Happy Boxing Day (three holidays in one week--wow!)

Date: Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Happy New Year!!

Hello!!

Wow, it's the last day of 2008, that is crazy! It went so fast! What's really crazy is that before we know it we'll be saying the same thing about 2009!

It's been a great week! Christmas was AMAZING!! After opening our massive pile of packages and presents from the ward members, we spent the morning with a part-member family with two children and it was a lot of fun. We played table football and we built Legos and played uno and had a roast duck lunch, it was the best! After our phone calls home we went to another family's home and it was a lot of fun there too. Their name is the Dangerfields, how cool is that? We got to play the Wii and have some food and then we just talked with Brother and Sister Dangerfield, it was great! The next day was Boxing Day and that was so much fun. We did our weekly planning first, then we went to another family's home and played Monopoly and had some lunch, it was a lot of fun. I don't know how in the world I did it, but I won Monopoly, it was pretty crazy! Then right before we left they came out with two bags of presents for each of us, it was amazing, this Ward has really made us feel at home!! We then went to another members home and had dinner then played a German board game, it was a lot of fun as well. It's been a great holiday season here!

Since Christmas and Boxing day we've been really busy teaching and finding people to teach and it's been pretty crazy and a lot of fun! The work here is going very well right now and hopefully it will pick up even more after New Years. The sisters that were here before us had a lot of investigators, most of which have been on holiday and will return within the next week or so. I'm excited to meet all of them and get busy teaching!! I love being a Missionary, it's the best!

Yesterday was quite tough. I came down with a bit of a head cold, and was pretty sick and lethargic most of the day. Don't worry, it wasn't anything big and I'm fine now, but it was tough. The Lord took care of me though and I was able to make it through a full day of work. Even if we had 3 appointments fall through! That happens all too often, people just aren't there when they say they will be! It's fun though because the Lord knows that that will happen before it does and we are placed in the path of another amazing person who we can speak with and get an appointment with.

The Church is true and nothing will ever change that. The Plan of Salvation is true and is perfect. The Atonement is the greatest thing that has ever happened in this world and I know that it did happen. Jesus Christ really did pay the price for all of our sins, and He did suffer for all of our pains, trials, temptations, and sicknesses. I felt His help as I was sick yesterday, and it was amazing. It is amazing. We can feel the power of the Atonement in our lives at any time. God does live and He does love us perfectly. Our relationship with Him is so deep that we really will be surprised at well we know Him when we pass through the veil. He wants to help us in everything we are experiencing. We can do nothing without Him. He has given us everything we have and He will continue to give to us as we obey Him. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it brings us closer to God. I love that book and I love our Heavenly Father. I know that true happiness comes from seeking the happiness and welfare of others, just like Jesus Christ did. I love being a Missionary, never before have I looked at life as I do now and I will never look at it the same again. This is the best thing I've ever done!

Well, I'll let you go now. I hope you have a wonderful week filled with Missionary experiences! I'm still itching to hear about some of them! They really do make us happier, I promise! Anyway, Happy New Year! I Love you all, thanks for all of your support!

Love,

Elder Rowley

PS-Missionaries NEED letters. (thanks for the ones that have been sent by the way!)

From Dalene: In his letter to me Luke also mentioned he got to see a whale:

Oh yeah and I forgot to say that I saw a whale this morning, it was just surfacing and it blew up some water for a second then disappeared, it was beautiful!

I guess one is so lucky when one lives on the shore of the Irish Sea...

Gifts galore!

Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 4:44 AM
Subject: Christmas Eve!

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited to get to write to you today! There has been so much happening here, it's crazy! I love it so much though, there is nowhere else on the earth that I would rather be right now than here on the Isle of Man serving with Elder Larsen. I feel at home here. I can't wait for you to see the pictures of our Christmas, there are so many presents for us from you and from the Ward members here. On Sunday we got home and it felt like we had been grocery shopping with all of the bags of presents that we took into the flat. I Love it here so much! I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now.

Well, the last time I wrote you was Saturday so there really isn't too much to write about as far as the work goes. We've been speaking with so many amazing people, the people here are so nice and I'm growing to love them more and more every day. I dread the day when I have to leave the Isle of Man. The conversations we are having with people are incredible, Elder Larsen and I work so well together, the Lord really knew what He was doing when He sent us out here. I feel like Alma and Amulek or something, it's incredible! Other than that we have been teaching our investigator with a Baptismal date and she is just so amazing. She understands the Gospel so well and she is so humble and ready for Baptism. Oh yeah and on Sunday we had our other investigator who was found by our recent convert come to Church! She wasn't feeling too well but she came anyway and from what we hear she really enjoyed it! We're so excited to see her continue to progress in the Gospel. I love the people here! Oh yes and on Monday we got to help out a family remodel their home, it looks like quite the project! We just moved a lot of wood for them but it was so much fun. It reminded me of that summer I worked for Todd Cuell, it made me realize just how far I've come since then! I just love work!

I must say that this island is one of the most beautiful places in the world, even when it's cloudy. The rolling green hills and the coastal views and the sunsets when we see them are all so amazing! I'm still driving and these roads are crazier than the ones I drove on in Shrewsbury! I'm so thankful that the Lord has blessed me to be able to drive over here, it's an incredible experience.

This morning Elder Larsen and I had an amazing study. We've come to understand more and more that the only people holding us back from being our best is ourselves. We must sacrifice all worldly thoughts, words, deeds, and desires if we want to reach our full potential as servants of the Lord. The more we sacrifice, the more we are blessed, and the happier we feel. I love this work so much even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done. It's the greatest though. It really isn't just about coming on a Mission, but about BEING a Missionary that I love so much. Anyway, the Church is true and that right there is amazing. The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is once again on the earth! Think about it, we get to be part of the last dispensation. We all know that never before have the forces of good and the forces of evil been so well organized. Life is hard. Living the Gospel is hard. But it is worth it. When was anything worthwhile ever easy? Oh how I love this Gospel. What a miracle it is that Jesus is the Christ and that He did suffer and die and was resurrected for our sins, pains, infirmities, sorrows, everything. And because of that we can have all that Heavenly Father has, if we just obey His Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He loves us so much more than we can know. When we have the spirit with us we can feel a part of that love, and it's incredible. I love the spirit, without it I am dead as a Missionary. I'm so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and I know that He is real. God is our loving Heavenly Father. We can pray to Him anytime, anywhere, anyplace we want. Prayer changes things for the better. I love prayer. I love the Scriptures. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it will change our lives as we read it again and again and again. It makes me so happy because it brings us closer to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and he really does hold all the keys of the Priesthood. I love this Church, and I love being a Missionary!

Well, I hope you'll forgive me for being a bit long-winded with my testimony, but it really has just grown so much since I've been out here. How are your Missionary experiences going? Are you finding people for the Missionaries there to teach? I hope all is going well. Thanks for all of the love and support and strength you give to me, it's incredible. I'm working on reaching my full potential as a Missionary because I know that the Lord needs it, and the people here need it. Will you pray for me to reach my full potential? Miracles will happen here, and I'm so excited for it!

Have a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year! I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Saturday Surprise: Home away from home away from home, or, Obey your president!

stormy sea photo courtesy of Mr. Trickett


Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2008 at 3:35 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello Everyone!

Wow, another Christmas is already here, it's crazy how fast the time flies! How is everyone? Thanks so much for all the love and letters and packages and support, you are all so wonderful! I appreciate it so much and so does the Lord! I have so much to tell you about! The past couple weeks have been some of the busiest and most life-changing weeks of my life. I love change, isn't it fun?

Well, Elder Larsen and I have been working hard here on the Isle of Man and it is so much fun! The other day we taught 4 lessons in a row, it was amazing. We taught the first one to the girlfriend of a recent convert, she is kind of shy but from what we were told by the member that was with us she is taking it all in well. Then our other recent convert who is AMAZING phoned us and said that he's got a friend who wanted to speak with us and we set up an appointment with him and her later that day! The lesson went really well, she is so prepared, and she is excited to learn more. Today we are committing both of them to Baptism! It's really exciting. The other two lessons that day were with another recent convert who is struggling and our investigator with a Baptismal date. Those went really well also.

The ward here is so incredible, they are so supportive! It's as if we are a part of the ward and our callings are ward callings, it's incredible! They are so friendly and kind and we both really feel at home here, it's great.

The last 3 days have been pretty intense. We had Zone Conference on Thursday and that was absolutely incredible. I needed it so bad. We had some talks and things from President and Sister Bullock and other Missionaries in the morning and then... we got to go to the TEMPLE!! It was so amazing, we first ate a great meal in the cafeteria and then did our Endowment session. It felt so good to be in the Temple again, it's been so long! The spirit was strong the entire day, after our session we went to the MTC and watched the Joseph Smith movie, it was great. It felt weird to be back there, it made me realize just how far I've come in the last 3 months. I loved Zone Conference! Being a Missionary is the best.

To be at Zone Conference we had to take the ferry out on Wednesday and then train hop to Preston where we stayed with the Preston Zone Leaders and a couple other Elders there (it's a 4 man flat). It was so fun, we got to go on exchanges with them and they were so nice to us and it just felt like our home away from home (the Isle of Man) away from home (Utah)! Yesterday we did the same thing with the trains and the ferry except that it wasn't so pleasant. On the way over on Wednesday the ferry was rocking almost like a rocking chair. On the way back last night it was like a rodeo bull. It slowly got worse and worse, at first it was fun; but by the time we walked off I wanted to kiss the ground. I went from sitting up straight to slouching to laying down on the bench (it's like a restaurant). And then I pretty much fell on the floor. I was so sick and I'm still recovering. I learned something last night. Never ever ever disobey your Mission President in anything he tells you to do, especially when he says to get motion sickness tablets!! It was a good experience though and I'm glad it happened.


Missionary work is hard and fun. It is true though, and it is the Lord's work. His hand is in this work even right now. I know that Heavenly Father loves us more than we can ever understand. He is mindful of our trials and afflictions and is waiting earnestly to help us, all we need to do is ask for His divine help. I have experienced that so many times in my life but especially here on my Mission. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. The more earnest our prayers the more earnest He blesses us. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it brings us closer to God. I'm so thankful for what Joseph Smith went through to be the instrument of God in restoring this Gospel to the earth. He was a Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God today. He knows and sees things we can't, and because of that we must obey him. When we do what the Prophet says we're doing what God says. As we obey the Gospel we are happier. Jesus Christ is really the only way to true and lasting happiness in this life and in the next. He is our Savior. He knows us and all of our pains, trials, temptations, and sicknesses and He knows how to deliver us from them. I love celebrating not only His birth, but His life and death and resurrection as well. We celebrate His birth because of His life. His example really is the best in the world. If we follow Him we will reach our full potential and we will be happy! This message is true and it changes lives! I absolutely LOVE being a Missionary!

Thanks again for all the prayers and love and support, the Lord knows I need it. And I need it because the people here need me. I'm so thankful that I get to serve them. Don't ever forget that they are being blessed for what you do for me. I love you all so much. Keep working hard and having Missionary experiences. I'm still working on Charity, your prayers are much needed and appreciated as I work on developing this Christ-like attribute!

Well, I guess I'd better wrap this up. You'll hear more from me on Wednesday. I Love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Can you hear me now?

instead of groundhog day, apparently over there they celebrate hedgehog day (at least it's not a rat!)


Elder Rowley, driving off into the sunset...on the wrong side of the road!


Driving on the wrong side of the car, apparently, too


Elder Ayers during service hours at Attingham Park


Luke's little sister keeps praying that Luke will have a good time on his mission. I think her prayers are working, don't you?


Mail call. Just look at that big grin. Thank you for making our missionary happy with your cards and letters.


I can't tell if Luke is saying thanks for the Alfredo sauce packet I sent him or dropping a hint he'd like more...maybe both!


Luke and Flat Stanley (a little visitor to England from his fourth-grader brother). Flat Stanley liked it so much over there we had a difficult time getting him to come home!

*Now you see it

Now you don't it



Because of Christmas Zone Conference, there was no e-mail exchange this week with Elder Rowley, but there was something even better. Due to some bad news we needed to speak with him about, we were able to talk with him over the phone. He's doing great. The Lord is blessing him in so many remarkable ways. And we are being so blessed by his missionary service. I hope to be able to write more about it all later.

But if it wasn't enough just to hear his voice and be reassured by his strong faith and testimony, we were also blessed to receive the long-awaited photos. We'll sort them all out and post more later, but here are a few for now...







*From Dalene: You know I've stood by my French friends even through the entire "American Fries" revolution in this country. But to see French fries overtake honest-to-goodness English chips, wow, that's real shame. Say it ain't so, Joe.

Better than being a super hero

Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello Again!

How is everyone this week? Got any Missionary experiences to share with me? Well, here I sit, at an internet cafe on the coast of the Isle of Man in the city of Douglas! We live in a place called Castletown, it's amazing. Look it all up on Google earth if you get the chance!

As for my last week in Shrewsbury, it was pretty amazing. We started these Living Christmas Cards and it was so much fun. We would go to homes of people that members told we were coming to visit and shared 5 Christmas Scriptures and sang a carol. I loved it. One home we got into was a less active man named Mark Stone. His son Ewan was there and watching him was like watching Kyle, it was so cool. He is nine years old and he loves Tom and Jerry and he can play with one toy for hours and hours. They are really incredible people, I'm sad that I won't get to work with them anymore!

Last Saturday we got to go to a part-member family and help the dad/father (non-member) clean his motorbikes. Elder Woolsey is big into motorbikes and he really enjoyed that. I just liked using the powerwasher! It was good though, especially because their son just turned 12 and was ordained a Deacon this past Sunday! He is a great kid as are all of the Aaronic Priesthood holders in that ward. His dad came to his ordination on Sunday and it was really good to see him there. I really grew to love all of the people we worked with in Shrewsbury and I will miss them. The night before I left we visited a man named John Beharral, he is the ward mission leader and I will really miss working with him. We got to be good friends in the time we spent together. You really don't know what you've got until it's gone.

I'm sure the Ward will be missing me as well because now they have no Tenors in the ward choir. On Sunday I sang with them and it was so much fun, they're doing the same songs we did for Ward Choir last year at Christmas! They were all amazed at my voice and my confidence to be the only one singing that part. Thanks for giving me a great voice Mum and Dad! It made me regret not going to Ward Choir all those times. Now I jump at any and every opportunity to sing and even then I'm still singing hymns all throughout the day. I love music, it's so powerful and can quickly bring the spirit or even take the spirit away if it's inappropriate.

Wednesday was great, I drove Elder Woolsey and I from Shrewsbury to Altrincham (pronounced Altring'am, it's really cool). It took us about 2 and a half hours and it was a lot of fun. We got out of the car and I walked over and there was Elder Perry! It was so good to talk to him, he has already seen so much success on his Mission and he is doing very well. He is also whitewashing in an area in my last zone, it's exciting. We were talking about me going to the Isle of Man and I mentioned Shrewsbury and right in front of us someone whipped around and it was Elder Ayers!! I was so happy to see him, he has changed so much already. I was being told again and again by those that served around him just how much he loves me and how much he talks about me, it felt so good. I hope that I can be that loving and caring to all of my companions in return. When you're a Missionary you just serve everyone, especially your companion. I love it, I just love it! From there we went into a testimony meeting and the spirit was incredible. I wasn't planning on sharing my testimony, but then Elder Ayers got up and I just had to. He softened my hard heart. We got to sing some Christmas carols as well, and then we got our luggage on the coach (bus) and drove up to Chorley and got to see the Temple again! I never realized before what a blessing it was to just get to see the Temple every day. I've missed seeing it daily for the past 3 months, but I'm glad I've learned to appreciate it. Someday we'll have a Temple on the Isle of Man. It'll be just like Finland for you Dad! Oh and the same with Wales. There is so much potential for new Temples over here even though the work is slow right now. After that we spent the night with the Preston elders and that was a lot of fun. In the morning the Assistants came to pick us up and we took the ferry out here and now we're here. It was a really smooth ride over, it was amazing. I'll have to tell you more about it another day.

Elder Larson and Elder Rowley

My new companion is Elder Larson and he is incredible. We get along so well, it's amazing. I just love him so much already. Just this morning he ironed my shirt for me while I was showering. He does so much for me. We are really going to work hard over here and we are so excited for what the Lord has in store for us! Oh yeah and he is from Florida but he moved to Provo about 5 years ago and guess where he went to high school? Timpview! He knows Ben Martin pretty well and we've been asking each other about who we know and things, it's great. This is going to be one of the best transfers of my Mission, I can already tell!

We did a scripture study class last night with some ward members and investigators and it was so much fun! Elder Larsen has great enthusiasm for the Scriptures and he knows them so well, I love it! We were both teaching and testifying and sharing experiences from reading the scriptures and it was just great. The spirit was so strong and my testimony of the scriptures grew so much. The Book of Mormon really is the word of God and it will bring us closer to Him as we abide by its precepts. I love God so much. I love Jesus Christ so much. How great is this Christmas season in which we can celebrate his birth! I know that He really was born, He did live and die all for us, and He was resurrected for us. And the best part is that because of that, as imperfect as we are, we can have everything that God has. Truly the gift of the Atonement is the greatest gift we've ever received!! And it keeps on giving and giving, we can access that power any moment throughout any time of the year! Nothing has, or can have, a more powerful effect on our lives. I love the Atonement so much. I'm coming to understand and appreciate it so much better. I know that we all need the power of the Atonement every day of our lives. We are nothing without what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our whole purpose in coming to earth is centered in the Atonement. It's so amazing!! I know that God lives and He loves us so much. I have felt that love so strong out here on my Mission, and I know that you can feel that same love any time. He loves all of us equally so a Missionary is no more loved than anyone else. Oh I love being a Missionary. It's better than being a super-hero. It is so much fun, never pass up an opportunity to serve a Mission or even to have a Missionary experience!

One thing I really want to work on this transfer is Charity. Will you pray for Charity to fill me up as I serve here on the Isle of Man and for the rest of my Mission? I know that great things can happen when a Missionary is motivated by Charity. I know that prayer works, I've seen your prayers for me be answered in the work we're doing here!

Well, I'll tell you more about the Isle of Man next week. I love you all so much, thanks for everything you do! You are such wonderful people and the people here will be blessed for what you've done for me. Keep up the amazing work and keep the letters coming! I mean it! You know, I know who has and who hasn't written me and some of you are in need of some serious rebuking! Just kidding. I love you all, letters or not. Just the fact that you are my friends is enough for me! Do me a favor and be good so we can all live in the Celestial Kingdom together! Anyway, I love you all!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Transfer: Isle of Man

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:55 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello!

How is everyone this week? I've got to hurry so this will be short. In a few minutes we're getting a ride from the assistants to Liverpool where we will take the ferry to... The ISLE OF MAN!! I'm so excited, I can't even tell you. I hope to write more either when we get there or next week. I love you all so much!!

Love,

Elder Rowley

from Dalene: Well, at least we know where he is (or will be soon). It's kind of funny, I knew we wouldn't be hearing from him yesterday but it was unsettling not to know where he was. When I woke up this morning I thought "I just need to know where he is." And now I do!

Everyone I know who has been there has told me how much they loved the Isle of Man and how great it would be if Luke could serve there. And he gets to go through Liverpool? (think the Beatles--yeah, that Liverpool.) I know he is a missionary, not a tourist, but that is still just plain cool!

It actually felt like Thanksgiving!

Date: Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 4:35 AM
Subject: Happy December!

Hello Again!

Wow the weeks go so fast... before I know it I'm going to be out of Shrewsbury and into another area and then one day even getting on a plane to go back to Utah! I love it though.

Well I guess you're all wondering about Thanksgiving. We got to eat with a member family and it was amazing. I got to play the piano for a little while before it was ready and they had their parents over who are Senior Missionaries in the Birmingham Mission and the food was amazing! We had the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and vegetables, and a chocolate pie for dessert! Oh it was great. They really made us feel like home there. The spirit is so strong in the members homes, I feel so strengthened every time we go to one. Other than that we talked with people in the park and taught one of our investigators on Thanksgiving. It was a great day, and it actually felt like Thanksgiving!

On Sunday we got to go to Newtown and it was amazing. They forgot bread for the Sacrament so we had chocolate biscuits, it was really different but the Spirit was the same. That's how I feel every time we go to Newtown. It was really good that we were there because the Branch President was away for his daughter's wedding so they really used our help. And the lesson in Sunday School was all about Missionary Work! All of the wards in the Newcastle Stake (that's the stake we're in, it's massive) had this same Missionary lesson and it's really exciting to see the members here starting to get excited about Missionary work. Speaking of which, how are your Missionary experiences going? I know it's tough in Provo, but I know that anything is possible with the Lord's help! This is the Lord's work and He will help us do it! Just keep praying with faith to have Missionary experiences and they will come, I promise. I'm excited to hear about them too!

Monday was interviews and it was great. I just love working with so many incredible people! We had some training while the interviews were going on and it was great. The spirit was strong throughout the entire thing, I learned a lot and I'm excited to apply what I've learned!

Yesterday was an incredible day. In the morning we went to the park and got to speak with a lot of really amazing people. There was one couple I spoke with who was just really happy. And the husband was able to tell me to the minute how long they had been married! He was a really funny man, I really enjoyed speaking with him and his wife and everyone else I spoke with at the park. In just a short hour we reached our daily goal of ten Quality Gospel Conversations! It was great. And on top of that the sun was shining! In the afternoon we got to go to Attingham Park and do some digging there, it was tiring but a lot of fun. I just love serving there, the people we get to work with are so nice and it's just so much fun! Then in the evening we got to go to a less-active members home for dinner! She made us soup and bread and peas, carrots, Yorkshire puddings, and lamb. For dessert we had trifle and then after dinner we taught her about the Atonement. It was such an amazing evening! She is such a wonderful lady who I hope you get to meet someday. I really felt at home in her home last night, it was great! She's always so nice and she makes us feel comfortable and the best part is that she is always sharing stories about how music has influenced her life, I just love it. So yesterday was pretty amazing.

Well, that's the highlights of the week. Other than that the work is still difficult here, but we have a transfer in a week. Speaking of which, you'll need to start sending letters to the Mission Office now. I have a good feeling that I will not be in Shrewsbury in a week. It's exciting, but at the same time I'm really going to miss my greenie area. You'll probably get an e-mail late next week, so don't worry!

Anyway, the Church is still true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and I love Him so much. He really has suffered all of our pains, sicknesses, afflictions and temptations. I have felt the power of the Atonement here on my Mission so much. I know that that power is available to us any time we need it. I know that because of the Atonement our lives have purpose and meaning. The Atonement is the most important event that has ever occurred on this earth. Just think about it for a moment: Jesus Christ died for us. He went through all that suffering for us, because He loves us and He wants us to have eternal happiness. I know that this is all true and it makes me so happy that we have this knowledge and that God has given us the matchless gift of His son. I've been thinking about it a bit lately with Christmas coming, and I realized that the gift of the Atonement is great. My Spirit is happy to have this gift, and that it really is the gift that keeps on giving. I know that as we share our knowledge of the Gospel with others and invite them to come unto Jesus Christ, then we will come unto Him ourselves. Prayer works. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is our living Prophet today. Jesus Christ is at the head of this Church and He guides and directs us through President Monson. I love this Church and I love being a Missionary!

Well, I'll write more next week. Thanks for all of the prayers for this area and for myself and those I serve with. They are being answered. Your love and support and letters and everything is much appreciated and they all help me be a better Missionary so I can better help others come unto Jesus Christ. Keep the letters coming!!! You have no idea how much it means to me to see a letter for me in the flat. It really helps so much with everything. I love you all, keep up the amazing work! Don't forget I want to hear about your Missionary experiences! Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Rowley

A thankful heart (and full stomach, too)

Date: Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 5:06 AM
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey Everyone!

It's crazy that Thanksgiving is already here! The time just goes so fast... I'm going to be back in Utah before any of us know it! Already almost 3 months of my Mission is gone!

Anyway, I'm sure you're all wondering what we're doing for Thanksgiving. Well, we heard from the Zone Leaders that we can go to a members home and have dinner there and so we phoned up this really amazing Family and we are seeing them for dinner tomorrow! We are both so excited, when we were on the phone with them they were asking us all about a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and it sounds like it is going to be amazing! I love dinner appointments. We have that one tomorrow night, one on Saturday, another on Sunday, and another on Tuesday! We've had a lot of dinner appointments here and they are so much fun and the food is great!

Yesterday we were at Attingham Park again and they let us go for a walk around the park. We went to a part of the park where the deer stay and we got within 20 yards of some of them, it was amazing! It was so nice and relaxing to be out there in nature again. It reminded me of when I shot my deer last year and Elder Woolsey and I were talking about hunting and camping the whole time, it was great. In a way it really does feel like Thanksgiving, I love it.

Last week on P-Day we taught a man named Ian and he is great. From what we can tell he is a very kind and loving father and husband and just a great person all around. They even have my Missionary Scripture- "Ye are the Light of the world" on their piano! Anyway, he's a great man, but that night he asked us a couple of really tough questions and we said we'd have to get back on him. We're seeing him again next week and we're hoping we'll be able to answer them. Other than that we are seeing a man named Phil who is really nice. We're getting to be good friends with him, and we've taught him 4 times I think. He isn't progressing too quickly, but he is keeping the commitments we give him so that's good. Oh yes and on Monday night we saw a couple of less-actives, Sister Perks and Sister Wittman. They are both amazing Sisters and I'm so happy to know that I will know them for eternity! Sister Perks made us a pizza while we were there and they are both just so nice to us. While we were with Sister Wittman we got to sing with her and I played the piano, it was great! I just love all the amazing people we get to work with here, I wish you could meet them!

Last Saturday morning we played football with a few Ward Members and it was a lot of fun. They are so much better than us. If the U.S. played Great Britain in a Football game, we'd get creamed. But then again, if we played them in a Basketball game they'd get creamed. I think I'm getting better at Football though, I guess you'll find out when I get back!

We've been having better success setting up appointments with QGC's and it's amazing. When I was with Elder Ayers he was always setting up appointments and I never thought I would be able to do it and now I am! It's difficult though because most people aren't in when they said they'd be and so a lof of our appointments fall through. It's great though, because the Lord still places us in the paths of people who will listen to us. We get on these appointment chains where we will go to one appointment and it will fall through, then we do some work in that area and get another appointment in another area. We go to that appointment and it falls through and we then are placed in the path of someone who will give us another appointment. I think the Lord is guiding us to someone who is really prepared by these appointment chains. It's kind of fun anyway! The hand of the Lord really is in this work.

Thanks for all of the prayers and support and everything, it's much appreciated. Oh and the letters are amazing as well. They really uplift me every time I read them! I'm sorry it will take me so long to respond to them though, I'll do my best! Keep them coming though, the Lord knows I need your support through prayers as well as letters. Our area is a really difficult one. Will you pray for the people here? I know that we will see miracles here, and I'm excited for it. Also, will you pray for the Ward to be ready to receive new members through Baptism? The Lord will bless us all for our work (This week I learned that Prayer is a form of work, see BD-Prayer) in behalf of those here. Prayer changes things!

Well, last I checked the Church is still true. That right there is something that is amazing. We have the truth once again on the earth! We have a Prophet once again on the earth! What a wonderful Church. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet and he did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in that grove of trees all those years ago. I know that the sacrifices that he went through to be the Lord's instrument in restoring the truth were worth it. And so are our sacrifices to share this knowledge with the world. Which reminds me, how are your Missionary experiences going? Are you finding people for the Missionaries to teach? The Missionaries there need your help so much. There is so much potential in Member-Missionary work, it's just amazing. Will you work to have at least 1 Missionary experience a week? Even in Provo this is possible. Pray for it. Think about it. Expect it. Expect the Lords help with it. I know that He wants to help us do Missionary work, and He will. He will bless us so much for our efforts. This work is the greatest in the world. Of all the things that I am I am most thankful for the fact that I am a Missionary. It makes me so happy! I love this work. I love Jesus Christ. He lives and loves us so much. The power of the Atonement is real and we can experience it daily. The power of the Priesthood is real. Miracles do happen, big and small. God lives and loves us. He is there for us to speak with anytime, anywhere, and about anything. Our happiness is what is most important to God. I know that as we give our wills to him, for that is really the only thing that is ours to give, then He will make us happier than we ever thought possible. I love you all so much, keep up the amazing work!! God bless you for your love and support to me!

Love,

Elder Rowley

On bended knee

Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 4:26 AM
Subject: Lots of Love from Shrewsbury!

Hello Everyone!!

Wow it's been an incredible week. It all goes so fast, but I just love it all just the same. Being a Missionary is so much fun.

Friday we had Zone Conference and we experienced the power of Revelation. The whole thing was planned on bended knee and it was obvious. They taught us how to have Quality Gospel Conversations (our new key indicator) and also how to set up appointments. The spirit was so strong, all of us knew that it came from the Lord himself. That day was the day our mission changes forever, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it! We are excited to have plans to at least double the amount of Baptisms we have as a Mission and it is so exciting. Will you pray for us to have success in doing this? We are going to see great miracles in Great Britain in the little while that I'm here and for a long while after that. Oh I'm so excited!

Well, this week is the week the excitement began when on Monday Elder Woolsey and I had 23 QGC's with 3 set up appointments! It was my first time setting up an appointment to go teach someone and because of the training from Zone Conference, I was able to do it well! It's so exciting. Then yesterday we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and we together got something like 20 QGC's with 3 more appointments! Oh I love this, it's amazing!

On Sunday we got to go to Stake Conference and it was great. We were a bit late so we got to sit in a little room and watch the speakers on a TV. It was my first Stake Conference in Great Britain and guess who spoke? President and Sister Bullock! It was great, their talks were amazing! The theme of the Conference was Missionary work and we are all really excited to have more of the members help in finding people for us to teach. Will you pray for the members of the Shrewsbury Ward and Newtown Branch to have success in finding people for us to teach? I know that if we all pray together then we will see, and be part of great miracles in these areas. I'm so blessed to have all of your help and support! How are your Missionary experiences? I'd like to hear some in the letters and e-mails home! Are you finding people for the Missionaries to teach?

Anyway, now to the exchange with the Zone Leaders! It's been so much fun, I've been with Elder Wiese (pronounced 'visa') from Germany! They just keep putting me with these Germans. And I love it! I've really come to love Germans, Sweedish people, Finnish people, and especially the Brits. I love growing to love people! Anyway, so last night we were tracting and within about half an hour we had a few QGC's and 2 more appointments! It was amazing, Elder Wiese has taught me so much! I love learning from other Missionaries, it's great! Oh yes, and last night he cut my hair. It's pretty short now, I'm hoping to get you pictures soon and you can see how much fun we had that night!

Well, the church is true, what else matters? I know it is true, I just know it. The hope for Salvation really is like a protective helmet, if we desire the Celestial Kingdom more than anything else, then we will obtain it. I'm so excited to meet our Father in Heaven again one day, it's going to be such an amazing day. He really is there for us. Prayer does work, I've seen so many answers to my prayers every single day of my Mission so far. Fasting and prayer is powerful. I've seen a great change in the lives of those around me as I've fasted for them. Miracles are possible. Jesus is the Christ and He lives and loves us. Think about that: Jesus Christ is alive. He is walking, breathing, talking somewhere, right this very moment. That is amazing. And because of that we can live again as well. The Gospel is true. If we live like Jesus Christ and live His Gospel then we will obtain Salvation. It is possible for each and every one of us. No matter how hard things may get in life the Atonement makes up for it, the Atonement can deliver us from any trial, temptation, sorrow, or pain we will ever go through. The book of Mormon is the word of God. It is the way to a testimony. If you are doubting the truth of the Gospel, read the Book of Mormon. If you are ever feeling down and depressed, read the Book of Mormon. If you feel that you are unworthy and temptation is pressing upon you, read the Book of Mormon. It can bring us closer to Jesus Christ and to God. Read the Book of Mormon. We owe it to those who wrote it, (see Jacob 4:1-3) to those we love, and to God. He wants us to be close to Him and the Book of Mormon can do that. I love that book so much. The Church is true. Keep up the amazing work, your help and support to me is much needed and appreciated. I couldn't be doing as well as I am if it weren't for all of your help. Thanks for making me who I am today! Keep the letters coming. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Addendum: I asked Luke what service project he does at the National Trust. This is his response:

Oh I just saw your question about the National Trust, we usually help out in a place called the walled garden, it's really cool. Hundreds of years ago it was a garden, and recently they've restored it, it's amazing. We do things like shovel manure and put it on the soil, or dig up new beds for plants and things, or water plants, or one week we actually squished caterpillars, it was pretty fun!

Christmas mail & packages

Just an FYI for anyone wanting to send Christmas cards or packages to Luke:

The mission office has requested packages be sent to the mission home address (see second address listed on left sidebar) and that they are mailed well before the Christmas rush, in order to ensure they are delivered in a timely fashion.

If mailed before Thanksgiving, any letters or cards be mailed directly to to Luke's flat (top address in left sidebar). The next transfer is December 10th, so anything sent after Thanksgiving ought to be sent to the mission home office, just in case.

Thanks!

Rowley in the House

Date: Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 4:41 AM
Subject: I Love You All!!

Hello Again!

Another week has come and gone so fast... it's incredible how fast the time flys! It only makes sense though, we are constantly working just about every hour of the day and I love it. There is nowhere else I would rather be than here on my Mission right now! It's been so much fun and I've grown so much already, I'm so excited that I get to be here for another 22 months!

Last week after P-Day we visited the first brick building in Shrewsbury. And guess what it's called? Rowley House! It was built by William Rowley a long time ago, I'm not sure exactly how long. Anyway, I'm really curious if we're related to him, can you send me some more pedigree charts? It's actually getting me kind of excited to do family history work someday!

On Friday we got to visit Newtown again and it was amazing. Elder Woolsey felt the great potential that is there just as I have before and still do. The branch there is really struggling though. The Branch President has been in for about 6 years and just last week the Branch was almost split up. They really need your prayers and faith, so will you pray for the members, and specifically for the less-active members, of the Newtown Branch? We're working to get as many people as possible to pray for this area because it really needs a miracle right now. I know that we can all see a miracle here and I'm excited to share it with you when it happens. Although the Lord could delay our petitions for Newtown for months or maybe years, I know that a miracle will happen there!

Thank you for praying for my mouth to be opened and filled with words, it has happened. I'm always going to be working on speaking with people, but I feel that I have really improved in the last couple weeks. I am worrying less and less about what to say when I speak with people and my faith that my mouth will be filled with the words to day has increased. Thank you so much!!

The other night Elder Woolsey and I were doing some tracting and got drenched, it was amazing. I am really loving the rain, it is so beautiful! I just bought myself an umbrella so I don't worry, I'll keep dry. Anyway, the next night we were tracting a street near that one and at one door a really nice older lady answered the door. We spoke quite a bit about the Gospel with her and she reminded me a lot of Aunt Edna, it was amazing. She has a friend over there in Utah who writes to her and I've been hoping and praying for her friend to tell her more about the church so she will join someday. As we stood there and spoke with her I could picture her joining the church, it was incredible! I've been able to do that with a lot of people, I really love it. We really are all brothers and sisters and children of our Heavenly Father!

On Monday we got to go on an exchange with the District Leader and his companion. His companion, Elder Ritter from Germany, came here to Shrewsbury. He is right our from the MTC and is already an amazing Missionary, I learned so much from him! I really grew to love him in the one day that we spent with each other. I really enjoy growing to love people unconditionally, I love feeling just a little portion of the infinite love of our Father in Heaven!

Things with Elder Woolsey are tough but fun. He has been on his mission for almost 18 months now. Every time we see a plane go by he says "hey, guess how far away that plane is?" and then "6 and a half months!" And thats when I say "21 and a half months for me!" And I tell him how he is going to go home and be jealous of me still being here! He is a great Missionary and I'm learning a lot from him.

Well, I guess that's about all for this week. I love you so much, your prayers and support and letters and packages and everything mean so much to me. I wouldn't be nearly as great of a Missionary if it weren't for you. Thanks for making me who I am today! Oh and to those who have written me letters, I'm sorry it's going to take me a long time to reply! We only have about a couple hours each week to write letters with all we do on Preparation day so I'm a little limited in what I can do. But I will do my best to write you back!

The Church is so true and I love it so much. Being a Missionary is the greatest thing any person can do, whether you're a Member-Missionary or a Full-Time Missionary. Joseph Smith was a Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet on the earth today. Jesus Christ is the head of the church through Thomas S. Monson. The power of the Holy Ghost is real and we can enjoy it every day of our lives. I wish I could share with you a hundredth part of what I'm learning each morning in study and throughout each day, but I cannot. I now know what they meant when they talked about that in the Book of Mormon. That book IS true no matter what anyone else says. It will change our lives every time we read it and we can grow closer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other books precepts. I've said it before and I'll say again that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of my testimony. Jesus is the Christ and He loves us unconditionally. Heavenly Father lives and loves us so much. I know that as we give our all in our prayers to Him, He will open the windows of Heaven and we will be blessed like never before. I'm experiencing that here. I'm experiencing I say, Become a Missionary. There is nothing greater.

I love you all. Keep the letters coming! And keep praying for me and all those around me here. Are you getting the blessings I'm sending you?

With much Love,

Elder Rowley

p.s. You can mention on the blog about the fall here, it's beautiful! Elder Woolsey and I were at Attingham Park yesterday and we thought we were looking at a painting of some trees on a hill-side in the distance but we could tell it was real, it was amazing! (This was in a separate e-mail to me.)

Nowhere else on earth

Date: Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 4:26 AM
Subject: I Love You!!

Hello Again!

Wow another week has come and gone so fast... it's crazy how fast it all goes! Well, it's been an exciting and difficult week. Every week is like that though, and I absolutely love it.

Last Tuesday when I was still with Elder Ayers we got let into a home and taught a man the Restoration, I think I told you about it. Well, we went to our appointment with him and he wasn't there so we phoned him up on Halloween Night right before we did weekly planning. He is an amazing man. He asked "can I come to your church?" and he has so many amazing questions and he reminds me a lot of myself when I was first getting into the Book of Mormon. We were really excited to see him at church on Sunday but he didn't make it. A friend of his passed away and he wasn't doing too well on Sunday. But since then we've met with him a couple times and it has pretty much been just question and answer sessions. He asks us a question and we are guided by the spirit to a scripture in the Book of Mormon that answers it for him, it's so amazing. The spirit was so strong in the lesson we taught him last night, I just LOVE it!! The only sad part is that he is moving to Bristol in a couple weeks so we will only get to teach him for that much longer then hopefully turn him over to the Missionaries there. It's alright though, I've learned and grown so much from teaching him!!

How was everyone's Halloween? We had to be in after 5:00 p.m. and we did our weekly planning session, it was actually pretty fun and we got a lot done! It sure was the most different Halloween of my life!


Oh yes and I haven't even told you about Elder Woolsey! He is amazing, I love him so much already. He is really good at finding common ground with people and complimenting them, it's great! He is from St. George and he pretty much grew up in Bryce Canyon and that area so he is a lot like the Rowley side of the family. A LOT. It's amazing, so many times I just have to tell him "hey that's something my Dad would tell me back at home" or something like that. We get along pretty well and it's a lot of fun. If there's anything else you'd like to know about him then let me know!

On Sunday we got to have dinner with the Bishop and his family and it was wonderful. Where he lives is a lot like Duchesne, lots of trees and fields and a lot of wildlife, it's beautiful. The meal was amazing, as are all of our dinner appointments. I think I'm going to really miss the English dessert when I get back to Utah. It's usually a nice big, warm piece of pie covered with ice cream and custard. Oh I just love it!

Well, that's about all the news I have for this week. I just love being a Missionary so much, I know I say that all the time but it is just so true. The words "England Manchester Mission" meant so little to me on the night of May 21st, but now they mean so much more. I love it here, there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be right now.

The church is true and it is amazing. The gospel can and will give us the most happiness of anything in the world because it is real and it is true. Jesus Christ really does live and loves us so much. God lives as well and wants to see us happy. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it will change our lives every time we read it and pray about it. I'm seeing it change lives here and it's changing my life every day. It is the keystone of my testimony. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and the first vision really did happen. Nothing anyone ever says can disprove that. I know it is true, I just know it! I'm realizing that more than anything else my own conversion to the Gospel is becoming deeper and deeper as I serve Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my brothers and sisters here in Great Britain. I love this great work with all my heart!

Have a wonderful week and I will too! Help out the Missionaries there, they need your help more than any of us know. You are a key part of the success of Missionary work there. I love you all so much, keep up the great work! Thanks for all the letters, love, support, prayers, help, everything. You do so much for me and it is really blessing the lives of every soul that is here. My companions, the ward members, our investigators, those we talk with on the street or in their homes, all of them are blessed for your efforts. Thank you!!

Much much Love,

Elder Rowley

First Zone Conference

Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 6:05 AM
Subject: I Love You!

Hello Again!

Two months of my Mission is GONE!! I miss it already. I just love being a Missionary and I never want to stop doing Missionary work. It's the best!

Well, the big news for the week is.... Elder Ayers is gone. He is going to be a Zone Leader in the Ashton Zone! I'm so excited for him. We got the phone call on Sunday night. My new companion will be Elder Woolsey from St. George. I'm going to miss Elder Ayers, but I'm really excited to serve with Elder Woolsey. He likes hunting and fishing and seems like an outdoors man so we already have a lot in common! It's going to be a great transfer! Speaking of transfers, they are every 6 weeks, the next one ends on December 10. You'll have to remind me to let you know when each transfer ends so you can send mail to the Mission Office!

Zone Conference was amazing! I just love getting to meet with President Bullock and other Missionaries. I was praying for greater Faith and an added measure of the Spirit before the Conference and my prayers were answered. President Robert C. Oaks came and spoke to us for a couple hours, and we also heard from President and Sister Bullock, Sister Oaks, and Elder Wiedmann. I learned so much! The spirit was so strong in those meetings, I know that sounds really cliche but it's really true. I absolutely love the Spirit of God.

Last Friday we went on an exchange and I got to go with Elder Davies from Arizona. He is going to be our new district leader by the way. Anyway, we got to do some finding and also had a lesson with a less-active man who is struggling. At the end of the lesson we got to give him a blessing of comfort and it felt amazing. I love the feeling that comes from using the Melchizedek Priesthood to bless others. It was a wonderful experience.

On Sunday we got to visit Newtown for church again and it was great. I got to give a talk about gratitude, it was fun! After the meetings we had a munch and mingle, it was great food and the people are so nice. We then got to go around with the Branch President, President Briggs, and visit some less-active members. Wales is gorgeous. I need our family history information. I'm really excited to learn about where exactly they were from because I have a feeling I'm serving really close to some of those areas. There is a great spirit in Wales that is unlike anything I've ever felt... it's absolutely amazing.

Well, the work is going amazingly well. My last two days with Elder Ayers were amazing. On the first we had 16 Quality Gospel Conversations (a new key indicator for our mission) and set up 3 or 4 appointments with potential investigators. The next day we had 3 more QGC's, and got into a man's home and taught him a lesson, all within an hour! We went from 1 investigator a few weeks ago, to 7! The last couple weeks have been really exciting!

The weather here is turning cold, very cold! Utah cold is dry, the cold here is wet and it sticks to you. I'm working on getting used to it. Yesterday afternoon we were doing service at Attingham Park and it actually snowed! It was really wet snow but it was still snow! It was beautiful. England is so beautiful, everything about it.

Well, I'd better wrap this up. Thanks again for all of your help and prayers and support, you've all done so much for me. I'm seeing the help you've given to me bless the lives of those I get to serve. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me. The church is true and nothing else matters. I wish I was more bold with love when I talk with people. I'm working on getting to know people better. I want to shatter my comfort zone. If you pray for anything for me this week, pray for that to happen and I'll let you know that it did in my e-mails next week. I'm excited for it. Anyway, Jesus is the Christ. I love Him so much. God lives and loves us so much. He really is our father and we know him better than we know anybody on this earth. He wants everything for us, all he needs to give us that is our will. He really does answer prayers, all throughout this transfer we were praying for new investigators and those prayers were answered. I see prayers answered daily here and I love to watch the hand of the Lord working in my life. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us true, lasting happiness. Nothing else will do it. Salvation is not a cheap experience. It takes everything we've got to get to the Celestial Kingdom. I just love being a Missionary and teaching and testifying of these things. I've never done anything better in my life.

Well, I'll talk to you again next week. Keep the letters coming and thanks for those that have been sent! I love you all so much. Be good. Have daily Missionary experiences for me and for our Heavenly Father. There is extremely great potential in Member-Missionary work. Much love and big hugs right back to all of you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Like Christmas morning once a week

Every Wednesday morning (well, except for the ones when they had P-day a day early and I got my e-mail on Tuesday) I wake up about 4 or 4:30 a.m. and I can't go back to sleep.

I keep waiting for "the letter."

It's just like Christmas morning when it doesn't matter how late I've been up or how busy I've been--I just can't sleep because I'm so anxious for the kids to get up.

Only this waiting by the e-mail inbox happens every week.

In other news, we just found out our home teacher who served in England (but in different mission--the boundaries have changed) actually served in Shrewsbury, too.

Small world!

Now, back to my early morning vigil by the inbox...

Early P-Day? (That just ain't right!)

Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 5:33 AM
Subject: Early P-Day!

P-day is early this week. Now I know who waits to the last minute to e-mail me! I'll bet you weren't expecting an e-mail from your Missionary today! This is good though because today is a crazy day. We've already cleaned our car and we still have to go shopping and get some pictures printed and clean the flat and Elder Ayers has a driving lesson. P-day is so busy, but I love it.

This week has been a lot of fun. On Friday we got to teach at the Shrewsbury 6th-form college and it was amazing. I felt so much love for all those students there, it gave me a greater glimpse of how much Heavenly Father loves all of His children. We taught 3 classes and it was mostly just a question and answer lesson, but it was great! The world is definitely a very different place. Oh yeah and college over here is the equivalent of the last two years of high school for the States. So most of the students weren't much younger than I am! Oh, and the very best part of it was that we had a whole case of copies of the Book of Moromon and by the end of the three lessons, they were all gone! We got to be friends with some of them and the other day we were walking in town centre when I heard "Elder Rowley!" It was one of the students we had taught!


Oh Sunday the Shrewsbury ward had their primary program and it was wonderful. They each started by saying "I am a child of God" and it really hit me that we are really children of God. That is such a wonderful blessing. As we sang "Called to Serve" I just wept for joy for this chance to serve our Father in Heaven. It made me so happy! I just love being here.


Well, that's really about all the stories I have to share with you for this week. We've been doing a lot of finding and it sure is difficult, but we know that there are souls here who are ready, we just need to find them! I love it though, it's such a learning and growing experience.


Oh! Another experience I just thought of... Saturday night we were tracting and we got let into a home! Their names are Trevor and Dot and we just talked a little about the Church and the Restoration and set up an appointment to go back the next day. We saw them on Sunday and they are so nice. Then yesterday we were eating lunch in the car and we saw Trevor driving the bus and we both waved and just laughed and laughed, it was amazing!


Other than that we saw a couple hedgehogs a two nights in a row, that was pretty neat. Driving is so much easier now, it's great. The roads are still crazy and I've learned to just love it. It's so wonderful!

Well, the church is true. I love being a Missionary so much. Don't worry about me not getting e-mails this week, I'm fine! It gives me a chance to just focus on writing you and it gives Elder Ayers and I a little more time to get everything finished!


Jesus is the Christ. He loves us so much. God gave Him to us because He loves us too. There is no greater happiness than that that comes from emulating Jesus Christ and living your life for others. I'm learning that as I am working to have more charity and annihilate selfishness. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He suffered for our sins, and He suffered all our pains, afflictions, temptations, everything. And He beat it. He won and because of that we can too. This week we learned that the only thing we can really give to God is our will. As we give our will to God He can and will open the windows of heaven to us. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Jesus Christ directs this church under His direction. What we heard in General Conference a couple weeks ago came from God! That is so powerful. I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and is the word of God. I love that book. We need to read it as much as we can for it is not only the keystone to our religion, but the keystone to our testimonies. I love being a Missionary, I've never done anything greater!


Well, have a wonderful week. Keep the letters coming and thanks so much for all those that have been sent. Help out the Missionaries in Provo. They need your help. As you help them we will all see more success. We have been told that we are on the verge of great Missionary success and that will come as Missionaries and Member-Missionaries work together.

I love you all so much, you are wonderful! Keep up the amazing work!

Love,

Elder Rowley

We interrupt this regularly scheduled programming...

I just need to say how much I love and appreciate the people who, every time we see them, inquire about Luke and ask us to send him their love. Usually it's the first thing out of their mouths.

This is not something I was very good at as a friend, but I'm going to do better. It means the world to me as a mom to know people didn't forget my child just because he is gone and when they are genuinely thinking about him, praying for him and wishing him well.

Also, I just noticed last night that ever since Luke left I keep watching films with British actors, filmed in Great Britain or whatever. I'm not sure what it's like where Luke is, but the countryside is beautiful there and I love listening to the language (I know it's English, but it's not your mom and dad's English). In any case, I'm enjoying it immensely.

Circle of men

Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 5:28 AM
Subject: Much LOVE from Elder Rowley!

Hello again!

Another week has gone by... it goes so fast! I know I say that all the time but when you are on a Mission it's twice as true. It's already difficult to remember what we did yesterday because of all we've done today! It's like that every day! I just love being a Missionary so much, I have so much to share with you this week.

Last week on Thursday we had interviews and it was incredible. President Bullock is one of my heros, he is so amazing. We got some instruction from him and from his assistants and also from our Zone Leaders. I just love everyone I get to work with here! They are some of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life. And the best part is that my love for them grows each day. Oh and I was very thankful to get 10 letters from the Mission Office that day!

The very next day we went on an exchange with the Elders in Telford (the town just about 12 miles East of Shrewsbury). It was wonderful. I got to stay in Shrewsbury with Elder Pettersson from..... Sweden!! It made me miss Elder Stenborg. I learned so much from Elder Pettersson though, he's in our district and I always do every time we get to see him. He is one of the most humble people I have ever met in my life. The next day after the exchange I felt everything about my life as a Missionary change. I was doing approaches differently, being better at talking with everyone, and just being even happier all around! It was an amazing experience. I absolutely love my District, they are amazing. The other thing I love about being with the Telford Elders is that when we get to go to their flat we always say a prayer before we leave and we huddle in a circle and put our arms around each other and pray. The spirit in that circle is amazing. I just love it.

The next day on Friday we got to teach some of the youth in the stake how to teach the Restoration (PMG lesson 1) and how to GQ. It was amazing. I've decided that I'm going to teach at the MTC when I return to Utah. These youth were amazing, their testimonies are so strong! It gave me a glimpse of what the Prophets mean when they say they love the youth. All of us just fell in love with them. Oh and when we went out to GQ they did so well! They were testifying and inviting people to pray and giving away pass-along cards and just doing an amazing job. It was all so much fun!

One thing I keep hearing is something like: " we are so blessed to have a Temple only a few (2-3) hours away, we should go more often." It made me so thankful to have had the opportunity to grow up with the Temple being so close. I hope you are taking the opportunity to go the Temple every week. Remember that few places in the world have a Temple as close to them as you!

The other night Elder Ayers and I had to drop a couple investigators and it was really sad. We really grew to love them both and we realized that even though we couldn't see them anymore Heavenly Father still loves them and desires their salvation. I learned so much from them. You'll hear more about them, and all of these stories, when I return to Utah.

On Monday we got to go on an exchange with the Assistants, and I got to go with Elder Porter. The other one is Elder Farrant. Elder Porter is from Canada and this is his last transfer. He will be on his way home 2 weeks from right now. I can just feel how bittersweet it is for him to be leaving. He told me how he now just loves the people and talking with everyone and serving them and just everything about being a Missionary. He taught me so much and I'm a changed Missionary because of what he taught me, it's amazing. I'm so excited to apply what I learned from him and continue to grow and improve! Both of the Assistants just have an amazing spirit about them and I hope to be the same way.

The work is going well this week, it's tough though. Shrewsbury is a tough place but we're hoping and praying that Heavenly Father will soften hearts and open minds and guide us to those who are prepared. Things just get better and better every day though. Last week we went from four investigators to only one. But with our plans this week we hope to get back up to four. It's really exciting though.

The language is coming along quite nicely, although sometimes it's really difficult to understand people. Especially the children. They are so cute, just imagine someone Kyle's age speaking with a British accent. I think I'm kind of picking it up myself, but I don't know. For the first time in my life I'm a minority and that is weird. Nevertheless, I love it. I love everything about being a Missionary.

The weather is the best. It rains and then its sunny and the sun is at strange positions in the sky all the time and it's just great. It makes me so happy. I just love tracting in the rain, it's so much fun!

The food is great. I had my first Kebab last week. If you've ever been to the Pita Pit that's excatly what a Kebab is like, except maybe 3 times larger. It was really good. Oh and this morning I made ham fried rice for lunch and it was delicious! I love learning how to cook!

Well, I'd better wrap this up. Thanks for everything you do for me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I hope I didn't say the word love too much but really that's what this great work is all about. LOVE. Love the people no matter what, love your companion, love the work, love the ward, love all those you serve with, love getting doors slammed in your face, love tracting, love street contactiong, love the trials, love study, love love love. I just love it all. God is love and I get to represent Him... it only makes sense that I would be filled with love. There is nothing like this feeling in the world, I've never felt this good before. Zack, you are going to love this so much. Every young man needs a Mission. It's so wonderful.

The church is so true. God lives and loves us so much. Thomas S. Monson is God's chosen Prophet and is there to help us. Do what he says. Nothing else can make you as happy, that I can promise with all my heart. Do everything he, and all the apostles, say to do. Jesus is the Christ and He really did suffer and die for us. Because He loves us more than can comprehend. As He was walking to the cross... as he was being beaten... as He was being mocked... as He bled from every pore... and as He gave His last breath on the cross He was thinking about us and how much He loves each and every single one of us. I promise that He knows every single one of you who will read this. Deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ daily, there is so much happiness available when we do. I absolutely love Him in every way. I'm so thankful for what He has done for us. Without Him we have no purpose, our lives are nothing without the Atonement He performed. I love getting to represent Him and all day every day be able to look down and see His name over my heart. Being on a Mission has brought me closer to Jesus Christ than I ever thought possible. Oh I just love this so much. Words just cannot describe it.

Have a wonderful week, keep praying for the people of Shrewsbury and Newtown, they need it so much. I love you all so much. More next week!

Love,

Elder Alan Luke Rowley

PS- I'll send pictures soon, hopefully.

Tracting in the rain

date Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 4:28 AM
subject Another Week Gone!

Hello again everyone!

Can you believe it's already been a week since I last wrote? It's crazy how fast the time flies! Like I've said before and I'll keep saying it- I'll be back in Utah before anyone knows it! I say Utah because Shrewsbury is becoming home. I'm doing great this week! How is everybody there in Provo? Anything new? Thanks again for all the letters and I'm sorry it's going to take me a long time to write back. But please keep 'em coming! We only write letters on Preparation day in this Mission, and Preparation day is one of the busiest days of the week. At least it has been so far.

The driving is going well. The roads over here really are so crazy. There are roundabouts all over the place and people just park alongside of the road and you have
to move out into the other lane to get past them and its just crazy. So much fun though. You'll hear me say the words "these roads are so big!" when I get back to Utah.

The other day we went tracting in our focus area, Sutton. We started with a street called Rowley Court and got a return appointment with a lady there! I was pretty excited. Oh yeah and that was the day of our second exchange, that was a lot of fun. I really learn so much from exchanges!

Last week we got to go visit a member who was in the hospital, Sister Meddlycott. She is a wonderful lady but her health isn't too good and it sounds like she visits the hospital often. We talked for a bit then Elder Ayers and I got to give her a blessing and it was incredible. Elder Ayers anointed and I did the sealing and it was just amazing. There is nothing in the world like the power of the Priesthood. It is so real and so strong. I was on a high the rest of the night because of that, it made me so happy!

Wasn't General Conference just the best?! It's definitely very different as a Missionary. We watched the Saturday Morning Session on Saturday night, then the Priesthood session on Sunday Morning and then it followed from there with the rest of them. Except that we missed the Sunday afternoon session, how was it? Did they sing How Firm a Foundation? Oh and 5 new Temples?! That is so exciting, I'm excited for the saints in those areas. I don't think I've ever been more excited or nourished from a General Conference. It was so amazing!

So this week the people of Shrewsbury and Newtown need your prayers. I need them too, don't get me wrong; but the people here need them even more. They are such wonderful people and I just hope to see their hearts softened and their minds opened so they will be ready for the Gospel. Will you please pray for them? I'm excited to know that your faith and prayers will change their lives. I'm so blessed to have you and the wonderful people here will be blessed for all you have done for me.

Well, I guess I'd better wrap this up. Anyone got any questions for me? It's hard to remember them all from all the different letters and e-mails and things. Like I said before, keep the letters coming, I love them! It really gives me so much strength to know that I have your love and support. And again, I'm sorry that it's going to take me a while to write back! Oh and for those who have sent letters to the Mission Office I haven't gotten them yet but I'm excited to!

The Gospel is true. This church really is the only true church on this Earth today. It's changed our lives and blessed our lives so much and we need to share it with others. Missionary Work is the greatest work any of us will ever do and I'm so thankful to be a Missionary right now. It's definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, but when was anything worthwhile ever easy? I'm learning and growing so much spiritually, physically, socially, mentally, in every way. I love this great work, it is so much fun. We get to work with members and have exchanges and district meetings and zone conferences and interviews and Tea (dinner) appointments and tracting in the rain and street contacting and oh it's all just so much fun!! Jesus Christ is our Savior and He loves us so much. He knows every single one of our pains, hungers, sicknesses, whatever we may be going through, He has experienced it. We don't have to be perfect in this life because of Him! I'm so thankful for that wonderful blessing. He lives and so does our Father in Heaven. He is watching you and me right now and He cares about every little thing that we do. He wants us, He needs us to be our very best every day. He wants to see all of His sons and daughters return to Him, we owe it to Him to do Missionary Work. We are forever indebted to Him and we must do all we can to help to give Him back all of his children, even ourselves. Prayer works and changes things. Last night Elder Ayers were going to visit a non-member who is married to a member and we prayed that he would be there and that he would let us in and we could talk with him and it all happened. I know that prayer is absolutely vital to our spiritual health. So is scripture study, we cannot survive in this world we live in without the two. There is immense power in doing these two seemingly simple things every day. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." The Book of Mormon:Another Testament of Jesus Christ is true and it is wonderful. Keep reading it, it's the best book in the world! I absolutely love that book. I love this gospel and this church.

And finally, I love you. All of you that read this, I love you so much. I am the Missionary I am because of you, thank you so much for everything you have done for me.
More next week! God bless and "may the [Spirit] be with you!"

Love,

Elder Rowley