New digs!

Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 4:29 AM
Subject:

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I didn't let you know that it was transfer week. Transfers is always on a Wednesday so whether or not I'm being transfered you'll hear from me on a Wednesday or Thursday every six weeks. Speaking of, Elder Cowley is now gone. He took the long and lonely journey to... the Isle of Man! I call it return of the Cowley because his ancestors were Baptised by John Taylor there. I'm so happy and excited for him. It was really like re-playing what I experienced this same time last year. He will do amazing things out there and we'll miss him here in Liverpool!

My new companion is Elder Stringham from South Jordan. He is amazing. He's so excited about the Gospel and he is a very sacred Missionary. He came on his mission about 6 months ago and he is on fire. Yesterday we were blessed to have 18 quality gospel conversations and set up 6 return appointments with people. We also taught a new investigator! I followed a prompting to try by our investigator Linda and her neice, Karen was there. We taught about prayer and she committed to pray and Linda was teaching as well and it was just amazing. Miracles are happening and will continue to happen here in Liverpool!

Oh and we've been blessed with a new flat! We no longer live with the Zone Leaders. I'll get you our new address on Monday. The place is posh though, everything is so new and we even have a dishwasher and a garbage disposal. That's weird to use the word garbage. Anyway, those appliances are really rare to have in flats over here. We're so blessed!

When Elder Cowley left I was working with our Zone Leaders, Elders Newson and Stacey for the evening. It was weird though because I went on splits with a member to teach Toma and his family. It made me really nervous at first, but the member, Brother Smith, helped me out a lot. He speaks Romanian, he went there on his mission. That's no coincidence by the way. Anyway, Toma is doing well. The family came to stake conference on Sunday and enjoyed it very much. They feel the spirit in Church but they don't understand. I don't know if they would understand everything anyway! They're doing well though and we're planning some good things for them for Christmas. Just pray that we will be able to get everything worked out for that.

Last Wednesday we had interviews and training and it was amazing. I got a couple packages there by the way, thanks so much for that! Anyway, the training taught us how to have more confidence when speaking with people and it was incredible. I learned a lot and on the bus ride home Elder Cowley and I (it was before transfers) spoke with everyone we possibly could on the bus! I've been able to do that pretty consistently now which is a great blessing because that's really difficult for me. I need your prayers so that I can remain consistent at sharing the Gospel on buses and reach the Lord's full potential for me. Miracles come to Missionaries who share the Gospel on the bus.

Oh and do you remember Carmen Whelan from Rochdale? Well, she was Baptised a couple weeks ago. Don't forget that she was found on Facebook when she met a member of the Church attending BYU and he shared the Gosple with her so she referred herself to us. Facebook is inspired and it can do a lot of good if we use it right. I encourage everyone to share the Gospel on Facebook and everywhere you get the chance! Blessings will continue to come!

I had what was probably one of the best experiences of my mission on Sunday. Of course you all remember Phil and Christine Taylor from the Isle of Man, Elder Larson and I found them and they were Baptised in August. Well, Sunday was the Liverpool stake conference, and last week I was excited all week that I might get to see them there because the Isle of Man is in the Liverpool Stake. Anyway, so they came on Sunday and it was amazing to get to speak with them, it sounds like they are doing wonderful things there on the Isle of Man. Phil is teaching in the Priesthood and Christine is fitting in with the Relief Society very well. I was also excited because I knew that Phil was going to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood after the conference and I would get to be there for that. Well, the time came for that to happen and the Stake President motioned for me to come up to participate in the ordination and then whispered that Phil had asked me to perform it! So I got to ordain Phil Taylor to the office of an Elder. It was so incredible. I felt such an amazing love for Phil and Christine as well. I have a great feeling that I'm going to be friends with them for a long long time. How often does a Missionary get the opportunity to ordain one of their golden investigators to the Melchizedek Priesthood? I feel so blessed. Thank you for all you've done for me to help me to be able to come here and do what I've done and be worthy of this incredible blessing!

The Church is true. Humility is something that we need a lot of. We cannot do things very well on our own, everything just goes so much better when we involve the Lord. That's why we have Preach My Gospel, it increases the Lord's involvement in Missionary work. I love that. I love the principle of Humility and it's blessed my life so much. I also love diligence. As I've studied it so far this week I've been able to experience the great joy and satisfaction that comes from doing all that I possibly can. The Lord really blesses the diligent and faithful. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the iron rod that will lead us to Jesus Christ so he can take us back to our Father in Heaven's presence forever. The Gospel works. It's true. Prayer changes things, try it! President Monson is a true Prophet of God. I know that God lives and loves each one of us.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week and keep up the amazing work. Don't be scared to write! I need to repent of not writing. I'm sorry. I'll do better. Anyway, I love you!


Love,

Elder Rowley

Swine flu!

Date: Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 5:09 AM
Subject:

Hello Everyone!

How's the week been? Is everyone staying well? How's the weather? I hope our football teams do better this week! Even the Rochdale football or rugby team lost this past weekend! Some of the ward members were a bit disappointed. It's just sports though, doesn't really effect our salvation so no worries there!

Anyway, I suppose that the biggest news from Rochdale this week is that Elder Burnett came down with Swine Flu. He's alright today but you can pray that nobody else will get sick. He and Elder Nielsons companion, Elder Brown, have been stuck in the flat for the past 4 days. It's been pretty crazy. Elder Nielson and I have been doing well though and it ended up to be a great week last week!

On Tuesday I was actually on exchanges with Elder Nielson anyway because I had planned to be earlier in the transfer. We had some great experiences. There was a less-active family that Elder Nielson mentioned we could go by and I felt that we should. Just as we arrived at their place they pulled up in the car! It was great, we were able to go in and teach. It was especially good because they hadn't been able to teach them before our visit that day! This is a day of miracles.

Also on Tuesday I was able to interview another woman for Baptism and it was amazing. Those are always very spiritual experiences. Anyway, on Saturday we got to go to her Baptism and Carmen came as well! It was great, I even got to play the piano for it because they were short on piano players! These skills just keep paying off. I even played for Sacrament meeting again yesterday! It's been fun.

After the Baptism on Saturday we experienced a great miracle. Someone made us a cake and it was kind of awkward so I was thinking we would have to go back to the flat to leave it there then go out again. Well, I felt that I should just stick it in my backpack (it was in a tin so that was okay) so I did. We were blessed with a new family to teach that night because I did that. We were referred to a man named JJ and he has a wife named Cecilia. We're exicted for them and we're seeing them again tonight! "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." It's true.

Everything else is going well. Our investigators are doing great, we were able to have 3 or 4 at Sacrament meeting yesterday! Carmen came, as well as a couple of former investigators who we will probably start teaching again soon, and Adele came as well, although she was late. Anyway, it's been a great week for all of them and we're excited to help them progress towards Baptism.

The Church is true! Last night we had a very sacred experience inviting an investigator in a part-member family to be Baptised. The spirit was very strong and he said that he would think about it really hard. He's an amazing man with an amazing family and they have really changed my life. I'll tell you more about this one in the future.

Well, this morning I learned about faith in Jesus Christ. Faith leads to action which leads to miracles which leads to greater faith which again leads to action! Our actions are evidence of our faith. What we do is founded upon what we believe in. I also learned that faith is a principle of power. Look up the definition of power in the dictionary, it's very interesting how it connects with the Priesthood. I testify that by our faith to be obedient to the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we will be able to have the Holy Ghost with us and our Families will be able to be together forever in God's presence as we endure to the end in that. The Gospel has been restored. Joseph Smith was right. He was telling the truth. The Book of Mormon is true and that's how I gained my initial faith. Reading and Praying about the Book of Mormon are critical for an enduring conversion. I testify of Jesus Christ, that He knows and loves each and every one of us. He can help us. I know these things are true because I have experienced them.

Well, thank you for all that you do and are. You are truely the salt of the earth. I couldn't do this without you! Thanks for all the prayers and love and support and letters and everything. Keep up the amazing work. I love you more that I can say and I know that the Savior loves you even more than that. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Share the gospel!

Date: Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:17 AM
Subject: Another Week Come and Gone...

Hiya Everyone!

How's your week been? Ours has been good and fast. Yesterday at Sacrament meeting we had Carmen come and then a couple more that we weren't even expecting! They were former investigators, one of which we are seeing this evening! It's exciting.

Last night we had what was probably one of the best PEC meetings I've been to on my mission. I love PEC. I learn so much from the ward leaders! Last week we fasted that the member work here would pick up as we made increased efforts and it sure has. The meeting went very well, we're having different members coming teaching with us and offering their help. The Young Men's leader even wants to feed our whole zone for Thanksgiving! I'm very blessed to be serving in this ward at this time! Our Bishop is feeling poorly right now, so your prayers for him will be much appreciated.

On Friday we were on exchanges with the Middleton Elders again, I got to work with Elder Rosenberg (the Finnish Elder!) again. I think we've been on 3 or 4 exchanges now! I'm learning a lot from him. Anyway, we had a great day that day. We got to do service for Paul Collis, an amazing ward missionary. We also taught the Wilsons and Elder Rosenberg was impressed with the most amazing football analogy for Enduring to the End. It was along the lines of: when you get the football in the game it's like being Baptised, and you have to keep the ball going and "endure" all the way to the goal. Harry loved it and I think his understanding is increasing. Their family can use your prayers as well.

At interviews this past week we were trained on how to be better at planning as well as how to be better at working with the ward members. Elder Burnett and I applied this with a couple in the ward we've been working with and it was amazing, we're seeing miracles from applying our learning. I testify that the greatest things we can do with the things that we learn is to apply them and to share them.

We also went on exchanges with our zone leaders this week and it was great. I got to work with Elder Weidmann and it was a great day. We committed two people to a Baptismal date and helped another one feel the spirit so much that she cried. It was a wonderful day.

I also saw a miracle this week with the Priesthood. A blessing was given to a sick Elder and in the blessing a promise was given that he would return to full strength as he served to his full capacity that night. The sick Elder didn't do too well for the first part of the evening, but in one moment he felt to sprint after a man to share the Gospel with him and immediately his health returned and he was well the rest of the week. I testify that this is a day of miracles and that the power of the Priesthood is real!

Well, I know that the Church is true. My testimony is growing every day. I can testify that the times we grow the most are the low points of our lives. A mission sure has a lot of low points. Daily, weekly, and monthly. It's crazy but I love it. I love the changes that I am experiencing because of our Savior Jesus Christ. I testify that He is alive. I testify that He lives for you and me and everyone we will ever meet. His Gospel will bring us the most peace and happiness in this life and in the life to come. As we have the faith to repent of our sins and partake of the Sacrament each week I testify that the Holy Ghost will be present in our lives. He comes every time we repent. Life is as simple as that. And we do this primarily so we can follow the example of our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ in serving others. Remember that this week. Keep repenting and serving. This is the purpose of our lives and it will bring us happiness and prepare us to live with God! I can testify of this because I am experiencing it in my life. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, it is the keystone of all that I testify of. We need to use this sacred record more. I know that the Savior wants us to for that's what He told some of His Apostles and Prophets to speak about in General Conference. I testify that the Gospel is true and it has been restored!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week. This work is amazing. Do it when you can. Share the Gospel on the internet. Our most progressing investigator right now is being taught because a friend shared the Gospel with her on the internet. It works. I testify of it. I love you all and I hope you know that. Don't forget about the blessings you are bringing the people of England through me. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Miracle after miracle

Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 4:08 AM
Subject: Hiya!

Hiya Everyone!

It's been a great week and I hope to hear how yours went as well! Right now the sun is shining and we're all looking forward to playing some football this afternoon with the zone! Being a Missionary is so much fun. Speaking of which, driving is going well, hopefully I've got a practical test booked, I'll find out tomorrow. Please pray that it will be before the 4th of November! That's transfer day and I'm thinking I might not be here another transfer. We'll see.

We had zone conference on Thursday with Elder Kerr of the Seventy from Scotland. He's quite the character and I love him. We all learned a lot from him, he was following up on Elder Bednar's visit. We're learning from Apostles and Prophets and from the Savior how to teach people to learn for themselves, instead of just shoving information down their throats. It's amazing. The other night we were in a lesson with the Chiza's and we were working on asking better questions to help them to learn for themselves. At the end of the lesson Mary Chiza said that we asked really good questions! I felt that they just learned better all around. These skills are great and they are really working! The Church is true!

Yesterday was a great Sabbath, but Elder Brown and Elder Burnett were sick! Elder Neilson and I had to go on splits to cover both wards for Church and it was a lot of fun. We have a member named Paul Collis who comes teaching with us a lot and he was my companion for Church, it was great. I learned a lot at church and Florence and Carmen both came! It was a great Sunday even if it was a bit hectic!

Also, speaking of Carmen, she's scheduled to be Baptised on the 30th of October! We're seeing her again tonight and giving her a schedule of everything that will happen between now and her Baptism and it's very exciting to see her progress! Keep praying for everything will work out for her to be Baptised on that date! I know that miracles are on the way because my faith has been strengthened at the many many recent miracles we've seen. We were praying for someone we could Baptise this transfer and here we've got Carmen!

Another miracle we saw recently was one evening we had accidentally booked 2 appointments for the same time, and no fellowshipper! Paul Collis was going to come, but he had to babysit. Something inside me told me that everything would be alright though, and sure enough, when we stepped off a bus to walk to one of the appointments, Paul rang and said that he wasn't babysitting anymore! It was a miracle and a half, we were able to teach both lessons and have a great evening!

One of those lessons was with Simon, Stephanie, Florence, and Deborah, they are a part-member family (Florence isn't a member yet and Deborah is younger than 8) and they are amazing. We sang to them and we've been doing that for them for the past few lessons. Singing invites the spirit. That is true. I love it. And all of them came to Church yesterday because of it!

Another miracle we saw this week after zone conference happened when we were able to teach a new investigator named Phil. I love people named Phil, they're great. Anyway, we weren't sure if we should go out to this area where he lived because we didn't get back from Zone Conference until nearly 7:30 and didn't have much time to proselyte. The spirit told us to go though and we did and were able to teach him! Plus his fiancee, Roxanne is a less-active member! The crazy thing is that about 2 weeks ago we taught Roxanne's brother, Christian, and a couple days ago we taught him again! Coincidence? I don't think so. The Church is true and God lives and this is a day of miracles!

We also started teaching a man named Tim this week who is great. He learns a lot and identifies with the people in the Sciptures and wants to improve his life. The Gospel is going to bless him so much. We're teaching him again this evening and giving him a Baptismal Date to work towards! Pray for everything to go as the Lord wants!

As you can tell, we're just seeing miracle after miracle here in Rochdale! I love this work and I know it's true. Thank you for all of your Prayers in our behalf, it really does change things so much. I've really seen things pick up here in the last few weeks as our Prayers and efforts have improved. I know that Prayer plus the faith to work equals miracles. I've seen that here and I know that we can all see it in every aspect of our lives. Pray more often and more fervently and your life will improve. I testify of that. Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Heavenly Father lives and loves each of us. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is real and is the greatest gift we have here in life. I've learned more and more to appreciate this gift as I should. And even now I know that I don't appreciate it enough. The Holy Ghost connects us to our Father in Heaven, without it we die spiritually. That's why we get it more and more the more we repent and put aside our sins, or spiritual death. The Gospel makes so much sense which to me is just another evidence that it is true. I know this not because of physical evidence, but rather because the Holy Ghost has told me that the Book of Mormon is true as I have had the faith to read, ponder, and pray about it. I testify that we can all do this again and again and it will improve all our lives every time. I attribute the goodness of my life to my relationship to my Savior Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith as well as Thomas S. Monson. The Church is true!

Well, I love you all very much. I can't thank you enough for the prayers and love and support and letters. Please keep them coming, I'm praying for you. I couldn't do this without you, and never forget that the people of England are blessed for what you have done for me. Have a great week and let me know what more I can do for you! I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

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

In the sick ward

Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 5:20 AM
Subject: Weekly Letter

Hiya Everyone!

Its's been a crazy week here in Rochdale! How has your week been? I hope the first few weeks of school go well, don't forget that I'm praying for all of you! We will all do amazing things as we trust in the Lord.

Well, for starters, we've got two new Elders in the District. Elder Wheat (who is my brother, Elder Ayers trained him!) and Elder Neilson are now living in our flat. Over the weekend Elder Nielson had an appendectomy and will be in recovery for about the next month. Elder Ayers and his companion Elder Garcia dropped these two new additions off last night. It was good to see all of them, but it sure is crazy. So I now get to care for two healing Elders as well as the rest of the District, Elder Burnett, and the Rochdale and Littleborough wards! I've never been so busy in my life. I'm quite exhausted already!

We had a good week last week though, except we only had one investigator at Sacrament Meeting! We're really struggling with that right now, we need your prayers and support. We had great Church meetings though, Elder Burnett and I got to speak in Sacrament meeting in Rochdale and it went very well. Everyone liked the "If you think you are beaten you are..." poem as I recited it. Thanks Dad.

After Church we got to go to a member Family's home, the Jacksons, for Tea (Dinner). It was delicious and they are a wonderful family who help us out a lot. Oh and another thing I feel to mention is that the Rochdale Bishop is in the Hospital right now. Please pray for him to heal. We need him back!

We got to go on two exchanges this week, one with the Zone Leaders and one with the Middleton Elders. I got to go with Elder Ridley for the first one. We came out on our missions on the same day. Elder Ridley is amazing. He has the spirit with him very much, and I'm learning a lot about how to have it more. He expects miracles, trusts in the Lord, and is doing amazing things for this zone. He's our new zone leader by the way. I learned a lot from him.

I also got to go with Elder Hall, an English Missionary in the district. He is amazing as well and has such great potential. We saw miracles as we worked together. We got to play some football and our electricity went out and we had two tea appointments! We had planned to see a member and a part-member family, and the member didn't tell us that she would be feeding us! Her name is Irene by the way, she's African. She doesn't have a television right now, and all of her family and friends are either in Africa or in her previous ward elsewhere in England. You'd think that she would get a bit bored and depressed, but she's one of the happiest and kindest people I've met since I've been here. She's an amazing example to us. And the food she made was amazing.

On Monday we saw a man named Stephen. He's interesting. He wouldn't turn off his music for us until we said a prayer just before we left. He was listening to Rush and he started talking about music and things and it didn't go very well. He even gave us back the copy of the Book of Mormon we gave him, it was sad. I did learn an interesting thing though. As we followed the spirit we were able to use analogies of music to help him understand the Restoration. Even then he wasn't interested in learning more. It was sad, but really it all comes down to those we teach to accept it. Hopefully he will receive the blessings of the Gospel in the future.

Our investigators are doing alright. Contissa didn't make it to Church on Sunday so we have to move her Baptismal date. I really wish sometimes that I was a better teacher and could help people more. Anyway, she's doing great in everything else though. She will be Baptised within the next month or so and we are very excited for her.

Harry didn't come to Church on Sunday either. He doesn't understand the importance of it and I'm not sure how to help him do that. He's a good young man who needs a lot of prayers and support.

Derek was another one that didn't make it to Church. Please pray for him, for all of these people, to come to Church on Sunday so they can feel the spirit. They need it so much. He continues to progress well though, and accepted the Word of Wisdom very well as we taught it this week.

Jolie Chiza is a recently new investigator who did come to Church this week! She's about 15, from the Congo, and we're teaching her whole family. She is especially excited about the Book of Mormon. It makes me happy to find people receiving the same happiness from the word of God that I have. Please pray for her to accept a Baptismal date this week.

Everything else seems to be going well. Just pray that we'll have a good week this week and be able to find new people to teach. That's what we really need this week as well as people we currently teach becoming more committed.

Well, I suppose that's about it. The Church is true. The evidence of it is overwhelming. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Joseph Smith was telling the truth when he said that it will bring us closer to God than any other book! It's amazing in that aspect. Every time I read it I feel closer to Him, and I know that that promise applies to all of us. Prayer does work and it does change things. I've seen that this week. In times when I've been down, I've turned to prayer for help and I've seen a massive difference in my life. I know we can all experience that. God loves each and every one of us, and He does have a plan for us. Jesus Christ is central to that plan. I testify that without Jesus Christ we are lost and fallen forever. But "Oh how great the goodness of our God..." (2 Nephi 9:10). He has prepared a way of release from everything evil that will ever occur in this life. And we can choose to follow that way! I testify that as we do, we will truely be happy. And as we help others do the same, we will find more happiness than we ever imagined. The Gospel is true!

Well, I love you all dearly. I don't know what I'd do without you. I can't imagine how Job must have felt with what he experienced. I couldn't do that. You're amazing. Keep up the great work. Pray for our investigators. The Lords investigators. Never forget that what you've done for me continues to bless the lives of those I teach and serve here. I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

When we expect miracles, they will come

Date: Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 4:18 AM
Subject: Lots of Work!

Hello!

How is everyone this week? I hope all is going well, we sure are keeping busy here in Rochdale!

I first have to thank you for all your Prayers and support for me. I'm experiencing amazing miracles right now and I know that it's partially due to your faith and prayers. Don't forget about that. I couldn't do this without your help!

We had a good weekend and start to the new transfer. Elder Burnett is amazing and we get along great. He works hard and is humble and has a strong testimony and is improving daily and it's just great to get to work with him. Please pray for him to overcome his fears and improve every day.

Over the weekend we had a new investigator named Jolie. She is amazing, she felt the spirit very strongly as we taught about Joseph Smith, and this week she'll be at church (with your Prayers) and have a Baptismal date! She's amazing and we're excited to see the blessings of the Gospel in her life. Please pray for her and all of our other investigators to make it to Church on Sunday and accept Baptismal dates. Miracles are happening and more are on the way!

Speaking of miracles, I learned this week that when we expect miracles, they come. We need to expect great things in our lives. As we expect answers to our prayers, they will come. I testify that this is true and I know it because I've experienced it this week.

On Sunday Kennedy passed the Sacrament! It was wonderful, he did so well and we are so proud of him. He continues to do wonderful things in his life. His face lit up the other day when we mentioned him serving a mission. His learning and understanding of the Gospel are great. I'm so glad I get to work with him!

On Friday we taught six lessons, it was a lot of fun. They all went very well and it was a miracle that they all worked out. It was because we expected them to happen! The quote of the day for Friday was "Is it really that white?" Contissa said that when we showed her a picture of the temple. It really made me realized that the house of the Lord is perfect. No other building in the world will ever exceed the whiteness and the purity of it. No other building is as close to God. We must go to the Temple every week possible. I testify that God has great blessings for us as we do.

Our investigators are doing great, they're being blessed so much. Contissa, Derek, Harry, Jolie, Violet, and many others will be at Church on Sunday. I expect this miracle to occur. And I'll ask you to prayerfully do the same. Your prayers mean so much to me and to the people here, their lives are so much more blessed when we all pray for them together!

I know that the Church is true. People oppose us every day and I love it because I know that they are wrong. I just ask somebody "who told you that?" When they make a statement against the Church or it's teachings. They never can answer me because they don't realize that those ideas come from Satan. The spirit can beat him. I testify of that, I've experienced it this week as well. The spirit is so powerful and I know that we must work to be receivers of it every single day. The Lord has a great work for us each to do and we need to make sure that it gets done by His Spirit. I know that Heavenly Father lives. He loves us. Prayer does work and it does change things for the better more than anything else. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I love Him. It is because of Him that we can enjoy all of these blessings. He makes it possible for us to receive answers to our prayers and to feel the spirit and to live the Gospel. I testify that He wants us to come unto Him by living the Gospel. I particularly testify that genuine repentance is one of the most powerful things in this life. It makes Him happy when we repent. We need to do it so we can be happy as well. I know that that happiness will come as we repent and live the Gospel. I love this work and I know that it is true.

I love you all. I hope you have a wonderful week and keep up the great work. I hope and pray that school goes well for everyone. Just trust in the Lord and He will help all of us accomplish great things. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Rowley

PS- Thanks for the packages!

Just another day (sad)

Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 3:50 AM
Subject: Oh Wow...

Hello!

How is everyone this week? It sounds like you're all staying very busy in the last few weeks of summer! I hope you keep having fun though.

Well, I apologize for no e-mail on Monday, I forgot to tell you that this week is transfer week. Elder Winward is gone. I'm training a new Missionary named Elder Burnett from Taylorsville! He is amazing already, and we get along great! He is worthy of miracles and we've already seen a lot. Yesterday we went to the chapel in Wythenshawe where I first met Elder Ayers about a year ago and where I also first met Elder Llaguno about 4 months ago. It felt strange to be there training again. And Elder Ayers gave us the training on training with his Spanish companion, Elder Garcia!

Anyway, we got back into Rochdale pretty fast yesterday and got to work. We went to try by a man and couldn't find his house for the life of us. We were walking back to go to another place when we stopped a man and it was the man we were looking for! We got his number and set up an appointment to see him on the Weekend! We also ran into many other people that we had planned to try-by or visit, the Lord placed us in their path! And we even got a chance to teach a kind woman named Lisa on her porch! Yesterday was amazing and I'm excited to see miracles today!

We've been really busy since I last e-mailed. Elder Winward's last week here was an amazing one. We had ten new investigators who are absolutely amazing. Now we have 5 people dated for Baptism! We have a Baptism every weekend in September! Here's their info:

Contissa is a young-woman that I street-contacted a couple weeks ago. She has a member friend so the teaching is pretty easy, her friend answers most of her questions when we're not there! Contissa is amazing, she just needs to come to church. She will hopefully be Baptized on the 5th of September! She needs your prayers.

Harry is in a part-member family, his sister and Mum are members and were Baptized nearly 2 years ago. Harry is great. We got to play football with him and some other young men on Friday, that was amazing by the way. Anyway, he is ready for the 12th of September, the Missionary that Baptized his Mum and sister is coming over here for holiday so he will Baptize him. He also needs your prayers.

Derek was a new investigator who I haven't seen since we first taught him, we've been on exchanges every time we've seen him since then! He needs a testimony of the Gospel. He has some struggles, so please pray for him to overcome that and gain a testimony.

Jason and Hannah were new investigators last week when I last e-mailed you. They are amazing. They love God and are very receptive to the Spirit and we're so excited for them. Hannah works on Sundays so we're praying for her to be able to get them off so they can come to church. We very much want them to have the blessings of the Gospel!

We're hoping to give Baptismal dates to many other investigators soon, there are just so many people to teach here! Miracles are happening all over the place. These people will be so blessed by all of our prayers.

My birthday was just another day. It didn't even really feel like a birthday, which I was okay with. It's strange how the older you get the less you like your birthday. The Wilson's did take us out to eat though, even if we couldn't do it on my birthday it was amazing. They are so kind!

Please pray for Kennedy, we haven't been able to see him in a little while and he didn't make it to church on Sunday. He's really busy with work, but we really really need to see him! He's a great young man and I hope to help him be ready to serve a Mission soon!

Everyone else is doing well. The district is great, they need some new investigators. The wards are great, one of the Bishops is in the hospital but should be out soon. The Mission is great, Elder Larson is now a Zone Leader and I'm very excited for him. Life is good.

Well, I thought I would be feeling very overwhelmed with all of these responsibilities, but I've decided to take it one thing at a time and remember that whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. He will qualify me, but I will still need many prayers. Especially that I will be able to develop even better relationships with the members here. I'm still working on becoming more confident, and your prayers are helping. Keep up the amazing work.

Anyway, the Church is true! Jesus Christ truely is our Savior. It wasn't nails that kept Him on the cross, it was love. And in the same way, it won't be the difficulty of life that keeps us going, it will be our love for those whom we serve. Love is a great key to this work, I've learned a lot about that recently. Elder Winward was good at that. Being a Missionary is the best. I love it and I know that it's a true work. We can all have Missionary experiences, we just need to ask for them and then act! I testify to you that Prayer works and changes things. Heavenly Father loves us and we are His children. He really does live and so does Jesus Christ. And because He lives we will too. Everything that is difficult about this life can be made right through Jesus Christ as we live His Gospel. We can be happier through Him as we choose to live His way. We can have comfort, peace, strength, optimism, hope, courage, confidence, and every single good thing in this world through Him. Our lives are better because of our Savior. I love Him and I love serving Him.

Well, I hope you all have a great week. I love you all so much. I couldn't do what I do without you. Keep up the amazing work. Keep looking for God's blessings in your lives, they're more present than we think. I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

It were easy!

Date: Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 4:08 AM
Subject: Where do the Years Go...

Hello!

How is everyone this week? Happy, healthy, going to the Temple and having Missionary experiences? I hope so! You're amazing.

Well, I've just about made it through the teen-age. I still feel way too young to be 20, but I think I'll enjoy it! Tomorrow we have District Meeting in the morning and then I'm going on exchanges to Middleton (the city just next to Rochdale, it's not too far outside Manchester). I'll be working with a Finnish Missionary named Elder Rosenberg! I'm very excited, it should be a lot of fun! It should be a quiet birthday, not many people will know about it which is good. Isn't it strange that as we get older we look forward to our own birthdays less and less. Time flies!!

We have had a great week with a lot of ups and downs. Many of our investigators are falling through the cracks, we can't seem to teach or even contact them! It's pretty crazy, but we've had some promising new investigators.

Jaime is busy with her family and wants to put the lessons on hold for now. She will still be Baptized one day though. We saw Solomon and Rita mid-week and set up an appointment with them, but it didn't work out and we still haven't been able to see them a second time. A few of our other investigators have all stopped the lessons for now as well. Its a bit depressing, but I'm excited to tell you about our new investigators.

On Monday we were with a member in a city called Heywood that we only go to about twice a week. We had a couple appointments fall through out there, so we decided to go by some potential investigators. I felt good about a certain one, and when we got there, there was a man across the street getting off his bike. As I spoke with him he kindly let us in and we got to teach him about the Restoration!! It was good, but we haven't been able to see him since. Oh and his name is Stephen by the way. I'll keep you updated on him.

Then later in the week we were with a recent convert family from the Congo. They told us at the end of the lesson that they have a friend that wanted to visit with us, and we set up an appointment with the friend for the next day. We had the opportunity the next day to teach Asabbe and Mary, two friends from Ethiopia and the Congo! They accepted everything very well and we're seeing them again tonight. If all goes well they will be dated for Baptism by this time next week! Please pray for them to come to church and to accept a Baptismal date to work towards!

Another day in the week we were back in Heywood again and we were street contacting after a couple of appointments fell through. Elder Winward spoke with a very kind man named Ian who let us teach him in his home right there and then! Heywood is a place of miracles! Anyway, he was very talkative, and we'll hopefully see him again this week. Please pray for him to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and to come to church as well. We're really hoping and praying that these people will progress and I know that miracles will happen as we ask the Lord to help these souls!

I passed my theory test! "It were easy" as they say over here. I know that the Lord was with me and He prepared me to pass. We had to travel to Oldham, another neighboring city where our Zone Leaders serve, so I could take the test. We almost arrived late, but we were blessed to be on time. I love the tender mercies of the Lord! Please pray for me to now be able to quickly get through the lessons and to pass my practical (driving) test!

District Meeting last week went well. It's a lot of work being a District Leader, but I love it very much. I trained on speaking with people on a bus, it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot just from conducting the meeting! I have an amazing district and they are doing very well right now. After district meeting we went on exchanges with our Zone Leaders, I went with Elder Eichelberger from California and it was a lot of fun. We were able to teach a Portugese man as well as many other amazing people. I learned a lot, I always learn a lot on exchanges. We have some great Missionaries in this mission!

Other than that everything is going well. Kennedy is doing well, we're hoping and praying that he will pass the Sacrament next week and come out teaching with us soon. Please pray for him to experience these things. He's a great young man. We had him reading from the Book of Mormon stories book so he could understand better, and in one of the lessons he basically told us the history of how Lehi's family get to the promised land! It was amazing, I'm always amazed with Kennedy's understanding.

Anyway, I guess that's about it for this week. I love being a Missionary and I know without a doubt that this work is true. My testimony is strengthened everyday. I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Plan of Happiness is real and true. With Adam came the fall; death, hell, spiritual homesickness, agony, pain, suffering. With Christ we become at one with our Father in Heaven again. Because of Him we can overcome every form of death. We can overcome spiritual homesickness. We can overcome the loss of loved ones as we are sealed together in the Temple. We can overcome our physical and emotional pain and agony. We can have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I testify that every good thing that we experience in this life is caused in one way or another by the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He did die for us. But more importantly, He lives for us. And we will live too as we live His Gospel. I testify that this is true. To experience the blessings of the Atonement we simply have to live the Gospel. If I have learned anything else on my Mission, it is this. I know all of this because I have read and Prayed about the Book of Mormon. That book is the word of God and it will bring us closer to God than any other book, because it brings us closer to Christ. It deepens our faith in Him, helps us to repent, prepares people for Baptism, gives us the spirit, and helps us endure to the end. I testify that all of this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Well, I love you all. Don't forget that what you've done for me blesses the lives of the people here. Let me know what I can do for you. Keep up the amazing work. Thank you for all of the prayers, love, support, packages, and letters! I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

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