The Best Week EVER...

Dearest family and friends!

There are always those few signs of the coming of winter.   First, it
gets cold outside... Next you wake up with an upset stomach because of
all the food you ate the night before. Finally, you have to blow your
nose 200,000,000,000 times each day because everything is dying. All
in all, probably my favorite time of year.

This past week a few things happened that were note worthy... We had a
Cosecha in Elche, which means that all of the missionaries in our
district (12 missionaries) all got together and focused on a small
area where 1 companionship is and contacted as many people as possible
to set a base for them. Also we had an intercambio(missionary
exchanges) with our zone leaders! Because I am the only one who is
allowed to drive the car, I always have to say in Crevillente for
intercambios.  So anyway, I went on an intercambio with Elder Johnson,
he is a truly unique person. He works harder than most missionaries
and is always happy. He is constantly saying things like..

"This week has been the best week in all the weeks I have ever lived!
Ever!"-Elder Johnson
"Elder Owens you are the best missionary I have ever met in my
life"-Elder Johnson
"Elder Wagner is the best missionary I have ever met in my life"-Elder Johnson
"That lesson that we just taught was the best lesson ever!"-Elder Johnson

You get the point... He is an amazing Elder.

We contacted so many people this week! In Spain there are always
people on the streets! It's like New York City in every pueblo! Our
goal this week was to contact 100 people in a day. Most of them didn't
want to listen but at least we felt good that we tried!

During the intercambio Elder Johnson made smoothies! Unfortunately he
left the fruit out so the next morning there was a ton of fruit flys.
I didn't really want to throw out the trash so it sat there for a few
days... Not my best decision, because this morning when cleaning the
piso there was an army of fruit flies, I'm talking like 200 fruit
flies, not even kidding, in the kitchen. So I grabbed the garbage
closing it, trapping 50 fruit flies in the pressed and ran it to the
elevator to go down and throw the trash out side. But when we got
into the elevator the trash bag opened, letting free all the fruit
flies. That 20 seconds of being trapped in an elevator was one of the
scariest things I have ever witnessed.

We had Thanksgiving with our bishop this week and had a great tasting
turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy and rice. It was a great effort for
people who don't even celebrate that holiday.

Today for P-day we went to the mall to shop for sheets for the beds. I'm glad we finally got to it because I have been using the same pillow and blanket that I'm pretty sure missionaries have been using for 50 years. We also had some KFC, which is actually pretty expensive here.

I can't believe it was almost a year ago I talked with my bishop to start my paperwork to leave on a mission. I am so thankful I did and prepared myself to leave. This is the most amazing work on the planet! I truly hope those that are able to start their papers do so and choose to serve the Lord for 18-24 months! I am so thankful for my Savior and His example.

I love you all
Elder Owens