Do You Want to be Baptized on Saturday? 3/20-21/2011

Hello my beloved family!

I've got some wonderfully exciting news! First of all, Elder Triantafillakos and I have a baptism on Saturday!

Seriously. Her name is Christine. She's 10 and she's really excited to get baptized! We've been teaching her for a couple of weeks, but for a while she didn't really show much of a desire to even listen to our lessons. Sharlene, a member of the ward, is some sort of foster-mom for Christine. Sharlene wanted Christine to learn about the Church and so we started teaching her the lessons. Christine had been pretty hesitant to show any interest in the gospel, but this past week we've taught her a lot and she is very excited to get baptized! And because there really isn't any reason to delay the baptism, we're doing it this Saturday, the 26th. Woohoo! And I couldn't believe it, but she asked me to baptize her. So that's pretty nerve wracking. It'll be my first time to baptize someone ever of course, so I'm pretty nervous about doing it, but not really, because it will all be great! So I hope this week you'll be praying for us and Christine and that the baptism will all work out well on Saturday. (I'll be sure to send pictures)

Next on the list of wonderfully exciting news, is that Matt came to church yesterday with Jack, Logan and Keira (the 3 oldest kids). Jenny couldn't come because their plans for a babysitter for the 3 youngest kids fell through. But Elder Triantfillakos and I were so happy to see them there, even though Matt was pretty uncertain about coming without Jenny. Jack and Logan really liked Primary (Keira was a bit too scared in Nursery). Matt said he liked Church, but it was just a bit too much for the first time, and that he thinks it will be a lot better with Jenny there. 

Guess who also came to church! Rebecca! She loved it. She has been hesitant to come because when she's come before with the previous missionaries she didn't understand what was going on or what was being said. Because her English has improved so much over the past couple of months, church was so much more enjoyable for her. She especially enjoyed Relief Society and the love and welcome she felt there from the sisters in the ward. She's still planning and looking forward to getting baptized on 9 April because she felt so confident with her test that she had on Saturday.

Seeing our investigators at church is so great! I can't fully express the joy I had in seeing them there and having the ward members talk with them and get to know them. So I want you all to do your very best to always make someone at church, whom you haven't met or don't know very well, to feel welcomed and loved and happy to be there. What everyone needs is a friend, and that's part of what going to church is for, to help strengthen one another and bring each other closer to Christ.

I read today in 4 Nephi  "There was no contention in the land because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." These Nephites were the happiest people because of their love of God, which they expressed to their fellow men. And I just thought how wonderful it would be to live in a place like that, where everyone does nothing but help one another because they want to serve God. I just wish we could all be like that and not ever have to argue or fight or do anything wrong because we want to do what God has asked and love our neighbor. Once again, I'm failing to express in words what I feel...

I'm looking forward to this week and all that we have planned! So be anxious for more exciting news next week!

I love hearing all of the stories from home--everything you have to say--I hope you know that, I just can't comment on them!

Thank you for all you do and all of the love and support you give to me! Faafatai lava, xie xie, and obrigado (my 3 NZ languages) 

 Just remember:

"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!

Love,

 Elder David John Rowe

Another Week in Napier - 3/13-14/2011



Another beautiful New Zealand sunset.



Elder Rowe practicing his animal taming skills in Anderson Park in Napier.
Unfortunately, he was not able to tame the mosquitoes!

It's been a great week! Even though it seems like each week a new natural disaster happens and the world is coming to an end. But the work must still go on. All of these disasters and calamities seem to show how much more of an urgency there is to let everyone know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how we need to be prepared each day for trials in our life--physical and spiritual ones. On Friday night Elder Triantafillakos and I stopped by a member's home and found out about the quake and tsunami in Japan. Then they told us of a warning that a tsunami was headed towards New Zealand! So we were kind of worried, but then they later called us and said it wasn't coming to Napier. But we were prepared. Are you?

Anyway, we had exchanges this week, which was a great help to our area. Rather than Elder T. and I switching companions, the elders in Waipukurau both came to our area and we split up to cover twice the ground! We got 16 new investigators in two days. We usually get about six in a week. Elder Stratford and I gave away five Books of Mormon on Wednesday. It was fantastic! I'm looking forward to this week when we're going back to teach all these new people searching for the truth.

Rebecca is doing great! She is always more and more excited for us to come over and is eager to learn more. On Saturday we talked with her about fasting as a help for her on her test this weekend to become a nurse again. (I think I told you already, but in case I didn't, she was a nurse back in China but then came here for whatever reason, and has been struggling with passing the test to be an English-speaking nurse). She decided to fast on Sunday and Elder Triantafillakos and I did as well. It was the easiest fast I've ever done! I don't know what it was, but I think it was because I was fasting with so much purpose--to have Heavenly Father bless Rebecca-- that fasting wasn't at all difficult for either of us; even though Elder Triantafillakos and I could hear each other's stomachs growling as we were biking. haha

Last night we taught Rebecca the Word of Wisdom, which was something pretty tough because, being Chinese, she loves her tea and coffee. She knew that WE didn't drink it, but we decided to commit her to do the same. She was shocked. But we promised it would help her with her test by not relying on the "irresistible" coffee and tea. So we're going back Wednesday night to see how she's been handling her new "changed life," as she called it.

So no one has come to church yet! (our main progressing investigators that is). But Rebecca, as well as Matt and Jenny, have officially promised to come next week. Eamonn will be coming in two weeks when he gets back from Wellington. So the baptismal dates have been pushed back but they're still happening, so all is well! I just hope I'm staying here after transfers which happens in 2 weeks so that I'll actually get to see them baptized!

I'm looking forward to this week when we'll be teaching our new investigators about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal happiness it brings! So I'll let you know how that goes next time! So tune in next week for more exciting adventures from Aotearoa!

Just remember:
"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!
Love,

Elder David John Rowe



The Church is Truuuuue! March 6/7, 2011

Hello my wonderful family!

Napier is getting cold! Though only compared to the heat of before. Yesterday was wet and I almost wore a jersey (a sweater) because of it. But then biking warms me up well enough. The Napier/Omahu area is doing great and we've been being able to work a lot better with the ward members and we can really see the success it brings.

Answer to some of Dad's questions: Having eggs on hamburgers is more common than having toma(h)tos or onions on one. I love kumara/sweet potatos! And Tim tams! And Sweet thai chili sauce! have I told you about that? The sauce we always have on potsickers is a common used condiment here. It's as commonly used here as say, barbecue sauce is back home. As a dip that is, not as a marinade. 

Elder Triantafillakos has more of an American than Aussie accent. though to me it sounds kiwi because he softens his R's like all of these English people do.

The Earhhquake is still pretty big news. And no, the quake was only felt down in Chch.

I loved your ward conference talk Dad! thank you so much for sending it.

 My thoughts of today about this week:

Jesus Christ's Church has been restored! We have a Prophet on the Earth today and we have The Book of Mormon as another witness of the Divinity of Jesus Christ!

Oh how I wish everyone could just realize that. I think there should be a breaking news story announcing such a wonderful thing and then Elder Triantafillakos and I (as well as the missionaries all around the world) would walk around town asking people "Did you hear the news?! Well, let us tell you more about it!" I'm definitely feeling just like Alma today when he says in Alma Chapter 29, "O that I were an angel...that I might go forth and speak with trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth and cry repentance unto every people!"

And by "cry repentance" I mean teach the Gospel and baptize them.

I've been amazed this week about the Book of Mormon and the responses people have to it. When we tell people about it, some are very grateful for such a wonderful book and they're excited to read it and pray about it. Whereas most people say, "The Bible is good enough for me." They have no idea what they're missing! If people could only realize what a wonderful book it truly is. The joy, peace, comfort and guidance that comes from reading the Book of Mormon is possible for everyone if they would only read it and find out for themselves that it's true. It's the word of God! It makes me pretty sad when Elder Triantafillakos and I will teach a lesson and then that person will reject the remarkable message of the Restoration and won't even pray and ask God if it's true!

But I still have joy because I'm a missionary and I love it! As Alma continues in verses 9 and 10 "this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my [Kiwi] brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy, then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea even that he hath heard my prayer"

So, despite all of the people who reject the Truth and the fulness of the Gospel, I still find so much joy in being able to teach Matt & Jenny's family, and Eamonn, and Rebecca and seeing the "exceedingly great joy" that they feel when we share the Gospel  with them. It's having those lessons with them and having the Spirit touch their hearts that makes being a missionary the best thing ever! And when they finally come to church, I will be even happier.

I'm so happy Dad that you have been able to get that job and that your lives are back to normal(-ish) once again!

 Do you have any FHE ideas or game ideas that we could use to relate gospel principles as we teach kids? That would be great! We have a FHE resource book, but other ideas would be very helpful.

Just remember:
"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe

All is Well - 2/27 - 2/28/2011

Hello my family!

I'm glad to hear all is well is icy Orem, because all is well here in Napier. I appreciate all of the concern that's been given for my well-being as well for all of those people I know in Christchurch. Unbelievable! On Tuesday Elder Triantafillakos and I were just relaxing and writing letters when our district leader gave us a call about another earthquake had happened but that there were deaths this time. I couldn't believe it! And I still can't. Especially because we can't watch TV and see the news footage. I want so bad to be able to go down there and do what I can to help, but we've heard they have more than enough help already and some people have been too helpful and are doing more harm than good.

But I'm glad to be here and safe in Napier. I hear all of the missionaries are good and that there weren't any members of the Church who died, though I'm sure many of them have lost their houses. So we're always praying for the people of Christchurch. I heard a couple weeks ago from Elder Prebble that Kaibos (Violah's husband) was getting baptized last Saturday! So I wonder if it still happened. I sure hope so. Rudo on the other hand, hasn't progressed but I think she has still been going to church with her family. But I just hope they're all okay! And everyone else as well.

As for Napier, the work is going really well. Matt and Jenny have been too busy and still haven't been able to come to church yet. Jak (their son) has been showing more and more interest in being baptized, so he will most likely be getting baptized much sooner than his parents will (he doesn't have to get married first).

Elder Triantafillakos and I have set two other baptismal dates this weekend! One was with an 18-year old kid named Eamon (Ay-mon) who we've been trying to teach for weeks now, but has been too busy or not been home. On Thursday we taught him about the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. He was really excited about all of it and said he wanted to pray and read. We saw him again on Saturday and taught him about the Pre-Earth Life, the Fall, and the Atonement of Christ, and then when I knew he was feeling the Spirit, we committed him to be baptized--once he knew it was true--on April 2nd. Yes!

Last night, we read with Rebecca Mosiah 18:7-11. As usual, it took a little while for her to understand it. But then when she did, I asked her the question Alma asks in the Mosiah chapter 18: "If you have the desire to 'come into the fold of God,' 'bear one another's burdens,' 'mourn with those that mourn,' 'comfort those that need comfort' and 'stand as a witness of God,' then what have you against being baptized?" She said when God helps me pass my test to become a nurse, then I will be baptized." Her test is in three weeks, she gets her results two weeks later, and so we set the date for her baptism the following week!

Now the only problem is that we need to get all of these people to church. But we're getting there. I know that when they do come, the ball will get rolling!

I know this Church is true and I'm so grateful to be able to share this message with everyone!

 Just remember:
"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay
Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe