Happy Boxing Day (three holidays in one week--wow!)

Date: Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Happy New Year!!

Hello!!

Wow, it's the last day of 2008, that is crazy! It went so fast! What's really crazy is that before we know it we'll be saying the same thing about 2009!

It's been a great week! Christmas was AMAZING!! After opening our massive pile of packages and presents from the ward members, we spent the morning with a part-member family with two children and it was a lot of fun. We played table football and we built Legos and played uno and had a roast duck lunch, it was the best! After our phone calls home we went to another family's home and it was a lot of fun there too. Their name is the Dangerfields, how cool is that? We got to play the Wii and have some food and then we just talked with Brother and Sister Dangerfield, it was great! The next day was Boxing Day and that was so much fun. We did our weekly planning first, then we went to another family's home and played Monopoly and had some lunch, it was a lot of fun. I don't know how in the world I did it, but I won Monopoly, it was pretty crazy! Then right before we left they came out with two bags of presents for each of us, it was amazing, this Ward has really made us feel at home!! We then went to another members home and had dinner then played a German board game, it was a lot of fun as well. It's been a great holiday season here!

Since Christmas and Boxing day we've been really busy teaching and finding people to teach and it's been pretty crazy and a lot of fun! The work here is going very well right now and hopefully it will pick up even more after New Years. The sisters that were here before us had a lot of investigators, most of which have been on holiday and will return within the next week or so. I'm excited to meet all of them and get busy teaching!! I love being a Missionary, it's the best!

Yesterday was quite tough. I came down with a bit of a head cold, and was pretty sick and lethargic most of the day. Don't worry, it wasn't anything big and I'm fine now, but it was tough. The Lord took care of me though and I was able to make it through a full day of work. Even if we had 3 appointments fall through! That happens all too often, people just aren't there when they say they will be! It's fun though because the Lord knows that that will happen before it does and we are placed in the path of another amazing person who we can speak with and get an appointment with.

The Church is true and nothing will ever change that. The Plan of Salvation is true and is perfect. The Atonement is the greatest thing that has ever happened in this world and I know that it did happen. Jesus Christ really did pay the price for all of our sins, and He did suffer for all of our pains, trials, temptations, and sicknesses. I felt His help as I was sick yesterday, and it was amazing. It is amazing. We can feel the power of the Atonement in our lives at any time. God does live and He does love us perfectly. Our relationship with Him is so deep that we really will be surprised at well we know Him when we pass through the veil. He wants to help us in everything we are experiencing. We can do nothing without Him. He has given us everything we have and He will continue to give to us as we obey Him. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it brings us closer to God. I love that book and I love our Heavenly Father. I know that true happiness comes from seeking the happiness and welfare of others, just like Jesus Christ did. I love being a Missionary, never before have I looked at life as I do now and I will never look at it the same again. This is the best thing I've ever done!

Well, I'll let you go now. I hope you have a wonderful week filled with Missionary experiences! I'm still itching to hear about some of them! They really do make us happier, I promise! Anyway, Happy New Year! I Love you all, thanks for all of your support!

Love,

Elder Rowley

PS-Missionaries NEED letters. (thanks for the ones that have been sent by the way!)

From Dalene: In his letter to me Luke also mentioned he got to see a whale:

Oh yeah and I forgot to say that I saw a whale this morning, it was just surfacing and it blew up some water for a second then disappeared, it was beautiful!

I guess one is so lucky when one lives on the shore of the Irish Sea...

Gifts galore!

Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 4:44 AM
Subject: Christmas Eve!

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited to get to write to you today! There has been so much happening here, it's crazy! I love it so much though, there is nowhere else on the earth that I would rather be right now than here on the Isle of Man serving with Elder Larsen. I feel at home here. I can't wait for you to see the pictures of our Christmas, there are so many presents for us from you and from the Ward members here. On Sunday we got home and it felt like we had been grocery shopping with all of the bags of presents that we took into the flat. I Love it here so much! I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now.

Well, the last time I wrote you was Saturday so there really isn't too much to write about as far as the work goes. We've been speaking with so many amazing people, the people here are so nice and I'm growing to love them more and more every day. I dread the day when I have to leave the Isle of Man. The conversations we are having with people are incredible, Elder Larsen and I work so well together, the Lord really knew what He was doing when He sent us out here. I feel like Alma and Amulek or something, it's incredible! Other than that we have been teaching our investigator with a Baptismal date and she is just so amazing. She understands the Gospel so well and she is so humble and ready for Baptism. Oh yeah and on Sunday we had our other investigator who was found by our recent convert come to Church! She wasn't feeling too well but she came anyway and from what we hear she really enjoyed it! We're so excited to see her continue to progress in the Gospel. I love the people here! Oh yes and on Monday we got to help out a family remodel their home, it looks like quite the project! We just moved a lot of wood for them but it was so much fun. It reminded me of that summer I worked for Todd Cuell, it made me realize just how far I've come since then! I just love work!

I must say that this island is one of the most beautiful places in the world, even when it's cloudy. The rolling green hills and the coastal views and the sunsets when we see them are all so amazing! I'm still driving and these roads are crazier than the ones I drove on in Shrewsbury! I'm so thankful that the Lord has blessed me to be able to drive over here, it's an incredible experience.

This morning Elder Larsen and I had an amazing study. We've come to understand more and more that the only people holding us back from being our best is ourselves. We must sacrifice all worldly thoughts, words, deeds, and desires if we want to reach our full potential as servants of the Lord. The more we sacrifice, the more we are blessed, and the happier we feel. I love this work so much even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done. It's the greatest though. It really isn't just about coming on a Mission, but about BEING a Missionary that I love so much. Anyway, the Church is true and that right there is amazing. The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is once again on the earth! Think about it, we get to be part of the last dispensation. We all know that never before have the forces of good and the forces of evil been so well organized. Life is hard. Living the Gospel is hard. But it is worth it. When was anything worthwhile ever easy? Oh how I love this Gospel. What a miracle it is that Jesus is the Christ and that He did suffer and die and was resurrected for our sins, pains, infirmities, sorrows, everything. And because of that we can have all that Heavenly Father has, if we just obey His Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He loves us so much more than we can know. When we have the spirit with us we can feel a part of that love, and it's incredible. I love the spirit, without it I am dead as a Missionary. I'm so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and I know that He is real. God is our loving Heavenly Father. We can pray to Him anytime, anywhere, anyplace we want. Prayer changes things for the better. I love prayer. I love the Scriptures. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it will change our lives as we read it again and again and again. It makes me so happy because it brings us closer to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and he really does hold all the keys of the Priesthood. I love this Church, and I love being a Missionary!

Well, I hope you'll forgive me for being a bit long-winded with my testimony, but it really has just grown so much since I've been out here. How are your Missionary experiences going? Are you finding people for the Missionaries there to teach? I hope all is going well. Thanks for all of the love and support and strength you give to me, it's incredible. I'm working on reaching my full potential as a Missionary because I know that the Lord needs it, and the people here need it. Will you pray for me to reach my full potential? Miracles will happen here, and I'm so excited for it!

Have a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year! I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Saturday Surprise: Home away from home away from home, or, Obey your president!

stormy sea photo courtesy of Mr. Trickett


Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2008 at 3:35 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello Everyone!

Wow, another Christmas is already here, it's crazy how fast the time flies! How is everyone? Thanks so much for all the love and letters and packages and support, you are all so wonderful! I appreciate it so much and so does the Lord! I have so much to tell you about! The past couple weeks have been some of the busiest and most life-changing weeks of my life. I love change, isn't it fun?

Well, Elder Larsen and I have been working hard here on the Isle of Man and it is so much fun! The other day we taught 4 lessons in a row, it was amazing. We taught the first one to the girlfriend of a recent convert, she is kind of shy but from what we were told by the member that was with us she is taking it all in well. Then our other recent convert who is AMAZING phoned us and said that he's got a friend who wanted to speak with us and we set up an appointment with him and her later that day! The lesson went really well, she is so prepared, and she is excited to learn more. Today we are committing both of them to Baptism! It's really exciting. The other two lessons that day were with another recent convert who is struggling and our investigator with a Baptismal date. Those went really well also.

The ward here is so incredible, they are so supportive! It's as if we are a part of the ward and our callings are ward callings, it's incredible! They are so friendly and kind and we both really feel at home here, it's great.

The last 3 days have been pretty intense. We had Zone Conference on Thursday and that was absolutely incredible. I needed it so bad. We had some talks and things from President and Sister Bullock and other Missionaries in the morning and then... we got to go to the TEMPLE!! It was so amazing, we first ate a great meal in the cafeteria and then did our Endowment session. It felt so good to be in the Temple again, it's been so long! The spirit was strong the entire day, after our session we went to the MTC and watched the Joseph Smith movie, it was great. It felt weird to be back there, it made me realize just how far I've come in the last 3 months. I loved Zone Conference! Being a Missionary is the best.

To be at Zone Conference we had to take the ferry out on Wednesday and then train hop to Preston where we stayed with the Preston Zone Leaders and a couple other Elders there (it's a 4 man flat). It was so fun, we got to go on exchanges with them and they were so nice to us and it just felt like our home away from home (the Isle of Man) away from home (Utah)! Yesterday we did the same thing with the trains and the ferry except that it wasn't so pleasant. On the way over on Wednesday the ferry was rocking almost like a rocking chair. On the way back last night it was like a rodeo bull. It slowly got worse and worse, at first it was fun; but by the time we walked off I wanted to kiss the ground. I went from sitting up straight to slouching to laying down on the bench (it's like a restaurant). And then I pretty much fell on the floor. I was so sick and I'm still recovering. I learned something last night. Never ever ever disobey your Mission President in anything he tells you to do, especially when he says to get motion sickness tablets!! It was a good experience though and I'm glad it happened.


Missionary work is hard and fun. It is true though, and it is the Lord's work. His hand is in this work even right now. I know that Heavenly Father loves us more than we can ever understand. He is mindful of our trials and afflictions and is waiting earnestly to help us, all we need to do is ask for His divine help. I have experienced that so many times in my life but especially here on my Mission. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. The more earnest our prayers the more earnest He blesses us. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it brings us closer to God. I'm so thankful for what Joseph Smith went through to be the instrument of God in restoring this Gospel to the earth. He was a Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God today. He knows and sees things we can't, and because of that we must obey him. When we do what the Prophet says we're doing what God says. As we obey the Gospel we are happier. Jesus Christ is really the only way to true and lasting happiness in this life and in the next. He is our Savior. He knows us and all of our pains, trials, temptations, and sicknesses and He knows how to deliver us from them. I love celebrating not only His birth, but His life and death and resurrection as well. We celebrate His birth because of His life. His example really is the best in the world. If we follow Him we will reach our full potential and we will be happy! This message is true and it changes lives! I absolutely LOVE being a Missionary!

Thanks again for all the prayers and love and support, the Lord knows I need it. And I need it because the people here need me. I'm so thankful that I get to serve them. Don't ever forget that they are being blessed for what you do for me. I love you all so much. Keep working hard and having Missionary experiences. I'm still working on Charity, your prayers are much needed and appreciated as I work on developing this Christ-like attribute!

Well, I guess I'd better wrap this up. You'll hear more from me on Wednesday. I Love you!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Can you hear me now?

instead of groundhog day, apparently over there they celebrate hedgehog day (at least it's not a rat!)


Elder Rowley, driving off into the sunset...on the wrong side of the road!


Driving on the wrong side of the car, apparently, too


Elder Ayers during service hours at Attingham Park


Luke's little sister keeps praying that Luke will have a good time on his mission. I think her prayers are working, don't you?


Mail call. Just look at that big grin. Thank you for making our missionary happy with your cards and letters.


I can't tell if Luke is saying thanks for the Alfredo sauce packet I sent him or dropping a hint he'd like more...maybe both!


Luke and Flat Stanley (a little visitor to England from his fourth-grader brother). Flat Stanley liked it so much over there we had a difficult time getting him to come home!

*Now you see it

Now you don't it



Because of Christmas Zone Conference, there was no e-mail exchange this week with Elder Rowley, but there was something even better. Due to some bad news we needed to speak with him about, we were able to talk with him over the phone. He's doing great. The Lord is blessing him in so many remarkable ways. And we are being so blessed by his missionary service. I hope to be able to write more about it all later.

But if it wasn't enough just to hear his voice and be reassured by his strong faith and testimony, we were also blessed to receive the long-awaited photos. We'll sort them all out and post more later, but here are a few for now...







*From Dalene: You know I've stood by my French friends even through the entire "American Fries" revolution in this country. But to see French fries overtake honest-to-goodness English chips, wow, that's real shame. Say it ain't so, Joe.

Better than being a super hero

Date: Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello Again!

How is everyone this week? Got any Missionary experiences to share with me? Well, here I sit, at an internet cafe on the coast of the Isle of Man in the city of Douglas! We live in a place called Castletown, it's amazing. Look it all up on Google earth if you get the chance!

As for my last week in Shrewsbury, it was pretty amazing. We started these Living Christmas Cards and it was so much fun. We would go to homes of people that members told we were coming to visit and shared 5 Christmas Scriptures and sang a carol. I loved it. One home we got into was a less active man named Mark Stone. His son Ewan was there and watching him was like watching Kyle, it was so cool. He is nine years old and he loves Tom and Jerry and he can play with one toy for hours and hours. They are really incredible people, I'm sad that I won't get to work with them anymore!

Last Saturday we got to go to a part-member family and help the dad/father (non-member) clean his motorbikes. Elder Woolsey is big into motorbikes and he really enjoyed that. I just liked using the powerwasher! It was good though, especially because their son just turned 12 and was ordained a Deacon this past Sunday! He is a great kid as are all of the Aaronic Priesthood holders in that ward. His dad came to his ordination on Sunday and it was really good to see him there. I really grew to love all of the people we worked with in Shrewsbury and I will miss them. The night before I left we visited a man named John Beharral, he is the ward mission leader and I will really miss working with him. We got to be good friends in the time we spent together. You really don't know what you've got until it's gone.

I'm sure the Ward will be missing me as well because now they have no Tenors in the ward choir. On Sunday I sang with them and it was so much fun, they're doing the same songs we did for Ward Choir last year at Christmas! They were all amazed at my voice and my confidence to be the only one singing that part. Thanks for giving me a great voice Mum and Dad! It made me regret not going to Ward Choir all those times. Now I jump at any and every opportunity to sing and even then I'm still singing hymns all throughout the day. I love music, it's so powerful and can quickly bring the spirit or even take the spirit away if it's inappropriate.

Wednesday was great, I drove Elder Woolsey and I from Shrewsbury to Altrincham (pronounced Altring'am, it's really cool). It took us about 2 and a half hours and it was a lot of fun. We got out of the car and I walked over and there was Elder Perry! It was so good to talk to him, he has already seen so much success on his Mission and he is doing very well. He is also whitewashing in an area in my last zone, it's exciting. We were talking about me going to the Isle of Man and I mentioned Shrewsbury and right in front of us someone whipped around and it was Elder Ayers!! I was so happy to see him, he has changed so much already. I was being told again and again by those that served around him just how much he loves me and how much he talks about me, it felt so good. I hope that I can be that loving and caring to all of my companions in return. When you're a Missionary you just serve everyone, especially your companion. I love it, I just love it! From there we went into a testimony meeting and the spirit was incredible. I wasn't planning on sharing my testimony, but then Elder Ayers got up and I just had to. He softened my hard heart. We got to sing some Christmas carols as well, and then we got our luggage on the coach (bus) and drove up to Chorley and got to see the Temple again! I never realized before what a blessing it was to just get to see the Temple every day. I've missed seeing it daily for the past 3 months, but I'm glad I've learned to appreciate it. Someday we'll have a Temple on the Isle of Man. It'll be just like Finland for you Dad! Oh and the same with Wales. There is so much potential for new Temples over here even though the work is slow right now. After that we spent the night with the Preston elders and that was a lot of fun. In the morning the Assistants came to pick us up and we took the ferry out here and now we're here. It was a really smooth ride over, it was amazing. I'll have to tell you more about it another day.

Elder Larson and Elder Rowley

My new companion is Elder Larson and he is incredible. We get along so well, it's amazing. I just love him so much already. Just this morning he ironed my shirt for me while I was showering. He does so much for me. We are really going to work hard over here and we are so excited for what the Lord has in store for us! Oh yeah and he is from Florida but he moved to Provo about 5 years ago and guess where he went to high school? Timpview! He knows Ben Martin pretty well and we've been asking each other about who we know and things, it's great. This is going to be one of the best transfers of my Mission, I can already tell!

We did a scripture study class last night with some ward members and investigators and it was so much fun! Elder Larsen has great enthusiasm for the Scriptures and he knows them so well, I love it! We were both teaching and testifying and sharing experiences from reading the scriptures and it was just great. The spirit was so strong and my testimony of the scriptures grew so much. The Book of Mormon really is the word of God and it will bring us closer to Him as we abide by its precepts. I love God so much. I love Jesus Christ so much. How great is this Christmas season in which we can celebrate his birth! I know that He really was born, He did live and die all for us, and He was resurrected for us. And the best part is that because of that, as imperfect as we are, we can have everything that God has. Truly the gift of the Atonement is the greatest gift we've ever received!! And it keeps on giving and giving, we can access that power any moment throughout any time of the year! Nothing has, or can have, a more powerful effect on our lives. I love the Atonement so much. I'm coming to understand and appreciate it so much better. I know that we all need the power of the Atonement every day of our lives. We are nothing without what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our whole purpose in coming to earth is centered in the Atonement. It's so amazing!! I know that God lives and He loves us so much. I have felt that love so strong out here on my Mission, and I know that you can feel that same love any time. He loves all of us equally so a Missionary is no more loved than anyone else. Oh I love being a Missionary. It's better than being a super-hero. It is so much fun, never pass up an opportunity to serve a Mission or even to have a Missionary experience!

One thing I really want to work on this transfer is Charity. Will you pray for Charity to fill me up as I serve here on the Isle of Man and for the rest of my Mission? I know that great things can happen when a Missionary is motivated by Charity. I know that prayer works, I've seen your prayers for me be answered in the work we're doing here!

Well, I'll tell you more about the Isle of Man next week. I love you all so much, thanks for everything you do! You are such wonderful people and the people here will be blessed for what you've done for me. Keep up the amazing work and keep the letters coming! I mean it! You know, I know who has and who hasn't written me and some of you are in need of some serious rebuking! Just kidding. I love you all, letters or not. Just the fact that you are my friends is enough for me! Do me a favor and be good so we can all live in the Celestial Kingdom together! Anyway, I love you all!

Love,

Elder Rowley

Transfer: Isle of Man

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:55 AM
Subject: Happy Christmas!

Hello!

How is everyone this week? I've got to hurry so this will be short. In a few minutes we're getting a ride from the assistants to Liverpool where we will take the ferry to... The ISLE OF MAN!! I'm so excited, I can't even tell you. I hope to write more either when we get there or next week. I love you all so much!!

Love,

Elder Rowley

from Dalene: Well, at least we know where he is (or will be soon). It's kind of funny, I knew we wouldn't be hearing from him yesterday but it was unsettling not to know where he was. When I woke up this morning I thought "I just need to know where he is." And now I do!

Everyone I know who has been there has told me how much they loved the Isle of Man and how great it would be if Luke could serve there. And he gets to go through Liverpool? (think the Beatles--yeah, that Liverpool.) I know he is a missionary, not a tourist, but that is still just plain cool!

It actually felt like Thanksgiving!

Date: Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 4:35 AM
Subject: Happy December!

Hello Again!

Wow the weeks go so fast... before I know it I'm going to be out of Shrewsbury and into another area and then one day even getting on a plane to go back to Utah! I love it though.

Well I guess you're all wondering about Thanksgiving. We got to eat with a member family and it was amazing. I got to play the piano for a little while before it was ready and they had their parents over who are Senior Missionaries in the Birmingham Mission and the food was amazing! We had the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and vegetables, and a chocolate pie for dessert! Oh it was great. They really made us feel like home there. The spirit is so strong in the members homes, I feel so strengthened every time we go to one. Other than that we talked with people in the park and taught one of our investigators on Thanksgiving. It was a great day, and it actually felt like Thanksgiving!

On Sunday we got to go to Newtown and it was amazing. They forgot bread for the Sacrament so we had chocolate biscuits, it was really different but the Spirit was the same. That's how I feel every time we go to Newtown. It was really good that we were there because the Branch President was away for his daughter's wedding so they really used our help. And the lesson in Sunday School was all about Missionary Work! All of the wards in the Newcastle Stake (that's the stake we're in, it's massive) had this same Missionary lesson and it's really exciting to see the members here starting to get excited about Missionary work. Speaking of which, how are your Missionary experiences going? I know it's tough in Provo, but I know that anything is possible with the Lord's help! This is the Lord's work and He will help us do it! Just keep praying with faith to have Missionary experiences and they will come, I promise. I'm excited to hear about them too!

Monday was interviews and it was great. I just love working with so many incredible people! We had some training while the interviews were going on and it was great. The spirit was strong throughout the entire thing, I learned a lot and I'm excited to apply what I've learned!

Yesterday was an incredible day. In the morning we went to the park and got to speak with a lot of really amazing people. There was one couple I spoke with who was just really happy. And the husband was able to tell me to the minute how long they had been married! He was a really funny man, I really enjoyed speaking with him and his wife and everyone else I spoke with at the park. In just a short hour we reached our daily goal of ten Quality Gospel Conversations! It was great. And on top of that the sun was shining! In the afternoon we got to go to Attingham Park and do some digging there, it was tiring but a lot of fun. I just love serving there, the people we get to work with are so nice and it's just so much fun! Then in the evening we got to go to a less-active members home for dinner! She made us soup and bread and peas, carrots, Yorkshire puddings, and lamb. For dessert we had trifle and then after dinner we taught her about the Atonement. It was such an amazing evening! She is such a wonderful lady who I hope you get to meet someday. I really felt at home in her home last night, it was great! She's always so nice and she makes us feel comfortable and the best part is that she is always sharing stories about how music has influenced her life, I just love it. So yesterday was pretty amazing.

Well, that's the highlights of the week. Other than that the work is still difficult here, but we have a transfer in a week. Speaking of which, you'll need to start sending letters to the Mission Office now. I have a good feeling that I will not be in Shrewsbury in a week. It's exciting, but at the same time I'm really going to miss my greenie area. You'll probably get an e-mail late next week, so don't worry!

Anyway, the Church is still true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and I love Him so much. He really has suffered all of our pains, sicknesses, afflictions and temptations. I have felt the power of the Atonement here on my Mission so much. I know that that power is available to us any time we need it. I know that because of the Atonement our lives have purpose and meaning. The Atonement is the most important event that has ever occurred on this earth. Just think about it for a moment: Jesus Christ died for us. He went through all that suffering for us, because He loves us and He wants us to have eternal happiness. I know that this is all true and it makes me so happy that we have this knowledge and that God has given us the matchless gift of His son. I've been thinking about it a bit lately with Christmas coming, and I realized that the gift of the Atonement is great. My Spirit is happy to have this gift, and that it really is the gift that keeps on giving. I know that as we share our knowledge of the Gospel with others and invite them to come unto Jesus Christ, then we will come unto Him ourselves. Prayer works. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet and Thomas S. Monson is our living Prophet today. Jesus Christ is at the head of this Church and He guides and directs us through President Monson. I love this Church and I love being a Missionary!

Well, I'll write more next week. Thanks for all of the prayers for this area and for myself and those I serve with. They are being answered. Your love and support and letters and everything is much appreciated and they all help me be a better Missionary so I can better help others come unto Jesus Christ. Keep the letters coming!!! You have no idea how much it means to me to see a letter for me in the flat. It really helps so much with everything. I love you all, keep up the amazing work! Don't forget I want to hear about your Missionary experiences! Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Rowley