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.