Date: Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:21 AM
Subject: Happy Pioneer Day!

Hiya Everyone!

How is everyone this week? Are you surviving the heat over there? Maybe I'll send some rain your way this week. This morning we were doing our studies and it started pouring and about 3 minutes later it stopped. It does that quite often, and we're blessed that we don't get caught out in it!

Anyway, as for us, we're doing great! Last week was amazing. This work is tough, but the rewards are just so much more spectacular. I love it. We're seeing miracles all over the place!

Last week we had our District Activity here in Rochdale. We all brought food and watched "Special Witnesses of Christ", it was powerful and I think everyone enjoyed it. I sure wouldn't be able to lead this district without the Lord's help! I love being District Leader, I get to hear so many Missionary miracles every single night as I speak with the Elders and Sisters on the phone! This work is amazing!

On Wednesday we had our interviews and training and it was great! I love training, I always learn so much and it makes things go so much better in the work. President Bullock is an amazing man, I hope you all get to meet him someday.

Anyway, after our training and everything we got to go on exchanges with the Assistants. And I got to go with Elder Ayers!! It was just like old times except that the both of us have improved skills and confidence and the mission has brought us so many amazing new tools to work more effectively. It was great to evaluate and see just how far we both have come. We saw so many miracles. Things didn't really go well at first, our first two appointments fell through. But for the last one we exercised our faith and saw a miracle. We were able to teach an amazing African man named Solomon! We followed the training we learned earlier in the day perfectly, and the spirit was very strong as we taught. Elder Ayers is an amazing Missionary, he's helping me a lot to develop my skills as a Missionary. It was great to work with him again!

The only disappointment about what happened on Wednesday is that we haven't been able to see Solomon since then... he didn't come to church and we ring and knock on his door and we get nothing. It's sad. Please pray for him, we need a miracle! He also has a wife and they just recently had a child. Oh and they're from Ghana by the way. We're really hoping that we can see them again.

We're hoping and praying that things will work out for Patrick as well.

Kirsty hasn't been at church in a few weeks and we're worried about her. Please pray for her and Simon. I think that your prayers really make all the difference in the lives of these people. Recently I haven't been as diligent at telling you about them, and I can see the effect in their lives. Anyway, yesterday we saw Kirsty and Simon again and they plan to get back on track this week. We're also getting some members to work with us. Amazing things are going to happen.

We had a new investigator a couple weeks ago named Jason. He needs your prayers as well. He already loves the Book of Mormon, he's very receptive to the spirit, and he quit smoking not too long after we first spoke with him! Last week we gave him the 22 of August to work towards for Baptism, but we didn't see him at church yesterday... he needs to come but we think he's just a bit scared. He also beats himself up quite a bit. He reminds me a lot of myself. I know that I'm supposed to be here at this time.

Jaime is doing well also, but she also didn't come to church yesterday! Please pray for her Mum, Gayle, to soften her heart and let Jaime be Baptised, that's the only thing holding her back right now! She's already got Preach My Gospel, she went to the MTC with the youth the other week and signed a pledge to serve a mission! We're having her read in Preach My Gospel and it's pretty exciting. She's doing well.

We did see a lot of miracles at church yesterday, even if investigator attendance was minimal. Kennedy received the Aaronic Priesthood and I got to participate in that! He's doing great by the way, we're hoping to get him out teaching with us soon. Then in Gospel Principles a part-member Family came in in the middle of the class. It made me so happy to see them, and after the class the young 11-year old boy, Harry, told us that he wants to be Baptised! We're excited for him. Then after church we were able to give a blessing to an older member who we see weekly. It felt so good. Oh and I was blessed to overcome my fears and speak with many of the ward members after church, whereas before I was scared of them and didn't get much done after church on Sunday! It's all through the prayer of faith that miracles happen!

The work here is going well. This week I'm taking my Theory Test for my U.K. Driving license and then I'll continue with the lessons. Please pray for me to pass. I'm excited to get to drive over here again one day. I know I can pass if I have the Lord's help! Your prayers are much appreciated.

Anyway, the Gospel is true! Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I testify that He lives and loves us and knows us all individually. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is evidence of that, and it's the keystone of my testimony of this Gospel. I know that anyone can gain or strengthen their own testimony by reading that sacred book. I've seen that here and it's miraculous. I love the spirit, I feel it every single day. Being a Missionary is the best! I'm learning and growing in so many ways and I love it so much. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. He is anxious to bless us and He will if we ask. I love Him and I know that He loves us individually. Study the Scriptures and Pray every day and go to church every week to get to know Him better, I testify that our lives will improve if we continue to do these things.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week and keep up the amazing work! Don't ever forget that the people here are blessed for all you've done for me! Look for Missionary opportunities. Pray for them. And let me know how it goes. I love you all! Thanks again for everything you do for me, I couldn't do this work without your help! You are the answers to many of my prayers.

Love,

Elder Rowley

Charity brings miracles

Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 6:03 AM
Subject: Hiya!

Hiya Everyone!

How's your week been so far? Are you enjoying the sunshine? It's been wet over here again, no surprise. We have had a lot of teaching opportunities though, so we've spent a lot more time indoors! I love the people here, it's great to get to spend so much time with them.

We've had a great week, many good things have happened! On Tuesday we went on exchanges with the Elders in Middleton (it's not too far outside Manchester and not too far away from us as well). It was a lot of fun, I got to go with Elder Hall and he taught me a lot! At one point we were tracting and there were some little kids asking what we were doing. I found out that one of them was named Kyle and he was 10! That made my day. Anyway, I gave them some cards and they ripped them up and started saying some not very nice things, it was sad. At that point one of them who was maybe 4 or 5 hit himself in the head with a metal rod he was holding and started to cry. I just walked over to him and asked if he was alright and made sure he was okay. After that they all went off for a little bit and we knocked on some more doors. A minute or two later they came back and started asking us questions and saying that we were nice men and everything and it was amazing! We got to teach them a little bit, but I don't know how much they'll remember. I know that they will remember how we made them feel though. It was great. Charity brings miracles!

That was a great experience, but just after that we were sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come when some young lads pulled up and stopped right in front of us in the middle of the street. Before I knew what was happening one of them threw something out the window, which hit me in the chest then cracked on the ground... it was an egg! It was a miracle that it didn't break on me, and Elder Hall and I just laughed when it happened. I love seeing miracles, the Lord definitely protects His Missionaries!!

Anyway, on Wednesday we had African food again. We ate with our hands this time and it was amazing! We had Shima (it's kind of like potatoes but a lot better) with a vegetable sauce and Tilapia. We got some pictures, I'll have to show you later. It was amazing, it made me so happy! The family we had it with is called the Mwamba's, they're amazing.

On Thursday we had Zone Conference and it was spectacular. The Mission continues to move forward! I love the leadership of President Bullock, he truly is inspired! He works so hard for us, and we are so blessed for what he does. I learned a lot in Zone Conference, the spirit was very strong, and I'm still being blessed for what I learned! Oh and Elder Winward and I got to sing the EFY Medley with some other Missionaries, it were great!!

Friday was the African Cultural Night, and although we only got to go for a little bit, it was a big success! Many of our investigators and less-actives and recent converts got to go and we keep hearing good things about it!

After the African Night we got to go on exchanges again, this time with Elder Eichelberger and Elder Pimintel, our Zone Leaders. It was amazing, I got to go with Elder Pimintel and we had a lot of great experiences. On Saturday morning we were able to seen an investigator named Stephanie who we haven't been able to see in a while and the spirit was very strong as we taught about the Atonement. Then we got to see Kennedy and finish up his teaching before his Baptism. In the afternoon we saw Jaime again and she's doing great. Please pray for her Mum to soften her heart, she still won't let Jaime accept a Baptismal date. Jaime is really looking forward to Baptism, and we're excited to know that she will be Baptised one day.

Also on Saturday Kennedy was Baptised! It all went well except that I got to play the piano for it again. I should've been more diligent in practicing! It went well though, the spirit was strong and Kennedy felt it! He is going to make a great member of the Rochdale ward. The ward is already fellowshipping him very well, they help us out so much!

Well, I guess that's about it. I love you all so much, I can't even tell you. It makes me so happy every time I hear a story of another one of you that has been blessed while I've been out here. I couldn't do this without you, so some of the blessings of my service are yours. Thank you for all that you do. The Church is true and I know it. God does live, He's watching over us right now. He breathes, walks, talks, and does mostly everything we do. He really is our Father, and we are closer to Him than we sometimes think. He is anxious to bless us, that's what He's always thinking about. All that He commands us is for our benefit; and if we don't receive blessings, it's our fault, not His. He loves all of His children and wants them to have the blessings of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. That sacrifice is real and the blessings are real. They are ours as long as we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And all of God's spirit children can experience these blessings as we share the Gospel with them. I testify that the Holy Ghost really is God's greatest gift to us here in this life. I feel it every single day and it makes me so happy! It is real and it is true. What a blessing it is to have that great gift. I just hope and pray that we do all that we can to help our other brothers and sisters have it as well. I hope we won't be selfish with it, but rather that we will share our testimony, let them feel it, and invite them to gain a testimony of their own. The Restoration is true, Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God. I love him and the work that he did. Prayer works and changes things, just look at what Joseph Smith did and you can see that. Don't ever disbelieve that. It's true. I know all of this because I've read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it. And I know that we all can know it even better as we continue to read from that sacred book and pray to our Father in Heaven to know of it's truth. Keep living the Gospel, it's always worth it!! I love this work!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week. Don't forget that the people here continue to be blessed because of all that you've done for me. Share your testimonies with each other and with those who don't have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Keep up the amazing work! I love you!!

Love,

Elder Rowley

I love miracles

Date: Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 4:28 AM
Subject: Happy July!

Hello Everyone!

How's your week going? How's the Missionary work in Provo going? I love hearing about some of your Missionary experiences. We're really working on member work as a Mission and I can just feel that miracles are going to happen! Being a Missionary is the best!

We've had a great week and we've been really busy. Yesterday we both spoke in the Littleborough Sacrament meeting, it was good, we hope to help them have Missionary experiences this week. They are great people and they help us out so much. Yesterday afternoon we went to a Family in Littleborough for dinner and it was great food and the spirit was strong in their home and one of their sons came out to see Jaime (investigator) with us afterwards. It all went so well.

Speaking of Jaime she is doing well. I think I told you about her but I'll tell you again anyway. Jaime spoke with the Missionaries in Littleborough before us and actually asked to be taught! She's only about 16, but she's already very spiritually mature and keeps commitments very well. Her Mum isn't very supportive of her being Baptised, but we're praying for her to soften her heart and we're hoping we can give Jaime's a Baptismal date soon. It's really exciting. Please pray for Jaime's Mum though, she needs her heart softened.

Also in the Littleborough ward we had a Missionary reach out/fellowship night last Tuesday. We went out with some members to visit less-actives and yesterday one of them who hadn't been to church in about 5 years came to church! And she wants to have us over for dinner this week. It's amazing. I love to see miracles. And it all comes because of faith!

Rochdale is doing well. Kennedy is ready for his Baptism this Saturday! And the night before the ward is having an African Cultural Night, it's great! It'll be a big weekend for the Rochdale ward. Kennedy surprised us last week with his understanding of Joseph Smith. He pretty much taught us everything we normally teach investigators about Joseph Smith! His understanding is amazing! It truly is another miracle. We saw a lot of miracles last week, I just realized that!

Patrick is doing well also. He's working on living the Word of Wisdom right now and he's doing well. His understanding is very basic, but he feels the spirit. Every time we identify the spirit with him he says "I feel beautiful!" It's great. I love Patrick, he's so funny. We're so blessed to work with so many amazing people.

On Wednesday last week I got to go to the Mission Home with Elder Larson and Elder Hastings and all of the other District Leaders in the Mission. We were trained on how to be good District Leaders and it was amazing. The spirit was so strong and I learned so much! It feels like the Temple in the Mission Home. The home really can become like the Temple. I love having a Sacred Mission President! Anyway, that was a big highlight of last week and I'm still being blessed with the training we received. Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies!

Well, the Church is true. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. Scripture Study, Prayer, and Church will build our lives upon the rock of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Without Him we would be lost forever. Because of Him we can experience all of the blessings that God has available to us. I testify that any and every blessing we receive from God is made possible through the Atonement of Christ. And the greatest blessing of the Atonement in this life is the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which comes as we live the Gospel. The Gospel is simple and it is true and it has been restored by God. I know that this is true and it has blessed my life every single day I've lived. I love being a Missionary, my testimony has increased so much. This work is true!

Anyway, have a wonderful week. Keep up the amazing work. We really are a light on a hill. We can't hide the light of Christ that is within us. We must share it with others. And as we do we will be happier. I love you all, thanks again and again for everything you do, I can't thank you enough! Remember that the people here are blessed for all that you do for me! I love you!!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Happy Independence Day!

Date: Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 4:21 AM
Subject: Happy Independence Day!

Hello!

How is everyone this week? I'm so happy to have so many e-mails to read this week! Being a Missionary is the best thing in the world. Happy 4th of July by the way!

It felt different being here for Independence Day, especially because we beat this country to gain that independence! We had a good fourth of July though, it was really busy. In the morning we went up to Littleborough to try by some people and then we had to go to Middleton, the other area in my District, for a District Leaders Council. It was amazing, Elder Hastings, Elder Larson, and me (the District Leaders of our Zone), met with Elder Pimintel and Elder Eichelberger, the Zone Leaders in the zone. We sought inspiration on the zone focus for the transfer and it was incredible, the spirit was so strong. Our zone focus is on being pure in heart, and I'm excited. It was great to be there. In the afternoon and evening we spent more time in Littleborough visiting a member for Tea and then a less-active Family, then we visited another less-active Family in Rochdale. It was great. We hardly had time to celebrate, but in the morning we did sing the Star Spangled Banner! Francis Scott Key would have been proud. It's such a great blessing to be free!!

Last week we had a new investigator named Patrick. He's an older Irish man and he's really funny. In one of the lessons with him we prayed for Michael Jackson and he gave us a hug. He always wears this t-shirt with Mr. T on it, it's hilarious. We love him already, and he came to church on sunday! We started teaching him last week and already he's got a goal of being Baptised on the 8th of August!! We're excited for him.

Kennedy is doing well, tonight we're taking him to a members home for a lesson and it will be great! He was really fellowshipped well by the ward yesterday at Church and he's starting to fit in really well. The prayers are working! He will be ready to be Baptised on the 18th, I'm so excited for him!

Kirsty is doing well, it's going kind of slow right now because her and Simon are waiting to be able to get married. The ward is working closely with them to help them out and we're excited to see what will happen. Last week Kirsty wasn't feeling well and didn't want to come to church, but Simon surprised her and made her come and she was glad for that. He's doing so well! I love to see the change in people that comes as they experience the power of the Atonement!

Speaking of the ward, they are so helpful! Bishop Hoyle is the bishop of the Rochdale ward, and he works so hard for everyone, it's great. And they help us with appointments and they feed us and it's like being at home. I couldn't ask for more! We're starting to work with the Littleborough ward more, although there isn't as much work to do in Littleborough. Hopefully this week we'll get to know all of the members through dinner appointments! I love working with these people here. Oh yeah and speaking of the two wards, Elder Winward and I split yesterday. I went to Rochdale and he went to Littleborough and we set up a lot of really good things for this week- splits, dinner appointments, investigator lessons in members homes, everything! It's wonderful, yesterday was a great day!

Well, I guess I'd better tell you about my District. Actually it's the Lord's District. Wow that's pretty amazing. Anyway, they are so amazing. We have Elder Rosenberg from Finland, serving with Elder Hall from South England. And then we have Sister Johnson from Utah I think, serving with Sister Schmidt from Orem (I believe. I know that she went to Mountain View High School). Last week they did some amazing things and I'm so happy with their work. Tomorrow is our first District Meeting, please pray for me to communicate what Heavenly Father needs these Elders and Sisters to know and what skills they need to develop. I love serving them already, it's such an amazing experience! I'll still need your prayers for confidence, they are working miracles!!

Anyway, the Church is true! Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I love Him so much. I love seeing His name over my heart every single day. Being a representative of Him is the best thing in the world. I testify that He loves us more than we comprehend. But we can feel of that love, and the power of His infinite Atonement, as we live His Gospel. And the miracle is that Gospel is simple. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. This is how we experience the blessings of the Atonement and this is how we help others experience it as well. I testify that Christ is always available to help us, we just need to live these principles. He wants to help us and He can. Our Heavenly Father loves us, if He didn't He wouldn't have sent His Only Begotten Son for us. Everything about this life is better because of Christ. Because of Him we can pray and our prayers will reach Heavenly Father. Because of Him we can find peace and happiness in this world that is tearing itself apart. Because of Him our families can be together forever. I testify that He loves us and He wants you to feel of that love through the Holy Ghost as we live His Gospel. The restoration is true. The Book of Mormon is true. The plan of Salvation is true. Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. And I know all of this because I've read and prayed about the Book of Mormon, and I know that we can all gain that knowledge for ourselves. The Church is true, what else matters? I love this Gospel and I love being a messenger of it!

Well, have a wonderful week! I love you all so much. Thank you for everything that you do for me, Heavenly Father knows I need it. You answer many of my prayers. Keep up the amazing work and keep the Missionary work going! I love you.

Love,

Elder Rowley

Two wards, two areas, a whole district and a bunch of little midgy bites

Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 3:59 AM
Subject: Wow...

Hello from Rochdale!

How is everyone this week? Enjoying the summer I hope. We sure are. We're in the middle of a heat wave. We'll be wearing short sleeved shirts for a while, this doesn't seem normal for England, especially after experiencing the freezing cold winter!! It's great to be a Missionary!

The last week and a half has gone really well and I've got some pretty amazing news. The Missionaries that lived with us, Elder Hastings and Elder Ward, are now gone. Their area, Littleborough, is now covered by Elder Winward and myself. We have two wards. Two areas. It's going to be crazy. And on top of that... I'm now a District Leader. I can hardly believe it. The next month and a half is going to fly, I'm going to learn so much, but most of all, it's going to be so much fun! Just now I've read an e-mail that all of us District Leaders in the mission will be trained by the Assistants in the Mission Home in about a week and a half! I'm so excited, this work is the best! I am sure going to need your prayers though, especially that I will be able to develop confidence as I serve in these new assignments! Your prayers will work and help so much.

We had fun on Saturday helping out with the "Helping Hands" project. We cleaned a park with a bunch of members and other Missionaries and I even got to see Elder Larson! It was great. We tore down an old fence and picked up a lot of rubbish, the park looked great when we were done! The only downside is that my arms are now covered in midgy (mosquito-like insect that bites you in the summer) bites. I've already been asked if I've got chicken pox it looks so bad! I've been taking care of it though and it's starting to heal, so don't worry Mum and Grandma! I love doing service, last week we also got to help out our Bishop move and today we are helping the Elder's Quorum President move as well! This is so much fun, I love being a Missionary.

Also last week we were fed very well. We had a dinner appointment every single night! I'm going to be so fat when I get back to Utah. It was really good though, one night Vicky fed us some African food, it was fried Tilapia and it was really good! I love working with so many amazing people, they all take such great care of us!

On Friday I got to go on exchanges with Elder Hastings and it was a lot of fun. We had a new investigator named Stephanie who is promising and missed the bus and saw a lot of great people, it was a lot of fun. I learned a lot in that short space of time!

Other than that our investigators are doing very well. Kennedy is still preparing for Baptism but we need to see him more regularly. He's scheduled for the 18th of July and your prayers in his behalf will really help him to be ready for that. Also we had dinner with Kirsty and her fiancee, Simon, last week and it was great! They are a great Family and we are excited for them to progress in the Gospel and experience the blessings of it. I think I told you about Danny and Roland... maybe not. They became new investigators a couple weeks ago. They really need to come to Church and we need to see them more regularly as well. If we do that I'm sure that Danny will soon be Baptised and Roland as well. They need your prayers. Also for Littleborough we've picked up a promising young-woman named Jodi. She actually approached the Elders and asked to be taught! We're excited for her, hopefully we'll help her be Baptised soon! It's looking like a very promising month and a half!!

Well, the Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. As we live the Gospel we will experience the great healing power of His Atonement for us. That power is real and it's changed my life. We can be forgiven of our sins and be redeemed from physical and spiritual death because of what He has done for us. We can experience peace and joy in times of difficulty because we can know that He has walked that lonely path so we will never be alone (see Elder Holland's talk from last General Conference). What a blessing the Atonement is! And what a great blessing the restoration is! Without the restoration we would not ever be able to experience these blessings. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and President Monson is a true Prophet today. I know this because I have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. That book is true and it has brought me closer to our Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ than any other book in the world. I strongly encourage you to read it. Every single day. Without fail. And we will not fail to achieve Salvation if we do that along with prayer and attending Church. I promise. I love this Gospel and I know that it is true!! Being a Missionary is the best!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Keep safe, drink lots of water, and read the Book of Mormon! I love you all. Never forget that the people here are blessed for all that you've done for me. Thank you so much for all of the love, letters, prayers, and support. It means the world. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley