Thanksgiving

This week was good! Honestly not to much happening here though. Elder Anderson went on exchanges with Elder Rose (the district leader) so Elder Rose's trainee came down here with me for a day earlier this week which was pretty fun. The day he was down here Elder Anderson's bike was out of commission so we were walking and we walked 7 miles! For those of you who are serving in/ have served in foreign missions that is probably a joke haha. But Elder Ball is in a car area and I usually bike if we are going that far so it was interesting. It could've been worse but that time we got back Elder Ball's feet were killing him. Then I told him some scary stories to freak him out before he went to bed haha (exchange traditions). 

We also had interviews with president Turner this week which was fun! The Georgetown Elders picked us up on their way and we rode with them and just messed around in the car for an hour which was a good time. The subject for interviews was personal studies which is good because I love personal studies! We just talked about what I study and he had a few suggestions for me. It was pretty straightforward. But at the end of the interview he told he me I seem like a happy missionary and asked why I'm always smiling haha. So I told him! I am in the service of the most powerful, loving being in the universe! I am participating in his work and can feel of his love! It is the center of the gospel and everyone needs to hear it! Why shouldn't I be smiling?? He said he was grateful for my outlook and that I am doing well! 

On a similar note I would like to talk about thanksgiving for just a minute. It is such a blessing to have this opportunity every year to reflect on our lives and give thanks. I would like to do that now! I am so grateful for my family. That I have such awesome and loving parents that have helped me become who I am. I am also eternally grateful from my friends. The have helped similarly shape me and mold me and give me the testimony I have. I am ever grateful for my Heavenly Father! Without his strength I would not be here. And I am grateful he loves us so much as to give us this gospel and this church! Through it we can find happiness in this life and gain eternal happiness and joy in the world to come! I love you all so much. I leave this testimony with you on the name of our loving brother and Savior Jesus Christ amen. I love you all and miss you so much! Have and amazing week! 

"That's where we are in a bit of a gray area"

"How gray"

"Charcoal"

Love Elder Dowell (2)

Hitting the streets

This week was pretty good! Relatively uneventful though. Elder Anderson has been having some bike problems so our choice to walk turned into us having to walk for a few days haha. But I think that was good for us! We got to talk to a lot of people on the street! It is pretty funny because when we knock on doors or try to contact people in most ways they reject us and aren't interested. But if we see them on the street they are more than happy to stop and talk to us! And most of the time when we talk with so,done that have something in their heads about Mormons that ain't right so we get to talk with them and straighten it out. A few times people have said " you worship Joseph Smith right?" And before I didn't know people really thought that! And in case anyone that reads this does think that I'd like to take a second to bear testimony of what we believe. 

When Jesus Christ was on the earth he set up his church the way God wanted it to be, with Christ at the head. And he has again established that church today! When we say are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it is because we know that Jesus Christ is the one leading this church today. He does that trough a modern prophet who acts as a mouthpiece and we sustain and love him very much. And I know that he is called of God. But we do not worship him. In sustaining him we show that we know he is talking us what the Lord would have him share and we know that he is acting for the Lord. Other than that not to much has happened this week! We got to split wood with a member and Elder Anderson almost broke the sledgehammer because he couldn't the wedge straight on! It was hysterical and the member i don't think will ever let him live it down. I love you all and miss you so much! I know and you should know that you are all loved sons and daughters of God, our Heavenly Father.

Have and amazing week!

"Your ego writes checks your body can't cash"

Elder Dowell (2)

Southern BBQ

This week was pretty good! A little uneventful though. A few pretty

cool things happened! We had a ward BBQ which was good! Southern BBQ

is darn good. There were a ton of leftovers so we have a freezer full

of goods which is always good! We were getting ready to leave and they

just said: "elders here take to leftovers" so that was pretty nice.

There was also a cake auction for the Boy Scouts which was pretty

funny! The auctioneer was a bigger member and one of the cake was an I

owe you cake from his wife and someone asked him how big the cake was

going to be and he rubbed his gut and said "oh it's real big" haha. We

had to step out for a minute because we were laughing so hard.

Other than that a few cool teaching moments! We were teaching our

investigator who we almost dropped because he wasn't progressing. But

we had a way cool lesson with him. The Spirit was tangible while we

were talking and he just clicked with what we were teaching! It was

pretty cool and we will see how that goes! And he also said he has so,e friends he wants us to teach so that will be good hopefully!

That is pretty much all that has happened this week. I though a lot

about that picture that everyone has seen a million times about the

Savior knocking at a door with no handle on the outside. He can't

force himself in, we have to let him in. And it is so true. The Lord

knows exactly what we are going through and loves each of us

perfectly. And he knows what we need and has the comfort and strength

for us! We just need to ask for it! He is literally waiting for Is to

humble ourselves and ask! I wasn't so sure of that before myself. But

I would not be here serving if he didn't have that strength for me

when I asked. I have felt a mere fraction of his love and know I can

never fathom it. I love you all and miss you so much! Have a great

week!

"How often does that come by?"

"So often you won't even notice"

(There are train tracks near our apartment that reminded me of that)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65lJGs7YC8

Elder Dowell (2)

Walking in Moncks Corner

This week was good! Nothing to crazy in Moncks Corner. We have been
sifting through our investigators because we had a list of like 30 and
I have still only met like 8 and so has Elder Anderson. So we have
been trying to visit all of them and figure out if they want to be
taught. 

Me and Elder Anderson started walking more this week. It gets
dark around 7 and people do not want to talk to us after dark. So we
decided that a few times a week we would walk and try and teach people
on the street and just be seen more. And it is working! One guy was
working at a car wash and came out and stopped us and asked about some
of our core beliefs and he was surprised that we believe a lot of the
same things. That is something I have really been trying to work on in
my teaching is focusing on similarities and drive from truths they
already know as opposed to starting with what makes us different. But
we left him with a picture of Jesus and told us we would love to come
study with him sometime and he said he might take us up! Another
gentleman stopped us and said "y'all are the ones with modern prophets
right?" And we explained to him that yes! That is us! And we are so
grateful that the a Lord has given us a messenger today! 

The last encounter was a gentleman stopped us and gave us some reading material
about the proper Sabbath so we talked about what we believed about the
Sabbath and gave him a picture of Jesus haha. Other than that just
trying to go find the sheep! There is a member here that loves the
missionaries and loves working with us and it was pretty funny this
week. We called him and asked him for a ride and his wife answered and
when we asked for him she yelled "Mark, it's your children". We just
about died laughing. 

I am so grateful for the people here in Moncks
Corner and the opportunity I have to serve. Every day I thank the Lord
for the love he shows and the strength he gives, it breaks my heart
when people don't want to talk to us because I want everyone to know
how much the Lord loves us. His loves is immeasurable and unending and
I would not be here serving him if it wasn't or I didn't know that. I
hope everyone has a great week!

"Ohana means family. And family means nobody is left behind."

Elder Dowell (2)

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