People and places

Elder Rowley at the Selby Abby


Elder Rowley and Elder Mike


Nila's baptism



Mike and Henrique (Selby)

The youth of Selby


Elder Rowley on a bike


Elder Woodbury (North Shields)


River Tyne

PIES!

Mum,
Well it sounds like you had a good thanksgiving. I talked to
Mike on Monday and he told me that he had sent you some stuff, funny
kid. Thanksgiving here was really good. We have some members from Arizona who are here for
school and they made us thanksgiving dinner, it was proper good. And
get this, her family has a speciality on Thanksgiving. PIES!!! It was
sooo good, made me think of home. It was a good thanksgiving. The
rest of the week seemed to disappear on us. I don't know where any of
it went. I'm trying to think of any fun or interesting things I could
tell you about that happened. We found some more Portuguese speakers
that we're seeing this week. The American member served in Brazil so
he's gonna come with us. Elder Woodbury is doing really well and
things are pretty much normal. Hopefully we'll have a baptism in the
next couple of weeks, maybe 2 if we're lucky and work hard. I love
this ward a lot, I'm learning more about the church here than I've
even in my entire life. I love the whole organisation and stuff its a
blast. Well I figured because I have nothing else to say, they do say
that picture say a thousand words so I'll send a bunch with the extra
time I have! Love you mum. Thanks for everything. Maybe I'll wait
to open the Christmas stuff until Christmas but maybe not. Take care!
Elder Rowley

Dad,
I can't believe that jon is home. I really cannot believe that,
it is too crazy. Looking at that picture I just don't know what to
say, its pretty weird. Oh well, no use thinking about that. He'll
speak on my 18 months mark which will be kind of funny. I talked to
Luke about goals he set for the last 6 months of his mission to make
him work his hardest. I've been thinking about some to push forward
to the end, should be fun. Thanksgiving sounds like a proper riot. I
love thanksgiving, I'll have one soon enough though. The Thanksgiving
we had here was really fun. There is an American couple from Arizona
that are going to school here and they were sure to treat us right.
Best part is that she specializes in making pies. It was just like
mom's pies, I couldn't believe it! This week is whole was pretty good
as well. Not much happened that I can remember to report on. Just
neat as a whole. We had some people at church this week but not as
many as last. We'll hopefully be having at least one more baptism before the year
ends, this ward is so supportive that I don't think they would be
bothered if we baptised someone on Christmas. We'll see what happens!
Another really exciting thing happened. We found some more
Portuguese people! There is an American in the ward who served in
Brazil so he's gonna come with us and it will be just like old times!
I'm really excited for that. Other than that the work has been pretty
normal this last week. Funny story though, the whole mission has run
out of planners! Last week we planned on bits of paper and anything
we could get our hands on, it made it so much harder. This week we
filled our old planners with post-it notes so it shouldn't be a
problem at all. It is just funny how you get adjusted to things and
then things seem impossible without it! Things are going well in
general though and I really do love it here. I'm gonna finish here
though so I can send some pictures for all of you. I love you Dad.
Take care! Keep an eye on Jon for me! Haha
Elder Rowley

So blessed

Dad,
Another week gone is right. Things are speeding up really
quickly here in North Shields. We finally got some people to come to
church with us on Sunday and they all really enjoyed it. There was a
woman that was fellowshipped so well that I think she'll get baptised
pretty soon. She spent so much time with the members on Sunday that I
don't even know her all that well. The members just took to her in an
instant. She is deathly afraid of water though so that's the only
obstacle we're dealing with. If I remember right wasn't Jan
terrified of water as well? I'm sure she'll have it resolved sometime
soon. But it has just been so great here. I hear a lot about
missionaries who struggle with their wards and stuff and I'm really
grateful we don't have to deal with that. In all my wards the leaders
have been really supportive and caring and it's such a great thing to see. We've been getting a
lot out of our missionary coordination meetings recently. Like I said
the new WML is the just released Stake President. He puts in as much
effort and time in being the WML as he did as a Stake President. I really have found a
love for church meetings since I've been on a mission, I always
enjoyed spending extra time at church before but I just love going to
meetings. It's neat to see how everything works in the church. I bet
being the High Councilor over Missionary Work is gonna be exciting.
What all do you think you'll do? I never realised how many
opportunities I had to share the gospel before my mission.
It's funny how close you get to the missionaries you serve around.
They become like a second family. Last p-day we drove around looking
for ice cream it was pretty fun. We had an Alaskan, a South African,
and two Utah boys. I realise that if I had never come on a mission I
would have never met any of them. Great thing about it is that most
of them will end up in Utah at one point or another! Well I don't
think I have much else to report on. Sometimes as a missionary I feel
like our old friend Scott. People in England have so many problems
and previous experiences that scar their lives. There are a lot of
really messed up people here. All we really do is listen to them and
the Spirit does the rest. Well Dad, that's it for me. I love you. Have a GREAT time in Duchesne for
me. Take care!
Elder Rowley

Mum,
Our week was amazing! We finally got people at church!
Miracles all over the place. This week has been so busy and crazy and
hectic that is just flew by in an instant. I hope the rest of my
mission doesn't go that fast! Sounds like Jon's did...... So ya there
were a coule of people at church and they all really liked it. There
was this one woman who we taught once this week and took a member. We
knew this member would be really good because she served a mission
with her husband and wow we were right. The best appointment I've had
with a member ever! She came to church and was fellowshipped the
entire time, I didn't have the chance to hardly say 2 words to her. Then after church
she was invited over the another members house for dinner and things
were just on fire. I realised that we have been so blessed in this
ward. Our Ward Mission Leader is the just released stake president
and has so much stuff in plan and is really on the ball. I think it
was a blessing that we didn't get anyone at church for such a long
time because we really got to know the members and they came to love
us. They were praying for us and wanting us to succeed and then the
heavens open and everyone is ready to get to work! Hopefully that
means a couple of baptisms before the year is over. Things are going
really well here. Elder Woodbury is doing really well. This last p-day I realised as well how all
these missionaries become like a second family to you! Last week we
drove around for a while trying to find Chunky Monkey ice cream with a
South African missionary. It is just good time and good friends. I
love being a missionary. Hopefully things keep getting better and
better, it will make the work even funner! Sounds like things are
good as usual back home. Funny chickens. Tell Jon hullo from me!
Kyle said you've all been watching Doctor Who? I can't believe that!
I used to watch it a little bit before but it is huge over here!
Funny funny. I'll remember Brother Stewart in my
prayers as well. He's been such a great home teacher. And I'm
perfectly fine for the winter here. Like I said the cold doesn't
bother me much and there are always more layers you can put on. Well
mum, I think that's all for me. I love you so much! I've been taking
more pictures but somehow always forget my cord....Take care!
Elder Rowley

Lots of melting and exploding going on

Mum,
Crazy good week. We had zone conference about the temple and
it was a mind melt. I tried to take notes the whole time but at times
my notes literally say, "Then my brain exploded" We have some Zone
Conferences like that, we used to draw pictures of our heads exploding
with doctrine, good times. Well I'm e-mailing on Tuesday because
believe it or not we had transfers yesterday. Of course I'm staying
and so is Elder Woodbury so things are gonna be great. We are finding
some really prepared people and the Lord is really blessing us. We
have had some neat experiences with resolving peoples concerns early
on. There is a woman we are teaching that was almost baptised a
couple of times in the past. She was saying how bad things always
happen before she almost gets baptised and how that would be the only
thing stopping her this time. It was funny because about a month ago
I was thinking about Joseph Smith's experience and some neat things
came to mind. We turned to the Pearl of Great Price and shared how
Joseph Smith was overcome by Satan just before the first vision. Then
I shared how Joseph Smith knew 100% that that wasn't God. That's why
he had the faith to pray after that. She had felt like it was God
telling her not to join the church. After we shared that scripture
things just melted. Almost all of her concerns were resolved and she
is doing great. She just has to find a new house and then she can be
baptised! We're having lots of neat experiences like that now, crazy
crazy. Funny news about transfers, Selby got a car! I can't believe
it, Leeds 4 got a car right after I left as well. Ridiculous. Oh
well, since I finally passed my test maybe I'll luck out and get a
car. Well that's about it for me. I love you mum. I'm excited you
get to go to Oregon to see Gavin's baptism, tell them I say hello! Oh
and can you believe that Jon gets home next week! Tell him hello for
me! Well take care! Love you!
Elder Rowley

Dad,
Well have a good time with Thanksgiving. I'm sure I'll be
fine, the difficult part is almost over. President Lindley tolds us
that we're having a whole mission Christmas Party and said that it
would be his 18 month mark.....that means it's mine too! Its pretty
crazy. Driving is fun when I get the chance. I'm hoping I'll get to
drive to Leeds in the near future. How fun would that be! Sounds
like things are going really well back home. We had zone
conference last week which is always really interesting. President
likes to overwhelm us with doctrine to build up our testimonies and it
usually ends with, now don't teach this to your investigators, this is
for your benefit and testimony. So it's pretty neat. This time it was
on the Temple so of course it was mind blowing. He showed us all the
symbolisms from the Salt Lake Temple and it was mind blowing! I
really thought my mind was going to explode. It was nice though and a
great spiritual uplift. Then we went to work to make our mission goal
happen. We have seen so many miracles already. I told mum about one
that was pretty neat. We are also finding loads and loads of people
to teach. When we visit them I always have the thought, "Do I think
they'll get baptised this year?" Most of the time I don't know so I
just pray that I can say the right thing to make it all happen. So
things are going pretty well. It's getting a bit colder but not too
bad. I'm sure the snow will come pretty soon but it has to be pretty
cold for it to snow because there is so much salt in the air. I took
some pictures of the coast and stuff at night and they turned out
pretty well, I didn't bring my chord again though.... oh well.
Transfers just happened and we're staying the same so that will be
good. We have a bunch of people who are going home half-way through
next transfer so we'll see what has to happen in a couple of weeks!
Other funny news about transfers, Selby got a car! I can't believe
it, we bike for miles and miles and as soon as we leave they get a
car! Oh well. I'm gonna laugh when they drive the outskirts of the
area and meet people that knew me and Elder Thimmesch! HAha. Well
that's about all I have to report for this week. We're going to
Newcastle again as usual so that'll be fun. I love you Dad. Take
care of yourself and good luck in your new calling. Tell Jon hello
and Chase and everyone! Love ya!
Elder Rowley

Massive sense of urgency

Elder Rowley and Sam
Elder Rowley
Elder Peterson and Elder Rowley

Mum,
So much to write and so little time. First to answer some questions you asked. No we don't go to the temple but we're having a zone conference on the temple tomorrow. Yes I got Colton's e-mail and he is doing great. Traci wrote me a letter last week so I knew she was going to Thailand (amazing!). I got your package this week as
well. Thank you so much. And about Christmas package I was gonna tell you not to send decorations or any Christmasy stuff like that. We've already got loads in our flat and I'm sure there will be plenty of
surplus! I still can't believe that you got Sam Swindler to say, "zombie apocolypse" in his talk. Things are going really well here. We had halloween which is a bit lame and then Guy Fawkes night which is anything but lame! We have had some neat experiences and as a mission we are working really hard to reach our goals. We set the goal of baptising 425 people this year and we are 100 short as of last monday. It is going to be a massive miracle but we're gonna make it happen! I'll share an experience about how its changing the way we have been working. There is such a massive sense of urgency
now! We need to find these people and we need to progress the ones we have. We are teaching a family from Nigeria and they were not really bothered about joining the church. They like us to preach to them but they didn't want to get baptised. When they said that I thought about our mission goal and the kind of miracles it will take to make it
happen. I also thought about the family, they have four kids who are a blast and really crazy sometimes. Then I just told them their church wasn't getting them close enough to God and that this church was the only one that could do that. I told them that if they read and pray and come to church then they will feel and know that they will grow closer to God only in this church. It was funny because they looked at each other and then at me and said, "Are you telling us that we need to stop going to our church and go to yours?" I looked them both in the eye and said, "No, I'm telling you to ask God if you need to
join our church and then when he says yes, that you should do it" It was pretty crazy. Other news is that I saw Sam! She is doing really well. It was so good to see her. And I passed my driving test! I was driving all around Newcastle on Friday and I've really missed not being able to drive! Once again I forgot my camera cord but I'll send you pictures
next time. I love you so much mum. Thanks for everything you do, take care!
Elder Rowley

Dad,
This is the hardest time of year to be in England! I'm not too
bothered about Christmas but the Deer Hunt and Halloween and
Thanksgiving!! Oh well, I made it last year and I'll make it just find
this year! Its so crazy reading all of your e-mails! So many things
are happening back home. Sounds like the deer hunt was a blast but
nothing short of an adventure. I wish I could have helped fix the
truck but oh well. I think you shouldn't get a really new truck cause
they all look too fat. Maybe a 90s Silverado or F150. I think I'll
buy a Bronco when I get home. Speaking of which. Chase bought a
Porsche! You should try and get a picture! Halloween was good but we
couldn't really do anything here and Guy Fawkes night is always crazy.
People just have massive fires in the middle of the street and stuff.
It reminds me of the end of the world. Funny how a lot of things in
England seem like that! I passed my driving test last week as well
which was great. I got to drive all day in Newcastle on Friday and it
was a blast, so much fun. Maybe I'll get a car area to finish my
mission in! I got to see Sam too. She is doing really well and is
excited for her trip next year. I can't believe that you're on the dry council! That is gonna be a major adventure! I'm sure you'll get to know President Warner
really well. I heard from Colton and that was really good. I miss
all the Duchesne cousins and family but I realise that even if I was
home that half of them are on missions now too! We're having some
amazing miracles happening in the mission. As I told mum and Luke, the mission goal for the year is 425 baptisms and confirmations and as of
last monday we are 100 short. We're not just giving up though, we're
gonna make a miracle happen! I've never had such a fire burning in me to share the gospel with people!!! I just want to talk to everyone
and get everyone to join the church! We know that there are 100
people prepared and waiting to get baptised this year and all we have
to do is find them! Its so exciting but there is a lot of pressure.
Miracles have already happened though, in South Shields they found a
woman last week who has a friend who has tried to get her to church
for years. Everything is falling in to place and she'll be baptised
in 2 weeks. We just need to make sure we have 100 of those people!
Well dad I'm running out of time but I love you so much. I love being
a missionary and for the great examples I've had my whole life of how
to live. Thank you.
Elder Rowley