Week 86

I am doing pretty great, just chugging along. Elder Gumucio and I are happy, working hard, no complaints. We have 6 ready for baptism, 3 on the 10th and 3 on the 17th :) We played basketball and soccer today.

(Brad shared two conversion stories that stand out to him)

I don't know.... There is one named John Lennon, and his brother is named Kevin. The mom is a convert for a year now, no dad in the picture. John, when we met him, was atheist, but when we taught him why repentance was necesary, and we had him read Alma 39, he started to cry and wanted more than anything to change. He was baptized with his brother in February, and he is the most repented, humble and God seeking person I know. I love that guy. Every time he sees me (he is about 6' 6") he hugs me and says "hola house, como estas?" (no one can pronounce my last name). I love that guy.

Norma was receiving the chats for a couple of months, but she wasn't sure and was scared of messing up after her baptism. She came to General Conference, and the message by the Argentinan 70 changed her mind, and she and her daughter got baptized together, I baptized her and Elder Larrea baptized her daughter, Lindaly!!

When the members bring people, they are all referrals. In this area, knocking on doors yields very few results, the members bring us people and we teach them and try to baptize them, and we usually suceed! :)

I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Howells

Week 85

My week ended a lot better than it started, but I miss Elder Larrea like crazy, I love that guy! I will get a new Bolivian ID, Hermana Hansen said the mission would cover it, thank goodness! And my new Comp is Elder Gumuccio, from Santa Cruz! He is a good guy, I've known him for a long time! We were friends before, but this transfer is only for 3 weeks, so we're gonna have to work like dogs to get everything taught to him! No, President hasn't told me anything, but based on how the transfers line up, I'll be having to leave this area at the end of the 3 weeks. I am happy though, because I feel like I've left the area better than when I found it! :)

Today was a good day too, we went to burger king and played basketball! :)  My favorite scripture of the week is Mosiah 3:19!

I hope you all have a great week!  Love, Elder Howells

Week 84 - Mothers Day & I got robbed

Hey pops, somebody robbed me and my whole wallet, so can you hurry and cancel my credit card so that they can't take any money out! I love you, talk to you later!  (That was the email Brad sent first thing Monday morning, I had to wait until later to find out if he was okay)

I'm good, just upset! ;) They only took 80 b's (Boliviano's; local currency), but I lost my Bolivian ID (200 b's to get replaced), my church insurance card, church and home credit cards, Temple Recommend, notes from you and mom, and my Sportsman's Warehouse frequent customer card (real upset about that one), and my pride, but that's okay!

We have a lot of appointments this week, so Elder Larrea will go home with a bang! :) The baptism was great, Javier is a special needs youth, mentally, and he was scared of the water, so the fifth time baptizing him was the charm.

We were able to Skype w/ Brad on Mothers Day.  It was so good to see and talk to him.  He is doing really well (other than getting robbed on Monday morning).  

Week 83

How are you?? :) This week was a hard week, a lot of doors and very very few answers, but we saw little miracles and tender mercies each day, which makes it all worth it. Today we played indoor volley ball, called wally, and then we went and ate, changed, and now we're here emailings. As far as calling on Mother's Day we haven't even found a computer to use yet, but we will email you during the week to let you know. It will probably be in the afternoon, I think!

Elder Larrea is pretty worn out (He has 2 weeks left), but giving it his all, which is admirable. And transfers are the Sunday after Mother's day, I don't know what day that would be!

I love you guys!  Talk to you on Sunday!

Week 82

My day has been good, I went and bought some souvenirs... It's weird that I'm to that point to buying stuff to take home. Then we went home, my comp took a shower and I accidentally fell asleep for two hours, and now we're here! ;) Elder Larrea is doing good, finishing strong! If these three planned baptisms for next Saturday happen, we will break records of baptisms together in two transfers for his whole mission!

That went on National news (The video below) and the newspaper. It was a holiday activity, and the stake president wasn't there for an interview, so, seeing as I'm ZL1, they made me do it, and then the clown wanted the one in charge, and the missionaries decided to shout my name, and there I was...


I hope you all have a great week.

Love, Elder Howells