So much happiness

Date: Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Subject: Hello from the Isle of Man!!

Hello!

What a week! And it went so fast! My head is almost spinning with everything that is going on, it's incredible. And the best part is that we get to see the hand of the Lord in all of it!! I know that His hand is truly in all of our lives, whether we recognize it or not. I've learned this week more than ever just how much he loves us, but I'll tell you more about that later.

Last Wednesday after I e-mailed you we went to the home of a Family named the Johnsons for dinner. It was a lot of fun, they've got four kids and a Wii and you can only imagine what that's like. It really felt like New Years because for dinner we had a bunch of really good finger-foods, just like we always do! Elder Larson and I talked with Brother Johnson for a long time about D-Day and other things, Elder Larson is fascinated by history, it was great! The members here are just so amazing, I love them so much!!

Then on Sunday Church was amazing. Everyone here has had some form of a cold or the flu, it's awful. So there were a few people missing in Church on Sunday, and Elder Larson and I got to Bless the Sacrament! Also in the Elders Quorum they were talking about what would happen if China opened up to Missionary Work, it was really interesting. They were planning what to do if the Missionaries were removed from the Island and transferred to China. It got me thinking... and I don't think I could ever learn Chinese, but I guess if the Lord did need me to go over there I could do it!

So far this week has been incredible. We've spoken with a ton of people and set up a few appointments, and are starting to teach the massive amount of investigators the sisters had before we got here, I love it! I'm glad that the Holiday lull in the work is getting over and done with!

Yesterday was probably one of the best days of my Mission so far. In the morning we went out street contacting here in Castletown and we set up two return appointments! Then on our way to Douglas we made some phone calls and were able to teach a lesson to our investigator that our recent convert, Laurance, found. She has been in Hospital for about a week now and it was the first we'd seen her in a while and it was great! The spirit was strong in the lesson and she is just soaking it all up so well, it's amazing. Member-Missionary work is the BEST!! Speaking of which, I'm excited to hear about those Baptisms on the 17th, because that's when Winnie is getting Baptized!! I think I might have told you about her, I don't remember if I mentioned her by name yet though. She is from Africa and she is so amazing and so prepared! She is going to make a great addition to the ward! Anyway, as for my amazing day, after we taught that lesson we were able to go help another lady from Africa with her son who has cerebral palsy and some other conditions also. Essentially his brain is smaller than it should be and we are helping his brain grow. He is two and a half years old and he is amazing, I love him so much already. All we did was make picture/word cards for him to learn, but it was fun and the Spirit was there. Then in the evening we were able to teach a man named Bunmi who is also from Africa. I'm really learning to love African people! Anyway, Bunmi is Catholic and has been taught for a little while now. We went over the Restoration with him and the Spirit was really strong, it was amazing. I felt bombarded with the Spirit yesterday and that's what made it such a great day. And I think I owe it all to my study in the morning.

And now I need to start a new paragraph about my study because it is just as amazing as the day yesterday. I've felt prompted to seek the guidance of the Lord on what He needs me to study and follow through on it and the results are amazing. The other day I studied about the Atonement, yesterday I studied the Restoration, and again today my study was directed to the Atonement. The spirit is so much stronger when we study what the Lord needs us to study. He really does know so much more than we do, and we need His help. The things I've been studying were exactly what I needed to have the spirit in every part of the work. The Spirit really is the most important part of this great work. It doesn't matter if we're a called, set-apart, full-time Missionary, or a Member-Missionary, we must have the Spirit in this work. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that His influence in our lives is real. The confirming witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel is real and is powerful, and anyone in the world can experience it. And we ourselves can experience it again and again, it's incredible. I know that the Atonement works. Immortality is given to us by grace, we do nothing to receive that. Eternal Life is something we have to earn by our works. I've learned so much about these two things recently, and I love them. God wants us to live with him and that is what Eternal Life and living the Gospel is all about. It works, I know it does. If we follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we will return to live with our Father in Heaven and our Families forever. If we do not follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we will not live with God and our Families forever. It's that simple. And it's true! This Church is true. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and He really did see those that he said he saw. Just like Joseph I know it and I know that God knows it and I cannot deny it neither dare I! This is the greatest work in the world and I LOVE doing it and being a Missionary. It brings me so much happiness, it brings others so much happiness, and most importantly, it brings God happiness as we come closer and closer to Him. I love this Gospel!!

Well, I've got to go. I love you all and you are amazing people. Keep up the amazing work!! And thanks so much for the letters that have come, keep them coming!!!

Love,

Elder Rowley