Busy Week

Hello Everyone,

I am doing pretty good. This last week was pretty fun. Nothing too exciting happened. On Tuesday we just taught member lessons, but then on Wednesday my companion and I stopped by a less active member's home. The week before when we had been on exchanges my companion challenged him to find someone to be taught in a week, but he never told me that he set up a return appointment. When we got there, the members asked us to come in and sit down. He then told us his friend was coming over in ten minutes. We had scheduled our dinner appointment at the same time. So, I called the home where we were supposed to have dinner. In the end my companion went with another missionary to teach the new investigator and I ended up going to dinner by myself. It was really weird.

Then sadly our investigator dropped his baptismal date for Saturday because he said that he wasn't ready. That was frustrating, but he did come to another baptism on Saturday so that was good. Another one of our investigators also came to that baptism as well. She is from the Caribbean and she is good friends with another investigator we have. We taught them both yesterday the Plan of Salvation and it was interesting because they both understand it. When I invited them to be baptized the newer investigator said no. I asked if she understood that our church is the only church that has authority, and she said she doesn't. The other investigator does but she said that she doesn't want to join the Church until her family knows about it so she's not even baptized and shes already being a missionary!

Last night we went to a fireside where President Archibald spoke. These investigators came and Sister Archibald's talk made the newer investigator cry as she felt the spirit.

That was pretty much our week. Oh and something crazy happened last night. I went to bed and then I woke up at 3 in the morning in our living room in our recliner chair! It freaked me out!

The usual time one stays in an area here in my mission is about 4 and half months. Also, not always, but usually when someone is training a new missionary, they are together for three months, and both of these factors are what has happened with me, so I am thinking I will be transferred next week, but I will let you know. So, that means that I will write on Tuesday next week rather than Monday.

I didn't know how you knew that Harriet's husband is related to Elder Welling until you told me you posted the picture of him on my blog. I am going to send out Christmas cards to my friends and family, so if you can get some addresses for me, that would be great.

I love you all!

Elder Dowd

A Better Week!

Hello,

The car above is the one I was driving when I crashed into the sisters car.

Sounds like you all had a crazy week! This past week was pretty good, we set a date with a former investigator and he is getting baptized on the 22nd. We also picked up a new investigator yesterday from Camaroon.

We had Stake Conference yesterday and it was really great. It felt like I was at General Conference.

We went on an exchange this week and we went out to Nobleford - home of the Noble Blade! (From Wikipedia: A major employer in Nobleford from the 1930s to 1998 was a cultivator factory established by Charles Noble, manufacturing variations of the Noble blade. This reduced-tillage plow was designed to cut weed roots below the soil surface without greatly disturbing the soil, thus minimizing moisture loss in the dry, windy climate of southern Alberta.)




Other than that nothing too eventful has happened. Oh I got a Flames Jersey for 40$ -- it's pretty nice.




These are the highlights of my week. I am sending some pictures as well. I love you all very much and I pray for you every night. The Gospel has been restored!

Love, Elder Dowd



Elder Welling - he trained Elder Crowther - who trained me!



Anyone down there????



P-day fun!



Karate Kid???

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello everybody,

Wow, that is crazy that Tanner and Christian leave for their missions tomorrow! I think that is about the last of my friends to be leaving, well Kade is going in a couple months I think.

Well, yesterday was our P-day, but the libraries were closed because it was Thanksgiving in Canada. We got invited to a dinner and they gave us enough leftovers that we fed our whole District lunch today!

This past week was pretty good we went golfing on p day. We went to the bridge and took pictures. It rained a lot this week and we had car inspections. Right after car inspections I hit the sisters car, so now I am not allowed to drive anymore the rest of my mission. :( No one was hurt, but it was pretty embarrassing. The sisters weren't even in their car.

That's fun that you (we) got a new Bishopric. I'm glad you could have had a good week. Because Thanksgiving was yesterday, and it was very strange because now I am in a Christmasy mood!

I really am thankful for you all and for all that you do. I guess the biggest news was that I hit a car.

Mom, To answer those questions:

Weather- It is not snowing yet -- it's like 10 degrees outside

Companion- Elder Roberts is doing good. He is kinda shy.

Ward- We try to involve the Wards with everything that we do so we work with the members to find people to teach. We bring them to investigator lessons and we try to reactivate less active members and a lot of times they have non member friends.

Meals- The members feed us when we can get them to sign our dinner calendar. They feed us pretty general foods. On Sunday nights there is a family from Tonga and they feed all the missionaries Hawaiian donuts that they sell so we get fed alright. All I eat at home is toast with Nutella for the most part. This past week I also had crackers and hummus. I try not to eat too much, so just light meals at home.

That's really all that has been going on or that I can answer I guess.

I love you all. I know that this Church is true.

Love Elder Dowd

I Loved Conference

Hello Everybody,

Conference was great! I really enjoyed the Saturday morning session. It was exciting to see Brother Richardson speak yesterday. I was sitting by our Zone Leaders and I told them I knew him.

It sounds like you are all having fun and learning and growing. I have been out for eight months now -- it has gone by incredibly fast. This past week was good -- we had a referral from a family ward and we had a nice lady come to conference who wants to meet with us this week. Also we got a referral from the Cardston Elders and some of our former prospects are starting to look up.

President Archibald promised us all that we will get a baptism for each Ward we cover in October so this will help in the miracles and be sweet to see. We had a leadership training meeting last week from 9-6 and it was really long. I kept track of how many comments Elders were making because some of the Elders just say things for brownie points, so that was fun. There was an elder in our Zone that made 27 comments! I made 8 and one of them was a question that President specifically asked me. But the good thing about that meeting was that I got to see Elder Crowther! So that was nice. We ate lunch together. That was fun.

I hope that you all have a good week. I sure love you all!

Love, ELder Dowd

PS Mom I wouldn't mind getting my friends letters. I will do what Rick does and take pictures of the email with my camera and read later.

Looking Forward to Conference

Hello,

That's so crazy that Tanner is leaving soon. Did Christian Peterson have a farewell? Has anyone else gotten mission calls?

Not much else happened this week, we had some non members show up to each of our Wards yesterday. We are teaching two of them this week.

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Tomorrow is Leadership Training meeting and I get to go, and I am excited because Elder Crowther will be there! Other than that it's the same old stuff. But conference is this week I am very excited for it. I turn 8 months on Sunday. Its' crazy how fast time has been flying.

I am glad you are feeding the missionaries there. Feed them something different like Mexican food, your hidden cheeseburgers or your Shepard's pie. I really miss your Shepard's pie Mom. People feed us lots of different things. Here in the YSA area we get lots of different things because most of the people feeding us are returned missionaries and they try to feed us something different.

I love you all and I am sorry that the emails are not very long. I am praying for all of you. I hope all goes well this week. I love you too!

Love Elder Dowd

Richie is on Mormon.org




Im American and I'm a Mormon.

About Me
I like sports and i dont care who knows. I enjoy playing basketball and water polo and also enjoy all sorts of music be it gangster rap country music or jazz. My greatest accomplishment would have to be getting second place in a lip synching contest. I like being outdoors and i also like being inside when its cold.


Why I am a Mormon
I was fortunate enough to be born into this church and i have always known it is true. When i was a child i taught myself to read from the Book of Mormon and i have had countless reaffirmations to me that it is true. I know by the power of the holy ghost that becuase the Book of Mormon is true Joseph Smith translated it by the power of God and that he reestablished the Church of Jesus Christ by that same power. This means that the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true and living Church on the earth today.


How I live my faith
I live my faith by trying to follow Jesus Christ. I do my best to follow him at all times not just on Sunday, and i try to think of how he would treat and think of others around me and i try to do the same, so for that reason i am currently serving a mission and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

District Changes

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! I am doing really good. Today is transfers. There are a lot of changes happening in the zone. Our district leader is going home and his companion is leaving. Sisters will be replacing them. Also, we have another missionary coming into the district in a threesome companionship, so things will be really different in the district.

Other then that not much has changed. We picked up a new investigator on Sunday. This person is from another religion and has some interesting ideas. They also have a different version of the Bible. When we asked them to look up a scripture it was really interesting because the verse was different. We try and do work through the members, but this investigator was street contacted by some other Elders. We try not to go tracting if we don't have too, because it is the least effective activity that we could be doing in this particular assignment with YSA.

We go to 3 wards. We have one at 11 and the other two are at 1:00. These two alternate so one does Priesthood while the other has Sacrament Meeting for first meeting. Mom asked how many discussions we do a week and we try to do 20. We do not have dinner appointments often because of it being YSA, and that gives you opportunities to get more referrals and teaching, but we make every effort to do all we can. But, this week and next week we actually do have dinner appointments set up.

Sister Bybee's niece is in my ward - Brother Kyle's daughter.

That is exciting news about Chris getting his Eagle this week. Tell him congratulations and I will sent a note for you to give him. Also, exciting Nickie finally agreed to go on a date when asked! Wow, Tanner's and Christian's farewells - wish them luck. They will be great. Also, that's great that Jeremy is coming home from his mission in Hawaii. You will be busy going to all these meetings this weekend.

Other then that not much is going on. I was sick for a little bit this last week and so I had to stay in for an afternoon and rest. Elder Roberts is doing great and he is a lot farther along in his first transfer then I was. I should have enough money for what I need. I had to buy medicine last week, but I should be good.

We are off to play dodge ball. I sure love you all and I know that this church is true.

Love Elder Dowd

Looking Forward to a Great Week!

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week was pretty normal. We picked up a brand new investigator this week living here from Zimbabwe. At church all three wards are now separated so we were busy all day yesterday! It was good though.

We got a referral from the Cardston Elders for a young man who just came back to Lethbridge this week so we should start teaching him. Other than that not a lot has changed. I am really looking forward to this week because I am expecting it to be a great week. We have some new people to teach, the students are all back, and I have faith that it will be a good, productive week.

Today we are actually going golfing. All of the Elders are able to go for free, so that should be a lot of fun.

This is the fifth week of the transfer so next week we find out who is coming and who will be leaving the zone. I feel like Elder Crowther will come and be a Zone Leader here because one of ours is going home (fingers crossed).

I am glad to hear that things are going good at home. I know that everything that we are all going through is so that we can learn and grow. When we stretch ourselves its not always comfortable. but it will be worth it. I can't think of anything else corny to say. I am sorry that I don't have much to say back to you every week.

I love you.

Love, Elder Dowd