Week 12

August 2, 2022

Cool week 12. Lets see. So the initial excitement is starting to wear off as I'm settling in to the routine and such. This is good because I don't have learn so many new things and i can focus on the work at hand. I've loved getting updates from my friends and being able to know what's new in their lives. I always love pdays when I'm able to chat over messanger a little bit (or a lot). We've had a pretty good week. We have a baptism sceduled for Saturday so thats super cool. We've been able to find some new people to teach so that's always nice. This next week is packed full of appointments with members and teaching appointments. So this next week will be super good. Exhausting, but that means we're doing it right . I'm starting to understand what it means to see people through Gods eyes. Personaly, i have a message that has brought so much happiness into my life, and i have such a desire to share this happiness with others, just like Lehi when he partook of the fruit of the tree of life in his dream. He knew of the goodness thereof and was desirous to share this with others. Unfortunately, there are those who don't understand, those who dont care, or those who wont put in the effort, like Laman and Lemuel. I work and work unto the aching of my body and my soul, trying to share how we can reach this happiness, because we all can. We have all the steps I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE... But they don't understand that the atonement of Jesus Christ heals all. Christ went below all of us so he could lift us up. Read Matthew 11: 28-30. Right now. Yes you too. What does Christ ask? What does Christ offer? He asks we come unto him. And he offers us rest. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ that if you draw unto him, and you offer up your hardest trials, He.. will.. give.. you.. rest. And you WILL find happiness. You just have to work for it. Don't fall for Satan's lie, that you are content, that you deserve to be punished, that you are not loved. You are a child of God, and he loves you. You deserve nothing less than eternal happiness. I'm grateful for the example that my older brother Jesus Christ is for me. I have found happiness. There are those of you that understand how imense of a miracle this is. I try everyday to be that older brother for someone else. I cannot stand aside and watch someone suffer, and i will not. I have left my family, my closest friends, music, videogames, biking, things that bring me comfort to be in a foreign country, struggling to speak a new language, crawling out of bed at 6 stinking 30 in the morning, studying all morning, walking all day, making endless calls at night, just to go to bed and do the same thing the next day. And guess what.

I am the happiest person to exist.

Why?

Because if I can make just one person smile in the two years that I'm here, I've brought happiness into someone's life.

My work here is to help the Father bring to pass the immortality of man. This is his work.

Men are that they might have joy.

His love is always near us. All we have to do is reach out and grab it. Its right there.

Pray to the Father and tell him the desires of your heart. Tell him why you're upset. Talk with him. He is our Father. He has provided a plan, a plan of happiness. He has given us exact directions on how we can achieve happiness.

Ask yourself this.

Am I happy

Why or why not

What changes do I need to make

Make the change

Be happy

Oh but its not that simple?

It is

It is a hard process, but the steps are simple

Matthew 11: 28-30 yeah, read it again

Christ makes the difficult, easy.

So, we know how we can reach happiness, and if we rely on Christ through prayer, scripture study, and church attendance, he'll make it easy.

Just reach out, he is there.

How to say a prayer:

"Dear heavenly father..."

Give thanks

Ask for help

Give thanks again

"In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Get to it.

Elder Owens

Email pt. 2

I don't wanna do a two week recap next week so I'm adding it down here.

DONT READ ON IF YOU HAVNT DONE WHAT I'VE ASKED.

Please and thank you.

So not much happened this week . That's all. Just kidding. I'm able to understand a lot more Spanish now, thanks to God and the gift of tongues. Speaking is coming along too. I know exactly what to say and how i can share Gods love now, but only in English, still gotta translate. Most the time its gibberish and people don't understand really, but God knows I try, and I know he's blessed me for it. So i just keep making a fool of myself and laugh it off. Everyday, and I give genuine thanks for the opportunity to do so. I look at old pictures of myself, and its not like looking in a mirror. Its like looking at someone you used to know. Its weird, but it reminds me how far I've come already. This is what i needed in my life. By having nothing, I've found everything. We had a pday with our district today. We walked around a really pretty place that I still don't know the name of but there was lots of stores and super cool looking buildings and a big ol catholic church too. Super cool. I'm tired. But that means I'm doing the work right. And thus, I am happy. I've been living off of tortillas, peanut butter and honey for the past few days because we didn't have food, but we're good now. Transfers are coming up soon. No idea what'll happen, but ill go where He needs me to go. Crazy to think its been 12 weeks. Feels like a dream still. Every week just flies by. Everyone says that after the year mark, the time really disapears. That'll be interesting. Anyways, I hope all is well. Here are some pictures.

With love,

Elder Owens

Also we went bowling.

~Elder Owens

Black eye from soccer