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!