Week 59 - Thanksgiving

This week was much better! I have a bunch of pictures uploading to dropbox right now so you can see what we did today! Anyway, on Saturday I baptized a kid named Abnel, who was an investigator of the sister missionaries in our ward. I also did his baptismal interview, and one other this week. And I have one more on Wednesday for Elder Crosby (Brad's MTC Companion) and his comp, so that's cool! We went on splits on Sunday so we could visit more people, I enjoyed that. Oh, that kid who got baptized, he showed up 2 hours late to his own baptism like it was nothing. We were all wigging out. I thought the sisters were going to hurt him, lol.  I threw up again on Thursday, which sucked, but I felt a lot better afterwards.  Last year we saw Elder Godoy of the 70 for Thanksgiving time, if I remember right. This week, no, the first days of next week Elder Falabella is coming to the mission. We will have zone conferences, and he will host a Leadership Council, and I'll be able to be there, which is going to be so awesome. Pres. Hansen already does such a good job, I can't imagine it with a General Authority. Elder Bednar came to the mission last last October while I was in the MTC, and he also did the Leadership Council. I can't wrap my mind around how that was. #scary. This year, I don't think we'll be doing anything for Thanksgiving. Unless Pres. takes us out to eat, which is possible.  And the place we went to for pday today is called incachaka, like the rainforest. That's the first time I've been to a jungle. So many mosquitos I think one time is enough ;)

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Howells

Week 58 - Sick

The entire Bolivian population thinks that World War III will happen because Ol'Donald is in office. They say they'll never get to the States, that he'll send fire to Bolivia. It's hilarious. They all wanted Hillary.  Today was a good day, yesterday wasn't. I was kinda sick. A lot sick.  So, I've had better ;) I am good right now, just a little weak, so I'm taking it easy. That 24 hour sickness just drained the life out of me, I could barely talk. I wanted to be taken out back and put out of my misery.  I couldn't even drink or eat anything yesterday. I would try to drink like an inch of water and I threw up 3 times. And yeah, I am taking it way easy. I ate a taco on the corner, I think that's what did it. I'm not doing that again, lol. The Bolivian people are pretty anti-American, which stinks. They don't have a clue how much better it is up north. And I think, well, I hope my investigators are good. I really couldn't tell you, which isn't good. We had a couple of lessons on Saturday, which was nice. But nothing too much. It's a bummer. But, this week oughta be better.

In two weeks Elder Falabella will come do a mission tour, which will be sweet. Me and my comp have to translate 2 of his talks to distribute to the mission. So that'll be cool.

I hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Howells

Week 57

Today was a good day, we went and played indoor volleyball, went to a buffet, and now we're here at the mission offices emailing. We had 5 investigators come to church, which was awesome. A good week. I tried learning Portugese, but I stopped. Spanish and Quechua first, lol. Welp, President just called us about a minute ago and told us that someone is going home.... Sometimes I hate the offices. It's hard to hear stuff like this. This week shouldn't be anything crazy. No councils, no meetings out of the ordinary, all good :) Just regular office work.

And my scripture this week would be Alma 26:35 - Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

I love this scripture, Ammon is talking to his brothers and his brethren.

I love you all; have a great week!

Week 56 - Transfers

This week was awesome!!! It was transfer week, AND we got to have 9 lessons! So sweet. That's more lessons than we've had in any of the other 7 weeks. In Colón we would have like 35-40 easy in a week. So, 9 lessons is awesome. :) The investigators are well, but we are still trying to get a chance to surprise chat their dad. A work in progress. Today we had the SCARE BOWL. The majority of the gringos got together and we had a football game. I had two touchdowns and a pick, with some dancing that was not before know of me. I'm impressed with myself.

(I asked Brad if he was dressing up for Halloween :) and if he drives a car at all now that he's in the office) And no, I am in p day clothes if that counts. Lol. And no, the only people who drive in the mission is president and his wife, nobody else. I told president that I would drive for him, but he said no thanks with a laugh. So, that got shot down.  The fastest anyone goes, literally, would probably be less than 40 miles per hour. You literally can not go faster, the roads and the culture don't allow it. That's why it takes 18 hours to get to Tupiza, not 5 like it would back home. And they have copied halloween a little bit, they call it todos santos. It means "all saints". The South American culture is so Catholic, they worship saints a lot, so much so that they dance, drink, have week long festivals, worship, pray to the saints. And Bolivia is one of the heavier countries in that respect. So their halloween revolves around "all the saints".

I love you all!

Have a great week and Happy Halloween!

Week 55 - No P-day this week

Monday's Email:

Hi, how are all of you? :)

Alright, so yesterday were the transfers, 14 people are going home and 22 new guys are coming... President and Sister Hansen have told us that we don't have P Day today (we have been working in the office all morning), but we will be able to make a half p-day during the week. So I am just sending you guys this email to let you know that I wont be able to write back today, but I think on Thursday I will be there! I love you guys all so much! You are the best and I don't know what I would do without each and every one of you guys :) :) Stay tuned, I will write like a robber in the night when it becomes possible, so be prepared. I love you guys so much,

Elder Howells

Thursday's Email:

Howdy,
How are you? Happy P-day ;)
I have been crazy busy. But now, the transfers are all over! In my district are Elder Crosby (Brad's CCM Companion), his new comp who he just started to train, and Hermana King, and her new comp who she just started to train. I'm a dad twice now. Lol. My investigators are really good, but we haven't been able to talk to their dad, which stinks, so they still aren't on track because we can't get the dad's permission. I hope you've had an awesome week up till now! 

I love you!

Week 54 - Deotero

Hey pops, how are you? :) I have had an awesome week, full of good things. We also had some great lessons yesterday. Here's a sad story - during the first session on Sunday Morning, a gal in our ward came to us and told her that her brother was in the hospital and that he was dying, so she asked us to give him a blessing. We went, Elder Coronado annointed, I sealed and blessed, and I felt no reason, no prompting to say, be healed, I just felt that he needed peace as he painfully was slipping into the Spirit World. So, that is what I blessed him with. Yesterday, the same Sister came to us, and asked us to visit her brother again. We went, and he was in a bad way. His son, my age, was worried to death, trying everything to keep his Dad awake, gentely carresing his face and fanning him to keep him cool, without tiring. The dad asked us what he needed to do to be okay. We taught him about repentance. He thought about it while suffering failing lungs and heart and the associated side effects, and we helped him find peace with his questions. That was the worst, but at the same time the best experience of my mission. To see someone, someone who was haunted by his past, about to enter the next life, scared to death. To see the sweet fruits of the repentance that he was attempting, helping him understand that the Grace of Christ will cover him, after all that he could first do. Then, to leave, knowing that I won't see him alive again, was hard, but at the same time rewarding. He was trembling with pain, his body was spasming due to the organ failure, and his family emotionally heartbroken. However, that one visit taught me more life lessons that I could've hoped for. We have to live our lives in a way so as to be at peace in these moments of trial. Stand in holy places, choose the right, be just and fair to all, loving others, sharing testimonies, and doing all that is praiseworthy and of good report. If done, we will be able to slip into an eternal rest with faith and with hope, knowing that we've done our best, repenting when needed, helping always, and having lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That visit, I have no doubt, was a blessing that the Lord had in store for me. The man's name was Deotero.

I planted 10 pumpkin plants in my front yard about a month ago, and they should grow pumpkins in the next month, so that's exciting. 

I love you all!  Have a great week.

Elder Howells

This family are members of the Colon Ward in Cochabamba

Brad and his companion

Brad's Pumpkin Patch!

Week 53

This week was quite trunky/home-longing, but still really good. We got a lot done. We had an excellent zone conference, got a bunch of office work done, and on Saturday and Sunday we were able to proselyte. Schweet. The weather is supposed to be heating up but it has been clowdy and rainy for most of the time. Today we played basketball (I played all time D), then we went to a Peruvian Restaurant in my old ward, and now I'm writing. The work is good, we have 2, maybe three investigators with a date for the 29th of October. Whoot whoot. It is true, field work is so much better than office work.

Week 52 - 1 Year Down!

Well, today was a good day, we played basketball. My D game is still strong, but my offensive game has taken a serious blow in this one year offseason I've had. So, I don't contribute a whole lot to my team, but I suppose A for effort. ;) 

I loved general conference! I think my favorite talk, or most powerful for me was by Elder Rasband. You can tell of the conviction of his words, and also by President Nelson, who spoke on joy. I am a believer in the primary scripture he shared, and I think if we could all keep that attitude, life wouldn't be the ¨burden¨ that we sometimes mistakenly take it to be. 

This week was good. I really enjoyed, a lot, lot, lot of work in the offices, a leadership council, and I had to give a powerpoint presentation in front of all of the zone leaders in the mission and the sister leaders (there are 30 of them), the assistants, and President and Sister Hansen. This was Thursday morning. So that was fun. lol. Then the conferences were a huge spiritual recharge that I needed. The offices, where there is almost no study time or proselyting time are not a very spiritual orienting place, but the conference was awesome and gave me what I needed. 

HUMP DAY BABY, BOOM (Hump Day is your one year mark). One hump down, one to go!

I love you all.  Have a great week!

Week 51

This week was really good! We did some proselyting, well... as much as we could given the circumstances. And it rained, for like an hour, thank goodness. It's been cooler these days, which is weird... considering that summer is about to start. I think the four of us are going to stick together for conference. It should be cool, I am really really excited for conference. Elder Wren (Brad's second companion from Southern California) told me about the game (Utah vs. USC), I don't know how he knows, but I am thrilled. I even sang the fight song for my comps. ;) I miss this time of the year, I really do, I tell ya, I really do. A year ago tomorrow I gave my farewell talk... How do you feel about that.....?

Have an awesome week and enjoy General Conference, listen with your spiritual ears, and have the best week ever.

 Love, Elder Howells

Week 50 - The Office

My first week was good, stressful but good. I really do enjoy it, it's cool. My comp is the immigrations secretary and I am the records secretary. I'm responsible for all of the baptism records, references, english and spanish tests, listing and filing the names of all of the converts and rescue in the mission (like 300 people) up to now, and President has given me two projects. But I already finished one of them, thank goodness. This is probably my favorite area... the 4 secretaries live in a house, and we have so much fun. It's me, Elder Tatum (my comp) from California, Elder Jorgensen from Idaho, and Elder Coronado from Nicaragua. Those guys are awesome, I love my new job.

My new area is like two blocks from my old area.... But in another zone. The office lies in the Colón Ward limits. So I have not gone far. We have a couple of investigators. Tomorrow I don't think I'll leave the office. We will go to the temple way early in the morning, then after I give a district class, and then I have a lot and a lot and a lot of paperwork to do. But today we have a family home evening at 7:00 so we'll go to do that tonight!!

I love you all, have a great week!

Week 49 - Transfer Time

I've been transfered as one of the four Secretaries of the Mission and I stay as a District Leader... My comp is named Elder Tatum, he is way tall and I think from California, a really good guy. Elder Coloma is receiving a Mexican companion who is really a stellar guy who should help Elder Coloma out a lot. The other secretaries pick me up tonight, we will live in another city, but we work in the Mission Offices, where you guys label the packages to send them. That's my building. I have my own computer and desk and chores. I have to pick up the new people that get here, help with their immigrations, log baptismal records, make the mission digital and not electronic, and all that jazz.

My last week with Elder Coloma was good, we worked as hard as his body would allow, we had good sucess, and I feel like I've left Colón in a better way than when I got here. I am 100% satisfied with my time here.

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Week 48 - Good Friends

Here are some excerpts from Brad's email on Monday.

I have found that my patience with people has grown incredibly, but with inatimate objects, it has drastically shrunk. Our cellphone makes me wanna jump off a bridge sometimes. I get mad at doors, locks, pens, I'm a wreck. :)

Katherine and I are out of town on a photography workshop, hence the following comment and of course he is aware of a particular football game this weekend.  I'm not sure who told him :) Bolivia has some great photo elements, but also a lot of robbers, so, a win lose situation out here. I think the Utes should win, I'll pray for them.

My week was good, nothing too special. I made my comp have another interview with Pres., we worked hard this week, we did splits like 3 times, but it was worth it. We have a lot of new investigators that listen and read and all that, but they don't come to church. It's tough sometimes.

And this week we have a lot of appointments, a baptsimal interview this Wednesday for the assistants, and transfers next Sunday. Tomorrow is 11 months, a fat inch away from you folks, and time is flying. I am ready for a transfer, I wanna explore the country... ;)  Time goes by really fast, I'm serious. And this next transfer is one year and a little. That's crazy. That's when everyone really says that time really begins to fly by.  It's probable that I stay here, but then again, I could very well head out to Potosi or Sucre, Who knows? 

And my scripture this week is Mosiah 28:3. It really urges the members to help the missionaries with the work

Katherine asked Brad to share a spiritual experience.  This paragraph makes it all worth it....

I would say that while out here, in the humblest place in South America, sometimes it seems like the humblest place in the world, I have gained an understanding of really how and where the Savior walked. Especially after my time in Quiriza. To live there, you step out of our world, and back many centuries to a simpler life. Working hand in hand with the people taught me a greater lesson in humility and charity than I think I could've learned any place else, or in any other way. I have grown closer to God in these short 11 months than the 18 years previously, and I would not trade it for anything else in the world. Words can't express it, you just have to live it and love every minute of it, good or bad. And there really aren't any truly bad minutes.

This picture is of Brad and a good friend Steve Adamson who was in Cochabamba this week on business.  He knew Brad was there but had no idea where he was and Brad literally walked in front of Steve.  They had a nice chat and Steve gave he and his comp some money for a nice dinner.  We are so grateful to Steve, he has taken down packages for us and has been so kind to Brad.  I guess he doesn't hold anything against me for being his Jr. Jazz Coach :)