There beneath the blue suburban skies

Date: Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 4:16 AM
Subject: Settling In...

Hello!

How's everyone's week been? Sounds like it's been cold... it's been almost opposite over here! It's been kind of warmer. Warmer than it should be for November at least. I think it might be some of those sea breezes we got on the Isle of Man. It sure is windy here though, that's for sure!

Well, thank you for all your prayers for my driving to go well. I am now licensed to drive in the United Kingdom!! I passed my test! It went really well and it was a lot easier than I thought, although a lot harder than the test in the states. No more bad Utah driving for me! Just kidding. It did go really well though, I felt the influence of the Spirit keeping me calm and reminding me of everything I needed to do. It took nearly the whole day though, traveling up on the train and taking the test and driving back... it was pretty crazy but a lot of fun. I love driving!

Who thinks they know how the Beatles sounded when they talked? Proper British? American? Something else? It's probably as far from normal as you can get. It's called Scouse and it's the accent that everyone here has. It's crazy. They talk really really fast most of the time, and it's just... different. I can't really describe it but I'll let you hear some of it next year or maybe even on the phone! I love it here.

Oh and by the way, our ringtone on our phone is "If You Could Hie to Kolob."

We've had a great week full of miracles and I can't even write the hundredth part of what's happened. I wish you all could be here to experience this. It's so amazing. We were able to teach 4 new investigators this week, a couple of which were taught when we were on exchanges with our zone leaders. So I don't know those two. But the other two are great. One is a young girl whos name I cannot remember because they are from Eitrea. Her mum was taught previously and this time this girl sat in on the lesson. It went really well, they are such a kind family and you will hear more of them in the future. Oh and she already has the Scouse accent after being here only 3 years!

We taught another one yesterday named Golda. We took a member with us named Brother Romero from Ecuador who served his mission in Ecuador. It turned out that Golda was from Ecuador! We were able to teach some in English and Brother Romero taught very well in Spanish and it was amazing. She is also a very kind woman who you will hear more about in the future.

Toma and his family are doing well except that they weren't able to come to Church yesterday! We missed them there. We went to go travel with them on the bus and they had to take care of some urgent business. They really need our prayers. Oh and this past week we were able to take a Romanian speaker with us to teach them and it went really well. The Lord has blessed us very much with so many amazing people to teach!

Ian Farley is doing very well, he just seems to be on a spiritual high every time we see him. He always comes out of Church feeling great and just keeps progressing towards Baptism! His Baptism will now be on the 27th of November, so pray for him to be ready for it. He will be though, I have no doubt about that.

We're also working with a man named Zuzeyo who is being kicked out of his home soon. Pray for his situation to improve or that he will learn what the Lord wants him to. He is an amazing man from Zimbabwe. He's proper gangster, but he's made a lot of changes in his life recently and continues to do so. I just love all these people so much!

The district here is doing well. The other day a couple of the Elders were street contacting and spoke with an angry atheist. The next night they were tracting and ended up on his street and without knowing it knocked on his door! They spoke with his wife first but then he came to the door. He was a bit antagonistic at first, but eventually calmed down and in the end they set up an appointment with him! I'm very impressed with the Missionaries of this district, I've got a lot of blessings all around me!

Oh and the members here are great! They are always willing to have our investigators over for tea. On Saturday we were at one family called the Bogues in which both parents served in Finland! Sister Bogue made a great meal and then for dessert we had Finnish rice pudding! Except they didn't make it with salt Dad, I was thankful for that. We got to talk about things in Finland and it was great. Plus they got on really well with Ian, who came with us for tea, and we had a great lesson afterward. It was amazing. That's just the tip of the iceberg on the members. I told you I cannot write the hundredth part!

Well, working on Charity last week went well. I love Charity. Haha. I've learned a lot and I really think and feel that Charity has been a theme of my mission. I worked harder and harder to love people for who they are and sacrifice of myself for their salvation. That's when we receive God's highest blessings. I think about the people I admire the most in life and I can see that the common theme between all of them is Charity. I believe that's because that's the most Christ-like thing we can become, which is why the Scriptures teach us that Charity is the greatest and it never fails. That's really true. It really doesn't fail. Life is just so much better when we are motivated by Charity. Charity means that we look outside ourselves and see the problems of others and make resolving those problems a bigger priority than solving our own problems. When we do this we are happier. We are more like Jesus Christ, and we are closer to God. I also think that having Charity includes knowing that Jesus Christ loves us, and trusting that His love never fails. In this way Charity is linked with hope. It's also linked with faith because as we read in Preach My Gospel, "Charity, like Faith, leads to action." True love for those around us will lead us to act in their behalf. I testify that this is true.

The Gospel has been restored. Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God. Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God. Heavenly Father loves you. Yes you, reading this right now, whoever it may be. I know that. Jesus Christ knows you. He can help you as you endure to the end in having the faith to repent of your sins and partake of the Sacrament each week to receive the Holy Ghost. This will bring us true and lasting happiness in this life and ultimate happiness in the life to come. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It's the keystone of our religion and the keystone of testimony. If we want testimony, we need to read the Book of Mormon. In it is the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (D+C 20:8-9). We will have the spirit more, want to be more obedient, and have a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ as we study in this sacred record. I testify that this is true and I know it because the Holy Ghost has witnessed to my heart that it is true and I have experienced it for myself! Prayer changes things.

Well, I love you all. I can't thank you enough for all you do. I know I say it every week, but I just can't say it enough. I couldn't do any of this if it weren't for you. You are answers to a lot of my prayers. Keep up the amazing work. Keep living the Gospel so we can all live in the Celestial Kingdom together. Life is good. I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley