It's been an interestingly different week. On Monday, after P-day, the Exchanges started. Elder MacTavish stayed here in Riccarton/Papanui (which is the name of my area by the way) with Elder Tzanis, and I went with Elder Tzanis's companion Elder Bonnefoy-Jenkinson to the Rangiora/Kaiapoi area. I will refer to my long-last-named companion as Elder Bonne. Elder Bonne's and Tzanis's area (Rangiora/Kaiapoi) is the rich area (Rangiora) and the most affected by the earthquake (Kaiapoi). You don't need to memorize those names. But the main thing about this area is that people are not very accepting of the Gospel here! So the missionaries there are experts at door-knocking (we don't call it tracting). So I became an expert as well (at least, I improved a lot) because that was what we did for most of the three days I was there. I feel much more comfortable now and am not so scared that I'm going to mess up or say something stupid (which still happens of course).
I thought Elder Bonne's door approach was really interesting. Rather than saying something like-- "we're missionaries... sharing a message about Jesus Christ..." and after they turn you down, ask if there was "anything else besides religion to help you out" (which is Elder Mac's approach)--he instead would say something like "we're missionaries... we're in the neighborhood giving a helping hand... if you need any help in your garden or any help with things from the earthquake..." And their usual grimace would turn into a polite "Thanks, but we're fine. Then if they were still keen on talking to us and smiling he would then mention "as missionaries we teach about Jesus Christ..." and then we would get politely turned down. Elder Bonne was all about 'planting seeds' and leaving the people with a good and friendly image of missionaries as helpful and friendly. Sadly, some people think we're just trying to force our religion onto them. Which isn't true! We want people to learn of the truth, not tell them how they're wrong. So I learned a lot about talking with people from Elder Bonne. Elder MacTavish is really good with talking to people also, but he mostly talks younger people who are friendly. Whereas Elder Bonne seemed to be able to talk with everyone! Whether it was with people about England (where he's from), or injuries, or about cars. And that seemed to cover everybody who was willing to have a chat. So I'm working on relating with people.
I had my first rainstorm bike-ride on Friday! It was ridiculous! So much for a rain-proof coat! It only protected me for so long. Biking in the pouring rain began to be pretty fun once I was completely wet. But when we went inside to teach our investigators it was super uncomfortable, sitting there part dry, part wet. But it was a good experience for me. It wasn't a good day, but now that it's over, I'm glad it happened. That's how life works. Or at least how it should work. I became extremely grateful the next day for the hot, hot sun! I can never complain about it being too hot as I bike and sweat, because it's so much better than biking in the rain. I don't think it will even get that hot here, compared to Robby's experience in Brazil. However, there's a hole in the Ozone layer here, so it gets extra hot in that way. The sun burns! So sunblock is a must. (I am wearing it, don't worry)
On P-days, the usual activity is "playing sport." Last week I learned how to play Touch Rugby! Slightly different rules than Rugby League, including a prohibition on tackling. I'm way bad at it. I think football, "gridiron," is much more fun, probably because I know how to play it. A group of missionaries from our zone usually meets up every P-day (about 8 or so of us) and we do our emails at the same internet cafe and then have lunch. A couple weeks ago we played basketball, which I felt pretty cool at because I didn't get wasted or feel like the worst one there (which is how it usually is). Basketball is the second most popular sport in NZ, but Rugby is the main thing, of course. It seems that every male in NZ plays rugby on some team.
Yesterday, being Fast Sunday, was Testimony meeting in Church. One of our investigators bore his testimony! I was really happy! His name is Graeme (Graham) and he has had some mental illness problems that make quitting smoking an especially hard thing to do. As soon as he quits he will be able to be baptized (Elder Mac has been working with him a long time). So we have a member of the ward who's a mental health nurse working with him to quit. Other mental health doctors don't promote quitting smoking to those with mental illness because of the stress it can cause. So we're praying for him.
The weather here is very interesting. The first couple of weeks I kept being confused. I kept thinking we were going into winter (because it was fairly chilly) but then I would see blossoms on trees and my mind would have a freak out. I can't really explain it. But it's all fine now and I now remember it's springtime/summer. Saturday was super hot, but today is pretty cold again. So the weather here is much worse than Utah's phenomenon, of it being really sunny, then being really cold and cloudy and hour later. Crazy! New Zealand is an interesting place. I sometimes forget I'm halfway across the world from Utah, but then I remember and realize that's why it's so different. I'm so happy to be here!
II will be sure to send a picture of Elder Mac and I sometime. I don't really have one yet. I'm not a photographer of people, just landscapes. So I'm working on that, because I realize you like seeing me much more than some trees in the sunshine (which is what I like)
We have district meeting every week, which I really like. I was "assigned" to bear my testimony at last weeks. But I was glad too. I testified that despite all the atheist type views we here or thoughts that we might have about "what if God is really just made up?" we just need to remember the feelings we've had from the Holy Ghost. I cannot deny the feeling of the Holy Ghost that has touched me numerous times and told me this Church is true! The feeling that tells me Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father live! The feeling that has brought me to tears many many times. That is how I know this Church is true. And yes, I cried as I bore my testimony to my district. I've realized that I cry every time I do. Not when I'm testifying to an investigator or anything, but every time I go before a group and bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our Zone Conf is this Friday, and I'm really excited for it. We had a Zone Meeting my first week, which was pretty much the same thing I think, but that was great! I think I may have told you about it. I sometimes get confused if I told you something, or if I just wrote it in my journal.
Our meetings are held at our Earthquake damaged chapel. So, no one is really supposed to go in there, but at the same time, it's okay. (The damaged parts are all blocked off, so don't worry). Elder Mac is the District leader by the way. We play ball with the zone leaders sometimes or call them for tools for Elder mac's bike that keeps breaking. And Sisters Motuliki and Wu are in the Riccarton Ward with us, so we have dinner at member's homes often.
About email with other people, the rule is to just do email back and forth with your family, so it should be fine to get emails from relatives, but I can't really respond because of time. (this email has taken me forever!) But I would looooove to get written letters! It's, in a way, more exciting to receive letters in the mail. And it would take longer for me to respond, but I would respond in more detail because of lack of time restrictions.
Elder MacTavish is a cool cat. He is really friendly and "popular" with the other missionaries and members of the ward. About him: he's been a member of the Church his whole life, but when he was a teen he didn't feel like going to church or keeping certain commandments (I don't know which ones). He soon realized, as all people should, he was much happier keeping the commandments. And so he prepared for a mission, and knows a ton about how to answer questions from investigators and quote scriptures. Something I'm working on.
Have a wonderful week! Remember to Pray and Study your scriptures and write in your journal daily! But I love you all soooooooooooooo very much! And I always pray for you and am so grateful for your prayers for me!
Love,
Elder David John Rowe
