet. 

Are you teaching any children?

Just along with the families. there are tons of cute little Honduran children in the street all day. most of them are filthy. 

What do you like about your companion?  

He is a really funny guy. He also opened up to me this week because I got mad at him. He really understands that it is important to have a good companionship to be successful and he gave me some great tips. He is better at communicating feelings than I am.

 

What did you study today in the scriptures?  Did you find anything new and insightful in your studies?

This week I studied many different things, I never feel like I dedicate a week to a specific subject, maybe I should try that. But I have been reading about the spirit world in the teachings of Brigham Young, and also more about the priesthood. It is amazing to see the little things that the spirit says that aren't on the page. I felt many times that I was prompted to change something, or explain it better. 

Have you felt stress this week?  what about?  how did you handle it?

YES. This week I got super mad at Elder Vasquez. To be honest I didn't handle it well. I basically let it boil inside of me and I was super mad. After a while Elder Vasquez reminded me that its important to say whats wrong so we can find a solution. We had a heart to heart and I expressed to him that I don't want to be a mad person (not that I am haha) but that I needed to learn better to talk and communicate. I am still working on it, but setting little goals to change has helped.

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

Love,

Elder Dowell  

Success in Contacting

Family and friends,

It is great to be emailing you this week about the experiences of the week. It has been hot and humid this week. Many people ask why I sweat so much, but then I ask them how they don't! I think its because they only drink coke all day! haha

This week I have had many things to be thankful for. I am so thankful for the things that I am learning each day. In talking and teaching with my companion Elder Vasquez we have really been focusing on what the spirit tells us to say. I noticed that I was getting angry when he would talk more than me in the lessons and I felt a little bit robbed. Sometimes I still feel that way but I realized that when I get angry about it it loses the whole spirit of the lesson and the spirit cant be there. I have really been working on being more patient and focusing on doing my best to serve and help other people. I thought of President Thomas S Monson and the way that he serves. I think if he were in my situation he would just be happy that the people are learning, and of course he would do his part the best that he could. I have been reading more of the conference talks as I get anxious for the next conference in October. I know that their words are true and they have given me comfort many times throughout the day and week. 

On Friday we had an amazing experience and I am so thankful for your prayers to help us find new people to teach and baptize:

  

We were contacting houses and came across a house that I felt like we should contact so we knocked the door. The girl that was working cleaning the house let us in and we taught her and the other boys that lived there. It was a very good lesson because the girl said that she had been looking for a church to go to. A few days earlier she was sick and told God that she was going to visit a church. She even told us that she had dreamed about going to a specific church, but couldn't remember which one! So we invited them to church and on Sunday, she went! 

 

It just so happened that it was fast and testimony meeting and everyone was baring their testimonies about the normal things, Book of Mormon, true church, Joseph Smith, etc. I was sweating bullets as I watched her get up and walk to the stand to talk. It was her first time ever in a Mormon church, but she began to tell everyone of her story how she was sick and then we showed up. She said it was almost like a sign. She was so happy to be at church and told everyone that she felt like she was going to be coming more often. Later we smiled as she told us that when she walked through the front gates, she remembered that the church she had dreamed was this one. 

I had never up to this point had an experience like that, but I am so thankful that the spirit guided us to knock on her door. out of all the doors in the world, who would've thought?!

We are looking forward to teaching her and other investigators that have been progressing such as a family that has a business selling burgers and meat. They even went to church this week. I will be telling you more about them in the weeks to come, they are a very special family and would be great members!

Love Elder Dowell

Saved from the axe

Family and Friends,

This week was a great experience for growing, teaching, and life in general. I was able to feel the spirit testifying of what we teach on many occasions. I think experiences where the spirit is able testify of our message is what has made my testimony grow the most. 

We taught a lady who is not married and has 4 little girls and she poured out her heart to us and told her that there was a time where she didn't even have 1 limpira for her family.. that's the equivalent of 5 cents. We were able to comfort her by teaching her that she is a daughter of God and therefore is the heir to a mansion in the kingdom of God if she will live the gospel. She seems humble enough to learn more about the gospel.

At one point we were contacting a man in the street and it was a very steep hill that we were standing on. As we were talking I didn't recognize that someone had slid an axe down the slope and it was going really fast. Elder Vasquez told me it just barely went past my foot! and the guy that we were contacting told us that the axe didn't hit me because we were protected by God. I know that that is true!

We were invited into an older ladies house where she started to preach to us and yelling really loud like a preacher does. it was a really funny experience because we tried to say a few things but each time she would interrupt us yelling louder, praising Jesus and the Bible. Somewhere in there she said a few scriptures that I am not sure exist, but it was all in good spirit ha ha. That kind of stuff happens a lot here. The main problem is that people think that feeling the spirit or feeling "good" give one the authority. When we teach we do our best to make it very clear that the authority to baptize comes from someone with the authority, and the laying on of hands. it is such a simple but direct truth. I am thankful that the gospel with all of its authority and keys has been restored. It makes us able to return to live with God.

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

Love

Elder Dowell

The streets of Copan part 2

This week I have felt very blessed. Getting to see and read about Marshalls experiences have given me a whole different perspective. I can remember so acutely those times in the MTC and they are just pure growing experiences that you cant get anywhere else! 

It was so sad to see Elder Westerlind leave. There is always a lot of hype around changes, people leaving, and new people coming in. I learned a lot of things, but I know I am going to continue learning with my new companion. His name is Elder Vasquez and he is from Panama. He is 21 years old and his bday is on the 30th of August. He is a really cool guy and so far we get along very well. He is trying to learn English so I will try and help him with that in the short time we have together.

Since Elder Vasquez came we have been focused on getting people to sacrament meeting. Making that our main focus showed a few fruits on Sunday when 3 of our investigators showed up and another member brought 2 of their friends that live in our area. It was a great blessing to have them because I got to give a talk! There were 2 kids that talked before I did. they talked about the spirit and why it is important and I felt a little bit like they blew me out of the water. their testimonies were so strong and it was a very well thought out message. Our investigators were asking how old the 14 year old kid was because he delivered a great message. My message was on the city of Zion and the way that they lived to be able to go straight to heaven. 

We have been focusing on the men that we have as investigators and more recently I have noticed the great impact that the man has on his wife and children. Bsically whatever the man does, his family will do too. We visited with a guy named David and he read the pamphlet that we gave him and later explained to us everything that he had learned about the apostasy and the restored gospel. I felt the spirit as he explained it to us. I know the spirit is the only thing that can teach us those simple yet profound truths. I continue to be amazed by them as well. I am looking forward to this week.

We had our interviews with president Bush and he told me "you don't need 2 years to change someones life.. you only need a day" that made a great impact on me. I am thankful for each day that I have to be a missionary. I love you guys. know that I am praying for you.. and for your success. I love you! Have a great week!

Love

Elder Dowell

Visiting the Temple

Hey family and friends!

This week has been very upbeat in the sense that we have had much to do.. but wow I feel that I am being stretched more in my capacity to love and be patient! I know that the experiences that I am having will help me grow closer to Heavenly Father, and help others grow closer to him as well.

One of the most spiritual parts of my week this week was in sacrament meeting yesterday. I was assigned to give a talk.. but when I got there the councilors of our mission president were there so they took over and I will talk next week. But before they spoke, the branch president had the youth give there testimonies of their trip to the temple this weekend. It was very powerful to see them give their testimonies of the temple. For many it was the first time that they had gone. I think it impacted me the most because each day we see the type of people that they have been surrounded by their whole lives. Drunks, drug addicts, and men who are completely spiritually lost. It is a miracle that they have grown to be spiritual giants in a place where worldly things are held as a higher treasure. One of the youth said, "I know that Jesus walks through the same doors that I walked through". That almost brought me to tears as the spirit confirmed to me that the temple is the house of God. I know it is the most sacred place on earth. I miss it.

This week was Elder Westerlind´s last full week of missionary work! He told me to help him stay at it if he got lazy. and I think we have been doing the best we can. He is a very hard worker and determined guy. I have grown to be great friends with him and I will miss him, but sure I will see him in the future. We were asked by the assistants to go to Ocotepeque again this week. It is a city about 4 hours away from our house where there are 4 missionaries. The missionaries were having a few problems so we were sent on a secret mission to figure out what President should do with the upcoming transf

ers. Luckily everything was ok, the missionaries had been having some trouble with their branch president because he never wanted to meet with them and is kind of a lazy guy. 

Elder Westerlind and I also went to San Pedro Sula to a meeting with President Bush and the other ZLs. I love going because we always learn alot and see our good friends from other parts of the mission. Elder Bate and Elder Vasquez are the APs and I am really good friends with them too. President Bush is different than President Dester, but he is a really awesome guy. He was a lawyer in Washington DC. 

On Thursday night we ran the Family home evening at the church and did the experiment where you have to squeeze a hard boiled egg through a glass bottle. We related it to faith and how we must have faith if we want to see miracles. I find myself learning from the simple lessons like that. I know that the spirit doesn't always need something super profound to be able to testify of truth, but through simple things also can truth be found. I love this church and the simple truth that it teaches! 

Marshy I hope you have a great first week in the mission!! I am so proud of you and so proud to be serving at your side. Have a great week, I love you guys!

Love

Elder Dowell