Sun and rain

Date: Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 4:22 AM
Subject: Good Weekend

Hello!

Well, right now I can see the sun shining outside the window in the internet cafe and I can also see some dark clouds in the distance. Looks like rain! And I can hear the bells from the Catholic church just outside. England is amazing. The weather is getting a bit colder though. I woke up the other morning and thought it was Christmas. I was just excited though because it was warm inside and colder outside. The leaves are changing as well. I love being here!

Anyway, how is everyone this week? It's great to hear about BYU and school and sports and trips and everything. And especially mission calls. Every time I hear about one I just wish I could do a back flip I'm so happy. Missions are the best thing in the world for 19 year old young men! Keep me posted.

We had a good weekend, except that nobody was at Church on Sunday! It was really disappointing, but there's no use in crying over spilt milk... or investigators who didn't feel the spirit of a Sacrament meeting. We did have 3 come at other times in the meetings, they all missed the Sacrament though. Other than that Church was good though. This ward is amazing, they feel like family to me.

This week we had an amazing new investigator named Farah. She has Musilm ancestors from India, but she was born here in England. She's got a son and lives on her own and she is very prepared! She remembers praying with a friend a few years ago and she felt the spirit and now she wants to get more into it. We're seeing her tonight and we're excited to help her come to Sacrament meeting and accept a Baptismal date before next week! We're starting to find the souls that the Lord has prepared for us. I can see how these people are prepared to hear my testimony, it's amazing. We're still working and hoping and praying for solid new people to teach. Miracles are on the way!

On Saturday we got to help out with a Primary Activity and show the primary children what it's like to be a Missionary. It was a lot of fun, I love teaching people about being a Missionary. Hopefully I'll get to even teach at the MTC there in Provo! Maybe I can even see Zack before he leaves the MTC... probably only if he's learning Japanese though. How does that sound Zack?

President Bullock just let me know in an e-mail this morning that I now have the largest District in the Mission. What a responsibility. I need your prayers. A lot. Miracles are happening already though. The Elders in Middleton had 2 new investigators last night who they dated for Baptism for the 24th of October! And one of the two sets of sisters in Middleton is taking an investigator out teaching with them (also dated for Baptism) and she is doing amazingly well. They also had a new investigator this week who came to Sacrament meeting. He said that in the meeting he felt the same way that he did when they taught him about Joseph Smith! He recognizes the Spirit very well! It sounds like they'll be keeping me busy with Baptismal interviews this transfer! I'm excited. I'm hoping and praying for every single companionship in my District to Baptise this transfer. Your prayers will help us see miracles here! You have already helped me see so many miracles on my mission. I love it!

Please pray for us to have the spirit to be guided to Heavenly Father's prepared children this week. I'm very excited to meet, teach and Baptise these souls. There are so many amazing people in this world, and not enough time to help them all come unto Christ. I've realized recently that this is the best thing that we can do in life. Serve others by inviting them to come unto Christ. I know that He will heal everyone who comes unto Him by having faith in him, repenting, being Baptised, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. The Gospel is true and it has been restored. What a blessing!! The morning truly has broken and the shadows are fleeing. Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is evidence of that. As we have the faith to read this book, I testify that we will gain even greater faith in Jesus Christ which will lead us to live the rest of the Gospel. I love that book, and because of that book I love my Savior more and I know that He loves me. If any of us may wonder about these things, all we need to do is read that book. Even if we may not understand, we must stick with it to the end and the blessings will come. I'm not the kind of Missionary that I am, nor could I ever be, without Jesus Christ and my relationship with Him through the Book of Mormon, Prayer, Church attendance, and His living Prophets. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and I testify that He loves you. He does. He really really does.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week. Keep working hard and seeing miracles. You've all changed already, I can tell. You are amazing sons and daughters of God who have been reserved to come to earth at this time for many important purposes in God's plan. Never forget that each one of us has a crucial part in our Father in Heaven's plan. Thank you for the support and the letters and the prayers, especially the prayers. They are answered and I can feel when someone is praying for me, it's amazing. This work is true. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Rowley

God lives and loves us all

Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 7:03 AM
Subject: Hello!

Hello Everyone!

Well, this morning we were on the way to the Temple and the car broke down! We were going with Harry's Family, the Wilsons, and the car started to... stutter I think I'd call it. It was strange. Anyway, we pulled into a petrol station and rang the AA (Car help people) and they got there in about 5 minutes! It was amazing. I know that it was because we prayed. Today has been a good P-day so far and we're still going to get to play some football with Harry a bit later!

Anyway, we've had a good week. Our investigators are amazing. The Chiza's came to Church on Sunday and really enjoyed it. And we had a great lesson with them the other day. I think they are slowly but surely getting closer and closer to Baptism. They just need a Baptismal date now.

Adele is also doing well, she came to Church on Sunday with her boyfriend, Slavak (he's Polish), and her son. It was great, Adele keeps understanding things better and better and is progressing towards Baptism very well. I'm excited for her to receive the blessings of the Atonement!

We're also working to find new investigators. Please pray for us to have solid new investigators in the next two weeks, as well as our whole district. We're even teaching a man tonight who I'm very excited about. Yesterday when we spoke with him I felt the spirit. It was amazing. The spirit is the best.

Also, on Thursday, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview 4 Baptismal candidates. Abbey, Mariam, T.J., and Sharele all passed and were Baptised last weekend in Middleton. The sisters there are working very hard and I'm glad to have them in my district. Baptismal interviews are a very special experience. I'll tell you more about that another time.

Oh and also at Church on Sunday we got to teach a combined Relief Society/Priesthood lesson about the Recent Convert lessons. It went quickly and it went well. Am I ever thankful for the Holy Ghost! That really is the most important part of teaching in the Gospel. Without it, there can be no real teaching or learning! We also got to sing in Sacrament meeting and that went well. Elder Burnett and I sing well together and there's one of the members who always tells us that we should make a CD when we return to the states. We'll see.

The other two Elders are still in the flat with us, and all 4 of us are staying here for another 6 weeks! We are going to see wonderful things serving here together. Oh and I found out also that my district is expanding again. We're getting two more sisters. Now we have Elders and Sisters from America, Finland, the U.K., Poland, and I'm not sure where else others may be from. We've got a very diverse mission! I'm excited to work with, serve, and learn from so many amazing Missionaries!

The driving is going well also. Yesterday I had another lesson and we did what's called the emergency stop. It's pretty fun but I need to be more firm on the brake. Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to book a practical test soon! Driving in England is amazing. I think the size of the roads and the side I will drive on in about a year is going to really make me feel weird. I like England. A lot.

Anyway, the Gospel is true! I continue to learn and grow so much from the Gospel. My study of the Character of Christ is going very well. I've been finding examples of His Character in the Scriptures, but last week we were blessed with an opportunity to see it in the life of a member. We were at the Church in the middle of a coordination meeting when one members phone rang. He picked it up and we could hear his wife screaming on the other end. His Mum passed away and his wife was taking it kind of hard. I noticed the Character of Christ in this member though. Instead of looking inward and thinking about how sad it would be for him to be without his mother, he looked outward and saw the suffering of his wife and worked to comfort her. He rushed out of the meeting to go comfort her without even shedding a tear or really showing any signs of selfishness. It was amazing. We were able to see him again last night and he is still doing well and staying strong in the Gospel, trusting in the Lord very much. I love the members here, they feel like Family to me. Anyway, I learned a lot from this experience. Never forget how powerful your example is, whether good or bad. The way the Lord comforts us isn't always by removing the trials we have, but rather by giving us someone to comfort and help who is experiencing the same trial that we are. And I know that we are happiest when we look outward in our trials and seek to help those who are experiencing the same difficulties that we are, even if they may seem lesser than our own. I testify, as a representative of the Savior, that all of this is because of Jesus Christ and His perfect, infinite, selfless Atonement. We would be nowhere and we will get nowhere in our lives without that great and last sacrifice. I testify that the way to come unto Christ is by reading in the Book of Mormon, Praying to God in the faith to act, and not just attending Church each week but rather becoming Saints through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know this because I have experienced it. The Gospel is true. Prepare for General Conference. The Savior knows you personally. He knows His apostles and He can tell them what to speak to meet your needs. I testify that this is true again, because it is something that I have experienced in my life. God lives and loves us all.

Well, I'd better get going. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all so much, I never know where I would be without you. Keep up the amazing work. Exemplify our Savior Jesus Christ and you will be happy. I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Sacred experiences

Date: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 4:49 AM
Subject: Sacred Experiences


Hello Family and Friends!

I'm a happy Elder today. Everything is going amazingly well, and it sounds like miracles are happening there as well! From what I read every week it sounds like you've all changed a lot since I saw you last, which makes me happy because I know you've changed for the better! I love the Gospel.

First of all, my driving is going well. I'm so happy to be able to drive. Only a couple more lessons and I should be able to take my test! Wish me the Spirit!

This week I've had a few experiences that are very sacred to me. For that reason I will be brief as I share them and some of you can expect to hear more about them in a little while.

The first I will share is that I had the opportunity to give the Holy Ghost to Harry Wilson. The Baptism was amazing. The spirit was burning. Elder Burnett and I got to speak and sing. Many people came. And Harry has now passed through the gate to the Celestial Kingdom!

Yesterday was the confirmation and I'll just say that the spirit was very strong. I love the Holy Ghost. It really is the most precious of our Heavenly Father's gifts to us here in this life. I testify that we must live by the Holy Ghost every day in order to be happy.

Another experience was at interviews and training. I learned a lot last week. The training was here in Rochdale and we learned from Elder Ayers and Garcia and our Zone Leaders. We learned how to teach the Plan of Salvation better and I'm excited to teach it now. I even hope that one day I'll get to teach you using these amazing skills that the Lord is giving us. I love this work so much.

And finally, I had one with Elder David A. Bednar. I spoke with him. In front of the whole mission (I was in my seat and he was looking at me). I testify that he is called of Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ is real and I know from this experience that He knows me. Elder Bednar left me a very special commitment that I'm excited to work on. I understand my life better because of this experience. I know my special purpose better. I received a lot of personal revelation in that time. I love our Savior and I know that He knows me and He knows each one of you. If I could share one thing that I learned from this experience, it would be that repentance and forgiveness are the least of the blessings of the Atonement. More importantly, Jesus Christ can give us the strength to invite others to come unto Him. It is more important to serve others than to repent. Elder Bednar stated that we didn't come here to spend our lives in the "cleaners". We came here to help others become the seed of Abraham by inviting them to come unto Christ. No other work is more important than this, and every other thing we do in the Church, and in our lives, points towards this. Even repentance is so we can serve better. And if you think about it, service is what our Father in Heaven does all day every day. I know that this is true. The Church is true. The Gospel has been restored. Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. He did see our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ all those years ago. We can experience the blessings of the Atonement through what he did. I testify that prayer and scripture study are some of the most important things we can do to receive revelation. It's how Joseph Smith experienced what he did. I testify, as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, that our Savior loves you and He knows you. And He can help you as you live His Gospel. I know this because I have experienced it in my own life.

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week. The spirit burns in my heart even now. Seek the Holy Ghost by faith, by action, and you will be happy. I pray that as you live the Gospel you will recognize the blessings of the Atonement in your lives. I have and still do. Keep up the amazing work. You truly are Saints, and the Savior is proud of you. Let me know what else I can do for you! I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

PS- If you've written me a letter and I haven't written back I apologize and I'll do my best to write back soon.

Need a little sunshine!

Date: Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 6:30 AM
Subject: Weekly Letter

Hello!

How is everyone this week? It sounds like things are going well, I hope to keep hearing amazing things from everyone. And how is the weather over there? Last week we woke up one morning to wind and rain, I thought I was on the Isle of Man again! We haven't seen much sun this week and it's a bit depressing, but we manage alright. The spirit keeps us happy!

First I have to tell you how amazing Elder Burnett is. Last night we were walking down a long lane trying to contact a referral. Cars would come down the lane every now and again, and he surprised me and waved one of them down and started talking to them about the Gospel! It was exciting. Nothing good came of the first few, but after a little bit a man stopped thinking we were lost and we got to talk to him for about 5 minutes! It were great, as they say over here. I love working with Elder Burnett.

Yesterday was a great day. All week we've been praying for the zone to achieve 28 souls at Sacrament meeting, and yesterday we reached it! In my district we had 12! I love the Elders and Sisters here, they work so hard and I learn so much from them. In Rochdale we had Harry Wilson and most of the Chiza Family at Sacrament meeting. It was amazing. I love helping people get to Sacrament meeting. Oh and I played the piano for Sacrament meeting again yesterday, it was fun!

On Friday we got to go on exchanges with the Middleton Elders, I went with Elder Rosenberg from Finland (the one I worked with on my birthday a month ago!) and Elder Burnett worked with Elder Hall. It was great and I learned a lot from Elder Rosenberg. I love exchanges, there are so many amazing Missionaries in this mission that I can learn so much from. Elder Rosenberg and I saw miracles and were able to talk with a lot of amazing people and teach some great lessons.

I also exchanged with Elder Neilson for one evening last week and that went well. He's the one who had his appendix taken out. I learned a lot from him as we tracted and got poured on. I love the rain. Elder Neilson is doing well, he and Elder Brown, his new companion, worked a full week this past week and did amazing things. Elder Wheat, Elder Neilsons previous companion, went to Elder Brown's previous area. Lots of crazy things are happening here! It's a lot of fun.

The driving lessons are going well. Last week I got to do a bit more manouvering and things and I'm getting better and better every lesson. Hopefully I'll have a drivng test soon and get my license! I'm excited.

Our investigators are doing very well. Harry Wilson is ready to be Baptised on Saturday and we're very excited for him. Please pray for him to be prepared in every way and for it to go well. We went with the Wilson family to a place called Slattery's this morning. It's a chocolate factory that we went to previously and it was amazing. I had belgian waffles with chocolate sauce and a hot chocolate. I'm a bit sick of chocolate right now though!

The Chiza Family is amazing. We were able to understand better just how they felt about Church last week and we resolved some concerns. Now it's just a matter of helping them accept a Baptismal date! Please pray for that to happen. Miracles are on the way in their lives.

We also recently started teaching a woman named Adele. Last night we taught her and she accepted a Baptismal date! We are very excited for her and now we just need to help her get to Church! Those seem to be the two biggest barriers for people right now, Church and Baptismal Dates!

This week we are hoping to work hard finding new investigators and we're praying for solid new ones. We're really working hard to serve with all our heart might mind and strength so that we can find those who are prepared to be Baptised.

Speaking of Baptism, next week I have the sacred opportunity to interview 4 souls for Baptism. I'm excited for this very spiritual experience. It will be amazing. Please pray for me to have the spirit with me as I do this. Miracles will come!

Anyway, The Church is true! This morning I was studying in Preach My Gospel and I realized that there is a section called learn to recognize the promptings of the spirit. That's so important, to learn to recognize those promptings. It's amazing that that's part of a Mission. They don't just expect us to know it right away, it's something that the Lord needs us to do while we are out here. And of course we do have all the preparation we can get beforehand, but really I've never felt the spirit stronger or more frequently than now. I love it so much. The Holy Ghost really connects us with God. That's why denying it is unforgivable, it's because that's like severing the life-line between us and God. I'm so thankful for this unspeakable gift, the greatest gift of God, the gift of the Holy Ghost. I hope and pray that we will all learn to recognize His promptings even more. The Church is true. Joseph Smith was a Prophet. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Missionary work is true!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week. You are amazing and I testify that your souls are worth so much to God and to myself. I hope and pray above anything else that we all get to return to the presence of God one day. It will happen as we live the Gospel. Keep up the amazing work. I love you so much. Let me know what I can do for you please.

Love,

Elder Rowley

I love this work!

Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Subject: I Love This Work!

Hello!

How is everyone doing this week? Happy, healthy, and ready to go back to school? I'm excited for you all to go back to school, tell me how it all goes. Miracles come when we work hard and trust in the Lord, whether it be in school or in a job or in the Church!

We've seen miracles this week. Our district had 10 souls come to Sacrament meeting this week! It was all because we all Prayed throughout the week that as a zone we would have at least 20 souls at Sacrament meeting (we got 22 as a zone!) It was amazing, I love this district. We just had District Meeting by the way and it went very well. I learn so much from these great Missionaries every time I work with them. I love the opportunities the Lord has given me to serve, I'm learning a lot from them!

Elder Burnett is amazing as well. Last night he had an experience where he was struggling and things weren't going well and he said a little Prayer. Within a few moments his Prayer was answered and things turned around. I love working with him, he teaches me so much every day!

Just this morning we spoke with nearly everyone on a couple of double-decker buses, it was amazing. I never knew I could do that. And I plan to do it again. I'm really working on bus contacting this week. Anyway, we spoke with some great people, actually they were all great people. Some of them just weren't interested. It's sad to see these people reject the Gospel, but we just do all that we can and then leave it up to them in the end.

This past week we had Zone Conference again, it's crazy how fast they come and go. We went on a historical tour to some of the sites around the Mission. We went first to the Albert Docks in Liverpool where the first Missionaries hopped off the boat and got to work here. It's also where the early emigrants of the Church from England departed. They were amazing people to do that, I'm thankful for them.

We also went to the River Ribble, the Cockpit, the site of the attack of the evil spirits, and the site of President Hinckley's first flat of his Mission; all in Preston. It was amazing to be there again and the spirit was strong. England is amazing.

The last place we went was a small village called Downham (the "h" is silent in British). We met in a small Church of England and sang and talked and had an amazing experience. The spirit was very strong in that village. Joseph Smith once told Heber C. Kimball something about how the ancient Prophets and Apostles must have left their blessings on this country and that he (Heber C. Kimball) experienced some of the blessings of that. That's amazing to me. This land really is blessed and I love serving here even more. It's no accident that I'm serving in this Mission at this time. This is such a Sacred experience.

So Zone Conference is amazing. And next week Elder Bednar is coming to the Mission. It's going to be spectacular. I'm so excited, but we need to prepare for it. We're all praying and preparing for him to come and teach us what Heavenly Father needs us to know. I love the modern day Prophets and Apostles.

Yesterday was probably one of the best days of my Mission. We had most of the Chiza Family come to Church plus one other investigator, I played the piano for Sacrament meeting and played a hymn I've never played before, we got to give a couple of blessings, Kennedy and another recent convert passed the Sacrament, we taught the Young Men's lesson, we had a new investigator, taught a member, and learned why the Sabbath is on Sunday as we taught a 7th-Day Adventist family. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong and it was a great end to a great week!

Our investigators are doing well also. Harry Wilson will be preparing for Baptism here soon so please pray for him to be ready in all things. He's from a great Family and I love them all very much. He's a great young man and I'm excited for him to get the blessings of being Baptized!

We haven't been able to see Contissa recently, but hopefully this week we can help her get to Sacrament meeting and reschedule her Baptismal date. Please pray for these things to happen. Miracles will come into these peoples lives as we pray for them!

We're hoping to teach a man named Derek in the Chapel this week and do everything we can to get him to come to Sacrament meeting. We need to understand his concerns better, it's a difficult thing to do, but with the spirit I know we can do it.

And last week we had some amazing new investigators that I'll have to tell you about later as they start progressing more and more. Thanks for the prayers, they're working!

Well, the Gospel is true. I've recently understood better the great power of Prayer to change our lives. It really does change things. I've seen that this week. Never underestimate the power of a simple little prayer. Always pray when you think you shouldn't. Trust that the Lord will answer your prayers. He will, I know He will. Sometimes we just need enough faith to ask and He will grant it to us. He does love us and He wants to help us, that's His number one desire. He's more like us than we think. He does have feelings. We can make Him sad. We must speak with Him to be happier and to make him happier! Just think about Joseph Smith, if he didn't pray, we wouldn't be where we are today. I'm so thankful that he said that first prayer, and I'm so thankful for all the prayers that are being said in behalf of the people here. These people need it so much. Please keep praying. Pray always! I testify that these things are true.

Anyway, have a great week! I love you all more than I can say in words. I hope the Lord showers blessing after blessing upon you for my service here. He knows and I know that you deserve it. You are all children of God and He loves you. Keep up the amazing work. Please share some stories of how you've seen the Lords hand in your lives in the next e-mail/letter you write! I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley