Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Hello Everybody!

I am alive and well and have survived my first week. I'm enjoying my time immensely, besides the fact that I'm always SO tired and in need of a nap. I'm having a wonderful time and am accomplishing so much!

Words of advice for all pre-missionaries: study Preach my Gospel as much as possible! I thought I was rather familiar with it, but if you can't teach the lessons then you're not ready. So remember that, and tell all of your pre-missionary friends.

So, about me: My district is great! We all get along really well. However, they are all going to the Minnesota, Minneapolis mission, so I won't see any of them ever again after my last day in the MTC. Luckily, I finally met a missionary going to my mission yesterday. But she's a sister missionary. She told me that there is actually an MTC in New Zealand, so all of my future companions are there. So it's a little bit weird, but it's a relief to know that I'm not going to be the only missionary in my mission.

My companion's name is Elder Snyder from Farmington, Utah. He's a great guy and is really hard working and determined to use our time effectively. I'm really grateful for that. In fact, almost all of my district is from Utah. Taylor Dalrymple, a friend of mine from Junior High, is in my zone, which is fun.

My teachers are great, and they show that they genuinely care about us. Their names are Brother Wall and Sister Eyre. I've seen a lot of Elders (we don't use the word "guys" here) from Orem High: Nate Jensen, Derek Latimer, Shane Evans, Alihi Faalafua, Joel Wallis and Alex Cecil. And Sunday I finally found my childhood buddy Truman Rowley, the day before he left for Chile.

I just love being a missionary! It's so tiring and kind of stressful (like having to teach a lesson on your second day), but I love it. I love learning so much and feeling the Spirit so often. And I know that I'm supposed to be here, serving the Lord.

Love,

Elder David John Rowe

Entering the MTC

We took David to the Missionary Training Center today at 1:15. There were dozens of current MTC residents there acting as hosts. They efficiently took David's bags from the car while introducing themselves. They asked him his last name and said, "Elder Rowe, you're going to love it here!"

After a few photos, a few hugs, and a few tears, he left to start his great adventure.

Day One

My name is David Rowe, now Elder David Rowe, and I'm headed to the New Zealand Wellington mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My parents will be maintaining this blog while I'm gone for two years. Today, September 22nd, 2010, is my first day as a missionary. I'll spend about three weeks in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, and then I'll be off to New Zealand.