Hello Captain!

Sounds like things are going great at home! I'm sorry to hear about Coach Cardoso's wife, that's truly a tragedy. But this has been a good week. Still a lot of opposition but it has been amazing all the same. We are teaching a woman named Sam and she is just amazing. When we found her she just said she was looking into Christianity recently and we thought, great! We gave her a Book of Mormon and she just devours it. She is almost done with 2 Nephi! She accepts everything we teach and even though she was really nervous she came to a baptism. She said that as soon as she got into the building she was at total peace, she loves church and said that this is where she thinks she belongs! Its so exciting. The craziest thing is that last time we went to her house she was watching Charlie, now I thought she had looked it up as a Mormon movie after we started teaching her but she said no. The movie was what got her started thinking about Christianity in the first place! She didn't even know it was a Mormon movie. We told her that God is a God of miracles and that there are no coincidences and yesterday we got a text from her saying, "I've decided to stop drinking tea and went out to buy some fruit teas instead" What a miracle! Another thing that happened this last week is I am beginning to fall in love with reading the scriptures. I used to hate it and up until now I just felt overwhelmed by what I needed to do. But this last week everything has exploded and I can't get enough. I wish we had more than just an hour in the morning! Its been amazing and I've noticed that I learn and remember more of what I've read. What a blessing! Well I've got to get on, we still have a full days work left for us. But mom I love you so much and am so greatful for everything you do for me. Keep the post coming and I'll send more pictures next week. Love you loads.
Elder Rowley

Sounds like everything is as crazy and normal as it always was. Thanks for the pictures, its funny I still have both of those pictures on my camera except I'm in them. We are even standing in the same places (grandma and grandpa sure do love parking in front of the fire hydrant). Well this last week has been a long, tough, and good one. I'm started to actually feel like we are working and it makes me feel great! This last Tuesday and Wednesday all the leaders in the mission went down to Leeds for leadership training so I got to spend 2 days with Elder Pass! He is from California and has been out one transfer longer than me but when you serve with him it feels like he's been here a lot longer! He is amazing and truly talks to everyone, it was the most fun I've ever had on my mission. He gets so excited to talk to anyone and we even yell to people from across the street. It makes me smile to just think about it, he likes to greet people by saying, "hello Captain, how are you?" Its so funny and there was even one man who responded, "Not to bad, how about you soldier". When you approach people with that much enthusiasm and love they respond similarly and their hearts are opened. Working with other Elders gives me such a great idea of the missionary that I want to be, its all because one of the letters you wrote to me about asking myself, "what can i learn". Well there was a miracle on Tuesday as I worked with Elder Pass, apart from finding 8 new investigators we had decided to knock a street. Now I had prayed about a street to go to and when we arrived we had half an hour. The funny thing was that there were only 6 houses on the whole street, oops. Me and Elder Pass looked at each other and said that it had been prayed about and that there was someone in one of these houses who needed to hear the Gospel. We knocked on the first 4 and nothing. We came to the 5th door and someone opened and we were sure it was the one but nothing. We came to the last door and this woman named Amy opened up. As soon as she opened the door we felt the Spirit, it was the strongest I've felt the Spirit at someone's doorstep! We started talking to her and she didn't seem very interested because she was already a very spiritual person but she accepted a pamphlet and as Elder Pass was writing our information on it I told her about eternal marriage. Her face changed a little and she started asking us questions about our religion, not specifically temple marriage but just general questions. One of her questions was, "Can you see the fruits of this work?" She specifically wanted to know if we had witnessed healings or anything like that. I took the opportunity to share with her your experience and bore testimony that I had definitely seen fruits. After this she asked if she could have a copy of the Book of Mormon and of course we agreed. We then asked if we could pray with her and she asked if she could say it. Wow, someone taught her to pray! It was powerful and even though she has moved and we won't be able to teach her I know that the reason we needed to be on that street was so she could have a copy of the Book of Mormon. It was quite a miracle. So today I'm on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Black, who goes home at the end of the transfer. He's from Salt Lake, wanna go to his homecoming? I've lived with him my whole mission so far and we've gotten pretty close. Not sure exactly when it will be but I thought I'd bring it up to see if you wanted to go. Good luck with the truck, I really wish I could come home just to try and fix it. Maybe I'll ask President. ;) I'm trying to get to know President Lindley more like you advised me to and I know that we will be close, I've heard that the President always likes his first transfer best! Haha, well its time to get to work. Thanks for everything. I know I say this every week but I especially love all the pictures.
Love you loads,

Elder Rowley

Dear Meridith

Meridith is a sister in our ward who writes to each of the missionaries every week. She was so excited to get a letter back from Zack this past week:

Dear Meridith,

Thank you so much for all the letters! It's so great to hear how things are back in the states. I especially liked your two letters about the 4th of July, and when your sister came to town. I've never met or seen her before but if she's anything like you I'm sure she is a lot of fun. I don't think I'd be able to keep up with both of you! It must be loads of fun to have a twin. The 4th of July sounds like it must have been fun as well. We didn't do much for it but the cooks of the MTC made us a big barbeque, I ate so much. I will probably be quite fat when I get home but let's hope not. Luke is coming home soon so you'll see what a mission can do to a boy. Right now I"m on a train going to an old city with a castle! My camera battery is dead but I'll find a way to get some pictures and send them home. You'll have to ask my parents to show you. This train ride is so pretty, England is so beautiful. No mountains though, I think I miss that the most. Well hold down the fort for me and keep an eye on my family. I'm sure I'll hear from you soon. Thanks. --Elder Zack Rowley

The perils of member radar

It's good to hear that Luke is back safe and back to his old self. I can't stop laughing about what Lindsay said*, you'll have to watch out for those two. Just so I don't forget I'll answer some questions first. We travel on foot, bus, and metro which is pretty fun sometimes. I found an old Spanish Book of Mormon and I try to read it on the metro when you can't really talk to many people. And yes we have a cell phone which is really nice but we don't send text but can receive them so it gets a little complicated sometimes. As far as this week was it went even worse than last week! I don't know what it is but things just aren't working out in Newcastle, for anyone. Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

Well now for a funny story. So for some reason I have member radar. What I mean is that whenever we are street contacting I always find at least 2 members who are usually less active. It's so strange to me but it always happens. I usually get their information and we try and give them a visit that week and invite them back to church. Well on Thursday I met this woman who seemed a little strange but said she was a member and that she would like to come to church with us on Sunday. We thought, great!, and brought her with us. After church in our Ward Coordination Meeting the Relief Society President said to us, "They are trouble and brought a lot of people in the ward into their person problems (involving the police and such) and that they were actually asked not to come to church and her husband isn't allowed to be baptised." My face went blank and I quickly asked, "Is there anyone else that if I meet them on the street I should invite them to church?" They all said no and we rushed out to tell the other missionaries to stay away from the couple. Hopefully nothing bad comes from it but I just thought it was funny that the one less-active we get to come to church ended up being a big problem. I've decided to learn all the languages people speak out here and I learned some Persian at a tea appointment. I'm gonna keep track of everything in my planner and hopefully I can actually speak some by the time I'm out of here.

I get to spend 2 days with another missionary this week and I'm stoked! Hopefully there will be lots a great stories for next week.

Pics!

my new rainjacket

my first Kebab

A Finnish Book of Mormon!

me and Elder Gardner

me and Luke at the temple

at Downham we found out you could walk through the sheep fields and i found this...

us at the River Ribble

my mtc companion Elder Gardner (man do I miss him)

me on the bus



Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:44:59 +0100
Subject: Re: 8/15/2010

This week has been a real struggle. Last night was really exciting though, we put a bunch of cushions on the ground and sat around by the phones waiting for the calls. We were the last ones to get called and Elder Swain is leaving to be a Zone Leader in Sheffield and we are all staying. I knew I wouldn't leave because I think I'll be here for a while. We'll see what happens I can't really think of anything that happened this week except we think our Nigerian couple might not want to be taught anymore. He's just really stressed about finding a job and I think we could have taught them better than we did. I guess this week has just been a real long and hard one for me. Its good to hear that everyone back home is doing good, I'm sure you'll figure out what's wrong with the truck. Is it still that nasty colour? Sometimes I wish I could just work on a car or fix something for a good 4 hours. We cleaned the flat really well today so that was good and today I think we are going to help someone move so I hope it makes me feel a little better. Its just difficult sometimes because I can't really figure out how to be myself and a missionary. Oh well. This week hasn't really been that bad but I can't think of any of the amazing things that happened, I guess I need to change my attitude a little. :) If you have any advice or stories feel free to snail mail them. I really love hearing about your mission and it helps me every time I read them. Thanks Dad.

Hi mom. Like I told Dad this last week has been a struggle. We haven't been able to meet with a lot of investigators. It was frustrating. But on Thursday I went on exchanges with a member and I was kinda nervous having to teach a lesson by myself (with a member). It went really well though, the woman's name is Sam and she has just torn apart the Book of Mormon. She has read so much and eats up everything we teach her. Hopefully she is the miracle we've been praying for. Steve and Agnus won't be baptised this week and we haven't even been able to meet with them for a while. Oh well. We had transfers and Elder Swain is leaving which I'm a little sad about because he was helping me get good and football and is great to talk to but his companion Elder Black is just as good to talk to, even if he is rubbish at football. I just remembered that this week we had zone conference! It was a really amazing and spiritual experience. President began by saying that music rules would be up to what the white handbook says so if there is anything you think I would like feel free to send it. He also said that personally he listens to all music. He even said he loves rap, like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Beyonce. It was hilarious and I know we are gonna listen to some good music together when we both get home. I completely forgot about zone conference and already wrote dad so you'll have to fill him in on it. That;s really exciting that Luke will be home this week. I don't mind hearing about things that are happening at home so tell me whatever you want. I found my camera charger and sent Dad some pictures so he'll have to share them with you. I'm glad to hear things are going good at home at keep me posted. Thanks so much for the snail mail and keep it coming. I especially love all the pictures. Also thanks for Jon's address, I've been thinking about him a lot lately and I'm excited to write/hear from him. I love you mom and take care of things for me!

Waiting for answers

Date: Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Subject: Zack 8/9/2010

Its good to hear things are going good at home. I'm glad Capone is fixed and that we have a new fridge, it is so strange to me. Well this week has been busy and long. We're still working with the Nigerian couple and they will be baptised on the 20th. Steve said the 13th wouldn't work because he wanted 7 days to fast for his answer. He is pretty faithful. They also fed us Nigerian food this week, it was sooo good. Another amazing experience we had was with a guy named Yin. He's Chinese and we were going to watch the Restoration DVD with him, when we got there we convinced his roommate Chunxiao to watch it too. They loved it and after we talked a little more we asked if they wanted to say a prayer. Yin has had problems trusting the Book of Mormon but in his prayer he said that he knew it was true and that he would follow it. Chunxiao prayed to know where he would lived when he was older. Then he looked up and said, "I don't feel anything". Well I thought crap. Elder Thorup said sometimes answers don't come straight away so we sat there with our eyes close for 5 minutes. I was a little doubtful and started to say that answers like that may come in different ways but Chunxiao cut me off and said that he had felt something. It was really powerful and went from his head to his toes. It was an amazing experience! Well I haven't got much time left but I found someone with a similar camera and we're gonna see if his charger can charge my battery. Here's hoping. Oh ya and today we went to the Durham Cathedral which was where Harry Potter was filmed. Some of the Elders even made everyone wands and we walked around the whole time with wands in our hands. It was pretty funny, I'll get some of the other Elders to print me off copies and I'll send them to you. Well still gotta write mum but I'll talk to you next week. Love you,
Elder Rowley

Hi mum, haven't got much time to write we are running a little behind schedule. This week has been good and I met a man from Brazil! We'd just been yelled at and we were walking down the wrote (road) when this man walked next to me. I almost didn't say anything but then I started to talk to him. He says he's from Rio De Jenero (spelling?) and has heard and seen the church but never had a chance to read the Book of Mormon. We're taking him a copy on Wednesday in Portuguese, its pretty exciting. We went to the Harry Potter castle today and it was fun. I'll get some pictures to send later in the week. Sorry this is so short, I told dad a few more stories so you'll have to just share. Its good to hear things are going great at home! Keep an eye on everything/one for me. Love you.
Elder Rowley

Meet us at the train station

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 11:21:56 +0100
Subject: Re: 8/1/2010

Ya this week has been good. Elder Thorup loves talking to Chinese people so we invited like 30 people to church and they all said they would come. We had confirmed with 10 but only 2 showed up. Ones name was Yin and he came with us but another girl named Sonia came with her two friends. After they had talked for a while she said her friends were worried we were going to sell her to Africa! It was really funny but I suppose it was a legitimate concern when two Americans show up and tell you to meet them at a train station. It was still really funny though. So getting people to church has kind of been a challenge but we got some exciting news this week! The zone leaders that we live with are switching to our area! It was inspiration and revelation for them to switch mid-transfer but it means the Lord has something in store for Newcastle. Its very exciting and I can't wait to see what will come from it. About the camera issue, my battery died and I went to look for my charger and I can't find it! I don't know where I put it but everyone out here has a Canon so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one. So hopefully soon I will be able to send some pictures home. Sorry. Heard from Leah Robinson the other day. It was good to hear from her and its funny to tell missionaries I live a block away from her and her dad is Stephen Robinson.

Steve has been doing good but he lost his job with the whole scandal with his visa. But his faith is so strong anyways, its funny to teach them because they always seem so faithful and happy, I guess we just need to help them receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon and they will want to be baptised. So they are the closest to being baptised, we also are teaching an Irish guy named Stuart. He doesn't sound very Irish though but he has no religious background so he's easy to work with. Its been really good this week. Its good to hear about everyone back home. I think about it every now and then but I don't ever worry. Just keep an eye on everyone and everything for me til I get back! Wrote Jeff today and will probably write everyone else soon. Oh and can you send me Jon's please? Thank you and I love you.
Elder Rowley

I'm bummed I missed the barn raising at the Rex Reunion, it was fun digging that hole last year. I sometime wish we did more service out here but oh well. We helped a kid whose car broke down but I didn't know how to fix it, his clutch went out and I didn't know what to do. But he had a ride come. Glad to hear about everyone back home. Let me know about more mission calls, its always exciting to hear. Doug should be getting his soon so you could get his number off my phone and text him about it. And yes I got those letters, thanks for the pictures, always glad to get more. The one with the Gosforth address got here first so there you go. Like I told mom I don't know where my battery charger is so no pictures again this week. Oh well I'll say a prayer and check the flat again. One amazing thing that happened this week was I got to give our Nigerian investigator Steve, a blessing. I was really nervous about it because it was the first one I gave in the field. We were fasting and praying for it to be as the Lord directed and it was amazing. It was like a sentence would form in my head and then I would say it. It was so simple it was amazing! Now that I know what that feels like I tried to do it in normal prayers and it doesn't work! Its so amazing to be able to hold the Priesthood and to use it when called. That was probably the highlight of the week and hopefully they will get answers to their prayers and be baptised. Well I love you Dad, good luck at the doctors. I've had the opportunity to tell some people we've been teaching your story and there was even a man I street contacted who looked me in the eyes and poked me in the chest and said, "Praying cannot cure a man from cancer" I was able to look him back in the eye and tell him that it can and it did. Thank you for everything and I'll talk to you next week!
Elder Rowley