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

It really is a worldwide church

This week has been really good. It went by fast just like they always do though! My ankle and finger are fine and now I have no excuses not to get to work! Its good to hear that Matt is doing well, he will be a great missionary. The other day I was thinking about the Barrys and how amazing it would be to have them as mission presidents but I know I'll feel the same way with mine as soon as I get to know them a little more. Its good to hear that everyone is going great. Things here are pretty amazing, we are teaching people from so many places! So far we've taught people from Nigeria, Angola (Portuguese speaking), Czech, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Norway, The Congo, China, and of course English. Its pretty amazing how many different languages the Book of Mormon comes in, we brought one in Bengali to some people from Bangladesh and they were amazed we had it! That's probably been the most amazing thing I've noticed, how many different people live here! Last night we ate dinner with a family where the husband is Persian so we ate Persian food and Indian food. It was really good. It was also funny because their baby had Bob the Builder toys and they all thought it was funny that I knew all the names. Thanks Kyle! I also had my first Kabab! It was enormous, and really good. I took pictures but still haven't thought of how to send them.... I think next week I'll bring my camera to the library and sent a couple pictures. I mostly have pictures of our flat because I don't take my camera out in the days but I think I might every now and then. Our flat is getting more and more amazing though. I don't know if I already said this but we turned our glass table into a ping pong table and moved it in the front room. Then we took the couch from the front room and put it in the kitchen. I'll send those pictures next time. Oh I was gonna ask if you would put another name in the temple this week his name is Steve (don't know his last name) and he is from Nigeria. He is going to school and just got married and he and his wife and his whole flat are scheduled to be baptised. The only problem is that you are not supposed to work more than part time as a student from a different country and he was 2 hours over last week. Because of this he might be deported which would be really bad because he won't be able to get a good enough job to support his family. As a part of their culture they are also responsible for their parents, so there are two families depending on him getting an education and a job. Just keep him in your prayers for me. Well that's about it, I'll talk to you next week!

Everything is fine this week. I've always bounced back from things pretty quick anyways but I'll still try and be careful. Whenever I tell people about all the things that happen I tell them that somebody must not want me on a mission! That just gives me all the more reason to be here in my eyes! Ya running was never my favorite, in the mornings I play tennis with one of the zone leaders and we usually run to the court. Its not very far but he usually is far ahead of me. I'm really glad there will still be Barrys in the ward, I really like Mark and Katie and Matt will be an amazing missionary. That's really funny about the Alligator at the Barry's in Florida. I'm convinced God didn't send me somewhere like that because I would spend too much time with the animals and not enough time working! Speaking of animals, over here they have Wood Pigeons which I think I told you about in an earlier e-mail. They are all over the place and are really big, there are also plenty of normal pigeons here too. Its a little reminder of home everywhere I look! Good old Spencer Thomas is going to California then eh? He'll be a good missionary. That reminds me, this week I'm going to take a picture in front of something and I need you to take it to the Crookstons for me. Is that OK? I just see this poster everywhere and it reminds me of them so I'll attach it next week. Thanks. I think about the ward all the time. I really miss being in such a small and tight-knit ward but I just think that that is what we're trying to build here! The ward is really good here and I've felt welcome from the minute I've been here. Yes I did get the driver's licence (that's really how they spell it over here) and thank you. I was surprised to open it because I look a lot older in it. Oh well go figure. That's something Shae told Aaron when he got back from his mission. "You looked like a little boy when you left and now you look like a man" We'll see if that's true, hopefully. No we don't go to the ocean but maybe one of these p-days we will. Speaking of p-day, its slowing drifting away! So i'm gonna go have some fun and get a haircut! Thanks for all the snail mail, it makes my day and I read them all the time, none of it ever feels preachy and everything I read helps me to be a better missionary. This week i'm gonna focus on serving my companion and being the best companion I can be!

Wish me luck, love you!
Elder Rowley

life over the sandwich shoppe

Opposition: ankle better, finger dislocated

Haha, ya this week has been really good. Time has really picked up and yesterday I've been gone a month! It pales in comparison to Jon's 8 months though... Oh well. Ya Adam is great, he's 20 and going on a mission next year so we get on really well. Its fun to work with all the members here because they really want to reach out because the ward is so small. My ankle is fine now and gets better everyday so thanks for the prayers and you don't have to worry about me so much. It does feel like somebody doesn't want me out here though, right after we e-mailed we went and played games at our church. We were playing dodge ball and it was the last throw and if i caught it we would win so I did and when I caught the ball I heard a cccrrack! I looked down to see my poor pinkie crumpled up and dislocated! After a few attempts from different people Elder Swain popped it back in and now its fine. He said I probably shouldn't play anymore though so I wrote Rachiel, started writing home and ran out of things to say. (I'll finish it today). I guess one of the people we are teaching I could tell you about is named Steve. He's from Nigeria and just barely brought his wife back from Nigeria too. We taught him the first lesson and scheduled him to be baptized but Steve and Agnus came to church yesterday! And he had a bunch of questions but said we could answer them when we came back or at church next week, we didn't even have to ask him to come back! Well I'm really sad to hear about Brother Oldroyd, tell him he was always one of my favorite people in the ward and that I love him. I'll be praying for him. Thanks for keeping me updated on the animals, I sometimes worry about them but I know it will all work out.

Yup, that's our flat. We live with the zone leaders like a said which can be really fun most of the time. Nights are really different though because everybody is calling people and getting key indicators and stuff. The other day Elder Swain came home and had us all help him and we converted our dinning room table into a table tennis table! We're gonna be real great by the time we all go home. As for my ankle it is doing fine. The bruising on my toes already happened and we were afraid that meant it was getting worse so i'm glad to hear that's supposed to happen. I'm also glad you told me to stay off of it for a couple weeks because I was running on it earlier today. Did I tell you that we have a tennis court near our flat and some mornings we go play? I'm still carefull but I'd like to play everyday, usually we just lounge about during exercise every morning and it makes it hard to stay awake during study time. Did i tell you about the people i met in church last week from Provo? He worked for the track and she was on the team, they said they know Coach Robison and that they were there for a track meet. I can't remember if I told you that. The language really isn't that hard to understand, except maybe when people are yelling at you. That happened this week. This man started chasing off his property with a brick and yelling at us and Elder Thorup. That was earlier in the week and its been much much better since then. Like I said last time, the members are fantastic and Adam added mom on facebook. We were in the car waiting for Elder Thorup and the ward mission leader and I got to thinking and said do you have facebook? And he said yes and i told him to add mom, it was pretty funny. One last thing I wanted to tell you about happened two days ago. We sometimes go over to a recent convert's house and visit with her and her three kids (I may have mentioned her before, her name is Sonia and she has four kids, Les, Jade, Jason, and Adeena) but she called us on Friday and said she wasn't going to be able to come to church that week. We called her and it turns out her husband flipped that night and smashed a bunch of stuff in their house and got arrested. Well we went over and helped her clean it all up and it was a mess, but then her husband came home! It wasn't anything scary it was just like he'd been arrested for another reason. I think it may have happened before or he may have some condition or something. But the best part was that we got to give her a blessing of strength and comfort. It was really good. I'm really sad to hear about Bud Oldroyd and the Cuell family. He has always been one of my favorite people in the ward and I will keep him in my prayers. Well its nice to hear that Lindsay and Kyle are doing well. Tell them they can e-mail me whenever they want. Somedays I forget about home and other days its a little harder so I'm gonna try and work much harder.

Love you.
Elder Rowley