The Wedding!

Dad, I wish you could have been here for the wedding. It was amazing. Honestly it was the best day of my mission and probably one of the best days of my life. There were so many struggles and so much opposition but it worked out. I told mum about all the brides maids and best men and flower girls that they went through to finally get it to work in the end but as usual it did all work out in the end. I still cant' believe we went to a wedding and that the weddind wouldn't have happened if we hadn't bee here! Its pretty amazing. So I'll be sure to send you and everyone a lot of pictures from it because it was amazing.

 The reception was pretty amazing as well, partly because it was in a pub! Who would of thought we would spend out most of Saturday in a pub with loads of drunks and our favourite family in Hartlepool. It was really well attended as well and we got a bunch of return appointments out of it and all things are looking up from here on out. I'm really excited. They are planning on getting married in the temple as well. It was great because we have only taught them about it once. It was kind of funny because of the opposition they are still getting. So they live in a really rough area so they opposition they are getting involves that. Most of the time in comes in people trying to get in fights with them. Lee is a really good fighter and Kate is as good as he is! So the other day someone tried to pick a fight with Kate and she kept saying, "oh it made me so mad, I just wanted to hit her!" Then Lee goes, "Kate, do you want to go the temple? We can't if we do stuff like that." They are amazing, they just get it Dad. They just get it. I want you to meet them someday because they are amazing. Dad, they are amazing and really what this branch needed. I'm just so humbled to be a part of such a great family's conversion and their lives.

 Well I think that is about it for me. Sounds like there is a lot going on at home right now and it seems like its one of those trials about finishing a mission. I know that things will work out but I'll keep praying for everyone. I'm still thinking about the river but Jon thankfully had the same attitude about it as I did so we'll just have to see what happens. Thanks Dad, I love you so much! Take care and have a good week!
Elder Rowley

Mom,

The wedding was amazing! This week was ridiculous and we spent so much time doing so much crap organising it and everything it was such a pain! So on Monday-Wednesday I was on an exchange in Billingham, then on Thursday we had a meeting we had to go to. Oh Thursday we had the wedding rehearsal and then on Friday we had all of their baptismal interviews. And of course Saturday was the big day. It was super exciting and everything went really well on Saturday but not really on any other day! Haha. So the rehearsal went fine and they all passed their baptismal interviews so there are two more things that went well. You have go to hear the opposition on this one though! So for the wedding we had everything organised with brides maids and best man and flower girls and all sorts but then it all went south. On Monday the maid of honour, girl who was meant to sing in the wedding, and one of the flower girls backed out. That was no big problem, we just had Kate chose someone else to fill in the places and there is a missionary who is a really good singer who came to sing for us. Then on like Wednesday it turns out that the new maid of honour got arrested and sent to prison! Then on the same day the best man had a heart attack and was in the hospital having surgery. And to top it all off on the big day itself the woman that was meant to do Kate's hair had a kidney infection and was rushed to the hospital. So with all those things going wrong we knew it was meant to be an amazing wedding. We were with them on Friday before their interviews and all of us knelt down to pray and just got in a fit of laughter at how many things had gone wrong. I love this family so much. Lee and Kate have adopted us as sons and we could spend all day everyday over there. It was amazing. The wedding on Saturday went fantastic but I had to take care of some noisy kids so had to nip out for the actual service, no bother though, I saw the rehearsal and it was pretty much the same thing. I'll send you loads of pictures though, it was amazing.

The funniest part was the reception. It was at a pub but we had to go to make sure that nobody we were teaching was drinking anything. We spent like 5 hours there and can I just tell you it was like the funniest thing I have ever seen. It was probably the best day of my mission and one of the best days of my life to be honest. I can't believe it actually happened. Me and Elder Shumway were looking at each other at the end of the ridiculously long day and we both couldn't believe we'd spent all day at a wedding that wouldn't have happened if we hadn't been there. It was a pretty humbling experience. So pretty much things have been amazing.

This week is the baptism and we couldn't be more excited. As fun and great the wedding was I know that their baptism is gonna be even better, I can't wait. More pictures will definitely follow. So that was pretty much our week. I'm really sad to hear about some of the news from back home, especially Grandma Janet. I know she'll be okay and it will be good to be with her and Grandma Rowley. Today we'll have kind of a busy day but I'll be sure to try and find some time to write Spencer a letter. Thanks for everything mum, I love you so much. Take care! Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Love you!

Elder Rowley

Robbed

Mum,
       First off, Elder Shumway says, "Thanks".  Secondly, I didn't
get anything stolen.  It was the car that got broken into, not our
flat.  We had gone down to Middlesbrough to give a baptismal interview
and when we got out to the car we realised that the someone had gotten
in and stolen some things.  We're not sure if they broke in or if we had accidentally left the
doors unlocked.  The things that were stolen were a GPS belonging to a
sister in the zone which we are replacing for her, and Elder Shumway's
wallet and camera with all his pictures from his whole mission!  I had
all my stuff on me and I always carry both my camera and wallet in my
pocket.  So that's all what happened but things are already turning
out for the better.  After we cancelled all the cards and such we had
to run to some appointments.  When we started talking with our
investigators it turns out that all of their government support has
been stopped for like 2 weeks.  So all the families were stuck with no
money for their kids and such.  Things are being worked out but then
as we drove away me and Elder Shumway were talking about how it kind
of seemed like it was meant to happen.  I always double check that I
have locked the car and in appointment even I'll go make sure it is
locked.  We had split up for the interview and for some reason I had
given Elder Shumway the keys when I got out of the car.  That never
happens!  So maybe it was the Lord's hand somehow, we'll see. As far
as all the pictures go we realised that every single one of Elder
Shumway's companions is still in England so we called all of them and
they are going to put all their pictures on cd's for him.  Also our
family we are teaching used to live in Middlesbrough and he said that
he can find out if the stuff has been sold to any of his friends.
It's been kind of interesting that way.  Plus spending all day at the
police station the last couple of days it has been a pretty eventful
week for us!  Haha.  But things are really fine.  We just wondered how
much money was on my card so in case anything happens I don't take too
much out or something, it should be fine though.  So ya that was
pretty much what happened.  The family
all came to church and they loved it at usual.  Lee and Kate came to
tea with us and they had a good time, I love them so much.  They are
getting married this weekend!!!!!  I'm so excited and things are
really coming together, I love it!  So these next two weeks should be
pretty exciting!  Thanks for everything mum, I love you so much!  Have
a good week!
Elder Rowley

Monkey Hangers

Mum,

Yes, everything worked out well and things are going on track for their marriage and baptism. It is such a pain planning a wedding though, I don't want to ever have to do it again! So they are doing amazing. They all came to church on Sunday and it was so funny to see everyone's reactions to them. They get it Mom, they just get it. Every answer they gave in church was perfect and the Spirit has just taken over in their lives. Last week we taught them about the temple and the spirit was there stronger than anything I've ever felt outside of the temple itself! They are ready. It is so really humbling. So pretty much they are perfect and we are so excited for them.

There was just one more thing that I wanted to mention in this e-mail and then I've got to get going. I got your letter from Karolyn on Saturday. It was probably the best letter I have ever received on my mission. Did you read it before you sent it or know what it said at all? It was amazing and I've been reading it pretty much every day. What a testimony of following promptings and just of little small and simple means! I've had a grin on my face since Saturday because of that letter.

And Kenzie is going to San Diego, same as Jeff?! That's gonna be so fun and epic. She said she was excited that she'll be able to see me as well because she doesn't leave until the 20th of June. I'm excited. Well I think that is it for me mum, thanks for everything. I love you so much! Have a good week and I'll talk to you later!
Elder Rowley

Dad,

Sounds like all the sports and stuff are doing really good back home. I'm so excited for Lindsay and Softball, those are some pretty good pictures as well! That just makes me smile. I figured I'd answer some of your questions first and then tell you a little bit about our week. So first the Monkey pictures. In Hartlepool every is called Monkey Hangers, that's like the Geordies in Newcastle and the Makems in Sunderland. The reason is because of an old story they tell here. So during some war with France a long long time ago an old French ship washed up on the shores of Hartlepool. So as the stories go the backwater folk of Hartlepool went to investigate the matter and found no passengers aboard the ship but a monkey. The Hartlepool people had never seen a Frenchmen before and figured the monkey was a spy for France. So they tried it in court and hung it in the town square. So now everyone is Hartlepool is called Monkey Hangers. I love it so much.

So the picture you sent is of our flat but its not the main building but the one on the left. It looks really nice but it is kind of a dump on the inside. Oh well, I'm not really bothered. Last week things went really well, we got our investigator to court and it should be all good for baptism. Our mission president is coming to interview him on Wednesday after interviews with us so that should be exciting.

We had loads of driving and I got to go back to Leeds for a meeting. It was really fun because of all the people who were at the meeting. It's called Zone Leader Council and there are only about 16 of us that go and it was full of people I've known for a really long time on my mission. It was great to be able to council together about the mission and talk about all the plans that are in store to make things improve. I am amazed at how much trust President Lindley puts in us as leaders. When something comes up he lets us deal with it and its really fun and exciting. This week I also had an experience that has never happened to me before. I met someone from Finland! She wasn't interested but it was neat to talk to her about Finland. I asked her where she was from and I couldn't remember what it was but I told her that you lived in Pori but she said that was on the other side of the country. It was just neat to finally meet a Fin in England! So things are going really really well. We are having a wedding for Lee and Kate on the 21st of this month and then they are getting baptised with their 12 year old son on the 28th, its gonna be pretty exciting! So that was pretty much our week. I love it so much here, its amazing! Thanks for everything Dad, I love you so much. Take care and have a good week! Elder Rowley ps-I talked to Elder Weitzel in Leeds 1 and he said that he forwarded the letter to our flat here in Hartlepool so I should get it today or something.

Conference was amazing!

Dad,
So here are some pictures like I promised. I'm glad you had a good birthday and that
things are going well. I love it here and it is the happiest I've
ever been on my mission. I'll send a lot more pictures next week as
well to apologize for such a short letter. Conference was amazing
wasn't it!? And an iPad, that will be a great adventure. Thanks for
putting me in for the draw, that will be really exciting. Well Dad
we're gonna have to run. I'll try and get back to the computer to
send you a more proper e-mail but this is an emergency! Love you!

Mum,
Conference was amazing wasn't it. I loved every minute of it.
Especially because we watched almost all of it with our
family that is getting married and baptised at the end of the month.
They are so amazing and so converted. It amazed me at how much the
spirit could help them understand about conference and all the things
they learned. They are converted! It's
gonna be epic! Well I'm trying to thing about some other interesting
things that happened this week. We've been driving all over the place
as usual. It's kind of hard to get used to because we have to be in
the car so much and running errands and taking care of people here and
there and everywhere but I love it. I really do. This e-mail is
really really short but I don't really know what else to say, things
were just really really good this week. I love it! Thanks for
everything Mom I love you so much! Take care!
Elder Rowley