Street contacting success!

Dropping off the Isle of Man Elders

Date: Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: Happy Easter!!!

Hiya Everyone!

We've had another miraculous week here in Preston and I'm excited to report that my new companion is Elder McKechnie (the "ch" is different than a normal "ch"... I can't really explain it) from Scotland! He was trained by Elder Griffeth and I'm very excited to work with him!

It's been a very busy week and a half since I last wrote... so much has happened and so many blessings have come our way. I think the first is that last week were able to teach many people right on the spot. When we street contact or tract we always ask people if they have some time right at the moment that we can speak with them and we always consider it a miracle to teach someone in the street or have them let us into their home. Well, that happened multiple times last week and we feel very blessed.

On one of these occasions we were with a returned Missionary who served in Italy. We told him we were going to get let into a door and sure enough as Elder Griffeth knocked on a man named Richard's door he let us in. Richard is Chinese and just so happened to have read the 4 Gospels recently! He was very prepared to hear about the Restoration and we're excited to see him progress.

Another miracle we saw was on Sunday. Three of our investigators, Jimmy, Simon, and a Hungarian man named Peter all came to Church! They enjoyed it and we are excited to help them progress towards Baptism. Your prayers and faith have all helped so much for us to see this amazing miracle, so thank you! I'll keep you updated on their progress.

Today we've just been so busy. In the morning we were driving Missionaries and luggage to the train station and then after saying some goodbyes I took some Missionaries with me to Heysham to send one off to the Isle of Man and to pick one up that's returning from there. It was fun to talk with them about the people there. The one that will be serving there just served in Rochdale, one of my other previous areas, and it was good to get to talk about that area as well. So many amazing things are happening right now, I love it!

I'm sorry this is short, more will come on Monday. There is just so much to tell you and so little time to do it. Really the most important thing about all of it is that we feel the Holy Ghost. I learned something interesting on Sunday. We often use the word impression when speaking of spiritual experiences or receiving the Spirit's guidance. I remember the word impression by thinking of a leather sofa. If you press your hand onto the sofa you leave an impression. But it doesn't last. The sofa goes back to it's previous state after your hand moves. This is like receiving the Spirit's guidance. Sometimes we let impressions only last for a few moments and then let them go away. But if our hearts are humble enough to receive the impression and strong enough to keep the impression then we experience conversion. And through this Heavenly Father molds us into who He wants us to be so that we reach our full potential. We need to have hearts like clay which has those characteristics of being humble enough to receive impressions but strong enough to let the impression stay. As I've strived to follow the Spirit more recently I've felt happier and I've beat myself up less. I've been learning more. So many other blessings have come because of this. I testify that as we learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost we experience greater happiness. God lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. His Gospel is the only path to true and lasting happiness in this life and in the world to come. Families can be together forever. The Book of Mormon is true and I know all these things as I have read and prayed to know it's true. Reading and Praying about the Book of Mormon truly are critical for an enduring conversion. It does help our hearts become as clay. The Gospel is true, let us live it!

Well, thank you again for all you continue to do for me. The people here are blessed for it. Keep up the amazing work and I'll write more on Monday and hopefully be able to send some pictures as well. I love you all!!

-Elder L. Rowley

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

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

Thankful I'm not perfect

Date: Thu, May 21, 2009 at 5:01 AM
Subject: What a Week!!

Hello!

How is everyone this week? Excited for summer? I sure am! It's getting warmer here and I like that.

Well, my time serving on the Isle of Man is over. I'm currently in Rochdale, which is just outside of Manchester. My new companion is Elder Winward from Salt Lake City and he is great! The work here is going amazingly well, we have 3 investigators dated for Baptism this transfer, and many others we're working with. It's going to be a busy week as I get to know and start teaching all of them! I'm so excited though.

As for my last week on the Isle of Righteousness... I mean Isle of Man, it was amazing! We got to do service for some members and helped the Allen's get in and settled and in the last couple days said goodbye to everyone. It was a lot of fun, and I'm going to really miss that blessed Island. Elder and Sister Allen (from Portland, Oregon by the way) are incredible and will take good care of it as well as Elder Llaguno and his new companion, Elder Frogeley, who was the assistant up until he went out there! And Guess who the new assistant is?! My trainer, Elder Ayers!! I'm so happy and excited for him. This means that I'll get to work a lot more closely with him and the other Missionaries, especially as I'm back on the Mainland! It's an exciting time, but I sure do miss the Isle of Man!

Yesterday was one of the craziest days of my mission. I went on the ferry completely alone then had to catch some trains to Manchester where I was literally found by a member family from Rochdale who drove another Elder and me there. It felt really weird to be alone, but I know it was approved by the Lord because it was approved by President Bullock!

And last night was absolutely AMAZING!! Here's the background story: The BYU Chamber Singers have been on tour here in the U.K. for the last 3 weeks. They got to do festivals in Ireland and did a lot of concerts here in England/Wales. I was a bit sad to see that they were coming because I was going to be on the Isle of Man and would miss the times that they would be here. (President Bullock gave approval for us to go with investigators if possible, but on the Isle of Man there was just no way we'd be able to go.) But there was a bit of hope because on transfer day (yesterday) I saw that they were going to be in Oldham and I thought maybe I'd be transferred to Oldham that day. Well, Rochdale just happens to be right next to Oldham, so we got to go to see one of the BYU Singers concerts!! It just happened to be their last, and as I said before, it was AMAZING!! The spirit was so strong, and I learned a lot from all of the pieces they sang. They even did a few pieces that I sang in Chamber Singers and Provo High! It was so exciting, I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father gave me that chance to do that.

It's been a pretty crazy couple of weeks, but the Gospel is still true. I'm so thankful to have a testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. This morning in study I started a list of the blessings of the Atonement, and it's incredible the things that we can have from the Savior's sacrifice for us. I noticed though that every single one of the scriptures that I studied mentioned doing some part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, etc.). I've learned that that is true, if we want to experience all of the blessings of the Atonement in our lives then all we have to do is live the Gospel. It's that simple and it's so amazing. And it's possible as well. This week I've been more and more thankful that I'm not perfect. Every day is a new chance to learn and to grow and to improve on what we did yesterday. Being perfect without experiencing any of this would be very boring. But I'm so thankful that through Jesus Christ we can become perfect and return to live with Heavenly Father again. I love this work and I know its true!! How are your Missionary experiences going by the way? They will come if you pray for them, I promise. I know that prayer does work, Heavenly Father really does listen and answer our prayers. I know that He did answer Joseph Smith's prayer by appearing to Joseph Smith with His Son, Jesus Christ, and that they called Joseph Smith to be a Prophet. He was and is a true Prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is how we know that. I'm so thankful for the restored Gospel!

Well, you are amazing people and I love you so much. Keep up the incredible work and please please keep the letters coming! Feel more than welcome to flood the postbox with letters this week! My new address is:

Elder Rowley
7 School Lane
Rochdale
OL16 1QB
England

Please write. Don't forget it. Thanks again for everything, I love you all so much. Have a wonderful week and keep having Missionary experiences!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Don't lose your savor!

Date: Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 4:30 AM
Subject: Happy Easter!

Hello from the Isle of Man!

How is everyone this week? How was Easter? It hasn't snowed over there again, has it?

Our Easter was great. Church was great, especially Sacrament meeting. There was a presentation by the Clarke's, Larry, and another member named Sister Huxley-Wright; it was amazing! The spirit was so strong. And we had 4 investigators there! Larry brought a friend of his, George, who we are teaching, Wanda came, and so did John! We were so happy to see all of them there and I'm happy that Elder Llaguno has had a good start to his mission.

The last few days since I last wrote have been amazing. We've seen a lot of people and spoken with a lot of people in the streets, it's been so much fun. I still struggle to speak with everyone, your Prayers in my behalf (as well as Elder Llaguno's), and in behalf of the people we serve here, are much appreciated. Being a Trainer is probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but I love it. For example, I don't think I've ever made more phone calls in my life! I'm learning and growing in ways I never thought possible!

Wanda is doing well. Please pray for her to be ready for Baptism on May 2nd. She is so close and is so amazing and ready!

Peter and Chris are coming along as well. They are reading the Book of Mormon. Please pray for them both to have the witness that it is true and that they need to be Baptized.

We saw Jack on Saturday it was amazing. He's progressing. I'm almost certain that he will be Baptized one day soon.

We are also praying and hoping for new investigators. Elder Llaguno spoke with a Portuguese man in the street the other day and we are seeing him on Saturday! I love it when he gets opportunities to speak with people in Spanish. His knowledge of the Scriptures and of the Gospel is wonderful. He is teaching me so much! We also have a couple more appointments with potential investigators on Saturday that we hope will work out.

Well, never forget that the Church is true. I'm so thankful for the blessings of the Gospel in my life and I know that the good things in our lives do come from God. He does live and He is our Eternal Father in Heaven. Every part of the Gospel points us toward being in His presence forever. Preach My Gospel talks about Eternal Life a lot and I love it. That is our number one goal when all is said and done, to obtain all that God has. And the way we do that is through Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and that the power of His Atonement is real. The fullness of His Gospel has been restored to the earth today through Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is true evidence of this. I love the Gospel. The blessings of the Temple are real and powerful and I'm so thankful for them. Go to the Temple. There is so much work to be done and we can't afford to miss out on the blessings from going often. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a true and living Prophet on the earth today and that Jesus Christ directs the affairs of this Church through him.

Anyway, we're off on the ferry today to Liverpool for Zone Conference tomorrow! I'm very excited. And next week we are having a Mission Conference with President Boyd K. Packer!! Being a Missionary is the best!

Have a wonderful week and keep up the amazing work. You truly are the salt of the earth, don't lose your savor! I love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Wow! What a Week: Hello, Good-bye, and prayers, please!

I've been in similar shoes before--training a new missionary from another country and culture. It can be challenging. I know Luke will appreciate your prayers in this new opportunity to serve. Thanks all for the love and support!

Date: Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 4:38 AM
Subject: What a Week!

Hello!!


Sorry it's been so long! I completely spaced and forgot to tell you that transfers were this week! I'm still here on the Isle of Man though... with a greenie! That's right, I'm training! I'm a bit nervous but I know that it's where I need to be and what I need to be doing. With the Lord's help I can do it, but I need your prayers so much. They will help and will bless me and my new companion and the amazing people we serve here!

Elder Llaguno (chyaguno) is from Spain and he is awesome! On the bus and ferry rides yesterday we just spent time getting to know each other and talking about the Gospel and being Missionaries, it was wonderful. I'm remembering now what it was like to be a greenie, and I'm realizing just how far I've come since then. I have a great feeling that Elder Llaguno and I will work well together and see miracles here! I'm excited for him.

Elder Larson went to Bolton to be a District Leader! I'm going to miss him, but we'll see each other at Zone Conference next week. And I'm excited for him, he is going to be amazing. I learned so much from him. I think I've learned more from the people I've served with than from anything else, it's incredible. And there is such a bond between those who learn together through this great work, it's amazing. I love this great work!

I learned something really great on the ferry ride to Liverpool. This time we prepared and took the motion-sickness tablets like President Bullock told us to. right from the start it was very bumpy and we were a bit worried that it wasn't going to be a very pleasant experience. But the tablets worked and Elder Larson and I had a nice conversation on the rocking boat like it was no big deal! Life is going to be rough no matter what, but if you have the right medicine then you won't get sick. That medicine is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some people have some medicines that work for a little while, but in the end they are still sick. It's a great blessing that we have the one and true "medicine" that will keep us "well" for eternity!

The last week and a half has been good though. We got to teach FHE to the Johnsons and it was awesome. They are such a wonderful member-Missionary family! They have a son, Robert, who was recently ordained a Deacon. I love seeing that happen. It seems like just yesterday that that was me, and I love to look back and see how far I've come. And I also love that I can tell these young men how fast it will come and go and how much fun it will be.

Our investigators are doing well. Our friend from Bulgaria is leaving to go back soon and he's been talking with his wife about things and we probably won't be seeing him too much anymore. He still has the Book of Mormon and I firmly believe that he will be Baptized one day.

Wanda is getting Baptized on May 2nd! We're so excited for her, she is doing so well. She is working on giving up her tea and coffee and is doing wonderful. Please pray for her to have strength against the opposition and to be ready for Baptism!

Peter and Chris continue to progress. They came to General Conference and enjoyed it very much. Please pray for them to be ready for Baptism.

General Conference was amazing by the way! Elder Larson said on Saturday before we watched that first session (it was from 5 to 7 pm for us) that Elder Anderson would be the new member of the Twelve, and sure enough, he was right! The talks were all so amazing though, I feel so much spiritually stronger now. I'm excited to get the conference Ensign so I can study it even more!






Elder Larson and I spent our last couple days together saying goodbye to people and it was great. We both have grown to really love the people here, I'm sure it was hard for him to leave. It's crazy just how fast the last 4 months have come and gone.

Anyway, the Church is true! I know that God lives and loves us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and He knows how to help us. He is the only way to success and happiness in this life and eternal life in the next. I love Him and I love that I get to represent Him as a Missionary right now. I know that President Monson is a true Prophet of God and he loves us. We can't affort to pack away our conference notes; we must keep them out, study the conference Ensign, and apply the principles in our lives. Those words spoken are true and will bless us as we study them and apply them. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the keystone to our religion. We will become closer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God. We are so blessed for his great sacrifices, and so many more of God's children will be blessed as we sacrifice to share this great message with them. The power of the Priesthood and the blessings of the Temple are real and eternal. Go to the Temple!! There is too much work for us to do, too much spiritual strength for us to acquire, and too much happiness to be had to not go to the Temple at least once a week. I wish I could go every week and I would if I could, but my assignment is different for now. I love the Temple and my life is blessed every day because of it. The Gospel is true!

Well, have a wonderful week and I'll write again on Monday. In a couple weeks President Boyd K. Packer is coming to the Mission for a Mission conference! I'm so excited, it's going to be wonderful. Anyway, keep up the amazing work. Your prayers, letters, love, support, and everything else are much appreciated! Keep it coming! Heavenly Father knows I need it! I Love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

First Zone Conference

Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 6:05 AM
Subject: I Love You!

Hello Again!

Two months of my Mission is GONE!! I miss it already. I just love being a Missionary and I never want to stop doing Missionary work. It's the best!

Well, the big news for the week is.... Elder Ayers is gone. He is going to be a Zone Leader in the Ashton Zone! I'm so excited for him. We got the phone call on Sunday night. My new companion will be Elder Woolsey from St. George. I'm going to miss Elder Ayers, but I'm really excited to serve with Elder Woolsey. He likes hunting and fishing and seems like an outdoors man so we already have a lot in common! It's going to be a great transfer! Speaking of transfers, they are every 6 weeks, the next one ends on December 10. You'll have to remind me to let you know when each transfer ends so you can send mail to the Mission Office!

Zone Conference was amazing! I just love getting to meet with President Bullock and other Missionaries. I was praying for greater Faith and an added measure of the Spirit before the Conference and my prayers were answered. President Robert C. Oaks came and spoke to us for a couple hours, and we also heard from President and Sister Bullock, Sister Oaks, and Elder Wiedmann. I learned so much! The spirit was so strong in those meetings, I know that sounds really cliche but it's really true. I absolutely love the Spirit of God.

Last Friday we went on an exchange and I got to go with Elder Davies from Arizona. He is going to be our new district leader by the way. Anyway, we got to do some finding and also had a lesson with a less-active man who is struggling. At the end of the lesson we got to give him a blessing of comfort and it felt amazing. I love the feeling that comes from using the Melchizedek Priesthood to bless others. It was a wonderful experience.

On Sunday we got to visit Newtown for church again and it was great. I got to give a talk about gratitude, it was fun! After the meetings we had a munch and mingle, it was great food and the people are so nice. We then got to go around with the Branch President, President Briggs, and visit some less-active members. Wales is gorgeous. I need our family history information. I'm really excited to learn about where exactly they were from because I have a feeling I'm serving really close to some of those areas. There is a great spirit in Wales that is unlike anything I've ever felt... it's absolutely amazing.

Well, the work is going amazingly well. My last two days with Elder Ayers were amazing. On the first we had 16 Quality Gospel Conversations (a new key indicator for our mission) and set up 3 or 4 appointments with potential investigators. The next day we had 3 more QGC's, and got into a man's home and taught him a lesson, all within an hour! We went from 1 investigator a few weeks ago, to 7! The last couple weeks have been really exciting!

The weather here is turning cold, very cold! Utah cold is dry, the cold here is wet and it sticks to you. I'm working on getting used to it. Yesterday afternoon we were doing service at Attingham Park and it actually snowed! It was really wet snow but it was still snow! It was beautiful. England is so beautiful, everything about it.

Well, I'd better wrap this up. Thanks again for all of your help and prayers and support, you've all done so much for me. I'm seeing the help you've given to me bless the lives of those I get to serve. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me. The church is true and nothing else matters. I wish I was more bold with love when I talk with people. I'm working on getting to know people better. I want to shatter my comfort zone. If you pray for anything for me this week, pray for that to happen and I'll let you know that it did in my e-mails next week. I'm excited for it. Anyway, Jesus is the Christ. I love Him so much. God lives and loves us so much. He really is our father and we know him better than we know anybody on this earth. He wants everything for us, all he needs to give us that is our will. He really does answer prayers, all throughout this transfer we were praying for new investigators and those prayers were answered. I see prayers answered daily here and I love to watch the hand of the Lord working in my life. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us true, lasting happiness. Nothing else will do it. Salvation is not a cheap experience. It takes everything we've got to get to the Celestial Kingdom. I just love being a Missionary and teaching and testifying of these things. I've never done anything better in my life.

Well, I'll talk to you again next week. Keep the letters coming and thanks for those that have been sent! I love you all so much. Be good. Have daily Missionary experiences for me and for our Heavenly Father. There is extremely great potential in Member-Missionary work. Much love and big hugs right back to all of you!

Love,

Elder Rowley