Keep on digging

 

Dear family and friends!

 

I don't know if I have said anything about Norwegians yet but we found this 19 year old kid named Nicklas from Norway. When we first met it seemed to good to be true. But now I know it's true! Like most Scandinavians the word of wisdom(health code revealed from the lord to the prophet) is a little bit difficult to follow. But with the known fear of how difficult it would be, he promised to follow the commandments. I know for a surety that if it were not for the love of our savior there would be no reason for his change. He came with us to church this week and just loved it. Good thing I was speaking in church so I could speak about things he needed to hear.

 

This week we also had interviews with president. He is an amazing man. He helped me understand the importance in studying the important things. As missionaries we study a lot! More than that we study the same things every day. So at times we spend our time studying things that are not really important at the moment and we lose the precious time we had to study and increase our ability as missionaries. President reminded me of the story of the wise man and the foolish man. It says that he dug deep! And built his house upon a rock! Even know we might have read the Book of Mormon countless times already. We need to dig deeper and deeper!

 

This week I had to renew my residency here in Spain so I got to see a lot of sweet faces including my last companion. The mission truly is the best! I have such sweet relationships with such great people!

 

I love ya all!

 

Love, 

Elder Owens

Rain, rain go away, come again another day

Dear family and friends,

 

Have you ever blinked passed a week? Well if you haven't, go on a mission!

 

This last Monday we decided to go check out the carnivals! Let's just say that safety codes are a little bit different here in Spain. Towards the back of the fair there was the classic Viking ship ride but with a twist! At each end of the ship there was a cage... no straps, no nothing. Just a cage with 6 people crammed inside. Not to mention this thing comes apart and fits in a truck to be taken to other places in the country. I'm pretty sure I saw a few people leave with blood on their shirt.

 

This Friday is rained!! It was the 2nd time I had to use an umbrella in over a year!! Unfortunately Spanish people are afraid of the rain so there was nobody on the streets. But you know what that means! They were all in their houses! Haha!

 

This week we also had Zone meeting! The zone leaders are really good at getting us animated! We are focusing on finding new investigators! Something I have learned is that our father in Heaven is working so hard with each of us! He is doing his best to prepare each person to hear this wonderful gospel! What we need to do as missionaries is show the faith and trust that the Lord will guid us to those who are ready.

 

I wish to speak about being organized and clean. I have seen many houses here in Spain. I have seen clean ones and not so clean ones. But every now and again we get the apocalypse house, where it looks like the house has gone through world war 3, zombies, and a nuclear bomb. I know that the spirt cannot dwell in a dirty unorganized place. The same goes with an area. If you do not utilize all the tools given to you, he area can become unorganized and people can be forgotten. It is so important to show the lord that you treasure the blessings you have received. I know the Savior lives and he is watching what we do with the things we have and the blessings he has given.

 

I hope you all have an amazing week!

 

Love, 

Elder Owens

owens.christopher@myldsmail.net

Are you willing to take up your cross?

 

Dear family and friends!

 

The Carnival is here!! I am now no longer in awe at the amount of partying that goes down here in Spain. It was just a normal afternoon when out of the blue we saw this lady in a flamenca dress, at first we were just thinking it was a crazy lady but it turns out that almost every single lady in the town of Fuengirola was wearing these dresses. 

 

We had a family home evening this week with a Bolivian family! They invited some of their non Mormon friends to come and meet us. It was a little awkward at first because the family didn't mention that there would be missionaries there, but good thing my companion is a funny guy so the ice was broken pretty fast.

 

On my free time(the 20min after eating) I have been reading Jesus The Christ. Wow... is that a great book.... but as I was reading it spoke a little about when Jesus told his disciples to "take up your cross and follow me". It hit me... to be converted to this gospel we need to be willing to literally give up everything. There is no mark to reach, no certain amount of points to score. We need to give give everything and follow Him. There might be just one thing we are not willing to give up... but that will be our downfall.

 

Something that has really helped me is sincere prayer. Really praying to my father who loves me. Someone who listens and answers. When was the last time you prayed on your knees out loud telling your father everything! Also reading the scriptures! Someone smarter than me said, "praying is how we talk with God and the scriptures is how God talks with us." I invite you all to do the simple things! Read and pray.

 

I love you all!

 

Love, 

Elder Owens