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