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