We ate haggis

Dad,
Sounds like you have had a rough week. I've heard kidney stones
are painfull, just ask Shane Powell about them! When you said it was
your back I would have guessed kidney stones but I hope I never have
to go through them. Jeff comes home this week eh? That's pretty
crazy, I'm glad to hear he's been working really hard and such. Well this last week has been a really great blessing. A lot of
ups and downs as usual but the ups made it all worth it in the end.
We weren't able to get anyone to church and Saturday we just spent
most of our day traveling around instead of doing actual missionary
hard work! But oh the blessing we received in the end! I told mum
more in depth but we're teaching that Portuguese family again! It was
a miracle and the timing could not have been any better. I don't
think it would have worked any other way. We'd tried to see her 2 or
3 times but it never worked out and then we had some appointments
cancel and we were asking ourselves, "Why?!" But then we realised the
Lord closed one door but opened another one. It was a really great
experience. I realise something from it when I was writing to mom
about it that I'd share with you. So she had said that while she went
to her sister's church she enjoyed it and everything but she felt like
there was still something missing. Strange because it had everything
she thought she needed in a church, her language, her family, and all
sorts of things like that. She said that for the last 2 weeks though
she felt like there was something missing. We of course know its the
Spirit and when we teach her again we're gonna keep appointments
really short so she can recognise the Spirit and then we'll leave.
Eventually we figure she'll come to church and when she gets there
she'll look around and be able to name a lot of things she thinks
should be in the church that aren't but she'll feel like there isn't
anything missing. But what I remembered was when we saw her the last
time I felt prompted to say something to her. What I said was, "I
promise you that as you go to the other church you will come to feel
that something is missing" I had totally forgotten but it proved to
be prophetic in a way! Kind of neat huh? We also found a czech
family and its gonna be really fun to teach them. But unfortunatly
I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving. I really like how Jeff didn't talk
at all about coming home for the last 4 months, I think I'll try it
out! But since my days are numbered if I stay another transfer my
last area will only be a 3 month area and I don't think they'll do
that. So I'm pretty sure I'm a gonner but it has definantly been
worth it. While it has been difficult that we haven't been able to
baptise yet I know that this family will get there. The
Spirit has been working so much with them, its amazing. Well that's
about it for me. Thanks for everything Dad, I love you loads. Take
care!
Elder Rowley

Mum,
This week was really good, especially at the end. I'll just
let you know about a couple of neat things that happened. So on
Thursday we were meant to go and see a recent convert and some of our
investigators. We were going on splits with some members and I was
going with Tyler Miller, the American who speaks Portuguese. About an
hour before the appointment I had a prompting to call the recent
convert to make sure it was still okay to see her. I thought, "Tyler
set up the appointment, I don't need to call" but I did anyway. Just
as I figured she cancelled. Elder Hubbard kept asking, "Now what are
we gonna do?" But I didn't really feel worried about it. Then when
the members went on exchange and we went on splits we got a text from
the investigators saying that they were sick and they rescheduled.
Elder Hubbard had appointments with his member so they set off and me
and Tyler looked at each other and said, "Let's go see Maria" We'd
tried her on Monday but no joy and then called her on Wednesday but
again no joy. So we showed up and all the light were on and we
figured we were good but then after we knocked all the lights went
off. We looked and each other and were like, "No!" but then we
knocked one more time and Maria's 8 year old son answered the door.
Maria turns the corner and says, "Come in!" We started talking to her
about her Book of Mormon reading and things and she said when she
prayed about it she felt a burden lifted off her shoulders. It was a
really neat experience. She is still really confused though because
she doesn't see any real difference from the church she is going to.
She looked at us and said when she goes to church it has everything
needs, its in Portuguese, her family is there, its closer, and shorter
and everything but then she said it feels like there is something
missing. You should have seen the grins on mine and Tyler's faces!
So we asked her if we could come back and teach her again and she of
course said yes. Apparently her kids have been asking if we were
coming back every single day since we left and that's been about 2
weeks! It was a great miracle. Then on Sunday evening we were
walking around before tea and there was a Czech woman who said come
back and I thought we should go try and see her. Her daughter
answered the door and said, "My mum said you were coming some time but
the problem is that she doesn't speak any English" I looked at her
and shrugged and said, "Ahoy, yaksi maj!" ("Hello, how are you?" in
Czech) She shrugged and said come on in! There was a massive family
there and we made an appointment to come back and we're gonna teach
them all. There were a lot of really neat experiences like that this
week, it has been a real blessing! So all in all it was a good week.
We also had something called a Burns night where we ate haggis and did
a lot of scottish things which was a blast. Things are doing really
well here which probably means it'll be time for me to leave as usual.
Oh well, its been great. I love this ward and the work as well.
Take care mum, Love you loads!
Elder Rowley

So close...

This is cool--the entire mission


Dad,
This week was really good but not a lot happened to be honest.
I spent half of the week in South Shields with a missionary named
Elder Bensberg. He's from the south of England and has been a member
for about 5 years. He's really great and him and his companion are
doing pretty well. It's fun to get into a new area for a while
and just dig into the work and such but coming back is always hard.
It seems like things always seem to go the worst the 2 days I'm not in
my area. I don't think it is ever my companions or the other
missionary's fault but something always seems to go wrong. We were
dropped by someone who was supposed to get baptised on the 28th and
had a really rough appointment with 2 of our scheduled investigators.
We then tried to get a lot of member appointments but our
investigators were too busy or things just fell through. I am
hesitant to write about people close to baptism because sometimes I
forget to update you on what really happened with them. We are going
to see Maria tonight to give it one last shot. And as far as
baptising, yes I have baptised in every area. Except here. We've
been working really hard and there are plenty of people who I know
will get baptised this year even. We're working with all these people and
they come to church on and off but its not gonna happen before the end
of the transfer it's looking. It's been kind of humbling to see
possibly the best area I've served in and not have baptisms. We've
gotten close and I've been working my hardest so I feel like I've been
successful. I just got to figure out what the Lord wants me to learn
from it all. We're gonna keep high hopes and by some mighty miracle
we will be able to baptise if we do all we can. I'm pretty sure I'm
leaving so this is really my last chance! But that's how things are
going here. I went to see the doctor and they figured my knee
problems were just resulting from the surgery and that I didn't
reinjure it. It was kind of funny when they asked me what I do and
like where I'll be living and such. The doctor looked at me and
asked, "Is there any way you can decrease the amount you walk?" She
already knew the answer from the way she asked the question! HAha, it
was funny. But I've started doing those exercises I got from the
doctor 3 times a day and it has already made a difference. Elder
Hubbard's mum is a physiotherapist and she's gonna send me some more
exercises and such. So things are going really good here. Just pray
for some miracles and pray that we recognise them! I'm glad to hear
that Lindsay's talk went well and I'd love a copy. Thanks for
everything Dad, I love it here. I was able to share with Elder
Hubbard your exerience with cancer and such and it was really good.
Thanks for everything, I love you.
Elder Rowley
Mum,
Well I wish I had more to report on this week! I spent half
of the week on the other side of the river in South Shields and then
came back over and things didn't really happen this week. Our
teaching pool is about the same size. A man was supposed
to get baptised but he dropped us for the time
being. He's been really great to teach and has come a really long way
but he is finding other things really
difficult. He'll get there eventually. That's kind of the lesson I
think the Lord has been trying to tell me since I've been here. We're
working with so many really good people who will all get baptised one
day but I don't think it will be when I'm here. We have so many
people who are so close. So things will
definitely happen here but I don't think I'll be here for it. So far
this has been the only area that I haven't baptised in. Don't worry
I'm not getting discouraged or anything, I'm mostly just thinking it
all over and seeing what I can do. Transfers is in 3 weeks so we're
gonna have to have a miracle to baptise while I'm here! I guess even
if it doesn't happen it provides an opportunity to be humbled and work
my butt off to see some great miracles happen here in the future,
that's just how I've felt about that. So like I said, not much to
report on here.
I'm excited for Sam to visit, that will be really fun for everyone.
She's doing really good I hear. I think it's really interesting that
Rachiel is working with Grandma Jacobs. She's got to get some good
stories out of her for me! Well I think that is it for me. Thanks
for everything mum, I love it here. I'm sad to think that one day
I'll have to leave it all but I will never stop baptising people!!
Love you, take care!

Elder Rowley

Ups and downs

Mum,
This has been a good week but I'll have to be brief in the
report. Luckily I've been writing in my journal so if worse comes to
worst you'll be able to read about it all later. We had a lot of ups
and downs this week. We went to teach our family home evening to our
Portuguese family only to find out that she was gonna try going to her
sister's church for a while because it was so much closer and in
Portuguese. It was really upsetting and one of the hardest
appointments of my entire mission but it ended really well. We took
our friends the Millers and taught her all about the Book of Mormon
and such. She said it was a really hard decision because she can't
see any flaws in anything that we have told her and that it has
changed her life. We all felt like this will provide her an
opportunity to recieve a very strong personal witness that its all
true. There will be no doubts and she'll be able to do everything
necessary to stay active in the church. So that was really upsetting
but we have faith it will all turn around. We had interviews this
week and I told Sister Lindley about it. She said, "She'll call you,
she has to call you. And it doesn't matter if you get that call in 10
days or in 20 years, she'll call." It was good to hear. Our other
investigators are doing really well and we had a bunch out to church
again which is always fun. This week we were even able to learn some
British Sign Language for an hour (be sure to tell McKenzie Madsen if
you get the chance). We have some members who sign and an
investigator who wanted to learn it. We had a blast. That's really
all I have to report on this week. Things are going great and I love
it all. Thanks for everything mum, sorry this is so short there's a
big queue at the library for computers. Take care, Love you!
Elder Rowley

The members are the most important

Mum,
Lima Peru!! That's ridiculous! I can't believe it! Haha,
that's pretty neat. Tell her congrats for me, that means I should
probably write her a letter.... Wow. I'm at a loss for words, that's
gonna be epic! That means that her and Mike could be in the MTC
together!!!! Hahah that would be so funny! Wow, that's pretty neat.
I wish I had something as cool as that to report! We didn't have any
baptisms planned for this week but there are a lot of people
progressing towards it. Our week flew by and was really fun. We are
teaching a bunch of people but they are all grouped together. Mostly
families but not a father, mother, and children but a combination of
those. It's pretty exciting though because I can see all of them
getting baptised soon. We had 8 people confirmed for church on
Sunday! But only 3 showed up. 3 of them had a good excuse as to why
they didn't come but there were 2 that we're still trying to figure
out. So if we play our cards right and with a little help from the
Lord we'll be able to have 8 or 9 people at church on Sunday. Here's
hoping! I just realised that it seems like when things out here
aren't going so well then things back home are going great but when
things out here really pick up there seems to be some little problems
back home. Funny how life works in'it! We had a great week with the
Portuguese family (except that they are the 2 that didn't come to
church and we don't know why! I'm guessing public transport). On
Monday we taught them how to do an FHE and the kids all loved it.
Every time we go by they are so excited to have an appointment. Maria
loves it too because it keeps her kids settled down. It is amazing
the difference the gospel makes in people's lives, especially rowdy
boys! So they are doing really well. Maria is scheduled for baptism
for the 21st of January and only has to come to church one more time
in order to get baptised. We are also teaching a couple who will
hopefully be getting married by the end of next month and baptised the
next weekend. The work is picking up loads here which probably
means I'll be leaving in 4 weeks! Doesn't that always seem to happen!
But I love it. I found out that I don't have to register until like
March or something so I'm gonna leave it alone for a while and get
some real work done out here. Sorry there isn't much else to report
on. I love the work and I wish I could stay longer! Take care mum.
Love you. Bye!
Elder Rowley

Dad,
Nobody said where Morgan is going?!? I still can't believe
Rachiel is going on her mission so soon! It's pretty crazy. I'm glad
Ryan is on his mission though, that's good. I really don't know what
to say about Rachiel's call! Haha, I figure it means I'll have to
write her a letter. Maybe I'll tell her some things that I wish I
knew when I came out. Ya the work is going really well here things
are doing good. We have a bunch of people to work with and they are
all progressing pretty well. Hopefully they will all be baptised in
the next couple of months. We'll hopefully have 2 or 3 this month.
We were really blessed to have so many people confirmed for church
though, that was a miracle. Only 3 showed up but we had 3 last week
and they were different people than this week. We just need
everything to line up properly and we should have 6 or 7 people at
church this week. That's our goal anyways. But ya the people we are
working with are great. They accept commitments and it seems like
everyone who comes to church wants to keep coming back more and more
and more. The ward is really doing everything, once again we haven't
really changed anything. We just take members with us and they do all
the teaching and the people connect with them and come to church and
hopefully get baptised! We had a neat experience I thought I'd share
with you (sorry I don't have any pictures in the suit yet). We went
by to teach about FHE to Maria and her two sons aged 9 and 4. We took
a young American couple with us to help us teach because I had no idea
how to do a family home evening for that family. It went really well
and it is amazing to see the effects the gospel has on young rowdy
boys! It seems like the only fight they get into now is over who
wants to say the prayer during the lessons! Maria is amazing and has
received such strength to live the word of wisdom. She'll be
interviewed for baptism this weekend and then hopefully baptised next
weekend. It's great. The other family we've been teaching a mother daughter. They've been
taught by a bunch of different missionaries in the past and that kind
of put her off because they just wanted to baptise her. She's 18
and can be taught properly as an individual so we're gonna do that.
We also have a member whose gonna teach her British Sign Language.
Its good because it will be probably a long term baptism with this
family and the members will do a better job than we do at it. I've
realised that's the key to success, not doing anything! Just kidding.
But the members are the most important way to help progress people.
Well I love you Dad. Thanks for everything you do. I'll talk to you
next week! Bye! Love you loads
Elder Rowley

Transfers are inspired

Mum,
Elder Hubbard just leaned over and said, "Transfers are
inspired". Its funny because we've been talking about track and stuff
and how he was applying for BYU and stuff. Neat-o. Turns out he's
really really fast at track. His 400 time was 48 seconds. Its pretty
ridiculous! The english food has got him sucking wind when he runs
now! But he'll get there. I can't believe Joe came over and that
he's home. Crazy crazy. I had a list of things planned to do before
I got home and there were somewhere along those lines but I won't tell
you how many people I'm gonna try and baptise, you'll just have to
wait and see. Ya so this last week was really good but I don't really
know where it all went. I'll tell you a few things about it though.
We had three people come to church and they are all really good. One
of them is ready to be baptised as soon as he can live the word of
wisdom! He's great and just needs some support and encouragement to do
it. The other two are a couple we've been teaching. Our amazing ward
of fellowship has been really great and they loved every minute of
church. I love when people come to church and I don't even really
need to talk to them because the ward does such a great job at
fellowshipping them! Our investigator who was in down south for a
while is coming back this weekend and we don't really know much more
about her situation or what's changed so that'll be exciting to hear
about. And Maria and her family are doing great. They weren't able
to come to church but we went over last night with The Millers (the
family from Arizona) and taught them how to do a family home evening.
Maria is so great and she understands everything we teach so
perfectly. A mother of two rowdy boys might have a hard time
understanding why FHE is important but she understood right from the
get go. She told us, "I know when they are little it won't really
make a difference but when they get older they will learn a lot and it
will help our family". She is great! The two little boys were begging
us to let them say the prayer at the end of the lesson as well.
Things are going amazing with her. So that's pretty much all there is
to report. My knee is doing fine. Like I said it doesn't really
bother me at all, I can just tell there is something wrong with it.
I'll schedule an appointment with the doctor for next week or
something and it will all be fine! Other really neat story! Do you
remember me telling you about Denise from Selby? She's the one that I
knocked on her door on July 9th and the missionaries (one of them also
named Elder Rowley) had first found and taught her on the 9th of July
1992? Did I tell you that his family is in my ward? Its pretty
crazy. Well Denise is getting baptised in Selby on the 7th and I gave
the missionaries there Elder Rowley's (the previous one) phone number.
It's neat how those kid of things all work out! Yup I think that's
everything. Oh ya, I bought a suit finally! Now that's everything.
Love you loads mum, thanks. Bye!
Elder Rowley

Dad,
Good grief! Those pictures are ridiculous! Do you remember all
the pictures we took of everyone leaving on their missions! I can't
believe they are home, it still freaks me out just thinking about it
all. I hope somebody gets assigned to sit next to Toni, that would be
ridiculous. I didn't realise all their kids were under the age of 12!
Things here have been really good. The weather has been windy windy windy! It hasn't
been that cold but it sure has been windy. We got drenched the other
day as well which was funny. But
ya so our week was really good. Elder Hubbard is really good. He's
really good at track, his 400 time is just 48 seconds. I'm sure he'll
get on to BYU's track team. He's a great missionary and works hard.
It's funand the work is going really well. We had 3 people at church
on Sunday which was great because it was New Year's and all. We had 4
more people who were going to come but I think the new year got the
best of them. One guy was Mark who is pretty much ready to be
baptised as soon as he keeps his committments. He's a
great guy and really head strong. Which is a good and a bad thing.
Whenever we get him to a member's home though things go really well,
hopefully we get him to 2 or three people's houses this week. The
other people we had a church was a couple named Leroy and Rosie. They are great. They love church and all the support they
get from the members there so they'll get baptised someday, hopefully
next month! Our other people are doing well too. Especially Maria
and her family we went with an American
couple who are great and taught them how to do a family home evening.
Maria is amazing and she understands completley why they are important.
The two kids loved it and we had a blast as well. Maria is getting
baptised on the 21st of January and hopefully her son will be soon
after. Its great. The work is going really well and I love it here.
That's probably a sign that this will be my last transfer here. Oh
well, its been great. I just want to baptise people! Haa. Well I
love you Dad. Thanks for everything. Take care!
Elder Rowley