Weekly Letter

Hello Family,

Sounds like everyone had a lot of fun this past week! Happy Birthday Dad and Brian. You're old! 50!

Not too much exciting stuff happened this week. Sorry, I don't really have much to say. Yesterday was Fast Sunday here because of Conference. Today we are going to play basketball. Thanks for the message from Carl Mom! That cracked me up. Tell him I love him too. A lot of people from here are going down for conference and have asked me if I want to send something or have them get something.

I met a man named Lynn Rosenvall and he knows Grandpa Turley. He also said he is going to be a speaker at the conference that Uncle Rick is coming up to Calgary for in June. Other than that not too much has been happening. We were supposed to teach a native boy this last week but he dodged us. We have a lot of prospects, but we are having a hard time helping the members invite them, but we are working hard and having fun.

Elder Staley and I got pranked by the zone leaders last P-day (the snow) so we went and switched everything in their apartment to get them back it was pretty funny because they thought that it was the Assistants that did it so they didn't even know it was us until we told them. That was about all that I can remember we did last week.

Our Stake's high councilor over missionary work is taking us to Waterton on Thursday so that should be a lot of fun (National Park in Southwest Alberta). I can't think of much else. We got fed a lot of chicken this past week. I think everyone has clued into the fact that we get fed a lot of roast and potatoes so now everyone is making us chicken. If you have any questions just ask!

I love you all. The church is true!

Love, Elder Dowd

Snow, Prank, Basketball and Church

This morning in Cardston. Snowstorm and a little help from some friends!

Hello!

I am doing pretty good. Yeah, I talked to Sister Leavitt yesterday and she told me she talked to you and will meet you this weekend. She also asked if there was anything that I wanted from the states and the only thing that I could think of were jalapeno chips and your no bake cookies that you make. If there's anything else that's small that you want to send I'm pretty sure she would be willing to bring it back. Hope you had a good birthday Mom, and Dad, I hope that you and Brian have a good birthday as well.

Not a lot happened in Cardston missionary wise this last week. I had to go to a training in Lethbridge on Tuesday. That was fun and I was able to see some missionary friends. Then on Wednesday, I held a District Meeting. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the Alberta provincial basketball tournament came to town so it was really busy. The Cardston boys won the tournament and it's the first time in 58 years they have won so that was all that was discussed in Church the next day. The Elders in the other stake told us that someone gave a talk on just the game and didn't quote any scriptures or any doctrine. But he did quote Larry Bird and Magic Johnson!


Cardston High Basketball Team - Provincial Tournament Champions 2012

Last Monday Mom I met a man named Dale Pilling who served in your mission the same time you did. He's from here but he lives in Sacramento now. That was about all that happened this week.

I guess to answer your questions about Elder Staley we are getting along great! I would put him in my top 3 for companions, so we are having fun and all is well.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that it snowed last night and this morning we woke up to our car being covered in snow, someone (I'm pretty sure the other Elders in Cardston pranked us!)


This was fun to dig out!



Cardston Temple



Me in front of temple!



Elder Staley in front of temple!

Hope you like the pictures I sent!

Love YA,
Elder Dowd

Elder Dowd's new companion, Elder Staley from Idaho

Hello friends and family,

This week has been really nice weather and we have been walking everywhere. It did snow yesterday for five minutes, but it all melted.

Elder Staley is pretty sweet. I'm liking him a lot. He wants to get out and work hard but have fun too so I think I will enjoy our companionship.

Sounds like everyone else is having a good time. I hope that everyone is still doing well. I hope you have a good birthday this week mom!

Other than that not too much has been happening. Oh yea, Cardston is hosting the provincial basketball tournament. We can't go to the games, but there will be lots of people in town and we hope to be able to talk to many.

Here are some pictures - Elder Staley in our house; Me in front of the temple.




We were asked to bear our Testimonies in the Leavitt ward yesterday and I met the Cahoons finally. We started teaching this girl who just turned 9 and she came to church this Sunday which was good. So things should start picking up.

The Church is true, the Book is Blue, and I know it!

Love Ya!
Elder Dowd

Staying in Cardston!

Hello Family and Friends,

I am so sad to hear Grandma has been so sick and in the hospital. Please let her know I am praying for her and hope she gets well soon. Tell her I love her. Hope Dad gets well soon too.

It is transfer week which is why I am writing on Tuesday. We just got back from the Temple which was very nice. I am staying in Cardston, but Elder Anderson is getting transferred. My new companion's name is Elder Staley. That's about all I know about him. I have a really good feeling about him and the work we will do together.

Sounds like a lot has been happening this week. Not too much happened here in Cardston this last week. We had a lot of appointments cancel and that has been trying, but we have been seeing miracles as well. I have felt both of us being guided by the spirit.

Mom, you said you thought it might be hard serving here in Cardston because of so many LDS, but actually it is a lot easier because we have all the members addresses, we know exactly who is not LDS! People are so good to us here. A sister at church on Sunday handed both Elder Anderson and me a $50 bill.

I hope you enjoy working with the mission prep class mom, you should show all the prospective Elders page 162 from Preach My Gospel and have them all set a date to have someone taught by the missionaries, that would be the best mission prep for them.

That's really about all that I have to share I hope that's ok.

I sure love you all and tell Nickie Happy 19th Birthday tomorrow!

Love Elder Dowd